A/N:
Hi, I'm leolloyd17 (still need to work on that), sorry for the poor summery but this is my first ever attempt at writing a fanfiction (or anything for that matter), I appreciate "constructive criticism" as I'm new to all of this and I want to know where and how I can improve.
This story is going to be your typical Judy/Nick pairing. I apologise if what I write sounds similar to your own or works you have read (I've read quite a few different stories so I have picked up a few ideas from all over), but I hope I can add something new to the usual stories.
I also apologise for my poor writing skills.
I don't own Zootopia. The movie and all of its characters belong to Disney.
Hope you enjoy, and please leave any thoughts or feedback (good or bad) so I can improve.
Re-posted after amending a few mistakes pointed out to me. Thanks again for the help.
Chapter 1: A new beginning (I honestly couldn't think of anything better)
Nick's PoV:
Judy and I have just put a stop to Smellwether's psychotic plan, and are now riding in the back of an ambulance to Zootopia general hospital. In all the excitement of helping carrots solve her first case, I had almost forgotten about her wound, almost.
Flashback:
Chief Bogo and the others had just finished cuffing Bellwether and the two rams, carrots and me were about to follow them to the squad cars when Judy suddenly collapsed to the floor. That's when it all came crashing back… she cut her leg on that mammoth's tusk… how could I forget!?
The officers who weren't busy, with Bellwether and her goons, and I rushed to her side to try and help. That's when I noticed her injury was worse than we first thought. Her wound was bleeding quite badly the bandana we used as a make-shift bandage, was drenched in her blood obviously not doing much good.
End of flashback:
We're almost to the hospital now; I'm sat in the back with Judy, chief buffalo-butt managed to convince the paramedics to let me ride with them to the hospital, and starting to panic cause Judy's turning pale and it looks like she is going to pass out. It is taking all of my willpower but I'm just about managing to keep myself from shouting at the paramedic to do something, we've been through a lot together and don't know what I'd do if anything bad happened to her.
She had a half-lidded smile on her face, I frowned, maybe she'll be okay after some rest, I thought to myself… just as her eyes closed…
Judy's PoV:
I was so excited about Bellwether's arrest that I forgot about my bad leg. Me and Nick were following the chief, me being my usual bubbly self I was hopping around and punching Nick in the arm, but on my way back down I landed on my injured leg and it buckled under my weight. I hit the cold marble floor like a sack of carrots being thrown in the back of Dad's truck.
Nick was walking just in front of me so was the first one over, he slid over to my side concern written clear as day on his face… next thing I knew I was laying on a stretcher being pushed towards an ambulance.
How did I get here?... where's Nick? These thoughts rushed through my mind as the paramedic eased me into the van.
That's when I spotted him… arguing with the other medic, with… chief Bogo? Trying to get the medic to listen to him about something.
My view of the chief talking was then blocked by someone getting in the back with me… it was Nick!
As we drove off I tried to give him a smile to show him how much I appreciate him being here with me, I must look awful, his eyes softened a little but he was frowning (I think) about something… I'm struggling to see straight; my eyes are all fuzzy… Is everything in black and white? That's when my eyes started to slowly close…
Time skip: in the hospital Judy's PoV:
I slowly opened my eyes to a blinding light. The sun streamed in through the large window that made up the majority of my left-pawed wall, but the lighting seemed different… almost like it was before noon… that can't be right, it was about mid-day that Nick and I foiled that psychotic sheep's plan.
I was so absorbed in trying to figuring out the time of day, that it took me a moment to get my bearings… "where the heck am I?", I thought out loud.
Okay, let's have a look round and see if we can figure this out. I thought to myself. I quickly scanned my surroundings in the hope of finding something to shed some light on my location; clean, white surfaces, lots of room… this place is bigger than my apartment! That's when my eyes landed on the medical equipment, and it all came back to me… I was riding in an ambulance towards the ZGH (Zootopia General Hospital) with Nick… "I wonder where he is?", I asked myself.
