Nick woke with a smile, same as he had for the last two years now. He used to hate the sound of the insistent alarm going off to wake up for the day and get him moving. Now he looked forward to it, why wouldn't he when reality was much better than anything his subconscious could cook up for him when asleep? The irony of that sentimentality would reach him soon enough. But for now, he kept his eyes closed while he stretched, expecting to feel a warm body beside him. Though when she wasn't there, it didn't alarm him. While it was odd that she wasn't snuggled up to him, she may have turned over in her sleep. He softly snickered to himself as he turned, intent to throw his arm over her and tease her with his claws and teeth the way she liked. Only to rouse her though.. Okay and maybe arouse her too. They tended to set the alarm a little earlier than needed so they could indulge in one another if the mood hit anyway. Only, rather than a warm bunny to greet him, he was met with cold sheet and even colder, hard wood instead.
"Carrots?" he questioned, confused. He didn't smell breakfast being cooked or the scent of freshly brewing coffee which would explain her absence and finally opened his eyes.
The sight that greeted him wasn't a full sized soft bed, vacant on her side. Nor was it a spacious bedroom lovingly decorated by their personal touches, and lit up by warm sunlight from the window beside their bed. He should be seeing soft brown walls the color of coffee with cream in it. They'd chosen that color to give their bedroom more of an atmosphere of warmth rather than the bland off white when they moved in. He should be seeing pictures of the two of them framed and hanging on the wall. He should see pictures of trips they took to Bunnyburrow. There should be some of when her folks and a pawful of her siblings came to visit them here in Zootopia. Instead a dark room was what he saw, his night vision making it easy to make out cracked, cold, gray concrete walls. Where he was laying was that bear sized dresser which he utilized to use the bottom drawer for a makeshift bed.
"This is where you live, Nick?" she asked, disbelief in her voice as she looked around, appalled. She couldn't see much in the dark with her bunny eyes, but what she could see was enough. He watched her take in the pipes overhead and the cracked walls which was probably the cause of the cold wind that was always somehow present, even in the summer.
"Carrots..?" he asked again, as he stumbled out of the dresser and looked around. The bite of the cold of the concrete floor smarted against his paw pads. There should have been carpet beneath his feet. Gray-white carpet and given more personality with an area rug. in blue and white with intricate patterns in it. Instead he shivered from the cold floor as his voice broke, not entirely just because he just woke up. His ears stood up straight, listening for any sign of her. This had to be a trick right? She and Finn were just pranking him.. ..Right?
"Yeah, its not much, but its shelter," he replied, casual mask in place as always. "Better than a box under a bridge at least." Her ears stood straight up as she turned to him with sympathetic eyes. Eyes that turned determined as soon as violet locked to green. "What's that look, Carrots?"
"Judy!"
But no one was answering him, not even a barely stifled snicker filled the stillness. Even though he waited for a solid two minutes which felt like two hours, there was nothing. If she was pranking him, she'd have already dropped the act and come in laughing by now. Probably with breakfast for them in one paw and the other holding a drink carrier that held coffee for them. Her way of apologizing for having such a joke at his expense. The minute she heard the increasing worry in his voice, the minute she heard him call her actual name she'd have come. She knew that he only referred to her by pet names unless he was worried or serious in some other way.
"No, this isn't going to work. We're finding a place together. Good thing I'm in the market for a new place, huh?" His eyes got huge and he opened his mouth to protest, only to be silenced when her paw grabbed his tie and she pulled him down to her level. "No arguments, Nick! I'm not going to have my partner living in these conditions!"
Heart racing, he frantically dashed for and picked up his phone, unlocked it and started scrolling through his recent calls. The phone that should have been replaced with a newer version. He'd said he was overdue for an upgrade anyway when she felt bad after they took an unplanned dive into the base of the waterfall at Cliffside. She'd protected her phone, but not his.
"Yeah but yours has the evidence," he replied with a shrug. "Besides, like I said I was overdue for an upgrade anyway. You just gave me an excuse to finally get a new one."
She still didn't look convinced, but she gave him a sheepish smile anyway. "Fine, we'll go halves. Don't argue, Nick its my fault its ruined."
There were plenty of recent calls, from late in the evening prior. Call logs for yesterday. Last week. Last month. But there was no carrot emoji with an accompanying heart. Not even the contact name of mom with a heart.
"That doesn't mean anything. The phone could have glitched out," he told himself. But his tail was already hanging limp on the floor. Reality was quickly crashing into him, but he wasn't ready to admit defeat yet. Just because she wasn't in his recent calls didn't mean that there were no.. Texts.. "Okay, contacts then!"
He ignored his own whine induced from a slowly forming pain in his heart as he opened the contacts. No one was around to hear that embarrassing sound anyway. Acknowledging the sound would be putting his focus on the cruel reality quickly try to crush him anyway. Praying to whatever power would listen that his phone wouldn't show him what he already knew, Nick quickly opened the contacts. But reality found him and his frantic scrolling stopped after the third pass of his thumb. Still no carrot and heart emojis.. No mom with a heart was there to be seen. Yet with a heavy weight now on his shoulders and his paws shaking, he had one last hope. The photo gallery..
No gray and white doe, beaming a bright smile at the camera with him. No vixen with just slightly lighter red fur than his and eyes that matched his own. Instead there was selfie after selfie, smirking back at him. Gods he hated that past Nick! He hated these pictures even more, it was as if his past self was mocking him. "Did you really think that you could be more than you are? You really are a dumb fox aren't you?!"
He snickered, knowing he wasn't going to win the argument with her. "We're going to be living together and working together? Aren't you going to get sick of me?" Judy just smiled back at him as she pushed her nose gently against his.
"Sick of my favorite fox? Never."
"How many foxes do you know?"
"Just a dream..?"
"Including you? Three."
"You know Finn.." he pondered aloud and blinked when he noted that was only two. "Who's the third?" Her only answer was a soft hum as she turned and exited the room. "Carrots? Who's the third?" he pressed as he followed after her. The answer from her was a snicker.
"It was all just a dream..?"
"It took me forever to wake you up, Nick. I told you we shouldn't have stayed up that late. We're lucky its a day off," Judy playfully admonished.
"You know you love me~" he teased back, smirking at her, a call back to his first day on the force. "Besides, I don't remember any complaints last night~" Her smile came back and grew as she settled her cheek into her paw. This time she very obviously looked him up and down.
"I definitely do," she agreed with a nod. "Especially at the moment." Smirking turned into laughter as he walked over to the doe sitting on their bed and used a finger to raise her head.
"Eyes are up here, Fluff." She hummed as she used the fact he was slightly bent over to her advantage. Her paw went to the back of his neck and pulled him down, he was only too happy to meet her for a kiss. Their late start had an additional hour after she pulled him down as she laid back and he covered her without complaint.
He'd dreamed that whole life? Those years of a happy life when he was a better fox, when he was an officer. When he was making a difference in the world like he had dreamed when he was a kit. Befriending a bunny, uncovering a plot from a tyrant ewe to turn the prey populace on predators. Saving the city, bringing back his faith in other mammals. Falling in love with that incredible bunny. Eventually marrying her. All a dream..?
His paw, still holding his phone dropped limply to his side as his ears pressed to his head. He'd.. Just dreamed it all up..? Only he didn't seem to be ready to fully believe it just yet despite all the evidence he saw for himself. His phone rang and he was quick to jerk the device back up. He didn't even bother to look at the caller id on it, he just answered and quickly put it to his ear.
"Carrots?"
"Carrots? What the hell, Nick? You still asleep?" Came Finnick's gruff voice on the other side. "If that's a shot at me again, fox I-"
"No.. Sorry, Finn.." He closed his eyes, rubbing his aching chest as he sighed. Of course it wasn't her.. He already knew that in some way before he even answered the call. But still, he'd hoped.
"..'Sorry'? What's with you, fox?"
Another heavily released sigh as his pounding heart started to throb more insistently and hurt with each beat. "Just a dream I had. I guess I'm still waking up.."
"Well get it together! We got some hustlin' to do!"
Hustling..? Right, he wasn't an officer. He was still a hustler. Still a no good street fox, toeing the line of the law and scamming for money. Then scamming hard working mice, selling them "lumber" made of "redwood".
"You told those mice the popsicle sticks were redwood!"
"That's right. "Red wood", with a space in the middle. Wood that is red."
"Hello! Are you comin' or not, Nick?!"
"Yeah.. Sorry just give me a moment.."
"And stop apologizin'! You're freakin' me out!"
Nick heard a click and knew the call was ended so he let his paw hang at his side again, eyes trailing to the clothes he'd laid out the night before. Green pawaiian shirt and khaki pants of course. Chosen not just for the comfort of the airy and soft outfit, but also because who would intimidated by a mammal wearing something like that? He'd be easily overlooked wearing those clothes. He hadn't worn that outfit in years.. Not since he went straight, though some of his wardrobe evolution had been Judy's influence too.
"You've got to start taking yourself more seriously," she said, shaking her head as she looked him over with an appraising eye.
"What's wrong with these clothes? I'll have you know I did most of my hustles in this outfit," he replied, feigning offense.
"Exactly! You're not a hustler anymore, Nick," she answered, frowning up at him. Then that smile was back as she looked him over again. "Thanks to your uniform I know you look good in blue. That's a start."
"Oh you like me in uniform huh? Got something to confess there, Carrots?
"Oh stuff it, Slick. Come on."
Its really sad when a mammal would rather be asleep than awake. Asleep so that he can go back to that life of love, warmth and respect. Not awake when mammals look at him and see a shifty fox. Which is made no better considering shifty and untrustworthy was exactly what he was right then. Always the same routine, go into an ice cream shop, get an oversized popsicle, melt it and make smaller pawpsicles, sell to unsuspecting mammals, sell the sticks for two hundred bucks.
"I make two hundred bucks a day, Fluff! Three hundred, sixty five days a year, since I was twelve!"
Oh his sly bunny, she'd hustled him good. Recorded the confession on a cute, unassuming carrot pen. The unsuspecting fox defending his wounded pride sang for her like a little bird. She played him right into her paw with some well placed taunts. Though she hadn't used the recording on him until he continued to refuse to help and insulted her. In the dream, she had earned the smallest bit of respect from him that day, even though he was a bit miffed at being bested at his own game. She had successfully out hustled a fox who had been at the game for years. Not only that, but she matched his wit as well and his humor. No wonder they'd been the perfect duo both in the force and out of it. They even got to the point where they each anticipated what the other was thinking or feeling without a word spoken.
