Chapter Text
The sun beat down mercilessly on the platform of Savannah central station, making the sandy hues glow favourably. The station was busy for 10 in the morning, and already felt like it was hitting 89 degrees.
Mammals waited lazily under the shade as the train announcement rang loudly across the platform.
Yet an unlikely duo stood out from the crowd.
Physically, because they were the only two standing in the sun.
But also socially, because it was uncommon to see a predator-prey friendship.
Especially one of their nature.
Judging by their body language, the two seemed content with each others presence.
That being said, it was clear that the bunny held overtones of excitement,
or was it anticipation?
Whilst the fox, standing to her right, presumed a totally relaxed stance with hands in his pockets.
“Oh god the train is late, why’s it late? Do you think they derailed? Is there a problem?”
The bunny fretted, her paws coming to her face as her foot tapped rapidly at a staccato pace.
“Carrots, it’s late by two minutes,” the Fox replied smoothly “Stop overthinking.”
The comment did nothing to calm the nervous bunny and instead, she threw an irritated look over her shoulder, to which the fox completely ignored and grinned back.
A moment of silence passed between them, which was promptly broken by an excited squeal.
Just coming into sight across the sandy banks and through the wavering heat waves, a looming train glided rapidly towards the station, its rumbling engine sounded noisily, even from such a distance.
The PA system rang once again, alerting passengers to stand behind the line.
The train glided smoothly to a halt in front of the pair, its brakes screeching loudly and its doors sliding open.
Mammals of all shapes and sizes, emerged. Yet the rabbit took no notice. Instead, glancing around eagerly as though she was looking for someone in particular.
“Judy!!”
A cry of joy caused her to snap her head around.
The source of the sound collided with the bunny, their dissimilar hues merging into a bizarre array of grey hues.
“Geez Jude, you’ve grown since last time,” The slightly taller male rabbit chuckled in their embrace.
“And you look a little pale bun, have you been eating enough carrots?” the other chimed in.
“Mom, Dad, I’m fine.” Judy shrugged off her parents concerned strokes, taking a step back almost trying to symbolise her independence.
Her eyes instinctively turned towards her partner, who was standing off to the side with a slightly distant expression.
The fox took that as a sign to join the family reunion, trying to push away the that feeling.
“Pleasure to meet you,” he said, smiling as best as he could without flashing the bunnies with his fangs.
“Oh Nick! We’ve heard so much about you!” Bonnie burst out, pulling the fox into a strangling-ly warm hug.
The fox accepted the embrace with surprise and slight confusion. He had never been much of a hugger, although maybe that was because he could really count the number of hugs he’d received on one paw.
Funny. Over half of those had been from Judy.
He guessed it was a bunny custom.
“Good things I hope,” he half joked in response, pulling apart from her.
“Of course of course, Judy talks about you all the time! It’s so sweet how you’re her first friend!”
A moment of silence passed, and from the corner of his eye, he could see Judy tuck her ears behind her head, signalling her obvious embarrassment.
He was about to throw her an amused look, and make a mental note to bring up that comment later, when he felt something wrap around his tail and hold on tight.
“Fluffy!” a small voice squealed.
Nick glanced down and to his surprise a baby bunny, no bigger than two or three years old, had attached itself to his tail and was proceeding to use it as a as a plaything.
Its face was lit up with delight and it wailed again and attempted to pull his tail down when he tried to manoeuvre it away from its grabbing paws.
“Judy!” The small bunny squealed as she registered her sister’s presence and came bumbling over to grip onto her legs.
“Wait you brought Molly?” Judy said in clear surprise whilst Stu pulled the baby into his arms apologising.
Nick assumed this was one of Judy’s 200 siblings since her grey fur and wide eyes resembled much of Carrots.
“We know, we know...” Bonnie sighed “But, she stowed away on the train and we only found her once we were halfway to the city,” Her eyes shone apologetically “got into the food cart, little rascal.”
Nick already felt out of his element.
Family, hugs and emotions were never really his thing. Now with a child in the mix he wasn’t sure what to feel.
“Mom-“
“It’ll only be for a few hours! You know we can’t take her with us!”
Nick glanced from the Judy, to her parents, back to Judy, realising there was some sort of mental understanding going on that he was unaware of.
Another moment of awkward silence.
Nick counted that had been the third one of this day.
“Okay okay, we’ll take her,” Judy gave in.
The Fox’s ears pricked at the sudden realisation of what was going on as the child was passed from her father to Judy.
Wait.. were they…..?
“Thanks Bun,” Stu ruffled Judy’s head “now let’s get to Central.”
Oh.
They were on babysitting duty for the day.
——————————————————————
The original plan had been simple: they would drop Judy’s parents at Savannah Central to catch the subway to BunnyTown which was across the district.
Whilst they had their important meeting (about carrots and farming and supply and demand stuff, which was supposed to last around an hour) Judy and Nick would wait for them at their favourite diner.
Then afterwards they’d all meet together, have a good meal, and Nick would be able to charm and laugh his way into Stu and Bonnie’s hearts to prove that he wasn’t no dangerous, up-to-no-good, sly fox.
Simple, right?
“New plan,” Judy announced as she waved her parents goodbye and they disappeared into the subway station,
“We go to the park for a while, wear her out, then meet at the diner.”
