"No one is immune from addiction; it afflicts people of all ages, races, classes, and professions" Patrick J. Kennedy

The restaurant was nice and quiet. The food was okay, the prices were reasonable. And Bernard was… Bernard was… Bernard. That was the general definition Roxanne could safely say without sounding offending. On one hand he reminded her of Lena, with his snarky remarks and a bit laid back attitude. But Lena never looked like she was bored by the sheer thought of breathing. And his voice was sometimes getting monotonous… and he wasn't the most talkative person.

"So… what do you do?"

"I'm a museum curator." End of discussion, but she was a reporter; she had dealt with that many times.

"Wow, that…must be nice. Everyday being close to real art..." She tried to sound fascinated. Usually during dates it was the guys talking non-stop about themselves. Now she had to practically force information out of him.

"Not really."

How was she supposed to react to that? She was becoming tired by just sitting next to him. Okay, deep breath, let's try again.

"So… um… Do you have a hobby?"

He stared at her, giving her a look and a raised eyebrow. She had to mentally slap herself when she realized she'd been unconsciously swinging back in her chair, like preparing for an explosion or something.

"I'm studying Megamind and Metro Man."

She blinked few times. What?

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Can… you say something about that?" She smiled, a bit more interested but also much more desperate to start something that at least sounded like a conversation.

"Well, I've started to watch them during my college days when…" He started his monologue, filled with analyzes and somewhat sharp observations, and to her surprise she was drawn to his words.

"Wow, Bernard you're really perceptive! I was like, in the middle of most battles, but… wow, you're amazing!"

"Thank you…" He took a sip of his wine. "Can I ask you a question, while we're on the subject?"

"Sure. Shoot."

"Was there something going on between you and Megamind?" He seriously shot the question like a killing bullet.

Good thing she wasn't drinking or eating anything.

"Why… why would you think that?… Hahaha… ha." She knew she was blushing, looking ridiculous.

"Just a hunch."

"Oh, a hunch then. Well, no. There was never, and never will be, anything between me and… and that villain." She said it while partially trying to convince herself. (Actually she was repeating the same words every morning in front of a mirror, and it somehow felt really good to finally say it to someone else.)

"Can you tell me something about him?"

"Who? Megamind? Why?"

"Information on him is really restricted. About Metro Man I know mostly everything. You're the person who spent a lot of time with him," he explained, with dry tone of voice, brown eyes concentrating on her and making her fidgety.

"Megamind, huh…" Her eyes drifted off to the side and then she was back, pissed. That… that… alien! Could he not give her a date without the subject of him popping up? Ugh!

And she started to talk; first she was giving Bernard all the dirt she could remember on Megamind, but nothing which would seem too private and could give her away. But as soon as she started to talk about the villain, all the good things came rushing back. And after a while she went silent, surprised that she hadn't started crying yet.

"Uh-huh," Bernard commented. "Nothing between you two, huh? Well," He reached for the napkin and cleaned his mouth. "I know when a woman is dating me because she wants to forget about her ex, and I think this is one of those dates, Miss Ritchi."

She looked at him, surprised. "I… no. I mean… Is it that obvious?" She tried to chuckle.

"Hm. We're done here anyway… And since I made a rule to not insult a woman on a first date directly… Do you think you want a walk?"

Now that was shocking. She nodded and they called a waiter, paid their check and left the restaurant.

They didn't notice someone hurry over to their table and remove a small Dictaphone from beneath the table top, before following them.

They walked the empty streets for a moment… in silence. Not that Roxanne minded. It was better than talking about Megamind, but she had a feeling Bernard wouldn't leave the topic so thought it was better finish it as fast as possible.

"So… what gave me away?"

"I have sisters… three to be specific. One older and two younger sisters. I know their reactions well enough to recognize symptoms of 'unrequited love' on other women. And I've just put two and two together. Simple math."

"Why do you care?"

"I'm fascinated; I don't care. You can give me information which nobody else can." He put it bluntly and Roxanne had to admit he was right. In his place she would think exactly the same.

She thought for a while; they were in the middle of the road, and he was a stranger. The story she was about to tell could pretty much destroy her, if not put her in jail.

"How can I be sure you won't sell it to news, first thing in the morning?"

He gave her 'are-you-serious?' kind of look once again, with raised eyebrow and all. He had a strange ability to make her feel like she was a teenager caught by her principal while doing something which she shouldn't be doing.

"Well, I must admit, it would be thrilling to have a crowd of blood thirsty reporters banging at my doors about something which would turn me into a millionaire, but no. Thank you very much. I think I like my job better."

"You like your job?" She definitely had a different feeling from him about his workplace.

"No. I was being sarcastic about it."

"Oh…" She stopped for a moment and studied him.

He seemed honest enough. Snarky, yes. Boring, most definitely. But honest enough.

"Uh… I'll be damned for this… but okay, I'll tell you. Only if you know some safe place. I don't want anyone to overhear this."

"I think I know," he said after a while of thinking. "Let's go." He grabbed her hand and pulled her to walk faster.

"Where are we going?"

"My car. Obviously."

Much later that night, when she was finally back to her apartment she had to admit she felt much, much better.

"Thanks, for everything Bernard."

"My pleasure, Roxanne." For once he didn't sound dry and bored. She smiled.

"Bernard? You know, I don't think I want to date you… but would it be okay if we were friends?"

"Funny, I thought the same thing. See you later, Roxanne."

She closed the doors behind her. Finally, after a long time, she somehow felt at peace.

Somewhere else Marie held a phone to her ear and listened to the person on the other end of the line. She was very pleased.

"Who was it?" Wayne asked her after he left the bathroom, foams of steam following him.

She closed her cellphone with a smug smile and looked at him lovingly.

"Nobody important. Just a friend from work." She kneeled on their bed and stretched her arms out to him. He came closer to her and she clung to him and sighed with delight. "I love you," she said quietly. "I feel safe with you, you know?"

"Hmm, because of my super strength and rugged good looks?" he asked her with a smirk.

"No, because you're just you, and you're here with me. All that 'super' stuff is just the addition to an already great package."

She lifted her chin and pressed it to his chest, looking straight at him with dreamy eyes. He ran a hand through her hair and kissed her. How did he managed to get such amazing girl?

I'm running low on good addiction quotes for my story...

Review!

(The line about not insulting dates directly, came form my Beta ninteennintytwo ;], Thank you!)