Note: This takes place after the Zootopia characters have completed their movie arch, and before the Fantastic characters have started theirs.

Chapter One,

Police Officers

Bright and brilliant blue lights flashed as various mammals looked on with curious interest, from a giraffe driving an abnormally tall car to a short opossum strutting along with a bag of groceries. The Zootopia Police Department truck stopped at a corner and then turned into an alley, lights fading and sirens waning. The four doors opened and out hopped an equal number of officers, clad in dark blue uniforms. Four golden name plates gleamed in the sunlight. Hopps, Nicholas P. Wilde, G. WolfCop, Linda Sharpauws.

They were an odd bunch, a passing sheep noted. One was unusually short (for a cop), with large grey ears and elongated feet. Next to her strode the only officer whose tie was loose and the top button on his shirt undone. The other two, vaguely wolf and tiger like, walked in front of them with a powerful aura about them. This fearsome pair presented a formidable appearance, completely opposite to the seemingly innocent bunny and careless fox trailing behind them.

"So Wilde, what do you think we're going to find at this joint?"

"Well 'Hopps', I think we are going to find . . ." The fox looked at the sign in front of them

The Bear (Pronounced Bar)

". . . Trouble. Odd name for a bar."

Officer Sharpauws looked back at the two and spoke. "Well if all goes according to plan, there won't be any trouble. Isn't that right, 'WolfCop'?" The wolf swung his head around and nodded to his partner.

The squad stopped on the sidewalk and conversed for a few moments before splitting up. As the first two disappeared into the bar (pronounced bear), Nick turned to Judy, with an expression on his face like he had been reluctantly holding something in.

"Why is a tiger paired with a wolf? I thought wolves were always in packs or something."

"Nick!" Judy hissed. "I thought you, of anyone, would understand not judging based on stereotypes."

"Well Carrots," he said with an obnoxious look on his face. "Sticking in packs is instinct, not a stereotype."

"Oh really? Well then Mr. Smarmy Foxy, why don't you tell me why? Since you already seem to know the answer." She rocked back on one hip as her ears crooked to the side.

"The answer should be quite obvious, little bunny." His eyes narrowed with yet unrevealed glee. "They're together." The little bunny's face showed no sign of change, only continued skepticism at the fox. He pressed on. "Together. As in . . ." His dancing eyebrows wordlessly continued while his mouth hung silent, waiting for the realization.

Nick smiled as he saw the thought process physically repulse his partner cop. Her face gradually returned to normal, before she directed a new mischievous look back at him.

"Well, anyways, I have a better question for you."

"Oh, and what is it?" The vulpine leaned over confidently.

"Why is a fox paired with a bunny?"

Nick's eyes widened in surprise for a moment before they returned to their usual relaxed state.

"Well. . ."

Suddenly, Judy's radio crackled to life! "Hopps, we've got a code 13-7, Canis Lupis! Suspects headed your way!" Without warning, the doors burst open, spilling forth a cacophony of noise and chaos. Two large wolves tumbled on top of each other, landing just in front of the bunny and fox. One rolled to the side while the other grunted, attempting to get up.

"Nick! The brown one!" Judy shouted, leaping in the air with a pair of handcuffs drawn. Together they jumped on one of the wolves, pinning his stomach against the ground. Nick placed a paw firmly down on the wolf's head as his partner pulled his paws behind his back.

Click! The handcuffs snapped together, leaving the trapped canine grumbling and moaning.

"Just take easy there, pal. We'll get you- huh?" The fox looked up in surprise at the sudden movement of his partner. "Woa- Judy!"

The bunny had once again leaped through the air with another pair of handcuffs (where did they come from?). This time it was at the blurry shape of a wolf running away. His radio buzzed as she chased the other suspect down the street. "Hopps here, one suspect apprehended" She puffed a deep breath "am in pursuit of the second!"

"Oh Carrots," Nick groaned.

"That's your partner, huh?" He looked down to the new voice, originating from the predator he was sitting on. "You'd better go after her. Wayne's gonna eat her up." The wolf cracked a devious smile.

