Spikes were an easy sign for others to stay away. Even being an alien to this planet, Megamind knew that much for certain. Those, along with his cobra-like collar, served to intimidate all who saw him. At least he'd hoped. They'd served as protection. After the elementary years of having none, he'd needed to form some way of keeping the bullies away- from flying him into the sky by the scruff of his neck. And so, he was black with blue, like the dart frog. Colors that served to mention his presence was poison. So why, oh why, was Miss Ritchi not like the others?

"Welcome to my lair, Miss Ritchi!" Megamind turned from the controls to see her staring out the window.

"Welcome?" She turned, "Was there an invite? If so, can I get up and walk around? This rope's kind of chafing at the cutouts on my dress."

Megamind's wide eyes looked down to examine the triangles missing at her midsection revealing creamy skin among the red fabric. He moved forward awkwardly, almost in an aside, "Is it- are you uncomfortable?"

She choked a laugh. "Is that really all it would take?" Her short locks shook. "Man, all these years I've been going about things the wrong way."

"Are you trying to use your wiles on me, Miss Ritchi?" Megamind straightened, "Because, if you are, I won't fall for it!"

"My wiles?" Roxanne looked out from bored eyes. "No. I guess you're right," she sighed. "If I'd had any they would have worked a long time ago."

Megamind pulled his cape around his front, analyzing her meaning. "You're- you're messing with me, aren't you?"

She blinked. "What do you mean?"

"Why, you're the woman with the most wiles in all of Metrocity!" He gestured grandly towards the window, then looked to the reporter. "You could have any citizen under your spell, if you truly desired it."

A look of hurt flickered across her face. Then indignation. "Now you're the one messing with me!"

Megamind's nimble fingers bunched the cape fabric. "I'm afraid I don't follow."

Roxanne let out a frustrated growl. "You've got one thick skull, you know that?"

"Hence the name," Megamind crossed his arms.

"That's not what I meant!" Roxanne's hard lean forward caused the wooden chair to creak.

Megamind jerked at the noise.

"Wait- maybe you're right!"

"Yes, yes." Megamind rolled his eyes as he sat in a chair opposite. "Look at the blue freak with the big head. Not like I haven't heard it before, Miss Ritchi."

"I'm sure you haven't because you aren't listening!"

Megamind observed her steeled features. He cautiously placed his elbows on his thighs. "Very well… I'm listening."

"I wasn't talking about the size of your skull. What I was saying was that maybe this isn't a cerebral matter."

"Miss Ritchi," Megamind leaned back in his chair, "I'm well aware that our species share a similar central nervous system. Everything we do is-"

Her lips thinned. "You're not getting it."

He laughed, "Now that would be impossible."

"Exactly!" an excited spark crossed her eyes. "You're highly intellectual. But if you untie me, I'll show you something beyond intellect."

He blinked once. Twice.

"Megamind... Please?" Her pleading eyes swallowed him.

"Oh, all right!" He stood with a flourish and gently tugged the knot at right spot to ensure the ropes unraveled at her feet.

"I'll have to remember that one for next time," Roxanne looked down.

"Not that I'll ever use that knot again," Megamind gave her a smug look.

In that moment they felt new, staring at one another from equal footing. Roxanne was no longer looking up at her captor. Megamind no longer had the upper hand.

He swallowed. For an instant he wondered if there was any knockout gas left on his desk. There were red flags all over this screaming, She's going to hurt you! She's going to leave you in the dust and never look back!

"Megamind?"

Her question brought his gaze back to hers. "Hm?" His voice was an octave too high for his liking.

"Do you trust me?"

Twin hearts beat in his throat. Would one survive if the other broke?

"I," she interrupted him swiftly, "I know I might seem a little intrusive and loud and, well, too committed to my job."

Passion, Miss Ritchi. It defines you.

"Plus there's the whole captive thing." She was rambling. "But, I'd like to think we're at least… friends?"

Dare he to dream? "Friends?"

She smiled softly. "Megamind, is it all right if I touch you?"

"Touch?" He backed up against a brick wall, his hands feeling for an exit or button- anything to stop the room from spinning.

She stood her ground a sizable distance away. "Maybe I'm reading this wrong, but I don't think you've had a soft touch your whole life. And, well, you deserve it... Everyone does."

Megamind braced himself on the wall, making him feel taller. "Is this some basic human decency deal? Because, Miss Ritchi, I am very much not human and you'll do well not to forget that."

"I haven't forgotten," she shook her head. "This isn't one of those things. This… It's something I can see written on your face whenever you think I'm not watching. Think of it as an experiment. If- if you don't like it, I promise to stop."

He could feel his pulse thrumming. "You… promise?"

"You have my word as a reporter."

They both knew how much that meant to her. "Very well then, Miss Reporter. Do whatever it is you've been itching to do. Not like I could stop you anyway." She grinned larger than he'd ever seen and his hearts swelled. Oh yes, he'd have to let her have her way more often.

"I'll start slow." She approached. As she reached out, Megamind closed his eyes for the punch or slap that was sure to come. When he opened them, she was trailing her fingers along the spike tips at his shoulders.

"How's that?"

"That, um… Don't those hurt you?"

"No," she smiled, "that's because I'm doing it gently."

"Gently," he nodded, feeling outside of his body, "right."

"But, how does it feel for you?" Her eyes caught his.

"I can't really feel much of anything there."

"How about here?" Roxanne placed her hand over the fabric on his bicep. He took in a sharp breath. She paused. "What are you feeling?"

"Warm," he spoke. "I can feel your warmth... Your temperature must run hotter than mine."

"I can't really tell," her voice was almost a whisper. "Can I feel your skin to see?"

His eyes examined hers as the clock ticked distantly behind them. "Yes," spilled from his lips in between those seconds.

Slowly, she brought her hand up his neck to rest on his jaw. That touch raked a sound similar to a whimper or sob from his unwilling throat.

"I'll stop," she began to pull away, but his gloved hand halted her wrist.

"…Don't." His eyes opened to meet hers. "Don't stop."

She smiled as she examined him. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"Will you touch me?"

"Miss Ritchi…"

"Roxanne."

"Roxanne," exhumed from his lungs.

"Touch me, just like I've touched you. That isn't too much to ask, right?"

Apparently, she didn't know what kind of world she'd just opened to him. Or maybe she wouldn't be affected in the same way? He took his hand from her wrist, aching to rest it on her face and find out.

"Without the glove," she added.

He looked at her for a moment.

"I'd like to feel your skin on mine. You know… for science."

"For… science," he looked at her as he bit the leather atop of his index finger. Her pupils expanded as he turned his head to tear the glove away and dropped it on the floor.

Her voice came breathy, "Is that how you normally do it?"

"Why?" he smiled, feeling a bit more sure of himself, "Will this be on the evening news?"

"Never."

"And why not?"

"I don't like to share," Roxanne spoke as she grasped his lingering hand, taking it to her face.

They both took a breath at the contact, feeling each other's perspective warmth.

Soft. She was so soft. Like velvet. Like peaches. Like silk.

"Sir! I've brought snacks! I thought Miss Ritchi would like-"

The two jumped back from one another, Megamind stumbling over a chair as he attempted to grasp just what the hell was going on.