Summary: Short Wildehopps fluff where Nick and Judy attend the annual Precinct One Police Banquet
A/N: Hey guys! It's been awhile since I've posted anything here on FF! I hope you guys enjoy this little short story I've written! I do plan on posting more Wildehopps short stories in the nearby future! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Zootopia or Ed Sheeran's song "Hearts Don't Break Around Here
It was that time of year again, the annual Precinct One police banquet. All the officers at Precinct One would gather at the Town Hall to honor another year of keeping Zootopia safe and still be standing to do so. Then afterwards they would have a small party back at the Precinct to just let loose and have fun. Judy loved this event. She got to participate the first time last year where she and Nick were given an award from the mayor and the chief of police for saving the city from the tyrannical sheep that was Dawn Bellwether, of course Nick was still at the academy at the time but they still honored him.
Judy was really looking forward to this year's event, celebrating the banquet with her fellow friends and coworkers and having a great time with them all, especially her best friend and police partner, Nick who got to participate for the first time this year. This was also the only time of year Judy got to see all of her coworkers at once and that's because any other day at least a third of the officers would have to be out on patrol but thankfully for the event the other precincts picked up the slack so all the officers could be there.
The banquet itself lasted an hour and a half. Nearly every mammal on the force was honored or recognized in some sort of way, including Nick and Judy. After the awards that were held at city hall every police officer and their significant others met up at the precinct to privately celebrate each other's awards away from the public eye. There was food, drinks, and even a "Zoopod" was hooked up and was playing music coming out a large speaker.
Judy was sitting at one of the seats that were scattered around the first level of the precinct, thinking back to the event that just took place when her and Nick won an award for "co-partners of the year". The brief look of shock that came over Nick's face was absolutely priceless and she had to contain her giggles at the event when he dropped his jaw in shock and looked over at her like "Did we really just win an award?!" Thinking about it now actually made her laugh out loud.
"What's so funny Carrots?" Nick asked as he sank back down in the seat next to her. They were of course now back at the precinct. The main entry room of the precinct was all decked out with folding round tables draped with black and blue plastic table cloths, balloons and banners hanging along the balcony. Some mammals were dressed in their dress blues while others switched to semi-formal wear of dresses and more casual suits. Judy herself had on a dark blue silk slip dress while Nick had on a khaki colored cotton stretch suit with a black dress shirt and tie. Judy had to admit that Nick cleaned up well.
'Very, very well.'
"Oh, just thinking about the look on your face when we won co-partners of the year," Judy said with a smirk
'You don't need to know my other thoughts,' Judy thought silently to herself while looking at her professional partner.
Nick scoffed. "Well it's usually just partner of the year, as in one partner wins the award. Plus if we're talking about facial expressions your mouth dropped so low I'm surprised you didn't catch any flies." Nick smirked at her and her whole body felt fluttery and she felt a bit flustered.
Fighting back a blush Judy scoffed. "It did not!"
"It did so!" Nick titled his head forward a bit and dropped his jaw so low Judy thought he was going to lock it before he snapped his muzzle shut.
Judy giggled. "You look ridiculous."
"No, I look handsome, thank you very much. I was just simply demonstrating how ridiculous you looked," Nick said in such a snobbish tone that Judy couldn't help but laugh.
"Speaking of looks… May I say Judy, you look beautiful tonight," Nick said so sincerely that Judy felt like she was going to melt into a puddle of goo. It was rare to hear such a tone from Nick and it made Judy's heart flutter.
"Oh stop." Judy lightly shoved Nick while trying to fight off her blushing face. "You were just saying how ridiculous I looked."
Nick held up his paws in defense and smiled sincerely at her. "Well what I meant to say was ridiculously beautiful. Besides, it's true. I mean you always look beautiful. Tonight however, in that dress, you look… I can't even find the words, you just look simply beautiful, Judy."
Judy was so taken back by Nick's incredibly sweet comment that it took her a moment to even try and find the words to thank him Judy was actually right about to speak when she heard the tune of music change from slightly upbeat to a more slower tune.
"She is the sweetest thing I know, should seen the way she holds me when the lights go low"
Nick stood up at the start of the slow-paced song and held out a paw to Judy. "Care to dance? I know it's one of your favorite songs."
Judy smiled and took his paw graciously. She did love Ed Sheeran's music especially this particular tune, "Hearts Don't Break Around Here" but she loved the thought of slow dancing with Nick even more
Nick led Judy out to the dance floor where some of their co-workers were dancing with their significant others. He spun her around gently before slowly spinning around the dance floor and swaying with her slowly, resting his left paw gently on her waist and gently grasping her right paw while they danced slowly to the music. Nick started to hum the chorus softly in her right ear.
"Daisies, daisies perched upon your forehead
Oh my baby, lately I know
That every night I'll kiss you, you'll say in my ear
Oh we're in love, aren't we?
Paws (Hands) in your fur (hair)
Fingers and thumbs, baby
I feel safe when you're holding me near
Love the way that you conquer your fear
You know hearts don't break around here
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah"
Judy smiled widely at Nick's serenade. She had no idea he even knew this song and here he was singing sweetly to her and dancing slowly with her in his arms.
"I didn't know you knew Ed Sheeran's music, let alone this song," She murmured softly
"It's hard not to when you're always humming his songs in the cruiser lately. Not that I mind, it's a nice change of tune from Gazelle."
Judy let out a breathy laugh as Nick spun her around.
"Plus I may have learned this one song in particular a week or so ago and then requested it to try and impress some bunny," Nick whispered softly before he spun her around once again.
