Roxanne awakened feeling something cold against her cheek. She straightened herself and found she was leaning against the metal edge of the hospital bed. She glanced toward the figure sleeping peacefully on the bed and felt how the smile creeped onto her face.
'He woke up last night, he remembered me and it seemed he's fine. Please let him be fine..' Roxanne thought quietly still smiling and placed her fingers carefully stroking his cheek. His skin felt warm and smooth, not cold and moist like she was used to during these days. He was healing pretty well.
Roxanne yawned, she really needs a caffeine. She stared at sleeping Megamind and pondered could she leave him alone for a while. She would only get a one cup of coffee. But what if he would wake up meantime she was gone. Roxanne didn't want that, it could be too scary for him to find out he was in the hospital if he wouldn't remember what Roxanne told last night.
Her pondering was interrupted when the door opened.
"Hey" said a masculine voice. Wayne approached the bed and sit on the chair beside it. He hadn't visited for days. "How is he?"
"He woke up last night." Roxanne said beaming at Wayne.
"He did?" Wayne asked baffled glancing first at Megamind and then Roxanne. "You're not kidding, right?"
"Do you really think I'm joking?" Roxanne asked unbelievingly. She had been here all these days and Wayne supposed she was joking. 'This man can be such a bonehead sometimes..'
But now she was too tired to care about his stupid words before she would get her morning coffee maybe then she would have some witty banter with him.
"Do you mind if I go to get some coffee? I'll be right back." She asked and stood up.
"Take your time, I stay here." he said waving his hand.
"Thanks Wayne" she smiled. "Would you like something?" she asked from the door.
"I'm fine, thanks." He answered not leaving his eyes from Megamind.
Roxanne left the room and so they were alone, two men with a long history, the other good and the other bad, the hero and the villain.
Wayne examined Megamind's face. He had known those face since their childhood, from the days they were infants. He had seen how they were changed, the round features changed to sharp one, smooth chin replaced with stylish black goatee, head so perfectly round shaped, skin color fascinating blue, no wrinkles on the corner of the eyes, skin looking so smooth and vivid.
'How would it feel like to..'
Just then he opened his eyes weakly looking at the man staring at him. His eyes opened totally when he recognized the figure.
"What the hell!" he exclaimed now fully awake, pushing himself on a half sitting position.
"What.. the.. hell.. are.. you.. doing.. in.. my.. room.." he hissed through his teeth again.
Metro Man stood up and took a step further holding his hands in front of him reassuringly.
"Easy little buddy, everything's fine." he flashed a toothy grin for him.
"Don't call me that" he said darkly leering at him. "Come to kill me now when I'm defenseless? Go ahead, you've always want to do it..' he hissed quietly glaring at the man with super powers.
"Wh..what?" Metro Man was totally confused. "What do you mean.. I.. I saved you.. I brought you here.. I.."
"And that was your idea?" he asked coldly. "I don't think so.."
"Does it matter whose idea it was.. You..you're safe now.. You're fine.. Everything's fine.." Wayne stammered. He couldn't understand why Megamind was reacting like this.
"Really Metro Mahn.. Is everything fine? You think it is fine to tell someone he shouldn't exist?" he stated bitterly. "Or do you remember when you told me I should kill myself, that it would be a great favor to the whole world. Do you remember you said my life isn't worth living.. I don't deserve to live.. My birth was a big mistake.. Do you remember?"
"What the..?" Asked a shocked voice from the door which followed a voice of cardboard coffee cup dropping on the floor its hot content splattering around. "He did what?" Roxanne asked again approaching slowly two men arguing.
"I..I.." Wayne started to explain but instantly he was gone.
'That bastard used a super speed.. He must be sure we're not done yet..' Roxanne thought furiously and sit down on her chair feeling still upset.
"Is it true?" She asked quietly looking at Megamind seriously. "Did he really say something like that?"
"Does it matter?" Megamind stated blankly not looking at her.
"Yes it does because it's wrong."
"Maybe he was right.. Maybe I don't deserve to live.." He muttered still avoiding eye contact with her.
