The sun began to set over Zootopia. The skies turned amber as animals from all over the districts closed up shop. The evening air was crisp, but not too cold. At the Zootopia Police Department, many of the officers were clocking out for the day. The night shift officers clocked in, and both parties greeted each other. Nick Wilde, con-fox turned cop, lazily walked over to the front desk to say goodbye to Clawhauser. Judy Hopps, his partner, was turning in some last minute paper work to the ZPD's Chief, Bogo. Nick reached the front desk.

"Hey there, big guy. You not clocked out yet?" Nick asked.

"Oh no," Clawhauser responded, "I'm taking the night shift as well."

Nick smiled. "You gonna be able to stay awake for that long?"

Clawhauser made a sweeping gesture to his desk. Nick looked around at it, and noticed a bunch of sugary snacks and energy drinks. "I came prepared."

Judy came hopping over to the desk. "Hey Nick! Hey Clawhauser!"

Nick turned his attention towards Judy. "Hey there Carrots. Ready to go?"

Judy nodded. "Yup! Let's get outta here. See you tomorrow, Clawhauser!

"I'll look forward to it. If I'm awake then." Clawhauser responded.

As Nick and Judy walked towards the exit, Nick shouted back. "Don't work to hard!"

Nick opened the door for Judy and she walked out onto the sidewalk in front of the ZPD building. She took in a deep breath.

"It's such a beautiful night."

Nick walked up beside her. "It sure is, but this fox is tried and is ready to go home."

Judy got in the driver's side of her pickup, and Nick followed in afterwards.

Judy turned to Nick. "Alrighty, where's your house? Or apartment?"

Nick smiled lazily. "Just drive forward, and I'll let you know when."

Judy gave him a confused look. "OK, then."

Judy pulled out of the parking lot of the ZPD and drove down one of the many roads that lay in Zootopia.

Judy looked at the buildings as they sped by. "It's funny, I've never found out where you lived."

"Well, I don't exactly live in a conventional place, you know?" Nick stared out the window into the night.

"It's OK, you can tell me. I won't judge you." Judy looked worried.

Nick sighed. "It'll be fine."

They continued to drive in silence. The cool air breezed into the open windows of the old pickup, rustling Nick's rough fur. Judy occasionally looked over at Nick to see if he was still awake. As Judy crossed over the bridge where she apologized to Nick, he spoke up. "Stop here."

Judy slowed the car down. Nick looked over at her for the first time since they left the ZPD. "Well, this is my stop."

"Nick, this place is just warehouses and an old bridge." Judy's nose twitched.

Nick got out of the truck. "Very astute observation. I can see how you were valedictorian of your class at the police academy now. Goodnight, Carrots."

Nick strolled off behind the truck and down the road. Judy sat there in silence, and turned around to look out the window as Nick walked into the darkness. She narrowed her eyes. Something was certainly not right here. Judy put the car in reverse and backed down the road just in time to see Nick walk underneath the bridge. Judy put the car in park and turned off the engine. She then left the car and walked down the slope to see Nick laying under the bridge in the dirt.

"Nick?" She whispered.

The fox looked over at her in the darkness. "Hello Judy. What are you doing here?"

"Nick." Judy whispered again, "Is this where you live?"

"Yeah. It's not much, but I have cover. It's got a good view. Nothing like the great outdoors." Nick smiled and leaned on the tunnel wall.

Judy stepped forwards to Nick. "Nick, you… you shouldn't be living under a bridge! I had no idea you were homeless!"

Nick grunted. "I'm not homeless, ok? I live here don't I? This is my home."

Judy placed a paw on Nick's shoulder. "Nick, it's not ok. You need a proper place to live. I know! You can stay with me!"

Nick raised an eyebrow. "Stay with you? You mean live in your apartment?"

Judy nodded. "Yeah, it'll be fun! Like a sleepover. I haven't had one of those in so long. You can stay until we find you a better place to live."

Nick rolled over. "Are you sure?"

Judy extended her paw to Nick. "I've never been more sure."

Nick grabbed Judy's paw. "I'll come with you, but I don't think I'll like it more than my bridge. I was thinking about setting up a toll here to get some extra money."

Judy punched Nick's arm playfully. "Nick! That's extortion! I thought you were done conning animals."

Nick put his paws up in defense. "What can I say? Old habits die hard."

Judy tugged Nick's paw. "C'mon, let's get going."

They both piled into the truck, Judy started the engine, and they rode off into the night towards Judy's apartment building.

Judy parked the truck outside the building. It stood tall, but rugged amongst the smaller, newer buildings in the area. Nick looked up as he got out of the car.

Nick whistled. "Well, well, well. Not too shabby, Carrots."

Judy hopped towards the front entrance to the apartments. "Yeah, it's no bridge, but it's just as good."

Nick followed behind her and opened the door for her. Judy giggled a little. "Such a gentleman."

Nick smiled slyly. "I try."

