Dumb Fox

Chapter 4: Cupid Clawhauser

"Today is the day!"

   Said Nick confidently. There had been three days since he has talked with Finnick, however, even if he intended to see Judy the next day, he procrastinated the meeting for many different pretexts: because he didn't know what to tell her, where she lives, the places she frequents, or just to have a good excuse to see her again without sounding too desperate, but, after 3 days of fooling around, he had gathered the courage to meet the bunny again. He was wearing his best red hawaiian shirt, a yellow and white stripes tie and light green pants. He has taken a shower, brushed his tail, shaved his whiskers and splash on some perfume, it seemed he was more ready for a date than to bring a friend back together. He was about to procrastinate it again, but regret about it at the last second because he thought it was enough and he can't waste more time.

   It was almost 5 o'clock, Nick was outside the Zootopia Police Department. His 3 days of letting the time pass wasn't entirely in vain, he has investigated something in the meantime, because Judy was new around the city, he didn't find useful data, but at least, he knew her police shift finished at 5:30 p.m. and he thought it was a nice time to reunite with her "by coincidence". The vulpine went into big building very nervous, but he hid it very well, one of the many pros of being a con artist, but he hopes don't lose his cool when he'll meet the bunny again. The fox was a very talkative, confident to speak mammal, but this whole mess was making him lost control and it was a bit hard for him to have this thoughts and feelings in order. He took a deep breath and went directly to the police receiver where a big cheetah was eating happily some donuts.

   "Welcome to the Zootopia Police Department. What can I do for you to...?" the feline said.

   Officer Clawhauser, the donuts-addicted receptionist, and other kinds of junk food greeted Nick, but he stopped when he recognized the fox.

   "It's you! Owwww ho ho ho." the cheetah laugh while he was clapping his paws with joy.

   "Hello? Do we know each other?" Nick said raising an eyebrow and genuinely amazed because he always try to maintain a low profile in the police circle, and he definitely would remember a chubby cheetah.

   "Of course... well, we don't know formally, but Judy has told me a lot of you... you are... What name she said? Rick Tilde?"

   "What? She told you about me!?"

   "But of course! Officer Hopps doesn't stop talking about you Ricky."

   "Ummm, no, no, I'm Nick Wilde, Officer...?"

   "Benjamin Clawhauser.Your charming ZPD receptionist and radio dispatcher. At your disposal, handsome."

   The feline took the fox paws with his own and greeted him energetically. The vulpine still was processing the info the officer gave him, Judy doesn't stop talking about him? It seemed he wasn't the only one thinking in each other. Nick felt relieved, he thought to fix things with the bunny will be easier than expected.

   "Nice to meet you too, it's a pleasure to meet you, officer Clawhauser." he replied with a friendly tone and smiling him.

   "Oh, stop it, you'll make me blush."

   "I want to have a chat with Officer Judy. Do you know where she is?"

   "Well not exactly, but she probably is about to finish her stake out, actually, I just remember something..."

   The police officer took the intercom, pressed a button and start talking by the mic.

   "Officer Hopps! Officer Hopps! I have something very big to tell you, there he is your friend, Ni... Mph!"