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Unfortunately, new recruits didn’t get to pick their schedules. Judy technically had seniority now, a whole year under her belt. Nick didn’t, however, so his hours constantly fluctuated. And since they were partners, that meant that she had no choice but to work the graveyard shift with him some nights. Not that she minded, anyway.
They’d been officially dating for one week now, too.
And they were drowning in paperwork every single day of it.
Ever since the prison break Nick had accidentally triggered, they’d been slammed with reports, witness statements, and evidence logs. Every single escaped inmate meant another file. At least their desks were side by side at the precinct. So sometimes their knees would brush together underneath, and other times their hands found each other between the staplers and stacks of forms.
By the time their shifts would end though, they were way too exhausted to do anything except drag themselves home and collapse. They barely had the energy to text goodnight, let alone plan a first date. The poor mammals were just too busy right now to fully enjoy their new relationship.
But at least tonight would offer them a nice change of pace.
They’d finally caught up with their paperwork at around 12 a.m., though they were still assigned to patrol for the rest of their shift.
So after a few more slow hours and one very apologetic teenage speeder they let off with just a warning, Judy glanced at the clock on the dash.
2:34 a.m. Just about time for their “lunch” break.
“I’m starving, I want food,” she muttered.
Nick gasped softly, “Officer Hopps, are you suggesting we abandon our post for… sustenance?”
“I’m suggesting,” she said carefully, turning toward him, “that if I don’t eat something in the next ten minutes… I might eat you.”
He slowly cocked an eyebrow.
“Well,” he drawled, voice dipping slightly, “don’t threaten me with a good time, Darlin’...”
Judy gasped, “Nicholas Wilde!” She punched his arm playfully, trying (and failing) not to smile. Her cheeks warmed noticeably, and he caught the tiniest flicker of a smile at the corner of her lips. Worth it.
Then, as if struck by inspiration, he snapped his fingers against the steering wheel.
“You know what? I’m taking you out to a nice place for our first official date.”
She blinked. “Oh? Okay. When?”
He put the cruiser in drive.
“Now.”
And so they drove.
And drove.
And drove…
One by one, the restaurants they passed were dark, with their chairs stacked and lights off. Every single restaurant had “CLOSED” signs glowing smugly in the windows.
Well, it was a Wednesday, of course nothing stayed open past nine unless it was the weekend.
He checked his phone at a red light, frowning. “Okay, so… apparently the entire city believes in sleep.”
Judy giggled, shaking her head.
He sighed dramatically, “Alright, well. Looks like… Bug-Burga it is..!”
He held up his phone slightly. “Drive-thru only though, and it really is the only place open right now.”
She turned toward him with a warm smile.
“That’s fine with me, Nick. I’m just really hungry. And… any place is fine as long as I’m with you.”
His ears twitched, and he suddenly found himself very interested in the dashboard. Wow. His tail also flicked nervously. He then cleared his throat, trying to act casual, but his hands gripped the wheel maybe a little too tight.
“Alright then,” he said lightly, trying to keep his voice steady. “Let’s get you some food.”
They were only allowed thirty minutes for lunch, but tonight they decided they were taking an hour. It wasn’t really playing hooky. The scanners were quiet, and the streets were calm. For once, Zootopia didn’t need them every second.
Nick rolled down the window as they pulled up to the speaker. A painfully awkward teenage voice crackled through, “W-welcome to Bug-Burga, please don’t rob us…”
Judy blinked.
Nick leaned a little closer to the speaker, resting his elbow casually on the door.
“Hey, buddy,” he said in a friendly tone. “We’re just two cops on a lunch break.”
There was a long pause.
“...Oh. Right, sorry. You’re just–you're the police?”
Nick glanced at Judy, a tiny amused smile tugging at his mouth.
“Last I checked,” he replied lightly. “Promise we won’t arrest ya, unless the food is cold.”
She elbowed him.
“You can go ahead with your order,” the teen squeaked out nervously.
Nick didn’t even look at the menu. “Yeah, can I get one Classic Veggie-Burga, no mayo, extra pickles, on a wheat bun? A small fry, aaand…” he glanced back at Judy briefly, “a small Carrot Soda.”
She raised an eyebrow at him, clearly caught off guard.
“And for myself,” Nick continued smoothly, “double Bug-Burga, extra cheese, large fry, and–actually make those two Carrot Sodas, it’s been a night...”
The sound of loud tapping was heard through the speaker.
