Hi guys!

Saw Zootopia last week and loved it :) And I am guessing I'm not the only one, if deviantArt, tumblr and Fanfiction reactions are to be trusted. I've read some really good fanfics already (DemonWriterX wrote some great stuff, you should check it out because that's what started me out on this ship). Cause the question – do you ship Nick and Judy – has to be asked, and I am still hesitant about the answer.

Honestly, a fox and a rabbit – weird! If you humanize them they would make a great couple– but then, Zootopia is a whole big AU, animals have evolved and co-exist – so is it really that far-fetched? We don't see any examples of cross-species couples in the film, and species stereotyping seems to be a huge subject, mirroring our human world. So one thing is sure – if it were to happen, that Nick and Judy were to become a couple I mean, it would take quite some time. So here is my take on how events will turn out after the end of the film, enjoy and comment if you feel like it :)

Judy Hopps didn't mind 'slow days' or 'time-out days'. She could understand animals that were always looking for some action, that got bored easily, that needed constant entertainment. Perhaps it was something in their nature, she mused, as she brushed her fur out in her minute bathroom, the Sunday morning sunshine pouring in through the open window and filling her tiny apartment. She could hear her party-loving neighbors snoring loudly next door – they had had another mixer, and it sounded like most of the guests had crashed for the night. They'd be stirring and crawling out to go pick up coffee or have brunch somewhere – but not for a few hours yet, that was for sure. Judy's desktop clock read 07:30 am – which for her was a late morning and a lie-in, as her weekdays started at 05:30 am more often than not.

Yes, she could understand party-goers and risk-seekers, Judy told herself, as she adjusted her jogging outfit and sat down to pull her socks on. Folks looking for fun – and lots of animals had moved to Zootropolis to experience the adventure-filled life after all. It was just that, for her part, she had experienced quite enough thrills recently, what with the animals-turned-wild-after-being-exposed-to-the-night-howlers'-serum case, that she more than welcomed a quiet day off. And what better way to start it off then run a couple of turns around the block, a rabbit has to keep in shape after all, the first rabbit officer of the ZPD even more so, she thought, popping her earphones on. She was ready to go – a quick glance at the clock – 07:35 – music, check, keys, check, water bottle, check – the advantage of living in such a confined space was that everything was always under hand, she thought sardonically, letting herself out of the flat. Then again, it would become bothersome, having such a small apartment, the day she decided to throw a party or have some friends over.. cause the kind of party she had in mind was quite different from her neighbors' ideas of drinking beer, playing on the Xbox and passing out in a bowl of chips.

"I can't even throw a proper house-warming in that hole," Judy thought frowning, then she stopped in her tracks as realization hit. "I guess I'm pretty lucky to have some real friends just a couple of years into living in Zootropolis… If I'm already planning a house-warming and having guests over and my only problem is the size of the flat, that's a good sign I guess. Judy Hopps, you're one lucky bunny. All that hard work all through college is finally paying off, but the friends bit – that was a stroke of luck". Her chin lifted a bit higher and a small skip to her step, she headed downstairs. Before putting Gazelle on full blast on her phone, she checked the time just once more – 07:37 am. "Hours to go," she told herself. "We're only meeting up for brunch at 11 – he'll be out cold at this hour".

'He' looked like he was still out cold when they did meet up three and a half hours later at the diner. Nick wasn't late – in fact he was seated before Judy arrived, or rather slumped in his seat, sunglasses perched precariously on his nose as le lounged on the café's terrace, a steaming mug of coffee resting on the table in front of him.

"Well you look awake," Judy commented dryly, as she slid into the seat opposite from Nick.

"Haha," Nick replied. "You're so witty aren't you? That was a good one, pure gold." He'd barely acknowledged her arrival, if you didn't count raising a coffee mug and inclining your head one inch as greeting.

"I am," Judy replied coolly, flipping her menu open. She was more than a little bit used to Nick's ways by now and she knew that the best way to handle him was to ignore his quips. Rising to the bait just encouraged him.

