Hey guys, new content coming up. It will mostly be one offs and short stories. Probably all from Zootopia (but you never know).

Have a nice reading.

Anything for you

Or a threadless trashy short fic about fear, love and illusions

Beep

The sound felt like it was etched in her mind. She had heard it over and over for the past week, so much so that even on the rare occasion she had left his bedside, she could still hear it play in the back of her mind.

Beep

The noise jolted her awake. Had he moved ? Had he said her name ? She was sure he had. Hopping down from the medium sized chair she used as a bed, she made her way to his side, gently taking his paw between hers.

Beep

It felt so light and so cold. She pulled it up against he cheek, trying to give some warmth. To give him something of hers.

Beep

"Nick ?" She asked tentatively. No answer came. "Nick, I... I can't sleep. Is it okay if I-"

Beep

"Oh my, a small bunny lost in the big bad fox's den. What am I going to do with you ?"

The tod was leaning on his elbow, his weary eyes laid on her. She was holding her blanket, her ears were slopped back and she didn't dare cross his gaze.

"Are you finished ?"

"Yeah, sorry. What is it ?"

She scratched the back of her head hesitantly before drawing a breath. "The case... What happened to that Rhino kid... I can't stop thinking about it. I can't stop seeing the pictures. I know we've caught the cultprit. I know he won't hurt anymammal ever again..."

She risked a glance toward the tod. She felt like she needed something, someone to hold onto, and she hated it. She hated that she felt weak. If he had understood what she was about to ask, she feared he would laugh or make a joke. And she wouldn't be able to handle it. But he wasn't smiling, if anything, and from what she could see in the dimlitten living-room that currently acted as his bedroom, his expression was neutral.

"Is it okay if I-"

Beep

"Sleep with you tonight?"

Of course, Nick was still unconscious. And even if he hadn't been, the tubes in his throat would not let him speak. She climbed up and settled herself against him, careful not move him, or touch his chest wounds. The bunny then pulled the sheet up to cover herself. He barely smelled like himself anymore, but it didn't matter. She needed to be close to him.

Beep

According to the doctor, Nick was out of danger. His wounds were healing, and all the numbers and letters, and whatever else was on his little charts were right. Still, the tod didn't wake up. The chief had extended her leave, or more accurately, he was giving her all the vacation day she had saved up and wouldn't have used otherwise.

Beep

« I'm sorry." Her tear-filled voice echoed in the room. "If I had been more careful, you wouldn't have had to shield me." The bunny felt twice as guilty. She always felt like Nick was trying to protect her, to put himself at risk to keep her from it. She had actually meant to talk to him about it, but know, she didn't know if she would be able to bring herself to.

She didn't know if she would ever have the occasion to.

She tried to wipe her eyes, but there was no stopping the flow that poured from them. "I should have anticipated the risk, I should have-"

Her voice was stopped by a large hoof on her shoulder. She hadn't heard the steps coming from behind, which was particularly worrying for the chief. He knew how good was her hearing, and how alert she always was. If this damned fox didn't wake up soon, she'd spiral so deeply into despair, no one would ever be able to pull her out.

Beep

The chief had come once or twice, and so had all of their colleagues. The only one that came everyday was Clawhauser, and she wasn't sure if it was out of friendship for Nick and her, or to make sure she would eat and sleep. That day, the chief had decided to take on that duty.

" It wasn't your fault Hopps."

" You can't know that." She answered between two sobs.

"Yes, I can." The cape buffalo retorted. "I saw the bodycam footage. You did everything by the book. Covered every angle, looked at every corner. You couldn't know about the fake wall. That Nick chose to protect you over taking cover as he should have is not your fault."

She turned an intense glare toward the large mammal. "He's in a coma because he saved me, and you're saying he screwed up ? Would you rather have me in that bed, or are you saying he deserves what he got for making a mistake?"

Beep

A few months ago, the chief would never have thought his top officer would ever dare raise her voice against him. And under normal circumstances, he was sure she wouldn't have.

