Serendipity's Shadow
Rated T
Chapter 29
When Nick had walked back into Judy's room, she was tiredly rubbing her eyes.
"Coffee?" Nick offered.
"Yes, please." She smiled while taking the offered mug.
Nick watched her in content as she savored the smell of a freshly brewed coffee.
"So…" Judy paused to take a sip of the coffee. "What do you know?"
It was Nick's turn to drink his coffee before he answered.
"Not much more than you do."
Judy scoffed before sending Nick a knowing look.
"Lying doesn't paint you in a favorable light, Mr. Nicholas Wilde."
Nick laughed with a small smile before drinking his cup of joe.
"I may or may not have some information…that I recently obtained."
"…Do I want to know how you obtained it?"
Nick ignored her stare opting to swirl the coffee around aimlessly in his mug.
Judy sighed before asking her next question.
"So…what do you know?"
"Ermine has a plan. And I'm pretty sure the endgame to that plan is to dethrone the Shadow."
Judy's ears perked in alarm.
"I mean…I guessed that he was testing you or pushing boundaries. But to actually dethrone you-"
"It's not gonna happen." Nick stated firmly.
"…I didn't say it was."
Nick stared at Judy studying every inch of her face. The bandage around her head was removed just the other day. And the wound on her stomach was healing nicely. But that didn't take away the sinking feeling Nick had as he looked at her. Or the horrible memory of holding her body as she was slowly slipping into death. And now a ghost from his past was threatening both Judy and Nick.
"I don't know all of Ermine's connections." Nick opted to say. "But I know he's going to drag this trial out for as long as possible until he succeeds whatever it is he has planned."
"And what is his plan?" Judy dared to ask sensing Nick was holding back some information.
Nick looked at Judy then at his mug with a heavy sigh.
"I'm pretty sure it has to do with my father's death."
Judy looked to Nick as an awkward silence fell between them. Nick sat in the chair by Judy's bedside with a solemn look.
The best way to protect her. Is to finally be honest with her.
"Didn't you tell me he was murdered?"
"Yeah." Nick breathed heavily. "The assassin was Clifford Shorts. And he had a son, with a woman named Amelia Ermine. His name was Trevor Shorts. He was about the same age as me when I…" Nick slouched forward resting his head in one of his hands.
"Nick?"
"…You know who I am Carrots. You never asked for details…but you always knew. But what I never told you was what it took for me to get into my position as the Shadow of Zootopia."
Judy stayed silent allowing Nick to speak his mind.
"After I secured loyalty with Mr. Big. I took what little crew that was still loyal to the Wilde name and went on a…purge. At ten years old I had to exterminate at least thirteen parties that plotted against me. And I saved my last kill to be Clifford Shorts. Along with his woman and son." Nick paused refusing to look at Judy as he heard her breathing become more rapid. "But I didn't successfully kill my father's killer's son. And that kid grew up to be Clifford Ermine, Quick Shot."
Judy looked down at her lap processing all of this new information. She always desired for Nick to be open with her. But she didn't realize how early Nick had to start walking in the shadows of crime. Part of her was terrified of this information. And the other part just saw a scared little boy trying to survive in the world he was born into.
"And now…he's trying to get back at you for taking away his life." Judy spoke softly.
"Yeah. And the best way to do that…" Nick looked to Judy.
She closed her eyes in painful realization as she felt his gaze on her.
"Is to get to me." Judy finished Nick's sentence.
A cold breeze filled the room making Judy shudder in discomfort.
"That…" Nick nodded in agreement. "Or my sister."
"…Excuse me?!" Judy stared at Nick alarmed. "Your sister…is dead."
Nick took a deep breath before speaking. "Yes. Yes, I did tell you that. And that's what is officially documented…" Nick sheepishly looked to Judy.
"…Oh, hell no." Judy mumbled under her breath.
"You were the one that said we needed to talk."
"Really, Nick? Seriously?" Judy argued.
"Sorry." Nick placed his mug on the ground calmly before continuing. "I had to make her disappear so no one could hurt her. And so that she could live the life she wanted to with the…man she loved."
Judy noted how he said the last part with an annoyed tone. But right now, she was too shocked to care.
"Anything else you lied to me about?" Judy asked.
"Um-"
"Seriously?!" Judy exclaimed.
"If we are going to get past everything to where we can work together decently. I really need you not to get mad at every I tell you."
"Well, sorry." Judy said sarcastically. "But I think I'm allowed to be a little peeved that someone I was ready to spend the rest of my life with has more than a few little dark secrets."
"True." Nick agreed. "But the me back then thought that everything I did was either to protect you or my position. Now, I just want you to be able to understand me and every action I had ever taken. So that when Ermine strikes again you can maybe trust me a little easier."
"…And no at all so you can get pity points to win me back?" Judy accused.
Nick wanted to argue that it wasn't true. But part of him saw where there was some truth in that statement.
"I'm done lying Judy. You want to end everything we ever had. I don't. I want to win you back. But right now, I need you to trust me again. To trust that I can keep you safe and get your day in court against Ermine."
Judy felt a small heat rise behind her neck as Nick looked at her relentlessly. She felt weak under that gaze. And she couldn't deny how her heart called out for him. but her pride wouldn't forgive him that easily. As she forced down the thoughts that plagued her mind.
Can I give him a second chance?
I'm back. Sadly, my puppy passed away losing his fight against cancer. I thank you all sincerely for your well wishes. I'm trying to get back into writing this as I do want to finish this story. I hope you are all excited about what's about to come.