Chapter 30 Masquerade Part I
Edited by Euphonemes
AN: For the tango scene in this story, the song that is played is called La Cumparsita. I know it wasn't written until 1917, however, I like the song too much and this is my AU so there! XD
Also, special thanks to Koraru-san for allowing me to use Eliot and Chloe Fanghanel. I hope you enjoy them in here! :D
An air of nervous anticipation hung between the two mammals as the magnificent pedal powered vehicle traveled towards its destination. Judy had already marveled at the device when the fox had led her outside Weidii's inn. As soon as she saw the vehicle, she ran towards it, running her paw over the sleek wooden finish that was as smooth as silk. Not minding the chuckling behind her, she jumped up onto the step board with a finesse that most mammals could only envy then leapt gracefully into the vehicle.
Though to be fair, the fox did stare at the lithe bunny jumping into the vehicle, his jaw nearly dropping as her dress fluttered up to show her toned calves, though thankfully didn't go past her knees. He tugged at his collar, suddenly feeling quite warm as his mind began to wander up and...
Stop it Wilde! Nick was about to slap himself to get his mind under control when a sharp cry of joy caught his attention.
Looking up, he saw Judy with her mouth open, paws placed over them and the happiest look in her eyes.
"This is a Molesmobile?" Judy squealed in delight. "They are the leading carriage makers in the world Nicholas! How did you even manage to purchase one and transfer it over from Moowaukee to here? Especially a custom-made one like this?"
Nick laughed, ready to answer when Judy gasped and jumped over the seat, opening a compartment on the back, revealing a hidden rumble seat.
It took several minutes for Judy to explore the vehicle in its most minute detail. Everything from the softness of the upholstery to the polished finish of the lacquered wood didn't go unnoticed. Even the large watch built into the paneling behind the wheel elicited a new gasp that was music to Nick's ears.
"Nick, this is so amazing!" she said finally turning towards him. "I can't believe you have one of these and...what?"
Nick was laughing deeply now, covering his muzzle with his paw as best he could. It wasn't until Judy realized that she had literally been bouncing around his car like a...well, sugar-crazed kit...that her ears flopped behind her, their insides turning a bright pink.
Judy rubbed her shoulder nervously, realizing just how much fur she was showing. Wrapping both paws around herself, she sunk into the seat until she nearly disappeared from view.
"Sorry," she murmured. "I have read about these and...I shouldn't have acted like a dumb bunny."
"It's alright mi amor," Nick replied, grinning when he saw her ears shoot up at the affectionate title and tone he used. He walked towards her as she raised her head over the side, both pairs of eyes meeting in a loving gaze. Nick gently placed a paw under her chin, his thumb tenderly massaging her cheek. Judy hummed, leaning into his paw until she felt his lips connect with hers. Instantly, she was pulled into the kiss, the world forgotten and mind slowed by the blissful feelings of love and affection towards him at that moment.
It ended too quickly for either of them; Judy leaned towards him as they broke apart. But Nick had one more surprise for Judy.
"Would you care to drive?" he asked with a sly smile and wink.
A squeal of pure ecstasy tore through the early evening air of Zootopia.
"YES!"
Weidii winced at the shrill cry of joy from the bunny, though she chuckled to herself at how Judy was bouncing up and down in anticipation of driving the buggy.
If she is this excited about driving an overpriced cart, I wonder how she'd take Nicholas proposing to her. The thought had her snickering out loud as she watched the fox recover from Judy's outburst.
Nick walked around to the other side of the vehicle then hopped inside. He offered a brief explanation of how to pedal the vehicle and steer it where she wanted to go. Judy nodded and hung off of every word.
"Are you ready to drive, Señorita Hopps?'
She nodded once, her excitement palpable in the air around them. "Absolutely."
"Alright then," Nick turned to where Weidii was leaning against a pole. "Are you coming?" Nick patted the rumble seat in the back, waggling his eyebrows.