"I didn't mean either, and you know it. The only one responsible is the jackal we caught, which by the way, had to be transfered to precinct 3 for his own safety." The Buffalo sighed and put a knee down to reduce the height difference. "What I meant, Hopps, is that in doing what he did, and even though it wasn't a textbook reaction, Wilde saved your life. If it's to be considered a mistake, it was the right one to make."

The bunny's gaze couldn't meet his anymore. She was rubbing her arm awkwardly while her tears still ran freely. "I… I apologize for my outburst sir. I should have known."

What happened next pretty much amounted to a hug coming from the large mammal. He put a hoof and her small should and patted it a couple of times. "You're off-duty, Hopps. It wouldn't be professional to hold this against you. I understand how much your partners means to you."

Beep

"I'm not sure you really understand, sir." She whispered, just loudly enough that the buffalo would hear it. Having a partner being critically hurt on duty wasn't common, but she knew how 'disproportionate' her reaction was when compared with other occurrences. She still remembered how Pennington had shielded Trunkaby from a grenade a few months prior. Even thought their partnership had a dozen years of span, and that they were pretty close friends, he only had visited her twice a week until her full recovery.

"What do you mean, Hopps ?"

"I'm-"

Beep

It was one of the few evening Judy had to spend by herself. Not that it was a bummer or anything, but most of the time she ate with Nick in the small apartment he rented near the ZPD. He had insisted that she ditched her shoebox of an apartment to come live with him, and at the time she didn't know it meant he would give her the bedroom and sleep on the convertible in the living room.

A few months later, it was as if they had always lived together. She couldn't imagine leaving what was supposed to be a temporary accommodation.

That night, though, Nick was spending with his mother. She had pushed him to mend their relationship, and even though it meant she would sometimes miss him in the evening, she was still glad for it.

"So, what's up, Judy ?" Came a voice from the computer she was facing.

The bunny put her mug down and smiled at the screen. "Not much, Shar'. Still making the world a better place."

"And still leaving with your fox ?" Asked the black wooled ewe.

"It's not my fox." Blushed Judy. "It's my friend. Who's a fox. But he's not mine."

"Oh. The way you talk about him, I thought you were already engaged or something like that." The sheep put one of her locks behind her ear, as if she hadn't said anything.

"We're just friends, Shar'. Nothing more." Those last words had a ring of bitterness that the ewe didn't miss.

"But you would like it if it was more, wouldn't you ?" She grinned.

Despite the years, Judy hadn't changed much. She was still as easy to embarrass, and her blush still crept from the inside of her ears to spread to her cheeks the same way.

"Yes. I would..."

"Oh my gosh, Judy !" Gleefully reacted the sheep. "It's been so long since I haven't seen you with a crush on somebun- somemammal."

"I… I don't think it's just a crush, Shar'..." The red had now fully invaded her face and ears. "I think I'm-"

Beep

"In love with him." Said Judy. She closed her eyes, ready for some kind of scolding. None came.

"I hope you're not dating yet. I have a one hundred dollar bid on april." Came the buffalo's answer.

Judy froze before looking up. The smile the chief wore wasn't mocking, but there sure was a bit of cheekiness in it. He wasn't the best at cheering people up, he sure deserved points for trying.

Beep

"You- What- How- Why ?"

"The whole precinct know of your mutual crush, Hopps. Some even thought you were already dating."

The bunny had stopped breathing at the word 'mutual'. She blinked a couple of times and drew a breath to ask : "We're not dating, no. Who started the pot, Clawhauser ?"

"Who else ?"

The bunny sighed. "The spotted devil strikes again. Are we going to be in trouble ?"

The chief shrugged. "As you said, you two are not an item. And if you were I would need to be suspecting your relation affected your performance in a bad way. And even if your performance score went down of a few points, you'd still remain way above average. Of course, I never told you that. And you certainly won't tell Wilde about it."

"Yes sir. He's insufferable enough as it is." She smiled.

"My thoughts exactly."

Beep

The bit of banter had been unexpected, especially from the chief. She guessed, (she knew, really) that he was more than his stern and hard shell. That he would come out of his way to cheer her up was a testament on how important his officers' well being was for him.

"Thanks, sir. I needed that."

He answered with curt nod, before standing back up. "You're welcome. Try to take care of yourself. I don't need two of my officers in hospital beds."

