The Case of Instant Parenthood

By: Discord

A/N: Not that I should be starting a new story ::eyes unfinished fics withering in corner::, but the gleam of something novel and shiny has caught my attention. With the state of the world at the moment, I desperately need that attention on something enjoyable.

This is not a true crossover, because I've never written one, I'm not usually a fan, and the differences between Beastars and Zootopia are too vast to reconcile. But I just finished the Netflix show, and couldn't help envisioning some of the characters in Nick and Judy's world.

This is going to be a short fic (only five chapters) so those of you resigned to my erratic update schedule will be pleased to know this will not be a multi-year endeavor.

Chapter One – Congrats, New Parents!

Nick and Judy sat in mute astonishment, unable to process the news they'd just heard. They were in an office for Health and Mammal Services across from a very unconcerned-looking panda who'd just delivered the last will of one Leano Gray, a wolf they had helped find six months ago in a missing mammals case.

The panda was obviously not new to this sort of briefing, having been a social worker in Zootopia for a number of years. He didn't much look the part of a desk bureaucrat, with muscles that stretched the sleeves of his dress shirt and mysterious scars reminiscent of claw marks on his face. But his beleaguered countenance spoke of experience – the cases he worked did not glow with the sunlight of Zootopia's gleaming, immaculate streets.

He cleared his throat, setting the document he'd just read down. "Do you understand your rights in this matter? The child will only be in your custody until you file an injunction with the court. Ms. Gray was obviously not aware that you two did not reside in the same residence, and therefore will have great difficulty providing a stable environment for her son."

Judy's brow furrowed, more from confusion than insult, but found her voice. "So… Leano left her five-month-old, to… us? To raise? As his… parents?"

Nick tried to make his mouth work, but his jaw just opened and closed uselessly, still full of shock. The collar of his uniform suddenly felt too tight – choking even – and he reached up to undo the first button.

"Yes, Officer Hopps, it appears so."

"But why us?"

"The will doesn't specify – perhaps she was particularly grateful to you both for your help in finding her? Or maybe she had no one else in her life."

Nick made a small sound – half gurgle, half snort, before finally forming real syllables. "But we're not related to her," he managed, freeing a second button.

"Yes," the panda sighed, annoyed at the slowness with which his news was matriculating. "Which is why the court will want to seek out a living family member instead. It's very hard to justify this sort of custody, but for now, the will is binding and should be upheld," the panda frowned briefly. "Of course, you both can refuse, in which case the child will be put into the system and placed in an orphanage until a foster home can be arranged. I warn you though, that process will take much longer, and he will be without individual care during formative months in his development. It would be highly detrimental to him if you were to go with that option."

"C-Can we have a moment to discuss this privately, Mr. Gohin?" Nick asked, finally looking over at his partner. Judy was rigid in her chair.

"Yes, of course," the panda motioned them toward the door, pulling out a new file without any more dismissal. This was not his only case of the day.

The fox and rabbit excused themselves, walking stiffly into the hall. As Judy ducked under his arm, Nick let the door click closed behind them.

"So…," words were hard again. "Leano thought… we were…," he swallowed. "And wants us to… together…."

Judy said nothing, staring down at the floor in concentration.

Nick knew the look well – she was deciding big things. Once her mind was made, there was little he could say to dissuade her.

"It'd be nice if we could actually talk about this," he managed. "Instead of you just choosing for the both of us."

Judy's head whipped up at that, her mouth an unreadable line. "I'm not 'choosing' anything Nick," she said. "I was thinking of how much we failed Leano. She had obviously been in more danger than we realized – her death has foul play written all over it."

Nick's eyes widened. Why wasn't she focusing on the very big detail of a baby being dropped in their laps? "We can certainly help with the investigation," he started. "But what are we going to do about her son?"

Judy cocked her head. "What else can we do? We owe her this much."

He'd been right – she'd made the choice before she'd even left her chair. "But Carrots… he's barely weaned. How are we supposed to—?"

"I can do it myself if you want," Judy offered, her eyes now flashing. "I'm not going to fail his mother in this too."

Nick sighed. "No, of course I'll help. I'm your partner. I wouldn't let you do this alone," he tried not to be hurt at how willing she was to drop him from the equation – as if their year on the force together was so easily-dismissed – but failed spectacularly. His tail drooped to the floor, and he grimaced as he caught her noticing its sink. She knows I'm upset. But does she know I know she knows?

"I thought so," her gaze softened. "Which is why I'm not really sure why you brought us out here. There isn't much to discuss other than investigation details."

