Chapter Text
The day I turned twenty-seven was the most crowded I ever saw our apartment.
Mind you, this was much later in the evening. Long after I had slipped out at around five in the morning, carefully removing my arm from the sleeping rabbit in my bed and creeping out to the gym. Cake was promised and I had to make sure to get my routine in. And it was nice to see Clawhauser and Fangmeyer again, even after the dinner and movie the night before.
“Someone’s burning the candle at both ends,” Jasmine commented. “We didn’t get home till midnight at last night.”
“Look who’s talking,” I shot back with a smirk.
“Hey, we’re the ones with work today. Shouldn’t you be at home snogging your bunny? Benji has been beside himself with delight over meeting her.”
I didn’t even have to look at Clawhauser to tell he was radiating a glow of strong emotion, like a big rainbow of happiness. And I’m the one with the birthday today…
“She’s just so cute!” He said with both paws to his cheeks. “The pairing is even more perfect than I could have possibly imagined!”
I suppose you could say I was a little relieved. Not that I thought the guys would shun me for dating Judy. But you’d never know what to expect when we walked into the movies, paw in paw together. We certainly got some stares from the other patrons. But my friends were nothing but supportive and shielded us from any glaring eyes. It was a wonderful cherry on the evening. Even if I was paying for the late night eating into my usual schedule.
“I wanted to thank you for the fun last night,” I said to the pair. “Wolfard too.”
“He’s probably still passed out in his blues, knowing him.”
“Regardless. I had a lot of fun. Thank you. It meant a lot to me.”
Fangmeyer took my meaning more than Clawhauser did by her smile. “No problem, Wilde. What are the plans for today then?”
“Traditionally, I loiter around the apartment watching movies until cake time. But today...I don’t know what Judy has planned. It’s going to be a complete surprise. Definitely still cake though. You guys are welcome to stop by after your shift’s over.”
“We’ll try to make it then. What kind of cake should we expect?”
“Carrot cake.”
I grinned to myself as I turned to leave for the gym, watching Clawhauser swoon over my shoulder.
I kept the workout short and sweet. It wasn’t a push day, though I had certainly gained ten pounds of muscle since I started exercising in the station’s personal gym. It was starting to affect my old wardrobe. But problems for later.
A shower and a jog later and I made it back home before mom had to clock in for her morning shift. The Zoot Suit offered many delectable dishes but the coffee was like motor oil sometimes. Mom preferred her own brand, which tasted better when shared.
I never thought I’d see the day our kitchen was crowded. Jack was there, of course, having spent the night on our couch and still dressed in his disheveled blues. It was rare to see him drink coffee when he was a tea guy. Humphrey sat next to him. She must have arrived recently, given that Jack offered her his place to stay for the night. Gideon claimed the blow up mattress and was working the stove. Mom was teaching him how to make cinnamon toast, a recipe he could use for his plans in baking. She came to me straight away with a cup of fine roast.
“Happy birthday, sweetie.”
“Thanks, mom,” I glanced around the room. “Judy’s still sleeping in?”
“She’s worse than you were,” Jack commented over his mug. “Now look at you. You even beat baker boy, over here.”
“Sorry, Mr. Savage. I didn’t meanta disturb you.”
“You’re fine, kid. You get used to the noise living in the city. Nothing keeps you up for long. Not even foxes with the munchies.”
“Perhaps we should discuss our plans for the day though,” said Humphrey after she took a satisfying sip. “What did you want to do for your big day, Wilde?”
Give me a blank piece of paper and I’ll come up with nothing to draw. Everytime.
Thankfully, I wasn’t left “umming” for long as the door to my bedroom popped open. She stepped out, fully dressed in her jeans and hoodie, ready for the day in the breezy autumn of the city.
“We’re going to check out the Tropic District,” said Judy. “They’re setting up the blimps there for the Thanksgiving Parade and we can get a good view of them from the gondolas. Then there’s an old shop in the Sahara that’s devoted to B-movies. After that is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the art block around Savanna. We’ll be home in time for dinner.”
“That,” I ran through the play by play in my head. “That sounds pretty awesome, actually.”
“Wonderful,” said mom. “That’s more than enough time to get everything ready for the party. We can expect seven for dinner tonight.”
I did the math quickly in my head. “Seven?”
“Vivi wanted to stop by when she got out of class,” said Judy. “If that’s okay.”
I hadn’t seen Judy’s sister since the day she treated me to lunch. But I had heard all about the brouhaha in the burrows with the announcement around her engagement. “Of course. And three of the guys from the precinct might stop by for cake too.”
“Perfect. That means I won’t get fat eating leftovers.”
Humphrey chuckled and downed her entire cup. “We’d better get moving then if we’re going to fit that itinerary.”
“True. I can handle the cooking from here, Gideon. Why don’t you get dressed?”
“Thanks, ma’am.”
My body was screaming at me and the warm toast nestled in my stomach, but I ignored it. Birthdays only came once a year and I would fall back on my usual routine the next day. For now, I wanted to make today last as long as it could.
We caught a bus up to the Tropics, enjoying the giant heaters while we could.
