In an apartment that could have been a broom closet, a small grey paw slapped an alarm clock off after a single ring. It was exactly 5:00AM and Judy Hopps was ready for another day. Her morning routine was simple and her enthusiasm boundless. Growing up on a farm would ingrain early rising, hard work and dedication into anyone. In her, however, these traits had become not habits of a lifetime, but the cornerstone of an extraordinary mammal. After a two mile run and a quick shower, to start her day, she was in her uniform and off to the patisserie, a homemade smoothie in paw. With her baked goods ready to go, she'd walk to the ZPD, dig into her paperwork backlog, power through it, and be at the bullpen with 30 minutes to spare for morning briefing. At least, that was the plan under normal circumstances. Today was a tiny bit different. They had a special visitor joining them today at the briefing.
Judy was many, many things, as anyone who knew her could verify; many things to many mammals. To her coworkers, she was energetic, motivated and dedicated. To her boss, she was an efficient paperwork machine, a superb officer and a menace to his peace and quiet. To her family, she was a source of endless pride and constant worry, bordering on panic. To her friends, she was a willing ear to listen, a shoulder cry on, and a lot of fun to be around. To the criminal contingents of the city, she was an adorable, grey-furred demon in a blue uniform. Judy knew her reputation and cultivated all aspects of it. She loved being a good friend, coworker, subordinate and daughter. She also loved that her fame, as unwanted as it was, had its uses in bettering interspecies relations and improving the city.
She was an open book and knew exactly where she stood with everyone around her. All except her infuriatingly enigmatic partner. Every time she thought she had a decent handle on that fox, he'd say or do something that took the rug right out from under her. Sometimes it was a story from his past he'd let slip through the mask. Sometimes it was finding that he had a skill that was completely unexpected. She remembered one instance perfectly.
Judy had called him that morning, looking to meet for lunch, and gotten an address that made absolutely no sense. It was a shop front, tucked behind an old hotel-turned-apartment building in an old style arcade on the gentrifying side of Sahara Central. She'd stood around waiting for him for almost 20 minutes, before calling him. It rang twice when suddenly she'd heard his personal ringtone for her coming from what she had assumed was an abandoned car near the shop front awning. This was followed by a weirdly delayed surround sound of him answering the phone.
"Hey, Carrots. What's up?"
"I'm at the address you gave me. Remember? We were supposed to get lunch?"
"Sorry. I got stuck in a project and lost track of the time."
"What project? Where are you? I can hear you, but I can't see you. Where are you hiding?"
Judy eased her way over to the car as they chattered, equally amused and annoyed by the impromptu game of hide-and-seek with her camouflaged friend. She was just peeking into the driver's seat when his head popped out from under the running board and, incidentally, under her skirt. He took the phone away from his ear and smirked as she leapt back, slapping her skirt to her thighs and blushing furiously. All he'd said before vanishing under the vehicle had been, "Black suits you. Silk or cotton?"
She'd been embarrassed and nearly apoplectic until he strolled out from behind the car, wearing coveralls that looked like they came out of a prohibition era film, wiping dirt and grease off his paws with a rag. Judy had been too jarred by his unexpected appearance to do anything but mentally stumble to a halt as her anger fizzled out, turning to confusion. She stammered as her brain struggled with the sudden gear change. This got his amused attention.
"You ok, Carrots? Gnat got your tongue?" He drawled as he smirked. She just loathed that smirk, especially when it grew as he looked at her. It meant she was being mocked or he found her funny. Usually both. It was an expression that she hated to see on his face. It fit perfectly, tailored and oh so perfectly him. He wore it well and it made her heart flutter. She couldn't stand it.
"It's, 'cat got your tongue'!" His penchant for mangling common sayings to annoy her didn't help. That smirk grew, again.
"If you say so. Isn't that species-ist against felines that way?"
"Yes, it is! Which is why you shouldn't say it!" Judy was fuming by this point.
"I didn't say it, sweetheart, you did. Mind if I clean up?" Nick snarked.
"What? No! I-" Judy was tongue-tied. Again.
"M'lady wishes me to stay in my filthy state for our luncheon? Why Officer Hopps, I simply do not know what to say. What would the neighbors think?"
She'd sputtered indignantly and fought a losing battle against the ruby red blush that suffused her face and ears. His ridiculous upper-class accent and over the top word choice, coupled with the innuendo were just too much for her. It was him in a nutshell: silly, witty and suggestive all in one. All he did was chuckle as he walk to a slop sink and lathered up to his elbows.
"Deep breath, fluff. I'm just ruffling your fur. I'll be done in a minute and we'll head out after I change."
"Oh, you'll be done in a minute, Slick."
"More like 40 seconds, now."
She hated it when he was like this; all wit and one-liners and casual charm, turning her threats and righteous indignity into humor, smiles and burning cheeks. She could keep up with him, usually, but some days (like today) Judy couldn't get her feet under her around him. What she hated most was how much she liked it. As angry as she was, she was fighting a grin and her ears were pink with amusement as much as irritation.
