A.N.

This chapter ran the spectrum; sometimes the words just flowed, and at other times they had to be surgically extracted from my cranium. It also ended up being longer than I intended, and isn't finished yet. So I've decided to split it and keep to my update schedule. I'm very pleased with this first part, and hope that you will let me know if you are too. So here, I start to warm up my take on Wilde Hopps; with a space in the middle!

TB

Chapter Seven:

Interludes and Revelations

Part One

"Okay, four more reps, keep them slow," said the therapist. The wallaby repositioned her paws under Nick's thigh after each one, pressing gently. "Feels good, I think you're ready for normal activities. Just no abrupt or intense exertion for another day or two."

"It's still tight when I extend it, I get some twinges," Nick complained as he slid off the seat of the leg curl station. Embarrassingly, the weight setting was only two notches more than the lightest one.

"That's normal when you sit on your ass and don't do the stretches you're supposed to," she admonished. "Remember, sit with your leg out straight and supported, then rock your torso forward until you feel it, not till it hurts. Gently back and forth until you're vertical or a bit past several times a day."

He carried his uniform folded in a bag and walked out to the tram stop in his running shorts and—'I'm Foxy, deal with it'—T-shirt. His well-tailored ZPD blues often felt confining by the end of a long day, and right now he wanted the anonymity and freedom from responsibility allowed by his pedestrian attire. He couldn't call this present interlude carefree, but it was probably as close as he was going to get to that ideal for awhile.

At least Carrots wouldn't be alone for the whole evening. Agent Winter had been fairly insistent, and the two of them were probably already out to dinner somewhere. It wasn't the kind of date he always feared she'd indulge in, but it unexpectedly was with another fox. It would be interesting to find out from her what the vixen had wanted.

Savage had been off like a shot after they'd all left the chief's office, to check he said, on any directives from his agency. That left Nick to kill some time at the outpatient clinic to keep Carrots and the chief happy, then head for home on the adjacent inner blue line. On the tram, he had to put up with suspicious looks from a smallish pig trying to contain four of her kids, and a belligerent one from a rather large fluffy goat with oddly curved horns that was possibly a hybrid. It was three long stops to the covered platform of Pack Street station, where he was glad to get off.

On a bench by the station exit, a rabbit sat reading a somewhat oversize newspaper that hid everything but legs and ears—black tipped ones, each with a distinctive black horizontal stripe just below. Nick walked past Agent Savage, who briefly rustled the paper as he did so. A block later, other foot traffic had dispersed, so Nick stopped at the corner and pretended to fiddle with his cellphone.

"Good way to blend, Wilde," Savage said as he walked up and nodded to Nick's shirt. "Just enough to irritate and make 'em shun you without provoking them." The hare grinned momentarily. "Thanks for not making me wait too long, I'd just be at your door later."

"I had a feeling I might not have tonight to myself. You are in a hurry, can't recall being stalked by a bunny before. So—why these separate interrogations?"

"Hardly that—call it a badly needed mutual trust building exercise." Savage said evenly.

"You've shown a lot of that already with what you've told us," Nick said, keeping his voice low. "At first, I just thought you wanted to see our reactions to your corrupt authorities story—you know, check out our loyalty—then I realized you both were really serious and isolated enough to risk confiding in us. That's really disconcerting."

"Imagine how we felt when we became involuntary renegades. Any more of this discussion needs to be in private; do you consider your place secure?"

"Yeah, reasonably. If you want some dinner first, there's a mid-sized sandwich shop a block west," Nick said and pointed, "usually with a couple of cart vendors further down. I'm three more blocks up this street, then bear right, my building's just past two large beech trees. Second floor, all the way back." Savage had the traffic light, and took off without another word.

Nick had enough time after he made it home to change, and tidy up a few incriminating Judy related items around the place. He'd just gotten his Hungry Maw out of the microwave when he heard a click from the door. Savage slipped through, then closed and locked it quietly.

They silently evaluated each other; Savage had assumed the door was unlocked, as Nick had expected him to. He motioned to his sofa and they sat.

"Wasn't trying to be inhospitable; I didn't have any veggie meals," Nick pointed to the empty box next to the microwave—its illustration tried to look appetizing without being too carnivorously obvious.

