#but i guess it was less an honorable goodbye as much as a re introduction of it idk

[merry-the-cookie]

also i can finally look at tumblr lol i didnt wanna get spoiled on the show and setlist and ykno what im super glad i wasnt

excited and also ScaredTM to see soundcheck this weekend

[hannahberrie]

Something That Finds You: Chapter 7

Fandom: Zootopia Pairing: Nick Wilde, Judy Hopps Rating: K+ WC: 2138 Summary: “Love isn’t something you find. Love is something that finds you.“

In a time of tension in the land of Zootopia, Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps are arranged to be married as a symbol of peace and unity. The only problem? They can’t stand each other (the 8 year age gap doesn’t help either). A story following Nick and Judy growing up together, through all the good and bad.

Chapter Selection: [1][2][3][4][5][6]-7-[8][9][10][11][12]

[AO3]

She was definitely different.

It was the first thought that hit him when the carriage rolled up and over the hill towards the manor. He could see her waiting in the courtyard, surrounded by the usual bunny crew. It had taken him a minute to actually recognize the little gray bunny as Judy, considering the huge amount of different-ness.

For one, she was no longer one foot tall. While she was still short, she had to have at least doubled in height, and shrunk in other places. Maybe too much so, in fact. Her waist seemed unnaturally tiny compared to her hips, and by the way she was constantly stretching at her sides, he figured it had to be due to a corset of sorts.

Poor dumb bunny.

She jittered even more as the carriage rolled in through the front gates, and just by watching her Nick could feel himself getting nervous. Which was ridiculous, because there was no reason he should be nervous about reuniting with his former childhood-enemy-turned-fiancé.

Nevertheless, he too felt slight jittery as he turned his head away from the window of the carriage.

His mother, seated across from him, examined his face closely. “Are you ready?” She asked, noting his nervous demeanor.

Nick turned his attention away from the courtyard as the carriage began to slow. “I guess so,” he said lightly, fidgeting with the buttons on his jacket.

His mother gave him a warm smile as she licked her paw and leaned forward to brush down a stray strand of fur on his cheek. “You’re doing a great thing for the land, you know,” his mother assured him, cupping his cheek gently. “Especially for predators. Your father would have been very proud of you.”

Nick felt his heart lurch at the mention of his father. Even though it had been 3 years since his passing, it never failed to hurt. And ever since his death, Nick was only more driven to honor his father’s wishes. And if that meant putting up with a 2-foot tall pipsqueak, then so be it.

“I really hope so,” he replied to his mother, gently placing his paw to rest over the one his mother had on his cheek.

“I’m proud of you,” his mother beamed as the carriage pulled to a stop. She pulled away, sat back in her seat, and adjusted her skirts. “Now, remember to smile! And remember your manners! Do you know how many letters I got from your tutors when you were away? Always mouthing-off…”

“I never ‘mouthed-off,’” Nick scoffed playfully. “I prefer to see it as…being conversational.”

His mother gave him a look.

“I promise to be civil,” he lamented, slouching back in his seat. “Mostly,” he added with a wink.

His mother gave him one last look before the carriage doors opened and she stepped out to greet the Hopps household. Nick adjusted his blue suit one last time, licked his chops, brushed down his fur, and exited the carriage.

As he stepped out, the sun shone in his eyes, blinding him for a moment. When his feet hit the courtyard ground, he managed to stop blinking enough to make eye contact with Judy, who was currently gaping at him. Literally gaping, eyes wide, mouth open, the whole shebang.

Okay then.

She seemed to notice the wary gaze Nick gave her as she quickly closed her mouth and stood up straighter, feigning indifference.

As Nick approached Judy, he couldn’t help but examine her more closely. She was pretty nice-looking, he guessed. Her hips had filled out, but it was hard to tell how much so with her corset on. Her ears were still huge, but she was a bunny after all, so that was to be expected. Overall, not terrible-looking, but Nick would have been lying if he said he was instantly love-struck by the sight of her.

