Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a sunny Monday morning in the city of Zootopia, many animals were beginning the arduous task of their morning commutes to work in various offices, stores and other businesses all over the city, and one such animal was getting dressed with the help of his grandfather.

    “You look like someone worthy of the uniform.” Gosha said to his grandson as he adjusted the young grey wolf’s tie, he was wearing the ZPD regulation blue uniform, Legosi had graduated the academy not too long ago after having his record fixed, “I wish your mother and grandmother could see you today.” Gosha said with tears in his eyes, remembering his late wife and daughter. Still, it was good to see his grandson follow in his footsteps. Gosha was the first Komodo Dragon to join the ZPD and while Legosi would not be the first wolf, he was still going to do good things in his opinion.

    “T-Thanks Grandpa!” Legosi said as he stood up straight, trying to look as good in his outfit as ever, and showing off just how tall he is, even for a wolf. 

    “Now go out and make me proud!” Gosha said as Legosi left his grandfather's apartment, which wasn’t too far from where he would spend his days as an officer: ZPD Precinct one. He could walk the distance. It was strange as he passed several animals they gave him a mixture of looks, some admiration, some scorn but most treated him as they did before with indifference, he then saw a flower shop he knew all too well, he looked at his phone and figured he’d have enough time to make a quick detour to meet someone special to him.

    Inside the flower shop, a dwarf rabbit was tending to several flowers and planets as part of her morning routine. She had a spray bottle and spritzed several of the planets to water them, pruning their leaves and adding plant food to the ones that needed them. Haru loved her job and while it was not what she expected to do after university, she was quite happy with her work. She then heard the bell of the shop ring and she turned to greet whoever it was who entered.

    “Sorry, we’re not open now but if-“ Haru then stopped when she saw who it was and the biggest smile appeared on her face, she jumped into the open arms of her beloved boyfriend Legosi, “Legosi when did you get back!?” Haru asked as she kissed the wolf. Legosi had been at the academy for the past few months and while the two talked on the phone and she had visited him on the weekends he had off, the two had not seen each other for nearly four months.  

    “Last night, sorry I um… didn’t call, I was too tired,” Legosi admitted, “I stayed at my grandpa’s.” Legosi said as he put Haru down, his tail wagging like crazy. Haru then got a look at her boyfriend, admiring him in his uniform up close. She'd seen him in it at his graduation ,but to see him as a full-fledged officer was something different. Haru already thought Legosi was a handsome wolf, scars and all, but to see him now? Oh, she was going to take full advantage of that uniform when he got home that night.

    “You look good. Well, I’m sure you have a thing to do, I’ll see you tonight.” Haru said as she kissed Legosi one last time and ushered him out of the store. The wolf smiled, his tail wagging the entire time he walked to PrecinctOne. 

    Meanwhile, two of Zootopia’s most decorated officers, Wilde and Hopps, were in the bullpen awaiting their orders, much like the rest of the ZPD gathered there. 

    “Hopps, Wilde, today you two get the lovely job of showing our newest rookie around.” Chief Bogo said, and the two’s faces fell. They were hoping they didn’t draw the short straw and got stuck babysitting a rookie, but alas today was their day.

    “Alright, you’ve all got your assignments, dismissed.” Bogo said as Judy and Nick headed towards the office to get ready for today.

    “Well, another day, another dollar, eh, carrots?” Nick said as he checked out his tranq gun, “So you hear about this rookie we gotta babysit?” Nick asked as he and Judy headed towards the front of the Precinct where Clawhauser was waiting for them.

    “Not really I remember him from when I did a stint teaching at the academy for a while, he’s not bad, but he’s not… good.” Judy said, thinking of the grey wolf who they would show around. He was a strange fellow and was oddly affectionate with her, but she didn’t pay that much mind. 

    “Well, I hope he’s not too much of a drag. I don’t want a repeat of last time.” Nick said. The two remembering the last rookie they had to show around, the less said about that the better. Standing in the middle of the atrium of the First Precinct was a lanky tall wolf. He was scared as all get out and he was talking to Clawhauser. 

    “Hey, it looks like our rookie’s already talking to his new best friend in the precinct.” Judy said happily, it was always a good thing to have Clawhauser as a friend since he was usually how you got priority on the radio, etc. The cheetah was seemingly in a deep conversation with the wolf.

    “Hey kid, see you’re getting acquainted with Clawhauser.” Nick said as he caught the young wolf’s attention, who quickly straightened up and turned to Nick and Judy.

    “M-Morning! Officer Legosi reporting for um… duty.” Legosi said, standing up tall, and Judy and Nick got a good look at just how tall the wolf was. Wolves were already taller than the two on average, Legosi was taller than most other wolves they’d met. 

    “Calm down kid, The name is Nick Wilde, and this lovely lady next to me is my partner Judy Hopps.” Nick said as he extended his hand for Legosi to shake which he took, Nick noted Legosi’s grip strength, noting he was a fairly strong wolf even if the wolf himself didn’t realize it. 

“Oh Miss Hopps, it’s good to see you again.” Legosi said as he shook Judy’s hand, with a bit more enthusiasm than Nick liked, but he would let it slide.

    “So, are you ready for the tour of the precinct?” Nick asked, and Legosi nodded, and Judy and Nick began the task of showing their newest recruit around. It was a rather quick tour. They showed him the offices where most of the officers write reports and anything else that needed writing down, the bullpen, the cafeteria, and finally the locker room. After the last of the tour, Nick and Judy had brought Legosi to the door.

    “Well, we don’t have anyone to assign you to for a patrol, so why don’t you do some foot patrolling, get a feel for it and come back when it’s quitting time.” Judy said. Legosi nodded, and the two watched as the wolf took off, and they headed for the motor pool. Unlocking their cruiser, the two prepared for what they hoped would be an uneventful day at work.

    “He seems nice.” Judy said about Legosi. Nick adjusted his sunglasses and started the car.

    “I guess. He's a bit too clingy to you.” Nick said, and he saw the kind of smile he hated seeing on Judy’s face, that knowing smile that she always gave him when she was about to make some completely accurate statement about him that he would vehemently deny. 

    “Jealous?” Judy deadpanned, as she gave her husband a wry look. Nick rolled his eyes.

    “Nope, not at all.” Nick denied which made Judy laugh at him, as they took off from the motor pool and headed to the city proper. 

    On the city streets, Legosi walked around, looking for any sign of danger or crime or really anything that might be out of place. He was not sure what he was actually supposed to be doing. He’d never done a patrol before, foot or otherwise. Most of what he’d been doing for the past hour had been giving animals directions to various places. It was going about as usual as it could. Then he heard someone yell.

    “Hey, give that back!” A woman yelled, in an instant Legosi turned to see someone speed past him, coming up to him panting trying to catch the animal was a red panda, “O-officer, that guy stole my purse.” The red panda said. Legosi narrowed his eyes as he took off after the purse thief. The thief had run down an alleyway and Legosi rounded the corner. He took in his surroundings, trying to see where they went, then he saw them crouched holding a purse. It was a weasel.

    “Let’s see. Makeup, cell phone, I can pawn that. Oh! credit cards.” The weasel said happily. Legosi cleared his throat and caught the weasel’s attention.

    “I’d recommend you give that back,” Legosi said as he walked towards the weasel, who tried to look for a good way to get away from him. “Give it back and I’ll only give you a theft charge.” Legosi said, trying to get the weasel to cooperate. Then he tried to climb the gate behind him, and Legosi sprang into action, grabbing him before he knew it, carrying him like he was a petulant child as he grabbed the purse and headed towards where the red panda was still waiting. 

    “Here you go ma’am.” Legosi said as he left the red panda to go bring in the weasel, he had cuffed him and brought him into the atrium of PrecinctOne. Clawhauser greeted the two, showing a familiarity to the thief.

    “Ah, Duke Weaselton. Good to see you again, what’s he in for this time?” Clawhauser said as he mispronounced the weasel’s name, which he promptly corrected.

    “Petty theft, I guess.” Legosi said.

    “Well, we’ll get it sorted, good job especially for a first day.” Clawhauser said as he took over for Legosi. The wolf nodded and now wondered awkwardly what he should do now. Looking at the clock on his phone, he headed to the cafeteria to eat lunch. He pulled out his phone and texted his girlfriend.

    <Hey, first day is nearly over. I got my first arrest.> Legosi texted Haru, and a few moments later, Haru gave him a response.

    <Awesome! I can’t wait to see you tonight. GTG back to work ttyl.> Haru texted back and Legosi smiled as he got some food and waited for the lunch hour to pass. Soon, it was time for him to get back to work. The rest of his foot patrol went by with little of any change. It was quite interesting to get a sense of the city now as a ZPD officer. Soon it was time to clock-out and head back home. 

    “So how was the first day, rookie?” Nick asked Legosi in the male locker room. The red fox was now in a tropical shirt and slacks, while Legosi was still wearing his officer’s uniform.

    “Oh… um… good.” Legosi said, not sure how he should respond. Nick was his superior, and he was still a bit new to this whole thing. 

    “Calm kid, I heard you brought in Weaselton, seems every rookie has a run in with that guy.” Nick said happily, he himself had when he became the new rookie of the ZPD, and of course Judy’s run in with him on her first day. It was almost like a rite of passage. 

    “T-Thanks. Um… Well I guess I gotta go.” Legosi said as he left the locker room and headed towards home. Upon arriving at the apartment, he shared with Haru he was greeted by her pulling him into their home by his tie and kissing him.

    “I’ve not had you for nearly four months,” Haru said lustily as she kissed him deeply again and again, much to the delight of the wolf, “And I love a wolf in uniform.” Haru said as she pulled Legosi through the door.

Chapter Text

Retsuko hated Mondays more than any other animal normally did. Maybe it was the fact that her weekend was ending, and she was heading back to the soul-crushing drudgery of her day-to-day life as an office drone, maybe it was the fact that even at thirty she was still mostly single and after several attempts at love, she’d been unsuccessful and the fact that Tsunoda and Komiya had recently gotten married and against her own better judgment, she decided to check their pawstegram feed and was shown the fun they were having on their honeymoon. Though the true, true icing on the crap cake to Retsuko was the fact that she while heading back to the office for lunch, had her purse stolen by a damned weasel. And while she had it returned by an officer who was passing by, all in all her Monday was going to hell. 

    “You look tired.” Retsuko heard the voice of one of her few friends in the office, a spotted hyena who had a concerned look on his face. 

    “It’s okay Haida.” Retsuko lied, she looked at her phone again, and saw the image of Tsunoda with Komiya, the two had been dating in secret for a long time and had only revealed it when it became apparent that they couldn’t hide that she was pregnant with Komiya’s child, she remembers the wedding. Seeing Tsunoda looking radiant in her dress as she walked down the aisle, her belly big with child. Retsuko was happy for her, she was always a bit happy whenever she saw someone get with someone who they hoped they would spend the rest of their lives together, hell she wasn’t friends with Tsunoda, yet she still felt that happiness for her, but that happiness was always tempered by a tinge of jealousy; jealousy that she wouldn’t have that. Every relationship she’d tried in the last two years had gone up in absolute flames. Her relationship with Tadano: failure. Her relationship with Resasuke: failure. 

    “If looking at her page makes you upset, you should, you know… stop looking at it.” Haida said. Retsuko knew he was right, but she was stubborn and would not admit that he was right. 

    “Like I said. It’s okay Haida,” Retsuko said. Haida gave her a wry look, but he didn’t pry further, “And besides, that’s not the only thing that’s made me feel like crap today.” Retsuko said, remembering how she had her purse stolen. 

    “What happened?” Haida asked as he wrote out a report when he saw Ton pass by them, the two had stopped working to talk and the last thing they needed was a reaming by the pig and his jack-assedness.

    “I got my purse snatched.” Retsuko said, annoyed. She saw Haida go wide-eyed in surprise, and he spoke up. Retsuko saw him go rigid and stiff in a mix of anger and concern for her. 

    “Did he hurt you?” Haida said worried, Retsuko shook her head and she saw him visibly calm down, his shoulders which had gone rigid loosened a bit. 

    “No, he just ran up to me and yanked it out of my hand when I was about to get my phone.” Retsuko said, remembering how quickly it happened one minute she was digging through her purse, then next that damned weasel snatched it right out of her hands and took off. She was lucky that an officer was walking by, and she got the purse back, but still. 

    “Well, at least you're okay.” Haida said happily as the two continued their work, Haida and her continuing to talk about things that came to their minds as they worked. Nothing much happened during that time aside from Ton yelling at the two of them for some crappy reason. Retsuko bid her friends a goodbye as she went back to her apartment. A sigh escaped the red panda’s mouth as she took off her shoes and stepped into her apartment. She laid down on her sofa and let out another sigh as she tried to think of what to do now that she was home. Sitting up she went to her kitchen and rummaged around looking for something to eat for dinner and finding nothing, she let out another sigh, knowing that she’d probably have to go grocery shopping tomorrow. 

    “This day, suuucks!” Retsuko said as she sat on her sofa. She pulled out her phone and ordered some delivery. Retsuko’s day was crap, and she felt like crap. She was in the biggest rut in her life, and she had no way of knowing how to get out of it. Dead-end job, dead end life, end end… everything. Day in, day out she would go to a place she hated working at hoping… something more would happen, she sort of had that when she was an idol for a short amount of time, but that ended… badly and the less said about that the better. A knock on her door put her out of her temporary funk and she answered it got her food and ate. At least Chinese takeout was a small comfort. 

