Chapter 7 – Confessions in the park
Judy had brought a large basket and a comfortable blanket the two mammals were now sitting on. The surface of the pond next to them was illuminated by the setting evening sun. Both were now in civilian clothing, as they had quickly gone home after their shifts ended to prepare for the occasion.
Judy hadn't unpacked everything from the basket yet, but Nicks nose already told him that blueberries were definitely in there. And not just store bought ones either, this intense sweet smell could only originate from fresh blueberries from the Hopps farm.
Since there were no times in the last couple of days in which Judy could have gone home to pick them, Nick was unsure how she managed to bring his favorite kind of fruit on this day, did she ask her parents to send them? Had Judy planned to invite him and gotten the blueberries just for him? These questions would have to remain unanswered for now.
"Do you want to know what I got in the bottom of my basket Nick?" Judy finally asked.
"I would recognize that smell a kilometer against the wind Carrots, you brought some original Hopps farm blueberries haven't you?"
"I keep forgetting how amazing fox noses are."
"Well my tastebuds are just as amazing and they can't wait for these juicy delights!"
Judy took an expecially large and well formed blueberry out of her basket and held it into Nicks direction. When he wanted to take it though, she quickly closed her hand and didn't allow him to get it.
"Not so fast slick. You have to earn it first"
Sensing that this was going to be fun, Nick obeyed her and in as innocent a voice as he could muster he asked "What tasks do I have to fulfill for my master?"
"You just have to answer a few questions. Nothing more. But you have to promise to be honest"
"Carrots do you so much as suggest that I am ever dishonest?."
Both had a little chuckle over this statement.
"Alright I will be honest. Scouts honor. Ask right away."
"Nick why did you take me to Mystic Springs back then?"
The question caught him by surprise. But he wasn't going to break his promise.
"You know why Judy. We got crucial information for the Nighthowlers case."
"That is the whole reason?"
"Well I also wanted to annoy you and show you what your motto of 'everyone can be everything' can mean for different mammals"
"Good fox." She praised him, and gave him the blueberry finally. "But that's not my motto."
"Really? What is it then?"
"Try Everything"
Nick immediately knew he had to take the conversation elsewhere if he didn't want Judy to be sad again. And he most definitely didn't want that.
"Judy have you seen your parents lately?" he finally asked in an effort to change topics and maybe find out how and why she got those blueberries.
"Why would you ask?"
"I am just curious since bunnys usually live in large families how you manage to live alone far away from them?"
"Well we have a video call often so I see them quite frequently. Infact they just called yesterday evening. And I'm not a little kid anymore as you might have noticed slick, I do quite well on my own. But since you brought it up Nick, there is something else I want to ask you if that's ok?"
"Will I get another blueberry?"
"You can have the whole lot of them for one more honest answer."
"So whats the question?"
"Well you know Nick when I was at your place last night I took a look around your flat and all your furniture and stuff."
"Mhm. Did you like it?"
"Yeah sure but I don't really wanna talk about the furniture. There was one thing in particular that cought my intrest."
"Being…?"
"The only picture you have on your wall."
Nicks facial expression immediately got sad and defensive. It was clear that this was a topic he didn't like talking about.
"What about that picture?" He finally asked with a pained grimace.
"Nick I have told you everything about my family and it has over 300 members. And all I know about your family is that your mother bought you a scouts uniform when you were still a child. Don't you think it's time I knew a bit more about your past and your family now that we are parners in the ZPD?"
Nick got up from the picknick blanket, swallowed down all his emotions and put on his usual 'Don't let them see that they get to you' mask that he hadn't worn in Judys presence ever since they solved the Nighthowlers case together. With a lack of any emotion he simply answered "No." and started walking away.
Judy sprung up and shouted after him: "Nick! I'm sorry. We don't have to talk about your family. Just please, come back!" When he showed no response at all, she thought about running after him but decided that it was his choice to leave her behind if he wanted to.
Judy sat back down and started crying. *You dumb bunny, why did you think you had to pressure him if he is clearly so uncomfortable with this topic?* But amidst her feeling of guilt there was also a part of her that blamed Nick for her state. What could be so terrible about his past that even a mention of his family made the fox walk away? Why couldn't he just tell her he didn't want to talk about it and act like a grownup?
Nick heard the bunny crying behind him and guilt mixed in with the pain he felt at any mention of his past life. But breaking the rabbits heart was still the preferable option over discussing his past. It was the reason why Finnick was his only real friend. Whenever he got too close to anyone else, they asked about his past sooner or later, and that was usually when Nick would stop wanting to be friends with them. Finnick however never asked any such questions. He probably just couldn't give a damn about Nicks life which made him the best possible friend in Nicks mind. Now that Judy had brought it up, he wasn't sure how to respond really. Nick knew he would see her again the next day at work, so he couldn't just break contact like he had done so many times before if he wanted to keep his job. He would have to tell her something tomorrow after what he just did, but he had no idea what to tell her.
