Fanfic: The Call, Undercover
Sep. 12th, 2016 11:12 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jeriendhalNick getting into the bar was easy. Finnick getting into the bar involved flashing three photo ID's and a loud announcement that he'd kick the bouncer's ass if he was carded one more time.
“I hate being taken for a kit,” the little fox muttered when they finally got through the door.
“Yeah, I can understand that,” Nick agreed cheerfully, the triple espresso he'd drank being enough revive him for at least the next hour or so. “By the way, you still wearing your elephant onesie when you sleep?”
Finnick glared at him. “You try finding adult pajamas when you're this damn small.” Then he added reluctantly, “Besides, it's comfy.”
They stepped out of the lobby and into the bar proper. It was an enormous space, big enough to provide dry dock service for up to two of the old Boeing 314 Clippers back in the first half of the 20th century. A long bar ran along the right hand wall, leading to a series of tiered tables for patrons as low as a shrew and high as giraffe along the back side of the building. The entire wall facing Zootopia's ring shaped bay was made of glass, giving a spectacular view out onto the water and the mountains beyond. Finally in the center of the room was the dance floor, currently filled with the mid-evening crowd, a three foot wide, ten foot tall pillar in the center holding a quartet of female mice, dancing energetically, chrome electronic sensors at their wrists and ankles providing cues to a thumping electronic beat as they moved, their dance projected on large screens scattered throughout the room.
“You see the guy?” Nick asked, slipping on a pair Ray Bans to shield his eyes from the dance floor's flashing lights.
“I can't see shit down here. Grab a table so I can get high enough to look around,” Finnick said, dodging the other bar patrons as they skirted the dance floor, heading towards the back tables. After a minute Nick grabbed a fox sized table a couple was vacating, picking up Finnick to plop him on top of it. “Ah, man! They haven't cleaned this yet!” Finnick yelped, stepping carefully around spots of spilled beer before finding a clean spot to sit.
“I'm gonna get drinks for us. What's your pleasure?” Nick asked.
“Banana daiquiri,” the smaller fox told him.
Nick grinned at him. “You're really not helping your tough guy image with orders like that.”
“I drink what I like. Just get the damn booze while I look around.”
Nick left him and threaded around the crowd to the bar. He managed to flag down a bartender and put in Finnick's order, along with a rum and coke for himself. While he waited, he scanned the room, leaning back casually against the bar, trying to catch any threats that might be wandering around.
When his phone began vibrating in his pocket, he nearly dropped it in his rush to grab it. Chief Bogo's every scowling face showed up on the caller ID, and he felt a pit open up in his stomach. Maybe she's awake, he thought desperately. Maybe it's good news. “This is Nick,” he said into the phone. “What's up, Chief? Any change with Judy?”
“Wilde, where are you? Are you at home?”
“I cannot tell a lie, Chief. I couldn't sleep, so one of my buddies took me out to this dive bar he knows.” Which was the absolute truth. It just left out a lot of annoying details, like I'm working the case just like you told me not to.
Sly fox, he snarled at himself.
“I need you to come to the station right now.”
Puzzled, Nick asked, “I thought you wanted me to rest.”
Bogo's voice sounded strained. “Two of Volkov's thugs just tried to assassinate Hopps at the hospital. They missed and one of them is dead, but the other got away and also kidnapped her parents. I need you to get back to the station where it's safe. I think Volkov is targeting allies and friends of Mr. Big, and respected Zootopia citizens, to actually provoke him into a gang war, to assert his own dominance over the city.”
Nick felt his stomach lurch, and his tail frizz out in fear. “Wait, what do you mean they got her parents?” he demanded. God help him, he could see the assholes who tried to kill Judy making a second attempt on her. In his wildest nightmares he'd never anticipated her kindly farmer parents getting involved in the situation.
“You heard me. We're putting everything we can into finding them, but I need you where I know you're safe. Get back to the station, that's an order.”
He was about to say yes, he honestly was, because he could hear the fear for his officer that Bogo was trying to conceal over the line. He knew the chief needed to know he was safe, because Nick on loose and vulnerable was just another worry ZPD's chief of police didn't need in this crisis. But then he saw a familiar polar bear sitting alone at a table, a look on his face like he was waiting on someone, and they were late.
Nick hesitated a long moment, then answered, “I'll be there as soon as I can. Just gotta take care of one or two things first.” I'm not lying. I'm just not telling you everything, he thought, even as he cursed himself for stretching the truth like this.
“Wilde,” the chief started to growl.
“Caio!” Nick said with false cheer, then cut the connection and turned off his phone. He stepped away from the bar without waiting for the drinks, hurrying back as fast as he could while still looking casual.
“Where's the drinks?” Finnick demanded, when he got back to the table.
“Left 'em,” Nick replied tightly. “I just got a call from Chief Bogo. Volkov's goons just made an attempt to kill Judy in the hospital, and they kidnapped her parents.”
