**Before Alex is in the Maze, in WICKED**

"I miiiisssss you!" Minho whinned.

He wouldn't let her go. He pulled her back, and she stumbled flopping back onto the bed beside him.

"Come on babe! Just a little longer? You're always so busy! Especially with this new training!" Minho whined again.

Alex gave up and laid her head down, with a sigh. Minho pulled her closer and buried his face into her neck. His lips found her neck.

"Minho! You know I gotta do this training. I actually like it better than whatever boring klunk I was doing before. Also... Captain Ronin is great, he doesn't let Rat Man in the gym. I actually get a break from that gross sewer rat."

"Hmmmm." Was all Minho said as he kissed another part of her neck.

Alex giggled and squirmed. "Babe, that tickles!"

"What tickles?" He murmured, his lips tickling her. "This?" 

Alex shrieked. "Yes that!" She giggled.

"Nah. I like when you squirm!" Minho smirked into another one.

Alex wiggled, so she was now facing him.

"Ah. That's a better place to kiss." He smirked as he kissed her lips.

"Hey, why don't-"

Minho kissed her.

"-you come-"

He kissed her again.

"-with me-"

Again he cut her off with another kiss.

"-To training?" Alex finished.

"Okay. Will you stop talking now and kiss me back?"

"Hey Min?" Alex asked.

"Ya?" He raised an eyebrow at her.

"Shut up and kiss me." Alex teased.

"You got it Sunshine."

___________________

Alex pushed open the training gym door. She set her stuff down on a bench. Captain Ronin was standing waiting for her.

"Your finally here." He growled.

Alex rolled her eyes and gave him an affectionate smile as she walked over. She racked her fingers through her hair, and made a ponytail, stopping right in front of him. Captain's eyes narrowed, and his lips were pressed together.

"What's on your neck?"

"Mosquito bite." Alex shrugged.

Captain Ronin huffed heavily through his nose. "Does this mosquito have black spiky hair?"

"Ya know? He just might! It was a pretty attractive mosquito! Good kisser too." Alex continued, with a cheeky smile.

Ronin rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Alex be careful." Ronin growled, his eyes still narrowed, "You know what Janson is going to do if he gets a wiff of anything romantic." Ronin said quietly, folding his arms.

"Captain Marshmallow! Are you worried about me?" Alex teased, "I knew you were squishy and had feelings under all those muscles!"

"I'm serious Alex." Ronin growled.

Alex dropped the smirk and sass. "I know Captain. I know. We both know the consiquenses. I've been their bloody human shucken guinea pig for a few years... I found someone I care about and makes me happy. I'm going to do something for me, I think I've earned the right to be happy."

He just hummed, his eyes still narrowed.

"Are we training today? Or are we going to continue talking about my possible love life? You and a few of the guys should get together and form the Alex's love life police committee." Alex rolled her eyes.

Ronin didn't say anything, just stood still, grinding his teeth, arms folded staring at her.

He finally rumbled, "That kid is a trouble maker, Alex."

Alex sighed a threw her hands up, "Cap. Seriously? He's no more than I am! Pretty sure I'm way worse!"

"I don't like it."

"Well, good thing it's not up to you. So you can either accept it, Captain, or not and make my life that much more sucky." Alex snapped.

Usually Captain Ronin was a man of little words, she knew he was protective of his Squad, but this seemed different. Alex knew there were all kinds of romantic relationships between all the WICKED staff and between the kids.

"Alex. This is not a good idea. You have Janson breathing down your neck constantly, and that boy isn't exactly subtle." Ronin growled, still refusing to drop the subject.

"Captain Ronin." Alex said, narrowing her own eyes, and crossing her arms.

She could feel the anger and frustration rising. Why did he care so much? She knew there were relationships everywhere, even inside their own Squad, and he didn't seem to care. So why her? Her life was so controlled; every aspect was dictated to her. So this one thing, this one small part of her life she could choose. Her heart chose to love this boy. And she would pick him again and again. They had talked about the possible consequences, and they both agreed it was worth the risk, Minho made sure of that before they decided to continue their relationship.

