The door to Nick and Judy's shared apartment creaked open slowly, revealing both Nick and Judy, who looked spent. Both of them had dirt smudging their fur, their uniforms were unkempt and dusty, and their posture was terrible.
"What a day..." Judy sighed, her shoulders rolling forward.
"I hear that," Nick groaned, nodding. He held a paw to his own back and arched backwards, making his back pop in a few places. "Are you sure you're not bleeding?"
"Not externally, anyway," Judy nodded. "Might be bruised in a few places."
"Yeah, me too," Nick said. "I can't believe that deer pulled one of his own shed antlers on you at a routine traffic stop. That scared the fox out of me, if you'll pardon the expression."
Judy managed a tired smile at him. "It may have scared you, but you tackled him in something like a second and a half."
"Yeah, but I clipped you too, and all three of us went rolling down that hill," Nick chuckled guiltily.
"Hey, the good guys won, even if they're beat up," Judy folded her arms. "And dirty. Who keeps their shed antlers anyway? That's really... creepy, isn't it?"
"Kind of like keeping your own claw clippings," Nick agreed, nodding.
"Or tooth filings," Judy said.
"Wait, tooth filings? What's that?" Nick narrowed his eyes.
"Ugh, just one of the joys of being a bunny," Judy opened a drawer and pulled out a small block of wood. "Bunny teeth constantly grow, so you have to whittle them down. This wood is flavored!" She nibbled at it a bit. "Tastes kinda smokey."
"Huh," Nick put his paws on his hips. "They never teach you about this type of stuff in school. Is that why I've caught you nibbling on your pens?"
"And why I got a big, fat plastic carrot pen to break that habit," Judy chuckled. "Nibbling on stuff is probably one reason bunnies are always getting called nervous, so I try to do it privately."
"I have to say, having a bunny as a girlfriend really teaches you a lot about how different all of us animals are," Nick said. "Anyway, we should probably get cleaned up."
"Urh..." Judy moaned, closing her eyes. "I don't even know if I can bear to take a shower. Will you just hold me under the water for a few minutes so I don't have to stand up anymore?"
"Hey, I'm sore, too, hun," Nick smirked. "But I get what you're saying. Don't worry, there's an easy solution to this. Nick headed off to the bathroom and started to draw a bath.
"Aw, you're so thoughtful," Judy smiled, following him into the bathroom. She blinked in surprise as he began to add a solution to the water. "A bubble bath? I didn't buy that stuff..." She looked curiously at him.
"Hey, a guy has to have some indulgences, right?" Nick smirked.
"I could definitely use an indulgence right now," Judy nodded, unclothing. "Ugh, even taking my uniform off feels like a chore."
Nick bat at the water. "Water should be good, hop on in." Judy gingerly followed his direction.
"Mm, that's nice," Judy smiled, easing back into the tub. She looked at Nick. "Well, what are you waiting for? Come on in with me."
"Judy, I'll just draw another bath after you're done. I'm tired too," Nick smirked. "I'm uh, not really up to playing around."
"Who said anything about playing?" Judy replied. "We don't have to get frisky every time we take our clothes off around each other."
Nick considered this, and shrugged. "Eh, fair point." Nick unclothed and got in the tub's opposite side. The two slowly and carefully washed each others faces.
"Ooh!" Nick winced as Judy's squeegee rubbed his cheek. "Ow, I must have landed on that cheek."
"Oh, sorry!" Judy cringed slightly. "I'll be more careful."
Eventually, all of the grime and dirt was removed from both of their faces.
"Well, there's a pretty bunny under all of that dirt after all," Nick winked.
"Huh! Implying I don't look good even covered in grime!" Judy laughed haughtily. Judy drew closer to Nick, which accelerated his heart rate a bit, but instead of kissing him, she turned around, laying with her back nestled against Nick's front. "Ah, this is more like it."
"Mm..." Nick agreed, bringing his paws around Judy.
"Bubble baths should be mandatory rewards for dealing with a tough day," Judy murmured.
"You're not going to hear me argue," Nick groaned.
They settled into peaceful silence, only broken by Nick adding more warm water to the bath, or the occasional moment where Judy's ears would tickle his whiskers as they moved slightly against him around his muzzle.
Judy finally broke the silence, her eyes still closed as she enjoyed the bubbly bliss. "Nick, do you think it's weird that we're attracted to each other?"
"I don't want to have this conversation," Nick said suddenly.
"Uh, okay?" Judy opened her eyes, finding that response rather abrupt.
"I don't really want to use my brain right now," Nick clarified.
"Okay," Judy giggled slightly, closing her eyes again.