"Its Weaselton! Duke Weaselton! And I ain't talkin' rabbit and there's nothin' ya can do to make me," the smug weasel taunted, flicking his toothpick at her. The little stick hit her nose before she and Nick shared an unimpressed look. "Mr. Big" seemed to pass in the air between them. It wasn't spoken aloud, but said through an unseen connection between them.
Mr. Big.. Hah! He should have known at that part of the dream that he was asleep and none of it was real. The arctic shrew was more likely to have him iced on sight rather than speak a word to him. Judy or no Judy, the mob boss had made it clear that he would be an enemy if he were to ever show up again. The technicality that he was forced there by Raymond and Kevin would have meant nothing to him. Not that it had in the dream either, only the fact he was associated with Judy who had apparently saved Fru-Fru Big had been what saved his tail.
Dream Nick had been stunned as they went from being mammal popsicles to being in the Big family's good graces. No, not even just that. She had become an honorary family member and he along with her. What just happened..? What is she, Wonder Bunny or something?, he remembered thinking.
Back then, he had only just started taking her seriously. Still, even he couldn't have ever imagined that she would become as important as she did to him. He never considered himself a mammal that was into interspecies relationships. Sure, he knew of other mammals in them and didn't care. Who was he to judge who made another mammal happy? To each their own and all that. He didn't get it, but it wasn't something he needed to get either. So imagine when he realized with a start one day that his friendship with Judy had taken a nosedive into even deeper feelings. If that wasn't surprising enough, then when he looked back and realized he'd first fallen had been even more stunning. The day she gave him the application to go to the ZPA.
The realization that she hadn't just been teasing when she told him he'd make a good cop. That she saw him as a friend, wanted him as her partner, trusted him to have her back and she wanted to watch his. All of that hit him even before she finally gave him that carrot pen with his recorded confession. The reason he was coerced into helping her had completely slipped his mind until she gave it over to him. Somewhere along the way, he stopped caring about the incriminating pen and genuinely wanted to help her. If he had to put a time on that particular moment it was when he realized that she hadn't been trying to solve the case in forty-eight hours for pride. Seeing her dreams crash down around her in real time on that gondola deck. Knowing in that moment she'd been forced to make a bet with the chief who was supposed to be looking after her had ignited a fury in him he couldn't remember feeling before then.
"Uh no," he'd said before he could even stop to think it over. His speaking up on her behalf had surprised her into pausing as she was being forced to unpin her badge and give it to the buffalo. Even when that massive mammal turned a glare to him, he felt no fear. Although he would have been terrified before then. He could only see her stricken expression turn into mentally asking him what he was doing. The way she stared at him with wide eyes as if she were afraid for him didn't deter him as he walked over to berate the chief.
"Look.. You gave her a, uh, a three wheeled joke-mobile and two days to solve a case you guys haven't cracked in two weeks?" The hulking mammal had, had the grace to look slightly ashamed. "Yeah! No wonder she had to get help from a fox, none of you guys were going to help her. Were you?!" Nick didn't know what Bogo was going to say then. Something to get the higher ground again, he was sure. A threat more than likely to "put him in his place", but he hadn't given him a chance and interrupted. "Here's the thing chief, you gave her the forty-eight hours. And technically we still have.." A pause to quickly do the math. "Ten left to find our missing Mr. Otterton. So, if you'll excuse us we have a very big lead to follow and a case to crack! Good day."
The gondola had been descending toward the platform at that moment and really the timing couldn't have been more perfect. He heard her go to say something behind him as he walked off. She must have thought better of it though and just quietly followed him. Knowing her, she was going to say something respectful like "don't worry chief, we've got this". How she still had faith in that guy, he didn't know, but dream logic he guessed. Either way he had realized that he saw her as a friend by that point and that in the time he was hindering her, he was doing more damage than he originally thought. Seeing her that way, tiny compared to the huge buffalo, her dream shattering had reminded him of when his own had crumbled to dust. No one gave him a chance, didn't let him show them he wasn't just some sneaky, shifty fox. He hadn't had anyone to speak up for him then, but he could for her. Like he knew she would have if she had been there the night he was muzzled.
Really, how could he not have fallen for her? If he was going to fall for anyone, who would be better? No one by his estimation. Which made the slap of reality when he woke up so much more jarring. His beautiful, smart, sly bunny wasn't even real. He'd dreamed her up, his perfect mate. Seemingly perfectly made for him and he for her. The way their personalities complemented each other. The way their humor and banter was matched with one another. All the way down to how even their bodies were compatible as they'd discovered when they mated. Somehow despite the fact his species was once her species' natural enemy, they fit together like a perfectly tailored glove. Everything that made the two of them individuals was a perfect match to complement the other. They two combined may as well have been one whole, together.
"What's with you, Nick? You've been a space case all day." Speaking of jarring.. Finnick's voice brought him out of his thoughts again. "You can't still be asleep, fox. That dream you mentioned?" A nod from him. "Must've been some dream."
"You don't know the half of it.."
When he once looked forward to the loud alarm sounding off to wake him, he wanted to smash his phone now. The first time he dreamed of his perfect life and perfect mate, hadn't been the last. Now those days spent as an officer with Judy Hopps as his mate were there to greet him every time he closed his eyes. And it was a bittersweet, double edged sword. He looked forward to going to sleep each night and dreaded waking. The reminder of reality only seemed all the more cruel when he woke to that dark, cold room alone in his dresser-bed. If there was a way to stay there in that dreamworld, he would. But as much as he wanted to stay asleep, he knew he couldn't.
Mainly because he was a grown mammal and as such, he had bills to pay. Like his slum lord that he paid to stay in the basement of the seedy apartment building for example. That wasn't to say that he had always relied only on hustling to earn his money. Even recently, he had attempted to go straight like he had many times before. How many? Who was counting? He'd put in applications to anywhere that had a "now hiring" sign only to be laughed out of the establishments. He'd even gone online to put in applications only to get emails back thanking him for putting in an application. They claimed they'd gone with someone else. He'd gotten only one call back from an online recruiter. But he'd be paid minimum wage for twelve hour night shifts. He knew that particular factory and knew that all the other employees were paid double what they wanted to give him. Even entry level employees were given a few dollars more than what they offered him.
He'd even had the idea to try to become an officer on his own, Judy or no Judy. No sooner did he walk through the revolving door of the precinct had he gotten suspicious stares. All from the officers standing there. Even the cheetah behind the desk did a double take. Though to Ben's credit, he hadn't been suspicious of him, only surprised. That was enough for him to sigh and walk right back out. Surprising to no one, he'd been followed out by a couple of officers. Ones he recognized from his dreams as Wolford and Delgato. Friends and comrades of his in his dreams, strangers in reality.
"Is there something you needed help with sir?" Wolford asked him.
"Nah, just a crazy thought to join the boys and girls in blue." That surprised laughter from the wolf and lion. He was expecting a reaction like that, but it still hurt. They didn't know him. They didn't know about the dreams he so wished were reality. "Yeah, a fox as a cop. Hilarious, right?"
He'd meant to sound as if he was really making a joke. But he heard the sarcastic tone of his voice, despite his relaxed smile. They had heard it as well and their laughter cut off. At least they looked a bit remorseful before he turned around and walked away.
"Stay safe out there, officers!" he called, leaving the wolf and lion to look at each other with uncertainty.
It had been a dumb idea anyway. Even if he managed to get accepted into the ZPA and eventually the ZPD, he'd only be reminded even more of Judy's absence in his life. And no one needed a cop distracted with depression because a dream wasn't real. When put like that, his depression actually seemed ridiculous now. So ridiculous, he wondered how Finnick had been so patient with him. Well patient in his own way anyway. That didn't mean that the little fox hadn't cracked jokes at his expense though.
"A bunny? Your literal dream girl is a bunny?!" The sand colored fox howled with laughter, even doubling over and holding his stomach with it. Nick glared at nothing as he crushed his - thankfully empty - beer can in his paw and reached for another.
"She was more than just a bunny, Finn," he grumbled, taking a long drink from the freshly opened can in his paw.
"Yeah I guess she'd be a real animal in bed! That's some kinky stuff yer into, Nick! Remind me on yer birthday and I'll get ya a Playbunny magazine!" More howling laughter, the fennec actually falling over with his mirth.
His irritation, even at the memory didn't show on his face as he walked with paws stuffed in his pockets. He was the picture of casual indifference as he walked toward today's target, Jumbeaux's ice cream parlor. He couldn't really blame Finnick for the ribbing he'd given him. He'd probably have done the same thing if the roles had been reversed. Besides, it really was ridiculous. A rabbit officer with a fox street hustler toeing the line of the law that she would have sworn to uphold. Yeah, not likely. Trying to go straight the past week had served to remind him of his place in the world anyway. Really? Even going as far as to even think of joining the ZPD in the real world, much less actually attempt it. He needed that extra kick in the tail from reality to bring him back down to Earth.
"You can only be what you are," he told her, unbothered by the cute angry pout on her face. "Sly fox, dumb bunny."
He'd told her that, but needed to remember it for himself. Dreams and reality are two different things and last week was a firm reminder of that.
You're just a sly fox, Wilde. Now get it together and act like it!
He was so consumed with his thoughts, he didn't hear the truck coming toward him, nor did he see it. He really only noticed it when the vehicle braked hard, but not quick enough to not tap him and have him rock to the side. If that impact didn't startle him back to reality again, then the loud sound of the ram laying on the horn did. His side now aching a little from the bump and his heart in his throat, he quickly moved out of the way.
"Hey watch where you're going, fox!" the ram in the driver's seat shouted at him.
Nick just glared at him, arms up. He was telling him to watch where he was going when he was the one coming out of an alley? As a pedestrian, he had the right of way. Especially when on the sidewalk. Did that matter to a speciesist mammal? No, not really. To mammals like that, he was committing a crime just by being there.
You're lucky I'm not an actual cop, Doug! I'd have more than probable cause to search that truck!
He didn't know why the ram was back there to begin with, but he knew that the same thing happened in his dream. But, so a ram was speciesist against him, what was new? For all he knew, the guy was just using the alley as a shortcut to avoid the traffic on the other side. Fair enough, the traffic was awful at this time of day over there. Not that it really mattered, he had a job to do. He just had to wait for just the right mammal to come along wanting ice cream.
