Hello everybody...sorry for the late update...I had a very bad period and I lost my inspiration for a bit...but now I'm back for good, so expect my updates more frequently.
A special thanks to a special person always close to my heart.
"Hey sleepyhead, rise and shine it's time to wake up" Nick whispered tenderly into the still sleeping doe's ear.
"Mmgh...five more minutsss" Judy mumbled in response curling herself up under the blankets.
"As you wish Fluff, but it's already...9.30, you'll run the risk of having to eat your carrot pancakes cold" he said matter of factly with a small amused grin at the small cute cocoon on the bed.
"Yeshhh I...WHAT?" the gray bunny exclaimed as, snapping up like thunder, she got up from the bed and the stack of covers "9.30? Are...are you kidding me... you are, aren't you?"
"I wouldn't dream of it Carrots...it's 9.30…woopsie...9.31 at this very moment" he corrected himself looking at his phone screen
"Oh my god...no, it couldn't be" but a swift glance at her alarm clock confirmed Nick's words "No way...I'm usually up before 6.00 she mumbled aghast as she rushed frantically to one of her drawers grabbing blindly some of her toiletries with the result that more than half its content was carelessly thrown on the floor.
"Hey hey...it's not a big deal Fluff, it's not even a working day" the fox said trying to calm her down.
"That's completely beside the point" she muffled an answer with her head deep inside the wooden container.
"Well it's too late to worry about that now and..." but he stopped when the little bunny sent daggers in his direction at the comment. "Ok, ok scratch that...listen how about this?" he said quietly "Why don't you go wash yourself a bit and we enjoy the humungous breakfast I brought?"
Two long fluffy appendages pricked up over the edge of the small chest of drawers at that "You...you brought breakfast?!" she said turning two surprised yet worried purple eyes towards him "But you're injured and..."
"Pfft I'm fit as a fiddle Carrots, fever is gone, my face is handsome as ever and my ribs just sting a little" he said patting his side to make his point"
"But..."
"No more buts...I'm okay and it's all because of you." he nodded "Now go get ready officer Hopps, we've got a long day ahead of us"
Judy doesn't look very convinced but eventually she complied, slowly walking out the door and disappearing into the hallway.
As soon as she was gone he dropped his happy cocky expression replacing it with one of agony "S-shit" he cursed doubling in pain clutching at his side "I think this time I really went overboard" the tod admitted, blindly reaching for an orange plastic tube in one of his sweatpants' pocket, opening the cap with trembling paws and letting two white pills fall on one of his open palms.
He looked disgusted at the apparently innocuous tablets of Oxycodone he brought that morning and, with a sigh, he put them in his mouth as quickly as he could and dry swallowed them without second thoughts "God" he panted gritting his fangs, his ribs were killing him but he had no other choice...today marked the end of the three day ultimatum Don gave him and now, recovered or not, he have to obey and resume his job.
And his little bunny doesn't have to know it because he strongly suspected that if she ever found out he was lying she would have him pawcuffed him to the bed and forced to rest.
The worst part was that he would have gladly obliged her, even without cuffs involved, and though he had to admit it could have been a very interesting experience...he knew he had no choice.
It had already been so difficult leaving the warm sheets and the even warmer body cuddled against him that morning...not only that...it was difficult restrain himself to kiss the sweet smiling lips and it was even more difficult, if not impossible, stopping his naughty paw caressing the soft and silky fur of her long ears sprawled on his chest.
Nick closed his paw into a tight fist, he could still feel it under his pawpads..."Damn" he mumbled recollecting that pleasurable sensation of softness.
And all of that after only three days...
"Ahem...sorry about that, I've never slept so late since the first grade" the cute doe said bashfully re-opening the door immediately focusing on gathering her scattered articles of clothing trying in the meantime to avoid his gaze.
"Wait" he said gently enveloping her small paws in two his warmer and much bigger ones effectively stopping what she was doing "There is time for that...how about we enjoy the food while it's still warm? Besides you have nothing to be sorry about."
"Uh..."
"Aren't you...hungry?" he asked with a very low and almost sensual voice slightly increasing his hold on her soft fingers.
