It was around eight in the morning when nick and Judy entered the borders of Zootopia. Early morning traffic had been light as was usually the case during the weekend.
When they spoke on the phone, Chief Bogo had told Judy to arrive at the precinct around noon. That left them several hours before they needed to make their way towards the heart of the city.
For the first hour of the drive the two chatted about life on the Hopps farm and little bits of Burrow gossip.
Eventually though, Judy's eyes began to droop. After having stayed awake most of the night, the motion of the car seemed to be pulling her helplessly into sleep.
Seeing this, Nick chose to lapse into companionable silence, letting her nod off in peace.
After she passed out, he was quite content to steal little glances at her sleeping form as she lay sideways against the seat; her ears crossed and pulled down over her eyes. Sleeping deeply, she made soft, open-mouth coos that Nick decided were pretty much the most adorable things he had ever heard.
Each time he looked at her he was struck again by the overwhelming feeling of just how precious this mammal was to him. It was as if a glowing warmth was radiating from her, causing his heart to swell in time with her breath.
For the latter two hours of the drive, he found himself smiling like a maniac. His face actually hurt, which, to Nick's knowledge, had never happened to him before in his adult life.
Apart from admiring a sleeping Judy, and after everything that had occurred the previous day, for Nick, much of the quiet car ride was elsewise taken up with focused self analysis. It was long overdue.
...I'm in love with her
"So you finally admit it. Took you long enough to finally squeeze past your emotional constipation Nicky."
The voice of Nick's old mentor was, as always, an ever present persona in his mind.
What do you want from me! This is new ground… there have been other vixens. I thought I loved a few of them. But, I've never felt… this. I think it's what being in love actually feels like.
"I wouldn't know kid. You realize this will be the end of your con-mammal days, right? You can't have a heart if you want to play the game."
I know. I promised her. Nick laughed to himself at little at this. It was a happy sound. I… I am actually going to keep my promise. I'm going to keep it if it kills me. Isn't that weird? It feels good though - to have a reason to be true to myself again…
"Sorry Boy'o, I don't know if I can help you much anymore. You're not like the mammal I remember."
I hope you're right.
As the city came into view, Nick decided to take a detour before heading downtown. Not long after, they arrived at their destination. Gently, Nick unfolded Judy's ears from her face and reverently ran his thumb and forefinger along an inner ridge; from the top of her head to the velvet black tip.
So soft...
With a strong intake of breath and a happy purr Judy woke blinking as Nick continued to stroke her ear a few times.
"Hey, sleeping bunny. We're here."
Judy looked around curiously at the open fields surrounded by abandoned industry. "Where are we?"
"My house actually. It's not even nine yet so we have a few hours to kill."
"Oh," Judy was quickly powering up. How she could go from dead asleep to full-steam-ahead in less than a minute was something Nick would probably never understand. "I can't wait to see it. You need to give me the grand tour."
"It's a pretty popular location but I think I can pull a few strings."
Judy giggled, "Come on." before excitedly exiting the car.
The morning was slightly chilly but dry. A soft wind was blowing over the fields and the only sound to be heard was the distant noise of the highway as trucks whirred over asphalt.
Judy was already exploring the yard which was covered mostly by clover and creeping charlie with a few tufts of grass here and there. On the borders was long weeds and stunted bushes.
A dozen meters in front of the house was a wide, buried tube of concrete, filled with ash and covered with a metal grill.
"Nick is this a fire pit?"
"It has contained a fire on several occasions, so yes, you might call it that."
Judy's brow wrinkled in consternation, "You know open fires in city limits are not allowed. There is a bylaw-"
"Oh, I know. Lucky for me this is technically a barbecue. And barbecues are most certainly allowed. I have a permit and everything." Nick couldn't help but indulge in a smug smile.
Judy was grinning as well, "Clever fox."
"I have my moments Carrots. Come on, now that you've seen the yard in all it's glory. Let me show you inside."
Within, Judy found everything to be surprisingly clean and homey. The kitchen table was hardwood, small, and antique. The floors were old cedar, adorned with an eclectic assortment of rugs covering most of the walking paths. Book shelves could be found in almost every room. Pictures hung from the walls; mostly landscapes. No family photos were to be seen anywhere, although after what Nick had told her, that wasn't surprising.
In the hall a very expensive grandfather clock ticked softly.
It was peaceful and it smelled intensely of Nick. Judy felt immediately at ease here.
The house itself was small: two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen in the back, a living room with a bay window in front and a little room under the stairs that could almost be called an office.
