One couple down, now just the rest of Zootopia.

Soon the two couples rounded the kits up and returned to the home. The ladies chatted about: Judy and Nick's apartment, city living as they made their way around the house with the men soon a few yards behind when Stu stopped Nick by putting his arm out. Nick did not like watching his mate around the corner more than whatever Stu wanted, but he soon turned his attention to the older male rabbit. He could smell fear, anger and concern on him. He would not meet Nicks gaze, even when Nick looked down at him, he just continued to look off into the distance.

"Look, I don't know if you are playing with my Judy, or if this..." he waved a paw in Nick's general direction "...is actually something and if it is I really don't understand it…. But my Judy is one of the strongest of my children, she is stubborn and will do whatever she wants no matter what I say. I trust her. She trusts you, it seems…quite a bit…. I haven't seen her that happy since that stupid acceptance letter to the academy came… just don't hurt her and think you will get away with it." He said, finally turning his gaze to look at Nick, it looked as if he was trying to be mad but Nick could see the concern and fear behind his eyes.

"Mr. Hopps, I would sooner pull out every one of my teeth and let you pull out every one of my claws before I would hurt my life partner." Nick responded, offering his most sincere voice. What were these rabbits doing to him making him seem so soft, so vulnerable? He never let his guard down this much, but this needed to be said - how much he needed Judy in his life, and the messaged was received.

"Fair enough I guess, I'll hold you to that. Now come and have lunch." He commented in a warm voice as if nothing was wrong.

Perhaps he was just being kind to a guest or if the angry dad thing was just a mask of his own. He didn't seem at all mad when they joined their mates on the front porch. He strolled over to his wife, kissed her and took seat next to her on the porch swing as if it was just family around. 'Maybe, just maybe she's accepted me' he thought as he walked closer to Judy who was chatting to one of her siblings.

He thought that until he looked up and around. Among the chatting rabbits there was a group of four. The brown one sat on the white railing, he was scowling at Nick with hatred he was accustomed to. The other three were on the grass in front of him talking in hushed tones and occasionally looking at Nick with the same expression of hatred. There were two grey rabbits and a white speckled one, he quickly noticed that they were all wearing matching leather jackets and blue jeans, 'they must mean something' Nick thought due to the beautiful weather, why else would they be dressed up that way. Nick did not even realize that he had stepped closer to Judy and now had his lip curled ever so slightly as he met eyes with the brown one. Soon the brown one jumped down and walked toward the two. Judy must have felt Nick's muscles tighten because she turned to look up at him and then at what was causing him to be so aggressive.

She quickly stepped in front of Nick as if to chat but in reality, to block the two males. "Oh my stars is that you Troy? It's been years, how are you?" she said in her sweet cheerful way, clearly aware of the tension in the air and trying desperately to defuse it.

"Why the fuck is this predator with you Judy" he said. His voice was high and crisp. He spat the word 'predator' as if it left a bad taste in his mouth.

"Oh this is my partner on the force Nick, say 'hi' Nick" she said with a desperate smile to him.

"Hello" was all Nick snarled at the buck.

Soon the gang had assembled around their brown friend, all looking as mad as they could with their bunny faces.

"Fuck off fox. Judy, you might want to muzzle your predator friend when he is among so many snacks."

Judy winced as soon as the 'm' was said and as he finished the word 'muzzle' she could clearly hear the low growl come from behind her. It wasn't loud, he was still trying to behave himself, but the longer this went on, the harder it became.

Judy felt the sting before she knew what had happened. She saw her fist ball up and slam into the pink nose of the former class mate causing him to stumble back into his friends as he covered his now bleeding muzzle. He was lucky it was on instinct and not thought out, otherwise a trip to the ER would be his response instead of him glaring at the duo now with pure anger.

"You are never to speak to my fox like that again you trash" The words, like the punch just seemed to fly out of her before she knew what had happened.

The bucks muzzle, still covered in blood covered paws, smiled an evil grin. "Did you say your fox? That sounds awfully possessive for mere coworkers. Did little Judy take her sexy little body off to the big city to bag herself a predator? You're both freaks that should be put down."

"ENOUGH!" erupted from behind Judy before she could retort, however it was not the snarling fox behind her that said it but her father. He stepped past the two in between the groups. "Troy you will take your tail and get off my property, you and all your friends. If I ever see you again I will turn you into a white rabbit. Now go before I let my new favorite fox eat you." Stu said in an oddly calm voice.

