Wilde Card (Zootopia Original Story)

4: The Talking Tap

Song: The Night We Met, Lord Huron 

"What makes you think my daughter would be any safer with you?" Nick asked the bear.

"We can actually answer her questions; tell her what's happening: She'd know what to do," the agent explained. He spoke with his palms showing, his voice calm.

"Flayre isn't your asset. She's seventeen." Nick's teeth were bared, his ears flat back against his head. He was on the edge of the sofa. Judy's hand was on his arm.

"Right now, your daughter is in a bunker with the mayor's son. Pretty soon, some footage is going to go out that will ruin him. People know she's his best friend: she'll be next, Wilde. And you know who's next after that."

"Please, not us!" Bug cried from outside the door. Nick, Judy and Agent Cooper froze. They'd been heard. Judy left to console her niece and nephew upstairs, leaving Nick alone with the bear. He didn't like not having Judy with him: she helped him make decisions like this. But Flayre was his daughter. The decision couldn't be made for him.

"If she accepts..." Nick began, pointing his clawed finger toward the bear.

"She may not have a choice. My superior was quite intent on her joining."

Nick sighed, thinking for a moment. If it had been noted that Flayre had what it took, then perhaps she was capable of being an agent. It didn't differ too much from his own line of work, did it? Perhaps they'd keep her in Logistics.

No, don't be stupid. She'd be a field agent, right in the danger zone.

"I'd like to see her... before you take her away."

"Of course. After that, she'll be safe in one of our personal suites. We have arranged something similar for the mayor's son to keep him out of the public eye for a while. They will both be collected this afternoon. When it is safe, Flayre will be taken to your house to gather her belongings. Then she will return with us for a while."

Nick shook his head, almost smiling as tears brimmed in his green eyes. But he wasn't happy. "You already had this planned."

"Yes, and for now, Nick, I suggest you go to Hopps. Her niece and nephew will not be offered the same protection until absolutely essential – we can't change too much at once–"

"People will start to notice; I know. Thank you, Agent Tone."

After easily drinking the coffee in one swift gulp, the agent handed Nick the mug and extended his paw. Nick was tentative, but he figured he might as well be polite to the person who was going to take away his daughter. He shook his paw.

As the bear left Judy's house, he wished a silent 'good luck' to the rabbits.

~

When Konni returned to the bunker, Flayre was already sitting on the sofa, watching the large TV, her hind paws propped up on the coffee table, her front paws behind her head. She yawned, showing off a row of sharp white teeth. "How was the nap?" Konni sneered as he closed the door behind him.

She giggled. "Sorry." She pounced up and dragged the lion into the kitchen. "Someone was talking through the tap, by the way."

She'd said it so nonchalantly. "How did you--"

"It was flashing; I tapped it. They spoke; I replied."

"What did they want?" Konni knew he was in trouble now. His father had probably found out about them both leaving the Bunker, he was supposed to be keeping an eye on her and he'd failed.

"To speak to me." She had a wide smile on her face, her tail was wagging wildly behind her. Was she looking forward to something?

"You?"