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[ private to: Ivan, (Solid) Snake, Bruce, Miles, Gregor, Elizabeth, and Tony ]

So, about my secret identity. [ A small quirk of his lips - it's still odd to say it, but still, he should have done this months ago. ]

I know that I've already spoken to most of you about this, but not in a whole lot of detail... the short of it is, I really need you to keep what you know about me to yourself, for your own safety. I thought it wouldn't be as much of an issue here, but there are some things I didn't take into account.

[ Namely, his family showing up, and the fact that Superman is a lot more popular than he imagined. It was one thing, when the worst he had to worry about was maybe the Ingress pulling Faora out of the phantom zone, but that's just in his corner of the universe. Suddenly there are a lot of people who might have a bone to pick with him, and anyone around him.

But mainly, there are things that only Superman can deal with. He needs his own space to maneuver just as much as Clark needs the space to be, well, Clark. ]

I've got a second ID on the network now, under Superman. If I'm out in that suit, I'd prefer if you called me that, or Kal, instead of Clark. [ He rubs the side of his neck. Theoretically, asking people to call him Superman is a thing he'll eventually get used to. ] Mostly it's there if anyone needs to contact me in case of an emergency, or if there's anyone you know who might need my help.

If anyone asks, there's nothing special about Clark Kent. I'm sure there are some questions, and I'll answer them, but suffice to say, the less people know about what I really am for now, the better.

Oh, and if anyone else shows up and mentions Superman or the Justice League, I'd appreciate a heads-up. Thanks.

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He wanted our father's remains. [ "The man they were cloned after" would be the more accurate way to put that, but Snake's already opened enough cans of worms in this conversation. ]

And... it was a setup. I've spent a lot of my life being maneuvered into situations because of someone else's motives. [ Both his tone and his expression are as bitter as can be. ] But once I figured out what was going on, I guess I felt like it was my job to clean up the mess he made.

He needed to threaten a nuclear strike for that? [ Even if Snake hadn't been willing to part with them, there has to be more to the story.

Secret government operations and the like are more Lois' department; she has the experience and connections to chase that sort of story. Clark has read her work, and plenty besides, but hearing it first-hand is still something else.

He tries to imagine being manipulated into that kind of situation. That bitterness doesn't surprise him at all. ] So they figured you'd still do what they wanted in the end.

[ Snake could have scrapped the whole thing once he knew. Even Clark would have been angry enough to be tempted by the idea. That he made the choice he did says a lot about his character - and somehow it doesn't surprise Clark any more than the bitterness did. ] Still... that doesn't explain why it had to be you. Wouldn't it have made more sense to send someone who wasn't connected to the situation?

He has a flair for the dramatic. [ Liquid had wanted to make his mark on the world, to stand out as more than just a clone of Big Boss. He'd certainly accomplished that with his little stunt.

Clark's trying to apply logic to the situation when that's a fool's errand. Snake could get into the complications of FOXDIE, the plan that someone genetically similar to Liquid who was carrying a retrovirus designed to kill him would be their best chance at taking him out. But he's already explained a lot, and Shadow Moses isn't a favorite time of his past to relive.

Not that there are a lot of those.

So he shakes his head and shrugs. ] Who knows? There were a lot of people in the background pulling strings. I think they thought it would be symbolic if I was the one who took him out.

[ He raises an eyebrow and tilts his head. ] Sort of like you and understatements.

[ He can't imagine it's an easy thing for even someone like Snake to talk about, and his curiosity isn't really a good enough reason to pry. He leaves it for now, even if the pieces don't quite fit. ] Symbolic... Hm. So what do you do now?

[ Snake doesn't smile, but there's a shift in his expression that implies one, if nothing else. It looks like Clark is starting to get a feel for him.

That question drags a sigh out of him, though. ] Not much. Liquid had been dealt with back home. Now he's here again, but all I can really do is keep an eye on him and warn other people. He says he'll be on his best behavior, and he actually might be because it's in his best interest to get home. [ But Snake doesn't like it one bit, and the weary look on his face makes no secret of that.

All the same, he refocuses on Clark, his gaze a little sharper. ] Pretty sure I've earned a few questions now.

[ It's a subtle enough shift, but Clark catches it. He does smile a little, the corner of his mouth quirking up, and then his expression sobers again. ]

Let's hope it stays that way. [ At least it seems reasonable enough that he'd want to work with the crew to get back home. If he still wants his father's remains or anything like that, he's not going to get them by starting trouble here. Clark just hopes that Snake is looking out for himself too. If his brother knows about any of this, he has reason to hold a personal grudge.

He's not really surprised by the statement. He nods and tugs his glasses off, sitting a little straighter in his chair. ] What would you like to know?

[ Clark looks ready to respond to Snake's questions, with the way that he takes his glasses off and assumes an entirely different sort of demeanor. From the curious journalist to the superpowered man. ]

Where do those powers of yours come from? Were you born with them?

[ Or was it some kind of experimentation? Nanomachines are responsible for a lot where Snake comes from, but he realizes it wouldn't work the same way everywhere else. And what Clark can do is worlds above anything that Snake has seen. ]

[ Clark is whoever he needs to be - for others, as well as for himself. Sometimes taking off his glasses and straightening his shoulders feels as natural as taking a full breath, and sometimes it feels like the world has shifted onto his back. Now, at least, it's the former. It's his own way of being honest.

From what Snake has said about his experiences with his government and the choices he's made, Clark trusts him to do what he feels is right with whatever information he wants to know. ]

I was. I'm from a planet called Krypton, but I've lived on Earth all my life. From what I understand, my body absorbs solar radiation and... [ He trails off there, and after considering things a moment, he exhales softly and gives Snake a wry smile. ] Somehow that lets me fly and shoot lasers from my eyes.

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