#maxalec

I think it started for him when they first met in that cell. You can see it come over him when she kicks him away and tells him that's the only physical contact they're going to have. You can see the surprise and interest register on his face. He didn't expect that. It's the beginning. He doesn't know it yet, but he's lost.

An episode later he sees her again and he tries to resist the pull. He runs away and doesn't take responsibility and there she is and she needs his help. And so he helps her, because what else can he do? And then she wants him to play hero and he can't even bring himself to put up a fight. Alec isn't a hero. Sure, he's a decent guy, but he avoids getting himself in trouble as much as possible. And she wants him to throw himself into trouble with her, because if he doesn't come she'll do it alone. And he goes, because it bothers him that she goes alone.

But it's the next episode that shows how fast and far he's fallen. He can't bring himself to kill her. He'll use her to find the others, but the thought of killing her didn't even cross his mind until he had no other choice. And, even when he had the chance, he couldn't do it. When she saved him and gave up Logan for his life even though he almost killed her barely a half hour before he looks hopeful, not just grateful, but hopeful. As if he thinks they'll be okay after this. And the look on his face when she says she doesn't want to see him again. It's crushing him and he doesn't even know why. He wants to make it up to her, he wants her to see him in a good light, and he doesn't know why. You can see that he doesn't know why on his face. But she doesn't want anything to do with him and it takes him forever to actually leave.

He doesn't know it yet, but he loves her.