Hello everyone!

New chapter is here and I hope it'll answer some questions about what is going on between Nick and Judy.

I give my special thanks to BCRE8TVE for his help with editing this chapter. Your help was (is and will be) very much appreciated!

Also, thank you all for finding interest in this story. I truly hope that it will entertain you.

Chapter 11

"Alright," Sir Nicholas rose up and sat on the edge of the bed. He noticed that, when he got off her, Judy massaged her wrists. "I apologize, I only intended to disarm you."

She kept her head turned away from him. "Aren't you generous…" she muttered. Then, her ears picked up tearing sounds and she took a peek with the corner of her eye to see the fox ripping the bedsheets. He took several long strips and started wrapping them around his face to cover as much of the cut as possible. When finished, he also wrapped a piece of material around the arm grazed by the bullet.

"That's going to leave a scar?" she muttered a question, loosely pointing at his face.

"Most likely," the fox replied while bandaging the other wound.

"Good."

Sir Nicholas' eyes widened at first, but right after that he chuckled. "Well, I can agree that I deserve it," the fox finished his improvised first aid and turned to the bunny. "Miss Judy, I apologize for what I said few moments earlier. I do not intend to act on any of it. I only said it to draw your attention to me and stop you from shooting yourself," his healthy arm rose up to wipe the remains of his tears with a piece of torn bedsheet.

She analyzed his answer in her thoughts and slowly turned her head to face him. "Why should I believe anything you say?"

The vulpine gestured towards her. "Well you are alive right now, I think it is a start. With this, I have achieved my first goal."

Judy narrowed her eyes with suspicion. "First?"

He dared showing a small smile. "The second one would be gaining your trust," Sir Nicholas gazed directly into her eyes. "Though I realize that it is a far more challenging task."

What is he scheming this time? Judy pondered about the fox's real intentions. Still, he did stop me from dying… And those tears… She was still adamant about not trusting him, but a little part of her that always aided her in judging other mammals' characters, quietly suggested that his guilt was genuine.

"Theoretically, if I were to believe your words… And that's only a theory, why do you want my trust?" she asked of him, observing his face carefully. The bunny pulled up her legs, instinctively getting them away from the predator.

His smile grew wider at her words. He stood up and took several steps to the center of the room. "Because we are the same, Miss Judy," he stated while turning back to her and spread his arms wide, as if to demonstrate his point with his appearance.

That was the last thing she would expect to hear from a noble, not to mention this particular fox. "Excuse me?!" she snorted with clear disbelief.

He continued to smile. "We both dislike the class system that binds our society," he stated openly, words that she'd never believe to come out from the mouth of an aristocratic mammal. The nobility, as a whole, despised the idea of being brought into the same category with lower classes. They had everything and could do almost anything without facing consequences. For one of them to say something like this… It sounded as if a fish said that it doesn't like water.

"You want me to believe that?!", the doe shook her head. "You're even crazier than I thought."

But the fox's amusement didn't vanish. "Yes, I suppose that is what you would think of me. Most of the society would. I mean, why would someone born into one of the wealthiest families in the entire kingdom say something like that?" he chuckled, ignoring the growing red stain on the material on his face. The aristocrat returned to the bed's side. "You see, I was brought up mostly by my mother and her teachings were the exact opposite of those of my father's, whom you had the displeasure to meet. Blue blood, birthright, superior breed… all of that could be thrown into the mud, it does not hold any real value," he paused to sigh and after that went on. "I once saw a badger priest explaining this to an officer from a noble family. When asked why an aristocrat like him should think of farmers as his equals, the priest simply smiled and pulled out a knife. He then cut his palm and showed the bleeding wound to the soldier. And he said, I will remember this for as long as I live, 'If you cut your own palm, will the blood be any different?'" the fox turned his head a bit and raised a finger to the cut on his face. He traced the digit over the damp material and held it in front of him, the crimson stained fur clearly visible to both of them. "Call me blind, Miss Judy, but I do not see a trace of blue in here."

The doe simply stared at him in silence, greatly perplexed by what she just heard. It was spoken with such conviction that she had to hold back the urge to believe it outright. Judy knew how deceptive his words could be and treated his speech with great caution. She recalled his false story about a messenger and her nose twitched nervously.

And her distrust was noticed by the fox.

"Miss Judy, I do not fool myself with a thought that you would believe me after everything you have suffered because of me. However, I do wish to make amends for my wrongdoings, but for that I need to know what you would wish me to do," he caught her gaze. "Well, apart from my death, at least for now."

