Surprise, It's Anxiety

So here she was, sneaking back into Mouseburg under the cover of darkness and trying her best to disguise herself. All she had to do was get back to the studio, get to the little hidden safety box she had stored away in her old room and then be out before anyone realised she’d even been back in town, simple. Pulling her hood lower, the mouse strode confidently through the streets as she began to near the studios. It was odd having to walk the streets like this, typically she just had assistance, directors, bodyguards, well just about anyone who would drive her where she needed to go so being forced to make her own way over was a novel concept. Well it was for the first half an hour, as she got closer to the studios the actress began to notice just how many dark alleyways there were that littered all the streets, how many eyes seemed to follow her as she picked up her pace slightly, just how quiet the area was after the moon rose. Vivian felt a bead of sweat drip down forehead as she kept her head down, trying her best to make herself inconspicuous. The streets really were not a place for a woman like her to be out at night but the lights of the studio were just coming into sight so she’d soon be safe. Alas the mouse didn’t make it more than a few more steps before someone whistled from behind her.

“Hey lil’ lady, what are you doing out here so late?” Vivian could only grimace, damn it. Swallowing a nervous lump in her throat, Vivian turned sharply on her heel, ready to confront whatever mouse thought it would be a good idea to try and interrupt her. A rather rough looking mouse stood behind her, smirking as he saw Vivian glare up at him.

“My ain’t you a pretty thing missy. You lost or something sweetheart?” 

“I am not, sir. Now if you’d excuse me-” Vivian didn’t have time for some horned up mouse right now but as she turned to leave she was suddenly grabbed by the wrist and yanked backwards causing her to yelp in surprise.

“Unhand me you simpleton! L-let go!” 

“Aww don’t be like that sweetheart, come on let me buy you a drink. It’s dangerous for a lady like you to be out so late.” The actress continued to struggle trying her best to yank her arm free but alas the other mouse was a lot stronger than he looked and in the struggle Vivian had dropped her purse. Of all the rotten luck! 

“Get off me you swine! Someone hel-!” Alas her cries fell on deaf ears as the mouse slapped a hand over her mouth, silencing her pleas as he began to drag her towards a dark alleyway, away from what little comfort the streetlights provided. Vivian could only continue to kick, throwing a few useless punches as she watched as the lights from the studio started to disappear. No, no, she’d been so close! Tears pricked her eyes as she silently apologised to Betty, all this for a stupid little charm bracelet.

Vivan wasn’t done yet however as with the last bit of strength she had she threw her head back, connecting squarely with her attacker’s nose making him yelp in pain, a string of curses escaping him as he finally dropped her, cradling his broken snout. The actress took her chance, making a break for it as she stumbled back into the street, snatching up her purse as she quickly dug into it, her hands shaking as she tried to find the pistol she’d brought. Damn it, just calm down you stupid mouse, you are above this for gouda sake! Finally she felt her fingers brush over the cold metal as she turned, aiming it behind her as she sat on the pavement panting, her heart racing in her chest. But no one was there. Blinking, Vivian finally heard the noises of a scuffle coming from the alleyway, plus the odd curse. Tentatively she got to her feet, pistol still in hand as she edged closer but soon had to jump back with a yelp as her attacker was very unceremoniously sent flying past her, landing in a bloodied pile on the floor at her feet. He looked in a very sorry state as all he could was mutter apologise through his broken teeth as he soon scampered to his feet, making a bolt for it into the distance, tail between his legs.

“Get here you piece of rotten cheese! I ain’t done with you yet!” Another mouse stepped out of the darkness, waving his fist in the direction of the attacker, seemingly having given them a taste of their own medicine for even thinking of laying a hand on a defenceless woman. Of course Vivian should be grateful and thank her saviour but right now the woman was only sweating bullets as there was no way she’d forget that voice, not to mention that familiar, cliche get up. Jack had saved her. Of all the people, why did it have to be the damn P.I who was after her?! Vivian was stunned for a moment but quickly shoved the gun back into her purse as she yanked her hood back up as she tried to make her escape.

“Hey, miss you alright? I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner but that guy won’t bother you anymore or anyone else when I get my hands back on him.” Damn it Jack! Vivian just kept her back to him, clearing her throat as she tried her best to conceal her voice.

“I-I’m fine thanks to you. Now if you excuse me-”

“Hey lady you can’t just walk the streets down her by yourself, it ain’t safe. Come on, let me escort you. Where you heading?” Vivian could only bit her tongue, oh why did he have to not only be dashing but also a gentleman when he wanted to be! 

“Really sir, I’m fine nothing to worry about.” Brushing him off Vivian tried to take a few steps but Jack quickly blocked her path, his eyes narrowing down at her, familiarity flickering in them.

“Wait, I know that voice… Viv?” And the gig was up. Pulling the hood down, Vivian flashed the detective her best smile, flattering her eyelashes as she gave him a sultry look.

“You really are too good at your job, Monsieur Jacques~”

She heard Jack tut, the frown on his face only growing as he regarded her.

“Why are you here, Vivian? Need someone else to bunk off?” The harsh words stung but it wasn’t like he was wrong, she had gotten the wrong person she would admit that but Curd was still up to his neck in all of this, a better world without him is all she could say. 

“Jack, you wound me. It was just a little accident, no real harm done.”

“No real harm done? Viv thanks to you, a little girl lost her dad, yeah he was a piece of work, but she lost her dad and now I’m having to clean up the mess you left behind. Do you know how hard it was to tell her her Dad wasn’t going to come home?” Wait, a daughter? She had no idea Curd had a kid and now… There was a pit in her stomach as the actress just fiddled with her purse while Jack scrutinised her.

“I… I didn’t know Curd had a child. Is she okay?”

