The sudden and uncaring banging against the door to his room startled him out of his sleep. He was pleased to find that his unconscious habit of only sleeping in the revolving chair when it was facing away from the door had stuck with him. It meant that whoever was trying to gain his attention was unable to see the undignified start he had produced. After straightening himself, he span the chair around slowly, one leg cocked over the other, elbows resting on the arms of the chair and his fingers laced together in front of his smirking face.
"Why good morning Warden." Megamind said sweetly as he boldly met the ageing man's ice blue eyes, "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Can it, Megamind!" The Prison Warden said, his moustache twitching in annoyance already, "I would have thought you'd have learned by now that these games you play only ever bring you back here!"
"Oh Warden, I had no idea you cared about me so much!" Megamind said, his face taking on a look of innocence that shocked even himself.
"Oh I don't! But you have a habit of messing up my books, you do have 88 life sentences to serve out you know, it would be better for everyone if you just settled into it and stopped causing trouble for yourself!"
"But where would be the fun in that?" Megamind said smoothly as he settled back into his chair. He absently gazed around the room, taking in the sickeningly cute woodland creatures painted all over the walls. His mind began to wander back to the time before this room had become his own personal corner of the world but he was brought back to reality by a further comment from the Warden.
"What? I didn't catch that." Megamind said as he raised an eyebrow, a seriously bored expression on his face.
"I said you have a visitation request." The older man huffed as his eyes slipped from the prisoner's, "Someone apparently has nothing better to do than come and talk to your useless butt! Though it is against my better judgement, you are a prisoner of this facility and as such you are entitled to a visit." The warden turned away from the window before looking back over his shoulder, "Don't get used to it!"
With that he walked away from the window, leaving Megamind in a stunned silence. A few minutes later the door slid open and three prison guards entered the room, holding out the familiar manacles and chains. Megamind's curiosity got the better of him and he held out his hands in acceptance, a lazy smirk on his face that only served to unnerve the guards surrounding him. After he had been secured and properly restrained, the guards yanked him to his feet and proceeded to escort him through the prison. The route to the room they would be holding the visit in took them through various wings of the prison, including his old cell block. As he was walked past the cells full of prisoners he smiled and winked at the various convicts he knew from his younger years. A lot of his uncles had been released for time served and good behaviour but a few of the tougher nuts remained, calling out to their prodigy with cheers of encouragement.
The room they were using was one of the interrogation rooms. Megamind was very familiar with it's set up and cast a quick but knowing glance at the mirrored glass on one side of the room. That was the reason the room had been chosen, they were planning on observing his visit, his curiosity peaked as he sat down, watching passively as the guards unshackled his arms and instead chained his feet to a hook set into the concrete floor. The guards left the room, shutting the heavy metal door behind them. He noted with a raised eyebrow that there was no handle on the inside of the door, obviously the reason they felt safe enough to leave him in there alone. As the minutes stretched on he began to grow bored, the thought that this all could be some form of practical joke crossed his mind before the sound of the door unlocking snapped him back to attention.
The Warden stepped inside, levelling a glare at the chained prisoner sitting at the metal table. With a bored expression on his face, Megamind turned away with a sigh.
"You have 30 minutes, don't try anything stupid!" He said as he stepped to the side, allowing the visitor to enter the room quietly. He moved backwards out of the room, shutting and locking the door as he went. Megamind didn't turn around at first, waiting for the person to announce themselves first. After a few moments of silence he decided that he was bored to playing the waiting game.
"So, exactly what is it you wanted to ask the Master of all-" Megamind turned and stuttered into silence almost immediately, "Roxanne!" He was obviously shocked to see her there as he was suddenly at a loss for words as he watched her walk the short distance from the door to the chair. She sat facing him, with her back to the observation window. She rested her plastered arm on the table with a wince as she smiled at him before casting a nervous glance behind her at the mirror.
"They are watching, but don't worry, they can't hear us." He said from behind his hands as he leaned forwards, his elbows braced on the table, "The microphones haven't been turned on, I would be able to hear them if they had been." She looked back at him with more of a relieved expression on her face. As she looked up at him she realised that he was staring intently at her arm.
"They said it should heal with no lasting effects other than a little soreness in my wrist." She said simply as she ran a hand over the off-white plaster. She was about to say more when he cut her off.
"What are you doing out of hospital?" He was looking up into her eyes now, searching for answers to question even he didn't know.
"I've never been one for sitting around doing nothing. I discharged myself a few days ago."
"Are you coping OK? With your arm like that I mean," His expression hadn't changed and he was still hiding his mouth behind his hands. Roxanne realised suddenly he was doing it on purpose, hiding his words from anyone watching who may be able to lip-read.
"I'm OK, I do have someone helping me. A friend has been coming round each day and cooking for me, I might not let him go when I finally get this thing off my arm. I might just keep him for myself." She chose her words carefully and made sure her back was facing the window fully.