"No problem Wilde, go ahead, I'm used to predators. I take it your partner isn't as comfortable with them yet? I'm not sure how to start with you tonight, so this will serve for now." He pulled his more bunny-friendly fare out of a bag, and they refrained from further conversation until they'd finished.

"I'll start and save you the effort," Nick said as he disposed of their dinner trash. "Right now, my curiosity is overriding my...natural concern about being interviewed by the Feds in my own place."

"Well, it's just one paranoid Fed, so you needn't worry too much." Savage got up and paced around the room; and ended up looking out the kitchen window. "Nice bit of nature you got here Wilde; flowing stream, secluded, good cover." The hare opened the window to admit the sound of water, then stretched to lean out. "No screen, convenient drainpipe, end unit; kinda place someone like me might feel comfortable in. Well chosen fox."

"Figured you'd know about my background. Yeah, I moved a few times to avoid...entanglements, but I've kept my record clean!" Nick joined Savage to gaze out the window—it beat the alley and fire escape view from his previous affordable housing. "This is the best place I've found so far, and my ZPD job should allow me to keep this one for awhile. The neighbors here don't mind having a cop on the premises—they would have in my last couple of places."

"I checked you out, it's part of the job. You've transcended your past and earned your place—you may not know this, but Chief Bogo's wasn't the only favorable recommendation that got you into the police academy."

That was a surprise, and Nick didn't care if Savage saw his reaction. His face must have asked the question; the agent's head gently shook no. He closed his window and led the way back to his sofa; time to get to the point of this visit. The hare took the hint.

"I was reluctant to tell any of you about the conspiracy hidden within the ZBI, until this sequence of recent events forced it. Agent Winter and I...debated this point thoroughly before we agreed. I didn't think that your chief would accept our story as easily as he did."

"Bogo is an authoritarian pain in the ass, but he listens, and he's fair. You have no idea of the respect he has within this department. I give him grief with my attitude, but he accepted my report on the feral animals without question. Deep inside, I think he's got some of the idealism that Officer Hopps has."

"Hearing this from you, Wilde, puts to rest any concerns I had about your chief. Yes, I just put some trust in you, but there are several levels of it, and I'm going to need a lot more from you. You got beers in the fridge? Cause I hope we get to the point where we can use a couple."

"I do," Nick said warily. "You've already trusted us with your government conspiracy, I don't think I can top that!"

"We'll see. For now, I'd like to use this place as a temporary safe house until we find something better. It's not ideal, apartments usually come with nosy neighbors and all."

"Her name is Carla; one door down, other side of the hall."

"Okay, I'll check her out when I can." The hare produced a pad and made a note.

"That would be inadvisable, agent Savage," Nick used his cop voice. "Unless you want an older woodchuck girlfriend."

"Oh, a mixer?" Savage put on a mildly surprised face.

"She hits on me. And that was before the uniform."

"I think we can deflect Miss Desperate, fortune has given us a perfect cover for our joint activities," Savage said. "We've got two foxes, plus a hare and rabbit—the same thing to everybody else. We can split into a normal fox couple and bunny couple as needed. However much interest there might be in us, it would be what's expected. Regular undercover work."

"I'm not sure, agent high society really isn't my type, and I don't know what kind of date you'd find officer Hopps to be, she's pretty work-focused around me." Nick obliquely scrutinized Savage's face as he spoke—no discernible reaction from the agent.

"It's just for appearances; so we don't attract unwanted attention. If I can put up with Winter's demeanor, so can you."

"Well OK," Nick allowed. "As long as she doesn't make everyone think we're having a bad date, or worse, that she's trying to blow off a pesky loser—which, of course, I am not." The hare reciprocated Nick's smirk, and they both relaxed a bit.

"I'm sure you officers have already experienced this for yourselves—even within a professional capacity, certain mixed partnerships like ours will aid and abet public intolerance. So we'll avoid them. Once you work with agent Winter, and get to know her...more...well...like I do, you'll get along fine," Savage's face briefly froze—enough for Nick to notice. "Mutual trust is crucial if we've any chance to fight this, and there are obvious barriers to overcome between us first."

