Disclaimer - I do not own ZOOTOPIA or any of the songs, movies, objects, etc that may appear in my stories and make no money writing these. Please don't sue me!
Auther Note:
Please note my username was Livingstatue, so those of you wondering about the new story notification, do not worry.
Second, this will come up later, but Judy's family owns a regular farm in my story, not mostly carrot because too many carrots is actually bad for rabbits as far as i know.
thank you for stopping in and enjoy.
Song List:
Predator and Prey - by - Nakayla
Hazy Shade of Winter - by - The Bangles
Predator and Prey
Chapter 1
Hazy Shade of Winter
Snow rushed past his face. His breath came in hot puffs, each exhale temporarily blinding him as he moved through them. His feet slapped against the cold ground in a timely, though quickened rhythm. His arms pumped furiously, the movement forcing his lungs to take in fresh oxygen and expell the used gases with every step. His lungs burned from the effort, he was pushing himself harder than he had in quite some time.
Around him, other mammals jumped out of the way, some huffed mild complaints of disturbance about a fox running down the streets.
"Come on, Nick." His blue-clad and grey-furred bunny partner, Judy Hopps, called from ahead. "The target is getting away."
He arched forward, trying to make himself more streamline than his sleek fox body already was. He pushed his legs even harder despite the protest of his aching feet. There was a slight increase of speed. Slowly, but surely, he was catching up to his partner.
Lifting his head, he watched as his partner kicked her legs, each powerful step launching her forward with ease. Despite their size difference, her strong legs gave her the advantage when it came to speed and distance. It was no wonder she was still going while he was running out of steam, she didn't have to put as much effort into it as he did.
Just ahead of his partner a car pulled out of an alley on the left up to the street, then upon seeing the two approach, came to a sudden stop. The vehicle was blocking their path. Without missing a beat the grey rabbit dove under the engine compartment, her foot catching the sidewalk step up launching her back to her feet, her speed never dropping.
The red fox's perception of the world slowed as adrenaline rushes through his veins. He wouldn't fit under the car, so he'd have to go over. Nick jumped, and with the assistance of his left hand, slid over the warm hood of the car before landing on the other side.
"Hey watch it!" Yelled the hippo driver after the two as they continued down the street.
Another three blocks down, Judy rounded a corner, catching a light pole for assistance to do so, and Nick tailed behind by less than a block. He put everything he had into catching up. He approached the corner and reached out for the same maneuver his partner did, but missed. His feet slipped, causing him to tumble head first to the ground and crashed into something rather hard which knocked him for a loop.
There was pain, mostly his head and back. Nothing sharp that warned of serious damage, just the dull ache that promised bruises later. Someone far away worriedly called his name. A paw slapped him lightly on the cheek. Their voice becoming clearer by the second. "Come on, Nick, open your eyes."
His whole body hurt, tail included. The worst of it all was the throbbing in his head. Harsh sunlight pierced his eyes as the lids cracked open. "Ugh."
"That's it, Nick, come on back." The soothing feminine voice, like that of an angel, called out to him.
He could feel his arms moving around, but didn't recall giving them orders to move. He curled his paws and feet. Nothing seemed badly damaged. Air rushes to his lungs as he took a deep breath, clearing the swimming sensation in his head. "Carrots, that you?"
"Right here, partner." Thankfully, she waited until his eyes were mostly open before holding the lids up one at a time, much to the fox's disapproval and protest, checking for dilation. Besides the bright light that assaulted his vision, he caught a glimpse of the rabbits nose twitching. "Pupils are reactive, so I don't think you have any serious head trauma. How are you feeling?"
He took an assessment of himself before trying to sit up, with a paw to help from his grey furred friend. "Little woozy still but I'll live. What happened?"
"You slipped and crashed head first into a bunch of garbage cans." She gestured to the mess around them.
"And here I thought that foul stench was you." The red fox quibbed as the rabbit helped him to his feet.
