A/N This is the first fanfiction I've written outside of mlp. I've seen Zootopia, and am apart of the ballooning fandom. So I hope you all enjoy, leave a review on any improvements, criticisms, if you liked/hated it, anything. Have a happy read :)

The sun rose over the great City of Zootopia, penetrating the dark city streets with rays of light. Nocturnal animals sight refuge from the gleaming new day, while those who played under the sun came to life. Birds began their morning commute, quickly congesting the skyways, rodents quickly filled the streets, and lions slept lazily. Taking a page from the big cat's book, was a con-man turned lawman: Nicholas Wilde. Today was his first day on the Zootopia Police force and he couldn't be anymore excited, that is if he could wake up.

His alarm clock blasted old disco music that died away except in the hearts of the old, he didn't care. The synth harmonies and electric basses always put a nice wag in his tail, and to hell with those who disagree. He tossed and turned under his covers, mumbling as he did so. Rolling back over he reached out and felt around the end table next to his pull out bed searching for the clock. He have it a few experimental pats and prods before punching it, knocking it to the ground with a metallic thud, the music kept playing on.

He rose like Dracula from the crypt, his eyes were bloodshot red and tired beyond his usual half lidded "sly" facade, the fur on the right side of his face was matted, gleaming from fresh drool, and his breath tasted rancid, he didn't want to imagine the smell. He groggily got off the creaky mattress peering back at it with malice. He twisted and contorted, loosening his neck with several satisfying cracks. Then he sauntered off to the bathroom. When there he looked in the mirror with a small snort. "Even when you're fresh outta bed…" he sighed. He took off his tee and his boxers and stepped into the shower.

As the water soaked his fur be wondered how good first day on the force would go. He didn't expect much, he was a smaller predator so big head Bogo probably wouldn't assign him anywhere to dangerous. But be forgot that he was partners with Judy. Instantly a smirk grew on his muzzle. The Bunny who could. Knowing her she'd probably twist Bogo's horns to get a decent assignment. Still Nick wouldn't mind. Judy was a nice animal to be around, when she didn't have a stick up her butt. He could see her know, giving sone crook their Miranda Rights while he came up with cool "you just got busted" one-liners. Being an officer is going to be a new chapter in his life, and he was more than willing to open to the page.

He stepped out, his bright red fur streamlined down his body revealing wherever muscle mass he had underneath. Nick knew he wasn't the strongest in any animal's book, but the freezer that he could at least see and feel what he had was enough. Nearby be picked up a blow dryer and switched it on. The lights in the bathroom dimmed sightly as he fanned his fur. The hot air blew on his skin leaving behind prickly itchy spots all over his body. Soon he was done and finished whatever he could with a towel.

He brushed his teeth, giving a slick oearly smile to the mirror, spritzed a little cologne on and checked himself for any mistakes that he missed. He didn't live the life of a high roller, but animals are gonna see that he was not half-stepping. Nick walked back into the small living room, picking up bowls of crumbs and half eaten candy. He folded the bed back into the couch and placed the cushions carefully and accordingly. He looked around and nodded at his work, then he went to a nearby closet. Inside were five official ZPD uniforms waiting to be worn.

He took one and quickly dressed up. Love last look in the mirror and he was ready to go. "I'll make you proud mom…" With that he was out the door.

The traffic was absolutely abhorrent on his way to the police station. Cars were honking like their drivers didn't have any sense, and a squirrel had the gaul to hold up three whole lanes because his girlfriend the hood acorns out of the window. If he wasn't so civilized he would have had a midmorning snack. But he was here, and hopefully he wasn't late. He walked through the front door, greeted by his new coworkers.

"There he is, you know that uniform looks amazing on you!" Officer Benjamin Clawhauser said as he took a cookie away from his maw.

"Really-" Nick tugged on his collar. "It's a bit too stiff for my taste."

"Are you kiddin'? You're gonna be a lady killer. They love males with power."

"Well then, I guess I wasn't killin' em enough already." he said with a wink. His phone chirped. New notification from Judy asking where he was, he replied with talking with clawhauser. I think he's coming on to me.

"How does it feel to be in uniform?"

