So I was working on a different story and ran into a difficult scene I was having trouble with and while I was drinking coffee and thinking about how to resolve that whole mess this chapter sort of wrote itself... that or little gremlins in my computer wrote it. One way or another here it is, enjoy.
Disclaimer: Disney owns Zootopia. Cimar of Turalis Wildehopps owns '100 Kisses'. MinscLovesBoo owns the original 'Boop' that spawned Wolfeyer. (What shall hence forth be known as *drum roll*... The Genesis Boop) Me, well... Since all the good ideas are already taken I'll just steal them. I can't get sued for that can I?
Chapter 2 – Boxed In
"You really don't think that was a bad idea making that bet?" Judy said pushing the stroller toward their car in the side parking lot.
Nick laughed and turned to face their kits in the stroller, "Lets see here, who wants to see the kitty and wuffy go 'boop'!"
There was chirping and giggling and other enthusiastic noises from the two kits, and Nick looked back at Judy with a smug smile, "They seem to agree with me that that was a great idea. Three to one Carrots, you lose!"
"I still can't believe you did that," she mumbled shaking her head though she was smiling as she opened the car door for him.
Nick gave another laugh, "It's only a silly little bet Carrots. Anyway, what's the worst that could happen?" he said as he strapped Ridley into the first car seat. He turned around expecting Judy to pass Ella to him so he could strap her in as well but instead was met with a surprise kiss that made his tail and ears stand on end.
Judy pulled back, a grin on her face, "Oh I don't know, I remember a whole lot of trouble some silly little bet got us into a little while back, I'm still not entirely sure how you convinced Bogo not to fire us after the elevator incident."
Nick was about to speak but Judy caught him with another quick kiss before passing Ella over to a slightly stunned fox.
"Here buckle up our little girl too," Judy said turning to fold the stroller down to fit in the trunk though Nick saw a smirk flash across her face as she called back, "Oh, and 97 left."
Nick just stared for a moment before looking down at his daughter with what was probably a ridiculously silly smile judging by her delighted reaction, "And that my little hustler-in-training is why bets are amazing." He turned to strap her into the car seat next to Ridley and checked to make sure Judy was around at the back of the car, before whispering to her, "especially when you rig them so that you always win."
"I heard that!" Judy said her ears snapping up, just visible above the trunk, "And you don't know that you're going to win that bet with Wolford."
Nick scoffed, "This is Nadine Fangmeyer we're talking about here Fluff, I like Ralph but he doesn't stand a chance against her; she can even give you are real run for your money in the practice ring." He finished strapping Ella in and gestured dramatically, "Why you saw her chasing Ralph, she'll eat him alive, why I've heard that she eats nails for breakfast and s–"
"And if you say what I think your about to say in front of the kits I'll tell my mom to stop sending us blueberries." Judy said warningly heading for the driver seat, "And that exaggeration is just preposterous, nobody eats nails, how did a saying like that even get started.?"
Nick smirked going around to the passenger seat, "Because it probably has a grain of truth to it; why I even know a tough little bunny that makes sure to only buy cereal with extra iron in it." he teased before yelping as Judy's paw connected with his shoulder.
She sniffed, her nose upturned, "It's important to start off your day with a health meal and there are other necessary vitamins and minerals in those cereals other than iron!"
Nick grabbed the small gray paw before it could retreat and kissed it like they were at a formal ball, causing the cheeks of his bunny's upturned face to darken slightly.
"Oh don't get me wrong Carrots, I love my wonder bunny just how she is, bland morning cereal and all." He grinned as a blush started traveling up her ears, "But you have to admit, that bets a sure win for me."
"I think you might be surprised Nick. Ralph might goof off a lot, but he's no slouch." Judy said.
Nick raised an eyebrow smirking, "Care to bet on it then? Standard wager?"
Judy leaned across the seat and kissed him to seal the deal. "You're on Slick. Oh, and 96."
Nick smirked back and kissed her nose, "You are soooo going to lose, Fluff. Don't you remember what Duke was saying the last time he got dragged in? The criminals of the city have even given Nadine a nickname, she's the Tigress, Terror of the TUSK Team."
