The Puzzling Bartender

*Thwack*

Nick cursed as he ducked his head back out the door, only narrowly avoiding the projectile that had seconds before been heading straight for his head.

The fox growled as he heard the maniacal laughter of his partner's captor from just inside the establishment.

How did this happen?!

Just seconds before Nick had been walking paw-in-paw with Judy, his mate looking particularly adorable for their shift that night.

Only for it to all go wrong as soon as they had gotten to-

*Thwack!*

Nick had braved another glance through the doorway only to duck back.

He cursed mentally, only having gotten a glance of the inside of the establishment Judy was being held captive in.

It had all happened so fast.

As soon as the fox and bunny duo had arrived Judy had been suddenly scooped up and dragged inside before Nick could even react.

It would appear that the mammals inside had been waiting for them and had jumped at the opportunity to take Judy hostage.

"Just give up Wilde and take your punishment!" Came a familiar voice from inside.

Nick growled as he heard that voice…that evil…maniacal...annoying-

"Hey, I heard that!"

Nick froze as his ears twitched before he blinked a few times.

Cautiously the fox peered into the 10-7 bar before speaking.

"I didn't say anything!" Nick spat at a lovely doe currently standing a few feet from the entrance.

Judy giggled from her spot just inside the bar, her gray arms wrapped around another bunny's waist as a certain brown doe nuzzled under the ZPD officer's chin.

Trisha popped open one of her brilliantly blue eyes and looked directly at Nick with a smug smirk.

"I know but you were probably thinking something," Trisha teased.

*Whoosh*

Nick's ears lowered just in time as a Nerf dart flew over his head.

The fox looked up before his eyelids drooped, his gaze going over to another bunny in a black shirt and yellow shorts, her white fur spotted with black here and there.

Nick watched with mild amusement as Taco struggled to load another dart into her Nerf gun, the bunny sticking her tongue out between her lips as she concentrated only to drop the dart and bend over, her white tail wiggling from a hole in her yellow shorts.

"Taco, I can't help but notice the fox is inside my bar and totally lacking a dart in his fur," Trisha chuckled, her arm still wrapped around Judy's as the other bunny put a paw to her lips and laughed.

"He is harder to hit than he looks," Taco mumbled as she plucked up the dart and loaded it into the barrel.

Nick was about to speak but fell silent as a bar coaster landed right between his ears.

The fox looked over at Trisha who was beaming, "Still seems pretty easy to hit to me."

"You know if you two don't need our help tonight we can just go," Nick suggested as he pointed his thumb over his shoulder to the door.

"Nooooooo!" Taco let out as she lowered her Nerf gun, having taken aim at Nick but stopped at the vulpine's suggestion.

"I mean you can go," Trisha teased. "I got what I wanted."

The brown bunny wrapped her paws around Judy a little tighter as she nuzzled her once more.

Judy snorted at her friend's antics and wrapped her own arms around the flirty doe, even giving Trisha a peck on the forehead.

Nick rolled his eyes as he entered, giving Taco a pat on the head which the bunny giggled at before suddenly scampering away, nerf gun still in paw.

As the fox approached the other two doe's Trisha opened her eyes and smirked before releasing Judy from her grasp and waddling over to Nick, her arms open as the fox chuckled.

"How you doing Petals?" Nick asked as he gave the bunny a friendly hug.

"Was doing good till you dropped that nickname," Trisha grumbled as she put her face directly against Nick's chest.

Both Nick and Judy shared a laugh at the brown bunny's comment before following the flirty doe to the bar.

"Thanks again for picking up the last-minute shift," Trisha said as she walked behind the bar, closely followed by Judy and Nick.

"Of course," Judy said happily, her tail wiggling slightly as she strolled over to one of the terminals behind the bar, her paw gliding over the screen with practiced ease as she clocked herself and Nick in for their shift.

"Been practicing some of those drinks you suggested last time," Nick said as he began to roll up his sleeves, smiling at Trisha who grinned.

"Yeah I know," Trisha said with a smug smile.

"How did you-?"

"Judy gets extra mushy when you make her drinks," Trisha said as she glanced over at Judy who was blushing as she did her best not to make eye contact with the other two barkeeps.

This had been Nick and Judy's life for a while now.

When not fighting crime or being absolutely adorable it was gross, they would occasionally pick up a shift at their favorite watering hole.

What had started out as a quick gig to make some extra cash had turned into a welcomed tradition.

Nick got the chance to practice his bar skills while Judy got to tease the hosedrag- firefighters, and Trisha got to cuddle with Judy.

Everyone wins.

"Oh I know how mushy she can get," Nick chuckled as he began to look around the bar, familiarizing himself with the location of the different spirits, mixers, and glasses once more. "Only question is how do you know?"

