Hello again!
This is the longest chapter so far, so get a snack, relax, and settle in! Also, there are some important updates at the end of the chapter. Be sure to check those out after you finish.
-Trebor1982: Oh just wait, the real spice is coming ;). Yes, capturing the right tone with Nick and Gaz's dialogue can be tricky, but it's also one of my favorite things to write! I also imagine that's what most people are here to read about at the end of the day, anyway. No Judy yet, but we're far from finished with her and some of the other characters you mentioned. Thanks for the review!
-Prismatic Floof: You're certainly not the only one who hates Raiona and Aneska. Their characters will be examined more later on, but for now I'd say your guesses are reasonable. Appreciate the review, and I hope you enjoy this update!
-Guest: Welcome back! As you and some other readers noticed, Nick's interaction with the Treble family was indeed strange, though the motives behind their behavior at this point aren't entirely clear. Still, I'm sorry to hear about the situation in your country, I do hope things improve soon. I'm very happy to hear you dislike Raiona and Aneska so far! Means I'm doing something right with those characters haha. And then there's Nick and Gazelle, of course. If you were a fan of the flirting and romance between them last chapter, I think this chapter might just blow your socks off… hopefully. Anyway, it's always a pleasure to see you in the comments. Kind reviews like yours genuinely keep me motivated to continue this story.
-Spirallira17: I love to hear you've you enjoyed the story so far, as well as this unusual yet captivating pairing I've got going! We will see about your prediction, topping that sensual dance from chapter 5 will be tough, but leave it to the queen of pop to pull it off. Thanks for all the reviews!
-A5TRON4UTA: Good to see you again! Like always, your in-depth analyses are unparalleled and always such a delight to read. Your thoughts on Commander Raiona in particular brought a smile to my face. As much as everyone in the comments despises this lioness, she's my favorite character to write, second only to the angel with horns herself. She is unpleasant, no doubt. But she may be more dynamic than people give her credit for. I should also mention without spoiling anything that I don't think you're overthinking anything regarding that book. So happy to hear you're adoring the chemistry between Nick and Gazelle, and the romance between them is only beginning to blossom. I certainly can't wait to hear your thoughts on the outcome of this chapter!
-Zaeva: I'm excited you're enjoying the flirtations and teasing banter between our protagonist and Gazelle thus far, even if Aneska insists on being a horrible person in the meanwhile. Thanks for the kind words!
* Special thanks to thecrazystorywriter14 for beta reading this chapter! *
As always, please enjoy this chapter and I'll see you on the next one! -Wilde
Chapter IX
~Archangel~
The helicopter was an agile machine, weaving through the sky above Zootopia with incredible grace and speed. Nick stared out the window in awe, watching the sands of Sahara Square turn to snow as they flew beyond the climate wall. To the West, the iconic skyline of downtown Savannah Central soared across the horizon, its buildings shimmering like jewels in the light of the evening sun.
Gazelle couldn't help but grin as she looked at the fox across from her. "Is this your first time flying, Nick?" she said, touching her headset's microphone to her lips.
The fox nodded. "Mom made me promise to never set foot in one of these things. The thought of flying terrified her." He chuckled, amusement playing across his face. "But with views like these, I think she would bring herself to forgive me."
Gazelle smiled, gazing into the cloudless sky laying just beyond her fingertips. "Es cierto. to see Zootopia from the air is a magical experience. I hope she would understand."
"I wasn't just talking about the city, Gazelle."
She turned her head at his remark, her long ears rising against her headset. The singer could see a glimmer of affection in his emerald eyes, a sentiment which sent a subtle blush across her cheekbones and a pleasant warmth spreading through her body.
"You must be a musician with the way you play at a girl's heartstrings, Officer Wilde," she replied, her voice conveying a venturous tone.
"If I'm a musician, then my lyrics for you are genuine," Nick winked.
Without warning the helicopter dipped steeply, causing the duo to rise in their seats for a single moment before gravity pressed them back to the floor.
"Sorry about that, folks! Turbulence tends to get a little choppy in this mountain air."
Nick gave Gazelle a questioning look, which she answered by smirking and pointing to her headset.
A wave of mortification washed over the fox's features as he pressed the microphone hesitantly to his lips. "Buddy… Please tell me you haven't been listening to everything we say…"
"Only the good parts, amigo," Came the inevitable response, causing Nick to slump back in his seat and groan.
"Don't worry, I don't get paid to judge," The pilot continued. "I just fly wherever the boss lady tells me to."
Gazelle laughed, leaning forward to touch Nick's knee. "Andrés is an old friend, Nick. He's trustworthy," she smiled reassuringly.
"Only when I want to be!"
Nick straightened his posture and rolled his eyes.
"So uh… You said mountain air?" the fox queried, directing his attention back to the window. "That means we're leaving city limits, right?"
