A/N \\\ So... Here is the 11th installment. Hope you enjoy.
The events here take place a year or two... maybe three, after the movie. I'm not actually sure how long as that has not been revealed to me as yet, but it has been enough time that Nick and Judy are officially together.
Note: I am going to use an internal dialog technique here that I am totally stealing from another author. I loved it so much I'm test driving it here in hopes of using the same technique in my original works.
Remember to share the love. Review and Fav. It is the life blood of every writer to know you are enjoying their work. I also want to thank everyone who has Fav'd, followed, and reviewed this little project. I know that isn't much, but to me, it's huge. Even as a writer of original fiction, that you enjoy this means a lot to me as an author.
WARNING: I expect you'll find some cavity inducing fluffiness here, and some suggestive bedroom talk as well. You have been warned. ;)
I do not own and claim no rights to Zootopia or its characters. They belong to Disney.
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Morning came and Judy was up at her normal time, stupid early, as Nick would say. Being pregnant seemed to have no effect on that. Spending the more then two thirds of her life thus far living on a farm where up-early to most mammals of the world was the normal, and up-early for them was several hours before dawn. As it was, she still beat the sun by a good thirty minutes on most days, and this was no exception.
It took her a bit to disengage from her fox, but a few scratches in the right spots had him stretching out and purring in his sleep, which released her from his embrace. As her returned to his sleeping position, a small whine exited him and he called out for her in his sleep. "Carrots?"
Smiling at her fox, she leaned down kissed his muzzle. "Bathroom my sly fox."
His response left her stifling a giggle. "Mmkay. Don't fall in... waterfall."
After a quick bathroom trip, she made her way to the kitchen to find a snack before her modified workout routine. Some squats for her legs, free weights Nick had bought her for her arms, chest, and core. She didn't work hard, just enough to keep things moving and feel it just slightly. She was not willing to risk the wrath of Nick, or her doctor.
She would be having breakfast with Lizz, but despite the seven course meal the previous night, she was ravenous. Digging through the cupboards and fridge, she located a few pieces of spicy fish-jerky that Nick hated, but bought for her, along with one of his blueberry protein bars and a large carrot juice.
Once finished, she made a batch of blueberry pancake mix for Nick, though frowning at the stove that she couldn't use due to her condition. She could use the front burners before, but as the appliances were not sized for her, and were even slightly on the large size for Nick, her current state precluded using the stove. So she left the mix in the fridge for him and went about making coffee, and put some chicken sausage patties in the oven; the smell of which she knew would wake him.
Once all that was done, Judy sat at the table drinking her juice and considering what had happened over the past few days. They had just wanted to let Lizz and Mike know they were not alone, and yet things had spiraled rather quickly. She should have known that involving Carry would bring Bill into the equation, but as much as she tried to keep a distance from the couple, it was really hard. They were great people and loved her and Nick genuinely. Then again, things going a bit sideways was something she had learned to just roll with. She just hoped that it wasn't so fast that their friends were overwhelmed by it all.
Shaking her head as she thought out how much longer they could keep the non-secret-secret of her and Nick's younger exploits. It was only a matter of time before it became fully public. She knew that, but that would translate into a whole lot of other things becoming public. Sighing, she pulled out her phone. Those were things she couldn't do anything about, but she could see if there was some form or phrasing she could use to help with the conversation she would be having with Erin in a few hours.
Judy wasn't sure about felines, let alone cougars when it came to things like forms and the old ways. Nick wasn't big on it, but he knew most forms for most species from when he was a con-mammal, at least the common ones. He also wouldn't offer, even if he knew something appropriate, unless she asked. It was one of their silent agreements. She always wanted to at least try to figure it out herself first, before asking.
Starting up the browser on her phone as she absently nibbled at her chew-stick, she started searching. Her initial search terms: Cougar formal apology, common; and was surprised to get results that looked relevant right out the gate. Smiling, she started opening pages in new tabs to review.
A few minutes later, she picked up the sound of Nick's tell tale, no bunny in bed with him, whine and grinned. She quickly poured a cup of coffee, black as it could be, dropped a few blueberries in it, and headed to the bedroom. She might not be talking to her parents, but she had enough supporters amongst her siblings to be able to supply Nick's blueberry addiction.