He got his mammal when a rhino stomped by and he wasted no time before following closely behind and into the ice cream parlor.
"Listen, I don't know what you're doin' scopin' around during daylight hours. But we don't want any trouble in here so hit the road!"
"I don't want any trouble either sir. I simply want to buy a jumbo pop for my little boy."
The role of a doting single father, posturing himself before yet another speciesist mammal. The ole "kill 'em with kindness" ploy. Both roles he'd played too many times to count. Usually gentle insistence worked after a while and if that didn't work? Well then Finnick playing the role of his son and acting like he was crying did the trick. Who's heart strings wouldn't tug when seeing a kit cry, regardless of their species? He had this in the bag, though it was a little more difficult to focus on playing his role as the elephant glared down at him. Not because of that look though, because the parallel between his dream and what was happening now was - almost scarily - the same. He had to remind himself that they were just dreams when he wanted to turn around and look behind him.
The bunny had followed him into the shop, she herself thinking he was up to no good. But she paused in surprise when seeing the kit walk up beside him.
Focus, Wilde!
"Do you want the red or the blue, pal?" he asked, bending to Finnick's level, warm smile on his lips as the little fox walked to the display case.
He knew he'd choose the red one even before his little finger pointed at it. It was easier to sell the pawpsicle sticks with the ole "red wood" line than it would be if the wood was stained blue. Even so, he almost shivered as he was again reminded of the parallel. He almost wanted to look behind him now just so he could prove once and for all that she wasn't there. But doing so could jeopardize the whole scheme. If he suddenly looked behind him, seemingly without provocation he'd look suspicious. Even more than he already did for being a fox in public.
"Come on kid, back up!"
"What there aren't any fox ice cream joints in your part of town?" Hearing this, the bunny was now glaring at the bull. He had an outright speciesist attitude toward what she perceived to be a father and son duo. He and his son only wanted ice cream and despite the elephant's attitude, he hadn't once become hostile or even raised his voice.
"Listen buddy. What there aren't any fox cream joints in your part of town?"
"No, no. There are, there are. But my boy, this goofy little stinker. He loves all things elephant, wants to be one when he grows up." On cue, Finnick pulled up the hood of his onesie that had a trunk a squeaker inside and blew through it. Behind him, he picked up an "aw" and wasn't quite able to keep his smile from growing. They pulled someone's heart strings, now to get the stubborn bull. But it worked in his favor, he just looked like a loving dad. "Isn't that adorable?"
"Aw.." The bunny put a paw to her chest, her heart tugging at the adorable display. He heard it from where he stood and felt his smile grow, but it worked in his favor. He just looked like a loving dad. Little did she know, Finnick probably wished he could grow to the size of an elephant. He had an issue with his short stature, especially when he was ribbed for it by Nick.
"Who the heck am I to crush his little dreams? Right..?"
Get it together, Wilde! You're starting to lose your grip on reality!
"Look you probably can't read fox, but the sign says, "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone"! So beat it!"
To add insult to injury, Jumbeaux slammed the said sign on the counter and pointed out each word as he said it. To make it even worse, the elephant cow standing behind them stepped forward to bump him with her legs.
"You're holding up the line!"
She was trying to intimidate him into leaving and he genuinely did feel a little scared. That bump from her irritated the bruise where he'd been bumped with that ram's truck before. And the owner would be in his right to literally throw him out on his fluffy tail and out of his business if he stayed. That or call the cops to have him trespassed, he had to be careful with his next move.
Three short squeaks, one long brought him from the memory as he felt the irritation of his bruise throbbing. That was code, its not going the way they needed it to. Time to get out of there before it turns ugly. Nick still had a role to play until they were clear though. He made his ears lower as he put a paw to Finnick's head.
"Hello! Excuse me~" Judy called as she walked up. She had seen enough and now stepped in to intervene.
"Hello! Excuse me~"
...Wait.. That.. That wasn't in my head..
He knew that voice.. He heard it every night in his dreams. The same dreams he'd just finally reminded himself weren't real. The voice of Judy Hopps, first rabbit officer of the ZPD, the voice of his mate.. His wife. But no.. It couldn't be! She was just a dream.. She was just a product his subconscious made up for him.
"Hey you have to wait your turn in line just like everyone else, Meter Maid!"
"Actually, I'm an officer."
No.. It can't-
But when he turned around, probably quicker than necessary, he hardly felt the smarting of his bruise.
"Hey you have to wait your turn in line just like everyone else, Meter Maid!"
"Actually, I'm an officer," she replied, moving the orange safety vest aside to show off the brass badge pinned to her uniform.
Its her..!
"Just have a quick question. Are your customers aware that.."
"They're getting snot and mucus with their cookies and cream?" she said, raising her voice just a little so others could hear her. The young elephant couple on a date clearly heard as the male blew out the spoonful he had just taken. Poor guy, he'd have to do a lot of posturing and apologizing to his girlfriend for that one.
Its really her..! My Judy!"
That's her in the - what he intimately knew to be - soft gray and white fur! The one who he finally convinced himself was just a dream! She was standing right here beside him! And it was taking everything he had in him not to enfold his arms around her and laugh or cry in relief. Or both, and screw whoever judged him for it. But she was giving no indication that she knew him as she talked down to the speciesist mammal. Quite the feat considering she was a bunny and as such had to look up at the elephant bull.
He only snapped free of his thoughts when a soft paw touched his arm. "What was it?" she whispered.
What was..? Oh!
"A jumbo pop. Please."
"A jumbo pop."
"Fifteen dollars.." the bull finally conceded with a heavy sigh.
Alright, Wilde..
"Thank you so much." Then to the bunny officer. "Thank you."
Time to keep things on track. You have a cheat code here, use it. Want that life? Follow the script.
Easier said than done. It was easy to continue playing the role of doting father, not so easy acting as if he didn't know her. Especially when it turns out there were some differences in real life compared to the dream. His quick eyes looked for that recognizable pink can of Fox Away at her hip. Only that wasn't what he saw.. There was a can there, but it was black rather than pink. He recognized it as simple mace designed for the larger mammal population without any particular mammal targeted. It had enough strength to disable tigers, lions, or other such mammals.. Like a savage jaguar for example.. No, stop..! It was basically the police issued mace that a cop would normally carry and the clasp over it hadn't been raised. There was no wrinkle in the faux leather that would indicate it ever being opened.. Well aside from one that could be explained as when she first opened the case to put the mace can there to begin with.
And it made it harder to keep the act up. If he'd seen that pink can he could use that old anger to his advantage. But it wasn't there and so he had nothing to direct his anger at. This Judy, unlike dream Judy seemed to not be so hypocritical. He'd have to treat her to a meal later to make up for basically stealing twenty dollars from her. In the dream he did it after seeing the Fox Away at her hip, retaliation for being such a hypocrite. Now that he saw there was no such can there, he felt extra guilt for taking her money. She had just gotten to Zootopia and just became a cop. Money was tight for her right now after newly acquiring that shoebox of an apartment she had.
If keeping up the act was hard to do, then saying goodbye and walking away was even harder. All part of the script is what he had to keep reminding himself of. He'd see her again in just a few hours. Sticking to the script meant she'd catch him and Finnick melting down the popsicle and follow them into Tundratown. From there she'd watch him scam the mice before finally confronting him back here in Savannah Central. Internally he apologized to her in advance for what he was going to say to her. That and not warning her of the wet cement that she'd inevitably step into.
For now, he couldn't help looking over his shoulder just for one more look at her. Possibly to check for himself that she was still there. Though he arched his brows as he saw her speaking into a radio. A radio he didn't notice was hidden by her safety vest before. He was out of earshot and so didn't hear what she was saying. But he gathered she was reading something off to Clawhauser since she flipped open her little notepad.
"Was that her?"
He blinked as Finnick's voice pulled his attention back to the short fox at his side. His eyes didn't leave her until they had turned the corner and his view was obscured though.
"Yeah, that's her."
"Well I'll be damned.."
There was that carrot pen, he knew what that meant and sang like a little bird for her once again. This time he - proverbially - willingly held out his paws for the cuffs that recording acted as. Clever, sly little bunny. His Judy out hustling him in real time and she didn't give her advantage away even the smallest bit. Even as she seemingly stunned him with the fact he just dug his own hole to rot in. He was supposed to be unaware of her secret weapon right now after all. Real Nick could only internally beam at her with pride. Plus do his best to not burst out laughing at her quip at bunnies being good at multiplying. Dream Judy just continued on. As if what she said couldn't be completely spun around into something not entirely innocent. Real Judy seemed to realize that what she said could be taken as an innuendo. She paused, but only for a second to clear her throat before continuing her spiel.
Oh he'd mercilessly tease her for that one later. In the dream they hadn't been able to "multiply" just yet, but were looking into what they could do. Even after he gently reminded her that their species may make having kits impossible.
"Like a rabbit or a fox being, not just cops, but the best crime fighting duo is impossible?" she countered with a smirk. "Like a fox and bunny loving each other is impossible?" He opened his mouth to argue, but found he had nothing he could refute her with. So his mouth closed, his teeth clicking together as she reached up to stroke his muzzle. "I'm not giving up, Nick. Not unless an actual doctor tells me its not possible."
"Don't lie, Carrots," he teased, bringing her into a hug. "You wouldn't stop trying even then."
"Guilty," she answered, both of them sharing a laugh. "But don't pretend you don't enjoy the attempts."
"Well, I never said that~"
"-unfortunately lying on a federal form is a punishable offense. Five years jail time."
"Well its my word against yours."
Not that he still had a leg to stand on. Who would trust the word of a fox over an officer? Besides, Gods he loved that confident smile! She had him and she knew it as much as he did as his voice was played back to him. He had a loophole, but not much of one. Dream Nick hadn't thought of it, but he couldn't have been taxed from ages twelve to fifteen. He was still considered a kit until he had turned old enough to join a work force at age sixteen. As such, he couldn't be taxed according to the laws of Zootopia no matter how much he made. Not unless he was kithood star. You know, since kits generally didn't make money outside of a lemonade stand or something.
