Chapter 47: Help from unexpected places
"-Can you at least let me do this? Unlike you, I know how to actually do it correctly. Just look at that stitching – it's awful!"
While Count and Trigger's room was Judy's destination, she hesitated before walking in, sensitive hearing picking up a quite annoyed Count complaining about something. But Trigger's muffled half-growl of a reply hardly helped clarify what was going on, so she decided to bite the metaphorical bullet and not just stand there by the door. Poking her head inside, she wanted to see what was going on. "Hey guys! Is… everything all right?"
Inside, since she already heard one of them and he was talking to someone, it came to no surprise at all to find Count and Trigger inside. But they weren't alone – Major Easly was there too, all three of them strewn about the small room, Trigger perched on his bed, mouth clenched around a roll of yarn with a furious expression as he jabbed a needle in and out of his uniform.
"No, everything's not all right," Count complained. "This guy's committing a felony against even the most basic of sewing etiquette. And… He won't let me do it for him either."
Judy blinked, not expecting that. "So what's the problem?"
Count sighed and rolled his eyes at her. "That moron here's making a complete mess out of it and won't even let me take over and fix it before he makes an even bigger mess out of it! I mean seriously, the nerve!" Count's eyes widened as he jerked downwards, rummaging through his belongings below his own bed. "Yeah, here it is! See, look!" He held up a brightly colored object, which Judy saw was a knitted cap of sorts. "Made it myself. So take a hint in that I might know what I'm talking about here."
Judy took the hat, inspecting it, amazed that it was Count of all people who created it. She did remember Dahlia mentioning that the pilot had initially been quite ashamed of this hobby of his, but right now, he hardly looked bothered by it at all. But considering how the stitching was very consistent, and the colors flowing into one another in an elegant manner, meant that he really didn't have a reason to be ashamed either. "That's… Count, that's amazing! If it's done, you really should be wearing it more often!"
"Nah," Count waved a hoof at her dismissively. "Everything's climate controlled here. Made it to strive of boredom more than anything." He grinned at the officer. "But I can still be rather proud of it, I think!" He then jerked his head at Trigger's direction. "But tell that to this guy."
A growl of warning came from Trigger, but as the pilot's muzzle was still full of string, no words followed.
Still curious, Judy walked over to the smaller pilot, inspecting his work personally. "Umm… Humphrey, are you sure that's okay? Like… Are you even allowed to do something like this?" First issue was, just as Count was complaining, Trigger's sewing capabilities left much to be desired, visibly rough and highly varied even from where she was standing. But especially strange was that he was apparently stitching on an Animalian flag shoulder patch in place of a roughly cut hole where she could only guess a Ocelotian patch used to belong.
But the answer to her question came from Major Easly. "Normally? No. Trigger is OADF, even if he and Count will be flying on loan for me. But with Trigger here? What's normal at this point? He really needs a national flag on his uniform – that's regulation for all air forces as far as I can tell. Definitly for Ocelotia, and most definitely for us. So while his national designation should really be Ocelotia…" The dark furred major shook his head, vaguely motioning at the uniform.
"I'm not flying for them!" The muffled grunt was barely audible through the mouthful of string, only to be followed by a much more clear curse of frustration as he accidentally tore through his work. A half second of staring at the mistake, and he tossed the whole lot down at the ground, hugging his knees and propping his head on top of them as he glared at the mess on the ground. It was only then that he even seemed to notice that Judy was there at all, hissing at her in anger. "What?"
Judy took a step closer. "Humphrey? Are you okay?"
His eyes fell as he struggled against returning her gaze. "Well… No," he admitted, biting his lower lip.
"Why not?"
A shrug of his shoulders. "I don't know. Just am." He glared at his uniform, watching her out of the corner of his gaze, knowing that she wouldn't accept that simple of an explanation. "Major Easly had some spare patches from his unit, and after… everything…" Another low growl escaped his throat. "I will fight to finally end this war… And I will fly for the USAF. But if the OADF thinks that they can just expect me to go and risk my life for them after all they did?" With another growl, he tugged at his ears. "I just don't know anymore…"
"Humphrey…" Judy put a paw on his leg gently, mentally wincing at the noticeable shaking of his entire body. "I know you're getting tired of hearing it, but now, especially with Ryan and Major Easly in the room… You don't have to go. Stay here, as in, stay with us. We'll help you get better and you won't have to risk your life." For a few tense moments, the two of them stared at one another, with Judy smiling at him warmly, hoping that he was at least seriously considering the offer.
Slowly lowering his knees, she was disappointed when he shook his head. "You know I can't stay, Judy," he croaked. "They still need me. I t-told you, I can't just stay here hiding while others are out there fighting and dying. Not when I can do something about it. I mean, why do you think I ran away? You think I liked finding out about-about that? While all I was able to do was sit around and do nothing? You really think me being here was for the best with all of that happening? To have to try and learn what I can from watching the news? T-to… Why do you think I nearly broke Bogo's door down, huh? And all the while, everyone thought I was some kind of…" A loud growl rumbled through his muzzle as his teeth revealed themselves.
"Hey, easy there, Trig," Count urged.
Eyes widening, Trigger slowed himself down, taking deep breaths to calm himself down. "But if nothing else," he growled out, then another deep breath, and he shook his head a second time. "I'm good at it."