"Alright, Mr. Pedantic, explain."
"Explain what, Darlin'?"
"You. Car. Coveralls? Covered in grease?"
"Just a little maintenance on a friend's car. He needed an oil change and was worried about the rotors. Looked fine to me. Needs a pad change soon, though."
"You're a mechanic, now?"
"Just now? Nope! Have been for years."
"Nick!"
"Alright, alright. I know enough to do basic maintenance, but nothing in depth. I can keep a running car in good form, but rebuilding an engine or whatever is a bit beyond me."
"When did this happen?"
"Earlier today. He dropped it off about an hour ago."
"Not that! When did you learn to do all this?"
"You pick stuff up."
"Do you."
"I certainly do."
"Uhhuh."
"Useful skills, valuable knowledge, pretty girls… I'd pick you up, but I'm a bit filthy."
"Don't you even think it."
"Too late for that, but you look too nice to get you covered in grease, just for a sight gag."
Judy's breath hitched at his comment. She was already flustered, and- He thought she looked nice? A smile spread over her face and she couldn't make herself look up for a moment. When she did finally look up, she was glad she had, but wished she hadn't. Nick had rolled his shoulders out of his now unzipped coveralls and all she saw was the mix of red and cream fur across his chest and stomach.
"Nick! What are you doing?!"
"What, fluff? I said I needed to get changed. I'm not getting lunch dressed like this."
"Here? Now? You're in public!"
"I have pants on, Carrots. I'm not flashing the goods for the world to see."
"Pants, but no shirt? Why on ea- those are not pants! Those are boxers!" She shrieked as she covered her eyes in mortification.
"These are not underwear. They are running shorts, and to answer your question, no shirt because this getup is plenty hot on its own, especially when you're elbow deep in a car."
"Then why wear it, and not proper clothes?!"
"Because I don't want my "proper clothes" covered in vehicular detritus, dumb bunny. Although, I do like the idea of improper clothes. We should try it some time. "
"Ok. Ok, fine! I get it. Just get dressed!"
"Wow, Carrots. I didn't think I was that ugly to you."
Judy felt the bottom drop out of her stomach at that and her ears started drooping. She didn't want him to think that. She was momentarily riddled with guilt and moments from apologizing, when she felt his breath on her ears. She froze to the spot and struggled not to react as he whispered, "Or do you just like what you see and don't want to admit it?"
She turned to swat him, but he danced out of range of her paws. Now, out of his mechanic's frock, his russet coat was free and dancing in the late morning sun. Her clumsy swing and shock at the view caused her to stumble. Catching herself in time to see him slip inside the store front, she heard the lock click and the implications of that act on the heels of his last jab at her made her blood boil.
Judy made it to the door and was hammering on it in moments.
"Nicolas Piberius Wilde, open this door!"
"Just a second, fluff! Buttoning my shirt," he sing-songed back. She could hear him chortling, as she banged on the door with her fist.
It just made her angrier. She hated it when he didn't take her seriously. It was rude and condescending and the thought stopped there as Judy found the door she had been pressing her shoulder into gone. She fell face-first into nothing for a terrifying heartbeat, her arms scrabbling for something, anything to halt her forward motion. Then her muzzle planted itself into something soft, which smelled like violets. Her arms reflexively grappled on to stabilize herself, while she got her balance back. She looked up and directly into Nick's emerald eyes.
"You missed me that much, Carrots? I'm touched."
She pushed herself off of him and was about to give him a high velocity "touch" to the stomach when she saw what he was wearing. A light grey dress shirt, coal slacks and a tie that was just a shade and change darker than her eyes. He looked good. She still punched him.
"Ow. I take it you approve?"
"It's alright. No bad tie and horrible Pawlynesian shirt today?"
"You said you wanted to eat someplace nice, so I figured I'd dress appropriately."
"You clean up pretty well, for an ex hustler who moonlights as a mechanic and a cop on the side," Judy sassed, trying to cover up her obvious staring.
"You clean up nicely yourself, sweetheart. For a cute little country bunny," he crooned as he tousled her ears. She smacked his paw.
Laughing and ribbing each other, they wandered off to find a place for lunch. Judy adored her time with him, but the workout her heart got these days was not doing good things for her mindset. She told herself it was just from him embarrassing her and playing off her relative innocence, but part of her knew it was a lie.
She pondered this as they walked into a tasteful little bistro in Sahara Central, near the park.
They were seated at a table by the window by a middle aged beaver and left to review the menu.
They sat in silence until she heard Nick calmly say, "So you never answered my question, Carrots."
Judy was confused. Abruptly pulling herself from her musings left her worrying that she'd missed something. "I'm sorry. I zoned out for a second. What question?"
"Cotton or silk?"
It'd been almost two years since that day and she still remembered it as clear as crystal.
