[Illya frowns. He wants to know, of course he does. He’s not only curious, he was trained to gather information so the fact that he’s been choosing to live with the idea that there’s a part of Clark he won’t know says a lot about how much he appreciates their friendship. And now he has the chance to change that.]
I… [He pauses for a second, trying to find the right words. He still speaks in English, because he wants to make what he’s going to say very clear to Clark.]
I want to know, yes. But only if you are ready to share, not just because you feel you have to.
[Illya was ready for... a lot of things. He was half-expecting him to be a spy himself, that would have been a story to tell. He was not ready for this, but to be fair aliens isn't exactly something he'd ever consider. Even in here, where he's met some he's still getting used to the idea of them. Of course he wouldn't think one of his friends in this place is one of them.]
[Illya doesn't know what to say. Or rather, he has a lot of questions but none that would be appropriate to ask to someone he considers a friend. This shouldn’t change anything- this doesn’t change anything, but he can’t help but be terribly curious.]
...Okay. [He repeats as he puts his thoughts in order. Then he tilts his head.] Should I call you Clark or Kal then? Is that the reason you were angry?
[He knows Clark being honest with him like this means Illya will have to be honest with him as well. And he will… eventually. Clark kind of knows part of it already, and he’s been choosing to respect it. Illya will share with him, he knows he will eventually. But only when he’s ready.
When Clark explains himself, though, he quickly balls his hands into fists. He isn’t even bothering masking his anger, it’s clear as water in his eyes.]
[His anger fades away a little bit when he looks at Clark, but not completely. He takes a few moments to compose himself, and he taps two fingers against his side in a rhythmic pattern. Clark hasn’t gotten Illya angry, so he may not recognize that gesture as the sign of anxiety and anger it actually is. But no tables have been flipped yet, so it’s probably safe for now.]
It’s… my job, Clark .[His jaw clenches. He can’t tell him, not straight away, not openly. But he knows Clark’s smart enough to put two and two together by now, so he has to be very careful.]
I hurt people who deserve it. [And more than hurt, but this is not the time to talk about that.]
[ Clark doesn't know what that tapping means, but he reaches out to grip Illya's shoulder gently and looks at him. Trying to keep him here. ]
I'm not saying don't do it ever. [ He knows what kind of people exist out there in the world. Clark doesn't know how many of them he'll face now that he's a superhero, but he knows he will do it when it's asked of him. ] He's dangerous, or sadistic, that's enough of a reason. Revenge isn't. It's not what I want to teach my son.
[It’s the last part that makes Illya react, that makes Illya’s expression soften a little bit. He was raised around violence, he learned very very young that every action has a consequence and that sometimes you have to be jury, judge and executioner. But he doesn’t want Jon to have to learn that.
He doesn’t pull away from Clark’s touch.]
...He’s a sweet kid. He should keep being one. [He says eventually. Still tense, but less so.] Is he alright?
If I can't help by making them pay, [And his tone makes it clear he would still very much like you, but he is going to stay away from this for Clark and Jon's sake.] I would like to help in some other way.
[He tilts his head, looking up and down at Clark.] You said you are alien. Jon is, as well.
[Luckily for them both and their friendship he’s seen so much, gone through so many weird things since he ended up here that while what Clark is describing at first shocks him, he decides he can accept it. There’s more to Clark than meets the eye, he’s always known that, he was just wrong about what ‘more’ entailed.
But the last part...]
So when I told you my name, you… knew? [He’s gonna need a few more moments to figure out how he feels about that. Right now it feels a little… like Clark has been laughing at him behind his back.]
I have very good hearing. People have a physical response when they lie that I pick up on. Unless they're very good at it. [ Such as spies. ] If you hadn't told me Alexei wasn't your real name, I wouldn't have known.
[That helps, a little bit at not making Illya feel like the butt of an elaborate joke. Because he’s no dummy, if Clark has those powers then Jon must have at least similar ones if not the exact same ones, so the entire family must have been in on it. But he’s known Clark enough, trusted Clark for long enough that he’s willing to take a deep breath and ignore his knee-jerk reaction to this.]
It must have been… hard. For you to trust me with this information, knowing there are no people like you in my world.
[Illya gives him a dismissing, ‘it’s alright’ kind of movement with his hand.]
