Yes, hello, it has been a long time, but I still adore Tiny!Clint, so... here ya go!

Chapter 12: Telepathic Defense

When Jean arrived, she almost thought things were back to normal, purely because Clint was curled up with K the way he always would be. But then, she saw the look on K's face and realized that she wasn't holding onto Clint because he was her son but because she could tell he was scared and hurt and emotional, and even without knowing who he was, she wasn't going to let a little boy be scared and hurt without support.

Jean stopped in the doorway, covering her mouth with one hand, and Scott stepped up beside her, looking as serious as ever as he whispered, "That's why I called you."

Jean turned to face him and raised both eyebrows, letting her gaze linger on his bare chest — but not because he was shirtless. He was badly bruised, wrapped, and wincing just from standing there. Sure you didn't call me for your own moral support? she teased him lightly. It looks like you could use it.

I'm fine.

You're always 'fine', she countered. But you're hurt.

They had a telepath who thought it would be funny to turn us against each other. We're alright now. If anything, we probably need to talk to Captain Rogers. I think he still feels bad about the whole situation.

Scott, I don't need to be a telepath to see that he feels bad. Look for yourself, Jean replied, tipping her head toward Steve, who was, in fact, watching the two of them with baited breath, just as badly injured and bruised but looking like he would do anything to make it up to them.

Scott let his shoulders drop. He got in a good hit.

I see that. You should talk to him.

I did.

Then you should talk to him again.

We'll talk to him together about having you work with the Avengers on telepathic defense. Clearly, they're going to need it if they're going to be more involved in our lives, Scott suggested instead, and Jean could hear how torn he was about the whole thing in his mind. He'd worshiped Captain America as a kid, and he hated being in this awkward spot with his childhood hero.

So, she didn't push it. Instead, she went over to where the others were, stifling a smirk when she realized that K and Tony were flirting lightly, though K was holding back slightly — only because there was a scared kid still hanging close to her and she was still a bit disoriented.

What had always been present between the two of them was now a glaring neon sign that they were interested in each other, even if it was mostly expressed in once-overs and knowing looks.

So far, anyway.

"I heard you all came on the bad side of a nasty telepath," Jean said by way of introduction — and to her surprise, it was Barney who looked most relieved to see her, practically jumping to his feet and nodding vigorously.

"Yes, it was awful, like it always is — please fix it," he said, gesturing sharply toward K. And she could hear without even trying that he was projecting how very much he hated that she was flirting with Tony all the time. He was sure she wouldn't be doing that in any way but teasing if she were in her right mind, and he was also worried Tony would read too much into it.

"I'll do what I can," Jean said, knowing that K in particular was a hard mind to get into, so she wasn't going to promise fast results and get his hopes up. She looked past him to the others. "And from what Scott told me, all of you could probably use more work on your telepathic defenses."

Steve winced and nodded. "Yeah, it's apparently a glaring hole in our tactical defenses."

"It's alright. I'll just come over more often until you've got it down. I'm sure Jan will be sad about seeing Rachel."

"Oh, very sad. Definitely," Steve chuckled.

"She'll just have to suffer," Jean said philosophically. When Steve grinned, Jean looked toward K, though she directed her hello toward Clint, knowing how little K trusted telepaths. "You alright, Clint?"

Clint nodded but didn't say anything. He didn't need to when he was projecting pure hurt from what he'd apparently seen when he had come back to consciousness. Something about that massive healing had been traumatic enough to dredge up one of the worst days of his life: when he heard his biological mother had been killed by his dad.

No wonder he wanted to be so close to K.

Jean sat down beside him and K. "My husband's the one in the red glasses," she explained. "He's in charge of the fun ones."

K smirked. "Is that what you let him think?"

"See, this is why we're friends," Jean chuckled. "Even if you don't remember me right now."

"You team up on the guys," Clint put in helpfully. "Because you say they need to remember to think with the correct heads."

K couldn't help but smirk at that one. "Sounds like me."

Jean smiled wider. "If you'd like," she said, "I can try to see if I can restore your memories. The mutant who had you all captive is a powerful telepath, but I doubt he's as powerful as I am."

But at that, K's smirk dropped, and she narrowed her eyes. "And I'm supposed to trust you because…"

Jean's smile disappeared instantly, and she floundered for words for a moment — only for Barney, of all people, to ride to her rescue with an insightful: "I mean, that's kind of the whole game, isn't it?" When everyone turned to look at him, he blushed but pressed on. "You don't know anyone, so you're not exactly inclined to trust any telepaths who could fix what they did. But the whole reason you don't know anyone and don't trust Jean is because of what they did." He shrugged and met K's gaze. "So I guess it comes down to not if you trust us but if you think it's worth taking the risk that we're right or not."