Knock, knock…
The sudden noise forced me away from my thoughts with a start. "Come in?", I squeaked the noise startling me. The object of my thoughts walked through the door, Nick. "How are you feeling?", he asked me, concern was written on his face and his emerald eyes showed me he was far more worried than he'd like to admit.
"My minds a little fuzzy, and my leg's aching but it isn't too bad."
"That's great! You had everyone worried, but at least now your wake they won't be so anxious."
"Now I'm awake? How long was I out for?"
"Don't worry, it wasn't that long. A little under a day, you came out of surgery around four o'clock yesterday and have been asleep till now."
"What time is it anyways?"
Nick took his phone out of one of his back pockets, checked the screen and said, "it's a little past ten."
Just as he finished speaking a nurse came in, "Ah… I see you're up. You must be starving; I'll just go get you something to eat." The male otter then walked out, closing the door softly behind himself. During this time Nick had slipped past my bed and sat down on the chair next to me, that I missed while looking around.
I turned towards Nick and noticed he looked drained. "Is everything alright, Nick?" I asked, worry could be heard in my words.
"Hmm… oh… yeah, everything's okay. Why'd you ask?"
"You look really tired; I didn't know if something happened was all."
"Nah, I'm fine. Heh… asking how I am when you're the one in hospital? It should be me fussing over you." Amusement could be seen in his eyes, there's that twinkle I know and love… wait, what?
"…carrots?"
"Sorry. What were you saying?" I was so caught up in my thoughts I didn't hear him speak.
"And here I thought I could daydream. I was saying that I followed your advice; I've handed in my application for the Academy." He sounded happy with himself.
"That's great! Just think, this time next year we'll be partners I just know it." I was so excited I didn't notice his confusion.
"Wait, a year!?"
"Yeah, but in that time you'll do a lot; first you need to get in shape for the academy and study for the entry exam…"
"Do I have to; I hate tests." He wined.
"Oh stop acting like a cub. Then comes training at the academy, that's about nine months…"
"Nine months…" I ignored him and continued.
"…and eventually graduating and joining the force. All in all, it will probably take the best part of a year… depending on how long it takes for me to get you into shape."
Knock, knock…
The nurse from before walked back in with a tray of food, and a doctor trailing behind. He sat the tray down on my legs and left us with the doctor. She was a pretty ocelot; she couldn't have been much older than me. The markings around her eyes, like Aztec hieroglyphics, made her gaze seem intense but her soft, warm brown eyes helped put me at ease.
"I'm doctor Whitpaw, I'm glad to see you are recovering well. Ah… Mr Wilde your back… or did you stay last night?"
Nick rubbed the back of his head sheepishly (couldn't resist), "I sortta crashed here last night…" He mumbled trailing off at the end.
"No harm done I suppose, Miss Hopps your lucky to have such a caring friend. I have some news for you. I'll start with the good, I'm happy to say you are going to recover nicely and there shouldn't be any permanent damage, but unfortunately you're not going to be able to leave until a week Friday."
"A week off?", I spluttered, "but what about work..."
Nick cut her off there, "Relax carrots you need to be reinstated before you can go back to work, and besides your no good to the force with a busted leg."
"He's right, you need to take it easy." Doctor Whitpaw interjected. "Think of it this way; the more you rest the sooner you can start using your leg again. It's going to take a couple of days before you can put your weight on it for long amounts of time, and then you need to do stretches and exercises to help it recover." She explained.
"I guess that makes sense." I grumbled, not happy to be off my feet even if just for a day or two.
"Would it be okay if you wait outside," Dr Whitpaw said to Nick, "while I check miss Hopps' stitches."
Nick got up from his chair, "yeah that's fine." Just as he palls the door shut, he says to me, "see you in a sec, fluff."
The doctor then walked over to me, "it okay for me to touch your leg?" She asks me, I just nod my head in reply.
She the examines my wound, "is there much pain?" she asked softly.
"No, it feels okay. A little sore but not too bad."
"It looks good, I'm not worried about it, but let me know if you get more pain or discomfort."
