Life in the city

by JMctrl

An FBI agent requests Judy and Nick's help with what seems to be a pretty straightforward case, before taking a much-needed vacation. Upon their return to the city they find it in a state of panic. Little do they know however, there are the only ones that can make the connections to find out who's responsible.

5. Early morning secrets

Early morning secrets.

(Judy POV)

I slowly become aware of my firm bed beneath my side, and my soft warm blanket above me.
I tilt my head up, opening my right eye. It Struggles to focus at first, but after a moment I can make out the numbers on my clock sitting on the windowsill.
My gaze then continues up, the sun's light has just started to fill the sky with a warm glow.
Even now the top of the tallest skyscrapers are basking in its light, reflecting it back into our darkened apartment.
The strength to keep my eye open fades, as I sink back into the warm mass behind me.

I can feel myself begin to drift, when a familiar song starts playing.
I'm about ready to dismiss it, not yet fully understanding why it has suddenly started playing.
When the mass behind me moves in it's direction, my eyes open, to see a red arm grabbing the source of the song.
I finally become conscious enough to realize that it was Nick's phone receiving a call.
"Who's calling at 6:37 in the morning?" I mumble with annoyance.

I hear a yawn, followed by. "It's Waterwood." In a similar brisk of annoyance.

"See what he wants." I say, fighting through a yawn of my own.
I roll over to face him, as the song turns to silence.

"This better be important-"

"Good morning Nicholas!" Waterwood's voice blasts from the phone like a Canon, causing Nick to jerk it from his ear. "How are you doing this fine morning?"
He rolls his head to me, as he returns the phone to his ear, giving me a look that says; grate a morning animal.

"Since when are we on a first name bases?" Nick asks.

"Just being friendly." I hear Waterwood reply. "Sorry to wake you, but I was hoping to come by your apartment to go over the late Mr. Flik's file."
Nick's eyes then widen at the request.

"My apartment?" Nick replies calmly, pushing himself up into a sitting position. The blanket we share topples off his torso revealing his bare chest.
He then looks down to me, asking for help. A request I ignore, I can't risk Waterwood hearing my voice.
Since Nick and I are obviously going to have to meet agent Waterwood somewhere, I might as well prepare for the day.

I sluggishly slide off the bed, and make my way towards the close rack, just to the right of the door.
"Why do you need my help to go over his file?" Nick asks, as I hear him slide to the edge of the bed.

"You knew him, s- thought you could fill in the -s in his file." I barely hear Waterwood say. My ability to hear the other side of the conversation is fading with every step.

"Can we meat somewhere instead?" Nick asks, as I start to grab my police uniform off the rack.
"Well where can we meat then?" Nick asks, seemingly losing patience.

I then hear some mumbling coming from the phone, and a few sharp S sounds.
"Alright." I hear Nick reply. "I'll go pick up Judy, and we'll be there in a bit." The next thing I hear is a beep, followed by foot steps getting closer.
"And I was hoping to sleep in today." Nick says, as he comes to stand beside me.
"You know Carrots." Nick says, beginning to rummage through the close rack. "That wolf mite bust us."

"Or, he mite not." I respond quickly trying to reassure him. "We've always been-" I pause when another song rings through the apartment, this time coming from my phone.
I barrel over to find the label [Agent Wolf] sprawled across my screen, the label I set for Waterwood. I press the green answer button, and without warning.

"Good morning Judith! How are you doing this fine morning!?" Waterwood's voice blasts out of my phone causing me to jerk it from my ear. Something I should have foreseen.
Immediately feeling annoyed at hearing my true first name being broadcast through the apartment, I respond in annoyance. "Good morning, Volin."
Some small part of me hoping to provoke the same annoyed feeling I received.

"Just letting you know Nicholas will be showing up at your apartment to get you soon, so prepare, get ready, whatever it is you do. And where something inconspicuous.
As in, something other than your uniform please. We may need to keep a low profile today. That should be everything, see you in a bit."
The words spill out of the phone with such speed, I barely have time to comprehend half of what he said, by the time he hung up.

"It should be a crime for someone to have that much energy this early in the morning." I hear Nick say pulling my attention to him, as he makes his way towards me.
I used to have that much energy in the morning, however Nick wouldn't know that.
Nick grabs his suitcase that he has yet unpacked, and sits it on top of the desk he had just pulled it from under.