Nick's suspicions erupted. Did the hare just reveal himself, and attempt to deflect? Why would he invoke the pred-prey divide between them when he'd revealed the anti-pred plotting in the ZBI? Was it just with me, he wondered—or was Savage worried about where Judy's allegiance would lie? His paranoia excluded his fox partner—their trust seemed total and mutual—there really had to be something more there.

Just ask him idiot, Nick told himself. He's already spilled enough for you to destroy his career if you want. That hare trying to sit there on your couch and hold a neutral face is desperate! You might need him too, slick—be careful.

"About those barriers, Savage. You've already trusted me with a lot and have asked for mine in you even though we just met. Doesn't seem to be much of a problem there, so leave that for the moment. Now, you've apparently worked with agent Winter for a long time, so let's first nail down the level of trust you have in that pred-prey relationship."

"It is absolute, Wilde. Now it's my turn. I need to know the nature of your personal relationship with officer Hopps." Savage tried and failed to give him a demanding look—another need struggled beneath it. Nick suddenly recognized he shared it, and his inhibitions about opening up to the hare evaporated.

"I owe my present life to her; she's my best friend." Nick clamped his jaw to stop an incipient quaver in his voice. "I've told her I will protect her; but she only thinks that's because I'm more familiar with the threats in the city. I will always be there for her, but I can't get any closer than I am without interfering with her life. Swear to me Savage! She can never know how much I...really care about her. I will not allow myself, or anyone else to hurt her! I would kill to prevent that."

"I understand that fox and I will. I too would kill to protect my mate. It is fortunate for you that Skye—isn't your type." Savage seemed to sag a bit in relief upon his confession.

All of the circumstantial evidence he'd noticed over the last two days didn't soften the blow of confirmation for Nick. It wasn't just a solid partnership like he shared with Judy— Savage had used the unequivocal words my mate.

His vixen mate. Centuries of civilization had loosened some of the instincts and behaviors that governed many species, but foxes had mostly kept their mate for life reputation—one of their few positive attributes in the eyes of others. Did that hold cross-species? Did it already apply to him with Judy?

"Has she bonded with you!" Nick blurted, too desperate to know to be embarrassed.

"Yes, and I with her, some of us are known to do that too," Savage said with a smile that Nick knew he'd pay any price to emulate. "I'm surprised I'm not completely white with all of the scrubbing I do to keep our secret. She likes to...anoint me. Congratulations Wilde, you are the very first one to know."

"I had no idea Savage. This had to have just happened, right? How could you possibly have expected to hide this when you both work for the ZBI!"

"We've been mates for almost three years now. Over that time we have carefully cultivated the appearance of mild to moderate dislike of each other. It is a game for us! An occasional minor spat, snide comments mostly from me, and most importantly, very subtle body language cues when we're among others to keep us secure. This has been effective enough that we've noticed we often get joint assignments when our case officers become annoyed at one of us! This keeps everybody happy since we do work well together."

"Yet you let me know," Nick said softly. It couldn't have been deliberate if they'd taken such precautions; had the hare just been so eager to meet someone else in a similar situation that he'd assumed more than what actually existed between Carrots and himself? "Why?"

"When we met you, Skye and I saw that you and Hopps had to have more than a casual friendship, and were curious about how you might have approached some of the problems we faced. We were at first...guarded about approaching you two." Savage looked resigned. "But our...excitement over meeting a possible couple similar to ourselves finally overrode our caution and will require a joint apology from us at some point. As to why I revealed our relationship, I simply slipped up. Away from home, among comparative strangers, distracted by the evolving situation, I let the game lapse enough for you to notice."

"Winter is having a similar talk with Judy right now, isn't she? Doesn't she realize the harm she could do!" Nick couldn't keep the fear out of his voice.

"Now is when I need your trust in us, Wilde. Skye is very tactful, she won't need to ask Hopps about you directly, she'll know. And you won't. If you truly want to keep Hopps ignorant of your feelings and make The Noble Sacrifice, we'll respect that and keep you ignorant of hers. And mourn what you both could have had."

That last was like a slap on the muzzle. "It's not about what I want you hacked up furball!" Nick snarled. "It's about what she needs! I have to give her the freed..."