Alex's teeth ground together, and her fists opened and closed. This was frustrating, Captain Ronin always seemed so relaxed when it came to anything other than training. But now he was going all dad mode on her.

"I don't care. He doesn't care. We don't care. Alright? We both know the consiquenses. And I would appreciate it, if you'd ease up off my back about it. My whole shuck life is dictated to me; from sun up to sun down, from what to wear and where to go. Whether you like it or not, this is going to happen." Alex's voice was even, but the anger was simmering at the surface.

As an afterthought she added, "Alby and Newt already approved before they were sent up. And pretty sure Newt has Tommy watching my back. So I already have enough male opinions in my life."

He growled again, but his eyes weren't as narrowed.

"I still don't like it. But...fine. Those boys have good judge of character..."

"Are you shucken serious Cap? It's all hunky-dory when they say fine? Shuck that. That's so not fair." Alex threw her hands in the air.

She growled to herself, she was trying harder then ever to keep her anger contained. She spun on her heel and stormed over to the boxing and sparing area, grabbed the tape and started to aggressively tape her hands. Alex felt the heat of anger tight in her chest. She could feel the frustrated tears prickling her eyes.

The roll of tape was taken out of her hands, and huge callaced hands started to gently wrap her hands. Alex looked away, staring at the opposite wall, trying to keep it together with a thin string. She let Captain tape her hands, but stood stiff, grinding her teeth.

"It's not that I don't trust you, Alex. I do, more than most. I just don't want to see you hurt. Again. You more than others have had it hard here. I don't know why they picked you out of all the others to experiment on,  Janson seems to have a personal issue with you...if they find out, they will use it against you. I've seen it happen." Captain Ronin said quietly, his voice was gravely, but held a gentleness that he didn't show often. "Trust me."

Alex didn't say anything, just ground her teeth. Captain Ronin finished taping her hands and handed her the gloves.

"Again. We both shucken know." Alex snarled.

"I'm just letting you know, I've seen it happen. They did it to me. They used my wife and daughter against me." Captain Ronin said so quietly Alex had to lean in to hear.

Alex had never heard him talk about his family. She didn't know he ever had one. Alex's heart strings were pulled in the opposite direction. Her anger subsided, and she felt compassion for this huge man. Maybe he was going dad mode on her, and maybe for a good reason. Alex knew he cared about his Squad, but maybe she had wiggled her way into his heart. It made her feel special and loved, a huge grown assassin soilder was worried about a little girl and a boy she sloved.

"Was it worth it?" Alex asked.

"Was what worth it?" He asked.

"Loving your wife. Was it worth it? Would you do it again?" Alex asked, looking up at him. She could see his stone face break into a soft sad smile, his eyes glazed over as he thought back.

"Yes." He whispered.

Alex stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his huge middle. Captain hesitated and then hugged her back for a second.

"Then you understand. Captain, I love Minho, I would do anything to be with him." Alex said quietly.

She heard Captain Ronin humm, "Okay."

"Okay? Okay what?" She asked, pulling away.

"Okay. I trust you to make the right decision. Whatever it is, when it comes to this boy you seem to care enough about, to put your life on the line for."

"Thanks Dad." Alex smiled playfully up at him. Captain Ronin's face was full of concern, but he was genuine. She was still a little frustrated and angry but she knew his concern and care came from a good place. His frown wasn't so deep anymore and possibly a small lip twitch, and for him, that was a smile.

"Come on Soldier. You got training to do." Ronin growled.

"You got it Captain Marshmallow."
_________________________

Alex could feel the sweat running down her temples and down her neck. The hair that came free from her pony were sticking to her, and she had stripped her t shirt off, leaving her in a spots bra and shorts.

"Good thing we have a stock pile of bags." Ronin grumbled as he attached the third bag. The two broken bags lay discarded by the door.

