Excerpt Monday: Phenomenal Woman

So…superheroes. Apparently they’re the next big thing. Which, as a huge XMen/Spiderman/Superman/etc fan, is more than fine with me. I decided to give into a particularly persistent plot turtle with a couple of ‘I don’t give a rat’s ass” characters who just so happen to be more than ordinary people. It was a free flowing writing excercise and even though I just met my characters a day or two ago, I love ‘em already.  

The female lead’s inspired by Maya Angelou’s Phenomenal Woman poem. I tried to incorporate the stipulations (mentioning car, rain, and candles) as given by one of Absolute Write’s Halloween challenges (much harder than it looks!). 

Welcome to the special Halloween Full Reads for Excerpt Monday. This month, in addition to our typical excerpt week, we’re having a week of full stories written by several fabulous EM writers.
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It was a well placed kick, that much was certain, but what shocked Phenomenal as she thudded to the ground, landing with an oomph, was the glance of pity that flashed on Thor’s face. The look flitted away just as quickly as it appeared, but it was more than enough to piss Phenomenal off.

“No. Don’t give me that look.”  She was the one with super speed and agility. She was a superhero, damn it. She gave others those looks of pity, she didn’t receive them. “It doesn’t work like that, buddy.”

Phenomenal kicked off the ground, lifting one steel toed boot and cuffed Thor under the chin, springing backwards onto her hands and then to her feet. Thor flew back and the amulet he had stolen earlier flew up into the air, arcing far over both their heads.

Phenomenal hesitated for a moment. Nothing would please her more than taking a few moments to stomp gleefully on Thor’s hands. Beat him up a little more. Tie him up, leave him propped up against the shiny black car parked a few feet away. Let the cops deal with him. Lord knows Thor was a wanted man. He was down for the moment, she could already see him rolling to his side, coughing.

On the other hand, if the amulet hit the ground, it’d break and this whole confrontation on a rainy Halloween night would have been for nothing. Damn.

As if reading her thoughts, or at least realizing what her other choice could be, Thor wheezed out, “Don’t let it break.”

“Don’t tell me what to do.” Her reply was automatic, but he was right and she darted forward, hands cupped towards the darkened sky. The chain fell into her waiting palms. Safe.

No sooner had the word crossed her mind, a change in the wind alerted her that Thor was up and charging straight at her. Phenomenal turned, preparing to crouch, her mind already plotting her next move, but before she could move, he pinned her to the trunk of a wide tree, holding her wrists tight over her head. Phenomenal tried to shift and his grip tightened. He squeezed her wrists, applying more and more pressure until the amulet dropped from her grip.

“You know, we could make a really great team.” Thor suggested, pocketing the amulet. “Let Uncle Sam find some other hero to pick up the slack.”

“I know your type. Don’t start with me.”

“My type?” He grinned. “Now I’m curious. What exactly is my type to you?”

There it was. That annoying little smirk of his. The same little grin that made her heart beat a little faster, made her think about what could’ve been – what could be — if she just accepted his underlying suggestion. His languid invitation, even now, was still open. He would wait for her to come on her own accord. That was his style. If he wanted a woman, she was sure he could get a willing one.

Phenomenal’s eyes narrowed. Shit, girl. That was the kind of thing that would get her killed if she wasn’t careful. Still, she wondered briefly if she could distract him by wrapping her legs around his hips and twisting away. It was a method she had used when combating other villains, enemies of the state. But none of them matched the same intense drive, desire for power Thor clearly claimed as his own.

It was…hot. Phenomenal swore again. “You’ve got the necklace. Let go of me.”

“But I like the way we fit together here.” Thor’s voice was deep, a rumbling growl. He didn’t release her, but his hold slacked. If she wanted to get away she could.

So why am I still standing here? A roar filled her belly as he leaned closer, their noses almost touching. She could feel his breath on her face. Oh, God. She laughed, a short derisive bark, trying to mask the discomfort and desire that she could feel growing alarmingly fast in the pit of her stomach. “Have you been watching RENT? You want to light my candle? Is that it?”

That same damn smirk. “I’ll light any candle you want me to, baby.”

 
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