Clawhauser lit up with his typical bouncy excitement when he saw Nick approaching the ZPD's front desk.
"Hey there, Officer Wilde!" Clawhauser bubbled, barely able to keep up the pretense of formality. The big cheetah leaned in. "How are things going...?"
"Oh, well enough," Nick replied in his nonchalant, airy way.
Clawhauser's smile was bright and beaming as he sat up straight in his chair. "A few of the guys from the squad are gonna go out drinking this evening, do you wanna come?"
Nick wiggled an open hand. "Nah."
This didn't seem to phase Clawhauser at all, who only smiled wider. "Ohhh...? Do you have plans?"
The fox pretended to think about this. "...Sort of?"
Clawhauser let loose a little squeal, clapping twice near his face. "What is it this time? A little Netflix and chill?"
Nick's brow raised and he folded an arm behind his back, carefully pointing at Clawhauser. "Uh, if by that you mean 'go over to her place tomorrow on our day off and watch a little something on TV'."
"Um, yes?" Clawhauser perked up, confused. "What else would I mean by that?"
"...Ah, never mind," Nick chuckled into a fist, waving him off with his other hand.
"Well, um, if you do...!" The cheetah held up a pointer finger. "You should give Aggretsuko a try! If you haven't already seen it, that is!"
"Aggretsuko?" Nick echoed. "Sounds like one of those Anihonese shows."
"Yeah, but it's a comedy!" Clawhauser replied. "I think you two might enjoy it in particular. It's got just the right type of humor for you! I think, anyway."
"Eh," Nick shrugged. "If that's what we end up on, maybe."
Clawhauser started to bounce in his seat subtly. "Oooh, I'm just so happy! You two are just the cyooote-...!" His gushing was cut short by the wide-eyed realization that Judy was closing in, a smug look on her face as she planted her fists on her hips.
"Who's cute, now?" Judy leaned up, smirking at Clawhauser.
"Oh, um!" Clawhauser's pupils bounced around his eyes as if reflecting the neurons in his brain firing randomly. "The lead characters in Aggretsuko! They're just so cute!"
"Aggretsuko...?" Judy's face squinted. "What's that?"
"Netflix comedy," Nick replied.
"Ooh!" The bunny brightened up immediately. "We should watch that tomorrow!" She shoved Nick playfully. "When you come over!"
"That is a great idea, and I am glad you thought of it," Nick tossed a casual, momentary point to the excited little bunny.
"Now, c'mon!" Judy's brow fell and she got an adventurous smile. "We gotta go bring justice to the city!"
"Sounds good to me," the fox replied, walking away with her.
"Mmmm..." Clawhauser's cheeks melted into his paws.
Judy's apartment was quite something to look at. It still looked and even smelled new after its previous tenants. Spacious for a bunny, roomy even for a fox. Sparsely decorated to that point, but then Judy wasn't really super proficient at that by her own admission. She was planning on getting a few of her siblings that were in soon. Notably "Violet", who Nick noted that she talked about with some slight reverence. Perhaps an older sister?
Nick was mostly reclined on Judy's comfy, yet rather large couch, and Judy was sitting in his lap.
"Oh come on!" Judy launched up, standing on Nick's legs.
"Down in front."
"Sorry," she plopped back down. The two were watching the "Aggretsuko" show Clawhauser had mentioned. "It's just... this story arc is starting to tick me off!"
"What has the bunny so flustered?" Nick rested his elbow on the arm rest, looking bemused, as if he didn't know.
"This Resasuke guy...!" Judy thrust her paws at the TV, looking back at Nick. "I mean, you see it too, right? He's completely boring! WHY...! Why would Retsuko fall for him over Haida? It makes no SENSE!"
"I'm pretty sure that's the intended reaction they want out of you," Nick smirked back up to the TV. "This guy is so over-the-top boring that it makes you root for the other guy. Who is, to be fair, kind of a loser."
"But he's such an earnest and sweet loser..." Judy pined, grumbling as if the world had done her a great injustice.
"It's funny to me how mismatched the two red pandas are," Nick chuckled. "Despite being the same species and all."
"Yeah, I guess," Judy grunted. "She better ditch Resasuke soon..."
An episode or two later, and Judy let out a relaxed sigh, performing an abrupt flop mostly to her side onto Nick. He took in a shallow breath at this and his heart rate accelerated, but it wasn't the most surprising thing to him.
