Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Zootopia or any respective characters. I'm not brave enough to challenge the mouse so it'll probably stay that way. All OCs, however, are mine. Rated M for violence, language, sex, drugs and suicide.
Chapter Five: Leap of Faith
Savannah Central
Judy drove the cruiser down the streets, on the typical petrol route, as there have been no following arrests that day, and Emmet Otterton and his family have been taken into protective custody. After the chase with Duke, it seemed that hardly anything had happened. So Judy decided to start some conversation.
"So, Slick," she said, "did you enjoy that 'not-date' the other night?" "Did I enjoy it," replied Nick, "yes, yes I did. Do you want to know why I want to do it again?" "If you wouldn't mind," replied Judy. "I have nothing better to do tonight," replied Nick, "plus, since I am finally coming to terms with my dark and violent past, I think it might be a good time to move forward. Or in, if you want," he teasingly pointed down. "Nick," blushed Judy, "that's harassment." "Then what was that kiss goodnight about," asked Nick. "How do you know about that," asked Judy nervously.
"All units, all units," said Ben Clawhouser over the radio, interrupting their conversation, "10-56! I say again, we have a 10-56 on the intersection of 42nd Street and Tanzania Avenue." "Holy mackerel," said Judy, "that's only three blocks from here." "Let's go carrots," said Nick as he flicked on his aviators.
Judy flicked on the sirens and raced to the address. Then she pulled up, doing some sort of elaborate turn like a mammal would see in a Fast and Furry movie. Nick was gripping the dashboard with an angry look on his face, with his sunglasses half off. Judy unbuckled, looked at her partner and giggled slightly. "Seriously carrots," muttered Nick, "learn to drive better."
They got out to see a fire truck, ambulance and two other police cars parked in front of a four story office building. They were greeted by Officers Jason Wolford and Liz Fangmeyer. "What happened," asked Judy. "We got a fox," said Jason. "No shit," interrupted Nick, "I'm standing right here." "No," said Jason, "the fox is the jumper. If you take a good look up there, you can see him." Nick glanced up there, and Judy had to look a little harder, as her eyesight wasn't as good as her partner's. They both saw a panting male fox in a business suit.
"Do we know anything else," asked Nick. "The guy's name is Larry," said Liz, "he's been going through a rough divorce. Disappeared from his office, which is in that very building," she pointed at the building and continued, "AC repair-mammal found him up there and called 911."
"Good," said Nick, "I'll talk to the sad sack up there. I'm probably the most qualified." "You have any experience with jumpers," asked Jason. "I have some experience with the suicidal," Nick answered as he walked to the building. "Nick, don't do this," said Judy as she anxiously followed her partner, "attempting suicide doesn't make you qualified to talk to jumpers." "Carrots," said Nick as he opened the door and walked towards the stairwell, "Officer Wolford told me that our jumper's been going through a divorce. That's no small thing to foxes." "What do you mean?"
Oh shit, thought Nick, I really do not want to explain this to her now. She's not ready to hear it. "Nick," said Judy as she followed him up the stairs, "what's the big deal about a divorce for foxes?" "Well, Officer Fluff," said Nick, "I would like to tell you, but…" "Answer the damn question," said Judy angrily, in no mood for any head games. "Okay, okay," said Nick defensively, "foxes are famously monogamous. We never sleep around. If this guy's wife left him, he's going to be seriously alone for quite some time." "Good to know," said Judy, "but why didn't you want to tell me that now?" "We're not going to talk about that, carrots," replied Nick as he opened the door to the roof.
"Alright Nick," said Judy as they slowly walked up to the fox in question, "no guns, no karate action, nothing stupid. Just get him down." Let's hope it's that easy, thought Nick as he slowly approached the fox.
"Hey there Larry," he said to the other fox as he climbed along the ledge with him, "I heard you were going through a rough time." "Get the fuck away from me," shouted Larry, "don't you fucking touch me!" "Cool your jets, brother," said Nick as he scooted towards him, "I'm not going to try anything stupid. The question is, are you?" "Hey listen you blue motherfucker," said Larry, "I didn't do anything wrong!" "I know that," said Nick, "and I also know that you're hurting inside, deeply. I've been in a similar situation myself and had some of the same thoughts you're having. So maybe we can talk this out somewhere safer."
