Wow! I am just overwhelmingly grateful to those of you who have reviewed, following and decided to favourite this fiction already. I cannot thank you guy's enough! It's great to see the Zootopia fandom is growing so quickly.
It's praise like which I've received already that fuels my muse-fire and keeps the ball rolling. So again, thank you!
My next chapter will definitely be a lot lighter than the one you read before. I've been squinting at this one, one hand hovering over the 'save' button as I scrutinize everything I've got here. That creepy little monster of an inner voice I have whispering "It's not good enough, y'know. Where is the detail? The development?" It's just me - I'm a perfectionist. So I'm MORE than happy enough to read some of your suggestions for later chapters so please please please feel free to drop me a line. I'd love to explore the progression of each character and put my own spin on it in the process.
I've read the Zootopia Junior Novelisation and the Handbook so I've been pulling out my hair trying to stop myself from giving away any major spoilers. With any luck I've given just enough and not nearly enough away to tease you. Why? Because I like to rib the people I appreciate just a teensy bit. You've been a delight.
Without any further ado...
Hey, Judes. Can I please set the scene for this one? You got to do it last time.
Do you have to?
I'm going to say yes.
Fine.
Yay!
Downtown Zootopia, built in the heart of Savanah Central was as beautiful as it was perilous. Every breed and creed of mammal could roam about the streets and walkways as unsystematically as they wished with the proviso they abide by the laws of Zootopia.
Considering the whole of Zootopia had once, very very long ago been no more than a watering hole, it had transformed into one of the most thriving cities you'll ever find. Each district was climatized to the environmental requirements of every breed of mammal living therein, with vast walls designed to separate and ventilate the air temperatures.
One of the mammals who first worked on the cities designs was a lion by the name Cave Simmons, an eccentric dead billionaire who incidentally was related to the dear Mayor Leodore Lionheart. It was part of Cave's vision that helped sculpt Zootopia into the gleaming city it is today.
Downtown Zootopia was where you could find most anything you required; the Zootopia Central Station was the gateway to the city, offering a variety of cafes, emporiums, boutiques, and fast food outlets and restaurants. Everywhere you looked there were platforms and billboards, countless walkways absolutely jam packed with animals coming and going nonstop day in and day out.
The downtown district was also where an adorable little bunny and a loveable scamp of a fox called home. Judy's small ramshackle apartment wasn't much different to Nick's; neither of them got any repose from the non-stop city soundscape; air conditioners were one of the biggest parts of all the ambient noise in the city. Then there was traffic roaring, the horns and bass in their cars so loud it shook your chest. Taxi cabs all surging by like spawning salmon. There was construction, and mammals yelling at each other, children throwing tantrums, all the while music played around the clock.
But despite all of it, both Nick and Judy knew that neither of them would ever get a wink of sleep without it. When you lived in Zootopia long enough, the noise became ambient as it was constant and sustained. In a sense, wasn't that why mammals lived in Zootopia - for the companionship, for the hubbub. It was a sign of urban health, and that the city and its economy was humming and thriving.
So while the city thrived around them, both Nick and Judy had taken an opportunity on one of their few nights off to enjoy Zootopia's idiosyncrasies. It had begun with treating themselves to an early dinner at a nice restaurant called Bone Appetite that cooked a wide range of cuisines which catered for mammals of most sizes and diet requirements.
Judy had promised Nick almost a month ago that the two of them would dine there sometime, but it had been a matter of just that - trying to find the time to actually follow through with that promise. Working as partners at the ZPD, Nick and Judy were on the same shifts about 90 % of the time. After hours, there were obligations to family such as keeping in touch, and organizing visits.
Then there were their separate social circles. Judy had become quite amicable with Nick's fox friend Finnick, and vice versa. But Nick also kept in touch with a few old acquaintances at the Zootopia Naturalist Club, and that was an establishment in which Judy was in no hurry to return to. So when it was just Nick and Judy on their own they usually took the time to do things they would both enjoy.
"So, since I decided on dinner, it's only fair that it be your turn to choose what we're going to do afterwards." Nick wore one of his trademark smirks, peering down at Judy with a half-lidded gaze as they walked together down a sidewalk at a leisurely rate.
"My turn, huh?" Judy grinned, giving a little hop in delight. "What haven't we done for a while?" She thought out loud.
"We could try that new trampoline place?" Nick suggested. "I think it's called Bounce. The floor is covered in 'em, and they're propped against the walls so you can launch yourself off and do karate kicks in the air." He made a few karate chops hand motions and Judy's stomach churned at the thought of so much activity after they'd just finished dinner.
