Author's Note: Just in case anyone is confused, the setting is a modern/medieval society. So they have TV's, cars (but personal vehicle transportation isn't as popular as walking or taking a train), they have electric clocks/watches, computers etc. Oh I also forgot to mention that T.A.M.E. Collars are in this fanfic.

Nick: 16

Judy: 16

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy the next chapter!

Chapter 2

Nick Wilde

Judy woke up early the next day. Today was her day off and she wasn't going to waste a minute of it; she had a fox to find. The bunny got up at six and began her search all the way till noon. The knight searched almost everywhere. She checked the kitchen, the ballroom, the dining hall, the storehouse, and many other places in the large fortress. She hasn't found anything, not even a clue on where he's been. Judy groans and leans against the endless bookshelf of the library.

"Where are you?" She looks over at the open window and catches a glimpse of a red blur passing by. The bunny immediately assumes it's Nick and rushes over to the window, jumping through it and landing perfectly on her feet. Violet-eyes scan for the predator but it's almost as though he has vanished. There's nothing but an open yard of green grass and three apple trees growing in the center. Judy walks over to the middle tree, eyes still searching for the fox. "Wha-how did he?"

"Up here Carrots~" Judy snaps her head up and she spots Nick laying on the branch above her. He was on his side with his head in his paw and a smug look on his face. "If you keep looking down your whole life how will you ever know what's above you?"

"Why are you up in a tree?"

"Why not? I've got a lovely view from up here." Judy opens her mouth but couldn't think of anything to say. This fox was definitely flipping her brain around. "So, I've notice how you were looking for me all morning. You covered two thirds of the castle in about six hours, that's impressive."

"Well I'm a dedicated mammal." She prides. Nick sits up and leans against the trunk of the tree.

"Don't you have somewhere to be, Cottontail?"

"No, it's my day off. What about you though? Aren't you suppose to be somewhere? By the looks of your clothes I'd guess you're a servant. And seeing as how you roam around the castle you must belong to someone that lives here." The fox turns his head away from the knight and crosses his arms.

"Something like that." He snaps his head back down at her, brows furrowed and green eyes glaring into bright purple ones. "And I don't belong to anyone." The rabbit looks up at him with confusion.

'Why did he get so defensive over a simple question?' She thought. "Well..." The knight's curiosity urges her to pry more about the subject. "Servants have to have masters. So who is your's?"

Nick's ear flicks as a sign of annoyance and the green light on his collar briefly turns yellow. He takes a deep breath to calm himself before climbing down from the apple tree. "I told you. I. Don't. Have. One." The fox gives her one last glare before walking away from the grey rabbit.

'He's clearly upset.' She shrugs it off and follows him, still wanting to know more. "So if you don't have a master, why are you here?"

"Why do ask so many questions?!"

"Because I'm naturally curious." He doesn't look at her but Judy can practically taste the irritation coming off the red fox. "So?"

He stops in front of the metal gate with a flower design engraved on the rims. Nick rolled his eyes and faces the smaller mammal. "Look rabbit, I don't have to tell you squat. Now leave me alone." His paw grips the gate handle and pulls it open a few inches before it's slammed shut but Judy's paw.

"Nick wait. I'm sorry if I...made you uncomfortable somehow."

"It's fine."

The knight eyes him for a moment before removing her paw from the gate door. "You live here, right?" The fox opens the metal door and steps inside, turning around to block the entryway for the small mammal.

"You have to specify."

"On the castle grounds. Do you live here or somewhere else?" A smirk finds its way on his muzzle and Judy wonders if he's going to give her a straight answer.

"Yes I live here. Now let me ask you something." The fox puts his paws on his knees and bends down to meet the bunny's height. "Do you enjoy being a knight? A champion?"

Judy gives him a confused look. "Of course I do. As champion I represent Zootopia's strength. And as a knight I represent the kingdom's sword and shield. I protect the innocent and destroy the enemies who seek us harm." Nick stands back up and looks down at her with disappointment.

"How noble of you, but I was hoping for a different answer. Maybe somewhere along the lines of no I hate my job, it's not all that I wanted it to be. The mammals think I'm an invincible hero bunny and the queen uses me as a showcase. Being a champion and knight sucks, if I could go back in time I would stop myself from choosing this ridiculous life." He shrugs and takes a step back. "But hey, if you're still in denial then by all means, keep telling yourself that." The fox turns away from the wide eyed rabbit and walks on the stone path through the garden.

Nick loved the garden. Each flower blooming beautifully with it's unique colors and patterns. He can only imagine where they're from, what strange and mysterious place they originated. The problem with Nick was his lack of freedom and adventure. Kind of like a certain bunny he hoped he could relate too. Queen Bellwether has taken the throne eight years ago after the predator outbreak. The incident came out of nowhere and within a month seven predators have turned savage and killed or maimed other animals. The Kingdom became fearful and desperate for a solution. Zootopia's population is still ninety percent prey and ten percent predator. So obviously King Lionheart was overthrown and Bellwether stepped up with a solution.

The T.A.M.E. collars.