After the tour which included several stories, Nick invited Judy to sit on a worn but very comfortable couch in the living room. She watched as small particles of dust floated through sunbeams that shone through closed curtains as he got them both a glass of water.
It wasn't long before she spotted the small apartment sized piano pushed against the wall. As Nick returned with the water she pointed it out to him, "So, I seem to remember you saying that you would play me a song if I ever visited you. Wouldn't you know, there's a piano, and here I am... so..." Judy couldn't help but kick her legs a little off the edge of the plush cushion as she failed to stifle a grin.
"Did I say that? Yes, yes I did." Nick put down his water and pulled out the piano bench. "It's been a while."
Judy watched as Nick stared at the keys. The ticking of the grandfather clock was the only sound in the house for a long minute.
Nick waged a small internal battle. He had already revealed so much to her.
What is one more thing?
Still it was hard. He thought about it, and realized that at some point, Judy might know everything; all his secrets. Something about that eventuality seemed so impossible to him, yet, if anyone could truly know him, and still want to be around him, it was probably her.
I'm in love with her.
The five words were sounding in his thoughts like a drum beat; one that was leading him forward. It had begun as a realization but was now a certainty. Something big seemed to be happening inside him; a transformation of sorts.
It had been several minutes of quiet before Nick began to speak. Judy seemed to sense he was working up to something, and sat, more than willing to give him whatever time he needed.
"My best memories, of my mom anyway, are of us playing the piano together. She said I was a natural talent, maybe could even have become a professional some day. She gave me lessons every night up until my dad… left us.
After our house was boarded up by the bank I was put into foster care. Lets just say that the family I ended up with didn't have much love for foxes. I had no choice but to run away. At one point, I found myself living near to where we are now, in an old abandoned warehouse. Inside, along with the dust and broken glass, there was a wide concrete block about the width of a piano. One day, I took a piece of chalk and drew out the keys. I sat on a wooden crate and pretended to play against the stone. In my mind I could hear the notes. I did this for hours and hours every day. It was during that time, when I felt so… alone, that I would create and commit to memory all my songs."
Judy was listening with rapt attention, leaning forward towards him as he spoke. "I have never played this for any mammal, alive or dead. So… just bare with me…"
Nick let his hands brush along the keys for a moment. He felt a strange burst of butterflies in his gut. After a few more seconds trying to quell his nervousness, Nick took a deep shuddering breath which he let out slowly before beginning to play.
{For the song search google for the youtube video:
' Harry Nilsson Lifeline (1971)' (the slowed down version with Harry sitting at the piano)
In truth it's not the exact song that Nick would be playing in this scene (his song would be a bit slower and a bit more emotional) but it's very near to what I imagine.}
When Nick's voice first struck Judy's ears it sent a shiver through her entire body. He had a gorgeous voice - deep and rich, yet raw and full of emotion.
The piano part was simple; just a couple of chords played in a slow repeating rhythm. She could see how it was the kind of song that a youth could have invented with nothing but their voice and the echo of an empty warehouse to accompany them.
As the music progressed, Judy felt her heart being twisted by the incredible loneliness she could sense behind the lyrics and the hurt that was imbued into Nick's words. Something about the sound embodied the feeling so thoroughly that she was transported back to those nights alone in her little apartment; surrounded by only her stuffed rabbits for company. But this… the depths of isolation he conveyed, It was beyond anything she had ever had to experience.
Tears began to trickle down her face as the music came to its crescendo. Judy couldn't resist but laugh internally,
Here I go again - emotional bunny.
It was a weak attempt at humor while she fought just about every instinct and urge inside her, all of which were screaming at her to run to her fox and smother him with hugs.
Finally, heartbreakingly, the music came to an end.
Letting his hands fall limply to his sides Nick was left looking utterly drained; his eyes glistening in the early morning light that lanced through the room.
Before he could even look to her, Judy was already at his side. She grabbed his paw and all but dragged him to the couch. He seemed as if he might complain, but then seeing her tears, decided to stay quiet and go along with what she intended.
With a little mammal-handling, Judy pulled him up, until they were both stretched out. Once situated, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed herself into him with all her might.
Nick laughed through the choking hug. "You bunnies-"
"Don't say it; even if it's true. Your song was beautiful. I truly mean that. Nick… thank you. Thank you so much for sharing it with me. And for telling me about what it was like for you back then. Knowing that you trust me enough to let me in… nothing has ever made me feel so special."
The serious and sincere way she said it, and the deep swell of emotion that seemed to be passing between them, suddenly got Nick's heart thumping like mad.
I should tell her. I need to tell her how I feel.