"Well-" he scratched his chin and put his phone back in his pocket. "I don't feel any different than what I usually do. Guess the uniform hasn't effected me yet."

"Give it time."

"Nick?" someone called. He saw Judy walking with a confident strutt, ears perked up high, and a smile as bright as the day.

"What's happening Carrots?"

"What's happening is you're almost late for today's briefing." She took hold of his tie and dragged him away.

"Talk to ya later big guy," Nick waved until the portly cheeta was out of sight. As they walked to the briefing from Judy was explaining to him all of the different areas and their functions like the hallway leading to the guys who work the CSI scene, and the stairs that take you to the armory, and the deck where they processed offenders. Nick was more familiar with that one then he'd hoped, and finally the briefing room.

Inside there were the other officers sitting listening intently to Chief Bogo. "Hopps, Wilde," he gave them a hard stare. "You're late!"

"Sorry cheif, Nick just got here." Bogo let out a low growl, and turned back to the others in the room. Nick and Judy took their seats. "Smooth," Nick teased, Judy nudged him with her elbow. The sat there in anticipation, as pairs of officers left to go patrol the streets, then finally he landed on their names. "Wilde, Hopps, parking duty…" Nick's eyes went wide while Judy's ears twitched with anger. "Just kidding, there's been reports of robberies in the lower east loop of Savanna square. There's more than one offender from what our sources say, find them and shut it down. Dismissed!"

"Right away chief." Judy said with a salute.

"We got this," Nick said with a smirk. Bogo watched with a raised brow as they left the room. "Those two are gonna be the death of me…"

Judy and Nick strolled down the hallway on their way to the garage. Nick never realized how much of a maze this place was, and what was more surprising was how well Judy navigated through it. "So-" he broke the silence between them. "Vandals down in the desert. Probably some hyena cubs holding up corner stores with water guns…"

"Even if that is so, we have to do our job." Judy dryly responded.

Nick have her a quizzical look. "Not saying that we don't do our job, just saying that it may be a cake walk."

"We'll see," Just chuckled softly. They came into the garage. Most of the spaces were vacant, probably other officers that left to do their rounds, but the cars were massive. Taller than Nick of he were the times as tall, and large enough to fit an elephant. The irony pretty obvious there. "So where's our whip?"

"Over here," Judy led him to a smaller yet still large squad car.

"Huh, I've always wanted to ride in a tank."

"Come on, we have to get moving," she walked around to the driver side and hopped up the steps. Nick struggled to get up, seeing as the first step was almost as high off the ground as he was. "Why the hell is this thing so big?" He mumbled to himself.

"You need some help?" Judy called from inside the car.

"Nah I've got it." Nick clamored up the first step and got in. Thank goodness for its size it was nice and cozy on the inside. The seats were even comfy and squishy.

"Really Nick?" Judy scoffed at her partner jovially bouncing on the seat. He stopped and shrugged his shoulders, then continued to bounce. Judy rolled her eyes with a smile and started up the engine. The crescendoing roar of the car coming to life sent vibrations through the cabin, chilling Nick's fur. Now he wanted to drive, the little rinky dink jalopy he drove was nothing compared to this beast, and all of her power was in the paws of a bunny. Unbelievable…

They had just got off the highway dissecting Savannah Square. It was one of the more poorer districts in Zootopia. Crime didn't run around like a streaker at a hoofball game, but there were still bouts of unjust actions here and there. "Alright Nick-" he looked up from his phone. "You know this city better than me, where should we look?"

He looked around the arid district, there was nothing but sandstone buildings that bleed into the street whenever the wind lapped against them. He actually didn't know Savannah square all too well, but that didn't stop him from concocting a clever plan. "I'll tell you where we need to go… If you let me drive."

"What? Why?" Judy asked with a raised brow, something that Nick found very adorable. Where on earth did that come from?

"Because, I doubt a bunny would be good with directions. Heck, I'm surprised that we got this far." Judy slammed on the brakes, causing Nick to hit his snout in the dashboard. "Walked right into that one huh?" He rubbed his nose tenderly.

"Dumb fox," she said playfully.

