Interview With A Werejaguar

On their way to town Laura's eyes darted around cautiously as she drove.

"Remember, guys, keep a low profile," Laura warned, her gaze lingering on Kai. "The Argents are on the hunt, don't draw any attention to yourselves."

Malia nodded in agreement, glancing out the window at the passing scenery. "So, what's the plan?" she asked.

"You two can either hang out in the car or find somewhere close by," Laura replied. "Just nothing too far away."

Malia practically bounced in her seat, eager to explore the town. "Hey, Laura, can I go check out the town real quick?" she asked, her eyes practically sparkling with excitement.

Laura nodded, her eyes still fixed on the road ahead. "Yeah, sure. Just be careful, and please try to appear normal," she added.

While they spoke, Kai attention was on the sights and sounds of the town. His eyes scanning the streets and buildings as they drove by.

Making their way through the quite town, Kai couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over him.

Malia turned to Kai with a mischievous grin on her face. "Kai, you're coming with me, right?" she demanded.

Kai nodded absentmindedly, his gaze fixed on a teenage boy riding his bike through the streets.

As soon as Laura parked the car, she turned to Malia and handed her several bills. "Here, use this to buy yourself some underwear," she said, not bothering to lower her voice.

Malia's face turned bright red, and she shot Laura a withering glare. "Seriously, Laura? You couldn't have said that when Kai wasn't in the car?" she hissed.

Laura shrugged nonchalantly. "What? You need new underwear, and you can't exactly wear the same pair every day. You're a teenage girl now, not a wild coyote living in the woods."

"I preferred my coyote body, at least it didn't need all these things, it was less complicated," Malia grumbled, crossing her arms.

Laura just sighed, knowing Malia was just feeling overwhelmed by all the changes in her life. "I know it's tough, Malia. But you're human now, and that comes with certain responsibilities and expectations," she said gently, placing a hand on Malia's shoulder.

Malia shrugged off her hand, but Laura didn't take it personally. She knew Malia just needed some time to adjust.

"Fine, whatever," Malia grumbled, shoving the money into her pocket. "Can we go explore now?"

Laura nodded, her eyes scanning the streets for any sign of danger. "Yeah, just remember to be careful and stay out of trouble," she warned. "We don't want to draw any attention to ourselves."

The trio stepped out of the car, stretching their legs after the drive. Laura turned to face Kai, giving him a stern look.

"Take care of her, okay? And don't get into any trouble," she warned, pointing a finger at him.

Kai just lazily nodded, not really paying much attention. He was more interested in watching a group of skateboarders doing tricks nearby.

Malia, on the other hand, was practically bouncing with excitement. She grabbed Kai's arm and dragged him along behind her, barely giving Laura a chance to say goodbye.

"Come on, let's go explore!" she exclaimed, practically dragging Kai down the street.

Laura watched them go, a small smile on her lips. She was glad to see Malia happy, even if it meant dealing with a moody teenage boy for the second time. She turned and headed in the opposite direction, keeping a watchful eye on her surroundings.

_

In a small office, a middle-aged black man sat at his computer, typing away. His short, trimmed beard emphasized the lines on his face, hinting at his age. Suddenly, a knock at the front door interrupted his train of thought. He looked up from his screen, listening intently for the sound of another knock. Sure enough, it came again, followed by the sound of a muffled voice.

The man stood up from his desk chair, smoothing out the wrinkles in his shirt as he made his way to the front door. He wondered who it could be - he wasn't expecting anyone.

As he reached the glass door with the printed words "Beacon Hills Animal Clinic", the man spotted a young woman standing outside. His eyes widened in recognition, and he quickly unlocked the door to let her in.

"Laura, you're back already?" He said, surprised to see her so soon. "Anything new to report?" he asked, looking at her expectantly.

She stepped inside, and wasted no time getting straight to the point.

"We need to talk," she said firmly, a sense of déjà vu washing over her.

"We can talk in my office," the man replied, glancing back towards the front door as he locked it once more. The sign outside reading "Closed".

He led Laura down a short hallway and into his office, gesturing for her to take a seat.

"What can I do for you?" he asked kindly, taking a seat behind his desk.

