There was no one in the lobby, even Carlos her doorman wasn't here right now.
They were as fast as they could with Megamind's sore leg and took an elevator to her floor. When they were there Roxanne lead him through the aisle to her home door and opened it.
When Megamind get in the apartment he immediately collapsed on the floor leaning his back against the wall. He panted like he had just ran a marathon. His forehead glittered from sweat and there was a mixture of both pain and relief on his face. His eyes were closed.
Roxanne undressed her coat and kneeled down beside him. She returned her hand back on his cheek where it had been on the alley stroking gently. Megamind snapped his eyes wide open because of her touch and turned his gaze into her eyes.
"How are you doing?" She asked smoothly.
"My ankle.. I think it's worse.." He grinned and turned to look at his right booted leg.
Roxanne's gaze also turned there and determinedly she brought her hands on the boot's buckle and started to open it.
Megamind inhaled sharply and looked frightened. He moved his right hand on top of Roxanne's hands like instinctively trying to stop what she was doing. Roxanne glanced at him and when she saw a pure horror on his face she gripped his hand and made an eye contact.
"Hey. I just want to check it. You don't have to worry or be scared. I won't hurt you. Trust me." She told gently squeezing his hand reassuringly. Megamind squeezed it back cautiously and then let it go, allowing her to take off the boot.
Megamind grimaced and let out a painful hiss when Roxanne pulled the boot off. She also stripped his black sock and seeing his foot made her wince. The ankle had swollen very badly and the blue skin looked very slinky. There was also a very large bruise covering the instep and the ankle. Roxanne touched it carefully which made Megamind let out another painful groan.
"Are you sure it's just wrenched? It looks very bad. Maybe it's broken?" Roxanne estimated staring at his ankle.
Megamind ducked to look at his ankle closer. It really looked bad.
"I don't think so." He said. "My bones are very flexible they don't broke very easily. I have also had fractures so I know how does it feel and this.." He pointed his leg. "Doesn't feel like it's broken. I know my anatomy very well Miss Ritchi. I'm sure it's just a wrench. A very bad one to be sure."
"It's Roxanne" she said turning her gaze to him. She observed his appearance, his sooty face and clothes.
"You know, we're going to bandage this leg but first would you like to take a bath or a shower?
Megamind looked at her terrified. 'Have a shower in here, her place?' The thought made him blush. He didn't know what to say so he turned his gaze away and took the same wrapped position he had on the alley.
Roxanne watched him sorrowful look on her face. She didn't know he could be so shy. Cautiously Roxanne placed her hand on his shoulder trying her best to avoid spikes of his shoulder pad. This made Megamind try to wrap even more.
"Hey" Roxanne spoke soothingly. "Did I say something wrong? I just thought the bath would do a good for you. You had a rough day and you really should try to relax. It makes you feel better, I promise."
Megamind sighed. "I.. I don't have a change or pajamas.."
"You can borrow from me." She said gently.
"I don't know Roxanne.. I.. Maybe it's better I just go." He tried to stand up but fell instantly back to ground groaning painfully.
"I go to set that bath for you. Then we bandage your ankle and that cut on your cheek." Roxanne said standing up.
Megamind placed his hand on his left cheek. He hadn't noticed before there was a cut and it felt sore. He hadn't paid attention to his appearance until now. He was sure he looked like a mess. Maybe that was why Roxanne pitied him and treated him so well. It must be pure pity.
"Roxanne you don't have to do this. I really don't deserve this when I have mistreated you. I really should go. You don't have to pity me.." He sighed melancholically.
Roxanne looked at him confused. 'What was he talking about? Did he really think she was pitying him? Why was he so harsh to himself?' Roxanne couldn't understand.
"Why are you saying something like this?" Roxanne asked kneeling down beside him.
"Because it's true." He told sadly and quietly.
Roxanne took his hands in hers. "Megamind look at me" She said. Slowly he turned his gaze at her. "I am not pitying you Megamind. Never have and never will. I admit I don't like those kidnappings but you've never hurt me or mistreated me. You have always took care I won't hurt myself in those encounters middle of spikes and different weapons. That's a very unselfish quality of you and I appreciate it. Now you need help and I want to help you sincerely. I wanna take a good care of you. You deserve this Megamind. Believe me."
"Roxanne.." He said softly and then he was coughing again.