Stopping at the door, she enjoyed the view as he stretched, putting himself fully on display for her hungry eyes. She allowed herself to drink in her fox; his strong, toned body, honed over the last few years on the force; his creamy belly, dark paws, sharp teeth as he yawned that she just loved, and thick crimson sheath and balls. She also noticed the scars he'd earned on the job, sighing as she knew she carried just as many of those.
With a second, wistful sigh, knowing she'd get to have him again soon enough, she waited for him to notice her.
/
Nick felt himself waking and the first thing he noticed was the lack of warm fur curled up against him, making him whine unconsciously due to the absence. The next thing that registered was the smell of the black elixir of life being freshly brewed and a hint of meaty goodness; which explained his lack of bed companion. Smiling, he stretched out and yawned, he tongue curling in his open maw like a snake preparing to strike.
Blinking bleary eyes Nick sat up as the smell got stronger, drawing him from sleep, the scent of sausages cooking snaking around the scent of fresh coffee. Catching movement in the corner of his eye, along with a familiar tightening of the magnetic field in the area, he turned towards the bedroom door. There, as his vision cleared, he saw Judy in just her fur and a sultry grin, leaning against the door frame; a steaming cup of coffee he could see at least two blueberries floating in, in paw.
Nick grinned sleepily at the sight. "Good morning beautiful. I must have passed on last night to wake to the sight the most beautiful bunny in the universe holding the very elixir of life itself. Are you actually a goddess come down to Earth to seduce a poor fox with your beauty?"
Grinning and blushing at her fox, Judy walked forward and handed him the cup. "Good morning, dumb fox. Complements like that will get you everywhere." Sitting on the bed next to him and pulling him down into a kiss that they both quickly deepened. After a long kiss that had Nick running his claws down Judy's ears, causing her to moan into the kiss and grip his chest fur. Nick himself groaning into the kiss himself when one of her paws dug into the fur of his neck, her short claws finding that secret spot that she seemed to know about by instinct.
They separated for air, both smiling brightly, Nick sighed. "Seriously Fluff. For me, this is heaven. I have my bun, with buns in the oven, kisses like that to wake up with, and blueberry infused coffee. I have to be the luckiest fox on the planet."
Getting up, Judy flicked her tail at him, grinning as he sat transfixed by it. She reached over and pulled his muzzle up, giving him a peck on the tip of his nose. "I could dispute that I'm the luckiest bunny on the planet. As I have my own sexy fox husband, who loves me unconditionally, and whose kits I have been blessed to carry. Now come on Slick. I've got the batter whipped up for you and some sausages in the oven."
Nick gave her butt a gentle tap, letting his claws prick her just enough to feel, and grinning like the fabled Cheshire cat. "Mmm... That sounds good."
Judy squeaked, then turned and gave him a swat on the chest. "Dirty minded fox. Come on. I have a few ideas on how I can make up for passing out on you last night while you were grooming me."
Stretching with another yawn again, Nick took a sip of his coffee and moaned. "Damn. This is almost as good as sex with you, but only almost."
Laughing, Judy left the room, pausing at the door to look back at him over her shoulder, flicking her tail again. Nick watched her, then nipped the air in her direction causing her to giggle before she disappeared from sight. Leaning back for a moment and another sip of his coffee. "Yep. Luckiest fox, ever." Munching one of the blueberries that had been floating in his coffee.
A few minutes later he walked towards their eat-in kitchen, following the smell of coffee and chicken sausages. He found a plate of them on the table; Judy looking at her phone and nibbling one of the sausages. Laughing, he topped up his coffee, adding a few new blueberries to it, and started the burner on the stove, the pan for the pancakes already in place. "New craving love?" Pulling the small bowl of mix out of the fridge.
Shaking her head. "Nah. I've been stealing one or two of these from you for almost a year. They were, before I got pregnant, the only chicken thing I could stand. I like the spices used to flavor them, so I suppose that helped make the difference."
