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Chapter 11: Dance to remember

Summary:

The big showdown!

Chapter Text

Chapter 11 "Dance to remember"

...

The fox and the bunny had followed the polar bear already for a while among the crowds of mammals.

It was still part of the grand stage area, but far away from the place they hand entered.

In middle of following the huge mammal leading them to their destination, Judy quickly gave a couple of side looks at Nick. Even as Judy had tried to comfort him about meeting Mr Big again,

she could see how nervous he was. Only thing she was worried about was, how Big was going to react if they both would get caught with their wires. Maybe Big already knew. Or maybe not. However,

as these thoughts started to creep on Judy's mind, she started to feel a bit nervous too.

She had also completely forgot that Levron was probably there too. This might have been a rushed idea.

Just as she was about ask Nick if he was okay, they entered to the small open area near the middle exits,

clearly deserted from mammals, because everybody knew to give respected space to the known mammal.

Judy and Nick could already see a long sized wooden table, and familiar shrew family sitting on small seats on top of it, with couple of polar bears guarding him like always. Big was in middle of the conversation with his daughter as they approached his table carefully. Raymond stopped next to the bunny and the fox,

about one meter away from the table. Raymond cleared his throat respectfully, getting his boss's focus on the guest's next to him. Both shrews turned their gaze to the mammals before them, stopping their conversation right away, as large smile crept on their face.

"Judes oh my god, you look so beautiful!" Fru squealed in wonder as she saw her good friend.

"Thanks Fru, you too!" Bunny shot back happily.

"I must admit Judy my darling, you look stunning this evening." Mr big said with smile, like he was almost talking to another daughter.

"Thank you Gerald." Judy said back with respect and leaned closer to recieve kiss on her both cheeks from the shrew.

If anyone could have seen Nick's face now, it was even more stunned than it was when Judy was greeted as part of the shrew's the family last time.

She had used Mr Big's real name! Only his closest family was allowed to talk to him like that! Either Nick was dreaming,

or Judy really had not joked when she told about spending time with Mr Big's family. Nick closed his mouth shut quickly as Fru turned her gaze to him.

"Judy, you didn't tell that you were dating Wilde! You could have told me, i wouldn't have judged." Fru gave a bit hurt look to her friend.

The rabbits face turned red as hell and she spoke hastily.

"Nononono Fru you got it all wrong, Nick and i are just friends dancing! He just wanted to show me good time between friends and teach me to dance and stuff!"

"MMmm, for a friend you sure picked quite sexy dress to take your first dance lessons..." Fru shot playfully to her, making Judy roll her eyes.

"It was not my intent." She said shyly.

"She does look quite something, i admit." Nick said with warm smile as he look'd at the bunny next to him, making her turn her gaze away and blush a bit from all this attention. Nick could not see the odd look that Fru was giving him for a second, almost like inspecting him. Suddenly Big spoke.

"Nick, it is refreshing to see you after all this time." He stated bluntly.

"I-it is?" Nick asked uncertainly.

"Yes. I like your suit choice... If i remember correctly, that was the same vest suit you used the last time when you dined with my family." He said darkly.

"... I.." Nick look'd a bit scared for awhile, not knowing how to answer. Judy gave Big a tender side look, as if asking him to go easy on him.

The shrew sighed and spoke again with a bit friendlier tone.

"Nick, what is done, is done. I should not linger on these... memories that we share between each other. You are close to Judy. If she sees you in positive light,

maybe i should forget the past and see to the future. She has told good things about you. And you did help her to solve the case. For that you have my gratitude. I shall be generous. Cleaner table is better way to... Start things."

Nick was speechless for a while, wondering if it was a trick or something. But after a while he realized, that it was not.

"Thank you mister Big, thank you! I promise that i-"

"Yeah yeah boy, quit brown nosing me, ugh. Have some back bone. You are cop now like her."

"Dad!" Fru shot from between because of her father's manners.

The shrew just chuckled a bit.

"Nick, we are okay from now on. Just don't ever think about trying to sell me another rug again, or we continue from where we left."

"Got it." Nick answered with relief.

"Same goes to behavior for the bunny next to you. She is like one of my own. Disrespect her or get her in any trouble, you answer to me.

Understood Nick?" At this point the shrew just tried to play a game of power with the fox a bit, but it did not mean that he didn't entirely mean what he said.

Nick's expression came from relief to a whole different mood.

"... I would never do anything bad for her. So you can stop talking about such things right away. Understood?"

He shot back in sudden anger, almost deafeningly to the shrew. When it came to talks about Judy, he became completely different mammal.

Fru and Judy saw that the tone was a bit challenging, making them wonder how Big would react to this, a bit scared almost.

Judy did not like where the subject had suddenly gone but what embarrassingly surprised her the most as messed up as it was, was the fact that Nick's way of suddenly talking about her like all male and protective, turned her on. Yes, great time to think things like that. Sweet cheese and crackers Judy...

Even Fru had rarely seen anyone talking to her dad like that. Not many had the guts for it. And it was the last thing she expected from this fox.

There was something going on here...

After an awkward silence and the fox and shrew eyeing each other for a while, mister Big started to laugh in amusement as all of them carefully watched him.

"Ahahaahah, Nicky my boy, i believe you. Surprising. She trusts you, so i should too."

Nick relaxed a bit, in a bit of fear that his sudden outburst might had earned him a backdoor icing for a moment.

"Now that we got you two comparing your manliness out of the way..." Judy started awkwardly, making Fru giggle. Even Nick and Mr Big could not hold but to peek a little smile.

"You are here to meet Steve Levron." He said casually.

"... I" Judy went quiet.

"Darling, i am supposed to know everything. He will be here shortly."

"... Do you have any idea why he wants to meet us?"

"Meh, i can only guess. I must say that i am eager to know myself. Ah would you look at that. Here he is."

Nick and Judy turned around at the same time, to see the familiar bunny in tuxedo with satisfied smile on his face.

"You two made it, how gr-" The bunny froze as he saw Judy and his eyes widened for a moment.

It took time for him to gather himself and he spoke.

"Miss Hopps, you are quite a sight this evening. No words can express how much your beauty pleases an eye.

I am glad that we are able to meet like this under better circumstances, as i promised. Allow me."

The bunny gently took Judy's paw and gave it a light kiss as courtesy.

Only one that watched Nick's reaction was Fru Fru, and for a moment she could have sworn that Nick wanted to rip the male bunny in pieces.

Judy was a bit against this intimate greeting but accepted it just for good manners. The bunny took his gaze from Judy to Nick,

but his expression was still the same.

"How lovely that you could make it too Wilde, i was hoping we could meet each other in different light."

"Whatever light that is, i don't want no part with it buddy." Nick said bluntly.

"Well, we are never going to move on with our friendship if you are so negative." The bunny chuckled.

"You must be touched in the head..." Nick answered in confusion.

Levron gave amused look to the fox and started to laugh.

"Mr Wilde, i like you already! Straight forward. Just like my colleague. It's a good trait."

"Aaaand that might beee?" Judy shot in between, to see if Levron would just blurt out the name of his employer.

"Nownow officer Hopps, i know that those wires on you both would love to know all about my friend, but that would be most unprofessional of me."

Nick and Judy suddenly froze like statues. How on earth did he know?! Mr Big was probably going to be furious.

They could only wait for his reaction to this accusation but then Levron walked past them and made his way to the shrew on the table.

All the polar bears gave him a low bow in honor as he came to Mr Big.

"Aaah, Gerald Corleone... It's always pleasure to see you Gerald. How are you doing?" He said like he was talking to his good old friend.

"Thank you Steve, everything is quite fine." Mr Big answered just as pleasantly.

"Nice to see you too Fru." Levron turned to female shrew with warm smile.

"Awww thank you Steve, you should visit us more often. It's been long time since we all dined together." Fru said happily.

"My apologies, but you know, my duties keep me busy. Like always."

Judy and Nick were a bit out of the situation. They did not know that Levron was this close with Big's family.

They did not know was it good or bad. Judy suddenly spoke carefully to the shrew.

"Gerald i-.. About the wiring, i can exp-"

"Judy my darling, there is no need to be scared. I knew you both were bugged the whole time. You are on an undercover operation.

Like i said, it is my job to know these things sweetheart. Steve already told me all this on the phone. Ease up both of you." Mr Big said calmly.

Judy and Nick gave a bit embarrassed look on each other and then Levron turned to them with a smile.

"See, we are all friends here. I assume you should call your team on this particular spot, am i correct?"

Judy stared at the other bunny a bit confused and Nick did not even know what was going on anymore. How did they have so much Intel on their operation?

These mammals knew so much about all their objectives... Had there been a leak from the inside? That was only way they could have all this info.

"I..." Judy tried to speak and all she got was reassuring smile from Steve.

"Come on miss Hopps, there is no need to be so guilty. Knowledge is power. Just inform your colleagues where you are."

Nick gave unsure look at Judy. After a while Judy figured that she might as well call them. The operation was already fully exposed to the mobsters.

This was not going to be good report for Bogo. She could already wonder how much he would flip. She slowly took her paw to her ear and clicked the small button,

activating a green light on the object.

"Ummm... Snowball, Hotshot, Light-feet and Howler. We have the location, over. The table where the Vip's sit, is inside the grand tent, close to the western middle exit.

Stay about twenty meters from the location, eyes sharp for any trouble. Over and out."

"Copy that Hopps." Everyone answered the same time, and Judy turned off her mic with one click.

"Seriously? A code names?" Levron asked in amusement and laughed with mister Big.

"What is wrong with the code names?" Nick suddenly asked, trying lighten up as well, since the mobsters were not even upset about their operation.

"I just find it amusing that you guys act that extreme. We are here to celebrate like all the other fine mammals here." Levron said casually.

"Are you now? Bogo told me that you had personally requested us both to be present at this event. So what is it that you want Levron?" Judy asked in frustration.

"What do i want? A fresh start! In this coming up months, me and my higher employer are... Kind of coming more public for the mammals, and we figured that it would be nice that we are in good terms with the fine police, like Gerald here."

"What?" Nick asked in confusion.

"I guess what i am trying to say here is... It would be nice if you two would have a little heart to heart talk with you good Chief Bogo.

There is nothing to investigate about me. I am an honest business male. I just want that the ZPD would consider investigating things that matter,

then wasting their resources on investigating an honest mammals like me. They should chase mammals that do actual crimes. Just a thought. Like i said, a fresh start."

Judy and Nick just stood in confusion from the bunny's words. Was he seriously this stupid? Judy took a step closer and pointed her claw to the smugly smiling bunny.

"Okey Levron listen to me. I don't know how smart you think you are, or how you thought that this was going to go in your mind, but you are suspect for attempted buying of night howlers. You seriously think that sweet talk with us is going to make all of that go away? That we would just tell our chief to stop investigating your operations and leave you be? I will rather see you behind bars."

"... Well was worth of shot." Levron said casually.

"Huh?" Judy said in confusion.

"Yeah. I'm just glad that we have common understanding now. More stalking for me it is."

"You think this is some kind of game?" Judy asked angrily.

Suddenly Mr Big came between the conversation.

"Judith my darling, as much as it might hurt, i am with Steve here,

as much as i would love his annoying wolf employer to be gone from this city-"

"Harsh Gerald." Levron chuckled in between. Mr Big continued like he had said nothing.

"There is no point ongoing with the investigation like this Judy. Even in years you could not affect his empire,

just like you could not affect mines. The mammal that your department is after, is just as much connected as me.

It is pointless to waste your resources on things like this, when you mammals keep this city safe and peaceful in where it matters. In the streets chasing robbers, violent mammals, and fast drivers. That is what keeps Zootopia a great place to live, not investigating things such as these."

"... Gerald, he was trying to buy night howlers! Those cause more trouble than any of the things you said!" Judy said now like the mammals she was dealing with were crazy.

"Daddy, you know that Judy is right." Fru Fru spoke in the middle of the conversation all of a sudden.

Nick and Judy watched as the shrew took a look at his worried daughter and he then sighed.

"Steve, did you really try to buy such things for him?"

"Allegedly. Remember that these two are bugged." Levron said casually, earning a dirty look from Nick and Judy.

"Please don't tell me that this was again one of those stupid ignorant Wolf's ideas? What did he plan to do with those?" The shrew asked seriously.

"He was going to hand them as a gift to the museum of Zootopian history. After the Bellwether case, all of the night howlers found from the city and the farm lands were burned to the ground, as we all know. He had heard about a possible deal that would still have some leftovers that were never found, so they could be presented in the vitrine glass at the museum, under the subject Famous and dangerous night howlers, the substance that almost destroyed Zootopia we once knew. ."

The toxin itself would have been neutralized from the flowers after handout, and he would have earned quite a price and fame from it all."

"... Sounds like him." The shrew shook his head.

"Seriously?" Judy asked in wonder and confusion, not knowing if to believe it. Nick had been quiet for a long time before he suddenly spoke.

"Why did you run?"

".. Pardon me?" Levron asked.

"If this was your explanation for the flowers, why did you run when we busted you all from the spot? It would have been valid explanation after surrendering peacefully.

But you chose to run with the case. Why?"

Now Judy turned her gaze from the fox to Levron, expecting a valid explanation.

And she also asked something on top.

"Then money we found was also printed. It was not real but still almost identical. Explanation for that too?"

"Well a little marathon is always nice, right? Was such a refreshing air that night. And for the money... Well that is kinda odd.

I could have sworn it was real money when i counted them the last time. You guys might have mistaken." Levron said casually.

It took while for Nick and Judy to understand that he was just straight toying with them. He was even smiling with his bullshit excuses.

"Those are the most stupid excuses i have heard. There is something shifty going on with you, and i know that there is more to this. Can't you see it too Gerald?"

Judy turned in concern to the shrew.

"I am trying to stay away from their business as much as i can. I can't stand his employer. That arrogant wolf can do his work for the city as much as he wants,

as long as it does not affect my business. But Levron, do tell that annoying imbecile this. Don't deal with that flower stuff anymore. The bunny ahead of us will never stop chasing your organization if you deal with such things. Just a reminder."

"I will be sure to send the message to him personally. Do i also tell that you called him annoying imbecile?" Levron chuckled.

"Please do. In fact pressure those words much as possible."

"Will do." Levron laughed.

Judy and Nick just followed their odd conversation from the side before Judy spoke in between.

"So is this it?"

"Is this what babe?" Levron ask'd with smug smile.

"... Don't call me that ever again. I was asking if this was all you wanted to do? Subtly just trying to ask us to leave the investigation on you and mammals connected to you,

and after that just give as bad excuses of your actions, and trying to act like some criminal mastermind? This is how you wanted to waste our time?"

Levron's already smug smile just turned bigger as he placed his paw under his chin, as in wondering if there was anything else. After a while he spoke.

"Yeah, you pretty much nailed it."

"... Well good work jackass, let's see if you act so smug after i put you and mammals you deal with in prison. You can tell your wolf that too." Judy shot angrily.

"You are quite something miss Hopps, i like female with fire in her heart." He flirted smugly to the bunny, making her wince in disgust.

Once again the only one that paid attention to Nick's reaction was Fru Fru. She saw how Nick's left paw went into a fist and after a while he seemed to calm down.

Okay, she was going to have a quick talk with this fox.

"It seems that she is not very fond of your flattery Steve. Better lay off." Mr Big sighed and shook his head.

"I like challenges." He winked to Judy.

"Shut up you jerk, i am done talking to you. You have wasted enough ZPD's time for one day. Come on Nick, let's go, we did our job here."

Mr. Big spoke quickly.

"Judy, please do enjoy your evening. Shall we have dinner at next weekend? There are things that we need to discuss." He said casually. Judy could see that he tried to imply that whatever he was trying to imply was important. Maybe even revealing something about his competitor? Judy just gave calm smile and nodded.

"Okay, Gerald. I will be there."

"Good. Now go on and have fun you two. I have things to clear out with Steve here. Excuse us." Mr. Big motioned them to go. Raymond stood aside from behind them and Judy turned around, after giving one last annoyed look to the flirty looking Levron. Nick respectfully bowed to Mr. Big, and got answered with respectful nod.

Just as he was about to leave with Judy, Fru suddenly said something.

"Wilde. There is something i want to discuss with you before you leave. Now. At side in private please." She said seriously.

Nick, Levron, Judy and Mr. Big raised an eyebrow to this odd request. Nick gave confused look to Judy, who look'd just as confused.

"Judy, it is okay. I just want to talk to him real quickly. I will return him to you in a moment. I promise." Fru assured.

"... O-okay, Nick, i will be at the buffet table over next to that show light stage nearby. I'll see you there."

"Okay carrots, I'll be there." Nick said with hesitant tone and after a while Judy turned around and disappeared into the crowd.

Nick stood in silence under Fru's gaze. Suddenly Levron spoke and chuckled.

"Did you just call her carrots?"

"Who ask'd anything from you?" Nick shot back. He really did not like this bunny at all. Nick was never rude mammal and in different circumstances he would have even joked around with the bunny, but he hated him the moment he flirted with Judy with that nasty non subtle peek in his eye.

"Oh, I'm sorry if i offended you officer Wilde, it just sounded funny."

"Not as funny as your poorly tailored suit." Nick shot back with grin.

"Uuuuuu, well played. We are going to be good friends." Levron laughed and look'd at Nick in odd admiration. This bunny felt almost a bit creepy to Nick.

"I doubt that."

"I just got a feeeling."

"Now that you two got that out of the way, i shall borrow you for a while. Follow me." Fru rolled her eyes and signaled the fox to walk to the far end of the table.

Nick gave questioning look to Mr. Big and got small accepting nod before moving away from the two with Fru Fru.

There was moment of silence after Mr. Big spoke.

"That story about the museum of mammals history was creative Steve, i give you that."

"I have my moments. Those two are going to be a problem to my employer." Steve answered.

"Yes, they will look into your operations for a while. Just stay careful and everything will be alright. They will give up eventually."

"I guess so, but after tonight, they are going to pay a lot more attention on us. That is, if they connect it to me. After what they are about to witness tonight, they could jump to wild conclusions.

I hoped we didn't need it but, you know how he is. Every single influential mobster is under this tent right now. He wants them to witness what he has created,

to make an impression. A live show. All of them are waiting it to begin any moment now."

"If i may ask, where did you acquire the night howlers for tonight's theater?" Mr. Big ask'd after a while.

"From the suitcase locked in ZPD evidence room. We have sleeper agent working inside the ZPD. Always passing viable information and acquiring things we need.

That officer managed to get paws on couple of howlers from the case. That is all we needed."

"How do you know that they won't go full savage? If they do, your little show will be fiasco." Mr. Big ask'd in small concern.

"They won't. He made sure that his mammals in the labs got the new serum right. I assure you. It's just like he already explained to you on the phone."

"Good. I want nobody dead this evening."

"Some of the subject testers might die, if the things get too heated though. But that is none of our problem." Levron said casually.

"... I really do hope you know what you are doing."

"... It still isn't too late for you to come into the project. If this night goes well, most of the criminal families will. You would make lots of money.

You might be impressed about what you are about to see."

"I want no part in your risky ideas. I have seen enough pointless violence for a lifetime. And i have enough money.

This new generation can have its own enjoyments, and i have mine."

"... I can respect that." Levron said back.

"... But i will tell you, if something serious happens to Judy this evening, i will shut your operation down, and i will personally tell it to that wolf."

"Gerald, she is known from her capabilities, if the reputation is to believe. She survived Roy Briggs. She has arrested over thirty dangerous mammals in half a year. She is famous of being good in the fight. She has the odds in her side. I know that she and her team will shut tonight's showdown at sometime, just like they are supposed to. That is the real reason i asked them to be here anyway." Levron said casually.

"He could present this show to the cartels in private. Why make it so public?"

"You know how he can be. A bit stubborn when he chooses something."

"He is touched in the head." Mr. Bog snorted.

"... That is probably also true, but i love him like a brother."

"Whatever, just hope that no civilians die. That is where i draw a line. Or he hears from me."

"... Will do Gerald... Now enough of politics and plots. Champagne?" The bunny smiled.

"... Mhhh, sounds appropriate." Mr Big sighed and signaled one of his polar bears to get a bottle.

NICK AND FRU FRU _

After the two mammals were about ten meters away from Mr. Big at the long dining table, Fru Fru stopped walking. Nick gave a bit scared look as the shrew turned her gaze to the fox, inspecting him for a moment. Nick only stared back in awkward silence before he spoke.

"Well Fru, please do present what you needed me for." Nick said with his charming smile, trying to lighten up a bit.

Fru just stared back like he had not even said anything. He was getting a bit nervous.

"Uhhh, so what is it that you want to ta-"

"How long have you been in love with Judy?"

The silence settled once again between the two and Nick's jaw hanged open as he was processing what she had just asked. He did not know what to answer.

Fru Fru sighed and spoke again.

"Are you trying to deny it?"

"... I.. I uhh.. I-" Nick stuttered under the gaze of the shrew as his brain was screaming him to run away.

"Just admit it."

"I... How do you-"

"I am a female, i pay attention to things. I don't know if she has noticed, but you are quite poor at hiding it. Only a little observation and i knew.

When did you plan on telling her?"

"I mean i... It's not what you think. It's uhh, complicated."

"How?" Fru shot straight away. He was not going to escape from this one.

"It's not.. How is this any of your-"

"My business? I happen to be very close friend of hers. So i believe i have something to say about someone looking at her like a future wife.

You know how popular she is. You should move on with telling these feelings to her. She deserves to know."

"I... But it's not that simple, she would freak out if i just told such things!" Nick blurted out in panic. This sudden intimate conversation was making him very anxious. She was the only one who knew his biggest secret now. He was not mentally prepared to just talk about it to a mammal he barely knew.

"So you do love her, don't you?" Fru asked seriously.

Nick did not know if he should just escape the situation or just go with it. The look he was receiving from the shrew strictly told him to go with the second option.

After a while of collecting himself, he spoke quietly, turning his nervous gaze away from her.

"I do."

"There we are. That was not so hard was it? So, i think she deserves to know that."

"Look, i can't tell her. We work together at the same job, she would never throw her career away for such-"

"So is it forbidden to have relationship between two officers?"

"What? No! But i..."

"Seriously i do not see anything holding you here."

Nick sighed as he was trying to fight back and now he brought back his gaze to the shrew with a bit of sadness in it.

"She might not feel the same way about me."

"How do you know?" Fru Fru ask'd now a bit more tenderly.

"Firstly, i am a predator. Second, she got uncomfortable just seeing me shirtless. Third, sometimes when i say a bit.. Intimate compliments to her,

trying the ice a bit, she goes all bothered and quiet. I don't know what she is really thinking, and it scares me. I don't want to destroy what we have now, because it works. She is too important to me. The last thing i want is her to distance herself away from me. So you see my problem here?"

Fru Fru was quiet for a moment and spoke.

"You are still going to have to tell her eventually."

"I... I know.. But i decide when."

"... You know, i have got to know her in these months as we spent time together, and Judy is one of the few mammals i know, with a completely pure heart.

Even if she would not feel the same way, she would never push you out of her life. She is not like that. You know that."

"... You may be right, but i don't want to risk it. She is everything for me."

For a while Fru did not know what to say as he look'd at the sad fox. After a while she spoke tenderly.

"Just... Just talk to her. You have to."

"... I will... But not today. For now i just want to take her to have fun. The time will come when i have to talk to her about this.. But it's not today."

The shrew was quiet for a while as she gave compassionate look at the fox and spoke.

"Okay. I won't talk about this to her. You do what you think is for the best."

"... Thank you."

"... Now.. I think she has waited you quite a while now. Go have fun with her." She said warmly.

Nick just gave small nod and after a while and turned around, ready to find Judy.

"And hey Wilde." Fru suddenly spoke.

Nick stopped but didn't turn around.

".. Good luck. I really hope it would work out between you two."

Nick stayed quiet for a moment before he sighed.

"... I can always hope." He spoke quietly.

In a moment he was gone and Fru sighed as he watched the fox's tail disappear into the crowd. She took a moment before she started taking her way back to her father.

After a while of walking, she came next to the male shrew, who turned his gaze into her's with smile.

It took her a couple of seconds to realize that the bunny was no longer with her father.

"Ummm daddy, where did Steve go?"

"He had business to catch up."

"Oh."

"Do you have everything with you darling?"

