Chapter Text
“It’s gonna be fine,” said Nick, adjusting his uniform slightly as he looked in the mirror.
“Keep saying it, maybe one of these times I’ll even believe you,” Judy replied.
“Bogo isn’t going to care, and I mean that in the best way possible. He’ll just instantly dismiss us and that’ll be the end of it.”
“I don’t know,” said Judy, who had been ready to leave for an hour, every strand of fur still in place from when she’d finished preparing for work. “He seemed to really have a problem with me early on, just because of what I am. I’m not sure he’ll be anything like enlightened about this.”
“Oh, sure,” said Nick. “Maybe he’ll think it’s a little gross or whatever, I just don’t think it’s going to make any difference professionally.”
“Guess we’ll find out,” Judy said. She looked around Nick’s apartment and sighed. “Nick. These past two days have been some of the greatest days of my life. Maybe the very best ones.”
“Who said it has to stop today? Wanna keep the slumber party going tonight, Carrots? Or do you wanna christen your bed instead?”
“Oh yeah, so my charming neighbors can do play-by-play of our sex? Yeah, I think we’re going to yours.”
“Great!” said Nick. He idly brushed once again at the shoulders of his uniform’s shirt.
Judy hesitated, licking the place where her top lip split in half. “Nick… if you need your space, don’t feel like you have to keep inviting me over.”
Nick stopped fiddling with his clothes, going from motion to stillness instantly. He turned his head slightly to lock eyes with her. “Judy… I want you over here whenever you want to be here. I will never, ever tire of your company. Maybe this is a bridge too far, but the minute you want to move in together, I’m in. Sorry if that’s weird. I don’t want to crowd you, either, Carrots. I just love you, that’s all.”
She raised a paw to her mouth, moved and surprised. The casual, undramatic way he said all of it made it somehow more powerful to Judy. He wasn’t making an overly earnest, performative declaration. He was only telling her how he felt. Her heart felt tight in her chest.
“Wow,” she said. “I still can’t believe it. You really like me this much.”
“You’re the most impressive person on the planet, Hopps. Of course I like you.”
“I… I might want to wait a few months to move in together, just to make sure it works,” she said, not really sure how to deal with the full onslaught of Nick’s love.
“Sure,” said Nick, without any petulance or ill grace. “Want to head out?”
“Yeah. And as the most impressive person on the planet, I decree we get donuts on the way.”
“Such a cliche,” said Nick with an exaggerated sigh. “But if we must.” He opened the door, and Judy walked through it.
***
Judy fretted–nearly as nervous as she’d been to tell her parents about her and Nick–as Bogo wound down on the day’s directives and cases. Both her feet bounced up and down and her paws tapped her legs repeatedly, as though her knees were piano keys.
“... and Hoggbottom,” said Bogo. “No skull cracking. Play nice. Let’s get to work.”
Hoggbottom snorted once and followed all of the officers except Nick and Judy–who hung back–out of the meeting room. Bogo sat down at his desk and put on his glasses to start going over paperwork.
Judy felt her nose twitching nervously, sweat on her feet and paws. How badly was Bogo going to take this? Were they even still going to have a job in two minutes?
She looked over at Nick, and drew strength from his relaxed smirk, then looked at Bogo, who raised his eyes.
“Officer Hopps, Officer Wilde. I believe I dismissed you.” He put his eyes back on the work in front of him.
“Yes, Chief,” said Judy, her heart threatening to crack her ribcage, leap out of her chest, and splatter all over Bogo’s files. “It’s just…” Her mouth went suddenly dry, her tongue feeling big in her mouth, and she stumbled over her words, then coughed. “Sorry, sir, we…” She trailed off and looked at Nick for help.
“What my lovely lagomorph partner is trying to say, Chief, is we have some news we need to share with you.”
“You’re dating?” said Bogo, not looking up as his pen scratched gently at the topmost paper on his desk.
Judy and Nick were both struck dumb for several seconds. Nick finally spoke: “...yeah. Yep, that’s it, exactly. Way to take the fun out of it, Chief.”
“How did you know?” said Judy.
“I’d like to say it’s because I’m a great detective,” said Bogo, still not lifting his gaze from the work on his desk. “But it’s actually because you two are substantially less subtle than you think you are. I’ll say this once: if I hear about you two making googly eyes at each other on the job, I will separate you without hesitation. If you have trouble in your personal lives, I expect it to not impact your ability to protect this city. If you break up, I expect you to make every effort to keep your partnership at work intact. Is that clear?”
“Crystal,” said Nick.
“Good. Then this meeting is over. Dismissed.”
Nick grinned at Judy and mouthed “Told you so”, and the two partners walked toward the door. Nick was opening it when Bogo spoke once more.
“Hopps. Wilde.” They turned around to find his pen still and his reading glasses removed. He looked at them steadily. “Congratulations,” he said. Then he looked down at his work again.
“Thank you, sir,” said Judy, smiling like an idiot as Nick opened the door and she walked out of the meeting room. She kept smiling, looking at Nick as the door shut behind them.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” said Nick. “The Chief ships us.”