"Whatever, ya know ya love me."

"Do I? Y-" she was cut off by a hooded figure sprinting down a small alleyway. "Come on!" She nearly kicked open the door and chased after the suspect. Nick followed after her but fell, underestimating the height of their patrol car.

Judy sprinted after the figure "Zootopia Police! Stop running!" she shouted as she dodged boxes and trash cans strewn about. But the perp didn't listen and only tab faster, but she wasn't going to give. Judy pushed her speed to the max, lunging more than sprinting. They were right in her grasp until she tripped over a small lobster cage. The suspect ran up a short wall leaving Judy behind. "Come on you stupid!" she pried at the cage until it began to snap and break. Once she was free, the roof was empty but several rooftops ahead was the suspect still running. "Nick, do you read!"

"Loud and clear!" He was breathing heavily, the wind screamed through his end, he had been running.

"I need you to get back to the car, it looks like he's heading for Shady Sands park!"

"Right-" pant. "On it!" She continued the chase, leaping across rooftops with incredible speed and agility. Meanwhile Nick was just arriving back at the car, he almost didn't make it up the step. "How in the world does that bunny do it?" He started the engine, flicked the switch for the siren, donned his favorite shades, and slammed on the gas. He didn't expect the car to have that much power. He was luck for the siren, he may have been in the news for the world's deadliest car crash. As he was driving he saw the suspected dashing across the street into the park with Judy hot on his tail.

He got out and chased after them. The suspect was becoming increasingly desperate, he began to haphazardly shove animals out of his way until he tried to move a Zebra. The two of them came tumbling down on a heap of limbs and stripes. Judy pulled out her taser and pointed it directly at the assailants face. "Zootpia Police! Put your paws where I can see them!" he slowly rose his paws. "Take of that hood!" He slowly took away his hood. She was a bat eared fox with light brown fur and a scar running the length of her muzzle. Nick just arrived on the scene and instantly recognized the fox.

"Well if it isn't Emilia!" Nick walked up to her with open arms.

" Piss off Wilde!" she snarled. She looked Nick up and down. "Wait, you're a...a."

"A cop? Yup, guess you were wrong about labeling someone a worthless piece of Elephant crap." He walked up to her, Judy held strong with her taser armed and ready to fire. "And I hope you know, running from a cop like my cute friend here-"

"Nick!" Judy growled.

"Sorry, my visually pleasing friend here means that you're gonna get arrested sweetie," he finished with a smug laugh.

"I haven't done a thing wrong!"

"Then why were you running?" Judy asked, not breaking the line between her taser and the fox.

" I was free running, you know. Parkour?" Nick and Judy shared a glance. "At least I was until I see some psycho bunny chasing me!" Judy looked back at Nick for confirmation. She could tell that these two had some sort of history between them. Nick gave her a nod and continued to question the fox. "So how have things be going here in Savannah square?"

"Like hell…" she spat with venom. " Just let me go about my business or I will fill a harassment complaint." Judy looked at Nick with wavering faith. He gave her a wink. "Look Emmie."

"Don't call me that you slippery, back stabbing cur!"

"Okay Emmie, I know you better than anyone else. What did you steal?"

"I didn't. Take. Anything!"

Nick sighed and turned away. "Okay Jude's, you can tase her."

Judy steadied her aim and compressed the trigger, releasing a small click. "Okay, okay, I took some old Camel's purse. I didn't start running until I saw this little ball of fluff chasing me…" Nick nodded to Judy.

"I can forget about you stealing from an innocent old Camel if you tell me one thing."

"What?"

"Do you know anything about Street artist tagging spots down here?"

"Wait-" she tried to stifle her laughter, but it came out in full wet cackles. "That's why you're going all cop show on me?" she chortled. "Of course they'd send a Fox to solve a case that's not even important enough for the evening news let alone an article!" she continued to laugh until the pair had enough. With one small squeeze of the trigger, the fox was slightly convulsing as the electricity involuntarily caused her muscles to tighten as she fell over.

"Heh…" Judy cuffed her while Nick donned shades. "Being a thief can be shocking, but eventually you get grounded."

