A/N: My apologies to everyone as it has taken me some time to flesh out the details of my story. I didn't want to rush writing a chapter only to go back and have to do a rewrite. I let it stew around for a while and I think it came out just right. Thanks again to Uzrfrndly and EmberLarelle276 for the inspirational story and comic.
I do not own the characters of Zootopia. ©Disney does, however, John Wilde is a figment of my imagination and from other writers as well. Feedback is appreciated.
Outside of the city, the semitrailer came to a halt underneath a canopy of trees, hidden from sight. The rear doors opened and Finnick maneuvered the van down the ramp. Once the van came to a stop, Nick, Bonnie, Finnick and the semi's driver, Clawhauser, covered the trailer with a camouflage tarp. Once they were done, they got in the van and Finnick drove further into the forest trail. Clawhauser sat up in the front while Bonnie moved to the rear seats of the van, leaving Nick and Judy in the middle row.
Judy asked Nick, "Where are you taking me?"
"To a safehouse," said Nick, "where we won't be interrupted by Jack and his goons."
"And who are they? I don't think a tasering is a proper welcome for visitors unless that's customary here in Canidae?" queried Judy crossly.
"I'm sorry about that Judy. And, forgive my manners. The fennec fox with an attitude is Finnick, an old army buddy of mine. We go way back from the time I first joined the Canidaen Armed Forces. The young rotund cheetah over there is Benjamin Clawhauser who's the cook for the pack. You've met Bonnie Hunter." Judy turned to glare at the older doe who smiled sweetly at her. "She's a former Zootopian who moved here to Canidae a long time ago and is our medical nurse. I believe she's also from the Tri-burrow area, not far from Bunnyburrow, your hometown. Flash, the sloth this morning driving the first semi, is our motor pool specialist. "
"So what brings you all together?" Judy asked curiously.
"They were part of the platoon that I led when I was on the Peacekeeping Mission. After we all left the army, we managed to stay in touch and we decided to keep the pack together. We pooled our resources and found a place that could house everyone. So now, we're just one big happy family!" Nick explained.
Judy sat back in the seat in order to process the day's events. She was determined to find a way to contact Jack Savage of the ZIA once she had a chance but it would be useless unless she knew where they were going. The van's side and rear windows were painted black so Judy had no idea of her location. Plus, Nick's natural musky scent was distracting her…a lot. She had not seen him in close to ten years and she was now in Canidae with Jack in order to serve an arrest warrant on him. Nick had kidnapped her from under the noses of the ZIA and she knew she should make an effort to let them know that she was safe. But, his close physical contact was making it hard for her to focus and she could not make out where they were. She sighed and turned to study her best friend. She saw the faint scars on his snout, which she knew came from the injury he had received from the fight with Robby. Nick was wearing a form-fitting black shirt with matching chinos that hugged his well-chiseled body. She had felt a lot of hard-rock muscle underneath his fur when she had hit him. She was curious as to what kind of training he had received in the CAF and what he had done there. While in the Zootopian Police Academy, she had had to do a lot of crunches, push-ups and run hundreds of miles in order to even measure up to the passing grade. She knew that she had acquired a lean wiry frame as a result of her training but it was nothing compared to Nick's.
Nick had been looking out the window when he started to smell something…interesting? Flowers? Inside the van? It was a faint scent that seemed to stir some distant memory. He then noticed Judy staring at him and snidely remarked with a small grin, "Like what you see, Carrots? I should charge you for the show."
She quickly turned her head away and started to fiercely blush from the roots to the tips of her ears. "It's…it's nothing," she stammered. She was ashamed he had caught her ogling him.
Suddenly, two very large paws pulled her over to his side and with her back to him; Nick pressed her into his chest, enveloped his arms around her body while wrapping his tail around her head until it too was covered. "Have you forgotten, Carrots?" he cooed into her ear. "I'm the Burrito of Love."
"Nick! Stop that!" as she laughed at his antics, as she tried, not very convincingly, to wriggle free from his warm embrace and overpoweringly attractive musky scent. "You're acting like a ten-year old!"
"It's because you make me feel like a kit all over again, Fluff. It's been so long since…"
There was a sudden high-pitched squeal that jolted them out of their horseplay. Both Nick and Judy turned to see Clawhauser looking at them with adoring eyes. "O…M…Goodness! You two make such a cute couple!"
Nick laughed and released Judy. "Watch it, Ben! She doesn't like being called cute. It's a bunny thing!"
"That's right, Ben" chirped Bonnie. "Only rabbits can call each other cute. When others mammals do it, it sounds demeaning or insulting. Have we forgotten our sensitivity training again, hmmmm?" as she shot a glare at Clawhauser.
"Oh, dear, you're right Bonnie. I'm so sorry, Judy! I wasn't thinking," as Clawhauser apologized. "It's just that this is the first time I've seen Nick act like a kit with anyone plus he's always been going on and on about you that I figured he was so much in love with you and since you weren't rejecting his advances that you must be in love with him, too. Plus since you're both different species and in a predator/prey relationship at that and you both look so adorable together. Wait, is adorable considered an insult by bunnies?" gushed Ben.
Bonnie groaned and face-pawed herself. "Ben! What did I say about your diarrhea of the mouth?"
Clawhauser cringed and hung his head in shame.
Judy, in the meantime, was speechless as she slowly digested what Clawhauser had blurted out. It was true that she hadn't been rejecting Nick's touches. It also made her feel giddy inside that after all these years Nick continued to hold a torch for her.
She turned to Nick and asked, "Is what Ben said the truth? That you've never gotten over me?"
Suddenly, Finnick snorted in derision. "Gotten over you? Honey, I've been with Nick since the beginning and you'd be amazed at all the crap I've been hearing. He never stops talking about you! Even when he sleeps, I can hear him mumble your name. It'll be good to finally get it out of his system when he gets some tail tonight. Worse than a monk," he groused.
