Ok here we go. The first official chapter of A Father Figure begins now!...well after this author note anyways.
Vince Fangway- DING DING DING! You are correct! I based early Jack on John Wick, choice of weapons, suit, etc. but with my own twists like killing three wolves in a restaurant...with a pen... a fu (you see where I'm going with this.)
this SHOULD be much more like prologue part one in size but that can change.
oh and the firearms, if any of you are wondering most weapons will have the color they are and the paws they were designed for, like BlackWolf for instance. Black color, Wolf paw.
as I said Jack enlisted, I will tell you now that I am BASING Jack's deployments on real countries and areas but it will NOT be 100% accurate, this of a work of fiction after all. So don't get your panties in a twist if things never happened like that here in the real world yadda yadda yadda. I'm also basing the military on real military but stuff will NOT be super accurate for this either and will be BASED on as well, it's fiction remember.
This chapter will start out narrative to set the scene a little bit before kicking off.
Also I did not expect to get this many favs and follows this early in so I appreciate the support greatly.
Please read and review! Plus Beta readers still wanted!
P.s James Wolford (I just realized I had accidentally put an a instead of an o during the prologue, my bad Wolford!) is Ralph's dad not Ralph with a different name. Clawhauser is 21 when first introduced, which yes would make him be in his forties but he's still gonna be just as bubbly and Gazelle obsessed. In the sequel or third book (depending on how far I take the second there may not be a third (probably will still be one.)) when Nick and Judy are grown up Nick will be 26 and Judy will be 24. (AU remember? I like it when they're round the same age.)
Ok that's done now let's get to what you're here for.
Chapter One: Improving Lives...
Jack returned from his memories and to the present. He never liked thinking back on those times but it felt like it was necessary for this, for what else he saw when he looked in the mirror. His crisp, clean, and pressed Mammilian Marines Dress Uniform. Although his differed from the standard uniform, because the whole title to what he was in the military was Mamilian Marines Special Sniper Division. But everyone just called it the Periton Sniper Corps, because of two reasons: one the Municipal State of Periton had the largest military base in Mammilia and contained the headquarters and training grounds for the MMSSD; and secondly...it was way easier to say than to spit the whole entire title out plus your name and rank. So Jack in short was a part of the Periton Sniper Corps, the most elite and prestigious snipers in the whole Mammilian military. His uniform differed in the red was a darker shade and in the symbol instead of an anchor was a sniper rifle.
The Periton Sniper Corps were basically the special forces of snipers besides being the leading contributor of snipers to the entire Mammilian Military. Not only were they disributed to branches when and where needed they also provided cover and overwatch for special forces operations, they were sent solo in areas to sow chaos from long range be it behind enemy lines or on the foregrounds, and they were sent on high risk assasination missions of high value targets. Sure branches had their own snipers but they received a fraction of the training and were in much smaller quantities. In fact if you asked any military mammal who'd they'd rather have watching over them and most would tell you they wanted a mammal from the Periton Sniper Corps.
This led Jack to pull out his deployment orders from one of his pockets. He was to report to HardWood Military Base in Periton tomorrow by 0800 hours to be loaded up and shipped out to Afuristan. Afuristan was the largest hot bed of terriosm currently and was divided up into sectors by the military to help coordinate better, Jack would be assigned to two sectors providing overwatch to Bravo Compamy as they cleared every street, alley, and building to flush insurgents out. Both sectors covered the entire Helmand providence of Afuristan and Bravo Company was tasked with clearing its 15 towns and cities along with Delta Company and Indigo Company, but Jack was only watching over Bravo Company. He of course wasn't the only one watching over the ENTIRE company, he would be assigned to a platoon, Bravo Platoon to be exact.
When Jack had enlisted he travelled to Periton itself to enlist, it meant less hassle for him because the cities' population was 15 percent foxes, so he wouldn't see as much discrimination even though most foxes didn't meet the height requirement therefore not many (almost none in combative roles) were in the military. They just lived in the city. Discrimination was one of the reasons he chose to join the Periton Sniper Corps, he figured since he would be solo no one would see him or bother him and those he was watching over wouldn't either, so less hassle.
So after enlisting he went through nine months of grueling training, well... grueling for the others because he breezed through all of it like it was a walk in the park due to his... past, so he passed top of his class. But in truth, nine months should have been seven but his drill instructor had seen he was wasting his potential staying just enlisted so he convinced Jack to go through officer training school as well which Jack breezed through just as easily. So he was now 19 year old Second Lieutenant Jack Hunter, Periton Sniper Corps. This led Jack to be many firsts, first fox in the Marines, first fox in the PSC, first fox officer, and youngest mammal to graduate out of the OTS top of class by one year of age (this particular one would probably be broken.)