Measuring out several small cakes onto the pan, he chuckles. "I knew that, just hadn't actually seen you eating one. I guess you're usually finished by the time I managed to drag my tail out of bed."
"Usually." Turning, Judy sees that, as she was, he hadn't bothered with any clothes and smiled as she watched his tail sway slowly over his ass. "Damn! Now that's a view."
Chuckling as he tended his cooking, Nick let his tail swish wider and a bit slower. "You like that, do you?"
"Mmmhmm..." Giving him a hungry look. "I could soooo bite that ass."
"Better not, I might bite back."
"Promises. Promises." Both laughed as he flipped the pancakes and turned his attention back to them.
They had taken to not wearing clothes around the house unless it was really cold, or they had company. Something that had created a few minutes of embarrassment when a few of Judy's siblings had visited and slept on the pull-out couch for the night. Judy had woken early and was in the kitchen, totally forgetting about their guests. When her brother had come in surprising her, she had ended up hiding behind one of the lower cupboard doors, yelling for Nick to bring her robe.
Judy had actually gotten quite comfortable with nakedness, to the point that she and Nick had actually become members of Mystic Springs Oasis. They didn't go often, their schedules just didn't line up to let them go, but they did enjoy it when they did, and made up for it at home. One of their favorite things to do was the couples massage. After a long week on the job, it was an indulgence they both felt more than justified in.
Sitting down at the table next to Judy, he served her a few pancakes, the rest staying on the plate for himself. Blueberry syrup for him and maple for her was poured, and they enjoyed a quiet breakfast, Judy still engrossed with her phone.
"So, Fluff. New game, bad news, another Hopps wedding?"
Chuckling, Judy put her phone down. "God no, I learned my lesson with Candy Crush, it really is the electronic equivalent of crack cocaine. Nothing from my alerts, news wise. Not that I was looking. Per you and the doctor, I'm trying to keep my stress low, so minimal news for me. Worrying about you out on the beat is bad enough. At least I know Mike has your back. As for Hopps weddings... When isn't there a wedding going on? It's research. The only cougar I ever knew was Bobby, who I actually ran into at Therus where he was applying for a job."
"Bobby, as in your friend from school?"
"The same."
"The one you kissed."
Blushing, Judy swatted at him halfheartedly. "Yeah, that Bobby."
"The gay musician that you had a hopeless crush on?"
Judy gave Nick a solid punch to the shoulder. "Yes, that Bobby. Jerk. He looks good. Just moved to Zootopia from New Yak. Still working on his music career. If he's improved, I may just have to introduce him to Maria."
Nick laughed and rubbed his shoulder. "Ouch! That's fox abuse, rabbit. Maria is always looking for new artists to support. So what's the research then?"
"He's the only cougar I've ever known, and it isn't like we talked about his culture much, or at all, it was Bunnyburrow, after all."
"Ah! And you want to avoid any missteps or maybe find a form for the apology. I've known a few, and cats don't have forms the way canines, and especially not foxes and rabbits do. Those they do have a pretty simple."
"So I've found, but I did find something that I think will work." Picking up her phone and showing it to him.
Nick looked over the details and watched the short video which showed body position from multiple angles, as well as the simple words associated with it. "This might work. You'll obviously have to adjust it, being a rabbit, but I think the intent will still be there. As long as she knows the form at all."
"That one showed up in the majority of my searches. All the sites said it is a common form, still used in 90% of families, so with any luck I won't end up insulting her or looking like a complete idiot."
Giving her a kiss on the top of her head. "Not possible, and you'll be fine. Just don't over-think it. It happened twice, you realized that there was a problem, and you're addressing it so she knows. Though I expect that she will be a bit confused initially. I know you can get through it. You're my sly bunny. You got this."
Judy leaned her head against his shoulder, pancakes mostly finished. "Thanks Nick... I sure hope so. I texted Fin. Both she and Bobby work today, and start their shifts in two hours. I'm going to put my purchases away while you finish up." Hopping off her chair carefully, Nick holding out a paw to help steady her.