Judy giggled and pushing Nick back into his seat. "Buckle up Nick and as for that bet; I'm going to win because Nadine is never going to see him coming. Ralph is one of the best at undercover operations, he doesn't have a nickname because the bad guys only ever see Nadine charging at them while they think Ralph's backing them up not taking them down from behind."
Judy reached for the car keys but stopped a smile crossing her face and reached for her phone first.
Nick finished buckling up and looked over at her, smirk still in place, "And what is my sly little bunny up to now?"
"Oh nothing." Judy said as the line connected and a slightly out of breath voice came through, "Judy, hey what's up?" there was a snarl followed by a snicker heard through the speaker.
"Not much, just wanted to check on how confident you think you are about this bet since Nick and I have a small side wager, he seems to think that Nadine is going to, what where his words, 'Eat you alive',"
A somewhat muffled voice said in a pleased snarl, "Hear that, not even your fellow canids think you stand a chance, give up Ralph!"
There was a raspberry sound followed by another snarl before Ralph replied, "I take it your betting on me then Judy?"
"Absolutely" she said, and Ralph laughed saying 'Hear that!' while Nadine could be heard in a betrayed voice asking, "Hey, what happen to girls sticking together?!"
There was some more laughing and a growl.
"Don't worry Judy I got this in the bag already, why it's already two to zero!" Ralph said with delighted relish and there was another snarl and the sound of someone stomping away. "Ready to just give up? You could just let me boop your nose another 98 times and this will all be over!" Judy could hear Ralph shouting at Nadine over the phone and turned to Nick with a smug smile.
"Still so confident in your choice there Slick," she said and giggled at his sour expression.
Ralph's laughs and taunts suddenly stopped followed by a very worried 'Oh-oh'.
"Sorry Judy but I've got to go!" Ralph said in a rush as there was the sound of a car engine starting followed by a loud 'Clank' and the call cut off.
This time Nick snickered and leaned over close to her ear. She didn't even need to look at him to tell he was smirking.
"Still confident in your choice their Carrots?" he said in a mocking whisper.
"Oh hush you!" She said feeling her ears heating up and silenced his retort with a kiss. Judy pulled away grinning at the silly but beautiful smile that always appeared on his muzzle when she kissed him. She leaned forward touching her nose to his smirking, "I'd have thought that by now you'd have learned not to bet against me Slick."
Nick smirked back, "I don't know, I recall winning our latest little wager. What are you at right now, 95?"
Judy kissed him again before pulling back and patting his cheek, "Oh you silly silly fox, you only think you won while I got exactly what I wanted; You've been slaking off on your training and your takedown techniques need practice. Oh, and as a bonus I get to kiss you 94 more times now."
Judy started the engine and couldn't hold back a giggle at the perplexed look on Nicks face that was rapidly turning to horror.
"No… no… please don't say it!" Nick nearly whined but Judy just smiled more.
"It's a hustle Sweetheart!"
There was a sudden bout of bubbly giggling laughter from Ridley and Ella and Nick just groaned.
"Three to one Nick, I win. Now lets get home, there's dinner to make and a lot more smooching to do."
(Shortly Before)
Francine was coming down the hallway from the garage where the cruisers where parked only to hear a string of howling laughter followed by what she first took for a bellowing roar.
"RRRRRRRRAAAAALLLLPPPPHHHH!"
Wolford suddenly appeared around the corner of the hallway sprinting for all he was worth in her direction, still laughing manically and Fangmeyer appeared a second later actually bouncing off the wall on all four paws as she chassed the wolf.
Francine's eyes went wide as she realized the two were about to plow into her since her elephantine bulk took up most of the hallway.
But Ralph, still laughing, threw himself down like a baseball player and skidded between her legs. Francine looked down to see him pop back to his feet and continue his sprint laughing even harder now, right a set of paws land on her shoulder and with another roar that set her large ears ringing she was nearly flung forward as the paws pushed off her shoulder and back.
By the time she caught her balance and turned around the two had already disappeared from view the howling laughter and outraged roars fading into the distance.
"What by Dumbo was that about?!" Francine muttered in confusion putting a hand up to rub her ear and deciding she might need to visit the precincts donut loving source of office gossip before starting on her shift for the night.
