This story was a request from JBlazer. It has spawned an idea for a different story that I will start writing later. Please enjoy. :)
Judy Hopps knocked on Chief Bogo's door first thing after briefing in the bullpen. She'd been called to his office to receive what he'd called a "special assignment" and she was both excited and nervous. Nick was waiting for her so that they could go out on patrol, and she wondered why her partner wasn't a part of this assignment.
"Come in," Bogo said.
Well, she was about to find out.
Judy walked inside, closing the door behind her then strode over to the chair and hopped up into it. Bogo was shuffling papers, looking tired.
"Is everything alright, sir?" Judy asked.
Bogo snorted and looked up. "Just this assignment."
"The one I'm to get?"
"Yes." Judy waited and Bogo sighed and took off his glasses, rubbing his eyes. "Have you heard of Trixie Foxx?"
Judy's face lit up. "Of course! She was in that movie that came out. What was it…? Oh! Colors of the Depths! She was the lead scientist, wasn't she?"
Bogo nodded. "And you know the Oscars are tonight?"
"Yes," Judy said, curious as to where this was going. "I believe she was nominated for best actress or something, right?"
"Correct. And she wants a bodyguard to accompany her. She has specifically requested you be there to watch her back."
Judy wanted to be clear. "Just me?"
"Yes. Nick will not be along this time. But he will be stationed outside just in case things get dicey. You know how the Oscars can get. Last year there was that fight that broke out when Olivia Lark came out and those young men wanted her attention."
Judy nodded. She had heard about it in Bunnyburrow during her training to become a police officer. She had wanted to be there, but being asked to be a bodyguard was not what she'd had in mind. Still, it meant she was invited to watch the Oscars.
"I would be happy to take the assignment," Judy said.
"Excellent. You are to report to the backstage area in two hours. Until then, you are to stick to your usual patrol with Nick."
"Two hours?" Judy asked in surprise. "But the Oscars aren't until this evening."
"Trixie will be there to 'get ready' as she put it."
Judy blinked. "And it takes ten hours to get ready?"
Bogo shrugged. "She's a diva, Hopps. I don't understand how her mind works. But she is insistent that you are there when she gets there."
Judy nodded, puzzled. "If that's what she wants, Chief, that's what I'll do."
"Good. You're dismissed."
Judy slipped out of the chair and landed on her nimble feet then left the office. She headed down to the administration desk to see Nick eating a doughnut and talking to Clawhauser. Clawhauser was chatting away, his eyes alight with glee as he talked about the Oscars. Nick glanced at Judy and raised his eyebrows.
"Well, look who's here, Benny," he said smoothly, and Clawhauser stopped talking. "Let's hear it, Carrots. What's the assignment?"
Judy smiled. "I'm going to the Oscars tonight," she said.
Clawhauser's mouth fell open. "Really?" he asked. "That's so cool! I heard Gazelle's going to be there! She wrote the best song ever for Signs in the Jungle! She's one of the nominees for Best Original Song! Oh, you're so lucky!"
"What are you going to do there?" Nick asked. "I heard half the force is going to be stationed outside to keep the crowds under control. And you're going inside because…?"
"Trixie Foxx wants a bodyguard," Judy replied with a shrug. "And she requested me personally."
A grin spread over Nick's face. "Mm. I see. She's a good actress. And very petty. What's she nominated for?"
Clawhauser answered at once. "Best Actress in a Leading Role for Colors of the Depths. Oh, Judy! Please get me an autograph from Gazelle if you see her!"
"Better get one for the Chief, too," Nick said, mischief in his eyes. "He's such a big Gazelle fan."
Clawhauser sniggered. "We're not supposed to tell anybody."
"But we all know," Nick replied. "There are few secrets in this police station when it comes to that sort of thing."
"True," Clawhauser said. He turned back to Judy. "Seriously, please get me an autograph. I'll do anything for an autograph."
Judy smiled. "I'll do my best, Clawhauser. Now Nick and I have to go and do our patrol."
Nick snagged a doughnut and passed it to Judy as he finished his off. He licked his nose to get a stray sprinkle as they headed to the car.
"Alright, Carrots, who's driving?"
"You'd better drive today," Judy said. "We're only going to be out for an hour. Then we've got to head downtown."
"Why?" Nick asked.
Judy waited until they were buckled in before answering. "I've got to be there by ten. That's when she's getting there, and she wants me there when she gets there."
"To get ready," Nick said. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
Just glanced at him. "Yeah. To get ready. How do you know that?"
Nick put his sunglasses on and adjusted the mirrors and controls to fit his fox stature instead of Judy's bunny stature. "She's a diva, Carrots," he said with a shrug as he started the car. "And I'll bet you that she'll make you change out of your cop uniform into something more fetching."
Judy laughed. "No way. I've never liked dressing up. This uniform is enough for me."
Nick smoothly merged into traffic and grinned. "So does that mean you take the bet?"
"Hm?" Judy glanced at him.
"I bet that she will make you up and treat you like a living doll while you're there. You'll be in a dress and heels and made up like a diva yourself by the end of the night."
"And what do I win when it doesn't happen?" Judy asked.
Nick thought about this. "I'll invite you to my mother's house for dinner."
