A/N: No warnings for today's chapter! I will be posting this up on LJ as soon as it stops being a bear, but I figured there was no reason to make you guys over here wait just so I can put it up on both simultaneously. :P Just a little note: I know Megamind may come off a little aggressive when he approaches Roxanne's friend, but keep in mind he's still trying to maintain an "evil" persona around the others, and remember how he feels about Roxanne. He doesn't take too kindly to anyone harrassing her. :) That said, I hope you like it! :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Megamind.

Just Another School Year

Chapter 10

Roxanne headed to school Monday morning with a spring in her step. Finally, after a long and lonely weekend doing nothing but homework and studying, she was going to see Megamind again! She almost skipped to homeroom, feeling lighter than air as she sat down in her seat and pulled out the photograph her mother had printed of her and her dangerously dashing blue boyfriend. She smiled as she admired his features, her eyes slipping appreciatively over his tight spandex suit. He had looked pretty good in that, she had to admit, chuckling softly to herself as she studied the high black leather collar and the many sharp silver spikes protruding from it and his gloves. He had been going for the supervillain look, she knew, and she had to admit, he'd certainly pulled it off. She snickered as she remembered how most of the school had certainly been intimidated by him when he showed up wearing such a dangerous-looking outfit… And that's when she began to hear the whispers passing around her.

She had known this would happen. Having gone to the Homecoming dance with Megamind instead of Metro Dude, she had unwittingly become the central figure in a scandal. She was used to hearing rumors about her and Metro Dude, but she'd never cared about him… Now that Megamind was being included in them, however, she was suddenly outraged at their being spread. Apparently the whole school was convinced Megamind had somehow forced her to go with him against her will, that Metro Man (apparently the name had caught on and stuck) had simply refrained from beating the blue criminal into a pulp to keep from disrupting the dance and ruining everyone's night. Somehow or another Megamind had — again — been turned into a villain, Metro Man the long-suffering hero who saved the day, and she the helpless victim of an evil plot, now finally free to return to the welcoming arms of Metro Man. Frowning as she shot a rather cold glare at the nearest gossiping girl that caused her to blink at her, she wished she knew how to silence the rumors once and for all… But years of experience had taught her that such a thing — especially where Metro Man was concerned — was simply not possible.

When Metro Man arrived to class that morning, he didn't immediately take his seat as he usually did, heading directly for Roxanne's desk instead. A look of the utmost concern in his eye — a look that suddenly annoyed her, he asked her worriedly, "Are you OK, Roxy? Did Megamind hurt you?"

"No, he did not, thank you," Roxanne answered him somewhat sharply. "Megamind was a perfect gentleman."

Metro Man grunted. "I find that hard to believe. Listen, Roxy, if he bothers you again…"

"I think Miss Ritchi can take care of herself, Metro Man," a familiar, sly voice spoke up from behind the brawny alien. Metro Man turned and frowned as he spotted Megamind glaring at him in an almost protective manner. "So back off."

Metro Man slowly approached Megamind until he was standing directly in front of him. The shorter blue alien merely straightened himself as best he could as he looked him right in the eye. "You leave Roxanne alone, Megamind," Metro Man growled at him. "I'm watching you. If you so much as harm a hair on her head, I'll string you up by your toes until the police cart you back off to prison where you belong."

Megamind laughed at him, then pointed dramatically to his leather boots. "Oooh, I'm shaking in my custom baby seal leather boots!" He grinned at the gasp of shocked outrage that passed through the classroom, then challenged him, "Just try and stop me, you overgrown baboon. If Miss Ritchi wants to associate with the villain instead of the hero, that's her choice." He roughly pushed his way past the larger alien, his eyes lighting up as they found Roxanne's. Hurrying over to his seat, he threw himself casually down into his chair and cast her a rather alluring smile as he greeted her, "Good morning, Roxanne! Did you miss me?"

Roxanne giggled, nodding as she admitted, "More than you know."

Megamind chuckled, his cheeks coloring softly as he admitted, "We need to talk."

"I know," Roxanne agreed, reaching across the space between them to rest a hand over his for just a moment. Smiling at him, she squeezed his hand, instructing him calmly, "Meet me at lunch. Outside. It's easier to talk when we're alone."

"Tell me about it," Megamind groaned, dramatically rolling his eyes in Metro Man's direction. "Outside then. We'll have lunch together. Hopefully this time we won't get interrupted. Are you sure you don't want to just meet in a chemistry lab? It might be easier to avoid unwanted intruders that way…"

Roxanne tilted her head to one side as she shot him a knowing look and asked, "Will you be able to resist playing the scientist with so many chemicals at your fingertips?"