"Actually...I'm famished" the gray bunny answered very interested in a pile of plain blue tees until a delicate pressure under her chin forced her to raise her face towards two deep smoldering emerald's orbs
"Then why are we still here?" Nick stated removing the tiny burden from her paws and placed it on the nightstand "I don't know about you but I like my food very...hot" he said pronouncing the last word in a rather...well...hot way.
"Ehm...ok" but as she was walking toward the small table he stopped her once more "Not yet Carrots...let me" he said with a small secret smile walking past her.
Without apparent effort he grabbed the wooden board sliding it closer to the bed like it was a settle and, satisfied of the outcome, he did the same with the only chair in the room positioning it so that they could look each other in the face...or eyes!
"Ok almost perfect...I just...need something else and...aha there it is" he happily exclaimed grasping a dishrag in the sink and fixing it on his bent right arm like a five stars waiter then, biting his inner cheek in order to ignore the terrible pain in his side, he slightly bowed in front of her "Milady, your table awaits you"
Judy giggled cutely at his silly antics and, with a small curtsy she decided to play his own game "It's very kind of you good sir to keep my reservation even if I'm so late."
"Nonsense Milady, you are perfectly on time, please allow me to show you to your special table."
"That would be appreciated, thank you" she answered in jest battling her eyelashes in a funny flirtatious way.
"Very well" he said winking and bowing one more, then, with a clumsy roundhouse and a flourish he pointed with both open palms to the setting right behind him "And here we are, I hope the walk wasn't too tiring for your delicate feet madame"
"It was...adequate" she said snootily raising her pink little nose in the air like a sophisticated lady mimicking Fru's manner when she insisted in bringing her along during some of her high ranked, and absolutely boring, dinners of charity, and because Judy wasn't one to do things halfway, when she gracefully sit on the unkempt bed she even managed to reproduce the smoothing of a nonexistent skirt with an amused sparkle in her purple eyes.
So cute..."Now Milady allow me to bring out your special breakfast...today we have Carrots' pancakes with blueberry syrup, fruit tarts...and just between us Madam the chef assured me they are fresh baked, then we have berry salad, toasted bread, three different kind of marmalade and, since we didn't know what you like to drink with all this goodies we can offer you, carrots, orange and pumpkin juice"
Judy glanced surprised at the huge quantity of delicacies he was placing in front of her as soon as he mentioned them, not even counting the mouth watering smells in the room.
"Is everything of your liking Milady?"
"It is, it looks really delicious, thank you so much sir" It wasn't a lie...she didn't have a breakfast like this since...well...ever.
"Then I will take my leave...Bon apétit" he said bowing once more
"Well thank you" she exclaimed hiding a big smile behind a paw as he discarded the dishrag and turned towards her, starring once again as himself this time with his time-tested lopsided grin and half lidded eyes "Sorry to keep you waiting Carrots" He said like a seasoned actor.
"Not at all...I just got here myself" but as soon as he sat on his chair none of them was able to keep the charade any longer and they both burst out laughing out loud.
"Seriously Nick, how did you manage to get all of this?" she gestured to the all prepared neatly arranged.
"Oh well...first I went to Snailbucks" he answered unconcerned pouring her some orange juice "Have you ever tried their pancakes Carrots? They are the softest I've ever tasted, then I bought the salad two blocks farther and..."
"Nick...that's not what I'm asking" she said quietly looking at him
The red furred mammal stopped talking and, for a while, there was only the muffled noise of the food being placed on the plates "I know" he whispered eventually almost to himself.
"Nick I..."
"It's not so bad, honest" he said quite convincing even to his own ears "Plus I need to go back to work"
Two long gray appendages stood up again in a rather adorable way at his words "What?! But you are not recovered yet..."
"I'm fine Carrots...I'm a tough kit you know?" he said batting his chest in demonstration "See? Hard as a rock"
Judy swallowed a morsel of pancake then argued "Nick...nobody's kicking you out"
"I'm aware of that, and I thank you for your kindness Carrots...but my bills are piling up...and, last time I checked, money does not grow on trees"
"But..."
"Besides I've been in much worse Fluff believe me" Liar…
She sighed in resignation "Alright...if you are sure..."
