Two against the world
Episode 1 "Bright time's ahead"The warming morning sun peek'd trough the dark green curtains of quiet apartment, making it's way slowly to the bed. The red furred fox felt the warmth on his face nowand slowly opened his left eye. His gaze slowly shifted towards the nightstand, where his alarm clock would be standing like every morning ever. He could faintly makethe numbers with his morning state of mind, seeing numbers set to ten minutes over seven. The thought of flopping to his right side and keeping on sleeping was halfwaytrough the process, until it all hit him at once. He open'd his eye's quickly and stared at the clock again. It all came to his mind as he kept staring his nightstand.A small and genuine smile crept on his muzzle as he was now sure of it. He had to say the word's aloud to just to convince himself that they were true."My first day. As a police officer."Nick felt the heartwarming burst of pride, as his memory of yesterdays graduation came to him. Pride. Long forgotten emotion, hitting him like a truck as the image ofSmiling Judy placing the badge to his chest came to him. Nick lifted his gaze slowly from his paws to neatly clean uniform waitinghim from the hangar on the doorknob. The feeling was settling in as he sat on the side of his bed and smiled by himself. He had so much to thank to his dearfriend from believing in him. Those lavender eye's always with their joyful attitude towards life. He knew that he would had never been in this situation without her.He almost felt a small tear coming to him as he remembered his Mother watching him with all the pride in the world from the crowd. Just half a year ago he was popsiclehustler, among other criminal activity. Person with no lifelong goal's or directions. Now he was something he would have never even dreamed of. The training in itselfhad been quite hard. The first weeks had been complete torture to his body. He had always been so clever with his hustles, that chance of getting caught were small.So there was never real opportunity to even run away from the law on the alleyways, so from the side of physical fitness he had always been quite lacking. Eventhe running at time when they had to escape from savage limo driver at the rain forest district, was largest workout he had ran in years.He took all the physical pain day after day, until it came to point that it was not so bad anymore. He also had someone counting on him all this time.Nick wanted to believe in himself too. Judy had told him that he would make difference. He could be so much more with his wit's and cunning skills with animals thanusing them for bad purposes. Every mammal was equal
and had so much more inside them than what racist and stereotypical point's of view's gave away.Prejudice was something that you could grow out of. This was the way Judy saw Zootopia and life in general. Nick knew deep down that it was something Judy could nevercompletely change even if she took it as her lifelong goal. There was always going to be bad mammals and prejudice no matter what. If there were more mammals likeher, the world would not be such a bad place. One can always dream of perfect Zootopia but not all dreams come true. Still, Judy had made something to this citythat no one in it's history had done for a long time. She had brought hope. Idealism. The promises for a better future. A bunny that came from farm with fire in her chest to makea better world. They funniest thing was that she had somewhat succeeded. She was twenty four year's old and already after a half of year in the force and she wasone of the most famous mammals that ever live'd. Life can be full of surprises.He still remembered the hassle after the Bellwether's case was closed.Judy had been bombed for the following day's with interviews and newspaper's and phonecalls from her parent's like there was no tomorrow. She was very happy with theoutcome of finally letting her opinions and ideas to make Zootopia better place to be known to public, but the stress was also killing her. Nick was alwaysthere to back her up in the first interviews and speech rally's but after first week of the chaos, he had decided that the faster he would pass the academy,the faster he could be there on her side to help her even more.He still remembered how overwhelming it was to see himself on the news, on tv and the paper's, to be standing next to Judywith that smug grin of his with always title's like "The two heroes of Zootopia" and "The fox and the bunny changing the future" "The capturers of Bellwetherand solvers of the nighthowler case" and such. Judy had always been the one convincing to everyone and especially the press, that they did it together and it could have not beensolved without Nick too. Respecting Judy's word the mammals believed her but there were also many doubting it to be really true. Foxes were not look'd in very good way in the society,so looking now one as a hero was weird and something to suspect.Nick had gotten used to this and told Judy many times that she did not have to mention him as often as she did.In Nick's opinion, Judy did so much more than him in the case. He was basically there to just bully her trough half way of it. Judy did not see it that way though, andit made him feel kind of more of a jerk. She simply was sometimes too good person for her own good. The memory crept on him of two days after joining the academy.The memory that warmed his mind time to time.