_

As Malia stepped out of the woman's clothing store, she let out a frustrated grunt at how expensive the underwear was. "I don't understand why it's so expensive," she muttered to herself, "It's just a little bit of fabric."

As her anger continued to build, her claws began to protrude, causing Kai to instinctively reach out and pat her head.

"Hey, it's alright," he said soothingly, "There's no need to get worked up over it."

Malia sighed, feeling the weight of her new human thoughts and emotions bearing down on her. As a coyote, her mind had been simple and focused on survival, but now it was filled with a constant stream of thoughts and urges that she didn't always understand.

"Sorry," she muttered, retracting her claws, "I just got so frustrated."

Kai smiled at her, his eyes sparkling with understanding. "It's fine, don't worry about it," he said.

"Come, let's go somewhere else," Kai said, flashing Malia a charming smile. He could sense her frustration and wanted to lift her spirits. So, he pointed towards a small, quaint cafe nearby.

Without hesitation, the two began walking towards the cafe, Malia still grumbling about the price of underwear. As they crossed the street, they didn't wait for the signal, causing a blue sports car to slam on its brakes, narrowly avoiding them.

"What the hell do you two think you're doing!?" A blonde teen yelled, his face twisted in anger.

Kai glanced over to the driver of the blue sports car, but decided to ignore him and continue walking. Malia followed close behind, not sparing the driver a single glance.

The blonde teen inside the car wasn't having it, however, and continued yelling obscenities at them. "Don't walk away from me! I'm talking to you!" he shouted.

Kai finally stopped in his tracks and turned around, slowly walking back towards the car. He stood next to the driver's side door, and as he bent down, his eyes met with the driver's. "Yes?" he said, his tone taunting.

The blonde teen opened his mouth, ready to hurl another insult at them, but he hesitated and ultimately bit down on his words. Driving off, shouting that they weren't worth it. Kai and Malia hardly batted an eyelash, completely unfazed by the exchange. They continued towards the café, their minds already moving on from the brief encounter.

_

"Let me get this straight," the unnamed man said, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Laura. "You want me to hire a guy you just met yesterday after he saved you from a killer werewolf?"

Laura's heart raced as she nodded, hoping against hope that he would understand. "I know it sounds crazy Alan, but I owe him my life."

"I don't know, Laura," Alan said, his voice firm but calm. "I'm not sure this is such a good idea. You barely know this guy, and we could be bringing trouble into town."

Laura bit her lip nervously, feeling her heart pounding in her chest. "That's exactly why I came to you, Alan," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "My mother trusted your judgement, and so do I."

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I'd like to ask you to keep an eye on Kai for a little while, and let me know what you think. If you decide he's a threat, I'll personally make sure he's removed from Beacon Hills. But I really believe he could be a valuable asset to our community."

Alan raised an eyebrow, studying her intently. "And what if I decide he's not a threat?"

Laura shrugged, trying to sound confident. "Then he can stay here, where he can't cause too much trouble at least. There's no safer place for supernatural beings than your clinic, right?"

Alan nodded slowly, his expression thoughtful as he considered Laura's request. He knew it was risky, but he also knew he couldn't let his friend down. "All right, Laura," he said, finally giving in. "Bring him in for an interview. But that doesn't mean I'll hire him. This clinic means a lot to me, and I won't tolerate anyone who might jeopardize it in any way."

Laura's eyes shone with excitement as she beamed at Alan. "Thank you so much, Alan! I'll bring him here right away!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing with energy.

Alan watched her go, a small frown forming on his face. He couldn't shake the feeling that Laura was keeping something from him, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

"Am I really that predictable?" he muttered to himself, a note of frustration in his voice. He knew he had to be cautious, especially when it came to newcomers in Beacon Hills. But he also couldn't help the nagging feeling that something big was about to happen.

_

A familiar bike riding teen arrived to school, weaving through the crowded parking lot, searching for a spot to park. Finally, he spotted an empty spot next and quickly pulled in.

But just as he was about to dismount, a car came barreling towards him, knocking him to the ground. He scrambled to his feet, his cheeks flushing with anger, ready to give the driver a piece of his mind. But before he could say anything, he was snapped at in return.

