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It had been one of those days—long, tiring, and filled with the kind of cases that drained you more than usual. Nick Wilde’s eyes flickered briefly to the clock on the wall as he slouched into the couch, his tail flicking in frustration. Another case unsolved, another night where he couldn’t shake the feeling of inadequacy. He’d told Judy he was fine, but he knew she could see through the façade. She always could.
Judy stood by the kitchen counter, prepping some snacks to help wind down after the day’s chaos. She could tell something was off with Nick; she’d seen the way his smile had faded in the car, the way his usual sarcastic jokes didn’t quite make it past his lips.
She wasn’t going to push him, though. Not yet. Instead, she quietly moved to the couch and sat beside him, close enough that their shoulders were almost touching, but not quite.
“Hey,” she said softly, her voice warm and inviting. "You okay?"
Nick didn’t look at her right away. He was staring at the TV, though neither of them was really watching it. His thoughts were elsewhere, tangled in frustration. He wasn’t sure how to explain it. The case had been a mess, but it wasn’t just the case. It was the constant feeling of trying to prove himself, of always being on the outside looking in. And Judy? Judy had it all together. Sometimes, he felt like he was holding her back.
"I'm fine," he muttered, though his voice lacked conviction.
Judy didn’t buy it. She never did. Reaching over, she gently took his hand in hers, squeezing it lightly.
"Nick… you don’t have to do everything on your own, you know?" She paused, waiting for him to meet her eyes. “I’m here. You don’t always have to be the tough guy.”
For a moment, Nick stayed silent, unsure of how to respond. He wasn’t used to being vulnerable, to letting someone see him like this. But the warmth of her touch, the understanding in her eyes, made it hard to hold back.
“I don’t want you to think I’m… I don’t know, weak,” he finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "You’re always so strong, Judy. I just feel like I’m... dragging you down."
Judy’s heart squeezed at his words. She didn’t say anything at first. Instead, she moved closer, pulling him into a gentle hug, pressing her cheek against his fur. It wasn’t one of those big, dramatic moments, just a quiet comfort.
“You’re not dragging me down, Nick. I chose to be with you. I want to be with you," she whispered. "We’re a team. We always have been.”
Nick’s chest tightened, and for a second, he was afraid to let the emotions overwhelm him. But Judy was patient, her arms around him steady and sure. Slowly, he closed his eyes, letting himself relax into the moment. He wasn’t sure when it happened, but he found himself gripping her a little tighter.
"I just don't want to mess things up," he admitted, his voice thick.
Judy pulled back just enough to look at him, her paws gently cupping his face. She smiled, her gaze soft.
"You won't. You never have," she said. "I don't expect you to be perfect. I just want you to be you. And you’re more than enough."
Nick's breath caught in his throat. He wasn’t used to hearing words like that. Words that made him feel like he wasn’t the one always having to carry the weight of everything. That it was okay to not have all the answers. That maybe, just maybe, he didn’t always have to be the one holding it all together.
The silence stretched between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was the kind of quiet that felt right, the kind of quiet that made him realize that, with her by his side, he didn’t have to hide anymore. He didn’t have to carry the world on his shoulders alone.
"Thanks, Carrots," he whispered, finally meeting her gaze.
She smiled softly, her nose bumping gently against his. “Anytime, Wilde. I’m not going anywhere."
And for the first time in a while, Nick let himself believe it.