Chapter 2
Cold Places and Familiar Faces
Riding passenger Nick Wilde was admiring himself in the reflection of the police cruisers side mirror. His uniform wasn't as presentable as other officers but he still pulled the look off nicely, and he knew it.
"You have been quiet for a while, something on your mind slick?" Came from the driver of the vehicle. Nick broke his spell over himself to look at his partner in the driver seat. Judy Hopps was giving the fox a brief glance before looking back at the road. Nick responded turning back to the enticing view in the mirror "Yeah I guess I am a little distracted today."
Judy continued the conversation keeping her eyes fixed on the road. "Distracted by what?"
Nick exhaled deeply as he spoke "By this one fox." Now resting his muzzle in a paw that was supported by the door. He looked out the corner of his eye to catch her reaction.
It didn't disappoint when she wore a quizzical expression, pondering what he had said. "I... You never told me you had your eye on someone. When did this happen?"
Smiling as he said it "Fairly recently" knowing she had fallen for the bait.
Her mind played back all the encounters he had with other mammals while with her but didn't remember many foxes. But then again, she still didn't know as much about her new partner as she would like to admit. True they have known each other for almost a year now. But that couldn't be used to gage how well they knew each other as Nick was always reluctant to talk about himself. Plus the gap of time they spent away from each other during the Nighthowler case and when Nick attended the police academy.
"So have I met this fox before?" Judy asked
Slightly nodding his head "Yeah you have." Is all Nick said back keeping up his little game.
Judy still couldn't figure it out and it began to annoy her. But she also had something else fueling this emotion, she understood what it was but couldn't comprehend why. "Okay, who is she? What is she like?"
"Well" Nick started while tilting his head looking across the cruiser at Judy. "He is of a different walk of life then me, and his eyes send shivers down my spine. I wouldn't be able to live without this mammal."
Judy was stunned at the mention of a male. But she didn't know anything about his love life, she not only assumed he had a taste for vixens but that he was single as well. Getting that narrowed down she only knew one male fox Nick would often spend time with, that being Finnick.
Hesitating to guess she asked "So... Is it, Finnick?" Looking at him with bewilderment in her eyes.
Nick chuckled and returned to his resting position that offered the view of the mirror replying in a lazy tone "No"
She looked over here partner noticing he was staring at the side view mirror. This didn't make since because from his position it would only show himself. She now saw through his facade, letting out a huff shaking her head she returned her eyes to the road. "Really?"
A devious smile crept onto his muzzle when he looked back at her. Snickering a playful "what?"
"Just let me know when you are done ogling yourself over there." Judy said with a smile returning to her face. Nick once again looked over to her when he spoke "You know I make this look good."
In her mind she agreed that he did in fact look phenomenal in uniform. But she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that. So she just rolled her eyes "whatever you say catsanova."
Adjusting his tie for no apparent reason other than to continue the charade. "You can't deny it fluff, sooner or later you will succumb to my charm."
Judy hummed to accompany her smug face she shot at him "we'll see." Satisfied with that Nick returned his gaze to the road ahead.
Powdery snow glazed the buildings, glistening under the sun's light. As they started to drive in the more dense part of Tundratown giving Nick a chance to show Judy around and tell her the ins and outs of this part of town. "So once we take this next right that corner has a nice little game shop in it. I remember you telling me about the abundance of board games and card decks that scattered your massive burrows back home. So maybe sometime we can stop in and pick up a couple things to pass the time."
Passing by the corner store she took a couple glances at it. "Well it looks promising, and it has been a while since the last time someone got a stomping from me." She gripped the steering wheel tighter and had a look of determination to match her boasting.
"Yeah, in what?" He asked expecting her to say a handful of games.
"Anything" she said confidently.
"He he, okay carrots, challenge accepted." Looking ahead Judy could see another vehicle on the side of the road with its four way flashers on. "Ready to help some mammals first?" Judy asked with her usual enthusiasm.
Nick looked at his partner "something about making the world a better place?" She beamed a "Yep!" back at him.
