It wasn't until I got ready to scan the art did I notice that both Celeste and Julius are proportionally too tall for their companions. Poop. And I'm still having problems with my pen. That and I ought to be doing art earlier in the day, as it is close to bed time and I'm not my best today.

Then there was the graduation. And Julius' famous speech. Of course, as a cynical old bitch, Nichole was entirely unaffected. But that damn bright sun and all those allergies did make the eyes water a bit.

But, seeing his beaming face as he pinned the badge on, maybe a tear or two.

After all the formal ceremonies there was a celebratory party, and there were more than a few surprised double takes of Nichole hanging out with the Hero Savior Rabbit of Zootopia. That she was That Nichole Wilde was no secret, but there was still a slight disconnect between the media heroine and the snarky fellow student.

"So, what do we do now?" Nichole looked out at the crowd, perhaps a bit less jealous of the survivors and their proud kin. It would have been nice if she had family to see her, but that wasn't going to happen.

She looked over to her roomie, Celeste. She was a more literal orphan. Though for the moment had the family in blue around her. And an eye on that particularly handsome young wolf, Whitehorse. Interestingly, he too came out of humble beginnings and a dysfunctional home.

Coyotes and Wolves could hook up without too much attention, and the two made a cute, though miss-matched couple. He was a particularly robust Dog, veritably a perfect poster boy for the new generation of the ZPD. She was still a rather petite little coyote, Nichole could not help but think of her as still a pup, and was undistinguished as he was striking. But the two were at the top of their class, just behind Nichole, of course, and seemed to be having some chemistry between them.

Julius had been kind of zoning out over something, and Nichole had to ask again. "So, what do we do now?"

"oh- OH!" Bunny Boy started, "Well, you've got your orders, don't you?" Pointing at the bundle of paperwork in her paw. And he was blushing, just a tad in his ears. Naughty boy.

"Yeah, I report to Precinct One next week for my formal activation and, supposedly, start my partnership with you." Nichole rolled her eyes. "But I mean, what are we going to do, like now?"

"We've eaten all the goodies we can stand, and there are only so many times we can shake everyone's paws, so its time to go - home?" He clearly hadn't considered what that might mean.

"Well, I've been checking on-line and have a line on a few possible places, though for tonight...?" Nichole hinted way too obviously. She had vacated her old rental hole of a place and wanted something more-better.

"- oh - " And the Bunny's ear really reddened at that.

"Down boy. I was thinking in terms of crash space, not some post party private 'celebration'. Ya know, like we talked about an hour ago."

The look he gave her was priceless, shock, embarrassment, and a lot of simple brain lock.

"And, I was also thinking of bringing Celeste along. We're thinking of finding a place we can share for now, though she'll be posted with the fourth."

"Oh, that makes perfect sense." Julius recovered. "I've got regular duty tomorrow but you two can do the town and whatever."

Of course, nothing ever goes so simply. While they were able to get a ride into the city, there were more than a few eyebrows raised as the three officers, two with big duffle bags, plodded into the Grand Pangolin Apartments.

"And what is this?" Demanded Mrs. Trinidad, the Landlady Armadillo.

Before Julius could answer, Nichole leaned in and whispered, "Police business. Best not to pay too much attention." And she gave a knowing wink.

Then when they got to his door, Bucky and Pronks happened to notice.
"He's got two canids in there with him?"

"Yeah, a coyote and a fox, dressed up in cop uniforms."

"Girls?"

"Yeah, a hot vixen and the coyote looked kind of under age."

"Must be just looks though, he's too Johnny Law to do that kind of thing."

"Hey, Bunny, didn't know you were into costumes."

"And three-ways. Way to go."

Nichole stifled a laugh; she'd had 'fun' times with the pair before. Celeste was mortified. Nichole reached over to give her a little reassuring pat. "Don't worry, we love your innocent waif look."

"But they said - " And she gave Julius a rather measured look.

For his part, Julius made an attempt to be crestfallen. "So, no three way?" Before he began to snicker. He then called out. "You guys better be careful, these two are real cops, and they would be just as happy making their arrest quotas with disturbing the peace or criminal harassment as anything else."

A pause. Then, "Really?"

"Criminal harassment is kind of harsh."

"No, that they are cops. Congratulations."

Later on, they had to deal with the logistics of the three of them in a tiny apartment barely adequate for one.

"I'll take the floor." Announced Julius, and it was clear he was going to keep his shirt and trousers on in the company of the two females. And it was also clear he intended to sacrifice his comfort for his guests, not that sleeping on the floor was an issue. He could sleep on almost anything almost anywhere.

Celeste was in a full-length granny flannel nightgown and was prepared to take the floor as well. "Oh, I thought the two of you were going to take the bed?"

Nichole, never the shy one, was in just panties and a t-shirt, and already lounging on the mattress, bolted up, "The two of us! Whatever do you mean?"

"Well, I thought, as you two were already...?" Celeste gestured between the pair.

"Already what?"

"You know..."

Nichole looked over to Julius who was blushed massively along with a wicked smirk. But never to be outdone, she responded, "But, my little puppy, I was so hoping to get you in here so we could give Bunny Boy a real show." And she gave Celeste a lip-licking leer.

At that, Celeste leapt onto the bed, "Oh, my darling, now we can express or forbidden love!" She cooed as she squirmed up next to the Fox.

Nichole played along, stroking her face and ears. "Time for the puppy to learn some lessons!" Then they both looked over to Julius.

