Chapter Text

"Yeah... No." Nick snatched the walkie-talkie from my hand and yanked out the batteries.

I stared at him like he'd grown a third head. "Nick what the hell! That was really freaking important."

He tossed the thing into an evidence bag. "Carrots, when crazy people with swords tell your terrified partner that she needs to kill herself it has ceased to become a valuable conversation."

"Nick, he said-"

"I heard what he fucking said!" He snapped, a halfway violent look in his eye.

I stepped back. I had just thrown a wolf down a hallway like a rag doll and I... I was actually a little bit scared of him right then.

His expression drooped. He shook himself. "We are not solving this problem by killing you. That is not an option. Now, backup is on the way and we have to come up with one hell of a story, preferably while taking cover in the nearest basement in case these loonies have a sniper."

Clever, I must admit, the vulpines always were...

"That's speciesist!" I scolded, defending my partner.

Nick blinked. "Uh... What?"

I sighed... The same arguments as before still applied. Time to embrace the crazy. "I have a voice in my head. It seems to be... I don't know what it is."

The fox lifted a finger, no doubt intent on asking several pointed questions, but ultimately shook his head. He hoisted up our prisoner. "This is a conversation we can have from cover. Now, you'll need a name..."

#

"Janet Howler." I said, when Francine asked.

The elephant nodded, writing it down. She was outside the door to the apartment complex's laundry room, not being able to quite fit in a mid-scale building.

Our choice of location was a stroke of brilliance if I do say so myself! I had managed to scavenge a hoodie and a slightly ill fitting pair of worn jeans from the "lost and found" box (I was going to return them later, I swear), and it was a heavy concrete room underground with two entrances so close together they were easy to watch.

I still lacked underwear though. Which made everything a little chafey because, while it was by no means overly endowed, this body was more mammalian than I was used to.

The elephant had arrived with Fangmeyer (her recently rotated partner). And the white wolf had promptly dragged our prisoner to the back of their cruiser.

Said prisoner, by the way, had said nothing but the word "lawyer" since she'd shaken off the tasing.

The elephant wrote my name down quickly, her trunk writing making me more than a little jealous honestly. A third limb always seemed so... Well, "handy".

Then again, body swapping wasn't all it was cracked up to be so maybe I should count my blessings.

"And why were you here?" She asked, looking properly concerned.

I sighed. "I... I was looking for a place to stay. I thought I might have family here, but they appear to have moved on."

Francine noted the defeat in my voice. "You're homeless?" She asked, carefully.

I cringed and looked down, just like we'd practiced. "I used to live with my parents in the woodlands, but they kicked me out. They... They weren't fond of me having a coyote boyfriend."

Fangmeyer, appearing in the doorway, winced. "We have resources that could help you. Do you want to talk to a social worker?"

I shook my head. "No... That's okay, I'll figure it out."

The white wolf grimaced, he looked away. "Ma'am, I appreciate the self reliance, but this does not seem like a random attack. We might have to put you in a safehouse for a little while."

Francine raise an eyebrow at her partner. She turned to Nick. "Excuse me, Officer Wilde, could you stay with Miss Howler for a moment? I need to confer with my partner on something."

That said, they slid away down the driveway and started a hushed conversation.

Of course, since I recently gained super-hearing it was hardly hushed to me.

"Fangmeyer, I know you're a bleeding heart knight in shining armor, and don't get me wrong, I like that, but we can't just drag every homeless person we meet into protective custody! We're the police, not habitat for mamality."

Fangmeyer was instantly on the defensive. "She needs our help Francine! Didn't you hear Wilde's report? Three armed attackers and one on the radio. That doesn't sound random to me."

Francine sighed. "Okay, you have a point there, but it doesn't change the fact that we're fresh out of safehouses and this doesn't sound like the kind of thing we can solve in an afternoon. What do you want to do, throw her in the drunk tank?"

"I can put her up at my place, I have a guest room."

"That is super against regulation."

It really, really was. Nick turned to me. "Carrots, you okay?" he whispered.

"Yeah, just listening in... I can hear like everything."

Nick raised an eyebrow. "Carrots wolves have good hearing, but aren't you used to having way better hearing than that? I never thought those bunny ears were for show."

I bit my lip. He was right. That didn't make sense. "Maybe it's like the strength, I don't know."

It is one of many powers I can draw upon. The voice inside me said. For I have learned... Why does the strange creature with the trunk refer to that she-wolf as a "he"?

I blinked. "Huh?"

"Huh what?" Nick asked.

