Work Text:
~~o~o~~
Judy’s room in her family's home smelled like old, dusty wood. It was small, but bigger than her apartment back in Zootopia. Cramped, but comfy. Decorated with old plushies collected from when she was smaller. One new addition she always brought with her when she visited. A fox. It was laid out similarly too, with a bed on one side, and a desk on the opposite side. A small bedside table decorated with a dim lamp and alarm clock. A dresser on the wall in front of the bed, the wall shared with the bathroom connected to the room, accessible through the small foyer. The wood trimmed window was open, curtains gently swaying as the outside air pushed itself in.
“Cozy little place,” Nick said, sitting himself on her desk chair, backwards, propping his arms up on the chair’s backing. He sniffed the antique smell of the old desk. The two of them often visited Judy’s family home every few months, though he always felt overwhelmed, surrounded by the loud bustling family, though he enjoyed the time with Judy. Spending visits in her room, talking with her.
“You say that every time,” Judy slugged his arm, pushing it off the chair.
“It’s true. It is cozy.” He propped his arm back up, resting his chin on top of them crossed over the chair. “I wouldn’t mind having a room like this.”
“You’ve got your own room here.”
“Yeah, but it’s smaller than your apartment.” He poked her. “And it’s a guest room. Not really mine.”
“Well maybe if you spent more time here, my Dad would let you have your own.” She playfully hit his arm again.
“I dunno, maybe I’ll just take over yours.” He smirked, twisting his body away to avoid another punch.
“In your dreams!” She responded, not knowing how close she was to that truth.
His attempt at dodging her barrage of bunny punches didn’t work in the old chair, and a surplus of small hits pushed against his side. He just laughed, trying to push her away in a game, from continuing her attack. She just continued, pushing back and giggling. He changed his strategy, and wrapped his arms around her in an attempt to subdue her hits, but that didn’t work either.
“Watch out for the bunny barrage!” Stu interrupted, laughing, walking into Judy’s room. “Bonnie used to use me as a punching bag back when we were dating! Arm’s still sore! You learn to deal with it.”
Nick’s ears pinned back, and he pushed himself away, awkward. He always felt awkward here. Around the hustle and bustle of all the rabbits running around, yelling and playing. He stood out. So much attention naturally pointed at him.
“Dad!” Judy slinked away from Nick embarrassed, the punches stopping. Nick laughed a little harder watching her walk over to her dad to push him out of the room. “Get out…”
“Alright, alright!” Stu obliged, hopping out the door. “Just letting you know dinner is ready in 10!”
“Thanks.” Judy said with a stain of sarcasm in her voice, shutting the door as he walked away.
She walked back in a slump, her ears blushing as they drooped down.
“So.” Nick poked, a snide grin on his face. “You’re literally hitting on me?”
“Don’t you start too.” She sprawled out on her bed, face down, groaning to relieve her awkwardness. Her tail was pinned up in an annoyed attention. They sat for a while in the silence.
“Have you ever dated anyone before?” Nick asked, interrupting the quiet, genuinely asking.
“No…” Judy sat up, looking back at Nick leaning against the chair. “I was always just so focused on getting to where I am now, you know? On the force.”
“I’m surprised. I’d imagine you’d get all the attention.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re cute.” His smirk grew.
“You know I don’t like that word.” Judy frowned, falling back onto the mattress.
“I don’t think that’s true.” He raised his paws, showing he meant no harm. “Just saying, you look good.”
She paused, soaking in his complement.
“Thanks.” She sighed, thinking back to the times she was hit on. Or asked out. So focused on what she wanted in her life, but she didn’t regret any of her decisions. She was where she wanted to be. “There were a few bucks. But I said no to any that tried. None of them wanted what I wanted, you know? Typical bunnies, they just wanted me to settle down.”
They let a beat pass.
“Well I’m glad you didn’t. Settle down.” Nick pushed his chair a little closer to her bed. “I admire your go-getting attitude.”
“I admire that you don’t slow me down.” She poked a joke back.
“It’s hard to keep up, though.” He laughed.
Another beat.
“I’m happy where I am.” Judy looked at Nick, watching him watch her. “Working with you. I’m satisfied with the partner I’ve got now.”
You’re all I need, she thought, watching Nick’s smile grow a little more. Pushing their situationship into something more, with a label maybe.
“How sweet.” He reached out his paw, and ruffled the fur on her head. “That feeling’s mutual, fluff.”
~~~
They left the room after talking for a while more, hearing the dinner call. They grabbed their plates, topped with minced-veggie pie. Pushing through the crowded and ridiculously loud dinner hall, they found seats together on one of the outer edges, and sat. Nick poked at his plate, his appetite gone already, shattered by the volume piercing his ears. Judy was used to the noise, having grown up here, and she ate easily. He would take some bites, but had to stop after every one to deal with the nauseous feeling that came up.
“Hey, Carrots.” Nick pushed his untouched plate away, setting his fork down. “I’m gonna go outside for a bit. I need some air.”
He stood, the noise in the room grew. His eyes pinched shut as the volume pained his ears. His head felt hot and his skin irritated. The walls felt closer, smaller bunnies brushing past behind him as they walked to their own seats through the cramped pathways between tables. His chest pained as he took panicked breaths. He took a step back, needing to escape.
“Hold on a sec,” Judy hopped out of her seat. “I’ll come with you!”
“You don’t have to do that.” He walked away frowning. Judy trailed behind him smiling up at him.
“I know I don’t have to.” She poked at his arm. “I want to!”
“Alright.” He didn’t bother arguing with her. He liked her company. “Thanks.”
~~~
They walked out of the Hopps’ household, closing the large wooden door behind them, and feeling the cool evening air hit their fur. Nick took a deep breath, the whole world expanding in front of him. No longer feeling constrained Judy pushed up against his side, but it didn’t make him feel uncomfortable or stuck. It made him feel warm against the cold breeze.
“You doing alright?” She put her paw against his arm.
“I don’t know,” he shrugged. He didn’t know. “Just need a break from all the noise. Sorry.”
“They can be a bit much, huh?” She laughed, a reassuring feeling washed over him. She took his paw in hers, and started to walk down the porch steps, leading him. “We can take a break.”
Nick smiled, watching the bunny guide him to her truck. The truck they took each time they visited. The blue paint was chipping off, and the bottom corroded by rust. The family’s farm logo had been scraped off the sides when it was passed down to her. The tires were an off brown color, covered in a dusting of dirt.