"Huh? Uhhh, i do."

"Good. We are going to leave."

"What? Why?" Fru Fru asked in frustration. The party had only gone forward for couple of hours.

"Because i say so. Let's go." Mr. Big said to her daughter as almost in command.

CLOSE BY _

Nick finally made his way through the dancers and chattering crowds to the buffet table where Judy told she would wait for him.

After a while of searching with his gaze, a warm smile came on him as he saw that beautiful bunny, right at the end of the table.

There she was, wondering what she could eat from the table as the choices laid in front of her. Nick noticed that her ears were drooping.

I guess that she took it to herself that operation had been kind of failure. Sigh, always thinking about the work. Time to put the smile on that face,

Nick thought with grin as he sneaked up behind the bunny. He just stood there for a while, following as Judy tried to figure out what to eat.

"I would like to suggest the cinnamon rolls. They are quite sweet."

Judy quickly turned around and gave a small smile, despite her clearly depressed mood.

"Thanks Nick, all of this food just looks so fancy, it's hard to even know what half of these contain."

Nick chuckled and walked next to her.

"Hey carrots. Tell me what bothers you."

"... Bogo will be furious." Judy let out and grabbed one of the cinnamon rolls Nick suggested.

"Let him be, this is hardly our fault. They have connections, so we got a little played. It happens."

"I just... I wish that we could have gotten anything useful on record. Levron told nothing that would help us with our case. All we have is half an hour of useless banter on tape. This operation was disaster, and i let everyone down."

"Hey, stop that. You did not let anyone down. Tonight's whole operation was supposed to be peace keeping right? Our primary objective was not to squeeze information out of that weirdo. We did what we could. So don't think that chief will be furious about anything. So now, this little bunny is going to stop moping in such thoughts, and get that smile back on her face." Nick grinned after he spoke to her warmly.

It only took a moment of brow wiggling until the bunny snorted and started to laugh a bit.

"There it iiiis."

"... You are such a goof."

"Someone's ears are still droooopiingg, let's fix them." Nick chuckled mischievously as he lifted her ears up with his paws, making Judy giggle and hassle him away.

"Dumb fox."

"I know, let us see what goodies we have here." Nick chuckled and turned his gaze to the food next to them and rubbed his paws together like evil mastermind.

Judy giggled and shook her head.

"For such a lean guy, you eat quite a lot."

"Hey, you do not understand my passionate love for the world of flavors."

The bunny rolled her eyes and took another cinnamon roll as well from the table.

"Nick, can i ask something?" Judy spoke with sudden interested tone as he watched Nick munch the food like a homeless.

"Mmhhhph?" He muttered as an answer as he ate.

"What did Fru Fru want?"

For a while Judy saw Nick's eyes widen and he almost choked on his food.

After clearing his throat he spoke again.

"N-Nothing important. She was asking about was I am enjoying the party with you."

"Well the way she requested your audience, i thought it would have been a bit more important than that."

"Yeah umm i dunno, go figure." Nick muttered, trying to change the subject. Judy still gave a bit doubting side look at him until Nick grabbed two garlic claws that were supposed to be dipped in some odd sauce, and turned his back to Judy. After a while of adjusting something,

Judy stared in confusion.

"Nick what are you doing?"

the fox turned around, the garlic's now molded at her upper front fangs, making them look even longer.

"Muauahhaha, is that a digestible bunny i see?! Prepare to be a dinner for the feared Count Foxyla!" Nick chuckled in evil voice.

It took Judy about one second before she bursted out laughing and held her stomach.

Fox could not help to stay in character as Judy was laughing hysterically and covered her eyes probably partly in embarrassment as some mammals stared from the side.

After a while of them both laughing, Nick closed his mouth and munched the garlic fangs, swallowing as he gave wide grin to the bunny that was gaining control on herself.

A moment passed after Judy managed to speak, still giggling a bit.

"Nick you are probably the funniest mammal i've ever met."

"I get that a lot. Now that we got that sad mood out of the way, how about we continue from where we left off?"

"... What do you mean?"

Nick gave charming smile and slowly handed his paw over to her, asking her to grab it.

"We were supposed to enjoy the evening remember? Since our job here is quite done, let's move on to having fun. May i have the honor fluff?"

Judy blushed a bit and gave a shy smile as she slowly grabbed his paw.

"Okay.." She said quietly and felt her tail wiggle a bit as his handsome emerald eyes stared at her tenderly.

"That's the spirit. Now let's go. Pawerton is about to play something good. I just got a feeling."

AT THE DANCE FLOOR _

As Nick and Judy arrived to a nice looking open spot among the mammals, they just waited for the next song to start.

Nick chuckled as Judy was rubbing her other elbow with her paw, watching him carefully.

"Don't be so stressed carrots, I'll take good care of you." Nick winked.

Judy's eyes widened a bit and she blushed as she turned her gaze away from his flirting eyes. The fox was driving her crazy.

"Nick i.. Maybe we should not."

"Shhhh, here it comes. Wait for it." Nick raised his claw as the Pawerton spoke from his booth, ready to announce a next song to everybody.

"Ladiiees and gentle mammals! Next up we are going to get some frisky speed on those feet! Let's give it up for our beloved Jaguar, Adam Black!

Let's hear one of his most loved hit singles, Moves like Jagger!"

(Youtube: Maroon 5 - Moves like Jagger)

Judy rolled her eyes as she saw Nick's flirting look glow close to her face.

"Prepare for a ride bunny."

"I have really not listened this guys music a lot. My sisters all loved him, and spoke about his music for so long time when i was young. At some point it got annoying,

so i refused to listen to him. Is he good?" Judy asked with smile as Nick leaned back from her.

"Oh boy, it's time to see why your sisters like him, you frisky little bunnies..." Nick wiggled his eyebrows.

Judy giggled and raised her eyebrow.

"What is that suppose to mean?-"

The song suddenly started and she watched as Nick started to whistle with the song and stomp his foot on the ground with the drums.

Judy giggled as Nick started to speak the words from the song as he started to take small steps towards her.

Nick made his way to her and firmly and gently took her paws and started to spoke on top of the lyrics as he gave her a smooth spin,

"You say i'm a kiiit, my egoo is biig, i don't give a shiiit." Nick said and wiggled his eyebrows.

"Well how accurate of you!" Judy laughed but gave a surprised gasp as Nick took her both paws and started to control her hips,

moving with the rhythm. Judy could only turn red as possible from her cheeks to her ears as Nick started to sing the chorus for her.

Now she started to understand why her sisters were listening this music. At the time she could have not related herself to this kind of music,

but now she could relate way too perfectly as Nick whispered to her ear.

"I don't need to try to control youu, look into my eyes and I'll own you-"

Judy could feel the shivers go down her spine. Way too accurate.

She could only smile happily as Nick was making her have time of her life. Almost like she was experiencing the feelings she should have supposed to feel when she was about six years younger. In her head it sounded almost pathetic. All her sisters had lived their life to the fullest, when she had avoided all that, chasing her dream of being a police officer. So what she felt now was overwhelming. She had never felt this strongly for anyone.

Not even close. She just felt as butterflies fly in her stomach as Nick was giving nothing but subtle gazes to her and singing the lyrics with the song.

He had to feel something for her. Just anything. Or was it normal for bestfriends to do things like this with each other?

It might have been wishful thinking once again. He was so handsome and funny, that he would probably get any vixen in the city. But she loved him as mammal. His heart. All the rest was just bonus. But did he dance with other females like this? Was she just one among many? Or was she a special case?

She was woken from her hazy thoughts as Nick gave a last whistle and winked to her as the song ended.

The roar of clapping and the yelling came all at once, making Judy wince a little. Nick clapped his paws together and gave thumbs up to the Pawerton's direction.

Judy was not going to be able to contain herself much longer as she stared that handsome smiling fox on the green spotlight, turning his gaze to her.

"We having fun yet whiskers?"

"Yeah! I just... You have to teach me dance sometime. You never told me that you were so good at this!"

"Had a lot of free-time. And besides, you did good. You just have to learn how to relax. All that tension from being in super cop mode makes you stiff."

"I guess..." Judy smiled and rolled her eyes.

"I know you too well fluff. You ready for another one?"

"Mhm." Judy nodded shyly, earning a comforting smile from him. The hunger to go kiss him furiously lingered in her mind every second. It was painful.

The cheetah spoke to the mic from his booth, earning everyone's attention.

"Next up we have something soothing and romantic for you all. Let's grab that one special someone by her paw, won't we? Let's show some love everyone!"

At that moment Judy knew that i was over. Her heart stopped. This is the moment where she knew that Nick would draw a line. She was way too nervous to go to that road anyway.

She had never danced slow dance with anyone, and she had no intention of trying her luck now. She could only look away in complete awkwardness as the song started.

(Youtube : Pieces of a Dream - You and I)

She did not even want to create eye contact as she spoke silently. The song started to play on the background.

"I... I think that we should skip this one. We have already played our undercover roles well enough. So you don't need to-" She practically jumped as she saw Nick an inch away from her. She carefully raised her gaze to see the serious looking fox. That look that pierced her soul and made her legs melt.

The shivers went down her fur and her nose twitched a bit as Nick kept looking at her. She spoke nervously.

"N- Nick i... I have never danced slow d-dance with anyone. You don't have to-"

"Well then i would be a poor best friend if i would not guide you through your first one. Just take my paw Judy."

Judy could only stare back to the smiling fox. Her tail wiggled furiously as she muttered something distant, carefully grabbing his paw.

She was about give final protest but let out a small yip instead as Nick took a gentle grip of her paw and moved his other paw to her lower back,

gently pulling her in almost a hug.

"Now we just take slow steps carrots. Simple as that." Nick said soothingly. Judy could only feel the fabric of his vest against her cheek. They were moving just like all the other mammals around them. The dance indeed was simple enough, just like in the romantic movies she loved. Experiencing it herself was quite something else.

She closed her eyes slowly, savoring the moment as she felt Nick's strong chest against her. She could have sworn that she heard Nick's heartbeat, even trough the music.

She wanted this moment to last forever.

Nick smiled warmly as she watched the bunny so relaxed against him. Without her notice, he took a deep silent inhale through his nose. He felt like bit of a creep but her scent was too intoxicating for him. It had taken quite a lot of bravery from him to get her dance this kind of dance with her. But now it was more than worth it. She did not seem as uncomfortable as he had thought. This was going to his memory box as one of the best ones in his life. Suddenly Judy spoke quietly.

"Nick."

"Hmmm?" Nick just hummed as answer. She spoke quietly with her eyes closed against his chest.

"I am glad that i followed you to that ice cream shop that day."

Nick's eyes widened as he pondered her words and large smile came on his muzzle as he answered warmly.

"Me too Judy."

For the first time since the dance Judy opened her eyes and slowly turned her gaze to his.

She was about to kiss him in front of all the mammals right now. She did not care any-

"HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELPPPPPPP!"

"THEY ARE FIGHTING, SOMEONE DO SOMETHING!"

"SOMEONE CALL THE ZPD!"

A complete sound of panic were heard about ten meters away from them, earning everyone's attention. To Judy and Nick it was like waking from deep sleep.

What on earth had just happened? Whoever had just ruined the most perfect moment of his life, was going to pay for this. They look'd at each other only for a second and stormed themselves to the direction of the screams' through the crowd.

"What on earth?! Just freaking great!" Nick mumbled as they came closer to the odd voices.

They finally got their way out of the panicking crowd and arrived to the same buffet table they had been moments ago.

The first thing they saw, was a huge bear and a rhino, fighting against each other on full storm. The crowd had backed away from them,

leaving them quite a lot of space for this brawl. Most of the mammals ran away in panic, but some of the mammals just stood in fair distance, observing the scene. The place was in complete disaster. They had broken about five chairs and both of their faces were bleeding.

The rhino gave another powerful punch straight to bear's stomach, making him groan and back away a bit. First thing that came in Judy's mind about the scene was wild guess of very personal argument mixed with too much alcohol. Great, their night was ruined by a punch of drunken idiots. She cleared her throat loudly and clearly before practically roaring to the two fighting mammals.

"Excuse me!"

They did not react.

The bear swinged his fist to rhino's eye, making sure that it was going to leave a mark. The Rhino shook his head and took a bottle of champagne from the table, smashing it to his head,

making it shatter completely.

"Oh you will fucking get it now!" The bear roared and punched the rhino in his face, making one of his teeth crack out.

Judy had enough of this madness.

"Okay you two, time to stop this stupidity and greet the ZPD cell! Don't make me use my weapon you two drunken idiots!"

Nick also reached for his weapon from his suit as he followed the situation in frustration.

This was the thing that ruined the best night in his life?

Two drunken mammals?

The moment he reached for his gun, both the bear and rhino turned their furious gaze to the two officers.

Judy felt like her heart stopped for that moment as she look'd the bear in the eye. She had seen that same look half a year ago on Manchas. It could not be.

It did not make any sense. They had talked to each other when they fought! A mammal gone savage could not talk. Her nose twitched as she just stood there in sudden panic,

not knowing what to do until she saw Nick pulling out his weapon, the same scared look on his face.

"Carrots, call back upUNF!" He gasped as the rhino waved his arm with incredible force, making him fly to the crowd of mammals behind him. Judy winced as she heard painful grunt escaped her partner.

"Nick!" Judy screamed in horror and turned her gaze to the bear just in time to see that he was trying to swipe her with his massive claws.

Judy rolled out-of-the-way through the floor just in time to dodge possibly a deadly blow and clicked her earplug in panic as her heart beated like a war drum.

"Officer Hopps, requesting backup at grand tent immediately! Two mammals gone out of control, officer Wilde is down!" Judy screamed in fear and could feel everything blur as she had to dodge a kick from the raging bear. Only one little mistake could have meant the end of her life. Just as the bear was about to charge her, barely giving her time to breath,

the rhino yelled to the bear from behind, gaining his attention.

"Did you already forgot your opponent!?" The rhino roared and grabbed the buffet table, throwing it straight at the bear like it was made of plastic.

The wooden table shattered in pieces as it hit the bear in full force, making him fall to the ground and groan in incredible pain. The rhino might had accidentally just save her life. These mammals were out of their mind! They were about to kill each other in front of the civilians. What on earth had they taken to be so strong?!

It had to be night howlers, there was no other explanation. But it was confusing, they were not on all fours, biting anyone randomly in animalistic frenzy.

They were conscious about their actions. They talked. They could coordinate their attacks and lift objects. But that same savage look shined in their eyes.

"I am not done with you." The rhino said angrily as he approached the remains of the table, bears feet sticking out from under.

Judy pulled out her taser from its holster and pointed it at the rhino, trying to steady her hands despite the fear.

"Don't move! I will give you one chance! Surrender right now, and get down on the ground!"

"I don't fucking think s-ARRGH!" The rhino roared as an electric shot hit his back. All of the four of their officers stood about three meters away from the rhino,

all of them pointing their tranquilizers at him. Hailie had given the shot on rhino's back. Judy observed in relief as the rhino look'd like he was going to fall down at any moment. The first thing that came on her mind was finding Nick. If something bad happened to him-

"You are all dead!" The rhino mumbled in anger and turned slowly to face all the four officers, all of the suddenly feeling the fear strike in them as the rhino look'd at them with fire burning in his savage eyes.

They could not see as the mammals in the crowd muttered between each other in amazement. What was wrong with these mammals?!

Why were they just standing there?! How long had the fight lasted between the bear and the rhino before they even got here? Judging by all the trashed chairs and all the marks on their both faces, it had been going on for a while.

"Everyone! Shoot now!" Suddenly Nick yelled to the bunny next to him, who had fallen felt to the ground. The relief that hit her when he saw her partner standing next to her, made all her fear go away at that instant. Right as everyone heard the command,

Judy, Nick, Luke, Rasheed and Oliver all blasted their tasers at the same time against the rhino.

The light-show that followed was quite something to witness as all five beams hit the mammal. The rhino's eyes widened in shock as his legs became light as feather and his mind blacked out. The stage trembled a bit as the rhino fell to the ground like a statue, not moving anymore. For a moment Judy was scared that they might have done very badly. She had never seen anyone take that many volts at once. As the silence settled in the area and music had completely stopped from the hall,

couple of mammals started to mutter all kinds of things as they followed the situation. Judy raised an eyebrow and yelled to them, as she saw some of them take pictures with their phone.

"What on earth are you all thinking you're doing?! This is not a show, all of you could have gotten hurt badly! Officers Howelton, Garnett, clear the area of civilians!

Fring, Coonway, check the rhinos pulse!"

Everyone nodded nervously and started to proceed with their objectives. Judy turned her gaze at Nick in concern and hopped up from the floor.

"Nick, my god, are you injured?! Are you okay?!

Nononnon you are bleeding!" Judy hassled.

Nick had indeed taken quite a hit, but could still stand.

He was bleeding a bit from his side, but the wound was not looking that bad. There was still a slight amount of pain in his face.

"I ummm, think he broke my tailbone. And i fell on someone's' champagne glass with my left side, but it did not cut deep.

My vest is having an ugly hole though now."

"We need an ambulance for you Nick, you don't know if that cut deep. It could be serious!"

"It's not whiskers, I'm more annoyed about my tail. It hurts quite a bit. I uhh... Where is the bear?"

Judy turned her gaze to the broken table with all kind of food laying on the floors and suddenly the concern hit her even harder.

"The crazy rhino threw a table at him!" Judy yelled and ran over to lift the wooden table pieces to see if bear was still alive.

"Seriously?" Nick asked in wonder as he followed her lead. The whole table had been heavy as hell and all the food on top added, it was nearly impossible to throw something like that at someone. Suddenly in middle of their operation to trying to dig up the bear, Luke yelled from the side.

"Officer Hopps, the rhino still has a pulse! Quite an rapid one i might add! How is this possible, i can still hear him muttering something!?" He ask'd in fear.

"Well at least he is alive. Call an ambulance and someone inform chief Bogo what happened here! These animals are under the influence of night howlers!

Handcuff the rhino please."

"Will do Hopps." Rasheed said and handcuffed the unconscious rhino.

"Officer Hopps, their behavior was not savage. They were not in all fo-" The lynx started.

"I know. But... Just call Bogo. Please. I know what I'm talking about here. I promise."

"I'm on it!" Oliver yelped and took out his phone.

Suddenly a scenery of flashing lights arrived to the area, with loud crowd of mammals with them. The media had arrived inside the grand tent. They sure acted fast. The place was swarming with ZNN reporters.

Judy winced as she saw the mob coming closer and spoke quickly to the remaining officers.

"Good, now all of you go and keep the press congress far away as possible. We don't need this right now. We have to take care of these two. Understood?"

"Will do." They all saluted and ran to meet the reporters.

"I'll help you lift this up carrots." Nick joined Judy as she was lifting the pieces of the table.

"Nick, you should lay down... Don't open you wound any more than it already is..." Judy said in deep concern as the small trail of blood kept dripping down his vest to the floor.

"Don't worry whiskers, what kind of representation do i give about myself to the others if i can't take a little scratch?"

The fox chuckled but none of this was funny to her.

"Nick, please."

"Don't worry i got it."

Nick lifted the piece of the table aside with her and it revealed what seemed to be, an unconscious bear. His face was in really bad shape with bruises all around it. Judy checked her pulse quickly. It was hitting so fast that she almost jumped.

"Carrots, what's wrong?"

"Nick... I think whatever they have ingested or taken, might had killed them on a long run. His pulse is out of control! We need to get those medics in here and fast.

I think he has concussion too."

"Okay, for now let's just handcuff him and wait for them to arrive and get to the bottom of this. And Nick..."

"What?"

"I have feeling that Levron had something to do with this. The coincidence is too high."

"... What would he have to gain from something like this?" Nick ask'd, not entirely sure that she was right. He did not like the bunny, but he knew that Levron was not stupid. That he had already proven. Cocky maybe but not this stupid.

"I might be wrong but.. I don't know.."

"Look, let's not jump to wild guesses for now... Maybe we should just.. What the heck?!" Nick yelped and stared behind Judy.

"What?" Judy turned around and saw that the rhino, despite being stunned multiple times and handcuffed, was standing.

"... No way. That's impossible." Nick said quietly.

The rhino shook his head, as if trying to get some sense to the situation. He muttered something that they could not make out at all,

before he quickly turned his gaze to Judy and Nick. The savage look still lingered there, but it was not as strong and wild as moments ago.

His eyes widened as he turned his gaze in panic to his side, as in wondering to make a run for it. He then turned his gaze back to them.

Nick knew that he was about to do it.

"Don't..." Nick said, trying to calm him down. But he had already made his mind. He stormed his way towards the crowd, and worst of all, it was where the reporters were.

Nick and Judy stormed after the rhino, as he ran like a train from hell towards the reporters and the officers speaking to them.

One of the otter reporters screamed as she pointed to the rhino, who was charging the area.

Nick and Judy yelled as loudly as they could to everyone ahead of them.

"OUT OF THE WAY! EVERYONE RUN!"

The mammals scattered with their equipment, yelling in chaos as the rhino came closer. All the officers turned to see the mammals run towards them.

And he was coming fast.

"HAILIE LOOK OUT!" Oliver yelled and jumped to push the fear frozen officer to the side from rhino's charge, probably just saving her life.

The rhino kept going by the small area through the reporters, pushing some mammals out of his way in rage. He swinged his huge fists all around the mob,

hitting quite many mammals on his way out of the place. The mammals flied around the tent as he was making his way to the exit that was getting closer.

The situation was getting really bad. Nick and Judy made a quick stop at the area of where some of the reporters had fell down, to see if anyone was seriously hurt.

Some Labrador reporter had gotten in the way pretty badly, since he was bleeding. Judy ran to the whimpering mammal with Luke and saw as Oliver and Hailie ran to other wounded mammals, trying to see if anyone else was seriously injured. Most had been quite lucky, but were still in bad shape.

The rhino stormed out of the exit curtains, entering the park area and disappearing from the place, leaving complete chaos inside the grand tent.

"He is getting away!" Hailie screamed from the floor, her leg also badly hurt.

"We have to call all the officers on the area! There are too many injured mammals in here, we have to help them!

Where are the freaking ambulances?!" Judy yelled and took out her phone, trying to apply pressure to the dog's wound.

Nick felt determined to not let the rhino go. He could hurt more mammals at his escape through the park, and enough mammals had already suffered.

He quickly helped one of the sheep's that fell down to get back on his feet and stormed after the rhino.

Judy saw this in yelled in panic after the fox.

"NICK DON'T! YOU ARE WOUNDED!"

It was too late. Nick had already left the grand tent and entered the park. The panic hit her as he applied pressure to the whimpering dogs wound. She could already hear the ambulance sirens from a far. She thought about storming after her partner but the situation with all the wounded was too crucial.

The panic about the thoughts that what could happen to Nick, if he was careless, started to haunt her mind.

Out of nowhere another figure stormed towards the exit. Judy saw as officer Coonway ran as fast as he could after Nick.

"I got this Hopps, he needs help!" Rasheed yelled to the bunny and made his way out of the grand tent to the night air.

"Thank you.." Judy muttered, a small amount of relief hitting her, when she now knew that Nick would have backup.

Nick was already catching up to the rhino, seeing the large figure hop over the bushes and still run as fast as he could with his hands tied.

The mammals were kind of lucky, since the park area was not as thickly crowded as the tents, making the rhino run freely without needing to push anyone out of his way. Most of the families and teenagers just stared in confusion as the rhino ran past them, with sweaty fox on his tail,

huffing for air. He was maybe closing in on the rhino but what then? He had no power to stop him, and he knew that his small tranquilizer would only slow him down.

Still, something had to be done. Suddenly he could hear a familiar voice about couple of feet behind him, making him quickly look who it was.

"Figured you need some help foxtrot!" The raccoon huffed and reached his way next to him.

"I think i do! But I'm trying to figure out the plan here! We will catch him eventually but he will kick our butts when we do!"

"Well we just have to hope that we get lucky!"

"I have lived with that lifestyle so far, let's hope that it holds now!" Nick laughed despite the scary situation.

They were almost out of the park and saw as the rhino pushed one waiter out of his way, as he was finally at the exit out of the dance festival.

Nick saw as the backup arrived from the east road with sirens on, but they would never be able to block the rhinos escape in time. He was way too fast.

They went through the main gates and kept on with the chase, both huffing loudly from the hard cardio. They started to lose the distance more and more.

