“Healing Old Scars”
It was only a matter of time before she came back to me. As I was staying in Bunnyburrows until I was healthy enough to head back to Zootopia, I got the message that Jackie was in town, and wanted to see me. I didn't speak to her on the phone, since her voice would only bring up the sadness that I felt when she left, even though she didn't say a word that day. So, we agreed to this meadow, out of the way from anyone noticing. It's a pleasant place with a river running through it, and the railway tracks to the other small communities were only a short distance away. Anyway, it was quiet until I heard foot steps and saw her arriving, very cautiously as if she was holding back something. I stood up from where I was sitting and walked up to her. At first we exchange the cliché "how's it going, fine how are you doing" speeches, followed by awkward quietness. It was when she said sorry I nearly teared up. Every moment I thought of her made me upset, but now hearing it outside my head was worse. I tried to hold my composure when I said "What are you sorry for," to her. It was then she unloaded her pain on me. "I'm sorry Seth, but I just can't see you in the way you want me to. I want us to be close, I want to be your friend. I just don't... love you romantically." I felt like every dream I had was crush when she said that, to the point I hid my eyes from her so I wouldn't show the pain I was having. Of course by the time I was done weeping for a bit, she responded with a hug and continued. "Please", she spoke in a failing voice, "it's not because of you. It's just what I want from a lover is different, that's all. It's nothing you could have controlled!" It was then I noticed her shoes, something not seen HERE, but in the human world. She thought I didn't pay attention to what's going since she left, but I've seen her messages to her parents when I was brought here after the shooting. I recall that many people in the arm forces struggle with life in the academy after talking with veterans who have seen my art. She continued to talk even as I was starting to relax a bit. "I'm so sorry! I never wanted to hurt you! I just didn't know how to deal with it and I had no time to think of something that day I left Bunnyburrow! It all happened so fast and the train was leaving..." That was when I remember that her shocked expression on her face when I told her, but I recall that it was short time after the "Carter" affair. Timing wasn't my strongest game, so that can explain the fear in her eyes. "I do... love you. I just love you in another way. I DO want to be close and be friends. Forever. Please don't make me choose between being your lover or being nothing at all." Oh? It's that kind of love she wants with me. I understand she's looking for somebody else. I do recall that Jill and Judy are the same thing; wanting something other than "just another bunny." But, hearing her say she loves me as a friend, while feeling her strong grip and tears falling on my shirt was just too much to bear. I figured that she enjoyed the thoughts about me in the same way I was about her, and wanted to patch things up really badly. "Jackie," I finally spoke up, after a long time of listening to her. "I love you, and I always will now as a friend. But, I explain something that I think should make you feel better." With that, I scooted her, took a deep breath, and lifted my shirt revealing the bullet wounds I took that day. "Pain is not a thing you keep forever, as I thought it would when it comes to thinking about you. What you're doing right now took a while in the hospital with these scars." I looked at her as she stared shocked at each wound, so I took her hand and press it against each wound. "Whatever pain we had toward each other would be gone, and only the memory will remain like these scars, so I'm glad we finally got to see each other again." After she saw the scars, I covered myself again. That's when I made my apology speech. "Sorry for forcing you to think about me. I always thought you wanted me the same way Jill wanted Maxton Midnight; a unusual guy to be with. But, it seems I wasn't the one you like that much." It was then I revealed something I never mention to the others, but I guess they figured it out. "I'm currently dating a large hare who I met at an art show. Janet McHare, who is not only a model for some of my works, but now my focus of affectionate attention." And with that, I gave Jackie a tight squeeze of a hug. "Of course, I'll still think of you as my friend, because you were there from the start." A short time later we came to the river bed, which was calm enough for a nice swim. Jackie may have spotted my medication, but I wanted to show something else. "You think I can swim over to THAT leg of the bridge," I said, but pointing to the trestle leg on the other side of the river. Jackie shook her head, fearing I wouldn't make it. "I tell you what: If I make it over there and back, you have to kiss me. Deal?" Jackie nodded, as I took of my shirt. I dived into that water like it was no problem before dog paddling away. A few feet into my venture, I dove deep into the water and otter scooted my way to the leg. Jackie must have thought I drowned down the pain from the wounds until I yelled "Hiya Jackie!!!" I stood on the other side, touched the trestle, and smiled. I then swam back (quiet painfully TBH), walked up to her and picked her up with both arms. She was about to ask how I did it when I gave a nice kiss on the mouth. "Ain't I a stinker," I said before I lowered her down. "I swim regularly in personal pool at home, which I recommend doing if you're passing by." As Jackie blushed from my kiss, I put some pills in my mouth, turned and said "the last one to reach the other shore has to buy lunch for the both of us." With that, the little Hopps girl stood up, took off her shirt, shorts, and shoes, and raced up the shore. "Us bunnies can beat anyone," she proclaimed to me. "Are you sure," I said, "because let's find out." With that, we dove in a swam the river for a while, seeing who was faster. I bought both of us lunch afterwards. You just can't beat a Hopps girl. Am I right? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I wanted to thrown Seth's side of Jackie Hopps 033: Broken Bridge since Grummancat and I wanted to explain Seth and Jackie's "reunion." I was looking at the work of @blueguynow at the time and decided that Seth should a little more athletic than the last time he was seen shirtless: Seth's life: Public and Private. In the end, I made him more like @spintherella's version of Nick Wilde, which explains Jill and Maxton Midnight's parts in the story. I've also sneak a reference to Love Whistles when I wrote the swimming part. Anyway, enjoy the story.