Continued from Chapters 8 & 9
"Hgh!" Nick awoke with a start to the sound of his alarm. "Agh...!" Nick grabbed at his head; he had a massive headache. He felt unusual in his stomach as well.
Why would he have gotten himself drunk on a night before work? Nick thought harder as he started to begrudgingly get ready and found that he didn't know why he had gotten himself drunk. He couldn't remember anything from the night before. This filled the fox with a particular kind of worry; because he slowly began to remember the only reason he would get himself drunk is if he did something really stupid, and he had a sneaking suspicion it involved Judy.
The next few hours were tense and filled with pain for Nick. He found himself being driven around town on traffic rounds with Judy.
"You look like crud, Nick," Judy smirked at him at a red light.
"Thanks," Nick chuckled, brushing a paw through his head fur.
"You've been quiet all morning," Judy said, her voice almost carrying a hint of concern.
"You too," Nick pointed out.
"Just had some things to think about..." Judy sighed. Nick felt a bolt of panic as well as a flush of pain.
"Judy, I need some coffee," Nick groaned. "Can we take our break early?"
"Sure thing, I could use a cup myself..." Judy nodded, and she diverted their course.
Judy and Nick entered a Snarlbucks, got their usual orders, and sat down together.
"Did anything happen between us last night...?" Nick asked very cautiously.
Judy looked away, embarrassed. "I uh... what, you don't remember?"
"I don't," Nick grit his teeth. "I must have gotten myself drunk. Did- did I do something stupid?"
"No, I can't say you did," Judy chuckled, slurping her coffee. "Kinda weird you got yourself drunk though, I thought we settled things quite well, actually."
"Settled things?" Nick's eyes were widening slowly.
"Yeah," Judy sighed. "About our... about our feelings for each other."
"Oh God, that must have been it," Nick looked away, squinting his eyes shut. "...Sorry."
"You have nothing to apologize for, Nick," Judy smiled weakly. "I've given it a lot of thought and I'm... I'm sure we can still be best friends. I hope."
"Yeah, me too," Nick sighed.
"I'm sure I might slip and do something overly affectionate every now and again, but you just point that out to me if I do, okay?" Judy's smiled wobbled a bit. "I'll be working on it."
"Uh?" Nick blinked. "Why would I have a problem with tha-... oh God. Oh God. I... I chickened out, didn't I?"
"What?" Judy bit her lip.
"Can you please just tell me what happened last night?" Nick put his head in his hands.
"Well, uh," Judy's eyes got a bit glassy. "We met together on top of my apartment and I admitted I had feelings for you. Then you said you umh- you couldn't love me in that way... so uh..." Judy blinked slowly.
"Coward, I'm a coward," Nick shook his head, still in his hands. "No wonder I drank myself stupid. I really blew that, huh."
"Nick...?" Judy's ears perked in confusion. "What are you saying?"
"I uh, have feelings for you too, Judy, powerful ones..." Nick looked at her, then looked away in shame.
Judy's jaw dropped and she looked almost angry. "Nicholas. Don't you dare play games with me. Not about this."
"I wouldn't!" Nick said, putting a hand to his temple. "Not about this! At least, I hoped I wouldn't... why? Why was I so scared?"
"You sounded pretty genuine to me, Nick," Judy kept frowning. "And I spent all last night trying to reconcile the fact that I'd never- I'd never have who I really wanted..."
"Ugh, I'm a mess," Nick smirked, despite himself. "You sure you want this guy?"
"I mean, I was..." Judy grit her teeth. "Please don't... just please say what you feel about me, right now."
Nick felt like his head and heart were both going to pound out of his body. But perhaps this was his last chance. "I... I love you, Judy. I want to... uh... I'd love to be... yours."
"Nick..." Judy shuddered and sighed, a couple of tears rolling out of the corners of her eyes. She held out both of her hands, which Nick took in his own. She squeezed them firmly, shivering. "I... after last night, I never thought I'd hear you say that. I... I want to be yours, too..." Judy shook her head and wiped her eyes. "And I'm crying on the job. Way to go, me."
"My fault, my fault," Nick chuckled, feeling like he might have to throw up pretty soon. "I uh, I'll make it up to you. Tonight after work. What would you like, dinner and a movie? Some flowers?"
