Author's Note:
Another slightly familiar character makes her entrance. More importantly, we are back on familiar ground for our protagonists, and a chance to recover for those who have been through so much. I really am working to try to finish Season 2 by the holidays! I will be adding some Guardian Blue holiday specials to the mix as well, so don't miss out!
If you are just joining Guardian Blue for the first timeyou will want to check out Season 1 first, and I would highly recommend Thanks for the Fox before that as well so everything makes sense. ^^
Disney owns Zootopia and all the characters. I own the big mistakes, like misspelling Wolfard's name through half of Season 1.
Also! A HUGE shout-out to J. N. Squire for assisting with editing for Season 2! I wonder if he knows that I literally never intend to stop sending him stories? Poor guy.
Guardian Blue: Season Two
Episode 19: Hearth
"They got your outfit out of the 80's, I swear," Nick laughed to his partner. She was stretched out over the somewhat over-plush and frumpy brown couch in the middle of the living room with her feet in the fox's lap. He had been casually rubbing them to pass the time in a cozy late afternoon. They had no reason to hide in their current company. Motti and her family were all upstairs settling in (and quieting down). That left Agents Rosette and Bay, and the two lions. Both were now dressed in casual shorts and t-shirts. Everyone had been provided with a change of clothes after being rescued, but it was obvious that the clothing came from donation boxes. Judy's black jeans and lime green, midriff-celebrating t-shirt needed just a pair of legwarmers to prepare her for a yak-band rock video.
"Your outfit came out of a prison trash bin," Judy teased back. Nick had been given a jacket to cover up the fact that his white shirt had no sleeves. They were probably lacking in medium-sized shirts out in the Interior that day, it seemed. This one was too long, but still almost form-fitting, and the sleeves had been literally ripped off entirely at the shoulders. The dark green shorts were fine if one loved a thousand pockets and jingling zipper tags. Jack and Skye were upstairs already. By how they had been slumped over each other when they arrived, Judy knew they were likely already napping. They wanted time to be close. It was completely understandable to the doe. It had been pretty quiet in the living room with most of the group upstairs. It left Nick and Judy to relax and stare at the obvious sheep punching bag with dark, thick-rimmed glasses and a little gold bell around its floppy neck. Judy had no doubt who that was supposed to be as it hung silently from the rafters conspicuously in the common area.
A lot of predators held a great deal of malice toward the former mayor after the Nighthowler incident. There were even a few cheap apps one could buy where you got to fling water balloons at her. It was not a surprise that some of the sentiment about her, particularly so close to the end of her trial, might be a little more on the violent side. The punching bag looked like it was custom, at least. It wasn't some company profiting off of that malice. Judy quietly wondered if maybe this badger had been personally affected by Bellwether, as two badgers had been shot with Nighthowlers.
"Well, the special secret agents devoted to moving fox and bunny luggage will deliver our stuff tomorrow at least," Nick said, shaking Judy out of her musing as he took the bunny-foot in his paws and began working it diligently. She dropped her head back. The relaxed doe could see into the dining room where the table had been taken over by the wolf and snow leopard agents. They had files and papers strewn across it as they discussed security measures. The lions were both lounging in different arm chairs on opposite sides of the room.
"I haven't been anywhere near Zootopia in years," Cassie said with some excitement. "I wish we were allowed to go out and see the town. I've never even heard of it. It looked so quiet and sweet." Nick smiled up at her as Judy gave a barely perceptible groan of satisfaction with her handling.
The red vulpine murmured, "This particular town is mostly foxes, actually. I don't know if they told you that." He slid his warm paws up and down over the bunny's legs, over the tight-fitting fabric of those black jeans. Judy closed her eyes. Yeah, that was just fine, he could pet and hold her for the rest of the day. She would accept her fate.
"Oh hey! Now I really wanna get out there," the lioness laughed. "I was just saying I wanted my own fox!"
"Cass!" Charisse snapped in admonishment. "Kinda rude?" Nick and Judy both laughed, showing they weren't offended. After all, Nick was being very sweet to his bunny, which made foxes appealing right then.
