Fanfic : Cherries & Porcupines (part 2)
Here's the second part of my fic!
Includes a bit of Hal's trial, some cuddling and a serious discussion between Roxanne and her new camera girl.
Whispers rose from the audience. They couldn’t believe what they had just heard. Only Hal’s court-appointed lawyer, Megamind, Minion and Roxanne weren’t surprised.
“So you are saying Megamind gave you your superpowers before taking them away from you?” He asked.
“Yes”, Hal replied. “At first he fooled me into thinking he was someone else, but I saw right through that little blue twerp’s disguise of course.”
A few minutes later, it was Megamind’s turn to testify. The room went silent again. Had Roxanne not been so worried about how the whole thing could turn out for him, she would have smiled at the sharp contrast between the white cape he was wearing and his black and blue attire underneath. Despite replacing his usual cape and collar with Metro Man’s, he didn’t forget his own fashion sense completely.
“Mr.Megamind, do you confirm what Hal Stewart has just said? Did you give this man superpowers?”
The alien felt nervous, of course, but this was like stage fright, and years of appearing on screen or directly in front of large crowds during each one of his evil plans had taught him how to deal with it. Plus, he was expecting this question and had been preparing his answer since he had entered the courthouse.
“This isn’t my tree-al, your honor”, he pointed out. “Actually, I’ve never ever been on tree-al. Metro Man brought me back to jail, I was given one more sentence, and that was it.”
The audience whispered again. Roxanne’s jaw dropped. She couldn’t help but whisper too. “Why didn’t he tell me?!” she said to herself.
The former villain continued :
“I deciphered Metro Man’s DNA to find out the source of his awesome powers and give them to someone. Who else could have achieved such a thing so quickly? However, I have to admit Mr.Stewart was infused by accident.” They don’t need to know Roxanne was there, he thought. “But since every villain needs a hero to fight, I used a disguise to train him to be Metrocity’s new hero. I knew he wasn’t very intelligent, but I didn’t know he’d be dim-witted enough to destroy the whole city just because one woman rejected him. And contrary to what he said, he didn’t know who really gave him his powers before he had already turned evil.”
The alien was lucky Hal didn’t have laser vision anymore, or his glare would have melted his giant blue head instantly.
“I made this man a hero. I’ve never indented for him to become the bad guy. This was his own choice. And when he was destroying the city and threatening Ro… Miss Ritchi’s life, I chose to become the defender Metrocity needs. It is the best way to repair my past mistakes.”
After further explanations and deliberations, Hal was found guilty and brought back to jail. Megamind found amusing to offer him his old cell. However, he knew that even though Hal was the one to be convicted, he was the one who would have to seek people’s forgiveness.
Maddy, who was waiting outside the whole time since cameras weren’t allowed in the courtroom, paused the game she was playing on her phone when she saw Roxanne approaching the news van. She stepped out of the vehicle and opened the door for the reporter.
“Hello good-looking” she said cheerfully, “need a lift?”
The reporter smiled. “Thanks Maddy, but I think I’ll…” she looked back at the courthouse to see Metro City’s very own blue alien pass the door and be instantly surrounded by other journalists. “He’s outside ; go get the camera and the mike right now!”
Megamind kept repeating he had nothing more to say, but those people kept asking questions after questions regardless. How did Metro Man deal with that kind of things every day?
Then, among tons of questions about Tighten and some others about the nature of his relation with Roxanne Ritchi, he heard a familiar voice. The voice of a certain reporter for KMCP News 8.
“You mentioned you’ve never been on trial. Can you explain this point a bit further?”
He turned around to face Roxanne and her microphone. She was the only reporter he was willing to talk to right now.
“They didn’t bother deliberating. Or anything else. They just gave their verdict directly.”
“Why?”
The former villain sighed. It was the first time she had ever seen him sigh in public.
“The answer to your question is very simple, Miss Ritchi : on Earth, only humans or people who are able to pass as humans can have any constitutional right.”
Just like all the other people around, Roxanne was taken aback by his answer. She had never seen him so bitter before. However, it inspired her a new question :
“Are you implying you’ve been victim of some kind of racism?”
