Chapter 1: Introduction
The first thing that assaulted Diana's senses was the smell. A peculiar combination of sweat, cheap detergent, and something vaguely fruity. She wrinkled her nose, but her body felt too heavy to move. Her head was pounding, and her limbs seemed to be made of lead. She tried to blink away the fog, but her eyelids felt like they were glued shut.
"Hey, you're awake."
The voice was deep, with a hint of a Southern twang. It was also surprisingly gentle, which was odd considering her current state.
Diana forced her eyes open, squinting against the harsh fluorescent light. The room was a disaster, clothes and books strewn everywhere like a tornado had swept through. The walls were a collage of posters, most featuring shirtless men flexing their muscles or holding beer bottles. It was a far cry from the elegant halls of Themyscira.
She finally managed to focus on the source of the voice. A tall, broad-shouldered figure was sitting on a chair beside her bed, a concerned look on his face. He had short, messy hair and a friendly smile, but his eyes looked tired.
He was shirtless, revealing a muscular physique covered in a smattering of tattoos. A pair of sweatpants hung low on his hips, and Diana couldn't help but notice the way they hinted at the promise of what lay beneath.
"Where am I?" Diana asked, her voice hoarse. She tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through her head, and she winced.
"Hey, easy there," the guy said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You took a pretty hard hit. I'm Brett, by the way. You're in my dorm room."
Diana looked around again, taking in the cluttered space.
"This is your dorm room?" She couldn't help the hint of disdain in her voice. She was used to the pristine, well-ordered halls of Themyscira, not this... chaos.
Brett chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, sorry about the mess. I've been swamped with finals and football practice. It's a bit of a warzone in here."
Diana raised an eyebrow. "Football? You play football?" It was a human sport she'd seen on occasion, but never played herself.
Brett's eyes lit up.
"Yeah, I'm the quarterback for the college team. Why, do you follow sports or something?"
Diana leaned back against the pillows, her eyes scanning the room again. "I've seen it on TV," she said vaguely, not wanting to reveal too much about herself just yet. "So, Brett, what happened? The last thing I remember is... a magical explosion."
Brett's expression turned serious. "You don't remember anything? I found you lying unconscious in the park near the campus. You were...glowing."
Diana's eyes widened. That explained the headache.
Diana tried to piece together what had happened, but her memory was still hazy.
"Glowing?" she echoed, her brow furrowing. "That's... strange."
Brett shrugged. "I thought so too. But I've seen some weird stuff in college, so I didn't question it too much. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
Diana looked down at herself. She was still dressed in her Amazonian attire - the signature tiara, bracelets, and lasso of truth. She must have looked quite the sight in the park.
"Well, thank you, Brett," she said, appreciating his concern.
"For bringing me here and taking care of me."
He waved a hand dismissively. "No big deal. You looked like you needed help, and I've always been a sucker for a damsel in distress." He grinned, showing a row of straight, white teeth. "I assure you, I'm not easily distressed."
Brett chuckled. "Well, you had me fooled. So, what's your name? You never did say."
Diana hesitated for a moment. She wasn't ready to reveal her true identity just yet. Not to a stranger, no matter how kind he seemed.
"Diana," she replied simply, testing the waters.
Brett nodded, seemingly satisfied with the response. "Well, Diana, I've got some soup heating up. You look like you could use some food."
He stood up, stretching his muscles, and Diana couldn't help but appreciate the sight. He was a specimen, all right; broad shoulders, chiseled abs, and strong arms. Her gaze lingered for a moment before she reprimanded herself. She was here to recover, not to ogle the local beefcake.
"Soup sounds great," she said, her stomach rumbling in agreement.
She watched Brett walk towards the small kitchenette area, his muscles flexing with each step. She stole another glance at his tattoos, trying to make out their designs.
"So, Diana," Brett called out from the kitchenette, "what brought you to our little corner of the world? You don't strike me as the typical college student."
Diana leaned back against the pillows, her mind racing. She needed to be careful about what she revealed. "I'm just passing through," she said finally. "I was on my way to see a friend when...
I guess I must have been distracted. That's all I can remember." She left out the part about being an Amazonian princess and the magical explosion. Brett seemed to accept her story without question.
Brett walked back into the room, carrying two steaming bowls of soup. He handed one to Diana and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Well, you're welcome to stay here as long as you need," he said, taking a sip of his soup. "I'd hate to think of you out there on your own, especially in your condition."
Diana smiled, appreciating his genuine concern. "Thank you, Brett.
