Wonder Woman stopped a mere inch from touching the youth and for a second looked at the boy. He was not unattractive. He was not as handsome as Batman either. Still there was something compelling about the young man, Wonder Woman had to admit. It was an undeniable quality that seemed to radiate joy, loyalty and something else... something menacing. Something reminding her of her dealings with Batman.
"Diana."
Her senses picked up on the presence before she could even turn her head. The presence of a god.
She stood and slowly turned to face the god behind her. Her eyes widened when she saw not one but many. Apollo, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Artemis, Dionysus, Ares and his daughter Armonia.
Apollo stepped forward, "Hello Diana, I see you have found our avatar."
"Your..." her voice gave out on her as she cast her eyes from the group to the boy at her feet.
Poseidon spoke, "Yes, ours, even though he is not of our world we have claimed him now that his own has no use for him." The sea gods eyes burned bright for a second, "His living well here will be the best revenge."
Wonder Woman gave Poseidon a wide birth, he was a god that lived for revenge. "I don't understand."
"In his own home, in his own universe young Xander lived and died for his friends. He would fight to the death, into hell and back at the merest hint of trouble. He would lay down his life nobly so that those he called kin would go home at night to their loved ones. And in recompense for such service his friends spat on his loyalty and on his courage, undercut his determination and self worth. In a fit of peek our avatar called out to be taken somewhere where he would be of use..." Athena came to a stop not a foot from Wonder Woman, "We have decided that we have a use for the youth, Diana."
"Here he can exult in his war with 'evil'." Ares said with a smirk.
Diana glared at the god, "What do you mean his war?"
"Much like the Bat you favor our avatar has pledged himself to an eternal war against evil." Hephaestus said with a smile.
Artemis nodded her head, "And unlike the Batman you consort with, the boy has done so without the benefits of years of preparations or a vast wealth to draw upon. When presented with an evil at his tender age he dove into the Hunt, determined to see his work done without delay relying upon his wits and the strength in his limbs to see him through."
Wonder Woman didn't exactly like her relationship being termed consorting, that had a slightly uncomfortable connotation to it, however she was not about to start arguing with a pack of gods about their word choice. Or about her love life, or lack of love life since coming to man's world. Not that she was lacking in offers, it was just that she had found those offers lacking, the quality of those offering themselves as lovers was scanty at best. Unlike the offers from back home on Themiscara where taking a fellow Amazon as a lover was never a burden to her as she knew the character of the woman making the offer.
Aphrodite and her daughter Armonia stepped forward, their beauty both excited and pacified Diana. She had to admit that it was hard not to be turned on by the Goddess of love. Especially when you've spent most of your immortal life living on an island of all women, with all that that would entail for her love life and the dry spell she was enduring here in the 'real' world.
"Despite the fact that he has chosen his war, our avatar is ruled by his heart. He is a man of great love. His capacity to give love is beyond your imaging, Diana." Aphrodite spoke.
"He would bring peace to those that he loves, ease their pains and fears." Armonia said with a smile. "If breaking himself would ease the burdens of those he loved he would gladly throw himself into danger's path without a thought."
"And do it with a smile on his face and a joke rolling off his tongue." Dionysus grinned. "Give the man his due, he knows funny."
"And he knows that prophecy is only set in stone if you allow it. That young man knows more than he shows." Apollo said with a nod of his head to the boy, "Have care with the avatar, Diana, for he will never show you his true face. Only his enemies will know his true measure. For his hurts he will shield himself from others. The hurt done to him by his kin will leave deep scars, scars that will need healing if he is to be effective in this world."
Demeter stepped to Diana and took her hands in her own, making sure she had Wonder Woman's eyes on her the goddess spoke. "Be patient with our avatar Diana. We have brought him to you so that you may help him be what he is needed to be. The animal inside of him rages and needs taming."
"Am I late?" Hermes asked, materializing out of thin air. He looked around, "Oh good, just in time. Hey, Diana, see you met our wonder boy. Keep an eye on him. he's good but we're gonna make him great. Shoot, gotta go!" And with that Hermes disappeared.
Armonia and Aphrodite both came to Wonder Woman and each laid a hand upon her shoulder, Armonia spoke, "Our Avatar is out of balance, we've brought him to you to see him well. It is your charge to see our Avatar returned to his full vigor."
Aphrodite gave a wink and a grin, "And it wouldn't kill you to sample what the boy's selling. He's talented. Very, very talented." Aphrodite gave a knowing nod of her head, "Trust me."
Hephaestus limped forward moving his wife and step daughter away, "The boy has a deft hand when it comes to shaping things. Encourage this talent and you and yours will reap the rewards of the boys forge."
Apollo leaned in, "Remind the boy that music is a good thing and can be a healing experience. He forswore his instrument when his blood brother died. Help him see his error. I may be biased in this but it is truth."
Athena and Artemis chimed in, "The boy will swear he's dull and dim. Shake him from this perception. If he persists that he is dumb then you hone his cunning. While he may not think himself book smart he knows he's sneaky. Remind him of cunnings importance in the hunt."
Dionysus giggled, "Don't let him brood. In fact if he does, call him on it. He'll stop. Remind him helping people is a good thing and to always to do it with a laugh and a smile. I speak for me and speedy here."
Ares waved a hand, the other gods fell silent and stepped back. "Our avatar is in your hands, Diana, do not fail us. The consequences would be dire for you if the boy turned out not as we expect."
"Don't threaten me Ares." Wonder Woman growled.
"I wouldn't dream of doing so." Ares smiled grimly. "The threat comes not from us, but from the boy and the danger he poses."
It took but the blink of an eye but when Wonder Woman next looked upon the corridor she was alone with the boy. She hung her head, "Batman's not going to like this."