Welcome back!
First things first, I apologize for such a long break, but I had absolutely no time to write recently. I hope that now I'll be able to pick up the pace, but again, no promises on that. I know that you'd like to see new chapters as soon as possible, but I have responsibilities that I need to take care of before sitting down to write, please understand.
Now, to address your reviews:
In general, THANK YOU ALL for your constant support and I'll do my best to continue providing you with a story that'll be enjoyable.
Hebiaczek - Cóż mogę powiedzieć, nie mogłem się powstrzymać przed dodaniem małego smaczku językowego ;)
Cimar of Turalis of WildeHopps - Whoa! Never expected such a detailed review of my work, thank you so much! I'm very grateful for pointing out the weak parts of the story with such precision, I'll do my best do do something about it, though I'm not sure if I'd like to rewrite earlier chapters...
And, pointed out by several people, the infamous 'salat'...
...
How the hell did I miss that?!
Sorry...
Also, about the relationships in this story, all I can say is... please be patient and read on. You'll see for yourselves what's going to happen. Where would be the fun in me telling you the ending in the middle of the story?
One last thing - 'supermammal'. I will be stubborn about this and state that Nick is NOT a 'supermammal', else I'd tag this story as 'supernatural'. I hope that this chapter will shed a little light on this subject.
With that said...
Chapter 27
"How are you feeling, Mr. Wilde?" The vixen asked, sitting comfortably in her armchair, looking at the red fox before her.
"Pushed to the wall?" Nick tried to go with that response.
"How so?" Miss Shavala inquired for more information.
The fox was slumped in his seat, rubbing his forehead. "I have a date tomorrow…"
This caused her to raise a brow, but she didn't say anything. Nick let out a sigh. "A date I didn't want and one that won't go anywhere."
"So why agree going on it at all?"
He waved a paw in an irritated gesture. He was doing it a lot during their meetings, something she encouraged him to do, an exercise to show his emotions more. "It's kind of a… debt I have to pay."
She nodded and made a note. "Is she, as I am assuming we're talking about a female, aware of your attitude?"
Another exasperated sigh. "In a way, yes. And I'm almost certain, that she's been told by my mother that's it's pointless."
"Why?" It was an obvious and a simple question, but for Nick it would require telling an entire story to answer it.
So she answered for him. "Is this because you think you can't love her?"
Nick flinched and his face scrunched up in annoyance. "We've discussed this already…"
"Yes, I am well aware of the trauma that Irene has put you through, but have you even considered that one day everything might change?"
"Why would I?" He huffed and folded his arms.
"To try and overcome your pain and learn to love again." She stated simply and Nick reacted by showing no visible reaction at all. No twitch of a muscle, no change in his eyes or even a flick of his tail. It was like he suddenly became a statue. The therapist studied him for a moment, in the silence that followed her words, but eventually the fox moved. He shifted his arms and legs, leaning forward in his seat and supporting the elbows on his knees, letting the paws hang freely.
"I don't need to 'love again'." Nick's words were as emotionless as his eyes. The indifferent emeralds staring at the vixen with nothing but emptiness.
"Why?"
Nick narrowed his eyes. Normally he'd reply with some snarky comment, but the time he spend with this therapy, allowed a little opening in his emotional defenses and he managed a normal response, some life seeping back to his yes..
"I've been hurt twice already… Third time's the charm and I don't plan on checking what will happen when this phrase comes true."
"You could find happiness."
The fox snorted sarcastically. "Me? I'm already happy with what I've got." For the first time his lips formed a smile, even if it was a smug smirk. "I've got an entertaining job, a trustworthy partner and new friends."
"So why the date?" She returned to the matter at paw.
He leaned back. "Like I said, it was a debt…"
"But debts can be paid in different ways, why a date?"
One of Nick's clawed digits tapped on the armchair. "She insisted." He said eventually.
Miss Shavala noted it down and her notepad was already packed with notes from their meetings. "Even knowing that it could be futile? This means that she's either a foolish girl or a girl foolishly in love."
Nick groaned hearing her words and ran both paws down his face. "Either way, it's not going anywhere…"
"Isn't it up to you?"
"That's why I'm sayin-"
"What if this would actually work? Have you even considered this happening? If not, then your fear is the only reason that makes it impossible. And where would we be, if all of our choices would be held back by the fear of failure?"
Nick didn't have a response to that. He simply stared at his therapist, analyzing her words in his mind from various angles. *Why would it work? You can't squeeze out water from a rag that's already bone dry. I've managed without love for a decade and I'm perfectly fine. Why would I need it again?* He asked himself in a mocking way.
Because it felt good to hug mom again.
Nick blinked, not sure where this came from. A small, quiet voice from the depths of his mind and because of some unknown reason it was freakishly difficult to ignore. It felt like someone standing behind you and whispering comments into your ear. The fox shook his head, trying to get rid of it.
