Fox Point

by MaveriKat

Those who forget their history are doomed to repeat it but so are those who cannot let the past go. With the rise of the Mammal Inclusion Initiative, one vixen is going to be uprooted from what she knew to live and breath the tenants of the ZPD: Trust, Integrity, and Bravery. Even if the city doesn't believe she can. Rated M for Violence, Adult Language, and Adult Situations.

5. Sugar

Disclaimer: "Zootopia" is owned by the Magical World of Walt Disney Pictures and Walt Disney Animation Studios. The "Sly Cooper" videogame series is owned by Sony, Sucker-Punch Productions, and Sanzaru Games. There are also aspects that will be borrowed from or directly inspired from Zootopia's pre-production works and concepts from Nicolaswilde's "Zistopia" Tumblr blog. Said story itself is a fan-based non-profit work of fiction written strictly for entertainment purposes only. Please support the official releases. Thank you.

Fox Point

By MaveriKat & Nanya
Beta Read By Innortal

Chapter 5: Sugar

An orange van adorned with a prominent tribal paint job came down Herd Street at a considerable pace before taking a sharp right and pulling off into a wide alleyway settled between two condo complexes; knocking over some trash cans as it did and annoying the raccoon tenant using one of them. It came to a final stop far enough into the passageway so that only the rear of the vehicle was slightly exposed to the street. As the engine shut off and the automobile settled, both of the doors on the back of the Ford Lobos van swung into the open air. It took but a mere moment for the van's slightly rusted metal plate to quickly unfold and slide out, the base of the ramp scrapping along the concrete of the sidewalk hard enough that it caused sparks to fly off from the rough contact along with a nasty screech.

Slowly from the darkness of the van's interior stepped the vulpine con-mammal Nicholas Piberius Wilde... or, 'Slick Nick' as he was known to his semi-friends, acquaintances, and shady business associates. "Come on, little buddy! Time's a wastin'!" He shouted as he turned his head to his right. Catching sight of the street clock adorned in a golden and green color scheme set out front of the Lemming Brothers Bank, a frown pulled over his muzzle. "I mean it! It's almost closing time! We don't want to miss the pre-dinner rush!" He called to his hustling compatriot as the vulpine tugged on the white handle of a forty quart baby-blue plastic rolling cooler, carefully leading the container filled with ice fresh from Tundratown and recently chilled frozen treats down the steel plate and onto the sidewalk.

The driver's side door opened and a small fennec dropped out. "Damn it, Wilde!" The shorter vulpine snapped in his surprisingly deep, baritone voice as he reached with his left hand to push the door closed. Making his way around the vehicle, he glared angrily up at the taller male who was taking a moment to straighten out the painted wood sign sticking out of one side of the wheeled cooler that advertised their frozen goods. "How many times do I have to tell you before I gotta resort to punching your teeth out? Don't call me little!"

Shrugging his shoulders, the lithe vulpine male ignored the threat to his dental work and calmly replied, "Right, right. You got it big guy," he said, hoping to placate the snarling, irritable desert fox. "But I'm not joking when I say it's almost show time! So get into those recycling bins and be ready to roll!" He chirruped as he motioned over to his left where a trio of different sized public recycling receptacles was stationed at–the metal structures various sizes for the ease of the numerous mammal heights that existed. "Cheezits Construction wants their next lumber delivery ready by first thing tomorrow morning if not sooner! We don't want to lose the hundred and sixty bucks that would rake in from that job, do we Finnick?"

Snorting, the smaller fox looked up at his taller business partner, the man slightly mollified by the fact Nick at least used his preferred nickname. "We wouldn't even be this late if you hadn't made us stop at Honey's to drop off your crap," the short-tempered animal complained even as he made his way over to the public disposal bins. Taking a key ring out of his pocket, he flipped through them before coming upon one with a small black tab that extended out into circular notch for a tubular pin tumbler lock. The small vulpine pressed it into the side of the largest of the three recycling units and turned it, causing the interior latch of the unit to slide free. "At least we're set for pawpsicle syrup for the next couple of months. It's even worse when I have to sit in there in a diaper," he complained as he reached out to pull open the door. When it out of the way enough, the petite mammal stepped inside and closed the metal barrier behind him with an audible clang.

Rolling his eyes at the temperament of his partner, the red fox took a moment to slide the ramp back into the vehicle before close the fan door; his triangular ears twitching as they listened for the interior locks latching. Once he was certain the vehicle was secure, Nick grabbed the white handle of the plastic tub on wheels and began hauling it out onto the sidewalk, making his way through the throngs of mammals while occasionally reaching out to hand over one of the cherry pawpsicles to anyone who would flag him down with two dollars held at the ready.

Pulling free from the many animals that filled up the walkways, the male vulpine pulled the rolling cooler over towards the two banks, setting up shop between them. He looked over to his right towards the post clock once more and smirked at the sight that greeted him. A store that was part of the Yakgurt brand retail chain situated on the opposite side of the Lemming Brothers Bank was already filled with a line that went straight out the door... a perfect situation for him to skim some impatient customers off to frozen yogurt chain's cloven hooves.

But first things first! He had to wait for the bank to close; it was always a wise decision to make sure one's regular customers got their turn. Prompt service and steady quality kept them coming back for more. Picking up a frozen dessert by its stick in his left hand, the vulpine held the flavored ice treat aloft. Any minute now, he thought as he anxiously tapped his foot, those emerald eyes drawn to the golden bell atop the clock as the two solid metal ram figurines at either side of it were slowly drawing back to chime the hour.

And then it happened. Both ram hammers had made it as far as they could, butting up into the golden filigree decorations that adorned the frame of the clock post's watch before rushing forward and striking the bell again and again in rapid succession, letting off a series of audible chimes that echoed over the numerous mammals in the area to announce it was five o'clock. And just like that, the turnstile door that was entrance to the bank on the red fox's right began to rotate, a series of lemmings marching out en masse.

Nick waited, having learned from experience that the lineup of exit never changed. As always it was Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Leonard, and Mr. Landon Lemming who exited the financial institution first; the owners and proverbial siblings of the Lemming Brothers Bank. Always so serious and glum, they headed off to the right, towards the destination of the private parking garage along with a number of their floor managers; all the little rodents of importance designated by their black and white checker-patterned ties. The vulpine smirked when, as usual, the tenth lemming to come out was Larry; the first of the blue and gold-tie group that marked the rest of the bank's employees as either tellers, financial advisors, or any of the other less glamorous positions within the finance company's pecking order.

And Larry? That boy had a sweet tooth!

Taking a deep breath, Nick was quick to cry out, "PAWPSICLES! GET YOUR PAWPSICLES HERE!" The vulpine held the small dessert he had chosen from the group in the cooler up even higher, shaking it slightly to draw attention to it. "ORGANIC PAWPSICLES! BEAT THE SAVANNA CENTRAL HEAT WITH A TASTY PAWPSICLE!" He then continued to belt out at the top of his lungs. "AT ONLY TWO BUCKS A PAWP, IT'S THE CHERRY TREAT THAT CAN'T BE BEAT! COME AND GET 'EM WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!"

Just like that, the little lemming Larry perked right up! The bank-teller's beady black eyes began shimmering with delight as his ears caught the ice-cream hustler's advertising spiel. So whereas all the higher ups were heading off to get in their fancy, expensive cars to drive home or out to a fancy restaurant, the young lemming turned an immediate right towards the pawpsicle stand, his chubby little co-workers following diligently behind him, each one's eyes widening with excitement as they realized where they were heading off to.

Lucky little guys. It takes so little to make them so happy, the vulpine thought a bit enviously as he began the process of fast-paced sales, handing off the cherry-flavored icy treats to the lemmings in return for a pair of dollars he was quick to pocket. Again and again, like clockwork, frozen desserts and cold hard cash exchanged paws one after the other. Mr. Wilde's grin grew even wider as he saw that a number of the animals at the end of the line for the Yakgurt store picking up and heading over to join the lemmings as his line was proving to be much quicker than what the dumb teenagers working supposed, 'fast food' could manage.

However, even in the midst of serving these lemmings their frozen treats of questionable origin–but still organic, darn it–the sly fox's eyes shifted back and forth, on the lookout for someone else to convince to purchase one of his tasty pawpsicles. The line of lemmini he could usually coerce with but a mere prominent voice calling out over the noise of the city made it incredibly easy to meet his personal daily quota but he was always looking to pad his pockets further. And that meant attracting other potential customers. Should be easy with the start of the rush hour, he thought confidently as emerald eyes darted back and forth.

It was in the midst of browsing for someone he could easily pull in with the lure of cherry goodness–even as he took his two dollars from another of the lemmings and gave them their icy-pawp in return–that he saw her. Coming up the sidewalk across the street was a most lovely vixen covered in the most lavish, softest looking pelt of brownish-orange fur that was offset and complimented by the waist-length navy blue hair that reached back to the base of her fluffy tail–a braid tied into it just below the woman's shoulders. Her chocolate eyes were darting left and right as they looked around the place, which only served to draw attention to the beauty mark under her left eye. Good lord, she's practically on par with a coyote or wolf, he thought as he continued to drink in the sight of the female red fox. She was a solid head taller than him–taller than most foxes in general to be honest. Her curvaceous build was incredibly feminine, more so than one usually saw in Zootopia outside of Gazelle... but from what he could make out, the female vulpine was physically fit to a surprising degree as well with toned muscles in all the right places. Her lovely attire was comprised of a loose-fitting white blouse that showed off the top of her cleavage, tight denim jeans that hugged those incredible hips, and the nice brand new pair of shiny-white Nike sneakers really did show off just how lovely she was.

The man nearly fell over as he felt his heart jump in his chest as the saddest, gentlest smile graced her features. It was because of the vixen's beautiful, powerfully familiar expression that Nick would have sworn he'd seen her somewhere before as a sensation of déjà vu cascaded across the back of his thoughts and screaming throughout his mind. His jaw dropping, the male vulpine couldn't help but swallow, trying to work moisture to a suddenly dry throat as he watched her continue to walk away, pulling a large brown suitcase behind her; a wondrous feminine sway to her hips that just screamed how hot-to-trot she was. It was beauty that was both captivating and haunting, with great emphasis on the latter. He'd never seen any female vulpine of any breed with the kind of gorgeous appearance this one had; the clash of both familiarity and the unknown driving him onward to just keep gazing as she went by.

He was finally taken back to reality as he felt a hand firmly tugging on his pant-leg. Blinking his eyes, the canid male turned back to see one of the remaining lemmings getting a bit antsy. "Oh! Oh right! Sorry pal!" He apologized as he turned his attention back to the customer, handing him the pawpsicle before taking his money. Going through the motions with the other customers, the red fox was working on automatic on the chain of supply and demand as he kept peering over his shoulder, wondering where she was going.

Catching sight of the woman coming to a stop and standing before a building painted a solid bright neon-pink made Nick raise an eyebrow. Flamingle Flats? I wonder what she's doing there... he thought curiously as he watched her step inside the building. Maybe she's getting a place there, he surmised as he turned his attention back to his customers fully. He smiled as the line of small, rotund finely-dressed rodents tapered off and he finally got to the larger animals. As with the tiny mammals, he was quick to take their money with one hand and replace the emptiness of their paws with a frozen delicacy of all-natural artificial cherry flavoring.

Hey, flavor-enhancing chemicals could originate from organic sources too!

Finishing up with the last customer lined up, Wilde felt pretty vindicated. A solid forty customers in thirty minutes was a good start. Not many mammals could claim to earning that much in even an hour, leaving the male vulpine with plenty of leeway to make more before the dinner rush was over. So looking around at anyone else he might be able to entice with his icy treats, the red fox took hold of another of the pawpsicles by its stick and held it high. The salesman took a deep breath, intent to chime out the siren's call of sugary goodness...