That was them. That was the problem. He flirted as much as he breathed, while she increasingly couldn't stop the smiles as time passed. He was incorrigible and ridiculous and deliciously cheeky in all the ways she hated to love. And she did love it. She loved the jokes and misdirection that made her laugh, the double entendre and innuendo that made her blush, and the many moments that were uniquely theirs to describe. They made her days rich and colorful and her nights full of laughter and sweet dreams; but at the end of the day, or the night, or the shift, or the show, he would leave.
He would see her to her cab, or station, sometimes to her door. He would hug her and wink as he said good night, sometimes ruffle her ears, and then slip out into the night and, usually, into her dreams.
The few times he had stayed at her place for after a long shift, or a night out, he'd been a complete gentlemammal. He'd seen to her needs before his own, made sure she was comfortable, insisted on taking the floor to sleep. Even the one night he'd had too much to drink and she managed to wrangle him up to her apartment, so he could sleep it off, she'd gotten him settled in her bed and flopped down next to his snoring form, completely exhausted. She was out cold in seconds. Judy woke alone in the bed, covered with her blanket, with water and painkillers on her bedside table and there he was, on the floor. He'd even apologized for getting that drunk and making her take care of him.
Minutes plodded steadily by as Judy allowed herself to slip into another fond memory. That particular day had been a good one. Two wonderful things had happened, despite having to drag a mildly inebriated fox, twice her size and over twice her weight, home. She'd like think more would have, if she'd had the day free, but…
She'd woken up before him and tiptoed around his sleeping form, to the door to the hall. He was a totally different mammal when he was asleep. No smirk, no mask, no deflection; nothing to hide who he was. She hoped that one day he'd drop the mask when he was awake so that she could meet the mammal she'd only glimpsed once or twice. He'd been without his mask only once before, the day he received his shield from her. Granted, it hadn't been as solid since then. She'd seen through it more and more as he'd grown comfortable with her and willing to show more of himself.
Smiling to herself, she slipped out the door and padded quietly down the hall to the floor's communal bathroom. She tended to her morning needs and when she returned to her room, Nick was awake and quite obviously out of sorts.
She was intrigued by the idea that he was awake and off form, so she decided to take a leaf from Bogo's book. She let him sweat. She barely made it to the refrigerator and got it open before she heard his voice a rare, uncertain tone drift her way.
"I'm sorry, Carrots. It's been a rough week and I needed to unwind. You shouldn't have had to babysit me." Her expression was nonplused, when she looked at him from the open fridge, but her mind was reeling. She was used to his independent nature, but he was so open and obviously felt guilty. There was something eating him. She had to push. Maybe he'd open a little more.
"I didn't babysit you. I dragged your fluffy butt up here all on my own because I wasn't about to let you sleep it off under a bridge." Her tone was carefully neutral and non-confrontational. The Academy had taught her to let the suspect talk themselves where she wanted them. She knew it was mean, but this was important. It was also a little payback for all the fun he had at her expense.
He'd cringed at the bridge comment and visibly wilted. "Just tell me I didn't puke all over you, or start singing or… do anything inappropriate."
Her eye brow was the only thing that moved, other than her heart, which irritatingly sped up. Did he seriously think he'd done something to her? "What do you think?"
"No?" he squeaked, obviously bracing.
She knew he always expected the worst and was used to abuse from mammals for no reason, but knowing it and seeing it like this… she caved.
"No, dummy, you didn't. All I did was get you home after you had a little too much to drink. All you did was be unhelpful and then fall asleep as soon as your head hit my pillow." She was smiling now and letting the tension bleed out of the room. "Like you said, it's been a rough week. You needed it. I won't blame you for destressing. Just next time, after a couple at the bar, we're going to one of our apartments for any more. You're kinda heavy."
His relief was palpable and his humor retuned enough for him to half-whine, "Hey, this is all muscle, Fluff. I don't know what you're complaining about."
"All muscle, with just a light sprinkling of chub?" She joked, knowing it was a bald-faced lie. She closed the refrigerator and walked over to him with a pitcher of her favorite smoothie.
Muscle weighs more than fat and while Nick was no body builder, he was certainly fit. All lean vulpine muscle. A point of pride for him; pride which she'd very neatly pricked.
"I'll have you know I have exactly one ounce of fat on my body." Nick retorted, indignantly.
"Is it between your fluffy red ears?" Judy shot back, setting the pitcher on her bedside table, next to their glasses.
"Ouch, Carrots. Gloves up." He said somewhat bashfully. "But seriously, I'm sorry I had so much and you had to drag me all the way up here."
"Nick, come on. It was just a couple beers too many and I'm a tough little bun. I can handle getting a wobbly fox into bed," she joked, paws on her hips and a smirk on her lips. It was one of the only times she'd ever managed to get him to obviously blush. She joined him moments later, when she realized just how forward she'd sounded. The laughter immediately followed as the absurdity of what had just happened hit them both. They were panting and wiping tears from their eyes, as the laughing fit subsided when it happened. He reached out the way he always did, but instead of the ear ruffling she was expecting, she felt his paw gently cup her cheek, his thumb gliding across her cheekbone.
