A Zootopia: Partners side story, set between the "Purring" and "Together" installments.
Judy cheerfully sipped from a paper coffee cup, enjoying the cool wintry air of Downtown Savannah Central. She appreciated the warmth of the liquid as it slid down her throat, as well as the various winter fashions on display from mammals walking down the street. She was seated outside of a Snarlbucks at a table meant for two. She liked the busy bustle of Zootopia, as it reminded her of her home in Bunnyburrow, just with a lot of varied types of mammals; not only bunnies.
Due to her own winter clothes, consisting of a sweater, scarf, and long pants, she was feeling quite comfortable. There was also her natural winter coat, which only offered limited protection against the cold for a standard bunny, but she found the extra fluff comforting anyway. Nick, on the other hand, found it fascinating. He always was attracted to fluffiness, so when his fiance got even more fluffy, well, it was hard to keep him away from her sometimes. Not that she minded.
Nick had also offered some sort of excuse that certain changes happened to male foxes over the winter, besides some marginal extra fluffiness. It sounded like a weak argument to Judy, but she had noticed some extra... robustness in her fox. She shook her head with a smile as she mulled over these thoughts, holding up her left hand and looking at her engagement ring that was placed on her middle finger. Judy sighed happily.
The bunny's grin grew wider as she saw a fellow lapine unceremoniously join her at the table. It was an arctic hare, even puffier in the winter than a regular bunny. Her uniform white fur lead up to light-blue eyes and even small black tips on her ears, though smaller than the black edges on Judy's. If one didn't know that the two were of different species and disregarded the arctic hares smaller ear height and larger feet, one could easily mistake the two for being related. The arctic hare adjusted her chair, then adjusted it a bit more. She started sipping from her own drink.
"You're a few minutes late, Karen," Judy smirked. "That's not like you; was wondering if you were still coming."
"Just... had some trouble getting out the door," the arctic hare replied without making eye contact.
"I know how that can be," Judy said, humming a laugh. "I see your winter coat has fully come in. You're so puffy!"
"Yes, well, as it does that every year, it's nothing to celebrate," Karen said, sipping from her drink. "I do like it far more than my leaner summer coat. Did you know arctic hares used to have a brown coat in the summertime for camouflage? Scientists think we evolved out of the color changing once we came to sapience and didn't need it for a defense mechanism anymore."
"Huh, well on the plus side, it's easier to identify you, but on the minus side, you don't get to be two colors throughout the year," Judy chuckled. She nodded to Karen's drink. "What's your poison?"
"Just hot chocolate," Karen muttered. "Caffeine makes me nervous."
"Fair enough," Judy laughed. "Now let's-"
"Hang on. Judy..." Karen shifted in her seat. "I don't know if we should keep hanging out like this anymore."
"You see enough of me at work?" Judy smirked wryly.
"It's not that, it's just..." Karen twisted her mouth. "It's Crystal. I uh..."
"She getting jealous?" Judy half-lidded her eyes. "Remember, I'm spoken for." Judy held up her ringed hand.
"No no, it's just how I feel," Karen sighed. "Now that Crystal and I are... together... I'd like to spend more time with her."
"Oh! I totally get that," Judy brightened up. "I will miss getting to gossip with you because you don't like to open up at work."
"Well, that's improper," Karen shot a somewhat accusing look at Judy.
"Yes, well, that notwithstanding..." Judy laughed perkily and rolled her eyes. "I guess that just means we'll have to get all of our gossip out of the way now!" Karen grumbled a little. "So! Are things going good with Crystal?"
"No, they are going well," Karen corrected with small frown.
"Oh, sor-ree," Judy couldn't help but chuckle. "That's great to hear!"
Karen raised an eyebrow as she looked at the beaming bunny. "I've always wondered why you have cared so much about my private life."
"I'm your friend," Judy's expression suddenly became slightly pitying. "You've had some... challenges. I'd like for you to be happy..."
Karen looked down at her drink. "I owe you and Nick both my life and my happiness. That's a debt I cannot in any way repay."
"Friendship isn't about paying debts, Karen," Judy shook her head. Karen swallowed, but allowed her eyes to meet Judy's. "It's just about being there for each other, huh?"
Karen finally broke a small smile. "I suppose a bunny like you would know more about friendship than I, so I'll take you at your word."
"Now," Judy smiled with a touch of wickedness. "Give me the good stuff."
"Wh-what 'good' stuff?" Karen flinched like she was broken from a spell, and sipped from her drink nervously. "About Crystal?"
"Duh!" Judy clicked her tongue. "Bunny-to-bunny gossip is the best!"
"I..." Karen swallowed. "I've never felt about someone like I feel about Crystal. When I was growing up I was just- just so caught up in my studies. I rejected advances by interested parties, friendships... but now..."
"How does she make you feel?" Judy asked tenderly.
