Boilerplate Disclaimer: The various characters from the movie Zootopia are owned by Disney. Any and all registered trade names property of their respective owners. Cheap shots at celebrities constitute fair usage.

A small foray outside my usual Kim Possible comfort zone (and a couple things in the Harry Potter section... Not that Harry Potter is in them. Hard for a character to appear in a story a century and a half before he was born.). I watched Zootopia with my daughter and found it charming, but suspect life for our protagonists might turn out more complicated than the movie depicts.

Who Can You Trust?

The bartender pushed the mane out of his eyes for a clearer view and scowled at the two short figures among the blue-uniformed group entering Water Hole #3. Frowning, he gestured to a water buffalo, who approached the bar. ‟We don't serve their kind."

‟Their kind? You got a problem with cops?"

‟No, of course not, Chief. I love the police... But I can't serve them."

‟So... You're telling the guys at the First you don't want our business?"

‟Your business I want! Look... They're shorts. Go ahead, look around. Do I even have a place in here for a short to sit?"

‟Then we'll all leave. Hopps and Wilde just made detective... Record time too, and if–‟

‟Hopps? Judy Hopps?"

‟Yeah, and if you don't–‟

‟Hold on, I'll find something." He turned to a server, ‟Elsa. Watch the bar for a minute. We got us a celebrity."

A few minutes later most of the first shift police of the First Precinct occupied the bar's standard large chairs around three tables which had been shoved together. A large box, draped with a towel had been placed on one chair and the guests of honor sat side-by-side atop it. ‟Hold on just a sec," the bartender informed them, and handed his cell phone to an over-weight cheetah. ‟Take my picture with them."

Clawhauser snapped a couple shots and returned the camera, and the lion prepared to take their orders, ‟I think I heard something about a promotion?"

‟Yeah," McHorn confirmed, ‟So we told them they were buying a round for everyone to celebrate."

‟Not possible," the lion began. Chief Bogo opened his mouth to speak, but the bartender kept on. ‟Their money is no good here. They saved this place. That anti-predator scare a year ago? It just about closed us down. Anything they want – it's on the house. Oh, and I'll treat their friends, you guys, to one round. After that, the rest of you bums pay."

‟That's very nice," Judy objected, ‟but you don't have to do-"

‟No, you saved this place. Really... Besides, you and your friend get really small glasses."

Nick raised an eyebrow, ‟Sounds like bribing officers of the law. Not that I have anything against that."

Judy playfully tapped his ribs with her elbow, ‟Nick!"

‟You're right," he told her, ‟never should suggest that in front of witnesses."

‟Got to admit, I'm kind of jealous," Fangmeyer told the pair after Elsa had delivered their drinks. ‟Grizzoli and I have been busting our humps for–‟

‟Hey, watch it," the camel objected.

‟No offense meant," the wolf apologized. ‟Just saying Grizzoli and I have been hoping to make detective for years. And you two, *BAM*."

‟You and Grizzoli ever get results like these two and the mayor will lean on the Commissioner for you too," Bogo told him. ‟But first you got to get the results."

Clawhauser raised his glass, ‟To Judy and Nick!" and their co-workers followed in the salute.

Clawhauser paid for a second round. The bartender's large political button, 'Re-elect Mayor Lionheart', became a topic of conversation during the second round.

‟Whatta ya think the Mayor's chances are?" Francine asked as a general question.

‟Well, he's got the lion vote for sure," Delgato mused. ‟Probably all us felines. I mean, yeah, he fucked up by kidnapping the ferals, but he saved lives! No one was hurt, and he was trying to find a cure. That's got to count for something."

‟He came out smelling better than he deserved," Link sniffed. ‟If he'd really been doing his job instead of shoving all the work onto that Bellweather dame she'd have never had the chance to plot like that. He's all show and no substance."

‟But it's a good show," another officer grumbled. ‟People prefer show to substance."

‟Hopefully he learned his lesson," Judy told them.