"Har har." She released him once he was standing steadily on his own.
A nearby siren wailed. Red and blue light started flashing in their vicinity as a large cruiser pulled up to the intersection. Out stepped officers Elliot Delgato and Olivia Fangmeyer, both pulled out firearms and aimed them at the shorter pair. The lion held out a taser while the tigress had a tranquilizer firearm.
The firearms were recent additions for all officers to carry. After the nighthowler case, city hall determined that the police force needed a way to subdue more aggressive and potentially dangerous conflict between mammals. The tranqs would drop just about anyone within a few seconds, but for bigger or more agitated mammals they sometimes need two or three before it took effect. The new tasers were the faster acting deterrent. The electrical shock through the projected barbs and connecting wires immediately, though temporarily, immobilized the threat by locking up their muscles. Far more effective, and safer, than the hand units they used to carry.
After a couple of seconds of staring at each other, the two that were armed heaved a sigh upon realizing who they were pointing at.
"Damn it you two." Growled the tigress, Fangmeyer, as she lowered her firearm and placed it back in the holster.
"We damn near shot you two." The dark maned lion also stowed his firearm before grabbing the radio off his hip next to the holster. "Dispatch, this is Delgato."
"Go Delgato." Came Clawhausers' voice over the radio.
"Area all clear." He turned his eyes back to Nick and Judy, who smiled a little sheepishly. "It's just Hopps and Wilde out for a morning run. Over."
"Copy that, you're code 4. Tell Nick and Judy I say hi." The overly enthusiastic cheetah called through the radio before it went quiet.
"What the hell were you two thinking playing chase through the heart of Tundratown?" Roared officer Fangmeyer as she threw her paws up in the air.
"Were we playing chase?" Nick turned to Judy, his classic hustler face on full display. "Cause I thought we were just exercising for the upcoming survival course."
"You guys have to see it from an outside prospective." The lion put a paw on the shoulder of the tigress, trying to remind her of her temper. "We got nearly a dozen calls of a predator chasing a prey member down several streets. And you guys are out here in civilian clothes, not your blues. To the general public, it's a bad image, especially after your first big case. The city is still recovering from that."
Judy steppes towards her co-workers. "And we sincerely apologize for all the trouble we caused, don't we, Nick?"
"Yeah, of course." The fox stated casually as he stepped forward and put a paw on her shoulder. Judy elbowed him in the side, momentarily knocking the wind out of him. He then continued with a minor gasp to his breath. "Deeply apologize, won't happen again."
"Right." Delgato replies before turning to his partner. "Come on, let's get out of here."
As the lion turned away, a sly smile spread across Nicks' face. "You all drive safe now, you hear?"
The tigress turn back and leaned down, almost face to face with the fox. "And you, next time, keep it on a track."
She jabbed him with a finger hard enough that he lost balance and fell back onto the mess behind him. After that, she walked back toward the car and stepped in without another word. Nick sat there for a second, deadpanned, as the car drove off. "Real mature."
"Let me help you up, again." Judy smiled at him, making him feel better about the fact he was sitting in garbage for the second time that morning.
Nick accepted the hand up, then swiped at his sweatpants and shirt, brushing off the snow and trash that still clung to him. "I guess we shouldn't have gone for a run in Tundratown, huh?"
"Well, you did ask me to make sure you're ready in a month." She stepped back now that she could see he was fine, if not a little worse for wear. "But they're right, we should have gone to a track. Not down the streets to create the realism of an actual street chase."
Nick nodded. "As always, you're one hundred percent right, Officer Hopps. So, what's next on today's agenda?"
"First we need to clean up this mess we made. Then it's off to the gym for a little one on one boxing. Think you can take on a bunny?" She beamed the smile that always seem to light up his bad mood.
"I took down a rhino in academy, fluff. I think I can handle a wittle bunny." Nick displayed that sly smile of his again as he reached down and straighten the first of several trash cans. He looked up to see Judy was now deadpanning. The look instantly screamed danger. "I'm gonna pay for that one, aren't I?"