End of Chapter One

Chapter Text

Tuesday morning came in like any other weekday morning. For many animals, this was the day that they finally let it sink in that their weekend had officially ended while others would be in deep denial until Wednesday. For a grey wolf and his dwarf rabbit the two were still cuddled up, naked from the night before, various clothes discarded all around their bedroom floor. The two were awoken by the wolf’s phone alarm. Its shrill beeps like the caw of a rooster at the crack of dawn, which it was.

    “Mmm, five more minutes.” Haru groaned as she tried to shut out the sound of the alarm, it was too early in the morning for her to want to wake up.

    “Sorry Haru, I guess I forgot to change it from my wake up time from the academy.” Legosi said as he kissed his girlfriend on the forehead. He walked over to the bathroom of their apartment and showered washing away the grime from Haru and he’s escapades from the night before. He was wondering how his first real day of work would go. Yesterday was really more of a practice run to get him used to his job, and while he made an arrest, that was not something he really intended to do. Drying himself off after his shower, Legosi saw that Haru had gone back to sleep, smiling when he got dressed and decided it would be a good time to go for a morning run. 

    Zootopia the city had an aura about it during the early morning, barely any animals were out at this time, usually a few of the night owls (both figuratively and literally,) were usually still up at this time of the day but most of them would turn in for the day by this time. For a city that seemingly never slept, it seemed slow, calm, almost. Legosi took a moment to stop to take a swig of water from his water bottle and he looked around him, he’d lived in this city for most of his life, he’d seen how different it can be, how it changed even when he was at Cherryton. He’d seen how this city can be during his fights and during the savage animals’ incident, but pushing those thoughts aside, Legosi continued his run. After his run was done, Legosi returned to his apartment to see Haru up and doing her own morning routine.

    “Enjoy your run.” Haru said as she got dressed. 

    “Fine.” Legosi answered as he began working on breakfast (it was his turn this week to make it,) grabbing a pair of eggs, he cracked them into a pan and hummed a light tune as Haru set the table.

    “How’s things at the flower shop?” Legosi asked to make light conversation with Haru.

    “Good, I’ve got a big wedding coming up to plan for so that should be big business.” Haru said happily. Legosi smiled at that. He loved when Haru did well in her field. He remembers how tough she was having with her collage work. To see her succeed was always a treat he loved to savor in.

    “You like your first day at the ZPD?” Haru asked, the two didn’t get a chance to talk about this kind of stuff last night, they didn’t even eat dinner last night instead they spent most of the night having sex and making up for a four months long dry spell. 

    “Good, I caught a purse snatcher.” Legosi said proudly. Haru raised an eyebrow at this.

    “Oh, quite the accomplishment for a first day, eh, officer?” Haru joked. The two ate and talked for much of the morning until it was time for them to head off to work. 

    Legosi arrived at ZPD Precinct One a bit before he would be late and headed to the bullpen where most of the other officers were waiting, talking a few roughhousing with each other, looking for an empty seat to seat until he heard a voice speak up.

    “Hey, Legosi, over here.” He looked to his right and saw Judy and Nick sitting in the same chair with an empty seat next to them. He walked over and sat down next to the fox and the rabbit.

    “Morning kid.” Nick said, his usual cocky grin on his face.

    “Hey Legosi, how was your morning?” Judy asked, Legosi gave a rather simple answer much to the annoyance of the rabbit, who rolled her eyes at the younger wolf’s answer, “Well you ready for your first real day as a member of the ZPD?” Judy asked, Legosi nodded.

    “I’m still a bit, um… nervous, but I’ll do my best!” The wolf answered. Judy giggled at this and Nick shot him a bit of a dirty look. The wolf either didn’t see it or if he did, he didn’t pick up on it. The bullpen door opened again, and this time Chief Bogo stepped through and most of the animals inside quieted and waited for their boss to give out assignments. 

    “Alright settle down,” Bogo stated as he started handing out assignments, the usuals were given patrol routes, undercover operations an announcement of one promotion from Sergeant to Lieutenant, and then he got to Nick and Judy, “Hopps, your own paperwork today, Wilde and Legosi you two are on patrol in Sahara Square. Everyone else, you've got your assignments dismissed.” Bogo said as the group of animals dispersed and went to their duties. Judy and Nick, trailed by Legosi, walked out the bullpen with an annoyed Judy.

    “Ugh I hate paperwork duty.” Judy said, annoyed with her assignment. She hated doing paperwork no matter how needed it was, and much preferred field work. Nick gave his wife a sympathetic look.

    “Well Carrots, I’ll try to keep you in my prayers as you tackle mountain Situation Report.” Nick mocked and Judy gave him a light tap on his arm, which he made a feigned sign of being hurt, “But don’t be too bummed, I’ll bring you lunch from your favorite place.” Nick said, and this seemed to make Judy perk up, if just a little.

    “Alright, try to not do anything too reckless.” Judy said as Judy made her way to the offices of the ZPD.

    “No promises. Well come on Legosi, we’ve got a city to protect.” Nick said as he placed his sunglasses on and the two made their way to the motor pool where several of the ZPD’s cruisers await. The two found an empty cruiser and so began Legosi’s first true day on the job under the tutelage of senior police Lieutenant Nicholas Wilde. The two had to cover a lot of ground, so they started with the area around the ZPD. 

    “So. What made you wanna join the ZPD, anyway?” Nick asked Legosi, wanting to break up the silence of the patrol and get to know a bit more of the rookie’s life. 

    “It’s a long story.” Legosi admitted Nick looked at the cruiser’s internal clock (which he was fifty percent sure was right,) and spoke up.

    “We’ve got time, kid.” Legosi thought for a moment, then spoke up.

    “Well, I’ve always admired my grandpa, he was the first Komodo Dragon on the ZPD,” Legosi said proudly thinking of Gosha who took care of him after his mother killed herself when he was a young boy, “He was the one who raised me after my mother died and I’ve wanted to be just like him. Someone who protects those who can’t protect themselves.” Nick looked at Legosi and he could see a lot of JudyJudy in the kid, and not just because they both had grey fur, he was an idealist like her, and they had the same drive, the same spark. He wondered if he’d met Legosi at the same time he would meet Judy would he have done the same as he did now, following in their stead to try to do the same. 

    “You know you remind me of Judy in that way.” Nick said. Legosi was surprised.

    “She wanted to do the same as your grandpa and you, protect those who are weak and defenseless.” Nick said happily about his wife. He admired her passion, her drive to do good and make amends when she messed up. 

    “Oh, and I also wanted to make sure I could provide for my girlfriend and I when we have a family.” Legosi said remembering the other reason he became an officer, Nick perked up at the mention of girlfriend.

    “I’ve been there, so who is she? Another wolf like you?” Nick asked Legosi shook his head and dug out his phone and pulled up a selfie of him and Haru, Nick was a bit surprised, that at least explained why he was so friendly with Judy, also it meant that him and Legosi had a lot more in common than they imagined, though Nick would never tell the wolf that at all.

    “She’s the reason I’ve gone through so many hardships to make our life work.” Legosi said Nick would have pried further but he felt it was unwelcome. The patrol went on as planned as usual, no major calls besides Nick and Legosi having to go take care of a minor traffic accident and take statements, soon lunch rolled around and Legosi opted to go to a café while Nick went to go pick something up for Judy. 

    At the café a red panda was trying to forget the monotony of work eating a panini, when she saw the wolf who saved her purse yesterday. She never got a chance to thank him properly. Retsuko looked at the purse and smiled as she walked up to the wolf. 

    “Hey, I know you probably don’t remember me,” Retsuko said. Legosi looked around until he looked down and was eye to eye with Retsuko, “But um, you caught that weasel who stole my purse yesterday.” Retsuko said happily.

    “Oh… it was nothing, just doing my job.” Legosi said a bit embarrassed he was not used to getting praised for doing his job, well he’d did when he used to work at the noodle place, he would often get praised by the manager for being good at delivering and always getting them to their customers on time. 

    “How about I buy your lunch for today? My treat?” Retsuko offered. Legosi shrugged, and he ordered his food and sat down with Retsuko for lunch. Soon the two were talking about life and what not, and Somehow Retsuko began venting to Legosi about her dead-end job at her office.

    “It sucks so badly,” Retsuko said as she laid her head on the table of the café. She remembered how she felt the night before, how defeated she felt. “I thought things would have been better after some time but nope. And then I see others have what I want and can’t have.” Retsuko said, defeated, thinking of those images of Tsunoda on her honeymoon with her new husband Komiya, how happy they looked. She wanted that, with someone, anyone. Just that shot at happiness that she seemingly couldn't have. It was like someone dangling food in front of a hungry animal.

    “I know what that’s like, '' Legosi said, remembering the obstacles he and Haru had to fight the barriers they had to destroy just to be together, seeing other couples being happy when they had to fight tooth and nail to be happy. Soon the lunch hour was over and Retsuko and Legosi returned to their respective jobs, with Retsuko having a bit more of a pep in her step thanks to meeting someone who could feel what she felt. Returning to her dead-end office job was a little better now. She looked at the animals who cared for her and smiled a bit at least she still had Haida and Fenneko. Even if that was a small comfort it was some comfort.

End of Chapter Two

Chapter Text

Friday came like the heatwave that had followed it; many animals were wearing lighter clothes than usual to deal with the heat. And this included the spotted hyena named Haida. The heat was sweltering, and it wasn’t even the height of summer. He sighed as he walked through the streets of Zootopia to his job, music blaring in his ears as he did. Despite the heat, or maybe because of it, Haida was an animal on a mission. Come hell or high water, he was going to ask Retsuko out today, and it was all because of last night. 

Last night he visited his usual watering hole, a bar in the downtown area of Zootopia. It wasn’t quite a seedy bar, but not a lot of animals frequented it. It was where he would often go to drown out his sorrows after a particularly bad day of work, sometimes he would just go there to talk to some of the regulars to get their advice on how to do things, one of them was an interesting source of knowledge. Haida for some reason had the misfortune of being acquainted with not one but two sarcastic annoying fennec foxes, though he would not call the one who goes to the bar, he frequents a friend unlike Fenneko. 

    “So, you still pining for that panda girl?” The fox said as he took a swig of his beer, Finnic was an interesting character, self-proclaimed con-animal Finnic had been offering Haida advice ever since he started going to this bar, most of it amounted to nothing much, but sometimes the older fox could give some very pertinent advice for Haida. 

    “Yes, and she’s a red panda.” Haida said, correcting Finnic on the species of his pining. He wondered how many times he’d talked to Finnic about Retsuko, probably a thousand times over the years. He’d probably talked about her more with him than anyone, besides maybe Tadano and Fenniko

    “Well, are you actually gonna ask her out?” Finnic said and Haida sighed, he didn’t know if he could, Retsuko has in the past year or so gone through so many things, from becoming an idol for a short time, to said idolship almost leading to her getting stabbed to death by a crazed fan, he wanted to give her space, to cope with the situation and find her own path forward and if and when she was ready to date again maybe go with her.

    “I don't know,” Haida said as he looked down at his drink, he’d barely touched it the entire night and had mostly just been talking with Finnic, not really in the mood for booze of any kind. He mulled over his decisions, part of him had grown somewhat fond of the friendship between him and Retsuko, but at the same time he was always hurting whenever he would see her with another animal, and then those relationships inevitably ending in disaster, would he do better? Could he do better? Who knows, but he at least had to try. Taking hold of the glass of whisky he had before him, he downed it and gathered his resolve. 

    And so today here was the resolve. He had formulated a plan on the bus back home from the bar. He'd wait till it was time to leave for the day and then ask her while they were alone, since the two of them were usually the last to leave the office. He might get rejected… again, but he was tired of looking and pining for Retsuko from the sidelines. The day went by quick all things considered. Maybe it was the fact that since Haida had something he wanted to do, he was hellbent on finishing his work so he could find the most opportune moment to enact his plan. 

    When it was time for everyone to head home for the day, Haida had waited patiently, watching to make sure Retsuko didn’t leave before he did so he could catch her. His heart was racing with anticipation, he could feel his hands become somewhat clammy taking a deep breath, he walked up to her as she was about to leave.

    “Um, Retsuko, can I ask you something?” The spotted hyena asked. Retsuko turned and gave him a smile god he loved her smile, but he had to focus. 

    “Sure, what do you need?” Retsuko asked, her smile not leaving her face, it gave Haida some much needed courage to do what he was about to do, swallowing his fear Haida spoke up.

    “Look, I know I asked you out before, but… I want to know if you’d like to go out sometime in the near future?” Haida asked. His heart was beating a million miles a minute it seemed like time had slowed down. The anticipation was maddening. Then Retsuko spoke up. 

    “Um... sure… I guess.” Retsuko said. Haida went wide eyed, he’s planned on getting rejected, but wasn’t really sure what he would have done if she accepted. He shook his head.

    “C-Cool! Y-yeah! Um… Saturday at nine?” Haida asked, not sure what they would do tomorrow.

    “Sure. It’ll be fun.” Retsuko said as she left. Haida had the look of someone who didn’t know what to do with themselves now, he then heard the signature sarcastic sounding laughter of Fenneko, and he looked behind him as he saw the fennec fox holding her phone.

    “Do you have to do that?” Haida asked, as she walked up to him.

    “Consider it archiving.” Fenneko said as she left the office. Haida rolled his eyes as he left the office, a bit more of a pip in his step as he was now going on a date with the girl of his affections finally. 

    Haida spent most of Saturday trying to figure out what he was going to wear for the date and what they were doing. He decided a nice relaxing stroll through the city would be in good taste, enjoy the nightlife, and just talk. He arrived at Retsuko’s apartment at nine on the dot and he knocked on it waiting with anticipation, and emerging from her abode was Retsuko, she was wearing a pair of shorts with fishnet stockings and a red striped shirt. She looked more beautiful than ever to Haida.