"To be honest?" Judy sighed. "Some cuddles sprinkled with a dash of kisses might be what I need."
"Got it," Nick nodded, making a few gestures. "Just gotta put that in my mental itinerary. Cuddles and kisses with lovely gray bunny. Got it; I can do that."
"My place? It's cozy enough that we might have to cuddle," Judy chuckled weakly.
"Sure," Nick said, finishing up his coffee. "I uh- I won't bring any alcohol."
"Good fox," Judy chirped, giving an anxious giggle.
"Good morning, fluff!" Nick said energetically, giving a large stretch. "Ready for another astonishingly exciting day of traffic rounds?"
"Of course," Judy laughed, strolling by him. "Have to say though, you look awfully chipper for someone who drank themselves half to death last night."
"Did I do that?" Nick blinked. "I... don't remember doing that."
"Well of course you don't remember it," Judy sucked at her teeth. "You were drunk! I had to haul your tail out of the bar myself."
"Oof, you did that?" Nick chuckled. "Strong bunny." Nick started following her to their cruiser and jumped in. "Strange, I seem to remember last night you and I were on the top of your apartment building, talking about our feelings."
"Uh, that didn't happen," Judy smirked. "Maybe you're thinking of another night. Though that scenario doesn't sound familiar to me."
"Maybe your were the one who got yourself blackout drunk," Nick accused, pointing at her cheek and smirking. Judy bat his encroaching paw away. "Then, you made up that story about you lugging me away because it's much more logical to think that the lowlife fox would get himself drunk."
"Nick! Why would I do that?" Judy shook her head, sighing warmly. "What reason would I have for getting myself blackout drunk?"
"Well, I thought you were okay yesterday evening," Nick said as they drove off into the streets of Savanna Central. "But I got to thinking that you might have been upset because I didn't share your feelings."
"Feelings about what? Each other?" Judy blinked. "That's what you got yourself drunk about!"
"Okay," Nick's eyes fell halfway. "At this point I'm pretty sure you've had some sort of psychotic break and are seriously projecting." Nick huffed. "I think I should be driving."
"As if!" Judy smirked. "I am perfectly sober. Though I'm sure you haven't been great for my mental health." She shot him a sneering smirk.
"So you aren't madly in love with me?" Nick cocked an eyebrow.
"No!" Judy chuckled. "I mean, well... I gotta be honest, if you were a bunny, I think I might... you know, look twice."
"Oof, playing the species card, are we?" Nick chuckled, folding his arms.
"Oh come on Nick, don't be that way," Judy groaned. "It's just... I can't really say I'm attracted to foxes. I think you're great though, you're definitely my best friend. I'd do nearly anything for you. In some ways I think what we have is stronger than what a mere 'couple' could have."
"Hm, I think I feel the same way," Nick smirked. "I don't know what's happened to you, but as long as you're okay with us being like we are, I'm relieved to hear that."
"I should be asking you that!" Judy smiled. "Are you okay with us just being friends?"
"Of course not 'just' friends," Nick winked. "Like you said, we're partners. No 'mortal' romance holds a candle to us."
"That's my fox," Judy smirked.
"So!" Nick grinned and relaxed in his chair, speaking conversationally. "Got any bucks you have your eyes on?"
"Can't say I'm looking!" Judy shook her head, grumbling pleasantly. "Do you honestly see me as the type of gal that settles down and has a few dozen kits?"
"No, didn't say that," Nick laughed. Judy came up to a red light and Nick met her gaze, causing her to flinch at how smug he looked. "Is there any doe you're interested in?"
"Nick!" Judy started a bit, blinking. "Wow, that's a leer if I've ever seen one." Judy slammed her foot on the pedal when the signal turned green, but Nick was ready for her this time and held onto his seat. He chuckled. "Come on, that new white bunny tech we have is pretty cute, isn't she?"
"She's an arctic hare," Judy corrected. "And don't let me catch you calling her cute."
"Oh so you know about her," Nick accused.
"Yes, I know about the differences between lapines! Unlike a certain fox!" Judy grit her teeth in a sneering grin.
"Hey, no need to get so worked up about this," Nick held his hands up in caution. "Unless you like her."
"Nick! Seriously, shut your muzzle," Judy grumbled.