Wolford was running out of breath as he ran into the garage (laughing while sprinting will do that). He fumbled with his pocket pulling out the key fob to their cruiser glad he had it and not Nadine as another roar sounded hot on his heels.
He couldn't stop the laugh that came out even as he gasped for air, putting on one last burst of speed and hitting the unlock button.
Teasing a tiger might not be smart… but that look on her face was priceless!
Ralph came to a skidding stop throwing the driver side door open jumping inside. He looked back to see a not very happy looking tigress descending on him in elegantly terrifying pounce. He managed to close and lock the door not a fraction of a second too soon as she impacted on the door, rocking the vehicle.
Ralph got back up from where he'd flopped back in the seat when she hit the cruiser and alternately panting and laughing looked out the window to see Nadine standing there scowling at him in frustration. He swore he could almost see steam coming out of her ears.
"Ralph if you come out now and grovel I might might just let this go." Nadine said in a dangerous voice.
Ralph snickered still panting, "Sure but only if you let me boop your nose another 99 times, I've got tickets to watch The Pack take the championship this year to win!"
"Not Even in Your Dreams! The Prowlers are winning this year!" Nadine snarled.
"Sureee they are," Ralph said sarcastically, before snickering again, "So is that a yes then, a little groveling and you'll concede and let me win my bet? 99 boops won't take that long."
"You try booping my nose again and I'll boop you so many times you'll lose your sense of smell and your ears will fall off from springing up!"
"As long as I get to boop you first!" Ralph snickered to another snarl and Nadine tried opening up the locked cruiser's door to predictable results.
She gave up after a minute and looked up glaring at him.
"Just give up Nadine," he taunted and waved the key fob in front of her just for added effect, "I'm going to win. Just like The Pack is going to beat The Prowlers tomorrow and win the championship! I am going to get to go watch on Nicks dime!"
"Nadine crossed her arms seeming to smolder.
"You really think that, don't you?" she finally said.
Ralph snickered putting his nose up to the glass, "You don't? Lionel Manessi is old news, We've got the new and we're winning this year."
Nadine leaned forward until only the glass separated her pink nose from his dark one and gave him a smile that would have made any criminal in the city run in fear, "Wayne Howlney is a pup, Manessi has the experience to take us all the way this year. We are going to win, and you're going to lose, just like you're going to lose that bet!"
"Really?" Ralph said, smiled back in the same way, "Then why don't you put you're money where your mouth is? When, I win this bet your going to have to come with me to the championship game wearing The Pack's apparel and help me cheer them onto victory."
Nadine's smile grew to the point that any criminal would probably be hiding under their beds shaking. "And when I win you're going to be on my side wearing a Prowler jersey and rooting for my team as we take the championship!"
"You're on!" Ralph said grinning, "You just took a suckers bet, your already losing!"
Nadine backed up and pointed at him, her finger pressed up against the glass where her nose had been a moment before directly opposite from his.
"Not for long, Your nose is MINE!" she said before jumping up and onto the roof of the cruiser.
Ralph looked up in confusion as there was scrambling sounds making their way across the roof, and saw Nadine jump down on the other side of the cruiser… where the window was halfway down.
Nadine turned smiling in a manner that made the tigress look like she was very hungry and had just spotted dinner through the open window.
Ralph saw her muscles coiling for a leap and managed a 'Oh Shit!', his mind scrambling to think of something and with no other ideas slammed his paw down on the window controls as Nadine pounced at him.
She made it partway through the opening before the rising window pinned her larger frame with a squawk, her one paw she'd managed to get through the window waving a mere inch in front of Ralph's muzzle as he pressed himself back against the door.
"Thank Balto this cruiser has an elephant durability rating," Ralph muttered as he tried catching his breath, his eyes a little wide, as Nadine squirmed and flexed her not inconsiderable muscle trying to free herself and get to him.
"Damnit!" Nadine roared unable to.
She stretched almost touching him as he pressed a little further back into the door.
If she'd gotten in the cruiser… he thought only now realizing how close he'd just come to losing this bet. He was a skilled fighter but so was Nadine and in a close, boxed in area like this her and her superior weight and strength would have given her all the advantage she would have needed.
