Chapter Text
Chapter 1
Zootopia was calm. At least in terms of crime. The usual urban chaos hummed through the streets, but nothing out of the ordinary.
Our focus lands on Officer Judy Hopps, standing nervously outside her favorite café, tapping her foot against the pavement in a failed attempt to steady herself.
“Relax, Judy… It’s just a date. A first date. First impressions matter. If you mess it up, you’ll look terrible. But if you don’t go, that’s even worse. Ugh. Forget it.”
The rabbit crossed the street and stepped inside, nerves buzzing under her fur. She scanned the room until she spotted a rabbit with light golden-brown fur waving enthusiastically at her. Judy exhaled and made her way to his table.
“Hey! Hi! Uh… Judy, right?” the rabbit asked, glancing at his phone and checking her dating profile.
“Yep! Gerald?”
“Exactly. Nice to finally meet you. I already ordered something, but feel free to get whatever you’d like.”
“This your first time trying online dating too?” Judy asked with a small laugh.
“Heh… Is it that obvious? My friends suggested it. I’ve been single for a while and…”
“Yeah, I get it. A coworker recommended the app to me. I wasn’t sure at first, but I figured I had nothing to lose. So… what did you order?”
“Coffee with carrot juice.”
“Seriously? I love that!”
“Really? Well… guess we already have something in common. Go ahead and order one. I’ll pay.”
“That’s what I—”
The café door burst open.
An elk and a kudu stormed inside, both wearing ski masks. One held a knife. The other carried a gun.
“Nobody move!” the kudu shouted, brandishing the knife at the customers.
“Empty the damn register! Now! And nobody gets hurt!” the elk barked at the cashier, aiming the gun.
“Great…” Judy muttered, watching her date unravel in front of her thanks to two incompetent criminals.
Her frustration doubled when she saw Gerald crouched under the table, trembling, hands over his head.
“What are you doing?”
“It’s dangerous! W-What are you doing standing up?” Gerald whispered shakily.
“We have to do something.”
“Are you crazy? I don’t want to die!”
Judy realized something in that moment. Nice? Sure. But brave? Not even close.
Still, she wasn’t backing down.
She stepped away from the table and approached the kudu.
“And what do you want, little bunny?” the kudu sneered, pressing the knife closer to her.
“Just letting you know you’re making a mistake.”
“Oh, you think so?”
“Yep. And sorry in advance for what’s about to happen. Hi-yah!”
With a swift kick, Judy knocked the kudu off balance. She snatched the knife mid-stumble and delivered a rapid series of kicks to his jaw, dropping him unconscious.
“What the—?!” The elk spun around just in time to see his partner taken down by a sixty-centimeter rabbit.
He fired impulsively.
Judy ducked.
“Watch it!” she shouted as she lunged forward, grabbing the barrel of the gun. She drove her foot into the elk’s stomach. The weapon clattered to the floor. In one fluid motion she leapt up, grabbed his antlers, and hammered him with repeated kicks until he collapsed.
She landed lightly.
“Okay. Everyone stay calm. ZPD.”
She flashed her badge, cuffed both criminals, and radioed dispatch to report the arrest.
Then she turned back to Gerald.
“Hey… sorry about that. Would you like to continue this somewhere else?”
“U-uhm… I just remembered I have something to do. It’s n-not personal. I swear.”
Gerald bolted from the café.
Judy sighed, glancing at her watch.
“Tomorrow’s a workday… and I wasted my day off on this.”
The next morning, Judy’s shift began alongside Nick Wilde. They sat in their patrol car. Nick wore sunglasses and sipped coffee while watching traffic roll by.
“So, how was your date yesterday, Carrots? Find yourself a boyfriend?”
“Don’t even start. It was a disaster.”
“Why? I heard you bagged two crooks. A date and a double arrest sounds like your dream scenario.”
“It would’ve been. If it hadn’t scared him off. He ran.”
“Ouch. Tough break.”
Judy hesitated.
“Can I ask you something kind of personal?”