An early mist was over the city as its streets came back to life. Winter was just around the corner, and the morning frost was a reminder of that fact. I would be grateful when my winter coat grew in, but I’d have to settle for the artificial heating in the Tropic and Sahara for the day. Even Judy was starting to look a little whiter and fuller in the fur. Along the way, the leaves scattered in the streets. Mid November was such a dreary time for the sights of the city. But good company made everything warmer.
We piled out onto the gondola waiting deck. It was quiet for a Sunday, with most people saving their time off for the coming parade in a couple of weeks. No one thought to use the opportunity to get a sneak peek.
“How did you think of this one?” I asked Judy.
“Fangmeyer suggested it. She lives around here, so she sees the blimps all the time from her apartment. Good for a first date?”
I chuckled. “A little crowded for a date.”
Our group huddled close together for warmth, mom’s coffee like fire in our bellies but slowly dying as the morning became midday. We waited for the next gondola for a better view of the canopy. Gideon lingered in the back of the pack. A whine from him drew our attention as we turned to see him breathing heavily.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “Just ever since...You know. It’s the heights. I always get kinda nervous ‘round them.”
“It’s all good, kid,” said Jack. His ears perked at the arrival of the first gondola. “Why don’t you two go on ahead and we’ll catch up?”
I frowned but wasn’t about to complain with some solitude in what was sure to be a very social day. Nor was Judy, by how she tugged me by the paw towards the gondola operator. The lemur gave us an off color glance, but didn’t stop us from entering our own box together.
The gears grinded and there was a lift in the soles of my feet. Followed by a slight breeze as our gondola slowly swayed through the morning air. Over the trees and into the wide valley, the weather wall created the Tropic District. Cars and buses clogged the freeways through the forest below. Even the angry honks sounded distant from up in the sky.
I watched Judy settle in by leaning over the rails. “Maybe I didn’t think this through very well.”
“What?” I asked. “With it being crowded? I don’t mind. I’m just happy to see you again.”
Her breath fogged the air.
“I am too. Just...I could only plan to be here for today. I need to get to work so I can hold the job at the guitar shop. And I wanted to give you more. Do more. Afford more. Everything we’re doing today is just loitering and cheap. I don’t even know if you’re going to like what I had in mind for your present.”
“I’ll love it because it’s from you.”
She smiled. But then it soured.
“See, you can say that and even think that. But what if you deserve better and you don’t even realize it? I know it’s stupid that I always think like this. But I just want…I want things to be good today. Especially after the last two months apart.”
She didn’t sense me come up behind her, pressing my chest against her back in an embrace. My snout nuzzled past her ears while my arms trapped her in place.
“I’m having fun,” I whispered into them. “I promise.”
I listened to her breathe heavily and then felt her lean deeper into me.
“Well...Good.”
An awkward silence followed, though I didn’t mind it. My company made it a perfect quiet. The dinky little heater on the gondola couldn’t match the warmth of Judy’s body against mine. My arms crossed as I held her a little closer.
“Can we talk about how familiar this is?” She asked.
“You mean being on the gondola?”
“Yeah. I’ve never been here before but I feel like I have.”
“Hah, weird,” I thought back to all the times I rode on one of the skylines as a kid. It never felt familiar, yet it did with Judy. “Maybe it’s the view.”
Beneath us, the forest opened up to a clearing in the trees. The canopy provided enough cover for the balloons at the ground level. But from the sky, the bright neon colors of the blimps exposed themselves from the marqueesee. Various inflated cartoon characters with ridiculous proportions that bounced in the wind and drizzle. The district heaters only worked on the forest floor, creating an updraft that wobbled our car.
“Too bad I’ll miss the actual parade,” said Judy.
“Oh? I have your word that there will be no surprise visits from here on out?”
“Promise. It was pricey enough buying tickets for Gideon and Humphrey here too. Travis and Angus couldn’t make it cause they’re busy. Maybe next time…”
I chuckled while staring into the goofy eyes of some Saturday morning hero I used to watch. Some wolf in red spandex. A dopey grin permanently stretched on his face. It must have been blissful to be floating around the sky, not a care in the world.
“Just as well. I was thinking bout taking some time early next year to come and visit you. See what you’ve done with my old place.”
“ Your old place, huh?”
“That’ll give us some privacy, at least. Right?”
She wrapped herself in my arms. “I guess this will do for now.”
A few cellphone pictures of the parade display later and we waited on the other side of the lift. Judy and I had a few minutes to cuddle on the bench, earning a few glances from various pedestrians. But no one bothered us when Jack, Gideon, and Humphrey arrived. Gid looked a little green around the gills, but no worse for wear. We enjoyed the brief view together before continuing with our plans for the day.
Sahara Square was one of the places I least frequented. Even in my busking days where I learned to walk the streets, I avoided it whenever possible unless it was the middle of winter. The heat made every activity unbearable.
We shed our jackets the moment we stepped foot past the barriers dividing the districts. Iron walls of heavy metal kept the extreme temperature differences at bay all year round.
“This is just screwy,” muttered Gideon as he tied his denim coat around his chubby waist. “Might as well just set up a farm here and never haveta leave with summer all year long.”
