Published: September 6th 2021, 9:02:09 pm
Continuation of September 5, 2020: "Finnicky Baby Pt. 2"
Later that night, Judy and Nick were talking at the bar.
"Thanks for coming out, Nick," said Judy. "I never knew you were such a good dancer! The only furson I usually get to dance with is Clawhauser, and he's got some moves, but he gets winded so quickly." She looked over to the cheetah, who had tapped out for the night and was now sitting off to the side of the dance floor and snacking on bar foods.
"What," said Nick, with a smirk. "You're telling me, you don't have anyone else in your department you can dance with?"
"Not if I want to preserve my livelihood. Believe me, I tried it once and I almost got trampled." Judy gestured over to the dance floor with her bloody mary. A rhino and an elephant from her department were grinding on the dance floor, and all of the smaller animals were keeping well away.
"I see what you mean," said Nick as he watched the elephant tilt her head back and swing her trunk around, nearly knocking one of the servers onto their butt along with a tray full of drinks. "Well, I'm glad I could help, carrots."
Nick grinned down at her as she nibbled the celery stalk sticking out of her cocktail. She may have been a dumb bunny, but she looked so dang cute nibbling her food like that.
"Thansh-" she said, before swallowing and wiping her mouth with the back of her paw. "Sorry, you'd think I grew up on a farm. Ahem. Thanks, Nick. Now, what was this about a favor you wanted?" Nick looked around, his ears swiveling as he made note of the people around them.
"Eh, you know what? Why don't we talk about this outside?"
"Okayyyy," Judy said, cocking her eyebrow. "Should I be worried, or..."
"No, no, no. It's nothing like that," said Nick, smiling and holding up his hands. "Just... personal stuff. That's all."
She raised her other eyebrow for a moment and let them both drop, letting out her breath and picked up her bloody mary downing it in one gulp. "Alright. Lead the way."
The two of them went out the side entrance, past all the smokers in the alleyway and found themselves a secluded spot to chat in.
"Okay, so what's with all the subterfuge, mister sneaky? Did you sell the Don another skunk butt rug?"
"No, Carrots, this isn't about me. It's about..." he looked around once more and lowered his voice, "Finnick."
"Oh yeah, that little guy. How is mister grumpy butt, anyway?"
"Yeah, he's been a bit moody lately, and I couldn't figure out what was going on with him... but then I-"
"Ooh, a fight. Did you two have an argument? Well, you came to the right place. You can't have a hundred brothers and sisters without learning something about relationship troubles. Wait... is that what this is? Are you two a thing?"
Nick's ears burned bright red and he folded them back. "No, no, Judy. It's not like that. I was just worried about him is all. All that anger can't be good for his blood pressure. I've got a plan, but I'm gonna need your help..."
"Really." she said, putting her paws on her hips. "Well aren't you just the selfless little saint. And just how are we going to help your... what is he, your friend? Accomplice? Platonic significant other?"
"I prefer business partner," He said, quickly losing patience at trying to get a word in edgewise. "Anyway, I-"
"Are you sure you two aren't a thing?" she asked, waving her hands around in front of her. "Because I always sensed some sort of..."
"NO!" said Nick, raising his voice momentarily. "Ahem, sorry, no. We are not a thing," he said, hushing his voice again. "You're not listeni- Okay, you're obviously drunk," he said, rubbing his temples. "Look, are you willing to help me or not?"
"Ehh... I don't have to do anything illegal, do I?"
"No, no. Nothing like that. I just need you to run into us when we're working and... uh... say you've got your eye on us or something. Make it look real, you know? I just need an excuse to hang out with him when we're not on the job before he runs off."
"And that's all I have to do?" she asked, eyeing him skeptically.
"That's all you have to do, Carrots," Nick said, smiling. She stared at him a second longer.
"Okay, fine. I'll help. But you owe me one."
"Oh, come on. I went dancing with you. That's gotta make us at least even."
"Dinner. At the Lettuce Leaf Cafe," she said.
"Are you asking me out on a date?" he asked. "Wow, you really are drunk."
"Am not!" she said. "Anyway, that's the deal. Take it or leave it." Nick stared at her. She crossed her arms and stared right back with a superior smirk.
"Okay, fine. I'll take you to dinner."
"And you have to tell me all the details about how your little bromance is going," she said.
"Don't push your luck, carrot breath," Nick said.
"Who's helping who again?"
"Okay, okay. Just help me out, will ya?"
"Aww, Alright Nick, if it means that much to you, I'll help." She jerked her thumb back toward the club. "Now I'm gonna get me another drink. Do you want a drink?"
"Never touch the stuff," said Nick, shaking his head. "Gotta stay sharp, you know?" Not to mention what he'd seen alcohol do to others in his life - including Finnick. "You go on ahead, Carrots. I'll catch up in a bit."
"Suit yourself," she said with a shrug. "See you inside, Sly. And you'd better be back in time for the macarena," she added, poking Nick in the Chest.
"Sure, thing Carrots," said Nick, with a smirk. "Wouldn't miss it for the world." After she left he thought about it. "Are we a thing?" he asked himself. If he was completely honest with himself, his attention had been on Judy more than anything, but he couldn't deny that he'd developed a certain familiarity around his routine with little Toot Toot. What was he supposed to do with his feelings about what he'd seen in the van?
"Well, I guess I'll make it up as I go along," he said to himself. ad-libbing was nothing new to him. He just hoped he didn't end up pushing the little guy further away.