This chapter evolved very strangely & ended up a long way from where I'd originally imagined.
Whenever he wanted to be alone, he would always return to the same run-down industrial park and sit underneath the bridge. She never commented how easy it was to find him there, and he never asked how, once he was ready to face the world again, she'd always be waiting at the gates to pick him up.
He didn't know what company actually owned the warehouse, but they'd certainly never bothered to develop it. In all likelihood it had been acquired as a tax write-off. He liked it there because it was quiet, and because the complete lack of phone reception offered a temporary reprieve from the world.
Over the years, there'd been a hundred different reasons for him to sit under that bridge. A long day, a hustle gone south, a rough case, or just the need for a little solitude.
That was one of the biggest attractions for the mammal that 'knew everybody' – sweet solitude. The only other mammal for a mile in any direction was Stanislaw, the security guard that lazily patrolled the lot in the afternoons, and the two of them had managed to reach an understanding a long time ago. Stanislaw didn't eject Nick from the property, and in return Nick never brought his business or his friends with him when he visited. The arrangement worked out perfectly, and he was particularly impressed with the old boar's skillful negotiation - particularly in light of the fact that Stanislaw didn't seem to speak a single word of Mammalian.
In the days following the press conference and his falling out with Judy, the bridge had been his only sanctuary from the growing unrest that seemed poised to overtake the entire city. Hustling had become a dangerous business, even for a mammal as skilled as he was. More than once the fox would find himself pacing back and forth beneath it, kicking up dust as he ranted at nobody - that was the state he was in when the old boar happened upon him.
"Dammit! I've been glared at with distrust my whole life, but these days..."
Perhaps sensing that the younger mammal needed someone to listen, Stanislaw eased himself down to sit on a fair-sized rock, wincing as his old joints popped. Startled, Nick cut off his diatribe mid-sentence and spun to greet his new visitor.
"Oh...heya, Stan." He winced. "You're...not here to kick me out, are you? I know things have been tense lately, but I figured that our deal was still good..." He let the sentence trail off, waiting for the other mammal's response. When the old boar made no move to stand, let alone roust Nick from the property, the fox took it as a sign that their arrangement was still intact. "Thanks, Stan. Knew I could count on you."
Stanislaw pulled some fruit leather from his pocket, idly chewing it as he watched the fox resume his frustrated pacing.
"I tell ya, Stan - the way some other mammals look at me, like they're just waiting for me to go flying off the rails and maul someone." Nick angrily kicked at a small stone, sending it skittering down the dry creek bed. "That damn rabbit!"
Things carried on like that for weeks. Whenever Nick couldn't handle things, he'd retreat to his bridge. Once in a while Stanislaw would wander by, and on rare occasions he would stop to keep the fox company – albeit without much conversation.
It was nothing short of poetic that the only time the rules of their arrangement were broken was when Judy had come to find him. Although Stanislaw hadn't taken kindly to the violation of his rules - even if there was no way Judy could have known –given the circumstances had seemed willing to let the transgression slide.
Judy never again ventured onto the property, but every now and again the old boar would discover the bunny at the gates, playing on her phone as she waited patiently to collect the fox. It was on just such a day that Stanislaw made his way to Nick's hiding place. He peered down from atop the bridge to find Nick sprawled in a folding chair, and grunted loudly enough to get the fox's attention. "Mikołaj!"
When the fox failed to react, he tried again. "Mikołaj! Twój mały buntownik czeka na Ciebie!"
Nick let out a long-suffering sigh, lifting his aviators to glare up at the mammal intruding upon his peace. "I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about, Stan."
Stanislaw met the fox's glare easily. "Och, nie daj mi taką postawę!"
"Okay, Stan." Nick lowered his sunglasses once more. "Whatever."
Grumbling quietly to himself, the boar made him way down from the bridge and took a seat on what had become his customary rock. Settling into a comfortable position, he looked up at Nick.
"What?"
Stanislaw produced his usual pouch of fruit leather and began nibbling on a piece.
"Seriously...what?"
Stanislaw cocked his head expectantly, but said nothing. The pair stubbornly carried out their impromptu staring contest for several minutes before Nick finally broke.
"Fine, if you're just gonna pester me about it." The fox groaned. "You know Judy, righ...no, of course you do. Anyway, she and I have been partners for a while now. She's my best friend and easily the best part of my life. I don't know what I'd do without her, and the other day when Bogo – that's our boss – announced that he was looking at assigning everyone to new partners, I thought I was gonna have a heart attack."
He pulled off his sunglasses and placed them on an overturned bucket. "Judy says we're the best team in the precinct and that ol' buffalo butt – Bogo is a buffalo, by the way – would be crazy to split us up. But of course I can see she's worried. But the question is, what is she worried about? That she'd have to work with someone else? That I might not do as well without her? Or is she like me, afraid that maybe Bogo's noticed that the two of us are maybe a little friendlier than partners ought to be."
He let the sentence hang, eyeing Stanislaw cautiously. "I dunno what it's like where you're from, Stan. Come to think of it, I'm not even sure where you're from. Somewhere in Eastern Ewerope, I guess?" Nick shook his head. "Doesn't matter. What I can say that despite all the talk these days about harmony and equality, mammals in Zootopia still get pretty un-peaceful when two animals from different species start getting...y'know...close."
"And you know what the best part is? The whole question is moot if she doesn't feel the same way I do." He threw his paws skyward, snarling in frustration. "She wears her heart on her sleeve, Stan. She's so damn earnest and so damn affectionate all the time. How am I supposed to get a read on someone like that? Does she like me, or is she just...y'know...sweet?"
