Authors Note: Well, I just don't what to say!
This story was originally written in the span of a few hours as a nice little gift to a friend. When I wrote this first chapter, I had no intention of continuing it in any way, shape or form. Regardless, between , Archive of Our own and Tumblr, I've received a surplus of requests to continue, so I thought I'd add a chapter or two.
Thanks for the support, and don't forget to leave a review and tell me what you think! This chapters a little different from it's predecessor...
...
"Come on."
"Let's go."
"If we can make it to my parent's farm, we can wait this whole thing out."
The fox groggily raised an arm to shield his vision from the sunlight, his eyes fluttering between open and shut as he tried to sit up. Judy's paw, which had previously been shaking him awake, was now brushing off the back of his head, delicately picking off the leaves and twigs that had found themselves tangled in his matted fur.
"Did we sleep out here?" the fox asked, cautiously peeking out from under his arm at the morning sun before retreating back to the shade it provided.
"Yup." The little rabbit continued to ruffle his fur clean, picking out the last bits of sticks and dirt. "But we probably shouldn't stick around." She rose to her feet, attempting to pull him up by the underside of his arm. "If we stay here any longer Jack's friends are going to find us."
The fox pushed himself up, the rabbit doing very little to actually help him stand.
"They're your friends too, ya know."
"No."
Cautiously, Judy made her way back up the bank of the creak and into the woods which surrounded the traveling stream they had camped out next to.
"If I'd have known what they were capable of, I would have never associated with them." She turned to back to look at the fox, watching him as he lazily followed after her. "You know that, right Nick?"
The fox paused for a moment, still struggling to make his way up the bank. Looking up at the bunny, he sheepishly nodded before resuming his attempt at scrambling up the steep hill that formed a little ways from the green creek water's edge, prompting the rabbit to help him up. Judy quickly made her way back to the edge of the woods, gesturing for the fox to follow, to which he sluggishly complied. As she pushed her way into the depths of the mass of trees; the bunny brushed a single, low hanging branch aside, allowing it to swing back and swat the absent minded fox following her.
…
"So, are we there yet?" Nick looked down at the rabbit walking beside him as he spoke.
"Does it look like we're 'there yet', slick?" Judy swung her arms out in a wide arc in front of them as they walked, drawing the fox's attention to the long dirt road they were currently plodding down.
"Uh"
"No! No we are not there yet. We are about as there as we were five minutes ago. Ya know, five minutes ago? When you first asked?!" the rabbit hollered in frustration, the angry stamping of her feet kicking up a dust cloud as the two continued there laid back pace down the road.
"So, how 'there' is that, exactly?"
"Not very!"
As the little bunny continued to shout at him, Nick couldn't help but think she was sort of cute. Not that he would ever admit it. The Last time he had called a bunny cute, the rabbit made sure it would indeed be the last time.
"We passed my bus stop a while ago, and you take the same bus as me…" the vulpine looked back as he slogged down the path, "How far do you walk to the bus stop every day?" the fox inquired, waving the dirt now floating in the air away from his open mouth, trying his hardest not to inhale the storm his rabbit companion kicked up.
"It's just a mile or two"
"A Mile or two?" the fox stared down at the rabbit again, his eyes widening in awe and a little bit of sympathy. "Well, no wonder your legs are so ripped!" He stopped for a moment, only to reach down and playfully grope at her well-built leg.
Judy responded with a gentle swat to his paw. "These, my friend, are the result of a healthy diet and rigorous exercise routine, not walking a little every day." she explained, patting the muscular leg before starting to walk again.
"A little? Carrots, you walk more than I do in a week."
"Aren't you required to run the mile once a week for gym?" she smiled as she spoke, raising an eyebrow accusingly.
"Ha! Like I would actually run the mile. I'm only half way done by the time the period ends most days!"
"Well, at least you won't be running then."
The pair stopped, their hearts doing the same. Slowly, and with great apprehension, the two languidly turned around to meet the all-too familiar voice.
"It's kinda unfortunate, ya know? Might've made for some fun." Charlie spoke calmly, a sheep and another rabbit flanking him on either side.
"You two are pretty good at hiding. You should have stuck to that." As the male rabbit spoke, the sheep strolled over to the pair, the shorter bunny accomplice making his way around the back of them. Two fluffy little rabbits and a cuddly sheep had decided that, against all logic, they've cornered a fox.
