"I'm going to go pick up some food. Can I get you anything, Darling?"
"Veggie Meal."
"Gotcha." Nick Wilde swiveled out of his chair and exited his cubicle in the Zootopia Police Department offices, before grabbing the keys to the ZPD SUV that he and his partner, Judy Hopps, had been assigned. He and Judy had spent the day filling out paperwork and taking calls, and frankly, they were beyond bored. Judy didn't really mind a slow workday, because she still felt as if she were making the world a better place, but Nick didn't feel the same. Rather than actually working, he spent the day stacking pens in little pyramids, making sculptures out of paperclips, and covering Judy's cubicle walls in sticky-notes (before she yelled at him, of course). After a while, Nick couldn't bare the silence any longer, letting his hunger take over. He had spun his chair over to Judy's cubicle and began poking her arm until she looked up at him with an expression that could kill. "I'm hungry," he had whined, making her scrunch her nose in frustration. "That's not my problem," she replied. Thus, beginning a ten-minute argument over whether or not Nick was really hungry or if he was just trying to get out of work. Finally, Judy gave in and Nick was announcing his exit.
Now, he was on his way to their favorite little diner, where if you knew the grizzly bear chef, you were cooked the best individual specialty meal in all of Zootopia. The two usually ordered the same thing each time: a Veggie Meal and a Predator Meal, both perfectly fit to their individual tastes. It was impossible to count how many memories Judy and Nick had made over meals from that diner. On the drive over, the traffic was hectic, but that didn't stop Nick; he simply slid his sunglasses over his eyes and turned on the SUV's police sirens, instantly clearing a path. Even being a cop didn't keep Nick from being a hustler. If Judy had been there, she would have given him a look of pure dismay. Well, honestly, if Judy were there, she would have been driving, so the situation would have never occurred. Nick smiled at the thought of her.
Once at the diner, Nick politely greeted the white-tailed doe hostess before making his way past her to the kitchen, where an over-sized grizzly bear waited with his food. At the sight of Nick, a large toothy grin dawned on the bear's face. "'Ay, Nicky, boy! Got your orda here! How's your gurl doing?"
"Her name is Judy, Griz, and she's good."
"How long's it been now, huh? Since you... well, you know!" Nick laughed as he slicked back his ears with his paw. "Three months now."
"'Ay, that a boy!" Nick let his famous smirk settle over his face as he gave a small shrug. "What can I say?"
Every time the two picked up food from the diner, the massive bear would always ask how things were going in their budding relationship; Griz was a natural gossip. Nick would always try to keep the conversation short and sweet, simply because he enjoyed his relationship with Judy when it only involved Judy. He wasn't afraid to go public with what they had, he just thought it was easier - even better - when it was just the two of them. After three months of dating, the only person who had picked up on the fact that they were involved was Griz, but Nick had a feeling it was only a matter of time before Clawhauser caught on.
With a final nod at the bear, Nick grabbed the bags of food and began making his way out of the diner, weaving his way through the customers who were swarming the place for their lunch hour. "Thanks, Dawn," Nick said as he smiled and nodded towards the young hostess that he and Judy had come to know over the last few months, as they consistently ate at the diner after work. "Thanks, Nick. Say 'hi' to Judy for me."
"Will do," Nick replied as he turned, but not really paying attention to his surrounding, he bumped into the next customers who were waiting to be seated. "Oh, sorry about that, uh—?"
A zebra in a navy business suit and white tie reached out and shook his paw. "Jim, Jim Plains," he stated in a deep powerhouse voice. Nick glanced behind him to get a look at the rest of his group: a hippopotamus, a donkey, and a bank vole, all looking as if life had been good to them. "Uh, Nick, Nick Wilde. Sorry about that Mr. Plains," Nick stated. "Oh, not problem at all Officer Wilde." Behind the zebra, the bank vole spoke up. "Wait, Nicholas Wilde?"
"Uh, yes, but I go by Nick—"
"Nick, it's been some time!" the hippopotamus exclaimed, cutting him off. Nick fixed him with a perplexed look. "I'm sorry?"
"You don't remember us?" the donkey asked, now piping up. Nick shook his head slowly, starting to grow suspicious. "From the Junior Ranger Scouts?" The zebra laughed as he nudged the donkey with a hoof. "Oh, yeah! Well, I thought he looked familiar!"
Nick froze, unsure of what to do, while the group continued chatting.
… "Look at you, a cop!" … "It's been so long!" … "How have you been, Nick?" … "Hey, remember the muzzle? Those were wild times." …
The world seemed to spin, yet move slowly all at the same time. Nick felt his breathing become more shallow and rapid, and he found himself clutching at his chest as he fought for air. The group that had ridiculed him, savagely beat him, made fun of him, and then muzzled him now stood laughing as if the current situation was a reunion of some sort. Nick felt his body folding in on itself as he watched the group converse, not noticing him. Nick dropped the bags of food, their contents spilling on the floor.
"Nick, is everything okay?" The hostess's voice seemed distant, as if he were dreaming; in a way, he was dreaming, but rather than a dream, this was a nightmare.
"Judy," was all that Nick could say, was all that he could think of. Without a second thought, Nick was pushing past the group, trying not to slip on the spilt salad that littered the floor. The group, who was finally paying attention to the reaction he was having, attempted to stop him; they called after him in an effort, but he was already racing out of the diner and towards the SUV. He fumbled with his phone as he ran, quickly dialing Judy's number.
"Hello?" Her beautiful voice came over the speakers.
"Carrots!"
"Nick? What's wrong?" Nick had made it to the car, quickly shutting himself inside and locking the doors, his panic attack taking full affect now that he was alone. "Judy, in the diner – scouts – recognized me."
"Nick, Nick, slow down. I can't understand you. Take deep breaths." Back at the ZPD, Judy was already out in the lobby, motioning at Clawhauser. "I need a back up car now, it's an emergency," she whispered to him.
"The Junior Ranger Scouts, Rabbit! They were at the diner! They saw me - they knew me!
"The Scouts from when you were a kid?"
"Yes!" Judy inhaled deeply, not sure what to do. "Judy? Judy?"
"Nick, stay there, I'm coming to get you."
"You don't have a car—"
"I've got it handled. Stay on the phone with me. It's going to be okay. I want you to take deep breaths and try to relax. I'll be there soon." Nick leaned back against his seat and attempted to control his breathing. "Please hurry, Judy. Just hurry."