I clip our badges onto our badge belt clips, before returning to the rack, and begin to pick out something; inconspicuous, as Waterwood put it.
That also explains why Nick was disregarding his police uniform while rummaging through the rack.
However I decide on a dark gray business shirt, and trousers.
I take the utility belt off of my uniform to use on the trousers, as I hear Nick exit the apartment.
He returns sometime later, damp and wearing brown trousers, a blue business shirt with a gray jacket.

"What do you think, Carrots?" Nick asks, stretching out his arms in a presenting manner.

I smile, looking my fox up and down, before giving my thoughts. "The thought of seeing you in this all day, is making me a very happy bunny."

"Oh, is that so?" He replies pulling his lips into a smirk.
I begin walking up to him slowly, making sure that I'm putting more emphasis on my hip swinging.
However, just before I get within two steps of him, I dart around his side, and zip out the door as quickly as I can.
I can't help but smile thinking what Nick's face must look like, as I dash down the hallway.
When I get back to the room I find Nick grumpily waiting for me.

He's ready to go, so I put my badge and gun holster on my belt, making sure their hidden well.
On the way out, Nick grabs the key to his car, as I grab my overcoat, and the key to our apartment.
We walk to the elevator at the end of the hall, and Nick presses the call button. It's only a few seconds before the doors open.
As we step in, Nick presses the button for the lobby.
We then turn to face the doors as they close. I look up to Nick, and realize that there's something that I haven't yet done today.

I dash in front of him throwing my arms around his neck, and press my lips to his.
Nick seems surprised to find me examining his K9s with my tongue, but he relaxes into it, putting his
paws on my back and waist. Kissing Nick in the morning is one my favorite things about him living with me.
We can't show affection for one another during the day, for two reasons.

The first one is; during the day were usually on duty, and need to be focusing on work, instead of each other.
I can't risk jeopardizing my childhood dream, and everything I've worked for my entire life, for one animal.
Even if that one animal is Nick, my Nick.

The second reason is: it's against regulation for two officers to be partners, and be romantically involved with each other.
At least that's the only two I could tell him, I'm not sure how he would react to the third.
It seems like an hour has passed, by the time the elevator starts to move.
I pull myself away, and return to the space by his side.

"Wow, Carrots." Nick says, still focused on the doors, with a newly formed smile on his face.
I weave my fingers through his, and we grip each others paw tightly for the rest of the way down. As the number gets to zero we release our grip.
Two animals are standing at the doors as they open. They step aside to let us get off. We thank them, as we step out into the lobby, and make our way to the door.

We try to keep our relationship secret at work, and so far no one there knows, I think.
However it's hard to do that here with how thin the walls are.
I begin to grow worried that Nick is right about agent Waterwood busting us.
He seems very keen on observing how Nick and I interact.

I can tell by the way he snuck back in the warehouse without making a sound.
You have to be trying really hard to be quiet, for a bunny not to hear you.
A thought dashs through my head; does he know? No. He can't. I mean, I don't think so.
Surely he would've asked, or said something at the least.

"Damn it." I say under my breath, only half aware of the fact that I did.
I'm so distracted, thinking of all the little hints that Waterwood could have picked up on.
I begin hoping that Nick didn't hear me, but the likelihood of that is rather low.
So when we get to Nick's car: a small red convertible. I climb in first, and wait for him to ask.

"So what was that about?" Nick asks, starting the car.
I think of what to say to him, and I settle on telling him the truth as I always do.
I turn to find him looking at me, and I start to explain. "I'm just worried about that wolf finding out, and-"

"Judy." Nick says, stopping me before I say another word. "Whatever happens, we will be fine." He continues in the most gentle voice I've ever heard him speak in.
Nick leans to me, and puts his paw on mine before saying. "You know, right?"

I look deep into his eyes, before demanding. "I want to hear you say it."

His smile widens slightly, before replying. "I love you Carrots. And so what if he finds out, not him, or anyone can break us up."
"If he does, and reports us to Bogo, the only thing he can do is assign us different partners. No one can take what we have, from us."