"Back off asshole, we all know you don't have the guts to actually do anything." Nick folded his arms across his chest as he spoke to the sheep who was inching uncomfortably close now.
The sheep took a stopped his advance and threw his head back, laughing obnoxiously loud. With a jerk he wound his hoof back and sucker punched the vulpine in the stomach, gritting his teeth in anger.
Nick knelt to the ground, winded. Maybe it wasn't in his best interest to insult the kid who looks like he's been the playground bully for his entire academic career. Without missing a beat, Judy swung back, striking the ram in the gut. Apparently, the little sheep couldn't take what he could dish out, stumbling backwards as he writhed in pain. The fox couldn't help but feel sorry for the guy as he wiggled on the floor, retching as he tried to inhale another breath. As Nick warily stood up again, he turned back to find the shorter male bunny sprinting off into the distance.
"Hey!? Hey! Get back here you turn-tail!" Charlie called out to the other rabbit. If his friend had heard the screams, he didn't react, he took to the hills. With his only support now lying on the floor in pain, Charlie was left staring at the couple, a prolonged quietude hanging in the air as Judy silently dared him to try something.
"Ok…" Judy rubbed her temples as she spoke, "If you leave us alone, we won't beat your ass."
The other rabbit sneered at her before turning around, walking in the opposite direction, leaving the sheep on the ground.
"Sweet Cheese and crackers," The female bunny exhaled as they turned around and went on their way, ignoring the sheep lying in the dirt. ", you good?"
"How could I not be good? I've got my guardian angel here, don't I?" the fox replied, grinning with his teeth as he wrapped his arm around the rabbit's shoulder.
"We're getting close though, right?"
…
Knock Knock Knock
"Mom!"
Knock Knock Knock
"Mom!?"
A fox and a bunny stood side by side on the Hopps family porch, impatiently waiting for someone to come and let them in.
"Mom, we've been walking in the heat for several hours now and I would really like to sit down!"
Nick smiled as he heard frantic steps plodding over to the door, whoever was on the other side of those walls must have bumped into every solid object in the house during their mad dash for the entrance.
"Judy? Judy!?"
"Yeah Mom, still out here."
"Judy! Where have you been?" The mother rabbit hurriedly threw open the door, knocking the fox on the snout as it swung by.
Judy, having taken a step back a moment ago, raised up a single paw and twiddled its digits.
"It's been a crazy two days, I'll tell you all about when we get inside- can we please get inside!?"
The mother rabbit stood dumbfounded on the other side of the door threshold. She gaped at Nick, mouth open, with a sort of nervous, yet intrigued gaze.
"Whose the friend?"
"Mom, Nick Wilde, friend from school. Nick, Bonnie Hopps, my dearest mother; who will not let us in the house despite the fact that I can literally feel the sun singing my fur; Let us in please!" Judy let the introduction quickly pour out of her mouth.
Bonnie stepped aside, waving the teens into her home. Before she closed the door again, she peaked her head outside and looked both ways, cautiously dragging the heavy piece of wood shut.
…
"Nic- Nice to meet you…Nick?"
"Yes! Yes it is so nice to meet you! Thank you for the tea by the way." The fox shook her hand amiably before gingerly lifting the cup to his mouth to drink again. "It was- It was a long walk, that's for sure." He turned to Judy as he spoke, the little rabbit still eagerly drinking down her beverage.
"Yeah, and it wasn't made any shorter by your near constant complaining." Judy sat the cup down on the coaster for a moment, just enough time to speak and smile warmly at her fox.
Nick took a moment to admire the interior design of his friend's house. It wasn't that bad, certainly a lot nicer than his own little burrow. The carrot decorations didn't exactly fit the rest of the décor, having a definite Rococo influence to it, but who was he to judge?
"So…Why didn't you come home yesterday Jude?"
The question forced the younger rabbit to set the tea cup down, it was obvious that what she was about to say was serious. Besides, she had already gulped down the contents of the porcelain cup.
"Well, I told you about Jack's party, right? The one that was supposed to happen at his burrow?"
Bonnie nodded quickly, attentively placing her paws in her lap and leaning in slightly, eager to hear her daughter's explanation.
"Well, Nick and I went."
"You spent the entire night partying?"
"Mom, the kids attacked Nick. Because he is a fox. Can you imagine that?"
Bonnie looked at the fox anxiously, turning her eyes back to her daughter.
"So… you guys just want to stay here till things cool off?"
"Please?" Nick interjected.
"That's all?" she asked again, making sure.