Finnick's big ears went flat against his head. “Shit. Watcha gonna do, Nick?”
“Look to your left, as casual as you can. Polar bear in a loud shirt and gold chains.”
Finnick glanced over, turning his eyes back to Nick quickly. “I see 'em.”
“That's the bastard that hurt, Judy,” Nick growled.
“Goddamn. You callin' it in, Nick?”
He shook his head. “Not yet. They've got Judy's parents. I'm thinking Volkov is too damned violent to want to hold them for ransom. He's going to kill them, but do it in a way to achieve maximum provocation. It's gonna be pubic, it's gonna be messy, and it's gonna be soon. If I call Bogo he'll send armed patrollers, and that may just spook this guy before we can find where they're holding the Hoppses.”
His friend's eyes were wide, his tough guy persona almost forgotten in his concern. “So whatcha gonna do?”
“Tail him right back to Volkov.”
“Got it. Where do you need me in all this?”
Nick took hold of Finnick's shoulders, picking him up and setting him down on the floor. “You need to go home.”
Finnick snarled. “The hell you say!”
He squatted down beside the small fennec fox. “Look, Finn. I've got exactly two friends in this world that I trust without thinking about it. One of them is in the hospital right now, and may never come out. The other is standing right in front of me. I need to know that you'll be all right.”
“Yeah, well I got one friend that I trust,” Finnick shot back, “and he's about to do something majorly stupid. You think I'm gonna let him go off by himself?”
“Yes,” Nick replied. “Face it, buddy, you're just too damned conspicuous. Now you head out of here. If I don't call you, call, not text, in a half hour, call the ZPD and tell them everything that's going on.”
Finnick looked like he was going to balk at this, but finally said, “You watch yo' ass then, Nick. Keep your piece handy.”
“Didn't bring it,” Nick answered. At Finnick's disbelieving look he added, “I couldn't bring it past the bouncer, Finnick.”
“Shit. Just watch yourself then.”
“Will do. Now go.” Finnick gave him another glare, then turned and headed towards the front door, dodging and cussing at the other bar patrons as he went. Nick waited until he was sure Finnick had made it to the lobby, then stepped away from the table and towards his quarry.
“Hi!” Nick said cheerfully, walking up to the polar bear. “My name is Officer Nick Wilde. You mauled my partner. Prepare to die.”
TBC
* * *
Note: Those of you familiar with popular Furry artists might recognize the mouse band. I didn't name them since I wasn't able to get permission from their creator, but I hope to correct that eventually.
“I hate being taken for a kit,” the little fox muttered when they finally got through the door.
“Yeah, I can understand that,” Nick agreed cheerfully, the triple espresso he'd drank being enough revive him for at least the next hour or so. “By the way, you still wearing your elephant onesie when you sleep?”
Finnick glared at him. “You try finding adult pajamas when you're this damn small.” Then he added reluctantly, “Besides, it's comfy.”
They stepped out of the lobby and into the bar proper. It was an enormous space, big enough to provide dry dock service for up to two of the old Boeing 314 Clippers back in the first half of the 20th century. A long bar ran along the right hand wall, leading to a series of tiered tables for patrons as low as a shrew and high as giraffe along the back side of the building. The entire wall facing Zootopia's ring shaped bay was made of glass, giving a spectacular view out onto the water and the mountains beyond. Finally in the center of the room was the dance floor, currently filled with the mid-evening crowd, a three foot wide, ten foot tall pillar in the center holding a quartet of female mice, dancing energetically, chrome electronic sensors at their wrists and ankles providing cues to a thumping electronic beat as they moved, their dance projected on large screens scattered throughout the room.
“You see the guy?” Nick asked, slipping on a pair Ray Bans to shield his eyes from the dance floor's flashing lights.
“I can't see shit down here. Grab a table so I can get high enough to look around,” Finnick said, dodging the other bar patrons as they skirted the dance floor, heading towards the back tables. After a minute Nick grabbed a fox sized table a couple was vacating, picking up Finnick to plop him on top of it. “Ah, man! They haven't cleaned this yet!” Finnick yelped, stepping carefully around spots of spilled beer before finding a clean spot to sit.
“I'm gonna get drinks for us. What's your pleasure?” Nick asked.
“Banana daiquiri,” the smaller fox told him.
Nick grinned at him. “You're really not helping your tough guy image with orders like that.”
“I drink what I like. Just get the damn booze while I look around.”
Nick left him and threaded around the crowd to the bar. He managed to flag down a bartender and put in Finnick's order, along with a rum and coke for himself. While he waited, he scanned the room, leaning back casually against the bar, trying to catch any threats that might be wandering around.
When his phone began vibrating in his pocket, he nearly dropped it in his rush to grab it. Chief Bogo's every scowling face showed up on the caller ID, and he felt a pit open up in his stomach. Maybe she's awake, he thought desperately. Maybe it's good news. “This is Nick,” he said into the phone. “What's up, Chief? Any change with Judy?”
