Shrunken

Chapter 38

"So, let me get this straight. You're a spy working for the government?"

"Yup."

"And you're a neko?"

"Yup."

"And you can shrink at will?"

Cece shoved another chunk of fish in her mouth and swallowed greedily, a deep purr rumbling in her chest. 

"'Tis correct, good sir," she replied with a grin, quirking her eyebrows playfully. 

Seto's brows furrowed in thought, his gray desk chair swaying back and forth. "That still doesn't make any sense whatsoever." He was poised in a thinker's position, looking at Cece with two fingers hooked under his chin and calculating violet eyes.

From her perch on a small hunched lamp, Kay pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and rolled her eyes. "Says the guy who can set things on fire with his mind," came her snarky remark.

"To be honest, my life doesn't make much sense either," Cece said with a shrug. With a swipe of claws, she tore a handful of salmon off the plate on which she sat, gnawing on it with glee. "The missions are pretty cool, and being small helps a ton with stealth."

"Then how come Brice, of all people, found you?" Seto questioned, pointing at his friend with his thumb.

Brice punched him in the shoulder, offended. "I can be observant," he protested.

Tyra snorted. Brice's glare glued onto her tiny form. "Shut up."

The cat hybrid ignored them and flicked a furry ear, her expression at ease and content, gazing at Seto. Thin beams of light streaked along the silky fur of her ears and tail."I let him. I was scouting the halls and saw her" -she gestured to Kay- "with him. I got curious."

Her fluffy tail flicked lazily at her side. "He didn't seem like much of a threat as far as I could tell and when I spoke up he was friendly." A giggle bubbled in her throat. "And spooked like a deer in headlights." She made her eyes wide and and held her hands to the sides of her head like antlers.

"Well, that's Brice for you," Tyra jested, twirling her fingers through a strand of Seto's hair. She shifted her legs to dangle from his shoulder and smirked.

Brice huffed, his fingers drumming against the desk in irritation. "Why does literally everyone go out of their way to pick on me?"

Kay put arms up, almost falling backwards, and marveled at him.  "What do you expect? You literally pick on everyone!" she exclaimed.

Doing his best to block out the argument, Seto focused on Cece's gaze. "How long have you been watching this place? And why are you just giving us all this information?"

"'Bout two days. Everyone else was so incredibly boring, so I leveled in on you guys. I know your full names and personal information, plus where you came from, Seto Agni Magius." Her eyes glinted with mischief as the sorcerer's brows raised. She then caught Brice's alarmed look and grinned.

"Don't do it," he warned.

"Do what, Bryson Lee Sollars?"

"Sh*t," he cursed, burrowing his face in his hands.

Tyra tipped her head to one side. "Your name is-"

Before she could finish, he let out an angry groan and stormed out, slamming the door behind him. Kay waved her hand dismissively, now hanging upside-down by her knees. "Don't mind him. Must be his time of the month again." 

Tyra doubled over in a fit of giggles while Seto looked back in concern. He turned to Cece with a 'Really?' look on his face. She blinked innocently, chewing on more pink-colored meat. "Sensitive," she murmured.

She gulped and continued. "I didn't find out about Tyra and Kay 'til today. As for the information, it's really not that big a deal unless you start telling people about me snooping. Then we'll have some issues. Really,  I'm just surveying this place for suspicious activity. Starting to wonder if your little situation is what they were talking about." Seto and Tyra exchanged nervous glances.

Cece glanced at Kay, who was trying to right herself on the pole of the lamp. "But what I'd really like to know is how she has the same thing I have. You said Tyra's thing was an accident, but what about her?"

The fox hybrid looked up, startled, and lost her grip on the pole. Before Seto could think, she landed on the desk with a thud and a sharp yelp. Luckily it was a short distance to the ground, about the same as falling from a tree.

Tyra stood up, gripping Seto's hair as he sat upright, fear ripe on both faces. "I'm fine..." Kay croaked, wearily giving them a thumbs-up.

Cece winced. "Ouch."

Seto curled his fingers to support Kay's back, leaning over to inspect her. "How many times have I told you..." he began sternly, cutting himself off with a sigh. To Cece, he quickly said, "I don't think she's comfortable disclosing that information. Right, Kay?" Kay shook her head weakly.

The tiny spy looked disappointed, but nodded in understanding. "I get it. It's probably better kept secret anyway. Makes it better to spy on people," she said with a wink.

She got to her feet, her long, plumy tail swishing dust through the air behind her. "I should probably be getting back to my job. Thanks a ton for the fish. You guys are the best."

"So, no killing us now that we know too much or a SWAT team crashing through our doors and tying us up?" Tyra piped up.

Seto flicked her lightly. "The hell are you doing?" he whispered.

Cece smiled, bright eyes shining and ears perked. "Ha, no. I'm not the officer, I'm just the eyes, ya know? And I like making friends as much as the next person. I'll prob'ly get in trouble for spilling, but no harm will come to you. I mean come on, you people bribed me with fish!"

Gracefully, she leaped over the rim of plastic and turned back to them. "Oh, and I won't tell anyone about your girl. Or your fox," she said with a wink. "See ya later." She produced a miniscule black tool from her pocket, yelled "GRAPPLING HOOK!!!", and went zipping through a tiny hole in the ceiling.

Everyone stared at the hole, dumbfounded.

"Well then."