He could see Judy hold her breath as he came to a stop in front of her. He had to avert his gaze slightly lower to make eye contact with her, as the top of her head only reached the top of his chest.

Judy, stilling holding her breath, held out her paw to him, face set in an emotion Nick couldn’t quite read.

The whole audience of bunnies seemed to hold their breaths with Judy, all eyes locked on the fox and bunny, waiting in anticipation for the reunification of their favorite betrothed couple.

And so, with what felt like the whole world watching, Nick opened his mouth to deliver the most romantic, eloquent introduction of all time:

“Hey,” Nick said casually.

Judy eyed him.

His mother glared at him.

“I mean…” Nick cleared his throat and leaned down to kiss her paw. “Good day, Miss Hopps. It’s a pleasure to make your re-acquaintance.”

The staff let out an audible sigh as they fawned over the couple, completely enamored by the situation.

Judy looked slightly less so. “All the same to you, Nicholas,” She replied stiffly, voice far less squeaky than he remembered. It sounded nice-ish, he supposed. But by the way she was still eyeing him, he guessed that the way she felt about him was slightly less nice.

“Let’s adjourn to the dining hall for refreshments!” Lady Hopps offered, ushering Nick’s mother inside. “Our staff has spent all morning preparing a lovely brunch for you all!”

“Let me guess; carrot omelets with a side of a carrot salad and a fresh glass of carrot juice?” Nick mumbled, low enough for only Judy to hear.

Judy didn’t seem to find his quip charming, as she simply tilted her head up and walked into the manor with a refined air that was very unfamiliar coming from her.

At least it was better than yelling at him, or something.

Sort of.

The dining hall was louder than usual as the two families reconnected. Her parents were talking with Lady Wilde (Judy couldn’t help but notice that Nick’s father was absent, though she didn’t know why) while her brothers conversed excitedly with Nick, eager to hear all about his adventures and travels while he was away.

And adventures did he have. He told them all with an excited glint in his eye and voice laden with dramatic theatrics, paws often moving through the air for emphasis. He was so full of it, in Judy’s opinion, though deep down she knew that part of her resentment was due to her envy of his adventures.  

Nevertheless, even some of her sisters seemed charmed by the fox, she could see them whispering to each other and giggling into their paws. Some of them even threw Judy envious glances, though Judy couldn’t think of any reason why. They could have him, as far as she was concerned.

Nick was seated across from her, recounting tales of how he’d learned to sail trade ships and actually steered one out of a perilous thunderstorm on one occasion. Judy listened idly as she picked at her carrot quiche with a fork, only mildly impressed. So, sure, he had grown into his ears a bit, and was taller, and was overall nicer-looking, but that didn’t change how she felt about him. He could sail all the ships he wanted, Judy wasn’t in love with him. The only reason she was going through with this was because it would help her people.

“So Judith,” her mother suddenly chimed in, noticing her daughter’s perturbed pout, “Why don’t you tell Nicholas about the carrot festival coming up?”

“Oh please, call me Nick,” Nick interjected with a cheeky grin, “I mean, we’re almost family, aren’t we?”

“Almost,” Judy’s father nodded, watching Nick carefully. “Soon my lil’ bun-bun will be all grown up, moving off to run her own household…have kits…” As he went on, his eyes grew slightly wider and wider as his voice grew tighter and tighter, and eventually Lady Hopps had to butt in and place a paw on her husband’s back.

“I think what my husband means to say is that we’re very excited for the wedding,” she said, giving him a stern look. “And a little nervous. It never gets any easier to say goodbye to one of our own.”

Lady Wilde nodded, paws clasped around a bunny-sized tea cup that was just a little too small for her. “I understand completely.”

“Well, there’s nothing to fear sir,” Nick jested to Judy’s father. “I promise I’ll take perfect care of your lil’ bun-bun.”