"Don't say that" she said sadly and placed her hand on his back of the hand. "Megamind, in the Lair you told you like me.." She tried to change the subject and smiled to him.
He pulled his hand away from her touch and.. 'Was he crying..?' Roxanne had never before seen him crying.
"Don't remind me of that.." He said quietly. "I know my plan backfired.. Like always.. I.." He dragged the blanket over him hiding from her. "I'm so pathetic I can't even kill myself.." He was sobbing. "Why do I have to live?"
Roxanne was baffled. 'Why is he reacting like that?'
"Megamind" She said softly and tried to pull the blanket away but he didn't let her. "Megamind I.."
"Please miss Ritchi, go away.." he was begging and still sobbing.
"But Megamind, I.."
"Go away!" He said underneath the blanket.
"But Megamind.."
"JUST GO!" he was shouting.
Roxanne was shocked again. He had never before yelled to her. She couldn't help but the tears were filling her eyes when she walked across the room till the door and glanced behind her. He was still underneath the blanket, sniffing and weeping. Roxanne's heart was breaking down, she couldn't understand why he was acting like this. Quietly she left the room, maybe he needs just some time alone.
Megamind had curled up into a ball under the blanket, holding his knees against his chest, tears streaming down his face.
Once again his magnificent plan was failed, he was still alive and he.. Oh God, he told to Roxanne his deepest and the most painful secrets and memories. He told he likes her, had always tried to impress her. He told she is the most beautiful woman in the whole world. His heart was aching.
'The first think she wanted to do was to come here and tell the feeling isn't mutual, that she don't like me, never have never will. She wanted to tell she would never be with me though I was the last man on earth.. What else could have it been? She said "Megamind, in the Lair you told you like me.." I don't want to know how that sentence would end.. It would be something like "..but I don't like you, look at you. You're a blue, big headed alien freak from another universe and look at me, I'm a beautiful human, my head isn't big, my skin color is normal, I don't have weird pointed ears like you do. So, do you really think that I would ever be with you?'
The thought made him cry even more. It was true, he was an alien and his skin was blue. He and Roxanne wouldn't ever match. They were too different. And from now on everything would be so awkward between them. He couldn't kidnap her anymore, the last kidnapping was totally disaster. He should follow from the shadows how Metro Man would propose to her, they would get married, move together and have.. have children.. He would be alone for the rest of his life. Nobody wants an alien boyfriend, nobody wants a freak.
'Why didn't they let me die..'
He heard how the door opened to his room again.
"I said go away" He said harshly wiping away his tears.
"Are you awake?" Asked an astonished man voice.
Megamind moved the blanket away to see who was there and found it was his personal physician looking at him.
"Dr. Crawford?"
"Good morning sleeping beauty" he said sarcastically. "When did you wake up?" he asked and come to check his eyes with the penlight.
"Last night" he said absently.
"Last night? What's wrong with this hospital? People in here aren't keeping me up to date, such an amateurs." he muttered quietly. "Had a fight with your girlfriend?" He asked and moved to consider his blood pressure values on the screen.
"She's not my girlfriend" Megamind stated blankly feeling a sting in his heart. 'She will never be my girlfriend..'
"Are you sure?" Dr. Crawford questioned. "She's been here all these days, refused to leave. I've never seen someone spending so many days not sleeping or eating well. It seems you're very important to her."
'She did? All these days?'
"How long actually have I been here?" Megamind asked hastily.
"It's sixth day now." Dr. Crawford told finishing the blood transfusion. "By the way you have a date with the needle next time we meet in the prison." He showed the empty blood bag for him.
"Sixth?" He was talking to himself. "She has been here all these days." There was a feeling of hope in his chest. 'Does she.. does she care about me after all? Does she likes me?'
Then he remembered how he had yelled to her, asked her to go away. Maybe she had come to second thoughts. Did he ruin everything again?
"Sir!" screamed someone enthusiastically from the door.
"Minion!" Megamind cried out. It felt so good to see his best friend.
Minion run to him and lift him from the bed to embrace him. "Sir, you're awake!" he squealed, squeezing him against his gorilla body's chest.
