Minion had taken Olivia upstairs to bed— the latter protesting with a yawn that she wasn't tired— and Megamind and Roxanne were finishing up some things in the workroom.

"Nothing interesting so far," Megamind said, watching the monitors. Each displayed multiple windows of night-vision footage, save for one where he was comparing violins. "What do you think of a Cremona? Oh, or here's one made by Lionel LeLeux. They've got a Scott Cao, too."

"You realize I have no idea what you're talking about, right?"

"Violin makers. Some of the best."

"She is just a beginner, Megamind."

"True, but logically learning to play on a quality instrument will help her become a quality musician. What if I buy her something cheaper and the tone is a little off? How is she supposed to learn if she's not receiving accurate feedback from the sounds produced?"

"Megamind?"

"Hmmm?"

"Look at me."

He turned to face her, and she rose onto her toes to kiss him thoroughly.

"What was that for?"

"For being the kindest, sweetest, most generous man I've ever met."

He grinned. "Careful, Miss Ritchi. I might get a big head."

Roxanne swatted him with a laugh.

An alarm sounded.

"So much for a quiet night!" Megamind didn't sound even slightly disappointed. "Armed robbery at Dahlmann Brothers Jewelers on the corner of Fifteenth and Main! Big mistake! I've told them small businesses are off-limits! Either these guys are from out of town, or…" he shook his head. "Roxanne," he paused. Meeting her gaze seemed to be difficult. "You told me once that you wanted to see all of me, even the darkest parts. I need to know: are you still sure about that?"

"Completely."

"You were good enough to call me out about the way I dealt with Hinks, and I would like you to be my moral compass again," he explained, pulling on his black battle attire over his habitual undersuit. "But I also need you to understand that sometimes keeping control of the criminal element in this city forces me to do some unsavory things."

"I do understand that. My biggest issue with Hinks was that he was already behind bars. Adding a beating on top of jail time is like doubling the punishment."

He gave her a wry, humorless laugh. "Clearly, Love, you're not familiar with prison life. It's a savage existence with hardened men fighting for their place in the hierarchy, and beatings are a regular part of that."

"Right, yes, I'd heard, but I... didn't think." She paused in zipping her own protective top and turned a concerned expression toward him. "Were you... Did anyone ever hurt you that way?"

"Some tried, but not for a very long time; not since I became the Criminal Mastermind."

"What about your uncles?"

"They protected me when I was small, but around age twelve they began backing off… Told me I needed to start learning to fend for myself."

"Ah," sudden understanding bloomed in Roxanne's mind.

"Ah, what?"

"That's about the same time you took up with Ares. That's part of why you attached yourself to him."

"No, not really. It might have almost been more excusable if I had. But by that time I'd already escaped prison a couple of times, caused a few serious problems for city officials, battled Metro Boy, as he was called back then, and engineered several devices of destruction. I already had a reputation for wicked genius and half-crazed unpredictability. Plus, whenever someone tried me, I gave back as good as I got, sometimes better. So even though I looked like easy prey, most people quickly learned not to mess with me."

"Half-crazed? You're not half-crazed."

"No, I'm not, but I worked hard to ensure that everyone thought I was back then. It kept me safe. By the time I was sixteen, when other prisoners saw me coming, they stepped aside to let me pass."

"Is it weird for me to say I'm glad?" she asked, lacing up her boots.

"Not at all. None of us want to think about people we care for being hurt. But being the Criminal Mastermind comes at a price. I'm warning you now: tonight could be ugly."

"Megamind, when I said I wanted to share your whole life, I meant it."

He took a deep breath through his nose, blew it out, then turned on his evil smile. "Well, then, care for some excitement?"

"I'm just curious," Roxanne shouted above the noise of the wind as they raced the hoverbike toward the scene. "Since you're a hero now, you would still be showing up, even if this robbery was at a big box store, right?"

"Yes, I'm a hero now!" He called back. "That means I'm meant to protect the ones who need it! These people are waving guns around, so yes, I'd show up no matter what!"

"What if they weren't?"

"Come again?"

"What if they weren't waving guns around? What if some guy got caught pocketing a diamond necklace, and told them he needed the money to feed his kids?"

"Then they'd call the cops, not me! You don't bring a bazooka to a knife fight!"

