Well, I finished translating this today and, since the first chapter was just an introduction, I think I have to post something relevant. Hope you like it! Also, thanks RavenAndTheWolf for your kind review! Also, I do not own Zootopia. Yet.

Chapter 2

Of everything she had planned to do once she was a cop, trying to eavesdrop on a conversation between her boss and her partner certainly was not on the list. Judy and Clawhauser, being as stealthy as they could, were now waiting in front of Bogo's office door, looking for answers, as they both were worried. Unfortunately, for the time being, it was no more than a wild-goose chase.

"I cannot hear them…" whispered the cheetah ensconcing on the floor, trying to find the perfect posture to be attentive and comfortable at the same time. "What about you, Judy? You do have a better sense of hearing than me."

Judy was not so sure about that statement, cheetahs have a very keen sense of hearing as well, but she just turned to him looking frustrated.

"Not at all, they are speaking too low."

After like five minutes there, when both unsuccessful spies were almost going to withdraw, Nick's voice rose loud and menacing.

"NO!" he yelled at Bogo with all his strength, completely letting his fury to take control of his words. "I will not do it! You have already been playing enough with me and—!"

"WILDE!" Bogo's reply was not dominated by anger, just pure authority. "I can take you right now if you do not collaborate, but I am giving you an opportunity to tie any loose ends you could have! So shut up and listen!"

The conversation returned to a lower volume, and it became again impossible to hear anything. Clawhauser and Judy looked at each other in shock. Nick had never lost his temper like that, and the Chief had never been disrespected so hard, much less with such a vehemence. They got audible again, but they did not shout this time.

"This is a terrible idea, and you know it," said Nick with a tone that exuded poison, "and you will regret it, I am sure of it."

Was that a threat? For those who were listening on the sly, it surely sounded like one.

"Okay, Wilde, it is a deal. You have five hours, but I expect complete cooperation and dedication. Consider this time a personal favor for your assistance in the Nighthowlers case, even when you were forced to it."

When a noise that showed two chairs moving appeared, both Clawhauser and Judy fled from the place quickly. At the moment Nick and Bogo arrived at the reception desk, they just saw two friends involved in a spirited discussion about Gazelle new album. Without looking back, Nick walked to the main entrance taking Judy's paw. She would have blushed at some other time, but now she just glanced at her partner with concern.

"You know, Carrots?" said the fox not turning to her, "I think I will accept your previous offer about having dinner tonight. We have to make good use of your day off, After all, who knows when we will be able to hang out again."

Bitterness was patent in his voice. They did not speak in Nick's old car while he drove to her house—and his, which was, as stated before, two blocks away—to get changed into something more appropriate. Her tries to initiate a conversation were deflected by him, and silence again was their companion while they headed to a restaurant of his choice. The place surprised Judy, since it was vastly more luxurious and expensive than she had expected, even when Nick told her to wear something elegant with a serious smirk. She did not understand why going to that restaurant for a simple meal after work. Maybe she would have asked some other time, but not that night. When they reached the main entrance it was about 10:30 PM, and for the third time that day, a dreadful foreboding went through officer Hopps' mind: something was terribly wrong.

And there they were. Nick and Judy, facing each other. He was wearing a dark blue suit without a tie, while she was clothed in a more casual dress, which was not helping to fit in the lavish atmosphere, but they were not attracting as much attention as she thought. Judy believed that they would not be able to go inside, since the place seemed really popular and exclusive, but as soon as the guards saw him they let them in without further interrogation. They even were going to have dinner in the VIP room! When she questioned him about it, the fox simply told her that they owed him a lot since he literally saved the restaurant from bankruptcy, but did not tell more.

The room was big, placed in a third floor, and the views were amazing for such a height. There were only five of the twenty tables occupied, and a duo of an otter and a sheep were playing violin and cello respectively, performing a series of relaxing compositions. But the key element, the essential factor that made the situation so warm and comfortable was the happiness that Judy felt every time her partner and friend joked or smiled. Finally, he was being himself, and she could not be gladder.

"At the expense of taking advantage of a rabbit stereotype, the caramelized carrot risotto is highly recommended," advised Nick with a sly grin, "`Capable of converting a convinced carnivore into a pure vegetarian in just a bite.' Those were the exact words if I am not mistaken."

Judy let out an amused laugh.