"I just don't want to see you get hurt," Judy admitted. "And I have a very strong feeling that's exactly what will happen if you do go."
Trigger watched her again. "You don't want to see me get hurt? Too late for that," he mumbled, rubbing his neck. "I never thought I'd be back anywhere near Zootopia… Thought that seeing it again would feel like coming home. And part of it did feel like it. But at the same time? Too many new bad memories for it to ever feel like home." He slowly curled his knees back, resting his muzzle on them once more, staring ahead. "I don't think I even have a home anymore…"
"Humphrey? It's not that you-" Judy didn't like how he was reacting. She glanced over at Easly. "Major? Surely there's something you can do. After all, isn't Humphrey working under you now?"
"Not yet he isn't," Easly answered calmly. "Neither is Count, so please don't think that this has something to do specifically with him. They'll both formally be transferred to my unit after they leave Zootopia. But until then, at least right now, they're both still OADF, and under the ZPD's and specifically Chief Bogo's jurisdiction and watch." He frowned, inspecting the other two pilots in the room. "If you really think that keeping Reyevski here is for the best, you'll need to talk to him, and to Doctor Crenspaw. I'll mince no words here, in peacetime, he'll be medically grounded for sure. But in these times, especially considering the catastrophe of what happened recently, and Ocelotia is desperate to get a good pilot back. From what I've seen over the past few days, I won't lie, I'm still worried about Reyevski's state. But he has also demonstrated tremendous capabilities as a pilot. You just heard him, and I would, if I were in his position, also say the same thing: I will lose my mind if I were forced to stay here. If nothing else, remember that Velveton is also a pilot and officer, and he doesn't have the option not to go. If Reyevski is to stay, you'll be asking him to lose contact with the only person he was interacting with for more than a couple of months in the past year. As a police officer, you know that this precinct is your second home. Reyevski will have a home in our unit too."
Biting her lip, Judy turned to Trigger once more. "Tell me you at least thought about staying here," she finally relented. "That's all I'll ask of you."
"I… thought about it, Judy," he answered carefully. "I really did. And you have no idea how tempting it sounds to stay here..." He then shook his head. "But we both know I can't stay. I have to go… Won't be able to live with myself if I don't." He held up a paw slowly, and after some noticeable hesitation, carefully grasped her shoulder. "I know you're trying to help. And I won't lie and say that it never gets on my nerves… I mean, everything gets to me right now, right? It's just that I… Your help is appreciated, it really is. But your pressing me to change my mind about going isn't going to convince me." He gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze before pulling back his arm. "So at the very least, you can at least take care of yourself, for both of us. And it's not like we won't be in regular contact." His other paw fumbling through his pocket, he pulled out a phone. "Won't be the same as in person, but… better than nothing, right?"
Despite herself, Judy forced a grin. "Sure, Humphrey. It's better than nothing."
His previous grin at her turned into a frown as Trigger watched her wearily. "I know that look. There's another reason you came here, isn't it?" he asked.
Despite answering his question, Judy glanced nervously at Easly. "No, no it's not. Major? We talked about it briefly-"
"-No, Hopps!" The answer came swiftly, even before she can finish asking.
Even Count looked up at the commotion. "No what?"
"I don't want you to take him," Major Easly continued. "No matter what you or Agent Savage say."
Judy stood her ground. "But we both think it will be beneficial, and today's the last night possible. Besides, didn't you just say to me moments ago that Humphrey doesn't actually need to listen to you yet?"
"What's Jack got to do with this?" Trigger asked, sounding as confused as he looked. "Take me where?"
"Tundra Town," Judy answered through gritted teeth. "To… Uhh... meet a friend of mine. Won't take long, but Jack and I discussed it thoroughly already. Bogo agrees that it might be worth having you talk to her."
Trigger's frown only deepened. "But why would Major Easly be against it?"
The major shuffled uncomfortably at the attention he was now receiving. "Honestly, it's rather hard to describe why. And even worse, Hopps is right. If I were to be realistic, than I would let you go with her to visit that friend. But? I don't know. The optics of this mess are bad. You just had your record cleared, and now I was asked if they can take you along on a little ride to see-" he shook his head. "That's not important. All you need to know is that the optics are bad for you to go. That's why, if I had the option to make the call, I would simply order you to stay put. But since I can't, it's up to you."
"Why would-" Trigger's jaw dropped ever so slightly in confusion. "It's about what happened back home, isn't it?" He returned to hugging his knees, glaring at the floor below him, but Judy's silence, and specifically the lack of denial over his accusation, told him everything. "It's not like… What would your friend know about it, anyways?" he snapped at Judy.
If she was taken aback by his sudden anger, she didn't show it. "My friend was able to find out some things. I myself don't actually know what. But it's big enough that I'll be going with Jack. And-" she hesitated, smiling ever so slightly. "I can see how you're looking at me. I also see the irony in that it's now me who's not telling anything, but even though Major Easly knows the details, I was also asked not to diverge what doesn't need to be. But still, despite that, Humphrey? I do want you to come with us if you want…" She held her breath. "But I won't force you to."
While not exactly glaring at the ground as he had before, Trigger stared silently ahead of him, deep in thought. After a short while, he jolted slightly, grunting in displeasure.