"But what if the brainbots saw it and no one else did? And that's what he told you when you caught him?"

"I told you, I'm a hero!" He threw a troublemaker's grin back at her. "I protect people, not the law, people!"

"And that means what?"

"Summum ius, summa iniuria!"

"What?"

"Summum ius–"

"I heard you, but what does it mean?"

"The more laws, the less justice! Cicero!" He banked right hard, flying between to buildings, and she clutched his shoulders a little tighter. They neared their location and he slowed the speed, allowing him to be heard without shouting. "I'm not sworn to uphold the law, Roxanne, I'm sworn to protect the people of Metrocity. Those are two different things. My focus is less on what's legal and more on what's right. Of course, since I'm in the public eye, I try to work within the law as much as I can, but if those two things conflict, right will always beat lawful in my book. It's why I still run the underworld in this city: because it allows me to set limits, curb the most dangerous criminal activity. That might not be legal, but it does keep people safe."

"I think I understand. So that's what you meant about small business being off-limits? That's one of the rules?"

"Yes," he'd begun circling low, clearly looking for the perpetrators. "Small businesses are part of their local communities, so hurting them hurts the community as a whole. The people running them are usually just trying to follow a dream and make ends meet. Huge chain operations can afford to have insurance on all of their merchandise— did you know a lot of big stores won't even stop a shoplifter?— so losing some of it means little or nothing to them. I'm not saying it's right, but… sometimes desperate people do desperate things. So if I catch someone stealing because they've lost their job and they're about to lose their home, I'm apt to be more merciful, even give them some cash and help them find employment. If I find a stupid teen stealing just for the thrill, I'm most likely to terrify them half to death and send them home with a warning. No sense in ruining a child's entire life because they made one poor decision in a moment of adolescent idiocy. If they do it again, though, I let them take the consequences. However, my reaction to someone stealing out of pure greed, who could do better and isn't trying, will be far less friendly. If they break my rules while doing it, things get really unpleasant. Of course, there are also professional thieves. If they break my rules… well, that's when things get messy. The same with gang members. Metrocity is my turf."

"Is that why we've had some of the country's lowest violent crime rates for more than a decade?"

"That's why."

"And everyone always gave Metro Man the credit. That must have stung."

She felt him shrug. "I didn't care who the general public credited for it, so long as it happened."

She tightened her arms around him. "That's what makes you a hero, you know? I think maybe you always were one."

"Bite your tongue!" he said with a laugh.

"So what happened to the carjacker, then?"

"Nothing gets past you. I didn't throw him to the sharks if that's what you're worried about."

"But?"

"But I did make my displeasure extremely clear. I seriously doubt he'll ever pull a gun on an unarmed citizen again… Not in Metrocity."

"My sources at the station said he had to go to the hospital before he went to jail."

"He fell out of a moving car."

"He fell? How?"

"Because I broke the window and jerked him out right before I jumped in and took the wheel. Like I said: I made my displeasure clear. I know, I know, it wasn't exactly heroic, and maybe I shouldn't have done it. But I can't be everywhere at once. If I don't firmly discourage that kind of behavior the first time, it will happen again, and the next time some poor innocent bystander could get hurt. I've told you before, Roxanne, my interactions with you were always more like teasing, but I don't keep control over this city's entire criminal underworld by playing games. I hate being violent, I do, but if I have to back up my threats, I will. I've been helpless, been on the receiving end of cruelty, and if making myself the monster in the shadows keeps other people from going through that, then I'm willing to do it. But I rarely kill. Only when it's absolutely necessary, and when the person is so… irrevocably twisted, so completely broken, that there's no hope of reformation. That's one line I never willingly cross."

"And that is precisely why you're not a monster," she hugged him tight again. "You never have been."

"This doesn't bother you?"

"Maybe it should bother me more than it does, but... I understand. I get why it's necessary. You do what you have to, and clearly you get results. Metro City is consistently ranked among the safest urban centers in America. I mean, this past year, 2010, there were only ten violent crimes reported! Ten! A lot of people don't even lock their doors. How many big cities can you say that about? So I know you're only doing what you have to. I just want you to remember always to be just while you do it."