Because it feels good to not have to keep up these walls all the time.
"Shut up!" Nick screamed holding tightly his skull between paws.
Seeing this, Miss Shavala immediately put down her notepad and pen. "Mr. Wilde?"
The fox panted, trying to recover from his sudden outburst. After the shout his head felt like it was about to split in half.
"Are you all right?" The vixen asked with concern and her voice helped him to regain some focus on reality.
"Sure." He quipped, although through gritted teeth. "I'm talking to myself in a therapy session, how could I not be alright?"
"Hm, seeing that you're in mood enough to joke, I'll take it that you're fine. But I'd like to return to that on our next meeting." She said, but still eyed him with caution.
"Yeah, fine…" His head dropped on the armchair's back while he rubbed his temples.
"There was one more important thing I'd like to discuss. Are you feeling well enough to talk about it?"
Nick stayed in the same position and he didn't reply, but motioned her with a paw to keep talking.
"Very well, I wished to talk more of your savage condition. Has there been any changes there?"
A shake of the head.
"Nothing new happened?"
Another shake.
"Do you know that the antidote for the serum has been developed?"
A nod.
Nick was very well aware. He monitored news about the possible cure in every available way. He knew that it was created, even before the victims received it. Profits of having a genius hacker as an acquaintance, with tons of gratitude towards the fox. And Nick always tended to think ahead of the game, trying to get his paws on as much information as possible. Knowledge was priceless when used properly.
And now he had the knowledge about the antidote – something he wanted to have for a very long time. The only thing left was to get it.
"They administrated it successfully, without any side effects. Do you intend to use it?" She asked the obvious question.
"Yes." His answer was instantaneous.
"How?" This time she surprised him and he lifted his head to look at her.
"Excuse me?"
The vixen tapped her pen on the notepad. "The antidote is used only for the victims of the Nighthowler serum, so how are you going to get it? Steal it?"
It was a valid point. Nick had no legal ways of acquiring it, so this seemed like the only option.
"Why not confess instead?" She surprised the fox again.
"What?!" He exclaimed, his eyes narrowed.
"You heard me. Confess that you also are affected and receive the antidote in a normal way. No more lies and no need to hide it anymore."
"I…" He began, not sure how to follow this thought. It took him a few moments to continue. "Well… few mammals know about it already…"
This time she was genuinely surprised. "Really? How did they react?"
Nick shrugged. "Cautious, at first. But when they processed it, they accepted the fact."
"Is Judy Hopps one of those mammals?" Miss Shavala knew exactly where to find an opening in his defenses.
Nick's ears fell down, as his gaze suddenly dropped to the floor. "No…" He muttered.
"Why is that?"
Her calm and warm voice almost made his head spin. It was a question he was very reluctant to answer, even though the reason was fairly simple.
He was terrified.
He was mortified by the thought, that he might scare his partner… again. That moment at the museum etched itself in his memory for good. The moment when she looked back at him with true fear, even though she thought he was acting. Nick considered her his best friend. Maybe even something more. Someone so different from everyone else in his life. Not only she didn't judge him for being a fox, she also trusted him and pushed to become someone more than he already was. Though he'd never say it out loud, it was like meeting an angel and just being in her presence made him feel lighter and more motivated about almost anything. How could he ever gamble on losing something so precious? And even if by some miracle she'd swallow the fact, that he was on the verge of eating her so many times, how on earth he'd explain lying to her for almost a year. It was painful just to think of the hurt expression she was bound to make when the truth would be out.
All these thoughts he poured into one sentence. "I don't want to lose her…"
Miss Shavala folded her paws. "You think that she'll reject you one she learns the truth?"
He simply nodded.
"Has she done so before?"
Nick blinked.
This was a question he never asked himself. And once he thought about it, not even once Judy pushed him away. When she found out about how he lied to her at the ice cream shop, instead of fleeing, she hustled him into helping her. When he stalled her investigation, did she leave him behind? No, she saved his life. Then why? Why was he doubting her now?
"No…" He replied in a low voice.
Miss Shavala showed him a smile. "Well, then let's consider this your homework." She pointed a paw at him. "How would you tell her the truth? Just think about it, that's all. It's important, as a life built on lies just keeps on getting heavier and heavier and is bound to collapse at one point. So, once you're home, give it some thought." She clapped her paws. "But now I'd like you to come with me and meet someone."
Nick raised his brows in surprise. "Someone?"
.
.
Judy was pacing through the corridors of the hospital, avoiding colliding with numerous members of the medical personnel.
Will was shot.
That was the only information she got from Clawhauser, apart from the fact it was during an arrest of a cheetah drug dealer. The feline went for the gun and, being faster than his partner, Will jumped in to shield Francine.