"If it's about what happened back home… I won't forgive myself if I don't go, especially as this is my only chance," he admitted. "Bad optics or not… Sounds like someone fishy, but what can I do? And, if I don't go… I will hate myself for the rest of my life. So? Sorry Major, but I would like to go."
Easly shrugged, grinning back at the pilot. "Until you formally transfer to my unit, I can't stop you," he repeated. "If that's what you want, then go."
"I want to," Trigger confirmed again with a nod.
Judy pulled out her phone. "I'll let Jack know then."
"Trig? Wait." This time it was Count. "If you're going to Tundra Town, it might still be daylight, but it won't be for long, and we both know how cold it can get there once the sun sets. Here." He shuffled over to Trigger, handing over his knitted cap. "It'll at least keep your head warm. Will look ridiculous, and is too big for you, but since when did such things ever stop us?"
Trigger frowned as he grabbed the hat, inspecting it in his paws and feeling it out. "The colors are horrendous, but it's really well made," he commented, "Count? I uh... thanks."
Count huffed at the smaller pilot. "Just bring it back in this state, and I just might let you keep it," he said with a grin. "I can always make myself another. Besides-" He reached down and grabbed Trigger's uniform. "There's a certain patch I need to fix properly before we fly out tomorrow. And since you won't let me do it for you…" His grin widened, "while you're around, getting out of here will benefit the both of us. Hopps? Go and get this coyote out of my sight if you may!"
Returning his grin, Judy grabbed Trigger's paw with her own. "I can do that right now! Let's go, Humphrey. Jack's already waiting in the garage!"
Trigger hardly even had time to garble out a response or even wave goodbye to neither Count nor Easly before he was roughly pulled out of the room by the excited cop.
So it was only when the three of them were all inside the car, driving towards their destination, that it really started to dawn on her just exactly what it was that they were doing. Honestly? Judy couldn't believe she was doing this. No- correction, she couldn't believe that Jack was doing this. And that Mr. Big agreed. For a moment, she really envied Trigger's not knowing who it was they were going to see. But then again, did he really no know, or was he just pretending not to? She knew he was smart enough to connect the dots – he already had before they even set out in the first place. But for whatever reason, and despite her expectations, he never bothered to ask about it even after they got on their way. For that matter, the pilot was rather silent the entire time they drove. He was content to sit in the back of the car and let her occasionally exchanged words with Jack, who was more preoccupied with the driving. Unfortunately, or perhaps especially because of their destination, the mood in the car was quite tense, and non of the three occupants tried too hard to change that.
But as they drove ever so slowly due to the end-of-work traffic, Judy started to get a feeling that Trigger was a little too quiet. While it hadn't been that unusual for him to simply watch the city go by as they drove, that was his behavior when he had only started riding in the back of the car while she would patrol with James. Way back when his and Count's presence was still new in the precinct, and… and both of them still had to wear those TAME collars.
Judy's expression soured as she found herself once again wishing that the pilot had opened up far sooner as to what was going on in his head, even as she fully understood why he kept silent. Truth be told, it was something he had asked her repeatedly recently, ever since they finally had found out the ugly truth that he was hiding: if she were in his position, would she had said anything? Turning around in her seat to actually inspect the pilot and see why he was being so quiet, she hesitated at finding him muzzle down, staring at the lit screen of his phone, expression frozen. "Humphrey?" From the steady lighting emanating from the screen, he wasn't even watching or even reading anything. Count's admittedly goofy hat that he was wearing only served to emphasize his expression from underneath it.
Startled by her question, he looked up with wide eyes. "J-Judy?"
"You're being rather quiet," she pointed out. "And, I know how much you hate us, and especially me asking, but are you feeling all right?"
He bit his lower lip, stealing a glance back at his phone. "I… Everyone in this picture other than me are dead," he explained in a quivering voice. "It- it's not even a year old!" He held over his phone, letting her see what was the source of his silence. "...But it feels like a lifetime ago."
Judy grabbed the phone, thankful that for a change, he wasn't trying to hid his feelings, nor that he lashed out at her as he usually does when dropping into one of his moods and being asked about it. Looking at the screen, he immediately saw why he was so quiet. "Aww, Humphrey, that's a great picture!" Then realizing that perhaps that's not the best reaction to have, she quickly added, "but, I'm sorry. I really am."
His only response was to sniff and look away from her, pressing his muzzle against the window.
She looked down at the picture, where there were four coyotes. Naturally, Humphrey was one of the group, while Kate was there too, the two of them embracing each other and enjoying being the center of the frame, an aircraft gate guardian perched on a pillar behind. It tilted but also pointing upward as though in flight, a motion that Humphrey was mimicking with his free arm. Both he and Kate were in their flight uniforms, Ocelotian flags patched on their shoulders. Next to the two, beaming with pride, the two remaining coyotes must have been Trigger's parents. Out of curiosity, and partially out of fearing worse, Judy swiped the screen to the next picture. Not to be outdone, the second picture was very similar to the previous one, taken at the same location, and just about at the same time. In fact, the only real difference was the two people next to Trigger and Kate – her parents?
Swiping back to the fist picture, Judy analyzed it more carefully, noting how the two coyotes next to Trigger and Kate were clearly older, while also baring more than the familial resemblance to him, and far less to her. Checking the picture metadata tags, Trigger's comment on its age was confirmed – it was taken only a little over ten months ago, just before the beginning of the war.