"Glad to hear it," Nick sounded amused. "And I'm glad to know you, I'm sure, but I'm afraid you'll have to clear off Miss – I'm meeting a Judy Hopps here, and she's one fierce rabbit – she'll bite your left ear off for taking her place, make no mistake about that."

Judy looked up at Nick, nonplussed, one ear hanging down uncertainly.

"Beg pardon?" she said.

"So it IS you!" Nick pulled his shades up and straightened, feigning surprise, -"I rather thought – well, I must say…" he trailed off, confusion and consternation written all over his face.

"What? What is it? You're not saying you didn't recognize me seriously now?" Judy felt a sudden rush of panic, though she was sure she had checked her appearance before heading out. Was her fur so out of place after going jogging?

Nick faced her, his head tilted to one side critically, an eyebrow up.

"I mean, Officer Judy Hopps – in a dress – it might as well snow Cheerios tomorrow or something-"

Nick laughed as Judy lunged at him angrily, nearly upsetting his coffee. Recomposing herself with an effort of supreme self-restraint – some other diners were turning their heads to look – Judy settled back in her chair, smoothing out her white-and-pink posy-print summer dress, before straightening the matching scrunchy adorning her right ear.

"It's so nice to be appreciated," she commented stonily.

"Aw come on Carrots, it was genuine shock," Nick chuckled. "Make that semi-genuine, sheesh," he added, catching her angry glare. "Don't often see you out of uniform, is all. Look, I didn't use the notorious C-word to describe your appearance now, did I?"

Judy's ears lowered and her eyes narrowed dangerously.

"All the better for you," she warned.

"Don't sweat it, I learned my lesson the first time I had the misfortune to use the word 'cute' in association with the word 'bunny' in your presence," Nick said airily, waving a paw. "I learned the hard way, and that lesson's sticking."

"It had better," Judy nodded.

"It will. Rabbits are not cute. I so solemnly swear."

"That's the spirit."

"Rabbits are fierce. Fire-breathing, dangerous, proud and vicious creatures. A bunny can strike fear into one's heart, with a mere swish of its tiny fluffy tail. The roar of a rabbit –ow-"

"You know what your issue is, Mr Wilde," Judy remarked, calmly retrieving the straw she had used to poke Nick in the nose, effectively cutting off his 'bunnies are fierce' tirade. "You need a healthy outlet for your energy during the week-end. Sport is the best idea – and as I am repeatedly telling you, my offer still stands. Come jogging with me! It will do you a world of good."

"More like do me in," Nick grumbled, signaling the waiter. "Will you cut it out with the jogging thing?"

"Suit yourself," Judy shrugged. "It would be healthier to wake up from a nice morning run then from your bucket-sized mugs of coffee."

"Bucket-sized?" Nick eyed her. "This mug is strictly soup-bowl sized, no bigger than that."

"Why do I bother?" Judy asked, rolling her eyes heavenwards. "Yes, thank you, I'd like the vegan platter, easy on the spinach, a carrot/celery smoothie and the exotic fruit salad for dessert please," she added, addressing the plump panda bear who had bustled up to take their order.

"And I," Nick flicked the menu open eagerly," would like some pancakes with double syrup on top, two croissants with chocolate sauce, an extra-large donut,-"

"My, you're gross," Judy muttered under her breath, pouring some water out into their glasses.

"-and a refill on the coffee," Nick finished with a flourish.

"That's one vegan, one coffee, one smoothie, pancakes, donut, croissants and fruit salad. Coming up folks," the panda said good-naturedly, jotting it all down before leaving, casting a slightly curious look at the unlikely table companions.

"Would it do any good whatsoever," Judy mused out loud, propping her chin up on her front paws, - " if I pointed out that you're sugar poisoning yourself on top of not getting enough exercise and taking way too much caffeine?"

Nick pretended to consider the matter.

