Violet Hopps didn't feel as uncomfortable as she had expected to.
As she sat there in the cafe, with the hustle and bustle of various Zootopian mammals around her, it reminded her of home. Violet knew she had a large part in controlling the chaos that was the Hopps compound, and while she was reasonably sure that her home wouldn't come crashing to the ground while she was away for the better part of the day, it never hurt to check.
The tall, bespectacled gray bunny adjusted her glasses and took a sip from some sweet, cream-infused coffee before looking at her iPawpad. There were six birthdays today, so she texted Timothy to ask if he remembered to get all of those birthday cakes baked. Also, one of the birthday boys was Bradley, who liked to be called 'Rad' recently, so if Timothy thought that sort of behavior should be encouraged, he could possibly humor him by writing it in the icing. Please and thank you.
It was business as usual, really; Violet's physical absence from the compound wouldn't dull her influence over it. Not that much, anyway.
"Thank you," she said lightly as a plate of pancakes was placed next to her by the massive paw of a tiger. Poking at them with her fork after dolling them up with butter and syrup, she tried a bite. They were light and fluffy, not to the standards of a Hopps pancake, but dangerously close. Violet blinked, marveling that some random cafe in Zootopia could have such decent food.
But that led her to her reason for being there in the first place, and that was when the discomfort started to settle in. Violet opened a document on her tablet, and it had a long list of questions she wanted to ask one Nicholas Wilde.
He was a fox, he was Judy Hopps' partner at the Zootopia Police Department, and most worryingly, he had begun dating her.
Violet was there to confirm or deny some suspicions she had about this fox, and like a fool, she had thrown away her first opportunity to gather more information on him. She botched her surveillance only because she was discovered by her sister, who was perhaps somewhat understandably livid at her intrusion. Even more foolish was her actually taking Nick up on his offer for the three to meet at that very cafe.
While she would much rather have had a one-on-one with him, Violet knew she had to count her blessings. Of course Judy would be extra critical of her now that she was aware she was meddling. But the Hopps Family Organizer had to do what she had to do.
Despite trying to mentally prepare herself for the encounter, she still flinched when Nick slid into a chair across from her, followed shortly by Judy. The fox's expression was even, but leaned toward self-assured. He was wearing a very loud Pawaiian shirt and contrasting tie, which was very unlike the sharp, complimentary colors he wore the previous evening. Judy, meanwhile, wore some of her subdued casual clothes. Violet recognized the openly critical look she was getting from her sister.
"I'm somewhat surprised you two actually showed up," Violet admitted, scrolling back to the top of her 'Things to ask Nicholas Wilde' document. "After last night, I was worried you might have just placed me here to get rid of me, then never show."
"Would I do that?" Nick asked with an air of teasing.
"She would," Violet looked at her sister blankly.
Judy's face softened the slightest bit and she "hmphed" in wry amusement. "She's not wrong. I did consider it." The bunny's shoulders twitched upwards. "I can hold a grudge."
"How would you like to do this?" The fox asked, his posture very casual in his seat. "I see you're already eating."
Violet's eyes flicked down to her breakfast.
"All of Violet's teeth are sweet teeth," Judy muttered. "Especially when she's nervous."
"I've prepared a list of questions for you," Violet replied to Nick. Her sister loudly scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"First of all, Violet," the fox leaned in and grinned. "Let me just say that I'm very impressed that, especially with your resemblance to your sister here, that you were able to avoid my notice last night."
"Well, er," the bunny was momentarily flustered before shaking it off. "That was the point, anyway. And I was caught by Judy, so that point was rendered moot."
"Anyhow, go ahead with your questions," Nick shrugged, relaxing back in his chair.
"Nicholas Wilde, is it true you've been a hustler?" Violet started, adjusting her glasses and looking directly at him for the first time.
Her target had to smirk. The proper tone of her voice was very reminiscent of the first time Judy had attempted to put him "under arrest". How he'd love to toy with her sister as well, to frustrate and aggravate. Nick was sure that his little bunny partner would actually really enjoy it. But no, he had a different goal to pursue.
"I was," Nick nodded, "for just around twenty years."
"All right," Violet looked down at her notes, scribbling on her tablet with her stylus. She was alarmed by the expedience of his answer. "What sort of 'work' did that entail?"
Judy huffed, looking away and wagging her head.