It was about week after the Bellwether case, when he decided it was time to put words in action and start the ZPD trainingright away. He had only spent two days under the whip of the polar bear's orders. It was Thursday evening. ________________________AT THE ZPD TRAINING ACADEMY/ SIX MONTHS AGO / 09:00 PM________________________He had been on such a rough day with his fitness, that he simply felt like dying on the bunk in the dark room. Every muscle in his body hurt like hell.How on earth had Judy gone trough this made Nick's head spin. As he stared the bottom of the upper bunk he felt a small knock on the door, asking for entering.The bright light from the hallway made it's way to the bunk room as Judy's gaze scanned the room, not really seeing so well in the dark. The small careful voice ask'd."Nick?"The red fox felt his heart jump and he quickly sat up and turned the light switch of his nightstand on and he saw Judy in the doorway just a bit away from him."Nick!"Judy joyfully yelped and ran to hug Nick who was sitting on his bed. Nick just chuckled with surprise as the bunny closed her eyes and wrapped her paw's around him.Nick wondered how long it would take Judy to realize that he had no shirt on. Did not bother him though. He was always happy to see her."Carrooooots, what do i owe the pleasure tonight?" Nick smiled as Judy lifted her gaze to his and playful smile came to her as she wagged her small tail."Well i had to see with my own eye's that you really made your way here like you promised me partner. Had to make sure you were not out in the street's with Finnickyou rascal." Judy joked with smug smile with her eyelid's down.Nick put his hand on his chest and gasped like he had been insulted."The nerve! How dare you to assume such thing's from me, just so you know, i am the best of my class here!""Pfffttt, in two days? You are not slick as you think Nick, you know?""Hmmm is that so? Sly fox like me has a police bunny wrapped around him like a magnetand she has not even noticed that she's been leaning against his bare sexyyyy furrr all this time..." Nick tried not to burst to laugh as the realization hit Judyas she look'd his bare chest and jumped back from the hold, her ear's now so red that she could well be a tomato."I- Im so sorry Nick, i didn't notice!" She mumbled in panic. Nick was enjoying this way too much."Now now, don't be so alarmed, i know that i am most attractive mammal that ever live'd and it is hard to resist someone like me, so ill give it a pass.""... You are such a..." Even with her
embarrassment she had hard time not to laugh. Nick always made her feel like teenager and secret part of her loved it."Hmmmmmmm? Handsome fox?" Nick leaned in with that over confident smile of his and Judy raised her eye's from behind her paw's and stared Nick who's face was inches away from her's."A really modest one." Judy snickered."I do my best Whiskers. It comes from the heart.""I bet it does."They both just smiled there for a while until couple of second's had passed and Judy took a long breath and started."So! How do you like the place?""It's fine i suppose. The bed's could be better though. This is like sleeping on a damn stone. How on earth did you sleep on this?" Nick said with actually genuine annoyance."You have to snatch as many blankets as you can and stack like couple of them top on top and then it's way more cozy. End of the hall has the room for bed equipment,pillows and such. If you ask nicely, they hand out couple of those if it helps you sleep." Judy answered clearly from experience. She made her way to sit on the bed next to Nick."Well that never crossed my mind... Clever Bunny." Nick said as ha gazed his bed."Dumb fox." Judy said with smile as he kept gazing on Nick's bare chest while Nick was looking other way, probably figuring out the best way to make his bed comfortable.Judy felt a bit of blush coming back as she stared. She had never seen Nick without his shirt on and part of her was weirdly enough, quite keen on looking at him like that.He was pretty lean and all but the fur pattern is what made his fur look so-""Krhm. I can put a shirt on if i am distracting you that much Fluff." Nick cleared his throat as he stared Judy with smug grin of his.Judy once again felt her face warm up and she shifted her face to the windows and away from that alluring gaze of his. Stupid fox."I-i was j-just wondering that... Would it be okay if i umm... I.." Judy had hard time trying to squeeze the words out and was struggling a bit.Nick was seeing that this was something really important to Judy, so he put aside his teasing for now and just listen'd."Since we solved the case together we ummm.. We have become quite good friend's and all... Haven't we?"Judy was clearly trying to be very careful with her words and now had Nick's full attention on her."Indeed we are Carrot's." Nick assured her with genuine smile and felt his chest warm as Judy stared him back with those friendly lavender eye's, clearly very happy from Nick's words.Judy now hopped from the bedside and strolled in front of Nick with less tension than before in her tone."So, i was