"Is that what you want to do, or is it an actual suggestion?" She smirked, a brow arching in skepticism as Nick placed a hand over his chest, pretending as though she'd hurt his feelings.
"Judy, I'd never try and manipulate you like that - anymore. If I wanted us to go I'd just say so." He shrugged, smirk still in place.
"Nick, do you want to go to Bounce?"
"Nah, we just ate. Let's try something different."
Judy uttered a quiet sigh, but smiled fondly as she gave him light shove. "Hey!" Nick snickered while re-adjusting his tie.
"We could take a walk in the Zooherbaria botanical gardens?" Judy suggested, making a poor attempt in hiding the hope that laced the tone of her voice. The Zooherbia gardens were another one of Cave Simmons "visions", and it really was a beauty to behold. A nature-based garden located on the southwest side of Downtown Zootopia, it was abundant in an extensive variety of flora and fauna; including succulent plants, tropical, alpine as well as exotic.
There were mammal-build ponds covered in lily pads with stone bridges that arced over, fairy lights were entwined around tree trunks and strung from lamp post to lamp post. There were countless breeds of flowers in every color you could imagine, and the manicured lawns made it a popular destination for wedding parties to take photographs.
The trails and earth paths were mammal-made, as it was enforced that every mammal refrain from walking on the grass and interfere with the flora and fauna that thrived there. There were enough trails to compensate each species, and a "treetop walk" for the smaller of creatures. The treetop walk trail was built on a boardwalk designed as an interpretive experience for animals as tall as a rabbit and as small as a mouse to explore the fantasy, intrigue and grandeur from an elevated setting.
"Sure," Nick shrugged, smiling easily. The southwest side of Downtown Zootopia was simple enough to navigate yourself to if you could be bothered walking. It was one of the few things you could enjoy in the city that was completely free, which pleased Nick. As well as the added bonus that it was something they could each enjoy without putting in too much effort of actually doing much at all.
Nick offered to shout a taxi fare, so within a few minutes they were strolling through the gates of the botanical gardens. Judy's face lit up at the sight, trying to take in as much as she could all at once. The fairy lights reflected a variety of reds, blues, pinks and yellows within her violet tinted eyes. She inhaled the sweet aroma of the wide variety of flowers, and found herself mesmerized with the way all of the light from each building, billboard, fairy light and lantern reflected like crystals upon the surface of every pond they walked by.
While strolled over the stone bridges together, Judy hooking her arm with Nick as she gasped in delight and pointed at almost every tree, fern, bush and flower that caught her eye. "You have been here before, haven't you?" Nick asked at some point, having been more than patient with being dragged along in all different directions.
"Sure I have," Judy nodded, enchanted by a large weeping willow that drooped towards a nearby pond. "But never at night! It looks so different. So... I don't know how to describe it. Beautiful."
Stopping on one of the stone bridges, both Nick and Judy leaned over to rest their arms against the railing, both silent for about a minute as they watched the fairy light reflections twinkling upon the surface. A grasshopper was jumping from lily pad to lily pad, and the chirping of crickets joined the ambiance of the thriving city around them.
Feeling quite content, Judy glanced across at Nick. He was leaning a little further over the side than she on account of being taller, his shoulders were relaxed as he looked around at the trees and little boardwalks with those droopy eyes and a lazy smile upon his face. Every so often she would glimpse at his eyes and find them glowing eerily like a pair of green pearls in the moonlight. She never did think she'd get used to the fact that they glowed in the dark.
Judy's smile faltered when she felt a sudden pang of guilt that she had grown used to feeling in the pit of her stomach lately whenever she had a chance to remind herself of what happened to the two of them a month earlier. She and Nick had followed a vague lead to a warehouse at the marina past Wild Times, where the two of them were trounced by a couple of thugs led by a madwoman goat intent on emulating the Savage case. Back-up had arrived, and the copycat operation was put to a jarring stop.
Nick had been injured and hospitalized. He then spent the rest of the week housebound and irritable. So the fact that they were still able to go on these friend-dates at all was an enormous blessing. Nevertheless, whenever Judy looked at the side of Nick's head, at a spot behind his left ear where new fur had begun to grow over freshly knitted skin, her stomach dropped and she had to remind herself over and over that she wasn't to blame.
It was part of the job description. It didn't matter what duty they were assigned to, there was always the possibility that one or both of them might not be going home in the evening, and Judy knew this. It was a fact of life that had been drilled into her during her training. But it didn't make it any easier to think about.