"Sadly, you have to stay here," Judy reminded. "We need to keep low until they can determine the level of threat, if any. It's a really important precaution." Cassie sighed. She'd surely been told all of that by that point.
"Trading one prison for another," she said sullenly as she rolled her eyes.
Her sister replied to that, "At least no one's making us dig endlessly under threat of not being given food or water!" She was obviously the more appreciative of the two.
Nick chimed in positively, "And, if there's anything you guys might like as a treat, I can probably get it for you. Carrots and I may go into town later."
"Wait, how come you guys get to go into town?" Cassie asked grumpily. "I bet half the town at least knows who you are, given all the crap Kijvu was saying you and your partner did!"
Nick put his ears back, surely understanding why the lady lion felt this was unfair. "We have a reason to be here," Nick answered. "No one will think much of it if they see us wandering around here."
"Why's that?" asked Charisse in a less accusing tone.
Nick smiled and answered, "My mom lives here. I'm here all the time."
"I want to meet your mother." The words came from the dining room. Judy glanced over to it. Motti had come downstairs.
"I may bring her by here, then. Depending on what the ZBI guys say," Nick agreed.
"Have you called her yet?" Judy asked.
"You wanted a foot rub. I was doing that." Nick said.
"Nick, we've been here over an hour!" Judy laughed. "You've had time."
"Someone hasn't given me permission yet." He glared at Bay. The agent hung up his cell phone and put it down casually on the table. He shot a wolfish grin at the fox. He was obviously making Nick stew a bit due to the fox trying to get Bay to howl on the plane. The ZBI agent had a lot greater control of that, they found, and he managed not to howl. And now Nick was paying for his playfulness.
"You can call her, Officer Wilde. Thank you for your patience," he chuckled. He turned in his chair to face Motti. "I have been on the phone with our Interior Office. We have two agents assigned to your village to monitor their safety. Your friends there were absolutely nuts about the news we brought for them. They are very glad that you and your family are safe"
"Thank you for that." The hyena bowed a bit to him. "It means much to my family. I go tell them." She turned and left abruptly.
The wolf turned to Nick and Judy. "Your belongings from the inn there will be on the next plane. You should have all of that by tomorrow night." Judy smiled and nodded to Bay, then glanced back at her partner, who was already dialing his phone.
"Put her on speaker, I wanna say hi to her too," Judy laughed.
"Sure, Fluff!" Cassie sat up straighter, as if she might be judged by Nick's mother's voice or something. The phone rang a few times and a voice chimed out over the phone's speaker, a bit of a throaty tone Judy immediately recognized.
"Musk Street Diner, Annie speaking. How can I help you?" Judy hadn't heard from her in a long time, so she smiled at the voice.
"Hey, Annie! It's Nick. Is Mom there?" She usually worked the afternoon shift on Monday, so he was right to try the Diner.
"Sure, I'll put her on. V!" cried Annie before it was obviously put on hold. They were not waiting long enough for Judy to even figure out which campy folk tune was playing in the background. Vivienne picked up, speaking in a hushed, desperate tone.
"Nicholas?!" She sounded almost breathless. Judy tensed up a bit, not enjoying hearing that level of stress in the vixen's voice. "Sweetie, are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm fine, Mom. I have Judy here with me." Nick appeared concerned at her mood as well.
She immediately began talking frantically, "Everything in the city went to mulch over the past couple days, I've been watching on the news! I kept trying to call you and your phone was only going to voicemail. That's not like you, and I was so worried. I called your boss and he told me your status was classified! Nicholas, I hope you didn't get fired, I was not very nice about it," she offered in a little more meek tone. Judy felt suddenly guilty for not having insisted Vivienne be called immediately. Nick had been so worried at the hospital about his injured partner, and it was onto a plane with them right away after that, with orders not to contact anyone as they got security under control. Even the lions, who didn't know Vivienne, were visibly pained at the state this left her in.
"I'm okay, Mom. I promise." Nick's tone was compassionate. "We were not in the city when all that happened." Bay made a show of his teeth at Nick to encourage him not to share specifics. The fox rolled his eyes at that. "We were running an errand out to the Interior for the Chief. We just got back." The snow leopard and wolf both gestured wildly at that. Nick simply didn't care. He wasn't giving any vital information at least. They went to the Interior. That's all he said.