Trisha smirked as she plucked her phone out from her pocket, giving it a little twirl before her paw danced across the screen.

Seconds later a recording began to play from the device's speakers.

"Hey Trisha….itza meeeeee…Jud…Jud…Jude the dude… *hiccups* have I told you how awesome of a friend you are lately? I mean…. *sniffs* I am just so lucky because I have you….and Nick…and…you two are both-"

Judy darted over and immediately tried to grab the phone from Trisha who cackled as she held the phone just out of reach from her fellow bunny.

"You said you would delete that!" Judy laughed as she pressed her body against Trisha's side, stretching her arms out in vain to stop the embarrassing voicemail from playing.

Nick meanwhile was holding his side as he tried not the wheeze, fully enjoying both the voicemail and his mate's reaction to it.

In all the chaos the three hadn't noticed the arrival of two other mammals who were now standing behind the bar, staring at the two bunnies fighting while a certain fox held the bar for support.

"And those two are supposed to pick up shifts to help but as you can see Trisha's procrastination is contagious," Came a sultry voice that caused both Nick and Judy to look over.

A lovely otter in a firehouse red 10-7 shirt and short khaki shorts was hefting up a six-pack of beers that looked like they were meant for a species much bigger than her.

Next to the otter was a younger-looking painted dog in a dark crimson shirt and shorts which were covered in a series of patches and a hoodie wrapped around her waist.

The painted dog had another six-pack of beers slung under her arm, her free one went up to a pair of glasses which she adjusted so she could stare at Nick and Judy with her bright purple eyes.

"I mean I suggested we quarantine Trisha but nooooo," The painted dog said teasingly.

"Hey listen here Rookie, that's Queen Trisha to you," the mischievous brown bunny said as she finally put her phone away, much to Judy's relief.

The painted dog rolled her eyes as she followed Em who set the beers up on the counter so she could receive her mandatory Judy greeting hug.

"How ya been cutie?" The otter asked sweetly as she gave the bunny a sweet hug.

"Trying to stay out of trouble but when you have a partner like Wilde over there," Judy teased as she patted the otter on the back.

"Oh tell me about it," Em said as she turned and smiled at Nick, sauntering over to give the fox a welcome hug as well. "I have to deal with little Miss Queen Bun constantly."

"And you enjoy every minute of it, admit it!" Trisha laughed as she scooped up the beers Em had brought up and led the new painted dog down the bar to a series of refrigerators. "This is Puzzle, by the way, new barkeep to replace May."

"Oh that's right May graduated," Judy exclaimed before smiling up at the painted dog. "I am Judy by the way."

"Oh, I have heard all about you Judy," Puzzle said as she nodded over at Trisha. "I think a certain brown doe has a crush on you."

"And yet she seems to settle for me," Nick tossed in with a sly smirk. "Names Nick by the way."

"Nice to meet ya, Nick," Puzzle said with a smile. "Trisha also talks about you too."

"Oh does she?" Nick asked as he glanced over at Trisha who was loading beers into the fridge under the bar.

"Mainly how I plan to run away with your bunny Wilde," Trisha teased.

Puzzle however leaned closer to Nick, "Actually more of the, I am so glad Judy has him type of vibe-"

A coaster flew through the air which Puzzle was unable to avoid, the piece of cardboard hitting her on the side of the head.

Nick however couldn't help but grin over at Trisha.

"Were you complimenting me behind my back Petals?"

"Your death will be slow and painful Wilde!"

Having worked at the 10-7 enough meant that Nick and Judy had gotten to know many of the barkeeps.

May had been a sweet ewe who was working her way through college and had just recently graduated.

Nick and Judy were happy for their friend but were also sad to see her time at the 10-7 come to an end, the new graduate having taken a job in her degree field.

While May would be missed Puzzle was definitely a fun new addition to the team.

Like May before her Puzzle was also attending school in the city and was in need of some cash on the side.

Her family was friends with Echo's and the painted owner of the 10-7 was more than happy to extend a job offering to help the new arrival to the city make some cash while also offering an environment to study for classes.

While she did not know much about mixing drinks she was eager to learn and even more eager to help out.

As the night progressed Puzzle was hurrying about the bar, taking orders, picking up drinks, and learning that Taco saw everyone as a target when it came to her Nerf gun.

"She is lucky she is so darn cute," Puzzle grumbled as she returned to the bar, a Nerf dart sticking to one of the lenses to her glasses.

Nick looked up from his current concoction and let out a laugh.

"You get used to her," The fox said with a smile.

"And what about Trisha?" Puzzle asked as she looked down the bar at the bunny who was currently tugging on a ZPD detective's tie, the wolf waving his arms about as he tried to straighten it back up only for the brown bunny to walk past and tug it again.