    “Ready?” Retsuko asked. Haida nodded, and the two headed off. The night was warm, the heat wave had seemingly settled and made things pretty enjoyable, not too hot, not too humid just right to enjoy a nice night on the town. The two walked through Sahara square looking at the many shops in the downtown area and talking about their weeks. 

    “So, I meet this cool wolf the other day.” Retsuko said thinking of Legosi, the two of them had become fast friends in the few days they’d known each other, though that may be due to the fact that Legosi seemed so easy going compared to a lot of other animals she knew who seemed to be so high-strung. 

    “Really? Is it that one I saw you talking to on your lunch hour? The ZPD one?” Haida asked, Retsuko nodded. Haida felt a tinge of jealousy since he saw the wolf, he was a very good looking guy, in the roguish kind of way-what with his scars and what not.

    “He’s an interesting guy, seems to be wrapped around his girlfriend’s finger though.” Retsuko said that jealousy that Haida had evaporated quickly upon hearing those words, he mentally hit himself for feeling like that. Still, he wondered if he would be like Legosi in that way, being wrapped wholly around Retsuko’s fingers. It was a nice existence, he thought 

    “Well, he sounds like quite the animal,” Haida said. The two were taking in the sights of one of the many high-rises of Sahara square; most of the city’s elite lived in those buildings, holding parties and other things . as the two walked past the skyscraper, an animal pushed past them in a crazed frenzy to get away from the building, knocking Haida down on his ass, “Hey! Jackass!” Haida said annoyed that the animal turned around to look at them, their face obscured by the clothes they wore, but Haida and Retsuko could make out a feline-like tail, the animal chucked something into a nearby bin before running off.  Retsuko helped him up onto his feet and the two walked towards the bin and nearly jumped upon seeing what the animal had tossed: a bloody knife. 

    “I-I think we should go the other way.” Retsuko said. Haida agreed, and the two turned around, their date now soured by the sight they decided to call it a night and Haida brought Retsuko back to her apartment. 

    “I had a fun time Haida.” Retsuko said in front of her apartment door. The hyena rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. He was smiling his usual toothy smile, “Oh before I go in.” Retsuko said. She quickly kissed Haida on the lips, which surprised him. She then headed inside her apartment, leaving a stunned Haida behind, he touched his lips and a goofy smile spread across his face. At that moment he was the happiest hyena in all of Zootopia. 

    The next morning Haida was watching the news on his tv. Eating breakfast when he saw the high-rise, he and Retsuko were near where that strange animal had run past them. 

    “Today's top story!” Fabienne Growly said as she read off the news, “Mayor Swinton, murdered at party.” Fabienne said, Haida then remembered the bloody knife and his stomach sank.

    “No suspects have been made official, but sources say that the wife of the famous CEO of the Horn’s conglomerate and renowned Actress Juno is in custody for suspicion of the murder.”

End of Chapter Three

Chapter Text

Zootopia was a city of contradictions. On its surface, it was a city that touted itself as a city where even the smallest animal could be anything they wanted, where animals truly knew each other, but under that surface, something else bubbled. One only had to look at the black market where predators feasted upon the flesh of dead prey for profit and the gangs that made that place their home, or the savage animal case, where former mayor of the city attempted to use that fear and prejudice to exact control and revenge on those who she thought wronged her, and that’s not to discount the criminal underground that existed in the city; beneath its glitz and glamor, Zootopia was a place where the corrupt used their power to move things. And for Louis he accepted this for what it was, he was an animal who moved in between the two, in the day he was just the CEO of one of the wealthiest companies in all of Zootopia, at night he moved amongst the true movers and shakers of the city. The criminal underground of Zootopia was no stranger to Louis, from the big time players such as Mr. Big to his own gang the Shishigumi, he moved through this den of lions like a master; it was something his father had taught him all those years ago when he had adopted him. 

    “There are quite a lot of animals here.” Juno said, a champagne flute held in her fingers, Juno was a radiant beauty wherever she went, turning heads, but tonight she looked absolutely ravishing wearing a satin dress with a neckline that showed enough cleavage to draw the eyes, if Louis was a darkness, she was the single shining light that kept him tethered, one of many in his life. 

    “Indeed, but I’m sure you can charm most of them.” Louis said happily, Juno smiled as she held onto her husband’s arms, looking ever the dutiful wife, which she was but still she could trick most animals if she wanted, being an actress had its benefits. Louis was surprised how well Juno took to high society life. She could charm any animal. This made her a grand asset in Louis’ eyes, though the fact that he loved her didn’t hurt either. 

    “Flatterer,” Juno said as she gave him a light peck on the cheeks, the red deer almost blushed, but he was used to Juno’s eccentricities, plus he didn’t  mind at all her kissing him, “So shall we go entertain them?” Juno said, with a devious smile on her face.

    “Let’s.” Louis said as the two walked through the party, it was being held by Mayor Swinton to fundraise for her reelection campaign, several of the biggest members of Zootopia’s high society were in attendance, a veritable who’s who of Zootopia’s upper echelons, legal or otherwise, in one corner Mr. Big could be seen talking to the owner of Zootopia’s largest bug processing planet, in another former Mayor Hoshino was talking with another group of animals they were laughing no doubt at some joke he made. 

    “Mr. Louis, I’m so glad you and your wife could make it to my party.” Mayor Swinton said, the older pig was dressed in a simple purple dress as she walked up to Louis giving him a faux smile that most politicians almost instinctively gave animals who they were trying to sweet talk into giving them something, whether it be money, votes or something else, Louis had become well-versed in their machinations and could tell a phony smile from a genuine smile at least fifty percent of the time, and Swinton’s smile was a fake one, he knew she was not happy to see him, but they both had to put up front. 

    “The same for you Madam Mayor, it’s always a great day to make the acquaintance of someone so high up.” Louis said as he shook the pig’s hand, “Mayor Swinton, you’ve met my lovely wife Juno correct?” Louis said as Juno shook the mayor’s hand. Juno gave the woman a look that Louis knew too well. Juno had a special way of talking to animals to get even the most… difficult to be on her side.  

    “I don’t believe we’ve had the chance.” Juno said as she took a sip of her champagne. Louis left the two to converse and went about scoping out the rest of the guests at the party. Most of them were animals he recognized: industry heads, politicians, etc. 

    “Interesting party, isn’t it.” Louis heard a voice say from his side. He turned and was face to face with a donkey who was casually sipping a glass of wine, Louis had a vague recollection of him, his name was Tadano a tech entrepreneur and fairly well connected man all things considered, though Louis was not friends with him personally. 

    “Indeed, quite a few animals that high society would like to forget….” Louis said as he noted several well-known ‘criminals’ such as Mr. Big. 

    “I normally don’t go to these types of events,” Tadano said as he looked around him, he was not the kind of man to do these kinds of events, rather staying in the sidelines and let others do this kind of stuff, like his publicist etc, but he on occasion did in-person meetings like this , “You know, I think my company and the Horn’s Conglomerate could be a very lucrative partnership, my card.” Tadano said as he handed Louis his card, and Louis did the same. 

    “Well, it looks like the mayor is done talking my wife’s head off, I’ll be in touch.” Louis said as he caught up to Juno, the music of the party changed and soon several of its guests were pairing up to dance.

    “May I have this dance, my love?” Louis asked as suavely as he could. Extending his hand towards her, Juno gripped his hand and snuggled close to her husband. 

    “I thought you’d never ask.” Juno replied as the two joined the other couples who were dancing, the music was slow, and the two’s movements matched it, their bodies in lockstep with one another as they danced, if anyone were to gaze upon them, they’d see two animals so in love: so, in step with each other. When the song was over the two shared a light kiss as they went towards the bar to get some refreshments, then split up again to talk to more animals, and try as much as he might, Louis found himself talking to Tadano again. The donkey was fascinating, at least, a better animal to converse with than some of his other friends, like Legosi or Bill. 

    “So how is married life?” Tadano asked as the two sat at the bar. 

    “Good, though I wouldn’t call ours a normal marriage,” Louis said thinking of his first wife, their marriage was a disaster and while he will never regret marrying Azuki, he and here are in their own words ‘much better off as friends than husband and wife,’ “She is the one animal who completes me and I’m happy for that.” Louis said happily as he watched his wife talk to other animals with a smile on her face.

    “I never had much of a care to get married,” Tadano said as he drank some wine, “It cost me love, but I’m glad some animals find it appealing.” Tadano said happily. Louis gave the donkey a wide look and rolled his eyes. He then felt a weight on his back. Looking back, he saw Juno leaning on his back she then leaned into his face and whispered into his ears.

    “I’m bored with this party, let’s find a quiet area and make things… exciting,” Her voice was soft and seductive, Louis had to fight his own libido to not get a hard-on right then and there, this wasn’t the first time Juno had suggested something like this, find a quiet place in a party and have sex, “I’ll sneak off first, then come find me. Louis my love.” She said as she left him. Louis swallowed as she sauntered off, her hips swaying as she did. Louis adjusted his collar hot and his body now on fire a bit too much. Tadano smiled at him, having heard what Juno had said.

    “Going to have some fun?” The donkey asked. Louis shot him a dirty look. He got up as soon as he saw the coast was clear and no one had seen Juno leave, so he went looking for his wife. 

    Meanwhile Juno had found a nice room to do the deed, it was dark, but she could see somewhat, as she walked inside, she heard her heels touch something, it was wet sounding she looked down and saw a form on the ground she searched for a light switch, feeling around on the wall for a moment until she found one, flipping what she saw made her blood run cold and nearly vomit. Laying in a pool of her own blood was Mayor Swinton, and Juno screamed. 

    Louis heard his wife’s screams as did a lot of other animals, rushing to its source he barged in and saw a sight he’d never want to see in his life, his wife before a dead body, and not just any dead body, the body of Mayor Swinton. Soon other animals were gathering behind him, and the looks of shock, horror and disgust were present.

Chapter Text

The buzzing of a fluorescent light bulb rang in Juno’s ears, it sounded like a swarm of angry bees in her head as she sat under its harsh light inside a dinghy interrogation room. Standing at the opposite of her was a cheetah probably about her age, their arms folded over the ZPD uniform as they looked at a file before them, it held her entire rap sheet so to speak. 

    “So, you wanna tell me again, how did you find the mayor?” The cheetah  asked as they leaned forward, Juno had been here for about eight hours, being interrogated by at least six different officers, shed given them the same story over and over again, with no deviations from it, she’d been given a polygraph something she found dumb since she knew they didn’t work especially on animals like her who could keep their cools during the test. She wondered when this would be over, and she’d be allowed to go back home to her husband and two sons. Pinching the bridge of her nose, Juno spoke up again.

    “Like I told you, and the five other officers before you. I went to the room to have sex with my husband and I just… found her, dead on the ground .” Juno said, she hated having to air out that Louis and she were about to fuck at a party, but at this point it didn’t matter, she was being charged as a murderer. She closed her eyes in annoyance hoping that this would be the end of this, even if she couldn’t go home she wanted this fucking interrogation to be over. She’d only been given a bottle of water to drink which had gone dry hours ago, and this lighting was not doing her any favors in the not looking tired department. 

    On the other side of the one-way mirror a few ZPD officers sat and watched her for any changes in her story, comparing notes and overlooking anything that might have changed in the time she was at the precinct. 

    “Has her story changed at all since we started?” A wolf asked, 

    “Not by much, a few minor details but nothing we can really see that might indicate she’s hiding something.” The other officer said, as they looked over Juno’s profile, most of it was common things known to the public, she was an actress, married to Louis for two years, step-mother to his first child and biological mother to his second etc. All standard, all known, the stuff they had to dig up was nothing of note, mainly a few minor crimes that most animals commit like a few parking tickets on her record that she paid off. In the distance newly minted ZPD Officer Legosi was in a bit of a panic. 

    When he arrived at work that day he didn’t know why the station was in such an uproar, but he didn’t get a definitive answer until he arrived at the bullpen, and Chief Bogo gave the rundown of what had happened; the mayor of Zootopia had been murdered, and worse of all one of his friends was the prime suspect. He remembered how hard it was to know someone he knew back in Cherryton had killed and eaten a friend of his, now to have one of his friends potentially be a murderer? That was heartbreaking for the grey wolf.

    “Hey new kid.” One of the wolves said to Legosi who was too caught in his own thoughts to pay much attention to what was happening around him, he jumped slightly as he looked at the wolf.

    “Y-yes?” Legosi stammered out.

    “What do you think? Do you think she killed the mayor?” The officer asked, Legosi shook his head, he didn’t want to mention he knew Juno already, no he’d keep that detail to his heart for the time being, he needed more information and a way to find out what happened, and he wouldn’t get that if they knew he had a prior relationship with Juno. Leaving the interrogation room, Legosi ran into Judy who was looking over a few files.  

    “Oh, hey Legosi, hear about what happened to the mayor?” Judy asked, Legosi nodded, and Judy shook her head “Nasty stuff, why does this town have a problem with it’s mayors, first Lionheart hiding savage animals, then Bellwether causing said savage animals. I think this town is cursed.” Judy jokes.

    “I guess.” Legosi stated, Judy looked at Legosi with a wry look, she’d only known him for a few days, sorta she’d taught him at the academy a few times, but he seemed pretty distant even then but now he was even more distant.

    “Is something bothering you?” Judy asked. Legosi looked around making sure that no other animals could hear them, he whispered into her ears.

    “I’m afraid for Juno.” Legosi said the rabbit was confused by this.

    “Why?” Judy asked, 

    “I-I just can’t say, just know I don’t want anyone to know I’m worried.” Legosi said. Judy frowned, she hated keeping secrets like this, but she saw the look of worry on Legosi’s face so for now she would keep this a secret, at least from the other officers, but Nick would probably be a good animal to tell. So, during their patrol she brought it up with Nick. 