How on earth was the rhino not tired?! He had just fought a bear and taken 5 shots from tranquilizers, and ran about one kilometer without getting tired.

They had to figure out something fast. Suddenly the raccoon yelled to him in the middle of huffing air.

"He is headed to the same area where we parked our cars! I have an idea! But i need your help!"

"Whatever you can figure out, I'll take it! If he makes his way into the city and the streets, we might lose him! Or worse, he hurts even more mammals!"

They saw from far away as the rhino jumped over the concrete road barriers, running on the same street they had parked their police vehicles.

The backup cars were just enough late to block his escape, and the vehicles almost hit the barriers, making a full brake stop just in time.

The doors opened and several officers stepped out, with Bogo coming out of the closest one.

He yelled to his two huffing officers in confusion.

"What the hell is going on here?! Where is officer Hopps?! I get my radio bombed about savage mammals, wounded civilians, requests of backu-"

"There is no time to explain chief, one of the criminals that caused all this is getting away!" Nick pointed at the street and Bogo saw the Rhino run about twenty meters away from their location. Nick kept on with the chase and raccoon followed his lead, hopping over the concrete barricades with the fox.

Bogo stared the situation wide eyed and stormed after them with about ten other officers with him.

"I should have my running shoes on..." Bogo muttered.

Just as they reached their parked police cars, the rhino was already very far away. Raccoon yelled Nick to stop as they came next to the cars.

"Foxtrot stop! I have an idea, i request the keys to your vehicle!"

Nick stopped running and turned his gaze to the raccoon in confusion.

"But he is getting away! What are you doing Hots-"

"TRUST ME WILDE! Just throw the keys!"

Nick gave hesitated look at the raccoon and dug out the keys from his pocket and threw them to his paws.

The raccoon shoved the keys to the car's tailgate, opening it.

Bogo and the crowd of officers stopped on the spot in confusion and Bogo roared like they were touched in the head.

"WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?! YOU SAID THAT WE HAVE TO CATCH THAT MAMMAL AND HE IS ABOUT SIXTY METERS AWAY ALREADY!"

"I don't know! Coonway told us to stop!" Nick shrugged his shoulders under Bogo's furious gaze, who now turned it to the raccoon, preparing to demand explanation, until his eyes widened.

"You guys forgot that we have the big ones for cases like these. And i know how to use them." Coonway huffed and pulled out a large gun with his both paws out of the trunk. It was a sniper tranquilizer with letters 50- ZAP written on the side.

"Woah!" Nick said as the raccoon pulled the bipod out from front of the gun and adjusted it on the ground.

"Are you sure that you can..." Bogo let out in suspicion as the raccoon went down on the ground and adjusted the gun against his shoulder.

"I need silence and concentration. I got this. He is running straight."

"But the next turn is only about twenty meters away from-" Nick tried to remind.

"Shhhh..." The raccoon let out and closed his other eye. He let out a deep inhale and adjusted the scope with his claw.

He loudly took the safety off and adjusted the volts to the maximum level before inhaling again.

Bogo spoke nervously.

"Officer Coonway, he is getting aw-!"

BLAM!

Their ears ringed as he took the shot. All the officers froze and turned their gaze quickly from the raccoon on the ground to the small spot of an mammal far away from the street, who fell down after about one second later like a stone, spinning in the air from the force and hitting himself against some car in front of him, making the safety alarm go on from the car. The silence took them all as Raccoon let out another inhale and chuckled proudly. All the mammals about a hundred and twenty meters away opened their windows of their apartments, to see what was all this racket.

"Holy shit." Was only thing Nick could say as all the officers stared at the distance with their muzzles open.

"You didn't name me a Hotshot for nothing."

HALF AN HOUR LATER ON THE PARK _

Nick and Judy sat at the back of the ambulance,

following the situation around them. The wounded reporters and civilians were checked by the paramedics, just like them.

Judy was relieved that no one had died. That would had been a nightmare. And they successfully managed to capture both of the mammals,

thanks to Nick and Rasheed. Bogo was trying to calm down the press and paparazzi as they swarmed around the police and ambulance vehicles,

dying to get some kind of interview about tonight's events. The bright lights flashed all over the place, making it seem like a light show.

Nick suddenly turned his gaze to the bunny next to him and spoke with joking tone.

"Well carrots, this night could have gone much worse. That was quite a dance to remember."

"Not funny Slick..."

"Sorry." Nick chuckled awkwardly and kept looking around.

"I just wish that we find out what made them go like that."

"We will. They don't call ZPD's lab workers being good at their job for no reason."

"I know.."

"I am just mad that our dance was interrupted like that."

"... Me too." Judy sighed and look'd around her in sadness. There was no cheering her up from this one. But he could not blame her.

Bogo suddenly walk'd in front of them both and spoke.

"Wilde. How are your wounds?" Bogo ask'd sincerely.

"It's going to leave a cool scar i guess. You think females will dig it?"

Bogo rolled his eyes and spoke.

"Next time don't act like a hero after criminals while you are bleeding badly. Take your partner's advice. I care about my officers well being."

"Awww i love you too." Nick wiggled his eyebrows making Bogo facepaw himself.

Judy shook her head and smiled despite the bad situation to fox's goofiness and spoke.

"Chief, where do we go from here?"

"... We need you at the station Hopps. There are couple of things that we need to clear about this operation. I also want to hear if you got anything important on the tapes."

Judy gave apologizing look at him.

"I... We might have failed on that part."

"Don't worry Hopps. The main thing is that everyone is alright. I'm going to have quite a night ahead of me though, figuring all this out."

"Always happy to be at service." Nick shot with smile from the side and winced as his ribs hurt a bit.

Bogo rolled his eyes and spoke.

"Wilde, you can go home and rest. Same goes to all of you. Unless you want to be the targets of all this media.

Report to station at nine in the morning. Understood? " Bogo pointed to all of his officers around him.

All of them nodded and Bogo left the scene and went to speak something with the other officers.

Oliver, Rasheed, Hailie and Luke all waved to them both and made their way to the police vehicles.

Nick turned his gaze to the bunny next to him and spoke.

"Hey carrots."

"Yeah?"

"You mind giving me a lift to my place before going back to station?"

"Of course Nick. Did they patch you up well enough?

You sure you have everything you need?"

"Heheee, i love when you are all caring and stuff."

Judy smiled to him and yelled to Bogo.

"Chief, I'm going to take Nick home and meet you at the ZPD in fifteen minutes, okay?"

Bogo turned around and gave small nod in confirmation and turned back to speak with some reporter.

"Let's go Slick, we should go through the pharmacy and buy some painkillers for your tail and your wound. We have time. Okay?"

"Sounds... Much needed whiskers. Thanks."

Nick swallowed the pills in his hand as Judy pulled in front of his place and turned off the engine.

There was a moment of silence before Judy spoke.

"You going to be okay with the stairs Nick?"

Nick laughed and winced again as his ribs felt a bit sober. Judy gave a concerned look at him.

"Aahh don't worry carrots. I'm good."

"Are you sure that you manage to work tomorrow?"

"I'm fine whiskers. You know that i would never skip a day of teasing my best friend."

Judy gave small smile and turned on the engine again.

"Nick..."

"Yeah?"

"I want to thank you for... Dancing with me. I was having fun, as long as it lasted." She said with smile.

"Judy. It does not need to be the only dance."

Judy blushed and her eyes widened a bit as Nick was giving that look again and used her name. She had to hassle the fox out of the car and fast, or she was going to sexually assault him any moment now.

Suddenly Nick coughed to his paw and turned away. He thought that he had made her freaked out again.

"i meant that if you want to learn to dance.. You know.. Can give.. Lessons.. All that..-"He muttered and opened his door.

He stepped on the cold pavement and was about to close the door before Judy spoke.

"Nick."

"Yeah?"

The look on her was something odd that he could not place. For a moment it looked like she wanted to cry.

"Hey carrots what's wrong?"

"I... Nothing Nick. I just wanted to say goodnight. I'll see you tomorrow okay?"

Nick just stared back and gave a warm smile back to her.

"Good night."

He gently closed the door and stared the bunny through the glass. She look'd like she still wanted to say something but quickly pressed the gas pedal and drove away.

Nick stared after her way still long after the car was gone and sighed.

"Dumb fox." Nick muttered and started walked inside the building.

.._

AT THE DOOR .._

Nick walked through the hallway and arrived to his door. He gave a depressed look at his door lock and took out his key.

Please don't be hard. I don't have energy for this right now. He sighed and pushed the key inside the lock and turned it.

He heard loud click. Of course it worked on first attempt. I am too coward to open my heart to someone i love but at least i get better at opening my front door.

Nick closed his eyes and entered the apartment. He took his vest off of him and threw it on the floor in frustration.

It took him a moment to realize something. Why were the lights open?

"Wadap?"

Nick's fur spiked up and he felt like he almost had heart attack. He turned his gaze to his couch.

Roy Briggs was sitting on his sofa with his feet on the table, munching potato chips and changing channels from the Tv with remote in his hand.

"You took forever Nicky boy. I'm not going to lie, i was bored as fuck. You don't even have cable, so no late night porn for me.

All the other channels are just complete trash. It's just commercials. This is why i stopped watching tv. It's just shopping tv over and over again.

Who the fuck would want to buy a weird looking machine that cuts chicken and fish into a cubes and shit? What happened to eating normally?

Mammals are so fucking lazy these days. Oh and by the way, i ate your cricket sandwich. Sorry dude. I can't resist mayo."

...

Chapter Management

• Edit Chapter

Chapter 12: Late talks

Chapter Text

Chapter 12 "Late talks"

...

"This is literally the best couch i have ever sat on, where did you buy this shit?"

Nick could only stare in confusion and a bit scared as he could not let the words come out.

His eyes were not lying, Roy Briggs indeed was sitting on his couch with his feet on the table like he owned the place.

He was wondering his options carefully. His tranquilizer was on his belt, clearly visible for Roy to see.

"Dude, are you going to answer me here? You were way more outgoing back at the station. I just asked a casual question and you look like you've seen a ghost."

Nick had no idea what was going on. Briggs was supposed to be in Sahara square station for all he remembered, waiting for trial at attempted assault on an officer of law.

How had he escaped from there? It would be impossible. The station was running full of officers around the clock. Whatever he was here for, it was not in good intent. The only reason he could think of, was that he was here to finish where he left off. He could feel the sweat run down on his forehead as the Rottweiler just smiled to him casually. Okay Wilde, carefully reach for your gun. Tranquilize him before he realizes it. You can do it.

He quickly shifted his paw to his holster and on the grip of his gun before Roy's eyes widened and he jumped up from the couch at the same time,

his other paw also on the grip of huge hunting knife on his belt. He let out an aggressive and commanding snarl to him.

"DON'T."

Nick started to wonder his odds at the moment, freezing his movements on the spot. Both of their paws were on the grip of their weapon. The question was, who would be faster? The fox felt his heart beat faster as he was getting more nervous to put his paw into action under the Rottweilers intimidating gaze. The dog spoke quietly.

"You know how this is going to end Wilde. You know how fast i am with my beauty's. Don't make me use you as a fucking dartboard fox. That is not why i am here. How about you chill from that cop mode of yours. It fits way better for your partner."

Nick knew that he might have been right about him losing this little standoff. He was way too close at him, and he could practically see his own reflection from Roy's knife. Nick spoke nervously as the idea of that cold steel piercing him shivered his mind.

"Then what are you here for Briggs?" He tried to sound confident but his voice trembled a bit as he spoke.

"Oh so now we are talking like civilized fucking mammals huh? I would love to continue this conversation with much less tension, so i would suggest you take your paw off your gun.

Now Wilde."

"You broke into my home." Nick spoke back.

"Well no shit Sherlock. You are one sharp ex hustler. But when it comes to sharp, so is Trina here." Roy spoke and let his claws run in piano motion at his knives handle.

"Roy, you know that i have to tranquilize you and arrest you."

Nick said, trying to sound confident.

"For eating your sandwich and tinkering your door? Kinda sounds like a fucking harsh punishment to me."

"Stop playing games Roy, tell me a reason to not to pull this gun out!"

He could feel the fear getting over bearing as he kept looking at Roy's big knife.

Roy stared back and could see that Nick was going to do it at any moment. The fox was scared for his life as he stared at the defying mammal in the eye,

wondering if this was going to be the last day in his life. He knew that Roy would hit first, he was way too nervous to probably even hit him with his gun. And he was also injured. In all this hassle,

he might had opened his wound accidentally, as he felt his white shirt getting wet from his side. The doctor did say to avoid fast moves for the first day. All he could think about at this moment was Judy. What he would give right now to see her for the last time before this all just ends.

He was going to die in his own apartment by maniac with a knife. He never figured that it would go like this. Still, he did not intend to go down without a fight.

It took Roy a moment to pay attention that the white long sleeved shirt that fox had on started to from a large red spot on his left side.

He did not know what to think of it but spoke quietly, almost trying to calm him down.

"Rough day at work?"

Nick felt his paw tremble on the handle and suddenly Roy sighed.

"Look dude, i am not here to kill you. Not here to hurt you. Nothing like that. If i wanted you dead, you would be cold already. So just fucking trust me here okay? I know that you don't believe me since... Well i haven't proven myself very trustworthy. But anyway, you have clearly a big ass cut on your side and you are right now ruining your floor. As much as i love seeing red, that shit is hard to clean from mat. How about gentle-mammals truce? On my honor. If i take out my knife right now and put it on the table, you do the same with your weapon. And then we can talk about why I'm here. Deal?"

"How did you even get my address? You break into my home and wait here armed to the teeth and you expect me to believe that you mean no harm?

I should just take your word for it?"

Nick felt as the panic was hitting him. He might have been a cop but he was nowhere brave as Judy when it came to facing situations like these. He felt a bit pathetic. She would had started blasting the dog already. Him on the other hand, had his paw shaking as he feared to get gutted any second now.

"Do you have a choice?" Roy asked calmly.

Nick did not know how to respond but Roy did sound sincere when he said that he meant no harm.

But letting his guard down for a trick was not very smart idea either.

"We both know that it's not your only knife Roy." Nick pointed out.

The large smile came on his muzzle and he chuckled.

"That is indeed true but you understand what i meant. I might be a criminal but i do have sense of honor. I already have told you that. If i put my knife down first, i expect that you don't play me dirty and do the same with your gun. This is from one male to another. That is the road i suggest for you, since we both know that the other road is way more... Sharp."

Nick knew that he had no choice. All he could do was to trust this violent mammal. Nick felt his heart skip a beat as Roy slowly pulled his large knife out of the handle and striking it lightly on Nick's table, making it stand proudly on it's spot. Roy gave wicked smile and rolled his paw to Nick's way before speaking.

"We cool bruh?"

Nick gave one hesitating look as Roy still kept eye on his paw like a hawk.

He swallowed a bit and slowly pulled the gun out with his paw, carefully laying it on the table next to Roy's knife.

Roy spoke out, clearly in a bit of relief.

"That wasn't so hard now was it?"

"What do you want?" Nick asked nervously.

"Well my my, what's with all these straight questions? If i were you, i would suggest checking on that wound of yours. Maybe grab yourself a beer? Then we can talk."

Nick took a look at his shirt and winced as he saw the red spot widen and dripping down his pants now. He did not feel much pain because of the strong painkillers but he had to check the situation. He kept his eyes warily on the dog and started to unbutton his shirt, making his way to the bathroom. The idea of turning his back to unpredictable mammal scared him, but he just had to trust him. Nick slowly opened the bathroom door and completely took off his shirt. The wound had not opened completely but couple of stitches had opened under the white bandage. Great. Nick winced as he put back the bloody bandage and spoke from the bathroom.

"Roy, you know that by escaping Sahara square station, it's only matter of time before you get caught."

"I didn't escape shit. I was released." Nick heard from the living room.

Nick slowly turned around and walk'd to the door.

"... What?"

"Yeeeeh, wonders how the morals can be bend down by loads of cash. Someone very influential bunny that we both know, came to bail me out from the place with civilized words spoken behind closed doors and money. All charges dropped. This happened the same day you guys sent me there."

Nick's jaw went down as he was pondering what he had just said.

"You tried to kill me!"

"Nownow, to be truly honest with you, i wasn't."

"Oh so i was just dreaming then, my bad."

"Look dude, i respect your profession. I have nothing but respect for police. It may seem that i tried to kill you that night but all i did was stall you guys for pursuing my employer. I did my job. All that slash and dash was for show. I was never trying to kill you."

"Now i just think you are making stuff up. You threw a knife at me. It almost hit me. I am pretty sure that you were trying to hit me-"

Suddenly Roy's expression moved to serious and he grabbed the knife that he had sunken into his table to his paws.

Nick felt his heart stop as he saw this. Perfect. He had fallen for the trap. He had let his guard down and now he was going to pay for it. Great cop you are Nick.

Roy gave a small smile and took a full strength swipe, making the large knife do a spinning fly through his living room, but instead of targeting Wilde,

he aimed straight at the middle spot in his front door, making a loud noise as it hit the door and sank into the wood. Nick only stared at his front door with his muzzle open and then innocent looking dog on the couch.

"What on earth are you doing?!" Nick ask'd in fear as he stared at the dog.

"Proving myself to you. Go to your front door." He commanded.

Nick just stared at the dog and then gazed at the knife that had sunk into his front door. What trick was this?

"Why?"

"I saw a fly on your door. It has been buzzing there for a couple of whiles. I'm pretty sure it died. Actually one hundred percent sure. But i want you to go check."

Nick gave confused look and still stood on his place.

"What are you waiting for? Go and check. You are living mammal, not a statue." The dog laughed.

Nick gave an nervous look at him and walk'd slowly to the door, still keeping his eyes carefully on Roy.

He reached the door and the cocky sounding voice spoke from behind him.

"I hit that little fucker didn't i?"

Nick turned to look at the door and saw the spot where the knife had landed. He leaned closer and saw as Roy's knife had nailed a fly by the middle. The fly's other wing had also cut off. His muzzle dropped even more and he turned to the dog.

Despite his lingering fear of the situation he could not help but to be impressed.

"No way." Nick said in disbelief.

"Yes way! See now? I don't miss, unless.. I do it on purpose. Convinced?"

Nick stared at the smiling dog at his couch and saw evil look on his face.

"More convincing? Wait Wait, let me show you something cool! Go get an apple from your fridge and put it on your head and go stand where you stand right n-"

"NONONNOo ok ok, fine, i believe you." Nick waved his paws.

"Good, glad that we cleared that out Nicky boy. Now, how about you sit your butt on this couch here and i patch your wound up?"

Nick gave confused look at the sudden odd offer.

"Come again?"

"You are scared Wilde. Not deaf. I said that i patch your wound up. Chill out."

"You? Patching my wound up?" Nick pointed his claw at the Rottweiler in disbelief.

"I can always make more holes in you if that is what your prefer." Roy spoke mischievously.

"I think i can do it myself... I'm not really comfortable around you, no matter how much you seem to try convince me. I still don't know why you are in my home, why you broke in and i would like an explanation buddy." Nick said after a while.

"You sound like my ex. Stop being such a pussy and get in here. Do you know how hard it is to stitch yourself up? Your paws are all shaky already, and you are leaving a trail of blood all over the place right now. You can't do it yourself.

You would just mess that shit up. Don't turn my noble offer down now."

Nick look'd at the mischievously smiling dog with nervous look and then sighed.

"Fine."

"That's my boy! Oh, and do take my knife out of your door. I need something to cut the oranges. You have quite a lot of good fruits. I love fruits. Nothing beats a good orange. Can i have some of that fish steak of yours too?"

Roy ask'd and rubber his stomach with his paw.

"Wow, by all means, eat all my food won't ya?" Nick rolled his eyes as he took out the knife off from his door.

"Thanks dude, the hospitality is key to a good conversation and all that shit. Can i have an boiled egg too? You have salt?"

For the first time since Nick had entered his apartment he gave a small amused smile for dogs behavior. At least someone else had passion for food too. This ended up being probably the weirdest evening he ever had. Not that the whole day had been just normal. It had been complete roller coaster.

AFTER 10 MINUTES _

"Stop squirming and be a male, you supposed to be a super cop, being on tv, magazines and stuff."

"Oh I'm sorry if i feel that you having sharp things and poking my side is disturbing idea." Nick rolled his eyes.

"You going to let me do this or not?" Roy asked with frustration.

Nick sighed and gave him free paws to do his work with needle and string.

"Okay, but i hope i know what you are doing."

"I'm pretty sure that i do... I always liked doing this stuff when i was a kit."

"Patching up others wounds?" Nick asked in confusion.

"Nope. Watching when someone did it and learn from the side. So i too could use this skill myself someday. Doctors are miracle workers."

"I have hard time believing you watching hospital series from tv Roy." Nick chuckled in amusement.

"... I was in the actual hospital watching all this stuff. My mother was a doctor." Roy said quietly and put the string through the needlepoint.

He did not look at Nick but the fox could see that he was wondering something with his ears now drooping, going quiet for a while from the subject,

that he clearly now regretted bringing out. Must have opened bad memories. Nick spoke suddenly in sincere tone.

"I'm sorry about your parents Roy. I read what happened...

No one deserves that."

Roy stopped what he was doing for a while and the spoke after a while like it was nothing.

"Yea yea don't get all touchy, shut up."

Nick was quiet for a while. He felt a small sting as the dog put the needle through the wound, starting to close it.

"So, you want to clear about why are you here again?" Nick spoke suddenly.

"We could skip straight to that sure, but i like a little chit chat. Don't be so fucking uptight. You haven't even tried my omelette dude. It's tight, i swear."

"I'm not exactly hungry. I have eaten quite a lot today."

"Your loss."

"Roy, just tell me why are you here?"

After a while Roy chuckled and put the needle through his side again, making Nick wince a little.

"You in a hurry somewhere dude?"

"Buddy, no offense but, what i've seen from your files and history, tells me to be little on the edge. I'm not very comfortable around mammals that have tried to kill other mammals. Figuring from you, you have done all that for money. So you see why I'm a bit concerned about you being in my apartment."

"... None of the things i've done have been about the money."

"So you just really like stabbing mammals for fun huh?"

After a while Roy stopped fixing Nick's side for a while and look'd at him with a bit of anger.

"What is it that you've thought i've done in the past that was so bad? You are known from your past too Wilde. So don't act all mighty and mighty now that you are cop. That shit is making you sound fucking hypocritical." He said angrily.

Now Nick look'd a bit annoyed and spoke back with defensive tone.

"Well the difference is that i hustled popsicles, sold furniture's, electronics and cheated in gambling.

We are not the same Briggs. I never hurt mammals.

So you are sounding a little dumb, trying make my actions feel equal to yours."

After a while Roy spoke in frustration.

"Things are not always so black and white Wilde.

All i have is done is for a reason."

"Sure." Nick said casually, clearly not believing him at all.

Roy sighed and spoke with angry tone again to the fox.

"Okay! Shoot away the most bad things you know about me, that is so terrifying. Maybe i can clear them up a little bit."

Nick rolled his eyes and spoke.

"That is quite a list to go trough Roy."

"Try me."

Nick started to wonder the files he had read about the dog and spoke the first that came to his mind.

"At the age of seven-teen, you attacked a buffalo bar tender with a dining knife at Sahara square-"

"That asshole robbed my money!"

"What?" Nick raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Yeah you heard me. His name was Larry Lake. He was known to get his customers drunk and when none of them watched,

he would steal their money from their wallets if they passed out. I had made my first month pay by working at the tundra-town docs as kit who helped to carry all these crates and stuff. I wanted so celebrate my first payment by going to that bar, and he told me that i could drink there even if was underage. I was getting a bit tipsy after couple of shots, and he saw his opportunity to grab my wallet. But even if i was drunk i knew what was happening. So i gave him a little poke."

Nick shook his head and spoke in confusion.

"So you thought that giving a poke with dining knife was good payback for a wallet robber."

"Dude, i wasn't the only one of his victims. He had done that to countless of mammals. I just showed him a taste of karma, that is all. Go on with your list."

Nick sighed and wondered again about the reports.

"You stabbed a Cheetah named Riley Saint-bridge at the age of nineteen, trying to kill him-"

"He beated my sister." Roy stated bluntly.

