Chapter 1.
Nick stepped out of the shower and shook his muzzle from side to side. He stepped into the hairdryer and let it blow him nearly off his feet. He grabbed the dial and twisted it from grizzly to fox. Sometimes he envied the hippos on the force at the ZPD. The water just flew off them. He had to blast himself into a puffball and then comb it all down afterwards. He stepped out of the hairdryer and grumbled to himself. It was early evening and the locker room was pretty empty. Fangmeyer, the timber wolf, was down in the corner towelling himself off.
All the other male officers had skittered off in Lieutenant Bungo's minivan fifteen minutes ago. Nick and Fangmeyer were meeting them at the elephant's supposedly slick bachelor pad in Sahara Square later on. It was Francine's thirtieth birthday and she was having a party in the rainforest district. Chief Bogo, showing a soft spot for a favoured officer, helped reserve an entire floor of the infamous Banana Peeler nightclub. It was a hotspot that, despite the name, catered to all mammals big and small and was famous for its exclusivity. Still, thought Nick. It helped when the person booking was a four hundred pound water buffalo who had the backing of the entire police force and a temper the length of a rabbit's tail. Speaking of rabbits Nick reached for his phone to text Judy. He'd never asked if she was going, he'd just assumed but he felt anxious now. He'd only been with the ZPD for a year.
Long enough to make friends and long enough for a crush to develop.
"Don't worry Wilde," said Fangmeyer, grinning knowingly. "Hopps is going."
"Good to know," Nick replied nonchalantly, locking his phone. "Now mind telling me why you've got that dung-eating grin on your ugly mug?"
Fangmeyer didn't stop smiling only chuckled as he pulled on a pair of jeans.
"C'mon Wilde tell me you don't see it?" asked the wolf. "The long looks and stolen glances. The playful insults, the hugs after a bad day and of course the 'aww' from Clawhauser when you help Judy into the cruiser."
"How the hell does Clawhauser know about that?!" snapped Nick. "Those cameras are for security not his imagined office romances."
"Imagined huh? Trust me Nick, as a fan of cheesy rom-coms you and Officer Hopps fit the bill. I'd say you're on par with some of the cheesiest out there."
"I don't even like cheese…"
"That just makes it even worse," said Fangmeyer, shaking his head sadly. "Now come on brush and get dressed I've got tomorrow off and if I don't die from the hangover I don't know what I'm gonna do."
Nick was about to shoot back a snarky reply when he saw the time and conceded the timber wolf's point. He hurriedly brushed down his puffy fur before stepping into the clothes he'd picked out for tonight. He had black slacks and shoes and a crisp white shirt that he rolled up to the elbows. A black skinny tie hung loosely around his neck. His aviator sunglasses sealed the look. Fangmeyer whistled as he buttoned up a purple silk shirt.
"You will be slaying puss on the dancefloor tonight Wilde!" he crowed.
"Cool it Fangs," said Nick. "You know I'm not a cat guy."
"I don't know which of our jokes was worse," stated Fangmeyer in confusion before both canines started laughing. Before Fangmeyer could start howling his phone began to ring.
"Hello?" he said between chuckles. "Yeah? Uh-huh. Yeah I'm with Wilde. OK we're just leaving now. We'll be there in fifteen. Sure thing Ben see ya soon."
Nick looked at Fangmeyer. Fangmeyer looked at Nick.
"They've ordered the pizza," he stated simply. Both mammals began to run for the garage.
Fangmeyer's car was an SUV similar in design to the standard issue police cruisers the ZPD had. Nick hopped into the passenger seat and admired the comfortable leather interior and the impressive sound system. Fangmeyer put the key in the ignition and the car roared to life beneath them. Rap music began to blare out of the speakers. Fangmeyer turned it down to a level that allowed them to at least shout at each other.
"Didn't know you were into rap," yelled Nick over verses that consisted of mostly swears, barks and some seriously intricate wordplay.