Megamind chuckled mischievously, biting his lower lip sheepishly as he admitted, "Uh… No, probably not…"

"Outside then," Roxanne determined, giggling softly. "We'll hide in the trees. You can help me climb up."

"All right. Sounds good," Megamind agreed, then fell silent as Mrs. Green began to take roll call.

When lunch time rolled around, Roxanne took her lunch outside to meet up with Megamind. Instead, she found her best friend, Judy, waiting for her with a concerned look in her eye. "Roxanne, we have to talk," Judy insisted, trying to intercept her, but Roxanne just kept on walking.

"Not now, Judy," Roxanne refused. "I'm looking for someone."

"I know who you're looking for, Roxanne!" Judy shouted at her, physically blocking her path and placing her hands on her shoulders to prevent her from running off. "You have to listen to me! I don't know what Megamind's done to you to get you to think he's not bad, but he is! That alien's bad news! You need to stay away from him!"

"I believe that's my choice to make," Roxanne insisted, her tone a warning growl as she tried to push her way past her friend only to find her path blocked again. "Judy, let me go."

Judy shook her head. "Not until you listen to reason, Roxanne. I've heard the rumors… He's a criminal! He lives in a prison for goodness' sakes! You can't get mixed up with that, Roxanne. He'll drag you down with him. Is that what you want?"

"Judy…" Roxanne tried to stop her, but Judy wasn't about to be silenced.

"Snap out of it, Roxanne!" Judy cut her off. "You have to listen…"

"No, you have to listen!" Roxanne snapped, growing angry. Judy blinked at her, but at least she knew better than to push her when she was this agitated. Roxanne pushed her advantage, advancing on the stunned girl as Judy backed away. "I am sick and tired of you and everyone else seeming to think you know what's good for me when you don't! How dare you talk so poorly about Megamind! You don't even know him! None of you do!"

"But… But, Roxanne…" Judy stammered, obviously shaken by her friend's anger. "I'm worried about you! The things I hear about him…"

"They're rumors, Judy, nothing more!" Roxanne practically spat at her.

"B-But Metro Man doesn't trust…" Judy practically whimpered.

"Metro Man is a brainless oaf who should learn his place and bow to my genius," a cold voice suddenly interrupted, a voice Roxanne recognized, and as the two teenage women turned towards its source, Judy almost shrieked as she spotted Megamind walking steadily towards them, a dangerous frown on his lips and his hands balled into fists. His emerald green eyes were sharp as they glared at the trembling girl, growling at her, "You would do well to do the same!" Turning to grin almost hungrily to Roxanne, he nodded towards Judy and asked, "This girl giving you trouble, Roxanne? I could run her off for you, if you like… Teach her a lesson…"

Roxanne shook her head at him as he broke out into an evil laugh. "No, Megamind, that won't be necessary." She looked back to Judy, noting the girl looked as though she wanted to be anywhere else but in the presence of her thin blue boyfriend and instructed her, "Go on, Judy. Get out of here. I'll talk to you later — when you're willing to listen." Judy took off at a run, hurrying away from Megamind as fast as her legs could carry her, the blue alien laughing after her as she went. Roxanne cast Megamind a sharp glance as his laughter ebbed, sighing at him, "Was that really necessary, Megamind? You scared her half to death!"

Megamind snickered, shrugging his shoulders as he turned to lead the way over to the oak tree where they'd planned to meet. "I couldn't help it. Some of these mindless drones need to learn their place, and she was hassling you at my expense. She'll think twice before she challenges the great Megamind again! Or you, for that matter."

Roxanne groaned slightly from her place at the base of the tree as she watched Megamind deftly leap up into its branches. "Yes, well, that 'mindless drone' happens to be my best friend, Megamind, and you just nearly gave her a heart attack! I'm trying to downplay this whole 'bad boy' façade you seem intent on maintaining; that's a little hard to do with you frightening people half to death."

