Shocked. A story of Predator and Prey.

T.A.M.E

The next morning, Nick was laying down on the couch as he slept. He had bandages around his wrists and lower arms. Clearly regretting his decision.
But he soon woke up. Being that Judy had walked into the kitchen and started to brew some coffee. Not even acknowledging Nick on the couch.
Nicks ears perked as he sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Judy....." He said quietly as he got off the couch and adjusted his shirt, making his way into the kitchen hesitantly.
Judy glared up at her husband and grumbled.
"Yes?"
"I uh......I'm sorry.....about all those things I said and what I did to Harper. I-I can't control myself sometimes and I.....I'm sorry. I can understand if you want me to leave...." Nicks voice pained as he rubbed his arms up and down.
Judy's violet eyes traveled to Nicholas's wrists. And her ears flattened.
"Nicholas why did you–"
"I know what you're thinking. But trust me, Judy, it's not a big deal. I'm fine. I'm gonna go make sure Harper is okay...." He said quickly but because his voice was pained, he was barley audible. He didn't even hesitate to quickly walk away from Judy. In fear she'd hurt him. For a little bunny. She was as strong as a polar bear.....Or an elephant sometimes.
Judy opened her mouth to stop him, but held herself. Not wanting to try and interfere.
The bunny sighed as she turned back to the coffee pot, and watched the coffee brew.

The fox entered his children's room and he took a deep breath before walking over to the twins crib. His eyes widened a bit. All that was wrong with Harper is that her fur was all fluffed out, and it was a little burnt. He leaned down and kissed the sleeping Bruno's head softly before reaching over and picking his daughter up with a soft grip. He whimpered softly and nuzzled his daughter gently.
"Daddy is so so sorry, babydoll.....I'm just a big idiot." Nick whispered softly to the sleeping kit as he kissed her cheek. Nichols felt absolutely terrible. He probably traumatized the poor kit.
He nuzzled the baby again before pushing back his urge to cry. "Daddy will never do that again, princess. I promise....." He whispered with a pained voice.

It seemed as if Nick blinked and years had already gone by quicker then he could handle.
It was the twins fifth birthday. Which meant this year, if possible, they'd be getting their T.A.M.E collar. Which made Nicks heart race at even the slight thought.
Nick had been careful to never shock either of his children again. And he was going to keep it that way. Forever. The collars would arrive late that night. Once the birthday was in the records of Zootopia.

"Daddy! Daddy! Look at what uncle Finnick bought me!" Harper exclaimed as she ran towards Nick with a pawrbie doll in her paw.
Bruno was hiding behind Judy, still shaken by the amount of other mammals that had shown up to their party earlier that day.
"Wow, princess. This is really cool." Nick smiled softly as he took her toy in his paw.
"He got me a play set too!" Harper giggled happily as she held her arms down, trying to contain her excitement.
Nick chuckled softly and handed Harper her toy back.
"Go play." He ruffled the top of her head.
Harper nodded, she quickly ran over to Judy and reached behind her until she felt Bruno. She then dragged him to their shared room. Neither child knew about their T.A.M.E collars that were soon to be delivered.
But they didn't really have the worst problem in the world. They could always get it off at their fathers park. Which was a plus for the twins.

Judy hesitantly walked over to her husband.
"Thanks for throwing such a great party, super-dad." Judy punched nicks arm playfully.
Nick got taken back a bit by her play punched and he got snapped back to reality.
"Yeah....well...." Nick rubbed the back of his neck slightly.
Judy sighed and looked straight ahead at the twins bedroom door. She gave a staggered sigh before her ears fell flat against her head.
"What's wrong?" Nick raised an eyebrow, but already knew what.
"What's coming......" Judy's eyes quickly filled with tears and she didn't hesitate to wrapped her arms around Nick's middle, quickly burying her face in his chest as she began to sob.
"It's okay, Judy.....its okay....." Nick reassured as he pet Judy's ears down softly and he kissed the top of her forehead gently.
Judy sobbed onto his chest and held onto him tightly.
"It's not fair.....they're only babies!" She cried.
Nick ears flattened and he picked his wife up into a hug.
"Don't worry, Judy. It'll be okay.....J-just please don't cry....." He blinked back ears as he pet Judy's ears down.

Hours went by, and the twins were watching Floatzen, their favorite Disney movie with their mother. Nick was behind the island on his knees in the kitchen. Trying to open the boxes for his children's T.A.M.E collars. But his children had no idea.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴄɪᴛʏ ᴏғ ᴢᴏᴏᴛᴏᴘɪᴀ;

The front of each box read. Nick took a deep breath before opening each box. And inside, neatly in place. Were both of his children's collars. And he hated it.
He then got up a little higher and looked over the counter to Judy and the children. He cringed at the thought of the collars but he had to put them on them. There was a certain set time the collars needed to get on them.
Or else....
ᴡᴇʟʟ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏɴᴛ ᴡᴀɴɴᴀ ᴋɴᴏᴡ

Nick stood up with both boxes in hand. He took another breath before walking around the island and too the living room. He went over to the tv and quickly shut it off before sitting down on the coffee table in front of his family. Judy's ears flattened at the boxes and she rubbed both children's back softly. Being that one was on each side of her.
Nick turned to Harper first. Being that she was a few minutes older than Bruno.
"Hey, Princess......how do you like your birthday?" He asked with a fake smile.
"Good." Harper smiled brightly, not aware of what was in the box.
"That's good, good.......but.....me and mommy have something special in here for both of you....and because you're a big girl. You get to be a little more like daddy." He explained as he opened the box, holding the collar in his hand.
Harper's ears perked up and she quickly scooted behind Judy. Along with her brother.
Nick frowned, and so did Judy.
"Princess.....listen. I know you two don't want it. But you can come to work and take it off everyday with daddy...not a lot of kids get that. You're both very lucky." He said in a pained voice.
"Now. Do you wanna be a good big sister and set an example for your little brother?" He asked as he opened the back of the collar.
Tears quickly flooded Harper's eyes but she nodded. Knowing she needed to be a good older sister for her brother. But she didn't like this. She sat straight up and leaned towards her father. Nicks collar turned yellow before he quickly clamped the other collar around his small daughters neck.
Harper placed her small paws over her collar and pushed back her urge to cry. Knowing too well what would happen.
He then opened Bruno's collar, and the little boy shrieked in fear as he hid behind his mother.
"I no want!" He wailed as he began to cry.
"Bruno....." Nick said softly, but Judy quickly took over.
"Listen, baby. You and sissy are only gonna sleep with it tonight. And then, tomorrow, and everyday, you can get it off at daddy's park. Isn't that great?" Judy asked as she wiped her sons eyes and placed him in her lap.
"Please don't cry, baby." She said gently as she kissed his cheek.
Bruno hated this. He just wanted it to be over. But he didn't want to upset his mother and father by acting like a baby. They were always saying what a big boy he was. So he tried his best to stop crying.
Judy sighed softly and placed her one paw over Bruno's eyes and held her other on his hand tightly.
Once Nick placed the collar on him, the little boy shrieked but Judy quickly covered his mouth.
"Quiet.....quiet...." She cared as her baby's collar had quickly turned yellow.
Bruno slowly calmed down but his breaths were hitched.
"It's okay, guys......." Nick started.
"This is just a temporary thing....." Both Nick and Judy lied in unison to their terrified children.