“It doesn’t work like that, kid,” Jack replied, prepared for the heat with a tank top underneath his coat. “In the more extreme areas of the city, you need a special permit to live there. They usually take mammals who need the environments as a priority, and offer plenty of buffer room for that number. It may not look it, but places like the desert and the tundra are limited real estate. And they can get quite crowded.”
A herd of camels jogging past us drove home Jack’s point.
It hit me as we followed them over the dunes, finding what passed as a city street in the biome. I was tired. The ride in the gondola provided a brief break from the walking. But with the exercise in the morning I was starting to pant.
“Catching up to the other end of the candle there, Wilde.”
Humphrey wasn’t doing much better in the heat. Sweat poured from her brow like a faucet, though dressed in her state trooper sweats she looked made for the dry air. It would be nice to walk around with no fur. But the whole Hairless Mammal look left much to be desired.
“Powering through it,” I replied with a grin. “This doesn’t come anywhere close to the Labor Day Party.”
“So I heard. There’s still gossip these days about the black mark on that tree, by the way. Among other things.”
Ahead of us, Judy and Jack argued over directions to the place. I gathered that the video store came from Jack’s suggestion as an idea on how to spend the day. After he claimed to know the way, despite passing the same cactus for the fifth time, Judy brought out the cellphone and her GPS. That’s when the fighting started, with Gideon in the middle of them keeping things civil.
“She’s been busy,” Humphrey commented. “Though I suspect you know all about that.”
“With the band thing? Yeah. She mentions it all the time.”
“More the hive she’s stirring in the townhall with Stu’s new bill. Despite her father’s insistence, she’s still getting involved in every way she can. Folks are starting to notice. Especially the older generation, stuck in their ways as they are.”
“Well, it’s a good thing they aren’t the types to attend rock concerts then.”
“Mmm, true. Though those fliers they’ve been passing out at the shows have a way of ending up in the wrong paws.”
“You’ve been to one of their shows?”
“I like to support local artists,” Humphrey’s smirk said everything. “Been trying to spread the word around the station, and with folks who might be interested in their genre. It’s a little loud. But they’re having fun and that’s all that matters for me.”
I owed Humphrey a lot, being my eyes on Judy when I couldn’t be there. I trusted Judy, but as she got more popular with music, the more people would be interested in her. Including the unsavory types. I stuck my tongue out in disgust at the thought of every guy at the show attempting to hit on her after their band’s set. It was a nasty tradition amongst the rock and roll lifestyle. Never hurt to have a police officer nearby when things got rowdy.
“Thanks, Humphrey.”
“Maybe one day I’ll finally drag Hank to a show too. You should see him now, by the way, since he took up the vacant sheriff post.”
“Oh boy...Ballooned up like a blimp?”
“No. The opposite, actually. He’s been walking everywhere around the burrow instead of using the car. So, he’s slimmed down a fair bit. Still chubby though, sporting some new grey in his fur.”
“Hah. I’ll have to remember to say hi when I next visit.”
“Stop by when you get around to it too. You know how quiet the burrows can get.”
We weren’t left in the heat for long. The sand gave way to stone streets soon enough and with that came the stores. The aroma of spice filled the air as tarps blanketed the sky to give the various patrons cover from the sun.
Many out of place mammals dealt with the heat in their own ways, fanning themselves or keeping to the air conditioned bazaars left open for the public. Each district of Zootopia had its own ecosystem, and thus its own way of life amongst its denizens. No one paid us any particular mind as we marched to the tune of Judy’s GPS.
One missed turn and several roundabouts later and we arrived at the most unassuming video store I had ever seen.
“Looks like an old gas station,” I commented as we stepped past the holes where the tanks had been uprooted from the ground.
It never ceased to amaze me that video stores could remain open in this day and age. Forget DVDs, some folks still used VHS, like my mom. Meanwhile, the rest of the world steamed forward into the golden age of online streaming. They’d never know about the treasure trove of old movies they were missing. Shlock. Glorious, glorious shlock.
“It’s like every garage sale I’ve ever been to put together into one building.”
I marveled at the literal mountains of movies around the shelves. Everything had that old yellow tint to it from too much time spent in boxes. This complemented the musk in the air, fermenting from being trapped in a building with all the doors shut to keep the cold in. We walked into a cloud of ancient dust from the 1970’s. The heyday of bad, for-TV movies.
“It’s cool, right?” Asked Jack. He wore my same childish grin. “I heard about this from McHorn and checked it out after work one day. They have every possible bad movie you can think of.”
“Is that...A poster of Carmen Minkchell?”
“Dude, he’s in everything. Check this out. They have those VHS tapes that no one ever watched but kept in their cabinets. Like commercials and random schlock.”
“Hah, I remember stacking those up to make little castles when we were bored.”
The rest of our group didn’t share in our same giddiness as we dug through the treasure trove of terrible films, all of which I would happily watch on a boring Sunday afternoon. That would be one of the few times I could actually enjoy a beer, laughing with my best friend at the absurdity of a predictable plot and cheesy lines.
While Jack and I kept to the action movies, I spied Gideon going about on his own through the old cooking show tapes. Humphrey made herself at home with flicks she probably recognized from when she was a kid. I casted a troubled frown at Judy while she sat in the corner. She smiled back and rubbed at her leg. Don’t worry, I’m fine. Just resting. Go have fun.
