Chapter 13- The Welcome - Part 4

As the oppressive pressure was lifted from their shoulders, a sigh of relief echoed among the heroes. The respite, however, was brutally short-lived. From the corner of her eye, Diana caught a glint of movement – a streak of color, a blur of speed. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized the familiar silhouette of Superman. Her mind raced as she realized that he was moving in a direct line towards the alien, Orach.

Before she could react, the scene unfolded in front of her. Orach's face, previously calm and composed, transformed into an expression of genuine confusion. And then, the shock of the century – Superman's punch, a force to rival a thunderbolt, was stopped. It was halted by nothing more than a single, glowing finger. The finger was enveloped in an eerie red glow, a stark contrast to the omnipotent blue of Superman's suit. The disparity between their strengths was revealed in this single, heart-stopping moment.

Yet, the spectacle was far from over. The alien's puzzled expression gave way to a blank, unreadable look. In a motion too swift for even Diana's battle-honed senses to follow, Orach caught Superman's head with his hand. He slammed the Man of Steel into the ground with such force that the earth beneath them trembled. He then placed his foot on Superman's face, a statement more than an action, ensuring that the Kryptonian stayed down.

In the aftermath of the swift, one-sided confrontation, the alien spoke. His voice echoed in the stunned silence, "Why did this man just attack me even though I have explained myself and even showed a gesture of good faith? Is this the attitude of your people? Do I take this as this world's populace rejecting me?" His words were not laced with anger or spite. Rather, they carried a tone of genuine confusion, a plea for understanding.

The gravity of the moment was not lost on Diana. She understood that this situation called for delicate handling. Orach, the powerful stranger from a different realm, had shown through his actions that he meant no harm unless provoked. His perspective might have been alien to them, but it did not make him a threat. Feeling a deep-seated responsibility to bridge this gap, Diana made a decision. As the princess of Themyscira, she felt compelled to welcome this stranger, this lost soul needing guidance.

She stepped forward, sheathed her sword, and stored her shield behind her back. As she walked towards Orach, she felt the weight of countless eyes on her. She could feel the palpable tension in the air, the collective breath held by her comrades. She also felt Orach's gaze on her, his eyes studying her as she approached. His initial caution slowly morphed into a look of appreciation, and then to one of surprise as she extended her hands in a gesture of peace.

"Greetings, friend from the stars. I am the princess of Themyscira, Diana Prince. Firstly, let me be the one to formally welcome you to Earth, our beautiful home," she proclaimed. Her voice echoed in the silence, steady and welcoming. Throughout her speech, she saw the alien's eyes locked onto hers, wide with surprise and something akin to awe.

The silence that followed was broken by a whisper. His voice, previously filled with power and authority, was now soft, filled with a quiet wonder, "Beautiful…eyes."

Diana found herself momentarily stunned by the unexpected compliment. Throughout her life, she had become acutely aware of her beauty and the powerful effect it had on men. It was a potent magnet that drew lusty, lecherous gazes like bees to nectar. She had seen it all, from mean leers to hungry, covetous eyes, all greedy for her beauty and her body. Over time, she had schooled herself to ignore these gazes, no longer the naive young girl who had left her island nation in the company of Steve Strevor.

Through her experiences, she had come to recognize the ugly, predatory gazes even when they were cloaked in sweet words and compliments. She knew that even Steve, her first love, had such a side, but he also treated her with the respect she deserved, both as a woman and as a warrior. For the most part of her long life, she had not met anyone who could even come close to matching Steve.

However, her encounter with Orach, the alien from another world, was different. From the moment she first saw him to their ongoing interaction, she noticed that his gaze held only appreciation, devoid of any lust. She knew he could be hiding his true feelings, but something whispered to her that his admiration was genuine. What struck her the most was that he had only briefly admired her physical features without lingering on them, but when he looked into her eyes, he seemed awestruck.

This reaction to her eyes intrigued Diana. It was unusual, as men typically focused on the physical form rather than the eyes. His dazed expression, as if he was lost in the depths of her gaze, brought an unwitting smile to her face. Unbeknownst to him, his reaction had stirred a sense of curiosity in her. She found herself wondering what lay behind his gaze, what made him different from the other men she had encountered.

Yet, she remained cautious. This was a being from another world, after all. His actions and reactions might not follow the patterns she was familiar with. But for now, she allowed herself the small pleasure of his admiration, finding amusement in his unguarded response to her eyes, and the unexpected compliment that had initially taken her off guard.

After what seemed like an eternity but was in reality only a minute, a wave of self-awareness washed over Orach. He realized the words that had spilled from his mouth and the raw emotions that had been on display. It was the first time in his life he had felt such a deep sense of embarrassment. He had encountered many beautiful women in his life - his mother, his vice-captain whom he affectionately saw as a big sister, Frisee, and the women within his father's squad who, despite their rough exterior, he had grown to view as older sisters. Despite this, he had never felt any real attraction nor been struck absolutely speechless by a woman before.

But now, he was acutely aware of this woman. The sudden rush of emotions had taken him by surprise, leaving him flustered and unsure. His heart pounded in his chest, a wild rhythm that was unfamiliar yet not unwelcome. The air around him seemed to hum with an electric charge, and he felt a strange sense of anticipation.

However, the sudden rush of memories of his mother and his sisters caused a jarring shift in his emotions. His expression changed from embarrassed, which Diana had been enjoying until now, to a more somber one. It was as though a dark cloud had passed over him, casting a shadow on his previously flushed face.

Diana noticed the shift in his expression and felt a pang of concern. She could sense that he had been reminded of something from his past, something that brought with it a wave of sadness. His eyes, which had been shining with a mix of surprise and admiration just seconds ago, were now clouded with a deep melancholy. She wondered who these loved ones were that could elicit such a powerful reaction from him. It was clear that, whoever they were, they had left a significant impact on him.