now that finals are done, I can continue working on this(YaY!). and disclaimer I do not own fairy tail. hope you enjoy.

"Is that all to report?"

Alex was kneeling in front of Master Jose "Yes."

"So instead of trying kidnapping the girl as your superior instructed, you decided to threaten her life."

"I never had the intention of taking her life, I just need to show how desperate the situation is."

"We are not desperate!" Jose snapped. After a few moments of silence he continued "I will send him a letter explaining everything, then hopefully he won't turn to the council."

Alex stood to leave "Is that all?"

"For now. You did do some good, the alternative plan would have been harder for the guild to cope with."

Alex nodded and took his leave.

Alex wandered through halls when he heard someone behind him, he was about to stand aside when he also heard "Hey sparky!" and the 'mysterious' person threw an arm around him.

Alex sighed "Hi Verna" he shrugged her off, not in the mood to deal with her picking. "And please don't call me that."

She gave him a faux innocent grin "Why? There's nobody around."

Alex rubbed his temples "Is there a reason you're annoying me?"

"Actually, yes." All humor gone from her voice, causing his focus to sharpen on her, "We need to talk about something, meet me at my place tomorrow." She whispered before making her leave.

Alex gave her a questioning look, but all she gave him was a shake of her head.

Alex was walking through town when something felt different. He stood in front of a store, trying to remember if he forgot something. Mentally shrugging it off he was about to continue his journey when he spotted a cloaked individual. Most people would chide themselves calling it paranoia or overcautious. But to Alex, caution means you live longer.

Alex walked to Verna's apartment and then kept on walking, he moved along the street "window shopping" as watched for the tail, and sure enough the cloaked person was there mimicking him although with less discretion.

Alex was thankful that he wore his hood up as he darted into one of the stores. "Can I have a bag?" he asked, taking off his jacket. The shopkeeper looked up at him.

"Are you a customer?" the person behind the counter questioned without missing a beat. In response Alex threw down some loose change and stuffed his jacket into the bag before heading back out. He walked past his tail who had just entered the shop. Alex stood in the mouth of an alley for a moment and watched as the tail emerge and was scanning the street seeming frantic in the hunt for him. Alex grinned and double backed to Verna's apartment, satisfied with his performance.

He knocked on the door and Verna opened it, almost as if she had been waiting near it. "Come on."

Alex followed her in as she made way for him, closing the door after he entered. "You know, if someone sees us, rumors will start spreading." He said as the door closed.

She snorted "So?" Verna went out of her way to create those rumors.

Alex shook his head in exasperation. "Anyway, why do we need to talk?" He questioned, heading towards her couch.

Verna sat down after him, carefully choosing her words. "What do you know of the Fairy Tail guild?"

Alex shot her a look of disdain, "You know I don't care about some bullcrap rivalry."

"Humor me." Alex eyed his friend before finally complying.

He gave a shrug, "A little more than sorcerer weekly I guess."

"Really?!"

Alex shrugged again "Like I said I don't care. Why do you?"

"I thought that since they are described as an evil guild, I would do research on them and see if what people here say is true."

Alex looked at her "And?"

She gave a small shrug of her own. "They're like us, except they tend…"

"To blow stuff up on most jobs, yeah and you don't consider it bad?"

Verna leaned back "not compared to some of the "legal" guilds."

Alex nodded in concede. "True, and how are things going around here?" he said, gesturing to the apartment.

"Oh you know, just fun job of managing rent and other bills."

"Do you need help, like a loan or something?"

"Hm no, actually I talked to my landlord and he has reduce rent until things get better." She turned to face the window. "You know it's a big world out there."

Alex was caught off-guard by the random statement. "So?"

"I've had thoughts on leaving the guild."

Alex felt his stomach tighten "W-what, wait why?"

"Things probably won't get better in the long run, it's hard to keep up with everything. Really it's exhausting. Leaving is only a thought though. The guild is good to me, so I probably wouldn't leave. I'm just tired I guess."

"Oh, okay" Alex opened the door "hey forgot to mention be careful, someone followed me around town."

"Really?! Who?"

"I honestly don't know. But I don't think they're from the guild."

Concern laced her voice "we have to tell the guild if our members are being stalked."

"If their after the guild. They might be after me, and that doesn't involve the guild."

She gave him a look "I doubt that, I mean it's been like, what two years since you gave up on thieving?"

"Actually three, and it wouldn't matter."

"That's crazy"

Alex shrugged "that's life" and he left

There was a knock at the door. Alex opened it to see a frazzled and a bit petulant tichus at the door

"Thought you show up"

"Yes, well I did come by earlier but you were out."

"So, am I going to train while you study me?"

"Not tonight. It's already too late we'll work tomorrow"

Alex nodded, expecting as much. And started to close the door.

"And we'll start in the morning." Tichus continued.

Alex closed the door, waited a few moments then let out a muted groan.

Half a year of "training" have passed with the occasional personal favor from the guild master, some of the tasks were enjoyable some were not.

"Loyalty to the guild, loyalty to the master." Alex muttered as he knelt in front of Master Jose

"You completed the task and with none the wiser" Jose smirked "my shadow."

Alex inwardly winced.

The name came from when he Gajeel and sol from element four, were completing an escort job for a mayor who had a contract on him by a dark guild. Sol would stand nearby the mayor during the New Year celebrations. While Alex and Gajeel were supposed to search for any would-be assassins.

Alex found three such people sneaking through the city. With practiced ease Alex followed the three to their hideout inside the city. After confirming their intentions. Alex took them out one by one by one.

Soon Gajeel showed up with sol in tow

"Was there any fighting?" Gajeel asked with a smirk on his face not needing the answer

"None." Alex responded

Gajeel laughed "like a true phantom."

"Non non non, more like a shadow." Sol commented.

And since then he became the phantom's shadow.

"How's training coming along?" Jose asked, snapping Alex out of his reverie.

"Tomorrow is the last day"

"Really? That's good." And with that Alex was dismissed.