"That depends. Would you describe getting yourself nicknamed a goody-two-paws as 'doing good'?"

"No really. Why do I bother?" Judy repeated wearily, as the panda waded his way back across the sunlit terrace towards them, the steaming pancakes balanced precariously on his tray alongside the monstrous mug of coffee.

"So a party! Count me in Carrots. I love parties," Nick said happily mopping up the last of his syrup with a bit of croissant.

"No, not a party," Judy sighed in exasperation. "Haven't you been listening? I was saying that I would like to have been able to throw a party, but my eensy-teensy apartment can hold approximately three quarters of a guest." She gulped down her smoothie, gazing around moodily. "What am I going to do Nick? I know I'll get a raise this year, what with my record being this good and all, but it probably won't be enough to rent anything good if I want to stay in the center of Zootropolis. Should I try to save up a bit and actually think about taking a loan out later, to buy a place? And in the meantime I can rent some sort of club when I feel like throwing a party?"

Nick snorted. "You'll blow those savings on renting any decent club downtown, and that's if you only throw two soirées à year- trust me, everything you can find that's half-way chic in town costs a fortune, and you won't want to throw a party and invite animals over at some sleazy fish and chips joint any more than you'd like them to be cramped into your minute flat. Especially if it's friends from work – the folks at the ZPD will say you're cheap if you don't invite them to some upscale place, believe you me Carrots."

Judy rubbed her chin in frustration before looking winningly at Nick.

"Nick?"

"Yeah Carrots?"

"What's your place like? Would it be possible to throw a party at yours? I promise I'd prepare everything and clean up afterwards and-"

Nick laughed heartily.

"I trust you to clean up alright. My place is about as big as yours though Miss – you could fit the remaining quarter of the guest you're inviting at your flat though, no worries. In fact, when I'm sitting down on my bed I can approximately open the window, close the front door and turn the heater on, all without getting up."

Judy's ears drooped.

"I thought you were a rich con-man who had his own condo or something by now."

Nick staged a shocked/injured expression.

"Moi? Let's be clear Carrots, first off, I have never been a con-man. Businessman, yes. Skirting the law, maybe. But never a con-man! Bury the thought." He wiped pretend tears away as Judy watched him, unimpressed.

"Second off," he continued," that all changed when I met a certain rabbit officer who, as the saying goes, helped me see the light and changed me for the better." He extended his paw dramatically towards her, and Judy clutched at her heart, feigning being touched, before giggling in her paws. Nick grinned before continuing: "long story short, my shady debts have been paid off, and here I am, working an honest job alongside yourself – which is sweet and all, but that leaves us with a fairly narrower earning potential than what I remember animals in my line of work getting when I was a teen. So here we are, happily living out our days in teensy-weensy living quarters. Reaping the rewards of working for the city. Yoopie!"

"Why does every decent-sized one-animal flat cost such a fortune?" Judy asked, rhetorically as she expected, but Nick answered her.

"Well, it's based on logical assumptions actually. See, the number of single animals who move to Zootropolis every year cause they're bent on trying out some new career or 'making it' in the big city is huge," Nick stirred a lump of sugar into his coffee, took a big slurp and continued, "most of them don't make it big like you did during week one Carrots. In fact, most of them are heading back home, dreams shattered and savings burned out before their first year over is out. And the animals renting out flats know that only too well – that's why they try to limit their damages and set rent so high for any young single folks looking to rent their first place away from Mom and Dad." Nick pulled his remaining donut closer and picked it up. "Two animals looking to co-rent or buy together will pull through better though. The owner's logic is 'they can't both go broke at once', so two pals or a couple or a group of friends are more likely to get a fairer deal than folks like us Hopps."

Judy sat up at that last comment and looked at Nick curiously. He seemed to have finished explaining the ins and outs of Zootropolis' rental property functioning and to be engrossed in studying his donut though. "They sure are reducing the number of sprinkles per donut.. the cheapos," she heard him mutter, before biting in.