"It's nice to see you too Minion but.. I.. I can't breathe.." he managed to say Minion's metallic arms crushing him.
"Oh, sorry Sir" He said apologetically and set Megamind back to bed. "You're awake!" He cried again swimming around in his glass dome filled with water.
Megamind smiled a little for his lifelong friend's joy but secretly he hoped the visitor would have been Roxanne.
"So Mr. Mind, it seems you're healing pretty well but I still have to do some tests later today." Dr. Crawford said checking his papers. "I'll get back to you later." He was leaving when Megamind called out.
"Dr.. When will you take off.. that..?" He pointed the catheter look of pure disgust on his face.
"Since you're able to walk." he stated and left still examining his papers.
"There's nothing wrong with my legs!" Megamind shouted after him but Dr. Crawford was already gone.
He pushed his head against the pillow and let out a deep sigh staring at the ceiling.
"Where's Miss Ritchi?" Minion asked, it seemed he had just realized she wasn't in the room.
"I.. I asked her to go away.." Megamind said feeling again a sting in his heart and closed his eyes. 'He had ruined everything..'
"You.. What.. Why?" Minion was totally perplexed.
"Because I.. She.. Is it true she was here? All these days? Never leaving?"
Minion smiled and nodded warmly. "Yes Sir. We told several times she should go home to eat and sleep but she refused every time. She even called to her boss she won't come to work. She wore same clothes five days until I managed to coax her to go home yesterday, she was so tired. But she came back last night, the clock was 3:15 am and it seemed she had run all the way here. She's been very dedicated."
"Really, she did?" Megamind asked his eyes wide and the voice full of unbelief. "But..Why?"
"I don't know. She just told she has something very important she needs to tell you. She was so afraid you wouldn't wake up anymore. I've never before seen someone crying like she did."
"Did.. did she cry for me?" He was totally bewildered, no one had ever cried because of him.
"Yes Sir. But why did you ask her to go away? And why.. why?" He motioned him. "Why did you attempt a suicide Sir?" He asked quietly, eyes full of hurt and sorrow. "Why?" He whispered.
"Minion" he sighed. "I'm not ready to talk about it yet.. I.. I want to go home." He confessed looking his friend deep into his eyes. "I want to go home.." He whispered pleadingly wrapping his arms around the glass dome and pushing his forehead against the cold glass. "Please Minion, take me home.."
"But Sir.." He started but Megamind interrupted him.
"Minion code: Take me home now!"
Megamind hates the hospitals, he hates the beeping machines around him, he hates the bright lights and the smell of disinfectant. He couldn't stand a sterile, cold and white walls, he couldn't stand the worn gowns and the equipment they used. The catheter makes him feel embarrassed and defiled. The cannulas are pressing the veins in his hands and hurting him. He's afraid someone could come and decide to cut him open because he's an alien. The hospitals always makes him feel insecure. He hates hospitals. He has a fear of the hospitals. He wants to get out of here.
"Minion, please?" He was pleading again eyes filled with tears.
Minion released him from the disturbing equipment and lift him into his arms and so they disappeared from the hospital so no one could see them.
…
Roxanne was driving furiously. She was feeling both rage and sorrow. Rage because of Wayne and sorrow because of Megamind. She couldn't believe Wayne, her good friend, had said something so horrible to Megamind, asked him to kill himself, said his birth was a mistake.
She pushed the gas pedal driving even faster. She was going to grill him, making clear what he did was totally wrong, make him apologize.
She turned on a sandy road and stopped before an old, red, ramshackle and wooden building. She stepped out of the car and headed inside of the building. There she opened the door which leads to a secret corridor and walked along it until she came to the heavy metal door and knocked.
No answer.
She knocked again, louder this time.
"Wayne, open the door. I know you're there." She said loudly and harshly.
She heard a creak and then the door in front of her opened carefully the man behind it looking at her shamefully.
"We need to talk." Roxanne stated coldly and stepped inside.
She sat down on the white couch and motioned Wayne to sit next to her. He obeyed, avoiding an eye contact with her.