She would have sat on me and kept booping me till she won… I might have to add some rules to this…
"Put this window down so I can pin you and your furry tail to the seat and boop you silly!" Nadine roared still struggling.
Boop! the word ran through Ralph's half panicked mind.
"Nadine! I didn't think you where the kind of girl to do that! And in one of the police cruiser no less?!" he said with a slightly hysterical chuckle, and then his mind caught up with what had come out of his mouth.
Kiss your ass goodbye Ralph, part of his mind said, Nadine's gonna-
What Nadine actually did was laugh.
"You!? Here!? Seriously!?" She laughed again and Ralph wasn't sure if he felt relieved or slightly hurt, "Oh you're cute enough Ralph," she snickered, "But you need to work on your pickup lines, your worse than Delgato!"
Now Ralph wasn't sure if he felt miffed or…
Did she just say I was cute? Cute!? Really!? Not handsome but CUTE?!
Okay, I think I finally understand why bunnies hate that term…
Ralph looked back up at Nadine now covering her mouth with her paw as she snickered and giggled still stuck in the window and a smile crept onto his face.
Ralph moved forward quickly and grabbed Nadine's arm that was in the cruiser. The action caught the amused tiger off guard and he was able to pin the limb by sheer force despite the bad angle and her strength, though it did take both of his paws. Nadine looked up at him in shock as she tried to free both herself and her now trapped arm.
Ralph just grinned.
First, some rules so she doesn't thrash me in this bet then a little payback… cute was it? I'll show her cute!
"Well be that as it may, we still have a wager to settle," Ralph said, "And with you trapped like this I could sit here and boop your nose till I won," Nadine's eyes widened a bit and she squirmed and flexed her arm almost breaking free of his grasp.
Damn she's strong! Better hurry before she gets free…
"But that wouldn't be fun or fair now would it? I wouldn't want you to think I unjustly won. I think we can both agree each boop has to won fairly, no…" he snicker, "pinning someone and booping away. Agreed?"
"Fine!" Nadine said still struggling and Ralph knew that he wouldn't be able to hold her arm only by brute force much longer.
He looked back at Nadine his grin growing, "Oh, and I've always thought you are damned cute yourself," Nadine stopped struggling and gapped at him for a moment and he snickered before leaning forward to place a quick kiss on her nose which gave a single twitch in response.
"Especially when you look like that." Ralph said pleased with her stunned reaction. Almost nothing phased Nadine but that sure had, and he couldn't help think that she actually did look quite pretty as she stared back at him, open jawed, in surprise.
"Two – Zero" Ralph said and then noticed that the white striped portions of her face had turned almost… pink.
Is… Is Nadine blushing!?
In one powerful move Nadine broke his hold and had backed out of the cruiser only to stare back at him.
No way, I think she is blushing! I didn't even think she could blush!
Ralph was so caught up in the fact that his partner, the indomitable Nadine Fangmeyer, had actually blushed that he almost missed the warning signs as her eyes narrowed on him.
His paw slammed down on the window control as he ducked her paw that came through the gap as she tried to boop his nose… or just grab him and try to haul him bodily out of the window. There were a few frantic seconds of Ralph desperately trying to avoid her paw as the window closed before she finally had to withdraw her arm or risk it getting trapped.
"You… YOU…!" She stared glaring back at him through the window, before snarling, "When I win I'm not just going to make you wear any Prowler apparel, I'm going to make you wear a Lionel Manessi jersey and the you're going to go and ask him to sign it specifically to you!" She tapped on the window with an extended claw threateningly, "And you'll tell Manessi how he's so much better than Wayne Howlney! You're going to have to do whatever I say that day! You'll be begging me for mercy! Just you wait…!"
Ralph looked back at the fuming tigress and couldn't resist the urge to tease his partner a little more. There was a little voice in the back of his mind that was telling him this was a stupid, that it was an awful, idiotic idea. But Wolford simply couldn't resist this opportunity.
He put both his elbows on the window edge and used his paws to prop up his head as he grinned broadly, his nose separated from her pointing claw by only the glass. He could even feel his tail wagging in the excited fun of the moment and didn't even bother trying to stop it. Ralph looked at Nadine and right before she opened her mouth to continue, he spoke up first.
"You're pretty when you blush." He said and added a little appreciative sigh.