The patrol car came up behind the stranded car. Nick stepped out while Judy called up their situation on the radio. The outside felt frigid compared to the heated interior of the cruiser.
A wombat came around the side of her car and greeted the officer "Sorry to cause any trouble but everything is fine. We just have a flat tire."
Nick inquired about the other mammals after seeing no one else in or around the car "We?" The mammal pointed down the street "My husband took our son to go find something to lift the car off the tire."
Judy came up joining her partner in the conversation "We have a jack!"
Looking back at her car the wombat felt embarrassed about her situation. "It's fine, we need to get one of our own anyway."
Turning back to the cruiser Nick waved his paw in the air "Well we can help you now to at least get you back on the road."
The stranded mammal relaxed clasping her paws relieved she was getting the assistance. "Thank you so much."
Judy had a look of tenderness watching the fox walk back to the cruiser to get the jack out of the back. "It's what we do here in the ZPD ma'am." saying her favorite self made motto to the civilian.
The wombat pulled out her phone responding to the officer's generosity. "Either way it is much appreciated. Do you mind if I call my husband?" Turning back to the mammal Judy reassured her "Yeah that's fine, we'll get working on this and have you out of here in a jiffy."
Surprise flashed on her face "oh no no no no, that's not necessary! My husband shouldn't be far."
Picking up the tire iron left on the sidewalk Judy brushed off the snow that stuck to it when she explained. "No it's fine, this is why we are here, to help." Holding her phone between both paws she shyly asked "Are you sure?"
Nick came back around from the back of the cruiser with a hand held jack in his paws. "Absolutely." He commented. The strain of holding the device capable of lifting all the ZPDs cruisers shown through his voice.
Tapping on her phone to make a call she explained "Okay great. Again thank you so much. I will let my husband know to come back."
Nick started to work on getting the tire off once he collected all the necessary tools to do so. Judy wanted to help but fell into a trance when he started to roll up his sleeves. She wouldn't suspect that Nick would have done this so willingly before he was an officer. But this kindness wasn't formed overnight. He was a caring mammal, but would always hide behind a facade. Maybe as a way to distance himself from the ones he scammed?
"Hey Carrots could you hold these?" Judy was pulled from her thoughts by Nick holding out one of the car's lug nuts. "Oh yeah, right." She stepped over to grab it from his paw.
She felt bad watching him do most the work. Growing up being the main workforce on the farm she learned her way around machinery and this was no different. He just got to it first and it had no room for a second pair of helping paws.
The rabbits ears swung in the direction of a shout herd in the distance. "What was that?" Nick asked standing up. Judy placed the lugs in her hand on the spare tire "By the sound of it nothing good." Looking back at the wombat Judy apologized "Sorry about this ma'am, we'll be right back to finish up here."
Both officers started off in a jog down the street before a reply could be made. Nick could only pick up the words in the shouting match that had emphasis in them. Wild being one of those words. A single laugh escaped his grinning muzzle from an idea of what to say about his name being shouted came to mind.
But Judy prevented it going any further. "Not now Nick, this is serious." Knowing she could hear what was going on better than he could he didn't question her judgment of the gravity of the situation.
Rounding the corner they came to a town square. On the far side a Ram is seen showing aggression approaching a just as hostile looking fox. Watching the rams speed increase made it obvious that action was needed now.
"Nick we need to get in there!" Both officers broke out into a sprint, Nick veering towards the other vulpine "I got the fox." Judy agreed and steered herself to intercept the ram. "Stop!" She shouted in hopes to defuse the situation but it was to no avail.
Closing the gap they both decided how they were going to terminate the hostility.
Nick came up behind the fox just before it sprung into action grabbing its arm and shoulder to hold it in place.
Judy bound into the air in a swift leap in front of the charging ram. Not showing any signs of slowing down Judy decided on a more offensive means of stopping it. She landed in a squat using her powerful legs as springs jetting up, both fists forward aimed at the dall sheep's chest. Connecting with her target her strike forced him off his hooves and on the ground with a forced huff of air.
Nick's grip on the fox was firm suspecting he was going to have to stop it from leaping forward but it didn't. The slightly taller fox spun around releasing his shoulder from Nick's grasp. Even with the training received in the academy Nick still flinched at this motion closing his eyes.