"So. What do you want to talk about?" Wayne asked sounding uneasy.
"Don't play stupid Wayne, you know what I want to talk about." She said harshly her eyes piercing him.
"You.. you want to talk about him, right?" Wayne blurted out rubbing his neck.
"Yes. Why.. why did you say something so terrible to him?" Roxanne asked not leaving her eyes from him.
"We were kids. I didn't mean it. It was a joke." He stated shrugging.
"I'm not buying that Wayne besides you weren't kids at high school anymore." Roxanne told seriously.
"We were joking. Everyone was doing it, telling to friend "I hope you doesn't exist". It was a joke." Wayne was waving his hands. "You know what I mean."
"Did anyone ever said that to you, hoped you wouldn't exist?" Roxanne snapped furrowing her brow.
"No, but.."
"Me either" She interrupted him. "And how do you explain kicking and pushing?"
"Hey, those corridors of schools can be very stuffed sometimes, you can't avoid pushing."
"What's wrong with you Wayne? Your actions can be one reason he almost died. Why are you minimizing things!?" She leapt from the couch to stand in front of him. "What's wrong with you!?" she shouted.
Wayne let out a deep sigh and thrust his face in his hands. "I like him.." he muttered quietly.
"Wh..What?" Roxanne was totally caught off guard.
"I like him." He said again and lifted his head making an eye contact with her.
"What.. What do you mean you like him?" Roxanne was puzzled. She really didn't expect their conversation would change so radically.
"I like him Roxy. I mean, I like guys. I'm gay." He confessed still staring at her, pondering what she was thinking about.
Roxanne didn't know what to think. She couldn't believe this. She wouldn't have ever guess Wayne was gay. But when she started to consider a new information she found out it make sense. Wayne doesn't have a girlfriend, he wasn't even dating anyone. He had asked Roxanne to pretend she was his girlfriend so the other women could leave him alone. He take care of he was looking good. Everything make sense now.
Then Roxanne felt suddenly a sting of jealousy. 'He likes Megamind.'
"Are you ok Roxy?" Wayne asked looking worried.
"I.. yeah. I just.. oh, woh. I didn't expect that." She sighed and sit down again.
They sit in the silence a while until Roxanne's question break it. "I don't understand. If you like he then why you said you hope he wouldn't exist."
Wayne sighed again. "I don't know. I just.. I've always found him intriguing and when I realized I like him in the romantic way I was afraid and shocked. You know all my friends had a girlfriend then or they were only talking about girls but I.. I've never found girls very fascinating and.. And I supposed it was wrong.. There was something wrong with me.. And I guessed it was his fault.. Without him I could be a normal guy who likes girls etc.. I sincerely believed without him everything would be fine.. That's the reason why I did and said what I did.."
Roxanne placed her hand on his shoulder. "I understand Wayne but what you did was totally wrong. He just wanted make new friends. He almost died.."
"I know Roxy. I've been so worried all these days.. I regret everything I did to him.." It seemed he was holding tears, not letting himself cry in front of her.
"You should apologize to him." Roxanne said supportively patting his shoulder.
"I know but.. He hates me.. You saw his reaction at the hospital.. He will never forgive me." He said shaking his head.
"Wayne, you have to apologize. He won't forgive before that."
"I know.. I will.. When I'm ready." Wayne promised.
"Does he know how do you feel..?" Roxanne asked tentatively.
"Oh no. I'm a hero Roxanne. Heroes can't be gay. What would people think about me? I can even see the headlines. He will never know. Please don't tell anyone." Wayne pleaded looking at her in the eyes. "Please?"
"I think people are more liberal these days." Roxanne smiled to him.
"I don't know Roxy. I guess it's better no one knows.."
"You're going to stay in the closet? How about your happiness? Will you be alone all your life just because you're a hero." She questioned.
"I think so.." Wayne sighed sadly staring at the floor.
Roxanne really couldn't understand people who were caring more about the others opinions than their own. She looked at his friend her rage towards him gone and wondered could she change his mind. But now wasn't the right time. She needs to settle things first with Megamind. It was time to tell how she was feeling maybe he had calmed down and was ready to discuss with her.