"...Freedom to live a normal life, to not be...contaminated by your past unworthy lifestyle and reprehensible species, fox—Isn't that right!" Savage was on his feet; rigid arm and finger in Nick's face. Before he could recover from his shock and bite off the hare's offensive appendage, Savage brought his other arm up and grabbed him by the shoulders—quite firmly despite his size.

"Yeah, you want to indulge in the Sacrifice Wilde, give her the greatest gift you can imagine. Did you ever think it might not be the one she wants? If you truly want her to be happy, to live her life, and pick who she wants in it, you have to allow her to choose it!"

Savage abruptly released him and walked into the kitchen. "Idiot fox, haven't you ever read any literature? This is the oldest, most common theme there is! The protagonist—that's you—selfishly decides what's best for another—that's Hopps—and sacrifices himself and their happiness to his chosen end!" He yanked open the fridge. "I need that damn beer."

Nick sat stunned, and watched the hare rummage in the fridge. He pulled out a box and lifted the lid briefly before putting it back. "I see you like carrot cake Wilde; expecting a special guest?" he said before Nick could summon the words to object. Savage took his beer.

"It's nothing like that you...we're friends! We have a movie night once in awhile," Nick forced his next words through gritted teeth. "How dare you assume what she wants Savage, you can't possibly know what she feels about me!" He wanted to heave the prying agent out the window—it was higher up—but a weakness inside kept him rooted to the sofa.

"Those that are closest together are often the last ones to see it or admit it," the hare said precisely as he tossed another bottle over—Nick's brainstem caught it for him. "If I can see it, it's definitely there; Skye's convinced it's already foregone." Savage adroitly pried off the cap with his teeth and sat back down—deliberately beside him as he unconcernedly took a swig from his beer.

You wanted this fox; you both sought kindred spirits to unburden yourselves on. "Guess I needed to be pushed into some self-analysis, Savage. Still sucks." Nick's defensive anger melted away as quickly as it had come—chased by...hope. Somehow, faced by intractable circumstances, these two had not only made their relationship work, but also wanted to help with his...ours. He hoped that Judy's visit with Win...Skye, would go smoothly.

"What we've each got is a tough thing to maintain in this society, Wilde. But it's oh so worth it. If you ever decide we can be friends, call me Jack—you need that opened?"

Nick quickly popped his own cap to prove he wasn't completely ineffectual. "To friends, I'm just Nick; Nicholas is reserved for Mom."

"Yes, I recall hearing that from your Judy. I'm curious as to how you two met?"

"This little bunny cop profiled me on the street and I hustled her out of twenty bucks. Then later, she hustled a lead out of me on the case that made her famous. Then the usual—adventures, mob entanglements, chases, prison cell, exploding subway car, and getting shot. Then she waved a paw, and presto, I'm a cop too. Your turn Jack."

"Sounds like a real rescue romance—that's another literary trope—which one of you did the rescuing?"

"We both did. We're still arguing about whose meant more—hers did, whatever she says. Still your turn."

"Nothing quite so dramatic; I was just finishing up what was about to be one of the best days of my life. Skye walked over to my desk and asked me out on a date."

"That doesn't happen; my type or not, she's hot by fox standards! Seriously, Jack, I mean fox Goddess hot! You didn't do anything to...ah try to encourage that?"

"Nothing at all, I knew little more than her name at the time. Many others were aware of her of course. You should see her in full winter coat. Skye had a few advertising contracts back in the day. Mostly smaller print and packaging ones, she didn't have much temperament for live modeling. Something about biting the heads off of the other talent as I recall," Jack said and grinned. "She went to college off the residuals from her beer contract before she was accepted at the ZBI."

Nick was incredulous. "Your Skye was the Borealis Beer Fox! Except for her, you're going to be hated by every fox on the planet until the end of time if this gets out!"

"Except one other. That's what convinced Skye, you didn't notice her as a vixen. Since you weren't dead, obviously you'd already found your soulmate."

Nick knew he was a lost cause romantically, he was Judy's. But hearing it confirmed so easily by another...? He thought he'd carefully hidden his deepest self away, but now realized he'd botched it. The Snarlbuck's barista had been an unheeded warning about his changed behavior—which had been so obvious to everyone except him. Jack and Skye had seen it immediately; Clawhauser patiently awaited its confirmation; had Judy noticed?" As far as he could tell she thankfully hadn't, but he couldn't trust his judgement anymore. He felt a horrible burning eat its way outward from his chest until his fur stood up.