Predators rejected the idea and a few prey agreed with them. But unfortunately their votes against it wasn't enough to beat the fearful votes of everyone else. The law is that any predator caught without their collar on will be sentenced to execution. It seemed unfair but there is also a law that children don't have to be collared until the age of ten. Bellwether doesn't have the power to change laws without the council's vote. That being said, the equality act is still the same.

But Nick could careless about Bellwether, she only keeps him around to torment him. Giving him endless tasks and watching his every move. Nick has been her servant since he was eight years old, a few months after the lamb has taken the throne. Apparently his family owes the kingdom a large sum of money that has been building slowly over the generations. Of course though, that debt belongs to his father's side of the family. John Wilde, was able to open up a tailoring store. It was a successful business and John was decreasing the amount of money owed in good time with some to spare. The fox knew he'd be able to pay off the money in about ten years. It wasn't long until John met the love of his life and had a kit with her. Claire Wilde, was beautiful and a loving mother. But Claire was prone to sickness, she fought it for years but no one can fight forever, she died when Nick was four. John was left with just his son and tailor shop; and by god he was determined to give Nick a better future.

Sadly, once Bellwether became queen John had a hunch that she'd be out to get them. And she did. Nick remembers what happened that day. How knights, an elephant and a horse, from the castle barged through the door and robbed his dad of all their money. "The queen demands all the debt to be paid now." That's what they said as his father pleaded for them to give his family more time, that they didn't have all of it.

"Please! Just two more years and it'll all be paid off!" John yelled as the two armored mammals took the money from the cash register. "You have to tell queen Bellwether to give us two more years. Please I'm begging you."

"Sorry fox, but her majesty gave us strict orders to collect everything you owe to the kingdom." The elephant hands the money to the brown horse and John tries to control the anger rising inside of him.

"But we don't have all of it!"

"No, not in cash." The elephant looks over at the young kit standing in the living room doorway. "Hughes grab the kid." John's collar flicks yellow.

"You can't take him!" John tries to reach for his son but the large mammal shoves him away. Nick, sensing something bad was going to happen, attempts to runaway from the knight approaching him. But the small fox doesn't get far as Hughes snatches him off his feet. "Stop! He's all I have left! Please!!"

"Don't worry, you'll see your boy again." Hughes laughs. "Once the debt is paid off."

"Dad!" Nick shouts as the knights head for the door. "Let go of me! Dad help!!" John pushes himself to his feet, panic rushing through his head and a short shock from the collar.

"You can't take him from me! It's illegal!!" He growls baring his sharp teeth, a shock or two pulsing through his body. But it doesn't stop the fox from marching up to the two knights and attempting to grab his son away.

"Don't come any closer fox!!" The elephant yells, drawing his blade.

Nick remembers that elephant claiming it as an accident but that still didn't excuse the fact that he slashed his sword across his father's chest, and better yet, leaving him there to bleed to death.

"It's illegal." The vulpine mumbles. It's the only thing Nick hopes would free him. Unfortunately he was a child that no one listened to and the fox isn't familiar with the nation's laws. He tried searching for books on the government records but those are kept in the upstairs library. One of the few places Nick is restricted access to. Which also means Nick isn't familiar with his given rights either.

The fox has always been suspicious of Bellwether. The way she raises his debt every time he does something she disapproves of. Which can literally be anything, since the sheep increased it by five percent when Nick was nine just because he cleaned the dining table "wrong". The way she sets his schedule so no one comes into contact with him. How she sets guards around the castle perimeter, not just for look out but also to make sure he doesn't leave. Nick tried running away but those guards intervened every time and dragged him back to his bedroom.

His only complaint is why him?! There are plenty of other animals in the castle that she can confine and torture. But Bellwether only keeps an eye out for him. Nick has seen lots of other mammals get away with shit that's ten times worse than anything he's ever done. All they get is a slap on the wrist while he's locked in his room for several days.

"HEY NICK!"

'Great, Ms. Hero followed me.' He sighs and turns around to meet the relentless rabbit.

"You sure know how to disappear, slick." The corner of his mouth twitches upwards at the nickname. Does that mean she's getting comfortable around him?

"Sorry Carrots, But I've got a tight schedule with little room to relax." Her violet-eyes sparkle and Nick isn't sure if it's from the sun or not.

"Let me help you then! I've got nothing better to do anyways. Plus with my help you'd get your chores done faster!" Judy beams and Nick ponders the idea. It wouldn't be too bad to have some extra help.

"Hmm, okay. But you've gotta commit to every task, no cutting corners or the queen will have my head."

Judy nods, "Yes sir! So what's first on the list?"

"Laundry." That smug expression makes it's way onto his face and he crosses his arms. "You didn't leave your clothes on the floor again did you?"

"Uhh...can we skip laundry and do something else?"

"Nope! I said you have to commit. You're not a quitter, are you Carrots?" The knight stands up straight with her paws on her hips.

"No way!"

"Awesome!" Nick grabs her arm and pulls her in the direction of her bedroom. "Now lets go see how much you trashed your room." Judy groans and follows.

"I really need to start picking up after myself." The knight mumbles, knowing full and well that her room is a disaster.