An hour and a half later they were both fully groomed, dressed, glowing from a post-orgasmic high, the kitchen was cleaned, and all Judy's purchases were stowed away. The bags in the trash, or stored for re-use, such as the shinny red one with no logo they could use for a holiday gift. They left the apartment and headed to their car, expecting to get there a few minutes after Erin and Bobby started their shifts.
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Pulling into the parking lot, Nick and Judy got out of the car, seeing Joan sitting at the counter. Nick laughed as he helped Judy out of the car. "Told you she camped here."
"I'd like to dispute that, but it is in fact believable."
They walked in and Erin beamed down at them. "Hey guys! Good to see you. Breakfast this morning?"
Judy refused to look up, seeing that Erin was in another short skirt as they approached, and shorts where not readily visible like the first day. "Hey Erin. Just me for breakfast." Looking up to Nick beside her. "Nick. Why don't you go grab Joan and get started. See you around noon for lunch?"
Nick looked down, giving Judy a kiss. "Okay. I'll see if I can't delay her for at least a few minutes for you."
"Thanks Nick." Judy turned to face, but not look up at Erin. "Hey Erin, can I talk to you a second. Over there." Pointing to a section where there were stairs for smaller mammals to reach the counter, and no one in the restaurant. It was actually only Joan, a wolf in a far booth, and them at that moment.
Erin nodded, keeping her smile, but worry passing across her eyes at what was wrong with the strange, meat eating rabbit. "Sure." Turning she walked over, Judy carefully negotiating and getting up onto the counter.
On the counter Judy looked up at Erin and gave her a nervous smile. "Erin. I need to offer you an apology and let you know about something you may not realize." Shifting her body into the apology form she had looked up. Ears down, on one knee, head to the side exposing her neck with that shoulder dropped.
Erin watched the rabbit and gasped when she realized what Judy was doing. Reaching out a shaking paw, claws extended, she placed it on Judy's exposed neck, then retracted her claws. Taking a shaky breath she withdrew her paw. "I accept your apology for an unknown slight. Please tell me what it is you have done that we may both move past it."
Judy stood up straight, her ears falling back in embarrassment. "It was not intentional, but due to my height... I... I have a really nice view. A clear view... Uhm..." Shaking herself and taking a deep breath. "Okay. It isn't that I was offended by it, far from it. It was a very lovely view, if I'm being honest. You are very pretty, it's just that, well... I am not that mammal. I don't go around trying to see that and I doubt you realized that smaller mammals like me have a..."
Erin blushed, her ears folding back as she realized what Judy was talking about, bringing her paws to her face and covering it. "Oh my gods. You can see up my skirt because of your height."
Judy looked own, the blush in her cheeks clearly showing. "Yes. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to, but I do kinda swing that way, so it wasn't an unpleasant thing for me or anything, but..."
Erin laughed through her own embarrassment. "Oh gods. You caught yourself looking and felt guilty for it."
Judy nodded, shifting herself into the second half of the form, exposing the other side of her neck. "Please forgive my transgression."
Placing her paw, claws extended, over Judy's exposed neck again, she retracted her claws and removed it, Judy standing. "Judy. I forgive you. Thank you for bringing this to me."
Looking down, still blushing. "Again, I'm sorry, but also wanted to let you know that you are very attractive."
Smiling and blushing, Erin patted Judy on the shoulder. "No problem. You're very strange for a rabbit, and attractive in your own right, though I don't swing that way. Now, Bobby on the other hand..." Glancing towards the kitchen.
Judy laughed. "If you can pull that off, you'll be the first. He's very gay, unless he became Bi since we last spoke."
Erin groaned. "Damn. Always the super attractive ones. So, any suggestions for me on the other issue?"
"The first time, you were wearing shorts. The second time, not shorts, and that's when it hit me. The shorts were tight and a bit revealing, but not overly so. I'd recommend the shorts."
"Thank you. I'll do that. I really hadn't thought about the position someone so much shorter might have." Frowning and her brows furrowing. "Fin is shorter than you..."
Judy smiled at that. "Fin is also not going to have noticed. You're not a coyote or fox, he didn't even think to notice in order to let you know. Trust me, if he had, you would have known about it. You've met him."
