Bunny Questions

Judy Hopps was standing in front of the mirror, getting ready for the biggest night of her life. Only it wasn’t her homestead, and she wasn’t alone.

“Carrots, I’ve got questions.” Even under pressure, Judy would claim she had no idea what possessed her to invite herself to Nick’s apartment an hour before their official first date. It broke all kinds of unspoken first dates rules—plus one, which in the Hopps family was, ‘don’t date a fox.’

But, since striking out on her own in Zootopia, unless Chief Bogo was involved—which he most definitely was not in this case—the rabbit made her own rules. She had no intention of striking out tonight.

The truth? Nick Wilde was her best friend, and first dates were something that best friends were supposed to specialize in, specifically when it came to moral support. Keeping that in mind would serve her well, so she stifled a groan as the fox fired off an inquisition.

“Boots or flip flops?” She bit back a sigh.

“Does it look like flip-flop weather out there to you? Besides, my feet take a beating when I’m working, so I like to keep them covered when I’m not. And, no, I don’t wear flip-flops in front of anyone who’s not family; I have standards, you know.”

“I see.” And he did as she slipped into knee-length brown ones...which, if you asked him, really highlighted the definition in her legs.

“Smoky or natural eye?” She cast a suspicious glance at him through the mirror.

“Have we met?”

“Oh, that’s right. You prefer to go au natural—excluding Yax’s fine institution, of course.”

“Shut up.”

“You know what? Here’s a good idea...Time for the next question.”

“Comedy or drama?”

“Are you kidding?! Comedy! We get too much drama at work, don’t you think?” No sooner had she said it than she turned to him, paw on hip, and smirked. “But with you the two are about equal, so...Both?”

“Yep.” That wasn’t an admission; he was taking stock of the situation. He stood, claw on chin, thoughtful. “I’m afraid I can’t accept that answer, though—you already made your decision, and all responses are final.” He shrugged helplessly, as though his paws were tied. Feeling feisty, Judy growled at him.

“I don’t make the rules, Miss, I just enforce them. I’m a police officer, remember?” On the clock, yes. But off? Nick made his own rules just as much as she did. Heck, he even took it to the next level—hence the drama that seemed to follow him wherever he went.

“Moving along...Calling or texting?”

“Depends on the day.” Nick nodded sagely.

“Yeah. Yoga or cardio?”

“I was thinking about taking up yoga until I saw Nangi...” She made a face. “Definitely cardio.”

“Yeah, I say neither.” He paused. “Unless...Eh, never mind.”

For a split second, Judy was stumped...She would’ve stood there, captivated by the faraway look in his eyes (and did she imagine that spark of passion?) if she hadn’t snapped herself out of it and said, “C’mon, Slick, we should leave.”

“Alright, Fluff. Last question. Cat Stevens or Three Dog Night?” Judy smiled.

“Ooh! Cat Stevens! “It’s A Wild World” is my favorite.”

“So sweet.” This he said with a genuine smile, just before...“Gee, I wonder why?”

“Don’t flatter yourself. And remember when he read my speech?!” Nick grinned.

“Correct me if I’m wrong—though I never am—but didn’t you just tell me…?” She laughed.

“Touche.”

“Don’t think you can get away with it so easily, Carrots...Just for that, we’re going to a Three Dog concert next time.”

Her heart leapt. She’d secretly been hanging on to his every word, adoring each and every ridiculous thing he said, but the latter two were suddenly her favorite. That was the part that seemed crazy yet not-so-crazy, because she’d been hoping he’d drop a hint.

~

“Great minds think alike.” That’s what he said when she told him her thoughts after the concert. They were now sitting on his couch, his arm draped casually around her shoulders. “So...How was your date?” And she’d thought his other questions had been absurd…! She laughed...but maybe too soon.

“Did he try to get to third base with you?” Judy froze, and the tips of her ears turned beet-red. ‘Cause that is totally unacceptable first date behavior.” The tension in her body eased.

“Did he kiss you?”

“Nick...” The joke had gone too far.

“No? We’ll have to fix that.”

He lowered his head to brush her lips with his—and made good on that promise.