A/N:
Since work is more than just a little demanding and stressful these days I thought I'd at least try to write a new story for 'Glimpses' to maybe get the creative juices flowing again.
I'm quite happy how it turned out, but it took far too long and 'Blindsided' might still have to wait a little longer for a new chapter I'm afraid :-/
As so often, my thanks goes to Quakky for proofreading ^^
(Not a) Morning Mammal
Noise.
The city was always loud, but he hated that specific noise.
It was the dissonant melody of a night being over and sleep fleeing beyond the horizon.
The offending device was audibly rattling on his nightstand, vibration being turned on as well as the alarm.
Without that combination, he would most likely turn over and simply ignore it.
But that wasn't an option.
It would mean getting into trouble with ol' buffalo butt.
More than that, it would mean getting into trouble with his adorably intimidating long-eared, fluff-butted partner.
Nope, pulling the blanket over his head was out of the question.
Not even cracking open one eye, he gruffly reached for his phone, pushing it almost over the edge.
He was able to barely secure it with two claws before gravity claimed its prize.
Silence settled back over his room, and with a tired groan, Nick Wilde rose from the comfortable confines of his bed.
Becoming a police officer had been a turning point in his life.
A second chance.
A fresh start.
But he hated mornings.
He hated them with a burning passion.
The warm rays of sun that sneaked in through the gaps in the blinds didn't do much to lift his mood. They only caused him to keep his eyes shut, not feeling ready to face the day just yet.
He had lived in this apartment for over a decade now and knew the layout like the back of his paw anyway.
The light also made his russet and cream colored coat shine softly while he was standing there in the fur.
With hunched shoulders, laid-back ears, and hanging head he tried to sort his priorities.
Clothes?
Nah, can wait.
Shower?
Later. Would probably fall asleep and drown.
The thought made him chuckle. That would be quite a way to go.
Coffee?
His ears perked up a little at the mental image of the steaming hot, dark, aromatic deliciousness that was the essence of his life.
Coffee it is then.
His paws were dragging over the carpet, his paw pads and claws creating a soft scratching sound with every step while he blindly approached the door to his bedroom.
A morose grunt fled his lips when he bumped into the chair in front of his desk.
When he missed his door by a good foot, feeling around the wall until he reluctantly opened one eye to a slit, the fox hissed at the light and shut it again once he had finally entered the small hallway.
I hate mornings. I hate mornings. I hate mornings.
An endless mantra ran through his mind, stuck on repeat.
'bump'
There was the doorframe, leading to the kitchen.
'growl'
I hate mornings!
Once he had entered the room, he squeezed his eyes shut some more.
Morning light unimpededly fell in through the eastward facing window and even with his eyes closed it was almost too much for his poor, muddled, foxy brain to bear.
Slowly, so to not run into anything else, he crossed the space between where he was standing, and the cupboards where he knew his salvation was waiting.
It still took him a moment to find the handle and open the first door.
Dang it!
He needn't even burden his eyes. His nose told him that he had found the cereals.
Next door.
No coffee, no food.
Okay, he carefully opened one eye.
Plates.
Oh, come on, brain. You want that coffee too, right? Work for it!
Next one.
Mugs. That was at least something.
He took one with an image of dancing, cartoon-faced blueberries - a present from Judy - out and placed it on the counter before continuing in his search.
Two more doors and finally the heavenly scent of aromatic beans hit his keen nose.
Ugh, rightmost door, not leftmost. Ah, whatever.
His nostrils widened when he inhaled with satisfaction.
When he took his first sip a few minutes later, the frown disappeared from his face for the first time this morning.
Smacking his lips, he stepped in front of the window taking a look outside with still almost squinted shut eyes.
As early as it was there were already enough mammals out and about. The sidewalks had started to fill with pedestrians on their way to work while cars passed by on the streets sending bright reflections up to his apartment.
One vehicle caught his eye, its paint a specific shade of violet.
Not really a color I would choose for a car, Nick thought.
Though he couldn't help the small smile that stole across his face since it reminded him of a certain lagomorphic partner of his.
His still idling brain started to wonder, coming up with the question what a typical morning for Carrots would look like.
An amused chuckle escaped his lips.
He could picture her before his inner eye, shooting up at the first sound of her alarm if it would even have a chance to go off.
After that she would change in a wink, probably do some minor… or major morning workout, maybe take a jog and greet every mammal she met in her typical upbeat manner while beaming at them.
Then she would jump into the shower, humming along to the newest Gazelle song before changing into her uniform.
When putting on her badge, her eyes would widen, her mouth forming a surprised 'O'.
Wait, the last part didn't sound right.
And yet he could see that picture clear as day.
He took another sip of his coffee, mulling over the question why she would have that expression on her face. But the image wouldn't budge, as little sense as it made.
His ears folded back against his head, eyes starting to mirror the ones of the very real Judy Hopps that was standing on the kitchen's threshold gaping at his still extremely naked self.
At least his tail seemed to have the presence of mind to tug between his legs, bending upwards at the front to cover his foxhood.
The caffeine finally started to work, kick-started his brain and made Nick feel like facepalming.
Yesterday? Becoming roommates? Moving here together? Furnishing the whole apartment in a major effort with the help of our friends? You remember, fox?
He also realized at last why he was so out of sorts this morning; more so than usual.
Bumping into everything.
Not finding his coffee that in his old apartment indeed had always been standing behind the leftmost door of his cupboard.
Looking out onto a neighborhood that wasn't his.
And now he was here, standing nakedly in front of his adorable, gawking bunny-partner who couldn't take her eyes off him and who's muzzle was opening and closing like she wanted to say something but just didn't find the right words.
When he cleared his throat, she jerked out of her stupor, her eyes finally meeting his.
"Morning, Fluff" he put on the best, unfazed smile he could muster at this point.
Her own "Morning" was almost nothing more than a squeak before she darted back into the hallway and out of his sight.
With a sigh, he took another sip from his mug.
Great, first day as roommates and I pulled a flasher on her. Well done, Nicky boy. She'll now think you are a pervert.
"You don't always run around naked in the morning… do you?"
The nervous question from just around the corner made his ears perk up again.
"In my old apartment, I did. But I totally forgot where I am when I woke up today. Sorry Carrots. You probably didn't want to see scrawny old me first thing in the morning," he tried to sprinkle in some humor to lighten the mood.
"It's alright. I know you are not a morning mammal. Especially considering that foxes are nocturnal creatures, it must be hard on you getting up this early."
He considered telling her that foxes were more crepuscular than nocturnal, but decided to just roll with it.
"Also," part of her face reappeared in the doorframe, one eye barely peeking inside the room, "I don't think you look scrawny. You are in great shape, and your fur is really beautiful."
Before he could answer to that, her by then burning red face had disappeared again, and he could hear soft pawfalls scurrying down the hallway towards her room.
…
I still hate mornings.
His left ear flicked once in embarrassment, and he felt the heat creeping into his own cheeks.
His tail had loosened up, and the tip was slightly wagging at the memory of her blushing face and the look she had given him.
But I think they have their enjoyable moments as well.