Judy glared at her pathetic vest and the pathetic car it came with …

  When the Mayor pinned that badge in her chest, Judy thought she had done it … the other cadets respected her, Major Friedkin put in a good word for her, even going so far as to brag about her star cadet ‘cottontail’ … Judy thought she would finally get some measure of respect and be seen as a peer …

  Instead … instead …

  Judy fumed internally, poking at the ticket machine to print another parking violation …

  Parking duty …

  She was given parking duty … Just to have her career start with a thrill …

  None of her coworkers gave her the time of the day, her own Boss thought she was simply a political ploy, ignoring the valedictorian medal she achieved through blood, sweat and tears …

  The precinct itself was overwhelmed with a wave of disappearances and a resurging rise in drug related crimes … Judy knew because it was all over the news and if you wanted to be a good cop, you kept pace with the place you're supposed to serve …

  But instead of using her, instead of giving her a case so she could do her job of serving and protecting … She was given parking duty.

  She was being looked down upon like her time at the academy and the valedictorian position she conquered were worthless …

  It was humiliating, she was being looked down upon again, she just knew it … but it mattered not, she would just have to prove herself again, she would just have to make them eat their words once more …

  She would do her ticket quota and then some …

  Judy's eyes kept scanning her surroundings, looking for something, anything that could give her …

  Her eyes stopped on a mammal …

  [Judy] “... that's a textbook lurking behavior … that Fox is up to no good … “

  Despite herself, Judy almost hoped that the fox was about to commit a robbery … that might be her shot at some respect …

  ***

  Nick stood at the front of an ice cream parlor for megafauna, ready for the hustle he planned for last week.

  … Watched …

  His oldest friend said, a Voice only he could hear. Nick turned his head around, looking for who might be watching him … his eyes glanced at an unusual sight … a Rabbit cop.

  Nick almost did a double take at the female, but thought better of it, curious to see what she would do, Nick decided to simply go on with his hustle, making sure to look as suspicious as possible … it was always fun to mess with the cops, they always hated when you knew the law better than they did …

  ***

  Judy saw the fox entering an ice cream parlor for megafauna with a baby kart looking mighty suspicious … Judy heart almost did a flip as she abandoned her jokemobile to follow the fox inside.

  ***

  Nick couldn't believe it, the bunny actually followed him inside, Nick almost laughed but he controlled his expression before the pachyderm in front of him got even angrier.

  Finnick already gestured to him the cop was on edge with a pepper spray… Nick might even get a double today, it has already been a while since he made Bogo-sort burst a vein …

  Nick knew exactly why the pachyderm was fuming, a small mammal trying to take advantage of the size portions, a small predator at that even ? A Fox ?! … Nick was quite sure the mammal in front of him would go off on a rant and Nick would have everything he needed to blackmail the server into getting his ice cream … the words legal action carried a lot of power, even when coming from a fox …

  [Server] - … We reserve the right to refuse service to ANYONE … -

  Nick heard the mammal finish his point by pointing at the sign that said exactly that … as if Nick needed any more ammunition to go on a ‘Karen’ power trip … it would be a funny few months until this Inclusion Initiative blew over and Nick was all for it … Nick still loved some good old action …

  His partner Finnick, dressed as a kid elephant took his cue to start crying and Nick to go on a Dad Karen rant …

  … Wait …

  But before he could swap into the mask of a furiously entitled parent … Nick waited for the Bunny to make her move …

  [Judy] - Hi … -

  [Server] - You will have to wait for your turn like everyone else bunny … -

  [Judy] - Sir, I'm an officer … -

  Judy showed her badge.

  [Judy] - I couldn't help but notice … are your costumes aware they are eating snot with their icecream ? -

  A client nearby spit the ice cream he had on his mouth, the place got silent …

  [Server] - … What are you talking about ? -

  [Judy] - Well … serving food with ungloved paws is a health violation and that goes double for pachyderms and their trunks … -

  Judy waited for the server’s expression to change into one of dread …

  [Judy] - … But I can let it go with a warning if you put on some gloves and … I don't know, maybe give this nice fox dad and his kit the ice cream they wanted … -

  Judy smiled ‘sweetly’ at the server at the front.

