"Alex is headed to the city," Bloom said, bursting into the Winx's room, Roxy following in like a puppy. The Dragon Fire Fairy instantly caught the attention of the other girls.
"How do you know?" Techna asked, looking up from her computer.
"Sky texted."
"Not this again!" Stella groaned dramatically, filing her nails and standing from her seat. "You girls and your paranoia!"
"I agree on Stella with this one, girls," Flora agreed quietly. "This has gone far enough."
"But what if he really is the enemy?" Bloom pressed. "Do you really want to let an enemy get in from right under our noses?"
"If he turns out to be evil, he shouldn't be that hard to beat!" Stella argued, setting the nail filer onto her desk. "He's just a small little kid! He's like a baby!"
"I dunno, Stellz," Musa said from her spot on the couch. "He is a weird kid. You can't just trust someone because they look innocent."
"And you can't judge a book by its cover!"
"We can say the same for you," Bloom retorted. The statement silenced Stella, she just glared down at the floor.
"We should follow him," Layla said. "Go to the city and see what he's up to."
Flora looked between Stella and the girls, her mind swimming. She desperately wanted to think Alex was good, but she just couldn't help it! Nothing added up, nothing made sense, and she had to admit she was on the fence about Alex. Still, she determinedly stated; "There is no need to stalk the poor boy."
"Yeah, Flora's right!" Stella punched the air. "Girls, you've officially gone from suspicious to creepy! There is no need to SPY on Alex!"
Alex stepped out of the bus and into the bustling city. He saw a man in a cafe, sitting alone at a table by the window in a neat black tailcoat. Alex grinned and entered, a bell ringing as the door swung open.
The man, about fifty years old, raised his head and smiled kindly. "Hello, Yo-"
Alex cleared his throat as he sat, interrupting the man. "You know what you're supposed to call me here."
"Yes, sir, but-"
"No 'sir's, either."
The man sighed. "A-Alex."
"Yes. That is my name now," Alex's face smiled, before turning back into a serious, business-like aura, quite unlike the boy the Winx and the Specialists knew. "So, Sebastian, how is it back home?"
"Growing worse, I'm afraid," the man, Sebastian, sighed. "More of the magic is disappearing."
Alex let out a groan of worry, running his fingers through his messy hair. Sebastian couldn't help but laugh. "You look funny like that, sir."
"Alex."
"Right, sorry."
"I look funny?"
"With your hair all messy, and in a Specialist's uniform," Sebastian motioned to the boy. "It's quite different from how you used to look."
"Well, I'm not the same boy I was," Alex grinned. "And how's Mother? Is she holding up?"
"She's getting weaker," Sebastian's voice went melancholy. "I hope you are to return soon."
"Things...haven't been going according to plan..." Alex tapped his fingers, irritated, on the table.
"No one has figured out who you are, right sir?"
"Alex," Alex corrected again before clearing his throat. "And no. But they are suspicious. I'm no actor."
"But you're our last hope!"
"I think...I think they know about the...whole...evil thing," Alex said through many hesitations, unsure how to word it. Sebastian groaned, rubbing the top of his bald head.
"As long as they have no proof, you are safe for now."
"And Icy, Darcy, and Stormy?" Alex brought up his childhood friends. "They haven't returned?"
"No, sir."
"ALEX!"
"S-Sorry," Sebastian bowed his head. "It takes a while to get used to."
"I know how it feels. I feel ridiculous looking like this," Alex looked down at his Specialist suit. "It's hardly a comfortable outfit. Not to mention I am dressing like," he lowered his voice, "the enemy."
Techna leaned against a lamppost in front of the cafe, taking a video with her phone. The video popped up as a hologram, Alex leaning forward on a table and whispering to a mysterious, well-dressed man. She sent it to the Winx and Timmy before pocketing the phone.
"Done," she said to Riven, who was standing beside her.
"And he hasn't noticed us? What a weird kid," he grumbled.
"Let's get back. I need to analyze the video."
"You can't even hear what they're saying!" Riven said as they boarded a bus that was headed back to Alfea. Techna took a seat, Riven having to stand and hold the rail above his head.
"I have a lip-reading app on my laptop," Techna stated matter-of-factly. "It's not always correct, but I'm sure we can get a basic idea."
"That's useful," Riven said, for once WITHOUT a sarcastic twang in his voice. "You know, you're hard to read."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Well, I know how most of us feel about Alex. All of the Specialists are suspicious except for Helia. And I know you girls are too, except for Stella and Flora. But I can't tell with you. What do you think about him?"
Techna blew her gum into a bubble between her lips and popped it with her teeth, trying to think of the best way to respond to the question. "I wouldn't say I'm not suspicious," she finally settled on saying. "After all, he has been acting really weird, and his personality changes a lot. But do I think he's evil?"Techna ran her fingers through her colorful hair, messing it up slightly. "Honestly, I have no idea."
Both of them peered out the window at the cafe. Alex and the old man were still sitting there, seemingly talking about something important. Techna tapped her toe impatiently, wishing the bus would just leave.
Alex sighed, resting his chin on his fist. "This is starting to get quite annoying, pretending to be a Specialist."
"It's the only way to complete your mission, what, with your powers asleep and all," Sebastian hushed his voice in fear of eavesdroppers.
"I KNOW, Sebastian!" Alex groaned, flopping his head face-down onto the table. Sebastian couldn't help but chuckle.
"You're starting to look like your old self again."
"I hope that doesn't mean what I think it means," Alex whispered, peering up at the old man.
"Don't worry. It just means your true personality is showing through."
Alex nodded, sitting up and looking out the window. "My magic is completely gone now, Sebastian. I have none left. I am stuck with the Specialists."
"It was the only group to sneak into without magic," Sebastian whispered kindly. "I apologize."
"Icy, Darcy, and Stormy," Alex brought up the three witches again. "I have faith in them. They have been my friends for as long as I can remember."
"Yes, but they are witches," Sebastian couldn't help but chuckle. "They are harder to trust with big tasks than most."
"Indeed," Alex muttered distractedly. His eyes landed on a bus waiting outside the cafe. He couldn't see into the windows at the passengers, but he could see that it was headed back to Alfea. "I'm afraid our time is up."
Techna tensed as Alex seemed to stare straight at her. She knew it was impossible, that the windows were black on the outside, but that smile of his...
The bus lurched forward, much to Techna's relief, and started to drive away, the image of Alex's face disappearing. Techna let out a breath she didn't know she was holding as the bus drove back to Alfea.
"It's been nice seeing you, Sebastian," Alex rose from his seat. The old man rose to his feet as well.
"I'll be watching you, even when you don't see me, youn- sir- uh, Alex," he had to cut himself off multiple times before getting the correct title.
Alex put his hand on his stomach, bowing at the waist. "Until next time." With that, he left the cafe and looked down the street at the back of a bus as it sped away.
"Oh, dear," a smile crept to his lips. "It seems like I've missed my bus."
Questions? Comments? Criticisms?