Chapter 22: Case

Once all the policemen were in their seats, the commandant waited patiently until everyone finally quieted down and began to listen to him curiously. His sharp and stern look indicated that soon his patience would run out and he would have to use his voice, which, properly subdued, could frighten even the bravest policeman. Everyone, however, did not lose their enthusiasm for the conversation, and did not worry too much about the commandant, who watched the others with an increasing lust for attention. Everyone was full of positive energy after the break everyone got. You would think they would come back sullen and exhausted at the thought of having to patrol the area again for several hours at a time, but it was quite the opposite. Everyone was really looking forward to getting back into their police uniform with a badge on their chest and being able to help others if the right opportunity arose.

Eventually, Commander Bogo ran out of patience and drew attention to himself by throwing a folder of catalogues onto his desk. The loud noise caused by this caused conversations to immediately fall silent, everyone straightened up in their chairs and began to listen to their superior.

"Yes...much better," Bogo said excitedly casting a quick glance at each policeman as if counting down whether they were all there. Some were still trying to finish the last sentences of their speech, but feeling that strong and freezing gaze of the commandant made them stop their sentences and focus on the man.

"Welcome everyone back. I am really pleased to see you all safe and sound. I would ask myself if you were happy with the time off you got, but seeing the enthusiasm on your faces I don't need to do that," the commandant said. There was quiet laughter in the room caused by his statement. Bogo must have been proud of it as well, because a slight smile also came on his lips. A smile wasn't welcomed on his face often, so that meant he must have felt proud of something.

"Coming back. I hope you're rested and have plenty of strength, because we're starting off right in the thick of things...or at least some of us are" the commander added, then took a few catalogues out of his briefcase and approached the green board tilting the wing that was tucked away. Everyone's attention was drawn to a picture of three figures that was previously unknown to anyone. Everyone and especially Nick was surprised when he saw that the photographs contained images of foxes. As the commandant began to open the next folders, everyone couldn't wait for the moment when they would hear their name and get their assignment. It was an exciting moment because you never knew what role you could get each day. However, everyone hoped for one thing: that they wouldn't have to watch the parking meter. It was a tedious and uninteresting job, which is why whoever was chosen for the parking meters they always called him "unlucky".

"Spoiler and Coyote, you will be patrolling Sahara Square" said the Commandant hailing the two policemen. After hearing their names they got up from their posts and left the room.

The commander called out to the next officers and gave them different tasks. Mostly these were patrols or finding a particular villain who had done something wrong while they were on holiday. However, everyone was wondering what challenge the commander was talking about? There were fewer and fewer people in the briefing room and still no major assignment. Everyone was interested in the three hanging figures on the board, which the commandant had yet to mention a single word about. Soon only Judy and Nick were left in the room. They were curious about their assignment for this first day back from break. Maybe it would be a patrol or also they would have to catch someone? They were horrified at the very thought that they would have to guard the parking meters, Bogo had not yet appointed anyone to those roles. The commandant, when left alone with Judy and Nick closed the door with precision, as if he wanted no one to hear them. This intrigued the two policemen, but they were not brave enough to ask what was going on. They waited for the commandant to say something. Bogo soon opened the last file, it was Nick and Judy's catalogue.

"Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps, the most important task falls on you."

"But what?" Judy asked curiously.

"Recently more people have started to disappear from the fox district at regular intervals. People have also started to flee from the fox district and there has been a terrible disturbance there. The town hall does not like it. I want you to get in there and..."

"Wow, wait, wait! So we're supposed to go to the fox district, the plebeian one right?" Exploded Nick suddenly with a question. This surprised Judy, he had never spoken in such an angry and fiery tone.

"Yes, exactly so," replied Bogo with seriousness.

"Commandant, give me the parking meters, please" replied Nick, which surprised Judy.

"Nick?"

"I'm sorry Wilde..."

"There's no one on the parking meters, and I'm more than happy to take over those roles" replied Nick. Both Judy and Bogo were surprised by Nick's words, which sounded serious. Judy was surprised, he had never disregarded a commandant's order before and she had never heard Nick talk like that. No matter what assignment they received, he always wanted to do something just with her. The commandant, on the other hand, was surprised that he didn't want to work with Judy. Or that he didn't want to go back to the fox district. His file said it was his hometown, but why wouldn't he want to go there?

"Well...ekh...if you want you can take those roles" the Commander said with confusion. the Commander

"Thank you very much Commander...see you Judy" replied Nick. He hastily got up from his seat and then left the room.

Judy and the Commandant were still in the room, and between them they did not hide their surprise at Nick's behaviour. Fox looked as if he didn't want to say something. When Judy was about to leave the Commandant stopped her.

"Judy..."

"Yes Commander?"

"Did you have an argument with Nick...or something like that?"

"No, not at all, I'm as surprised by his behaviour as you are!"

"Ekh...Hopps, go to him, talk to him and convince him to go to the fox district...he has to go there"

"Why does he have to? The Lord let him go anyway!"