He chose to wear his dress uniform today, because he may back in his home inside Zootopia, but outside of his door not one mammal knew he was in the military. (He had been back for two weeks but he never wore any of his uniforms and kept his tags tucked in his shirt.) So today when he left to walk the city one last time before deploying tomorrow, he wanted to strut his stuff a bit and let the city see that a fox had become not only an officer in the military, but part of an elite sub branch at that. He wanted change mammals opinions about foxes, rub his accomplishment in those ignorant, and also show other foxes that they could break the mold that society put them in. Jack wagered he'd garner a lot of attention, heck maybe even stopped by a reporter, which if he could get the whole city to see him it might just help change some things.
Speaking of change, a lot can happen in seven years. Zootopia had once again improved by leaps and bounds, overal crime was down 37 percent, Happytown crime was down another 14 percent, Happytown's conditions improved another seven percent, and predators were intergraded more into society than in the entire history of Zootopia. Not to mention the Prey Supremacy Society hadn't been seen in four years. Of course somethings had yet to change, foxes were still the most distrusted and discriminated against mammals in Zootopia, and they were now the leading in species still stuck in HappyTown, but Jack was helping change that. With help of course.
Before he could reflect on that bit his phone on the table to his right buzzed, the same table his cap was sitting on. Walking over and picking up his phone he noticed it was a deposit into his bank account by Sparrowtail Industries. This allowed him to muse on the subject again. He quickly looked at his account now showing 114,165,873.76, he may be rich (in fact he was the youngest millionaire in Zootopia and the first fox millionaire) but that didn't mean he was just gonna laze about, no he was going to make a difference now just like he had been doing before...except this time he wouldn't be doing it from the shadows, well mostly anyways.
Sparrowtail Industries was his brain child and named in honor of James Sparrowtail but Jack wasn't CEO, no that title went to Demetri Wolfgang. During his time with Big he and Demetri had become good friends and he was the only soul he told there who he truly was. When Demetri had told him that he wanted out Jack had brought up the idea of Sparrowtail Industries, Demetri had a degree in business management (and political science) so in Jack's eyes he was the perfect candidate to help him launch it. Demetri had liked the idea but had insisted on Jack running it but Jack had shook his head and said "Right now a fox running any major business is doomed to fail, no one wants to do business with one. Plus I'm 14 Demetri technically me starting a company isn't even legal." With that argument Jack won and Demetri agreed to run the company only if Jack had a paw in everything the company would do and take the largest pay as well as being considered a majority stock holder when the company took off to which Jack accepted. (but he'd secretly be THEE majority stock holder technically making him the true CEO, Demetri had snuck that bit in unbeknownst to Jack.)
They both had dipped into their funds to launch the company, it focusing on technologies, military technologies, and weapons. (Later dipping into the medical pool once the company was off the ground.) The company quickly took off earning several high level contracts in each division. Technologies major contract was new sim and memory cards, now almost every phone from every company contained a sim or memory card from Sparrowtail Technologies. Military Technologie's breadwinners were: a portable signal jammer, a high tech security camera called a BlackEye, an emp grande, and several flashbang and concussion devices. Sparrowtail Weapons Division's biggest pot was new and more effective tranquilizers that even Jack couldn't build up an immunity or resistance to, and a better tranq gun to shoot them earning its contract to the ZPD.
The company had over 20 locations varying from offices, factories, testing facilities, etc. being spread everywhere with several being in Zootoopia alone including its headquarters. The company also gave to change because it only hired predators for the first six locations including all four in Zootopia, discrimination suites were drawn up but all it took was spotlights being shown on companies that discriminated against preadators by only hiring prey for them to quickly silence themselves. Sparrowtail Industries also helped with change because the company was 48 percent foxes. In fact both small offices in Zootopia were staffed entirely by foxes, and the headquarters was 38 percent foxes. This hurt the company a little because of the discrimination against foxes but the company was at the stage where it didn't matter, and it didn't matter especially to Jack, because so far 37 percent of the foxes in zootopia were living better lives because of his company. Shaking himself fully he cut off all of his thoughts and musings because now it was time to go out and cause some more change, and hopefully improve some mammals lives... starting today.
