Finally got kicked into gear again, by a comment on Reddit Zootopia of all things.
This story is coming to an end. I had a lot of fun with it, but I don't feel there's a point in prolonging it beyond its intended goal. I might write a follow up, there's ideas bouncing around in here, but I'm still deciding on that.
Meanwhile, there's at least one more chapter coming, an epilogue at the very least. So if you have any questions or comments left, now would be the time, and I'll take a moment to adress them after the story is over.

Once again, thanks for reading :)


They checked it at the door.

On the beat, they were Wilde and Hopps, partners. Friends. They never really talked about it, but the silent agreement provided peace and calm, made it so much easier to focus on the job. On the beat, it was as if nothing had changed at all.
And then the moment would come when the clock would run out, when Wilde and Hopps became Nick and Judy. And they'd share a look, silent and simple. It became a ritual, almost.

Even off the clock, nothing much had changed. They still hung out, they still talked and joked. Except now he could do this thing where he lazily rested one paw on her head as she talked, trailing it down over her ears mid sentence, feel them begin to flush right as her voice faltered. Now he could stare at her all he liked, no longer quickly turning his attention away when she looked up. Now he could simply smile a lazy smile and enjoy her reaction, be it a blush, or a kiss, or both. Some days it was a roll of the eyes and an elbow to the stomach, and he liked that almost as much. There had been cuddles, the brushing of paws, stolen soft kisses whenever they said goodbye for the day. And if any bystander ever looked at them funny, he couldn't even care to notice.
But besides their shared office, where the agreement made it easy to keep it strictly friendly and professional, he hadn't dared to be really alone with her. Not for lack of her trying. She'd offer a movie night, and he'd take her to the movies instead. She'd suggest take out, he'd suddenly remember this restaurant she just had to try. She stopped hinting eventually, seemingly content to leave the ball in his camp. Not that he hadn't thought about it, once or twice. Maybe four. Every day. A lot. It had a tendency to creep in his thoughts whenever his mind seemed to wander, the impossible idea of his bunny on his turf.

She's not a fox, he had to remind himself, whenever she snuggled close, or rewarded him with that blazing smile, or tickled his ear with her breath. She's no vixen. And that's ok. Perfectly fine. The world be damned if anyone ever told him otherwise. But it meant doing things a little differently. It meant paying attention to what set his bunny off, where her sweet spots were. More than anything, it meant going slow.

It almost became a mantra in his head, especially in those moments where she'd drag a paw over his tail in an almost absent minded way, or pulled him into an ally for a quick snog, her feet barely touching the ground as she tugged his tie.

Slow. Wait for spring. Go slow.

He wasn't sure Judy had gotten the memo.


It was snowing again. December had been white from the start, lending a dazzling, cheery look to the city, perfect for Christmas shopping and sleighing. A war had broken out between the kits of Downtown Central and Happy Town, with many an innocent bystander finding himself at the wrong end of a snowball. Today's weather however had willed a cease fire, and all warriors were currently confined to warmer places, hot chocolate optional.

Snow whirled around the cruiser, with the occasional gale hinting at the hidden world around. Cars loomed out of white chaos, only to be swallowed whole again in the blink of an eye. Traffic had slowed to a crawl. Judy was tapping the steering wheel, a telltale sign she was growing restless.

Nick was relaxing in the passenger seat with an amused smile. "Is this a bad time to mention you missed the turn for the station?"

She flicked an ear in annoyance. "I'm not going to the station. With traffic like this, it'll take us forever." She kept her eyes on the road, ears on full alert, completely focused on the hazardous traffic. "Call it in, will you? They can go without the cruiser for one day. I'll bring it in tomorrow."

He relayed the message to Clawhauser, who was surprisingly indifferent about the break in protocol. Nick had a feeling theirs wouldn't be the only cruiser missing from the compound tonight. He settled the radio back in its spot, and looked outside. Tried to, anyway. The wind was playing tricks on him, drawing images in the snow, hiding the traffic until it was suddenly frightfully close. Not the kind of weather you'd want to walk through.

"So where are you letting me out?"

She didn't take her eyes off the road, still on high alert. "Don't be silly Nick, I'm not letting you walk in this weather. I'll drop you off at home."

"That's awfully out of your way." He studied her with a worried frown. Her finger was still tapping the steering wheel in a restless staccato. "You sure you'll be up for the drive back?"

Her eyes flicked to him for only an instant. "You asking me to spend the night, Slick?"

He froze in his seat, eyes wide. Her focus was again outside, her ears perked with not even a hint of a blush.

