Bruce fastened his sandals on his feet, combed through his shoulder-length black hair, and called to his manservant, "Alfred!"
The old servant poked his head in through the doorway, and said, "What do you need, Master Bruce?" Having come from the far north, Alfred had an accent that affected his words ever so slightly. It had faded some, but not completely.
"Please have my horse brought to the front. My public address will take place soon, and it's rather rude to show up late to one's own speech."
"Of course." Alfred bowed his head, then left Bruce to his thoughts. And what preoccupying thoughts they were.
Bruce's mind had held nothing but thoughts of the Goddess Diana ever since their first meeting three nights ago. After telling her his name, Bruce had stood silently, unsure of what the Goddess would do. He had never met a God before, and before laying eyes on Diana, he hadn't even been sure he believed in them. But then she had saved him, and had asked if he was hurt.
Bruce was not upset that Diana had saved him, nor did he mind that she had defeated the criminal. He was not that kind of man; as long as criminals received justice, Bruce did not care if that justice came from his hand, or the hand of a God. No, the reason he kept thinking of Diana was because- because why? Perhaps he felt gratitude, he told himself. Or maybe he was just a little shaken because of his encounter with a heavenly being.
Taking a deep breath, he straightened up, breaking out of thoughts. He had a speech to give, he couldn't be distracted...
Diana was standing in one of the many gardens of her palace. She wound her lasso around her hand, then unwound it, repeating these actions over and over. She couldn't focus on what her brother, Apollo, was saying. No, her mind was on something else: a mortal. Not just any mortal, either, but a man. Why was this man so intriguing to her?
Perhaps it was because he did not ask for praise for his heroic actions, she told herself. Or maybe it was because he did not cower in false worship, hiding his requests in flattery. She did appreciate honesty.
"Diana?" Said Apollo, amused at his sister's distracted attitude.
"What?" Said Diana, snapping her attention back to their conversation.
Apollo chuckled. "Keep twisting your lasso, and it'll fray. Is everything alright?"
Diana heaved a sigh. "Yes. I'm just a bit… confused, I guess."
"About what?"
Diana hesitated momentarily, but then remembered that her brother had never betrayed her confidence. "I met a mortal three nights ago. He's a great hero, and very skilled in fighting. But now I cannot stop thinking of him. Why? Why is this?"
Apollo slowly grinned. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you've taken a liking to this mortal. Much more than a fleeting interest."
"But that's not like me at all!" Diana exclaimed.
"Far be it from me to tell you what you feel, dear sister. But I think you need to be truthful with yourself. You don't carry that lasso of truth because it's pretty, you carry it to remind yourself that Gods and mortals alike need to be honest. That includes being honest with yourself."
Diana looked down at her lasso, contemplating Apollo's words. Before she could reply, however, she heard a mortal's voice saying her name. Someone was praying to her.
"Excuse me," she said to her brother. "Someone is praying."
Apollo dipped his head in understanding, and left. Diana sat on a nearby bench...
Bruce walked out into his garden. The flowers were in bloom, and the air was warm. Not sure what, exactly, he should do, he sat on a bench and closed his eyes. "Goddess Diana," he said quietly, then cleared his throat. "Goddess Diana," he said again, louder. "It is I, Bruce. I don't know if you remember me, or if you're even listening." He sighed, and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His eyes were still closed. "Today, I had a public address. I told the people of this city my plans for making their home a better place.
"But I was distracted. I-" He stopped. I could hardly focus, because I kept looking for you in the crowd, is what he thought, but he didn't say it. Instead, he said, "I have no right to expect you to listen, but I have to be truthful with you, and myself." He paused for what seemed like forever. Finally he said, "Forgive me for taking your time. I know you must be busy. I just need you to know that… meeting you has changed me. Thank you, my lady."
Bruce opened his eyes after finishing this prayer, and was shocked to see Diana standing in front of him. He quickly bowed his head, not daring to meet her eyes. She knelt down before him, however, and lifted his chin. He raised his eyes to meet hers.
"Thank you for being honest with me," Diana said. "And now I must be honest with you. I, too, have been thinking of you. You've left an impression on me; you're quite a mortal, Bruce." She then rose, said, "I will be watching over you," and lept into the air, flying higher and higher, until the clouds blocked her from view.