HUSTLE

An alternate version for the first meet-up with Nick and how he eventually gets Judy's heart, in one way or another.
Note: I altered Judy's room in her apartment to be on the first floor.

I do not own Zootopia.

- O – O – O – O – O – O -

Morning came, with the sun's rays easily penetrating through the window.
Judy opened it to let in some fresh air and checked the time in her phone with an already weary sigh.
"I'll show the Chief my worth today. I am a real cop."

The next moment, her bedroom walls literally shook and she had to pause to hear what the commotion over the thin walls was.
"Leave the meter maid alone!"
"You hear her?! I know she feels like a failure!"
"Oh, shut up!"
"You shut up!"
"YOU SHUT UP!"
The provided hanging picture frames in the room threateningly shuddered as if ready to drop and smash into a thousand pieces.
The landowner would definitely not like it.
"How'd you know she's a meter maid anyway?"

As much as Judy would appreciate if her neighbors altogether kindly shut their mouths, hearing the last question made her allow curiosity to get the better of herself as she leaned on to the farthest corner of her bed and pressed her ears to the walls.
"You never wonder what a cute bunny is doing in the heart of Zootopia?!"
"I'm not interested in her like you are!"
"She's a freaking bunny!"
"I know, so shut up!"
"Oh, you shut up!"

Listening to neighbors had never been so irritating and Judy waited impatiently for the actual matter to be discussed.
"You ever seen her in those meter maid stripes?"
"No, but I want to!"
"So, you're just assuming!"
"Dude, she's got a stalker! A fox at that!"
"Foxes can't be attracted by a bunny's whiff!"
"These two eyes saw that shifty lowlife!"
"That's a bad pair of eyes!"
"Oh, shut up!"

Judy rolled her eyes at the following repeated trade of unrestrained shouts. She was, however, perturbed upon hearing the mention of the red fox.
She had been right that he was up to something after all.

"He was trying to peek through her window!"
"Then what?"
"He tried for her door!"
"Then what?"
"He dropped a note inside!"
"Then what? Wait, he couldn't have just let you watch him do all that!"
"It's called snooping around!"
"You just wanted to stalk that bunny yourself!"
"Oh, shut up!"
"You shut up!"

Growing increasingly worried, Judy deemed the information enough and frowned as she scanned her room for aforementioned note.
Right under her hanging set of clothes, the piece of paper was clear for her eyes to see.
She tried not to listen to her neighbors argue about her assets as she read the poorly scribbled message.

"Afternoon. Meet me by the Frozen Yakgurt in front of the cinema. I'm sure you can spare some time from the meter maid business. "

Everything about the memo screamed of a trap, yet a tingling feeling in the back of her mind told her she could not just ignore the fox.
He would certainly still loom around until he was satisfied, whatever his intentions were.
Judy figured she did not have much choice and quickly donned her police uniform.
"Stay positive," Judy muttered to herself as she adjusted her top.

Apparently, she was heard by her neighbors when one of them gave a brash reply.
"Yeah, have a nice day of work!

X

If there was anything Judy was thankful for with being a meter maid, it was the help it offered in making her remember the city's landmarks. Still, it was strictly the only positive thing she could think of it.
The cinema was an easy find and with the fox's note, with the Frozen Yakgurt presenting itself proudly beside a floral shop.

She felt terrible for feeling an ounce of pride in her achievement of getting 300 tickets before noon, but it was currently the best she could do in her state.
It was not like the red fox would be amused by it either.
Before any more negative thoughts came to drag her down, she entered the diner discreetly.

Judy was impressed.
The small restaurant looked like it was directly transported from the center of Tundra Town, its icy theme incorporated in even the hanging candle lights.
She silently hoped the prices of the products were not that expensive.