"You sure know a lot about renting and property," she said, the wheels in her head turning fast.

"Retired businessman, remember?" he replied with a wink.

"Well, what does the businessman say if.." Judy paused, before blurting out excitedly – "Nick, what if we co-rent?"

His reaction was somewhat different from the one she would have expected – the fox spluttered on a bite of donut, hurriedly grasped his mug to wash it down with the last dregs of coffee and then faced her slowly.

"Co-rent?" Nick echoed, the expression behind his bright green eyes unreadable. "Really now?"

"Aw come on," Judy said impatiently. "Don"t act so shocked! You'd have the good deal of it anyway, I'd be the one organizing the house-cleaning schedule I'm sure. We could each have our room and part of the flat – and we'd share the kitchen!" She bounced up and down, warming up to the idea. "And we could have a big living room and we'd throw parties and dinners.. and if we have a flat on the ground floor, we could have a garden maybe and throw barbecues! I You should see my fried bell peppers, they're awesome! Do you like teriyaki sauce? Cause it goes well with them, surprisingly enough."

"Teriyaki sauce," Nick repeated solemnly. "Carrots, are you serious?"

"Well, why not?" Judy asked exasperatedly, tired of always getting all her ideas mocked by her friend.

"Well," Nick picked his empty mug up, then set it down again, as if he were choosing his words. "Let's just say that – animals could talk?"

Judy stared at him for a moment before bursting into ludicrous peals of laughter.

"Oh Nick, really?" she asked, wiping her eyes. "Animals could talk'? I think that's actually one of the positive side effects of a rabbit and a fox being friends – given the 'species' thing, no one would talk I guess. I mean, come on!"

"Hey you come on!" he countered, raising his paws defensively. "And you ought to talk that idea over with your fox-repellant-distributing parents before you just charge ahead full steam!"

"Oh Nick, you know they're not like that! They just care about me and they were worried about my moving to the city-"

"I wasn't having a go at your parents Carrots – I was just trying to illustrate a general idea. I mean, we're best friends, we know that – but everyone else is going to find it really weird if we rent a place together! Animals would say that I could-" he broke off sheepishly, suddenly very interested in an imaginary speck on the tablecloth. Judy looked at him in surprise, and they were silent for a short moment, the other diners buzzing on the terrace around them, the panda moving around, taking orders.

"That I might.. eat you," he finished somewhat lamely, looking up and giving her a lopsided grin. Judy found herself laughing in relief for some reason, as if he had been about to say something else.

"Ack! Ack! Ouchie! Blooood!" she mimicked, and he chuckled too.

"Something like that".

"Taking the chance, Mr Wilde, I really doubt you'd gobble me up in my sleep- such considerations aside, what do you think?"

Nick rubbed his brow bemusedly: "Well, I'm sure you're a better cook and housekeeper than me, so the way I see it I'd be winning in this deal."

"Now now, strict dish-washing and floor-scrubbing fairness rules apply!" Judy retorted.

"Fair enough Carrots. Say now," he pretended to be struck by a sudden thought," this isn't all some elaborate scheme to get me to go jogging in the mornings?"

Judy giggled, relieved that the slightly awkward moment had passed and that they were back to their normal teasing.

"It might be. But then, you should see that as an added bonus!"

"Bonus, my tail."

"Nick!"

"What? I said tail, keep your fur on."

"So, does that mean you'll think about it?"

"What? The jogging?"

"Nick, the apartment-hunting! You know what I'm talking about!"

Judy watched her fox friend carefully push his empty mug further away from the edge of the table. He was quiet for a few seconds, before facing her with a small smile.

"I'll think about it Carrots," he said. She waited for him to add some joke or punch line as usual, but he just said, "Ready to pay? I'm frying out here, let's go down to the park or something, find some shade."

... And I promise to get some Zootopia art out there soon. Promise :)

Chapter two - coming out Monday, March 7!