~5 minutes before, outside the locker room.

Charlie and Judy were chatting outside the male's locker room, waiting for Aaron and Nick to change and come back. Judy decided to keep her training clothes on, claiming that she would change at home. Charlie was secretly very happy about that, since he could chat with rabbit, and get to know her better, which turns out to be pretty enjoyable way to pass the time. Judy's siblings are a great source of embarrassing stories and jokes that's for sure, even though the number of them is a bit too much.

''And then Thompsen decided that he would try to cycle across the cornfields. He did not calculate in the fact that it was spring, and corn usually matures mid-summer, so the crop was still immature and pretty hard. He started from the corner of the field, and while passing every row of corn, he hit his head on everything. In the end, he managed to cycle through the field, but we had to move him into the nearest clinic, where he was diagnosed with a concussion, and was reeling for a week, like he was constantly playing on a carousel. Since then, mom and dad forbid him to go near bicycles and cornfields." Told Judy, getting a chuckle from the painted dog.

''That Thompsen guy needs to chill down with his ideas. Do any of you warn him before he does something stupid?" asked Charlie with a sarcastic smile.

''Oh, we do, more than once actually, but he is just so stubborn and always claims that 'He can do it' and that 'This will work'. The clinic has a separated room just for his accidents." Said Judy getting another chuckle from Charlie. Judy couldn't not smile while looking at the painted dog.

Gosh, does he have an angle or a face, where he isn't looking so good?

After Charlie finished laughing, Judy was about to tell another story, when they heard a loud, feminine shout from inside. They looked at each other confused.

''Is there a female in the male locker room?" asked Judy tilting her head sideways.

''I guess there is. I will check it out, since you know…this is the male locker room, and I'm a male." Stated Charlie mockingly.

''Pfft, right, go ahead, I will wait." Said Judy while leaning on the wall and crossing her arms before her chest, and so the painted dog disappeared behind the door.

Charlie closed the door behind him, and after turning back, he saw Nick and Aaron sitting on the bench, that was situated in the middle of the locker room. Their backs were facing him, seemingly unaware of the painted dog's precence. Charlie looked around and saw no female, but heard a pretty pissed voice coming from the way of the other canines.

''-Would you mind explaining to me that picture of you kissing that fox? A male one at that!" Charlie heard the voice shouting. He wanted to turn around to leave thinking that he shouldn't pry in other's personal life, boss or not, but his curiosity got the better of him, so he decided that a little eavesdropping wouldn't hurt.

And I may get to know the detectives under my hand a little better.

''What picture are you talking about?" Charlie heard Wolford ask like he has never heard of that particular photo. The painted dog couldn't imagine who was behind the other side of the line, but whoever she was, she was really outraged of Wolford and Wilde being together. He scoffed, thinking that there was still mammals like this.

Wonder what damage does their love do to this female.

''Maybe look at your social media once or twice! Someone caught you and that fox kissing! Are you really being with a fox?! And you really gay?! Are these true Aaron?!" screamed the female. Charlie flinched upon hearing the disgust and venom in her tone. If it was a jealous ex, she was from the worst kind.

Wait, someone caught them kissing?

Charlie couldn't explain it but a sense of déjá vu flooded him, but couldn't put a finger on why. It was really familiar, but he had no clue.

Well, let's see if they will tell me more about this picture.

''Yes, mom, they are true, but can I expl-'' started Wolford, but the female thought she heard enough.

''You don't need to explain anything! I don't want to hear from you until you drop this whole freak fox loving scheme! You are not a Wolford 'till that, do you understand?!" and then silence. She hung up. Charlie got totally frozen.

Did….did he just get disowned right here and there? This was her mother?!

All professionalism and coolness left him after hearing that. He couldn't control his emotions, and noticed how his own vision blurred, presumably of tears. But he did not care. This was something, that he couldn't not get emotional at. He looked at the wolf, who was now leaning forward and openly crying into his arms while the fox next to him looked rigid. Charlie heard the wolf's sad sobs and whimpers.