  [Server] - … Fine, a jumbo pop is it ? -

  ***

  Nick couldn't believe it, Finnick gestured to him that the bunny cop was ready with a pepper spray, just waiting for her cue at the start of their conversation with the server … and now she was blackmailing the poor elephant in their favor ? …

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  … Curious …

  Curious indeed … Nick smiled and decided to push it.

  [Nick] - … Dang it, I can't believe I left my wallet at the car … -

  Nick looked around, making sure his face showed exhaustion at the thought of having to go through everything all over again …

  [Nick] - Sorry little guy, today wasn't the day, but hey, we can make a jumbo pop a home hmm ? -

  Nick winked to Finnick and his partner took his cue to start crying.

  Nick kept the bunny at the edge of his vision and he saw that she was hooked.

  [Nick] - Come on little guy, don't be sad … here … -

  Nick took Finnick’s paw and slowly made his way outside, but he kept his ears trained on the bunny and he listened …

  [Judy] - Here, for one Jumbo pop … -

  ***

  Nick received the gigantic frozen treat and he almost grinned.

  He thanked the bunny profusely but he saw that she had an expression of guilt on her face when she talked about preconceived notions and quick judgement.

  Nick shook his head at the poor thing, he almost felt bad for the bunny cop, sure she was ready to pepper spray them but Nick knew he kind of baited her into it … he would make it up to her later, he felt it in his gut he would see that Bunny cop again …

  [Nick] - Officer Hopps hmm ? … I'm a really articulate fella right Fin ? … -

  Nick said to Finnick to just rolled his eyes.

  [Finnick] - I saw your ears perk up at her, a bunny cop right here on the central district … you and your taste on freaks, girl got a death wish, just like you … -

  The baritone voice of the small fox dressed in a cutesy elephant costume would surely throw mammals of … if they bothered to pay any attention.

  [Nick] - Come on Fin, aren't you even a little bit curious ? -

  Nick wagged his eyebrows.

  [Fin] - No and I don't want to be involved in whatever you have brewing in that stupid head of yours, lets just finish this hustle so I can get my payment and leave before this comes back to bite your tail … -

  Finnick rolled his eyes, going towards the rooftop they powerwashed yesterday for a pretty peny, while also leaving it spotless for what they were going to do.

  [Nick] - Come on Fin, you can't tell me you didn't sneak a look, that uniform looked very fitting hmm ? … -

  Finnick grunted.

  [Fin] - You're old enough to be her dad Red, probably her grandad because bunny … And you're the one who likes crazy, the last one you got in bed with tried to bite your face off … this one will probably season you with pepper spray first … -

  Finnick smirked and Nick rolled his eyes.

  [Nick] - What's wrong with liking them spicy ? And why do you keep raining on my parade ? -

  Nick said with mock hurt.

  [Fin] - Because the last time I followed you ass into some tail, I got clawed … -

  [Nick] - But the stitches were worth it wasn't it ? -

  [Fin] - For you, maybe, but sane mammals like me prefer to NOT have stitches after sex … -

  [Nick] - Boring ones you say … -

  [Fin] - Shut it Red, and you go to the rooftop … -

  [Nick] - Spoil sports … -

  Nick kept his laugh in check as he went up the building to melt the Jumbo pop.

  *** *** ***

  Judy delivered another parking ticked feeling proud of herself for what happened a few minutes early … standing up for that fox dad made her feel quite good about herself, especially since she made an elephant validate her authority …

  At the corner of her eye, Judy saw a familiar sight … a small kit fox dressed in an elephant costume …

  [Judy] - Hey there little … guy … ? -

  Her voice trailed off as she watched what was going on …

  Did they trick her ?!

