-Trouble-
With a metropolis as diverse in ecosystems as Zootopia it was common for some news stations to cover the weather for each region individually. This meant that some news stations actually employed several different weather mammal personalities at a given time.
After all, it would be rather silly for someone who was staying in the Savanna for the whole day to have to listen to every other region's weather report before they finally knew if they would need an umbrella or not.
On occasion though a news story would be tied into the weather that would affect the city as a whole which was why a certain lovely-looking camel was adjusting her red dune-colored jacket for the 4th time.
Camella was eager, having been covering the weather of her home region for only a few weeks this would be the first time for the young reporter to be given a story to the whole of the city.
"Before we break away for our weather segments it looks like our friend Camella has some news for our friends in Sahara Square and Tundra Town," A kind soundly snow leopard said from the main news desk.
The feline turned to the young camel who was standing in front of a green screen which on the monitors displayed a cut out of the two regions previously mentioned.
A series of bright lights activated from the light rails hanging above Camella signaling she was now in the eyes of the public.
"Thanks, Fabienne," Camella said with a sweet smile to her fellow reporter before looking right into the camera. "Looks like there is going to be a slight shift this afternoon for mammals in the Saharha Square northern region and the Tundra Town southern areas. One of the heat systems on the climate wall has recently suffered what officials are claiming is an unintended malfunction due to a test of a new operating system. While the rest of the climate wall is in operation two of the main heat units have been shut down due to the malfunction."
As Camella spoke the image behind her on the green screen was replaced with a live feed of the climate wall that separated the warm Sahara region from its colder neighbor of Tundra Town.
When the wall was working properly a series of vents would be glowing bright orange as the heat from the massive refrigeration units that kept Tundra Town cold would be vented into the arid desert region. At the moment though the walls looked dark as a series of red and blue flashing lights blinked near a small facility built into the wall.
It had actually been an ingenious move by the original designers of the city who realized that to keep one region cold would require not just a lot of power but a lot of run-off heat. By installing the two regions together they were able to create an ecosystem of two regions with just one weather source.
While brilliant in theory it did mean that on occasion if there was a problem it wouldn't just be one region suffering though.
"With the heat system down Tundra Town weather authority has decided to delay all snowfall and blizzard-related plans as to not overwhelm the teams at the climate wall control center."
The images on the green screen returned to a map of the two regions before Camella continued.
"Good news for those of you who were looking forward to clear skies in Tundra, we are going to see a slight rise in temperatures though in Tundra Town while Saharaha will be receiving a cooler weather plan for this evening."
"Could use a vacation from all the heat," Fabienne piped up which made Camella smile and let out a laugh she hoped wasn't too forced.
"I hear that Fabienne, hopefully, though we will be seeing warmer temperatures later this weekend."
With that, the segment changed to show the weather in other parts of the city as the lights above Camella dimmed before turning off completely.
The camel let out a breath as she smiled over at the snow leopard at the main desk, the two exchanging excited looks as the feline gave her friend two thumbs up.
Camella wiggled slightly before sauntering over to a screen that sat just out of view of the camera. She took a moment to click a few buttons and watched the recording of the segment they had just shot.
The young reporter blushed as she tried to contain how excited she was to be on the main screen for once.
When it got to the part where the live feed from Sahraha Square's climate wall was on screen though Camella paused the playback as she studied the image.
A beaver in a ZNN cap and grip jacket glanced over at Camella and smirked.
"You did great Cam."
"Thanks, Len," Camella mumbled as she stared at the screen. "Hey, are we sure this is just a computer error?"
"Hmmm?" Lenny asked as he set a box of cables he had been carrying down on a cart nearby. "What ya mean?"
"It's just…wouldn't this be something city works would focus on."
"Yeah, why?"
The beaver waddled over and stared at the screen Camella seemed engrossed with, his own eyes narrowing as he focused on the series of red and blue lights flashing by the climate wall.
"Why is there so many ZPD?"
A plethora of ZPD and emergency vehicles idled outside of the control facility. Several officers were standing on the perimeter keeping any curious mammals at bay, not that there were many.
For the most part, folks seemed uninterested in whatever was happening at the facility that normally controlled the heat walls along the northern edge of the Sahraha Square district.
Breakdowns like this occurred, rarely, but still happened on occasion to the point most mammals just chalked it up to poor planning or a part gone bad.
There were a few curious questions asked by some of the more observant passers-by.
Mainly about the large police presence, these questions were normally given a quick and playful response in hopes no one would pry, after all, if they knew exactly what had happened there would most likely be a panic.
Jack was leaning against one of the many idling vehicles, his normal suit jacket tossed over his shoulder as he scanned the scene in a pair of shades.