...Only to have the words die in his throat as he saw the door of Flamingle Flats open across the street and a rhino roughly push the vixen he'd seen early out; the woman stumbling down the trio of steps. Nick's heart seized as he watched, expecting the worse... only to feel relief as the woman was able to keep her balance. He watched on as she turned around just as the door was closed. He raised an eyebrow as he observed the woman rush up the steps, first jimmying with a door-handle that refused to yield before slamming her fists on the door. "Estúpido cabrón! Gilipollas! BASTARDO LADRÓN!" She cursed in Spanish as she continued to slam her clenched hands over the intricate carvings of the door. "GIVE ME BACK MY STUFF!"

Wow... definitely a hot-tempered Latina, the con-mammal thought as a chuckle sounded from his muzzle as whatever spell her beauty had managed to ensnare him with ceased. Granted, she was still very beautiful in his eyes, but the tableau of perfection was broken, allowing him to see the woman for what she really was, what Zootopia would only allow her to be: a sultry vixen. Not much better than being a sly fox, but at least for the ladies it's a step up.

Shaking his head good naturedly, the male vulpine took a breath again, prepared to chime out that he had most delicious icy pawps to sell to the hungry masses before the entrance to the gaudy pink building opened again, the rhinoceros practically filling the doorframe. "Hey asshole, give me back my—" the vixen stopped suddenly as the much larger herbivore held both her bags high, arms bending back in preparation to throw. "Hey! Wait a second now!" The Hispanic vulpine tried to argue, her arms rising up in a desperate attempt to grab at her luggage. "Don't you even dare think to—"

And that was when Nick saw as the oversized horned mammal threw both bags over the woman's head of curly navy-blue tresses, the pieces of luggage going up in a high arc before slamming down harshly against the concrete of the sidewalk. The woman's satchel practically exploded upon impact, small bits of paper, electronics and knick-knacks spilling out while the suitcase bounced off and went rolling into traffic thanks to its wheels...

Both vulpines cringed as it was suddenly hit by a speeding car, the blow sending a now visibly broken suitcase spinning wildly about in the street before it came to a stop and landed on its side; both latches breaking open and causing the top to prop open from how stressed the frame was. It was a tableau of silence as both foxes just stared at the thoughtless destruction of the woman's personal property.

Nodding his head, the thick-skinned herbivore calmly bid her adieu with a, "Have a nice day." Before be shut the door once more, the sound of a deadbolt audibly clicking with the motion.

The woman rushed down the stairs, her lips pulled back in a frown as she bitterly cursed, "Mierda, mierda, mierda, mierda..." under her breath in rapid succession. She tried to run into the street, only to yelp as another car rushed by, practically turning the woman into road-kill. Would have too if her reflexes weren't primed. Instead, the vixen was able to jump out of the way in the nick of time. "Culo maldito!" She shouted at the driver as they drove off, taking a moment to quickly shake an angry fist at his direction before turning about grabbing the mess that had been her suitcase, quickly dragging it out of the street before another car could either hit it or her!

The male vulpine sighed at the sad, pathetic sight. That was Zootopia for you. A dog-eat-dog world all encompassed within the span of a single city. He had learned long ago from personal experience to never let the prey population or even other predators see they got to him but even he couldn't help but feel a bit of sympathy for the woman even as no one else on the street would do anything to give her a helping hand. That was just rough.

Finally Wilde decided that, "Foxes gotta stick together." After all, it's why he had made Finnick his partner after they both left their high school minimum-wage jobs. Not because of the short stuff's intelligence, especially with the lack of control the fennec had on his temper... but because he was another fox, another mamma; of the bottom rung of the ladder. The caste the rest of society stepped on and saw as undesirable.

So with a Pawpsicle in hand, the male fox made his way to the edge of the sidewalk, looking both ways. Seeing an opening, the canid wise-guy was quick to rush across the asphalt, leaving his stand unattended–something he normally knew better than to so foolishly do. Once on the other side of the street, he came up beside the kneeling vixen on her left as she perused through her possessions and held out the frozen treat to her. "Rough day?" He asked with a gentle tone.

The female vulpine was startled for a moment before looking up at the source of the voice. She blinked her eyes as she instead caught sight of the treat held out to her in offering. "...I'd say you have no idea but you probably saw all that, huh?" She queried as she tilted her head to look up past the frozen pawp and at the male fox, her soft brown eyes peering out amongst the currently messed up navy tresses of her hair.

The male red fox gave his fellow vulpine a lopsided grin. "It was difficult not to. I think you're the only person around here who could yell loud enough to be heard over the vast majority of mammals on the streets besides myself," he said in all seriousness as he looked over his shoulder to make sure no one was at his stand before turning his attention back to the woman who was kneeling by her broken cases. "Now come on. Cheer up and have a pawp. This one's on the house," he said as he waved his hand on his wrist, shaking the pawpsicle for emphasis.

Staring at it for a moment, the female red fox let off a small sigh. "I will after I get my stuff off the street," she said as she grabbed a few more of her things and pulled them off the sidewalk, throwing them haphazardly into her busted suitcase. However, just as she stared to grasp the manila folder that had fallen out of her satchel, the Latina vixen found her mouth suddenly occupied by having a frozen treat placed into it. It was surprising that he did that but... wow! That was a distinctly cherry flavor!

"No, you have it right now. Savor the little things in life while you can," the vulpine hustler said as he let go of the flavored ice confection's wooden stick. He knelt down beside her and began to give the vixen a helping hand. Picking up the woman's cell phone with a navy blue cover adorned with what appeared to be raccoon logo in his grasp, he turned and offered it to her along with his name. "By the way, Miss... name's Nick. Nick Wilde. Yourself?"

Bringing a hand up to her face, the woman pulled the frozen goody out of her mouth. Smacking her lips a few times to clear out the distinct fruity flavor, she met her fellow vulpine's gaze. "Carmelita. Miss Carmelita Fox," she replied before popping the treat back in her maw. He was right, the pawp was pretty good. Still, she would have rather suck on it after she got her stuff off the dirty street and out of danger of blowing everywhere.

Still, it was fortunate enough the man was willing to give her a helping paw in that regard too...

...At least until Nick ended up retrieving one of her bras that had fallen out from her suitcase. He held it up in surprise for a moment, a slight flush actually managing to make its way through his facial fur. Quickly handing her the navy blue undergarment he couldn't help but comment, "Really? Thirty-six Double-D?"

Letting out an exasperated sigh, the Hispanic vulpine could at least give him credit for not overreacting even more so or just holding it aloft for practically everyone to gaze upon. Taking the pawpsicle out of her mouth for a moment, she calmly replied, "Sí." She was about to stick the icy treat back into her maw before pausing as a thought occurred to her. A devious little grin managed to find its way across her muzzle as she added, "And like your pawpsicles, they're all natural."

That gave the man a moment of pause. God, I hope not, the male red fox thought for a moment–as he knew just what went into those things–before gracing the lovely Latina vixen with one of his patented lady-killer smiles. "Then you are a very blessed woman and whoever you're with is an extremely lucky mammal."

Nick was surprised as the smile that had managed to blossom on her lovely features suddenly faltered, a more somber mood permeating the air. "I... would rather not think how it ended." She knew Sly was still alive, but the thought of him trapped in the past or blown to some far-flung destination or isolated area in the world–such as Cuba–or something was still bothersome.

She could already envision what the authorities would have done to the raccoon if he ended up landing in Guanotanamo Bay. Sly was too pretty for prison! He was the kind of mammal they used as currency! CURRENCY!

The tone of Carm's voice immediately struck a chord with the male fox. "Yeah, isn't that always the way? No matter what animals think about us, they don't seem to want to accept that we foxes are mammals too... with hopes and dreams of our own and that we can be just as crushed when they devastate them." He waxed on surprisingly poetically as he helped gather possessions, such as picking up a pair of jean shorts. Sure, they were a size thirty-four waist but he could tell exactly WHY they were quite larger than what the vixen's lovely hourglass waist needed. As Gazelle always said, 'hips don't lie', he mentally surmised as he handed the woman the garment that had fallen out of her suitcase after the luggage practically fell apart once she got it safely to the sidewalk.

The two worked in tandem in relative silence for a few minutes, until Nick felt something metallic under his fingers. "Hmm, what's this..." he murmured as he pushed aside a thin pale blue handkerchief and found a gold gleam. Picking up the item, he looked it over and smirked. "Heh," he chuckled under his breath. "Okay, I have to hand it to you, Carm. You've got more balls than most men I've ever met."

That statement caused the woman to blink her eyes a couple of times in confusion. She turned her head to face the male fox, giving him a curious expression. "Pardon?" She asked as she pulled the wooden stick stained a bright red from the frozen cherry syrup out of her mouth.

Holding the woman's badge aloft, Nicholas gave his fellow vulpine a sly grin. "It takes a lot of guts to try and impersonate a cop. I mean, I've seen a few hustles and con jobs in my day but to actually go around with a badge? Sister, major kudos to you. I would never have the guts to try something that risky."

Carmelita gave the man a flat look. "News Flash, Mr. Wilde. I am a cop. Interpol Special Agent, Inspector Carmelita Montoya Fox. If you want, I can call my boss back at the Paris headquarters to confirm it."

His ears flattening back, the male vulpine blinked his green eyes in surprise. "You're serious?" He asked, looking at her to see if she was trying to pull a fast one. Wouldn't be the first time a lovely vixen got one over on him. The trio known as Kozlov's Angels had a certain way about them, that much was certain.

"More serious than a heart attack," the vixen said as she held her upturned hand out to him, fingers waving in a beckoning motion. "Now then, I really would like my badge back... if you don't mind?"

Holding it in his hand for a bit more, the red fox considered the weight as he read the inscriptions on the front of it; slowly rubbing his thumb over the surface. His experience scrutinizing quality to better pull off his own scams led him to believe that this badge was either one hell of a replica or she was the genuine article. "...You really are a policewoman?" He whispered in awe, the disbelief clear in the man's tone.

Nodding her head, the woman pulled her suitcase wide-open, showing the man that within the broken frame of the luggage was a small, plastic composite Beaver-Tough brand hard case. She pulled that professional-grade container out and undid the latches, revealing the shock pistol within. "Ever-armed and ready too." She replied, her voice laced with a tinge of smugness.

Nick's jaw dropped.

Shaking her head at the man's stunned silence the woman gently reached forward and plucked her symbol of authority from his numbed grasp. Carmelita then placed it back into her satchel, making sure it was inside an interior pocket so it wouldn't go flying a third time this day.

Finally after a few moments more of processing that bit of news, the male fox was able to place a voice to his thoughts once more. "Well now... this has certainly been an eventful day. Had to move out of my apartment while repairs are being done on it, get to meet a lovely lady, find out she's a cop..." he started chuckling. "Boy, won't..." he trailed off, as a thought occurred to him.

It was a rather out-there idea but one that had some genuine merit. "Say..." he began slowly as he returned his attention to the other vulpine. "Miss Fox?"

Blinking her eyes as the ice-cream vendor called her by her last name, the vixen turned her gaze from her busted satchel to her fellow fox once more. "Sí?" She chimed. "What is it?"

"You don't have a place to stay, do you?" He raised his right hand and thumbed over at the grossly pink-colored building that had forcibly ejected the lovely vulpine in quite the unceremonious manner to reaffirm he had witnessed what happened.

Nodding her head, Carmelita had to admit it did appear such was now the case. Still, she at least knew she wasn't without options. "I'll probably just use the Police Station at this rate," she admitted, knowing it wouldn't be the first time she was practically living at work 24/7. Still, she was curious about his inquiry as to her situation. "Why do you ask?"

"Well..." Nick gave the lovely lady his most dashing of smiles. "I just so happens that I know someone who has some spare rooms at their home... and she lives alone, so it's quite a bit of room. Plus with how things are these days, you can't be too careful with trusting just anyone."