"Of course I am...furthermore I can't let down all my beautiful faithful customers for more than three days"
"Oh" she said somewhat disappointed "Well I guess not"
Wow, great job walking mouth, that was an incredibly smart thing for you to say...I bet she will fall at your feet in a microsecond now...you have sawdust in lieu of a brain he thought biting down a slice of toasted bread like it was the culprit of all his disgraces quickly looking for something to save the day "So...err...I'm curious...what bunnies do when they are not harvesting carrots...Carrots?"
"You mean in addition to augmenting the world's population?" she joked
"Yes" he chuckled with a small smile "Other than that"
"You see...when we bunnies reach puberty and our hormones were..ahem... seriously affecting our social life...usually parents encourage us to do different activities for many hours a day" she said evasively.
"Activities?" he asked curiously placing the fork on the plate.
She nodded trying to hide the deep blush in the inside of her ears.
"Oh...I see" Nick grinned taking the hint "And for activities you mean..."
"SPORTS" the incredibly super embarrassed bunny shouted to cut short whatever profanities she was sure he was going to say
"Sports?" he repeated a bit surprised
"For the most part...even if..."
"Even if?" he gently urged selling out a hint of amusement
Judy sighed "Even if some of my siblings still prefer...uh...the classic way"
"Aaah yes, the dear old classic way...I'd like it best too" he snorted at the cleaned up comment about the famous stirring of the senses of a rabbit and even if the need to make wisecracks was almost impossible to tone down, he still decided to spare her further embarrassment and play along "And what kind of sports do bunnies fancy exactly?"
"The ones everybody do I guess" the small doe answered matter of factly swallowing the last morsel of her carrot pancake "Basket, baseball, athletics, tennis..."
"Wait...basket? I know bunnies are very nimble but...really?"
"Is there anything wrong with bunnies playing basket?" She questioned with a raised eyebrow and an undertone of warning
"No, not really...it's just that, and please don't take it the wrong way, there are usually bigger animals to the game, how it's even possible to take hold of the ball? It seemed like a wild goose chase"
"Go tell that to my litter's brother Caleb, three times winner of most valuable player I high school and team star's player In college" she said collecting the dirty plates and neatly piling them into the sink
A low whistle of appreciation was the only answer Nick offered as he helped to clear the table "Wow...that was quite unexpected"
"I'll be sure to let him know" she said with a grin wrapping the leftovers in food quality film
"And, knowing you, there's probably more in store right?"
"Maaaaaaybeeeee"
"Come on, I know you can't wait to disgrace me...just please...do it gently" he exclaimed posing dramatically as if expecting a death sentence.
Turning around with a totally malicious smirk she said "If you really must know...Lorraine fourteenth litter, regional champion of track and field, Roger, twenty-sixth litter, first grade champion of obstacle course with honorable mention on the Bunnyburrow's journal, Melissa sixteenth..."
And for the next fifteen minutes, while she washed and he dry the dishes, his cu...adorable little doe kept enumerate the various, and to be honest quite impressive, list of her siblings' sporting successes of which he lost count almost immediately, still he didn't even bother to stop her.
He loved listening to her sweet melodic voice, no matter what she was talking about.
"...and that's all I guess" she said thoughtfully putting away the last of the cheap cutlery in one of the cupboards.
"Crash and burn Fluff...next time I doubt about your family's whereabouts please kill me first...as long as you promise to be quick"
"You asked for it...boom" she giggled
"Yeah yeah...guilty as charged" he admitted rolling his eyes and crossing his arms on his chest, grateful that the medicine worked "So what about you?"
"Me?"
"Yes you...don't you have some amazing sport achievement to brag about?"
"Uhm...nope?"
"Mmhm...it seemed more a yep than a nope to me" he said grinning like a naughty kit "Come on...what was your stress reliever?"
"..."
"Don't tell me that you belong to the category of the classical way?!" he joked
"U-uhm...well" she babbled caressing her right arm with her other paw "T-the truth is...that...that"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to pry" he apologized as a shudder of horror slowly ran down his spine.
He didn't like the direction all of this was heading to.
"No, it's okay...it's just that my 'stress reliever', how you called it, was a bit...unconventional, that's all" she said nervously "Not even my family ever understood my relationship with her"
With the knowledge that probably a two ton rock on his skull would have been much less painful, Nick gloomily pondered that he should probably consider wearing a muzzle...permanently! WHAT DOES IT EVEN MEAN...HER?!