"You could say that. You haven't told him where we're going, Gacela?"
"It's a secret," She replied with a scrappy grin. "But he will see soon enough."
As they ascended through the mountainous terrain, the arctic expanse below transformed into an alpine landscape of dramatic verticality. Granite spires careened into the heavens, forming jagged peaks and cliff bands as far as the eye could see. The city of Zootopia was now far behind them, little more than a scintillating speck against a darkened sky.
"Hang onto your tails. This could get bumpy!"
Suddenly the helicopter began to descend, winding through narrow mountain passes with terrifying precision. Like a rollercoaster, Nick could feel the G-forces pressing his body into his seat, his stomach rising and falling with the acrobatic movement of the vehicle. The airframe creaked and the rotors roared, and the vehicle rose steadily away from the confines of the rocks.
Bleeding speed as they approached their destination, Nick could see a gentle glow emanating just beyond the window. He pressed his face to the glass, his curiosity melting into disbelief as he took in the paradise that lay before him.
There, nestled surreptitiously into the mountainside, an enormous villa glimmered under a violet sky. It was by far the largest home he'd ever seen, contemporarily styled with enormous windows, a sloping rooftop, an infinity pool, and of course, a helipad perched precariously above the valley below.
Soon the helicopter was resting on the steel platform, its rotors still screaming as Andrés pulled open the cabin door.
"Keep your heads low and exit to the front of my aircraft, not the back! Got it?" the jaguar shouted over the engine, pointing clearly to where he wanted the duo to go.
"You've got it, pal!" Nick replied, wincing from the intensity of the noise. He placed the orchid under his arm while making room for Gazelle to exit.
The singer's hair fluttered about her horns as she stepped onto the wind-filled tarmac. "Muchas gracias Andrés! Estaré en contacto contigo cuando estemos listos para regresar, vale?"
Andrés nodded. "Por supuesto, mamí. Estaré allí." He leaned forward, kissing the popstar farewell on both cheeks. The feline then turned his attention to Nick, his elbow bent into a hasty salute. "Pleasure meeting you, Officer Wilde. I hope you enjoyed the ride!"
"Likewise, Andrés!" Nick smiled and saluted back. "Next time I feel like flying like the Thunderherds, I'll be sure to reach out."
Nick could feel Gazelle taking his hand, guiding him away from the inherent danger of the landing pad. The fox obliged, following her onto the wide lawn in front of the villa.
Soon the helicopter had reclaimed the sky, drifting gracefully on its axis before blistering down into the narrow valley. As its engines faded, all that was left of the once deafening noise was a soft breeze. An overwhelming stillness washed through the valley, and peace reigned true in this most secluded alpine paradise.
"What do you think, Nick?" Gazelle probed softly, breaking the silence.
The fox shook his head, seemingly at a loss for words as he took in the vast residence before him. "Gazelle… All this is yours?" he spoke in a voice hushed with stupefaction.
She nodded. "I call it Cima del Cielo. It is my Eden; a sanctuary from the stresses of the life I lead. No one in Zootopia outside of Andrés and myself has knowledge of this place… Until now."
Nick focused on the singer, his emerald gaze gleaming with a blend of shock and amazement at her words.
"Tonight I want to share it with you," she continued in a tone as soft as it was certain. "After everything you've done for me, and for the words of gratitude my language fails to express, I hope this gift offers a small glimpse of what your company means to me."
The emotion in the fox's reply was palpable. "Gaz… I'm speechless. This is beyond anything I could have ever asked for."
"Then say nothing. Your gaze tells me all I need to know." Gazelle purred as she traced her fingers briskly along the fox's shoulders. "So what do you say, zorro? Are you going to escort this lonely gazelle inside? Or do you need to be convinced?"
Nick's ears shot up attentively at the singer's unexpectedly brazen words, a foolish grin tugging at his lips.
"Good God, she's trying to break me already…"
But now was not the time to freeze up. The fox couldn't understand what in heaven's eyes he'd done to be worthy of this moment, but he would be caught dead before disappointing Zootopia's musical matriarch.
"You had me convinced the minute I laid eyes on you," he smiled, offering his forearm to the singer in a gentlemanly gesture. "I stand by my words. Where you go, I will follow. Side by side—"
"—Hand in hand, sí," Gazelle remarked, a heartfelt expression playing on her features as she accepted him between her fingers.
"Then lead the way, my love."
As they set off towards the entrance together, a blanket of darkness had settled upon the mountainside. The stars twinkled above, illuminating their path with a soft, ethereal glow.
Soon they were upon the patio, a sturdy platform erected from smooth, terraced rock. With a gentle press of his paw, the large doors to the villa swung open, flooding the area in a crisp, white light. The interior of the residence proved just as breathtaking as the exterior, with high ceilings, polished marble floors, and dramatic windows. A refreshing scent of wildflowers and pine leaves hung in the air, adding to the spacious estate's soothing atmosphere.