"Fh-for awhile I didn't know if it was 'love'," Karen said hesitantly. "I didn't know what 'love' really is. That kind of love anyway. But um... looking at Crystal I get this kind of feeling deep in my stomach. It feels almost like anxiety. The closer she gets, the worse it gets. But when she finally embraces me, it's like... warmth. Not only physical warmth, but..." She trailed off, surprised by Judy's somewhat dreamy look. The gray bunny nodded faintly.
Judy had her paw on her cheek, her head tilted slightly. "I know what you mean, Karen. If you can believe it, I was kind of like you growing up. I had my mind focused on becoming a cop, and no horny teenager was going to break my focus. I got called a lot of names, especially because they knew what I wanted to do. But hey, look at us now, huh? We're happy bunnies. I'm engaged to a handsome fox, and you've got your little snow leopard, Crystal."
"She's..." Karen looked up, trying to find the words. "Something that concerns me is she feels so... perfect for me. I mean she's a good bit older than me but... emotionally and physically, it feels like someone pulled her out of a storybook; just for me. Nick... Nick did that. For me. I barely ever gave him the time of day and yet-"
"That's just the kind of fox he is," Judy declared proudly. "He's always telling me he knows everyone, so I'm not surprised he hooked you up with someone that's just right for you."
"It's not only that," Karen said, staring at Judy. "He... somehow knew things about me. Things I didn't tell anyone. Not you, definitely not him. Not even... myself? It honestly worries me. I have always prided myself on my intelligence, but..." Karen looked away.
"He's just a different kind of smart, Karen," Judy half-smiled. "Did I tell you that when we met, he basically plucked my life story from thin air and used it to verbally assault me? To tell me how my dreams were garbage and lacked substance and how I'd fail and go back home?"
"And you're marrying this guy?" Karen seemed surprised.
"Things are different now," Judy chuckled. "But the important bit was, he was almost right. I'd known him for only minutes and he'd discerned my whole life story. He knew I had prejudices about predators, especially foxes, even though I'd denied to myself that I did. But he used his powers for cynicism instead of good. To win him over I kind of had to surprise him, show him he was wrong."
"I'm not sure I'm following your point," Karen furrowed her brow.
"The point is..." Judy sighed. "Sometimes other people can teach you things about yourself that you didn't know, or didn't want to believe were true. And if they're your friends, they'll do it in a way that ends up building you up and making you more complete."
Karen revealed a genuine, though small smile. "I suppose, despite everything, I've been quite a lucky lapine."
"Mm," Judy smiled faintly. "I'm fortunate to know you, too. Your own deduction helped me capture the villain perpetrating that virus scare."
"But Nick saved himself," Karen shook her head. "His immune system was the victor there, and for the city. I just... what can I do to thank him for bringing Crystal into my life?"
"Let him annoy you," Judy laughed. "He only really tries to annoy those he cares about."
"Ah, wonderful," Karen's eyes half-closed.
"And I'm marrying this guy," Judy said gleefully. "But enough about him. Tell me more about Crystal...!"
"What do you want to know?" Karen ran a paw through her ears, taking another sip of her hot chocolate.
"What's your favorite thing she does to you?" Judy asked casually.
"What!?" Karen seemed alarmed and looked around. "You can't just ask that! We're in public...!"
"C'mon, no one's listening," Judy shrugged.
"Besides, it's not anything your bunny mind is probably thinking," Karen sucked at her teeth and looked away.
"Please?" Judy clasped her paws together.
"It's when she..." Karen sighed. "She kinda..." Karen reluctantly started to smile. "She just draws me close and picks me up, then purrs in my ear with her neck up against it. It's really- it makes me feel so warm..."
Judy gasped then squealed. "Aaa...! That is adorable. See? We have more in common than you might think, Karen. Both totally in love with larger predators, after all." Karen shrugged, but nodded. "Well, I'm really going to miss these little gossip sessions..."
"Uh, I guess," Karen shook herself back to reality. "But like I said, I'd rather spend my spare time with Crys-"
"So that's why we should all go out on double dates sometimes!" Judy interrupted, holding her arms out wide. "What do you say?"
"Judy I..." Karen winced. "You know I'm introverted. It's... I think it'd be easier for me to just be with Crystal and do some things with her..."
"Okay, okay," Judy grinned warmly. "Offer's open anytime, though."
Karen got up, finishing up her hot chocolate, and nodded. "Thank you, Judy. The friendship you and Nick have extended me is more than I could have expected, and I appreciate it more than I can adequately express. Thank you..."
"Of course, Karen," Judy smiled. "See you at work tomorrow."
"Right," Karen smiled, then her face became serious again. "No gossiping." Judy made a zipping motion with her hand near her mouth. "I will know if you've told anyone, especially Clawhauser."
"Especially Clawhauser," Judy giggled into her paw. "Don't worry, I won't say a word."
Karen turned to walk away, but turned halfway back and offered one more smile to Judy. Judy waved as the arctic hare made her way back home.