wondering that would you be okay if i would visit you like twice a week all the way until your graduation? I mean i-if it's not any trouble, i wouldalways just come by to see how my future partner in law is doing with his training and all... i could always come by after work like... Tuesdays and Friday's?We could maybe play card's or something and i can always give you tip's with your training and such.... If you don't... Mind.. th-"The bunny was now mumbling and looking at her feet. She could not see that Nick had the largest smile ever on him. He was on verge of getting a bit emotional but held back.Living to his word's. "Never let them see that they get to you." Ok maybe when it came to Judy it was quite hard. He just had to say it."Judy." Nick said warmly.Every time Nick used her real name it made her hearth burst. She knew that when that happened, Nick was serious about something. She carefully lifted her gaze from her feet to Nick.She could swear that his expression was quite happy and he had something in his eye's that she had not seen before."If you really mean it Judy. I can already tell that it's going to be quite a boring and long six months if i don't have my clever bunny to help my mindset here. Maybe you could even bribe thatslaver polar bear lady to go easier on me. She really like's torturing me. And you could always smuggle some sweet's here since they don't have vending machines... You could maybe suggest about adding some of those,since you are public hero bunny and everything."Judy beamed with smile as she saw right trough his jokes and that he was genuinely very happy for Judy wanting to visit him regularly."Har har, you can dream Nick. Besides i am not the only one who deserves the credit here. How many times have i- ""Yeeees yes Fluff, you have made it clear to the tv stations and news that i was the major help in the investigation but let's be clear here. You would have solved it anyway. Even without me." Nick said and meant it.Judy was quiet for a while and tried to find something from his expression. After a moment she look'd down."Nick if you would had not defended me when Chief Bogo wanted to take my badge, the case would had never got solved at all. It was your idea to look at the cameras for the car.You are the one who saved the evidence from the train and you saved me when i hurt my leg. So stop acting like you did not do anything to help. I would not probably be alive without you.How can you not remember all this? It all happened a bit over week ago. You deserve the credit just as much as i do Nick. So stop acting like i am the hero here." Judy quietly said."Carrots i...""You really can't take compliments can't you Nick? It's simple. Just
accept that we solved it together. fifty fifty. No more or less. Right partner?""...Fine." Nick said feeling a bit defeated but still smiled. He just took it too much on himself that he had slowed the investigation on purpose and been kind of a dick to her trough the whole thing.Still he saw her point on things. He indeed had saved her life more or less. Just like she had done for him. It had been the craziest week of his whole life."Good. Now that we got that out of the way... I have surprise to you!" Judy's mood turned from serious to happy really fast and her tail wiggled fast as drum.Judy was trying to unload her bag and show something to him. Just as she pulled the zipper of the bag open from her pink back bag, Nick could not resist.He put on his smug grin and spoke softly."You know that when you are all excited about something you are really cute." Judy's happy dance stopped immediately. She slowly pulled the zipper closed again."What did you just say?" Judy tried to sound angry but she was still smiling, which just encouraged Nick to keep going with his teasing."I was telling that when you bounce like that you look so adorable, fluffy cuddly cute and-" His sentence was stopped from the middle as Judy had grabbed a pillow from nearby bunk bed and threw it straight in his face. Nick just laughed and kept going."Is this the way to treat the great almighty hero of Zootopia Whiskers? Tsk tsk. You could get arrested for thing's like that.""I swear to god Nick-"Nick just snickered and yelled."Plus you throw like a bunny! Some things never change-"Judy could not contain her laugh anymore and jumped on full charge to fight the laughing Nick."I swear Nick, i will use my dad's fox spray if you don't swipe that stupid smirk off your face right now!" "I'll take that bluff Carrots, you don't have the gut's you are way too kind to do something like that.""Ill show you kind you dumb, teasing, shifty, no good YIP!-" Judy yelped as Nick grabbed her from her waist, stopping her fist swings against his pillow.He flipped her directly under him so that he was now on all fours on her small figure and grabbed both her hands gently against the mattress so she could not swing anymore.It took moment for her to realize that Nick was on top of him without shirt, keeping her on hold with his hands, his face inches away from her's with that trademark grin on."Hmmmm, did the fox get your tongue, or do you feel a bit helpless there Fluff? What kind of hero police officer loses to shifty fox like me? Not part of your skill set huh?"Judy was trying her best not to