"Oh yeah I don't think anyone will ever be used to her," Nick chuckled as he finished mixing another order, placing it on the bartop for Puzzle to scoop up and carry off.

A short while later there was a surprised yelp from inside the bar followed by some laughter and cheering.

Nick and Judy both looked up from behind the bar only to see Puzzle slowly walk from inside the crowd, Taco giggling in her arms as the painted dog carried her around the waist.

"Uh oh," Nick chuckled.

"Taco what did you…oh.." Judy said before stifling a laugh.

A Nerf dart was sticking out at the base of Puzzle's tail as she walked by.

"I'll be back, gonna go tickle Taco," Puzzle said with an amused scowl.

"Ack! No! Wait! Ahahahaha!" Taco let out as Puzzle began to tickle her sides as she carried Taoc into the back of the 10-7.

"The bunny must face judgment!" Puzzle announced playfully as she disappeared in the back.

A few minutes later Taco came scampering out, looking a little tired from her tickling but also covered in dinosaur stickers.

"Have fun?" Trisha asked Taco as she hurried behind the bar to pick up another order Em and Nick had been working on.

"Did you know Puzzle has stickers?" Taco announced excitedly as she showed off a T-rex sticker that was stuck to her cheek.

The rest of the bartenders would soon learn just how many stickers Puzzle had as she started a fun new game for herself.

Every once and a while someone would find a sticker on their shirt, shorts, or in Judy's case one on the top of her black-tipped ear.

"How did she even manage that?" Judy laughed as she plucked the sticker from her ear only to put it on her purple 10-7 shirt.

"She seems pretty sly," Nick said as he took a swig of water from a glass behind the bar. "But lucky for me I am slyer."

The fox looked rather smug as he gave his bunny a wink, only to turn around and head down the bar, the back of his shirt covered in dino stickers he was unaware of.

Judy put a paw to her mouth as she stifled a laugh.

The night went on, the drinks kept going out, and the firemammals kept embarrassing themselves.

Which was just another normal night at the 10-7.

What was not so normal was the odd assortment of bartenders which Puzzle seemed to be fitting in quite nicely.

By the time the last call was made Puzzle had managed to make several new friends with the regulars while cementing her position as silly prankster with the rest of her barkeeps.

Little stickers here and there would be found while Nick and the painted dog had a series of tik-tak-toe matches going back and forth on a clipboard kept behind the bar.

As the bartenders began to clean and close up for the night Puzzle hurried about, clearing off tables and pushing in stools.

Trisha and Judy were taking a breather watching from the bartop, Judy resting her head on Trisha's shoulder as the two sat against one another.

"She has her quirks," Trisha began before her lips curled into a smile. "But I think she makes a good addition."

"Glad the boss brought her in," Judy said as she looked up at her brown bunny pillow. "She seems very helpful."

"She has her moments."

"Like helping us find a certain missing bunny?"

"Hey now…I thought I was the only one allowed to break the 4th wall with other story references," Trisha said as she sat up a little straighter and looked down at her friend who had a mischievous smile.

"Fireflies!" Came a shout across the bar.

Everyone looked over at Taco who was standing on the bartop, a series of folded napkins at her feet.

"Subtle Taco…very subtle," Nick chuckled as he went back to stocking the back bar.

"Anyways," Trisha said as she rolled her eyes and slowly stood up, Judy yawned as she too sat up a little straighter. "Let's go help her out."

With that Trisha hopped from the bar and strolled over to show Puzzle more of the closing duties but also how the keep certain cardboard boxes for the fort the bunny was rebuilding in the breakroom.

Judy on the other paw hopped over to behind the bar, hurrying over to help her fox with other closing duties.

As the fox and bunny busied themselves with stocking the bar Judy couldn't help but go in for a little nuzzle with her fox, letting out a happy cooing noise when she felt his arm wrap around her shoulder.

"It's good to be back," Judy whispered to Nick who smirked.

"That it is Carrots, that it is."

Wow...

It's been a very long time since I updated this one.

Like my nighthowlers story, I have had a somewhat troubled past with this one. It was during one of the lower points in the fandom for me.

However, it is also a high point because I didn't realize how many people actually missed this story. I have had several messages, a few jabs, and even an amusing meme made about this story recently. This type of support means so much to me and I really do appreciate it.

So I thought I would take a moment to introduce you all to Puzzle. She has been a character featured in Fireflies but will also be making camoes in one or two other stories...who knows..she might be good at multiplying too ;P

Hope to have more content soon b ut in the meantime check out A 0 of the three to see the new Trisha+ story along with some other fun content by me!

Till next time!

-Blue