by Kent L. Johnson
I've been writing Captain Light emails every day, sometimes twice a day, asking for an interview. There's talk going around that ad revenue is down and reporter layoffs may be next. I need a nice big juicy story to keep me in the heart of the action, keep my finger on the pulse of the city and allow me to travel in the same circles as the movers and shakers. I love the rush of knowing something first and letting the world know.
It's been months since I started hounding Captain Light. He may not be publicly visible, but he's still newsworthy. Last week, he responded. As far as I know, I'm the only one granted an interview with him, and my colleagues at the Windy Times Examiner, the best newspaper in the Windy City, are jealous. I'm excited.
We've been driving for maybe fifty minutes. I've got a hood over my head so I can't see. Captain Light's aides, one driving and one sitting beside me, wore disguises, so I don't know who they are. I'm hoping we get there soon, I can hardly wait to see him. I hope my lipstick's not smeared and the hood didn't mess up my hair.
The car stops, and I hear the door open.
"Keep the hood on until we take it off, please," I hear the one sitting next to me say as he pushes me on my side, guiding me towards the door. Someone grabs my arm and in an instant I'm standing up and walking. We stop a couple of times and I feel like we are in an elevator cause I got that stomach sinking feeling you get as you move up. I hear a door open and then we're inside.
"Okay, turn around," I hear one of the aides say as he leads me around in circles and I feel a little dizzy.
"Ollie, Ollie, Oxenfree," he says as I come to a stop.
Someone yanks the hood from my head, pulling a bit of hair with it, ouch. My eyes see for the first time in an hour and I focus on Captain Light. He's standing three feet in front of me, no doubt about it. He stands six foot three and has that square jaw with a dimple and those rugged chiseled cheeks and flat forehead.
Something's wrong though, he's wearing sweats and a T-shirt. I was expecting his bright yellow tights with a forest green cape and gloves. His stomach doesn't look as flat, as I remember, but still, it's him. He's handsome, despite his clothes. I tug at the hem of my dress; it feels like it's riding up on me. His disguised aides walk out, leaving us alone.
"Captain Light, I am so honored," I say.
"Persistence. You, Ms. Lake, were so persistent on getting an interview that I finally gave in and granted you one." His voice is deep and clear.
"Please, call me Amanda."
"Okay, Amanda. So ask away."
I fumble with my oversize purse as I try to pull out my pad and pen. It seems like it's taking forever, I must look like a klutz. God, I wish I could have taken a look at my face and maybe freshened my makeup before meeting him. I'm single, and duh, it's Captain Light, the dreamiest man in the world, and here I am, my hand stuck on that stupid strap of the purse. Finally, the paper and pen are in my hands, just relax...
"First, why haven't we seen you in a year and a half? I mean, you just kind of disappeared."
"I wanted to take some time and let the city manage on its own. Crime was down to its lowest point ever and to tell you the truth, even a guy like me needs to have a break."
He smiles that smile he always gives the cameramen and television people: white, perfect teeth, tucked into those lips...oh, those lips, not thin, not thick and curved just right. So kissable, so dreamy...
"Okay, but why a year and a half?"
"I got used to being off. I like it. I see by the news that the police seem to be doing an outstanding job now, so I don't see any rush to go back and help again."
I look around the room; the curtains are shut, the dining room table is empty save a large vase with fresh flowers in the center. Paintings and pictures hang on the walls. A bar sits to one side of the room and on the other, a plush couch with end tables, a coffee table and a large television in front.
"Why are you hidden out here? I mean wherever here is. I mean you put a hood on me and drove me around for an hour. All you had to do was ask me not to print your location and I would never have revealed it."
"It's for your protection and others." Captain Light motions to the couch. "Where have my manners gone, would you like to take a seat? Coffee? Something to drink?"
"No thanks on the drinks, but I'll have a seat." I walk to the sofa and sit on the soft black leather and think about the ratty old lumpy couch in my own apartment. Maybe I should have become the weather girl on Channel 5, the pay they offered was like, twice a reporter's pay and all I had to do is show a bit more cleavage and tease my hair up...ahh, Captain Light.
Captain Light doesn't sit on the couch next to me, but in a chair directly in front of me. He's gazing at me with those eyes: eyes not like anyone's ever seen, not brown, not tan, but golden. His eyes glitter in the light and you can just jump into them and fall to heaven. I adjust my dress and cross my legs like a lady. I wonder if I got a run in my nylons? How will I look to this super hero?
"Anyway Amanda, I lived in the city a while ago and because of what went on there, I decided that I needed to be isolated."
"What went on?"
"Every guy with a chip on his shoulder or who was feeling inadequate, 'cause his girl just made fun of him or some tough guy wants to be tougher so they show up at my apartment, and try to pick a fight."
"Really?"
"Yes. These people don't think. Not only am I disturbing this man, but he's got incredible powers and he can literally destroy me."