"You very own minion, eh?" He asked with a smirk, the corners of his green eyes wrinkling.
"You could say that." She smiled, not surprised that he got the hint so quickly, it had probably been his idea in the first place though Minion denied it had been the plan all along, "So, what you in for this time?"
"A crime I didn't commit, naturally." He said as he leaned back in his chair, uncaring of anyone who may be watching. He was fairly confident it would only be the Warden and he wouldn't use any personal information gained from spying against him.
"I saw the news. He has been avoiding me but as soon as I get my hands on him I'm going to wring his neck!" Roxanne said in a low voice, her temper rising at the mere thought of Metroman's declaration that her injuries were down to the villain. A soft chuckling brought her back to the present, causing her to look back up at the man in front of her. His smirk was the most evil she had ever seen it and his chuckle seemed to reverberate through his chest.
"Why, Miss Ritchie," He said in a low voice as he tented his fingers in front of his face, "If you ever wish to join me you would make an excellent Evil Queen." His smirk only grew larger at the blush that spread up her cheeks.
"You think so?" She said with a laugh as she tried to resist the urge to smirk back at him. Despite the odd situation she was beginning to feel more comfortable, both of them falling into the old game of words they played every time they were near each other.
"Oh definitely." He said, his eyes shining, "with my brains and your knowledge of the city, we would have it under our control in no time! So, how about it? Do you want the job?"
"I have a job." She said smoothly as she leaned in towards him, her own smirk firmly on her face in reply.
"Yes, and it looks like you have been replaced. She looks like she is close to replacing you in other aspects of your life also," he watched her reaction carefully, her smirk fading off her face, "I wonder who would be the best kidnap victim, her or you, now that she is the new darling of Metrosity.
"Well you could, but I doubt she would be..." She paused as she sat back, carefully folding her arms over her chest, "stimulating company."
"You think I find your company stimulating, Miss Ritchie?" He asked with a grin as he shifted in his seat, the chains around his ankle clinking together.
"Are you saying you don't?"
He remained silent for a while as he just looked at her until she blushed and glanced away from his eyes. He chuckled softly and at back again in his seat, deciding to let her off easy this time by changing the subject. She had obviously come here for a reason and they were running out of time.
"So, what exactly did you come here for Miss Ritchie?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. He tried to fold one leg over the other but the chains at his ankles pulled sharply, keeping him in place. He had been truly surprised when she had entered the room and her motives for her visit were eluding him.
"I wanted to let you know that I plan on setting the record straight." She said after a while, a serious expression on her face, "that my injuries were not down to you and therefore you should not be punished for it. I won't have you paying for something that you didn't do."
"I have been paying for things I didn't do since before I could walk, Miss Ritchie, why is this any different?"
"It's different because I won't stand for it. I can't let him get away with this, even if he is just being a pig-headed moron! I'm going to make sure he pays through the nose for this! Lord knows my medical bill isn't cheap and I am so not coughing up for that! Apparently, Metroman demanded my treatment was only handled by the top surgeons and consultants in the city!" Roxanne rolled her eyes and she rubbed her fingers over her broken collar bone.
"Your medical bill?" Megamind asked curiously, "isn't it customary for an individual such as yourself to purchase medical insurance?"
"Yeah, well I don't see why my insurance should pay out for something he has done. Lord knows it has had to pay up a lot to cover what you have done in the past! It's a wonder that the station's company even insures me any more!" Roxanne folded her arms across her chest the best she could and rolled her eyes up to the ceiling, "talk about a loosing bet."
"A loosing bet?" He asked with a frown.
"OK, look at it this way. If you were providing insurance and I came to you wanting to buy it from you, what would e the first thing you did?"
"I'd calculate the likelihood of you sustaining some form of injury that would require me to pay out." He said simply, his frown of confusion turning slightly frustrated.
"And what would be the odds you put on me gaining an injury," She asked with a small smile, "bearing in mind the fact that the city's super-villain is apparently obsessed with putting me in perilous positions?" His frown faded into an amused smirk as he relaxed slightly, "I must be something of a high risk investment."
"I see," He said slowly, "so because of me, your insurance will not pay for your medical bills?"
"Well, they probably would but it shouldn't have to." She said, her face turning determined, "I believe that the person responsible for my injuries should pay. It is only right after all, don't you think?"
"Quite right, Miss Ritchie, quite right." He said quietly before his grin turned impish, "I would give anything to be there when you make your demand of him."
"I had a feeling you would say that," She smiled at him as she began itching at the heel of her injured hand, "I should be getting back soon, my friend is waiting outside, he worries far too much. He said they keep all sorts of people in here, that you never know when one of them will get their hands on something that they can use to cause some damage."
"Oh really, like what exactly?
"I don't know, like something they can use to short out he electrics or something. He got all technical but I couldn't understand a word he was saying." She smiled as she felt his fingers brush hers underneath the table.
