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Everything turned out okay, they saved the day, the reptiles had a place to call their own in the metropolis. And yet, here he was, debating going to talk with his partner. The little gift he prepared felt heavier on his pocket with each second that he stared at her.
It came as almost an impulsive thing, honestly. After almost losing her, for a moment he did when that motherf-... He almost lost her. Not for the first time either, nothing as close as this time though. It made him think, put a few things in a perspective he dared not consider before then.
Thus, the gift he prepared. The one that took weeks of patience, a pretty penny to order surprisingly costly replacements and a lot of groveling to take it out of the evidence locker. He even went the extra mile of finding a newspaper with their article on it to wrap it up.
The little message in it felt like a nice little surprise as well, at least at the time. When he felt more vulnerable in the confines of his den. Yet, in their little pen recorder it stayed. He knew he wouldn’t be able to say it to her face. This would hopefully give him a bit more time, before she heard it at her home, before she called him asking for clarity.
He knew he’d have a speech prepared by then, he was sure. Gabbing has always been one of his natural talents.
He also knew he couldn’t live with himself if those words didn’t come off his chest soon. Because when he said that no one else in the world mattered more to him than she did he meant it.
He noticed Gary leaving with his family, she was alone for the first time. His feet moved without realizing, His gift burning his paws behind his back.
“Hey, I uh... I got ya something…” He hands her the package, sees as she opens it. The face she makes when she sees the repaired pen made the effort worth it. His mouth is opening before he can stop it “Love ya, partner”.
He almost got ready to run, but her soft smile and warm stare told him he hadn't been outed yet. And then she tries to clip it on her belt, pressing the blasted button on the darn thing. His own voice reaches his ears, taunting him with words he can’t say if not mechanically assisted. “Judy, I’m in love with you”
He watches in slow motion as her ears go behind her back, pupils contracting as if a perp was in front of them pointing a gun at her. His body runs cold, frozen stiff in place as he watches her process what she just heard. Grimacing, he closes his eyes. He expects insults, screaming, disappointment, maybe even a slap. He doesn’t expect a soft paw on the back of his own.
He carefully opens his eyes. He doesn’t see disgust or rejection, he… isn’t sure what that face meant. It’s tender, sweet even. Maybe she is just thinking how to turn him down without breaking his heart too much.
“Nick, I-”
“It’s okay fluff… I, just wanted to let you know… It felt, unfair, after we… opened up so much with each other. To let it sit... You don’t have to say anything. I don’t expect you to-"
His words caught in his throat as he felt her other paw in his chest, carefully grabbing his tie and pulling to make them even. She saw her getting closer, nearing her face to his, when he felt her lips on his cheek.
“You silly fox, I’m in love with you too”
Nick felt his heart warm up, his eyes prickling as he watched Judy’s let out a few tears themselves. He turned his paw, capturing the smaller one, he delicately ran his thumb over the soft grey fur.
“You mean it?” He asked, wonder in his voice as his chest bubbled in elation.
“Do I mean it? Yes, yes I do” She responds, tittering on her own.
Nick felt a chuckle escaping his maw, “Come here you rascal” he says as he extends his arms, grabbing his bunny and pulling her towards him. It surprises him when Judy jumps slightly, just high enough to wrap her legs around his stomach. His arms resting just above her waist.
They stay there, in the middle of the floor, their embrace warming them in ways the nice weather outside can’t hope to replicate. Every other attendee forgotten, there’s only them at this moment.
“I love you, Judith Laverne Hopps”
“I love you, Nicholas Piberious Wilde”
Their lips met, clumsy at first, the difference in their muzzles accentuating just how different their species, themselves, were. It didn’t matter to them. They just had to work around it like everything else they did, together.
“I knew he was her boyfriend!” Yells a man in the crowd. Both instantly recognizing the voice.
“Ugh, dad!” Judy yells back before pressing her forehead against his chest.
Nick places a kiss between her ears, he feels Judy shiver slightly. “What do you say we continue this later?”
She peers at him, her head slightly raised, just enough to do it. “Your place, I don’t want to deal with nosy neighbors"
“It’s a deal” He says before lowering her down to the ground. She extends her paw in his direction. He grabs it, cradling it with his own. His thumb once again lovingly tracing circles on the silken fur as they make their way to her parents. ‘Time for reintroductions I guess’ He thinks as they walk.