“I… guess so?” he replied. “I mean, yes, I think you can put it that way.”
Roxanne and Megamind were both very busy the following week, to the point they barely saw each other. He had told her on the phone (she had offered him a new one) he was planning on getting rid of the past (how exactly, he didn’t mention) and then going with Minion on their first patrol as the defenders of “Metrocity” next Monday, as his new job as a hero officially started on that day.
Meanwhile, Roxanne was given lots of reports to do, none of them Megamind related. Though her boss didn’t make a single comment, she figured out he certainly doubted her objectivity on the matter. Protesting would only have made things worse. It was probably better to wait a little more and let him realise the new hero would certainly refuse to give interviews to anyone other than Roxanne. He proved it in front of the courthouse. Probably not his smartest move, as his not answering to any question other than hers fed the rumours about their relation.
It’s also my fault, she thought. I knew he didn’t want to talk to the others and I knew he can’t refuse me anything.
When Monday arrived and Roxanne heard about a giant robot in the outskirts of the city, where she knew Megamind’s lair was, her first reaction was to frantically grab her cell phone; then she realised her boyfriend must be fighting the robot so calling him now wasn’t the best thing to do.
The bright light of the reformed villain’s death ray was seen later, and the giant robot vanished. What exactly happened?
She found out later that day, or actually early the day after, as it was way past midnight now. But she couldn’t sleep.
Abandoning all hopes of sleeping, Roxanne left her bedroom and decided to get some fresh air on the balcony, wearing only a blue nightgown and pink slippers.
After a few minutes, she could hear the sound of a motorbike approaching. Then, she saw it : it was the overbike, ridden by a certain blue man driving with one hand and holding a vase full of white roses in the other. He wasn’t wearing Metro Man’s old cape anymore, but his trademark high collar and black and blue cape again. She stepped aside to let him land on the balcony next to her.
“My original plan was to leave them here so you’d find them you wake up”, he told her, “but since you’re awake, giving them to you directly would be better, right?”
He handed Roxanne the vase and she happily took it. Those flowers were so beautiful, almost perfect. She smiled from ear to hear.
“That’s so sweet of you, dear. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” That’s the appropriate response to a thanks, right?
“I’m surprised you didn’t get me blue flowers” she laughed.
“I would have if they had any blue roses” Megamind explained.
“Let’s put them inside, shall we?” Roxanne said. “Please come in!”
He followed her as she went back to her apartment and put the flowers in the middle of the table. Then, she turned around and kissed him briefly before asking him how his first day as the official defender of Metro City went. As they covered the overbike with a large bed sheet, he started telling her about everything that happened that day ; however he was very soon interrupted :
“Wait a minute, you organised a yard sale in your lair? That’s what you meant by ‘I’ll get rid of the past’?”
“…It might not have been my best idea.”
This was the closest he could get to admitting this was his worst idea since he decided to train Titan.
“Now everyone knows where your lair is!”
Megamind may be able to hide some emotions such as stage fright from large crowds, but he couldn’t hide his “oh crap” face from Roxanne.
“Well… I have lots of secondary lairs no-one knows about! Minion and I can always settle down in one of them if needed, which won’t happen because I will reinforce the sessurity of the main lair and -“
“Ok, ok, enough of that” the human interrupted. “And it’s ‘security’ by way.”
“I knew this!” the new hero pouted.
The reporter sat on her couch and invited him to join her.
“Before something really bad happens to your not-so-secret hideout, would you please explain to me what were that giant robot and the explosions that were seen near it earlier? If the villains you’ll have to face have weapons like this one, we’re in troubles.”
“It was the old evil me.”
“What?”
“Let me explain…”
When Roxanne woke up, she was still cuddling with Megamind on the couch. She couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear. Not so long ago, if someone had told her something like this would happen, she would have called them crazy. And yet, the blue man was her boyfriend now, though it was too soon to officially reveal their relationship and confirm the rumours.
The alien opened his eyes as well, saw the human’s smile and smiled back at her. He still couldn’t believe she had forgiven him. He was still astonished she was willing to be with him. His greatest fear was that this relationship wouldn’t last. That he would lose her again.