She unlocked the driver’s door with her key, unlocking the other door with the push of a button, and invited Nick to sit in the passenger seat. He accepted, rounding the truck, closing the cold metal door behind him as Judy started the engine.
He leaned on his paw, his arm propped up on its elbow against the door’s window. He watched the farm fields outside scroll past in a slow blur. Rows of corn stalks, cabbage, carrots, distinct separations in the crops identified with dirt roads and lines of wide trees. The truck shook along the coarse muddy road, small bumps and dips making him rock back and forth, somehow soothing.
She parked the vehicle a distance further down the road, a cloud of dust falling slowly across the truck.
~~o~o~~
The air was cold. It dropped and rose with the wind that snuck through the nearby trees, with a barely audible rustle. It smelled like freshly watered dirt and lettuce leaves, a cool scent to fit the temperature. The sky here was so different from the light polluted sky of the city. He could actually see the stars and the moon clearly, without having to sneak a glimpse through the skyscrapers that poked at them.
Nick’s back was pressed against the chilly windshield of Judy’s old rusty truck as he laid on the hood next to her. The silence between them pressing down on the back of his neck, but it didn’t seem to bother her at all. He watched the stars reflected in her content eyes. The silence was louder than the wind that blew against them, that rustled her hat and his fur. He fidgeted with the windshield wiper behind him, pulling it and letting it hit back against the glass with a thump. Usually Judy would tell him, annoyed, to stop fidgeting so much, but now it seemed she enjoyed the offbeat rhythm.
“I’m sorry,” Judy broke the silence, looking away from the sprinkled sky, and to Nick. There was a pinch in her voice. “I know you don’t really enjoy it that much here. And the free labor my dad makes you do.”
“What?” Nick was genuinely confused. Anywhere she was, he wanted to be. Even out here, in the mud, getting dirty and sweaty.
“You just seem so…” she searched her mind for the word. “Distant. Around here.”
It was true, though. Growing up in the city, beat down by the society around him, he learned to not interact much with others. He learned to keep his distance. To hide. Everything here from Judy’s life seemed so alien. Everyone was so friendly, knew each other. Even that other fox seemed to get along with her just as well as any other bunny. She was almost a celebrity, and that notion was shared to him to his disbelief. All of her little siblings would run up to them when they came back to Bunnyburrow every few months, excited, hopping up and down. But he felt he didn’t deserve it. Not close. Not like she did. As the week they stayed would progress, he found himself standing along the outskirts fence of the farm, watching Judy tend to the dirt, wiping her brow with a smile. He helped at first of course, but he would draw himself away as he felt himself impeding the others’ work.
“I don’t hate it here.” Nick finally said in a hoarse whisper, realizing the silence was becoming too long. “It’s just different.”
“Different?” She sat up, her ears with her, to listen.
“I don’t know. You’re so at home here. I mean, obviously.” He shook his head at himself in ridicule, but jealousy still stained his tongue. “You know everybody. You get along with everybody. Even that other fox.”
“Gideon?” Her head tilted. She didn’t totally get along. “I don’t know, I’m friendly. He’s a family friend now. But he’s not like you.”
Like me? He questioned himself quietly.
“I just feel kind of out of place. You have history here. And I feel I missed out on that, and I can’t catch up.” He sighed, his heart stung a bit, yearning to fit in. He shrugged it off. “I’m just not good with the whole family thing, I guess. Just feel like I’d be better off not bothering people.”
She pulled herself closer to him, putting her hand on his. Letting the silence close the space between them as she looked for what to say.
“I want you here because I want you to bother us,” she laughed solemnly. “I bring you because I want you to be a part of this part of my life, Nick. You don’t have to be jumping in to help. You can just keep watching like you usually do, I love that you’re even here with me. But whenever you are ready, just know nobody feels upset when you’re around.”
He smiled weakly at her. The words made his throat sore and his eyes sting.
“My family likes you, Nick. They want you here too.” She continued with a raspy voice. “I don’t want you to feel like you don’t belong, because you do. In the city, or here in Bunnyburrow. With me.”
“Thanks, Carrots.” His words trailed off with a shaky breath, as he sank lower against the windshield, his brain full with conflicting thoughts of wanting to stay battling against his instinct to hide, but he knew what had to win. For her. “I think I needed to hear that.”
She smiled, and sunk down with him, her arm brushing against his as she looked back up at the sky. Her nose twitched as another small gust of wind blew over them, making Nick shudder. The crickets sang in the quiet dirt, harmonizing with the swaying trees. They laid like that for a while, watching the clouds above them drift like dust across the stars.
Losing him, almost losing him, was scarier than dying. She had crawled, calling his name to no one. Watching the CCTVs as Nick and Pawbert fought, all she could think of was him. How she wouldn’t get to take that leap with him she had wanted to. She didn’t want to continue this second chance without taking that leap.
“C’mon,” Judy sat up noticing Nick shiver against the wind again, and hopped off the truck’s hood. “I wanna show you something.”
Nick pushed himself up with a grunt, and jumped off the hood to follow, kicking up a cloud of dirt. He turned across the front of the rusty hood, and watched Judy close the door with a quiet slam that echoed in the night, holding a pile of cloth. He followed her on the dirt road to the bed of the truck, where she opened the tailgate, putting some of the sheets down on the flap, and flying a thick blanket across the bed. She picked up a couple pillows and threw them up against the head, and draped another blanket across. She hopped up, and crawled over the makeshift bed, before laying down with her arms behind her back against one of the pillows.
“I used to do this a lot when I still lived here.” She patted the empty space beside her, beckoning Nick to climb up when she noticed him still standing at the end. “When I needed some silence. Time away from my crazy family.”
“Are you sure?” He asked, standing awkwardly at the foot of the truck bed.
“Nick,” she rolled her eyes, before taking her tone back remembering the conversation they just had. “I’m sure. I want you up here with me, c’mon.”
The back of his neck tingled a bit as his heart raced, climbing up disjointedly onto the bed, and up to where Judy laid. He leaned down on his elbow, before laying on his side, watching Judy watch him with her usual bright smile. He tucked his arm under his cheek, the pillow being a little too light for him, but the thick blanket beneath them surprisingly warm and comfortable. He let the silence linger, trying to find himself, themselves, comfortable in it, but he started to fidget with the blanket.