"Judy I…"
There was something in his voice that caused her to pull back and look into his eyes. Judy wasn't an emotional idiot. After the kisses, and everything else they had shared, she realized that Nick must have feelings for her; maybe romantic feelings. But, was it like, or even lust, or something more… she realized she had been longing for him to tell her. Together, both their hearts raced.
"... I…can I ask you a question? Are you happy?"
Damn! Nick had to stop himself from cringing at his own cowardice.
Judy opened her mouth but no word seemed to be coming out.
"In Bunnyburrows I mean. When I saw you at the stand you seemed so sad. Are you happy in the country being a carrot farmer? Wouldn't you rather be in the city? Despite all the things I said when we first met. You really do belong here."
Judy was unsure how to respond, but looking into Nick's eyes she realized that she wouldn't withhold anything from him; she never wanted to.
"No… I am not happy in Bunnyburrows Nick. I never wanted to be a farmer. I love this city. But, I don't know if I deserve to be here. And even if I did, if I can't be a cop, what will I do? I just don't know."
Nick couldn't suppress a sigh. "This again? Carrots, if you really do trust me, then here and now, I need you to believe what I say: no mammal in this city deserves to be here more than you do. Second, you most definitely will be able to be a cop again. Third, even if you couldn't, you're fricking Judy Hopps. You can do anything. Anything you want to do, you will succeed - I believe that. I want you to be happy Judy, more than anything."
She was nearly in tears again, this time from warm feelings of happiness and gratitude. She couldn't help but grin with all her might as she dropped her head back against Nick's chest. She tried to think of what to say to him, but ended up unable to put anything into words. She finally just said, "Thank you."
Nick wrapped his arms around her which made her tail begin to wiggle, and a light purr to emanate from deep in her throat.
Nick couldn't help but melt.
A moment later, once he regained a little composure, he said in a stronger voice, "One more question officer Hopps. Do you still want to be a police officer? Is it still your dream?"
Her answer was immediate and came out as barely more than a muffled whisper, "Yes."
An unbridled smile broke across Nick's face. "I'm glad to hear that. Because as it just so happens I have a bit of a surprise. You see, when I decided to find you, who did I go see but none other than chief buffalo-butt himself. He wouldn't do more than hint at where to find you, but, when I was there, he told me that he wanted you back at the ZPD. In fact, he had me fill out an application form. Said that if I could convince you to come back then he would send me off to the academy. So, what I want to ask is, do you still need a partner?"
Judy leapt up onto Nick, straddling him with her knees pushed up under his armpits. Her whole body vibrating with sheer joy and excitement, "Nick! Are you serious! That's amazing! YES!"
She pumped her arms in the air wildly. "That is the most Incredible thing I've ever heard!"
The bunny was slapping at his chest; simply unable to contain herself.
At one point Nick burst out laughing and Judy quickly followed.
The two of them ended up laying there on the couch giggling like idiots for awhile, wrapped in a tight hug before they finally calmed down.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"You know me, I had to wait for the right moment. I didn't know how you would react at fir... at, uh…."
The two of them simultaneously realized just how close together they were lying. Noses nearly touching, eyes staring deeply into the others. Her body wedged tightly between him and the back of the couch.
Nick could smell her, and all of a sudden he became intensely aware of how feminine she looked and felt in his arms. She wasn't just beautiful. She was, in that moment, hands down, the most gorgeous mammal he had ever known.
For the first time since they met, Nick truly realized how attracted to her he was; physically, emotionally and intellectually. A metric tonne of suppressed desire struck him like a speeding dump truck. He felt his body begin reacting in ways he couldn't control. He could sense that her body was doing the same. His breath became short, and with each inhalation, her scent seemed to fill him; to cloud his mind. The smell said one thing; arousal, nearly to the point of boiling.
Now, they were touching noses, their lips so close… he found his pupils expanding along with… other things. He didn't even realize he was going to kiss her when, inexorable as gravity, their mouths were locked; forceful and yielding, seeking, giving - moving together.
The kiss they shared was nearly frantic with desire. It happened in just scant moments, and yet it had been happening since she saw him standing at the roadside. Judy was running and rubbing her claws over his face and neck as she ground her hips into his abdomen.
Nick's mind was quickly becoming so far-gone he was only half aware of what he was doing. He rubbed his face against hers and ran his tongue over her neck.
Judy moaned with increasing urgency, gasping.
Hell, if we keep this up it'll be over while we're both still fully dressed.
Judy at some point had opened his shirt and was running her hands and mouth over his chest; working her way down.
Nick, already long past caring anymore about stopping, pulled her back up and grabbed the v-neck of her shirt with the intent of ripping it open (a very romance-novel manoeuvre he had always wanted to try).