Judy stared at him in a still hostile manner. "A couple of questions, fox. Why are you acting like this now and not from the beginning? A change of heart? Just a whim?"

"No," he cast down his ears in shame. "This is all the effect of my own weakness and wrong judgment of character," there was a small pat on the bed, as the blood from the cut on his face began dripping from the makeshift bandage, but both mammals ignored it. "From the moment I saw you at the auction house I was impressed. With your determination, with the fight that burned strongly in your eyes. Pardon me for phrasing it this way, but it was a sight of a small, insignificant farmer, struggling with all her might despite the overwhelming odds. And after that you even tried to kick me!" he chuckled quietly at the memory. "To top it all, you have yelled at one of the most influential mammals in the entire kingdom and hit him on the head with a pistol!"

Judy blinked several times, not sure where he was going with this speech. She was so focused on his words that she failed to notice that he has reached out and gently took her paw in his. The doe instantly jerked back, pulling away her arm. Sir Nicholas' smile faded a bit, as a scorn formed on her face.

"My apologies…" he muttered. "I only meant this as a gesture of my respect towards you," he retracted his arm. "You see, in a way, I used to be a coward when it came to dealing with others and their opinions, but my father has always been an extreme case. Dealing with him for my entire life, I have always been pressured to be the less significant one, to learn where I stand in the family and, above all, to remember that his word is law. Thus, I have never been able to stand up to him, even with what I have experienced in recent years…" Sir Nicholas averted his eyes and stared at one of the windows in the room and at this point Judy noticed that his voice trailed off a little. However, he was quick to recover and his gaze fell on the doe again. "But I digress," his lips once more formed a small smile. "What I was meaning to say is that I was living under my father's overbearing influence all my life and all that it took to break this curse was the sight of your outburst and bravery in face of the very mammal that nearly got you killed."

As he completed his speech, that inner glimmer of determination returned to his eyes, which made them so hypnotizing. However, in comparison to the last time he gazed at her with this look, now it hinted at something completely new – gratitude.

"Miss Judy…" once again, the noble fox reached out to her, but his paw stopped midway with an open palm. Judy had to quell down the initial surprise to understand the meaning of this gesture. He was asking for the bunny to place her paw on his. Reluctant at first, Judy didn't sense any malicious intent from him. And despite the soaked excuse of a bandage wrapped around his head, the fox showed her a warm smile, so contradictory to his current situation. After gazing at his face she could feel her resistance crumbling, as if his gaze was chipping it away. She reached out and slowly placed her paw on his awaiting palm. Sir Nicholas' smile widened and the aristocratic fox lowered his head to place a most gentle kiss on the top of her fingers. A slight shiver travelled up her shoulder when she felt the contact between them. It was so unreal for her, no male had ever behaved this way towards her. He's doing it again, she thought. He's messing with my head. I'm going to go crazy if this keeps up!

Then he raised his eyes and gazed upon her, like he was looking at the queen of Zootopia herself. "Thank you for freeing me," he said softly, his voice rich in gratitude.

Once again, this fox had made her speechless. Judy still didn't trust him, but even she saw the honesty, if not in his words, then at least in his gestures. The doe recalled a time when she asked her mother how could she tell when Judy's siblings were lying to her about their chores, or lying about 'accidents' around the farm. It happened almost every day, but their mother never failed to catch them telling fibs. Bonnie just laughed and said that 'it's all in the eyes'. Now Judy fully understood what she meant. Looking into the fox's emerald eyes, the young doe could see the sincerity that dwelled within. Confusion once more entangled her heart, making it even more difficult to guess his intentions. How can you be so distant and cold at one time and then you turn around and act so sweet and gentle? She ran a paw down her shoulder. Why are you doing this to me? The doe pondered, her mind shrouded in a haze.

The aristocratic vulpine chuckled, making Judy flinch and breaking the bunny from her stupor. "Because you have encouraged me to take a step I have never managed to take on my own."

The doe quickly withdrew her arm and hugged it to her chest. "W-what are you saying?" she stuttered in confusion, surprised by his words.

"Well, you just asked…"

Oh sweet cheese and carrots… Have I said that OUT LOUD? The doe retreated backwards on the bed to put more distance between the fox and her. His smile faded when she did so.

"Stop playing with me!" she huffed at him. "You're just trying to sweet talk me into doing something!"

Sir Nicholas shook his head with a solemn expression. "No, I am not…"

"Liar! If what you say is true, then why was I thrown into a dungeon on my first day here?! Why was I tortured to the point I practically begged for death?!" tears began forming in her eyes again. She clenched her fingers on the fabric of her clothes, but it was too much for the barely healed digits and she let out a small whimper. Holding and swinging the sword few minutes ago had already strained them and this was the final straw that set her joints on fire.