He had that loophole, but he wouldn't use it. Not if he was going to follow the proverbial script. It wouldn't do him much good anyway, he still owed taxes for ages sixteen to thirty-two. She'd just have to recalculate the amount of money he owed. The amount of which was still pretty high, but thankfully less than one million-four-hundred-sixty-thousand at least. Knowing her, she probably already thought of that. She likely wanted to give him a false sense of security only to yank the rug out from under him. He'd have to test that later when the stakes weren't so high.
"-prison cafeteria!" Cue the cute smirk? There it is. "Its called a hustle sweetheart."
Gods I love you!
Nick had a nice opportunity that he'd foolish to waste. It went a little off script, but not by much and he had to see her expression! So when they walked into the Mystic Springs Oasis this time, he hung back a little to undress himself until he stood in just his fur. Only then did he follow after her and smirked when she hadn't noticed him missing. She was confident that as long as she had the pen, he had no choice but to remain there with her. She was right about that, not that he was complaining a bit. Any excuse he had to stay in her company, he'd take. Forty-eight hours that felt like a life sentence to dream Nick was a blessing to real Nick.
He was still having trouble grasping that the dream was in his grasp now. When he dreamed of his life and then woke up to see her, it was so surreal. It made him wonder if he was still dreaming when awake. So much so that more than a few times now, he'd subtly pinched himself just to be sure. She caught him doing it once and gave him a weird look. That was fair, who just randomly pinches themselves? He couldn't help it though. Sitting in the joke-mobile with her, feeling her warmth beside him again, taking in the scent of her. It was all real, but he had to be sure.
"-but hey, you should talk to his yoga instructor. I'd be happy to take ya back."
Just like he needed to stay focused on the here and now or he'd miss his cues.
"Oh thank you so much. Th- Oh my God! Nick, why are you naked?!" she yelped and this time he couldn't keep from snickering. Snickering which turned into full laughter as she turned to Yax only to yelp again. "Oh my God, you're naked!"
Priceless!
"Huh? Oh for sure we're a naturalists club!"
Alright buddy, stop showing off the goods. That's my mate!
He couldn't help the internal growl, as he glared at the yak who swung his hips. A move which of course showed off certain anatomy down below. Thankfully, his bunny didn't see either one as she kept swinging her eyes his way then down to the floor over and over again. She was hunched over too which had her near eye level with his sheathe until she finally opted to just close her eyes.
"Yeah in Zootopia anyone can be anything," he said. He bent to her level and felt himself smirk as she opened her eyes again to pout and glare at him. "And these guys? They be naked."
"Okay fine! But why are you?!" she insisted, visibly staining to keep her eyes on his.
Ohh wifey, likey~ He didn't make it easier on her by standing back up. Which of course brought another yelp out of her as she closed her eyes. Then covered them for good measure.
"Oh ole Nick here is a lifetime member," Yax explained and suddenly she was standing up and glaring at him again.
"Oh he is, huh?"
Why do I suddenly feel like I'm in trouble with the wife..?
Thankfully he'd perfected that calm smirk years ago. He gave nothing away even as his heart skipped a beat and then started to race in his chest.
"There's usually no clothes beyond this point other than under clothes But I can make an exception just this once, I suppose."
Yax chose that moment open up the doors and Nick beat strategic retreat. There'd be no punch to his untrained - for now - body in front of another mammal. He already knew that the doors led outside. But his eyes still stung when the bright sunlight was suddenly let inside. Foxes were still mostly nocturnal animals even after evolution. Their eyes were still very sensitive to light. Especially sudden light after being in a dark room. Because of that, spots filled his vision.
"Nangi's just on the other side of the pleasure pool. Oh, hey! That's the spirit!"
What..?
His head whipped around, back into the dark room. And he almost swallowed his tongue even as his mouth dropped open! Spots still filled his vision, but beyond them he could see that there wasn't a stitch of blue still on her! Only gray and white that had nothing to do with the spots fading out of his vision now.
"Rules are rules, right?" she replied and even though she was clearly uncomfortable, she came to a stop beside him.
Nick could only continue to stare at her and make comparisons to her real self and her dream self. She was mostly the same if not for her hips being just a little wider. Which in the old days was good for bearing and birthing kits. How had he missed that? That uniform hugged her form and left very little to the imagination. If he tilted his head just right he could probably see that pink bud he-
"Eyes are up here, Nick." His eyes quickly flicked back up to her face. She greeted him with a smug smile. "See something you like?"
He'd been caught staring! Worse, violet flicked downward and then back to his gaze. That quick little glance was what it took to notice the tingle in his sheath. And he knew without looking that a red tip was peeking out. However, his next breath brought a scent he recognized into his nose. He knew that particular scent very well in fact. He spent a long time lapping it up in his dreams.
"Do you?" he shot back, smirk returning as he tapped his nose. A smirk which grew when the smug smile slid off her lips and her ears fell down her back, eyes growing wider.
"Alright dudes, no consorting allowed," Yax spoke up, leading both of them out into the warm sun. Nick and Judy followed after him, but carefully kept their eyes off of each other. "That's reserved for Saturday's."
Later after they were both dressed again and stepped outside of the establishment, there was an awkward silence between them for a moment.
"That never happened?" he suggested.
"Agreed."
But when they looked at each other again to nod assent, they both quickly looked away again.
Well now he knew what happened when he went off script. She used the radio on her shoulder to ask Clawhauser to have an officer run the plate number they got from Yax. Thankfully there was no officer available to do that for her, but that was a close one! That meant that they had no choice but to go to the DMV as was what they did in the dream. Which he would use to his advantage like he had in the dream. Waste the day so that they didn't get out of there until night time. Which would then lead to them getting to Tundratown late in the evening. After which she'd hustle him yet again into climbing the fence so there was probable cause to tunnel under it to retrieve the pen before he could.
Whew.. Back on track..
Besides, while it had been interesting to smell for himself that he still had it in real life; they wouldn't have been in love with each other yet. Had Yax not stopped them and things progressed any further back there, they may have.. Probably best not to think about that. Nick was no stranger to the more pleasurable of his bodily urges and had plenty of one night stands. But Judy meant far more to him than a simple lay and he wanted her to feel the same for him. Which she may not if they had given into their clear sexual chemistry. Right now he was still there against his will as far as she knew. If he'd given in, he'd have been making love to her. To her it would be casual sex to blow off some steam. Maybe even a ploy from him to somehow steal the carrot pen from her.
He still had to show her that underneath the mask he was more than a sly, shifty fox. That time would be coming soon enough. In just a few hours in fact. Besides, there were little changes so far. But one thing he hadn't considered until now was that the little changes would add up to bigger ones. Lethal ones even. It didn't escape him that they still had to face off with a savage jaguar and freefall from the vines in the Rainforest District. It had been pure serendipity that the vines that had caught them were there in the dreams. They may not be in real life if changes kept being made. It was going to take more than a healthy dose of faith to follow the script for that bit. Their lives were going to be on the line. It was going to be a lot to rely on a dream and faith for that those vines would be there in reality.
"-three.. humped.. camel?"
"Pregnant!" Poor Flash barely had the time to start laughing before she responded.
"Pft.. You call that a joke? Ever heard dumb bunny jokes?"
Now if he could just get her on the same page to follow the script.. But how would he explain it to her? "I dreamed all of this, all of it! I know what's going to happen before it happens!" Yeah that would give land him a one way ticket to the looney bin.
"Okay, picture this. Two bunnies are walking in the woods when they come upon a set of tracks. One says its moose tracks, the other says its deer tracks. They're still arguing when the train hits them."
He didn't know if it was the shock value of the dark joke or the fact she knew a dumb bunny joke. Whatever the cause, that surprised genuine laughter out of him. Not just him, all who heard it had a chuckle as well. Those who didn't hear it were told the joke by those who did and also had a laugh. Judy's beaming smile showed she was eating up the fact she got them laughing.
"You knew a bunny joke?" he asked, still surprised even as he was wiping a tear of mirth from his eye.
"Oh I have more," she answered, smirking at him.
And boy did she prove it. Instead of mammals dreading every second there, those who left did so still chuckling at the jokes they heard. Those still in line waited with big smiles as they waited for the punchline of her jokes. Needless to say, they still only got out of there after night had already fallen. The big smile that had still been on her lips fell off when she noted this, ears falling down her back again.
"Its night..!"
"Yep."
"Sweet cheese and crackers!"
As the door swung shut behind them, Flash could be heard just now laughing at the last joke she had told. But as she raced for the joke-mobile, it almost seemed mocking. Maybe it in part was, Flash knew to hustle if he went in there with an officer. Which made dream Nick smug, but made real Nick feel like dirt in the face of her panic.
"Locked! Great.."
"And I'll bet ya don't have a warrant, hm? Darn it, its a bummer.."
"Its locked.. I wasted the day.."
"And I'll bet you don't warrant, hm? Darn it, its a bummer.."
You wasted the day on purpose!" she accused, she was right but he still feigned offense.
But she didn't say that. Instead her paws fell back to her sides and clenched into fists. She couldn't blame him in real life. She was the one who kept telling jokes, making him and everyone else laugh. She'd made him fall even deeper for her today because of that. A fact he didn't think was even possible. To be able to bring even a temporary joy out in other mammals was a talent. And to see her genuinely enjoy doing it..? It didn't surprise him, this was the same bunny that matched his humor. He had no doubt that had she been in a better mood, they'd be trading jokes right about now. But time had gotten away from her and now she was clearly internally beating herself down for it. What he wouldn't give to be able to comfort her. But he couldn't.. Not yet. Things had already gone way off course and again she would likely only take it as him trying to steal the pen. He had to try to salvage all of this while he still could.
"Since you're sans warrant. I guess we're.. Done?"
She slowly turned to him, anger showing clearly there. Anger not entirely directed at him, though a healthy dose of it was. Most of it was directed inward, but what hurt even more was the disappointment. He saw that in his dreams, something that dream Nick didn't notice, but he always did when awake and looking back. She wanted to believe that a fox would be on her side, that he was more than he showed. He was showing her the opposite in both dream and reality now.
Come on, Judy.. Follow the script.
A sigh from her as she pulled the pen from her pocket. "Fine. We are done, here's your pen."
