A/N

Hello everyone. This is a new dalliance of my muse. I have no idea if it will go anywhere, and I can guarantee the updates will be much farther apart if muse graces me with any more at all. Then again, I didn't expect AFH to go past about chapter 5, so… We shall see.

1: Muse is still teasing me with this, so it is not getting posted with a full edit. If it takes off the way A Friendly Hustle did, then any posted chapters will get a fresh scrub and re-write.

Of course, I do not own Zootopia, and can therefore make no claims to Zootopia or its characters. I only make claim to my own OC's included herein as needed. Though I think I could do more with it than Disney is at the moment. So many awesome ideas that they could use, and they're sitting on their asses.

I blame Bear678 for this.

Anyway, on with the show.

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Wilde Cardz - Savage Territory - Chapter 4

4 years earlier

Nick stood outside Judy's new apartment. She now had a two bedroom apartment with a full bath, wolf sized, a kitchen, and living room. He had helped add the ledges and steps she needed to access everything safely, and had spent many days and nights there hanging out with his bunny. Well, that's how he thought of her, not that he would ever tell her that, or so he told himself. She was paying less than half what she was at her original shoe-box of an apartment, and was a block from the subway line that dropped off a block from the precinct. If she needed, it was a straight ten block run to the precinct for her.

It was their weekend, a three day weekend, as long as they didn't get called up. He sighed and looked at her door, debating with himself if he should knock or not. He'd helped her find the place, one that was worthy of his partner. She had the room, but… Would she actually let him crash there for a few days. They were friends, but this was asking a lot, and he had no idea how long he would actually need to stay. How he thought of her in no way meant she would think of him that way, or even be comfortable with him there for more than the occasional night when he'd drank too much and crashed on the couch.

The problem was, he was outside her apartment because he had just lost his. Not that it was actually an apartment. He'd given her a hard time about her shoebox, but he lived in an actual utility room. He had no privacy should something be needed, and had been woken up many times as the super just barged in and banged around for an hour or three. Even then. It didn't matter that he was an officer, a highly decorated officer, he was a fox. There was a reason he liked the giant locker he had at the precinct. He kept most of his clothes and important belongings there in actual safety. At his apartment, he only kept two bags, his clean and dirty clothes, and a backpack with some personal things. Basically a bug-out bag. He had all three with him.

With a deep sigh, he knocked. Judy's voice coming from inside. "One second!" Opening the door, she looked up at Nick, his ears folded to the side and an embarrassed grimace on his muzzle. He had long given up on keeping his mask on with her. Since she could see through it anyway, it just irritated her when he used it. "Nick?"

"Hey Fluff. Uhm…Can I crash on your couch for a few days. I know it's asking a lot…" Taking a deep breath, he caught the scent of another rabbit, a buck. Nick's ears folding completely flat as his self doubt got the better of him as he shook his head. "You know what... It is asking too much. Sorry to bother you. I will just get a hotel. Sorry to bother you... I'll catch you on monday." Nick turned quickly and almost rushed to the elevator.

He nearly ran, tears threatening in his eyes since his mask was down, his stomach twisting. He berated himself. He knew it was going to happen eventually. She was an eligible doe. They were just friends. He knew that, but he had hoped since their first day as partners, since even before then, that it could be more than that. He also knew that was a crazy dream.

Turning as he hit the lobby button, Judy blocked the doors from closing. "Oh. Hey Carrots. Uhm… Again, sorry to bother you." Trying quickly to put his mask on and cover up his emotions.

Judy frowned deeply at him. "Keep the mask off, Nick. What's the matter? Why would you need to crash at my place? They finally kick you out?" She said it in jest, but when his ears folded flat, completely disappearing, she knew it was true."

"Yeah. Was inevitable. I'm just gonna get a cheap hotel. I might have to beg you to cover for me slightly, since I'll have to get it in Happytown. I'll make sure I get to the precinct in time to make roll call."

Judy reached out and grabbed one of his large duffles and pulled him out of the elevator. "Not happening. I have a spare bedroom. Now, where is the rest of your stuff." Dragging him back towards her apartment.

"Judy." Planting his heels to stop them. "I know you have a buck in there. I'm not going to get in your way."

Chuckling, Judy pulled him a few more steps. "That's my brother, Julian. He's part of the ZFD. Just graduated, and came by to see my new place. He also left about an hour ago to go on a date with his fiance. They get married in the spring, but will have their second litter by then. So you are not putting me out of anything, nor would you." Sighing. "Not saying I haven't tried but every buck I've gone out with wants me to quit the ZPD and become a stay at home doe, raising their kits, and that is not happening."