It was at that moment though, that something finally pierced through the haze of desire he was mired in. It took a half second after seeing the time displayed on his wrist watch, but when he did, he scrambled out from under Judy instantly and danced back towards the piano. "Judy, it's 11:30. We have to be at the station in thirty minutes!"
One look at her face thought, told Nick that she was not in the mood to care...
Her whole body was shaking. She was currently reinventing the definition of 'bedroom-eyes'. The look she was giving him, which seemed to be unabashedly and somewhat lewdly centered on the fairly obvious effects their crazed make-out session had had on his body, could only be described as open hunger .
"Nick, I need you right now. Get over here."
Nick's brain was experiencing a full system crash. "Uhhhhhhhhh… nnnoooo… Carrots, if I finish what we started, we aren't going to be going anywhere for quite a while."
"What do you mean? Why not?"
Oh man she sounds pissed.
"It's a fox thing. I'll uh… explain later. Anyway, you go shower, I'll change. Meet-back-here-in-five-minutes." he said the last in a rush as he sprinted up the stairs into his room leaving a very frustrated rabbit stewing on the couch.
Nick pulled off his clothes immediately and sprayed himself down with a ludicrous amount of Scent-Away. The stuff made him feel all greasy, but he'd have to live with it.
Right then, he heard the bathroom door slam shut and the shower clatter to life.
Nick threw on a new pair of pants and a dress shirt. As he past the bathroom door he yelled, "Don't bother drying fully. We can crank the air in the car." he was pretty sure he heard her fling the f-word at him from inside the shower, but couldn't b e totally sure.
After that, Nick ran outside and got the car started, driving it right up to the front walkway. He waited tensely for Judy to arrive as he tapped at the steering wheel with his claws.
If we leave right now, and I drive fast, we might just make it.
A minute later Judy entered the car looking fairly wet and majorly perturbed. Nick turned the heat to max and blasted Judy with the internal fans as he pulled away from the house.
Neither of them spoke for several minutes, Nick focusing on the road and Judy rubbing the moisture out of her fur.
Finally she clicked off the air and things quieted down.
"You realize you can't go leaving a rabbit like that Nick. We run hot. I used nothing but freezing cold water in the shower and I'm still crawling out of my skin."
"Believe me sweetheart, pulling away from you was probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do (pun intended). Bogo needs us though, and our futures might depend on it."
Judy sighed in frustration, "I know that Nick." *huff* "I'm not saying you didn't do the right thing. It just… yeah. We need to talk about what is happening... between us, what we are to each other. I-"
Nick cut her off with a wave just as he reached out and took hold of her paw. "Would it be okay if I called you my girlfriend from now on?"
Judy's heart seemed to stop. A warm glow of pure joy erupted within her.
"That! T-that would be... Nick, I like you a lot. I mean, it's way more than that. I have never felt anything close to what I feel about you for any other mammal. I- I just want to make sure you feel… I want so much for what we have to be... something. I'm just scared. It's not like me. I need you, and... I just hope you feel as… I hope you feel the same. I'm not trying to rush you or anything. I just... "
Judy sighed in exasperation, unable to clearly tell him what she wanted.
I want you to love me like I love you, but it's not right or fair for me to ask you to, nor is it necessary for you to feel that way yet because we barely know each other, but-I-can't-seem-to-help-myself-because-I-want-it-so-much. Damn it! I'm going insane!
"Judy?" Nick's voice finally shook her from the whirlwind of her thoughts, "I've known how I feel about you for a while now. All I'm waiting for is the right moment to tell you... How about this: come back with me to the house tonight. I'll make us dinner and we'll sit by the fire and we can finally have that talk. You know, as a couple."
Judy nodded, her heart and mind settling slightly, "That sounds amazing." She sat back feeling strangely light headed; anxious and euphoric - terrified and excited. Like at any moment she could just burst out laughing for no other reason then she couldn't contain it.
As Nick drove, the two found themselves sneaking small looks at each other. Often catching the others eyes, resulting in renewed smile or little bouts of laughter.
Judy mused that to an outsider they must look like a couple of crazed lunatics. While she was thinking along these lines she also realized she wouldn't be home tonight, so, pulling out her phone, she began typing in her family talk group.
Judy:
Hey I just wanted to let you know I'll be staying over at Nick's tonight. I'll probably be home some time tomorrow. Love you guys.
Stu:
You cant be be stay alone in a foxes den! He mifht be your frind judy but hes stil a peeditor! Im comingto get you rightnow
Bonnie:
Slow down there Stu. Don't listen to your father hun. u two have fun. We will all get by just fine here so don't rush back. Call us when u get a chance. Tell Nick I said Hi.