As the door fell shut behind them, Nick's eyes were immediately drawn to the numerous paintings lining the room. Unlike the neutral coloration of the chamber itself, each painting practically leapt off the walls, animated with a striking palette that conveyed unrestricted vibrance and style.
"These are from your home, right?" Nick asked, turning an inquisitive eye to the singer next to him.
She nodded gently. "Yes. My father was a professor of arts. The works you see on the walls are his."
Nick was amazed. The expressive brushwork and vivid colors on each canvas transformed mundane tasks and ordinary objects into captivating displays of expression and celebration. Farmers plowing a field. An old mammal's worn paws. A church tolling its bells. A dancing tigress. All from the vision of Gazelle's own blood.
"These are incredible..." The vulpine murmured, his voice filled with admiration. "Your father was a talented artist. Which makes sense now that I say it. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree after all."
"It was his form of expression," Gazelle replied. "The one he understood best, I suppose."
She tightened an embrace around him. Hearing even the smallest details of the singer's family warmed the fox's heart. Perhaps it was because he didn't have any memories with his own dad; he had little choice but to relate to the experiences of others.
"Well, now I'm curious," the fox said, turning back to her. "Which hobbies does Zootopia's queen of pop enjoy in her spare time?"
"Spare time? Hobbies? I've never heard of them," she joked through a small smirk.
"Oh come on now. You're telling me the 'try everything' girl has nothing more to her than music? I'm not buying that for a second."
"I am my music, zorro. Outside of it, you'll find I'm actually quite boring."
"You expect me to take that seriously after everything we did yesterday?"
Gazelle snickered, amused by his persistence. "I'm telling the truth. I can show you, even. But only under one condition."
Nick nodded, his ears aloft and attentive as he looked at her.
"Every question you ask of me, I get to ask of you as well. Seems fair, no?"
The vulpine paused to ponder her proposition. To be completely open about his life story went against every instinct in his body. But with Gazelle, perhaps he could find it in his heart to be vulnerable, as he had with Judy so long ago.
"Sure," Nick relented with a grin. "We can make a little game out of it, even."
"Uuuuu, how interesting! I love it!" the singer replied, her eyes sparkling at his suggestion. "So if you refuse to answer a question, there is a punishment, verdad?"
"Eh, sure, something like that."
"Sounds risky," Gazelle remarked, a daring smile forming on her lips.
"Then it's your type of game, Miss 'I'm so boring'."
"Slight me however you please, darling. You're going to lose." She stifled a laugh, her ears fluttering with evident excitement. "You wanted to know about my hobbies, sí? Come, I will show you."
Nick allowed the singer to guide him through a series of extravagant hallways and living spaces, each one more impressive than the last. They passed through a lavishly furnished kitchen and dining hall, as well as along the grand staircase that led into the uppermost portion of the villa.
Just as he was beginning to suspect he had seen everything this opulent home had to offer, they moved through a doorway that opened into a vast, cathedral sized space. Dozens of bookshelves, two stories tall and containing many thousands of hours' worth of literature were integrated into the walls. There were also several desks, chairs, and an antique upright piano in the center of the room.
"Does this answer your question?" The popstar asked, her golden irises flirting playfully with the fox as she watched him.
"Well… Obviously you hate reading," He replied with a sarcastic smile, running his fingers gently across the spines of the novels lining the room. "So the illustrious Gazelle is actually a bookworm? Who would've guessed."
She laughed, shaking her head. "You know, people in Zootopia have this perfect caricature of me; always exciting, always spontaneous. To them, I am free to sing and dance and party all hours of the working day without a care in the universe. How funny it is to me then, when in truth the most liberating thing I can do is to read and write."
Nick listened intently to the singer's words. This information revealed a new side to Gazelle; a side far removed from the excess of her celebrity lifestyle, and a subtle glimmer of the personality she hid underneath.
"Like I said, I am very boring," she continued. "When I don't have a guitar or microphone between my fingers, you can usually find me with a book instead."
Nick scoffed. "Boring? Darling, I think the term you're searching for is 'sophisticated'." He chuckled and crossed his arms. "Seriously though, this is incredible. I would've killed to have access to a library like this growing up."
"You do now," she replied, an affectionate grin playing on her lips. "Many of these works originate from my family's private collection. Over the years I've added to it steadily, but I fear that one day soon I will run out of space to keep them."
"And if you do run out of space, what then?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "I've thought about donating them. But to whom, I do not yet know."
Nick's eyes lit up at her predicament, his tail wagging gently behind him. "I mean… If you're looking to offload some books, you could always take them to the Happytown public library?"
