"Haha, here let me." Said Nick; taking the box off of Judy. It was by no means too heavy, but a little too large for her to carry. She'd battled to get it in the doorway and there was no way she'd be able to get it up the 4 flights of stairs to his new apartment.
Nick had always been a drifter, staying in motels or free beds all through Zootopia for the most part throughout his adulthood. And since he was now employed full time by the ZPD, Judy had talked him into renting an apartment. It was in the same neighbourhood as her own, just a few blocks down. Naturally a little larger than her own cramped residence to cater for his needs. But she hadn't even noticed; she was just happy to take over the whole process and help him get moved. Poor Nick had already been dragged around town touring different houses and apartments within his budget for the better part of a week while Judy graciously let him sleep on her couch. However his pains didn't end there as he was then literally dragged around by the tie to various shops as Judy picked out all sorts of furniture and appliances SHE liked for HIS apartment, although he did enjoy talking a few sales folk into some nice discounts along the way. He may be walking the fine line, but he will be damned before he pays 'a tail and a half' for a sleeper-couch.
As Nick arrived upstairs he saw the movers through the bedroom door; lay down the bed in his room. That was the last item. He graciously thanked the two burly rhinoceroses and tipped them. Judy had been on their case from the second they started moving stuff in as each item had to go exactly where she envisioned it. And it didn't take long before she was driving them to their wits end. As he laid the box he carried on a counter in the kitchen; in came skipping Judy as she flopped onto his couch, got comfortable and let out a loud sigh of satisfaction. A large smile on her face as she lay there with her eyes closed told him that everything was as she envisioned it for him. Which he admitted wasn't all half bad… excluding stuff like this… as he pulled out and held an automatic carrot peeler from the box. Giving the peeler a look then gazing at the resting bunny slyly. He spoke out with the intent of pulling her from her rest. "So… Uh, I guess I'll visit you often then. So I'll go and see you tomorrow and you'll be staying here." He flicked the peeler on; letting the buzz ring out for a little, then turning it off. He'd never use it himself and he knew it.
"Mmmhmmm." She responded, not even paying attention as her mind drifted in and out of nothingness.
"Oh, okay. Cool." He went on as he started to fiddle with the peeler. Smiling with mischief. "So I take it you're going to be paying for both this and your other apartment and just switch up between the two?"
"Mmmm…" She replied, feeling more comfortable than she should in someone else's home and still totally spaced out.
Nick then put down the peeler and walked over from them open-planned kitchen into the lounge and sat on the floor, leaning his back on the couch where Judy lay and putting his head back so it rested on her legs. "So I'll be staying for dinner if that's cool with you and YOUR new apartment, will YOU be cooking?"
"Huh?" She suddenly came back to reality, jerking upright and flicking her legs around; kicking Nick in the back of his head.
"Ow!" He exclaimed.
"Sorry." Guilt was evident on her face as she reached down and rubbed the sore spot on the back of his head. She hated cooking, considering she came from a family of food farmers and food lovers; she'd just never gotten the knack for it. She'd been sticking to preheated food for the most part because she was both bad with food, and couldn't care for cooking anything herself. She could outrun any criminal and jump higher than any bunny this side of town, but she could not cook to save her life.
The blow shocked Nick more than hurt him, but seeing the opportunity he decided to play through on this teasing role. He loved to provoke her sometimes. And oh how easily she would walk into it. He turned to look at her, scrunching up his face as though he were in agony. "Geez Judy… I think you've basically concussed me. Now you'll have to prepare a meal for me…"
"Uh… Uhm… Okay let me think for a minute." She was totally stumped. Nick only really ate fresh food from the town market so a meal HAD to be prepared. "T…toast maybe? Ugh… No bread here… Maybe I could fry something easy? No, we just got the fridge today there…" And then it dawned on her. "Hey! You cheeky devil!" She then stuck her tongue out at him. "There is no stupid food in this house yet!"
"Aaand welcome back to the real world champ." He said while winking at her.
She then sat up and tapped next to her, prompting Nick to sit next to her and he did. "So how do you like it?" She asked him, looking at him with those big, approval seeking and innocent eyes.
He already knew what he thought of the place, but still looked around, his eyes narrow with theatrical criticism. They wondered around the square lounge area joined to the kitchen and then the two open doors on the other end of the apartment, one leading to the bathroom and the other to his bedroom. Fortunately Judy had a simple styled taste with her choices so yes, it was a little groovy and funky on the colour scheme, but he had to admit. That little bun-bun could pull a room together. "Well…" He started while casting a troubled eye over the apartment.
"Awwww, come on!" She exclaimed while playfully punching his shoulder.
"I'm be honest." He said while suddenly looking very seriously at her. Causing her smile to fade and now she wasn't so sure he was playing with her. "If I were a bunny, sure… I'd like it. But as a fox?" He stood up and made a small circle around the lounge as if pondering his next words.
Judy shifted so that she sat upright on her knees, curious and dreading his final verdict. "You… You don't like it do you?" She suddenly went bright red with embarrassment, realising only now that she had literally gone full dictator mode on his living arrangements and spent all of his money on something he probably didn't even like or worse… Probably hated! She gazed up at him and winced slightly as she now saw him glaring down at her fiercely.