Nick froze on his spot and closed his muzzle. Roy just look'd back with serious gaze before he continued.

"It was around January if i remember. After folks were gone,

I tried to do the best for my sister. She was only thing i had left after all. While i was living in the streets, she had finished schools and moved to nice looking apartment on Tundra town. We lived very different lives but we spent a lot of time together. Amy is her name. She always insisted for me to live with her but i didn't want to bring my problems to her. It was just like one of the other nights i had. I went to visit her with a movie and all that. One of her favorites if i recall. She opens the door and tells that it's not a good time. I see that her eye is black and her bottom lip was bleeding. I had never seen her so scared in my life. She begged me to leave. Told me that it was not a good time and such bullshit.

Then i hear a scream from her apartment. A voice of Riley fucking Saint-bridge, a male my kind sister dated, had apparently beaten her up. I enter the apartment by force and i see this punk in his underwear in the living-room, his paw on a fist and talking to me like i was nothing. In his words he told me that my bitch of a sister had trashed his precious little sports car that his snob parents had bought him. Riley had borrowed it to her.

Apparently, the car meant more to him than my sister. He had not even asked was she okay when Amy called her about the accident on a road.

My sister started crying and sobbed that it was an accident. Then Riley tells me that she should had taken notes how to not drive like an idiot,

like her parents did. After that he told me to fuck off, so he could keep teaching lessons to her. I had heard enough. I snapped and attacked him with kitchen knife. My sister had to pull me away from him,

crying in panic like last day on earth. The asshole deserved it. I was not going to kill him... I just.. Whatever.."

Nick just stared at the Rottweiler wide eyed and could not figure out what to say.

After a while Nick spoke, careful with his words.

"You didn't have to stab him."

"Maybe not. But at least i might had taught him some manners."

"That is... One way to look at it." Nick said quietly.

"So you want to keep going with the shit i've done?

More explanations?"

Nick sighed and spoke calmly.

"Okay, maybe you had your reasons for the things you did.

But that does not take away the fact that what you did was overreacting."

"You might see it that way, but tell me Wilde. If someone you cared about more than anything in this world, would be treated like that, would you be able to contain yourself?"

Nick tried to speak but went quiet as Judy came to his mind.

He would do anything for her. Roy had a point. The silence and uncertain look from a fox only made the dog's point.

"Thought so." Roy said quietly.

The room was quiet for a while and Roy finally finished with the last stitch, completely closing Nick's wound from his side.

"Aaaannd done." Roy said with proud tone and cut the rest of the string.

"Thanks." Nick said calmly and stared at the tv for a while. Roy packed all the paramedic stuff on the small case at the table and spoke.

"You are welcome Nicky boy. Now let us reeeelax and keep watching the game. I really hope that Sahara Hawks win this one. You watch football?"

"Not really."

"Knew it. You didn't strike me as a type."

After a moment of awkward silence and them both staring at the tv, Nick cleared his throat and spoke.

"Now that we got all that out of the way, you want to tell me why you are here Briggs?"

The dog yawned and grabbed a pawfull of potato chips from the table, munching them loudly and spoke.

"You really are not enjoying my company aren't you?"

"No offense Roy but you are the last kind of mammal i should hang out with like this. Since you work for Levron now and all that, you are once again on ZPD's radar. You had chance to go to jail and do your sentence. But instead you take offer to join the mobs and break into mammals homes. You see my point here buddy?" Nick gave a nervous smile as Roy kept munching his potato chips.

"You are not fun in your free-time as i imagined Wilde."

"You got me all wrong here Roy, i can be very entertaining and in most cases, even this would be quality time among friends and we could play poker and i would clean you from all your money-"

"Keep dreaming fox. I am ace at poker." Roy chuckled and rolled his eyes.

Nick gave a small smile and spoke again.

"But the fact is, you are part of the mob and i am an officer.

Those two don't go well together."

"Details." Roy stated bluntly and took a bite of orange while focusing on the game on tv.

"THAT WAS A GOAL RIGHT THERE! THIS JUDGE HAS BEEN BRIBED! COME ON!" Roy suddenly almost jumped from his sport at the couch and after a while calmed down and sat back on the couch, mumbling something in frustration.

"Roy? Your reason to be here?" Nick ask'd, trying to get his attention from the game in tv.

"Fine, fine. I guess we could talk about that."

Roy said in frustration.

"By all means." Nick said in slight relief.

"I was sent here by Levron. That you already probably guessed, didn't you?"

Nick was quiet for a while and waited him to keep going.

"My release had a price of its own. When Levron came to get me out, he required that i take a job as hired staff for him. Choosing between jail and a new job offer was easy. He told me that he was going to meet you and your bunny partner at some dance party after couple of days. Did ya meet him?"

"We met." Nick rolled his eyes as the image of the annoying bunny flirting with Judy came to his mind.

"Well good. He told me that his plan was to tell you and your partner to back off from the case. How did it go? Did your candy butt partner accept?"

Roy chuckled and got a bit angry look from him.

"Her name is Judy. Judy Hopps."

"Yeahyeah. You know that she's pretty hot for a bunny right? Just had to point that out. Damn those curves, looks just as good in live as in tv. If i was a bunny i would ravage that-"

"Is there a point you trying to get here in a near future?"

Nick tried to hold back his anger.

"There is. Levron phoned me a moment ago and told that his meeting with you both had gone just like he expected. But he was not disappointed, sounded pretty happy actually. He wanted me to give you something."

Roy put his other paw in his black hoodie, reaching for something. Nick jumped a bit, earning amused look from the dog.

"Really dude?" Roy laughed and pulled out an envelope. Nick watched carefully as Roy handed it over to him, following his reaction carefully.

Nick read the letters written on the fat envelope.

"I really do promise that our friendship would be worth a while. Consider it an welcoming gift officer Wilde.

If you are interested, this is just a start for what we can offer. Have a good day."

Nick gave odd look at Roy who clearly was waiting him to open up the letter.

The fox swiped the top open with his claw and put his paw inside. He slowly pulled out a thick pile of cash from the letter,

looking at it wide eyed. Roy just smiled as he watched Nick go trough the money with his paws, knowing already what this was all about.

"... Five hundred thousand." Nick said in disbelief as he finished counting the money.

"You ever had that much money in your paws Wilde?"

"... No."

"Shiii, if i was you, i would kiss morals goodbye. With that money you would never have to worry about anything.

That is one hell of a pay upfront. What are you going to buy dude?"

"Nothing." Nick said bluntly and put the money back into the envelope, closing it and trowing it to Roy's lap.

Roy watched at him like he was crazy.

"Are you insane? That shit right there is five hundr-"

"I know what it is. I don't care. When i was hustler, i thought money is the only thing in this world that mattered.

It doesn't. Life matters. It took me a good friend to make me see it. For the first time in my life i feel like I'm doing something that matters, making difference and helping mammals. You might not see it, but I'm not throwing it away for money. I am happy the way i love now. You can tell Levron to keep his petty bribes. The ZPD will catch him sooner or later."

Roy gave doubting look at him and raised his eyebrow.

"Well color me impressed Wilde, i was pretty sure that you would take the offer right away. You must have had a hell of a friend if he managed to feed all that crap to you."

Roy chuckled in amusement and took a bit from his fish stake at the table.

"... So this is all why you are here for? Bring bribes from Levron?"

"Yep."

"What exactly did he expect me to do if i took the money?"

"I don't know."

"... Shouldn't you be going back to tell him that i refused?"

"He already knew you probably would. Said that it was worth a shot at least.

I'll call him at some point. You got anymore fish?"

Nick stared at the tv for a moment and then spoke.

"Why are you still here?"

"What do you mean?"

"You did what was ask'd to. Why are you still in my apartment Roy?"

Roy gave an annoyed look at the fox as he munched an orange.

"And here i thought that we were getting along. I patched your wound up and all, aren't you at least going to let me finish watching the game?

The Hawks are winning."

"Look Roy, buddy. As long as would love to hang out and all, i am kinda tired. I have fought with rhino and bear this evening and ran like hell, so i would very much like to catch sleep for tomorrow."

"I saw the news. I believe you."

"Good. So you catch my drift here?"

"Fiiiine, I'll leave. Sheesh Nicky boy, you should learn how to relax a bit. You always push your friends away like this just after a couple of minutes?"

"I wouldn't exactly consider us as friends Roy..."

"Shame. I am useful as a friend."

"I'm sure you are." Nick said and rolled his eyes.

"Well, I'll guess I'll bounce then." Roy said and give himself a long nice stretch, making his joints pop loudly.

"Thank you." Nick smiled a bit and knew that he would have to call the station right away after Roy was gone from that door.

If Bogo would act quick enough, they would catch him with nearby officers pretty quickly. He could even reveal the identity of Levron's boss, assuming Roy had met him at some point.

Suddenly Roy gave a wicked smile at him.

"You know Wilde, i think that you just use sleeping as excuse to have some male time by yourself."

"What?" Nick asked in confusion.

"I might had... Went through some of your stuff when i was bored waiting for you. Your laptop was open.

The first thing that i see on the screen is-"

Nick went pale as snow.

"All the porn. My, i wonder if your partner would think if she knew about such a kink of yours... I'm not judging or anything don't get me wr-"

"You went through my personal stuff?!"

"Well i didn't have to go through it, it was quite open for me to see."

"Roy, just get the hell out already. You can take the fish stake with you." Nick mumbled in embarrassment and face-pawed himself.

Roy just chuckled and rose up from his couch, making a long stretch again and inhaling out with satisfaction.

"Mmmmmm, sure. Have a good sleep Wilde. We might meet again sooner than you think. It will be interesting to tell one of the most dangerous mammals in Zootopia how one certain officer could not be bought with half a million."

"... You have met him?" Nick asked.

"Indeed i have." He said mischievously.

Nick said nothing back, because he knew that Roy would not tell anything more about him. He was not that stupid.

Roy just chuckled.

"Till we meet again Nicky boy."

"Yeah, probably at the station, since the first thing you do after dodging the jail is do more crimes right away."

"Smart ass." Roy chuckled and took his knife out of Nick's table, sliding it back to it's holster.

"You are welcome for the food by the way..." Nick said as Roy still munched food from his table.

"Thanks. Oh by the way, i almost forgot." Roy said suddenly and raised his claw up.

"What?"

"Since you didn't take the bribe like he expected, my following orders were to kill you. Sorry nothing personal." Roy said sincerely.

Nick's eyes widened in panic and his brain ceased to function as the situation went upside down in seconds.

Suddenly Roy started to laugh like maniac and pointed at him with his paw.

"You should had seen your face dude Ahahahahahah!"

Nick gave angry look at him and spoke with a bit of panic.

"Not funny Roy! You need some serious help."

Roy wiped the tear from his eye and chuckled.

"I know, but that face goes to my memory vault."

"Just get out already Briggs."

"Fine, fine. I'll let you sleep."

Roy walk'd over to the front door and stopped there for a moment before turning a handle. Nick waited for him to exit but after a while he turned around and spoke.

"You know, i really hope that you cop's know what you are getting into. The mammals that i am working with now are not small players.

These mammals will kill to secure their business. They have done such things in the past. Ruthless as i would say.

And the wolf you are dealing with here. His empire...

ZPD might had taken a way too large piece to chew when it comes to this job."

"You forget that ZPD is now in better shape than ever. Underestimating police is what bites back."

"Or it could all go to hell just by getting rid of the ZPD's finest officer. Someone very close to you every day. Just a thought."

Nick went quiet for a while. He felt aggression growing up inside him and spoke.

"Is that something his organization plans-"

"Look Wilde. Not my words. Just thoughts. All I'm implying is that going against this guy is same as going against mister Big. The deeper you guys dig the more aggressive they get. Just a friendly warning."

Nick said nothing and just stared at him back carefully.

"Do you count yourself as those kinds of mammals Roy? You didn't have to go work with them."

Roy was quiet for a while.

"They gave me an offer i couldn't refuse."

"I refused it."

Roy just stared back for a moment and smiled.

"You totally did. Might have been the stupidest choice i have seen anyone do."

"Doubt that Roy. Not everyone think money is answer to everything."

Roy still gave that doubting look at him like he had hard time believing that Nick actually meant everything what he said.

Roy gave uncertain smile and was about to leave. Suddenly he turned back to Nick and his mood shifted to serious and almost apologizing tone.

"Hey Nicky boy."

"What?"

"I know that you gon call your cop buddies once I'm out and tell everything that happened. I can't allow that.

This area will swarm with police after that, and i don't intend to get caught with five hundred k's in my jacket.

Gotta bounce and lay low you know? So sorry for what i am about to do now buddy. But you wanted to sleep anyway right?

This will guarantee a nice little nap. Nothing personal dude."

Nick saw as Roy spin'd his own tranquilizer on his paws and aimed it at him with smile.

The fox turned to gaze his table. In all this hassle Roy had grabbed it from the table.

Nick's eyes widened as he prepared for impact.

"Roy don't-"

"Sorry buddy. I'll owe you one."

ZAP!

The gun fired a shock projectile straight at Nick, making him jump on the couch with his fur spiked up from all around.

He passed out all floppy on the couch and the silence came to the apartment.

Roy just look'd at the quiet fox on the couch and chuckled a bit like a maniac.

"Sleep tight Wilde." He said and dropped the gun on the floor.

Rottweiler turned to open the front door and closed it behind him with loud click,

his steps disappearing into the hallway.

The hours went on as the only thing that filled the apartment was fox snoring occasionally on the couch.

JUDY'S APARTMENT _

Judy opened the door into her small apartment,

sighing as the same old scenery laid in front of her.

She closed the door and pulled the zipper down from her dress,

making it fall to the floor and her almost bare fur greet the chilly air. The bunny walk'd over to her bed and hopped on it, starting to unbutton her gun's holster from around her leg, throwing it on her nightstand. She fell down on her bed and started to go through the nights events in her head. Bogo had listened the tapes they had recorded around mister Big and Levron. Judy could swear that Bogo was going to snap when he listened the part where Levron subtly tried to tell them to back off from the case. She knew that Levron was connected at the two fighting mammals. But she didn't know how. It was just her instinct talking. But it had not failed her before.

"What a night..." She mumbled by herself and hopped up from her bed, making her way to the bathroom to brush her teeth.

Maybe just a small warm shower would do some good. She had had a long and stressful night and right about now a warming shower felt like a good idea to reward herself.

She closed the bathroom door and turned on a small lever, making the hot water run on the floor, already filling the room with a bit of steam. She sighed as she kept staring herself from the mirror, those lavender eyes staring back at her. All she could feel was how her first mission with her first official team had not been like planned at all. She knew that Bogo was always way too kind for her to say such things but she knew that he was disappointed at tonight's events.

How did Mr Big and Levron know about their plans? The idea of some of her fellow workers working against them made her sad. They were all like family to her. The mammal who did this had to be blackmailed, there was no other way. She had already seen how much power Levron had. It was like the whole case was big puzzle and they only had couple of pieces. Where would they continue from here? Shadowing Levron's every move? It was only thing they had. There had to be something else they could do. Anything.

Judy gave depressed look at her feet and started to unbutton her black bras, making them fall to the floor and revealing her small and perfectly round breasts. She once again stared at the mirror and look'd at herself with almost shy look as the case started to make it's way back to her mind by every moment. It was driving her crazy. Just think of something else. Nick is right, you are way too work addicted. You really don't know how to relax.

The memory that she shared with the fox this night at the car came to her mind, making her feet feel weak.

Those handsome and gentle emerald eyes staring at her.

"Judy. It does not need to be the only dance."

She felt her sad expression to creep as loving smile as those words lingered in her mind.

The memory of his strong paws pulling her against himself and whispering to her ear.

"Well then i would be a poor best friend if i would not guide you through your first one. Just take my paw Judy."

Best friend...

For a moment she felt like crying but forced it back.

Her ears drooped and she sighed deeply.

"You are such a mess Judy..." She muttered and slowly pulled her white panties down on the floor.

She entered under the water and gave pleasurable moan as the warm wave greeted her fur and she closed her eyes.

The thoughts of her living that moment again, dancing slow melody with Nick and feeling his heartbeat against her ear.

His foxy scent filling her mind and his gentle paws against her fur, guiding her carefully on the dance floor. To him it might had been a favor to a friend but to her it was one of the most wonderful moments in her life, as little as it lasted.

She felt the guilty blush creep on her cheeks and her tail wiggle like a drum as she once again started to imagine that warm voice whisper in her ear and how his muzzle would feel rubbing against her neck hungrily, making her neck tickle from his breath.

"Judy..."

She hated herself so much for knowing what was going to happen next.

"Why am i doing this..." She asked quietly in guilt in a quiet bathroom.

"Because you love me you silly bunny..." Nick's imaginary voice whispered in her mind again.

She gave a small whimper as she felt the tingle of getting turned on linger from under her waist, urging her to touch there. Her other paw came to her white furred chest, giving soft squeeze on her breast, earning a small moan from her.

Just as the tingling got harder and aching her touch, she almost felt like waking herself up from a dream.

"... No." She said quietly and stopped herself, her paw middle way to its destination.

She fell to the floor and felt her body tremble as the tears made their way to her eyes by force. She started sobbing quietly covering her face with her paws.

"I can't do this anymore... I am so.. I- i can't!" She made small gasps, trying to contain herself but she couldn't.

She felt so broken and messed up for having these thoughts, day after day after day. She knew that it was only matter of time before she would feel too weird and painful to be around Nick. She had to tell him about these feelings. She had already kept them locked and hidden for half a year. It was somehow still containable when he was in the academy but now that she saw him every day... She had to tell him. She could already feel the pain in her heart as Nick would look at her in awkward and wide eyed look, thinking it was just a joke she would pull on him. After realizing that she was serious, he would freak out and never look at her the same way again.

She knew that those eyes looking at her, holding the rejection, trying to figure out the most gentle way to tell it was not going to work and he just wanted to be friends...

She didn't know what would happen. That's what scared her them most.

"I hate myself..." Judy whimpered on the floor, feeling her running tears calm down after a while, only forming small sobs one after another.

The smiling fox only lingered in her mind as she finally stopped crying.

"Carrots, you know you can tell me everything right? Partners? Right?" she heard Nick's voice tell her warmly and chuckle with that warming voice of his.

"..." Judy only stared at the drain on the floor, taking small breaths and containing herself. Her tired and sad eyes stared at the flowing water, calming her down with its peaceful sound.

"... Right." Judy said with sad tone and sighed, turning the water off from the lever, leaving complete silence in the bathroom.

..

Chapter Management

• Edit Chapter

Chapter 13: Odd behavior

Chapter Text

"Chapter 13"

"Odd behavior"

...

THUD THUD THUD!

No answer.

"Nick, open the door." Judy asked in frustration and tapped her foot on the floor in front of Nick's place.

There was no answer to be heard from the apartment or any sign of mammal coming to answer her call.

Judy groaned and took her cellphone out, going to her connection list and hit the call on Nick's name.

She press'd her ear against the wood and could hear a small vibrating sound near the door.

She didn't know what to make of it. She ended the call and spoke through the door.

"Nick, i have called you like nine times! Clock is ten in the morning! You should have seen Bogo at the bullpen this morning,

he wanted to strangle you for being this late! And i swear that if you are really sleeping, i will strangle you myself!"

Not one word was heard as answer to the bunny and she started to wonder what was going on. Maybe he wasn't in his apartment.

Where could have he left without his cellphone? He knew that he could not skip the work like this without calling it in.

She had asked if he could work tomorrow despite his wound and he had said yes. So why was he not answering the door?

The frustration started to overcome her as she kept tapping her foot on the hallway, wondering what to do next.

"Urgh, this is hopeless..."

Judy groaned and walk'd her way back through the hall to the staircases, thinking if she should check Nick's favorite cafe nearby just in case.

If she was going to find the fox with that smug grin and drinking his coffee, she was going to kick his fox butt in public.

She was just about to make her way down the stairs until her ears twitched a bit. She could hear whistling by someone who was slowly coming up the stairs from the lobby.

The bunny heard the whistling stop and some mammals starting conversation just one floor down.

"Good morning miss Petite, how are you this fine morning?" She could hear a gentle male voice ask from someone.

"I am just fine Luis... Hey ummm... It's probably nothing but i just wanted to inform that i heard odd noises... From one of the apartments last night." The female voice said.

"Voices? What kind of voices?"

"Well, it was sounding like my neighbor had a visitor at late evening and.. I don't know if they were arguing or something,

it might be just my imagination... But i could swear that i heard him yelling something at some point. Then i heard a large sound of something like uhhh... Well i don't know how to describe it but it sounded like a one of those loud weapons that ZPD has. Like in the movies.

But by knowing the fox he might had just play'd those silly video-games of his. Would not be the first time. It sounded so real though."

"Pfft, let me guess... You are talking about Wilde? That damn fox used to keep his next door neighbor awake with those dumb video-games of his.

At least until i gave him a warning about disturbing the personal peace. So it was probably nothing. And i probably know the visitor, it was his loud mouth sand fox friend. Fin-something, i don't know. I still can't believe how that clown ended up in the ZPD. You could practically see that he was up to no good every time he walk'd out of this building."

"That is kind of harsh Luis, he has always been very nice to me." The female voice said sincerely.

"I don't like him. He flirted with my sister once. I was standing right next to her. The nerve. And his smug smile annoys me."

"I think he is kind of sexy in his own way." The female voice giggled.

"Miss Petite, please spare me from such talk..." The male voice said in embarrassment.

"So anyway, i was wondering if you would be so kind and check on my water pipes under my sink. I think that there is something wrong with the water flow..."

"Of course Miss Petite, would be my pleasure."

"Awww, you are the sweetest janitor ever Luis!" The female voice said happily.

Judy ran down the stairs after hearing enough to know that the male was a janitor of the building. He would have the keys to Nick's apartment.

"Excuse me mister!" Judy said as she saw a pretty looking raccoon lady and a male lion on the hallway.

"Officer Hopps?" The lion asked in wonder as the bunny came to them.

"That's me, yeah."

"Wooow, we got tv celebrity in our building... I have to tell Martha about this." The raccoon lady squealed in amazement and got happy smile from the bunny.

"Is there a way i could assist you officer Hopps?" The lion asked happily.

"There is actually. You are the janitor right?"

"Indeed i am."

"You have spare keys to every apartment?"

"Yeah, i do."

"Good. I would be most appreciated if you could open one door for me. The one with the smug smiling fox behind it?" Judy chuckled.

"Nick Wilde?" The lion ask'd.

"The one and only."

"He in trouble or something?" The lion asked in confusion.

"Might be. He didn't show up for work today." Judy rolled her eyes.

"Well, follow me then officer Hopps. I will open the door for you right up."

"Thank you so much." Judy said happily and hopped the stairs up, following the lions lead.

AT THE DOOR _

"Theeeere we go. Damn i have to fix this lock." The lion said after struggling with the key, and finally got a loud click from the door, signaling that the door could be opened now.

"Thanks."

"Have a good day officer Hopps. Glad i could help." The lion said and put the keys in his pocket.

"You too." Judy answered happily and the lion nodded with smile and after a while turned to walk away, disappearing after the corner.

Judy pushed the door open and walk'd into the dark apartment,

closing the door behind her.

Her nose was filled with Nick's foxy scent as she stepped inside. She had only been here once but it felt almost more home than her own place. She turned on the light switch and the lights came on.

The first thing that her eyes noticed was that Nick's tranquilizer was front of her, laying on the floor.

What was it doing there? Go figure.

Her gaze traveled next to it, and Nick's black vest from their last night dance was on the ground, tossed there like a rug. Typical Nick.

Her ears twitched as the sound of the familiar fox was heard, mumbling something distant. The sound was coming in front of her, from the couch.

Was he inside the whole time?!

"You lazy fo-" Judy's frustrated voice caught in her throat as she gazed in front of her.

The fox was indeed laying on the couch, with his pants and white long sleeved shirt still on. But that was not what caught her attention.

She could smell blood. There was clearly visible and large red spot in Nick's left side, having completely ruined his shirt.

The dried red line went all way down his pants too. She laid her eyes in panic on the floor and saw that the small trails of blood were everywhere on the mat and around some parts of the floor.

"NICK!" Judy gasped and ran to the sleeping fox.

She could hear his calm breathing, signaling that he was asleep. This made her relax just a bit, knowing that he was okay at least on some level.