  ***

  Finnick took the melted sirup and pured it into the pristine snow blown by the vent … they chose that spot exactly for this reason as the snow coming out of the vent was squeaky clean …

  [Fin] - Your bunny is still following us … -

  Finnick didn't give the bunny cop a second look, everything they were doing was technically legal and everyone of the streets knew that in law, being technically correct was the best kind of correct …

  [Nick] - Maybe she is learning something, I know that a cops salary sucks ass … and as we all known … -

  Nick gave Finnick a look and said.

  [Nick] - A hundred in a cop’s paw … -

  [Fin] - … keeps your tail out of the judge’s law -

  Finnick rolled his eyes and kept pouring the sugary sirup into the paw molds.

  [Fin] - Come on, the first ones are probably already frozen, put them on the cart, it's almost time for the lemmings to leave … -

  [Nick] - Don't hurry me, I’m testing the product … -

  Nick took one of the recently made pawpsicles and took a bite out of it before colecting the rest.

  [Fin] - Don't forget the bins for the wood you lazy ass … -

  Nick gave him the finger.

  ***

  Judy followed the pair all over Zootopia … watching them melt the jumbo pop into smaller pawpsicles and selling them to rodents for a gigantic profit on the size portions difference …

  She then saw they even collectes the sticks to sell for another rodent construction company that SOMEHOW approved the obvious popsicle sticks as construction material …

  Everything was handled in cash, something simply not DONE in construction … so even that supervisor was in on the hustle ?!

  Judy kept following the pair until they finally shared the profits, the smaller fox that Judy could now see was an adult fennec fox, drove of on his van leaving the bastard that tricked her behind …

  The tailpipe explosion and the baritone voice of the fenne fox didn't help Judy feel any smarter, her temper flared up at how she was tricked and she couldn't help herself, especially since the other Fox didn't even look surprised to see her …

  [Judy] - You … You … -

  Judy almost couldn't find her voice.

  [Judy] - I stood up to you and you lied to me ?! You Liar !! -

  Judy said, her indignation almost boiling over as she saw the fox looked almost smug now …

  ***

  Nick watched to bunny with a temper that looked ready to jump him …

  … Playmate …

  Nick almost lickes his fangs, feeling his body tense, but he controled himself, the bunny was a cop after all and Nick was just a small time hustler … there were others ways to play …

  [Nick] - It's called a hustle sweethheart … -

  Nick gave pause, seeing the bunny ears drop slightly at his answer and her nose twitch in contained hurt and anger …

  [Nick] “Hurt just won't do on that cute face of yours, lets flare this temper some more … lets see how fast you are …”

  Nick thought to himself as his next words left his mouth, his an expression of surprise looking to the side and pointing …

  [Nick] - And I'm not the liar, he is … -

  Nick saw the bunny turned her head and in a single heartbeat, Nick silently dashed in the other direction, traveling almost half a block in the time it took the bunny to look back after being tricked.

  Nick heard her voice as he turned the street.

  [Judy] - … HEY !! -

  And not a moment later the bunny was back at his side …

  [Judy] - Alright slicky, you are under arrest … -

  Nick looked over the bunny, a smile on his face, the poor thing didn't even had a bodycam, trying to threaten him like that server ? Too can play the law game …

  [Nick] - Really ? For what ? -

  Nick said smugly.

  ***

  Judy fumed in her head, the Fox was infuriating …

  [Judy] - How about selling food without a permit ? Or transporting undeclared commerce between city districts, or I don't know, false advertising ? -

  Judy rattled of what came at the top of her head all that she saw the fox doing … but the fox just shoved a piece of paper with the city stamp on it.

  [Nick] - Here is the Food permit and the Receit of commerce … becides undeclared commerce only aplies after a certain quantity and I even stayed bellow that … and false advertising ? Realy ? -

  Judy was stuned slightly by the quick response.

  [Judy] - You said to that construction worker you were selling him red wood ! -

  Judy saw the fox rolling his eyes.