"That would be why I couldn't reach your phone, then," Vivienne sighed, "Nick, please tell me before you go somewhere out of contact!" Vivienne scolded. "…don't know whether to hug you or nip you!" She huffed in exasperation.
"Well, you can do either of those things, since Judy and I will come to the diner to visit you, if that's alright?" he asked. It was directed more at Bay who looked grumpy about how much information he gave.
"That's fine, if you mind your discussion topics, Wilde," growled the agent.
"Who was that?" Vivienne asked in slight alarm.
"That's my buddy, Agent Bay. He's helping out with things while all the crazy is happening," Nick said, dancing around specifics. Judy knew that was hard for him. He was very candid with his mother.
"Agent? With the ZBI?" she asked.
"That's a discussion topic I'm supposed to be minding," her son replied.
"So there's more to all of this… and you can't talk to me about it?" Viv clarified.
Judy answered seriously, "Unfortunately, that is correct." She wanted to spare Nick having to say that. He obviously felt dishonest because of it.
"Hey sweetie!" chimed Vivienne in a suddenly adoring tone. It practically melted Judy's heart. She blushed a bit at the expression on both the lions.
"Hey, Mom! So… it's okay for us to visit you?" the doe asked, eager to move the conversation away from not being allowed to tell her things when she was obviously worried. She then flinched a little as she has been hardly conscious of calling her 'Mom'. By the expression on Bay's face, it was noticed. Ah well. Not like they were hiding much right then anyway.
"Sure, hon!" sang Vivienne, "What day do you want to visit? I might be able to have that day off."
Nick answered. "We're in New Reynard already. I figured we would just come right over."
Vivienne squeaked humorously. "Yes! Sure, oh, yes, that would be wonderful! I… Oh I can get your food started. Are you hungry?" she asked.
"I'll take my usual. Judy will have the hot salad." Nick answered.
"Hey! I didn't say what I wanted!" Judy chastised her fox.
"Sorry, go ahead," Nick indulged his lapine lover. Judy thought a brief moment and then sighed. She maybe didn't want the steamed vegetable medley before, but now that Nick brought it up, she desired absolutely nothing else.
"Hot salad," she surrendered, glaring at her painfully smug-looking partner. "Extra balsamic." At least adding that made it clear that she should get to order it herself.
"It should be ready by the time you get here." Viv said. "Are you just getting out at the station?" she asked. It was Bay who answered, which surprised Judy a little.
He clarified, "We are at the inn by the lake, actually. Do you have fish-burgers?" he asked. Nick folded back his ears. Judy knew where this was going as well.
"Sure do! The bed and breakfast you mean?" she asked. "That's… a unique place to stay." Her tone was uncertain.
"Actually, I'm gonna come with them," the wolf laughed. "I'm pretty famished." Nick stared daggers at him, ears pinned back. Judy understood the reason though. He was in charge of their security. He didn't want them getting into any trouble.
"Sure thing. I'll get those started. Anyone else?" Nick's mom asked in a pleasant, waitress tone.
"Does Nick have any brothers?" Cassie asked brightly, causing Judy to snap her attention in that direction, muzzle dropping open. "I'll have one of those." Her sister pitched a pillow at the laughing Cassie hard.
"Err…" came the confused reply from the phone.
"Can we get fish-burgers brought back?" Charisse asked in exasperation. Cassie nodded her affirmation at that, still laughing. Nick nodded to them.
"Sounds like you have quite a party going on over there!" Vivienne laughed. "I will get your stuff started. I'll see you in a little bit, Nicholas," Vivienne crooned before hanging up.
Nick and Judy got up and headed for the door. Bay put his blazer back on, which thankfully hid the fact that he was carrying a firearm. It still unnerved Judy, seeing it all the time. She'd had a massive gun pointed at her head just a day before, after all.
They piled into the ZBI sedan outside the bed and breakfast, and actually passed the badger as she was coming back on the lonely two lane road that lead out to the lake. She gave Bay the finger as she lumbered on by in her van. The wolf only smiled back to her.