The odd detail was that his red fur was spiked around some areas, looking like he had been electrocuted. What on earth had he been doing?

Her eyes turned to the table, where she could see a first aid kit, with some needles and string next to it.

It didn't take genius to understand that his wound had opened. She felt like blaming herself for this right away.

She should had just helped the fox with the stairs, even if he said he was fine last night and didn't need to be treated like a kit.

She should had known better. Such a dumb bunny.

She had to make sure that he was alright. She was still worried about his condition. The bunny lifted a bit of his white shirt carefully, revealing the small wound on his side.

The fox had indeed managed to fix it, if it had opened. No blood was coming out and everything look'd fine.

Judy sighed in relief and went quiet for a while, just staring at the sleeping fox in the quiet apartment. She let go of his shirt and hid the wound on his side,

starting to wonder what to do now.

The bunny wondered if she should be mad for him at oversleeping like this and being late from work, giving him a lecture about setting example.

Only thing she felt instead was relief that he was okay. That was the most important thing for her. Being late from work was something that happened to everyone at some point.

He must have been just very tired after needling that wound of his up for who knows how many hours. She should probably wake him up.

She just for some reason didn't want to do it just yet. He look'd so peaceful, his chest slightly raising and lowering as he breathed quietly on the couch.

Why did you have to be so damn handsome? Judy shook her head and took a look at her wristwatch. Fifteen minutes over ten. She should give couple of minutes to the fox.

Maybe she should take him to grab some breakfast from the closest favorite coffee place of his and inform Bogo that he had just been very tired. He would understand...

Or maybe not. Knowing Nick, the fox would not even be sorry and would just crack jokes at buffalo's face.

Judy kept staring at the sleeping fox and smiled a bit, just enjoying seeing him this peaceful... He really was in deep sleep. Could probably sleep many more hours if she let him... Judy... you could totally kiss him right now.

"Shut up..." Judy muttered and wanted to hit herself for thinking such things, covering her face with her paws and groaned.

You know you want to. You love him. He would never even know it happened. It would be your little secret. Just kiss him.

But what if he wakes up? Stop thinking these thoughts again. You know better than doing something like that. Besides, it would be unfair. And creepy. And so wrong on so many lev-

"Umnnf... So beautiful... Mhm.." Judy jumped a bit as Nick let out a distant mumbling in his sleep and went quiet again after licking his lips a bit.

I wonder what kind of dreams the fox was having right now? Must be about some vixen considering that smile and talk. Sad that i have to ruin it for him. Sigh...

If only Judy knew that the fox was dreaming about snuggling with the bunny next to him.

"Nick." Judy said loudly, to see if he would wake up so easily.

Not even slightest reaction.

She cleared her throat and decided to try again.

"Nick I'm sorry but you have to wake up."

She sighed after nothing happened and decided to give him a little shaking.

The bunny put her paws on his chest and started to wobble him.

"Nick you have to wake YIP!-" Judy gave a high pitched voice as Nick's paw suddenly scooped her from behind her lower back and made her fall down on his chest,

his arm gently squeezing around her. It took a while for the bunny understand that Nick was indeed still asleep. Did he assume that she was a rabbit pillow or something?! He really was a heavy sleeper-

The fox muttered something distant and a small smile came on his muzzle as he kept breathing calmly like he had done nothing wrong, his paw rubbing against her lower back a bit.

Judy just stared wide eyed, laying on his chest with his arm fully around her, her face only couple of inches away from his. Her nose wiggled partly in panic, knowing how awkward this would look if he woke up right at this moment. How could she explain that?

What should she do?! The fox was in such a deep sleep that he was clearly not going to wake up from even a physical contact like this.

Only a loud yell to the fox came as option. She had to do it.

... Any moment now.

"..." She just couldn't bring her thoughts to action.

... It was that part of her that didn't want this to be over just yet. That stupid little voice that wanted to win every argument in her head. And since fox was not even nearly waking up.. The voice was winning. Just roll with it. Bogo won't be mad if you are just a little late. Just tell that it took your time to locate Nick. Just a little lie. Just lay here for a moment. It won't hurt anyone. Only your dignity a bit.

She thought about snapping out of it and resisting the voice on a last second but gave up to her urge.

The bunny relaxed her tense body against his chest completely, giving a bit affectionate cheek rub against his shirt, inhaling his foxy scent. She felt her own eyelids relaxing as she heard the fox's calming heartbeat against her ear. The deja-vu hit her as this whole thing reminded about their dance all over again. She felt so guilty about doing this right now but part of her didn't. Her tail wiggled rapidly from this affectionate embrace, wanting this moment last as long as possible.

She suddenly spoke without even thinking it.

"I love you."

There. I did it, Judy thought by herself.

"..." No answer or reaction from the fox.

He is asleep it does not count you dumb bunny. You are just fooling yourself.

His foxy scent calmed her down, making her feel hazy and she felt like closing her eyes completely. So close... Just a couple of minutes world.. Please don't wake him up now. Just a little longer. She felt so warm and safe right here, almost feeling like drifting to sleep herself. The bunny almost giggled a bit as she heard Nick mutter something in his sleep again. Was probably talking about something funny, since all she could hear was..

"Umhf... Yesmfhh... C- can i?... I'llmhh just... Little bit..." Nick muttered quietly with a small grin.

Hehe silly fox, probably asking permission to grab some food from the table or something. Must be a really good dr-

Suddenly her eyes opened like a cannon, her irises almost going as small spots as the almost electric and warm jolt went through her body.

She turned her gaze quickly behind her and saw that it had not been just her imagination.

Nick had started to gently rub her wiggling tail, toying with it and fondling it smoothly with his claws. Judy turned her gaze to Nick, AND HE WAS STILL ASLEEP. She almost let out a quiet moan and covered her mouth with her paws.

Judy's face was red as possible, the actual real panic coming to her now. That was her sweet stop among many others, and this was something that just friends were not okay to do. Touching other mammals tail was intimate. She could feel the warm and erotic waves go through her body and mind, turning her into a putty in his gentle fondles. As Nick kept toying with her small tail, smiling happily in his sleep, she hated herself for enjoying it way too much.

It felt so good. Judy knew that this is where the limit of affectionate one sided cuddle time went, as she felt herself suddenly turning on, that devilish tingle coming from down her waist. TIME OUT!

The bunny jumped by force from his warm hold, feeling a bit bad doing it to him. But there had to be some kind of limit.

She gathered herself for a little yell, ready to stop his sleepy time right now.

"NICK WILDE! WAKE UP YOU DAMN SLEEPY FOX!"

It worked. The fox practically jumped in the air, his heart beating like a drum as he shifted his gaze around his apartment in panic.

"What?! Who?! Where?!" Nick yelled and tried to make a sense out of the situation, clearly confused and spooked as hell.

"Relax Nick, you overslept from work." Judy sighed,

trying to calm herself from the warm feeling that still lingered in her wiggling tail.

"Carrots?" Nick asked in confusion and stared at the bunny.

"Look Nick, I'm not mad or anything. Or maybe a little, but you can't skip from work without calling it in. I know you must have been tired,

and i don't blame you but Bogo is not happy. You should have seen him this morning."

It took time for Nick to rewind if last night's visit really happened. His gaze shifted from the bunny to the floor, small trails of blood on his mat and his tranquilizer in front of the door. The spot from Roy's knife was still on his wooden door, as well as the table. Not a dream.

He turned his gaze to Judy and the look was serious. It almost scared Judy a bit for a moment..

"Nick is everything-"

"Fluff, you better call Bogo right away. Tell him that we are coming. I have bad news."

"O-okay i will, but-"

"I was shot with my tranquilizer last night. That is why i overslept. He had it on full power, knowing it would knock me out for long time. That damn dog."

"Wh-What? Who?"

"Roy Briggs! He broke into my apartment last night, waiting for my arrival the whole night! Levron paid him out of the Sahara station!"

Judy's face turned from confusion to serious cop mode in seconds.

"WHAT!?"

ZPD _

Nick opened the door to the bullpen, gazing at the familiar room with casual smile, Bogo staring him at the end of the room like a hawk.

Oliver, Luke, Rasheed, and Hailie were all present at the room, giving him a worried look, clearly not knowing what was going on. Bogo spoke right away as fox was halfway the room with the bunny behind him.

"Explanation for being late Wilde?! Hopps told me on the phone that you two would be here in two minutes to explain something urgent. Talk."

Nick spoke with that grin of his, signaling Judy that his casual self could not resist little teasing even in the situation like this. Unbelievable.

"Good and fresh morning to you too chief. It is a wonderful day outside isn't it?"

"... Wilde do not make me put you on parking duty for the rest of the-"

"Finefine, grumpy as always. Did you happen to know that Sahara square station released Roy Briggs the same actual day that we sent him there?"

"... WHAT?" Bogo asked in confusion.

"Yeah. Turns out that Levron bailed him out, and in return he would have to join their little organization, doing who knows what?

Why did the officers in Sahara square stay silent about his release? Kind of out of the protocol right?"

"How... how did you come to know all this? If that is true, i will get to the bottom of it! But how does this concern about you being late from work Wilde?" The buffalo ask'd, everyone else waiting his answer in the room with same interest.

"Well turns out that Levron sent Briggs to break into my apartment, waited for me to arrive from the dance the whole evening, and offer me a half million bucks to bail myself out of the investigation, plus work for them as undercover cop, doing who knows what... I politely refused of course."

Bogo's eyes widened after he realized that the fox was not joking around.

"He did what?!-"

"Offered me a half million yes, after i refused, he umm... shot me with my own tranquilizer, to make sure i would not call my department about catching him in time if any patrol cars were around. So that is why i overslept. I guess full blast with tranquilizer can do that. Oh, and he also ate almost all of my food.

Even my favorite fish stake."

The room was quiet for a while as everyone soaked in what Nick had just said. For a moment Judy could swear that Bogo would have killed Roy if he was present.

"He shot you. A police officer. And offered you bribes."

"Yeeep, that was pretty much it. He also told me that he had met the wolf we are after. He did not reveal details of course, but he warned me that he is just as dangerous as mister Big, if even worse. If they were ready to offer me such amount of money,

i think he is not joking around. The annoying bunny associate of his had even left me a note with the money, saying that accepting the bribe would be only beginning of things they would be able to offer for me. Briggs said that Levron pretty much knew that i would refuse the offer, just like we did at the dance festival. I think he is almost just joking around with these offers, just testing the waters and such. Toying with us, as i would say."

Bogo face pawed himself, trying to contain his anger from the situation as news got worse by the second. Everyone in the room were quiet as possible, muttering between each other,

waiting for the buffalo's reaction to all this. They heard him speak quietly, trying to contain himself.

"I swear i will make that bunny's and his wolf's life's a living hell when i get the evidence... Assaulting and bribing my officers..."

"Chief, how do we proceed from here?" Judy suddenly ask'd, also feeling the anger that the dog had assaulted someone she loved, and got away with it.

Chief turned to her and thought for a while and sighed in frustration.

"Right now as much as i hate it, there is not much that we can do. We have no actual evidence that Levron was behind this, even if i do believe officer Wilde.

By getting Briggs back to our station, we could get him to confess and tell everything. But he must be laying low out of our radar right now. He is not stupid. So i don't have high hopes of finding him soon. But i inform all the patrols that he is officially wanted now for assaulting an officer and attempted bribing. Still, i have to give it to them, they played this one well and carefully. But the more cocky Levron gets by toying with my department like he has since the day he entered the ZPD, the more sloppy he gets. His lawyers can't save his fur forever. Sooner or later he makes a mistake."

"But chief, you forgot that they also have Mayor by his tail. That changes things." Judy pointed out.

Bogo sighed and knew that it was the worst weapon against them that the unknown wolf and his organization had.

"I know Hopps. As much i would not like to conflict against the mayor, there is always option to bring public his association with mobs.

We could elect a new mayor that would take his place. Someone that cannot be extorted by criminals."

"That seems... Kind of extreme. Mayor Lionheart is not a bad mammal. I know that he is not doing this from his free will." Judy said in concern.

"I know Hopps... Look, it is not something i wish to do but it is an option that we may end up using in the worst case. But let's not run ahead of ourselves for now."

The fox was following the conversation from the side and started to think should he point out any more details about last night's visit that might help them with the case. The one thing that bothered him the most since the car trip back to ZPD, was Roy's words to him at his apartment door moments before leaving.

"Or it could all go to hell just by getting rid of the ZPD's finest officer. Someone very close to you every day."

The words haunted him as he gazed at the beautiful bunny standing next to him, talking to Bogo with that furious cop mode of hers,

already probably full of ideas about proceeding forward with the case. Something hit himself at that moment, the feeling that he was not comfortable with.

Fear. Not for himself but for Judy. If these dangerous mammals would pay personal visit to her like they did to him but tried to...

Hurt her or worse, just because they felt that their organization was too threatened by her and her capabilities and reputation.

If anything like that happened... He would lose his mind. And by knowing Judy and her brave nature, she would never consider even taking protection to her home door. She would challenge the criminals to try her. She would not lay low, not even if it was insisted. She did not know it herself, but she was potential target and high threat to the unknown wolf and Levron. Nick knew that even if Levron tried to act like he did not take him or her seriously, he knew better than that.

Nick wondered his options as these grim and scary thoughts kept bothering him. He would have to tell Bogo.

"Nick what do you think?" Judy ask'd from the fox that was zoning out again, waking him up to present.

"Yeah umm... I don't know whiskers. Whatever you prefer."

"Huh? Nick, i was asking you what you think we should do?"

"I think Hopps might be onto something here Wilde. Pay attention and stop day dreaming." Bogo said to him.

"We should umm... Maybe take a break."

"What?" Judy asked in confusion.

It took a moment for Nick to realize he had actually just said that aloud. Dammit.

"I uhh... Excuse me for a moment carrots. Chief? May i talk with you in private? In your office if possible? It is umm... Most urgent business."

Everyone gave a confused look at the nervous looking fox and Bogo was the most taken back from the sudden request from the fox.

Especially as it was in serious tone and coming from the fox who was never serious.

Judy was wondering Nick's odd behavior change and spoke.

"Nick, is something wr-"

"Yes Judy, everything is alright. I just need a quick word with chief here." Nick tried to sound like there was nothing to worry about,

using her real name and all. Judy already knew the fox too well, and knew when he was wearing that mask of his to hid how he was really feeling.

Nick felt the pressure under Judy's studying gaze. Damn those enchanting lavender eyes. Just say yes Bogo, i can't handle that gaze anymore.

"I guess we could talk officer Wilde. I trust that is important if you want to tell this in private. At ease everyone, i will be back soon.

Understood?"

"Yes chief!" Everyone but Judy said at the same time. She had her concerned eyes at Nick the whole time.

The chief nodded and made his way to the door, the fox closely behind him.

After entering to hallway, Bogo closed the door behind them and the quietness settled in the bullpen.

Oliver spoke suddenly, speaking from everyone's behalf.

"Huh. Wonder what that was all about?"

No one had an answer for that one.

BOGO'S OFFICE _

The buffalo entered the quiet officer with Nick on his tail. The fox closed the door behind them and made his way to the chair,

waiting for Bogo to settle on his seat as well. Nick could already see that Bogo was frustrated about being bothered like this,

especially when he had not even told a reason why he wanted to talk. He had other things to do. Like calling to Sahara square department and dig out why he had not been informed about Briggs's release. But this was something that he had to bring to the table right now. Bogo had to understand.

Bogo was about to start talking until when suddenly his phone released a sound. It was Clawhouser.

"Umm, chief Bogo, the reporter from Zootopia times is here to interview about the new officers that you hired.

Remember? Her camera crew is waiting outside right as we speak. What do i tell them?"

From buffalo's expression, Nick knew that he had forgotten such a thing. It was custom to give press announcement if more than two officers had joined the force at the same time. More friendly faces of ZPD's papers always interested the public.

"Tell them to wait at least five-teen minutes. I am kind of occupied at the moment with everything. Understood?"

"Yes chief."

The conversation ended and Bogo turned his gaze to Nick.

"So officer Wilde, time is essence here. Speak out. What is it that you wanted to tell me?"

For a moment Nick thought about if he really should tell him about it... But his paranoid thoughts gave him no choice.

"It's about the visit i had last night. There are some things that Roy told me... That i did not want to tell to everyone at the room just now.

I think it's something i should tell to you personally. I did not want to freak anyone out."

Nick had Bogo's full attention now, since the fox was for the first time having a serious conversation with him, absent of his usual annoying sarcasm and jokes.

"Proceed."

"... Chief... As dangerous and unpredictable Briggs is known to be, he was honest with me last night about many things. He is not completely bad mammal,

even though he almost ended up stabbing me when i was about the arrest him the moment i saw him... In middle of that my wound opened. As weird as it sounded,

he even offered to fix my wound and i accepted." Nick said awkwardly and partly in embarrassment.

"... Seriously?" Bogo asked in disbelief.

"He is not completely as bad as he might had first seemed. He is just driven by money and nothing else. I.. Kinda know how that feels. But anyway, none of it was personal for him.

But the point here is, he told me something that i... Something that bothers me a lot."

"Which is?"

"Chief... I think they plan on possibly..."

Nick was quiet for a second, wondering how to put this out the best way possible. After a while he spoke.

"Hurting Judy."

Bogo was quiet for a while and look'd a little taken aback for a while.

"What do you mean?"

"He told me that he had already seen glimpse of the wolf's and Levron's organization. He told me that these mammals do not fear to.. Make some of us disappear if..

We dig too deep. I know that he meant it. I don't know if this was something that they exactly have been actually planning but.. After he told that it was useless to chase their organization... That it was too big for us to handle... Trying to intimidate me or not, i told him back that ZPD is stronger right now. More than it ever has. After that he said the thing. He said that... It could all go to hell just by getting rid of the ZPD's finest officer. Someone very close to you every day."

Nick could see the anger spark in Bogo's gaze.

"... Are you telling me that they plan to murder Hopps?"

Nick look'd worried for a while, wondering that himself.

"I.. I can't be really sure. He told me that they were not HIS words. Which means that it was possibly someone's idea from their organization.

And think about it. It would be perfect blow. She is the face of the ZPD. She is one of the most famous mammals in whole Zootopia. The things that she has done are written in history. If they would succeed at taking a life from someone so important, not one officer or mammal dared to defy them ever again."

"Mr Big would never allow it. I heard the tapes when you both talked to Garlow and Rollins. Judy herself confirmed me after i took her to my office that she is a part of Big's family,

as wicked as it sounds to be as police officer. But it is also very useful to us. He would go to war-"

"How can you be so sure?! He would gain just as much from her assassination. He is a mobster! Mobsters are not trustable mammals. You know this!

They only think about money, and things that benefit their interest! If Judy was out of picture, he would no longer have to work with the police in any way.

He is known to give us information about crimes that are not connected to him, and in silence return we let his organization be, as hypocrite as it makes us sound..."

"Now now Wilde, that is not-" Bogo tried to calm him down but Nick kept going.

"After she would be gone, he would not have to give us anything, and no one from the ZPD would dare to cross him anyway! Chief can't you see that-"

"Officer Wilde." Bogo said sternly, making him go quiet.

The buffalo spoke after Nick had calmed down a bit from this sudden emotional outburst.

"You know that what you are saying now is not from professional aspect. It is personal. I can see the difference. Calm down."

For a while Nick wanted to protest more but knew that Bogo was right. He did not mean everything he said. He was just scared for Judy, and it made him paranoid.

"Yeah i... I'm sorry chief. I just-"

"You care about your partner. Just like you should. It is good trait to have as police officer Wilde. But trust me when i say that Big would not let her death slide. I have met him personally. For a mobster, he is reasonable. His organization does not spread violence or drugs. That is the main point what separates him from the Wolf we are looking for right now. These two mammals are not the same."

"I know. But there is something we have to do. If he warned me about his employers already being nervous and planning possibly doing something to Judy, we have to take it seriously." Nick pleaded.

"Look, for now, there is not much we can do about this, as grim as it sounds. Threats have to be taken seriously, but i don't believe that they have guts to do such a horrible thing. It would drive the city out of control. It would be chaos."

"... I know, but are we just going to ignore this? Are we going to just push the investigation forward like none of this happened?!"

"... No Wilde. Since things are now heated as they are, and we really have no major leads, more than stalking Levron and waiting any kind of tips that we can get,

i think it would be for the best that we freeze this investigation from Hopps FOR A MOMENT. Just as a protocol. She won't like it but we have to play for sure. I'm going to put you and her to do normal patrolling around Zootopia for the couple of following days. If something new comes up that would lead us closer to catching the wolf and Levron, we can get back to it in a week. But for now it is safest to keep her at normal peacekeeping. I will figure something out if she tries to ask for me about the reason. You and me both know that she is not the one to get scared. She would defy me and insist that we push forward. So for now patrolling it is. Same goes for Coonway, Howlton, Garnett and Fring. Sound like something that you would agree with Wilde?"

Nick was more than happy about this change of wind and he gave genuine smile to the buffalo.

"Chief, that sounds more than perfect! You are possibly a life save. The best uncle ever! I will name my kits after you."

"Whatever Wilde." Bogo rolled his eyes, as the fox was back to his normal self again. Bogo spoke after Nick chuckle to him.

"Knowing Hopps, she probably has all kinds of ideas how to catch Levron, already planned during this conversation ours.

She is not going to be happy about what I'm about to tell her. I bet that the team isn't going to be very happy either. But they just have to suck it for now." Bogo said.

"They will come around." Nick said.

"Yes. A couple of days of patrolling won't kill anyone.

And Wilde?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for trusting me with this. It was right thing to do. Good work."

"No problem uncle." Nick chuckled and earned annoyed look from the buffalo.

The fox and the buffalo jumped from their seats and both walk'd out of the office to the hallway, making their way through the hall back towards the bullpen. Nick spoke after a while of walking with the buffalo next to him.

"Hey by the way, if you want to move me and carrots completely out of cases that are dangerous as this, i will take it.

Night howlers case was exciting enough for lifetime."

Bogo knew that he was joking and spoke.

"... You know that compared to your partner, you lack bravery more than i imagined." Bogo shot almost as challenge. Nick laughed and spoke back.

"Might be true, but that is why i am alive. It is world's biggest wonder that how she still is."

"Because she is skilled."

"Ooouch, are you saying that i lack skill?"

"Did it sound like that Wilde? I'm sorry." Nick could swear that for the first time in his life he heard Bogo chuckle.

"Hey, i ran after a crazy rhino while i was wounded." Nick shot back with grin.

"Yeah and Coonway did all the work."

"Oh shooting hard now are we uncle?" Nick grinned.

"Just stating facts." Bogo spoke casually . Nick decided to shoot some facts too.

"Oh and i do have another one. I was not even cop back then.

If i remember correctly you tried to take Judy's badge, even if she had done more work in a day than your department had in a year.

I stopped the whole show and made you bite the dust with your timetables. That is what i call skill and bravery from a shifty fox.

How badly things would be now if had not saved her career huh? Imagine that."

Bogo stopped walking as his mouth hanged open. That hit the nerve.

"WILDE YOU ARE ON DANGEROUS WATERS-!"

"Heyhey i know that what you are saying now is not from professional aspect. It is personal. I can see the difference. Calm down." Nick chuckled after using Bogo's own words and left the stunned and enraged buffalo on the hall. He saw as the fox entered the bullpen and swished his tail happily, clearly knowing that he had won this battle.

"I swear i will make a rug out of you someday Wilde..." Bogo muttered, mostly angry but also impressed because Nick had not exactly lied. Well played.

BULLPEN _

Everyone's attention came to Nick as he entered the room. All of the five officers were gathered as a close bunch at the right side desk's,

probably coming up with suggestions how to proceed with the case. After a while the buffalo also entered the room, making everyone gain their posture and go quiet. Bogo made his way to his small podium and cleared his throat after a while and spoke.

"Now, about the case at hand, i have announcement to m-" Suddenly Judy interrupted him in middle of his speech, not being able to contain herself.

"Chief, we have been talking and i think we already know where we could start. There is so many options! Roy Briggs has a sister right? Maybe she would be able to tell where his brother hangs out on his free-time? It is worth a shot. Also, Levron is going to opera tonight at the Rain-forest district!

It is a charity event but it could be another meeting with mobsters! If we get pictures and-"

"Hopps, Hopps, at ease. I'm sorry to announce this but the investigation on Levron is frozen for a moment.