Great.
Sure, he’d spent his whole life with Finnick roleplaying as a father, but he was unsure if those tricks would work on a real child.
Plus he needed to make a good impression on Judy’s parents.
Nick called in backup for the situation via Finnick, and soon he was pushing the 3 year old child in a stroller down Savannah Central Park, like some sort of first time dad.
Technically he was a first time dad, since he’d never really child minded before. Most of his childhood memories, he recalled, were spent alone.
He grimaced at the memory of the fennec fox’s face. It was one he wished to never seen again.
“So ya weren’t kidding huh?” he greeted them with a grunt, passing the old buggy he and Nick used to hustle with.
His face then contorted with laughter at the sight of the unexpected parents.
“Aw, you jealous Fin?” Nick simpered, as Judy lifted the small bunny into the seat.
“Piss off.” the Fennec snapped, not impressed.
“Ol’ Nicky’s got a few tricks up his sleeves!” he grunted “so…. who’s the momma?”
“Enough Fin” Nick rebuked, his ears blushing in embarrassment when he noticed Judy’s visible laughter.
Today was shaping up to be an awkward day.
In contrast to his mental statement, the weather was beautiful: just the right amount of warm, accompanied by a gentle breeze that made the trees sway and rustle.
The park was definitely busy, with mammals of all shapes and sizes enjoying the sun and the air was filled with the sound of children laughing and playing.
The walk under the shaded path made for a pleasant stroll.
“I haven’t been to this park since I was a kit.”
Nick commented, hoping to ease into a more casual conversation.
He’d been so awkward all morning that they’d barely made conversation. Well, that had also been on Judy’s side too. The more chattier and enthusiastic partner had been bouncing off the walls with her parents arrival, making her suspiciously quiet.
Or perhaps it was because she was aware Nick had never been good with family stuff.
“You came here often?” Judy asked.
He shrugged “Only when I was really little.”
“I didn’t know you used to live near here” she expressed surprise.
“Oh yeah” he continued, pointing ahead, hoping to use his charm to break the tension.
“Right behind that play area is the skate park, and that’s where all the fun stuff would happen…… if you know what i mean” he waggled his eyebrows suggestively and flashed her a grin.
“Nick! not in front of the kids!” Judy scolded playfully, mockingly covering her sister’s ears.
He raised his paws in surrender, “We’re talking about grade school shenanigans Carrots, nothing serious.”
He suddenly leaned down, angling his voice to her and speaking in secrecy “although I did get quite a few girls at 6...”
her eyes widened although Nick was unsure if it was the comment, the sudden proximity… or maybe even both.
She folded her arms “Nicholas Wilde I do not believe you had the capacity to make out in second grad.e”
“Not make out geez,” he laughed hard at the assumption “more like playing a round of snap one on one, which, believe me, was the shit back then.”
Judy rolled her eyes in disbelief and walked ahead “whatever Slick.”
The fox’s eyes widened and he jogged to catch up with her, wheeling the stroller faster.
“I’ll have you know I was a catch back then,” he stated, in mock hurt.
“yeah, I wonder where that all went.”
the bunny deadpanned, glancing him up and down to cement the comeback, as if she were assessing him.
“Excuse me! I’ll have you know that girls are lined up just for a glimpse of this incredible face,” Nick casted her a look, enjoying joking between them.
“Hmm I’m struggling to see any…” Judy feigned looking around, her eyes twinkling in mischief.
The banter continued for a good few minutes, with the pair punching back at each others’ points made.
They climbed the final hill towards their destination and the ground steepened. The playground lay just at the bottom.
Nick leaned on the stroller, taking a moment to pause and take in the view.
Dotted around the fenced off playground were groups of mammals who were spread across the greens, all colours shapes and sizes enjoying the day. The array of shades and patterns against the vibrant green made a bizarre appearance.
He turned to speak to Judy when the bunny suddenly darted forward, grabbing the stroller from his paws, and began speeding towards the scene. She turned with an expression of glee and called over her shoulder.
“Race you!” She cried.
His expression of surprise quickly turned into amusement, as he scrambled after the sisters.
Nick considered himself a fast runner. But whether it was the Judy’s athleticism, the hill, or the fact she had gotten a head start, the fox could not catch up to the squealing Molly, who found the situation extremely exciting, and the determined Judy, sprinting ahead.
She threw a grin over her shoulder at the sight of Nick losing- when suddenly her foot slipped-
Causing the ground to come rushing towards her at a perilous speed.
The next thing she knew, she was sprawled, stomach flat, on the ground.
She felt Nick rush to her side, showering her with anxious questions, displaying a look of worry on his face.
“mm… baby….” she grunted, pulling her head off her paws with difficulty.
She had definitely scraped her knee and was going to end up with a massive bruise.
Nick, on the other hand, felt a flutter in his chest.-
wait.
had she just called him baby…?
“You must’ve hit your head pretty hard,” he responded smoothly, hoping his face hadn’t betrayed him.
“No Nick, the baby!”
The cry made him he snap into reality.
Nick lept to his feet.
They both watched in horror as the stroller began flying down the hill at an impressive speed.
And felt their horror double when Molly was completely oblivious to the fact the stroller was unmanned and rocking out of control.
“Get that baby!”