Nick realized she had not thought of their situation much at all. "Carrots, you're going to have to move into my apartment," he said gently. "You can't raise a wolf pup in your tiny place with your loud neighbors."

Judy's mouth dropped into an 'oh' as certain realizations began creeping in.

"Yeah," Nick nodded, watching her catch on. "Our lives are about to get way more complicated than arguing about paperwork and who's turn it is to get coffee."

What was surprisingly uncomplicated was the minimal amount of documents they had to sign to become the boy's temporary caretakers. Mr. Gohin escorted them to a small room, meant to look cheery with painted walls of rounded-looking animals and rainbows, but was more just depressing in the harsh, florescent glare of it's overhead lights. It was a trade-off site for the forgotten and misplaced, and Nick felt a pull on his heart before he'd even laid eyes on the baby.

A social worker with the name tag Els opened the door before Judy and Nick had even sat down, holding a bundle in her arms. Large, gray ears and a tapered snout peaked out from the swaddle of blankets as she smiled at them. She was an alpaca, and her doe eyes and long neck looked over in understanding.

"He's a sweetheart," she said, offering the little boy out. "Quiet, but very smart. He likes taking everything in. His name's Legoshi."

Nick frowned. They knew his name; they'd read it on the form. His frown deepened, as he realized it had never come up in their conversation with the panda. As if Mr. Gohin saw and spoke too many names to be bothered learning to pronounce the foreign-sounding syllables.

Judy held open her arms – not without a bit of tremble Nick noticed - and Els placed the baby into the cradle of her chest.

"Wow," the rabbit hefted the baby, testing his weight. "He's heavy."

The alpaca's smile faltered. "He's actually a bit underweight for his age."

Nick stepped to Judy's side, placing a hand awkwardly on her shoulder. "Mr. Gohin said you'd give us some leaflets on wolf development, care, and nutrition?"

Els nodded, procuring a thin brochure from her breast pocket. "There's a lot of information online as well."

Nick took the slim pamphlet, realizing how tenuous all of this was. This pup's entire future was now in their hands, and their only preparation was 'search online when you need help'? "Thank you," he managed, shoving the paper in his pocket as his mind began whirling with all of the things they needed to buy. Crib, stroller, formula, blankets, binkies, toys – he balked, realizing that it was only this morning he had worried about things like being out of his favorite oatmeal.

The pup whimpered in Judy's arms and Nick looked down, realizing the little boy was staring up at them with scared eyes.

"Hi Legoshi," Judy cooed softly, using a tone Nick had never heard from her. "We're going to take care of you for awhile. No need to be afraid."

Nick thought of Judy's numerous brothers and sisters, and wondered how many she had cared for in her life as the eldest daughter. Maybe she had considered more than he had.

Human and Mammal Services did supply them with more than just a pamphlet, outfitting the back of their ZPD cruiser with baby necessities to last them a few weeks. Chief Bogo had already been notified, and they were both put on family leave for the foreseeable future. It had taken Nick longer than he cared to have an audience watch for as he grappled with Legoshi's car seat, snarling at all the buckles, straps, and useless directional arrows that made no sense. After half an hour, the gray wolf was finally secured in, and they were on the road, Judy looking back frequently to check on him while Nick drove.

"I'll stop by my place tomorrow to pick up some clothes and things," Judy said, glancing back again.

The boy was watching her wordlessly, looking through the cruiser's wire mesh.

"I just bought a two pack of toothbrushes," Nick offered. "So you'll have that at least tonight."

"Thanks," Judy crooked her finger at the baby, trying for a feeble smile. It waffled on her face, and Nick took one hand from the wheel, palming her knee.

"We'll be alright Carrots," he said, feeling anything but. "We can do this."

Her smile strengthened slightly, and she placed her hand over his, giving it a squeeze. "We have to. For Leano."

Without realizing, he kept his hand on her knee for the rest of the drive. Whether it was from needing support or supplying it, he didn't know – he was barely aware of anything aside from the dark eyes he felt studying his ears and the back of his head. Nick pulled the cruiser over in front of his apartment building and only realized his hand's mutinous resting place when he moved to put the vehicle in park.

Peeking over at Judy, it seemed the rabbit hadn't noticed their prolonged contact either. She was already unbuckling herself and reaching for the door.

"We're here Legoshi," she gushed, although it was only because Nick had stopped. She'd never seen his place before and would not have known which walkway led to his building.

