Chapter Text
“Well, we’d better get going.” Judy said to Gary after the last guest had left his party celebrating the rediscovery of Reptile Ravine - only she and Nick were left, along with Nibbles. She was staying a little bit longer so she could interview Gary for her podcast.
“Thank you for coming Judy Hopps, I had a great time meeting your family and everybody!” Gary replied, a huge smile on his face. “Permission to hug?”
“Of course!” She replied and he pulled her into a hug.
Nick stayed on the other side of the room, leaned up against the wall, watching Judy as she talked with Gary, full of her usual enthusiasm.
“So, when are you plannin’ on proposin’ to Judith?” Nick was startled. He obviously had forgot that Nibbles was standing right next to him. Well, that and the question she just asked was not something he was expecting to hear.
“Huh?” Was all he could manage.
“Ya know, we could probably sneak into that weather wall again, maybe you could propose up there where…”
“Excuse me?!” He was stunned. He knew this beaver was crazy, but this?
“You’re right, you’re right. Might shouldn’t propose in the place where we all were nearly killed by a psycho lynx.” She then looked deep in thought, probably trying to think of another place where he could propose.
“What do you mean propose?”
Nibbles just looked kind of confused.
“Oh, ya know, when you get down on one knee with a ring and ask someone to marry you? Do foxes not have proposals.” She sounded a bit concerned.
“No, Nibbles I know what a proposal is.” He raised his voice a little, clearly frustrated by this whole situation. “Why would I propose to Judy?”
“Umm, so you could marry her?” Now she was just confused.
“We’re not even dating!”
“Really? Are you sure?”
“I’m pretty sure I would know if we were dating.”
“Well it seemed an awful lot like you were. I’m pretty sure, like, everyone assumes you are. Even Gary. I’ll ask him. HEY GARY!” She starts walking towards Gary who is still talking to Judy.
“Nibbles, what are you…Aggh!” Nick was practically livid at this point.
“Hey Gary, did you think Nicholas and Judith here were datin’?” Nibbles asked, completely ignoring Nick.
“Well of course! You can obviously tell that they love each other so much!” He beamed with excitement.
“See Nicholas. I told you!”
“I’m sorry, what?” Judy asked, slightly blushing.
“Well, Nicholas just told me the craziest thing that I’ve ever heard. He said you two ain’t datin’”
“You thought we were…” Judy chuckled nervously. “No, no, it’s not like that.” She said with a small smile.
“Are you sure? Remember, I was up there on the weather wall with ya. I saw how you two were lookin’ at each other.”
“We’ve both just told you we aren’t dating and you still don’t believe us? I think maybe you do have lead poisoning. Maybe you should stop eating so many pencils.” Nick asked. “Anyways, I think it’s time for us to leave.”
“Together, I presume?” Nibbles wasn’t dropping the subject that easily.
“Yes, because we both live near each other, so I’m going to drop her off at her apartment on my way to mine.
“Okay, whatever you gotta keep telling yourself.”
“Ugggghh” Nick whined, dragging his paw down his face. “Are you ready, Carrots?” He asked her, oblivious to the fact that she was snickering a little, despite the blush on her face and ears.
“Yeah, thanks again Gary! I had a lot of fun today.”
“Now don’t go havin’ too much fun after you leave, you two.” Apparently, Nibbles still wasn’t done.
“NIBBLES!” Nick and Judy both shouted in unison.
“Okay, okay, then do, I mean it’s not really up to me what you two do in your personal time.”
“We’re just friends, okay.” Judy’s face and ears were more red now, burning a little. “Goodnight, everyone.”
They both turned around and left as quick as possible. They both stopped just as they got out the door.
“What was that all about?” Judy asked, exasperated.
“Oh, you know, just Nibbles and all of her crazy conspiracy theories. I guess we’re subject to them too. She’s a lot to put up with sometimes.”
“You would know, I’m sure.”
“Oh, yeah. I have lots of experience having to deal with a particular bunny.”
“Oh, get over yourself.” She let out a small, sincere laugh. “We’d better get going though. Nibbles may or may not come out here and start bothering us again.”
“Good point.”
The drive to her apartment was quiet, but a comfortable quiet. The kind that comes after a long, yet satisfying day. They were just pulling up to Judy’s apartment when he turned to her, a serious look on his face.
“Hey, Carrots. There’s something I wanted to ask you.” His voice had a strange tone to it - one that she couldn’t quite place.