Looking at him now, at how content he appeared, how could Judy not enjoy the moment? It was unfair not to. Especially since it had been such a nice evening.
"Do I have something on my face, Carrots?"
Judy blinked. Oh, crackers. Had she been staring at Nick that whole time?
"I was just thinking." She mumbled dumbly. Nick peered at her from under his eyelashes with an arrogant smirk plastered on his face.
"A penny for your thoughts?" He offered.
"About how lucky I - we - are to be partners." Judy explained in earnest.
"Oh, well I suppose you're not that bad to work with. I've teamed up with worse." Nick grinned as he caught the burning look Judy shot him. A light dusting of rain began to sprinkle down from the overcast sky.
"I'm sure you have," Judy said dryly, though there was no real bite to her tone.
"What's with the sentimentality, Carrots?" Nick was now facing her, leaning on the bridge railing with one arm and the opposite hand resting on his hip. She arched a brow, looking at him with suspicion for a moment while she searched for any hint that he was trying to tease her.
"I really enjoy our days off together." Judy said a little sheepishly, and then chuckled. "You've helped me a lot since we first met; even though I'd hustled you into it."
"Ahh yes, dear Officer Toot-Toot." Nick laughed fondly. "It goes both ways though. No one had ever really believed in me before you. 'Cept my mother of course. Funny, neither of us would be where we are right now if it weren't for each other. I mean, I was doing fine with my hussles, but I do admit being a cop has it's perks."
"Such as working with me." Judy grinned, looking pleased.
"Such as working with you." Nick agreed, wrapping one arm around her midsection and pulling her in close. With the other hand he began ruffling the fur on top of her head.
"Nick!" Judy struggled in his grip, using both palms to push against his chest as she tried to escape, all the while he snickered. "St-ow! Stop it!"
In desperate measures, Judy grabbed Nick's forearm and gave it a firm pinch with her small claws. Electing a satisfying yelp from her irritating friend, she pulled herself free and glared up at him while she attempted to smooth down the fur between her ears. Nick simpered, looking pleased with himself.
"Aww, gwumpy bunny face." Nick pouted as he reached out to pinch one of her cheeks, which she dodged by ducking out of his reach.
It was at that moment that the rain, which had been falling like mist with its soft crystal sprinkles so light against their fur, began to come down just a little harder until the clouds broke and then proceeded to come down in a torrent.
"Oh! Oh, Really?" Judy gasped, making a vain attempt to shield herself as well as she could with both her ears and arms held over her head. Nick only laughed at the pitiful attempt, with little care at all that his fur and clothing were now beginning to get soaked through with the rain.
"Come on!" Nick grabbed Judy by the hand and the two of them sprinted over the bridge and followed the path closest to the other side of the gardens.
They sped up their pace, at Judy's insistence, mud splashing up their legs and leaves falling from above and catching in their fur. Nick was still laughing as they ran towards the streets, Judy hailing a taxi as soon as they came into view of the roads. As the taxi pulled to a stop, the two friends slipped into the back, both laughing breathlessly. "Two stops, please -" Judy told the alpaca driver, picking off a couple of leaves that had stuck themselves to one of her ears.
"One," Nick interrupted, and Judy spared him an incredulous look. He only smirked. "1955 Cypress Grove Lane. What?" He asked, catching her expression. "My apartment's closer."
"But I don't have any spare clothes or toiletries. We have work in the morning." She began to protest but was silenced when Nick gave her a sly smile. She shot him a sour look in return.
"Not till eleven. You can use my toothbrush." He offered, the tips of his ears and nose dripping water.
"Gross!" Judy pulled a face, but it melted away as he snickered quietly. She nibbled at her lip, quietly grateful. There he was, cocky and arrogant, but with that heart of gold shining underneath that slick, cunning persona.
"Fine then, go without. You can put up with furry teeth all day tomorrow." Nick shrugged, and chuckled quietly as he caught a glimpse of Judy running her tongue over her top row of buck teeth.
Nick's apartment was in a neighborhood with a fairly even predator and prey ratio. It wasn't the nicest neighborhood in the city but Judy had seen worse. Actually, she'd lived in worse. After splitting the taxi fare, Judy followed Nick up the stairs of the ramshackle building while he rooted through one pocket for his keys as he leaned against the door jam. The rest of the buildings around them were no better shape, and instinctively, Judy pressed herself a little closer to Nick's side as he finally got the key into the door and got it unlocked.
Despite the shabby exterior of the building, the foyer was at least in a decent condition. The rent here was reasonably priced, and the landlady generally didn't care what type of mammal you were as long as your rent was on time and you kept your apartment decent.