“Shoot.”
“How do you balance work and… you know. Dating? Every rabbit expects me to be sweet and soft, but I tend to scare them with—”
“Your insanity?”
“I was going to say energy. Anyway… how do you do it?”
“Simple. I don’t.” Nick took another sip of coffee, grinning. “No time for dates. I’m a lone fox. Besides, it’s not like I’m lacking options. I’m handsome. The uniform helps. I’ve basically got it made.”
Judy punched him square in the arm.
“Ow!”
“You deserved that.”
“Yeah, okay, that one was fair. Hey. You see that?” He nodded toward a nervous-looking weasel clutching a backpack.
“Classic evasive behavior. Let’s find out why.”
Judy pulled the cruiser closer and gave a short siren chirp.
The weasel bolted into an alley.
“Nick!”
“On it!”
Nick jumped out and sprinted after him while Judy parked.
“I’m coming!” she shouted, joining the chase.
They reached a fire escape.
“This way!” Nick called, climbing.
“I’m right behind you!”
Judy leapt for the ladder—but halfway up, it began shaking violently.
“Whoa! What’s happening?!”
“He’s kicking it! Hang on!”
Judy slipped and grabbed the nearest thing she could reach.
Nick’s tail.
“OW! THE TAIL! LET GO OF MY TAIL!” Nick yelped in total disorientation and pain.
“Sorry! Sorry!”
She released it quickly and climbed properly. At the rooftop, Nick clutched his tail dramatically.
“My poor tail… That wicked bunny hurt you.”
“Nick, focus!” Judy pointed to the suspect, who was leaping between rooftops.
“All yours.” Nick handed her a dart pistol loaded with a paralytic round.
Judy aimed.
Fired.
The dart struck the suspect in the neck. Seconds later, he collapsed.
“Nice shot, partner! Let’s grab him.”
They leapt across the gap. Nick hauled the weasel upright while Judy pulled on gloves and inspected the backpack.
“What do we have here? Lone Lilies.”
“A what?”
“A narcotic plant. Grind it with water and drink the juice. Supposed to make you extremely euphoric or relaxed. Legal in very few places. Zootopia isn’t one of them. And there’s more in here. No way this was personal use. The cash bundle suggests distribution.”
“I’m surprised this isn’t Duke.” Nick finished cuffing the suspect.
“Duke wouldn’t go this far. He sticks to bootleg movies and stolen produce. Let’s move.”
They processed the suspect, logged the evidence, and returned to patrol.
“Ugh. I’m exhausted.”
“And the day’s just getting started. Coffee break?” Nick suggested.
“Fine. You earned it. For the tail incident.”
“Now that’s justice.”
They grabbed coffee and donuts at a café.
“Ah. Nothing like a stereotypical cop snack to boost morale,” Nick said.
“Donuts are cheap and sold late at night. That’s why officers started eating them,” Judy replied.
“And I couldn’t be happier about that. These are amazing.”
Nick glanced at her.
“So. What should you do?”
“About what?”
“Finding someone.”
“Do you really want a boyfriend?”
“I’m not dreaming about quitting my job for a fairy-tale romance. But… it would be nice to have someone.”
“Cops tend to do well dating other cops. Try the department.”
“Nick. I’m the only rabbit there. I literally have an award for being the first rabbit officer.”
“Right. Well, stick with your app. Maybe you’ll find a skinny but brave rabbit.”
She punched his shoulder again. Softer this time.
“Okay, okay! I’ll stop. At this rate you’ll dislocate my arm.”
“Next time it’s a kick.”
“Anyway, it won’t be easy. So you’ll just have to wait for the right one. Now let’s get back to work.”
“Yes, sir!” Judy said enthusiastically, ready for action.
The rest of the day passed without major incident. That night, they split up and headed home.
Nick stopped outside his apartment beneath the elephant gym.
“Man… what a day. At least I can relax with an episode of my—what?”
A notice taped to his door froze him in place.
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘EVICTION NOTICE’?!”