"Detective Hopps," said Doctor Gato, sitting across from the despondent rabbit. "You have to talk to me if we're going to make progress."
"I've answered all your questions, Doctor," Judy said, the protein-bond sealing the slash on her face itched fiercely. "What more is there to say?"
"I've read your report about what happened," Doctor Gato said, smiling warmly. "In my professional opinion, there's plenty to talk about."
"Seems to be the popular opinion," Judy scoffed, a sour smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. "Book deals, exclusive interviews, I even heard Marten Scorsese is working on commissioning a screenplay. 'Water Under the Bridge', he's calling it."
"That's a bit on the nose," said Doctor Gato.
"It's a working title."
Gato tapped her pen on her notepad, drawing Judy's attention to her. "We're not here to talk about that, we're here to talk about you."
'In case you forgot what you're here for!' Judy shuddered, the healing slash on her face burned.
"Judy?"
"I'm fine!" Judy snapped, unconsciously rubbing her throbbing cheek. "I answered all your questions! I'm sleeping all right, I'm eating, and I'm healthy! Nothing's wrong!"
Gato shook her head, her tone gentle. "No one's saying there's anything wrong. This isn't about you answering questions or diagnosing mental health, Judy, it's about how you feel."
"I feel fine," Judy said, looking out the window; children played in the park across the street, in their hands were plastic water guns with which they sprayed each other into a giggling frenzy.
"About everything?" Gato said, pointedly; Judy knew exactly what she omitted from the query.
"Detective Wilde's bloodwork has come back clean, he's completely clear of any Nighthowler contamination." Judy felt anger welling up in her with uncharacteristic speed, threatening to bubble over. "He'll be fine."
Doctor Gato sensed this and nodded. "Then I suppose we're done for today."
"Same time tomorrow?" Judy said wanly, knowing the answer.
"That's right, Detective," Doctor Gato said with a nod, getting up and opening the door. "I would like for you to reconsider your petition to return to work."
"Professional opinion?" Judy said, flintily.
"Personal observation," Gato clarified. "You just went through a terrible trauma and someone dear to you is in a coma. To me, you are showing atypical signs of repressed anxiety and posttraumatic stress. But, as you say, you are eating, sleeping, and appear fully functional and stable. I stress 'appear'; the fact that we have not found your trigger does not preclude the possibility of future incidents. I will submit my findings to the board."
"Are shrinks supposed to tell their patients stuff like that?" Judy said, grinding her teeth.
"No, but I want you to consider my opinion from a professional point of view. Would you support someone who's been through what you have to return to any job, much less one as stressful as law enforcement, after just one week? You've no doubt seen the results of PTSD in your time on the force."
"Are you implying I'd hurt someone?" Judy said, outraged.
"Yourself, more likely," said Gato.
Judy shook her head and left the room. "I'll think about it."
Judy stormed down the hall, giving the receptionist a terse goodbye as she left.
She nearly broke into a sprint getting to be car, it was early in the afternoon and the sun had yet to reach its zenith, but it was already too hot, too late; Nick had been open to visitors for nearly two hours, and time was ticking. Nick was waiting.
It had been an eternity since the paramedics, under heavy guard from the ZPDs largest, loaded Nick into the ambulance to be shipped off to quarantine. Since then, every request for a visit was rebuffed as the unusual nature of the poisoning meant that the antidote merely broke the cycle between catalyst and stored agents. Each day there was less and less of the catalyst in his system until, late the other night, the tests finally came back negative. He was safe to visit.
Except...
In five days of constant surveillance Nick never regained consciousness. While the toxin was no longer active in his system, the injuries he sustained in his gruesome fight with Grigori had put titanic strain on his body.
When questioned, his doctor simply shrugged and said: "I'm not used to seeing injuries like this outside of industrial or vehicular accidents. For someone who's sustained wounds of this nature, a small period of unresponsiveness is not altogether uncommon."
That was three days ago.
The angry bitterness in the pit of her stomach roiled and percolated, her hands gripped and twisted the cover of the steering wheel. She grit her teeth and coiled her fist back like a spring and loosed it, denting the hard plastic of her dashboard.
A jolt of pain shot up her arm followed by a radiating throb. Judy huffed and flexed her hand; in a way, it was liberating, there was some measure of catharsis was to be had in the pain. It cleared her mind, damped the coiled acid-thing in her gut. She felt like she could be around people again.
She pulled up to the hospital and her improved mood was obliterated instantly; waiting for her outside the hospital was a throng of press. The scavengers caught her scent (or saw her car) and began to whip themselves into a frenzy, clamoring around her vehicle as it parked.
"Detective! Detective!" A bovine reporter lowed. "It is true that the terrorists were hired by the Reptiles?"
"Is Detective Wilde still savage?" said another.
A particularly shrill rabbit clambered over the other reporters. "Can you comment on the exact nature of your relationship with Detective Wilde?"
'You're about to thank your lucky stars that we're so close to a hospital!' Judy fumed, preparing to swing her door open and make her way through the crowd one way or another.
A knocking from above her head drew her attention; a familiar trunk waved at her through the sunroof.
Judy sighed in relief. "Francine?"
The trunk nodded and signed, 'need a lift?'
Judy flashed a thumbs-up out the driver's side window and opened the sunroof. The trunk wasted little time and plucked her from her car. Judy was hoisted up above the clamoring throng and placed gingerly on Francine's gigantic shoulder.
"Thanks, Franky," Judy said, patting her shoulder as the huge elephant strode through the crowd.
"It's nothing," Francine replied. "After what you've been through, you don't need to take shit from anyone, especially the press."
Francine set Judy down on the hospital steps and bellowed at the reporters attempting to follow. Judy looked over at the receptionist, the same young oryx from before, and approached the desk.
"Room 055," she said quietly. "They've been waiting for you."
Without a word, Judy set off down the hallway. She immediately saw the clot of blue uniforms at the other end, half of precinct one must have turned out. Officer McHorn was comforting a blubbering Clawhauser as Fangmeyer and Delgato exchanged hushed words, words that were as clear and sharp as cloister bells to Judy's ears.
"I'd heard he was in bad shape, but I had no idea!" Delgato whispered. "A bobcat did that to him?"
"Lynx," Fangmeyer corrected. "And you should have seen the guy, I wouldn't want to fight him without back-up. He broke a buffalo's neck, for God's sake!"
"And Wilde killed him?" Delgato said, astonished.
"Chewed off the back of his goddamn head!" Fangmeyer smirked. "Remind me to keep on his good side once he wakes up."
"If he wakes up," Delgato said, somberly.
"Shh! Shut up! Here she comes!"
A hush fell over the assorted officers as Judy approached. Clawhauser sniffled and opened the door for her. "The Chief's in there with Nick's Mom. How're you holding up?"
"As well as can be expected." Judy turned and walked through the door. "Excuse me."
The hospital room was festooned with flowers and drawings that ranged from crayon doodles scrawled by children, to tasteful and impressive portraits. Mayor Ketchikan had made a point to play up the 'heroic' deeds of Zootopia's star officers, and the public had responded in kind. Judy suspected that the impressive floral display and outpouring of gifts in the room was only a fraction of what the hospital received.
It should have warmed her heart.
