Clark smiles slightly, in spite of the moment, and readjusts the glasses' sit on his face, like that'll do it. They're a great disguise. Everyone knows Superman doesn't need glasses.

And he thinks he sees that, the fact that answering such a question is tempting. How many people in the world can you talk to about your dad, Batman? So Clark listens, silent, receptive, empathy reflected back the next time Rick glances his way. Something softens when Rick reports on Bruce being a great dad. It's not a new insight into Clark's understanding of Bruce, but it's not something everyone wants to say all the time, when things are rough.

It all sounds like a familiar kind of sad mess, a tangle with its odd tensions, and surprising slack. Clark lets Rick's answer stand on its own for a second, before inquiring, "That mean there's no one solution?"