"Yeah I love it," the wolf bellowed back. "This guy's a dude named Poochy Mane. He hates cops but I can't get enough of him."
"I thought he was in jail?" Nick asked as Fangmeyer lowered the volume even further.
"He still is," answered Fangmeyer. "He released this while he was in the pound on gun charges. I guess some prison guards love hip-hop more than they love their jobs. Smuggled them out of the joint."
Nick nodded along as Fangmeyer yapped along to Poochy. The temperate zone of Zootopia flashed past them in a blur of sandstone buildings, green trees and happy citizens. Nick barely recognised the city anymore. Ever since Carrots came along it's been different, he thought. The bond between Nick and Judy had only grown stronger since he had joined the force. Inter-species relations were improving as well and the ZPD was leading the charge. Two other rabbits and four foxes had joined in the year Nick had been with the force. Smaller rodents and reptiles were joining the more technical aspects of the ZPD. Those not suited to regular police work became crime scene investigators, cybercrime analysts and desk officers. Not necessarily fair but Nick doubted Zootopia's first mole officer would do as well as the first rabbit officer had done.
"What's the matter wild?" asked Fangmeyer, pulling into the Elephant Arms apartment complex. "Cat got your tongue?"
"How many times Fangs?" sighed Nick. "I'm not-"
"I know, I know. Not a cat person. Now let me think what other small, furred mammal could be occupying your thoughts right now? Hmmm?"
"Is that the pizza?!" yelped Nick hopping out of the parked SUV.
"Where?" snapped Fangmeyer, his jaws slavering.
Bungo waved at them from the open doorway of the building. Piled high in his hands were two elephant sized pizzas, two rhino and two wolf. Nick and Fangmeyer trotted over to the elephant who handed off the delicious smelling pizzas.
"Sorry Nick," said the elephant, shrugging. "The place I order from doesn't do anything smaller than wolf."
"It's cool L.T I'll just take two of Fangs' slices," said Nick with a smirk.
"The hell you will!" snapped Fangmeyer.
"And Nick enough of the formalities," said Bungo. "We get to cut loose so rarely. Let's enjoy it."
"Yeah c'mon Wilde what have you got to lose?" cackled Fangmeyer with a wink.
"Says you Fangs, I've got thirty down for tonight," retorted Bungo. On realising what he'd said the elephant's eyes widened and he slapped his trunk over his mouth.
"Thirty on what?" asked Nick, curious.
"The game tonight, right Bungo?" growled Fangmeyer quickly as they stepped into the elevator. The elephant nodded enthusiastically.
"Which game?" asked Nick, now very confused.
"The Gazelles and the Caribou. Basketball. It's the play-offs." Bungo sounded more self-assured with each word. Nick wasn't much of a basketball fan so he didn't press the issue. Still they were acting weird but he decided not to worry about it. Bungo was right; tonight was about cutting loose and when Nick Wilde cut loose everybody knew about it.
Fangmeyer balanced the pizzas in one paw as he texted furiously with the other. From down the hall as they left the elevator came the sudden sounds of at least twelve large male mammals enjoying a basketball game as if they'd ben commanded to, by text. Nick narrowed his eyes at Fangmeyer but the wolf didn't notice.
"Goooooo Gazelles!" roared Chief Bogo convincingly as they opened the door. The setting sun illuminated the shapes of twelve of the ZPD's officers. All were dressed for a night on the town and all looked famished.
"Wait," warned Nick as he placed the pizza on the coffee table that was nearly as tall as he was. "Wait… Wait… OK now!"
As one fifteen mammals leapt for the pizza. Nick squirmed in and out and around the scrum before grabbing two slices of wolf size and dodging back out again. He checked his shirt for stains and brushed some crumbs off his shoulder. Almost as quickly as they had begun the mammals retreated munching happily on either vegetable pizza or fried cricket pizza. Nick realised how hungry he was and plopped down onto a bean bag and devoured the slices he'd snagged. Looking to his left he saw Fangmeyer had finished before him.