But if anything, this picture left Judy wondering as she stared at it – was it his last time seeing his family alive? Deciding that she wasn't actually brave enough to ask, she moved the phone back over to give it back. "It's still a good picture," she admitted. "And I know that it's your last night with us in Zootopia, so you've got a lot on your mind. And we did spring this up on you last minute, but try to get your mind on what we're about to do. It was rather important that you went with us, so I'm glad that you decided to go."
Casting another longing look at the picture, Trigger turned the screen off and put the phone away before pressing his head back against the window. "Fine. But, I mean, if it's so important, where are we even going? Why is it just you and Savage?"
Judy kept her mouth shut, trying to think of what to say. Luckily, it was Jack who jumped in to the rescue.
"You remember those polar bears you were with? When we had you help us translate for those Urusian immigrant workers at that biotech lab?"
A harsh hiss escaped Trigger. "How could I forget?" he let out a low growl. "Yo-You knew by then, didn't you? About my family? You knew, and you still took me along? W-Why?"
Because he was driving, it was hard to see Jack's expression, but his voice carried a sense of genuine remorse. "Because we really needed your help. And we weren't sure for certain about your family. Were hoping to be wrong about them. I'm sorry for doing that, I really am, but we needed your help. Urusia really didn't want to give us translators, remember? We were scrambling, which is why it wasn't just you, if that makes you feel better. Those polar bears were due to our desperation too."
"Wasn't I told that they're mobsters?" Trigger complained, breath fogging up the glass next to him. "Tundra town? Where we're going to now? There's a wonderful idea, let's all go and see the godfather! Nothing wrong there! No wonder Major Easly didn't want me to go!"
"That's because of me," Judy said quickly, picking up on his agitation, her own voice quickening as she spoke. "I saved his daughter's life. I told you about it a while back, remember? Although, I did leave out the part about her being the daughter of a mob boss. I didn't know at the time. So, through me, law enforcement got direct access to a high level criminal. Before you ask, yes, it's a headache for everyone, especially for Chief Bogo and the attention it got on all of us from internal affairs-" She pointed a finger at Trigger, even if he wasn't really looking. "So don't go thinking that we're selling you out right now or something. I didn't tell her anything specific about you as… about what you do. But Fru Fru's my friend, no matter what her father does for a living. I told her that a friend of mine lost family in Bana City, and yes, I was talking about you. I can complain about life to friends as well, so sue me. However, since I mentioned Bana City, she told me that her father might know something. So... With far too many IA hovering over me and Chief Bogo, I made a call from her father, and after confirming that he does actually know something, I thought it beneficial for you to talk in person. Jack's going there because he's ZIA and it's related to his work. I'm going because more likely than not, without me, both of you are in significant risk for your lives if you show up at the address we're going to." Fully turning around in her seat, Judy was dismayed that Trigger was trying very hard in avoiding looking at her. "Humphrey? You can at least see why I'm doing this, right? I'm trying to help you. You trust me, right?"
Trigger let out a frustrated growl instead. "I- I know you're trying to help!" he protested. "It's not that I trust you! It's just that-" He rubbed his ears furiously, "I don't know, but I really feel like I'm already going insane enough already!" Pressing his head harder against the glass, he kept his eyes shut even as his teeth were bared. "I'm leaving tomorrow and I don't even know what's going on anymore! Can't even just go home..."
"Well," Judy answered slowly and carefully, "we're hoping that by hearing what they might have to say, you'll feel like you have a better idea. We'll be there soon, so try not to dwell on it."
"Fine," Trigger huffed. "You know, I wasn't dwelling on it, until you decided to interrupt!"
"Humphrey?" Judy watched him carefully, all too aware that while she got off lucky so far, what she was about to say was very dangerous. "What you were… That wasn't dwelling, but you also weren't-"
"Judy," Jack interrupted her, "-Trigger! Humphrey, cut it out!" The growling coming at them from the back seat ceased. "We're less than a minute out, so try and look presentable." As he mentioned this, they were already on the driveway to the Big complex, rapidly approaching the gate, flanked by a pair of polar bears. While they were dressed in well tailored suits, he knew that they were armed, and not with tranquilizers either, meaning that he really needed his passengers behaving themselves.
Slowing the car down to a stop right before the gate, he already had the window lowered ahead of time, despite the cold Tundra Town air biting into the car. Trying not to pass off as too intimidated by the bear waiting for them, he looked up, identification ready in an outstretched paw. "Jack Savage, ZIA. I've got Judy Hopps with me, and, uh, a friend..." His voice failed him as he stumbled into a realization that for all of the careful and last-minute planning on this meeting, he didn't actually know what he was supposed to say about Trigger. So much for being an established ZIA agent…
The bear grunted as his partner circled the car. "I was told there would be three of you. But we do need to take precautions, I'm sure you understand. We trust Judy when she says you're her friends, but we don't trust you. Nor him."
"We're not here to cause trouble," Jack said firmly, hissing as a gust of particularly cold air swept past him. "I made sure the car is free of bugs. Checked it myself." What he didn't mention was his earlier argument to Skye after having removed no less than five of such devices that he just knew she planted while he wasn't looking.
