A/N: This chapter focuses on Megs' POV and then switches to Roxanne and what she's doing.

Back at the lair, Minion had been looking at the pressurized wave discharger for hours now, attempting to figure out what had gone wrong with it yesterday. Megamind and he had barely gotten it out in time before the cops and Metro Man showed up to arrest them. They had made several adjustments but none of them seemed to do much of anything. The machine also randomly turned itself on or off without warning.

As Minion was tinkering around with the device, Megamind had a hard time concentrating on his task. His thoughts kept going back to him saving Roxanne. He had held her in his arms. He had touched her, really touched her, for the first time. He was surprised that she didn't coil away from him, as other people had before when he touched them. He was certain she would, and she didn't. There was a bit of awkwardness, yes, but she didn't push him away, or scream, or slap him. Megamind couldn't help thinking if that meant something. Maybe not that she liked him, but perhaps she didn't dislike him either.

I'm just overthinking it, he thought to himself. But he probably wouldn't find out if he put Roxanne in danger like that again. Next time they might not be so lucky and somebody could get hurt.

Megamind broke out of his daydream when he heard Minion muttering a complaint about the device.

"It's pointless, Minion," Megamind called. "We've spent hours trying to fix this thing."

"You're not one to give up so fast, sir," Minion replied.

Megamind hesitated. "Yes, but, even if we do fix it…" He paused. "It's too dangerous."

"That's never stopped us before. I think this could be the machine that helps us defeat Metro Man."

"Any one of us could have been thrown off that building, and if that wave had been stronger it would have pushed Roxanne off." Megamind shifted his eyes downward. "It's too much of a risk. We barely even know how this thing works. We had to translate the instructions from Romanian!"

"That's what this is about? Miss Ritchi's safety?"

"Oh, never mind it," Megamind said, wheeling around in his chair. He stared at the tools sitting in the corner so he didn't have to look at Minion.

"Then we'll just have to be more careful, sir," he replied, hoping his words might reassure Megamind. "We won't use the wave discharger until we've tested it and we're absolutely sure it won't get out of control again."

"You're right, Minion!" he said, his spirits lifted. He rose from his chair and ran to the other side of the room. "And I have an idea what our next plan can be in the meantime." He headed for the doorway and told Minion not to move a muscle as he left the room to get some things. This plan would be simpler to execute and the only person might have to fear for their safety is Metro Man.

Roxanne Ritchi could handle many things; difficult coworkers, outrageous rent prices, and she could definitely handle rumors about herself. At her start in journalism she knew to stay away from rumors because when the moment came of her first day on camera, anything on that screen could spark a discussion. She tried to avoid them because the most important thing in her life right now was her career, and she wasn't going to let anything get in the way a dream she has had since she was a little girl. Rumors never lasted long anyway, and the ones about her were never true or even clever for that matter.

So why couldn't she get this one out of her head? Of course she wasn't dating Megamind. The very thought of it made her want to laugh, and she would laugh had she not been so frustrated. Why would she be dating the man who kidnaps her once a week? Sure, he had never hurt her physically or emotionally – barring the rope burn and the fear he'd caused her the first times she had been taken, but why in the world would people think that? Just a few days ago two giggling women came up and asked her if she was still dating Metro Man. 'Still' as in she had ever gone on a date with him in the first place. A woman goes to one gala with Metro Man as friends years ago and suddenly the two of you are everybody's favorite celebrity couple. That was the one rumor that managed to persist for some reason, until now.

Roxanne decided she needed to push away the million thoughts swarming inside her brain and got dressed for the day. It was hard for her to fall asleep the night before because her phone had been buzzing with concerned texts and phone calls from friends, family, and acquaintances. Word traveled around faster than she thought, and much too quickly for her comfort. Last night she tried answering all of the calls and texts that came in, but after the hysterical phone call conversation with her mother she had to give herself a break and turned her phone off.