This is what Nick had told her once. However Judy wondered on the contrary when just as they started up the stairs, the only door that lead onto the foyer opened up with a bit more force than necessary.
"WILDE!" An armadillo, who was probably in her mid-fifties but looked to be in her late seventies in a ratty pink bathrobe with slippers to match and a cigarette dangling out of her mouth yelled from her doorway. She had a voice that sounded like she probably had a ritual pf getting up of a morning, drinking a bottle of whiskey, gargling a mouthful of gravel and then smoking a packet of cigarettes all before 9am. "I should have known it was you. Coming in at all hours, partying all night. I run a respectable building here, young man!"
"Hello, Mrs Arlow. Goodnight, Mrs Arlow." Nick placed a hand between Judy's shoulder blades as they continued to trek upstairs, not bothering to turn around. "If you ignore it, it'll go away." He muttered to Judy, who had made a half-turn to peer back down at the testy armadillo lady.
"YOUR RENT IS DUE!" She shrieked up the stairwell at Judy and Nick's retreating backs.
"Not for another three days!" Nick stated as they reached the landing. "Nighty night!"
"What a terrible woman," Judy gasped as they continued down a hall headed for the next set of stairs.
"Nah," Nick shrugged. "She's a hoot. Like her voice, she's all bark but no real bite." One more flight of stairs and about half way down the next hall, they were finally at his apartment. Once unlocked, they stepped inside, welcoming the wave of warm heat that welcomed them at the doorstep.
Judy had visited Nick's apartment a few times before and was already growing accustomed to feeling comfortable enough in making herself at home. There was a tiny kitchen right next to the living area, which was mostly bare except for an ugly but comfortable grey fold out couch with a small coffee table in front of it. A flat screen TV was perched upon a wooden cabinet against one wall. There was a short hallway with two doors leading off of it and despite it's Spartan decor, the apartment was neat and clean.
The wooden cabinet had always been one of Judy's favorite things; it was made of polished mahogany and built in such a way that the various nicks and natural wear and tear of the wood were still present. Out of all Nick's possessions - apart from the TV - it was probably the most expensive thing in the apartment.
"You can have first dib's on the shower," offered Nick as he locked the door with both chain and deadlock. Regardless of how well you thought you knew the neighborhood you lived in it was a smart idea to have a couple of extra locks installed as added precaution.
Stuffing the key back into his pocket, he flicked a few of the ceiling lights on at a switch at the closet wall. "You can borrow one of my shirts too. Me casa is su casa. Do whatever you want. But remember," Nick's ears fell back as he narrowed his eyes, his face void of it's usual smirk. "Never under any circumstances are you to venture into the west wing."
"How many times are you going to use that joke?" Judy asked dryly, rolling her eyes. "You don't even have a west wing."
"For as long as I find it funny." Nick's ear's perked as his expression lightened back into an easy grin.
"Right," Judy chuckled, watching as Nick disappeared into his bedroom before returning with a spare shirt. She caught it easily when he balled it up and threw it in her direction. "As long as you're amusing yourself." She added, whipping it at him as she walked by and headed to the bathroom.
The bathroom was probably the smallest room in the house with only a toilet, a sink, washing basket, and a shower with an old faded light blue curtain. Underneath the sink was where Nick kept his towels, and above the sink was a mirror cabinet with a spider web crack in the bottom right corner. The tiled floor had some mold growing on it in certain places and there was a little calcium build up in the showerhead, causing it to drip even while not in use.
Judy felt a little awkward about using another mammals shower. She had a particular ritual when washing, and knowing that she had none of her own toiletries with her left her feeling a little out of her comfort zone. However upon getting into the shower, she was pleased enough to see that Nick actually had a couple of shampoos to choose from, a fresh bar of soap and some body wash as well. It was blueberry scented, which amused her.
It took a whole ten minutes before Judy felt clean enough to step out of the shower and dress. With a small sigh, she felt resigned to towel dry rather than use the blow-dryer she was usually accustomed to using each day. She threw her damp clothing into his washing basket, and pulled the fresh shirt over her head before walking back out into the hallway.
"The shower is free," Judy called out, rolling up the long sleeves of the red shirt Nick was lending her as she strolled into the lounge area. She felt a little clumsy as she walked about seeing as the actual length of the shirt was just as oversized as the sleeves. It completely swamped her small frame.
She searched for Nick, nose twitching as she kept an ear out. She heard movement in the kitchen, and picking up the front of the shirt as though she were walking around in a ball gown, she ventured towards the sound of glass clinking together and the distinct smell of lime, barley, yeast and hops.