"Where you divorced," asked Larry. "No," replied Nick empathetically, "but I was disowned and ended up staring into a loaded gun because of it." "That doesn't mean shit," cried Larry, "so just get out of here." "C'mon," replied Nick, "my partner, as hot as she is, is watching me right now. I have to at least look like I'm doing something."
Judy facepalmed herself and thought This is who I've been spending all my time with?
Larry looked back and saw a female gray rabbit officer giving herself a facepalm. "That's your partner," asked Larry, "in what way?"
Click!
When Larry's back was turned, Nick, with his signature fast paws, cuffed himself to Larry. "You crazy, lying son of a bitch," he cried as he watched Nick throw away the key, "I thought you were on my side." "I still am asshole," said Nick, "now the way things are, you have two options," he continued as Judy watched in dismay, "A. You and I take the stairs down and we talk this out. B. You jump, take me with you, which makes you a cop killer." "Yeah, I'd kill you," said Larry, "I'd be killing some psycho with a deathwish!"
"Do you really want to jump," said Nick as he grabbed Larry by the collar, "because if that's the case, then let's go together. Our chances of living a fulfilling life are about the same, so let's go together." "No," cried Larry as Nick took a step forward, jumping off the ledge. "Nick you psycho," cried Judy as she watched her partner descend, "I'll kill you myself if you survive this!"
Nick and Larry fell down four stories, with Larry now rapidly rethinking his choice to go out on the ledge as he fell screaming. Nick smirked as they landed on the airbag. "You bastard," screamed Larry as he tried to get up, then directing his attention to the other officers, "this motherfucker just tried to kill us both! This asshole's insane!" "You gonna talk to your wife now," asked Nick. "Fuck you," screamed Larry as Wolford and Fangmeyer carried Larry away. "Nick," called Judy from the roof angrily, "we need to talk!"
ZPD Precinct One
"What the fuck were you thinking," screamed Judy, using a rare curse word, "you almost killed yourself today!" "I had the whole thing under control," asserted Nick, "You said get him down, I got him down alive, and I swear to God he'll never do it again."
They sat in the underground parking garage, both alone together in their cruiser, with this being a conversation (translation: shouting match) neither mammal wanted to be heard.
"Now tell me one more time," said Judy, "what's bothering you?" "Never let them see that they get to you," mumbled Nick, sounding rather nervous, unusual for him. "What does that have to do with that," asked Judy concernedly. "It has everything to do with it," replied Nick, "I've done some really shitty things when I was younger, and when I met you, it all changed. I felt the urge to be good." "So," said Judy. "So everything," said Nick, "I've had thoughts about you that I've never had about any other mammal I've met, and it all feels so wrong! Foxes only get one shot at mating, two if we're lucky, and I don't know what to do about this! I'm scared beyond reason!"
"Nick," said Judy calmly as she rubbed her paw against his arm, "is that what's been bothering you?" "Just yesterday," said Nick as he broke down crying, "I saw my mother for the first time. The first time in thirteen fucking years!"
Honk!
He punched the steering wheel, honking the horn.
"I thought I killed her when I left. I thought I broke her heart," continued a sobbing Nick, "I can't understand why, but she's proud of who I am now. Proud of me, in spite of who I am! My life doesn't make any fuckin sense right now!" "Nick," said Judy comfortingly, "maybe you should try accepting that. You've become a better mammal since then. You've always had some good in you," she continued, "I knew it from the very beginning. You are the best friend I could ever have." "That doesn't mean boyfriend material, carrots," said Nick as he backed into the side, "you have no idea what you'd be getting yourself into." "I think," said Judy as she got up really close to Nick, "I want to find out anyways." She gave Nick a gentle kiss on the lips, only for Nick to suddenly crave more. So he returned favor, and the two passionately kissed each other on the lips.
Author's Note: I know, I know, Lethal Weapon imitation. It's a fun scene to imitate though (some time in the future, expect the toilet bomb scene), plus it made for some good character development. Since 99.9 percent of Zootopia fans can't stay away from WildeHopps, I used this to develop the romantic subplot some more, before another shootout. Let me know your thoughts and happy reading.