Gazelle looked at him inquisitively. "Happy-Town?"
"Happytown," Nick replied. "An old division of the rainforest district. The library there is publicly funded, but it's always carried more cobwebs than reading material."
Gazelle listened with interest as she sat down at one of the desks. "You think my family's books would be of good use there, verdad?"
"You never know," Nick smiled, placing his phone down as he took a seat opposite her. "For a young red fox trying to make it in the world, having access to those resources could be the key to a better future."
Gazelle nodded understandingly. "In Zootopia, everyone deserves a fair opportunity to reach their goals. If you really think the mammals of Happytown would benefit from such a donation, I will look into it."
"Of course. Thank you, Gaz."
She simply smiled as she pushed some of the hair out of her eyes. "Your turn now, zorro. What things does Nicholas Wilde do when he's not saving the city from deranged conspirators?"
Nick had nearly forgotten about their game. "Heh… Right. Well, as you've probably figured out by now, nothing brings me more delight in life than flouting the rules. The more stringent they are, the more compelled I am to break them."
"Oh I've definitely taken notice," Gazelle replied, stifling a giggle.
He shot a playful look to the singer. "Thanks in no small part to you, I might add. If Raiona or Aneska knew where I was right now, they'd tan my hide the moment they got their paws on me."
"What can I say? I'm a bad influence," Gazelle remarked, winking in a manner reminiscent of the fox himself. "But I'll bet you enjoy that, don't you."
The way she said that last part sent a shiver careening down his spine.
"That's a bold assumption…" Nick said, trying to play it cool. "Some might say that sneaking away to Tundratown with a fox you just met, secretly performing at a nightclub, and then inviting said fox to a remote mountain getaway, actually makes you the thrill seeker."
"Guilty as charged," The singer replied without missing a beat.
Well, damn. Nick chuckled nervously. "You didn't hesitate, huh?"
"Was I supposed to?" Gazelle smirked amusedly. She leaned forward as she rested her elbows on the tabletop, appearing to relish in the fox's discomposure. "I'm not letting you off the hook so easily, darling. You break the rules, sí… Anything else?"
Nick had to think about this one. Which things did he actually enjoy pursuing in his spare time? In the past he had his hustling, though it wasn't something he enjoyed so much as it was a way to survive. He listened to music from time to time, but that was something everyone did. Driving? Same thing. Considering it now, his life outside the ZPD was honestly as boring as the singer made hers out to be.
"If you're gonna twist my arm, I guess there is one other thing," Nick said, tapping his fingers on the desk.
The singer nodded encouragingly, an eager grin on her lips.
"I'm going to cheat a little though. Because it's something I did in the past; not a hobby I have right now."
"Even now you insist on breaking rules," She snickered. "But I will excuse it because I like you."
The fox smiled playfully at her jest, inhaling softly as he recounted hazy events from years past. "I was probably sixteen or seventeen years old. At the time, just a young fox without supervision or ambitions. And as you can probably guess, a real piece of work."
Gazelle smirked, imagining a wild teenage Nicholas roaming the streets of Zootopia all those years ago.
"Well, one day I got careless, and I ended up on the wrong side of a cadre of polar bears," he continued. "But before they could nix me, this elderly arctic shrew intervened. A most wonderful woman, who for reasons I still struggle to explain, decided to take a chance on a complete stranger. She brought me under her wing, fed me, cared for me, and in the process of adjusting my attitude, even taught me how to play the piano."
Gazelle's eyes lit up at the story the fox was telling her. She pressed her hooves together, her ears raised with clear investment in his words.
"Dios, Nicholas…" She spoke affectedly. "Such unflinching generosity is rare… Fate led you to this woman, of that I am certain. Do you still keep in contact with her?"
He shook his head.
"She passed. Several years ago, I think," the fox relented, an ashamed look creeping through his demeanor. "I haven't touched a piano since. To be honest, I still regret not keeping up with what I was taught. If she were here today, she'd probably smack me upside the head for letting all that work go to waste." He scoffed, a weak grin moving on his lips as he imagined the shrew's voice.
"Oh, zorro… You are mistaken," Gazelle spoke affectionately, reaching across the table to take his paws. "You don't realize it, but music is an extension of your heart and soul. It may shift and change with time, but it will never leave you; never be wasted."
Nick smiled, savoring the feeling of the popstar's hands and the sincerity of her words. "You're saying you think I still have it in me?"
"I know you do," she replied as she stood. "And I can prove it too."
"How do you mean?"
Gazelle moved a lock of hair out of her face, her eyes leading to the center of the room. "I saw you staring at my mother's piano when we entered. I would like to hear you play."
The fox's ears shot up in alarm at her words. "Gazelle, I really don't think that's a good idea…"
"Nonsense! Besides, you know I would never judge you poorly."