"Do you volunteer as a guinea pig, then?"

"Nah, I am a pretty damn fine fox, so I have no need to become another animal. Also, every burger stand in the city that does not have a vegetarian burger would cry over my absence, and I am not that cruel." replied him smiling brightly at the very moment the waiter arrived at their table. He was a leopard with pale grey fur, and looked directly at Nick with a joyful expression before starting to talk animatedly.

"Hey, Nick, you sure come here hardly ever for someone with a full free VIP pass!" he blinked suggestively in Judy's direction. "And never with a lady! Much less with such a beauty…" he winked at Nick.

Before any of them answered he regained his serious composure and made a polite bow.

"Goodnight to both of you, lovely lady and handsome gentleman. My name is Ambrose and I will be your waiter tonight. Just tell whatever you need to make this dinner unforgettably. It is a pleasure for me and the whole restaurant to have Zootopia's heroes among us, and it fills us with pride that you have chosen our humble establishment for your couple's dinner." he made a pause after his little speech, smiling widely at both of them. "Are you ready to order? I would recommend the risotto, but this smart gentleman has praised it enough."

Judy blushed when they were mistook for a couple, but she did not have the chance to correct him since Nick spoke before.

"I will have the… Uh… Pompano en Papillote, did I pronounce it correctly? And the beautiful young lady will indeed have the caramelized carrot risotto," he stopped talking for a second, but soon remembered something. "Oh, and bring us a bottle of wine! Rosé, I was thinking about a Château la Fur-Pétrus. I entrust you with choosing its age, Ambrose."

When the waiter went away, Judy finally talked to Nick.

"Nick… He called us `couple'… "

"Yeah, and?" replied the fox, diverted.

"Well, you did not correct him," her face turned even redder than before, embarrassed. "And you called me `beautiful young lady'."

Nick's lips were crossed by a smile and, to her surprise, he placed his paw on hers gently, what made her cheeks turn intense crimson, threatening to blow up.

"Judy, forget about everything. About work, about other mammals and the whole world if it is necessary, just for tonight. Until we stand up from this table, it is me and you."

At that moment, saying that Judy was ashamed of the situation would be putting it mildly. Her face looked like it was about to explode, her throat was sore and she was afraid of passing out any minute now. "Why has this damned fox to be so charming and handsome? A-And, why am I thinking about him like that?" She was not really against him paying so much attention to her, and the truth was that his paw on hers was providing her fur a truly pleasant feeling, but…

"Stop, Judy, enough!" she scolded herself. "He is your friend, probably he is just joking. But, maybe he is not? Oh, cheese and crackers, how much time have I been gawking at him? Five, ten minutes? Why is he staring at me with that look in his green eyes, his beautiful, green eyes…? Stop!"

"O-Okay," she finally answered feeling her tongue furry.

"Thanks, Carrots," his smile took Judy's breath away again. "Oh, look, here is our food! I hope you enjoy it."

With a soft voice, the waiter wished them to enjoy their dinner and disappeared. Both diners agree that everything was delicious, and Nick was not able to find any reason to not confirm that Ambrose had chosen the bottle of wine perfectly.

The night ran smoothly with the atmosphere turning more and more relaxed, swapping stories and jokes constantly. The bunny had a noticeable blush due to the wine, even when the bottle was shared fifty-fifty between them, she could not hold her drink as much as him, which had led to some lack of inhibition.

"I am happy about hanging out tonight with you, Nick, I am really having fun," said Judy with an amused laugh. "Who would have guessed that you could be so well-mannered and nice in a place like this?"

"Oh, I am hurt, Fluff," replied Nick with a huge smile. "I supposed that you were bewitched by my charms, and at the end you still were thinking of me as a rude hustler."

He sighed, his outraged aristocrat impression fading. He seemed nervous, and Judy wondered if he had taken her joke seriously. She hurried to apologize, but Nick interrupted her.

"Actually, Judy, I wanted to tell you something. And ask you for a favor," his glance was completely steady. "Things are going to be… Tricky."

"Nick, what are you ta—? "

"Shhh, listen to me, please," he took her paw again, gently, "I trust you, Judy, more than I have ever trusted anyone. You are brave, clever and you have a purer and more generous heart than I can even think about. I would give you my life for you gladly without second-guessing. And that is why I want to ask you to trust me."

Nick looked at his watch, worried. 2:15, they were about to come.

