**SPICY KISSY SCENE**

Alex and Minho sat in comfortable silence, just enjoying each other's company. The sunset was beautiful, orange and pink rays shooting across the sky. The clouds were soft and fluffy, like cotton candy. Alex sat up, she had a funny warm tingling feeling in the pit of her stomach. Minho turned his head to watch her. She closed her eyes and just breathed deep. The wind danced across her face, playing with her hair again. She felt her anxieties slowly slip away. They had made it to The Right Arm. They could have a future. She could be safe. No more cranks, no more running for her life, no more killing, no more heart ache. She smiled despite all the klunk she had been through.

Alex turned and met Minho's beautiful eyes. "Min. I love you. I love you so much. And now that we are safe with the Right Arm...I can't wait to just..breathe. And umm thank you."

He turned his body so he was fully facing her.

"Thank you for making me feel safe. And...umm..sorry in advance if..when I freak out again. You still want to do everything? Us..a home...kids?" She asked, twisting her fingers together nervously.

He reached a hand out and cupped her cheek, rubbing a thumb over her cheek bone that was still bruised.

"Yes. All of it. I made a promise and I intend to keep it. Just when we paint our house, no white walls!"

"Good that!" She giggled, "I've seen too much white!"

She couldn't control the giddiness, the feeling of finally being safe. Being free. She could actually breathe. She could dream.

She flung herself into Minho's arms. He toppled backwards, with a deep laugh, right from his gut.

"Whoa there Sunshine! Maybe not tackling me by the edge of a cliff!"

He wrapped her up in his arms, Alex laughed as he rolled them away from the cliff edge.

He stopped them and he hovered over her, in a push up position, his arms locked, all the muscle in his arms and shoulders defined.

"Hmm. Now where were we?" He gave her one helluva roguish smile. Just that smirk made Alex blush. He bent his arms and kissed her lips quickly, pushing back up. She smiled shyly up at him. He did it again. And kept doing it, the kisses were quick, gently barely there brushes of his lips , but he was just showing off now, doing push ups overtop of her. She hummed.

"We were here. Where I feel safe." Alex whispered.

She looked up at him through her long eyelashes, and smiled. She wrapped her hands around his waist and pulled him closer, he bent his arms, still hovering over her, all his muscles tense. She slowly kissed him. She could feel his arms tremble when she brushed her lips against his. He slowly lowered onto the ground, beside her, and pulled her close, so their chests touched and their faces were only a few centimeters from each other.

She ran her fingers through his thick soft hair. She pulled his head, closing the gap and kissed him. The self doubting abusive voice of the crank had gone silent. Alex loved Minho. And Minho loved Alex. That's all that mattered at the moment.

__________________

Their gentle kisses steadily got more passionate. Having to break away to gasp for air. Alex's hair was now a mess, Minho kept tangling his hands into her hair, but so was Minho's. Both their jackets lay beside them on the ground, feeling too warm despite the cool evening air. Minho's body heat kept her warm, along with the warm tingling in her body.

He broke their kiss again, to catch his breath, looking down at her, his eyes hungrily eating every detail of her face. He trailed gentle kisses over her nose and cheeks, and up her nose to her forehead. She appreciated how gentle and tender he was with her. Her hands found the hem of his shirt, and slipped her cold hands under. She felt his muscles tense at her cautious touch. She heard his sharp intake of breath. She tilted her head just a little to find his eyes.

"Is..is this...Okay?" She asked, suddenly timid.

Before she would have smirked at him and done it again, just to make him squirm. However, after what happened in the red room, what was done to her without permission; that experience had changed her, broken her. Her confidence and self worth was shattered and she was scared to be vulnerable. Sure she could fake confidence in a group, like teasing Newt and sticking her hand in Minho's back pocket...she could spit sarcasm out with no problems, but this..being vulnerable in this type of situation now scared her.

He looked her in the eye and nodded, "Ya, Sunshine, I'm great. But I should be asking you that. Are you okay with this?" He frowned.

She slowly, hesitantly nodded.

"Alex? If you're not, tell me. I need you to tell me if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. I want you to trust me. I don't want to break your trust."

She slid her hands out from his shirt and pushed gently on his chest. He sat up on his knees, his chest was still rising rapidly.

"Okay." He nodded, "Okay. We'll slim it." He ran a hand through his hair.

Man that's so hot.

Alex smiled at him. She knew he would respect her. She sat up.

"No, it's just...there was a shuck rock digging into my back." She smiled at him.

"Ah.. " He chucked quietly, and reached for her again. She let him pull her close, she crawled into his lap, facing him. His hands held her face, running his warm calloused thumbs over her bruised checks.