Immediately after that, a wave of messages started pouring in from siblings. Judy replied to a few at first, but decided to stop reading when the ensuing arguments and opinions began to spin into obscure emotion filled diatribes.
It was not long before they pulled into the ZPD with less than three minutes to be in Bogo's office.
As one, they dashed out of the car and sprinted across the parking lot. Once inside, Judy was confronted by Clawhauser who appeared to be unpacking his things and placing them back on the front desk where they belonged. Upon seeing Judy, his eyes grew wide, his face and posture exuding guilt and nervousness.
She didn't have time to vent her rage on him, so instead, simply pointed as she ran by; giving him her very best ' stare ' as she mouthed the words ' You. Are. Dead .'
The elevator was too slow so they opted instead to run up the stairs.
Finally, with a sliding halt they arrived at Bogo's door with only moments to spare. Nick went to knock, but was yet again interrupted by Bogo's booming voice, "Come in."
They quickly entered the room.
Bogo was sitting at his desk writing furiously. His reading glasses sat far enough down his snout they were practically on his nose. He didn't bother to look up when he said, "Sit."
The rabbit and fox climbed up and shared a chair. Both were still breathing hard. They managed to cool down though, as it wasn't until almost ten minutes had past before the chief finally looked up from his papers and pulled off his spectacles. He took a moment to allow his eyes to focus on Judy where she sat conspiratorially close to the fox.
"I suppose congratulations are in order." Bogo grumbled, "Last night we picked up Weaselton as you suggested. He spilled his guts almost immediately and gave us enough information to finally crack the suspect we apprehended in Sahara Square. You aren't officers, but I think you deserve to know - you were right. Since last night we have uncovered a massive conspiracy perpetrated by a radical group of sheep. Their goal seems to have been to poison predators with a toxic substance we are calling Nighthowler serum. They intended to use the savage effects of this poison to gain political control over the city. Most shocking, is the fact that it appears Mayor Dawn Bellweather has been the ringleader behind all this since the beginning. A few hours ago we raided her office at town hall, as well as her home. The evidence we've found so far is overwhelming."
Judy and Nick both gaped. It was Judy who recovered first. "Mayor Bellweather! That's... insane! How- how could she do something like this? It's so wrong - so evil... Have you…is she in custody?"
Bogo's eyes tensed, "We have been tearing the city apart since the early morning. Almost two dozen of her co-conspirators are currently in lockup, but, as of now, we still haven't found where she's hiding. Don't worry though, we will."
This time it was Nick who spoke, "Sir, we can help. I know everyone in this city and Judy sees things that others miss. The two of us can find that piece of shh… uh, that sheep. She needs to be brought to justice."
Judy looked up at him. Nick had a fire in his eyes that she had never seen; he kept surprising her. It was another thing she loved about him.
"Nick's right sir! We will definitely find her."
Bogo looked at each of the two small mammals in turn. He noticed the difference in the way they looked at each other; their proximity. After a moment the tension he had been holding in his shoulders relaxed and he sighed warily.
"I appreciate the enthusiasm but seeing as neither of you are currently part of the ZPD, I don't think your assistance will be possible. However," Bogo shifted his gaze fully to Nick for the first time, "Wilde, do you still intend on attending the academy."
Nick plastered on his winningest smirk as Judy bounced in the chair excitedly, "Chief, I was born ready."
Bogo remained unamused, "For your sake, I hope so. If you intend to work in my precinct I expect you to be among the top graduates. The next class is scheduled to begin almost immediately. Monday morning to be precise. Be here at eight AM sharp and a bus will take you to the campus, your new home for the next six months. I'm sure Hopps will be able to help you pack what you need. Me and the other chiefs from around the city had a conference call this morning and we agreed that a new class of recruits needs to be in training ASAP. When the news breaks of Bellweathers part in all this, we are going to be in for some serious backlash."
The cape buffalo then turned his horned head towards Judy. Once again his demeanor seemed to flag, and, for a short time, he just looked at her thoughtfully. "Ms. Hopps, I want to say first that you will always have a place here at precinct one. In the time you were with us, you conducted yourself with integrity and intelligence. You've got grit, which is something I never thought I would say about a bunny. You proved me wrong, and I want to thank you for that… I-" Bogo swallowed and paused before continuing, "Unfortunately I'm going to need to ask a favour of you. Hopps, I saw the video of you and Wilde yesterday afternoon and it carries with it some… consequences."