Since painted dogs were very rare, there were very few mammals who knew anything about them besides the legends of their existence. But the thing is, they weren't that different; especially to wolves. Their traditions were almost the same, and disowning from the family was just as bad for painted dogs as wolves. A lone wolf would get lost in the woods, and would probably starve to death, or die from the cold of the night. A lone painted dog, since they originated from places much warmer and with no forests around, would get probably eaten by hyenas or lions back in the day. So it was doom in both their languages.

And now, here was Charles, who has just heard his detective, a wolf getting disowned, because his mother couldn't take the fact that the wolf loved somebody, with whom he couldn't carry on the bloodline of the family. And all because someone managed to get a picture of them and updated to social media, without their permission nonetheless.

But why would they kiss in public? They knew that there are regulations against PDA, plus the fact that Hopps was with them, and it still happened…..Something bad is going on.

Then he remembered what happened an hour before the detectives arrived to the precinct.


~1 hour before, Bogo's office

''So all in all, my plan for them today, is to assess their fighting skills, so I can see exactly how hard cases I can assign them to." Explained Charlie.

He was currently in Bogo's office, sitting in the chair opposite to the buffalo's table. He had been called for a discussion, and to tell the chief what he plans to do with the trio. He just explained it to Bogo, that he would like to take them down to the ZPD's gym. Bogo looked pleased of his ideas.

''Very well, Deputy Pictus. I agree with the importance of this, and even though I know that if you give those three a case, no matter how hard it is, they will somehow manage to bring half the city's criminal world to their knees." Commented Bogo with his usual deep and gruff voice.

''It's just precaution sir. Hunches are great to have, but they can't be accurate all the time." Shrugged Charles.

''My hunches are always correct, that's why I was about to promote Hopps and Wilde within a month anyway." Said Bogo while leaning back in his chair.

Charles was about to ask about the reason behind Wolford's promotion, since it was still a mystery to him how the timber wolf stepped up a rank, when he heard Adrian's phone ring. He watched the chief take it out, and upon seeing the caller, his usual annoyed face seemed to bright up a bit, which honestly scared the painted dog. Especially when the scary face looked right at him.

''This is an important call I have to take, Deputy Pictus, good luck with the detectives." Said Bogo, while getting out of his chair, walking to his window, and accepting the call. Charles was surprised of his boss's sudden haste, but he thought nothing of it, and decided that he will dismiss himself, so went to pack his stuff, when he heard the Chief's voice from the window.

''Chief Bogo here, you got it?" heard Charlie say the chief. He knew that he shouldn't be here listening to his boss's private conversation, but it seemed that the chief entirely forgot that he was still in the room.

And it's not like I would understand anything from the conversation anyway.

He started putting his notes and files together that were scattered around the chief's table, and listened to the conversation. He couldn't hear who he was talking to, so he entirely relied on Bogo.

''That's splendid to hear, You got all three of them?" asked Bogo. Charles' curiosity started to grow, but he had to restrain himself.

''Great Job. Now, I will send you a telephone number, and you want to speak to a sheep named Robert Woolson. You tell him that Chief Bogo gave you his number, and you have the pictures I told him about. After it, you send those photos to him, then you call me back, and your part of the deal is done." Said Bogo into the phone. Charles, just as he expected, didn't understand what he was talking about.

Wonder what picture he wanted to get to Robert Woolson, the head of the ZNN, the biggest news station in Zootopia. Probably some missing criminal, and Adrian wants to get his picture in the news.

With a shrug, he quickly sneaked out, and went towards his office.


Adrian…

This was what the chief was talking about. He made a deal with some paparazzi to get a picture of them publically showing affection, and this mammal managed to make them do so somehow.

His rational mind, as usual, wanted to piece together the information, and he knew that it all could be just a coincidence. But oh boy, his rational mind was not working at all, he was too angry and too sad to think straight. His boss managed to get his own detective disowned.

That brainless sad excuse of a buffalo.

