A Regular Day

It was an average morning, the temperature was mild, it was a Tuesday, and Nick was walking into the precinct, clad in his blue uniform and carrying cups of Stagbucks coffee and Donkin Donuts.

When he entered the building he was greeted by the sight of his partner and best friend Judy Hopps talking with Clawhauser, the cheetah sitting behind his desk and not looking as perky as he usually did. Nick smirked at the two before clearing his throat loudly, speaking up as he walked toward them, "Carrots, Spots! Wilde is here. What are your other two wishes?"

Clawhauser immediately brightened, his face splitting into a gigantic grin as he spotted the box of pastry treats, "Donuts!" he answered.

"Coffee," Judy added, smiling warmly at the fox.

Nick snorted as he handed the food and beverages out, "Those came with me, it's like a package deal."

Judy took a sip from the coffee and let out a heavenly sigh, "Just what I needed." Clawhauser was already stuffing numerous donuts into his mouth, the bliss in his chocolaty brown eyes a big enough thank you for Nick. He guzzled from his own cup of coffee.

"Drink as much as you can," Judy told him, holding her own cup between both her paws. "You'll need it."

He lifted a brow as he looked down at her, "Do we?"

She nodded, her violet eyes shining with excitement, "Bogo just told me, you and I are going on a stake out."

Nick's smile instantly drooped, "Carrots that hardly requires chugging caffeine. All we'll be doing is sitting in the car staring at stuff."

"Oh come on, Nick," she playfully nudged his shoulder, "We might get into an exciting car chase across Zootopia!"

He huffed in amusement but didn't say anything. Nick had been a ZPD officer for close to a year now, they had gone to numerous stake outs and not one had lead to anything nearly as thrilling as a car chase.

"Hopps! Wilde!" Bogo's booming voice nearly had Nick dropping his coffee. The buffalo was on the second floor, and indicating to them to head to his office. The two partners tossed their coffee cups into a nearby trash bin. "See you later, Clawhauser," Judy called. She grabbed Nick's paw and nearly dragged him away, the fox saluted the cheetah goodbye.

Clawhauser sighed dreamily as he watched the two go, Judy nearly hopping in place because she was always so excited for any assignment (as long as it wasn't parking duty) and Nick watching her with his signature half lidded eyes, the green depths warm as he gazed at the rabbit. Clawhauser wished he could find someone who looked at him the way Nick looked at Judy.

.

An hour or so later the rabbit and fox found themselves in their car, parked in a corner of Savanna Central, waiting. Out of a apartment complex was suppose to come a mole that was a suspect jewel smuggler, the two had to keep an eye out for him and if he went anywhere they were suppose to subtly tail him.

But until then Nick would pass the time complaining, "Look, Carrots, we're sitting here staring at stuff. Isn't this exciting, I can barely keep up with it all. Wish I had injected caffeine straight into my blood stream."

"Oh no need to hold back that sarcasm Nick, let it all out," she replied drolly. Her feet were perched on the steering wheel, ankles crossed as she lazily watched the passerby. Nick had his seat all the way back, aviators on and his paws resting on his stomach, if not for his talking Judy would've assumed he fell asleep. "It could be worse," she stated, "We could be stuck on parking duty." She shuddered at just the thought.
"I could never be so lucky," Nick muttered, he for one hadn't been assigned to parking duty yet, determined to stick like glue to Judy who took extra measures not to have to wear that vest again.

Judy looked at him with open shock, "Are you saying you'd really rather give out parking tickets all day?"

"Are you kidding?" Nick put his seat back up and placed his aviators on top of his head. He smiled at her, "Making strangers give me money because they were five seconds away from getting out of a parking space? That's the dream, Fluff."

"You don't get their money, Nick," Judy informed him. "They have to pay traffic court."

"Yes, but it's because of me so it counts," Nick replied. "The point is I get to ruin someone's day and that would be too much fun."

Judy couldn't help a chuckle, "You're so evil."

He shrugged easily, a half grin in place, "You know what they say. Foxes are red because they're made by the devil."

"Stop," Judy pushed his shoulder. Nick had gotten the phrase when he had eavesdropped on one of Judy's weekly family calls, she had mentioned Nick and her Pop Pop had overheard and was quick to warn Judy of the sinful red demons. She had quickly hung up, mortified and scared Nick would be offended, but he had only laughed it off, saying he had heard worse.

The two leaned back against their seats and watched life playing around outside the car, Judy's eyes on the apartment building, waiting for the mole to show up. Nick suddenly spoke up, "Carrots, wanna play a game?"

