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who: Jon's CR + anyone who knew Clark Kent
what: Reaction to Clark's departure
when: 10th of August
where: The Superfam House
warnings: sads?? sads.

[ Jon didn't know what to do. Every action feels robotic. He sent out what texts he could about his father's departure from his phone and checking his father's contacts. He didn't bother checking for the replies. It buzzed quietly in a corner and it wall he could do to melt it down. He must have cried for hours when he found his father's letter, holding onto Annora until she protested his strong grip. After the sadness, the fear had finally sunken in. He was alone. There were no contingency plans, no promises he could follow. He didn't know what to do.

What about the house? Was Jon meant to protect it? Would Miss Jones take it away now that his father had left? He didn't want to leave. He couldn't leave. He curls up tighter with his blanket, trying to block out all the fears and doubts that plague his mind. Everything was so uncertain and Jon . . . Jon was scared. He didn't know how to stop. ]

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I know. [Illya nods, like he has no doubt that he could. Because he doesn't: Illya knows Jon is a smart, capable kid and thanks to Clark talking to him about him he knows he’s gone through a lot lately. And he also knows he has powers beyond what Illya can imagine, so no matter what he’ll be safe.

But the fact that he could be alone doesn’t mean that he has to.]

Is that friend going to spend the night with you?

[ He wavers again, barely toppling back into sorrow and anxiety. A good stiff breeze could knock him over. Everything flicker of emotion passes through his expression before he forces it back into firm nonchalance. ]

I . . . Probably.

[ The Bats have a strange night schedule, but Dick wouldn't do that to Jon. He thinks. He believes. Nothing is certain anymore. ]

Nobody wants to be here, do they? You guys are all here because Dad is gone and it hurts. You're trying to do the right thing but that . . . kind of hurts too.

[Illya raises an eyebrow.] I do want to be here.

[Sure, he won’t deny it feels like he owes it to his friend to check on his son and do his best to take care of him even if he has no idea how to handle kids. But while Illya is the kind of man to do a lot of things out of honor and duty, this is not one of them.]

But I am here for you. I can’t bring your father back, and nothing I say will change that. If talking about it will help, I have been told I am a good listener.

If it will only hurt… [He motions at the chess board.] I was just bored back home and thought we could both use a distraction.

But you should not be alone at night. I will come, if you’ll let me to. [And stand guard outside if he finds out he’s alone. He’s aware it could be creepy, but he just doesn’t want him to be on his own. Jon may be powerful, but when it comes to feelings he’s very human.]

[ Jon crosses his arms, not ready to take back his words but also knowing that they were unfair to Illya. He should be grateful. But mostly he just feels like he's running on empty while paranoid scenarios run through his mind. It hasn't been that long since Manchester Black and losing his father makes him worry about . . .

Jon shakes his head. ]

Chess . . . Chess is fine. My dad — I get why my dad left. It wasn't anything to do with me.

[ "I'll see you in the future" his dad had wrote. Which one? Jon thought to himself. He's seen many futures. Many lives. Superman's life has never been an easy one and Jon's existence is . . . tentative at best. ]

You don't need to stay the night.

I don’t know why Clark left, but I know he was very happy to have known you and he was very proud of you.

[He starts setting the chess pieces. He takes with time with it, if only to give Jon the chance to talk a little bit while also giving him the sense that they are doing something else. He knows sometimes he needs a little nudge to end up talking even though part of him really wants to, so he wants to help Jon if that’s the case with him as well. But he will also not push it, because that would make him a bit of a hypocrite.]

I didn’t say I needed to. You’re a strong kid, Jon, probably stronger than I am. [He glances at him.] What I’m saying is it would help me feel better, calmer.

But I will respect your wish if you would rather be alone.

[ Stronger. Jon squints at him briefly, a little knowing before pulling up a seat opposite to Illya. ]

Did he tell you?

[He nods.] He told me that he was an alien, which made you part alien as well. And he told me about your powers.

It wasn't that long ago, though.

[ Jon turns his chair around as he crosses his arms, resting his head on them along the top rail. He seems mostly thoughtful and not particularly annoyed. If his father told Illya the truth, then Jon has no reason to contest it. He trusted his father's judgement in all things. ]

Does it bother you? That we lied?