The two walked to an elevator, and Judy jumped and hit the up button. The elevator whirred to life a few floors above and started its descent. Nick got a good look around the apartment lobby. The tiles were cracked, paintings on the walls were faded. The ceiling looked like it was about to cave in. Benches set up around the lobby were dirty, and had gum stuck underneath them.

The elevator jolted to a halt on the lobby floor. The doors screeched open, and Nick and Judy stepped in. She hit the button for the 4th floor, and the elevator began to climb. It shook, and the old elevator music was barely audible over the creaking.

Nick looked around, wide-eyed. "Uh, Carrots, you sure this is safe?"

"Yeah, it's fine. I mean, someone once got trapped in here for a few hours once, not to mention the time the cables snapped and the elevator fell all the way to the bottom. On the most part, it's fine." Judy hummed along to the elevator music.

Nick's ears went back. "Whatever you say, Carrots."

The elevator slowed down to a halt on the 4th floor. It dinged as the doors slid open. Nick was fast to get out of there. Judy casually walked out, and down the hall. Nick looked at all the moldy, peeling wallpaper. "You sure this is better than my bridge?"

Judy stopped in front of her door. "It sure is." She pulled out her apartment room key and unlocked the door. "Fortunately for us, my obnoxious neighbors have gone on vacation, so I might actually get some sleep tonight."

Judy stepped in the room, and Nick followed suit. Judy laid down on her bed and Nick sat at the desk chair.

Nick surveyed the room. "Cozy. Nice. I like it."

Judy spread herself on her bed. "I know, it's great, isn't it?"

Nick smiled warmly. "So, uh, where do I sleep?"

Judy frowned. She never thought that far ahead back at the bridge. She was just concerned about getting Nick out from living under the bridge. "Oh. I didn't think of that." She smiled. "Since you're my guest, you can have my bed. I can sleep in the chair, it's big enough for me."

Nick looked at her. "Now hold on, I'm not gonna impose, you should have the bed. I'm perfectly content to sleep in the chair. I suppose sleeping anywhere in here is better than under the bridge."

Judy looked concerned. "Are you sure? Because I have no problem…"

Nick put up a paw. "I insist."

Judy laid back onto her bed. "Alright." She crawled under her covers and yawned. "Goodnight Nick. Can you get the light?"

Nick smiled. "Goodnight Carrots." He hit the light switch and the room was enveloped in darkness. Nick leaned back in the chair and drifted off into sleep. Judy fell asleep quickly as well, but not into a happy sleep. She kicked and squirmed as she dreamed.

-Judy's Dream-

Judy and Nick were at the Natural History Museum. They were in the large pit near the museum's entrance. Above her, Mayor Bellwether was talking, but Judy could not hear what she was saying. Finally, Bellwether stopped talking and aimed her gun at Nick. She fired, hitting Nick right on his neck. He fell over, starting to growl. Judy put her arm around him, telling him to fight it. He turned his head and looked at her with blood lust in his eyes. She backed up and called his name. Nick ignored her, and started to stalk her, snarling. Above her, Bellwether was laughing. Judy looked around, and grabbed a stuffed deer and threw it at Nick. Nick lunged at it, ripping it to shreds. Above, Bellwether was talking again. Judy backed towards the wall, and Nick drew closer to her, closer, closer, and then he lunged at her throat. There was something different about it this time. Judy felt Nick's teeth sink into her neck. Bellwether continued to laugh evilly as Judy tried in vain to pry Nick's jaw from her neck. He squeezed tighter, and Judy felt blood start dripping onto her arm. Her vision went blurry, and then dark.

Judy awoke with a scream. She sat up in bed, still screaming. Nick jumped up out of the chair and fell down. He scrambled to his feet to see Judy cowering on her bed, with her back pressed against the wall. She was hyperventilating. Nick rushed over to Judy.

"Judy, what happened? Are you alright?" Nick reached out to her, but Judy yelled again. She quickly grabbed her nearby can of fox spray, popped the lid, and sprayed it directly in Nick's face. Nick at grabbed his face. "Aaagh!" He stumbled back and fell over the chair. The chair fell on his back, and Nick yelled again. His eyes were closed shut, and he tried desperately to try and rub out the spray. He wheezed as the spray had entered his lungs. His eyes stung really badly.

Judy's breathing slowed down as she came back to her senses. She saw the chair toppled over, and heard Nick groaning and whimpering. She looked around frantically for him from her bed. "Nick? Nick where are you?"

Judy looked over her bed and gasped. Nick was rubbing his face, curled up with the desk chair laying on him. She noticed the fox spray in her hands and dropped it. "Oh no, please tell me I didn't!" Judy got off her bed and put the chair back in place. She knelt down next to Nick. "Oh, Nick, I'm so, so sorry!" She helped him sit up. "We have to get your eyes rinsed. Here."

Judy grabbed a water bottle off her desk and brought it over to Nick. "You gotta let me rinse your eyes, Nick. Please open them."

Nick opened them a little, but closed them shut. "They sting too much." He said in a raspy voice.