The bear chuckled, waving a large paw in Jack's direction dismissively. "I just told you – we don't trust you. Even if Judy's with you." He then shone a light inside the car, inspecting the interior. "It's good to see you again, Hopps! Fru Fru was talking all day about your visit! I swear my ears were going to fall off from all her talking, and I'm not even the only one. But you know how it is around here: If Fru Fru and Judy are happy, then everyone's happy."
"Good afternoon, Kevin!" Judy shrugged, grinning back. "And yeah, that sure sounds like Fru Fru! But you are aware that this is not going to be a pleasant visit, right? I don't think she'll be joining us, for one. A regular visit will have to be at a later time. O, uh, what did she tell you, exactly?"
The bear grunted, rolling his eyes. "Just rumors, nothing more. Boss is in a foul mood, but keeps himself while Fru Fru's around." His expression turned stern. "Is everything all right? Between you and him? You must understand that most of us won't ever get used to idea of cops driving over merely for a visit. And I personally was hoping for a quiet evening myself. So if it's bad… You can still turn around."
"No trouble between Big and the ZPD," Judy confidently confirmed. If this simple sentence was going to get back to Bogo or IA, then they can take it and shove it up- "If anything, he's the one helping us right now. And not just us, but a lot of people. Outside of Zootopia, not only in Animalia, even. That's why Jack is here. But as I said, it's not 'good', I'm afraid. Shouldn't lead to trouble between us though."
Grunting at her comments, Kevin observed a gesture from his partner, and nodded the car along. "You're clear. Remember, friends or not, you're still cops, and we don't really like cops around these here. So watch yourselves. But Judy? Do tell Fru Fru that we're all glad you're here, your presence always warms the air in Tundra Town." He winked. "In a good way. Not like these two- they, I can't say what they'll do. Keep an eye out on them for us, will you? Oh, and perhaps an ear too!" This last part was far more directed at Jack and Trigger.
"I won't let them out of my sight!" Judy promised as Jack rolled the car forward towards the large Big house. It was a very large mansion, really. Windows well lit from the inside and out, and looking quite warm and welcoming compared to the cold air that surrounded them. The occasional polar bear mingling outside, armed no doubt, did little to distract from the majestic sight.
Which was one that Judy was honestly starting to get uncomfortably used to, courtesy constant pestering from Fru Fru to visit. Most of the time, it was more than easy for the two of them to meet up just somewhere in Zootopia in general, but every now and then, she insisted on having Judy visit her home. No doubt completely unaware just how much paperwork a police visit to a mob household generated...
Braking out of her thoughts, Judy guided Jack over to the parking lot, at which point another polar bear was motioning for them to go to. With Jack turning the car off once they stopped moving, she immediately unbuckled herself and slipped out, eager to be the first one out and allowing the residents of the large house see a familiar face. While not too surprising, she was still somewhat surprised that Raymond was the one waiting for them, despite him normally pairing with Kevin and would have been seen over by the gatehouse. "Hey Raymond! We're here!" Despite the reason for them being here, she put on a cheerful expression.
Not that it really worked on him. "Wait for them two, then we go in," he told her gruffly. "It's good to see you, Judy. Best say it before I forget." She beamed back at him, a part of her noting that it still felt odd that she was talking to someone who most likely had a criminal history that she wasn't aware of. "But, I do apologize, but you know…" He motioned for her to spread her arms as he kneeled down. "Can't be too careful." Patting her down gently, he nodded when he concluded his inspection, glancing at every item he found in her pockets.
Nodding back at him, Judy waited for Jack and Trigger to join her, waving them over. The ZIA officer came over to her side, frowning at the artificial snowfall that decided to start coming down from some overhead blowers. That only left one. Judy tilted her head in confusion at just how miserable the pilot looked, hopping from one paw to the other as Raymond patted down Jack. "Humphrey? Are you okay?" She then noticed something else. "You- you're shaking."
Hugging himself fiercely, he hopped from one foot to the other. "C-cold!" he complained bitterly. "It's almost winter, so of course they need to keep the settings down lower! Dump all the heat into Sahara Square, what do we care about it down here? I've only been indoors for too long, so of course my winter coat's non-existent!" He glared at Jack and Judy, even baring his teeth at them, a gesture that was quickly removed by a grunt from Raymond. Followed by complaining as it was his turn to be patted down. "You think I'll be crazy enough to smuggle a weapon in, you moron?" His comment only got him a second, more careful inspection, still in the cold snow.
Judy watched him with a sorrowful expression. "He would have been done by now if you didn't say that," she pointed out. "We'll be inside that warm house in just a moment. You'll be okay until then, right? It's not that cold-" While he was staring at her, she watched him carefully back, noting how while his glare had left, it was replaced by a strange longing look. Specifically still at her and Jack who was waiting right next to her. "-What?"
Trigger snapped his gaze away from them. "N-nothing." he stammered, either from being caught staring, or from the cold. Hissing when he was poked for a final time by Raymond, he moved back as soon as allowed to. "Finally! Let's get inside and get this over with." He turned and started to shuffle over back to Raymond's direction, who was now waiting for them at the door.
Glancing down at specifically where he had been looking, Judy found herself staring at her own paw, clutching Jack's.
Oh.