    “It’s odd but I don’t want to pry, he seems so conflicted.” Judy said, Nick nodded Legosi didn’t seem like the kind of animal to keep secrets, he seemed like the ‘wears the hearts on their sleeves ’ type, but then again Nick could be wrong sometimes, he was good at reading animals figuring out what makes them tick, that’s what made him a good con-animal in his youth, but animals were all different one animal’s friendly demeanor could be another’s backstab waiting to happen. Hell, he interpreted Legosi’s general friendliness to Judy as something else, so Nick had been wrong about the wolf before. 

    “I’ll keep an eye out, ask around to see what I can dig up, but I’ll keep it on the downlow.” Nick said as they continued their patrol. 

    Meanwhile in another part of town, Louis was talking to Haru about the events of the night before. The dwarf rabbit had a tray of tea that she was serving, thanking his host Louis sipped the tea rather gingerly for a man who’s wife was currently being charged with murder, Haru noted. 

    “You seem awfully calm for someone who’s wife is facing jail time.” Haru stated, Louis gave her a wry look and sighed.

    “Don’t mistake my calmness for me not fearing the worst; I absolutely do, but I need to be calm,” Louis said as he sipped his tea, he pulled out a cigarette  and waited for Haru to say something when she didn’t he took that as an okay to light it, he placed it in his mouth and took a long, long drag from it. “It would do Juno no good for me to lose my cool.” Louis said, Haru nodded.

    “Still, I can’t believe someone is charging her of all animals with murder.” Haru said shaking her head, Haru had known Juno about as long as Louis did, the three were classmates at Cherryton, it’s where all four of their little group, Louis, Legosi, Juno and she had met, and while she and Juno had gotten on a rocky start due to the former’s crush on Legosi that was eventually supplanted for her deep love for Louis. While Juno was rash, and quick to action and many other hotheaded things, murder was not one of the things that Haru would ever attribute to the she-wolf. 

    “That’s the thing, I have a sneaking suspicion that whoever did this didn’t even initially set up Juno.” Louis said while sipping his tea, Haru raised an eyebrow at this.

    “What do you mean?” Haru asked. Louis took another drag of his cigarette and spoke up.

    “It’s embarrassing to admit, but me and Juno were about to do some…rather intimate acts before she found the body,” Louis said, Haru suppressed a giggle, Juno had apparently been making it a game to see how many ways she and Louis could have sex at various parties, “Only one animal heard us say anything about that, and I doubt he was the murderer.”  Louis said, and Haru soon put the dots together, Juno wasn’t the fall animal, she was just a convenient scapegoat. 

    “Well, any idea how you're going to go forward?” Louis mulled Haru’s question for a moment as he snuffed out his cigarette, he looked at her and sighed again, rarely did Haru see her former lover and friend like this, dejected and defeated.

    “No.” Louis admitted, a rarity for him to admit defeat, “I guess I’ll just have to make sure that Legosi can help me from the inside.” Louis said, loath at the idea that he had to rely on that dumb wolf again, but with not much course of action if he wanted to keep his wife from going to jail he had to work in and out of the system. Maybe it was time he used some of his old underworld contacts.

End of Chapter 4

Chapter Text

They say news travels fast, especially bad news. By Monday, most of Zootopia had heard of the murder of Mayor Swinton, and they’d heard who might have done it. It was whispered on animals’ lips on the busses, in the train stations, coffee shops, anywhere where animals congregated; it was all that was talked about. After all, it was not every day that a famous actress, wife of one of the most famous CEOs of the city, is accused of murder. And Retsuko's and Haida’s office was no different from the rest of the city. All around the many animals that made up their co-workers were talking about it. Even Fenneko who normally didn’t talk about current events, was talking about it.

    “I think she did it.” One of the many animals who was at the office that day said another balked at this.

    “Her? Miss Juno? I don’t think she could hurt a fly, let alone murder the mayor.” The other animal said. Most animals knew Juno from her roles in movies, television, and commercials; it was probably safe to say she was more famous than her husband, who liked to let her hold all the spotlight in the relationship. Her public image was that of a kind woman, doting mother of her children and a dedicated wife, so it came as a shock to the public at large when she was declared the prime suspect in the murder. Though Haida and Retsuko had a sneaking suspicion that the feline they saw during their date was the true culprit. They way they acted, rushing past them in such a hurry, and then there was the knife they threw away. Haida had called the police the morning after, when he heard the news and had told them where to find it, so he was not sure if that came to anything. 

    Meanwhile, at the high-rise where Mayor Swinton was murdered, Legosi was one of the many officers who was still combing the area to help detectives. He, alongside other wolf officers, were using their noses to try to isolate any smells that might be of use. This was the perfect time for Legosi to go off a hunch he had. Using his internal smell bank, he picked up on Juno’s scent, it was a bit masked, she was wearing a lavender perfume that night it seems, but he was able to make her scent out of all of them, it was in a lot of places, and while his nose couldn't tell him time he could guess. 

    “Hmm. She didn’t move all that much.” Legosi said as he followed her trail, she was in and around the bar a lot, and he could also make out Louis’ scent alongside hers, indicating that she didn’t separate from him more than a few times, there was the scent of the mayor with her in a few spots, but that didn’t tell him much. Still, everything pointed to her not being anywhere near the mayor when she was murdered, at least based on the timeline of events. The only other important thing that they had managed to locate was the supposed murder weapon, that was given to them by an anonymous tip, and again it didn’t add up if that was the weapon, Juno like any wolf had claws that could more than easily disembowel a pig like Swinton with ease, but not only did she not use those, but there was not a drop of blood on Juno aside from her heels when she stepped in the pool of Swinton’s blood. 

    “Find anything?” Nick asked Legosi, knocking him out of his thoughts. Legosi turned to the senior officer and nodded.

    “I found Juno’s scent.” Legosi said, and Nick nodded. Nick had done some digging on the wolf, lots and lots of digging, he found an interesting rap sheet on him, he formally had a record for voluntary predation, which surprised him since Legosi didn’t seem like the type to eat anyone let alone do it of his own freewill, he was also involved in the incident at the back alley market, something Nick had only heard about second hand from a few animals he knew who partook in it, other than that Legosi was as normal as you could get, no outstanding crimes besides the predation and nothing that would indicate he would gain anything from hiding his prior relation to Juno, but Nick knew that song and dance, a friend gets charged of something you know they didn’t commit. 

    “Shoot kid.” Nick said.

    “Her scent is all around the bar, while I can’t tell how long she was there, it does corroborate what we heard from eyewitnesses,” Legosi said, eyewitness accounts placed Juno in and around the bar at various points in the night, but none of those times lined up with when the mayor had to have been murdered. Looking at his notes, Nick began to try to piece together a timeline. He knew from the interrogation that Juno didn’t move to do her business with Louis until near eleven fifty-nine, and the mayor had left the party for unknown reasons. All of this didn’t add up, and Nick could see it. “None of it adds up.” Legosi said.

    “You 're right.” Nick said as he played the events over and over in his head. The timeline didn’t add up, at least not in any way, to make Juno the murderer. Not that Nick thought she was. Juno didn’t seem like the kind of animal to murder anyone. Her husband? Yes, he figured Louis had murdered one or two animals in his past, but couldn’t prove it, but not Juno. 

    “Hey Nick, Legosi, I found something.” Judy yelled from the room where the mayor was murdered. The three entered and were greeted by the rabbit, who was digging something out from under a desk.

    “Allow me.” Legosi offered as he grabbed what Judy was reaching for. It was a recording device. Pressing the button, a voice began to speak.

    “I know why you’re here.” The voice sounded like Mayor Swinton, “And I’m telling you I won’t comply with that idiot’s request.” The voice said.

    “That’s too bad mayor,” another voice said, then the sound of movement and a muffled yell was heard, no doubt the mayor being stabbed with something covering her mouth, “Because my employers didn’t want to come to this.” The other voice said, then the recording went silent until it picked up the sound of Juno’s yell. 

    “Well, this exonerates Juno.” Legosi said.

    “But who was that other voice, I recognize Swinton’s but not the other.” Judy said as she put the voice recording in a bag to send to evidence for the investigation. It seems like things were starting to get a lot more interesting in this case.

End of Chapter 5

Chapter Text

Louis didn’t think he’d be here again, he had managed to mostly detach himself from the criminal underworld, after what happened in the Back Alley market with Legosi and the other criminal gangs that dwelled in it, and after his first marriage, Louis had vowed he would never set foot in this seedy place again, and he’d managed to do that. Keep his hands relatively clean from his criminal past, but now his wife was in danger and Louis had to step back into that world to make sure not only was she freed but that the real culprit and those who hired them would be brought to justice. 

Louis knew a politically motivated hit when he saw one, and the mayor’s reeked of that kind of corruption that permeated Zootopia’s upper echelons to its bone. He stepped into a place he knew too well from when he ran the Shishigumi. On its outside, it had the appearance of your standard office, some place where animals could conduct business, but looks could be deceiving what lay was a place to hire killers. While the Shishigumi preferred to do any killings that might need to be done by its own members less chance of someone getting caught and turning their organization in, sometimes extraneous circumstances or other outside factors called outside expertise, and so many of the Black Alley groups called upon ‘Mires, West & Darkmon’ for any killings that need be done, the place was run like any business though you would have appointments, reports, it’s just that it was an illegal business that specializes in killing animals for a nominal fee. Stepping into the building, Louis was greeted by a secretary, a mountain lion about his age. This lion also knew him. He’d worked as the Secretary for MW&D for as long as Louis had used their ‘services.’ 

“Ah, Mr. Louis, it’s so nice to see you again after so long.” The lion said in a happy tone. Louis narrowed his eyes at the lion, who didn’t seem to care that he was giving him a look of pure hatred. Louis hated having to be in this place again, but if it would save Juno, he’d deal with it.

“So, to what do we owe the occasion?” The lion said still sounding so happy for a man who worked at what amounted to a hitman for hire shop, though Louis supposed that if one were to get into that kind of business then you should have some kind of filter to keep that kind of darkness away, Louis had his own when he ran the Shishigumi. 

“I’m here to see your boss.” Louis said bluntly. The lion nodded and typed up some words on his computer. Louis waited for a moment, then the lion spoke up again.

“He’s available to see you.” The lion said as Louis walked towards the room where the head of the group was. He was stopped by two bears who searched him before letting Louis into the room. Mires, the head of the group, was an unassuming animal. Upon looking at the peacock, one would not assume that someone like him would be the head of one of the most prestigious assassination groups in all of Zootopia. 

“Ah Louis, what can I do for you?” The peacock said as he looked up to Louis. Louis sat down and got straight to the point.

“One of your men got my wife framed.” Louis said plainly. Mires was a bit taken aback by the accusation, but didn’t let it get to him. 

“I assume you're speaking of the mayor’s murder, correct?” Mires asked. Louis nodded, and the peacock shook his head. “Nasty bit of work, that was. A shame when a woman like Swinton is cut down in her prime." Mires said, seemingly mocking Louis in his voice.

“Still, it wasn’t us.” Mires said, and this surprised Louis. 

“What do you mean it wasn’t you?” Louis asked annoyed at the peacock and his games, if it weren’t for the fact he’d of gotten it taken away from him when the bears searched him, Louis would have pulled his gun on the shitty bird and made him tell him what he wanted at gunpoint, but for now he had to play pleasant with a mass murderer 

“It wasn’t us; do you think we’re that sloppy?” Mires asked, and Louis had to concede that point, in the time he’d use MW&D he’d never had a problem with them leaving behind evidence besides a dead body usually in a way that wouldn’t make it look like a homicide, but the way the mayor was killed? It was done haphazardly like the killer wanted to get in and out and be done, not caring that they left behind any traces of themselves, plus it was clear from the way Swinton was found she was murdered, most of MW&D’s killings were made to look like suicides, natural causes, or just rotten luck. Swinton was stabbed right in her chest and bleed out on the floor of her penthouse.

“Fine, so it wasn’t you who might it be?” Louis asked, and that Mires had no answer to. Louis growled as he left the establishment angry, he was back to square one, but at least he knew that one potential group was out of the way, but there were so many animals that might have done this for so many groups, Louis was not sure how he was going to narrow it down. Then he got a call from Juno of all animals. He immediately picked it up, his hands a bit shaky as he did. 

“Juno! Are you alright?!” Louis asked, having heard his wife’s voice in nearly two days. He usually kept himself composed and refined, but right now he was just happy to hear her again. 

“I’m fine Louis, I’m fine, are our kids okay?” Juno asked, concerned for their son and daughter. Louis took a deep breath, calming his shaky nerves, and responded.

“Yes, they're fine. Did something happen?” Louis asked. He was surprised she was calling him on her phone, of all things.

“I got released something about evidence, anyway. I’m outside the ZPD talking to Legosi.” Juno said. Louis nearly jumped for joy. His wife wasn’t going to prison for homicide, still that left whoever framed her. 

“Well, I’m glad you're out. I'll speak to you soon in person,” Louis said, “I love you, Juno.” Louis was happy to say it to her.

“See you soon, love you too.” Juno hung up the phone and Louis let out a sigh of relief. He still had to find whoever did this, but now it was not as urgent as before. Letting out another sigh, Louis made his way to the ZPD station to see his wife again.

