At The Begining: A Zootopia fanfic Nick x Judy

Chapter 2: Being Trustworthy

While the EMTs worked at cleaning and bandaging her leg, Judy had watched Nick lean up against one of the massive cruisers that still sat outside the building. The ZPD was still scouring the Natural History Museum in search of any more psychotic sheep trying to escape justice. She hoped no one slipped through the cracks, but they weren't her concern right now—Nick was.
Although he still had his mask on, Judy could tell the impala's blatant disrespect and mistrust was getting to him. He hid it well, but Judy could tell. He didn't call her his best friend for nothing.
W

ith a tired sigh, a small smile crept across her face, one that Nick returned when the impala turned her attention to Judy's leg while carefully wrapping a bandage around it. Ignoring the pain caused by the light pressure, she studied Nick's nonchalant expression. He seemed to be paying only half attention to her, and she assumed he was lost in thought, which made her wonder. What kind of thoughts would be running through a snarky fox's head while his best friend was receiving medical attention?
Well, she was about to find out. As the EMTs secured her bandage in place, Nick stepped back over to her, his smug grin held firmly in place. He remained silent, though, as the nicer of the two paramedics began to speak.
"Well, the wound is a little deep," the red panda explained, "and cut diagonally across several muscles, so we can't fix it up ourselves. We'll need to take you to the hospital and let a doctor look at it. He'll stitch it up and give you instructions for taking care of it."
Judy sighed at the thought of going to the hospital but nodded. "Can my friend come with me then?" she asked while indicating Nick.

The red panda, whose nametag read Jeff, opened his mouth to reply in the affirmative, when the impala suddenly spoke up. "Sorry, only family can ride with a patient." The smug look on her face told everyone her insistence was nothing more than a slight to the fox.

Jeff frowned at his partner but didn't push the issue. Judy, on the other paw, balled up her fists and opened her mouth to give the specist doe a piece of her mind when Nick placed a gentle paw on one of her fists. "It's okay, Fluff."
Judy turned her glare to Nick, but then her expression softened and seemed to ask, Why did you stop me?
Nick gave her a small smile. "We're both tired and hungry, so if you give me the truck keys, I can pick it up, grab some dinner, and meet you at the hospital later. How does that sound?"
Judy stared at him a moment longer, then suddenly deflated. As the anger evaporated, the tension left her body and her shoulders slumped. She felt so tired. And hungry. Nick's plan was sounding wonderful right now. Reaching into her pants pocket, she fished the keys out and dropped them into the vulpine's dark paw. "Yeah, I wouldn't want anything stolen from it." She emphasized stolen while glaring at Cindy. Turning her attention back to Nick as he pocketed her keys, she added, "And I am really hungry."
"Anything in particular you want?"
Judy shrugged. "Vegetables. Something with lots of vegetables." Nick's brows furrowed at her vague answer, but then her stomach growled loudly, and she quickly covered her belly with both arms, her ears turning a dark shade of pink.
"Sweet cheese and crackers, Carrots!" Nick exclaimed, taking a page from her book of colorful phrases. "When was the last time you ate?"
Judy couldn't meet his eyes as she murmured, "Sometime . . . last night . . . I think."
"What! Why!?" Before Judy could answer, the red panda coughed into his hand, and Nick stepped back so they could strap Judy in and hoist the gurney into the back of the ambulance. Not done with the conversation, he pointed a clawed finger at his furry, grey friend and said, "We'll finish this conversation later, young lady."
Judy giggled. "Yes, father."
Nick flashed her a genuine smile as the doors closed, and as Jeff made his way to the front of the ambulance, Nick asked, "Zootopia General, right?" After a quick nod in reply, the red panda disappeared within the ambulance's cab and was soon driving down the street. Which was perfect timing, as several news vans pulled up just as the ambulance disappeared around a corner.
Nick was already heading to an alley that led towards the street the truck was parked on, but at seeing the reporters piling out of the vans, he quickened his pace and vanished around the building and into the dark alleyway. He hated reporters. They didn't care about the truth, only what would sell to the masses.