The Fox, the Bunny, and the Zootopia
File #02: Nick's Home
So I've seen many FFs that tells about Nick's visit to Judy's home, Bunnyburrow, and even spend sometime there. Well I'm going to do the opposite.
It was evening. Nick was just finished filing a report on his and Judy's last assignment this week. Tomorrow's Sunday and they got a day-off, a token of gratitude for their hardwork. While Judy felt somewhat weird at the word 'day-off', Nick whistled about it with a smile on his face. He would like to relax sometime, as this was his first real job, he had to adjust to it. He was more than happy to take a break, a full day break.
Judy, on the other paw, was walking in circles as she thinking something to do on her day-off. Why not? Since the first day she stayed in Zootopia, her days were spent doing her duty as an officer. She was something full of passion. Chief Bogo once offered her to take a day-off, but she declined, as she had more things to do with her job, which, to the chief, was pretty impressive for the size of a bunny. She only accepted this one because Nick persuaded her to.
Nick was about to walk out the lobby with a chocolate bar in his hand and an orange juice bottle in another when he noticed Judy walking back and forth. After thinking for a while, he decided to ask what's wrong.
"Well, you can take a long nap. It helps if you're tired," said Clawhauser after munching a portion of his donut. "I've done that several times."
"That's the problem," said Judy, not stopping her walk. "I'm not tired and I've got nothing to do tomorrow!" then she stopped and held her ears down. "Ugh," she groaned. "What am I gonna do?"
Nick approached with his usual expression which consists of a half closed eyes, raised eyebrows, and a smile. "What's got into you, Carrots?" he asked before taking a bite from his chocolate bar. "I thought vacations are supposed to make people happy and relax."
When Judy didn't answer, Clawhauser answered for her. "She said she has nothing to do tomorrow and she's freaking out about what she'll going to do tomorrow," he explained as he took another donut from its box. "I suggested her to chill out and have a long nap, but she don't want to."
Nick chuckled. "That's not a suggestion for people as energetic as her." He took another bite.
"What do you suggest then?" Clawhauser said as he see Judy getting more and more distraught.
"Don't worry, I got this," Nick said and threw his trash away. He approached Judy who was still walking in circles and stopped her by holding her head with both of his hand. "How about you spend tomorrow at somewhere open? You know, maybe do some work out and sprinting."
"Huh?" said both Judy and Clawhauser. "Where could I find-OOOOHHHH I KNOW!" her face brightened in a flash as an idea struck her mind.
Nick grinned. "See?" Clawhauser just nodded it off and then Nick drank his orange juice.
"I'm going to your place!" the bunny said suddenly, making Nick, who already swallowed some juice, cough it out in surprise. Several officers on the line of fire took cover immediately from the orange colored liquid that sprayed in the air.
"Sorry," Nick said softly to the officers. "Why would you want to go to my place?" Nick asked, refraining from taking another drink from his now half-bottle orange juice. "There's other places with open space beside my place."
"I know no such places," Judy said while putting a finger on Nick's chest. "Besides, it's your idea."
Nick glanced at Clawhauser who was holding his laugh and the cheetah raised both paws. The fox then sighed in defeat. "Alright alright. We're spending the day-off at my place," he said nonchalantly, to which the bunny just laughed in amusement at his expression. "I'll meet you in front of the plaza by 05.00 tomorrow."
"Roger that."
They were just some kilometers away from the central Sahara Square where they entered a grassland in a car Nick rented. The lack of building made the sky view incredibly wider and the natural surrounding made the air fresher. Something everyone in the city need once a while. The uneven road added a wild side of the drive.
"I love this place. Reminds me of home," Judy remarked.
Nick peered at her before returning his sight at front. "Is it?"
"Well, without having to do farm work, that is."
"So you really was working as a farmer," he said, cocking a smile as he remembered the time he first called Judy 'Carrots'. "My eyes don't lie at all."
Judy punched his arm in annoyance. "Oh forget it. Are we there yet?" she said while looking outside the window with half of her body out.
Nick who was driving glanced at her and was surprised when he see Judy's legs the only part of her inside. He immediately pulled her by her belt inside. Judy who was sightseeing was shocked when she was pulled in.
