Part 1: Repression
Chapter 1: A Disruptive Rumor
An unexpected rumor throws complacency into question.
The ZPD Headquarters was a solid stone at the heart of Zootopia. Built in the image of a towering cliff, the building both literally and figuratively acted like an anchor for the city's security. Atop the doorway and sign that read "Police" was a five pronged crown of rock. Architecturally intriguing and abstractly dominating, the crown adoring the entrance towered over all who entered, by free-will or no.
However, to Judy, this was simply where she checked in and out for patrols.
"It's a completely valid tactic, Carrots," the smooth voice next to her spoke in a drained tone, as if her questioning of him was more tiring than critical, "Ease them in with charming smiles, then, while their guard's down you bring out the cuffs."
Judy shook her head and gestured with her arms as they walked from the squad car parking lot to the left of the building and to the entrance, nearing the doors. "No it's not. Arrests should be done as professionally as possible."
"Your right. Sorry, Ma'am. I haven't gotten my 'stick-up-the-ass' operation yet. I'll let you know when I do," Nick straightened his posture and saluted, his tone blunt and dry as the pair made their way into the headquarters lobby. An orange hued sky filtered down through the glass dome of the lobby and illuminated the building with a dramatic tint of warm light. The Zootopian sunset was always less in City Centre. The tall buildings that covered the area blotted out the horizon line. Therefore, when the sun finally headed toward that line, it was only for a few minutes that the Centre could bask in the glow of the warm colored sky.
Ideally the clean, disinfectant scent of the lobby masked any sort of foreign odors that other animals would be carrying. Although, due to the crowds moving into and out of the building on a daily basis the air still managed to hold a slight mammalian musk to it. Judy could still remember when Nick first started working he complained constantly about how the cleanly smell made his nose itch. She told him promptly to 'suck it up'.
Judy's gray and white cheeks puffed up with air at Nicks comment, "I don't have a stick up my ass!"
The sounds of their own paws shuffling across the linoleum floor were completely muted by the various conversations and arguments of the other animals around them. Mostly arguments, Judy noted as they added to that majority.
"Never said you did. But if you needed one, I can help with that…" Nick leaned down and winked, his open green eye twinkling with amusement.
Judy pushed him away, although considering their size difference, only managed to slightly offset his gait. "Ugh, you're the worst."
"Oooooh, you guys are just like my parents," The high pitched, musical voice from behind the reception desk noted. Benjamin never missed a moment to compare the patrol partners to a couple, much to Judy's dismay. Luckily, or unluckily, Judy had grown so accustom to the comments that for the most part they ricocheted off her in the form of a witty jab of her own. Maybe Nick was starting to rub off on her, she thought. Judy spared him a sideward glance as they walked to the desk and then she grimaced. If only I could ignore his comments just as well.
Nick placed his right paw on the counter, leaning against it with a swagger only known to the most laidback. Or arrogant. "Guess that would make you our child then, Benjy Boy."
"A rabbit, a dumb fox, and a cute cheetah child?" Judy used her fingers to count off the three, then nodded, "Yep, my parents would have a hernia."
Nick huffed in agreement, "I don't think His Majesty would allow fraternization to that level anyway. Too many awkward, cross-species encounters. Scary stuff." The fox shivered dramatically, his blue uniform brushing against his thick, orange coat making a slight scratching noise. Judy's ear twitched at the invading sound. The woes of having excellent hearing, she ruefully thought.
Clawhauser's posture sank and a pout developed on his face, "Aww, and all I ever wanted were parents that had domestic disputes in public constantly."
Nick looked down at Judy with a cocked eyebrow, "Hun, looks like our son just entered the smartass stage of adolescence."
Judy sighed and raised her paws in the air, shaking her head as her tall ears swayed slightly, "Is this the part where we send him off to boarding school to 'broaden his horizons'?"
"I think so."
Judy snorted in amusement before rolling her eyes, "As much as I love discussing the future I have nightmares about I think we should get started on our reports for the day." Judy began pulling on Nick's elbow, leading them toward the office room.
"Alright, have-" Ben's eyes grew wider and he raised a paw to stop them before they left the counter, "Oh! Wait! There's something I do need to tell you guys." The two paused and looked back.