"No no, it's not that," Nick sighed, his voice conceding. "I just… I've never played by myself."
The singer's ears emulated the fox's, rising against her horns. "So you played duets?" she asked, swaying her hips excitedly as a subtle smile crested on her lips.
"Er— Yeah. That's when two mammals play at the same time, right?"
"Mhm… It's even better." The artist leaned down, bringing her gaze to the fox such that the distance between them was only inches. She bit her lip, a flicker of mischief burning deep in her golden eyes. "What do you say, zorro? Will you play with me?"
The fox blinked, a deep warmth flushing through his features. And despite the doubt gnawing within him, he couldn't help but to grin coquettishly as he looked at her. "F-Fine. One song."
"Perfect! Ven conmigo." The singer beamed victoriously as she led him from his place at the desk to the piano bench. The instrument itself appeared weathered and worn, as though it had been played by thousands of people across numerous generations.
"You should pick the song," she said, lowering herself onto the left side of the bench.
The fox took his place beside Gazelle, assuming a position at the uppermost keys. "Well, there's only one I can remember the name of. It's 'Swan Lake', I think?"
"Ooo Tigerkovsky!" The popstar exclaimed, instantly recognizing the name. "I'm very impressed, Nick! His compositions are complex but convey such rich emotion. You must have talent to play something like that!"
"Only with a partner," He remarked, bringing his fingers to the keyboard which prompted the singer to do the same. "You know how to lead this song, right?"
She nodded. "Of course. I will go slow. Just tell me when you are ready, listo?"
"Yeah, sure thing." Nick swallowed nervously, inhaling deeply as he tried to recall the correct placement of his hands over the keys.
Okay, we're doing this. Just like Gram-mama taught you. Keep your posture upright, use the tips of the fingers, level your wrists… Stay in G clef. Or was it C clef? Oh God, what am I doing right now, this is insane.
"Nick," Gazelle purred, "trust in yourself. You need not recall every note. Your muscles will fill in the blanks, guided by the rhythm and emotion inside of you."
As his eyes connected with the singer's, Nick could see in her a glimmer of reassurance and admiration urging him onward. For that alone, he at least owed it to her to give the song a shot. Eventually he nodded, letting her confidence wash over him like a calming wave.
"Alright. I'm ready."
At the fox's cue, Gazelle's attention turned to the keys in front of her. She took a breath, steeling her nerves as she began to play.
A haunting melody, carrying with it a sweeping elegance and chilling beauty, flowed forth from the instrument. Every hair on the vulpine's body stood to attention as the Gazelle's fingers drifted gracefully across the keys. Years of memories lost to time flashed through Nick's mind, filling him with a profound melancholy and nostalgia that tugged at his chest.
Gradually he let his eyes fall shut, allowing muscle memory to guide his palms as he joined the popstar on the piano. He pressed one key, savoring the resistance in his fingers as he moved onto the next. Then another. Then another after that. Soon, he was playing alongside her, matching Gazelle's pace, and rhythm. Shocked by his own ability after all these years, Nick could hear his heart thrumming through his ears as he played onward.
He opened his eyes to see Gazelle with a grin that exclaimed: "I told you so!"
As they progressed, Nick could feel his song intertwining with Gazelle's in a way that reminded him of their dance at the Thaw. Like their movements that night, each note acted as a love letter complimentary to the other, an unspoken passion expressed through music and music alone.
The fox could sense the warmth between them nearing a fever pitch as they approached the crux of the composition, a virtuosic passage with a sweeping melody capable of moving even the most impassive soul to tears.
Then, at the perfect moment, his fingers slipped.
Gazelle quickly slowed her pace, affording him a brief opportunity to return to form. He tried again, and once more, the chords played sour.
Nick groaned. "Ughh. I'm sorry Gaz, I think I've lost it."
"What are you talking about, Nick! That was amazing!" Gazelle exclaimed, practically unable contain her excitement. "You play with such grace and confidence, I would have never guessed it had been years since you last practiced on a piano."
"Oh now you're just trying to make me laugh," He waved his paw dismissively.
"I'm serious! With a little more training, you could probably play that composition solo."
Nick smiled sheepishly. "Thanks Gaz… But if I'm honest, I think I'm more interested in duetting it, especially if my partner is someone like you."
"All you have to do is ask, zorro. For you, I'm always available."
He chuckled. "So, any other burning questions you have for me?"
The singer bit her lip, appearing to roam through her thoughts for several moments. "Well… I have many. But there is one in particular, sí," she replied with a subtle smirk.
"Now that sounded ominous. Should I be concerned?"
"Only time will tell," she feigned a foreboding look as she stood away from the piano. "Do you think you can wait here?"
"Alone?" Nick looked at her with confusion. "Where are you going?"