Her ears flopping back as a grin spread across her muzzle. "Yes, yes you are."
The fox rolled his eyes as he continued cleaning. "Eh, either way, I'm glad you're training me. If anyone could make sure I pass this thing it's you."
The bunny chuckled as a thought occurred. "Yup, because right now, you'd be dead."
"Ah hell, I can already here Major Friedkin screaming at me now." He then stood at attention and did his best to impersonate the polar bear drill sergeant. "You're dead foxtrot!"
This only spurred on another fit of tittering from the rabbit. "Oh, I'm all too familiar with that. Good to know I wasn't the only one."
With the exertion now wearing off, and his heart rate returning to normal, the chilled air around them sent a shiver through Nick. "Damn it's cold, even for Tundratown."
"It is Winter after all, scruffy." Judy shook her head, while rolling her eyes, and reached up to scratch the thick fur sticking out of the collar of his shirt. Then she huffed as a shiver ran through her small frame. "But yeah, even my winter coat isn't enough for this chill right now."
"Shall we go grab something hot to drink before our match? My treat." Saying this he padded his pocket to make sure he didn't drop his wallet. It was still there so the offer stayed.
"You know what?" The rabbit rubbed at her sweats covered arms as the cold started seeping in past her layers of insulation. "A hot chocolate sounds great right about now."
Ten minutes later the pair were seated across from each other at a booth in a nearby cafe. Soft jazz music played in the background. Judy was sipping on hot chocolate, Nick with a large mocha latte in one paw and a blueberry muffin in the other. As he ate and drank away, Judy stared out the frost edged window, into the hazy shade of winter, watching the mammals walk passed. Many had a large number of bags with them.
She smiled, knowing that the holiday season was right around the corner. "Hey, Nick?"
He took a sip of his drink to wash down the bite of muffin currently filling his mouth. "Yeah, carrots."
"Got any plans for this holiday season? I mean, I know Bogo gave me the holiday week off because I'm going home to visit my parents. And seeing as we're partners, I was wondering if you got the time off too. Or are you gonna work right through doing paperwork?" She smiled at the end, knowing his distain for paperwork.
"Unfortunately I am not one of the lucky ones. Bogo said there are too many mammals out for the holiday already so I will not be joining them. I do however have Christmas Day off." He leaned back in his seat. "But as far as what I'm doing. I don't know. Usually, Finnick and I go to the bar and try to pick up a vixen or two. This year, I just don't know."
Her ears had fallen at the mention of his plans with Finnick. Two lonely foxes spending the night getting wasted sounded like a horrible way to celebrate the holiday. Holidays in her mind were meant to be spent with family. "What about going home to see your mother for the holiday?"
Nick heaved a deep sigh as his attention turned to the window. The look of pain was all too clear on his face. "Maybe, she probably wouldn't even recognize me now. I haven't seen her since I was 13."
The rabbits' paw came up to cover her aching heart after hearing that. She could never imagine going so long without seeing either of her parents. "You mean it's been almost 20 years since you've seen your mother?"
"Yeah. After she found out I was hustling to make money, we got into a argument and," A sigh escaped the red fox's lips and his head lowered as the shame washed over him. "I ran away."
A sudden thought occurred to her. One so simple she didn't know how she hadn't seen it before. An image popped into her mind, of him sitting in that lounge chair with a wooden box as a table and metal bucket as a foot rest. It never occurred to her because there was nothing else under that bridge. Nothing to show he lived there. "Nick, wer- were you homeless when we met?"
His expression alone, ears as low as they would go and that chest fallen look on his face, was enough to crush her heart. "I wasn't exactly homeless. But yeah, most nights I was under the bridge where you found me."
Her hands flew up to cover her gasping mouth. It was staring her right in the face and she had never seen it, didn't want to see it. She just assumed that he was hanging out there when she found him all those months ago. "Wait, Nick, then what was that address you put down on you application?"