Charles knew, that Bogo had no idea what he had done, but if the painted dog was honest with himself, he really didn't care. He warmed up to the wolf after his initial scepticism, and after hearing the conspiracy against him and his other detective for some probably very stupid reason, he wasn't about to let it go wordless.

So he sneaked out of the locker rooms, and after stepping out, he saw Judy looking at him really worriedly. She probably heard everything with those ears of hers, but she seemed clueless about the importance of this as a whole.

He saw the bunny open her mouth to say something, but he was on autopilot, so he took out his own phone, and dialed Adrian's number. After two rings, he heard the line connect.

''Hello, is this the chief I'm talking to?" asked Charlie, with no respect in his voice.

''Yes, Deputy Pictus, what seems to b-" he heard Bogo say nonchalantly, but the painted dog wasn't in the mood for formalities.

''Great! Then I have one thing to tell you, you son of a bull: F*ck. You!" said Charlie, but it was more like a shout. He saw Judy getting shocked upon hearing that.

''Deputy Pictus? What do you think you are doing?" asked Bogo a bit more angrier.

''Oh, I know what I'm doing. Could you explain it to me why in the name of all Canine gods did you made fun from your own detectives in front of the whole city?!" shouted Charlie. His rational mind was starting to get back, and the feeling of nervousness started to grow inside him. He knew that it was a long shot accusing the buffalo, but if it was a coincidence, then it was a big one.

The line was silent for a second.

''What are you talking about?" asked the chief still sounding stern and angry, but Charlie heard a bit of hesitation in his voice, which made him ask the following question.

''Oh, I don't know, maybe I'm talking about the fact, that you bribed a paparazzi to get a picture of Wilde and Wolfo-… Aaron 'publically show themself', and then sent the picture the paparazzi made to the frigging ZNN?!" now openly shouted Charlie. This was it. He was actively watching the bunny's reactions, and he saw the bunny going from shock to confusion, into the mix of the two.

''H-How do you know?" asked Bogo now worried. Charlie didn't need a bigger confirmation of his theory being correct. The Buffalo did everything, and he just admitted it.

But Charlie was far from finished. He wanted the Adrian to know what he had done.

''It doesn't matter how i got ahold of your doings, what matters is that your stupid plan for god knows why, managed to get Detective Wolford get disowned from his own family in front of his mate's and my eyes! You know how serious this is?! If Wilde wasn't around, Aaron would have to leave the city, and in the worst case scenario, NEVER. COME. BACK!" Charlie at this point was panting. He noticed that there were a group of officers watching him and was murmuring with shocked faces. He saw the cheetah receptionist too, standing there wide-eyed in fear. Even he knew where all the gossip comes from in the building. He inwardly smiled.

Good, now the whole precinct would know about everything.

''So listen to me Adrian, if you don't manage to get Aaron back to the Wolford clan within 2 weeks, I will have to take drastic measurements against you. Good day, I'm taking the day off aswell." And with that he hung up. He looked at everyone around him and smiled devilishly.

''Good afternoon officers. I hope you had a good show, please, continue your assigned work." Said Charlie and turned around just to see Aaron and Nick standing here with Judy. All three of them looked at him in a shocked and surprised manner, but he did not care. He saw both of their damp furs, and Wilde's shirt being fully soaked, and decided, that it was worth it.

The painted dog walked in front of the wolf and patted his shoulders.

''Don't worry Aaron, I won't let any of my detectives to be played like worthless toys. I will make sure to get you back to your pack." Stated Charles smiling at the wolf. Aaron shook himself out, and just smiled back.

''That's very nice of you Chocolate pudding, but I think I have a new family already." Stated Aaron while petting his mate's head, making him huff in annoyance. Charles seemed surprised.

''Already? You guys are fast. Next thing you will tell me that you mated a week after you met." Commented Charles with a light chuckle. He expected Aaron and Nick to laugh with him, but they just looked at each other. Charles stopped laughing and groaned audibly.

''Can't you guys just do one thing like normal mammals would?"

