Chapter 13

Roxanne walked into Chez Roux next to Wayne or, as most of the city knew him, Metro Man. He had the most public 'secret identity' of any super-being she had ever heard of. Granted, most of those were in comic books and movies. But just about everyone in the city knew that millionaire Wayne Scott was Metro Man. Hell, she was practically living with Megamind and he hadn't told her his real name yet.

Wayne had picked her up earlier for their fake-date, and their car ride over was fairly quiet. Mostly because he had brought a driver and neither one wanted to discuss their situation with a captive audience. He stepped away from her to speak with the hostess and she took a minute to look around. Chez Roux was a fairly casual French restaurant that didn't require a reservation months in advance. Which allowed her to call some of her media contacts and just happen to 'let it slip' that she would be there with Metro Man that night and be fairly certain there would be at least one or two reporters hanging around.

She had been practicing what she wanted to say ever since Megamind and Minion dropped her off at her apartment earlier that day. It was the first time she had spent any time alone there since she was robbed and the place had never seemed so lifeless. She had gotten used to hearing the hum of distant machinery and seeing brainbots hovering unobtrusively just about everywhere. Not to mention hearing voices in the distance if she wasn't in someone else's presence. Even though she protested that it was too early to move in with her boyfriend, she didn't know if she would be able to stay at her apartment by herself anymore. And even after she and Minion fixed it up, she still hadn't stayed there a single night. Her lease was up for renewal next month, maybe she should consider alternate living arrangements…

Wayne got her attention and waved her over. "Roxie. Hey. They have a table for us."

She gave a weak smile and replied, "Great," as she headed over towards him. They were led to their table and sat down across from each other.

As she was handed the menu, she looked around the restaurant. She spotted a couple up and coming newspaper reporters keeping an eye on the two of them. She ignored them so they could continue to think they hadn't been spotted. Then she saw 'Joel' and 'Megan' in new clothes sitting at a table not too far away. Minion had his back to her, but Megamind was watching and some flirting reflex caused her to duck her head, tuck a strand of hair behind an ear and send him a coy little smile.

"She's here?" Wayne interrupted her thoughts. She jumped at his unexpected comment. Apparently she wasn't as subtle as she thought.

"Yeah," she admitted, hating that she got caught. Wayne started to rise from his seat but she quickly placed a hand on his arm to stop him and said, "No, it's ok. Don't go over there. You would not believe how much I went through to convince her we aren't dating. She's here to give me a ride after we 'break-up,'" she admitted quietly so only Wayne could hear. He settled back down in his chair and she removed her restraining hand.

"Is she treating you right, Roxie?" he asked, looking at her intently.

"Wayne, she's been amazing," she admitted. "I just wish I could have seen it earlier." She smiled a bit at the admittance.

"Oh, so you've known her for a while then?" he asked curiously after ordering a bottle of red wine. Without even asking for her preference she noted.

She chuckled and replied, "Yeah, we've had business dealings for years now." So… she borrowed Megamind's idea that her kidnappings were business meetings… The important thing was not to lie since Wayne would see right through it.

"Well if she makes you happy, then I'm happy for you. Although I've got to admit, I didn't think you were into girls." The wine arrived and they both accepted a glass and placed an order. Roxanne only ordered a small meal since she was sure she wouldn't get a chance to eat any but still wanted to look realistic.

"I didn't realize it myself until recently," she admitted when the waiter left. Having it sprung on her when Megamind was disguised as a woman was just about as recent as she could get. "I guess you could say that we got to talking and I realized that there was more between us than I allowed myself to see before."

"That sounds great! I really am happy for you two. So, how's the job search coming along?"

"Not great," she admitted. "The other stations won't look at me, and I kind of stopped looking since the robbery. I'm going to head out of town for a little while to clear my head. I might try again when I get back."

"I'm sorry. Are you sure you don't need any help with the robbery?" he asked with concern in his voice.

"Nah, I'm good. They got caught and I have most of my stuff back. Thanks for offering."

"Anytime you need me, Roxie," he said with a smile.