Weidii shook her head, remembering the last time she had sat in the extra seat. "Beats walking though," she told herself as she walked over to the vehicle. Just as she was sitting down, she fell into the seat as the vehicle jerked forward. Muttering a quick curse, she rearranged herself in the seat as Judy Hopps tore through the streets of Zootopia like a mad-mammal.
Page Break
Nick's legs wobbled as he shuffled from the sideboard of the car to the ground, grasping the car for support. He shook his head at the energetic bunny still bouncing in the driver's seat.
"Carrots, I don't know how we managed to arrive here alive and well, but I think we should leave the driving to me, no?"
Judy tilted her head. "What was wrong with my driving?"
"Everything," an exasperated Weidii pronounced. Both fox and bunny turned to see the disheveled feline, fur standing on edge and whiskers twitching. Looking back at Nick, Judy saw the fox point his thumb towards the margay and nod in agreement.
"What she said," he replied.
"It wasn't that bad," Judy shot back with a huff, folding her paws across her chest. "I didn't hit anything or anyone on the way here, so why the fuss?"
Nick raised his paw, readying a retort before second-guessing his decision. Instead, he dropped his arm and walked around to the side of the pedal-carriage and offered the rabbit his arm. Smiling, Judy took it, hopping out of the cart with a giggle.
"Such a gentlefox."
"Always for you," Nick replied to the blushing bunny. "Now, before we enjoy the evening, there is one last thing we both need." Reaching across Judy, the fox flipped open a compartment nestled in the front board. With the height of the carriage blocking her view, all Judy could do was wait in nervous anticipation.
"Now, close your eyes."
Judy let out a low whine. "Niiick..."
"Please?" he asked with a grin.
"Fine..." Judy drawled.
"Now, put out your paws." Judy did as asked and put her paws out in front of her. A moment later she felt a light weight placed upon them.
"Okay, open your eyes and see the final part of your outfit."
As instructed, Judy opened her eyes and couldn't contain her gasp. There in her paws lay an intricately designed, paw-crafted platinum colored mask with golden trim. Rubbing a paw over the fabric, she noticed the finely stitched lace that ran around the outline of the mask.
"Oh Nick...this is beautiful."
"The grey reminded me of your fur color while the gold reminded me of the purity of your heart," Nick said after a while of Judy admiring it.
Judy felt the sudden urge to let Nick know how much she appreciated the gift by kissing him senseless, but she somehow managed to restrain herself. Instead, she opted to place a chaste kiss upon his cheek.
"Thank you," she supplied, still marveling over the gift. "Though if this is a masquerade, then what will you be wearing?"
"Me?" Nick chuckled and produced a nearly identical mask, though instead of a light grey, his was jet black with golden trim. "I figured I'd have a color that matches the night. Something mysterious yet tantalizing for the mysteries that hide behind it..."
Judy grinned, folding her arms across her chest. "Are you sure it isn't because it matches your tail?"
The short burst of laughter from Nick preceded her answer. "Yes, that was actually the reason why," he snickered. "I just thought the other reason sounded better."
"Well then," Judy waltzed forward with as sultry a gaze as possible. Her tactic worked as Nick's eyes were completely focused upon the bunny leaning into his chest. "I guess if it is a reminder of you then...I should have it."
With a quick snatch, Judy took Nick's mask out of his paw and replaced it with hers.
"What, why?" Nick stammered, stunned at what Judy had done. "I thought you loved the mask?"
"I do," she replied, hugging the black and gold mask to her chest. "However, with all the mammals at the party, if we happen to become separated, I wouldn't mind having something to remind me of you at all times." Her ears began to droop behind her as she sheepishly added. "And wouldn't mind knowing you carried a token of me as well."