Quickly checking the time he noted it was 1 pm, in other words time to leave. He pocketed his phone, keys, wallet, collapsible baton, deployment papers (just in case,) some miscellaneous items and holstered his Para-Ordance BlackOps 1911 BlackWolf in a holster right above his tail (angled slightly towards his right for faster drawing) before donning his cap and exiting his apartment. His apartment was in Sahara Sqaure just a few blocks from Sparrowtail Industries headquarters meaning it was fox friendly, and it kind of had to since he technically owned it and was technically the landlord, but he left that duty to the previous landlord a friendly old wolf who luckily wasn't prejudiced towards foxes. Shaking his head Jack internally said "Hey brain! You said no more musing!..right sorry me continue as scheduled." Jack chuckled at his own crazyness and than began walking down the stairs.
Exiting the building he was immediately noticed by those around him. Seeing a fox in a military uniform was pretty much a once in a lifetime experience after all. In fact pretty much every mammal had stopped moving and was currently staring at Jack, and some were starting to take pictures of him and one mammal even started filming him on their phone. Now while he appreciated his plan was working but it was nearing thirty seconds now and he was starting to get a little uncomfortable, side effect of being a fox he guessed. Jack rubbed the scar on his neck a little and then said "what is there something on my face? Yes I'm wearing a Mammilian Marines Uniform and yes it's real. Yes it looks different and the symbol's wrong but it's because I'm part of a special sub-branch called the Mammilian Marines Special Sniper Division more formally known as the Periton Sniper Corps for those of you that did not know that already. Any other questions?" At that most mammals started moving again only occasionally glancing at him, but the mammal filming, which was a gazelle, piped up and asked "are those officers insignias or am I hallucinating?" Jack slapped a paw to his face and replied "no you are not hallucinating, these are officer's insignias. I hold the rank of Second Lieutenant, does that answer all of your questions?" The gazelle stopped filming and tersely said "yep" before turning and walking down the street typing furiously on its phone.
Jack got more or less the same reactions for the rest of the day except for time seeming to stop when he had first left his apartment. He was stopped and asked questions, stopped to occasionally be insulted by those who were jackasses (no offense to donkeys,) though those particular mammals left angrier than when they arrived. Mammals took photos, stared, glanced, pretty much everything, some foxes he even passed asked to take photos with him which he allowed with no hesitation. So his plan was working well, he was even trending on Furbook and Tweeter mostly because of that gazelle's video from earlier in the day. The only thing that hadn't happened was being approached by the media which he wasn't bothered about, most mammals got their news from social media anyways.
It was getting dark out so Jack decided to wrap it up, checking his phone he noted it was 7:00 PM and began walking home. Fifteen minutes later Jack was altered from his course when he heard a child crying nearby. Turning left instead of right Jack began walking towards the sound of sobbing, as he approached he took in the scents around him to determine who was around and was able to tell that no one but the child was outside. Drawing closer Jack was able to finally see the child, no kit crying and sobbing, leaning up against a dumpster with its knees drawn up to its chest. the kit was a little male red fox and looked to be about nine or ten years old...and wearing a Junior Ranger Scouts uniform? As Jack grew closer and closer the kit had yet to notice him and when Jack was about 15 feet away his foot hit something cold and metal.
Looking down Jack noticed a small muzzle was at his feet. Kneeling down he scooped it up and instantly put the pieces together, the kit was out here crying because the boys inside the building muzzled him and probably more, just because he was a fox. A raging inferno lit up and Jack's eyes before simmering down when he looked up, the kit had finally noticed him. The kit was still crying but no longer sobbing, looking at him with the most dazzling emerald orbs he'd ever seen. Jack while still holding the muzzle in his left paw tentatively approched the little tod in a crouched position to be as close to its level as possible, when he was only a couple of feet from the little tod Jack decided to speak and comfort the kit before bringing down righteous fury and justice on the kids inside (the non violent kind.)
*Persective shift*
Nicholas had been crying outside of the Junior Ranger Scouts building for about five minutes. He had managed to get the muzzle off as soon as he hid by the dumpster and had chucked it as far as he could away from him before breaking down. Nick had just wanted to be a part of the pack but they had pushed him, muzzled him, hit him, and kicked him simply because he was a fox. It was a crushing reality. He thought those kids were his friends! He was beginning to think about if mammals only saw a shifty and untrustworthy fox than there was no use in trying when he noticed he wasn't alone outside anymore.
Looking up through tear filled eyes he saw a red fox just like him but older. The fox was currently leaning down looking at the muzzle he had thrown away with more anger than Nick had ever seen in any mammal before. The fox's tail was bristling in anger, hackles raised, and an inaudible snarl was fixed on its muzzle, that is until the fox noticed he was looking at him. The fox's features softened but Nick could see the underlying anger beneath the fox's eyes not directed towards him but towards the muzzle.
