"Falling Fur You"

Falling Fur You

Nick had overslept. Worse yet, Bogo had expected him to have the newest stack of paperwork in today, before the weekend, by 9:00, and it was now 10:30. Papers in paw, Nick took off at full tilt towards the precinct. If he was lucky, Chief Buffalo Butt would be busy and forget about the paperwork. Carrots was going to tease him mercilessly when she heard about this; she'd learned that from him. He sighed—there was no time to worry now. He was almost there…

He was quickly approaching the doorway when he spied the chief coming towards it from the opposite direction. If he could just duck into a crowd, Nick could get to the door unnoticed, sneak inside, and have the papers on the big guy's desk before he even stepped hoof in his office. That way, there might be a chance he'd think they were on time. So close…

...And yet so far. The fox and the buffalo reached the door at the exact same instant, the former tripping the latter in his haste, sending them both sprawling onto the sidewalk. Bogo came down with a thud—and Nick was nearly crushed by the impact. Right before Nick went down, Judy's smiling face had flashed across his mind.

Clawhauser watched, wide-eyed, from the other side of the glass doors, his paws fumbling with the phone as he hurried to call an ambulance. Judy was nonchalantly crossing the lobby when her ears picked up the muffled commotion outside the doors. She turned her head, alarmed at the sight of the chief lying prone on the sidewalk. As she jogged toward the door, her eyes zeroed in on red fur. She broke into a run.

Nick awoke with a splitting headache. He absently scratched his nose, then gasped as he registered his surroundings; either he was in front of a mirror, or this awful headache was making him see double. A tall, lanky fox with deep russet fur and bright green eyes stood over him.

“We're almost there, Mr. Wilde. Just let me check your vitals.” He swished his tail appreciatively; this vision was a vixen. “Hold still, please,” she admonished gently. What? It was just his tail; it wasn't like he was going anywhere...except wherever she had decided to take him. “My name is Darla; I'm a ZEMT. Your vitals are fine, but you're on the way to the hospital; you had a bad fall.” He liked listening to her voice, and her words seemed to click in his weary mind…Oh, yeah—he'd had a ton of buffalo dropped on his head; no wonder it hurt!

Back at the precinct, Clawhauser had been put in charge—but only until a temporary replacement for Chief Bogo could be found. Judy sat with Clawhauser to keep him company, and to try and keep him focused so he could brainstorm. Both were badly shaken up and grateful for a friend's support.

Ten Gazelle songs and a box and a half of donuts later, Clawhauser had an epiphany. “I've got it, Judy! I've stayed in touch with my college roomie. He trained to be an officer awhile back, but then he decided to retire. He's a sweetheart; everyone'll love him!” Judy was happy for the breakthrough, but she couldn't stop wondering about Nick.

Nick had thought about sending word to Judy to come see him, but she would have better things to do. With the chief out of commission, the precinct needed someone it could count on. Nick knew for sure that someone was Carrots. So, he semi-reluctantly asked Darla to stay with him. It was worth a try, though he expected her to say no; the fall had resulted in 'bruised ego' in addition to his throbbing head. When, to his surprise, Darla agreed, he felt that much better.

Clawhauser messaged his college roommate on Muzzlebook and was delighted to receive a very prompt reply that yes, he would be happy to step in, and he would arrive within the hour. “Yes! Go ahead and finish your paperwork or whatever, Judy. I'll give you a buzz if I need anything.”

“Sure.” They fistbumped, and Judy headed back towards her cubicle. Then she paused, turning around. “Clawhauser, please let me know if you hear anything about Nick—or the chief,” she added hastily.

At the reminder of today's worry, the cheetah's face fell. He glanced longingly at the remaining donuts.

“Wilf doo,” he replied around another mouthful of powdered sugar and sprinkles.

Nick listened to Darla's soothing voice and tinkling laugh as she told him about herself. As much as he loved the attention, Judy was at the forefront of his mind. “...and my mother makes the greatest pumpkin pie,” Darla was saying. He couldn't keep quiet any longer; his eyes lit up as he explained,

“Judy—my partner at the ZPD?--she makes the best blueberry pie you've ever tasted. She grew up on a carrot farm, but they do blueberries, too, and wow, is it good!” From that moment on, all he could talk about was Judy. Darla listened politely—and even held his paw—but he barely even noticed.

Judy was about to break for lunch when Clawhauser peeked around her cubicle. “Hey—my buddy's here, and he wants to see you. He's in Bogo's office.”

“Thanks,” Judy jumped down from her chair and strode towards the office with a spring in her step and a smile on her face; despite her concern for Nick, she knew she had to maintain her professionalism, and she believed in the importance of first impressions.

