The icy clumps of their fur had melted long ago but both fox and ferret still had the shivers. Gideon still kept his arms circled around Travis all the while. The ferret didn’t complain or wrench himself , but he still trembled; more likely from the terror that had just transpired. Travis’ lungs still had a cold searing spark with every odd breath he took.

There was a harsh knock. It made the two predators jump in surprise. The door opened slowly and Koslov, the same polar bear that had yanked them out of the icy pool, stuck his muzzle in, trying to peer through the steam. “Just checking in. Still cold?”

“Naw, not so much.” Gideon mumbled.

“May I come in?”

Gideon shrugged from under the thick towel. “Don’t see why not.”

The polar bear scooted in, lumbering to the sink and setting down their dried outfits. “How are you feeling?” He rumbled softly, glancing at the two smaller mammals.

Gideon felt a little hotter at the realization that they were both naked underneath that towel. The fox scooted back, curling his own towel back around himself. “Scared out of our wits, but still alive I guess.”

“Are you here to tell us how long we’ve got?” Travis asked, his eyes downcast.

“So long as you do as Mr. Big asks, you can expect to make it back to your own private lives without any more harassment from him or my men. He will need your help to clear up a few loose ends.” The bear said, his muzzle drooping with distaste.

Travis cocked his head, confused. “Shouldn’t we be hearing this from Mr. Big?”

“If you’re lucky, you won’t be speaking to Mr. Big again.” The bear turned, his dark jowls dipped in a tight frown. 

“Frankly, I figured that’d be a given.” Gideon said, trying to crack a smile out of the bear but he kept his stoic expression. “What’s the guy need?”

“First, to confirm our suspicions about Raymond. Once you’re dressed we shall go visit him.”

Travis felt his whole spine twist and spasm with panic. “We have to be in the same room as that creep? What for?” He stammered, looking between Gideon and Koslov.

“Just get dressed and follow me once you’re ready.” Koslov said, opening the door and stepping outside. He held it open for a single moment, “You’re not out of this yet. We need you to perform one service in return for this mercy.”

As gentle as the door shut, it still made the frame shudder at the might the bear appeared to possess. 

“I just want to be done with this.” Travis moaned, burying his head into the depths of the huge towel.

Gideon stretched, shedding his modesty and hopping up to snatch his white uniform. “We’re going to get outta this mess. I promise,” He stepped into his underwear, grunting as he wiggled his thick hips into the tight briefs. “Hmph! Think these things must’ve shrunk in their dryer or something. Least they’re toasty!”

“This isn’t funny, Gid.” Travis followed suit, though more hesitantly. These clothes were possibly the same he might have drowned in. Putting them on felt like dressing up for his own funeral. “Like Koslov said, we’re still wrapped up in this.”

“It sounds like he’s got a plan to get us out,” Gideon retorted, hiking his tail and trying to steady it enough to button down through the pants loop. Usually he could just slip it through a stretchy hole that his jeans had, not this fancy button-down junk Mr. Big bought for him. “I say we do what he says. Play by their rules and we’ll get back to the Burrows just fine.”

Travis blinked, finally turning to scowl at Gideon. “Who said we were going back to Bunny Burrows?”

Gideon paused before renewing his struggle. “You want to stay in this town after everything that’s happened? This city ain’t been kind to you, Travis.”

“Doesn’t mean I can’t try again.”

“I know, I know. It’s like you said though; we almost died. I’m just,” Gideon breathed in and for a moment his ears sagged along with his tone. “I’m scared you’re going to get hurt. I don’t want that to happen.”

Travis felt his teeth clack together. He didn’t know if he was annoyed with Gid or himself. Maybe today had just gone so bombastically horrid that he see past five minutes in the future. The ferret moved behind Gideon, pushing his large paws away from his pants and grasping the fox’s tail roughly. 

“I’ll do it. Hold still.” He frowned, fastening the button in place and attending to his own tail effortlessly along with the rest of his outfit. “I’ll think about it.”

Gideon’s smile returned and he tucked his shirt in with renewed gusto.

- - - - -

The huge manor Mr. Big lived in was immense; a strange fixation on the breadth of his influence. Pretty shallow to have so much space for a shrew, Gideon thought. Though, if he had to impress all sizes of animals in the snowy town he might have followed suit.

What he didn’t expect was how sound proof the walls were.

There was a sharp crack and a loud roar that bellowed from the room Koslov opened. Travis jumped, scooting behind Gideon out of instinct. Gideon himself couldn’t help but feel his toes tingle with a growing unease.

“Are you feeling any more cooperative now, Raymond?” Koslov asked as he entered the room. Gideon and Travis huddled behind him, staring at grim sight. A polar bear was on his knees, trying to roll back up before one of the four bears in the room shoved him back down. It wasn’t a pretty sight. Blood dribbled down his muzzle. An eye was closed from the thick swelling that bulged up under his fur. He clutched his side with one paw, gritting his teeth and suppressing a growl as Koslov approached.

