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Chapter Text

Happy October!

For those of you who haven't seen it, Zootopia News Network released a list of 31 word prompts for "Zinktober". As stated in the post, this is intended for graphic artists to draw (or otherwise render) Zootopia characters according to the daily word prompts. Well, I can't draw (or otherwise render) to save my life, so I'm writing instead.

The list is explicitly Olympics-themed, but they do specify that the prompts don't have to be used in any sporting sense. And, since I know nothing about most sports, I've decided to interpret each of them in as non-sporting a sense as I can. Some of these have been pretty simple to twist, and others...

I'll post one story per day as specified by the list. I created a couple of self-imposed constraints:

• Fewer than 1000 words for each story (not a strict constraint -- I've already gone over on two stories and I'm not half finished)
• Each story will feature not just Zootopia characters, but specifically Nick and Judy

Edited to add, 04 October: Both of these self-imposed constraints will be/have been violated, as well as the offhand mention that none of the stories will involve sports in any way.

Bear in mind that these microfics are all over the timeline, so while some will feature Nick and Judy in a romantic relationship, others will not.

I don't plan to formally "submit" this to ZNN according to the challenge rules. This is strictly a writing exercise for me that will hopefully entertain someone.

A shout-out to Noc for providing creative criticism as well as overall guidance and editorial oversight. As always, any credit goes to him and any fault lies with me.

Chapter Text

Judy peered over at Nick as they walked beneath the elevated train tracks. He’d lapsed into an uncharacteristic silence several minutes earlier, and now he looked… preoccupied. Like his mind was a million miles away.

“Is everything okay, Slick? If you don’t feel like showing me around today, we can pick it up some other time.”

He stopped and glanced down at her, returning to the here and now.

“No, it’s fine. You need to learn about all the areas of Zootopia, not just the nice places from the tourist brochures.” He sighed and held his arms open in a sarcastically grand gesture. “Welcome, Carrots, to Happytown. The proverbial wrong side of the tracks.”

Judy looked around at the run-down buildings and crumbling roads. There were very few other pedestrians visible, and none of them looked friendly.

“It doesn’t look very happy to me,” she muttered.

“We do enjoy our ironic humor here in Zootopia,” Nick said. “You know, like a tiny arctic shrew who calls himself Big.”

“A real laugh riot,” Judy replied. “This place doesn’t look like it gets many visitors.”

“It doesn’t. This is where the city’s predators live when they can’t afford anywhere else. And therefore the city doesn’t spend much on upkeep, because who cares about a bunch of poverty-stricken preds?”

“Nick! That’s terrible.”

“Yeah,” he said somberly. “It really is.”

He began walking again, paws stuffed into his pockets.

“Some interesting statistics: no one keeps official numbers, but anyone who pays attention could tell you that Happytown has some of the highest crime rates in the city. Theft, assault, arson, you name it. The average income is roughly half of that in Tundratown and one-third of residents of Sahara Square. Life expectancy is significantly lower than most other areas. In brief, life is cheap, ugly, and short here.”

“I haven’t been called out here yet…”

“The ZPD doesn’t bother to respond to most calls from Happytown,” Nick said. “Can’t really blame them. When they do show up, they don’t exactly get a lot of cooperation. What they do get is a lot of bricks thrown at them.”

“That’s… that’s not right,” Judy said in a near-whisper. “Maybe a community outreach program would make a difference.”

“The last five didn’t. Trust me, Carrots, most things you can think of have been attempted. In the end, they wipe their paws, shrug, and say, ‘Well, we tried.’ And life in Happytown goes on regardless.”

Judy hunched her shoulders and shuffled along behind Nick. She couldn’t accept the idea that there was a whole area of Zootopia that everyone had given up on, where the police turned a blind eye. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she nearly ran into him when he stopped at a corner.

He was staring at a burned-out storefront. There was nothing to indicate what business had been here once, just charred timbers, blackened bricks, and broken glass.

“Nick?”

He didn’t respond for several moments. She was about to touch his arm when he murmured, “There used to be a tailor’s shop here.”

Judy looked at the ruins.

“A… tailor?”

“Everyone said he was a good mammal. Good clothes at decent prices. Active in the community. Dedicated to his family.”

He looked down at the sidewalk under his feet. His face was a blank mask.

“Some local gang started extorting protection money from businesses in the area, and he was stupid enough to stand up to them. They dragged him out of his shop and beat him. His wife called the police, told them her husband was being murdered. It took them an hour to show up. He died right here, on this spot.”

An awful certainty settled over Judy. Her eyes began to tear up.

“Nick…”

“It happened two weeks before his son’s sixth birthday. The widow tried her best to raise the boy alone, but he grew up angry at the world. He ran away from home when he was a teenager and settled into a life of petty scams and skirting the edge of every law he could think of.”

He fell silent again, his gaze distant. Judy was at a loss for words. She blinked the tears from her eyes as best she could and slid her paw into Nick’s. A shadow of a smile crossed his face.

“If I… when I make it through the academy, Carrots, I’m going to push hard to change things. I’ll respond to every call in Happytown myself if I have to. But I’ll find a way to make a difference. I’m going to show the mammals around here that someone cares. I owe it to him.”

Judy squeezed his paw.

“He’d be so proud of you, Nick. And I promise I’ll do everything I can to help.”

Chapter Text

Nick unlocked the door and stepped into the tiny apartment. Somehow, and he couldn’t understand how it was possible, the place felt even smaller than he remembered.

“How can she stand to live in this shoebox?” he wondered aloud, then held his breath. There was no shouted response, so he assumed Judy’s neighbors weren’t home.

“Don’t forget the paper-thin walls,” he muttered.

As she’d promised, there was a small plastic watering can sitting on her little desk. Nick took it and padded down the hall to the bathroom, filled it up at the sink, and returned to Judy’s apartment.

Of course Carrots kept four potted plants in her already-cramped living space. And of course she fretted about them while she visited her family. And of course Nick had assured her he’d water them in her absence.

Three tiny little… Nick didn’t actually know anything about plants, so he couldn’t identify what sat on her windowsill. He sprinkled a little water into each pot, then turned to the larger plant in the corner.

Is that a ficus? he wondered. What does a ficus look like? Is ficus even a real word? To hell with it, I’m calling it a ficus.

He poured the remainder of the water into the pot, then set the can back down on the desk.

Something in the little wastebasket next to the desk caught his eye. He hesitated.

Ever heard of invasion of privacy, Wilde? Don’t go rooting through your partner’s trash. That’s creepy any way you slice it.

But I can clearly see my name on that paper, he countered. Maybe it’s a note she started writing, then crumpled it up because any idiot can manage to water some plants. What harm could it do to read it?

Flimsy rationalization accepted, he reached in and drew out the little ball of paper. Now that he looked more closely, he could see both “Nick” and “Wilde” written in Judy’s handwriting. After one final pause, he smoothed out the wadded-up page.

It was crowded with scribbles of his name: a few instances of “Nicholas Wilde” interspersed with many more “Nick Wilde”s. Some were written with care, others were scrawled. The smile beginning to spread across his muzzle froze as he noticed the additions at the bottom of the page.

Three repetitions of the same two words, each written in a clear, looping script.

“Judy Wilde.”

Slowly and meticulously, Nick crumpled the paper back into a small ball and placed it back into the wastebasket. Moving on autopilot, he walked out of the little apartment and locked the door behind him.

He shuffled back towards his own apartment, feeling as if his entire body had gone numb.

“Duh, what harm could it do to read?” Idiot.

Maybe… maybe she did that on purpose. Wrote that just to mess with me, knowing that I’d be tempted to read it. Maybe…

No. She wouldn’t. Her jokes are… more straightforward than that. Less devious.

So it looks like Carrots has a crush on me. What do I do with this information?

Nick sighed and rubbed a paw across his eyes. He couldn’t stop the small smile spreading across his face.

Only one thing I can do. Make sure I’m worthy before I ask her out.

Chapter Text

Clawhauser looked up from his phone as two familiar voices echoed through the lobby.

“Look, Carrots, could we please just drop it?”

“No. No, we cannot. I plan to bring this up at every opportunity for the next five years.”

“It isn’t bad enough that I need to…”

Nick noticed they’d attracted the cheetah’s attention and trailed off.

“Good afternoon, Ben!” Hopps chirped, looking bubblier than usual.

“Um… hello,” Clawhauser said. He looked at Nick, who avoided his eye. “What’s… uh, what’s up?”

“Did you know that foxes can jump higher than rabbits can?”

Ben’s eyes flickered between Judy and Nick. If Hopps seemed unusually cheerful, Nick looked almost sullen. His stance was oddly rigid, with his paws behind his back.

“Can they?” Ben asked carefully.

“You bet! Just ask Nick here, he’s been repeating it for weeks now.” Her voice deepened as she performed a credible imitation of Wilde. “‘You know, Carrots, foxes can leap six feet straight up in the air, while poor widdle bunnies can only jump four feet high, blah blah blah.’”

“Laugh it up,” Nick muttered under his breath.

“Oh,” Ben said, unsure where any of this was going. “That’s… interesting.”

“No, Officer Clawhauser, trust me when I tell you, that isn’t the interesting part. I’m getting to the interesting part.

“As you may recall, our favorite dispatcher sent us to check out a possible break-in attempt at a pawn shop.”

Ben nodded.

“It turns out there was no break-in. Last night, very strong winds blew some shingles from a nearby roof and cracked one of the shop’s rear windows. But that’s not important to this story.

“You see, this particular pawn shop has a chain-link fence separating the front and back of the lot. I didn’t have a tape measure, of course, but it’s about as tall as your desk here, so… let’s say a bit over three feet?”

“Carrots, this really isn’t necessary,” Nick mumbled.

“So we’re checking around the building,” Judy said, ignoring Wilde completely. “We come to this fence, and I climb over it. I look back at Nick –”

“I’m begging you, Fluff.”

“– who makes sure he has my full attention and then leaps over the fence in a single bound.” Judy paused for a moment, eyes sparkling, before she continued. “Well, he tried to leap over the fence, but he didn’t quite make it. To give him credit, it was really, really close…”

Ben gasped.

“Oh no! Did he fall on his face? Are you hurt, Nick?”

Nick’s shoulders sagged as he sighed.

“I’m sure Officer Wilde appreciates the concern, Ben, but I can assure you he did not fall on his face. Something much, much funnier happened instead.”

Clawhauser blinked.

“So… what happened that was so funny?”

“I could tell you, but it’s much easier to show you.”

With an evil grin and a flourish, Judy handed her phone to Ben. The cheetah’s eyes widened as he looked at the picture on display.

“O… M… Goodness. Nick, your pants got caught on the fence? Judy, how long did you leave him hanging there?”

“I’m not a monster, Ben. I helped him down from there right away after I got a good picture. Of course, it would have been a lot faster if he hadn’t been thrashing around so much. I had to delete seven or eight pictures that were too blurry.”

Nick stalked away towards the locker rooms, ears back and one paw holding the ripped seat of his pants closed, trying to ignore the laughter erupting all around him.

Chapter Text

Nick breathed a sigh of relief as he opened the apartment door. Judy’s keys and phone were on the floor next to the stand where they usually sat. The panic that had been squeezing his heart ever since she had darted away, sobbing, began to ease its grip.

He followed his nose towards their bedroom. Judy lay on their bed, back to the door. She was curled up into a tight ball. He sat on the edge of the bed and stroked her ears, which lay flat against her back.

She sniffled and turned her head so she could look at him with a red-rimmed eye.

“Sorry for running off like that,” she mumbled.

“Shhhh,” he soothed. “You had me scared, but I understand. I’m sorry it happened at all.”

Judy shuddered and hugged herself into an even tighter ball.

“How could anyone be so… rude? Disrespectful? Hateful?”

Nick slid his paw between her ears and ran his claws lightly against her back.

“I wish I had an answer, Carrots. I wish I could tell you it’ll never happen again. But you know it will.”

“It was a beautiful day,” she whispered. “I just wanted to go out and have a good time with my boyfriend.”

“There are always going to be mammals who get offended by that. By us.”

“It’s not fair.”

“I agree. It’s not. But we went into this with open eyes.”

She uncoiled enough to roll onto her back, and he moved his paw to rest lightly on her stomach. Her irises glimmered more vividly purple than ever. They only shone like that when she cried, and Nick hated how well he knew that.

“I won’t apologize to anyone for loving you,” she said.

“And I won’t, either. We shouldn’t have to.”

She heaved a shaky breath and held his large paw in both of hers.

“What do we do about this, Nick?”

He gave a small shrug.

“Not much we can do, Carrots, except be disgustingly happy together to spite the haters.”

She gave a tiny snort that melted his heart even further.

“What did I do to deserve you?” she breathed.

“I’m still trying to figure that out. One day I’ll stumble across your evil mastermind lair in Bunnyburrow, and this will all make sense.”

Judy scoffed, but he saw a weak smile on her face.

“Joking aside, Carrots, can I ask you one simple question?”

“Anything.”

“Are you happy? With us? This relationship?”

“Yes,” she said with no hesitation.

“Then remember that the next time we face some small-minded mammal. No matter what awful words they use, how loud they shout, whatever hate fills their heart – we have each other. I’m not going anywhere. They can’t change that.”

She drew his paw up to her mouth and kissed his knuckles.

“Thank you,” she murmured. “I needed to hear that.”

Chapter Text

Clawhauser paused mid-chew and sat his cereal bowl on his desk. He could have sworn he’d heard —

There it was again: howls of laughter echoing in the lobby. The crowd of mammals parted for a moment and he saw Officer Nick Wilde, his head thrown back and tail swishing merrily, walking next to Officer Judy Hopps, who looked considerably less jovial.

That’s strange, Ben thought. She doesn’t usually wear her patrol hat.

“— absolutely perfect, Carrots. One of the best days of my entire life,” Wilde was saying as they drew closer to the reception desk. “And I have you to thank for it.”

Hopps didn’t bother to respond.

Ben hurriedly swallowed his mouthful of cereal, curiosity thoroughly piqued. Everyone in the precinct knew about Wilde and Hopps’ friendly “rivalry”, as well as what was almost certainly at its root.

“Hey, guys!” he chirped. “What’s up?”

Nick turned to look at Clawhauser, utter glee written across his face.

“Ben! Benjy! Benjamin Spotsworth Clawhauser!” he bellowed as he spread his arms, a small plastic bag dangling from one paw.

“That’s not —”

“Today,” Nick continued without pausing, “has been a fantastic day. One for the record books. Go ahead, ask me why.”

“Why —”

“I’ll tell you why,” Nick said, obviously enjoying himself, “in the form of a story.

“You may recall a few weeks ago, Officer Hopps took great pleasure when I didn’t quite clear a fence.”

Ben chuckled. “Yeah, she showed that picture to everyone.”

“She did. Afterwards, she kept insisting bunnies can leap forwards a great distance compared to how high they can jump. This is a valuable ability for a prey species, whereas certain predators evolved to pounce vertically, and so forth.”

“Okay,” Ben said slowly.

“Of course, she also made sure to showboat whenever possible. ‘I’ll just leap across this puddle… whoops, guess you need to walk around it, tee hee’ and the like. If I can be honest with you, Benjy, it was very unbecoming of Officer Hopps.”

Clawhauser’s eyes flickered over to Hopps, who stood with her arms folded and her ears flat against her back. She stared at Wilde’s head as though hoping to set it on fire with her glare.

“Now, a little good-natured joking amongst colleagues is fine. But I assure you this went on far longer than necessary. And, it seems, cosmic justice agrees with me on this point.

“For, you see, one scant hour ago, we were on foot patrol a few blocks from here. Crews had ripped up part of the sidewalk to work on a water main, leaving a trench maybe three feet across.

“They had put down some pieces of metal as a bridge so mammals could walk across, mind you. But that wasn’t good enough for Officer Hopps. She decided to effortlessly leap across like the majestic, graceful bunny she is.”

Judy’s eyes slowly rolled upwards as she blinked, almost vibrating with anger.

“Who can say what happened? Perhaps her overconfidence betrayed her. Perhaps she isn’t as sure-footed as she believed. The bottom line is… she didn’t quite make it.”

“Judy, you fell into the trench?”

Before Hopps could respond, Nick raised a finger and answered.

“Fear not, Benjy, she didn’t fall in. One foot made it safely to the far side and the other fell just short. She probably would have been just fine, had there not been another mammal nearby, applying a fresh coat of paint to a storefront.”

“Oh no…” Clawhauser murmured.

“Everything happened in slow motion, Benjy. Carrots was flapping her arms around like some exotic species of bird in a doomed effort to regain her balance. Her eyes widened as she spotted the painter, but she had too much momentum to avoid him.

“This poor wildebeest sensed the commotion and turned to see this flailing bunny stumbling towards him. It was too late for him to get out of her way, although he tried.

“In his haste, he kicked over his own paint can, which further delayed his escape. Hopps barreled into him, tripped over his leg, and did a spectacularly acrobatic flip in mid-air before landing flat on her back.