The fox nodded reassuringly.
"Oh…Yeah, sure that's fine. I was just afraid that when you brought the fella over you-"
"Hey Bonnie! Judy get back yet-"an older rabbit walked through the door, clearly bewildered by the sight of a fox on his couch.
"Hey… dad." The youngest of the rabbits in the room spoke meekly, causing Nick to glance at her before returning his gaze to the new bunny, trying to maintain respectful eye contact.
"Hi, Stu Hopps" Judy's father held out a dirt-caked paw, which Nick quickly shook, not wanting to keep the mammal waiting.
"Nick, Nick Wilde. Nice to meet you sir, I'm a friend of Judy's."
Stu didn't say a word, just nodded understandingly while looking at his feet.
Nobody wanted to bring up the elephant in the room.
"Uh, if you guys will excuse me, I need to use the bathroom." The fox rose a finger in the air, trying to escape the awkward encounter.
"Down the hall, to your left." Bonnie told him, eyes staring down at her paws, too uncomfortable to look at anyone else right now.
Without another word Nick got up and made his way down the hall, his frizzy tail waving side to side as he walked.
…
The bunny family sat in silence, the strained air only be cut through by the occasional clearing of ones throat.
Knock Knock Knock
"Uh, I've got it." Stu quickly rose from the couch, having taken Nicks spot, and opened the nearby door.
"Jack, come on in! Nice to see a friendly face for once."
Judy sunk into her seat in horror. As the white jackrabbit made his way inside, his eyes widened in surprise.
"Judy, oh thank god you're here! I was afraid that when the fox ran off with you-"
"When he what?" Bonnie interrupted.
"That Nick Wilde character! I thought you were a goner when he dragged you away by your neck, but Charlie said he saw him taking you down the path to your house."
"I-"the younger rabbit was caught off guard. "No-"
"Judy, what is going on?" her mother asked.
"Take a seat Jack." Stu ordered.
"The police probably wouldn't think to look for him here," Jack explained as he took his seat, lifting Nick's teacup off of the pallet it was resting on. "Seems to me that it would be best place to lie low for a while." He continued, sipping up the last of the fox's drink.
"He's here right now" Stu stated, earning a look of mock surprise from the jackrabbit.
"No… What are we going to do?" Jack asked, turning to Judy. He knew as well as she did that no matter what she said, her father was going to storm that bathroom any minute now and yank Nick out the door by the scruff of his neck.
Unless…
Stu paced around the room, his paws clenched tight. "That's it, I'm dragging that fox out of here. There's going to be hell to pay" he hissed through his teeth. The irate bunny rolled his sleeves up and dusted his hands off on his already dirty overalls.
"Wait!" Judy exclaimed. "I- I uh… I can go get him."
"Absolutely not!" Jack and her mother shouted in unison.
"If he sees you coming," she turned to her father, "He'll know something's up. He won't expect anything if I go."
"I don't think that's a very good-" Jack began, but was hushed by Mr. Hopps.
"Wait, she might have a point…" Stu explained, raising his paw to the jackrabbit. "Don't do anything stupid, just… lead him out into the living room. I'll take care of it from there."
Judy nodded slowly before getting up, looking Jack in the eye before wandering down the hall.
…
Nick took a pawful of water and brought it up to his muzzle, drizzling it across his face. Who would have thought Bunnyburrow could get this hot in the summer time? He gently brushed the fur on his head back, admiring his reflection in the mirror. He ran his claws through his fur claws several times, styling it every which way.
The doorknob rattled vigorously.
"Occupado" the fox explained in a sing-song voice, not content with his appearance just yet.
It rattled again.
"I said: Occupied" this time, he was clearly a little irritated. Were these rabbits all raised in a barn or something?
Animals, raised in a barn. Spare me the thought.
Whoever was on the other side of the door was now pulling on it gently, trying to see if it would tug open despite being locked.
"Hold on! Gawlee!" he continued messing with his fur, rolling his eyes at his own reflection.
Judy looked down the hall into the living room, the three other bunnies were talking amongst themselves, Jack no doubt feeding them another line of bullshit, maybe two. As quietly as she could, she opened the hallway closet and took out the master key to all rooms in the house. She quickly unlocked the bathroom door and rushed in, closing it behind her.
"Carrots! What the fu-"
"Shhhhh"
"Judy!"
"Shhhh!"
"Judy!"