Megamind turned around and leaned down, offering his hand to Roxanne and helping to pull her up into the branches after him as he replied with a heavy sigh, "Roxanne, I am the bad boy. I always have been… It's my destiny, and that's not likely to change. If this… Jew-dee can't accept you for who you are and support you when you choose to associate with the villain, then maybe she's not worthy of your friendship." He relaxed into the crook of a branch where it met the trunk of the oak tree, his eyes suddenly growing sad as he pulled his knees up to his chest and hugged them. Looking away at nothing at all, he practically whispered, "Unless… You're having second thoughts about me…"

Roxanne shook her head and carefully moved to sit beside him. "No! No, it's nothing like that," she assured him. He smiled as he slowly relaxed his posture, his legs moving to swing out over the branch as he blushed and shifted his body to move in a little closer to her. Smiling, she placed her hand over his and assured him, "I want to get to know you better, Megamind. You. Not this supposedly evil, villainous persona you seem determined to foster… But the real you, the one I see in your eyes behind all the bluster." His eyes suddenly grew nervous and strayed from hers and she pressed him gently, "What happened to make you think you're evil? Why do you think you have to be the villain? What happened between you and Metro Man? Please, Megamind… I want to know you…"

Megamind's jaw clenched for a moment as she could see anxiety rise in his eyes and realized the questions she was asking were probably unearthing old scars that haunted him every day. When he finally did speak, his voice was distant and sad, his eyes refusing to meet hers. "Roxanne… Do we really have to talk about this now? The lunch hour will be over soon, and I know you. You're going to ask me all kinds of questions, and I can't answer them right now. This really isn't the time for it."

Roxanne sighed heavily, but nodded. He hadn't refused to answer, only he didn't want to answer now. It was more than she'd ever gotten out of Metro Man, at least. "All right, Megamind. I won't push you. I only ask because I care."

"Well… You'd be the first…" Megamind admitted softly, his cheeks flushing softly as his eyes lifted to meet hers, and he smiled softly as she smiled at him. "Y-You know, Roxanne… I… haven't been able to stop thinking about our goodbye after the dance…"

Roxanne's smile warmed at the memory. "Nor have I."

Megamind's eyes flicked uncontrollably to her lips and back again, his tongue peeking between his lips for just a moment as he wet them. Roxanne's heart skipped a beat. She wasn't the only one tempted to repeat the kiss they had shared; he wanted it too. She drew a hair closer to him, hoping to encourage him to kiss her again, but the moment was shattered when the leaves overhead rustled and Minion dropped down between them, an expression on his face like that of an over-protective chaperone as he insisted in a tone so warm it was almost fake, "Well, look at that! Lunch time is almost half over, Sir! You'd better get eating, or you'll miss out!"

Megamind groaned dramatically at the fish, but Roxanne giggled as he flared his fins at her and she got the message. Minion's brown eyes were shouting it loud and clear, "No smooching at school!" She moved an inch away from Megamind to give him room, but the energetic blue teenager was not happy about the interruption and wasn't afraid to make himself heard. "Minion!" he was scolding the fish sharply. "I know what time it is! Didn't I tell you to leave me alone for lunch today?"

Minion didn't miss a beat, obviously well aware of what his orders had been, but ignoring them. "Those were your orders, Sir, but you haven't even touched your lunch yet, and I made it especially for you! Even supervillains have to eat! You need your energy!"

"MINION!" Megamind was shouting at the fish now, his face bright purple in embarrassment as Roxanne couldn't help but giggle from her position beside him. He was trying to push the fish away, but Minion wasn't moving. "Supervillains can take care of themselves! Now leave me be!"

"Yes, well, this supervillain has a habit of going without food when he gets distracted and eating like a panther later," Minion calmly reminded him. Roxanne thought she might die of laughter… "It's not healthy. Now, Sir, are you going to eat, or do I need to make you?"

"I'll eat! I'll eat! Just leave me alone!" Megamind cried, and huffed at the fish as he finally managed to shoo him away, Minion snickering as he scurried up the tree. Megamind shook his head and opened his lunch bag, then shot an embarrassed frown at Roxanne where she was still giggling, scolding her, "It's not funny! It's a serious problem! That fish needs to learn to obey orders!"

Roxanne laughed and remarked, "I think Minion knows what he's doing." Megamind grunted, taking a bite of his sandwich, and she did the same. Smiling at him softly, she asked, "So, supervillain, what's on the evil agenda today?"

Megamind almost choked on his sandwich as he broke out laughing, then grinned at her mischievously, "Oh, wouldn't you like to know!"

"Actually, I would," Roxanne smirked right back at him.