''Sorry Deputy Chocolate Cake, but it's really not our style." Sighed Nick while winking at Wolfie, and then at Carrots. Although the bunny didn't seem to be in the mood. Actually, She seemed like she was fuming in outrage and questions.

''Could somebody tell me what did I just witness? Why was Charlie shouting with the chief? What Paparazzi? Disowning? Bribing? New family? What is going on?!" exclaimed Judy while glaring daggers at her partners and her boss. The three canines felt the intensity of her eyes deep in their bones and got terrified. Charles gulped in fear, but what scared him more is that it kind of turned him on seeing Judy acting like this. His fears were affirmed when he saw Aaron's and Wilde's nose twitch, and a small smile appear on their muzzle. He inwardly groaned.

Stupid bodily functions and their stupid noses. *sigh* At least Judy can't smell it.

''Okay Carrots, We will tell you everything, but can we change first? I would really not like to go out looking like I had just run through the Rainforest District." Said Nick while pointing at his damp shirt.

Judy, as an answer, took Charles and Nick in both her paws and literally threw them into the locker. Then she turned her head towards Aaron with eyes that sent a message clear to the wolf:

Go after them, or I will make you.

To which the wolf happily obeyed. He stepped inside and heard the door shut loudly behind him. He looked at his mate and his boss, who just shrugged.


After Aaron and Nick got changed (they were so much faster, considering that they didn't dare to ogle the other in their boss's precence.) and after leaving the room, they told everything they individually knew about. They told her about wolf traditions, why is disowning such a big thing, they told her about the night they mated (of course, without the less than appropriate parts), their call with Nick's mother. Charles then told them about Bogo's phone call, and the connection with what he heard from Aaron's mom, for which he was scolded a bit for eavesdropping on private conversations, but they all agreed that it was for the best.

Judy listened to everything with great care, not saying anything besides nodding and producing affirmative sounds.

In the mean time they got into Charles' car. Judy was sitting on the passenger seat, while the two mates occupied the back seats. Or so Charles thought they would be, but they insisted on Nick sitting in Aaron's lap, which the painted wolf just shrugged off. They were currently heading towards Nick's mom's house, since the fox asked Charlie whether he could drop them off there. The painted dog happily complied.

''And so that's how I realised that it was all Adrian's doing." Finished his part Charles, and then came silence. Judy was deep in thought, then after half a minute or so, she looked up at Charles.

''It could be a coincidence. How do we know that the picture Bogo was talking about is the same as the picture Aaron's mom talked about?" asked Judy making the canines in the backseat look at her.

''Yeah, and here comes my mistake. I knew that the two might not have a connection, but…I was just too angry to think straight, and couldn't control myself. But in the end, he did admit it to me on the line, so now we know that he is the culprit." Explained Charlie looking a bit ashamed. Judy was about to scold him, but Aaron spoke up before she could.

''Has any one of us even searched up this picture?" asked the wolf. Everyone looked at him, but they realized that he has a point. Nick quickly took out his phone, unlocked the screen, and went to his Muzzlebook page. Aaron was resting his muzzle on the Vulpine's shoulder, looked at the screen, and when he saw the amount of notifications the fox had, smiled teasingly.

''Not being here often, huh Bushy Tail?" asked Aaron looking up at his mate's face.

''No, but I never get more than 3 of them in a week, this is ridiculous." Commented Nick while looking through said notifications carefully.

''How many do you have, Slick?" asked Judy while looking back at them.

''4628." answered Nick while frowning his brows. The Bunny's jaw dropped to the car's ground. Nick, after he saw that, couldn't live without making a comment.

''Carrots, you should be the last mammal to be surprised by it. With your thousands of relatives, you must be getting three times as many as this every day." Teased Nick while shaking his phone side to side for the bunny to see. Judy just huffed in annoyance and looked out of the window.

''Only twice as many." Mumbled Judy, making Nick chuckle, and Aaron snort in amusement. Charlie on the other hand was a bit terrified.

Note to self, never make her sad. The mere possibility of her family coming after me is terrifying.