She blinked her brown eyes as she stared at the male fox, giving him her own scrutinizing gaze. "You're right. I can't just trust anyone. So why should I trust you?" She asked in all honesty. "Not that I don't appreciate the help but I barely know you." Heck, she knew Renato more than she did this guy and the ebony-furred jaguar had no problem with leaving her alone and heading off to handle his own affairs. "Besides, I don't need charity. I can handle myself."

Schooling his features after having been so caught off-guard by the fact this was an actual vixen police officer, the male vulpine calmly replied, "We foxes need to stick together." As she looked at him with an inquisitive gaze, Wilde went on to explain, "Look, it's obvious you're not from around here... but I am! I've lived in Zootopia all my life, for better and mostly worse. Every politician and their publicist tries to paint Zootopia as the place, 'Where anyone can be anything because predators and prey live together in peace and harmony while singing Kumbaya My Lord'!" He scoffed at the notion before a frown settled on his face. "Only, wouldn't you know it? It's a load of complete and utter bull. If you aren't some sort of herbivore–preferably larger than a beaver–or at least a big and muscular predator with razor-sharp fangs and/or teeth? You're a nuisance, a pest, an undesirable! Merely something to be actively ignored at best or physically kicked to the curb at worst."

The male red fox then surprised Carmelita as he brought his left hand up and softly caressed her right cheek, making her hiss as she felt a sudden throb of pain from even the gentlest pressure. "And I once I got a close at you, I could see life here had already started the physical kicking."

Reaching up suddenly, Carmelita roughly pushed his hand away and stood up. "I've been here less than a day and I already feel the same way." Oh how she wanted nothing more than to throw more than a few specist mammals in the slammer for a few days. Not everyone, mind you, mainly the guy who shocked her and the jerk at the counter who had her thrown out. "When the first handshake you get from a prey animal is a jolt from their Taser, it really sours you for the rest of the experience."

"Taser?" Nick queried in alarm. He frowned a bit more as it immediately clicked for him. "Fox Away," the red fox murmured in disgust. It wasn't a question.

Nodding her head in confirmation, the female vulpine scoffed irritably. "The same..." she sighed as she looked over her luggage. "Ugh! This is going to be such a pill to lug around. Having to keep an eye on my busted satchel was bad enough. Now I have to worry about two pieces of luggage falling apart while I haul them back to the Precinct," she grumbled as she tossed the pawpsicle stick in a nearby trash-can.

Standing up as well, the male fox internally winced at the loss of one of the pieces of 'red wood' he needed as part of the delivery for the Cheezits Construction company... but it wasn't like he could just reach in after it in front of a policewoman! Even if she was a fellow fox, it would raise too many questions. No, it was best to keep her from asking any by doing the inquiring himself. "My offer still stands, you know," the male vulpine told her in all honesty. "It's a nice little cottage, practically on the water, a lot of space away from the rest of the city-folk..."

Considering what the man was offering, Carmelita thought about it for a moment, trying to imagine it as he described. Really, it sounded like a good offer, but still... "I'll admit, it's tempting," she told her fellow fox. "But why should I trust that you won't try something?" She had met with a few girls that had come across a nice-seeming guy and ended up in the hospital only days later as part of her investigations. The Latina vixen had no intention of ending up another statistic.

Turning his head so that his emerald eyes met the woman's chocolate gaze, he told her, "Okay, three things, Miss Fox. First of all, you're a cop. Anyone who does anything to one of you people in any undue way is just asking for trouble! Be it a lengthy prison stay, a harsh fine, fifteen minutes in a locked room experiencing police brutality first hand, or some combination thereof." Nick stood up, his eyes then drawn to the woman's luggage. "Second, I have my doctorate in Duct Tape-ology. I could perform surgery on your bags in the back while my partner Finnick gives you a guided tour of the magical misery that is the real Downtown."

Raising a navy blue eyebrow up into her hairline, the female red fox crossed her arms over her chest. She looked at her fellow vulpine with a rather questioning gaze. "Really?" She asked with a very prominent disbelieving tone to her voice. "Duct Tape-ology?"

"Hey now! I'll have you know it was a very intense two-hour online class to get certified!" The male fox insisted. The left corner of his mouth tugged into a smile as he elicited a giggle from the canid woman. "And finally..." puffing out his chest and standing as tall as he could, the mammal raised his right hand to the side of his head and saluted her. "I wouldn't lie! Junior Ranger Scout's Honor! It's our duty to be brave, loyal, helpful, and above all else: trustworthy!" He grinned wide, showing off his pearly white teeth.

Carmelita gave him an amused look, before sighing. "Trustworthy, huh? Okay, fine... looks like I lose this one, huh?" As the man winked at her in a playful fashion, Carmelita had to roll her eyes. She didn't know what it was, but Nick reminded her of Sly for some reason. Probably because he gives off that same troublemaking vibe, she surmised before continuing to talk. "So, before I do something I'll likely regret by agreeing completely to this, just be honest. I mean genuinely honest. What kind of mess am I going to get myself into?"

Nick's rather toothy grin pulled back into a small, comforting smile that somehow had a small undertone of sadness to the overall expression. "Well, that all depends, really. If you are familiar with Zootopia, then it's going to cost nothing... but if you aren't the trip to get there is going to be quite the eye-opener." His shoulders sagged a little. "I wasn't kidding when I called getting there the, 'magical misery tour'."

Nodding her head in understanding, the Latina vixen replied, "Fine. I can accept that, Mr. Wilde." She held up broken leather satchel, cradling it in her right arm as she motioned to him with a nod of her head. "As for you..." her left hand then waved towards the direction of her busted suitcase. "Care to give me a helping paw with my luggage?"

His smile becoming a lopsided smirk, the red fox couldn't help but tease, "Well sake's alive! Me and a whole bunch of sexy women's clothing! Haven't experienced that since the fifteen minutes I actually got to work at a Victoria's Secret."

That statement made the woman blink her eyes. Looking at the man with genuine surprised etched on her features, the policewoman couldn't help but query. "You worked in a Victoria's Secret?"

"For fifteen minutes," he repeated as he walked over to her luggage and set it upright, noticing the sides wanted to cave out apart from each other, even if the woman had managed to buckle the latches closed again. A small frown came to his muzzle before admitted, "They thought I was a flat-chested teenage vixen until I opened my mouth."

The Latina red fox couldn't help it. Her expression broke out in a wide smile as she fell into a fit of laughter. The mental imagery just struck her as funny. After nearly a minute, she was able to pull herself together and tell the ice-cream vendor, "Okay, okay... I needed that. Thank you."

"Oh no, it's completely true," the vulpine clad in a viridian Hawaiian shirt and striped tie replied as he and the vixen made their way towards the end of the street where the cross-walk was. "Story of my life, really... too short to see over most counter-tops, too short to get a good view of the screen in movie theaters, too short to ride the Screamin' Demon Roar-A-Coaster, and most devastatingly..." he paused for dramatic effect. "Too short to be a Stormtrooper and fight the good fight against Rebel scum in the name of Lord Vader and the Empire!" He sighed in a rather theatric fashion. "Oh the horrors of having such a wonderfully petite and girlish figure!"

The woman tilted her head, looking at the other fox curiously for a moment. Despite herself, she decided to play along. "You could have always infiltrated the Rebellion while dressed in drag, you know? I'm sure more than a few lonely rebel scumbags would have loved to have a cute girl around them... especially if 'she' were in the garb that Leia wore in Return of the Jedi."

As the crosswalk light came on and the pair made their way across the street, the male fox gave her a roguish grin. "Personally though? I always saw myself more in the vein of Han Solo. Smuggler, trouble-maker, the mammal every guy wants to be and every woman wants to be with... especially Cattie Fisher," he said with a knowing grin. "Too bad I can safely assume you wouldn't consider yourself the, 'Princess Leia' type."

"You're darn right I wouldn't," the canid cop agreed as she walked beside her fellow vulpine among the throngs of mammals that crossed along the white zebra-striped walkway spray-painted into the black asphalt. "I always consider myself more along the lines of Luke Skywalker. Proud, noble, and willing to do the right thing! To be someone who has the strength of character to stand up and face the forces of darkness, no matter the odds!"

"Just don't go losing a hand now," Nick warned her playfully as they climbed up onto the sidewalk opposite where they came from. "Or worse, you might get the least amount of screen-time when they reboot the franchise!"

The vixen smirked back at her fellow vulpine. "Better than being in it for nearly the entirety only to get offed by an angsty child," the Latina beauty shot back playfully.

That comeback made the male red fox chortle. "Trust me, Carm. Running the risk of being offed by a small, angst-ridden emo short-stuff who wants to run me through with a sharp and/or burning implement of pain and death is something I deal with on an everyday basis." To make his point, he walked over to the green recycling bins and slapped his hand on the side of the largest one a few times. "Come on out, big guy! We're leaving!"

"Leaving!?" An annoyed shout echoed from within the trio of public disposal bins. Before the Hispanic woman could even consider what was going on, a small door on the side slammed open and out stepped a most annoyed-looking fennec fox. "What do you mean, leaving!? We can make another fifteen minutes at least! Wilde, I swear to God! If you're trying to screw me out of my extra ten... percent... I..." he trailed off as he saw the tall and ravishingly beautiful vixen standing beside his partner. "...Sweet Cheeses H-for-Hummus Crackers All-Bitey..." he cursed in the style the progressive Zootopian rodents were more known for, just gob-smacked in awe by the prime example of vulpine beauty before him.

Staring down at the tiny desert fox for a moment, the policewoman turned her attention back to the taller of the two male vulpines, causing her navy blue tresses to bounce for a moment with the swivel of her head. "Is he always this articulate?" Carmelita asked of her fellow red fox as the short mammal stared, his lips still moving even as nothing came out of them.

Nodding his head, Nick couldn't help but reply, "Last time I saw him do this was when he first met Cherry." He leaned over and gently rapped the smaller vulpine atop his scalp. "Hey! Hey! Earth to Finnick! Earth to Finnick." When the little guy's muzzle kept moving wordlessly, he stood up straight and gave the woman a helpless shrug. "Well, that's what you get for choosing the lowest bidder as your minion, am I ri~IGHT!?" The red fox yelped as he hopped on his left foot, trying to cradle the shin that had gotten sucker-punched.

"That's my line, Wilde. We all know you're my Minion," the desert fox firmly stated as he walked up to the much taller red vixen. Looking up to her he pleaded, "Please tell me... I mean, for the love of God tell me you are neither related to this bozo nor dating him. It would be a crime against animality if either was the case."

Although her expression was a stoic one, Carmelita was mentally grinning. Oh she was going to have some fun with this. "Oh, you know how it goes. I took one look at him and just couldn't help myself! I threw myself at Nick as hard as I could and it's taking all I have to keep my hands off of him."

His eyes practically bulged out of his skull from how greatly they widened at the woman's response. "WHAT!?" The pint-sized vulpine male cried out in sheer disbelief. "Oh, heaven forbid, Lady! Wilde!? You could do better than Wilde! Hell! I could do better than Wilde!" He shouted as he motioned towards the hopping vulpine.

A lovely smile graced the Latina beauty's features. "What can I say? I always love a challenge and Nick seems like the perfect fixer-upper!" She chirruped sweetly as she looked towards the male red fox, taking advantage of his currently inattentive state to bat her eyelashes at him in a loving manner. She didn't want him to get a swelled head if he thought this was genuinely the case, after all but she couldn't pass up the chance to milk the chance to tease the other mammal.

His shoulders sagging in defeat at the continued unfairness of the world, the small vulpine snorted. "Figures. Ain't that always how it goes? A man meets a woman hoping she'll never change, and a woman meets a man hoping she can change him. Story. Of. My. Life." He shook his head in annoyance, making his oversized ears wobble for a bit. Straightening up as tall as his petite stature would allow, he extended a hand in greeting to the much taller woman. "Anyway, where are my manners? The name's Finnick Zerdan. And yourself, beautiful?"