He reached for it, but before he could get his fingers on it, she tossed it over the fence. "Hey!" But he wasn't surprised, he already knew that would happen. Though he was relieved it actually did. With so many changes they made, there was no real way to know what changed until they got to it. Thankfully she threw it and he even knew exactly where it come to rest in the snow. "First off, you throw like a bunny. Second, you're a very sore loser." Dream Nick didn't care to see the smug smile on her lips or her lifted ears. Real Nick did and played right into her paw. "See ya later Officer Fluff. So sad this is over, wish I could have helped more~"
When he landed on the other side, he wasn't surprised to see her already waiting for him. He wasn't surprised, but had to act like he was. The carrot pen in her paw once again, she was even more smug now. "Thing is, you don't need a warrant if you have probable cause. And I'm pretty sure I saw sneaky low-life climbing a fence." Cue acting offended. "So you're helping plenty. Come on!"
That's my girl.
Changes had still been made so when they were mammal napped and taken the Big's mansion, he wasn't sure how it was going to go. This very well could be one of those lethal changes he was so worried about. The only thing that had saved their tails was Fru-Fru coming in and recognizing Judy just in time in the dreams. If it didn't happen this time, their fates were sealed. So it wasn't fake anxiety by any means when he and Judy were held over the frigid water when the trap door was slid open. Dream Nick said something stupid about more rugs he could sell him, real Nick wasn't that dumb.
"No, no please! I'm not that same fox anymore!"
By his estimate he had about three more seconds before Fru-Fru came into the room. But again, reality was different from dreams and there had been changes made. He only had time to yelp when he was dropped into the pit. Thankfully he was able to catch the wood of the floor with his claws in his panic. He was already terrified for himself, but the anxiety gripped him even more as he stared upward and saw Kevin loosening his hold on Judy!
Come on, Fru! Where are you?!
There was a well placed kick to his paws that dragged his claws across the floor, leaving discolored grooves in the wood. Another had him hanging even further down, redirecting his panicked gaze to the polar bear.
"Raymond! Come on, pal!" Another kick. "We used to be friends didn't we?!"
Another kick and he slid down the wood until he no longer had a grip on it. Thankfully, the ice was just thin enough to stab his claws into and hold on, but he couldn't stay that way forever..
"Please-!"
Nothing could panic him more than the splash he heard below.
No..
When he looked back to Kevin, sure enough there was no Judy still held there. It was only from seeing movement in his peripheral that kept him from letting go of the ice. She was now holding onto the wood same as he had before, it must have been a chunk of ice that fell into the water. But where Raymond kicked his paws, Kevin was about to stomp on hers!
"Daddy~ Its time for our dance~"
You're late, Fru.. But thank the Gods you're here..
Both polar bears guiltily froze upon her arrival, then flinched when she looked their way and scoffed.
"What did we say? No icing anyone at my wedding!"
"I have to, baby. Daddy has to. Push that bunny off."
"Bunny?" Fru echoed and walked over to see better. Nick knew as well as she did that there were no bunnies iced by her father before. So her curiosity was justified and even more so when she gasped. "Daddy no! That's the bunny that saved my life yesterday! From that giant donut!"
Just in time.. He could see that she was starting to lose her grip on the wood. And he felt the ice giving under his claws, weakened by the punctures in it.
"This bunny? Are you sure?"
Pull her up, damn it!
"Yeah, same bunny!"
"Hm.. Pull her up."
To his relief, she was finally pulled up and out of the ice pit. Though that relief was short lived, only she was pulled up and big bear foot came down to stomp on his paws. The ice couldn't hold thanks to the added pressure and with a yelp, he went falling toward the icy water down below. Only to have his descent come to an abrupt stop and the warm, bunny paws told him why. He had just had enough time to look up at her before both of them were falling, Fru's gasp following them. Judy had caught him. But her position wasn't stable enough to make up for his extra weight. She'd only just been saved from an icy death and now they were both heading for it, but not once did she let go of his paw. If anything, her grip tightened around it.
There was no escaping now and she knew it as well as he did. She took a breath and held it and he did the same, though she was the only one to close her eyes. He wanted to see her until he couldn't anymore. He would have pulled her into him if it didn't mean she met her end sooner. His hind paw and the tip of his tail were the first things to strike the freezing water. He didn't have his winter coat yet, not that it would have mattered much, but his foot and tail went tingly almost instantly. It was weird wasn't it? How time almost seemed to slow during times like these. All while he could still feel the pain as the tingles faded and turned into a freezing ache. Gods that was fast!
Before he was fully submerged, he knew that if he didn't freeze to death first, he'd drown. But he saw some floating ice before when he was hanging on for dear life. So while he still could, he swung the paw she still had a grip on and opened it wide so she had no choice but to let go. His paw slid from her grip and he saw her land roughly on an ice block just before he fully went under. She was Fru-Fru's savior. They could still save her and they would! He was barely under yet and could see them lowering a net down. Polar bear sized, one that would normally be used to clean out a pool. Despite the tingling turning into aching, he could only feel relief as everything started going dark.
Nick snapped awake, breathing hard and looking around wildly which startled the driving bunny. They weren't in the Big's mansion, they were in the cart again and heading for what looked like the Rainforest District. His mind only supplied that when his heart slowed enough to take in what he was actually seeing. Not dark as night, freezing water above his head as he froze and drowned. No, it was warmth and greenery all around him. The closest thing to freezing water on and around him was the sprinkler system making it seem as if it were raining and even that water was warm.
"You okay, Nick?"
Her voice pulled his attention back to her and he just gave himself a moment to take her in as his breathing calmed back down. It had just been a dream then..? It had to have been for both of them to be sitting in the cart, only one of them calming down from panic. Though her violet gaze kept looking over at him in concern from the road.
"Yeah.." he finally breathed. "Yeah, just a nightmare."
"After what we just went through, I don't blame you," she replied and shook her head as she turned her focus back to the road. "Fru-Fru came just in time. Didn't she?"
"Yeah.." he agreed, though he frowned in thought. He didn't remember what Judy was alluding to.. Had it all happened as it should have? Both of them being held over the pit, about to be dropped only for Fru-Fru to come just in time? In his dreams he'd watched himself have a nightmare after leaving the mansion and jerk awake from it same as he'd just done. But was that really just a nightmare..? Or had it been a warning? Stick to the script or face the consequences..?
For a nightmare, it had been very realistic. He'd always thought you couldn't feel pain in dreams, not even in nightmares. But he'd definitely felt the bite of the cold, enough to shiver at the memory of it. He also couldn't write off the possibility that he'd been transported from there and to another timeline where he didn't die. It sounded ridiculous, even to him. But so did dreaming everything that was going to happen before it happened. He'd just lost a good chunk of time that she remembered and he didn't. Was it really so ridiculous considering that, that he died in one timeline and woke in another? Now, knowing what they were going to walk into.. Even if it was just a warning, it was one that he had to really take heed to. They'd just escaped one life or death situation and were heading into another one.
Remember that..
He told himself as they walked across the bridge to the jaguar's house.
Remember that..
He told himself when they both heard glass break and the door stood ajar.
Remember that..
He told himself when they heard and saw the jaguar seeming to struggle against an unseen opponent.
Remember that..!
And again when civilized groans of pain turned into animalistic growls. He wanted to grab her and run, but he made himself tense instead and backed away.
"Run.. Run!"
He still couldn't grab her, as he ran for his life and grabbed her paw when she was about to slide off the wet tree branch after they jumped from the bridge. Even though he knew she just slid off the gondola deck.. He forced himself to continue on to the waiting gondola and hold it open for her. He let it slip out of his grip and faced down the savage jungle cat. Then came the real leap of faith. He crashed into her after narrowly avoiding Mr. Manchas' claws and they fell through the weakened wood of the protective bracers on the bridge. And thank the Gods.. The vines were still there and caught them mere feet from the road just seconds before the cruisers showed up.
"Heh...heh.."
Warning received..
Stick to the script..
But that didn't keep him from really enjoying laying into the police chief after the hulking buffalo shattered her in front of him. Everything from what he said to how he said it had to be the same. Even though he really wanted to throw in some insults, curse his name, and assure him he was making a mistake by writing her off. He kept it all the same, he followed the script.
He followed the script as he opened up to her in real life and told her about what happened when he was a kit. When he was finally able to show her that he wasn't just a shifty, sly fox. He had to follow a script even when he wanted to take the comfort she offered. He wanted to say "screw it" and just tell her everything, to hold her and never let go after what they went through. Because living it for real was worse than anything his subconscious could cook up.
He wanted to keep her as far away from that psychotic ewe as possible when they went to city hall to check the jam cams. He wanted to wrap his paws around that ewe's neck and strangle her until she confessed what was really happening to the predators of the city. To put an end to all of this early before they followed the wolves to Cliffside and had yet another close call. One too close for comfort just like the first two. But he saw what happened when they went off script, he'd been warned of what would happen if he did it again. Those close calls would become a sentencing instead.
That didn't make it any less anxiety inducing when Gary, the white wolf caught his scent until his clever little bunny started up a howl. Anxiety when her parents called at the worse possible time and they got trapped in the cell they'd been hiding in. Pure panic as they sped down the water line and were freefalling toward the base of the waterfall. But finally.. Finally came the infamous press conference and he could finally let himself relax. What was coming was going to be painful, same as it had been the first time. Mostly because of that three month separation. But it was only three months, not forever. Though it could be forever if he changed anything now.
You know what happens next. Wait for the cue.
"Ngh.. I'm so nervous.."
"Alright press conference 101. If you want to look smart? Answer their question with your question, then answer that question." She tilted her head, confused. "Like this: Excuse me Officer Hopps, what can you tell us about the case? Well was this a tough case? Yes. Yes it was. You see?"
"..I don't want to do this.."
"Alright pre-"
Wait.. What did she say..?
That's.. Not what she was supposed to say.. Another change. But more than that, the tone of her voice was terrified and sad. When she turned around, her eyes were showing those same emotions as she looked up at him. "Nick, I.. This may not make any sense to you.. But I-I can't.." She was on the verge of tears, he could see them filling her eyes. "I.. c-can't again.."
Again..
That's when it hit him. She knew! She knew it all before it happened too! And now she stared at him, waiting for some kind of reaction. She searched his eyes, begging him to understand, afraid he didn't. If she hadn't suspected before, surely she did when his voice trailed off when she said something different than she was supposed to. Now faced with the event that would cause unrest in the city for the second time, she didn't want to go through with it, knowing what would come from it. Predators and prey turned on one another, their separation.. And she needed him, not Nick her friend. Not Nick, her partner. Nick, her mate. Nick who already lived this with her.
She needs me.. How could I not answer when she showed me..?
"..How about those lucid dreams, huh?"