The fox than began to slowly approach him in as much of a non-threatening way as possible. Nick appreciated this and also took the time to observe the older fox approaching him, the fox was the tallest fox he'd ever seen and looked older but not old old, more like it looked his moms age. It had a black tipped tail just like his and black dipped paws like his as well, the fox also had a scar on its neck, and finally nick noticed the color of its eyes. They were a brilliant shade of green that he had never seen before, nick then took in the rest of the fox's appearance and noticed it was wearing some weird uniform he'd never seen before. The fox stopped its approach a few feet from him and rested on one knee before getting ready to speak it seemed.
*Perspective shift*
Jack smiled warmly at the kit as he could see the kit was observing him, the kit had also stopped crying maybe being comforted by the fact that another fox was stopping to speak to him. Jack kneeled while still smiling at the kit and then opened his mouth to speak. "Hey there little one, it's alright now. What's your name?" The kit used one of its arms to wipe some tears alway before quietly answering "my name is Nick." Jack smiled at him warmly again and then replied in a kind voice "well hi there Nick! My name is Jack. So is nick short for Nicholas?" Nick nodded shyly and Jack smiled again at him before saying "that's a great name! Nicholas is a very stong name to!" Jack then flexed his muscles comically getting a little laugh out of Nicholas that warmed his heart. Once Nick had finished laughing he asked Jack a question. "So Mister Jack what's that weird uniform your wearing?"
Jack's smile widened at the fact that Nicholas was comfortable enough to ask him a question and also at the fact that once nick was finished with it he tilted his head slightly. Jack then answered "This uniform? Why this is my Mammilian Marines Dress Uniform Nicholas, I'm a soldier." Nicks head went back to its normal position and his eyes widened before exclaiming "You're a soldier!?" "Uh huh that I am Nicholas." Was Jack's reply. Nick sat up a little bit more before exclaiming "I didn't know foxes could join the military!" Jack nodded and replied "We can! You just have to be really big and strong and you could join too! In the military it's only a height requirement and not based on species! So even a rabbit could join if it was tall enough!" (No rabbits had joined but Jack knew of a huge jackrabbit that was in the Armored Divsion, he didn't know the Jackrabbit's name but he knew its nickname was Lucky Buck for some reason.)
Nick's eyes widedned more and his tail started swishing a little in excitement before exclaiming "That is so cool! So what do you do!?" Jack chuckled a bit at Nicholas's excitement before answering him. "Well you see Nick I'm a sniper! What I do is I shoot bad guys from far away so their bad guy friends don't know where I am and get confused and scared! Then I shoot those bad guys to and they never know where I am so I stay safe!" Jack couldn't help but smiling a little wider at little Nicholas's excitement as he exclaimed "wow that is so cool! I bet you're good at it too!" Sure the subject could be considered a little dark but as long as Nick wasn't crying anymore that's all Jack cared about at the moment. Jack fake scoffed and then replied "only the best in the whole history of forever!" Jack wasn't talking to Nicholas like a adult talking to a kit no he was talking to him not only like a kit but a friend, because right now that's something Nick needed.
Jack talked to Nicholas for another five minutes before deciding that it was time to take care of the scouts that had muzzled little Nicholas. Nick's mood had improved greatly and the only sign that he had been crying were his eyes were a little red much to Jack's relief, Nick had shifted farther away from the dumpster and had sat cross legged in front of Jack interacting with him, taking animatedly, moving his paws about, and smiling. Jack ended the current conversation before striking up a new one, he lifted up the muzzle a bit that he had set down, pointed at it and said "So tell me little one. Did those other kids in there put this on you?" Nick immediately shifted to sadness and nervousness before nodding his head a little. "Did they also hit you, kick you, or push you?" Nick once again nodded dejectedly. "Yes to all of it?" Another nod. "Did all of them hit you?" A shake of the head "only a few?" A nod. "If asked could you point out which ones including the one that muzzled you?" Another nod. At the full conformation Jack shifted to a standing position before asking "and where was the scouts leader during all of this?" Nick shifted a little before replying "the scouts leader is one of the fathers, he leaves his son in charge while he does whatever. Unless they're going some place then he shows up."