When she pressed her lips against his, he was afraid it could be the last time she did so.
When she broke the kiss, they spoke in unison :
“I love you.”
“You… you really love me?” Megamind asked.
“Of course I do. Don’t you ever doubt it again” Roxanne replied while cupping his face with her hand. She had never seen him so happy.
He responded by running his fingers through her hair. I’m glad I took those gloves off…
As they were about to kiss again, the human’s cell phone rang. Reluctantly, she left her boyfriend’s arms to answer it. Maddy’s name was on the screen, and suddenly Roxanne realised she was already late for work. She pressed the green button.
“Ollo - I mean, hello!”
Oh, great, I’m picking up his mispronunciations now…
Much to her relief, the camera girl didn’t comment on it.
“Hello Roxanne. It’s the first time you’re late since we’ve started working together and -”
“I know, I was… my alarm clock didn’t go off. I’m in my car right now! Tell the boss I’m sorry!”
“Will do! ‘Just wanted to warn you : he’s in a bad mood this morning. Something about the coffee machine not working properly. See ya later!”
“Thanks for the warning Maddy. See you at the office!”
She hung up, rushed to her bedroom and got dressed as fast as she could. Meanwhile, Megamind picked up his gloves, cape and collar and put them on.
Roxanne kissed him goodbye and promised to visit him at his lair after work. Then, she left the apartment.
Let’s go back to Evil Lair, the alien thought. Minion and I have lots of work to do there.
Later that day, Roxanne and Maddy were in the news van, driving towards the location of their next report. From time to time, they could spot two or three brain-bots patrolling the sky, making sure the streets were safe. From the driver’s seat, the camera girl suddenly spoke :
“Now that I think about it, have you talked to Megamind about that webcomic idea?”
“Wha- Oh, the webcomic! With everything that happened lately, I completely forgot! I’m sorry…”
“No worries. You can always mention it some other time. No need to hurry.”
“Plus, it’s not like I see him everyday…”
“Roxanne, everyone knows there’s something between you two. And you know they know. And dating the one who killed your ex-boyfriend -”
“Metro Man never was my boyfriend”, Roxanne interrupted. She also wanted to tell the woman in black Wayne wasn’t actually dead, but she promised to keep it secret.
“He wasn’t?”
“Everyone thought he was. But we never were a couple. Beside, when we saw his skeleton, Megamind was as shocked as everyone else, maybe even more. He never expected his plan to work. It was an accident”
“Ok, ok, if you say so.” Maddy shrugged. “It’s your choice. I just hope you won’t have to regret it.”
“I won’t.”
Maddy’s grey eyes glanced at Roxanne then stared at the road in front of her again. The reporter’s expression and the way she spoke those two words made the message perfectly clear.
“You really love him, don’t you.”
It wasn’t a question : the camera girl just stated a fact. Roxanne nodded.
“But even if our relationship were made official, we wouldn’t be able to go on a normal date outside because… well… he’s not really…” she muttered, thinking aloud.
“Oh, believe me Roxanne, I know what it is to have to hide.”
“What could you possibly be hiding?”
“Many things. People are so judgmental. They’ll constantly judge you based on what you look like, what you wear, what you do, who you love or what you are. Heck, I can’t even do simple things such as wearing my normal clothes to work. If they can’t accept something as small as this, I’m certainly not going to reveal anything else about myself.”
Roxanne remained silent for a moment, not sure if she could ask Maddy about the “many things” right now or not. Maybe it would be wiser to start with what she had already mentioned.
“Those aren’t your normal clothes?”
“Number one metalhead and hardrocker problem : few people will hire you if you just walk in wearing your favorite clothes”, the camera girl replied. “I’m already lucky they let me wear all blacks.”
“And what if you came to work wearing whatever you want tomorrow? I’ll make sure you won’t get fired or anything. Despite all the rumors and all, I’m still KMCP’s most famous reporter. The audience ratings would drop if I left and the boss knows it. Plus, you don’t even appear on screen anyway, who cares about the way you dress?”
“You’d do that for me?”
“Why not? Why would you have to care about what other people think?”
As Roxanne was speaking, the van arrived at destination.