"The restroom, zorro," she replied, caressing his body as she passed him by. "But make yourself at home, vale? I won't be long."
Before he could object, she strutted out of the room with an exaggerated swagger, vanishing into the hallway with a defiant wag of her tail.
That was random… and hot.
Nick took a long breath to slow the incessant pounding in his chest. He tapped the keys on the piano, musing over everything that had happened. Everything felt to be moving so quickly, it was almost intoxicating. Just a short while ago, he was a con artist; a cynical hustler scraping along day by day. Now, he found himself in the company of one of the city's most beloved icons, exploring a side of her that few had the privilege to witness. It was a surreal experience, one that he couldn't quite wrap his head around. Perhaps those threads of fate were real after all?
Nick rose from his seat, pacing out of the library and its lonesome aura. He reentered the kitchen, placing the orchid upon the marble countertop when he caught a faint glimmer in the corner of his eye. It was a small picture frame. Strange, he must've missed that when he passed through the first time. As his eyes examined the muted hues and grainy textures from an analog era, his heart raced.
In the background, Gazelle's father stood tall, his fierce gaze and commanding black horns contributing to a look of stoicism and competence. Adjacent to him, a beautiful doe—Gazelle's mother—clutched his arm. She appeared visibly softer than her significant other, with a gentle smile on her lips and a flowing lock of golden hair that reached down into her silver eyes. In front of her, standing at just over waist-height, the singer herself. Gazelle beamed widely, wearing a floral dress next to her sister, Cattleya, who sat in a chair before her father. Nick was taken aback by the incredible similarity between the two siblings, with both bearing a striking resemblance to their mother, except that Gazelle's eyes were more akin to her father's.
Suddenly Nick's ears perked at the sound of footsteps strutting down the staircase behind him. He hastily returned the picture frame to the countertop, whirling around to see the singer waiting for him just above the landing. For a split second he failed to register anything but the look she gave him; an electrifying blend of vulnerability, yearning, and ferocity.
Then he noticed.
Every inch of Gazelle's lean, unapologetically curvaceous physique was exposed. Her outfit, or lack thereof, consisted of a scarlet two-piece swimsuit and the golden bangles she always wore around her wrists. The thin fabric left nothing to the imagination, hugging the singer's endowed chest and wide hips in a way that threatened to send Nick spiraling into cardiac arrest as she approached.
"G-Gazelle, what are you—"
She touched an index finger to his lips, her golden eyes aflame with an intensity he had never thought possible. "Tranquilo, zorro," she purred, an inviting smirk playing on her lips. "I want to show you something."
Nick blinked for a few moments before regaining his bearings. He nodded slowly, prompting the singer to trail her hand carefully down the length of his arm and to his wrist.
"Bueno. Now follow me."
As the singer led him onto the open patio encompassing the infinity pool, the fox could feel his heart hammering against his ribcage with each step he took. If there was ever any doubt in his mind this experience might be a dream, the burning look in the singer's eyes was all the proof he needed.
Gazelle, for her part, swayed her hips with enticing intent, occasionally stealing glances at the fox over shoulder as she brought him to the water's edge. From its glassy surface, a pleasant fog curled into the mountain air, wafting against their bodies in a beckoning call. The pool floor shimmered in a dazzling aquatic display, shifting colors from a light tropical blue to a deep, wine red.
"Do you know how to swim?"
"Hell yeah, I know how to swim," was what he wanted to say. Reigning in his intemperate thoughts however, Nick simply nodded.
"Mm… Good," Gazelle smirked, running her fingers through her hair as she forayed tentatively into the shallow water. "Then you will join me?"
"Gaz, I don't have a swimsuit…" Nick replied, swallowing back the diffidence in his voice. "—Or a change of clothes."
"Duly noted." The singer stifled a laugh at his acknowledgment, all the while letting the soothing liquid come up to her midriff. She waded over to the fox, folding her arms on the wall and gazing into him.
Connecting with Gazelle in that moment reminded Nick of the depictions he'd seen of mermaids; angelic and irresistibly beautiful creatures, luring souls enraptured by their siren's song into the sea. In an equally mesmerizing spectacle, Zootopia sparkled far into the distance, a magnificent speck floating in an ocean of darkness.
"…But that wasn't what I asked, zorro." She pushed herself out of the water subtly, a teasing grin plastered across her face. "What happened to all that talk of following me wherever I go?"
Nick scoffed as he knelt to meet the singer eye to eye. "You know that's not fair."
"Ohhh really?" She continued, a deeply mischievous look playing on her features. "Earlier you said that you would stand by your words."
Nick laughed. "Yeah, so...?"
"So, stand by them," Gazelle whispered sensually, her fingers snaking along the fox's tie as she drew his face ever closer to hers.