"And even if she does, she's got so much to lose. I mean, what about her career? She's worked her entire life to get where she is. I can't ask her to throw all that away for me."
The old boar looked at him impassively, cleared his throat, but didn't comment.
"Thanks, Stan." Collapsing into his folding chair, Nick laughed softly at himself; venting his feelings to a mammal who likely didn't understand a word he was saying. "You always know just what to say."
A few minutes passed, then Nick let out another - longer – groan to signal that he was finally ready to return to civilization. As he occasionally did, Stanislaw stood to walk him out. There was nothing authoritarian about it – just two mammals walking in companionable silence. Coming round the last corner, he saw Judy quickly stuff her phone away and enthusiastically run up to the gates.
"Och, mały buntownik." Stanislaw muttered chuckling. He had taken to calling Judy that just after they'd met and she'd obliged the boar with a polite smile. For Nick's part, he assumed it meant something along the lines of 'Miss Bunny' - not the worst nickname she could have received from an older mammal.
"Thanks for listening, Stan." Nick smirked as they reached the gates. "But I guess sometimes life doesn't go the way we wa..."
Without warning, the old boar gave a frustrated snort and stepped in front of him, blocking his path to the exit. "Dosyć, Mikołaj!"
"Wha..."
"Weź kilka rad od starego ssaka, Mikołaj." Stanislaw snapped, jabbing a sharp trotter into Nick's chest. "Jeśli ją kochasz - jeśli naprawdę ją kocham - nie pozwól małe umysły i słabe dusze stanąć między wami."
"Nie będę kłamać, Mikołaj. To nie będzie łatwe. Po tym wszystkim, swój mały buntownik jest szalony." The normally gruff boar offered him a rare grin. "Ale jest to dobry rodzaj szaleństwa i tylko głupiec nie widzi, że ona cię kocha."
"Stan, I don't unde..." Nick tried to interrupt, glancing at his startled-looking partner.
Ignoring the fox's stammering, he clapped Nick firmly on the shoulder. "Pamiętaj, że jesteś silniejsza jako zespół, Mikołaj. Reszta będzie dbać o siebie."
Taking Nick by the elbow, Stanislaw turned him toward the gates and pointed at the bewildered rabbit. "Teraz idź, Mikołaj. Ona nie będzie czekać wiecznie."
Giving Nick a shove that very nearly sent the thoroughly baffled fox sprawling, Stanislaw calmly shut the gate behind him.
"You okay, Nick?" Judy asked as Nick stumbled to regain his balance.
"I'm okay, Carrots." The fox shook his head, glaring at the boar. "Though I have the distinct impression that's been building for a while."
"Maybe." She nodded. "Hey, you remember the dairy next to my parent's farm?"
"The cows with that blueberry milkshake that caused me to transcend to a higher plane of existence?"
"It did not!" She laughed. "I keep telling you, that was just an ice cream headache!"
"So you say." He muttered. "But yes, I remember them."
"The Kowalzyki herd." She continued. "I actually spent my summers working there when I was still in university."
"Are you planning on coming to a point, Carrots?"
With a coy smile, she turned to wait for the boar to finish securing the gate. As he double-checked the lock, Stanislaw nodded at each of them politely. "Dobranoc, Mikołaj. Dobranoc, mały buntownik."
"Dobranoc, Stanisław." Judy chirped, much to the surprise of the older mammal. "Dziękuję za opiekę nad moim lisa!"
Turning, she took Nick's paw and led the astonished fox back to the car, Stanislaw's booming laughter trailing just behind them.
Vehement vulpine voices vexing veracities
Polish porcine's point perplexes policeman
Beautiful bunny bemuses benevolent boar
I FORGOT THAT THIS SITE DOESN'T LET READERS COPY TEXT, SO HERE ARE THE TRANSLATIONS. :)
Mikołaj! Twój mały buntownik czeka na Ciebie!
Nicholas! Your little rebel is waiting for you!
Och, nie daj mi taką postawę!
Oh, do not give me that attitude!
Och, mały buntownik.
Oh, little rebel
Dosyć, Mikołaj!
Enough, Nicholas!
Weź kilka rad od starego ssaka, Mikołaj. Jeśli ją kochasz - jeśli naprawdę ją kocham - nie pozwól małe umysły i słabe dusze stanąć między wami.
Take some advice from an old mammal, Nicholas. If you love her - if you really love her - do not let small minds and weak souls stand between you.
Nie będę kłamać, Mikołaj. To nie będzie łatwe. Po tym wszystkim, swój mały buntownik jest szalony. Ale jest to dobry rodzaj szaleństwa i tylko głupiec nie widzi, że ona cię kocha.
I will not lie, Nicholas. It will not be easy. After all, your little rebel is crazy. But it is a good kind of madness, and only a fool does not see that she loves you.
Pamiętaj, że jesteś silniejszy razem. Reszta będzie dbać o siebie.
Remember that you are stronger together. The rest will take care of itself.
Teraz idź, Mikołaj. Ona nie będzie czekać wiecznie.
Go now, Nicholas. She will not wait forever.
Dobranoc, Mikołaj. Dobranoc, mały buntownik.
Good night, Nicholas. Good night, little rebel.
Dobranoc, Stanisław. Dziękuję za opiekę nad moim lisa.
Good night, Stanisław. Thank you for taking care of my fox.