“So, you must’ve escaped here from your crazy family pretty often then, huh?” He broke the quiet with another snide remark, falling into the habit again.
“Yeah,” she laughed, leaning a bit closer to him as she turned to catch his face, “but you’re crazy too. Teetering on insane.”
Crazy for you, his mind blurted. He smirked and shook his head at her, before frowning at himself, shuddering again at the inconvenient wind. How unbelievably corny.
“Maybe I’m a little nuts too.” Judy joked, before pulling the loose blanket up from the foot of the bed, and over them. His body erupted with warmth, and he didn’t know if it was from the blanket, or from the blush hidden beneath his red fur.
You? Crazy? He knew what he’d typically say. No kidding. But he couldn’t muster to speak at all, as she brought herself a little closer to him under the blanket they were now sharing.
She tested him, moving a little closer each time the wind blew over them. He didn’t back away, only an expression of caution on his face. His instinct was telling him to back away. Any other animal approaching him like this would’ve rung alarms. Usually it was someone stomping towards him for money he owed, or upset at a stupid joke he said. But this was so totally different. So foreign to his usual interactions.
Before he met Judy, he kept himself safe. But that meant alone. Not really living, just surviving. It was all he knew how to do. To charm people just enough to get their money, but never enough to get them. He didn’t have friends, not really. No one that was close enough to talk to about things like feelings. Not until a sporadic bunny cop hopped in front of him. So many new experiences. He wasn’t just struggling to survive. He was flourishing. He always felt wrong about taking Judy’s aid and time. He felt almost guilty, how much focus he took from her. How much help she gave, always bringing a reassurance over him before his nervousness came back. How she knew how to make him stop fidgeting while they sat on stake-outs in silence.
Judy brushed her paw against his elbow. She was dangerously close now. The heat coming off of her overstimulating. He flinched, and backed away, ashamed of the instinct as he saw her frown. Her paw retreated back to her chest.
“Sorry-” Judy started.
“I’m sorry.” Nick said, avoiding her eyes, because his were about to cry. He forced himself closer to her, wanting it desperately. To feel her touch. It’s just these new feelings were scary, unknown. But he wanted to conquer it. “I- just- I want you to- I’m just- not used to that.”
“We can take our time.” She smiled, relief worn on her face with a tentative smile. She reached her paw back out again, and sat it gently on his elbow curled up under his head. He didn’t back away this time. Instead he took a leap, bridging the gap between them, their legs becoming tangled, and their bodies pressed against each other. She giggled at the pressure and warmth. “Ok, maybe not!”
Nick laughed alongside her. He nuzzled against the top of her head, his nose pressed between her ears, the smell of dirt coming off strong. The intimacy he had never felt before was overwhelming. The warmth of her body pressed against his, unusually natural. The warmth she gave him physically was great, but it was amplified by everything else. No one had ever helped him overcome his internal conflicts the way she had. She didn’t even have to do much. Just being there, guiding him gently, was enough to push through the barriers in his mind.
He thought about what he’d do without her. Probably nothing at all. He’d probably just continue to struggle, drifting from one bridge to another underpass to some dark grimy alleyway in circles. Never having a home. No friends. No family. No Judy. Why was she so caring towards him? He constantly pushed her away before, making jabs at her cost. He didn’t mean to hurt her, really, it was just instinct. He didn’t know how to interact with her. He was getting better, learning to communicate. But he felt like he should be tossed aside, undeserving.
His breath shook against her head, his paw clenching against her waist he hadn’t even realized he grabbed. His legs curled up against the small bunny in front of him, turning the two into a ball, his tail twitching as it draped over them. Small muffled cries escaped his mouth, trying to hide again he clenched his jaw. Judy pulled back from his head, and quickly put her paw on his cheek, looking at his pained face. Reflections of the moon shimmering in his tears as they trailed down his cheek and onto her hand.
“Nick?” She was worried. Her heart ached with his, and her voice shook. “What’s wrong?”
His eyes were pinched shut, and all he could sputter out were more whines. Judy moved her paw, and cradled his head, letting him rest against her chest as she pet him. Letting him take his time. She listened to his quiet pains, her heart hurting as he cried against it.
“I don’t feel like I deserve you.” He finally broke, before another wave of tears spat out. “This love.”
“Nick,” she held him closer, tighter, not risking letting go. “I don’t love you because you deserve it. Or that you need to earn it somehow. I just do.”
“Why?”
She was taken aback by such a horrible question. How could he feel so undeserving of love? Her brow pinched up, and she hugged him deeper.
“Because you’re you.” She answered. She didn’t really know how to answer. How to explain how she felt. How she felt at home whenever he was just by her side. How she felt safe, comfortable. How she enjoyed his snide remarks, his jabs and jokes. How she enjoyed him. “Nick, I love everything about you. The good and the bad.”
His tears just rushed back, and he cried into her chest. His emotions fought, he almost didn’t believe her. But he knew better. He knew she wouldn’t joke or lie about this sort of thing. She really did love him, all of him.
“I love the way you make little jokes, even at my expense.” She pet the messy fur on his head with every sentence. “I love the way your tail flicks as you talk. The way your paws wonder across my shoulders. The way you sulk around the precinct in the morning before you had your coffee. Your coffee breath...”
He chuckled, interrupting his cries.
“...I love the way your nose twitches when you catch a new scent. How your ears pin back when you make an awkward joke. I love your terrible sense of fashion.”
“Okay, Carrots,” he laughed again, still sniffling into her chest. “I get it, I get it.”
“I’m not done,” she scoffed. Lifting his head away to look at his face. His cheek fur was damp and stained with tears, clumped together awkwardly. She wiped his eyes clean with her thumbs, before moving closer and kissing the top of his head. “Most importantly, I love you.”
The tears started to well up again, his throat itching. He fought against it, opening his eyes to look up at hers. The moon reflected brightly against her violet irises. The words he always wanted to hear.
“I love you too,” finally mustering the words he always wanted to say. The pain in his heart was patched like a bandaid with her. Tears came back, and he stuttered through his cries of relief. “I love you so much, Judy.”
He gripped her shirt, pulling himself closer. She kept comforting him, gliding her hand along his rough fur. She felt his heart slow from its panicked pace as his cries began to lessen once again. His breath steadied to match hers, occasionally interrupted with waves of sniffles. She let the silence fill the air, listening to his breathing move in and out with the wind above them. As his breath moved through his lungs, the wind flowed through the trees, their sounds mixing together as if the Earth breathed with him.