"I mean, I guess I have thought about it," Nick continued. "But to me I can't think of anything more unromantic than wondering what the chemical or social aspects of inter-species attraction and relationships would be."
"I get that," Judy nodded. "I was just curious."
"That's the type of thing some college student would write a five thousand word essay on," Nick said, changing his voice to a more declarative one, "Nick, please describe in five thousand words or more why you are attracted to a bunny."
"I'd read that," Judy chirped.
"But when it comes down to it, what does it matter?" Nick said, letting his arms squeeze her briefly. "You're my bunny, and I'm your fox."
"That's right, and I guess that is the only thing that matters," Judy grinned. "...We should do this more often."
"What, have sappy romantic conversations?" Nick raised an eyebrow. "It's like all we do."
"No no, just... be together like this, no clothes, just cuddle and stuff," Judy stretched out and relaxed against him. "It feels... nice. Comforting. Nice to know I have a brave, sweet fox to protect me, like he did today."
"You've still saved me more times than I've saved you," Nick said, nuzzling at both of her ears.
"What, are you keeping score?" Judy laughed, scooping up a pawful of bubbles and blowing gently on it.
"I'd hope that both of us getting into life-threatening situations would be infrequent enough that it would be easy to keep track of..." Nick trailed off. Judy felt for Nick's paws that were still wrapped around her and squeezed at them. Nick's worries were slowly assuaged, and he relaxed again.
"Mm, best bubble bath I've yet had," Nick smiled. Judy turned around so their fronts were meeting.
"Well, hopefully we'll have many more bubble baths so you won't have to keep track of how nice they are," Judy nuzzled his muzzle.
"Judy, if I ever take our relationship for granted, I want you to punch me very hard in the stomach," Nick said seriously.
"Aw, you won't do that," Judy's brow furrowed, but she smiled. "Of the two of us, you're the heartfelt, romantic slob. It should be me you're worried about."
"Uh, I wasn't until just now?" Nick admitted.
"It's just..." Judy looked off to the side. "I worked so hard to be a police officer... but then in one day of a less-than-favorable situation I was willing to put my dreams up to a huge bet to prove myself. All of my efforts and hopes would have been dashed, had you not protected me. I'm... kind of scared, Nick, that I might ever do something similar with you."
Nick considered this. "You're making me use my brain, Judy..."
"Sorry..." Judy offered a smile that looked like it might turn sad.
"...It's good to be afraid," Nick said finally.
"You think so?" Judy rested her head on his chest.
"Yes," Nick nodded. "I was afraid of you getting hurt today, so my fear spurred me into instantaneous action. If you keep the fear of losing what you love in your heart, I think it can save you from doing something wrong, or help you to do something right."
"Huh, I've never thought of that," Judy said thoughtfully. "I've always imagined fear as something you had to quash. Bunnies are sort of instinctually fearful, so I feel like I have to beat that back to prove I'm brave."
"Well, I think it's kind of like with public speaking or comedy routines," Nick shrugged.
"Oh gosh, don't talk to me about public speaking," Judy laughed, despite herself.
"I don't think the fear of all those eyes on you really goes away for a lot of people," Nick mused. "But they have to sort of take it and use it. Work through it and use it as an ally."
"Oh wise fox, teach me more," Judy said in a playful, mocking manner.
"Not in this bubble bath," Nick said, "the water's gone tepid." He opened the drain to let the water start to recede.
Judy yawned. "Just as well I guess; I'm so tired."
"Same; it will be no trouble at all to sleep tonight," Nick groaned, yawning too.
The two softly toweled each other off, their actions slowed by their fatigue. Judy and Nick both clearly enjoyed it though, the soft intimacy of it brightening their faces. They used fur dryers on each other next; they had often made a game out of it, wielding them like weapons, but this time was just gentle, but meaningful in their unspoken care for each other.
"Fluffed and ready for bed," Judy declared.
"Aye aye," Nick agreed. Judy reached out and grabbed Nick's hand in hers. Nick looked down fondly at her. "I know what you're thinking."
"I bet you do," Judy smiled. She let go of his hand and they both headed toward their bed. Nick got in first, and then Judy snuggled up to him. "Mmm... warm fur."
Nick stroked down Judy's warm, fluffy back. "Just because I know what you're thinking doesn't mean I don't want to hear it."
"Okay then," Judy softly kissed him on the nose. "I love you, Nick."
Nick kissed the top of her head in return. "I love you too, sweetheart. Sweet dreams."
"Mm, sweet dreams," Judy cozied up to him. "Try not to think about deranged deer stabbing me with their antlers."
"You had to say that."