"Aye aye sir." She saluted, in a convincing imitation of her hopefully future boyfriend.

The buffalo made a couple of steps toward the door before the doe's voice stopped him. "Just so you know, if Clawhauser keeps poking his nose my love life, I'll start poking my nose into his."

"I'll let him know." Was his stern answer, but she was pretty sure she saw the hint of a blush appearing at the tip of his ears.

Beep

"Why did you have to do that ?" The bunny was holding the fox's paw in hers. "Why do you always have to do that ? I can handle myself, you know ? I know it's your job to protect me, but it's also mine to protect you… I can't do that if you won't let me."

She kissed his paw. "You better wake up. I have so much to tell you, you're going to get an earful."

Beep

The nurse came and went, and she gave them a paw when she could. She helped bath him, held the IV bag when it was needed, moved the furniture when the clean up crew showed up. She knew they didn't really need her help, but it was all she could do for him at the moment.

She wasn't using the chair anymore and spent her night by his side. If the nurses had noticed, they never mentioned it.

Beep

It was around 1AM when it happened.

Beep

Something woke the bunny up.

Beep

She couldn't tell what it was at first, but something was happening.

Beep

The it hit her.

Beep

The beeping's rhythm had changed.

Beep

"Nick ?"

Beep

"Nick, do you hear me ?"

Beep

"Nick, it's me, Judy."

Beep

Just as the tod opened his eyes, the door opened and the sheep doctor that had following Nick's case since his admission showed up, followed by a lion nurse.

Beep

Nick made several gagging noise and started struggling.

"We need to keep him from harming himself." Stated the sheep while the nurse grabbed his left arm and his legs. Judy imitated her and held his right arm down.

"Nick, listen to the doctor. Try not to move."

Thankfully, his long sleep had drained most of his strength, and he was relatively easy to hold. The sheep observed his eyes and held a finger above them. "Try to follow it, please. Good. We're going to pull out the tubes. It's going to be extremely unpleasant, but please try not to move."

The fox nodded and the sheep replaced the lion by his side. Being bigger, it was easier for her to reach them over the sheep. The gagging and cough noise he emitted as the tubes were pulled out made Judy grit her teeth. Even after all that happened, he still needed to suffer.

Beep

She wanted to be alone with him. To hug him. To cry on his chest. But there still was a long battery of test and questions he needed to answer before the doctor finally let her approach him. When he finally did, she was sitting on the large chair, holding her trembling paws on her knees.f.

"You can come closer miss Hopps. Be gentle, his chest wounds still aren't healed."

Beep

Nick only had the time to blink before a grey streak lept from the chair and landed right next to him, before burying her face in the crook of his neck.

"Wow, fluff. Did you miss me that much ?" He rasped as he started petting her ears. "I was only out for two weeks. That's a lot shorter than my time in the academy."

"I would have preferred that you went back to the academy." Came her muffled voiced.

"Cruel bunny."

"Dumb fox."

Beep

The nurse have given him a glass of water for his parched mouth, with the recommendation to drink it extremely slowly. He took a couple of sips before a fit of cough caught him, making tears appear in the corner of eyes. "Feels like I'm coughing sandpaper."

"She told you to go slowly."

"Oh, sheesh, how did I forget that."

"You're awfully sarcastic in the morning."

"A sore throat will do that to me. Can I have a kiss to make it all better ?"

Beep

"Do you think you deserve it after your dry quips ?" She smiled with a blush.

"Yeah, you're right. Maybe if I caught I bullet for you-" She stopped him by putting a paw to his mouth.

"Please, never joke about that." She said, with so much pain in her eyes that the fox immediately hugged her.

"Sorry."

"That's okay." She whispered. "Now about that kiss."

Beep

"That was a joke, fluff." He half lied.

But she had already closed the distance between them, and pecked his lips.

A silence floated between them, and Nick chose to break it to alleviate the growing tension.

"Wow, that was really something. Didn't know you were such a good kisser, officer Sweetbuns."

"You spent more than two weeks without brushing your teeth." She quipped as an answer, using the banter to escape a conversation she wasn't ready to have yet.

Beep

"That bad ?"

She nodded.