The fear retreated from Nick's mind, and love blossomed in its wake. Kneeling, he cupped Judy's paws in one of his. "Judy Hopps, I would be honored to." With his other paw, he affixed his new mask. Grinning, he reached forward and took his black mask from Judy's paw and placed it upon the rabbit. His paw intentionally slipped from the mask and caressed her cheek. Just as they began leaning forward, eyes closing as the distance shrank between their lips, a loud 'ahem' startled them from their almost-kiss.
"So, now that I've had enough sweetness to last me several days, we get to the party, no?" Weidii growled. Despite her tone, her amused smile wasn't lost to either mammal. Both of them frowned at knowing the feline had purposely interrupted their moment.
Don't think I'll let you off the hook for that Weidii...Judy thought, her mind already devising ways to get back at the margay for her interruption.
"Let us be off then," Nick said with a wave of his paw. Clasping Judy's paw, he led the group up towards his mansion as one of Nick's servants went to move the car back into the carriage house.
The threesome approached the manor, and the sound of music swelled as they neared. Nick led them around the side of the home as Judy marveled at the decorations placed everywhere.
"Isn't it inside?" she asked. From her very limited experience, most balls and fancy masquerades were held inside.
"Inside a stuffy mansion?" Nick laughed and shook his head. "It would do no good to hold a dance in that repressive environment. No...tonight's festivities are outside." Timing his comments perfectly, the three rounded the outside of the manor and were greeted by a wave of sound and wonder. Candles hanging beneath delicate paper balloons floated above trellises decorated with ivy and roses. The side yard of the Wilde estate had been transformed into a wonderland of light and beauty. Dozens upon dozens of mammals were already in attendance, milling about and speaking with one another.
"Why hold a party inside, when outside is far more beautiful, no?"
Judy couldn't help but nod her head in agreement as she began again to walk forward while admiring her surroundings. A stage just off the veranda created the music, a band playing a soft classical song. Goatzart, Judy recognized as she turned to take in more of the party. Many mammals ambling about or speaking in small groups were ones she recognized from her patrols around town while others, like the white wolf speed-walking towards them...
"Nick! How have you been?!"
The fox turned to the sound of the voice as a white blur rushed in front of Judy and then grabbed the fox, lifting him into a massive bear hug.
"Missed you too, Don Fanghanel," Nick replied, groaning at how tightly the wolf was squeezing him. "Now please put me down."
"No. I haven't finished hugging my favorite fox yet," the Don replied.
"Eliot, put him down, please."
The white wolf's ears perked and a goofy smile etched itself onto his muzzle.
"Anything for you, Pumpkin."
Nick was dropped instantly, and he would have landed on his tail had Judy not caught him. Turning towards the second voice, while trying to ignore the creeping blush from how close hers and Nick's lips were, Judy noticed a graceful and elegantly dressed Tasmanian tiger approaching them. Judy smiled as the white wolf bounded over to mammal's side, a pleasurable grin upon his muzzle as he tenderly pulled her paw up to place a kiss upon it.
"Don Wilde, it is a pleasure to meet you once more, albeit under less awkward circumstances." She flashed a glance at the wolf who grinned nervously.
"Señora Fanghanel, always a pleasure," Nick greeted. Bowing low, he also took her paw, but at the low growl from the wolf, refrained from the accompanying kiss. "And Don Fanghanel. Seems you are as active in your love of Chloe here as always."
"You can't have her, Nicholas," the canine replied, hugging his wife close as she rolled her eyes and patted his chest.
Nick shook his head. "I'm not in the market for that."
Eliot let out a sigh. "Nick, every time I see you, I've told you that you can't keep pining away for...her..." The wolf's monologue tapered off as he noticed Nick's arm wrap around the previously unnoticed Judy.
"Wait. Do you mean?"
Nick nodded, sparing a glance downwards to shoot Judy a loving, tender smile. One the rabbit reciprocated along with a squeeze of his paw.
Both fox and rabbit suddenly found themselves enveloped in a massive hug, both crushed as a massive 'Awwwww' filled the garden area.
