Surrender (Author's Line)

Defender had to admit that she knew she was beat. Not only was she no match for Green Thumb but she was on his turf. Even if she could deal with his superhuman abilities, he probably had some kind of monster plants that could turn the odds in his favor even more. "I surrender." Green Thumb smiled as he approached the heroine. "A wise choice my dear." As he approached, he produced a rose. "I would have hated to have harmed you." He said as he offered the heroine the rose. The heroine crossed her arms. "Interesting way to court a woman." She said annoyed. Green Thumb chuckled. "I'm not a monster my dear." Defender sighed and accepted to the rose. "Thanks, I guess." She said. Green Thumb gestured for her to follow her. "How bout I show you around my garden." He said as he started walking. The heroine was rather confused. She was expecting the villain to do something vile with her but instead he was treating it like they had just meant for a date. Well, for now she was safe. Might as well play along for now. Hopefully she'd find a way to get the upper hand.

As Green Thumb lead her through the garden, he explained to her the various flora that inhabited it. Defender listened mostly though occasionally she would ask a question out of curiousity. As they walked, Defender considered her....she guessed captor. She had snuck glances at him and had to admit, she did like what she saw. She could tell he was well built even under that silly purple suit he wore and despite his alien like appearance, he handsome features where evident. He was clearly intelligent to and had a passion for his work. As she had these thoughts, she thought back to when they where fighting too.....when he had kissed her. Her cheeks went a little red at the thought of it. Had she enjoyed it?

After walking awhile, they came to a field full of beautiful flowers. Defender could help but take in the smell. It was heavenly. Green Thumb sat down on the ground and Defender, without much thought sat down next to him. They sat in silence for a bit until Green Thumb noticed the heroine left the rose he had given her to her nose to smell. It was such a delicate movement that he felt entranced. He reached for the rose. "May I?" He asked. Defender let him take the rose and tuck it behind her ear. As he did, the two locked eyes. Slowly, something pulled the two forward. Their lips meant in a soft kiss.

Defender realized what she was doing and pulled away, turning away to hide he blush. "Is something wrong sweet rose?" Asked Green Thumb. Defender turned back to the villain with an annoyed look on her face. "Yes something is wrong. In case you've forgotten, you kidnapped me, tried to feed me to your monster plants and now here we are in a meadow making out. What about any of this makes sense?" Green Thumb chuckled. "Well when you put it like that....." The heroine slapped him across the face. "You know I'm right you bastard." Green Thumb rubbed his cheek. "You didn't have to hit me." "WE WHERE DOING THAT JUST A MINUTE AGO!!!!" "Well actually you where hitting me." "AFTER YOU TRIED TO MAKE ME PLANT FOOD!!!"

Green Thumb sighed. "I'm sorry about that. But it is standard villain behavior isn't it? If you capture the hero you are supposed to put them in some kind of **** trap correct? That way they have a chance to escape." Defender thought about this. That is what some of the 'Better' villains did. She would have certainly preferred an escapable **** trap versus being tied to a bed to serve as the evenings entertainment. She shudder at the time she was caught by a mob boss who had a particular fetish for her. She shuddered at that memory. "Is something wrong?" Green Thumb asked. Defender sighed. "Just some unpleasent memories. Yeah, I'd say what you did was a more honorable thing for a villain to do, even if I couldn't have escaped. I've dealt with more dispicable characters than you." "I'll take that as a compliment."

"So what do you intend to do with me now? You going to put me through a mulcher? Feed me to another plant?" Green Thumb chuckled. "Perhaps. But I thought we'd talk first." "Regarding?" "Whether or not we are truely enemies." "Again, I am techincally your prisoner." Green Thumb looked at the hero with an annoyed look. "Fine. Let's talk. I think it's pretty clear what side I'm on. What about you Nature Boy. What are your intentions." Green Thumb looked out into his garden. "I was once a scientist. I was working on curing diseases by replacing certain human genes with that of plants. My research was of course laughed at. The big fad was cloning. But I knew my research could help humanity." Defender looked at her captor. "You where so confident that you tested your theory on yourself." Green Thumb smiled. "You sound like you've heard this story." "I've been a superhero long enough." He chuckled. "Well, that is what happened. As you can see, there where side effects. At first it was scary....but over time.....I realized how good it felt!!! I was stronger, faster, tougher than anyone.....but they also saw me as a freak. They took my research and tried to lock me up. To them, I was just a failed experiment." THe air around him changed. "So I escaped. And vowed that I would use my research to better the world. To better humanity."

Defender frowned slightly "How do you intend to do that?....What did you need those plants you stole for?" Green Thumb looked at her. "I have developed a spore. When released over the city at a high enough altitude and in a big enough quality, it will cause everyone to mutate in the manner I have. Imagine it. Everyone in the city, cured of disease and sickness forever." "Surely you don't think that's what's best for the city." Green THumb glared at her. "I do." Defender looked down. "I'm sure you must feel that way. What they have done to you is horrible. But forcing this upon others. It's not okay." "Then what do you suggest I do? Look at me? I'm a monster. It's not like I can open a practice and start healing people." Defender thought for a second. What could he do. "You can still help people. There are people who need help and people like us. We have the power to do something. We have an obligation to do something. But forcing what we believe on others isn't right. Heroes are reactive. Not proactive."

"So you are suggesting I become a superhero?" He laughed a bit. "I hate to tell you this but I don't look nearly as good in tights as you do." She giggled. "I don't know." She scooted a little closer to him. "All things considered I think you look rather dashing." He raised an eyebrow. "Do I now." She smiled at him. "Yes. And you know what?" She said as wrapped herself around his arm. "What." "Superhero babes tend to be attracted to superhero hunks." Green Thumb considered this. He had always felt that the means justified the ends but was that really the case. Maybe he should reconsider. After all, he had the most beautiful woman hanging on his arm right now. He wouldn't mind that becoming a regular thing.