"Not a lot of respect for authority in that one," he commented.
"I hope she's not mean to the others," Judy mumbled, a little concerned about that. They'd already been through a lot.
"I think she will more likely just dump food on them and avoid them," Nick said. "I'm gonna bet she had plans this week that did not involve suddenly hosting a bunch of mammals in the inn."
"Maybe going out and burning sweaters," Bay grunted, yellow eyes on the road as he grinned. Nick chuckled at that, even though it was a somewhat alarming proposition. Judy could almost see that, given the somewhat distressing living room decor.
The rather dark comment led to something of an uncomfortable silence. They rode for a bit through the town, but Judy broke that silence as they passed the graveyard.
"I wonder how Scritchard is doing…" she asked.
"Dating, from what I understand," Nick said.
"You're kidding!" Judy gasped.
"Nope. He never vowed up, after all these years. Young gal, too - in her 70's." Nick laughed. Judy could not be certain if he was serious. They finally pulled up to the Diner. Nick had fortunately put the grey jacket back on that he'd been given. Judy would not have allowed him to go into the diner or literally anywhere else with that awful ripped shirt. Her outfit was dated, but at least it was whole. They entered the diner to find food being placed on the bar for them. They all hopped up onto the adjustable stools. Judy had her Veggie Medley, Nick had a black bean and cheese salad with creamy dressing, and Bay had his rather large fish-burger.
"Hello! I'm Vivienne Wilde!" the vixen stated, reaching over the bar to shake the wolf's paw. He smiled back at her. "I hope you're keeping my hopeless kit out of trouble."
"I've been with him every minute for the past 36 hours," he stated. "I have not shot him yet."
"Goin' for a commendation, eh?" came the gravelly voice from the back as Annie exited the kitchen. "…'atta boy." Bay laughed at that and immediately took a huge bite of his hot fishy burger. Judy wanted to blanch at that, but it actually smelled kind of… appealing. She worried a moment at that realization. She'd perhaps developed a tolerance to that smell because of her recent… explorations into that culinary domain.
"Have you seen a lot of new faces the past couple of days, Mom?" asked Nick.
"Nope. Yours is the newest in a week," she laughed. Bay nodded at Nick, obviously aware of why the fox asked that. Judy knew too. Someone new in town might need watching for the purpose of security.
"Can you message me if anyone new shows up?" Nick asked.
"I can. Wait." Vivienne's features became serious. She then glanced at the oblivious Annie and folded her ears back. She obviously understood too, at that moment. She then nodded. "Yes, I'll message you if I do." Her tone was more cautious. Bay nodded again, slower to insinuate its importance.
"Thank you," the wolf replied. Judy munched on her hot salad, extremely pleased with it once more. She had honestly hoped to get to visit New Reynard again with Nick soon. While the circumstances were a bit difficult, she was still happy to be here.
Vivienne pulled a stool up to her side of the bar, looking over it at her son and his partner. The diner's manager busied herself with the two other patrons present, giving Vivienne some time to talk with the son she likely very vocally worried about. Nick nibbled at his salad contentedly. The vixen spoke in a soft manner, "Well, Nick, since there's little you can talk about, I was thinking maybe I could talk to you about something… both of you, really." Nick peered back at her with interest. Judy nodded, swallowing some of her food.
"Sure, we're here, after all!" the bunny chimed cheerfully.
"Well…" Vivienne looked like she was trying to compose her thoughts. "Gideon's come down to New Reynard a few times now… bringing baked stuff to special events here, as well as to the Diner. We've started selling the pies. Hot item, those," she explained.
"Gid's a nice guy," Nick said as he nodded munching his food.
"Well… it's funny you should mention that, Nicholas…" Vivienne stated slowly, "… so… see… I have decided that it's actually time for a very significant life change." Judy widened her eyes, her nose immediately on the wiggle. She glanced at her partner who was the very image of a mammal going down with a sinking ship. She turned to look down at the sound of claws on counter top. The bunny saw Nick had crushed his napkin in his paw slowly, a tight fist still gripping it as he stared wide-eyed, fixedly at his mother. Judy glanced back at her as she smiled at her son. For how stunned Judy was, Nick had to be an absolute disaster as he sat quietly beside the bunny.