He was hunched over, wringing his paws in perverse anticipation, his face twisted into a manic grin, his tongue lolling off to one side, "Bunny gets the show, bunny gets the show." Squeaking in his best Igor-esque voice.

The whole thing held for a couple heartbeats then all three busted out in helpless laughter.

Then, as they recovered, Julius finally gasped, "Seriously, guests get the awful bed."

But Celeste was persistent, "Come on, I don't want to be a third wheel, but you two ought to be back together, even if its just for sleep."

"Excuse me, but we were never 'together' to begin with." Nichole became more firm. "Yeah, the Bunny Boy is cute and all, but we've been just good buds, and all that hero stuff."

"Seriously?" Celeste looked back and forth between the two.

Julius added, "Boys and girls who work together do not necessarily have to get romantic." And he thought about the several boy/girl patrol partners and shook his head mirthfully.

"Yeah, this isn't some romantic comedy were our sexual tension becomes an obvious open secret to everyone else but us." Nichole continued, "That would be silly."

"Then, what about all those 'phone calls?"

Nichole got serious. "How many friends do you have?"

Celeste pulled back a bit, then, "You, I guess."

Nichole gave her a reassuring smile, "And why am I your friend?"

"'Cause you're crazy smart and fun and we really click with each other?" The little Coyote was rather unsure at to where this was going.

"And how many friends do you think Julius has?"

Celeste looked over to the Rabbit, who only shrugged. "Tons? He's got all his family back in Bunny Burrow and the whole First Precinct."

"Didn't ask you how many people he might know, but how many real friends do you think he has?"

Celeste had met Julius a few times during class breaks and felt she had a good grasp of his character. "But he's crazy smart and fun and... " She was finally getting it.

"Yeah, back in the city, I know everyone, but other than Bunny Boy here, and a horrible little Sand Dog who's more trouble than he's worth, and you, real friends, quality friends are kind of sparse."

"However," Julius interjected, "For full disclosure, if you want to indulge your shipping fantasies, we have touched each other's naked pelts."

"Yeah, he doesn't have your fingers of death though." Then turning to Julius, "Did I mention her super-powered paws, could pinch off nail heads, open pickle jars, everything."

"Don't let Bogo know, least he keeps her close for special interrogation."

Celeste was aghast at that until she saw the smirks.

"Precinct thirteen hasn't been a thing for a good long time." Nichole looked to Julius for confirmation. That had been a notorious euphemism for off-book beatdowns and 'enhanced interrogations' of troublesome suspects back in less progressive days. Julius only shrugged and Nichole gave him an incredulous look back.

"But back to beds, I insist on being the long-suffering gentlebeast and take the hard cold floor." Julius was adamant and had a blanket and pillow ready to plunk down. "I'll let you ladies fight it out between you who will take the bed."

Celeste seemed okay to also do the floor and did and ostentatious three circle before curling up on the floor. She had a pillow and blanket and pulled her tail up to cuddle as well.

That left Nichole on the bed, and it was kind of an awful thing, no wonder Julius had so easily surrendered it.

After lights out and the two on the floor had settled into the faint whispers of sleeping breaths, Nichole lay awake. There she was, now a ZPD academy graduate and on her way to being the first fox cop in modern Zootopia history. Moreover, and more on her mind at the moment, the sound and scent of two of the most important mammals in her life was there with her. Who would have thought it, a sweet little coyote girl and super ranger scout bunny boy? What was the world coming to?

She looked over to Julius, he had his face and knees butted up against the bed frame and his blanket wadded up, leaving his back uncovered, more so in that his shirt had rode up leaving most of his back fur exposed. That wouldn't do. She ever so carefully got up and thought about pulling the blanket out to better cover him. Then had a better idea.

Damn biology. Such a delicious snuggle disrupted by a demanding bladder. Celeste got up to hit the head, the communal toilet down the hall, but had to stop and smile at the sight of Nichole and Julius. Just friends indeed. There they were, spooned together, the smaller rabbit tucked into the curve of the larger fox. Her tail was now his comforter, his face buried in her brush.

Yeah, just friends. Yet, when she came back from doing what needed to be done, she considered a moment. Was it instinct, but the idea of simply curling up with another warm body, especially a trusted friend, didn't seem so loaded an idea after all. As she settled in to spoon the fox, she thought this could be a thing after all.

Julius woke up early, instinct and farm boy habits were not going away anytime soon. He was not entirely surprised to see that he had become the core of a cuddle, and a little part of him wished that could be how he woke every morning. He hadn't gotten a lot of that back home, for reasons, and found he craved it more than he might admit.

Early rising meant he had the first chance at the bathroom before his neighbors and he did what needed to be done with economy. The boys next door were not the only ones on the floor and he respected their needs for timely access.

Then back to the room for a change of everything to a fresh duty uniform. It was not until he was nearly ready to leave for the day that the two girls began to stir.

"Going so soon?" Nichole sighed. "And I missed the bare bunny show."

"But we did get our three-way." Julius smiled. "Thanks."

"Anytime." And Nichole found she really liked the cuddle. They'd groomed a few times, even lounged together around after, but this was the first time for a joint sleep over. It felt really good to have him pressed up against her, he was really warm, and having an extra heartbeat close was so soothing.

"Hey sleepyhead, say good morning." Nichole nudged the still dousing coyote.

"Good morning?" Celeste muffled, determined to not properly wake up and relinquish the foxy fluff she was buried in.

"And a good morning and good day to you, Ms. Whitefoot." Julius waved to the pair. "I'm off to make the world a better place."