Her mouth snapped shut, her eyes grew a bit wider and her blush deepened. Ralph's grin widened and his tail swished a bit faster, and then she let out a snarling bellowing roar and he snickered.
Ralph raised his paw and made playful swiping motion with a comical "Rawr!" sound and then fell back in the seat laughing at the look of dumbfounded, open mouthed surprise on Nadine's now heavily blushing face.
He was laughing so hard he almost missed both Nadine's irritated snarl and his phone going off. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his phone and saw it was Judy calling him. Getting a grip on his laughter he put the call on speaker.
"Judy hey what's up?" he said, still snickering from his laughing fit.
"Not much," Judy's overly energetic voice came through the phone, "just wanted to check on how confident you think you are about this bet since Nick and I have a small side wager, he seems to think that Nadine is going to, what where his words, 'Eat you alive',".
Nadine had stopped snarling to listen to his call and smirked at him, "Hear that, not even you're fellow canids think you stand a chance, give up Ralph!"
Ralph feeling overly giddy stuck out his tongue at her in a absurdly childish stunt which got a back a rather impressive snarl, "I take it your betting on me then Judy?"
"Absolutely" she said, and Ralphed laughed.
"Hear that!" he called over to Nadine while she looked at the phone in dismay and said, "Hey, what happen to girls sticking together?!"
Ralph laughed again before getting control of himself, he looked out the window smirking broadly at Nadine and only spoke once he had caught her eye, "Don't worry Judy I got this in the bag already, why it's already two to zero!"
Nadine pointed at him, about to say something then just growled, turned and stormed off.
"Ready to just give up?" Ralph shouted at her retreating form triumphantly, "You could just let me boop your nose another 98 times and this will all be over!"
Nadine's tail gave a dismissive flick as she stopped by the wall of the garage by one of the racks of supplies and grabbed something. She turned around and gave Ralph a look like he was her meal and she was about to play with her food.
Ralph realized what she was holding as she started walking back.
"Oh-oh." Ralph muttered and then scrambled over the center console and back into the drive seat.
"Sorry Judy but I've got to go!" Ralph said hurriedly as hit the start button and threw the car into forward. He ended the call and hit the gas pedal but was a second to late this time.
As his foot came down he'd cringed at the loud 'Clank!' sound that had come from the rear of the vehicle where Nadine had been headed. The cruiser jolted forward a few inches and then came to a grinding halt and he eased up on the gas.
Ralph unlocked the door and stuck his head out only to confirm that, yes, Nadine while looking quite smug, had booted their cruiser. The big yellow metal cap and bar on the wheel had rotated up and jammed against the under carriage and there wasn't a chance in hell of him driving away until he managed to get it off… which would involve getting out of the safety of the car and dealing with the tigress that was looking at him like he'd just turned into an interesting play toy.
"Oh S-" Ralph started to say before yanking closed and relocking the car door. He looked up to see Nadine now on the other side a large smile across her face.
"You've trapped yourself, Ralph," she said with a chuckle, "You gonna give up peacefully or do I have to wait you out?"
"You'll never take me!" Ralph responded and realizing how melodramatic that sounded grinned and decided to go all the way, "You and your dastardly scheme will never succeed!"
"Oh, I don't know about that, felines are patient hunters, I'm willing to stay here as long as it takes to catch you. You can give up now and take your nose boop or you can wait and take it latter, your choice."
Ralph crossed his arms and glared at her, "I think I'll take option three," he said and scrambled back across the seat to the other door.
There was a thump from the roof and Ralph stopped before opening the door as the sound followed him across and stopped right above the door. He moved back over the drive door but the sounds of shifting weight on top of the car followed him and there was a snicker.
Ralph flopped back into the seat trying to think how to get himself out of the box he'd trapped himself in and his eyes landed on the switchboard for the cruiser.
Might as well, it might work after all.
He smirked and flipped the switch for the lights and siren.
There was a startled and very loud yowl from above him but before his grin could even form there was also a snapping sound and the sound and lights abruptly stopped.
"Oh I'm sooo going to get you for that Ralph!" Nadine said, "I don't care if it takes all night and it only counts for one! I'm going to boop your nose till that silly expression of yours is stuck on your face!"