Ignoring the pang of uneasiness, Judy pulled the ZIA agent along with her as she bounded over to Trigger's side, sliding in between the three of them, and allowing her to reach out with her spare arm and pulling at Trigger's. Showing him a grin at his startled expression, she grabbed his paw as well, confirming that he really was shivering from the cold as he said he was. That it wasn't something else like she first suspected. "Let's not keep them waiting, shall we?"
Trigger roughly pulled his paw back, wrapping his arms tightly around himself as he followed the rabbits, all three of them towered over by Raymond as he guided them inside the large house. Opening the just as large double doors, he beckoned for them to go inside, gesturing a second time at Trigger when he hesitated at following the others.
"What's the matter, little dog? Cold paws?" Raymond laughed at the glare Trigger shot at him, showing off his own teeth at the pilot's own bared ones. "Don't worry: Big don't bite. Do hide those fangs of yours though. But tonight, you all are guests. Relax!" Despite the short sentences and basic structure, he didn't speak with a noticeable accent, while at the same time, absolutely displaying the attitude and manners of someone who was quick of mind and well aware of his surroundings. "You're all safe here, in case you wonder."
"It's not that," Trigger grumbled, rubbing himself into the warm interior air as the door was closed behind them.
Raymond raised an eyebrow. "So what is it, sobachka?"
Trigger glanced up at the bear, startled. After a moment, he answered back, not in English. But whatever it was that he said, it was good enough for Raymond, who nodded with a grunt without answering back a single word. Instead, he addressed the three as a whole. "It's just short walk. Guest hall. Judy knows where."
Judy looked up upon hearing her name mentioned. "Actually, about that, can we have a minute please, Raymond? And Humphrey, mind kneeling down where I can reach your head?"
While their escort only shuffled a few steps away, Trigger glanced at him nervously before doing as Judy asked, lowering himself down and bowing over so that his head was close to hers. "What is it?"
Patting down a pocket, Judy pulled out a heavily used, albeit freshly cleaned, fur comb with a sly grin. She even put it in a plastic bag to keep it extra clean just in case. Contrary to the occasional joke in the precinct, she didn't actually keep such items on her at all times – just that for this specific occasion, she made sure to bring one. "It's good to look your best when you come to visit," she teased the pilot, reaching over his head to brush away at some oddly angled fur on the top of his head. As she repeated the motions, she made sure to watch his expression carefully, noting how he visibly bit at his lower lip to keep himself from reacting audibly to the sensation of the comb teeth gliding between his ears. "At least Jack was smart enough to dress and groom himself properly before we set out. And it's not like you need to hide how much you like this treatment you know. We're already aware of how much of a sap you are to this kind of stuff." Still biting his lip, Trigger's embarrassed response was muffled, and so she chose to ignore it. "But otherwise? I also wanted to ask you if you really are okay? This is the last chance to leave, you know. They won't mind too much if you still decide to go."
Letting out an irritated huff at her question, he lifted his head, ready to pull away from her, but stopped himself at the last moment. Lowering his head back down, he allowed Judy to continue working at his fur. "Do you really think it's a good idea for me to be at this meeting?" he asked carefully, wincing with minor disgust as she patted down at a set of particularly stubborn strands with a wet paw, courtesy of her tongue. If nothing else, their close proximity to one another allowed them to talk quietly and not have the others eavesdrop in. Or at least Raymond, as Jack had the sensitive ears to be able to hear them, and wasn't even pretending to not be doing just that, even as he stood politely a way's away.
"I do," Judy confirmed. "I'm glad you came with us. We both are. Can't… actually say for Big though. But Jack and I? We asked you to join us for a reason."
Another irritated huff of air.
"Well, then I won't leave," Trigger mumbled, expression cut short with a sudden pained whine when the comb caught at a knot at an especially sensitive spot. "Ow, Judy!" Next to them, Jack hid his expression at the noise behind a paw, while Raymond chuckled with a delightful grin at the show.
"Hush you! You're not a young pup anymore!" Ignoring the giggling around them, Judy tugged at the spot until her comb jerked free, a tuft of fur coming free with it. "There it is!" Inspecting the tuft, she grinned at his sour expression. "You know, there's the source of your problem. You're shedding. No wonder your fur gets stuck in odd angles. And then you go all complaining about the cold." She teased him further by dangling the tuft right in front of his muzzle.
"I don't shed!" Trigger complained, mouth freezing mid complaint when he realized just exactly what he said, and how absurd it really was. "W-well, I do, but not at this time of the year," he clarified. "That is not from shedding!"
Figuring that it might be rather rude to just flick the tuft onto the floor of Mr. Big's mansion, Judy Big's beloved godmother or not, she instead carefully stuffed it into the same plastic bag that held the comb in her pocket. "Jeez, Humphrey, I didn't think that was gonna hit a nerve!" she teased further. "You're the one looking the worst of us. Can't I clean you up a bit?"
"It's not shedding!" Trigger complained again, but allowed her to return to flicking her comb over his head. "It's… I dunno. Something. I had it looked at, and they told me not to worry about it."
Another several flicks of the comb worked a few more strands loose. "If you don't need to worry about it, then don't." And after a final few more strokes, and Judy stepped back with a triumphant expression. "All done! Now you look great! Wee? All you needed was to put in a little effort!" She re-bagged the comb and put it back into its pocket as Trigger scrambled back up to his feet, trying and failing not to look too embarrassed at the treatment. "Okay, Ray! We're ready!"
