"Did… anyone… want cookies?" Minion raised his tray suspiciously.
"No!" Roxanne and Megamind shouted in unison.
"Not a cookie crowd," the fish retreated.
"No, Minion," Megamind corrected, "I believe Ms. Ritchi and I are preparing for Metro Man's final approach, so…"
"Ah, not a good time for sugar." Minion looked to Roxanne. "Sir does not do well with human carbohydrates, he gets all-"
"Okay!" Megamind clapped. "Good talk, Minon." He put both hands on the robot's back, showing him out the door. "I'll give you the signal when we need your help."
"Don't forget your afternoon tea!" The ape-fish waved.
"All right," Megamind nodded as he took the steaming chai. One in each hand. "Ms. Ritchi, did you want…?"
She snickered a laugh. "Yes, Megamind. If that's all right."
The two sat. Captor and captivated. Though he did not know which was which.
"…Is it good?"
She blew on the cup. "You know what, I've never had a chance to try it. What with Metro Man blasting in every five seconds."
"He is a pain, isn't he? What a needy boyfriend. Always crashing our party." Too harsh?
Roxanne laughed as she gave a sip. So elegant. So refined. Did they teach those skills in reporter sch-ool?
"He's," she tucked a lock of hair behind her peach ear, "not my boyfriend."
Megamind's cup clattered in his china dish. "What."
"Cut it out!" Roxanne's voice was playful. "I thought that you, what with your superior intellect, could see that we've never dated."
Megamind stared down at the daisies on his porcelain. "I mean, I… Of course."
"Wayne and I were never an item."
What was this? Dreams come true, day? Was he asleep? He decided to slap himself lightly on the cheek.
"Megamind!" Roxanne awakened him. "He was never my type. I swear."
His green eyes caught hers and he knew it to be the truth. "Why are you telling me this?"
Roxanne looked at the floor. Then his face. "You deserve to know."
"Why?" Megamind commented. "What is your type? Blue and bulbous?"
Roxanne and bit her lip and looked down, conflicted.
He was no one's type. He knew that. Still, it was hard to accept.
"Then, let's get back to our charade, shall we?"
"No!" She leaned forward, held by invisible chains.
"You have your reasons… And I have mine."
"…Wait."
He allowed for an instant, his heart to play across his face.
"I want to explore you."
"Pardon?" Megamind's dark brows rose and fell.
"Like we were. For… For science?"
"I…" Megamind knew science. Metal slabs with solitary fluorescent lights. Cold, unfamiliar steel trailing your body along with fabric straps. Morphine; some sedative to fill your lungs. Sacrifices. His breath grew faster at the thought. His vision hazy.
"Hey, hey…" Suddenly, arms, hands, were engulfing him.
"DON'T!" He swatted as he backed towards the dials behind him. He took one moment to catch his breath, but it wouldn't come. Another…
"I won't touch you," Roxanne held her hands perfectly aloft. "I'm sorry I said anything. I'm really sorry. I didn't understand. I thought no one touched you beside Metro Man… but there are worse out there, and they have," she looked deeper, "haven't they?"
No, Roxanne, please… don't see…
"It doesn't matter," he shook it off vehemently, "nothing matters. At least until your boyfriend-"
"Megamind, I just told you, I don't have a boyfriend." Roxanne froze. "What have they done to you?"
Megamind swallowed as he felt his throat tightening in response. "Why?" his voice came quieter than he'd thought capable. "Why do you care what this city has done?" Truthfully, perhaps that was why he'd first latched on to the successful lady reporter, hoping she would find the so-called scientists, report on their wrong doings, justify his behavior…
Roxanne strengthened herself. "How can I help?"
Megamind straightened.
"What do you need?" She leaned forward.
"I don't need your help!" Megamind retreated. "Minion and I have gotten along just fine."
"Whoever it was, I can take them down." Roxanne nodded. "I can make sure that they suffer for the unethical things they've done. You don't even need to tell me anything beside a name." Her eyes glistened in the afternoon light. Suddenly, she'd become a Valkyrie, caught on the scent of victory. "Just give me a name."
And who was he to deny her. "Clark." His heart split out the dark word.
Roxanne's grip tightened on the edge of her chair. "I know I'm not one to make demands, being the damsel and all, but I have to go." She stood, taller than he ever knew. "You won't stop me. Will you?"
He shook his head slowly. "No."
She smiled. "I'll be back. I promise."
He'd let her go, even if she said she'd never brighten his door step again. He'd let her go, just as he had a thousand times before.