Say my Name.
" Actually" A brief moment of pause fell over the large room as Bellweathers eyes widened.
It's your word against yours."
"And I'll dart every predator in Zootropolis to keep it that way." The Carrot pen rattled "It's called a hustle sweetheart. Boom" Bellweathers voice echoed in the Museum. Her confident and devious expression slowly faded to a horrified shriek as she felt an Officer grab her wrist, putting her in handcuffs. She protested, she kicked and wailed as she was carried off, her bodyguards tried to run but were cut off as well.
"You are one sly bunny." Nick puffed Judy's shoulder. Why didn't I think of that? Nick thought.
"Heh, I learned from the best." Judy strained a half smile through the pain, still holding herself up by Nicks' shoulder. "Nick, I-" Judy was cut off by the Chief of Police standing at the edge of the lowered circle they found themselves in.
"Get me a ladder." The Chief groaned without breaking eye contact with the two of them, even as his radio started flaring up. "Chief Bogo this is Fangmeyer, Over."
Bogo gestured his hoof upwards, grabbing his radio. "This is Chief Bogo, over." A few moments went by before a response came.
"Chief Bogo we've detained two Rams just a few hundred meters from the Museum, straight to the precinct?" Bogo gave a sigh of relief, easier than he thought it'd be.
"10-4, promptly." With that, the Chief let go of his radio before raising his voice. "A ladder, today."
Nick gestured for Judy to sit instead, gentle helping her on the way down. "Let me have a better look at that leg fluff." He didn't deviate his eyes from her wounded leg while speaking. I can't look her in the eye again after that. What? You'll keep staring at her legs for all time? He starting undoing the handkerchief that was tied around her leg. It hadn't stopped bleeding even at this time, the strain of running in a panicked rush as Nick went "savage" might've done that trick. He thought.
"How was I?" Nick spoke in his usual smug tone. Judy's ear perked up as he talked, her attention had been elsewhere for the moment.
"Hm? Sorry…" Judy said apologetically.
"My acting." Nick grinned "Tell you the truth I always felt I was meant for the stage. Playing the greats like.. Hamsterlet and or maybe even MacBull. If I do say so myself."
Judy snorted, rolling her eyes. "It felt a little phoned in, to be honest." She crossed her arms and shot Nick a wide smirk.
"What do bunnies know about stageplays anyways." Nick shrugged his shoulders.
"I'll have you know I wrote, directed and played the leading role in my own play when I was nine." Judy shot back, trying to hide a pained expression as Nick finished tying his handkerchief over her leg once again. Having no more excuses to not look at Judy while he was talking to her, Nick settled his eyes at her knee. Come on you big dork, just look up, look at her while you're speaking, it's not that hard. Just lift your head. A ladder suddenly shot down the hole like lightning. Saved by a Cops' timing, that's a first.
"Alright, fluff. Time to get out of this hole. Although I'm sure, you've already grown fond of it." Judy snorted at the remark.
"Pfft, a fox and a bunny trapped together, what's not to love?" She retorted.
Yeah, what's not to love? Nick smirked. "Your royal highness." He bowed deeply. "Allow me to escort you up over yonder."
Judy nodded with a smug look. "I'll allow it." She gestured mockingly. Nick tugged his arm under her knees, Judy wrapped her arms around his neck, hanging on firmly. With one hand free Nick stepped on the ladder and began their ascent. Judy put her face against Nick's torso letting out a relaxed sigh. "Thank you." She whispered. Nick must've looked like the biggest goof in the city with a smile as broad as Judy's cheeks. As the pair made it up the ladder, an officer reached out for Judy's hand. She hesitated slightly before accepting the offer before being pulled the last stretch to the top.
"The two of you better have something for me." Chief Bogos voice echoed throughout the now busy halls of the museum.
Judy was standing on feet once more, trying to find her carrot pen in her pocket. "Where'd I-. Ah found it, here you go Chief." She held the pen as high as she could.
With a sigh Bogo snatched it from her paw; "Hopps. This recording had better be nothing but a smoking gun right in the mayor's paws." He narrowed his eyes, studying the pen before pulling out an evidence bag and dropping in there.
Judy hesitated for a moment, standing with her injured leg as fiercely as she could. "It's as close as we'll ever get sir." She added a slight nod at the end.
Bogo cocked an eyebrow "As far as your reinstatement goes" Pausing for just a second "Never did get around to filling out the paperwork, consider yourself back on the force as soon as you are cleared for active duty by relevant medical personnel." He deadpanned. "Now get the hell out of here before the press decides to show up." The two nodded. Both headed the way to the exit before Nick was yanked by his collar by the large cape bull, leaning down and spoke in an almost mockingly light tone compared to his usual voice.
"Stay close by Fox. Precinct 1 is far from done with you." Nick froze, looking straight ahead without saying a word, merely nodding. Just perfect. You're screwed now, Nick. Without really responding to the Bull's threats he looked up again, spotting Judy beckoning him over with a hand gesture.