"I think I like the sound of your friend. Maybe I'll be able to meet him some-" He was cut off by the door opening suddenly and the Warden striding in glaring at the pair.
"Times up." He stood to the side of the door, gesturing for Roxanne to leave the room. Without looking back at Megamind, Roxanne put on her work face and stood to leave the room. After she had exited three guards entered the room and unhooked him from the floor and placed the manacles around his wrists.
"It must be difficult managing with your arm all done up like that." The female prison guard who had escorted her through the prison said as they watched the shackled Megamind being walked out of the room.
"It's not so bad, a friend is staying with me to help out with things." She said as she watched the Warden saying something to the blue alien.
"Anyone nice?" She asked, her voice light and innocent. Megamind's eyes glanced over to them sharply before being tugged down the corridor.
"Just a friend I've known for years, guy called Gill, his partner is out of town so he's staying over with me for a while." She smiled at her again before turning back to look over her shoulder again as a metal bared door slid shut between her and Megamind.
"Lets hope he's a better protector for you than Metroman is!" Megamind yelled over his shoulder as he was pulled out of sight, a sneer plastered on his face as he hissed something threatening to one of the guards.
"Are your guys going to be OK with him Officer...?" Roxanne asked, struggling to remember the name of the guard. She was older than Roxanne, probable somewhere in her 50's, obviously a career officer within the prison judging by the ease at which she went about her work in what was undeniably a man's world.
"Call me Marci, I don't insist on visitors referring to me by rank." The older woman smiled as she waited for the Warden to give them the all-clear to proceed to the prison's visitor reception, "And don't you worry about him, we've been dealing with him since he was a baby. He likes to act touch but those of us who have been here a few years know he's mainly all talk. Unfortunately no one seems to care about the fact that despite all of his break-out attempts, no-one, prisoner or guard, has even been seriously injured during any of his displays."
"Were you here when he landed?" Roxanne asked in a shocked voice. She had been to the prison to interview the Warden on the subject of Megamind before but never the other staff.
"Oh yes, I was on duty that day. I'll remember it till the day I die." She said with a distant smile, "He's been no end of trouble since the day he arrived. But I'll let you in on a secret, I don't think he's half as bad as he thinks he is and not nearly as bad as he wants to be." Roxanne smiled a tight lipped smile before turning to see the Warden coming back around the corner.
"Can you escort Miss Ritchie back to her vehicle Officer," He said when he came to stand beside the pair, "I hope you got everything you wanted and I wish you all the best for your recovery." He nodded at her before turning and disappearing round the corner once again. Roxanne smiled when Marci unlocked a barred door and held it open for her.
…
She slid into the passenger side of the news van with a grunt of effort as her back twisted uncomfortably and smiled at the person in the drivers seat. His blond hair hung down over his freckled face as he watched her trying to find a comfortable position, his brown eyes shining with concern for his passenger.
"Did they let you see him?" He asked once she pulled the door shut. His hands gripped the steering wheel as he waited for an answer before he turned the van's engine on.
"Yes, there was no problem with that," Roxanne said with a sigh, "don't worry Minion, I said I'd get in didn't I? Mission accomplished!" She gave him a thumbs up as she settled back into the seat, "I got that thing to him and said what you told me to say. But if you think I'm doing that again you have another thing coming! I just owe him this one OK?"
"OK Miss Ritchie." Minion's human face smiled at her as he turned the engine on and pulled out of the prison car park.
...
She sat on the wall of her balcony simply watching the bright lights of the city twinkle into life. She She inhaled deeply on the cigarette between her fingers before tipping her head back and letting the smoke flow out of her throat in perfect rings. She hardly ever indulged in the habit, knowing all too well what it did to your body but every now and then she manage to convince herself that one or two couldn't hurt. Minion had returned to the lair after cooking her yet another fantastic meal in her slightly too-small kitchen and she had waited until he had left before venturing out onto the balcony. She had the feeling that Minion would be very disproving and she didn't need him looking down on her for indulging.
She sighed as she rubbed her shoulder and collar bone. It had been almost a week since she had been to the prison to visit Megamind and slip the strange thin length of metal to him that Minion had given her. He was still inside, biding his time she supposed, waiting for the opportune moment to make his inevitable escape. His presence in the prison didn't really bother her than much, she knew where he was and he was no stranger to the situation. It was someone else entirely that had driven her to pull the lighter and packet of cigarettes out of the back of her underwear draw.
Metroman had gone out of town, apparently getting in some down time while Megamind was safely locked away. She hadn't wanted to summon him to her apartment just to give him a talking to, no she had wanted to track him down and give him a telling off on his own territory. If she still had the ability to drive herself she would have headed out to his hideout to confront him but she figured that getting Minion to drive her there would be a bad idea. The fish would naturally feel obliged to inform his boss of their rival's home location.
