So, hi there guys. I needed a distraction from my uni work, and I always did enjoy writing, so I thought I'd try my hand at doing something like this. I do have to say, I loved the movie Zootopia (or, if you're from England, Zootropolis). The ending just left so many unanswered questions. I thought I'd answer them the way I wanted and write up a story. Hope you guys enjoy it, I'll try uploading a chapter once a week, for however long I decide to keep this up. Hope you guys enjoy this. Any reviews, suggestions, anything is welcome. jimKthy
'Nicholas P. Wilde, officer of the law'. Nick chuckled, that was something that was gonna take a lot of getting used to. Glancing down at the badge on his chest, he took a moment to sit and reflect. Yes, this was much better than the life he had before. A steady job, somewhere permanent to live, someone who actually cares about him... Nick was cautious not to let his mind linger on that topic. Judy was the first in a long time to show genuine care and concern for him. But he was a fox. She was a bunny. They were good friends, perhaps the best of friends. But that was it. Resuming his pondering, he let himself become distracted from the world, thinking of the life he now lead. Yes, it was a good life.
Nick jumped as something banged on the window just next to his head. The face of officer Judy Hopps stared back at him. "A good police officer doesn't let others sneak up on him" she lectured. "Give me a break Carrots, it's been a long day. I'm counting down the seconds until I get to go home. 10517, in case you were wondering", he said with a grin.
Judy chuckled as she walked around to the other side of the patrol car and got in. "I wasn't, but thank you for that little piece of information". She smiled, and Nick felt his stomach dance. Such a cute smile. No, he wouldn't let himself be consumed with these thoughts. She was his partner, his best friend. No, it couldn't happen. He dismissed the thought. "Did you get me my coffee?" he asked, needing the distraction. She grabbed one of the two cups and passed it over to him. "Made exactly the way you like it, no sugar, no milk, just straight coffee". As he took the cup, his paw accidentally glanced hers, and he felt his stomach dance again. Focusing on dismissing the thought, he sought out another distraction.
Judy noticed something was... up... with her partner. She couldn't put her finger on it, but he seemed preoccupied. Not necessarily distracted, but... Something was up. She hoped it wasn't him reconsidering his choice to become a police officer. She thought that he made one of the best police officers on the force, though he lacked size and strength, he made up for it with his brain, guile and wit. He was going to make a great cop, she knew it. His first week on the job had been uneventful. Judy enjoyed spending the time with him, he was an interesting individual. He was different from all the other foxes she had met, and she liked the difference. Nick had quickly become the one she most trusted, and that was a fact she found interesting. Imagine if her father knew she had been partnered with a fox... Just the thought made her giggle.
Nick turned and gave a quizzical look. "What's so funny?" he asked with that trademark smirk. Judy considered telling him about her father, but decided not to. "Oh, just the way things work out. Who would've thought it, a bunny and a fox, working together? Life can be funny, can't it?" She finished with a smile, and Nick had to turn his head so he didn't get lost in that smile again. She was right, traditionally foxes and bunnies didn't mix. Though modern society had moved past prey and predator segregation, the bunnies still tended to stick to themselves, preferring to keep away from foxes. Nick knew that, and that was the main reason he had try to force away his feelings. They were natural enemies, and though they might be friends, the best of friends, that's all they could be. He just had to accept it. He went to sigh, but caught himself before he did. He couldn't let on any clues about what he was feeling. Settling down, he counted the seconds until his shift ended and he could go home. 10363... 10362... 10361...
Finally Nick and Judy arrived back at the station. As they walked in the door, Clawhauser beamed at them with his usual cheery disposition. "Well if it isn't my new favourite working couple" he said cheerfully. Nick was sure he could feel himself blushing. He needed to get out of there. "Be back in a sec Carrots, I've just gotta go over... there... for something". Well, if that wasn't suspicious behaviour, he didn't know what was. He was always good at thinking of excuses to get himself out of situations, why not this time? He knew why, he just didn't want to admit it.
Judy watched as Nick walked away before turning back to Clawhauser. "I wonder what that was about?" she half asked, half wondered aloud. Clawhauser shrugged, not wanting to give away what he now found himself suspecting. He'd seen this sort of behaviour before, and he knew what it meant. But if his suspicions were right, Nick would be devastated if he suggested anything to Judy. "Oh I'm sure it was nothing, just Nick getting used to life as a cop". Benjamin knew he wasn't good at thinking of excuses on the spot, and he hated lying to Judy. But he had to. He liked Nick, Nick was friendly to him. Besides, Nick was keeping secrets for Benjamin too. If Chief Bogo found out that Benjamin was using storage room B as a pantry… Best not to say anything, if Judy figured things out, it would be by herself.
Judy turned her attention back to work. "Benjamin, do you have that paperwork the Chief wanted me to do?" Clawhauser grabbed a stack of paper and handed it to Judy, apologising for the amount of work he was giving her just before the weekend. Judy didn't really mind, she didn't have anything else to do on the weekend, her life outside of work wasn't exactly exciting. The more pressing matter was where had Nick gotten to? She felt someone grab her shoulder. "A good police officer doesn't let others sneak up on her". She didn't even have to look, she could practically hear his grin. He let go of her and walked over to Clawhauser's desk to sign out for the day. "Sly fox" she mumbled under her breath. "I heard that" he responded, though she could tell he was just teasing her.
In truth, Nick secretly enjoyed teasing Judy. He never did it to hurt her, he would hate himself if he ever hurt her. But the way her nose would twitch and her ears would stand up straight when he teased her... Secretly, he enjoyed it. Though he'd never dream of telling her. Nick resisted the urge to roast Clawhauser for his opening remark. It hadn't been serious, and though he had acted suspiciously, it would've been worse if Judy had seen him blushing. If she had caught that, who knows how she would've reacted. He finally had someone he trusted completely, he couldn't afford to lose that. "So, what does our little fluffy friend have planned for the weekend?" Nick asked, hoping that Judy would day she was free. He had already been thinking of ideas of what they could do together. Judy grimaced. "Have you seen the stack of paperwork I've just been given? Yeah, I don't exactly have a weekend at this point." Nick tried to hide his disappointment. He would've loved to spend the weekend with Judy, oh well. She had work.
They both said their goodbyes to Clawhauser, who was now busy working his way through a box of donuts, and walked out towards the patrol car. Because neither of them had their own vehicle, Nick had gotten special permission from the Chief to temporarily use the patrol car to get to and from work, provided he pick up and drop off Judy along the way. Once they were both in, Nick set off towards Judy's apartment. She had moved recently, from the one room apartment she first had when she came to Zootopia. Now she lived in a 2 bedroom apartment, and she loved it. She never hesitated to remind Nick of how good it was, how well she felt she had decorated it, she loved it. Though he hadn't actually been inside it himself, Nick could pretty much describe it perfectly. He had heard so much about it since she moved it. Even now, as they were driving there, she had started talking about how she had been planning to rearrange the furniture this weekend. They arrived at her place, and she jumped out. "See you on Monday Nick" she called as she made her way up the steps of her building. Nick began the drive back to his place. He had an idea.