Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It had been about three months since Maxime escaped from the AVL prison. It had really been a piece of cake. They had underestimated him for no longer having his cockroach body...

Right now, Maxime was in the sewer he called home, just him and his cockroaches. Needless to say, his relationship with Valentina had ended some time ago.

Although he didn't admit it openly, the brunette had been a little affected by the breakup with his girlfriend. They had spent so much time together, and even if there was no longer any love between them, her absence was very noticeable.

Maxime tried not to think about it anymore and instead focus on the invention he was working on. His cockroaches were witnesses to his concentration and a certain stubbornness to finish it as soon as possible.

His revenge against Gru couldn't wait any longer...

Since their reunion at the grad party in '85, Gru had done nothing but humiliate him, locking him up in the AVL prison twice.

Needless to say, he felt very embarrassed at having been defeated by someone he considered inferior; perhaps he had underestimated him...

A murmur pulled him from his thoughts before he could start to wander.

"Uh, what? Oh, yeah, yeah, don't worry, Larry, I'm fine," the Frenchman exclaimed in a low voice, then returned his attention to his own; only the finishing touches were missing before his invention was finally ready.

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"So? How do I look?" exclaims the French villain as he activates his disguise, revealing a completely different man. If it weren't for the cockroaches seeing their boss change his appearance with their own eyes, they would have thought he was someone else.

The room filled with praise and flattery for Maxime, admiring his intelligence and cleverness. His invention proved to be very effective.

Maxime smiles widely upon hearing all the compliments and praise from his cockroaches; he loved it when others praised him.

"Very effective, don't you think? Gru will definitely never think it's me."

His mind begins to wander to fictional scenarios where his plan is a resounding success, finally destroying Gru and everything he loves. God, he can't wait any longer.

"Tomorrow will mark the beginning of the first phase of our plan..."

Chapter Text

It was a seemingly normal day in the life of Felonius Gru. After Maxime, no villain threatened his life or any of his loved ones', so for the moment, Gru could rest easy, dealing with his day-to-day problems.

Fatherhood is something he never thought he'd enjoy so much. Now, with the newest member in his family, he can't be more than happy; he definitely feels like he can't do anything else.

Well, maybe there's something...

Gru was never a person who had many friends. Ever since he was a child, people just walked away from him. His only friends back then were Wild Knukles and Dr. Nefario.

Although he now has Dru and Lucy, his brother and wife, respectively, to talk to and converse with, it's hard to see them that way.

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Now, Gru was grocery shopping with Jr. in his fanny pack. The girls were at school, and Lucy was on an AVL mission, so it was just Gru and Jr.

Gru was looking at the shopping list when he felt his cart crash into someone else. Embarrassed, he quickly apologized.

"Oh! I'm so sorry, I didn't see you..." Gru exclaimed, staring at the man in front of him, somewhat embarrassed and equally confused. He swore he hadn't seen anyone in front of him.

"Oh, don't worry, it was an accident," the man said, a friendly smile appearing on his lips. After a while, the man seemed to lean closer to Gru, his gaze expectant.

"Wait, aren't you... Felonius Gru?" the man asks, looking at him with curious eyes.

Gru raises an eyebrow in surprise and confusion. "Yes... That's right, do you know who I am?"

"Oh my god, of course you do. Weren't you the one who stopped Balthazar Bratt during his robbery in Hollywood?" The man looks increasingly excited and expectant at Gru's words.

Gru's surprise increases even more at that; he'd never heard anyone acknowledge him for that before, it was a... pleasant surprise.

"Uhh yeah, I... I didn't think anyone still remembered that."

"How could I forget? It was literally the trending topic for weeks, though, I don't think you got the credit you deserved." The man exclaims, before extending his hand towards Gru and saying in a friendly tone.

"By the way, I'm Michael. It's really nice to meet you, Mr. Gru," Michael exclaims with a charming smile.

Gru hesitated for a few moments, but seeing no malice in Michael's eyes, he finally gave in to the greeting, returning it.

"The pleasure is mine, Michael, it's... kind of surprising that someone recognizes me, you know?" Gru exclaims, unused to receiving these compliments.

"Well! What can I say? It would be impossible not to recognize you. Let me tell you, I'm a big fan of yours. Not just anyone could take on a villain like Bratt, and if I'm not mistaken, I remember reading something about Vector and the Macho. Is it true you sent them to jail?"

This guy is full of surprises, Gru thought, since I didn't think this guy would admit to his confrontations with old enemies.

"Yeah... I did. I see you're fully knowledgeable on the subject," Gru says, raising an eyebrow.

Michael blushes slightly, seemingly being exposed to his strange and comprehensive knowledge on the subject.

 "Well... I may be somewhat fascinated by the world of villains, b-but I've never been involved, just informed, don't put me in jail." Michael jokes, laughing slightly.

Gru also smiles slightly, then says, "Well, the further away you are, the better. Nothing good can come from villains, believe me."

"I can imagine..." Michael says, then his gaze falls on Jr., smiling sweetly as he looks at him closely.

"Awww, is that your son? He's so adorable."

Gru blushes slightly, but smiles and nods, taking his baby's hand as he proudly says,

"Oh! Yes, he is, he's Jr."

"Yes, I can see the resemblance," Michael says with a soft smile, while cuddling Jr.

The latter squints at the new guy, as if he's seen him somewhere else, but seems to ignore it as soon as Michael cuddles him.

 Gru watches this and is also somewhat shocked. Jr. wasn't easily touched, and the fact that this new man did so so easily is at least something to write home about. "I see you two getting along..."

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The rest of the time at the supermarket, Gru spent his time talking to Michael. Or rather, Gru continued walking and shopping while Michael followed him and talked nonstop.

Despite this, Gru didn't really mind the chatter; he found something strangely familiar, a comfort he hadn't felt in a long time.

So Gru just listened to Michael, making a few comments from time to time.

Finally, it was time to leave, but before he did, Michael approached Gru and said,

"You know, Gru? It was really fun talking. Can we exchange numbers? Maybe we can do it again sometime..."

Gru is a little surprised again, but he won't deny that the idea excites him a little, so he quickly says with a smile.

"Of course, Michael, I'd like that..."

The two men exchange numbers and say their goodbyes, agreeing to talk later.

Gru leaves the supermarket with a strange feeling in his chest, a strange warmth. Has he finally found a friend?

Meanwhile, Michael walks away. Once far enough away, he deactivates his watch, revealing his true form, Maxime Le Mal, which he isn't afraid to hide.

He looks at Gru's number written on the paper and a wicked smile spreads across his lips.

"Phase one of my plan, done..."