"Carmelita Fox," the woman replied as she squatted down slightly to get closer to the man's eye-level. Shaking hands with him, she began to inquire, "Now then, Nick said something about you giving me a, 'magical misery tour' today."

The fennec's face set back into a hard frown. "Why do you need to go to Happytown?" He asked in all seriousness as he withdrew his hand. He began looking her up and down, sizing the woman up with a scrutinizing gaze. "...You telling me you're some kind of hooker?" It figured. Such would be the only way Wilde would get any.

Needless to say, THAT caught the woman off guard. "...Hooker?" She repeated as she blinked her eyes. A frown now adoring her features, the woman stood up and glared at the direction of her fellow red fox. "Nick..." she called out to the other vulpine in a tone that hinted at the fact she wasn't pleased with that. "What's this about Happytown I hear?"

Slowly coming to a standstill as the throb in his leg lessened–and the need to diffuse a possibly disastrous situation heightened–the vulpine replied, "Yeah, Happytown. Northernmost part of the Downtown District, bordering right on the Rainforest District." Giving her a nervous smile, he calmly added, "You wanted a someplace to stay and I know the perfect place there."

Finnick's orange eyes immediately widened at the implications. "Hold it," he said as he turned to his partner with an air of seriousness. "You want to bring her to Honey?"

Nodding his head, the male red fox replied, "Why not? Weren't you just arguing with me this morning that I should be staying with Honey?"

"You should," the tiny vulpine insisted. "She's alone out there most of the time!"

"Well guess what?" Nick smiled rather deviously at his business partner-in-non-crime. "Officer Fox here could really use a place to stay and we know Honey will show her all the hospitality she does us."

The fennec was about to argue further, only to come to a sudden halt, the words dying in his throat at the implications of what Wilde told him penetrated his skull. The short vulpine blinked his eyes once, twice, three times. "Wait..." he turned his head towards the woman, looking at her with a confused expression. "You're a policewoman?"

The Hispanic vulpine sighed as such information got shared further but nodded her head in affirmation. "I've been trying to keep it low-key until I get started up with the Zootopia Police Department. But yes, I am Inspector Carmelita Fox of Interpol's Paris Division."

The desert fox blinked his eyes once, twice, thrice. "...Oh..."

Both Carmelita and Nick watched as Finnick's eyes rolled up into the back of his head before the fennec fell backwards as he passed out–which was fortunately a very short drop for someone of his tiny stature. As she stared down at the smaller vulpine's unconscious form, the woman couldn't help but quip, "Well now... that was unexpected."

Shrugging his shoulders, Nick tried to be nonchalant about it. "Trust me. Finnick doesn't have the best history with cops... one of his first rules of dating is, 'never get involved with the blue'. I think you coming out as one may have fried his poor little brain," he said that last part teasingly in the direction of the unconscious desert fox.

Surprisingly, it elicited a response. "Stop... calling me... little..." the fennec murmured on reflex from his place on the sidewalk; his left foot twitching in his comatose state.

The male vulpine blinked his bright green eyes at that. "But damn, if those big ears of his don't pick up everything."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"...The Apocalypse..." Carmelita said slowly as she sat in the front passenger's seat of the '71 Ford Lobos Edition Econoline van, the desert fox in the driver's seat somehow able to drive the damn thing through the creative use of a number of phone books on the seat and padded 2x4's that were strapped to the pedals through a combination of belts, rope, twine, and duct tape. "This place is the apocalypse..." she murmured as she continued to take in her surroundings as the clunking vehicle made its way through the abandoned streets of Happytown.

The fennec snorted. "That's what most of the Prey said when they took off the collars for good," the desert fox replied in all seriousness, pulling into the currently empty and plant-filled lane meant for oncoming traffic to get around the rusted hulk of an abandoned trolley that filled his lane; the street car's windows broken and its paintjob long-peeled off to reveal the bubbling rust beneath. "When we were finally and truly freed, every pred and their brother abandoned this place like the plague over the next five years that followed, leaving the area a ghost town since '93. After seventy-plus years of being confined to a predator ghetto, they all wanted out."

"Although I must admit, it sounds much cooler when you say the Apocalypse happened," Nick commented from his place in the back as he worked on Carmelita's bag; right hand firmly gripping a roll of the silver adhesive fabric tape/multi-tool of the gods. "Then it would have been all, 'Ooooh! Is this place haunted now?' instead of, 'and everyone got the hell out because they hated it'."

Both Carmelita and Finnick nodded at that. Such didn't make it any better but it did sound a bit cooler at least. "Not that I often agree with my pal Wilde here," the small fennec said as he continued to drive about the ruins that made up this section of the city. "But he has a point. Barely anyone comes here anymore. It's gotten to the point where even the city council abandoned it in every aspect, including taking it off the maps and just pretending this is all Downtown! There are practically no services here. Shoot, the only reason Honey still has any utilities is because of her home's proximity to the Rainforest District."

Her gaze trailing over the landscape, the woman frowned at the clashing textures of red and green... rust and overgrowth. "So that's it? This place is left to rot?" The vixen asked as she motioned to the ruins around here.

"To a point," Nick said as he pulled a length of duct tape from the roll he was holding. "You'll only really find 'Restoration Historians' here... not that they're trying to fix anything, God no. This part of town is a cheap source for classic architecture and adornments. Some of those wood carvings and moldings, even if dirty, are still worth a pretty penny." He placed the tape down along with a length of pipe along the side of the suitcase's frame. "And that's not counting any copper wiring they pull out of the buildings' walls."

The vulpine behind the wheel snorted. "Don't you just love global markets pushing the price of things that we once thought were cheap up?" The small fennec shook his head. "I've seen animals rip guard-rails off the side of roads since steel is worth so much." At least no one got hurt when that happened.

And even better, no one saw when he did such.

The Hispanic vulpine beauty let off a little depressed sigh at what was going on in this city. "That's still criminal vandalism and theft," she said in all seriousness. "Even if these places are abandoned, they are still part of town property."

The vulpine in the rear section of the van snorted. "Newsflash, my dear Officer Fox... as true as that statement is, it's only a crime if Zootopia presses charges. And since none of those bank managers on the city council gives a rip, let alone send anyone down here to keep an eye on things, such goes unnoticed." He clipped the latches back and forth along the two halves of luggage, checking how badly it wobbled. Nodding his head as the back half was firmer, the vulpine reached for another piece of semi-clean plumbing pipe and went into further duct tape restoration.

The driver shrugged. "Either way, the situation's bad. But hey, it could always be worse," the small desert fox said in all seriousness. "We should be glad that there are at least no drug lords that moved in here." It was a small miracle but it was one that most of them were thankful for.

Needless to say, that otherwise idle comment caught the woman's attention something fierce, her ears twitching sporadically as she mentally processed that. Turning her gaze from the road she'd been watching over to the driver, the female red fox couldn't help but inquire, "Hey, Finnick? Are you saying that drugs are a problem in Zootopia?"

The small desert fox snorted, causing his nostrils to flare for a moment. "If you mean in the city overall then no, not really... but if you want to see real drug problems, you should head over to the Meadowlands District for that. It's karma at work if you ask me."

Such a statement made the Interpol officer raise one of her navy blue eyebrows in curiosity. "Karma? You think they deserved it?" The woman asked curiously.

"Oh yeah," the small vulpine nodded as he took a sharp right turn, causing the woman to press against her door and Finnick himself to internally smirk as he could hear the clatter of equipment and the yelping of Wilde from the back of his '71 Lobos. "The Meadowlands were where anyone who was someone lived. When Zootopia was founded, the Meadowlands District was THE district to be. Commerce, affluence, political power... all the grazing herbivores who ran this city back in the day lived there. Place had the nickname of, 'Ewetopia' for a good sixty years for a reason!" He smirked in a most devious fashion. "And then the collars came off."

"So everyone who was a criminal or had no skills except how to make drugs moved out of here and into one of the more influential districts?" Carmelita grimaced as she considered that. She knew from experience such always made things harder. It was easy to find drug runners in small towns and slums but in more affluent buildings and areas? Oh, that was a pain. Between the locals pitching a fit about the police coming in or pitching a fit AT the police about unsavory elements hanging around, it was damned if you did and damned if you didn't.

"Not everyone... but enough," the fennec replied. "The bigger irony is that the majority of those chemists? It's the herbivores themselves. With a number of their family heads vacating office after the whole collar scandal came to light to the rest of the country, they had trouble finding their niches in the new political climate. And it didn't help that the gentrified Sahara Square pretty much took all of the tourism and major business from that area during the Nineties. All those prey animals with their overpriced college degrees in science, pharmacy, and chemistry turned to producing Smack to make end's meet. They're the ones that brought the preds into their area even faster to act as their dealers, protection, and entice to be customers. For all its once proud glory, atop hilly slopes that look down on the rest of Zootopia, the Meadowlands is now almost as bad as Happytown!" He blinked his eyes for a moment and raised his right hand, motioning forward. "But enough of that! We're here!"

Carmelita turned her attention from the smaller mammal and back to the road and her immediate surroundings. Directly ahead was a cobblestone archway, one that definitely showed its age as portions of the stone bridge were covered in moss, partially blending it into the two partitions of land it connected. As the van drove over it, the vixen was surprised to find that the destination itself was in a lot better shape than the rest of the area. Someone had obviously been keeping an eye on it along with the structures that dotted the real estate parcel; a water tower, a barn and a simple ranch house. "It's... a farm?"

"That it is," Nick replied from the back as he tore another strip of duct tape from the roll. "Nice little piece of rural utopia near wild urban sprawl." He then fidgeted with the woman's luggage some more, nodding his head as it didn't wave, lean from side-to-side, or try and collapse in on itself–always a plus, to be certain! "It was Honey's desire long ago to have a nice little country home. I stop by now and then to make sure it remains more 'country' than 'jungle'."

Pulling the vehicle up close to the house, the small desert fox put the van into its parking gear. "All right, we've arrived! Everybody get out!" The small fennec shouted as he turned the key and shut off the engine. He turned to look up at the taller female vulpine with a knowing smile. "And that, my dear, was the magical misery tour... remember, all gratuity is welcome."

The vixen nodded her head. "We'll see," she told the little guy as she pulled the handle to her right and pushed open the door. Unbuckling her seatbelt, the policewoman stepped out and dropped onto the ground; her left arm reaching back to grasp the van door and close it behind her. Stepping forward, the Hispanic red fox looked out at the surroundings. Everything was showing its age–that was for darn certain–but the house and its amenities were a step above everything she'd seen so far in this section of town in terms of quality. "You're certain this Honey person will be okay with me staying here? I didn't see either of you call ahead."

Nick's voice spoke up from within the van. "She lives here alone. So for her, it will be nice to have someone to spend time with."

Her ears twitching atop her head at the now familiar sound of the van's slightly rusted back doors opening, Carmelita turned her head and saw her fellow red fox at the back of the vehicle, the mammal standing there proudly, hands on his hips. At either side of him were the blue-tressed vixen's bags, the luggage set looking similar to a creation of Jackson Pollock if the artist had worked in duct tape. "Well?" The pawpsicle salesman queried as he had the woman's attention. "What do you think?"

"...They look so damn chintzy..." the woman replied as she walked over to the rear of the van and picked up her satchel. Placing it on her shoulders, she rotated her arm in the socket, trying to get the thing to swing. Nodding her head, she returned her gaze to the male fox and replied, "But passable. This will certainly tide me over until I can buy a new set. Muchos gracias, Nick."

He smiled at the woman's show of gratitude in Spanish. The male red fox rather liked hearing her speak it, finding it rather exotic. "Not a problem, my dear Miss Fox." Bringing his hands up before him, the male vulpine rubbed them together. Now then, shall we go say hello?"

Nodding her head in agreement, the Latina beauty replied, "Please." She accepted her suitcase from him as well, allowing the male vulpine to jump out of the back of the Ford Econoline. The male mammal slammed the doors shut before he started leading the way across the dirt path that went straight to the front door; the red fox pulling a key ring out of his pocket and flipping through the small pieces of metal.