“At this point, I would like to ask Officer Hopps to show you the result. However, by how loudly she’s grinding her teeth, I doubt she’ll willingly comply. So I will ask her two quick questions.

“Question number one, Carrots. Did I take any pictures while you were splayed on the sidewalk or at any point afterwards?

“And the follow-up: precisely how many people saw that oh-so-amusing picture of me hanging by the seat of my pants?”

Judy’s jaw worked silently for a moment. After one final glare at Wilde, she ripped off her hat and performed a brief spin.

Clawhauser gasped, then covered his mouth with his paws.

The back of her head and ears all the way down to the middle of her back was coated in bright yellow paint. It had partially dried, and her fur was sticking together in clumps.

“Nick! How is she going to get that out of her fur?”

“Relax, big guy. Fortunately, the painter was going to use a separate sealer after the color had dried, so this is just some standard latex paint. Got her a couple of different kinds of shampoo and a comb here, although she’s probably going to be in the showers for a while.”

Hopps grabbed the bag from Wilde’s paw and stomped away. Nick held a paw next to his muzzle and called to her retreating back.

“If you’re in there for more than twenty minutes, Carrots, I’ll send Fangmeyer in to help! Sound good? Oh, dear, that’s not a very polite gesture.”

Chapter Text

“Ugh,” Nick grumbled. “I hate formal dress uniforms.”

“Oh, stop,” Judy said. “It makes you look dashing.”

“‘Dashing’ is my baseline look, Carrots. I don’t need any outfit to help with that.”

Judy rolled her eyes. “Did they give you an elephant-sized hat to fit your ego-inflated head?”

“Mock if you must, but you know that I make the uniform look good, not the other way around.”

“Of course. That’s why you spend every evening off going on dates instead of watching movies with me.”

“In addition to my insanely good looks,” Nick said with a sniff, “I also cherish time with close friends far more than mere romantic pursuits.”

“Okay, Nick, enough. Lay off before we need a shovel to get out of here.”

He seemed to look at Judy for the first time that evening.

“Why do you have three medals? I have the ‘gimme’ one for making it through the academy, but what are your other two?”

“You’ve only been a cop for two months, Nick. You need time to earn medals. This one —” she indicated one with three bars, blue on either side of a central red one that bore a single star “— was a commendation I received for the Night Howler case. You’d have gotten one too if you’d been an officer at the time.”

“Technically,” he said, eyebrow arched, “you weren’t a cop at the time either.”

Judy shrugged. “Chief Bogo claims he knew I’d come back, so he never filed the separation paperwork. Personally, I think the department just didn’t want to admit that two civilians cracked such a big case on their own, so they waved their paws and said I was on sabbatical but still on the roster.”

“Not to mention they were literally pitching you as the poster girl for the ZPD when you quit.”

“Yeah, that probably helped too. This other one —” she pointed at a black bar with the letters “SSRQ” flanked by thin gold stripes “— is for qualifying as a sharpshooter with a rifle.”

The smirk melted from Nick’s face.

“Seriously? When did you earn that?”

“While you were in the academy. I would have gotten it sooner, but they didn’t have a long gun my size. Once it came in, the qual was easy.”

“I never pictured you being comfortable with any kind of firearm.”

“As you’re so fond of pointing out, Nick, there isn’t much to do ‘out in the sticks’ growing up. Pop-Pop had an old rifle from the war, and sometimes as a treat, Dad would give us shooting lessons.”

“And, needless to say, you earned shootin’ time more than any of your brothers or sisters did.”

“I’ve always been an overachiever. No surprise there.”

Nick scratched his chin.

“No, not much of a surprise. Well, if I decide to go for rifle qualification, I know who to bother for training.”

She waved a paw dismissively.

“Oh, no bother at all. Provided, of course,” she added with a twinkle in her eye, “it doesn’t interfere with your busy social life.”

“And we’re back to sarcasm and mockery. Someone has been a bad influence on Miss Goodbunny.”

“Not to point fingers, of course.”

“I would never. In the same way that I’d never point out that you never seem to have hot-date plans on movie night either.”

Judy rolled her shoulders in a slow shrug.

“I suppose we both prioritize friendship over romance, don’t we?”

“Obviously. Must be why we make such a good team, being on the same wavelength and all.”

They shared a smile and lapsed into silence. Neither pointed out the sometimes-vague line between friendship and romance or how close they felt to crossing it, but they didn’t need to — they were on the same wavelength.

Chapter Text

“Morning, Nick. What’s with the boot?”

Wilde didn’t answer and clomped towards his desk with his ears pinned back. Clawhauser watched him go.

“Sensitive subject, I guess,” he muttered.

“Sorry, Ben. Don’t let his bad mood get to you.” Clawhauser peered over the edge of the desk at Hopps. “He sprained his ankle pretty badly and has to wear that walking cast for a few weeks. I think he’s a little embarrassed.”

“What, he tripped over his own underwear or something?”

Hopps looked even more apologetic than before.

“No. It was kind of my fault, really.”

“Oh! Did he trip over your underwear?”

“Ben! That’s not funny.”

Clawhauser chuckled.

“Sorry, couldn’t resist. So what did happen?”

“Well, it started last week…”

***

“Okay, any athlete.”

“You’d already be done with your paperwork if you didn’t keep stopping to ask these questions.”

Nick pushed away from his desk, balancing his chair on its back legs, and gazed at her with a lazy smirk.

“I’m doing the paperwork, Carrots. I’m just throwing in some friendly conversation so we can bond like partners are supposed to.”

Judy sighed. “Is this what makes cops work well together? Knowing what the other would say if a criminal held them at gunpoint and asked which actor they’d prefer to meet?”

“Athlete, not actor. And that’s fine. If you’d rather not talk, I guess we can just wave to each other from opposite sides of the room once per day.”

She sighed again.

“So those are the only two choices? Either we take six hours longer than necessary to finish our work, or we become passing acquaintances?”

“I don’t make the rules, Fluff, that’s just how it is.”

Hopps tossed her pen onto her desk.

“Ugh, fine. If I answer this, can we please get at least half an hour of work done without any more imaginary scenarios?”

“Yeah, sure. Half an hour.”

“Refresh my memory on precisely what this monumentally important question was.”

“If you could meet any athlete from the past fifty years, who would it be?”

“What do you mean, like, bump into them on the street? Have a meaningful conversation? Or maybe a date?”

She looked over with amusement as Nick nearly fell over backwards in his chair, arms flailing. He grabbed at his desk, then immediately tried to cover his moment of panic with another smirk.

“Sure, Carrots, let’s make it interesting. If you were going to go on a date with any athlete from the past fifty years, who would it be?”

Judy tried to suppress her grin and looked up at the ceiling. I can’t pass up this chance to twist his tail.

“Hmmm. A date with any athlete… so many bunnies to choose from…”

“There are other mammals who play sports, you know,” Nick noted.

“Oh, are there?” she asked, purposely not looking at him. “I guess it’s hard to notice them with all those bucks in the spotlight.”

“Clearly not a football fan, then. The best quarterbacks and receivers are…”

“No, basketball and soccer were always more interesting to me. Ooh! That’s it. David Buckham.”

“What?” Nick shouted before lowering his voice. “But he’s married!”

“You said in the last fifty years. So I choose Buckham before he got married.”

“Really? He’s your pick? That overpriced, overhyped…”

“He wouldn’t get huge contracts if he didn’t bring in the crowds,” Judy said in a sing-song voice.

“Kinda disappointed, Carrots,” Nick said, clearly trying not to grouse. “I didn’t think you were shallow enough to pick such a… a pretty-boy.”

Oh yeah, she thought as she hid a grin. That tail is definitely twisted now.

“It’s not all about looks, Slick. Have you ever watched him play? Take that final goal he scored in the World Cup a few years ago. They still sell posters of him doing that famous kick.”

True to his word, Nick gave her thirty minutes of blessed near-silence to finish her paperwork. In fact, he was quiet for the remainder of their shift.

***

Two nights later, Judy’s cell phone woke her up. She stared at the screen and tried to make sense of it.

Why is he calling at two in the morning?

She picked up. “Nick?”

“Heya… nnngh… Carrots. Whatcha doing?”

“I was sleeping, like I usually do this time of night. What’s wrong?”

“Wrong? Why assume there’s… agh… anything wrong?”

“Well, number one, as mentioned, the time of night, and number two, it sounds like you’re hurt. So what’s wrong?”

“Oh, uh, funny you should mention. Could you maybe… mmnnn… come down to the park across the street from my apartment?”

“Nick, I’ll be there as soon as you tell me what’s wrong.”

“Look, I was just… I was going for a walk, trying to wind down, and… and I tripped. Okay? I just need you to help me back to my apartment so I can sleep it off.”

“Do you need to go to the hospital? How bad is it?”

“No! It’s just… I wrenched my ankle a little. Nothing major.”

“Okay. Hang tight, I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

***

Judy stood at the park entrance nearest Nick’s building. She didn’t see any trace of him.

“Nick?”

“Carrots! Over here!”

She followed his voice until she found him, massaging a swollen ankle.

“Why were you walking out here? This is nowhere near the walking path.”

“Does it matter? Just help me up.”

“Okay, here we go. One, two, three.”

Nick sucked air through his teeth and groaned.

“Ah, that hurts like a…”

“Wait a second. Is that…”

She peered through the dark.

“C’mon, Carrots, please, just walk me to my apartment.”

“Nick, is this a soccer field?”

“Is it? I don’t know. I was just taking a walk…”

“When you tripped over that soccer ball?”

“What? Is that a ball over there? Must not have seen it. Anyway…”

It was a struggle to help Nick back to his apartment, partially due to his larger size, but mostly because she had to keep herself from bursting into laughter.

***

“So after he insisted for half an hour that he just needed to take the weight off it, I went back home. But I made sure to check on him the next day, and when his ankle wasn’t any better, I browbeat him into going to the hospital. Moderate ligament strain, walking cast, end of story.”

Judy finally noticed the merry spark dancing in Clawhauser’s eyes.

“Ben, please don’t tell anyone else about this. You know Nick’s got his pride, and I probably shouldn’t have told you all of this to begin with… Ben? Please?”

Clawhauser assumed an unconvincing hurt expression.

“Judy! Do you seriously think I can’t keep a secret? That I can’t resist telling such a hilarious story to others, despite the temptation? And not that I plan to tell anyone, but you can never tell who may have overheard in this big, busy lobby.”

“Oh, sweet cheese and crackers…”

Judy tried to put it out of her mind for the rest of the day.

Okay, maybe there will be some good-natured ribbing, everyone will have their fun, and it won’t get mentioned again. Nick can take it in stride.

That delusion lasted until the next morning, when she trudged towards their shared desk area after the morning briefing. She froze, coffee cup almost to her mouth, with her eyes wide.

Oh, no.

Before she could get her brain back into gear, Nick shuffled in behind her and also stopped dead.

Dozens of posters of David Buckham were plastered on the walls. Framed photographs of the athlete sat on both desks. Bobbleheads in the star’s likeness bounced jauntily on the chairs.

In a tone colder than Tundratown, Nick asked, “Would you care to explain this, Judith?”

“Surprise?” she said weakly.

Chapter Text

Kits, most of whom wore puffy jackets and wooly hats, clambered all over the jungle gym. Their little voices were a squeaky buzz punctuated with regular screeches of delight.

Judy watched them quietly, her ears drooping down her back.

“Hey,” Nick murmured with a gentle squeeze of her paw. “Want to talk about it?”

She looked over to him, blinking away tears that had begun to build.

Of course he’d notice, she thought. We can read each other pretty well by now.

She forced a tight smile.

“Just… old instincts. Turns out they haven’t quite faded out.”

Nick guided her to a park bench and sat.

“If you’d asked me five years ago, I probably would have told you I didn’t want children,” she continued. “The idea barely even occurred to me for a long time. Fighting for a spot in the academy, then making sure my career was on track, and… I guess in the back of my mind, I always thought it would just somehow work itself out. And then…”

“And then you started dating a fox,” Nick suggested.

“I don’t regret that for a moment.”

“Hard to reconcile that with the occasional bout of mommy fever, though.”

“I’ll get through it. It fades.”

Nick looked away as the wind ruffled his fur.

“I get it too, Carrots. Sometimes, especially when the weather turns colder, I really wonder what kind of father I’d be.”

“You’d be fantastic, Nick. You have so much to give.”

He looked back at her with a sad smile. “I doubt I could compete with the Wonder Mom you’d be.”

They clasped paws and sat on the chilly bench. A silence grew between them, but it was a comfortable one.

“So when are we going to start?”

Judy shook her head slightly, seeming to come back from miles away.

“Start what?”

Nick looked around the park thoughtfully.

“If you’re ready and I’m ready, then it’s just a matter of filling out the paperwork. It can take years before we get approved, so the sooner, the better.”

“Wait, Nick, are you talking about…”

“Adopting. Or maybe even finding a surrogate.”

“Nick, I… that’s a big step. An enormous step.”

“Is it something you want?”

A shiver traveled through Judy’s body that had nothing to do with the weather.

“Yeah. I think it is. But we’d never be approved. We aren’t even married.”

Nick shrugged. “That’s a simple mistake to fix.”

Suddenly, Judy was laughing and crying and feeling sick all at once.

“This has got to be the strangest, most backwards proposal I’ve ever heard of.”

He smiled at her with no guile, no sarcasm, no veil.

“When have we done anything the conventional way? If this isn’t enough for you, give me a couple of weeks and I’ll do it up right.”

She wrapped her arms around him and leaned in.

“It’s perfect, Nick. I can’t imagine anything better.”

He kissed the top of her head and wrapped his tail around her legs.

“You didn’t say ‘yes’.”

“You didn’t actually ask.”

He snorted. “Touché. Carrots von Fluffington, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

“After careful deliberation, Slick de Foxtail, I most certainly will.”

“There. That’s settled.”

They leaned against each other and laughed until tears ran down both their faces.

“Have I mentioned how much I love you, Nick?”

“Roughly as many times as I’ve told you how much I love you.”

A few more moments of comfortable silence passed.

“Do you think we’ll have kits?”

“I think we will. Three of ‘em. Two boys and a girl.”

Judy giggled. “You have names picked out already?”

“Naturally. There would be little Nick Junior, of course, his brother Piberius, and their sister Nicole.”

“We’re going to have some negotiations about those names.”

Chapter Text

Nick’s smirk should have been the first warning sign, but Judy failed to notice it.

He always seemed to have some form of smirk, honestly. But after nearly a year of partnership, she’d gained the ability to read the subtle signs that differentiated his baseline smugness from something truly devious. Today, however, she was in the middle of writing a report and therefore distracted. And Nick could never pass up a good opportunity.

He leaned back in his chair and sipped his coffee, waiting for the right moment. When her ears stopped twitching and her brow became furrowed, he knew she had gotten sufficiently wrapped up in her work.

“So, Carrots,” he began with just the right bored tone, “did I ever tell you about the champion swimmer who grew up down the street from me?”

She glanced over at Nick for a split second, eyes sliding back to her monitor without really seeing him.

“Hm? No, it doesn’t ring a bell.”

“Oh, she was fantastic. It was all the more impressive since she was a yak. As a matter of fact, I just recently found out that she’s a distant cousin of that guy from the Mystic Springs Oasis.”

Her ears twitched, and Nick thought he saw just a hint of a blush inside them at the mention of the naturalist club.

“Yeah? The one who remembered all the details?”

“That’s the one. Yax. Anyway, Kylie moved through the water so quickly and effortlessly, it seemed like she barely even left a wake.”

Judy made a noncommittal noise, eyes still glued to her screen.

“I don’t think I’m impressing upon you exactly how amazing this gal was, Carrots. She led her school’s team to the regional finals every single year for eight years in a row. Everyone said she should consider moving up to the national competition level.”

Nick was gratified to see his partner blink and turn to look at him again.

“Really? This yak was a great swimmer? Even with all that thick fur?”

“That was one of the weird things. Her fur just shed water. Like, she’d climb out of the pool, and it seemed like she’d drip-dry in a matter of minutes. It was uncanny.”

She turned her chair away from her desk. Nick held back a grin. Ha, I’ve got you now.

“How long ago was this? How old is she now?” said Judy.

Nick took another long sip of coffee, drawing out the moment.

“Oh, this was a while back. She’d probably be around thirty now, I guess.”

“Huh.”

Judy pulled out her phone and tapped at it for a minute.

“My older sister Maggie was on the Bunnyburrow swim team, and they came to Zootopia for competitions a few times every year. I wonder if she remembers this girl.”

Nick cleared his throat in an effort to avoid laughing. Not yet. Let it stew for just a little while longer.

She looked down at her phone when it chirped.

“You said her name was Kylie? Maggie doesn’t recognize the name or the description. This yak was a really big deal in swimming?”

“Oh, yeah. Trust me, she knows of her, even if it doesn’t immediately come to mind. You do too, I’m sure.”

