Judy and Nick entered the ZPD, giving each other a high-five.
"I'm guessing that means there's good news?" Benjamin Clawhauser said in excited anticipation, leaning over the front desk.
"Yup!" Judy closed her eyes in smug satisfaction and jerked her thumb towards the front door. Fangmeyer and Wolford came in dragging a couple of addled-looking cougars. "We busted the heck out of that catnip smuggling ring."
"Next time maybe they shouldn't actually use felines to transport the goods," Nick smirked. "The nip ended up going flying right into all of our faces, and we made about the easiest arrests we've ever done."
"Dopey cats," Judy chuckled as the felines were dragged off.
"Maybe you shouldn't get too close to me, then," Clawhauser giggled nervously. "I wouldn't want to get in trouble for being under the influence at work."
"Oh no, we're clean of it by now," Nick swiped his paw.
"So..." Clawhauser leaned over the desk and his tail flicked. "Anything new between the ZPD's best crime-fighting duo?"
"What? No, we're definitely not the best," Nick folded his arms and shook his head.
"Especially this one," Judy gently punched Nick in the arm. "Although I guess he is the best fox in the ZPD, for what that's worth."
"Aw thanks, Carrots," Nick shoved Judy away from him.
"Though technically also the worst fox in the ZPD," Judy added slyly.
"Your words, like spears, they pierce my heart," Nick's eyelids fell and he had a small smirk as he shook his head slightly and leaned over, placing a hand to his chest.
"Given your heart is made of stone, I'm sure you'll be fine," Judy's eyelids fell as well and she smirked back.
"Oof, I think this bunny needs to get away from me; all that foxy razor-sharp wit is rubbing off on her," Nick said. Judy thought of another joke to reply to that and her mouth opened, but she thought better of it and closed her mouth again.
"Oh!" Clawhauser laughed in delight, fighting the urge to purr. "You two are just so good together."
"Yup!" Judy said, putting her hand around Nick's back, and Nick responded with his around Judy's shoulders. "We may not be the biggest or strongest, but we're definitely the best partners."
"That's right," Nick agreed.
"I'll say!" Clawhauser pressed in on his cheeks in delight, then broke from his spell and scrambled around his desk for his phone. "Could you both hold that pose? I need to get a picture of it. It's just too... um... nice looking!" Clawhauser tried not to wince as he barely avoided the dreaded "c-word".
"Oh! Uh!" Judy looked broken from a daze as well and withdrew from Nick. "I don't think that will be necessary."
"Yeah, probably not," Nick agreed, brushing his shoulder in sudden distraction. "Wouldn't want to give anyone the wrong idea."
Clawhauser's ears flattened against his head. "Oh, what? You mean you two aren't... you know... together together...?"
"Ha! Definitely not," Judy waved both hands in front of her. "A bunny with a fox?"
"Yeah, especially in the same precinct together," Nick shook his head sagely. "I'm sure Chief Buff would love to hit me over the head with the rules regarding fraternization."
"Ha, as if any bunny could fall for you, you rusty-colored scoundrel," Judy narrowed one eye.
"Hey, you should be worried," Nick said haughtily, closing his eyes and putting a hand over his chest. "I once hustled a bunny girl so hard she swooned into the street. Had to catch her. It was almost a disaster!"
"Oh, right," Judy rolled her eyes, sneering into a smile. "I believe that. The only disaster here is the one I'm looking at."
"You use a whetstone on that tiny bunny tongue of yours?" Nick locked a friendly look of scorn at her.
"So... you're... somehow definitely not together," Clawhauser said flatly, his head spinning from their lightning-fast banter. The cheetah was trying to fix his mouth in a smile to hide his disappointment. Judy and Nick shook their heads simultaneously. "Well, great! Yeah, you're right, it would cause a lot of problems with Bogo. Even if you two are sort of like completely made for each other and it's obvious to everyone in the entire station..."
"I think that's just you, Donuts," Nick clicked his tongue and pointed at Clawhauser.