"Oh, Carrots… I'd be lost without you."
It was a moment. Just a pawful of heartbeats. The warmth of those heartbeats had lasted through their slightly awkward breakfast smoothie afterwards, through her apologies that she had meetings with activist groups all day, through their casual parting and all the way to the end of all her obligations of the day, not that she paid much attention to any of them. The warmth of his touch stayed with her until she was nestled in her bed, at the end of the long day. Judy fell asleep that night touching the same spot and woke from dreams of what she had hoped would have followed.
That had been months ago. Maybe a year? No. Not even close. Was it? She could always remember events, but rarely the exact dates. Not a weakness a cop should have. One she combated with a variety of semi-effective countermeasures, including carrot pen and paper.
She brushed her memory concerns aside and tried to focus on her morning routine. She scampered to the bathrooms on her floor and returned with equal alacrity. She still had to get herself together and to the bakery before work and she had exhausted the padding she always built into her plans.
As she let herself back into her apartment and changed into her running clothes, her thoughts returned to her vexing vulpine.
She knew affection was a little hard for him and he didn't open up quickly. Since that morning he'd grown steadily more tender and open towards her. She knew he cared for her and she hoped he wanted more out of what they had. He gave her maddeningly mixed signals and drove her batty with the flirting, but he didn't ever quite take a step past it.
Shortly after that incident, she had considered being more aggressive. Fru Fru had been a major proponent of that option. To hear the shrew talk, all Judy needed was herself, a nighty, her service handcuffs and the backbone to apply them to her foxy source of frustration. Not that she was against the idea, but that tactic was likely to panic him, more than win him over.
As she shook herself out of her reverie, she realized how much time had passed. Her schedule was salvageable, but she had to get moving. Plus, she was flustered and full of conflicting emotions right before work. Again. She knew her morning run would help clear her mind.
As she left her apartment and got her running playlist playing on her Ipawd, she couldn't help but think about her life. Running had always been like meditation for her. It cleared the mind, relieved stress, helped her think.
Thinking.
Judy had always thought more than most mammals expected. Granted, she didn't always think everything through as much as she should. The Nighthowler press conference was just one instance. There was her last boyfriend, the girlfriend before him, the wasabi incident in 11th grade, taking on Gideon Grey when she was nine, the noodle wager with nick last week… ugh… How one fox managed to eat that much ramen in 15 minutes and not pop (or die from the salt) was beyond her.
She sighed and upped her speed to her fastest traveling pace. She had to make up some time.
Judy wasn't a dumb bunny. She'd proven that dozens of times over. She wasn't dumb, or completely inexperienced and her naiveté was long gone. Perhaps not all her innocence, but that was neither here nor there.
She'd fallen in and out of love and knew the emotions well enough, so she knew that what she felt wasn't temporary. A simple crush would have died off ages ago. It had happened before. This was something else and she wasn't positive what it was, but she wanted to find out. She had to. No one had ever made her feel like this and she was positive that wasn't a fluke. She was positive that whatever they had, it was worth exploring and she was well past ready to get started.
The sticking point was him.
Maybe he was scared, or had some hang up. She didn't know what his issues might be, but she did know two things that made a world of difference. One, you're guaranteed to fail if you never try and she was nothing if not a try-er. Two, they were growing closer every day and she knew it wasn't just her that felt it. Too many times she'd seen through his bluster to believe he felt nothing for her. She wouldn't give up. She just had to wait for him to finally open up to her and admit it. It was just a matter of time.
Patience, Judy.
She was not a patient mammal. Waiting had never gotten her anything. Everything she had gotten, she had earned with hard work, dedication, or sheer audacity. Head first and all-in was the only way she knew how to work, but she also knew that this wasn't a prize or a goal. It was a mammal. It was Nick. He was too precious to her to risk losing him by being overeager. She got enough of him every day to keep her happy enough and she'd get more, in time. Eventually, she hoped, the whole package.
She giggled at that. Hehe! Package. She was 12.
As she rounded her last corner and bounded up to her apartment building, she tried very hard to steer her mind away from thoughts of Nick and his package with distressingly limited success.
What was with her today? She never got like this. Not this badly anyway.
Her reminiscing gave way to nebulous concern as she let herself into her tiny apartment and collected her toiletries. A cold start and a warm finish on her shower helped her shake off her unpleasant mental state a bit. By that point, she was in her usual rhythm and running on autopilot.
She was dressed, badged and on her way to see Tanya and Li at Buck & Doenuts, before she checked her phone for the time, again. Then she was sprinting. It was 6:22am! She'd never get her paperwork done before she was due in the bullpen. Tanya was on the register and the bobcat had her usual order ready. She always did. Judy's atypical lateness was enough for Tanya to shoot a questioning eye Judy's way as she sped up to the register.
"Everything ok, Bun? You're running awful late, for you." The motherly concern was welcome, if ironic. Tanya was a year younger than Judy and almost as petite. As Tanya spoke, her digits flew over the register buttons.