"Yeah I'll let you know if anything changes, thanks by the way."
The female ocelot turns to face me, "you're welcome, and thank you for showing mammals predators aren't savages." She then continues on her way out of the room.
Nick's PoV:
I was waiting in the hallway checking furbook on my phone, when the doctor came out. "How's her leg?" I ask while slipping my phone back in my pocket.
"It's fine. You can go back in now; I'll check in on her tomorrow unless something comes up."
"Okay, thanks doc." I quickly reply, already on my way back to Judy's room.
As I walked back in the room I notice Judy tucking into her late breakfast, "that looks good, what is it?"
"Iffs…ah…cahrut muhin", she says with her mouth full of whatever she was eating.
"In English please?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
After swallowing her food, she says, "it's a carrot muffin, want some?" and holds it out to me.
"No, thanks. You enjoy it." I say shaking my head.
She shrugs in response, "your loss" she states before taking another huge bite out of her cake.
"I'm at a loss, what were we taking about before?", my eyebrows scrunched in confusion.
Judy paused for a moment before saying, "I think we were talking about the academy."
"Oh…yeah, about how you're going to whip my sorry butt into shape." I said with a smirk.
"I almost forgot to tell you...um…" She looked almost nervous or embarrassed about something.
"What is it?" I was getting worried and I think she could tell.
"The force needs a home address to send you info on the details of the entry exam and your results". That's why she looked worried, she didn't want to offend me.
"I know it's a touchy subject, but is there anywhere… um… that you could have letters sent to… I mean…um…" She trailed off obviously not knowing how to phrase it delicately.
I smiled, "What your trying to ask is, have I got anywhere to stay or somewhere I can get letters sent to? Right?" She looked a bit surprised at how casually I said it.
"Yeah, that's what is trying to ask. I thought it would be better to ask it a bit more sensitively than that though."
"There are a couple places I could stay; Finnick would probably let me stay in his van", I said thinking out loud, "I could stay with my Mum, but I haven't really spoken to her since I left home."
"And how long ago was that?" Judy asked with a hint of apprehension.
"About… twelve years." I dragged out, …and wait for her reaction I thought to myself with a smirk.
Judy's face went through a few changes in the next couple of moments, first shock, then confusion on why someone wouldn't see their family in so long, and finally she settled for outrage.
"You haven't seen your mother since you were twenty!" She all but shouted at me, no trace of the smirk my face once held could be seen. Her face showed me I'll soon regret telling her that. "When I get out of here I will drag you to your mother's house, force you to knock on the door, and you will talk things over with her."
I could feel the blood drain from my face, Oh, god! What have I got myself into, I thought. If carrots don't kill me before, my Mum will have my head.
Judy's face split into a devilishly evil smirk, oh crap, she had the same thought as me I thought.
"Okay, you win." I said putting my hands up in surrender, "I'll go and see my Mum, but I'm not staying with her and I'm sure as hell not telling her I'm livin' under a bridge."
"Nick you can't stay in Finnick's van," Judy states, her stare softening just a little. "You can come and stay with me, if you want that is." She blurts out a bit nervously.
I felt my heart flutter, "No one has ever been that kind to me, thank you so much." My voice was chocked full of emotion, "I know it will only be till I get my own place, and I promise I'll help you with the rent and shopping and bills." I finally manage to get out rushing to show her my gratitude.
"Okay roomie", Judy squeals suddenly full of energy. "We're going to have so much fun." By this point she was practically bouncing with excitement, her expression goes all serious for a moment. "I'm still going to drag you to your Mum's house." She tells me with a mock glare.
I couldn't help but grin stupidly, "I wouldn't have it any other way, carrots."
This is the beginning to my new life, I thought, the beginning of a better life, one I can be proud of.
A/N:
So what do you think? Please leave any thoughts, any at all, in the comments.
This is my first Fanfic and it took me a while to write this so I can't make any predictions on when the new chapter will be posted. Hopefully I would have posted a new chapter by new year's or shortly after.
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of A Wilde love, and keep an eye out for the next post.