"Now.." she said opening the buckle from his other boot. "You're going to bath." She smiled at him and pulled the boot off from his leg.
Then she went to the bathroom and filled up the bathtub. She took a couple of white towel from the bathroom's closet and set them on the counter. After that she found some clothes from her bedroom's dresser he could possibly wear after the bath and took them to the bathroom next to the towels.
She returned back to hallway where Megamind was still sitting on the floor. He had taken off his gloves, shoulder pad, watch and the cape.
"The bath's ready." She smiled at him. He smiled back. Then Roxanne helped him up and leaded him to the bathroom.
…
Megamind's eyes widened when he saw Roxanne's bathroom. The light wasn't so bright it could hurt your eyes and the walls weren't sterile white like he was used to in the prison. It was pleasantly dim, the floor was covered with dark grey tiles and the walls were painted cream. The cabinets were dark chestnut colored. There was a white furry bath mat of round shape in front of the sink. The room wasn't big but it looked cozy.
Roxanne leaded him to sit down on the stool which lay between the bathtub and the sink cabinet.
"So, I leave you now if you don't need any help." She said softly hands on his shoulders. "Take your time and enjoy." She whispered and turned heading to the bathroom's door.
Megamind sighed relieved. A moment he had thought Roxanne wouldn't leave him alone, that she wanted to take care he wouldn't hurt himself. Wanted to help him undress and feel disgust seeing his blue skin and regret she had took him here, in her home. That was the last think Megamind would ever want. She just wanted to help because she pity him even she said she didn't.
'She doesn't like you.' He told to himself. 'Nobody likes you. Watch yourself. You're a blue, big bald headed freak from outer space. A girl like she would never be with you.' He sighed again and closed his eyes.
It was true. She didn't want him, would never want. She was a girl of his dreams but he wasn't even a man. 'She deserves better.' His mind told to him.
Besides she's with Metro Man, his nemesis. He would never have any chance to get her. Maybe he just takes the bath and would vanish after it trying to forget her.
Then Megamind remembered something. He couldn't reach the zipper behind him. What should he do? He was panicking and looked around the room alarmed. Maybe he could escape from the window. Annoyingly there wasn't a window.
'Oh my god, oh my god' he thought. He wouldn't ask Roxanne to help, definitely not. He didn't want to scare her. He was trapped.
"Do you need help?" asked a woman's voice from the door. He hadn't noticed Roxanne was still there looking at him.
"I.. what?. No..no..no.. I just.. I..ymm.. yess..?" He stammered, the last sentence barely a whisper. 'Oh, what did I just say?' He thought immediately. He shouldn't have said that but it was too late, Roxanne was already standing before him and waiting what she should do.
Megamind wished the ground would swallow him up. He didn't feel he was a super genius rather a moron.
Roxanne looked at him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Megamind couldn't watch her, he was too embarrassed.
"Do you need help with undressing?" she asked gently. Megamind felt his cheeks were burning. He couldn't answer so he nodded slightly gazing at the floor.
Roxanne felt sad. This wasn't Megamind she know. 'This man was..' She didn't know but the man before her seemed more genuine and sweeter than the one she was learn to know. And Roxanne had to admit she liked more this one she had seen first time tonight because this was the real Megamind. Oh, how she hoped she could make him feel alright and safe and cared because she liked him.
'I really like him..' The thought hit her in the face. 'I like him a really lot.'
Roxanne moved her free hand to his chin and turned it lazily until his eyes were looking at hers.
"Hey" She whispered. Megamind's eyes were froze of fear and he gazed at her like deer in headlights. "Don't be scared.." She continued soothingly and gradually came closer to him until they were hugging or technically Roxanne was hugging Megamind 'cause his hands were drooping along his sides. He took a nervous inhale and his whole body tensed.
They didn't know how long they were like this. Roxanne hugging him and whispering reassuring words, stroking his head, neck and upper back at the same time. Little by little Megamind started to relax and carefully he brought his hands around her, pulling her a little closer.
As accidentally Roxanne's fingers found the hidden zipper of his suit and slowly she started to pull it downwards. Megamind tensed again.
"Shh.." She hushed in his ear. "Everything's fine. Trust me." She spoke softly petting his head with the other hand. Finally the zipper reached the bottom and the suit opened from behind. Roxanne grabbed the fabric behind and started to pull it along his arms.
Megamind looked bashfully when Roxanne took off his shirt revealing a new layer underneath it.