It's nice to see this side of Nick, but I see an opportunity. "You Foxs are so emotional." I then pull my lips into a smirk, as his expression goes blank.

"Ha ha." Nick says sarcastically, as he starts leaning back up. I stop him by grabbing his jacket, and pull him back to me.
Our lips meet for a second, then part. After a moment I release my grip.

"We really need some time off." Nick says, reminding me about that vacation.

"Oh, Nick I've been thinking about the two of us taking a vacation together." I blurt out suddenly, startling him in the process.

We drive out of the lot, as Nick replies. "A vacation! To wear?"

"BunnyBorough." I reply.
Nick gives me a weird look, before turning his focus back to the road.

"Are you sure, Carrots?" Nick replies, probably thinking about how meeting my parents is going to go.
Or more likely them finding out where together.

"You know Carrots." Nick begins. "A little vacation would be a nice start, but there are other things we need."

"Like what?" I ask, trying to form a list when Nick replies.

"Well a new apartment for one. The one we're in now is far too small, and we don't get any privacy in there.
That gazelle couple is so nosy, and loud, and obnoxious, and..."
Nick continues on, as I start thinking of all the times those two bug us when we start getting affectionate.
"Hey Fox. You finally gonna devour that bunny tonight?" or. "You gonna get in that foxhole tonight!?"
Being a few of their most memorable comments.

I sometimes wonder if they spent half the day trying to come up with these, they always seem to have at least one new one every night.

"Oh and Carrots" Nick says, pulling my focus back to him. "About the way you've been looking at me, when were alone."

I immediately feel my cheeks and ears begin to burn. I was hoping he didn't notice.
I then start to apologize. "Yea, I-I'm sorry Nic-"

"No no, It's okay." Nick starts. "It's just... I wanted to let you know that.. You don't have to be so shy."

"So where are we going?" I ask, out of desperation to change the subject.

"We have to talk about this at some point, Carrots." Nick says disregarding my question.

"We will Nick, just not now." I begin to reply. "Talking about something like that before meeting someone with a keen since of smell, isn't really the best idea.
Especially if we're trying to keep our relationship secret from him."

Nick gives a slight nod, before finally answering my question. "Waterwood asked us to meet him at his place."
An answer I am surprised at. I wouldn't have expect Waterwood to invite us to his home.
I mean I wouldn't invite him to mine and Nick's apartment.
However we've been living together for two weeks now, I'm sure Nick's sent would be more than a little noticeable.

I turn on the radio, and flip through the presets hoping one of them is playing something good.
Likely we catch [believer] just as the song begins. Nick and I share a quick glance, and like that, agree to let it play.
I lose myself in the song, trying to suppress my primitive urges.

When we finally arrive I lower the volume on the radio, before asking. "Do we have the right place?"

"Yea, this is the address he gave me." Nick replies.
The driveway leads into a circular roundabout with a sleek stone fountain in the middle.
I then turn my attention to the house, which is very sleek and sharp in its design. I've only ever seen pictures of modern homes like this one.
"There's no way the FBI pays this well." Nick states. We drive partially through the round driveway before stopping.

I'm still examining the architecture as we get out, and walk to the front door.
It's a combination of a clean white material, and flat stone. Nick presses the doorbell pulling my attention to it, as it dings through the house.

It's only a moment before the door opens. "Good morning!" Waterwood says happily emerging from the door. "Please come in." He then opens the door further to let us in.
He then turns on heel and zooms by a staircase leading up to a walkway.
Which he darts under, before ducking into a corner to the right.
We step in slowly as we start looking around, and I hear the door close by it's self behind us.

The walls are a clean white material, similar to the one on the outside, and the floor is a white reflective tile.
I see Waterwood walk down the hallway to the right. We walk by the stairs to follow when he returns from the hall with a folder, and continues to the left.
"This way Please." He says happily walking behind a corner, and out of view once more.
We follow around the corner, and find him sitting on a couch, which is similar to the architecture of the house.