"Hey!"
"Watch it, rabbit!"
"Don't run in here!"
The bunny officer kept shouting apologies over her shoulder. "Sorry! Sorry! Excuse me!" Judy finally reached the room she was looking for and her paws skidded on the floor, as she tried to come to a stop. A staff member walked out of the room, holding a bloodied, bunny sized police uniform, a hole visible in the material. Judy's heart sunk. Once regaining her balance, the doe launched herself inside, where, to her relief, a brown buck was sitting on a hospital bed. He was out of his uniform and dressed in a patient's clothing.
"Oh, hey Ju-" William began.
With one big leap, Judy jumped from the door and onto the bed. "What are you doing?!" She demanded, standing next to Will, looking down on him. "It's almost night and I get a call that you've been shot!"
The buck giggled nervously while rubbing the back of his neck. "Ahhaha…"
"Ehm!" Judy heard a noise from her left. A gazelle in nurse's attire was glaring at her. She did not look happy. "Officer… Get down from the patient's bed. Now." The doe's ears dropped down and an embarrassed blushed decorated her cheeks.
"Sorry…" She muttered and obeyed the order by jumping to the floor.
The female nurse folded her arms and eyed the doe from head to toe. "Visits are restricted to family members. Are you a relative?"
"I'm his girlfriend." Judy stated with a slight blush. William nodded in confirmation.
"Hmm, I see… Then I will allow it, but no longer than an hour. Officer Twicks needs to rest. A doctor has successfully extracted the bullet and there were no complications, but no physical activity of any kind is permitted. Is that clear?"
The doe's face and ears became red as a rose and William stifled a chuckle. "Yes ma'am, we understand. Ouch…" He clenched his side with a grimace. "Sorry, can't laugh too much I suppose…"
The nurse raised a brow. "Indeed." And she headed out of the room. The bunnies only managed to exchange glances, when they heard an annoyed snort by the door. Right when the nurse was about to leave the room, she almost bumped into a red furred vixen in doctor's attire.
"Ma'am." The gazelle said with obvious disrespect and went out.
Vivian didn't react in any visible way to the nurse's attitude. She simply walked to the bed with a smile on her face.
"Why hello, Judy. Didn't expect to see you here." The vixen took the medical chart she carried under her arm an scanned it with her eyes.
"Vivian? You work here?"
"Why of course. And I'm here to the check on my patient." She continued studying the chart. "Feeling strange in any way, officer Twicks? Any abnormal sensations?"
"Well, none that I can think of… Just the aches when I laugh too much."
Vivian smiled at him. "That's pretty normal after that kind of injury. Still, it's good to be in high spirits. However," the vixen glared at Judy "don't joke too much around him or make him laugh."
"I'll remember not to do that." The doe promised.
William raised a paw. "Um, this might be a stupid question, but what could happen if I laugh too hard?"
"Oh, nothing much…" Vivian stated in a casual tone, as she took out a pen and made some notes on the chart, her eyes still focused on it. "You'll tear your stitches and bleed out within five minutes if I won't stop the source of it. Of course, that means we wouldn't have time to get you to a proper operating room, so I'd have to cut you open right away without any anesthesia, which mean that it would hurt like hell. You'd probably pass out from the pain. But don't worry, I always carry a suturing kit with me, along with a scalpel." She made the final dot with her pen and only then looked up. "Ok?"
Both bunnies had their ears hanging low and Will was white as chalk.
"I… I don't feel like laughing anymore…" He stated with a weak voice.
The female doctor waved her paw. "I'm just joking!" She sent the couple a smirk, causing Judy to breathe with relief.
"I don't have a scalpel. I'd have to borrow a knife from the kitchen." She laughed and left the two bunnies alone in the room.
After a while, William was able to speak again, even if with a low voice. "She's something else… is she really a doctor?"
Judy's shoulders sagged as she let out a sigh. "She's certainly the mother of a certain fox I know…" She muttered.
"I'll say…" Feeling a bit better, her boyfriend sent her a playful smirk. "Judy, about what the nurse told us…"
Judy shot her boyfriend a look. "She didn't have to say it that way and why are you laughing?!" Will's arms were shaking from holding back laughter.
"No…" he gasped for air "Sorry, it's just too funny that, even when I just got out of surgery, others think that as bunnies we'd just-"
"You don't want to finish that sentence." Judy warned him, pointing a finger at the buck.
He shrugged with a smile. "What? That's what they say about us. Best thing you can do is to laugh about it."
Judy gave up. "Uh… maybe you're right."
Will showed her a smug grin. "Sure I am." This made her giggle.
"Stop that."
"Why?"
"You remind me of Nick when you do that."
William's smile slightly faded. "Oh, I see… You really like him a lot, Judy."