Judy couldn't keep the grin off her face if she tried. Nick could be so sweet sometimes when he wanted to be.
"Of course it could've just been a coincidence that one of the songs that you've been playing non-stop this week just so happened to play at this party."
There was the fox she knew and loved.
"I highly doubt that Slick." Judy whispered softly in his ear making shivers run up and down his spine.
"Here comes the dip," Nick muttered before dipping her slowly, leaning his body into it as well. Their muzzles were almost touching as he held them both in the position. The only thing keeping Judy from falling on the floor was his grip plus some support from his knee. Nick held her in that position for a moment before slowly bringing her back upright and swaying slowly to the music once more
Well, I've found love inside
The arms of the woman I know
She is the lighthouse in the night
That will safely guide me home
And I'm not scared of passing over
Or the thought growing old
'Cause from now until I go...
"Well?" Judy asked softly.
Nick chuckled softly. "Alright you caught me. I thought this would be a good song to get a slow dance with my favorite mammal in Zootopia."
"Well," Judy murmured as she gently let go of Nick's paws only to wrap her arms around his neck "You thought correctly."
Nick's breath hitched slightly as Judy's eyes stared so lovingly and intently into his. He himself felt a rush of a feeling, was it love? He wasn't sure but he knew he felt safe, warm, and happy.
I feel safe when you're holding me near
Love the way that you conquer your fear
You know hearts don't break around here
Yeah, yeah, yeah
You know hearts don't break around here
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah
Long after the song ended Nick and Judy continued to just hold onto each other and swayed slowly, their foreheads touching, their breathing slow, deep, and steady. Even when an upbeat song by Gazelle started to play that Nick didn't know he still held Judy and swayed slowly with her.
"We probably look a little ridiculous slow dancing to "Hips Don't Lie" right now," Judy said giggling. Nick could feel her hot breath hit his muzzle.
Now that she mentioned it Nick could hear the chorus play;
I'm on tonight
You know my hips don't lie (no fighting)
And I'm starting to feel it's right
Nick shrugged, mentally tuned out the upbeat music and continued on swaying with Judy. "I don't care…Do you?"
Judy shook her head and Nick could feel her nose rub up against his.
"No, not really."
'Our lips are so close… I almost could- No.'
"Whatcha thinking about Slick?" Judy's voice echoed in his head interrupting his thoughts.
'Oh cornily enough just how much I want to kiss you right now'' Of course he couldn't say that out loud.
"Hm? Oh just that I'm having a really great time with you tonight, even if it is a work event."
Judy grinned. "I've told you before that work could be fun."
Nick rolled his eyes but still kept a smile plastered on his face. "Whatever you say Carrots."
Okay Judy did make work fun but he would never let her have the upper paw on him like that. If Nick ever admitted that work could be "fun" she would never let him live it down.
"Alright I think we need to play another slow song for WildeHopps!" Officer Eric Wolford said over the crowd, making Nick and Judy jump apart.
The entire precinct was looking down at the two smallest mammals. Neither Nick or Judy didn't think that any mammals around would even pay attention to their little slow dance session. Judy's whole face, including her ears were turning an unnatural shade of red while Nick just threw on his signature smirk and waved even though he felt a bit caught off guard himself and could feel his face grow warm.
'Thank god for red fur.'
Once again the room started to play a slow song. This time it was an Elvis Purrsley classic.
"Wise men say, only fools rush in
Oh, but I, can't help falling in love with you"
Despite some of the mammals dancing to the song, most of the officer's and their spouses were staring at the duo while whistling and howling (some were quite literally howling) .
"Would you like to sit back down Judy?" Nick practically begged
"Please." Judy muttered
The small duo scurried back to their table making some mammals let out a sad "aww" (Judy could hear Clawhauser sigh the most clearly).
"Crazy mammals we work with huh?" Judy asked with a nervous laugh
Nick glanced back and could see some of his male co-workers shooting him thumbs ups. He turned back around and shook his head.
"Yeah, crazy indeed."
The two mammals sat in slightly awkward, blushing silence.
"Nick do you-?"
"Judy do you-?"
Both mammals stared silently at one another for a moment until they each spoke up again.
"Nick I was-"
"Judy I was-"
Both mammals laughed softly.
"You go first," Judy said insistingly.
Nick nervously scratched the back of his neck.
"Judy, I know we're at a work thing right now and this might now be the most appropriate time to ask this…"
Nick swore he could feel all eyes on him even though he knew the only pair of eyes on him were Judy's... And possibly Clawhauser's and Wolfard's as well.
"Listen, I gotta be honest…Okay uh wow Todd's typically don't take the lead with these sorts of things but…" Nick felt his throat go completely dry and he took a moment to clear it.
"Okay, Judy I really like you a lot. I'd love to take you out and celebrate our win with just the two of us sometime… Maybe tomorrow night after work?"
Judy smiled and nodded eagerly. "I'd love to!"
Nick let out a small sigh of relief and grinned widely at Judy before placing a soft gentle kiss on her cheek. Not wanting to get caught doing that at a work function Nick pulled away after a few short moments. Judy blushed once again but smiled widely at her fox.
Taking her paw in his Nick blissfully looked around the precinct. He saw so many happy mammals with their friends and significant others. He looked over at Judy once again and smiled. Nick thought back to the song he requested earlier for him and Judy and couldn't help but think that it fit well with tonight.
'Guess that Ed singer was right… Hearts really don't break around here.'