Judy, completely unaware of his inner turmoil simply looked at him with her big lovely eyes and then smiled "Nick, are you busy today?"
"Not until late afternoon...why do you ask?" he said in a rather harsh tone Idiot...that didn't help the cause
"Oh...I was wondering, would...would you like to meet her?"
"Meet her?" he parroted with a thin barely audible voice as a sense of defeat was already destroying all his hopes
"Yes, now….just promise to behave ok? I know she's smoking hot but she's my most precious possession and I'm very protective and jealous of her" she exclaimed fondly "Come...it's not very far but there will be a lot of traffic at this hour, the sooner we go the faster we'll arrive" she cheerily emphasized grabbing him by the arm and dragging the now boneless fox out of the door with such incredible speed and strength that he had barely enough time to grasp his green duffle bag in the process.
Once outside, despite the beautiful day and the very pleasurable and lovely company of his bunny, Nick wasn't really in the mood to fully enjoy any of them.
He stubbornly ignored the warmth of the sunlight, the chirping of the birds or the bouncing fluffy little tail in front of him, all he was able to think about in that short trip towards the crowded bus station was that he was a complete fucking idiot.
Life taught him, in the worst possible way, that you have to plan everything as carefully and accurately as possible, the slightest mistake or oversight and you can find yourself into troubles...sometimes even with irreparable damages and consequences.
The proof of which will forever be tattooed on his back.
But this time, this time he actually believed he'd done everything the right way, he spent the long and endless hours alone in her shoe box of apartment to consider each and every option, because let's face it...as much as he despised his 'job' he knew how to court a girl, point is he never had any reason to make good use of all his knowledge for personal uses.
The only thing he didn't even took into consideration was her possible attraction for her same sex
Nick had no problem in rivaling with another male, if anything he consider it a very challenging task, but if the rival was a female? There was at least a very big reason it will never work out.
...literally!
But right when he was listing in his head all the possible reasoning he could enlist her about the joy of straight sex, he was suddenly interrupted by a sweet voice and a kind tap on his forearm "Nick hurry, we have to get off" and for the second time that day, before he could fully understand what she was saying he felt himself being pulled by his arm from the bus to a very secluded and empty station right in front of...the docks?!"
The red fox looked around curiously, whoever this mysterious female was, she sure as hell liked her privacy, still...how could someone choose to live down there? Fluff...you really have unique taste…
"Nick? Are you okay? You seemed a bit off today" she asked with a worried voice
Yes...and who's fault do you think it is mmh? He really wanted to tell her, instead he said "I'm perfectly fine Carrots" Wow good job, you sounded almost convincing "I just can't wait to meet your special friend" and if he was expecting some sort of deny from her he was very disappointed when she only giggled, quite nervously to be honest, averting her beautiful purple eyes from him.
"I'm sure you'll love her just as much as I do Nick...she's amazing" she whispered tucking one of her long ear behind her back
Yeah...of course, I'm really looking forward to it he mentally pouted, rolling his eyes walking behind her, with as much dignity as he could muster due to the circumstances "Uh! Does she live in one of the abandoned council estates?" he knew it was a very cheap area but the crime rate was sky-high and unless this...girl...was a giant mutant bunny, he doubt she would never be safe there.
Not even if she was romantically involved with a police officer.
"No, not really...this is..."
"WHO'S THERE?" shouted suddenly a very menacing smokey baritone voice out from nowhere "I WARN YOU, I'M ARMED AND I'M NOT AFRAID TO USE IT"
Aaaand prime example right here "Carrots...it's"
"Nick...pretend to be afraid and raise your arms in surrender...now" she suggested lifting her own in demonstration
"What? Carrots..."
"Just do it...Mr. Thorne it's me, Judy, please put the gun away"
"Judy?!"" mumbled the newcomer, a shabby-looking hedgehog, sneaking out from behind a corner aiming a very old fashioned rifle on them "Judy…as in Miss Hopps?" he asked thoroughly squinting
"Yes…can I lower my arms now?" she smiled
"For sure…but what about HIM?" He said turning the tip of the rifle directly in front of the todd's muzzle
"Uh…"
"It's all right …he's with me" Judy reassured patiently like he was a young kit
"HE IS?!" he said glancing at the helpless, and quite uncomfortable, red mammal…"I don't trust him…his ears are too close"
"WHAT?!"