[Well... he doesn’t want to lie to Jon, but he also doesn’t want to make him feel bad about it now that he’s got his own problems to worry about it. In the end he decides to go for the truth, but… well. Illya can be quite blunt, but he also knows when the time for bluntness is over.]

I understood why he did it. It was… a little frustrating at first, because it felt like it had all been an elaborate joke. But he explained himself later on.

And I know protecting you was one of the reasons.

Yeah.

[ He glances at the board, melancholy filling his features. ]

If I wasn't here, dad would have had an easier time. He wouldn't have to worry.

Probably.

[Once the pieces are in place he shifts the board so Jon has the white pieces. May as well give him a slight advantage.]

But he'd also not have met you, and not gotten to have that experience. He was very, very proud of you Jon and I'm sure he wouldn't have changed meeting you for the world.

[ Jon's gaze flits from piece to piece. From an outsider standpoint, he knew of chess and the names of the pieces. But that's the extent of his knowledge. ]

Yeah, he . . . he wrote that. In his letter.

[ His shoulders tremble but Jon valiantly holds off the tears. ]

It's still — it's still hard. Being alone like this. I've never done it before.

[Illya nods.] I know it’s hard.

[The way he says it makes it sound like he’s talking from experience. He was younger than Jon when his father was sent to the Gulag, young enough that the only thing he could process was the shame that burned inside him without him. And he was a little older when his mother passed away. But he still knows the experience of being suddenly alone when you’re young.]

But you don’t have to be alone. It won’t be the same, but I will be here to help. We will be here to help.

[He points at the board.] How much do you know?

[ Jon picks up the tone, but he doesn't know what to make of it. His brow furrows briefly but he lets it go almost immediately. Normally, Jon would pursue it but he can't muster up the normal childlike curiosity. ]

Uh, pretty much nothing. But I can wiki it?

[Illya’s face makes it clear what he thinks of just wiki-ing stuff up.]

I am good teacher, I think you will be fine listening to me as I explain. And if I do something you don’t understand, you can ask me. Do you know the names of the pieces?

[ You're such an old man, Ilya. ]

Yeah of course.

[ He points them out easily. ]

King, Queen, Castle, Knight . . . Bishop? And the pawns. I think the pawns just move forward and the others are a little more special. And you have to capture the king.

[Definitely an old man, raised old school.]

Correct. I will show you how each of them moves. [He reaches for the knight first.] But you should know I won't go easy on you. I never go easy on anyone.

[ Jon crosses his arms with a frown. ]

Like I'd ask you to.

Didn't think you would. Your father never wanted me to go easy, either.

[Explaining the movements it's fairly easy, the real challenge in chess is the actual gameplay and Jon will figure that out fairly enough.]

Your father said you are fast. Does your mind work faster, as well?

[ He blinks before mulling it over. ]

Sometimes. That ability hasn't matured yet though.

[But Clark’s had matured. It explains why he learned Russian so fast, even with the fact that Illya worked hard to practice with him as often as possible. And probably explains why Jon is so smart and mature, even if he also acts like a kid his age sometimes.

Once Jon makes the first move, Illya replies in kind. He meant it when he said he wasn’t going to go easy on him.]

What about your other abilities? Have they matured?

[And then, a pause.]

I’m not sure if it’s rude, to ask so many questions.

[ Jon merely shrugs. Everyone asks when they find out. He certainly doesn't mind but it's sad that Jon no longer has any real pride in his powers. He is pleased that he can fly now, but the experience he went through to unlock was . . . unpleasant. Jon fears his powers rather than embracing them. ]

Some kind of have, some haven't. They usually don't work all the time but they've been better since . . . [ A shadow passes over his face. ] . . . since some stuff happened.

[Which is exactly where Illya wanted to get, but he still keeps a close eye on Jon’s reactions to know if he’s pushing it too far. He may be a blunt and even rude at times but as always, kids and people he actually likes are the exception. Jon just happens to be both.]

Your dad told me about it. A little bit, not everything. [Mostly because he knew Illya wouldn’t stop until he made the person who hurt Jon pay if he knew who it was.]

Will you be okay?

[ Jon forces a smile. ]

Yeah, of course. It wasn't that big a deal or anything.

[ It totally was, but Jon has trouble discussing it openly. To him, it's still a raw wound. And the nightmares haven't quite slipped away. But the smile slips because Jon just isn't practiced enough at faking it. He's not that kind of person. ]

He told you that I tried to kill him?

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