Little One

Chapter 3

I blazed through my classes.

Having Tony and Bruce as guardians certainly made certain subjects easier. I walked out front and pulled my phone out. Someone bumped me.

"Watch it."

I looked up. "I was stationary here, pal. If anyone should watch it, it's you," I said.

A car drove up.

"Me, watch it? I don't think so." He snapped.

"Really? 'me watch it'? What are you, a neanderthal? You should have said 'watch it, me?". And even that's mildly atrocious."

The window rolled down. "Hey, kid! Are you buggin' my kid?" Nat asked, sliding her sunglasses down.

I looked over and saw Natasha and Clint.

"No, ma'am." He whimpered.

"Good, then skedaddle." Clint hollered.

He took off.

"Get in, kiddo!"

I hopped in the car. "Thanks, you guys," I said perkily.

"No problem. Know this right now. I would've punched him for you." Clint said.

I smiled and nodded.

We talked the whole ride home. They told me about their mission this morning. I spoke about school and how Teresa Bentley got suspended for throwing a tantrum. Upon getting home, there was yelling, though.

"You said he wasn't coming until tomorrow morning! You said you had it handled. 'Don't worry, Stark. I have it covered'! I was going to have him moved while she was in school!"

It was obviously Tony.

"Stay here," Natasha said.

I nodded and watched after her.

Someone turned to look at her, then looked past her and made eye contact with me.

It made me uncomfortable. I instantly wanted to crawl out of my skin. Especially so when they smirked at me.

"Let's go swimming," Clint whispered, pulling me behind him.

"But Nat said..." I began.

"Nat said stay here. She meant 'Clint get her out of the room'." He said conspiratorially.

"Okay, sounds legit," I replied, allowing a smile to creep onto my face.

"Go get changed." He said, moving me away from the door frame.

I ran back to the elevator and went to my room. I threw on my clothes and did a double dutch braid before grabbing my goggles and opening the door.

Clint was there in swim trunks and a t-shirt. "C'mon, kiddo!"

I smiled and followed him.

•••••••
We went to the pool on the roof.

I bolted for the pool. I was also apprehended by an over-protective Clint.

"Hey, hey! Sunscreen. You have a Fitzpatrick skin type 2, and skin cancer is no joke." He reminded, tossing it to me.

I slathered it on, then bolted again.

"Wait until it dries!"

I almost forget Clint is a dad until moments like this. "Okay, no problem, I can do my Algebra homework."

He nodded and sat with me in the shade of the umbrella while I finished my homework. He took off his hearing aids and set them on the table.

"How's it going?" He signed.