Nick's mother had always wanted to travel the country. She would have been thrilled to hear of Nick doing just that, but Nick doubted she would have been pleased to hear why he was doing it.
Florada looked dreary today. The weather was cloudy, with blotches of blue among grey. The car came to a stop outside the Marlot Hotel. Nick was the last to get out, after Judy, Jack, and Alyssa. The rabbits sported band aids on their heads and arms and bruised beneath their fur. The seatbelts they'd worn were the only reason they weren't wearing splints and neck braces as well.
Bogo was waiting for them in the lobby with a face like thunder. Judy's ears flattened at the sight of him.
"Sir. I know I haven't always done the smart thing…"
"Don't. Just don't."
He turned his fierce glare towards Nick. Nick kept his face neutral, unwilling to look as intimidated as he felt. But Bogo's glare moved straight past the fox without pausing and focused on the two agents.
"We are going upstairs, and you are going to tell me exactly what is going on."
Jack frowned. "That information is-"
"If you say that information is classified in any way, any way at all, I will report your activities to the police. Or I can just get the truth out of my officer here because 'classified' obviously doesn't apply to her."
Jack sighed. "I was going to say that that information should not be discussed out here."
Bogo led them into the elevator, a wide cabin the colour of pink wine.
"Our bosses won't like this." Alyssa mentioned the moment the elevator doors closed. "If we're going to talk, you need to promise you'll keep this to yourself."
"Fine, on the condition that I can tell the authorities anything that will help us find Elba without compromising either of you."
"Deal." Jack said.
Nick exhaled. If they'd refused to cooperate, he would have sung like a bird. Elba had helped Nick and Finnick avoid the maximum penalty, had taken care of Ben when Nick hadn't been able to. Theodore wouldn't get away with what he'd done.
The elevator doors opened. Nick once again found himself the last to leave. The hallway had a foreboding feeling, despite the warm lighting and the wine-coloured walls. In one of these rooms, Ben was waiting. It would have been the first time they'd talked face to face in months.
He trailed behind, reaching the room a good five seconds before they did. When he reached the doorway, he saw Ben rising from an armchair, at the same time releasing the shirt he'd pulled up over his stomach.
"Guys!" Ben looked pleased to see them. Okay, a good start. He stood up as they entered. "Nick! Judy!"
"Hey, Ben." Judy cheerfully greeted him with a wave. After things had calmed down from the Twilight Incident, she'd made an official, heartfelt apology to Ben for the parking lot incident. Nick didn't see it, or how it turned out, but they'd seemed to have developed their own friendship since then. Nick suspected a shared love for Gazelle had something to do with it.
Bogo shut the door behind them and made sure it was locked. "Where're the others? Mossberg and Foxtrot?"
"They're chasing a few contacts to try and find the Commissioner." Judy said. "They didn't say where, just that they'd meet up with us later." She didn't mention that Winters and Honey had gone with them, after Jack had specifically told her not to mention their involvement.
"Can you trust them to come back?" Bogo asked.
"They risked their lives to save us from abduction." Nick said. "It's safe to say we can."
"Hopps!" Bogo snapped his fingers and motioned for Judy to sit down on the bed. "Tell me everything."
Judy hung her head. Nick felt for her. She'd be lucky to have a badge once Bogo learned about everything she'd done.
"Agent Savage and Skyefall were looking for a stolen relic that Redwood had bought from the black market. They needed my help to get it."
Bogo held up a hoof. "Before we get into all that, I want to know what happened at the gas station. That whole place was a bloodbath."
Judy swallowed. Nick bit his lip and turned away. He didn't want to listen to this bit. He turned his attention to Ben as Judy started to speak.
The cheetah had sat back down in the armchair, twiddling his thumbs. Nick's nose twitched. "Are you bleeding?"
Ben ruefully tapped his side. "Happened the night Elba got taken. Hurts like the dickens, but I'll live." He gave a rueful giggle. Ben's giggles were supposed to be cute and immature. They weren't supposed to be sad.
"God damn it." Nick rubbed his tired eyes. "It's not hurting too much, right?"
"Nope. I'm been checking it for infection. Nothing so far."
He said this all with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. Nick watched him carefully with a steady but painful drum in his chest.
"How're you doing? Bogo told me you got in a car crash."
"That wasn't me. That was the bruised carrot over there."