"In the fox district they do not trust anyone who is not in the company of the fox. You cannot go alone. As for permission, I didn't want to argue with him. I know you'll convince him."

"How do you know?" Judy asked curiously.

"You and I both know that you have a very good relationship. If you encouraged him to become a policeman, you will encourage him to do so" replied Bogo. He moved closer to the door and turned to the rabbit one more time before leaving.

"When you have convinced him come and see me, I will be in the study" replied Bogo leaving the room.

"Well beautiful..." Judy sighed as she was left alone in the room. How was she supposed to convince the fox to go to the area if she didn't know why he reacted that way?

"I wonder why he got so appalled" thought Judy with wonderment. As she thought about it she decided to ask Nick himself, who had most likely hidden in the men's locker room so he could put something warmer on himself. As she approached the door of the city changing room Judy knocked then slowly swung the blue door open to see if anyone was inside. She expected that the only person who would welcome her was Nick himself, so she didn't want to go in there when there was someone else in the room. When she saw no one she entered the empty locker room. Upon entering she immediately noticed Nick, covering his emerald eyes along with his entire face. Judy was surprised by his pose, she sat down next to him and put a hand on his shoulder signaling that he was here.

"Nick...why did you react like that? Is something wrong?" Judy asked quietly trying to sound as convincing as possible. Nick didn't answer for a few moments. He sat in the same pose for a moment without moving one bit. For a moment Judy really thought she might have offended him with something until he turned to face her.

"And you can keep a secret?" Nick asked seriously.

"Nick, please...I love you, I'm your girlfriend! I won't tell anyone" replied Judy placing her paw on his hands. He laughed softly nodding affirmatively.

"Well..." Replied Nick with a slight smile on his face.

"What's the reason you don't want to go to the fox district?" Judy asked. When the fox heard the name again his face chilled and took on a serious expression.

"Well, you see...when I was little, I grew up there. Practically every fox that hangs around Zoootopia comes from there. It's not a good place..."

"Why?" Asked Judy .

"Why? I used to be able to ask myself that question too...it all started when one day my dad came home from work in some strange, bad mood. I was maybe I don't know...7,8 years old at the time and didn't think anything important could have happened. That night, I got out of bed because I couldn't sleep and accidentally overheard my parents talking, that's when I found out that my dad had lost his job...

"He didn't find another one?"

"You see the problem with that Judy, my family is not the richest... I can tell it's poor..." Nick said the last words awfully quietly, as if he wanted to hide that fact. Judy didn't surprise him, she could tell from his expression that he was ashamed of it, she couldn't tell him that now, but she understood why he was hiding it like that.

"In the fox district it's hard to find a good job that can support us comfortably, and because of us being foxes, my dad looked in vain for work elsewhere...and then he reached for the alcohol" Nick sighed heavily.

Rabbit was already slowly coming to the conclusion that was most likely to occur, but she waited for Nick to tell it, she didn't want to pre-empt the facts.

"At first they weren't very large amounts which is why no one paid any attention to it. Eventually, as time went on, it would happen that my father would come home later barely conscious...until finally one day he took his anger out on my mother...ever since that day, something inside me snapped...I don't know what it was, but I know I'll never be the same again...do you know how stupid it feels when you know your mother is being hurt and you can't do anything?"

Nick finished his statement by wiping his eyes with his hand. Although he thought Judy was going to laugh at him for letting out a few tears Judy sat calmly in place and with a caring expression nodded with a movement of her head. Judy herself was also deeply moved by Nick's story, she couldn't even imagine how bad Nick must have felt at home when things like this were happening. Now Judy understood why Nick had a cold approach to her at first.

"What was next Nick?" Judy asked. Her soft and quiet tone made it seem like in a moment Judy was going to start crying too.

"I started spending less and less time at home because I was just scared. And so one day I met Finnick, who suggested a trip to Zootopia. That's when I saw what a social bottom the fox district was. In Zootopia, everything was so neat, colourful, happy... friendly and safe. In the fox district everything is dirty, not tidy, on the street they can rob you. I don't want to go back to that pleb, I don't want to go back to my beginning...it's not the place , where I want to be..." Replied the fox. To his surprise, after saying this he felt really better. He felt an indescribable relief in his heart that he had said this to someone. He had held it in his heart for so many years and finally found a person who could listen to him with seriousness.

"Nick, you have changed. You can't change by being there. You are a different person Nick, you are now a good citizen of Zootopia. Please come with me, we will be together, after all the two of us can't stop anything can we ?" Judy asked, to which Nick smiled modestly.

"You're right Carrots, you're right... thank you."

"For what?" Asked Judy in surprise. Although she didn't realize it, she had caused a lot of mental help for the fox.

"For listening to me, so many years I hid it inside me..." Replied the fox.

"No need to thank me," replied Judy, then snuggled into Nick. Nick was surprised by this move, usually Judy didn't wish a hug in the workplace because she was afraid someone would discover them.

"Uhm Judy what are you doing? After all you said..."

"Shut up and hug me" replied Judy without breaking the hug. Nick laughed, then pulled Judy into his wide arms.