"H-how significant are we talking about, Mom?" her partner asked in nearly a whisper.
"Permanent, I'd hope," Vivienne chimed. "See, I love that you visit, but I know it's a long way and it costs you a bunch of money, and it gets lonely here, Nicholas. No offense, Annie."
"None taken, V," she called back. Judy was keenly aware that Nick's breathing had become a little erratic.
Nick's mother continued. "Anyway, Gideon has made a very heartfelt proposal to me." A very tiny whine was pressed from Judy's partner by that. "It was your mother's idea, actually, Judy." Judy stared in sudden alarm at Nick, then back to Viv.
"Really?" she asked. She was going to be calling her mom as soon as she left here, she was sure. What was she thinking?! Meddling with Judy was one matter, but not this!
"So… Uh…" Nick looked away uncomfortably. "What is this… change exactly?" He finally came right out and asked it.
"Well…" Vivienne smiled warmly. "Nicholas… Gideon and I…" She leaned forward. "Well… He's decided to allow me to open a franchise of his bakery in Zootopia!" she finally stated brightly. Nick sat motionless. His mom nodded at him. "Yep! I'm gonna be moving into Zootopia next month! No wasting half your day on the train any time you want to visit. And I can see Judy a lot more often too. I know she'd like that, right?" Vivienne added, turning to the bunny.
"Right!" Judy chimed, her brain a mess. She was waiting for the Got You coin to come out, but it seemed Viv was not even aware of what it had sounded like. It was, perhaps, that completely unthinkable. Nick did not share what he'd thought either, though Judy knew absolutely it had been the same.
"That's wonderful news, Mom!" he finally laughed. "Oh, gosh, do you know where the shop will be yet? Do you need help moving in and all that?" His tail flitted around wildly behind him as if to vent his coiled up stress.
"Probably, but I don't know the exact date, yet," Vivienne said warmly. "I will know that when we settle on a location. Right now, we want it to be close to city center, but it's more likely to be in Sahara Square, on the Palm Market side. It gets a lot of restaurant traffic." Nick nodded at that slowly and stood up kind of shakily.
"Gonna… restroom. Now. I'll be back," he offered.
"No, by all means, stay in there." Bay laughed. Nick shot him a look as the wolf polished off his burger. He stumbled off to the bathroom. Judy understood why. He needed to compose himself. That was a shock to his system. She wondered if she should tell Vivienne what it sounded like she was explaining at first. She decided not to.
"What kind of stuff do you do for the ZBI?" Annie asked Bay.
"Whatever needs done, really." Richter said.
"Havin' to deal with that mess in Zootopia right now?" the black-furred vixen asked.
"No, not directly, though there is a chance I will have to," he said. "I hope I can just enjoy this fluff assignment here though," he laughed. Judy winced at that. Protecting her and her partner was a meaningless fluff assignment to the ZBI. They were wasting resources. She would try to be patient with them, knowing that. She was at least sympathetic to that side of things.
"Ever killed anyone?" Annie asked.
"Annie!" Vivienne scolded.
"Yes," answered Bay, frankly.
"Oh. Wow," Annie said. Judy wilted at that a bit, but then remembered that she'd have had the same answer to that question. It was odd how that worked. Nick returned, having washed his paws and trying to dry them on his second-hand coat. He looked more composed and confident.
"Do you wanna visit the inn when you are off work?" he asked his mother immediately.
"Oh goodness no, Nick. That place is terrifying," laughed Vivienne. The fox folded his ears back at that.
"The hostess seems a little off, is that why?" asked Judy curiously.
"A little off? Oh goodness, bunny, she's absolutely cracked!" Annie laughed.
"That's not very nice." Bay stated in what may have been mock defense.
Annie gestured wildly a bit. "She put crystal wind chimes around the entire town in a hexagon to prevent sheep from getting in and taking our kits!"
"Have you had any sheep since?" asked Nick. Judy punched his shoulder.
"Well… no…" Annie stated, perhaps thinking he was serious.