"Really weird morning," Judy replied, breathing slightly heavier than usual. "Totally off my groove."
"What's got you so rattled? That partner of yours, again?"
"Again?" Judy asked, as her ears drooped. She'd frozen in the midst of pulling her billfold from her pocket and Tanya smirked at Judy's obvious tell.
"Don't give me the bunny eyes. He's the only mammal in the city that can get your goat," Tanya shot back.
"Hey!" they both heard from the back.
"Get over it, Li! It's Judy!"
"Oh! She can get me any time!"
Both females facepawed and Judy shouted back, "In your dreams, Curly!"
"Every damn night!"
"He's unbelievable." Tanya muttered as Judy counted out her due.
"I'll arrest him later."
"Ooh! Please?"
"Shut up, or I'll shut you up, you dirty old goat!"
"Are you open to suggestions on how?"
"Listen, I'll catch up with you later. Let me know if I need to bring a taser. I gotta run!" Judy called as she backpedaled out the door and bolted down the sidewalk, leaving Tanya to thrash her baker. He'd probably enjoy it.
Judy would normally have had a few minutes to spare for Li's antics, but she was so late. She was also keen to flee the conversation that Tanya was unquestionably about to start. "I barely even know what has me rattled. How could I possibly explain it to her? Ugh… "
Off kilter when she woke up, disjointed all morning and she was now in total disarray. Why was nothing going in any way she could work with today?
At least, she had their morning together to look forward to. Every day, they treated each other to breakfast. Her pastries and his coffees, after her morning hug. That hug on the horizon every day was what got her through her morning paperwork. Not the promise of coffee, not her morning run, but that one moment when she could throw herself (literally) and the whole build-up of her emotions at her fox and not have to worry. That was what got her through.
Unfortunately, it was also the one thing that had tipped her hand to Clawhauser. He'd called her on the blatant look of joy that preceded it one day and she'd promptly given it away in every way. She'd been so lousy at lying back then. Not enough of Nick had rubbed off on her, yet. Not that he had ever. Maybe he had because of her? Now, that's a… Oh, no… Focus, Judy!
The point was that the overzealous feline knew about her interest in Nick and had been disgustingly thrilled when he put it together. It was the reason her "usual" from Tanya was three pastries. It varied a bit, depending on availability and what Li decided to make each week, but it was fairly consistent. Nick had his blueberry muffin, or Danish. Judy had a carrot donut with a berry glaze, or a strawberry tart. Clawhauser's bribe was whatever was intensely sugary. Recently it had involved maple syrup in the batter, or melted maple sugar. Judy thought they smelled delightful, but she didn't want the diabetic coma it would take to finish one. She could split it with Nick, but that would only make the rumors worse.
She just needed to clock in, dive into her paperwork and make it to 7:20. That was hug O'clock. Now, it was 6:38am and she was through the doors! Clawhauser's concerned look was ignored as she launched herself across the lobby, up the stairwell and into the office she shared with Nick. 6:39am found her booting up her computer and reaching for the first file she needed to complete. Out of an empty In-Box. She'd finished it all yesterday just to make sure this morning would go smoothly. With the training and visitors, she'd wanted a clean slate.
As the lightbulb between her ears clicked on, she dragged her paws down her face and flopped back into her chair. This was just not her day. 41 minutes until hug time and no work to do. Glancing at Nick's Inbox, she saw a single file. She leapt over to it, grateful for once that her partner was less diligent than she. She flipped the folder open, eager to see what was left to do, only to find it was empty. That is, empty, save for a sticky note. On it was a drawing of a little fox face, with its tongue sticking out and "Gotcha!" written below.
In that moment, she was so conflicted… The cheeky bastard had stayed late, or come in yesterday to wrap up his work so she wouldn't panic today. He'd also set her up and she had waltzed right into it. He knew her way too well.
She flopped back into her chair. Again. She was doing a lot of panicking and flopping today. If this kept up she'd end up having a breakdown.
She checked her phone.
38 minutes to go.
Nothing to do.
Torn between staring into space and draining her phone's battery, she chose to stare. She regretted her decision moments later, as her traitorous mind latched right back on to the one thing she was trying to avoid thinking about, Nick. She had a problem.
Everything reminded her of him. Even the damn paperwork!
Nick's dislike of paperwork was well known and thoroughly documented, much to Judy's despair. Also, to her confusion. Most officers hated the tedium and neither she, nor her partner, were immune to it. The forms and reports were an inescapable and intensely drab aspect to their vocation. The confusing aspect to Nick's dislike wasn't in that he did dislike paperwork. It's how he was so good at it.
One afternoon, about 8 months into their partnership, Nick and Judy had found themselves badly behind in their paperwork. What had started as a routine traffic stop near Little Rodentia had escalated into a drug bust and pulled them into a week of near insanity, working a massive related case that involved Vice, Homicide and the Mafia task force (much to their discomfort). The stack of paperwork once their part in the case was done, bordered on the alpine.
