It was late fall evening in Metro City. The sky was dark and boding rain. A cold wind was blowing from the sea and swirling fallen leaves.
Roxanne Ritchi was leaving from work. She had just finished a big case handling fake doctor who had made numerous malpractises. She had put all her energy in that case and wanted it to be one of the most memorable stories in her career. She had decided to close it today which was the reason she was one of the last employees leaving home.
She stepped on the street and made a shiver when cold wind hit through her. She tightened black wool trench coat around her and headed along the main street deciding straighten across the alley 'cause the weather seemed not promising. Usually she avoid using those alleys because you would never know what was lurking in those. Anyway the weather was threatening and it could start raining any moment and she was freezing so she decided to take a risk.
She turned on the alley and started to take determined steps toward the second main street. The alley looked empty except a one big trash can standing on the right side at the halfway. 'Good' Roxanne thought. It seemed she would make it and if something threaten would show up she could always call Metro Man although she didn't like to be a damsel in distress.
The journey proceed but when she passed that trash can she heard coughing and her heart skipped a beat. Quickly she turned around and took a look at the surroundings.
There was no one behind her. Then she noticed there was a character sitting beside the trash can. It seemed he hadn't noticed her. It was so dark Roxanne couldn't see clear. She thought the figure was maybe a drunk or homeless person. It could also be a junkie and a dangerous one. But what if it was someone who needed her help and she refused, turning her back and walking away. She really didn't want to read on the next morning paper somebody had died on the alley last night and felt a sting in her heart knowing she could have prevented it. So she take a step closer and asked cautiously. "Hey, are you ok?" Anyway, she could call Metro Man if necessary.
There was more coughing, then the figure's head turned slightly towards her and she heard familiar though dry voice asking "Miss Ritchi?"
"Megamind?" Roxanne asked coming closer. It really was Megamind. He was sitting on the cold street, hugging his knees. He had wrapped his cape around him trying to stay warm. He had soot on his face and clothes which were also full of little tears. He looked so little and vulnerable sitting there on the dark alley, trying to hide desperately from the city. It wasn't helping that he coughed continuously and seemed to be miserable. Roxanne had never before seen him in state like this and she felt bad for him for the first time in her life.
"Megamind, what's wrong? What are you doing here?" She asked worriedly while kneeling down before him.
"Miss Ritchi, you shouldn't be here this time at the evening. It's not safe.." His sentence ended on a new gust of coughing.
"Well, neither for you." She told back. "Why are you here all alone and where's Minion?" It wasn't natural for Megamind to work without his loyal fish.
"Why do you care? You should be running. I don't need your pity. Please Miss Ritchi? Just go and leave me alone.." He said gazing at the street on his left side. His voice was full of hurt and anxiety. He tried to wrap himself even smaller and pushed his head on his knees.
Roxanne was confused. She hadn't ever seen this side of Megamind before. Usually he was a self-confident, histrionic, threatening man who proclaimed taking over the city. The man Roxanne saw before her eyes was about everything else. There was a scared, uncertain, hurt man who wanted to hide from people eyes. Roxanne felt her heart skip a beat again. This time the reason was she felt so miserable for him. Although Megamind was her kidnapper he wasn't a bad person and it seemed the man really needed someone right now. Someone to listen to him, to make him feel safe, to make him feel lovable especially when it seemed he was sick.
Roxanne moved her right hand on his left cheek and patted it lightly. Megamind tensed his body and it seemed he forgot to breath. 'Oh, he's not used to touching..' Roxanne thought sadly keeping on soothing strokes. 'Well at least he's not retreating'.
They were like this a moment, then Megamind let out a deep sigh and lift his gaze on Roxanne. Roxanne felt her heart was skipping a beat again. There was his face in front of her, eyes full of sorrow and tears, his face on a soot and a little cut on his left cheek. Roxanne had never thought how beautiful eyes he has. Big, wide and amazing green. She could have lost in those eyes.
