This is gonna be a real long chapter, even though it's the first one. I really hope you like it. Constructive criticism, reviews, follows, and favorites would be greatly appreciated. It may be a bit boring in the beginning, but it will get more fluffy with NickXJudy and interesting later in the chapter. I just loved the movie & WildeHopps so much! THIS STORY TAKES PLACE 6 MONTHS AFTER THE NIGHT HOWLER MYSTERY. The name is weird, so any title suggestions would be perfect XD I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY I'M STILL TALKING, LET'S GET ON WITH THE STORY SHALL WE? (spoiler warning: don't read if you haven't watched the movie—no major spoilers, though.)
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Zootopia or any of it's characters. Disney does.
Nicholas Piberius Wilde.
A sly, conniving fox with a dark past. Former con-artist. A predator. An expert at keeping his emotions hidden behind his infamous smirk and half-lidded stare. One who never truly cared about anyone, aside from his mother.
Until he met Judy Hopps.
-xxx-
Nick was not a morning person.
There was just something about mornings he detested. He disliked the fact of waking up early from his comfortable bed. He also disliked how messy and tired he looked like when he woke up. He disliked mornings.
He slowly rolled out of bed to take a shower. He made sure his fur was nice and clean, scrubbing it until it reached it's usual sheen. Soon, he got out, dried himself, and prepared his uniform. He shined his badge and placed it on his chest, puffing it out. He noticed the cologne he bought the other day on his bedside table and decided to spray it on himself. He walked to his mirror and got a good look at himself.
Ah. Looking very handsome, Officer Wilde, he thought smugly.
As usual, Nick brewed a cup of coffee, ate breakfast, and brushed his teeth. He slipped on his sunglasses and grabbed his phone. He opened up InstaGrowl and scrolled through its contents. He slowly but surely sauntered out of his apartment. When he got out, he saw Judy Hopps waiting for him in her car.
Once he got closer to her, he noticed Judy's contorted, impatient expression. Nick was late, and he was going to get in big trouble. He hurried to her car and slid into the passenger's side as slick as he could. Mustering a half smile, he said, "Hey, Cottontail! How's the weather treating ya?" Judy rolled her eyes. "You're 15 minutes late, Nick. Learn to get your lazy ass out of goddamn bed."
Nick mockingly flinched. "Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," he muttered. "Dumb fox..." Judy responded. She stepped on the gas pedal and drove them to work. Most of the car drive was silent, Judy highly concentrated on the road as she didn't want to run over any animals. Nick, as always, was scrolling through his phone.
The gray bunny suddenly sniffed rather loudly and spoke up. "What's that smell?" she asked.
Nick looked up at her and quirked a brow. "Does it smell good?" he responded, hoping it was his cologne. Judy leaned towards Nick and sniffed some more. Her face was so close to Nick's. He began fighting a blush. She's too damn cute.
"It smells...real nice." she said.
Nick smirked and lowered his sunglasses. "It's just my sexy cologne," he said smugly. Judy giggled and shook her head. "Sexy?" Nick inwardly cheered. One point for Nick!
"What's the occasion?" Judy asked jokingly. "Just trying to smell as handsome as I physically look, ya know," he conceitedly answered. Judy rolled her eyes once again. They reached the Zootopia Police Department, and Judy parked her car.
"Well doesn't someone have a big ego," she retorted, hopping out of the car. Nick stepped out of the car and bent over so he was eye to eye with Judy.
"Oh, Carrots," he whispered in her ear, "that's not the only thing that big." He winked at her and strolled off.
He glanced back at a frozen Judy, who had a face redder than a tomato.
Two points for Nick.
"Hopps, Wilde! Report to my office immediately!"
Judy looked up from her paperwork and quickly hopped off her chair. Nick followed suit and headed towards Chief Walter Bogo's office. "I wonder why Chief Buffalo Butt needs us," Nick said. Judy shot him a look but said, "We'll see."
Once have arrived, Nick rapped on his office door. "Come in," Bogo said gruffly. They entered cautiously and sat on the two chairs offered to them. Well, in Judy's point of view, she had to climb up on the chair. "What's wrong, Chief?" she asked. Nick sat back and scrolled through his phone. Judy rolled eyes and punched his arm. "Focus, Wilde!"
"Ow!" Nick rubbed his arm and sat up, muttering something under his breath.
"Ahem."
They both whipped their heads toward Chief Bogo.
"Once you two are done arguing, there's an important matter we need to discuss," he said, giving them a hard glare. Judy flushed in embarrassment. "W-what's wrong, Chief?" she repeated.
Bogo pulled out a file.
"Officer Wilde, does the neighborhood labeled 'The Slums' seem familiar to you?" he asked. Nick winced, but didn't respond. Judy looked at him and saw pain flash in his eyes. She softly, "Nick..."
"Yea. Very familiar, Chief." he finally answered.
"Well, there were two murders yesterday," Chief Bogo said. "And some weasels happened to see a sketchy fox near where both murders happened. The witnesses described the suspect as a red fox with green eyes. Sound familiar?"
Judy and Nick's eyes widened. The bunny's face hardened. "Are you trying to say Nick is a suspect?" she asked. Bogo pinched the bridge of his muzzle and sighed.
"There are a couple suspects. It's just that Wilde happens to be one of them. Luckily enough, they won't be arrested or interrogated yet because they need a more...detailed description of the fox to find a better lead."
Nick glared at the ground. "Unbelievable. I would never do anything like that!" he said, a bit too harshly for Bogo's taste. "Wilde, I never said you did. It's just that we need to take precautions, you hear?" Bogo responded equally as harsh.