  [Nick] - Yes, red wood, a space on the middle, and you should know that construction material for tiny mammals have some very lax regulations … and I do have a permit for that too -

  Judy blinked her eyes as she suddenly saw herself out of ammo for the discussion … and holding the stick the Fox put on her paw …

  [Nick] - You can't touch me carrots, I have been doing this sinse you were born … -

  Judy heard the nickname and felt her ears go hot …

  [Judy] - You better refrain from calling me carrots … -

  Judy said between her teeth still following the Fox and forgetting about her supposed job …

  ***

  Nick felt he fur of his neck rise at the implied danger in the Bunny’s voice, his tail shook slightly in excitement before he decided to keep pushing …

  [Nick] - Sorry, I just naturally assumed you came from some carrot farm out of nowhere … -

  Nick heard the bunny huffing.

  [Judy] - Bunnyburrow is not nowhere thank you very much … -

  Nick smiled.

  [Nick] - Right, hometown pride, tell me if this looks familiar, naive hillbilly girl with good grades and a big ideas decides to move to the even bigger city, were everyone can be anything … only to find out that one, not everyone gets to be what they want and even when they do, it isn't like they imagined it would be, you probably came here to be a big city cop, first one to do it maybe, the especial one to beat the odds … but now you're a meter maid and I can tell you have a bitter taste in your mouth because of it, and that leaves number two … no one gives a shit … -

  Nick smiled at the Rabbit, looking at her reactions.

  [Nick] - And that discovery will soon crush that naive hillbilly girl’s dreams, making her sink into emocional and probably literal squalor until she has no choice but quit and go back home, tail between her legs to become… -

  Nick gave a brief pause.

  [Nick] - You're from Bunnyburrow right ? How about Carrot farmer ? Does that sound about right ? -

  Nick winked at the stuned bunny in front of him that he was leading around the city.

  … Fire …

  Nick turned seeing that the bunny really didn't look like a quiter … she would keep following …

  Nick jumped over the alleway wall and kept going …

  ***

  Judy felt naked … the fox dressed her down with words that hit a little too close and she didn't have a comeback … she was left stuned in a alleway while the fox turned his back on her, shaking his tail as if happy with his victory …

  But Judy was no quiter …

  Gritting her teeth, Judy passed through a hole in the wall to follow the fox, only to almost get squished by a megafauna …

  Judy was stuned for a moment before she heard that annoying voice …

  [Nick] - Careful carrots, or it won't be just your dreams getting crushed … -

  Felling her ears go hot with anger, Judy ran after the fox, she would win one over him one way or another …

  Judy got in front of the fox, her paws poking him hard on the chest making him stop.

  [Judy] - No one tells me what I can or can't do, especially not some jerk who never amounted to anything but a small time hustler … -

  Judy's nose twitched as the fox leaned forwards to look at her face eye to eye.

  [Nick] - Everyone comes to Zootopia thinking they can be whatever they want, you're not special because of that sweet carrots, but people and only be what they are and not what they want … -

  Judy got ready to go on a rant but she felt something sticky on her feet, but before she could move, the fox robed her attention with a paw on her shoulder.

  [Nick] - Smart fox … -

  The fox pointed to himself.

  [Nick] - Dumb bunny … -

  He out the other paw on her shoulder, putting just a little bit of weight on it …

  Judy slaped his arms away with way more force than needed, but the fox didn't look bothered.

  [Judy] - I'm not a dumb bunny … -

  Judy said between her teeth, ready to jump and kick that jerk teeth in … but she felt her feet stuck …

  [Nick] - And I'm also not a small time hustler … And thats also not not wet cement … -

  The fox pointed down with a smile … that … that JERK he pushed her in !!

  Judy was left at a loss for words, she struggled, feeling the cement slowly release her …

  [Nick] - You're not a real cop … -

  The ‘yet’ wasn't said as Nick turned and left her there as she slowly got out.

  [Nick] - But a dang cute meter maid thought, maybe even a supervisor some day, hang in there … -

  Judy turned to see the fox escaping her with a sarcastic wave and as the cement finally released her … Judy remembered that she parked her jokemobile on the other side of the city … she spent hours of her sifth following the fox …

  Releasing a defeated sigh, Judy made the walk of shame back to her joke of a transportation before ending her shift back at the station late into the night …

  At least she had her quota of parking tickets …

  *** *** ***