Chapter 7: A day to prove yourself
Nick slept in his normal position, with his mouth open and a paw carelessly draped over the bed side. He was slowly waking up as he heard shushed voices.
"He's not so scary."
"Look at his teeth, they're so big and sharp."
"I bet he could eat you in one bite, Charlie."
"He's so fluffy."
Nick was startled completely awake by someone stroking his fur. He shot up in bed and pressed against the headboard seeing that he was surrounded by dozens of bunny kits. He looked around and smiled nervously, causing their eyes to widen. They all rushed to him, piling on top of him, all trying to hug him or feel his fur.
"Ahk!" he yelled, hoping someone would come to help him.
He heard giggling, not like the kits, then Judy said "Okay guys, let Nick go. He needs to breath." The kits all "Aw-ed" but listened to their big sister.
"Thanks Fluff, I'm not sure I could of made it out of their alive, I can't handle all that fluffy-ness at once." Nick said to Judy as he got up and got dressed.
"Well, if you drowned in my siblings, I'd have to deal with my parents all alone, and I'm not doing that." she jokingly responded.
Nick thought for a moment and said "Yeah, speaking of that, you have any suggestions?"
Judy rolled her eyes and shook her head, "Nick, just be yourself, I'm sure they'll love you, and if they don't, I do and that's all that matters anyway."
Nick grinned and continued to get ready for the day. What did I do to deserve her he thought to himself. They made they're way to the dinning room and got breakfast. As the meal came to an and, the kits were running around, preparing for school. Nick and Judy watched them and wondered what it will be like for them to have kits of their own.
"Huh..."
Nick looked over to Judy, confusion evident on his face "What is it?"
Judy looked to him with a smile "Oh, I just thought about how a baby fox and a baby rabbit are both called kits." sparking a thought from Nick. Like it's meant to be...
Nick looked to Stu "Is there anything I can do to help prepare for today?"
Stu considered this before saying "No, Bonnie already packed the food and there isn't much else to do."
Nick nodded and began to pick up plates and move to the kitchen, to the slight surprise of Stu. He greeted Bonnie and offered to help clean up. She was happy for the help and they began a discussion.
"So, ..."
"Nick, Please."
"Okay, Nick, I don't know you all that well, but I'm convinced you're a good mammal."
"Thank you , I was so worried no one would even give me a chance."
"Well, Stu is stubborn, but if you can convince him you're a good mammal, he'll warm up to you."
"Thanks, I hope you're right."
She smiled at him and they finished cleaning in silence.
They all loaded into the truck, though Nick had to sit in the back since there wasn't enough room and Judy joined him. The ride to the trail was silent, but Nick was content to listen to the sounds of the country.
They arrived and began the hike. Nick offered to carry the basket and blanket, and because he was a larger mammal than the rabbits, they were happy to let him help.
"So, Nick, what did you do before you became a police officer." Stu asked.
Nick sighed and said "Honestly, I was a con-mammal. I'm happy Judy came along and saved me from that life."
Stu considered this then said "Well, at least you're honest."
Nick snicked and said "Well...I am now." causing they group to share a small laugh and Judy gave him a small kiss on the cheek.
They arrived at their location and Nick set down their stuff as he took in the scenery.
They were by the river, surrounded on all sides by a variety of trees. The water was rushing to fast to swim in, but would be a nice place to fish.
Bonnie set up the blanket and the picnic basket so they could eat. Nick was glad to see some bugs set aside for him to eat.
They enjoyed the meal and Nick told some of his funnier stories from his conning days.
"And Finnick is pissed and jumped on the guy. He looked like a kit trying to get a piggy-back ride."
The group laughed, but their laughter was cut short by the sound of a weapon being cocked. They turned to the sound to see a raccoon holding a shotgun.
"Give me everything valuable, and I might let you go." he said flatly.
Nick immediately had a plan as he got up and spoke "Hey buddy, listen, this doesn't have to happen." as he moved toward the raccoon.
"Shut up and sit down." he responded.
Nick shook his head and continued his approach "Not gonna do that. Listen, this ends two ways, either you put down the gun and walk, or..." but before he finished, he lunged at the mammal, grabbing the gun and and elbowing him at the same time. The Hopps watched in horror, none more than Judy, as the two struggled for control. Finally, Nick managed to get the gun away from the raccoon and pushed him down, aiming the gun at him.
"Judy, come cuff this idiot for me, will you." Nick said smugly. Judy cuffed the raccoon and Nick walked off with him. The rabbits recovered from their shock and cleaned up to run after Nick.
They reached the truck and Nick apologized that the day was cut short but Bonnie and Stu would have none of it. They drove to the local station and dropped off the perp. They continued to the Hopps family home and Nick and Judy began packing. Nick finished and went to the living room to wait for Judy.
"Hey Nick." Stu called.
Nick walked over to him and was about to apologize again before Stu spoke. "Listen, I know I wasn't giving you a fair chance, but now I've seen what kind of mammal you are. Listen, I'm happy you and my daughter met, and I'm going to accept you, okay Nick."
Nick was overjoyed that Stu had finally accepted him an d without thinking, hugged the rabbit.
