[ shaking his head. well, if strange won't say anything, he'll keep talking. ]

Identities for us aren't like the ones for the Avengers or for you. [ a hand on his chest, emphatic. his voice doesn't rise, just stays there, sharp-edged. ] What we do, who we are — it's essential we aren't exposed until we're ready. And the person you're implicating on an unsecure network, in a hostile universe, and asking me to expose — she's my friend.

[ a beat. ]

So, why are you asking me, Stephen?

[ now he's listening. ]