Laughing, Erin leaned on the counter next to Judy, looking into the rest of the restaurant. "Yeah, I can see that. So, where did you learn that form? Not common for a non-cougar to know it, let alone a prey mammal, no matter how unusual their diets."
Judy moved to one of the stools at the bar. "I looked it up this morning in preparation to talking to you. Came early so I could talk to you. I'm supposed to meet Lizz here for breakfast."
"Well, I appreciate it, a lot. It shows the sincerity of your apology. Not that I would have doubted it, but it is an extra level of effort far too few bother with these days."
"I arrest people who do that deliberately, as well as deal with this very issue. Usually it's a simple mistake, but sometimes it isn't. We try to bridge the gap and remind the taller mammal that there are a lot of us much smaller. Still, there are creepers out there."
"Well, you're clearly not. As embarrassing as this is, for both of us, I appreciate it. It is a reminder I needed. I moved here from Salt Flats, and there are very few mammals smaller than a coyote there. Just never something I needed to think about."
Judy nodded. "That makes sense. I'm glad I could bring this to your attention then, before it was something far more embarrassing."
Erin nodded. "I can just imagine how bad it could be. I'm sure you have stories."
Judy chuckled. "Oh yes. Smaller mammals moritified, grossed out, screaming, etc... The larger mammal mortified themselves, not realizing what is going on, and then when they do..."
"Oh yeah, I can suddenly imagine. I'm actually glad it was you then. A lot of other mammals wouldn't have said anything."
Bobby stepped out of the kitchen and smiled upon seeing Judy. "Judy! Good to see you again."
Judy's face fell, giving Bobby a half lidded glare. "Bobby... I see you got the job."
Eyes going wide and putting his hands up in surrender. "I swear, I didn't give away anything too embarrassing, I swear!"
Judy's expression shifting in an instant, making him blink, Judy grinned. "Oh, I know you didn't. There are plenty of stories I have too."
Ears folding back, Bobby took a step back. "Oh. I know. So, what are you doing here?"
"Just offering an apology to Erin here, and meeting Lizz, that tiger I was here with before, for breakfast."
Erin smiled. "Yeah, she learned the common apology form, just so she could."
Bobby chuckled. "That sounds like Judy alright. Never half way, right?"
Judy smiled. "Nope. Never going to let me live that down, are you."
"What kind of friend would I be if I did?"
"Not a very good one. We should catch up some time. I can introduce you to my mate, Nick."
Pausing, Bobby cocked his head. "Wait, isn't your partner named Nick? He's a fox, right?"
Grinning brightly at Bobby, Judy nodded. "Uh huh..."
Bobby frowned for a second before realization came over his face. "You're... You're mate is a fox, and you're pregnant‽"
Judy let her mask slip on, the grin becoming a half lidded, knowing smirk. "Yes, and yes. That isn't a problem, is it Robert?"
Hearing his proper name, Bobby's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "No! No no no no no no! No problems Judy. I'm just surprised. I mean, after Gideon, I was shocked that you hung out with me."
Proud of herself that her mask remained in place, Judy got back on the counter and advanced along it towards Bobby who backed up. "Oh? I suppose I could understand that. But you're sure there's no issue?"
His ears folding back. "Judy... We talked about that when I went to music college and you headed off to your school. I loved you, still do, but just as friends. You just don't have the right... equipment."
Her mask cracking as Judy sat down on the counter laughing. "Oh, man. I'm just teasing you Bobby. We're good. Now, can one of you help me down and over to a table so I can wait for Lizz to show. Preferably a table I'll be able to get back down from when I need to." Reaching into her purse, Judy pulls out and hands Bobby a getting coin.
Bobby accepted the coin, then reached over and picked Judy up, setting her on the floor. Judy looked up at him then Erin, eyes going wide and flinching away. "Sorry Erin..." Pointing her eyes at the floor as her ears turned pink and fell behind her. "That's a nice color on you."
Erin laughed and blushed herself. "Thank you Judy."
