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The Justice League and related characters are owned by DC Comics. Used here for entertainment, not profit. Please don't sue.
This story takes place directly after the episode Paradise Lost.
He deserves Paradise who makes his companions laugh. - Koran
They smothered in a heavy, sad silence all the way back. Batman's attention was focused utterly and completely on the controls of the Javelin-7. Every once in a while Superman would stand up and restlessly wander from one side of the ship to the other before sitting down again. J'onn, as usual, sat ramrod straight with an unreadable expression on his green-skinned face. Flash had taken off his golden crown of laurels and was absent-mindedly fiddling with it.
All four of them were trying very hard not to notice that Diana was crying.
It wasn't the sobbing kind of crying, but the subtle parade of tears that slipped out at the corners and dripped off the nose, and Diana was huddled towards the back of the Javelin, apart, trying to mask them by facing away from her companions as she stared out the window.
Considering none of the others were looking at her, they were intensely aware of her sorrow. Flash glanced towards her out of the corner of his eyes, a move disguised by his pupil-less mask, and thought about dashing over and trying to cheer her up.
:Do not,: a calm voice in his head advised. :There will be time for that later. For now, she needs some space.:
:So that's why Big Blue hasn't started one of his speeches. Well, you're the expert on loss, J'onn,: Flash thought back. The Martian Manhunter didn't respond immediately and suddenly Flash realized with a pang that his remark probably brought back memories of the Martian's dead family. :J'onn, I didn't mean . . . um . . . sorry . . .:
:It is all right, Flash.: To his relief, the Martian's unheard voice was genuinely warm.
:It's that whole 'talking without thinking' thing. I'll have to work on that.:
:It might be a good idea, yes.:
Flash held the tiara in front of him, balanced on his palms, as he examined each impossibly thin, smooth gold leaf. :First they give us honorary headbands, then they toss all of us off their precious Paradise Island. All of us.: He cast another uncomfortable glance at Diana. :Crazy. Maybe we should start giving out lapel pins to Luthor's gang before we haul 'em off to prison.:
:Or perhaps not,: J'onn suggested with a touch of firmness.
:Maybe not,: Flash agreed absent-mindedly. Diana was still crying in the corner. It was going to be a heck of a long ride.
