Minho

Thomas and Minho got to the open stone doors, with a still unconscious Alby between them. They had made it! They survived a night inside the maze! Somehow they did it. Minho could hardly stay on his feet. He had ran for his life all night. The doors rumbled open and the most welcome sight greeted him. The Gladers all crowded around the entrance, he saw green grass and blue skies.

The two exhausted boys stepped from the stone floor into the soft grass of the Gald. Minho couldn't hold Alby anymore, that shank was heavy. He dropped Alby into the grass, absolutely exhausted. Thomas feel to the ground with him. He didn't get up either. Just laying in a heap on the grass. The Greenie really proved himself. Minho was impressed and earned his unwavering respect and loyalty.

"He's been stung! He needs Grief serum!" Minho called, his voice raw and ragged.

Jeff and Clint jumped into action. With the help of a few others, they brought him to the MedHut and got him the serum, hoping and praying it would work.

Thomas was still laying on the ground gasping for air, half dead, with his eyes closed. Minho still managed to stay on his feet. He finally lifted his tired head, searching the crowd for one face, ignoring all the others. The Gladers were bombarding him for answers, but he was dead to them. He needed to find her. He was desperate to see her. But her face wasn't in the crowd. His heart felt like it was sinking. He thought Alex would be right at the front, waiting with open arms.

Where was she? I thought she would be the first one there!

A flash of redish hair caught his eye at the back of the crowd, he snapped his head that way, but it was just Newt. Newt caught his eye. A silent question, where is she? Newt's face filled with relief, he smiled at Minho and nodded slightly indicating to his left and stepped sideways. Behind him was the only person Minho was searching for.

His heart skipped a beat. She looked like a mess. Her red hair was down, falling everywhere and tangled, her face was pale, and had tear streaks down her cheeks. Her one hand was swollen and blue, and wrapped, she was wearing his hoodie.

But it was Alex's eyes that caught his attention. They were red and puffy with black bags underneath, but they looked vacant and unfocused. And despite that, she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. As fast as his exhausted sore legs could move he made his way towards her, pushing shanks out of his way.

She was the only thing that kept him going last night. If it wasn't for Thomas he wouldn't be here. Alex kept that fire alive in him, making him run that next hour, making him run just a little faster. He was finally standing in front of the girl who knocked the stone walls around his heart down.

Her eyes were still unfocused, she didn't recognize him, there was no awareness that he was standing in front of her. He hesitated, unsure what was wrong.

"Sunshine?" He asked quietly. "Alex? Sunshine...?" he asked quietly again, worried. Why wasn't she responding? What was wrong with her? He glanced at Newt for answers. He just shrugged, a small smile and a look of relief on his face.

He couldn't take it anymore. He had to make sure she was real, and not just a dream. He had to make sure he hadn't died in the maze, and she was actually, physically in front of him. He reached a shaking dirty hand out, and gently tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear, letting his fingers linger on her check. She was real. She was cold, but she was real, she was breathing and physically here. His heart beat faster.

She blinked, her eyes flicked up to his, slowly focusing on his face. He could see the distant look in her eyes, she wasn't truly seeing him. He still had his fingers lingering on her cheek, her dead eyes almost broke him. But slowly her eyes came into focus, and he saw the recognition flash in them. Hope sprung up inside him. Her eyes widened in surprise and she opened her mouth, but no sound came out, she took a step backwards, his hand dropped to his side. His stomach filled with all kinds of butterflies. He smirked down at her, "Ye of little faith, did you think you could get rid of me that easily?"

"Minho?" She breathed, stunned disbelief on her face, she was frozen, she hadn't moved.

"Ya, it's me. Your going to have to KEEP me around a bit longer"

The shuck? Keeper puns? I must be tired.