Judy had mentally prepared herself for this, but that didn't stop her mouth from going dry, "Chief, I accept any punishment you deem necessary. I assaulted a mammal in broad daylight, I intend to do whatever is necessary to atone."
"I already spoke with the fox in question. He instigated the conflict as much as you did. The fight you got into is only part of my concern."
"But chief-"
"Judy. I gave you this advice once and you ignored it. Now I'm going to give it to you again. Let - it - go."
Judy fidgeted for a moment and inhaled as she prepared her rebuttal. She was stopped though by Nick, who held her arm and gave it a squeeze. Looking over at him, she could see the pleading in his eyes, he was asking her to compromise, just this once; for him.
It was enough; she deflated, nodding.
"Good," the chief said continuing his previous thought, "the problem is - you have become a polarizing figure in Zootopia ever since the press conference. Now, with this video that's all over the media, you have achieved a kind of notorious celebrity status. You may not realize it, but at this moment, you are one of the most well known and sought after mammals in the city. We've been inundated with calls concerning you since yesterday. Some good and some bad. I can only guess, but I would assume that even today there will be a media gathering awaiting you when you try to leave the building. Let me ask you a question. What is the status of you and Wilde's relationship?"
Judy was still trying to figure out where the chief was going with all this. Startled at having the conversation redirected back at her so suddenly she blinked before stuttering, "H-he, uh… N-nick is my boyfriend."
The look on Bogo's face didn't change but he made a, ' hurumph ' noise before mumbling to himself, "Looks like I owe Clawhauser twenty dollars."
Still confused, Judy decided to cut to the chase, "Sir, what exactly is it that you are asking me to do?"
Bogo refocused on her, again looking serious and somewhat apologetic, "What I need you to do, more then anything right now, is take a break from police work… for the next six months."
Nick leapt out of the chair, "That's bullshi-"
"Don't say it! I can say that - not you. Now, SIT and let me explain."
Nick didn't sit, but he did shut up, which was apparently enough. So, Bogo explained, "This city is in crisis. The people have lost two elected officials in the last three months. One for illegally detaining its citizens and the other for monstrous hate crimes against her fellow mammals. The trust they had in their government is all but shattered. So who is left? Who is left to hold this society together, to reassure them that things will return to normal, and to keep them from each other's throats? We are - the police. The bottom line is that, as much as she has done for the city, Judy's presence here is going to add more drama and attention to a situation that is already on the verge of imploding. I'm not asking her to give up on being a cop. I just need six months. Just enough time for things to cool down, for a new mayor to be elected and for you, Wilde, to return from training."
Bogo pulled his eyes away from Nicks angry glare and returned to Judy. "Hopps, if you truly insist, I will put you back on the force. But, I'm telling you, that what this city needs right now is for you to take a step back. You wanted to serve a penance for all the things that have happened, well here's your chance."
"Don't you dare blackmail her with your greasy, second rate guilt trip you-"
Judy grabbed Nick's paw before he could get himself too worked up. Successfully interrupting him she grabbed his face in her hands and turned him so he was looking at her, "It's alright Nick. I don't like this… but I accept it. Remember, I worked for over a decade to realize my dream. Another six months isn't going to stop me. Plus, I don't want to be out there if I don't have my partner with me. It just wouldn't feel right." She leaned forward and kissed him on the nose before turning back to the chief who had raised his eyebrows ever so slightly. "I'll wait six months before I come back to the ZPD, but, when I do come back, I want to be partnered up with Nick, regardless of our relationship status at the time."
Bogo didn't hesitate, "If Wilde manages to make it through, then fine - done. Now I suggest you both leave. I have hours of paperwork and phone calls to get through before tonight. I would suggest you don't hang around. No doubt the parking lot is already filling with news vans."
Nick looked as if he had more to say to Bogo but Judy grabbed him by the tie and dragged him out of the office.
They made their way back down to the ground floor in silence. Clawhauser seemed to have made himself scarce and was nowhere to be seen.
As Bogo had predicted, there was a horde of media mammals standing around the front doors. As the two came into view, cameras began flashing rapidly as reporters pushed themselves up against the glass.
"Ready for this?" Nick glanced at Judy with what she guessed was a false aura of calm.
"Will you hold my paw?"
Nick only smiled and grabbed the ear closest to him so he could plant a kiss against the black tip. "Yeah fluff. I got you."
The two then proceeded out the doors hand in hand. Immediately they were bombarded by a storm of questions. The reporters weren't quite so thick that they had to be pushed out of the way, but a ring of mammals quickly formed around them and traveled with them in the center; all the way to Nick's rental car.
