A/N: Hey there everyone, thanks so much for reading it means so much to me! I posted the first chapter of this last night and I honestly didn't expect it to catch on this much. With the surge of like and comments I knew I had to continue, and I'm glad I did! I'm honestly invested in these characters, and will continue to work on this piece and maybe a few others. May even try my hand at a fluffy little romance, who knows? Anyways, I've talked to much, please enjoy. ~The Crow~
Nick Wilde groaned and let out a long, ragged breath that burned his raw lungs. His whole body tingled and creaked leaving his red fur standing on end. The Fox moved to massage the unbearable migraine that wracked his head but was stopped by something wrapped tightly around his wrists. Confusion set in as his eyes slid open, trying their best to adjust to the glaring white light that filled the room.
Panic caught in the Fox's throat when he could finally make out his surroundings through the bright light. He was lying on what appeared to be a hospital bed, his wrists and ankles strapped to the sides of the gurney. The room was empty save for himself and a few machines that had various reading and medical information darting across their screens.
Nick opened his mouth to call for someone, anyone really, but no sounds came from his dry throat. Something tasted off as the Fox ran his tongue over the roof of his mouth, there was a sickening metallic taste lingering on his taste buds. Confusion and panic muddled the usually sly fox's mind as he tried desperately to remember what happened to get him in such a predicament.
As the Fox was deep in thought the room's only door creaked open and a Bengal Tiger dressed sharply in ZPD blues stepped in with a steaming cup of coffee. The Tiger noticed Nick immediately and quickly shut the door behind him.
"Finally awake are we?" The Tiger purred, his voice silky and smooth with a hint of something exotic. At first Nick didn't respond, he was too busy looking the newcomer over. The Tiger was tall, his chest broad and arms thick, he made Nick look like a ragdoll. The Fox's eyes drifted to the Officer's nameplate, it read 'Jack Stripes', it would of been quite ironic if not for the current situation.
"W-Where's Judy?" Nick managed, his voice still raw and barely audible. Jack huffed and collapsed in the folding chair that was set out beside the hospital bed, even sitting the Tiger was menacing.
"Why should you care? After what you did to her I'm not too keen on letting you know anything," Jack growled menacingly, his smooth voice quickly becoming menacing. Confusion flashed across the Fox's features as he tried desperately to make sense of the Tiger's words. Fear begin to set in as Nick's overburdened mind started to race, drawing conclusion before he could even think rationally.
After a few seconds of silence Jack shrugged his toned shoulders and flipped on a television that was mounted in the corner of the room. Immediately Nick caught sight of a damning headline flashing across the screen in red letters, 'Savage Fox attacks at Museum, two dead. Officer Judy Hopps' condition still unknown.'
A strained, animalistic moan escaped Nick's throat as he thrashed against his bindings, tears streaming from his green eyes. A wave of nausea washed over him as the realization of the taste of blood filled his mind, Her blood.
Jack's eyebrow raised slightly, his face betraying no emotion as he turned off the television. "I have to admit, you did a good job dealing with those Rams, pretty ballsy move Fox," the Tiger growled crossing his arms. "But I can never forgive you after what happened to Judy."
"Where is she? Please! I need to know!" Nick begged tears still streaming from his face, his mind wracked by a barrage of raw emotion. Jack opened his mouth to reply, but was quickly silenced when the room's door banged open.
Nick's green eyes slid to the door expecting another ZPD Officer to be in the doorway, maybe even Chief Bogo, but what the Fox saw made his heart swell. Standing in the room was the one and only Officer Judy Hopps, His Judy Hopps.
"Carrots!" Nick croaked in relief, the relief in his voice betraying his usually suave and carefree appearance. Judy's face brightened, her purple eyes opening wide. She started to move to her friend's side when she was suddenly blocked by Jack.
"Officer Hopps, you can't be in here," the Tiger growled, his tone a little less harsh than it was a few seconds ago when dealing with Nick. Judy crossed her arms in defiance and stared up at the Tiger that towered above her.
