"A shapeshifter?" he strokes his chin thoughtfully after listening to the Director's explanation, "It's not common to see them around nowadays…"
Twenty years ago, perhaps, but in the past couple of years, more and more creatures had started going away to the Lands Beyond, where no humans were allowed to enter. Today, if one were to encounter a magical creature above a grade 1 you would be considered lucky.
"Director, if I may ask, why me?"
"Believe me, I asked myself the same, but it's an order from headquarters."
That really does not answer my question. "Um. My question still stands: why would they choose me?"
"Apparently, you're the best seals master around these parts. Their words, not mine," she quickly clarifies. "And as you should know, shapeshifters are known for their intricate seals and barriers, which is where their power comes from. But she's still young and needs someone to teach her, which is where you come in."
"Wouldn't it be better for one of their own to teach them?"
"There are no fox-shifters left that can teach her."
"I-" He wants to refute that; obviously there has to be at least one other fox-shifter around. But the Director's tone leaves no room for argument, and if this is the Bureau of Magical Affairs they're talking about, they have probably already searched all over the country. Meaning, no, there really are no fox-shifters around anymore. Besides, it's no use arguing against orders from the higher-ups.
He gazes at the kid from the corner of his eye, but she bares her teeth at him when she notices. He quickly turns away.
"Now, I expect both of you to get along," the Director glares at both of them, "or else…" The rest of that sentence hangs in the air threateningly. "Do I make myself clear?"
"Of course," he answers quickly. There is some grumbling and mumbling from the shapeshifter. He hopes it was a reluctant agreement and not a plan on how to dispose of him when he lets his guard down.
She nods in satisfaction. "I'll leave you to introduce yourselves then." She stands up, and with a grand sweep of her sleeves makes her exit, leaving him sitting pathetically among all the mess and still dripping wet. And there's also the other matter at hand…
Damn you, you merciless, heartless bitch! he thinks bitterly. Leaving me alone with the little devil!
He pinches the bridge of his nose. He's definitely not getting out of this one. He supposes he might as well start with the introductions. "Hey kid," he calls out to the still caged creature, "what's your name?"
"None of your business!" She sticks out her tongue and turns her back to him.
"..." The response takes him aback. Then again, he doesn't know what he was expecting. In their defence, he would also be pretty hostile towards anyone who had thrown a soggy granola bar at him. "...Do you at least have a name?" he tries again.
She mumbles something that sounds very suspiciously to "go eat shit and die."
"Hey. Help me out here, will you? Listen, I like this as much as you do, so let's make a deal, okay?" That seems to get her attention. "I say, let's cooperate and make the best of the situation. Who knows? Maybe it won't be so bad in the end." He puts on what he hopes doesn't look like a painfully fake smile.
"I'll make you a better deal," they grin mischievously, "you get the old witch to let me out of here and I will promise not to bite your head off."
He doesn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Old witch?" Were they trying to get him killed?! "You can't say that!"
"Say what? Old witch?"
"Shhhhh!!!!" He scampers towards the cage. "Don't- Don't say that where she can hear you!"
"I don't give a shit if she can hear me! I'll say whatever I want as much as I want! Old witch! Old witch!" they sing-song.
"Fine! Fine!" he has to shout over them, "I'll let you out!" They let out a cheer. "But you have to stop calling her old witch!"
"Just WHO are you calling an old witch?"
They freeze at the sound of that voice.
"N-noone," both say at the same time.
The Director narrows her eyes and inspects them for a few seconds. "You're not fooling me, you know." He can feel himself go pale. "But I'm feeling generous today, so I'll let it pass."
"T-thank you, Director…" His whole body goes limp with relief. The shapeshifter signs at him, reminding him of the promise he had made moments ago. "Um… by the way, can you…" he points at the cage, "you know."
"Fine, whatever," she waves her hand, annoyed, "I need you to stop crowding my office, anyways." She taps her foot once and the bars of the cage immediately disappear.
No sooner has the cage keeping the kid in place dematerialized, and she's already climbing out the window.
The Director just watches her run away. "That's your problem now."
"...What?"
"If I were you I would start chasing them before they got too far away." He stares at her, dumbfounded. "Go on," she makes a shooing motion with her hands, "out."
It takes a while for his brain to catch up, and before he knows it, he's already walking out the door of the office. The door slams shut with a resounding bang behind him. He stands in the hallway, at a loss on what to do. The only sound are drops of water that keep dripping from his clothes to the floor.
"You look like shit," a voice to his right calls out.
He shuts his eyes, and slowly turns around.
And there he is, leaning against the wall, with an infuriatingly smug smile plastered on his face: Baz.