"I guarantee Mr. Thorne, he's one of the good guys… "
After a while, in which he never dropped the rifle from the poor tods's nose, the very angered mammal complied "Very well, If miss Hopps says you are ok I will let you go…for this time…just don't forget I will take a good look at you…is that clear?"
"Crystal" answered Nick with a very noticeable sigh of relief
"Are you here to see HER Miss Hopps?" he asked with a much more sweet tone positioning his old weapon on his shoulder
"Yep…did she behave well?"
"She was a real sweetheart…you know I have a thing for her" he said jovially winking at the amused bunny "If only I was 20 years younger"
"You are still very young Mr. Thorne…and thank you for being such a good guardian for her"
"Nonsense, and It's my pleasure" he said with a little bow touching his forehead in a very gallant and old fashioned hat lifting "Protecting young and beautiful ladies is an honor for an ex colonell"
The cute giggle of the gray bunny for once annoyed the now grumpy fox as a massive wave of jealously was slowly taking hold of him.
Just who in the hell was this girl to have so many suitors and attentions? Florence Nightingale? He considers himself a very polite mammal but really… this time he wished his mother didn't educate him so well.
"Please don't let me waste your time, the young lady is waiting I think...and as for you Mister...remember I'll be watching you" he said flat out "If you ever need help Miss, I'll be right here behind the corner"
"That won't be necessary Mr. Thorne but thank you so much for your concern"
"Aha of course..." and without further comment he just turned the other way but not before launching a last evil glance in Nick's direction
"Okay...what was that?!"
"That was Mt. Thorne, the guardian of the rent-controlled storage facilities of the docks...and don't worry, he's totally harmless"
"Ha-harmless? Carrots, in case you hadn't noticed, I hat the barrel of a rifle this close to my nose...it doesn't seem so harmless to me"
"It's broken"
"It's what?!"
"The rifle, it's broken" she said signaling for him to follow her
"Broken? But...how? I mean why?" He asked stunned following her
"Frederick Thorne an old war veteran fallen on hard times, he lost wife and sons in a massive attack during a mission abroad thirty years ago and when he came back to Zootopia he was offered a good pension and a place to live but he refused them because he wanted to be still considered useful for the society."
"That...was...wow"
"So the mayor from then assigned him an accommodation here, the only one available at the time, and despite he had many other better offers, he never wanted to quit here"
"I see...well from what I've seen he's a very...uh...dedicated in his job"
"Yes" she smiled "He deal with it like he did with his troopers...oh we are here" she exclaimed fumbling with something metallic in her pocket
The 'Here' was in reality a simple brown warehouse damper, much shinier than all the other on that side of the compound, but not surely a good place to live in.
"Carrots what..." but the sight of the double keychain he gave her for her birthday was too much for his already upset mood, that was not the way he hoped she would have used it...not for someone else's keys.
He didn't have much time to dwell on it though because, as soon as the heavy shutter was lifted, he was completely stunned to find the place...different from what he was expecting...not surely a place suitable to live in "Come in Nick, it's okay"
He did as he was told, he had to admit he never seen a place more cleaned and disinfected than an operating room, and, excluding some brand new tools tidily hanged on a pure white wall and a big mass in the right side covered by a dark blue tarpaulin, there was nothing else inside "Carrots...where is she?" he asked more confused by the minute looking around.
Judy didn't answer, with a cute smile she grabbed the blue cloth and with a strong and quick tug uncovered what was hiding under it.
The surprise was so immediate that for some seconds the talkative fox was short of argument, the only thing he could do was dropping his bag heavily on the floor completely forgetting the expensive laptop it contained "That...that...is"
"Nick meet Meredith, my only one real lasting love" she declared with a fond tone.
Meredith the love of his bunny's life. was a car, a beautiful shiny petrol fins vintage car.
In that moment two things happened:
One, Nick realized he was worrying about nothing as his dreams for a future with her came back full force and, second, he knew she was right all along because he was looking at probably one of the most beautiful things in the whole world.
And it was okay...no, it was more than okay.
He could live with that.
Damn right he could.
