The lasso refused her denial. There was hate. Deep and intense. She looked at them now, and saw an evil that was as intrinsic to their nature as language and intelligence. Not much different from the monsters the gods sent her to euthanize ever so often. Denied a choice on what they were, but being what they were all the same.

She could go back to Themyscira. It had always been an option. None of the other Amazons wanted to deal with Man's World, and the goddesses didn't seem to care very much about it either. Bringing peace to it may have been a dream they had forgotten about, or giving up on as well.

Diana had picked up this mission from dusty parchments. Tricked and kicked her way into it. And regretting it now, a few decades later. Go back home, ego bruised, humiliated in her defeat…but with a chance to forget this hell even existed.

Idle thoughts in moments of exhaustion. Ridiculous ponderings.

Diana could not give up, and the goddesses had not forgotten this world. They had forged her to become a part of it. To bring hope and peace. To fan the love and compassion in their hearts. For as evil as they could be, people could also be a noble force of good. Many of them were just that.

The problem was that aggression and evil were far more efficient in war because they did not pull their punches. They found it easy to destroy. It brought them joy. A good person just wanted to nurture, to heal, and to have peace. The good people out there were at the bottom, pushed aside by their more aggressive counterparts.

That's why she-Diana of Themyscira, Champion of the Gods-had a sword and a shield in her hands. She was given the gifts of a warrior to fight back in the name of those that could not. And it was about time she stopped dancing to the tune of the evil people in power, the weak and corrupted, and set a whole new harmony.

Declaring war upon Man's World. That's what this was. A choice that could not be taken back. And Bruce was right. This would be costly.

But it would be worth it. She had her lasso tightly gripped in her hand, and lies could not cloud her judgment. The cause was just; her intentions, pure. The world would fight, with her on the lead, for true everlasting peace.

The groundwork was sorting out the field. Batman opposed her; he had threatened her. Superman was crippled by grief, and as much as she wanted him to help, the lasso's revelations had cut like a knife. Without realizing it, Diana had taken advantage of her dear friend's loss.

It would not happen again. She would not reach out to him until he was ready. And she had dispatched allies to ensure Batman wouldn't either.

Most of the rest of the League had already aired their alliances. Most were on her side. Two remained undeclared, and one of those two was standing in her living room right now. And she was afraid of him, the lasso revealed. J'onn was capable of taking her down if it came down to that, and his sympathies leaned towards Batman at the moment.

"I am not here for a fight. I am worried about you, Diana."

There was a time when she would have allowed him full access into her mind so that he could see the same truths she saw. But Man's World sharpened her wisdom. He could hurt her; he was a threat, and might betray her.

J'onn sighed, his hard features shifting in a sorrowful expression.

"I am always linked with your mind, Diana." He revealed in that deep gentle voice of his. "I cannot help it. Martians were interconnected to those we loved and cared for. Perhaps, a reminder that I am not human? My people did not do betrayal."

Diana had her teeth gritted, muscles tensed up so badly that the nape of her neck ached. She wanted to lunge, sword in hand; rob him of the chance to attack first. But she stayed put, listening to him, drinking in his soothing words.

J'onn was indeed not a human. A member of a peaceful people. She…was safe with him. They were friends…

But he would attack her if he thought it was necessary. And he thought that she was wrong. A threat to his own goals. He would attack her if it fitted his goals.

Diana snatched the lasso from her belt and set it down-a bit more aggressively than necessary- on the living room table. The wood cracked. She had kept it in constant contact with her skin ever since the meeting with Clark and Bruce, shakened by the truths it had revealed about her behavior in the last few weeks.

But it was getting annoying. She needed a break. .

"Let's arrange a meeting." Diana offered as she entered the kitchen. "Arthur, you, and I. We belong to different worlds. Our minds are the clearest. Did you want something to drink? I have oreos…"

"I am not here as a member of the Justice League, Diana." J'onn said. He had followed but stood a few feet away from the door. She appreciated the distance. She needed it. "I'm here as your friend. We used to be closer. The compassion and understanding you have shown me will never be forgotten."

"...neither will yours, J'onn. We are friends. I…I'm a trained warrior. So, that's all that is."

"I disagree. Your aggression has increased over the years. I can feel your rage, Diana…"

"You know, I do not use the lasso on you without permission, J'onn. I would really appreciate it if you are not in my mind without my consent. Privacy is a thing in this world."

"...I am trying to stop. With all of you. You are not the only one who has requested this of me. Or got upset over it…Diana, I understand your pain. I feel it. But Batman has a point. The path to the utopia you dream of will unleash more suffering and death than perhaps you are willing to admit."

"Batman is a mortal man. We are older, and have centuries ahead of us still. We must see the bigger picture." She grabbed the pack of oreos and tossed it at him. "You're in my mind, J'onn. You know what I've seen." She shook her head. "You already see it on the WatchTower everyday. It hasn't changed."

"Your war could claim millions of lives."

"That's already happening!" Diana closed her eyes, angry at herself for losing control. She just felt stiff. Angry. Her mind kept going at Bruce. He was poisoning the others, prattling on the same privileged-men-set-in-his-ways thoughts. "If you would help me, instead of fighting me...

We can start small. We can end ongoing wars first. Just stop them from slaughtering each other. Force the men in power to sit down and negotiate instead of slaughtering and tormenting the people they are supposed to feed and educate…How can any of you say that is bad? You cannot deny me this."

J'onn was not ungrateful. This world had accepted him-for the most part. Humans had given him friendship and love after centuries of lonely grieving. He was gifted with a new home and a new family. There was love and joy here. Brave souls, compassionate hearts, beautiful creative minds…

However, Diana was not wrong. There was a side to humans -equally solid- that horrified him. There was a sadism to them, a cruel selfishness, a ruthless greed, that wasn't much different from the White Martians'.

J'onn had seen things that turned his stomach. Things that kept him up in the WatchTower most of the time. Overall…he did not like humans too much. He liked aspects of them. Individuals. But as a species…they were a tragic thing. Burdened by both love and evil.

Diana was all too human at heart and mind, despite what Batman thought. This was but another conflict in this world. One troop of humans fighting another over control of resources and politics. No more relevant to an alien guest as a president warring another.

But J'onn realized that was not all.

"I worry about you, Diana." He finally said. "You've changed so much since we first met. I fear this world may be poisoning you. I…I am afraid I cannot trust your judgment as I used to." He tossed her the cookies back. "I would suggest you go home. Not in defeat, but to recover. Purge that rage from your heart. Give yourself time to grieve, as I have. As Superman is. And then, address this issue once more."

And with that, he turned and began to walk away. Diana followed him. She was keenly aware of how his words didn't bother her as much as the fact he had not confirmed his position in the upcoming conflict.

"...whom do you stand with?"

"With neither." He said without hesitation. "But if I am not to interfere with you because this is not my world, then I cannot help you either. I will continue to help the League in saving lives…But your interference with the status quo is not my affair….I do hope you follow my advice. You came to this world as an agent of peace, Diana, not as a force of vengeance. I'm here for you if you ever wish to talk."

They stared at each other. J'onn had nothing more to say, and all Diana could give back to him were thoughts. Thoughts on how to keep him out of her mind in case Bruce managed to convince him to take his side. With a sigh, the ancient martian turned and flew away.