I'm currently working on part three! I actually have no idea how many parts there will be.
Includes a bit of Hal's trial, some cuddling and a serious discussion between Roxanne and her new camera girl.
Whispers rose from the audience. They couldn’t believe what they had just heard. Only Hal’s court-appointed lawyer, Megamind, Minion and Roxanne weren’t surprised.
“So you are saying Megamind gave you your superpowers before taking them away from you?” He asked.
“Yes”, Hal replied. “At first he fooled me into thinking he was someone else, but I saw right through that little blue twerp’s disguise of course.”
A few minutes later, it was Megamind’s turn to testify. The room went silent again. Had Roxanne not been so worried about how the whole thing could turn out for him, she would have smiled at the sharp contrast between the white cape he was wearing and his black and blue attire underneath. Despite replacing his usual cape and collar with Metro Man’s, he didn’t forget his own fashion sense completely.
“Mr.Megamind, do you confirm what Hal Stewart has just said? Did you give this man superpowers?”
The alien felt nervous, of course, but this was like stage fright, and years of appearing on screen or directly in front of large crowds during each one of his evil plans had taught him how to deal with it. Plus, he was expecting this question and had been preparing his answer since he had entered the courthouse.
“This isn’t my tree-al, your honor”, he pointed out. “Actually, I’ve never ever been on tree-al. Metro Man brought me back to jail, I was given one more sentence, and that was it.”
The audience whispered again. Roxanne’s jaw dropped. She couldn’t help but whisper too. “Why didn’t he tell me?!” she said to herself.
The former villain continued :
“I deciphered Metro Man’s DNA to find out the source of his awesome powers and give them to someone. Who else could have achieved such a thing so quickly? However, I have to admit Mr.Stewart was infused by accident.” They don’t need to know Roxanne was there, he thought. “But since every villain needs a hero to fight, I used a disguise to train him to be Metrocity’s new hero. I knew he wasn’t very intelligent, but I didn’t know he’d be dim-witted enough to destroy the whole city just because one woman rejected him. And contrary to what he said, he didn’t know who really gave him his powers before he had already turned evil.”
The alien was lucky Hal didn’t have laser vision anymore, or his glare would have melted his giant blue head instantly.
“I made this man a hero. I’ve never indented for him to become the bad guy. This was his own choice. And when he was destroying the city and threatening Ro… Miss Ritchi’s life, I chose to become the defender Metrocity needs. It is the best way to repair my past mistakes.”
After further explanations and deliberations, Hal was found guilty and brought back to jail. Megamind found amusing to offer him his old cell. However, he knew that even though Hal was the one to be convicted, he was the one who would have to seek people’s forgiveness.
Maddy, who was waiting outside the whole time since cameras weren’t allowed in the courtroom, paused the game she was playing on her phone when she saw Roxanne approaching the news van. She stepped out of the vehicle and opened the door for the reporter.
“Hello good-looking” she said cheerfully, “need a lift?”
The reporter smiled. “Thanks Maddy, but I think I’ll…” she looked back at the courthouse to see Metro City’s very own blue alien pass the door and be instantly surrounded by other journalists. “He’s outside ; go get the camera and the mike right now!”
Megamind kept repeating he had nothing more to say, but those people kept asking questions after questions regardless. How did Metro Man deal with that kind of things every day?
Then, among tons of questions about Tighten and some others about the nature of his relation with Roxanne Ritchi, he heard a familiar voice. The voice of a certain reporter for KMCP News 8.
“You mentioned you’ve never been on trial. Can you explain this point a bit further?”
He turned around to face Roxanne and her microphone. She was the only reporter he was willing to talk to right now.
“They didn’t bother deliberating. Or anything else. They just gave their verdict directly.”
“Why?”
The former villain sighed. It was the first time she had ever seen him sigh in public.
“The answer to your question is very simple, Miss Ritchi : on Earth, only humans or people who are able to pass as humans can have any constitutional right.”
Just like all the other people around, Roxanne was taken aback by his answer. She had never seen him so bitter before. However, it inspired her a new question :
“Are you implying you’ve been victim of some kind of racism?”
“I… guess so?” he replied. “I mean, yes, I think you can put it that way.”