Bobby led Judy to another section of the restaurant, pulling a tall chair with a set of stairs over to the table. Judy climbed them up and down twice. "Thank you Bobby, perfect."
"No problem. Now, what's with the coin?"
Judy grinned up at him mischievously. "Ask a fox."
"Hmm... I was asking you. Anyway..." Looking over to the blushing Erin then back at Judy. "So, did you ever tell Sharla?"
"No. And that is one thing that never needs to be known beyond the two of us, and Nick. It was a foolish crush of a kid who didn't know any better. Maybe someday I'll tell her I had a crush on her, but I had a crush on you too."
"Oh, that I know. So, what can I get you?"
"Just a fox sized tea. Do you have the spiced blueberry and raspberry?"
"We do. You're waiting for someone?"
"Yeah, the Tiger I was with when you were here applying for the job."
"Cool. Let me grab that for you."
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A few moments later, a tea is set down in front of Judy, Bobby sliding into the seat across from her setting a soda of his own down. "So... How have you been?"
"Arn't you working?"
"Well, yes, but there is no one here right now accept Bob, he's already got his food, Fin isn't due in until just before lunch, and since you only ordered the tea, there's nothing to cook."
Judy smiled up at Bobby. "Fair enough. What do you want to know? I mean, I can guess. We haven't really seen each other since we both left for college."
Leaning back he sighs and takes a drink. "Oh, wow. Where to start? You went to college, managed to somehow time things for the MII to go into effect so you could actually get into the police force. It is almost as if you unconsciously knew that was coming. You always just knew you were going to be a cop, like there was never any doubt. Then you solve on of the biggest cases in Zootopian history, taking down a mayor in the process; smear every predator on the planet; make a name for yourself nearly getting killed, on camera, a dozen times during the protests; then vanish for several months and are assumed dead by the press. After that, you suddenly reappear, being carried out of the Zootopia Natural History Museum by a fox of all mammals, with another mayor being led away from the same scene in cuffs.
Sure, the photos and video are not great quality, but I know, or knew you. The way you were holding onto him... You were anything but uncomfortable, that much I am sure of. Suddenly it comes out that you, with the help of that fox, blew the lid off of one of the biggest domestic terror plots, ever. This leads to you getting credit for jailing a second mayor as the leader of the conspiracy, and unless I miss my guess; you talked that fox into first becoming the first fox in the ZPD to match your first bunny. I think you are both the only ones, but at some point you seduce said fox, who is your partner on the force, and get knocked up by him. Judging from the ring on your finger, and the scar I see on your shoulder, you're husband and mate in all possible ways. That's not to mention the dozens of other times I have seen you on the news, and that was all the way in New Yak, so gods only knows what it's been like here. Did I miss anything?"
Judy laughed with a warm smile. "No, that's a pretty good summary. Sounds a lot like my Wiki page."
"That's where I read most of it. Tried to summarize, as not all of the things listed are corroborated with news accounts."
"Like what?"
"Like the idea that you were a vigilante. I particularly love the claim that the pop singer Gazelle was your partner in vigilantism. I remember prom well enough, and the video's and comments make some good points, but I find it hard to believe that you would end up as a vigilante."
Judy had brought her mask up in full, keeping a pleasant smile on her face as she panicked just a little. "Oh, yeah. That would be funny."
"I have to say it is strangely both in and out of character for you. But all that silliness aside. How the hell did that all actually go down? The press reports are fantastical, the stuff on Wiki and other sites boarders on the absurd in some cases. So tell me how it actually went down. How you took down mayors and politicians, and caught yourself a fox."
"Oh, is that all? Well, I can't give you all the details, for obvious reasons, and less obvious reasons, but I'll give you the abridged, friends and family version."
"I can live with that."
Smiling warmly, Judy took a long sip of her tea. "So, it all started on my fourth day on the job. I was Valedictorian of my class, and I earned it against lions and tigers and bears. Oh my! Yet, I was just a tiny, cute little bunny, so that's all they saw, all the chief of police saw, so I got parking duty. Thing is, I now know that there were reasons for that, most of them bad reasons, but a least one that was legitimate, if infuriating when I learned about it later."