The door was open; still, Judy knocked softly. “Come in, Officer Hopps.” She did as instructed and discovered that the soft, inviting, yet commanding tone belonged to a tall, handsome stallion with inquisitive brown eyes behind round-framed glasses. He was dressed in a polo shirt and khakis, and pinned to the former was a visitor's badge inscribed with the words, 'Acting Chief'. Judy's own first impression was awe, confusion (he looked as though he belonged in a library rather than the ZPD—but this, she reminded herself, is Zootopia, where anyone can be anything--), and a slight, entirely unexpected twinge of female appreciation.

Mentally chiding herself, she shook the notion away. “Have a seat,” her companion offered, and she did. “It's so nice to meet you, Officer Hopps; Ben's told me so much about you, including your status as a top officer on this force.” Judy could think of no suitable reply; however, she felt a blush creep into her cheeks. She nodded as he went on, “My name is Herbert Hogden Horse, IV.” Judy tried to hide her confusion, but as her mother always lovingly pointed out, her every was visible in those violet eyes. Despite this, the present company didn't seem to mind in the least. “My mother is a mare,” he said without preamble, “and my father is a boar. You can call me Herb.”

“Nice to meet you, too, Herb.” Judy was fascinated. The precise reason she had come out to the city, besides to follow her dream of making the world a better place, was to meet new people. She had a feeling she would enjoy getting to know the acting chief. “You can call me Judy. Welcome to the ZPD!” she added brightly.

No sooner had Judy left work for the day than she headed for the hospital to see Nick. Clawhauser had caught her on the way out with news that he was steadily improving. She wanted to see for herself.

Judy arrived in Nick's room with a smile at the ready for him. But, for some reason she didn't exactly feel like smiling when she saw a vixen sitting at his bedside, laughing at something he'd said. “Hi, Nick!” She greeted him as cheerfully as she could muster. He turned his head at the sound of her voice.

“Well, well, well...Look who decided to show!” he exclaimed teasingly. Darla looked from fox to rabbit, then back again. She said goodbye, and on her way out, looked at the bunny pointedly.

“I hope you're Judy,” she said, “Because if you're not, then you're going to be hearing an awful lot about her for the rest of the day.” With that, she left.

“Really?!” Judy turned astonished eyes to Nick. The fox, witty as he was, smiled sheepishly.

“I may have talked that lovely ZEMT's ear off about how great you are.” Her wide violet eyes got wider; she pretended to study the floor as she tapped her foot in a nervous habit. She felt a blush creep into her cheeks, which only served to remind her of her new acquaintance, which, in turn, only made her blush harder.

Nick watched her with amusement. “Cheese and crackers, Carrots!” (He'd learned that one from her.) “I'm out of your sight for a few hours, and you get up to things that make your fur turn as red as mine?? What gives?!”

“Clawhauser was put in charge of finding a substitute chief...How's Bogo, by the way?”

“He has a few cracked ribs and some bruises, but he'll be fine if he stays off the job for awhile,” Nick assured her calmly. Then, more urgently, “Now, quit stalling!”

“Okay, so...Clawhauser contacted his college roommate, who happened to be a certified cop.” This time Nick interrupted with a chuckle.

“Naturally—Claw makes friends with everybody!” Judy smiled in agreement.

“So, this guy said he'd do it, and the next thing I know, he wants to meet me.” Nick regarded her with interest.

“What'd he say?”

“Not much.” She hesitated. “But I guess my reputation precedes me.” Nick laughed.

“See? Plenty of people in this city know how great you are.” He laughed harder. “You don't know how good you have it, Carrots. Back when, if ever my reputation preceded me, I'd've been in a whole heap of trouble!” Judy smiled.

“Cheese, Nick!” She couldn't help giggling, nor reaching for his paw and giving it a gentle squeeze. This time, he noticed the contact.

“What's he like, this hot-shot temp chief?” Nick asked at length.

“Well, he didn't talk about himself much. But he seems like a nice guy.”

“Duh—he must be if Clawhauser likes him!” They laughed some more.

That evening, Judy headed back to her apartment, heartened by the knowledge that Nick would be released tomorrow morning and have the weekend to rest. She was tempted to ask him to stay at her place, but there wasn't much room, and he needed space to relax and get better. Maybe she could convince him to let her stay at his place? But he'd just moved to his first apartment and hadn't yet unpacked; as much as she would like to help, she didn't want to get in his way, so she decided against it.

Judy and Nick returned to work right on time and without incident come Monday. “Did you remember to print another copy of those papers?” Judy reminded her partner. The ones he'd been carrying last week were long-lost to city hubbub; for all they knew, Little Rodentcian kiddies were piloting confidential case paperwork airplanes by now.

“Yep.” He patted his briefcase. “In fact, I have to take them to the temp chief. Why don't you tag along and introduce me?” Ever-perceptive, Judy detected a hint of a challenge in Nick's gaze and teasing grin. It was a challenge that her competitive streak refused to shy away from.