Nick rolled his eyes, ‟Always the optimist," and received another playful elbow to the ribs.

‟No, seriously," Judy insisted. ‟And he had the smarts to choose an assistant mayor last time who was smart and capable, so–‟

‟And evil," Nick reminded her.

‟Well, maybe Ms Deering will also be smart and capable – without the evil this time. But he did act fast and saved lives. I think that shows Mayor Lionheart can act, when he needs to."

The gathering broke up after the two rounds. Most of the officers had family waiting at home, and none wanted to be picked up for DWI, which tended to look bad on a police officer's record.

Even with the smallest glasses at the bar Nick and Judy decided a taxi was the best way home. She leaned against her partner in the back of the cab.

‟You drunk?" he asked.

‟Don't know. Define drunk. Never had a buzz like this, but don't think I'm drunk."

‟If you're thinking, you're probably not drunk, just impaired. You really think Lionheart will be re-elected?"

‟To be honest, I don't care. But not a good idea to say bad things about a man who could be mayor."

‟Yeah," the fox chuckled. ‟So, making detective was him paying us back. Think he really hates us for getting him in trouble in the first place, or likes us for getting him out of jail?"

‟I don't understand the predator mind at all. Especially with my brain feeling like it's wrapped in cotton. What do you think?"

‟Not sure. But I'm hoping we pulled a thorn from his paw and he'll be eternally grateful, or at least grateful through the city setting our precinct budget. We need a new fridge in our break room."

The cabbie left Judy at her place and drove Nick to his apartment.

Judy Skyped her parents over the weekend with the news. Or, to be more precise, she Skyped a younger sister who put her parents in front of the computer's camera. Her mother spent almost the entire time expressing fears for Judy's safety, and suggesting that coming home and settling down in some safe job would really be best for Judy's happiness. In the brief period when she wasn't telling Judy how dangerous it was to be a police officer in Zootopia her mother informed her that she had set up another blind date for the following weekend: the brother of one of her many brothers-in-law. Rupert worked as a photographer in Zootopia, a steady job with a good income and–

Judy hit the switch that made her phone ring, ‟Gotta go, Mom. Might be an emergency at the station."

‟Be safe!"

‟Yes, Mom."

‟Don't forget Rupert!"

‟Have Suze text me the info. Gotta go. Love you. Bye."

Judy flopped back on the bed and stared at her dingy ceiling. The loud couple in the next apartment made some sort of comments she ignored from months of practice.

‟I hate lying to Mom, but she just doesn't understand. This is my life now... Well, not this dump. I need to find a better place, I can afford it now." She sighed, she needed a life. She wondered vaguely if Rupert would be as bad as the last two blind dates her mother had arranged for her. ‟Probably." She needed to make more friends, and that thought made her reach for the phone to call Nick. She stopped before her hand touched the phone. Nick was from the city. He had friends to hang with. ‟Think I'll do a search for clubs and organizations that sound fun."

Clawhauser sat at his usual spot at the front desk when Judy reported in on Monday. ‟Don't forget us now that you're upstairs."

‟I'll never forget you," she laughed. ‟And I'll see you every day when I come in."

He turned his paws up in a resigned gesture, ‟Some of the detectives don't even say hello."

‟It won't be me," she promised. ‟Seen Nick?"

‟Not yet."

She glanced at her watch, ‟We're supposed to meet Chief Alces in five minutes. It looks bad if we're late on–‟

Nick arrived in a hurry, diving under McHorn's legs and jogging past the front desk, ‟Morning, Claw-man. Move it, Carrots, we don't want to be late."

The rabbit rolled her eyes in mock disgust and took out in pursuit of her partner.

Five minutes later they shared a large chair in front of the desk of the Captain of the detectives.

The moose bore some nasty scars on the right side of his face, and his antlers had damage on the same side. He stared at the two for an uncomfortable period before speaking.