Judy looked over at Chief Bogo, towering over a distraught Mrs. Wilde as she sat at her son's side. The look on the enormous, surly buffalo's face was soft and gentle; his hand on her shoulder was comforting and sincere. They both looked over and saw her.
"Judy!" Mrs Wilde cried, she got to her feet and pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm so glad you could make it!"
"Nothing could keep me away," Judy said, softly, looking over in Nick's general direction, unable to actually look at her stricken partner. "Nothing."
"Nick, honey," Mrs. Wilde said, gently patting his still hand. "Judy's here. We're all here for you, Nicky."
"Mrs. Wilde," Bogo said gingerly. "We'll just be a moment. Hopps, with me."
Judy looked back at Nick and his mother before turning and heading out the door. Bogo made sure the door was shut before he addressed the assembled officers in his characteristic commanding tone. "Well? Wilde's here, you've all had a gawk, now get your blubbering asses back to P-1 before this city eats itself alive! On the double, we can't expect those lily-hides at P-2 to pick up our slack! Move it, people, move it!"
She stood off to the side as Zootopia's finest filed out, each of them muttering quick, sincere well wishes as they did. The last was Clawhauser, his eyes were red and the fur beneath them was damp and matted, he extended his hand to her. Judy smiled wanly and took it, patting the top of his hand. Bogo strode in and shooed the cheetah away with a curt snort.
Once alone, Bogo turned to Judy, a scowl on his face. "I haven't had the chance to say this yet, but that was an incredibly stupid thing you did."
"I know," Judy said quietly.
"It was reckless, dangerous, foolhardy, and, I repeat, just incredibly stupid!" Bogo leaned against the wall and sighed. "And, it just so happens that it was the right decision."
"So, I'm not fired?" Judy said, a wan smile on her face.
"That was never even on the table, Hopps," Bogo said with a smirk. "I just wanted to let you know that you don't get points for heroism, only scars or worse."
Judy rubbed her face and sighed. "No offense, sir, but think I figured that one out all by myself."
There was a pause between them; the ambient sounds of the hospital filled the air, the beeps of machines, the taps of feet, the squeak of a gurney as it rolled by.
It was Bogo who broke the silence. "Your petition to return to active duty has been denied."
"What?!" Judy said, snapping around to face him. "But I'm fine! I don't care what Gato says-"
"Neither do I," Bogo interrupted. "I haven't even read her report. I don't care what the shrink says, that doesn't enter into it. You're taking a one week paid vacation."
"But-!"
Bogo fixed her with a glare that killed the words in her throat, when he spoke his words were measured and calm. "I've been doing this for thirty years, Hopps. How many times do you think I've seen hard-nosed, tough cops like you get knocked down a peg?" Judy opened her mouth to respond, Bogo continued. "More than I care to remember. It happens all the time, Hopps, and it never changes. People like you get hurt, see others get hurt, or see people they love get hurt, and they all think that the best thing for it is to bury themselves and their feelings in work. Well, it's not. It never works. You need time and you need honesty, with others and with yourself. That's the only thing that will do you any good. So, a week of paid vacation, if you give me any more lip, I'll make it a month. Do you understand?"
Judy scowled at the floor and nodded. She turned to re-enter the room when she felt a huge, heavy hand settle on her shoulder. "It's not your fault, Hopps. Hindsight is 20/20, and you could have waited for back up or gone for help. But you didn't know that, you couldn't have known that. You did a stupid, foolhardy thing, but you had good reason to. That's more than most people in your position have. The fact that any of us are alive at all is thanks to you and Wilde. You're both damn good cops."
Judy paused, staring at the door her hand was resting on. Without warning, she spun around and hugged Bogo's leg, her eyes wet with tears. "Thanks, Chief."
"Hopps," Bogo grumbled, a very faint blush warming his ears. "You have five seconds."
"Hush," she said, squeezing harder. "I'm not on duty and this is part of my therapy."
Bogo sighed and relented, patting her on the back. "You did good, Hopps. Wilde, too. ...Be there when he wakes up." Judy looked up at Bogo, her face must have betrayed something because Bogo set his hand on her shoulder, his expression stern. "When he wakes up."
Judy felt fresh tears well up in her eyes, she saluted and nodded.
Judy entered the room; Mrs. Wilde sat next to her son, a letter in her hands. "...'Mr. Wilde, when I saw on the news that you were hurt I wanted to write you and wish you well. You stopped the bad guys from doing whatever it was they were doing. I think you are 'sooooo' cool, and when I grow up I want to be a police officer like you. I hope you get better soon and get back on the streets. Zootopia is safer with you around. Thank you for saving me, my mom and dad, my pet scorpion Prong, and my sister I guess. From: Gavin Cederchuck.'" Mrs. Wilde sighed happily and laughed. "Sounds like you have a fan, lovey."
"Hey, Mrs. Wilde," Judy said quietly, walking over to the bed. "Reading letters?"
"Please, Judy, call me Betty. They say that even in a coma, people can hear what's being said around them," Mrs. Wilde said, passing a handful of letters to Judy. "I think it's important that Nick knows how much people appreciate him."
Judy looked over at Nick for the first time in a week; the swelling was still noticeable and his rich, luxurious fur had been shaved away a week prior, not even covering up the black protein bonds from where the surgeons had reassembled his shattered face. Judy felt a pang of guilt, if she had waited for him they could have taken the trio together, he might not have been put through so much suffering; he'd be awake right now.
Judy felt a hand grasp hers; she looked up to see Betty's smiling face. Judy picked up an envelope and opened it, reading the blocky, childish scrawl inside. "Dear Detective Wilde. It's Jimmy Bandedson from the Junior Ranger Scouts. Remember when you broke Scoutleader Chip's arm for teaching us to steal and the bone stuck out and it sounded like breaking celery? I was the zebra who threw up mini-bites on your back."
Judy stopped reading and snickered, remembering when Nick had stormed into the precinct one day reeking of vomit; his only explanation was 'it's mini-bites' before storming off to the showers. Judy began to laugh, clapping a hand over her mouth to stop it from becoming hearty guffaws. She failed. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she laughed hysterically, all the guilt and sadness and fear that had plagued her for that long, painful week was washed away by the mental image of Nick being painted by regurgitated Chef Boy-Ar-Degus. Betty reached over and patted her on the back, beginning to giggle herself.
Judy calmed down and grabbed his hand, smiling genuinely for the first time in days. "Sorry about that, Nick. Just remembering how well you wore that pasta."
She regarded him again, his face was swollen and bruised, but less than it had been. His fur was essentially peach fuzz over the black surgical scars, but it was growing in just as thick as it was before. She probably wouldn't even see them by tomorrow.
It may have been her imagination, but Judy felt his fingers clench around her hand.
Things were looking up.
It was the next day and City Hall was bustling, visible even from afar. Aside from the seemingly inescapable press mobs there was also a lively picket marching back and forth in front of the main administrative building. Predator, Prey, large and small, all could be seen toting signs and chanting a slogan of some kind. Judy swished her carrot juice around in the glass, the ice cubes clacking together dully, and looked out the tinted window of the limo as she took a sip. One of the Mayor's secret service goons, a tallish wolf in a nice suit, had been kind enough to drop by with a summons and a smile that never quite reached his eyes, eyes that now sized her up from across the cab. She wasn't overly fond of the looks; they spoke of someone on guard, someone plotting out a plan of attack. She wasn't nervous, though, she had a close relationship with the owner of the limo company (as well a few other fascinating enterprises), so any funny business on behalf of the ZIA spook was likely to end poorly.