For the first time, Nick was okay with the silence. To just lay together in each other's company, no reason to be, besides just being together. They often found excuses to spend time. Lunch, dinner, stake-outs, investigating, meeting family, doing chores. Some odd cover. Now, the only excuse they needed was each other.
“Thank you.” He whispered, wiping away his own tears after letting Judy do it for the last who-knows-how-long. “Man, I’m a wreck.”
“You foxes,” she started, a sly smirk appearing on her face, “so emotional.”
“Tsk,” he spent his breath on a rough chuckle. “That’s low.”
He shook his head at her remark, using it as a lead into nuzzling back into her chest. Her usual floral scent was half masked by the dirt and sweat of the work day. Her shirt was still wet with his tears, but he laid against it anyway. He closed his eyes, her calm heart beating against her chest which rose with every steady breath. She brushed the fur on his head again, falling into making it a habit, as she cradled his curled up body with her free arm, which was a little difficult with how much larger he was compared to her.
They listened to their breaths fall into a combined rhythm, the ba-bumps of their hearts drumming to the same beat. They held each other tightly, onto their combined warmth which easily won against the chilly air laying beyond the blanket over them. The sprinklers over the farm land sputtered alive, and began to stir with a quiet tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk-tsk. The crickets' chirps became drowned out, but their song aiding Judy in calming the fox. The quiet was nice, actually, he thought. So used to the loud crashes, howls, and honks of the city, Bunnyburrow was usually filled with sleepless nights alone in a spare room, far away from Judy in her family’s cramped but enormously large burrow. It was so different. But good. So good.
Nick’s mind started to not wander like it usually would every time he tried to sleep. Instead it was focused on the breathing of Judy’s chest against his head, which moved it up and down ever so slightly. She moved, to which Nick replied with a low grumble. She moved from her side and onto her back, letting Nick fall onto her. He sighed, as if apologizing for his subtle outburst. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he pulled her closer. He let the rocking of her chest lead him to sleep.
Judy watched him relax below her, his head on her chest. She felt like there should be some heavy weight pulling her down, but his head felt so light and easy to support. She had only really seen him so vulnerable a couple times before, crying his fears to her, communicating. She watched the ripples in his fur move with the breeze, his face stirring no reaction as he slept. She’d caught him taking naps at his cubicle before, but he always seemed so stressed when he slept. His brows pinched and his ears pinned back, his tail still alert. But here on the bed of her truck next to her, his face was calm and full of rest. The stain of his tears had dried the fur below his eyes. His mouth was open slightly, not clenched shut. His tail was relaxed over her like a second blanket, and his arm was draped across to extend the tail’s task. She listened to him growl softly in what she could only really pin as a snore. She smiled, closed her eyes, and fell asleep as she listened to him.
~~o~o~~
Nick’s eyes pried themselves open. But they weren’t dry. Not totally. The cry he wept the night before still made them sting, but it wasn’t the same feeling he usually woke up with. The one where he’d have to rub his eyes every few minutes just to dull the pain of waking up. His head didn’t ache either. He didn’t need to take ibuprofen with his coffee. And his body wasn’t sore, his neck didn’t pinch.
He sat up, lifting his head off of Judy, her paw falling off his face as he moved. Her nose twitched in her sleep, like it always did when she thought hard. Maybe she was dreaming. The sun was awake, rising across the farm, casting long shadows from the crops that contrasted against the golden hue of the air. The sun cast across Judy’s body, her face still shadowed by the truck’s cab behind them. The blanket rose and fell in a steady pace over her, her mouth open and a small bit of drool on the pillow. He laughed to himself before stretching, spreading his arms wide and pushing his chest out, hearing a pop crack from his lower back. He took a deep breath in, taking in the smell of dirt and mist.
He landed his hands behind him and sat up with their support, and watched the bunny instinctually draw herself closer to him, as if searching for the missing warmth. He let her rest her head against his leg, as he moved his eyes to draw across the farm. Watching the low hanging fog blow across the produce, the haze’s color polluted with the golden pink shine of the rising sun. The crickets still chirped, and the leaves still rustled, but the morning was so different from the night. It was warm, enticing, and bright.
His eyes strolled down the field, and down the dirt road the truck was parked on. He saw Judy’s father, Stu, walking down the dirt, smiling and waving. Nick waved back. Normally, in this circumstance, he’d figure he should be scared. To be seen by her father sleeping next to Judy. But he wasn’t. Her family was always so inviting to him, they weren’t cautious. Judy had reassured that thought. And he felt he was right where he needed to be, by her side.
“Heya there, Slick Nick!” Stu greeted Nick, walking up to the side of the truck, noticing Judy laying under the covers beside the fox. A bit of his demeanor changed but he didn’t try to hide it either. It wasn’t anything upset, just a swirl of surprise. “You know uh, I figured I’d find you out here. She used to hide out here a lot growing up when we became ‘overbearing.’”
Stu rolled his eyes and did air quotations.
“Yea, uh, she told me.” Nick offered a polite laugh. Wiping away his dry tears from the night before, excusing it as cleaning the sleep away from his eyes. He looked down at her, thanking her in his head for her comfort the night before.
“You kids should come out more often.” Stu continued the rather one-sided conversation. “The fresh air is good for you! And it looks like you get some pretty darn good sleep too.”
He pointed at Nick’s bed-head, his fur matted in all sorts of directions.
“Anyway, we appreciate the help too, of course.” Stu laughed, before dusting his hands off on his overalls. “So I’ll see you when you’re ready for some easy labor! Pulling some ripe carrots today! But don’t take too long or you might miss the fun!”
Nick watched Stu continue down the road, passing Judy’s rusty old truck. He sighed a bit in relief, relaxed that Judy’s father didn’t start yelling at him and chasing him out of the burrow. He looked back down at the bunny beside him, her eyes open and watching him.
“You don’t have to help if you don’t feel up to it.” She yawned, sitting up and stretching with a small squeak as she lifted her arms as high as they could go. “But I would like you to. You know, just with me, if the others get overbearing.”
He chuckled, and brushed his hand over her head, which she leaned into. His paw passed its reach along to her ears as they drooped with his push.