Coming to a stop at the entrance, Nick pushed his key into the lock and turned; the sound of the tumblers unlatching audible to everyone thanks to how quiet the surrounding area was. Turning the key back and then tugging it free from the lock in the handle, the male red fox pocketed the key set before grasping the door knob and twisting it. Pushing the door inward, the slick huckster couldn't help but smirk as he stepped in as he released a melodious call of, "Honey! I'm home!"

Sighing in exasperation at the man's antics, the Hispanic vixen shook her head good-naturedly before stepping it... and nearly dropping her satchel in shock. The exterior of the home may have been simple and utilitarian with minimal shapes and windows but now that she was inside, Carmelita felt as if she'd been transported back to a 1950's America. Everything around her in the interior of the home emphasized hand-made skills over mass-production. While kept simplistic in form, the visibility of distinguished craftsmanship was evident even under the layers of dust that had settled over the room. All the clean lines and natural materials, particularly with the exposed rafters decorated with hand-carved Colonial-styled adornments really struck a chord with the female vulpine. It was all so simplistic yet with a rustic charm that somehow bordered onto being its own level of luxuriousness.

At the policewoman's continued silence, Nick turned back to look at her, a knowing smile already on his face. "What do you think, Officer Fox?"

"This is... actually kind of nice," the vixen admitted after a few moments of gazing about as she stepped further into the house, her eyes drawn over the vintage living room set. "I mean, sure the place is a bit old... but it's in a way that's aesthetically pleasing."

The red fox's smile widened. "It's as she wanted it. I do my best to dust once in a while but the majority of my attention is mostly focused on the most important room of the house." The grin that graced his muzzle became a teasing smirk. "The kitchen!"

Watching the man head off further into the place, Carmelita almost went right after him, only to yelp in surprise as the fennec suddenly got ahead of her by going between her legs. "Manners, Finnick!" She called out before walking after the two vulpine males, now very glad she had gone with wearing jeans over a skirt.

Making her way into the kitchen after the pair, the female red fox managed to relax a bit once more. It would appear that at least someone–likely Nick if his comments were to be believed–had been keeping this room clean; its surfaces practically shone with a freshly waxed gleam. The majority of the cooking space may have been shoved into one corner section of the room but that allowed space for the HUGE appliances that seemed to have been dropped off directly from the Fifties! And considering American craftsmanship back then, they were all likely still in working order, albeit their energy efficiency might have sent meter readers running for the hills. Besides that though, there was plenty of room to eat; the built-in breakfast nook was adorable and romantic! A lovely window setting for two to recline in and gaze out as they shared a meal.

The only oddity that the Interpol Inspector noticed was that a black telephone cable reached straight from the wall-mounted rotary phone and traveled across the floor to where it disappeared underneath the kitchen sink's curtained cabinetry. "You know, there are better phones than that," she commented to Nick while pointing out the old handset hanging from the wall

At the vixen's assessment, the red fox nodded his head in complete agreement. "True. But it's not my phone and Honey doesn't trust cellular technology. Speaking of which," the pawpsicle hustler switched gears as he made his way over to the sink. "It's time to meet your landlord for the foreseeable future!" The male vulpine chimed as he pulled aside the curtain, revealing that it wasn't just an empty space and pipes but that there was an open porthole in the floor! The thick, circular metal door had been removed and placed along the back of the wall to allow easy access. "Come this way, Miss Fox!"

"...You do know there are WAY too many Slasher Flicks that start out like this, right?" Was the female vulpine's rather curt reply. It was sketchy enough to get into a dilapidated van but to head out to the middle of nowhere and be asked to drop down into a hole? The only reason that she didn't kick both their asses and haul them into the station for attempted kidnapping that very moment was because they weren't triggering any of her usual intuitive instincts–not even one orange sparkle! As unnerving as this was, the two were being legitimate with her...

...

...Didn't mean she couldn't give them shit for ACTING so stereotypically criminal!

The male fox chuckled. "Oh, I know. Believe me, I know. But Honey doesn't come to the surface. Not anymore. It's why I figured you would enjoy this place. You would have the actual house to yourself. We merely need to ask the owner's permission first." He motioned to the hole again, trying to get her to go on ahead.

When the Latina vixen just kept looking at him with an expression that practically asked, 'really' Nick let off a sigh. "Fine, fine... let me go first. I'll show you there's nothing to worry about." So saying, the male red fox sat down and slid himself underneath the cabinetry, making sure the heel of his foot touched the first ladder step-handled before turning about and ne began climbing down...

...Only to let out a girlish scream!

"NICK!" The female vulpine shouted out as she dropped her suitcase, long-ingrained muscle memory from training and on-the-job experience springing into action, the woman ready to retrieve and prep her shock pistol.

"RELAX!" Wilde called back quickly from within the hole. "It was a spider! Just a spider! My bad!" He chuckled nervously, now glad he had already gotten quite a distance. He didn't want the woman to see how badly embarrassed he was. Pretty certain I look like a sunburn victim, he thought as he made his way along the ladder, going down...

Down...

Down...

Sweet Cheeses, it is a bit of a haul to get down here, isn't it? Nick couldn't help but think as he continued to descend the ladder. Going a considerable distance, the male fox was eventually able to jump off and land in the subterranean lair that was partially illuminated by a few storm lanterns. The bunker was–in maybe its original form–what one would expect from the decade it was made and installed. An era where one still had some fear that they would wake up and find the terror of the Red Menace–hungry polar bears drunk on communism and vodka–outside their door was still a real threat.

And then she got a hold of it and made it her own.

The edges of the room were covered with metal frame cabinets filled to the brim with MREs, bottles of water, and other assorted non-perishable foodstuffs. Behind the structures and then some were a vast assortment of maps and diagrams. The paper outlines covered nearly every available space on the walls while the area's floor was cluttered with all kinds of things: paint buckets, a golf bag filled with bottle rockets, and canisters of fuel to name but a few.

Not that all of it made that sense to the red fox.

Where was the air exchange? After all, carbon dioxide poison and fumes from the fuel, should have taken Honey's life years ago and the few lights in there would not support plant life.

Not that there was any.

And where did her... solid waste go? Aside from the disposed containers of food and water, her... used waste was nowhere to be found and no toilet was seen. That also assumed some of those bottles didn't have something other than water in them.

If she didn't plan to leave the bunker, why did she need the shovel, the fuel–that had no use inside the bunker, as nothing in there ran on fuel–the maps, and conspiracy equipment? What were the rockets for, as the ceiling was not exactly tall enough to enjoy such a show?

In the end, it hinted that Honey's bunker had even more secrets than even he had yet to see... and a sense that if he asked, the answers–should he be able to accept them–might end up with him not being allowed to leave... alive.

Nick may have been like a son to the badger and she a mother to him but there was no doubting that the woman was also a very paranoid individual.

He didn't get more time to dwell on it when the vixen finally joined him down in the bunker. Looking about, she couldn't help but let off a low Whistle. "Dulce Jesús... what is all this?" She queried as she turned about in place, getting a look at all the equipment. There was enough shearing equipment to supply a small army! "Is she expecting the Russians to drop bombs?" Carmelita asked as she turned her gaze back towards her fellow fox.

The male vulpine shrugged his shoulders. "Nah, something worse. Riots in the streets because predators and prey can't take it anymore and start attacking each other because one of them did something stupid," Nick replied. He wasn't exactly lying but he didn't think Miss Fox needed to know the full story... at least not right away.

However, introductions were upon them. The male vulpine's right ear twitched as a familiar female voice spoke up. "Nick? Nick is that you?"

His muzzle breaking out into a small smile, the male red fox turned about, his viridian eyes darting about the bunker before settling on one of the backpacks that began moving before it slowly turned around. "Yeah, it's me! Come on out, Honey! I got someone for you to meet!"

Hearing that, the policewoman's own chocolate orbs scanned about the messy bunker before Carmelita caught sight of a female honey badger. She was decked out in green camouflage fatigues, a yellow muscle shirt, and a padded khaki vest covered in all sorts of pockets. All of which was rather tight on her. Even though the woman was of a fairly feminine build–even with those short and sturdy legs–she maintained a somewhat menacing appearance thanks to her distinctly thick-set and broad muscles across the back. Her pelt of purple fur so dark it was nearly black with a pattern of white along her backside and into her hair was covered with filth and crumbs; mostly dirt from obviously having been in this underground lair for so long. "Hola?" She carefully called out in greeting.

The mustelidae turned her head sharply, causing the dog-tags on her ball-chain necklace to clink and jingle as looked over the rim of her orange sunglasses with green-blue eyes, the gaze firmly staring over the bridge of her band-aid adorned muzzle to settle her gaze firmly on the vixen. "Nick?" The female badger said slowly as she began to walk up to the pair. "Who is this?" She asked curiously... a suspicious tone evident to her voice.

Giving the older mammal one of his patented reassuring smiles, the male fox helpfully replied, "Well Honey, I'd like you to meet my friend, Carmelita Fox. Carmelita, this is Honey Badger."

Managing to smile despite how uncomfortable she felt underneath the other woman's firm, almost accusatory gaze, the vixen reached a hand out to her in greeting. "Sí, I am Carmelita. It is a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Badger." Her smile became a tad strained as the other woman just stared at her hand.

Looking up from the vixen's extended paw, the stocky woman looked back and forth between Nick and Carmelita a number of times, as if considering something about them. Finally, she closed her eyes and sighed heavily. "Fine," she stated tiredly. "You have my blessing. But really, Nick! If you want permission to marry someone, you should be asking Francine!"

The Hispanic vulpine's pupils dilated into pinpricks at the honey badger's assumption. She sputtered a bit in shock before managing to blurt out, "Ma'am! I can assure you—"

"Why, yes of course!" Nick interrupted, glancing back at Carmelita who was blushing like crazy. "But, um... she's not my fiancée. I kind of just met her today."

The woman who appeared to be a Doomsday Prepper was completely flabbergasted at that admission. "And you want to move in with her already!?" Honey asked, shock evident on her face and in her voice. She shook her head before letting off a good-natured chuckle. "Oh, you move quick, Nick. What happened to the sweet and innocent boy I knew and help raised?"

Shrugging his shoulders in a nonchalant manner, the male vulpine smiled as he answered, "What can I say?" He brought his right hand up and motioned to himself. "Sly fox!" Said hand then reached over and motioned to the woman beside him. "Sultry vixen! It's a match made in heaven, am I right?" He then cackled deviously, even as the policewoman elbowed him.

Her face glowing bright red from a blush that was trying to go atomic, the Hispanic vulpine corrected, "To be honest, while it's true that I've just recently arrived to Zootopia, Mr. Wilde and I are not engaged. He has, however, been a gentleman–for the most part–giving me assistance when I needed help. I had been given a lot of warnings concerning Zootopia but this place is proving itself to be worse than expected."

The older badger scoffed. "Isn't that always the way?" The woman queried as she shrugged off her backpack and straightened up, revealing that she was just as tall as the vixen was. Now at eye-height with the vulpine, the female mustelidae queried, "But now comes the real question. Just why are you here? Nick knows better than to show strangers my bunker. It's my number one rule: only family gets to come here in emergencies!"

"Then why do I get to come here?" Finnick piped up as he finally finished climbing the ladder. Being a much smaller mammal, it took him a bit more time.

Looking down at the desert fox, the female honey badger smirked. "Because I do consider you family... sure, you'd be the foul-mouthed nephew who is a pain in the tuckus, but you're family all the same." Honey then gazed to Nick, those eyes holding an almost disapproving gleam. "And if she's not your fiancée or even a girlfriend, then why?"

His smile still holding despite the chiding tone to the voice of the woman he considered his secondary mother, the male red fox calmly replied, "Well Honey, you know how you've always been saying you wished security was better around here?"