"Oh. Well, do you have a toothbrush I could use ?"

Beep

Nick was lying in his bed, looking tired.

"Are you okay ?"

The fox turned his gaze toward her without moving. "I didn't think my mom could be that exhausting."

"She was worried. Can you blame her ?"

"Not really. Having all the colleagues coming afterwards didn't help either. I'm starting to understand why hospitals tend to limit visits. I used to think it was just a stupid rule."

The bunny took is glass and went to fill it up. "You used to think all the rules were stupid."

He looked at her while she paced toward him, and he realized she too looked exhausted. She hadn't said anything about it, but he knew she hadn't left him for the duration of his coma. And he doubted she had slept or even eaten much.

She was about to give him his drink, but her tiredness caught up to her and she let go of the glass before he held it completely.

"Carrots-"

Beep

The inside of the warehouse was dark, but not enough that the bunny couldn't see. Nick was leading the way after they had found several pallets of what could only be heroin. Whoever had given her partner the tip, they were well informed.

The fox made a hand gesture toward a small door. They placed themselves on each side and the tod opened it, while she covered him. It led to a corridor with door leading to what she believed were offices. A smell lingered in the air, something familiar to the fox, but he couldn't place it.

Judy went first, taking point, while Nick took the back, regularly checking their six, so that they wouldn't get flanked.

"I think no one's here." She whispered.

"So much for waiting for backup."

"Think your contact double crossed us ?"

Nick shrugged. "I wouldn't put that above him. Play both ways, get twice the pay."

They entered the first door on the right, dart guns at the ready, and the smell got slightly stronger, but apparently, it didn't come from that room. "Clear." Nick whispered.

The bunny left the room first, followed by the fox. That's when she heard a creaking noise behind them, the smell getting even stronger for the fox.

Musk mask. Someone was using musk mask in the vicinity. Nick lunged at his partner, as the noise of gunshot filled the air.

"Carrots-"

Beep

"Watch out !"

He only had the time to grab her paw and yank her up on the bed, before the glass broke in a dozen shards.

"Crud. Sorry about that. I'm a little tired."

"I know you are, fluff." He smiled, while rubbing his knuckles against her shoulder, and leaning in to kiss the top of her head.

The blush that had been creeping up inside her ears instantly reached their tips. "Gotta clean up this mess." She said, using it as an excuse to get away before he noticed the effect he had on her.

Beep

"We need to talk." The bunny was standing on the bed in front of him with her arms crossed, while rubbing the tip of one of her ears nervously.

"I know what you're going to say. I'll just pack my bags, take the goldfish and get back to my mom's. You can keep the kids, but I want to see them on the weekends."

Judy snorted. "Got that out of your system ?"

"I'm sure I can come up with one or ten others." Smirked the fox. "But it can wait. It seems we need to talk."

Beep

"About the kiss." She began, broaching a topic the both of them had methodically avoided for the last couple of days. "Well, err… I know you said it was just a joke… And I kissed you anyway..." She glanced at him and saw that he was simply smiling expectantly. "It's just… I was really happy that you had woken up. Sorry if I overstepped."

"Did you only kiss me because you were happy that I woke up, or… ?" He asked, his neutral expression betrayed by the movement of his tail.

"Or." Was her monosyllabic answer.

Beep

"Just so you know, I've brushed my teeth this time."

Nick barely had the time to finish his sentence before Judy's lips assaulted his. She wrapped her and draw her closer, returning her kiss.

"I waited too long for this."

"You and me both, fluff." He answered between breaths.

Beep

He paws had found their way inside his hospital gown, and he did nothing to take them away. She was careful to keep them from his wounds.

Beep

"Am I hurting you ?" She asked, sensing him tense up.

"I don't care." He answered, grabbing her paws, and keeping them on his chest.

Beep

She felt canines on her neck, sending jolts of desire through her body.

"Nick, you're still hurt." She protested, knowing full well that if he kept it up, she would throw caution to the wind.

"I don't care."

Beep

To the wind it went.

She pushed him back and let him slide her t-shirt up, his paws soon taking hold of what it had been hiding.

