A/N: Hello! Welcome to my next big project. I've had this in mind for a while now. This will have romance as the main theme, with a bit of humor as well. Keep in mind, it is dark humor, so be careful. This is rated T for language and some sexual content.

Originally, this was going to be a series of one-shots that would be titled "Refill". However, when I was writing this, I came up with ideas to continue it, and I couldn't keep it a one-shot anymore.

I don't own these characters, Disney does. I highly doubt that Disney will see this, but in the slim chance they do, don't sue me.

Anyway, read on!

Chapter 1: So Far

Nick Wilde. The former con artist, now ZPD officer. The fox who helped crack the Night Howler case. The partner of Officer Hopps. At times, known as the bastard that scammed money out of people.

If you looked at it from that standpoint, you'd think his life had been good to him so far. To most of Zootopia, anyway. It's the opposite, however. He had come to terms with it.

He had never understood one thing, though.

Love.

Let's be honest, you can't expect him to. His dad left him with no remorse at all, and his mother didn't have that much time for him. Sure, he had dated a few vixens during his teens, but they either didn't work out, or on one occasion, the bitch was just crazy.

So when he met Judy Hopps, these feelings he felt towards her felt weird. Unnatural. He had never felt welcome, due to his past. The muzzle incident would come back to haunt him often. When he was given comfort after telling that to Judy, he no longer felt like the person he was stereotyped to be.

He kept denying that he loved her. It just doesn't work. He kept saying to himself. A fox and a bunny as boyfriend and girlfriend was, to put it in less words, never heard of in Zootopia. It would be worse if they had sex. And while interspecies relationships were picking up steam, a predator and prey relationship wouldn't work well with the media.

Does Judy know this? That question wasn't obvious. He was anything but romantic when they were on duty. To put it simply, he's plain old Nick. The sarcastic and witty fox was present. Always had that smirk on his face. When they weren't on duty, it's like some sort of evil twin was unleashed when they are on duty.

Okay, maybe it wasn't that bad. They had their close calls, yes, but they'd usually shrug them off by the next morning. I'm just over thinking this. That's what he wishes he could tell himself, but he kept denying it. There was one thing he wouldn't let go.

He loved Judy.

But he didn't know if she loved him.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Waking up to an alarm clock isn't the best way to wake up. Especially if you're not a morning person.

There was something that Nick despised about mornings. Despite the multiple cups of coffee he drank, he could never keep himself focused until the afternoon. Foxes weren't morning people, and it was a common fact.

Nick yawned, and looked over at his clock. He gave a confused look. "When did I set my alarm to 5:50?" He said, in his 'morning voice'. That's what Judy calls it.

He started thinking that Judy snuck into his room and reset his alarm. It sounded far-fetched, but it was the only thing he could think of.

Well, one of the benefits was that he could arrive at the police station a lot earlier. But how is it a benefit when you didn't like mornings? Wasn't Judy picking him up anyway?

Nick had difficulty getting out of his bed, but he managed. He had to. The ZPD wasn't merciful to people who were late. While they weren't late themselves, the message was loud and clear what would happen to them if they were late. One month parking duty.

Ding!

Of course she's awake. Nick thought, annoyed. He never understood how Judy got sleep at night, due to her loud neighbors. Especially because of her hearing skills. He had always meant to ask her.

Nick looked at his phone, and soon looked away. He had always forgotten to turn down the brightness. Once he looked back, he saw that he had a text from 'Carrots'. Yes, he had saved it as his contact name for her. He hadn't told Judy yet, though.

Wake up, sly fox!

He could imagine her saying that. He even read it in her voice. Ready to go, and eager.

Nick responded. Yeah, I'm up. At the expense of my sleep.

Okay, I'll see you at about 6:30. Get going!

Nick looked at his clock. 5:55 AM.

With that, Nick walked over to the kitchen to make some of his signature coffee. It was the only thing he could do right now – Judy was probably on the train. He had 35 minutes to get his uniform on.

It shouldn't take too long.

"Finally! What took you so long?"

Nick could care less that Judy had arrived 10 minutes early. He was used to it, as it happened all the time. The bunny was energetic, he would give her that. Well, he did get dressed early as well. So maybe they're both at fault.