Chapter Text

Nick had seen many animals be happy to be reunited with a loved one, he’d seen a sheep who’d been falsely accused jump into the arms of his loved one's like he hadn’t seen them in years, but the way that Louis acted with his wife was an interesting sight to behold. Nick had done his research on Louis after Juno had been arrested. It was only surface level for the most part since Louis was rather secretive about his life, aside from the tidbits that he let the press and other groups know about him. From a cursory glance at someone like Louis, they’d get the impression that he was a rather impassioned man, who didn’t do many outward displays of affection for anyone, not his wife, not his son or newborn daughter. But this? This was a display that, if he was so inclined, would probably net him a good profit if he wanted to sell it to the press.

    He was kissing and hugging Juno like he’d been off to war and had just gotten home; it was a sight to behold, admittedly it’s always is a relief when a family member get’s out of being charged with a crime, especially murder and the murder of a prominent politician of all animals, that would have been bad for Juno had the trial gone through and no evidence to exonerate her come fourth, so Nick could sympathize with Louis, plus if Judy had been arrested for a crime he knew she didn’t commit and she was released, he’d probably act the same way. 

    “L-Louis! Calm down, it's not like I was away for months.” Juno said, embarrassed at her husband’s displays of affection, not that she was complaining. Of the two of them, Juno was definitely the least averse to displays of public affection. She was always the one to initiate their kisses, hugs, etc. So having him pepper her in kisses, hugs and everything else, she was surprised, but she was enjoying the attention he was showering upon her, and she would oh so enjoy it tonight. She was going to rock that deer's night, and she might bring out the blindfolds too, but that was a decision for tonight Juno to make.

    “Sorry.” Louis said as he held Juno close to him. He didn’t think he’d miss her so much, but here he was making a fool of himself in front of his friend and two complete strangers. Regaining his composure, he straightened out his tie and turned to Officer’s Hopps and Wilde. 

    “I want to thank you two for coming out to help me and my family,” Louis said acting like he didn’t do what he just did, he saw Officer Hopps giggle at his outburst much to the red deer’s embarrassment, but he managed to not let it be shown and spoke up again, “I also wish to talk to Legosi: privately.” He added. Nick and Judy gave the deer a wry look, but they acquiesced and allowed Louis to talk to the wolf in private, in another area of the precinct, away from prying eyes or ears that might hear. Louis gave a glance around, making sure the two weren’t surreptitiously followed and that they could have this conversation unmolested or unheard by anyone that wasn’t the two of them. 

    “Thank you for getting Juno out of jail.” Louis started adjusting his tie. He then looked Legosi head on. His face was that of complete and utter determination.

    “I need information.” Louis said, really more demanding than anything. Legosi frowned. He knew this would happen. Louis was always determined to take things into his own hands whenever he could, and this was apparently no exception. 

    “What kind? Because anything that might be secret, I can’t re-” Legosi was cut off by Louis.

    “That’s bullshit and you know it,” Louis said as he fished in his jacket and pulled out a carton of cigarettes and deposited one into his hand, taking out a lighter with ornate markings on it, and lighting it and taking a drag, “You know why I’m doing this. They almost got my wife thrown in prison for something she didn’t do. I won’t take that lying down. Can you imagine if someone did that to Haru?” Louis said, and Legosi frowned. Of course, he’d use the Haru card. That was enough to provoke a response from Legosi.

    “I… I… I don’t want to,” Legosi said trying to think of someone framing Haru for anything, he’d probably fight hell itself just to make sure she wasn’t thrown in prison or jail, “Fine, but I can’t give you much this is still an ongoing investigation, and I might be risking my job.” Legosi sighed as he looked up into the sky. The clouds were nice today, and he was wishing he was doing anything but talking to Louis about handing over confidential information and risking getting fired from his new job to appease his friend’s vigilantism.

    “The best place to start would be the two who lead us to the knife we found,” Legosi said, he handed Louis a piece of paper with two names, Haida and Retsuko, the two who called it into Legosi and one of the many pieces of evidence that had exonerated Juno, “I don’t know what much they can give you but they might have seen who had the knife.” Legosi said, nodding Louis extended a hand towards Legosi, the two shaking. The two were opposites in a lot of ways, which is probably why they were friends. 

    “I’ll leave you and the rest of the ZPD to investigate this the legal way, me though,” Louis said as he and Legosi walked back to Juno, Judy, and Nick. “I’m going to do it my way. I’ll send anything I find out to the ZPD.” Louis said. he and Juno departed in their car, leaving behind an annoyed wolf, bemused bunny, and a rather confused fox. 

    In the car back to their apartment, Juno gripped her husband’s hand. She could feel how shaking it was just at her touch.

    “It’s okay, Louis,” Juno said, her voice like sweet music to Louis. He’d not heard her in person in two days and to hear her now, it was a joy. He knew their children would be ecstatic to see their mother back, and he was glad to have her back. “I’m fine. I’m not going anywhere.” She said. Louis was still shaking a bit, but it had subsided. 

    “Th-Thanks.” Louis said as the two made their way to their home, for now Louis would spend time with his wife and children, he had some more feelers to go after, more leads to track down, and see who these two individuals were, Retsuko and Haida. He would be paying those two a visit real soon.

End of Chapter 6

Chapter Text

Haida let out a tired yawn. Work had decided to run him ragged that day. Paper after paper, meetings, everything that needed his attention needed it immediately and without question, or else he’d get the biggest of ass reaming from Ton. God, he hated that pig. Still, he was able to catch a break in between, him and Retsuko had been getting closer ever since their first date together, and the two were planning on seeing each other this weekend and going to a Death Metal Concert. Just the thought had taken some of the fatigue from Haida’s body away. Then again, Retsuko had that effect on him. Taking his keys out of his pocket, he opened his apartment and stepped in. He was surprised when he saw the lamp in his living room flick on. 

    “Afternoon Mister Haida,” A red deer said as Haida turned around, they had a gun in their hand and an expression that said, ‘make a move I don’t like, and this goes off.’ Haida froze as he tried to think of what to say or do, “Don’t worry, this is just… insurance, sit down. Me and you have something to discuss.” Haida hesitated for a moment, but when the deer cocked the hammer of the gun back, he sat down opposite of the deer. 

    “Um… I don't know why you’re here, Mister…?” Haida asked, not sure who the deer was. The red deer rolled his eyes and spoke up.

    “I’m Louis, I’m surprised you don’t recognize me since my wife was all over the news.” Louis said, then it hit Haida it was the owner of the Horns Conglomerate and the husband of that wolf actress who got arrested and nearly framed for the murder of the mayor. He was surprised he skipped his mind. But then again, when someone has a gun pointed at you, you kind of lose track of what they look like and focus on the gun. This was a surreal experience, to say the least. Haida had seen situations like this in movies, and never thought he’d end up at the receiving end of this kind of thing. Most animals don’t wake up in the morning and go ‘I sure hope I don’t get held at gunpoint in my own home,’ but here Haida was.

    “Right, right…. Um, why are you here?” Haida asked, his hands shaking in his lap as he tried to focus on Louis’ face and not the gun he had pointed at him. This was a losing proposition, but he tried his best to do it. 

    “As I said, we have something to discuss.” Louis said as he dug into his jacket pocket, pulled out a single cigarette and lit it, he did this with such grace that it’s clear this is something the deer has done many times before, the ability to hold a gun in one hand, and do a multitude of other things in the other is not a skill one develops naturally. Taking a slow drag of the cigarette, Louis took it out of his mouth and deposited on an ashtray full of a few other cigarettes, an ashtray that Haida did not own, meaning the deer must have been here a while. He would ask how he got into his house, but at this point, it didn’t matter he was here, and he had a gun pointed at Haida.

    “You and your girlfriend discovered something that helped free my wife.” Louis stated. Haida tried to think of anything he recently did that would have helped free Miss Juno. Then he remembered the knife he and Retsuko reported. 

    “Oh, you mean the knife.” Haida said. Louis nodded as he leaned forward, his gun still pointed squarely at Haida. 

    “Tell me, did you see who had that knife?” Louis asked. Haida thought for a moment, 

    “It was a big cat. I couldn't tell you what kind since Retsuko and I didn’t get a good look at the guy, but he was big, probably maybe a lion or a tiger or something.” Haida said, Louis mulled over this information for a moment. The list of big cats who would put a hit on the mayor were larger and rather strange, there were a number of former mayors who might want the current one dead including Former Mayor Lionheart, but that wouldn’t make much sense, than there were the few criminal organizations the vacuum left by his former criminal enterprise collapsing could have been filed by any number of feline exclusive gangs. This would require him to do more digging. Unloading his pistol, Louis placed it back in his jacket and stood up.

    “Thank you for your time Haida,” Louis said as he snuffed out the cigarette he was smoking and turned to the Hyena his face was stone cold, probably the kind of face one got when they did things like this regularly, Haida felt his blood run cold just at that stare alone, “Tell anyone besides your girlfriend about this meeting and I’ll find out.” Louis said as he left Haida’s apartment, Haida took a deep breath and nearly passed out, he’d never been that scared besides when Retsuko almost got killed by that crazy stalker when she was an idol. Haida was not sure what he’d got himself involved in, but he had a sneaking suspicion it would not be as easy to get out as it was to get in.

    “God damn, I need a drink.” Haida said as he went to his kitchen, hoping he still had some beer left over. 

    Meanwhile in another part of Zootopia, Retsuko was doing some last minute shopping, she was just as tired as Haida from their series if meetings and other list of annoyances that seemed to be compounded by that Bastard Ton and his insistent need to run them like they were drones and not animals who need breaks periodically. She took a deep breath; she was off the clock she had dinner to make tonight and she was not going to let that pig rule her life outside of the office. The produce section was full for once at this time of day. Most of the time, whenever Retsuko did late night shopping for dinner, it was usually nearly gone. She picked out several vegetables and paid for them, walking out of the store. In the distance, she didn’t notice a wolf watching her, keeping her keen senses trained on her, waiting for the perfect moment to walk up to her. 

    “Alright, you can do this Juno, it's just a light interrogation.” Juno said, psyching herself up. It’d been a week since she’d gotten released from jail and she was already about to do something stupid for Louis. She walked up to the red panda and spoke up.

    “Excuse me, are you Retsuko?” Juno asked. Retsuko turned to her and was star struck. Which Juno should have expected really, she was a famous actress after all. Pressing on, Juno spoke up, “I’m here to talk to you about some recent events.” Juno said. Retsuko was still star struck, and Juno sighed. 

    “So-Sorry! It’s just you're so famous and I’ve never met anyone as famous as you!” Retsuko said, and Juno let out another sigh. this would take a moment. Waiting for the red panda’s star struck awe to fade away, Juno spoke up again, asking about Retsuko about events that lead up to them finding the knife and the animal who might have framed Juno for murder.

    “Well, there isn’t much to talk about, me and my… I guess he’s my boyfriend now, we're on a date and this big cat rushed past us and threw the knife in the bin nearby.” Retsuko said she felt a little happy referring to Haida as her boyfriend Juno rubbed her chin.

    “Nothing else? No species?” Juno asked Retsuko, who shook her head no, and the wolf let out a sigh of annoyance. She was prepared for this eventually, but she was still massively disappointed. She didn’t show this on her face, her acting chops usually came in handy when it came to tricking animals to her ultimate motives, obfuscate and keep the one you're trucking always guessing, it worked wonders in acting and it also worked wonders when she needed to play a role around the many animals that Louis dealt with, very few animals knew the ‘true’ Juno, some thought of her as a ditzy actress and trophy wife to Louis, others as this lithe and sexy woman who was able to smooth talk anyone (which she was,) very few knew what she was like and she planned to keep it that way.

    “Well thank you for your time.” Juno said as she walked off. In the distance, obscured by shadows, an animal observed this exchange, their keen hearing allowing them to pick up most of the conversation. They pulled out a cellphone and brought it to their ear.

    “I have a new loose end to tie up, a red panda and her hyena boyfriend.” 

End of Chapter 7

Chapter Text

Retsuko looked herself once, twice, and a final third time in the mirror in the bedroom of her apartment. She was preparing for her third date with Haida; she wasn’t nervous for the whole thing. She and Haida have known each other for so long that the nerves that would usually come with dating someone else had completely ebbed and flowed away, like that of a river. Still, she wanted to look good tonight. The two of them were going to a metal concert, a band that Haida had told her about named ‘The Dark Triad’, a band that he had turned her on to. They were pretty good. 

    “Alright, let’s go!” Retsuko said to herself as she grabbed her purse and headed off to the train station to meet Haida. Haida was already waiting a bit nervous about the date and still thinking about what happened a few days ago, he didn’t tell Retsuko about the fact that he was held at gunpoint in his own home by the CEO of one of the biggest companies in all of Zootopia, or that. He was still too shaken up about it, and he was trying to keep that idea of the fact that apparently something he and Retsuko did had drawn the attention of someone that powerful and well connected, and part of Haida also regrets he didn’t ask the deer if he could get him a job somewhere else other than where he worked. Still, Haida couldn’t shake that something big was about to happen. He didn’t know what that big thing was.

    “Hey Haida!” Retsuko said, drawing the hyena from his thoughts, he turned to see his red panda girlfriend smiling at him, and to say she was dressed cute was an understatement, Retsuko was wearing a red pleated skirt with fishnet stockings, a white sleeveless shirt and on her wrists were spiked bangles. To be the epitome of punk and cute at the same time, he had to fight the urge to bring her into a big hug and kiss her all over for being so damn adorable.

    “H-Hey!” Haida said waving to the red panda as she wrapped her arms around one of Haida’s and smiled up at him, “So you ready to rock out?” Haida asked, and Retsuko gave him a devious smile.

    “Hell yeah!” Retsuko said as she made mock devil horns with her fingers, the two boarded their train and headed to the place where the concert would be held, the two sharing a pair of headphones that Haida brought to listen to some music on the way. The city of Zootopia always looked wonderful at night, the city lights cascading with the night sky to give off an ethereal glow that could be seen for miles around and going to the various districts of the city was just as great an experience. The concert was being held just a little way outside the city, not directly outside the Zootopia city limits, but close enough. The train ride was a quick one, and when they departed, they walked the rest of the way to their destination. 