Nick after finished laughing, continued to scroll through his notifications, searching for the one that would lead to the picture. Aaron looked at him questioningly upon seeing his fox cluelessness.

''You know, that if you press one of these, where it says someone commented on the post, it will immediately put you to the picture, so you don't have to find the one where it all started, right?" asked Aaron looking at his mate with a raised eyebrow. Nick just chuckled nervously.

''Of course…I just- I just wanted to test you." Stated Nick while pressing one of the many blue boxes on his screen. The wolf rolled his eyes and wrapped his tail around the fox, who immediately started to groom the appendage, much to the wolf's pleasure.

''Oh wow, not a bad picture. They even got my good side." Commented Nick while zooming on his face.

''You only have good sides Bushy tail, but yeah, this doesn't look bad at all. Even Judy is on this." Commented the wolf. Judy's ears perked up and looked back at her friends.

''Give me that." asked Judy while reaching out to the phone, but the fox was faster.

''A-a-a, Carrots, what's the magic word?" asked Nick with a sly smile. But Judy was ready for that.

''Documentary of Sloths. Remember Slick?" answered Judy with a teasing smile, making the fox go wide-eyed in horror. The bunny used this chance and took the phone from the rigid fox's paw. When she turned back into her seat, she could hear 'Sly Bunny' escaping the fox's lips. She smiled in satisfaction and looked at the picture.

It really was a good one. Nick being in Aaron's arms, who were holding him up and enveloping him in a deep kiss, while the fox was hugging him by his neck. Then there was her, looking a bit redder then usual, but she nonetheless smiled stupidly at them. She cringed at the sight, because she looked like a teenage doe who just saw her favourite boy band performing live. The fact, that it was not that far from the truth, if we look at it from an other perspective, terrified her.

''You look good too." Judy heard Charlie say. She looked over and saw the painted dog focusing on the road, but could see that all of his three colors got a bit redder and that he was actively avoiding her gaze.

''You r-really think so?" asked Judy shyly and a bit flustered herself. She really wasn't used to compliments.

''Yeah." Replied Charlie simply, but just as nervously.

''Oh god, please don't be a cliché couple, who gets all shy and nervous when talking to their crush… Wolfie, do something!" groaned Nick and looked at his wolf pleadingly.

''What do you want from me? Marry them in the car or what?" retorted Aaron playfully. The car started to shake uncontrollably after that, but Charlie got ahold of it quickly.

''Chocolate cake!" shouted Nick while his heart was pounding rapidly. He was holding onto his wolf with more limbs than he had.

''Sorry!" shouted back the wide-eyed painted dog.

''Aaron! You should not say things like that!" scolded Judy who was redder than a tomato. The wolf looked at him, and smiled very Nickishly, signaling Judy that he was a lost cause.

''What? I could actually marry you within the border's of Downtown, Meadowlands and Tundratown. If you really want to do it now, you just have to drive back and-''

''STOP!" shouted Charlie and Judy becoming even more redder. The two mates on the back seat couldn't hold their laughs and completely lost it.

Judy in the mean time was so red, she was basically glowing.

After everything that went down today, how could they be their old self?

She needed distraction, something, anything! She looked at the picture in her paws, and thank god something caught her eye.

''Hey! Funny bones! Could you please stop for a sec and take another closer look at the picture." Commanded Judy, making the laughing canines open their eyes and look at the phone in the Bunny's extended paw.

''What about it, we already decided that I look good on it" mocked Nick while leaning back in his wolf shaped seat.

''Yes, but look at the angle it was taken from. Wasn't that taken from the place where Finnick was standing?" asked Judy while ignoring her partner's snark. The wolf and the fox looked at the picture again, and immediately got wide-eyed in realization.

''It is! He was the paparazzi the chief bribed?" asked Aaron looking at his mate. Nick just smiled confidently and took the phone from the bunny's paw.

''Well, let's see what he has to say in his defense then." Said Nick and started to dial a number.

''Who is this Finnick we are talking about again?" asked Charlie while they waited for the fennec to answer.