"Watch the paint job, McCall! This car is worth more than you!" another familiar figure, a blonde haired teen shouted from behind him.

He scowled as the blonde stepped over him, paying no heed to his well-being. "Asshole," he muttered under his breath, his hands clenching into fists.

Slowly, he got to his feet and went over to pick up his bike. He shot the blonde a withering look before turning to head towards the school, determined to put the unpleasant encounter behind him. He had more important things to worry about, like finally breaking into the first line this year.

_

It took Laura a while to locate Kai and Malia. She finally found them sitting outside a small and quaint cafe a few blocks away, munching on bagels and sipping coffee.

"What are you guys doing all the way over here?" Laura asked, annoyance creeping into her tone. She had hoped they'd be closer to the clinic.

"Laura! Have you tried these, what are they called?" Malia called out excitedly, waving a half-eaten bagel in the air. Laura turned to face her, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

"Bagels, sweetheart," an old man behind the cafe's counter answered, chuckling at Malia's enthusiasm.

Laura walked over to Malia, taking a small bite of the bagel she offered. It was warm and chewy, with a hint of cinnamon. "These are really good," she said appreciatively, taking another bite.

"Yes, they're amazing!" Malia raved about the pastries, taking another one from a paper bag in between her and Kai.

"Come on, my friend wants to talk to you. Do well and he might hire you," she said, turning to face Kai. He was likewise enjoying a bagel, but his was filled with a large amount of cream cheese, more than she had ever thought possible.

Kai wiped some cream cheese from the corner of his mouth and nodded. "I'll do my best," he said, his voice dripping with casual confidence.

As he stood up, Malia clutched the bag of bagels tightly to her chest. Turning to the old man tending to the cafe, she promised to return for more. The old man beamed at her, his eyes crinkling with warmth. "You're always welcome here, my dear," he said, his words ringing with genuine kindness.

Laura trailed behind them, her curiosity piqued by the man's kind words. "What's the story behind that?" she asked, walking up to Malia and Kai.

Malia took a big bite of her bagel, savoring the soft, chewy texture and the rich, creamy flavor of the cream cheese. "When we got there," she said, her words muffled by a mouthful of food, "the old man was all by himself. But as soon as we started chowing down on these delicious bagels, people started flocking in from all over."

Kai nodded in agreement, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Malia here couldn't stop raving about how amazing the bagels were," he said, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "And before we knew it, the whole place was packed with hungry customers."

Malia giggled, popping another bite of bagel into her mouth. "What can I say? I know what's good."

As they made their way to the clinic, Laura listened intently as Malia recounted their strange encounter. Malia described how some random blonde haired kid shouted at them, only to back down when Kai confronted him.

Laura turned to Kai, her eyes wide with surprise. "Is that true?" she asked, a note of disbelief in her voice.

Kai shrugged, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "It was nothing."

Laura breathed a small sigh of relief, grateful that the situation had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience. She quickly changed the subject, turning her attention to Kai's upcoming interview.

"If you're planning on sticking around in Beacon Hills," she said, her tone serious, "you can't afford to mess up this opportunity."

Kai's expression softened at her words, and he nodded thoughtfully. "Don't worry," he said, his voice tinged with confidence. "I know how to be professional when it counts."

Laura smiled, "just remember," she added, "this is a small town, and word gets around fast. If you make a good impression with him, it could open a lot of doors for you here."

As they arrived at the clinic, Kai's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but he said nothing as Laura knocked on the door. Malia, meanwhile, was sniffing the air incessantly, her nose twitching as she tried to identify the various scents emanating from the building.

Laura noticed Malia's behavior and chuckled softly. "Those are the smells of animals," she explained patiently, knowing that Malia was still getting used to the ways of the human world. "Most people don't go around sniffing like that."

Malia pouted slightly, but she quickly took Laura's words to heart and stopped sniffing around the front door of the clinic. She straightened up, looking determined to make a good impression.

A short while later, Alan unlocked the door and welcomed them inside, introducing himself as Dr. Alan Deaton.

Kai's easy confidence caught his attention, and he couldn't help but be curious about this enigmatic young man.