Her face twisted into anger. Confusion flashed through him. Why would she be angry? She then let out a sob. Before he could react, she had stepped forward and-

*SMACK*

-Alex slapped his check, for a second time, leaving a bright red hand print. Minho's head wiped to the side, he stumbled a bit. The Gladers all "oohed" . His hand flew to his stinging check. He slowly looked back at her, utterly confused. A flash of anger shot through him. Definitely not the reaction he had been imagining.

"What the shuck Alex?!" Minho yelled, he felt the hot anger, the embarrassment and doubt bubble up. All the butterflies he had just had, were squashed dead with that slap. Had he really misjudged everything?

With his hand still on his stinging cheek, he saw tears slip over her eyelashes and down her cheeks.

"You left me Minho! You left me hanging! You have no shucking idea what you did to me!"

Her voice broke and she doubled over, then fell to her knees sobbing. His heart melted. He didn't realize how broken she was. He didn't realize how hard her night would have been. No one had survived a night in the maze, so she believed he was dead. She thought Alby was Griever food. All the negative feelings and thoughts vanished, replaced by an intense need to comfort the girl he knew now he loved.

"But I crossed my heart." He answered quietly, gently. "And I never break a promise!" He crouched down in front of her, holding her arms and he gently pulled her up. His eyes never left her face, watching tears slide down her face, a small smile never leaving his face.

_________________

Alex

She felt his hands on her arms, pulling her back up from the heap she fell into, on the ground. Feeling flooded her body, starting from the point his hands made contact with her arms. Minho was pulling her out of her pit of despair. For the first time since the doors slammed shut, she could hear, all the noises came crashing back to her.

Everything around her slowly came into colour again, everything seemed brighter all of a sudden. A hot feeling spread from the pit of her stomach and travelled down her legs and into her arms.

The young man in front of her had that stupid signature sly smirk on his face. He had cuts and scrapes, and a big red handprint on his face. A few rips in his shirt, a big cut on his arm. He looked absolutely exhausted, ready to fall over any minute. He was sweaty and dirty. And yet he was the most breathtaking, irritating, gorgeous human she had seen. Butterflies exploded in her tummy and she couldn't stand it anymore. She needed to make sure he was there, and not just a dream or figment of her imagination. She didn't care about all the watching eyes. Chuck was right. He was right so many times, that bloody little bugger. Right now is the best place to be happy, in the midst of all the bad and awful. If you happen to find happiness, grab it and hold on for dear life. And she did. She grabbed Minho, and didn't let go.

Alex threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face into his neck. He instantly wrapped one arm around her waist, lifting her off her feet for a second. He dug his fingers into her already tangled hair cradling her head and pulled her even closer. His forehead resting on the top of her head, breathing her in.

Her body shook and her shoulders shuddered, silent sobs racking her body. She felt him shaking and shuddering, she felt tears on her head, she felt him tighten his grip. She thought she had lost him forever. She thought she lost her anchor, and she would be lost adrift forever. Tears ran down her face, mixing with the sweat on Minho's neck. She had him back. And she was never going to let go.

That wasn't enough though, she wanted more. For either of them, he needed more. She pulled away just enough to jump. She wrapped her legs around his waist. He easily held her, even after a full 24 hours running in the maze, he was dead on his feet, but he held her, pulling her even closer. One arm around her hips, the other still buried in her hair. Alex had his face in her hands, Minho tilted his head up just slightly. They finally had their first kiss. A real true deep kiss. Their lips meet in the most desperate kiss. They kissed each other like the other was the water and they were in a desert, longing for more.

The crowd of boys watching went from quiet observation and anticipation to loud wolf whistling, whooping, clapping and hollering. The Creators didn't need the Beetle Blades to hear the racket they made. Frypan, Chuck and Matt being the loudest, they were the Captain and officers of this Ship.

"YES! High five my little shipmates! Finally! They finally did it!" Frypan roared, high fiving Matt and Chuck, who were hugging each other jumping in circles.

When their lips met Alex felt fully alive for the first time since coming out of the box. She felt fire in her soul. The butterflies in her belly were doing cartwheels and a warm tingling that ran to the tips of her fingers to the ends of her toes. They held on for as long as they could, their lips moving in sync, but eventually had to pull away for air.