Judy looked up at him as he stood with his arms crossed, shades gleaming in the light.
"Right… let's get her in the car." Nick's ears dropped, and he helped the fox to her feet. She could barely stand, putting all of her weight on Nick. Judy saw how her head lay limp on his shoulder as they carried her to the car. She began to frown, but didn't know why. Nick did know just about everyone in the city, those who were convenient to whatever problem they faced at least, but she was different. And Judy didn't like her.

They sat her in the back seat, she didn't go easily. She tried to kick and buck against her captors. Judy tried to tase her again, but Nick want having it. He took her tranquilizer and shot Emilia in the leg, relaxing her instantly. Her tongue lolled out her mouth, seizing the opportunity Nick pulled out his phone and snapped pictures of the sedated fox. "Nick!" Judy chided. She snatched away his phone.

"Carrots, come on!" he reached for his phone, but she turned her back.

"Not until I delete it," she huffed.

"It's just a harmless picture Judes!"

She looked down at his phone displaying the picture. "Are you going to delete it?" She gave him a stern look, her deep magenta eyes piercing his soul.

"I promise, right paw to God."

"He said the same thing to me," Emilia slurred through the tranquilizer serum. "He tells ya that she false promise before breaking your heart and leaving you behind." Judy scoffed and closed the door on the fox, silencing her rambling. "Here-" she handed Nick his phone. "Let's get her back to the station. I'm sure she can shed some light on all of these robberies." Still, what she said had stuck to her consciousness like glue.

Nick had proven to be resourceful and intelligible during the Night Howler case. He even gained her trust, but at his core he could still be a sly conniving fox looking for his next score. But if so he really was dedicated. Six months of police training, and he pushed himself to his limits and beyond. There had been nights where he would lie down and not move nor shift till he woke the next morning. Nick was devoted, but his determination could go both ways. She tried to put it off, believing Nick was turned around for good. She hoped that he has.

Emilia sat in the room with a lanky wolf being questioned while Judy watched from behind the one way glass. She had a notepad in her paw with nothing on it, her thoughts were lost thinking about Nick. Not that he was sneaky, but she wondered more about his past. He'd only told her that he was hazed as a pup, but there had to be something more to the story. "Officer Hopps." Bogo's voice boomed, reverberating around the room. "Who is this?"

"Her name is Emilia Foxtrott, Nick and I bought her in after we found her running with a stolen purse."

"Why is she being questioned?" He quietly growled.

"We believe that she can shed some light on what's going on in Savannah square, even criminals socialize."

Bogo stroked the fuzz on his chin. "Understandable… Where is your partner?"

"Back at his desk, waiting for calls on possible details and facts about the increased theft problem."

"Hmm, keep searching…" he walked away.

Judy did thank him though, he pulled her out of herself for a moment. But still Nick flooded her already cramped mind. Why was he conning animals? And why was it so easy for her to change him? She shook her head, ears flopping around. I can't believe a petty thief has me questioning where my partner. My FRIEND'S moral compass is pointing. She continued to listen for clues.

At his desk Nick sat twirling a pen in his paws. He didn't expect to see her off all animals running the streets of Savannah square. Hey somehow he was a little happy to see that she was still in one piece. Most of the animals he knew usually ended up in jail, in a body bag, or never to be seen from again. He scoffed, and set the pen down. He leaned back in his chair, arms behind his head, and a content smile on his muzzle. "Not bad for your first day Nicky," he chuckled.

"Hey Nick." He lost his balance and feel backwards, impacting the for with a hollow thud.

"Maybe a bit of a warning eh whiskers…"

"Sorry I-" she looked at his desk and saw several sheets of completed work. "Huh…"

"What?" he got up, holding his back with a wince "Didn't think I could finish my homework on time?"

"You're not finished, but still keep it up. Now, thanks to your friend we have a few names." She handed him her note pad. "I don't think it's organized, but these seem to be her running buddies." Nick looked at the names, a sicky nostalgia forming a deep pit in his stomach. Judy saw how he looked at the names. "You know them, don't you…" Nick didn't say a word. He set the names on his desk, and turned to Judy.

