Clink

"Another shot please." Nick groans out as he slams his 6th shot glass on the bar counter top. He rubs his face with his right paw as he sighs heavily. Nick slumps down in his chair and face planted the wood counter.

"I think that's enough Nicky." The badger bartender says as he cleans up some glasses.

"Skeeter…please give me another one." The fox pleads, but it came off muffle due to his muzzle pressed against the counter top. The badge sighs as he approached his friend.

"What's got you down Nicky?" he questions the predator as he moves the fox empty shot glass away. Nick slowly shifts his arms up, he props his elbows on the counter, and uses his paws cup his cheeks to hold his head up right. Nick wasn't completely drunk; he just has a nice buzz going for him.

"Well, when I was young I was dating this girl for three years, then she up and disappeared without a word. Now jump 20 years later, today to be exact. I saw her again and I arrested her for being a suspected in her boyfriend murder." He says softly as his drags his paw roughly down his face. The badger hissed as he rubs the back his neck.

"Uh…it could be worse?" Skeeter utters out trying to help him. But the fox chuckles bitterly as he shifts his green eyes up at the bartender.

"Pffttt, trust me it gets worse. Here is the cherry on top; I think I still have feelings her." Nick admits as he slides his face out of his paws and slams his face back down on the counter. He did it…he admit it to himself. All day his mind just had been buzzing with thoughts of Rizzo. Those beautiful blue eyes, her majestic voice and just her overall beauty. Puberty was so good to her; he only wished he was there to see it. No! Stop it! The fox sighs miserably, he thought he was completely over her, but he can't get her out of his mind! All the feelings he felt for her in the past seems to just hit upside the head.

"Are you sure, Nicky? Maybe…maybe you were taken by surprise, and some of your old feelings stirred up? Maybe it it's a temporary feeling. I get like that when I see my exes, but it comes and goes." Skeeter assures him as he gave him a sympathetic look. Nick eyes shot open as he peeps up at the bartender. He does have a point. Maybe he is over-thinking this. It has been 20 years; can you still have feelings for someone you haven't seen in that long?

"Yeah…yeah maybe you're right. I was taken by surprise; it wasn't like I was expecting to ever see her again. Maybe I'm just being foolish." Nick says more to him as he sat up straight in his bar stool.

"Thanks Ske."

"No, problem Nicky. Now get going, the bar is closing up soon." The badger informs him. Nick nods as he gathers up his belongings.

"Have a nice night, Skeeter." The fox bids goodnight and left the badger a tip on the counter before leaving the bar. When the fox left the saloon, he is greeted by the harsh cold air. He shivers as he shoves his paws in his trench coat and began to walk to his apartment; it was only a few blocks away anyways. The fox walks slowly in the night as he looks up at the sky admiring the stars. The city seems so peaceful at night.

CLATTER

Nick head snaps to the loud sound of metal clashing in a dark ally.

"Get away from me." A muffle voice spoke. Nick eyes dilated as his ears drop back. Well there goes his buzz. The officer hurriedly hides in the shadows as he crept deeper inside the ally. Nick got close enough to see a small figure pressed against the brick wall while holding a bag against their chest. And the other two are a bear and a hippo.

"I said give me the bag!" the bear demands as he grabs the small mammal by the throat and slam them against the wall.

"AH!" the small animal shouts letting go of the bag. The hippo bends down and began to search the purse for any valuables. Nick growls as he reaches for his gun in his belt, only to come up empty. Damn it, he left it in his apartment before he went to the bar. Well he just has to wing it. If they are just common muggers then they should run for it when he makes his presences known. Or at least he hoped. Nick rushes over to the scene with a brave face on.

"Put the mammal down and put your hands behind your head!" Nick yells as he got closer. The hippo look up to see Nick, he quickly tap his partner.