One reporter asked, "Ms. Hopps are you returning to the ZPD?"
Nick was proud of the steadiness of her voice when she answered, "I won't be returning to the ZPD at this present time."
Another reporter asked, "Sir, are you currently in a romantic relationship with Ms. Hopps?"
To which Nick answered, "Yep!"
This caused the crowd of reporters to go into a frenzy of questions so loud that no one could hear anything.
Upon reaching the car, Nick picked Judy up and hefted her inside on the driver's side before depositing her in the passenger seat.
It took a while for them to maneuver away from the gathered throng, but Nick just put his sunglasses on and smiled as he slowly made his way out of the parking lot; ignoring all protests.
For awhile after, Nick focused on losing the media vehicles that were following them. Eventually though, he felt certain that they had truly escaped.
It was a few minutes later as they were on their way back towards Nick's house that Judy started to bang her head lightly against the glove box.
"Six months. What I'm I going to do for six months! I won't get to see you. And I'll be, what?"
"Hold up Carrots. Stay positive for me until we get back to the house. Right now I am using my inborn genius to formulate a plan. Don't fret over what you'll be doing. Just repeat after me: It's going to be awesome, and my sexy, foxy boyfriend is going to call me every single day."
"I'm not saying that."
"Just trust me."
Judy breathed deeply, stopped hitting her head on the glove box, and sat back. "Fine. It better be awesome or no more snuggles for you tonight."
"Hah, as if you could resist me. How are you feeling by the way."
Judy leaned against the door, listless, "I don't even know. Sad, disappointed, relieved, angry, frustrated… who knows."
"Sexually frustrated?"
Nick caught a glimpse of a tiny hint of a grin as Judy turned her face towards the door.
"Would you shut up."
Nick suppressed a laugh and the rest of the car ride was relatively quiet.
When they arrived back at the house Nick spent a few minutes getting a fire going. He was quite proficient at it and Judy watched with interest. "Okay, we'll let that burn itself down. We can use the ember to cook with. Come on Fluff, I want to show you something."
Once inside, Nick got Judy sitting on the couch before he pulled a large red book down from one of the bookshelves. He sat down next to her with it in his hands. Opening it, he revealed that it was hollowed out. Inside were several dozen rolls of what appeared to be twenty and fifty dollar bills.
Nick began pulling out the tightly elastic-banded wads of cash, placing them on the coffee table. "...four, five, six - plus two for incidentals, and two more as payment for services rendered. That's ten in total. Okay, Fluff, I'm going to go ahead and give you this ten-thousand dollars."
"Ten thousand dollars! Nick are you nuts, no! Why would you give me that?"
"Simple honey bun. I am going to need someone to look after my house for me while I'm away. Between utilities, transport, food, necessities and possible disasters, ten thousand dollars is going to be a pretty lean amount for you to live off for the next six months."
"Live here? Are- are you asking me t-to move in with you?"
"For the time being. This way you get to stay in Zootopia, get to know the city, pick up a part time job while you wait for me to be done training. Admit it Carrots, staying here is going to be way more fun than going home to live in Bunnyburrows."
Judy was at a loss for words. Nick was right though. She had actually been thinking of begging him for a chance to stay. She hadn't expected the money though, as much as she needed it.
Judy finally found her voice, "I- you're right. Now, that I know I'm going to be a cop again… I, I can't just go back home. Thank you Nick. I'll pay you back, I promise."
"No you won't. I'm hiring you to watch my place. It just so happens that I'm a very generous employer. Come on, the guest room upstairs is now officially yours."
Before Nick could stand though, Judy had locked her lips against his as she pulled him back down, her arms around his neck.
"I didn't say I was going to pay you back with money." she said it in a demure way that gave Nick a pleasant shiver.
"My goodness Miss Hopps, how scandalous. Not that I'm complaining mind you. Now come on, let's get your room set up."
It took them the afternoon to get the room looking livable. Judy was going to have to make a quick trip home at some point to grab what little she owned.
Throughout the cleaning process, Judy couldn't help but feel a sense of mounting excitement. Things were looking so much brighter than they had only a day before; like the sudden breaking of a terrible storm.
She silently thanked the gods-that-be for her change of fortune, and more than anything, for Nick.
After they were done upstairs, Nick went down to stir the ashes that now filled the fire-pit. He busied himself getting dinner started while Judy called her parents. The conversation was brief. Her mom being supportive and her dad being his usual overprotective self. The peanut gallery got in a few shots as well. All in all, it went okay. Ending with promises of a more in depth talk when she came home to grab her things. Although, it wouldn't really matter what anyone said or did, Judy was going to do what she wanted to do; and that just happened to be living at Nick's place for the next six months.