Try as he might to act cool the hare's mind was racing as he tried to process information before he even had it.
The agent had been called early in the morning, fortunately for him he had already been up and getting ready for the day.
Apparently, there had been an "incident" at the control facility inside the heat wall involving an…explosion.
It had been minor in nature and there had been no injuries, but it was enough to cause the agent to dash out of his apartment and catch a ride to the scene.
By the time EOD had finished up with their inspection of the sight the sun was already hanging in the center of the sky, its warm rays beating down on the mammals hurrying about the temporary mobile command center.
Jack's gaze slowly scanned his surroundings as he tried to imagine what news he would be given.
This was one of many incidents that had occurred throughout the city over the course of the past few weeks, the agent tried to connect the dots but before he could formulate a theory his ears went up as he detected the sound of muffled paws shuffling in his direction.
Several bulbous-looking figures approached from inside the facility, one of them carrying what appeared to be a ding and dented black metal case.
Jack eyed the case with some suspicion, his brow furrowing as he studied the object.
The rabbit's stance however relaxed as he watched one of the bulbous figures reach up and removed a large olive-green helmet and muzzle mask.
Skye took a second to take in a deep breath of air before placing her ordinance helmet under one of her arms.
Her winter blue eyes scanned her surroundings and settled on the rabbit who gave her a slight nod.
The two stared at one another for a moment before Skye let out another sigh, her expression turning a little serious as she nodded to a large armored car idling nearby.
The armored vehicle was a mobile lab for the explosive ordinance disposal team who was more than happy to lend it to their friends at the ZBI. The interior was filled with an array of monitors, lockers, and a workbench beneath a wall of various tools and equipment the teams could use to help handle any dangerous materials.
The space was quite large and comfortable but that didn't stop Jack's heart from racing.
While normally cool and collected the rabbit had found something inside the large vehicle he had not been prepared for.
It wasn't the small device that had been retrieved from the black metal box or all the tools hanging on the walls.
No, it was the fact that once inside the armored vehicle, Skye had stripped out of her disposal armor and was now sitting at the workbench in nothing but a pair of tight workout shorts and a rather revealing sports bra.
Sure Skye and Jack had flirted on occasion and the fox and rabbit duo had become fast friends.
Seeing so much of the beautiful vixen's snow-white fur at once was enough to make Jack sweat, heck it probably would have made most mammals keel over.
Jack understood the reason behind Skye's choice of apparel, the kit she had to wear while getting close to the device that had been found by a security officer was dangerous and the armored uniform would offer her at least a little protection in case things went south.
The kit however was boiling on the inside, with most mammals complaining of sweating and that was in normal conditions.
Add to the fact that they were in the hottest part of the city and it must have been sweltering inside the armor.
"Ah ha!" Skye exclaimed as she wiggled in her seat.
Jack's ears went up at the vixen's excited outburst and he chanced a glance over at the tech, his eyes lingering on her bare fur before noticing the small wire grasped in a pair of pliers in front of Skye's muzzle.
The rabbit seemed to temporarily forget the awkwardness of the situation as he hurried over to see what exactly Skye had found.
Skye glanced at her friend as he approached and adjusted herself so she could hold the small wire in view of the agent.
Jack squirted slightly as he approached before stopping just an inch or two from the wire.
He let out a sigh as he closed his eyes, hoping when he opened them that what he had seen would have vanished.
Sadly when the rabbit opened his eyes once more the wire was still there, and at the tip of it was a musical note.
"Same old song," Skye mumbled.
It had only been a few weeks but Judy, Nick, Ember, and Ace had shown some serious progress when it came to becoming full-blown K-9 teams.
Sure there were speed bumps, misses, and those days where things just didn't seem to go right.
Ty however pointed out he would rather they have those days when training than out in the field.
While there were continued promises of the K-9 leadership finally showing up and setting them up with a "proper" trainer it never happened and looked as if it never would.
None of the recruits minded though.
Sure Ty was "retired" from active duty he still had a wealth of knowledge and was happy to share it with his students.
He made sure to share his mistakes so they wouldn't repeat them, the success of other K-9s so the recruits could learn from them, but most importantly he made them work as a well-organized team.
Not that either of the pairs really needed it.
Nick and Judy had already been so close before training that they adapted to their new roles with ease.
Ember and Ace showed amazing progress, even for a pair not as close as Nick and Judy.
Soon each team worked like a well-oiled machine, moving as one, searching rooms, checking packages, and sweeping whole fields of land with devices buried in them.
The group had grown so close that it wasn't uncommon for them to have lunch together and in some cases like this evening, go out for some well-deserved drinks.
Ty had encouraged them to all enjoy their free time while they could because once they were certified they would all probably be working overtime for the foreseeable future.
