It was another day on patrol. Another intense day serving the city and protecting the public… from rogue leaves, apparently. They had just spent an hour mitigating an argument in the North Meadowlands over lawn care responsibilities in a predominantly ruminant community, close to the Alpine District border. A sheep had wanted the leaves to stay off her property and so demanded they be raked up and bagged, while her neighbor, a moose, had insisted that it was a free-range salad buffet and raking would spoil it.

What a miserably slow week...

The criminal classes of the city must have been on holiday, or something, because the crime rate was so far below the expected annual average that several officers were getting anxious waiting for the other shoe to drop. There was even a deadpool going for how long it'd be before there was a crime wave. The biggest call they'd gotten all week was from a shop owner in Tundratown's Ice Palace Mall, about vandalism. She refused to understand that palm trees, while picturesque and lovely, did not do well when planted outdoors in permafrost. She insisted that someone was killing her trees because they didn't like her organic fruit smoothies. That had been the highlight of Wednesday. And the rest of the week. It was now Saturday.

The only thing they'd seen that came close to criminal activity all day were the prices at the bazaar in Sahara Square. That and her partner's choice of vocabulary. Again.

"You keep using that word! I hate that word! You know I hate that word!"

"And that's why I use it, fluff."

"So, you like seeing me angry?"

"It's not my fault that the word fits almost everything you do. And do I love seeing you grumpy? Yes. Yes, I do."

"So you call me cute, because I'm cute when I'm furious... isn't that just the sweetest…"

"Close, but no! When you're angry, that's a different word."

"Adorable...?" She supplied, dripping venom with every syllable.

"No. When you're angry you're hot."

"You- I- uh…" she never knew when he was serious and right now she hoped he was and prayed he wasn't. They'd been partners for only about three months and everything had been wonderful. Plenty of arrests, constant activity, cross training, sparring; and all with her favorite fox. She was having the time of her life every day. So was he.

Unfortunately…

Judy didn't begrudge his enjoyment or enthusiasm. She did begrudge him his manner of expressing his good cheer, at least with her. With their coworkers, it was puns, gentle teasing and jokes. With their boss, it was skirting the informal, just to get a rise out of him. With Clawhauser, it was a treat or two and some juicy gossip. With her, it was all those things, plus flirting. It was the flirting that bugged her. He was good at it. Uncomfortably good, in her opinion.

She'd never had much reason to learn how, anymore than she needed to practice banter, before he materialized in her reality. The banter she was happy to learn. It was fun. The flirting, though… that she wasn't comfortable with. Not that she didn't enjoy it. She did. A lot. She just had no way to retaliate. That being the case, she often found herself red eared, stammering and fidgety, while he "enjoyed the show." Yes, she was cute when she was flustered. She knew. He said it frequently.

It's not that she wanted to flirt back, necessarily. She didn't. Kind of. She wanted to be on even terms with him in every way. They were partners. They had to be on even footing, or at least compensate for each other's weaknesses. This, though, was too much. A few sweet words from him would leave her gasping like a fish out of water, or beet red and she couldn't do anything back! It was so unfair!

It didn't help that she did genuinely enjoy it. She'd never been the belle of the ball, or garnered any serious popularity when she was young. She'd had boyfriends and a girlfriend or two. Nothing unusual for a bunny, but nothing special, either. Most of her relationships had been brief and unfulfilling.

In many ways….

So having an older, worldly, charming male show so much interest in her, was something she wasn't prepared for. Especially, when she wasn't sure how genuine his sentiments were. She didn't think he was lying, but this was Nick. He was enigmatic, confusing and private. He also set the bar way too high.

Every buck she dated ended up compared to her partner. At first it was unconscious, but quickly became a basic test. One date? Didn't compare? Kicked to the curb.

But why?

It bewildered her. Why did she make the comparison? Why? It didn't help that she couldn't hide her reactions very well. Nick apparently loved seeing her flustered.

She had a date that night. After the ignominious failure of her last few, her mother had let her take a break from the nagging, but the break was over. It was back to the salt mines for Judy Hopps. She had low hopes, but it made her mother happy. Fulfilling familial obligations and hating it was a common theme for most mammals, she supposed, but it didn't make it easier. She just had to grimace and bear it.