His ears still pinned back in embarrassment, Nick allowed himself to be pulled along. "Oh. You sure I won't be a bother."

Smiling up at him, Judy laughed lightly, a laugh that brought joy and pain in equal measure to his heart. "Not at all. It'll be nice to have someone other than me in the apartment. I really appreciate you helping me find this place, and as awesome as it is, it is also a bit big for just me."

Nick nodded, his ears still back but coming up slightly. "Okay… As long as you're okay with it." He resigned himself to more pain and having to figure out how to mask his feelings better.

Shoving him into her apartment, she directed him to drop his bags. "When was the last time you ate?"

Nick looked around the apartment. It had been a few weeks since he had been there and she had really made a home of it. Photos on the walls, lots of rabbits, and yet prominently displayed were photos of her with him. Even her furniture was slightly larger than she would need. Perfect however for them to share. Looking at Judy, a smile just barely beating out the frown on his muzzle. "Yesterday at lunch." It never even occurred to him to lie or dodge the truth with her.

Judy frowned. "Nick… Why would you have not eaten since lunch, yesterday? When were you planning on eating again?"

Nick shrugged. "Probably breakfast on Monday"

Judy's frown became an angry scowl and her voice cold and angry, sending a shiver of fear down his spine as he took a step back. He didn't' understand it, but it was a special ability of hers, that many a perp had commented on. She could be scarier than an enraged, savage tiger, when she wanted to be. "Nick… Why in the name of Serendipity and Karma would you not be eating until Monday? What is going on Nick? Where is the rest of your things?"

Looking down in shame, Nick sighed, dropping his bags, dropping down on the couch and covering his face in his paws.. "Judy. Must I remind you that I am a fox, and despite being an officer now and the respect I have earned in that job. Something I will be eternally grateful to you for, I'm still a fox, and when I'm not in uniform and with you, that's all I'm seen as." Looking up at her he sighed and looked down again. "I got kicked out because someone called the ZFD and they found out I was living there. Not that it was an actual apartment,but it had a cot and a shower, and it was close to the precinct. That's pretty good in my book. It also costs three times as much as you pay here.

Remember, before I joined the ZPD, I was squatting at that abandoned warehouse, and that was the nicest place I had ever lived after I left home. I mean, it had power, space, a work area for Fin and I, and even if the water was cold, it had a shower. I didn't leave much there while I was in the academy, but the place was demolished, and what few things I didn't have stashed under that bridge were lost. I keep my important things in my locker at work, and just keep a few personal items and clothes with me. Clean and dirty bags for clothes."

"Nick…"

Shaking his head, Nick stood up. "I'm sorry Carrots. I didn't mean to bring my baggage with me like this, but I just can't seem to lie to you. Never let them see they get to you, but you seem to have blown right through that since day one." With a heavy sigh, Nick stood and walked back over to his bags. "I'm gonna go. I shouldn't have come here. It's not fair for me to drop my problems on you."

Judy stood her ground in front of him. "Nicolas Piberious Wilde, you sit your tail back down on that couch right now!."

His ears folded down to the point of disappearing again, though he remained standing. "Judy… Look. I know you are wanting to help me, but if I stay here, they'll find an excuse to kick you out, then we'll both be out of a place. I have a plan, and I promise I'll get something to eat, okay?"

Still clearly angry. "When? Monday? When we got to lunch on our shift? Nick, you need to eat. My gods, it's no wonder you are so damn skinny. I'm making you dinner, and then you are staying here. You are my partner. I am not letting you live on the streets, or pay a ridiculous price for a hotel in Happy Town, or worse live on the streets and shower at the precinct. That is not happening. Which is probably what you were planning, wasn't it? Skulking around the precinct, eating out of the vending machines, using the nap room?"

Nick looked down in further shame. "Yeah. That was the plan. I'd always be on time at least." Giving her a forced smile. "It'll be better than I'm used to." He then tried to slip past her, only to have her bound around him, locking the door on him. "Judy…" Standing where she had stopped, one foot on the door knob, the other on the small side table where her keys and such rested, she glared at him. If he wanted to leave, he was going to have to physically dislodge her. He could tell that in the iron stare she was giving him. "Judy… Please, this isn't your problem. I'm sorry I came skulking to your door. It was too much to ask of you." Blinking quickly to banish the tears that stung his eyes and the twisting of pain in his guts and heart.

Growling at him, Judy lept and grabbed his shirt, standing on his stomach. "Nick… So help me, you dumb fox. You're my friend. You are my partner. You are my problem because I want you to be, because I accept that. I am not having you live on the streets, or out of the nap room at the precinct, or some seedy hotel; and I am sure as hell not letting you starve yourself. You still haven't explained why you don't eat regularly!"

