Tales of Dragoness and Husbandman

Richard couldn’t remember the last time he was so satisfied with his life. Holding Bethany’s hand, even while walking out of Sears into the parking lot, always felt new and exciting. When he squeezed her soft hand, she squeezed back, and the corners of her smile curved even more. Richard knew that she was hiding who she really was. He spent so many blissful hours trying to memorize each part of her face, that once he saw the photos on the news, she might as well had not been wearing the small mask that hid her eyes. He was in love with the Dragoness, Protector of Minneapolis and Honorary Member of the Hero Commission, but he did not care about titles.

When Richard realized who Bethany really was, he was shocked. But, he still felt that tingle when he saw her, starting in his chest and rising to his throat. He had his share of girlfriends in the past, but none of them even came close to Bethany. They had only been dating for a few months, but he knew it was going to last. Richard was the kind of man that knew what he wanted, and he wanted to stay next to Bethany as long as possible.

His friends didn’t understand what he saw in her and all he could say was that she had some energy to her that he couldn’t describe. Likewise, his co-workers at the Home Depot Gardening Center had no idea why their usually quiet workmate all of a sudden couldn’t shut up. “I think her energy is infectious,” he said.

As they were loading Richard’s Ford pick-up truck, a shadow appeared over him. Richard did not look up. He reasoned that the weather report he saw last night was wrong. Bethany, however, was looking up, eyes narrowed and fists clenched. Richard closed the tailgate and dusted off his hands.

“What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?” said Richard.

“What’s gotten into her, little man,” said a voice from above, “is that her current fantasy is over.”

Richard turned to Bethany for some kind of explanation, but only saw her face frozen in anger. As the man slowly floated to the ground Bethany could only muster to say the word “Duke”.

‘Duke? Like The Duke of Descent? The super villain?’ Richard thought.

The Duke gently floated down to Richard’s pick-up truck, stepping on invisible stairs has he descended. “Why yes, my dear, you didn’t think I would let you go along in this charade for too long, did you?” said The Duke, “I’ve exposed all of your secret lives before this, it’s become one of my favorite pastimes.”

Bethany hunched her back and began to grit her teeth. She wanted to attack Duke head-on; not many people had seen him yet and there might be a chance to save Richard. Usually she didn’t get involved with anyone. The Duke had exposed her three times before this point. He loved to make it a game and toy with her loved ones even after she left to start a new life. After killing her last boyfriend, the Duke said that if her secret identity dies, so should everyone attached to it. Bethany couldn’t see that happen to Richard, not to anyone else.

Bethany changed her stance as if to charge at Duke. But he held up his hand and spoke in whisper.

“I wouldn’t do that Claudia—Her real name is Claudia, by the way, I suppose she hadn’t told you,” he said turning to Richard and then turning back, “You know what will happen to your new boy-toy if you do.”

Claudia lowered her head, her brown hair covering all but the tip of her sharp nose. Richard was stunned by what was going on. In all of the stories about the Dragoness he had never heard about her secret identities being exposed. Richard stopped looking at the Duke and turned to Bethany or Claudia or whatever she wanted to call herself. All he could see is the woman that he held so tightly as they danced to a slow song on their second date. The woman whose eyes he stared into and tried to see the words she was thinking at that moment.

“What do you want?” Claudia finally said.

“Want? Now that is a perfect question. You rarely ask that, you know? What I want right now if for you to listen.”

The Duke took a step forward enough that he was looking down at Claudia. He folded his arms over the dark blue “V” on his otherwise black outfit and quickly shook his head to move a fallen hair. Richard couldn’t help but think that he was exactly as tall as he imagined and how that never seems to happen. The Duke softly smirked and started to speak.

“The other day I was planning your latest exposure and I started to wonder why I do such a thing. Not that I feel remorse, but why I focus so much energy on you, not only in this but our fights in general. I could easily find another hero to knock around, the Hero Commission is crawling with them these days, or I could drop off the scene and take advantage of some third world country. But, it hit me. It’s so clear. I hate how ridiculous you are. You scurry around in that stupid outfit and hit things for a living. There is no subtlety to your adventures.

“You know your only slightly more respected than a pin-up girl, right? Something for teenage boys to drool over. If you save one of their lives they are not grateful, they are only praying that there is some sort of extra.”

At that he gave a little wink and nudged the air with his right elbow. Claudia’s head was still down, but now she was shaking.

“I hate you because you aren’t worth being called a hero. You’re just a slu—,”

“You watch your mouth you son-of-a-bitch!” said Richard before he even realized the words were coming out of his mouth.

Claudia and Duke turned their heads and looked at Richard. The Duke was genially surprised and looked almost excited. Richard stepped in front of Claudia and guided her behind him with his left hand.

“How dare you talk to any lady like that. I know you are this tough super villain, but that gives you no right to say those things about my girlfriend. I don’t care what you think, my mother taught me right, you don’t ever talk about a woman like that, even if you don’t like them.”

The Duke was speechless at the idiotic bravery he was witnessing. He stepped closer and was only slightly taller than Richard, but that was enough for him. Richard didn’t move, his jaw tight and his fist clenched like Claudia’s earlier, forgetting that he was trying to stare down someone that could level a building.

The Duke pulled back his fist and held it at eye level. He said to himself, “this will be fun”, and let his fist fly forward. Richard closed his eyes and wondered what heaven will be like.

But he was left guessing. There was no pain, but now he could hear the Duke struggling and feel that Claudia was pressed up against him. He opened his eyes and saw Claudia’s arm. She had extended her arm and caught Duke’s fist before it crashed into Richard’s left cheek. The Duke was straining to push forward, but was getting nowhere. It was then that Claudia pulled the Duke to her left, clear of Richard’s body.

“Don’t you dare touch the man I love,” said Claudia before punching the Duke in the stomach, sending him flying across the parking lot.

Claudia turned to Richard with tears in her eyes. She knew that this was the end.

“I’m so sorry I did this to you Richard. I try to not get attached, because people get hurt.”

“You love me?” said Richard.

Claudia could only nod, almost ashamed that she had fallen in love being in her situation. Before she could apologize more Richard wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her close to him, kissing her like the first time. Claudia broke the kiss and turned to the Duke who was walking towards them again. She was now prepared to fight and brought her fists up to her face.

Duke saw this and turned his back on the couple and slowly lifted off the ground.

“My work here is done. Look around you Claudia. Everyone knows who the Dragoness is. Again.”

Claudia and Richard turn around to see the parking lot filled with people looking directly that them. Some looked on without emotion, some frantically talked on the phone to someone else about what had happened and others were taking photos.

“See you next time!” said the Duke as he flew away.

Claudia placed her face in her hands as she began to cry. Richard hugged her and did not say anything for a while. Richard then spoke and said: “I love you, too. I’m not going anywhere.”

Claudia embraced Richard, remembering to control her strength and not crush him.