Hey guys Price here and welcome to Chapter 8 of Wonder Bunny: Lance's Story! Sorry it took a few days, I kinda just got distracted, among other excuses. I hope you guys like it, as you get to see the beginning of Lance's current personality, as well as how well he adjusts to manipulation and how good he is at it. You guys will also see something that Lance doesn't let many in-universe see if he can help it. One of the reasons he has his own tent at the base. I'll flashback later to around the time Nick went onto the mission that resulted in his meeting Judith, and how the separation (something Lance knew would happen eventually) affects him more than expected. It's mentioned in passing in Judith's story, but you'll get to see just how bad it is. I'm going to try and include as much of the backstory with Lance and Nick as I can, which means this will likely be much longer than Judith's story will be. I shall also post another flashback or two set before the fire to give you a better understanding of Lance's personality before it happened. Also, I know I said this Chapter would be the first successful hustle that Lance and Nick pull, but that didn't work out so I've changed it a bit. Anyway, that's enough of that, I think it's time to get...onto the story!
Lance leaned against the wall of a building in a small square area between four buildings, the only exit a small door. He stood opposite the door, head hanging slightly as thoughts raced through his head. His gaze was dull, unnervingly so. Nick told him it reminded him of a corpse's dull eyes, something they'd seen a few times since they'd moved to the streets.
Perhaps the younger Tod had a point. Perhaps Lance was dead, in a way, and his gaze was the only thing that laid that truth out to see. Yes, that sounded about right to him. Death had claimed him on that fateful day he'd lost his family several months ago, just not in the way it did normally. It'd taken everything except for his life and a few select emotions. His joy, his love for life, and just about every other possitive emotion and thing about him. They were all taken in one fell swoop, leaving behind an empty husk with only a life barely worth living and enough emotion to pass for normal, if he tried.
The sound of something stirring close by brought him back to the present, the young Tod turning his head to see Nick stretching and yawning. Lance leaned his head back as he stared, his expression taking on a small hint of happiness as his friend stirred. If anything gave his life meaning anymore it was Nick. The younger Tod was all he had anymore, and he would fight tooth and claw to keep him, even if it meant fighting an official. He would not allow anybody to take his sole reason for continuing. Not without giving them one hell of a fight.
Nick stood and shook his head, looking at Lance.
"Alright, get some sleep. I'll keep watch for a bit until you wake up." Lance nodded, walking over to Nick. He leaned against the wall next to his friend, sliding down it as Nick crossed his arms and stared at the entrance, his expression considerably softer than Lance's tended to be.
Right as Lance started to drift off he felt the sensation of being watched, the Tod snapping his head up and looking around. He raised his gaze and saw Nick pointedly looking away, clearly having been looking at him. He smiled softly, then elbowed Nick's leg lightly. The Tod looked down at him and blinked at the smile, a smile of his own forming at the sight.
It'd been a while since he'd seen a smile like that from Lance.
"Come here." Lance said, patting the ground next to him. Nick looked indecisive, then eventually nodded after a moment. He sat down and Lance promptly leaned against him, turning his head until his muzzle was more or less touching Nick's neck. He took a deep breath, a smile on his muzzle as comfort washed over him. Nick flushed awkwardly, unsure how to react. On one paw, it could be an innocent action, but on the other it could also not be. He cleared his throat and Lance huffed, though turned his head to where his muzzle was facing straight once more.
For the first time he could remember, Lance fell asleep with a smile on his muzzle and a feeling of safety and comfort inside him. Of course, nothing lasts forever.
Lance suddenly jerked in his sleep, Nick jumping in surprise at the motion. Lance opened his eyes slowly, raising his head from where his jerk had made it lean to the right. He raised a paw and pressed it to his head, letting out a groan. Nick stared, unsure how to react, and Lance froze. His eyes were wide, his jaw slack, and his fur stood on end. His appearance reminded Nick of how he'd looked when they'd found their home burning.
A choked sob escaped Lance, startling Nick from his thoughts. Lance's expression had contorted and his eyes watered, Nick sucking in a breath at the affects of whatever Lance had dreamed. This was the first time he'd seen this occurring, and it was slightly alarming. Another sob escaped Lance and Nick reacted, reaching over and grabbing the older Tod and pulling him into a hug, the action surprising both of them. For Nick it was almost instinctual, though that didn't lessen the shock factor.
"It's okay, Lance. I'm here." Nick said quietly, the older Tod silent save for his crying. It lasted for several minutes before he was able to get it under control, and when he did he leaned away from Nick with a thankful smile on his muzzle.
"I'm sorry. I...I didn't want you to see that." The older Tod said quietly, Nick tilting his head. "It's not the first time, just...just the first time you've seen it." Nick stared at Lance in shocked silence for all of two seconds.
"Why didn't you tell me, Lance? I'm here if you need me, you know that." He said, Lance sighing.
"Yeah, I know. I just wanted to ignore it, though. Thought that maybe it would go away or something, you know?" The older Tod said, Nick huffing. He wasn't quite sure that was how something worked.
"What was it about, if I may ask?" Lance was silent for a long moment, then sighed.
"...Laura." He answered quietly, Nick blinking in surprise. Sure, he'd expected something similar, but he'd also hoped it would be something else. If he was being honest, he just wanted to forget about it. He remained silent, though reached out and pulled Lance into a hug. The older Tod locked up in surprise, not expecting Nick todo such a thing, but eventually smiled softly and let him continue.