Jack kept me distracted enough to not stress it.
“I was thinking about making a pit stop here every weekend,” he said. “Find something fun to watch and just chill out together once a week. You know they do internet shows where it’s just a couple of friends watching bad movies and commenting on them?”
“What? Like Mystery Science Cheetah?”
“Yeah, I dunno. Just to keep things regular. You hear about Longhorn?”
“The Captain? Yeah, he’s retiring, right?”
“Yep. Long, long career for Longhorn. Longer than Bogo’s even. Just never wanted the pressure of being the Police Chief. Still, it’s a gap with him gone. They’re shuffling folks around. Bogo said my name’s been brought up for making Corporal.”
“So soon? That’s great, man.”
“The bigger paycheck is great,” said Jack as he peeled at the sticker on some DVD. “But it’s not a gift thing, so he explained it to me. They want me more in the limelight. Longer hours. Less time on the streets, more PR.”
“Ah. The golden boy.”
“It’d mean a harder time remaining partners too. Especially as the ranks go up and up. I told him I’d think about it if the offer came up again.”
“I think you should go for it, man. It’s what you wanted to do since you were a kid.”
“Yeah, but I’d rather not leave you behind again.”
I laughed and tapped him on the shoulder in a fist. He practically dropped the box he was holding.
“It’s not so lonely here anymore.”
He turned to hide his smirk. “I suppose that’s one good thing about you having someone to pine over.”
We didn’t end up buying anything, though we put a few titles that caught our eye to memory. Jack promised to search for trailers of them on the internet later. By the time we left the shop, and the scorching Sahara, behind us, it was past noon.
We took the subway to get to Savanna, thankful for the respite to let us change back into our jackets for the returning chill of late autumn. Outside, the trees stood bare as they whizzed by like brown blurs through the windows. Color returned to the world when we reached the art student block.
That’s what locals called the space between the universities, where young blood conjugated to find their own identities. Jack called it a petri dish of hipster culture when he made the rounds on patrol. Every shop had a new age vibe to it. Hemp the popular decor. Dreads in the furs of most kids we passed by. Part of me was glad I skipped college and the “finding myself” phase in favor of a mid-twenties life crisis.
We had lunch at a cafe in the square, a pleasant little place more focused on sweets than savories. I settled on a bugs/lettuce/tomato salad, minus the bugs, while the others looked at the sandwiches. Judy called me a “cheap date” as she bit into her sweet potato sub. I tactfully reminded her that there would be plenty of cake and dinner later. Mom would kill me if I ruined my appetite.
While I waited for my dressing, I lingered with Gideon studying the menu.
“Choices, choices,” I said to him.
“Huh?” He replied. “Oh. I ain’t even hungry, tell you the truth. Just lookin.”
“Fishing for new recipe ideas, huh?”
He wore the first genuine smile on his face I had seen from him all day. “Heh, yeah, actually. Gotta get the bake shop idea off the ground somehow. Figured the city’s a chance to see how the big leagues handle it.”
“And here I thought you were just joining us to celebrate my birthday,” I backtracked when I saw the look of hurt in his eyes. “Relax, Gid. I get it. It’s a busy time for you. I really appreciate you coming up with your finances so tight. How is the business going, anyway?”
He relaxed a bit. “People are buying. But it hurts not having a place they can find you, know what I’m sayin? Can’t do business like this online, though Jude offered it with her laptop. Made out well at the fall festival. Spreading the word and the like that way, which works better in the country. But...Just can’t make a living off it. Not yet.”
“Give it time. It’s only the first year. No shame in working the day job at Sweet Thing, right?”
“Helps that Jude has her job up in Podunk to split the bills too. I can get ta savin again.”
“Things going well between you two? I only hear her side of the story.”
“I ain’t gonna pretend it’s all peaches and cream. She’s had her share of bad days and I’ve had mine. But there’s been progress. It’s slow as molasses. But it’s there. She’s come to me for help before, and I think she knows I’ll listen if she needs it.”
A frown cracked my lips. “What sort of help?”
“Dunno if I should go into details, but...Loneliness, mostly. When she didn’t want to bother you because you were handling a case.”
We always knew long distance would be rough. Every moment I had my phone off during the Mister Big case was pure agony, though we both knew work had to come first. Especially when citywide manhunts were concerned and Bogo demanded radio silence from our families to prevent distraction. I liked to think I made up for it with a whole night spent on the phone, telling Judy the details after the arrests had been made. The first two month weren’t easy, but we kept a solid line of communication up when we could. Giving each other space, but trying to talk everyday. Even sent a few care packages to each other, with help from our moms.
Still, nothing compared to actually seeing her again.
“Yeah,” I said. “I can relate.”
“She won’t ever tell me, course. But I think she’s been looking forward to today a great deal. S’why I’ve been staying out of the way, if you’ll pardon me being quiet like.”
“Yeah, I get it. Just...Don’t be a stranger. You’re my friend too, you know?”
“Thanks, Nick. I appreciate that. I really do.”