"Is it true?" he said, still sizing her up with wary eyes. "You killed Finnegan McNulty?"
Judy blinked in surprise; she rallied quickly and cleared her throat, shaking her head. "That would be my partner. Grigori and Elim, too. I didn't kill any of them."
"Ah," he said, not looking at all surprised. "Rumors and such, you understand."
"Sorry to disappoint," Judy muttered, looking out the window again, the protests must have been holding up traffic, because the gridlock was unreal.
"Hardly!" the wolf said, laughing. "You just don't seem the type."
"Excuse me?"
"Well," the wolf said, scooting down the seat until he was sitting opposite from her. "My line of work, you see a lot of tough guys and hard-asses. Real 'drink fire and shit ice' folk. Not a one of them could have stone-faced Shark like you did. Hell, no one I've met could have gotten the Mangler in an arm-bar, either! So, when I say you don't seem the type, it's a compliment, because those that do couldn't do what you did."
Judy rolled her eyes and tapped her healing cheek. "I've got a keepsake for my trouble, not to mention a bruise the size of my head on my ribs. Maybe those tough guys and hard-asses have something I don't, like an ounce of common sense."
"You're better off than most people who went toe-to-toe with those monsters. Your partner, too, seeing as how you're both still breathing." The wolf smiled and shook his head. "I'm impressed, is what I'm trying to say. You're pretty tough for a bunny."
'For a bunny,' Judy thought, looking back out the window. "Thanks. That means a lot, Mr…?"
"Quinlan Barker, ZIA," Quinlan said, offering his hand.
"Charmed." Judy took his hand and shook it. "Now, how did you know about my 'impressive' accomplishments? I was under the impression that the security systems were down."
"Normally, I'd say that's classified," Quinlan said, leaning back and crossing his arms. "But since you're technically part of this investigation, I'll tell you. The Cipher, you know him as Richard, never liked to shut down a system completely, as it was easy to notice afterwards during an investigation. Nah, he just hooks it all up so that the system doesn't recognize the incoming data, making the cameras seem busted. All the video still gets recorded, it's just that no-one sees it as it happens, and it gets erased once the program is removed, i.e. when the job is done. See, there's a reason these guys have a reputation."
Judy nodded and sighed, part of her wanted to see how Nick managed to save the city while she was playing straight-face with a lunatic. Also, "What do you mean 'technically' a part of this investigation?"
Quinlan smirked and shook his head. "I'm not that brave. You'll have to take that up with the committee. Besides, we're here."
Judy looked out the window again; the limo had pulled up to the very steps of City Hall, the parking lot and much of the sidewalks taken up by picket lines and protesters.
"Funny, isn't it?" Quinlan said. "The way these folk carry on, you'd think a little Nighthowler got out. I've yet to see a terrorist cell that was stopped by catchy chants and cardboard signs!"
"They're just scared," Judy said, her ears drooping. "Someone almost killed them, their families, and they couldn't do anything about it. No one wants to feel helpless, and this eases that, I suppose."
"Just a bunch of shouting and bluster," Quinlan said, snidely. "Well? Better get out there, Detective. You're just about the only person in the world they want to see walking into City Hall. Go sedate the masses."
Judy rolled her eyes and opened the door, stepping out into the unforgiving sun. "Pleasure speaking with you, Agent Barker."
"Pleasure's all mine, Detective." He reached over and beat his fist on the driver's window. "Hey! I'm a little peckish, how about taking me to a drive-thru? Heh! Always wanted to take a limo through a drive-thru."
Quinlan shut the door with a slam. The driver, a burly tiger, leaned towards the passenger window where Judy could see him. He drew his clawed finger across his throat and shot her a questioning look. Judy shook her head and waved him on, the driver shrugged and pulled away. Judy turned around and ascended the steps to City Hall, trying to ignore the roar of the crowd behind her.
"Detective Hopps," Mayor Ketchikan said, beckoning her. "Do come in."
Judy nodded and entered the meeting room. In attendance around the large, glossy polished wood table were several important looking figures. A few she recognized, like much of Ketchikan's inner circle, the district attorney, and Agent Bales of Interpol, but there were more than a few new faces. ZIA, no doubt.
"I trust you noticed the smattering of concerned citizens outside," Ketchikan drawled. "Let's cut the shit and get right down to brass tacks: I need your guarantee that this is the last we'll hear of this Nighthowler business."
"Sir?" Judy said, a confused smile on her face.
Ketchikan did not smile back. "I need you, Judy Hopps, to come out and put this matter to rest. We need it on record from a source people trust that this is the last we'll hear of this god forsaken plot."
Judy paused, trying to formulate a response that involved as few curse words as possible. "I'm sorry, Sir. I can't do that."
The committee sat in silence, all eyes on her. Judy took this as a tacit 'explain yourself' and continued. "You see, there's still the issue of the contamination, not to mention the people who put it there. Our first course of action should be the immediate apprehension of all OmniGreen and Bug Burga's upper management for questioning. Food recalls are a must, as well as-"
"Detective Hopps," Mayor Ketchikan said, sternly. "There will be no investigation of either Bug Burga or OmniGreen."
Judy's eyes went wide. "What?!"
The District Attorney, a puma named James Leon, spoke next. "The legal battle would cost the city immensely, and any and all evidence of criminal wrongdoing has long since been destroyed or covered up. At present, finding and convicting those responsible is almost nil. Our energy would be better spent on damage control."
"I can't believe this!" Judy exclaimed. "Someone out there tried to exterminate this city and none of you are even going to try and catch them?!"
"Of course we are, Detective," one of the ZIA reps broke in. "We've already put together a list of potential suspects, we just can't break the case publicly, or even let it be known that half the poison was in the food. As far as anyone will know, the terrorists acted of their own volition, motivated by a fanatical hatred for Zootopia, and were going to dump a Nighthowler ultra-concentrate into the water. Meanwhile our operatives will work on finding out the exact nature of the poisoning and weed it out of the produce."
"Why?!" Judy cried, her heartbeat thudding in her ear. "Why all the cloak and dagger runaround? Those people out there and everyone in this room has been getting poisoned by the food company for the past God knows how long, and you're just going to cover it up?!"
"Calm down, Detective," said the ZIA agent. "Those responsible will be held accountable and the threat will be removed. Does the public really need to know more than it does now?"
"Was that a legitimate question?" Judy inquired, her tone flat and her gaze withering. "The people have a right to know how they're being attacked! If you brush this off as a bunch of extremists acting unilaterally, no one's going to be looking where they should be the next time it happens!"
"Next time?" Ketchikan said, nervously. "What makes you so sure they'll try again? Surely they know we'll have taken measures to protect the water supply?"
"They might not even go after the water next time, and there will be a next time! Elim, Grigori and Finn were just tools, pawns doing the dirty work; that goes for everyone on your fancy list, too. The mastermind is still at large, and they have the connections, capital, and the will to try again! We need to tell the people what's out there, for their own safety!"