"Sod it!" She muttered to herself after she took another long drag on the cigarette. Taking her mobile out of her pocket she hit the speed dial for his mobile phone, holding the phone against her ear with her shoulder. She waited as it rang and rang, eventually diverting to his answer machine.
"Hi, you have reached Metroman; Defender of Metro City! If you have experienced a crime, please phone your local law enforcement facility. If you require saving from imminent peril, please hold the line and leave a message after the beep. Thank you for phoning Metroman, honoured citizen of Metro City!" As the recorded message cut out into a beep Roxanne took the cigarette from her lips.
"Hey, it's me. Can you come over to my place as soon as you can? I need to talk to you." She snapped her phone shut and perched the cigarette between her lips as she stuffed it into her pocket. She took a few more quick drags as she gazed up at the stars, wondering not for the first time, if there are any other surprises waiting out there.
"You know, smoking is bad for your health, Roxie." His voice sounding out from the other side of her balcony didn't even startle her as she lolled her head to the side to face him, cigarette dangling loosely from her lips. So much for being out of town.
"Well, quite frankly, I really don't care." She said as she took a drag and blew the smoke out in his direction. She could hear her mother's appalled voice now, telling her that she should be ashamed and that such behaviour was not only unbecoming but also very very rude. Normally she would have agreed with them and if she had seen anyone performing such an act in public she would have told them so herself. Oh her own property, however, she felt she had the right to make her own mistakes.
"What is going on Roxie?" Metroman asked as he approached slowly, "I know that you have been through a traumatic experience recently what with the explosion at the museum and you breaking your arm, but this! This is not like you, tell me, what has he done to you?"
"Me breaking my arm?" Roxanne looked at him incredulously as she swung her legs back down onto her balcony, "You really have no idea do you? Do you even remember what happened the other night? At Megamind's lair?"
"What? You mean when I found you..."
"Yes, when you found me there with him! Do you even remember what happened after you came crashing in through the roof?" She was honestly concerned for him, not understanding how he could simply block out something so important.
"Well, yes, I came in and got him away from you, and then I..." He paused and frowned, looking down at the floor as he searched his memories.
"You tried to kill him, Wayne." Roxanne said softly as she dropped the cigarette on the floor, stamping it out with her foot, "You held him up against a pillar by his throat, you were choking him, you do remember don't you?"
"Yes, I... I was just so angry. I thought he was trying to hurt you, I thought he was attacking you." He said quietly as he leaned against the edge of the balcony, rubbing the back of his neck with his fingers.
"Why would you think that? Do you honestly think that he is capable of doing something like that?"
"Well... he is evil, Roxie. I guess I was … I was more shocked than anything else, I guess that was why I was so angry!" He looked up at her hopefully, "I was only trying to protect you Roxie."
"And do you remember what happened after that?"
"There was something... Something distracted me and it was enough for him to get out of my grip." He frowned as he tried to remember, "and then he... he was on the floor and I was walking towards him. There was something in the way and so I... I."
"You pushed it out of the way." Roxanne said as she stood in front of him, "Wayne, look at me. That thing that distracted you? That was me, I hit you over the head with a metal bar I found. It was the only thing I could think of to get you to stop. As it hit you the shock travelled down the metal bar and broke my arm and wrist. I did cry out, I'm surprised you didn't hear me." Her voice was calm and steady as she watched the colour drain from the hero's face.
"Roxie, I-"
"And that thing that was in your way? Guess who that was. Me." Her eyes were steely as she simply stared at him, watching the tremble that spread through his body and the fear form in his eyes, "I tried to stop you, to get your attention, but you just kept on going towards him. I tried to touch you, I was screaming in your face but it was like you couldn't even see me, then you simply swept me out of the way. I was lucky Minion was there to catch me, I came away from that with only two broken ribs and a broken collar bone."
"Roxie, I... I didn't..." He stammered, his face a ghostly white.
"Wayne," Roxanne said softly as he slid down the balcony wall and sat on the floor, "You know how dangerous it is for you to loose control like that. You could have killed him, you could have killed me! I'm not in this state because of Megamind or the explosion, I'm in this condition because of you, Wayne. I'm sorry but you have to realise. What if it hadn't been in the lair? What if it was in a public place? What if someone innocent had been the one to get in your way? What if it had been a child?"
"Roxie, I am so sorry! I didn't realise-"
"I know. And that is half the problem Wayne. You know what you can do if you don't think about your actions. You know how much stronger than everyone else on the planet you are. If you act without thought or without realizing it, people get hurt."
"I know I know!" He said as he held his head in his hands, "I thought you were in danger, I thought he was hurting you."
"You thought he was raping me. Wayne, how could you think something like that? You should know better! God, I feel like we have been having this conversation for years!" She said, some of the anger she had felt coming back at the very idea of such a thing, "You have known him for far longer than I have, Wayne, you should know him better than that. And you should also know that I'm stronger than you give me credit for and if you think I would let someone treat me like that and then try to defend them afterwards then you don't know me at all."