The rest of the walk to the actual Hall of Fame wasn’t long from the cafe. We knew we were at the right place by the elephant-sized electric guitar statues out front, opening into a field of concrete. At the center of it all was a great pyramid of multicolored glass. A literal rainbow of color and sound, with the bass trembling even outside the building. My ears perked to the rumble of the familiar oldies tunes, dusting the cobwebs in my memory. Most I hadn’t heard since the radio was a thing people actively listened to around the house.
I remembered coming to the Hall of Fame when I was a kit with a passing interest in music. Long before I ever owned an actual guitar. I’m pretty sure we never went back because I insisted on reading the name of every Hall of Famer etched into the marble stones that made up the walkway to the main entrance. Mom was always patient with me, but there were limits.
New names had been added since my last visit and I resisted the compulsion to search every brick as we made our way to the front door. The city owned the building, meaning no entry fee save for what came out of our taxes, according to Jack’s grumbles. Not that we could hear him once we stepped inside. The speakers finished their set of Wish You Were Here, giving us a lull to look around.
It pleased me to see the place reasonably crowded. Pop music hadn’t completely overtaken people’s tastes these days. There were plenty of curious kids, just as wide eyed at the displays of the old rock shows as I was. Everything got divided into decades, with the earliest exhibits depicting classics like Chuck Beary’s acoustic and sailor cap from the 50’s or Bill Hairy and his plaid jacket. They kept lots of props from the old concerts, especially ones hosted in Zootopia itself. They said music came from a time when the city was still growing. Folks saw it as a way to connect to each other. Maybe you couldn’t love your wolf neighbor, if you were a startled sheep away from your herd for the first time in the big city. But you could appreciate a simple rift shared over a guitar on the steps of your shared brick building.
Our interest turned to the more recent decades.
The 70’s saw the start of punk rock in response to subculture tendencies as rock and roll grew bigger. It formed back when the goal wasn’t about being the most popular or the loudest. Rather it was all about being something different. The definition I always clung to of punk was simple. Two mammals are talking and one of them asks the other “what is punk?” The questioned mammal kicks over a trash can and says “that’s punk.” The inquisitive mammal repeats the action of kicking the can and asks again “that’s punk?” The answer is “no, that’s not punk. That’s trending.”
Everyone in our group gravitated to their own decade. Gideon surprised me by sticking to the earliest stuff in the 50’s. Jack had his 90’s vibe. Humphrey was a flower child at heart from the 60’s and 70’s. I kept to Judy’s paw as we traveled to the newest exhibits.
“Think you’ll ever get here one day?” I asked.
“That’s the plan,” she smiled back. “Screw the guys that say rock is dead. Our band is alive and kicking.”
“Despite the naming problem,” I chuckled. “Getting along with Travis then?”
“For the most part. He wasn’t too thrilled about starting from zero given the original band was his idea. He doesn’t like to share the spotlight. That’s why he’s moved up to rhythm guitar.”
“That’s right, you got your new bass player. I haven’t met them yet.”
“They’re very stoic, so they get on with Angus. Less quiet though. I think they may be related to Gazelle, though they refuse to comment on it.”
“Well, that’s a twist. They any good on the bass?”
I could listen to Judy talk about her band for hours. And so, I often did. It was a wonderful hobby for her. Seeing her starting her own band, taking the front stage as the singer and lead guitarist felt like something she was born to do. Or the next best thing. We talked in length about my career in the police force just as much. But there was less red tape in music.
“Very good,” she said with a wicked grin. “We’re almost ready for our first real show. Travis and I are working on a plan on how to approach the local venues. He’s good with the money side of things.”
“And you bring the noise?”
Judy flexed her left paw. “Adam said that having prey mixed with preds is a good image. Especially having someone with ‘a strong personality’ leading the centerstage. I think Travis gets it…”
“You don’t sound too sure about that.”
“I just feel like he thinks I’m stealing his band. But he’s not one for communicating much outside his circle of friends on a social level. And everyone else agrees to let me take the lead. I wouldn’t have done it if Adam hadn’t suggested it and Angus assured me. I’ve been pulling my own weight too, being proactive in the search. Got us that gig for the Halloween Fest in Podunk. That got us attention.”
“I wouldn’t stress it then. Every band has its share of drama. You guys are gonna do great.”
“Thanks…”
I tried to imagine what their band would look like on display in the Hall of Fame. Every rocker had their own distinct look to compliment their particular style. The Bunnyburrow band was young and still trying to find its voice. Adam helped them along in that regard. Despite the obvious resentment he seemed to instill in Judy, he pushed her along in a way I wasn’t able to as a former producer for some pretty high tier musicians in college. I looked forward to the chance to finally speak with him and hear what he had in mind to bring the band out of the minor leagues. How they could work on their image.
“Hey, Nick?”
“Yo?”
“Want to get a tattoo?”
That was one of those questions that I couldn’t help but laugh at, due to its sheer randomness. “Where did that come from?”
Judy bundled up into her hoodie to try and hide the redness of her ears.
“It was just...One of the present ideas I had for you. I don’t know. I was thinking about all the stuff we could do together while here and getting tattoos came to mind. I always wanted to get one but dad never let me. He barely even let me get my ears pierced.”