"She's gorgeous, isn't she?" she asked in response at his silent reaction
"Gorgeous is nowhere near the truth Carrots...this...she's...a Mustang..." he asked eventually getting closer in a rather reverently way.
"A '64 Mustang, VIN number 1, one of the few made in paint oil with colored eggshell's leather interior of the original series" she added proudly.
"Carrots...do you realized how valuable this car is?"
"Meredith"
"Meredith...she's..."
"I'm perfectly aware Nick...last time I checked she was valued approximately 250,000/300,000 dollars, a devotee could probably pay the double to have her...but to me she's priceless"
A low whistle of appreciation was all he could manage in that moment "Hello Meredith" he said politely to the inanimate vehicle gently brushing a furry finger on the shell of the hood "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance" delighting in the fond giggle of the cute bunny at his side
"She likes you"
"Of course, she likes me, I have a way with girls...alive or metallic" he winked
"I figured as much"
"Fluff, I really need to know...where did you find such a beauty?"
"My grandpa Archie did, many years ago...he told me she was a mass of rusted plates and flat tires abandoned in an old hayloft, the owner hired him to help with the harvesting and instead of money he asked to be paid with her. Everyone laughed at his request"
"I can't believe it..." he said genuinely surprised peeking inside the car window
"My grampa's dream had always been to be a mechanic...but his family never allowed him to...Meredith...she was his chance to fulfill it"
"And now it's yours?"
"He made me her carer in his will as long as I'll never sell it, unless it was for a very good cause"
"Your grandpa was a very smart rabbit" he said adamant "He renewed her all by himself?!"
"Yes, albeit very slowly" she sighed "Just to find the original tires took him seven years, but he never gave up"
"Yeah...I can see it...but, where do you fit in all of this?" he asked curiously
"I spent every spare minute I had with him in his garage helping him with the engine and cleaning and sorting out the tools" she smiled "I've lost track of the many lectures I got from my mother whenever I came back with smudge of oil on my clothes and fur"
"Uhm...and this is bad for a rabbit?" he inquired gently looking at her from above the top of the car with a sweet smile
"It's bad for a doe...especially when your parents and whole family already planned your future ever since I was three."
"Let me guess...harvesting carrots...get married, have a couple of hundreds little bunnies and err...harvesting more carrots?!"
"Yes...pretty much" she said hiding her own smile behind a paw "But I always had been a rebel as you know"
"You are a very naughty bunny Fluff" he said jokingly moving a finger back and forth in admonition for her bad actions
"You have no idea" she said opening the car door "Come to see the inside...it's even better"
"I thought you'd never ask" he answered quickly opening the passenger's door and sitting on the car seat "Man...it's so soft..."
"He spent all his savings on them, but they are worth every penny"
"They sure are" he agreed crossing his arms behind his head and relaxing "So, you were...err like some sort of favorite niece?"
"More like the chosen one"
"Chosen one?" he said turning on his side to face her
She giggled "Oh, it's a legend in my warren, my mother told me that the day I was born pop pop came to see the newcomers as tradition and the moment the saw me in my crib he lifted me in his arms and said 'This one is special...she will make the world a better place'
"No way"
"Yes way...actually...he's the one who named me"
"Is that an important thing?"
"Maybe only for Rabbits...when you live in a very large family like us names are...how can I say it..."
"Special?"
"Yes, sort of, it's difficult to find new names that aren't already in use...choosing a name it's like forging a bond between you and the kit...I know it's a stupid bunny thing but..."
"You and your pop pop were very close, am I right?"
"We were" she said tenderly
"And whose name he called you after?"
"My gramma Laverne...he said we were very similar"
"But...your name is Judith...isn't it?"
"Judith Laverne...both were her names...he just reversed them"
"How was she?"
"I never met her, she died giving birth to her first litter...my grampa never recovered from it...and he choose to never remarry"
"Do you have a picture of her?"
"Yes, you want to see it?"
"Sure" he smiled as she took her phone and flipped through the gallery
"Aha...there she is, look" she said offering her phone for him to see
He carefully took her from her paws and looked at it for a good minute, it was the picture of an old snapshot but the young pregnant doe it was printed on, was happily staring back at him with big purple eyes "You have her eyes"
"Yes, I'm one of the few between my siblings who inherited this color"
"Fair, because you love purple..." he teased
"Har har….very funny"
"But seriously...I think...that purple really suits you...you know?"