He'd been reading up on the internet on some bunny traits that he wasn't previously aware of. Sudden bunny flops could be alarming at first glance, he'd read, but they were a sign that a bunny was totally comfortable and content. Since Judy wasn't watching, Nick allowed himself a satisfied smile. It was nice knowing she felt that way around him.
Nick also realized he'd have to toss his computer out of a window if Judy ever got anywhere close to his search history. Nick's face scrunched up a bit as he considered this.
How to make a bunny happy.
Species traits, bunny.
Where on a bunny is sensitive?
Physical bunny tells.
That would be murder for his self-confidence if that was found out. Not to mention the searches had brought him to some sites he stayed quite some time on. Bunnies were quite pleasing to the eye.
Of course, it wasn't like Nick would invite Judy to his dingy, leaky apartment anyway. Honestly, he'd rather just stay at Judy's place. And he did, from time to time. It was a great place. The clean smell, and the bunny smell, well, they provided the most "home" feeling Nick had felt in a long time.
But ultimately, nothing compared to the feeling of a warm, happy gray bunny with her purple eyes mostly shut laying against the fox. Okay, and now that he noticed her shifting, she was actually laying fully against him, nestled in as if burrowed against him. Nick couldn't imagine Judy as being a napper, but she did look super comfortable.
After a short, blissful eternity, he felt it.
Little bunny paws massaging and rubbing against his chest.
He coughed out a smile.
"Whoa, okay!" The fox chuckled out nervously, his own lax position straightening up. "So, this is where we are, huh? Just um- rubbing the chest now, huh?"
Judy jerked as if someone had given her a static shock. She sat up in his lap, facing him. "Whu-what?"
"I felt those little paws on my chest," Nick pointed at her with a slightly accusing grin. "Getting a little comfy, huh? Or just fluffing your friend up for a nap?"
"I- uh..." Judy's face read mild alarm. "I didn't mean..."
"Just want to know what sort of rule book we're playing with here," Nick motioned between the two. "Because- y'know, to be honest... I've always wanted to try a few things with those ears of yours."
"My ears...?" Said ears went back, and Judy looked like she was having trouble keeping up with Nick's verbal barrage. "Wh-what do you want to do with my ears?"
"Well, pet them, for a start," Nick laughed flippantly. "I mean, what did you think I meant?" He gently poked her forehead. "What's going on in that little mind up there?"
Judy's nose started to twitch, making Nick's eyes go wide. She pushed off of him, getting off of the couch, staring blankly at a wall as if lost.
"...Judy?"
"Nick... um..." her nose started to twitch faster. "Could you... go...?"
He felt a phantom claw grip all the way around his chest. "Go? ...Leave?"
"Yeah," Judy gripped her arm with her paw, looking away. "Just... I think I need some time alone."
"Uh, right," Nick shot up from the couch immediately, starting to make his way from the door. In his suddenly compliant scramble, he almost forgot his wallet and keys. He stopped near the door. "Yeah, s-see you."
"Bye..." The bunny's voice was barely audible.
Turning his head from the bunny, Nick's ears went back and his muzzle scrunched as he exited, shutting the door behind him. His brain running wildly, he even somehow remembered to lock her own door behind him, with the key she had given him. Just that object of complete trust and the insinuation that he was welcome any time. He snarled and gripped the key until it physically hurt, then shoved it in his pocket and walked away heavily.
He'd done it. He knew he would. His fear got the better of him; made him push back against the happiest feelings he'd ever felt. He'd crossed some sort of line without even knowing where it was drawn. It was so like him.
"It's like I haven't learned anything," Nick muttered to himself, paws in his pockets as he came out of Judy's apartment building. "Not a thing."
Tomorrow was going to be awkward.
The next day was dreary and raining, as Nick figured it would be. The fox grumpily put his umbrella in a bag and rushed on into the lobby. Clawhauser instantly read Nick's uneven mood on his approach to the bullpen. The sour fox slowed down as he caught Clawhauser's head tracking him.
"Morning, Officer Wilde," Clawhauser said with trepidation. "Everything okay...?"
Nick instantly snapped around and thrust a forefinger at the cheetah. His mouth opened as if to bark something out, but no sound came out.
