The Deviant Underground (Time Bandit) by Elisabeth Roseland

Derrick hastily approaching them. “What the hell are you doing here, Derrick?” With the grocery bags in her hands, she had the urge to fling one of them at him.
    “Hey, baby.” Derrick tried to lean in to kiss her while shooting a glance at Charge, whose brow had begun to darken.
    Kathryn stepped back sharply. “What the hell are you doing here?”
    Derrick tried to play a smooth recovery. “I came over to apologize, baby. I know that we got into it, and some things were said that I know we both regret.” He paused as if waiting for a response. Kathryn gave him none. “So anyway, I came back to say I’m sorry.”
    “What?” she scoffed. “Derrick, you and I were finished over a month ago.” Kathryn wanted to make it clear to Charge that Derrick was ancient history and had been for a while. In fact, looking at him now, she couldn’t believe that she ever went out with him in the first place. He just seemed so . . . puny next to Charge. “Did that bitch toss your sorry ass out?”
    Derrick stuttered, “N-Naw, baby, see . . .”
    “Hey, cool out, man.” Charge’s strong voice interrupted Derrick’s excuses, and the look on Charge’s face said he was even more irritated than she was. This could end quite badly. For Derrick.
    Derrick gave Charge the once over. “Who are you?”
    Charge scoffed and didn't answer the question. “Get the fuck outta here, man.”
    Despite the fact that Charge could probably crush Derrick with one hand, Derrick didn't back down. “Just back the fuck off. I’m trying to talk to my woman here!”
    The rage that passed over Charge’s face was terrifying to Kathryn. She watched the cords in his arms tighten and bulge as he gripped the handles of the grocery bags. Kathryn was glad that he had his hands full. At least Derrick might get a running start.
    Charge hissed, “You lost out, my brotha. She’s my girl now.” Hearing him say that sent shivers through her entire body.
    Derrick said nothing in response to Charge’s claim of her. Charge stared at him pointedly in quiet confrontation before sharply turning. “Let’s go,” he said to Kathryn.
    Charge’s movement reanimated Derrick. He quickly stepped forward and grabbed Charge by the arm. “Hey, wait!”
    Suddenly, Kathryn heard a huge POP. It sounded like a giant, sharp slap. No, more like a loud shock—the kind of sound a plug makes when it burns out due to a short. Derrick yelled, and Kathryn turned in time to see him recoiling in pain, clutching his hand to his chest. She picked up a faint scent of electricity in the air. Charge said nothing; instead, he just glowered at Derrick. A look of panic crossed Derrick’s face, and he turned and ran down the sidewalk. Charge watched him go, and a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. Finally, he turned to Kathryn. “Let’s go.” She stood confused for a moment before following him inside.
    Once in the kitchen, they put away with groceries without speaking. Kathryn didn't know what to say. The refrigerator door opened and closed in uncomfortable silence. Napkins went into the panty. Spices went into the cabinet. They were done, and Kathryn tucked the empty bags away for future use. Finally, since it seemed as though Charge was not going to bring it up, she asked, “What was that?”
    Charge’s eyes averted her gaze. “What was what?”
    Kathryn leaned up against the sink and sighed. She asked again softly, “What was that thing you did to Derrick?”
    Charge turned to look at her. He stepped forward and lifted his large hand to her face. His warm, brown eyes looked questioningly into hers, as if he were looking for something. The expression on his face was one of trepidation, concern, and almost nervousness. He bent down and kissed her lips tenderly. He then pulled back, and his mouth moved as if to speak. Kathryn waited breathlessly to hear what he was going to say.
    “I realized something today.”
    Kathryn was confused. That statement in no way answered the