"I try my best, Sweetheart. I've had to work harder these past months to keep those numbers down. Certain groups seem to think my becoming Defender of Metrocity means I'm going soft, and they've been pushing. I've had to push back."

"And that's my point… You're making sure the city is still safe. I can't really argue too much with your methods when the work, just as long as you're not crossing certain lines."

"That's why I want you with me: to keep me honest. There's hardly any point in preventing violent crimes if I become the worst perpetrator. We do have a history of very high rates of property damage, though."

"With you and Metro Man having battled one another in the streets for years, that's hardly a surprise."

A brainbot flew up alongside them, making that odd mechanical barking noise. Words flashed across its glass dome.

"Found them!" Megamind's crowed, and, revving the hoverbike into a higher gear, went into a dive after the little cyborg.

Predictably, the three men tried to run, but it's hard to lose pursuit from the air.

No, not men, Roxanne realized. Two of them were only boys, perhaps fifteen or sixteen years old. The third, in the lead, was grown. As she watched, he threw aside a canvas bag. A pursuing brainbot snatched it and headed back in the opposite direction.

Megamind sped up, careening around a building to cut the thieves off as they raced down another alley. Without warning, he threw the craft into hover mode, and threw himself off, nearly landing on the lead man. His De-Gun was suddenly in his hand, and two quick blue flashes later, the two boys had been replaced by glowing cubes. Megamind slammed the grown man back against the alley wall and pressed the De-Gun under his chin.

"Gunner Ingram," his voice was dangerously calm, its tone so deep it seemed to vibrate the air. "Your trigger finger got you into trouble this time."

"Can you help Mommy down?" Roxanne whispered to the nearest brainbot. It hooked two mechanical arms under her shoulders and lowered her with surprising gentleness.

"I didn't kill nobody!" Gunner was saying. Up close, he was a wiry young man in his early- or perhaps mid-twenties. Shaggy dishwater blond hair fell around his chin, and a neck tattoo peeked out from under his long-sleeved Juggalo t-shirt and leather jacket. Roxanne squinted. The jacket had an emblem on the shoulder depicting a skull surrounded by flames. Why was that familiar?

"Oh, but you tried. Wounded one in the arm, nearly hit another... You pulled a gun— pulled it and fired it— in a location under my protection, on my turf. You shot at someone off-limits under my rules, and only your terrible aim saved you from committing an even worse infraction."

"Ain't your turf no more. You gone soft!"

There was a blur of motion, and Gunner was suddenly on the ground at Megamind's feet. Roxanne was almost certain it had been a variation on one of the moves her blue boyfriend had taught her. The hero holstered his weapon as he stalked with liquid grace around his captive.

Thanks to years as an investigative reporter, Roxanne's mind instantly noted details, and one stood out. It was the logo on the back of the man's jacket—a larger version of the one on his shoulders, but bearing the addition of the words: Ghost Riders.

That was why the symbol had been familiar. The Ghost Riders were the largest biker gang in the area.

"Gone soft?" Megamind was saying. His voice was little more than a whisper, but it dripped cold venom. "Oh, have I?"

Gunner started to push himself up, but Megamind's boot came down hard between his shoulders, knocking him back to the ground.

"You will rise when I tell you to rise," he growled in that deadly calm tone.

Unbelievably, the younger man struggled to free himself. "You're gonna regret this!" he growled. "You ain't the scariest one in town no more!"

"Ares," Megamind sneered. It wasn't a question. "What did he promise you, that he'd have your back? That he'd support a bid to take over the Riders if you helped him out? Look around you, boy. Where is he?" To Roxanne's shock, Megamind actually called out. "Ares! Areees! Come out, come out wherever you are!" He paused. "Oh, good heavens!" he said in mock surprise. "He doesn't seem to be here! Why, I do believe you've been played!"

Gunner had stopped struggling. Clearly, the same thought had occurred to him.

When he spoke again, his voice had changed from threatening to wheedling. "I ain't done nothing, Mastermind. Honest!"

The next moment, Megamind had flung him against the wall again. Gunner wasn't able to regain his footing fast enough, and the back of the young man's head hit the brick. It sounded like it hurt.

"You lie to me?" Megamind's face was inches other man's. "First you break my rules, and then you lie to me?"

"I didn't do nothing!"