"Roxie, I am so sorry... please-" He reached out for her but stopped and puled his hands back as she backed away from him quickly.
"It isn't that easy Wayne, The moment you started to act like that? I lost a whole lot of respect for you. I know you didn't mean it but it has been a long time since that excuse worked for any of us, Wayne." She said as she looked down at him, "You went on air and blamed Megamind for something that you did! I don't deny he blew up the museum and yes, I was there. But it was nothing like what you said on air. He was hitting out at you, not trying to kill anyone, least of all me! Why did you say those things when you weren't even there?"
"I just, I don't know!" He said as he got to his feet and began pacing the balcony, "They asked me for an interview and I thought, I honestly thought that was what happened! If I had realised it I would never have... oh Roxie, I'm so sorry!"
"I know you are, Wayne, but that doesn't excuse what happened. Now because of you I have to spend god-knows-how-long in this thing, I'm practically helpless!" Roxanne cursed herself as soon as the words were out of her mouth, knowing exactly what was coming next.
"That's it!" He said triumphantly as he moved to stand in front of her, "I can help you! That's how I can repay you! I'll help you out and I'll fly you to work and I'll make sure you are OK until your arm heals! Oh Roxie, you won't regret this! I promise!"
"NO!" She yelled for the third or fourth time into his face, "You are doing it again! Wayne, you are not listening to me! I do not need your help Wayne, it was your help that got me into this situation in the first place! I do not need you cluttering up my apartment, the last time you were here you broke my window, not to mention my bathroom door! I know you paid for the repairs but that is not the point!
"Wayne, I think you need a break. Your temper has been getting the better of you recently, you need to relax. Go on a vacation, away from everything, away from being a hero. Go and find some desert island somewhere and get some proper alone time in!"
"But the city-"
"Will be fine without you!" She said softly as she placed her good hand on his arm, "we managed for years before you came along, and I will make sure Megamind doesn't do anything stupid while you are gone."
"How will you do that Roxie, he's not exactly a stable person" Wayne said, clearly considering the possibilities.
"He owes me one, don't worry about that. Besides, what would be in it for him if he pulled anything while you were out of town? Where would the challenge be in that?" She smiled at him as his face began to visibly relax, "Go. Take as much time as you need. Just look at it as recharging your batteries so you can come back a better hero."
"Are you sure?" He smiled when she nodded before he took her head in his hands and placed a brotherly kiss on her forehead, "thank you Roxie, thank you for not being mad at me."
"Oh ho ho! Whoa there big fella! I am so mad at you right now, but I know you didn't do anything on purpose, I'm worried about you." She backed away from him, pointing a finger into his chest, "Just get out of here before I change my mind."
"Thank you Roxie." he said as he turned to leave. As he floated over the balcony she called out to him, stopping him in his tracks.
"There is one thing you could do for me though, by way of compensation." She said as she resisted the urge to smirk at him, "compensation to the tune of $20,000! Medical bills don't come cheap, especially when someone requests the best and naturally the most expensive medical treatment possible!"
"What? How-" His protest was cut off by the look in her eyes saying she would not take no for an answer, "OK Roxie, I'll sort everything out, don't you worry." With that he flew off into the night sky, disappearing behind the tall buildings.
Roxanne heaved a heavy sigh as she picked up the pack of cigarettes and lit another one as she placed it to her lips. She had lost count of the number of times she had wondered exactly how her life had become this complicated. She leaned back up against the cool glass of her balcony doors, as she closed her eyes, relishing the warmth of the smoke filling her lungs and trying not to listen to the condemning voice in the back of her head. She could hardly remember a time when she could plan to go out in the evening and know that she would in fact make it to the party, or when the most exciting part of her day would be the buzz from a successful report. Somehow she had ended up being a proverbial cat-toy being batted around between the city's two aliens. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the glass, trying to settle her mind and find some kind of peace.
"Smoking kills, you know." This time she did jump when the quiet voice sounded out in the darkness. She looked around, being met with nothing but the empty air around her, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end.
"Who's there?" She asked, forcing her voice to remain steady. A soft chuckle filled the air and she closed her eyes for a moment as she tried to pinpoint exactly where the sound had come from. Turning to look at the corner of her balcony she stepped to the side, watching that one spot intently. As she moved, she could see a very slight distortion in the city lights beyond, as if she was looking at it through water. With a huff she brought the cigarette back up to her lips and turned to lean forwards on the wall of the balcony.
"I should just push you off you know." She muttered as she felt him move towards her even though she still could not see him.
