Chapter Text
Pawbert stared at the letter in his paws, brows furrowed as he reread its contents for what felt like the millionth time.
What kind of idiot sends an anonymous letter with their full name on it, and a return address on its envelope, no less?
Did this snake really believe his father would just hand over the Lynxley Journal because he asked for it?
Still dumbfounded, Pawbert folded the paper and started toward the mail room door to alert his family.
But just as his paw reached for the handle, an idea flashed through his mind so sharply it stopped him mid-motion.
He could use this.
Twist the situation into an opportunity to do what no Lynxley had ever accomplished: find the original patent that threatened their family and destroy it for good.
His family knew that there laid a secret in the Lynxley Journal, something only a heat-vision viper could read in the metal of its cover, something they themselves could never uncover.
Reptiles, especially snakes, were extremely loyal to their own, and none responded to the large bribe his family had put out.
But if one believed he was in favor of revealing the Journal’s secrets to all of Zootopia, then Pawbert might have a way in.
The snake would tell him what only he could see in the bronze, and once Pawbert had the information he needed, he’d get rid of the snake, track down the patent, and burn it.
He’d be the one to save his family's legacy, be the one to do what they couldn’t.
And maybe then his father would love him or at the very least look at him and see something more than a bumbling mess.
Maybe he’d finally see a son.
With his father’s approval, his siblings wouldn’t treat him like a nuisance anymore.
They might actually include him in their conversations, let him learn things about them without having to rely on servants to overhear what hobbies they’d picked up.
He’d finally be a part of his family.
Part of a chain.
Even as a solitary animal he could never shake off the overwhelming desire to belong, to be wanted, to be a part of something.
If he wasn’t worthy enough to be given a place in his own family, then he’d make himself worthy.
Swallowing down his unease, Pawbert gathered a blank paper and began writing.
_________________________________
The plan was going as scheduled, even with the few bumps it had hit, mainly the catering truck smuggling Gary into Tundratown becoming the target of a police chase. Pawbert had nearly collapsed with relief when the news reported nothing about a snake being involved.
After leaving the backdoor open for the snake, just as they had planned in their letters, Pawbert tried his best to enjoy the gala. Emphasis on tried.
His family flourished under the media’s attention, ignoring his presence at first before his siblings kindly asked him to make himself scarce.
“Why don’t you do us a favor and be a wallflower for the rest of the evening?”
Pawbert didn’t know what he expected, he should be used to their blatant dislike of him, but his throat still burned and his ears drooped.
This shouldn’t matter, he’d prove himself and be a hero to the Lynxley name.
That’s right, Focus on more important things. Keep the plan moving.
He was snapped out of his thoughts when a small but surprisingly sturdy body collided with him. The impact sent the drink in his paw splashing across his suit.
Shit.
Before he even looked to see who he’d run into, he was already apologizing.
Growing up in an influential family meant learning to save face at all costs, he couldn’t risk causing more trouble for them.
He wondered what prestigious mammal he’d offended, after all only the elite were invited to a gala such as this.
And then his eyes met hers.
Judy Hopps.
The first bunny cop. The hero of Zootopia, who had revealed a government conspiracy to the public, was standing in front of him in the party where a snake was supposed to appear soon.
She had been one of the officers who apprehended the smuggler he’d hired to get Gary into the city, and now she was here.
She had to be on their trail.
He couldn’t panic.
As soon as he opened his mouth to say anything he stuttered uselessly.
He could only be grateful his fear could be played off as general nervousness, though it didn’t stop him from cringing at the stupid things that left his mouth.
Bon appetite?! Really?!
God, maybe his siblings were right to exclude him from media events.
Thankfully, ending the conversation on good terms was easier than he expected, Judy’s easygoing friendliness did most of the work.
He was more than happy to be called away by his father, with a friendly awkward smile, Pawbert excused himself.
His brother glanced at his stained suit in distaste, “Are you trying to make us look like slobs?”
Pawbert clenched his teeth at the disgust in his brother's voice.
The gala lights dimmed as the Lynxley Journal was called to attention, a dozen spotlights converging on the artifact’s glass display.
“Someone bumped into me,” he muttered, pointedly staring at the Journal instead of at Cattrick.
“Don’t go causing problems for us. Who did you bump into?” Cattrick sneered, idly picking at his claws in disinterest.
“They ran into me,” Pawbert mumbled.
“Sure,” his brother drawled. “Just don’t-”
A bundle of red cloth fell from the chandler onto the stage. All eyes looked on in terror and confusion as the fabric stirred, rose, and slipped aside revealing the blue-scaled viper beneath it.