Roxanne and Megamind were both very busy the following week, to the point they barely saw each other. He had told her on the phone (she had offered him a new one) he was planning on getting rid of the past (how exactly, he didn’t mention) and then going with Minion on their first patrol as the defenders of “Metrocity” next Monday, as his new job as a hero officially started on that day.
Meanwhile, Roxanne was given lots of reports to do, none of them Megamind related. Though her boss didn’t make a single comment, she figured out he certainly doubted her objectivity on the matter. Protesting would only have made things worse. It was probably better to wait a little more and let him realise the new hero would certainly refuse to give interviews to anyone other than Roxanne. He proved it in front of the courthouse. Probably not his smartest move, as his not answering to any question other than hers fed the rumours about their relation.
It’s also my fault, she thought. I knew he didn’t want to talk to the others and I knew he can’t refuse me anything.
When Monday arrived and Roxanne heard about a giant robot in the outskirts of the city, where she knew Megamind’s lair was, her first reaction was to frantically grab her cell phone; then she realised her boyfriend must be fighting the robot so calling him now wasn’t the best thing to do.
The bright light of the reformed villain’s death ray was seen later, and the giant robot vanished. What exactly happened?
She found out later that day, or actually early the day after, as it was way past midnight now. But she couldn’t sleep.
Abandoning all hopes of sleeping, Roxanne left her bedroom and decided to get some fresh air on the balcony, wearing only a blue nightgown and pink slippers.
After a few minutes, she could hear the sound of a motorbike approaching. Then, she saw it : it was the overbike, ridden by a certain blue man driving with one hand and holding a vase full of white roses in the other. He wasn’t wearing Metro Man’s old cape anymore, but his trademark high collar and black and blue cape again. She stepped aside to let him land on the balcony next to her.
“My original plan was to leave them here so you’d find them you wake up”, he told her, “but since you’re awake, giving them to you directly would be better, right?”
He handed Roxanne the vase and she happily took it. Those flowers were so beautiful, almost perfect. She smiled from ear to hear.
“That’s so sweet of you, dear. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” That’s the appropriate response to a thanks, right?
“I’m surprised you didn’t get me blue flowers” she laughed.
“I would have if they had any blue roses” Megamind explained.
“Let’s put them inside, shall we?” Roxanne said. “Please come in!”
He followed her as she went back to her apartment and put the flowers in the middle of the table. Then, she turned around and kissed him briefly before asking him how his first day as the official defender of Metro City went. As they covered the overbike with a large bed sheet, he started telling her about everything that happened that day ; however he was very soon interrupted :
“Wait a minute, you organised a yard sale in your lair? That’s what you meant by ‘I’ll get rid of the past’?”
“…It might not have been my best idea.”
This was the closest he could get to admitting this was his worst idea since he decided to train Titan.
“Now everyone knows where your lair is!”
Megamind may be able to hide some emotions such as stage fright from large crowds, but he couldn’t hide his “oh crap” face from Roxanne.
“Well… I have lots of secondary lairs no-one knows about! Minion and I can always settle down in one of them if needed, which won’t happen because I will reinforce the sessurity of the main lair and -“
“Ok, ok, enough of that” the human interrupted. “And it’s ‘security’ by way.”
“I knew this!” the new hero pouted.
The reporter sat on her couch and invited him to join her.
“Before something really bad happens to your not-so-secret hideout, would you please explain to me what were that giant robot and the explosions that were seen near it earlier? If the villains you’ll have to face have weapons like this one, we’re in troubles.”
“It was the old evil me.”
“What?”
“Let me explain…”
When Roxanne woke up, she was still cuddling with Megamind on the couch. She couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear. Not so long ago, if someone had told her something like this would happen, she would have called them crazy. And yet, the blue man was her boyfriend now, though it was too soon to officially reveal their relationship and confirm the rumours.
The alien opened his eyes as well, saw the human’s smile and smiled back at her. He still couldn’t believe she had forgiven him. He was still astonished she was willing to be with him. His greatest fear was that this relationship wouldn’t last. That he would lose her again.
When she pressed her lips against his, he was afraid it could be the last time she did so.
