Serendipity's Shadow

Rated T

Chapter 11

It was a silent stand-off between the two former companions. Judy couldn't bring herself to look Nick in the eye. She focused on his shadow, his suit, the drink in his paws. Nick noticed her hesitant gaze that refused to meet his eyes. All the while he couldn't pry his gaze from her bright violet eyes. His heart sank after a while from her insistence of no eye contact.

"To what do I owe the honor?" Nick finally asked.

"…I need a favor." Judy admitted, feeling her ears trying to sag. "Or two…"

This surprised Nick. Judy, or at least the Judy he remembered, wanted to make a deal with him.

What prompted this? Nick wondered.

He studied Judy as she tried to act calm under his intense gaze. She thought about taking a sip of her drink. But the cop in her scolded such a thought of drinking on duty. So, Judy just fumbled with the glass between her paws. Which made Nick extremely suspicious since blueberry daiquiri, if he remembered correctly, was one of Judy's favorites.

Finally, Nick looked away from the fidgeting bunny. Who immediately relaxed no longer feeling his gaze on her.

"Are you in trouble?" He asked with concern.

Judy watched him pour himself a glass of fine scotch.

He's stressed. Judy realized.

When she spent almost every waking moment with the fox, she remembered his bad nights. Nick would always say that he just had a stressful day with work before pouring himself a glass of scotch. That he would then nurse for a few hours before finishing. He always made it a point not to get stupidly drunk in front of Judy.

"No." Judy finally answered.

She walked past him to look out the glass window that overlooked the bottom floor. She relaxed breathing a sigh of relief once she caught sight of Tia laughing and smiling with Rocky.

"But she is."

"And who is she?" Nick asked.

"As if you don't know." Judy scuffed with a laugh. "Or won't find out."

"True." Nick agreed, coming to stand beside the rabbit at a respectful distance. "But you just telling me saves me time and money." He tried to joke.

Judy just glanced at him before turning her attention back to Tia.

"Cynthia Mustela, Tia, is a civilian under ZPD protection."

"…"

"…"

"…That's it?" Nick asked after a long pause between the two.

"That's it." Judy confirmed.

Nick pursed his lips at her professional attitude. It was her defense to hide behind her work. Nick figured that out relatively quickly. The first day they met to be exact. But Nick loved that stubborn side of Judy. Especially if he was the reason that she was being stubborn. It was like a drug for him that he just couldn't quit. And if it ever got too far, he would quickly work on making it up to her. Usually, in the bedroom, he would help her forget anything and everything that wasn't them rolling in the sheets.

But why is she being all 'professional' now? Nick pondered.

Judy allowed the silence to pass between the two. Nick was a calculating mammal who loved to beat around the bush. And she needed to not fall for one of his mind games. The best way to do that was to just keep it simple and quick when conversing with him.

"What exactly do you need from me Carrots?"

Judy caught off guard after hearing his nickname for her, looked at Nick. It wasn't that she hated that nickname. It's just a key memory from her past with him. She knew he would say it maybe once. But that was the second time she heard it. And Nick who knew exactly what he was doing waited for that reaction. He smirked as his gaze held hers. One point Nick. He had won that little battle of no eye contact.

Judy took a deep breath before walking away from him. Finally, she sat on one of the barstools to Nick's personal mini-bar.

"I need you to stay out of it."

"…Okay, now I'm confused." Nick stated standing on the other side of the bar. "You need a favor from me. But you need me to stay out of it. Did I understand you right?"

"Yes." Judy sighed. "I need a favor from Zootopia's shadow. But I need Nicholas Wilde to stay out of it."

It was Nick's turn to be surprised when Judy looked at him earnestly. Nick leaned forward feeling compelled by her gaze.

"Are you sure you're not in trouble Carrots?"

Judy nodded swirling her drink in her glass.

"What do you need?"