It didn't help that she had no skill for hiding her emotions. The bucks she'd been out with had known that a second date wasn't happening. She wore "not working for me" very well. Much as it disgusted her, she knew she also made "conflicted" look good. Or as her partner would say, "cute." He'd said so often enough. So when his compliments flustered her and she tried to get angry all that happened was he enjoyed it.

"Very eloquent. Yes, carrots. When you're angry, you're smokin'."

"No fair teasing me like that. I know you don't mean it." Why does that bother me so much?

"Cross my heart, Carrots. Would I lie to you?"

"You'd exaggerate in a heartbeat."

"True, but in this case I don't have to."

"Exaggerate, or lie?"

"Either."

"You don't have to speak, either." She groused.

"You want me to give up talking entirely? I'd have to stop being a cop and resort to a life of mime!"

"Oh, gods… your jokes are so terrible."

"Such pain! Your barbed words wound me to the pith!"

"Yeah yeah. Slings and arrows."

"Keep sassing like that and you might find your tail in a sling."

"We certainly have outrageous fortune…" She snarked, unperturbed at his empty threat.

"Alright miss smarty buns. Who knew the first rabbit officer would be a thespian?"

"Hey! I prefer males, thank you!"

"And you say my jokes are bad…"

At that Judy giggled a bit and let the conversation subside, satisfied that she was at least keeping up better after her red-eared stammering. It was almost an hour before the snark engine revved up again. As always, the closer to the lunch hour it was, the more likely it was that her dear and darling partner would start angling for an early start.

"Come on, Carrots! I'm starving and there isn't a thing happening. We're done our route. It's only ten minutes. Look! The shishkabug place! See? It'll take less than a minute. They have premade to go boxes."

"No. Remember the last time I let you eat early? You were "starving" again two hours later. It's only ten minutes and we're getting real food."

"So, shishkabug is imaginary? How existential of you…", He griped.

"You know what I mean, you big goof. Now, stop whining. We'll hit the sandwich shop by the bazaar."

"They take forever!"

"Patience is a virtue!"

"Oh, wow, are you in the wrong company for that…"

"You can be plenty patient. I've seen it."

"I meant virtue.", He replied with a saucy grin.

Judy managed to hide her fluster, this time, and counter. She had no idea why she was reacting like this. "Can't you keep your libidinous rambunctiousness under control?"

"Said the member of a species known for their libidos…" she looked daggers at him. He grinned. "And look at you using the high price tag words! Did you stop at Heron's for them? Those crossword puzzles are doing you some good."

"They are fun, but stop dodging. You have virtue. It took some digging, but we found it."

"Oh, please, Hopps. My halo is tarnished and it's on crooked when it's not hanging off one of my horns. I use it for ring toss at festivals."

That statement on its own would have been just another rejoinder in there ever-ending game of verbal sparring. Coupled with the slightly bitter tone and the nostalgia in his expression, however, something about the topic clearly bothered him. Judy didn't work up the courage to pursue the it until they were on their afternoon foot patrol.

Nick was extremely hesitant to discuss it, obviously, so she'd need some kind of leverage to get him to open up. It wasn't until the fox asked about lapin marriage ceremonies as they were passing the temple district that she got her chance.

"Sorry, Nick. That one isn't a topic I'm comfortable discussing."

"That's a surprise."

"Why?"

"You're pretty open about most of your opinions."

"Marriage is a sore spot for me."

"Why is that?"

"Oh, no. Uh-uh. You keep your secrets and I keep mine. You want into my head? Quiz pro quo."

"It's "quid". Quid pro quo."

"Ugh... fine. Squid pro quo."

"Sounds delicious."

"Hrmph!"

"What's wrong now?" He asked in response to her obvious, adorably childlike pouting.

"You irritate the fur off me with mangled sayings all the time, but I try it and you turn it back on my ears!"

"That's because it's all part of the game, Fluff. You've upped your skill level, so I raised the level of game play."

"What is this? Are you trying to turn me into a world-class contender for smart-assing?"

"Oh, no, fluff. You already are. I'm training you to go for gold at the galactic olympics in the bunny-weight division of sarcasm and verbal sparring."

Judy giggled despite herself. She could never stay angry with him for long, especially when he was like this. "And giving Bogo more grey fur than he already has?"

"That's just bonus."

"Hehe! Alright, smartass, so how about it?", she inquired, trying to get him back on track.

"How about what?"

"Playing dumb, again?"

