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LookingForLoo — We Just Might Make It - Chapter One
#zootopia #nickwilde #judyhopps #wildehopps #nickxjudy
Published: 2016-04-07 23:55:58 +0000 UTC; Views: 3977; Favourites: 50; Downloads: 0
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“Badge, Hopps.”“But sir I-”
“Badge!”
Her face fell, all light leaving her eyes as she slowly unclasped her badge. Her hands shook as the placed it gently into Bogo's waiting hoof. As he closed his fist around it and stepped back Judy stood straight and looked him in the eye. He seemed to flinch slightly under her gaze, clearing his throat and pocketing the badge.
He turned to his men and snapped, “Let's go.”
She stood strong, watching as Bogo and the other officers walked down the hill. Her hands tightened into shaking fists and her heart raced. Tears burned in her eyes, but she refused to show it. It wasn't until the last heavy footstep was an echo in the distance that she let herself break.
There was a heartbeat of silence, and then she collapsed. Her paws reached up to cover her mouth, trying desperately to stifle her sobs. The spot where her badge had been burned, and she felt its absence like a lost limb. Everything she had done, all she had risked and worked for, her dreams, gone. More tears welled up, and she curled into herself.
Nick watched her, his eyes wide. He knew that Judy had taken the case seriously, but he had never imagined that so much was on the line. His anger flared at the chief. It was clear that he had stacked the odds against her from the beginning, and shame quickly followed. He hadn't exactly helped, making things difficult for her at every turn, watching with vicarious pleasure as she failed again and again.
Nick sighed. He slowly walked over, crouching next to her and wrapping his arm hesitantly around her. She stiffened for a moment, before turning into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck. He sighed again, rubbing her back.
“Carrots...Judy...I'm so sorry.” She sniffed and he felt her shake her head lightly.
“N-no, Nick, it's not y-your fault.”
“Judy...”
“Please Nick...” She pulled away, looking up at him, “It's because of me. I should have never agreed to take this case, I should have just waited and paid my dues and..and then...” Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks, “I'd still...I'd still be...”
He pulled her close, letting her bury her face in his shoulder. She cried, soft hiccuping sobs, and Nick felt his heart break. He hated to admit it, but somewhere along the line he had decided that he cared for her, that he wanted to help her. He knew almost too well how she felt. To be told that who you were would never be enough. But unlike him she kept trying. And while the world would never agree, he thought that should be worth something.
Eventually her sobs quieted, and she breathed deeply.
“Come on fluff, let's get you home.” Her stood, pulling her to her feet with him. She wiped her face and gave him a small smile.
“Thank you, Nick.”
He led her gently towards the sky trams, arm still wrapped around her back.
“Don't mention it.”
–
When they reached her apartment, Judy looked back at him and sighed. “Promise not to laugh?”
He nodded, and she turned the lock and pushed her door open slightly, reaching over and flipping the light on. She shrugged shyly.
“It's not much...but it's home.”
Nick's gaze drifted over the room, lingering on her small bed, rundown desk and peeling wallpaper. Nick might have lived more or less under a bridge and in the back of a van, but he still had a room at his mom's house, and part of him couldn't believe that Judy called his hole home.
He forced a smile, “It's great. Top of the line. The boys at the department really know how to set a girl up.” Her face fell slightly at the mention of the ZPD, but she managed a laugh.
“Yeah...They don't cut any corners.” She sipped off her vest and tossed in in the direction of her closet, before walking into her tiny bathroom. “You can come in.” She called to him, and he hesitantly took the invitation, walking over and sitting on her bed.
When she came out she was wearing a baggy t-shirt and shorts, putting her old uniform in a pile near her vest. Nick briefly noted that she looked cute, but quickly pushed away the thought as she walked over to him.
“I'm sorry...I don't really have any food or drink to offer...” He shook his head and stood, putting a light hand on her shoulder.
“Don't worry about it, Carrots. I think you should just get some rest.” She nodded and let him lead her to bed. She climbed up, sliding under the covers. She stared at him after she got comfortable, too sad to even notice the awkwardness of the situation, before letting her her gaze fall to her lap.
“Thanks again, Nick.” He followed her gaze, watching her hands worrying the covers, tensing and releasing over and over.
“Well,” He said, taking a deep breath and putting his hands in his pockets, “I'll get the door on my way out.”
She didnt respond, and so he headed across the room. He only made it halfway before her head shot up and she called, “Nick, wait!”
He froze, gazing back at her. “Yes?”
He blushed, and her eyes fell again, “Will...will you stay?” He blinked, shocked, and she continued, “I just...I'm sorry you don't have to I'm just...I don't really want to be...alone, right now...”
He smiled, “Don't get your fur in a fluff, Carrots, I'll stay.”
She smiled back, “Ok.” Her eyes shifted to the floor, then back to the bed. She blushed again before continuing, “I don't uh...have a sleeping bag or...um...” She gestured to the bed, sliding as close as she could to the wall, “I don't mind sharing...”
“I don't mind as long as you don't mind.”
“I don't!”
He smiled again, closing the door behind him and turning off the light. He walked over to her, taking off his tie and belt. She moved over again, making room for him as he slid in beside her. They both shifted, and when they were comfortable she curled up and closed her eyes. He lay back against the pillows, folding his arms behind his head.
After a moment of silence, Judy's quiet voice spoke up, “Nick, really...thank you.”
He chuckled, “You say thank you too much, Carrots.”
“I'm just...really, I'm grateful for your help...for everything.”
“Go to sleep, you'll need your rest if we're gonna find those missing mammals.”
Her eyes snapped open, “What?”
“What, did you really think Chief Buffalo-butt firing you was gonna stop us?”
“But Nick I'm not a cop anymore I can't legally-”
“Who says it has to be legal?”
“Nick!”
He turned to look at her, “Judy, do you seriously want to give up now? Just think, bend a few rules here and there and you could crack this case wide open. You could even get your job back!” She gazed up at him, eyes narrowed. “You didn't strike me as the type to give up,” He continued, “Just think about it, ok?”
She still looked unsure. “We don't even have any leads or recourses...”
“Judy-”
She cut him off, “But fine, I'll think about it.”
Nick gave her his signature grin, “Good. Don't count yourself out yet, Carrots. You've still got some fight left.”
She nodded, collapsing back onto the bed, “I'm going to sleep before you try to turn me into any more of a criminal.”
“Aw come on, it's not a bad lifestyle.”
“Goodnight, Nick.”
He laughed, shaking his head, “Goodnight.”
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Comments: 5
"Aw come on, it's not that bad of a lifestyle!"
Yes, it is, Nick, you little dumb fox.
Dumb Buffalo-butt took Judy's badge away. How are Judy and Nick going to solve the case now that she's no longer a cop?
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Awwwwwww... cute chapter!
I ship these two so much
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No. If you haven't seen the movie yet, this is basically an alternate version of part of the movie, which breaks off into it's own story. In the movie, Nick points out how the odds are stacked against Judy and claims that, technically, Judy still has 10 hours left to solve the case. Ergo, Judy does not loose her badge. I won't spoil any more of it than that, but if you ever plan on watching the movie you should really watch it BEFORE looking at fan art, and especially before reading fanfiction, as those are almost guaranteed to have spoilers. Unless of course, you either don;t ever plan on seeing the movie, or you don't care about spoilers. or both. But I would still recommend at least getting an Idea of what happens in the movie (should the case be you don't plan on seeing it) so that things make a little more sense.
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