While the K-9 leadership kept saying they would hire more teams soon no one joined the current class at the fields and no interviews had been scheduled.
Judy, who had made friends with a kangaroo in records ages ago, had even pulled a favor and learned that there wasn't even a plan to post for the job anytime soon.
While this knowledge did not put any of them at ease there was little they could do and resolved to focus on their training in hopes the news changed.
"I swear if I knew it was this disorganized I would have tried to convince Carrots to just sticking to patrol," Nick grumbled as he raised a bottle to his muzzle.
Judy watched her partner sip at his beer, the liquor in her own system filling her world with a warm fog.
This warmness was amplified by the little pet name that Nick continued to use.
The bunny watched her fox lower his beer as he continued to converse with Ace who had taken a seat next to the vulpine at the table in the club they currently found themselves in.
Judy felt a pair of eyes on her and slowly turned to see Ember giving her a smug smile which made the bunny blush.
This had become a common occurrence over training.
Occasionally Nick or Judy would say or do something that would catch the young painted dog's attention which would lead to amused looks or the occasional kissy face whenever Nick turned away.
Even Ace had started to notice and joined in with Ember, one time even scooping up the smaller painted canine and making smoochy noises at Judy's expense which led to fits of laughter from Ember and slaps on the side from Judy who was quick to put even the large wolf in his place.
Tonight was no different.
When they arrived at the dance club and found a table Nick had made room for Judy on the cushioned seat out of instinct.
The bunny would occasionally lean against Nick and then there was when a skunk waitress arrived to take their drink order, pointing at the fox and bunny duo and asking what she could get "the couple?"
While Judy blushed at the suggestion, she felt the slightest pang of sadness whenever Nick didn't acknowledge the term.
In fairness, he had every right.
It wasn't like they were a couple.
This would cause a conflict within Judy.
On one paw she so desperately wanted Nick to just forgo his own concerns and take the final leap, on the other she cared so much for Nick that the thought of him just doing it to please Judy felt wrong.
She cared so much for her friend that the thought of him living a lie, even if it was with her, just didn't sit right.
The conflict the bunny was going through must have shown on her face because Judy suddenly realized all eyes at the table were on her.
"Huh…? Wh..oh sorry," Judy said with a blush forming in her ears which were erect.
Nick and Ace chuckled but Ember raised a brow, one of her circular ears flicking ever so slightly as she studied the doe.
As the night carried on and the drinks continued to flow the mood at the table started to lift as the team felt the spirits lift their inhibitions slightly.
Judy and Ember were swaying in their seats to the beat pulsing through the club while Nick and Ace chatted about some plans for an upcoming sporting event, Nick having managed to secure some tickets much to the old wolf's surprise.
Eventually Ace had to call it a night, the older mammal stating how he had to get home to his wife.
Ember feining jealousy at the thought his partner was going off with another lady.
Ace chuckled, insisting that Ember was his favorite work wife but his heart still belonged to another.
Judy watched as the wolf gave the painted dog a sweet pat on the cheek which Ember leaned into slightly before giving both Nick and Judy a salute.
Judy beamed and waved as Nick returned the farewell with a nod of his own, raising a glass to Ace who then headed out.
"Alright now that the old one is gone," Ember began as she waved over at a server nearby.
Nick and Judy raised their brows in curiosity and watched in hesitation as Ember whispered into the skunk's ears which was met with a laugh followed by a nod.
They didn't have to wait long to see what the painted dog was up to.
The server returned a few minutes later with a tray of brightly colored shots.
"Oh no…Ember no no no," Judy said as she waved her paws.
"Come on Hopps," Ember said as she helped slide some of the shots across the table to Nick and Judy.
Nick laughed at Judy's reaction and smirked.
"I…I don't do shots well," Judy said over the music.
"Oh it's more how you react the next day after shots," Nick chuckled and to Judy's surprise he scooped up a bright blue shot and raised the glass.
Ember did the same, a bright red shot in her paw.
Judy sighed as she glanced at an orange shot sitting in front of her.
"Alright just one," Judy grumbled as she scooped up the shot glass up.
"Yeah, that's the spirit!" Ember cheered before clinking glasses with her fellow officers.
"Just one," Judy said again as she looked at Nick.
"Sure Carrots," Nick said with a sly smile as he raised his own glass before shooting it back.
Judy watched as Ember did the same and then glanced down at her own glass.
One won't hurt.
With that, Judy closed her eyes and took the shot, the liquid burning down her throat.
Besides, what kind of trouble can I honestly get into with just one shot?
For being millions of miles away it was always amazing as to the pinpoint accuracy the sun had.
A blinding ray of light from the morning sun managed to shoot right between a gap in the blinds of the apartment, hitting Judy in the face so even with her eyes closed her vision was filled with a blinding light.