"I never play that, Carrots." He deadpanned.

"Lies! Lies, falsehood and calamari!"

"Stop talking about seafood! I'm already starving."

"We had lunch two hours ago."

"I should have gotten the large sandwich."

"Have an alfalfa bar."

"I'll diet first, thanks."

"Well?"

Nick sighed heavily. "You win. As long as you hold up your end, you'll get stories from my past. Squid pro quo. I can't promise you'll like them , or believe them, though."

"That's oka-", she began, but Nick cut her off mid-word. He was unsettlingly intense and very serious; his eyes boring into her.

"But first! One condition and it's non-negotiable."

"Okay...?"

"This is between you and me. No one else. Anything I tell you is in the strictest of confidences."

"Su-"

"AND! ...Non-prosecutable…"

"Non-! Why?"

"I was a criminal, sweetheart. I know all about the statute of limitations and not all of them are up on what happened or was witnessed by me. You want stories? It's with total amnesty and privacy, or it doesn't happen."

"Ok! Ok. Geez, Nick, I don't know why you're so hesitant to share…"

"You mean other than potential jail time?"

"Well, yes. That I get, but why else? What's the real reason?" Now, she was well and truly curious.

"Carrots, all I've got is a pretty face and a mysterious past. I can't just give it all away at once."

"Well, why not?!"

"How else will I keep your attention?"

"Wha...?" Curiosity melted into confusion in a matter syllables. How he did it was a mystery and she was increasingly lost.

"I spill the beans too soon, you get bored, you find more interesting things to do." Suddenly, his eyes popped and he was trotting off, saying "Ooh! Candy vendor!"

She scampered after her partner, intent on not letting him escape answering her to her satisfaction. "I'm not going to get tired of your pretty face, Wilde, or your past."

"Nice to know you think I'm pretty, sweetheart." He said with a wink, collecting a bag of sweets.

"Wha-! I- but…"

"I am more than just a pretty face. Just so you know, Carrots."

"I know that!" Obviously floundering for something else to add, she fiddled with a free sample she got from the candy cart. Nick took it and gave it a sniff while she floundered.

Nick supplied, "I have a nice butt, too."

"Yes!" She crowed, before realizing what she just agreed to and slapping her paw over her muzzle.

"So you noticed. "

"Ah- "

"Close your mouth, bunbun. It's giving me ideas."

"Wha-" was as far as she got, because Nick popped the candy into her mouth and she immediately snapped her jaw shut.

"Like that." He continued with a winning smile.

Grateful for the break in his assault and an excuse not to respond, she tasted the treat, before responding. "Ooh! It's that new monk fruit based sweetener! You've gotta try it!"

"Really fluff? Do I?" His disinterest didn't stop her from getting a sample for him and he popped it in his mouth. Nick's reaction was theatrical. "Ugh! Bleagh..."

Judy giggled. "I admit it's not the best flavor, but it's a good sweetener and better for you."

"Carrots, you're insane."

"It's not that bad."

"It tastes like chastity."

Judy choked on her candy. Forcing herself to swallow, she all but shouted, "What?"

"It tastes like vows of poverty and abstinence! Eww... it lingers..."

"Wha… oh gods… monk fruit puns? Really?"

"I'm feeling ecclesiastical. Must be all the temples."

Was he really this ridiculous. Witty? Yes, but ridiculous."Right. I'm sure that's the explanation. And what would you know about vows, Wilde? We both know about your scout pledge, but that's a little different, isn't it?"

"I'll have you know I was training to be a priest, once upon a time."

"Bull."

"Silence! Lest you summon Bogo, The Destroyer!"

"Don't you dare try to deflect, fox. When exactly were you a priest?"

"I was never a priest, deaf bunny. Are those ears of yours for decoration? I was in training to be one. Never panned out."

"Why not? Get a little frisky on the sacramental wine?"

"I did, in fact. Quite vashnigyered . Woke up naked next to a priestess initiate or two in the sanctum. After that, it was making tracks."

"I can't believe you." It was just too much.

"No big deal. Your belief does not define the truth, only your perception of it."

"Oh, very nice. Quoting the Book of Balances, now?"

"It was my discipline."

"So you really we're going to be a priest to Karma? I had no idea you were so spiritual."

"I have my faith and practice when I can, but Karma is about awareness in the life you lead, not servility or groveling to a higher power. Be aware in your every breath and she will watch over you, balancing the scales."