“Wilde, where are you? Are you at home?”
“I cannot tell a lie, Chief. I couldn't sleep, so one of my buddies took me out to this dive bar he knows.” Which was the absolute truth. It just left out a lot of annoying details, like I'm working the case just like you told me not to.
Sly fox, he snarled at himself.
“I need you to come to the station right now.”
Puzzled, Nick asked, “I thought you wanted me to rest.”
Bogo's voice sounded strained. “Two of Volkov's thugs just tried to assassinate Hopps at the hospital. They missed and one of them is dead, but the other got away and also kidnapped her parents. I need you to get back to the station where it's safe. I think Volkov is targeting allies and friends of Mr. Big, and respected Zootopia citizens, to actually provoke him into a gang war, to assert his own dominance over the city.”
Nick felt his stomach lurch, and his tail frizz out in fear. “Wait, what do you mean they got her parents?” he demanded. God help him, he could see the assholes who tried to kill Judy making a second attempt on her. In his wildest nightmares he'd never anticipated her kindly farmer parents getting involved in the situation.
“You heard me. We're putting everything we can into finding them, but I need you where I know you're safe. Get back to the station, that's an order.”
He was about to say yes, he honestly was, because he could hear the fear for his officer that Bogo was trying to conceal over the line. He knew the chief needed to know he was safe, because Nick on loose and vulnerable was just another worry ZPD's chief of police didn't need in this crisis. But then he saw a familiar polar bear sitting alone at a table, a look on his face like he was waiting on someone, and they were late.
Nick hesitated a long moment, then answered, “I'll be there as soon as I can. Just gotta take care of one or two things first.” I'm not lying. I'm just not telling you everything, he thought, even as he cursed himself for stretching the truth like this.
“Wilde,” the chief started to growl.
“Caio!” Nick said with false cheer, then cut the connection and turned off his phone. He stepped away from the bar without waiting for the drinks, hurrying back as fast as he could while still looking casual.
“Where's the drinks?” Finnick demanded, when he got back to the table.
“Left 'em,” Nick replied tightly. “I just got a call from Chief Bogo. Volkov's goons just made an attempt to kill Judy in the hospital, and they kidnapped her parents.”
Finnick's big ears went flat against his head. “Shit. Watcha gonna do, Nick?”
“Look to your left, as casual as you can. Polar bear in a loud shirt and gold chains.”
Finnick glanced over, turning his eyes back to Nick quickly. “I see 'em.”
“That's the bastard that hurt, Judy,” Nick growled.
“Goddamn. You callin' it in, Nick?”
He shook his head. “Not yet. They've got Judy's parents. I'm thinking Volkov is too damned violent to want to hold them for ransom. He's going to kill them, but do it in a way to achieve maximum provocation. It's gonna be pubic, it's gonna be messy, and it's gonna be soon. If I call Bogo he'll send armed patrollers, and that may just spook this guy before we can find where they're holding the Hoppses.”
His friend's eyes were wide, his tough guy persona almost forgotten in his concern. “So whatcha gonna do?”
“Tail him right back to Volkov.”
“Got it. Where do you need me in all this?”
Nick took hold of Finnick's shoulders, picking him up and setting him down on the floor. “You need to go home.”
Finnick snarled. “The hell you say!”
He squatted down beside the small fennec fox. “Look, Finn. I've got exactly two friends in this world that I trust without thinking about it. One of them is in the hospital right now, and may never come out. The other is standing right in front of me. I need to know that you'll be all right.”
“Yeah, well I got one friend that I trust,” Finnick shot back, “and he's about to do something majorly stupid. You think I'm gonna let him go off by himself?”
“Yes,” Nick replied. “Face it, buddy, you're just too damned conspicuous. Now you head out of here. If I don't call you, call, not text, in a half hour, call the ZPD and tell them everything that's going on.”
Finnick looked like he was going to balk at this, but finally said, “You watch yo' ass then, Nick. Keep your piece handy.”
“Didn't bring it,” Nick answered. At Finnick's disbelieving look he added, “I couldn't bring it past the bouncer, Finnick.”
“Shit. Just watch yourself then.”
“Will do. Now go.” Finnick gave him another glare, then turned and headed towards the front door, dodging and cussing at the other bar patrons as he went. Nick waited until he was sure Finnick had made it to the lobby, then stepped away from the table and towards his quarry.
“Hi!” Nick said cheerfully, walking up to the polar bear. “My name is Officer Nick Wilde. You mauled my partner. Prepare to die.”
TBC
* * *
Note: Those of you familiar with popular Furry artists might recognize the mouse band. I didn't name them since I wasn't able to get permission from their creator, but I hope to correct that eventually.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2016-09-12 03:46 pm (UTC)P.S. I think you have a typo, "pubic" instead of the "public" you meant.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-12 11:54 pm (UTC)