Jack narrowed his eyes and thought "so the bastard just lets the kids run wild and do whatever they want!? That's absurd! Not to mention negligent and not allowed! Bastards probably specist too. Let's just add that to the list of things I need to accomplish." Once his thoughts were over Jack bared his teeth a little before saying to Nick "well that explains some things. Don't worry Nicholas I will handle this, these kids don't get to get away with their behavior and to assure that I'm going to call an old friend." Nick who had been looking at the ground sadly popped his head up and his eyes widened before exclaiming "you will!" Jack looked down at him and smiled before extending his paw out to help Nick to his feet and putting a paw on his shoulder before replying "you bet little one, you bet." Then Jack pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
After a few rings the call was answered. "This is Chief Distpatcher Benjamin Clawhauser how can I help you?" Jack looked down at little Nicholas before replying "Yes I need to speak to Lieutenant Adonis Bogo it's very important." ... "Oh I'm sorry he's currently busy at the moment but I can leave a message for him if you'd like." Now growing a little irritated Jack said "trust me, he's going to want to speak with me. Tell him Jack Hunter needs his help and wants to speak with him."
*Perspective shift*
Lieutenant Adonis Bogo was currently in his third hour of paperwork and he felt like slamming his head into his desk. He swore it was like a endless flood and sweared he would not take a SINGLE nother promotion as long as he lived. Finally deciding he needed a break Bogo stood up from his desk before he really did start to slam his head into it, exiting his office Bogo made his way over to the stairs and down them intent on getting ANOTHER cup of the precinct's terrible terrible coffee. Walking past Clawhauser Bogo simply nodded to him before continuing towards the break room.
Grabbing a styrofoam cup his size Bogo filled the cup with the terrible liquid and then turned back to look towards Clawhauser. It had happened just like Bogo feared, he had been too gung-ho and had rushed into a nip den that was being raided, Clawhauser was shot in his stomach once which his vest stopped but he was also shot in both of his legs. After the shooting he was left unable to walk for a couple of months and had gained a eating disorder because of that and several other things piling up all at once. Once cleared for duty again Clawhauser had said no and stuck to being a dispatcher. That was two years ago and he had gained over twenty pounds.
He came back from his thoughts when he noticed Benjamin was currently waving at him while on the phone trying to get his attention and waving him over. Sighing Bogo downed the rest of the cup almost gagging, how some mammal could take such an amazing beverage and make it so terrible was beyond him, before making his way towards Clawhauser. Once he finally got there Clawhauser put a paw on the speaker and said "hey Lieutenant, I got a mammal named Jack Hunter asking for you, do you want to speak to him?"
Bogo's jaw dropped. After the meeting all those years ago with the Fox and the following phone call Bogo would occasionally think about Jack, wondering if he was alright, what he was doing, Bogo may have never met the kit but after seeing all of those videos and hearing all of those recordings he couldn't help but care about the poor kit, well it would be tod now. He hadn't heard anything from the Fox that day on nor had he heard or seen anything about Jack Hunter, it was like after he left the orphanage he just...disappeared.
Hearing now that Jack Hunter was supposedly on the phone right now looking to speak with him just blew his mind. If this truly was the real Jack Hunter he figured that Jack would just want to thank him for what he did at Honorhall. Bogo realized he still was staring at blank space with his jaw dropped when Clawhauser snapped some of his furred digits in his face. Focusing back in he realized Claswhauser was holding up his personal cell phone and it showed a close up high-def picture of a male fox wearing a Marines Uniform, Bogo looked at Clawhauser curiously and he just mouthed "that's apparently Jack Hunter, he's trending on Tweeter." looking at it closer he realized that it actually was the Pertion Sniper Corps variant. He also saw the fox had sea foam green eyes and a scar on the left side of its neck, it was Jack. Bogo quickly put a hoof out and said "give me the phone."
*Perspective shift*
Jack heard rustling on the other end of the line and figured the phone was exhanging paws and after a moment he heard "Hello?" Jack rose an eyebrow and replied "seven years and all you say is hello? Could have at least been all business. I'd say I'm offended but considering how we never officially met or spoke I suppose I can't be mad about it. So I'm just pulling your horns no worries *chuckles* anyways first I wanted to thank you for what you did at Honorhall, getting justice for James Sparrowtail and me. Not many would have done that had they been in your hooves back then. So thank you." After a long pause Bogo finally said back "you're very welcome Jack. It's...good to hear from you, being completely honsest I've sometimes wondered what happened to you, you know after...anyways it's good to know that you're alive and well. Is there anything else you needed from me?"