"You talk like that and I can almost believe it."

"Thanks, Carrots. It's nice to see that I've still got it."

"It's almost a pity you didn't stay with it. You'd make a good spiritual leader."

"Don't worry, fluff. It did me some good and it made an awesome cover."

"Cover? Wait. What? Nick!" And he was gone.

A short foot chase later, she caught up to her quarry. This time, buying a sack of roasted nuts. She began to wonder if he was powered by a black hole. In either case, she was not letting him give her the slip, again. "Ok, Slick Nick. First you're telling me what the cover comment was all about. Then, you're finishing the story."

"The first one is easy. Mr. Big respects many things, but few of them more than the sanctuary provided by holy ground. I hid there to get away from him."

"That's horrible!"

"Most necessary things are. I didn't enjoy using a sacred space that way. It was the only place that I wouldn't end up dead. Anyway, Mr. Big sent an emissary after I'd been there a month or so. He said "never let me see your face again, if you want to live. I hope your time among the holy makes you less profane." And he left. A few weeks later, I fled the temple."

"Wow…" Judy was at a loss. She'd wanted into his head, but this was way deeper and way heavier than she'd ever expected. Especially, for a first time. "...but it did you some good, right?"

"What? Being an initiate? Oh, yeah. I guess."

"You...guess…"

"It gave me an appreciation for meditation and my time apart from regular life was certainly a clarifying experience. Distance and perspective, you know?"

"I'm surprised it didn't shake you out of your cynicism. Or maybe find yourself a calling."

"I found my calling, thank you. It took a overly energetic rabbit threatening my liberty with a novelty pen, but I found it." Judy giggled at that, earning a smile in turn. "And in temple, I was more likely to find a wife."

Her shock at that admission must have been glaring, as he continued to expound. "What? Only one priest per temple, Carrots. There were dozens of acolytes and initiates. Only so many temples to serve. Most of the people there found their soul mates or whatever and got married. It's what happens when you put enough people with the same interests together for an extended period. Emotional attachments, deep friendships, profound love. In temple, if you don't end up a priest, you end up hitched. Sometimes, you end up both."

"So, uh… you didn't find those kinds of uh…" why was she finding this such a difficult thing to talk about? It made no sense!

"Entanglements?" Judy nodded. "No. Well, not really. I made some friends. Still have some of them. No wedding bells, though." The sadness in his voice made her look askance at him. "You know what they say, Carrots. "Before you may find love enough to embrace another, you must first find enough to embrace yourself.""

"More from the book of balances?"

"Uh huh. A passage I've always disliked."

"Why?"

"Pretentious nonsense. I know plenty of mammals who despise themselves, who are excellent friends, loving mates, devoted spouses and adoring parents."

"That seems a little backwards, doesn't it?"

"From the perspective of a karma devotee? Yes. Not so from a Zeal worshipper's perspective."

"Wait. That's a whole different discipline. The Fire God?"

"Karma's husband, supposedly. Yes. The Book of Changes has a very different approach to love."

"I've never studied it much."

"I did. It was encouraged by the Abbot. Not so much the Cowstello jokes…"

"I bet he loved you."

"Yes, she did. Karma appreciates humor. It balances the dour."

"And what does Zeal appreciate?"

"Passion." Her incredulity was showing again. "What? Fire. God. Passion is kind of his thing. Passion, renewal, change… "The Book of Changes"..."

"Uh huh... I think I can guess his "approach" to love."

"That's more Terra, sweetheart. The Earth Mother? Yeah. She's all about the boinkin'."

"She's a rabbit deity, Nick!" Did he have no respect?

"Tell me I'm wrong." Unfortunately, he wasn't and she knew it. "There we go!"

It was some minutes before she stopped sulking long enough to pursue the conversation again. "So how does Zeal view love?"

"One of the most misquoted lines in his faith: "May passion bring salvation." That's the prayer, but the passage it's based on is in Benedictions: "May you who have no love for yourself, find the grace to set aside your pain through the love another. May their passion guide you to see your own light, that you may meet their fire with your own and renew.""

"Renew what?"

"Yourself, Carrots. Sometimes loving yourself isn't possible without someone else to help you. Some mammals need a spark to rekindle their fire."

"You sound like you know more than a few."

"I see one of them in the mirror every day."