"Lance, you need to tell me if things bother you, okay? I can't do much, but at least let me do what I can to help." Nick said quietly, Lance letting out a shuddered breath.
"Okay. I will." The older Tod replied, Nick leaning back slightly.
"Promise?" Nick asked, causing Lance to huff in amusement.
"Yeah. Promise." He said, Nick smiling faintly.
"Alright. I'm not going to forget that." Lance chuckled at that, shakign his head.
"Of course you won't. You don't forget anything, do you?" Nick grinned faintly at the question.
"Of course not. If it's important enough to remember." The younger Tod answered, the last part coming a few seconds after the first, almost like an afterthought. Lance snorted, silence falling between them for a long while, both Tods just sitting there with small smiles on their muzzles. Eventually Lance's ears perked up, indicating he had an idea.
"Hey, Nick, wanna go somewhere outside the city for a bit?" He asked, the younger Tod looking skeptical.
"I dunno. I mean, our entire lives are here, after all..." Lance tilted his head in confusion. "...You meant like a walk, didn't you?"
"Something like that, yeah." Lance answered, chuckling as Nick flushed in embarrassment. "It won't be for long, honestly. I just kinda need a break from this city for a bit." The older Tod's voice took on a bit of a sad tone, Nick averting his gaze slightly. Without another word they both stood and walked out from the small space, Nick following his friend in silence.
It didn't take him long to figure out where Lance planned to go, since it was the same route they'd always taken. He said nothing, though, only following in silence. At least until they arrived.
"Lance, I have a question." Nick said quietly, the older Tod barely catching it. He turned, surprise his expression of choice.
"Alright." He said, indicating Nick could ask his question. The younger Tod hesitated,then gulped.
"Do you...do you think I'm weird for not thinking about what happened?" Nick asked, Lance blinking in surprise. His expression softened, a smile touching his muzzle.
"Now why would I think that?" Lance responded, Nick blinking in surprise at the words. "I don't blame you for not thinking about it, trust me. I don't want to think about it either. But it isn't something I can control." With that, Lance turned and gazed at the tree that stood before them. His expression was a mix of sadness and longing that cut Nick deeper than anything else. He hated seeing Lance sad like this.
Lance was silent for a long moment before he sighed and turned, leaning against the tree and sliding down to a sitting position. He gestured for Nick to join him, and he sighed.
"Alright." Nick muttered, sitting down next to his friend. Lance's expression was less sad now, instead looking more thoughtful.
"Hey, you know I'd do anything for you, right?" Lance asked suddenly, Nick blinking in surprise. The statement caught him off guard, but Lance only tilted his head patiently.
"Uh, yeah, sure. I'd do the same for you." Nick said, clearly unsure how to respond. Lance chuckled, nodding his head absentmindedly. Silence fell between them once more, Lance's head eventally dipping and his eyes closing as sleep took him once more. Nick smiled softly, though let out a small noise when the older Tod slumped over and ended up leaning against him. He raised his paw to lightly push him off, but paused. He let his paw drop as he considered fpr the first time why Lance always found comfort in pressing up against him.
Was the action just something that Lance did subconsciously in an effort to find some sort of comfort after everything they'd been through? Was it just him seeking out the bodily warmth that Nick provided? Maybe a combination of both?
Nick sighed quietly to himself, shaking his head. He supposed it didn't really matter to him why Lance did what he did. All that really mattered, in the end, was that they woke up. Survival was the most important thing, especially when one lived on the streets like they did. Everything else could wait.
Nick turned slightly, leaning into Lance with a soft sigh. A little sleep wouldn't hurt.
And that does it for Chapter 8 of Wonder Bunny: Lance's Story! I hope you guys enjoyed, because I certainly did. I'm terribly sorry it took so long to write. I blame Discord and all the wonderful people and friends I've met. I want to thank LapisLucius42 for inviting me to the server, because I have enjoyed every single day since then. I've loved talking with all of the people there, most notably FoxyHenHouse, CimarWildeHopps, Bluelighthouse, JudithWildeHopps, Starfang's Secrets, Kulkum, and many, many others. I'm lucky to get to speak to them on the server like I do, and I'm even luckier that they actually find me enjoyable to talk to enough to put up with all my hijinks and just my overall personality like they have. I mean, I blame them for distracting me from writing this, but I'm thankful for all the fun and interesting times I've had so far talking to them and will undoubtably continue to have with them. They are truly wonderful people, and I'm just happy they put up with me. I know it isn't easy, but they manage. Somehow. Don't ask me how, I barely put up with myself as it is. But yeah, sorry about that little tangent there. Kinda got out of hand. I hope I can continue to provide the kind of quality I expect from myself and that you guys expect from me. It isn't always easy, but I try my best. Even when it's something I'm not used to writing. Especially when it's something I'm not used to writing. Besides all that, though, I'm excited to see where this story goes, and I hope you guys are as well. Next Chapter may be a bit, since this ended the flashbacks for now. There are a few issues currently going on I'm not at liberty to discuss, so forgive me if things take longer than usual to get the next Chapter written. The issues aren't with me, but a good friend of mine who I will shut up about because I don't want to seem like a jerk or anything. Anyway, this is getting long enough, I will see you guys...next update. Word Count: 2,295