"I'd bet you'd like me to, wouldn't ya." The fox cop replied coolly, though worry began to form in his mind and drip down his face.

Suddenly, the doors burst open again, but this time it was two familiar police officers who emerged, tasers drawn.

"Ah, just in the nick of time!"

Wolfcop opened his mouth to reply but Nick beat him to it. "Unintentional. Anyway, you two take care of him" He stood up off the wolf "I'm going after Hopps!" The fox took off after the bunny, fluffy tail bouncing back and forth. The two cops looked at the wolf and then at each other. Sharpauws nodded to Wolfcop and he bounded after Nick.

Cars and buildings passed by, blurring in a whirlwind of color as the chase went on. The fox's feet pounded into the sidewalk, pushing him forward with incredible speed. If it hadn't been for the head start he actually would have caught up to the pair. As it was, Nick saw the distant wolf turn down an alley, only a few steps in front of the bunny.

"Judy!" He yelled. "Ju-Wait!"

An odd mix of noises reached the fox's ears, just as he rounded the corner and was greeted with an unexpected sight.

"Ahh" He huffed a breath "Carrots!"

There was a strange irony in the scene, a seemingly sweet innocent bunny standing triumphantly over a fearsome wolf, as he laid bound and bruised against the asphalt. There wasn't any blood though because it's a Disney movie. She smiled and hopped down, approaching her out of breath partner.

"Oh ya silly fox, when will you learn? I'm quite capable of handling myself."

"Please." The vulpine rolled his eyes and panted. "I wasn't . . . actually . . . worried."

Just then, more strange sounds flooded Nick's ears, and he turned to see Wolfcop, desperately gasping with an arm against the wall.

"Think you might need to work on your cardio there, bud."

The dark-furred wolf nodded his head, not quite ready to speak.

"He's not going to need an ambulance, is he?" Nick asked, nodding to the criminal canine face planted into the ground.

"Nah," Judy replied. "Just some superficial wounds. We'll fix him up when Sharpauws gets here."

Almost without prompting, a familiar police truck pulled up, filled with an eager tiger and a less eager wolf.

Sharpauws hopped out of the driver's seat and approached them. "A wolf chasing a fox chasing a bunny chasing a wolf. That's certainly something."

"Yeah, quite the fox chase."

"Ugh." Judy groaned as Wolfcop responded.

You're out of control, Wilde. "

"You could even say. . . I'm wild! Eyy?"

He looked for approval amongst his fellow officers but was met instead with a consensus of eye-rolling.

Thirty Cop Minutes Later

They arrived back at headquarters, hopping out at the police parking area and unloading their criminal cargo at the detention center. After saying their goodbyes, the four ZPD officers began the long walk back to the main building. The city was at its highest point of activity, it being rush hour. Various noises and sounds screeched in the distance, making the air feel dense with motion.

Suddenly, an electronic voice exclaimed "What does the fox say?"

Officer Wolfcop turned around with perked ears. "Well?"

"Ring-ding-diinnnng!" Nick's eyes widened as he reached for his phone. With an enormous eye roll, Judy asked "Are you serious? That's your ringtone?"

"Yeah, uh, give me a sec Carrots." Nick replied, putting the device up to a large floofy ear and turning away.

Wolfcop spoke up. "I thought we weren't supposed to have our phones on. While we're on duty." He punctuated the last phrase with particular emphasis.

Judy replied half-heartedly. "Uh uh. That's right." She was distracted by the fox as he walked just out of hearing range, which was only a dozen hooves away in the noisy city.

"Yes mom. . ."

She was then reminded that she didn't know anything about Nick's parents, or his family. She didn't even know if he had any brothers or sisters, to match the hundreds she had. Her ears went lopsided as this dilemma rapidly seized her mind. Wolfcop shrugged his shoulders and walked away with his partner-in-law.

"No!" Nick's voice was suddenly firm, as he turned over his shoulder with a nervous glance. Judy looked up in surprise after hearing his outburst. He turned away again without meeting her eyes.

