Hello everyone!

I really enjoy the world and characters of Zootopia, but there was one character I felt was underutilized, and that is Gideon Grey. I decided to create this little series of one shots to feature him, and maybe some other characters if I so decide.

The chapters have the potential to be multi-parted. I like to write short chapters, but I also have many ideas that I want to explore, so I'll try to be concise, but some chapters will be longer than others. Also, if any chapters deal with dark subject matter that might upset some readers (I rarely write these kinds of things but it may happen) I will provide a trigger warning at the beginning of those specific chapters.

If you have any ideas or questions about any potential one shots, feel free to PM me or leave a review, and I'll let you know. One account holder has already messaged me with some great ideas that I'll be utilizing soon.

First though, I'll be telling a story that just popped in my head one day, so, let's begin!

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Gideon Grey stood behind the counter of his bakery, watching the clock with slight excitement. While he enjoyed his job as a baker, he loved watching football too. Tonight, was the Zootopia Prowlers against the Burrow Hoppers, and Gideon expected the Hoppers to do well. The Prowlers have a good defense of rhinos, but nothing can stop the Hoppers slick offense.

Gideon tapped his paw, waiting for the hour hand to point at six, so he could sit in his lazy boy with a nice cold one, and watch those Hoppers, dominate, but he still had five minutes left.

The door of the shop opened. Gideon immediately returned to customer service mode and put on a smile.

"Good afternoon folks, how can I help you today?" Gideon smiled.

Who entered was a short female black sheep, just around Gideon's age. She looked at Gideon with an unreadable expression. She seemed angry and happy at the same time.

"Hello, I've come to make a delivery order." The sheep said with a calm tone.

Gideon was taken aback by her facial expression but did not ponder on it. As a business owner, he gets all types of people in his shop. There was something about this sheep though. Gideon couldn't put his claw on where he saw her before.

"Sure thing ma'am." Gideon got his pad and pencil out, along with a menu of all of Gideon's products, which he handed to the sheep, "I'll give you a minute to decide."

Gideon glanced at the clock. Three minutes to closing.

"Alright." The black sheep spoke up, making eye contact with Gideon, "I'll take the strawberry pound cake, the carrot cake, and a red velvet." She handed the menu back to Gideon.

"Sounds delicious!" Gideon said, after tucking the menu away, "All six-inch rounds?" Gideon asked and the sheep nodded. "Alright, so three, delivery fee, and tax, comes out to eighty dollars."

The black sheep's expression did not change, "But I don't think it'll be that much for me, will it?"

Gideon looked at her with confused eyes, "I'm afraid not. Three six inch round cakes at twenty dollars each, five for tax, five for delivery. No exceptions, I'm afraid."

"You don't remember me, do you Gideon?" The sheep asked.

"I'm afraid not. Do I know you?" Gideon looked across the counter more carefully.

"It's me Gideon, Sharla Lambsky." She said simply.

Gideon's eyes went wide at the name, "Sharla? I haven't seen you since elementary school…"

"I know." She interrupted. "My family moved away during my fifth-grade year. They were tired of living in a community where predators could do whatever they wanted without consequence."

Gideon's hand began to tremble. He was beginning to remember what she was referring to.

"L-l-listen Sharla," Gideon began, his nervous stutter beginning to shine through, "if this is about what happened when we were k-kids, I'm sorry. I had a lot of self-doubt and it manif…"

"Oh, don't give me that pre-prepared psychology mush! You hurt me and my family, and I'm going to make sure you pay for it." Sharla stated.

Gideon nervously licked his lips, "S-s-Sharla, I can't d-d-do anything to change the p-p-past, b-b-but I can…"

"Give me these cakes I ordered and have them be on the house." Sharla stated.

Gideon looked down at the counter, beginning to feel cornered. His hands were trembling, and his tail wrapped itself around his leg. His knees felt like they were going to buckle at any second.

"Do we have an agreement, G-g-g-Gideon?" Sharla mimicked.

Gideon blinked, still not making eye contact, "S-sure."

"Heh, you used to be so tough, now look at you." Sharla put her purse on her left shoulder, and turned to leave, before turning back to Gideon, "Be sure to have those cakes at the civic center by three on Thursday." She then smirked and left.

Gideon watched her go, once she was out of sight, he began to tear up.

"No, no, no. Don't start. It's just three cakes, it'll be fine." Gideon told himself.

Gideon allowed himself to sit on the floor, and he reached for one of the pies he prepared for today, and dug into it with his paw, and began to sob.