"Hey." She said gentle. "Never thought I wouldn't care about you. I mean we have a long history. You have never hurt me, you even saved me once from falling down to your alligator trap. I wish you could trust me as much as.. As I trust you." She said with a caring voice still petting his cheek. "Please Megamind, tell me what happened?"
He gulped and looked at her in the eyes. "Miss Ritchi.. I.."
"Please, call me Roxanne." She whispered smiling for him.
"Miss Ritc.. I mean Roxanne." It sounded so odd to use her first name. "I.. you know. Of course you know my plans often backfire.." He started stumbling with words. "Well this time it was a total disaster.. I.. I used too much dynamite.. and I couldn't stop it from spreading." He inhaled sharply. "And there was fire and smoke everywhere.. And the Lair has gone. My home.." He couldn't continue.
Roxanne didn't know what to say. Poor man had lost his home. That also explained his scruffy appearance. "Where's Minion?" She finally asked.
"He.. We tried to save as much our fortune as we could. Most of my inventions like The Brainbots and The Spider bot has an A.I. so they could escape themselves. Minion took the Invisible car and I took the Hover Bike but there was some technical glitch and I fell right here." He explained and pointed the large trash can. Roxanne watched where he was pointing and saw there was some kind of vehicle which was obviously crushed in the dumpster. "I think Minion is searching a new hideout for us." He told. "My watch.." He continued glancing his left wrist. "It damaged when I dropped. I use it to communicate with Minion.." He explained when Roxanne looked at him with confused look on her face. "And now I can't catch him up." He sighed. "I also wrenched my ankle and it's really painful try to walk so I decided to stay the night at here and try to figure out tomorrow how to catch up Minion and get out of here.. I.. I'm just feeling really tired now.." He confessed and was coughing once again.
Roxanne had totally forget how the weather was until she felt the raindrops falling on top of her head. Also the wind had grown stronger. She looked at Megamind sitting in front of her staring on the ground.
"Megamind" She said determinedly "You're coming with me."
Megamind looked at her like she had lost her mind. "No Roxanne, I can't. What would people thing seeing you with me? I don't want to ruin your reputation. I can't even walk. Please Roxanne go, the weather's getting worse." And he was coughing again.
"Megamind!" Roxanne said with a tight tone of voice. "You have two choices. One: you come with me willingly or two: I will slice you in pieces and carry to my place."
"But Roxanne.."
"Now!" Roxanne snapped and jumped up. "Which one is the wrenched ankle?" She asked?
"The.. the right one." Megamind said astonished.
Roxanne went to his right side and helped him up. Megamind grinned when the foot hit the ground.
"Roxanne. You really don't have to do this." He said quietly.
"Maybe not but I want to." She said leading him towards the main street.
"But your reputation.. Please Roxanne, just let me here." He started to panic.
"Megamind" she said turning him towards her and placing her hands on his shoulders. "Some things are more important than reputation. You are." She stared again at those amazing green eyes which were full of surprise.
Then she returned their early positions and they walked on the main street.
It was quieter than usually thanks to the weather. They saw a cab approaching them and motioned it to stop. Roxanne helped Megamind on the back seat and went to sit beside him. Roxanne gave an address where to drive and so they left. It was a silent but fast drive. Megamind stared out of the window and Roxanne peeked alternately him and the driver who was giving suspicious glances towards them.
When they were there, Roxanne helped Megamind out before she went to pay. She gave for the driver some extra tip and before he gased away Roxanne said to him with a low and threatening voice: "You tell to anyone who you were driving tonight and I swear you don't have a job where to go anymore."
"Driving who Miss Ritchi? You were all alone." Man said and flashed a knowing smile. Then he drove away and Roxanne knew he wouldn't tell to anyone.
Yeah. Roxanne had a reputation but she knew how to use it. Then she returned back to Megamind and helped him into the lobby of her apartment building.