Chapter 1: Wilde Abodes

Zootopia Police Headquarters
June 24
16:55

Officer Judy Hopps and her partner Nick Wilde were just wrapping up the last of their paperwork from the storm. Neither had spent much time away from the station over those last three days, with one or the other catching a quick catnap or coffee to help propel them through the paperwork.

The storm had blown out as fast as it had come in, but not before taking a good chunk of city with it. Across the city, approximately 150,000 were affected, with 100,000 already requiring temporary accommodation. The injuries were few and far between, oddly enough, in what people were calling the luckiest miss of the decade. The estimates for repairs weren't quite as happy- the Armadillo Arms could take as long as a year or two to replace, if it even would be.

While Judy had lost her abode, Nick's had weathered the storm perfectly. It was amazing how many of her co-workers had offered her a place to stay- only Nick could do so on a semi-permanent basis, however. Even her parents had offered her a place, though she knew there was little chance of that- the train ride was a 2 hour journey, and that didn't factor in getting from Zootopia Central Station to the Precinct.

A small knock at the door startled Judy. "Ready to go, Carrots?"

She turned in her seat, facing her partner. His shirt was haphazardly tucked in, tie still loosened, with his rain jacket slung over his shoulder. "We got a couple days off to get you re-situated."

"We?" she asked, a conspiratorial eyebrow raised.

"Yeah. Bogo wanted me to make sure that you didn't try to solve cases on your off days." Judy's look didn't relent. "Alright, I kinda asked, because the alternate was parking duty."

Judy repressed a shudder. The animals of Zootopia didn't care what was going on, they would tell you that they hated your guts for enforcing the parking regulations. Lesser cops had been known to curl up in a safe spot and cry. "Alright, fair enough."

As the pair walked out, they failed to notice the bets that Clawhauser, Bogo, and a handful of the other cops were making.

Judy started trudging towards her apartment after she left the station. "Hey, Carrots?" called Nick across the plaza, "Car's over here."

"Since when did you have a car?" asked Judy, a bit excitedly.

"I've had it since I was 17," replied Nick, scratching the back of his head, "though most days I just walk to work and back."

Judy started to wonder which of the old, beat-up cars in the lot was Nick's. At least, that was the case until she saw him getting into a shiny, red (but still old) convertible.

"You know, I wouldn't have expected that you'd have one of these…" she said, as she entered the car.

Nick shrugged. "Stella's a beaut, isn't she? Took me a while to fix her up, you should have seen what she looked like when I first got her."

"She? Stella?" Judy guffawed. "What is it with men and their cars?"

Nick rolled his eyes at her and stuck his tongue out at her. "It's not just men. Get a car you really like and then come talk to me."

She couldn't say that she was surprised at the state of her apartment. The floor was still mushy to the touch, and the remains of clothes, bed, and furniture were strewn about. In the end, she was able to grab just the duffel bag that she first took to town, and a small handful of clothes- enough to get her by for a day or two. "I guess it's a good thing I hadn't yet sprung for that iCarrot Laptop I'd been wanting," she said.

On the way back to Nick's, her phone buzzed. She took a look at who it was from. Fru Fru.

You available for dinner?

Judy pondered for a moment, then responded.

No can do, been on duty for 72 hours, bit sleepy. Her eyelids began to feel heavy while she continued responding. Late-ish brunch tomorrow sound good?

She didn't have to wait long before her phone vibrated again.

Sounds great. I'll put us down for 11 at the usual. I'm paying, of course ;) Judy chuckled. She hadn't paid for anything yet with Fru Fru or Mr. Big- both of whom insisted that she was one of the family. For 3 or 4? That, Judy wasn't expecting- Nick had not been accepted as quickly or openly into the family as she, but she had assumed that they'd been mending bridges. She wasn't too sure, as Nick tended to be cagey with his past.

"FruFru invited us to brunch."

Nick, unlike Judy, did not appear to be as shocked. "Well that's awfully nice of her."

Her response was short and simple. 4. See you guys tomorrow!

Before she knew it, she was asleep, phone still in hand.

Wilde Abodes
June 24
17:46

"Alright Carrots, we're here." Nick turned to look at the sleeping passenger in his car. Out like a lightbulb.

As if carrying a sleeping child, Nick picked up his partner, and began walking towards the entrance, where a fox held the door open for him. "Nicholas Wilde," began the other fox, "What took you so long?"

"Sorry, mother," huffed Nick, "We had to check on her apartment first."

"Oh. That's right." She looked sheepishly back at her son.

As Nick walked towards the elevator, he was aware of his mother grabbing the car keys off his belt. "Her stuff's in the trunk- a small box and a duffel."

It wasn't long before he got up to his apartment, where he found the door opened already for him. Thanks, mom.

Laying the bunny gently on his guest bed, he then proceeded to tuck her in, and was a little surprised to see his mother standing there, a bemused smile on her face. "You were right, not much," she said, smile fading a bit. "Do you think there's anything that I should grab her?"

"She could probably use some night clothes, maybe other things…" Nick trailed off, a bit out of thinking, a bit out of exhaustion. "I can guarantee that she needs a new charger, hers was dead." He started heading out of the bedroom, closing the door gently.

"Alright, I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks mom," responded Nick sincerely, hugging his mother.

"It's the least I can do. After all, she did put you on the straight and narrow."

Nick rolled his eyes. "Yes, mother."

"I'll make sure that Sheila gets home safely. Also, I presume I am telling your uncle that the pair of you won't be at dinner?"

"Unfortunately no, sorry. Please send my regards."

"Will do." On her way out, she shut the door, gently.

With this done, Nick went to his own room and settled in for a night of sleep.