"Finnick!" yelled Nick as he, too, began to blush, "Don't be a crude piece of shit!"
"Finnick's right, though," added Bonnie thoughtfully. "Ever since I've known Nick, he does ramble on and on about you. Plus, I've not seen him take a female partner to his bed all this time. Heck, I once even offered to help him with his issue, as it's not healthy to repress one's sex drive. Nick, the gentlemammal that he is, turned me down politely." Bonnie said with a grin.
"Okay, it's starting to feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone. This conversation is starting getting real weird now." Nick retorted. "Can we please get off the topic of my sex life?"
"Nope," said Bonnie. "This is what a family does. We look out for one another. We care for one another. Even in the areas that are uncomfortable as that means it's a sore topic that needs to be discussed."
Nick sighed. "Bonnie, you are old enough to be my mother, which is why I turned you down. Heck, you're the de facto den mother of the group." Nick smiled.
"You mean cougar of the group, don't ya, Nick?" smirked Finnick. "I know two young wolves who would agree with me."
"Oh, shush, the both of you. I may be older than you Nick but not ancient. Besides, with age comes experience, if you know what I mean." Bonnie said with a waggle of her eyebrows. "And Finnick," Bonnie glared at him, "just because I like them young isn't a bad thing. As long as they are of legal age, they are fair game."
"With you, Bonnie," Finnick shot back with a large feral grin, "I'm starting to wonder who's predator and who's prey."
"Keep that up, Finnick, and Francesca will have to find another stud muffin to keep her bed warm tonight," warned Bonnie. "I can easily put your nether regions out of commission for at last a week. She might end up going back to her old boyfriend if she ain't gettin' enuf of that lovin'." Bonnie grinned with a sadistic twinkle in her eye.
"Ya wouldn't!" Finnick gasped.
"Just try me." Bonnie retorted crankily.
Judy looked confused at the exchange so Nick took pity on her and explained. "Francesca is a French Poodle and Finnick's current love interest. She's as saucy as only the French can be so Finnick has asked Bonnie, who's a naturopathic apothecary, for "stamina" pills." Nick grinned. "The thing is, Bonnie can easily reverse the effect of those pills without Finnick being the wiser until it's too late."
"And what about you, Judy?" asked Bonnie. "Like any other bunny, I expect that you have a healthy sex drive so let me know if you need anything for tonight's session with Nick," she said matter-of-factly.
Judy felt like melting into the floor as her ears and face turned a very bright cherry red. She had never been comfortable when it came to the topic of sex especially when it centered on her. Bonnie looked at her and wondered why Judy was reacting badly to a topic that was taken for granted by all rabbits. Then, with a sudden realization, Bonnie said, with a mixture of surprise and shock, "You don't mean…you've never…these last ten years? Not a single buck or doe?" Judy wanted to die of embarrassment just then and there. She felt the vestiges of a panic attack starting on the edge of her mind. She curled up into a ball and started shaking. She began to hyperventilate at this point.
Nick at that point had had enough and growled, "Enough with the third-degree! Can we all just chill?" while he scooped up the trembling lagomorph in his arms. "There, there, I'm here Carrots, just listen to my voice," Nick softly whispered. He crooned a lullaby and started to rock her gently as the van drove deeper into the woods.
In a secluded part of the forest, the van came to a stop in grove that was well covered by foliage. There was plenty of tree cover but not thick enough to block the natural light. At the edge of the clearing was a small lake fed by a mountain stream. Finnick flashed the van's lights several times at what looked to be a wall of vines. The vines began to part and Finnick proceeded to drive into a large cavern underneath a large sequoia.
"Welcome to The Beech Tree!" said Nick as he stepped out of the van while holding a paw out to help Judy. Judy thankfully grasped his paw in hers as she still felt a little weak. She flashed him a small smile and mouthed the words, "Thank you". Nick could tell she was still a bit out of sorts so he gently picked her up in his arms and brought her into one of the small cottages built into the cavern. She did not object and gladly wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her muzzle into his chest whilst breathing in his scent.
As Nick crossed the threshold, he started again to smell the faint scent of flowers that he had picked up in the van. He mentally pushed it aside until he could put Judy in bed. Once inside, he paused and inquired with small chuckle, "Wouldst milady prefer a chance to visit the land of Morpheus whilst I gather some sustenance for tonight's repast?"
Judy didn't know why she felt so giddy when he talked to her in that manner. She felt like royalty and Nick was her knight in shining armour. She meekly nodded and said in a small whisper, "Thou dost treat this lowly damsel as if she were a noble lady, good sire. Thy goodness knows no bounds and she is very grateful for thy ministrations."
Nick jovially laughed at their exchange and entered the guest bedroom. He lightly deposited her in the bed and as he did he playfully licked her nose. It started to wiggle uncontrollably and he said, "That is so cute, Carrots!" Instead of answering, she grasped his collar with both paws and locked her lips to his for a long passionate kiss. As they broke for air, she whispered into his ear, "Don't taunt the bunny, Nick!" and gave him a steely gaze that brought shivers down his spine.
Now, Nick had been in skirmishes before while in the Canidaen Armed Forces Peacekeeping Missions and had come face to face on several occasions with enemy combatants who had been rabidly stoked by their religious leaders to kill or be killed for a chance to be in their deity's heaven. They always had a wild-eyed crazy look as they charged his platoon's position. The look Judy gave him made theirs look like they were kindergarten kits hopped up on sugar.
So, Nick did the wisest thing he ever did. He shut up and only nodded his head in agreement. "Good boy!" Judy said with a smile as she patted his head. Then, she closed her eyes and immediately fell fast asleep.