She glanced at him, "What kind of game?"

"Let's imagine what all these everyday animals are up to," he said. He pointed a finger at an antelope who was drinking from a juice bottle, decked out in jogging clothes, "Bet you that guy just got back from the gym. He's also trying to impressive a pretty lady antelope at said gym but a part of him misses how he used to veg out in front of the TV watching Breaking Baaad."

"What makes you think he misses the unhealthy life style," Judy asked.

"Because that brand of juice he was drinking had way too much sugar to be considered healthy. If he didn't miss it he'd be drinking water." He looked at Judy, "Your turn."

Judy examined the mammals walking across the streets and crossing the road, she indicated to a lioness who looked to be wearing expensive, designer clothes, "I bet she's having an affair."

Nick flinched, "Wow, Carrots. Cut right to the chase. Now why is she having an affair?"

"Well, she was wearing a wedding ring but I'm pretty sure I saw smudges on it, which means she takes it off a lot. Why do that unless you don't want your lover to know you're married?"

"Maybe she likes washing dishes," Nick offered.

But the rabbit was already shaking her head, "Look at how nice her claws are, and the way she dresses, she's rich enough to afford a house maid to do all that for her. And then there's the look in her eyes."

Nick looked toward the lioness but she had already vanished out of sight, he looked down at Judy, "The look in her eyes?"

"It's more of just my gut instinct," she admitted. "But she had a secretive look in her eyes, and she was looking all around herself like she expected someone to be following her. I bet she's on her way to her secret lover right now."

"That or she shot someone," he replied. His eyes turned to the apartment and saw a harried looking mother pig walk out of said building with two squirming piglets in her arms. Nick smirked at the sight, "I'm thinking either single mother or husband who likes work more than raising kids."

Judy looked at the mother as she hailed a cab, "…I'm kind of jealous of her."

Nick gave the bunny a funny look that his lips curling, "And you think I'm weird wanting to try out parking duty. Why would you want to be like that pig, exhausted with kids screaming in her ears and no mate around to help her take care of them."
"It's not that I want that specifically," Judy explained. "I'd just like to have kids. One day."

Nick looked at her for a moment he opened his mouth to say something but then Judy was sitting up straight, a smile splitting her face and fire lighting up her eyes. "There he is, Nick!"

He looked back at the building and saw said mole walking out, dressed in a casual suit as he too hailed a taxi. Judy was already pulling up the precinct on the radio, "Officer Hopps to ZPD I have spotted the suspect, do I pursue him?"

A moment later Clawhauser's voice spoke up, "Chief wants you to tail him but be careful, don't let him know."

"Copy that," Judy pulled the car into drive and followed after the cab, being careful to appear casual, that she was just an officer making a random morning run. Nick slipped his sunglasses back over his eyes; the aviators always gave him a sense of professionalism he didn't always feel back at the precinct.

"He's heading down Mane Street," Judy told Clawhauser as they trailed the taxi. "He's making a left…Ah, he's stopping at…The Coconut Club."

Judy let out a defeated sigh while Nick burst into laughter and Clawhauser squealed over the radio. "Wolfmeyer said the mole liked hanging out there and meeting future buyers. You two know what to do."

"Yeah, yeah," Judy turned the radio off and opened the vehicle's door, Nick following after her. He opened the car's trunk to reveal a box, opening it he pulled out two ear pieces and handed one to Judy. "Can you hear me, Spots?" Nick asked through the headpiece and the cheetah answered. "Loud and clear, Wolfmeyer and Francine are with me and ready to tell you what to do…Do you two have the outfits on?"

"Give us a moment," Judy muttered, picking up her outfit and looking at it with open disdain. "For the record, whoever chose this outfit is the worst."

.

A few minutes later the cops walked in completely incognito. Nick wearing a leather windbreaker complete with a white shirt and ripped jeans. Judy wore a purple glittery tank top that showed off her midriff and incredibly small shorts that basically showed all of her legs.

They fit in well with the club, none of the other mammals sparing them a second glance, too busy dancing and drinking and talking. But that didn't stop Judy from practically burying herself against Nick's side, her face pressed up against the arm she held between both her paws, degradation making the skin beneath her fur hot.

"Carrots," Nick whispered to her, "Your fingers are digging into my arm kinda hard there. Trying to draw blood?"

"Sorry," she replied, relaxing her grip but not letting go or stepped away.