"Well, I think we're at a stale mate then," Ralph said and flopped back in the seat. He would not lose, He'd beat her, he didn't care how long it took.
…
A half an hour latter Ralph was still sitting in the cruiser and hadn't figure anyway out of his situation. He was currently watching the tip of Nadine's tail through the rear window as it hung over the back of the cruiser and slowly, patiently, flicked from one side to the other with metronomic timing.
Flick… Flick… Flick…
It was like watching the pendulum arm of a grandfather clock.
"Nadine," Ralph called out in something close to a whine, "I'm booorred."
Flick… Flick… Flick…
Her tail had kept him distracted for a while but by now he'd memorized the intricate and unique stripes and he wanted to reach out through the glass to grab it and examine it. His tail couldn't move like that and with nothing else to do but wait, the Flick… Flick… Flick… of her tail had started to mesmerize him. He wanted to examine it, compare it to his… and maybe play with it a bit…
Flick… Flick… Flick…
…He was bore after all.
"You ready to give up?" Nadine called down, her voice smug.
"Never!" he responded quickly, determinedly.
Flick… Flick… Flick…
Flick… Flick… Flick…
"I'm still bored." Ralph whined.
Flick… Flick… Flick…
*Ping*
Ralph looked at his phone which had chimed and saw a notification.
'SteelTigress has challenged you to a round of Battleship! Accept / Decline'
Ralph grinned and hit the button to accept the invitation to the phone game. Despite what she might say he knew she was bored too. At least he'd had her tail to watch. It was prettier than any wolf's tail he ever seen.
Flick… Flick… Flick…
Bogo made his way down toward the Garage on his way out of the building after his 'very important personal appointment' feeling much better. His little 'dance' lessons always did leave him feeling happy, almost optimistic, though he'd never admit that. Now if only the Wildes and their two cute ticking time bombs of trouble could not make a mess for a little while everything would be perfect and he-
Bogo stopped as he entered the garage his head doing a double take as it locked back onto the ZPD uniformed tiger perched on top of a cruiser like she was stalking a target, her tail flicking back and forth. A tiger perched on a cruiser with a parking boot attached and the cable for the lights bar hanging down the side and another officer, a wolf, sitting in the driver seat.
What the hell?
If it had been a bunny and a fox, Bogo would have known exactly what to do, he'd have internally groaned, yelled, and then go gotten some coffee or aspirin depending on how bad the oncoming headache that they would inevitably bring was. This though… his mental gearbox ground as he tried to shift gears and figure out what the hell Wolford and Fangmeyer were doing pulling a WildeHopps stunt.
"HAH!" Fangmeyer called out, "I sunk your battleship!"
"I think you cheated on that last game! There's no way you could have hit my patrol boat first!" Wolford called back, "I want a rematch!"
The tigress smirked, "Fine, if you want to make it 5 to 3 rather than just admit defeat now, go right ahead, I'll trounce you again."
Bogo groaned, his mental gearbox having finally gotten unstuck. He sucked in a breath and prepared to bellow.
Boop Count
Ralph: 2
Nadine: 0
A/N
So for all of you salty sea dog pirates that are shipping these couples I though you'd like to know that there is actually a secret pirate council. Its not mythical, its just one of those things were once you know about it you're stuck under their rules forever... opps, probably should have told you all that first, oh well. New crew members for the ships I guess.
Announcements on Pirate Radio for new crew members:
Also for being the original creator of Wolfeyer and the Genesis Boop, MinscLovesBoo is hereby awarded the title of Master 'Ship'wright, and shall hence forth be known as Master 'Ship'wright MinscLovesBoo!
Cimar doesn't need any more titles he's already one of the Admirals and Pirate Lords of this ship fleet. Plus I hear that spot came with a really big pirate hat, something that would make even Captain Sparrow jealous.
Also the secret base of operations for these pirate ships commonly know as Tortuga appears to be some site known as ZNN: The Zootopia News Network, apparently you can only find it if you have a special broken compass or google.
Lastly, for all you salty dogs setting out on your own stories for these ships, you can pick up your standard issue Zootopia Pirate Flags from OceRydia at deviantart (again accessible only by special broken compass or google)
Welcome to the crew!