Someone special in Zootopia

54.- A compromised decision

"I'll tell you straight... What happens is..." Lone twisted his mouth and looked to the side, before returning his gaze to the fox. "I have to leave Zootopia..."

After that statement, Vol's eyes widened, in disbelief at what he had just heard. "You've got to be kidding. Why... are you leaving? They've removed you from the warrant... I don't understand." The fox looked at the ground, thinking, wanting to make sense of everything.

The wolf sighed and shook his head. "I wouldn't joke about something like that... It hurts me to have to leave when we wanted to start something between us but..." He looked into his eyes. "We've reached an agreement and they are going to send me to Predatoria, located in South Afurrica. It's very far from here, even by plane... So the best option is that we go on our independent paths." With a voice slightly broken by the decision, he stopped hugging Vol.

The fox raised his head very quickly after hearing him and, with tears in his eyes, he responded. "No! I want us to keep trying...! You're the one I want in my life, please...!" The drops that came from his eyes fell down his cheeks, he couldn't contain himself anymore.

"I don't want you to be tied to me when I won't be able to reciprocate what you give me. I prefer that you have someone by your side who gives you more affection than me, really." Although he could barely comment on it, Lone decided to be strong this time to give Vol hope.

"Then..." The fox frowned. "I'm going with you! I want to be with the one who saved my life, with the one who brought me here... No one else, only... only you deserve it... I want... I..." He collapsed, lowered his ears and hugged Lone, crying uncontrollably. "I-I don't want... you to go..."

The wolf put his arms around Vol, but his face became serious, frowning slightly at what the fox said. "Vol... no... Would you seriously think about leaving everything you've achieved so far behind? The friends you've made, who gave you a home... Are you going to turn your back on Nick, Judy, all your friends... and Ryan?"

After hearing the names, he sighed heavily and more tears fell down his face, remembering all of them. "I... I... I don't want to... t-turn my back on anyone... I just..." Between sobs, he managed to say what he had to say. "I don't want you to go..."

Lone sighed. "I didn't want it to end like this... I'm sorry, but it was the only option. Besides..." He released him slightly from the hug. "I'll also make my dream come true. I want to help others as before, and there I'll be able to improve their lives, even if it's more difficult." He showed a half smile. "Please continue to make your dream come true, stay and enjoy with everyone you care about. I'll be available through messages."

With reddened eyes, Vol looked into Lone's eyes, knowing that there was nothing he could do now. "I'm going to miss you... a lot... I hope... to see you again." He hugged himself.

Seeing that he finally accepted it, Lone smiled. "I'll try to keep in touch with you." He kissed the vulpine on the head and walked back. "See you, Vol, take care." Then he jumped down and started climbing to the roof.

"You... too, Lone..." The fox watched him jump and climb all the way up, until his tail disappeared. Once he saw him leave, he fell to his knees and cowered, crying again, knowing that this path was over, with an intense discomfort inside his body. He couldn't do anything else, but he couldn't prevent it from having a negative impact on his conscience.

After almost a minute of tearing, he got up and put on his sunglasses again, walking towards the apartment, clearly slow, sad steps, with his head down. Inside him, everything hurt because of that situation... He accepted it, but did he overcome it?

Upon arriving home, he entered and sat on the couch, carefully leaving his sunglasses on the table, but letting his body fall onto the seat. He let his head fall back, his smile was gone, he was simply staring... at nothing. His head was filled with many thoughts, he was lost and alone. He'd have to find an answer.