Jack looked down at Nicholas again who was looking up at him with a hopeful expression before replying "why yes there is. I was walking home when I came across a serious assault perpetrated by children on a little fox kit. They pushed, hit, kicked, and muzzled him. I found him crying and got him to tell me what happened, I also recovered the muzzle as the kit managed to get it off. The children who did this are inside a building that me and the kit are currently standing outside of at 1655 Marbury Road, I would like you to come and bring another officer with you that you trust as I am hard to trust other mammals but you have earned my trust and I would like for you to handle this personally. I wish for the child who muzzled him arrested charged or not I do not care being led to a cruiser in cuffs may be enough of a walk up call. The children that hit him I also want arrested, they can recive a call from the Precinct to come retrieve their child I know it's allowed if a serious enough crime has been committed and we are talking Assault and Wrongful Restriant of a Minor/Non-Violent Predator and perhaps even Assault With Malicious Intent, two of these are felonies as you know Bogo. So can I count on your help?" There was a short pause before Bogo replied "I will be there in fifteen minutes at the most, I will bring Officer Wolford with me he was a part of the team at Honorhall." After Bogo finished speaking he hung up.
"Well just hanging up was rude." Jack stared at his phone for another moment and then pocketed it and looked down at little Nicholas who was still looking up at him, smiled warmly and said "well little one my buddy in the ZPD is coming and he's bringing a friend with him, they'll be here in about fifteen minutes. They'll take care of everything you know, and then those nasty little meanies will never bother you again. But you'll have to go back inside and point out who did what to you, you can also tell me to if you want." Nicholas said nothing just turned to face Jack and hugged him as best he could before nodding into his uniform, Jack hugged him back without hesitation. After about thirty seconds Nick broke the hug and said "thank you so so much. I didn't expect anyone to care but my mommy...and I can point them out I guess, but will you stay here with me?" Nick had looked up and him so hopefully as he asked the last part but it had never even crossed his mind of just leaning little Nicholas and continuing on with his day and he voiced just that. "Little one the thought of leaving you never crossed my mind, you're stuck with me for now." Nick simply just hugged him again.
After that hug ended a thought crossed Jack's mind that he had to voice. "Speaking off your mom little one, where is she?" Nick nodded a couple times before answering "my mom has to work three jobs just to provide for the two of us, she probably just got off her shift at the diner she works at. I live about fifteen minutes from here so I was able to walk here myself." Jack nodded at this before an idea popped in his head, an idea of some swift justice of his own, and he'd use his influence to help do it. Looking down at Nicholas he said "hey Nick I can make a call to the Junior Ranger Scouts head office, I think I have some pull and can get them to fire the leader of this troop and get all of these kits kicked out. What do you think?"
*Perspective shift*
Nick was ecstatic! Not only had this older fox Jack helped cheer him up, Jack had also called a friend from the Police to come and help him! If his mom had tried to do anything it probably would have been brushed under the rug but with this fox this situation wasn't about to be ingnored, it was going to be handled head on! Also seeing a fox like this gave Nick hope again that maybe mammals could look pass the stereotypes of foxes and start to treat them better. Not to mention seeing that a fox could be a solider gave him further hope that he could do something meaningful with his life instead of doing something like hustling like he knew a kit older than him named Finnick had resorted to.
He couldn't help it and hugged Jack a couple of times and he'd even hugged back to! He even smiled at him a lot and didn't talk to him like a little kid, he was awesome! Now he was saying he could punish those meanies and the leader even more than they were about to be punished!? It had to be a dream! Nick looked at Jack with widened eyes and exclaimed "you could do that!" Jack smiled down at him again and said "you bet kiddo, just sit tight and I'll make this call real quick."
Nick watched Jack for the next five minutes as he spoke into his phone to the headquarters for the Junior Ranger Scouts. Jack had started off talking in a heated tone throwing around threats of lawsuits before it seemed he reached somewhere with whoever he was speaking to. While Jack was talking Nick was thinking of things to ask him once the call was over and so far could only come up with asking why Jack was so tall, like he was almost the size of a wolf! Nick also thought about maybe asking how old he was too out of curiosity.
*Perspective shift*
Jack finished up his call and was very satisfied with the results and relayed them to Nicholas who was waiting patiently while playing with his tail a little. "Well little one I was able to get the pack leader fired, he is no longer allowed to lead any pack in the Junior Ranger Scouts and is also, well he's fired. Also effective immediately those bullies inside are kicked out of the Scouts and barred from ever rejoining, the headquarters will be calling to inform their parents after I call them back to give them the go ahead." For the third time that day nick hugged him.