" 'Their safety' !" Ketchikan scoffed. "This is for their safety! Imagine what would happen if people found out that the very food they depend on to survive has been compromised? Bug Burga-OmniGreen and their subsidiaries account for 95% of all food items grown and sold in all of Mammalia! Ten million jobs in Zootopia alone! Can you even begin to fathom the fallout if it were known that both were not only compromised, but semi-complicit in the largest attempted terrorist attack in recorded history? There would be massive unemployment! Riots! Panic! Farms would be razed to the ground! Vigilantes! Lynch mobs!"
'Mammal sacrifices! Foxes and bunnies living together! Mass hysteria!' Judy thought in Nick's voice. "We can't just lie! The truth will get out sooner or later!"
"It's not a lie, Hopps," the ZIA agent cooed, as though speaking to a child. "A dangerous bunch with a nasty past came together and tried to trigger a massive Nighthowler epidemic. That is what happened, isn't it? There's already enough fear and paranoia out there, do you really want to make it worse?"
Judy clenched her fists and sighed. "Give me some time to...prepare. Two days."
"Granted!" Mayor Ketchikan said happily. "I'll announce it later today. Full press coverage! Trust me, Hopps, you're doing far more for the city this way!"
"Hm," Judy grunted. "Is there anything else you wanted to discuss, Mr. Mayor?"
"Yes, there is." Ketchikan notched his spectacles down his snout. "Emmet, if you would?"
One of the Mayor's bodyguards stepped forward and presented Judy with a largish wooden box; it was a lacquered hardwood of some kind that had been sanded and polished to an immaculate finish. He opened it to reveal a very regal and expensive-looking decanter of scotch resting on a Tyrian purple velvet cushion, affixed to the lid of the box in velvet-lined alcoves were two ornate crystal glasses. "Loch Glenriach sixty year old single malt port finish. Only one hundred gallons were ever distilled, half of which was lost in the Great Emerald Islands Fire of '25. Said to have the most sublimely intricate and delicate flavor in high society scotch drinking circles, all inside a Lalique crystal decanter. For Detective Wilde, when he wakes up."
Judy gaped at the gift, she had learned enough from being around Nick on his infrequent scotch benders to know she could very well be looking at something literally priceless. "Sir...I don't know what to say."
"Your gift, of course, is forthcoming. You're a difficult person to shop for," Ketchikan tapped the table for a moment, his eyes distant. "I may be a loud, officious, vainglorious podium-thumper, but don't think for a second that I don't appreciate what you and Detective Wilde did for all of us. Heh! Not even I would want the distinction of being Zootopia's last mayor! Also...my little girl was at a water park that day...thank you, Detective. If you ever need anything, anything at all, you need only ask."
"Sir, I-"
Ketchikan smiled warmly. "Please, call me Karl."
"Karl..." Judy said, smirking. "Give your little girl my regards."
Judy down the hospital hallway, her face grim and determined, 'I have two days to track Boss down and dismantle a massive, genocidal organization. As Nick would say, 'must be Tuesday'!'
Her ears perked as she approached his room, there was laughter emanating from the slightly ajar door, a man's laughter. Judy hurried over and swung open the door. Sitting around Nick was his mother, a wheelchair-bound Richie, and a large, muscular hyena woman.
Richie grinned and waved his hook at her. "Judy! Come on in! The Hulk and I were just getting to know Slick's sister, here!"
Mrs Wilde giggled at the compliment, waving him off. "Richie! Honestly, you are incorrigible!"
"Tell me about it!" the hyena said, with a snort. "Guy rolls into my room, waves his stump around and says 'gonna go out on a limb here, but I think we know a guy'! You have to laugh to stop yourself from crying!"
Judy giggled and patted Richie on the shoulder. "Well, our mutual acquaintance won't be bothering anyone else."
"Yeah," Richie said, his smile fading. "They got what was coming to them, sure enough. But even after everything, I still wish that, I dunno, I coulda talked them out of it, out of the life. Maybe things could have been different? They were bad people, evil people, but they were all I had, my only friends."
Judy nodded and set a hand on his shoulder. "Not anymore."
The hyena hobbled over on crutches, her left foot was bandaged and splinted. "Hey there! My name's Rebecca, people just call me Beck. I met Dick over there a few days ago, he helped me, uh, handle the whole…ferret thing."
Judy reached out and patted her hand, noticing the bandage on her neck. "You were one of the security guards…I'm so sorry about your coworkers."
Beck smiled wanly and nodded. "Thanks. It helps, you know, to talk about it with someone who's been through it."
"We call ourselves Chew Toys Anonymous." Richie snickered. "We meet in the cafeteria and complain about the food every night at 8."
Beck reached over and swatted the chuckling dik-dik atop his head, Judy laughed and turned to Betty. "I have an amazing gift for Nick from Mayor Ketchikan, you may have to hold onto it for him, though."
Betty smiled and nodded, patting Judy on the shoulder. "A gift from the Mayor f-for my boy…" Betty's voice hitched as tears began to spill down her face, propping herself up on Nick's bed. "My baby boy…he was lost for long. But he'd found himself, he was getting better…"
Judy set her hand on Betty's arm. "He'll wake up. You have to stay strong, we all do."
Beck limped over, towering over the two, her massive hand on Betty's shoulder. "Mrs. Wilde, I came here to thank your son for saving me. I was bleeding out on the floor, crippled and scared…he patched me up and carried me out by himself, all two hundred pounds! W-what I'm trying to say is…thank you, ma'am. Your son is a hero, and you should be proud. If there's anything I can do to help you through this, you just ask!"
"Yeah!" Richie said, rolling over. "I can fix you up so you never have to pay for your cell phone, Wi-Fi, nothing! I can even get you a inside bid on some pretty juicy stocks!"
Judy rolled her eyes and shooed him away. "Richie! Nothing illegal! Hacking cell phones and…" A flash. "…Stocks. Richie!"
"Uh, yeah, Judy?" Richie said as he exchanged confused looks with the others. "What is it?"
"Did you guys have any way of contacting Boss?" Judy said, smiling frantically. "How did they contact you?"
Richie smirked. "We get all our job calls through Elim's cell. I tried tracing them the first time they called, but they had a whole bunch of proxies."
Judy's face fell. "You couldn't do it?"
"Not from a civvie set-up while trying to lay low," Richie smirked, his one eye glittering. "But if I had, say, cop hardware and no overhead? Well…that's a whole other story."
Judy laughed and hugged him, dashing around behind him and grabbing the handles of his chair. "Beck, Betty! We'll see you later, there's something I have to do!"
"Okay then, dear," Betty said. "We'll just…"
The door slammed shut, the sound of rapidly retreating footfalls and squeaking wheels echoed down the halls.
"…Stay here." Betty turned to Beck. "So, Rebecca! Do you know how to sew? Knit? Do needlepoint?"
"Naw! My mother wouldn't hear of it! As a girl I was always passed around from hockey, rugby, football, to bare-knuckle boxing! She'd say 'Beck, if'n you wanna do somethin' soft, you do it on your own time!' So, uh…" Beck looked around, making sure no one was listening in, "…yeah, I do. Y'know, as a hobby."
Betty smiled, producing knitting needles and yarn from her bag. "Show me what you got!"