‟I demand honesty from my officers. And I give it. I got mixed feelings on you two. Part of me doesn't like you. You came up too fast, and it took the Superintendent, the Commissioner, and the Mayor on my back to do it. I don't like anyone on my back. But I'm gonna try and not let that cloud my judgement. Understood?"

Judy swallowed hard, ‟Yes, Sir."

‟On the positive side, I could use some shorts. Precinct is mostly large, but we got a fair number of shorts – and too many smalls. You ever seen a giraffe trying to question a hamster?"

Nick chucked, ‟No."

‟It's not funny," the moose snapped. ‟And it ain't pretty either. I think I just gave you a glimpse of your future here – shorts and smalls." He looked at Judy, ‟Bogo says he set you up to fail one time."

‟That was–‟

‟You didn't. Maybe you just got lucky. Maybe you're good. He tells me you're good – and he's got good judgment. I will never set you up to fail. Failure happens, can't change that. But I will not tolerate screw-ups. Got that, fox?"

It was Nick's turn to swallow hard.

The Captain pointed at a manilla folder on top of his desk, ‟Looking at your rap sheet. Petty stuff, probably should have kept you out of the academy, but–‟

‟Nick's a good cop!" Judy argued.

‟And rookies should keep their mouths closed until I finish. Oh," he pointed to the scarred side of his face, ‟never trust a con man."

‟But–‟ Judy protested.

Nick nudged her to be silent.

‟Where was I... Oh, yeah. I'll never set you up for failure. I want you to succeed. And I don't want you to succeed because I got big shots riding me. I want you to succeed for Precinct One. We lost best arrest rate to Precinct Five last year by two lousy cases. Two! If we'd solved two more..." He took a breath. ‟Sorry. Not your fault. Not anybody's fault. I'm going to take you around up here today and introduce you. You don't have desks yet, or terminals. Hopefully by the end of the week we'll have them in your size. Lieutenant Hightower will give you orientation on procedures after I've introduced you around, then I'll introduce you to your new partners for–‟

Judy grabbed the fox's arm, ‟Nick and I are partners."

‟Maybe later. Right now you're both grass green in my department. I'm going to send you each out with veteran officers until –‟

‟Until when?" the rabbit demanded.

‟She's a little high strung," Nick apologized. ‟But we do work well together."

‟You'll work with veterans until I say different. It depends on their reports. And I don't care what the Superintendent, or the Commissioner, or even the Mayor say – if I get told you can't cut it, you'll be back on a beat. Clear?"

Back on a beat was sounding better to Nick at the moment than the promotion to detective.

Judy made copious notes and kept her pen recorder on as the Captain led them around and introduced them to co-workers. Nick didn't take notes on the Captain's words. He hoped he'd remember anything that sounded important, and knew Judy would let him see her notes. What the fox noticed was body language and personal dynamics. Who actually seemed glad for the presence of two new detectives and who appeared to resent them. Who were the people who held real power in the department – regardless of rank – and who was just a piece of furniture in office politics. ‟Never cross people who can make your life Hell. Stay on their good side and life is Heaven." The quiet ones were the hardest to gauge. There were three of them. All three might be dullards who simply didn't have anything worth saying, or all three might be wisely biding their time and doing their own evaluations of him. Most likely they weren't all idiots – or geniuses; but who was sharp and who was dull?

‟By-the-book-nerd," was Nick's evaluation of Hightower as the lieutenant droned on about policies that had been drilled into recruits at the police academy. ‟Cares more about how that job is done than actually getting it done."

The detectives that Judy and Nick were to be paired with had been on a call as the Captain was making the introductions, but came in before the rabbit and fox left.

‟Judy Hopps, Phil Hairus."

‟Pleased ta meet'cha," the bear yawned and scratched his crotch.

Chief Alces made a mental note to remind Hairus of appropriate behavior. ‟Nick Wilde, Lylah Nyte."