"I think Sergeant Clawhauser has a rival for hugs," Judy gasped, both at the suddenness of the wolf's hug and how she was being pressed into Nick's chest. She definitely enjoyed the close contact, but the crushing hug dampened the mood.
"Eliot! Lobo Malo! Put them down! Softly this time!"
The two mammals were lowered to the ground, though that didn't stop the excitable Don. "Oh, when did this happen! How did you manage to woo her? You two look so cute together!" Judy brandished a frown at that statement but did not interrupt the Don. "When is the marriage date? Can I be your best mammal? Can I-"
Eliot let out a yelp as his wife pulled him away from Nick and Judy. "It was a pleasure meeting you again, Nicholas, and you..."
"Capit..." Judy began with pride before, with shoulders slightly slumping, finished with, "Judy Hopps, Señora."
The Tasmanian tiger smiled. "That is a lovely name for a beautiful bunny. You surely outshine Nicholas in every way."
Judy managed to giggle as Nick huffed, though the glint in his eyes betrayed his amusement at the statement.
"Now, if you excuse me, I have a wolf I need to teach some manners."
As the Don and his wife walked off towards a secluded table, the wolf apologizing the entire way, Judy leaned towards Nick. "So...who were they?"
"Don Eliot Fanghanel and his wife, Señora Chloe. They live a few miles to the north of Zootopia but rarely come into the city," Nick replied. "I've known Eliot since we were children."
"They seem nice," Judy exclaimed, laughing when she saw the wolf being chastised by his wife. With her excellent hearing, she could hear snippets of the conversation. "Though I wasn't expecting a Don to be so..."
"Excitable?"
"Yes, exactly."
Nick greeted Judy's warm smile with his own. The band was midway through a waltz, the music serenading the guests and bringing a warm feeling into her heart. She sighed as she leaned into Nick's side. "I like them."
"I'll invite them to dinner sometime," Nick offered. His gaze caught Judy's and he winked. "But only if a certain bunny I know would come as the guest of honor."
"I think I'd like that," she replied. The moment felt perfect. The rising moon cast a pale glow over the party while the music, which switched to a tango, was inviting and mesmerizing. Though at the moment, Judy couldn't help looking up into Nick's eyes. She saw him beginning to lean down, her eyes closing in expectation of a kiss as she raised up on her hind paws. To her surprise, their cheeks brushed as he whispered in her ear.
"Would you care to dance?" he whispered, his breath tickling the inside of her ear. She shuddered at the sensation.
Stupid, sly, handsome fox...she grumbled as he pulled away. She knew better than to acknowledge his taunt. With a grin, she slid a foot toward the dance floor. "Think you can keep up with a bunny?
"Is that a challenge?" came his reply. Pulling him down by his cravat, it was Judy's turn to torment her date for the night as she brushed her cheek against his and took the opportunity to whisper into his ear.
"Whoever leaves the other breathless gets a kiss." His eyes widened as Judy placed a kiss upon his cheek.
"Prepare to be kissed then, Señorita Hopps."
The two quickly made their way to the dance floor as the tango picked up its tempo. They took each other's paw, entwining their fingers of one paw while placing the other low on the other's back. Nick was impressed as he led Judy through several beginning steps, unsure of how skilled the rabbit officer was at dancing.
"You know, I don't think you know how to dance, Nick."
Her comment, laced with sauciness, struck right through his defenses and wounded his pride. The smirk she held as he dipped her had him form a growl deep within his throat.
So you think you can dance, Judy? We'll see who's the better dancer...
Nick was certain of victory as he pulled Judy from the dip, straight into a series of spins. Breaking from the spin, he pulled her flush against his body with both his paws coming to rest just above her tail. Leaning her backwards, he let his muzzle trace a line down her cheek as she turned her head to the side, relishing the moment. He smiled as Judy closed her eyes at the touch of his muzzle against her neck. He was grateful that she was enjoying the dance as much as he was. Pulling her closer as he brought her up from the dip, he led her into a series of walks and turns, trying his best to surprise the doe.