"I know, and I appreciate that, Wayne. I just need you to do what we discussed. Think you can handle going on a few dates while I'm gone?" she asked with a teasing smile.

He gave her that smarmy smile he always used as Metro Man and said, "That's not a problem. I just hope Megamind doesn't get any ideas about kidnapping them."

"Oh, so it's ok when he kidnaps me?!" she asked incredulously. "What the hell, Wayne?"

"Of course it's not ok," he backtracked. "It just kind of got to be our thing, you know?" he tried to pacify her. He was just as bad as Megamind about their little good versus evil game. And he had also gotten used to seeing her as the damsel. How could he be so blasé about this? Wasn't he supposed to be the hero? Granted, it was all working out now, but those kidnappings had ruined her social life for years! But that was 'ok.' Apparently that was her 'thing.'

She decided to channel her anger and irritation into 'breaking up.' At least she wouldn't have to fake her emotions. It shouldn't throw Wayne off too much if he doesn't actually say the trigger words.

"You're breaking up with me?!" she exclaimed loudly enough that the tables next to theirs were startled into silence. "What? Did you think I wouldn't make a scene if you did it in public? I can't believe you, Wayne Scott!" His eyes had widened. He obviously didn't expect to start so soon. She also noticed with a sense of satisfaction that they had an attentive audience.

"Calm down, Roxie…" he started, but she interrupted him.

"Oh! Don't you tell me to calm down! You've been stringing me along for nearly ten years and now it's 'see you later' and 'calm down'?!' I don't need this!" She stood up quickly, grabbed her wine glass then tossed the contents at his face. "Thanks a lot, Wayne," she added in a spiteful voice before marching out of the suddenly silent restaurant.

Once outside, she walked down the street until she wasn't in front of the restaurant and pulled out her phone. She texted Wayne her thanks and apologized about jumping the gun and the wine. She smirked as she recalled the look on his face.

With her phone in her hand, that's when she realized that Megamind had never given her a way to contact him. It probably hadn't occurred to him since this was the first time she was separated from both him and Minion for the past week. She put her phone in her purse with a sigh and turned to watch the doors of Chez Roux for Megamind or Minion to emerge.

She only had to wait a minute before she saw 'Megan' exit the building. He looked around for her and she waved to get his attention when he glanced in her direction. When he got close to her he started laughing delightedly and held her hands in between the two of them.

"Oh, that was a magnificent performance, Roxanne! The entire place erupted in whispers once you exited the establishment."

Roxanne grinned, "I'm glad the plan is working. We'll have to check out the newspapers in the morning." She quickly cut her eyes back towards the restaurant then back to him and asked, "Is 'Joel' coming?" She was never quite sure how good Wayne's hearing actually was. No need to take chances until she came clean with him. Which she still wanted to do before they went public.

Megamind looked momentarily confused, then his eyes brightened in understanding. "Oh yes. I left him to take care of the check while I came to keep you company."

"Is that what they're calling it nowadays?" she asked playfully. "Where'd you park?"

"Just around the corner, my dear," he informed her and started walking in that direction. "Trying to get me alone, are we?" he teased.

She gave a fake gasp, "Oh no! You've seen right through my evil plan!"

"I thought I detected an ee-vil plan or two afoot," he grinned widely and opened the backdoor of the invisible car then gestured for her to enter first. She slid into the backseat and he slid in after her.

When he shut the door after them, she commanded, "Ok, turn it off," and gestured to his watch. She still didn't want to say anything too specific until she was fairly sure they weren't near Wayne any longer. He did as she asked and turned the watch face. The image of 'Megan' vanished and was replaced by Megamind's normal blue visage.

She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. "There you are," she said softly and pulled him into a kiss. "I missed you today," she admitted and kissed him more urgently. He wrapped his arms around her and returned the gesture.

When he pulled back, he rested his forehead against hers and whispered reverently, "Oh, Roxanne." Her feelings of being warm, loved, and safe while in his arms seemed to increase.

"Yeah?" she whispered back as she brought a hand up to caress the back of his head. He moaned and kissed her again. Eventually, she had to break their kiss and come up for air. As she gasped, her forehead naturally found his. She breathed out, "Oh, Megamind," in a voice that was slightly more husky-sounding than she expected, and completely forgetting to be cautious.