“You’re making a mistake. We shouldn’t be taking orders from some pint-sized cupcake!” Raymond roared. Gideon and Travis kept to the far wall where they entered.

Koslov’s muzzle sagged as he shook his head. “You were apart of our family, Raymond. Seeing you turn against the boss like this breaks my heart. Not only that,” He stepped aside, making sure the bloodied bear could see the fox and ferret behind him, “Dragging one of your booty calls into this mess? No wonder it all went belly up on you.”

“I wanted you in charge, Koslov! Ask any of the boys! They don’t give a rat’s ass for that pompous shrew,” Raymond’s words were slurred from the odd way his mouth moved after what must have been a brutal beating. “You can still be on the right side of history, boss. Let me go and we can rip Mr. Big apart. We’re bears! Ain’t no one deserve to be on top other than us.”

“For goodness sake, Raymond. The whole city just went through that kind of crisis. We ought to put this unpleasantness behind us. Tell me who put you up to this.”

Raymond scoffed, sniffing a trail of leaking blood back up one nostril. “Like helping you is going to help me.”

“I disagree.” Koslov began to circle the bound polar bear, his voice growing thicker and rolling each word off his tongue slowly, patiently, “Your time with Mr. Big is over, clearly. But, what you do next is up to you. You can refuse to give us what we desire, which is merely a name and a location for who provided you with this plan to kill the boss. Doing so means we will take grand measures to silence you. The amount of unsavory things we can nail on the door of the ZPD is astonishing. The things we could tell your fellow inmates would even appall you. I doubt you’ll ever walk the streets of Tundra Town again.” Koslov paused, standing over Raymond with a heavy frown, unsettled by his own words. “Telling us what we want will buy you a five year sentence at the very least. Time to clear your brain of whatever vile poison soaked your moral fiber to Mr. Big.”

Raymond stared, then his bloodied muzzle cracked into a smile. “You can’t be serious; that’s your deal?” He let out a throaty laugh, “Who’s to say I even want to take Mr. Big’s offer? Maybe the animals I work with are more powerful than you think!”

“If this organization hopes to assassinate the kingpin of Tundra Town relies on a polar bear that guards a limousine parking lot, a ferret who sells sex and DVD tapes on the street, and a baker ignorant of the whole plan then I doubt they hold any influence at all. Face it, Raymond,” Koslov leaned forward and Travis realized just how larger this old bear was compared to the rest. He dwarfed Raymond, making him settle so deep into the seat he was bound to that Travis believed it might snap under the weight of the uncaring glare of Koslov. “Mr. Big could care less what happens to you so long as he gets vengeance on who is responsible for poisoning his nephew. The offer I gave you is only valid if Benny survives.” 

The room seemed to grow cold and Raymond’s eyes. He darted his wide eyed gaze between the other bears. Their faces were hardened, some spiteful. Save for one.

“Kevin,” Raymond said in a hushed voice. “Come on. Back me up here.” 

Travis followed Raymond’s eyes up to the bear next to him. His face was sullen, downcast towards the floor, and his teeth squeezed together. His eyes narrowed, casting a glance up towards Koslov. The titanic bear held his harsh glare, unflinching. 

A gust of hot air flew from Kevin’s nostrils as he growled. “You poisoned someone during their wedding.” 

“It was for the old shrew! You know the bears are the top meat in Tundra Town; we ought to be running things!”

Kevin’s expression darkened, and he gave a nod towards Koslov. “If Benny dies, I want to be your first consideration for icing this scum.”

“Alright, alright! Lets talk about it!” Raymond said, speaking quickly as he whirled his head back towards Koslov. “This was all Doug’s idea! I only got people in the right place!”

“Nice start. Describe Doug to me.” Koslov asked.

“Sheep fella. Real ornery. Smart guy too! He has some lab or something in one of the houseboats parked on the southern riverside of town. One of the alley’s in Wayver’s Drive will lead straight to where it sits on the water.”

“This was his plan, yes? Is there anyone else?”

“Besides the runt back there, no.” Raymond nodded towards Travis, adding a snarl to his sentence. “You going to ice the kid who tried to kill Mr. Big?”

Koslov shrugged, turning to leave. Gideon and Travis shared nervous looks. 

“Follow.” Koslov stated.

- - - - -

“Why you got to send us of all people?” Gideon grumbled as he tried to ease himself deeper into the thick coat they were given once they had left Mr. Big’s manor. Even in the luxurious limousine, he felt the chill that had seemed to burrow into his bones. “Why not just call the police?”

“This incident is best handled privately. Mr. Big has to maintain his reputation and show he can control even this most tragic of circumstances. Getting the ZPD involved only allows them to use this as an opportunity to investigate other matters.” Koslov eyed them both, grinning broadly when he turned towards Travis. They hadn’t nay spare coats in his size and the one he currently was loaned felt more like a puffy straight-jacket that was five sizes too large. “No one should suspect you.”