The sleek, black panther stared at the fox and wondered what Alces was thinking. Then she glanced over at her slovenly partner and tried to evaluate the loser she had and the loser she was being given. Even if the rookie was as bad as she feared she desperately wanted a break from the bear. She'd ask the Captain later what was happening with her request for a new partner.

A little later, as they exited onto the street, Nick told Judy, ‟I need a drink."

‟While I've never been a drinking rabbit, I'll second that motion."

‟Water Hole #3? See if the bartender meant it when he said we drink free?"

‟No. I want a place where I'm not the smallest animal in the room. We're going to find a short bar. And I'm going to sip my glass of hard carrot cider and laugh as you tell me stories about the fun you had last weekend."

‟Don't think I can make you laugh after the day I had."

‟Mine was worse!"

‟How about we settle for we had pretty much the same day?"

Judy giggled slightly.

‟But don't think I can make you laugh today, unless I tickle you... You ticklish?"

‟Don't you dare try and find out! But I'm warning you. You either make me laugh or you sympathize when I cry about how bad my weekend was."

He put an arm around her and gave her a one-armed hug. ‟That bad?"

She smiled at how good the fox made her feel. ‟Yeah. I'll tell you about it over cider."

The bar was noisy, so they sat on the same side of their booth to make conversation easier. Mostly they talked about their first day.

‟Oh, I was going to tell you about my weekend."

‟I was hoping you forgot."

‟I'm not allowed to forget. My mom set me up with another blind date this Friday."

‟I feel your pain," he told her with mock sympathy.

She tried to growl at him.

He almost choked suppressing his laughter. ‟You even growl cute."

‟I want real sympathy! She's only set me up with losers!"

He shrugged, ‟Might be time for your luck to change. Maybe he'll sweep you off your feet and you'll be back growing carrots by Monday."

‟He works here in the city, as a photographer."

The fox leered at her, ‟So... He'll try and get you alone in a dark room?"

‟That's not funny, Nick."

‟We'll wait and see what develops."

‟You're impossible, you know that?"

‟I prefer to see it as roguish charm. You don't think he'll try and take you away from consorting with the criminal element and police thugs?"

‟That's exactly what I'm afraid of. I worked darn hard to join the force. It was my dream since middle school. I made it! And now that I've got this tall, smart partner I–‟

‟I hope you and Detective Hairus will be very happy together."

‟You, you idiot! I'm talking about you!"

‟I'm not that tall."

‟You are compared to me."

‟That's not hard," he told her and grabbed her elbow before she could poke him in the ribs with it.

Their new captain kept the pair busy for the rest of the week, mostly with small cases, so that their temporary partners could see and evaluate them in different circumstances.

On Friday afternoon Hopps and Hairus finished casework at three... Or rather they returned to the office at three and Judy typed up the report on the case. She stood on the chair at the bear's desk, and still had to stretch to reach the keyboard. Alces called Hairus into his office for an evaluation on the rabbit's progress. The bear left the chief's office and headed home while Judy typed, and the Captain came over to tell her she should go home when she was done.

‟I think I'll wait around for Nick."

‟Go home. Nyte called in. Investigation is getting more complicated than it looked, she's not sure when they'll be done."

‟Can I ask what Officer Hairus said about me?"

‟You can ask. Doesn't mean I'll answer. I want Nyte's report too. I'll see the two of you Monday morning." He turned and walked away.

Judy glanced at the clock. Once she left the station there was nothing to do but wait nervously for a date she dreaded. She considered typing slowly, but then decided that might make her look bad and finished as quickly as she could.

Nick noticed the name on caller ID before he answered his phone on Saturday afternoon. ‟Judy?"

‟You busy? How are you? I didn't see you yesterday. Want to talk about your week? I hear your Friday case kept you working late? How late? Want to talk about it?"

‟I'm fine. It was nothing big, just had a lead we needed to... I get the feeling you don't want to listen to me as much as you need someone to talk to."