"Doesn't matter if I know em Carrots. We've got a job to do… As soon as I finish these reports." Judy left him to his work, wondering what was going through his head. Before she left to her workspace she turned back to him.

"Doing what's right is always hard, but I know you'll do what's right when the time comes…"

"Wow, cryptic much?" He turned, showing his usual cool smirk. "I'll be fine. Also, are we still on for the movie Saturday?"

"Yeah, Fifty Shades of Prey, right?"

"Also known as: The world's most expensive porno."

"You suggested it."

"I was joking. But if you still want to see it, I'm down…"

"Alright, we head back out in an hour, so finish up."

"On it hopps." Nick waved. She left and he found himself sitting there, thinking about what exactly he'd gotten himself into.

Later that night he sat on his couch watching poorly produced reality shows. This one in particular follows a family of Amish squirrels, depicting their lives as dirty farmers that hated the modern world and it's evils. It may be sad, bit is kind of entertaining to see animals flailing around on T.V. like they didn't have any sense. Also the daughter, Margaret, kinda acts like Judy. She's stubborn, hard working, self righteous, and adorable as all hell. Judy… Wonder what she's up to right now. He looked down at his phone. Quiet, no notifications. Best not to bother her. The moment he looked away it began to buzz and jitter. A picture of her trying to cover the camera flashed across the screen with her name in bold. Well, speak of the devil…
"Wilde."

"Hey Nick."

"Sup' Carrots?"

"Nothing…" there was a soft crackle and soft hums coming and going.

"Are you outside?"

"Oh, no I'm looking out my window."

"Oh." The sound of a car honking its horn filled the earpiece.

"How was your first day as Zootopia's finest?" she asked with forced emphasis.

"Wasn't as boring as I thought it'd be. Actually, it was pretty cool riding around with you, busting crooks." he pointed his finger at his T.V. like a gun.

"We only caught the one," Judy chuckled.

"Still pretty awesome, didn't get to shoot anyone though…"

"Hopefully you won't have to."

"Ah, that's no fun." He smiled when she began to Google and laugh on the other end. Little things can go a long way. The familiar ambiance of the city settled back in.

"Nick?"

"Yeah?"

"About that fox we brought in, you two know each other?" Nick didn't answer, she could see him rubbing the back of his neck trying to find a way to work around the answer.

"Yeah… Yeah we know each other…"

"Oh… sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

"Nah-" he took a sip of whatever he was drinking. "You're good Carrots."

"What happened between you two?"

"Some crazy shenanigans that ended up with her behind bars."

"Wow…"

"Yeah so long story short, she hates me."

"Sorry for asking."

"Again, don't worry about it. No skin off my nose." She heard a loud crunch come from his end. She focused on his munching, thinking about how she was going to ask this next question. "Judes, you there?"

"Oh, uh-uh yeah."

"What's eatin ya?"

"I-I was wondering… Did you two e-ever?"

"Uh… you're gonna have to be more specific than that." She heard another loud crunch.

"Did you two ever date?" Silence fell over his end. All that could be heard was dim voices in the back arguing and talking to some invisible fourth wall.

"... No… well, she never had feelings for me. Besides, we're different species… Probably wouldn't have worked."

"Anything can happen, different species could work."

"Eh, someone would have to go for it." He took another loud bite of his snacks.

"Okay, what are you eating?"

"Dried beef chips." he couldn't hear her, but he knew that she was on the other end lurching and gagging.

"Ugh, why do you eat that stuff?"

"Carnivore, can't eat fruit all the time." He gobbled down another chip. "But I just realized you have sensitive ears."

"Yeah, well… I'll let you go about your night, see you in the morning…"

"Night Carrots, sleep well."

"You too sly fox."

"Dumb bunny…" she was gone, and out was silent. He forgot that he was watching T.V. Talking with her took more attention that he would have hoped. Once she called while he was cooking, Judy called to vent about a bad day, and be nearly burned the fur on his arm off. But still taking with her was nice, but she seemed off this time. Those questions are direct to a point she was trying to get across, heavily. Either way he had written in the morning and he had to debate on whether or not to go to sleep now, or after the World's Dumbest. Eh, his alarms will wake him up.