"You could, but I think we both know you wont." He said as he came to a stop beside her. He pulled down the hood covering his face and pulled the remainder of the strange cape back from his shoulders. She raised an eyebrow at him as she watched him take the cape off and drape it over the wall of the balcony. She couldn't resist the urge to reach out to it and touch the strange material, it was cool and silky to the touch. The sight of her hand disappearing behind a fabric she could barely see was quite unnerving.
"You've been watching too much Harry Potter." She said with a chuckle as she watched his smirk grow wider.
"Why do I need to keep reminding you that I am evil? Flouting copyright laws is easy. Besides, I had invented the Invisibility Matrix for the car long before the books came out, transferring the technology to fabric was a nice challenge. It has come in very useful indeed." He said as he watched her fondle the fabric in her good hand.
"Yes, I can imagine." She smiled as she carefully replaced the cape back on the wall, "What else have you stolen from the movies? You've not put a Flux Capacitor in that car of yours have you?"
"Ha!" He laughed as his smirk grew into a grin, "I never had you down as a Sci-Fi fan, Miss Ritchie. Alas, no, time travel is not something I have been able to work out yet, and to be honest I'm not sure it is something I should do. There are too many variables, too much that could go very, very wrong."
"Shame, I always wanted to go back in time by 24 hours so I could put some very specific numbers down on the lottery." She shrugged as she turned her back on him, she could practically feel the smirk the spread on his face as he stepped closer to her
"Miss Ritchie, I honestly do think you would make a very successful Evil Queen." His hand twitched as he resisted the urge to reach out and pull her to him, "The position is still open if you are interested."
"And what exactly would the job entail?" She asked as she turned back to face him, "Choreographing the Brainbots? Holding the bag at the bank? Pointing that gun of yours at the mayor? Sorry, but I don't think I'm the best person for the job."
"Oh but imagine the perks," he grinned down at her impishly, "I pay very well indeed and there are various perks that, if I'm not mistaken, you would enjoy very much indeed." His voice had dropped a few levels causing a shiver to trace up her spine. It was the same voice that he used when she was tied to that chair in his lair, completely at his mercy.
"I'm sure." She breathed as he leaned in towards her, his arms reaching around her to rest on the balcony wall. She felt his fingers brush over her hand as he leaned in, his nose nearly touching hers, before he abruptly pulled away. She blinked a few times as he turned and walked away from her a few steps before she realised what he had done.
"Oi!" She shouted at him and cursed herself for not being more eloquent, "thief!"
"You sound surprised." He said simply as he brought the stolen cigarette up to his lips and took a deep drag, his eyes never leaving hers as he exhaled into the cold night air.
"I guess I shouldn't be." She said as she shrugged and looked back out over the city, "just like I shouldn't be surprised that you smoke. I've never seen you do that before."
"I don't, actually." He said as he stubbed the cigarette out against the wall, blowing the remainder of the smoke from his lungs, "but it is generally considered to be a bad habit, and being bad is all I'm about, you know." When she simply shrugged in reply he continued, "That was a very impressive show just now. I wish it was that easy for me to bring Metroman to his knees."
"He needed a reality check." She said as she hugged her good arm around herself tightly, "It has always scared me, the thought of what would happen if he really lost his temper."
"Has he ever lost it before?" Megamind asked, his voice calm and serious.
"No, not his temper." She said as she rubbed her arm, wishing for another way out of the conversation, "but he has lost control before. I met him not long before you showed up so all I know of his youth is rumours... but there were a couple of times in his early twenties... I-" She cut herself off, wondering what was possessing her to divulge such things. She let out a sting of whispered curses to herself before she felt a hand lay gently on her shoulder.
"I told you I went on one date with him, rite? And it was the most boring night of my life?" She asked without even looking back at him, "I lied. It was anything but boring." The hand on her shoulder doped away so she turned to face him, more than a little surprised at the look of disappointment on his face.
"I promised him I would never tell anyone this as long as he never did anything like it again. He took me out to a ball being held by a friend of his family. It started out OK, I got all dressed up and he wore a suit and they were serving champagne all night and..."
"Oh no." Megamind breathed as he looked back up at her, he had gone to school with Wayne Scott and had been witness to the boy's first experiments with under-aged drinking.
"And I wanted to leave, I really didn't fit in with anyone so I told him I had called a cab and that I hoped he enjoyed the rest of the night. He didn't like that, he wanted me to stay so he... tried to make me.
"He didn't hit me or anything, nothing as direct but...he pulled me up against him and asked me what was wrong with him. His hand against my back got too tight and ripped my dress... then his fingernails began to dig into my skin and..." She trailed off before she twisted her good arm around to her side, lifting the back of her top. Just above her hip on one side of the small of her back were four almost invisible curved white lines. Megamind leaned forward, a look of quiet shock on his face. The muscles in Roxanne's stomach contracted as she felt his fingers trace the marks, a feather-light touch that she felt far too keenly.