As they followed him to his office, Alan studied Kai discreetly, trying to get a read on him. He couldn't quite place his finger on it, but there was something intriguing about him.

Once inside the office, Alan took a seat behind his desk, gesturing for them to take a seat. Laura and Malia accepted sitting down in front of him. Kai, for his part, remained standing off to the side, his gaze fixed intently on Alan. There was something about the man's calm, measured demeanor that drew Kai's attention, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of respect for him.

Alan cleared his throat, his eyes on Kai. "So, Laura tells me you're in need of a job," he said, his voice calm and measured.

Kai spoke up, his voice direct and to the point. "That's right, she said you might be able to help me," he said, his expression impassive.

Alan took a moment to consider his words carefully before responding. "That depends on your capabilities, of course," he said, his tone measured. "But most importantly, it depends on whether or not I like you."

Kai didn't flinch at Alan's forceful tone, his expression remaining impassive. "As far as capabilities go, tell me the job, and I'll tell you if I can or can't do it," he repeated calmly, refusing to be intimidated.

Alan studied him carefully, his expression inscrutable. "I see," he said at last. "But if I don't like you, it won't matter if you have the capabilities required or not. I won't hire you."

Kai nodded, acknowledging the challenge. "Fair enough," he said, his gaze never leaving Alan's.

Alan leaned forward, his expression stern. "Hmm, it appears to me that you don't even want to be here with that attitude of yours," he said, his eyes fixed on Kai. "I noticed it the moment I laid eyes on you just a few moments ago. You're clearly arrogant and think working for me is beneath you. So why should I hire someone like that?"

Laura was quick to defend Kai, but Alan raised a hand to silence her. "He can answer for himself. He's not a mute."

Kai didn't flinch under Alan's intense scrutiny, meeting his gaze steadily. "You're right, I don't particularly want to be here," he said calmly. "As for my attitude, I'm not looking to impress anyone with false humility."

Alan's eyes narrowed as his face contorted with anger, and with a sudden burst of fury, he slammed his fist on the desk, causing everyone to jump. "Why in the world did you bring me this fool? Are you trying to waste my time?" He shouted at Laura, who recoiled under his gaze. "Take them with you and leave! I won't tolerate this any longer!"

Suddenly, a piercing whistle filled the room, cutting through Alan's rage. He stopped mid-sentence and turned around, to see a pen lodged into the wall just behind him. He raised an eyebrow, his expression softening.

Kai's eyes blazed with annoyance as he spoke, "Lower your tone." Laura was taken aback by Kai's sudden outburst, but Malia grinned widely, feeling grateful for Kai's defense.

Alan's expression melted away, replaced by a thin smile as he spoke, "You're hired."

Kai's cool, rough voice filled the room, grabbing Deaton and Laura's attention. "You almost lost an eye, to test whether or not I would defend Laura." he stated, his tone dripping with a hint of sarcasm.

Alan's curiosity was piqued as he asked, "You knew?" He couldn't help but wonder how Kai figured it out.

"It was obvious," Kai replied with a knowing look. "On our way to your office, you and Laura exchanged several glances. And when you started to get frustrated, she looked like a scolded puppy, which is not something she's good at portraying." His words caused Laura to turn red with embarrassment, and she stood up, pointing a finger at Kai.

"You, you," Laura stuttered, struggling to find the right words to express her frustration. But she quickly changed tactics. "I did my best, okay? It's not as easy as it seems," she admitted with a sheepish grin.

Kai didn't bother responding to Laura as he shifted his focus to Alan. "Now that we've cleared the air, what's the job you need done?" he asked, his eyes filled with determination.

"How good are you with animals?" Alan asked, a playful smile tugging at his lips.

Kai's response was unexpected, causing everyone in the room to stare at him in horror. "Depends, you want them euthanized?" he said flatly, before quickly adding, "Just kidding."

Laura rolled her eyes at Kai's joke, but Malia couldn't contain her giggles.

Kai cleared his throat, sensing the need to move on. "I'm assuming you want me to work here?" he asked, his voice serious once again.

Deaton nodded, confirming Kai's assumption. "Welcome to Beacon Hills Animal Clinic," he said, extending his hand for a shake.