"You're quite right. You 'didn't do nothing' because you did do something!"

"You can't prove—"

"I HAVE BRAINBOT FOOTAGE OF YOU ROBBING DAHLMANN BROTHERS TONIGHT!" Megamind roared, the coolly dangerous facade suddenly gone. "AND YOU WERE STUPID ENOUGH TO DO IT WEARING YOUR COLORS!"

He let go of Gunner so fast the young man nearly fell, Megamind's hand darted to his holster again. He flicked the De-Gun against his chest to send the cylinder spinning, snapping his wrist to stop it in a practiced motion.

Gunner darted sideways and took one running step.

Megamind fired.

Glowing blue energy crackled around the young man, imprisoning him. He jolted and strained, either in an attempt to escape or from the initial shock of electricity. Roxanne was fairly certain Megamind had just used the Debilitate setting on his gun. She'd never seen it in action before

"Now," Megamind's voice was back to that terrifying calmness as he strode toward Gunner. The younger man panted, tracking his adversary's progress with wide eyes. He moved his head in desperate, jerking motions, but the rest of him remained rigidly still. Reaching into his pocket, Megamind flicked something out. Gunner twitched a little as if he would have jumped at the movement if he'd been able.

It was only Megamind's cellphone. He casually scrolled through his contacts as if he had all the time in the world, selected one, and set the phone to speaker. After four rings a gruff man's voice picked up.

"Mastermind! It ain't the third of the month yet, so I'm betting this ain't about the meeting. I guess it's too much to hope you're calling to finally take me up on the offer of a drink?"

"Nothing so neighborly, I'm afraid, Reaper."

"Aw, shit. What's happened?"

"One of your men—and I use that word in the loosest sense—thought it might be fun to attack a business under my protection, and he has done so wearing his jacket—"

"WHAT?!"

"...So I'm afraid I have the ask the unpleasant question: was this little escapade sanctioned?" Megamind finished.

"No! Hell no!"

"I didn't think so. Another unfortunate inquiry I'm forced to make: have you inducted any underage members lately? You're… man had two teenage boys with him."

"Of course not! We got some kids we look out for, but I know the rules. Nobody under eighteen joins without your say-so, and nobody who ain't joined gets involved! Who did this?! Who the fuck would be this damned stupid?!"

"Gunner, say hello to your boss."

"Reaper I ain't done nothing!" Obviously, Gunner could still speak.

"You ain't done nothing. Shit. What did the hell did he do, Mastermind?" Reaper asked in a growl.

"He robbed an off-limits business at gunpoint. Fired shots. I have the footage."

"I didn't know!" Gunner wailed.

Reaper sounded like an angry bear now. "The fuck you didn't!"

"You understand, of course, that his actions have penalties," Megamind continued politely. "I'm calling as a courtesy because I respect you and I like the way you run things, but I'm also calling because, as he's one of yours, you and the Riders will have to do your part to clean up his mess. First, I'm letting you know that little Gunner here has fallen in with some bad company, an old enemy of mine named Ares," the blue man turned his bright green eyes toward his captive. "He's not someone to be trifled with, and he's been using this dim-witted boy of yours a to run explosives—"

Gunner's eyes grew wide with panic, and Roxanne could see the thought crossing his face: how did he know? Of course, Roxanne understood, Megamind hadn't truly known; it had been an educated guess. And the biker had just given himself away.

"I expect you to find out exactly where the finished bombs have been planted," Megamind continued, his full attention back on the phone conversation.

"It's as good as done."

"Good. I know I can count on you. Second, if Ares has turned one of your minions there may be others. I highly advise you to sniff out the traitors."

"Oh, trust me, Mastermind, that's already on my to-do list."

"Excellent. Lastly, as a sign of my continued goodwill toward the Riders in general, I'm offering you the option to deal with this internally rather than my dealing with it personally."

He didn't want her to see, Roxanne realized. He couldn't just take Gunner to jail like he did the Dragons— if he did, they might never find out the bombs' locations in time— but he also couldn't simply let him walk free. Someone had to make an example of Gunner, and her lover didn't want her to have to watch him hurt this stupid, pathetic young man.

She'd told him before that she wanted to participate in every aspect of his life. This was the moment of truth. Could she be a party to this most brutal element of his existence?

