Arc 1- The Arrival: Part 6- Loyalty
The setting sun painted the streets of Zootopia in shades of gold as Nick and Judy strolled leisurely down the bustling avenue. It was one of their rare days off, and they were making the most of it. Judy had insisted on exploring some quaint little shops near the Rainforest District, while Nick had countered with the idea of finding a good coffee stand. They compromised by grabbing iced coffees to-go and taking the gondola there and back. Now, it was early evening when they stepped off of the gondola and headed back to their apartment building.
"I'll admit it, Carrots," Nick said, "You somehow made browsing for plant themed knickknacks for three hours somewhat enjoyable."
Judy rolled her eyes but grinned. "Oh, really? So you aren't holding a shopping bag with two more of those tacky patterned shirts you love so much?"
Nick opened his mouth for a witty retort, but before he could get the words out, a blur of tan fur shot out of an alleyway and barreled straight into him.
"Whoa!" Nick staggered, nearly dropping his shopping bag. He blinked and looked down to see Finnick, his longtime friend and old hustling partner, looking frazzled and out of breath. "Finnick? What the—"
"Nick, buddy, I'm in a jam," Finnick panted, glancing nervously over his shoulder.
Before Nick or Judy could respond, two hyenas emerged from the alley, their looming figures cutting an imposing silhouette against the afternoon light. They were burly, with matching sneers and predatory eyes that locked onto Finnick.
"There you are, short stuff," one of the hyenas growled, his voice low and menacing. "Thought you could run, huh?"
Judy immediately stepped in front of Finnick, her ears upright in alertness. "What's going on here?"
The second hyena sneered. "Your little buddy here owes us three hundred bucks. We're here to collect."
Nick raised an eyebrow and turned to Finnick. "Well?" he said with a raised eyebrow.
Finnick scratched the back of his neck, avoiding eye contact. "Uh... yeah. Look, it's complicated, alright? But I don't have it right now."
"Of course you don't," Nick muttered, face palming.
Judy, ever the professional, held up a paw. "Look, whatever the situation, we're not letting you assault him. You want to settle a debt, you'll have to find a legal way to do it."
The first hyena snorted. "We're not here to break legs, rabbit. We just want what's ours. And we will get it eventually."
Nick stepped forward, his relaxed demeanor masking a sharp edge in his tone. "Alright, alright. Let's all take a breath. You've got a problem with Finnick? Fine. But you've got a problem with me too."
The hyenas exchanged a glance before one of them chuckled. "And who are you supposed to be? His lawyer?"
"His friend," Nick said simply, crossing his arms. "And what kind of friend would I be if I turned my back on him now."
The second hyena leaned in. "Well, if you're such a good friend, why don't you pay his debt?"
Nick groaned internally. He shot Finnick a look, but the smaller fox just looked sheepish. With a resigned sigh, Nick pulled out his wallet and counted out the cash.
"Three hundred, right?" he said, holding the money up.
The hyenas grinned and snatched it from his paw. "Pleasure doing business," one of them said with a mock salute before they turned and strolled away, laughing to themselves.
As they disappeared around the corner, Nick turned to Finnick, who looked like he was struggling to find the right words. "Gosh, Nick. You didn't have to do that, man."
"Yeah, well," Nick said, sliding his now-empty wallet back into his pocket. "I don't leave my friends hanging. Even if they owe me a first class meal in the somewhat near future."
Finnick chuckled softly. "You're alright, Nick."
The three of them began walking down the street, the tension easing into a more comfortable silence. Nick was just starting to think about how he was going to budget the rest of the month when he suddenly yelped and stumbled backward.
"Nick!" Judy exclaimed, catching his arm. "What happened?"
Nick peered down at the sidewalk to see the point object he had stepped on, wondering how he hadn't noticed it ahead of time. When Nick spotted the culprit, he was very surprised. It wasa red gem, glinting in the sunlight. It was small but striking, shaped like a lightning bolt. He bent down to pick it up, amazed to see a ruby cut in such an unusual shape.
"Nice rock," Finnick said with a low whistle. "Bet you could sell that to make up for your loss."
Nick turned the gem over in his paw, admiring its vibrant hue and peculiar shape. For some reason, it felt... important. Like it was meant to be his. He shook his head and tucked it into his pocket.
"Nah, I think I'll hang onto it," he said.
Judy tilted her head. "Why? You're not usually sentimental about stuff like that."
Nick shrugged, his usual smirk creeping onto his face. "Call it a hunch. Besides, it's the only shiny thing I've got left today."
Finnick laughed, and Judy rolled her eyes, but none of them could shake the strange sense of significance surrounding the gem.
As they walked off together, the red lightning bolt glowed faintly in Nick's pocket, unnoticed by the trio. He had no idea of the significance —but somehow, deep down, it felt like holding onto it was the right thing to do.