Yet to his own astonishment, not only was Judy keeping up with him, but she seemed to know ahead of time what he was planning. When he began a le caliceta, quickly circling the doe, she surprised him by spinning around completely within his own turn. Her dress billowed outwards, eliciting a series of oohs from the crowd of mammals watching the two dance.
As both mammals came to a halt, Judy ended up with her back pressed against his chest. Purring softly, Judy rubbed her shoulder into Nick's chest, sensually lowering herself down his front and pressing herself into him. She knew she was getting a response from him as his paws more tightly gripped her waist when she repeated the action going up. She felt his heartbeat quicken, but it wasn't until her tail flicked against him that he visibly stumbled.
Yet Judy expertly handled it by pulling him immediately into a planeos, spinning him around her until they were facing each other once more. Nick caught Judy's scent, his mind momentarily fluttering at the intoxicating aroma she was giving off. Just in the middle of closing his eyes, enjoying the distinct smell that was Judy, she caught him off guard as she pressed herself flush against his body, her left leg wrapped around his.
Judy listened as Nick's breath caught in his throat. Sliding her leg down his, she felt him rocking into her, a rumbling, possessive growl in his chest. Tipping her head back in time with the music, she gasped as she found herself suddenly nuzzled, Nick placing sensual kisses along her exposed throat.
Nick grinned as he felt the shudder flow through the bunny from his surprise kisses. As Judy raised her head once more, their gazes met. With the music's tempo quickening, he caught the flicker of desire in her eyes as their dance began anew.
Together the two twisted and turned, dancing to the rhythm while their bodies blended together as they danced across the floor. Each tried to outdo the other, yet their movements were harmonized nearly perfectly. Each press of her body into his was reciprocated by a paw inching its way down her back. Every time Nick twirled the bunny out, the billowing of her dress and the way she grinned devilishly at him left him mesmerized and wanting more. Their back-and-forth entranced the crowd as the hearts of fox and rabbit beat as one.
The song crescendoed. Nick pulled Judy into another series of spins, leading into a final dip as the finale neared. His lips again traced a line of kisses down her throat. Judy wrapped a paw around his neck, her other paw reaching for his chest as he pulled her up from the dip. She pulled herself closer into his body until his scent washed over her. It drove her feelings of love to a breaking point, and she was almost ready to drag him off the dance floor and to the nearest unoccupied room to kiss him blind.
Yet the dance pushed to its finale. The two continued, battling for supremacy as Nick led Judy into a series of deeper dips, tighter spins and faster steps until the world around them became a blur, their vision wholly fixated upon each other. It wasn't until he pulled her out of a spin and directly into a dip did either realize the music had finished with them. Both were breathing hard, lips mere inches from each other, their bodies in such harmony that they looked to be melded together as one mammal of red and grey.
"So..." Nick stated, trying hard not to pant as they heard a round of applause starting up for them, led by none other than Eliot who was also awoo'ing quite loudly, much to the embarrassment of his wife. "Breathless yet?"
Judy smiled. "I think I'd need another dance to decide that."
Nick shook his head as he brought her up, not letting her move an inch from him. "Sly bunny."
"Hot fox," she chirped back in reply.
"You're making me work for this kiss, you know that, right?"
Judy leaned into his chest, resting her head just under his muzzle. His scent was overpowering now and it took all her willpower to not drag him into a kiss right then and there. "It will just make it all the more special when it happens."
Thankfully, the next song was quite a bit slower, allowing both mammals a breather as they gently swayed to the music. Judy soon found Nick's paw gently massaging her long ears which had fallen against her back, while his tail curled protectively around the both of them. The song soon came to an end, albeit too quickly for either mammal. Judy brought her head off of Nick's chest when they stopped swaying.
"Would you care for a drink?"