Beep

A paw slid itself in the back of her pants, and she felt the sting of his claws on her rump. Her own paws, were running up his chest and settled themselves on his shoulders. She let his free paw pull her closer and he left a tray of kisses on her belly.

Beep

Her pants went down, as her lips locked with his again.

Beep

His fingers started exploring her folds.

Beep

She lightly bit his neck to suppress the moan of pleasure that threatened to escape her lips.

Beep

Using her feet, she finished ripping away the fabric of his gown.

Beep

The door flung open, and trio of nurse erupting inside the room, a lion was holding the defibrillator handles while a buck pushed the cart. An armadillo was holding the door for them.

Beep

Time froze. Judy's eyes were going from one of the nurses to the other. The buck started to slowly pull the cart back out, the lion followed him and the armadillo closed the door back without a sound.

Beep

The bunny slumped her face on the tod's chest. "Not a word."

"Fluff-"

Her paw grabbed his snout and slammed his mouth shut.

Beep

"That's it. I'm leaving Zootopia." She muttered.

"Mluh." Tried the fox, but she didn't move her paw.

"I'm going to have my face and name changed and go live in Podunk where no mammal knows me."

"Mluh !"

"Sorry." She apologize before taken away her paw.

Beep

"Fluff, relax. They're sworn to medical secrecy."

The mortified bunny remained mute.

"Okay, how about this." He sat her down next to him before laying her against him and pulling the cover up. Only the tip of her ears were poking out. "No-one can see you now. Is that better ?"

"Kinda."

Wrapping his tail around her, and pulled her into a tight hug. "And now ?"

"Better."

His snout nested itself between her ears and gave her several kisses. "Now ?"

"Perfect."

Beep

"I can't believe you're making me work while I'm on medical leave."

The fox was typing his report of the shooting. He knew the chief wasn't in a rush to get it, given that he had the bunny's statement and her camera footage, but it didn't mean he would be exempted to write it.

"See it as a distraction." She answered, as she too was typing on her own computer at the other side of the room.

Beep

"Why do I need a distraction ?"

The bunny pointed at the sensor on his arm. "To stay occupied until they get rid of this."

"Wow, Carrots, I never thought you were so eager." He grinned.

"I still might rethink it."

Beep

"Nick, why did you jump in front of me ?"

The fox lifted a brow and his eyes from the computer screen. "Isn't it obvious ?"

"No- Yes- I mean of course, but…" She hesitated.

"There is something on your mind, isn't it ?"

Beep

The bunny sighed. "Listen, I don't mean to sound paranoid, but you've been doing that a lot."

"I'm pretty it was the first time I took a bullet for you. Or three."

She brought her computer to his bed and showed it to him. "You know how I tend to proofread your reports for errors…"

"I knew you had done it in the beginning, but I didn't know you kept at it."

The bunny looked away in embarrassment. "Well there is a trend in them."

Beep

What she was showing him was a long list of their reports. Highlighted were all occurrences of him stepping in for her.

"What can I say, I'm looking out for my partner." His tone wasn't defensive, but she knew he was trying to deflect.

"Nick, this is not looking out… This is try to handle everything for me."

Beep

"Not everything." The tod said, scrolling dow. "See there, I let you handle the kid that had lost his parents." He scrolled down again. "And get the ball out of the tree by yourself, and..."

"Nick."

"Maybe I was a bit protective of you." He said dismissively. "My little crush on you isn't very new."

The bunny scratched her brow and sighed. "Nick..."

"Okay, calling it a crush is a bit of an euphemism, I might or might not be completely in love with you."

Beep

"Nick, you know I can handle myself right ?"

"Do I know that ? Who put two mayor behind bar almost singlehandedly ? You. Of course I know that."

The bunny had hopped on the bed and was sitting in front of him. "I know what you're trying to do Nick. You say you love me-"

"I said I might be in love with you." He corrected.

"But, well… Looking back, it feels like you don't believe I'm capable of doing my job."

Beep

That felt like a blow to the guts to the fox. "Of course I believe in you, fluff. Hell, in any given situation, when shit hits the fan, I'd always put my money on you."

"Then why don't you let me do things by myself ? I've been working hard for this, harder than any other officer !"