Travis pinned his ears back, wary of the bear’s long pause. “How will we know we’ve done what you want? This is going to be more than just checking out a lead you got out of Raymond.”

The polar bear’s heavy muzzle twitched. “Raymond is attached to this case. If there’s any evidence that he’s involved there your job is to get rid of it. Rip it up, toss it in the river Hell,” Koslov wrapped the burly coat around Travis’ long, lithe body and suppressed a laugh. “Sink the whole boat if you must.”

The ferret rolled his eyes. “Uh huh. I’m sure it’s equipped with an emergency conspiracy dingy.”

Gideon wrapped his arms up tight as the car door swung open to the frigid air of Tundra Town. “That’s a good point. You got anything that’ll pound our way in?”

“There’s a crowbar in the trunk. It should suit the purposes for this job.”

Travis hopped onto the frozen sidewalk, leering at Koslov warily. “You’re promising you’ll let us go when this is over?” He kept his gaze on the bear as Gideon rooted around in the trunk.

“We keep our promises. We also sympathize.” The older predator’s eyes seemed to soften their hard look as they focused on the ferret. “Many of us have come from hardship not too far from your hapless situation, Travis.”

“Does that mean you’ll give me a second chance?”

Koslov’s expression quickly glowered down to scowl.

“Figured.” Travis rolled his eyes and gazed out towards the streets of Tundra Town. The expanse of white snow settling onto the already fluffy ground made him flex his toes reflexively. It wouldn’t be a comfortable walk.

“We appreciate it all the same,” Gideon said, taking the massive polar bear’s paw in his own, shaking it earnestly, “Just be ready to pick us up once we’re done with our snooping.”

Koslov nodded and without another word he bowed into the limousine and it left the two on the street corner.

Travis had already started down the path, aiming for the river that ran several bridges. Under one of them would be the boat they needed to break into. Gideon stumbled through the packed snow, gusts of hot air blowing out of his mouth. “Got out of that fix! Nice work, Travis. I guess we’re as much as a duo as much now than when we were kids.”

Travis felt the burn of apathy flare up. He smothered it as best he could, tucking himself into the puffy coat he was buried in. “I preferred the pond more than the death pool. Wish we had to break into a spa instead of just some stupid boat.”

“Ha! I never been to one of those places. Figure a sauna is just the kind of treatment we need after a night like tonight.”

“Oof, imagine getting a massage after tonight.” Travis rolled his shoulders up and down, wincing hard. “I feel like I’m made of cardboard.”

“Heck, we oughta negotiate some reward for sticking our necks out like this.”

“Knowing how business works in Zootopia they probably have dozens of coupons.” Travis said. Gideon’s cheery nature in this most dire of circumstances was stifling the edge of the evenings turnabout.

“I think I had some in the hotel room I was staying at. Lost the room key after this whole mess so I doubt we’ll find a way to melt all this tension.”

“Remind me if we survive and I’ll work some knots outta ya, Gid. Least I could do after getting you mixed up in this whole mess.”

Gideon waved a dismissive paw at the ferret. “Ain’t no thing. Besides you probably worked enough knots off before all this.” There was a pause and Gideon’s ears flipped back against his skull. “I mean, when you do the massage thing when you’re working.” 

Travis flicked his head towards the fox, gaping. “When I’m working?” He repeated.

Gideon’s eyes widened. “Yeah,” He mumbled with a cough, “When, you know, you do your thing.”

The ferret blinked, twisting his head to one side. “Please, keep digging this hole you want to bury yourself in.”

The fox’s mouth hung open, as though in disbelief. “Wow. Uh, I’m assuming a lot aren’t I?”

“Oh yeah, you got me deduced to a T.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make this rude or awkward.” Gideon bundled his arms together, his teeth finally starting to click together. “I just heard how the bears were talking about you and it took me by surprise.”

Travis breathed a sigh. “I understand. There are a lot of things you weren’t expecting out of me when we met.”

“Long as you aren’t unhappy. That’s all I care about.”

They walked under a flickering street lamp and Travis glanced over at the fox’s face. He was shocked when he locked eyes with Gideon Grey and saw something he didn’t often see. The fox was being genuine. It was startling looking at Gideon now. The differences were striking not just in his tone and personality. The fox’s very nature seemed to have swiveled away from all the ugliness that had clung to him as a kid and what was left was everything Travis had adored him for.

“Just know when you’re perpetrating the myth. Whoring yourself out ain’t luxurious as the movies make it out to be.” Travis could feel his ears burn red. He wasn’t used to speaking so casually about this aspect of his life. “Ain’t as clean either.”

“You really tackle that bear though? That’s as brave as anything I’d ever dare to do.”

“Why? You feel impotent when another guys bigger than you?” Travis punched the fox’s arm. “Knowing you, you’re used to being the top dog. Sure made sure to remind everyone about it when we were kids.”

Gideon chuckled, at ease at this playful gesture. “Heck, ain’t my fault I’m big boned!”

“Big belly more like!” Travis punched again, this time at the fox’s plush middle.

- - - - -