Who Needs Powers?

Chapter 3: Where's Clint?

Everyone was finally starting to feel a little better, even if there were still a few sniffles and plenty of long, long naps to go around. But as soon as Rachel had started to feel better, she wanted to be around her mom, and since Clint was still trying to help (proudly crowing about how he'd survived the flu-pocalypse), he had come upstairs with some snacks for everyone.

By that time, the Summers twins were asleep, though James was watching everything like he was trying to process it all, and Clint grinned as he climbed up between Jean and K — with Rachel tucked into Jean's other side. "Hey, James," he said cheerfully. "I brought some popcorn and stuff, but you can't have it yet. sorry."

"Pretty sure he'll live," K said. "How are you feeling, handsome?" She shifted how she was holding James so she could reach up to run her hand through his hair.

"Kinda worn out," Clint admitted. "Even some of the adults were sick, so there weren't a lot of people who could help."

"You sure you don't want to be a doctor or something?" K teased. "You can give unruly patient shots the fun way."

Clint laughed and shook his head. "Nah, I'd rather be an Avenger."

"Doctor Avenger ..."

"Yeah but I just want to be a hero, not a doctor," Clint insisted.

"Alright. Nurse Avenger."

"Moo-o-o-om."

"I'm teasing, you know that, right?"

"I dunno; I'm getting older, and I've only got two and a half years before I can be on the junior team."

Jean chuckled. "He says, after only a few months of being ten," she whispered to K.

"He ... is going places, and he knows it," K defended.

Clint nodded. "Uh-huh. Sure do," he said. "And being thirteen is taking so long!"

"And the day he turns thirteen, he'll be counting down to sixteen so he can drive," K said.

Clint grinned. "Yeah, that will be pretty great!"

Rachel giggled. "Clint's funny," she said.

"He is sometimes, isn't he?" Jean laughed, booping Rachel on the nose.

"So..." Clint glanced up at K. "I got a movie. It's Indiana Jones, but it might be too scary for Rachel..."

"So what? You want me to venture out with James and leave poor Jean alone with her own kids?" K said. "What kind of monster do you think I am?"

Clint giggled at that. "She's gonna have to get used to it sooner or later."

"Oh, never," Jean said with a laugh.

"Yeah, I think you're being optimistic," K said. "What do you suggest, good Sir Quackers?"

"Mom, I told you I want to be Hawkeye," Clint said, rolling his eyes.

"Well ... do big hawks have the smaller hawks following them around in a line?" K asked him, again, playing with his hair while James snuggled in on her shoulder. .

"Well, maybe if they're baby hawks...."

"Quack, quack," Rachel said — not at all helping.

Clint let out a sigh of longsuffering. "Mom, I blame you."

Rachel giggled. "It's okay. You're a duck."

"Mo-o-o-o-o-m!"

"I didn't say it," K defended.