The look of confusion on Judy’s face was almost enough to get Nick to crack, but he held it together.

“How would I have heard about her? I never followed swimming much. I know about Michael Whelps…”

“Well, maybe it’s the first name that’s throwing you off. She always went by Ky instead of Kylie.”

He watched her and waited for the reaction.

“A great swimmer named Ky. What was her last name?”

“Yax. Like I said, cousin to the nudist guy.”

“Ky Yax? I don’t…”

Nick saw the realization dawn on her, followed quickly by the disgust he’d been waiting for. When she leapt to her feet, paws balled into fists, he was already sprinting down the hallway, laughing hysterically.

When she catches me, she’s gonna beat me senseless, he thought as he heard her cursing his name behind him. Don’t care, totally worth it.

Chapter Text

“Excuse me, Officer Hopps?”

Judy looked up in surprise at the somberly dressed panther with mirrored sunglasses who had spoken to her.

“Yes? Is there a problem?”

“No, ma’am, not at all. Councilwoman Swinton would like to speak with you.”

“She wants to speak with me?”

Judy hesitated. Ever since that crazy badger had been arrested a few months earlier for making alleged threats against the government, she and Nick had been recruited for nearly every political event and rally to monitor for trouble from smaller mammals. She couldn’t abandon her post, even at the behest of the politician holding the rally.

“Let me radio in and clear it with my boss first.”

The panther nodded. “Please come around to the back of the stage when you’re ready.”

She keyed her shoulder mic as the panther left. “Hopps to command, come in.”

Chief Bogo’s voice answered. “Command here. Proceed, Hopps.”

“I’ve been asked to meet Councilwoman Swinton behind the main stage. Please advise, over.”

In the few seconds of radio silence that followed, Judy could picture Bogo frowning at the radio.

“Please repeat that, Hopps. Over.”

“It’s a surprise to me, too. Someone just told me that Swinton wants to speak with me. No idea why. I’ll remain at my post if –”

“Not necessary, Hopps,” Bogo broke in. “Swinton’s left the podium and the rally is ending. Consider yourself off-duty effective immediately. You can choose to meet her or not. Over.”

Hopps sighed. “Copy. Over and out.”

She began to make her way towards the stage. Her small size was a benefit here, allowing her to simply squeeze past the legs of larger mammals instead of having to push her way through. As she finally worked past most of the crowd, she felt a paw on her shoulder and turned.

“Nick? What are you doing here?”

“I heard you were meeting Swinton backstage.”

“Heard from who? I didn’t even know until three minutes ago.”

“Clawhauser may have brought it up. You know, in regular conversation. Just in case I got worried when I couldn’t find you.”

“In regular conversation over the radio while you were in the middle of a crowd? Remind me to thank Ben for being so discreet about our relationship.”

Nick shrugged as he padded alongside her. “I’m not going to complain. I would have been worried.”

“Sorry. I should have texted you or something. This just happened suddenly.”

“No worries, Carrots. I just want to be nearby for moral support.”

She smiled. “Thanks, Nick.”

They headed towards one of the numerous flags displayed, which stood next to an opening in the cordon. The gate was guarded by a rhinoceros with the same “dark suit and mirrored shades” look as the panther who’d approached Judy. He looked them over.

“Welcome, Officer Hopps, the councilwoman is waiting for you.” He paused to glower at Nick.

“This is Officer Wilde, my partner,” she said. “I’d like him to come with me.”

Scowl still in place, the rhino raised a sleeve and spoke into it. “Hopps is here. There’s another officer with her, a fox named –”

He broke off and tilted his head slightly. “Yes, that’s correct,” he muttered into his sleeve. “Understood.”

The guard stepped to one side. “Officers,” he said, “please proceed up the stairs to the left.”

“Thanks, Chuckles,” Nick said dryly as they walked past.

“Well, apparently they know who you are,” Judy said.

“Very reassuring news for an ex-hustler.”

“You’re not an ex-hustler. You’re a police officer with the ZPD.”

“I’m both, which doesn’t ease my nerves,” Nick muttered.

They climbed the four wooden steps and Judy knocked firmly on the closed door. It opened almost instantly, just enough for a face to peer out at them.

“Surprise, another mammal in a dark suit and shades,” Nick said quietly. “Do you think they get a bulk discount on these outfits somewhere? Maybe at Security Detail Warehouse?”

As the wolverine opened the door all the way and nodded them through, a voice said, “We checked, but their prices are much higher than Thug Depot.”

Councilwoman Joanne Swinton came forward, hoof extended and wide smile in place, as Nick developed a sudden coughing fit. Judy shook the offered hoof.

“Councilwoman. Nice to meet you. Please excuse my partner.”

“There’s nothing to excuse, Officer Hopps. I realize how absurd this situation is.” She waved vaguely to indicate the grim-faced guards.

“A candidate’s safety is important,” Judy said. “Certainly worth a little absurdity.”

“Hm. I suppose,” Swinton said, running her hooves over the lapels of her tan jacket. The flag pin on her lapel caught the light and sparkled for a moment. “But this isn’t why I asked to speak with you.” She gestured towards some folding chairs. “Would either of you care for some water or coffee?”

“No, thank you.”

“I’ll take a black coffee,” Nick said as he seated himself next to Judy. Within seconds, another blank-faced mammal in a dark suit handed him a paper cup.

Swinton sat and gazed thoughtfully at them for several moments. “I realize,” she said at length, “that as police officers, you can’t be seen to endorse any candidate in an official capacity. Forgive my presumption, but when I take office — and I believe that I will — would you be interested in working with me on one of my first initiatives?”

“You’ll excuse our reluctance, with all due respect,” Nick said, “but we don’t really have the best track record with officeholders.”

“Of course,” Swinton replied with a genuine smile. “The team that took down two consecutive mayors. I’d assure you that I’m different, but of course that’s exactly what Lionheart and Bellwether would have said themselves. My actions will speak louder than words, I hope.”

“What initiative were you referring to, Councilwoman?” Judy asked.

“We haven’t come up with an official name for it yet, although my team assure me we need something memorable like ‘Mammal Inclusion Initiative.’ But my proposal will expand the legal definition of ‘hate crimes’ to encompass anything meant to intimidate or harass members of interspecies relationships.”

Judy froze. When Nick spoke, his voice sounded casual despite the alarm she knew he felt.

“Why would that be of particular interest to us, Miss Swinton?”

The sow shrugged genially. “Well, you are the ZPD’s most prominent interspecies team. If the mammals who solved the infamous Night Howlers case supported the cause, I’m sure the public would get behind it as well. It’s no secret that we politicians pay a lot of attention to polling numbers, so positive public sentiment would almost certainly get the initiative passed.”

Judy exchanged a glance with Nick as she worked to regain her composure. The relief was visible in his eyes as well. She raised her eyebrows slightly and saw the slight quirk in the corner of his mouth, followed by a subtle nod.

“Well,” she began slowly, “it certainly sounds like a worthwhile cause, Councilwoman. If you don’t mind, we’d like to take some time to consider before we commit to anything.”

“Oh, of course, of course.” Swinton waved her hooves in a shooing gesture. “It’s too early to make any definitive plans. There’s still the small matter of winning the election to worry about, after all. But when I saw you in the crowd, I thought this would be a good opportunity to broach the subject. If all goes well, with your permission, I’ll reach out to the two of you again.”

“That sounds workable,” Judy said. “I wish you the best of luck in your campaign.”

“It’s a pleasure and an honor to meet you both, and I mean that sincerely,” the candidate said. “Nothing good can come from politicians who consider themselves above the law.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Nick said as he stood. “Nice to meet you as well.”

The crowd had largely dispersed by the time Nick and Judy walked past the rhino still standing guard at the cordon.

“Doing a great job, Chuckles,” Nick said. “Someone should be out to oil your hinges within the hour.”

When Nick glanced over his shoulder, he was impressed. Chuckles kept his scowl to a minimum.

Once they were away from other mammals, Judy looked up at Nick. “So,” she drawled, “did your heart stop for a second back there too?”

“I came pretty close to spraying her with coffee,” he said. “I wonder if her security detail would have tasered me for that.”

“What do you think about her proposal?”

“It’s… intriguing,” Nick said carefully. “I hope it’s based on her personal convictions. But even if this is some corner-the-niche-vote thing, it’ll be good if she follows through with the initiative.”

They padded along quietly for a few moments.

“Say she wins,” Judy said. “Let’s assume Swinton is the next mayor, and she asks us to… endorse her initiative, or something. What does that mean for you and me?”

“What does it mean, like…”

“Like if we haven’t ‘gone public’ with our relationship. Do we tell Swinton about us and let her decide whether she still wants us to represent her effort? If she asks us to keep our status under wraps until the proposal is approved or rejected… would we be okay giving that kind of control to anyone?”

“That’s a whole lot of what-ifs, Carrots. The election’s almost two months away; we don’t need to make any decisions right now. It’s been a long day — we’ll talk this out later, I promise, but right now I just want to grab some dinner and snuggle with my bun.”

“Are we ever going to go public, Nick?”

“Not to pass the buck, Fluff, but that ball’s kind of in your court. I don’t care who knows about us. You have a more complicated situation, and that’s okay. When you feel ready, we’ll… take out an ad on prime-time television. Grant an exclusive interview to Monica Forrest. Or just tell Clawhauser he doesn’t need to keep it a secret any more, that’ll probably spread the news quicker.”

Judy chuckled. “Poor Ben. I think this is a kind of torture for him.”

“Yeah, well, this is what he gets for being so observant.”

Chapter Text

The young weasel waved happily. “Heya, Officer Nick!”

Wilde raised a paw in return and flashed a grin. “Staying out of trouble, Lenny?” he asked as he sped past the kit.

“You bet, sir!”

Nick stood to pump the pedals a few times, then coasted around a corner and applied the brakes. As he removed his water bottle from its holder, Judy slowed to a stop beside him. He took a deep gulp, then glanced over to see her staring at him.

“What, Carrots? Do I have a bug in my teeth?”

“No bug,” she said. “This is a look of admiration.”

“That’s an odd way to pronounce ‘burning lust’,” he said with a smirk. “Your Bunnyburrow accent is coming out again.”

“Joke all you want, Nick, but this is a big achievement.”

He looked down the street. “I didn’t do anything.”

“Except for founding the first outreach program in Happytown to last more than a month,” she said. “And convincing Chief Bogo to assign us to bicycle patrol here twice a week. And building the strongest relationships between the ZPD and the community this area has seen in decades. And…”

“Okay, okay,” he said, waving a paw. “I get it. Maybe there’s a little accomplishment involved.”

“This is something to be really proud of, Nick. Maybe this doesn’t draw attention from the press like the Night Howlers case did, but you’re making a huge difference.”

“I don’t want media coverage. My ego’s already big enough.”

Judy scoffed, but let the deflection go otherwise unchallenged. She understood Nick still had trouble accepting praise, just as she understood how proud he was of what he’d built here.

“If I know anything about Nick Wilde,” she said, “it’s that he always has a larger plan in mind. So what’s in the future for Happytown?”

“More of the same,” he said as he waved to a raccoon family. “Keep working to build trust with the mammals who live here. Pester the city to reinstate repair-and-improvement projects. Aggressively investigate slumlords and anyone else taking advantage of the residents. Eventually, petition for an official substation to be established. If possible, get direct input on which officers work in Happytown to keep a lid on abuse of power. Whatever else seems like it can improve the average quality of life.”

Nick watched the street for a while, smiling and nodding to passers-by. Eventually, without turning to Judy, he asked, “You’re doing it again, aren’t you?”

“The staring-in-admiration thing? Yep,” she said. “Maybe just a touch of burning lust mixed in, too.”

Chapter Text

Nick sidled up to the bar and ordered another round for the overcrowded officers’ booth. Schedules were constantly changing, making it hard to predict who would be available for any given evening, but tonight saw a good mix of some of his favorite mammals on the force. By the time he returned, Fangmeyer was just finishing a story that the rest of the table met with raunchy laughter. He caught Hopps’ eye and raised his eyebrows in a silent question. Her expression and subtle head-shake eloquently said no, you do not want to know.

Nick raised a toast to the working mammals of Precinct One. The clinking and sloshing gave way to loud slurps as everyone drank.

Judy stifled a burp and asked, “Why doesn’t the chief ever show up for Bar Night? Would it be too awkward having the boss around?”

Clawhauser shrugged, nearly nudging Delgato out of the booth. “I invite him every couple of months. He just… has other things to do, I guess.”

“I always wondered what he got that ribbon for,” Nick said between gulps. “That one he keeps on the high shelf in his office. Guess it was for Excellence in Dodging Social Events.”

Several of the officers at the table erupted in snorting laughter, which reflected their alcohol consumption moreso than it did the humor of the quip.

“No, it wasn’t fer that,” a deep voice boomed.

All eyes turned to Krumpanski. The old rhino was a frequent sight at Bar Night, but he rarely spoke more than a few words. He took a long draft of his beer before he seemed to notice the attention on him, then blushed as he sat his mug on the table.

“He was my mentor when I was a rookie,” he rumbled. “He wasn’t too social back then either. Always preferred to keep to himself. But he’d be sure to say so when I did something good and encourage me when I didn’t.

“Anyway, we was on patrol through Canyonlands one day when some punk kit grabbed an old llama’s purse not half a block from us. Took off running through a construction site, and we went after him. He’d got a pretty good start and it looked like he was gonna give us the slip.

“I started to slow down, knowing we wasn’t catching up to him any time soon. Bogo looked around — I’m pretty sure I saw steam comin’ outta his nose — and spotted a pile of rebar. He grabbed a piece, took a few steps forward, and flung that metal over-arm with all his strength. It flew like a big damn arrow and stuck in the ground right in front of that purse-snatcher.

“I guess that kit was pretty freaked out already, bein’ chased by the cops, cause when that thing fell outta the sky and hit with a big PWANG, he fell in one direction, the purse flew off in another, and he was still sittin’ there shakin’ when we cuffed him.

“Bogo got called on the carpet for that, reckless endangerment and all that. Turns out he won all kinds of track and field awards throughout school, including one for the javelin throw.

“He still got in some trouble, but a lot less than I woulda if I’d started flingin’ bricks at a perp. But that ribbon’s for one of them things. Maybe it was discus or shot put, I can’t remember exactly.”

Krumpanski raised his mug again for another long gulp.

“He don’t show up here cause he don’t like crowds. Or noise. Or drinkin’. Or much of anything else, now that I think about it.”

A slightly stunned silence hovered over the booth for a few moments. Finally Nick nudged Hopps and said, “Well, I knew that last part, at least.”

The whole group burst out in drunken laughter. Delgato fell gracelessly to the floor.

Chapter Text

A tinkle of ice in an otherwise empty glass. “Could I get another of these?”

The moose bartender looked down at the red fox.

“Sir, I think you may have had —”

“Look,” the fox interrupted, “I am a police officer. I am here at my department’s official holiday party. The invitation said ‘open bar.’ I’m not driving tonight. So please, Antlers, I’m asking you to serve me another drink.”

The bartender stared at the fox for a long moment, then turned and mixed a fresh drink and placed it on the bar. The fox took it and turned to scan the room.

After a sip, he realized he’d let his mask slip a little and made a quick mental adjustment. With a placid smile in place, he sauntered casually across the room, nodding and winking to fellow officers.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Obviously. Just look around. All these mammals smiling and having fun, not a care in the world.

His meandering circuit eventually brought him to a mostly empty table. He raised his glass and gave a jaunty one-fingered salute to the seated bunny.

“Evening, Carrots. Care for a stroll?”

Judy looked up at him with a small smile.

“A stroll, Nick? Don’t mammals usually ask each other to dance at parties like this?”

“I would, but you know, the old war wound’s been acting up lately. The doctor says that walking, strolling, and even an occasional jaunt are fine, but anything above the level of a mild prance could cause a relapse.”

“Ah,” she said, smile growing wider. “I couldn’t have that on my conscience. A sedate stroll it is, then.”

She picked up her wineglass and stood, and they began to wander around the festive room. Judy rolled her eyes when Nick affected a slight limp.

“So how have your holidays been?” he asked.

“Busy. But fine. Visited my parents last week, and it’s always fun to see the little nieces and nephews this time of year. Managed to put up a few decorations. I don’t need to tell you that work doesn’t slow down, though.”

Nick nodded.

“What about you?”

He took another drink. “Me? Same. Spent some time with mom, she still puts up a tree every year. Suffered through some visits from relatives from out of town. But mostly just copping it up.”

They walked in silence for a while, returning greetings from those they passed. Neither seemed to be in a hurry to speak.

They came to a stop near a quiet corner of the room, where they sipped their drinks and watched their fellow revelers. Nick glanced up and chuckled.

“Hey, Carrots, don’t look now, but…” He looked upwards meaningfully at the sprig of mistletoe hanging over them.

“It’s bad luck to ignore traditions. Better get Jack over here.”

