Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Zootopia or any respective characters. I'm not brave enough to challenge the mouse so it'll probably stay that way. All OCs, however, are mine. Rated M for violence, language, sex, drugs and suicide.
Chapter Fourteen: A New World
City Hall, three days later
"Last night at around 1:00 AM," said Chief Bogo, "our officers at the ZPD seized one billion dollars worth of heroin from Zootopia Harbor. This operation could not have been possible without the heroic efforts of three of my bravest officers." Bogo gestured to Nick, who was now sporting a very visible scar on the side of his face, Judy and Danny, all standing next to him on the stage in their dress blue uniforms.
"The late Detective McBoot was a friend of mine," said Bogo, "we both served in Vietpaw for a time, but it was after the war when we first met. We both quickly climbed the ropes at the ZPD and eventually parted ways with our own missions. Three days ago, he sacrificed himself to save a fellow officer in distress, leaving behind his wife of twenty six years and his son, Officer Daniel McBoot."
"Danny," whispered Judy to Danny. "Yeah," replied Danny. "I have something to tell you."
"What?"
"Your father," said Judy, "before he died, he said he was proud of you, that he loved you."
"Did he?"
"I made him that promise as I watched him die," said Judy. "I can attest to that," chimed in Nick. "Nick this is a private conversation," said Judy. "No, no," said Danny, "that's good. Now I can believe it. Because now I know you're not just lying to make me feel better." "I'm sorry this had to happen," said Judy. "I'm sure he knew he did the right thing," said Danny.
"Ahem," said Bogo, "we still have a ceremony to attend to." "Right Chief," said Nick, "I was just telling my naughty classmates not to talk when the teacher was talking. Promise you won't hit me with the ruler?" "I wish I knew what to do with you, Wilde," sighed Bogo. "I'll grow on you," joked Nick.
"Anyhow," said Bogo, directing his attention to the crowd of reporters, "we are here to recognize the bravery of three officers who went above and beyond the call of duty, scoring a major victory in this city's war on heroin. Officer McBoot will be accepting the ZPD Medal of Valor on behalf of his late father." He then handed the small medal box to Danny, who looked inside and teared up. His father was a hero now, but he was still gone and never coming back. All he wanted was the chance to fix their troubled relationship. A chance that would never come.
"From the time I met Officer Hopps," continued Bogo, "I never really liked her. While she was valedictorian of her class in the academy, I despised the fact that she was a diversity hire. I gave her an impossible case and she beat the odds, saving this city from tearing itself apart and returning fifteen missing mammals to their loved ones. Then after she apprehended the conspirators, without a badge and with the help of a civilian, she proved that diversity is no substitute for substance. I am pleased to award you the ZPD Medal of Valor." Bogo pinned the medal on Judy, a silver star with a gold crest in the middle, suspended by a white ribbon with a red stripe down the middle. "Thank you Chief," said Judy as she saluted. "You earned it Hopps," said Bogo.
"And now for my number one pain in the neck and our third hero of the day," said Bogo, "Officer Nicholas Wilde, our first fox…" "Give me the mike," interrupted Nick. "No," said Bogo, "fine."
"Thank you Chief," said Nick as he pulled out a notepad from his pocket, "I prepared my own little speech today, as I knew that my boss wouldn't quite be able to catch my essence, if you know what I mean?" Bogo did a facepalm. "Anyhow," continued Nick, "as the big fat buffalo pins a shiny medal on my chest, I'd like to say a few words because I'm an attention whore."
The room burst out in laughter, while Danny and Bogo made expressions of disapproval. Judy, on the other paw, was trying her best not to laugh in anticipation.
"If you told my fifteen year old self that someday I'd be a hero cop working with the sexiest bunny alive," he went on, "I'd call you a liar to your face. But now things are different, as in recent times I've not only went above and beyond to bust the most sophisticated drug ring in the city's history, but I also reunited with my estranged mother and can safely say I have the best partner ever."
Smack!
As Nick slapped Judy on the ass playfully, he continued talking. "I'd love to say more," he took a deep breath, "but since this is family friendly programming and I.A. is currently breathing down my neck, I'll put it to bed. As for the rest of my speech. Where am I," he looked down, "oh yeah. Gonna find my baby, gonna hold her tight, gonna grab some afternoon delight…."