“He apparently trusted you enough to get them done seven times.”
“It was actually supposed to be all the way down my lobe. I didn’t tell him what a duodecuple helix piercing was. He stopped the process midway when he finally figured it out.”
“Hah. I bet that caused a few grey hairs.”
“I got grounded for a month,” she muttered. “He never let me step foot inside the only place that did piercings and tattoos in Bunnyburrow ever again. Made sure to have a talk with the owner as the mayor.”
“Ouch. Normally these things require an appointment though, Carrots. Not so much a walk in sort of deal.”
“Well...I kind of called a place with great reviews in the art block ahead of time before we came to visit and told them around 3-5 PM. You know, just in case you said yes.”
“That’s awfully nice of them with the vague time,” I rolled my eyes at the thought of some drunk college kids booking an appointment and all the fun a tattoo parlor had to deal with on a regular basis. A vague appointment time was probably tame in comparison. “What would you even get?”
“I dunno. I figured it’d come to me when we got there. What would you get?”
Of all the things I thought would happen today when I woke up, getting a tattoo was at the very bottom of that list.
Not that I was opposed to the idea. The tattoo process varied from mammal to mammal, depending on if they had fur. In our case, they would use a paint-like chemical that altered the melanin in our hair. Unlike store bought hair dye, it never went away and the process was truly permanent. It also meant those with fur were stuck with simpler designs or more tribal tattoos than someone like a pig or an elephant, who could use precise traditional ink. That narrowed our options.
But to get something? Blank canvases and foxes again…Still, the thought of something that would mark my fur forever didn’t bother me nearly as much as it should have.
“I’m sure I could think of something,” I admitted with a grin. “If we’re both going to do it, we should both play it by ear. It’s only fair that way.”
“You really want to?” Judy’s voice tried to hide its hopefulness.
“Why not? Could be fun. Just don’t tell mom. I think she’d literally kill me if she learned I’m doing this.”
“We’re really doing this then? You’re sure? I don’t want to feel like I’m pressuring you into it.”
“You don’t have to second guess, I think it’s a wonderful idea for a gift,” I said while glancing over to our loitering comrades near their respective exhibits. “Better go now before they tail us though. Don’t want to get caught.”
I had to admit there was some thrill in doing something I certainly shouldn’t have been doing. I always thought a tattoo would be something to give a lot of time and thought to. There was a certain giddiness in throwing caution to the wind and just winging it. After all, I spent most of my rebellious high school years moping. Why shouldn’t I be given a few mistakes to make, if that was what this was destined to be?
We waited for a moment to slip out of the building while Gideon and Humphrey had their back to us. Jack’s ear twitched and we locked eyes the moment I followed Judy out the door. Halfway down the street, I received the predictable text message of concern.
[???]
[Just slipping out for something real quick,] I texted back, paw in paw with Judy. [We’ll be back home for dinner. No need for you guys to stick around. Sorry to bail.]
Except I wasn’t sorry in the slightest as a smile etched into both our faces.
I knew it was poor form to answer the phone in the tattoo parlor, especially when the artist was hard at work painting my thigh with corrosive chemicals. But the name that popped up makes it something that can’t be ignored.
“I’m sorry,” I said to the muskrat with four plugs in her ears. “Is it okay to answer this, please? This is kinda an important call.”
She smiled as she slathered on the black paint, wearing protective latex so she didn’t stain herself. The stuff burned to the touch.
“Since you asked nicely, hun,” she replied. “And since you are the birthday boy. You’re good. Most of this is just touch up work anyway. Your girlfriend has it worse.”
I smirked at that thought. Judy was in the other room, having decided on a more complicated design than me. Though hers was just as meaningful. She’d no doubt be getting this particular call later that night.
“Hello?”
“ Happy birthday, Mr. Wilde.”
I was going to get wrinkles from smiling so much that day. “Thank you very much, Mrs. Hopps...It is still Mrs. Hopps, right?”
I heard her chuckle over the line. It did well to hide the pang of sadness to the question, which I regretted the moment it passed my lips. It had been so long since I had spoken to Judy’s mother. Though I should have expected a phonecall from her on my birthday.
“ Until the papers go through, though I might be keeping the last name for the sake of documentation. Expenses and all that. I hope you don’t mind a simple card this year. ”
“Not at all, it’s very kind of you. Thank you for remembering me.”
She laughed again. “ Very hard not to, seeing how much Judy has been looking forward to this trip. I’m sure you can imagine how much our family likes to gossip. Tell even one bunny a secret and it will spread like wildfire in a burrow by nightfall. And she’s been spending more time with the little ones while I hold my day job at the pharmacy. ”
“Things are going well for you guys at the farm then?”
“ Well enough, considering all that’s happened this year. I won’t pretend it’s been easy. But having Judy here to watch the kids has been helpful. Though I know she’s itching to go out into the world. And we’re all preparing for the wedding coming up. ”
“Right,” I realized Violet’s wedding was coming up in early winter. Jack and I had been invited. “Still need to pick out a suit to wear for that.”