“Right this way, Officer Wilde.” Squaring her shoulders, she marched ahead of him toward the office.

With Nick only steps behind, Judy continued her march, straight into the office. Yet for all her drive, rabbit footsteps are quiet; she had to clear her throat to make herself known. The stallion looked up from his computer, smiling when he saw her. “Good morning, Judy! To what do I owe this pleasure?” As yet another blush ambushed her cheeks, she quickly turned to find Nick, who surely would have rolled his eyes if nobody was watching.

“Herb, this is my partner, Officer Nick Wilde. He had paperwork for Bogo on the day of the—incident—and so he's brought it to you.” Nick stepped forward, extending his paw.

“Call me Nick,” he said, handing over the papers with his free paw.

“Excellent; thank you. Do you have a few minutes?” They both nodded, and Herb motioned for them to have a seat as he continued. “Nick—as Judy may have told you, my name is Herbert Hogden Horse, IV.” With that same easygoing smile, he once again added, “my mother is a mare, and my father is a boar,” without the slightest bit of self-consciousness. He was obviously very proud of his heritage. “You can call me Herb.”

Despite having razzed Judy, Nick was suitably impressed by the newcomer. Both Nick and Judy were continually so when he decided to elaborate. “Both my parents are retired, but my mom was a nurse at Zootopia General, and my dad was a firefighter. They raised me to appreciate the impact that can be made through a life of public service, regardless of who—or what—one is.”

“That's very noble of you,” Judy observed, smiling broadly—a tad more than she should have, in Nick's opinion. But, then again, he was jealous, he knew it, and he didn't care. But they would, and this wasn't worth losing his job over. Besides, Judy was right; even in his jealousy Nick could see that.

“I have to agree, Herb; by comparison, I'm pretty inadequate.” Nick's words were accompanied by a self-deprecating shrug. Herb considered this for a moment.

“Maybe you think so, Nick, but Ben told me just as much about you, and he thinks the world of you as well; I can see why. Sometimes it takes more courage to change your life than to keep it the way it is.” He smiled.

“Thank you, Herb.” Nick smiled, too, momentarily reveling in the accolade..until he remembered that he had a besotted bunny to contend with. On the other paw, Herb didn't notice—or, if he did, he was being a gentleman and didn't let on.

“Well, I won't take up any more of your time. I'm looking forward to working with you both, but I hope that we can be friends as well.”

Both partners left the office with goodwill in their hearts, though Nick was still wondering if Judy held more than that in hers. “Will you deny it, Carrots?” Nick asked as they walked across the lobby towards their cubicles. He knew that sweet goody two-paws Carrots wouldn't lie, and that she would know exactly what he was referring to; their ability to anticipate one another's thoughts is part of what made them such good partners.

“No,” she admitted. This time, she wasn't the least bit flustered. “Did you ever stop to consider why I suddenly find a stallion attractive?” Her tone was all business. Nick looked at her puzzled; that had to be a trick question, right?!

When he didn't answer, she supplied, “You.” Before he could process the emotions whirling through him, she kept talking. “You changed my understanding, not only of foxes, but of all species; if we want to make the world a better place, we have to be conscious of the ideas, thoughts, hopes and dreams of everyone around us.” Only now could Nick regain his composure.

“And the flip side is that you can't resist getting along too well with some,” he teased. Judy played along. “You opened up my Panda Dora's box, Wilde. How am I supposed to resist temptation now?!” She put her paw to her brow dramatically and playfully batted her eyelashes in the direction of the office.

“Hey!” Nick said, a touch too defensively. “It doesn't count as a Panda Dora's box if I'm in it. Am I actually in it, or did I just inspire it? Because if I'm in it, it's anything but trouble.” Nick had no idea where the latter declaration came from; it sounded too possessive for comfort and was totally counter-intuitive to everything he stood for. Herb's compliment chose that moment to reappear in his thoughts. Maybe he, Nick Wilde, had changed, and in more ways than he himself had even realized. Would that account for why he was suddenly holding his breath as he waited for Judy to respond?!

Judy laughed, looking as though she was about to scold him. “Yes, Nick, you're in it. Of course you're in it, because...” Because why? Nick wanted to know. Her confidence seemed to disappear, her eyes went wide, and she halted right there at the edge of the lobby. It was as though the enormity of what she wanted to say suddenly hit her, setting her back. Now, Nick desperately wanted to know what she had to say. Just then, the confidence returned to her expression. “I love you, Nick Wilde.” Before he could think to question if he'd read her correctly, she grabbed him by the collar of his uniform and kissed all the uncertainties out of his mind.

Clawhauser let out a joyful whoop, but their only acknowledgment was to stay exactly as they were.