I really appreciate it," Diana replied, blowing on her soup to cool it down. She took a careful sip, savoring the warmth and comfort of the liquid. It was a simple vegetable soup, but it tasted like a gourmet meal to her right now.
Brett watched her, a small smile playing on his lips. "No problem. I've got plenty of room, and it's better than having to deal with my roommate's snoring."
Diana chuckled, taking another spoonful of soup. "Is he that bad?"
Brett nodded dramatically. "It's like sleeping next to a freight train.
I swear, some nights I've considered investing in earplugs just to get some shut-eye."
Diana laughed, feeling a warmth spread through her that had little to do with the soup. There was something endearing about Brett's honest straightforwardness. She looked around the room again, this time noticing the small details she'd missed before. There was a guitar leaning against the wall by the bed, a couple of textbooks open on the desk, and a framed photo of Brett with a group of friends, all wearing football jerseys and grinning widely.
"So, what's your major?" she asked, gesturing towards the textbooks.
Brett followed her gaze and shrugged. "History. I love learning about the past. You know, how we got to where we are today. Plus, it helps me understand all the old movies my grandpa used to make me watch with him."
Diana smiled, appreciating his enthusiasm. "That sounds interesting. I've always loved learning new things too."
She took another sip of soup, trying to think of a way to steer the conversation away from herself. She didn't want to reveal too much about her past or her true identity just yet.
"So, Brett," she said, changing the subject, "what's your favorite historical period?
I mean, if you could live in any time, when would it be?"
Brett leaned back against the wall, his eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. "That's a tough one. I've always been fascinated by the ancient world, you know? The Greeks, the Romans, the Egyptians - they all had these amazing cultures and mythologies. I mean, who wouldn't want to see the pyramids being built or witness the Olympians competing in the games?"
Diana couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. She knew all too well about the ancient world and its mythologies. She was, after all, a part of it.
"The ancient world, huh? That's a popular choice. What about you, Diana? If you could live in any time, when would it be?"
Diana hesitated for a moment, her mind racing. She had seen many eras, from the rise of Rome to the fall of Babylon. But she never knew how to answer this question without giving away her true identity. She decided to play it safe.
"I've always been fascinated by the Renaissance period," she said finally. "The art, the literature, the philosophy - it was a time of great change and enlightenment."
Brett nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, the Renaissance was a pretty great time. I mean, who wouldn't want to live in a world where art and culture were valued above all else? Plus, the fashion was pretty awesome too."
Diana chuckled, taking another sip of her soup. "Fashion wasn't exactly my top priority when considering the Renaissance, but I suppose it's a nice bonus."
Brett grinned, taking the empty bowls and setting them aside. "Well, Diana, I'm glad you're feeling better. But if you don't mind me saying, you still look a little pale. Maybe you should rest some more."
Diana nodded reluctantly.
"You're right. I do feel a bit tired. But I've had enough rest to last a lifetime in the past few days." "Well, maybe a little more won't hurt. Besides, I've got some Netflix and chill planned for the evening. You're welcome to join." "Netflix and... chill?"
Brett's cheeks flushed a bit. "You know, just watch some movies, hang out, that sort of thing."
Diana laughed softly. "Oh, I see. Well, I appreciate the invitation, but I think I'll pass.
I really should get some proper rest." Diana hesitated, a thought occurring to her. "You know, Brett, I don't even have any clothes or personal items with me. I'm afraid I'm stuck wearing this until I can figure something out." She indicated her Amazonian attire, feeling a little self-conscious.
Brett looked at her, then at the clothes strewn about the room. "Right, I didn't even think about that. Don't worry, I've got some old T-shirts and stuff you can borrow.
They might be a bit big, but they should do the trick until you're feeling better."
Diana smiled, grateful for his thoughtfulness. That's very kind of you."
He stood up and walked over to the drawer of his dresser, rummaging through it before pulling out a handful of shirts. He tossed them onto the bed next to Diana. "Here you go. Hopefully, one of these will fit."
Diana picked up one of the shirts, holding it up to her chest. It was a large black shirt with the college's mascot, a fierce-looking tiger, on the front.
Diana smiled, holding it up against her body. It was indeed a bit big, but it would definitely be more comfortable than her current attire.
"Thanks, Brett. This will be perfect," she said, setting the shirt aside and staring at the piles of clothes in the room. "You know, I could help you clean up a bit, if you'd like. It might make this place feel a little more... hospitable."
Brett looked around the room, his eyes widening at the sight of the chaos. "Oh, man, it's worse than I thought.