‟You busy?"

‟I'm supposed to meet Finnick in about an hour to shoot some pool."

‟That... Sorry. Got a minute now?"

‟Need a shoulder to cry on?'

‟More like I need to scream and vent frustration."

‟Great," he muttered, ‟you need to scream at someone, and who is the first name that comes into your head?"

‟I'm not screaming about you."

‟Was Hairus that bad last... Oh, you had a blind date last night. Is that fact related to your needing to vent now?"

‟You should have been a police detective."

‟I play one in the movies. My normal listening to someone let off steam rates are pretty high. But because you're a friend, and we'll only have time for an abbreviated therapy session, I'll waive the fee this time."

‟Thanks Nick. Face-to-face, please?"

‟Okay... There's this bar near the pool hall, The Thirsty Gopher. Strictly for lowlifes like me, so for God's sake don't wear your uniform. And never, under any circumstances, tell your Mom or she'll order a hit on me."

‟Thirsty Gopher. Check. Address?"

‟Warehouse district. Fourteen-oh-one and Ruby."

‟Thanks. See you soon." Judy looked at the address and sighed. Not a nice neighborhood. It was the area where she'd found Finnick after she got back to town from Bunnyburrow and gotten him to reveal Nick's location. Still, she wasn't going for the scenery, she needed to vent.

Nick was waiting on the curb when she arrived. ‟Should have warned you," he apologized. ‟Unescorted ladies don't usually into the Gopher unless they're on business."

‟Business? What... Oh."

‟Now, take my arm and prepare to ruin your reputation by going in with me."

‟Mister Wilde, I think I can assure you my mother will never hear of this from my lips."

‟Good. Oh, if you see a nice person you know – unlikely as that may sound – the standard etiquette is for the two of you to ignore each other and pretend that neither of you was here."

She took his arm and they went inside. The one eyed badger behind the bar glared at Judy.

‟Shhh," Nick shushed in a stage whisper, ‟she's an undercover cop on assignment."

The comment brought some laughs from those who heard it, and calls like ‟Good one, Nick," and ‟Tell us another."

They found a small table to the side and gave drink orders to a weasel. When the weasel left Nick asked, ‟So... I take it last night did not go well?"

Judy brushed the top of the table with her sleeve, laid her head on the table and groaned, ‟Shoot me. Just shoot me."

‟Once upon a time that might have sounded like an attractive idea," the fox remarked. ‟But I fear those days are long gone. You are now a friend, and it's seven years bad luck to shoot a friend."

‟Even if she asks you to?"

‟Even if the friend asks. You threatened to vent by screaming. I think you can scream here – but don't expect anyone to ask if you're in trouble."

‟Don't think I'll scream then. People not caring might depress me even more."

He took on a serious tone and patted her paw, ‟What happened, Carrots?"

‟Dinner. Nice place. Introductory conversations. He told me about his work, which is boring as heck. I tried telling him about my work. He kept telling me it was dangerous and a rabbit shouldn't be a police officer. End of dinner. He expects me to jump into bed with him... Why do all male rabbits think every female rabbit wants to hop into bed with them?"

‟You rabbits have a reputation... How many brothers and sisters did you say you had?"

‟Not funny."

‟I'm just saying."

Judy sighed. ‟Mom and Dad are kind of old-fashioned... And not like there's much else to do in Bunnyburrow. I will so be on the Pill."

‟Don't know if this will make you feel better, or worse, but don't limit jerks to rabbits. It's what almost all males have on our minds – so we're hoping it's on your minds too."

‟So... Essentially half the population of the planet is composed of sex-maniacs?"

‟Pretty much."

‟I think that makes me feel worse."

‟I warned you."

They sipped their drinks and he told her about the case which had delayed him on Friday.

‟Hey," she suddenly demanded. ‟If all guys are sex maniacs, who are you chasing? Please don't tell me you're hot for Gazelle. I think every officer in Precinct One had that stupid app on his phone that put his face on a dancer with Gazelle."