"Good. I was starting to worry." Stopping by a large set of guilded doors, Raymond pulled one open and motioned for them to go through. "I'll stay here. Enjoy the evening. Make yourselves at home."
While Raymond let them go through the doors into the very large hall that lay waiting for the group on the other side, they didn't get to be alone for very long, for barely as soon as they walked in, a very excited, high pitched voice broke the odd silenc-
"-Judy!"
Ears perking up, Judy glanced around for only a moment until she followed her natural instincts at nailing down the sources of sounds, to the small mammal relaxing on a cushioned chair itself placed on top of a large table. "Fru Fru!" Rushing over to the table, she reached out with a finger, letting her much smaller friend hug it in lieu of not being having the reach for a proper hug. "I'm so surprised to see you here! I thought it was just going to be us and your dad."
"Oh hush you!" Fru Fru playfully scolded. "Take a seat, hun! Take a seat! Plenty of room for everyone! Well, not my chair, but you can share that one! And drinks will be brought soon. Warm tea, your favorite! As for me being here, you think this lady can't handle an adult conversation? Since I got help taking care of my own Judy, there's nothing to fuss over, no need to rush. Nah! Daddy specifically wanted me to be around. And I see you brought Jack over." She waved at the ZIA agent, who sheepishly waved back. "Come on now, don't be shy! Come take a seat!"
Under her careful gaze, he shuffled over and take a seat next to Judy, smiling nervously the entire time. "Hey there Fru Fru. If I look nervous, well, while I did talk with him before, let's just peg it to me actually being in the middle of the home of a rather notorious mob boss, can we?" He let out a nervous chuckle. "Err… No offense."
"Non taken!" Fru Fru winked at him. "Just between us, but I'm really glad that you, as our friends, are working for law enforcement. I do praise God every day for sending Judy to me the way he did. For as much as daddy always wanted to move the family business to being entirely legitimate, I think he rather enjoyed working the darker side of the economy. That it took a cop to quite literally being forced into his family for him to really start the process going on becoming clean. So I know how much you don't like me saying it all the time, but thank you, Judy! You really are the best!"
The cop felt herself blushing despite herself. "Yeah, well, the city's all the better for it though, right? And besides, I rather like having you as a friend, no matter what your dad did. That's not your fault."
"I would also like to add that your father's quite keen on using everything going on right now to extract a lot of immunity in return for his help, today included," Jack pointed out. "While I know a lot of people who are less than pleased with this arrangement, and would love to see him in jail, if he does stay out of trouble, I think he doesn't have much to fear from us by this point." He stared down at his legs. "Although I must stress how I cannot deny nor confirm that I didn't say anything about it just now."
"You said what now?" Fru Fru asked, tone making it explicitly clear that she knew what was going on. "If there's one thing us Bigs are known for, is that we care about friends, and especially family. We do know how to keep a secret." While she flashed another wink at Jack and Judy, she motioned at Trigger's direction. "What about you? Don't be shy and just stand there! Come and join us, hun!"
Realizing that he was making more of a scene by quite literally standing out, the pilot slowly made his way over to the couch, sliding over next to Judy. Despite towering over the shrew, he kept his own gaze averted from her own as she inspected him with a careful set of eyes.
"Humphrey?" Judy motioned towards the seated shrew. "This is my friend, Fru Fru. Daughter of Mr. Big, who's not here yet but will be. Fru Fru, meet Humphrey. He's err-" she hesitated ever so slightly, mind racing into which was the best way to describe him. After all, while it came naturally for her, she was still only getting used to using his real name – something she knew practically no one else in the precinct was doing. Count still called him by his callsign.
But then again, both pilots only called each other by their callsigns in a mutual manner.
"He's also my friend," Judy said quickly. "I mean, I said some things over the phone, but we met at work, and he's from Ocelotia. From Bana City."
"It's good to meet you, Humphrey," Fru Fru said, seeing right away that he wasn't going to say anything otherwise. "Even if it's not under better circumstances. I knew Judy cared about you when she called and even before she mentioned you. You two are really close, aren't you?"
Trigger grunted uncertainly. "I-.. It depends," he answered slowly. "I mean, I don't really know myself… Lots of things going on right now, right? And, well, depends on what she told you about me."
Judy grabbed his paw, squeezing it reassuringly. "Humphrey, she's my friend, and I'm not saying that lightly. If you trust me, I'm telling you that you can trust her. I know you have your reasons for… for keeping some things from her, and I don't blame you. But try to be open with her. It's for your benefit if you'll allow it."
Trigger just gritted his teeth, shaking his head ever so slightly.
So it was Fru Fru who took the initiative. "Hun, I really don't know all that much about you. Only that Judy was quite in hysterical when I called her up to catch up, and all she can tell me was that a close friend of hers had disappeared. Didn't take much to guess why – everyone were going crazy because of what happened in Ocelotia. She was really worried about you, you know."
Trigger looked down at the ground nervously, unwilling to retort anything.
"I told him in the car ride over what you know about him," Judy added softly. "And that you can help him."
"Well, not me, that's going to be more of daddy's area of expertise," Fru Fru answered with a frown of her own. "Would be nice for the tea to arrive while he's still off on his own business. But you know daddy… Likes to make an impression."