"Look, I don't think. . ." His voice got quieter again and even the bunny's magnificent ears weren't able to tell what he was saying.

"Well why not with Foxy?" His voice rose again in irritation.

She'd never seen him upset like that. Then again, she'd never seen him talking to his family either.

"It'd be nice, if for once, he'd take- -I know, I know. We've both changed." He rolled his head around in exaggeration.

"Yeah. . . Sorry mom. I know. . . Don't worry about it . . . Yep." With a final tap of a paw he put his phone away, let out a deep sigh, and turned around.

The hare searched his face for any sign of distress, but it was immaculate. As usual, she noted.

"Nick. . ." She started slowly, unsure how to handle him. "Is everything alright?"

"Just peachy, Carrots." He sighed and his expression changed, revealing a hint of the stress beneath. "Judy, do you get along with all of your relatives?"

She shrugged her shoulders in response. "Well yeah, mostly."

Without waiting for anymore he replied. "Hmp. I can't relate." The fox huffed in an indecipherable mix of emotions. Seeing this, Judy tried to bring the conversation around to another track, re-using some of Nick's own slick speech.

"You know Nick, I think I gave you the wrong application form."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. You should've applied for the pun police instead."

"Ha ha, very funny." His stoic face remained unchanged.

The two stopped at the front steps of the ZPD, standing amidst a slew of taller mammals coming and going. Without noticing it they had walked the remaining distance to the building's entrance. They stood next to each other, silently nodding to various officers and civilians as they left. Without thinking Judy spoke. "I'm still waiting for your answer to my question." The fox looked over in slight surprise, but responded all the same.

"Right, about that. Judy. . . Are you sure you want to be in a relationship with me?"

"Nick you know the chief wouldn't approve-" Once again, Judy silently cussed to herself for speaking without hesitation, though he didn't seem to mind.
"I'm not talking about Bogo. I'm talking about us. A bunny and a fox."

"Well. . ." This time she paused, taking care to say the right thing. "I don't see anything wrong with that."

"Well I'm not so sure that would be a healthy relationship." "Nick!" She protested, but the fox held up a paw to stop her. "I'm not sure it would be safe. Or. . . Fair to you." The fox's sullen mood had brought to bear the conversation they'd been avoiding for some time.

"We've gotten along just fine so far."

"I see the doubt in your eyes. Just lay it on me. You don't want me." His stance was accusing, but beneath there was a deeper fear that it was true. Judy knew she had to cheer him up, and now wasn't the right time for the conversation.

"Nicholas Wilde, I don't know what problems you have with your family"

He put his paws in his pockets.

"But I will find out"

He rolled his eyes.

"I don't care that you're twice my height"

He winced slightly.

"Or that I'm smarter than you"

The hint of a smile formed on his lips.

"You're my dumb fox. And nothing, nothing else matters."

For just a second his elegant eyes seemed to glow, reflecting the waning sunlight, before his cheeks widened in a thick, heartfelt smile. "Yeah, I mean, I guess you're right."

She mirrored his happy expression and they cheerfully walked into the building, into the waiting arms of a chief eager for an explanation from a certain pair of late officers.

Three Cop Hours Later

"Finally. Done."

Judy finished the final form in front of her, and placed it on the enormous pile of extra work they had been punished with. She stood up from her rabbit sized desk, pushing the small chair forward and turning around to face her office mate. Something that bothered her in the back of her mind was brought forth as she looked at the handsome red fox. "Nick, what was that earlier, about not being safe?"

The vulpine rose in his chair and about-faced, walking towards the bunny.

"I may have exaggerated a little. . ." He continued before she could inject a witty response. "But remember what happened back at the museum. During . . . the thing. I almost came close to seriously hurting you." His face had a hint more seriousness than normal as he leaned over the bunny. She replied with a reminding eye roll.

"Nick, you didn't actually go savage."

"Oh, right. What fanfic is this again?"

Judy sighed heavily. "You're hopeless."

The fox's muzzle turned upward in a smug grin. "Maybe you're right, but at least I'm not Hopp-less!"

Judy's face met her paw with a soft but loud smack.