Megamind watched Roxanne as she busied herself preparing the news table. His disguise watch was on, the parking attendant's persona. He stood in the shadows near the ginger cameraman who smelled of nachos.

Last week's plan had gone nauseatingly well. Roxanne had organized a new weekly segment about milestones in the scientific community. She had some local researchers, some extension personnel; women and minorities in the field. Megamind organized the plant: A young hustler that was paid to mention Clark's name. And how Roxanne had sparkled at that. "Why don't we invite him here for next week's segment? Professor Clark," she'd looked into the camera and broken the fourth wall. "I know it's a quite a journey. Won't you join us? Channel 9 is willing to cover the expenses for such a… master in the field."

The cocky bastard that he was, the allure of power and prestige, how could he say no? Sure, he may have expected to have a run-in with his previous experiment. Maybe even anticipated further- Megamind shivered- scientific trials. The one thing he could never have counted on was the city's villain, damsel, and hero being in cahoots. He choked an evil laugh. The anticipation was still too high. The man had confirmed his spot, but he still could run. He could have been in Tajuana, enjoying his freedom, at this very moment.

When a body unexpectedly hit his arm, Megamind nearly reached for the De-gun in his pocket. He halted his hands, his breath, and looked to the white lab coat beside him. If he hadn't faced Metro Man coming out of nowhere all of these years, his legs might have buckled and collapsed underneath him.

His childhood screams filled his ears. The buzz of the bright lights. The smell of chemicals. Wheering mechanics. He swallowed.

The man's black eyes, pools of tar, swallowed back. His smile didn't meet his eyes. "Have we met?"

Megamind shook his head, praying to evil heaven his disguise watch was still on. That the man didn't have scientifically enhanced spectacles.

"That eye color is unnatural."

Your callous treatment for living beings, that- that's what's unnatural.

"And yet," Megamind breathed, "that's how nature made me."

The two examined one another, Megamind wanting very much to look away; to run, to find Minion, to kidnap Miss Ritchi and secure her somewhere safe so she would never, ever have contact with this predator, this sad excuse for mankind.

"Professor Clark," Roxanne stepped up, hands casually on her hips.

Megamind turned, eyes feral, face pale.

"Ronaldo," she looked calmly at him, placing her car keys in his hand with both of her own. "Can you bring around the news van? Sarah needs to get to that dog show and traffic is just starting to get heavy. She appreciates it, really. Everything."

His eyes flicked between hers, noticing how she stopped the slight tremor at his wrist.

I see you, Roxanne. I hear you.

He nodded under his fake mustache as he carried the jingling keys to a not-so-far off corner. And the show truly began.

It started off innocent enough. Roxanne went around the round table again, interviewing upstanding members of the scientific community. Then, like a bullet out of the blue, "Professor Clark, is it true that you physically experimented on a nine-year-old boy?"

Megamind clutched where his hearts should be. One of the staff gasped.

"Boy?" Clark gave a smug laugh. "No."

"I see." Roxanne nodded, not seeing at all. "What exactly is your area of field?"

"Anatomy and physiology."

She looked at her paper. "But, your degree is not in human sciences."

"No." He adjusted his glasses. "Animals."

Her knuckles turned white around her pen, but her voice was calm. "Nor is it veterinary."

He blinked at her, startled, then understanding. "I'm sorry, I have a pressing appointment." He signaled at the camera to wrap it up. Hal looked around, but it kept rolling. It was startlingly empty. Minion had barred the doors to keep the producers from getting in.

"Let me be more specific, then. Did you experiment on a nine-year-old member of my community, this city, in our backyard?"

The scientists around the table looked to another, aghast.

Professor Clark smiled. A knowing smile that made Megamind want to have no association with evil. "And how long have you been fucking your parking attendant?"

"What?!" Hal blurted off screen.

Roxanne was used to the sexist blow. Normally she had no sentiment for the men she was accused of sleeping with to get to the top. But, this time, with Megamind's eyes reverently watching her every move, she struggled. "Why does it matter?"

"I care about you. About all members of humanity." Clark tapped on his glasses. "He's in disguise, didn't you know? The eyes. I've only seen them once before."

"And where was that?"

"I believe your city calls him Megamind." Clark couldn't resist the low blow. "Or are you pregnant with his hybrid seed already?"

What should have been a crushing blow was Roxanne's victory. "Only from illegal in-depth examination could you determine that said alien is sexually compatible and capable of producing offspring," her heart thrummed. "Upon this new evidence and witness accounts, Metro City is charging you with crimes against alien kind."

The members of Metro City Police Department entered behind her on cue. The warden lead with a pair of cuffs.

Clark stood swiftly. "You're joking. There are no federal laws."

The warden's brows furrowed. "This is a matter of state."

"By the way, thank you ever so much for coming," Roxanne chimed.

Clark pushed the chair as he sped off, sending some of the officers tumbling. "After him!"

He was going to get away. Just as he had before. Away with his dignity. Away with his childhood. Away.

No.

Roxanne had done this. Minion. Even Metro Man had aided in convincing the authorities. He wasn't going to let this man get away. Not this time.

Megamind switched his watch off and stepped in front of the fleeing criminal, gun drawn.

"You," Clark growled.

"Me," Megamind confirmed.

Clark looked over his shoulder. "You're not a hero."

"No. I'm not. But, I'm not the villain either. And they need a new classification for whatever you are."

"You're going to let me go, or," he looked back to Megamind, "I might just further my trials on one woman in particular."

Megamind shook his head. "I won't let you. You won't be hurting anyone where you're going."

"Let me go!" Clark snarled, beating his chest, "I'm a member of the United States government!"

"Like that has ever mattered to me. Tell me you want to run."

"What?"

"Tell me you're scared. Heart thrumming like a little rabbit. Tell me you want to go home!"

"I… I want to go home,"

"Well, you can't go home," Clark's words echoed back across the years, "ever again."

The cuffs clasped around his wrists as the officers informed him of his rights. A victory for the evening, though the case was far from over. Victory?

Megamind looked on as the dragged him off, hoping that the man would be barred from his dreams as well as his life.

"Megamind," Roxanne broke his trance, "Megamind, are you-"

He wrapped his arms around her then, burying his face in the crook of her neck. Tighter. Impossibly tighter. He wanted to disappear into her and never resurface.

She held him. Something like a mother might have done, if he could remember his mother's touch. "It's going to be okay," her hand moved over his back, "you were so brave. I'm so proud of you."

"You did it, Sir!" Minion entered, picking them both up and spinning them like a vortex. He placed them back down and smoothed Roxanne's cowlick hair. "Sorry, don't know my own strength."

"I guess I'll have to set a dial, then." Megamind smiled. "You fantastic fish, you."

Minion smiled back warmly.

Roxanne grasped Megamind's gloved hand in hers and Minion's in the other. "Well, boys, my segment's over. Let's go home."