Gary.
“There’s a snake!!!”
The room exploded into chaos. Guests scattered, platters went flying, and mammals trampled over one another in their frantic scramble to escape.
This was sooner than Pawbert expected, not that they had agreed on a specific moment. Though it seemed he had been right when assumed that the panic Gary’s presence would cause would be enough for the snake to proceed with the rest of their plan.
Wasting no time, Gary coiled over his father and dragged him deeper into the manor, but not before wrapping his tail around the display holding the Lynxley Journal.
For someone with no legs, the viper was astonishingly fast, fast enough that Pawbert had almost lost sight of him in the panic.
Hot on his trail was a bunny in a bright yellow dress.
Judy.
That was a problem they definitely hadn’t accounted for.
His siblings, disheveled from being shoved around in the stampede, whirled on him with wide, panicked eyes.
“Where did it take Father!?” they screamed in unison, ready to bolt in any direction he pointed.
“Over there!” Pawbert shouted, pointing to a completely different door on the other side of the hall. Without hesitation, they sprinted off.
With them out of the way, Pawbert made for one of the lesser-known exits of the manor.
He had to move fast.
Outside, he ripped the tarp off the motorbike he’d stashed beside the house.
From the sidecar, packed full of supplies, he pulled out a hooded cloak and a pair of tinted goggles. He had planned this part meticulously.
Anonymity was everything. If the media or authorities recognized him, he wouldn’t just be apprehended; his family’s reputation would shatter.
After double-checking that the cloth wrapped around his head was secure, he turned the ignition. The motorbike rumbled to life beneath him.
Oh God. This was really happening.
But it would all be worth it.
‘I can do this’ replayed in his mind like a mantra.
With a steadying breath and a twist of his wrist, he sped off toward the side of the manor where he knew a certain window would be.
The trip was short with the bike’s help, but even so, Pawbert was startled to find Gary already sprawled in the snow, violently shivering.
Cold-blooded, he reminded himself.
Pawbert quickly scooped the snake up, depositing him into the side car with the blankets he had gathered earlier.
Wasting no time he drove off into the snowy forests of Tundratown. The authorities would be combing the perimeter soon, and they needed to be long gone before that happened.
The farther he drove, the heavier the reality settled on him.
He was on the run from the police with a reptile, a viper no less, who was only an arms length away from him.
Even though he knew the story about a snake killing the Lynxley maid was complete nonsense, a chill crawled up his spine when Gary slipped deeper beneath the blankets. Years of reptile propaganda had done its damage, enough that Pawbert still felt fear even knowing this snake was very unlikely to harm him.
“I don’t have it.”
The weak whisper snapped Pawbert out of his thoughts.
“What?”
“The Lynxley Journal,” Gary clarified.
Pawbert choked on air.
Panic crawled up his spine, cold and steady, spreading from his stomach to his chest. Before his breaths could spiral, a trembling scaled tail tapped his shoulder.
“G-Go back, p-please,” Gary pleaded, shudders raking through his body “I think I-I know where it is.”
It was not like Pawbert had any other ideas.
Wordlessly, he turned the bike around, eyes sweeping the snowy landscape, ready to bolt at the first glimpse of police lights.
This was so stupid. He shouldn’t have done any of this. Now he wasn’t just a failure, he was on the fast track to becoming a convict. He should’ve told his family about the letter the moment it arrived. He should’ve-
“T-There!”
Following the viper’s sharp gaze, Pawbert spotted a disturbed trail of snow. As he steered closer, a large white car came into view. He slowed to a stop before they got close enough to be noticed.
His breath caught.
Two large polar bears threw what looked to be Judy and her fox partner in the trunk.
But what truly caught his attention was the faint brown metallic sheen clutched in Judy’s paws.
The Lynxley Journal.
A confusing cocktail of relief and dread washed over him.
Thank God his family didn’t have the journal!
But Judy having it opened an entirely new world of problems.
The sleek limo, the large imposing polar bears, the icy efficiency, all of it pointed it to Mr. Big.
Their families have known each other for years. Neither liked one another but they did stay out of each other's way. Both powerful households were disinterested in making an enemy of the other.
And because they stayed out of each other’s way, Pawbert knew exactly where Mr. Big’s territory began and where the car would have to go.
Perfect.
All he had to do was follow from a distance and wait for Judy to step away from Mr. Big’s protection.
Okay. They could do this.
Trying to psych himself up, Pawbert glanced at his partner in all this and strangely, the sight of Gary calmed him, if only a little.
He guessed at this point any company was enough to steady his nerves.