His look of anger slowly faded into a grin and then a full on smile. "As a fox, I think it's perfect."
She yelped and sprung right into his arms and squeezed the air right out of him. "Really… good… job." He managed to say coarsely underneath her tight grip. "Damn, I keep forgetting that you're stronger than you look" He added while trying to pry her looser at the very least but had no luck whatsoever.
*LATER AFTER A MOVIE AND A MEAL OF DELIVERY TAKE OUT THAT WAS ONLY PICKED AT BY A FUSSY NICK WILDE*
"Okay so this is it… On your fridge I've put my phone number, my email address, my pager, my parents' number… just in case; my actual address, my…" Nick cut Judy off by putting his finger on her lips.
"Relax DB" DB being a nickname he had given her which like all things Nick, he did to irritate her, Dumb Bunny abbreviated. "I'll be fine, and you have all my details too, I put them on your phone when you weren't looking." He winked at her after making that remark. "And in any case if it makes you feel any better." He then handed the spare key to the apartment to her. "You furnished it and brought enough bunny based appliances that you could live here if you ever intended to"
After taking it she smiled and stated banter-fully, "Easy big guy… let's not move too fast now. I have a whole bunch of other guys I need to carefully 'let down' before we can make such a big step."
"Oh I'm sure." He replied coyly, coming in real close to her so he needed to talk only a little louder than a whisper. "In any case you should leave now… If my other partner hides in my closet from you for any longer then I'm afraid the poor gal will suffocate."
Judy giggled and sighed, before using her ear to stroke his cheek and respond, "You're full of it Nick. I'll see you tomorrow." And with that she turned and walked away, down the stairs, out of the building and on her way home.
Nick watched her walk away and he smiled, their 'Relationship' hadn't grown more than that very same sort of banter for the last two months they had been police partners together. It was more than just friendship but nothing more than the occasional teasing of intimacy. Nick would have made a proper move by now, if he hadn't felt that with Judy being as assertive as she was would make the move when she was ready for it. The thought of it made him a little anxious which he considered a good thing, but he simply shrugged it off, walked back inside and locked the door to his first, very own apartment. Turning the key and pulling it out. He turned around to receive the biggest shock in his entire life. He was nose to nose with a leopard. "Hello Nick." It spoke with threat and intent. "Long time no see" It continued and before he could even respond with his now reflexive police training; his forehead was met with a fist, knocking him back into his own door. And then, everything went black.
Judy closed the door to her apartment behind her and flicked on the light switch next to her. It had been a pleasant walk home this late evening, besides feeling accomplished at pulling Nick's new apartment together in such a flawless fashion (in her consideration) there was also a sense of pride at the streets now being safer since she was now right in the ear of everyone high up in the ZPD. But her proud smile slowly faded in to a frown and her ears slowly drooped behind her head as she gazed upon her still cramped, but somehow empty apartment. Having a fox living on top of you for almost two weeks had been a minor challenge she would admit. But she'd be damned for not admitting she enjoyed the company. She took off her jeans and kicked them to the corner of the room, getting a little more comfortable. There was no one to maintain appearances for now. And walking passed her mirror it caught her eye. She turned and looked at the long scar running down her leg. Touching it with her fingers caused her no discomfort as it was now little more than a visible memory for one of the scariest, craziest and most memorable days of her life, but not the most joyous. No. The week that followed had admittedly been the most frustrating and probably most happy she had ever been. Wheelchair ridden to give her leg some needed rest while she was care taken by Nick. Yes, after the day of foiling the corrupt roots out of the city government their relationship had never been stronger, but Judy wasn't sure if Nick was serious enough, or even up to the task… And boy did he prove her wrong. He was entirely polite and gentle; giving her space when she needed it and comforted her when she pushed her strained body too far. Judy: having hopping in her nature and not being able to hop for a while can lead to some unnecessary mood swings and tongue lashings. However Nick would never shout back, just smile, say he'd give her some space and drift into the kitchen area to make an overly elaborate meal for them both while she cooled off. He wouldn't leave until she was comfortably tucked in bed or return in the morning until she got tired of hobbling around her tiny apartment and called him over for help. She was actually only really handicapped for about 4 days… The last couple of days she just kind of faked it. And she didn't know why, it wasn't like her to fake anything. But travelling around town with Nick, seeing all the sights through his eyes, and just having him… There… Once she was heeled and Nick got trained up for police work she loved every moment on duty with him, but after the caretaking period she always found herself longing for more. That's when the 'Nick getting his own apartment' plan kicked into gear and bam! He was back where she wanted him. She tried to drag it out as long as she could but it reached a point where everything needed was found and purchased. And now? She was alone again.
Flopping onto her bed face first she lay there for a moment, trying to mentally find the energy to work through these thoughts and emotions. And that's when it happened; the event that would change everything. Put her values, loyalty, trust and feelings on the line. She heard her phone ringing from her jeans that she'd tossed into the corner of the room. She slowly rose back to her feet and made her way over to her jeans, emptying the pocket and looking at the phone she saw it was a call from Nick! Suddenly her ears perked back up. She tapped the green phone on the touch display and placed her phone against her ear. "Hello? She stated in a chipper tone. "What's up?"
And then the colour drained from her face.