"Bruised what- oh." Ben glanced at Judy and her visible minor injuries. "Isn't that a little…"
"Nah, it's not like that. More of an inside joke, trust me."
Nick remembered Judy telling him about the 'cute' incident a few months ago. Ben had used the term upon seeing her new dress. His reaction, upon her explanation that that the word was for rabbit-on-rabbit use only, had been a drawn out gasp with both paws over his muzzle.
The doubtful look on Ben's face was enough for Nick to want a break. "This room has a shower, right?"
"Yeah. Right through there." Ben pointed to the door.
In the shower, with lukewarm water cascading over him, Nick wondered if things between him and Ben would ever go back to normal. Three years ago, that conversation just now never would have gone down the way it did. Nick had known Ben for at least five years. Their interactions should have reflected that. But that exchange had been little more than small talk between acquaintances.
And it was all Nick's fault. He'd used Ben to con his boss out of some very expensive medical equipment. He'd lied to the kid for months. Any moment he expected Ben to turn around and say that he didn't forgive Nick, he'd never forgive him, and he was done with him. That would happen any day now, Nick was certain of it.
He turned off the water and switched on the fur-dryer. The dryer was powerful, blowing all his fur upward in the confined space, and for a moment, he forgot how heavy his heart felt. Over the relentless wind, he thought he heard voices getting louder. The moment he turned the dryer off, he heard arguing. Ben closed the door behind him, shutting the voices out before Nick could hear what was being said.
"You were taking a while." He said.
Nick opened the door just enough to grab his clothes and pulled them on before stepping out.
"I'm ok. Just zoned out, I guess." Nick spotted a dark reddish-brown stain on his collar, felt a chill and went to the sink to scrub it off. Ben sat down on the bathtub behind him. "I forgot to ask how your museum gig's coming along."
"It's going good." Ben paused. "But I might not have it if this mess isn't sorted out soon…"
What that a dig? Ben never made digs, but this felt like one. With the hand towel in paw, Nick turned around as Bogo suddenly shouted.
"Hopps, you are standing on very thin ice here!"
Nick suddenly became very worried for Judy. "What's going on?"
Ben sighed. "Judy doesn't want to stay in Zootopia. She wants to help Mansa find Elba."
"Still using his first name?"
Ben looked way slightly. "Yeah. I am."
Nick thought carefully on his next few words as he set to work on the stain. "Who'd have thought, huh? A fox and a cheetah getting chummy with an officer and a gentlemammal. I'm guessing you'll be getting on that plane at least."
"Yeah, I will be." Ben focused his gaze back on Nick. "But not without you."
Nick froze mid-scrub. "What?"
"You think I haven't seen the way you look at Judy? If by some miracle she convinces Mansa to let her stay, I'm betting you'll be staying right alongside her. And I'll do by darnedest to talk you both out of staying."
Nick "But… why?"
Ben looked confused at the question. "'Cause we're friends. Right?"
Nick swallowed. "If you say so."
It was a case of instant regret. One moment Ben looked like he'd punched in the gut, the next he was on his feet.
"You don't get to say that."
"Benji, I didn't mean it li-"
"If anything, I should be ticked off at you! Our lives sucked. It sucked but we had each other. Then the second I get a good job you use me to con my boss!"
He took a deep breath and paced a little.
"I forgave you for that. There were some seriously extenuating circumstances, so I forgave you. I thought I made that veryclear."
"Benji, I'm sorry. I swear, that just came out wrong." Drops splattered on the tiles floor as Nick squeezed the towel. "When someone says they forgive you, they don't always mean it. And you've never liked drama."
"And you've never liked to see the best in people." Ben said. "When I told you I almost sold you out to the police, did you think you'd seen the 'real me?'"
Nick blinked. "I used you and lied you. You almost bled to death in a parking lot because of me. I don't blame you for siding with the fuzz." Nick recalled the things he'd said to Bogo years ago in a moment of jealous anger. It still made him angry at himself. "They protected you way more than I ever did."
"I didn't keep my distance because of what you did." Ben said. "Just so much stuff had happened that wasn't your fault. I had a terrible time of it on that mountain. I needed some space. From everything. I'm sorry if I made you think that had anything to do with you."
The silence that followed made them notice that the argument in the main room had cooled. "I should probably make sure she's not fired." Nick walked out, glad for the time given to work out his response. Was Benji telling the truth? Of course, he was. Ben had shown Nick what happened when he was truly angry.