"I just knew you were gonna ask that." The red fox groaned as he dragged his paws down his muzzle. "You remember that old warehouse just past the bridge?"
"Kinda, I only caught a glimpse of it as I came looking for...you." Judy paused, his question already giving the answer. "Don't tell me you slept in that dilapidated building."
Nick nodded much to her disbelief. "On the colder nights, like tonight would be, there's an office in there that has an old elephants dresser drawer. It was big enough for me to fit along with some abandoned clothes that made decent padding and cover. Wasn't the most comfortable place to sleep but it kept me warm."
"Wait, wait, wait." The bunny waved her hands in front of herself, stopping Nick from going on. "What happened to the 200 bucks a day? Surely you could have afforded an apartment."
"Remember what I said about everyone seeing foxes as shifty and untrustworthy?" He paused to see his partner nod. "Well, without a proper job to show income, no one would rent to me, even if I had the cash. So I walked the streets and gave out at least half of everything I made to those worst off than I was."
Heartbroken and touched, Judy was on the verge of tears. After knowing him for 9 months, and being partners for 5 of said months, he'd never opened up to her like this about his past. "If that was the case, Nick, why didn't you ever go home?"
"I was too ashamed of my life. Didn't want my mother to see me that way. Defeated. Downtrodden. After graduating from academy, I wanted to go home. Wanted to show my mother I'd turned my life around. That I had a real job, just rented my first apartment, even got a cellphone so she can now call me everyday if she wanted. That I was a fox she could be proud of, but I just couldn't work up the nerve to go home. I mean, what if she's not there? What if something happened to her while I was away so long? I couldn't live with myself."
"Oh Nick, I'm so sorry." Eyes now damp, she reached over and placed a paw on one of his resting on the table. "Truly, I can tell you miss her very much."
He took a deep breath, drew back his paws, put on that smile of his again, and old hustler Nick was back. "Okay, that's enough sappy mumble jumbo out of me today."
"It's a shame you're only getting the one day off. If you had gotten the week, I'd offer for you to join me on the farm." She started, her paws once again cupping the mug, absorbing the leftover warmth. "I know my parents are dying to meet the partner I'm always talking about."
He closed his eyes and sighed. "You were just determined to make this a pleasant Christmas for me, weren't you?"
"You betcha." Her cheeks spread into the warmest smile she had. "Besides, you still owe me for spending Friendsgiving with you and Finnick."
"First off, you brought Clawhauser with you too." Nick leaned on the table with his left arm while the right only had the elbow down and one claw pointing across at Judy. "And weren't you the one that said you wanted to follow tradition and share a meal with predators like they did when peace was made between pred and prey hundreds of years ago?"
"I did, yes. However, I didn't expect the three of you to chow down on that fish while I was the only vegetarian at the table. That smell was gross, and so are your eating habits. So once again, you owe me." She grinned behind her cup.
He huffed, knowing that had circumstances been different, she once again was going to get her way. "Let's say I could go, would your family freak out if there's a fox in their burrow?"
"Well, they work with a fox now so I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem." Her snout tipped down a little before her eyes opened wide, pupils turned up and staring at him. Then her bottom lip stuck out just the a small amount. It was an adorable look and it pulled at his heart. Her lips parted to speak every so softly. "I was even going to pout to get you to come if I had to."
His eyes widened, and for a moment he was stunned into silence. He blinked a couple of times to regained his composure and cleared his throat. "So we heading to the gym or what?"
Judy's eyes blinked, ending her stare, then they popped wide open and a gasp escaped her lips, shock on full display. "Oh shoot, our time to have the ring starts in 10 minutes, we gotta run."
She powered down the last of her now lukewarm chocolate, grabbed her belongings and headed for the door. Nick watched her go as he stood up. He placed a paw over his chest and let out a shaky breath. "Oh, I'm in trouble."
With that, he headed for the door, quickly following his partner out into the snow.