He knew she understood when her eyes got even wider before he had an armful of bunny. Finally, he could hold her again and be held. Finally, he could love and her be loved by her.
"I'm so sorry.. I thought you didn't know," she whimpered against his chest.
"Shh.. I thought you didn't," he soothed, running his paw over her ears like he knew brought her comfort. It worked, he felt her melt against him like butter. "I was following what my dreams told me. If I didn't.."
"Our lives were in actual danger," she finished for him, nodding against his chest. "I noticed that too. I had a really bad vision just before Fru-Fru showed up. I took it as a warning.."
"One where I froze and drowned?" he asked and knew he was right when she pulled back to look at him in surprise. "That's what the nightmare was." He dried the tears that fell from her eyes as best as he could. There were still dark spots on her fur from the tears wetting them, but he did the best he could. "Now we're going off script again."
The devastated look she bore broke his heart. He wanted nothing more than to kiss her and banish the fears she had, but they'd already gone off track. And there were still two more close calls to go.
"I can't.. Not again, Nick.."
"You have to and we both know it. We know how this ends. We know who's responsible," he replied, glancing at the ewe first and Doug in the crowd, then back to her. "We won't know how they're doing it until your mom and Gideon tells you." She'd followed his gaze, glaring at both sheep in turn before turning back to him. "Certain things have to happen so other things can."
She gave a reluctant nod, resignation sagging her shoulders and keeping her ears low as she stepped back and he did the same. Back to the script. Even with both of them knowing though, that didn't make what came next any easier. The things she'd once said about predators without thinking still stung. Already there was unrest starting in the lobby and he saw her paws clench against the podium. Then clench at her sides when Bellwether ushered her away and walked her off stage.
Okay.. Time for my part..
He sighed and rolled his neck and shoulders in an effort to relieve the tension settling there.
"Nick..?" Her soft voice stopped him and he felt his heart break again as he saw the sadness in her eyes. "Before this goes any further.. I want to tell you.. I didn't mean a word of that.. Or what I'm about to say.."
"I know, sweetheart," he answered. "Neither do I." Though he felt warmer from her saying it and knew his response caused the same in her. He made his features and body language disapproving and stand offish. Back to the script..
Three months.. Ninety whole days was a lot harder than he first anticipated and even worse knowing that they were both aware. That made the waiting even harder when he wanted to hop on the first train to Bunnyburrow during all ninety days. Three months was a short time to wait though when they had the rest of their lives together in return. It was a short time, even if it didn't feel very short. Just like he knew that the six months he'd be spending in the ZPA wouldn't seem all that short. At least they'd each be preoccupied with what they needed to do though. Him with his training and she with being an officer again.
What made this so hard was of course the time it took. But even worse was how he knew she was probably doing during the time. There was always speciesism in Zootopia, but now it was far more blatant. There were protests, prey were a lot more vocal of their hate for the predator population. And all because of that press conference. She'd know that, she did know that before she had to do it. And for someone who wanted to help mammals and make the world a better place, that had to be torture for her. It went against every instinct he had not to go to her when she needed him. Especially when he knew exactly where she was. But they'd already gone off script again. As much as it killed him, he couldn't go to her. Besides, she'd be showing up sometime that day after she found Finnick to ask where he was.
Hopefully she'd remember that part and not come right to him. Now that she knew he was aware along with her, she'd know he'd be expecting her here today. They both knew around about what time too. Either noon or a little past it. Because he knew that, he had gone to store a little way from his location to get himself a drink. Of course he was met with speciesist comment, but he ignored them like he always did. Even if the clerk forced him to show his pockets just to be sure he wasn't trying to swipe something. He even set up camp the night before in the old factory where Wilde Times was once going to be. His dreams hadn't shown him where he was the night before she came back. So he decided to take advantage of the opportunity. That way he could be sure to be there at the bridge when she showed up. The fact he knew she was coming and that he was going to get a text from Finnick made it had not to keep checking his phone. Though his ears stayed perked, listening hard for the text tone from the same new phone from his dreams.
That very chime hit his ears right then and he quickly grabbed it and opened it up. Not Finnick, a stupid phone app notification. He growled and rolled his eyes as he swiped it away with his thumb. Another one was right behind it and another and.. Damn it how how apps did he install on this stupid phone?! Another came through, but thankfully he was able to stop himself before he swiped it away.
[Finn:] Bunny cop showed up. She's on her way 2 ya.
He couldn't keep the grin off his lips if he tried.
[Nick:] K, thanks Finn.
[Finn:] Yea yea. Just make up and stop ur mopin'. Freaks me out.
He snickered at the response, but upon hearing the rumble of the little blue farm truck, had to wipe it off his muzzle. They still had to stay on track, but knowing that, didn't make it any easier to not call out to her when he heard her calling his name. Just like he knew it wasn't easy for her to call out to him when she knew exactly where he was. Indeed, when she hopped down the hill to stand at his side, she paused a few seconds too long.
"Follow the script," he mouthed to her, not looking at her. If he did, all of his willpower would dissolve.
"I think someone is targeting predators on purpose and making them go savage."
"Wow.." he drawled, making his voice sarcastic as he sat up and pulled off his sunglasses. "Isn't that interesting."
Once again, he had to force himself to keep walking and not look back at her. Even when her voice began to wobble and raise with her tears as she tried to force out the words. This had happened in the dreams, but he knew that she really felt that pain all over again. She was a bunny forced to act a part just like he was a fox trapped in this train wreck. Going off course had consequences, even though going off course could have kept them from danger and could have kept the unrest in Zootopia from happening. That pain in her voice was real as was the pain in his heart even when he played back her calling herself a dumb bunny. Twice. It had to be twice. But finally he could turn back to her and welcome her into his arms again.
The next scene in the dreams was the two of them in the truck, but the time it took to get there didn't show. Nick was the first to take advantage of this. No sooner did she step off of his tail, he pulled her into a hug again. She was quick to throw her arms around him as well and press her face into his chest.
"This is killing me.." she confessed and he nodded.
"Yeah.. But there's just a little more to go until we're good now."
He felt her sigh against his chest, his chest fur ruffled by her breath as his paw stroked down her ears again. He must not have been as careful as last time. He felt his claw accidentally brush past fur and into skin. As a result she stiffened against him, he knew why and tensed up himself. Even before the sweet scent that made his mouth water reached him, he braced himself. But not enough. Before he really knew what he was doing, he pressed her back into the wall of the bridge and pressed his muzzle against her neck. She responded by tilting her head back for him. Unlike his doubts back in the Mystic Springs Oasis, he knew that if they gave in now, they'd both understand it was love that drove them as well as lust. It was even getting a bit difficult to remember why he shouldn't.
"Nick.. No.. We can't yet.." he heard her breathe. It didn't help her case when she said it so needily. Or when he could smell that sweetness become even sweeter. "Mm but Gods I want to.."
"Not helping, Carrots.." he replied, voice noticeably huskier than it had been moments ago. The sound or maybe the fact it was said against her neck had her shivering against him.
Jeez, moments ago they'd just been innocently hugging and now he had her against a wall. He was seconds away from throwing caution to the wind. But then, they'd always been like this. Or at least since they had mated for the first time. Even before that really, when they got a little carried away with kissing or he accidentally found a spot that got her worked up like now. Their sexual hunger complemented and matched one another just like everything else about them did. There was still one thing that stopped him when he wasn't thinking about any other consequences. If they gave in now it would be their first time in real life. He couldn't go wild with her right now, she'd need time to get used to him. He was familiar with her body in his dreams, but not in real life. Not yet.
The dreams hadn't helped either. Over these three months, the more explicit dreams had been featured in his subconscious more than anything else. But the reminder it would be their first time together was enough to finally get hold of himself to pull back. Though he almost lost it again when she looked at him with needy eyes. Almost.
"Alright, Carrots. Turn off the sex beam would ya? I can only control myself so much." Her nose cutely twitched, enticed by his heightened musk, but she blinked as what he said registered.
"Right.. Sorry."
"I started it," he gently reminded her. "Accidentally, but still."
"Yeah you did.. And not just today!"
He had started walking back the way they'd come. His goal was the truck so they could finally get this whole thing done and over with. But at her tone, he turned around again and saw her giving him a dangerous smile.
"Huh?"
"Did you forget already, Nick? Who was the first to strip at the naturalists club?"
Uh-oh.. He had been the first to strip and now that he knew she was aware like he was.. It made sense why he felt as if he were somehow in trouble with his wife.
"So.. From one to couch.. How in trouble am I?"
Her grin grew and he audibly gulped. "Oh we're way beyond couch at this point. Once this is over the closest flat surface is going to have to do."
Needless to say, that did nothing to help him keep his self control. Even worse when she walked past him, putting an extra sway in her hips and flicking her tail. He could tell from the smirk she sent at him that she knew what she was doing. But that smirk slid off when he was the one to smirk at her and stepped forward to bend to her level.
"I still have to bite your neck. Keep that in mind, sweetheart." That got her eyes wider as her sweetness hit his nose all over again. "And I know where all of your sweet spots are."
Nick could only delight in the fact he could hear her breathing pick up. And going by the growing sweetness, it had nothing to do with the little exertion that walking up the hill to the truck caused. He had little doubt that he would have her against a wall again as soon as they were clear. Or she would. And his wagging tail showed just how much he was looking forward to exactly that.
The fact that their time visiting Mr. Big went without a hitch this time put Nick and Judy at ease. It went exactly as it was supposed to, Duke was caught by Raymond and Kevin and taken to the mansion. The weasel was threatened to die by icing and he sang for them. They weren't caught by Doug and successfully commandeered the train car once again. Though Woolter and Jesse trying to get in as they had to evade still filled him with anxiety. Especially once the ram woke up and slung his head back, sending Judy flying to the top of the car. But no, that also went as it had the first time, though it was a bit of a closer call when they jumped from the train, the blast pushing them back this time.
Now though.. Now came the moment of truth. Everything was riding on this one thing to go as it should. He was a bit more confident in it, but he knew that both of their hearts were racing from more than just adrenaline. As they both had to seem relieved to see the psycho ewe for a moment, as Judy had to pretend to just realize and him along with her. Judy had to make sure her leg was cut and he winced as he slid to a stop and turned around, wishing he'd have warned her about it in the dream. Dream Nick had been too focused on them both getting away. He hadn't thought she wouldn't see the tusk in the near dark or that she'd turn her head in the wrong moment.