“Good point. Why tempt the fates?” She waved at the striped rabbit engaged in a lively conversation nearby with several other mammals. When she caught his eye, he excused himself and padded over to them with a broad grin.

“What’s up, beautiful?”

“Well, as Nick was just pointing out, someone has allowed their girlfriend to end up under the mistletoe without the required kiss, and…”

“Say no more,” Jack said. He wrapped one arm around Judy’s waist and gave her a passionate kiss. Her paw came up to brush his cheek as he drew back.

“That’s more like it,” she purred. Jack winked and made his way back across the floor.

“Well, Carrots,” Nick said, rattling the ice in his mostly empty glass, “this has been fun. But I think I may have overindulged a bit tonight. It’s probably best if I head home and guzzle some water before I decide that chewing out Bogo is a good idea.”

“Are you sure? It’s always so great to see you. We never get to hang out anymore.”

“I’m sure.” He rattled his glass once more for emphasis. “Six or seven of these and they really start to add up. Drunk Nick might be good for general entertainment purposes, but I’d prefer to spare myself the hangover.”

“Well… okay. Don’t forget to grab your Secret Santa present before you go.”

“Will do. Happy Holidays, Carrots.”

“Happy Holidays, Nick.”

He gave her a grin and ditched the empty glass on the way to the gift table. After poking at the labels for a few moments, he saw the one with his name on it, tucked the box under his arm, and left.

The cold air outside felt good. His head was swimming a little — that part wasn’t a lie. But he really needed to be away from other mammals for a while. He took his time on the walk home, breathing deeply and trying to clear his mind.

Once his door was unlocked, he set the wrapped gift on the counter and poured a large glass of water. He forced himself to drink the entire thing, then refilled it.

Okay. Safe at home. Didn’t make a scene. Held it together. Keep hydrating so you don’t feel like the trash that garbage throws out tomorrow.

As he was finishing the second glass, his eyes settled on the present, wrapped in red paper decorated with a pattern of green and gold bells. He carried it into the living room, then settled onto his couch.

He didn’t recognize the writing on the label. Wouldn’t be much of a secret if you could, would it? He began carefully sliding a claw under the tape before snorting and ripping the paper to shreds, revealing an unremarkable brown cardboard box. He opened one end and slid out the contents, then stared at the apparent gift.

An oven mitt? I don’t get it.

He peered into the box and saw a slip of paper. As he drew it out and read the short message, he suddenly felt very glad that he’d left the party early.

Something to help you carry that torch. — Santa

Chapter Text

The sun beat down on the crowd of mammals. Most of them were mildly inconvenienced at best, but the seven standing around the train car were beginning to question their decisions. Nick Wilde was chief among them.

A chime sounded from a nearby speaker. Judy scurried up to Nick’s side and handed him a water bottle.

“Thanks, Carrots,” he panted. “Would you mind… the lid?”

“Oh! Sweet cheese and crackers, Nick, sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

“No worries, Fluff. Just… open it, please.”

Judy twisted the cap off and pressed the bottle into Nick’s free paw. He guzzled the entire thing in one long gulp.

“How are you holding up, Slick? You can drop out any time, you know.”

He grinned at her. “Drop out after a mere nine hours? I’m in this for the long haul. Those tickets are going to be mine.”

“Sure, free rail passes for a year is a tempting prize, but are they worth all this? Not being able to sit or sleep or use the bathroom…”

“Okay, new rule, Carrots. While I’m still in this competition, please don’t mention the bathroom.”

“Whoops. Do you still want the water every hour?”

“As long as the sun’s up, I think I’m gonna need it, yeah. Ask me again after dark.” He peered up at the sky. “Which looks like it’ll be in about three more hours.”

***

The chime rang. Judy dashed over to Nick.

“You’re doing great, Nick. Do you want water?”

“No. I’d kill for a diaper and a cozy chair, though.”

“Nick, you really —”

He held up his free paw to stop her. “I know, Carrots, I know. I can drop out any time. Not gonna happen. How many others are left?”

“Three gave up, so there are three remaining besides you.”

Nick forced a smirk to cover his grimace. “No problem. Going strong after sixteen hours. You should go get some sleep.”

Judy crossed her arms and glared up at him. “Don’t even think about it. I’m here as long as you are.”

“Stubborn bunny.”

“Just matching your energy, Slick.”

***

Chime.

“The sun’s coming up soon, Nick. Can you handle something to eat at the next break?”

He looked at Judy with bloodshot eyes. “Something light, maybe. A full stomach would probably knock me out. What’s the count?”

“Twenty-two hours, two mammals left other than you. This is my obligatory plea to give up.”

“Here’s my obligatory refusal. I’m glad we could streamline this process.”

***

Chime.

“What’s the score, coach?” Nick rasped.

“Just past thirty hours. There’s one other competitor, and she looks fresh as a daisy compared to you.”

“Well, you know what they say about daisies…”

“Um, no. What do they say about daisies?”

Nick blinked and shook his head. “No clue where I was going with that.”

“I’m close to making an executive decision here, Nick. You need to drop…”

“No!” he barked. “Sorry, didn’t mean to snap. But I’m not quitting now.”

***

Chime.

“How’s she holding up? Whoever this other mammal is?”

“She’s a sloth, and I think I saw her shift slightly about twenty minutes ago.”

Nick smacked his head against the train car. “I should have guessed.”

***

Chime.

“Nick. Are you asleep?”

“Nnngh. Just resting my eyes.”

“That’s dangerous if you want to stay in the competition. It wouldn’t take much for you to fall over, and the judges are keeping a sharp eye on you.”

“I’m awake. I’m good. What time is it?”

“Five in the morning. It’s been forty-four hours.”

“Jeez, Carrots. You should be asleep.”

“And you should be just about anywhere except here.”

“Thanks for the pep talk, Fluff.”

***

Chime.

Judy pressed an open bottle into his paw. “Drink.”

He complied without trying to speak.

“Fifty hours, Nick. The sloth doesn’t even look slightly uncomfortable. You need to bow out.”

He shook his head viciously. “Mmmm-mmm.”

“I’ll buy you tickets for wherever you want to go. Please. I’m worried about you.”

“’M’okay.”

“Nick, listen to me. You cannot win this. This is nothing to a sloth. She might start to get bored in a week or so.”

“I got —”

She ducked under his arm and stood with her back against the train car.

“I hope you can forgive me, Nick.”

“Wha—”

Judy planted her feet against Nick’s hips and shoved him backwards with all her strength. He stumbled away, arms flailing, as a whistle blew.

“Disqualified! Contestant has lost contact with the train car!”

He stared around in confusion, still struggling to get his balance. When his gaze finally settled on Judy, she didn’t see the anger she’d expected.

She saw betrayal, which felt far worse.

***

Nick refused to talk to her on the way home, even though she had to half-carry him. Judy apologized between gasps of exertion under his weight.

“You know — ugh — staying awake, much less standing in one place — nnk — for so long can permanently damage your health. I know you wanted those tickets — mmf — but you can’t beat a sloth at standing still.”

As they got closer to his apartment and he felt heavier, she knew he was starting to fall asleep. His previous stony silence was broken by the occasional snort as he fumbled back towards consciousness.

“I’m sorry — gghhh — Nick, but I had to do it.”

“Hmp. Coulda won.”

Judy celebrated the fact that he was speaking to her, even if his voice was heavy and the sentences were short.

“Why were these tickets so important to you?”

He uttered a vague scoffing sound that could have been a yawn. “Go anywhere.”

“You can go anywhere now. I promise, I’ll buy you tickets —”

“Not the same.” His breathing got slower and more regular, and she thought for a moment he’d finally passed out. “Want ’em for you.”

“What?”

“Two tix. See your family any time. Maybe jus’ nice v’cation.”

She stopped and eased him down to the pavement.

“Nick, are you serious? You went through all that for me?”

His head lolled back for a second before he caught himself.

“Course. You ’serve it.”

Judy wiped the sudden tears from her eyes and stared at the dumb, stubborn, wonderful fox slumped on the sidewalk. She took a deep breath and pulled him up until his arm was draped across her head.

He was snoring lightly in her ear as she lugged him all the way back to his building and guided him up the steps to his apartment. After struggling in vain to get him into his bed, she made him comfortable on the couch and covered him with a light blanket.

She slumped into a chair and took out her phone. A few taps later, she’d placed a delivery order for some noodles. It might not be easy to keep him awake long enough to eat, but he needed to get something down.

As she waited for the food, she stared at Nick. She felt bone-weary as well, but at least she’d had the luxury of sitting during the competition. If she needed to take care of him for the next two days as he recovered, she was okay with that.

Judy kept thinking about Nick’s mumbled admission. She’d had suspicions over the past few months that she was developing feelings towards him, but she had dismissed the possibility. Differences between species, the logistics of falling for her partner, how her parents might react — there had been plenty of excuses. Her main fear, however, had been that he just didn’t think of her in that way.

Maybe he still didn’t. Maybe he was just thoughtful and considerate. She felt a new resolve as she watched him twitch in his sleep, though. If she let her vague, unspoken worries keep her from what could be an incredible relationship…

This was it, she thought. We’ll remember this stupid “Touch a Train” competition as our first date.

Chapter Text

The small room was dimly lit, cool, and quiet, which was a blessed relief after the day’s activity. The red fox smiled at the rabbit as she placed a bowl before him. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.

“Your cook does wonderful things with spices,” he said. “I can’t recall how many times I’ve been served cold, bland vegetables while traveling.”

“He may have accidentally dropped a few bits of fish in there as well,” she said. “He can be a bit clumsy at times.”

“Oh, dear gods,” he breathed. “I may propose to him if he’s not already married.”

The rabbit giggled and sat opposite him at the rough table with a bowl of her own.

“I trust he’s been more careful with your serving,” the fox said.

“The clumsiness comes and goes. He’s quite careful when he’s being watched. More frugal with the spices, as well. That’s why we try to ensure he isn’t bothered.”

The fox licked his wooden spoon and grinned. “Clever bunnies.”

“My name’s Clover, by the way.”

“Pleased to meet you, Clover. I’m Simon.”

They ate in silence for a while.

“Which of the canids do you serve?” Clover asked at length.

Simon snorted. “Lord Gray.”

“Is he cruel?”

“Not particularly. He’s just —” he looked around briefly before continuing in a lower voice, “— a bit of a dunderhead. I’m certain you’re aware the eldest son is not always the sharpest. Had his father been able to make the journey, I’d have more confidence in the outcome of these negotiations.”

“Ah. In what capacity do you serve him?”

“If you were to ask him? A valet. In truth? Whatever is required to keep his health and standing intact, which is quite a bit more effort. What is your role?”

“Kitchen-maid. There isn’t much excitement, but it’s easy to stay warm and the food is usually good.”

“I’ve often wished for less excitement and more warmth and food,” Simon mused.

“Perhaps. But some days, I’d gladly trade comfort for… for some kind of adventure. A sense that I was doing something important, or bold, or even interesting.”

“A rabbit longing for adventure? What is this world coming to?” he said, smirking.

“Yes,” Clover said, the insides of her black-tipped ears growing red. “How dare a bunny, and a female at that, dream of anything beyond a life of farming and cooking?”

“Peace, miss, I meant no offense,” Simon said, holding his paws up placatingly. “I’ve certainly been informed many times how grateful I should be as a lowly fox to hold such a position as I do. If your soul yearns for something different, I can certainly understand.”

The rabbit glared at him, although with less anger than a moment earlier.

“I’ve grown tired of platitudes about how much worse my lot could be or how I’d long to return after any hardship. A mammal doesn’t need sharp teeth to do great things.”

“I agree,” Simon said, scooping another spoonful of stew. “Your cook, for example, deserves high praise indeed.”

Clover sighed.

“Will anything change, do you think? Anything in this wondrous new nation they’re trying to build?”

The fox set his spoon on the table and scratched his neck reflectively. “Perhaps. To hear the nobility speak, it’ll be a utopia the likes of which no one has seen, where all mammals can live side by side in peace. I’ve heard no indication of doing away with the nobility themselves, of course, but progress only ever comes in small steps.

“Will it come to pass? I hope it does. As long as the major families can abide by the treaties and support each other, there’s a fair chance. But greed and stupidity are just as dangerous as the prejudices and grudges from the old days.

“Lord Gray recognizes my worth enough to ask my thoughts on some of the proposals he’s heard. Many of the ideas are… lofty, to be sure, but with a little bit of common sense and rather more luck, it could indeed mark the dawn of a new age. I’ll hope for the best and prepare for the worst, as they say.”

Clover’s voice was distant. “Small steps, eh?”

“Hm?”

“Progress, you said. It only comes in small steps.”

“Oh, yes. Call me a cynic, but I’d say history agrees with me on this point. Positive change happens in agonizingly slow increments. Negative change is often instantaneous.”

“That isn’t terribly comforting for the here and now.”

“I suppose it isn’t. But another adage says that old mammals plant trees whose shade they will never enjoy. Each generation’s aim should be to make life a bit easier for the next.”

Clover peered at the fox.

“That… that is a nice way to think of it.”

Simon gave her a gentle smile.

“I’m not usually one to look on the brighter side of things, I assure you. But sometimes this old heart feels a spark of hope in spite of itself. Things do change for the better, after all. Mammals from a few generations past wouldn’t have believed a fox and rabbit could share a meal in peace.”

He sighed and brushed the lapels of his coat.

“Thank you again for the meal and the company, Miss Clover,” he said as he stood. “Both were far more pleasant than I had a right to expect.”

She also stood and dropped a slight curtsy.

“It was nice to meet you, Mister Simon, and you’re good company yourself.” After a brief pause, she flashed a shy yet wicked grin and added, “For a lowly fox.”

He returned her grin. “If the world expects me to be a sneaky, devious fox,” he said, “I’ll let them think what they may. I know that I can be anything within the confines of my own mind, and that will suffice for now.”

Chapter Text

Captain Nick Wilde stepped up to the podium. The silver bars on his collar, two on either side, sparkled in the sunlight. He drew a folded piece of paper from his pocket and smoothed it out on the podium. After looking it over for a few moments, he carefully refolded it and put it back into his pocket. He cleared his throat.

“It’s strange to hear this place called Harmony Heights. I was surprised to learn the ‘official’ name for this neighborhood. For most of my life, everyone just knew it as Happytown.

“I’m aware I’ve told this story a thousand times already, but I have the microphone, so you’re all going to sit through it at least once more.”

A surge of chuckles came from the hundred or so mammals seated before him.

“I grew up in Happytown.” He pointed to the southeast. “About three blocks thataway, as a matter of fact. Life was pretty tough back then, even though I had a family who loved me. No one wanted to trust a fox, especially one from the poor part of town.

“Even after my father passed, I tried to live up to his expectations. To honor his memory. And I didn’t always succeed at that. But I’ve been incredibly fortunate in the chances I’ve been given. Far too many to count.

“Not long after I met Judy Hopps — is she here today?”

Wilde shaded his eyes with one paw and mimed peering around the crowd to a flutter of giggles.

“I’m sitting right here, Nick,” came an unamused voice from behind him. “We rode here in the same car.”

More laughter as he feigned surprise and looked over his shoulder.

“Ah, of course. Sorry. Not long after I met Judy Hopps, before I became her partner on the force and long before I became her husband, I swore to her that I’d find a way to make a difference. To help the residents of Happytown. Even if it was nothing more than showing them that someone believed in them.

“And perhaps I’m a bit biased, but I believe that things have changed here. The garbage is now collected regularly. The roads are in better repair. Owners of buildings are held responsible for keeping them safe for their residents. The buses stop in this neighborhood again.

“Small businesses can flourish because no one extorts protection money from them. Parents can let their children play on the sidewalk. After-school programs are giving students the opportunity to extend their learning or to find others who share their hobbies and interests.

“Neighbors contribute to community gardens that grow flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Block parties and street festivals give them the chance to celebrate. Mammals no longer need to cower behind locked doors and barred windows for fear of random violence.

“I apologize profusely for what sounds like a cheap sound bite, but Happytown is finally beginning to live up to its name.

“It’s no secret that I love taking credit —” he paused for the burst of laughter that swept through the crowd as well as the mammals seated behind him “— but I cannot, in good conscience, take credit for any of these improvements. I can admit that I raised my voice. I told everyone who would listen, and many who would not, that the mammals who lived in Happytown were not beyond hope. That they were worth fighting for. That we all deserve a second chance. And sometimes, a third, or a fourth, or a twelfth chance.

“The credit goes to the mammals who live here who proved me right. The mammals outside this neighborhood who actually believed me, including my lovely wife. Even Police Commissioner Bogo, who I believe is a big softie for redemption stories, although he’d never admit it.”

A warning grumble was audible through the microphone, causing more laughter in the crowd.

“The ZPD traditionally only names stations or facilities after officers who have fallen in the line of duty. It makes sense, of course. But in my mind, this building will always be the Jonathan F. Wilde Memorial substation. It’s no exaggeration that I wouldn’t be a shadow of the fox I am today without his love, his faith, and his example.

