Set One:
It was after midnight and Judy Hopps did her best to sleep. She was keyed up about starting her wonderful new job on the police force. This was something she'd dreamed about since she was a kid, making the world a better place in the wonderful city of Zootopia, where anyone can be anything. She loved her family dearly but she couldn't be a carrot farmer.
It was also hard to sleep because the neighbors on the other side of her apartment were bickering again. Still, she was one of over 200 kits so it wasn't like she was used to a quiet home. And this was actually the most privacy she'd ever had. Her apartment was small and dingy, but it was her space. She'd see about decorating it over the weekend, beyond the carrot-patterned welcome mat her family had given her as a going-away present. Perhaps she could get an advance on her salary, and by then she'd know her way around the city a little. It should be fun. But she really did need to sleep so she could be bright-eyed and fluffy-tailed on her first day of work.
Meanwhile, in another part of downtown, Nick Wilde slept soundly in his larger but equally dingy apartment. He'd lived there for years and he was used to the noise of the pipes and the footsteps of the animals on the ground floor. The rent was cheap because it was the basement, and the location was convenient for most of his business. He could've stayed with Finnick in the van, but they both needed their space. And he could've afforded a nicer place, but he was saving up for something big.
Set Two:
It was after midnight and Judy did her best to sleep. She was well aware that the clock was now ticking on the 48 hours Chief Bogo had grudgingly granted her to solve her piece of the missing mammals case. He'd even surprised her by counting it from midnight rather than from the moment he gave permission. There wasn't much she could do at night, but she found herself reviewing the few facts she knew.
Emmitt Otterton had been missing for ten days. Judy knew his height, weight, occupation, address, marital status, and number of children (two), but she didn't know much else. Leads, none, witnesses, none, and resources, none. All she knew was that he bought a Pawpsicle from the obnoxious fox that had ruined her first day on the job. So maybe that was her witness, but he wouldn't be a friendly one. And she didn't know much more about the fox than she did about Otterton, just what her old classmate Jaguar was able to tell her. He was in the computer system at his job for the ZRS. She hoped it would be enough to make the fox if not friendly, at least grudgingly cooperative.
Meanwhile, Nick slept soundly. There had been some minor frustrations the last couple days, like dealing with that stupid little hick bunny over the Pawpsicle hustle, but she had nothing on him. He'd been doing this since he was a kid and it would take a much sharper cop to stop him. And every day brought him closer to his goal.
Set Three:
It was after midnight and Judy did her best to sleep. She'd done it, she'd cracked the case! Well, with Nick's help. It wouldn't have been possible without him. And it felt like they had become friends, unlikely as that would've seemed even 24 hours ago. A fox, a con-artist fox, who would've imagined? She was sure her parents would be shocked. After all, her father had made her take fox repellent when she left for the big city less than a week ago. But she was also sure that once they met Nick, they'd see how special, how different he was.
Nick really had surprised her. They were such a good team! Even though he wasn't a cop. She wondered if he'd ever consider becoming one. After all, not only was he a good detective, but he had been an idealist once, like her. She teared up a little thinking of his Junior Ranger Scouts story. She wished she'd been able to stand up to his bullies, like she had to Gideon Gray when she was nine. But when Nick was bullied at nine, Judy was just a baby. Well, they were both grown up now and they had taken down the biggest bully of all, the corrupt lion mayor who had wrongfully imprisoned fourteen, no, fifteen mammals who'd gone savage. Judy smiled as she thought about that.
Meanwhile, Nick tossed and turned. He should've slept like a log, like he did most nights. After all, he had been pretty busy the last couple days. That crazy rabbit. That crazy, wonderful, adorable rabbit. She came along and shook up his nice, contented, rule-bending but structured life.
"Judy," he whispered the name that he'd spoken aloud only once. Would he ever see her again after the press conference? She wanted him there for moral support. He liked being there for her. But he wasn't used to this feeling. What he and Finnick had was different, not so emotionally intense, like they were two halves of one animal.
Nick shook his head. What were they, a fox-bunny hybrid, like some weird mythological beast? But he knew his soul fit with her soul, and he wasn't someone who thought about souls or this kind of mystic crap. He was level-headed and sensible. He cared about money and the thrill of its pursuit. Damn her for making him care about other things, for the first time since he was a kid.
"Damn you, Carrots," he whispered with a smile.
Set Four:
It was after noon when Judy locked up her apartment for the last time. Then she went to see the armadillo landlady to turn it in. She thought about making a joke about not losing the key, but she couldn't make jokes anymore.
The landlady gave her a motherly look and said, "If you change your mind, let me know. You're still paid up till the end of the month."
Judy nodded. She knew she wouldn't change her mind. There wasn't anything left for her in Zootopia. She'd lost Nick, the best friend she ever had, and it was all her fault. She couldn't in good conscience continue as a cop, even if Bellwether wanted her to be "the face of the ZPD." The city itself seemed tarnished to her now, although the buildings gleamed brightly in the mid-day sun as she made her way to the Savanna Central train station.