But yeah, that'd be great if you could help. I've been meaning to tidy up for a while, but you know how it goes—life gets in the way," Brett said, running a hand through his hair again. He glanced at Diana, a small smile playing on his lips. "You sure you're up for it, though? I don't want you straining yourself or anything."
Diana returned his smile, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "I think I can handle a bit of light cleaning.
It might actually help me feel more like myself," Diana said, swinging her legs out of the bed and standing up. She winced slightly, her head still pounding, but she pushed through the discomfort. "Besides, I can't just lie around all day. I need to do something productive."
Brett nodded, looking impressed. "Alright, you're on. Let's tackle this mess together. I'll grab some trash bags, and you can start sorting through the clothes. We'll make this place look like new in no time!"
Diana smiled, appreciating Brett's enthusiasm.
She started sorting through the clothes on the floor, separating them into piles of dirty laundry and clean clothes that needed to be put away. Brett grabbed a few plastic bags and began collecting the empty pizza boxes and beer cans scattered across the room.
As they worked, they fell into an easy rhythm, joking and laughing as they went. Diana found herself enjoying the mundane task, appreciating the simplicity of it all. It was a far cry from her usual life, filled with battles and responsibilities. Here, she could just be... normal.
Just a girl helping a guy clean his dorm room.
After a while, they paused to take a break. Brett leaned against the wall, wiping the sweat from his brow. Diana, who had been surprisingly efficient at sorting clothes, sat down on the now-tidy bed.
"You know, I never thought cleaning could be so... therapeutic," she said, looking around the room. It was already looking much better.
Brett chuckled, stretching his arms above his head. "Yeah, there's something satisfying about seeing progress, even if it's just a cleaner room."
Diana nodded, her eyes meeting his.
There was something in his smile that made her feel warm inside, something genuine and kind. She found herself wanting to know more about him, about his life, his dreams, his fears.
"So, Diana," Brett said, breaking the moment with a casual nod towards the empty bed. "You mind if I change into something clean? I'm starting to feel a little... ripe."
Diana laughed, waving him off. "Go ahead. I can keep sorting through these clothes while you do."
Brett grinned and pulled off his sweatpants, revealing a pair of shorts underneath. Diana quickly turned her attention back to the clothes, her cheeks flushing slightly.
She wasn't used to seeing men change so casually. She picked up a pile of shirts and began folding them, trying to keep her mind focused on the task at hand.
"So, Diana," Brett said, his voice slightly muffled as he pulled on a clean shirt, "what brings you to this neck of the woods? I mean, you don't really seem like the typical college student, no offense."
Diana hesitated, trying to come up with a plausible story. She didn't want to lie to Brett, but she couldn't exactly tell him the truth either.
"I'm just... traveling," she said finally.
"I've always loved exploring new places, and college towns are often filled with so much energy and life. I thought it would be a great place to spend some time."
Brett nodded, accepting her answer without question. "Yeah, college towns are pretty great. There's always something happening, and the people are usually really friendly."
He tossed his dirty clothes into one of the bags and turned to face her, leaning against the wall. "So, what do you like to do for fun? Besides cleaning, I mean," he added with a grin.
Diana smiled, folding another shirt. "Well, I've always been into sports.
Not the kind you play in a stadium, but... more like the Olympic Games of old," Diana replied, choosing her words carefully. "You know, running, jumping, testing your strength against nature."
Brett raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Like an athlete? That's cool. I've always been into football, but I can appreciate the skill and discipline it takes to be an athlete in any sport."
Diana nodded, setting the folded shirt aside and picking up another. "Yes, exactly. It requires a lot of dedication and hard work, but it's also incredibly rewarding."
Brett leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"So, have you ever competed in any big events? Like, the Olympics or something?"
Diana hesitated, her mind racing for a plausible answer. She couldn't very well tell him about her exploits in the ancient world or her participation in the Olympic Games of Themyscira. Instead, she opted for a more relatable story.
"Not professionally, no. But I used to run track in high school. I was pretty fast, actually. I even set a few school records." She smiled, remembering the thrill of competition and the joy of victory.
Brett's eyes widened in appreciation. "No way! That's awesome.
I would have never guessed. You're so... graceful, you know? It's hard to picture you running around a track." Brett flashed her a grin, and Diana couldn't help but feel a warmth spread through her.
"Thanks, I think," she replied with a laugh. "But I've got to admit, I miss it sometimes. The adrenaline, the sense of accomplishment... it's hard to find that in everyday life."
Brett nodded, understanding her sentiment. "I get that. Football gives me that same rush. The thrill of the game, the camaraderie with my teammates...