She nodded. Nick led her to an empty table across from the band, and he sauntered off towards the refreshments area set up near a side entrance to his manor. Catching herself watching his tail lazily waving back and forth, she turned to see the other mammals enjoying the gala. She was only able to recognize a few mammals from town, as the masks they wore hid their faces quite well.
Judy finally found Weidii, sharing a table with who she guessed was Finnick. The margay was laughing as Finnick signed a rather odd series of gestures. A few tables down from them, she found Eliot and Chloe, their paws entwined across the table as they stared lovingly into each other's eyes.
I wonder if Nick and I would ever be like that? Judy wondered. She shook her head at the thought, but couldn't shake the smile from her face. More mammals entered the masquerade as she spotted Nick at the punch table, smiling and laughing with a lion couple that, though dressed rather rough, seemed to be quite friendly with the Don. Looks like he really does know everybody.
She spotted a few cheetah couples wandering about, a lovely antelope couple, two cougars that seemed to have had too much to drink, an alluring white furred vixen chatting it up with several male red foxes, then...
"Sergeant Clawhauser?"
The words left her mouth as she spotted the hefty cheetah in his uniform. Turning his head, he soon spotted the bunny staring at him.
"Oh...my...goodness!" he squealed in excitement. "Capitán Hopps, you look positively divine!"
Judy smiled. "Thank you. Though not to seem rude, how are you here? The colors should have been taken down a half hour ago and—"
"Sergeant Clawhauser, how wonderful to see you, my friend!"
Turning, Judy saw Nick returning with two drinks in his paws, a wide smile on his muzzle as he greeted the cheetah. "I'm so glad you could come tonight. Is Valorie here with you?"
Clawhauser nodded. "She is indeed, though once she saw Weidii with Finnick she had to go over and say hello."
Nick found himself chuckling. "I think every secret Zootopia has to offer can be found with those two." The fox invited the cheetah to sit at their table before offering a drink to Judy. As she took the glass, Nick leaned forward and placed a kiss between her ears. Judy nearly dropped her cup as he let his lips linger in a rather sensitive spot at the base of her right ear.
Sweet peas and carrots does that feel amazing!
Judy opened her eyes to see him pulling away from her.
Not so fast, Slick. As he went to sit down next to her, she stood upon her seat, leaned forward, wrapped her arms around his neck and placed a kiss on his cheek. So close to the lines of his lips she could feel him beginning to smile. Finishing the kiss, Judy pulled away slowly, making sure to catch his eye.
"If you get a kiss, then I get a kiss, Nick."
"Awwwwwwwww!" Clawhauser cooed, bringing his paws up to cover his mouth. "You two are just so adorable!"
"I know, right?"
All three mammals turned to see Don Fanghanel hiding behind a rose bush, staring at the fox and bunny. The wolf grinned sheepishly, slowly lowering behind the bush until only his ears were seen. Judy groaned, plopping her head into her paws as she dropped her elbows onto the table. She felt like her ears were on fire from the blush that was furiously enveloping them.
She was in that position for only a few seconds when she felt a paw on her arm. Glancing out from behind her paws, she saw familiar russet-toned fur and a vulpine paw offered to her.
"I think I hear a song that was meant for us," he supplied. "And I know a certain artist who I've invited here tonight who would love to draw as lovely a mammal as yourself."
Finding herself smiling, Judy placed a paw in Nick's. As they stood, she paused to take a quick sip of her drink that he had brought for her.
"Alright, now I'm ready," she stated before allowing herself to be led to the dance floor once more.
AN: This is only part one. There is even more fun, fluff, and frivolity in the next chapter. Also, head over to Deviantart to see another amazing drawing that both YasminOliveira AND KungFuFreak07 drew for this masquerade. So go check that out on my DA page and prepare yourself for an even fluffier round 2 coming next week!
Also, thank you guys so much! This story is now at 103,000 words, 600 followers almost 500 favorites and over 800 reviews! I never thought this story would get like this. So thank you everyone for following this story and hopefully you'll continue to like it. :)