live & let die

02

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A reminder to everyone that this work is under 'T or PG-13' rating as it contains situation that would require some form of 'trigger warning' (like assault, blood, suicide, violence, etc.) which the author (yours truly) wants to reiterate with an imperative sentence: PLEASE READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

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Jack's throat had been fixed, slowly but painlessly. A thin scar, that now, was a single intricate reminder of the once unremarkable ibex, has been added to the list of his trade's physical receipt. As for who was behind his failed termination, he could cast out nets though they would not be as wide enough for the roster of mammals intending to render him obsolete.

In the faint dash light, the rabbit's muzzle became hard and cruel, as he gazed out into the murk of Vine and Tujunga. His thoughts rival that of the automatic sprinklers of the district. 'Was there anymore hired murderers lurking about?' 'Are they as efficient as the goat and mule from the previous afternoon?' 'Was his appointment with L to start him on their trail of revenge?'

"Ah, 007. Let's have a look at the injury." His distinguished employer, L, a female ocelot, beckoned him. "Hmn. Not a terrible job. Where did they take the skin from?"

"High up on my forearm, Ma'am."

"Fur'll grow a bit thick. Little crooked too. Though it can't be helped, I'm afraid. Have a seat." The agent walked round to the single large chair which faced L across the desk as amber eyes looked at him, through him. "You had a good rest I presumed?"

"Yes, thank you, Ma'am."

L abruptly fished something out of her waistcoat pocket. She tossed it halfway across the desk towards Jack. He picked it up, weighed it in his paw, and brushed his paw over the letters engraved in it.

"Do you know what those letters stand for?"

The jackrabbit tried to recall every organization he knew of. "No, Ma'am."

"They are from a different alphabet than ours but when transposed becomes 'leía', which in Greek means - prey."

"Prey supremacist again?" said Jack. "But how did I come into the equation?"

L held up a paw. "You'll find all details in here," she let her hand come down and produce a brown envelope. "Briefly, 009 was already given a task to investigate three accounts of murder executed whilst inside moving limousines. She was able to track the vehicles down onto Iceberg Boulevard, all registered to Tundratown Limousine Services, stationed across a private property. With her efforts and the assistance of ZBI, we've traced the ownership of the services and the land to a shrew called Mr. Big, a mafia lord. Ever heard of him?"

"Perhaps, vaguely, Ma'am."

"As you should, surprisingly enough," L's voice was softer and quieter. "That mammal is probably the most feared crime boss in all Zootopia," she explained slowly. "He frightens the daylights out of mammals in all shape and sizes." Then concluded wistfully. "And yet, this will particularly interest you Savage, it was rumored he adopted a handful of prey mammals and considered them a part of his family."

Jack gauged her words. "I'd love to meet him, then." Before adding. "I'd like to accompany 009 in her assignment."

"Take it away then, Savage. You have my permission." L addressed the intercom. "Miss Ramses, escort 007 to Captain Del Gato over at ZCIA. Have them report to me once they drop off my agents. It's a joint effort of the ZBI, ZCIA, and our ZMI6." Then to the jackrabbit. "Fill in 009 about the gaps. And for your sake, don't step on any mammal's paws, unless absolutely necessary. Good luck."

(-from Chapter 2, Live Let Die, Book 3 of The Savage Seas series, by J. L. Hopps.)

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"Oh my gosh! You're Jack Savage!"

The jackrabbit panted. "I am," He bit into his lip so hard Sky feared it would also bleed while she kept searching for his axillary artery. "Though I wish you've met me in a different circumstance."

"No shit," the arctic fox gasped, then frantically added, "Uh, Jack, my sweater. Bite into it instead."

Jack immediately grabbed the white cotton material that has been splattered with his blood, turning it over to the only clean part and stuffed it between his teeth. "Thank you," he huffed through the fabric.

"Yeah, you owe me, you're welcome-" the vixen said shakily. "-so don't you dare die on me, you hear?" Her paw pads pressed against his bone to stop more excessive bleeding, making him nod then scream again. Almost her entire front side was stained with his blood. "It's alright now, I found it. Just don't move too much."