Reopening his eyes he saw a red fox whose fur was darker than his own holding a fist pulled back motionless. Nick looked over the fox to figure out why he was still.
This fox looked familiar but the sunglasses obstructed his view of the eyes not allowing Nick to know for sure. "Nick?" The mysterious fox spoke his name. Now catching the scent this fox's identity was narrowed just enough "Stav?" he questioned aloud.
The rigid form of his fellow fox fell and a warm expression came over his face. Nick loosened his grip as the opposing fox spoke "No way, is this real? Nick you, you're really a cop now? It's true?"
Releasing his grip Nick leaned over to look over Stavanger's shoulder at his partner and the ram. "Sure is, now I see you are still getting into trouble."
Remembering the situation he was just in Stavanger hastily looked back for the expected impact of the ram that never came. His surprise continued to peak up observing what was behind him. The horned sheep on the ground gasping for air after the impact it had endured. Another officer looming over it, this officer's uniform was different. Very distinguishable when it's tight layers were wrapped around a grey bunny with black tipped ears.
Grateful for what she did for him, it wasn't enough to chase away the scowl formed when he realized it was her. Stavanger turned back to Nick "No, this time it isn't me."
Crossing his arms Nick smiled in disbelief. "Okay, so you care to explain what happened here?"
Stavanger looked around at all the curious onlookers. "Well..." Pointing a thumb behind him he explained "This guy wants to accuse me of taking something from his little tourist stand." Nick raised his eyebrows and tilted his head "And did you?" Pushing his arms out from his side Stavanger answered "No, why would I want anything from a souvenir stand?" Nick raised a paw to calm his counterpart "Hey, I am just doing my job trying to figure out what happened here." Knowing Nick was being facetious Stavanger groaned rolling his eyes. "Whatever, anyways how have you been? I haven't seen you around in a while."
Before Nick could answer the ram raised his voice in discontent. "Really!? You're going... to let another... FOX... talk to him?" Both foxes looked over at the shop owner on one knee now.
Judy with her notepad jotting down notes was now still. Only her eyes shifted back and forth between the pair of foxes and the ram. Flipping her notepad shut resting it on her hip she pointed her pin at him "What's the issue with that?" Anger rising up, the dall sheep was able to take full breaths again "He is obviously going to help... help out his own kind."
Judy looked back at Nick a little shaken from this statement. But her face turned cold looking back at the ram. "Are you questioning my partner's integrity?" Realizing his mistake the ram tried to backpedal out of the bunnies gaze. "Well, I mean. He is a fox after all." Judy's face deadpanned. "I am going to pretend I didn't hear that. Now let's try this again, what did he take from you?"
Stavanger knew what was coming so while the shopkeeper told the officers what happened in his perspective Stavanger opened his Munchy Mart shopping bag. "Look, all I have in here is food. Even if he sold food I have my receipt for what I have." Nick leaned over to look in the bag. Pulling it open further with one digit of his paw he said "Well this sure doesn't look eatable."
Nick reached in for the envelope, but Stavanger collapsed his paws together trapping Nicks paw in the bag.
Stavanger spoke through his teeth with a hushed voice. "Come on Nick, please. It's not one of his." Suspicion crossed Nicks features with his paw trapped. "Then you have nothing to worry about."
Seeing no way out of this Stavanger gave in, opening the bag. Nick pulled the envelope from the bag, flipping it over to inspect the other side he was greeted by a familiar crest of a B stamped on it. Recognising this Nicks suspicion turned to disappointment. Turning back to his partner and the shopkeep he displayed the side without the crest on it and asked "Do you carry anything in this size and color?"
The ram looked back at his shop, scanning over all the cards but nothing resembled the envelope in the officers paws. Pitifully the ram responded with "No."
Nick spun around shoving it back into the plastic bag in Stavanger's paws then victoriously said " There you have it! Case solved, now Carrots if you could finish up here I will be just over there." He vaguely gestured off in the distance. Before setting off he patted Stavanger on the shoulder coaxing him in the same direction.
