Author note:
I think I can safely say this is no longer a drabble. Looking forward to writing the rest of this.
Thanks for the interest you guys :) It's been a while since I tried my hand at fanfiction, but damn, how good of a movie is Zootopia? I just couldn't pass it up.
Some story points: I'm assuming Nick and Judy started partnering up in spring, making this their first autumn together. I'm following their movie ages, so by now, Judy is probably 25, Nick being 33. (24 and 32 in the movie). Yes, Nick's mom is alive. I've read many a great fanfic in which she is not, but I'm going with what the directors have shared about his parentage, little as that is.
I changed the description from Hurt to Friendship, the original idea was much more hurt-y, but it's already deviating from that, so this probably fits better.
Feel free to point out any mistakes I make, English is my third language, spelling mishaps do happen.
Thanks for reading!
Nick gave Judy a curious look as she passed the boxing ring, walking further along into the training facilities. "I thought you wanted to have a go in the ring?"
"Pass, please. I was clung to and crawled over all day. I love kits, I really do, but I'd rather blow off some steam in another way after, if you don't mind. How about we try some chase practice instead?" She pointed to the side dome, laid out as a multilevel complex of interwoven alleys and dim lit rooms. Nick had often quipped it would make for an epic laser tag course, but naturally, Chief Bogo was opposed.
"Sure. You want to be the Officer, or the perp?"
She was hopping in place, warming up a bit. "The perp. Let's see how you like eating my dust."
Nick remained unimpressed. "You talk tough, bunny. I'll give you a five second start."
She bolted away with a smile, and he started to count out loud. She went for the low path, the one with all the nooks and crannies that required some flexible twisting. He scoffed as he started out after her. Did she take him for a rhino?
She was already out of sight as he passed the first turn. Fast Bunny. He picked up the pace, and after a few more twists and turns, her tail bopped into view. She was quite a ways ahead, and this was going to take forever. And of course she just sprinted into the one path where his head was in danger of meeting the ceiling every three steps…
He cried out in pain, crumpling to the ground. His paws shot up to his head, cradling it in agony.
"Are you ok?"
He shook his head with a soft groan. He kept his eyes shut tight and his breath uneven, until he felt her paw brushing his shoulder. Gotcha. He had her on her back before she could even blink.
"Point goes to Wilde, it seems." He smiled lazily, keeping her pinned as she started to struggle. "Now now, none of that. Ask nicely, Carrots." She puffed up her cheeks and huffed.
"You cheated!"
"It's called a hustle, sweetheart." He knew his grin was driving her batty. "Criminals don't always follow the rules. Best you keep that in mind next time. Now, about that asking nicely?"
She shoved him off instead. He dusted himself off with a chuckle. "Are all bunnies sore losers, or is that just you?"
That got him an exasperated sigh. "A true criminal won't stop and turn when the officer in pursuit falls, Nick."
He shrugged. "Point stays. They won't always play fair."
She seemed to contemplate that. "Alright then, Slick Nick, give me your best shot."
His ears perked up in a question. She crouched into her starting position with a sly smile. "Play dirty." She shot off into the dome without further warning.
He didn't even bother with the count down this time. "Just remember you asked for it, Carrots!"
She went low again, but rather than follow, he went high and around, looking for a good scouting spot. He could hear her coming to a halt, followed by silence. He kept his breath even and his ears perked. She could best him in hearing any day of the week, but he wasn't the one moving around. All he had to do was keep quiet and out of sight…
It took a good three minutes for her to finally appear in the little alley he had his eyes on. Her nose was twitching, her ears on high alert. He readied the little pebble he picked up earlier. His paw was cramping up, but he hadn't dared to leave it on the ground until she entered his range, for fear the noise of picking it up would alert those damnable ears. He waited a few painful seconds until her head finally turned, and aimed. Most mammals would jump at a sudden sound, and choose the opposite direction. But he knew his bunny.
Smart, unafraid…
His pebble landed on the floor right across his hiding place. She started, and immediately turned into it, all too eager to have eyes on her assailant again.
…and utterly predictable.