She missed the way Nick smirked at her, "So I guess our cover is a dating couple out for a night on the town."

"Sure," she muffled through the leather of his jacket. Nick led her to the bar and made to order something but decided both Bogo and Judy wouldn't appreciate him drinking on duty even if it fit their cover.

He glanced around the crowd, figuring the mole would be sitting in a chair or table so as not to get accidentally stepped on. He glanced down at Judy who still had her face smothered into his jacket. For a moment he wondered what the other animals in the club thought of the sight, they probably assumed Judy just really, really liked the musk of fox. "See him yet?" Clawhauser's voice spoke up in Nick's ear.

"Not yet," the fox said, then glared at Judy, "Come on, Carrots. Help me look."

"I can't…" she moaned.

"It's not that bad," Nick stated but couldn't help checking her out. "In fact, to me it looks like Christmas came ear-OW!" He let out a yelp as Judy viciously pinched his arm. A few of the other mammals at the bar gave him weird looks but didn't say anything.

"Hopps," Wolfmeyer's burr came through their earpieces. "If you can't do this odds are old chief will put you on parking duty." Clawhauser and Francine voiced their agreement.

Judy looked up at Nick with a pained expression. Pity washed over him and he rubbed the back of her head soothingly, "It'll be okay. No one's going to bother you." If they do I'll kill them.

After a moment Judy forced up her resolve and nodded, she looked around the club, ears erect and twitching this way and that. "I can't see him. Maybe if we go farther in."

Nick studied the dancing mass before them, "We're not going to be able to walk through that."

"I know," Judy looked up at him. "Can you dance?"

His brow rose, "Can you?"

Judy smirked and a challenge glinted in her eye. She grabbed Nick's wrist and dragged him into the throng before he could blink.

"If I didn't know any better," Nick grinned as they shimmied through the crowd, "I'd think you wanted to dance with me."

Her ears were a little flushed as she answered, "I'd be lying if I said I haven't been curious to see how you move."

"Wait!" Clawhauser gasped loudly, making Nick flinch. "You guys are dancing?! I thought you were just joking!"
"If you keep screaming I'm turning this off," Nick growled.

Judy added, "It is a little unprofessional to keep talking like this, Clawhauser."
The cheetah must have taken the words to heart because the headpieces remained blissfully quiet, leaving Nick and Judy to hear the music; it was loud and vibrated through their bodies. Leaving them to hold paws, enjoying the contrast of each other, Nick's coarse fur and Judy's sleek coat, leaving them to move their paws around, circling and spinning, more than once they ended up bumping into each other, laughing as they felt their beating hearts against each others' chest.

All too soon Nick saw who they were looking for, the finely dressed mole was sitting in a roped off area, saying something to a mean-looking jaguar. Nick held Judy's waist, careful not to touch her exposed stomach, "Target sighted," he breathed.

Judy glanced from the corner of her eye at the mole as the jaguar walked off, heading toward a set of stairs.

"He was talking to a suspicious looking jaguar," Judy muttered. "What should we do?"

"One of you need to get close to the mole," this time it was Francine's voice. "The other can follow the jaguar."

"You mean split up?" Nick asked in disbelief.

"Yes, but don't engage," Clawhauser's voice returned. "Just try to worm some information out of them."

Judy looked up at Nick, "I call the jaguar."

"No," Nick said, refusing to let Judy do that without him and without a weapon. "I call the jaguar."

Judy held up her paws, "Rock paper scissors for it?"

They did and Nick won, much to Judy's chagrin ("Best two out of three?") and she was sent off to talk to the mole, Nick headed upstairs.

Judy headed off to the mole while Nick disappeared upstairs; she hoped the fox would be alright. Stepped closer to the rope and the warthog standing guard she made sure to make her steps less coordinated, made her body sway a bit as she got closer and closer.

"Only VIM get through," the warthog told her gruffly.

"Oops, sorry," Judy giggled, placing her paws over her mouth. "I just kinda lost my table, got turned around. Happens, you know?"

The mole who had been sipping from a small shot glass took notice of Judy and she continued, daring to lean her elbows against the velvet rope, "Hi," she called to the mole, trying for a welcoming smile but making sure she still looked tipsy.

The warthog moved to push her away but then the mole spoke up, "Let her through."

Judy walked past the warthog with a smug grin, kneeling before the large couch, her arms resting on the cushion, the mole sat on, making sure she was at eye level with the rodent.

"Thanks," she purred with a flirty smile, leaning her head against her arms. "That was real sweet of you."

