(Wednesday, April 13)

For Judy, today had been another uneventful day of paperwork. All day, she had kept her mouth shut and did what she was told - something she was okay with doing for a day, but not for a lifetime.

The odd thing was that a number of other officers told her they admired her comeback to Bogo. Judy supposed it was good to be recognized, but not for the thing that almost got her fired.

At this point, the main thing keeping her going was her relationship with Nick, but even that was far from perfect. After their last conversation, she had started to question the validity of his job, but she had no proof that he had done anything wrong. She supposed she could search for his taxes and confirm her suspicions. But she was reluctant to do so for three reasons.

One, she didn't know his last name or species, so he would be difficult to track down.

Two, she imagined how it would make her look, walking into Bogo's office and saying, 'I'd like to arrest my online ex-boyfriend.' The last thing she needed was a reason for the chief to treat her any less seriously.

But the final reason was the selfish one; Judy cared about Nick. She saw good in him, and he saw her for who she was.

The simple fact was, Judy couldn't bring herself to arrest the one mammal that made her life bareable.

—

Finnick had been awfully quiet during today's hustle.

Nick had noticed this, but was reluctant bring it up. If anything, he was content with some quiet. It gave him more time to think.

He was telling himself on repeat that today was going to be fine. Today's hustle was no different than the hundreds that came before it. But it seemed like every time Nick had a conversation with Judy, his conscience grew more and more. After twenty years, he was finally starting to question whether or not he was doing the right thing.

After they had collected their money, Nick decided he wanted to have a little talk with his partner.

"Finnick…" Nick began slowly. "Would you ever want to get out of that elephant costume?"

Finnick turned to face Nick. "I'm listening."

Nick put his hand behind his back in his awkward position. "Well, I'm just thinking… who says we have to go into all these places with you dressed up like that? I mean, I know you hate it. Maybe one day… we could try walking into a place and say, 'one elephant sized pawpsicle. It's, uh… it's for a friend'. Something like that."

"They won't believe us," Finnick said. "Come on Nick, you always said that the 'kid' angle makes gullible mammals feel generous.'

Nick sighed. "I know that's what I said but… I mean, is there any reason why we can't be upfront about what we're doing? Say that we're an entrepreneur."

"What?"

"I mean, we have all the permits anyway. Why not just go all the way with it?"

Finnick gave his friend a blank stare. "Nick, what are you talking about? We're con-mammals. That's what we do."

I know that's what we do," Nick said, frustrated. "I just…"

"You just what?"

"…I don't know." He turned away, lost in thought.

For a few seconds, neither of them said anything. But eventually Finnick spoke up, softly at first. "Nick, you… you dumped that cop lady, right?" He paused before repeating, "Right?"

Nick looked into his friend's eyes. "Finnick…"

"Oh my God."

"I can explain…" Nick said, quickly.

But Finnick still couldn't believe it. "Oh my God. You're still seeing her." He started pacing back and forth. "You know this is what happens to you. This is what happens when you get involved with the fuzz!" For as angry as he was, he also sounded genuinely hurt.

"It's not like that, okay." Nick said, trying not to get too emotional.

"Does she know?" Finnick asked, spitefully. "Does she know what you do for a living?"

Nick hesitated. "Kind of…"

"Kind of?" Finnick repeated the words in disbelief. "So, are you going to prison now?"

"No," Nick said, firmly. "At least… not if I'm able to get my life back in order."

Finnick was in disbelief. "Nick, we've been con-artists since we met. We can't change that now! You're in too deep to start your life over again!"

"But you don't understand… Judy says there's good in me," He took a deep breath, trying to hold himself together "…What if she's right?"

But Finnick just frowned. "Nick, you are starting to sound like one of those crazy mammals that they lock up in the looney bin!" He exclaimed. "You've come too far to get locked up now. We both have."

Nick sat down, trying to keep himself together. "I don't know, Finnick," he said honestly. "I just don't know what to tell you."

"I know what to tell you," Finnick said, plainly. "Love makes you do crazy things, and you're living proof of that."

Nick shut his eyes, firmly in denial. "I am not in love with her."

"Bullshit," Finnick said. "You're in love and you don't even know what she looks like."

"Oh," Nick snapped, "like you and Sophia."

Finnick looked stunned before saying, "I'm not with Sophia anymore."

Nick instantly felt bad. "I'm sorry."

"No, don't be sorry." Finnick said, flippantly. "We were talking the other day, I asked her what she looked for in a man, and the first word out of her mouth was tall." He grimaced, as though he had just uttered a horrible slur. "I immediately signed off. Didn't even give her an explanation. See, Nick… the difference between the two of us is that I know when to give up on a relationship."

Nick stayed silent. After a minute or two, Finnick spoke again.

"You know, I don't know if you've realized this or not," he said, "but there ain't no foxes in the ZPD. Which means that girl of yours… she's not a fox. And if she's anything like most cops, she's probably got a rather unfavorable view of our kind." He stared at his lifelong partner-in-crime, making sure that every word hit like a dagger. "You think she's your friend?" Just wait 'til she sees the real you. I guarantee that she'll arrest you on the spot."

"Judy's not like that," Nick said, firmly.

"Don't tell me what a cop is like!" Finnick said, angrily. "I've had my share of run-ins with them. You want to fall in love with an armed police officer? They got a word for that, it's called suicide! Do you wanna ruin your life? Or get your life back in shape, if that's what you think you're doing?" He paused, and gritted his teeth. "Go right ahead. But you are not dragging me down there with you." After a moment two, he stood up.