Judy didn’t know where this was going. What was he going to say? Was he mad at her for having that recording on the carrot pen? Was he going to ask her to delete it? Was he going to ask for it back? Did what Nibbles and Gary thought about them make him feel awkward? Did he not want to be her partner anymore? Did he—
“Carrots? Carrots…Are you okay? You just zoned out on me there”
“Oh, y-yeah. I’m….I’m fine. What was it you wanted to ask me?”
“Well, umm. You know…once you came to my apartment and saw how much of a mess it was, it made me want to…you know…”
“You cleaned for me?!”
“Well, yeah, I cleaned. So I didn’t know if you maybe wanted to come over tomorrow. If you wanted to, you…you don’t have to. I was thinking we could watch a movie, order some pizza. You know.” What was wrong with him? That silver tongue of his apparently was not wanting to cooperate today.
“Nick, of course I want to!” Then, she punched him on the arm.
“We really need to talk about that, I swear you punch me harder each time.”
“Sorry, sorry. I’m just excited is all!”
“So, I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Of course!”
She reached for the handle of the car before abruptly stopping.
She turned around and swiftly placed a kiss on his cheek before hurriedly opening the car door and hopping out.
“Goodnight, Nick.” She said meekly.
“Uhh..yeah…g-goodnight Carrots.”
She giggled a little bit at his suddenly being flustered, and then closed the door and walked to her apartment.
He sat in the driver’s seat, watching her walk away. What have I gotten myself into?
The next day, they both waited anxiously until it was time for their dinner date - not date date, of course. Just…a date.
For two friends…
Very platonic…
Yeah…
They both were anxious for different reasons. Nick had started to question the whole thing, wondering if he should just call her and tell her something came up. But then he thought about how disappointed she would be, and how excited she was when he asked her. Why did he have to ask her and put himself in this situation. Obviously, he was having some problems with his smooth-talking lately, thanks to her. Hopefully he wouldn’t say something stupid tonight that messed things up.
Judy, on the other hand, was full of anticipation. She paced around her room, excited to finally get to go over to Nick’s apartment. Just before she was about to leave, the carrot pen caught her eye. It was sitting in the windowsill on the little stand Nick had given her to put it on.
I shouldn’t. She told herself. Okay, just once.
‘Love you, partner.’ Nick’s voice said from the carrot pen.
Ok, maybe twice.
‘Love you, partner.’
Ok, maybe three—
“Hey bunny, you gonna keep playing that all night?” Of course. Her nosey neighbors always have to interrupt her. Granted, she probably should’ve stopped playing it anyways. She could’ve played it all night. Just to hear that voice—
“Leave her alone, she’s proud of herself but still seeks external validation!”
“Oh, shut up!”
“You shut up!”
“You shut up!”
“Hey bunny, what’s next for you two?”
“We’re investigating a bunny who strangled her neighbors!” She usually wouldn’t say something like that to them, but she was just irritated at this point.
“You offended her!”
“You offended her!”
“Shut up!"
“You shut up!”
“Good night!” She said, closing the door. She was glad it was her going to Nick’s apartment and not the other way around. Right. She was headed to Nick’s apartment. She almost forgot with all the yelling from her neighbors. The excitement kicked in again, and she found herself walking a little faster than usual on the way over there.
She walked up to the door and knocked. She really forgot how awful this place was. I mean, with the elephant gym upstairs, how did he even sleep? He should probably get a new apartment - for his own well being. Maybe they could—
“Hey, Carrots.” He opened the door, looking a little nervous, which was very out of character for him.
She was already pushing past him, through the door. She stood there for a second, in awe.
“Are you sure this is the same place?”
“Wow. I’m that good at cleaning, huh?” He asked as he shut the door behind them.
“I guess when you want to be.”
“Well, I had some good motivation."
That made her heart flutter. Sure, yesterday he had implied that he cleaned for her, but to actually see what he had done. And the thought of him actually doing all of this - just for her.
They stood there in silence for a second, before a doorbell interrupted.
“That must be the pizza,” Nick said. “Perfect timing. There’s a box of DVDs over there.” He gestured vaguely over by the TV. “Go pick one out and I’ll be over there in a second.”
“DVDs? Wow, I guess you really are old.”
“Okay, I guess I’ll just pick one out then.”
“No! I’m already on my way over there!”
He turned around to head to the door. Judy walked over towards the TV, and opened a box next to it. But when she did, it wasn’t DVDs that she found.
It was full of stuff from when he was in the academy. Clothes, books…
“What is this?” She quietly whispered to herself.
In her hands was a small stack of papers, all with handwritten notes. She started to read them.
‘Dear Carrots,’