Chapter Text
The public’s response to the last case Nick and Judy cracked was fairly tame. Outside of a little bit of scandal, everyone pretty much just returned back to normal life. Some people didn’t even care. Judy only did a few short interviews and that was all.
But in this case? The public was all over it. And rightly so. This wasn’t just some politician doing some corrupt shennanigans. That’s not exciting, politicians do that all the time anyway--with varying degrees of public outcry. This was a gigantic, decades-long lie and a rewriting of the history everyone thought was true. It was a reintroduction of the Reptilia Class of animals to their homeland. It was a moment in history.
So for Nick and Judy, it meant press. And quite a bit of it. People wanted to know everything about the real history of Zootopia, they wanted to see an actual snake on TV, they wanted to know about the Lynxleys, and they wanted to know how everything happened. Easy enough, right?
Then, about a month after everything happened, an email came to Judy and Nick's respective inboxes. It was from a college journalism student named Sierra Fitch.
Dear Officers Hopps and Wilde ,
I hope this email finds you well. My name is Sierra Fitch, and I am a senior at ZU majoring in journalism. I was hoping to interview the both of you one-on-one for a project. I was so moved by what the pair of you have accomplished in this city not only once but twice and I think your service to this city is absolutely exemplary.
This piece would be part of a larger piece acknowledging the history that has been made recently. The goal for my piece is to be a biography of the both of you and your partnership. I think people would want to read about the two mammals who made it happen. All of course with respect to your privacy, as that is the last thing I want to do.
If you’re comfortable, I would ask you to discuss your upbringings, what made you go into the field, what you would do differently if you could. I’d also ask about your partnership, such as how you met, how you work so well together, and any obstacles you’ve had to overcome. Or, if you’re more comfortable just telling some stories about your time together, that would be great as well.
The article of course would not be posted or published anywhere until you both have read it and approved. Also I feel that I should mention this is entirely because I feel so strongly that I need to tell your story to the world, not for a grade. I hope to hear from the both of you!
(Also I feel I should mention I got your emails from our mutual friend Officer Clawhauser, I met him a while ago at a Gazelle concert and he’s been a friend of mine for a while. Your emails are completely safe from the public.)
Thank you so much!
Sierra Fitch
Judy smiled at her computer. This girl was so like her, doing things because she felt she needed to, not just for merit or a grade. Unfortunately, she really didn’t think Nick would want to do that. He wasn’t much of a talker, even after their confession to each other and he brightened up a bit.
Then, Judy got another email notification. A response from Nick.
Yeah, we’d love to. Where and when?
Sent from my smartphone
She turned her head around towards his side of the cubicle.
“Uh, Nick?” she summoned him. He gazed up from his phone, meeting her attention. “Did you just agree to do an interview?”
“Yeah, I figured one more wouldn’t hurt,” he said, leaning back against his desk chair and putting his feet up on the desk. “Why? Do you not want to?”
Usually Judy didn’t like being spoken for, but Nick knew her well that she didn’t mind him taking initiative in that way. “No, I want to.”
“Okay, great. I already told her we’d do it. I saw she was doing it just for the love of the game and figured you wouldn’t be able to resist saying yes.”
“You’re absolutely right,” she said, “However I do have one issue.”
“And that is?”
“You desperately need to learn how to write a proper email. What was that like, seven words? I get more when I get my letters from my 5 year-old sister.”
“Carrots, you know me. I’m very to the point,” Nick sighed, “Besides, she’s probably just stoked to hear back anyways.”
“Or she thinks she’s getting scammed because you didn’t make the email look professional at all,” Judy shot back playfully.
“Oh, please. I’m just matching what the natural frequency of a college student is nowadays. Short responses. No faux professional dressing up for no reason,” Nick defended. “But trust me, I can write a decent letter. Just give me a few business days.”
Judy laughed. “Maybe you can write back to Molly for me. I forget to do it and she gets upset,” Judy sighed. “But horribly lazy email responses aside, I’m glad you wanna do it. I know opening up like that must be a lot for you, so, you know, if you don’t actually wanna do it, I wouldn’t make you. I’m sure she’d be okay with just one-”
“I wanna do it, Judy,” Nick cut her off. “Can’t let you steal all the thunder, you know.”
Judy was caught back a bit. Nick a month ago wouldn’t have done that. “I-well, I really appreciate that, Nick.”
“Hey, the good citizens of this city deserve to know how the Dream Team was born.”
Judy laughed. “Enjoying your fifteen minutes of fame much, Wilde?”
“Yes, yes I am.”
Judy looked at her computer again to see another email response from Sierra.
