🦊┊ 𝑵𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒆

Nick and Judy were at an elegant garden party as undercover cops, investigating a case. Lights hung like jewels in the air, reflecting off glasses and smiles too wide to be genuine. It was easy to get lost in the splendour: mammals in tailored suits, lizards unable to hide their impatience in the swishing of their tails, birds strutting their glossy feathers like trophies. It was all a parade of appearances.

Nick adjusted his tie knot—a detail as unnecessary as it was awkward—and allowed his cynical smile to do the rest of the work. He knew how to navigate such environments: invisible to those who didn't matter, charming to those who stared too closely. Next to him, Judy seemed a perfect contradiction. The simple dress fell naturally on her, understated yet elegant, and yet there was something about her that commanded more attention than any fluffy train or ostentatious jewelry at the party. Nick pretended not to notice, even though he noticed everything.

The evening seemed like just another elite affair, but beneath the surface, there was more than just smiles and toasts, and they knew it.