All of you will patrol the streets for the couple of following days."

Nick almost winced after he saw Judy's face. In his head he apologized from the bunny about being the reason for this but he was not going to take any risks that would end up hurting her or worse. This is for her own good. Stop being a brave and heroic bunny just for a couple of days. He could not keep going with my life if anything happened to her.

"What?! Bogo, we can't ignor-"

"WE CAN. I know that none of you like this but this is how we are going to proceed, until we have a SOLID PLAN. These hunches waste our resources.

Harsh as it sounds, we will take slow steps for a while and wait something real to come to our table."

"But Bogo!-"

"Hopps. Please. No more objections. This is just how it goes." Bogo said and Nick could see that it hurt him a bit to say this to her but Nick knew that Bogo cared about the safety of his officers over everything. This was something that had to be done for now.

Nick felt a bit sad as the angry bunny spoke no more, her ears drooping from the news. Only one from the officers among himself that took the news as nice ones,

was Oliver. Hehe, that's my wolf. Wonder where that smile is coming from? For a moment Nick could have sworn that Oliver gave a dreamy side look at Hailie. He must had really enjoyed patrolling with her. You sneaky little wolf. Bogo continued.

"Assignments. Howlton and Garnett, patrolling Sahara square. Fring and Coonway, patrolling on Tundra town. Hopps and Wilde, you two patrol Savannah central.

That is all. Now excuse me but i have bunch of reporters waiting at the front of the building. Can't let them wait forever. I also have to call to Sahara department. To work everyone!"

The buffalo finished and gave a small sympathetic look at the sad looking bunny who was staring her desk, before exiting the bullpen, leaving the place quiet.

"Dammit. I was hoping for more cool operations with our nicknames..." Coonway muttered in disappointment.

"I know, that is way more awesome than patrolling streets." Luke said in annoyance.

"I don't understand this. We have to catch the mammals who are behind all this stuff! Chief has never been like this..." Judy said in concern.

Hailie gave a reassuring paw on her shoulder from behind.

"It's okay Hopps, it's only couple of days. It could be worse. He would not command this kind of thing out of nothing. He must have had his reasons."

"I know Hailie, but he could have at least explained why.." Judy said.

Nick walk'd next to her and gave that reassuring smile of his to her.

"Hey carrots, cheer up. Like Garnett said. Couple of days. Let's go play cops and robbers for a while. You know we are quite a team when it comes to that."

Judy gave only small smile and sighed faintly.

"I guess..."

"I know what cheers you up. Let me drive."

"No way on earth." Judy's mood lightened a bit and she rolled her eyes.

"Fine. But i will pick the place where we have lunch break. Orison's has that great apple pie of theirs at Mondays. I am going to be soooo full..."

"No way dude, is it the one that comes with ice cream?" Oliver suddenly asked.

"That's the one. I think you can get banana sauce too."

Bunny rolled her eyes as the conversation about the food began between the raccoon, lynx, fox and the wolf.

Males...

AT LUNCH-BREAK _

"Mmmm, so good." Nick muttered as he munched his apple-pie. They were both sitting outside of the small charming cafe at Savannah central,

near the movie theater they had been just couple of nights ago. The warming sun felt hot and nice against their fur as a small breeze blow'd against their fur from time to time. It was indeed a very nice looking day, as only couple of clouds were on the bright blue sky.

The downtown was full of life and laugh, voices filling the whole area among the honk of cars.

"Nick, sometimes i wonder that if you would find a perfect dessert, you would marry it." Judy rolled her eyes.

"Won't deny it." He said casually.

"This is so pointless..." Judy muttered.

"What do you mean carrots?"

"This. All of this! Why are we here? Patrolling the streets, when mammals like Levron and Roy run free from law? It will take forever for us to connect the night-howlers, the wolf and all this corruption in politics if we just sit around doing nothing..."

"We are doing things carrots. Just in three hours we have arrested pig that tried to rob a jewelry store and we apprehended a fast driver.

That is helping Zootopia. We have plenty of time to hunt mobsters. You need to chill."

"... I guess.. I just... I keep thinking the things they could be doing right now to mammals..."

"You watch too many movies." Nick assured but knew that she might have been right.

"..." Judy just stayed quiet and swelled on her thoughts as she sat there, poking her bread. Nick had to cheer her up again. And he knew the best way to do just that.

"Don't. You will drive yourself crazy if you do that. You have to think different kind of things."

"Like?" Judy sighed and kept looking at their table with sadness.

"Like what is on your cute nose right now!"

Nick chuckled and took a small swipe of whip cream from top of his pie with his claw and pressed it against the bunny's nose, spooking her from her depressed state. She stared at the small mountain of whip cream on her nose as Nick snickered.

She could not help but to smile as her nose wiggled.

"Did you just-?"

"You look so cute. Can i take a picture?" Nick pleaded with grin.

Judy wiped the cream away from her nose with her paw and licked it away from her fur with couple of licks.

"That was even cuter. Can i marry you?" Nick smiled.

"Keep using that word and you might get tranquilized again, the next time i visit your place." Judy grinned back, trying to sound intimidating. She had fallen into a trap.

"Yeah, so you could do all kind's of things to me while I'm out? Clever bunny. Sounds kind of fun." The fox wiggled his eyebrows.

Judy's blush went out control as what Nick said reminded her from this morning, almost like scary coincidence. She took her gaze away from the fox and muttered quietly.

"You are such a pervert sometimes Nick..."

"I can already imagine the possibilities..." Nick spoke with his alluring gaze as he took a forkful of his pie, never taking his eyes away from her.

"In your dreams Nick!" Judy shot in awkward mumble, dying from the sudden flirt wave that was released on her like he did almost every day. Stupid fox...

Now it was Nick's time to spook a little. The dreams he had this morning about the bunny he loved came to his mind right away. Maybe it was time to chill out with the teasing. Nick wondered how Judy would be freaked out for the rest of her life if she knew that just at this morning before she woke him up, he had dirty dreams about slowly and gently taking Judy's clothes away, his imagination wondering how she would look in bare fur,

laying on top of him... Him asking permission to touch her tail and gaining more than willing acceptance in his dream. It had felt so real before it all ended. You are fucking messed up Wilde, she is right there, clearly dying of awkwardness. Stop staring at her like this. Talk about something else fast before you get aroused in public or something you dumb-ass..

"So, how's your carrot-toast?" He asked suddenly.

"Oh? Ummm It's.. Alright i guess.." Judy woke up from her thoughts and felt the blush easing up from her ears and cheeks.

"Too many carrots in your carrots bread? It might be all the carrots. There is almost no bread."

"Har har."

After a moment of silence Nick spoke as Judy started to wonder something again.

"Everything okay carrots?"

"I'm fine Nick.. I'm just wondering if i should do one thing tomorrow." She said seriously.

"What's that?"

"... I will change Bogo's mind about the case. I will talk to him tomorrow. I insist to know why he is doing this, he owes me th-"

Nick almost choked on his pie.

"DON'T!" Nick suddenly yelped, making Judy spook a little. She stared at the worried looking fox wide eyed, wondering what the hell was that had been about.

Nick suddenly coughed awkwardly and spoke.

"Look, just... He knows what he's doing. Trust him... You don't have to..-"

"I do. Nick, what is it with you all of a sudden?" Judy asked in worry.

"Nothing. Nothing is wrong. Whiskers, let's just do as he says. He is the chief of ZPD. He knows the best. You know that. Now Let's eat. We need energy."

"That is the first time i've heard you speak about chief like that. You never give compliments to him." Judy said in confusion.

"I- I'm just being honest it's like-"

"Nick. What did you two talk about?" She shot suddenly.

Judy's sharp gaze made him really awkward as she had that inspection of hers on him again.

"Oh you know, we talked about me getting those two tranquilizers for me. I might get them. If I'm nice."

"You are terrible liar Nick. I am not the meter maid that falls into your hustle anymore." Judy said and put her paws in akimbo.

"I'm not lying. Honest."

"Oh, so Bogo just was ready to go on with the investigation until you wanted to speak to him privately. Suddenly fifteen minutes later he says that we are going to patrol for the next couple of days."

"..." Nick spoke nothing and avoided her gaze, trying to figure out what to do.

"Nick Wilde. Look at me."

No way. Looking at those lavender eyes was the way to the doom. Na-ah.

Suddenly the smiling otter waitress came next to them.

"Hello officers Wilde and Hopps. Enjoyed the food?"

Nick practically jumped out of his seat and slammed the money on the table.

"Yes, we loved it. It was wonderful. Hey Judy, i think we should get back to patrolling shouldn't we? No need to be lazy. Bad mammals wait. I'll drive!"

Nick yelped and started to sprint over to their vehicle like his tail was on fire.

"What the?!" Judy blurted out.

Judy knew that Nick had something to do with this now. There was no other explanation. She was going to get to the bottom of it. This is not over.

..

Chapter Management

• Edit Chapter

Chapter 14: Dumb Bunny

Summary:

Oh boy :(

Chapter Text

Chapter 14

"Dumb bunny"

The fox was munching his breakfast cereal at the couch, his feet on top of the table, staring at the morning news from the tv. He sighed deeply after he finished his bowl empty and laid it on the table. He knew that this was going to be his most awkward day at work by far. Maybe. It was hard enough to try to drive the conversation with Judy to a different rail, as she kept pressuring him to speak. She didn't even have a chance to go and ask Bogo herself straight away after their shift ended,

because he had left home early. Privileges of being a boss. Today was going to be probably close to mission impossible, when it came to dodging the questions. But she was good at making her think something else. That was his specialty. Still, .. She was not going to let this one go. That was her nature. Bogo had informed yesterday that the team was going to be on evening patrol, and Judy was going to pick him up at five from his place. It gave him more than couple of hours for a mental preparation. He knew that the moment he would enter that car in front of his building,

she would give that snarky look, maybe not even greet him, grumpy as she was. In any other case Nick would have just enjoyed it because he knew that it would just prove as a challenge to make her smile. And he was master at that. But this one was harder, because it was obvious that he had been involved with Bogo's decision to put the operation to catch Levron on hold. He could always lie that he had pleaded Bogo for them to do something less dangerous for now, by saying that Roy breaking into his apartment has spooked him, and he scared for his own hide... Nope, he knew that it would not work on her. She knew that Nick was not the bravest animal in the world, but he was not THAT easily scared... What else could i say? Well, Bogo did say that he would make up something else than telling the actual truth, so maybe just trusting him was all he could do. ... Uhh...

I could lie that my wound was still sore and i pleaded for casual patrol because of that? ... That could work.. Okay I'm not that pathetic. But i can't tell her the truth. I know Judy too well. She would just say something like,

"Let them try, you forget that i know how to handle myself better than well Nick." stuff. She might be right, but the idea of shady mammals busting through her door and armed with knifes and their row of teeth gritting, ready to end the sleeping and unarmed bunny's life... The images made his fur crawl. Even she could not survive that. Dumb bunny. Why can't she for once in her life, not think about someone other getting harmed? For once in your life, take it easy and don't rush to danger head on...

Sometimes Nick felt like she didn't care if she would die saving someone else's life, like it was nothing... She had proven it many times. She was impossible.

When Nick had first met Judy with Finnick... When she look'd at her, he saw his younger self. Naive, full of life, never judging any mammal. It came to the point where it was irritating almost. "In Zootopia anyone can be anything!" Even if he did chuckle then and smiled, he thought that it was most bullshit thing he had ever heard.

How the tables and thoughts turn.

Thinking about everything that he said to her that day made him feel like most jerk mammal in the world, looking it back now.

And her appearance all confident in that funny meter maid suit of hers... Back then She had been attractive in her own way. Now she was the most attractive mammal he ever knew. He didn't know her heart then, but now... Sigh. My life would have been miserable without her coming to the picture. Back at those days the only thing that got genuine smile from him, was counting the money on his paws. Now that was nothing to him. Only thing that made him more than happy, was seeing her beautiful eyes and that loving smile. The shy looks when she was teased. Her funny foot drumming against the floor when she was mad. Her laugh. Her voice. Everything about her.

Not one vixen in his life came even close to her. Her getting mad at him when he made fun of the most unfunny situations... Life can be so twisted. Out of all of the mammals in the world... You, a fox hustler and a con man, fell in love with a bunny. Perfect other side of the coin. And double whoopsie, a COP. It was double irony now.

As the fox smiled and stared at the slowly spinning ceiling fan on top of him, he was suddenly woken up from his deep thoughts by the sound of buzzing phone on his table.

He rubbed his lazy eyes a bit and turned the volume of the tv down with the remote, and picked the phone on his paw, checking who was calling. Finnick? Huh. What a pleasant surprise.

He adjusted his mood as he hit the answer with his claw and put the phone next to his ear.

"Buddyyyyy, how's it hanging?" He began.

"Like born again Nick. What's you up to right now?" The fennec ask'd. He seemed to be in a good mood. Odd.

"Not much, just hanging out at home right now. I'm working an evening shift, so got not much to do."

"Well, since you are free for so many hours, wanna pull a hustle? This would be a good one."

"... Seriously? You know better than to ask such stuff anymore Fin." Nick laughed for his friends goofiness.

"I was joking." he chuckled.

"Obviously."

"So hey ummm, you mind if come thru to holla? I'm kinda close to your apartment and would be nice to see old friend like the good times."

"Haha, last time i saw you, you were screaming about me for being an asshole."

"Whatever. I didn't know the half of the shit Mike had gotten into. Once he told that you were not lying, i gave him an ass whooping."

"I can imagine." Nick chuckled.

"So can i come to holla or not?"

"Yeah yeah, of course buddy. What's with the rosy attitude? Pulled a hustle that good?"

"So i can't be in a good mood just without a reason dumb-ass?"

"Nope."

"... Okay i just banged your fine looking neighbor from the first floor."

"... No way! Who?!" Nick sat straight and laughed.

"You remember Lila?"

"Wait, you mean.."

"Yeah, the weasel lady that works as the Yoga instructor at the Savannah central grand gym. Same Yoga where my mother goes to every Saturday!" The fennec laughed like a hyena.

"Lila Saintroad?!" Nick laughed.

"The one and only! Hey by the way mind opening the door? I'm right at the front."

Nick laughed and face-pawed himself, hopping off from the couch and making his way to the front door with couple of steps.

He opened the door and saw his childhood friend stand at front of him, walking in like it was his own home, wearing those black sun shades of his and having the devilish smile on his muzzle. If he was in this good mood, there was no way that he was pulling his tail about the first door lady.

Nick spoke like he was speaking to man who just won the hardest hustle in his life.

"Fin, you are wicked."

"I know. You love my style baby."

"Lila is smoking, how did you end up in the sheets with her?"

"Sit down and I'll tell. Her last name might be Saintroad Nick but she is hardly a Saint anymore. That fine thang carrying my babies probably by now.

I'll even let you pick the names."

"DUDE! You have no shame!" Nick held his stomach from laughing.

"That's what my mother always tells me. You got any beer?"

"No, but i got soda. Want some? It's citrus."

"I'll have that. I need sugar after all that energy burn."

"That wild huh? And by the way, this is going to bite you back if she comes to your door one day with her kits." Nick chuckled.

"Dude i was just messing around. I used protection, my mamma didn't raise no fool." He chuckled back.

"I bet. Didn't you have a crush on her since high school?"

"I guess i did huh... Funny world. She just started to text me last night about how nice it would be seeing after a long time. Said that she saw me take my mother from her Yoga with our hustle van. Said that she dig'd my ride. You know how much i get turned on when female talks about my car. I went over to chill.

It seemed that she had more plans than just catching up. She was in heat. It's that time of the season you know? Sucked the life out of me but it was worth every minute."

"Well good for you buddy." Nick grinned and handed over the soda pop can to the fennec, sitting on the couch as well right next to him.

"I have to tell you that i am here for another reason as well. Would have told this on phone but better if i just tell it like this."

"Shoot. There going to be even more of our childhood friends at tonight's bar night? Mike, you and Ben are coming right?"

"Yeeeeahh about that umm... It's cancelled." Finnick said and rubbed the back of his neck fur.

"What? Why?" Nick asked, not hiding his disappointment.

"Nick, don't assume the worst. We are not avoiding you because you are a cop now. I trust you. They do too. Chill." Finnick assured.

"Then why?"

"Because this day didn't fit with everyone. Ben is busy doing a big hustle and Mike... Well uhmm. He has a date for the evening at some big restaurant.

He even skipped the hustle gig with Ben to be with his date. They were about to do popsicle hustle like the good old days with you and me." Finnick smiled to him.

"There is a nostalgia. Remember how much money we made? Those popsicles sold like flowing water."

"Yeah for a good year straight. Before officer save the world came to picture..." fennec rolled his eyes.

"Dude, she is the reason that you still have a home. Can you picture in what state Zootopia would be if she didn't solve the case with me?

It would be hell on earth for predators. That is something that we can never repay for her." Nick spoke half jokingly but also serious.

"Yeahyeah i know. Just saying. We had a good run before she came to the picture. You didn't have to join the force after all that." The fennec said with annoyance.

"I wanted to. I don't regret it."

"Let me guess, she opened your eyes and all that crap?"

"Yeah, one way to put it." Nick chuckled.

Finnick look'd at the grinning fox for a while and spoke.

"What is it like?"

"What is what like?"

"Being a cop. What are they like? Boring as hell? I already met your boss and that dude was a jerk."

"Haha, Bogo might lack sense of humor and be the most uptight mammal i know but he is not a jerk.

And my partners in law? They are just like any other mammal. There is this wolf named Oliver. I graduated at the same as him. He is really cool dude. You would like him. Besides him i haven't really talked to other officers that much. Professional? Yes. But boring? Not at all."

"Uh huh. And what about officer cottontail?"

"Judy?"

"Yeah. What is she like when she is not beating up robbers or giving speeches to the press? I know you hang around with her like every day."

"Are you jealous of my new friend?" Nick teased.

"Pfft, what does a bunny and fox even do? You two must get the oddest looks in public."

"Yeah we do time to time, but she does not notice it. Or maybe she doesn't care. And we do all kinds of stuff. We watch movies, go to museums, go to restaurants,

i even took her to arcade hall once. She almost bested my record on pinball. Sometimes she would come over to academy and we would just spend hours talking about all kinds of stuff.. Just two days back i took her to dance at the festival and it was..." Nick stopped without him even noticing and just stared at the tv with a dreamy grin. Finnick stared at him for a couple of seconds.

"Nicky boy. That is not being just friends if you do that with a female." Finnick shook his head.

"Correcting, we are REALLY good friends. And why not? I enjoy my time with her. There is no more to that."

"Hustling a hustler is something that you have to master before trying. I'm not buying it."

"I don't expect you to. Tell me Finnick, haven't you ever thought about spending time with a female as just friends?"

"No. Sounds like waste of time." Finnick said like what Nick was saying was absurd.

"Not everything is about getting laid when it comes to females Finnick. I enjoy my time with her." Nick said genuinely. Suddenly a devilish smirk came in Finnick as he spoke.

"So there wasn't a goal? This was not just a grand plan to hit that small, innocent and untouched-"

"I am going to stop you right there Fin. Your mom was right when she said that you have no shame. Let's talk about something else." Nick said in genuine annoyance.

He hated if someone talked about her like that.

"Nick you know I'm just playing around." Finnick chuckled and playfully punched him in the arm. Nick rolled his eyes and suddenly turned to him with same devilish smile.

"You know she was right, you were the most adorable thing in that small elephant suit of yours-"

"Don't play with your life now. There are limits." Finnick shot in sudden anger. Nick smiled with satisfaction. Time to maybe change the subject.

"So, to avoid dying, let's talk about something else. You said that our very own Mike the dog is going for a date. With who? Do you know?"

"... Ummm i actually do... He is having a date with someone named Jack Garlow."

"Wait... What?" Nick said in confusion.

"Yeah, he came to get him from front of my crib with limo and everything. Taking him to some expensive rest-"

"Wowwoowow time out. Mike is going on a date with Garlow?!"

"Dude, you have known him since the first grade? Come on. You know that he is bi-"

"I'm not talking about that Fin! I know that he is bi sexual but why is he dating Jack Garlow?" Nick asked in worry.

"Is that name supposed to mean something for me? For all i know, he is just some rich panther. Strikes me as an stock marketer or something."

"Uhhh, Garlow is the reason that Mike ended up in the station. Garlow used to work with mister Big! He was the mammal trying to sell the night howlers to Levron.

... Okay i maybe were not authorized to say that." Nick suddenly realized. Wops.

Finnick's eyes shot wide in a moment.

"What?! Mike didn't tell me any of that!" Finnick yelled angrily.

"Probably for a reason. Garlow already told me back at the station that he loved Mike. So i don't think that he has any dirty ideas here,

but i just hope that Mike knows what he is doing. Garlow is on probation and under ZPD's radar right now. He is waiting for his big trial coming within this month..."

"... I am going to have a talk with this Garlow when i see him... What on earth is Mike thinking?..." Finnick muttered and sipped his soda.

"Dunno, but he is grown adult. He makes his own choices."

"Yeah but he can be stupid as hell sometimes."

"Can't we all?" Nick chuckled.

".. Fair enough." Finnick sighed.

There was a quiet moment between them for while until Finnick suddenly spoke.

"Hey Nick."

"Hmm?"

"You wanna take a ride around the town?"

"What you mean?"

"You know what i mean. Like the good old times. Let's just go see what's going around the town. You got better things to do?"

Nick stared at the tv for a moment and took a look at his watch before turning his gaze to the fennec and smiled.

"Not really. Can i drive?"

"I am not that generous."

"... You and carrots have lot in common." Nick rolled his eyes.

EVENING, FRONT OF NICK'S BUILDING _

The fox was standing on the sidewalk in front of his building, wiping through the random news with his phone. Nothing really hit his eye with interest as he kept swiping. Judy should be here any moment now. I can already imagine her mood. Sigh. Okay you can handle this Wilde. Act charming as ever and just keep changing subjects. Ask how her day went. That is a good start. Maybe even-

SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

He winced as the sound of burning rubber came in front of him and he saw the familiar looking police vehicle. Inside the mirror on a driver's seat was sitting his loved bunny, her gaze watching him bluntly, just like he guessed. Nick put on his trademark smile and opened the door.

"Well good evening officer, i must say, a cop like you can arrest me any time-"

"Stop it right now. Get in the car Nick." The bunny commanded, clearly not in the mood.

Nick chuckled but inside he became nervous under that gaze of hers.

He sat on his seat and closed the door. Judy was not moving the car anywhere.

"Well, that is kind of harsh welcome." Nick said and smiled.

"Nick, why did you avoid me the whole day after work? I called you like four times. You never decline my calls. At least you could have just told me reason so i didn't have to bother you..."

"Because carrots, i had things to do. I'm sorry. I will make it up to you."

"Okay make it up for me right now. Why did Bogo cancel our investigations?"

"You really keep thinking that i was involved in it?" Nick tried to sound sincere but those beautiful eyes drilled his soul right now.

"So you deny you had ANYTHING to do with it?"

"I do, one hundred percent."

"And if i ask Bogo myself?"

"... He will tell you the reason for it, i am sure. I was just as surprised as the rest of you when he told about putting the investigation on hold."

Nick knew that he would have to trust Bogo's word about not telling the truth to her. He must had already come up with some good explanation just in case if Judy was about to dig the answers out, like she of course was.

"You didn't look like it." She shot back.

"You didn't pay attention." Nick shot back with his grin, earning suspicious look from the bunny, and she finally turned the keys in the ignition.

"Fine. But if i find out that you really had something to do with this, and you didn't tell me and LIED..."

There was a quiet moment in the car and Nick swallowed silently. She turned her eyes into his and finished.

"You will be in a serious trouble fox." Judy warned and pressed the gas.

"Judy, you know that i would never lie to you.

Partners? Right?"

"... Right." Judy said back, almost like blaming herself now for thinking that he was lying.

But she was still grumpy.

Nick knew that she was cute when she went all grumpy on him but this time Nick could see that she was serious. He just had to trust Bogo. His life was in his hands. After one block Nick spoke.

"So, now that we got your paranoia out of the way, how was your day fluff?"

"I went to shopping with Frufru. Not much else." Judy said quietly.