The group slowly backed off the porch to a black convertible as the got in the brown one yelled "I'll see you soon Judy" before they speed off throwing gravel as they did so.

Judy quickly turned to her mate, his lips still curled, fur on edge and his emerald eyes were his but they also showed something raw... something powerful... Something she had never seen before. Pupils dilating more then she had ever seen, it was as if he was acting savage again, 'must be trying to scare them off' she thought. As he blinked the glint got less and less. His gaze followed the plum of dust. His paw was suddenly dragged into the house, he was pushed into a walk-in pantry before he could take in his new surroundings. He looked down at his paw and in it was a smaller grey one.

"Look at me" it was merely a whisper in the private space. His emerald eyes looked up to her amethyst. Hers were searching his as he just soaked in her gaze. Her paw gently reached up and scratched his left ear. "Please calm down honey." She said as she petted her mate. Her other paw raised his arm to show him the glowing yellow band.

He suddenly understood and closed his eyes, leaning into the simple yet intimate petting. Her paw soon moving to his neck as it ruffled his fur then smoothed it down. He was so glad he told her how much the petting helped him, even if it was frowned upon. Soon the band went to sleep. Her voice returning "I'm so sorry, that's Troy a classmate who apparently has never left the burrow. I'm so sorry"

"Don't be, not your fault…mhhhmmm right there." His dry voice trailed off as she scratched under his muzzle. "Good punch by the way, square on" he said with a sly smile.

She let out a small giggle, "Yea, as soon as I heard 'muzzle' I had to do it to stop you from using your claws."

"Sorry…gosh my throat is dry…can I get some water." He winced as she retracted her paw.

"Yea, but be ready, I kind of let the fox out of the bag and I'm sure there are at least a dozen ears against the door right now."

"Fifteen" came a young voice from the other side fallowed by many other voices shushing it.

The duo let out a little laugh. "I think the two of us can handle a group of rabbits" he said as he took her paw in his and reached for the door.

Over the next four hours the duo spent their time answering questions, sharing laughs and dodging offhand comments. Most of the family was welcoming of their newest member, a few of the parents gathered their children and left, and one or two stayed around to glare at the "Devils Fox" as they called him, Judy was not surprised but did not focus on it. She did her best to focus on the ones who were still there chatting with her mate. She did pull her mother aside and ask if they were safe of not being outed to the public, she was not ashamed of her relationship but still did not want to bring more attention to it than necessary. Her mother assured her that while some of the family may not agree or approve, rabbits stick together and would never jeopardize one of their own. This calmed her enough to return to the family table where Nick sat entertaining the few rabbits left. Most of this group probably had never had this long exposure to a fox let alone any type of predator. It brought her a lot of joy to know she was widening her family's mind. It truly looked like they were enjoying Nicks company, and even through his cool expression, Judy saw Nick was enjoying himself as well.

Unfortunately, the sun was beginning to set and the duos train was set to arrive in an hour. They were saying goodbye to their family when her dad suggested "Why doesn't one of your siblings go with you two so I don't have to send someone in the morning to get the truck?"

And before he could look around for volunteers Beth stood up from the table excitedly. "I'll go dad, I'd love to spend more time with them" she said giving Nick a smug smile. It made him step closer to his bunny.

After the final hugs and promises to return soon they piled in the small truck, letting Beth drive so Nick didn't have to be next to her, it was Judy's idea. The drive back to town and the train depot seemed longer going back, it could be that Beth was relentless, unlick her siblings she held no punches when asking questions. Judy's ears were almost as red as Nick's fur from anger and embarrassment.

"So you two share a bed?"

"Yes"

"And it's not like a rhino king or anything?"

"No I spend the majority of the night on him…no not like that just his chest is very soft" Judy defended her wording from her sister

"Whatever you say sis. Nick, you are awful quite wwwwaay over there." Beth toyed.

"Yes, yes I am" he said still not looking away from the window.

"So does your family know about your bunny honey Nick?"

"My mother, and she knows I've been seeing someone and live with them but not who." Nick retorted.

"Really? I haven't meet her yet" Judy asked.