“I love you, dad.”

Chapter Text

“Wilde! Is your head in the game?”

Nick blinked and looked up at Chief Bogo.

“Game? This is a race. For charity.”

“To the mammals viewing from the stands, maybe. But to me, and therefore to you, this race is much more important than that.”

“Is it?” Nick asked carefully.

“The honor of the entire Zootopia Police Department is riding on this. Whoever allows those hydrant jockeys or ambulance drivers to win will be stuck with three months of parking duty.”

“I think they have fire trucks these da—”

“Shut it! Make all the jokes you want, Wilde, but understand that I am deadly serious.”

“Okay, Chief, I think I get it.”

Nick watched the cape buffalo stomp away, snorting and mumbling under his breath. He sidled up to Judy, who was performing some stretches.

“Carrots?”

“Hey, Nick. What’s up?”

“You know, the usual, just wondering whether I made a mistake when I signed up for this.”

“Don’t worry. I know how hard you trained, and you came in third in the time trials, so…”

“That’s not what I mean. Chief Buffalo-Butt just gave me… what’s the opposite of a pep talk? I guess he just gave me a pep threat.”

“Oh, right. He gets kind of… intense about this race.”

“You could put it that way. You could also say he practically promised he’d crush my skull if we don’t win.”

Judy straightened up and rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. Three months of parking duty won’t kill you.”

“You knew about the parking duty threat?”

“Sure, everyone does. Did I not mention it to you?”

“You did not, Miss Forgetful.”

“Whoopsie. Guess you’d better run as fast as you can if you don’t want to drive the little buggy.”

Nick slouched onto a bench and rubbed his face.

“Fantastic. Just wonderful.”

Judy sat next to him.

“Hey, lighten up or you’ll psych yourself out.”

Nick gestured frantically. “That’s just it! I wouldn’t be psyching myself out if Bogo hadn’t put all this pressure on me!”

“Is it possible, Slick, that you may be overthinking this just a tiny bit?”

“Is it possible? No. No, it is not. It’s unquestionable.”

***

Nick watched the runners approach the first curve and flexed his fingers nervously. It was hard to tell from where he stood, but he thought Catano might have a slight lead. When she passed the mark painted on the lane, Nick began to jog forward. When he heard her yell “Stick!” he increased his speed and reached one arm back. He felt the baton slap against his palm, and then…

Clink.

His paw was empty. Feeling his stomach drop, he turned and scrambled to recover the baton as the other runners passed. Catano gawked at him, speechless.

Oh gods. I’m done for. Parking duty for eternity.

He grabbed the stick and pushed himself to run faster than he ever had. His tongue lolled from the side of his mouth as he willed his legs to pump harder. He couldn’t remember which competitor was from which team, but he saw a zebra and a wildebeest.

Please don’t let this be wishful thinking, but I might be gaining on them.

The wildebeest slapped her baton into a tiger’s paw and the zebra passed to a gazelle. Nick’s vision was beginning to get blurry as he approached Judy, who was wringing her paws with eyes wide and alarmed. She turned and held her paw behind her as he tried to mumble “stick” with no breath to spare. As soon as the baton touched her fingers, she surged forward like a runaway rocket.

Nick let his momentum drain away while trying not to collapse. His chest burned, he wasn’t sure his tongue would ever fit back into his mouth again, and his legs ached. He could feel the heat of Bogo’s glare on the back of his head.

He trudged off the track and wandered to the water supply. He poured one bottle over his head and gulped another. From the volume of the crowd, it seemed like plenty of mammals were enjoying the spectacle.

You’re all cordially invited to my execution. Bogo will probably want something public anyway to set an example.

***

In the locker room, Bogo held up a ribbon as if it were coated in hazardous waste.

“Second place.”

He scowled at the four mammals before him.

“Second place. Not first. Do any of you have anything to say?”

Nick closed his eyes and drew a breath.

Before he could speak, Catano said, “Hopps and Fangmeyer did great, chief. They ran like their tails were on fire. If it wasn’t for them, we’d have been dead last.”

“I agree,” Bogo snarled. “Those two officers are clearly not to blame for our loss to… to the bucket brigade. The only question is: whose fault was that embarrassing fumble?”

“Mine,” Catano said with her head lowered. “I let go of the baton too early. Wilde had no chance to get a grip on it.”

Nick’s sense of outrage overpowered his sense of self-preservation.

“What? That’s ridiculous. Kii slapped the stick directly into my paw. I bobbled it because I was nervous. I should get the parking duty.”

“That’s kind of you, Nick, but I can’t let you take responsibility,” the cheetah said. “It’s okay. I’ll take parking duty.”

“Don’t be —”

“Shut up, both of you,” Bogo grumbled. “This is quite a touching scene. Lessons to be learned all around. Two officers fighting to shoulder the blame before a commanding officer who may have taken this competition a bit too seriously.”

He contemplated the ribbon as if seeing it for the first time.

“After all, this was a charity event for a good cause. There was no prize to be won other than some cheap, bulk-ordered ribbons and the opportunity to trash-talk the other teams, all of whom are heroes in their own right.

“There should be no shame in placing second, particularly in such a good-natured race. We should all hold our heads high and be proud that we worked as a team.”

Bogo looked each of the officers in the eye in turn.

“However, I utterly despise losing to the fire department. One of you bumbling fools is at fault, and I don’t care which it is. Catano and Wilde each get parking duty for three months. Dismissed.”

He turned and stomped out of the locker room.

“If you wanted to win so badly,” Nick muttered under his breath, “maybe you should have been one of the runners.”

Judy nudged Nick and snickered. “That was very brave, speaking up after he’s out of earshot. I think I still have the orange vest. I’ll bring it in for you tomorrow.”

Chapter Text

Judy threw an enormous towel over Nick that covered him to the tip of his tail. His paws clutching the edges were the only things keeping it in place against his shivering.

“You made it, Nick. You’re out of the water. Just stay wrapped up, there’s a thermos of hot coffee right over here.”

“Th-th-th-tha–”

“You’re welcome, you dumb fox. Honestly, what possessed you?”

“M-m-m-made a b-b-b-b-bet…”

“I know about the bet. That’s what I was asking about. What possessed you to agree to this?”

“Th-th-th-th–”

“Never mind. Your teeth are chattering so much you’ll shred your tongue if you keep trying to talk. Here, I’ll help you dry off.”

She ran her paws over the towel, scrubbing it for a few seconds before moving to another body part. Only the tip of Nick’s nose was visible, and it was shaking badly.

“I guess I’ll carry on both sides of the conversation. Gee, Nick, remind me about that silly bet?”

Judy did a good imitation of Nick’s usual smirk as she lowered her voice.

“Well, Carrots, you see, I was acting like a dumb fox in the break room as usual. You know, blah blah joke, blah blah references to movies no one remembers, blah blah insult.”

She went back to her usual voice. “Yeah, that sounds familiar. Then what happened?”

“I was flapping my gums about some old TV show from like a hundred years ago when Chief Bogo was walking by. He stuck his big head into the break room and said I was wrong about the actor who played Oldguy McWhoever, and of course I got offended and told him I was right.”

“Of course you did. But then you realized how silly it was to argue with your boss about something so trivial, right?”

“Gosh, Fluff, you might think so if you’d never met me. But no, I got all huffy and told him to, and I quote, put his money where his mouth was.”

“Here, drink some coffee. You don’t really have any survival instinct at all, do you, Nick?”

“Nope, not a lick. So anyhoo, the chief got a strange little smile on his face and said that placing monetary bets while on duty went against regulations, but there wasn’t anything wrong with other kinds of bets.”

“Surely that set off some warning bells, right? Seeing Chief Bogo smile?”

“Maybe so, Carrots, but I couldn’t hear them over the sound of my own ego. He suggested that whoever was wrong would have to do a silly dance in the ZPD lobby for two minutes, but I scoffed and told him the stakes weren’t high enough. Then his smile got bigger.”

“Sweet cheese and crackers, Nick. Remind me why I didn’t intervene to save your hide?”

“Oh, golly, you tried. At least four or five times. And I shut you down each time. Finally, you crossed your arms and sat back and watched me self-destruct.”

“Huh, now that you mention it, I do remember that. Please, go on.”

“The chief asked, in a very quiet voice, what I thought the loser should have to do. I wracked my little dumb fox brain for a minute, then I told him that the penalty for being wrong should be to swim to the nearest buoy in the Great Dewclaw River and back.”

“You knew, of course, that in the middle of winter, the water temperature would be pretty close to freezing.”

“Who knows? I’m such a dumb fox that I may have thought it was summer. Nothing up here in my skull but a couple of little marbles, Carrots.”

“Oh, right, I keep forgetting that. Based on the fact that you’re currently dripping wet and the chief is gloating nearby, completely dry and in a warm parka, I guess it’s pretty obvious who was right.”

“This is funny stuff, C-carrots,” Nick mumbled from his damp wrappings. “You should take this act on the road. Somewhere f-far, far away.”

“Coffee finally warming you up?”

“Slightly. Could I just go home now?”

Chapter Text

The vixen peered out through a crack before throwing the door wide open.

“Nicky!”

She flung her arms around Nick and hugged him tightly.

“Hi, Ma. I just saw you last weekend.”

“Oh, shush. Let a mother be happy to see her son.”

She released him and smiled down at the rabbit twisting her paws.

“And this is Judy. My word, dear, the pictures he’s shown me don’t do you justice. You’re gorgeous. Do me a favor and dump him gently when it’s time for you to trade up, hm?”

“I — what?”

“Ma, please don’t fluster my girlfriend. Not right away, at least.”

“Oh, were we saving that for after dinner? Sorry for wrecking the schedule. Come in, come in.”

“Sorry, Carrots. I tried to warn you,” Nick murmured out of the side of his mouth as they entered the apartment.

Judy was still recovering from her initial nervousness as well as the dry humor of Nick’s mom. She tried to stop her nose from twitching as she looked around the small but tidy living room. The furniture looked comfortable, if worn, and small paintings of landscapes were interspersed with framed pictures of Nick throughout his life.

“You have a lovely home, Mrs. Wilde,” Judy said. Sweet cheese and crackers, my voice is shaking.

“I’ll give you three passes on calling me Mrs. Wilde. After that, you lose a finger every time you call me anything other than Veronica.”

“Ma, stop, she’s nervous enough already. Besides, your name is Leslie.”

“You know I’ve never liked that name. Your poor father had to endure so many jokes after he married me. ‘Hey, Johnny, you didn’t just settle down, you got Les Wilde, hur hur hur.’ No wonder he set himself on fire and jumped off the roof.”

“He died in his sleep of a heart attack. Literally nothing you’re saying is true.”

“Just trying to make a good impression on Officer Hopps. I don’t want her to know what a boring life we lead.”

“We need to have a discussion at some point about what impresses a cop, Ma, because it’s not what you think. Carrots, she isn’t going to cut off your fingers, but you should probably call her Leslie anyway.”

Judy turned her head to follow the conversation, feeling hopelessly lost.

“Dinner’s almost ready, so go ahead and sit at the table. I’ll bring the food out soon.”

The vixen sashayed into the kitchen. Judy grabbed Nick’s arm and pulled his head down to her level.

“What is happening?” she growled in his ear.

“You thought I was joking. Every time I said ‘If you think I have a strange sense of humor, you should meet my mom,’ you rolled your eyes. Well, there’s your proof.” He gestured towards the kitchen door. “That’s where it all came from.”

“I can hear you,” Leslie crooned from the other room.

“She hates me,” Judy whispered. “She gave me a fake name and told me she was going to cut off my fingers.”

“Carrots, relax. Seriously. If she hated you, she’d be quiet. I’ve never seen her this… playful around any of the girls I’ve brought home.”

“He’s right, Judy. I didn’t care for either of the others.”

Nick sighed. “Can we sit down now?”

As Nick pushed her chair in, Judy tried to relax. This was the first time she’d met a boyfriend’s parents… parent, and however she imagined it would go, it wasn’t like this. She’d assumed that Nick’s mother would be a toned-down version of him: less sarcastic, less joking, less… everything. Instead, she was like Nick turned up to eleven.

Leslie returned, carrying a large bowl, as Nick sat. He glanced at the settings and said, “Hey, Ma, what’s with the silver?”

His mother placed the bowl in the center of the table and raised a paw to her head. “Well, Nicky, I think it’d be silly to start dyeing my fur at this age.”

“The silverware, Ma. You got out the good forks and spoons for us?”

“I’m not the only one getting older, Nicky. This is probably your last chance to land a good mate, so what would be the point in keeping these things in storage?”

Nick rested his head in his paws and sighed again, more loudly.

Judy murmured, “I think I’ll just wait outside.”

He glared at her out of the side of his eye. “If you try to leave, Fluff, I’ll cut off your fingers.”

“Thanks, I feel much better.”

“There! Now she’s getting into the spirit of things! Pass me your plate, Judy, I’ll serve.”

Her paws were shaking so badly that she eventually settled for pushing the plate in Leslie’s direction. The vixen smiled and carefully poured a ladleful, then handed the plate back.

“Thank you, Les—”

The words died in her throat as she looked down at the plate. A few recognizable vegetables were covered with a horrifically red sauce, which wouldn’t have been too distressing on its own, but…

“Ma! Are you seriously trying to kill her?”

“Oh, lighten up, Nicky. Do you have any idea how long it took to carve these tiny skulls out of rutabagas? It’s all vegetarian, I swear.”

Nick plucked the “skull” from Judy’s plate and chewed it thoughtfully.

“Points for the effort, Ma, but she hates rutabaga. Don’t you, Carrots? Carrots? Are you okay?”

“Um, Leslie, would you happen to have any wine?” Judy asked weakly.

“Oh, we’re going to get along just fine,” she said with a wide, toothy grin.

Chapter Text

“You ready, kiddo?”

The little skunk looked up with shining hazel eyes, trying valiantly to stop her chin from trembling. She nodded.

Her father smiled. “That’s the spirit. Grab your backpack.”

She pulled the straps over her shoulders. The backpack was nearly as big as she was, and she had to huddle forwards slightly to keep her balance. She took a deep breath and said in a near-whisper, “Okay, daddy.”

The walk to school was only four blocks, but somehow it took twenty minutes. The older mammal had anticipated this, however, which is why they were leaving home twenty-five minutes early. He strolled casually, his tail swishing behind him, and willed himself not to burst into proud tears.

“There’s nothing to worry about, you know,” he said. “Both of your brothers were scared on their first day, too, and now they love going to school.”

“I know,” she said. “But I’m different.”

Her father stopped, knelt in front of her, and placed his paws on her shoulders. “Hey. We’re all different. Everyone in that classroom will be different. Some kits will want to be your friends and others won’t. But I love you, your mother loves you, and your brothers love you. If you start to feel nervous or scared, just keep that in mind.”

She looked somberly into her father’s eyes. He hugged her until he felt some of the tension leave her body with a deep sigh. He kissed the top of her head and stood again.

“Starting school is a big part of growing up,” he said as they resumed their leisurely pace.

The little skunk mumbled something under her breath.

“I couldn’t hear that, Vicky. What did you say?”

“’M’not sure I wanna grow up,” she whispered.

He stifled a smirk as he pondered how to respond.

“I can understand, sweetie. Plenty of mammals have told me that I never did. But you’re five years old, and that’s when you start kindergarten. You’re going to learn all kinds of neat stuff and meet lots of other kits and…” He paused for a moment. “No matter how big you get, you’re always going to be my little girl.”

She sniffled. “Promise?”

He raised one paw and placed his other on his chest. “With all my heart.”

“What about mommy? Is she your little girl too?”

Her father bit his lip. “Um… she’s my big girl.”

“You’re bigger than she is.”

“Yes, that’s right, I am, but she’s bigger than you. And even if you grow taller than she is, she’s got seniority in the position.”

“What’s… sonority mean?”

“It means that she’s been my big girl for a long time now. Both of you will always have special places in my heart. That’s the wonderful thing about hearts. There’s room inside for a lot of love.”

Vicky nodded as she plodded along, digesting this pearl of wisdom.

“Hey, would you look at that? There’s your school just ahead.”

He glanced down at his daughter and saw a shiver run through her tiny frame.

“It’s okay, Vicky. We met your teacher last week, and he’s a very nice moose. You’re going to learn for a while, play for a while, you’ll get a snack, and have a nap. I’ll meet you outside at two and we’ll walk back home together.”

He knelt down again and looked into her eyes.

“You can be a big, brave girl, can’t you?”

“I think so. Why are you crying, daddy?”

He wiped his eyes with the back of one paw and gave her a shaky smile.

“It’s… kind of a parent thing, honey. Mommy and I cried on both of your brothers’ first days of school, too, and I’m pretty sure she’s crying at home right now. Just because we’re so proud.”

“Can you be a big, brave daddy?”

“I’ll do my best for you.” She giggled as he kissed the tip of her nose.