Alex rested her forehead on his, their noses touching. Both their eyes closed, just holding onto each other. She slowly slid her hands from his face down his neck and then up into his hair, and then down to hold his face again. Touching him, making sure he was actually here and this was real. She opened her eyes to see his beautiful warm brown eyes, eyes that could make her blush, eyes that glinted with care and mischief, eyes that could look at her and understand what was going on in her mind. They both gazed into each other's eyes, like it was the last time they would ever see each other.

Minho smirked into another kiss. He pulled away just enough to whisper against her lips, "if I didn't know any better, Sunshine, I'd say you missed me."

Alex smiled "You have no idea!" She whispered back, kissed him again. "I love you Shuckface." She kissed his warm soft slightly chapped lips, she pulled back with a scowl. "And if you ever do something that slintheaded again I will bring you back to life after the Grievers are done with you just to kill you myself."

"Aww that's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me! And I love you too Sunshine!" Minho murmured, he had his large hand on the Bao of her neck and pulled her back to himself, then whispered against her lips. "So, you're definitely going to KEEP me around?"

"Did you just.."

"Did what Sunshine?" He smirked.

"That was the worst pun?!"

"Was it though? I don't see a problem. I think I'm going to KEEP doing it." She sighed. But it was a happy one. Nothing else mattered. They had finally found each other. Again. She closed her eyes again and she kissed him slowly, savoring everything about this moment, his face in-between her hands.

"Ahhh hemm" an awkward voice cleared his throat beside them. Minho peeked an eye open "Hey Sunshine" he whispered, with mock surprise.

"Ya Minny?" She asked in amusement, she was looking into his coffee brown eyes, she didn't want to look away.

"There seems to be other people around us."

She just hummed in response, pulling his face back towards hers. He let her kiss him one more time, before pulling away.

"And they're watching us."

"Hmm, I did happen to notice." She peeked his lips. "They don't seem to have a life," he kissed her again quickly. "Or anything better to do than watch us, apparently." She added.

He kissed her lips again. Minho smirked, sass in his voice, "Well I'm flattered. How about you? I always knew I was the most interesting person here, but.."

"What should we do about it?" Alex questioned. Minho kissed her nose. She giggled at how Newt kept huffing in irritation. They were getting on Newt's nerves.

"Well, I have an idea..." he said mischievously and raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm what's that?" She asked with an evil little grin herself.

"We could make out...And make it awkward for them. Especially for your brother who is right beside me either wanting to punch me or ready to throw up!"

Alex giggled again. "I like the way you think, love"

Just as Minho pressed his lips against hers again they heard Newt whine, "Oh Bloody hell you two! Could you shuckin refrain from any more PDA right now! We need to discuss some important events that just took place!" Newt had his fists on hips.

Alex sighed, "Someone always ruining the fun."

"I'll think about it" Minho said thoughtfully.

Alex however, begrudgingly unwrapped her legs from around Minho's waist and he reluctantly placed her gently down on the ground. They both looked at Newt, eyebrows raised. Now that they were detangled from each other, the questions came at Minho and Thomas like rapid fire.

"What happened out there?" Chuck asked

"How did you guys make it out?" Newt asked

"Did you see a Griever?" Chuck asked Thomas, he was bouncing on his toes in excitement.

"Yeah, I saw one." Thomas said still laying on the ground.

"He didn't just see it....He killed it!" Minho marveled, glancing at Thomas and then back up at Alex and Newt.

Alex could hear the disbelief and pride in his voice. No one had killed a Griever before. She had fought one, but escaped into the Glade.

Alex intertwined her fingers into Minho's, "come on, walk and talk, you and Thomas need some cleaning up. And Newt, " she glanced at him as she paced by, pullung Minho with her, "We should probably have a gathering, to discuss some important events that just took place."