"Nick what the hell!? What part of 'shh' do you not understand?!" the rabbit gritted her teeth as she spoke in a harsh whisper.
"Okay! Okay!" Nick shouted in the same hushed tone Judy spoke in. "Can you tell me why you thought it was ok for you to barge in on me? I was using the bathroom."
"Nick, you've been gone for 30 minutes." The fox rolled his eyes at the rabbit. "I have my reasons, rabbit."
"Whatever- I- I don't care! Look, I'll explain in a moment, just follow me." Judy assured him, still speaking quietly. "And please, stop being so difficult." She climbed up on top of the toilet tank and began removing the wire mesh that covered the nearby window.
"Ok." Nick threw his paws up in the air and crossed his eyes, mouthing the words "my god", clearly fed up with the situation.
When the rabbit finally got the window mesh off, she hurriedly scuttled out of the now unobstructed opening.
"Come on! We don't have much time."
Nick landed on his snout as he climbed out the window, not nearly as graceful as the rabbit before him.
"I swear to god carrots, there better be a reason for this-"
Not letting the fox finish, she took him by the paw and led him out into the corn field, quickly guiding him through the dense forest of vegetable stalks.
…
"Ok, so like… What is going on?" the fox stopped to catch his breath, finally on the other side of the field.
"Jack found us, I had to sneak you out."
"How!?"
"I think Charlie tipped him off."
The two shared a moment of silence.
"You should have beat his ass" Nick pointed out.
"I can't just pummel someone who didn't attack me first."
"Why not?" the fox crossed his arms.
"Because it wouldn't be the just thing to do."
The vulpine scoffed before starting to walk again. "Oh right, cop gotcha."
"C'mon Nick, you know I take this sort of thing seriously." The Rabbit gently hip checked the fox as she walked alongside him. Once he finished bouncing back, she leaned into him, making him support her weight as they walked.
He put his arm around her holding her a little closer.
"We do need more police out there like you."
"What do you mean?" she asked, looking up at the taller mammal.
"When I lived in the city, a lot of 'em wouldn't bother to help a fox like me…"
"Nick…"
The vulpine stroked the bunnies ears back, smiling as they walked further away from the Hopps plantation.
"Nick! You're bleeding!"
Raising his paw to his nose, the fox could make out the red tinge of blood on his dark paw pads, mixing in with his already red fur.
"Oh… yeah I landed on my snozz when we were escaping through the window."
"Sit down for a second."
"Nah, I'm good, let's keep walking."
"C'mon, just sit down. Stop acting like you're such a tough guy scruff, you aren't fooling me."
Nick planted himself down on a nearby tree stump, the rabbit hopping up on his lap once he got himself situated.
"Fine, if anyone knows me better than I know myself, it's you. You've been my best friend for, what? A few months? I do believe that's a new record!"
Ignoring the fox's sardonic comments, Judy examined his nose, checking it from all angles, her feet happily dangling off of his lap as she worked.
"Ok, give it to me straight doc, what's your diagnosis?"
The rabbit simply shrugged. "Don't know, probably not fatal." She lifted her feet up onto his lap and wrapped her arms around her knees, becoming a little ball on top of him. "Guess it wouldn't matter anyways, we can't really get you anything for it, can we?"
The two sat together for a spell, an afternoon breeze taking with it leaves and other loose shrubbery as it blew past them. The pair relished the refreshing moment.
"He called the cops Nick." Judy said, rubbing her paws together.
"Oh…"
"Everyone thinks you kidnapped me." She looked down at her feet as she spoke, ashamed. "And… I played along."
"Yeah?"
"I had to do something to get us out of there." She looked up at him, caressing his muzzle tenderly. "I'm sorry."
A few minutes of silence passed them by, and yet it felt like an eternity.
"What are we going to do?" the fox asked.
"We can walk over to the train station, catch a ride out to the main city."
"The city isn't all it's cracked up to be."
"It's a start." The bunny lulled her head back against his chest.
"We're too young to just up and run away from home, Judith."
"I just want to leave this shithole."
…
"Ugh! My feet are blistering!" the rabbit stopped to lift up her foot to examine its underside, red and puffy.
"Well look who is complaining now?" Nick taunted, scooping her up in his arms only to place her on his shoulders.
"Look, us bunnies don't have paw pads. You've got an unfair advantage."
"Oh, sure. When you complain its justified, but when I complain I'm just being childish, is that what you'd have me believe?" The fox said, tilting his head upward to look at the rabbit currently mounted on top of him.