“ Just having you here would be enough. More than. It’s been a rough year and it will be nice to have something happy to start off the next one. I’m hopeful. ”
“I’m glad,” I replied. “It will be nice to have the family all together.”
We both had a moment of awkward silence. I was the first one to point out the angry hare in the room.
“...And how are things with Stu? Will he be coming?”
I could hear Bonnie breathe through her nose.
“ I don’t know. I offered him, of course. And he’s working hard to allow it to happen in Bunnyburrow, which surprised all of us. Though there’s still that divide between some of our older children and the younger ones, who don’t understand what’s about to happen. ”
“They don’t approve?”
“ Some do, some don’t. I can’t very well change their minds when they’re old enough to have children of their own. But they all will be there to support our family, what with the protesting in town. I like to think we raised them to never judge matters of the heart. Though some of them don’t trust predators, I think Judy forgiving Gideon and being with you changed their minds a great deal. ”
Live by an example. That’s what my mom always taught me. Truest change comes from when action becomes the norm. You can argue with someone until you’re blue in the face, but you’d be lucky to even make them consider that they’re wrong. It’s the quiet and subtle actions that always said the most.
“ As for Stu, ” continued Bonnie. “ The last I spoke to him was in the presence of our lawyers. I can hardly get a read on what he’s thinking. He cares enough to allow Violet her marriage license though and that’s more than enough for me. ”
And more than I could expect when Judy told me that particular bit of news.
“Well, I was just talking about the vacation days I’m owed after this last case the precinct was working on. While everyone’s fighting over days off for the holidays, I’ll be cruising on a nice trip in January.”
“ We’ll be looking forward very much to having you. Maybe then I can finally have that tea with you. ”
The muskrat sniggered as she finished brushing up my leg. The finishing touches to a simple project that would last a lifetime. She wasn’t laughing out of spite though. Looking around the parlor, they had all sorts of colorful folks visiting. Company that was much more comfortable than the crowds we had seen all day. To her, I was just another fellow oddity in a city of mixed colors.
I smirked right back at her and said.
“I would like that, very much.”
After everything we had done that day, my legs were exhausted.
I was ready to pass out on the couch following the long walk from the tattoo parlor. Judy shared in my sentiments as she planted herself firmly in a chair and didn’t stand up once through dinner. Though she never leaned back either.
Mom had been hard at work all afternoon. As was the custom for my birthday, with Thanksgiving so close, we had the usual rounds of what constituted a big family dinner. Mashed potatoes to stuffing, the A to Z’s of Thanksgiving. Mom worried that she might bore Judy’s taste, making the same thing twice for her visits. But her doubts were quickly silenced when Judy helped herself to the roasted carrots almost immediately.
Though everyone waited patiently for our seventh guest, as she stumbled in a little past seven.
“I know,” Violet said as I answered the door. “I’m sorry. I’m late. We had an emergency in the ER and then I got lost on the way here.”
I chuckled at the sight of her still in scrubs. Poor rabbit must have run straight from the hospital to get to the pits of the city and join us for dinner.
“Don’t even worry about it,” I replied, taking her coat. “Glad you could make it on short notice. Hope you’re hungry.”
“Starving. Haven’t eaten since breakfast. No breaks.”
“Something something burning the candle at both ends. Sounds like you could use some rest though. Are you sure you wouldn’t rather box some stuff and take it to go? I really wouldn’t mind if you sat this one out.”
“Nope. Totally staying. Besides...”
She flashed her right paw to me. A golden ring shined along her middle finger, perfectly fitting.
“I owe you one for the bout of courage.”
Nothing else needed to be said outside of introductions. Violet knew Gideon, Humphrey, and Jack well enough to get away with offering them some simple salutations. Mom was overjoyed to have another rabbit at the table. She made sure to give Violet the seat next to Judy and me. The two sisters shared a smile as the dinner could finally begin.
It was the loudest meal the Wilde household ever saw, with the table ready to burst with capacity.
Mom had outdone herself with the food, as per usual. Within seconds of starting, everyone enjoyed mouthfuls of their favorite dishes as well as a healthy heaping of conversation. Blends of color with paws crossing paws over an extended table, the first time I had ever seen mom apply the leaves for more guests. It allowed me to hold paws with Judy under the table while still giving the appearance of someone paying attention.
After stuffing myself silly with potato salad and cranberry sauce, it came time for the cake.
By that time, Clawhauser, Fangmeyer and Wolfard had all finished their shifts. Fangmeyer had the coy opening of claiming to be investigating “noise disturbances.” They came bearing gifts with Fangmeyer and Wolfard pitching in to bring apple cider for the cake and Clawhauser offering doughnuts as a side. Thus we all gathered around the table as mom dimmed the lights.
All ten of us. More people than I ever had for a birthday party, even when I was a kid. It was hard not to laugh. The deep kind of laugh that you give when nothing is particularly funny, but you can find the humor in just about anything anyone says. Sort of like if I was drunk, but not quite tipsy. I was fully aware of myself and everyone else shared in my mood. Even Judy. It was nice to see her smile as much as everyone else.
Mom approached the table with the two leveled cake in paw. The candles illuminated her own smile, showing the buried etchings on her face.