She ran a paw down her ears at the back of her head. "Well, yeah… He's a great friend and a really good partner."
Will showed her the best puppy eyes he could muster. "What about me?"
Judy's ears sprung up. "Oh, sorry! You know I didn't mean it like that…" Casting a quick glance at the door, the doe climbed on the bed again. "Come here." She leaned to her boyfriend and gave him a quick kiss. "Better?"
The buck feigned a hurt expression. "A little."
"Okay, how about dinner? I'm buying."
"Sounds okay." He examined his fingers. "As I recall, you ate your last dinner with Nick. So as six others before that. And lunches."
Now Judy's ears drooped. "That's… we're partners, at that time of day it's the easiest way to eat."
"Well, you could give me a call, you know. I may not be always available, but it wouldn't hurt to ask."
The doe fidgeted with her paws, not able to refute his logic. She knew he was right. It should be an obvious thing between a couple. But eating with Nick, spending time with him... It was so enjoyable. Despite her strict comments, she always liked how he could laugh under any circumstances. As partners, they seemed unstoppable. He made her feel more confident about herself, always supporting her, but never shy to voice his opinion if he felt that she was crossing the line in some aspects. What else she could ask from a best friend?
Shouldn't a girl spend more time with her boyfriend, rather than a friend?
What would that imply, if recently she's been spending more and more time with Nick? Judy blinked, not sure where this unfamiliar feeling came from. The fox was only her friend… So why? Why it was so easy to think of him first when it came to spending time together?
"Judy?" Will concerned voice brought her back to reality.
"Yes! Sorry! Just remembered something…"
He gave her a concerned look. "O-kay… So how about that dinner? I'm fine even with takeout. Preferably soon. I'm starving here and the hospital food isn't too good."
Judy recomposed herself back to normal. "Sure. I'll take care of that." She jumped off the bed. "Just promise me not to eat any more lead tonight, deal?"
He smiled and shrugged at her words. "Hey, how can I let a girl get hurt when I'm around?"
The doe cast him a glance of mock anger. "Show-off."
She left the room and walked down the corridor, heading for the exit. On her way, she saw Vivian by the reception desk, talking to a lynx nurse.
"Keep checking his vital signs, if anything happens, inform me immediately."
The young nurse nodded eagerly. "Yes, ma'am!"
The vixen rolled her eyes and scooped the girl into a hug with one arm. With the paw of the other one she pinched her cheek. "Geez, girl… I said a million times already. It's Vivian. V-i-v-i-a-n. How can you expect to study medicine if you can't memorize something that simple?"
"S-sorry, ma'a-"
"Vivan!" Said the vixen, cutting in.
"Um, is this some kind of mobbing, should I step in?" Judy giggled when she approached the two females. Vivian finally released the nurse, who mumbled another apology and scurried off.
"Huff, seriously… These interns are a pain to deal with." The red furred vixen folded her arms.
"I'm sure she'll learn." The doe gave her a smile. "Say, Vivian… What was about that gazelle earlier?"
Vivian waved a paw dismissively. "Pay that no mind, I'm used to it. It's just 'being a fox' thing."
The bunny's ears shot up in shock. "Seriously?! Even though you're a doctor?"
"I would hardly be given a chance to be a doctor if not for chief Bogo's son. The night they wheeled him in I was the only surgeon available, so they had no other choice but to rely on me. I did good enough for Bogo to recognize my skills and agree to let wounded officers be treated by me."
"B-but, Nick said you are the best surgeon-"
"He overstated things a bit. I am good, very good in fact and confident enough in my abilities to claim that, but I'm nothing close to being the best." She looked at her fingers with a thoughtful stare. "It's probably like this because I had to put much more effort in it than others, but I guess you know what it's like, eh?"
"Vivian…" Judy put a paw on her chest.
The vixen sighed and headed to the nearby coffee machine. "Want some?" She asked over her shoulder. "The one in the staff room is horrendous, I prefer paying for it and drink something that can actually be called coffee."
Judy shook her head. "No, thank you."
"Okay… You see Judy, it's something my species just have to accept. No matter what we do, what profession we have or even education, we'll always be despised and distrusted." She took the cup of steaming hot liquid. "Even during my studies, I always got bullied, my notes and things were constantly being stolen or destroyed, my tests were always more difficult, the list goes on."
"But… but that's just wrong!"
Vivian smiled gently and petted her on the head with her free paw. "It's nice of you to say this, but it isn't about right or wrong. I know that I can't change it, so I just need to put up with it. The thing is, many young foxes turn to shady professions, because no one will hire a fox for a normal job. And this will cause more negative voices about our species. But I can't blame those kids… One has to eat and what to do when there are no other ways of getting food than stealing? Sometimes it seems like a helpless struggle…" Again, the female doctor let out a sigh. "Still, maybe if enough foxes will set a good example, then maybe the general view about us will change. That's why I'll do my best here and I hope that Nicky will set a good example too." Judy received a warm smile. "Please help him do it."