Nick Wilde had been easy to spot. He was in such a position wherein he could have an easy glance over the entrance. Together with the bright red lollipop he was sucking on, he looked like he wanted to catch everyone's attention.
"Hello, Officer Fluff." He regarded his meter maid uniform with a raised eyebrow.
Judy rolled her eyes and sat on the seat across the fox. "So what do you want?"
"Your order." Nick readily shoved a menu to her side. "We're waiting for company."
The bunny frowned. "Company?"

The red fox just shrugged as an elk waiter approached them.
"I'll have the blueberry yakgurt." Nick casually gestured to his companion. "And waiter, the bunny's just arrived. Let her think a bit."
They were given a numbered yogurt cup figurine to hold on to, with the elk giving the red fox an unamused expression, leaving them to their solitude.
"What, you brought your own food here?" Judy asked incredulously.
"It's called a pawpsicle. It's sweet."
"I've never been here before…" Judy grumbled as she stared at the numerous options the menu offered.
"Oh, the boy's here."
"Who?"

Judy noted his smirk and followed his gaze to the entrance… only to see a rather adorable fox, in an elephant suit.
"Come to Daddy, Finn!"
The bunny thought she saw a scowl pass through the fennec's expression, but the tiny fox just proceeded to sit beside Nick and sucked on the pacifier he had, giving Judy a curious innocent look.
"Isn't he a good little stinker?" The red fox ruffled the cub's head. "His name's Finnick."
Judy gave the younger fox a sweet look then glowered at Nick. "He's cute and all, but did you just let your son walk down the streets alone?"
Nick shrugged in little concern. "What can I do? He wants to be independent."

The police officer sighed. "I'll get the blueberry too."
Nick hummed in interest then nudged his seatmate. "What do you want, my boy?"
Finnick pointed to the bunny which the red fox took as an indication of the same order.
"Got ya, boy. Waiter!"
The elk promptly returned to take the remaining orders, sparing a quick happy look over the fennec then leaving swiftly.
"Everyone just loves my little boy." Nick smirked as he teased Finnick with a slight push.

Judy, however, had other concerns in mind and she was bent on to resolve them one way or another.
"Sir, if you only wanted to introduce me to your son…" The bunny glanced at the fennec. "Which is fine by me, but I can't have my time and money wasted for nothing."
"Can't I just want to see your fluffy face?"
The bunny subconsciously thought about her neighbors' worries and speculations, with a possible stalker out of the fox.
"No," Judy said firmly. "You did all those mean things-"
"It's called a hustle, darling," Nick interrupted with a plastered smirk.

Judy was about to retort an unpleasant statement when a commotion was heard from the nearby shop.
"My shop! It was just robbed! Where are the cops when you need them?!"
Nick made an unhelpful slurping sound on his finished pawpsicle.
"I know what you're thinking." He pointed his empty stick at Judy, who was looking increasingly more frustrated. "You're thinking of going there to help whoever that random citizen is."

Judy scowled at the fox as if he was mad. "Well, of course! It's a policeanimal's job to be of assistance, especially on a robbery! He can't just contest this case on traffic court."
"And who exactly are you going to chase?" Nick drawled patiently, while Finnick chose to play with the statuette in the table. "You're not a key witness or anything."
"That's why I'm going to ask him!"
Nick smeared his face with a lopsided smile. "Who's going to trust a bunny cop in a meter maid uniform?"
"I know what you're doing, Sir. You're just a shifty fox who likes to prey on the weak." Judy gave him a fierce look. "But I am not weak and I'll be there as a cop to help the actual animals in need."

She did not even spare the red fox a second glance as she hopped hurriedly outside.
Her last words that resonated in the shop were of a standard police line that Nick did not bother listening to.

"And what the heck are you planning, Nick?" Finnick placed the statuette firmly on the table, having already removed his pacifier and the top of his elephant suit. "You're not the type to chase bunnies." He did not even hide his plain disgust at his partner's recent actions.
"Oh, come on," said Nick as he absently started sucking on his empty pawpsicle again. "She's one cute meter maid I can't resist."
"I'm not going to pay for her order, mind you."