After that hug was ended Nick decided to ask him a question, well it started out more as a statement anyways. "You know you're pretty big for a fox." Jack looked at himself up and down before saying "that I am little one, and before you ask I have absolutely zero clue why I am this big, I mean my dad was this big maybe even bigger, so maybe hereditary?" Nick nodded at this before catching something in that statement, and he voiced it. "Was?" Jack flinched a little bit before replying softly "yeah, was. He and my mother were both killed when I was four, but I still remember everything about them." "Even how they looked as they died.." shaking his head to clear it of dark thoughts he tuned back in to Nicks follow up statement.
"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know. But at least you had a dad, my mom got pregnant with me while she was young and she says my dad ran when she told him." Jack shook his head at this, foxes for the majority mated for life and NEVER abandoned their kits, young or not for Nick's father to do that to not only him but his mother made that fox a particular scumbag that would treated as a pariah by its own species but it was well deserved in his opinion. This thought led Jack to ask little Nicholas another question. "So little one, how old are you exactly I don't think I asked." Nick quickly replied "I'm nine." Jack nodded at this before asking another question of his own. "So Nick how old is your mom now?" It was an innocent question to Jack, he just wanted to figure out what exactly young meant when Nick said his mom had him while young. "She's 25." Was Nick's answer.
"wow, that means she got pregnant with him when she was 16, while rare for foxes it's not super uncommon. I bet that bastard told her he wouldn't knot, piece of shit garbage he is. Oh if I ever meet him my fists are gonna play How Many Teeth Can We Knock Out!" Jack left his thoughts before he started to get angry as he was already clenching and unclenching his fists. He was further calmed down when Nicholas asked him "so how old are you Jack?" Jack thought the question was more than fair so he answered "I'm 19."
They talked back and forth for another five minutes before they saw two ZPD cruisers turn a corner and then pull up in front of the steps to the building. Out of the first cruiser stepped out Lieutenant Adonis Bogo who began to approach him and Nicholas, out of the second cruiser stepped out who Jack presumed was Officer Wolford. Once they both made it to Jack and Nick Jack greeted Bogo while Wolford kneeled down and greeted Nick. Jack stuck out his paw and Bogo bended down a little and shook it. "It's nice to finally meet in the flesh Bogo." Bogo nodded and replied "likewise Jack, likewise." He then looked over at Nick who had finished meeting Wolford, looked back at Jack and said "I take it this is the kit that was assaulted?" Jack simply nodded.
*Perspective shift*
Nick watched as the cruisers pulled up. The first officer that got out was a big Water Buffalo and the second was a wolf. Nick immediately assumed that the wolf was Jack's friend but it's name plate said J. Wolford so that would mean that the Water Buffalo was his friend. It was confirmed when the buffalo went straight to Jack and shook his paw while the wolf kneeled down and extended his own. "Hey there kiddo my name is Officer James Wolford and I'm here to help you out. Bullies are mean and need to be taught that it's not ok, so we decided to come here and help your bullies be taught a lesson, how's that sound champ?"
While the wolf was taking nick glanced over at Jack and the Water Buffalo and was suprised when he looked at Jack. Jack was looking at the wolf speaking to him with slightly narrowed eyes and his hackles were raised a little, also his tail was puffed out a little. Nick didn't even think Jack realized it, and Nick quickly realized that Jack was being a little defensive and protective of him and subconsciously didn't like the wolf being so close to him. It made Nick feel a little special but he decided to quickly answer and greet the wolf so maybe Jack would calm down some.
Nick shook the wolf's paw before introducing himself and answering the wolf, Nick also didn't like how this wolf was currently talking down to him a little like Nick didn't know that already. "Hi Officer Wolford my name is Nick. Thank you for coming to help me." The wolf officer smiled at him before replying "no problem champ" and tussling the fur on his head a little, Nick didn't like that and looking at Jack he saw that Jack REALLY didn't like it all, his tail was now completely bristling and swishing in agitation steadily.
He noticed how Jack effectively cut off the conversation he was having with the Water Buffalo before shifting to greet the wolf officer. As both him and the Water Buffalo were shifting to change to the next mammal he noticed that Jack shifted in a way so while he was greeting the wolf he was staying slightly in front of him blocking the wolf's view of him. Craning slightly he noticed that the wolf seemed to had noticed the move as well and didn't seem to mind, then Nick remembered that over the phone he had told the Water Buffalo he had hard time trusting mammals so it now made more sense.
