Chapter Summary
Before you leave the house every morning, you should take a look in the mirror and see yourself as the world sees you.
Officer Nicolas Wilde, he stared at himself. Every day, before he went out the door, he paused. He paused and took a breath.
Never give them a reason to doubt your ability. Never give them a opening. Never let them know you're a step ahead.
Mom would have been proud.
Nick relaxed, smiled softly, and he turned for the door. There was nothing that needed to be said, there was no one to talk to for that matter.
Carrots was waiting for him, as usual ever since she bought that beat up old Possum piece of crap. "Eighty thousand miles" his tail, but he doesn't say anything.
Carrots loved the piece of junk, and she always has his Chai Tea with lemon waiting, so he doesn't say anything.
"Morning," Carrots smiled, holding out the tea in question.
"The thing with Snarlov still on for tonight?" Nick took the tea and blew on it, she always got drinks extra hot. Another thing to look into when he has time.
"Yeah, Fangmire's got it covered." Confirmation, perfect. Schemes abound, and not even his, or even Carrots. Hustles were a thing of beauty unto themselves.
Her bug of a car rumbled and knocked, less than usual, that farm girl in her knew something about engines. Might as well been magic hamster gnomes to him.
The drive probably killed the department's entire carbon credit budget, and she was a little slower than the bus...but you couldn't lounge back on a bus.
Nick sipped at his tea, his mind wondered and his eyes flicked about. There were hustles to be made anywhere...surprising how often it came up as a cop.
Being able to read animals was most of the job, like right now. When they are parked underground, and Carrots manually locks both doors with her key, he's on his way inside.
Get the morning's BOLOs before going to the bull pen. Saved time, Carrots would sign in with Clawhauser for him. Being able to read animals, right. Into the cube farm, Delgato should have the papers.
Nick glanced around. Delgato still looked like someone stole his sweetroll and ate it front of him, shame. You strain your back and you have to come to work a hour early. Plus he's stressed out about something it looks like.
His in and out box are squared off at the opposite corners of his desk, not touching. His papers are all lined up by right angles in relation to his computer. His stapler, pen cup, and lamp make a line pointing towards him.
Lion's getting angsty about something. Probably about tonight, Delgato's promised to pull through on this. Nick made a note to send Higgins in, make sure his partner wouldn't spill the beans.
"What's the word?" Nick smiled.
"You would know better than me, still out there with Hopps?" Delgato was really getting angsty it seemed, he sounded wistful.
"Nah, you know Jude, she's got me buried in paperwork." Nick shrugged it off, yeah, Higgins needed to take this cat out for a drink before he went stir crazy.
New BOLO, looking for a senile old wolf who went missing last night...that would not be fun. Nick was already on the way back, was better to just make a full circuit around the precinct than double back.
Just past the offices, and Admin, and towards the lockers. Past those and you'd circle around to the bull pens. Looked like he'd have a walking companion at least.
Grizzo changed and showered at the station, he ran before he got on shift, health nut of a Rhino. He was wearing Old Fashioned today, meant a date. Never had luck with the ladies, probably because he thought Old Fashioned was sexy and not grandpa smell.
"Going for it tonight buddy?" Nick asked as he thumbed through the other BOLOs. The usual, gang affiliated sheep skipped bail on a dealing charge. Caution about a gang of car thieves after specific models, high end stuff, better warn Flash about that. Wanted for Misdemeanor Burrowing?
"You know it. Got myself a hot date, met her on that new KO-Dates app. It's awesome." Grizzo pulled out his brick of a smart phone, three gens old already, and still works. Said something about his care...and his cheapness. Nick nodded.
He'd make sure to tell Clawhauser to hide the legit doughnuts and put out the nonfat ones. Station didn't need Grizzo feeling sorry for himself AND getting gas from all the baked goods. For a Rhino that's cry at the drop of a hat, and eat a bucket of ice cream after his dates, he bounced back mighty quickly.
Not that it mattered. Nick followed Grizzo into the Bull Pen, he hopped into the usual seat. Carrots was already prepping that little notebook of hers, and that carrot pen. She thought he didn't know about the Blueberry version she hid in her locker, waiting for Christmas.
Oh, how he loved the Hustler. Bogo was stomping in, salutes abound. Nick settled down after the nod.
"RIGHT! It's time to let the cat out of the bag." Bogo started...
"Snarlov." Bogo smirked, he pulled out a wad of paper work. "Congratulations on completing department mandated sensitivity training, it's time to get you back out there..."
"Urm..." Snarlov looked up, the snow panther a bit unsure.
"And yes. Happy birthday..." Bogo lost the smirk, Nick pushed a elbow into Carrot's side. Make sure she didn't get that smirk. The Bull Pen schooled themselves.
"..." Snarlov looked around, his ears drooping...
"And?" Bogo asked, cocking a brow, looking at him over his glasses. Snarlov's ears folded back, he turned to Francine. The elephant shrugged.
Nick glanced back, a look of sympathy on his face. Oh, if that leopard only knew.
They were going to all have so much fun tonight.