"Come on it's the fuzz!" he shouts. The bear growls when they saw the infamous Nick Wilde running in their direction. He quickly drops the small victim on the floor before dashing away from the scene. The victim yelps softly in pain when they landed on their left leg wrong. Damn it.

Nick stop running in front of the small mammal. He gasps softly as he watches the muggers disappear in the dark. He is so relieve that his reckless plan actually worked.

"Hey are yo…Rizzo?" Nick whispers in disbelief when he turned his attention to her. Said raccoon lifts her head up and snickers bitterly to herself.

"Oh, this day gets better and better." She spat as she scowls the fox. Nick's ears droops as he shifts awkwardly where he stood as he avoids eye contact with the raccoon, whom has been running through his mind all day. Rizzo rolls her eyes as she adjusts her glasses back to the bridge of her snout as she uses the wall behind her to stand.

"Thanks for…you know." She mumbles under her breath as she looks at the ground. Nick's ears perks up as he glances over at her, he offers a small smile as he shrugs.

"Just doing my job, are you ok?" He asks softly as he shoves his paws back into his pockets. The fox took the time to take in her appearance. She is no longer wearing the revealing green dress, she is wearing a plain back shirt with washed out dark blue denim vest with matching jeans. Rizzo scoffs as she uses the wall to walk.

"No, I've just been robbed which means no house keys and no money. Also I think I sprained my ankle." Rizzo answers as she walks with a limp. The fox frowns as he strides next to her.

"Here you can use my phone to call your Uncle." Nick suggest as he pulls out his smartphone.

"That won't help. My Uncle is Tundra Town visiting some friends." She informs the officer as she hisses softly in pain as she put weight on her injured leg.

"I'm just going to go to my stylist house." Rizzo says softly as she looks over at Nick.

"Where do they live?" Nick asks as he got closer to her just in case she fell.

"Near the train station." She answers simply.

"What? That is across town!" The fox states as he stares at her in disbelief. Rizzo open her mouth to snap at the bothersome fox, but she hit her injured fox against a fallen brick making her whine in pain. She closes her eyes in pain as her ears laid flat down. Rizzo eyes began to sting as she opens her eyes to looks over at the fox.

"I have nowhere to go." She admits as she looks away from him dejectedly. Nick face fell as he felt his heart squeeze. That should never be a sentences anyone should ever say. All day he saw her as his former girlfriend, now he sees are as a friend in need of help. And if he had to be the help she needs, so be it.

"Come on, you can stay with me. My apartment is only a few blocks from here." He tells her with a soft smile. Rizzo looks over at him with wide eyes. Is he serious?

"Nick…you don't have to-"

"I want to Rizzo." The raccoon stared at the handsome fox with shock icy eyes. Still quite the gentlemen. Rizzo smiles softly as she nods.

"I'd like that." Nick smiles widen at her response. He nods back before bending down in front of her.

"Get on." He orders softly as he waited for her to get on his back.

"What?" The blue eyed female asks as she looks down at him. Nick chuckles as he peeps over at her.
"I'm not letting you walk with a sprained ankle." He says coolly to her. Rizzo sighs in defeat as she climbs on the fox's back. He is so warm. She wraps her arms around his neck and he held her legs to keep her from falling.

"And we are off." Nick says playfully as he started walking into the direction of his apartment.

The two fell quiet on the journey to Nick's places, but both mammals are in deep thought. Nick is in the process of convincing himself that he is just being a good friend and this has nothing to do with his mix feelings for the raccoon. While Rizzo stares at Nick, taking in all his features. He really is handsome; she had to give him that. And a part of her is proud that Nick decided to quit being a con-artist. Oh, yes she knew all about Nick and his Popsicle scams and his other endeavors. Nick was famous for his scams and every gang tried to reel him, but Nick liked to be his own boss.

Rizzo smiles softly as she leans her head on his shoulder as she kisses his cheek.

"Thank you, Nick." The young fox could feel his face heat up as he smirks lightly to himself.

…..