"I can be wherever I want to, just because I'm off duty doesn't mean I'm no longer an officer," Judy declared, her purple eyes filled with defiance. Jack held her gaze for a few moments before relenting with a mighty sigh.
"Fine, there's no point in arguing with someone as stubborn as you," the Tiger grumbled as he lumbered to the door that Judy had just entered moment ago. "But if he touches you again, I'll kill him. "Jack added before disappearing from the room, closing the door behind him
A silence fell over the room as Judy hopped into the chair that Jack had filled moments earlier. Nick's green eyes followed her every move, as if she would disappear the moment he looked away. A slight grimace flashed across the bunny's features as she stretched her wounded leg causing the white bandages wrapping around it to tighten ever so slightly. At first Nick thought that was the only injury on the small Bunny's body, then he noticed the scars.
Three white scars stood out against Judy's gray fur, stretching from the base of her left ear to only disappear beneath the collar of the blue striped button up she had on. There was also a large amount of bandages covering her left forearm, making Nick very aware of the taste of blood in his mouth.
Sighing Judy reached out and untied Nick's wrist and ankles letting the Fox finally move freely. "I-I'm so sorry Carrots," Nick whispered, regret flashing across his already pained face. He expected to be berated, to be yelled at, hated even. After all he was just a predator, nothing more.
"It's alright dumb Fox, you did it to protect me," Judy whispered, her purple eyes cast down. Nick could see the shudder that ran down his friend's body, as the memories of what happened that day came flooding back to her.
"I-I can't remember what happened, all I can see are blurs, and flashes," Nick mumbled quietly, causing Judy to strain her ears to pick up his words.
"No matter what you remember, I don't blame you for any of it. That wasn't you then," Judy protested, her hand subconsciously moving to the white bandages that covered her forearm. Just looking at the injuries made Nick sick to his stomach, she might not be willing to blame him, but he sure blamed himself.
"Did we at least get Bellewether?" Nick questioned, trying to shift the subject from Judy's injuries. The bunny it her lip and let out a sigh, he wasn't going to like her answer. "She and the Ram named Doug managed to escape, but we have all the evidence to lock them up whenever we get to them."
"What about the other two? The ones I was fighting?" Nick pried, fear sinking into his voice. This time Judy winced and pulled her purple eyes away from the Fox lying in front of her. In her heart she knew Nick already knew what happened, but that still didn't change how horrifying it had to be.
"The other two are dead, you killed them while protecting me," Judy whispered wringing her small paws together. A look of shock washed across Nick's face as the coppery taste of blood became more and more apparent in his mouth. A wave of nausea hit him and the Fox buried his face in his paws. He really was a savage, nothing more than a predator.
"Oh god Nick, please don't blame yourself," Judy begged, tears now spilling from her wide purple eyes. Her hands moved to the Fox's shoulder in an attempt to console him, she was shocked to find his whole body trembling. Guilt bit into the Bunny's chest as she climbed into the bed beside Nick and cradled his head. The Fox didn't resist, instead he gladly accepted and buried his face in Judy's lap tears and sobs racking his body.
A feeling of uselessness came over Judy as she gently stroked the reddish orange fur on the nape of Nick's neck, for once she didn't know what to do. So she did the only thing she could do, she cried, she cried with Nick letting her emotions take over.
Outside Chief Bogo stood at the room's door, his hoof outstretched to open it. Glancing in the small window he caught sight of the pair, deciding against opening the door he stepped back and turned to the Tiger standing beside him.
"Jack, stand guard over this Fox, treat him like one of our own. God knows Judy already does," Bogo ordered a slight smile threatening to crack his usually stoic appearance. The Tiger gave a curt nod before sitting down in a chair that had been slid beside the door to Nick's hospital room.
The Water Buffalo glanced inside the room once more only to find Judy fast asleep still cradling Nick's head, this time a smile did crack his gruff features, but he had already turned and lumbered down the hallway before anyone could notice.
A/N: That's all I've got for now guys, but I'll put some work in and get the next chapter rolling soon, I promise! As always let me know what you think, criticism is good for the soul.