"Right, just had to get the obligatory friendly banter out of the way first, huh?" Nick smiled dryly at the cheetah. Judy knew that Nick liked Clawhauser so much because he was one of the few officers at the precinct that played along with his banter. Almost too well, Judy grumbled inwardly.
"Shut up." The rabbit reprimanded.
Ben leaned over the desk, his head and arms nearly knocking over the Gazelle paraphernalia scattered about its top, "But speaking of children…"
Judy closed her eyes, crossing her arms, "Benjamin."
Benjamin giggled, "No, this is different. Even if fox-bunnies still sound like the cutest…" Judy's face contorted in annoyance at his under-the-breath comment.
Nick grinned at Judy's reaction, but placated Ben nonetheless, "Clawhauser. Stay with us, bud."
"Right, well rumor is that we're getting a new transfer soon. And by soon I mean tomorrow."
Although still annoyed at Benjamin's insistence that her and Nick were a couple fated, the information he provided piqued her interest, "Rumor? If they're being transferred in tomorrow shouldn't you have already processed their information into the system?"
From experience, Judy knew that the layers of bureaucracy that handled the police profile system could be impedingly slow. However, even she was a known transfer long before she actually arrived in Precinct 1.
Benjamin smiled widely at her deduction, "That's what I was thinking too! I usually get the files a week in advance, but on this one… Just straight outta the blue!" It was obvious to Judy that Ben was getting some entertainment out of the transfer 'mystery'.
"So, 'children'?" Nick directed.
"Apparently were getting one of the youngest detectives in ZPD history to replace Tuskovich."
Judy's left ear flicked. Nick leaned his elbow against the counter with a hand holding his head up, "How young?"
"Twenty-two." Ben giggled excitedly at his reveal.
Judy's brow scrunched and her mouth curved downward, "Twenty-two and detective? You need at least four years and an in-rank promotion before you can even take the test, let alone…" Her fingers rattled off the ZPD requirement's before Nick placed a hand on her own and brought it down. She was about to yell at him for his interruption, but the fox continued on before she could react.
"Ms. Protocol here is right. Although… If they joined right out of high school they'd have just enough time," Nick moved his paw up from her hand to her shoulder and patted it as if she were a child.
Judy huffed. Even after all this time he still treats me like a child, she thought. She knew that he only did it to piss her off. Part of her also knew that she only got pissed off about it because he got enjoyment when she did. What a stupid cycle. Nonetheless Judy rolled her shoulder to escape the offending paw, "But still."
Nick smiled toward her before sighing at Ben, "But still. I think you got your numbers wrong, Spots."
Ben's victorious grin fell at their skepticism, "It's true! At least, Fangmeyer says it's true."
Nick looked to Judy with a knowing, wry grin. "Who could have predicted this?" he asked, looking toward the ceiling with dramatic flair.
Judy shook her head, but still smiled, at his usual sarcasm, "Don't take Fangmeyer too seriously, Ben. You know how he is." Judy knew that he was one of the forerunners behind the dumb 'WildeHopps' debacle. Although Judy maintained a working relationship with the wolf, he was certainly on her 'shit list'.
Ben released a long sigh as he reached toward his phone and started typing away in a surprising display of dexterity, "Maybe, just thought you'd guys would want to know. We'll see if its true tomorrow."
Nick patted the desk and lifted himself off it in one smooth motion, "Don't get your hopes up."
"They always are, Nicky!" Ben's musical voice was infectious in how it brought about smiles in others.
Nick made a gun motion with his hand and gave Ben a trademark wink, "And that's why we love ya."
Judy punched his shoulder and grabbed him by his elbow, "Come on you gossipy old woman, we have a report to write."
The fox slumped defeated, his shoulders deflating, "The ball and chain beckons once more."
"Bye!" Ben waved his paw in a wide, nearly obnoxious arc as the two made their way to the offices. Ben's eyes flicked to the way Judy continued to pull on Nick's elbow. He squealed in delight.
Purple eyes glanced from the computer screen to the large, light-brown door across the room. Next to it had once read "Detective Arnold Tuskovich". Now, all that was there was an empty plaque where a name should be. Judy's teeth clenched together before looking back to the report on her screen, her posture sagging as a pain in her jaw developed.