''Nick's old hustling friend, we met up with him earlier today." Informed Judy shortly, because the call was accepted. Nick quickly put it on speaker mode, so everyone in the car could hear him.

''Wilde." Came the deep voice of the fennec from the phone.

''Finnick, Buddy! How are ya doing?" asked Nick cheerfully.

''Same old, Same old, why are you calling?" asked the fennec in his usual annoyed tone.

''Well, now you see buddy, I just want to know why did you take a photo of me and Wolfie today on the street?" asked Nick nonchalantly.

''…..Crap. Listen Wilde, I did not know what he wanted to do with that photo, much less that he would make me send it to the frigging boss of the ZNN. I'm sorry bro, I got misled too." Admitted the fennec in a now ashamed tone.

''Who's 'he'?" asked Nick carefully.

''The chief of the fuzz, he called me earlier today and told me he would get me a job if i got a picture of you and that wolf eating the other out on the streets while the bunny was watching. I asked him for the reason, but he just shrugged it off, saying it was 'strictly confidental and it holds no real value in our deal'. I have never thought it would end like this." Admitted Finnick. The occupants of the car looked at each other and nodded. This was enough confirmation for everybody.

''No worries buddy, I'm not mad, actually a bit impressed how you managed to hustle us so good." Replied Nick with no trace of hurt in his voice. Some could have thought he liked the idea of his relationship being in public.

''I was always better than you Wilde. Anyways, it was nice catching up to ya, but I have things to do. Ciao" and then he hung up.

''Heh, I have heard the police being called lot of names in my career, but 'fuzz' was never one." Commented Charlie while stopping at Cypress Grove Lane.

Nick and Aaron got out from the car, a bit sad for leaving their favourite position, but they had important stuff to take care off. They walked up to the door and knocked on it. They heard shuffling behind the door.

''Coming!" came a feminine voice they all heard at least once.

Then the door opened and a middle-aged vixen stepped out. Aaron looked over the other fox, and could see some similarity between her and his beloved mate. They had a similar cream colour starting from their neck, but the vixen's orange fur was a bit lighter in colour. Her eyes had the same beautiful emerald that Nick had, and could see a sense of hospitality in those eyes. The vixen wore an old-looking dark blue dress, that somehow looked good on her, even though orange and blue very rarely looked good together. All in all, Mrs. Wilde looked like a true mother, and Aaron already felt a sense of safety.

When he regained his focus, he saw the vixen was hugging his mate, like she hadn't seen him for ages.

''Oh Nicholas, finally you visited! It was about time." Said the vixen after ending the hug. Then she looked at Aaron with the same warm, motherly eyes.

''Who is this handsome wolf you brought over, Nicky?" asked Christine in a sweet voice.

''Oh yeah. Bushy tail, this is my Mother Christine Wilde. Mom, this is my mate, Aaron Wolf-…. well now it's just Aaron." Said Nick nervously. He wasn't anxious of telling his mother about Bushy tail being his mate, but he was really nervous about the last part of the sentence.

He saw his mother look at him questioningly, then the realization and the horror flashed through her face, and he could swear he saw a tear forming in the corner of her eye. The next thing he knew that her mother slammed into the wolf, enveloping him in an awkward hug.

''You poor little pup…." Whispered Christine accompanied by a sob. Aaron was a bit taken aback by the sudden gesture, but nonetheless was happy for the understanding of the Vixen, so he hugged back. It was a little bit awkward, sensing how every other mammal who passed the house looked at them strangely, but he couldn't deny how comforting it was.

After it, they parted and the vixen looked up at him with tears in her eyes, that she tried to get off, but those damn tears kept coming.

''Well-" *sob* "-as the oldest female of the Wilde family, I think it's my task to officially welcome you to the family, isn't it? Or do you want me to just say it without any formality?" asked the vixen while trying to regain her cool.

''I was never really that enthusiastic for traditions, so I think the latter would be okay, it's faster anyway." Replied Aaron, getting a chuckle from Nick and a smile from Christine.

''Welcome to the family, Aaron Wilde."