Good afternoon Officers,
I’m delighted to hear that you would be down for an interview. I am beyond stoked! Would 2pm this Friday at the ZU Student Union work for the both of you?
Thanks!
Sierra Fitch
“Nick, don’t respond to that. I will show you how to write a professional email. Watch,” Judy said before Nick could even finish reading the email.
“Fine. But if you go over a paragraph, I’m taking my lunch.”
“I won’t,” Judy sighed. “You can make a short email very professional. You start like this: Dear Miss Fitch…comma,” she spoke as she typed.
“Eh…seems a bit formal to me, this ain’t a love letter, Carrots.”
“This is the formal way. If you were emailing Clawhauser you could just lead with a ‘Hello’ then a comma, then a new paragraph,” Judy corrected.
“I’d just text him, but alright,”
“Not the point!” Judy said, “Anyways, here’s the rest of the reply.”
“Thank you for the quick correspondence, yes 2:00 PM on Friday works for the both of us. We are very excited to meet you and look forward to the interview.”
“And that’s it? Nick asked.
“Of course not. I signed it off as well and also included my email signature I made a long time ago that has my other contact info on it. If you read hers she left her number there.”
“Alright then, lesson learned. I’d expect nothing less from you, Carrots.”
“Hmm,” she cooed satisfactorily. She then hit send on the email.
Nick rolled his chair closer to hers. “Lunch?” he asked using those stupid puppy eyes he always used when he wanted something from her. Luckily it was well past noon and Judy was happy to oblige. And so they got lunch together at a restaurant of Judy’s choice (it was her week to pick).
The rest of the day was uneventful yet still tiring. Judy was in a great mood, pleased that Nick wanted to do something as potentially vulnerable as an interview with her. Every day since taking down those Lynxleys, Nick and Judy were finding new ways to surprise each other that hadn’t happened before.
What Judy didn’t know is that Nick Wilde could very much write a letter when he put his mind to it. And when he got back to his apartment that night, that’s what he did.
Dear Carrots
I don’t know why I’m writing this. I think it’s to prove a point that I can write just as well as Molly. I didn’t think five year olds could write whole paragraphs, but I’m chalking it up to being part of the reason she’s your favorite sibling. I don’t plan on you ever seeing this letter, though. So my point will be unproven. But I need to write. Because there’s so much I want to tell you but I can’t.
I think about that moment on the weather wall constantly. I’ve felt like a brand new mammal ever since then. Never in my life have I opened up to someone like that. And I probably still won’t to anyone I don’t trust, but with you I can and it is the most freeing feeling ever.
But the thing I think about more than that moment is you, Judy. Every day I wake up I have more energy in me because I am looking forward to seeing you. I have never felt this way about anyone in my life. I love you, Judy. Right now, I’m not sure how- but I know that I do.
There are so many reasons why. That look of excitement on your face when you convince me to do something with you (secretly, I’ve been convinced for a while but am making you work for it). The way I’m starting to see the good in people before I see the bad, like you do. The way you light up every room.
The simple fact that I am considerably better as a person since meeting you. Hell, Carrots I’ve been visiting my mom a lot more these days because of you. She’s dying to meet you, by the way.
But because I am a fox, I was bred to be a cynic. As much as your optimism is rubbing off on me, I can only say this: I love you, but I don’t know how. And that terrifies me and excites me at the same time. But I can’t imagine going back to my life without you in it. If we are partners forever that will see me happy and a life well lived.
Love,
Your Dumb Fox.
Nick slid the letter into his nightstand drawer and went to sleep, just glad to get that off his chest.
…
Friday came around quickly. Nick admittedly wished he hadn’t agreed so hastily to the interview. He skimmed over the email pretty quick. They didn’t even know this cat. Judy would have at least checked her credentials first and read some of her work, but Nick wasn’t much of a reader.
So far Judy had handled most of the press, since it was mostly her help that led the case to be cracked. Nick would usually just stand either beside her or off camera with his casual smile, occasionally corroborating her story.
But this wasn’t just retelling the story of what had happened. This was a biography of the two of them. Nick was imagining how bored she would be of his biography.
“Oh yeah, I was a small-time popsicle hustler. Real lowlife,” he shook his head and muttered to himself in the mirror that morning.
Nick was actually less concerned about the lack of good things he had to say about himself and his past life. He was more worried about the fact that he would definitely find himself talking more about Judy than anything. Not that he didn’t like talking about Judy, he loved it. Maybe a little too much. And that worried him.
Later that day, walking back to the locker room to change back into their civilian clothes, Nick caught Judy with an unsure look on her face as she looked at her messages to Sierra.
“Something wrong, Carrots?” He asked, looking over to her.