"Ah, ah, ah! I can't reveal my secrets to you, Miss Roxanne Ritchi! Or at least… Not yet…" he teased her in a tone so low and almost seductive it sent a shiver of excitement coursing down her spine, his long, thin blue finger wagging in her face as he gazed at her from beneath half-closed eyelids. He bit his lower lip for a moment, then added in a sly purr, "Oh, but in time… You will taste my genius and tremble at my brilliance as my secrets are revealed to you in all their awesome wonder!" He broke out into a deliciously evil cackle, and Roxanne couldn't help but giggle with him.

"All right, Mr. Evil Genius, so I have to wait to see your secrets. What's your big plan for our next date?" Roxanne asked eagerly as soon as he'd finished laughing.

"Ah, yes. To important business," Megamind nodded, his cheeks flushing as he tried to focus on the subject at hand. His eyes locked on hers and he smiled softly. "I've been talking to the warden, but he doesn't believe anyone would be foolish enough to want to date me. He is, however, willing to listen to you if you can convince him. You'll need to go down to the prison and talk to him. He should be expecting you."

"All right, so I'll talk to the warden," Roxanne agreed. "Is he going to let you out?"

"I've worked out a deal with him," Megamind informed her with a sigh. "Provided, of course, that you can make him believe you actually care about me and aren't just some part of a plan of mine to break out of prison and go on a crime spree…"

"Easy," Roxanne assured him confidently.

He blinked at her, his cheeks turning an even deeper hue of purple as his smile warmed, then plunged headlong into an explanation, "All right, well, basically, he's willing to let me out on pre-approved nights for a few hours at a time, but I have to do extra work around the prison for it, and I have to follow a strict curfew. If I ever return late, even by a few minutes, he's made it very clear I'll never be allowed out again." He looked her in her eye and insisted, "It'd be worth the humiliation… just to get out of there and spend some time with you alone. It's that, or every date we have will be spent in my cell under the scrutinous eyes of the other inmates, unless some shool function warrants my temporary release, as was the case with the Homecoming dance. Personally, I'd like the freedom to choose where I go with you, rather than have it dictated to me by circumstance… If that's OK with you. I'll do the work."

Roxanne reached over and took his hand in hers, smiling at him warmly as she agreed, "Megamind, as long as you don't mind sacrificing your dignity like that, I'd very much like the freedom to go somewhere with you where we can be alone, any place we choose. I'll talk to the warden tonight and work out the details with him. You'll have your freedom. I promise you that."

"Thank you, Roxanne," Megamind practically breathed the words, his eyes softening as they gazed deep into hers. "I can't wait to spend more time with you away from this miserable shool… I had a great time at the dance. And… I want to get to know you better too." Roxanne's heart melted at the sincerity of his words, her lips drifting slowly towards his as though drawn by some irresistible magnet. His eyes slowly began to close as they neared each other, hers closing to savor the moment…

But before their lips could meet, Megamind yelped as something collided with his head and both their eyes snapped open to find the tree surrounded by the worst of the high school's jocks.

As a second rock soared through the air, narrowly missing Megamind's temple and too close for Roxanne's comfort, Megamind instantly jumped to his feet on the branch. "Sorry, Roxanne… Looks like my time's up. I'll lead them away. Climb down when it's safe." Glancing quickly up into the tree, he shouted, "Minion!"

"I'm on it, Sir!" Minion's voice called back, and as Roxanne watched in surprise, Minion's small robotic body fell from the tree limbs to bounce off the troublemakers' heads. Megamind was laughing as his fish scurried through their legs, distracting and disorienting them, then hurried through the tree limbs to leap deftly to the ground a few yards in front of the bullies intent on beating him. Calling back to his fish, he took off at a run, the robotic monkey darting after him and the angry jocks hot on his heels. Carefully climbing out of the tree, Roxanne hoped he escaped them. She wished there were some way he could avoid going through this routine on an almost daily basis…

That night, Roxanne paid a visit to the Metro City Prison for the Criminally Gifted and met with the warden. Megamind had not been kidding; the man was certainly shocked and skeptical to hear her claiming to have any kind of romantic interest at all in his most volatile prisoner, and took some convincing to make him believe it. The older man was obviously more prepared to hear stories about Megamind causing trouble than he was to hear about him catching the eye of an innocent young woman. Roxanne spent more time trying to convince him she was not under any form of brainwashing or mind control than she did actually hammering out the details concerning Megamind's temporary release. The brilliant blue convict had obviously already taken care of the details for her; all she had to do was tell the warden what day and time she wanted him, and for how long — provided she always had him back before 11:00pm, and the earlier the better. Eager to see him again outside the confines of the school or prison, she scheduled their next date for the following afternoon.