‟Not every officer," he assured her. The fox fell silent and stared off into space for a minute. ‟The captain said you can't trust a con man. Well, a con man can't trust anyone either. A hustler has to watch even his 'friends'. No way to form any serious relationship while you're hustling. Police academy kept me too busy to..." He looked at Judy and smiled, ‟Maybe now that I'm a reformed man with a respectable job I'll meet some cute vixen and settle down."

Judy looked around the bar. ‟Well, I don't think you'll find a suitable marriage partner here."

‟True," he agreed, and looked at his watch. ‟Hey, I need to meet Finnick. Gotta run."

‟Can I come with you?"

‟I don't–‟

‟Please?"

‟Not exactly a respectable place."

‟Worse than this?"

‟Well... No."

She looked at him with pleading eyes, ‟I don't have anything else to–‟

The fox held his arm up over his eyes to protect himself, ‟No, not the bunny eyes!"

‟But Nick, I–‟

The fox sighed in resignation. ‟You can watch. Finnick takes his pool seriously."

The pair walked a block to the pool hall. Before entering the fox handed a match to the rabbit, ‟Here, put this in your mouth," and put another match in his own mouth.

‟Why?"

‟'Cause I don't think you smoke."

‟Huh?"

‟Ambiance. A lot of smokers in there. If you got a match stick in your mouth you won't look so out of place."

‟I... Hey, this tastes good. Is it cedar?"

The fox looked over and was able to grab this last of the match from Judy's mouth, ‟You weren't supposed to eat it! And the head is bad for you."

‟Sorry, rabbit thing," she laughed nervously.

‟Well, not everyone smokes," he told her and opened the door for the rabbit.

‟What's she doing here?" the fennec demanded when they entered. His dislike for the rabbit was obvious.

‟I wanted to watch Nick play–‟

‟You want to watch something? Turn on the TV."

‟I tried to warn you," Nick reminded Judy.

‟Maybe I could... Do they rent tables or what? I've never played pool."

‟Let me see if there's an open table." Nick scanned the room. All the tables were occupied, but Nick recognized a solitary figure at a table to one side. Bringing Judy here had probably been a mistake. He hoped he wasn't about to make a bigger one. ‟I'm going to introduce her to Mirage," he told Finnick. ‟Maybe she can give Judy a lesson."

‟Oh, she can give the rabbit a lesson all right," the small fox chuckled. ‟I might pay to watch that." He looked at Judy. ‟If I don't see you again, don't think it's been fun."

‟C'mon," Nick told Judy and led her to a brown cat practicing at a pool table by herself.

‟Nick," the cat observed coolly, and nodded.

‟Mirage, this is Judy. Judy, Mirage. Mirage, Judy doesn't know how to play pool... Could you give her a lesson? Please?"

The cat raised an eyebrow, ‟A rabbit pool hustler? I've never met one of those."

‟No, seriously," Judy assured her. ‟I have no idea how to–‟

‟She's got that innocent voice down pat," Mirage told Nick. ‟I almost want to believe her."

‟I'm serious," Nick assured the feline. ‟It's like she just fell off the carrot truck and – *ugh*." He glared at the rabbit who had elbowed him in the ribs a little harder than the usual playful tap. ‟One of these days I'm putting you across my knees and paddling your bunny tail." The cat started to turn back to the pool table. ‟Finnick doesn't want her watching us," the fox explained. ‟She said she wanted to learn how to play."

Mirage looked thoughtful, ‟So... we'll play for low stakes. Something like a cred a point?"

‟How about a cred a game?" Nick suggested. He looked at Judy, ‟You willing to drop ten credits?" The rabbit nodded.

‟Ten credits?" the cat yawned. ‟Hardly worth my time."

‟It'll pay for your table," he pointed out. ‟Not like you're going to find a stranger to hustle here."