Through the meager windows of the office a blue darkness shrouded inward, attempting to overtake the lights spread throughout the room. The contrast between the artificial light and the natural darkness outside made the office seem harsh and clinical.
"New detective, huh?" Judy's voice was thicker, as if she hadn't talked for a while. She used that as explanation.
Nick looked over his shoulder at the bunny who he shared a cubicle with. He continued to type, listing off the various details of the tickets they had processed that day. "We'll see. It's still Fangmeyer's word which is worth about as much as a giraffe in a limbo contest."
Judy would have been worried about a certain wolf hearing Nick's jab at his trustworthiness, but they were alone in the offices. Everyone else was either gone or out on patrol. Nick hated how Judy would stress over each and every report till it was much too late, but he eventually followed her lead.
"Yeah." Judy leaned back in her chair, a creak of dissent arising from it.
"Worried they might steal your spotlight, Carrots? Didn't think you'd be so-"
"No! I- I was just… curious." Judy interrupted him with a quickness she quickly regretted. She lifted clenched paws to her eyes and rubbed.
Nick swiveled his computer chair around to look at the bunny, "That doesn't sound like 'just curious' to me. Plus, your ears are drooping." Nick pulled one the of said 'drooping' ears down with a smirk.
Judy yelped and batted his hand away loosely, mumbling, "Just forget it."
Judy cursed internally as a tingling sensation swarmed across her cheeks like a column of ants. Ever since she had known him, she knew Nick was extremely acute to other's body language. It had become one of his best traits over the course of his career. However, when the ability was turned onto Judy a sweeping feeling of vulnerability washed over her. Judy clenched her paws to the sides of the chair and straightened her back, and ears, refusing to make eye contact with the fox.
"Nuh uh, you're not getting off the hook that easily." Nick wagged a single finger at her.
Her paws fell limp. At the outskirts of her mind she felt the tugging sensation, making her aware of the doorway that led out of the office. "It's nothing."
Nick sighed and dropped his voice, "Oh come on, Judy."
Damn him.
"I just thought the Chief would look from inside the precinct to replace Tuskovich, like…" Judy trailed off and began twirling her carrot shaped pen around her fingers
Nick slowly used a paw to turn Judy's chair around to face him, "Someone like a bunny?" Nick was leaning forward, hands crossed over his thighs. His green eyes weren't squinting with practiced smugness.
Judy continued looking down at the pen in her paw. A small smile played across her mouth. "No, that would be hypocritical. It'd be too soon for me too."
"But you thought…" One of his orange paws moved in a slow circle, paw facing up.
Judy gripped the pen harder. "I didn't think, I hoped that maybe…"
"Maybe you had earned it." Nick offered her a lopsided, yet soft, smile.
Judy looked away and shook her head, sighing, "Kind of. I don't know. Gosh, sometimes I'm still just a dumb bunny." She resorted to leaning back onto the desk with an elbow, turning away in her chair slightly.
"Nah, you're just a dumb dreamer." Nick closed his eyes and shrugged.
"Pfft, thanks." Judy smiled as her eyes softened with a slight glow. She broke eye contact and fixated her gaze on the orange, pen. It remained still.
"…A dreamer that made their dreams reality." Nick punctuated his addition with a poke to her shoulder.
Judy snorted, glancing to her side at him, "It wasn't just me. I had some help on the way."
Nick leaned back and shook his head, crossing his arms, "I don't know. You're pretty stubborn."
Judy swiveled toward him and poked his knee, "Like some help from you."
Nick's eyes widened and he snapped in remembrance, "Oh right, that time when you held my financial history hostage."
Judy crossed her arms and raised her head, "And look where my brilliance led us."
Nick's eyes lids drooped. However, Judy noted it wasn't in smugness. Instead they were lidden with satisfaction. Genuine. "Yeah, you're right. We've done pretty good."
Judy raised an eyebrow and wrinkled her nose, "Oh? Has the devil's advocate ceded?"
Nick leaned forward once more and winked, "Only for you."
"How kind." Judy offered a bemused smile at the fox.
Nick crossed his arms behind his back, and tilted his gaze toward the ceiling, "You'll get there, Carrots. You're easily one of the best officers in the ZPD, maybe ever."