When she broke the kiss, they spoke in unison :
“I love you.”
“You… you really love me?” Megamind asked.
“Of course I do. Don’t you ever doubt it again” Roxanne replied while cupping his face with her hand. She had never seen him so happy.
He responded by running his fingers through her hair. I’m glad I took those gloves off…
As they were about to kiss again, the human’s cell phone rang. Reluctantly, she left her boyfriend’s arms to answer it. Maddy’s name was on the screen, and suddenly Roxanne realised she was already late for work. She pressed the green button.
“Ollo - I mean, hello!”
Oh, great, I’m picking up his mispronunciations now…
Much to her relief, the camera girl didn’t comment on it.
“Hello Roxanne. It’s the first time you’re late since we’ve started working together and -”
“I know, I was… my alarm clock didn’t go off. I’m in my car right now! Tell the boss I’m sorry!”
“Will do! ‘Just wanted to warn you : he’s in a bad mood this morning. Something about the coffee machine not working properly. See ya later!”
“Thanks for the warning Maddy. See you at the office!”
She hung up, rushed to her bedroom and got dressed as fast as she could. Meanwhile, Megamind picked up his gloves, cape and collar and put them on.
Roxanne kissed him goodbye and promised to visit him at his lair after work. Then, she left the apartment.
Let’s go back to Evil Lair, the alien thought. Minion and I have lots of work to do there.
Later that day, Roxanne and Maddy were in the news van, driving towards the location of their next report. From time to time, they could spot two or three brain-bots patrolling the sky, making sure the streets were safe. From the driver’s seat, the camera girl suddenly spoke :
“Now that I think about it, have you talked to Megamind about that webcomic idea?”
“Wha- Oh, the webcomic! With everything that happened lately, I completely forgot! I’m sorry…”
“No worries. You can always mention it some other time. No need to hurry.”
“Plus, it’s not like I see him everyday…”
“Roxanne, everyone knows there’s something between you two. And you know they know. And dating the one who killed your ex-boyfriend -”
“Metro Man never was my boyfriend”, Roxanne interrupted. She also wanted to tell the woman in black Wayne wasn’t actually dead, but she promised to keep it secret.
“He wasn’t?”
“Everyone thought he was. But we never were a couple. Beside, when we saw his skeleton, Megamind was as shocked as everyone else, maybe even more. He never expected his plan to work. It was an accident”
“Ok, ok, if you say so.” Maddy shrugged. “It’s your choice. I just hope you won’t have to regret it.”
“I won’t.”
Maddy’s grey eyes glanced at Roxanne then stared at the road in front of her again. The reporter’s expression and the way she spoke those two words made the message perfectly clear.
“You really love him, don’t you.”
It wasn’t a question : the camera girl just stated a fact. Roxanne nodded.
“But even if our relationship were made official, we wouldn’t be able to go on a normal date outside because… well… he’s not really…” she muttered, thinking aloud.
“Oh, believe me Roxanne, I know what it is to have to hide.”
“What could you possibly be hiding?”
“Many things. People are so judgmental. They’ll constantly judge you based on what you look like, what you wear, what you do, who you love or what you are. Heck, I can’t even do simple things such as wearing my normal clothes to work. If they can’t accept something as small as this, I’m certainly not going to reveal anything else about myself.”
Roxanne remained silent for a moment, not sure if she could ask Maddy about the “many things” right now or not. Maybe it would be wiser to start with what she had already mentioned.
“Those aren’t your normal clothes?”
“Number one metalhead and hardrocker problem : few people will hire you if you just walk in wearing your favorite clothes”, the camera girl replied. “I’m already lucky they let me wear all blacks.”
“And what if you came to work wearing whatever you want tomorrow? I’ll make sure you won’t get fired or anything. Despite all the rumors and all, I’m still KMCP’s most famous reporter. The audience ratings would drop if I left and the boss knows it. Plus, you don’t even appear on screen anyway, who cares about the way you dress?”
“You’d do that for me?”
“Why not? Why would you have to care about what other people think?”
As Roxanne was speaking, the van arrived at destination.
I'm currently working on part three! I actually have no idea how many parts there will be.