"That's a real generous offer, Mastermind," Reaper was saying. "And much appreciated. But you know what? Nah. He's really fucked up this time. If he thinks he's a big man now, big enough to act out on his own, he can take a big man's punishment. He's all yours. Send me his location when you're done, and I'll have a couple of my boys come pick up whatever's left of him. I'll find anybody else involved, and take care of them on my end. And Mastermind? Come on by for that drink any time." The line went dead.

Megamind looked over his shoulder, motioning to a nearby brainbot, which darted to the saddlebags on the hoverbike. That was only a ruse, however. His gaze caught on Roxanne's for just a moment, and in those brief seconds, they shared an entire silent conversation.

Megamind spoke with his eyes. Something in that look communicated as loudly as a scream that he was about to hurt Gunner very, very badly. Is this too much? his eyes asked. Is it too far?

This man attempted murder, Roxanne considered carefully. He sided with Ares, even knowing what sort of person he is. He's been planting bombs, and this is necessary if we want to know where those bombs are. He isn't a boy; he's a criminal who's proven he has the potential to be dangerous. This is one of those situations that could snowball quickly if he isn't made an example of. And then how many other people will get hurt? This is the second local gang Ares has infiltrated. Hinks and his cohorts are safely in prison; they can't keep causing trouble themselves, but that didn't stop this man. And there will be others if we don't send a message. No. This is one time when the Criminal Mastermind needs to show beyond doubt he is still in control.

Swallowing hard, she shook her head very slightly, trying to tell him with her own expression that understood the necessity, and that this was, in all likelihood, the lesser evil. She hoped she looked more confident than she felt.

He nodded almost imperceptibly, and his gaze softened slightly, projecting another message. You don't have to see this.

No, she wasn't going to give the green light and then hide from what she'd done. She wasn't going to walk away from the man she loved, make him feel like this part of his reality frightened her, disgusted her, repulsed her. Fighting not to let the nervous nausea building in her stomach show on her face, Roxanne tried to convey to him that she accepted him, all of him, and that they were in this together.

The blue man nodded again and reached up with one hand. The returning brainbot obediently slipped something over his glove—the metal gauntlet she'd once seen him wear when he fought Titan. Before him, his captive made a small, frightened sound.

"Well, well, Gunner," Megamind purred in a tone of sharp ice and cold steel. "I believe we need to have a little discussion about the rules."

Gunner turned pleading eyes to Roxanne.

Moment of truth, she reminded herself, steeling her resolve. Megamind. This is Megamind, the reporter put all her will behind the thought. This is the same man who quotes Shakespeare and dances with me around the living room and draws funny sketches just to make me laugh. The same man who took in a little girl he'd never met because he couldn't stand to watch another child suffer like he did. The man who plays fetch with his cyborgs and built his talking fish a freaking bedroom. This is the man who has seen all my mess and drama, and still loves me. He's a good person who sometimes has to do bad things. Because this, right here, right now, is the reason our city is so safe. This is the price he pays so other people don't have to. And he's trusting me… He's asking me to set limits and trusting me to know what needs to be done. He's showing me the darkest part of himself and trusting me not to run away. I can do this. For Megamind, I can do this.

Forcing her mind to refocus on the fact that this young man had shot someone, had actually joined Ares' plan to kill dozens of innocent people, she met his gaze with what she hoped was a stony expression.

"What are you looking at me for?" she asked, proud of how firm and unwavering her voice sounded. "I'm not going to help you. I'm with the Mastermind, remember?"

Minivans and mom-jeans, huh? A small, dark part of her told the fretful little voice in her head. How's this for minivans and mom-jeans?

Megamind threw her a quick smile over his shoulder, an expression of mingled pride, fondness, and the barest edge of something sad. His features hardened again as he turned back toward Gunner.

"Do you know why they call me the Master of All Villainy?" he asked in the same tone he might use to inquire about the weather. "Because I rule the underbelly of this city. And do you know why?" he flexed his metal gauntlet, drawing nearer to the man. "Because under me, everybody wins. Everybody profits. My rules exist for a reason. They keep us under the radar, away from inconvenient attention, and a lot of people—including the Ghost Riders—make a lot of money because of it."