Judy coughed and itched one her ears, "Oh shut up, dumb fox." Sometimes he can be so-
"No it's true. Well, probably because you got paired with the actual best officer." Nick looked down at her from his tilted position, a smarmy grin on his face.
Judy huffed and then shook her head, smiling all the while, "Typical."
Judy laughed and, soon after, Nick joined in. Judy mirrored her partner's stance and laced her own paws behind her head. The reports could wait. Both stayed leaning back in their chairs, legs nearly bumping into one another. Judy focused her hearing inward. A steady, tranquil pulse echoed throughout her body, up into her ears. For a moment she thought if she remained in the position she would begin floating away; toward the ceiling. Judy released a satisfied sigh.
She would be okay with that.
Just as she was wondering whether or not the fox across from her was feeling the same way he interrupted, "So, 'detective'?"
Although irritated at the breaking of the silence she answered, "One day."
Nick touched her leg with his foot as he sat cross legged, "And then?"
"'And then' I'll have an answer for you." Judy answered tucking in her bottom lip, nearly pulling away from the contact.
Nick hummed and nodded slowly, eyes closed, "Fair enough."
The silence that returned tricked her back into peace.
"Hopps! Wilde! You better be finishing up your report." The loud voice echoed through the empty office, knocking them both out of their respective meditative states.
Nick rubbed the back of his neck and glared at an approximation of where the voice was, "You can always count on Big Bull Blue to ruin such a touching moment." He whispered to Judy before clearing his throat, "Of course, O' Captain! My Captain!"
The large water buffalo rounded the corner, his hooves sending a slight tremor through the floor. "Like I'd take your word alone, Wilde," he responded gruffly, as he leaned against the green and glass half wall that divided the two's cubicle from the rest.
Nick swiveled toward the police chief and flashed him a smug grin. Judy cleared her throat, turning back toward her computer while giving the chief a thumbs up, "He's right, we're just finishing up."
Although the chief's face seemed to be chiseled into an eternally dour expression, at times a small smile broke through the stony façade. Just now, Judy knew if she blinked she would have missed it. He tapped a paw against the divider and pointed at her screen, "Good. You're both dismissed once those are sent over to me."
Judy nodded and started typing, "Yes, Sir."
"Your Highness…" Nick bowed, placing a paw on his chest and stretching his other arm out.
Chief Bogo huffed and shook his head slowly as he departed back to his office.
Judy sighed as she heard Bogo's hoovesteps draw far enough away, "You know, it be better for you if you showed a little more respect."
Nick chuckled and swiveled around to return to his own report, "And steal your role in this duet? Not a chance."
The night air outside Headquarters was crisp and cool. One of the perks of being assigned to City Centre was the even temperature throughout the year. Judy rolled her shoulders and stopped her walk to the parking lot to stretch. Nick stopped as well, paws in his pockets. Both reports were finished, with much prodding from Nick to hurry up, and sent in by Nick to the Chief. Half past eight was not the worst time on record. Nick seemed to agree with his usual, smirk adorning his face.
Judy finished her stretch with a yawn before taking a deep breath of the cool night air.
"So," Nick started, scratching the side of his face with a free paw, "what are you doing tonight?"
"I don't know. Dinner and then bed, I guess." Judy shrugged and held her paws up in defeat.
Nick looked blankly into her eyes.
"Wanna fuck?"
Judy sputtered, nearly falling over.
"N-Nick! What the hell?! Why do you have to say things like that?" Judy glowered up at the smug face as he made a valiant attempt to hide his laughter.
Nick leaned in close and brought a single claw to her chin, lifting it upwards, "Because I'm madly in love with you, Cottontail."
Judy punched his shoulder and pulled away as Nick nursed his wound, "Because you know it makes me uncomfortable."
Nick rubbed the spot where she hit him and winced, "Me? Intentionally make you uncomfortable?! Ridiculous."
Judy rolled her eyes, crossing her arms, "Right. How could I be so hasty?"
"Well, since you are a rabbit I'll let you off this once." Nick rolled his shoulders.
Judy shot him a raised eyebrow, "Gee, thanks."
Nick shook his head and pushed his left paw back into his pocket, "Well, if you aren't going to accept my offer of amorous connection then I bid you farewell, M'lady." Nick began walking away toward the main avenue, but not before waving two fingers at her from behind.