When she returned to the yard the sun was beginning to set, and Nick had a variety of vegetables cooking on the grill. Green peppers, mushrooms, onions and tomatoes sizzled away, juices falling into the ashes below. "The trick to this is a little bit of oil, salt and pepper." Nick smiled up at her from where he was wielding a pair of tongs.
Judy sat down and watched him, feeling warm all the way through to her core. It was a rare gift, that at some point during their ensuing meal, which was delicious by any standard, that she came to realize that right now, this night, sharing a lawn chair with the fox that she loved, was the happiest moment of her life. It topped even the day she graduated because it held none of the responsibility or the public attention; it was her's, a place she could live in her heart until the day she died. She endeavored to remember every single moment.
After the meal was done, and the sun had set behind the cityscape, Nick pulled out a blanket and wrapped it around them. They sat in comfortable silence, Judy hugged into Nick's side as she listened to the sound of his heartbeat.
It was night before she worked herself up enough to begin, "Nick?"
"Hmm?"
"I want you to know. I'm… I'm in love with you."
Nick's body stilled and she heard his pulse speed up rapidly. He seemed about to respond but she continued before he got the chance. "I also wanted to tell you that I didn't leave Zootopia, or quit the police force because of what I said at the conference. It played a part. I felt horrible for what my mistake caused, all the pain I created for so many predators in this city. But, that's not why I quit. I quit because I couldn't get the memory of your face, when I betrayed your trust - I couldn't get it out of my mind. It ate at me. I lost all joy in my work. I began to hate myself for what I did to you. I... spent so much time just daydreaming about how I could fix things between us. But, it was you who came to me when it should have been the other way around. I can never tell you how much it means to me that you came and found me. You rescued me. I think that I loved you even then. When I gave you that form, asked you to be my partner, I was already in love. Isn't that weird? I have only known you for a few days out of my entire life. I don't understand how any mammal could have such an effect on me in so short a time, yet, here we are. I'm in love with you Nick."
It took him the span of many heartbeats to come back to life, finally taking a deep breath that he had been holding.
A quiet minute past before he finally spoke, "Fluff," Nick adjusted her in his lap, turning her so she was partially facing him, "you see that old bridge over there. I spent three months sulking under that bridge. I may, or may not have even cried my eyes out (a little bit). All the while, I held on to that carrot pen of yours. I would listen to it over and over. You know why?"
In the flickering light Nick could see Judy shake her head. She was watching him intently, the flames dancing and sparkling in her eyes.
"I needed to hear your voice. You think that falling in love after forty-eight hours, with someone you only just met, is weird? Well yeah, it's a bit weird. But Judy, believe me when I say… I know exactly how that feels."
Then Nick was silent and the two sat entwined, listening to the sounds of crackling wood and the chirping of crickets. He found himself looking down at her. Their eyes holding one another in the twilight. Nick, only partly by his own volition began running the back of his fingers over Judy's silky fur. Letting them trail across her cheeks and around to the backs of her ears.
Drawn in by his caress she pulled herself forward, and up, until their noses were almost touching. In the lowest whisper, so light it could have been mistaken for wayward thought, she said, "I'm waiting for you to kiss me… dumb fox."
And then, their lips met, first slowly, then hungrily. Bodies brushing together, mouths meeting again and again.
It was then, on that warm night, in Nick's arms, that the last vestiges of sadness Judy Hopps had been carrying within her, finally rose into the night like dying embers and were gone. Even the lingering disappointment at having to wait another six months to return to her dream, and the guilt at her overprotective behavior with Gideon, took their leave in turn. The future, her new goal, had become clear.
For Nicholas Wilde the old voice of his mentor, who he had carried around for many years, was likewise set free. An old ghost who had never moved on until, at last, he had been forgiven - he drifted away on the night winds relieved if anything, and at peace.
In the firelight, the two, pressed together, never breaking contact for a moment. Even after the fire had burned down to the dimmest afterglow, they moved in the dark.
And for those curious as to all that passed between them during that endless time, they need only ask the night;
for it is the night who has long kept watch over kindred souls such as these,
and holds safe the secrets that lovers keep.
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NOTES:
Will there be an act 3? I don't yet know. If there is I won't be writing it for a few months and it will be about Nick's time in the academy as well as a story of how Judy learns to hustle/ hunts down Bellweather.
Thank you everyone for all your comments and favorites. I'll still be writing, I'm just moving on to my other project which you can find in my profile - "Five AU's"
PS. Sorry this took so long. I was on vacation for a few weeks in the UK.