    The venue was a huge outdoor concert area that was packed to the brim with other fans of the band ready to party it out and enjoy a night of thrashing, head banging and other fun things that one.

    “Wow, this place is packed.” Retsuko said as they had their tickets checked and bags checked, she’d been to her fair share of concerts, but not one this full. This band must be really popular. As they entered the venue proper, Haida couldn’t help but feel like they were being watched. Someone or something was spying on them from afar. He looked back but saw nothing but animals going about their business, he chalked it up to the fact that he was still a bit shaken up by what happened between him and Louis, he was going to put that incident out of his mind, and he was going to enjoy his date with Retsuko. Looking back down at the red panda who was clinging to his arms, he smiled so this was what it was like to be so in love with someone that every little thing they did was the best thing ever. 

    “Hmm, I’ll grab us some beer,” Haida said, since neither of them were driving and it was the weekend, why not enjoy some beer. Heading to the pop-up concessions stand and grabbed Retsuko and him, two plastic cups full of beer. The two weren’t heavy drinkers, but a nice beer during the weekend was always something the two enjoyed. Finding a nice place to see the band, the two drank and waited for the concert to start. The two were so engrossed with each other that it took a moment for Haida to notice the strange looking lion standing near them. The lion was watching them way too intensely for him to be friendly. He was about to say something to Retsuko. Then the lion pulled out a gun, and Haida, without thinking, grabbed Retsuko as the guy opened fire. The concert soon erupted into a cacophony of screams, yells and bodies moving as animals scrambled to get away from the gunman. Haida and Retsuko included. A few more shots rocketed from the lion's gun, no doubt pointed at them as the two scrambled to get out of the concert, pushing and shoving against other animals along the way: absolute chaos was the only way to describe the way things were like at the concert.

    “Who the hell is that guy?” Retsuko asked as she peaked over the table the two were hiding behind, then Haida thought of why someone like Louis would be looking into them, then it dawned on him that he and Retsuko may have gotten way, way in over their heads when they gave the info to the ZPD. 

    “I don’t know but I think he’s looking for us.” Haida said as he looked to see if the coast was clear, grabbing Retsuko’s hand the two ran as fast as they could away from the place and headed towards the train station. Watching their backs the entire way. Eventually, they made it just as ZPD Cruisers were heading towards the concert venue, no doubt after someone called the cops to check out the scene. 

    “You okay?” Haida asked. He was shaking a bit, and he felt like his fur was about to jump right off his skin.

    “I should ask you the same thing.” Retsuko said, the two were still on edge at what happened, they were shot at, and not as just some random act of violence this was targeted for them specifically, no place they had been to was safe for now, and right now they couldn’t trust anyplace they’d been to previously, they needed a place to crash for the night then head to the ZPD or someone who might be able to keep them safe for the time being. 

    “I don’t think we can head back to our houses.” Haida said, Retsuko looked down. She didn’t pack any fresh clothes, or anything, because the two of them didn’t think they’d need it. 

    “I know a hotel we can head to not too far from the first stop of the train.” Retsuko said, nodding. The two boarded the train, they were tired, scared and a bit hungry but hey, at least they were alive and not riddled with bullet holes. The train ride was silent, and the two were too on edge looking for any more suspicious characters to really relax, and they probably wouldn’t relax until they were in the hotel and settled. The hotel that Retsuko knew off was a pretty small one and looked more like a love motel than anything, but it would do for the night. Entering, they were greeted by the hotel’s receptionist, an older meerkat  

    “Welcome, wow you two look like you had a rough day.” The receptionist of the hotel said, in the background a TV was playing, and it was showing an aerial view of the concert they were at, and a ZNN correspondent talking about the two casualties of the shooting, Haida’s heart sunk that two animals took a bullet meant for him and Retsuko. 

    “You wouldn’t know half of it.” Retsuko said as she got a room for the two of them. After making double sure they weren’t being followed, the two went to their room and, for the first time in over an hour, collapsed onto the bed. The two’s hearts were beating nearly a million miles a minute, so fast and hard that they thought they might jump right out of their chests. 

    “God, can I go a few months without some life threatening altercation with an animal?” Retsuko asked herself more than anything. This was indeed a few months after she’d nearly been stabbed by that deranged idol fan. Haida was there for that, too. He seemed to be there for all the weird, life-threatening situations she'd been involved with. Haida held her close, stroking her head as he laid his head on her shoulder.

    “At least you're safe.” Haida said the two were unsure what to do now. Sitting up in the bed, the two looked each other in the eyes, the height of their emotions after everything had transpired. It only felt natural what happened next. Haida held Retsuko’s face and brought his lips to hers. The two had kissed a few times before, but this? This was so different from those other times. The raw emotion the two felt for one another was higher than anything in the world before or since. Their tongues intermingled in their mouths as Haida pushed Retsuko onto her back, as she clutched at his chest.

    Sliding his hand up Retsuko’s thigh, the fishnet she was wearing not doing much from preventing him feeling the softness of her fur, stopping at the hem of her skirt, pushing a bit further he heard Retsuko’s breath hitch in her throat as he began to move further and further up her skirt, all the while Haida was kissing and nipping at her neck. 

    “H-Haida!” Retsuko moaned as she felt the hyena’s teeth scrape against her neck, making her knees week as she rubbed her thighs together, she then felt Haida’s hands make their way up her skirt and tentatively tease around her most sensitive area, only a few men have been there. 

    “Is it okay if I go further?” Haida asked, Retsuko nodded yes, and he moved his hands past the waistband of her panties and fishnet pantyhose and pushed his fingers into her most sensitive area. Another breath hitched in Retsuko’s mouth as Haida’s finger entered her moist folds. Fingering her again and again, Retsuko moaned and groaned in delight. Haida then began to pull up her shirt. Her bra was a cute white one with a little bow in the middle. Burying his face in her chest, Haida kissed and played with Retsuko, making the red panda moan even more. 

    “Fuck, Retsuko.” Haida huffed as he removed his finger from Retsuko‘s snatch, it was absolutely drenched with her nectar, licking it he tasted her and he wanted more, pulling up Retsuko’s skirt fully and pulling her panties and fishnets down complexly he buried his snout into Retsuko’s waiting cunt. Retsuko’s moans grew louder and louder as Haida played with her cunt and clit. Licking, kissing, and sucking at any area of her snatch that he wanted to. The red panda let out more moans of pleasure as she felt herself nearing her edge. Her claws were clutching hard on the covers of the bed. Then with a long moan she felt herself become undone. Haida lapped up her juices hungrily as he listened to Retsuko moan in pleasure even more. Waiting a few moments for Retsuko to recover, Haida saw the look that Retsuko was giving him.

    “I want you in me.” Retsuko said, and Haida had to shake his head to make sure he wasn’t having one of his ‘dreams’, but no, this was real. He was about to do something he’d only dreamed, and a few times daydreamed about before. Swallowing the lump that formed in his throat. Haida pulled his pants down, allowing Retsuko to see the burgeoning reaction in his boxers. She reached out and touched the outline of his cock, making the hyaena moan a bit as he waited for her to give the go ahead for things to continue. Pulling his boxers down with the rest of his pants and then taking off his shirt, Haida and Retsuko were now mostly naked.

    “Are you sure you want to do this, Retsuko?” Haida asked, wanting to be absolutely sure that what they were about to do was okay. 

    “Yeah, I want this Haida.” Retsuko said, and Haida nodded as he lined up his cock with Retsuko’s snatch. His heart was beating heavy and hard. Grabbing Retsuko’s hips, he plunged his cock inside of her snatch. The two closed their eyes in ecstasy. Moving his hips back, and them slamming his cock back inside, Retsuko and Haida began to fuck. 

    “Y-YES!” Retsuko moaned as she held at Haida’s chest as he pumped in and out of her at a steady pace. Hearing Retsuko moan like that was making Haida want to fuck her even harder and even faster. The sound of their hips slapping against each other filled the air, mixed with their moans and groans of pleasure. The two were fast approaching the crescendo of Haida’s first orgasm and Retsuko’s second. 

    “R-Retsuko, I’m about to-” Haida moaned out as he tried to tell Retsuko he was about to finish but couldn’t get the words to finish them getting caught up in his throat, Retsuko pulled him close and kissed him deeply as she felt him cum inside her, it was her safe day, hopefully so there wouldn’t be as much of a risk but still this was the riskiest thing she’d done with another man in quite a while. The feeling of her lover’s seed flooding into her was something she’d never experienced from the three men she’d slept with. None of them besides Haida had ever cum inside her. IT was an alien yet not unwelcomed experience. The warmth of it, the feeling of being completely and utterly filled, was something she wouldn’t mind experiencing again. All while this was going on, Retsuko could feel herself cum as well, the sensation was like nothing else in the world. The two finally separated. Spent from their thorough lovemaking. Looking in each other’s eyes, Haida smiled at Retsuko, who gave him one back.

    “Th-that was… intense.” Haida said as he sat up his body was aching a bit and he felt like he needed a shower, but he was quite happy for once, despite what happened today with the ruined date and the shooting, he was happy even if it was only for a moment. 

    “Yeah. I can’t wait to do it again.” Retsuko said as she got up off the bed and headed towards the shower, Haida following behind. The two showered and tried to think of a plan as to what to do tomorrow. They needed to find somewhere safe, away from whoever it was in Zootopia who’d want them dead. But that would be a problem for them in the morning. for now, they needed some much needed rest.

End of Chapter 8

Chapter Text

Zootopia was a relatively peaceful city; relative, being the operative word in that sentence, the city had its underbelly, a thin veneer of clean and tidiness that was over a long and sordid history of crime and villainy that any major city in the world had. Still, things were relatively calm in the city for the most part. The biggest events to happen in the last eight years were the Missing Animals case and the Back Alley War, other than that, the city stayed quiet. Then the mayor got stabbed, and if that wasn’t bad enough, then a concert got shot up. When it rains, it pours, it seems. And for the fine city of Zootopia this month, it was like a fucking monsoon had hit it. 

    Nick and Judy had hoped they would be able to clock out that night and head home and enjoy a nice evening together, something they’d not been able to do in months, just the two of them husband and wife and not be called on another assignment, but Bogo said this was ‘all hands on deck,’ and he was not wrong. Two dead and at least a dozen others injured or in critical condition from this shooting. As Judy and Nick looked at the two dead animals being carted onto ambulances, white cloth draped over their bodies, their hearts sunk, one was a kid about seventeen years old and the other was a twenty-eight-year-old woman. Two animals are dead and the ZPD had no clue who the hell might have caused this or what their potential motive might be. 

    “First the mayor get’s stabbed and now this, tell me Carrots, did the world decide it wanted to go crazy this year or?” Nick said as he looked at the scene several of the injured concert goers were getting loaded onto ambulances as some of the animals who didn’t immediately bail and head for the hills during the ad hoc evacuation were talking to the ZPD trying to give statements, etc. Most of them were scared teens and young adults, who probably would never recover from this incident, seeing someone die was not something one got used to no matter how many times you saw it, you just became numb to it over time, but you still felt it especially if the victims were young kids, whose light were snuffed too early, whose future’s the world would never get to see, whose lives had never truly began. It was disheartening, to say the least. 

    “No clue slick, still this is a horrible week for the city,” Judy said as she knelt down and looked at a bullet casing that was on the ground, tagging it and taking a picture of the casing, “Hmm, odd caliber to find here in Zootopia.” Judy noted as she wrote that down, the two were on the fast-track to detective in a few months, so we're taking more and more initiative towards things to prepare for that job. So the two were getting really good at noting details like that, and indeed it was not a caliber that one saw in the hands of much of anyone in Zootopia well except one group: hired guns. 

    “Yeah, you don’t see that kind of stuff in the hands of petty criminals or well concert shooters, whoever our gun animal was, was after a specific target.” Nick agreed with Judy’s observation.

    “And probably wanted to use the concert as a cover.” Judy added, this was a rabbit hole that went further and deeper than the two of them knew. Who would want some random animal dead and be so brazen to try to off them at a concert of all places full of other animals, and be so callous to not give a damn about the collateral damage caused by this? Someone had answers, but who that someone was was going to be an uphill battle for the ZPD to find. The attacker fled the scene using the commotion they caused to slip in unnoticed, but they had witnesses they could at least talk to, so that was a good first step. They just hoped that someone among them had seen the shooter's face or something.

    The morning after an event is always an interesting one, depending on what happened it can be one filled with jubilation or reverence like a wedding or a birthday, but for Retsuko and Haida this morning was one filled with a mix of trepidation and light excitement, the two of them had for lack of a better term went further than they’d ever intended to for their date last night. The two had intended last night to be a nice date to get their minds off the last few days of turmoil in the city, go to a concert, listen to some thrash metal and enjoy themselves and head home. Then a tiger started shooting at them and the two were running for their lives against someone who they didn’t know. Then there was what they did after all was done and the two had managed to find some refuge. Maybe it was the emotions, maybe it was just the fact that the two of them had just survived the most life-threatening thing they’d ever dealt with in a while, but they made love like hell last night.

    Now the two couldn't look each other eye to eye, too awkward to really think about the events of last night, well at least those bits but much of last night was still playing over and over and over again in their heads, the gunfire, the sounds of animals screaming. The sounds played over and over again in Retsuko’s head, in particular. She’d probably not really recovered from almost being stabbed to death by some crazed fan all those months ago. Now this? Compound trauma was apparently her draw this time around. 