Nick froze as he read the rest of his speech, which he noticed was the lyrics to that infernal tune from Paw-Mart that was written in orange ink. With handwriting way nicer than his own. He looked over his shoulder to see Judy, Danny and Bogo trying their hardest not to laugh.
"Laugh it up, Carrots," said Nick, "I'll get you back. Chief, give me the fucking medal so we can wrap this up."
Bogo sighed in disapproval of Nick's choice of words as he pinned the medal onto Nick. Then they all stood in front of the city seal for the official photo.
Click!
Savannah Central
"You have quite the TV personality, son," said Marian Wilde, "though I never liked your sailor mouth." Nick sighed in agreement.
Since the case was now officially solved, Nick decided that it would be the perfect time to call his mother so they could catch up on thirteen years of lost time. The apartment was a lot nicer than he remembered it, probably because his mother had gotten a much better job than cleaning rich mammals' bathrooms. She told her son that she managed a fancy restaurant in Central, which Nick was actually happy to hear, as he remembered that his mother was always a good cook. He also decided that since Judy made such a good impression on her, to bring her along.
"So you two haven't talked to each other in how long," asked Judy as she picked at her salad playfully. "Thirteen years, carrots," said Nick, "thirteen years." "Nick was a bit of a trouble maker as a teenager," said Marian, "he just got to be too much at the time." "Yeah," said Nick as he finished a bite of fish steak, "I deserved that. While I always did appreciate your home cooking, I don't think you'd approve of the kind I was doing back then." "He doesn't do that anymore," said Judy, rushing to defend Nick. "That's right," said Nick, "not since around the time you kicked me out."
"So when did you finally straighten out," asked Marian. "He didn't," said Judy, "not fully. When we first met, he conned me into buying a Jumbo Pop for his Pawpsicle scam." "Did not," said Nick. "Did too," said Judy. "So what," said Nick, "you would have never found those missing mammals without my help. I saved your career." "You also got sodomized by a transvestite in a Paw-Mart bathroom just a week ago," said Judy. Nick sighed and said, "You're just never gonna let me live that down, aren't you carrots?"
"So anyhow," said Marian, changing the subject, "I noticed that your partner is now wearing a new scent. Does that have anything to do with what you said on TV?" Nick froze, not knowing what to tell his mother. "I like her," said Marian, "she suits you." "Thank you Mrs. Wilde," said Judy as she extended her paw. "Please," said Marian, "you can call me Marian." "Can I," asked Nick jokingly. "No," said Judy and Marian in unison.
A couple hours later, Nick and Judy were sitting in Nick's recently acquired green Furd GT coupe, just outside Judy's apartment building.
"I'm glad you and your mother are back on good terms," said Judy, trying to think of the right parting words, "though I don't get why you had to tell her about when you attempted suicide." "Judy," said Nick as he stretched his arm over her shoulder, "I had to. She deserves the truth. That version of me is gone and I don't miss him. I needed to let that go anyways." "That's sweet," said Judy, "but I still don't get why you didn't tell her about our battle scars." "Wasn't relevant," said Nick, "plus, she's worried too hard about me for too long. She also deserves a break."
They sat in awkward silence for a moment, then as Nick tried to say goodbye, Judy hugged him firmly, and said, "Nick, I'm not done with you yet." Nick smiled and asked, "Do you want to do it here?" "Why not," asked Judy as she began removing Nick's shirt and tie.
They began making out and rubbing against each other, shaking the car as it was parked in the deserted street.
"How 'bout some music," said Nick as Judy went to work on his pants, "while we get it on?" "Your treat," said Judy. Nick grinned as he cranked up the car's stereo, blasting heavy metal music, and began making love to his partner for the second time.
(End Credits Song: Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Leppard)
Author's Note: I hope you all enjoyed the reboot of my Zootopia series, with this superb retelling of Nick and Judy's first adventure as official partners. In their next adventure, set a year later, Nick and Judy's relationship has only escalated. But while Judy pressures Nick to commit, a new case unravels when Nazi gold is found at a drug bust, and the suspects, East Germammal diplomats, are untouchable to the law. You'll be on the edge of your seats faster than you can say "Diplomatic Immunity."