The doe nodded with a smile of her own. "Yes, I will. I know that your son is a good mammal."
"Of course he is. No matter what kind of things the world threw at him, Nicky is still good at heart, even if he never learnt to show it directly. Do you know that he's the one who got me into being a doctor?"
"No way, Nick did?"
The mother of the ex-conmammal chuckled. "I was always interested in medicine and read a lot about it in libraries whenever I had a chance. But at one point Nick convinced me to apply for the medical university, he even prepared an elaborate excuse about covering the costs of attendance with a loan from a friend. Basically, I knew that it was him, who paid for my whole studies and decided not to question it, rather do my best so he wouldn't be disappointed with his ol' mom."
Judy raised her brows and tried to find suitable words for that. "That… that's very…" But Vivian leaned to her and placed a finger on the doe's mouth.
"This is just some rambling of a mother who is proud of her son, don't worry about it. Let me just say one more thing…"
"Yes?"
Vivian straightened up. "You are certainly the best thing that has ever happened to Nick in his entire life. Thank you for believing in him."
Judy's ears fell in embarrassment and she rubbed the back of her neck.
"Um… I didn't do that much. I'm just happy to have him as my friend." She mumbled to the floor.
Vivian laughed at her words. "And I'm sure he feels the same." The vixen patted the bunny on the shoulder and headed back to the reception.
.
.
"Octavius Pawsregmont! I am thrilled to finally meet a live sample! Oh my, did I say that out loud? Surely not, but just in case let me reiterate. I am thrilled to meet you, mister Wilde! I have waited for a long time for a chance to research a true savage!" A black and white badger in a lab coat was shaking Nick's hand so vigorously, that the fox's arm still kept going in the up and down motion after he let go of his paw.
"Uh, nice to meet you too… I guess." Nick managed to stop the automatic movement.
"Ah! But we are wasting time while chatting idly! Come, mister fox. Let us indulge ourselves with science! I shall need a sample of your blood, tissue and…"
"Whoa, whoa! Slow down, doc." Nick held a paw in front of him to stop the badger's chatter. The mammal had thick glasses on his muzzle and a pair of eyes behind them, that indicated either a madman or a genius. In worst case, both.
"What is it? Something wrong? Is it the serum?! Are you having an attack?" The badger rattled and in one motion grabbed Nick's muzzle to pull it down and produced a tiny flashlight to point it at the fox's eyes.
Nick fought back the initial surprise and released himself from the grip. *Ok, one thing's certain. This guy is nuts!* He thought instantly and gazed on to the other side of the room, where Miss Shavala was sitting on a chair and sipped tea with grace and calm of a noble lady. They were in one of the medical offices of Zootopia General hospital, far over the normal visiting hours.
"You said this is to test me, how is this testing?"
She put the cup down on the plate. "It is. Octavius is a specialist when it comes to biologic mutations and genetic diseases. Also, he is the only one who is willing to test you without informing the authorities. Isn't it good enough?"
The fox eyed the badger he now held at arm's length.
"Ah! I have heard from Shavi, that you can turn savage at will. Can you do it now? Can I see it? I'd love to have some empiric data!"
Nick cast a quick glance towards Miss Shavala. "Shavi?"
She dismissed it with a wave of a paw. "We've known each other for years, pay no mind to that. And please, indulge him. You won't regret it."
The fox let out a sigh and closed his eyes. In the depths of his mind, he nudged the beast to awaken. And then his eyes opened again, bloodshot and with narrowed pupils.
The badger practically jumped with joy and once more grabbed his flashlight. "Fascinating! Your pupils can change into vertical slits to avoid getting blinded by light! And perfect for hunting purposes!"
Nick looked at the vixen again. "Is he for real?"
She simply smiled in response.
.
.
Reluctantly, Nick allowed the crazy doctor to take whatever samples or measurements he wanted and now waited with the vixen for the results. It took about an hour, during which Nick used his phone to have an update on the newest information about the city. He made it into a habit, to always be informed about as many things as possible. Even more, since the time his hacker friend hooked his phone into the internal servers of ZPD, ZIA, City Hall, biggest news agencies and several other sources of information. He was sometimes interrupted by a surprised gasp or a happy shout coming from the lab behind the door. Meanwhile, Miss Shavala entertained herself with a crossword left on the badger's desk. Fingers of her paw played with a pen while she read the clues for the words.
"Hmm... three across..." She read out loud. "A savage animal... f-o-x." The vixen wrote down the letters with a serious face.
Nick rolled his eyes.