"What was that?"
"Simply. No one would partner with me, because I was in their eyes a political stunt, a token rabbit put on the police force to make the first mayor I put behind bars look good. I was just going to get myself killed, stepped on, or hurt, and then whoever I was partnered with would get pilloried for it. There was plenty of talk that I had been given a boost to make Valedictorian, cheating on my behalf for a political stunt. Without a partner, with no training officer to teach me the ropes of being on the beat, parking duty was the only thing I could do."
"Oh, damn."
"Like I said, infuriating after the fact. I understand it. It wasn't fair to me, but it is what it was at the time. So, I'm on parking duty and this florist gets my attention. An actual thief for me to chase down! I was thrilled. Until I got called into the chiefs office..."
(Insert the movie here as Judy's flashback, minus things like threatening Duke with being Iced, and other details of that nature that Judy would gloss over.)
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Earlier that morning a the Wolfeyer home.
Mike woke and smiled as he blinked his eyes open and found himself pressed into Lizz's chest. Taking a deep breath of her scent, he sighed in contentment. He woke almost every morning this way and was convinced it was the best way to wake ever invented. A few quick scratches to the right spots and Lizz released him, grumbling in her sleep.
Once standing next to the bed he grinned down at his tiger. She was twisted at her chest, shoulders flat to the bed, belly pointed towards his side, and legs pointed in odd directions. "Could you be any more cliche? Even pregnant you manage to sleep in the weirdest positions." Shaking his head, he headed off to make a small breakfast, knowing she was having a full breakfast with Judy later that morning.
Pulling out the grill pan, he started cooking up a few chicken and cricket sausages, tail wagging happily. Thinking about the past few days as he worked, Mike chuckled at the absurdity of it all. Their closest friends on the force were not only a couple, but were former vigilantes. That by itself defied belief. That there were at least two other inter couples at the precinct, which suggested others they didn't even know about. Amazing. That he and Lizz were no longer hiding, no longer afraid to be open about their relationship... Wonderful, and he felt lighter than he had in a very long time, a happy grin permanently attaching itself to his muzzle.
Deciding to treat his mate, Mike pulled out the strawberries, found a few good ones for her and put them on a plate, neatly trimmed and sliced. The rest, sadly, went into the trash, and he added them to the shopping list on his phone. Pulling the sausages off the pan and onto the plate, he turned off the heat. Pulling toast from the toaster and slathering it with butter, he poured two large glasses of orange juice, and headed back to their bedroom.
Standing in the doorway, Mike watched as Lizz stretched with a yawn and blinked at him. Walking towards the bed. "Morning my love, did you rest well?"
Yawning again, Lizz sat up and lid back to lean against the head of the bed. "I did, but I always do when I have my snuggle wolf to snuggle." Reaching out and stroking his arm affectionately.
"I'm the lucky one, getting to wake up wrapped up in tiger." Kissing her on the side of her muzzle, he set her juice on her night-stand, then stepped around to his side. Setting his juice down on his night-stand, he sat next to her on the bed, offering a fork and holding out the plate. "I just made a few because I know you are meeting Judy this morning."
Smiling and stabbing one of the sausages. "No, this is perfect. Just a little something to get me to breakfast." Glancing over at the clock on her night-stand. "Which is in about two hours. So, you're meeting up with Nick and Joan?" She then looked back and the plate and noticed the neatly sliced strawberries. "Oh, Mike. You spoil me." Snatching several slices with a claw and slipping the sweat and tart fruit in her mouth with a moan. "Mmmm..."
Giving Lizz a playful smirk, Mike stabbed a sausage of his own. "I though that was in the job description when I became you mate? I guess I'll have to check the manual again. As for Nick and Joan, they're hitting some of the lower value things first, so I will drop you off and then meet up with then at their third of fourth stop. I just need to text Nick when we get to Therus to know where to meet them."
"Great. It'll be good for Nick and Judy to know what the actual value of their stuff is. I'm still coming to grips with everything. There has just been so much."
"I agree." Munching a bite of his own sausage.