"Actually, you know what?" Nick quickly deflated into a congenial mood, walking up to lean on Clawhauser's desk. "I think I know what the problem is. Figuring stuff out. Knowing too much. You know that saying, 'ignorance is bliss'? Starting to think it's true. I mean, I was much happier when I had the question 'what if' than the answer being 'probably not'."
"Nick..." Clawhauser blinked. "What's wrong...?"
"Oh, nothing," Nick's eyes narrowed viciously, though his voice maintained an eerie pleasantness. "It's just- you know, it's really something to try to challenge your best friend's worldview until it finally leads them to an answer they probably didn't want."
Clawhauser swallowed, looking very uneasy. Chief Bogo walked over, in an unusually soft mood. He placed his hand on Clawhauser's shoulder, the buffalo briefly getting the cheetah to look up at him.
"Clawhauser..." Chief Bogo said slowly. "Good job yesterday." He barely cast a glance at the fox, who was very surprised by these words. Bogo never just gave out praise. "Wilde, don't be late. Roll call's in five minutes."
"Yeah..." Nick responded blankly.
The large tigress Fangmeyer was next. She rushed up to Clawhauser's desk, sincerity and alarm in her eyes.
"Ben...!" She called out. "About yesterday, thank you so much... I just..." she snarled, "I didn't know what to- even though I'm a big cat. The biggest. I was so worried. Thank you."
"It's okay, Kristen," Clawhauser barely smiled. "You know the saying... 'serve and protect'."
"Yes, protect, YES," Fangmeyer pointed at him solidly and nodded, taking a steadying breath before heading to the bullpen.
"Ben, what... what happened yesterday?" Nick's eyes were wide. "What'd I miss on our day off?"
"Oh, just a... bit of a situation," Clawhauser appeared distant. "A 10-56A. Just happened to be at the right place at the right time... able to give Fangmeyer a bit of an assist."
"...Rea- really...?" Nick's jaw dropped.
"It might have helped that she was a cheetah," Clawhauser gave a soft smile. "We're known to be anxious animals lots of times. I- it may have helped her that I knew what it felt like to be in that situation. To think there's no hope, you know?"
Nick blinked. "Wow... well that's the fastest I've ever been proven wrong."
"About what?" Clawhauser tilted his head.
"Listen, I gotta get to roll call," Nick waved him off. "But yeah, we definitely got to get together some time."
"You wanna stop for coffee?" Judy asked Nick in their cruiser.
"Mm," Nick was noncommittal, distant, thinking about what must have happened yesterday with Clawhauser. Rain trickled down his window and made plinks on the roof.
Judy pulled into their usual coffee shop and cut the engine. For half a minute, the only sound was of the rain on the roof. Judy then abruptly left the cruiser, catching Nick's attention.
"Wait, you're gonna-" Nick started. He meant to end it "get wet", but didn't have time before the door slammed. Within another two seconds he was out of the car as well, halfheartedly guarding himself with his paws from the rain as the two got into the cafe. Judy noticed him, her ears down, and held the door open for him.
Before long, the two were staring at their coffees, not each other, while sitting at a table.
"Listen, Nick..." Judy started. She seemed to inwardly scold herself, and only flicked her eyes up to Nick momentarily. "I'm... sorry about yesterday. I was a jerk. Again."
Nick blinked, though he felt like he was being crushed by his nerves. "No it's... it's okay." Nick tried not to notice how despondent Judy looked. The fox barked out a single, halfhearted "heh". "Y'know, it's... you can't- some mammals just aren't attracted to other species. I get it."
Judy stared up at him, immediately baffled. "What?"
"You know, I just thought it was ironic of the choice of media we were watching," Nick let out another little chuckle, though it pained him to do so. "Y'know, you rooting so much for the hyena for the red panda."
"Nick... what do you think this is about...?" Judy sipped from her coffee gently.
"Uh..." Nick was taken aback for once. "Me... teasing you? About petting your ears?"
Judy's sadness turned into a kind of pity, and she barely smiled. "I'm glad I'm not the only dumb one."
"Kh-Care to fill me in?" Nick's eyebrow raised.
"Look... I..." Judy brushed one of her ears over her shoulder, taking another sip of coffee. "I'd... just never thought about it, I guess. About 'us'. ...I never really thought about where it was going, y'know?" She shook her head as if in disbelief. "Gosh, I feel like I could have been at the altar with you and not realized it..."