His answer came slow and deliberate. "That... would be a bad idea."

Another ear flick. "Why?"

He groaned internally. "Carrots, you know why."

She was silent for a while, concentrated on merging into the next lane.

"Indulge me."

He growled in apparent frustration. "Rabbit, if a fox takes you to his den, there's only so many options as to what would happen." He left the rest to her imagination.

"So?"

He snapped his teeth together, annoyed. Was she actually smiling? Because he sure wasn't. "I've told you before. Don't tease a fox in winter, rabbit."

"Who said I'm teasing?"

She said it in such an offhand way, with just a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. He couldn't help but chuckle.

"Are you sure you're a bunny?"

Her smile turned to pure slyness. "Would you feel better if you could check for yourself?"

A deep rumble filled the car, startling him almost as much as it startled her. He checked himself, biting down on the sound, along with the sudden desire to kiss that damn smile off her face. He turned away instead, trying to catch his thoughts, pressing his brow against the cool window glass. Outside, the whirling snow hid everything from sight. It was as if the world began and stopped with the car. Just him and his bunny, from beginning to end.
He drew a shuddering breath. Her scent was everywhere, but he could almost tune it out if he kept it shallow enough. He just needed one more moment, and he'd be ready to face her again, just one. Only he couldn't seem to relax his shoulders. And that damn growl was still rumbling somewhere deep down, rattling the cage.

He started when the car got thrown in reverse. She parked the car with practiced ease, pulling the handbrake and killing the engine. What was left of the world suddenly became even smaller when the dying sound took the artificial light with it.

His bunny released her vigilance, slumping into her chair. She rested her head against the steering wheel with closed eyes and an annoyed grunt. He wasn't entirely sure if that one was for him or no.

"Fine. I'm sorry I pushed. Go on, get home."

He waited for her to look at him, but when she eventually came back up it was to look outside. She started up the car, and simply waited for him to get out. Somehow, the engine only added to the silence.
He took a tentative sniff. The air was the comfortable odd mix of fox and rabbit, with a hint of snow seeping in like a cold afterthought. He dared to breathe a little deeper. Overlaying it all was way too much musk, distractingly mingled with just a hint of her special scent, rare and enticing, and...
His nose crinkled. Disappointment. Now that he had placed it, it was almost palpable. He looked his bunny over, really looked. Her body language was relaxed, almost passive. She was averting her gaze, but her face was a careful sort of languid. The world suddenly felt a lot colder. It was a mask he was all too familiar with, but not on her. Never on her.

The silence between them was beginning to weigh. She tried to fill it. "If the snow keeps up like this, I'll pick you up tomorrow. Just let me know when-"

"Judy."

That got her to look, at least. He met her guarded eyes with an open smile. He lifted his paw to her cheek, slowly, as if he could slip off her mask just like that.

"Judy, would you like to come into my den?"

Sudden surprise flickered, and broke the mould. She chuckled, shattering the remaining bits and pieces. Her fur felt warm against his pads.

"So formal, mister Wilde."

He didn't rise to the bait, but simply nodded, waiting for her answer. How exactly did one explain these things? He never imagined he'd have to. None of The Talks ever covered this. If he ever asked her along for Christmas, would she even know what it meant?

Her smile faltered. "It's a fox thing, isn't it?"

He nodded again, guarding his silence. Waiting.

"Why Nicholas Wilde, I would love to accept your invitation."

He visibly relaxed. Her smile was genuine, without even a trace of mocking. Who needs a vixen with a doe like this?

He brushed a thumb over her cheek before breaking contact. "In that case… better run."

He threw open his door without further warning, letting in a torrent of wind and ice. She squealed in sudden protest, yet by the time he was fully outside he could hear her door open as well. He hurried onto the sidewalk, blinking rapidly. It was practically storming. He found his way almost on pure memory, the world nothing but a whirl of shades. In the few heartbeats it took for him to duck into the alcove, the cold was already seeping to his bones. He turned to look for his rabbit, spotting her only a few feet behind. He reached to help her, dragging her out of the storm and into his arms. It was innocent enough, only meant to help her find the way, to get her out of the cold. Twisting her away from the gale was a good start. Pushing her up against the door, that part was honestly unplanned for. Her surprise turned to approval as he found her lips, the sudden heat of their kiss chasing away all thoughts of the storm. He nipped the base of an ear, baring his teeth in a feral grin when she offered him her throat with a soft moan. She attempted to protest as he kissed her there, but her scent betrayed her, even with the wind snapping most of it away.

She made a feeble attempt of pushing his nose away. "Not here."