"I don't know what to do! I can't allow myself to hurt her!" Nick couldn't help letting a small whine escape at the end. "Spirits I'm pathetic; can you just go?"

"Not 'til you get over yourself, Nick. Of course you think you're the only guy that's had it this bad." Jack got up to face him, and Nick let his gaze droop towards the floor—a soft paw under his chin brought it up again to face the hare's...sympathetic eyes? "She's a pure innocent; a Goddess that walks the earth. You can only corrupt her. I know, imagine what I had to go through!"

"I am not a headcase Savage! I'm just being realistic about this," Nick snapped.

"Not really Wilde, you're head over tail loopy for that bunny and can't escape it. It's easier to retreat back into your sacrifice. Wilde, do you think I felt worthy of Skye?"

"You made it work between you somehow." He'd been pulled back again; that damn hare should have been a therapist, Nick realized.

"Not what I asked for but I'll answer myself. No I didn't. I was in utter shock when Skye asked me out—not just for the cross-species aspect of it. This tall ultrafox stood there looking down at me. Foxy is an adjective Wilde; many other mammals consider them quite attractive. That's why PR and advertising are common and accepted professions for them.

"I think it was sometime after our fourth date, when this suave ZBI agent outside, had just begun to relax inside." Savage thumped himself. "Skye had mentioned a bit of her background—if you can imagine it, I was too honorable to have looked it up myself—I was in the store and had grabbed a different six-pack of beer because it reminded me of her."

"And you realized it was her," Nick said.

"Almost dropped the bottles. Do you remember their slogan back then? 'Wrap a paw around me!' I had to wrap my head around the fact that was my girlfriend! Marvelous story and you're the first soul I've been able to tell it to." Savage took a long swig of beer.

"You seem to be pretty comfortable with her now."

"Only after Skye 'corrected' my perception of our relationship," Savage grinned wickedly and sat back down, crossed his legs and reclined. "Grabbed my cheeks hard enough to draw blood and said, "Don't you ever question my judgement in choosing a mate again!" All I had was a scratch—a moment later she was ministering to it—oh, that turned out alright!"

"Too much Savage, I don't need to hear about any more romantic details right now. Look at yourself, you're a hare, you're taller than Judy. Winter's an Arctic fox, smaller than me. You two might be well over the line, but you're a reasonable physical match." Nick's voice cracked again as he wrapped his muzzle with his paws. "We're not, I can't risk hurting her!"

"Physical issues? Shouldn't be a problem unless you're worried about your own self-control when you get to that point."

"I'm not! It's that she's half my size!"

"If you're afraid of accidentally abusing her, just let her lead... Wilde? Why the fear...? I'm sure Judy would help...It's like you nev... Oh crap...Sorry."

"Go ahead! Just strip my soul bare, Savage," Nick growled. "Can't you leave Judy out of this; why would you assume she'd ever..."

Be realistic! Your Judy is a rabbit. We lagomorphs have a reputation for a reason. A majority of us have probably had a half-dozen lovers by the time we got out of high school!"

"She didn't!" Nick snarled deep in his throat as he rose, chest heaving, ears flat, and bared his claws at Savage. "How dare you insinuate that..." Savage was also up in a wary stance. Be. In. Control. Fox. Nick willed. He managed to lower his arms, but the claws stayed out.

"So then you're both a couple of fumbling fifteen year olds," the hare finally said in calm amazement. "Perhaps I exaggerated, but it's obvious that at least your parents didn't do their jobs."

Nick stared, until the hare added, "Give you The Talk, Wilde. Sit down, you need this." Nick deflated until he feared he'd shrink away to nothing. A minute crawled agonizingly by.

"Right now Savage, I'd jump out my window if it was a few floors higher." A little admiration for the agent's manner made itself known. No one had gotten to him like this for...since Carrots did. "No. No they didn't. My dad...left when I was about six; mom never knew why or wouldn't tell me. I eventually fell in with types she disapproved of and left myself before I finished school."