“Now I know you’re all chomping at the bit for the dessert,” said mom. “But humor an old vixen for a moment as she embarrasses her son in front of his new friends.”
She faced me in the dark with deep blue eyes.
“Twenty seven years to the day, at 1:43 AM, you were born in the maternity ward of Zootopia General. And it was the happiest moment of my life. So much had led up to that moment that it was bliss to finally hold you in my arms. To meet you and have so much to look forward to together.”
Everyone ceased their talking to let mom speak clearly. Under the candlelight, it was difficult to see mom’s expression. For a moment, it felt like just me and her in the room. Even with Judy still holding my paw.
“I wanted to give you everything. So, I tried the best a highschool dropout could do. It tore my heart out when I came up short in that regard. I know we've never had the easiest life. We've had our share of rough spots and you've had to suffer for what you are. That wasn't fair. Even though I wished with all my heart that you could find your own way. But now…”
A few tears sparkled in the lighting.
“I'm so happy for you. To have everyone to share this with you. To have a job I can see you enjoy very much. To find someone who loves you just as much as you love her. There's so many things I'm grateful for this year. Too many things to count. And I have a good feeling about the next year too. I love you, sweetie. And I hope there are many more happy birthdays like this for you in the future.”
I couldn't say it was the best birthday I would ever have. That’s only because I don't think it's a fair contest to compare this to meeting my musical idol, Robbie Rodent. But if ever asked what constituted a good birthday, this was the one image I could think of.
Sitting, full of good food, before a wonderful homemade cake. Surrounded by good friends and family and future family. Heart full of a song that only came from a hard day’s work. Clawhauser bawling his eyes out from mom's speech. Fangmeyer and Wolfard secretly holding their own paws underneath their side of the table. Violet looking tired but keeping her smile going. Gideon pleased to be there. Humphrey pleased to be next to Jack. And Judy right at my side.
There are certain moments that forever define all future perspectives of events in your life. And some moments can establish a whole new era for yourself. It's the big things that make us think, but it's the small moments that let us change. Let us grow.
“Make a wish,” mom said as she wiped her eyes.
“What did you wish for?” Judy asked as we got ready for bed.
“Can't tell you or it won't come true.”
Most of the apartment had cleared out past nine. Humphrey was on her way back to Jack's place while the guys at the precinct shared a cab to their respective homes. Mom set up the blow up mattress for Gideon again, and everyone was settling in for the night. We all had an early morning start, after all. Judy and the others had a train to catch come sunrise.
“How's your back?” I asked while combing my fur.
“Stings,” she muttered.
“I noticed you weren't slouching all night. I think it came out pretty nice though.”
“Oh, don't get me wrong. I love how it came out. But mom is going to flip two shades of shit if she ever sees me wearing a bikini.”
I smirked at that thought as I watched Judy hop around the bedroom shirtless. My eyes followed the black ink etched into her back. Painted into her shoulders were two angel wings, tribal in design but very beautiful. The artist had done a fine job.
“How about you? How's your leg?”
Sitting in my boxers on the bed, I rolled up the left leg exposing my thigh.
Like Judy, my leg was painted in black ink that burned through my red fur. My chosen design was far simpler. A black “X” that looked like a scar, though more classical in appearance. The chemical sizzled all the way to the skin, feeling like a hundred needles prodding my flesh. But mine was easy enough to hide.
“Stings like you said. But nothing I can't handle.”
“You didn't have to get it, you know.”
“I wanted to. It's the first thing that came to mind. As long as you were okay with it. You are still okay with it, right?”
“It’s your body,” she shrugged as she brushed her ears. “I just don’t see what you find so fascinating about it.”
“It’s just a nice reminder for me. What I can do and what I can’t. To me, there’s something beautiful about something that isn’t perfect but tries it's hardest to just be the best of itself . It makes you appreciate it more.”
“Beautiful, huh?”
She stared at me with bedroom eyes from across the room. The rest of the apartment was silent with sleep as I eased myself onto the mattress. Tattoo or not, it had been a long day and it was nice to have a quiet moment alone.
“Jack and I were discussing getting our own place,” I said. “You know. Finally move out of my mom’s house. Getting a bigger apartment. Getting a little privacy.”
“Privacy would be nice.”
“Everything’s changing this year, it seems. Everyone’s moving forward with their own things to do. But it’s strange. I don’t find it scary at all. I’m actually kind of excited for all of it. Are you?”
“Very excited.”
I wasn’t nearly tired enough to not see what she was hinting at.
“Can’t be too loud,” I muttered with a chuckle. “Someone might hear. Thin walls and all that.”
She pretended not to hear me as she climbed into bed, curling up in my arms. I was careful not to touch her back as we cuddled up together and kissed. I could still taste the carrot cake on her breath. It was nice to hold her without eyes on us, approving and disapproving. It was nice to have a final moment to ourselves in what had been a long, rich day.
“I had fun today,” I said when we broke away for a moment. “You know that, right?”
“I know. I can see that now. Everyone was happy tonight and enjoying themselves.”
“Well, of course they were. You throw a mean birthday party, Judy Hopps.”
“I’ll have to try and top it next year,” she smiled and looked into my eyes. “I love you, Nick.”
“I know.”