The gym door swung open and two boys walked in. The one guy was looking serious, and slightly worried and the other was laughing. The curly blond hair boy glanced at the bags then up at Alex and Captain.

"You sure I gotta watch her? Pretty sure Imma need the watching." The blond said indicating the broken punching bags.

The dark haired boy had froze, his eyes wide, staring at her. The blond haired boy elbowed him with a snigger.

"Hey Felix. Hey Min!" Alex called, a wide smile on her face. "Felix, you finally showed up for training? Ready to have your butt whooped?"

The curly blond soldier sighed as he dropped his stuff beside hers and made his way over to the ring. Minho's eyes were glued to Alex, but he plunked down on the bench beside the wall.

Alex's eyes found his, and her smile grew. She felt all the butterflies explode inside, all of a sudden she felt nervous and shy, having him watch her training. Minho's stunned expression morphed into a sly smirk. He winked and leaned back against the wall, crossing his large muscular arms.

While Felix taped up his hands and got ready, Alex sauntered over. Minho tossed her her water.

"Well, I've been shucked and gone to heaven. Look at this beauty of a shield maiden in front of me."

"Dude, I'm covered in sweat, and I need a shower!" Alex laughed, wiping the sweat off her face and chest with a towel.

"Nah, I like you best like this. Hot and sweaty and ready to kick some ass." Minho's voice was low.

Alex's eye brow raised, and she smirked back at him. She threw the towel she just used at him.

"I think you need to take a shower, suck face. A real cold one!" Alex winked, her smirk grew.

She turned to walk back to the ring when Minho sprung up and grabbed her wrist. Alex turned back to face him.

"Only if you come." He growled close to her ear.

Alex visibly shivered. And she could feel all the heat flood her face, and her heart fluttered.

"In your dreams Suck Face." She replied, batting her eyelashes.

"Always in my dreams!" Minho growled again, his usually warm brown eyes were dark.

"I'll meet you there. In your dreams." Alex winked and went to go back when Minho pulled her back.

"Wait. Alex, I got my date. One year. They send me up in a year."

"You coming? Or are you scared?" Felix yelled.

"You gotta warm up ya Shank. I'll be there in a second to whoop ya." Alex yelled back.

She turned back to Minho with a frown. "A year? Well...that's good. We get a year together. But I thought you were a top candidate, why would they wait a year before sending you?" Alex asked, trying to think what WICKEDS plans really were. "I mean I'm grateful, watching the others on screen in the control room... It's jacked Min, it's so bloody jacked up. " Alex whispered quietly.

Minho shrugged, "when I had my meeting just now, they were worried I'd solve it too fast. Apparently my 'determination and personal internal drive, along with my uncanny nak for puzzles and such' makes me a threat. They don't want me in there to solve it so soon. So they'll send me closer to the end date."

"Well...I guess that's a good thing. I mean ya, you are pretty stubborn." Alex teased.

"ALEX! It's training time not leasure time!" Captain Ronin called.

"Sorry babe. Captain Marshmallow calls. I'll talk in a bit, you staying?" Alex smiled up at him.

"Shuck ya! I wanna watch you kick some elite soldier ass!" Minho smirked.

_____________________________

Minho

Minho watched as Alex swung her fist again and again, making Felix, who was an elite trained soldier, back up, circling the ring. Alex was a full foot and a bit smaller than him, he was 6 feet something and pure muscle, trained with all sorts of weapons and martial arts and yet, she had him on defence.

She was crazy. But it a good way, and he loved it. He loved her wild side, he loved her tough solider side as much as he loved her soft gentle side. Right now though, this athletic fierce warrior side of her was making his palms sweat, his heart race and his breathing shallow.

He watched Alex, captivated by her. Her movements were fluid and graceful, the fierce fire in her eyes, the sweat glistening on her body...he leaned against the wall, his heart was racing and he wasn't even in the ring. He felt a hot burning tingling sensation in the pit of his stomach and spreading through his body. He ran a shaking hand through his hair.