He slowly scraped one metal-clad finger along the wall, stopping just beside the younger man's left ear.

"Do you remember the rules, Gunner?" he asked conversationally.

"Ye– Yes..."

"Hmmm." Megamind tapped his finger against the brick, three loud clinks that made Gunner's face flinch. "No," Megamind continued. "No, you know, I really don't think you do."

His arm moved in a blur, and Gunner choked on a groan, doubled over as much as the imprisoning energy would allow.

"You do not steal from small businesses!" Megamind spat. His fist lashed out again, snapping Gunner's head to the side. "You do not target people under my protection!" A third punch splattered Gunner's nose into a bloody mess. "You do not shoot unarmed citizens!" His fist split the younger man's lip. "You do not induct underage gang members without my approval!" The next blow slammed into Gunner's right shoulder with a loud, sickening crack. The man screamed. "You do not ally yourself with my enemies!" This time one of Gunner's ribs snapped. "You do not lie to me!". Another rib broke. "And you do not!" He backhanded him. "Ever!" He slapped him. "USE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AGAINST MY CITY!" The last punch sent more blood and several teeth flying.

Gunner sagged as much as his bonds would allow, wheezing and whimpering. With deceptive gentleness, Megamind used his gauntleted hand to lift the other man's face.

"Now," he asked, his voice once again waspishly soft. "Do you have any questions? No? Good."

He let the man's head dropped. And pressed something on his De-Gun. The entrapping energy dissipated, and Gunner crumpled to the ground. Two metallic objects pinged on the pavement. Megamind scooped them up and clicked them into the front of his weapon. The biker whimpered as Megamind drew close again, but the blue man only searched his pockets, drawing out a hand gun. Removing the cartridge, he tossed the firearm to the ground several feet away, drew out his own weapon, and changed the setting. There was a flash and a retort, and Gunner's pistol was replaced by a scattering of metal scraps and a charred mark on the pavement. With an almost careless air, Megamind holstered the De-Gun, removed the gauntlet, hung it on his belt, and dug out his cell phone. He typed a brief message—Gunner's location, Roxanne guessed—and pocketed the two glowing cubes. In a sudden blur of speed, he dashed several steps toward the opposite wall, leaped and kicked off of it, and launched himself at the hoverbike. It swayed precariously in midair as he grabbed the seat and hauled himself up. Then he lowered the aircraft and held out a hand to Roxanne.

"My lady," he purred.

She let him pull her up behind him, wrapping her arms about his waist as they sped away.

He slowed a little as they gained altitude. "You did well," he said, the wind carrying his words to her. "Really well. I'm so sorry you had to see that."

She leaned close to his ear. "I'm not," she said. "I told you I want to help share your burdens, I want to be your sounding board, and I'm glad you trust me enough to let me do that."

"I'm afraid you'll see me differently after this."

"Megamind," she rolled her eyes, even though he couldn't see. "It's not as if I didn't know you've been a supervillain for the past two decades. I won't lie to you and say it didn't bother me—" she felt him stiffen. "But I know why you did it. I understand if you let one infraction slide, it will lead to ten more, and before we know it crime rates will skyrocket. So I might not like that you had to do that, but I know you did have to. I can live with that. And it doesn't change the way I feel about you."

"Perhaps, but I… I doubt you still think I'm the 'kindest, most generous man you've ever met.'"

She couldn't stand the aching loss and self-recrimination she heard in his voice. "Darling," she said, putting all the conviction and tenderness she felt into her words. "You keep an entire city safe. You just returned a small fortune in jewelry because you care about local communities. You didn't punish those teenage boys because you believe in second chances. You made your point with Gunner, but you didn't break anything that couldn't be repaired—don't think I didn't notice. You could have crushed his cheekbones, left him disfigured, ruptured an organ, but you were careful. He's going to need partial dentures after this, but I'm willing to bet money an 'anonymous donor' is going to pay for them. Because you care, even about people who make themselves your enemies. You can be tough and terrifying when you need to be, but even that is something you only do to protect people. You are truly, selflessly heroic." She felt a slight tremor going through his body as she continued. "Metro Man may have been what most people think of as a beacon of virtue, but he was never really the one keeping crime low, was he? Because, unlike you, he was never willing to get his hands dirty. He only showed up for big attention-grabbing events— apartment fires, plane crashes— and for your battles. He rolled when the cameras did because he was a hero for the attention and gratification. But you? You defended this city for almost two decades before that became your job title, protecting it from the shadows, with no recognition or thanks. Because you care. You care about people, about making this a better place— despite the fact that everyone around you gave you very little reason for compassion. So yes, as a matter of fact, I do still think you're the kindest, most generous man I've ever met."