"Thanks I guess..." she said lowering her head to hide a slightly twitching little nose
Adorable "So...well...do...you have a pic of you as a baby?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I am curious to see the almighty officer Hopps as a little doe"
She had a slight hesitation but eventually she agreed "Alright then...give it back" and quick like a small thunder she choose another pic for him "Here...that's me"
Again he took it from her and carefully observed it with a small frown "This isn't you"
"What are you talking about?...Of course it's me" But her indignant tone wasn't very convincing.
"And I say...this pic is from another kit...the only question is...why? Because I'm pretty sure you did it on purpose" he gently lectured
Judy's eyes widened in a stunned expression of surprise "She's Ellie, one of my nieces...my sister sent it last year to show me how similar we are...it was just a joke, I meant no offense" she apologized a bit embarrassed.
"None taken" he smiled in reassurance then he turned once more to analyze the picture "Seriously Carrots, I don't see how you can say you two are similar" he pondered biting contemplative on one of his knuckles.
"But if we are like two peas in a pod?!" she said outraged getting very close to him ready to point all the similarities
"First of all your noses are not the same" he quickly resumed "Yours is smaller and more round, your ears' shape are longer and more slender, the white fur...here...and here" he pointed with the tip of his claw on the screen on the small baby's face "It's a bit darker than yours and much less wide, and the eyes...well it's where you can see it the most, they are a totally different shade of purple and in no way as soulful as yours..." he stopped looking at her in said soulful eyes and the way she was looking at him with amazement and wonder made him forget what he was so enthusiastically trying to say.
"..."
"W-well...at least that's what I think" he clumsily tried to contain himself...Oh, Well done, try to write it on the wall with flashing lights next time...it will be less obvious, and while you are at it tell her that this morning you spent two hours just watching her sleep you idiot
"I...I see...thank you" she exclaimed rather bashfully with her beautiful blush in the inside of her ears
"It's...nothing..." Well that's all you have to say? You are losing your touch Wilde...this is the perfect moment...so get off your ass and find something better to say...like...RIGHT NOW FOX "Carr..." but, as per usual, whenever he was trying to be honest with himself and live a moment with her someone or in this case something decided to interfere.
Today it was his phone's alarm clock's turn
"Alright...apparently my time is up...I need to go back to work" he said not in the least happy
"Oh...already?"
"Time flies when you are having fun Fluff" he said both sad and glad to see her so disappointed.
"Yeah"
"Uhm...do you mind to check if Mr. Colonel is anywhere near Carrots? I wouldn't want to...annoy him or his rifle with my close together ears" he said exiting the car and shutting the door as gently as he couldn't
The gray doe laughed heartily opening her own door "Of course"
"You are a life saver, my hero"
She peeked from the garage shutter right and left "Green light"
"Really?" he said parting her ears and doing the same over her head "Oh, you are right"
"You don't say" she rolled her eyes very amused
"Right..." he nervously mumbled gathering his discarded duffle bag and positioning it over his shoulder "All joking aside Carrots...I'm not good with these sort of things...so...ehm...thank you for everything...the rescue...the shelter...the company...I...I'm really grateful and I can never pay you back."
"It...it was nothing…everybody in my place would have done the same Nick"
Not so many as you might think Fluff "So...goodbye Carrots..."
"Goodbye Nick"
He smiled and slowly started to walk towards the bus station but then he suddenly turned again "CARROTS"
"Yes?!"
"I was wondering...do you think we can go for a ride with her sometimes? Oh! if Meredith is willing of course"
"We can't Nick"
"I promise to behave...and won't ask to drive her...cross on heart"
"It's not that Nick...she can't move"
"What?"
"Pop pop was never able to find her last missing piece...the carburetor...he died without ever having the chance to try her" she said patting the roof
"I'm sorry" he apologized ashamed "what about a coffee then?" he quickly added before he lost his nerves.
"Mmh?"
"Coffee, If by chance I'll hang out again nearby your house...can I invite you for a coffee or something?" he pleaded scratching the back of his neck Tsk pathetic...
"Of course...coffee...or something else is good"
"Great...okay so...I have your number...so...I can give you a call...and...right..." he said slowly walking towards her.