"I know, but we have to do this or it will get worse." Judy opened the bottle. Nick nodded and slowly opened his eyes. His breathing became faster. Judy slowly poured water over his eyes. Nick closed them again. "Gah!" He cried out.

Judy pressured him further. "Just one more time, Nick, that's all."

Nick nodded again and opened his eyes. Judy let a little water drip onto his eyes. Nick closed his eyes again. Judy sat back. "Now blink a few times."

Nick blinked. Each time he did, the stinging died down more and more until he was able to consistently hold his eyes open. His breathing began to normalize as well. Judy sat back. "Nick? Nick are you ok now?" Nick nodded.

Judy looked down at her feet. "I'm so sorry, Nick. I didn't mean to, you know I would never-"

Nick put his paw up. "Why would you do that? How could you?"

Judy shook her head. "Nick, I was having this dream, it was about us. When we were at the museum. And, remember when you got shot by the blueberry? Well, in my dream, you got shot by the serum, and you actually attacked me. I guess I thought I was still dreaming when I woke up, and I sprayed you. I would never spray you."

Nick sighed. "You thought I was going to attack you? Don't you trust me?"

Judy nodded vigorously. "I do, Nick, I really do. I was just scared. I acted out of instinct."

Nick frowned. "So your first instinct when you're frightened by a fox is to spray them?" Nick stood up.

Judy grabbed his paw. "No! Nick, it's not like that at all! I would never spray a fox or any other predator unless I absolutely had to!"

Nick growled. "Oh. So you'd only spray predators?"

Judy realized her mistake. "Wait, no, I misspoke, I didn't mean it that way! I'd do it to prey, too, if I had to!"

Nick shook his head. "Maybe it's best if I just leave. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable with me around." Nick began to leave the room.

Judy jumped up. "Nick, please don't go!"

Nick walked into the hallway. "If you need me, I'll be under my bridge." Judy looked distraught. She chased after him into the hall.

"Nick, don't leave! I won't do it again!" She tried blocking his way, but Nick just pushed past her. He reached the elevator and hit the down button. Judy grabbed at his green shirt. "Nick! Stop! Please don't be mad! I'm really sorry, I'd never spray you normally, I wasn't thinking clearly!"

The elevator reached the floor. The doors slid open. Judy fell to her knees. "Nick, I understand why you're mad at me, I'd be mad at me too. I am mad at me." Tears began forming in Judy's eyes. "Please don't leave me, Nick. Not again."

Nick sighed and looked down. "Y'know, I really shouldn't. But honestly, it tears me up inside to hear you cry. Fine. I'll stay."

Judy looked up at Nick. "But, I'm keeping the fox spray." Judy nodded and stood up, wiping the tears out her eyes. Nick turned around to look at her. She smiled hopefully and hugged him. "Thank you so much! I promise, I will never spray you, or anyone, again." Nick put his arms around her. "Let's go back and get some sleep."

Nick and Judy walked back down the hallway to Judy's room. She closed the door. Nick went to the chair and leaned back in it. He took off his Hawaiian shirt and his tie and hung it over them over the desk. Judy looked at him, thinking. "You know, I really do insist. You take the bed, now." Nick shook his head. "I'm fine. You get comfortable."

Judy looked down. "Remember what you said earlier? About you making me feel uncomfortable?"

Nick opened an eye. "Yeah."

"Well, you actually do the opposite for me. You make me feel safe. I live here alone, in this apartment. Often times, I can't sleep. It's not because of my neighbors making too much noise, I can sleep through that. It's because I'm alone."

Nick raised his head. Judy continued.

"I'm used to having a bunch of siblings around me when I sleep."

Nick cocked an eyebrow. "What exactly are you suggesting?"

Judy sat down on her bed and got under the covers. "Well, I, um…" Judy blushed.

Nick sat up in the chair. "Judy?"

Judy looked away from Nick and mumbled. Nick smiled slyly. "Carrots, I didn't catch that. You're gonna have to speak a little louder."

Judy whispered. "Maybe you could sleep next to me."

Nick tilted his head and smiled. "Oh really now? Maybe I could?" Judy nodded her head.

"So is that a yes, you want me to, or a no?" Nick teased.

Judy blushed harder and nodded her head. Nick got up from his chair and laid down next to her in bed. "Like this?" Nick asked.

Judy blushed even harder, covered her face, and faced away towards the wall. She nodded yet again. Nick smiled and got under the covers with her. "C'mere, Carrots." Judy turned around and moved in closer to Nick. Nick rested his head on the tiny pillow. Judy wrapped her arms around Nick's body and laid her head on his chest. Her long ears flopped back as she snuggled closer to him. Nick smirked in the darkness. "Getting comfortable, are we?"

Judy nuzzled his fur as she mumbled something unintelligible, and was soon fast asleep. Nick stroked her ears while she slept, eventually falling asleep too. Outside, the night was quiet. Along with Nick and Judy, Zootopia rested up for another big day.