Racist animal hell AU as this may be, Zistopia still has its sweet moments.
- Judy comforting Nick, whom she assigns to take photos of a crime scene, when he freaks out after stumbling upon a corpse in Manchas' house.Judy: The truth is you've already done enough for this case. You should have left the rest up to me.Nick: Judy... when you see predators... when you see me... Is that what you see? Big teeth and-and sharp claws... A potential killer?Judy: (Beat) No.
- And then not long after, Manchas goes savage, mauls Judy, but is stopped when Nick attacks him with teeth and claws, with Nick getting so pissed off his collar sets off, but having given Judy enough time to tranquilize Manchas. Judy quickly repays Nick's effort by removing his collar which nearly kills him, and even then, despite begging Judy to save him while being shocked, his last words before blacking out is concern that Judy will get into trouble for taking off the collar.
- It's sweeter than that, actually. Earlier, when Nick informed Judy about Honey's tragic past, Nick had asked if she was close to crying. Judy informs him "I don't cry while I'm on duty." The moment she gets Nick's collar off, he points out that she's on duty- even through all that pain, the first thing he noticed was that she was crying.
- For all his dislike of working under Judy, Bucky respects her as a competent cop, even continuing her work after she gets fired.
- When he hears his co-workers gossiping about Judy nuzzling Nick during the aforementioned Manchas case, he flips out and angrily tells Lester to quit his disrespect towards Judy (and Nick).
Bucky: You wanna know what I saw back there, Lester? I'll tell you. Officer Webster and I went up the stairs. We saw three things. First was the unconscious killer. Second was Lieutenant Judy Hopps, who tranquilized the killer. Third was the ex-convict who was assisting her on the investigation, grievously injured in need of medical attention. That was all I saw and nothing else - and it was all that you saw too! We most definitely did not see anything that could potentially end somebody's career! Right?- When he and Ernest find suspicious evidences regarding the Manchas case, Bucky decides to launch his own investigation, and Ernest even remarks that Judy has left such an impact on Bucky for him to do that and joins in.
- Nick's time at Judy's huge household has all sort of warm-and-fuzzy feelings, what's with some of Judy's family member coming to accept Nick as a hero and not just some dangerous pred, some even glomping him and in general being supportive of him. Alas, the reaction is not universal.
- The penultimate example, the moment where perspectives begin changing, happens when Nick is served some blueberry pie. The moment is soured when he grins and bares his teeth accidentally, reminding everyone in the room that he is still an uncollared predator in a home filled with bunnies, something the more close-minded denizens point out not-so-quietly and leading to a dejected Nick. ... But then one of the mothers, Beth Liepzman-Hopps, approaches Nick with her four kits cradled in her arms, introducing herself. Nick moves to shake her hand before awkwardly pointing out that her hands are full; so to solve that problem, she puts two of her kits in his arm so she can shake his hand properly. While everyone is startled and divided on her decision, she chooses to go even further and puts her other two kits in his arms. The only thing better than the burrow excitedly suggesting they take a picture is Nick's smile, looking genuinely happy at the measure of trust he's been given.
- After Judy opens up to Nick, he gives her an impromptu You Are Better Than You Think You Are speech that leaves her speechless.Judy: I told you. I have to work harder than everyone else. Otherwise, I'd... never be anything more than some uppity little bunny. You have to keep proving it to them. Including your own people. The boys at the ZPD call me "Judy-on-Duty" behind my back. They call me worse than that. They don't think I notice. Some things just aren't worth addressing.Nick: ... You are amazing.Judy: Flattery will get you nowh- [stops short when she sees Nick on both his knees with a look of admiration]Nick: I'm not trying to flatter you. I just - I want to tell you I think you're amazing. You're the greatest cop I've ever met, hands down. That thing you did, when you figured out why we found him in the tub? That was incredible. And you looked a serial killer in the eye and aimed a tranquilizer gun at him and didn't even blink. That takes guts. And you brought a fox home with you. A FOX. NATURAL ENEMY. You took my collar off. ... You're not afraid of me. ... I've never been this close to a bunny before. You're the first one brave enough to let me near you. You are the BRAVEST woman… and rabbit… and cop... I have ever met. I just wanted you to know that.
- With Judy having "solved" the case with Nick he is now a free fox, but on their way to his home to drop him off she asks him why he was arrested. Nick is surprised she doesn't already know, and then asks if she trusts him; and to what extent. She points out that she trusted him enough to bring him to her home and family, and mingle with them uncollared. He tells her that's not enough, and eventually she tells him that she trusts him with her life. The following exchange ends with her saying she knows he'll protect her when she needs it.Judy: Nick Wilde... I would trust you with my life.Nick: Would you willingly follow me into a dark alley?Judy: I- what?Nick: Would you?Judy: ... Sure.Nick: What if this dark alley is in a shady part of a town- in a slum where only preds live for miles. Would you still do it? ... Keep in mind that you would be completely unarmed and alone with me.Judy: [nervous smile] Do you know what that sounds like?Nick: I'm completely aware. Now say no, so you can take me home and we can forget this conversation. [quietly] ... and each other...Judy: [beat, then pulls over and stops the car] ... I'd do it. But only after taking your collar off first. (So that it won't stop him from protecting her by incapacitating him)
- Nick inviting Judy to his defunct Wilde Times amusement park. She clearly enjoys her time.
- This is then capped off with Judy promising Nick to challenge the system for Nick's freedom.
Judy: I took an oath. To defend, and serve, and protect. And just recently I found out I've been all wrong about this. About who should be feared, who needs to be protected from who. It's got to be everyone. That means predators too. That means you. I've got to defend you. I can't let you tie this around your neck.Nick: Judy, I... I just got out of jail. And if you take that with you, I can't leave this place! I'll be stuck down here... right after I became a free man.Judy: ... You were never a free man. ... Nick, thank you for the day off. But I've got a really big case to figure out, a change-the-world type deal. I'll come back. Just lie low for now. And if you're so desperate to get out I'll give it back. I just hope I won't need to. - Seeing Nick again makes his pals at the bunker overjoyed, especially since this happens after Nick starts uncollaring predators and they believe he might have been dead for that. A pity things go to hell shortly after.