Her siblings laughed as Judy glared at him. “I don’t need to be taken care of,” she said through a tight smile. “I’m perfectly capable of handling myself.”

Her mother gave Judy a warning look. “I think what Nick means to say is that he’s going to be a splendid husband.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being taken care of,” her father added, “Especially with an…excited spirit like yours, Judy.”

Judy frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well,” Sir Hopps cleared his throat and muttered, “The whole…constable incident, for one.”

Nick raised an eyebrow. “What incident?”

“It’s nothing!” Lady Hopps answered, directing her warning look to her husband once more. “We’re very happy to have you here, both of you, now, let’s move on please—”

“May I be excused from the table?” Judy asked quickly, foot starting to thump impatiently. “Please.”

“But you hardly touched your plate!” Her mother frowned, gesturing to her barely-eaten carrot quiche.

“I’m not very hungry,” Judy replied, “In fact…I…uh…feel rather ill.” She placed a paw over her stomach for emphasis. “I think it’d be best if I just leave.”

Her mother looked doubtful, but nodded, excusing Judy from the table. She departed quickly, grabbing her oversized skirt and darting out of the dining room. As she dashed through the halls and towards her bedroom, she couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming amount of distress.

This had been a mistake. She clearly wasn’t ready to be married, especially not to Nick. This was too much pressure! The entire land was riding on the fact that she was going to spend the rest of her life stuck in some stuffy manor, having kits and doting upon someone else! It wasn’t fair! Why did Nick get to go on all these adventures? Why were her brothers and cousins allowed to do whatever they pleased, enroll in whatever profession they wanted, and all without judgment?

She stopped at her bedroom door and leaned up against the wall, panting slightly. Her head was spinning and her heart felt like it was being torn in a million different directions. Before today, she thought that she could do this, that she would be able to marry someone she didn’t love to make her people happy.

But now….

She was still panting, and in frustration she tried to loosen her dress, paws scrambling at the laces on her back that were starting to feel more and more like a choking vise.

“Need a little help there?”

Judy paused and looked up to see Nick eyeing her. So he’d followed her. Great.

“I’m perfectly fine, thank you,” she replied, standing up straighter.

“So you always claw at your own clothing like that?” Nick smirked wryly.

“Can you just…go away?” Judy huffed, turning to open her bedroom door. “I didn’t ask for your help.”

“I was trying to be nice!”

“Since when?”

“Since you ran off, claiming to be ‘sick,’ which I’m starting to think wasn’t even true…”

“Well, our parents aren’t here right now, so you don’t have to pretend to be nice to me.”

“I’m not pretending. I’m actually trying here, ya’ know?”

Judy turned away from the door to look at him, incredulous. “Why? Aren’t you upset? Aren’t you frustrated?”

Nick shrugged. “I guess. I mean, no offense, but marrying you isn’t going to be a picnic, that’s for sure.”

Judy glared at him. “Nice. Real nice, Nick.”

“It’s true!” Nick said defensively. “Ever since I got here you’ve been glaring at me like something you found in a gutter!”

“Oh, and you’ve been perfect!” Judy replied sarcastically. “‘Hey?!’ Really? You went away for almost a decade and all they taught you was ‘hey!?’”

“You know that’s not all they taught me, Fluff,” Nick said dismissively, examining his claws. “I saw the way you were eyeing me at dinner. If I didn’t know better I’d say you were jealous.”

“I’m not jealous!” Judy said a little too quickly, crossing her arms. “You just brag too much!”

“Uh huh,” Nick smirked. “Whatever you say, Carrots.”

“Don’t call me Carrots.”

“Sorry, Fluff.”

“Don’t call me that either!”

“Greatest apologies!” Nick lamented dramatically, adding a bow for extra effect, “….Bun-bun.”

Her nose started to twitch rapidly as her fists balled tightly and her ears flattened against her head. “You’re…impossible!” Judy snapped, and with that, entered her bedroom and slammed the door shut.