‟Fine," the cat sighed and gestured to a cue rack on the wall, ‟get a pool cue."

‟That's what you call the stick things, right?" Judy asked.

The cat smiled, ‟Oh, she is good, Go back to the midget and Ms Bunny and I will have our girl talk."

‟This was Judy's idea," Nick told himself as he walked back to Finnick.

Mirage took a rack, ‟I'll set up for a new game. You want to break?"

‟Break?"

The cat sighed again, ‟The innocent act is good, but please, the game will go smoother if you lose the dumb bunny act."

‟I'm not a dumb bunny," Judy snapped. ‟I just don't know how to play pool."

‟If you say so," the cat shrugged. ‟Break is what you call the first shot. You know how to hold a pool cue?"

‟No."

‟Watch me. I'll break. This game is called eight ball."

Judy lost the first game quickly.

‟I'm starting to believe you really don't know how to play – or you're the best damn hustler I've ever met. Rack up the balls for the next game."

‟Is that with the triangle thing?"

The cat laughed, ‟Sister, you are good. Now, you can rack tight or rack 'em loose. Here, let me show you."

Judy improved in the second game, sinking two balls before Mirage won.

‟Okay, you're not a pool hustler," Mirage finally admitted during the third game. ‟What are you?"

‟I'm Nick's partner."

‟His new shill, huh? What's his game? He's got to be working something big to go through the police training."

‟Shill? I don't understand."

‟You can tell me. I was his shill before he hooked up with Finnick. No one would believe a feline was working with a canid. Then he worked up a father child act with Finnick," the cat laughed. ‟The suckers really used to buy that act."

‟I know," Judy agreed through gritted teeth.

‟So, now he's got a rabbit partner. Sister, you really got the wide-eyed innocent look nailed down."

Judy fumed through the next game and a half, ‟Did you ever think that maybe Nick really wanted to change his life around?"

The cat pretended to look thoughtful. ‟Can't say the idea crossed my mind. Did you ever think the planet might start revolving in the opposite direction and the sun would rise in the west tomorrow instead of the east?"

‟That's silly."

‟About as silly as thinking a con man like Nick is going to change."

Judy played quietly, concentrating on learning how to play until Nick came over to watch the two finish their twelfth game. ‟Well?" he asked as a general question.

‟Most interesting rabbit I've ever met," Mirage told him.

‟Learn anything?" he asked Judy.

‟Maybe more than I wanted to know," she said softly.

‟That's not you," he chuckled. ‟You want to know everything."

‟I'm rethinking my philosophy."

‟Well, while you're rethinking – want to split a pizza? That is, if we can agree on a topping?"

She managed a faint smile. ‟Sure. Thanks."

‟I figure I owe you one for–‟

‟If this is about introducing her to me you're in a world of trouble," Mirage warned.

‟Nah," Nick assured her. ‟She was having a crappy day. And, instead of dropping everything to console her I took her to the Gopher and abandoned her at a pool hall."

‟You took her to the Gopher?" the cat laughed. ‟You haven't changed a bit, Nick. You're still a heel."

‟Hey, Judy and I don't have to come here to be insulted. C'mon, Car– C'mon, partner. Let's find a pizzeria where we can be insulted. He took her arm and the two left.

Judy appreciated the fact Nick had caught himself and didn't call her Carrots in front of the cat, but it didn't bring her to a happy state. And despite the fact they both liked mushroom pizza it tasted like cardboard in her mouth as they ate.

The rabbit cried herself to sleep that night. She wasn't sure why. It surely couldn't have been because of the poor date the previous night. And it couldn't be for anything the cat had said about Nick. Nick was changed. He was her partner and he was good. He had changed. He was her best friend in the world, and they'd work together and be happy. Mirage was jealous and Judy didn't believe a word the feline said. She must just be upset about paying twelve credits for the pool lessons. Judy tried to console herself, she'd wasted more on useless things in the past. She shouldn't let twelve credits worry her so.