Nick's eyes flew open. "...Ph-pardon?"
"Y'know... how close we're getting," Judy gave a very shy smile up at Nick, which while winsome was very uncharacteristic. "I never really... I dunno."
"If it won't work, it won't work," Nick shook his head. He took a sip of coffee to hide the lump in his throat, then flinched. "Mmph! Pleh!" He smacked his jowls. "Yuck! Is this black!?" He held up his cup and looked at it in something like mild panic.
Judy laughed lightly. "Sorry, my mind was somewhere else. ...I do know how you like it." She rolled her eyes. "Sweet as your partner."
"Mhm," Nick said, trying not to let any of his coffee's bitterness into his own heart.
"Nick, am I an idiot for not seeing it?" Judy frowned.
"No, not exactly," Nick said, dumping sugar and cream into his coffee. "If anything, I was just wondering how long we could surf by on 'just best friends' until some sort of barrier was breached. And... to be honest, I dunno if I was in any hurry to get there."
"'Just' best friends..." Judy's ears perked up. "I wouldn't say that lightly. To be a bunny best friend is a really special thing. Think of how many animals bunnies know, Nick..."
Nick shrugged and nodded, taking a sip of his dolled up beverage. "Ah... better."
"All my life, I've known exactly what I wanted," Judy said, looking half-away. "I've been so sure about my direction. There was never any question or doubt."
"Ah, but the possibility of something like this," Nick gestured between them, "changed your mind, huh?"
"It scared me."
"SCARED you?" Nick almost looked hurt. "After everything we've..." He gestured with his free paw, looking like words wouldn't come to him.
"Not you, Nick," Judy shook her head, holding up a paw in caution. "You don't scare me. ...What scared me was discovering I wanted something so much without... 'knowing' it. Like there's still some part of me I'm hiding from myself."
Nick didn't have a snappy response.
"Like..." Judy chewed on her lip, looking guiltily up at Nick. "Like the part that kind of really wants a fox boyfriend, probably...?"
Nick laughed tersely, then broke into a long chuckle. "That's definitely a different look on you..."
"What...?" Judy joined in the laughter slowly.
"Hesitation," Nick smiled widely. "I dunno, it's kind of charming. You know I'm much less dangerous than running into a building full of stampeding mammals."
"But with you... I dunno how to say it, Nick," Judy chuckled meekly. "You're more... complicated than that. You're not a problem to be solved... you're a person to be enjoyed. I guess I was just worried how much I'd enjoy you..."
"Listen, if this is about the interspecies thing..." Nick held up both paws.
"It's not, it's just about me and you... and... smooches and stuff," Judy's head bobbed down to her coffee. "Gah... can I get any more schoolgirlish?"
"Well, none of my high school flames went anywhere," Nick smirked. "But then... I think you're more of a... 'wilde'fire."
"Nick..." Judy stared up at him. "That was the sappiest thing I've ever heard you say."
"Give it time," Nick winked. "I'm sure I can come up with worse."
Judy broke out into a pure smile that combined relief and fondness. "So... we're okay?"
"Y'know, it does make me wonder what you were thinking about with the whole 'bunny ear' thing..." Nick tapped on his chin.
"Nick, stop...!" Judy slunk down in her chair, leaning her head back.
"What would happen if I Zoogle 'bunny ear tricks', I wonder...?" Nick held up his phone menacingly.
Judy's teeth flashed in alarm. "In public...!?"
Nick laughed; he hadn't even unlocked his phone.
Judy groaned, holding her head in her hands.
"I'd say we're good," Nick gave a smirking sigh that was full of contentment and relaxation. "Probably heading to 'great'. Even 'fantastic'."
Judy peeked out of her hands and smiled at him. "Yeah. I guess with you that trip is gonna be a 'wilde' ride."
Nick rolled his eyes. "Judy, I just made that joke. You can't make it right after."
They laughed. It was the type of cathartic laughter that comes from narrowly avoiding a crisis, and with a hope for the future. Nick offered his coffee cup and Judy mooshed her own styrofoam cup against it. They took long sips.
"Still don't know how you can drink it black."
"You put in more sugar than a candy bar has."
"I like my drink pleasant."
"Yeah, well I like MINE to kick me into alertness!"
It was still raining, though neither of them cared.