It’s not your fault, and I appreciate you trusting me with this information. [He’s pretty sure he’s not the only one who knows- Clark has had to trust other people, right? And people from his world already knew beforehand. But that’s probably a conversation for another time, when Illya’s nerves aren’t frazzled at the new information.]
Is Jon strong like you? If he is, how did someone manage to hurt him?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
I <3 your Illya
He's used to it. But he doesn't know if he can keep doing it right now. ]
Yeah but... I want to be completely honest with you.
[ It's hard to explain with their secrets hanging over them. Clark always wants to trust. ]
Do you want that?
I <3 your Clark! :>
I… [He pauses for a second, trying to find the right words. He still speaks in English, because he wants to make what he’s going to say very clear to Clark.]
I want to know, yes. But only if you are ready to share, not just because you feel you have to.
thank you!
[ He's been ready for a long time. He trusts Illya.
Clark didn't want him to feel he had to give up his own secret in turn. ]
My name is Clark, but it's also Kal. I'm from another planet. I was sent to Earth by my family, and I've been there ever since.
no subject
...You're an alien?
no subject
no subject
[Illya doesn't know what to say. Or rather, he has a lot of questions but none that would be appropriate to ask to someone he considers a friend. This shouldn’t change anything- this doesn’t change anything, but he can’t help but be terribly curious.]
...Okay. [He repeats as he puts his thoughts in order. Then he tilts his head.] Should I call you Clark or Kal then? Is that the reason you were angry?
no subject
[ He breathes out very sharply. ]
Someone hurt Jon because of who he is.
no subject
When Clark explains himself, though, he quickly balls his hands into fists. He isn’t even bothering masking his anger, it’s clear as water in his eyes.]
Who?
no subject
We can't do anything about that.
[ This would be a very different conversation if it was. ]
no subject
[He’s a firm believer of an eye for an eye so he’s not going to be a good influence on that regard.]
no subject
But that's not the person he ever wants to be.
Clark hesitates, and he swallows. Then he speaks softly. ]
Please, don't. Not for our sake.
no subject
It’s… my job, Clark .[His jaw clenches. He can’t tell him, not straight away, not openly. But he knows Clark’s smart enough to put two and two together by now, so he has to be very careful.]
I hurt people who deserve it. [And more than hurt, but this is not the time to talk about that.]
I told you that’s how I deal with my anger.
no subject
I'm not saying don't do it ever. [ He knows what kind of people exist out there in the world. Clark doesn't know how many of them he'll face now that he's a superhero, but he knows he will do it when it's asked of him. ] He's dangerous, or sadistic, that's enough of a reason. Revenge isn't. It's not what I want to teach my son.
no subject
He doesn’t pull away from Clark’s touch.]
...He’s a sweet kid. He should keep being one. [He says eventually. Still tense, but less so.] Is he alright?
no subject
[ Jon's a tough child, but he's lost some of his innocence. Clark withdraws and puts his arms akimbo. ]
I guess we'll see.
no subject
[He tilts his head, looking up and down at Clark.] You said you are alien. Jon is, as well.
What makes you different from me?
no subject
There's no way this won't be invasive and frightening. ]
I'm a lot stronger and faster than humans. I can fly. [ Most relevant to Illya: ] I can also tell when someone is lying.
no subject
But the last part...]
So when I told you my name, you… knew? [He’s gonna need a few more moments to figure out how he feels about that. Right now it feels a little… like Clark has been laughing at him behind his back.]
no subject
[ Clark shrugs minutely. ]
I have very good hearing. People have a physical response when they lie that I pick up on. Unless they're very good at it. [ Such as spies. ] If you hadn't told me Alexei wasn't your real name, I wouldn't have known.
no subject
It must have been… hard. For you to trust me with this information, knowing there are no people like you in my world.
Thank you.
no subject
Sorry. I know it's a lot to take in.
no subject
It’s not your fault, and I appreciate you trusting me with this information. [He’s pretty sure he’s not the only one who knows- Clark has had to trust other people, right? And people from his world already knew beforehand. But that’s probably a conversation for another time, when Illya’s nerves aren’t frazzled at the new information.]
Is Jon strong like you? If he is, how did someone manage to hurt him?
no subject
no subject
Is there a chance they will try again?
no subject
[ Dick didn't say anything about a Manchester Black. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)