Trigger rolled his eyes. "And why not? How do we mere normal people compare to a mob boss?"
If she was offended by the jab, Fru Fru didn't react like it. Instead, she merely waved him off with the pack of a paw. "Oh please. If it was just a meeting between you and daddy, it would be in a dark, cold room where he would tell you what he wants to say and toss you right back out. Hun, if it weren't for Judy and I, you probably won't even have this meeting in the first place."
"My family's dead-" Trigger growled out.
Judy squeezed his paw harder, hard enough to where he visibly winced and tried to free his limb away from her grasp. "Humphrey, please. It's not an easy thing to be here, I get it. But she's doing you a favor-" she froze, realizing what she was saying. "And not that kind of a favor. You won't owe anyone anything for this. Fru Fru is merely helping a close personal friend by doing this. Don't blow it because you want to be in a bad mood, deserved or not." She eased up on her grip, but didn't let go, nor allowed him to pry loose either.
A side door to the room opened up, revealing a well dressed polar bear carefully carrying a silver tray. Cups of various sizes flanked a large ornate porcelain teapot, steam gently climbing out of the spout.
"Good, the tea's here!" Fru Fru piped up. "Just set it down here, Freddy, we'll do the rest!" With a polite bow, the bear place the tray down on the table and left the room again, Jack already reaching for the teapot and pouring it into several of the smaller cups.
But with her eyes glued onto him, Trigger wasn't allowed not to accept his cup when it was offered to him, holding it gingerly with his only available paw. With Fru Fru still watching him like a hawk, he squirmed nervously, trying to escape but unable to do so.
"She wants you to try it," Judy prompted in a quiet whisper.
"It's hot!" Trigger hissed back, ears pinned to his head in agitation.
"You'll find the temperature just right," Judy prompted again. "Go on."
Hesitatingly, he finally relented and lowered his snout to the cup, taking an experimental sip.
Fru Fru broke into a wide grin when he swallowed. "So, how is it?"
Carefully putting the cup down, Trigger leaned back. "It's… not bad," he admitted.
Fru Fru raised an eyebrow. "'Not bad?'" she repeated coyly. "Is that all you can say about it?"
His eyes widened in shock. "I- err, not really. I do drink tea. Like it better than coffee frankly, but I never had to like- review tea before or anything."
"I'm just teasing you dear," Fru Fru answered with a slight smirk, which left quickly. "Judy was worried about you for days. You lost your family and then vanished into thin air. She was worried that you could have harmed someone – we certainly heard plenty of that in the news. I know the conversation we'll be having is not going to be a pleasant one. I specifically requested this recipe to help you, and all of us, relax at least a little before it will begin."
Trigger peered down his cup. "With all do respect, but unless you lased it with something strong, I doubt it will help," he mumbled. "And tomorrow's a work day on the off chance that there is something in here."
Fru Fru laughed at his statement, even if he was being completely serious. "There's nothing bad in that," she said reassuringly. Then, just to tease him further, added, "not unless you want there to be. We can fix that too." He shook his head vigorously, making sure to take another sip and keep the cup to himself, just in case.
For the next several minutes, the conversation flowed relatively smoothly between Fru Fru and Jack and Judy, but Trigger mostly stayed out of it, instead slowly drinking his tea and silently refilling his cup when it was empty. The others were already familiar with each other, especially Judy and Fru Fru. Let them gossip and catch up on their own.
A knocking on another set of doors alerted them to the entry of another polar bear, larger and more formidable than the others before.
Fru Fru jumped up from her seat. "Koslov! Quick, bring daddy here! No need for the usual theatrics!" Moving over to Judy, she poked the officer in the shoulder. "Got a spare seat?"
With a grin and a nod, Judy leaned down, allowing her friend to climb on and perch herself on her shoulder. Jack also slid over closer to Judy, mainly to provide Fru Fru with additional support just in case the shoulder wasn't enough.
And Trigger placed his tea cup down nervously, silently watching Koslov as he placed his large, clasped paws down over the table, wordlessly parting them to reveal a shrew sized cushioned seat much like the one Fru Fru had left. He used a claw to carefully swivel it around, allowing its occupant to finally face the small group. Mr. Big was very elegantly dressed, and despite his age, still bore a strong familiar resemblance to Fru Fru.
He broke into an amused smile. "Oh Judy, it never ceases to amaze me every time you come and visit," he said in his wispy voice. "The first time, you're the first police officer to enter my home, pulling along none other than Nicky, who knew better than to stoop around my property. But it was with your help that we were both able to let go of our grudge, and to befriend my daughter as you did? By saving her life the day before her wedding? And you keep trying to tell me that it wasn't density. And then you bring in not just other cops, but a ZIA agent into my home-"
Jack was polite enough to lower his head and look nervous when he was mentioned.
"-and I got to show that my work here is for the benefit of this city, not for its harm. And for now, I think we can both agree that our cooperation is resulting in pleasant results for both of our organizations." Mr. Big brought his gaze over to the final guest, holding it long enough for Trigger to start squirming in discomfort. "But my dear Judy, how was I to guess that you would also be the one to bring Ocelotia's Three Strikes to my home?"
Judy's and Jack's jaws both dropped.