Bogo gave them 36 hours to complete and either turn in for review, or file appropriately, all of it. After that, either they'd have 2 days leave (if they succeeded) or 2 weeks of "light duty" issuing citations in the meter maid vest and joke mobile when they did finish up. As far as the chief, Judy and the rest of the ZPD was concerned, parking duty for two was the only possible outcome. 14 hours until the deadline, Judy's expectation was all but confirmed. She was exhausted, miserable and had more than half of her stack to go. She hadn't stopped for a break in almost 9 hours and had cramped paws, sore fingers and pins and needles in both legs to show for it. She was all but despairing of getting done at all, let alone by the deadline.
Despondently, she slid off her chair and dragged herself over to her partner's desk, hoping for a few minutes of commiseration and a coffee break, before diving back in. She hadn't heard so much as a quip from her partner in almost 4 hours and not even a key stroke, or the sound of pen on paper in over 2. She expected to find him asleep at his desk and even less done than she had managed.
To her horror and consternation she found him entirely absent.
She hopped onto his desk top looking for his stack of unfinished papers, only to find it was empty. There wasn't a single sheet there. Panic gripped her as her mind played out all the ways this could have happened. Where were his files? What happened? How? How were they gone? Did he shred them to avoid doing them? Were they burning in the parking lot? Was he making them into a collage? A Papier Mache model of Finnick's van? What the hell happened to it? And where in the name of celery sticks was he?
Just as she was getting ready to tear out the door to track his fuzzy tail down for the throttling he doubtlessly deserved, he sauntered back into their office, leaving her torn. She was so glad to see him, because now she wouldn't have to waste time looking for him, but she also had been so eager for the break in the monotony that a foot chase would grant her.
Her internal conflict bought Nick enough time to strike a confounding blow against her already stymied train of thought, by slapping a cup of her favorite coffee into her hands. As she was shocked out of her mental morass and her lips parted to say something (she had no idea what, even now. It never had a chance to form) Nick slipped a roasted, sweet and sour carrot medallion between them, still warm from the cart. Once her brain registered her favorite street food treat in her mouth and the scent of her coffee of choice in her nose, she realized that she was starving. She turned to see the rest of the large pouch of tasty treats sitting by her keyboard, with a bottle of water and Nick reaching for the top of her pile of unfinished paperwork.
"Nick!"
"What?"
"Don't you 'what' me! Where were you? Where is your paperwork? You know we have a deadline and you're wandering off to get food and didn't say anything? I can't believe you! What in the name of celery sticks are you trying to pull?" Judy ranted at the increasingly wide eyed fox. At least until the end, there.
"Celery sticks? Really, Carrots?"
"Don't you dare try to joke your way out of this, Wilde. I am not in the mood for it. You have ten seconds to explain. Choose your words carefully." If she had hoped to convey the imminent and barely restrained consequences for his bad behavior, it was very short lived. Her angry tirade was met with a nonplussed expression and a single raised eyebrow.
"I'll answer in the order you asked. I was at Bark & Bite Beanery and then the grilled veggie stand across the street, getting us some refreshment. My paperwork is done and turned in." At this moment Judy opened her mouth to voice her incredulity, but Nick's paw padded digit sealed her bunny lips, and he continued, while her ears drooped and cheeks heated up, "You can check with Clawhauser when I'm done. I did say something. Twice. You were in a fugue state I call "the paperwork doldrums" and only grunted at me. I have a video of it as proof. It's in your email. I also left a post-it note on your computer screen." Judy's eyes darted to the screen and did see his personal blueberry colored sticky note there, with his chicken scratch handwriting in her carrot-orange ink stuck to it. Her eyes darted back to the fox, as he continued. "And what I'm trying to pull is our fat out of the fire. I have no interest in being first mate on the ZSS Joke-Mobile for two weeks.
"Now…", He said, with a sigh as he lifted his pad from her lips and leaned back, "By my estimation, we have enough time to get your remaining files done with about 2 hours to spare, after you verify my claim about my paperwork with Clawhauser, eat your treat, drink your coffee and watch the video in your inbox of you ignoring me."
All Judy could manage was a pitiful squeak of "We?"
Nick's expression was equal parts fondness and exasperation. "Yes, Fluffbutt. We. I'll get started on the next section, while you do your part."
"My part?"
"Go see Clawhauser and take a break. You're hungry and we both know it. Actually, the whole station knows with how loud your stomach was a moment ago. Come back in ten minutes and we'll get this done."
All Judy could do was stare. After she hadn't moved for two minutes, Nick sighed and stood up. He shuffled her out the door with the carrot sack and coffee in paw, saying, "If you're back here in less than ten minutes, it means you want a nose-boop every five minutes for our next three shifts. Now, go." With the door to their shared office shut firmly behind her, she did the only thing that made sense. She wandered over to the reception desk and the invariably dancing Cheetah who worked there.
Fifteen minutes later, Judy re-entered her office, Nick was scribbling away and had obviously made progress on her stack. It wasn't phenomenal, but the fact that she could tell there was a difference was impressive enough.