His hands slid down her neck, over her shoulders and down her side. She felt her body tense for a second, he froze. She took a small breath and relaxed her muscles. He slowly pulled her even closer, closing any gaps between them, but he kept his hands clamped on her hips, not going anywhere else.

Alex ran her hands down his chest to the hem of his shirt again and slid her chilly hands onto his warm torso. He sucked in a sharp breath. Then smirked at her, when she ran her hands up to his chest. Alex could feel his heart beating wildly. He leaned in to kiss her again, slowly and gently running his tongue over her bottom lip. She slowly moved her hands to his back. She ran her hands higher, the shirt following, exposing his bare skin.

She pulled away again when she felt him shiver. Scared she did something wrong she pulled her hands away.

"Alex? Are you okay?"

She took a shaky breath, and nodded slowly.

"Just...just scared. I don't want to do something wrong or ... or cross a line or something." She replied, her voice shaking.

"I'd let you know. I'm the one who should be asking you these things. And you will tell me, right?" He paused studying her face, "right Sunshine?" He asked more firmly. She nodded slowly.

"I love you. I don't want to break your trust in me." Minho said gently.

"Yes. I'm...I'm okay. I trust you. I do!" She said quietly, tears in her eyes, she looked at the young man, into his unwavering eyes her unease disappeared. "I love you Minho. With everything I have. I love you so much! I would do anything for you!"

He smiled at her and kissed her gently, pulling her close again. She slipped her hands back under his shirt. This time she tugged his shirt up only breaking their kiss long enough to tug it over his head. He shivered when the chill air hit his skin.

"Are you sure?" He asked again. Alex nodded, her chest heaving. She knew he would stop if and when she said to. She got a warm tingling feeling in the pit of her stomach and her heartbeat picked up, spreading warmth throughout her body.

She pulled her own shirt off.

She leaned forward to whisper in his ear, "That answer your question?"

His large hand found the small of her back, and pushed her closer, her hips pushed right up against his. Her bare stomach could feel his muscles tensing and the warmth radiation off him. His lips found hers again. This time they were both hungry for more. His tongue slipped into her mouth, hers doing the same. His hands explored her back and tangled into her hair. Her hands trailed up and down his back and sides, finally weaving her fingers into his hair. He tried pulling her even closer.

The warm tingling feeling spread from her stomach and flowed through her body. She could feel Minho's heart racing, all his muscles were tense. He was hungry for more. She wanted more. He started to lower her down to the ground.

"GUYS?! Have you seen-" A voice from behind them.

- AAAAHHHHH!" he screamed.

Alex ripped herself away, startled. Minho twisted his head around, Minho sat up, keeping Alex pressed him himself.

"Thomas?! ...You better...have a shuck good reason... for being here!" Minho yelled between his wild panting.

Thomas was standing at the edge of the path, his hands clamped over his eyes.

"I just came to see if I could find Tes...and I saw you guys...didn't realize what you were doing!" He whined.

"And you didn't think when we left, we wanted to be alone?!" Alex fumed. "Dude I knew you were slow...but come on man! Put some brain cells together and work with me here!" Her breathing was also ragged. The warm tingling feeling was disappearing.

"Agreed." Minho growled.

"Really Alex? That was mean!"

"Seriously Tommy! Like can you shift gears or are ya bloody stuck in stupid?" Alex growled. The heat and tingling sensation in her body was gone and now she was shivering and feeling really annoyed. Every shuck time Minho and her finally had some alone time.

"Alex!" Thomas whinned. "But...seriously, have you seen her? She left the fire and no one can find her." He peeked through his fingers, looking at the shirtless couple, wrapped around each other.

"Seriously, the things I shucken do for you Tommy! Give me a second." She huffed.

"Hey!" He said slyly, "Be nice to me! I took a bullet for you!"

"You're forever going to hold that over my head aren't you?!" Alex questioned.

"Yep!" He popped the p.

Alex rested her forehead on Minho's slightly sweaty chest for a moment, his heart still beating wildly. He kissed the top of her head.

"Soon we can have our own place." He whispered.

She hummed in satisfaction.

"With a big ol' lock! And a DO NOT DISTURB sign." He added.

"And in fine print, 'All ready disturbed enough'" Alex rolled her eyes. 

Minho chuckled and helped her stand up. Alex got up from Minho's lap, put her shirt and jacket back on. Minho did the same.

"All right Thomas, let's go find your shuck girlfriend." Minho grumbled.

"No.. she's not my... girlfriend." He studded.

"I'll take Mr Oblivious up the hill a bit, want to back track to the fire?" Alex suggested.

"Sure babe." Minho kissed her cheek quickly and headed back down the path.

Alex watched his retreating form for a second, then turned to face Thomas, "Come on. Also I know she's not your girlfriend...blond British ones with a slight limp are more up your alley. Or a dark haired snarky beauty.." she elbowed him.