Ben was right. Nick rarely took anything at face value. But he wasn't a small time criminal anymore. If he was going to salvage this relationship, any relationship it was time to leave that particular character flaw to atrophy.
He left the bathroom to see Judy and Bogo staring daggers at each other. The bunny's little paws were balled into fists. Her thump was thumping. Neither were good signs.
"The talk went well, I take it?"
"Not at all." Bogo growled.
Judy's foot sounded like a hummingbird.
"It's for the best, Hopps." Jack said. "You helped us get to the artefact, and we're truly thankful for that. But letting you go up against Lupine is out of the question."
Nick could see Judy was ready to start up again. He quickly went to her side. "I think we have time for one drink before the plane, don't you agree, Big Cheese?"
"One." Bogo said, his burning eyes following the smaller duo as one nudged the other toward the door. Nick nodded and shut the door once they were outside.
Judy's foot resumed thumping as she fumed. "Nick, can you believe this? The moment we stop being useful, they just ship up off like old car parts!"
"That is not what is happening, and you know it." Nick said. "We weren't means to an end. They needed our help. There's a difference. Can we please just go to the bar?"
Judy pouted, but held her tongue as they went down the elevator and went to the restaurant, where breakfast was still being served. Upon reaching the buffet table, Nick picked out a couple of croissants. Judy assembled a normal but messy fried salad, tearing some of the tomatoes in her silent fury. They ate quietly in a table by the corner, far away from the windows.
"This isn't fair." She said mid-way through the meal. "We took down the Red Queen. We can handle Lupine."
"Technically, Cheryl took down herself." Nick literally pointed that out with a croissant. "And frankly, the only reason we stood a chance was because she wanted us to. Lupine isn't gonna give us that kind of leeway."
"We can help. I know we can." Judy said shortly, stabbing at a mushroom. "We can look for leads, find out where Swinton is hiding…"
"No offense, but I think the secret agents and freelance superspies have that handled." Nick said. "Maybe leave it to the elites this time?"
"I am just as professional as the rest of the-"
"For once in your life will you please just listen?!"
Judy's jaw dropped. Her purple eyes went round as they stared at Nick. Nick stared back, shocked by his own outburst. It came out of nowhere in a subdued but fierce hiss.
"Judy. I'm sorry." He breathed. His heart was pounding. His breathing was getting louder in his ears. A panic attack was coming. He'd lashed out. He'd practically bared his teeth. She was the best thing that ever happened to him and he blew it-
"No, I'm sorry." Judy spoke. "I'm such an idiot. You didn't ask to be part of this mess, I'm such a stupid girl."
Nick didn't want to see her like this. Guilt twisted his gut. He reached out and took her paw.
Judy stiffened at the touch. She looked wordlessly down at the larger russet paw draped over hers. Nick swallowed. The butterflies in his stomach started fluttering harder. Oh god, what did I do?
He retracted the paw before anyone else in the restaurant could notice. Judy kept her paw in place for a bit before retracting it as well.
"You're not a stupid girl. Dumb bunny, more like." Nick said. That got a small chuckle. He felt his body calming down. "Look, Benji's going back, and I've been kept from him for way too long. I miss him. I miss Honey and Finnick. I'm going back to Zootopia, and I want you to come back with me."
Judy stared at her bowl, poking at the greens. Nick could see she was conflicted.
"I talked to Honey before we split up. She's no good here in her condition so she's going back to her new bunker to act as mission control. She's agreed to let us stay there until we get NEST off our backs. That way we can still keep tabs."
Nick left it at that. If he pushed it further, it would feel like he was manipulating her. He gave her a minute to think it over before changing topic.
"In other news, I've discovered that Benji and Bogo are on a first name basis."
Judy raised an eyebrow. "You only found out now?"
"Wait, when did you notice?"
"Years ago. Bogo doesn't broadcast it, but I know he cares about Ben."
"You don't think they're…"
"Nope. Just really good friends." Judy paused. "I think."
Nick raised a finger inches from her mouth, stopping her. "Carrots, the subject of our conversation is heading this way."
Ben was crossing the restaurant toward them. His face looked like the latest Gazelle concert had been cancelled.
"Guys, we've got a teensy-weensy problem."
"Anything's teensy-weensy according to our current problem." Nick said.
"No. Bogo got a notification. A suspicious package showed up at the airport. The whole terminal is in lockdown."
"You have to be kidding." Judy's response was deadpan in her disbelief.