Two week trial part 4

DAY 2 MORNING

Her body moved like a stationary dancer. She exhaled calmly while she balanced herself on one leg while she held the other up against her head. Her arms moved outward when she slowly brought her leg down. Her chest moved when she inhaled, her fingers reaching for the ceiling almost dragging the air down into her lungs. Her shoulders popped making her sigh in relief. Her body completely stretched out and loose. Now that Judy had completed her ten minute warm up, ready to eat breakfast and head out to meet Gideon.

She was excited to see him and help him on his goal to get back into shape. She found it passionate that Gideon wanted to continue to turn his life around for the better. It would also be nice to finally have a dependable runner by her side. Having someone beside her will make her runs much more enjoyable.

She quietly opened her bedroom door, peering down the hallway. She didn't want to wake Nick up. It was no use to try to make him come with her. She silently tipped toes down the empty hallway towards her living room and kitchen. Her nose wiggled when a sweet smell of dough filled the air. She walked into the kitchen to find a plate of pancakes and a glass of carrot juice waiting for her.

"Morning, Whiskers." Said Nick strolling over to her with a pan in one paw. He slid the cooked pancake off and into his own plate.

"What's all this?" She asked, taking a seat. The sweet smell of pancakes beckoning her to eat them. Nick hummed when he put the pan aside.

"Just wanted to do something nice for the bunny who is letting me live here." He said smoothly and gave her a quick kiss on her cheek. She blushed when he sat down beside her, ready to eat his own meal. "I'm not much of a cook, but making some pancakes is pretty easy."

Judy's eyes lowered in suspicion when he began eating his pancake in silence. When did Nick ever woken up early for anything? She prodded her pancake for answers. He might have planted something into it. Like crickets or laxatives. Her ears lowered from her thoughts. No. She couldn't think that way. Nick might actually be doing something nice for her. He's capable of that. He might even be trying to be sweet.

"Better hurry." Nick warned, interrupting her thoughts. "You have that run with Gideon, don't you?" He asked. She watched him eat a mouthful of pancake.

"O-oh! Right!" She chirped. She was being silly. She took a bite and immediately loved it. It wasn't the greatest thing in the world but it was the thought that counts. Judy rushed through her meal, not wanting to be late. She picked up her empty plate ready to put them in the sink before Nick stopped her with his paw.

"Hold it there, Cottontail..." He smirked, placing his fingers over the plate. "I'll take that."

She gave him a half-lidded gaze when he took her plate away. "You're being sweet today."

"I'm always sweet, Whiskers." He replied, giving his syrup covered thumb a lick.

"Well, I'm not going to question it, I'll be back before 11:00." She said heading her way to the front door. Nick ears sprang up in alarm, quickly discarding the plate into the sink and rushing back towards her. Judy turned the knob, making the door pop open until it was slammed shut suddenly.

"Hey!" She whirled when she saw Nick's paw on the door. "I'm going to be late."

Nick put up a finger, silencing her. "I forgot to give you something."

She put her paws on her hips. "Okay-" she exhaled. "What is it?"

"I thought you be a little bit excited..." He said giving her a puppy dog look followed by a whine. She rolled her eyes in disbelief before giving him a smile.

"Okay, okay, what is it?" She asked again, grabbing at his loose tie. He smirked when she gave him a tug, pulling his head down to hers. Wanting him to be close. He obliged.

He pressed his warm lips against hers giving her a sweet and tender kiss. At first, she thought it would be a quick peak. A kiss goodbye until she returns. She returned the kiss and pulled away, ready to go. His lips followed, capturing her again. She blinked when her back hit the door. She tightened her grip on his tie when his hot lips began fighting against her in a dominate embrace. His paws grasped her hips refusing to let her go as she struggled against him. She gasped softly when he pulled away, standing there dumbstruck when he began rubbing his cheek against her right cheek. She winced when he pressed his muzzle against it, rubbing right next to her jawline. Her fingers were entwined with his tie, pulling at it tightly when he moved to her left cheek. Repeating the process. It was starting to become uncomfortable as the hard bristles of his fur scratched against her skin. He had never done anything like this before.

"N-Nick...I-!"

"Okay, have fun!" He exclaimed, pushing the red, wide-eyes bunny out the door. She flinched when she heard the door slammed shut behind her. She turned back around, her mouth open but with no sound coming out. She slapped her cheeks lightly, wanting to cool them down. What had happened? She shut her mouth and began to walk towards the park, left to reflect on what had happened moments ago. Her heart was still beating rapidly as she thought of it now. She rubbed her sore cheeks, thinking it over. Those motions he did on her, almost felt like a nuzzle. Was he nuzzling her? Bunnies nuzzle when they show affection. Do foxes do that too?

