Waiting for the hammer to drop was excruciating.

Nick had on his best devil-may-care attitude for the whole day, even though he knew it was a lie and he knew that Judy knew it was a lie. He felt like he was being eaten up from the inside out.

Worse yet, it seemed like his renowned fox sense was failing him when it came to Judy. She wasn't standoffish, she wasn't flirty, she didn't seem too distant or too close. It was maddening; Nick couldn't get a good read on her all day. She was polite but not curt, bubbly and warm, and above all she didn't once mention the episode that the two had engaged in yesterday.

Above all, Nick was honest with himself, and he was honestly about ready to crack. He knew, or at least strongly believed, that Judy was playing a mental game with him, and he didn't want to lose. Not to her. Not now.

Nick felt the the tension snap like a severed cord right as they parted ways after their shift in the early evening. Judy said her farewell and just... left. Nick placed his hand on his stomach; he felt suddenly ill. He looked behind himself to make sure Judy didn't give him a second glance, and she didn't.

Nick took out his phone and confirmed the horoscope for the day and read over Serendipity's entry.

[Serendipity is an 8 today. If you truly feel resonant with Seren, you know that 8 is her favorite number. As she lays about on her side, she views the number 8 as the symbol for infinity. Limitless possibilities yield limitless rewards. Do something risky today.]

Nick's brow fell. "Someone got paid to write this nonsense." He decisively flicked his thumb pad over the website to dismiss it and sighed, heading for his apartment.

While Nick enjoyed his new apartment, he didn't like what it had come to represent. He had moved in with Vicky, and was set on making it his den; his home. Their home. Nick idly cleaned it, making it more presentable. He felt like his home correlated with his self-worth, especially when he was living in that leaky dump of an apartment in the Rainforest District.

Now he was alone, and he was lonely. Even though Judy was a phone call away, he felt like he couldn't take the chance of everything coming out.

Nick turned in early, hoping to just sweep this day past him and move on to the next. He wouldn't let Judy win the game. He'd keep playing until she cracked and forced the words out of him, while snarking and protesting all the while. After all, it had worked so well in the past. Nick sighed bitterly. An hour went by, and he still couldn't sleep.

Vvt, vvt.

A ray of light shone from Nick's phone on his nightstand. Nick grabbed it and stared at the now-nondescript lock screen he had in place of a picture of Vicky.

[Can I come in?] It was a text from Judy.

With a measure of trepidation, Nick got up from his bed and checked outside the window to make sure there wasn't a deranged bunny looming just outside. On the fourth floor that would have been some feat, but he wouldn't have put it completely past Judy.

[I was in bed.] Nick replied, hesitating before sending it. In truth, it was his last-ditch effort to dismiss her.

[Sorry!]

Nick squinted his eyes shut. It was his move again. He sighed and worked up his best easy grin. Maybe if he showed up at the door in his boxers, Judy would get bashful and flee. He opened his apartment's door, and Judy was there. She meekly waved, seeming to ignore his state of undress.

"Hi...!" Judy wiggled her fingers as she waved.

"Judy, it's... well it's nine o'clock," Nick grumbled. "What."

"Can I come in?" Judy asked delicately.

Nick sighed and made way for her, sweeping his arm across himself to admit her. Judy walked over and bounced onto his couch, rubbing her legs. Nick noted that she was dressed casually, but not exactly in nightwear.

"Well, this is certainly a reversal of how you stormed into my apartment yesterday," Nick quipped. "Demanding answers and all."

"Is this method working better?" Judy smiled hopefully.

Nick chuckled, sitting on the couch, as far away from Judy as he could. "You're a piece of work. Any reason for the change of heart?"

"I had some sense slapped into me," Judy stared forward at the blank TV. "Hey, you want to watch Invasion of the Cyclops Mole Demons?" Judy picked up his remote.

"I don't want to watch Invasion of the Cyclops Mole Demons," Nick shook his head. "I mean, I do, but not right now."

"Okay," Judy set the remote down.

"I heard about that," Nick mumbled quietly. "The slapping, I mean. I deleted Vicky off of Muzzlebook but it got to me through Vivian. Apparently she uh- she went on quite a tirade about you."

"Mhm," Judy nodded affirmatively.

"You could have arrested her," Nick muttered. "I bet it would have felt good."

"Probably, and definitely," Judy admitted, "but I... I just want to know what's going on with you."

"Judy..." Nick scratched at his shoulder, and rotated his shoulders. He composed his emotions. "You love me."

"Yes, I do indeed, we have established that," Judy touched an invisible button in the air with her forefinger.

"Why'd- why'd you let me get so close with Vicky...?" Nick grit his teeth.

Judy slowly turned her head toward Nick and looked at him incredulously. "Nick. You are an adult. You can make your own decisions." She placed her hands on her chest. "I- I wasn't going to stand in your way if you wanted a fox for a mate more than me. I wh- I... I just want you to be happy, Nick." Judy looked away. "You said you wanted kits, right? I... well I can't give you those. You and Vicky made such a nice couple- I... I was actually kind of angry that you threw it all away for my sake."

"I couldn't keep living the lie, Judy," Nick sighed, unable to meet her purple eyes. "It was wrong, what I did. Trying to replace you in a vixen. It wasn't fair to Vicky. And she took it out on you, when I'm the one with the problem."

"Nick..." Judy frowned. "Why've we never... you know. Just tried...?"

Nick chuckled, then chuckled a little more. "Okay, I've been waiting for this one. So, have you ever been bungee jumping or skydiving?"

"Sure!" Judy nodded with a grin. "Bungee jumping for my twenty-first birthday, and skydiving for my twenty-second."

Nick smiled broadly and let an amused puff out. He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, that doesn't surprise me at all. Well, you know that despite how 'safe' it is... how many precautions and safety measures there are... you're still- you're still doing it for that high. That rush of adrenaline. The knowledge that you're taking your life into your own paws."