“Oh, nothing. Just a little nervous is all,” Judy said, looking up at him with eyes that said otherwise.
“What could you, Judy Hopps, the most lovable mammal in Zootopia, have to worry about?”
“Did I hear that wrong?” Judy teased, looking him up and down, “Or was that you saying you love me yet again?”
“Officer, I plead the fifth,” Nick flirted back. “But seriously, Judy, you’ve got nothing to worry about here. Your story will inspire people, I think.”
“I never said I was nervous because of that,” Judy said confidently, “I was actually more worried about you. If you don’t want to do this I will text her and cancel right now.”
“I’m fine, Carrots,” Nick sighed. “Plus it’s rude to cancel last-minute.”
Judy stopped in her tracks and pulled Nick to face her. “Nick, I’m serious. This interview-it’s gonna be more personal than all the interviews we’ve done before. And I know opening up is not your favorite thing in the world, so I guess what I’m saying is if you don’t want to do it, I won't hold it against you because I know it’s hard.”
Nick closed his eyes and sighed. “Okay, to be completely honest I was having some second thoughts earlier-”
“Nick I promise it’s okay if you don’t want to do it,” Judy interrupted, starting to turn away, “let’s just go find something else to do-”
“I’m not finished, Carrots,” Nick interjected, putting his paw on her shoulder and turning her back towards him, “I had second thoughts, yes, and being vulnerable is not my strong suit. But, I figured I was worried for nothing, because as much as that is not me, doing things–and saying things I’m scared of saying has really been working out for me this year,” Nick finished, thinking about their conversation at the Weather Wall.
Judy smiled fondly and lightly touched him on the chest with her fist, a warm welcome compared to her usual friendly punch. “It’s worked out for both of us pretty well.”
Nick grinned back at her and let his hand fall from her shoulder. He was already feeling a small wave of euphoria for saying that–for saying the truth. He could almost get addicted to wearing his heart on his sleeve, but he was still too trained to reserve it for only Judy to see.
“You go get changed. I’ll meet you out here.”
…
When Judy met Nick back outside the locker room he didn’t fail to notice she had dressed for the occasion. She wore a baby blue collared blouse with short, puffy sleeves underneath a black waistcoat-type vest and black pants, but more noticeably, a silver necklace.
“You do know we’re not gonna be on TV, right? It's a written article. With fancy words.”
Judy rolled her eyes. “I know. But you know, first impressions matter. And of course a-”
“A bunny comes prepared, don’t I know it,” Nick said, pausing and doing another quick once over of her, “You look great though, Judy.”
Judy’s eyes widened a bit, flustered at the compliment. “Thank you,” she said, before looking at Nick’s outfit. He had put a little more effort in than usual today. She reached up and tightened his blue tie, “Not too bad yourself, fox. You’re wearing a color that actually compliments your fur.”
“Excuse me, Carrots, but I look good in every color.”
“Yes you do, Nick,” Judy responded, “I like your colorful outfits. But let’s not pretend that bright hot magenta goes well with orange, it’s just bad color theory.”
“And you, of course, are an expert on color theory, I presume?”
“I know what looks good on you, orange dog. I call it ‘having eyes’”
“Uh huh,” Nick said, as they started walking towards the door. He noticed her necklace, just a simple silver chain with a pendant that he had to look closer to see.
And of course, the little silver pendant was a carrot. How very Judy.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you wear jewelry before,” Nick pointed out.
“Oh,” Judy responded, a hand going up to hold the pendant, “That’s because I hardly ever do. Occupational hazard and all.”
“Makes sense,” Nick hummed. “Just feeling it today then?”
“Yeah. My mom gave this to me and I feel bad for not wearing it anyways, I just end up forgetting when I’m not working.”
“Well don’t the two of you look nice!” Clawhauser’s voice echoed through the room as they approached the front desk. “Is there an occasion?”
Judy did a small curtsy, “Thanks. We have an interview coming up in a while, you know, the one I told you about.”
“Oh yeah! With Sierra! Duh!” He exclaimed, “Oh I am so excited to read what she writes, she is just so good.”
“You’ve read her stuff?”
“Of course I have! She did an amazing biography on Gazelle. Did you know that she shares her profits equally with her tiger dancers? Sierra got that info from one of them!” Clawhauser gushed, “I think you’ll have fun,”
“I think so too,” Nick said, looking at Judy then back up at Clawhauser, “Well, we’ve gotta run if we don’t wanna be late. See you Monday, Clawhauser.”
As Nick and Judy left the building, Clawhauser muttered to himself. “Oh, that girl better get ALL the tea on those two.”