Nodding her head firmly, the badger replied, "Of course! Can't trust those sheep! They're just waiting to unleash the rams of war and wage a wooly hell upon us all!" She trembled. "They'll graze this world into a desert wasteland!"

Nick was quick to cut in before the woman could fully go into one of her patented conspiracy-theory tirades and effectively scare off the policewoman. "Well, you're in luck!" the vulpine conman practically cooed. "Allow me to introduce you to my new friend again, Honey. This is Inspector Carmelita Fox of Interpol!"

Needless to say, such a statement did derail Honey's train of conspiratorial thoughts. She blinked her eyes a couple of times as her brain processed that statement. Interpol? Sounds like it means... the woman thought before speaking aloud. "Wait!" She quickly turned her attention back to the female red fox. "Is that short for International Police or something?"

"Yes, it is," Carmelita replied as she frowned at the direction of her fellow red fox before returning her attention to the badger in full. "I've been keeping it on the down-low but I guess if I'm going to get to live here, then you need to know that much about me." She took a deep breath, using the moment to both gather her thoughts and calm herself. "To be brief: Zootopia is enacting something they've designated as the, 'Mammal Inclusion Initiative'. They're trying to give disenfranchised and down-trodden mammals an easier time to make something of themselves... yet instead of waiting for people to be trained and introduced to their fields of choice, the city's bureaucrats made a request to Interpol to borrow one of their agents who represents what this movement is about." She shrugged her shoulders. "So for the next six months or so... here I am!" The Hispanic vulpine smiled a tad nervously. "I apologize if this is out of the blue, but the way things have gone for me upon arrival, a lot of my own plans have been shot to hell. I was hoping to make a deal with you for shelter since the condo I was supposed to be staying at evicted me before I even got to see it simply because I'm a fox."

Considering the woman's words for a moment, Honey looked into those brown eyes with her own aquamarine gaze. Her nose twitched for a moment as she mulled over the concept of this Initiative before nodding her head. "So you're a trained officer of the law from elsewhere in the world? Someone who hasn't grown up under the oppressive yoke of the prey?"

Nodding her head, Carmelita replied, "Yes. In fact, I've been all over this planet–a number of times in fact–and I am stationed out of Interpol's Paris headquarters. So yes, Ms. Badger, I am."

"I see, I see," the tough woman murmured as she thought about it, before grinning. "Tell you what. You're going to be part of the ZPD for the next half year or so, right?" As the vixen nodded her head, Honey told her, "Well then let's see if we can't come to a deal. I'll gladly let a fine officer of the law use my home on two conditions. The first is you will have to do your own laundry and grocery shopping for the house. I don't get out much..."

The female red fox's gaze darted back and forth across the bunker, realizing that such was certainly true. "I... I can tell," she admitted uncomfortably before her attention was drawn back to the other woman again. "And the second request?"

Now Honey just smirked. "Get the police to give you one of their squad cars in return for the hassle this city's given you so you can commute; it's a long way between the police station and Happytown. Then, whenever you're here, you make sure that bad boy's parked right out front prominently so people know a policewoman lives here! Can you do that?"

Carmelita blinked her eyes. That was... surprisingly reasonable. "That's it?" She queried in slight disbelief. "You don't want a monthly rent or anything?"

The female honey badger shook her head. "No, I'm set financially. Just fresh food and a big advertisement of police presence is all I ask for in return."

To that response, Carmelita could only shrug her shoulders in mild amusement. While an odd request to say the least, such wouldn't be too hard to keep up with in the long run. "All right," the woman finally agreed. "I can do that."

A smile blossomed across the badger's muzzle. "Good! Now them, there are a few bedrooms upstairs, so take your pick to whichever one you want to use." Even as she said that, she was turning away from the vixen to look at Nick. Her gaze firm, she began to chide, "And you, Nicholas! It's been almost a month to the day since I saw you last! You really should come over more often! I miss seeing my little boy!"

The male vulpine shrugged helplessly. "I know, I know..." he replied honestly. "It's just that life keeps me busy. Gotta keep on hus—working hard to keep with the bills. Mom isn't going to get what she needs if I don't keep my nose to the grindstone."

Seeing a way to get back at Mr. Wilde for trying to lead the woman on with thinking they were a couple, the female red fox chirruped, "Why don't you and Finnick stay for dinner, Nick?" She chirruped. "It will be my treat! We'll eat down here, make a party of it and have a chance to get to know one another better," Carmelita added. "Think of it as a, 'thank you' for all your help."

Finnick snorted. "Good luck. We can either take a long drive back to Savanna Central and bring something back or we order out. And there are only two places deliver all the way out here; pizza and Chinese." He motioned to a section of the bunker where Honey's own wall-mounted phone was stationed, a pair of take-out menus taped at either side.

Making her way over to the phone, Carmelita pulled the, 'Panda Expressions' menu off the wall and unfolded it. She looked it over, checking out the available options, slightly impressed that it appeared to have some meat options–albeit eggs and fish–available. Turning the look at the other three, she queried, "So... you three up for Chinese then?"

Crossing his arms over his chest, Nick was grinning from ear-to-ear. "As long as you're the one paying, then sure!" He was never one to turn down an otherwise free meal.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was almost a half hour later, but the food did eventually arrive. Carmelita wasn't too surprised to see the delivery girl was a perky, bubbly, purple-haired pink feline teenage girl when she answered the door... but the overweight panda sitting behind the wheel of the semi-rusted hatchback that was the delivery vehicle was a bit of a surprise. "Um... hello?" She greeted in slight confusion at the sight.

A smile blossomed on the housecat's face. "Nihao!" She greeted in Chinese before switching to English. "You order food from Panda Expression, yes?"

Nodding her head, the female vulpine replied, "Yes. Order for Miss Fox. And you are, Miss...?"

The feline blinked her bright purple eyes once, twice, thrice. "Ah! Where is manners?" The girl chided herself. "Many apologies. I is Xian Pu. Sorry for funny speaking, Xian Pu is still learning English."

Nodding her head, the red fox could admit such was understandable at least. It would also appear that what Nick mentioned was true; the Chinese Migrants that came over seemed to be the most open-minded of anyone in Zootopia. She was very polite despite Carm being a vixen and the girl herself was a predator working hand-in-hand with a prey animal. "Just double checking to make sure we got everything... never can tell if there'll be a miscommunication or not."

The purple kitty nodded, albeit she appeared to be a little insulted at that insinuation. "Is no problem at all! Xian Pu double check to make sure! Fried rice, lo mein, crab ragoon, Dr. Ono's Tofu and much more all in there, as well as comply... campy..." she frowned, finding herself lacking the proper words. "As are free egg rolls and fortune cookies!"

"All right then," Carmelita replied. Realizing she had possibly hurt the woman's feelings, she apologized, "Sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. I've just had orders come out wrong is all." Left unsaid that it was often while she was IN China. She'd ended up in the largest country in the world on missions more times than she cared to recount.

The petite and perky feline girl waved it off. "Is no problem. Panda only speak Chinese, so old monkey send Xian Pu to medicate... mediocre..." she trailed off. Grimacing, the poor kitty let out a groan of frustration. "Xian Pu is one to talk to customers at door!"

A smile gracing her muzzle, Carmelita couldn't help but chuckle good-naturedly. Despite the language barrier, the younger woman was all pep and vinegar, refusing to let it keep her down. That was the sort of, 'can do' spirit Zootopia needed more off. "I do hope the city is treating you well," the Latina vixen said as she walked over to where she set her satchel on the living room couch. Opening the top, she retrieved her wallet. "How much did you say it was?"

"Including tax, tip, and delivery fee is fifty-two dollar and forty-seven cent," the feline chirruped merrily as she held up the two large paper-bags within plastic bags in either of her hands. "Xian Pu cannot help but notice you order too-too much food for one person. Is for party, yes?"

Nodding her head, the female vulpine withdrew a fifty and a twenty dollar bill from her wallet. "It is," the female red fox replied, placing the leather money holder back into her satchel before she returned to the door. Taking one of the bags filled with all kinds of takeout boxes, she replaced the purple feline's now empty paw with the money. "Keep the change," the policewoman replied as she used her now empty right hand to grasp the other bag from her.

Blinking her eyes, the feline took a moment to check out the cash she was given; her purple eyes widening with surprise. "Aiyah! Thank you very, VERY much foxy lady!" The feline looked up from the wad of cash and grinned. Stuffing it down the front of her shirt, she replied, "Always feel free to order from Panda Expressions whenever you want! Okie-dokie?"

Smiling back at the younger feline, Carmelita had to admit the girl's genuine exuberance and bubbly positive attitude were rather infectious. "You bet I will!" The Hispanic vulpine promises. It didn't hurt that if what the others had said was true, this restaurant was just one of only two places that WOULD deliver to the area. "You drive safely now, okay?"

"Oh, no worries! We drive fine!" Xian Pu chirruped. "Old man Genn know to avoid rusty hulks of vehicles and other trash in road. Still easier than trying to drive Savanna Central during Rush Hour!"

A chuckle escaped the vixen's lips at that response. Oh, she could only imagine. "You take care now," she said, bidding adieu to the teen feline as she closed the door with her foot. Making her way back into the kitchen, she called out, "FOOD'S HERE!"

The curtain underneath the sink was pulled aside, revealing the male red fox standing there, Wilde visible from the chest up from where he was propped up in the bunker's entrance. "Great! Now pass me one of those bags; I'll give you a hand bringing this all down."

The Latina vixen frowned a bit. "We're not eating in the kitchen?" She asked, sounding very confused. The place was clean and ready as it was ever going to be!

A small chuckle reverberating in his throat, the pawpsicle hustler shook his head in a negative fashion. "Sorry, Carm. Like I said before: Honey doesn't leave her bunker anymore." The tiny smile that had graced his features faded into a slight frown. "Heck, she's been down here for nearly three decades now..."

Carmelita blinked in surprise at that. Three decades!? "But didn't you say that you knew her for a long time?" How would he have gotten to know her if she had kept herself hidden inside a hole in the ground for so long?

Nodding his head, Nick replied, "Yep. She's been down there since I was five-years-old..." he trailed off as he realized he kind of gave away his age with that. He didn't understand why her knowing such would bother him, but it did. "Anyway, the reason why is not my story to tell. And if I were you, I wouldn't go trying to pry it from Honey until she gets to know you a bit better. Now then..." the red fox reached his right arm out, his hand upturned as he made a beckoning motion. "If I can take one of the bags, m'lady? I doubt you'll be able to climb the ladder safely with both hands full."

Considering it for a moment, the vixen soon relented and handed him the bag of takeout with her right hand. "Just be careful yourself then," she warned him.

The male fox seemed unperturbed. "Please. Don't worry your pretty little head about me," he replied with that slick grin of his once more. "I've had practice bringing stuff down here. Trust me when I say, something like this?" The man bounced the paper-bag in his grasp by the exterior plastic's handle. "It's nothing. Chinese comes practically designed for one-handed carry! If you want a real challenge, you should try carrying pizzas while keeping the whole box upturned! I have ruined more cheese and toppings over the years than I care to admit..."

Waiting for the man to start making his way down and open up the area for her to get underneath the kitchen sink, Carmelita shook her head as she followed after him. Once she had a foot on the ladder, she started to climb on down, telling her fellow red fox, "I can only imagine. I bet it wasn't fun trying to eat it, let alone clean up."

A small chuckle reverberated in the male vulpine's throat. "Oh, not at all," the experienced hustler agreed as he made his way down the metal pipe ladder steps easily, showing his years of experience off. "But, hey, at least it was just pizza! I don't dare eat soup down here unless I make in the bunker!"