"I cried out in pain and he let go of me instantly, I think he was honestly confused about why there was blood on his fingertips. I should have stayed there to yell at him but I just... I just ran. It was the most embarrassing thing I have ever done. Running down the steps of some grand house with a ripped dress and smudged make-up. I just jumped into the cab and told him to step on it."
"And he calls himself a hero." Megamind muttered bitterly from behind her. His fingers lingered for a moment longer on her back before his hand covered hers and puled her top down. "He always was an arrogant bastard."
"Wayne Scott? Arrogant? Nooo." Roxanne chucked, trying to beat down the memory with a joke. Thankfully Megamind chuckled along with her before continuing.
"You know, I was in school with him. At the Senior Prom he didn't take a date because he said it wouldn't be fair to only choose one girl. He said that way he could make every girl in the school feel like they were special by dancing with them."
"I didn't know you two went to school together?" Roxanne said as she turned to face him.
"Not the best experience of my life." He shrugged with a small smile, "but it was good practice. Everyone in the school knew my name so I guess that counts for something."
"I'm surprised you were even allowed to your prom." Roxanne said with a small smile which grew into a grin answering his.
"Well I wouldn't have been if it weren't for Minion. He says he simply asked them nicely but I think he pointed out the fact that they really didn't stand a chance of stopping me." He sighed to himself as his grin slipped away slowly, "Speaking of Minion, I better be getting back to the lair. I went there first but he was out so I came over here. He will know I'm out by now and he will start worrying if I don't check in."
"He's a very good friend, he's taken very good care of me these last few days." Roxanne said, honestly glad of Minion's help.
"He is at your disposal for the remainder of your recovery." Megamind said as he looked at her thoughtfully before a sly smirk spread onto his face, "I must say I was surprised that the hero agreed to go on vacation. So very un-hero like! Imagine the amount of devastation a villain could cause when the hero is away."
"Oh I think I will be able to stop the villain from doing anything too evil for a while. He owes me one after all."
"Oh really? And what gives you that idea?" Megamind's voice dropped lower as he raised an eyebrow at her questioningly.
"Well, I did save his life-"
"But he saved your life first, if I remember correctly. So that one doesn't count."
"Well, I..." She paused as she looked down in thought before looking back up into his eyes through her eyelashes, "I gave him a kiss."
"Hmmm," He hummed in his chest, the sound rumbling up through his throat, "I'm not sure one kiss would equal the length of time you have in mind."
"Then perhaps I should offer another, if he would accept it." She whispered as her hand crept up to rest on his bicep.
"Oh I think he would accept it Miss Ritchie," He breathed as he closed the gap between them, "I think he would indeed."
As their lips met he watched her eyes drift closed, his own doing the same moments later. One hand snaked around her waist, pulling her against him, as the other followed the line of her spine up the the back of her neck to tangle into her hair. He found himself humming deep in his throat as he felt her arm reach around him, unconsciously tugging on the back of his suit. As the kiss deepened he leaned further forwards, his arms tightening around her.
Roxanne's heart was beating faster than it had ever done before when Megamind had stepped closer to her. She wrestled the voice insider her head, telling her this was wrong, into a dark corner and left it there, choosing to trust in her instincts instead. She could feel the heat radiating from hs body as she pressed up against him, pulling him closer to her as she wrapped her good arm around his lithe frame.
Fire suddenly erupted within her in all the wrong placed, pulling a strangled yelp of pain from her throat. Megamind let her go instantly, his arms hovering in front of her, not wanting to hurt her but not wanting to let her go.
"I'm OK, I'm OK." Roxanne winced as she leaned forwards, her arm protecting her ribs and collar bone. She wheezed slightly as she forced the pain away, trying to catch her breath in the process.
"How bad is it?" He asked softly as he stood close to her, resting one hand as gently as he could against her back.
"It's the bruising around my ribs, mainly. It's almost gone but..." She gritted her teeth as she stood straighter and looked up at him, "I guess I'm not quite recovered yet. I'm sorry. I-" His lips gently brushing against hers silenced her as one of his hands cupped her face.
"You have nothing to be sorry about." He whispered as he pulled back slightly from her, "I accept your terms, Miss Ritchie. I will pose no threat to this city, so long as the hero stays away."
he stepped backwards, sweeping the invisibility cape off of the wall of the balcony. With a flourish he twirled the fabric up over his head and wrapped it around himself, disappearing instantly before her eyes. She shivered as she felt the air shift around her and closed her eyes as she felt fingertips ghost over her skin.
"However, you, Miss Ritchie," His whispered voice seemed to be flowing on the breeze as she could feel him standing behind her. She gasped involuntarily as she felt his lips press gently to the back of her neck, "can't get rid of me that easily." Moments later he was gone, leaving Roxanne alone on her balcony once again.
She felt like she was in a daze, standing on the spot with her eyes closed, trying to memorise the feel of him wrapped around her. She decided to herself there and then, that as she couldn't seem to simply switch these feelings off, she would find out exactly what they were about, and how deep they ran. With a sigh she opened her eyes and found herself frowning almost instantly.
