Chapter Text
“You are in for a treat! Seriously, you are gonna see something incredible! Now… Are you watching? Okay, okay, I’m about to play it– wait, are you watching? Really watching, I mean? You are? Oh, sorry, you looked like you were focused on something over there but– okay, now – all right, watching? Yes? A-A-And PLAY!”
On the phone’s tiny screen, the gyrating body of a tiger mirrored the motions of Gazelle’s fluid movements. with the static grin of a certain chubby-cheeked cheetah’s head superimposed on the dancer’s buff figure.
A fuzzy finger pointed to the scene as said cheetah shoved the phone into a bear’s face. “And who does that look like?”
The bear rolled his eyes and tugged at his handcuffs in the officer’s grip to lead him to his cell.
“Wait! It gets even better!” Clawhauser giggled as he cupped the speaker. He seemed to fluff up in excitement as Gazella’s voice droned out from the video.
“Wow! I am impressed! Such hot moves, BEN-JAM-EEN CLAW-HOW-SIR!”
A squeal broke from the feline and he snorted behind his paws. “I will NEVER get tired of that!” he gushed. It took a moment for him to notice that his audience was being led away to the holding cells, and he waved at his back. “You were totally fooled, I saw! Hey! If you manage to get out in a couple of years, I bet I’ll have some new videos to show you! That’s something to look forward to, right? Besides being let out, I mean!”
The bear actually picked up his pace and nearly dragged the lion officer behind him.
Clawhauser laughed. “Okay, see you on the outside!” He plopped back in his seat. His phone was already back in his paws, thrumming with unanswered texts. The sound of clicking on a keypad was a pleasant rhythm to his ears as he answered message after message. He chucked at the retorts. Holly, you clever pig… The cheetah marveled at a picture of a gorgeously stacked piled of doughnuts and immediately searched in his photos to send something just as remarkable and delicious…
He only just barely realized his mistake as his finger hovered over a picture of Chief Bogo from a trip to the beach. His claw twitched an inch from the sight of the buffalo’s glistening, bared chest, all brawny muscles and one VERY stern glance.
“Whoops!” the feline squeaked and quickly swiped right to look at other photos. “Almost a doozy there!” He sat back and fanned himself.
Careful, Benjamin. You’re on-duty. Showing off hot shots of your boyfriend during work is a no-go from Bogo.
Although it wasn’t exactly a secret relationship. The entire precinct was aware of the activities between the cheetah and the burly buffalo, but both were beloved enough by their fellow officers to never have interference. It isn’t as if their relationship affected the workplace, anyway. Bogo preferred to keep things professional while on duty, which definitely showed that he did not like to play favorites. A position as highly-monitored as police chief in the world’s most populated city was always a potential target for reporters. He couldn’t afford to be his big, cuddly chief all the time, and Clawhauser couldn’t be his adorable ray of sunshine every moment.
And Benjamin understood that. For the most part.
After all, what kind of boyfriend would he be if he didn’t surprise his favorite chief with a basket of freshly-baked wheatgrass muffins (complete with a cheerful little card) every once in a while?!
Clawhauser smiled at himself and glanced back at his phone. In spite of his gossipy nature, he DID know how to keep secrets. It was one of his best traits! And that in itself was no secret. He had been with the buffalo for what seemed like years, and it had never been a problem at work.
He glanced around cautiously before he thumbed his way back to the picture, and his tail curled happily at the sight.
You definitely beat doughnuts, Buffalo Buns…
Then, the cheetah’s ears gave a twitch as he finally heard the muffled cries that rose from the communication system.
“OH! Oh, no, no, no! Not again!” Clawhauser shrieked as he leaned over and pressed the intercom. Before he could get a word out, he was bombarded by the sound of struggles and scrambling, and the faint sound of punches being thrown. “H-Hello?! Clawhauser here! What’s going on!?”
Judy Hopps’ voice answered, under obvious distress. The sound of static grew. “Possible swarm! Call… Ow! Rrrrh! C-Call for back-up! Request… Request b-back-up!”
“Ah, oh, okay! Got it! Got it!”
The bunny’s voice continued, strained. “Send… to… Little… Ro-Rodentia! Fourth Street, n-near… Molencia B-B-Boulevard!”
Clawhauser’s fingers shakily punched the code in, but before he could send another car to the scene, there was a loud, piercing shriek that made him clamp down on his ears and the intercom. “Hopps?!”
“WAIT! W-Wait, I think we’re… ! NO! Don’t–!”
The screech returned and the intercom faded to silence.
Clawhauser’s heart pounded. He tentatively pressed the button again. “… Hopps?”
There was no response. The line was dead.
The cheetah’s voice grew as he tried again. “Judy– I mean Officer Hopps? Officer Hopps?! Hopps?! Come in!” He rolled back in his chair and pressed his paws to hide his face in panic. Oh, no… I messed up again… Oh, no, no… He launched over to finish sending the car in a scramble for a speck of hope that his friend would be safe, only to shriek and whirl around as his phone suddenly exploded with a loud and energetic rock song. Nick Wilde’s smug face popped up on the screen.
Clawhauser’s paws trembled but he managed to scoop it up and answered with a frantic “HELLO!?”
“Whoa, hey, careful, big guy! You’re on speaker!”
Relief flooded Clawhauser at the familiar voice. “Nick– er, Officer Wilde!” At least someone was able to respond. But… “What’s the situation? Where’s Hopps?!”
“Calm down, Benji,” Nick’s smooth voice lilted out, “We’re fine. Carrots is just rounding up the last of our little problem.” Frantic squeaking was heard in the background, and the fox chuckled. “These guys are fast when you don’t have any tiny handcuffs. They tried to hotwire the car and managed to blow out the radio.”
“Oh… Oh, thank goodness,” the cheetah heaved a breath and slumped over the desk. “For a second, I thought I really messed up and–”
“Clawhauser!” Judy’s chirp boomed out from the speaker and it made him rear back in surprise. “Don’t worry! All suspects have been rounded up and are ready for transport!”
“Transport?” The fox’s smirk could almost be seen. “Isn’t that a little much? Don’t you think a shoebox could work here?”
His fellow officer’s tone grew threatening. “Nick…”
“Gotcha, Officer Carrots. Look, Benji, just send out a car or a wagon… wheel of cheese–”
“NICK!”
“See ya at the station! Officers Hilarious and Buzzkill out!”
“Don’t you–!”
Click!
Now that the crisis was over, the feline melted against his chair and wheezed out a chuckle. The adrenaline pulsed through his system and made him give a panicked giggle as their banter rang through his head.
Those two… are so… married…
He perked up and his claws were promptly clicking away on the screen.
I should totally growl that to Holly! That cheeky swine loves a good romance! Oh, which furmoji…
A murderous roar shook the station.
“CLAWHAUSER!”
The phone clattered on the desk as the cheetah shrank into his seat, fur fluffed with fear. His eyes rose to the heaving figure of his chief glaring angrily down at him several floors above, one hoof pointed at his door.
“In my office! NOW!” he ordered.
Clawhauser winced and scurried to stand. He eyed the long winding path that led to Bogo’s office and felt his face heat in embarrassment. Had he seen ALL of that?
Downside to dating your boss… Discipline at home AND at work…
He took a deep breath and started his walk.