Letting the distance narrow between them, Nick could tell this was not the same gazelle he had met in Sahara Square. The singer's tantalizing tone of voice, her short breaths, and her wanting gaze had him utterly spellbound, and he was loving every second of it. But this flirtatious game of cat and mouse had pushed the intensity of their situation to the brink. And sooner or later, something had to give.
"My superiors will kill me if anything happens to this uniform, Gaz," Nick protested softly.
"I think you'll bring yourself to forgive me."
At those words she lurched from the water's edge, and with a swift tug of her arm, pulled the stupefied fox head over heels into the pool with an enormous splash.
In an instant Nick was submerged in the glowing waters, and an explosion of bright light and muted sounds were swirling about him. He took no pause as he burst through the crystalline surface, letting out an exasperated gasp as waves fluttered about his person. For a moment his mind and body reeled with shock from the sudden plunge, but at the familiar sound of a stifled giggle, his surprise washed away as quickly as it had enveloped him.
Gazelle folded her arms against her abdomen as she burst out laughing. Like the fox, she was thoroughly soaked, from her golden fur to the tips of her horns.
The vulpine took a quick look at himself, noting the saturated uniform hanging across his torso. "Oh, so you think that's funny, huh?" he said, faking a growl as he treaded towards the singer. "I'll have you know I just had these clothes dry cleaned!"
Gazelle covered her mouth, her ears falling back as she tried unsuccessfully to suppress her laughter. "Dios… Y-you look like a bat."
The fox rolled his eyes, pushing back a snicker of his own as he carefully undid the binding of his dress shirt. He slung his tie away, letting the garments float behind him as he exposed his athletic, cream-colored chest.
"Ooh la la, quién es usted señor?" Gazelle exclaimed, fanning her face with a coquettish grin.
Nick smirked playfully, continuing his prowl like a predator hunting his prey.
"I Don't…"
"Understand…"
"You!"
He lunged, locking his arms around the singer's trim waist as he pulled her into his capable embrace.
"Ayyy dios mio, Nicholas!" Gazelle cried out, laughing as she felt herself being lifted from behind. She struggled, kicking her legs and shifting about while still allowing the fox to move his paws as he pleased. In truth, she hardly intended to escape.
"Battery on a law enforcement officer is a very serious offense, Gazelle. Even for a girl like yourself!" Nick warned, his chin resting on the popstar's shoulder as he held her.
"Battery? You insult me, zorro. This was attempted murder." She shot him a devious look. "But I'll play along. How should a girl like me be expected to repent for my crimes?"
The fox bit his lip at such an unflinching inquiry. He could feel Gazelle resting her fingers comfortably upon his forearms, her breaths fleeting, and her eyes daring as she nestled herself further into his embrace. Unimpeded by clothing and the judgements of others, she could truly feel him; every inch of the fox she had grown so desperately to desire.
"Before you left, you said you had a question for me," Nick replied after some thought. "Maybe that would be a good place to start?"
"Mmm… My burning question. Sí."
Gazelle smiled lightheartedly, but Nick could feel her pulse racing against him. For a while there was silence, a palpable tension persisting between them as the popstar appeared to choose her words. Then she inhaled softly.
"Tell me. Is all of this… Real?"
The fox's ears rose confusedly as he relaxed his hold. "Real? I'm not sure I understand your ques—"
"Nicholas," she interjected softly, shifting herself to see him. "You know what I meant."
He could see clearly in her eyes an imploring look, far removed from the mischief of their recent antics. Her demeanor now conveyed intrigue, alight with an apprehension he was not used to seeing in her typically confident expression.
"You're asking about us… aren't you," Nick said, sensing a flurry of emotions welling up within him.
Gazelle let her feet connect with the floor as she slipped free from his grasp, turning to face the fox squarely.
"You wouldn't be the first admirer to chase my hand seeking profit, fame, or… bragging rights, you know," she confessed in a voice almost ashamed. "But I'm not a means to an end. My love is more than a prize to be won."
"Gazelle, I would never…" Nick spoke carefully, albeit with a sense of growing dejection. Surely after all the time they'd spent together, she didn't think of him so lowly.
"I know, Nick," the singer lifted his chin reassuringly. She concentrated on the fox with a vulnerable smile before resting her palms upon his bare chest.
"When you came bursting into my life, you didn't fawn over me expecting the world in return. Instead, you put my interests before your own, risking yourself in numerous ways to show me how it felt to live normally again."
She moved her thumb softly, caressing the fox's wet fur as she continued with heart-rending sincerity.
"But… Every second I spend with you convinces me more and more that I don't want a normal life. Because I now desire something I did not seek. Something else entirely. And part of that terrifies me."
Gazelle reached up gently, finding the side of Nick's face with her fingertips. "Please... I need to know if what I feel for you is real," Her eyes pleaded for honesty; assurance her most ardent of hopes would not go unanswered.