"What was that about?" She questioned. He said thank you for your service, Zootropolis is lucky to have a fox like you in its city. "Uh. He- He said thanks?" Nice. Judy gave a half smile. "I somehow don't believe that. Nevermind, can you help me out here?" Judy gestured her paw in the general direction of her wounded leg. Nick smiled for a second, his eyes widened just a tiny bit as he took Judy's hand over his shoulder so she could support herself against him. Nick was a fair bit taller than Judy, so they compromised, Judy hopping lightly on her one healthy leg and Nick bending down making it more manageable. Should've just carried her. Nah that'd be weird right, right? You can't even look her in the eye right now 'master actor'.
"Are you okay?" Judy looked up at Nick, her eyes meeting his as Nick reacted by looking down at her while speaking.
"I'm not the one with the injured leg" Nick spoke in his usual sarcastic tone.
"You know what I mean, that can't have been easy for you. Even if it was just acting." Judy sighed, keeping her focus on Nick, He didn't respond so Judy didn't press him further at this time.
Finally coming to the exit the two of them were greeted by Officer Wolfard. "I'll drop you off at the ZMC." He offered Judy an apologetic smile while opening the door for them. Judy wrenched free from Nick as they neared the car. I swear, Bunnies never tire. It's pretty cute. Nick thought, looking on while Judy was helped into the vehicle by Wolfard.
"Well, suppose this is my stop Carrots," Nick said, polishing his fingers on his shirt, looking evasively away from her.
"Shut up you dumb fox and climb in the back." Judy shot back, calling his bluff immediately. Nick raised his hands in quick defeat.
"I'll have you know this is under protest, I've never willingly gotten in the back of a Police cruiser." He quipped.
"Then consider yourself under arrest, Wilde." Judy giggled as Nick climbed into the back of the car. Wolfard apparently was in no hurry to help the fox jump into the larger vehicle.
Wolfard's Cruiser was a piece of work, not only did his scent invade Nicks nostrils like a violent torrent. But It was also decked out with all sorts of bits and bobbles, and for some reason, a necklace of sorts hung around the rear-view mirror, looked hand-made almost. It had small wooden balls strung together by what looked like a tasselled piece of rope. Nick also noticed a Ram costume.
"That's for an upcoming assignment." Wolfard barked, noticing Nick eyeing the costume.
"Suuuure." Nick joked, pulling his collar as he leaned back into his seat, poking at Judy's erect ears that were popping to the sides of her chair.
The engine fired up, and within a few seconds, they were off. ZMC wasn't far from the old museum, Nick watched the scenery glide by, they weren't a long way from home right now he thought. He breathed a smile thinking of that dump he called home. A run-down old storage house down by the river, Nick had set up in the manager's office a long time ago. The plans I had for that place. His mind wandered. Never did get that loan.
Looking up he spotted Wolfard glaring at him from the rearview mirror, "We're here." Flicking his tongue he opened the door, sliding out of the car. ZMC was busy, with all the Night Howler cases that had occurred over the weeks and with a cure still not being ready, a whole wing of the hospital was quarantined. Noticing Judy was making her way out of the car.
"Hold it right there fluff." He deadpanned. "You are not walking on that travesty you call a leg anymore today."
He skirted over to the entrance, picking up a wheelchair.
"I'll be right ov-" Wolfard was cut off by his own police radio. "Every available unit, back at the station." The words were hard to make out in all the static from the old radio. Wolfard looked over the two once again before focusing on Judy.
"I can handle myself from here," Judy said quickly. "Go." She added before accepting Nicks' hand in helping out of the car and into the wheelchair. As soon as they were clear of the road the door slammed, and the cruiser was off.
"Nice guy," Nick said, his tone dripping with vapid sarcasm. "Wouldn't know, it's not like they talk to me."
Judy sighed; "Forget it, I'd rather be here with you than any of 'em." She said without hesitation, Nick tried to hide a genuine smile at the comment, opting instead to snort at her remark.
"Yeah yeah fluff, don't get all misty-eyed on me now." He quipped. Real smooth slick, she just tried opening up to you, and you shut her down quicker than a cheetah runs.As they strolled through the ZMCs' large doors, they were greeted to a busy reception, families of victims had congregated in hopes of hearing good news soon, some even looked like they had stayed the night for several nights now considering the smell Nick thought.
"J. Hopps?" Was called to them as they entered, a bunny nurse approached. Judy's ears flew up, and her nose started twitching idly as she heard her name called.
"That's me!" Judy eagerly sat straight in the wheelchair.
"We've been expecting you if you'll please follow me." The nurse smiled and gestured towards the elevator. Judy and the Nurse got to talking in the elevator, Nick wasn't really listening, bunny stuff he figured. So what now huh Fox? What's the plan? Gonna stay with this rabbit forever? Not on your life, she's still a cop, you're still a hustler. That's the natural order of things, how it's supposed to be. Does it have to be? More importantly now, do you want it to be? Enough Wilde, no one ever cared about you, and no one is starting anytime soon, things'll stay the same. You're lying to yourself if you think Carrots doesn't care about you, idiot. You're such a blind fool, just like the old man, can't see the forest for trees, idiot. Even Nick's own thoughts felt like they were trying to keep him down, but against all of his instincts, against all his better ideas, he kept obediently running after this one bunny.
"Nick?" Judys' voice pierced his every thought, every terrible, every horrible thought he'd ever had or ever will have vaporised every time she said his name.
"Nick?"