Daily Free-Write December 3, 2020 (Patreon)

"Alright, another successful scam! Up top, lil toot toot." 

Nick held his hand up in the air, though it was more of a low five in consideration of his diminutive partner's height. "Come on, buddy," said Nick waving his hand, "Don't leave me hangin'."

"Fuck off, Nick," said Finnick. "Thumbing through his cut of the cash. Job is done. I'll see ya Tuesday for the payout. And if you ever try to high five me again I'll bite your fucking hand off." 

He whipped out his shades and toddled back to his van, little elephant sleeper crinkling with each step. 

"Hey, Finnick. Wait," said Nick, running up to the smaller fennec and grabbing his shoulder. 

Finnick whipped around, looking like he was expecting a fight. Nick raised his paws up in front of his chest.

"Hey, hey, chill out partner. That's a mighty scary look you have."

Finnick didn't move back but he remained weary. His eyes never left the fox in front of him.

"Hey man, I know juvie was rough on you but... hey we've known each other a long time. You know I'd never jump you."

"Yeah, well, you can never be too careful, Nick. People will hurt you the first chance they get."

"Believe me, I know," said Nick, touching his paw to his chest. "I learned that when I was your... uh... height." He paused for a second but quickly recovered, "But where's one thing I never understood. Why are you so *angry*, Finnick? I mean I'm not exactly singin kumbayah myself, but you got a real chip on your shoulder. So what is it? Napoleon complex? What?"

Finnick held his gaze for a couple seconds longer before unclenching his fists. 

"Tch. Fine. You wanna know why I'm so angry? It's because I didn't get my milk and cheerios this morning. Now fuck off!" 

And with that, he hopped into his van/home, slammed the door behind him, and drove off leaving behind a cloud of black smoke in the alley where Nick stood. 

Nick squinted for a few seconds and rubbed his chin. 

"Hmmm... that van won't pass a smog inspection. And I'm pretty sure it wasn't those cheerios chafin his ass. Maybe it's the diaper." 

Nick thought it was strange that Finnick never took off his costume after a heist anymore. Not like the first time Nick brought up the baby angle. 

"NO WAY! No way am I gonna wear a... a... diaper! And baby clothes? Come on Nick, really?"

"Hey bud, come on. It's the perfect cover. Nobody will suspect a single father with his baby. You got the short end of the stick with your height, why not turn it to your advantage for a change?" 

Finnick was almost convinced until Nick put his paw in his mouth. He couldn't help it, it was too easy.

"The little guy downstairs seems to like it." 

Finnick quickly hunched forward, covering the tent in his cargo shorts with both hands. 

"Hey! That's not fucking funny, Nick. Forget it, asshole, this job isn't for me."

"5,000 dollars isn't for you?" said Nick, regarding him coolly. "Alright then...guess I'll be on my way." Nick turned to leave when Finnick stopped him.

"Hold on. Just what would I have to do for this 'baby act'?" 

Nick smirked before turning to face his little partner. "Got 'em," he thought to himself.

Finnick laid down a few ground rules before their first time. 

"I'll wear diapers but I ain't gonna use em. I'll wear the outfit, but it comes off when the heist is over. And you don't tell anyone about this. Not a word, got it?"

"So we're good?" 

Finnick dropped his shades and crossed his arm. 

"Goo fuckin' goo, motherfucker!" 

They'd been doing the baby scam ever since. 

But now... Finnick was just acting a little weird about the whole thing, and Nick didn't know why. He decided to tail the little anklebiter to see what he was getting up to. 

He held out a paw and caught a cab, narrowly avoiding a family of hamsters that was waving over their own cab over. 

"'scuse me, comin' through. Oops, sorry little buddies. Hey, taxi!" He jumped into a yellow cab with a blacksheep behind the wheel.

"Where to?" he baahed.

"Follow that trail of black smoke!" said Finnick. It led him down to the Sheep and Goat district and ended at Savannah Central's largest Catholic church. He got out and told the driver to wait.

"What's the deal with that? Did Finnick finally find Jesus?" He saw the fennec walking up the front steps, now in a regular outfit of lose jeans and a black shirt. His butt stuck out as he walked up the stairs. 

"Man, Finnick. Cut down on the sweets, buddy." 

as he walked up the steps something fell out of his back pocket. Nick waited til the coast was clear and went to investigate. 

"It's... a pacifier?" That was weird. He had changed his outfit and they weren't going to do another scam at least until they were paid up for this one. Nick tucked it into his pocked and walked into the church, where he saw the the fox sittiing in a pew and praying. The priest passed by and held out an alms bowl and Finnick dropped a fat wad of cash in it. The priest passed his paw over Finnick's hand as if blessing him, but he just caught something else drop into Finnicks paw. 

Nick's ears perked up. Whenever he saw money changing hands, Nick became very interested.

"God's work my ass..." mumbled Nick, who quickly ducked into the shadows behind a pillar as the fox turned to leave. This was getting stranger and stranger. He could tell that Finnick had left by the sound of the crinkle disappearing through the door.

"Oh that makes it eas- wait... diaper?" 

What was going on? 

Nick got back in the cab and tailed Finnick to the big toy store on Acacia Street where the little fox bought a cute - and very expensive - red fox plushie with another fat wad of cash from his take. 

"More baby stuff? You are really dedicated to your craft, buddy," muttered Nick, who stood behind a large display of Fuzzy Buddies. 

Finally, Finnick parked his van off in its usual spot. The back alley behind a donut shop downtown. He thanked the cabbie and crept close to the van listening for any sign of the fox. The van was rocking slightly. 

He went around to the front and risked a peek through the glass. The window was rolled slightly down. He put his ear against it and could barely hear Finnick moaning. 

"Yes Daddy...." *crinkle crinkle* 

If he didn't know any better he could swear those were the sounds of a little fox masturbating...in a diaper? 

He could just make out the little fox moving around... it looked like he had the big fox plush and he was trying - and failing badly - to climb it. He caught a flash of white near Finnick's waist.

*crinkle crinkle* "Oh Nick..." 

Nick brought his paws to his mouth, his eyes wide. He took a step back and accidentally kicked a beer can in the alley - probably left by Finnick. The rocking stopped. There was no way Finnick's acute hearing could have missed that. 

"Hello? Anyone there?" came Finnick's deep voice from the van. By the time the little fox peeked his head out of the door - now fully clothed - Nick was nowhere to be seen. 

He sat there behind the alley dumpster piecing together everything he had seen. He was pretty sure he now knew what was going on with Finnick, and he was already planning just what to do about it.