This is my first fanfic, so don't expect the incredible stuff that other, much more talented authors post. On that hand, I'm looking for anybody interested in being an editor. Well, enjoy.
"Why don't you let me carry anything, Nick?" Judy asked, walking alongside her boyfriend as they climbed the stairs of their apartment building.
Nick, refusing to answer, continued to carry the bags up the stairs, taking note of the floor number.
Nick and Judy's apartment building was situated on the border of tundratown and Sahara square. The main reason the pair had chosen to live there was due to the low rent and lack of many mammals. The only problem in their eyes was the weather. The weather here was more strange. If the wind was blowing right, the weather would be right around freezing with gusts of wind ranging to the mid seventies, the complete opposite of windchill.
Nick came to the top of the stairs, a happy smile on his face as the rabbit a few steps behind him turned around, scowling. "How can you be so happy?"
"Donno. It's kind of my default, Carrots. Either that, or I may still be beaming because my girlfriend just moved in with me," Nick asked, speeding up and skipping to Judy, smiling at her annoyed face.
"You know I had no choice. I can't be living in an even crappier apartment than my old one."
After Judy "went undercover to draw out Bellwether" as the whole thing was being spun, she was forced to find an apartment as soon as possible. After three days of living in her office, she finally found an apartment that would take her on such short notice. The only problem was the apartment itself. Judy was convinced that it met few, if any, health codes.
Nick unlocked the door to his apartment. The building was the nicest in the neighborhood, and their apartment reflected that. Nick laid the keys into the bowl and walked into the kitchen, setting the bags of groceries onto the table.
"I always wanted to be a cop, but I do love coming home every day," Judy said, sitting on the couch and removing her foot wraps. Foot wraps had become a popular alternative to going bare pawed for many mammals in the force.
Judy leaned against her partner, checking her phone for the average news. Judy scrolled past headline after headline.
Richest mammal in Zootopia donates millions to charity
Lionheart, behind the mammal
Hero cops to be the next major flops
Judy tapped the third headline, curious to see who had a bone to pick with her and her partner.
This city lacks the basic knowledge of how things work. And no, this isn't a political advertisement or anything along those lines. What this is, is a strong argument why the city's beloved rookie cops shouldn't be the lead officers on a big case.
Now I don't question what the pair has done. They took down Bellwether, several drug and crime rings, and stopped a robbery. However, the pair should never be put in these situations. They're both rookies. These big cases need to be lead by a senior officer. I'm sure they can be a valuable asset to-"
"That the Hero Cops one?" Nick asked, peering over Judy's head and down at her phone.
Judy held the phone screen to her chest, mock feeling hurt that Nick would spy on her. Nick chuckled, walking to the living room and flipping on the TV.
Judy followed, grabbing her book from the end table. Judy sat, snuggling up to her boyfriend while Nick had the TV on, though neither were really watching. Judy knew it was hockey, but she was occupied with her book.
Nick knew which teams were playing and the score, but was also occupied with his phone.
*God-damn it, Nick! Your sister came around again 4 u. I'm done sending her away. You need to talk 2 her. We R at the normal spot. Be here in 20 or I tell her ur address*
Nick groaned at the text from his old partner. His paws were tied. He turned and kissed Judy.
"Back in an hour."
Judy wasn't one to argue, knowing Nick had a reason. She nodded, acknowledging that she had heard. Nick got to his feet and was on his way out the door. On the way down, Nick decided to use the cruiser just because he didn't feel like walking.
Nick pulled up to the regular alley that the van was parked in, knowing full well that the pair were inside, talking. Finnic was probably spilling all of Nick's dark secrets, but that didn't matter. Nick's sister already was familiar with secrets Finnic didn't even know about. If he were to worry about anything, it would be Olivia spilling Nick's secrets. He shuddered at that thought.
Nick took a deep breath and banged on the back door thrice, without any response. Nick slapped himself. He knew Finnic wouldn't let an outsider into the van. Nick walked down the street to Finnic and his (and latter Judy and his) normal diner, knowing Finnic would talk to the vixen over something to eat. Olivia was the only mammal other than Nick that Finnic treated well.
Nick pushed the door to the '50s diner open, the familiar bell ringing and the owner's bellow that his favorite customer was here.
"Thanks, Sam, but I've got some foxes to talk to," Nick said, holding up his paw.
"That's why your normal is already on the table," Sam replied, his already projecting voice filling the small diner.
"Thanks, Sam."
Nick walked across the diner to the table where a Finnic sat with Olivia. Finnic stood and left, Nick replacing his spot in the boot and pulling his plate towards himself.
"Last time I heard from you was your graduation from the academy," the vixen said, staring at Nick with her eyes identical to Nick's. Nick now understood why mammals felt uncomfortable when he stared at them. "That was… 9 months ago. All my information came through Mom."
"I'm sorry, Liv," Nick said, pushing his plate away. He would definitely not be eating. "I should have at least sent a text. A muzzletime here or there. You look good though."
"Mom says you're dating," Olivia started. Nick flushed with red. It wouldn't have shown through his fur, but Olivia knew her brother far too well. "Hey. Nothing to be ashamed of. I support you no matter what species you date."
"But Mom doesn't know I'm dating a-"
"I'm going off what my nose tells me," Olivia replied. "I won't say anything to her, but you know she's going to be thrilled. You haven't exactly been the social type since the incident. Surprised you let her in this early though. Took you what? Three years to warm up to S-"
"I haven't spoken to her in years, Liv. We went our separate ways and that was that. I mean, I wouldn't mind talking to her again, but I doubt I could even find her," Nick replied, looking down at his food and back to Olivia. Olivia passed Nick an envelope.
"That's everyone I could track down. She's in there. ZBI. She didn't live a quiet life. You just looked in the wrong places," Olivia replied.
Nick was about to continue before he heard screams from the street. Both rushed out to see the commotion, a sight that chilled their bones.
A jewelry store began filling with a yellow gas. The lack of odor showed that it was no accidental mixing of chemicals. Nick took another deep breath as Olivia backed away from the door, gagging and coughing.
Nick, realizing he was still in his uniform, pulled out his sidearm, knowing the perp wouldn't get far. But the lack of mammals leaving the store meant that this was so much more.
Nick tried the doors before putting a shot at the lock, shattering it. Mammals immediately flooded out.
"Is anyone hurt?" Nick called at the group of panicked mammals. A hyena stepped forward.
"A small family of rabbits all collapsed."
Nick's instincts took over, Nick busting through the crowd and into the gas filled store. Nick sprinted around, looking for any sign of the rabbits.
Nick walked down the hallway from the labs at the ZPD. He hadn't taken one step until Olivia was in his arms.
"Nick. Promise me you won't do anything stupid like that again," Olivia said softly. Nick nodded. They stood in each other's arms, their fears melting away.
Nick released the vixen and walked towards the break room, the vixen following him. Nick pulled out his wallet and got a bag of fried crickets from the vending machine.
"You saved a lot of mammals," Wolford said. "Everyone back at the hospital wants to thank you."
"Wilde. The blood tests are in," Bogo said, walking through the door. Nick never knew how the chief magically new his officer's exact location.
"And?" Nick asked.
"You need to see for yourself."