A/N : Shout out to my beloved generation - I dedicate this sacred number for you all ! I don't know if this counts as special chapter, I guess I'm just fond with the theme.
Once again, the savior of Zootopia, Judy Hopps and her partner, Nicholas Wilde, managed to subdue an on-going crime consisting of children kidnapping case and various attempts of murder. They discovered that none other than Bellwether's cronies were behind the whole mess. Quickly recognizing their pattern of movement, both had caught two of them red-handed on their next target and with the help of ZPD Intelligence Unit, Chief Bogo ordered ten of his best officers to track the suspected location after gathering enough evidence from the criminal, bringing justice to the convicts.
Although technically all of the ZPD Officers took part in solving the case, Nick and Judy were given the most credits since their capability to analyze the situation was deemed as the determining step. They spent the rest of the day until late night watching how the kits were reunited back with their family, numerous time accepting grateful handshakes and assuring the worried parents that they were just doing their duty, and coming home late as they quickly dozed off in their respective apartment.
The following day was entirely filled with paperwork, paperwork, and paperwork. Not only that, the overload cheers coming from their fellow teammates in the whole department successfully added little of stress, the noise kept coming everywhere they went. Both even agreed to submit early exit to escape from the commotion. On the way back, they were forced to stop by dozen of reporter with hungry eyes pried over them.
They sighed in unison, knowing that the day was far from the end. However, both chose to professionally not whine a single protest and braced through the series of question.
"Officer Hopps and Officer Wilde, both of you have been working splendidly! Care to tell us what is behind your effective teamwork?"
Down to their feet, Judy silently delivered a soft kick on her partner's fluffy tail, gesturing him to be their spokesman.
"Oh, sorry," Nick, with paws brought up mimicking the known scene of one superhero movie as if saying 'we don't do that here', airily refused to answer and further stated the reason. "That's a classified information."
The bunny beside him lightly frowned in disapproval, although deep inside her mind and brain were simultaneously chortling whenever his clever reply came up.
"Don't mind him," Judy nudged her with more force applied, the strength and momentum pushed Nick off his balance just a little and with vulpine natural agility, he swiftly recovered and was standing back on his feet. They traded a smile and Judy finished her statement. "We just happen to know each other a lot."
"With that notion," the reporter had a very faint glint of excitement in the eyes, as if expecting for them to say what she had said. "Public seems to be interested with your relationship."
The other reporters murmur became louder and struggled to push forward in order to make sure their recording device caught the open conference.
The duo officer glanced to each other, furrowing their eyebrow in unison. It was Nick who took the turn again to answer.
"Really?" there was no hint of surprise in Nick's surprised expression, Judy noticed. Maybe she was the only one who had foreseen what hid behind his mask. His next words caused her to chuckle. "Then they're free to guess."
"Have a little manner, slick," Judy attempted to behave within the camera sight, but no sooner than that, she couldn't help but laugh. "But I guess I'll stick with that."
"Now now," the fox crossed his arms and then made shushing motion toward the crowd, fatigue began to take over his body. "Neither of us likes to be interrogated and we need our rest," he worked to clear his way and held Judy arm so that she wouldn't be left behind and assaulted with questions he didn't want to know. "If you please excuse us…"
"One last question!" a cheetah quickly followed and in a flash was already next to them, shoving the mic but keeping safe distance not to breach too close. His voice was sharp, high pitched which had Nick almost cringed. "This is exclusive for you, Officer Wilde."
Oh great, another fans, the vulpine chuckled.
"Nah, I'll skip-" the officer in question rolled his eyes and thought to just leave him and them but the question held him in place in a short moment.
"How do you feel toward your partner?"
Now that was surprising.
Nick wondered if all cheetahs actually liked to put their nose in other's business, especially about relationship. And for the other note, he couldn't recall if some of journalistic ethics code prohibited them to ask for sensitive personal matter on their job.
Well, he supposed rather than bashing them for the inappropriate interrogatory, it would be much better to avoid giving the satisfaction by answering it.
"That's a weird question," Nick calmly eyed the reporter and shifted his gaze to the street. "No answer, come on Carrots."
But Judy did not budge. Instead, she stiffly held his arm.
"Oh God, not you too?" Nick groaned in utter desperation. Judy threw him a mischievous smile and clutched tighter.
And as to her own interest, she was just curious.
The fox faintly chuckled and spoke so low she could feel shiver running down her spine as the uncharacteristic deep voice expressed three unfamiliar words.
"Sine qua non."
The peculiar words kept ringing inside her ears. She found it hard to focus on other task in paw, which happened to only walk home. The phrase buzzed frantically within her mind, unstoppable even against her will.
She fetched her phone and rapidly tapped at the popular search engine on her screen.
"What does that mean?" while looking for the answer by herself, she inquired and sought an explanation.
"You have smartphone," Nick narrowed his eyebrow on the device Judy held, completely aware she had undergone a thorough search but nevertheless pointed out. "Why won't you search it yourself?"
"I did," Judy motioned her phone with the screen lit and displayed the result ; a colorful blog homepage with numerous lines written there. "And I just want to hear it from you."
"You did?" Nick scratched his forearm, at first unwilling to go with the flow. But upon his eyes landed on the amethyst eyes urging the demand, he sighed. "I guess I have no other option?"
Padding the tile in silent, they just realized that they had walked past Nick's room.
"Yes." Judy shortly replied as she turned back, Nick slowly catching up.
The situation was awkwardly awkward ; they had stopped in front of the door, Nick got the key already, the door had opened, but none moved. It took several seconds before the fox inhaled deeply and shortly began recounting.
"You're someone I dote the most, Carrots," Nick spoke, slow and careful. He knew how words were so empty, full of despicable lies, so to ensure her he was being honest, he would go "I'm finding it quite difficult to put in words other than phrasing it?"
"Indispensable?" Judy tried to help. Nick lightly nodded at it although he wasn't entirely satisfied with the definition.
"Someone whom I can't live without?" he snickered at the quite long euphemism, but the result was satisfying.
Judy blinked ; she looked aghast just a moment.
"Now that's deep…" the bunny mumbled, barely audible.
"And that's the truth." Nick nonchalantly replied, getting a light knuckle right on his chest.
"You snarky fox." she grinned and offered a paw as to offer a truce.
"Hey, you're the one who ask." Nick countered, accepting the motion while keeping the cocky smirk on his face.
They held each other paw, fingers fidgeting randomly but not in an uncomfortable way ; a sign of coziness and delight.
"I'm grateful," the bunny eventually said. She smiled, her eyes were fixated at nothing but his emerald pupils. "To have met you."
At the moment, Nick was unable to think something far more better to agree.
"Ditto."