Judy's partner chimed, "Well then! There you go!" Another punch to the shoulder. This time it was Judy who winced, not Nick. She lurched too hard, and felt a very unpleasant pinch. Her paw instantly went to the side of her chest. Nick immediately turned and put his paws on her sides, looking at her cautiously.
"I'm okay," the bunny said in a breath.
"Did you pop a stitch?" he asked. Judy folded her ears back.
"A stitch? What?" Vivienne asked.
"I think I'm alright." Judy said. It was tender, but she suspected ripping a stitch out might hurt worse.
"Let's check on it, sweetie…" Vivienne walked out from behind the counter. Judy didn't want to cause trouble, but she knew she would feel better if she could be sure she hadn't messed it up. Checking it on her own would be difficult since she would have to unwind the bandage. Doing that in the middle of the diner was absolutely not going to happen. Bay nodded to her and she and Vivienne went to the back office.
Judy had not been back there before. There were two sides to the office. One had a computer and desk. The other had something of a lounge area. The bunny blushed to see a bunch of pictures and stories about her and Nick hanging on the wall. The lady fox, maybe both of them, had been very focused on the two smaller officers. The paper clipping with Judy holding her partner after bringing him up through the road was in the middle of it all.
The bunny let Viv help her remove her silly lime green shirt, and then held her arms up as the fox unwound the ace bandage over her chest. Then a bit of wincing as gauze was pulled away from bare, shaved skin where it had been sticking a bit. There was a fearful squeak from the vixen. Judy glanced down and understood why. There was serious bruising around the cut that went right over her sternum from one side of her ribs almost completely to the other. And there were nearly two dozen stitches there to repair the damage. It didn't look like she'd actually popped one.
"Judy, what happened to you? Is… Is Nick okay? Did he get hurt too?" she asked. Judy shook her head. She could answer some of that at least.
"Nick's not injured. We are fine. I got cut, but I'm gonna be okay. And we're safe now. The ZBI is here to help."
"They're… protecting you?" Vivienne asked. "From what?"
"Vivienne…" Judy felt awful leaving her in the dark about those things.
"You can't talk about it. I… I know. I'm sorry. You know I'm going to worry. You look like you nearly got killed, Judy." Judy realized as the vixen examined her that she was still wearing Nick's memorial plate. The bunny took that in her paw and put it hastily over her shoulder, 'out of the way'. She was not going to let Vivienne see that. She was already upset enough without being reminded that she nearly lost another kit only several months before. Vivienne put the gauze back on carefully and began to re-wrap the bunny's chest. It was still so sore.
Judy tried to relax her. "You know that our job can be a bit dangerous sometimes. Usually it's not, you know? Missing kits, lost merchandise, loitering… that stuff's normal."
"A mother worries about her kits even if they are just walking back and forth on a safe sidewalk, Judy." Vivienne smiled at that and leaned up, pushing her cheek and applying a fresh motherly mark to the bunny. She blushed at that. It always made her feel so happy.
"I really am glad that you are coming to live near us," Judy whispered. That was genuine, but also intended to lighten the mood a little.
"If I ever find out who was responsible for this, Judy, the ZBI won't be able to protect them from me, so you know," the fox growled.
"That mammal was already a lot less fortunate than me, Mom." Judy knew she should not share much, but she wanted to close that bit of anger, at least. Vivienne looked a little stunned.
"You… killed them?" she asked with concern.
"No." Judy asked. Suddenly, her fox-mother's expression became more pained. "Nick didn't either," Judy immediately explained, making the vixen sigh heavily.
"Will you… ever be able to tell me about any of this?" asked the worried mother.
"Yes. Right now there is a very open investigation and it is widespread. Even Nick and I don't know how serious all of it is. We will be fine, and we are gonna be here in New Reynard until further notice."
"Have you told your parents that you got hurt?" asked Vivienne. She knew that Judy had messed up last time and not even told them about Nick's funeral because she was so distraught. The vixen was likely trying to keep Judy from getting in trouble with her mother again. It was a very endearing gesture from her vulpine mom.