"Any handsome looking bucks offered to carry your shopping bags?" He teased. Not even slightest sign of smile came from her.

"No. Just the way i prefer." She said bluntly.

"You know that when you are all grumpy it's one of the most cu-"

"Don't. Just don't. Not now. Until Bogo confirms that you had nothing to do with all this, you are a potential suspect." She said with annoyance.

"Mymy, so i just have to be in the car with bunny statue the whole evening?"

"Might be."

Nick wiggled his eyebrows and leaned closer to her.

"You can't. Not with me. I won't allow it. I can easily make that smile light up on that face if i really want to." He said confidently and chuckled.

"... You can try." Judy said and tried to keep herself serious despite the fox's alluring look. She knew that if anyone knew how to make her laugh, it was him.

Nick leaned back and spoke with serious tone.

"If you are trying to ignore me the whole day officer Hopps, i have the most violating charge against you to get that fluffy butt arrested. Even Bogo would agree."

"Yeah, and what might that horrible crime be? Hurting your feewingsss?" She said the same way Nick had said to her the second day they ever met. She didn't know that she had fallen in trap.

Nick was silent for a second.

"Felony fox evasion." Nick said and put his shades on.

Judy turned her gaze at the smiling fox next to her and she could not help but to burst to laugh under his wiggling eyebrows, like he had just done the best joke in the world.

She laughed loudly and turned her eyes back to the road.

"That was so bad!"

"You laughed, so it counts. I am the best at this."

"I hate you!"

"You love me."

"No seriously, i hate you.." Judy tried to sound convincing but still giggled.

"You keep telling yourself that officer toot toot."

"You are such an-"

"Articulate fella?"

"... I fell right into that one didn't i?" Judy sighed and lightly hit her head against the steering wheel.

"Now, let's keep an eye out for suspicious mammals whiskers. I could use a little cold evening air with exercise."

"... Fine." Judy gave a faint smile and turned left from the next corner.

FRONT OF THE ZPD / MIDNIGHT _

The evening had been quiet as possible. They had not caught even one mammal. I guess Savannah knew better than to try robbing anything or fighting when they both were around. So it was good thing in its own way. A bunny that strikes fear into the hearts of criminals. It was so funny to think about.

They pulled their vehicle in front of the familiar building, and Judy turned off the engine. They exited the car, stepping on the sidewalk and the chilly night air greeted their fur. The whole sky was lighted up by the stars, and the full moon shined with its beauty, making many mammals take pictures of the stunning sight with their phones. Even Nick and Judy stared at the nice sight in wonder, marveling it.

"Wow..." Judy said as her stunned eyes stared at the sight with other officers outside. Nick stared at the sky next to the bunny, giving a whistle as a shooting star passed on the sky.

"That is quite something, isn't it carrots?"

"It's so beautiful..." Judy gasped quietly.

"You must have seen a sky many times like that. You grew up on a farm after all."

"Yeah i have, but it doesn't mean that as how many times i see it, that is stops being beautiful every single time Nick." Judy smiled to the fox and look'd at the sky again.

"I know what you mean..." Nick said quietly and instead of watching the sky, he was watching at her. Sigh... Come on Wilde. You are doing i again.

After a while someone spoke from next to them.

"Hey, what's up you two?" Oliver ask'd with cheer, smiling officer Garnett standing next to him.

Nick and Judy turned their gaze to the snow leopard and the wolf and Nick spoke.

"What's with the smile?"

"Well, Bogo just announced in the lobby that tomorrow all the officers have free day from work. The Mayor is giving some kind of grand speech tomorrow, announcing something really important. Who knows what? But it seems to be so big that everyone around Zootopia are getting a day off because of it. Isn't that awesome? Everyone can just chill the whole day tomorrow! Mayor rules."

"Huh? Well that's odd." Judy said.

"Carrots, free day always sounds nice doesn't it? Relax." Nick assured.

"What do you guys think that the mayor will speak about?" Hailie ask'd.

"No idea. Something boring probably. Or i could be wrong. Maybe he presents changes to the law and such.

Or maybe he is storing bunch of savage mammals in the fortress protected by wolf's again..." Nick chuckled.

"Nick, not funny." Judy said but still cracked a smile.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Oliver asked in confusion.

"You will understand if you go through the night howler case file." Nick smiled.

"Hopps. Wilde."

They suddenly heard the familiar buffalo approach them through the small crowd of cops.

"Hey chief." Judy greeted him casually and Nick just gave his normal grin.

"How was the patrol?"

"Quiet. Not one mammal arrested."

"I would dare to say that it's a good thing."

"Umm chief, do you know any details about Lionheart giving a speech?" Judy asked curiously.

"I don't. He just called me two hours ago about that himself and said that it was going to be something important."

"Welp, i guess we all just have to wait and see." Nick said.

"I agree Wilde."

"Hey ummm, Bogo?" Judy suddenly asked with serious posture. O-Oh.

"Yes Hopps?"

"May i speak with you for a moment inside? It is something important."

Bogo was silent for a while and only a quick look at the fox beside her gave away what this chatter was going to be about. Of course.

The buffalo tried to not sound like he knew that this was coming as he answered.

"Well, by all means Hopps. Let's talk. How important is it?"

"Very important. Thank you chief. I won't take much of your time."

The buffalo nodded and turned his steps toward the slide doors of the ZPD with the bunny quickly behind him.

Nick only gave a yell at her as she left.

"I will wait in the car! Don't take too long fluff!"

Hopefully Bogo knows what he is doing, Nick thought desperately as he started to chit chat with Oliver and Hailie.

NEAR THE ELEVATOR _

The bunny and the cape buffalo were on a fair distance from the front desk, both sitting on the plastic benches next to the elevator doors.

The hall was quiet as possible, after Clawhouser waved them as he exited the building on their way in. Judy spoke after they got comfortable on their seats.

"Chief, i want to know the real reason we stopped tailing Levron." The bunny shot straight away without circling around the reason why she ask'd his time.

Bogo sighed and started calmly.

"Look Hopps, the case is not closed. It is on hold just for a couple of days. You know that once we have something big coming up, we jump right into it."

"But during these days Levron might have done many things that would help getting him caught, if we just tailed him long enough!"

"Hopps, he knows that he is on a ZPD's radar right now. Trust me when i say that he might be cocky but he won't be buying any more night howlers on the alleyways.

No one is that dumb."

"Well what about Roy!? He could be anywhere and he shot Nick!" Judy shot in frustration.

"There is no need to worry about Roy." Bogo assured.

"What? What is there not to worry about him?!" Judy almost yelled.

"Look, Wilde told me himself that Briggs offered to fix his wound,

after it opened up. He sewed it tight and didn't try to stab him instead. So it makes me believe that he is not completely as bad as we would think."

"... Wait what?"

"Ummm, that is what officer Wilde just said."

The bunny was quiet for a while and continued.

"... But still, there has to something we can do Bogo!"

"No need to yell Hopps. I am right here."

"I.. I'm sorry but.. I'm just.." Judy muttered and knew that she might had doubted Nick for nothing. Now she felt a bit bad.

"I know what you mean Hopps. You want to catch the bad mammals even if it would take your life.

That is what makes you my bravest officer in the force. I promise you Hopps,

we can start hunting him right after COUPLE OF DAYS. Just so i get everything sorted out and such... Everything is okay." The buffalo assured with fatherly tone and patted the bunny's back gently before rising from the chair.

"Just a couple of days..." Judy muttered.

"That's not many Hopps. You have to understand that big operations like these take their own time. We have to play everything safe. It's all protocol."

"I know. But i just fear the things they might be doing even right now."

"Pass those thoughts. Even bad mammals sleep. I doubt that they are torturing anyone right as we speak."

"..." Judy just stayed quiet and sighed after a while. Bogo could not notice a small angry look that the bunny had for a moment.

Bogo rose from his seat and spoke.

"So Hopps, i think I'll need to get going to-"

"Bogo... Why are you lying to me about all this?" She shot suddenly.

"I... What?" The buffalo asked in confusion.

Suddenly the bunny jumped from his chair as well and stared to talk as she slowly started to circle the buffalo.

"You forgot that i am also observant. The way that i solved the night howler case with Nick, required noticing small details, gathering information aaand maybe running away from a savage animals but anyway. Noticing small things is how you solve a puzzle."

"Hopps, i think that-" Bogo spoke nervously as the rabbits detective mode circled around him, not having the slightest intention of letting him go.

"Small things give themselves away in this particular puzzle. The fact that just this morning i saw Wolford tailing me the whole morning as i was shopping with Frufru.

I didn't speak about it, because i didn't want to freak Frufru out, but only one that could have sent Wolford there, was you. FruFru is not under investigation for all i know, so he was there for me. I ask myself why? The distance that he kept himself from me, was not subtle. It was too close to be tailing. Too obvious and sloppy. The way he lingered meant only one thing, and i've seen enough movies to make assumption of what that was. It was protocol of undercover protection.

Just like what we did at the dance festival. Only thing is, Wolford's undercover lamb suit looks very realistic, but a lamb munching a chicken sandwich is something to suspect. That and i know what Wolford sounds like. He shouldn't talk with his girlfriend through a phone while is he is on the job. Especially undercover."

Bogo swore that he was going to put Wolford on parking duty for a week if bunny was the talking truth. This was not good. He had not even told Nick that he had just in case ordered Wolford to tail Judy for one morning, just to see if anyone was brave enough to actually make a move on her in public, or when she arrived home.

The bunny was not nearly finished. Bogo couldn't figure out what to say, only making Judy know that there was something going on. The bunny smiled even more and kept speaking as she still circled around him.

"See, noticing small details. The next one is, Nick's odd behavior. When i tried to talk to him at yesterday's lunch break about it, he acted even more weird.

He avoided me the whole evening without answering my calls. And when i told that i would come to see you and demand opening the case, he freaked out.

He is not good at hiding that. So this one goes on him."

"Hopps i think that-"

"Aaaand, the most noticeable sign was that you were ready to talk about proceeding on tailing Levron, following the leads we were supposed to, Nick spoke that he wanted to talk with you personally. Moments after that you freeze the case and Nick seems more than okay with it."

"Hopps-"

"Which leads me to believe that he had his paws on this. He is lying to me. You are lying to me... And knowing you both, you do not mean harm with it. You think that you mean good. So i am very much onto something here. You also just said that Roy Briggs patched Nick's wound up. Nick never told me that. So he had to tell it to you,

while ask'd for your audience. So this all leads me to believe, that under those closed doors, he told you something that froze the case. And suddenly Wolford is protecting and tailing me."

"I.."

"This is why I'm your best officer. It's called a hustle sweetheart. Tell me the truth. Please. You know that you can trust me.

Whatever the explanation, i understand." Judy finally finished and Bogo knew that the battle was lost.

"... Officer Wilde may have forced my deciti-"

"I KNEW IT!" She said angrily.

"Look, it was not in bad intent. He was looking out for you."

"How? And why?"

Bogo sighed. He could only wish that Judy would go easy on Nick after this.

"He told me that Roy Briggs said something that changed a lot. Briggs had revealed that they possibly planned to assassinate you. At least that was something that was suggested by his organization. Wilde freaked out, and for perfectly good reason. That is why the case was put to hold. We would observe the situation for a couple of days, and not give them pressure to put those kinds of plans into actions. You have to understand that. Because we don't know what we are dealing with completely here."

Judy was quiet for a while and spoke.

"Planning to murder me? So they give petty and empty threats to do such things and we just spook so much that we let them roam free?"

"No Hopps, that is not what it is-"

"It sounds like it."

"Look, this is for your own good. We have to take precautions under situations of these. Even if they are based on empty words. It's a protocol.

It would apply to any officer here. Your partner was worried for you."

"Oh, and now you better worry about him. This was something that you both could have told me."

"But we both know how you are. Tell me, if i had told that there might be a plan in motion to possibly take your life, would you have accepted to for us to freeze the case like we did? Would you had even accepted security? Or anything that would require our resources? No. You would have taken it as a challenge.

Like you are taking it now. You are not scared. And that is what scared your partner. Because he cares about your safety."

"..." Judy was quiet for a while but knew that Bogo had pretty much summed it up. She was not scared at all. She was angry. Many mammals had tried to threaten to take her life since she started the job. She had gotten so used to it that it didn't mean much to her any more. Because she was the one always proving that the effort was for nothing.

"Now, i shall get back to my business Hopps. Glad that we worked that all out. I assume you want to proceed with the case even more now, but we both know that i won't allow that even if you knew about the situation. That is something you have to understand. Please do tell that you understand Hopps."

"... Fine." Judy said in defeat.

"Don't be so negative Hopps. Like i keep reminding you. Couple of days. It goes faster than you would think. And take it easy on Wilde."

"..." The bunny spoke nothing as Bogo step't into the elevator and press'd the button to the garage hall.

"Good night Hopps. Enjoy your free day. You have earned it." He said in fatherly tone, trying his best to make Judy calm down her anger.

"... Night Chief." Judy answered professionally, but Bogo could see that she was still angry as hell. And he knew that who was going to get the most of the rage.

"And Hopps?"

"... Yeah?"

"Impressive detective work. You always keep surprising." Bogo admitted proudly as the elevator doors closed in front of him.

Judy stared at the closed doors and the silence filled the hall.

The conversation still lingered in her mind as she tried to collect her thoughts on everything just happened.

So this was the truth. Nick lying to her for her own good to-

Judy turned around and her gaze pointed at the front slide doors of the ZPD. The fire clicked on inside her as she prepared to give a lesson of lifetime to her partner.

"Dead fox." Was all she led out as she walk'd towards the front doors, knowing that Nick was still waiting for her at the car.

OUTSIDE _

"Can you find it in your heaaaartt, to forgive me all thisss, my darliingg.."

Nick finished singing and turned the radio off, getting bored now. Every officer around the area had already left.

The fox was drumming his claws on the dashing board, gazing at the past by driving cars in deep thoughts. Sigh, just another calm night among others.

Just the way i like it. Carrots had taken her sweet time with Bogo. She had already been inside for ten minutes. Poor bunny. I wonder what Bogo made up for her to calm her down. Should i order pizza tonight? Maybe she would like to come over and watch a movie. And i could be a typical sneaky fox and get her to hold my paw again... I can't even think nothing better than spending a peaceful night with her-

CRACK!

The door from the driver's side opened up, and Nick chuckled right away, as he was turning his gaze to the bunny.

"Carrots i had an idea for the night-" His word caught in his throat as he saw the furious looking bunny stare at him.

"YOU!" The bunny shouted with anger and pointed at him.

"Uhhhhh... Me?" The scared looking fox mumbled, his ears pointing back.

"You said that you didn't lie to me!"

"Iii... Abouuuut?" Nick swallowed under the flaming gaze. He almost started to feel like that every wrong move right now meant certain death. What was going on?

"You lied that you had nothing to do with Chief's plan to freeze the case!"

"But i.."

"You could have told me that they want me out of the picture! I trusted you!"

Bogo had told him. WHY?! Nick knew that he was screwed.

"What the hell Bogo?!" Nick yelled in panic, feeling completely betrayed.

"Don't put this on him! He defended you well enough, but i gave him no choice and i dug out the truth.

That is not important! Why did you lie to me?!"

"For your own good!" Nick shouted back in defense. This was going to be the first actual fight he had ever had with the bunny, and he was not prepared at all. He had failed her trust and he was going to be pay for it right now. Jokes were not going to help him anymore. Last time they had fought, it was half a year ago, but this time he was the target of anger.

"My defense?! Since when have i been scared of death threats Nick?!"

"You haven't and that is exactly your problem! Look i-"

"Problem?! Putting your life on the risk for others is a problem?!"

"IT IS TO ME WHEN IT COMES TO YOU!"

"Why?!"

"..." For a moment he was about to say the words to her but was in too much panic to say them. And right at this moment he felt his panic steer towards the frustration and anger of her being so stubborn. She spoke again.

"Just because we are... Best friends, does not mean that you have to be so scared for me! We have to do our job! These things should be expected from you too!

You got assaulted in the alley by maniac and you were not scared! You got assaulted in your own home, but here you are, in work! Why do you think that it should be different when it comes to me?!"

"I was scared Judy! But i just swallow it up! You know that you are too important for ZPD to lose! Bogo knows that! You know that the moment i would have told you that they might try to kill you, you would just refuse to have any help, and basically just scream for them to try!"

"So what?! They are not the only ones with their petty threats! You think those are the only death threats i have ever received?! You know how rare murder cases are in Zootopia? Mammals know where the line goes! There has only been two reported murders in Zootopia last year, and those happened before i even arrived the city the first time!"

"But i don't want you to be among those numbers, no matter how small they are!"

"What can they do Nick!? Tell me!"

"They might kill you in your sleep! Your apartment is not really safe and it lacks exit's, in case you haven't noticed!"

"I happen to hear if someone steps in front of my door, i am a bunny so i have good hearing! I also happen to have my tranquilizer under my pillow!

What else?"

"I... They could try to attack on us while we are patrolling on night time!"

"They don't have guts for that. I can arrest the whole group without my tranquilizer. You forgot how good i am with self defe-"

"They light your apartment on fire!"

"And possibly try to burn thirty innocent mammals while they are at it?! No one is that messed up, Nick you are just shooting blind here!"

"WELL THAT IS THE THING! You may have explanation on all of those things right now, but what if they actually happen and not everything goes a hundred percent like you planned?!

What then?! You just going to leave me without my partner and my best friend?!" Nick was the one getting angry now, but Judy was not letting go.

"Nick, we are partners, we have to trust each other! Do you even have any idea how it makes me feel if you keep things like this from me?!

You are the only one in this city that i completely trust! Things like these make me doubt that i can even be sure about that anymore!"

Nick was quiet for a moment and felt like he was losing his mind. He just wanted this fight to stop so much. If you just kissed her right now,

that would explain everything and make her shut up. But he was too angry to put the thoughts into motion.

"Say something Nick!" Judy yelled at him as he turned his gaze away from her.

"Do not ignore me Nick, for once be honest with me you dumb fox-"

"Judy."

"Don't you Judy me! Screw you Nick-"

"NO SCREW YOU JUDY! WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?! I DON'T WANT YOU TO DIE, AND THAT MAKES ME THE STUPID ONE?!"

"THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU STUPID! LYING TO ME DOES! I THOUGHT I COULD TRUST YOU WITH THINGS LIKE THESE NICK!"

"You are so stubborn i swear..."

"And you are a liar!"

"Oh, you got me! I lied! I'm sorry if i thought i was doing the right thing!"

"Well poor attempt!"

"You know what?! You are just a DUMB BUNNY!" Nick yelled.

"Oh you didn't just-" Judy was about to snap.

"YOU. ARE. DUMB. BUNNY. This conversation is over! Have a good night Judy! I am done with this!" Nick had enough.

He open'd his side of the door and step'd out of the vehicle, slamming the door behind him and circling around the car, walking towards the front doors of the ZPD.

Judy wanted to yell and hit him at the same time. The fox was driving her insane. She opened her side of the door and yelled at him.

"Where are you going?! I am not done with you Nick!"

"I am going to need some time alone away from your attitude!

Go home Judy! I hope you have pleasant day off!" Nick shouted in anger and disappeared inside the ZPD.

Judy slammed her side of the door closed and felt as her heart beated up like a drum. She was not done with this.

She was full of adrenaline and she wasn't done yelling to him. Mostly she hated herself for the fact that Nick had only meant good.

But the lying to her truly did hurt her, more than he knew. She was not letting this one go. But there was the another reason for that.

She knew it no matter how much she wanted to deny it, but she was more angry about the fact that she wanted him to admit something to her, that wasn't there... You are the messed up one Judy. She is right you are just a dumb bunny. But he lied!

...

Nick's words had not hurt her. She could take those, because she knew that Nick had not meant them... Not really... Or maybe he had.

But one thing she knew, she was going to settle this right now.

She opened her door and slammed it shut, hopping up the stairs and entering through the slide doors to the empty hall.

Nick's scent already revealed where he had gone to be left alone. She started to take steps forward in the quiet place. She was going to make this straight with the fox right now. This time she was not going to let him escape.

"Calling me a dumb bunny... I'll show you dumb bunny.."

Chapter Management

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Chapter 15: Can you find it in your heart?

Summary:

Moment of truth

Chapter Text

Chapter 15

"Can you find it in your heart?"

...

Nick closed the locker room door behind him and leaned against it for a moment, taking a deep breath and trying to calm down.

Just five minutes in that car with her, and everything went so wrong. He thought that Bogo would keep his word. He felt so betrayed about this. What could have Judy said to the buffalo to make him lose his guard like that? He couldn't even trust his own boss.

I should had known that opening up to someone was a bad idea. That is why i don't do it. When it came to Judy i had made exception,

and now it was a mistake. But how could she blame him like that?! How can she not see it?! How can someone be so idiotically stubborn and...

If I could just tell her that i... What i feel for her... But that would mean that i would have to feel vulnerable again i would end up getting hurt.

Nick removed himself from front of the door and made his way to one of the wooden benches, sitting down and closing his eyes for a while.

Just gather your thoughts. She is probably already home by now. I can already imagine how hurt and angry she is. But i don't feel like i did anything wrong. I won't give up on my opinion about this. She just has to accept it. If it means that i have to take moping attitude and continue this same fight many days from now on... That is what i brought for myself. But I'm going to nail Bogo for this. I thought we had understanding!

For once in my life i feel like i have a meaning and it's because of her. If she would die, i would go mad. I would quit ZPD, but i wouldn't hustle anymore.

I would just become miserable for the rest of my life, thinking how i could have persuaded her to not anger the mobsters and push the investigation.

"..." Nick just stared at the floor and felt as the flood of questions and emotions flooded inside him. We should had never taken that job. Who takes a stakeout job on his first week at the force?! Well Judy did take a case lot bigger but.. Still,

The night we tailed Garlow and found ourselves in the middle of all... This. Me and my pride. If i just had insisted that we continue patrolling, and don't get ahead of our self's with jobs like staking out dangerous mammals, none of this would have ever happened. Stabbings, mammals fighting everything they see, shooting mammals with tranquilizers,

night howlers and mobsters. Why did everything have to go so complicated within two weeks? TWO WEEKS?! Why did this all have to happen now?

Nick sighed and thought for a moment. Should i just call her? NO! This is not my fault! There is nothing wrong with my decision!

No one wants to see their best friend... Someone they love, to die in their arms. I love her more than anything. Why does she have to be so stup-

CLICK

Nick's ears perked up and he jumped a bit, as the loud voice was heard in the locker room, that had been silent as a tomb till now.

He gazed to his left and there she was, spotting him right as she walk'd in. OF COURSE. She just didn't listen and had to defy him.

Nick knew just by that gaze she had in her eyes, that she still was not nearly finished with their conversation. But he was.

He hated fighting with Judy and right now he felt the same anger and frustration rising as Judy marched her way to him, stopping only one meter away from where he sat. Their gazes met and Judy spoke with anger.

"Well?!" Judy said with her hands in akimbo, waiting him to continue where they left off.

"Well what? I told you to go home carrots. I am not discussing about this with you anymore." Nick sighed in frustration.

"Oh you might think that, but i am not going anywhere. Not until we settle this Nick."

"What is there to settle? If you think that i was doing the wrong thing, then you really are a dumb-"

"I dare you to say it to me again like that. Come on. Try me." Judy warned and poked her claw at Nick's chest.

"What? You going to get your fox maze from your cupboard?" Nick shot in anger.

".. YOU ARE SUCH A JERK!" Judy gasped.

"Whatever. Jerk who is trying to keep his partner alive. And I'm getting yelled at because of it."

"You are acting like annoying kit right now!"

"Then there is two of us huh!?"

"I can always find another partner to continue this investigation with if that is what you really want!" Judy shot in anger. She did not mean it,

but that alarmed look on Nick's face signaled her that he was going to listen now.

"..." Nick just stared at her, as in inspecting if she was really going to do it.

"I thought so. Now we are going to discuss this, and this time you are not going escape from me. Understood?" Judy ask'd, trying to gain her composure.

"Yes whiskers, please do feed me more of your stupid excuses of how I'm the one who's wrong in this." Nick rolled his eyes.

"STUPID?! You- ... What is your problem Nick?!" Judy shouted.

"Your attitude. They can take your life if they really want Judy. You might think that you are skilled and untouchable,

but when the moment comes that what you can do is not enough..."