Our conversation was cut short as our two siblings in blue came back. "Thank you for all your time ma'am." Francine began. "We don't want to alarm you, but we do feel you could be at risk."

Fangmeyer coughed. "And while our safehouses are already over-crowded, as a private citizen I'd be willing to put you up for a couple of nights until we apprehend your attackers.

Okay this was an unexpected development. We had banked on me getting into a formal safe house while Nick investigated and I tried to get a handle on this crap.

But... I guess Fangmeyer's place was better than nothing.

I needed to play this carefully, think about what Janet would do in this situation... and then I realized something that would be suspicious in its absence. I shuddered, turning to Francine. "Is... Is he okay?"

Fangmeyer winced, while Francine rolled her eyes. "He's a huge boyscout."

Wait? She is a scout? What king does she scout for... Where are we?

Zootopia. I thought back, hard. I had no idea if that would work, I was just trying things.

As luck would have it, the voice responded. What kingdom is that?

"Ma'am I can see your hesitation..." Fangmeyer began, the white wolf choosing his words carefully, "But these people seem very serious. It would be good to be near someone who can handle themselves."

"If it makes you feel better, I could tag along." Nick added, helpfully conning his way in. "It's not like I'd pass up a chance to drink all of Fangsy's beer."

The other canine raised an eyebrow, but he stayed otherwise composed. "I'd be more than open to that if it got you off the streets and away from those psychopaths."

I clenched my paws. "I guess you'd be safer than out here..."

Nick put his paws together. "Right then, It's settles road trip to Casa Fangmeyer! Dibs on shotgun."

Fangmeyer rolled his eyes. "The things I do for this city..."

#

A few minutes later, we'd arrived at our 'safe house'.

Fangmeyer appeared to own a house all his own within city limits. It was pretty darn impressive considering what we were paid. I guess he'd inherited it or something

The white wolf let us inside, blushing. "Sorry for the mess. I didn't know I'd be having company."

The place was utterly immaculate. It had a living room, kitchen (I could smell the spice cabinet from here), dining room...

I caught a glimpse of a picture sitting on an end table in the entry way, it had a pair of wolf parents and their three kids...

Strangely enough, the only white wolf pup was wearing a dress. Maybe Fangmeyer bleached his fur? And I did see a couple pictures of him later.

Nick eyed the place up and whistled. "Nice Digs."

Fangmeyer shrugged. "So... Yeah, the house is tornado proofed, and we've got a burglar alarm so that'll help deter those weirdos who came charging after you. Francine, my partner who you met earlier, she should be by in a bit to watch the front door once she's filed all the paper work."

I smiled. Minor wrinkles or no, the plan had been to get somewhere safe while we sorted everything out, and this was perfect! Well... Except for Fangmeyer being here. That made it a heck of a lot harder to compare notes with Nick.

I eyed the walls. There were more family photos, a lot more. And yet his is a lonely den... I wonder what happened to the poor bitch's pack.

I grimaced. You can't say bitch! That's a wolf word! And he's a boy for pity's sake.

And obviously I'm a wolf... Or a spirit...? Or...? Agh! This prey body! It cannot sustain my magics... Great Odin I'm tired...

I lifted an eyebrow. Whatever the voice was, it kept raising more questions. What do you mean by-

"Miss Howler?" Fangmeyer asked. He and Nick were looking at me worried.

I shook myself and shot them a slightly nervous smile. "Sorry, just... Lost in thought."

Oddly, Fangmeyer winced. "Right... Well, I don't have a lot of food in the house, would you folks like to order some sushi? My treat... Except for you Wilde." He added when Nick got a sinister look in his eyes.

Nick snorted. "Why Fangsy, do you really think I'd take advantage of your hospitality just for a free deluxe Salmon platter?"

The wolf rolled his eyes and sighed. "I miss Hopps. She's the only one that can keep you in line."

Nick stuck out his tongue and I smirked. I'd have to do something nice for Fangmeyer when I got back to normal. I wonder if he'd like blueberries?

We ended up piling into the living room (it had not one, but two couches, one of which I noticed a fairly impressive Francine sized dent in).

Fangs produced a takeout menu with a smirk. "Ah, the wonders of having an all pred dinner. You folks up for some fish?"

My eyes widened. Oh shit.

What's the problem? Fish sounds lovely... Odin knows I could use the boost.

Fangmeyer tilted his head. "Are... You okay?"

I gulped. "Uh... No offense to you guys, but I think I'll just stick with the veggie stuff."