And eventually Octavius stormed out of the laboratory and jumped towards Nick. He grabbed the green shirt with both paws and yanked the fox to his feet.
"This. Is. AMAZING!" He yelled into his face with great excitement, his eyes gleaming.
Nick extracted himself from the awkward grip. "Easy, easy… What's so great?"
Instead of getting a reply, the fox was dragged to the adjacent room and pushed onto a chair, right next to a microscope on a table.
"Go on. Look. Look!" The less-than-sane doctor pointed at the device in front of Nick. The vulpine cast a cautious glance at the doc and slowly leaned down to the microscope.
"Can you see it? Can you?"
"What exactly am I looking at?" Nick asked, seeing a group of cells under the powerful magnifying device.
„That's a sample of your muscle tissue."
The fox looked at the tiny piece of his own body through the microscope, trying to find any clue to the doctor's excitement. "Well, I'm no expert, but I'm guessing, that it shouldn't look like this?"
"Of course not!" The badger almost jumped into the air. He rushed to Nick's side and pointed at the sample. "See all the scarring, all the rebuilt inter-cellular connections? This is unquestionably amazing, it's like you're a walking sample of natural regeneration ability! That should explain why you are still alive! Did others possess this abnormal feature too? Or maybe they were simply overexerting themselveswhichresultedin-
"Time out!" Nick cut in, gesturing with his paws. "What is all this about? And will you slow down to some audibly acceptable speed?"
Octavius blinked behind his thick glasses. "Oh… Sorry, I have started rambling again? It happens when I'm really excited about something. Anyway, this sample shows that your muscles have been repeatedly damaged and regenerated."
"Wait, damaged?" This actually piqued Nick's interest.
"Indeed. Tell me, have you performed any kind of activities that would have strained your muscles? I mean any kind of activity that would borderline something biologically impossible for a fox."
Nick went back to all those situations when he rampaged in a cage during training with Finnick or all those other when he felt aches all over his body after really intense work out sessions.
"Well, I think I can say 'yes'…"
"A-ha!" Octavius clapped his paws triumphantly. "Just like I thought! You, my friend, have evolved!"
The fox blinked, not sure if he heard the doctor correctly. "I did what?"
The badger put his fingers together and glanced at Nick over his spectacles. "The neurological toxin that has entered your body, caused a chain reaction resulting in altering your DNA. And to be more specific, it's not exactly evolution, but devolution." Seeing the vulpine's puzzled expression, the badger went on. "You see, this substance, that the ignorant chose to name 'Night Howler serum', was meant to turn fully sane predators into savages, BUT!" He raised a finger. "In reality, the end product has overgrown the creator's intentions and resulted in something we could call a 'mutation enforcing substance'. And in all the victims, it caused a forced return to primal instincts. However, as we can see with your example, it's not just the instincts." Octavius nudged Nick in the chest. "Thousands of years ago, predators were nothing more than killing machines, with bodies to match that purpose. Strength, agility, endurance, senses… Everything in place to find, hunt down and devour their prey. But now? Look around you. If a lion needs a meal, he goes to the fridge. When a tigress is struck by hunger, she can visit the local supermarket. They've become lazy. They don't need strong muscles, there are machines for that. Agility? It's not needed to watch TV shows or play video games. What about endurance for running long distances? Useless, we have cars now. And all their senses have been dulled in our age of huge TV screens, loud music and suffocating amounts of perfume."
"Ok, but what's that got to do with some muscle pain?"
The badger pointed a finger at the fox. "Your body reverts to the form it should originally have. To the form of a true, ancient predator. Forget about that modern, weak physique of yours. You have transformed into a real fox, with all its consequences. One of them being your body going over its current limit, hence damaging the muscle tissue and afterwards, regenerating into slightly more adapt form. Rinse and repeat, after numerous cycles like this, your muscles have grown accustomed to your savage capabilities. Plus, let us remember about the possible adrenaline rush, which could allow your body to produce explosive strength for a short amount of time. Oh! And on a different note, tell me, any change in eating habits lately? Anything new on the menu?"
Nick flinched, not liking what the doctor was suggesting with that question. "No." He stated, folding his arms.
"I see. Any change in the amount?"
This time the fox didn't reply for few seconds. "I… may have some urge recently to eat more." Nick said eventually, his mind going back to the first time he wanted to gobble up THREE times his usual portion.
"There you go." The doctor waved a paw towards Nick, who still didn't exactly follow the crazy mammal's thinking process. "Your bulky posture is the effect of building up muscle and…" He pointed at the sample under the microscope "… putting up weight. Nearly 150 pounds is not a normal weight for a fox."
Nick couldn't argue with that. "You don't say?" He muttered with a twinge of sarcasm.
