Chapter 9
Nick woke slowly in the morning, feeling a soft nuzzle into his neck, and a warm body underneath his left arm. He felt Judy's soft breath against his fur as she slept.
The clock registered 6:15 am.
The figure remained fresh in his mind, that evil smile forcefully branded into his memory. He glanced down, making sure his body was still intact after the terrors he had felt as he dreamed, just to be sure. It felt so real…
Nick moved his paw, caressing his companions back, peace coming over him as he focused on Judy. Her pink gown had opened slightly, he noticed. "Hm…" his paw met soft fur as he lightly explored her back.
She was so gorgeous, he thought, catching a glimpse of her fluffy, cotton tail. Did he dare? Dare, he did. He moved ever so slowly down her back, until he could feel the tip of her tail fur tickle against his paw.
"Mm…" Judy shifted in her sleep, pushing her nose deep within the fur of his neck. Nick's face burned, his chest exploding at the little noises Judy made as he played with the fur of her tail. Her ears twitched near his mouth.
A mischievous glint formed in his eyes as Nick moved his muzzle to them, taking the tip of her right ear in between his teeth. He felt her hot breath quicken as she grasped pawfuls of his neck fur, her body growing tense upon his.
"Ah!" Judy gasped, startled awake at feeling her ear being nibbled, and Nick's hand dangerously close to her tail. "Nicholas P. Wilde!" She scolded, biting her lip when Nick didn't stop nibbling on her ear.
"Yes?" he replied slyly, his voice muffled as he still held her ear gently in his teeth. "What seems to he the problem, officer?"
Desperate to regain control of her body, Judy pressed her lips close to his neck, and bit lightly, satisfied at the immediate release of her ear as he squirmed beneath her.
"Oh?" She mocked him with a teasing giggle, biting him again to feel his claws gently graze her back.
"My goodness, Cottontail, you may as well be a predator," Nick joked, starting to lose his ability to restrain himself.
Suddenly, her nose met his, and she kissed him. "Slow down, big guy," Judy spoke playfully, her violet eyes locked to his, "we could have company at any minute."
"Okay, okay," Nick replied with a sigh. "You know, you're the most beautiful animal in the world, Carrots. I can't get over just how… wonderful you are."
"Niiick…" whispered Judy, looking away as her face grew hot.
Nick's paw held Judy's cheek as he guided her face back to his. "I love you." he whispered to her, his lips barely touching hers.
"I love you too." Judy returned, eyes halfway shut as she internally tried to get ahold of herself, desperately struggling not to throw herself at him.
The steel teeth faded from his memory as Judy's smile took its place.
Nick POV
The days turned to weeks as Judy spent them with me.
There were no secrets left as we continued to build ourselves for each other. She even mentioned her encounter as a child with Gideon Grey, a notorious bully fox that had changed the way she viewed my species for the majority of her life.
"Until I met this fox." Judy finished her story with that, and kissed me.
Judy had started to walk again, her feet nearly healed completely as the third week passed. I watched her walk down the hall, her legs a little shaky.
"You got this!" I yelled, propped up with pillows so I could watch her walk past my room. Her smile flashed bright, letting go of Jocelyn's paw to stand on her own. She wobbled, and I instinctively tensed, ready to rush to her aid of she were to fall.
I watched her balance return, and she beamed at me, taking a few steps on her own. Then, she jumped, only a little, but it was progress!
"Yeah!" I cheered, feeling my tail wag at her success.
"Alright Mrs. Hopps, that's enough for today," Jocelyn smiled, hunching over to lend Judy her paw to lead her back into my room.
"Soon, I'll be able to go back to the station!" Judy exclaimed as she was lifted to my side.
I felt a small twinge of sadness. I'd be in this bed for another few months, at least. My stiches had healed the skin on my stomach, small patches of fur missing where I had been shot, but my internal injuries required frequent care. My right forearm was still firmly encased in a cast, all the way down to my paw, and the thought of Judy working a beat alone made me sick…
Swallowing my sorrow, I turned to Judy's beaming face. "I'm so proud of you!" I nuzzled the base of her ears as she giggled.
"I can't wait to be out of here! Oh, I mean not away from you, Nick. When I'm out I'll return to be with you every night!" She exclaimed, holding my muzzle as she kissed me deeply.
"Eek!" Jocelyn exclaimed, giggling to remind us of her presence in the room as she examined my bandages.
"Ah! Sorry!" Judy burst out, pulling away from me quickly. Jocelyn shook her head in amusement at the couple, re-wrapping the gauze to cover my wounds.
"How did you guys even… start this?" The chipper nurse inquired, motioning at Judy and I on the bed as she held my cast to examine it. "Isn't it odd? Doesn't your two species' normally hate each other!? It's just so different to see you love each other… not bad! But… different."
I placed my paw upon Judy, purposefully dragging my claws lightly down her back out of the nurse's line of sight: just to feel her squirm. "Well… uh… we've been friends for a little over a year now. We… well she… worked a huge missing animals case and I was drug into it. I wasn't on the force at the time. She solved the entire case! I mean, I helped a little. After that, we were partners! We've been best friends ever since."
