HUSTLE
An alternate version for the first meet-up with Nick and how he continues to hustle Judy's heart.
Note: It's basically a different universe for the movie's events.
I do not own Zootopia.
- O – O – O – O – O – O –
Judy had to hurry back to her room, dump all the random things inside her room, stuff a raw carrot in her mouth and run back to the ZPD building for the remainder of her lunch break.
It was totally not a good start for her first day supposedly as a cop and it seemed to be a terrible sign for days to come. Things did not help when she constantly remembered the thin smirk plastered on a certain fox's face.
"It's Nick. Nicholas Wilde."
"Officer Judy Hopps, reporting. 200 tickets done before the afternoon shift," Judy emphasized, standing firm and as tall as she could get.
"Great," grunted Chief Bogo as he lowered his glasses the slightest bit, looking away from the papers on his desk for less than three seconds. "You got 5 more hours for this afternoon."
"Sir, isn't it the afternoon shift?"
"So?"
"Iiiiii-" drawled the bunny. "I'm pretty sure I can provide help for other jobs inside the department?"
"No. You're not needed. Dismissed."
Judy opened her mouth but stopped herself, thinking that further prodding might earn her some punishment, as unfair the situation already was.
The rest of the stay in the building failed to provide any brighter respite, with the only positive thing being Clawhauser offering her a donut.
She had no choice but to continue the meter maid business.
The sour looks she was given did not help her condition.
It felt like everything was bent to give her a bad time.
Getting another set of 200 tickets would have made her feel proud and all if not for her rising pessimism.
Judy decided to give herself a very short break, seating herself on her vehicle.
She then knocked her head on the steering wheel and mumbled to herself.
"I am a real cop. I am a real cop. I am a real cop."
Almost like it was a mantra.
"Meter maid. Meter maid. Meter maid."
Judy frowned.
Since entering Zootopia, no animal - except Clawhauser - had presented themselves as friendly to her yet.
Plus, it was not just any cheerful call.
She looked up, confirming her thoughts about the statement being actually an insult.
"What are you doing here?" Judy's frown deepened and inspected the fox's figure.
"Isn't it a very nice day?" The fox taunted, walking in an exaggerated manner in his position. "Boy, I sure do feel alive!"
"Whatever it is, Sir Nick, let a bunny have her rest."
"Oh, but you're on your job. Your lunch break was over. What if I report you right now of being lazy?" The smile on his face deepened the longer he continued his snide remarks.
"Argh! If you-" Judy jumped off her vehicle and pointed a finger at his chest. "If only I could choke you with tickets!"
"Please, I wouldn't like that!" Nick raised his hands as if afraid.
"Don't you have anything better to do than to mock me?"
"Mock you?" The fox raised his eyebrows as if he heard a senseless comment. "I am just saving you from punishment."
Judy's eyes narrowed in disbelief but Nick quickly elaborated.
"Behind you on your right… Now, now-" Nick snapped his fingers before her. "Do not look. A rhino called officer McHorn seems to be keeping an eye on our little fluff since ten minutes ago."
"How did you know his na-"
"Now, look at my face."
"What?"
"Do it. I won't bite you."
Judy did just as she was told, as if hypnotized.
That was when she realized she never actually had focused on a fox's face since the Gideon incident in her childhood.
Seeing a more mature face on a fox… the eyebrows and the snout offered an even personality along with the smooth blending of different hue of colors for his fur looked enchanting, as it was distinguished from the deep green of his eyes which strangely resembled dark emerald.
Not that she had ever seen one. Her numerous aunts did talk a lot about family jewelry but most of those were kept hidden to avoid the younger parts of the family to break stuff or make a mess.
Still, it was captivating enough to-
"Oh great, we got an absent-minded meter maid. That won't help you with the job."
Judy blinked, shaking her head.
"Great. That helped clear my mind a bit."
"You- what?" Nick gave her a look as if he was thinking she was getting mad.
"I'm not kidding. Now, while I'm in a good mood…" Judy looked at his face again. "What were you saying again?"
Nick rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Keep your eyes on me but take a peek behind me."
"What?"
"Acting! Do it as if you're talking to me about a suspicious activity."
"I don't-"
"Behind me are Officers Francine and Fangmeyer. That's three sets of eyes looking at you. You get what I'm saying?"
"What… How'd you know their na-" Judy's voice faded as she recognized the figurea of the elephant and the tiger just behind the fox's face. "What are they doing? How about their jobs?"
"In case you didn't know, your Chief Bogo is doing everything in his power to fire you from your job."
Nick took Judy's speechlessness as a chance to continue speaking. "He doesn't want a bunny cop. It's a bad image for the – ehem – Zoophobia Purist Departure. I mean, what's a rabbit gonna do in a world of brawling and prejudice?"
Judy gave him a scowl. "Uhm, it's Zootopia Police Department and I'll have you know that I graduated valedic-"
"How will being a valedictorian help a bunny like you?" Nick paused to let the question sink in, but not long enough to make her answer. "Will it change everyone's general mindset on cute and small bunnies? No."
"Do not call me cute. And as far as this is going, you're just harassing me and I surely can report you."
"To whom?" Nick raised an eyebrow. "To those guys who are watching you closely so that they may get you fired soon and use you as a means of getting a raise?"
"How…" Judy repeatedly opened and closed her mouth, unable to speak straightforward, and looked down in shame.
Nick grunted in disapproval. "No, no, no. Fluff, keep looking at me."
Judy followed, a little unwillingly and found herself staring back at green eyes yet again.
"You get what I am saying now?" the fox asked, giving her a grim look.
"What are you doing to me? Why do you keep targeting me?" Judy blurted out, immediately regretting how terrible she sounded. She was starting to feel so disappointed, with what… or who, she was not sure; but it did not feel good.
"Okay, here's the thing. I got good news and bad news for you. Good news…" Nick glanced behind him. "They're not really watchingyou. I made it all up."
Before Judy got to fully process it with a shocked and growing frown, the fox continued with an amused smile. "Bad news: ticket is up for your vehicle. Plus, that's half an hour off your job time wasted."
"Wh-what?! Yo- you liar!" Judy stuttered, feeling dumber and dumber the more seconds passed. "Does it make you feel good doing this?!"
"It does. One hundred percent."
Nick was already walking away when Judy called him to stop.
The red fox only raised a dismissive hand, saying, "Don't go following me. Aren't you aiming for more tickets? I gave you one. Oh, you're really one cute meter maid."
As hurt and conflicted as she was feeling, Judy shook her head and shaped her mindset.
She realized bitterly there was a shred of truth in the fox's words. Still…
Yet again, Judy fell for the fox's tricks.
Yet again, she immediately regretted trusting the fox.
It would never happen again.