Judy didn't want to argue with him in front of civilians but still didn't fully understand or agree with what he was up to. She just watched him till he turned his head to wink at her as he walked away.
They walked far enough to where the ambience surrounding them would be enough to drown out their voices to the rabbit officer.
Nick stopped to ask "Okay so what's going on here?" Shrugging his shoulders Stavanger gave an honest reply. "I really don't know. I just found out I had it then that guy thought I took it from him. Somehow Mr. Big got it in my bag this morning. Must have been when I was getting mammal handled by his muscle."
Taking this in Nick just nodded "You were with him this morning?"
"Yeah I saw him this morning and ahh-" Stavanger lifted his sunglasses up and placed them on his forehead. "-you were talked about quite a bit."
Theatrically Nick put a paw to his chest "well of course, I am simply irresistible."
"So irresistible that the Luminous Crowns wants a piece of you too."
Nick put away his theatrics "what do you mean?"
Stavanger mirrored his seriousness and explained what Mr. Big had told him about the L.C. targeting him and Judy. Also saying he was offered as a protective service courtesy of the crime boss.
Nick swiveled his head to look back at Judy. She was still talking to the doll sheep but now seemed that their conversation was on a more positive track then Nick's was now. Folding his arms Nick asked "So why does Big care?"
Stavanger looked to Judy, it looked as if she was starting to wrap up her conversation "For her, it's like I said, she is part of the family now." He then looked to Nick "For you, well he still cares about you. He just can't show it. You should know that he could have done much worse than just sending you away."
Nick didn't like how his past was now rearing its head back into the present, especially with his new career. "So what are we going to do about this?" He asked hoping the answer would be a way to prevent this and preserve his future.
Stavanger quickly glanced at Judy now finished with her conversation approaching the two foxes. He wanted to finish up as well and be on his way to better process all that happened today. "Mr. Big offered protection so here I am. Aaaaand that's about all I got because I was literally told this, this morning so I don't really have it planned out yet. I don't want to be the bearer of bad news again so you can tell her."
Judy was at Nick's side hearing this her excitement was replaced by worry. Her ears were pressed back and she looked up at Nick for some kind of a hint, but it never came. His face was locked with the other fox, a small hint of worry on it.
"Anyways I got to run. I have the same number still, you can contact me on that. You still have the same one?"
Nick drew a deep breath "yeah" is all he could manage with his mind firing on all cylinders.
"Sorry about the circumstances but hey-" Stavanger slid his sunglasses back down to his muzzle. "-this is going to be like the good old days, I'm excited."
Both foxes moods seemed to have switched right around, Nick holding his usual half lid smile. "Ha, yeah me too."
Stavanger stepped backwards doing a brief wave of his free paw when he said his goodbye. "Talk to you soon and I will see you when I see you." Going in the same direction he turned around and walked away.
"Yep." Was Nick's reply. He looked down at his partner with wide eyes in a fake surprise. "Oh Carrots, there you are. You were so quiet I didn't know you were there!"
Still holding worried eyes at Nick she broke with a smirk at his obvious pretend surprise. "Hmm, but I heard you two, is everything okay?"
He cursed inwardly about her extraordinary hearing abilities. He didn't know how much of that she herd. The noise did pick up in the town square but was it enough? He didn't want to dump all of what he learned on her now. So for the moment he played dumb. "Yeah everything is fine. Just an old friend of mine."
Judy held both paws together in front of herself. "Nick" she pulled one paw to her chest and slightly reached for Nicks paw as she continued. "Someone doesn't apologize for the 'circumstances' if everything is okay."
It warmed his heart that he now had a friend that was so selfless, and willing to help him at a moment's notice. Even if she didn't know the context of what's going on she would be there for him.
Selfish as it may have been Nick wanted to delay telling her. To think of a way to soften the blow of such news news, and better prepare himself for all the follow up questions she would inevitably ask. "Okay, just not here."
She respected his answer but was determined to figure out what could be playing out in her partner's life. She wasn't going to ask directly again but rather dance around the subject to get an idea.