The mole grinned, looking Judy up and down, his eyes resting on her bare stomach far longer than the rabbit was comfortable with. "Pleasure's all mine, darling," he said in a voice that tried to sound slick but only came out as nasally. "What's your name?"

"Bonnie," Judy said the first name that came to her head.

"Well, Bonnie," the mole smiled, "The name is Edgar. Now tell me what's a pretty thing like you doing all alone?"

Judy let out a pathetic sigh, blowing away the ear that had slumped across her face, "I was hoping to meet a nice guy at this club but turns out no one is interesting in a plain little old bunny."

"I wouldn't call you plain," the mole said. "And didn't I just see you dancing with some scruffy fox?"

"Oh, him?" Judy put a warble in her voice. "He just tried to get his way with me. He didn't care!" She turned her big shining eyes onto the jewel smuggler. "No one cares…"

"I care," Edgar stated firmly and Judy wanted to laugh. Some males had such one track minds. "That fox looked like the sleazy type who wouldn't appreciate a lady like yourself."

Judy smirked, "You're so sweet. I bet you know how to get an animal's attention."

The mole shrugged, "Lot's of ways, outfits, cars, jewels, talent…"

"Jewels?" Judy breathed. "You think that would work?"

"Of course," he replied easily, "Jewels that sparkle just like your eyes."

Judy was surprised this mole hadn't been caught already; she leaned forward and let her finger trail down his minuscule arm, "What kind of jewels?"

.

Meanwhile Nick had snuck up the stairs, following the jaguar down the hall, keeping close to the wall as he did so. The jaguar turned a corner and Nick peeked out from behind it, seeing the jaguar talking to a smoking warthog.

"My cousin being a good bodyguard for the rat?" he asked, smoke drifting from his mouth.

"It's hardly needed," the jaguar stated. "It's not like anyone knows what the mole's up to."

The warthog shrugged, "Let him do what he wants, we're going to get our payday in a matter of hours."

Nick's eyes widened and he stepped forward…only for the floor to creak underneath him. The jaguar and warthog whirled around, spotting the fox and narrowing their eyes on him.

Well I apparently suck at stealth, Nick thought bitterly to himself. Then again, we all have our bad days.

He flashed an easy grin, "Boys…would you go along with me if I said you were under arrest?"

The jaguar released a hiss of recognition, "I know him! He's that fox cop!" The two ran toward Nick and he braced himself to be attacked but instead the two ran right past him. Nick would be lying if it didn't feel good that two larger animals were too scared to face him in a scuffle. But then he remembered that they were suspects who just ran off and he quickly gave chase, pulling his badge out as he did so.

"Stop!" he yelled out, "Stop in the name of the law!" The two didn't even hesitate as they dashed down the stairs and pushed their way through the crowd. Nick caught Judy at the edge of his vision before the jaguar called out, "Cops! Run!"

The warthog bodyguard bolted as did a few dancers of the club who apparently didn't have clean paws. He saw the mole made to run but Judy pinned him down with her paws, her badge already out and flashing it before the rodent.

Nick tried to make his way out of the crowd, most of the mammals much larger than him and taking up more space. But finally he managed to duck between legs and avoid sweeping tails to reach the door of the Coconut Club and burst out onto the street. The jaguar and warthogs were long gone.

Nick took a moment to catch his breath, during that time Judy followed him outside, the squirming mole held between her paws. At least they managed to catch their objective.

"Got the jewel smuggler," Nick spoke into his headpiece, "Bringing him in for questioning."

.

They were back at the precinct in a interrogation room, Judy and Nick standing before a table, across from them sat the annoyed looking Edgar. The two cops had already gotten his nerves on edge on the drive home; Nick kept showing Judy with cheesy compliments that had the bunny laughing.

"So," Nick turned his back to the mole to whisper into Judy's ear, "Good cop or bad cup?"

"I'll take bad cop," she answered. "I don't think he'll fall for my feminine wills a second time."

Nick nodded before taking the seat before them and resting his elbows on the table, trying to appear open and friendly while Judy stepped back and crossed her arms, doing her best to appear intimidating.

"We need some information, buddy," Nick explained. "We need to know what kind of payday that jaguar and warthog were talking about."

"I'm a mole not a rat," Edgar replied stubbornly.

"I understand that," Nick continued easily. "But I also understand that Officer Hopps over there had a recorder on her while you were telling her about all those great big jewels you could get her."

