10
old friends & expulsion
╔══ ஓ๑ ๑ஓ ══╗
It hadn't occurred to Judy that she was holding her breath until Duke cleared his throat and sat comfortably before telling his story.
"M'self started out as a soph'more 'bout a year and a half ago. Met and clicked with lot'sa mammals, and d'fact that I was nothin, but a pred scholar or a townie, as Zoo-A goers call us, wasn't big a deal. O'course, bein' born and raised a city dog, I knew a lot 'bout most of the students and some of 'em faculty, like their families and their rep. And outta everyone, I was lookin forward'ta meeting d'infamous Nicholas Wilde - and whaddya know? Hit it off really well with that one...we became best buddies from d'moment we got paired over a chem experiment."
"Nicky took me under his wing. T'was only two or three months give or take, and d'fox brought me to Tundratown to meet his whole family - fell in love with 'em. His godfather is this incredible mammal, 'tis why I don't like sayin an'thing nasty about 'em folks, and 'cause his old todd who's this famous philanthropist got mugged ages ago. T'was even arranged for m'self'ta have a part time job d'same year at Mr. Wilde's tailoring shop. That'd have set me up - not just in earning cash y'know, but to get experience that'd have been right on par in 'em transcripts for business degrees I planned to get. Things were smooth sailin' for a Happy Town dog like m'self."
"Guess 'ol Nicky couldn't take that. He loved havin' me under his wing y'know, and havin' some sorta control over me. Even dragged m'tail to get back at 'em group of preys he'd a petty squabble with when he was a young'in. Thank Karma for his fam's connections 'cause we was bailed out d'same night - 'em poor scouts, on the other paw, well, last I heard they'all still behind 'em bars."
"After that night, me and Nick Wilde drifted apart. He didn't like seein' me grow by m'self, or makin stuff happen for m'well-bein' without his influence. Foxy boy became increasingly competitive even with lil' ol' me. And when he thought he might lose everythin'ta me, devil stabbed me in d'back. B'fore I knew what was happenin', I was bein' escorted off campus without 'em records, credentials, and shot at m'future."
"Nicholas got you kicked out?!" The bunny gasped; disbelief written in her muzzle from what she just heard.
With color draining from his face, the weasel nodded.
"O-oh why that-that, scheming, g-good for nothing- I-I don't believe it!" Something unsettling formed in the doe's stomach. "How could any mammal be so...awful?"
"Eh dunno. Maybe t'was jealousy over d'bond I've with his godfather." Duke shrugged. "Thas' all I got really - I spent most of the sem' break with his family, and while he was actin' his usual cold and distant self-" he smiled wistfully and continued. "-I didn't realize just how much treachery he was capable of."
The lapin was at the edge of her seat gripping the foam so hard (be it from anticipation or dread, she wasn't sure). "I went back home for coup'la days b'fore returnin' to Zoo-A, and in that period, d'sly sod got his plan in motion. When I got to 'em dorm rooms, campus security was waitin' for me along with what's left of my already few belongings."
"What?! But that's illegal! They can't just kick you out for no reason!"
"Oh, Judy, there was 'em charges, some accusations Wilde Junior had made." The weasel raised his paw pads in an 'air-quoting' motion. "But like 'em preys in jail. . .what would I fight ol' Nicky with? My Da' didn't have money for no lawyer. And mammals like foxy boy had been goin'ta Zoo-A for gens and gens while a townie like m'self's only been goin for months."
Judy's feet were thumping badly (as her mind was) with every bit of information she was trying to process. "We can't let pompous jerks like him get away with this."
Duke grinned at her, but then it faded. "Someday, Nicky'll get what's comin'ta him, but it aint' gonna be from me. I couldn't do that'ta Mrs. Wilde. It ain't her fault her son is how he is."
"You're a far better mammal than I am then, Duke."
"Eh hardly. After all, I'm plannin'ta crash one of em' parties this weekend."