Both officers began their walk back to the cruiser they left behind. Judy's impatient side took the best of her when she asked "So, you know that fox?" Starting with a more rhetorical question to get the ball rolling.
Nick knew the silent walk wouldn't last, her curiosity is too great to be contained in such a small bunny. "I told you Carrots, I know everybody." Satisfied with being able to prove his quote true to her once again. "His name is Stavanger."
The duo walked around the corner to see their cruiser down the street parked on the curb. The fact that they could see the cruiser unobstructed showed that the wombat family was able to finish the job and be on there way.
"Well they were in a hurry. At least we still have our jack." Nick added when he could see the device near one of the cruisers tires.
Judy thought about what the family was in such a rush for then realized "We couldn't help them." Nick liked the change of subject but not at the expense of the bunny next to him. Trying to perk up the overzealous officer he explained "Sure we did its was our jack and us who muscled off that tire for them." Finishing what he said by flexing one arm patting it with the other.
She couldn't help the smile when she watched him do this. Her gaze held on his arms a little longer than she expected. His sleeves still rolled up exposing his toned arms. He preferred to wear his button up T-shirts so his exposed arms were nothing new. But the he was in his blue uniform that complemented his fur quite nicely. The tight rolls of the sleeves made his newly developed muscles more defined forcing their way past the restriction of the roll.
She shook her head clear of those thoughts wondering why her mind started to pay that close attention to such details of him. Delayed in her response she just agreed with what he said "Yeah." Nick unaware of what was really playing through her head attempted to cheer her up. "Don't worry Fluff with all the varying sizes of mammals in Zootopia we've fit 49.8 million mammals in this city. Let's say the average family size is five, with a few outlying species." Nick paused to clear his throat suggesting to the bunny what species we was talking about.
She mischievously smiled at him knowing full well what he was referencing. But didn't know what sparked this topic or where he was going with it so she allowed him to continue.
"So that brings us to about" Nick stopped again pretending to count on his fingers. "We'll say 9.5 million families to make it easy. Then let's say only 9 million use a car on a daily basis. I would also assume enough of these cars use four wheels to just make that the standard so that's, well... I'm not the one good at multiplying."
Reaching the cruiser he turned giving her a wink signaling her to finish the equation. She drew a deep breath shrugging her shoulders and shook her head huffing "36 million" almost like a question.
Nick picked up the jack and proceeded to put it back in the cruiser. "Okay so 36million tires on the road today? Sounds like good odds for having a second chance on helping someone else with a flat today."
They continued on their patrol with no other notable events. Just the usual banter between one another, a stop at a local coffee shop for lunch, and a lot of sitting around.
They returned to the precinct to finish the day by filling out their daily reports. The cruiser was parked in its designated spot and both officers walked in to turn in its keys.
The door they approached was to the back of the precinct so it had to be unlocked with a swipe of an officer's I.D. and a code. Because the ZPD has not yet added another access pad for smaller mammals Nick was the closest to reaching it, but still struggled with it. Because the I.D. had to be swiped slow enough for the reader to register it Judy couldn't defy gravity long enough to do this passing that task to him while she would hit the buttons. He didn't like doing this preferring their older method of letting Judy stand on his shoulders to do everything. But she put a stop to that after Nick was scolded by Chief Bogo for walking around with dusty paw prints on his uniform.
Turning in the keys to the dispatch office in the back the duo made their way to their office. It was a relatively large cubical that they would share. Stacks on stacks of reports and other miscellaneous paperwork littered the office space. Judy would do what she could to keep Nick's side presentable but she could only do so much. Especially when he would start losing track of his paperwork when she would organize his side.
It's not that Nick is a messy, unorganized mammal. He just never liked this aspect of the job and thus didn't put forth much effort in it.
Both officers took a seat in their perspective chairs. Judy controlled her oversized chair from spinning by grabbing the desk. But lost control when Nick's chair collided with hers. He grabbed her chair from his pulling them together.
Looking over the two chairs and the bunny sitting opposed to him Nick's eyes were wide full of worry. "Oh no, we appear to have had an accident." Then his face switched to his trademark hustler smile. "We should swap information."