She shook her head. No. Not the way he did it. It was hard and rough. It actually kinda hurt but then again, he is a fox. They must have a different way to nuzzle. If she wants to call it that. She clutched her face, feeling that the redness refused to go down. He had never done something like that before. Even when he kissed her. It was as if he was desperate to keep her home.

"Oh-" she softly groaned, covering her face in embarrassment. "Maybe I'm overthinking it..." she doesn't know anything about foxes and how they act towards mates. Her head shot up. But maybe Gideon might know. "No." She told herself when she saw the green luscious park in the distance. "I can't ask him! It might be something-!" She covered her mouth, her ears glowing red.

Private. It might be something private. She clutched her head from frustration. She needed to know. She has to know. This was bound to happen sooner or later. She could also ask Nick. She gave herself a mental slap in the head. Is she crazy? How can she ask him what that meant? It could have been nothing! Yet in the back of her mind, it could have been something more. She took a breath, calming herself down. She'll ask Gideon later, after their run.

Her ears stood up when she saw him in the distance, waiting for her by a park bench. She jogged towards him as he stood up to greet her with a friendly smile.

"Good morning Miss Judy!" He said with a bellow.

"Hey Gideon!" She smiled widely as she went up to him.

"Are you ready for our-!" His nose suddenly recoiled from her. Judy tilted her head as Gideon coughed nervously taking a small step away from her.

"Gideon? You okay?" She asked taking a step forward. He took a step back giving her a toothy hard smile.

"Yes! Just fine, Miss...uh...say, is Nicholas around?"

"Nick?" She repeated, wondering why he would ask for him. "No why?"

Gideon scratched the top of his head, his eyes darting off to the side."W-well, I...hmm, how do I say this?"

"What? You're acting a little strange."

He coughed again, a small blush forming. "Say, are you and Nicholas mates, per chance?"

She felt her breath stop. "Umm, yes we are."

"Alright that makes sense." He muttered under his breath, searching the top of his head again.

"Gideon, what is this about?" She asked taking a step forward. He took a step back making her eyes narrow. "And why are you doing that?"

He put his paws out. "I-I apologize Miss Judy, is how I was raised."

"Raised how? Why are you acting this way?"

"Well, you see." He drummed his fingers against each other, trying to form the right words. "When a male fox, finds a mate...he uh, oh boy, how can I-!" He took a breath before blurting it out. "He marks his mate to warn other males that she's taken."

Judy blinked. "H-how?"

Gideon gulped, looking away from her when he answered. "Well, we have scent glands in our cheeks, so when we mark our mates it usually looks like a sort of, nuzzle? I should say."

Her fingers curled into fists, she could feel her fingers begin to twitch as she asked him one final question. "And the reason you're acting like this is because?..."

"It's a warning to stay away from you."

Nick was waiting patiently on the couch, enjoying watching television while snacking on some fried chips Judy had hidden. It wasn't long until he heard the front door open, seeing Judy come inside. He smirked, brushing the crumbs off his shirt.

"Back already?"

Judy nodded when she locked the door. "Gideon suddenly had to leave early."

"Really? That's too bad." He said getting up from the couch. "Guess he didn't want to keep up with his goals."

Judy turned to him with her arms crossed. "Yes, such a shame..." She cooed as she strolled right up to Nick. She wrapped her paws around his tie gently making him grin. "Or maybe it had something to do with your mark!" She pulled down, hard. Nick gagged and suddenly was pushed down on the couch with a furious bunny above him.

"How could you!?" She demanded, stomping her foot down. Nick clutched at his neck. A soft growl escaping.

"Gideon told you huh? So much for the fox code...." He muttered bitterly.

"How can you do this to me Nick!" She demanded, her fists shaking in anger. "You wouldn't believe how embarrassed I was when Gideon decided not to go with me! All because of you and your stupid-! Ugh!" She stomped her foot again making Nick's ears lower. "Gideon told me the only reason foxes do that is because they're warning other foxes to stay away!"

"N-no!" Nick began, sitting up fully. "It also means that a fox really loves their mate." He said giving her a innocent smile. He winced when she glared at him. "Okay! Okay! It is!"

"Why would do such a thing?! How can I face Gideon now?"

"Because I saw how he was looking at you!" Nick retorted lifting himself up. "He actually likes you, and I bet you didn't even told him about us until now!"

"I-I didn't think I have to! And he only likes me as a friend, he was trying to be friends with me and you drove him away!" She shoved him, making the conniving fox stumbled back almost falling right back on the couch. He caught himself just in time.

He snarled, tired of getting pushed around. "Open your eyes! He wanted to be more than friends!"

She couldn't believe what she was hearing and how Nick was acting. "Y-you're so despicable! You only did all these nice things because you were jealous!" She said putting her finger on his chest, giving him a hard poke. Nick growled and poked her back.

"Okay fine! I was jealous! I admit it and I'm not sorry for what I did!"