Bogo stood outside the police station, his biggest and baddest at his side. He'd been expecting Hopps to call him up with some ridiculous lead to follow or some asinine theory that would most likely turn out to be right. Sure enough, she hadn't kept him waiting long and before he knew it he had a world-renowned criminal heading his way. Richardson was the least deadly quarter of the team, but he was far and away its most alive member, and if a tenth of what Bogo had heard about them was true, then the least deadly mammal was still deadly enough. Bogo bristled at the thought of aiding a known terrorist, but Hopps trusted him, and there was a point in every chief's life where a little faith was the only option. Besides, without Richardson helping Hopps, the whole ZPD would likely be backed into a corner by a savage mob or joining them in their frenzy. He smirked inwardly, he'd heard the little guy had quite the mouth on him, anyone with enough sand to back-sass after literally being chewed apart was worth a second look. The black sedan rolled up the parking lot, flanked by cruisers, their signals flashing red and blue.
"Here he comes," Delgato muttered, nervousness clear in his voice. "The Cipher."
"We have eyes, Delgato," Bogo said, quietly. "And stop trembling, it's bad for morale."
"Yeah!" Fangmeyer snickered. "He's just a dik-dik! He's their computer guy, that's all."
"What's a dik-dik?" Trunkaby asked.
"Like an antelope, but smaller, and with a weird nose." Fangmeyer said, smacking Delgato chidingly. "You're afraid of an itty-bitty antelope."
"Does it matter?" Delgato said, defensively. "One of these guys was a fucking ferret and he killed a bull elephant!"
"Whoa–wait–what?!" Trunkaby exclaimed.
"Shut." Bogo growled, turning around to glare at the officers. "Up."
The car pulled up and the door swung open. After a moment of silence the wheelchair access ramp whirred and set down on the sidewalk. The assembled cops stood in awkward silence as the agent in the front seat, someone who no doubt considered himself overqualified for such a job, scuttled out and over to the ramp to assist the tiny wheelchair onto the sidewalk, all while under an unrelenting barrage of venom from the diminutive figure in the chair.
"…City's in danger and all you're doing is checking your Muzzlebook page on your phone!" the tiny figure bellowed at his tiger handler. "And don't think I didn't see you checking out that puma chick! She's dating someone, you're married, and trust me, when a lady so much as thinks you're cheating, they can pull shit that would impress even me! And this is from the guy who got his customer a penny on every stock traded over the course of a year, that's more money than your wage-slave government allowance could put together in a century! Go get your girl a bouquet, you shmuck!"
The ZIA agent grumbled something foul as he pushed the invalid towards the cops. Chief Bogo stepped forward, acknowledging the ZIA agent with only as much respect and regard as was customary, quickly turning to his new associate. "Mr. Richardson. I'm Chief Bogo, I speak on behalf of the ZPD when I say that we are grateful for any assistance you can offer."
"Yeah, yeah," the dik-dik scoffed. "I have terms, so listen up."
Bogo leaned over, slowly, deliberately, to let the little antelope know how small he was; the smile on his face was neither comforting nor friendly as he snorted in his face. "Do tell.'
The Cipher responded by puffing a hard breath of air directly into Bogo's nostril, causing the burly buffalo to recoil as though bitten, sputtering and blinking at the sudden intrusion. Unimpressed, the dik-dik scratched his cheek with his hook hand. "One: my buddy Wilde had to go and threaten a doctor in order to save the city. Make that go away."
"We can't–" Bogo began, before the clicking of the hook in the armrest silenced him.
"Two: I wanna be hired on as one of your cyber-warfare desk-jockeys. Full benefits, everything. My chauffeur will give you all my witness-protection info, so you know who you're hiring for a change." The tiger standing behind the acerbic grazer stepped forward with a folder and handed it to Bogo.
"And third," Richie said, gesturing at the ZIA agent. "Could you please get this spook outta here? He's giving me a rash."
Bogo tucked the folder under his arm and gestured for the agent to leave, and not without a measure of satisfaction, either. When the tiger began to protest, the assembled officers rumbled their support for their chief and stepped in. The agent, not terribly invested in the wellbeing of his ward, shrugged and stepped back into the Sedan and drove off.
"Now," Richie said, smirking. "We're after the person who tried to murder you all and everyone you've ever known. All I need is a certain phone and a computer. The rest is up to me."
Bogo scowled at the little, crippled antelope, who returned the favor with his remaining eye. It dawned on him just how badly the dik-dik had been mutilated; his face was a mass of hard, intersecting lines of scarred flesh and sewn-up bite marks peppered his arms, to say nothing of his prostheses and the ruin that lay beneath his eye patch. Even his feet were braced and bandaged, as though they had been reassembled. He was a wheelchair-bound ungulate the size of a rabbit, and he was staring down a buffalo backed by a wolf, a tiger, and an elephant. Bogo smirked; this one had sand all right. "Right. Come along, then."
Judy pulled into the parking lot, a cold pit growing in her stomach; she pulled out her phone and texted Richie.
'Are you sure?' she typed. 'Like, 100% actually factually?'
'SIGH' was the response. 'yes judy i'm sure. sparing you the techy-techy-blah-blah this is the place because it's the place. the call came from here and went through, like, a whole bunch of different thingies to confuse idiots about where the call came from. am i an idiot, judy?'
Judy rolled her eyes and sighed. 'No, Richie. You're not an idiot.'
'no, no i am not,' Richie replied. 'time to get into character. you got this, judy, you got this by the ass!'
'Thanks, Richie,' Judy took a deep breath and got out of her car.
Her phone buzzed again. 'be careful, judy. good luck.'
"I'll need it," she said, aloud as she walked towards the main entrance of Zootopia Maximum Security Penitentiary.
The barred doors rolled shut with a clank, the mechanized magnetic locks buzzed as they clamped together with tens of tons of force. Judy raised her arms and spun around as the scanner hummed, her phone and recorder had long since been confiscated along with anything that could be fashioned into a weapon. She walked past the guards, a lion and a bear, flanking the door, returning their salute as she slipped past them. The room was empty save for a single table with two chairs on opposite sides, a small figure in an orange jumpsuit sat in the furthest chair, intently examining something in her hooves, which were cuffed and chained to the table, she looked up as the bunny approached.
Judy walked over and seated herself, locking a dispassionate stare on the figure opposite her. "Former Mayor Bellwether."
Bellwether smiled warmly. "Oh, Judy! Call me Dawn, please."
"Alright, Dawn," said Judy, gesturing at the close-cropped, stylized wool atop her head. "A new hairstyle? It's nice, looks good on you."
Dawn laughed squeakily and leaned forward, getting a better look at Judy. "And you! You're looking well. Healthy and trim as always, maybe a little tired, but that's to be expected. Word has it you went through something of an ordeal."
Judy smiled and turned her cheek to reveal the slash of black that stretched from her cheekbone down to her jaw. "You could say that."
"Oh, dear!" Dawn exclaimed, sounding genuinely mortified. "Oh, but don't you worry, hon! When that heals up, it'll look distinguished as all get out!"
"Thanks, Dawn," Judy said, turning her gaze back to the little ewe.
