Serendipity's Shadow
Rated T
Chapter 32
Tia watched from the shadows as Nick left Judy's room with a depressed face. She was still too scared to approach the fox especially when he appeared…moody. So, Tia instead made her way into Judy's room. If anything, she wanted to make sure her guardian was alright. Especially after having a confrontation with the Shadow.
Tia knocked on the door softly calling out to Judy.
"…Give me a minute." Judy called out to Tia before opening the door slowly.
Tia felt her heart sink as she studied Judy's face. She's seen that face before both on her friend's faces and her own reflected at her from the mirror. The face of a girl who just accepted her own broken heart.
"Can I come in?" Tia asked barely above a whisper.
Judy did nothing except nod and walked away from the door.
Tia followed Judy slowly as she closed the door softly. She watched as Judy sat on her bed trying to make herself as small as possible. Tia gave her a pitiful smile before setting herself across from Judy at the end of the bed.
"…Wanna talk about it?"
Judy shook her head no.
"Want to order ice cream and binge-watch dumb dramas?" Tia laughed making Judy smile.
"That sounds nice." Judy agreed with a smile.
Tia laughed giving Judy a playful shove. Which Judy gladly returned playfully.
"…I'm…" Judy paused taking a deep breath. "I'm pretty sure we are officially done."
Tia said nothing allowing Judy to form what happened in her own words.
"I know what I did was the right thing to do. But…that doesn't make it any easier. I really hate saying goodbye." Judy grabbed her pillow to throw her head into.
"I hate saying goodbye too."
"I wanna go back to being a little girl who was naïve about everything." Judy mumbled into her pillow.
"Don't we all honey." Tia laughed.
A moment of silence passed before Judy took a deep breath and sat up straight.
"I'm sorry I shouldn't be laying this on you. How-how are you doing?"
"Well, I'm doing pretty good. It certainly is one of the nicest places I've ever stayed at. And the room service is amazing."
"Only the best from ZPD's protection agency." Judy laughed.
"…You don't have to apologize to me, Judy. Not after the ringer, I have put you through in order to keep me alive."
"Well…that's what officers do."
Time passed slowly between the two. At some point, Tia did order ice cream for the two, much to Nick's annoyance. As they laid side by side on the bed surfing through channels while giggling over ice cream. That is until Judy paused on the news channel.
"The first day in the trial against Clifford Ermine has been pushed back a further three weeks. Ermine's attorney is making several arguments against the prosecution on the grounds of this case. Earlier today we spoke with Ermine-"
"And enough of that!" Tia exclaimed grabbing the remote from Judy's hand.
"Wait, no, TIA!" Judy yelled making a grab for the remote abandoning her ice cream.
"Nope!" Tia squealed as she viciously switched through the channels trying to keep out of Judy's reach.
"Tia!"
"What is going on in here?!" Nick barged into the room.
He was expecting to see them arguing. Not Judy reaching for the remote in the ferret's hand. While the ferret was laying on her back trying to keep Judy away with her feet. And two tubs of ice cream discarded off to the side of Judy's bed.
If Nick didn't know anymore better, he would have thought this was the beginning of a kinky dream.
"Do I even want to know?"
"…no"
"…nope"
The two girls answered him with blank faces.
Now I know how my mother felt when Gwen and I fought over the last slice of pie.
"Ignoring…" Nick studied the two girls again. "Whatever this is. You might want to switch on to the news channel. They are supposed to be reporting information on Quick Shot's case today."
Judy and Tia looked at Nick, then at each other, then back at Nick before collapsing into a fit of laughter.
Nick, as much as he loved the sound of Judy's laugh, was highly confused about when these two became girlfriends.
Eventually, Judy was able to snag the remote from Tia and immediately turned to the news channel.
"The ZPD's Chief Bogo has declared that he is confident in the evidence they have against Ermine. And has stated that this setback will not destroy the might of him and his officers."
"Big talk for a water buffalo." Nick mumbled.
Judy quickly shushed him as she watched the news while Tia tried to see if her ice cream was still edible.
"Even with Chief Bogo's confidence many are left to wonder will Ermine be allowed to walk free once again."
The news switched to a commercial about an expensive phone plan much to Judy's annoyance.
"Looks like I missed all the important stuff." Judy sent a glare towards Tia.
"I regret nothing."
Judy rolled her eyes trying to hide the fact that Tia had made her smile.
"We need a plan." Judy told Nick.
"I have a plan." Nick crossed his arms confidently. "You two stay here where you are safe and I go and order some pest control."
"What? No!" Judy proclaimed while Tia's fur stood up on end terrified by the Shadow's words.
"You got a better idea." Nick challenged.
"Yes. I do." Judy turned off the television as an annoying jiggle for bubblegum began to play. "Send me back out into the field and Tia stays here safe with you."
"WHAT?!"
"Not happening!"
Tia and Nick yelled staring at Judy with bewildered faces.
"Have you forgotten that you nearly lost your life last time you dealt with Quick Shot alone? And that you are still recovering from that encounter? You going out alone against him is a death wish."
Judy glared at Nick before speaking.
"No, Nick. I haven't forgotten that yes, I could have died. But I have a duty to uphold. I took an oath as an officer, and I made a promise to Tia that I would do whatever it takes to keep her safe."
"You dying will keep her safe? Please explain this logic to me Carrots."
"Well, first I'm not going to die cause you are going to keep me safe."
"Come again?"
"I'm confused as well." Tia meekly stated.
"Like I said. I have a plan and you...Mr. Zootopia's Shadow will make sure it won't get me killed."
"How?" Nick asked with a raised eyebrow.