The bag was resting on the table. Judy sighed to see her partner's secretary empty. It was unusual, and knowing the real reason for his missing, made her embarrassed. Would she say yes? Would she like the necklace? The necklace she'd never forgotten since she'd first seen it in the shop window? So many unanswered questions to silence them all at once. Judy closed her eyes and shifted the chair from her desk, sitting on it, and turning it back to the front. The paperwork had been dealt with since yesterday, and it was still half an hour before she was to appear in the meeting room where Bogo would distribute the cases, and where she would see an angry look on the buffalo as soon as he noticed the missing fox at her side. It would take seconds until the boss explodes inside.
Far from this concern, a fox walked the streets of Zootopia, too, relaxed. The bad was already done and he would accept the serious consequences of having missed work without justification. Since this situation would only be on Sunday, when he would have returned to service, he took the opportunity to relax a little before beginning to prepare the things. Nick anticipate everything very well and hope that everything works out. That at the end of the day he and she would leave more than mere friends. Fear was present, but hope prevailed.
As expected, it took no more than two seconds for the chief's expression to change radically. 'Good morning' and 'quiet' were customary as soon as the buffalo entered the meeting room. Whether it was fate or not, the sullen eyes behind his reading glasses, having strayed from the cases he carried on one of his paws, were soon on the two officers he respected. Judy forced a smile behind a growing panic as the chief's eyebrows drew together.
"Hopps, where's Officer Wilde?" Judy swallowed.
"Sick," she replied in a low voice.
"Hopps?" He repeated her last, more serious name, arching one eyebrow.
Nick, you're so stupid for believing the chief thinks you're sick. She thought, trying to find a more plausible explanation. However, her levels of lies were not her specialty.
"That's what he told me this morning over the phone, sir."
"After the cases, to my office, Officer!" The voice was still low, but the tone was a little softer.
"Yes, sir!" The tone of displeasure was perceptible in her voice. Judy bit her bottom lip. Nick would pay well for her to have to listen to an angry chief.
After the distribution of the cases, and once again Judy kept the usual rounds, after Bogo handed the paperwork to her paw, he turned his back on her intention to follow him. Judy grabbed the paperwork and jumped out of the chair, following an angry buffalo.
Once inside the chief's office, Bogo sat in his chair and motioned for the rabbit to do the same in the chair in front of him. Without delay, she obeyed. He sighed heavily before speaking. His angry expression changed to one of 'I do not know what to do with this fox.'
"What's the real reason for his missed work, Hopps?"
"Do I really have to say, chief?" She said. If there was a hole in front of her, she would slip into it without any hindrance.
"You know he's going to be severely punished."
"What will be the punishment, chief?" The concern was visible in her eyes.
"I could dismiss him for a month or even fire him for missing a day's work without any justification. If it was in another job it was different, in this you know how much worse it is. "
"Please, Chief. Do not fire Nick. You can apply whatever you want, but I'll ask you anything but that." Judy almost forgot to breathe. The words came out almost in supplication, which really alerted her to the reason for such a state, but in no way did she want to lose her partner, the dearest person she had at her side. And if the other Vixen accepted the feelings, then Judy could actually lose him forever.
"Hopps, please calm down. It even gave me great joy to fire him just to see his reaction, as Officer Wilde is out of bounds, but I also must see for another expectation and he is very much in need in our department and he is a good officer. Therefore, a punishment serves. Pretty stern." A mocking smile reappeared on the buffalo's lips. Very severe indeed. It would give him pleasure to see the fox with his tail between his legs once in a while, since he was abusing certain attitudes towards his person. At the chief's words, Judy breathed a sigh of relief. Any punishment would do, as long as he could be with her. "But on those days, I will still decide how many, you are forbidden to see him and have any contact with him. Let us see if it is from this that he calms down his attitude."
Better than not seeing him for an eternity. Judy thought, staring at the chief's desk.
"Whatever the reason, today you may call of duty a little earlier, Hopps. After the round, I do not want to see you circling in this space. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!" She replied, staring at him.
"Dismissed, Officer!" He told her. Judy only shook her head. Clutching again at the paperwork that had been rested on the table, she jumped from the chair toward the door. She opened it and closed it behind her.
"Argh ... these two." He sighed and scratched the back of his head. "Wilde, enjoy it while you can."
The glass of coffee rested on the cup holder within reach of the steering wheel. The car had been parked in a park. Violet eyes admired the commotion of the streets. It was late afternoon and night, as soon as it fell on Zootopia, it would be a sign of more mammals, holding hands, in the streets. Restaurants filled with couples and even parks would be well frequented. Out of this excitement, ever since she left the ZPD for the car and started patrolling the streets, images of a Vixen she had never seen, haunted her in her head. Her smile when Nick told her what she felt and/or when she gave him the gift. A hug followed by a kiss ... ARGH! Judy shook her head. She shifted from the steering wheel and pressed her back to the seat.
Nick ...
An open paw, it was against the window glass. Her violet eyes fixed infinity. A buzz roused her. In her pocket, the phone vibrated. She shifted her attention and put a paw in her pocket, pulling out her cell phone. A message. No, two messages. One from Benjamin and one from ... Argh ... Nick! Judy opened the cheetah's first. It was a thank-you note for the cake, saying it was delicious. Smiling, she answered him back, thanking him for liking it. She left the message Clawhauser had sent her, and opened Nick's.
'Fluff, I hope your day is going well. I know I must have a furious buffalo waiting for me on Sunday, but for now I need you to meet me at the central park by 8:00 p.m., Combined?'
What the hell did he want her to see? At this moment, it would be for him to be in a restaurant with a Vixen scowling at each other while they dined in the candlelight, right? Okay, so let's know what's going on.
'Hello. Why do you want to meet me? You were rejected?' Oh, how she wanted that. She sent the message. Her eyes shifted from the small screen back into the streets. It did not take more than three seconds for her attention to be put back on the screen with the response to his message.
'No jokes, Carrots. And no, I was not rejected ... yet! So, it's agreed to meet?
PS - I do not want to be impertinent but you must go to me without the uniform. Thank you.'
More than confused by the answer, and more and more of her curiosity growing, Judy wanted not to meet him. That whole conversation about Vixen and that he left her alone on this particular day patrolling the streets, she had no desire to meet him. If she did, she'd like to beat him up. But her inside told her to go. It told her it might be something important and that she might regret it later. Something that ... wait there! What does he mean by which he has not yet been rejected? But what the hell was he doing all morning and part of the day to miss work? Judy raised her eyebrows.
'Nicholas Wilde, you have the perfect notion that you will be 'executed alive' by the chief. Second, since morning you have not been able to tell Vixen yet? What are you up to, your dumb fox.' For some unknown reason, her heart began to beat wildly. Something was very strange.
'Do not be difficult, Judith Hopps. Our meeting is then arranged. See you later, Fluff!'
It was the last straw. Sometimes Judy was pronounced. Usually when the fox was angry or serious. But JUDITH! She had never heard him call by her full name. Her paws began to tremble wildly and her heart beat even harder. To help, her anxiety for the combined time to come quickly was at its peak.
Not like that, Nick. Do not give me hope like this.
end of the fourth part
N/A - Sorry again, but I do not like to make big chapters, so the reading is not too long and distessing. So, I'll finish in the fifth part. I already have the other half written almost all, but only tomorrow I will post it.
Anyway, I hope you like it!