“I think I’d like to.” Nick smiled at her, and it grew as hers did. A wide toothy grin, her two buck teeth against her jagged incisors shaped by her bright smile. Her paws did a little fight in the air, her body shaking with excitement, and she let it escape with a tiny squeal as she hugged him tight. “Don’t get too excited, Carrots. I’m still gonna be my lazy self.”
“Wouldn’t expect anything less,” Judy smirked, punching his forearm, making him fall back and catch himself. He laughed to the surprise, and after sitting back up, watched the bunny admire him. She watched his shoulders shift as he steadied his weight, and his arms straightened, his posture terrible, but relaxed. His ears twitched against the breeze, his eyelids draped low, his eyes catching hers. Her cheeks burned and she broke their contact, before sheepishly returning.
“I love you.” Nick whispered shyly, leaning into her. She leaned back. He could feel her breath against his nose.
“I love you too.” She leaned closer, her eyes barely open enough to see his orange fur pierced with his green eyes. Her head tilted, her paw moving onto his. She closed her eyes fully, gently, barely. Her hand inched up to his wrist, and she drew her lips closer to his to-
“Judy! Judy!” A bundle of bunnies shouted from far down the dirt road. The two jumped back from each other, hiding their action, both their ears red. Nick cleared his throat, and Judy just looked away. “Judy c’mon!”
The gathering of Judy’s little brothers and sisters hopped their way to the truck, and onto the bed, dragging at Judy’s and Nick’s arms. The notable “early risers” as Judy had put it.
“It’s time to pick carrots, come on!” They yanked harder, until Judy finally laughed and agreed to follow. She jumped off the tailgate, and Nick was practically pushed off, Judy’s hand still tightly gripped on his wrist.
“Come on Nick!” She laughed, and he followed the sound, floating like his nose caught a scent of a pie.
“Alright, alright!” His defenses lowered, and he laughed too. “I’m coming!”
They were pushed to the small fence that lined the carrot patch. Long extended rows of dirt decorated with leaves that moved with the dirt as the wind blew. The little bunnies that had rushed them there broke through the gate and hopped the fence into the field, immediately surrounding Stu who was already at work. It was just them again, Nick and Judy standing just outside the field.
Judy’s hand was still wrapped around his arm. She looked up at him, and he looked down at the line in the dirt carved by the fence, the only physical border that stood in his way from reaching the produce. He looked towards Judy, who just watched with a reassuring and proud smile.
“Just you and me, huh?” He poked her, nodding his head at the unusually small group of bunnies that were digging through the dirt.
“Just you and me, Slick,” she pointed to the furthest spot on the field, where the leaves of the carrot tops turned to dots.
“Okay.” The corners of his mouth lifted and his eyes squinted, but he looked back at the line in the dirt, unsure if he could actually cross it. They stood together, his breaths becoming shallow and quick. She gripped his wrist a little tighter, driving his attention away from the barrier.
“Nick.” She brought her hand in a slow motion up to her chest as she took a long and deep breath, then lowered her hand as she exhaled through her nose. He nodded, and followed as she raised her hand again, slower. His mouth opened and he breathed in the cold fresh air, his chest rising with her hand. Her hand stopped and held at her chest, before pushing down against the air beneath it, his breath pushing through his nose in a stiff exhale. He closed his eyes, repeating the lengthy breath, Judy’s hands still on his.
He opened his eyes back to the sight of the line in the dirt. Took one more long breath, and then took a step. His foot landed in the dirt on the other side kicking up dust, his other foot followed, and he finally stood on the other side of the fence. Judy followed with an excited hop, and pressed against his body, the warmth so drastically reassuring.
“Proud of you.” She smiled even brighter, holding his hand against her chest. “C’mon, let’s go.”
Nick was gently tugged along the fence, Judy evading the attention of the other bunnies that pulled and threw carrots into the air just in front of the gate. She snagged one of the baskets nearby, and quickly retreated. The dirt below their paws was cold and damp, but not to an irritating degree. In fact it was a little relaxing. His focus drifted back to Judy, as she happily hopped along the path to the end of the produce field, away from the busy-ness already tending to it.
They reached the furthest corner of the fenced off land. The shouting and laughter of her family distant and muffled behind them. The air was cooler here too, like it was in the morning when they first woke up. Dew was still planted on the carrot leaves, a couple morning crickets still chirped, and the wind still blew through the trees.
Her hand let go as she sat down on her knees at the edge of the soil, placing the basket to her open side. Her hands cupped around one of the leaves poking out of it.
“Sit!” She motioned with her hand in front of her, on the other side of the tilled dirt. His knees dropped firmly into the cool earth, and sat down onto his back legs, his tail wagging a bit across the dust. His hands found themselves planted on his upper legs. She grinned, and grasped the bottom of the tall leaf firmly.
“So you just grab and pull?” Nick slyly asked, denouncing it as obvious.
“Yes, Nick.” She rolled her eyes, before pulling the carrot out of the earth with a groan. “You just grab and pull!”
“Like a bunny’s ears?” He scoffed, poking at her cheek.
“Not like a bunny’s ears.” She took the carrot, still caked in mud, and slapped it across his cheek. He pushed it away and laughed, brushing the dirt off his face. “You’re so gross.”
“What?!” He blurted out, laughing a little too loudly and garnering the attention of the bunny pile yards behind them. “I didn’t mean it that way!”
She tossed the carrot fully at him in an embarrassed huff, and crossed her arms in a fit. Her lip pouted and her eyes were unamusedly staring at him. He picked the carrot back up, and put it in the basket.
“So dirty minded, no wonder you like digging in the mud.” He poked, grabbing his own carrot leaf, and pulling out it a little too quickly, revealing what he could only describe as a baby baby carrot. His laugh quickly muted and turned into a frown.
“You’ve seen smaller?” She quipped, the upset expression on her face turning into something more embarrassing.
“Okay, you can’t even act like my assumption is wrong if you say something like that!” He flicked the carrot with his finger, aiming for her nose, but completely missing. “And for your information. No, I have not.”
He immediately slapped himself in the face and clamped his mouth shut, groaning at the bit of too-much-information he spat out in some attempt of a defense.
“Really?” Her smirk grew, and she scoffed, shaking her head.
“I knew it!” His arms threw themselves into the air theatrically. “I knew this was a mistake!”
