Diamond in the Rough
Chapter 2: Rewriting History
So Nick knows you pole dance. It's no big deal, right? It's not like he doesn't have his secrets. The card games, the cons, the sad childhood, the raccoon incident…which he doesn't know you know. You're friends and partners, nothing else. Judy splashed some water on her face and blotted it with a towel before turning back to the mirror. She took a deep breath, then heard a knock at the door.
"Delivery for Miss Judy Hopps!" Called a familiar voice. Judy took one last look in the mirror before exiting the bathroom, she walked through the bedroom into the main section of her new apartment, and opened the door. Nick was standing there, leaning a shoulder against the doorframe, holding a large paper bag. Judy briefly acknowledge to herself how attractive he looked with the mischievous eyes and confident behavior. She could've slapped herself for thinking such a thing, especially after him mussing up the fur on her head as he walked in. "Nice place you got here Carrots, especially without the boxes!" Nick snickered as he put the bag down on the coffee table. Judy stepped into her kitchenette and rummaged through her cabinets for glasses.
"What do you want to drink?" Judy asked, pulling out two cups.
"Got any wine?" Judy cast a backwards glance at Nick, he was now sitting on the couch, pulling out containers of Chinese food. He knew she had wine, he gave her a bottle as a housewarming gift. With a sigh she put the cups back and grabbed two wine glasses. She moved to a different cabinet, and peered into it. The bottle was placed two shelves too high, undoubtedly Nick's fault. She reached up, raised onto her tiptoes. She still couldn't reach. Suddenly, she felt warmth on her back. An arm covered in ginger fur reached over her and grabbed the bottle. Judy turned around, and found herself staring directly at Nick's chest. Looking up, she was met with his light smile. Judy fought the urge to get on her toes again and plant one on him. Quickly she ducked under his arm, grabbing the bottle on her way. She took a deep breath and began pouring the wine into the glasses.
"Thanks." Judy mumbled. She felt ashamed for needing help reaching the shelves.
"Anytime Carrots!" Nick said cheerily. Judy walked with Nick to the couch and set the glasses on the table before sitting down. Nick handed her a container and chopsticks. Judy opened the paper box to the comforting aroma of vegetable lo mein. "So, how do Nate and Isobel know each other?" Nick asked, raising an eyebrow while he shoved some noodles in his mouth. A few hung out and Nick slurped them up, Judy couldn't help but smile.
"Well I think the obvious story is that Nate scammed Isobel with one of his cons." Judy stated, sure that her plan would work. Nick hesitated.
"There's one problem with that."
"What?" asked Judy.
"Well," Nick started, "If Nate conned Isobel, Isobel would hate his guts. We need to establish a history that would give both of us the ability to be each other's excuse to get out of a dangerous situation. If Isobel hates Nate…"
"She'd never leave with him." Judy finished. The evening quickly turned to night with failed attempts at creating a story. Finally, one stuck.
"What if we dated?" Nick offered. Judy thought about it.
"But we wouldn't still be together currently, because Victor would never let us work together if we were a couple at the time." Judy reminded Nick. Nick nodded.
"So we dated in the past. But it didn't end badly, because we need to be on good terms. Although it has to be far enough in the past to not seem like a threat to Victor's business." Nick seemed thoughtful.
"We were high school sweethearts!" Judy volunteered, this was kinda fun, creating a past. "We parted ways before college!"
"That works, except you didn't stay in college. You had been dancing to pay for it, and decided you liked the dancing more." Nick edited her idea. Judy faltered. She almost forgot what she'd be doing for this assignment. Shrugging it off, she continued the story.
"So you went to college for business, but we need to get our story straight about the relationship. How we met, fond memories, how it ended. That type of stuff." Judy said, keeping the conversation off her dancing. By the time they finished rewriting their history, it was after midnight. "Nick, you shouldn't be out walking around this late at night. I have an extra blanket; you can crash on the couch."
"No, no it's fine, I have to go home and shower anyway. I've got noodle juice in my fur." Nick declined. Judy was NOT letting him out this late.
"Nope, use my shower if you need to." Judy said firmly. Nick reluctantly gave in with a huge yawn.
"Fine" Nick got up from the couch and Judy showed him to the bathroom. She explained to him how to start the water, and left closing the door behind her. She heard the water turn on, and began putting on her pajamas. Suddenly, she heard Nick singing. Terribly. She giggled. She then realized she hadn't given him a towel. She went to the closet and grabbed a fluffy white towel. She knocked on the door. Nick continued singing. He couldn't hear her! Quietly she opened the door and put a towel by the sink. Nick was still singing, and when she turned around she could see his silhouette against the shower curtain. She stared for a few seconds, he was rubbing soap onto his chest fur. As his paws began to travel down his body, Judy found it harder to look away the lower his paws got. She finally pulled her eyes away as his paws were reaching his hips. Quickly and quietly she left and closed the door. Leaning against the door she took a deep breath. Judy stop! Nick's your friend! And your co-worker! Judy hurried to the kitchenette to get a cup of water. She leaned against the counter, taking slow sips. The singing stopped. The water turned off. Judy put her cup in the sink, and walked into her room. When she walked in Nick was just stepping out of the bathroom.
Nick was standing in the doorway, with a towel around his waist. His damp fur was stuck to his body, showing the definition of the muscles on his chest. His red fur glistened with water and the steam from the bathroom was catching the light, providing a very nice backdrop. Nick looked… well… hot. Judy instinctively crossed her arms over her chest. She was wearing leggings and a t-shirt, but she felt very exposed from her lack of a bra. Nick started walking towards her, a mischievous look in his eyes. Judy's heart pounded.
"Who wants a hug!" Nick teased. Judy only had time to throw her arms forward to try to hold him off, but Nick was too quick. He enveloped Judy in a wet hug. She felt the cold water seeping through her shirt. She squirmed trying to break free. As she escaped under Nick's arm again, she heard a soft thud. She stopped, her back to Nick. "Gosh Carrots, if you didn't want the towel on you shouldn't have given me one!" Nick chuckled. Judy did not turn around. She heard movement. "It's ok, the towel is back on." That wasn't the only reason Judy wasn't turning around. She was wearing a white shirt. "Carrots? Hey it was just a joke; I know it was an accident."
"Oh. Well, Nick, I'm really tired. Could you turn off the light on your way out?" Judy asked, trying not to let her voice falter as she walked towards her bed.
"...Sure, have a goodnight, Judy." The light turned out.
"You too Nick." Judy climbed into bed, too tired and distracted to bother changing her shirt. Images began coursing through her head. Nick, the case, Nick, the pictures of the previous fences. Judy tried to push off the images. She really was tired. Within twenty minutes, she was asleep.