He shifted his grip to steer the hoverbike one-handed and wrapped firm, gentle fingers around her arm. "Roxanne," he said, and she was shocked to hear his voice husky with tears. "My brave, brilliant Roxanne. My Beautiful Amazon and my Warrior Goddess. I don't know that I will ever be able to deserve you, but I plan to spend the rest of my life trying."

She squeezed him a little tighter.

"But, really," he added, clearing his throat and making an obvious effort to lighten his voice. "How did you know I plan to pay for the dentures? Am I that predictable?"

"Only to me. Because I know you. And I love you. That's never going to change."

He lifted her hand and kissed it.

Releasing her, he slowed to a hover for long enough to activate the communicator on his watch. "Minion, are you there?"

"I'm here, Sir.'

"You saw the entire live transmission?"

"I did, Boss!"

"Good. Did you get a clear image of the two younger boys' faces?"

"Yes, Sir!"

"Run facial recognition on them against the Missing Person's Database. I need to know if one of them answers to the name Isaiah Hoffman."

There were a few moments of near silence before Minion responded. "Yes, Sir! The dark-haired boy is a match!"

"Thank you, Minion. Good work." Megamind dug back out his cell phone and dialed a number. "Ollo? Is Detective Tully still there? Transfer me to him, please." He waited for a moment. "Tully? I've found your runaway, and I've got him in custody. Yes, I'm afraid he fell in with a rather rough crowd, but don't be too hard on him. I'm bringing him and another boy over now."

It was late at night by the time they returned home from the police station.

Megamind swung himself off the hoverbike and stretched as he stood. His mood still seemed a little deflated, but Roxanne wasn't certain if that was because of the night's events or because he was simply tired.

"I need a shower," he stated. Turning toward Roxanne, he held out a hand. "Will you… Will you come with me? I need someone to remind me that I'm… Not a monster."

She let him help her down from the small aircraft. "You're not a monster, Megamind. I promise." Ignoring the splattering of blood across one cheek, she cupped his face and kissed him. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up."

In their shared bathroom, she turned on the shower to heat up and helped undress him, running tender hands over his blue skin. He turned to pull her close, kissing her deeply, his tongue caressing hers in a possessive dance while his hands buried themselves in her hair. He pulled away only long enough to strip away her shirt before returning to her mouth with almost desperate passion. Her bra joined her shirt on the floor, and his hands caressed her, explored her, leaving trails of fire along her skin until they reached the button of her blue jeans. Their touches were almost frantic now as he fumbled the closure open and pushed her remaining clothing down far enough for her to step free.

They stumbled toward the tub like one being of tangled limbs and ravenous ardor. Roxanne freed herself long enough to step under the streaming water, tugging him after her, then returned hungrily to his lips. He crushed her against him, his member growing and hardening against her belly.

"I love you," she panted between kisses. "I love you."

"I love you, too."

"My hero."

"My angel."

She slid to her knees, hands stroking down his back to grasp his bottom. "Let me show you how much I love you."

With that, she took him into her mouth, as deep as she could, and Megamind groaned.

"Roxanne," his fingers wove themselves into her short hair once more.

She pulled back, running her tongue along the sensitive ridge on the underside of his cock and flicking over the taunt, textured head before sucking him back down. She did it again, and again, humming against him to make him gasp.

"Roxanne. God, yes. Oh, fuck, yes." He was clearly struggling to stay quiet— the bathroom wasn't soundproof, an oversight they should probably correct— and she turned wickedly warm blue eyes up to him, letting him know in no uncertain terms that she intended to make that very difficult.

Sucking harder still, head bobbing, Roxanne's tongue began moving in little flicking motions all the way up his shaft before swirling around the tip. Megamind gave one of those purring moans, his hips bucking against her.

