Commission story 1: Unfamiliar feelings.

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AN: For those who haven't read my Familiar Fire sequel, that fic ultimately became a WildeSkye fic. For a story, Cimar asked me to retool a major confession scene into a WildeHopps one instead.

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What do you say, Judy wondered, as she sat down and stared at him.

Nick Wilde, The Hustler', the very reason the ZED had employed her, the one she'd tried to chase and capture for years, until he was pardoned of his crimes, just sat there. On an old log, looking over the shimmering ripples of the river, the sunset dancing on them like ribbons. He seemed peaceful, calm, but not happy. Thoughtful? Contemplative? It was certainly far removed from the irritating cheekiness, the teasing, that he'd given her when she'd been trying to capture him.

He'd never tried to justify his innocence, or ask her to look at his accusations, only explaining what had happened when directly addressed about it. No, he, who'd unfairly been turned a fugitive for ten years, had had fun. He'd played with her, irritated her, and had a good time before vanishing.

So, seeing this side of him… It was new for her. New for her just like the feelings she felt. The warmness she imagined when she was in bed, and had pictured a fox with it in her. That fox…

But what would he think? What would he imagine, how would he react? Did she even have any right to tell him this? For all her bravado, and got-get-'im-ness from before, she felt small now. Weak. Unable to go on. Even the words Skye had given her, telling her to summon up the courage, like she had when she'd met that old friend of hers, had faded in her mind. She felt alone, and cold, the evening breeze cutting through her fur and…

"-Carrots?" She looked up. He'd seen her. "Is everything okay?"

No, it wasn't. "Yes, fine," she said anyway, because that's what you do. He didn't believe it though, and he tapped down the log beside him, calling her over. She silently obliged, planting her tail down and feeling an tense static between them.

"You're not," he said.

"I know," she said grumpily.

"Is that why you came down here?" he asked, leaning in closer, concerned. He looked over her sadly, not that she was bothering to look back, before a little smile grew on his muzzle. "Better than being here to take me in," he joked, only to flinch as Judy punched him in the shoulder.

That little thing had hurt her. Salt in the wound, and she'd lashed out from the pain, just wanting to vanish now. Just wanting it to be over. Feeling tears in her eyes suddenly, this whole dumb thing really was just too stupid. Too emotional! She really was just a dumb bunny, wasn't she?

"Ouch. Mean Bunny."

And she sniffed. She sniffed again. He asked what was wrong, and she answered. "You're right!"

"Huh?"

"I really am just a mean bunny!" she sobbed. "Hunting you for all these years, when you were innocent… and… and you have every right to hate me… You really do… And… -And I come here with my dumb feelings for you, thinking it could all be okay, but it's not… It's not…"

She barely noticed him wrap his paws around her, didn't care much for his tail wrapping around her like a blanket. She smiled though as she heard him speak. "Hey… Hey… I don't hate you. I don't… That's what Bogo's for!"

She laughed at that one, though her new smile quickly vanished.

"And what's this about feelings for me?" he asked, curiously.

"It's nothing…" she replied, shaking her head. "I… -just forget it, it won't work."

"Now, Carrots," Nick replied, rolling his eyes. "How do you know that if you don't try…"

She broke off her crying and looked up at him. "What?"

"Let me ask you if this founds familiar? Nice superbunny becomes and Enforcer, and has to take down a big-bad fox, only whoopsie… Fox turns out to be innocent. But she then apologises and helps said fox. Then whoopsie twoosie, she might have some feelings for that fox."

There was a long pause, the peaceful chitter of birds and insects filling the air. The soft rustling of the leaves of the trees were all around them, while embers from the campfire nearby danced around like fireflies.

"Only, Carrots," he said, leaning in close. "I don't think that last one's a whoopsie."

"But… We're still so… It's so…"

"Are we an odd couple?" he asked, smiling. "Yes, yes we are. But you know what, Judy? If you're as persistent as I know you to be, I think we can work it out."

She guffawed a little, then a lot, and she leant into Nick's chest. The fox, who was honestly still a bit surprised by this whole confession, leant forwards to embrace her. This was an odd thing, certainly. But that could be said for his whole life. This odd thing, though… He had a funny feeling that there might be a happy ending to it.