"But you did finish. You see things through. We'll get through today too."

"Sav...Jack, I've always tried to be independent. It's who I'd made myself be. A lifelong lie I've told myself—alone isn't a life. I always had mom, then Finnick and Vance allowed me a place if I'd finish school, then when I thought I finally had independence and control over my life, Carrots came along and shattered it, and now I've got a ZBI agent dragging this confession out of me." He drained the rest of his beer.

"Well, at least you're cooperating Mr. Wilde. Carrots? You ever call her that to her face?"

"It was an insult the first few times; now she expects it from me. If I call her Judy it makes her worry."

"So neither your mom or any siblings gave you guidance either?"

"No, not about that, and I'm an only with no other relatives that I know of. Have a vague memory of my parents talking about another kit, then nothing. I think I was four. Otherwise just talk and a few experiences I'd rather not relate—none got serious."

"Whatever you've picked up on the street or elsewhere doesn't matter anyway Nick, your problem isn't with other foxes. You're desperate to know if your chosen can be a mate. She can, assuming she doesn't find you hopeless. Curl your fingers up in the palm of your paw. Baby bunnies and hares are bigger than that lump—and the mothers have no problem having lots of them! So unless you are built like a wolf, you two won't have any physical issues. So my son; be considerate, tender, and patient with your love—now your talk is over because it reminds daddy of his own past performance anxiety!" Jack finished off his bottle.

The revelation that Jack's fears might have been worse smothered any residual animosity he had for the emotional vivisection performed on him by the hare. He feared any harm he might cause to Judy, of course, but it was horrible to imagine the ego-rending trauma to be dispensed by a...disappointed Skye. The two agents had risked nearly everything for each other, had recognized his and Judy's situation, and wanted to help. There was a debt.

"Jack, thanks for...the trust and advice, I...maybe...needed to hear that, but you have no idea how thoroughly embarrassed I am right now." His ears insisted on remaining flat.

"It's worth it Nick—if it prevents you from doing something stupid with your futures."

"I have to know, how did you stay calm when I so wanted to attack you!"

If you had, it would have disillusioned your Judy when she heard of it, and I was sure you couldn't bear that. Glad I was right, I'd hate to beat up a friend."

"I didn't remember the martial arts thing. About that, are those fur markings real?"

"As real as the rest of me, similar patterns are common in my family. Although...I do have to touch this one up with some dye to maintain the symmetry!" Jack reached and brushed the upper dark wedge on his right cheek. We alpha males have to maintain the image!"

"Jack, you did better than I did tonight. You gave me the reality check. But understand this! Judy's not ready for that, she's still establishing herself here, you both need to go slow with her. She's not...emotionally obsessed like I am. I'll wait as long as I have to for her."

"Of course we will, besides, Skye thinks you two are kinda adorable when you try to stay aloof. Assume a meeting here tomorrow as soon as we learn anything. I'll text the time. Let's keep the electronic communications to a minimum, it's a good habit. Well friend, it's late."

Nick turned off his lights after the agent's departure; modern life usually interfered with his nocturnal proclivities, and he needed the comforting cloak of at least some darkness right now. The city glow from the kitchen window was augmented by a rhombus of white skewed across part of the countertop and against the wall.

He walked over and leaned into the cold light. A waning gibbous moon had just cleared the adjacent building, and sat in the gap between two trees. Its full pattern of dark markings wasn't visible due to the phase, but he remembered it—The Rabbit in the Moon.

Bunnies everywhere were inordinately proud of their celestial affirmation. It might still hold a more spiritual connotation for some of them. As a nocturnal, Nick had often just watched the moonlight—there was a beauty to it—particularly when the moon floated behind edge-lit clouds. The moon bunny had always been just a mild curiosity; he didn't recall that Judy had ever mentioned it to him. From now on, he knew it would be more meaningful. He wondered if that was something he shared with Skye.

Other mammals often swore by, or with, a Great Spirit or Spirits of life that watched over all. Some still held to their ancient species-specific deities. There was even an annoying in-your-muzzle-proselytizing group that followed an idealized pan-mammalian entity that everyone normal detested as a grotesque contrivance.

Nick decided it wouldn't hurt to entreat the Rabbit Goddess the next time he saw her.