"Is it because I'm a fox?" Nick growled. Hurt was clearly displayed on his face.
Judy stared at him. "No, Nick. It's just..."
"Just what?"
"...your appearance fits the suspect's description! You're not dangerous, and I know you're a wonderful person. You didn't do anything!" she said, trying to believe herself. She was panicking inside like Nick. Taking in her comforting words, he calmed down momentarily.
She grabbed Nick's paw. Nick stared at her paw over his and basked in the moment. "I know for a fact that Nick didn't do anything! I will find the murderer and prove it!" Much to his disappointment, Judy let go of Nick's paw and snatched the file and opened it. It contained many paperwork, but two images stood out.
"Those are images of the victims. They're a bit graphic." Chief said, frustration clearly in his tone.
One image was of a cat, scratched and battered. Blood pooled around him with a wound—identical to a bullethole—straight through his stomach. Judy almost retched. "Sweet cheese n' crackers..." she whispered. Nick leaned over to see the picture and his fur bristled. He's seen far worse, but this was pretty bad.
Reluctantly, Judy pulled out the other image and studied it. The other image was of a wolf, battered, but covered with bitemarks instead of scratches. A very prominent bullethole was on his chest.
"Wh...who the hell would do those things?" Nick asked. "I've been asking myself the same question," the Chief said grimly. Judy and Nick just sat there, stunned at what they just saw.
"We got this, Sir. Y-You can count on us," Judy said. Though she tried to sound confident, she was highly unsure. Mind bombarded with questions and thoughts, she suddenly stood up and headed towards the door. "Come on, Nick."
Nick got up and glanced at Bogo. What was he to do? He was a crime suspect of two murders, and so many questions unanswered. His stomach was twisting in knots and fear. He turned and followed Judy, not looking back again. He closed the door.
The buffalo crossed his arms. "I have faith in you, Wilde."
Judy's Apartment
Judy itched to find out what was about "The Slums" that made Nick so uncomfortable. And, she was still processing what went down in Chief's office. She rolled over, trying to find warmth in her cold bed. Everything was so silent. Her mind was racing.
Judy wasn't used to silence. Her neighbors from her old apartment were incredibly noisy, and she had gotten used to it. Even though she moved into her lively two bedroom apartment two weeks ago, she still couldn't take the quiet.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps. She sat up and reached for her taser and carrot pen—which were on her bedside table—and stuffed them in her pocket. Someone quietly knocked on her door. She slipped off her bed and warily walked towards her door.
Judy frowned and slowly looked through the peephole. She was surprised when she saw...
"Nick?"
She opened the door and let him in. He walked into her apartment and smiled sheepishly. "The one and only," he said. Judy swiftly turned on the lights. Nick blinked and shielded his eyes from the sudden brightness.
Closing the door, Judy said, "So, Mr. Wilde, what brings you here at..."—looking up her digital clock—"2:16 in the morning?" Nick looked away. The bunny noticed his face was more red than his usual red sheen.
Is he...BLUSHING? she thought, a giggle bubbling in her throat.
"I may have had a nightmare...soIgotscaredandIdidn'twanttosleepalonetonight.." Nick said quickly, slurring his words. Judy couldn't help but laugh. "Repeat it slower," she said. She grabbed her carrot pen and hid it behind her back.
"I had a nightmare, and I got scared so I didn't want to sleep alone. Happy?" he repeated, blushing furiously.
Click.
"I got scared so I didn't want to sleep alone," emitted from the carrot pen. Judy smiled mischievously. Nick's eyes widened. "Carrots...you didn't just do that."
"Oh, but I did, sweetheart."
"Gimme the pen."
"No."
Nick suddenly tackled her and started tickling her. Though it seemed impossible, they were having such good time they forgot about the murders and everything that happened in Bogo's office. "Give me the pen, you sly bunny!" he said, smiling. Judy laughed hysterically, trying to be as quiet as she could, as it was 2 in the morning. "Stop it!" she said, panting. Nick stopped momentarily, letting Judy get herself together.
"You sounded adorable. Let me keep it," she begged. Nick flushed, but soon smirked. "So I'm cute?" he asked.
It was Judy's turn to blush. "N-no! I didn't mean that...I-I.." she covered her face in embarrassment. I'm so dumb, she thought. Nick pulled her paws away from her face. They stared at each other. What she would give to know what he was thinking right now.
"We should go to sleep now," Judy said, ruining the tender moment. She saw his ears droop in disappointment. Judy looked away and led his to the guest room. Before he could say anything, she ran to her room. She looked at her bed. "He didn't want to sleep alone..." she whispered to herself. Turning on her heel, she left her room as quickly as she came.
Without thinking, the bunny ran to the guest room and climbed up Nick's bed. She silently slid next to a—she thought—sleeping Nick. Suddenly his eyes flew opened and he saw her. Both of them reddened. Judy's heart rate picked up and her mind was racing, but soon went blank. All the drama earlier was momentarily forgotten. She could tell Nick's mind was filled with thoughts. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but he shut it and grabbed Judy. He wrapped his tail and arms around her, smiling. What am I doing...this feels really nice...oh, sweet cheese n' crackers...
"Good night, Carrots."
Judy soon fell asleep in her best friend's arms.
HOLY GUACAMOLE! You read through the whole chapter! Yay! Hoped you liked the fluff at the ending. Question for next chapter: More romance or action? Or perhaps both? Okay...well byee! NOTE: the last part was more of Judy's POV than Nick's. Okay? Okay.