"Well," the fox looked over the claws of one hand, "my favorite was to trick some poor mammal into buying something large like a Jumbo Pop for me, then melting it down and selling it individually to many other customers for a tidy profit. When I was first cutting my teeth on the whole 'hustling' thing, I had to learn the classics, of course, like the shell game and three-card Monte."
One of Judy's eyebrows piqued as Nick answered the questions so openly. She didn't even recall getting such clear answers from him on these sorts of issues. Though, she supposed she never thought to ask so directly.
"So, perpetuating the fox stereotype, I see," Violet murmured. "Sneaky. Underhanded."
"Hey!" Judy barked.
"It was easy to do when everyone expected you to be that way," Nick answered.
Judy looked at Nick, slightly alarmed. She was amazed to see that he did not look in any way hurt by Violet's words, and his confidence was still on full display. Looking past him and down slightly, Judy placed a paw on her chest as she remembered the hurt and disappointment in his voice at his retelling of his past and what drove him to become a hustler. Realizing that those words were only for her ignited a strange feeling in her chest, one between a bright sense of worth and a gnawing sorrow.
Violet swallowed, looking at her questions, and continued. "My research indicates you have connections to a crime lord. Is that accurate?"
"How would you-!?" Judy started forward, then deflated when she got a small, cautionary look from Nick. "Rgh."
"That is true," Nick nodded gravely. "His name's Mr. Big. He took me in when a few bad turns of luck had left me almost penniless. I'd fallen out with my mother at the time, but the Big family took me in, briefly. I didn't exactly like how they did things there, so I ended up trying to pull a fast one on Mr. Big one day, and that- er, that put me on thin ice with that arctic shrew, if you'll excuse the joke."
"I... I see," Violet made some more notes. "When it comes to relationships, have you ever pursued anyone of the lapine persuasion before-?"
"Okay, look!" Judy interrupted with a broad swipe of her hand and pushed up on the table with both paws, rising in her chair. "Is this just going to be a constant interrogation? Is that what you're after? Are you just gonna attack his character over and over until- until what? You get proof that he's not some perfect shining sterling example of a fox!?"
Violet didn't say anything, but her eyes darted between Nick and Judy. She quietly retreated to her tablet and scrolled down the list.
"If you'd like me to get to a more pertinent question, I can," Violet replied softly. She looked directly at Nick once more. "What are your intentions with my sister?"
"His 'intentions'!?" Judy fumed, gritting her teeth.
"Judy, please," Nick held up a hand to placate her. "I've got this one."
Violet waited for both Nick's reply and her sister's frustrated breathing to quiet down.
"Okay, Violet, you really want to know the answer to that question, hm?" Nick folded his hands on the table. "Well, I suppose I can tell you. In Judy, I want someone I can wake up every day with, confident that she'll be there. I want her to keep me on track, highlight my mistakes, keep me honest. I want someone I can trust with no reservations, someone I can wrap my arms around and tell that things will be all right. And, Lord help me, I want to be good enough to make those things right for her. I know Judy's the one mammal in my life that can fulfill all of those things."
Both bunnies were quiet; their eyes were as open as they could be.
"And," Nick's solemn look started to melt into a half-smile. "I want to please her. I want to make her as happy as I can, really delight her, you know? It's great when she's irritated, but she's even more delightful when she's happy." Nick turned to look at her affectionately. "Someday, hopefully soon, I'd even like to hear her crying out for me with the same passion she approaches the rest of her life with. Like, that real yearning." He chuckled mischievously. "Hmhm. Get that proof I'm doing a good job and all."
"Nick...!" Judy winced, her ears burning. "I- I think she's got the point!"
He shrugged. "I just thought I'd give that 'being honest' thing a try."
The bunny wagged her head. "There's a level of candor that's polite, and then there's-"
"Well, I think I've heard enough," Violet said flatly, putting her tablet into a carrying case next to her.
"Violet, no, wait a second!" Judy waved her hands frantically.
"May I share an anecdote with you, Nicholas?" Violet tilted her head, adjusting her glasses. He nodded and shrugged. "I once knew a- no, I once knew of a fox. That fox spun a long train of half-truths to get close to someone I care very much about. Then, when they were in position to achieve their true goal-" Violet snapped her fingers loudly. "They struck. Like a true predator. They lulled, they connived, they reassured. Their words, charm, and actions were all a veil, and underneath was a mammal capable of a great deal of harm. A great deal of harm."