“Don’t be so dramatic, I’m sure it’s perfectly average, just like this-” she pulled another carrot, this one giving not so easily, but finally jumped out with a splash of dirt. The carrot was big, and her joking face turned to shock. “-one.”
Nick roared out in laughter, his body leaning forward to repair the ache in his lungs as he gasped for air.
“Just like that one!” He grabbed it, and held it high into the air. “Exactly like this one!”
“Crude!” Judy sat up full on her knees, placing her hand against his chest for support, and hastily yanking to take the carrot back from him. His reach aimed higher, her hand just missing it. “Give it back!”
“Tut-tut-tut.” He placed his free paw on the top of her head, pushing her back down to sit. “You can see it later.”
Judy went quiet, her jaw dropped. She leaned back in her seat, her ears drooped and she looked away, hiding her face with one curled up paw. He frowned, his ears dropping with hers, fearing he pushed a little too far. He tossed the carrot into the basket.
“Sorry.” He slumped, watching her. Her hand revealed her face and she shook her head, her eyes still avoiding him. Her ears were flushed with red.
“No-” she stuttered, finally meeting his eyes. “It’s good. Just, that was so forward.”
Nick’s ears poked up, one drooping to the side as his head tilted.
“I mean- I would like to-” she laughed under a wavery breath, trailing off. Nick’s eyes grew bigger, and his heart maybe skipped a beat or two. “I don’t know if you’re just joking- or being serious- or what? But after last night… I felt like some metaphysical space between us was closed, and that maybe we are something more than just friends? At least, that’s what I want. To be more.”
She took the leap.
“Metaphysical? That’s a big word for a bunny.” His heart raced and his breath was rough, crawling nervously closer to her, his knees up against the small mound of dirt between them. His hands found hers, and he brushed the dirt off them. “Judy, I’d do anything to spend the rest of my life by your side.”
The smile he loved returned to her face, her hidden buckteeth catching the air. Her brows lifted up with her ears. She moved herself over the soil eagerly, her legs sat between his lap, and she jumped against his chest, wrapping her arms tightly around him. Her head pressed deeply into him.
“Oh, Nick,” Judy’s voice was shaky, but happy. He immediately hugged her back as if acting on real instinct, his head resting on top of hers. “There’s nobody else I’d want there.”
She moved back, still in his grasp, and cupped his head in her hands. His eyes looked deep into hers, watching his staring reflection. His face matched her loving grin.
“We’re totally codependent, aren’t we?” His short rough laugh making her feel a bit warmer and at ease.
“You can’t ever be serious.” Her eyes rolled before glancing back into his.
“I’m totally serious!” His grin opened, showing off his teeth. “I’m so serious.”
“Well, whatever you are, I’m fine with that.” She pressed her twitching nose against his cold one. “But yeah, you’re definitely codependent.”
“Just me?” He pressed his nose back.
“Well,” her head tilted, “maybe me too.”
He tilted his head as well, opposing her angle and pressed forward. She closed her eyes, and he watched her face calm. His lips pressed against hers, a little clumsily, half missing, and making a small peck. Her lips tasted sweet, like the chapstick she would usually share with him. His breath slowed against hers, as he inched back to take another look at her face, but she clung to him, pulling him back, landing another kiss. Her lips pushed against his lower lip, and sucked, tasting him back. She nibbled against his muscle, her exhales shivered.
“Oooooooooooh!” A loud murmur of ooo’s and aah’s echoed from behind them. Judy leaned away, looking over Nick’s shoulder as he turned his head to identify the noise as well. The huddle of Judy’s family on the other side of the carrot patch were watching, Stu frantically trying to keep cover their prying eyes and divert their attention back to the carrots.
“Oh cheese and crackers!” Judy cried out mortified, hiding her face in Nick’s chest, which shook with his laugh. He patted her head, rubbing the fur between her ears.
“Hey it’s not that bad, they could’ve heard what you were talking about with those carrots earlier.” He kept his voice low, his rough but warm voice rustling in her ears. She slugged his arm.
“Inappropriate!” Her voice was muffled by his chest. She hit his arm again.
“Ow!” Nick laughed. She loved his laugh. “You were being inappropriate!”
“Ugh!” Judy’s inner ears were marked with a bright blush. “Get me back to Zootopia.”
“Hey, if it was an issue, your father would probably be hopping his way over here with a pitchfork!.”
“I guess.”
“But yeah, you’re gonna get teased relentlessly by them.” He pinched her cheek.
“I’ll slug you.”
“Like you don’t already.”
“You aren’t ready for a real rabbit punch.” She pinched his arm.
“Alright, alright.” He let her go, loosening his grasp on her waist. “Maybe we should get back to work, huh? Avoid public humiliation?”
“Yea. Maybe.” She rolled her eyes again, her head moving with them. She moved away from him, back to her side of the soil, but not before giving him another quick peck on the cheek. “Back to work!”
~~o~o~~
Nick and Judy had spent the whole day just picking carrots. Digging them out of the dirt with frequent grunts of effort. Their paws and clothes caked in dirt, and soaked in sweat. They had broken for lunch, but only for a half hour, before they were already back to pulling the vegetables out.
By the time the dinner bell, the literal dinner bell, had rung, the air had begun to cool again, like it had the night before. Crickets started to rise out of wherever they hid, and sang into the dusk sky. The leaves rustled as the wind blew, almost no more carrot tops to move with them.
As they finished their bowls, carrot stew made with the carrots they had picked that day, they walked out of the dinner hall, Judy’s arms wrapped around his. They stepped into the hall, and it was unusually quiet, much of her family still loudly talking amongst each other in the dining area, but their voices muffled.
“Man, I can’t wait to take a shower.” Nick stretched, popping his back. Nick’s guest room was across the bunny family’s den, down the left hall, yards away. Judy’s was a similar distance from where they stood, but to the right. Nick waved goodnight solemnly, getting ready to walk to his room, away from her. His room didn’t have its own shower. The guest corridor, filled with extended family and him, shared a couple communal bathrooms, which were usually always occupied. Judy knew this.
“They’re gonna be full, you know?” Judy grabbed his sleeve, pulling him back. “I have my own.”
“Wow, how nice. You’re bragging now?” He remarked with a scoff, oblivious to the invitation.
“I mean… why don’t you grab a change of clothes, and use mine.” She let go of his sleeve with a firm push. “Dumb fox.”