Shifting his focus again Nick foucsed in on the Water Buffalo that had just finished kneeling and stuck out a hoof to shake Nick's paw. "Hello there I am Lieutenant Adonis Bogo. Jack called me because you have an issue with some bigoted, specist mammals that need to be taught some proper manners am I right?" Nick already liked this Buffalo more and replied "mhmm, I thought they were my friends! But they tricked me so they could hurt me." The Water Buffalo nodded at this before replying "I also understand that these particular mammals put a muzzle on you and hit you?" At this Nick simply nodded. "Could you point out who did what?" Another nod. "Good, well lets get in there and take care of this shall we?" Again a nod.
Everyone shifted and turned and began walking towards the steps. Once there Nick stopped suddenly growing nervous at facing these bullies so soon. Jack who had already been standing next to him on his right shifted closer to him so they were practically touching. Jack also put a paw comfortingly on his left shoulder, and then Nick felt something warm snake around his legs a little. Looking down he noticed that Jack's tail had subconsciously wrapped around him a little in a protective manner, this gave Nick the courage to walk back up those steps.
*Perspective shift plus 15 minutes later*
Jack was feeling good. Once they had entered Wolford had gone upstairs to grab the pack leader, which happened to be the ringleaders dad/the one who muzzled little Nicholas; while Bogo, him, and Nicholas descended down the stairs to confront the kids. Nick and Jack had decended first and the woodchuck ringleader had yelled out "oh did the little crybaby fox run home and get daddy? Big deal my dad works at FoxAway so he can't do anything but be useless like the rest of your kind!" Jack had immediately thought "well that explains a lot, piece of shits father works at FoxAway of course, no wonder the Junior Ranger Scouts Headquaters caved so easily as soon as I said the word lawsuit." Jack had then immediately barked out "you wish I was his father! You wouldn't be getting in as much trouble as you're about to be in! Not to mention I'd be very lucky to be considered this little tod's father!"
After Jack had barked that out Bogo had came down the stairs making the woodchuck very much less confident and as brave as before. Shortly after Wolford came down as well with the woodchuck father in tow. The dad had immediately began berating Jack and his species, claiming the uniform was fake, you name it he said it. Jack had brought out his deployment paper which were impossible to forge and practically shoved it into his face, once the steam was taken out of that engine Jack spent the next ten minutes giving a verbal tounge lashing to him that was pretty much for the kids as well and all of them had their heads down in shame except for FoxAway Junior by the end of it.
After he was done with the tounge lashing Jack then let Bogo and Wolford take over, them having Nick point out who did what. In the end all but the Giraffe and the Yak were in cuffs being loaded up into the two cruisers on a trip to the Precinct (they were still going of course). Even the dad of the woodchuck was in cuffs just like his son, once his son had been cuffed by Wolford the dad had freaked and pulled a can of FoxAway to spray him, Wolford, and his biggest mistake, little Nicholas. Jack's asp baton came out of his pocket and into his hand quick as lightning before dislocating the woodchuck dad's right wrist, elbow, and shoulder as well as his left knee before being tackled by Wolford and cuffed. (15 seconds)
The beat down by Jack was instantly ruled justified and the dad was arrested and charged with Attempted Aggravated Assault (a felony,) Attempted Child Abuse (also a felony,) and Obstruction of Justice. As they were being loaded up Jack decided to add insult to injury (in the case of the dad, literally) by informing all of them that prior to conforntimg them he had called the Junior Ranger Scouts Headquarters and effective immediately they were all banned from the Junior Ranger Scouts. Bogo also informed him that FoxAway Junior would also be charged for what he did and go to Zootopia Juvenile Corrections Facilty.
As the last one was loaded up and the door shut Bogo walked up to Jack and said "well that turned out interesting towards the end. Great reflexes. So do I need to send a officer to come take Nick home or.." Bogo didn't get to finish because Jack quickly said "no no no that WILL not be necessary. I will walk him home...unless he doesn't want me to?" His statement towards questioning towards the end and he looked at little Nicholas to get his response. Nick quickly shook his head and said excitedly "no I want Jack to walk me home! I don't even live that far away!" Bogo simply nodded before bidding them goodnight and leaving. Jack moved closer to Nicholas and put his paw on Nick's left shoulder before asking "so little one where do you live?" What he answered he said so casually that if Jack had been drinking water he would have done a spit take. "I live in Happytown."
Done! Hope you enjoyed! Please do review!
Next time on A Father Figure! Jack delves back into a place he never wished to return to, and where no one like little Nicholas should call home. Jack meets Vivian for the first time and what happens next leads to improved lives.
thus begins A Father Figure Chatper Two: Starting today.
This is TheConcernedF0X singing off!