"Listen…" Nick began.

"Just go!" Finnick yelled. "I don't wanna see your stupid face tomorrow, you better not call me unless you have a goddamned good reason to!"

Then he stopped, turned around, and grabbed the cash out of Nick's hands. "And for the record, I am keeping all of this money."

And he promptly got into his van and drove away as fast as he could.

—

The sun had gone down by the time Nick had gotten home. In short, he felt awful, in more ways than one. For starters, he was starting to feel a cold coming on. (The fact that the last few hustles were mainly set up in Tundra Town probably had something to do with that.) But moreover he felt bad for Finnick. The future of their partnership looked bleak.

And the fact that he was down $200 didn't help either.

He got online and logged into Z-Harmony, sending Judy an invitation. In all honesty, he was surprised by the fact that for five consecutive days, Judy had been available to talk, albeit for a fairly short amount of time. And now it was gong to be six.

In no time at all, the two if them were connected.

Judy spoke first. "…Nick?"

"Hey, Judy," Nick said. "How was work?"

"Um, I didn't get fired."

"Good to hear."

"What about you?"

Nick was about to jokingly respond that he hadn't been fired either, but if Finnick was still angry at him in the morning, he might be out of a job for a little while. "Same old, same old."

"Don't you get tired of the same old thing after a while?"

"I guess I've always found a way to make it exciting."

"Well, you don't spend every other day in an office cubicle."

"Yes, and I'm very grateful for that," said Nick.

Judy smiled, but there was a twinge of sadness. "You know, I've wanted to be a cop for as long as I can remember. Now, I'm starting to question if it was worth it."

"I'm sure things will pick up soon enough," Nick said.

"And what if they don't?" She asked, bitterly. "It's just, I've worked so hard for this. No one thought I would even make it this far."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm-" She stopped, then took a deep breath. "Because I grew up in a small town."

But Nick immediately picked up on her hesitance. "It has something to do with your species, doesn't it?"

Judy's ears fell. "How did you…"

"Everyone comes to Zootopia thinking that you can be anything you want. Well, you can't. Your species is always going to hold you back one way or another."

Judy thought about this for a moment. "You know," she said. "How much longer do you think it's gonna be before we tell each other our species?" She was starting to feel that it wouldn't be too much longer before the two of them would meet face to face.

Nick thought about this. He wasn't ready to share his own species just yet, but he was starting to become curious about Judy. Then he came up with an idea.

"Well… we could guess."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, we know enough about each other. You could guess what type of mammal I am, and I'll do the same."

Judy pondered this idea. "And if we're right… what then?"

"Well, maybe that's just the way we find out." Even as he said this, Nick had a sinking feeling that this was a horrible idea.

"You go first," Judy said.

"Hmm…" Nick thought long and hard, "I'm gonna say… jaguar."

"Jaguar?" she asked, surprised. "What makes you say that?"

"Well, from what I've seen, cops tend to be taller animals, and… you do come across as a determined badass, and that made me think 'predator'. I don't know…" Nick said. "I'm wrong, aren't I?"

"At least you see me as a strong mammal," Judy said, trying not to laugh about how Nick hadn't even been close. "Okay, my turn."

Judy thought about all the things she knew about Nick. "How about… zebra?"

"Zebra…" Nick repeated, feeling oddly flattered. "Why zebra?"

"I'm not sure," Judy said. "It's just… they always give off such a cool, confident vibe. Maybe it's just the stripes, but they seem almost mysterious, you know what I mean?"

"I know that you have a thing for zebras, which has me a little worried."

Judy laughed. "Don't be."

"Well, I guess both of us have a species we can cross of our list."

"So, you've been keeping a list," she said with an eyebrow raised.

"Not physically," he remarked. Then he thought of something. "Do you have a list of species you don't want to end up with?"

Her ears stood up. "Nick, I am not answering that!"

"You're not denying it."

And Judy had to admit to herself that Nick was absolutely correct. She scoffed. "You know, Nick… I think you bring out the worst in me."

Nick didn't respond. After a few moments, Judy took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry, Nick," she said.

Nick spoke up. "I think it's kind of ironic, actually."

"What's ironic?"

"If I really bring out the worst in you, then that's ironic. Because I'm pretty sure that you bring out the best in me."

Judy's cheeks turned red, but she tried to play it cool. "Where'd you get that line from?"

"My own brain."

"And how do I bring out the best in you?"

I don't know, it's just… when you're in a relationship with a cop, it makes you wanna be better."

Judy chose not to comment on that, as she still didn't know whether or not Nick had a criminal record. Instead, she found herself instinctively looking at the clock. "Ooh, it's that time."

"So it is," Nick said. In secret, he wanted to chat longer, but he was getting tired. On top of that, he was still feeling a little sick. "Same time tomorrow?" he asked.

"Of course," Judy said. "Okay, bye."

"Bye."

Judy signed off, and Nick looked up at the ceiling. The fact was, he wanted to keep talking with Judy, but given their separate professions, and his species… It might be difficult. Not to mention, he wasn't sure if he would even have a job tomorrow.

Judy was making his life hell in the best possible way.

—

Author's Note: I seriously debated having the Nick & Finnick argument be the entire chapter. As an author, I'm really proud of how that scene turned out, to the point where I'm almost concerned I won't be able to top it with some of the dramatic scenes that are to come. (spoilers, I guess.)

I'm so ecstatic for the amount of love this is getting. and I'll try not to keep you guys waiting too long for the next chapter.