"Yes, my Roxanne?" he asked with half-lidded eyes.

She smirked, "I should be protesting that I'm not anyone's property, but for some reason I don't seem to mind." She lowered her voice and whispered, "My Megamind." She heard his breath catch in his throat and saw him close his eyes.

He swallowed a couple times then opened his eyes again to look at her intently. "I don't seem to mind either," he replied.

"The coast is clear, Sir," said a voice emanating from the vicinity of Megamind's watch. Roxanne couldn't help but to giggle at Minion's timing and the flash of frustration that crossed Megamind's face.

He sighed and removed his arms from around her and spoke into the watch, "Excellent. We're in the car." He gave her a wry smile, "That's getting to be a bad habit of his."

"Well, if we weren't all over each other like a couple of horny teenagers he wouldn't get as many chances to interrupt us," she admitted with a smile. "Poor Minion," she continued playfully, "we keep offending him with our 'mammalian mating rituals.'"

Megamind chuckled and put his arms back around her, "I could say that I'm just making up for lost time. Or that he's just being a prude. Speaking of rituals, the night is young. Anyplace you feel like going, my Roxanne?"

"For some reason, I didn't get enough to eat just now. Think we can go somewhere and get a snack?"

"I think I can handle that," he grinned at her and pulled away slightly. Megamind brought his watch up to his face and said, "Minion, Plan B."

"I'm on it, Sir," Minion's borrowed voice chirped in reply.

"Oooh… What's Plan B?" Roxanne asked.

"Ah, ah, Miss Ritchi. You'll just have to wait and see," he replied smugly.

"That really is a thing with you, huh? Keeping secrets?" she asked curiously.

"I would call this more of a surprise than a secret," he protested.

"Semantics," she waved away in nearly the same manner he usually dismissed things. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Of course, my dear Roxanne."

"While I was in my apartment today, I thought about getting you a little something. But I couldn't figure out what to give to a supervillain that has everything and invents the rest. However, I think I finally found something." She reached into her purse and pulled out a small wrapped box and placed it in his hands.

He held it with a bemused expression on his face for a long while.

"Well, go on. Open it," she encouraged.

"It…it's just… no one's ever given me a wrapped present before," he admitted, still staring at the small box.

"What?" she asked in shock. "What about Minion? For your birthday? Or Christmas?"

"Anything he decides to get me is merely a surprise. It's not wrapped like this. And we don't celebrate my birthday or the Christmas holiday," he told her.

"Really? Why not?"

He sighed and looked down and away from her. He gripped her hand tightly and looked incredibly sad all of a sudden. This had be the first time she saw this emotive man look so down. He spoke quietly, "My home planet was destroyed shortly after I was born. Moments before it was too late, my parents sent Minion and me here. I was too young to know measurements of time, but I suspect it was only hours later when we landed here. On Christmas Day. We just feel that celebrating anything around the anniversary of our planet's demise is in rather poor taste."

Roxanne found herself speechless. She had always wondered how he ended up here, but had never asked.

"I saw it," Megamind continued in a slightly horrified whisper while still not looking at her. "Mere moments after we cleared the atmosphere, I witnessed our planet and its neighbors get swallowed by a black hole with, as far as we know, our entire civilization. We don't even know its name…" he trailed off into silence.

Roxanne put her free arm around him and pulled him down until he was leaning on her shoulder. Tears were flowing freely down her cheeks as she mourned his loss with him. She started rubbing his back, hoping to give him a little comfort.

"Roxanne?" he said quietly.

"Yeah?"

"Would it be terribly rude of me to postpone our dinner date? I suddenly have no desire to go out."

"Of course not. We'll continue our date when we both feel up to it. I'll tell Minion to take us home instead, ok?

"Thanks, my dear. Could you regift the present later? I'd like to properly appreciate it," Megamind asked and placed the little wrapped box on her lap.

She dropped a kiss to the top of his head like he did for her when she was upset and replied, "Of course, my Megamind."