"Yes love, we just aren't that close anymore, when foxes leave the home we don't really keep as close as you bunnies." He said glancing at his mate. His paw taking hers in his with a sly smile.

"Can I meet her though? Will she like me?" Judy asked.

"Yes she will love you." Nick fully turned and met her amethyst eyes "you took her son out of crime and into a home. And besides predators aren't as against species as prey" he said with a smug smile.

"Only some of us don't like predators!" Beth said slightly too proudly from the driver seat.

"Thank you Beth" he said still not looking away from his own bunny.

The truck pulled into the station. This time there was even less mammals then when they first arrived. The two got out of the truck, Judy said there was no reason for Beth to wait with them. Judy promised to stay in contact. The two watched the truck drive off, the station was almost empty, only a few rabbits and a opossum sat on the station. After checking the time, they saw they still had to wait for another a half hour. They decided to get a coffee and wait. After getting two cups they sat at a nearby table and chatted. Nick pulled out his phone and told Judy that the city was getting hit by a small storm, she groaned as they did not bring rain coats. They were talking back and forth about the mildly successful trip to her parents.

They were sharing a laugh at the way the kits loved his tail when they heard a black convertible pull up and come to a screeching halt.

Two Day Earlier; 8 Hours till Collar Day

The small confronts room was packed. All the mammals were dressed in identical black suits, it was standard. The mammals ranged from ones as large as the pair of rhinos and elephant in the back to the female cheetah filling her nails and all the way to the small vole sitting in the front of crowd.

Suddenly the door opened and all the mammals stood up, it was a sign of respect and the one who entered was not one to disrespect. To say his reputation in the agency proceeded him would be an understatement. He was something of a legend, the one you call when nothing else is working.

The rabbit stood in front of the room and waved his paw, the mammals all took their seats, he then crossed them in front of him. His striped ears stood straight up.

"You all have been called her because you all are now under my command. I am the one that you call when you want something investigated, but are afraid of the out come. I have been tasked with fixing something that is going to affect the entire city at once, and in turn you have as well. The city is in our paws. In seven hours and forty-nine minutes the mayor will declare executive order 159-Z78. Not one single mammal will affect this city as much as this one pig. Not Bellwether, not Lionheart no mammal will cause such a rift in the city. We have been tasked with four objectives. One figure out why Onkist is working with. She is not smart enough to be doing this on her own. Two to figure out the purpose of the bracelets and collars. Our scientist and engineers are in that effort along with the jammers. Three figure out what the connection is to the midnight blue drug. My intel tells us that they are connected but we have not figured out how at all. And four and most importantly keep this city from tearing itself apart. Questions…No…well then."

A paw shot up. The rabbit cocked his head to the side prompting the jaguar to ask his question.

"Umm what is midnight blue...sir..."

"James correct? Our newest agent. Interesting they don't brief you on that. I guess im not surprised, its been kept under rapts. Hmmm Midnight blue is what I have been investigating for the past three months. It is the same drug used by Bellweather. Except it is less refined then her process. Effects are a savage state of mind typically lasting between five and thirty minutes. It has been on the market for a while and some intel thinks that whoever is growing it, and gave it the process to Bellwhether are all connected to Onkist, I don't think anything that wide and long game could be done without our knowledge. All of you will get your exact parameters after I finish. Any questions come to me. Any concerns come to me. Any intel come to me. We have no idea who we can trust anymore and who is doing this to my…our city. Dismissed."

Hello all couple things sorry this took a little longer than expected but I wanted to get things together and make sure I knew where we are going. Also, thank you to my new proof reader Flame in the Dark and to thank you to Fernando for listing to me ramble about where the story is going. Also in the next couple days, I may be adjusting the way the story is on the sites so if you get a lot of notifications about that I'm sorry. And finally, I forgot to ever mention that I have a tumbler for all things Zootopia. blog/hopping-wilde I do hope you join me there. Also I whipped up a quick for someone who asked for it, but its open to anyone but know I wll countinue to make this no matter what. user?u=5863683 Also check out this great work I commisioned you might see it latter in the story ;) image/160930378396 Thank you for reading and I love the feedback and can't wait to hear from you. See you in the next chapter.

It really really hates URL's i guess, super annoying

Tumbler tumblr blog/hopping-wilde

user?u=5863683

Commisions image/160930378396