"For the next weeks, or who knows how much, things are going to happen. You are going to hear stuff about me, and I am sure that none of them will be nice," Judy was surprised and scared at this point, filled by doubt. "May God forgive me, but this city is going to become a freaking chaos. A-And I want…" he bit his tongue and rephrased his request," I need you to trust me, to believe in me. And I want you to know that I am doing all of this for you. I have enjoyed this night, but I fear that this one is our last one. Or, at least, my last one. I am sorry about everything I have done wrong and I am thankful to you for being the best partner and friend that I could have ever imagined."

The fox stood up and saluted her.

"I am honored to be called `your partner', officer Judy Hopps. But now," he dropped the serious attitude and grinned sadly, "I have to go to the toilet. I like to be smartly dressed when problems come."

"Nick, wait, what—?"

The fox headed to the bathroom without looking back. Judy did not understand anything. In what kind of trouble had that dumb fox got into to behave that way? She was terrified, her friend had spoken as if he was going to be executed. She waited for ten minutes, lost in her thought, but when she decided to go confront him, a slam shattered the restaurant.

As soon as Nick entered the bathroom, he made sure that he was alone. After splashing cold water on his face to calm down, he took his phone out. It was now or never, it was the very moment in which all his efforts were going to pay off. His nerves were all on edge when he dialed a number with trembling fingers and waited. The one who answered had a deep growly voice, with an intimidating hint, but also a worried accent.

"Now?"

"Yes, Bogo received it some hours ago, right after you sent it," said the fox, and then chuckled. "I convinced him to give me a last night under surveillance with Judy to apologize because I helped with the Nighthowlers case. He did not expect me to deceive her."

"Good. Well done, Nicholas. I will begin the preparations. Do you remember the plan perfectly, don't you?"

"Yes, I will play my part."

"Excellent," the voice sounded satisfied, "I am proud of you, Nicholas."

Next to that, the person who Nick was speaking to hung up, and he walked to the sink. He looked at the mirror and his reflection stared back at him. He seemed tired. But it was the moment, he could not doubt anymore, he could not fear or regret anything, he had to act. And then, he hit his phone against the sink one, two, three times. He continued for a while, until the device was nothing more than a bunch of pieces. Nick searched among them until he found the SD and the SIM cards, scolding himself for not removing them before. Then, he proceeded to crack them in even smaller pieces. Finally, he took as many of them as he could, threw them down the toilet and pulled the chain, watching them disappear.

A huge slam was heard, so the fox caught his breath and walked out of the bathroom with a confident smile. It was the moment. Soon, Zootopia would shake to the ground.

The situation in the restaurant was tense. When about a dozen of police officers, including the Chief of the ZPD, everyone got rooted to the floor and the musicians stopped playing. Judy, with her confusion growing more and more, was not able to speak when Bogo approached her.

"Hopps!" his voice was filled with wrath, "Where is Wilde!?"

The bunny was barely able to point the men's restroom, when Nick got out of it keeping his hands in his pockets. Every tranquilizer gun in the VIP room aimed at him.

"Wow, Chief, I did not expect that you would bring your whole entourage just to pick me up. I am flattered," greeted the fox with a smug smile.

"Put your hands up, Wilde!" was the only response from Bogo.

"On what charges?"

"Don't you know them already? Alright. Nicholas Piberius Wilde, you are arrested for treason, espionage, perverting the course of justice and unlawful assembly!"

"You left out misfeasance," pointed out the fox grinning.

"Now put your hands up!"

Nick laughed mockingly and shrugged.

"No, thanks. I prefer that you shoot me so I will not have to endure a lecture."

Judy wondered why he was acting like that, no, even worse, what he had done to get most of the heavy hitters to show up.

"This is my last warning, Wilde!"

He just answered with an obscene gesture and Bogo, true to his word, shot. The buffalo stuck the dart in his neck who collapsed on the floor, sinking into a deep sleep. McHorn hurried to pawcuff him. The fox joined the incoming darkness eagerly, wanting to erase an image that remained in his mind: Judy, looking at him surprised, scared and, at the end, betrayed.

When his conscience faded, he was thankful.

Aaaaaand, that's it. Things are getting bad for our fox friend, huh?

Thanks for reading, I will try to translate chapter 3 as soon as my exams allow me to! Stay tuned!