The mole's eyes widened in alarm, "That's a lie!"

Nick shook his head slowly, "Oh no, pal. You're going to jail. But depending on your cooperation skills we might be able to at least get you into a nice cell, perhaps even an early parole? I'm a fox we have our ways."

Edgar snorted, "Exactly, you're a fox. Like I'd believe anything you say."

Nick nodded understandingly, "I get it, I'm not speaking your language. Maybe Officer Hopps can?"

Judy sauntered around the table to stand before the mole who looked at her defiantly. With one paw the rabbit lifted the mole up in the air by his collar, "WHERE IS THE DROP OFF!?"
"W-What?" the mole stammered his face morphing into one of panic as the rabbit screamed in his face.
Judy pinned him down onto the table, "THE JEWELS! THERE HAS TO BE A DROP OFF FOR THE JAGUAR AND HIS FRIENDS TO GET THE JEWELS WHERE IS IT!?"

"Stop screaming at me!" the mole begged desperately.

"I WILL WHEN YOU TELL ME WHERE THE DROP OFF IS!"

The mole looked beseechingly at Nick who had leaned back against his seat to enjoy the show. "I'll talk to you you're not insane!"

"Me?" Nick placed his paw over his heart with an expression of mocking astonishment, "But I'm a no good distrustful scoundrel of a fox. Why talk to me when you can be talking to that sweet, quiet, meek little rabbit right there?"

Judy placed pressure on the jewel smuggler's chest and he panicked, "Please stop! I don't know where they are!"

"Now look who's lying," Nick smiled up at the rabbit. "Carrots, do you like it when animals lie?"

"No," she growled, her voice low and threatening. "I might have to use the Binky."

Nick gasped in horror, "No! Not the Binky!"

"Wait-what!?" Edgar looked between the two mammals. "What's the Binky!?"

"One of the most excruciating of torture techniques," Nick informed him. "If I were you I'd go ahead and spill the beans while you can still talk."

"You can't use torture techniques you're cops!" the mole snapped but his eyes still flashed with fear.

"But we're also a rogue fox and a mad rabbit," Nick pointed out. "So maybe you should…" his voice trailed off as Judy lifted her paw, making a pinching motion with her fingers while her violet eyes glowed with a feral light. Her paw moved toward the mole.

"OKAY, OKAY!" he finally screeched. "Tundra Town! I hid all the jewels I smuggle in an abandoned warehouse in Tundra Town, right next to Kozlov's Palace, you can't miss it, that's where they'll be, please don't use the Binky on me!"
Nick smirked and looked at Judy, "Good girl. That'll do."

Judy smiled proudly at Nick, releasing the now openly sobbing mole.

.

Nick let out a grateful sigh as he fell onto his office chair, his feet aching and his mind mushy. Bogo had sent some of his burlier officers to Tundra Town who had rounded up Edgar's buddies and the stolen jewels easily. The grouchy buffalo had even told them they had done an adequate job, to which Judy had beamed with all the pride of winning the Olympics and Nick had gushed, "Thanks, Dad" before he scowled and shooed them to their desks.

Judy had relaxed on her chair as well, but only for a few moments before she started her computer up to get some paperwork done.

Nick looked at her with an exasperated smile, "Where do you find the energy?"

"Huh?" she pulled her eyes from the screen to look at him.

"We just spent all day staking out, going to a club, dancing, catching a jewel smuggler and then interrogating said jewel smuggler and now you want to do paperwork? I'm friends with the Energy Bunny."

She giggled, "I've always been like this, ask my parents."

Nick laid his arms across his desk before propping his chin on his arm, letting out a tired huff. He would do his paperwork when he had absolutely no choice.

"…Carrots," he spoke up after a few minutes, the only sound Judy's typing.

"Hm?" she asked, not looking away from the computer screen.

"I need my ear therapy."

The typing stopped and Judy looked at the fox, "You don't need it you just want it."

He pulled on his puppy dog face, "Please?"

She sighed in resignation and let her ears droop, "Go ahead. But only for a few minutes."

Nick grinned and reached his paw out to caress one of Judy's ears, he utterly adored how soft and velvety the bunny's ears were, he'd pet them all day if she let him.

"Feeling better?" she asked. She had gone back to typing but the fox could see how she was fighting back a smile.

"Much," Nick replied with a heavenly sigh, running his thumb in circles near the tip. "Today was exhausting."

Judy shrugged and glanced at the fox, no longer fighting back her smile. "It was just a regular day."