He stood, took a deep breath, and held out his paw. She took it and they approached the building, where an otter wearing a lanyard stood watching the children arrive.

“Okay, squirt. Looks like this nice mammal is here to help you find your classroom.”

The otter smiled at Vicky. “I sure am. What’s your name, sweetheart?”

The little skunk looked down at her feet.

“Sudden attack of shyness, I guess,” her father said, his green eyes gleaming. “Her name is Victory Laverne Wilde.”

Chapter Text

“I’m sorry it isn’t a diamond.”

Judy looked up from her ring in disbelief.

“There’s no reason to be sorry. This is absolutely breathtaking. I love how the amethyst matches my eyes.”

The smile she’d worn for the past two hours showed no sign of fading.

“Besides, you know I’d have been fine with a plain golden band. Or aluminum. Or plastic.”

“What about one of those candy ones? You know, with the big, gaudy jewel made from pure sugar?”

“I still would have said yes. The ring wouldn’t have survived a shower, though.”

“They sell them in bulk at the warehouse club.”

“Of course you’d have thought that through. How silly of me. I guess the candy rings would have been cheaper.”

“Not necessarily,” Nick said with a grin. “Fifty years’ worth of ring pops adds up fast, and that’s the bare minimum I’ll settle for.”

He held up a champagne flute, and she clinked hers against it. They drank and looked out across the noisy reception hall.

“It’s funny how many golden things are associated with a wedding,” he said, almost to himself.

“Hm. The rings, obviously. And the champagne.”

“Even the balloons are usually silver and gold. The honey cakes – I know they aren’t a tradition for every mammal, but Ma wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

“I can’t believe she baked all of those by herself. You checked to make sure she didn’t sneak in little marzipan skulls or anything like that, right?”

“If she was close enough to hear you, she’d be very insulted. But yes, yes I did.”

“I can read lips, you know,” came a lilting voice from down the table.

“Good thing you knew about the crazy before you joined the family, huh, Carrots?”

“I have no regrets. But we’re married now, and I’m still ‘Carrots’ to you?”

“What, you thought you’d get a new nickname after the wedding?”

“Maybe I just thought you’d finally start calling me by, you know, my actual name.”

“Well, it’s kind of embarrassing to admit this after so long, especially after we just exchanged vows, but… I don’t think we were ever formally introduced, and I just kept forgetting your name…”

“You literally had to repeat my name during the vows.”

“There was a lot going on. I wasn’t really paying attention.”

“I suppose there are worse things than being Mrs. Carrots Wilde.”

“I can’t think of any at the moment, but I’ll take your word for it.”

They returned to watching the bustle of activity. Every mammal in sight wore a broad smile that matched the happy couple’s.

“It’s all a little… surreal, isn’t it?”

“More than a little. I keep imagining my reaction if someone had stopped me right after I left you standing in that cement and told me, ‘You’ll marry that bunny someday.’”

“Something along the lines of ‘well, duh, she’s amazing,’ I presume.”

Nick chuckled.

“That may not have been my first response at that moment. But it didn’t take long for me to come around to that way of thinking.”

“I can’t act too offended. You were an acquired taste, yourself.”

“Oh, please. You folded like a house of cards as soon as I started applying the old Wilde charm.”

“Ah. And when exactly did you start applying that? Because I seem to recall that you didn’t ask me out for nearly two years.”

“Are we going to quibble over details, or are we going to have our first husband-wife dance?”

“We can do two things at once,” Judy said. “Just to be clear, you are actually inviting me to dance with you, aren’t you?”

“If you have any energy left, Mrs. Carrots. I know it’s been a busy day.”

Judy stood and lifted Nick’s chin with a finger.

“Plenty of energy left in reserve for tonight, Slick,” she said with a wink as she took his paw and led him to the dance floor. “Trust me on this.”

Chapter Text

The raccoon scowled as the interrogation room door swung open. She focused an even angrier scowl at the red fox who sauntered in, but was disappointed he didn’t see it. The officer was looking at papers in one paw while sipping a mug of coffee in the other. He placed the mug on the table without looking away from the papers.

He didn’t look at her as he sat in a chair facing her. He didn’t look up when she huffed loudly in exasperation. Three minutes passed before he put the papers down and finally looked up at her.

Even then, he didn’t speak at first. He stared in silence, studying her with piercing green eyes. Even knowing this was a common tactic — she watched television, of course, and movies had this stuff all the time — her tail began to twitch nervously. He wasn’t looking at her with disdain or anger or even disappointment. Just… sizing her up.

The fox glanced back down at the topmost page on the table. “Morgan Caudelon,” he said in a disinterested voice. “Age twenty-two. Not your first arrest for shoplifting. Parents managed to get the charges dropped in the two previous cases.”

She affected her best sneer. “Well done, fascist. You figured out my identity with nothing but my driver’s license to go on.”

The fox sighed and rubbed his muzzle.

“You have no idea what a fascist actually is, do you? We arrested you for breaking the basic, common-sense law of ‘hey, don’t steal stuff,’ not for speaking out against the Glorious Leader of an autocracy.”

“Whatever. I didn’t think they let you be a cop if you graduated college.”

“You don’t need to go to college to understand what words mean.”

Morgan rolled her eyes. “So am I free to go or what?”

“In this case, what. As I said, Miss Caudelon, your parents got the charges dropped before. Apparently, they feel you may not have learned a lesson from those instances, so you’re on your own.”

The sneer faltered and her eyes grew larger.

“What? They wouldn’t let me sit in jail. You’re bluffing.”

The fox shrugged and leaned back in his chair.

“If you don’t believe me, I can let you stew here for a few hours. What’s a reasonable amount of time to convince you? Four hours? Six? Overnight?”

“They…” Her voice wavered for a moment, then her expression hardened again. “You can’t leave me in a questioning room overnight. Nice try, Officer Hardcase.”

The fox tapped the name tag on his chest. “It may be hard to read from way over there, but it’s actually Officer Wilde. And you’re absolutely right. If you decide to wait me out overnight, I’ll have to transfer you to a holding cell. Let me know and I’ll get the paperwork started.”

Morgan’s mind raced, although she tried to put on a cool expression.

“Fine, I’ll play along for the moment. Why am I not already in a holding cell? Are you trying to scare me into signing a confession? Or… or some statement swearing I’ll never steal again?”

Wilde stared at her for a long while without answering. His face was hard for her to read — there was a flicker of something there, but she couldn’t identify the emotion. At length, he leaned forward again, resting his elbows on the table.

“We don’t need a confession. The store manager gave us a copy of the security footage that clearly shows you putting three bottles of perfume and two bracelets in your purse. All of which, incidentally, were still in your purse when we arrived at the scene. We also have written testimony from the loss-prevention officer who detained you.

“As for a statement promising you won’t steal again… well, theft is already against the law, and you’ve been busted multiple times. How much weight do you think a document like that would carry?”

The raccoon felt sweat begin to trickle down her back, but she maintained a defiant glare.

“You still haven’t answered my first question. Why am I here in this room instead of a cell?”

The fox nodded slightly, as if she’d scored some small point.

“Let me answer your question with a question, Morgan. What am I?”

She snorted. “A cop.”

“Okay, that’s on me. What species am I?”

“You look like a fox to me.”

“Right. And what are we known for? Do other mammals look to us as examples of righteousness?”

Morgan frowned. She had an inkling where this was leading, and she didn’t like it.

“No. They say you’re sneaky. Lying.” She hesitated.

“It’s okay, you can say it. They think we’re scum.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “And what do mammals say about raccoons, Morgan?”

“I don’t want to talk to you anymore. Fill out whatever form. Put me in a cell.”

“That they’re thieves. It’s only natural, since they wear permanent masks. They dig through trash. Does any of that ring a bell?”

“Go to hell.”

“Look, I’m trying to tell you that I understand. I may be a cop now, but I spent a long time angry at the world for not giving me a chance. I was determined to show them what they wanted to see. I was so wrapped up in that anger for so long that I didn’t apply to the police academy until I was in my thirties. You know what changed things?”

She tried to scoff, but for some reason it came out as a weak sob. “You got threatened with hard jail time?”

The fox reacted with a chuckle instead of the flash of anger she expected. “No. Someone believed in me. She looked at me, looked through the barriers I put up, and saw things even I didn’t know were there.

“My parents believed in me, but this was different. They kind of had to love me and believe in me, you know? But this other… she’s a rabbit, by the way. This bunny, who I barely knew, believed there was more to me than a shiftless fox. Believed in me so hard that I started believing in myself.”

Wilde paused to look into her eyes, but she avoided meeting his gaze.

“I’ve talked to your parents, Morgan. They’re nice mammals, they love you, and they’re worried about you. They’re worried for you. They told me about how well you did in school until your teens, when you started to turn inwards on yourself. And that sounded familiar, too.

“You’re a smart woman, so I won’t try to sugar-coat things. You could go to jail over this, and it would be the first step in a very bad, dangerous direction. I don’t want to see that happen.

“I deal with actual criminals every day. Really bad mammals who stopped caring about what’s right and what’s wrong a long time ago. Sometimes it’s because they discovered that once you start down that bad, dangerous road, there isn’t a way back, so you may as well just buckle up and hit the gas.”

Morgan continued to stare at the table. “You don’t know anything about me,” she said quietly.

“You’re absolutely right. I don’t know you, Morgan, and you don’t know me. Maybe you just haven’t found the right inspiration yet, haven’t figured out what you want in life. But right now, the road in front of you splits. I can’t promise a fantastic, happy life down one path, but I can assure you that the other one doesn’t end well.

“Don’t let the world define you. Define yourself, and then fight to make everyone recognize it. It won’t be easy, but it’ll be worth it. I still have to deal with insults and snide remarks about being a fox. The difference is that I stopped agreeing with them.”

He searched her face for several long seconds, and this time she didn’t turn away. He seemed to find whatever he was looking for, as he rapped his knuckles on the table and sat back.

“The store has agreed to leave it up to me — well, up to the ZPD, but it’ll come down to my recommendation — whether to press charges. I don’t want to lock you up. You still have time to make sure that doesn’t happen, but that time is running low.

“I don’t expect an immediate answer. This is something you need to think about. Really, seriously think about it. You’re deciding your future, in a very literal sense.

“I’ll leave you alone for a while. Right behind that window —” he pointed to the large, mirrored glass “— someone will be keeping an eye on you. That isn’t meant to sound dramatic or threatening. Right now, it’s my partner, the bunny I told you about, Officer Hopps. I’ll probably be in there more often than not, too.”

Wilde stood and looked down at Morgan with compassion in his eyes. “When you’re ready to talk about the next steps, let us know. Speak up, or knock on the glass, whatever.”

He opened the door, then paused on his way out.

“I believe in you, Morgan Caudelon.” The door closed quietly behind him.

Chapter Text

“Wooooohoooo!”

Judy winced from the howl in her ear. She squeezed the mic control and said, “Hey! Sensitive ears, remember? Not so loud, Nick.”

“No can do, Carrots. Too busy having the time of my life!”

She shook her head with a grin. She’d thought Nick might enjoy land sailing, but she had never imagined how much. Ever since the instructor had motioned them to release the brakes and the wind first filled their sails, Judy’s headset had been relaying one excited yip and elated howl after another.

The vehicles were surprisingly easy to control, at least conceptually. The large steering wheel worked just like that of a car, but instead of a gas pedal, there was a lever which controlled how “open” the sail was. The solar panels behind the passenger compartment converted sunlight into power to fold and unfold the… spar? Honestly, Judy had been pretty excited to get moving as well, and some of the details were blurring together.

As she looked through her goggles, she wondered how they managed to level the dunes in this area of Sahara Square. Their sandboats were moving pretty quickly — Judy guessed close to forty miles an hour — and as sturdy as the long, sleek chassis felt, she doubted it would survive landing from a twenty-foot drop.

She turned the wheel slightly to keep Nick’s sandboat visible ahead and to her left. They’d been offered a two-mammal vehicle to share, but of course Nick rejected it immediately. Judy didn’t argue, because she wanted to — drive? steer? sail? control — one of these things almost as much as Nick did.

She glanced at the timer on the dashboard, where large yellow numbers counted down the time until their rental period was over. Seven minutes left. Another large display indicated the direction and distance to the “docking area”, where the vehicles would come to a quick yet safe stop via automatic drag chutes and arrestor cables.

“Okay, Slick,” she said into the microphone. “I know you’re having fun, but our time’s almost up. We need to start heading back.”

“Don’t wanna,” he whined.

“That’s fine, dumb fox. Stay out here and your sail will just fold up by itself, and it’ll be a long walk back.”

She could hear his inarticulate grumbling through the wind and static.

“Maybe we can do this again on your next birthday.”

“Why do we need to wait for a special occasion? We get two days off every week…”

“...And we have bills to pay that take priority over things like this.”

“Suddenly, the life of a bank robber or jewel thief looks a lot more appealing.”

Judy snorted. “If you could have a treat every day, then it wouldn’t be a treat.”

“I get to see you every day and it’s always a treat.”

“That’s nice to hear, Slick, but we still need to bring the sandboats back.”

“Fine. But not before I do some donuts.”

“Donuts? Nick, don’t —”

Before she could finish her sentence, Nick’s vehicle veered sharply away from hers and promptly flipped. She pulled hard on the orange emergency brake handle, which began to fold up her sail and slow the sandboat. She helplessly watched the chassis tumble, mast snapping off as it rolled, and prayed the safety equipment was enough to protect him.

“Nick!” she yelled into the microphone. “Talk to me! Are you okay?”

She unbuckled her harness and leapt from her vehicle before it had stopped. The goggles that had kept the sand out of her eyes were suddenly fogged over, and she ripped them from her head.

He’s fine. He’s okay. They build these things to keep the driver safe.

As she ran towards the wrecked chassis, which had finally come to rest on its side, one incoherent thought kept echoing through her mind.

It’s his birthday he has to be okay on his birthday it’s his birthday

Judy bounded over the half-buried nose of the sandboat and fought down the fear clawing its way up her throat. Nick was still strapped into his seat, surrounded by deployed airbags. She fumbled with the straps, removing his helmet and goggles as carefully as she could with shaking paws.

“Nick. Please. Open your eyes.”

His eyelids fluttered, then slowly opened.

“Wh— Judy?”

Oh gods, she thought. He never uses my name.

“Are you hurt? Is anything broken? Can you get out?”

“I —” He looked around like he had no idea where he was. Slowly, his eyes widened as if with recognition.

“That… was… awesome!”

Nick pumped his arms and howled with delight. Judy gawked at him in shock.

“Are you freaking kidding me? I thought I just watched you die!”

“Okay, maybe it wasn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done, but holy mackerel what a ride that was!”

Judy sat back on the sand with a sigh, feeling her pulse slow down as she watched three sandboats approach with orange flashing lights.

“Hope you enjoyed it, Slick. I get the feeling we won’t be allowed back.”

Chapter Text

Damp leaves clung to the sidewalks and painted the streets in hues of red, orange, and yellow. A chilly breeze made Nick Wilde grateful for his ZPD uniform jacket – his fur was still a few weeks from thickening. Judy trudged by his side, showing no reaction at the fall colors or the dipping temperature.

“Penny for your thoughts, Carrots. You’re usually more lively than this.”

She shrugged. “Nothing important. Just personal-life stuff.”

“Aw, what’s the matter? Did someone tell you Gazelle dyes her fur? Try to keep it from Ben, I don’t think he’s old enough to handle it.”

Nick frowned. No reaction at all. No eye-roll, no punch to the arm, not even the smallest smile.

“Hey, sorry. I’m just trying to get a laugh to help you feel better. If you want to talk about it, I’ll be glad to listen.”

Judy shrugged again, but she seemed a little less sullen. After a block or so, she glanced up at Nick.

“Do you really want to hear about it?”

“If you feel like sharing, sure.”

She scanned the street. “Let’s cut over one block, and I’ll explain.”

He nodded and followed when she turned right at the next corner.

“I had another blind date last night, and it… I don’t know. I just didn’t feel any spark.”

“The guy was kind of a drip?”

“No, not especially. He seemed interesting at first, but… well, here.” She pointed to a bronze statue towering over the plaza nearby. “Tell me what you think about this statue. Don’t overanalyze, just give me your gut feeling.”

Nick studied the monument for a moment. It depicted a tigress in mid-stride, reaching skyward with one paw while holding a bundle of flowers in the other. The scale was enormous — it was close to five times larger than life-sized.

He scratched his nose. “It’s… I like it.”

“Okay. Why do you like it?”

“Gee, Carrots, art interpretation was never my strong point.” He puffed his cheeks out for a moment. “It’s… welcoming. She’s reaching for the heavens with a hopeful, peaceful smile on her face. If I remember my folklore, the flowers she’s holding represent peace, love, and compassion. And she’s taking a step forward, which makes me think about progress and… persistence, maybe.”

Judy blinked at him. “That’s all you notice about it?”