Sure enough, right behind him, he heard her let out a sound of pain and slid to a stop. She gingerly touched the bleeding leg as he quickly and carefully lifted her and hid them both behind a column. His ears pressed against his head as he wrapped her leg in that old ranger scouts neckerchief he still kept to this day. That thing used to be a reminder that to the world he'd never be more than just a shifty fox. Now it was a symbol of renewed hope, same as Judy herself.
"Come on out, Judy~"
"Take the case, get it to Bogo!" she frantically whispered to him.
The anxiety in those eyes wasn't all an act, he could tell that even if there weren't a subtle twitch to her nose.
"I'm not leaving you behind! That's not going to happen!"
"I can't walk!" she stressed, growing more frantic.
Even his ears could pick up the spike in her heartrate while his nose burned with the bitter scent of her fear. He never wanted to smell that scent outside of his dreams.. Not for any reason.. And especially when he knew his paws were tied. She was saying what she had to, but was actually pleading with him to do as she said. This wasn't just her following the script. But they both knew what could happen if they went off course now. This encounter may just turn fatal.
"Just.. We'll think of something.."
"We're on the same team Judy~"
"Oh blow it out your fluffy ass!" Judy whispered over her shoulder and it took everything he had not to snort a laugh.
They both could really use a laugh right about then, but they settled for smirking at one another instead. She was still afraid, very much so, but was doing her best not to let it show now. Now that she knew he wasn't leaving her and he carefully picked up the spilled blueberries. They couldn't leave even one behind as that could give away their ploy. Can't forget that Nighthowler pellet either which he glared at before dropping it into his chest pocket.
"Alright, this is it.. Ready..?"
"No.. But let's get this over with.."
Oof we're both going to feel that one in the morning..
That ram didn't hold back even a little bit when he head butted them into the pit. Nick could have sworn that they had gotten a little further than that in the dream. At least he didn't remember his dream self landing against one of the fake rocks. Still he'd heard the ram coming and leaned toward the pit just a little to hopefully aid in lessening the force of the impact. He didn't know if that did much, he was still aching on the side and arm he landed on and quickly looked to Judy to see if she was okay. She looked no worse for wear either, but she was still worried over this final outcome. Even with the pellet securely in his shirt pocket, she was worried.
Anything could still go wrong.. Bellwether may not believe his act, her aim may be bad this time and she shoots the actual Nighthowler pellet in his pocket instead of his neck. The ZPD doesn't arrive on cue.. Anything at all..
"Well I guess you should have stayed on the carrot farm, huh?" Bellwether giggled. "It really is too bad. I.. I did like you."
Either way, it was show time and everything rode on this one thing.
"What are you going to do?!" Judy snapped back, showing no sign of fear. Not just script, he knew that and had to admire her more for it. Worried as she was, she'd never show that to their enemy until she had to act the part. "Kill me?!"
"Ohh no! Of course not!" The ewe giggled again as if it was the most preposterous thing she had ever heard. But then the act dropped just as quick and she showed the psycho she really was. "He is!"
The shot came, to his neck again, the impact making him fall over like it did in the dream. And crap.. Even a blueberry being shot at him stung! But then.. It wasn't blueberry he smelled, it was floral and that sting at his neck turned into fire.. The struggle he acted out before, wasn't an act now as he tried to keep his mind about him. Judy! She was in actual danger from him this time!
"Ju..dy.. Run..!" he grunted, hearing his own voice starting to turn into growls.
That wasn't scripted and she knew it. He felt her take her paws away and start to step back, he could hear her racing heart again, a near match for his own. She had been right to be worried.. He didn't know why Bellwether had been able to shoot the pellet. It was in his pocket! But she clearly had and now he was turning savage! He confirmed her fear by opening his eyes so she could see the pupil rapidly changing from circular to vertical as he fought to keep control of himself. Tears filled those violet eyes as she shook her head.
"Rrr..un.." he warned again and closed his eyes, forcing his ears down to take her out of his sight and hinder his hearing. He was her natural predator he'd have enough of an advantage without seeing where she ran. He could only pray she could keep away with him as the fire surged hotter through his system. It spread even faster thanks to the frantic beating of heart pushing the toxin through his blood stream as it burned away rational thought. Burned and burned until finally it wasn't Nick Wilde that stood on all fours, but not any less a wild fox.
When he came to again, it didn't take him very long to gather where he was or around abouts at least. The stink of antibacterial solutions and the annoying beeping at his side told him that story well enough. No sooner had his mind connected that it was a hospital than the reason why he was there came to him. He gasped and bolted upright, scaring the bunny who had previously been laying against his chest practically out of her fur.
"Nick!"
He was almost numb as he enfolded his arms around her when she threw herself at him. She was alive! She'd somehow survived..! And as he breathed her in, both to convince himself she was really there and to scent out any possible blood, his heart raced.
"Judy.. Thank God.." he breathed. He didn't really care that it felt as if he'd been hit by a truck, backed over, and hit again. The fact she clung to him.. Could he take that to mean she wasn't afraid of him?
The fact she clung to him like a koala said she didn't, but he still slid gingerly his paws over her body to check for wounds. Something as small as a bruise or at worse a bite wound. The fact he couldn't taste the rusty tang of blood in his mouth meant nothing. He didn't know how long he'd been out cold. She didn't shy away from him though, not even when his claw accidentally skimmed against her ear again. She shivered against him and he quickly moved his paws away, but she shook her head and took his paws to put them right back where they were herself. That was when the sweet scent of her arousal hit him again.
"You didn't attack me, Nick.." she told him, sighing as she snuggled closer to him again. Though her shoulders and back shook a little with a soft laugh. "Well, you did in a matter of speaking.." Informing him of such of course had him tensing against her and his paws searching her again. "But not like you think."
The fact that she pulled back to look at him, giggles still leaving her lips paused his paws. He attacked her.. But not like he thought..? What the hell did that mean?! His disapproval at her cryptic reassurance must have shown on his face. She giggled again and leaned in as if to kiss him, but seemed to think better of it and paused. Right.. Script.
"Let's just say you better be discharged from here fast. Or you may just have a savage bunny on your paws."
A.. Savage bunny..? What..?
"Judy, what are you talking about? Stop messing with me and tell me what happened!"
She was a little surprised at his tone, but he couldn't help but be cranky. He was already anxious enough without her teasing him by being vague. She seemed to understand that now and gave him a little smile of apology as she lifted a paw to run down the line of his muzzle. A muzzle which she should know well hid very sharp teeth. But she didn't hesitate to touch him, again showing no fear. What had happened in that pit..?
"Alright, be get ready. You may not believe me.." That did nothing to ease his anxiety at all despite the fact she was fine and showing no more fear of him than she had before. "Actually, I figured you wouldn't and pulled some strings to get the footage.. Rather, Chief Bogo did. I maaay have guilted him into giving it to me for his speciesist attitude toward us."
"Judy.."
"Yeah, yeah follow the script," she quoted as she rolled her eyes. "In my defense, what happened went off script too. All of this wasn't supposed to happen either. So we basically have a pass now."
Nick watched her as she leaned over him to grab her phone that innocently sat on the nightstand beside the bed. He couldn't help but trace his eyes down her form as she did. For the first time he noticed that she was only clad in panties below the waist and tensed when he saw a bruise there. Judy didn't notice as she unlocked the phone. Instead she pushed the button that elevated the top of the hospital bed until he was sitting up. She got herself comfortable after, sitting with her back to his front while his shaking paws settled around her. He quickly realized that she had been watching the same video she was about to show him when he recognized the layout of the museum just past the triangular play button.
"Okay, ready for this?" she asked.
"No.. But show me anyway.." he replied, nearly echoing her same words just moments before the very scene she was about to show him.
Thanks to the bright setting on the screen, he could see everything even though the museum was dimly lit. He saw himself shot and the feigned struggle until his form tensed when he realized it hadn't been a blueberry he was shot with. He remembered that clearly, the sheer horror when the sting spread and became fiery pain. He saw himself warning her and her fear as she realized that he wasn't acting, not fear of him, but for him. That was more than clear when she backed away and shook her head while her paws covered her mouth. He saw her shoulders shake and heard the soft sob before she turned and ran as best as she could with her hurt leg.
While he was losing his mind, Nick had turned so his back was fully toward her and even crawled as best as he could in the other direction. He didn't get far, before the struggles stopped and shaking his head, stood on all fours. There was the savage fox and despite himself, he jumped when the savage Nick looked up at the opening of the pit and snarled. There was no bunny in his line of sight, so he focused on what he saw from his peripheral. It helped that the ewe was gloating and it made him sick to hear her delighting in him killing his Judy. The only comfort he had was that the ewe had been startled enough by the savage threatening her that she jumped away from the pit a small bit.
That comfort was gone only a second later as Judy's voice called back from where she hid from him. The sound of which caught the attention of the savage fox as well. Triangular ears stood straight up as he whipped his head around and toward the sound, a fresh snarl on his face. Nick saw his savage self sniff the air before his ears laid back against his head and he bolted for where Judy was. She didn't see him coming thanks to the tall faux grass she hid in. Even he couldn't see for a moment thanks to that.
"Nick.." Her voice startled him again as she hit pause. "You're squeezing me too hard.."
"Sorry.." he replied and loosened his hold.
"Its okay. I know why you're worried, but keep watching."
The only comfort he had was that she was clearly still alive and seemed to only have a bruise on her butt. But that would have to do.. He had to see for himself what happened. So he nodded and braced himself when she hit play again.
His view was still obscured by the fake grass, but he could hear the shuffling and saw the confused look on the ewe's face. The grass moved again and he focused his sight there until his own tail was in view. He was confused by what he was seeing, though he saw the jerky movements of his head that seemed to show him trying to drag something. No, not something, someone. Judy who looked just as confused was brought into the view of the camera next as the fox dragged her out of the grass by one of the tails of her pink shirt. The fabric couldn't hold under the sharp teeth of the predator and the insistent tugging on the material so it ripped. Savage Nick was none too pleased with this and let it drop from his mouth before he went for her neck.
"Its okay.. Keep watching.." It was Judy's breathy voice that told him his hold was too tight again. So he loosened it and forced himself to keep watching only for his arms to fall slack as he blinked in confusion of his own.
