The Fox and the Rabbit Reloaded.

Chapter 2 - Wicked Game

Judy broke the kiss, opening her eyes. The dazed look on Nick's face was too much, and she couldn't help letting out a giddy little giggle. She was so wrapped up in the moment that she didn't notice the large presence looming over them both. The unmistakable sound of Chief Bogo clearing his throat interrupted the pair's reverie.

Judy and Nick turned their heads and looked up, although Nick was still barely coherent from the kiss.

Chief Bogo glowered down at them with a scowl on his face. Both he and Clawhauser stood there. They, along with a few others, had also gotten the backstage passes from the singer. Unlike Nick and Judy, they were still in uniform.

"You two, my office, 7 a.m. tomorrow," he said then added in that forceful staccato way where each word felt like a slap, "Do not be late." His eyes pinned them each with a brief glare before he gave a bullish snort and walked away.

Clawhauser stood there a moment longer with his paws balled up against his cheeks like he always did when excited. He opened his mouth as if he was about to say something, but all that came out was a delighted squeal before he darted after the Chief.

Nick's expression slowly changed to one of horror. "The entire ZPD is going to know about this within the hour..." he said, his voice monotone.

At that moment, the ZPD was the last thing on Judy's mind. She scanned over Nick; small things about him she'd never noticed before were now apparent. The noticed how his eyes seemed to glow dimly in the moonlight, and how the whiskers on the right side of his nose were just a bit longer than those on the left. She thought it matched the subtle lopsidedness of his smile, which hadn't really left his face since their lips had separated.

The more she looked, the more the fire in her chest burned. She tightened her grip on his tie and brought his face close to hers again.

"Don't care!" Judy said, tugging Nick by the tie to get him going, "C'mon..."

Nick stumbled after her, nearly tripping over his own feet. She let his tie go as he got his legs working. "W-where are we going?" he asked with trepidation. It can't be this easy, his half-stunned mind thought.

Judy looked back at him. Nick's expression, his entire posture really, was one of someone concussed or sleepwalking. She grinned. It was rather cute.

"Your place." she said, "It's closer." Am I really doing this? she asked herself. Yes. Yes, I am. She realized she was not exactly thinking straight, but indecisiveness had never really been her style. She knew this was going to be... something. Trouble, exciting, and new... definitely something new.

"Wait, what?!" Nick blurted out and hurried his pace to catch up with her. He looked down, his ears still splayed out and his eyes wide."Judy I... we... I mean..." he stammered, wringing his paws.

Judy stopped and turned to him and Nick stumbled to a stop. She gathered her scattered thoughts for a moment and took a deep breath to steel herself.

"Look Nick. I don't know..." she said waving a paw, "what this is. What we are, or what is going to happen." She swallowed and took another breath, reaching up to touch the side of his muzzle. "But... I know what I want and... I want you. You and your pretty fur, your smug face, your sharp teeth — everything. You don't have to be terrified that I don't... or can't love you. I do." The emotion was getting too high again, and it threatened to overwhelm her. She rapidly blinked her eyes, abruptly turned, and continued walking.

Nick followed behind her dumbly. "You think my fur is pretty?" he asked.

Judy couldn't restrain a giggle. "Out of all of that, that's what you choose to focus on?" she asked.