“Huh? Well, she’s nude, which I suppose is a statement about innocence. Or maybe confidence. Or both.”

“Oh. You probably learned about this stuff in school, I guess. This statue specifically.”

“Nope. My school wasn’t big on field trips or art history. I’ve passed this thing a thousand times, but never really paid much attention to it. Why?”

She stuffed her paws in her jacket pockets and looked up at Nick as if trying to decide whether he was kidding.

“I’ve used this statue as a kind of test for dates,” she said slowly. “I usually ask them to meet me nearby, then ask them what they think about it. Most of them start with some kind of suggestive comment about her being naked, but I press them for some serious thought. If they come up with nothing… that’s usually a good sign that they just aren’t right for me.”

Nick squinted at her, returning the appraising look she’d given him. “You’re serious? A pop quiz on sculpture to see if you match up? That’s… Well, what did the guy last night say?”

“He mentioned her boobs first. I asked him again and he made some joke about her butt. I said, ‘No, seriously, what does it mean to you?’ and he just gave me a blank look until I changed the subject.”

“Hmm. I take it back, that makes sense. I guess that kind of approach never occurred to me.”

They began to retrace their steps back to their patrol beat. Judy huddled into her jacket and said, “You really came up with that whole interpretation thing just then? On the spot?”

“Yeah. Is that so surprising?”

“Well… a little. I kind of expected you to start out with some off-color remark.”

Nick cocked his head. “That’s fair enough. I normally would have.”

“So why didn’t you?”

“I read the room, Carrots. You were a little blue and didn’t seem to be in the mood for the usual ‘hubba hubba’ routine. So I just thought a little more about what I was looking at.”

He gently nudged the side of her head with his elbow.

“Sorry to dispel your illusion of me as an empty-headed hunk.”

For the first time that morning, she broke out in a genuine grin.

“You’re a hunk of something, all right.”

“That’s right, I’m a hunka hunka burning —”

“Gonna be a hunka burning fox hair, if you keep that up.”

“I really don’t know why I put up with this kind of ongoing abuse. You’re a terrible friend.”

“Maybe so, but you’ll forgive me if I buy you a couple of blueberry muffins.”

“How dare you, madam. You won’t change my mind for less than three blueberry muffins.”

“You’re a fox who knows your price, and I like that.”

The partners continued their banter as they walked their beat. Nick’s tail wagged as he noted how Judy’s ears were finally standing upright for the first time that morning.

Chapter Text

The raccoon approached the podium and took a moment to look out over the audience. Hundreds of mammals crowded the square; news crews focused their cameras on her. She smiled and took a deep breath.

“Welcome, and thank you for attending this bittersweet event. It feels like the end of an era as we bid farewell to two mammals who have redefined nearly everything about the Zootopia Police Department, and yet it is also the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.

“For those who don’t know me, my name is Morgan Caudelon, and I am a lieutenant in the ZPD. It’s no exaggeration to say that I owe my career, if not much more, to Nicholas Wilde.

“I was a confused, angry young woman when I first met Captain Wilde. He was a uniformed officer with only two years of service under his belt back then, and I was some punk kid who thought I’d find some meaning of life in petty theft.

“He talked the store owner out of pressing charges — anyone who’s dealt with him knows he’s good at persuasion — and sat down to talk to me.

“I’d been lectured before, been subjected to scare tactics, all of that. More times than I could remember even then. But this didn’t feel like a rehearsed speech. He told me about his childhood. The prejudice he’d faced as a fox. And how all it took was one mammal believing in him.

“Not long afterward, I met that one mammal who believed in him. She was another police officer named Judy Hopps, and she was his partner then. Police partner, anyway. They weren’t life partners at that point, although everyone knew it wouldn’t take much longer.”

A wave of laughter spread through the crowd, and Morgan heard chuckles from behind her on the stage as well.

“I’d thought I was jaded and callous, that no one cared except my family. And that I didn’t want or need anyone to care. But the two of them got through to me. They made me want better for myself, and made me believe that I could do better.

“Long story short… well, I guess I delivered the punchline already. Thanks to Captain Wilde and Commissioner Hopps-Wilde, I found a career — a second chance — at the ZPD. Like so many other mammals here today, I owe them a debt I can never repay.

“The department guidelines for retirement ceremonies state that it is optional, but not mandatory, for the honoree or honorees to speak. I approached both of them with this information several weeks ago. Captain Wilde gave me fifty bucks for a ten-minute window.”

More laughter from all around. Morgan heard the creak of a chair and could picture the old fox standing with a smirk.

“However, Commissioner Hopps-Wilde gave me one hundred bucks to say ‘no’ to him.”

The laughter grew louder, and Morgan knew that Wilde was flashing his wife an exaggerated expression of betrayal.

“Please see me after the ceremony if you’d like to contribute to her reimbursement fund. I’ve collected nearly three hundred bucks so far.”

Lieutenant Caudelon beamed as the crowd began to applaud.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure the captain will have plenty to say at the reception in a few minutes. The commissioner may be able to get in a few words edgewise as well. But first, the traditional presentation of gifts.”

Two officers in dress uniform marched onto the stage, each bearing a wooden shadow box. Morgan stood to one side of the podium and watched them approach the two honorees, who stood to receive the mementos. Caudelon felt her throat tighten as she saw tears begin to stream down the faces of both Wilde and Hopps-Wilde.

“Captain Nicholas Wilde. Police Commissioner Judith Hopps-Wilde. The city of Zootopia is honored to present you with these small gifts in recognition of your service. Each box contains a flag which has flown over Precinct One, your badge and name plate, a display of your medals, and the first and last official identification pictures from your careers.

“On behalf of the ZPD and the entire city, I thank you for everything you’ve done and wish you peace and happiness in your retirement.”

She looked out at the audience once more.

“Please rise for the anthem.”

The police band standing before the stage began to play as the honor guard raised their rifles. As the song reached its crescendo, the rifles fired in unison.

“I never thought we’d see this day,” Judy said under her breath.

“Enjoy it, Carrots,” Nick murmured back. “We’ve earned it.”

Chapter Text

Nick shaded his eyes with a paw as he readjusted his backpack with a shrug. He nodded at what appeared to be a wide, low hill in the distance.

“Is it safe to assume that’s our destination?”

“Yep! Eternity Dome.”

“Good timing. This pack is starting to feel heavy.”

“I offered to help carry the camping supplies, doofus.”

“I’m not complaining, per se, just making an observation. It’s, what, another hour, maybe ninety minutes away?”

Judy squinted at the rock. “Yeah. Looks about right. At least give me the camp stove.”

“I’m good, Carrots. As long as we don’t dawdle too much.”

“Have you ever known me to dawdle?”

“We’re dawdling right now. C’mon, let’s get moving.”

***

They tromped along the path, swatting at the occasional insect.

“So this dome thing is kind of famous, huh? Locally, anyway?”

“Sort of. In a folklore kind of way.”

“You kept saying you’d explain when we got there. Well, we’re about half an hour away, is that close enough?”

Judy adjusted her cap and smiled. “Yeah. I guess so.

“It’s just one of those natural formations, you know? I don’t know anything about geology, but sometimes big sections of rock are just kind of pushed up higher than the rest of the ground.”

“Are you sure you don’t have a doctorate in earth science? That sounds like a pretty highfalutin’ explanation to me.”

Without breaking stride, Judy kicked a small rock that struck Nick on the shin.

“Ow! Okay, okay, I’ll stop.”

“I’ve lost track of how many times you’ve promised that over the last five years.”

“Seriously, go back to what you were saying. I really want to hear about it.”

She looked skeptically at him, but his expression looked as sincere as it ever did.

“So any time there’s some unusual landmark, mammals will make up legends about it. That ravine is where the Great Rabbit’s burrow collapsed after a mighty rainstorm, this sinkhole is where the Radish of the Gods grew…”

As Judy shot another look of warning at Nick, he closed his mouth with an audible snap.

“There are a few myths like that about Eternity Dome. A mighty jackrabbit kicked in his sleep, or a powerful king of old is buried underneath, things like that. But the legend that gets passed down the most is about its effect.

“They say that if you spend the night on Eternity Dome with the one you love, and you both look into each other’s eyes and declare your love at the stroke of midnight, you’ll be together for the rest of your lives.”

Nick stumbled slightly, but caught himself.

“Wow, Carrots. That’s kind of a big commitment, don’t you think? I mean, sure, we get along together, but I just don’t know whether this is a long-term thing…”

“Says the fox who gets separation anxiety when I go grocery-shopping without him. And who leaves sappy little love notes around our apartment for me to find. And who…”

“Okay, okay, you called my bluff. So does this thing have a good track record?”

“Well, mom and dad believe in it. They spent the night almost forty years ago, and look at them now.”

“That sounds a bit less like The Power of the Magic Rock and more like Two Bunnies Who Have Been Crazy for Each Other All Along,” Nick said. “Show me two mammals who didn’t care that much for each other who ended up together after a night on the dome.”

Judy rolled her eyes. “Two mammals who didn’t care for each other, but somehow ended up declaring their love at midnight.”

“Hm. I seem to have a flaw in my scientific methodology.”

***

As they reached the foot of the hill, Nick noted with surprise that other pairs of mammals were already setting up camp along its slopes.

“You thought this was just some goofy Hopps family thing?” Judy asked in amusement.

“Well, I wouldn’t put it that way, but… kind of, yeah.”

“Maybe City Slick Nick never heard about this place, but it’s well-known out in the countryside.”

“I see that. Is there some kind of battle royale for the highest point?”

“Nope. As long as you’re somewhere on the rock, it counts, so find a promising spot and let’s get set up.”

***

Naturally, Judy ended up talking to everyone else in sight as Nick set up the tent. Four of their camping neighbors were bunnies, but two couples were cross-species: a deer doe with a rabbit buck, and a same-sex cougar-wolf pair. When plans to all have dinner as a group began to coalesce, Nick winced internally, but he ended up enjoying himself. Everyone was cheerful, the conversation was light, and if any of them held doubts about a predator-prey relationship, no one mentioned them.

The couples drifted back to their own campsites as the moon rose. Judy spread out a blanket on the gentle slope where she and Nick could lie together.

“Last chance, Hopps. It’s about half past eleven. If you don’t pack up now, there’s no going back.”

“I’m not going anywhere. And if you try to leave, I’ll break your legs.”

“That answers my next question. Just one left.”

“And what’s that?”

“How angry would you be if I looked in your eyes at midnight and said, ‘I love you, Suzanne’?”

Judy thought for a moment. “Objectively? That’d be hilarious. Realistically? No one would ever find your body.”

“Your tendency towards violence is disturbing.”

“You bring it out in me, Slick. I was a peace-loving bunny for years.”

They snuggled together, enjoying the moment.

“So really, how does this work? Are we supposed to keep looking at our phones to be sure it’s exactly midnight?”

“Yeah,” Judy said with a smirk. “Pretty sure that’s how mom and dad did it forty years ago. It’s the same as not having to be at the highest point – any time close to midnight is good enough. Clock-watching would kind of spoil the mood.”

“I’m ready if you are, Carrots.”

“No, not yet,” she said, nestling against his chest. “We’ll know the right moment, and for now I just want to stay here with you.”

They looked up at the stars, each feeling content in the other’s presence. Occasionally, Nick ran his paw up and down Judy’s back as she hummed under her breath.

She heard his breath catch and looked up to his face. Nick was staring straight up, and Judy followed his gaze. A bright shooting star streaked its way across the sky.

They both sat up and held paws. Judy looked into Nick’s eyes and murmured, “Nicholas Wilde, I love you and want to be with you for the rest of my life.”

At the same time, Nick looked into Judy’s eyes and said, “I love you with all my heart, Judy Hopps, and I always will.”

An electric moment passed between them. It was suddenly broken by a petulant voice from somewhere up the slope.

“Ah, dang it! I knew we should have waited a little longer!”

Chapter Text

“Nicky! Judy!”

Leslie embraced her son and kissed his cheek, then knelt to hug Judy.

“Oh! Did I scratch you? I didn’t mean to.”

“No, you didn’t scratch me. Sorry for wincing. I’m just a little sore.”

“Oh, my,” Leslie smirked. “Come in and tell me all about it.”

“Ew, Ma, that’s gross.”

“Let me live a little. You can’t spell vicariously without vixen.”

“Yeah you can, Ma. You can’t spell it with vixen. Anyway, Carrots just took a little tumb— she fell. No big deal.”

“He’s right, we were just —”

“C’mon, Fluff, let’s take this inside. Don’t want to stand in the hallway all afternoon.”

Nick herded her inside the apartment. Leslie closed the door behind them and motioned towards the couch.

“Sit down, get comfortable. You’re a little early, dinner’s still cooking. I’ll be right back.”

Judy nudged Nick in the ribs as he sat down next to her.

“Ow! What?”

“That’s for being rude. What was that all about?”

“I figured you wouldn’t want to get into the whole story,” Nick said, rubbing his side. “You always get so steamed when I tell Ben about you tripping or dropping something on your foot or whatever.”

“That’s completely different. Your mom isn’t a coworker who happens to be the biggest blabbermouth on the force, and I was going to tell her, not you.”

“Okay, sorry.”

“Just say the word, Judy dear, and I’ll slip a laxative into his food,” Leslie sang from the kitchen.

“Not necessary, thanks,” Judy said. “Yet.”

***

Judy narrowed her eyes as she chewed. Nick wasn’t being overly conspicuous about it, but he had managed to steer the conversation since they arrived. Upcoming holiday plans, questions about mammals who used to live in the neighborhood, television shows he barely watched… something was up. This was the most talkative he’d been around his mother since Judy met her.

Leslie stood to get refills for everyone, and Judy grunted at the jab of pain in her shoulder as she held her glass up.

“You never did tell me what happened,” Leslie said.

“Talking about her medical history is a violation of HIPPO law,” Nick said. “Right to privacy and all that.”

“Nick, what —”

“Just a joke, Carrots. Ma, why was the window busted out of that restaurant down the —”

“Nicholas Wilde. You’d better let your girlfriend speak, or else…” Leslie hesitated. “I don’t know or else what, but you won’t like it.”

Nick took a breath to protest, but deflated when he saw the glint in his mother’s jade-green eyes. “Sorry.”

“Now, Judy, please tell me how you hurt yourself, which apparently involves Nick embarrassing himself in some way.”

“That’s the weird part, it doesn’t,” Judy said. “My sister posted some pictures of us roller skating when we were kits, and it brought back a lot of memories. I begged Nick to try it, and somehow he took to it right away while I fell on my tail over and over. I managed to wrench my shoulder holding onto his arm, and I don’t think he fell even once.”

“Why would he fall? That boy lived on skates when he was a teenager. He knew someone who worked at the nearest rink, and when we couldn’t afford to do anything fun, he’d sneak in there and spend the day.”

The temperature in the space between Nick and Judy plummeted by several degrees.

“Oh,” Judy said slowly. “That’s very interesting.”

“In fact, he worked there as an instructor for two summers, now that I think of it,” Leslie mused.

“So if I had somehow gotten the impression that he’d never touched a roller skate before last week…” Judy said in a voice like silk.

“Well, that would have been a silly thing to assume. You should have just asked Nicky, I’m sure he’d have been happy to tell you all about it.”

“I’m sure that he would have,” Judy grated. “Because it would definitely be wrong to blatantly lie to his girlfriend about something like that.”

Leslie grimaced. “Oh, Nicky. You didn’t. Just for the sake of a silly joke?”

“In my defense, it seemed absolutely hilarious at the time.”

“You can see how hard I’m laughing,” Judy said, with a stare that could level buildings.

“Ma, can I sleep on your couch for a few days?”

“I’m on Judy’s side here, Nicky. It’s your choice — face her wrath or see what I can dream up.”

He looked frantically between two sets of unsympathetic eyes.

“I throw myself on the mercy of the court?”

“No mercy, Slick.”

“Sorry, Nicky. I think the park down the street has some comfortable-looking benches.”

Chapter Text

“Morning, Judy, morning, Nick,” Clawhauser called. “Oh! Nick! I nearly forgot. The Chief said he wanted to see you in his office before the briefing.”

Wilde raised his eyebrows. “Any idea what it’s about?”

“Nope, sorry. He wasn’t grinding his teeth too hard, though.”

Nick shrugged. “Okay, thanks, Ben. See you in the bullpen, Carrots.”

Judy watched him climb the stairs and wondered what he’d done now. As Nick opened Bogo’s door, she heard a snatch of an elegant melody. It faded as he stepped in and closed the door behind him.

“Ben? Was I imagining that, or is Chief Bogo playing classical music in his office?”

“Good ears! Oh, heh, guess that shouldn’t surprise me. Yeah, I noticed it yesterday when I brought him a report.”

“Huh. What got into him?”

“Well, it seems like he’s been shouting about forty percent less… Judy? What’s wrong?”

“The music just got louder.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive. I couldn’t hear it after Nick shut the door, and now I can.”