Skye glanced back up at the buck's tear-stained face. She could tell he was still much in pain and was starting to hyperventilate, that was only going to accelerate his heart rate and make his body pump blood faster.

"Nah-uh, look at me," the vulpine sternly said, feeling a rush of adrenaline back through her. "Hey! Jack!" He opened his eyes but barely, trying to gasp for air. Leaning forward while taking deep, slow breaths, she told him: "Mimic me."

Jack tried to control his breathing though it doesn't work very well. The arctic fox couldn't think of anything else and began rattling on. She assured him that the crazy lady can't hurt him anymore. That he was going to be fine, and she won't let anything happen to him again. It seemed to work and allowed him to catch few small breaths as he continued looking into her eyes. She smiled warmly as they spent a good few minutes doing breathing exercises to calm him down.

The rabbit stop biting into the sweater. "I still don't know your name." he pointed out, with half embarrassment and half frustration on his face.

It was uncharacteristically silly which made the vixen laugh. "It's Winters, Skye Winters."

"Winters, huh?" Jack said quietly, "No wonder I'm getting cold." The pain and vulnerability in his voice tighten her throat. He has always been so charming and so capable in all forms of media she'd seen him in that it's weird seeing him like this now - shivering and wincing slightly when he moves his arm a little. His eyes beginning to flutter as if he's about to pass out. "I'm so tired..."

"No, don't you dare!" Skye asserted, panic and anger rising within her. "You have to stay awake Jack! Stay with me here!" Watching as the colors began leaving his face, she can tell he's fighting to stay alert and just need more distraction. "Talk to me, Jack. Uh, what can you share about the next adaptation of Savage Seas?"

The buck tilted his head and let out a small chuckle. "Fine," he huffed. "But you need to sign an NDA after this, Skye, or they're going to fire me. And Serendipity knows what a loss that would be for Zootopia."

The vulpine snorted just slightly. "Right, Mayor Swinton would definitely sue, and protesters would flood the streets."

Jack told her the spoiler free version of the next film and how amazing it was to work with The J.L. Hopps. He then went off a tangent about a mammal inclusive initiative for all jobs and profession. The chatter between the two was keeping him awake and calming her nerves, lessening both their trembling. But it was obvious he was getting weaker with every minute that had passed.

"I'm going to die, aren't I?" his cerulean eyes glued to the splattered blood of the apartment floor.

"No, you're not." the arctic fox confidently said even if she wasn't at all. Her extremities numb and quivering from remaining in the same position for so long. "Thank Karma, you've met me." The paw that's applying pressure in his armpit was beginning to cramp. "And since you owe me big time, I need front row seats to your premiere, okay?"

"Okay, you have yourself a deal," the rabbit smiled wistfully. "You're really gorgeous by the way." His eyes flickered back up at her, making her heart flutter even in this ridiculous situation.

Skye began sputtering. "Oh, uh, that's - are you really hitting on me right now?"

"It's working, isn't it? Even when I'm bleeding out onto your floors, I'm still irresistible."

'Well, I can't argue with that." the vixen thought, her cheeks heating up as she soaked up a compliment from The Jack Savage. "I don't think any mammal has to say that to your face because you already know."

The lapin smirked weakly. "It's still nice to be reminded."

"I'll remind you again, then." the arctic fox grinned. "You're the most irresistible mammal in Zootopia and whoever you end up with is going to be so lucky."

"What? You don't think it could be you?" he teased. "Why? Do you already have a boyfriend?"

'Holy shit! I cannot believe this is actually happening!' Skye was about to answer when he cut her off.

"Hmn, doesn't matter. Just break up with him."

The vixen laughed again, with him quietly joining before his phone lit up on the pocket of his discarded suit. He groggily picked it up with his free paw to answer. "Hey Jude," he said breathlessly, eyes closing again.

"Jack?" they heard a panicked female voice through the phone.