Roxanne looked confused but didn't say anything. Instead she flashed a smile at him. "Do you need help with those..?" She asked cautiously and pointed his trousers.
Megamind felt his cheeks were burning again. "No, no, no.." he hurried to answer. "I mean.. No thank you.. I can handle the rest by myself." He smiled shyly at her.
"Ok." She said quietly. "But if you need something just ask." She told and leave the bathroom.
Megamind looked wistfully after her. Then he get back to his business try to strip him. It took longer than usually thanks to his ankle. He almost fell couple times during the undressing and got again those irritating gusts of coughing.
Finally he was done and ready to bath. He stepped carefully into bathtub watching out for his leg and set down sitting.
The water was nicely hot and the foam formed a white membrane. He enjoyed the feeling how the water was supporting him and felt how his tensed body started to relax. Lazily he closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the tub's edge.
He couldn't believe that so terrible day had transformed so pleasantly. Or maybe it wasn't. Maybe he had concussion because of falling with the Hover Bike or some kind of short circuit in his brain. It was possible. He was sure he was still on the alley, the wetness around him was from the rain and the warmth was his cape wrapped around him. That made sense. Instinctively he brought his right hand on top of the left and pinched from the back of the hand. Then he opened slightly his other eye and noticed he was still in the bathroom.
'It's real, I am here. At Roxanne's home, in Roxanne's bathtub..' He realized. He wondered when Roxanne was last time bathed in this same tub, washing her hair and body, enjoying the water's warmth.. Then he felt a sting in his heart when he remembered Minion was still all alone on the outside, middle of the storm and probably very worried about him meanwhile he was floating in the bathtub of his dream girl.. He was a terrible friend. He wished he could somehow inform to him he was all right.
His thinking was interrupted when he heard a knock on the door.
Megamind froze and stared at the door. Instinctively he sank his upper body so his head was only showing. He also tried to gather the foam and hide his body as best as he could. There was another knock.
"Megamind, can I come in? I have something for you." Roxanne asked behind the door when he didn't answer.
"Yeah.. Mmm.. Ok..Sure" He finally cried for the door.
Roxanne opened it cautiously and stepped inside. She had something metallic equipment with her. Megamind stared them suspiciously. "What are those?" He asked and looked at Roxanne questioningly.
"Crutches" She told and placed them beside the tub. "I think it's easier to you walk with these." She smiled at him and swiped her brown bangs behind the ear.
"Where'd you get those?" He questioned looking alternately her and the crutches.
"Oh, I got those years ago when I broke my leg. I suddenly remembered I still have them and found them for you." She explained concentrating not to let her gaze wandering from his eyes. "Well, I go to prepare supper for us. Enjoy your bath." She said hurriedly, turned around and was gone.
Megamind gaped after her and then back to equipment she had left. 'She found those for me?' No one had ever been so nice to him except Minion. 'Did she..?' No she wouldn't..
His wondering was interrupted again, this time by his stomach. He had eaten last time in the morning and was starving. 'Didn't Roxanne say she was going to make a supper?' He thought. His belly growled again.
He washed quickly and stood up from the tub. He took the crutches and walked to take a towel from the counter. He dried himself and after that he explored the clothes Roxanne had brought to him.
There were two pants and three shirts. He examined pants first. They both were sweatpants, black and light grey colored. Both were similar but there was a drawstring in the grey one so he decided to put on those because he could set them. Then he proceeded to shirts. The first one was basic white t-shirt but the neckline was too small to his big head so he left it immediately. The next one was a dark blue dress shirt. The shirt would be easy to wear thanks to the buttons but it didn't seem very comfortable so he didn't pick it. The last one was a black loose t-shirt with a wide neckline. He touched its fabric and found it very pleasant. Carefully he dressed the shirt and surprised when the neckline glided over his head without sticking.
He took the crutches again and slowly directed to the door. He paused when he saw his reflection from the mirror and took a better glance.
He looked so tired and was a little paler than normally. The soot was gone thanks to the bath but there was a small cut on his left cheek. He took a closer examination and noticed it had started become inflamed. He let out a deep sigh and then his stomach was growling again.
He turned toward the door and opened it. He glanced back, smiled a little and turned off the light leaving bathroom's peaceful atmosphere behind him.
Then he headed to the kitchen before he would pass out by hunger.