While she freed the baby from his car seat, Nick retrieved a laden diaper bag, heavy with the trappings of instant fatherhood. Could he do this? Suddenly be a caretaker to a child? He felt more eyes on him and looked over his shoulder. Several of his neighbor's faces peeked out from behind drawn curtains. Nick wagged his fingers at them.

Let them gawk, he frowned, closing the car door in an almost slam. Bunch of busybodies.

The noise of the door startled Legoshi, and the wolf gave another little whimper. Judy shushed him, planting a kiss on his wide brow. "You're okay," she whispered against his fur. "Nick is an easily irritated grump, but I'm really nice."

The little boy stilled, considering the underside of her chin intently.

Nick sighed as she came around the front of the car. "Sorry," he mumbled.

Her look of disapproval was more reproach than any words could ever be, and he felt his shoulders shrink accordingly.

Already going well, he thought, watching her rest the baby on her hip while she waited for him to lead the way.

"Right," Nick plucked his keys out and made his way up the steps. The bulky bag bumped him as he unlocked the door, pointing down the hall to its end. "Number 8," he said, letting her pass. Legoshi stared up at him as she went by, looking from Nick's snout to Judy's small nose.

Even the kid's got judgement, Nick grumbled inwardly. Great.

Judy marched up to his apartment's threshold, glancing around the nondescript hallway.

"It's not much from out here," Nick rushed, shouldering open this second door. "But its nice inside."

The rabbit peered in as he switched on the light, studying her new lodgings in interest. She knew little of her partner outside of their earliest capers and cases together over the last year, and wasn't quite sure what to expect.

It was nice inside, much more than her own studio downtown. She stepped into the entryway, forgetting the weight in her arms for a moment. Paintings and purposefully-placed knickknacks decorated the main living space – a pair of kicked off shoes and a forgotten shirt were the only items out of place. As Nick set the diaper bag down and rushed to pick them up, Judy turned to him in surprise.

"You're a nester," she said. "I wouldn't have guessed it."

"A nester?" Nick repeated, folding his shirt over his arm.

"Yeah, you like to make a home, rather than this just be a place where you live."

"Oh," Nick glanced around, taking in his surroundings anew. "Yeah, I guess I am then," he looked down at her with a slight frown. "Why is that a surprise?"

Judy shrugged, realizing she might have offended him. "I just always took you for… a bachelor kind of type."

He cocked a brow. "I didn't realize being single meant my apartment had to look like I didn't care about it."

Judy flushed and focused her attention on the wolf in her arms. "Sorry. Looks like I'm making assumptions again. Thought I'd moved past all that."

Nick offered an easy smile, softening the lines that had appeared in his face. "At least it was from my relationship status this time, not my species."

Her blush darkened.

"If it's any consolation, the first time I saw your apartment, I thought it was pretty utilitarian for a girl."

Judy laughed. "You always know how to make me feel better when I put my foot in my mouth."

"Which is often, by the way," he said. "Come on, let me give you the grand tour."

"Let's check out our new digs, Legoshi," Judy said, turning the baby around so his back was to her chest. Big, canine ears sprung up, and his nose starting sniffing vigorously as Nick pointed out the kitchen, bathroom, living room, and bedroom. Judy looked for a second and swallowed when she realized the tour ended with only one bedroom.

"Don't worry," Nick waved away the worry rising in her eyes. "The couch has a pull out mattress, so I'll be fine on it."

"What?" Judy squeaked. "I can't take your bed! This is your home!"

Nick fixed her with a knowing look. "So now I'm the kind of mammal that would let you sleep in the living room without a door, while I take the privacy and comfort of the bedroom? I thought you were all done assuming things about me?"

Judy ducked her head, unable to meet his eye. "You're already doing so much—."

"Judy," he started. "This is already going to be an awkward arrangement. It will be better if I don't have to worry about seeing you in some state of undress while I get up in the night to go to the bathroom," he pointed to the open living room, connecting all other spaces to each other. "If you slept out here, it would be hard."

"But won't that be the same for me then, if I take your bedroom?"

Nick considered this for a moment, as if the reverse hadn't occurred to him. "Well… I guess, but…."

"I mean, how will I be able to resist your level of 'undress'?" She joked.

It was Nick's turn to blush, realizing he had just basically stated he would find her distracting. "I'm just trying to be a gentleman."

"Which you know I never appreciate."

"You say it's condescending."

"It is."

"It's only meant to be polite."

"Patronizing."

Legoshi's ears twitched as they continued their conversation, listening to their back and forth quips in interest.

Their discussion and final solution – taking turns in the bed – would soon prove pointless. Sleep was the last thing they would be doing for a very long time.