"Before I jump back in, I have to ask."
"Ask what?"
"How did you get done so fast?"
"Oh, that? Easy." Nick replied with an easy smirk. "The Meowcrosoft Office Forms App for my phone. Oh, yeah… There's an app for that."
Judy was horrified. "That thing? It's a pain! It never works! Not even the creators liked it."
"And yet, I still use it. To devastating effect, I might add." Nick replied, entirely unruffled by her outburst. "Yes, it's a beast and you have to do all the setup yourself, which takes literally hours per form. However, once it's set up, all my forms are easy. 2 hours on a case file for you? 10 minutes for me."
"You still have to write out the events as they occurred.", Judy fumed at the smarmy red fuzzball.
"This is true! Specifically, write or type. That's the other thing. The app allows me to transfer notes, so I write as I go. I take notes on my phone when we're on a case, or patrol, or whatever. You know all those times you pull me out of Furbook? I'm actually writing my reports for the day. I jot it all down as we go. Then, I transfer to the form, print, sign, date. Done! Why do you think I let you drive all the time? You drive, I write."
"Also! Compartmentalization. Almost every file has the same basic forms to start with. Create a template and they are all but instant. Just change the date and specifics. Saves tons of time. "
Judy was appalled. "Then, why do I have to work so hard to get you to actually do your reports every week?"
"Because it's still boring and tedious and you're adorable when you're grumpy?"
They'd managed to get everything done and logged with over three hours to spare, much to Bogo's surprise. Everything being in order, their two day leave was signed off on. Once she had taken his advice on compartmentalization they both made good time. They'd left the station with contented smiles and ruffled fur, with the unsettled gazes of their coworkers following them every step of the way. None of the officers of ZPD Precinct One had ever seen a laughing fox chased around the lobby by a furious rabbit, before, but since then… weekly occurrence.
That had been a good day. Expectations exceeded and well-deserved down time earned. Just the way she liked it.
She wanted her hug. 8 more minutes down and she wanted her hug.
Hug.
Damn it! She needed something. Anything. Anything!
She gave up and set an alarm. A few taps later she was struggling for biscuit supremacy in her latest game, Jamba Jam. It was that or work on beating the pen-on- nose balancing record, currently held by Trunkaby. 4 minutes, 11 seconds.
She was down 4 lives and a good fifty words deep into a blue streak because of that island cricket thing and its cracker obsession when her alarm blared out of her phone. She was so startled she dropped it and watched as the small rectangle tumbled across her lap to hit the floor.
Scrambling to grab it, she left a trail of fire out the door, towards the stairs. She was back at her desk six seconds later to collect her paper sack of pastries and back out in seven. She launched herself down the stairs and crossed the lobby to the reception desk with all suitable speed and silence. She stopped by Clawhauser and dropped the bag under his nose. He'd collect his while Nick was distracted, leaving the other two untouched. That was the deal for his silence.
Judy looked for Nick and, seeing him, could no longer restrain herself. She sped towards him with every ounce of enthusiasm she'd been repressing since dawn.
She was moving.
Airborne!
Impact! She clung to him like a baby koala for a heartbeat or fifty before chirping, "Morning, Partner! Ready for another day?", as he returned the hug.
"Sure am, Carrots." He replied with the usual ruffling of her ears which she hated. She'd "hated" it for ages. It was one of the newer forms of affection he showed her and he was completely unaware that his pawpads were rolling right over one of her erogenous zones every time a finger pad slid over the base of her ears. She swatted his paw away, before she melted into a puddle of grey goo.
She bolted back to the desk to collect their breakfast, giving Clawhauser a pointed look. His morning squeal at their antics had been more intense than usual. He unrepentantly shrugged and smirked as she trotted back to her fox and launched into a stream of consciousness about anything mundane that came to mind. It wasn't what she wanted to do, but it was that, or she'd say what she was thinking, or worse, act on it.
Nick was listening, obviously. He was aware enough to spare the mental energy to work in a comment about her tail, after all. That threw her a bit.
Focus, Judy. Paws to yourself.
That thought didn't help. She was starting to stammer and needed an escape, when she looked at her phone. 7:30:12am! Perfect! Time to move! Moving was great cover.
Up! Get up and moving. Distract him!
She grabbed his arm and started dragging him out of his seat.
He whined, "But, Carrots, it's still early. What's the rush?"
Judy shot back, "It's professional courtesy to be 15 minutes early." Didn't he know that?
"And the other 14 minutes and 38 seconds? Are what? Bonus?"
He was impossible. "Oh, stop being difficult and get in here." She stood in the doorway, pulling on his arm with all her weight, willing him to move at more than a glacial pace. Damn…slippery…floors… not enough traction!
"That's not possible, sweetheart, and you know it. Look! There's hardly anyone in there!"
"Damn it, Nick! Just. Get. In…. Blast!" He was stopped dead and she was shoving on his back. In front of everyone. His habit of playing to the audience, while in the office was so unprofessional. She had to work so hard not to smile at it. He was in his element as a showman and it was painfully distracting to her.