blush but failed horribly as those emerald eye's pierced her with that playful gaze. He felt the situation so awkward but still so....weirdly exciting at the same time. It took Judy completely off guard as she tried to struggle with her mind with what to do or say. It was just Nick's usual teasinglike always, but it was they way he was looking at her that made her blush. She could be just imagining things. It just did not make any sense.She was a bunny and Nick was a fox. Natural enemies. When she had made her speeches about acceptance and fight against prejudice... She had never paid close attentionto public views about subjects like... This. Is it considered bad if she really would like him that way?She had felt something weird for Nick ever since that ride they had together when Nick had opened up to her about the junior scouts.Some evenings the idea had occurred to her mind. And it drove her crazy. She had known Nick only for a month. In such a short time they had been trough so much together.They had become best friend's. In such a short time they had driven trough emotional roller-coaster. She liked him as more than a friend. There was no denying that anymore. And it scared her so much. She trusted Nick much as she trusted her parents. And that was saying a lot. So worst thing about Nick teasing her like this...Was that she liked it more than she cared to even admit herself. She had never had a boyfriend. She had never even.... Had sex with anyone. What was considered kind of weirdamong bunnies in general. All these feelings that she had forgotten since high school, were just starting to resurface always when she was around this fox.What on earth would Nick think if she knew these weird feelings about him? Would he be disgusted? Say it's not normal? Would he distance himself away from me?...Judy.. she is straight on top of you right now, flirting like last day on earth. What do you think? He certainly does not look nearly as uncomfortable as you right now.Now she was fighting against her reasonable sense and emotions. Stupid confusing fox. She wanted him to kiss her so badly. She realized that she had zoned out for a coupleof while and just stared him back like an idiot. She opened her mouth and woke up from her thoughts. "You.. You are so...""Hmmmmmm? What's that?"Judy straightened her thoughts and moved her legs freely until there was loud metallic sound from behind Nick."....Handcuffed." Judy finished."Kinky. Wait. What?"Now it was Judy's turn to return the smug smile. Nick turned around to watch what had made the sound and Judy took the opportunity and escaped from Nick'spaws and hopped from the bed. She watched with innocent smile as Nick gazed his leg. It was locked
to the metal bar of his bunk bed."Carrots... Did you just do that with only your legs?!""Not so bad for a dumb and helpless bunny huh? That should teach you to behave. I think I'll leave you right there. Teaches you to call me cute." Judy said with her hustle pose."Well that was pretty impressive indeed Fluff. You are going to have to teach me that one sometime.""Hmmm we will see. If i uncuff you... Will you promise to behave yourself Nick?" Judy asked, trying to sound serious but Nick had that smirk on again."I can try... No promises though."Judy sighed and walked over to open the handcuffs with her key."That is probably the best i can get out of you." "What can i do? It's my nature.""... Your nature is to humiliate and make fun of me?" Judy mumbled with smile as she open'd the cuffs. There was sudden quietness in the room.Suddenly she felt Nick's paws gently grab her own's. She almost jumped from the touch. She lifted her gaze to watch Nick and saw him looking at herwith almost tender expression, with a bit of worry. Judy completely froze as he talk'd to her."Judy. I would never try to bully you, if that is what you mean. I could never do that to you. You are my best friend."Judy did not know how to answer to this. Nick was clearly serious about what he said. Suddenly his expression changed completely, like her gaze was something he tried to avoid."Sooooooo, you said you had a surprise for this fox?" Nick said with flirty tone.Judy woke up from the tension. The sudden change of mood and the question caught her a bit off guard. Then she remembered."Oh right! Wait till you see what i have!" Judy beamed and ran to open her back bag. She pulled out two small and yellow card looking objects.She practically hopped her way back to bed and laid one card on Nick's hand and waited for Nick's reaction as he started to read the card aloud."From Gazelle to two hero's of Zootopia, i grant VIP FRONT ROW PASSES TO GARDEN AVENUE CONCERT FRIDAY 10 PM SHOW"Judy squealed like a schoolgirl and started to jump around the room."How awesome is this Nick!? Even Our Chief will be there with Clawhouser! I have waited to be in her concert for so long! And it is really happening!""Am i excited? Yes. Yes i am. For You. You forget that i am pretty occupied at Friday. Physical torture. Lot of it. Sooo-""Well i would be lying if i said that i did not have a small chat with the higher figures about giving you a day off." Judy smiled to Nick who smiled back."It seems that the honorable hero is abusing her reputation after all... Sly
