Ch. 6: Unexpected Dates and Handsome Bunnies

"The mayor has a sister?! Nick couldn't get over it.

"We need to talk to him," Judy said. Nick steered the car from the passenger seat while Judy texted Clawhauser. They needed to know where Lionheart was (They had already checked City Hall); they needed to talk to him.

"Clawhauser says Leodore just tweeted that he's eating at Sebastian's Sushi."

"Looks like you're buying me dinner after all, Carrots-NOW EYES ON THE ROAD!"

.

"Welcome to Sebastian's Sushi," a finely dressed otter greeted the two. "Does the lovely couple have a reservation?"

"We're actually here to talk to Mayor Lionheart," Judy informed her. Nick cast her a weird look but Judy was too busy trying to spot the mayor to say anything.

"I'm sorry officers but this is Mayor Lionheart's day off and he gave specific instructions not to be bothered by-"

"Officer Hopps!" The mayor's booming voice shook Judy's bones. "And Officer…fox…guy…"

The mayor along with a rhino bodyguard walked over. "What are you doing here?"
Judy opened her mouth to start asking questions about Ironclaw when Nick's paw clamped over her mouth.

"My partner and I wanted to enjoy a nice dinner out. But doesn't that just beat all we were so busy making the world a better place that we forgot to make a reservation."

"Don't you worry, you can dine with me." He led them across the room to his table, "Anything for Zootopia's finest."

Sebastian's Sushi consisted of low tables with cushions instead of chairs. Nick and Judy sat across from the mayor. Nick picked up a menu along with Lionheart.

"Sir," Judy spoke up, "We were hoping you could-"

"They have an herbivore course, Officer Hopps," Lionheart interrupted. "Want me to order it for you, it's on the house."

"Sure," Judy replied, "But I was hoping-"

Nick tugged her ear which made her yelp and glare up at him. Nick leaned forward to whisper in her ear, "I wasn't kidding, I'm starving and this food is free. Question the mayor to your little heart's desire after he feeds us."

Judy rolled her eyes but she'd be lying if she said she wasn't hungry. The three animals ordered their chosen meals and started to talk mildly.

"I have someone in line to be my new assistant mayor," Lionheart informed them. "You'd love this guy, he's so dependable."

"Bellweather was considered dependable too," Nick added, just barely hiding his snark.

But Lionheart nodded, "True which is why I haven't hired him yet, but you two should meet him sometime, see what you think."

"We'd be honored," Judy told him and tried to think how to ease into the Ironclaw topic. She might have to wait for Nick to do so, he was good at that. But the sly fox wouldn't bring that up until his belly was full.

When their food arrived Lionheart enjoyed his meal with relish, Judy shoveling her own plate down, Nick eating his food at a much slower pace.

"Oh!" Lionheart exclaimed, swallowing his mouthful as he looked across the room. "Is that Milo? He's one of our best donators to every charity we come up with! Excuse me." He hurried across the room, leaving the two officers alone, Judy sighed with exhaustion, "This is going to take forever."

Nick didn't answer, he was staring at her.

Judy frowned deeply, "What is it?"

"What," he asked.

"Why are you staring at me?" She wondered if she had lettuce stuck between her teeth.

"I'm not staring, I'm waiting."

"Waiting for what, for Lionheart to get back?"

"Oh no," he grinned, "I'm waiting for you to realize what that otter said."

Judy looked over to said otter; she was greeting a couple of panthers who had just walked in. She tried to remember what the otter's exact words were.

Nick chuckled, "She said we were a "lovely couple", and you didn't correct her."

Judy frowned, "So? It was an honest mistake and we had bigger things to worry about."

Nick's grin widened, revealing his sharp teeth, "Geez, Miss Hopps, never thought you'd of all animals would trick some poor guy into a date."

"Oh, hush up," Judy punched his arm.

"Ow," he said, rubbing his arm, but he was still laughing. And for some reason it made Judy very, very annoyed.

"You could've said something if it bothered you," she snapped. "Let's hope Winter doesn't find out."

Nick's smile vanished, "Why would-"

"Sorry about that," Lionheart sat down across from them again. "I love that guy, he has the best jokes. So, tell me how the ZPD is handling these fights. They never tell me anything anymore."