"You couldn't possibly mean Flash Slothmore's party, right?"
The dog was slightly taken aback. "Ya already knew about that, huh?"
"Yeah...Izzy told me," The doe began to explain. "She's pretty relentless and have already made me agree to go to his party on Saturday night. And now I know you're coming...I might just find it 'slightly' bearable."
"Hah! Am surprised mammals haven't started tryin'ta turn you against me yet."
"I don't care what any mammal thinks," Judy looked at him, pointedly. "You should realize that I'd know better than to believe anything most mammals at the academy would say anyway. Although, if I'm being honest- I'm slightly concern how you're going to get in?"
The weasel's impish grin made a reappearance. "Y'all don't give us townies enough credit. We find out 'bout 'em parties, and a bunch of us usually crash 'em. No mammal seems'ta notice with so many others around, y'know?."
She tried to hide any hint of desperation in her voice. "Okay...now, please tell me you're going to come on Saturday."
"Now ya've put me in a tough spot. If y'all gonna be there, how could I not show up?" The dog winked at her but looked as though he is still contemplating. "Still, I make no promises since I've a feelin' some o'l fox is gonna be there - I'll try for ya though."
That was really all the rabbit wanted to hear Duke say, yet her mind kept reeling over what Nicholas had done. Priscilla had nearly convinced her that she'd been too harsh on the fox, as it turns out she apparently hadn't been harsh enough. When the dog walked her back near the campus gates, she almost pulled him into a hug. She was taunted and bullied to her wits end, but she has never been betrayed like he did. And it was nice to finally spend time with a mammal who understands what it's like to get the shorter end of the carrot.
"D'yah need a momen'ta prepare for battle madam?" Duke asked, only half joking.
"Oh har-har."
"All said and done, this ol' dog had a great time."
"Me, too. Thanks for inviting me."
The weasel leaned over...and gave her a hug. "C'yah at the party," he murmured.
Judy smiled. "See you, Duke." She stared at his retreating figure before turning to the beautiful exterior of the building that had been her home for the past five months.
After checking the time, she ploddingly made a beeline towards her dorm room and come clean to Priscilla. She should have suspected that when she relayed Duke's story to her friend, the sloth didn't share the same disgust that the bunny had at Nicholas' actions.
"Duke Weaselton. . .Judy?. . .I haven't heard. . .good things. . .about him." Priscilla looked worried.
"Now there's a real shocker."
"I'm sure there's. . .to be an explanation. . .for all of this. . .Nick wouldn't do. . .something like that. . .and Flash would never. . .have a friend who. . .was that despicable. . .maybe it's only. . .a simple misunderstanding?"
"Izzy?! Are you serious?!" Judy was beyond astonished. "How could someone misunderstand being expelled from school without probable cause? Didn't you hear anything about it?"
Priscilla looked thoughtful for a minute. "Well, I do remember. . .he got kicked out. . .and that Flash. . .sort of knew him. . .but it wasn't. . .something that he'd. . .talked to me about."
The doe couldn't believe that someone getting kicked out of campus wouldn't reach the rumor mill nor the tabloids of Zootopia Academy. 'If only Benji was still a student here,' she thought.
The folivoran continued. "Okay, if it really. . .means that much to. . .you, I'll ask Flash. . .what he has to. . .say about it. . .but Judy be careful. . .and please give Nick. . .the benefit of doubt. . .He was painted as. . .this maniacal villain. . .and it couldn't be. . .further from the truth."
"Ugh, Izzy...you're just saying that because Nicholas being a vengeful jerk would reflect poorly on Flash." The lapin argued but was only ignored by the sloth who just continued brushing her fur.
The silence in the room only lasted a moment, if not for Diana barging through the doors again and jumping onto her cousin's bed. "Izzy. . .I just spoke with. . .Nana and she said. . .she already talked to Vera. . .Fang about your prom dress."
"Shush Dinah. . .I haven't been asked. . .to prom yet so. . .don't jinx it."