Newt rolled his eyes, running a hand through his shaggy hair in exhaspiration. But he smiled to himself, Alex had life in her eyes again and color in her face.

"And food!" added Minho.

"And food" she smiled affectionately up at him.

____________________

The MedHut was full. The new girl lay on a bed in the corner, Alby lay strapped down in the other bed.

"I thought we were getting a new MedHut at some point!" Complained Jeff as he bumped into someone for the 10th time. Clint was sitting with Alby, trying to spoon feed him some water. Jeff was patching up Thomas, while Minho insisted on having Alex, even with her swollen knuckles. She had made him sit on the table in the middle, wiping the blood off his forehead.

"I only want the best possible care, sorry Jeff, Alex beats you every time." he lifted her bruised knuckle to his lips and gently brushed his lips against them.

He huffed, "Okay one, ouch. And two, ya she probably is the best..but still ouch man." He placed another roll of gauze on the table beside them. Minho leaned in at the same time, his hands on her hips and pulled her close, in-between his legs, kissing her nose gently.

"Also, could you NOT do that in here with everyone around?" Jeff whined.

Minho smirked at him, "Do what, Jeff? This?" He leaned into Alex again, one hand on her hip the other now buried in her hair at the nap of her neck, pulled her head up to meet his and kissed her real slow.

"Ya that. Just cuz you got the girl- and about shuckin time- doesn't mean you gotta flaunt it!" Newt whined from the corner, he tossed a tender bandage at Minho's head. He caught it easily, with a smug smirk, "That is still my shuck baby sister and I WILL throw your blood arse in the Slammer!"

Alex snorted "No you won't, Mama Newtie." replied Alex she had turned her attention to the cut on Minho's arm. She was cleaning it off with warm water "Though if you do throw him in the Slammer, I could just sneak in..." she added thoughtfully.

Minho winked at her with a sly smirk. While Jeff, Clint, Thomas and Newt all groaned. Minho chuckled as t their response.

"Okay, back to your story- the new girl... Another SheBean eh?" He smiled at Alex as she wrapped the long cut on his arm. He looked over his shoulder at Thomas, "Thomas, you think she's hot?"

"Excuse me?" Alex looked up shocked he would say something like that, she pulled the bandage tight.

"OUCH!" He yelped, Alex just raised an eyebrow at him, not impressed.

"Shuck no, not for me Sunshine! I got you, and I don't want anyone else. I mean for Mr HeThinksHesARunner over there. Thomas won't stop staring at her!" He said quickly.

Alex wasn't so sure, she stuck a hip out and placed a hand on her hip. Minho stood up from the table he was sitting on. He towered over her petite athletic frame. He leaned in and tiled her face up towards his, "don't worry Sunshine, I'm all yours. I love you so shuckin' much!" he paused for a moment, "Also, your Ninja Warrior Assassin skills scares the shuck daylights out of me!"

"As it should!" She replied with amusement, she placed her hand on his check. They just stood for a second, ignoring the chaos around them, enjoying the small second of time they had, because who knew when it would be their last. Especially in a place like this. Minho leaned in, his eyes glancing down at her lips. He was slowly leaning in, she could feel his warm breath on her face.

"SERIOUSLY! YOU GUYS! ENOUGH!"

Minho didn't hesitate, he smirked at her, his eyes dancing with mischief and wrapped her up in his arms and dipped her low, she shrieked at the sudden movement, she grabbed onto the front of his shirt. Then she giggled and slipped them up his neck into his hair again. Then he made a big show about kissing her, big loud kissing noise to add; he kissed her soft lips, her sun kissed nose, her freckled cheeks and the scar on her forehead, and then barrier his face into her neck, kissing it, making her shriek and giggle harder. Alex giggled with each kiss. Every time his lips made contact there was an explosion of butterflies in her tummy. And left a tingling sensation on her skin. The rest of the guys just groaned in annoyance, and pelted the obnoxious couple with everything they could find.