Judy was still feeling prickly; Nick straightened up, "To be honest sir we didn't find out about this until after the weekend."

"Oh?"

"We were visiting Judy's family at Bunnyburrow," he continued. "Nice place, Bunnyburrow, and Judy has tons of siblings, I'd say they'd overpopulate Zootopia." He smiled his charming smile at Lionheart, "It actually made me wish I had siblings. What about you, mayor? Ever wished you had some siblings to run around with as a cub?"

Clever fox, Judy grudgingly admired.

Lionheart frowned in thought, "Maybe… personally I liked being the center of attention when I was a cub. It may have been fun but unless my aging mother decided to adopt it's something I'll have to live without."

"But what about Lucy," Judy blurted out before covering her mouth with both paws, she hadn't been able to help it. She had expected Lionheart to be saddened to talk about his sister but to pretend she didn't exist? Nick sighed.

Lionheart's eyes narrowed, "Who told you about Lucy?"

"Sir, we were told she escaped and have proof that she is in the city," Judy threw caution to the wind. "And we were hoping maybe you could tell us something to help find her?"

"I haven't seen nor heard from her for years," Lionheart said seriously, standing up, "I can't help."

"Mayor Lionheart, you must know something," Nick tried.

"She's your sister," Judy continued.

"That's enough," Lionheart snapped, making them go silent. "It was nice seeing you both, but I think its time I go home, I'd suggest you both do the same."

Lionheart departed Sebastian's Sushi and had disappeared by the time Nick and Judy walked out.

"Real smooth, Carrots," Nick told her, unable to hold back his aggravation.

"We didn't have all night, Nick," Judy said with equal irritation. "A dangerous criminal is out there now, wreaking havoc."

"Some things require patience," Nick argued, "You can't force everyone to comply; you have to meet them halfway, talk to them."

"She's his sister," Judy repeated, sounding more upset than angry now. "How can he just act like she never existed?"

"Because she's dangerous and psychotic," Nick told her bluntly, "I'd try to forget her too."

Judy shook her head, "I just can't imagine being that way to your sibling, no matter how awful they are. You don't get it Nick; you never had brothers or sisters."

They were silent for a long moment before Nick spoke up, "I'm tired, and it's getting late."

She nodded, "Come on, I'll drive you home."

"I can walk," he replied tersely, "See you tomorrow, Carrots."

She watched him walk away and felt almost…hollow. "Good night."

.

Judy was so caught up on the disastrous dinner, Lionheart refusing to help with the Ironclaw case, knowing she was out there now, mysterious and deadly, Nick thinking it was the funniest thing that animals might think them a couple.

She shook her head at the last one and nearly ran over an animal because of it.

She screeched the car to a halt and jumped out of the car to console the animal that had just had his life flash before his eyes.

"I'm so, so, sorry," she began but stopped when she got a good look at the stranger.

He was a rabbit, his fur a deep shade of reddish brown and his eyes dark blue like the night sky, Judy suddenly felt self-conscious when the extremely handsome rabbit's eyes landed on her.

"I'm really sorry," she repeated.

The rabbit shook his head as if trying to clear it, "No, no, it's okay. Accidents happen, no harm done, true you may have scared a few years off my life but all the more reason to live in the moment.

She chuckled awkwardly. "I-I'm-"

"Officer Judy Hopps," he replied then smiled at her confused look, "Every rabbit knows about you, not only were you the very first officer rabbit but you also solved the Night Howler case."

Judy felt her cheeks heat up, "Uh, m-my friend Nick, he helped."

The rabbit nodded like he already knew this two then offered a paw, "I'm Percival Sprintly, but please call me Percy, all my friends do."

"Percy," Judy smiled and shook his paw, "It's very nice to meet you."

"And it's a pleasure to meet you, Judy; I really am a big fan."

She sighed happily, "I needed to hear that."

"Well, I loved to stay and chat but it's late and I have some errands to run," Percy told her, "I already missed dinner with my boss. But maybe you'll almost run over me again and we can go out for some coffee."

"That sounds nice," Judy agreed, "I'll be looking forward to nearly running you over again."

He laughed and walked over to the safety of the sidewalk, waving goodbye as he vanished around a corner. As Judy got back into her car and drove home, the hollow feeling from earlier had started to fill in.