After releasing the rabbit, nick thanked him and suddenly, something popped into his mind. "Sir, though, I don't plan on doing it yet, I wanted to ask you, just in case we don't meet again for a while, can I have your blessing to marry your daughter when the time comes."
Stu was taken aback by that but confidently answered "Nick, you should have opened with that. Yes, when the time comes, you have my blessing."
Nick smiled and the two of them shook paws. Soon after, Judy came out, ready to go.
"You ready to head back to the big city Cottontail." Nick said as they made their way to the truck.
"Definitely, don't get me wrong, I love being back, but we have a big case to attend to." She responded, hopping into the truck.
Nick loaded their luggage into the truck bed and they went to the train station. Judy hugged her dad good by and boarded the train, Stu pulled Nick into a hug and whispered "Make her happy and don't let her go."
They got on the train and went to their seats.
Judy turned to Nick and asked, "What did my dad say to you?"
Nick decided not to hide anything and said "He said not to let you go. I don't think he Knows foxes mate for life."
Judy was stunned. "Wait, so that means that when we..."
Nick was surprised she didn't know and finished her thought "Yes, when we mated, we were bonded for life."
Judy got teary-eyed and hugged Nick tightly. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, he slept with her, knowing what it meant for him. She was suddenly overwhelmed with love for her fox as she cried into his shirt.
Nick knew why she was crying and said "Judy, I love you. I can't imagine myself with anyone else."
They stared deeply into each others eyes and leaned in for a kiss.
"Get a room! Disgusting." some mammal yelled at them.
They both felt embarrassed, thinking it was their "PDA" that encouraged this outburst...until Judy heard him say "Fox and a rabbit, there should be a law against that filth."
Judy turned to Nick, planting the deepest kiss she could manage and nuzzled him, much to the disgust of some closed-minded mammals, and took his paw to lead him to the observation deck, knowing no one was up there at the moment.
Once they were up there, Judy turned to hug Nick tightly for support.
"I'm not complaining Carrots, but what was all that about?" Nick asked tentatively.
Judy sniffled and said "Those bigoted...assholes that can't just mind their own business."
Nick understood. He had grown used to glares and derogatory comments just for being a fox, he hadn't realized the toll it took on Judy. He fell to his knees to be eye level with her and pulled her into a tight embrace. He looked deep into her lavender eyes and could see the uncertainty building, so he did the only thing he could think of and began marking her.
Caught off guard, Judy asked "Nick...why..."
He already had an answer "I want everyone down there to know that you're mine. I don't care what they think, I love you and you love me, that's all that matters. Everyone that disagrees with us can go fuck themselves."
Judy began to smile and nuzzled against his neck, then she began to mark him as well.
They returned to the main car and were met with a mix of reactions as mammals noticed their combined scents. Some didn't care, some smiled at them, some scowled. They returned to their seats and Nick wrapped his arm around Judy, who the grabbed his paw with both of hers and leaned against him, snuggling into his chest.
A male rabbit somewhere said, hoping they would hear, "What a waste, she seemed pretty yet she let a fox trick her."
Judy didn't want to let that go so she said to the rabbit "If anything, you're a waste you bigoted excuse for a rabbit. Nick is twice the mammal you are."
The rabbit glared at her then walked away, knowing he couldn't win this.
As more and more mammals moved away from the pair, others moved closer to them, some even trying to start up a conversation with the couple. One pair caught their eyes as they moved to sit buy Nick and Judy, a male lynx and a vixen, holding paws.
"Hello officer Hopps, officer Wilde." the vixen started.
Judy suddenly liked these two and said, "Please, Nick and Judy."
"Okay..." she said "we just wanted to thank you two."
"What for?" Nick asked.
The two of them looked at each other and, at the same time, said "For showing us it's possible."
Nick and Judy felt warm at their comment and they continued "We had feelings for each other for a while, but were nervous."
"We were worried what others would think, our friends, family, everyone really." continued the lynx.
"But then we saw you two on the news and we decided that we weren't going to hide it anymore."
"So I finally asked Allia to go out with me."
Nick and Judy looked at the couple, happy they could make a difference for them when the vixen, Allia, continued "Now, I know it isn't exactly like you guys, but we are technically a pred-prey couple."
Judy looked to Nick, confusion in her eyes.
Nick shook his head and explained "Lynxes used to hunt and prey on foxes."
Judy was surprised but understood. The four of them continued to talk until the train made it to Zootopia. They said their good byes went their separate ways, ready to go home after the long train ride.
Nick and Judy walked into Nick's apartment and sat down. Judy decided she wanted it to be their apartment so she asked Nick, "Hey Nick..."
Nick turned to her and tilted his head. "Mmhmm, what is it Carrots?"
Judy breathed and asked him "Well, I was wondering if, you know, since we are mates, if I could move in. Permanently."
Nick's muzzle curved into a huge smile as he said "I thought you would never ask. We can swing by your apartment and get your things tomorrow after work, how's that sound?"
Judy couldn't contain her excitement as she jumped into Nick's arms, thanking him.
The two of them decided to turn in early because they knew the next few days would be rough for them. They went to bed, both contented with what is happening, and dreading what the future held for them.