"Is that why you backed out of marrying Vicky?" Judy's mouth became a long half-smile. "It felt like jumping out of a perfectly good airplane?"

"It's why I can't bring myself to do anything with you, Judy," Nick closed his eyes. "You've given me this life that I have now. The way I'm living, that's you. Sure, I accepted it, but without you, I'd probably still be hustling on the streets." Nick brought his hands across his body, hugging himself. He looked away from Judy. "So... even if I knew it was 'safe', even if I knew there was almost no risk and that it would be thrilling... that last step, that plunge... it's what keeps me from you."

Judy looked at Nick, trying to meet his eyes. When he actively avoided her sight, she sat back and let her mind process this information. She cozied back into the couch.

"So after all this time..." Judy swallowed, "the biggest obstacle to your own happiness is just- it's just you."

"Heh..." Nick rested his head back on the couch. "Yeah. Isn't that always the way?"

Judy scooted closer on the couch. "Nick, look at me."

"And get lost in those bewitching purple eyes?" Nick chuckled wryly.

"Just do it," Judy said tiredly. Nick obeyed her and found Judy's face to be soft and caring. He grew a wobbly smile.

"Sorry you had to catch a slap from all this," Nick groaned. "I feel terrible about- about putting two lovely females through all this just because of my own issues."

"If she was wrong for you, she's wrong for you," Judy shrugged. "But I want you to do something for me in return."

"Yes?" Nick's fear was visible in his muzzle's scrunch.

"Tell me you love me," Judy's voice was almost blank.

Nick hesitated, feeling the words well up in his throat. Judy's gaze was unexpectedly patient.

"I love you, Judy," Nick said in a flat, quiet voice. He felt his arm go over his stomach. There was that sinking feeling, like he was caught in an elevator in free-fall.

Judy only smiled pleasantly in return.

"Like, really a lot," Nick chuckled, suddenly feeling a rush of relief. "A whole bunch. I love you to bits."

"There you are, Nick," Judy smiled, nuzzling his arm. "I've been looking for you. Now, was that such a big deal?"

"More than I can articulate," Nick gave a shuddering sigh.

Judy stood up on the couch and she was about eye-level with Nick. She turned her cheek toward him. "Vicky slapped the other cheek. You maybe want to kiss this one to balance it out?"

Nick responded with a chaste peck on Judy's cheek, and the bunny hummed pleasantly.

"All better?" Nick hoped his voice sounded smooth and not condescending.

"We're getting there," Judy smirked.

"I'm not ready for things to... to just go..." Nick said. "Can we take it slow?"

"You're asking the great Judy Hopps to 'take it slow'?" Judy replied with her eyes half-lidded. She gently placed her paws on both of his cheeks. "Have you even heard of me, mister?"

"I have, here and there," Nick shrugged, nodding to feel her paws against his cheeks. "They say she was the bunny that saved Zootopia."

"I'm pretty sure there was a fox in there, too," Judy rolled her eyes to the ceiling as if she was really thinking about this. "What was his name again?"

"Judy..." Nick stared at the bunny seriously.

"I'm pretty sure it was 'Nick'," Judy giggled.

"Judy, I'm serious," Nick huffed. "Can- can we-"

"We'll take it slow, Nick," Judy touched her nose to his. "You're worth it." Judy savored the uneasy breath that followed her statement.

"I cannot remember anyone ever saying that to my muzzle," Nick mumbled.

"Maybe it's why you're such a grump," Judy kissed his nose cheerfully. Nick brought his arms around her for a hug that was close and sincere, but lasted too briefly, in Judy's opinion, to truly drink in the feeling of his soft red-orange fur against her. After she was released from the hug, she had a large smile. "Well... I guess I better get going, then."

"You can stay," Nick sighed. "Please stay."

"But you said-" Judy put a paw on her mouth. Her voice was almost bemused. "Nick, you're not going to offer me your bed, are you?"

"Not if I can avoid it," Nick admitted, smirking. "Having my own bed smell like the bunny I love might- uh, it might throw a wrench into that 'taking it slow' business."

"I'll sleep on the couch," Judy said in a resigned, playful voice. "I better not catch you sniffing it in the morning."

"No promises," Nick's tail wagged a little as kissed the top of her head and wandered off to his room. "Uh... good night, Judy."

"We took the plunge in the fall," Judy smiled, seated on the couch. "Kind of romantic, huh?" Judy's face scrunched. "But that means it'll be winter soon..."

"Yup," Nick observed, rubbing his head against the side of the door. "So- so yeah, before then, I'd like a little time to love you with my mind before my body gets the better of me."

"I'm looking forward to all of that," Judy waved playfully at him.

An hour and a half passed.

Nick still couldn't sleep. He slowly dragged himself out of his room to check on Judy. She was fast asleep, curled up on the couch, using a throw pillow. Nick felt uneasy. There she was, completely defenseless and completely relaxed in his own home. Why couldn't he relax?

Making some predictions and calculations in his head, he decided there was enough room. After taking a few moments more to observe her sleeping form, he made his move. Nick very carefully crept onto the couch and moved on all fours to curl around and encircle Judy, laying down around her.

It wasn't until his tail swept around her that she began to stir.

"Mmmmnnick...?" Judy whispered sleepily. "Whirr you doin'...?"

"Can't sleep," Nick whispered back. "Couldn't get comfortable..."

Judy grunted, cuddling back against him. She yawned, letting out a small squeak at the peak of her yawn. "This any better?"

Nick felt his muzzle part her ears and lay down on top of her head, and heard a soft groan of approval come from the bunny.

"Yeah," Nick felt his tension begin to melt away, "it's a lot better."