"Maybe so, maybe so," Clawhauser sighed. The bunny and fox started to move off. "Catch you both at the end of your shift, you two."
"Bye, Clawhauser!" Judy waved in an excitable, friendly way.
"See ya soon, Donuts," Nick saluted flippantly at him.
"Bye!" Clawhauser managed a friendly wave after them.
BAPBAPBAPBAP!
Nick got up from the couch at his apartment at the extremely rapid knock at his door. Moving toward the door, he called out: "There's only one mammal I know of that can knock that fast. You know, unless a woodpecker somehow got in here."
"Chirp chirp!" Judy said from the other side of the door.
"Ha ha," Nick rolled his eyes, opening the door. "You know, Carrots, don't we see enough of each other at w-URK!?" Judy leaped straight onto Nick's chest, grabbing around him with her arms and locking on with her legs. She started to fiercely, passionately kiss him.
"Mm!" Judy intoned.
"Mm-hm..." Nick agreed, returning the fiery kisses, wrapping his arms protectively around her and shutting the door with his foot. They continued just standing there and kissing for a good two minutes. Nick finally broke free, panting a little bit. "Yeesh! What's gotten into you, Judy?"
"You, if you play your cards right," Judy flirted in a sing-song voice.
"Down, girl!" Nick chuckled, holding her at arms length and dropping her to the floor, where she landed easily on her feet.
"Aw," Judy laughed. "Sorry, Nick, there's nothing like solving a good crime to get the blood pumping."
"I do agree, and while bunny time is my favorite time," Nick stroked at his recently bunny-kissed muzzle. "I think we should have a talk before we go any farther."
"Aw, buzz kill," Judy dramatically launched herself onto Nick's couch and laid her head back on the arm rest, looking at Nick with her head upside-down. "About what?"
"About Benjamin," Nick said. "You want anything to drink?"
"Just some water's fine," Judy said, confused. "And Clawhauser? What about him?"
"Well, to be honest," Nick said, starting to pour them both some water. "I kinda feel bad for lying to Benji all the time."
"About us?" Judy righted herself, sitting up on the couch and placing her hands on her knees. "I don't remember you having a problem lying during your hustler days."
"This is a little bit different," Nick said, setting their waters down and sitting next to her. "Not only am I a 'good guy' now, but..." Nick sighed.
"What is it?" Judy tilted her head, her ears drooping.
"It's you," Nick said, petting his hand through her ears and gently squeezing them near the tip. "I'm definitely not ashamed to love you. So it feels... wrong to lie about it."
"Aw..." Judy smiled broadly, taking a sip of her water, and Nick followed suit. "You're just a romantic sap."
"Guilty," Nick sighed. "And lying to Benjamin... he's such a sweet guy."
"Am I bad for kind of liking it?" Judy gave a small, shamed smile. "It sorta feels like a game to me. I thought he would have figured it out by now. There's been plenty of hints and close calls..."
"I mean, it's a game all right, but I don't think he's actually going to win it," Nick smiled guiltily. "Benji is too trusting. To test this, I once convinced him that donuts had holes in them to prevent choking if you swallowed one whole."
"With Clawhauser, that's not too much of a stretch," Judy said wryly. "What do you think we should do? We are right though in saying that it would cause problems at the station if word got out."
"Well, if you like teasing him so much..." Nick thought for a little bit. "Maybe we could try to find him somewhere and 'accidentally' show him we're together?"
"Huh, that sounds fun," Judy touched the tips of her fingers together and smiled deviously. Then, she looked contemplative. "But if he got wind of it, don't you think it would be the hot gossip at the station by like, I don't know, five minutes later?"
Nick shook his head. "Benjji wouldn't want to get us in trouble. I believe that."
"But Clawhauser is so... gregarious," Judy said doubtfully. "I think he'd probably slip."
"Hey," Nick gave her a warm smile, petting her cheek. "You can do extraordinary things if it's for someone you care about."
"Ahh! Stop it!" Judy bounced her legs a bit on the couch, shoving Nick playfully. "What a dweeb!" She was laughing in a charmed way, though. Nick over-dramatically fell over from the shove, then when he got up, he was growling furtively.