The folder is now sitting on a glass table in front of Waterwood, next to a white tee cup with a steaming dark fluid in it.
We walk over, and sit on the couch adjacent from him. I put my attention back on Waterwood and start to say. "Aumm, so Before we start going over the file."
I pause for a moment to start scanning the room. Everything is sleek and sharp, even the fire place at the far end of the room to the left of us.
I was hoping there would be pictures somewhere, but there isn't even one. "Can we talk?" I finally continue, returning my focus to Waterwood again.

"Talk about?" Waterwood asks gingerly as he picks up his cup, to take a sip.

I wait for him to finish with his tea before replying. "You've read our files, but we don't know anything about you."

He gestures with his free paw, before saying. "Alright, you two can ask a question each."

I look at Nick, then back at Waterwood, and ask. "I noticed you don't have any pictures anywhere. First in your office, now here. Why is that?"
Waterwood's ears lay back, and I notice he starts rubbing his thumb on the base of his ring finger. My heart begins to sink.
Of all the reasons, I never considered that he's lost someone.

"Painful memories." He replies calmly, realizing what he's doing with his thumb, and immediately stops.
"Now Wilde, your question."

I look to Nick, just as he begins to ask. "It's pretty clear that you're loaded. So where do you get all this money from?
There's no way the FBI pays this well."

"It's family money." Waterwood replies. He then glances at the small white steaming cup in his paw.
"Oh I forgot, would either of you like something to drink?"

"Do you have Coffee?" Nick asks.

"No I don't, sorry." Waterwood responds as he sits his cup on the table. He then stands up, and starts walking around the couch.
"I have tee, fruit juice, and soda." He says as he walks to the kitchen.

He opens a cabinet and pulls out two glass cups. I look at Nick knowing what he's going to ask. "Do you have blueberry soda?"
I then smile at him; I know my fox so well.
I look back at Waterwood just as he answers. "Sorry no, but I do have strawberry soda." Waterwood then starts walking to the fridge.

"That will do." Nick says reluctantly.

"Same for you Hopps?" Waterwood asks, as he putts his paw on the handle of the fridge. I then hear the seal break as the door opens.
I look down at the folder as I hear Waterwood pouring our drinks. The folder is not as big as I thought it would be.
Mine is twice this size, and Nick's is three times as big as that. This of course leading me to believe that Flik couldn't have been much older than 18.

I then start to think about how Nick must be feeling. I know he doesn't actually know everyone, but Still I should have expected that there would be a case where Nick knew the victim.
It must be hard for him, things like this don't exactly get easier. I then turn my gaze to him.
He's focusing intensely on the folder, and his ears are laying back. I glance at Waterwood as he returns the soda to the fridge.

"Nick." I say quietly as I turn back to him, and put my paw on his. "I'm here." He looks at me, and smiles. "I know Carrots, think you." He responds just as quietly.
I pull my paw back before Waterwood can see. I then look to him once more just as he closes the fridge.
He picks up the cups and walks back to the couch. He places the cups in front of us before taking his seat.

We start going over the file. Nick doesn't show it, but he's not happy about digging through the life of someone he knew.
I have the idea to go over Flik's credit card purchases, and we find that he spent a lot of time around the northern rainforest district before he died.
Flik lived in Savannah central, so he must've been working. We look at the warehouses in the area he spent the most time in.
Only three are big enough to fit the bill. The first one collapsed last year, the second one is under repair, and the last one is owned privately.

"That's got to be it!" Waterwood says excitedly. "I hope there still there." He gets up and grabs the file. "I'll go put this back in my study."

Waterwood walks back down the hall, and ducks into a room to the left. He comes back and Stands behind the couch.

"What about the wood splinters?" Nick asks.

"If they match then we can get a warrant. Till then we can go scope the place."
"I noticed your car is only a two seater, so perhaps we should take my SUV instead." Waterwood then starts walking to a door to the left of the kitchen.
We hop off the couch, and follow him down a hall, which leads to a garage. The garage can hold six cars, but there are only two, his unmarked SUV, and a rad Furroari.
I can tell from the amount of dust on it, that it hasn't been driven in a while.

Waterwood gets in the drivers seat of the SUV, as we get in the back.
The garage door opens, and the SUV begins to move.
I find it strange that I didn't hear the engine turnover. Nick doesn't seem to even notice. However I remember what he said yesterday at lunch.
I'm always on alert. I'm so afraid that we're going to get caught.

End part #5