Sir Nicholas' eyes widened and his features shifted instantly when his expression changed. With ears flattened against the back of his head and a concerned frown, the fox let out a strained gasp. He placed his knees on the bed and reached out to her, but the bunny only shot him a hateful look. "Stay away!" she screamed and he obeyed, frozen in place.

For a long moment, the only sounds in the spacious room were Judy's quiet sobs. They echoed around the walls and closed windows, enveloping both mammals in a verbal aura of suffering. The atmosphere turned thick and suffocating with the pain and misery radiating from the hurt bunny.

Eventually, the heir to one of the most influential families in Zootopia kneeled before the pained farm bunny and placed a paw over his heart. "You hate me," he said plainly. It was not a question, nor an assumption. It was a statement of a fact, "and rightfully so. But please, hear me out. You have asked questions and I wish to answer them. However," he accentuated the word to gain her attention and the bunny reluctantly looked at him, at his expression shadowed with guilt and shame, "if you wish for me to leave, then just say the word and I will walk out. Noone will bother you or your siblings and I will make sure that my father stays away from this room. But I will return tomorrow and once again ask for you to listen. And the day after and I will continue to do so until you agree to hear me out," the doe eyed him suspiciously, gently rubbing her fingers together in a soothing motion. "Miss Judy, please…" he pleaded with her, eyes focused on her face and his expression so soft that it almost made her believe him on the spot.

She broke the eye contact by turning away her head. "Talk," she huffed with folded arms. Still, she was peeking with the corner of her eye.

"Thank you," he said first and then proceeded with answers. "You wished to know why you have been placed in the dungeon. It was my mistake," the fox lowered his head before her. "I wrongly assumed that the best choice for you is to take part in routine process that all slaves undergo upon arriving at their master's house. As contradictory as it sounds, I intended to protect you from the class system by adapting you to it. But I have underestimated your determination, as you were ready to die, just to avoid service. And though you have voiced your distaste for the method I used to help you maintain your life, I am glad that I was able to save you," he looked up at her. "Still, please do not resort to such methods ever again. If there is an issue you wish to point out, please feel free to discuss the matter with me so that I may address it, we can resolve anything through conversation."

Judy let out a disbelieving snort.

Sir Nicholas continued, apparently not fazed by her reaction. "To answer your second question, it was also a consequence of my mistakes. Had I not tried to force you into fitting into a life of a servant, then you probably would have not encountered my father in such a manner. When I noticed your disappearance, it was already too late and I headed towards the dungeon as fast as I could," he squeezed his paw into a fist. "I greatly regret what has been done to you and if it is of any comfort, the mammal that tortured you has been punished accordingly."

The last sentence caused one of the doe's ears twitch. "Punished? How?" she partially turned her head to the fox. Judy didn't know what happened after the torture session, as she was too exhausted at that moment to register everything that had happened around her. Even later, she had no way of knowing what had become of the jaguar that inflicted her with so much pain.

"I beheaded him," Sir Nicholas admitted honestly and without any remorse in his voice while standing up.

Judy's eyes widened a bit and she looked directly at him. "You… killed him?" This revelation from the aristocrat made her flinch involuntarily. It made her remember that she was in a presence of a mammal that was clearly capable of killing others and was rather efficient at it. Right now, he was a rather commanding figure to look at. The blood soaked patch on his face didn't exactly help either.

He nodded in response. "Yes. As I have arrived at the torture chamber and witnessed what he had done to you and what else he was about to do, I lost my calm. In a fit of anger, I cut off his head," the fox stated without any trace of guilt in his jade eyes.

The bunny simply stared at him, as words failed her at this point. Looking into his eyes and considering his voice as he said this, she had no doubt that it was the truth. Wrapping paws around her arms and casting down her gaze, she felt a shiver of satisfaction that the one directly responsible for putting her through that suffering was dead. From all the things he's done, the mere memory of the heat radiating from the metal rod between her legs made her tremble. But then another thought entered her mind, and the doe's eyes shot wide open. I… I was naked on that table… This fox, she slowly raised her gaze, feeling the heat in her cheeks. This fox has seen me NAKED!

Right away her mind was consumed by two things: the ultimate shame an unmarried female could experience – being seen without clothes by a male, and the returning urge to stab this vulpine for every humiliation and all the pain she had to go through because of him.

