Work Text:
Building Up
It was after Nick and Judy’s shift, and they were heading home for the day. Nick was feeling the inside of his paws sweat. He had a plan. A plan he had thought about over and over again in his head. A plan that was ready to go. A plan he had ready ever since the Tundra Town mess was sorted out.
That was six weeks ago. And he had been a coward ever since.
But today, while he still had the courage, he felt it was time. Time to ask Judy a very important question.
He and Judy were walking down the street, talking and chatting as they went. Which mostly meant Judy talking and Nick enjoying the sound of her voice. This time, Nick was only partially paying attention.
“Nick?” Judy asked.
Nick blinked and looked at her, “Huh?”
“What’s up? You’ve been quieter than you usually are. I know I made more than a few jokes I thought you’d take full advantage of… and you didn’t. So, what’s up?”
“Going for detective already?”
“Never too early to try,” Judy answered, proudly. “Now, what’s up?”
Nick stopped walking, causing Judy to do the same, and he took a breath. “We… got a lot off our chests recently.”
“Yeah. Good things. Right?”
“Yeah. I just… I… I liked it.”
Judy smiled, “Me, too.”
Nick smiled back. “So. With that… I just… wanted to ask… did you…” he rubbed back of his neck, “I dunno. This sounds dumb now, but… would you… like to go out… on a date… with me?”
Judy’s smile slowly fell as her eyes widened. “What… what did you just say?”
“I’m asking you out.” Nick shrugged, “On… an actual date. I just… sorry. Maybe I was wrong.”
“No, no, no!” Judy protested immediately. “Nick, I’m sorry. I just wasn’t ready for you to ask. Of course, I wanna go on a date with you! I just didn’t think you’d ask this soon. I thought we were building up to that!”
Nick’s ears perked up. “‘We’?”
“I mean… weren’t we? Or… aren’t we?”
Nick smiled. “Heh! Yeah! I guess we were. Or are.”
Judy giggled. She gazed at him, trying not to get too emotional. “Yes, Nick. I would… love to go out with you!”
Nick’s smile shifted to one of relief and gratitude. “Well. We are off tomorrow.”
“I’m free, literally, any time.”
Nick remembered something he told her about plans she made. “Didn’t you have—”
“I’m free, literally, any time!”
Nick laughed. “Okay. Okay, to be perfectly honest… I only just built up the nerve to ask. I made no plans of where to actually go.”
“That’s okay,” Judy reassured. “Let’s just go to the movies.”
“Seems pretty simple.”
Judy took hold of his paw. “I’m spending time with you. There’s nothing else I want to do.”
Nick smiled. “Right back at you, Carrots.”