Octavius sniggered in a way befitting a mad scientist. "Well, about that… You didn't exactly get fatter, but denser."
When Nick cast him a puzzled look, the doctor looked almost as giddy as a teenage girl before a concert of Justin Beaver.
"What I am saying is this: due to limitations of your body size, instead of quantity, your muscles went with quality. And, aside the increased body weight, it should also result in…" Without any warning, the badger threw a punch at the fox's chest. Nick saw it coming, hardly a speed his enhanced senses couldn't perceive, but didn't move, curious what the crazy doc had in mind. The attack connected, resulting in Nick slightly rolling away on the office chair he was sitting on and in one badger in a doctor's attire, shaking wildly his paw in the air.
"Aargh! Yes! That should happen! Muscles packed so dense within your body, that it resulted in additional sturdiness." He massaged the aching paw.
Rubbing his chin, Nick had to admit that it made sense. *Not only it explains the new weight but also this unusual toughness, but there's still…* He glanced up at the doctor.
"What about the new eating habit?"
Octavius made one last swing of his arm and dropped on a nearby chair. "Simple. More muscle means more demand for energy. Food is the basic fuel for our bodies. Without eating enough, you wouldn't be able to move properly, as all the biological machinery within you would be deprived of the source of energy."
"Okaay, sounds plausible enough." Nick leaned back on his chair and stared at the ceiling thoughtfully. "Tell me something… If I my muscles can regenerate like that, does it mean that this process is endless?"
The badger shook his head. "Of course not. Dear me, did you think your own body could handle a strain like that? First of all, your heart wouldn't be able to take it."
Nick ears dropped down and his paw instinctively went up to his chest. "My heart?"
"Absoluteffirmatively!" The doctor beamed at him, not fazed by the fox's dumbfounded expression. "Even strengthened, as it is now, your blood processing pump won't be able to deal with a sudden change in demand for the scarlet liquid in your veins."
"Come again?"
Octavius put his paws together. "I'm saying that there is a high chance that in case of any display of savagery, your heart could go POP!" He spread his arms, as if showing a rainbow. "Like a firework!"
Nick suddenly felt a cold paw grasping his intestines in a chilling grip. *My heart could…. burst?! Oh God… how many times I have turned savage until now?!* His thoughts once again raced through all the training sessions with Finnick and other situations where he went wild.
He could have died.
It was a creepy thing, to learn that you've been a hair's breadth from death and never knew about it before.
"My advice" the badger's voice brought him back from the haunting thoughts "is to be exceedingly cautious in what you are doing. While using your senses is fine, any extraordinary displays of strength might get you on my table for a post-mortem examination, which I'm sure would be very interesting... Well, I mean, it can get you killed."
Nick swallowed. "I'll keep that in mind." He said in a weak voice and another thing nudged his brain. "You mentioned others… Am I right to assume that, apart from keeping my sanity, their condition is different from mine?"
"Oh, quite so! They had to be put in an induced coma due to their condition."
"What?! Why?"
"To avoid severe internal injuries, of course. If left alone, they would have torn all their muscles and tendons to shreds. They rampaged for hours in the hospital environment, those bloody fools calling themselves doctors putting savage predators in square, white rooms with walls… Anyone would go insane. I'm glad I'm not!"
Nick gave him a stare that questioned that judgement.
.
.
After sleeping off the night visit in the hospital, Nick spent the first half of the day going over and over again about the doctor's words. He knew before, that the serum was a danger to his sanity and, potentially, the body. However, hearing a diagnosis from an expert in the field made his mind restless. Lying on his bed and staring at the ceiling, Nick held up a paw and examined it with a cautious look. *Right now, I have a ticking bomb in my body…* He thought gravelly. The fox returned with his thoughts to those times he overused his enhanced abilities and reflected how many times he could have destroyed his body beyond repair. Or even killed himself.
But the world didn't give him more time to ponder about it, as his phone alarm rang, informing Nick that it was time to get ready for a date. *Ah, yes… The other one of my problems…* It wasn't that he didn't like Jackie, quite the opposite. She was a good friend, a funny companion and a girl you could depend on, all in one. Any male cheetah would fall for her, but for Nick it wasn't so simple. One, he wasn't a cheetah, let alone a feline. Two, 'love' was a foreign concept for him for almost ten years now. Sure he loved his mother, but this was a feeling between a parent and a child, a unique bond that they created in the moment of his birth and had little to do with sways of a heart towards a complete stranger.
Still… he was going on a date.
A date he knew that wasn't going to end well, as he planned to cut any further attempts from Jackie, to change their friendship into something else.
.
.