"Damn it, that feels good!" he moaned, still managing to keep his voice low. "Oh, fuck, Sweetheart, that feels good!"

She moved faster, and he bit back a cry of pleasure, his already impressive member swelling in her mouth.

"Keep sucking!" he begged. "Keep sucking! I'm going to… I'm going to… Oh, my God, Roxanne!"
His final words came in a feral growl as he pumped streams of seamen down her waiting throat.

"Oh," he panted, sagging with one arm braced against the shower wall. "Oh, that was fantastic. Sweetheart, you are sinfully good at that."

"Mmm. So you've told me," she kissed his neck. "Want me to scrub your back?"

"There's hardly any point." His eyes promised wicked delights. "As soon as I've washed any… reminders away, I thoroughly plan to take you to bed and get very, very dirty."

He almost wasn't able to bathe; his erection was still standing at full attention, and it was nearly impossible for Roxanne to keep her hands off of it. Their trip to his bedroom was a chaos of stumbling embraces and nearly frantic kisses. She practically fell on top of him when he tumbled back against the bed, their lips never parting.

"Ride me," his voice was rough with need, his eyes dark with desire. "I want you to ride me."

He pulled himself further onto the mattress, and she followed him, straddling his narrow hips and leaning forward to rub her aching clit against his length. Megamind's deft blue finger found her nipples, teased and tormented until she was gasping his name.

"Ride me," he growled again, hands grasping her hips. "I want to fuck you until you scream."

Rising up to position herself above him, Roxanne lowered herself onto his throbbing cock until he was buried to the hilt.

"God," she moaned. "Oh, God, I love the way you feel inside me."

She started moving, swaying against him, pushing up and down on his shaft.

"That's… because… I belong… inside you..." Megamind groaned, his stomach muscles flexing to twitch himself inside her just right.

"Mmmm… Megamind…"

He growled again and, with a sudden movement, sat up against her, hands clutching her lower back to pull her into a quicker rhythm, lips and teeth laying claim to one of her nipples.

"Fuck! Fuck, yes, Megamind!" she moved faster, nails scraping over his neck, the back of his large head.

Megamind's hips bucked into her, and he jerked his knees up, planting his feet against the mattress to thrust up into her wet depths with new purpose.

"Harder!" he demanded, releasing her breast. "Faster!" He angled his hips and hammered wildly up into her as she bounded and ground against him with renewed fury. Her chest bounced against his chin, and he captured her nipple once more. He expertly twisted his hips and the textured head of his hard cock hit her g-spot. She screamed.

"Megamind! Oh, God, yes, Megamind!"

"That's right! That's right, my Goddess, my Temptress, my Wicked Angel! Fuck me! Fuck me! Show my dick who's boss! Come on!"

Their shared rhythm had built into a storm of passion that threatened to overwhelm them both. Roxanne's legs burned from exertion, but she couldn't stop, couldn't slow. Ecstasy rode her like a wave. Her lover kissed the side of her throat, dropping hot endearments and tender curses in her ear as his hard cock kept assaulting all the right places. He bit her neck, sucking hard, marking her, and her orgasm struck like lightning.

"Fuck! FUCK! MEGAMIND!"

"YESSS!" he roared, hips jerking as he came deep inside her.

He fell back, and she collapsed bonelessly against him. For several long minutes, they gulped down air, sweaty bodies trembling in the aftermath of pleasure.

Then Megamind's cock twitched.

Roxanne sat up enough to look wide-eyed down at him. "Does it have an off-switch?" she laughed breathlessly.

He grinned devilishly and lifted a challenging eyebrow. "Do you really want to stop?"

"No, definitely not."

"I didn't think so."

The room spun suddenly as Megamind flipped them over, settling himself firmly between her thighs. Roxanne gave a little shriek of surprise.

"Mmmm… I do love it when you scream," he purred, leaning down to nuzzle her neck. "No training tomorrow, my Dear!" he added, moving against her and drawing a moan from her lips. "I fully... intent to... keep you... very busy until sunrise!" he promised between thrust.

"Oh, God, yes! I am… holding you to that!"

The blue hero's only answer was another wicked grin and a harder, faster rhythm.

He was as good as his word, and the sky outside was growing light by the time they finally fell into exhausted slumber.