    “You okay?” Haida asked, noticing the look of distress on Retsuko’s face. The red panda snapped out of her haze and gave her boyfriend a wry smile.

    “I’m fine… I’m… fine…” Retsuko said, her voice trailing off. She felt a hand wrap around hers and Retsuko laid her head on Haida’s body and sighed, “This whole week's been so damn draining.” Retsuko said really, life has been draining for her in general, though this might honestly be the worst it’s been in a long time. She’d been put through the ringer and felt like she was about to burst.

    “It’s okay if you want to vent to me.” Haida said. Haida had been one of the many shoulders Retsuko cried upon when things got like hell. Well, he and Fenneko were the main ones keeping her going and not ending up in an even darker place. 

    “Life has been crap, Haida,” Retsuko said, her voice was blunt and filled with both a lack and an overabundance of emotion, Haida could tell that Retsuko had been through a lot he knew how much she hated her life as it stood: dead-end job, up until recently dead end love life, and now she had been subjected to not one but two life-threatening situations. To say that life had given her no end of grief, “I don’t think I can take another thing like what happened last night.” Retsuko said squeezing Haida’s hand tighter and tighter. This morning was not one Haida had in mind for his Sunday, but then again he didn’t intend for yesterday to go so bad too, hearing the woman he loves vent about her problems.

    “I know, you don’t have to go it alone Retsuko.” Haida reassured the red panda, he leaned down and kissed her on the forehead, the two then rode the train the rest of the way in silence, keeping an eye just in case there would be attacker was targeting them again, but they managed to make it to their destination unmolested. Stopping in Sahara Square, the two walked the rest of the way to their destination: Zootopia Police Department Prescient One, the only place the two could think would be safe for them to hide out and inform whoever was in charge what happened. 

    Nick was writing up a report from last night, forensics had come back with some preliminaries about the caliber used in last night's shooting and had confirmed Judy and His’ hunch that indeed they were the common ones used by hired hit animals in Zootopia, that at least gave them something to go after when they had a chance to follow any leads. Unfortunately, the witnesses who they managed to track down who didn’t scatter were not as helpful as the two would have liked, the few who saw the shooter were only able to get a quick glimpse at him before he opened fire, but at least they had a gender, Adult Male, so that only narrowed the choice down to oh, about a million animals. Sometimes Nick hated his job.

    “Hey slick, I think we got a new lead.” Judy said, walking into their shared office. Nick turned to his wife in his swivel chair. She had the look of jubilation that came with a breakthrough of a high profile case like the one they were dealing with 

    “You don’t say?” Nick asked. Judy nodded.

    “Yep, two new witnesses have come forward, and they have some… interesting information. Come on Bogo wants us to interview them.” Judy said. Nick nodded and followed after Judy as they headed to the interrogation rooms. Nick was picked to deal with the first one sitting down. He had a manila envelope in front of him and opened. it, looking through it, he saw his interviewee. Red Panda, age twenty-seven, unmarried, named Retsuko.

    “Alright Miss Retsuko, tell me what you saw.” Nick said. 

End of Chapter Nine

Chapter Text

Retsuko had never been in an interrogation room in her life. She’d seen them on the dramas she’d watch on TV, the concrete walls, somewhat high ceiling, buzzing of the fluorescent lights above, all of those were fixtures of the ones she’d seen on TV, where grizzled hard-boiled detective types would rant and rave towards the criminal until they finally broke and confessed to the crime they were accused of. But the ZPD interrogation room? It was somewhat calmer than the ones shown on TV; she was sitting in a standard metal folding chair and across from her was a red fox; he held a clipboard in one hand and had handed her a warm cup of coffee and had asked her how she liked it. She could see on their right ring finger a simple wedding band. The Fox then sat down and put the clipboard in front of him and asked her to sign it for confidentiality’s sake. He then introduced himself. 

    “Hello, I’m officer Nicholas Wilde, and I’ve been told you have some info about the recent shooting that took place.” Nick said, leaning forward, resting his head on his fists. Retsuko swallowed the lump that formed in her throat and spoke up.

    “I’m not sure I can give you guy's much info; I just saw them for a brief moment.” Retsuko said.

    “Any info you can give will help us tremendously.” Nick replied. Retsuko thought for a moment and spoke up.

    “Well, me and my boyfriend, he's the hyena I came in with, were at a concert when we saw a lion,” Retsuko said. Nick noted she said lion and not lioness, so they were probably dealing with a male perp, “I didn’t see his face at least not for long, I think Haida saw him better, then he pulled out a gun and started shooting and after that we lost track of him.” Retsuko said. Nick nodded and wrote this down; they’d question her boyfriend after her so hopefully they could get much more info from him than her. 

“Thank you, Miss Retsuko, your contribution will help us solve this case faster. Officer Hopps will escort you to the lobby. Please wait there while we talk to your boyfriend.” Nick said as he led Retsuko to the door where Judy was waiting. The rabbit showed the red panda to the lobby of Precinct One, and she sat and waited. 

“Oh Miss Retsuko, how’s it going.” Retsuko heard a familiar voice say she turned and saw a giant gray wolf with the biggest grin on his face. It was Legosi. He had a big smile on his face and his tail was wagging like a fan on its max setting. That’s what made Legosi such an endearing animal. He seemed to always be excited to see someone, no matter who they were. 

“Hey Legosi.” Retsuko said, a bit downcast, her mind still on the events of yesterday. 

“Something bad happened?” Legosi asked.

“In a manner of speaking, remember that shooting that happened yesterday?” Retsuko asked. Legosi nodded.

“I was there. The guy who shot the place up was after me and my boyfriend.” Retsuko said. She saw Legosi’s tail go from excited to limp in an instant. He offered to hug her, but she turned it down. Sighing, he left Retsuko behind. He then looked at his watch and rushed out. He had a lunch date with Haru, and he didn’t want to be late for it. 

Meanwhile, in the interrogation room that Retsuko left, Haida was waiting to be interrogated. This was becoming common for him, it seems, sighing as he took a sip of the coffee they gave him. It was not good, but better than nothing.

“Welcome Mister Haida, I’m officer Wilde and I’ve got some questions for you. I already talked to your girlfriend, and I’m hoping you can fill in the gaps that she left out.” Nick said in as calm a voice as he could. Haida sighed.

“I saw a lion who looked to be about thirty or so, he was armed with some pistol I couldn’t see or tell you what make or model, wore a trench coat and had a scar I think on his left eye.” Haida said, trying to remember as many details as he could from what happened that night, which wasn’t hard, that lion’s face was burned into his mind forever, the guy who almost killed his girlfriend and him. Nick smiled. They now had something to go on. Scars were a dime a dozen on male, lions, but it at least gave them something to look for. 

“Thank you Haida for your time, Officer Hopps will escort you to the lobby where your girlfriend is waiting.” Haida heard Nick say, then he remembered it wasn’t random that some lion tried to shoot him. He then spoke up.

"W-WAIT!” Haida said before Nick got up. Nick looked at Haida with bewilderment. He was used to animals yelling at him in this room, but not for him to wait.

“S-Sorry, look I know I’m gonna sound like I’m talking out of my ass, but… look, that lion didn’t just attack the place out of the blue he looked right at me and fired at me and Retsuko,” Haida said. Nick raised an eyebrow at this. He sat down and waited for the hyena to finish. “I think he tried to kill me and her cause we knew something was off about the murder of the mayor.” And this little tidbit made Nick even more intrigued. Judy and he had figured this random shooting wasn’t just a random act of violence, and it seems their hunch was validated. 

“I see, well then, I guess we’re gonna have to figure out how to make that not a problem,” Nick said as he wrote down a few things in his notepad, Haida and Retsuko were now considered prime witnesses, and prime witnesses were big juicy targets for hitanimals looking to clean up any loose ends, especially in the case with the death of a mayor and the framing of a famous actress being involved. It’d been a hot minute since the ZPD had to work with Witness Protection, but it seems like they had some need for it.

“Alright Haida, wait in the lobby, and me and my coworkers will discuss how best to handle this situation. With Judy and Nick taking their findings to Chief Bogo. Bogo looked at the findings as they stood.

“These are certainly fascinating results,” Bogo said as he flipped to another page of Nick and Judy’s report on what was happening with the murder case with the mayor, and now a shooting at a concert was part of it, pinching the bridge of his nose he hated that it was always these two that drew in the strange cases like this, “Wilde, Hopps good work we’ll get to work seeing about getting those two to a safe place.” Bogo said. Nick and Judy nodded, and the two left his office and Bogo sighed. This was going to be the biggest headache he’d have to deal with in a while. 

End of Chapter Ten

Chapter Text

Haru hummed a light tune as she watered a group of plants that hung in her apartment, the green leaves of the planets she was taking care of shined in the morning sun as she checked them for any bruising, bugs, and anything else that might damage the health of her little plants. They were her pride and joy, and they were the things she wrote most of her graduate thesis on these plants, so she wanted to keep them healthy for as long as she could. Today was her day off. Normally most animals would try to avoid the thing they work with every day, but Haru loved planets and taking care of them. The sound of a loud maw yawning caught her attention, looking back she saw her boyfriend Legosi emerge from their bedroom, he had slept in since today was his first day off in a few weeks, the two’s times off rarely, if ever, overlapped so this was a little windfall for the two.

    “Morning Haru.” Legosi said as he wrapped his arms around Haru, resting his head between her ears as he wagged his tail in happiness. Haru grabbed her wolf’s arms, enjoying the warmth his body gave off. She kissed his fur and spoke up.

    “Morning Legosi, sleep well?” Haru asked as Legosi unwrapped his arms from around Haru and went to the kitchen to get something to eat. He just gave a simple one note response as he rummaged through the fridge for something easy to eat. Legosi had done some grocery shopping the day before. Finding something he liked he went back into their living room and watched intently as Haru went about tending to her plants he liked the domesticity of their lives now, it was almost like they were married, though Legosi and Haru were not sure when they would go over that hurdle, though it would probably be soon if the two had their say in things. Haru, now finished watering her plants, decided to go enjoy laying on Legosi’s chest, the dwarf rabbit snuggling into his shirt and enjoying the softness of his gray fur. 

    “So, how’s ZPD work treating you?” Haru asked as she got comfortable on Legosi’s massive chest, the wolf thought for a moment, much of what he’d been doing in his job had been working with a few of the veteran officers to learn the ropes and being part of the units that helped sniff out crime scenes to see if any evidence could be gathered from smell alone.

    “It’s been okay, I like my fellow officers especially Officer’s Wilde and Hopps,” Legosi said happily, Haru knew of Officer’s Wilde and Hopps, from when the two had busted the former assistant mayor for her scheme with the nighthowlers and a few other of their accolades that might have warranted being on TV, “Oh and I’ve been involved in that thing with the mayor’s death.” Legosi added. Haru knew all about that, she remembered when Louis came to her seeking advice on how to handle it, since Juno for a time was suspect number one by the ZPD, and she’d almost gone to prison for it if not for evidence coming out that the she-wolf didn’t do it. 

    “I heard about that, you seem to be drawn to that kind of stuff huh?” Haru said thinking of what Legosi did during his fight against the various gangs of the back alley market, he was always drawn to those kinds of fights, “Like a month to a flame.” Haru added.

    “Yeah, I guess I am.” Legosi said in an apologetic tone. Haru kissed him and the two snuggled for a while, content in their domesticity. The world around them was crazy, strange, and dangerous, but they had each other. And that was all that really mattered to the two.  

End of Side Chapter One

Chapter Text

Louis took a drag of his cigarette, looking past the looming haze of smoke to a computer. He was typing along. He was trying to, in some way, connect the dots of this case in his mind. A mayor killed, his wife framed, a concert shot up and two animals being the target of it. How in the world did these connect? Snuffing out the cigarette in an ashtray, Louis pulled out a fresh one and lit it. Taking a long, slow drag, letting the feeling of nicotine and tar wash over him. 

    “How does this all connect?” He said to himself, the red deer was good at connecting dots, good at finding things that others might overlook in an investigation, but he was no miracle worker. Looking at a few articles about the incidents that have happened in the last couple of weeks, Louis looked over each one. The first one he looked at was one about the mayor’s murder. He then narrowed down any groups that might want her dead.

    Mayor Swinton was for lack of a better word, vastly unpopular among the populace of Zootopia, rumors of corruption, backdoor deals towards former business partners, and other list of potential crimes levied against her, but never given enough substance to prove. So there was no list of animals who would want her dead if it came to it, former colleagues, animals she’d made deals with who wanted to get rid of her, or simply crime families she might be in league with wanting to tie up a loose end. Still, those didn’t pan out much, Louis despite going ‘legit’ and not associating with his former criminal associates, still had many connections in the underworld, and knew many animals who owed him favors, and each and every single one of them didn’t give him anything that would indicate it was one of these groups. Well, none that he knew of, but he didn’t rule out the possibility of a newcomer trying to make a name for themselves, and what better way to do that than assassinate a high-profile politician? 

    Then he looked at an article about his wife being framed. Though that seemed less like an intentional thing and more like a convenient fall animal, Juno was just in the wrong place at the right time for them. So that was a nonstarter as far as finding any information about why the animals who were doing it did what they wanted. Still, it might be good to help narrow down their focus. They obviously weren’t that concerned about collateral. 

    That was when he looked at an article about the shooting at the concert, several animals dead and injured and all to kill two animals: Retsuko and her boyfriend Haida. Legosi, who was acting as his inside man inside the ZPD, had told him that they’d been put into witness protection for the time being together, so he couldn’t talk to them for the duration of that. But the fact that whoever he was trying to find was not only willing to shoot up a concert full of other animals who had nothing to do with the two, seemed to indicate that they probably saw themselves as above any possible repercussions, there are very few groups like that, even his old organization didn’t act that brazenly when he was in charge, hell their old leader died for acting that brash and impulsively at Louis’ own hands no less.