"See ya tomorrow, Catsanova. Have fun bunking with Finnick!" Judy shouted after him with a coy grin.
The two fingered farewell quickly transformed into a single middle finger as he walked off toward the small, fennec fox's place.
Judy closed her eyes and let out a long sigh, shaking her arms out. Although she felt less tense she didn't feel any better once the tightness in her body left. In fact, she felt more empty.
"Detective…" Judy mumbled.
Detective Hopps.
Judy inhaled deeply.
The rabbit straightened her back and clenched her paws once. One day.
With a fast-paced stride, even for a bunny, Judy made her way past the parking lot toward the Savanah Central train station.
As Judy had expected, the station was filled with animals moving through the station to get to their target trains; the station being a connection point between three different lines and the line that headed out from Zootopia to the Bunny Burrows. Home, Judy thought, but quickly pushed the idea away as she made her way to the Inner Loop train. You've been here for nearly three years already, she told herself, your home's here.
Judy wanted to slap herself. She was still pouting about her lack of promotion. She wanted to go back to her parents. You're not a child, Judy. You're a grown woman. Act like it.
However, she couldn't push away the thoughts. Not entirely. She still got passed up for Tuskovich's position. After working so hard for so long, Judy thought that she had impressed Bogo enough for him to give her a chance at being detective. Her pay had gotten better after a few years at the precinct, but that was not why she had her eyes set on detective. It wasn't a product of necessity. I want it.
After swiping her weekly metro ticket, the Inner Loop train pulled into the station, the herds of animals moving into and out of the cabin. Judy followed.
Judy settled under one of the lower handholds hanging above as a variety of different animals all huddled together. She grabbed ahold once the train began moving.
"Next stop: Little Rodentia," the feminine voice on the metro's intercom alerted.
Judy looked up at the electronic signed that scrolled the same "Little Rodentia". Her face mouth pressed together in a slight grimace.
Judy knew of a relatively cheap liquor store near the Little Rodentia station. Small, but had a nice line of cheap red wines. She recalled her nights in Bunny Burrows with a few of her friends and siblings. Oh, the days of drunken bliss. Judy slightly smiled at the memories.
However, a rattle on the track broke her from her reminiscing as she grabbed the handhold tighter.
You're an adult, Judy. You don't need to drown your worries away in a bottle like a sad teenager. Judy's body began feeling heavier. Even if it would only be for tonight… If any night called for a nice bottle of alcohol Judy knew tonight was that night.
But a lower, smug voice told her otherwise.
She recalled the conversation with Nick. How supportive he had been. Through everything that life had thrown at her while she was in Zootopia Nick had always been there to bring her back onto her feet.
And not just him, she knew. Her parents had always been there; her mom always comforting her after a bad bout' of teen angst. Or her older siblings helping her up when she got knocked down. Judy looked once more up at the electronic, scrolling sign. "Little Rodentia". No, she thought, I'll just go home and sleep it off.
"Arriving at: Little Rodentia station." The train slid to a halt at the platform and the sliding doors opened. Judy's nose twitched and her brow pulled inwards. Animals began flooding out to the station, a crowd waiting to the sides to enter the train.
Just go home, Judy.
Judy's eyes closed and then reopened with a gulp. She set her jaw and licked her lips.
The bright morning sun reflecting off the linoleum floor of the Headquarters lobby was like a flashbang specifically aimed at Judy's head. She groaned.
As she passed a painfully loud citizen complaining to a tiger officer, an even louder voice found her ears, "Good morning, Judy!"
Judy cringed as she felt as if her vision had been rattled by Clawhauser's greeting. She brought a paw up and rubbed at her temple.
"Ahem," Judy attempted to clear her dry throat, "Good morning Ben. Did Nick come in yet?"
Ben's eyebrows furrowed and his head cocked lightly to the left, "I haven't seen him."
Judy leaned upon the reception desk and brought a paw down her face, letting it slid off and land on the desk. "Good," She gulped, "cause it's his turn to pick up Stagbucks." And I swear on gran's life, if he forgets…
Ben arched his back forward, peering closer at Judy with a continually arched brow, "You feeling alright?"
Judy forced a smile and waved her hand dismissively, "Oh, yeah. Just didn't get a lot of sleep last night."