No one ever made him feel like this before. Sure some of the girls in the Group B were kinda hot, but nothing ever made him double take. No one ever made his heart race or his breathing stop. He was Minho, the cocky, sarcastic, smart mouth, but Alex made his words jumbled, and a nervousness he never gets.  They had been friends for a few years, but it didn't take long for him to develop feelings for her. 

His friends, Newt, Alby, Thomas, Gally, Felix and Frypan had noticed he wouldn't give the other girls the time of day, even the ones who would try and snag him, corner him, batt their eyelashes. He would brush them off and not think twice. His friends noticed during class he would sit and stair at her, or in training he would push himself harder, just to make himself better. His friends teased him when he would blush when her name came up in conversation, or she was around. Newt, Alby and Fry were the worst. But a little part of him was glad they were so invested, it was thanks to them and their scheming did he finally ask her out. 

They had planned a middle of the night hang out, and when Alex and Minho showed up, there was no one there. They waited for a long time, they killed time by laughing, talking, just hanging out being goofy. They eventually tried to leave, but the door was locked. From the outside. And that's when Minho realized what the shanks were up to. With his tounge tided, his palms sweating, heart racing and hiding behind a cocky smirk, he finally asked the girl he was crushing on out. The door had burst open, in the middle of their first ever make out session. Newt was not impressed, he eventually got over it, before he was sent up into the Maze, he told Minho to take care of her. 

Minho was jerked out of his thoughts when he heard a loud yell of triumph. Alex had him pinned in the corner. He watched as her body moved and bent. He watched her muscles flex and contract, her fiery hair flying around her, sweat ran down her temples and the crevasses of her toned stomach and back.

Oh shuck. Maybe I do need a cold shower. 

Alex was a force to be reckoned with. Ronin was watching, leaning on the rope, a small smirk, and a look of pride in his eye. Alex took a swing at Felix's face, making him bring his gloved hands up to block, leaving his torso exposed. Alex smirked, she spun around and kicked him in his exposed ribs. Felix dropped like a rock. 

"Jeez woman!" Felix whined. He rolled over onto his back, holding his ribs, gasping for air. 

Minho tried to hold his laugh in. 

Alex slipped a glove off, laughing at him, held out a hand and helped him up. 

"Way to go Sunshine!" Minho called, a huge smirk on his face. "Way to take him out! If I have to go for a walk in the dark, I'm taking you to protect me!" 

"Shuck ya you are!" Alex called back, "Your a big baby, someone's gotta hold your hand!" She winked at him. 

Felix glanced between the two, as he pulled his own gloves off and then a knowing smile formed on his face. Ronin didn't look too happy, the pride in his eyes faded, as he looked at Minho, and a frown reappeared on his face. Alex however, climbed out of the ring and came over, sliding her other glove off and slipping her mouth guard out. She dropped her stuff into her bag and dug her water out. 

Minho made a growling noise in his chest, as Alex stood back up. "Shuck sakes Alex...seriously, I may just need that cold shower after all!"

He could see Alex's face blush. But she smirked up at him, "I do have that effect on you, don't I?"

The way her voice was still breathless and gravelly from her workout made Minho shiver and use every ounce of self control to not slam her into the wall and kiss her hard. 

_____________________________________________

The rest of the afternoon Minho watched Alex train with Ronin and Felix, a few of the other squad members showed up for weapons training. He was impressed with how fast she picked up on the Bow. That seemed to be her weapon of choice, while everyone gravitated towards the big fancy guns. Alex opted for the bow and arrow. 

But what amazed him was how accurate she was with knives. Small little throwing knives zipped through the air, hitting the center every time. She started trying different spins and throws, Captain Ronin had shown her a few hand to hand combat moves. She spared with another guy from their Squad group, with the fake knives for the first bit, but eventually became the real knives. 

Minho couldn't stand it anymore. He just couldn't take it. He got up and left the gym, heading straight for the showers. 

*********

Continued into part 2