However, he surprised her yet again and bowed before her. "Miss Judy, I can only imagine the disgust you are feeling towards me. Nevertheless, please grant me the favor of apologizing to you once more for all the transgressions you have experienced due to my misjudgments," the fox straightened up and once more placed a paw over his heart. "I am prepared to bear the responsibility for each and every one of your wounds, whether physical or mental."

She eyed him with narrowed eyes. "Responsibility?" she inquired with a low and unfriendly voice.

"Yes. I will face any consequences of hurting you that may arise and will never allow any further harm to be done to you or your siblings."

"More sly words…" she muttered, shaking her head.

Sir Nicholas tilted his head a bit to the side. "Miss Judy, I swear to the almighty God that I will do everything in my power to protect you and your siblings," he repeated his pledge, this time adding the weight of a vow with God. Judy's ears perked up. As much as the doe was sceptic about most of his words, she couldn't find an argument against this. Zootopia, like most of the kingdoms, was a deeply religious country and mammals took their faith very seriously. Swearing something to the Lord was a promise of utmost importance and even kings were very cautious to swear such oaths , as they would be compelled to fulfill their promises, or risk the displeasure of their affronted deity

And now the fox in front of her had made just such a promise. That's… He wouldn't break a pledge like this, would he? She studied his face for any sign of trickery or dishonesty but found no such thing. What… what if he's sincere about everything? She blinked, surprised that her mind suggested such a possibility. If he truly was willing to protect her…

"Let us go back to our home," she stated boldly her demand. The doe wasn't certain what to expect for an answer, but she was willing to try her chances.

Sir Nicholas shook his head. "My apologies, but I cannot allow that."

The bunny clicked her tongue. "Figures…" she muttered.

He let out a sigh and his shoulders sank a little. "Miss Judy, I do not do this to anger you-"

"Just for your own, sick pleasure, right?" she cut in, maybe a bit harsher than she intended.

Her words caused him to jolt forward and before she could even gasp, the fox kneeled on the bed right in front of her and grabbed her arms. "Can you not understand that if you leave my side earl Wolford will kill you?!" he yelled, his eyes narrowed and brows furrowed in concern.

Judy stared at him wide-eyed, unable to utter a word.

Sir Nicholas blinked, as if only now realizing what he just did. He immediately released her and moved back. "I… forgive me, that was incredibly rude of me…" his eyes darted to the side when he began nervously explaining himself. "I did not want to…" he paused and took a deep breath to recollect himself. "Miss Judy, earl Wolford is out for blood and he will not stop until he gets you. What I meant was that in this mansion, under my authority, you are safe. He would not dare to openly assault you in my presence. However, if you would leave my side, I am certain that he will do everything in his power to capture you."

Judy rubbed the arms he held in his grip a moment ago. "You-" she stopped herself when memories flooded her mind. Their first meeting, when the fox stopped the wolf from attacking her, their visit at the auction house and another clash with the grey predator, their ride back to the mansion and his words… 'My presence is the only thing keeping you alive'. Is this what he meant back then? He confused her again. She was a simple, farm bunny from a village like hundreds of others in the kingdom. Why would he, a son of a duke, go to such lengths to protect her? Still, judging from his words, being protected meant being next to him at all times…

The doe pulled her knees to her and wrapped her arms around them. She stared at the bedsheets. "You are basically telling me that I'm dead if I separate from you, so if I want to live then I'm bound to you for life?"

Silence followed her words for a few long moments before Sir Nicholas spoke again.

"Miss Judy…"

The soft tune in his voice made her raise her head and look at him. She saw the glint of hope in his eyes and a slight smile appeared on his face.

"There could be a way to smuggle your siblings into Bunny Burrow."

Her ears perked up, the wounded one still not standing fully straight. "What? How?"

He raised a paw to stop her from asking further questions. "This will have to wait until the next week. I need to make preparations and also," the fox pointed at his face, "a doctor needs to look at your handiwork."

Judy huffed and crossed her arms. "I am not apologizing for that!" she stated firmly.

And once again, his reaction didn't fit the common sense she tried to apply to this conversation.

Sir Nicholas smiled.

"I know. And that is one of the qualities that make you so respectable."

After hearing this, Judy's healthy ear twitched. He. Is. Crazy. Yet, in odds with that opinion, he produced his argument quite logically and even Judy had to admit that it made sense. Considering of course, that she'd believe him and the doe was rather reluctant to do that. She looked him straight in the eye. However, distrusting him was getting increasingly difficult when he gazed at her the way he was doing right now.