"I deserve it." Gideon told himself.

o0o

Thursday arrived, and Gideon was in the back of his shop putting the final touches on Sharla's red velvet cake. He then sealed it in a cake container and put it on a tray with the other cakes. It was two twenty, plenty of time. Just then, the bell at the front door rang out.

"Be with you in a moment!" Gideon yelled into the shop.

"Well, don't keep us waiting too long, someone's got a hankering for blueberry pie!" A familiar voice rang out.

Gideon smiled, and rushed back to the front. Sure enough, two grey ears were the first thing he saw, followed by the familiar form of Nick Wilde waiting for some pie.

"Judy, Nick!" Gideon smiled as he walked around the counter to greet them. Judy greeted him with a hug, which he returned, after letting go, he turned to Nick, and gave him the traditional fox greeting. They gave a fist bump, then let out a fox bark. The two laughed. "How've you guys been?!"

"We've been good. Had a hard case a few months ago. Someone stole the mayor's pet fish, Vince, and, whew is it a long story!" Judy laughed.

"Yeah, turns out it was Weaselton up to his old tricks." Nick chimed in.

"But we're here for the weekend, visiting my parents, and we came to get a slice of blueberry pie." Judy explained.

Gideon laughed, "Of course, anything for my two favorite cops."

Gideon reached down and grabbed two plates, and cut two pieces of blueberry out, and served them to the grateful customers.

Nick and Judy let out a satisfied sigh after their first bite.

"I don't know how you do it bud, but this pie is to die for." Nick complemented.

Gideon chuckled, but then looked up at the clock. Two forty-five.

"Oh no." Gideon said, and rushed to the back of the store, grabbed his tray, and ran back to the front.

"What's wrong?" Judy asked.

"Delivery, at three, civic center." Gideon said as he ran out the front. Judy and Nick put down their plates and followed him.

"Can we help?" Nick asked.

Gideon looked up, "Yeah, Nick can you watch the store? I don't want to leave it unoccupied for too long." Nick nodded, and Gideon turned to Judy, "Judy, could you come with me?"

Judy nodded, "Of course."

Gideon finished loading up, and he and Judy got in the van and drove off.

o0o

Gideon and Judy arrived ten minutes later and ran to get the cakes out. He and Judy ran up the stairs of the civic center, where they met Sharla. Sharla turned from who she was talking to about the work party she was attending and faced Gideon.

"Sharla?" Judy inquired.

Sharla looked at Judy, "Judy!" She lifted her arms for a hug, which Judy went in for.

Gideon began to shake when Sharla turned her attention back to him.

"They're all there?" She asked the fox.

Gideon nodded, not making eye contact.

"I'm sorry, speak up, and look at me when I'm talking to you." Sharla ordered.

Gideon looked up at her.

"Hey, that's a little demeaning." Judy said to Sharla.

Sharla turned to face Judy, "Well, you know foxes, can't follow complicated directions."

"All th-th-th…" Gideon stopped and took a breath, "All th-th-three cakes are he-he…"

"See, they can't even form a sentence." Sharla laughed.

Judy looked at her with angry eyes, "That's not funny Sharla. Now I expect you to apologize and tip Gideon for insulting him."

Sharla scoffed, at looked at Judy with confused eyes, "A tip? Why would I tip him? After everything he did to us, to me, you expect me to give him money? No, he should apologize for what he did."

Judy looked at Gideon, who's shaking was becoming more and more apparent, "Sharla, that was a long time ago. Gideon's changed."

Sharla rolled her eyes, "Oh Judy, you always were naïve, nobody changes. Once a bad person, always a bad person. I'm just making sure this bad person gets his just deserts."

Judy looked at her former friend with anger, "No, someone can change, and you're proof of it."

Sharla looked at her with distain, "Fox lover." Sharla walked over to Gideon, and took the tray from his shaking hands, "I swear, if these are burned or anything, you'll have a lot to face up to."

Judy fumed, she walked over to Sharla and reached for one of the cakes.

"Could I just check it? Make sure its alright." Judy asked. She opened the red velvet, "Oh, it's so beautiful. That's a pity." Judy smashed the cake right into Sharla's face.

Gideon's eyes widened and he began to chuckle.

"Judy!" Sharla shouted.

Judy grabbed Gideon's paw and the two ran out.

Once outside, the two hopped back into the truck. Gideon let out a breath. His hands were still shaking, but he was laughing.

"Oh, that was good Judy! You nailed her!" Gideon laughed.