Judy giggled at his horrible pickup line. "Is that how you get a girls number?" Nick leaned back into his chair "One of many ways." She turned her chair back to the desk and pulled it into her favored spot to work. "Maybe you can give me a demonstration of these skills of yours once we are done with our reports."
"You saying you want me to start hitting on you?" The fox didn't have to look at her to notice her straighten up realizing the trap she had put herself in.
Tapping a stack of papers on the desk to straighten them he brought up his comment again. "It's okay Carrots, everyone falls for my charm eventually." She wanted to challenge his ego looking to him with a confident smile. "We'll see about that." "That we will" Nick said agreeing with her.
Finally getting that out of their system they took a more serious attitude filling out the mountain of sheets in front of them.
Finally whittling it down enough to do today's reports Judy asked "What was the fox's name today?" Nick answered without looking up to not lose focus "Stavanger."
A few minutes past with the two diligently working when Judy broke the silence again. "No one named Stavanger is in our database." Nick paused but still didn't look up to respond. "Because he hasn't been convicted of a crime yet?" offering it more as a question. She quickly retorted ready for his answer "He isn't in anything, I can't find anything with his name on it." Nick dropped what he was doing to question her "What does that have to do with today?"
Both looked at each other Nick slightly annoyed while Judy appeared shameful for inquiring about this mystery fox. Judy explained herself "Nothing, I was just... just curious. You still haven't told me what exactly it was that he told you today."
Annoyed that she would do this behind his back he still admired the fact that she cared enough to do this. He made up his mind on telling her but not in the precinct. "Okay fine, at dinner tonight I'll tell you."
Brightening up at the promise of dinner she ask "Deal, what's the plan for dinner?" Taking a peek at the clock Nick said "we have plenty of time after work to figure that one out."
They had an early shift today and would get off just as early with hours in between work and their usual dinner time. But that didn't slow them down on trying to get out as soon as they could. Finishing up the last couple pages they needed done that they it was time to clock out.
Wishing those who they passed a good rest of the day on their way to the locker rooms to change this day was no different. Judy would be in and out and would wait for the moderately paced fox meet up with her at the front desk.
Walking up he didn't catch the conversation but they were giggling, no doubt from the latest gossip. "Hey Nick how is your day?" He was greeted by Clawhauser the friendliest cheetah on the force.
Reaching the desk Nick leaned on it to reply "Good now that I'm off work. Even better then that, I have a dinner date tonight." Finishing his sentience pointing his smile to Judy
The chubby officer's eyes followed Nick's to Judy, then rapidly switched between the two. His joyful screech penetrated the ears of those around him. "You two are just too much to handle." Nick in amazement of his fellow officers excitement stated "Wow, you know I really thought your excitement would fade at least a little after we her and I moved in together."
Clawhauser used his paws as shields on both sides of his muzzle to further muffle his whispers "But it's a date." He said with eyes full of excitement.
Judy giggled at this but had to correct him "It's not an actual date."
Nick saw his chance to add some chaos and he took it "What? I thought it was a real date." Placing the back of his paw on his forehead to complete the act. "I even told you how I felt about you and everything."
Judy watched this to her own amusement tell she saw what it was doing to the large cat. He was stunned at what he thought he was witnessing. She spoke up "Nick stop it, you're going to give him a heart attack.
He opened his eyes and resumed leaning on the desk " No, not ol' Benji here."
Clawhauser laughed at his own misunderstanding "Yeah not yet. But anyway let me know how it goes."
Nick two finger saluted his co worker while Judy pushed off the desk onto the floor. "Of course, as always." Nick caught that last part and asked her puzzled. "As always?"
She just responded with a big toothy smile.
Making their way to the front door of the precinct she looked back and waved saying her goodbye to Clawhauser. "See you tomorrow." Nick followed suit saying "Later big guy."
The big cat contently sighed "See you later." Resting his chin on his paws watching them walk out he could hear Nick ask as they got to the door "So you talk about me? What do you say?" "Nothing." Was her only reply when they walked out the door.