She gave him the satisfaction of yelping as he slammed into her back, toppling them both to the ground. He got a mouthful of bunny ear and a painful shoulder out of it, but that did little to stop him chuckling as he tried to pin her back against his chest. She twisted in his grip, and he locked his arms to prevent that. If she got her feet between them, his advantage would be gone. He growled in frustration as she wouldn't let up, wriggling this way and that, looking for the weak spot in his lock, preventing him from pinning her properly. He pushed off and rolled her underneath, his chest and weight shoving her against the floor. Not giving her time to think, he released the lock, placing his paws firmly on the floor on either side of her head, leaving her just barely enough room to turn. If she propelled herself up against the floor she'd be home free, but he was banking on her to turn, like so… He waited until he caught her eyes, ablaze with furious determination. He pulled his lips back and snarled, inches away from her nose, all teeth and malice. She didn't even flinch, landing a blow under his snout, making his teeth snap together. She slid under his belly with ease.
"That the best you got, Blueberries?"
The taunt burned in his ears, a low growl answering her laughter. "Oh it is on, Fluff!"
"You'll have to catch me first!"
It took him forever to catch her again. What little advantage he had on her in speed, she stole right back with sharp turns. No matter how hard he tried to read her body to anticipate them, she was always a fraction ahead. He tried to chase her into dead ends, but twice he miscalculated, and she found a tight spot to wriggle through, forcing him to double back and start all over again. The third time he was sure he had her, only to be left behind gaping as she actually scaled the impossibly high wall in two jumps.
"Not getting tired, are you?" Her quip was practically oozing smugness.
Good. Use that.
He allowed himself to growl in obvious frustration, hitting the wall with a loud thud. He perked his ears, catching the responding giggle. Left. She went left.
He dropped on all fours and took the long way round, sticking to the shadows. The wooden plate was exactly where he had spotted it before.
"It's not too late to give up, Carrots!" He shouted loudly, to hide the sound of wood scraping on stone. She only laughed in response. "I mean it, I wouldn't hold it against you!" One more shove. "One time only offer, it won't last!"
'Never on your life, Slick!'
He smirked at the taunting tone. Oblivious. Good.
He took it easy chasing her this time, pacing himself. He herded her patiently, never giving away where he wanted her to go, allowing the occasional furious snarl to escape him, to lead her on that he was getting frustrated. When she finally turned into the ally, he had to fight the smile threatening to give him away. Instead, he forced himself to stumble, cursing loudly. She laughed as she sped up, and he knew he had her.
She turned the corner before he could get there to see, but the satisfying thud as she hit the wooden plate was undeniable. He was on her before she could get back up, meeting her scowl with his own brand of smug. "You… are a dead bunny."
"Gerroffme!" She pushed against his chest, but he had her pinned properly this time, paws firmly on her shoulders, her feet on either side of his stomach. She had no leverage to work with, and she knew it.
"Oh no, that's not how it works." He began in earnest. "The sly fox catches the dumb bunny, and then he eats. It's tradition." Judy rolled her eyes with a snort, and tried another shove. "I'd kick all the way down. You'd never eat again."
He allowed his teeth to show just a little in his grin. "I might just risk it. Can I help it that all this chasing has made me hungry?" She smacked him against his snout, half mad, half chuckling. He pretended to snap at her paw with a hungry growl, and she smacked him again, laughing out loud this time. The carefree sound warmed him inside and out, causing a genuine smile to replace his façade. How utterly unafraid she was, this bunny of his.
She responded to his smile with a content hum. "All right, you win this one. Point goes to Wilde. Can I get up now?"
"Nope. Mine." He grinned, ignoring the part of his brain that had suddenly reared up its head to hopefully sniff the air.
She gave him a dry look. "Well yes, obviously. But right now I'd prefer to be your bunny standing up, thank you." She smiled as he let go, rolling away to push herself up, hopping to a standing position with ease. "I got to hand it to you, I'm impressed you caught me." She faltered as she turned to face him. "You ok?"
Nick cursed inwardly. How does she do that?
She was looking at him, worried. But he was in control, wasn't he? Her gaze flicked up for a small instant. Damn those ears!
"Shoulder still hurts", he made up, dragging a paw over the offending traitors. "Is training with you always this intense?"
She helped him up with a smug smile. "Come now, Slick. With me, life is intense."