Benjamin hummed quizzically. However, something behind Judy stole his attention, "Well, looks like your other half's here."
Judy sighed and prepared to interject, "Ben, I…", but the distinct smell of fresh coffee filled her nostrils, "Whatever, I'm too tired to deal right now."
Judy turned and made her ways to the courier of coffee. The red fox smugly held a cardboard cup holder with two drinks in it: one a white, covered hot beverage and the other a clear, white and light brown cold drink. Nick winked and walked with his head high toward her, "That's what I'm here for Carrots."
Judy clenched her teeth, yet persevered to Nick, "I don't think I've ever been happier to see you."
Nick's eyes squinted for a fraction of a second but slipped even deeper into the depths of smugness after realization. With a lavish nod the fox grabbed the hot coffee out of the holder and held it toward the bunny, "One Las Lluvias black for Ms. Sunshine." However, when she reached toward it like a wolf to a howl party ticket, Nick raised it higher, just out of her grasp, "If she earns it."
Judy's cheeks puffed up and her eyes narrowed dangerously at the fox, "Just give me the damn coffee, you monster." The rabbit jumped and grabbed the coffee from his hands, careful not to spill any of the life-giving liquid.
When the hot, black brew entered her mouth Judy couldn't help but groan in pleasure.
Nick clucked his tongue and walked toward the cheetah behind the desk, "Did you see that Benjy? Not an ounce of gratitude in that bunny soul of hers. What darkness lies in the hearts of mammals." Judy glared at him as she continued sipping her coffee.
Nick shook his head at the rabbit, but turned his attention to the large cat to his side when he noted the half-lidded, satisfied expression on his face, "And what about you? Why so smug?"
Benjamin shrugged and looked at Nick with wide eyes, "Oh, no reason." Nick snorted and lifted his paw to respond.
"Ah," Judy sighed, drawing the attention of Nick and Ben, "I can already feel the lovely caffeine running through my veins."
Nick placed his own drink on the desk and gestured both arms at Judy, "This, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call an addict."
Judy looked at him and then sighed, "Still not enough to deal with you though." With another sip of her coffee Judy walked past Nick and toward the bull pen. "Let's go check in."
Nick nodded, but pointed a thumb toward the upstairs office of the police chief, "Sure, but we should make sure that Bogo got the report."
Judy looked behind her shoulder at the fox for a moment, inspecting him. Then she groaned, placing a paw on her temple for what must have been the one-hundredth time that morning, "Ugh, you better have sent it in before we left."
Nick gulped, but retained his cool composure. For all the good it will do him, Judy thought. "Your lack of faith is disturbing. Plus, that was only once. I just… need to make sure." Nick rubbed a single paw down his chest.
Judy changed course toward the fox and stuck a finger into the middle of his chest, "It's your head this time."
Nick rolled his eyes, "All right, Ramspierre," and began heading toward the stairs.
Every step Judy made up the staircase was accompanied with a hammer to her head. As she finished walking to the second floor she grabbed onto the wood railing and took a deep breath. All the while she maintained her glare at Nick. She knew he had planned this once he saw her condition this morning. Damn that sly fox.
Nick was ahead of her, already at the office door. Peeking into the window of Chief Bogo's door, "Looks like he's in a meeting."
Judy took another sip of her coffee and walked the rest of the way to him. Nick shrugged his shoulders, "Well, don't say I didn't..." The fox trailed off as his eyes caught something in the office. Nick's ears raised higher in curiosity.
"What?" Judy asked. Then with a groan and a paw placed on her hip she realized, "Damnit, you didn't send it in did you?"
Nick shook his head and his ears returned to their normal, angled state, "No, that's not it."
"What then?"
Nick looked at her for a moment, and then looked back. Judy peeked around and looked inside the office. Inside, she spotted chief Bogo sitting down speaking with a spotted, small cat whose back faced the two. Nick opened his mouth, "That's…" but closed it quickly, "Never mind."
Judy looked up at her partner with a pinched brow, "Nick?"
Nick smiled and winked, "We can ask him later. We've got to go check in." With his paw on her wrist he began dragging her toward the staircase.
Judy sighed, "Damn you..." Now she knew he had just wanted to make her take the stairs.