"Right"
"Parting is such a sweet sorrow my Juliet...please can you give me something to remember you?"
"Remember me?"
He didn't answer, he only gallantly took her hand and placed a tender kiss on her soft back "Until next time...Judy" and without even waiting for an answer he quickly resumed his steps disappearing in a heartbeat.
Judy remained there looking incredulous at the small place he just kissed while her late pop pop's words were resonating in her mind.
It was after the night of her prom dance...that terrible night in which everything changed...she was seated in her gorgeous green dress on Meredith's hood crying her eyes out as her grandfather was angrily pacing back and forth "I will kill that piece of shit...I promise...he's a dead rabbit walking"
"Pop pop...everyone will say it's my fault...please...forget it"
"FORGET IT? How can I do it?! Look what he did"
"I'm fine..."
"No..NO you are not" he sighed trying to calm himself down "But sadly you are right...If I confront him...you will be put in the stocks...it will ruin you forever"
"It's my fault..."
"Yes it is...but not for the reason you are assuming...is your fault that you tried to be like anybody else"
"I was trying to adapt Pop pop"
"Judy...sweetheart" he said lovingly hugging her "We, me and you, are free spirits...we can't be like the rest out there...we are born to arise...let them be the ones to adapt...we've got bigger things to do"
"Such as?" she sniffled hugging him back
"Such as...making the world a better place...wasn't that your dream ever since you were a kit?"
"Yes"
"See? You will became a police offer...boom"
"Mom and dad will never allow it"
"Something tells me that starting from today they will...if only out of relieving their conscience" he bitterly said caressing her ears
"Okay, but if I'll pass the exam...will you come to my graduation ceremony?"
"Only if you promise me something Judith"
"Everything...what is it?"
"Promise me the male you'll choose..."
"I'm done with bucks..."
The older bunny lovingly ruffled the fur on her head with a huge smile "I never said Bucks, Little Monkey, just promise me that whoever you choose will be able to recognize you amongst all other bunnies"
"What if he doesn't get through?"
"Then you'll know he's not worthy of you"
"What do you mean you weren't talking about bucks?"
"I'll explain it to you when you'll be older...now...if you don't mind...go wash your beautiful face lady, get out of that ridiculous dress that doesn't fit you at all and start helping me with the headlights"
That was the last memory she had of her strong and always cheerful grandfather, he died two weeks later peacefully in his bed, later when they read his last will they discovered that Judy was the only beneficiary of all his heritage...Meredith.
Sell her for a very good cause only? She never understood why he put such a stupid clause because
in her heart Judy knew that that day would never come...still something else came that she didn't expect at all..."Pop pop...could he be the non-buck you were talking about?" she said looking at the darkening sky like he could answer her
She obviously didn't get any, but of one thing she was absolutely sure...according to her gramps rules...he was worth.
Nick from his seat in the back of the bus was having similar thoughts.
She was, without doubt the most amazing female he'd ever met, and if he was certain before he was even more convinced after what he saw today, and no matter if he had to share her heart with a car...he was ready to take them both.
Decision made, he took his own phone and dialed a well known number.
"What?" answered a gruff and annoyed voice
"Fin, my dear friend how are you? Long time no see"
"Fuck you Wilde"
"Yes, I missed you too, listen I need a favor"
"Shut the front door...and what prey tell do you need that you can't do it yourself?"
"I can't tell it on the phone"
"I don't deal with sex toys pal"
"It's nothing like that"
"And what did I gain if I say yes? The usual?" Fin said with a bit of malice "The other time I had a clear view of the red fox's home run from the fourth ring...I want the same place"
"I'm ready to pay for the whole season if you help me"
"..."
"Fin? Did you hear me?"
"Is it a female, isn't it? Don't tell me you finally found one"
"I won't kiss and tell"
"Okay okay...just don't be all lovey dovey with me or you're gonna give me cavities." he said disgusted "Fine...send me a mail with the details and I'll see what I can do, ciao"
Nick smiled very satisfied at the dead line, he knew that Finnick was a gruff with a golden heart, and he had no doubt he would have been able to fulfill his request.
If anyone would be up to the task, that mammal was his trusted friend.
Maybe, just maybe the famous coffee would be there much sooner than expected.