"Why you sneaky little-!" She hissed as she span around, searching in every direction for the villain who had made his escape along with her packet of cigarettes.
...
As he swept back into the lair, Megamind was instantly surrounded by a pack of brainbots, all vying for their master's attention. With a grin he pulled a wrench from the jaws of one of them and waved it around in the air, narrowly missing being bitten, before launching it across the lair. He chuckled to himself as he watched his favourite creations scramble over each-other in order to gain possession of the toy. This had been an unexpected bonus to the brainbots, he had simply wanted a number of mechanical creatures that could assist him in the delicate procedures associated with building and inventing that Minion was unable to do, their Artificial Intelligence had been intended for simply spotting potential problems. He had never expected them to develop their own individual personalities. In many ways the cyborgs were a marvel to even him. The organic aspect to their construction and programming had been varied over the years but he found that canine DNA had the best effect with DNA from different breeds providing discreet and varied personality differences.
"Oh Sir! There you are!" Minion's eternally happy voice called out from across the lair.
"Yes Minion, it is so good to be home!" He sang as he span around, looking around at his collection of half-finished inventions gleefully.
"Well, you are in a good mood Sir! I assume the breakout plan was enjoyable?" Minion asked with a toothy grin as he dusted something off his gorilla fur shoulders.
"Hmm? Oh yes, indeed it was. I must say, Minion, hiding the device in Miss Ritchie's cast was a stroke of genius!" He said energetically as he grabbed Minion's dome with both hands, shaking it a little in his enthusiasm.
"It was Miss Ritchie's idea, Sir." The fish admitted with a shrug and a smile, "I must say, I wasn't too happy with it at first, I don't like the thought of Miss Ritchie putting herself in danger like that for us. I don't like her getting so deeply involved."
"Oh don't be such a pill, Minion!" Megamind smirked as he moved over to his workbench, surveying the various plans and blue prints piled haphazardly on the surface. His grin turned into a frown of concentration as he thought over the various plans they currently had in the mix. "Minion, are there any plans due for introduction to the populace shortly?"
"Well Sir, the only plans we have near completion are the Robo-Sheep stampede and, I believe, the Typhoon Cheese, although I did hear when you were in prison that there was some inventor kid off the East cost that did something similar in a less-than-villainous manner."
"Really?" Megamind turned to face the fish with a raised eyebrow, "how so, Minion?"
"I saw it on the news, Sir." Minion said as he picked up one of the newspapers, "Some young boy called … Flint Lockwood, in a town called Swallow Falls. Apparently he invented something that could turn water into food."
"Really?" Megamind asked, always interested in the exploits of fellow inventors, even if others are not as devilishly evil as himself, "what type of food?"
"Any type of food, apparently. But judging from the news reports he lost control of the machine and it somehow managed to blast itself up into the upper atmosphere. It started to create what the news networks have been describing as 'food whether', including a flood of melted cheese." Minion said, reading over the news article. He passed the paper over to his boss, smile still on his face.
"Hmmm...looks like the problem was a simple miscalculation and overload of the food matrix..." Megamind mused to himself as he scanned over the article, noting with a small smile how this boy had not only saved his home town from destruction and its citizens from death but had also won the young whether girl sent to report on the affects of his invention.
"I thought it would be something like that Sir, you know how these amateurs make such simple mistakes." Minion nodded as he turned to head back into the kitchen.
"Still, no matter!" Megamind said suddenly, catching Minion's attention before he got around the corner, "We are now on vacation for a few weeks. So Minion, if you would be so kind as to deactivate the Robo-sheep and please make sure that the typhoon cheese does not get released."
"Vacation, Sir?" Minion asked, obviously confused.
"Indeed Minion! Now, lets get all this stuff cleared up, I do not want any distractions during our Vacation time!" With that he skipped off towards his quarters, disappearing around a pile of half-built battle suit components.
A/N: ooooh it's good to be back with the fluffy stuff again! Thank you to everyone who review the last chapter, you are all so very very kind!
When I was writing this one I thought that calm Roxanne would get through to Wayne a lot better than shouty Roxanne. She has had shouting fights with him before and never seems to get through to him. So yeah, if you are having trouble reading her body language, imagine what it is like when someone you love tells you that they are 'dissapointed in you'. That stings!
And, as I dont think i've done a dislaimer yet... It may come to suprise you but I do not own Megamind. Nor do I own Harry Potter's invisibility cloak, the flux capacitor from Back to the Future or anything from Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs. I do own Marci, she's an OC from "Whatever you are, be a good one" which will be continued at some point.
The next chapter will be out soon but that is the last one that has already been written so updates may slow down. Currently I'm trying to decide if I can manage to write on of THOSE chapters. *nudge nudge wink wink*