“Oh-” His ears pinned back, flushed. A little embarrassed by the idea of sharing her bathroom. His laugh came back with a nervous tone. “Yeah- just, are you sure?”
“You sure ask that a lot.” She huffed. “I mean, like, we’re together now, aren’t we? There’s no boundaries between us, Nick. At least, for me… are there for you?”
His ears perked up a bit.
“No. Totally together, Carrots,” Nick spoke with just a bit less hesitancy, the end of the sentence picking up with endearment. He ran his paw caringly across her crown. No boundaries. “Just, want to make sure, you know?”
“Great!” Judy hopped in the air with a little kick. “You know where I’ll be, then! Just come in!”
He watched her practically skip down the hall, before turning a corner and disappearing. His heart was racing, hopping faster than she did. He took a breath, before turning around, and speed walking to his room. He got there, the bathroom closest to him clearly occupied. She was right, he thought to himself, opening his room’s door, of course she’s right. He opened the borrowed dresser’s drawers, grabbing a pile of clean clothes hesitantly, nervous to go through with the idea of using her shower. She had told him he could, why was he so worried? He tucked the stack of pants, shirt and underwear under his arm, and walked back out into the hall, booking it down the hall, embarrassed to be spotted with a change of clothes, and headed towards Judy’s room.
Nick reached Judy’s door. It was painted white, decorated with chipped, colorful stickers. He knocked, his usual amount, and called her name. No answer. He looked up and down the hall, holding his clothes closer. He knocked again, and again, to no answer.
Just come in! Her voice repeated in his head. He sighed, and grabbed the bronze door handle, turned it, and pushed the door open, stepping in, and closing the door behind with a firm click.
He heard the shower going, muffled through the bathroom door that was still cracked open, the white light poking through. His cheeks immediately went flush and burned. The shower shut off with a squeak, and he could hear Judy humming quietly to herself. He cleared his throat, making sure his present was known before she might walk out.
“Judy!” His voice cracked. “I’m uh, I’m here!”
Her humming stopped, and the door quickly was pulled open from the inside. Nick turned around, facing away, not wanting to see her indecent, and watched his own shadow cast on the wall in front of him.
“I have a towel on,” she giggled, walking up behind him and poking his side. “You can turn around.”
He gulped quietly, and slowly side stepped, turning his head to meet her watch. She smiled up at him with big doe eyes. A cute lavender scrunchie was tied in a bow over her head and around her ears. Her exposed shoulders relaxed, her arms at her sides with her hands held together. The white pattern of her fur that started from her mouth leading down to her chest, where her hands were held.
“Hey,” Nick’s voice cracked again. He coughed, clearing his throat, trying again. “Hey!”
“Hey yourself, Slick.” Her smile somehow grew bigger. She wiped a finger across his shirt, picking up some dusting of dirt. “You are di-i-irty. C’mon, take a shower.”
She pat his side, another cloud of dust kicking up. She laughed at the sight, and pushed him to the bathroom door.
“The water's still warm! Mostly. Close the door, I’m getting dressed. You can put your dirty clothes in the hamper.”
Nick smiled at her, before walking in and closing the door, with no click or slam. He put his clean change of wear onto the counter. He heard her start humming again, before covering it up, regrettably, with a turn of the shower handle, and a loud audible spray of water hitting the tile.
He undressed, tossing his dirty clothes into the laundry pile with hers. The steam emitting from the shower began to fill the room, his fur dampening. The clumps of his fur that stuck together with sweat and mud began to feel heavier. The soreness of the field work began to really catch up with him now. His knees hurt when he sat down at dinner, but now his whole body was tight.
He stepped into the shower, the warm water puddling around his paws. He moved under the rain fall, the water trailing down his body in a warm embrace. He brushed his fur, knocking small collections of dirt off, and into the drain. He rubbed the back of his neck, sighing at the pinch of relief. He moved to peruse the dozen bottles of soap that decorated the shower shelf. Countless different lotions, conditioners, fur and body wash, a combination of different floral scents that he recognized easily. He recognized the lavender scent, catching it anytime Judy would walk by him. He was so used to his 3-in-1 bottle of soap that had no scent besides “anti-musk.” He relied on cologne for any scent. The choices here were a little overwhelming.
He grabbed something he thought was simple enough, stepping out of the shower’s aim. The bottle of lavender scented body wash. He spat a dollop out, setting the bottle back in place. He rubbed it together in his paws, before lathering it across his body, letting the scent soak in and clean away the day’s sweat. Massaging his arms, then his chest and back, down to his legs and around his whole body, the floral smell mixed with the steam in the room, and his fur. The smell of the flower made it feel like Judy was in the shower with him.
Nick stepped back into the falling water, letting the lathered soap wash away. His breath slowed, feeling the warmth swim its way across his fur, smoothing it out and releasing the clumps. He took the conditioner, another small ball of the lotion, and mixed it onto his body, letting it soak and mix with the lavender, before washing it away all over again.
He stood, head up, letting the shower’s water fall like rain onto his face. He imagined himself in the Rainforest District, on a bridge, with Judy. He opened his eyes looking down at the temperature dial. He grabbed it, and shut the water off with a quick and sharp turn. The scent of lavender still lingered, not completely washed away. Drips falling off his wet fur and onto the puddled tiles.
He opened the curtain, the steam pushing away with the draft. He grabbed the pink towel on the rack nearby, and started to dry himself off. The towel smelled like her. He smelled like her. The typical stench of wet-dog he usually found filling the air after his showers was gone and replaced with flowers. He hung the towel back, admitting himself as dry enough. He turned around and faced the mirror, his reflection a blurry mess on the steamed up glass. He shrugged, and combed the fur on his head back with his paws, before grabbing his clothes, and getting dressed.
Nick creaked the door open, turning off the bright bathroom light, and stepping into the bedroom dimly lit with an orange glow. He left the door open a crack, letting the steam air out. He turned the small corner of the entrance hallway, and spotted Judy on her bed. She was dressed in an oversized blue shirt, the bottom draped down to her knees, and her exposed legs kicked up from planted feet. He noticed the gray fur on her legs and arms barely swayed from the shallow breeze blowing in from the window, distant voices of other bunnies playing outside in the night. Her attention turned from the phone screen lighting her face and up to Nick. Her focused expression lighting brighter as she smiled at him.
“Feeling refreshed?” She sat the phone down on the bedside table, where the lamp lighting the room resided.