That was something Judy couldn't resist. She had wanted to meet Nick's mother for a few months now, but he always wriggled out of it. The rabbit knew that Nick wasn't embarrassed by his mother or her job. She had a sneaking suspicion that he was more concerned about what Judy would learn by being in his childhood home. Nick, though he was a great friend, was a very private person. Judy had been over to his house only twice, and she'd been inside only once. Besides what her mother would call "bachelor clutter", his house had been fairly neat, but Judy noticed a distinct lack of personal trinkets that would have made the house a home. And he never talked about his childhood, so besides that one night on the gondola in the Rainforest District where he'd told her about his most painful experience with those prey animals, she knew nothing about his past. To finally get a peek into his childhood would be a treat. So after thinking about the likelihood of her agreeing to dress up, she smiled and accepted the wager.
"That sounds fair. It's a deal."
"You haven't heard the part about when you lose," Nick said casually. "Might want to hold off on that enthusiasm until then."
"Okay. What would you get if I lose, which I won't."
Nick stopped at a red light and peeked over the top of his sunglasses. "I want a picture of you and Trixie all dressed up together. That way, you'll never live it down."
"You're on," Judy said after a moment's consideration. "It'll never happen. I'd never agree to put on a dress."
Nick chuckled. "I think you'll find with divas like Trixie that your agreement or disagreement means very little."
"No way," Judy said.
Nick only smiled as the light turned green.
The patrol was uneventful that day. After an hour of cruising around and seeing nothing worth stopping for, Nick turned the car toward the Cosima Theatre where the Oscars would be held. Located smack dab in the middle of Downtown and built in the style of Asian architecture, the theatre was one of the oldest and grandest buildings in the area. It had survived two fires, several riots, and an earthquake, all with minimal damage. It was a part of the Lucky Twelve, a collection of old buildings that had been around for several hundred years. There was one in each ecosystem, and they had survived it all.
Nick pulled up to find security guards already swarming. He pursed his lips at the large animals. "You gonna be okay, Carrots?"
"I'll be fine," Judy said. Nick looked unconvinced, and the rabbit softened at his concern. "I'm faster than all of them, Nick. I'll be fine," she repeated.
"Keep your radio on you and call if you need anything."
"I will, you big worrywart," Judy said, unbuckling as a security guard came over.
"I'd there a problem, officer?" the polar bear asked tightly as Judy stepped out.
"No. I'm here for Trixie Foxx," Judy said, coming around to the driver's side to talk with the bear. "She requested me to be here."
"Darling!" a loud, breathy voice exclaimed. "There you are! Thank you, Albin dear. She's with me."
Trixie Foxx herself was getting out of an expensive car as she spoke. She was gorgeous in a flowing cream-colored dress with a matching handbag and pumps. Her fur was brushed until it shone and she wore designer sunglasses, which she whipped off and stuck in her bag. Her bright pink eyes were full of energy as she swept over to the police car and grabbed Judy, kissing her on both cheeks. She looked up at a laugh to see Nick, and she paused, her gaze taking in the male fox as he peered at her.
"Well, you're looking foxy," he said with a grin.
"Nick!" Judy exclaimed, mortified.
Trixie took the comment in stride and she patted Judy's shoulder. "Don't worry about it, darling. Don't worry about it. I'm used to uncouth people like him."
"I'm uncouth? Ooh, fancy words from a fancy gal," Nick said, a teasing edge to his tone.
"Nick, stop it," Judy scolded. "Don't you have a patrol to get back to?"
"Without you keeping me in line, I'd say it's time for a popsicle," Nick said, slipping his sunglasses back on.
Before Judy could say another word, he put the car in gear and pulled away, grinning like a fool.
"I'm so sorry," Judy said quickly to Trixie. "He likes teasing people."
"It's quite alright, Judy. Do you mind if I call you Judy? It's so much better than Officer Hopps. That's far too formal for tonight."
"Of course you can call me Judy," the rabbit replied. "And I'm happy to be here."
"Excellent, darling, excellent! Now come on. We must get inside before the paparazzi see me. I couldn't bear to be seen in this today!"
Judy looked at the vixen's outfit. Without a doubt, the clothes Trixie wore cost more than what Judy made in a month, and the dress was beautiful against her perfect orange fur. Her outfit was perfectly coordinated and she looked fantastic, but Judy shrugged and allowed herself to be led into the theatre. She marveled at the exquisite architecture as she was guided through the main hall and into the backstage area. When they were safely inside, Trixie turned to appraise Judy. Judy squirmed a little under the intense scrutiny. At last, Trixie shook her head.
"No, no, this will never do," she said then sighed. "It must be fixed!"
"What won't do?" Judy asked, a niggling suspicion in her mind. No. She was overreacting. Nick couldn't have been right… right?
The next words out of Trixie's mouth made Judy's stomach turn. "That outfit! It must be changed!"
"My police uniform?" Judy said, her ears slicking back against her head. "What's wrong with it?"
Trixie shook her head. "Anybody who guards me must look fabulous! I usually have male bears or tigers guard me, and they all look fine in expensive suits. But a police uniform on somebody as gorgeous as you? Unacceptable! We must get you into something suitable! And since I expected this, I've already got your outfit picked out! You'll love it! Absolutely love it!"
And to Judy's horror, she was grabbed by strong, insistent hands and dragged behind the vixen as she steamrolled any stuttering objections coming out of the rabbit's mouth with the same words.
"You'll look absolutely fabulous when I'm done with you! You're in good hands, Judy darling, so don't worry!"