And the fox, feeling all the weight of the universe dissipating from his shoulders at the singer's words, would not founder. She had kindled this moment, a single opportunity to ignite the flames of passion he so clearly felt between them.
Loosed from all uncertainty, Nick brought his paws to Gazelle's hips, and under the celestial light of a billion stars finally laid bare the deepest longing of his heart.
"This is real, Gazelle," he confirmed softly, and without a shred of doubt. "And what I feel for you is real."
As he moved some of the hair from her face, Nick could see the singer's golden eyes clouding with raw emotion. She let out a small gasp at his answer, almost as though she had forgotten to keep breathing. An uncontrolled grin formed on her lips as relief overwhelmed her person.
"You are the most talented, dedicated, strikingly beautiful, and down to earth musician I have ever me," Nick continued through a heartfelt smile. "And I consider myself lucky to say firsthand, that you indeed have the most honest hips."
She laughed at his joke, sniffling lightly as a few stray tears streamed across her cheeks.
Nick wiped them away gently with his thumb. "But none of those qualities hold a candle to who you are underneath. Because the gazelle I know is so much more than her music, even if she doesn't always believe it."
"En serio? You mean that?" she queried softly.
He nodded. "My heart longs for the gazelle who drinks her favorite coffee in an oversized sweatshirt. The one who hoards books and has probably read every word Giraffriel García Márquez has ever written. The girl who swims in the dead of night with a fox she just met, and listens to her heart despite the objections of her manager, her chief of security, and everyone else. Because I can't give you a normal life, Gazelle. Not even close…"
Nick paused, sensing his own voice shaking with a visceral emotion he couldn't hope to control.
"…But I can give you me. Imperfections and all."
Gazelle wrapped her delicate arms around vulpine's neck such that her chest was pressed against his. Her eyes glistened through the tears, with nothing more than yearning for the fox in her embrace.
"Mi zorro… You are everything I could ever want, and so much more," the singer professed softly, settling amatively into his strong, emerald gaze. She tilted her neck gently, bringing her lips just below his ear in a sultry whisper. "And… I want you too."
Hearing those words from Gazelle sent a momentous warmth cascading through Nick's body. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, and the air in his lungs seeped into his throat in a weak, but heartfelt tone.
"I-I don't know what to say…"
"Then say nothing… Your gaze tells me all I need to know," she replied, savoring the fox in her arms as if it were the last time she might hold him.
Leagues above them in that impassioned place, the sky began to splinter. And through the gaps, the dark canvas of the universe was emblazed with magnificent pillars of light, reaching down like the hand of God himself.
Yet, the pair remained completely lost in each other's eyes; unable and unwilling to part. Gazelle's arms tightened behind the fox's neck in a wanting gesture, and soon, their eyes fell swiftly closed. For a brief moment, time stood still, and Nick was blind to all but the hastened rise and fall of her chest, and the rapid thrumming of the singer's heart pulsing into his body.
Their lips connected in a kiss, softly at first, but with a gradation of intensity that increased as reality melted into bliss. Gripped by passion and a desperate desire to express the feelings they had repressed so carefully, Nick and Gazelle flowed into each other, savoring the sweet sensation of the other, their taste, and their scent. Their paws roamed freely, knowing, and daring, as the tallest peaks of Cima del Cielo bore silent witness to their unity.
Nick let out a gasp as they separated, reluctantly, for air. The singer panted alongside him, breathless, and with arms still wrapped tightly around him. Her golden hair was messy and pushed to one side of her face, matching the disheveled mane around the fox's neck and shoulders where Gazelle had combed through his fur. They stared at each other for a short while, hot and anxious with amorous grins.
"You're full of surprises, my love," Gazelle huffed, cleaning some saliva from her lips in a voice laden with mischievous enthusiasm.
"You don't know the half of it," Nick smirked as his eyes settled onto his partner. "So, where do we go from here?"
She stifled a small laugh, taking the fox's hand with a subtle tenderness between her fingers. "Forward, Nicholas. Whatever difficulty we may face, we will face it together. Verdad?"
"Always, Gazelle," he replied, squeezing her palm with a devoted smile. "No matter what."
They retreated from the pool hand in hand. The sky above continued to dance in a kaleidoscopic aurora, guiding their hearts and bodies as they explored their newfound bond into the farthest reaches of the night.
-A/N: -The MA continuation of this chapter will be published on my AO3 page in the next week or so. Be on the lookout for "An Angel with Horns: Archangel" there, or PM me if you have questions.
-Our wonderful artist, ZHADART, has returned! She has sketched up some fantastic cover art for the Archangel spinoff, with SFW and NSFW variations. You can find those on my DeviantArt page as well as on AO3 when I publish the story.
That's all. Thanks again everyone!