“Yeah she’s fine now, thankfully I found her and got her back to my place. Means I got another kid I gotta raise, and I thought Tammy was bad when she was growing up.” That perked her interest as Vivian could only smile softly, a little chuckle slipping out.

“My you really are a bleeding heart aren’t you, detective. I never took you as the type to be a father. A regular daddy’s girl.”

“Oh hush, I just got a soft spot is all. Now stop changing the subject, I still need to take you in for murder of Miles Curd and attempted murder on me. Which yes I’m still irritated about.” Viv just waved him off as she glanced over, eyeing up the studio once more. She wouldn’t be able to get away from Jack like this, so she’d need another plan.

“Well I’m sure you want me up in chains, Jack but alas I do have something important I need to do. You let me finish my business back at the studio and I’ll consider letting you cuff me and before you make a fuss it’s nothing illicit. I just need to collect something I left behind.” The detective eyed her up, debating whether to trust her but finally he sighed, giving in.

“Fine, but I’ll be right behind you the whole way. And Viv, don’t try anything, I don’t have the patience for it tonight.”

“Whatever you say, detective.”

It wasn’t hard to get into the studio with Jack by her side. Yes it did take a bit of encouragement to get him to clamber himself up a few crates so he could shimmy himself into a window to let her in, but he had done it, if begrudgingly. It was so much more convenient having the other mouse with her as she stood by his side, on watchout, as Jack picked the lock to her old dressing room. Thankfully it looked like they hadn’t given it to some up and coming star yet, probably because they were too scared she might come back and off one of them if they did, she wouldn’t of course, blackmail at the least. There was a small click as Jack slipped his tail out of the lock, the door swinging open as Vivian pushed herself past immediately going to root through the draws.

“You’re welcome. Anyway, what are we looking for that’s so important you had to risk your tail coming back to Mouseburg?” 

“Nothing you would care about, now just keep your hands to yourself. You shouldn’t go rooting through a woman’s personal property. Who knows what you’ll find~” Jack just rolled his eyes as Vivian flashed him a wink, the detective's cheeks flushing slightly. Returning to the draws of her dresser, the actress tossed the contents onto the floor as she continued to rummage but she couldn’t find it. A swell of panic crept into her stomach as she quickly moved to the next, then the next and then the next, yet it was all the same outcome, it wasn’t here. Damn it! Where was that damn thing! Getting frantic, Vivian circled the room, rooting through everything she could until she heard Jack clear his throat. Wheeling around to snap at him to keep quiet Vivian’s voice caught in her throat as she saw what Jack was brandishing. A small, little charm bracelet that dangled from the end of his finger. Her reaction must have been all the confirmation the detective needed as he chuckled softly.

“This is what you came back for? Doesn’t seem you style, Viv. Bit tacky if anything.” 

“Give that here!” Vivian tried to snatch it from the other mouse but Jack was too quick as he snatched the bracelet away, making sure to keep it out of her grasp as Vivian grappled with him. Alas it was no use and Vivian knew she was making a fool of herself, so taking a deep breath she fixed her dress and flashed a smile.

“Now come on Jack, you know stealing is wrong, let alone from a defenceless woman like me?”

“A woman yes, but defenceless, we both know better than that, Viv.” At that Jack held up the woman’s purse, giving it a quick shake to show he was more than aware of the contents. Really? He took her purse too while she was distracted, what a jerk.

“Fine you got me, now just hand over the bracelet.” Eyeing the bracelet, Jack scowled as he held it up.

“I will, just tell me why it’s so important to you.” Vivian went tight lipped at that. She hadn’t ever told anyone about its importance before, let alone letting the damn mouse who was going to arrest her after this. But Jack did know Betty, to a degree at least, knew her story.

“It was a gift. Betty won it for me at a fair. It’s not worth anything, but still… It just means a lot to me. It’s the last thing I have of her.” This was probably the most sincere Vivian had sounded, hell it even surprised her to hear, when was she ever this vulnerable. The other mouse looked a little surprised before he sighed, handing the bracelet and her purse back to the actress.

“Must be one hell of a gift if you’d risk your neck coming back here. Glad I was able to find it for you, at the very least.” Vivian eagerly took the little bracelet off Jack as she slipped it onto her wrist, her heart fluttering as she gently played with the charms. Relief washed over her as she smiled wistfully down at it.

“Thank you, Jack. At least I’ll have a keepsake in jail.” At the mention of jail Jack’s tail flicked as he gave her an odd look before cursing to himself.

“Given the night you’ve had and the fact you just came back for that, I’m sure I can… look the other way. Just for tonight! You step foot back in Mouseburg tho and I will have you in cuffs, Viv.” Now that was certainly a surprise but one that Vivian wasn’t going to pass up on. He really was a good man at heart, probably one of the best she’d ever met. Maybe if they’d met in different circumstances, if she hadn’t rushed ahead to avenge Betty, maybe they could have been something. Wistful thinking on her part, but still a nice thought to cling to.

“How very sweet of you Monsieur Jacques~ You certainly know how to charm a lady.” Fiddling with the bracelet once more, Vivian smiled to herself as she lent in towards Jack, planting a chaste kiss on his cheek. The detective practically jumped out of his fur at that, his cheeks flushing as he just rounded on her, eyes wide in surprise. It was certainly more of a reaction than Vivian had expected but she couldn’t help but giggle as Jack quickly yanked his hat down, trying to hide his face as his blush only grew.

“Keep your hands to yourself, Vivian and warn a mouse before you pull something like that. Now come on, lets get out of here before someone finds us. I’ll give you a lift to the station.” 

“Oh such a gentleman, you certainly know how to treat a woman. If you’re able to get me to the station before the last train maybe I’ll give you another kiss, seeing as you enjoyed that one so much~”