[ text | un: jkent ]

[supersweet]

psa: no one is allowed to tell me off for wandering alone in riverview because you guys are all the worst kids ever when you get tiny.

you also all have like zero self-preservation instincts. ZERO.

also if you're a tiny kid and you don't want adults in your business, I'm happy to help out.

Comments

[supersweet]

Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever be as good as my dad.

[nikolaievich]

I'm sure your father would be mortified to know you think like that. We are not our parents. You are your own person, Jon.

And from what I have seen, that person happens to be a very good and selfless kind of person.

[supersweet]

[ Saying that Clark isn't his real dad wouldn't be nice or fair or . . . anything helpful, really. Now he wonders how his father would take to his parent here. His father who has realms of experience with clones and alternate worlds and everything in between ‐ he always knew what to do, what was right.

And Jon can only wait and hope he'll come close. ]

I know. I know I'm still young and it'll come to me. I know all that stuff. I just wish I knew more sometimes. So I wouldn't feel like I'm making a mistake.

[nikolaievich]

[That’s why he specifically said father, and not Clark. He knows Clark is taking care of the kid and he’s sure he’s doing it wonderfully but it must be weird for Jon to see his father and someone who is not… quite him at the same time. Knowing he may be the man who raised him but not really at the same time. This multiverse kind of stuff honestly gives Illya a bit of a headache.]

Most teenagers think they know more than they actually do, so you already know a lot by acknowledging that you don’t. It means you will listen to adults when they give you advice.

Can I ask you something, though? Clark seems like a very calm, gentle person to me. What gives you the impression he’s casting a shadow too big for you to get out of it?

[supersweet]

[ Oh boy. How does he answer this? Jon doesn't want to lie to Illya. ]

He's gonna do great things. He doesn't know it or believes it, but he will. And I know he's not making me feel like that. But my dad was always bigger than everything. People looked up to him.

[nikolaievich]

[This is kind of getting close to... uncharted territory. Illya and Clark agreed to acknowledge they knew the other was hiding information, but accepting it and trusting each other anyway because both of them had their reasons to hide a part of themselves. And he isn't going to break Clark's trust by prodding his not-exactly-son, but... he's curious, he's definitely curious.]

People will look up to you as well, Jon. You have the kind of personality people follow. You have seemed smart to me ever since our very first conversation. [If he were Russian and from Illya's world he'd probably already have been recruited.] I don't know your father, even though I know Clark. But I have no doubt you will do your own great things.

[supersweet]

[ Or terrible things. Sometimes Jon can't shake his first death. Even one that might seem small to others. ]

Thanks. I mean, I'll still try my best.

[nikolaievich]

[Illya hasn't met Jon (or Clark) for very long, but he would still find it hard to believe they'd do something 'terrible'. But he'd also find it hard to believe they have the kind of superpowers they do, so.]

Trying your best is the only way to improve yourself. But as someone whose childhood was basically devoted to training, remember to enjoy yours as well.

[He won't live through the same age Illya did, won't have the same kind of pressure.]

[supersweet]

What kind of training?

[ It couldn't be like Jon's . . . right? ]

[nikolaievich]

I'm an athlete. An athlete that was official representation for my country during very hard times.

I was held to certain standards. [Hey, that's even true. Not the entire truth, but it's not like he can share all of it.]

[supersweet]

I went to boot camp with Damian once. It wasn't that much fun, but our dads wanted us to learn how to work together.

[nikolaievich]

Who is Damian? If your fathers wanted you two to work together since you were children he is probably important. Either to you or your father.

[supersweet]

Damian's dad is my dad's bestie. Or something.

[ Who knows with Batman. ]

Because of that, we hang out sometimes.

[ Look at this rousing endorsement. ]

[nikolaievich]

[So maybe Clark's friend, in the future? Interesting. Clark's such a weird mix of good with people and someone who'd rather be alone that Illya wonders who'd become his best friend.]

You don't sound thrilled at the idea.

[supersweet]

You need to meet Damian to get the idea.

[nikolaievich]

Can I? Is he here?

[Don't underestimate his curiosity, Jon. He'll always, always ask.]

[supersweet]

Yeah. If you want, I can introduce you.

And if he's a jerk, ignore it. He's always like that.

[nikolaievich]

Some people think I'm a jerk, I'm sure we could manage to find some things in common. [Different kind of jerk, Illya. But he's honestly curious: the Kents are nice and gentle, it must take a kind of character to get Jon to say that kind of thing about someone.]

Is he your age?

[supersweet]

[ They are generally very patient, but Jon is also ten and hasn't built up a reserve for it like his father. ]

He's thirteen.

And you're not a jerk!

[nikolaievich]

That's because I actually like you.

I'll come over some time when he's at your house, if that's alright with you. I just haven't seen you interact with other kids yet.

[supersweet]

That's because there aren't a lot of them around. I think I'm the youngest.

[nikolaievich]

It is good thing, though. We have basically been kidnapped here, I would not want many kids to go through it no matter how well we're treated.

[supersweet]

Yeah. I definitely lucked out with having my dad here.

[nikolaievich]

You definitely did, not many young people here have that luxury.

It was nice talking to you, Jon. Do take care and contact me if you need anything.

[supersweet]

Sure thing! Later Mr. Alexei.