"Like?"
"Come on now. I can fly. I can fly and dive underwater, lift an entire aircraft carrier out of the ocean and toss it five miles, and still make it home for an early dinner. With a flick of my finger," he raises up his hand and places his middle finger against his thumb and does and imaginary flick, "I can crush a man's skull. I can use my X-ray vision to burn a man's heart inside of him in a matter of seconds."
I write quickly, putting his examples on paper. X-ray vision? I forgot. I wonder if he can see though my dress? I squirm a little and turn myself on the couch so more hip shows, more side view, blocking...
"Did that really happen when you lived in the city?"
"Three times a week someone was trying to challenge me. I had neighbors in the apartments also. They would be disturbed by some screaming idiot looking to avenge this or prove that."
I glance at the end table and see a picture of Captain Light at a dinner party somewhere. He's not in his costume, but in a nice suit and tie. A woman is next to him, smiling. She looks familiar.
"So you move out here, wherever here is, and stop fighting crime."
"No, I've lived here for over four years now."
I get up off the couch and begin to pace around. "Mind if I pace? I seem to think of better questions this way."
"No, go ahead."
I pace over by the bar and glance at a picture on the wall: Captain Light, this time in his tights, but again, the same woman is next to him. She is so familiar, she's... she's...
"Tell me, since you haven't been fighting crime for the last year and a half, what are you doing? I mean, hobbies, projects? My readers really care about you, you're a celebrity, and they want, no that's not right, they crave information about you, no matter how trivial."
Captain Light bows his head and thinks. I wish he would look up at me, I want to see those golden eyes. While he is thinking I pace across the room, behind him, to the other wall.
"I've been working on my memoirs."
I glance up and there is another picture, this time Captain Light is not in it, but the woman is. She's dressed in an evening gown, jewels spill light from a necklace around her neck and her hair is all done up. I look closer and the dress is fantastic, probably one months wages for me. Then it hits me, I see her picture in the newspaper all the time; in the events and Who's Who sections. It's Marta Driesdale, First National Bank President's daughter. The man is richer than rich and his daughter is as beautiful as any super model in the world. I see it now: Super Hero. Super Model. Super Rich.
"Working on your memoirs? I mean, that's what every ex-president, ex-CEO, ex-whatever says after they leave or are replaced."
"It's true, I'm writing."
Captain Light faces me and he has a serious look on his face. His eyes are still beautiful, but they are almost pleading...pleading like, 'please don't ask me anymore questions about this.'
"I notice you have a lot of pictures with you and Marta Driesdale. Are you two an item? I mean, if you are, it may not be news, but it's newsworthy. Your fans don't know anything about your personal life and I think they would be interested."
Captain Light rises off his chair and stares at me. His look changes, to like what a dog looks like after he sneaks onto a kitchen counter and pilfers a piece of food; kind of scared.
"Well," I ask him again. "You and Marta?"
"You have nice breasts Amanda. I've got X-ray vision you know. That bra though...one with more lace would be much better suited to your body, which is lovely."
A flush of embarrassment hits me, but it's gone quick. I know what he's doing, catching me off guard. He hopes I'm not going to pursue this line of questioning, but he's wrong. I'm no weather girl, I'm a reporter.
"Still didn't answer my question. Are you and Marta Driesdale an item? Are you going together? Is it serious? What are your, you and her, plans?"
"No, we are not going together."
"Did you ever go together? I mean, so many pictures on your walls with her in them..."
"Yes. We were seeing each other at one time."
"How long were you seeing her?"
"We were seeing each other for over three years."
"When did you break up?"
Captain Light remains silent. The silence lasts until it's uncomfortable.
"Was it a year an a half ago?"
Captain Light bows his head and looks at the floor. "Yes, about a year an a half ago. I don't know if that's really newsworthy."
"What's newsworthy?"
"Our relationship. My relationship with Marta."
"It may or may not be, it's up to my editor. Do you have anything you wish to say to the public, Captain Light? Your admirers miss you. Your female admirers will be glad to hear that you are single, still." I wink at him, but I'm not sure he sees it, but what's on my mind is, wow, what a scoop.
"Let the public know that within six months, I'm planning to return to help the citizens of this country and in particular, the windy city."
"Thank you Captain Light. Just so I know, do you have a name for your Memoirs yet?"
"It's still a work in progress."
I stand there thinking of perhaps another question. Then he grins at me and his handsome features just make me melt. I'm torn between tearing my clothes off and begging him to make love to me on the soft couch or doing my job. The job wins. His aides place the hood back over my head and lead me to the car.
As we drive back to the city, I think that yeah, he's got feelings just like a regular person, even if he is powerful and good looking. I would love to go out with him, I could be his rebound girl?
Probably not after the headline I'm thinking of: 'Captain Light, Taken Down by a Broken Heart.' Or maybe, 'Woman Smacks Down Superhero,' either way, what a scoop.