"Don't try anything crazy," Nick warned.
Really, as much as they go searching for danger, his best friend the bunny couldn't seem to stay out of danger. Not to mention how inexperienced she was for city work. An example of this was when she met Mr. Big, she identified herself as a cop right in front of him, not even know what crime boss are - aside of seeing them as bad guys. Nick tried to bail them out, but Judy's oblivious to the situation nearly had them frozen to death, only to be saved by Judy's kindness, to which he sighed in relief for.
But that's what partners are for, right? Filling in what the other lacked? Balancing weaknesses? Judy was impulsive and brave so much that she often don't look around her. There where Nick came in. If Judy was acting a little off the line, he would tell her to back up and try another way. That how partners work, right?
When Nick snapped back to reality, his home was just before them. "That's it," he said to Judy, who was sightseeing the scene.
Before them was a bridge, the very bridge where Judy and Nick meet again and reconcile to solve the case. Back then was Judy coming here to ask Nick's help once more. Now, they're looking for a nice day-off. Judy never had the chance to see what Nick's place really was. Back then she was focused to get Nick.
They stepped down the car and unloaded their luggage which were the two's respective bag. Nick parked the car just by under the bridge.
"So this is it? Your house?" Judy asked, looking around the bridge, not finding anything a house normally have.
Nick shrugged and get under the bridge. He turned to the side and swayed some vines away, revealing a small trapdoor on the wall. "After you," he said, directing his paw at the opened door.
Judy entered the trapdoor which a passage way led to a rather large room underground walled by nice bricks painted in cream. The room's roughly ten by ten meters and the height is double of Judy's. It was tiled by white tiles. There was a bookshelf that was half full with the middle shelves hollowed and there was a wooden table for two. Two photos in frames were on a smaller table by a large bed for two fox-sized animal. A wooden door that might lead to the bathroom and then some kitchen stuff beside the entrance.
"Wow," Judy remarked. "It's so complex. I never thought this place was ever here."
"Never let them know too much about you," Nick quoted. "I was a con artist. I wouldn't tell them where they could strangle me to death easily, would I?" he said simply.
Judy could only nod at the former con artist when she noticed that the light actually came from a hole on the ceiling. "Is this what you use for everyday lighting?"
"I'm rarely home so I think yes," the fox said nonchalantly. "Sometimes I stayed at some places throughout the city I made. Sometimes I stayed at Finnick's van, though he snores loudly," he grimaced at the thought.
"Okay," she said awkwardly. "Now what do we do?"
Nick spend some seconds thinking until Judy's thumper of her foot snapped him off his mind. "How about relaxing under the sun?" He said as he picked two long chairs he usually used to relax.
"Nick," the bunny groaned. "I have to do something other than that."
"How about a run around the hill?"
"Great!"
They immediately went outside and start jogging. Judy jogged at fast rate as she always did things while Nick took the jog lightly while still having that half closed eyes and smile of his plastered to his face. The air was energizing and fresh, the air Judy always breathed in her hometown along with various smell of crops. The fresh air, the bright blue sky, and the lush grassland increased Judy's spirit to the top to the point she outrun Nick and meet him back from behind him.
"Come on, Nicky!" she exclaimed as she passed the fox. "Catch me if you can!"
"Wha-? Nicky?" thought Nick. "Dumb bunny!" and the fox subsequently increased his speed which he catch up to Judy in a short time.
Nick smirked while Judy threw him a face that said 'try harder!' before increasing her speed, making it a race rather than jogging.
"Well, how do you think of my home?"
"It's amazing!" she exclaimed excitedly.
And then they spend the rest of the day in the Nick's house, catching their breath. Both changed their clothes and rested for a while and ate some lunch. As Judy finished her carrot, Nick brought the previous two chairs and Judy finally gave up and relaxed with Nick beside the bridge.
Judy raised her sunhat. "Actually, this is pretty good," she admitted. "It felt nice to relax after all that work."
Nick at her words. "Told you so."
Done! Phew, I didn't think I'd be able to update this fast. Well, it's good to see my own work anyway. Leave a review and tell me how I did it if you want!
See ya next time!