"A bunny dares to come to my own den?" Nick said, licking his muzzle. "She must want some trouble..."
"Ooh, I like trouble!" Judy somewhat instinctively scooted back up on the couch away from him, curling up into a defensive ball, then let out a delighted squeal as Nick pounced her.
Judy and Nick's heads peeked around the corner of a building at the edge of the block. Nick wore his normal smug look, peeking between Judy's ears, but Judy had a determined look, her lips pursed into a triangular frown.
"The kitten has entered the building," Judy said conspiratorially, watching Clawhauser head into his favorite donut shop.
"You're way too into this," Nick chuckled.
"Okay, crosswalk's up! Go go go!" Judy motioned with her hand and Judy launched across the street in a few hops while Nick just casually walked across. "Come ON, slowpoke!" Both of them stood next to each other on the edge of the sidewalk with their backs facing the big window of the shop.
"I'm trying not to be suspicious, unlike you," Nick chided.
"Commence operation pawsome!" Judy declared, offering her hand to Nick, who held it with his own.
"That's a bit of a dramatic name," Nick said.
"No no, it works!" Judy said in a suddenly brighter voice. "Paw... and sum! It's a sum of our paws!"
"Wow, that is... very cute," Nick couldn't help but laugh.
"Hey, don't lose focus, mister," Judy sneered affectionately, squeezing his hand very firmly.
"Ow," Nick chuckled, composing himself.
"Now, wait for the gasp," Judy's ears twitched a bit.
"You sure you'll be able to hear it through the door?" Nick seemed skeptical.
"I can hear him gasping from my cubicle on the top floor when he's at the front desk," Judy nodded. "We'll be fine. He won't sneak up on us."
From within the shop, Clawhauser bought his usual favorite box of frosted, sprinkled donuts, and turned around. His eyes narrowed quizzically as he approached the window and saw a bunny and a fox holding hands. "Wait, is that...?" Clawhauser regarded them more carefully. "Hang on... gray black-tipped ears... that has to be Judy and Nick...! They're... they're holding...!" Clawhauser gasped enormously.
"There's the signal!" Judy grinned mischievously. "Now, kiss me!"
"Whats the code name?" Nick teased.
"Kiss me, you fool!" Judy turned her head toward him.
"Catchy," Nick joked, giving her a gentle, though lingering kiss.
"Mm..." Judy liked this and leaned into it, despite all of their "acting".
Clawhauser's jaw dropped. "Oh... em... goodness great gravy griefing golly gosh!" His voice became a tiny, harsh whisper. "They are together!" He let out a squeal, then a laugh. "Ooh, just wait till... no one in particular learns about this. That's right, got to keep it secret."
"Disengage!" Judy commanded, and Nick let her hand go. Clawhauser waited a few moments then walked out to pretend he didn't see them at first.
"Um, hi, you two!" Clawhauser said nervously. "Fancy seeing you on our day off!"
"Clawhauser!" Judy said cheerfully. "Good morning!"
"Would you like a donut?" The cheetah offered them each one.
"Maybe just one to split," Judy nodded, taking one, splitting it down the middle, and giving the other one to Nick. They both began to eat the donut halves. "We're thinking of going out to that new breakfast place together. You know, as platonic friends sometimes do." Nick tried not to roll his eyes at the unnatural tone of that sentence, as they both popped the last of the donuts into their mouths.
"Oh, right, because you both are definitely that!" Clawhauser giggled gleefully. "You're such great platonic friends, I don't even know what to do!"
"Right?" Judy dramatically thrust her hands onto her hips. "Well, thank you for the donut, and I hope you have a great gosh-darn day, Benjamin!"
"You do the same!" Clawhauser sang out loudly, waving at them with his fingers individually and laughing merrily, heading across the street away from them.
"Wow," Nick said flatly. "Remind me to never tell either of you anything I want kept secret."
"Oh come on, I was just having fun," Judy beamed.