She took a step away from him, her lower lip quivering. Nick eyes widen slightly. Judy turned away from him,her ears down with a look of disappointment plastered on her face.

"You're just like Billy."

Nick froze. He didn't even tried to stop her as she ran passed him to her room. The sound of the door slamming made him fall back on the couch and buried his face into his paws. He groaned softly, a sudden wave of regret washed over him. What was he doing? He had been living with her for two days and they already had a fight. This whole thing with Gideon made him feel ridiculous. The thought of another fox taking Judy made him act completely irrational. And now he is in the same level with Judy's ex mate, Billy. Which made him feel even worse. The fact that he marked Judy just shows he was insecure of their relationship.

It took him an hour to get enough confidence to try and speak with her. He stood in front of the door, staring at the door knob as if waiting for it to turn on its own. His ears twitched when he heard soft sniffling behind it. He gulped, a shaky paw rising against the oak. His knuckles hit the frame three times.

He pressed his ear against the door. "Judy?..."

"Go away!" He jumped back slightly. His ears went back by how upset she sounded. But he wasn't going to let that stop him.

"Whiskers?...just let me in, I-I just want to talk, can't we talk?" He asked softly. He leaned against the door again, listening closely. He bit the inside of his cheek, hearing no response. He doesn't blame her. He pushed himself away, ready to turn and pack his bags. It was clear that Judy would not want to stay in the same room with him, let alone an apartment. He could always go to Finnick. His ears sprung back up when he heard her reply in a small voice.

"...okay."

He twisted the doorknob and peered inside. Judy was sitting at the edge of her bed. She wiped away the last of her tears, rubbing her slightly swollen eyes. Just the sight of her made him step forward. He paced himself, not wanting to make the situation worse as he awkwardly stepped himself closer. Judy crossed her arms, taking a sniff as she stared at her feet. Refusing to take one glance at him. He realized he would have to be the one to speak first.

"Judy..." Her ears moved from the sound of her name. "I...I shouldn't have done that to you."

Her nose twitched promoting him to continue. "I...I was being stupid and immature and-" he scratched the back of his head, turning in shame. "And I didn't trusted you enough."

Judy blinked. She slowly looked up at him. He had his paws in his pockets while he kicked the floor, moving away imaginary dirt.

"I know you might still be mad at me, and I don't blame you...and if you want me to, I'll leave and... you know." He shrugged, unsure of how to continue.

"Nick?..." His eyes locked with hers, catching her sigh. "Sit down."

He did what he was told and sat down beside her. The small bed creaked underneath them, cutting the heavy air like a knife. Judy placed her paws on her knees before addressing him.

"Nick, from now on, I expect you to trust me." She said in a hard tone. Nick swallowed and nodded silently as he heard her continue, agreeing with everything that came out of her mouth. "I'm an adult and so are you, we have our own lives and we are not in charge of each other's. We are suppose to support each other like what mates do! Being jealous is not being supportive." Her voice began to fail her as the tears began to well up in her eyes. Nick put out his paw wanting to comfort her but was stopped from the harsh reality of her paw. She crossed her arms taking a steady breath.

"And I want you to know that you did hurt me, that whole morning was a lie and you knew it..." His head sunk lower, all he wanted to do was go out and sulk under his favorite bridge. "But...thank you, for apologizing to me." His neck twisted towards her in surprise, thinking he was forgiven but frowned when she gave him a serious glare. "But, I don't want you to ever do this again. Do you understand?"

He swallowed and nodded. Judy sighed heavily and closed her eyes. "And you can still stay if you want to, but this is your last chance."

He bit the inside of his cheek when she turned away from him. In spite of forgiving him, she was still angry and hurt. Mixed with sadness and disappointment. It was torture to see her like this and him being the cause of it.

"Am I...still like Billy?"

Her eyes widened and turned to him, seeing his head low with his eyes staring at the ground. His mouth was constricted in a hard line, preparing himself for her response.

She couldn't stop the tears.

"No!" She exclaimed in a cry, startling him out of his depressive state. All her pent up emotions began rushing out from how heavily she started to cry. "I-I didn't mean that!"

Nick's brow rose when she began to sob loudly, making him put his arms out to her again, but he hesitated whether or not he was allowed to touch her. His question was answered when her face collided into his chest. Her arms quickly wrapped themselves around him giving it a squeeze. He winced from how hard she was holding him.

"I-it's okay! It's okay!" He said feeling his ribs begin to strain. He wrapped his own arms around her. "I...I deserved that." He admitted into her ear. His shirt was completely soaked when he heard her sniffle.

"I-I still love you...you stupid fox." She said making him press his cheek against hers. Breathing a sigh of relief.

"And I still love you, you sweet emotional little bunny." He gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead making her tears slowly drift away.