Continuing to climb down the ladder, the female vulpine agreed, "Noted." She could only imagine trying to bring down an open bowl. However, all thoughts of balancing such a dish were stricken from her mind at the sight that greeted the woman. The Latina beauty had to blink her eyes at what she caught sight of when she came down. There was a table already set with four placements of Stryofoam plates, plastic utensils, and clear plastic cups. "...Where did she get the table from?" She couldn't help but ask.

Long used to the preparedness of the female badger, the male vulpine could only shake his head at the Hispanic woman's shock and awe. "Trust me: it's best not to think about it. Such thoughts will only keep you up at night," Nick told the Interpol Officer. As she got close to the bottom of the ladder, the male red fox reached a hand out to take the second bag from her so she would have both free hands. "Questions like those can only lead to madness." He warned before turning his attention back to the other two who had been waiting patiently in the bunker. "Well guys, Carm came through!" He raised his arms and held the double-bagged orders of Chinese food. "We have a feast! Yes, a feast that will likely leave us hungry again an hour from now but a smorgasbord of actual protein nonetheless!"

"Unless it's all rice, I doubt we'll be too hungry in an hour," Honey replied as the male vulpine carefully dropped the two large bags on the table. "That stuff is too easily digested..." she murmured, speaking from experience. It was why she replaced all her grain sacks of rice with bags of beans and ones with Honey Nut Cheerios.

"Yes, but it is healthier than most of the stuff Chinese restaurants make," the small fennec countered, a slight grimace plastered on his face as he looked down at the chair the honey badger was offering him. "Why do I get the booster seat?"

The female mustelidae sighed as the small mammal got all pouty. The boy always had to make things difficult and get defensive when something implied his height–or lack thereof–didn't he? "Because this table wasn't designed for someone you," Honey shot back at him. "Now please, relax." She then lifted the small vulpine up as if he were but a little baby. "And besides, you'll always be that cute little cub that was getting in trouble with Nick to me," she cooed as she set him down. With Finnick settled, the honey badger began tearing into the closest paper bag, removing the numerous white takeout boxes of Chinese food. She smiled as she inhaled the heavenly aromas that assaulted her nose. "Oh, this is going to be delicious."

Sniffing at the air herself, the Hispanic vixen had to nod her head in agreement to the other woman's assessment. "I hope so. The delivery girl said it had Dr. Ono-style tofu and sweet crab ragoons." Pulling a chair out for herself, Carmelita couldn't help but feel her mouth begin water. It had been so long since she last ate any real food that she could barely wait any longer.

"Ah, crab ragoons," the canid conman cooed as he took a seat opposite the female red fox who had paid for their meal. "Personally though, I'm more of an egg drop soup kind of guy." He said as he opened the second bag, revealing small plastic containers: boxes and tubs. He held up rounded quart container filled with the yellow soup made from delicious eggs, small wontons, and sliced chives. "Hope no one minds if I take one of the soups all for myself now."

Reaching into the bag the other fox had opened, the Latina beauty waved him off. "Go ahead. I had placed three orders of it at your behest." As she said that she retrieved and opened a plastic container filled with teriyaki tofu and broccoli, the aromatic steam rising from it as she did so. "Ooooh... now this is going to be delightful. My first bite of REAL food all day!" She cheered as she reached for a fork.

At hearing that comment, the badger paused in scooping fried rice onto Finnick's plate. She looked up and gave the vulpine woman a curious glance. "All day?" Honey queried as she dug the spoon into the container again, making certain to keep her attention on the younger woman.

Nodding her head in affirmation, Carmelita explained, "Yep. A package of airline peanuts on the plane ride over for breakfast, a slice of chocolate pie at a famers' market for lunch, and one of Nick's cherry pawpsicles for a snack were my meals so far..." she idly trailed off as she finished scooping a large portion of the steaming teriyaki-boiled tofu onto her plate with big pieces of broccoli.

That answer made the underground-dwelling mammal blink her aquamarine eyes in surprise. "Chocolate pie?" Honey repeated, the thought of such tickling a memory of hers. "Heh. It's been a long time since I had any. I remember this one man, he made the best pies I ever had before he and his family picked up and moved out of the Happytown before the collars even came off. I wonder if he or his family are still making them..." she wondered wistfully, remembering good times long since passed.

To that inquiry, Carmelita could only shrug her shoulders before answering, "If they were foxes and the family name was, 'Grey' then yes they are." The woman began shaking her head, trying to dispel the memories of earlier that day and finding she was failing miserably. "Not sure I'll ever go back there though. Friggin' specist rabbits," she huffed in indignation. Suppressing a growl she felt like releasing at the nasty thoughts of how she got her ass handed to her by tiny rabbits, the female red fox attempted to get off the topic as queried, "Anyone have the lo mein?"

"Right here," the desert fox replied as he motioned to one of the small white cartons near him. He pushed it closer to the taller vulpine woman with his plastic spoon for emphasis.

Picking it up in her hand the box's wire handle, the female red fox nodded her head to Finnick in gratitude. "Gracias," she told him as she opened it up. Grasping her fork, she began to shovel noodles, bamboo shoots, onions sprouts, diced carrots, and bits of fried egg onto her plate.

A bit of time passed, laughter and words shared between the quartet of predatory mammals as camaraderie built up amongst them, the vixen easily being accepted amongst the little clique. It didn't take long for the food to be shared and quickly inhaled by the four people, especially Carmelita, who noticeably ate more than anyone else.

Watching the younger woman finish off a package of fried noodles by herself, the older mustelidae smirked. "You know, if it wasn't for the fact that you said you hadn't eaten all day, I'd think something was rather fishy..." Honey said teasingly, eyes darting back and forth between the vixen and the red fox.

"No need to worry about that. I was just starving, nothing hidden here," the Latina policewoman was quick to reply, knowing exactly what Honey was hinting at and not willing to acknowledge it. If it had been, such would have been Sly's and... that would have made things even more complicated.

"Still, despite you eating a good deal of it, we do thank you for the meal," Nick said in all seriousness. Leaning back in the chair he was using, the male vulpine brought his hand up to rub a satisfied belly. "Helps make up for the lost hours today."

At his partner's comment, Finnick's large ears noticeably flattened back in defeat. "And I was supposed to be making an extra ten-percent today..." he grumbled irritably, Wilde once again having ruined something he had enjoyed. Damn it! This was why he couldn't have nice things! The idiot screwed it up for him constantly! Note to self: find ways to inflict more pain on Tricky Nicky's shins, the tiny vulpine internally promised himself.

The vixen blinked her brown eyes in response as she looked back and forth between the pair of men. "Pardon?" She queried, genuinely curious. "I caused you to lose work?"

Nick nodded his head at the canid cop's inquiry. "We were selling flavored ice pawps when we met you. I had promised Finnick that if he carted me around, he would get an extra ten-percent of today's haul." With her being a police officer, it was best to be as honest as needed. "I needed his help to move some of my stuff earlier in return for giving him a higher cut." At the vixen's raised eyebrow, he merely shrugged, not wanting to go any further.

Besides, if he went into greater detail, Honey would get worried about him again...

Carmelita couldn't help but frown, not only at the reply but at her fellow vulpine's tone of voice. She had to admit, the combined effect of the two made the Latina beauty feel a tad guilty. "So I made you miss out on your day's usual haul?" Considering how the city had treated her, she could understand why these two missing out on a day's full pay could be a troublesome thing.

"Oh, don't you fret now, Carm. It wasn't your fault," the male fox replied as he waved a spoon at her. "I mean, what kind of selfish jerk would I have been if I just ignored it like every single other person on the street?" Yes, it felt like he was trying to scam her... and in a way he was... but it was only for her benefit, really! Had to get the woman to realize that she needed someone to keep an eye out for her and all that if she was to accept the business proposal he had for her!

Snorting, Finnick was quick to reply, "Simple. You would have been a fox."

"Ouch..." the red fox clad in Hawaiian shirt chirruped. "You know, all that self-loathing is a terrible thing, big guy," Nick shot back to his petite partner-in-crime. "I think you need to spend more time with Cherry. She'll help you through your issues." Preferably that Napoleon Complex of his.

Needless to say, that verbal barb got the tiny fennec seeing red. "Hey! You leave my girlfriend out of this, okay?" The smaller fox grumbled irritably. "I don't pester you over your love life–or lack thereof–do I?" Finnick shot back, going for an equally low blow.

Seeing where this was going, the honey badger was quick to stand up from her seat. "Now, now boys," she spoke up in a kind yet firm tone in an attempt to diffuse the situation before it got worse. "There will be no fighting at the dinner table. Even if the food's gone, fighting just means you'll have an upset stomach later." Honey smiled at them, getting both men to look away uncomfortably. "Now then, how about we clean up?"

Nick sighed. Leave it to Honey to be able to hit him in one of the few ways that still mattered to the fox; with a familial and motherly attitude. "Right, right..." he murmured as he lifted up the edges of the disposable table cover, turning it into a make-shift garbage bag. "I'll bring this upstairs and can it, all right?" However, as the vulpine attempted to do such, he was surprised to find it lifted higher when Carmelita took hold as well.

"I can handle it," the female fox said in a kind tone. "I did mean it when I said this was my treat. You three just enjoy yourselves. I'll be right back," she explained as she threw the sack over her shoulder as if she were some sort of Santa Claws. Turning away from the trio, the woman then began to carefully make her way up the ladder once more.

From where he was standing, Nick couldn't help but look up as he watched the vixen leave, his emerald eyes drawn to the sway of those lovely hips as the female red fox climbed each step.

Noticing where the man's eyes were gazing off to, Honey couldn't help but smile knowingly. "My, my... I think my little Nicky is growing up. Falling head-over-heels for a lovely lady... and a policewoman no less; an officer of the law," she cooed with a teasing tone.

His pupils dilating into pin-pricks, the red fox blushed deeply enough that it managed to show up through his crimson facial fur. Doing his best to fight down the effects the woman's gentle teasing had on him, it took a few moments before the vulpine was able to look back at Honey. "Well, can you blame me?" He asked in exasperation. "I mean, look at her! She's gorgeous, foreign, and doesn't seem to care much with how Zootopia is right now!"

"Doesn't care much about or much for?" Honey asked curiously. "Because those are two very different things, Nick." Her tone was one of warning but not outright chiding. "I know things haven't been easy for you. They haven't been easy for any of us. It's why I like her as a person; Officer Fox a breath of fresh air."

Nodding his head idly, the male vulpine idly replied, "Ain't she though?"

Rolling his eyes, Finnick snorted. "And she's a cop too. Yep! Smart idea to chase after that one," the desert fox praised his partner sarcastically. "Now let's see how long it takes her to discover your main way of making money, Wilde. She might slap the cuffs on you in ways that DON'T indicate bedroom fun."

"Which is why..." the vulpine conman said slowly, suppressing his grin as he knew this was going to throw his little buddy for a loop. "I'm going to try and make a more honest buck through Carmelita while she's here."

His head tilting to his right, the desert fox could only stare at his quirky compatriot as he intelligently queried, "Huh?"

Seeing that the fennec had no idea what he was getting at made Nick smile a tad more deviously than before. "I might or might not have happened to take a look through her wallet while I was in the back of your van fixing her luggage," the male red fox admitted without admitting in a nonchalant manner. "And I may or may not have seen that our dear Inspector had a few hundred dollars for on-hand use... as well as a white envelope filled with eight grand cash."

That statement made the older woman frown quite a bit. "Really, Nick! You're not thinking of running a scam through her, are you?" Honey sighed tiredly. She knew the boy was always looking out for a way to make a quick buck, but honestly! That Carmelita gal seemed so nice, even if she was a cop. Plus if he tried to pull the–the badger shuddered –wool over her head, the officer might take it personally and toss him in the slammer without hope of parole!

"Now I wouldn't call it a scam, per se," the fox tried to explain. "Like I said before, I would be making an honest buck through her. I would offer Finnick's and my services near exclusive to her while she's staying in Zootopia. I'm certain a woman like her could use a set of handymen, chauffers, and personal shoppers while she's here. Not only would it be a good source of cash, but the chance to build some good will with the authorities would be nice too."