Beep

"Judy, you can do anything. And I really mean anything. You're the most amazing bunny, no, mammal I've ever met…"

"Then why do you always try to protect me ?" She almost shouted, standing up to get closer to him.

"Because even if you're the best, you can still make mistakes ! If things go wrong, and that day you're not at one hundred percent, you might take a bad hit."

"I know what I've signed for ! I know the risks !"

Beep

"I know you know the risk." It was the fox's turn to shout. "I know them too ! Do you know how hard it is for me to see you rush into danger ? Do you even know why I joined the ZPD ? Did you stop to think about how you acted during the NightHowler case ?"

The bunny took a step back. "What are you saying, Nick ?"

"It's you. I didn't join the ZPD because I believe in it. Hell, most of the time, I think it's making life difficult for the mammals who struggle the most."

Beep

"You don't like being a cop ?" She asked, taken aback, and a little hurt that she would have forced him into a job he didn't like.

"I don't dislike it. It's probably the most harmless job I've ever done. I just don't think I'm making a difference. If I joined, it's for you. I joined because I believe in you."

Beep

"Then why don't you start acting like it ?" She shouted back, waving her arms in an interrogative gesture.

"Because I'm scared, alright ? I'm fucking terrified ! You're the best thing that ever happened to me, I can't lose you ! I've caught these bullets, and I'd catch a hundred more if I had to."

Silence fell on the room, as Judy tried to take in what had been said.

Beep

"If you think you're not making a difference as a cop, how can you say you believe in me ? Why would I be making a difference if you aren't ?"

"Because one day, you're going to be the chief of police."

The bunny stared at the fox. Was he serious ?

"And if you push it a bit further, I'm fairly certain you'll make it as mayor. You want to make the world a better place, and I know you can."

"And what about you ?"

Nick shrugged. "Who cares about me ? I just want to be by your side. I just want to be there to watch your back. Ask me anything, I don't care if I end up being a stepping stone for you-"

Beep

The bunny had shushed him by putting her paw around his muzzle.

"Nick, I don't need a follower, I don't need a zealot. I like that you admire me, and I admire you too. But it's not what I want. I'm not perfect, I have flaws, I still have a bunch of bias I'm working through, among other things."

Nick had grabbed her paw and pulled it down. "What do you want, then ?"

Beep

"I need you to put me down from that pedestal you've built for me in your head. I want you to see my flaws. I want you to see my imperfections. It's not love if you only see the good parts, it's only blindness. Don't you remember how bigoted I was ? How bad I made things for predators ?"

"But you're not like that anymore." He countered

"But I was ! I'm capable of screwing up. Some mammals paid a big price for my mistakes. ! You said I could ask you anything, so I'm asking this. Take a big hard look at me, and try to see me as I am, not as the version of me you've built up in your mind."

Beep

"I..." The fox hesitated.

"Nick, I love you. I really do. I know you're compassionate, clever, kind. I know you care about a lot more than you let on. I know you give your spare change to bums. I know you hate it when I bring in junkies for possession. You have a stupid sense of humour, you have a mean streak when you're tired, you're lazy with paperwork and you'd neglect your physical training if I didn't push you. I see you like you are, and love you like you are."

The fox was looking away with unease. It was only scratching the surface, but it already felt like lot. He was grateful she didn't start to dig into the deeper stuff, but it still felt uncomfortable.

"Nick look at me." She asked. "Please." She put a paw to her cheek and he reluctantly let her turn his head. "You need to understand, if the only version of me you can see is the one you're imagining, it can't work. We can't work. And I really, really want this to work."

Beep

"Please."

Beep

"I don't know how to do that." He said after an anguishing minute of silence. "I don't how I can change the way I see you."

"Do you want to try ?" Her tone was full of hope.

"For you-"

"For us." She cut.

The fox seemed like he was mulling it over. "For us..."

Beep

"Anything."

Woooh, that was a short one. I had to take that out of my head. It's coming out of an idea that a lot of people screw up they're relationship because... Well because once the perfect image of their boy/girlfriend breaks down, they can't cope with what they see.

That, and whole lot of other stuff Nick might have buried in his mind.

And ClawhauserXBogo, best ship.

As usual, thanks for reading.