Rain poured down heavily outside. Nick Wilde sat cozy, snuggled away in his apartment tucked away within the Sahara District. He took a sip of hot tea with a slurp when the doorbell made him pause, eyebrows furrowed. He sighed, questioning who would be stopping by at this time of night, let alone with the rain outside. He reached the door and glanced out the tiny peep-hole where rain fell in sheets, a blinding backdrop prohibiting him from seeing no further than the few cars parked a stone's throw away.
Out of sheer curiosity, he opened the door, glancing left and right. Not a soul was to be seen. His shoulders raised up and down in disregard. Probably a kid pulling an innocent prank. His paw grasped the doorknob to close it when a tiny, high-pitched squeak stopped him. The sound made his fur prickle on the back of his neck. He knew that sound. Glancing down, a small, white basket sat at his doorstep and inside, a baby fox lay swaddled in a light blue blanket.
Oh. Crap.
A folded piece of paper lay nestled between the blanket and edge of the basket. He knelt down and took the note in hand; unfolding the paper, reading:
Nick-
I'm sorry. Say hello to your son. I am leaving this place for good and you know full well that he is your doing too. Don't bother calling for me.
-Iris
Another soft coo and Nick's gaze fell down on the tiny creature. As young as he was, the resemblance was irrefutable. Bright green eyes, soft, brick toned fur, and even the ear shape would fool no one. His ears flattened back against his head. He had never been more fearful in his entire life.
In a flurry, he scooped the basket under his arms and retreated inside, out of the rain and into the warmth. The pup squirmed beneath the blanket, fussing in a quiet tantrum. What should he do? No child came with a manual and by all things good, this bombshell was almost more than he could handle. The child continued tittering until finally being picked up. Nick held the child precariously in his arms, cradling him just close enough to be comfortable but far enough away to make one question if he was a new dad. And that he was.
Nick placed the newborn back in the basket once he settled down. Tired eyes looked up at him as the baby drifted off to sleep, tiny arms twitching every now and again.
Nick couldn't leave the baby by himself. Begrudgingly, he carried the basket into his room and gently placed it onto the floor beside the bed. He would bet the child was hungry but the moon sat high in the sky and emotions ran high throughout his body. Tomorrow was another day.
He crawled into bed, never letting his eyes leave the basket. He felt a lump draw in his throat and then he cried. Anger followed, welling up inside his bones, making him shake and he hated himself for being so careless. Tears streamed endlessly down his cheeks. Iris was right. The child was his doing too and now his responsibility. He choked back tears and closed his eyes, remembering an adage he lived by, repeating it like a mantra-never let them see that they get to you.
I do apologize for the majorly emotional ending and short start, but I just feel like Nick would react that way to finding out he really was a dad. This is my first fanfic for Zootopia but I absolutely loved the movie and the connection between Nick and Judy and the plotline in general.
Thank you for reading!