FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Click!

The door was locked

and Secret inhaled.

He could feel his sleek leather soles' deafened sound against the carpet. Any other noise came from the faint birdsong outside or the nervous breaths of the two inside. Secret slid a hand across the desk closest to him. Composure. Once at the edge, he picked his hand and gaze up in unison, giving the lion leaning against the whiteboard a sly smile.

"Can I take this off?" he asked while holding the purple blazer's collar. After a tentative nod, Secret undid the buttons on the jacket and left it folded on the desk. The goat stretched his arms in the air, standing on the tips of his hooves to really loosen his muscles. The top button on his white dress shirt was already undone but the goat decided to undo the second one as well. "Sorry, it's quite hot in here," he said and grinned.

"I can turn on the AC if you wan-

"No." Secret paused. He looked down at the chair in front of the lion's desk for a few seconds before sitting in it.

"It's fine."

The two looked at each other. With the second button undone, more of the goat's sprawling scars were revealed. Though most could only be seen on his back, patches of burnt skin crept over his shoulder, giving any viewer a welcome surprise.

The lion took his seat, face aligned with the teen.

"Why'd you want to see me, Secret?"

"I just needed help with something, Mr. Landon."

Landon flinched and shook his head. "Please... You know to call me Tracy by now. I'm not much older than you, you know."

Secret chuckled. "Okay, Tracy. I was wondering if you could help me with this."

The teen pulled a note out of his pocket and handed it to his TA. Tracy raised an eyebrow but took the note anyway. After a few moments of reading, he folded the note and placed it in his brown leather bag, immediately letting out a heavy sigh.

"I'm not sure if I can do this, Secret. It's against the law."

The goat's sly smile and calm demeanor dissipated, only to be replaced by a fidget and the drumming of his fingers. He looked out the window then turned his attention to the door... Locking it was definitely a solid choice.

"Why do you care?" Secret retorted.

"I don't want to get fired."

Secret blinked and leaned back in the chair, his face displaying confusion.

"Look, Secret." Tracy folded his hands together and tried to look his student in the eye to no avail. "I don't want to come off as rude, but I'm not in the same position as you. If I lose this job then I have no source of income and may be forced to move to the outer ring. There." He pointed to the edge of a map hung on the wall. "You wouldn't be able to see or visit me."

"I'd help." Secret drew in a crisp breath and looked down at the carpet. "My family will help you."

...

He curled his hand into fists and looked back up at the lion.

"You won't get fired.

I'll make sure of that."