He gasped and went bright red.

"You know..?" He asked timidity.

"Shuck ya Tommy. I've know for a while. Newtie Patootie tells me everything." Alex shrugged.

"Oh. Well..." He stammered. "Thanks for not saying anything."

"Not my place to say anything." She shrugged.

They walked in silence for a few minutes.

"Alex..sorry..for uh walking in on you guys. Promise I didn't see anything! And I wont tell Newt.." Thomas muttered, a pink tinge across his cheeks when he gave her a slightly cheeky grin.

Alex sighed annoyed, "It's fine Tommy...whatever. Tell Newt whatever you want, there was nothing to see anyways...Just frustrating that anytime we finally have some time to be alone, we're interrupted, like we had a grand total of 20..30? minutes alone. Just...want some privacy. Ya know? And it's not like all we do is make out. We actually just sat and talked for the majority of it. You codependent shuck faces just have awful timing."

He didn't say anything, just looked at the ground dejected.

"So, how are you feeling? How's that shoulder?" She changed the subject.

"Fine. It's stiff, a little sore. But way better! These guys have some crazy medical equipment!"

"Hey! We tried! We honestly did our best!" She paused, "I owe you, Tommy. I owe you my life..." She said quietly.

"Alex..you're like my annoying pain in my butt mouthy little sister. I don't remember much, but I know we were thick as thieves. And now I can hold this over your mouthy, annoying head, ya shank!" He replied, putting an arm around her. Alex just chuckled, wrapping her arm around his waist.

"You literally took a bullet for me... seriously, I owe you."

________________

They had followed the path up to the next ledge, where they finally found Teresa. She was standing at the edge, her body was stiff and straight, looking out over the last rays of sun.

"Tes, what are you doing up here? You scared us!" Alex scolded, dropping her arm from Thomas and walked towards her.

"I. Was..just thinking." She said, her words sounded forced.

"All right, we'll let you be alone." Thomas said and turned to leave.

"Tes? Are you okay?" Alex asked cautiously, reaching a hand towards her.

She didn't respond, but Alex heard a short intake of breath, followed by a halting sniff, like she was crying, but trying to hide it.

"Teresa?" Thomas asked, coming to stand beside Alex. His face scrunched in concern and confusion.

Teresa slowly turned, her movements jerky. Alex withdrew her hand. Teresa's eyes were red rimmed, as tears slipped down her cheeks, her lip trembled and her hands shook. She had a look of complete terror on her face.

"Teresa...Tes?" Alex whispered, her stomach forming knots.

What's wrong? What's going on? Something bad is gonna happen...

Her eyes were darting all over the place, but her body was still as stone, tears continued to fall, her chest heaved with a stifled sob. Alex took a step forward, going to wrap her best friend up in a hug.

"NO!" She screamed, "Get away from me!"

Thomas grabbed Alex and pulled her back.

"Teresa, what...?" Thomas sputtered.

"No," she whispered again.

Alex felt like she was punched in the gut. The three of them stood still, no one moved. Alex and Thomas glanced at each other and then back to Teresa. Alex watched as her body shook and jerked, the way she seemed to almost struggle against something...Something unseen...

Oh shucken hell no!

"Tommy...she looks like Alby...and Gally.." she breathed to Thomas, who's eyes went wide with realization.

Teresa jerked her body forwards, and was in front of them in two long strides, she threw her arms around Alex and Thomas and hugged them tight.

"I'm sorry!" She sobbed.

She jerked away like someone had pulled her backwards.

"Get .. away from me!" She panted, tears still flowing down her face. "You all need to get away...from me...THEM!"

"What are you saying?" Thomas asked, his face scrunched up in confusion

"I want...you to... understand!"

"Understand what?" Alex asked, but she had a good idea what.

"Why I did it." She choked another sob.

"Teresa..." Thomas whispered, worry and terror laced his voice, "What have you done?"

Alex heard the sound of chopper blades and engines. She watched as Teresa's body shook violently, and then stopped suddenly.

"Please don't fight them!" Her voice now sounded robotic, no emotion, her eyes had lost all life to them. But they were still red and puffy, a tear leaked out and slid down her cheek and fell to the ground.

"What have you done?" Thomas yelled desperately.

"No Tommy, not what SHE did ..it's what THEY did!" Alex corrected him in a hurried panic.

The first helicopter came into view. Thomas took off towards the camp. Alex heard a choking noise, and turned back to Teresa who had fallen to her hands and knees, panting. Her eyes met Alex, there was terror and.. regret in her shining eyes.

"Go...Save...them...I'm..sorry Alex! I'm sorry!" She choked.

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**Uh oh. Klunk is gonna hit the fan! 🫣