Chapter 10: Putting the Hoof Down

Written by Blenderguy15

The small, gray bunny paced in front of the infirmary doors, a worried look plastered on her small muzzle. It had been only five minutes since the EMTs took Nick to check for concussions; for Judy, however, it felt like an eternity.

A myriad of emotions rushed through her head. She was angry at Nick for pretending to be unconscious so that he could sneak in a kiss; she was conflicted about how she really felt about the kiss. She felt guilty for pummeling Nick into the mat; she didn't feel guilty for pummeling Nick into the mat. Judy realized just how mixed her feelings towards Nick were right now.

Of course, at this very moment, she was worried about her partner's well-being.

After another minute of pacing, the doors to the infirmary opened. And who would walk out, but Nicholas P. Wilde himself!

"Nick!" Judy exclaimed, quickly hopping over to her friend's side. She wrapped her arms around him in a gentle hug.

The fox chuckled as he wrapped his arms around the bunny. "I didn't know you cared that much about me, Carrots," he teased. Nick could see a blush appear under the fur on Judy's ears. "If getting stuck in the infirmary is what it takes for you to notice me, then I'd better upgrade my insurance!"

Judy quickly grabbed Nick's shoulders and pulled him into a kiss. She let the fox go, smiling at the dazed look on her partner's muzzle. "I just wanted to get you back for what you did to me, Nick," Judy teased, placing her paws on her hips. "That's four for me."

Nick quickly shook himself from his trance. He opened his muzzle to make a snarky comment, but was interrupted by a voice the two cops knew all too well.

"I'm guessing that because you two are busy showing public signs of affection," Chief Bogo began, his voice calm, as he walked up to the fox and bunny. Even with the soothing tone of his voice, they could tell he was not happy, "...that you two are just fine, correct?"

Nick and Judy, both hesitant to say anything, nodded.

"Splendid," the buffalo said. "My office. Now."

Nick and Judy both cringed; they were in for it now. As the two mammals began the dreaded journey to the chief's office, Bogo followed behind. The walk was silent; Nick and Judy both dared not glance behind at the towering herbivore behind them for fear of unleashing his rage.

Once in the office, Bogo closed the door behind them as Nick and Judy took the one seat in the office. It was about as large as the chairs in the briefing room, so both mammals had plenty of elbow room.

Bogo let out a long, drawn-out sigh as he took his seat on the other side of the desk. Neither Nick nor Judy spoke; they knew they were treading on thin ice.

Bogo rubbed the bridge of his snout with his fingers, his shoulders slumping in exasperation. After another moment of excruciating silence, the water buffalo spoke.

"Under normal circumstances," he began. Choosing his wording carefully, Bogo paused often as he was talking. "I would have let your antics this morning at briefing slide."

The chief paused, looking between Nick and Judy. The two mammals said nothing in response.

"Under normal circumstances," he said again. "I would have let your sparring session this morning slide."

The buffalo paused again. The anxiety in the office was so thick that it could be cut with a knife.

"But," that was the word that the fox and bunny feared. Bogo's punishment was on the way. "Since it wasn't just one or the other, I have to take disciplinary measures,"

The Chief leaned forward. "Look, this … deal, or whatever you have going on between you two needs to be a bit more discreet at least. I can't have two of my best officers trying to beat each other in a race to see who could kiss who so many times. That fact alone is enough to suspend the two of you!"

Bogo sighed as he leaned back in his chair in frustration while the two smaller mammals glanced nervously at each other. Why couldn't they be like normal mammals and just go out on a date or something? Bogo thought. No, that would just be too convenient and too easy, and that is something these two don't know how to do.

Nick and Judy waited in silence; they've learned plenty of times not to test Bogo in this state. One wrong word could put Bogo over the edge; everyone suffered when that happened. Though Judy was watching Nick carefully, readying her elbow in case his mouth showed any signs of opening.

Bogo sighed one last time and then broke the silence. "Parking Duty."

The water buffalo raised his hoof to halt the imminent onslaught of complaints that were about to burst forth from the muzzles of the fox and bunny sitting across from him. "That is the least amount of punishment I can give you, so I don't want to hear a squeak about it. Am I clear?"

The Chief glared at Nick, who immediately shut his muzzle. The two cops nodded in unison, the sight almost comical. Bogo waved the two off with his hoof. "Dismissed."

As the two cops walked out of the office, the water buffalo had the sneaking suspicion that instead of putting out their flames, he had just added more fuel to the fire.

Kiss Count:

Nick: 15

Judy: 4

AN: Blenderguy15 here! Hoped you liked the chapter, even if Bogo wasn't too happy about the bet. Don't worry, though; we've got more Nick and Judy antics for you guys up ahead! Don't forget to PM Cimar of Turalis WildeHopps if you want your ideas in the story or if you want to write a chapter!