The next morning, after a good night's sleep, Judy woke up in her bed and whenever she saw her stuffed fox, she would hug him because she remembered Nick. That was her daily motivation. She knew she got where she got because of him. As soon as she finished getting ready, she would head to the ZPD for another day of work. In another house, Nick had to change his routine completely since he had a real job. At least, living with his mom Katy, he had a delicious breakfast every morning. Katy was very proud of her son, who was no longer on the streets doing his hustlings and making trouble. Despite that, she still worried about her son, as being part of the police wasn't Zootopia's safest job, but it was better than being on the streets. And since he moved back in with his mother, Nick has talked a lot about the bunny that changed his life and Katy was very curious to meet Judy, to know how she managed to change him.
A few hours later, the two met at the ZPD, in the room where Chief Bogo assigned the officers' duties that day. As usual he left Nick and Judy in the end, as they were usually given some special assignments as they single-handedly solved one of the biggest cases the police department has ever had. On that day, however, Nick and Judy were given a more bureaucratic task than usual.
– Wilde, Hopps, someone has to finish the Howlers case reports. – Bogo headed for the door. – As you solved the case, nothing more fair than you finish.
– At least a day off today. – Nick joked.
– After you finish, I'll give you new instructions. – Bogo replied.
– Serious? – Judy asked. – You had to open your mouth, Nick.
– Just kidding. Take the opportunity to finish as soon as possible. – Bogo left the room and headed to his office.
– Looks like you don't know the boss you have. – Nick played with Judy.
– I do, he's just a little unpredictable sometimes – Judy got out of her chair and headed for the door. – Come on, we have a lot of work to do.
– You're the boss. – Nick followed her.
Judy then went to the room she used as an office inside the ZPD, the same room where she was finishing up Emmitt Otterton's report when she was called in by Chief Bogo. Nick followed her to the same place, he still didn't know the insides of the police department very well. Judy turned on the computer and realized that no one had touched the case files. "Curious, they didn't touch anything. Did they expect me to come back?" She thought. Nick looked for a chair and placed it beside Judy. They would spend a few hours together to finish the report.
– I had started the report before leaving the department. - She showed the part of had done.
– Why did you leave? – Nick asked. He had a suspicion that something had happened since she'd been looking for him without his police clothes. – It was your dream.
– My dream was to make the world a better place and at that time, my actions did the opposite. I didn't feel worthy to wear that badge. – She looks at her badge and then back at the screen.
– That's why you went looking for me and was already without the uniform. – Nick said, while he read what was already written in the report.
– I knew you'd notice. – Judy knew he paid attention to details. He had noticed the anti-fox spray. – But that's the reason.
– Where do we start? - Nick finished reading what was already written.
– Emmitt's report is almost done. She scrolled the page on the computer and showed the final part. – I can finish now in a few minutes, but what we need to do is the general investigation report.
– By the name, it's describing the entire investigation even how it was resolved, right? – He looked at her.
– Sly fox. You got it! – She looked at him and then turned her attention to the computer screen. – I'm just going to finish this report and we'll get started.
They were silent for a few minutes while Judy finished Emmitt's report that she had already started before. Interestingly, despite being at work within the police department, they weren't finding it bad or boring. Nick wouldn't admit it so easily that being with Judy beside her was worth whatever work he needed to do, he felt good by her side, it was his safe haven. And Judy trusted Nick more than any other animal, she chose him to be her partner in the police, and truth is, she had no reason to choose another animal over him, he was the one who supported her when no one else. did it.
– Ready. I finished. Now I just save to the system and we can get started. – She closed the file and then uploaded it into the precinct's system.
– From where do we start? - He asked.
– Well, at the beginning of the investigation, when I started and you weren't there yet. – She opened a new blank file.
– I remember we met at the ice cream shop, but then I don't know what happened for you to reach me. – Nick said.
– I took over Emmitt's case to prove to Chief Bogo that I could be a real cop. – She started typing the report. – The only clue I had was a photo of his last appearance, he was holding one of your pawpsicles and you were in the photo.
– Now it makes sense. - He smiled. – Then you went to me to ask about him and I said I knew where he went but not where he was.
– Yes, you took me to that weird naturalist club. – She laughed, just remembering that she went in there. – But it turned out to be very useful.
– Yax told about the license plate of the car where Emmitt was seen being taken away from. - He loved her laugh. – Then we went to the DMV to check the license plate.
– Good memory, Nick. – She looks at him and then back to the screen.