Finnick snorted at his partner's reasoning for trying to cozy up to a police officer. "I thought that's what Clawhauser was for?" Granted, the vixen had the better rack but she also seemed far more serious too! He wouldn't put it pass her to throw Wilde in the slammer!

Rolling his eyes, Nick firmly replied, "Please! He hasn't been a beat cop for years! He's practically a glorified secretary as their main front desk attendant. At most he still does dispatch, but that's all. Sit on his butt and handle radio traffic." Yes, even with as friendly as he was, Clawhauser was less than helpful when it came to the vulpine's needs.

Sitting back in her seat, the experience doomsday prepper considered the fox's take on all this. Finally, she nodded her head. "Not a bad idea," Honey admitted. "Just make sure to pitch it right or you will end up behind bars... and I am not posting bail!" That would require her to leave her hole in the ground and that wouldn't be good for anyone.

Anyone.

Raising a hand and waving off the woman's warning, the crimson canid nodded his head. "Of course, Honey!" The conman smiled, clicking his teeth and winking as he gave the woman two thumbs-up. "Trust me. When have I ever been wrong?"

The burly woman gave the mammal she helped raise a flat look and began to open her mouth.

"Don't answer that," the male red fox quickly interrupted. "It was a rhetorical question."

However, almost as soon as the words left his mouth, the familiar voice of the Inspector came from above. "What was rhetorical?" The vixen queried as she carefully made her way down the steps of the ladder once more, the woman unknowingly giving the red fox a bit of a wonderful view that once again made the vulpine conman happy to be alive.

"Oh, I was just asking Honey if I had ever been wrong." Nick put his hand on his chest as he grinned at Carmelita. "I mean, sure! I thought I was once but then it turned out I was right the whole time. People can't pull one over on this sly fox!"

Letting off an exasperated groan, the fennec slumped at the table. "Oh, come on, Wilde! Are you STILL angry about the pie? I swear, I thought it was mine!"

"Who said anything about the blueberry pie that I was saving for a rainy day?" Nick asked, amusement clear in his voice.

Getting off the ladder and her feet planted firmly back on the ground, the female vulpine raised one of her navy blue eyebrow as she stared down at Finnick in curiosity. "Pie? You ate something of Nick's?"

Before the small desert fox could answer that, the taller male vulpine interrupted. "Well that we were Carmelita, but that's not all that important in the grand scheme of thing!" The pawpsicle hustler said with an energetic voice while he had a wide smile adorning his face. "In fact, what we should be talking about however is you, my dear Officer Fox."

That statement made the policewoman blink her brown eyes in surprise. "Me?" She chirruped incredulously, staring at her fellow red fox in confusion. "What about me?" She asked as she stepped back from the group, keeping close to the ladder. "Did I do something wrong?"

Realizing the woman was starting to become defensive, the male fox brought his hands up in a placating manner. Watching as Carmelita stopped sliding towards the exit, Nick calmly told her, "Oh no worries! It's nothing like that, Carm. I was just wondering if you perhaps needed another set of eyes watching your back while you live here?" He offered helpfully.

Raising one of her navy blue eyebrows, the vixen calmly queried, "What do you mean, Mr. Wilde?" He had been helpful so far, so the least she could do was hear him out.

A grin tugging back across his muzzle, the red fox happily asked, "How would you feel about your own set of on-call lackeys-for-hire?" He wagged his eyebrows meaningfully at her.

That made the policewoman twitch. Oh he really sounds like Sly now, the vixen thought in annoyance as she gave him a bit of a sour look. "Look! I'm not some corrupt cop, crime boss, or petty thug who's going to go looking for people to beat up on with a night stick just because I have some authority. I don't need, 'lackeys'."

Nick blinked a few times before realizing how the woman took that. Quickly shaking his head and waving his arms in a warding fashion, the male vulpine cried out, "Sorry! That came out wrong!" He shouted before rapidly going on to explain, "What I mean is, you're still new here, and you probably don't know all the good places to go shopping! To get food, groceries, entertainment, or places to go to unwind, etcetera, etcetera!" Seeing the woman begin to calm down, the hustler continued, "What I'm saying is Finnick and I could offer ourselves as your baggage holders, personal drivers, errand boys..." he shrugged his shoulders. "You know, all around lackeys that get stuff done for you while you're at work and what not."

The woman blinked her chocolate eyes at that, considering his words more carefully now that she realized he meant such in a more lawful sense. Nodding her head after a second of internal debate, the female red fox inquired, "How much an hour?"

Needless to say, such a response caught the purveyor of knockoff pawpsicles by surprise. "Wuh-what? Just like that?" Nick blinked his own emerald eyes in shock. He was certain he would have to have done more to convince her of this. The Interpol Inspector seemed to have been the stubborn type from their first impressions but he certainly wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth–they tended to bite.

The woman merely shrugged in response before moving towards the table once more. Settling back in the one unoccupied seat, she explained, "It's as you said. I could use some people to do stuff for me while I'm at work and what not." She took a deep breath and admitted, "Plus it wouldn't be a bad thing to know that if I need clothes or groceries I could just make a call and have it done before work was over." Seeing she still had the rapt attention of those gathered at the table, the vixen continued all seriousness, "I do need to get out there myself eventually, but it would be nice to have someone show me around and point out the places I could go where I wouldn't have to worry about getting tar-and-feathered before being a fox."

The sad part was Carmelita wasn't joking about that last aspect. Zootopia had proven to be less than kind so far, and the less harassment she had to deal with, the better!

Tilting his head to get a better look at the vixen, Nick offered her a small, sympathetic little smile, understanding what she meant all too well. "I can bring you to a lot of places, actually. I am the go-to-mammal for this sort of things. I know everyone. And I mean everyone. And if I don't know them personally then you can bet I know who they are and can give you the inside scoop. Plus," he puffed up a bit with pride. "I know this city like the back of my paw! Every little nook, cranny, and unknown spot is my secret hidey-hole. Anything you want taken care of will get done, one way or the other!"

The prideful boating made the Hispanic fox blink her eyes a few times in surprise when the vulpine finished his literal sales pitch. REALLY sounds like Sly, she thought as she crossed her arms over her breasts, making a show of considering his offer once more. Finally, she nodded her head and firmly told her fellow red fox, "It's as I said, this sounds like what I need. Just promise me you won't cause trouble if you're doing something for me or in my name, all right?"

Straightening up in his seat, Wilde smiled wider, displaying his sparkling white teeth as he saluted the policewoman. "You have my word: Junior Ranger Scouts' Honor."

Before she could speak, the vixen was taken aback as a sudden orange twinkle appeared within the field of her vision, her Inspector's Intuition honing in on Honey's face. She couldn't help but notice the female mustelidae's expression was a rather sad one as Nick said that. The Latina beauty definitely needed to inquire about that later. Still, Mr. Wilde hadn't done her wrong so far, and it would be nice to have a friend she could depend on, even if he was doing it for the cash. Not like this wouldn't be the first time I hired out mercenaries, she thought before extending her hand out to him. "So we good?"

A grin was plastered over the male vulpine's muzzle. "Yes, I believe so. We just need to agree on how much Finnick and I should get paid for this and we'll be all set."

His eyes wide with shocks, the poor fennec couldn't believe what his oversized ears were hearing. He just couldn't believe he was going to be working for a cop! Granted, she was sexy as hell and he wondered just what her measurements were, but still! She was a cop!

...

…A cop who would be paying them to do legitimate and legal legwork and they wouldn't have to worry about being arrested for it... "Dang it," the little guy growled under his breath. This was infuriating. She was a cop, and the idea of working for one repulsed him. But this was a good business opportunity. Especially since he might make more money than their current business model was allowing for them.

Carmelita mulled over it, considered what would be fair. Finally, she answered the male vulpine with a question of her own, "What would you say your daily take for pawpsicles is?"

"Two hundred bucks a day, seven days a week, three-hundred and sixty-five days a year," Nick replied. "I know. I might not look like it, but I have a very strong work ethic." He wagged her eyebrows at her. "You'd be surprised the lengths I'd go to, to make a buck..." he told her as he winked rather suggestively, teasing the woman.

Rolling her eyes at the blunt attempt at flirting from her fellow vulpine, the woman thought over what he told her. "Hmm... two-hundred dollars a day... if that's over the course of eight hour days... then..." the policewoman did a little mental math. "How does twenty-five bucks an hour each sound?"

"Make it forty, and we have a deal," the vulpine replied in all seriousness. "Need to keep gas in mind..." he tried to use as a selling point to hustle a bit more out of the woman.

The woman stared at him with a curious expression. She could understand them wanting the best payout for their effort but she wanted the biggest bang for her buck just as well! "Thirty dollars an hour," Carmelita countered. "I know how tight certain residents of Sahara Square are with the city. You've got the cheapest gas rates in the world outside of Saddle Arabia itself here in Zootopia."

The male vulpine pursed his lips for a moment. Darn. Looked like the officer was a bit more knowledgeable about the city than he thought she would be. "How about you pay my pal and I thirty-five an hour?"

"Hmm..." the policewoman considered that. That was a fair offer but still a bit higher than she felt comfortable with doling out. "How about thirty an hour and if the errand you're running is chauffeuring me, I'll buy you both lunch."

Blinking his bright green eyes, the red fox considered that. "Fair enough," Nick agreed as he held out his paw for her to shake.

Looking down at it for a moment, the vixen nodded her head. "All right... but first we should probably write this up." Carmelita held up her hand, palm towards the man to stop any protests. "Trust me. Even my family's religion states, 'get a contract, even when dealing with others in the flock, for disputes can arise' so to avoid any issues..."

Raising his hand, the canid male opened his mouth in an attempt to argue... only for no words to come out. His trap clapping shut, the mammal lowered his hand and sighed with obvious disappointment. "Fair enough," Nick muttered softly in agreement. Taking a deep breath, the vulpine looked about the bunker. "So... anyone got any paper we can write up a contract with?"

"Hold on," Honey replied as she walked up to the wall and pulled down one of her many, many sheep-related diagrams. Making her way back over to the table, she offered the paper to the younger woman. "Will this do?"

Accepting the paper covered with a number of sheep that looked like Area 51 aliens from the old X-Files show, Carmelita flipped it over and saw that, yes, the back WAS blank. "It's an odd piece to be sure, but it'll do..." she murmured as she began to write up guidelines on it, taking both Nick and Finnick's desires into account, before the trio of foxes–and even the badger–put their signatures on it.

As Carmelita and Nick's paws came together in a handshake, it would be the start of a partnership that would end up shaking the very core of Zootopia.

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Author's Notes: Sugar. Oh, Honey, Honey... you are my candy girl, and you got me wanting you.

Yep. We've finally gotten to Nick and Carmelita meeting outright as well as introducing Honey. I apologize for the length of this episode. It may be a bit imposing but I knew what I wanted to put into it... it just kept growing considerably.

Some might have noticed I mentioned Clawhauser here having ties to Nick, well that comes from a holdover of the original script and movie outline. While Clawhauser and Nick never got to interact in the movie, one of the original sets of scripts and storyboards had Nick, Finnick, and Benjamin all meet up as teenagers working at Chez Cheez in Little Rodentia and becoming fast friends from there. Who's to say the big ol' cheetah policeman still can't be buddies with the two little vulpine hustlers?

Also, yes, the Chinese Restaurant is a nod to Rumiko Takahashi's Ranma ½. Like last time, Nanya wanted me to break up all the seriousness with something a bit more light-hearted. Can't say I blame him, but things should be getting better for Carmelita... SHOULD be... at least for a little while.

A heads up to my readers! With the upcoming holiday, I have a lot of gardening and landscaping in my immediate future and won't have time to get the next chapter ready for next Saturday. That's why this chapter was longer than the previous, as will the following one on July 16th. Happy Holidays, my readers! Stay tuned!