Chapter Text
“Nick!” Judy shrieked as Nick ignored at least 10 traffic laws. The cruiser lurched over a speed bump narrowly missing a mouse’s car whose owner squeaked furiously as Nick turned to smile lazily at the frazzled rabbit.
“Come on carrots, what happened to the bunny who would do anything to crack the case?” he asked slyly, paws on the wheel and they flew forward towards the doughnut thief who kept looking back with fear in her eyes.
“Seriously? It’s just doughnuts!” the perp cried as she sped down the highway in a surprisingly nice car. Who knew that doughnut stealing could be so lucrative?
“I think you’ve been spending a little too much time with Flash.” Judy said with exasperation and fondness. “And this is why animals think foxes are bad drivers.”
“Low blow, carrots. Low blow.” Nick smirked, hardly affected as he turned the wheel sharply. “In fact, I am so badly hurt that I’m considering cancelling our CSI: Animal night.”
“You wouldn’t!” Judy gasped as she punched Nick on his arm. “You love me too much.”
“Uh huh, and when did I ever say that-“ Nick scoffed as he rubbed his arm and he cut himself off abruptly when Judy gave him a smug smile as she twirled the carrot pen around her paws before pressing it.
“Love you partner,” came his voice from the tiny sound box and Nick rolled his eyes.
“Remind me to never do anything nice for you ever again,” he said his ears tinted pink on the edges but Judy merely laughed in response.
“I’m not sure what’s making me more sick. The driving or you two flirting. Could you turn that radio down?” came a voice from the backseat, one of the doughnuts thieves that they had managed to catch before the other one sped off. A brown cat who looked a little more green than brown at the moment.
“The case for the first interspecies marriage has been dismissed. Jimmy Flufftail the CEO of Fluffcorp, one of the major opponents to -“ Judy turned the radio down, her ears hot at cat’s insinuation.
“We’re not flirting!” Judy sputtered as her purple eyes darted to Nick who for once looked equally as flustered as she was.
“Shut up, Terry. It’s called maintaining rapport with your partner,” Nick said recovering quickly. “Something you wouldn’t understand because your partner sped right off without you.” Nick added with a sly grin, gesturing at the speeding feline with one paw, causing them to swerve slightly. Judy gave him a look and he sheepishly put both paws back on the steering wheel.
“What do you know about love, Wilde. Like you didn’t spend your entire life alone.” Terry grumbled in response.
“He’s not alone anymore. I’m his pack.” Judy piped up coming to his defence. “And best friends would never leave one another behind.” Nick smile dropped slightly at her declaration, his reaction slipping Judy’s notice as she pointed out the direction that runaway doughnut cat burglar had turned to. Unfortunately, Terry had clearly noticed as he let out a big laugh.
“A rabbit and a fox?” he snorted, causing Judy’s nose to twitch in annoyance. “Hey! I’ll have you know that we have been friends for-“ she started, looking back at the perp behind the barred part of the vehicle when the cat jumped letting out a shrill screech, his fur sticking out in alarm. She quickly looked back at the road to see they were about to hurtle off an unfinished bridge.
“Nick! Watch out!” Judy cried reaching for the wheel, bringing the fox back from his distracted haze.
“Oh shi-“ Nick managed to let out as the police cruiser flew over the edge, the wheels reversing uselessly.
“Judy!” Nick yelled as he instinctively leaned over the rabbit to shield her right before they crashed. The air bag exploded open at the right moment, sparing them from most of the harm and they landed with a smash.
“Nick! Nick!” Judy cried shaking him furiously as he laid on her, out cold from the impact. His arms and tail wrapped around her head and body protectively.
Nick woke up with a start and quickly pulled Judy closer, tight against his chest. “Carrots! I’m so sorry. I got distracted.” Nick said as he checked over her worriedly.
“It’s okay. I’m fine, I think we crashed into something. We better check on it.” She said brushing his concern off easily.
“Grace!” Terry yelled from the backseat, making Nick and Judy exchange glances.
“Uh, carrots I think I know who we crashed into.”
“Hopps! Wilde!”
Judy tapped her foot anxiously against the floor of Chief Bogo’s office as the furious buffalo loomed above them.
“At least, we apprehended them and no one died?” Nick said with a casual shrug as Judy glared at him.
“The doughnut thief is being hospitalised as we speak and her partner is threatening to sue.” Chief Bogo said with a glare.
“I have half a mind to suspend the two of you.”
“Chief, please!” Judy pleaded, jumping up on her seat in protest. “But,” Bogo continued with one hoof up and Judy sat back down again, feeling cowed. “there’s a very high profile case and the mother of the victim has requested the two of you specifically.”
Judy’s eyes lit up at that. Another big case!
“Thank you, sir. We won’t let you down.” she said as she reached forward to grab the case file from off Bogo’s desk but she was stopped by the chief who put one hoof down on the file.
“I’m not finished yet.” The rabbit sat back down, a sinking feeling in her stomach.
“I thought that after you two learnt how to work together during therapy, we wouldn’t have anymore problems. But because the two of you clearly can’t be trusted to be alone together. I’m assigning Clawhauser to help the two of you on this case.”
This time it was Nick who jumped up in protest. “The doughnut eating stereotypical cop? Come on chief, you can’t do this to us.”
“He will help manage the two of you since you can’t seem to manage yourselves.” He continued ignoring the enraged fox.
“And if I catch wind of either of you trying to shake him off, it’s suspension for the two of you. Got it?” Bogo said eyeing them sternly. Judy exchanged looks with Nick who shook his head quickly, his green eyes wide and pleading. She hesitated for a minute before she nodded.
“Yes sir.” Judy agreed as Nick sighed and fell back on his seat having given up.
“Come in Clawhauser.” The buffalo said as he pressed a button on his intercom. A excited squeal could be heard on the other side of the line before the door burst open and a blur of yellow, black and blue swept into the room picking up Judy as it went.
“Judy! Is it true? I’ll finally get to work with you on the field and join your little duo?” Clawhauser gushed squeezing Judy to his chest while she smiled. “Yup! Welcome to the team!”
“Yesss!” The cheetah whooped and spun Judy around while Nick scowled in the corner.
“I can’t wait! Where to, partner?” Clawhauser asked while Nick’s frown deepened.
“All three of you can head to the Flufftail’s estate first to get Mrs Flufftail’s statement. She was the last mammal to see her daughter Lisa Flufftail and was the one who reported her missing.”
“You got it, sir!” Clawhauser and Judy chorused together causing Clawhauser to burst out laughing.
“Wow! We’re already saying the same thing at the same time! It’s like we were meant to be.” He squealed as Judy beamed. It was nice to have someone as enthusiastic about work as she was. Nick huffed and looked away, arms crossed.
“Get going,” Bogo said as Clawhauser lets go of Judy to salute. “Come on, partner.” Judy said as she took Nick’s paw who sighed but allowed it, visibly brightening up at receiving her attention.
“And Hopps?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Wilde is not allowed to drive for the rest of the year.”
“Yes sir.”