Judy finally gave up on pushing. "Why are you being suck a pain in the tail? "
He turned and bent down just to her eye level. "It's part of my charm."
She pinched the bridge of her muzzle, and took a deep, calming breath. Why did he have to do that? The urge to do something highly inappropriate was nigh overwhelming. "Could you and your charm, please, get out of the doorway and to our seat?"
"Sure thing, Fluff! All you had to do was ask nicely."
"Just move!" And her paw smacked his shoulder. Only, it wasn't his shoulder. The yip that she heard made her eyes snap up and open, seeing exactly what she'd done. She'd just slapped his ass. In the bullpen. A full house.
Dread filled her and she heard the words. "My, my Officer Hopps…. If you like it rough, I don't mind, but ask a lady, first."
Cacophony reigned. Judy's heart was hammering. She hid behind her paws and desperately tried to calm herself. She was so angry with him, but so grateful he'd broken the tension. She was giddy. She finally got her paws on his fluffy butt. Only one, but still… Now, she had to get him back. Just droop the ears, curl in a bit and… She felt him come closer. Her eyes popped over her paws and she saw him flinch. His face held anxiety and giggling and the knowledge that he was about to get thrashed.
"Gangway!" And she was off!
She ignored the laughter and focused on actually doing what she dreamed of most nights, chasing her fox. If she was lucky, he'd offer her a decent bribe to assuage her anger. She'd have to milk it for all it was worth. The thought made her grin and spurred her on.
Once she tackled him, she rained punches upon him, knowing what was about to happen. He'd do something to escape and get enough space to start negotiating. She expected nothing less.
She didn't expect to end up wrapped in his arms. Her end of the negotiations were made over the thunderous hammering of her heart. In a brief moment of hysteria she wondered why being in love made you short of breath while your heart raced. What was that about? Did Mother Nature think fainting was the perfect way to indicate attraction, or did she think it was just funny as hell?
Her mental lapse didn't seem to impact her negotiating at all. When she finally resurfaced from her minor panic, she found that her reflexive struggling had won her dinner at her favorite cafe, a week of amazing coffee and a dose of her favorite minty addiction after work.
She had to fight a little. "You think that's enough to make me stop? Just really tasty treats I can't resist?" She was fooling no one.
His breath tickled her ears and she fought off a swoon, "I'll throw in a foot rub after our next foot patrol." He just offered her heaven. Like fun was she waiting until a foot patrol.
"Tonight, Bottle-brush-butt. That's happening tonight." She growled back.
"First you smack it, now you're talking about it. Do you have a butt fixation today, or something?" he muttered. If only he knew…
"One more joke and its fists of doom, round 2."
"Understood, Officer Cottontail," he smirked. She loved his smirk.
Wolford's warning caused them to leap apart and sprint to their chair. A few seconds later they were seated and she was back in her groove. For the first time all bloody day… All was right with the world. She had treats coming her way, and a foot rub!
Nick had an uncanny talent for unwittingly finding her erogenous zones. Every time he worked the sore out of her little bunny toes, she invariably had more than a few inappropriate dreams. Ok, daydreams. Day-porn-dreams. In the shower. She needed more musk mask before the training. If she didn't the whole damn station would know how badly she was turned on and Clawhauser was bad enough.
Thankfully, she was spared further self-embarrassment by the chief striding into the room. She had her notepad and pen ready to go.
"Alright, quiet. Enough!" Bogo usual voice of command silenced the room and she couldn't help but look up in admiration. That was when she saw him. For the first time ever, she ignored everything Bogo said. Standing at the water buffalo's side was a rabbit. Not just any rabbit. He had grey fur and black stripes on his face and ears. Black suit. Air of supreme confidence. Small notches and scars easily visible on his ears. It was Jack Savage. Her role model. Part of her inspiration to come to Zootopia and become an officer of the law!
She had to meet him! She dragged enough attention back to Bogo to hear, "…I trust you will show him the warm welcome and respect that a mammal of his caliber deserves. Agent Savage, if you would like to say a few words?"
Judy sat enraptured. Everything she aspired to be was in front of her with everything she wanted right by her side. She knew it wasn't a dream! It wasn't a dream!
Agent Savage's address was short, sweet and… surprisingly boring. She was a little surprised, but not horribly so. She supposed she shouldn't be too shocked. He had to do this a lot. She couldn't expect him to deliver every welcoming speech with her level of energy. Practice did make perfect, however. He was an excellent speaker and the pinnacle of professional comportment.
At the conclusion of Agent Savage's speech, Bogo dismissed them until the first session of the planned training schedule at 9:30, sharp, lecture hall. Until then, they were free to wrap up any last minute paperwork, or other tasks, as they were expected to devote themselves fully to this exceptional opportunity. A few pointed looks were aimed at certain officers in the room.
Judy wasted no time in leaving her seat and walking over to their guest of honor.
"Agent Savage? Judy Hopps. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm looking forward to working with you."