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[nikolaievich]

"State your name and intent."

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[nikolaievich]

We can hurt whoever hurt a child. A good child.

[He’s a firm believer of an eye for an eye so he’s not going to be a good influence on that regard.]

[signifies]

[ He understands.

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.

[nikolaievich]

[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.]

I told you that’s how I deal with my anger.

[signifies]

[ 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.

[nikolaievich]

[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?

[signifies]

I don't know. I'm a little out of my depth.

[ 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.

[nikolaievich]

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.

What makes you different from me?

[signifies]

[ He knew this moment would come, and he knows this isn't going to be like telling Taako, who'd think it was cool.

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.

[nikolaievich]

[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.]

[signifies]

I figured it out.

[ 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.

[nikolaievich]

[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.

Thank you.

[signifies]

[ Clark smiles and rubs the back of his neck. ]

Sorry. I know it's a lot to take in.

[nikolaievich]

[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?

[signifies]

They did something to his mind. He called it an alien goo.

[nikolaievich]

[Alien goo. He hums to himself, trying to tell himself this is just another weird thing in a very long list of weird things so he can handle it.]

Is there a chance they will try again?

[signifies]

I don't know.

[ Dick didn't say anything about a Manchester Black. ]

[nikolaievich]

[He nods, making a mental note to contact Jon later if he's able to. Just to check on him.]

I guess now I understand why destroying things and finding someone to punch wouldn't exactly be an option for you.

[signifies]

[ Clark shrugs sadly. ]

Yeah. I'd take you up on the offer otherwise.

[nikolaievich]

[He shrugs one shoulder.] I mean, I'd still like the chance to see exactly what your powers can do. But I understand it is bad timing.

So... [He motions at the gun.] Maybe this is better?

[signifies]

Let's give it a shot.

[ Pun unintended. ]

I've never used a gun before.