"Well you certainly wolfed that one down eh Fangs?" joked Nick. The room went silent, someone even muted the TV.
"I find that offensive," replied Fangmeyer, his eyes narrowing playfully.
"Those are the kind of jokes that get six weeks parking duty," threatened Bogo.
"One more like that and you're walking to Peelers," said Officer Delgado, bumping fists with Fangmeyer.
"Alright, alright jeez it was a bad one OK?" admitted Nick. "Where's Clawhauser?"
"Out on the balcony," answered Bungo. "Once we turned the game on he hasn't set foot inside. Something about having a bad experience at a Caribou game. Misunderstanding about the interpretation of the word horny."
"Fair enough. I won't press him on it."
Nick left at the right time as the room behind him erupted in a cacophony of howls, trumpets and roars as a Gazelle player scored a three pointer. He shook his head and stepped out into a balmy evening. Zootopia looked especially picturesque at sunset. It was so calm and peaceful in the time before everyone got off work and before they went out. It was like looking down on a moving painting. A painting he'd pledged his life to guard.
"Penny for your thoughts?" asked the large cheetah standing at the balcony railing.
"Just admiring the view," replied Nick contentedly.
"Me too," winked Clawhauser showing him his phone.
On the screen was a photo of Nick looking out at the city in rather dramatic fashion. One hand resting on the railing, the other smoothing back his ears. His aviators reflected the orange light of the dying sun and he was smiling absentmindedly. It was a good picture, thought Nick. Wait why is it uploading to the Furbook messenger app? Oh crap, Carrots!
"Ben whatever you're doing you better not," growled Nick.
"Oh relax Nick it's just a photo and for once a photo you look good in," replied the cheetah, holding the phone high out of Nick's reach.
"I know that but why are you sending it to Carrots?"
"Duh because you look good in it. She looks good too you know, she sent me a picture as well, a bit classier than you mind but that's the charm the two of you have."
"She does? What do you mean by classier? She sent you a picture? Why not me? Am I not classy enough? What do you mean by charm? There's no charm between me and Carrots is there?"
"Whoa so many questions Nick. Overthinking much?"
The white fur on Nick's face glowed pink as the skin beneath it blushed.
"Maybe," he admitted. "Tonight's the first time Judy and I have ever been out together."
"It's not a date Nick," snorted Clawhauser.
"No but I'm nervous all the same. Tonight's the first time we'll be drinking with each other. Like properly drinking not just a beer and a carrot juice cocktail after work drinking."
"What about Delgado's wedding?"
"I wasn't feeling it and Carrots was under the weather."
"Captain Shell's retirement party?"
"We didn't know the Cap well enough to get trashed at his party."
"My house warming last month?"
"Oh yeah I was drunk at that but Carrots left early thank God."
"Man you two might be cute together but you are dry as well. Still tonight will fix that."
"We are not cute-" Nick began before Clawhauser's text tone interrupted him.
Clawhauser looked at his phone and showed him the reply to the picture he had sent to Judy. One word: "Cute" and a love heart emoji.
"Well I stand corrected," said Nick resisting the urge to blush.
"That you do," said Clawhauser, as they strolled back in. "Anyway the night is young and who knows what will happen later. Let's enjoy it Nick."
The cheetah was right, Nick admitted to himself as they stepped back into the apartment.
"Wilde quick get over here!" shouted Fangmeyer. "We need one more Delgado and I aren't enough and you're the only one that we can add without breaking the Chief's back!"
Both Fangmeyer and Delgado sat on Chief Bogo's broad back as the Chief put a great deal of effort into doing push-ups. A beer bottle was clutched between his lips and with each push-up he took a swig. Nick looked at Clawhauser, shrugged and ran to join the wolf and tiger. Worrying about Judy could wait it was time for the fun to begin.