Jacqueline Spotters was more nervous than on any other day at the academy or at the graduation ceremony. Right now, she was waiting at the entrance to the cinema where Nick decided to invite her for the start of their date. As for the looks, Jackie decided to go with a dark blue shirt, with the top button left undone and plain jeans, hoping that she was right in guessing that Nick didn't like flashy females. The feline arrived 15 minutes before the agreed time, just to be sure that she won't give Nick an excuse to tease her about being late. And standing there for barely five minutes, she was already approached by a male cheetah, but sent him off with just a glare. She still wasn't sure what exactly the fox planned for the evening and the anticipation was nearly killing her.
„You're early." A sudden voice from behind made her jump with a small yelp.
Nick held up his paws. "Whoa, it's just me." He said with a hint of amusement.
Jackie gasped and grabbed her chest. „Nick! You want to give me a heart attack?!"
The fox replied with a smirk. „Wow, I only said 'hi' and you're already weak at the knees. This has to be a record." He was wearing his usual, green shirt with a tie, plus the khaki pants.
„Har, har. It is rude to surprise a lady in such a manner."
This comment made him raise a brow. „Spots, this week I saw you taking down a perp, yelling words I wouldn't dare repeating in front of my dear mother. Hardly a behavior fitting a lady."
Jackie sent him a grin. „Touché, but the guy had it coming, just wouldn't shut up."
"Fair enough." He indicated the entrance to the cinema with a nod of his head. "Shall we?"
The cheetah gave him the best smile she could show in her nervous state of mind. "Sure."
.
.
In one of the offices in a skyscraper in Tundratown a glass fell down on the hard floor, breaking into sparkling pieces.
The double door swung open and an arctic vixen rushed into the office, alarmed by the sound. She spotted her employer bent double on his chair and coughing violently. The red fox's body was shaking with spasms and he held a paw tightly pressed against his mouth.
"Sir!" She ran to his side. The vixen was rubbing his back, the trembling of the body traveling through her arm.
The attack subsided slowly and the fox finally removed his paw, now painted red with blood. He wheezed heavily, looking at the liquid before him.
"Damn it!" He coughed up the words. The fox scrunched up his face in anger and slammed the bloodied fist on the desk. "We're running out of time. Get me that goat here immediately."
His secretary hesitated. "Sir… with your current state-"
The vulpine cast her a glance that made the vixen tremble. She took a step back.
"Bring him."
.
.
The two predators were strolling down the street, the female cheetah laughing so hard that she had to wipe off tears.
"Ohh dear…" She gasped for some air. "Seriously, that guy's face was so hilarious!"
They just got out of a restaurant, where Nick guided them after the movie and had some fun by pretending that Jackie was Nick's adopted daughter. The surprised looks they got were well worth the act.
"Aww daddy! But you promised me!" The feline said in a childish, girly voice and again burst out with laughter.
Nick scolded her with a raised finger. "Young lady, I will not permit such horrible behavior."
And they went on with the banter, all the way to Jackie's home. Once there the female cheetah glanced up at the wall of the building and then turned her gaze to Nick.
"I… I had fun today, Nick. It was a nice date." She said, keeping her paws behind her back.
"Well, that was the point. I'm glad you liked it." Nick put his paws into the pockets of his pants. "Especially, when it is the only one we'll have."
Her expression shifted into a sad one almost immediately. "Nick…"
Now his face became serious and he pointed a finger at her. "Don't, Spots. Whatever you have in mind, don't pursue that thought."
The girl looked crestfallen. Still, she took a step forward. "But-"
"Don't." His voice dropped in temperature, yet Jackie refused to yield.
"Why? Why won't you give it a chance? You don't like me?"
Nick shook his head. "I like you, but only as a friend. Nothing more."
She took another step towards him. "You can't know until you try, Nick. Didn't we have fun today?"
The vulpine folded his arms. "I had fun fooling around with my friend Finnick, eating dinners with my mother and working with Carrots, yet I don't go on dates with any of the mentioned mammals." He turned around, intending to leave.
Hearing this, the feline flinched. "Is this because of Judy?" She asked in a low voice.
"Officer Hopps is a great partner and my best friend, nothing more. She has nothing to do with this." As he said that, a tiny sting appeared in his chest. Nick chose to ignore it.
"Then why choose her as your partner? Why not any other officer?" Her voice started to quiver at the edges.
The fox shrugged. "She and I have history. To cut long story short I owe her, she has changed my life, Spots."
At this point, Jackie could not stop herself any longer. The first tears started forming in the corners of her eyes. "And you have changed mine." This time her voice was clearly shaken.
He cast her one last glance over his shoulder and started walking. "I'm sorry if that gave you wrong impression about us. Good night, Spots."
Jackie stood on the pavement, her paws clenched, fighting back the flowing tears. But even with wet traces on her cheeks, the feline's eyes managed to maintain a determined spark.
"I won't give up, Nick!" She yelled after him, but the fox did not stop and walked off into the night.