bunny.""Oh shush, i am not abusing anything Slick. There is difference between asking nicely and blackmailing.""Riiight. Ill keep that in mind Carrots.""Good.""Hey um...""Yeah?""...Thank you."Judy felt her chest tighten when those emerald pool's stared into her and she quietly answered."You are welcome Nick."The room was silent again and they just stared each other with smiles on their faces. Suddenly Judy's phone buzzed. She took it out and read the text message."Nick, i have to go to the train station. My parent's are finally coming to visit Zootopia and it means that i have rough days ahead of me." Judy smiled and rolled her eyes.Nick felt a bit sad that Judy had to leave already but he would see her again on tomorrow."Well you better get going then. Can't leave your parent's hanging. Some big predator might eat them after all.""That's not funny Nick.""Have you told them how i savagely tried to eat their precious daughter at the museum?" Nick asked with sly grin."No, and i intend not to. They would freak out. My father would probably start a fox hunting season.""Hmmm cute little balls of fluff chasing with pitchforks and shovels, wagging their small little tails.""You are horrible sometimes, you know that?" Judy asked but could not contain her laugh."I know."Once again the silence came. Judy felt like that she wanted to spend more time with Nick but clock was not on her side."Well i better get going then. See you in the concert at Friday! Don't be late." Judy teased like she was talking to a kit."Don't worry Carrots, i'll be there." Nick chuckled.Judy was making her way to the door and once she open'd it, she heard Nick clear his throat like he was about to say something.Nick was sitting on the edge of his bed and spoke with deep voice."Judy... I umm.. Have a good evening." Judy could swear that Nick's body language was telling her that Nick changed his choice of words in the last seconds.Or it could have been her imagination. She smiled nevertheless. "You too Nick.""Pffff, i wish. I bet that they wake us up in the middle of the night for a jogging trip or something.""You will get used to it.""....Wait are you actually telling me that they might do that?" Nick asked, looking genuinely concerned now.Judy just smiled while she shook her head and walked on the hallway, ready to close the door."See you at Friday Nick.""Friday it is, Carrots."They smiled and Judy closed the door and the room went quiet.He heard as her steps echoed on the hallway and eventually went away.Nick flopped on his bed and stared at the upper bunk again, deep in thought.After a while he felt determined and spoke out loud."I will do this for her. Little cardio won't kill you Wilde. After six months, it will all be worth it. I will be the first fox officer. You can do it."In his mind it was settled. He would not let Judy down.Nick rolled on his side and closed the nightstand lamp.After a while he fell to sleep with smile coming to his muzzle."Judy..."/PRESENT/Nick woke from his daydream by the buzz on his phone. How long had he been daydreaming on his bed?He took the phone and it was half past seven already! The message that made the buzz was from Judy."Nick, you better not be sleeping. Chief will kill you if you are late at first day on the force..."Nick chuckled and typed back."Don't worry i am on my way. It just takes quite a time to look myself from the mirror. I do look quite good in this uniform."The reply came almost right away."Pfft, figures. Just get yourself over here Slick, i can't wait to get started on our first day together!"Warm smile came on Nick as he replied."Don't worry Carrots, i'll be there shortly."After saying that, Nick walked over to the doorand started to put his uniform on. He then grabbed his keys and adjusted his tie a bit in front of the mirror.He hanged his aviators on his chest pocket and stood quiet there for a while. He took a deep breath.He did look quite good on his uniform. Blinking a few times he stared at his watch. twenty five minutes left.Good thing that he lived near the station. He once again spoke quietly as he made his way to the front door and opened it."Here goes. Ready to make the world better place."Nick chuckled and closed the door, whistling as he walked down the stairs and out to the streets of Zootopia.