Lizz looked at the sausage on her fork, her third, and sighed, her voice going pensive and unsure. "Mike..."
Mike grinned, knowing the tone of her voice, the way her whiskers twitched and ears flicked. "Yes, it all happened. Our friends were vigilantes with more arrests already to their names before they joined the force, if under their vigilante identity, than many cops get in a career. We got to meet Gazelle herself, have dinner with her and an honest to the gods billionaire, and were invited to possibly sing on a charity album. Gazelle, or Maria as we can now call her, also happens to be Judy Hopps college roommate and was also a vigilante at one point, as was Nick freaking Wilde of all mammals."
"Okay. So yeah, it's real then. We're out to Bogo, and he isn't going to separate us so long as we can keep it professional on the job."
"After what happened after Bogo, we're out to the entire precinct. You haven't been there, but the response has been mostly supportive. There have been a few issues, but given what Wilde and Hopps have been up to, it really isn't that bad. A few glares and looks."
"What do you mean what Hopps and Wilde are up to?"
"Oh yeah. They're the reason Herd and Metri got fired. They were part of an anti-inter-speices hate group. It was that group that you were on the SWAT raid that saved Bill. Wilde hasn't told me much, and I don't know why they were holding Bill, but from what I picked up, it is bad. Not was. Is!"
"Right... Judy has mentioned some things as well. It's really bad, and they're working to go over all the cases. She said that we, you and I, have been cleared. They're talking about asking Bogo to create a task force when she gets back from leave."
"That's what Nick said. Wouldn't put it past them to be telling us this stuff to try and feel us out."
"I agree. Would you want to work on it? We're talking some bad stuff, and looking at mammals that have been pushed into some really bad spots because of what happened. It would mean being put in the position of arresting fellow cops."
"Lizz... Love. I watched Nick Wilde... Nick freaking Wilde... get so angry he smashed his paw on the steering wheel of the car before he got it under control. I think there are some that have died, been killed, or even took their own lives."
"I got the same feeling from Judy. They're still trying to find the subject of their last case before she went on leave."
"Yeah. Nick said he was framed for the murder of his mate, a deer I think. He was paroled just before they cleared him, so now they are just trying to find him before he ends up back in jail. Thing is, the poor mammal is homeless as far as they can tell, and can't get a shelter to let him stay because they don't bother to update their records often. Something that is terrible in it's own right."
"Judy said they were hoping that he would at least show up at his PO meeting."
Mike set the empty plate aside on his night stand. "Same with Nick, yet he still has us stopping at various shelters when we pass them so he can check and ask about the guy, and to force them to update their records. The way it sounds, there are a number of mammals that ended up back in jail because they ended up with few options. I can't imagine ending up in the position like that."
Lizz sighed. "Yeah. That's what I got from Judy." Finishing her sausage in one quick bite. "I think I would want to be on that task force though. On the balance, we would be helping mammals that were wronged by the system and by corrupt cops. Those cops that we would have to arrest, they're the kind that makes it so much harder for the rest of us. It makes my blood boil to think how these mammals got screwed over. I realize it could have been us, Nick and Judy. Maria and Jarvis. It was Carry and Bill, because that was the case that started things."
Mike nodded sadly. "I agree. Don't forget Erik and Jeff. That one caught me off-guard. They're so happy together." Glancing at the time. "Well, we should get ready."
Lizz nodded. "Or even your brother and Elli... I'm going to take a shower." Pulling Mike into a quickly deepened kiss.
A short time, and a tiger thoroughly brushed and groomed by her mate later, they headed out.
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A/N \\\ Is there more to come? Yes... Yes there is. I'm editing away on this and my original works. Muse is even giving me some time to not just edit, but work on some original WIPs, finally! That's going to slow down updates here, but there is still plenty coming.
Keep the reviews and comments coming, it's making Muse happy, which lets me work on this and other things. And also remember, if you see issues, misspellings, etc... Let me know in PM, I'm under no illusion of being perfect and want to fix those things I miss.
If you are truly enjoying this, you can check out my original work by popping over to my blog, Scribblings. You can link to it here: dcballard dot com and then select Scribblings Blog.