"What? Violet?" Judy blinked. "Hh- who was this?"
Violet glanced briefly at her sister, but ignored her and looked seriously at Nick. "Perhaps you can understand my concern that a charming fox such as yourself has his eyes on my sister."
"Absolutely," Nick nodded. "A hundred percent."
"Wha- uh, Nick!" Judy looked between the two frantically. "You're just going to take that?"
"Trust is earned, Judy," Nick gave her a slightly injured smile, "and when it's betrayed, it takes a long time to come back."
"That's not fair at all!" Judy fumed. "Just because you're a fox? Just because- because of course you'd do something bad too, because you're a fox and that's what they do!?"
"To Violet..." Nick looked carefully at the slender, sweater-clad bunny, "I haven't done anything to stray from the patterns she's seen. I've been 'that fox', in her eyes."
Surprisingly, Violet slowly smiled. "On the contrary."
Both bunny and fox were blindsided with confusion.
"'That fox' never admitted their faults so honestly or plainly," Violet's smile grew broader. "Nor did they reveal what exactly they wanted so plainly, until they had already made their mark. You... seem different."
"How about that, Fluff?" Nick's face dropped in a puzzled amazement. "I guess honesty really is the best policy."
"Wha- I don't get it," Judy placed her hands on her temples and shook her head vigorously. She stared at her sister. "Are you suddenly okay with Nick!?"
Violet nodded, just barely. "Now that I know what he wants."
Judy felt herself flushing again. "...Mh-me?"
"Well, yes, but more specifically..." Violet giggled a bit, "he wants a mate."
Nick coughed conspicuously and turned his head slightly away.
"I mean... yeah...?" Judy's pinched giggle trailed off.
"I did my homework, Judy," Violet's smile was assured. "I know what having a mate tends to mean to a fox. To know that that's what he wants in you, that that's what he's striving to be for you, and realizing that you mean that much to someone... well, I can only be happy about that."
Nick cleared his throat and wrestled his calm facade back onto his face. "See, Judy? Told you your family would like me."
"Oh shut up," Judy laughed, shoving him.
"Speaking of," Violet retrieved a few bills and left them on the table, "I should get back to them before too long. I'd like to see Nicholas over at the compound sometime soon, if that would be acceptable."
"Shoo..." Nick huffed in daunted amusement. "One down, hundreds to go."
Violet gave a mischievous smile that he'd definitely seen on Judy before. "All I'd ask is that you give me plenty of advance warning so I can shuffle around the sleeping arrangements for some of our less... 'agreeable' siblings."
"I... I guess we could come over sometime?" Judy still seemed confused at Violet's abrupt reversal in demeanor. "Hope you like being buried in bunny fluff, Nick."
"Sounds like a little slice of heaven to me," he replied in a high voice, smirking.
"They'll be shrieking children, not my hot sisters," Judy jerked her thumb at Violet.
"Ah..." Nick's jaw hung open and he did not look as sure anymore.
Violet giggled into a paw. "This should be fun. Goodbye, Judy. I hope to see you two sooner rather than later." She got up from her chair and started to walk out.
"Bye, Vi," Judy smiled apologetically, unwilling to let her escape before she got a hug in. Violet hugged back, looking very slightly uncomfortable. "Sorry about... well... being snippy, I guess?"
"Don't worry, Judy, I know how it is when what you want is challenged," Violet pat her head. "You just keep challenging that world though, little sister. Seems like you're squeezing everything you want out of it."
"Ah..." Judy looked a little impressed and gave a determined nod and smile. "Right!"
The smaller bunny looked quite happy as she took her seat next to the fox.
"So you do have more hot sisters, then?" He quipped. He got an immediate punch in the arm. "Okay, deserved that. Only kidding, though. You're all the bunny I need."
It was romantic and sappy, but Judy did detect a note of genuineness in his voice. That very slight tone that betrayed his honesty, easy to miss, even with bunny ears. But it was there. She rolled her eyes over to Nick with a large grin.
"And you do need me, you big red goofball."
"Oh, ever so much," Nick agreed, bringing an arm around her. Judy let herself be drawn close, feeling a small kiss on the top of her head, right between her ears. "More than I can say."
Judy sighed in contentment. She had the feeling it was going to be a good day.