Savage Nick hadn't gone in for the kill.. He went for the bewildered doe's scruff and carried her to the other side of the pit. That seemed to be enough to bring the smile back to her lips. He watched her try to soothe him with gentle pets at his neck and muzzle before the savage turned his head to snarl at the approaching ewe again. That paused the crazy sheep even though she had the advantage of the distance of the pit depth between them. That wasn't good enough for his savage self who picked Judy up again and went to hide them somewhere else. Thankfully they were still in view of the camera, but just barely. He could just barely see himself covering her with his body and lowering to cover her even more when one of the rams went around to keep them in view.
The vulpine put his teeth on full display, hackles raised all the way up. He was warning the ram not to come any nearer and almost daring him to. He had no doubt that if any of the sheep were in the pit were in there with them, they'd be the ones he killed. The foxes muscles were strained and coiled beneath the red fur, ready to attack. Nick realized he was probably more daring the ram when the savage fox made a leap for the startled ram who fell back to his butt before scrambling away. Maybe the sheep thought that he was only playing at being savage, but seeing him leap for him had been enough to convince him.
Savage Nick still wasn't relaxed by any means with the threat still very much there with them. But he turned his attention to soothing Judy now and did so with a mixture of nuzzles and softly grooming her. Long, broad swipes of his tongue on her mussed fur, non-lethal rooting of his teeth at her neck and ears which apparently had his savage self finding another sweet spot or two. The fox didn't know those soft sounds were a good thing, he thought that he hurt her and whimpered as he nuzzled her. Though his nostrils flared when he smelled arousal. He immediately followed his nose to the source and it was with a soft squeak that Judy leapt up and attempted to put distance between them.
That of course put them back in the open which had savage Nick none-too-pleased. He went after her immediately and pulled the back of her shirt to get her to hide again. Again her shirt was ripped.
"Nick! You're going to rip my shirt off!"
If a savage fox could emote, he showed it with the look he sent up at her. But then his ears pressed to his head when he seemed to have understood he displeased her and he gave a lick to her thigh in apology. That seemed to be another spot going by where the fox pressed his muzzle. That caused another squeak from her as she tried to get away. This time, he retaliated by tackling and pinning her beneath him first. He added a nip at her butt this time, growling his displeasure at her before lifting her by her scruff again and taking her to another hiding spot. Their first one was compromised now and he had to find another that was also far away from the ewe.
"What's happening?! He's supposed to kill you!"
"Mind running that by me again?" Came Chief Bogo's booming voice.
The added mammals of course worked the savage fox into fight or flight and he chose the first hiding spot he could find. Judy being held by her scruff had no choice but to go with him. Chief Bogo noticed the movement and called to his officers to tranq him and get a muzzle ready.
"No muzzles!" Judy yelled back.
"Hopps-"
"If anyone comes down here with a muzzle its not the savage fox you have to worry about!" she yelled, the anger in her voice obvious. "He'll be knocked out, you don't need it anyway!"
Bogo seemed to concede this and motioned for Fangmeyer to take the shot. She moved into position, the sounds of snarling greeting her. The sounds that tapered off into whimpers before the only sound was Judy reassuring a now unconscious Nick that everything was going to be alright.
Now Judy paused the video and turned her head to smile at him. "See? I told you its not what you- Mmf!"
She had no choice but to be cut off when he pressed his lips to hers for the first time. He saw everything for himself and knew that it could have gone so much worse. Against all odds, his savage self had looked after her like the primitive foxes had looked after their mates. Thank Karma it had gone that way.. It could have been exactly what he feared instead.
"Nick-" she giggled, but he captured her lips again, not ready to stop now. They'd both held off long enough. "Ni-" she tried again, but again he caught her lips. She had kept them from muzzling him too. Something they both knew was just part of protocol, she had kept it from happening because she remembered his trauma. "N-" And once again, he cut her off with his kiss, helped along by the spike of sweetness. Sweetness that grew even sweeter when his paw slid down and teased her fluffy tail and even sweeter still when that same paw slid further down to cup her sex through her panties.
She slept in her panties every night for comfort in their marital bed. So he knew it wasn't her intention to seduce him. But now with what he had just learned, he forgot where they were at the moment. He didn't hear the beeping, not when she softly moaned against his mouth as his finger found her hidden bud and stroked it. He didn't hear anything but her, smelled nothing but her sweetness calling out to him. Judy seemed to though and pulled back from the kiss to look toward the door. Nick, still lost in their own little world slid his muzzle to her neck to lightly bite, bringing a moan from her again.
"Nick, stop.." she whimpered.
He was about to protest, but- "Yes, that would be appreciated."
His mouth and paws stopped immediately and slid away as he turned his attention to the door. Chief Bogo stood there along with the doctor, but Nick couldn't find it in himself to embarrassed. Besides, Judy seemed embarrassed enough for both of them and tugged the hospital blanket further up around both of them. At least it was nice and warm with her snuggled up to him. Now if someone would just quiet that annoying beeping.
Beeep, beeep, beeep.
Nick groaned as he squeezed his eyes shut tighter and blindly felt around for the annoying sound. He hated waking up in the mornings! Until Judy was his wife again and they lived in that warm room so perfectly homey and saturated with their scent. At least he knew now that it hadn't all just been a dream. She was very much real and she was very aware of everything, like he was. Still it was hard not to stay in the dream world where he already had that life with her. Even more so when he could still feel the warmth of her against him and the scent of them was still surrounding him. He wanted to stay there if only for just five more minutes before he had to wake back up to reality.
Beeep, beeep, beeep.
But that stupid alarm clock was still blaring and insisting he wake up and greet the day. If he could just get it to shut up, then he could slip back into sleep just a little longer.
Beeep, bee-
"Finally!"
Though the warmth he thought was a pillow snuggled further into him with a soft giggle had his eyes pop open.
Dark, bare, cracked, cold concrete greeted his eyes and had him going completely still. Somehow it was always cold, even during the summer.
Walls the color of coffee with creamer in it met his eyes. Walls filled with pictures of the two of them. Some from their trips to Bunnyburrow, some when her folks and a pawful of her siblings came to visit them in Zootopia. Warm sunlight filtered in through the curtains brightening the room and giving it even more of a warm look.
A dresser he used for a bed.. A pillow in his arms rather than his mate and wife.
He was laying on a soft, full sized bed, more than big enough for the two of them. And.. And here she was.. Snuggled up and warm against him. Her fur was mussed from sleep and a night of sex. His scent mark was still fresh from last night as was hers on him as he took in a deeper breath than needed. Though the surprises were still coming. His arms had loosened around her in his sleep, but when he tightened them, he found a rounded belly. And.. And movement just under the surface of skin, fur, and the shirt she wore to bed.
Pregnant..! With my-! It was just a dream..
And he knew why. He went to bed the night before with the fear he'd wake up one day to find himself without this perfect life. Without his wife or the little one growing in her womb. All of the events of last night's dream had come and gone years ago. They were still the best cop duo of the ZPD, they were still friendly with Mr. Big, Bellwether was still rotting in prison, and peace long returned to Zootopia. They moved in together shortly before he left for the academy and then married and mated six months after he became an officer. Some may say they rushed the relationship and the commitment, but they were still going strong and still just as in love, seven years later. The twins, were now each five.
"Mom! Dad!" The door to their room opened and in rushed two kits who jumped onto the bed and excitedly bounced on the soft surface.
Hunter and Robin..
"Come on! We want pancakes!" Robin said.
"Yeah pancakes!" Hunter agreed.
The kits were a perfect mix of he and Judy. Where Hunter had his long muzzle, his ears completely black furred, like his dad's, were a little more long before they pointed at the ends. His red fur was as red as Nick's, but his eyes were the violet of his mother's. Robin had a shorter muzzle, though her ears were more short and only black tipped as they reached a point like her dad's. She had her mother's gray and white fur and had his green eyes.
Robin squealed a laugh when Judy suddenly sat up and pulled her down to tickle attack her while Hunter moved out of the path of danger. Only problem with that was that he was now within Nick's grasp. And the tod wasted no time in surprise attacking him in the same way. Both kits now squealed and squirmed with involuntary laughter until their parents had mercy and blew a raspberry on their cheeks. Now free, both laughing kits ran from the room, scrambling over one another to reach the door first.
Still laughing, Judy stretched on the bed and he wasn't shy about letting his eyes trail over her body. Her body showed her pregnancy with her slightly swollen feet and her rounded belly. But just like the first time she was pregnant with the twins, she had never been more beautiful to him. Surprisingly they hadn't needed a procedure for her to become pregnant with their kits, they just had a lot of sex and then they were stunned when they realized she was pregnant. They both thought for sure that it would take some kind of medical help for that to even be possible. He was a fox and she was a bunny after all. It seemed fate didn't care about that factor though.
"You look hungry too," she noted, lowering her arms now as she smiled up at him.
"I'm very hungry~" he teased back, licking his lips. The sweetness of her arousal filling the air told him she knew exactly what he meant even if her panties gradually showing a wet spot didn't. The sight and scent had an answering stirring starting up in his sheath as he leaned down to kiss her. She leaned up to meet him, but they broke away at the voice of Hunter in the doorway.
"Eww! Kissing cooties!"
"We're still hungry!" Robin added, but both kits squealed and ran giggling as Nick turned his head to playfully glare at them.
"We'll have to see if their grandma or Nana can watch them," Judy said with a giggle of her own as she sat up. "Otherwise I know a certain fox that's going to have a savage bunny on his paws."
Those pregnancy hormones.. God he loved them sometimes! He knew better than to say so though with her trimester being where it was. So instead he snickered and bent to kiss her again.
"You get dressed sweetheart. I'll get started on those pancakes."
"Blueberry pancakes?"
"Is there any other way to have pancakes?" he asked with a shrug.
AC: Holy crap I made it! I've been working on this thing for two weeks guys! It was supposed to be a little treat to make up for the wait for Violet Night. I'm still working on VN by the way. Just A Dream was supposed to be a little one-shot, but it took on a life of its own instead! XD I gotta say though, I'm proud of myself. This is by far the longest single chapter I've ever written at 19,583 words not including this authors note. Let me know what you all think! Also sound off in the comments! What's your favorite kind of pancake? ^^ See you all in Violet Night! ^^
Inspired by: Heavily inspired by Kulkum and his stories One Hundred Percent and One Hundred Perfect 2
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the OCs that appeared here in this story. ^^