    All of this was leading to blanks in Louis’ head. Taking another long drag of his cigarette, Louis sighed smoke wafting in the air as it hung still in his home office, he looked at the clock on his computer and saw he’d been doing this for four hours now, it was well past midnight, Juno and the kids were probably asleep, and he should be to. Snuffing out the cigarette, Louis turned his computer off and headed to bed. Maybe some sleep would allow him to piece this puzzle together better. Taking off his clothes and slipping into the bed, he saw Juno fast asleep, he was still too clingy to her after she’d gotten out of jail, he’d almost lost the second woman he’d ever fallen in love with, he would not lose her again. His arms tightly wrapped around her belly and nuzzled his head into the crook of her neck, the warmth and heat resonating off of her doing wonders in the cool night air. Juno stirred lightly in the bed, and she snuggled closer to him. He smiled and went to sleep. 

    Meanwhile in another part of the city, sitting in a private dinning room, away from prying eyes and listing ears two big cats were enjoying one of the finer things in life, the flesh of a freshly murdered prey animal, in this case a ram who’d crossed the wrong criminal organization. Such a shame, Roku thought, as they were a good supplier of illicit drugs, but then again Woolter, Bellwethers old associate, would be a much better fit.  

    “I must say you know how to pick victims,” the tiger said as he enjoyed the meat as it slid down his gullet. Blood rolled down his jaw, dripping and lightly staining the tablecloth crimson. The other lion looked on this display with light disgust but didn’t speak.

    “Only the best for my best hitmen,” the lion said happily, his smile looking as fake as his happiness. Roku hated hitmen, and he hated the fact that he had to work through them, his organization was not big as say the Shishigumi, his uncle’s organization of old, but he’d make do with this bastard tiger for a little longer, at least until he got what he wanted. But the way this damned tiger ate was starting to make him annoyed. He didn’t savor his meat like a true gentleman, instead gobbling it down like a veracious child, “So tell me did you take care of our hyena and red panda problem?” Roku asked. The lion didn’t respond, and Roku’s face turned into a frown.

    “W-Well you see they-” The lion stammered out, but he was stopped when Roku raised his hand. The quiet malice that emanated from the lion was enough to scare the lion’s stripes right off his fur. He didn’t know what he was going to do to him. 

    “It’s fine, it’s fine.” Roku said and before the lion could respond Roku pulled a pistol from his coat and shot him in the head, the gun smoking as he looked at the dead lion, silenced pistols were quite marvelous inventions, it went off without much fanfare and didn’t alert the other diners in the restaurant, the last thing he’d want to do is try to kill them or bribe them. Still, it was sad that he had to kill such a valuable asset, but his value had simply stopped being paramount, and Roku didn’t permit idiots like him allowing such loose ends like those two escaping. Pulling out a burner phone, Roku called one of his associates as he placed the pistol back into its holster in his jacket. 

    “Yes, I’m afraid our associate Burn won’t be of any use to us anymore, dispose of him and make it look like a suicide. Oh and leave a letter admitting about the mayor murder, that'll keep the ZPD off us for a while.” Roku said as he put the phone away and went back to eating. No use in wasting a fine meal.

End of Chapter Eleven

Chapter Text

Retsuko had never been to the countryside before. She’d thought of it a few times; a place that she’d take a trip to when she had a day off and enough money saved to do so. Well now, here she was, but this was less of a vacation, and more an attempt to keep her and Haida from being found by some animals that want them dead. Animal Protection was one of the many programs that the ZPD offered to important witnesses and other animals who were being targeted because of their importance to a case, though in Retsuko and Haida’s case they were given a lesser version of this, no changed identities, no cover stories (well aside from the one their job was given that they were being ushered somewhere for their safety,) simply plopped in the middle of nowhere and given two officers to keep them company and watch over them until the animals who wanted them dead either gave up, or were caught and thrown into prison.  

    “Well, that’s the last of your stuff.” Retsuko heard the officer that was helping them move in say as he finished packing, the officer in question was Officer Nick Wilde, who had been the one to help them get into the program.

    “Thanks.” Retsuko said, looking a bit sad. She and Haida were gonna be stuck here for god knows how long. Nick, always good at reading animals, put a comforting hand on her shoulder. He was taller than her and he looked down at her, a warm smile on his face.

    “Hey, this will only be temporary. Once we catch those bastards who tried to kill you, we’ll be out of here in a jiffy.” Nick said with a smile on his face, and for once, Retsuko felt assured about something. No wonder Nick was the one who did most of the ZPD’s community outreach stuff. The todd had a knack for making anyone feel safe with him around. 

    Meanwhile, inside, Haida and Judy were going over the various security measures. The hyena was a bit over his head with this stuff, but he tried his best to follow the rabbit, explaining things.

    “And this is so if someone other than the designated animals on this list shows up, you can lock the door from any part of the house.” Judy said, handing Haida a small buzzer that would work to do what she just described. He inspected the device and looked a bit weirded out by it.

    “Um… this is all kinda overwhelming.” Haida said, trying to not sound like he’s in over his head. Judy seemed to notice this and smiled at him.

    “Don’t worry, you’ll get it. Come on, Nick and Retsuko are outside, and I want to familiarize her with the security, too.” Judy said, hopping outside, leaving a flummoxed Haida behind. The hyena sighed and followed her. This was going to be a long couple of weeks for him but, at least Retsuko was here with him so that gave him some solace. Night soon fell, and Judy and Nick departed; they'd be keeping an eye on them, but for the most part, Haida and Retsuko would be left to their own devices. Sitting in a little farmhouse off the main estate of the Hopps Family, the two watched a tiny CRT tv as it played some tv show. Haida glanced over to Retsuko, who had a frown on her face.

    “You okay?” Haida asked, Retsuko nodded.

    “Just tired. I had a crappy week, and now an even crappier one compounded onto the other one.” Retsuko said as she slumped in her chair. Haida got up and scooped her into a hug, pulling her close to his chest, and Retsuko snuggled into his chest. The two sat down together. Hoping that their closeness would mend that hurt that was going through them now. 

    Meanwhile, in the Hopps main house, Judy and Nick were discussing the events at hand, Judy in particular. The two were sitting at the porch of the house, away from the rest of the family who was in the middle of family game night, they’d been trying to piece together what was happening, they were clearly a few steps behind whoever killed the mayor and wanted Retsuko and Haida dead, they knew why they wanted them gone, they were witnesses, they saw who did what and wanted them out of the way. It was frustrating, to say the least. 

    “I don’t get it!” Judy said exploding in a bit of rage at the fact that they couldn’t parse what the killers wanted, Judy was a smart woman, she managed to with Nick’s help piece together Bellwether’s whole plan and foil it, she helped find missing animals weeks ago, but someone murdering a corrupt politician was throwing her for a loop, “How can we not know anything! I’ve combed over all the evidence more times than anyone and I’m still at a loss.” Judy said, taking a moment to catch her breath, grabbing a nearby jug of moonshine and downing half of it much to Nick's worry. 

    “Calm down, Carrots, especially with the booze.” Nick said as he took the moonshine jug away from Judy and placed it to his side. Judy frowned at him, and he gave her his usual cheeky smile.

    “We’re all being run around. It’s not just you, love,” Nick said as he stroked her face, inching ever closer to Judy’s face. He kissed her and he felt the rabbit melt in his hands. Nick had that kind of effect on his wife. Judy was a firebrand, always willing and able to jump towards a problem head-on and deal with something in the then and now, sometimes it took Nicks more laid back attitude to keep her tempered and make sure she didn’t go in like she did when she first became a ZPD officer, and nearly got herself in order of how serious to Nick it was: killed, arrested and fired from her dream job, “We’ll get em eventually we just gotta wait for them to make a mistake.” Nick said. Judy sighed, but she knew Nick was right. The two went back inside and enjoyed the game night with her family. 

    The next morning Judy and Nick were the first to wake up, drinking some coffee that they’d prepared as they looked over the notes from the night before and Nick was looking over the recorded security cam footage from the night before to make sure nothing happened, and nothing indeed happened, as the cameras mostly saw Haida walk outside at some point in the night to smoke, meanwhile Judy was watching the morning Zootopia news, when a breaking headline came on.

    “Breaking news! ZPD officers find the body of mayor Swindon’s killer!” The news anchor said with an excitement that she’d heard only when Bellwether got arrested. She heard Nick spit out his coffee as he turned to the screen. And indeed on the screen was the covered up dead body of the killer, found on a park bench the night before, with a bullet wound in his head. 

    “Well, that’s one question answered.” Nick said deadpan, and Judy gave him a dirty look.

End of Chapter Twelve

Chapter Text

Haru had seen many things on her way to work from her and Legosi’s apartment, she’d seen a couples proposal to each other after a drunken night out, she’d seen some of the more interesting nighttime animals that the city had to offer, but on her way to work, (she had to come in extra early this day cause of something she forgot the night before,) but today the thing she found next to her humble store was… it was a fucking body, there was no other way she could describe what she found besides the truth, sitting on a bench, a bullet hole in their brain, Haru saw a dead tiger. The rabbit, now on high alert, looked around, trying to find whoever it was that killed the giant feline. 

    “Crap!” Haru yelled as she took off, back to her home, not wanting to deal with this by herself in the slightest. Upon reaching her apartment, she woke up Legosi, who was set to go to work in a few hours. “Legosi! Wake up!” Haru said frantically, shaking her boyfriend until he groggily sat up.

    “H-Haru? What is it?” Legosi said groggily as he looked at Haru, it took a moment for his sleep-addled brain to adjust, then he saw the face Haru was making and he soon turned to one of concern, Legosi perked up and got dressed. Haru then brought him to the body. Legosi was surprised to see such a sight, and he was more surprised that someone just killed themselves in front of a random shop. Legosi called in the death and the two waited for the coroners and detectives and a few other officers showed up, with the two staying away from it so as to not contaminate the scene. One of the detectives, another wolf, came up to Legosi and Haru, whistling.

    “Gotta say rookie, not since Judy and Nick did we get something this big from a new guy,” The older wolf said as he looked over his notes, “Well looks like you and your rabbit friend here get to claim you found the mayor’s killer.” Legosi and Haru were shocked.

    “R-really?” Legosi asked the detective, nodded and went about explaining it. On the dead feline’s body was a suicide note, and everything admitting it. Now most of the detectives present were extremely skeptical about it, but if it was genuine, then this would be the biggest break in the case that they’ve gotten. Still, this didn’t sit right with Legosi, who, when he got home from his shift at the precinct, explained as much to Haru.

    “It seems too… convenient.” Legosi said as he tried his best to piece together whatever desperate pieces of information he had, he wasn’t as observant as Nick or Judy or Louis, but even he could tell when something was afoul, the dots seemed to connect in the right way, but they didn’t align correctly in Legosi’s mind.

    “How’s that?” Haru asked, as she ate some carrot soup. 

    “I don’t know, things seem to work but at the same time they don’t,” Legosi said, not sure how to best explain to Haru what he was thinking.

    “No, I get it, the killer just happens to kill himself in a public place, seems too… I guess convent is the right word.” Haru added and Legosi was glad someone else was on the same page, the rest of the ZPD was content to let this slide, they had a killer, and they could tell the public that the mayor’s killer while not being able to be brought to justice was found. But there was more to this, more that had yet to be uncovered. That night, Legosi got a call from Louis who was also of the same mind. 

    “Evening Legosi,” Louis said, sitting at his desk, a glass of scotch in his hand as he looked at the events that happened today. He had heard about the events of today, and he didn’t agree with what had happened today.

    “I take it you saw the news?” Legosi asked. He looked at a sleeping Haru next to him. He imagined it was cathartic for Louis in a way, the man who’d almost gotten his wife thrown in prison for a murder she didn’t commit was dead, and while not by the red deer’s hands, he was still the one who almost took his love away, Legosi tried to imagine what he’d do to someone if they did that to Haru, his Haru, his love. 

    “Indeed, I’m happy, but this isn’t the end of it you know, right?” Louis said as he sipped his scotch. This was just one piece to a much, much more complicated puzzle. And it seemed that he was going to need more help to figure out just how they all fit together into one picture. 

    “Yep. I’ll try to keep you informed on the ZPD end.” Legosi said as he hung up. Louis let out a sigh as he downed the rest of his drink. He returned to Juno, who was watching the news herself.

    “How are you feeling?” Louis asked. Louis often had a hard time expressing his feelings. He wasn’t like his friend or his wife, wearing their emotions on their sleeves or, in their case, their tails. He tried to remain stoic, rarely, if ever, breaking the façade of a headstrong CEO, but to see his wife looking at the man who almost separated her and him falsely, seeing the tears well in her eyes as she looked at the bastard, Louis was almost tempted to stop following this case, his wife was safe, his family was whole and a killer had been caught, but he knew if he didn’t then he’d never be satisfied.

    “I’m elated, bastard should rot in jail, but death is good enough for me.” Juno said as she felt Louis wrap his arms around her, kiss her neck and snuggled into the nape of it. He listened to her cry and he listened, and listened, his heart breaking slightly. The only other time he’d seen her cry was when their daughter Kiki was born. He was going to keep going and find the truth, and Juno would help him.

End of Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Text

So, it is with a bit of a heavy heart that I have to say, I’m going to put an end to this story prematurely. I’ve lost interest in this story and I wanna work on other projects. I might come back to this eventually, but I just wanna do other things. Again, I’m sorry, my dear readers. Hopefully, I’ll come back but until thank you for reading.