"Uh, yep?" she replied, kissing the nose now only inches from her face.
"No dice, fluff."
"You're killing me scruff."
"No, but I'll be killing you if you make us miss our train ride."
"We won't make it while it's still daylight out, we can just catch one of the night trains."
"I guess…I've never been on a high speed train at night, think it'll be cool?" The fox spoke, still looking up at his current passenger.
"I've never been on a train, period." The bunny laughed.
…
The difference between walking the long, dirty roads of Bunnyburrow during the day as opposed to at night was astonishing. The two mammals were dog tired, but they were almost there. Mere meters away sat the train station. The light emanating from the nearby diner, which travelers are prone to wait in; spilled out into the night, illuminating a nearby section of the tracks.
Nick whistled, obviously impressed. "Well, we made it."
"Yeah"
"Are we really doing this?"
Judy looked up at her companion, her mouth forming a bitter sweet smile as she gently nodded her head.
"Ok, let's go get the tickets then."
…
The two sat in a booth at the diner, staring at the little stubs they held in their paws.
"12:30, we have an hour." The rabbit observed, turning the piece of paper over and over again in her palm.
"Well, I should probably let my mom know that I won't be coming home then."
"Nick…" she raised a paw to stop him.
"Are you sure you want to do this… I don't want to make you do anything-"
"I don't really have a choice, the cops are after me. I'm a fox on the run, fluff. I'm going with you whether you want me too or not." And with that, he walked out of the diner to the nearby phone booth.
Of course She wanted him.
…
The fox rubbed his paws together, trying to warm them up. The cool night air was the complete opposite of what they had been experiencing hours ago, and he was now realizing that he took the heat for granted. He carefully plucked a few coins from his pocket and let them slide into the coin slot.
Eventually, he got his mother on the other line.
"Hey Ma, I know you must've heard by now. Before you ask, no, it isn't true. I just need to get away for a little while. I'm safe." He paused for a moment, he could hear heavy breathing on the other end of the line. "You hear that ma? I'm fine. Judy and I are at the train station now, but I'll be-"
"Nick!" he was horrified by the way she shrieked out his name.
"The police are here Nick!"
"Oh god! Oh God I'm so sorry Nick!"
The fox let the phone hang from its cable, his mother still frantically speaking as he walked back into the diner.
…
"Hey"
"Hey" the rabbit greeted the fox.
"How'd it go?"
"Judy"
"Huh?" she was surprised to hear him using her actual name.
"What time is it? Like, how long till the train arrives?"
The rabbit pulled out her phone to check. "9:45, we killed like 15 minutes…."
"…Why?"
"Judy, they know we're here."
The bunny didn't say a word her eyes widening in a mix of horror and resignation. Slowly, she accepted defeat and allowed her head to sink to the table.
"Ok, I guess that's it." The rabbit's breathing was unsteady, and the fox knew she was almost on the verge of tears. "Nick?"
"Yeah…Judy?"
"Do you think they'll lock you away for long?"
The young fox sighed heavily, reaching across the table which separated them so that he could tenderly take her shivering paw in his own. As he held it, he stroked it tenderly, deep in thought. The rabbit looked up from the table at him.
"I... I abducted you, didn't I?" he smiled awkwardly, his eyes watering. "I don't think- don't think they take too kindly to a fox pulling that kinda shit round…here…carrots." He stuttered as he spoke, the urge to cry building up in his throat. The rabbit sunk back down onto the table, leaving her paw in her friends hand. The fox continued to gently stroke her comparatively small paw, holding it tight in his own, trying his best to assuage the rabbit's quiet, gross sobs.
Trying to hold back his own.
Slowly at first; and without warning, the fox began chuckling to himself, eventually coercing the bunny to join in.
"We probably wouldn't have made it that far, they would have caught up with us eventually."
"Yeah…"
The two animals smiled at each other, tears now dripping down their respective chins. Judy rested her head in her free palm, staring off into her fox's eyes.
"Yeah…"
The scenery at the station was nice, the white light of the diner still illuminating the surrounding area outside, revealing faint silhouettes of insects hopping along the ground outside the window. A tumble weed lazily rolled past the diner window, free in the cool summer breeze. But, the view from her seat, right across the table from her, the one that was currently holding her paw-
It was just a little prettier.
Pretty enough that she was able to pretend that, at least for that moment, the red and blue beams emanating from the tops of the police cruisers weren't encroaching upon them in the distance.