She powered her phone back on, skimming through more messages from coworkers, friends, and her mother... who called three more times. It was still too much right now. She would deal with these people later because she needed a clear head when she was at work.

Roxanne left her apartment and went to get her morning coffee from the shop down the street. Breathing in, she smelled the scent of freshly brewed coffee and her spirits were lifted. At least coffee was there for her. As Roxanne waited in line to place her order, however, she noticed a man seated with his laptop was staring at her for an unusual amount of time.

It's probably nothing, she thought to herself. Roxanne ignored him and looked at other things around the room. Then she saw a woman with her daughter, and the woman was giving her a scowl. The mother looked unimpressed, or disgusted, or something… Roxanne couldn't tell, but she did know that she didn't like it.

When her order was ready, she took her drink from the barista and left the shop a little hurriedly to get away from the stares of those strangers. At the sidewalk she hailed a taxi to take her to the news studio. She usually had enough time to sit and drink her coffee inside, but not this morning if she was going to be stared at while doing it.

The taxi driver dropped her off and Roxanne entered her work building. Her mood lifted a bit; at least here at work she'd be doing the thing she loves most, and it would take her mind off things.

"Hi, Ray," Roxanne said as she approached a man at a desk. He was her boss's assistant. He had dark hair and a Bluetooth that always seemed to be in his ear.

"R – Roxanne?" He asked. There was a stunned look on his face. "Didn't you get the - ?" His eyes shifted back and forth between her and his computer screen. He began to click around for something.

"Get the what?" Roxanne furrowed her eyebrows.

"The email. From Mr. Helm?"

"Email? I'm sorry, I haven't really checked my phone since last night because of, um…"

Ray continued her train of thought. "The story?"

Roxanne sighed. "You heard about that too?"

He lowered his voice, leaning in closer. "Roxanne, everyone knows." Ray paused for a moment. "It's not true, right?"

"Of course it isn't!" She set down her coffee cup onto his desk a little too harshly. Light brown droplets erupted from to lid of her drink. "Oh gosh, I'm so sorry. I got coffee all over your desk."

"It's fine, I got it." He pulled open a drawer, took out some napkins and wiped his desk clean.

A voice boomed from her boss's office. "Roxanne, what are you doing here?"

Roxanne looked up to see her boss with his arms crossed. He was a man on the bulkier side, tall, and he was wearing suspenders.

"I work here?" she retorted, not even attempting to mask the sarcasm.

"You have the day off today."

"I… What?" Roxanne blinked.

"Ray, didn't I tell you to send that email?" Mr. Helm asked his assistant, irritated.

"Yes, sir, I did. She didn't read it."

Mr. Helm walked up to Roxanne and placed his arms on her shoulders. "Go home, Roxy. Enjoy your day off."

Roxanne stepped back. "I don't understand. Did I do something wrong?"

Her boss sighed. "The story that that tabloid show ran about you last night? We've gotten a lot of angry phone calls and emails about it. I think it's in your and our best interest for you not to appear on television this morning." He paused. "…Possibly for the rest of the week."

"The rest of the week?" Roxanne shouted loud enough for a few coworkers to turn their heads.

"Calm down, calm down. You'll still get paid this week. Don't worry about that."

"I can't come into work this week because of a stupid rumor about me that's not even true?" Her face began to feel hot. She wasn't a naturally angry person, but this whole thing was becoming ridiculous. She couldn't even work now?

"I'm asking you nicely, Roxanne. Please leave."

She held up her hand, saying: "I'm going, I'm going," and headed for the main entrance. "I'll see you next week, I guess."

Roxanne exited the building and hailed a taxi to bring her home. She hadn't felt humiliated like this in a long time. None of this was her fault and yet she felt like she was being put on trial. When she arrived at her apartment she spent the next hour responding to all of the texts she had received since last night. In her frustration she decided she was going to set everyone straight, even if it did take her another hour to calm her mother down… again.