All that was left for her was life back in Bunnyburrow. Just as Nick had predicted when they met, weeks ago, she had no choice but to "go back home with her cute fuzzy-wuzzy tail between her legs" and become a carrot farmer like her parents always wanted. He was right. Gideon was right. Her parents were right. Her drill sergeant was right. Everyone was right. She was stupid to ever believe in her dreams and want to become something different than what her DNA said. If she'd just stayed back home, none of this would've happened.
OK, she, and Nick, had cracked the missing mammals case, but what did it matter when more predators were going savage? She hadn't made a difference, or not a good one anyway. All she could do now was take the train home and try to lead a good, simple life, selling healthy food.
Meanwhile, Nick told Finnick to shut up and left him on the sidewalk, stroller and all.
Set Five:
Judy smiled through her tears. Nick forgave her! She hadn't lost him.
Nick wasn't going to milk it further. He wasn't that cruel. And what she said had moved him, although he had to cover it with jokes. It was so good to have her back! He wanted to hug her, and he was not physically demonstrative. "All right, get in here," he said, trying to keep it light. He expected her to give him a big squeeze, but instead she walked over and put her head on his chest, like she was too emotionally drained or too uncertain to do more. He lightly put one hand on her back, and the other on top of her head. Her ears were still drooping. He needed to cheer her up, gently tease her. "OK, oh, you bunnies. You're so emotional. There we go, deep breath."
Nick was so sweet! Yes, he was teasing, but with no malice. She'd never seen him like this. It made her want to keep crying.
Nick joked, "Are you, are you just trying to steal the pen? Is that what this is?"
Judy laughed, although she was still crying. Oh, how she adored this fox! He knew just what to say. Well, not always, but right now he did. She made a playful grab for the pen, although Nick was taller and she was too drained to really try for it. He could keep the pen of course. It was her gift to him. And then she realized, he had kept the pen! Even when she was sure he hated her. He'd kept the pen.
"You are standing on my tail, though. Off, off-off-off!"
"Oh, I'm sorry."
She wasn't standing on it. Nick just felt like the hug was getting a little awkward. He was trying not to think about how she felt in his arms, how soft and vulnerable she was, inside and out, despite her bravery and muscles. He knew that if she weren't so upset, she could easily take the pen from him, through strength and/or trickery. He liked all these sides of her. God, how he'd missed her. So he couldn't keep hugging her. "It's OK," he said.
Judy had forgotten how long Nick's tail was. She hadn't felt it under her feet but too much else was going on. She imagined it would be very soft. She wondered if he would let her pet it. Then she told herself she was crazy.
"So you said something about toxic flowers?"
"Yes, right. I was, I was visiting my family's farm." She didn't want to tell him about going home in defeat. Maybe she would later, when this case was over and she felt more sure about everything. "And, well, it's a long story but I finally put the pieces together. And I need your help."
"You want a predator as a partner?"
She flinched. So he hadn't forgiven her. This was just another hustle, a heartbreaking one.
Then he continued, "Because I know a fox who'd make a pretty good cop. An amateur, unofficial cop."
She smiled again. "Well, I'm not technically on the force myself right now."
She'd quit? Wow, this had all hit her even harder than he'd realized! To give up on her childhood dream like that. Nick wondered how much of that was his fault. Well, they'd talk about it later. This was enough emotional upheaval for one afternoon.
"So we'll be renegade citizens. Cool. So what's the plan?"
"Let's go back to the truck."
"The truck?"
"Yes, I borrowed my family's truck."
"Aww, and I was looking forward to another ride in the Jokemobile."
"Maybe after I'm back on the force."
"Well, let's get you back on the force, Officer Hopps, by cracking this case."
She nodded. "Right."
"There's still time for you to become meter-maid supervisor. You'd still make a cute one."
"Don't call me cute! Get in the truck!"
"OK, you're the boss."
There was no hostility to these echoes of early exchanges. Judy liked that she and Nick had enough of an established friendship to refer back to their rocky beginnings.
They'd been walking as they talked and they reached the blue farmtruck. Nick chivalrously opened her door, as he had the door of the sky-tram. Then he went around and got in the other side. She started the engine.
Nick noticed that she'd left in such a hurry that there was still produce on the front seat, including blueberries! He grabbed a couple and quickly ate them. "Oo, I thought you guys only grew carrots!" He ate a few more. They were sweet in a tart but not bitter way. "Mm!" he exclaimed.
Judy smiled a little. She remembered Nick swiping some blueberries when they first met. She thought about joking that she should've used the berries to lure him back.
Then he asked again, "What's your plan?"
They both knew they had to focus on the case. It felt good to both of them to be detectives again, a team again. They felt more secure there than in the uncertain world of emotions.
"We are gonna follow the Night Howlers."
Nick was back in sidekick mode, but he did put a few blueberries in his old Scout handkerchief for later, as he asked, "OK, how?"
Judy took out her phone with the picture of Duke Weaselton that Clawhauser had forwarded. "Know this guy?"
"Uh huh. I told you, I know everybody."
"Do you know where we might find him?"
"I've got a couple theories. But first we need to swing by the hardware store."
"The hardware store?"
"Yeah, unless you've got a burlap bag in the back of the truck."
Judy grinned. "As a matter of fact, I do."