“That’s… wait. Now I hear it too.”

“Yeah, it just got louder again.”

“It, uh, doesn’t really seem like it’d be all that soothing if we can hear it from down here.”

“Can you hear that, too? I swear I just heard Nick’s voice.”

“What, like singing along?”

“No. I can’t make out any words, but it sounds like he’s trying to talk over the music.”

Clawhauser winced. “Okay, it’s definitely louder now.”

Other officers in the lobby were starting to look up at the second-floor office door in confusion.

“Is this some kind of dumb macho guy thing?” Judy had to raise her voice to be heard. “Like a staring contest, only with music instead?”

“How should I know?” Clawhauser said. “This is kind of freaking me out, I can feel the drum beat in my…”

The chief’s door opened, and a blast of orchestral music echoed throughout the lobby. Nick casually sauntered out and closed it behind him, his ears twitching fitfully. The music was back to its original inaudible volume by the time he reached the staircase.

Judy and Ben exchanged a look as Nick moseyed over to them and leaned against the reception desk.

“NO BIG DEAL,” Nick yelled casually. “JUST A FRIENDLY CHAT.”

Judy winced. “You’re shouting, Nick,” she said.

“OH! SOR— sorry.” He shook his head. “My ears are kind of ringing.”

“You don’t say,” Ben drawled.

“Nick, what was going on with that music?”

“Chief Buff—” Nick looked around and lowered his voice again. “Bogo has a new toy. A remote-control stereo system.”

Judy nodded and motioned with her paw. “Okay, and?”

“Well, personally, I think it’s kind of rude to listen to music while you’re talking to someone. And I guess he thinks it’s rude to try and talk over the music.”

“Which, of course, you did.”

“Maybe.” Nick shrugged. “Oh, on a completely unrelated note, I’m on parking duty for the next month.”

Chapter Text

Officer Wilde carefully stepped through the door frame, trying to avoid the broken glass on the floor.

“The good news,” he muttered to himself, “is that he had to slow down to break the door, and now he’s boxed in. The bad news is the box is about forty thousand square feet, so he could easily slip past me.”

He keyed his shoulder mic as his eyes adjusted to the semi-darkness. “Car— Officer Hopps? I just entered the building. Where are you?”

The radio crackled. “Can’t talk,” Judy’s voice came through as a loud whisper. “I’ll report soon.”

“Ooooookay,” Nick mumbled as he drew his tranquilizer pistol. He hated this kind of pursuit, chasing someone into a building full of hidey-holes. He wandered past the checkout stands into crowded, looming aisles of shelves.

Would it kill this perp to make a little sound? Anything to give me a rough idea where he is.

Good night vision wasn’t much help in a situation like this. Sure, he could make out shapes, but as long as the suspect didn’t move, a group of clothing mannequins provided near-perfect cover.

Nick crept through the departments. Clothing, housewares, entertainment — he didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. This is maybe the third time I’ve been in this store, he groused to himself. How am I supposed to know what’s out of the ordinary?

He jumped and spun at a sudden noise before he recognized it as the HVAC system rumbling to life. Great job keeping your cool, Wilde. Heh. And your heating and ventilation, too.

Argh. I need to focus.

Ears swiveling for any telltale sound, he continued to stalk the aisles. He hadn’t seen or heard any trace of the suspect since entering the store.

Not great. He’s had plenty of time to catch his breath, so when he does move, he won’t make much noise. Odds are, he’s already doubled back and left the store. C’mon, Carrots, give me an update.

He resisted the urge to contact her via radio. She’d sounded like she was trying to stay quiet, and he didn’t want to give her position away in case she was sneaking up on the suspect.

A movement drew his attention, and he swiveled to aim his tranq. The motion had been a sign suspended from a wire, caught by the HVAC’s circulation.

From behind, he heard a deep sound that was definitely mammal-made. That sounded… kind of like an ‘oof’? Before he could react, there was another sound, this time something making hard contact with a softer surface.

He turned and saw, approximately thirty feet away, Judy’s silhouette as she bent over another shape.

“Carrots? Are you all right?”

She straightened and grinned at him.

“I’m fine, Nick. Be gentle with our suspect here, though.”

As Nick holstered his weapon and jogged over to Hopps’ side, he saw the cheetah they’d been pursuing. The suspect was struggling weakly against the shiny cuffs fastened around his wrists.

“Wow. Nice work, Fluff. How did you get him?”

“I caught a glimpse of him a few minutes ago and reached for my tranquilizer pistol, but it wasn’t there. Probably fell out back in ladies’ wear, I had to squeeze between some racks to keep him in sight.

“I followed him through sporting goods, and I think he saw you at the same time I did, right when you turned away from us. He tensed up like he was going to either run past you or charge at you, so I grabbed the first thing I saw and swept his legs out from under him. He rolled and looked like he was about to dart away, so I clobbered him and cuffed him while he was dazed.”

Nick looked down and saw a fiberglass snow ski lying nearby with a noticeable fracture near one end. His mind raced as Judy called in the capture over her radio.

“…suspect is in custody. Please send a cruiser to bring him in. Hopps, over and out.” She released the transmit button on her radio. “Okay, Nick, get it out.”

“I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about, Fluff.”

“We’ve been partners long enough that I recognize that look. You’re desperately trying to come up with a joke.”

Nick tried not to flit his eyes around the gloom. “Nope.”

Judy put her paws on her hips and fixed him with a look of disbelief. “So you’re not standing perfectly still because you’re wracking your brain for some one-liner about this guy taking ‘the bunny slopes,’ then?”

“Of course not,” he said with a huff.

Judy grinned. “Good. That would be terrible, and things would just go downhill from there.”

Nick gaped at her. “You…”

“Come on, Nick, help me drag this guy to the exit so we can ski-daddle.”

“Okay, now you’re just rubbing it in…”

“It’s all right, you can just powder through it.”

Nick heaved a long sigh and grabbed the semi-conscious cheetah under the arms. “Can we just go?”

“What’s the matter, Slick, you want to lodge a complaint?”

“One more pun, Carrots, just one more, and you’re on your own.”

“If you insist. It’s snow problem for me either way.”

“Okay, that’s it.” Nick dropped the cheetah, who moaned deliriously, and began to stalk off down the dark aisle.

“He didn’t have to get so piste about it,” Judy grunted as she began tugging the suspect by herself.

Chapter Text

The rhinoceros was now wearing a light gray suit rather than the black one they’d seen him in last time. His mirrored sunglasses were still in place, however, even though he stood indoors.

“Always a pleasure, Chuckles,” Nick said. “She’s expecting us.”

The rhino didn’t move for several seconds, not even bothering to look down at the officers. Finally, with an impressive air of reluctance, he moved aside and opened the door he’d been guarding.

Whatever Nick’s quip was going to be, he cut it short when Judy jabbed him with her elbow.

“Is it just instinct for you, to irritate the biggest mammal you see?” she whispered as they entered the office.

“Pretty much, yeah,” he mumbled.

The sow behind the desk looked up and smiled. “Officers Hopps and Wilde. Thank you for coming.”

“Congratulations, Madam Mayor,” Hopps said. “You ran a clean campaign and won. That’s quite an achievement.”

Swinton gave a slight shrug. “I spoke plainly to the voters, and they saw fit to elect me. Simplicity works sometimes. Please, have a seat.”

Nick tried not to gawk out the window at the impressive view of Zootopia as they sat. Judy reflected that she’d last been in this office when she resigned from the ZPD. At least it’s an appropriately grand view for major points in my career, she mused.

Swinton noticed their distracted gazes and looked over her shoulder. “Magnificent, isn’t it? Personally, though, I don’t care much for it. It seems… remote. Detached. If it weren’t so expensive to do, I’d have the office moved down to the ground floor.

“I didn’t ask you here to discuss the scenery, however. The last time we spoke, I asked whether you’d be comfortable publicly championing my anti-discrimination initiative.”

Judy exchanged a glance with Nick.

“Yes, ma’am,” he said. “There weren’t many details at the time other than classifying species-based harassment and violence as hate crimes.”

“That’s the essence of it,” Swinton said. “For any offense, if it can be proven that there was intent to intimidate someone on the basis of an inter-species relationship, this would raise the minimum fines and sentences upon conviction.”

“As cops, Mayor Swinton, we can assure you that it’s difficult to collect definitive proof of such motivations.”

“That’s what my advisors have told me as well,” she said. “All the more reason I feel it would be invaluable to have police officers involved in this effort.”

Judy’s brow wrinkled. “I was under the impression that, if we agreed, we’d more or less be spokesmammals, not influencing policy.”

“If that’s the role you’d feel comfortable with, we can leave it at that. But I’d like to appoint you as directors and executors of the initiative.”

“Directors and executors…” Nick said. “You want us to run this thing?”

“That’s what it would boil down to, yes. Coordinating with PR on awareness campaigns, helping draft the legislation itself, and acting as liaisons within the police department when necessary.”

Judy and Nick looked at each other again, the gaze lingering far longer than before. Nick nodded slightly.

“There’s… an additional… aspect we want to make you aware of,” Judy said. “Nick and I have… been in a personal relationship for a while now. A romantic one.”

Swinton nodded. “If the two of you are okay with making this public knowledge, I feel you would be even better for the position.”

“Wait a minute,” Nick interrupted. “You didn’t even blink when she told you.”

“I was fairly certain of it after our first meeting. A few discreet inquiries confirmed that I wasn’t the only one who thought they saw something between you.”

“Any chance you could tell us who you discreetly inquired with?” he asked.

“You know the value of protecting a confidential informant’s identity, Officer Wilde,” she said with a grin. “But to return to the previous topic, I’d like you two to lead the effort regardless of whether you choose to reveal your relationship.”

“We’d need to learn a lot more about this before we agree, Madam Mayor,” Judy said. “Some solid details about your plans, the scope of the initiative, and so forth.”

“Naturally,” the mayor replied. “We’re still sketching out the foundations, but the earlier you can contribute, the better. I’ll gather the mammals you’d be working alongside.”

“Just let us know when you’d like to meet, and we’ll check our schedules.”

“Oh, no need to bother you directly, Officer Wilde. I’ll coordinate it with Officer Clawhauser. He’s so friendly and eager to help.”

Nick rubbed his muzzle. “Well, there’s the ‘discreet inquiries’ question answered,” he muttered.

Chapter Text

“Okay, even I have to admit, that was pretty sneaky, Nick.”

“I’m a fox, Carrots. Sneaky is our default mode.”

“Pfft. Yeah, you’re Mister Stealth.”

“This isn’t idle bragging, Fluff. Would you care to place a small wager on my skills?”

“Are you serious? A bet on how sneaky you can be?”

“As serious as I get. You name the challenge, I’ll name the stakes.”

“Okay. This should be interesting. Let me think.”

“I have a few ideas of my own.”

“Oh, sure, like I’d let you pick your own stunt. Nope, I’ve got it. I challenge you to swipe Chief Bogo’s track-and-field ribbon.”

“The one on his bookshelf? Up on the top shelf?”

“That’s the one.”

“Hmm. Intriguing. He keeps his office locked even when he walks down the hall…”

“Too tough for you, Slick?”

“Ha! You’re not getting a forfeit that easily. I just need a little time to plan and execute my heist.”

“How long, exactly?”

“Let’s say… a week. By next Wednesday, I will proudly present to you one ribbon. But first we need to lay some ground rules.”

“Okay, let’s hear it.”

“First, you can’t tell Bogo that I’m trying to swipe his ribbon. He’d just take it home or something. If I get caught breaking into his office, the worst he’d do is fire me. If I tried to break into his house, the best he’d do is kill me.”

“Hm. That’s fair enough, I guess.”

“Second, you can’t directly interfere with my efforts.”

“Slick, if you think I’d stop you from humiliating yourself, you don’t know me at all.”

“Ye of little faith.”

“Me of realistic expectations.”

“We’ll see, naysayer. So when I succeed, you, Officer Hopps, will perform an interpretive dance in the precinct lobby just before roll call while singing a song about how great I am. I, of course, will compose the song.”

“And, unlikely as it may be, what happens if you fail?”

“Think up your worst. It doesn’t matter, because you’ll never collect.”

“Overconfident much? If you don’t get that ribbon within one week, you… let’s keep it simple. You lose, you do a dance in the lobby before roll call singing a song I write about what a dumb fox you are.”

“It’s a deal.”

***

“Morning, Ben. What’s wrong? You look like something’s bothering you.”

“Huh? Oh, hi, Judy. It’s… have you ever seen someone you feel like you know, but you just can’t recognize him?”

“Sure, I think everyone has that. Did you spot someone on your way to work, or…”

“No, it was here, about half an hour ago. A delivery-mammal I swear looked familiar, and I’ve been wracking my brain trying to think where I know him, but I can’t come up with anything.”

“Out of curiosity, what did this mammal look like?”

“He was a raccoon, kind of tall but on the heavy side. Weird accent I couldn’t place.”

“Hm. Did you notice his eye color?”

“No, he had sunglasses on. I guess that’s kind of weird now that I think about it.”

“Was he delivering something for Chief Bogo?”

“Yeah, how’d you know?”

“Lucky guess. So he went up to the chief’s office?”

“No, Chief hates when he gets interrupted for deliveries, so I signed for it… Are you okay, Judy?”

“Sorry, I had a tickle in my throat. Did the delivery guy give you any grief about the signature?”

“Yeah, he didn’t seem too happy about it. Pretty sure he was mumbling to himself when he left.”

“Oh well, I’m sure he’ll get over it.”

“Yeah, I guess.”

***

“Clawhauser speaking.”

“Hey, Ben, it’s Judy. Could you file a service ticket? There have been weird noises coming from the air conditioning vent for about an hour.”

“Oh, that’s probably the repair guy! He showed up a couple of hours ago.”

“Was there… a problem with the system before?”

“I guess so. Service techs don’t just show up for no reason, do they?”

“Yeah. That would be weird. Thanks, Ben.”

***

“I really hope I’m wrong about this, but Nick, if you’re stuck in the ducts, knock twice.”

Tap, tap.

“You can’t see it, but my face does not look very surprised. I don’t think I could fit through most HVAC vents.

“I should probably just enjoy a good laugh and find someone to cut you out of there, but I’m feeling generous. If you can work your way backwards, knock once. If you’re completely stuck and can’t move in any direction, knock twice.”

Tap.

“If you don’t text me within half an hour that you’ve escaped, I’ll get Clawhauser to turn the heat way up and you can sweat your way out.”

***

“Ben?”

“Hey Judy, sorry, I don’t have much time to talk, the power just went out.”

“Yeah, I noticed. Any idea what happened?”

“Not really. Some electric worker came in and said he had to reroute… uh… honestly, I didn’t quite catch what he said, but it sure sounded important. Thank goodness for the emergency generators.”

“This guy didn’t happen to look like the HVAC guy from yesterday, did he?”

“Of course he didn’t. He was a wolf. Kinda small, though.”

“Where did he go? I’ll go check and see if he needs any… help.”

“Maintenance room in the basement. Let me know what he says, okay?”

***

“Oh, uh, hello there, officer.”

“Hello there, Mister…”

“Uh, Robbins.”

“Nice to meet you, Mister Uh-Robbins. I’m Officer Hopps. I couldn’t help noticing that the building’s power is out. May I assume you’re working on fixing that?”

“Oh, yes, of course. Just… uh… replacing the… motivator here.”

“The motivator.”

“Yeah. It… keeps the electricity flowing.”

“Right. With motivation.”

“Right.”

“…For the love of cheese, Nick, you’d think you could fake it better than that.”

“I beg your pardon, officer?”

“Look, Slick. Points for the costume and all, but you have no clue what you’re doing. I’m going to guess you thought you could waltz right into Bogo’s office, but Clawhauser sent you down here instead.”

“I… don’t know who this Chief Bogo mammal is.”

“Nice try, but I didn’t say he was chief. And I’m no electrician either, but my dad taught me enough about electrical systems to know there’s no such thing as a motivator. So just figure out what you broke and fix it, and we can call off this whole stupid bet before you set yourself on fire, okay?”

“Bet? What —”

“You’ve already gotten stuck in an air duct and nearly electrocuted yourself. Stealing something from Bogo was a dumb idea in the first place. The wager is officially canceled.”

“…Fine. But you admit these were good disguises, right? I mean, they fooled Ben.”

“Nick, you know I love Ben like a brother, but he isn’t exactly hard to fool. He didn’t even recognize me the first time he saw me in civilian clothes.”

“Well, this is disappointing. I was really looking forward to watching you do the song and dance.”

“Slick, you didn’t even come close to winning. I called it off so you didn’t end up frying yourself.”

“I’ll have you know… wait — wait, come back, please — you said your dad taught you about electrical stuff? Could you help me figure out how to get the power back on?”

“Fine. But only because letting you play with live wires is actually less dangerous to your safety than Bogo finding out you damaged equipment and disrupted the entire precinct over a bet.”

“… Yeah. Thanks, Carrots.”