Chapter 4: Spray of Confusion
The next day, Nick and Judy said goodbye to Judy's parents, and then headed back to Zootopia. Once they got back to their own apartments, Nick and Judy unpacked their belongings. They then relaxed for the rest of the day.
The next day, Nick went to the Zootopia grocery store to buy some food, and other items. Nick decided to hang out with Judy. He called her, asking if she wanted to come over. Besides, he had thought of an idea for how to help her understand what it was like for foxes to be mistreated.
"Hi Judy, how are you doing?" Nick asked politely.
"I'm doing good, Nick. What's new?" Judy asked curiously.
"Nothing much. I was wondering if you wanted to come hang out with me tonight." Nick replied back.
"Sure. I will be over soon," Judy replied before they both said goodbye and hung up.
"Perfect!" Nick told himself, getting the meal ready. Nick knew of course that Judy didn't eat meat, so he made some meat and vegetable tacos. Luckily, he looked up a vegetarian taco recipe on his phone, which helped. After making the tacos and cleaning up, Nick took something out from his pants pocket. It was a small, gray container of "Bunny Repellent". Nick sighed.
"I'm sorry Judy. But I want you to understand..." Nick said, putting the small container into his pocket. Suddenly, there was a knock on his door. Nick walked up and answered the door.
"Hi Nick! How are you?" Judy said before Nick let her inside the house.
"I'm doing good. I made us tacos," Nick replied, closing the door.
"Sweet!" Judy commented before sitting at the table. Nick joined her and they ate their dinner.
Afterwards, they sat on the couch hanging out. Nick and Judy talked for hours. That is, until Nick asked her something.
"Judy, do you still carry around that fox repellent?" Nick asked sadly. Judy's ears dropped.
"Yes. But it's not that I don't trust you! It's because my dad is very protective of me. He just wants me to be safe!" Judy said, feeling sad, knowing what Nick was getting at.
"I see," Nick replied sadly again.
"I'm sorry Nick. I'm sorry," Judy said, now understanding more about what Nick was talking about. Nick got off the couch and sighed. His back to Judy.
"You know Judy, when you almost used it on me, and I saw how scared you were, I really felt betrayed. Thank goodness we became friends again..." Nick said.
"Yeah. Thank goodness. But Nick, why are you bringing this up?" Judy replied.
"Judy, I know you almost used that fox repellent on me. But do you really know what it feels like? To get sprayed by a container just because mammals view you differently?" Nick asked.
"No. I can't imagine what that would be like!" Judy responded.
"I'm sorry Judy. But I want you to understand..." Nick said. Then, without any time to ask what he was talking about, Nick grabbed his bunny repellent spray, and sprayed Judy!
"Ahhhhhhhhhh!" Judy screamed, the spray hitting her eyes, making them burn. Judy covered her eyes with her paws, and screamed. Nick put the spray over on a table, and then walked up to Judy. He helped Judy to his bathroom, and helped get red of the Burning and any spray that may have damaged her eyes. Luckily, after several minutes or so, she was better.
"Nick! Why did you do that?!" Judy shouted, tears coming down her furry face as she sat down on the couch. Then, for the first time, Nick yelled at her.
"You want to know why? You want to know?! I SPRAYED YOU BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT FOXES LIKE ME HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH FOR YEARS!" Nick exclaimed, surprising Judy. Nick paced the room, then looked back at her.
"Do you know what it's like, to walk around, going about your day, and see mammals looking at you like you're going to do something bad? Or you just go about your day and get sprayed by fox repellent?" Nick exclaimed to Judy.
"N-No," Judy replied. Nick then sat next to her, and gave her a sympathetic look.
"Well, now you do. I'm sorry Judy, but I just wanted you to understand what it's like for use foxes. I'm sorry," Nick replied gently. Judy looked down, then back at Nick.
"Why? Why did you have to spray me? Couldn't you have told me in words?" Judy asked sadly.
"If I had just told you, would you be feeling the pain you feel now? The feeling of doing nothing wrong, but you get mistreated anyways?" Nick replied back. Judy thought hard, and realized what Nick was talking about.
"No, I wouldn't. I would just be imaging what you telling me, and understanding through words," Judy replied.
"I'm sorry Judy. I really am," Nick said softly.
"No worries Nick. I understand," Judy replied. She then hugged Nick and he hugged her back. He even let her spend the night, and returned her to her apartment the next day. That is, until they would hang out later.