The older sloth looked slightly embarrassed, but her younger counterpart rolled on her belly and propped her paws under her chin asking, "Where are you. . .going to get. . .your dress Judy?"
"Oh, uhm, I highly doubt I'll be going. But if I were, guess I'll buy one at the Mousy's downtown or something."
Diana's jaw dropped open. " What. . .?! It's. . .prom! You can't. . . do that!
Judy took a calming breath. "I know Dinah, but it's just one night and I think it's silly to spend thousands on a dress I'd ever wore once." Then turn to her friend. "No offense Izzy."
"None. . .taken Judy," Priscilla replied. "Dinah. . .you really need to. . .learn to be modest. . .Not every mammal is. . .lucky enough to have. . .connections with designers."
The other sloth snorted. "Please. . .! Zootopia Academy. . .is all about connections!"
And the bunny couldn't agree more as she recalled Duke's story which was far better than listening to Diana rambled on about the upcoming spring break and not being able to go 'galloping' through Hamsterdam or Belwalrus.
"I'm sure Nana. . .said gallivanting, and. . .I understand her point. . .We're going to have. . .to start making some. . .sacrifices now." The folivoran looked uncomfortably at her friend.
"But that's so. . . not fair!" Dinah pouted. "It isn't our. . . fault that Granddad's. . .business almost got robbed. . .Why do we have. . . to be punished?"
"Enough. . .Dinah!" exclaimed a frowning Priscilla. "You sound like. . . a spoiled brat. . .Be grateful that. . .Granddad got a nice. . .severance deal or. . .we all would be. . . out on the street. . .Now back to. . .your room!"
After her grumbling cousin left, the sloth turned to Judy once again. "I'm really sorry. . .about, well, that. . . I don't know. . .what to do. . .with her anymore." She glanced at the door as if she's making sure Dinah wasn't eavesdropping. "I haven't told. . . her yet about . . .the party on Saturday. . .Flash told me to. . . invite her, but-"
The folivoran didn't have to say it - Judy understood. That sloth could be a little too much at times.
"You're still. . .coming, right?" Priscilla asked. "There wouldn't be. . .a repeat of. . .last time I'll. . .make sure of it."
"Of course, Izzy." the smiling doe told her like she always did.
Judy was, after all, uncharacteristically excited about this party. Only not for the reasons her friend thought. And she didn't want to break her heart when she finds out it's because there would be an unexpected guest. She should have felt some kind of remorse, since Flash had been nothing but kind and generous to her. Though her desire to spend more time with Duke and seeing Nicholas's reaction about it eclipsed any feeling of betrayal she had.
╚══ ஓ๑ ๑ஓ ══╝
All major or minor characters and settings (even brand names) are owned and trademarked by Disney, and I do not claim ownership over them and the world of Zootopia (aside, of course, from my original characters and some fictional places that I added) - though I would like to thank Byron Howard and Richard Moore for giving us these anthropomorphic mammals that we love to hate (oh you bet I would include Jack and Skye) or hate to love (sorry not sorry for being a Nick and Judy shipper) because without them, this retelling would not have existed.
I was rewatching Zootopia (and the plus series - again) for the NTH time yesterday, and I almost turn this chapter into a Duke Weaselton musical number if it weren't for his way of speaking (which was on me, 'cause I made him like that lol). Speaking of which, I feel like I just created an obstacle for myself in adding him to scenes because dialogue alone would take ages (and here I thought the sloths were a challenge already lol).
Also, to those who were expecting FruFru or even Finnick in my recent updates, don't worry, I assure you they will make their entrance soon enough...these chapters are all fleshed out until Chapter 10 (which is this one) and I'm currently in the process of writing 11th-15th (whilst also updating my other works - some which aren't Zootopia related) and just like I put out on my profile: I'm out for the hustle life, so it's all good. Just please be a wee bit generous with me on the update scheduling, okay? Thank you all!