The teen then cleared his throat. “Your total is $15.41. Pull forward, please.”
As they rolled up, Judy stared at him.
“Okay, Slick,” she said slowly. “How’d you know my order?”
He shrugged one shoulder. “Ehh, just a hunch.”
What he did not mention:
Two weeks ago, he’d spotted an old Bug-Burga receipt peeking out of the trash beside her desk. He hadn’t meant to look, and he definitely hadn’t meant to memorize it. But he had, just in case. Because he was so normal about her.
Back in the present, Judy narrowed her eyes playfully. “That was very specific for a ‘hunch’.”
His ears flicked, and he couldn’t help the small, self-satisfied grin tugging at his muzzle. He leaned back slightly, just enough to casually brush a finger along the steering wheel, pretending he wasn’t thrilled he got it correctly on the first try.
The drive-thru window slid open, and the teenage raccoon inside nearly dropped the bag when he got a full look at them.
“Oh–oh wow! It’s you two! You’re like, celebrities, oh my gosh!”
Nick gave him a tight smile. “We’re just regular cops… on a very important lunch mission.’”
The teen nervously shoved the bag toward them and bowed unnecessarily. “Thank you for your service!”
Nick leaned in just enough to grab the food. “No problem, champ. You’re doing amazing, by the way. Deep breaths, ‘K? Take care~!”
The poor teen looked like he might faint anyway.
They drove away and Judy was already digging into the bag for a fry.
He was about to pull the cruiser into the parking lot, but then he had a better idea. He drove a little farther down the quiet streets until they reached a small park with a lake. He parked, and Judy leaned forward just in time to see the moon’s reflection ripple across the water.
Her nose twitched, and she glanced at him. “Okay, fox… this is kind of romantic.”
He gave a casual shrug, a small smirk tugging at his lips. “I try.”
They both twisted their bodies to face each other as best they could, pretending like they were at a table for two.
She unwrapped her burger to take a bite, and it was immediate bliss.
“Oh my gosh,” she mumbled with her mouth full. “This is hitting…”
“Mhmmm,” he murmured, nodding as he chewed. “Nothing more romantic than fast food with your bunny at 2 in the morning.”
She held up her burger slightly. “To our first official date.”
He lifted a fry in response. “To us.”
Their eyes met and they shared a shy smile. He couldn’t help but think how ridiculously lucky he was.
Judy took another bite, humming softly under her breath, and he just watched her, adoringly. Thankfully, she didn’t notice because she was too busy enjoying her food. He studied the way her nose scrunched slightly when she liked something, and the way her ears tipped forward. The careful little nibbles she took, like she was savoring every bite.
He didn’t realize he’d completely stopped eating at that moment.
She chuckled suddenly, still chewing, and reached across the console.
“Hold still.”
Before he could ask why, her finger brushed the corner of his mouth.
“You had ketchup there,” she said casually.
His eyes widened, and his cheeks heated instantly.
She pulled her hand back.
And then, without breaking eye contact, she licked the ketchup from her own finger, slowly and deliberately. A tiny, devilish smile tugged at her mouth before she went right back to her burger like nothing had just happened. Like she hadn’t just detonated something in his brain.
His ears twitched and his cheeks flared pink. He tried to speak, but all that came out was “…Carrots,” a little breathless.
She just took another bite like normal, acting as if nothing had happened. “What?”
He swallowed and re-adjusted in his seat.
“You’re playing a dangerous game here,” he muttered, utterly flustered.
She smiled sweetly at him and teased, “Oh, am I?”
They finished the rest of their meal and then stepped out of the cruiser together, settling into the soft grass by the lake. Judy rested her head on his shoulder as they watched the moonlight shimmer across the water.
“This was a perfect first date,” she said quietly.
“Glad to hear it, Carrots,” Nick replied softly, pulling her closer.
She turned to look up at him, lips curving in a small smile, and leaned in to kiss him. Her lips were so soft. It really felt like something out of a movie. For a single moment, it was just the two of them in the whole world.
Until–
“Possible disturbance near Little Rodentia”
Judy grabbed her walkie. “Copy. On our way.”
With a shared sigh, they stood and made their way back to the cruiser.
Nick started the engine, one hand on the wheel. The other reached over instinctively, threading his fingers through hers. She squeezed back, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“Still can’t believe you memorized my order,” she said quietly, hiding a smile.
In a bold move, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. Her fingers tightened around his as he eased the cruiser back onto the road toward the call.