"I didn't take that long, Carrots. Calm down."

Judy rolled her eyes. "Let's go." She said impatiently.

"Oh, wait! I forgot something!" Nick ran back into his room. Judy groaned in frustration, and started tapping her foot on the floor.

Nick came out, wearing the same uniform. There was only one difference; he had his shades on.

"Is that seriously what you forgot?" Judy was tapping her foot more vigorously now.

"What? Are you saying that these aren't important?" He pointed to his shades.

"Yes!"

"Still keeping them on."

With that, they walked out of Nick's room and headed towards the train station. Well, at least Nick walked. Judy ran. He didn't try to keep up. He knew he would fail. The bunny was too fast for him.

"Come on, Nick! Can you keep up?"

Judy Hopps, you will be the death of me.

"Finished first again!"

The duo were staying at the station late, to finish up some paperwork that they were behind on. It had turned into a race to see who could finish first.

"Carrots, you always finish first. It's common sense to me now."

"It is to me too. I just like messing with you."

Nick was almost done anyway. Just five minutes later and he was up and out of their office. Just in time. The night shift was starting soon.

He never looked forward to this part of the day. Saying goodbye to Judy. Yes, he'll see her again the next day, but there was something that pained him. He wanted to stay with her. Possibly mate. Who knows?

At least ask her a question. Nick thought.

"Carrots?"

"Yeah?"

This was going to be harder than he thought. He had no question planned. He wanted to ask her on a date. He never really got to pulling that shit out of him, and asking her out. So, his only plan was to improvise.

"How do you sleep at night? Your neighbors are some of the loudest I've seen."

"I got used to it pretty quick."

Hey, he asked a question that was on his mind for a while. But still, it wasn't the question he wanted to ask her.

"Oh! We almost passed my apartment. Bye!"

Nick didn't say anything. He just waved. However, he wanted to run inside with her and just hug her. Kiss her. Have sex if it could go that far. Just get lost in his own world.

This was unlike him, though. It's been stated many times before. Nick isn't the lovey-dovey type.

Then why is this one bunny making him feel this way?

Watching Judy close the door of her apartment building, Nick walked away. Back to the train station, so he could get to his apartment and sleep. And have a bunch of dreams about Judy.

It was routine at this point. Wake up, get a text message from Judy, get picked up, work on their assigned cases, finish up some paperwork, and head back home. That's what it is.

He wanted it to be so much more than that though. He knew their relationship was special. But did Judy realize that?

Nick was lying down on the couch. Never mind the bed in the other room. He was a bit too tired to walk over there.

When will he confess? It was almost a year since the Night Howler case, and since they've been partners for the same amount of time, he thought it would happen already. Judy sure as hell didn't notice his feelings. They were covered up by the sly fox he was. There was nothing wrong with that. He just wanted to show her that he cared. Like she showed him that she cared.

He's never had these feelings toward a prey. Prey would always fear predator in Zootopia. Judy broke the boundaries of that. She broke boundaries by just talking to Nick. And now they were partners. Predator and prey. Partners. They never mixed together. She was willing to help, no matter the consequences. That's what he liked about her. She wasn't afraid to take a stand.

"I can't keep running away.." Nick thought out loud. "If I want her, then I need to get my act together. I can do this." Motivational speeches. From himself.

He would figure it out in the morning. Or whenever he does.

He was drifting off a bit. Before he closed his eyes, he said one thing.

"I love you, Judy."

He said that to himself. When would he say that to Judy? He didn't know. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe in a few months. Years. Time flies. No matter when he said it, he had to say it. He hated bottling up these emotions. He didn't want to keep them secret anymore. It obviously wasn't going to be easy. It never was. Who said confessing was easy?

Would she feel the same? That was another question that bugged him. If she did, then it was a step in the right direction. What if she didn't? Where could he go? He hated seeing himself like this. Someone needed to save him from himself, and all this conflict.

He would say it sooner or later.

And no one would stop him.

A/N: So that wraps up this first chapter! I would appreciate it if you give me some feedback! I'm feeling good about this story so far.

Thanks for reading!

(Cover image is from Neytrix on DeviantArt. Check him out! :D)