“Yeah,” he sighed. He did feel refreshed. “Thanks.”
“It’s no biggie!” She smirked. “But you owe me.”
“Owe you what?” He stepped forward, encouraging the little game.
“You play guitar, right?” Judy sat up, crossing her legs. Nick’s heart dropped, regretting the encouragement. She had seen his guitar when she visited his apartment. Or maybe seen it when she snapped that picture. Propped up against his wall, thinking it was hidden enough in the mess. He looked around the room, spotting an acoustic resting against the desk pushed against the wall opposite her bed.
“Do you?” Nick tried to spin the question.
“I took lessons in like, third grade. My brother had an old guitar, I got it, but never really used it. And never really gave it back. It was too big for me, anyway…” She droned, scratching her chin. “But I know you can totally play! I want to hear!”
“I dunno.” He stood awkwardly, thinking if he really should incentivise her request. He shrugged, walking over to the guitar, and picked it up by the neck. “I’m a little rusty.”
“Can’t be as bad as me.” She scooted over to the corner of the bed, making room for him and the guitar as he sat down, the bed caving a bit under his weight, making Judy lean towards him.
“That’s obvious.” He smiled, propping the guitar up with one leg, putting one paw on a chord, and his other over the string, ready to strum. “Anything specific you had in mind? Since I ‘owe’ you one?”
“Whatever song plays in your heart.” She moved closer to him, leaning against his back.
“That is co-o-o-orny.” He shook his head laughing, twanging the different strings, and tuning the old guitar.
“Just pick something,” she huffed, getting tired of the sounds of tuning, thinking it was the song he picked.
“Hold on… Gotta make sure it sounds right.” He figured this was as good as this old piece of strings and wood would sound, and started strumming a melancholic chord. Judy’s eyes closed as she listened, her ears tall and focused.
Nick played an improvised song, half remembering something he knew Judy liked, but filling in the gaps he couldn’t trace. A dejected chorus reverberated from the instrument, complimenting the cricket’s songs that came in through the window. His low rough voice hummed along with words he didn’t know. Judy’s little smile stayed, enjoying the serenading sound. Her nose, usually twitching, was calm like the notes that played. She sank closer to him, leaning her head back against his spine, and towards the ceiling. She felt his body vibrate with his hums, the feeling tickling her a bit. The smell of her lavender wash floating off his fur complimented the song wonderfully.
Usually, growing up, when she heard her siblings practice guitar, it irritated her. Annoyed her to no end, with the relentless repeated single note plucks that were so out of tune. Repeating the same 3 chords on and on. It was loud, and pricked her ears. But when Nick played, it was so peaceful, so natural. It sounded better than the radio. It was lulling her to sleep.
The trailing voices of other bunnies outside that came in with the breeze quieted, as if listening along to the music with her. The moonlight was pushed away by the orange glow of the lamp. Dimly cast onto the fox behind her, it made his own amber fur seemingly illuminate. The song began to slow, and quiet, coming to a sad end. The strings vibrated and echoed in the small cozy room, and the sound fell to a silence, and so did his hums.
“So,” he placed the guitar down, leaning it against the wall under the open window, then returning his attention to the bunny who sat up watching him, “was that good enough to pay the debt?”
“Yeah.” Judy’s voice ended with a laugh, a bit in awe. “Way better than me.”
“Not saying much with that,” Nick turned, and wrapped his arms around her, bringing her down against the mattress to lay across her. His head was placed on her body like a pillow. “I expected a bit of a higher compliment, I’ll be honest. I played my heart out there.”
“Tsk,” her voice shook with a quiet giggle. Her paws caressed the top of his head, bringing him to nuzzle against her. “The ego you have.”
“I think I earned that ego,” his eyes moved up to watch her play with his ears. “I’m pretty great.”
“Well,” she stroked his fur back as it had begun to fluff up from drying in the cool air, “I guess you are pretty great.”
He moved himself up, his muzzle getting closer to hers, his chin resting against her breathing chest, feeling her small exhales against his nose.
“I think I’m so great,” he smirked, “that now you actually owe me. That song outweighs that shower.”
“Oh really?” She rolled her eyes, pushing his face away from hers. “Well next time you find yourself in an hour's wait to take a shower, don’t come knocking.”
He didn’t rebuttal. She had a point. He sat up and rubbed his neck. The day’s work was really catching up with him now. His muscles were sore and his eyes stung. Judy was feeling the same. She yawned quietly, and laid her head back on the pillow behind her, watching the fox’s body straighten out as his arms stretched into the air, his shirt lifting.
“I think it’s about time we got to bed.” Nick stood up, the small bed feeling so empty now to Judy. “G’night, carrots.”
He turned the lamp off, the room only lit by a covered moon. He took the bedsheets and draped it over her, tucking her in. Judy could barely see his silhouette begin to walk away.
“Where you goin?” She mumbled, sleep was heavy on her speech.
“Bed?” He stopped, tilting his head to look back at her.
“There’s a bed right here…” the sleep in her voice was replaced with a bit of sadness.
“Yeah,” he laughed under his breath. They shared a “bed” the night before. He wasn’t going to fight her on this, because he wanted it too. “Alright.”
Nick walked back over, lifting the sheet. Judy shivered a bit at the entrance of a cool breeze. He quickly snuck into the bed, whispering to Judy to scooch over, and laid down, wrapping the blanket tightly around them. The cramped bed pushed them together, their bodies pressing against one another, her quivering quickly subsided. Her arms naturally wrapped around his waist, and buried her head into his chest. He grabbed her, holding her close, the smell of lavender strong on her clean and soft fur. Their legs tangled as they huddled even closer.
“My bed, your bed.” She commanded, gripping the back of his shirt, not wanting him to even think about slinking away back to his room. Her words slurred, falling deeper into sleep. “Our bed... No more your bed…”
“Wow, you are ti-i-ired,” he stroked her head, Judy leaning into his paw.
“Night.” She grumbled something else nonsensical, but he knew what she said. She nuzzled against his pinned down arm, and drifted to sleep. He watched her nose twitch, even in her sleep, she was somehow focused on something. Her body rose and fell with each slow, calm breath. He pet her gentle fur. His paw glided from her head, to her neck, and down her back, stopping at her tail, before rising back up and starting again. Her body curved with each pet naturally, leaning into the feeling.
“Love you too.”
~~o~o~~