"Oh!" Dawn said, excitedly, and reached into her pockets. "I have a few letters for you! You see; a lot of the people you've apprehended have wound up in here. So much so that we've formed a sort of 'I Was Put Away By Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde' fanclub! Okay…maybe it's not quite a 'fanclub' per se, but I'm not sure what to call it if not that. All right, first letter is from Doctor Eduardo Blatto! You remember him, right? Male pangolin, about yea tall, likes bugs?"
"Dr. Blatto," Judy said, flatly, " the mammal who genetically engineered giant bugs in order to eat the CEO who fired him, along with all of Little Rodentia? The same Dr. Blatto who tried to feed me to a 200lb red-kneed tarantula?"
Dawn smiled and nodded. "…Yep!"
"Rings a bell," Judy said, gesturing at the stack of paper in her hands. "What's he got to say?"
Dawn cleared her throat and began to read: "Ahem! 'Dear Detective Hopps. Congratulations on the promotion!' Isn't that nice? 'As I languish here in my urine-redolent cell, the only thing that keeps me warm is contemplating the bloody vengeance that I will reap upon you and all in your bloodline. I will unleash a keratinous plague upon all of Bunny Burrow, insects will hollow its corpse! Eggs in innocent blood! Eggs in innocent blood! Eggs in–' Oh dear…" Dawn shuffled the many pages in her hands, her brow furrowing. "…Goes on like this for pages…ah! Here we go, last page! '…I will replace your life with spiders. Scream forever in a hell of scorpions. Dr. Eduardo Blatto P.H.D. P.S. I heard about Detective Wilde's condition. I hope he fucking dies.' Oh, my! Eddy sure knows how to hold a grudge, doesn't he? Anyway, I have a letter here from the Shearer…"
Judy slammed her fist down on the table; she'd played this game long enough. "Cut the shit, Boss."
Dawn's smile vanished, she looked over at Judy, all the good humor and affability vanished like so much smoke; it always chilled Judy to see how quickly Bellwether could drop so convincing an act. "Oh, come on now. We were having fun, weren't we? Business is business, I suppose."
"I have questions," Judy said, bluntly. "You have answers. Let's start there, hmm?"
"Shoot," Bellwether said, tossing the letters over her shoulders as best she could for the chains. "Neither of us is going anywhere."
"How?" Judy said, rapping her fingers against the table. "How did you contaminate the food?"
"I didn't," Bellwether said, glibly. "Nothing was added to the food before, during, or after. Contaminating every piece of food in Zootopia manually would not only be incredibly obvious, but impractical. Use your head, Hopps. How did I do it?"
Judy leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling, the dim little bulbs in their sockets shone down with off-white light colored by the old, tinted plastic. "It would have been a while ago, before you set your main plan into motion. A trial run?"
"Works a bit well for a trial run, don't you think?" Bellwether smirked and leaned forward. "Think like a politician, Judy! Did you honestly think my masterstroke was something so crass as schlepping around, darting random Preds? Ha! That was Phase One: generate fear and acquire power. Phase Two is: perpetuate fear, and secure power. What better way to keep the population under control than to have everyone be a potential savage? Say I took the Pred thing to its logical conclusion, what then? No more common enemy! The people get restless, complacent, actual voting and politickin' and democracy resumes! But what if, hey, it turns out certain Prey can go savage, too? Do you have any idea how easy it would be to dose specific people or large swaths with this method? About as easy as getting a plumber to affix a catalyst capsule to a pipe!"
Judy scowled and leaned forward, glaring directly into Bellwether's eyes. "I believe I asked 'how', not 'why'. I came in here knowing that you were a monster, Dawn, nothing you just said was really all that surprising."
Bellwether smiled hatefully, sneering as she spoke. "Fine. How? First, the money. I was the Assistant Mayor of the largest mammalian city on the planet; even skimming that pot is a preposterous amount of money! After that, I got a few brainy types to put together a high-frequency trading ring on the Zootopia Stock Exchange, a tiny percentage for every stock traded for a year. A bit of dosh, wouldn't you say?"
"Right," Judy said, rolling her eyes. "Money, money, money. I figured you'd stolen it–"
"And used it to buy a huge number of shares in both Bug Burga and OmniGreen under two different names." Bellwether cut in. "Not enough to, say, control the companies outright, but enough to be listened to very carefully by those that do. Enough for them to consider purchasing a certain patented plant genome. A plant genome that makes any plant containing it highly repellant to pest insects. A plant genome that was researched, funded, and brought into existence by people in my organization. People who, coincidentally, also did extensive research on a certain purple flower used as bug repellant by hick farmers in the boonies! 'But how would this plant genome affect Preds' you ask?"
Judy's eyes widened. "The merger…"
Bellwether smirked. "That's right. Naturally, the altered genes in the produce only supply part of the Nighthowler toxin, but that part is also wonderfully transmissible. The plant matter from OmniGreen is used as feed for Bug Burga bugs, which then stored the chemical in their bodies which are soon devoured by Preds. A wonderful symbiosis that results in every mammal in Zootopia being totally lousy with the stuff, a ticking timebomb that needs only the tiniest chemical push to send them cascading into utter savagery! Granted, it took time for the saturation to reach adequate levels, but Phase Two was the long-term plan after all."
"But…" Judy said, her ears dropping flat against her head. "You've been eating the same food! Drinking the same water! When the catalyst was released, you'd go savage just like anyone else!"
"Specially designed filters were affixed the to prison water pipes after a suitably important person wrote a letter and a check to the warden. As for the food…occupational hazard." To Judy's horror, Bellwether lazily unclipped the handcuffs from her wrists and let them clatter on the table. "Remember when I said 'fear always works'? Well, I guess I should have said 'fear and money always works'. I bet you were planning on using the recording devices all over this hellhole to capture my confession or something. Fool me twice, I don't think!"
"But–" Judy spun around as the door swung open and the guards stomped into the room and grabbed her, pinning her to the chair.
Bellwether leapt up onto the table and laughed as the guards held her down. "Well, gee, Judy! I guess coming here wasn't such a great idea, was it? What do you think, Gertrude? A prison riot broke out?"
"There was nothing we could do, ma'am," 'Gertrude' said flatly, avoiding Judy's eyes. "They were on us in a second, we lost track of Detective Hopps."
Bellwether smiled viciously and turned back to Judy. "And a few of her old friends on the inside got a hold of her. Oh my! And they were not happy to see her, were they, Naga?"
"No ma'am," 'Naga' mumbled, looking away from the struggling rabbit. "Not happy at all."
Bellwether sat down on the table and kicked her legs over the edge. "Now, Bunny Bumpkin, any more questions?"
Judy struggled futilely against her enormous captors; she looked up helplessly at Bellwether. "…Why?"
"Why?" Bellwether hissed, reaching down and grabbing Judy's chin. "Why?! Well, I could spin you a yarn about how easily a prison-break would go unnoticed during a massive outbreak like that. I could tell you that certain drug runners you've put away know how to get out of this city more or less unnoticed. Or how about how once Zootopia is a great big bloodstain and the world assumes Dawn Bellwether fell to the jaws of some slavering beast, that the newly christened Mary Woolstonecraft, wealthy industrialist from the city over, would swoop in and build a new city atop its ruins? A better city. My city." Bellwether shrugged and scoffed. "I could tell you all that, but it wouldn't be the whole story. See, I just…hate this city. I hate everything about it and everyone in it. I came here, like you, thinking I could make a difference and change the world! But I couldn't, it was a lie, this city lied to me! So, better to wipe away the flawed and rotting edifice and start anew, a lot more cathartic, too!"