'Isn't Jude from the Beagles, a male?' The vulpine was so lost in thought it took her a moment to realize that the caller was put on speaker.

"Hello? Are you there?"

"Uh, are you Jude?" Skye asked.

"Yes, I am. Who's this?"

"My name's Skye Winters and I watched Jack get stabbed, he's in my apartment right now." Glancing back at the rabbit, who's now about to pass out from blood loss, the fox frantically asked. "Are you close? Did you call the police?"

"We're two minutes away," Jude said, anxiousness hinted in her tone. "Is he, ah, doing well?"

"No, he's axillary artery was cut."

"Sweet cheese and crackers!" she started sobbing into the phone. "How long has it been since? Do you know first aid?"

"Uh, I'm not sure? Fifteen minutes? Twenty?" the vixen swallowed the lump in the back of her throat, then assured the sniffing Jude. "Yes, I, uh, stopped the bleeding but he's lost a lot of blood and needs to be put in an emergency room, like right now."

She exhaled shakily. "Luna in heaven, you're an angel!" Another sniff. "We're here!"

"The door's unlocked, just push it." Skye told her, trying not to pass out herself as she heard her door being opened. Multiple ZPD officers funneled through the room as two ZEMT fell on either side of Jack and immediately checked his vitals. Although what caught her attention most was the exact same rabbit in the cover pages of the series she loved wholeheartedly, The J.L. Hopps, running in and standing behind one of the medics. 'Skye, you dumb-dumb! Jude is obviously the nickname Jack has given his employer!' She mused as she took in the doe's midnight blue hoodie and black pants that not only complimented her grey fur but also highlighted her amethyst eyes.

"Are your paw pads stopping the bleeding?" the male gopher paramedic asked in awe with his eyes wide.

"They are," the arctic fox nodded, and shyly glanced at her favorite author. "I learned about it from the Savage Seas series but never thought I'd ever need to do it in real life." J.L. Hopps flushed red at the declaration, while the ZEMTs chuckled and commented on how her paw pads kept Jack alive. She wasn't even sure how she was so calm right that moment. Her legs wobbled as they started to ache from remaining in her position for so long which the female otter paramedic noticed.

"We can't risk letting him lose what's left of his blood supply." she nervously met the vixen's eyes. "Can you hang on until we transfer him to the nearest hospital?"

"No one's dying on my watch," Skye affirmed. "I'll do whatever you need me to, even if my tail caught on fire." The gopher smiled at her, offering a little bit of relief. "But I may have trouble standing up on my own, my knees have been in this position this whole time."

She saw J.L. Hopps with tears down her face stepping back as another paramedic set a medium sized stretcher down next to the buck. "Officer Fangmeyer, we need your help move Miss Winters to the gurney at the same time they lift Jack." she told the tigress officer who was waiting on the sidelines. "He's still alive but we need to go carefully and fast. Oh, and her paw on his side cannot move at all cost."

The ZPD officer moved behind the vulpine, getting ready to pick her up bridal style as the first pair of ZEMTs placed themselves on each side of Jack. "We lift, on three. Ready?" her accent was quite thick, yet the others nodded. "One, Two, Three!"

All responders grunted while Skye cried out as the pressure on her knees and legs was finally released - her lower half shooting pins and needles as the blood circulation returned. Not a beat passed as the otter paramedic tied a white cloth under the rabbit's armpit and over the fox's paws to keep them tight against his artery. And with a gentle lift, the stretcher was carried towards the ambulance.

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The characters, miscellaneous, and settings are owned and trademarked by Disney, and in no way, shape, or form do I claim ownership over them nor the world of Zootopia (aside, of course, from my original characters and some fictional places that I added) - though I would never not thank Byron Howard and Richard Moore for giving us these anthropomorphic mammals that we love to hate (I don't know, Jack and Skye are growing on me...particularly in this work) or hate to love (still a Nick and Judy shipper...if you have an issue - there's the door!) because without them, this retelling would not have existed.