"She knows I got hurt, but she has no idea how or how bad. I will tell her more when things calm down," Judy stated.
"Nick asking if I'd seen anyone new… does that have to do with why you are here?" asked Vivienne.
"Yes." Judy answered. That was safe to say. Her being aware of possible threats and being able to keep herself safe if strangers showed up with bad intentions was important to Judy.
"Dangerous?" the fox asked. Judy nodded slowly. She didn't like it, but it was dangerous. "Okay." Vivienne inhaled deeply. "I won't spread this around, but you are safe here in town. It's small, and I promise… no one here would let anything happen to you. Please don't overdo this." She put a paw on Judy's chest. "Even for Nick," she smirked.
"Oh… Okay…" Judy murmured, ears scorching as they fell back. Vivienne laughed at that and headed back into the diner. Judy followed, a bit meek at that last comment.
The rest of their meal went pretty uneventfully. As soon as Judy sat back down beside Bay, his expression shifted a bit to surprised and he suppressed it. Judy knew why, and ignored it. It was none of his business. He already knew, if he was paying attention. Nick spoke with his mother about what she wanted to do with the new bakery, how they were handling profits, or what she would need to do in order to ensure a good following. Nick always had a good business sense, and while Gideon's plan of 'make pies no mammal can refuse' had been effective in Bunnyburrow, Nick felt that there were definitely opportunities with branding and especially advertisement campaigns in social media. They enjoyed their meal while talking about that.
Judy spent more time talking to Annie, who she had not spoken with since the day she met her, back when the bunny showed up to find Vivienne for Nick. The bunny shared lots of pictures, including ones from her home town, and even a picture of her as a kit which her mother had posted some time back. She was in a little pretend police uniform she loved back then, and that just emotionally wrecked Annie. After the food had been eaten, they shared the Munch match from their vacation in Bunnyburrow. Bay particularly enjoyed that, though he irritated Judy a little in his highly positive appraisal of Angela. Yes, creepy ZBI agent. That's a very nice bunny. Move on. The sun set as they talked, and even the wolf got into the conversation a bit more near the end, kidding around with Annie a lot and seeming to relax. The Diner had that effect. A few other foxes came and went, including two rather large families. The kits were excited to see Judy, and one even asked for an autograph, which was embarrassing. It seemed she was still a little bit of a celebrity. At least she was to the kits. That was fine.
Once that was done, however, Bay said it was definitely time to get back, as he'd absolutely overstayed his own break, and Rosette would have his hide if he stayed any later. Nick got the fish burgers for the two lions and picked up four more in case the hyenas wanted them. Agent Bay felt like any that did not get eaten would certainly have a home soon enough. He picked up one for the other agent as a peace offering. There was a somewhat confusing flurry of hugging between foxes and bunnies and more foxes. Annie and Vivienne even hugged Bay, who participated awkwardly in the confusing kerfuffle, only to find at the end he was hugging Nick who had jammed himself in there somehow. With riotous laughter at his protest to that, their party exited the diner into the night.
The trip back to the Bed and Breakfast was a bit livelier. There was less of a feeling that the agent was controlling them and more a feeling that he was working with them. It was a lot more relaxed. They moved swiftly through the small town that appeared to have already gone to sleep. Judy just quietly looked out the window as Nick explained his Munch credentials to the wolf. The past few months had rattled the bunny so much that this sleepy town felt almost alien to her. She felt bad that the other officers were not just lying around a cozy lakeside inn like they were on vacation. Judy felt her padded chest a bit as she reconsidered that. They were not nearly lopped in half by a brutal boar in a dark, primeval forest. So maybe she had earned a moment to catch her breath.
They finally returned to the place where everyone was staying. The van was pulled barely into the driveway, making it so the ZBI's car could not pull in as well. The signal was obvious. Don't block in the van. The wolf didn't complain, he just pulled off alongside the driveway. They went in, Nick and Judy both holding bags with food that was still pretty warm. It was a rather short drive, really.
They were greeted in the living room by a grumpy-looking badger.