"That's why…" Judy muttered numbly. "That's why you wanted me to watch. To…feel how you felt. To know that no matter what I do, there was never any hope for Zootopia to begin with."
Bellwether's eyes lit up, she hopped off the table and leaned over Judy, grinning. "That's right! Exactly right! I may not have destroyed the city this time, but at least I get to see that you understand before I…heh…throw you to the army ants."
Judy nodded fervently, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I do! I do! I now know that no matter where I went or what I did, Zootopia would never be safe! That you'd find some way to destroy everything I built for myself…that everything I ever held dear was doomed. I mean, nowhere is safe!" Bellwether laughed and clapped her hands, opening her mouth to speak but Judy interrupted. "I mean, where could I hide? What could I do? Lock the doors? Bar the windows? Cameras? Sensors? Nowhere is safe! Not an uptown grocery store! Not a warehouse! Not a mansion! Hell! Not even a government building like a super pump station is safe!"
"Uh…" Bellwether recoiled as a smile pulled at the sides of Judy's mouth. "W–what are you–?"
"Nowhere is safe! Because even a maximum security prison, like this one…" Judy continued, grinning now. "…uses a Maxbell Security System."
Bellwether's ears dropped like they were made of lead, her expression mortified, Judy looked up at the camera in the corner. "You get all that, Richie?"
"Every word, Detective! In surround sound, from multiple angles!" a voice said over the intercom, Bellwether spun around, her eyes wide as dinner plates. "Hey Boss! I quit!"
"No…" Bellwether whimpered, turning back to Judy, only to find an empty chair and her two guards groaning on the ground. "No!"
A small grey hand tapped her shoulder; Bellwether whirled around and swung her fist, roaring in rage. Judy easily dodged the sloppy, amateurish strike and loosed a fast, powerful punch to the enraged sheep's gut. Bellwether grunted and dropped to her knees, fighting to keep her lunch where it was. Judy stood over the gasping ewe and shook out her fist, a smirk on her face.
"Well, that was fun," Judy said, pithily. "Richie, care to send some blueberries over?"
"Oh, they sent the TUSK boys running the second the cuffs came off." Richie laughed. "The whole force is coming your way, I hope those guards have good lawyers."
"Y-you think you've won?!" Bellwether sputtered, curled over in pain. "Y-you've only set me back! I'll try again! I'll tear this city apart brick by brick and I'll make you watch! You hear me?!"
Judy walked over and knelt down next to her, a hard, unfriendly smile on her face. "Go ahead. Try again. You rise up; I'll put you down. You get out; I'll throw you back in. It doesn't matter what you do, I'll always be here to put you right back where you belong, Dawn. Because, you? You believe in nothing, so that's what you'll get: nothing." Judy rose up straight and walked out the newly unlocked door. "'Til next time, Smellwether. Don't be a stranger."
Judy walked down the hallway of the prison, the overlapping screams of sirens drew closer and closer as a massive police force roared into the parking lot. She smirked to herself as she courteously opened the door for a platoon of heavily armed TUSK operatives, one of whom escorted her out to the parking lot.
"Are you alright, Detective?" he asked. "Do you require a medic?"
"No, no, I'm fine. Thank you, Sergeant," Judy said, smiling. "Bellwether and her guards are in meeting room 771, they are your first priority. You're going to want to switch your radios over to frequency 155.91, one of ours has hacked the security system, he'll walk you and your men through the building."
"Understood. Good job, Detective!" the Sergeant nodded and took off back towards the building.
She skipped towards her cruiser, grunting as she stretched her arms over her head, hearing the joints pop. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and a brisk breeze was blowing in from over the Trundra Wall: this was a good day.
Her phone buzzed and her heart skipped a beat, the caller I.D. was a picture of her chasing Nick with a massive larva, his face a rictus of disgust and horror.
The text read: 'Sup'
Judy broke into a sprint, practically leaping into her car. The tires squealed as she tore out of the parking lot and set down the highway at what felt like a respectable fraction of the speed of sound.
Judy sped down the hallway in the hospital, ducking and leaping around obstacles, doctors, and patients. She skidded to a stop outside Nick's room, panting heavily; she set a shaking hand on the door and pushed it open. Beck, Betty, and Nick's Doctor all stood around his bed; Nick was sitting up in his bed, looking around and smiling. His beautiful green eyes flicked around as he chatted and laughed; they turned to her and went wide, his smile fell from his face. Beck and Betty turned around and saw Judy, after a quick wordless exchange they both stood up and approached the Doctor.
"Err, Doctor Rickard, Rebecca and I were going to go get some coffee. Would you like to come with?" Betty said, arching her eyebrow at Judy.
Doctor Rickard shrugged and shook his head. "No, I'm fine. I'd like to discuss bedsore protocol with Nick for a–"
"Pssh!" Beck said, smiling a little too widely as she towered over the badger. "Nonsense! C'mon, let's go grab a cup!"
Doctor Rickard opened his mouth to say something when Betty cleared her throat and darted her eyes over at Judy, to Nick, and back to Rickard. Rickard blinked in confusion before the subtext dawned on him. "Ah, yes. Well, coffee with two beautiful women? Who am I to refuse?"
The three of them quietly exited the room, leaving Judy alone to shuffle over to the bed.
"Nick…" Judy said, distantly. "You're, uh, awake."
Nick nodded and cleared his throat. "Yeah. Just woke up all of a sudden. Heh! You should have seen it; Mom had Beck knitting a scarf! When she saw I was awake, Beck's first move was to try and hide it!"
Judy chuckled and shook her head. "She sure doesn't seem the type! I mean, have you seen the shoulders on that woman?"
"I'll admit, I was looking a little lower," Nick said, before hurriedly changing the subject. "So, uh, what have you been up to?"
Judy smirked and shrugged. "Oh, you know, just solving the case. Turns out it was Bellwether."
"Huh," Nick said, watching her pace around the room. "That right?"
"Yeah," Judy walked over to the bouquet on the bedside table, suddenly unable to bring herself to look at him. "Turns out she had the whole thing planned out in advance. She, uh, genetically engineered the food to have Nighthowler genes and…wait, first she had the money. She scammed a bunch of it off the stock market."
"Carrots," Nick said, his face set and hard.
Judy continued, as though she hadn't heard, fiddling with the rose petals. "Right, so, she got the money and bought a bunch of shares in Bug Burga and OmniGreen and sold them the altered food, so both Predators and Prey were contaminated. Then she started Phase One, the darting and stuff, and that's when we stopped her."
"Hopps," Nick said, his voice strained and tight.
"So, this whole thing was all about revenge!" Judy laughed, it sounded more like bark, and her back was still turned. "She felt cheated and wanted to destroy the city! Can you believe that? I mean, talk about cliché! Well, she had a bunch of other plans and–"
"Judy…" Nick whimpered, tears spilling down his cheeks. "Shut up and give me a hug!"