"So... um-", suddenly she was a stammering school doe, again.

"Whenever you're ready, Carrots."

Just ask, Judy! "Who was your spark?"

"Hrmm... that's a tough one to explain... how should I put it...?" The fact that he had to think about it at all immediately shook her already floundering confidence. She knew she'd helped him, but she didn't know that there was no one else. Maybe he had a friend. A female! Maybe a male? Not Finnick, but someone who supported him more than she did. For some reason the thought made a sick, unhappy feeling grow in Judy's chest and she felt like she wanted to cry. Naturally, Nick had to be unhelpful by giving her a puzzle. "I know! You can see her whenever you look in the mirror!"

"Wouldn't you just see yourself?"

"Why, yes! Yes you would."

He didn't stop his feet as he delivered that line, so he didn't see her expression morph from hurt and confused to a beet red, wide eyed mix of delight and panic. It did puzzle her for a heartbeat, but when it dawned on her, she was very glad they were almost back to the precinct. She needed a minute alone to process what he just admitted to her. A shower later, she was on her way out of the precinct. Nick had left earlier, owing to a previous engagement, so she had nothing to do, but go home and get ready.

Her date that night was a disaster of the first water. For starters, she didn't like sports bars. They were always too loud and too much heavy food. Second, he showed up late, was already three cocktails in and called her sugar lumps halfway through his order. He'd left with the help of the waiter and a taxicab, wearing his carrot risotto about 20 minutes later.

As she walked home that night, she passed a shrine to Fortuna, the mercurial goddess of luck. Fortuna was the one deity that was least spoken of, but most revered. Her favor supposedly couldn't be bought. Prayers were no way to get on her good side. She didn't even have a temple or a Book. Just the shrines; little houses where she supposedly visited and if you were lucky, she'd be there when you visited.

Judy took a moment and was about to drop a coin into the offering bowl, when her phone rang. It was Nick.

"Hey, partner. What's up?"

"Oh, not much. Just calling to see how my favorite rabbit officer was doing."

"Well, aside from the blind date, I'm fine."

"Oh, shoot. That was tonight, wasn't it? Geez, Carrots, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt."

Judy laughed. "And you say I'm deaf. I said aside from the date, I'm fine. It's over, thankfully."

"Ouch. That bad?"

"Third worst to date."

"He beat out Alfalfa Breath Fred?"

"Oh, yeah. Really upped the level of lousy date."

"But he's gone? I don't need to go bad cop on him, or anything?"

"Nope! He's long past departed. I had him poured into a cab. I'm almost home."

"Did you leave him the bucket?"

"I wasn't feeling that generous."

"Wow. New low."

"I'll say. So to what do I owe this call? I thought you had plans tonight, too."

"I did. I mean, I do. Uh, Carrots. I, um… listen, Judy, I need a favor."

He used her first name and was asking for help. Suddenly, she had all the focus she needed.

"What's wrong, Nick? Why happened."

"Nothing's happened. Not yet anyway. It's my mother. She, uh… wants to meet you. We both have off tomorrow. Do you have plans?"

"I do now! Don't scare me like that, you dumb fox! You had me worried!"

"Heh. Sorry. Just a little nerve wracking on my end."

"Why? Afwaid your mummy and fwiend won't get awong, widdle todd?"

"It's the opposite I'm worried about. I'm also being monitored, as we speak."

"You do exaggerate, Nicky. I'm just making sure you actually asked her. Now, I'll make tea."

"Whew! She's gone."

"Wow, big bad ex-hustler intimidated by his mother. Your street cred just tanked, Slick. What time?"

"I'll pick you up at 11:00. Early lunch?"

"Sounds perfect. Um, what should I wear?"

"Whatever you're comfortable in? It's just my mom. She's not very formal."

"I heard that, Nicky!"

"Ok. I'll look nice but not dressy. Does that work?"

"Like a pawpcicle hustle."

"Cheeky fur ball."

"You love it. Aaaaaand I'm getting the eyeball, again. See you tomorrow, Carrots?"

"See you then, Nicky."

The line went dead and she smiled as she put her phone back in her purse. She looked at the coin in her paw.

Heads.

Tails.

Sod it.

She flicked the coin with her thumb, sending it into the bowl. She turned before seeing it land and walked away.

Belief defines our perception, huh? No matter how it lands, it's luck. Bring it on.