Uh… stop doing this to me! She pleaded in her thoughts, not daring to utter those words out loud. How am I supposed to function like this? It bothered her greatly, the confusion binding her heart. As much as she hated him, something in him was pulling her towards the fox. The bunny suspected that if she'd find out what exactly was nudging her into learning more about him, then this confusion would disappear. Still, a tiny whisper in her head suggested that learning the whole truth might lead her to a path she didn't expect at all.

"Well," he said, snapping her out of her thoughts, "I guess that this will be enough for today," he bowed once again before her. "Please rest well, if there is anything you need, please do not hesitate to ask the guards or Benjamin. I shall take my leave now. " With these words he collected his sword from the bed, putting it back into the scabbard. Sir Nicholas turned around to leave and Judy watched him walk towards the door. When his paw reached out to open them, the doe called out to him.

"Wait!" actually, she surprised herself with this, as she couldn't exactly explain why she didn't want him to leave just yet.

Sir Nicholas stopped and turned around to face her. "Yes?" he asked politely.

Why did I stop him?! Her panicked thoughts posed a question to which she didn't have an answer. "I… I'd like some carrots…" she muttered. It was all the doe could come up with on the spot.

The noblemammal smiled and opened the door. "I shall have Benjamin deliver them to you as soon as possible," with that, he was gone.

After staring at the closed door for several long moments Judy eventually fell back on the bed, staring at the panel above her. Part of her mind screamed that she was tricked, that the fox once again fooled her into doing his bidding, but she found it surprisingly easy to ignore that voice. Pure logic was on her side. Initially, she considered giving up her life to sent her siblings back home, but now she has been told that there is a possibility to do that without her spraying her head all over the place. If that's not a better alternative, than what is? And what troubled her the most were his eyes. She couldn't get the image of that emerald gaze out of her mind. Intense at times, yet capable of turning so soft that you could melt under its influence. Why did you look at me like that? Was he honest when talking about his gratitude towards me? Probably. Were his tears a genuine admission of guilt? Most likely.

Judy rubbed her face with both paws. The more she interacted with this fox, the less certain she was about his intentions. Before their talk moments ago, she wouldn't believe a single word that would leave his mouth. But now… What am I supposed to feel around this mammal? Hate? Suspicion? Caution? Trust?

The last thought made her eyes shot wide open. Never before she has considered trusting him! Judy covered her eyes with both paws. This situation was causing her heart to ache from uncertainty. She had to sort out her feelings as soon as possible.

.

.

After supper on the very same day, Sir Nicholas was resting in his study. The doctor wrapped his wound in a professional manner, reassuring him that the wound, while looking nasty and dangerous, was rather shallow and just bled a lot. Still, he would have to wear bandages for some time, before the cut would close up.

"How long?" the aristocratic fox inquired of the hare doctor.

"With the ointments I've applied? I'd say around a week. We'll see then. And try to avoid laughing too much as that might reopen the wound."

"Har, har," the fox said with a straight face.

The doctor rolled his eyes. "Yes, that much is allowed…"

After the hare left, Benjamin strolled into the room with the usual, evening tea for his master. "Sir, how are you feeling?"

The fox leaned back in his large armchair. "Physically? I have been better, but I have also experienced worse. Mentally?" he showed a smile. "I think I have reached a turning point in my life."

The cheetah eyed his master carefully. "At the price of a nasty slice to the face?" he dared asking. He was the only person apart from the doctor that knew about how he got this wound.

"Ah, yes. I suppose it cuts both ways," the vulpine quipped.

Benjamin showed him a wide grin. "I suppose that is what happens when we let such a feisty female to cut loose, eh sir?" they have known each other long enough for him to throw jokes like that.

Sir Nicholas joined in with his own smirk. "At least she did not cut and run."

"Well, I'll be sure to back away when she will intend to cut in during our future conversations."

"Benjamin, you really should cut down on the puns," the vulpine sipped his tea while sending a mocking glare at his servant.

"My apologies, it seems I am not cut out to be funny," the cheetah replied with a small bow.

This was met with an approving nod from the smiling fox. "Yes, cut it out. That is an order."

Benjamin had to put a paw to his mouth to stifle a chuckle. "Yes, sir!"

After another gulp of the hot liquid Sir Nicholas spoke once more. "Additionally, I have another order for you."

He explained the idea to his servant. Hearing it, the feline's eyes grew wide.

"S-sir… that is a bit reckless. Anyone else would be enough for the task!"

The fox only chuckled. "You are probably right. However," he set the cup back on its plate, "this way it will be far more entertaining!"