She rushed over in a second, leaping onto the bed and wrapping her arms around his shoulders, squeezing with all her might. Nick reached up and pulled her close, sobbing silently into her shoulder. They held each other for what seemed like an eternity, Judy rubbed her cheek against the top of his head, taking in his rich familiar scent, feeling her heart begin to race. She ran her fingers through his fur, reveling in its softness, its warmth. Nick took notice of her attention and traced her neck with his muzzle, sniffing and nuzzling as he did.
"No…" Judy said, reluctantly pushing him away.
Nick paused and drew back, his ears drooping. "Sorry. I'm sorry, I thought–you know what, you're right. That night was just a…fluke! A slip-up, some wires got crossed and we both, uh, got caught up in the moment. It didn't mean anything, we should just forget it ever happened!"
Judy shook her head sadly. "Nick…no."
He looked into her eyes and sighed, setting his hand on her shoulder. "I know. It's just…we can't, can we?"
Judy sat on her knees and threw up her hands. "Well, we're coworkers! Partners! Fraternization is strictly forbidden, and for good reason!"
"A really good reason," Nick agreed, nodding. "I mean, it's unprofessional! And what if it doesn't work out? What then? Tension on the job, loss of morale, the whole team would break down!"
Judy nodded rapidly. "Right! If we can't work together and it affects how we act and how our coworkers act, that could be a disaster! Crimes would go unsolved! Evidence could be compromised! Murderers could walk! I mean, we've both heard stories about this kind of thing, horror stories!"
"Chills the blood," Nick said, soberly. "Not to mention, if my Mom heard you right, we're about to be publicly putting this case to rest. Not to toot our own horns, but we're heroes! Role models! If we go through with this and mess it up, what kind of example would we be setting?"
"A bad one!" Judy said inching closer to him, her ears burning as she became lost in his bright green eyes. "A really, really bad one! It'd be all…irresponsible and…bad."
"Terrible," Nick said, leaning towards her, his eyes half-lidded. "Just downright…"
"Inappropriate," Judy muttered, reaching up and taking his head in her hands as she drew herself closer. At the last moment, she pulled his head down and her forehead thumped against his snout. She heaved a husky, needful sigh as her brow furrowed. "I'm sorry…I never should have kissed you."
"Hm," Nick chuckled quietly. "I never should have kissed you back."
"Well, I should have stopped myself," Judy retorted.
"I should have let you stop." Nick notched his finger under her chin and gazed deeply into her eyes. "It takes two to tango, Carrots. I'm not letting you cop the blame on this one."
Judy giggled, a faint smile on her face. "So you…?"
"Love you," Nick said, with a nod. "And you?"
"Yes. Yes, I do." Judy sighed and pulled away. "Funny. Some people would have taken forever to just up and admit it."
Nick shrugged. "What can I say? Classic WildeHopps efficiency, it's why we're such a great team."
"And a team we must stay," Judy said, with finality, crossing her arms across her chest.
"For the children," Nick agreed, smirking. "And the city. I mean, if we're not on our A-game, who's going to stop the next terrorist attack or giant bug infestation? Precinct 2?"
Judy laughed and punched him lightly on his good shoulder. "Right? We just have to…restrain ourselves, is all."
Nick set his hand over his heart and donned a saintly expression. "A vow of righteous abstinence! For the children! For the city!"
"Right," Judy said, distantly. "All that jazz."
They sat across from one another, his shining emerald eyes pouring deep into her violet eyes, a stern, resolute expression on both their faces. For a moment, all that could be heard was the general hum of the hospital outside.
"Oh, fuck it!" Judy said breathlessly before she leapt forward and pressed her lips into his.
"We're only mammals," Nick mumbled around her mouth.
Nick hooked his rough, casted arm around her waist and pulled her close, his tongue delving deep into her as she opened herself to him. She moaned into his mouth as his hand slipped under her waistband and underwear and gave her a firm squeeze. She pushed her hand under the collar of his hospital gown and over his naked shoulder, grabbing a handful of his decadent orange fur.
"Oh, God," Judy squeaked as he nibbled her shoulder. "I love you, Nick!"
"I love you, Judy," Nick panted, gazing into her eyes. "I always have!"
"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" a familiar voice squealed over the intercom.
Nick and Judy's eyes went wide in horror. Nick cleared his throat, his voice calm and measured, "Clawhauser?"
"Hi."
"How?"
"Richie," Judy growled.
"Guess who else uses a Maxbell Security." Richie said, the shit-eating grin clear in his voice. "Go on, guess."
"Clawhauser," Nick said, once again completely calm. "Is, uh, is everyone listening?"
Dozens of other voices crackled over the speaker and Judy buried her face in her hands as the words began overlapping and merging into each other. Francine could be heard clearly above the others. "And I~ will always love you~ oooh oooh oh~!"
"So, now that it's official, top or bottom: Hopps or Wilde?"
"Hell, man! Hopps tops all the way!"
Clawhauser cleared his throat and spoke up. "Well…not 'everyone'."
Chief Bogo's voice sounded over the din of the other officers. "All right, All right! …What'd I miss?"
"Okay, yes, everyone's here," Clawhauser said.
"Richie," Judy said, miserably. "This is cruel."
"Sorry," he said, laughing. "We were actually setting up a 'Nick Wilde Cam' so we could keep an eye on him. Happy accidents and such. I'll leave you two kids alone now."
The camera in the corner of the room whirred as it turned away from the bed. The room was once again completely silent. Judy looked over at the window and sighed. "Do you think if I jumped from this floor that the fall would kill me?"
Nick reached over and gave her a pat on the head. "Oh jeez! You bunnies, so dramatic! Step back from the bedside and don't you worry, we're going to straighten our backs, hold our heads high, and share a great big bottle of bleach."
"Yes," Judy said, pointing at Nick, a morbid smile on her face. "Poison. Something slow. Painful."
"I've got just the thing."
Judy examined the boiled carrot on her plate, tentatively taking a bite out of it and grimacing. "My poison is very mushy…and bland."
Nick took a bite out of his Sloppy Joe and nodded. "Hospital food is a special kind of poison designed to incentivize the body to heal and leave."
Judy giggled and put down the carrot. "Ah, well…just as well you woke up, I have a press conference in a few days and I could really use your help."
"So, what, I'm a speech writer now?" Nick grumbled playfully. "Just answer your own questions again, just, you know, don't start a racewar this time."
Judy laughed sarcastically and flicked a pea at him, which he effortlessly snatched out of the air. She sighed and leaned forward, looking over at Nick. "We did it, didn't we? Finally."
Nick nodded, a relieved smile on his face. "We did. The city's safe again."
"That's not what I meant."
"I know," Nick said, reaching over the table. "We'll make it work, I know we will."
Judy reached out and took his hand in hers. "I know. I mean, we're WildeHopps, we can do anything!"
"Anything!" Nick cheered, grinning. "So, when are you going to tell your parents?"
"Uh…"
The sun was high in the sky over the great city of Zootopia; the summer heatwave was in full swing. Fire hydrants sprayed as happy children played and hundreds of water parks teemed with citizens looking to beat the heat. The city carried on as usual while the long days of summer came and went. The sun set late, as it was wont to do, but the city shone with its own glow, a crowd of people gathered around a single performer in one of the many parks, his strong theatrical voice carried on the night air. Outside City Hall, a badger led a protest group as the Mayor, a somewhat rotund lemming, attempted to appease the crowd.
Life went on.