"Thank you for another lovely evening, Nick," Vivian smiled at the fox, coming up to the doorstep of her house. Vivian looked fetching in a lilac sweater, and Nick wore a green scarf and black coat that made him look extra sharp.
"My pleasure, Vivian," Nick smiled. Vivian leaned in and the two shared a chaste kiss. Vivian stared at her door, then back at Nick.
"Would you like to come in?" Vivian asked lightly with a small, curious smile. Nick swallowed, but found himself nodding.
"Sure," Nick replied, following Vivian into her house. It was a decent size for a house in Zootopia; two stories tall and the floor-space didn't seem too cramped. "Hasn't changed much since it was a crime scene, huh?"
Vivian giggled at the quip and sat down on her couch; a rather large one. Nick wondered if she often entertained bigger mammals.
"Nick..." Vivian began, but paused, looking away from him. Then, her mouth became even and she looked at the fox. "I'd like for us to do something." Nick tried to stifle the small jolt of panic he felt at these words. Vivian patted the couch near her, and Nick made his way over, sitting next to her. The two faced each other.
"What's that, Vivian?" Nick asked with noticeable hesitation.
"Can we..." Vivian swallowed. "Can we be honest with each other?"
"Sure," Nick replied immediately; perhaps too quickly. Vivian twisted her muzzle thoughtfully, and pet along her legs. She sighed.
"Okay," Vivian said seriously. "Let's... how about we perform a Vulpine's Pact, Nick?"
Nick's eyes went wide. "That old thing? That's kind of a... rather 'traditional' thing for a couple of foxes to do..."
"It's a tradition, yes," Vivian's eyebrows went up. "It'll help us to draw closer as foxes..."
"I dunno, Vivian," Nick frowned. "I've been trying to stay away from 'typical' fox behaviors and traditions..."
"So we can't be honest with each other, then..." Vivian closed her eyes. "Okay."
"No- wait, sorry," Nick shook his head, taking a breath to steady himself. "Just... I don't know if you're going to like where this goes."
"And I don't think you will either..." Vivian gave a sad smile. "But sometimes being healed hurts first, doesn't it?"
Nick found himself suddenly curious, and he offered both his paws. Vivian took another small breath, then placed her paws in his, and they squeezed them together. Nick squinted his eyes shut, and Vivian closed them.
The two foxes began to speak in unison: "I am a fox in body and soul. To another fox I will be true. I needn't hide; I needn't shy away. My heart is honest, and I will lay it bare to another."
"Whew..." Nick said as he opened his eyes, still holding onto Vivian's paws. "You sure you wanna do this?" Vivian slowly nodded.
"I'll go first," Vivian breathed out, her eyes beginning to reflect sadness. "Nick... I'm- I'm polyamorous."
Nick's eyes widened. "You're... what?" Nick mulled his over in his head momentarily. "You want another boyfriend?"
"Or girlfriend, I'm not that picky," Vivian tried to laugh, but it didn't come out as anything but a short exhale. "I'm sorry for keeping this from you, but I know I had to tell you sometime." Nick thought about this, considering how vixens in the past were stereotypically known as promiscuous for reasons unknown, mostly due to prejudice. Vivian had a soft, vulnerable smile as that she revealed her secret.
Nick sighed, swallowing and gathering all of his nerve. "I'm... madly in love with Judy Hopps."
Vivian closed her eyes and sighed along with Nick. "Mm. Doesn't that feel much better?"
"To be honest, not really," Nick's voice was grumbly, but warm. "You don't seem very surprised."
"No, not at all," Vivian smiled gently. "I've known for awhile how you feel about her." Nick recoiled a bit, dropping Vivian's hands.
"So you could have stopped all this somehow?" Nick frowned. "You knew going in that this wasn't going to work?"
"Yes..." Vivian looked down at the couch. "I had a strong feeling you and Judy are both monogamous, too. I just-"
"What has all this been for, then!?" Nick swept a hand outwards. "Why did you even let me take you on one date!?"
"Nick... it's... Winter is here..." Vivian sighed. "I wasn't looking forward to another winter alone. Mammals with tastes like mine aren't exactly in rich supply..."
"So it's... it's just about sex, then?" Nick's eyes narrowed, his voice growing dangerous. "Is that it?"
"Do you think it's so horrible that we have physical needs to be filled?" Vivian frowned. "This is why I had to come out to you, Nick. I wanted to be honest with what I want. I know anything between us from now on would only be about... you know, it would just be about getting through the winter together."
Nick grit his teeth and said nothing. He felt furious, but only showed muted anger on his face.
"But I understand that you don't want that," Vivian closed her eyes. "In a mate, you want someone completely, right? Like most foxes do. And that person you want isn't me; it's Judy."
"I drove her to that other bunny," Nick clenched his fists. "I screwed up. He's a nice guy, too. Not like I could 'save' her from him..."
"Nick, she loves you," Vivian looked at Nick seriously.
"No, Vivian, no," Nick snapped, leaning in closer and pointing at her accusingly. "You don't get to say that! You might be her friend, but you haven't known her as long as I have! Unless she's confessed to you personally, there's no way you can-"
"You think you're the only fox that can read people?" Vivian had a tiny frown, unflinching at the incensed fox. "It's not even that hard with you and Judy and the times you've met up near my fruit stand."