She glared at Bay. "I already said y'all can't be coming in late, and here you are hauling food in here after I went and got groceries so you can fix yourself sandwiches and the like. I even got like two dozen carrots for the b-b-buh…" She stared hard at Judy. Then she moved her dark brown eyes to Nick. "Wait." She stepped closer. Judy tensed up a bit. The badger was at least a little unstable, this much had been established.
"Judy Hopps, nice to meet you," the bunny offered. Being genuinely friendly might help out in this case.
The badger looked like she was about to have a building fall on her. "Nuh… My God it is you. And Officer Wilde too… I… I…" She stumbled back.
"Pleased," Nick stated calmly.
The inn's owner gritted her teeth in horror at the wolf. "You… You not only failed to mention how many guests, but you neglected to say you had VIPs with you?! The place is a mess! I'm a mess! Oh what the Hell!?" She paced. Judy folded her ears back.
"I'm not a VIP," she laughed.
"Not a… Not…!" the badger paced hard, paws over her small ears. "You brought down the whole sheep cud-spiracy!" she cried. Judy suddenly considered the 'Bellwether' effigy. Oh no.
The fox tilted his head. "Conspiracy? Yeah, that… wasn't really held together all that well." Nick said somewhat dismissively.
"I had been watching it for years! It seemed like no one could stop it! I… I mean, you just… This is a rare and wonderful honor! I'm Maude, but you can call me Honey." She took Judy's paw in hers and shook it eagerly.
"You suddenly seem less put off about helping the ZBI protect these witnesses," Bay said in a smug tone.
Honey narrowed her eyes at him. "You jerk. All you had to say was her name and I'd have signed the place over." Judy's ears blazed. She hated undue attention and this was as 'undue' as it could get. She did not do this to get at some sheep conspiracy. Though… there were a bunch of sheep involved. That was just how it was. It didn't mean there was a real conspiracy involving just… sheep.
"Well, you will agree then that their security is paramount and we will have your cooperation?" Rosette asked from behind as she entered. She accepted the bag that was handed to her. She didn't request it, but it appeared likely she was willing to deal with it.
"I don't know who the others are, but these two I know," Honey indicated Judy and Nick.
"You probably know the movie star staying here too." Rosette said, taking her burger out of the back and savoring the scent. Judy scolded herself for doing the same. That was just so wrong. That was it. She had messed herself up. No denying it. She would just ignore that.
"What movie star?" Honey asked.
"Savage." Nick said.
"Wait, the action bunny?" she asked. "Why's he…" Her eyes shot wide open. "I knew it." She leaned against the dining room door jam. "I knew it. I knew it. This whole time. A real agent."
"Bahahaha! No, not that," Bay laughed.
"Right," the badger winked to him. "Then what about the others? Why are they here?" she asked.
"Can't tell you." Bay answered. "I will say… you will want to be nice to them. Those two saved them from certain death." Judy flinched. He didn't need to put it like that. Jack and Skye and all the mammals on the ZBI extraction team did their part too.
His reasoning was obvious though. He had Honey hooked.
"I will do everything I can to make their stay here a worthy vacation, Officer H-… Officer Hopps." She seemed almost unwilling to remind herself that Judy was standing right there in front of her. The bunny inwardly groaned. This was going to be so awkward. Maybe she could stay at Vivienne's for however long this was going to take.
She decided to make a retreat. "I'm gonna take these burgers upstairs to our guests. Do you know if Jack and Skye are still asleep?" Judy asked.
Rosette answered, "I think they're asleep, yes. It's perfectly quiet there. Motti's family is playing poker. The lions taught them how. They're all in the meeting room upstairs with the big table."
"Is it alright if I let them have these burgers and stuff up there?" asked Judy, not wanting them to make a mess and put out their host, odd as she may be.
"It's literally your house the whole time you are here," claimed Honey resolutely. Judy forced a happy nod at that. Oh boy.
She took the food up there as she listened to Honey lay into the wolf. It was a tirade about cleaning toilets and raking the leaves and the condition of the hot tub, oh God the hot tub, there was so much to do. She was not sleeping tonight, no Sir! Judy shook her head and looked to see if Nick was following, but he remained downstairs, just enjoying the antics of their new biggest fan.
At least no one was trying to kill them here.