– It was the beginning of an adventure that brought me here, with you. – He loved seeing Judy get a little embarrassed, as he referred to her directly. She stopped for a moment and felt her heart race. Judy knew it was true, she loved the adventure they had together with this case and that's why she chose Nick to be her partner on the force because she wanted to keep, among other things, her best friend by her side; but they both knew they wanted more than that.
– That is true. – She replied without looking at him. – An adventure that I loved too. – She said in a shy way, in a lovely way that enchanted Nick.
– I knew it. - He looked at her.
– Don't distract me, Nick. - She broke the ice, to continue the report.
– Fine. – He smiled, deep down he loved her reaction.
– With the license plate checked, we found it was from Mr. Big's limousine service in Tundralandia. – She continued the report.
As they remembered the steps of the investigation, some memories surfaced, some good, some not so good, but there was one that was special to Judy. That night, when they went to the Forest District looking for Mr. Manchas to get some answers about Emmitt. It was that night that, for the first time, someone really supported her, someone believed her. She didn't even know why Nick was willing to do this, when he could have simply left, to get on with his "business". She took the opportunity, as she didn't know when she could talk about the case again.
– Manchas attacked us as soon as we entered his house, – Nick continued. – And luckily we managed to get out alive.
– But then, when reinforcements arrived, he just disappeared from where I'd trapped him and… – She was a little apprehensive about continuing.
– That's when Chief Bogo tried to get your badge too early, wasn't it? – Nick straightened in his chair and looked at her.
– It was, and you didn't let it. – She smiled as she remembered that. – You could have gone back to your normal life, not have a silly bunny after you.
– How could I? – He asked, looking at her. – When I saw you, alone, helpless, without any support; I saw myself. But this time I could make a difference in someone's life.
– Nick. – She did not believe what she had heard.
– And look where that got us. I am here, working with you. – He liked the new job, mainly because he got back in touch with his own mother because of it.
– Sincerely, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. – She completed. – I didn't even thank you for that.
– You already thanked me. – He pointed at his badge. For Nick, the gratitude was being invited to join the department, it was a sign that, at least, for one animal, he was trustworthy enough to be a police officer.
The two didn't even notice the time passing by and it was almost lunchtime when they finished the report. They ended sooner than expected. Bogo had expected it to end in the afternoon as it was one of the biggest cases the police had ever had, so he had given the whole day to do the report. As they ended earlier, Bogo assigned the officers to patrol the Central Savannah in the official car. Something they had done before. After Judy showed her value along with Nick, Bogo assigned roles more complex than just parking duty.
After lunch at the cafeteria, the two went out on patrol as directed by Bogo. The two went to the parking lot and before they got in, Nick said that this time he wanted to drive; most of the time Judy drove, but he learned over time. He would have to learn somehow.
As they drove through the city streets, Nick was wondering where he would be if not for Judy, as he passed by some places where he already had his hustlings. "Where would I be now if she hadn't come back?" A question he didn't know if he would ever get the answer.
After a few hours walking around the city, they heard on the radio that the weather forecast for the night, and that it would rain even more intensely than the night before. The protective instinct in foxes would not allow Judy to be alone tonight.
Late afternoon, when they were returning to the ZPD, they saw the clouds increase over the city, it was the rain that was coming. When they arrived at the ZPD, Nick offered Judy to spend that night at her house.
– Judy, come home with me, this night will be heavy rain. – He said.
– What? – She asked, surprised.
– You heard it. My mom will love meeting you. – He smiled.
– I…I don't know. – She was a little scared but she said yes, although her head tried to deny it. Being with him, wherever he was, was enough, but she was a little nervous about meeting the mother of her then-best friend.
– We'd better go before it starts raining. – He said, walking away.
– I am going. – She replied, after thinking for a while. She followed him.
Passing through the main hall, the two said goodbye to Clawhauser. He knew there was something between them and he loved seeing them together. When they left the police station, it was already dark and with a very fine drizzle. The two of them went to Judy's car and drove to Nick's house, but Judy wanted to stop by her apartment to pick up some things to spend the night there.
Then they headed to Nick's house, and when they got there, the rain started to pick up. They quickly got out of the car that had been parked out front like the last time Judy had given him a ride.
Judy didn't know it, but it was going to be an evening with some nice, cozy surprises.
I managed to translate this chapter now. I hope you like. Leave a review if you want. Also, after I finish this fanfic, I will come back to my origins and write some Alvin and the Chipmunks fanfics. Stay tuned!