If it's Judy asking, he would do whatever she asked. Tax evasion, ballroom dance lessons, or, his personal favorite, a dinner date that ended with sex.

"I need to get intel from your hacker."

"…intel?" Nick was suspicious. "About whom?"

"I can't tell you."

Nick groaned annoyed.

"Because you don't want me involved?" He argued.

"I'm on duty, Nick!" Judy sat straighter. "This case could be completely dismissed if anyone finds out you were involved. And I personally don't feel like being condemned as a dirty cop, again."

Nick felt his heart sink as a lump formed in his throat. He will never forget what their relationship put her through at her place of employment. He thought he could protect her. But it didn't work and then he pushed it one too far by making that worthless water buffalo promote her to detective. That was when he lost her. And he's regretted it ever since.

"Your right." He sighed. "Your right. I'll have him send you a message. Ask him anything and I'll make sure he knows not to inform me about it."

"…Thank you." Judy wanted to pat his hand in comfort like she always used to do.

"What else do you need?"

"My residence isn't…secure, enough for Miss Mustela and myself." Judy closed her eyes feeling dread at the idea of asking her next favor. "Can I use that place?"

Nick blinked at her in shock. Judy just looked at him with pleading eyes. Which dumbfounded Nick even more. But he eventually steeled himself back into reality long enough to answer.

"It was our place." Or at least it was going to be. "I don't see why you need my permission to use it. But yes, it is still available."

"Thank you."

"I assume my presence isn't welcomed while you are there?"

Judy could only nod at his question. She knew this was aggravating him. Not being allowed to be involved but still providing her with what she needs. But she wasn't planning to leave him completely empty-handed on this deal.

"As payment-"

"No." Nick interrupted her firmly.

"Nick-"

"No." Nick stated even more firmly. "You know I don't require payment from you Carrots."

"I know. But could you at least listen to my offer before dismissing me?"

Nick stared once again into her pleading eyes. He really wanted to just hold her in his arms right now. A place where he could keep her safe from whomever she was fighting against. But she would just push him away. And he didn't want that when she was this close to him a year after their split. Plus, he was curious, hopeful even, about what her offer could be.

"Alright." Nick relented.

"Payment for these two favors. When this case is done and over with and the dust settles, we…talk."

"Talk?"

"Get a cup of coffee or something and talk." Judy leaned onto the counter playing with the umbrella in her untouched drink. "I know when I left, I left so many things unresolved. And I can't help but notice you look as haggard as I feel."

Nick did notice the fatigue look in Judy's features. But he thought it was just a rough work night.

Is she not sleeping well either? Nick felt alarmed at such a thought.

"You and I need to talk about things. We need closure."

"Closure?" If Nick's heart could sink any lower, it just did.

This talk was to finally end things properly.

"Closure." Judy was firm.

We aren't getting back together. Judy reminded herself.

"…Okay." Nick nodded.

"Then…I'll take my leave."

"What? Just like that?"

"Nick…" Judy sighed. "I promise we'll talk. But it can't be now."

"...I want to be mad at you, you know. Mad that you can just come in here and leave just like that. And I'll gladly let it happen." Nick slumped over the counter. "And yet I'm just sad. Sad that you're walking away from me again."

And you plan to walk away from me forever after the "talk". Nick realized depressingly.

Judy stood up from the stool leaving behind her drink, and Nick, as she walked to the elevator doors.

"I'll have a car drive you over." Nick informed.

"You don't-"

"Carrots." Nick looked at her retreating figure. "Just let me do this."

Judy nodded, still not looking at him, as the elevator doors opened. She stepped in feeling his gaze on her the whole time. Part of her didn't want to admit how much she missed that look. The one that made her feel like she could take on any criminal. Because he was there, and he had her back. Or at least she always thought he had her back.

"Goodbye, Nick."

The elevator doors closed.

"Goodbye, Judy."

Nick watched with sad eyes as the elevator carried Judy further away from him.