"Mmmmm…" the bunny grumbled as she turned in her bed.
The doe froze when she felt some resistance as she turned.
She sat up and turned her head slightly, her heart racing until her gaze fell upon a canine in her bed.
Ember was currently snoozing, the painted dog still in her outfit from the night before though her fur looked a little disheveled.
Judy's mind began to race as she tried to remember how she had gotten into this situation.
Memories from the night before flickered in her mind.
There was the shot…which turned into shots.
Dancing with Ember.
Dragging Nick to join in.
Then….nothing.
Judy rubbed her temples as a splitting headache throbbed, causing the doe to wince and secretly make plans to destroy the sun.
As the seconds ticked by Judy willed herself to open her eyes, knowing the only way to stop this headache was to get some water and maybe some medicine.
When she opened her groggy purple eyes she ended up blinking a few times in surprise.
Sitting at her bedside table were two water bottles, a bottle of medicine, and a bag of crackers.
Judy's eyelids drooped slightly as she recognized the gift, having woken up on another occasion or two after overdoing it the night before with a certain fox.
Nick would sometimes have to dart out or run some errands and while he didn't like leaving his friend he always managed to at least set her up on the road to recovery when it came to hangovers.
"That fox…" Judy mumbled as she reached over, opening one of the water bottles and draining half its contents greedily.
"Mmmmm….wh..wha?" Ember groaned from Judy's bed.
Another memory suddenly came back to Judy.
It wasn't a complete memory but she did remember Nick insisting on getting Ember home safe and sound.
Judy and Ember however insisted that a slumber party would be amazing and that they could all stay up and order food and watch a movie on Judy's phone since she still didn't have a TV.
From there Judy could only assume what happened next.
The painted dog and bunny had most likely fallen asleep while still trying to pick a movie, leaving Nick in the middle as the two lovely ladies used him as a pillow.
Judy ran a paw over her face, having a feeling that while most mammals would have enjoyed such treatment Nick would most likely be holding it over the bunny's head playfully for a while.
Ember began to shift in bed, turning over so she faced Judy, letting out a big yawn before smacking her lips.
Judy was somewhat impressed with how at ease Ember was acting in a strange new bed, wondering how often this had happened to Ember.
The painted dog however tensed up as her bright warm eyes suddenly popped open, a look of panic on her muzzle.
When Ember looked up at Judy though she immediately calmed and let out a sigh.
"Morning Hopps," The painted dog whispered before wincing her eyes slightly.
Judy smirked at her friend before turning round and scooping up the other water bottle. She then looked back at Ember and handed her the drink which the canine treated as some type of gift from the gods.
"Oh my gosh I love you," Ember said as she popped open the bottle and began to sip.
"Thank Nick, he is used to having to take care of me," Judy admitted as she sipped at her water as well.
"Speaking of, where did the pillow wander off to?" Ember asked as she looked around the small one-room apartment.
Judy gave Ember a weak smile and shrugged as her brain continued to boot up and try to pull memories from the night before out from the nether.
The bunny glanced over and noticed her phone was plugged into its charger on the bedside table, Judy sighing again at her thoughtful partner.
Several notifications were waiting for the bunny on the phone.
There was the regular flurry of messages from Judy's family group chat, an email or two, a message from her mom, but the one she opened first was from Nick.
Judy sat back on the bed as she passed Ember the bag of crackers, the painted dog immediately tearing them open and munching on one of the salty treats.
As the girls sat there and mentally preparing to take on what was looking to be a day of recovery Judy flipped to Nick's message.
The message was a simple one but those sometimes carried the most meaning.
"Well, last night sure was….interesting."
Judy read the message and at first, her mind wrote it off, but then she started to think.
Interesting?
Soon the simple thought about that single word snowballed.
What could interesting mean?
Then Judy's mind did what many had done when they found themselves in this type of situation.
What could interesting possibly mean? What happened last night? Did they do anything wrong? Was this a mad interesting or an implied interesting?
Scenarios began to play over in her mind.
Nick's handsome muzzle appearing in Judy's thoughts, mouthing the words she had just read in the text.
Was he mad? Angry?
What the heck happened?!
Judy turned to look at Ember, panic in her pretty purple eyes.
"What does interesting mean?!"
Hey, ya'll,
Been a bit.
Well happy to announce I finished school! So hopefully will be able to create more content soon. Want to keep working on this story, and Fireflies, and 3B, and...well...a lot.
So little announcement. I am beginning the long project of moving all my content to A...o...3. This story included.
Fanfic was a nice place to start but...times change. Plus the fact that I have to type out links and other sites like that drives me crazy.
So if you get a chance please go check out my work on the archive site!
Till next time,
-Blue