"I should go. Can we talk about this later?" Roxanne stand up and take a step closer the door.
"Yeah, sure." Wayne muttered not leaving his gaze from the floor.
Roxanne was stepping into the corridor when Wayne called after her.
"Roxanne.. Do you think.. Does he like guys too?" He asked hopefully.
Roxanne was quiet a while until she said "No Wayne. I think he's straight. I'm sure about it." She apologized.
Wayne sighed. "I knew it. All the best men are always straight or taken."
His attitude was hurting her but she would deal with him later. "See you later Wayne." She called out and left him alone.
She got in the car and headed to the hospital. Things were become so awkward but at least Wayne promised he would apologize. Now she must see Megamind and finally reveal her true feelings toward him.
…
Roxanne walked along the corridor and opened the door which had become very familiar to her during these days. She stepped inside and froze.
The bed was empty and remade, the machines were gone.
She remembered the horrible nightmare she had last night and felt how she was starting to panic. She left the room and hastened along the aisle, trying to find someone to ask where Megamind was. It didn't take too long until she saw a familiar doctor talking with the nurse of the prison.
"Dr. Crawford?" Roxanne asked hastily. "Where is he?"
Doctor motioned the nurse could go and then he turned towards Roxanne.
"Miss Ritchi." He smiled dryly. "It seems our blue boy decided to send him home by himself. I really should have make some tests to him before that but I think I'll do them afterwards when he returns to prison. Have a nice day." He stated and walked away not waiting did she have something to ask.
Roxanne looked after him puzzled.
He had left.. She hadn't told how she was feeling.. How important he was to her.. When would she see him again..?
'How I wish I know where he lives..'
Then she remembered something. She wasn't wearing a blindfold when they drove to the hospital with Minion. Maybe she could find him, at least she would try.
…
Megamind was sitting on his couch and sighing.
Everything was gone wrong. The plan, misunderstanding with Roxanne, everything.
He didn't know what to do. He had exposed the most painful memories of his life, he had revealed his deepest feelings towards her and he.. oh god, he had cried in front of her. She would never take him seriously as a super villain because of that. And then he had yelled to her, ask her to go away 'cause he was sure she was telling about she didn't like him, never would. And then Dr. Crawford and Minion told she had been there all these days and nights beside him, refusing to leave. He had ruined everything. He was sure she had come to second thoughts. She would never like him...
He thrusted his head in his hands and shook it. 'I've ruined everything..'
"Sir?" Asked a voice from somewhere behind him.
"Not now Minion." He said sadly, not turning his head. "I want to be alone."
"But Sir, you have a visitor." Minion said again a hint of smug in his voice.
"Visitor?" Megamind asked quietly raising his head from his hands and turned his gaze cautiously.
"Miss Ritchi?" he asked surprised. He couldn't believe it was her but there she was smiling warmly for him. "How..?"
"I leave you two alone." Minion smirked knowingly and left the room.
"Can I sit down?" Roxanne asked still smiling and took a step closer the couch when it seemed all he could do was only gaping at her.
"Sure.. Of course.. Please." He motioned hurriedly her to sit down beside him. "How.. how did you find me?" He asked sounding still totally surprised.
"I saw the way when we took to the hospital with Minion." She smiled sitting close to him. "Don't worry I won't reveal your hideout." She continued when saw a hint of worry on his face.
"Miss Ritchi. What are you doing here?" He asked uneasy her body so close to his.
"I was so worried about you." she said and took his hands in hers. He wasn't wearing his gloves right now which made Roxanne happy. She was used to touch his bare skin during these days and find it very pleasant. She hope the feeling was mutual.
Megamind stared at their hands, blue skin against peach one. 'She's touching my bare skin..' Carefully he lift his gaze to her eyes. She was beaming.
"Megamind. I was so afraid I would lose you.. I haven't never told before but you.. You're very important to me.. It can sounds crazy but so many times you've made my day, just seeing you, bantering with you.. You know?" She was opening her heart to him, let him know how she was feeling. "When you told me you like me, my heart was fluttering and stomach filled with butterflies 'cause.. I like you too.. very much." She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly.