"Yeah, I'm sorry I did that to one of your cakes, I know you probably worked hard on it." Judy apologized.

"Yeah, well, it was free, so…" Gideon began.

"Wait, you gave her free cakes? Why?" Judy asked.

Gideon looked down, feeling ashamed, "Because, I think she's right."

Judy was taken aback, "Gideon, she's not…"

"But she is." Gideon looked at Judy with tears in his eyes, "I did horrible things to you guys. I picked on Sharla and her brother so badly they had to move, and I never faced any consequences. I was a horrible fox."

Judy put her hand on his shoulder, and looked at him with sympathy, "Key word there, 'was'. You're a good person now Gideon. You can't spend your entire life making up for things that you did when you were ten. You can only focus on the here and now, and the here and now Gideon is a very good fox, and the best pastry chef in the tri-burro… No, the best in the world."

Gideon looked at Judy, and let the tears fall. Judy pulled him in for a hug.

"Oh, you foxes, so emotional." Judy said to herself.

o0o

After Gideon was all cried out, he and Judy made their way back to the shop. When they arrived, they saw a group of unhappy looking customers.

"Uh-oh." Gideon said.

Judy and Gideon rushed back inside, and saw Nick cowering under the counter, an old female armadillo, and a line from the register.

Judy bent down to Nick, "Nick, what happened?"

Nick looked at her with scared eyes, "She wanted cherry pie. I said we're out of cherry pie. She said she wanted cherry pie. I said we're out of cherry pie…"

Nick continued rambling, while Gideon took over the register.

"Yes Mrs. Dilleo, how can I help you?" Gideon asked.

"I want cherry pie." Mrs. Dilleo responded.

"I'm afraid we're out ma'am." Gideon told her.

"I want cherry pie." Mrs. Dilleo repeated.

"How about pecan pie? I know you like that." Gideon smiled at her.

There was a beat of silence.

"I want pecan pie." Mrs. Dilleo responded.

Gideon got a pecan pie out, and gave it to Mrs. Dilleo, who in turn threw a twenty-dollar bill at Gideon.

"Thank you, have a good day ma'am!" Gideon called.

"I want pecan pie." She said as she was leaving.

Gideon nodded, then turned to the next customer, "Sorry about the wait. How can I help you?"

After a long string of patrons, and help from Judy and a recovered Nick, Gideon managed to save the bakery from a dreaded one-star review on Mammal-Review. Nick and Judy were sitting in the back room resting their paws. Gideon walked back to join them.

"I'm sorry for putting you through that. Thank you for the help." Gideon stated.

"It was no problem." Judy said.

"Yeah, for you! I'm glad I'm a cop. Armed robbers I can handle, but customer service, no way." Nick stated.

Gideon laughed. The front doorbell chimed suddenly. Gideon walked out to the front.

"How can I…" Gideon paused when he saw who it was. Sharla, who had yet to pick all the bits of red velvet from her fur, and her brother, Gareth.

"Hey Gideon." Gareth said with a sad smile.

Gideon began to shake again, "H-h-hey Gareth."

Gareth looked at his sister, "I've come here, cause my sister has something she wanted to tell you." Gareth elbowed his sister.

"Yeah, alright." Sharla began, "I'm sorry for the insulting way I treated you, you're not who you were fifteen years ago, I'm sorry."

She was clearly being made to say it, but Gideon didn't care. He smiled at her.

"Apology accepted." Gideon stated simply.

Gareth stepped forward, and set some money down on the counter, "And I believe we owe you this." The two then began to walk out.

Gideon walked over to the money, and his eyes widened at the two one-hundred dollar bills, "Gareth, the order was just eighty." Gideon told him.

Gareth smiled, "A tip for splendid customer service."

Gideon smiled, and opened the cash register, and put the money in as the two sheep walked out of the shop.

Nick and Judy were standing in the doorway and saw most of what had happened.

Gideon turned to them and smiled, "So, you guys want to join me upstairs to watch the game? The Hoppers are taking on the Island Pirates."

Judy smiled, "Oh, the Hoppers'll clobber them! Let's go!" Judy yelled.

Nick rolled his eyes, and smiled, following his partner in the backroom and up the stairs towards Gideon's apartment.

Gideon smiled at the two, then walked to the door, locked it, and flipped the open sign to close.

Fin

So that's a wrap! Let me know what you thought and if you have any questions, comments, suggestions, conspiracy theories, mathematical equations, universal musings, anything! Reviews are always appreciated!

R&R