Nick grunted, caught between anger, confusion, and frustration.
"For one, she always greets you with a huge glomp," Vivian chuckled lightly.
"That's... she's a huggy bunny," Nick's shoulders jumped up.
"Her ears perk up when she sees you, there's that tiny little gasp," Vivian looked down fondly, as if enjoying Judy's feelings vicariously.
"She's my best friend..." Nick said. "If she loves me, it's probably just a platonic thing. I mean, there is a such thing as that. She doesn't-"
"Her smell, Nick," Vivian continued.
"What about it?" Nick retorted, his brow lowering.
"It changes when you get close," Vivian noted. "Not quite to the point of instant arousal, but it smells like... interest. I've smelled it on courting bunny couples before, but of course her smell is unique."
"Th-that...!" Nick's eyes opened. "No, that's not true, she always smells the same to me!" Vivian half-lid her eyes, smirking wryly. "...Because her smell has already changed when I get close to her. ...Okay."
"Bingo," Vivian nodded.
"What do I do?" Nick groaned. "I can't just try to drive her away from Teddie. That would end in disaster..."
"No, you need to let her figure out her own feelings," Vivian nodded. "I think that's the only way she can come to you in completeness."
"And if she doesn't...?" Nick grumbled.
"You have more faith in her than that, don't you?" Vivian half-smiled.
"Yeah..." Nick chuckled, finally grinning. "I do. Sorry, guess the winter is starting to work on me; make me feel frustrated."
"Yeah, I get that," Vivian grumbled, rolling her eyes. "At least we still have our paws, huh?" Vivian chuckled.
Nick returned the chuckle. "Another paw-full winter. I just..." Nick looked over Vivian. "Look Vivian, you're gorgeous and understanding and all that..."
"But," Vivian nodded, "you can't give yourself to give anything less than exclusive devotion to someone. I don't fully understand that, but I can at least admire it."
"I do- I do hope that you find what you're looking for, Vivian," Nick frowned. He offered his arms. Vivian shuffled closer and hugged him.
"And I hope that you get what you know you need," Vivian smiled gently.
"I'm really sorry about this," Judy said, walking with Ted to the train station. "I kinda can't believe you're even letting me help carry your bags."
"Well, you are stronger than me," Ted said in good humor, carrying one suitcase whereas Judy had two bags. "Anyway, can I be completely honest?"
"Oh, please do," Judy nodded.
"If you and I got serious," Ted twisted his mouth. "It would have been pretty hard for me. My job and my whole lifestyle is back in Bunnyburrow. I would have had to make a lot of changes to live here." Ted blinked quickly. "Nh-not that you're not worth it, Judy!"
"Of course," Judy laughed, tilting her head left and right with her eyes rolled. "But I am a paw-full..."
"I wasn't going to say that," Ted grinned sheepishly.
"Well, if not, then you weren't being completely honest, now were you?" Judy wiggled her eyebrows.
Ted laughed. "You are somethin', Judy. You gonna go after that fox of yours, then?"
"I hope so. I'm starting to feel like I'm the last person on Earth to realize my feelings for him," Judy grumbled.
"Oh no," Ted shook his head. "I knew you two were thicker than pea soup, but I didn't know you fancied him 'til you told me."
Judy sighed. "Well, whatever happens there, I hope it's not weird if I see you down in Bunnyburrow someday."
Ted smirked. "Uh, I don't think I'll be getting away from the Hopps that easily. Your dad still likes me, and I'm pretty sure a sister or two of yours has made eyes at me already before I left." Ted's eyebrows fell and he looked thoughtful. "Maybe even one of your brothers."
"Well, you are really cute," Judy smiled brightly. "And genuine, and sweet. And any doe or buck would be lucky to have you!"
"'Cept you," Ted said, and Judy groaned. "No no, I don't hold it against you. If we got together you'd probably have worn me out..."
"Heh... I'm kind of like that," Judy nodded.
"Already feel sorry for that fox," Ted chuckled.
"Nick can handle me," Judy said, then felt a flash of warmth in her ears at realizing what she had just said. "Uh, he can deal with me. ...That doesn't sound much better."
Ted laughed genuinely. "You're a hoot, Judy. Anyway, I best be getting back to Bunnyburrow. Train'll be here any minute."
Judy and Ted both set the latter's things down on the train platform and Judy rushed over to hug Ted. The hug was warm and the buck was thankful that it didn't pack too much power. Judy let him go.
"Okay, now if you're going after Ivory, just know that she's been through a messy separation," Judy said. "And Violet, I'm not quite sure what she wants, so you be careful if she catches your eye. And-"
"Judy, I'll make do," Ted pat Judy's shoulders twice, and the train rolled in. "Anyway, good luck, and I'll probably see you 'round the Hopps compound sometime."
"Okay, bye...!" Judy winced as Ted gathered his things and left. She waved at him as he left, and he returned a wave. Judy scoffed as he left. "Dang... why couldn't he have been mad at me? It would have made it easier to rush over to Nick... ooh, what do I do...?"
Judy walked out of the train platform alone. She shivered, wishing she had brought some more substantial clothes.
"Who do I go to first... Nick or Vivian?" Judy fretted, she poked her fingers together, looking around. "If I choose wrong, if I say something wrong..."
Judy paused before she headed down to the subway.
"Well, it's going to be a long winter..."