Fangmeyer looked at me funny. Nick mirrored his expression, but I could see the tension underneath.

The white wolf sighed. "You know you don't have to lie to us."

I tensed. Don't blow your cover Judy... "What are you talking about?" I asked.

Fangmeyer let out a breath and put his paws together. "You don't eat fish and your accent's off. You aren't from the woodlands."

I looked away. "I... Uh..."

And now it was time to come up with a lie.

Believe it or not, I wasn't terrible at that. Hang around Nick Wilde long enough and you can become a master of the art.

Still, it was a sucker's game. The less you lied, the less you had a chance to get caught and the easier any lie you told was to make consistent.

So I sighed, and I told him a tiny chunk of the truth. "Bunnyburrow. I grew up in Bunnyburrow."

Fangmeyer raised an eyebrow. "Okay, not many wolves from those parts, but why would you lie about that?"

"Because my relationship wasn't just cross." I returned. "It was pred/prey. I fell in love with a rabbit."

Fangmeyer looked like he'd been stabbed in the heart. He stared at me like I was a lost kitten with a broken leg. "And you thought we wouldn't help you if you told us?"

I bit my lip. "When people find out your cross... They don't exactly." I looked down, honestly and completely lacking anything to say. "It's a rough world out there."

The white wolf walked up to me, kneeling down before me. "You don't have to worry about any of that shit here. Here you're safe. Don't ever forget that."

I blinked, having no idea what to say. Nick, turning up his mask to 11, coughed. "Okay, so... Veggie sushi for the lady?"

I smiled. "Yes, please."

Nick started dialing in the order and I found myself staring at Fangmeyer, who was nonchalantly sitting there trying not to stare at me.

He didn't look like he was disgusted though... It looked like he wanted to tell me something.

That train of thought was interrupted when we heard a knock on the door. The white wolf turned to the fox. "Probably Francine, one second. I'll be right back. But if it's those weirdoes with the swords I want you two to bolt out the back exit. It's just down the hall from the kitchen, okay?"

Nick gave the wolf a nod and I heard his heart quicken, just a little. Fangmeyer went to the door and looked through the peephole. He let out a sigh of relief and opened it up. "Wolford! How goes it? I didn't know you were assigned protection detail."

Our grey wolf coworker (what was it with all the wolves recently?) stepped in and gave us a wave. "Hi there Greg! I'm actually here for a pickup."

Nick raised an eyebrow. Fangmeyer looked equally lost. "A pickup, what are you talking about?"

The grey wolf scratched at the back of his neck and turned to Wolford. "Oh... You know, Francine kind of complained about having to protect a witness in your flat and such, so the chief sent me over. He shot me a nervous smile. "Hi Miss Howler, I'm Officer Wolford. I'm here to transport you to a proper ZPD safehouse."

I blinked. Something about this felt... Off.

I smell fear...

Fangmeyer smiled. "Well, that's good news. Let me get my coat real fast, Wilde and I will join you."

Wolford flinched. "What? Oh, don't worry about it Greg, It's just a few blocks away, we'll be fine."

Okay, that clinched it. Something was definitely wrong here. I felt my heart racing, but oddly enough I felt more anger than fear.

Nick got up. Paw leaning just a little closer to his sidearm. "You know Wolford, the Chief never called ahead..."

I could smell sweat forming on the Grey Wolf's neck. He forced a smile. "What? Wow! I mean, that Bogo... I guess he just... Just..." He sighed, his whole body deflating. "Okay, I can't do this."

He put a paw to his face, let out a breath, and turned to me, his voice horrifyingly hollow. "Hopps, I have a silver knife on me. I'll give you a tiny cut. Then you can bite me, wipe your blood in the wound and kill me before this nightmare can get any worse."

Nick pulled out his gun. "Don't you fucking move!"

Fangmeyer's eyes widened, darting back and forth between the fox and the other wolf. "Wha- Danny, what the hell is going on here!?"

I stared at Officer Wolford, friend and colleague... He didn't look scared or angry or anything else. Just defeated and very, very tired.

"It will transfer the curse." He said to me. "There's only one demon Hopps, and it moves through defensive wounds." He spread out his arms, patient. "You put it in me and take me out and this is all over. So hurry up and do it already. We only have a few minutes before the cavalry get here.

Okay, now I was scared. "Wha- What are you talking about?"

He closed his eyes. "I'm prioritizing Judy. You and I both know damn well that the world needs Judy Hopps way more than some idiot named Wolford. Now hurry up and do the deed before more than one person needs to die."