"You keep telling yourself that! You really think that i have not dealt with these kinds of mammals before? I have. Do you know how many death threats have i got from them after i arrested every single one? I have lost the count already. Bellwether once said that fear always works. It is true, if you let it. I won't!"

"So your point is? That everyone should be brave as you and think every single threat for your life should be taken lightly?"

"What?! No! I am saying that you should understand these things Nick! We are police officers!

We need to be brave, because that is how everyone else can feel safe! If i would go and snivel in the corner and ask protection every time that someone threatens me, what kind of image do i give about myself?"

"... Image. Is that so important to you? Over your life?" Nick said like she was driving him insane.

"You know what i mean! Stop making it sound dumber than it is. You know that I'm right in this! Stop being so stubborn!"

"I AM THE STUBBORN ONE?! WOW! WELL EXCUSE ME!" Nick shouted in mocking tone to her, making her eyebrow twitch in anger.

"Very adult of you Nick!"

"Whatever. At least i am the one who cares about their partner's safety. Someone has to." Nick turned his gaze away from her.

"I already have parents Nick, you are my best friend. I don't need to be treated like a kit!" Judy yelled in frustration and pulled her ears.

"Well clearly you do. If treating you like a kit might save your life, then that is what I'm going to do." Nick said bluntly.

"URGH! STOP IT!"

"NO." Nick said bluntly.

"You know what?! Let's talk about a moment about the thing that really matters here, since we are not going anywhere with this subject!" Judy shouted in anger.

"That is?" Nick raised eyebrow in annoyance and wanted to storm out of the room every second.

"You lying to me about all this! What kind of partners keep things like these from each other?!

When i visited you every single week in academy, we dreamed of the day when we would become partners.

We promised that when the that day would finally come, we would be honest with each other.

You have broken that promise! And this was not a small secret to keep!"

This time Judy was not so much as angry, as she was hurt. He could feel it in her voice as she stared straight into his eyes.

He remembered all those times, and things they had promised to each other. He could feel his own anger settle down a notch as he tried to speak calmly.

"Judy..."

"No! That is not going to work now Nick! How can i trust you ever again if you keep doing this in the future?!" Judy yelled in hurt voice.

Nick could feel the pain in her words and last of his anger was washing away as he tried to calm her down.

"I... You can. I pr-"

"You promise! Made me feel better already. Guess what you said to me this morning?"

"..." Nick stared on the floor, avoiding her gaze as she spoke.

"Judy, you know that i would never lie to you.

Partners? Right? That is what you said. At that moment i felt like a jerk for even doubting you about doing such things. And to find out that i was right after all... Nick how could you do this to me?"

Nick knew how deeply hurt she felt right now. He really had screwed this one up. He didn't feel guilty for trying to protect her. But he had broken a great promise to her.

"... I'm.. Sorry i just-" Nick stumbled with his words, trying to figure out what to say.

"You just what Nick?!" Judy shouted in confusion.

"... I thought i was doing the right thing... I know that i hurt you but please.. Just give me another chance..." Nick mumbled.

"... I don't know if i can! If you hid something this big from me, how can i know that it's the only lie that you've fed for me?" Judy pleaded him, touching his paw for a moment with her own, scaring him a bit from sudden touch.

"... I would never-" Nick tried to form words but the panic was creeping on him as those lavender eyes stared at him.

He quickly turned his gaze away from hers again. He wanted to escape so much. His heart beat'd so fast as she kept pressuring him with her soothing voice. The way she spoke was so emotional that he felt like hugging her, telling her to be quiet.

"Nick... What else are you keeping from me? If we are going to try this again.. If we are going to move forward,

you have to.. Nick, look at me..." Judy told to the fox who was staring at his feet. She could tell that he was very uncomfortable with all this.

He lifted his gaze up to her slowly and for a moment she could have sworn that he was in panic. There was something. They way he was looking at her right now.

It was that odd look she had seen couple of times in her life.

"... T-there is nothing... Else that i-i'm hiding... Can we just..."

"Nick.. You know that you can always tell me everything. What else are you keeping from me? Talk to me. Please..." Judy kept speaking to him with sad voice.

"No... there is nothing! Can we just move like this never happened? I won't lie to you anymor-" Nick shouted in defense.

"WHY DON'T YOU TRUST ME?! What is that is so horrible that you can't talk to your best friend?! I trust you Nick, why can't you do the same?!" Nick jumped as the sudden burst of hurt and anger came from her. He took her paw to his own and tried to calm her down but ended up sounding even more panicked.

"I-i p-please i can, i do i..."

"Nick, tell me!"

The locker room was quiet for a moment as they just stared each other, waiting for the other one to say something in this tense moment but nothing came out. Nick knew that he was going to have a heart attack soon as his chest kept hurting. He felt something coming from him.

Something that he felt like he had not felt forever. It was scaring him so much at that moment. Suddenly Judy sighed and let go of his paw,

looking at him once more. She whispered with broken voice, so that Nick could barely hear it.

"This is not going to work Nick..."

His eyes widened and his ears pointed back as he heard the words come out of her with great sadness.

The bunny turned around and slowly started walking away from her, making her way towards the locker room door.

Judy's paw was already on the handle and Nick knew she was not even going to look back. She was going to change partners.

It was all over. She was going to leave, because of his cowardliness. The emotion that he had not felt in almost twenty years came out of him like a storm and he felt it coming hard, and without mercy. There was no fighting it anymore.

Nick fell on his knees on the locker room floor, his body shaking as he closed his eyes.

Only thing that he could let out in panic, was her name.

"Judy."

The rabbits ears perked up and she answered in angry shout, before turning herself around.

"I SAID DON'T JUDY ME! IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE-"

She felt like her whole world had frozen still at that moment. The moment she saw it.

Like the time had almost stopped all around, as she witnessed something that made her take her paw off the door handle slowly.

Nick was on his knees, looking at her straight in the eye, as he did something that she had never seen him do.

He was crying. He was crying hard and loudly, his sobbing and panicked voices ringing in her ears. Judy could only stare with her mouth opening in shock as Nick kept sobbing loudly and crying on the floor,

looking at her with those trembling emerald eyes of his, trying to speak with his broken voice as he best as he could.

"P-p-please J-Judy d-don't le-leave p-pl-ple-"

He tried to speak clearly but it was impossible.

Judy could only stand there, looking at the broken mammal in front of her, as he was pleading her to stay, trembling in panic.

Nick tried to hold his tears back but it was all for nothing. This had to be a panic attack. It felt like it. He couldn't move, as he kept crying on the floor, his paws shaking like last day on earth as he kept staring at stunned Judy. He couldn't hold the feelings back anymore.

She deserved to know. No more lies and running. You know that this is going to be the worst decision in your life, but you are going to do it now.

Not tomorrow, not after weeks or months. She wanted him to be honest. He was going to be more honest now about how he felt than he ever had.

Judy suddenly spoke in careful and quiet voice, almost like fearing that she was talking to a time bomb.

"N-Nick-"

"I-I love you Judy."

The words had come out.

They finally had.

He kept staring at those lavender eyes, that studied him carefully. Her expression was something different now.

It was almost confused, like she thought that this was another one of his jokes. Like she had not understood what he had just said.

He couldn't take it anymore. He felt like everything was going to come out as one big wave and he couldn't hold it in.

Nick took his eyes away from hers. He was scared of her reaction, so instead he kept staring at the floor,

that was getting wet from her tears as he tried to calm himself and speak without stuttering too much. But it was harder than he thought.

"I l-love you s-so much... I am... I'AM IN LOVE WITH YOU!... I h-have been keeping it f-from you for a long t-time, b-because i d-didn't want you to h-hate me!..."

He huffed for air as his heart kept beating faster. He could not look at her. Not now. He felt completely defeated.

There was no turning back after those words. It was over. He had to spill everything out right here and now. He could feel the hot tears burn his cheeks as he kept looking at the floor and tried to speak. He just spoke the first things that came to his mind.

"Y-you are the first thing i think about w-when i wake up every morning. I love your smile... I love your l-laugh... I l-love your eyes and...

E-everything about y-you... I-i know i sound like a f-freak but you have right t-to know all this... But you are the most b-beautiful m-mammal i know J-Judy.."

He had to take some air again as he tried to collect his thoughts. He had never in his life felt this vulnerable as he was now. He felt like a scared kit.

All these words were falling from his mind all at once and he couldn't stop talking.

"The day i-t took you to dance... It was the happiest m-moment of my life... I w-was about to ask you that one day... W-when we came fr-from the movies.

I wanted you to g-go with me... I- i never t-told you that... i..."

He took long breath and felt like he was getting better at calming down, but the tears had not nearly stopped flowing. He felt so scared between the small break he had, as he tried to gather himself. Because he feared that Judy would leave from that door at any moment now. He sniffed and shivered as he spoke again.

"Ever s-since my childhood, iv'e felt so e-empty inside... I only thought about making money and that was all i had in this world.

I thought that it w-was the way things had to be. But... You came into my life w-without warning and changed everything...

I can never repay you what you did f-for me... You are the kindest mammal i know a-and i can't... Help the way i feel for you...

For f-first i thought it was all just my imagination but... I know what i f-feel Judy... I can't stop thinking about you... I know that it's so wrong... It's unnatural and a-and I'm a freak and disgusting.. It's so wrong but i don't... I can't change it... I-i don't w-want to.. I love you more than anything in this world Judy... Just looking at your s-smile everyday makes me feel like e-everything is okay..."

He huffed for air and felt his mind buzz as he closed his eyes again and spoke.

"I wake up s-sometimes at night... Wishing i was bunny so that you would... That i could ask you out and...

I'm so s-sorry that i am like this.. I just can't... Get rid of it... it doesn't w-work!

I don't care if you are a prey! I don't care if y-you are a bunny... I still love you so much that it hurts..."

He kept breathing rapidly as everything he thought just poured out without stop.

He could have sworn that he had been like that for a whole minute. But she still had not left. He had not heard the door open and close, so she had to still be here.

Nick spoke again.

"You can't... Just come into someone's life and.. Make them fall in love with you... And then just...

I won't allow you to do it! Don't make me... I beg you... You are everything i have left in this world..

If anything happened to you i could not live anymore... I'm... I'm so s-sorry Judy.. For a-all of this..."

Nothing was heard in return but he could still feel her presence in the room, but couldn't bring himself to look at her.

"I-i know t-that things can never be normal b-between us anymore... B- but p-please don't hate me Judy i beg you... I promise i won't make it weird... D- don't change p-partners i can't... Don't push me away..."

Nick felt his throat go sore as he kept crying. He just hoped that in her heart Judy would accept it, even just out of feeling sorry for him.

He had never felt this wounded as he was now.

"I-i can stop teasing you a-and i 'll... I'll do anything if you are ready to... Don't push me away, please, please, i can fix this i can..."

Nick could feel his eyes hurt as the tears kept flowing down his red fur. He couldn't even form words anymore. He just kept sobbing and tried to get it together, but it was a fight he couldn't win. Almost twenty years of frustration, sorrow, pressure and affection all came out as one like a huge storm. No one had seen him like this. Not even his parents. Just Judy. And he was scared for his life about what would happen now.

That was the worst thing to wait. He kept speaking quietly in middle of his sobs, as best as he could.

"J-Judy w-we can... F-forget this.. We c-can move on... Just yell at me if you want... I-i can take it.. B-but don't p-push me away i can't...

We can f-forget t-that this ever happened... We can.. I w-won't e-ever lie to you a-again... W-we can move on please please say something..."

There was nothing. Nick knew that he had to look. He had to take the leap and look at her in the eye. He felt like passing out as he lifted his gaze from his tear filled floor, looking at the bunny in front of him.

There she still was. Nick saw as Judy was standing at the door, looking at him.

But Judy was also crying. She had covered her mouth with her both paws and her face was wet from tears.

She stared at him with a look that he could not place. And she was shivering. A lot. For a moment Nick thought that she had gone into a shock. The worry struck him but he couldn't speak as the rabbit just shivered and kept looking at him, her tears falling down on her cheeks.

They both kept staring each other for a good while, before Nick spoke up.

"J-Judy p-please say something."

She kept covering her mouth with her paws and only thing Nick could do was to feel panicked.

Was she disgusted? Felt sorry for him? Pitied him? Hated him? Or had she really gone into a shock?

She didn't say anything and it scared him so much that he felt like exploding.

"S-say anything at all... P-please Judy-"

The rabbit suddenly ran to him so fast that he didn't ever realize it.

She ran to the kneeled fox and suddenly Nick could feel her arms around him.

His eyes widened in panic as the sudden touch came without warning.

It took him a good moment to realize that she was hugging him. And not lightly.

It almost felt like she feared that he was going away.

The next thing he heard against his ear was Judy's crying, as she kept hugging him tighter.

She just kept crying and sniveling against his neck and Nick did not know what to think about it.

Of course. She was too good hearted to hate him even after all this. Maybe this was her way of forgiving him. Or feeling just sorry for him about being like this.

But he was not sure. There was not actual words coming from her. Only lot of crying and squeezing his uniform with those tiny paws.

They had already been like that for half a minute but Nick was still scared. He wanted her to say something to him.

Anything. Suddenly she did speak.

"I won't forget..." Was heard next to his ear quietly in middle of her crying.

After a moment she spoke again.

"I don't... I don't ever want to f-forget what you s-said.."

... So she was not going to forgive him?

But she just kept squeezing around him tighter and spoke again.

"Nick... I.."

She gasped for breath.

"That w-was the most b-beautiful thing a-any one has e-ever said to me..." She kept sobbing.

Nick was really confused right now. Was he just hearing his own? Or was it really Judy?

"I.. Why h-haven't you told me.. All this..?"

Nick swallowed for a bit and spoke carefully.

"I knew that you would.. Hate me."

Judy cried again harder against his shoulder and spoke in hurt voice.

"Nick i- i could never hate you. Never..."

Nick wiped his cheek with his paw and sniffed before speaking again.

"A- aren't you.. Aren't you freaked out by me Judy?" Nick asked quietly.

Judy let her paws loose from the hold and slowly took her gaze at the fox's, who was only inches away from his.

She spoke out quietly.

"No... I'm not."

"Why? I just told you that i loved you!" Nick said in fear but he could see as the rabbit smiled to her for the first time since entering the locker room,

a small tears still running down on her cheek.

"... I know." She said quietly and took her paw on his cheek slowly, making him flinch from the contact. But he didn't fight it. Judy just kept caressing his cheek and looking at him with those trembling lavender eyes of hers. Her soft touch was welcome but he was a bit worried about what was going on.

Why was she being so kind to him? Suddenly she spoke.

"Nick.. i want to ask you to do something... Don't freak out okay?" Judy asked carefully.

"..." Nick just stayed silent and nodded.

She spoke again quietly, almost like whispering it to him.

"Nick... Can you... Umm... Kiss me?" Judy ask'd, small blush coming on her now.

".. What?!" Nick ask'd, like he had just not heard right at all.

"I love you too Nick. I love you so much." Judy said warmly with loving smile, her eyes trembling from happiness as she look'd at him.

Nick just stared back, still wondering if he had just passed out in middle of his crying and this was all just some confusing dream.

He didn't know if he should say something but Judy just kept caressing his fur gently and spoke.

"Nick. I thought that all these months i was crazy... I still think i am.. But i..."

She stopped for a moment and felt as the tears started to come again. But she was still smiling to him before she continued.

"To know that you've felt like this for me... That it wasn't just me... I feel like I'm in one of my dreams again. Living this moment in my head over and over again. This is the part where i usually wake up... But you are not a dream... You are here with me. I can feel you with my paw right now.

And i can't believe that this is really happening..."

Nick felt his mouth open a little in wonder as she kept talking.

"I love you Nick... I have loved you for a long time... Not just as friends but... The way you feel for me...

And right now.. I am happier than i have been for a long time. I don't care that you are a fox... Or a predator, Nick.."

"You..." Nick felt his body shiver as she kept speaking to him like that. This couldn't be really happening...

"I thought that every time that you... flirted with me... That it was your way of just... It makes so much sense now... Oh Nick you are such a..."

She placed her both paws against his chest and leaned closer to him. Nick could feel his heart beat like last day on earth as she was looking right at him from so close.

"Judy..."

"Mhhmm?" Judy hummed as she kept looking at him with those loving eyes.

"Are you... Serious right now?" Nick ask'd, but he knew that just by looking at those beautiful eyes... This was far from kidding around.

"... Nick. I want to be your girlfriend." Judy said quietly.

Nick swallowed a little and spoke quietly.

"But Judy.. I am a fox..."

"I know."

"I am a predator."

"So?"

"Judy-"

"Stop it. I love who you are. Nothing else matters to me. I don't care what mammals say or think about me being with you. I want to be happy. I don't know anything else that would make me happier, than being with you. I want this. Not as friends anymore. There is no going back to that after this. I don't even want it to. I want more. I love you. "

"..." Nick just stared at her with his mouth open and his mind going crazy.

"Nick i-"

She was silenced as Nick closed his eyes and shifted his paw behind her back.

Nick felt as his lips embraced her's gently but fast. Her eyes widened for a moment but after two seconds she closed her eyes, her feet turning into a putty.

Nick kept rubbing her back, carefully moving his tongue in her small mouth,

making Judy whimper in surprise. For a while they both forgot everything around them.

There was just both of them and this incredible moment.

Nick could feel himself smile goofy as her small soft tongue tried to fight back against his.

Nick could not see it but Judy's tail was wiggling faster than it ever had, drumming everywhere as soft moan escaped her lips. They just kept each other in that kiss for a long while,

not able to contain their smile as they both felt so happy at that moment, feeling like it lasted forever.

After a while Nick let go, gasping for air, and leaving a small string of saliva between their mouths.

It took a moment for Judy to realize that the kiss had ended, and she opened her eyes, like she had just awaken from deep sleep.

Nick smiled lovingly as Judy opened her eyes and met with his.

There was no really words needed as they just kept looking at each other. Nick felt still warm and fuzzy all over as he licked his lips hungrily.

Judy leaned against his chest and hugged him again, affectionately rubbing her cheek against his fluffy neck with smile.

Nick could only smile as he felt a single tear still fall from his tired eyes. But this time it was not out of sadness.

They just kept hugging each other for a long time before Nick spoke.

"Was i am good kisser compared to your other boyfriends?"

"That was my first kiss silly..." Judy said and giggled against his neck.

"Now you are just pulling my tail. Come on tell me." Nick chuckled.

Judy giggled and kept hugging him tightly.

"There is no other boyfriends. You are my first one. Honestly."

"What? No way. Judy look at you. How can someone resist anyone that looks like you?" Nick asked in disbelief.

"... Nick, compared to my sisters back home... You would understand. Besides, i wasn't exactly popular. I was the weird one..." Judy said quietly.

Nick suddenly lifted her away from the embrace and look'd at her seriously while holding her both paws.

"I don't know what kind of place bunny burrow is but i know that you are just making things up now. You are the most beautiful mammal that i have ever seen. So don't talk about yourself like that. You look incredible every day Judy. You do to me. If anyone else can't see it, they are blind."

Judy felt like crying for a moment put she held it back as his tender eyes look'd at her's.

"Nick..."

"Yeah?"

"... Please kiss me again.."

She didn't have to ask twice as Nick leaned in, but this time the kiss was much more wilder than the first one.

There was many ways Nick thought that this day would go... But this is something neither of them could have imagined.

The just kept embracing each other and kissing for a long time, only giving small laughs in between as they just enjoyed a completely new and thrilling feeling. They had not even noticed that it had continued for an hour now.

The clock was already two at a night. But they did not care.

At this moment, time didn't exist to neither of them.

FRONT OF NICK'S APARTMENT _

Judy turned off the keys from the ignition and the car went quiet, as they arrived in front of Nick's place.

The silent moment settled between them and Judy turned her eyes to Nick, who was already looking at her back.

"Something on your mind carrots?" Nick asked.

"... I just.."

"Still feeling like this is all just a dream huh?" Nick ask'd, like he had been wondering the same thing.

"But we kissed... I'm pretty sure we did."

"Many times in fact." Nick reminded and Judy giggled shyly.

"... Nick is it... Okay if i come to uhmm..." Judy look'd away awkwardly.

"Carrots, I INSIST that you come over tomorrow."

"... We have lot to talk about, don't we?" Judy smiled to him and got warm smile back.

"A very mild way of putting it..."

".. I really look forward to it Nick."

"Me too. Do i need to clean up? I really hate cleaning."

Judy laughed and got chuckled from Nick.

"Wow i got a boyfriend today and on top of it, he's funny."

"... I am going to take time of getting used to that."

"Me calling you a boyfriend?" Judy giggled.

"That and the fact that i can tell my friends that i have the most beautiful girlfriend in the world."

"... You keep saying that." Judy blushed and took her gaze away from him. She would never get used to someone calling her beautiful so openly.

Or even at all. Every time Nick said it, she wanted to kiss him again.

"I mean it. And you are super cute too." Nick said and wiggled his eyebrows.

"Hey mister, you might be my boyfriend now but there are still certain rules that concern-"

"Incredibly mega cute fluffy and fuzzy adorable-"

"We are so breaking up." Judy giggled as Nick came closer and gave a light kiss on her lips, making the spot tingle.

Judy felt her ears run hot and felt a bit disappointed that Nick leaned away.

"I really don't want to leave this car fluff, but we are both going to need energy tomorrow, if we are going to talk about all this."

Nick reminded.

"... I know." Judy said quietly and gave a loving smile to him and started the engine.

"I'll see you tomorrow Judy."

Nick leaned in and gave a light kiss on her lips again and opened the passenger seat door.

Just as he was about to leave, Judy spoke quickly.

"Nick, wait..." She spoke with shy tone.

"Hmmmm?" Nick turned around.

"... I love you." She said quietly with blush, clearly very sad that they had to depart.

Nick's teasing smile went serious in a moment and he got back in the car, shutting the door behind him.

He leaned on top Judy, placing his paw gently on her cheek and pressing his lips against hers, kissing her wildly and with much as love as possible.

Judy whimpered happily under him, as Nick laid her down on the seat and climbed on top of her, continuing to kiss her and caressing her left ear gently with his claw.

Judy felt as the shivers went through her body from his touch. She could feel as Nick's huge tongue overpowered her's, making her feel like he had the total control.

But she loved every second of it. He was so good at kissing. His gentle paw rubbing against her cheek felt so good that she never wanted him to stop.

For a moment Judy felt the devilish tingle ring like earthquake but she just ignored it and kept kissing him.

After a while Nick departed their mouths, making her whimper for wanting more. Nick gave a small affectionate lick on her nose and spoke.

"I love you too Judy."

He sat back up, leaving the bunny to look after him with dreamy eyes.

Nick opened the door once again and stepped on the sidewalk, embracing the cold night air.

"Good night Judy. I'll see you tomorrow."

"... Night Nick..." Judy said quietly, still a bit buzzed from the recent kiss.

Nick gave a loving smile and gently shut down the door, looking back at the smiling bunny the whole way back to his building entrance.

Once he was gone from her sight, she squealed happily, covering her mouth with her paws as her tail drummed against the seat.

She had a boyfriend. And not just some random buck that her parents had forced on her. It was Nick. The fox she loved and had dreamed about being with for such a long time. She sighed happily and turned the car on. She gave a last loving look at Nick's apartment before speeding towards her home.

Nick entered the quiet apartment with the widest smile he felt like ever possessing. He shut the door behind him and walk'd over to his couch,

spinning around and falling on top of hit with his back, bouncing a bit and sighing happily.

What a day. Not only had he managed to make her forgive him about lying, he had ended up confessing his darkest secret to her.

But instead of her running away or changing a partner, she told that she had felt the same for a long time. His mind kept spinning as he still felt the taste in his mouth. They had really kissed. So many times. And it had been even more incredible that he had ever even thought of.

He had a girlfriend. He had experienced relationships before, but not with anyone that he truly loved. In just one night that seemed to be the worst one by far,

ended up being the best day in his life.

He stared at the spinning ceiling fan and chuckled by himself, his mind filled with images of her.

He could still taste her and smell her delicate scent from his uniform. He grabbed a huge pillow from the couch and hugged it tightly, smiling by himself as he wrapped himself around it.

He closed his eyes and slowly felt himself drifting to sleep.

"Judy..."

_