He growled his dissent, picking her up by the hips to eliminate that pesky height difference. Her next protest wilted as he pinned her good and proper, pressing himself flush against her, hard against her heat. He grinned against her ear, revelling in the way she was trembling against him.

"How about here?" Already his voice was rough around the edges. His bunny made a sound he never heard before, one he could definitely stand to hear a little more often. He nudged her chin back up, lapping at the fur of her exposed neck, searching to find where that little sound went. He didn't even feel the cold battering his back.

Her chest rumbled against his, and he almost chuckled. He had no idea bunnies could growl. "Nick, open the damn door or so help me..."

He fumbled for the keys, unwilling to let go of her, unable to resist the occasional taste. He finally managed to get the key in, both of them stumbling as the support of the door fell away. The sudden silence was deafening, the heavy warmth disorientating. She slipped out of his grip and dashed through the hallway, her bouncing tail a challenge. He chased with a hungry grin, catching her at his door and pinning her again, planting teasing kisses on her cheeks, her ears, taking his sweet time with the lock this time. She was uttering nonsensical complaints under her breath and meaning none of them, trying to catch his kisses and mostly failing. She was panting by the time he turned the key.
He allowed her to drop to the floor, a sudden sense of dread settling in his stomach. She stepped backwards into his place, unaware, pulling him along by his tie with a grin most wicked. His paw shot up to brace against the doorframe with the last bit of restraint he had left, stopping just short of the threshold. She started with sudden confusion.

"Let me catch my breath, will you? I'm an old fox, after all." He made a show of taking a deep breath, smiling disarmingly. "You sure bunny season hasn't started yet?"

"Come and find out?" She made to pull him inside with a sultry grin, but he checked his grip on the doorframe.

"Let's stop for a moment…" He pinched his eyes shut with a frown in an attempt to focus. "Before you scatter my last bit of lucidity."

She rolled her eyes, quite unconcerned. "You say that like it's a bad thing." He couldn't stop the smile from forming.

"Honestly, you'll be the death of me, Carrots... No wait—" she was closing the distance, coming to him now that it was apparent he was staying put. She stood up on tiptoe, and he froze. If she kissed him now, he'd be lost forever.

"Judy."

She stopped, her ears drooping, uncertain. He wanted nothing more than to wipe that sudden vulnerable look off her face, to hold her close, breathe in her scent and show her just how badly he-
Focus!

"I'm..." His voice cracked. "I'm going to need a word from you, before we go on." He was looking at her closely. At the moment, confusion and concern were battling for supremacy. "One word. Something random. Out of context." Confusion turned to sudden understanding and... anger? She made a dismissive sound, pulling at him with surprising strength, but he held firm, drawing marks into the frame with the effort of it.

"I mean it Carrots." He snapped his tie out of her grasp, breaking the pull. "Pick a stop word, or this ends here."

She looked positively furious. He had a hard time not flinching.

"Why on earth would I need that, Nick? I trust you, you know that."

"Your indignation is heart-warming." He smiled down at her, genuinely touched. "But be fair, sweetheart. You're a rabbit, and I'm a fox." His paw trembled against the doorframe. He hoped she didn't spot it. "You caught me at a... Well, I won't say bad time, but this right here, this is all kinds of new, and dangerous." He kept his gaze hard as she made to protest. "That's the deal, Fluff. Take it or leave it."

She stayed silent for so long he was beginning to fear she was going to walk. His claws were digging into the woodwork, silently cursing himself. He should have asked her in the car, should have remembered the rules were slightly off kilter with them. Instead he had asked the old question, and she had answered. It usually didn't leave any room for amendments.

"Apples."

He remembered how to breathe again. She was tapping the floor with her foot, arms crossed. "Apples. Now come in and close the damn door."

His gaze dropped, checking her over with a long, hard look. Those strong legs, that ridiculously short and fluffy tail he had never dared to touch. Curves he was itching to explore, delicate ears just begging to be brushed. He took his sweet time, a slow grin building as his eyes wandered, keeping her eyes for last, not checking himself when he felt himself bare just a hint of teeth.

He took the step. Behind them, the door fell into the lock.

She stood her ground, and he could feel the heat radiating off her as they barely touched. He closed the distance as if to kiss her. Her eyes fluttered shut right as he twitched sideways, going for the cheek instead. She gasped as his sudden scent filled the air, hot and overpowering and undeniable against her fur. She melted into his claim with a soft moan, erasing the entirety of the world from his frame of mind. For the first time this season, all inhibitions slid out of him. He found he didn't care.
In the silence of their little world, his whisper was rough with instinct.

"Mine."