"That's so sweet!" Jocelyn smiled at us, catching a slight glare exchanged from Judy to myself. "you have to invite me to the wedding! Oh it's going to be so cute and maybe you'll adopt cause I mean you can't have any of your own… maybe… there is this one project… oh it'll be wonderful! I'll shut up now I'm sorry sometimes I can't help it!"
She left us in the room quickly closing the door, our burning faces shocked at the thought of marriage. I hadn't thought of it much, but now…
Judy turned, her cheeks puffed out in a glare as her ears nearly glowed with how red they were.
"Nicholas I swear if you ever try that again in public I'll taze you!" She scolded, turning herself to face me as she climbed up on my chest and placed her paws upon my shoulders, her legs straddling me.
I cowered in playful fear. "Heh, careful Cottontail, you might fall." I placed my left paw upon her leg to keep her stable.
She neared her face to mine, still scowling at me.
"Who woulda thought," I snickered, touching my nose to hers. "That a cute little bunny would want claws on her back?"
"Hmpf!" She huffed, pulling her nose from mine. I could almost see the red beneath her gorgeous blue-gray fur.
I raised my paw from her leg around me, and slowly traveled it to her back.
"Don't you dare…" She growled, a twinkle in her eyes I'd gotten so used to seeing… love.
I used a single claw to travel up her side, watching her eyelids flicker slightly, and her scowl quiver. Her eyes closed shut as I ran all five claws down her back, more firmly than before, but still gentle enough as to not harm her.
"Mm!" She exhaled deeply as she bit her lip, lunging forward and kissing me with a ferocity she hadn't ever shown. I pressed back, feeling her small tongue against mine, holding her body close as I wrapped both my arms around her, careful not to bump my cast.
She broke contact with my lips, her paws grasping my fur as she kissed her way down my neck. A sigh escaped my lips as I shuddered beneath her, my tail curling.
My paw felt her ears brush against it, and caught them in my hand, pulling them lightly.
"Ah!" Judy gasped, much louder than I expected. She sat straight up, covering her mouth as she stared at me, wide-eyed and red-faced.
"Ha-ha!" I laughed, but quickly shut up at the sound of pawsteps approaching my door.
Panicked, Judy climbed off of my chest to sit next to me. I could feel the heat coming off of her as I grasped her paw in mine.
Jocelyn entered the room, her ears perked. "Anything the matter?"
"No ma'am," I replied, "we were just watching some TV!" I replied hastily, feeling like a young animal that had just gotten caught trying to steal from the cookie jar.
"Hmmm okay." Jocelyn replied, looking mildly suspicious as she left again, closing the door behind her once more.
"Well, that was close..." I muttered.
I received no reply.
"Carrots?" I muttered, concern filling my voice.
Her back was turned to me, quiet.
Despair gripped me. Was she upset!? I never meant to take it that far, I just love her so much-
"Hehe. Ahahahahaha!" Judy laughed hysterically, joyful tears streaming down her face as she turned to me, placing her left paw on my chest again. "You sly fox!"
"Cute bunny," I replied as she leaned her body down on my arm, propped up on the pillows that had served me all day as a chair.
"Phewwwwwwww. We gotta wait a little while for that. It's only been a month, Nick. I… I know I love you, and I know I don't ever want to leave your side no matter what anyone thinks of it, but I'm not ready for that step yet." Judy confided, nuzzling into my neck.
"Alright, Cottontail." I nuzzled her soft ears. I respected her too much to push further. I didn't want to ruin my chances with the love of my life…
It was 10:00 am.
Judy had fallen asleep on me a few minutes ago, her body curled up next to mine with her head rested upon my arm.
The morning hours had flown by with the various medical tests and our conversations. I felt an odd pain every now and then, usually nearing the end of the life of my painkillers.
Judy's warm body next to mine left my eyes heavy. A nap would be great right now. I felt as if I hadn't slept all last night.
I buried my nose in her fur, taking in deep breaths as her scent filled my head. "You're so perfect…" I whispered to her as I let sleep take over.
We slept for hours, the noise of the television as white noise in the background. Nurses entered the room occasionally to check in on the odd sight of the fox and the rabbit as one, sleeping together in peace. They'd even placed blue and red leaves upon my door as we slept, both as a tribute to us and to remind them that we were both fall risks. We had become somewhat of an icon on the fourth and fifth floors of the hospital, clear proof that in the city of Zootopia, anything, and any animal, could love.
I awoke on occasion, catching a nurse or two staring at us with bright smiles, eyes full of wonder as they whispered in hushed tones to each other. They all left when they realized I had seen them.
Half asleep, I stroked Judy's ears as I rested my muzzle on her head, feeling her nuzzled her nose deeper into the fur on my neck. I glanced at the clock. 6:48 pm. We had some more time…
The door creaked as it opened, slowly. I opened an eye, dreading the thought of seeing my tormentor, unsure if I was actually awake.
Instead, I found two very confused rabbits lead in by one of the nurses, the pig named Albert. I raised my head from Judy's, a puzzled look upon my face. "Uh, who are you?"