Megamind was totally confused. He didn't know what to think or do. Clumsily he wrapped his arms around her. 'She likes me.. She told she likes me..' His heart was beating rapidly. The girl of his dreams just told she likes him.
"I want to learn to know you, I want to be your friend, I.. Maybe I want to be more.." Roxanne was whispering in his ear.
Megamind froze and retreated so he could make an eye contact with her looking at her questioningly. "What do you mean you want to be.. more?" He whispered waiting impatiently her answer.
Roxanne smiled knowingly. "Well, I mean maybe we could have some dates and see if we want to start dating.. You know?" She was smirking.
"You.. you'd like to go on a date with me?" He was gaping at her unbelievingly.
"I'd love to" she whispered. "I really want to learn to know you Megamind. Speaking of that I bring something." She bent to pick something from her purse and lift some kind of box on the table in front of the couch.
"What's that?" Megamind asked staring suspiciously at the box.
"Well. You told you assume friends play Scrabble together so would you like to play with me?" Roxanne smirked showing the box for him.
"You want to play with me?" He was astonished. No one had ever wanted to play with him.
"Yes" Roxanne said warmly. "But the rules are different this time."
"What do you mean?" Megamind couldn't understand how it was possible to change the rules of the game.
"This time you have to form words which are telling about you and the things you like or prefer. Like your favorite foods, bands, colors etc. But you can also form words about things you don't like. I have the same rules. Understood?"
Megamind nodded and so they started to play. Roxanne was astonished how he was able to form words she didn't even know. He knows lots of synonyms and abbreviations of the words and always when Roxanne was doubting exist of some word he could prove the word was real with a dictionary.
His enthusiasm made Roxanne smile. She like the way how his expression change when he was thinking furiously and when he figured a new word. He really likes to play with her. He really likes to play overall. But the best thing was she had learned to know him better during one night. She had learned so many new things about him. She also wished he had learned to know her better though she wasn't as skilled as he was with the game.
During the game she had also thought the latest events. She was convinced Megamind's suicide attempt was only a cry for help. He could have do it without her, without The Last Grand Kidnapping if he really wanted to die, but no. He was hoping someone could save him, give a one last chance to show someone cared about him and Roxanne swallowed the bait, saved him and finally revealed her true feeling towards him. And there they were, playing and chatting together, smiling to each other, learning new things about each other.
Finally the game come to an end and Megamind of course won with a super high credit score.
They sat a while on the couch until Roxanne stated it was late and she should go home. Megamind promised to take her there.
First time Roxanne was driving with him fully conscious and eyes not covered with the blindfold. The drive was quiet both of them lost in their thoughts.
Megamind's heart was beating rapidly. 'She likes me.. She wants to go on a date with me.. She.. She maybe wants to be my girlfriend.. My girlfriend..' He was sure he was wearing a silly grin on his face right now.
Finally they pulled up in front of Roxanne's apartment.
"Here we are." He said softly and turned his gaze on her.
Roxanne smiled looking at him tenderly. "I had a nice evening."
"Yeah. Me too." he said not letting his gaze from her.
"Do you have any plans for tomorrow evening?" She asked bashfully.
"No. How come?" He said feeling his heart was beating even faster waiting for her answer.
"Well. I was thinking would you like to come to my place for dinner?" She smiled sweetly.
Megamind felt he was getting butterflies in his stomach. 'She wants to dine with me..'
"Sure." He said gently his grin getting wider. He couldn't believe he would have the very first date on the next evening with her.
"Well, see you at 7 pm tomorrow." Roxanne said happily and opened the door of the car. "Good night Megamind."
"Good night Miss Ritchi." Megamind sighed dreamily when she left the car.
He made a fist pump and gassed away.
For the first time in his life he was feeling everything was working out. He was alive and he was starting to date with the girl of his dreams. For the first time in his life he was sincerely happy his plan had backfired.
He felt the dreams would finally come true.
The end
Thank you for reading! Please let a review and let me know what you're thinking!