33rd Avenue Street
"So, we're narrowed down to two options, correct?" Judy asked.
Nick nodded. He had already moved out of his apartment and lived temporarily in Judy's tiny one. "They're the only ones that fit our requirements."
Judy nodded. "Well, we've got one with two bedrooms but its living room, bathroom and kitchen aren't very big, while this one has one bedroom and a larger living room, also a fully renovated kitchen and bathroom." She pointed at the picture on her laptop's screen.
"Well, I don't mind sharing a room." Nick said. Or a bed, for that matter.
"Great. This one's better, and only slightly more expensive than what we both pay for rent." She said.
Nick shrugged. "If it works for you it works for me," He looked around. "Hey, you want to go out for breakfast?"
Judy raised an eyebrow. "Don't you have to go at the academy in one hour?"
Nick smirked. "Have is a very relative term."
"It's really not." Judy said, clicking her pen. She sighed. "There has to be something we're missing about Arcapolo."
Nick rolled his eyes. "You're still going on about that?"
"Nick, we have exactly five days before the private detective comes over. If we don't crack this case before then, well…" Judy paused. "We don't know how good that guy is. If Bogo's praises are to imply anything – and Bogo never praises anyone – that guy must be some sort of genius. If he manages to crack the case in a few days… we'll be completely overshadowed."
Nick sighed. "Judy, nobody will crack the case in a short amount of time. We don't know anything about the guy."
"Yeah but what if he's some sort of radioactive genius?" Judy mumbled.
Nick smirked. "You know that's not a thing, Carrots."
"Well – if it is, I'll bet you that guy's it." She said, burying her face into her arms. Nick sighed as he started scratching behind her ears.
"Now you're just milking it for all its worth." Judy chuckled, remembering when Nick had last used that phrase.
"Nick?" She said, her ears lifting up, but only just.
"Yes, Carrots?"
"Will you sing me a lullaby?" She murmured.
Nick's fur instantly spiked up. "I- I'm not a good singer."
Judy looked up at him with pouty eyes. "C'mon, Nick."
Nick sighed. He recalled a song his mother used to sing to him before he ran away. Judy climbed into bed with him, sitting her head on his chest. Nick felt a tingling sensation in his stomach.
'Tingling sunlight falls on your fur,
Changes its colour softly.
Dances under the clouds without a single care
As tingling sunlight falls on you bare.
Then the sky sets for life to grow the moon
As pale sunlight falls on Crimson fur
The stars dance all around
Makes you feel like a loon,
A wolf that howls can be heard as your eyes close and you dream
You fall asleep and go back to your dreamy team,'
"Nick, you have a great voice!" Judy murmured sleepily.
Nick chuckled. "You know, Carrots-" But Judy had fallen asleep.
"Oh, it's just… so amazing!" Judy said. The apartment they were currently in was pretty cheap for its qualities.
The kitchen was fully renovated, with a very modern-looking kitchen and cooker. The bathroom was also renovated, and for once Nick experienced the pleasures of a fully-functioning sink. There was also a large bath that could also serve as a shower. But what really stunned them both, was the large bed in a beautiful bedroom. The walls were white and the floor was white.
"Well, I don't mind a single bed." Judy said.
"Yeah, neither do I." Nick muttered.
The real estate agent lifted an eyebrow. "Are you two together?"
Nick's fur spiked up. Judy just laughed it off. "No, no. We've just been friends for a long time." Seeing as she was a panther though, she lifted an eyebrow quizzingly at Nick.
"I see," She said, taking out a binder. She opened it and looked at a file. "So, I assume you like the apartment?"
"Of course!" Judy said. "It's perfect."
"Good," She said with a smile. "You can move in in two days' time."
Nick lifted got up from his second push-up, feeling his fur very musky. He was exhausted. But for once in his life, Coach wasn't glaring down at him. In fact, she was smiling. "Good job, crimson-fur."
Nick couldn't help feeling extremely good by the praise. He didn't really understand why. "Now," She said. "Run up to the frozen wall. Don't fall this time."
"What?" Nick bellowed furiously. "I just did 200 push-ups. Every muscle in my body is exhausted. I can barely walk!"
It seemed to Nick, that, whatever demon had been temporarily put out of service was back in overtime in that witch-bear. She grinned her sadistically evil smile. "Now, foxy."
Nick growled at her. He started running, soon he reached the frozen part of the academy, he jumped up and tried to grip the ice, but at that moment his left wrist gave an unruly jerk followed by a pain similar to a needle being shoved through his bones and he fell into the cold water.
"You're dead, foxy-daisy." Said the polar bear.
Nick simply glared as every part of his body froze in pain and tried to mentally killed the Coach.
=Author's Notes=
This chapter is really uneventful, because the next one will be well... the exact opposite. A LOT of things will happen. And we'll finally see the private detective.