Published: December 11th 2021, 12:19:19 pm
Note: Thanks to a certain Koopa for encouraging me to get my butt moving on this story again!
"So how does it feel to be on the straight and narrow?" asked Judy, holding a forkful of salad in her hand.
"Not so bad," said Nick, resting his chin on his palm with a faraway expression in his eyes. He took a second to register that Judy was grinning at him and spoke up with mild annoyance. "Would you quit pointing that thing at me? Geez..."
"Aww, Nicky's in love!"
"Okay, first of all, never call me that again," said Nick, shaking his finger. "Second, I'm not in love okay?"
"You are in love. I can see it in your face!"
"Oh, come on Judy, knock it off. That's so redic- I mean, for starters, I'm not a one fox kinda guy..."
"Oh, so he's a fox huh?"
"I never said that," said Nick. "And you can't prove I did."
"Hey, it's fine, nothing wrong with a little puppy love. We do it all the time in the burrows, and it doesn't tie us down. We call it bunny love, and sometimes we can be in bunny love with two, three, gosh, even four pe-"
"Yes, yes, we've all heard the stories about you rabbits," said Nick.
"And yet us foxes always get painted as the sluts..."
"Psh, whatever, lover boy."
Nick's face would have been bright red if his fur wasn't already red.
"I told you I'm not-"
"Oh, you're so cute when you're flustered like that."
"Flustered?! I-"
"Hey, c'mon, Nicky. You haven't even touched your bug burger," said Judy, pawing at his bug-meat burger.
"Hey! Paws, off," said Nick. "I'm working up an appetite, alright?"
"Uh huh. So who's the lucky guy?"
"I'm not telling," said Nick.
"Is it your cute lil roomie?"
"No,"
"Oh, you're such a bad liar."
"Oh, shut it. You're just jealous."
"Oh, am I? Okay, then, if you're free, and I'm free, why don't you have me over some time?"
"Be glad to," said Nick, crossing his arms and sticking out his chin.
God, if I'd known he was this easy, I'd have teased him months ago, thought judy. True enough, she'd been trying to get Nick to let her come over since around the time they first met but he always had an excuse.
Leave it to Nick's stubbornness to get him into a big ol' pickle. Nick realized the moment he walked through the door that this would be a problem.
"Awww, shit..." he said, leaning against his front door the moment it was shut. He had to think of something to tell Finnick, and quick - since Judy had stopped by her apartment for something and wasn't far behind him.
"Hey, Daddy, you're back early," said Finnick softly, as he sat up from Nick's bed/living room couch. He' d been pretty happy since they'd taken their little rendezvous.
Shit.
After their time at the hotel there was an unspoken understanding. Nick finding excuses to baby Finnick a little bit more and Finnick having opportunities to go along with it. Nick lets him stay dressed that way all the time - suggesting that it's easier that way anyway after a scam, and to provide an alibi for any nosy neighbors. Finnick seemed happy for once. How would he react when Judy showed up?
"Listen, Finnick. There's something I have to tell you..."