"Oh!" Nick uttered in surprise when the two almost collided. Shoulders tensing as he steadied a tea tray - Judy grinned, finding it amusing that Nick of all mammals would have a tea tray - between his hands. On it was two bottles of beer and a bowl of lime and black pepper crisps. "What?" he looked a little bemused by her amusement before he realized what she was looking at. "Oh har-har," he rolled his eyes. "I have a little class, you know. Thank you very muchly."
"You have two beer bottles on a tea tray, Nick. I'd hardly call that class. I was just going to tell you that the shower is free," Judy followed after him as he settled the tray onto a small table in front of his couch. His clothes were still damp, and his fur was sticking up and disheveled.
"Cool," he took a quick swig of his beer, tensing slightly while he made a poor attempt to conceal a cold tremor.
"Go on, before you get sick." Judy shooed him away, so with that, he disappeared down the small hallway.
Judy peered down at the couch, pleased to see that Nick had thrown a clean pillow on one side. She settled down on it, pulling her knees closer to her chest as she helped herself to a couple of crisps, and the TV remote.
She was still flicking through the TV channels when a freshly showered Nick returned with his arms loaded with a quilt. "What are you doing?" He asked, looking perplexed to see Judy had settled herself down on the spare pillow he'd thrown onto the couch.
"Um... getting comfortable?" She ventured, frowning in uncertainty.
"Not there. You're having my bed."
"Nick! No. The couch is fine."
"Nope." He tossed the quilt at her and snickered while he watched her attempt to detangle herself from the layered fabric.
Judy's protests were muffled as Nick plopped down beside her, reaching over to take another sip from his beer.
"Nick!" Judy scolded once she had successfully resurfaced. "You can't just give up your bed."
"My house, my rules, Judes." He answered breezily.
"What happened to me casa is su casa? I'm fine with the couch." She frowned.
"Me casa is su casa, exactly! Which means you can have the bed." He informed her matter-of-factly.
Judy gaped at him with her mouth open for a moment, then closed it tight as she gave a frustrated growl, her ears laid flat against the back of her head. "Thank you." She said begrudgingly.
"Not a problem." Nick grinned while leaning across to grab a handful of crisps. In front of them. "So, anything cool on?"
Over the next couple of hours the faint glow emanating from the TV was the only source of steady light within the lounge room. Judy and Nick sipped at their beers in the meantime, helping themselves to the crisps. It was somewhere in the middle of some crime drama that Judy felt her eyelids begin to droop heavily, her ears lolling limp around her shoulders. She and Nick had both crawled underneath the quilt, and at some point Judy had tucked herself cozily against one of Nick's arms, allowing the steady light and quiet volume of the TV lull her into a comfortable stupor. Her breathing deepened, and the scent of blueberry body wash filled her nose. A smile crept upon her face as her thoughts began to drift back to her parents' farm... blueberry pies...
"Hey, psst! Judes." Judy made a half-formed noise of complaint as she felt herself being shaken gently. "You fell asleep."
"Mm'did not." She slurred, attempting to snuggle in closer to the source of warmth beside her. However, she hadn't counted on the fact that it might shift away. She caught herself with a spare arm before she could face-plant completely into the couch cushions.
"Come on. Bedtime." Nick sniggered, and Judy grumbled a short slur of protests as she huffed, and got to her feet.
"D'aww," Nick gushed in a teasing tone of voice, tilting his head very slightly. "You're sho adowable when you're shweepy."
"M'not adorable," she grumbled, shuffling her feet and she rubbing at her eyes with one palm while she allowed Nick to lead her down the hallway and into his room. "Stubborn... pushy, fox."
She was already climbing onto Nick's mattress, unable to form any real conscious thought as she flopped over sideways, the side of her face swallowed by the pillow that rest there. Her ears splayed out behind her, knees pulled up, and feet crossed over one another. Deftly, she felt around for a padded blanket which was already being pulled up over her and hummed within her throat as warmth began to seep back into her skin. Grabbing one corner of the blanket, she pulled it up closer towards her chin and sighed contentedly.
"Nick?" Judy mumbled, teetering somewhere in between consciousness and sleep. She heard Nick utter a soft 'hm?' further away from her. "Thanks lots."
"No problem, Judes." She heard him snort in amusement.
"You're a... great friend." Her voice began to trail off, and shortly then her breathing evened out. She was snoring lightly within seconds.
"Right back at you," She was deaf to hear Nick's reply while he lingered at the door for a fraction of a second longer before making his own sleepy way back to the couch.