Their noses were just millimeters from each other as she held herself up by his shirt. She was so strong. So much stronger than anyone but he realized. "Going a few days without food is no big deal. You learn to just ignore it when you don't have a choice. I can easily go two or three days, as long as I don't do much." He lost himself in her glowing amethyst eyes, tears welling as she realized that despite becoming a cop and her partner, his life outside of when they were on shift had not really changed. He whispered his thoughts, not realizing he actually vocalized. "Gods, you are so beautiful."

Judy's eyes went wide. It was clear he hadn't meant or realized he said that out loud. "Nick… You think I'm beautiful?"

Nick's eyes went wide as he realized he had vocalized the thought, and she had heard him. "I… Uhm…" He couldn't lie to her and felt his heart clench as he knew he had just destroyed his friendship. Looking away from her, he nodded. "Yes. I know you don't think of me like that. Again, I can't lie to you, or myself anymore. I fell in love with you, Judy. I shouldn't have said anything, but I… It's just been a long day. I'll go, and I... I'll request a transfer on Monday." Setting his bags down, he reached up and grasped her waist, picking her up, he set her down to the side.

Nick then reached up to unlock the door, only to have her pull a leg sweep on him, while catching him and dropping him fairly gently on the floor, then standing over him. Staring down at him, Judy growled again. "Nick. I told you that you are not leaving, and you are not. Not without tranqing me first, and since you don't have a tranq pistol on you, I don't see it happening." He nodded. He had to try, but it was clear he wasn't going to win, at least not right then. "Now… You listen here you damn, dumb, sweet, handsome, idiot of a fox."

She pulled him up by his shirt as she straddled his chest, so their noses were almost touching again and Nick felt his heartbeat accelerate. "Judy? What are you doing?"

"You were afraid, convinced even, that I would reject you, right?" Nick nodded to her question. "I'm not rejecting you, Nick. I'm the one that called the ZFD, my brother actually. It is why he was here, as I said, to check out my new place, and let me know how it went at yours. I figured I had dropped enough hints that you'd find your way to my doorstep. I did not, however, realize that you were starving yourself because you were spending so much on a literal hovel. My brother told me where you were living. That wasn't a place I could let you continue to stay. I was planning on dragging you here after work Monday, as your friend. I however couldn't dare hope that you felt anything for me as more than your friend. I hoped that maybe, if you lived here, that I could work on you and I might get you to have feelings for me. I know the vixen leads, and I have been hoping to use that against you." Pulling him up so their noses actually touched.

Nick's eyes watered. This couldn't be real. He had to be having a fungal infection induced fever dream. when their noses touched, it felt like he'd touched a taser to it. "Judy. I…" Nick didn't get a chance to finish his thought, as she shifted her muzzle and drew him into a kiss.

Nick lost himself in the kiss. There was nothing tentative or chaste about it, as they both poured their desperate passion and long suppressed feelings for each other into it. Paws ran over their bodies without conscious thought. Neither were sure how both their shirts got removed by the time they came up for air, since they had not otherwise moved.

Judy looked down at Nick with a fire and hunger in her eyes his dreams had only ever held a barest imitation of. Taking a deep, shaky breath. "Carrots. As much as that kiss are far too important to me to let this go farther…" Judy went to speak and he placed a finger over her nose. "I'm not going to leave. What I was going to say is that I'm going to take you up on that offer of food, and we should talk. Clearly we have both been hiding something from each other. We need to discuss what this is between us, and what we hope to get out of it. You are too important, and we need to make sure we are both on the same page."

Judy nodded. "Okay." Taking several breaths to calm herself. "Okay. You're right. Let's do that."

They talked late into the night and early into the next morning. They discussed their separate cultures, what dating meant for them, when they marked each other, and so many other things they lost track of time and were very glad they had two more days off.

The following day they shopped to add food for him to the fridge before falling asleep on the couch early. Nick carefully picked Judy up and walked her to her room, setting her on her bed gently before moving to retreat to what was now his, stopped by her paw on his.

"Nick… Stay with me? Nothing more, just sleep. Please."

Nodding, Nick laid down as they had both changed into their sleep wear after getting home. "Of course."

Nick never did sleep in what was supposedly his bed. And while it took them several months to reach a point that the promised passion of their first kiss could be realized, not that either of them regretted that, they both agreed that their relationship, due to being such different species, different cultures and instincts, required that they take their time. That said, neither could sleep well without the other after that first night, and clothing was outlawed by the end of the first week.