Jean couldn't help but smile Barney's way. He truly didn't give himself enough credit; he was just as insightful as his brother was; he simply didn't have the same self-confidence that gave Clint the courage to speak up. He was getting braver and more willing to accept compliments, sure, but that didn't change the first ten years of his life.

Jean made a mental note to remind Barney how smart he was. She already did, but she was going to be far more deliberate about it now. He needed to know it.

"I mean," Clint said cautiously, "maybe you could … I mean, maybe it'll come back on its own?" He glanced toward Logan. "But I don't know if that'll work when it's telepathic…"

"It should," Logan said. "It's not a quick fix."

"Yeah, I just didn't want anyone to think there's only one solution…" Clint swallowed. "Don't wanna scare anyone off," he whispered at the low end of Logan's hearing.

"All we can do is take care of her until she comes around," Logan whispered back, to the point that he knew Clint would only catch it because he could read lips.

Clint nodded and tried to sit up a bit taller. "So, umm, I guess the Avengers need to come to our school and learn about telepaths?" he teased lightly, and Scott smirked.

"They could spend years there and not learn anything," Logan said dryly.

"Still probably dead useful," Steve said — still looking apologetic, somehow. "If you don't mind sharing your telepathy teacher," he said, raising his eyebrows Jean's way.

"I'll bring Rachel. She loves to play with Jan," Jean shot back, which had everyone there smirking.

"And in the meantime…" Clint smiled K's way. "So… you and I don't need to stay in the doctor's office, so do you want to play with my dog?"

"Oh, I don't know," K said. "What kind of dog have you got? And have you taught him how to play dead yet?"

"He's a golden retriever, and his name is Arrow, and you'll love him," Clint said, grinning widely.

"I got a better idea," Logan said as he offered K his hand, then pulled her over like he normally would, though he stopped short of stealing a kiss. "C'mon, gorgeous. We can let the kids give you the tour, see if it shakes anythin' loose. Failin' that, we'll figure somethin' out."

Before even Jean could say anything about going easy, K broke into a bright grin. "Alright then."

Barney and Clint shared a look, and Barney snorted outright. "I mean, are we even surprised anymore?" he teased. "They're always like this."

"You probably shouldn't be," Jean said in an amused tone. "And yet …"

"You boys should get cleaned up," Steve said.

Clint looked down at himself and pulled a face. "Yeah. Sand everywhere… Ugh."

"Nothing a good shower and sleep won't fix," Jan agreed. "C'mon. Any second now, the adrenaline comedown is going to hit."

"Think you can get the others?" Logan said toward Jan. "Probably shouldn't leave the smallest ones in Hell's Kitchen with that crowd."

"I'll send Tony to go stake a claim," Jan said, grinning. "He's hilarious when he gets all gushy over the kiddies."

"Oh, come on," Logan said in a tired tone. "If I wanted Stark, I'd ask Stark."

"Oh, but it's so fun to watch him!" Jan clasped her hands together. "And I have him this close to agreeing to a tiny, dark-haired baby."

Logan closed his eyes and let out a weary sigh. "How the hell is my son going to be a prop for you with him?"

"Because he goes gooey for babies — weren't you listening?" Jan bounced on her toes. "C'mon, pretty please? I neeeed this."

"You neeeed a baby," Clint said, sticking his tongue out at her. "Just tell him that's what you want and he'll do it. That's how it works."

"He ends up with so much as a scratch and I'll hunt your idiot boy toy down and skin him alive," Logan warned.

"They'll come back all sugared up," Jan promised.

"The girls anyhow," Jean said under her breath.

"Yeah, James doesn't really like sugary things," Barney agreed, swinging his legs around the side. "I'm definitely gonna take a shower. We were locked up for a while, and I feel gross."

"Barney doesn't get kidnapped as often as we do," Clint told K in a conspiratorial whisper.

"Is that a regular problem?" K asked, lowering her tone to match his.

"Mostly recently," Clint admitted.

"Well, you are a handsome kid."

Clint grinned up at her. "And I can heal," he told her in a whisper only she could hear, since he knew she probably didn't want people she didn't know to hear about healing.

But she took the revelation in stride and seemed to keep right up with her teasing streak. "Your brother gets awful worked up when I flirt with the other one. Yes, I noticed. Is that not normal?" She kept her tone soft, but since Clint seemed to be happy to give her a few tips — and had clearly felt better with a little attention — she decided to confide in him to see how it played out.

Clint bit his lip as he considered his answer. "Well, you never flirt seriously," he told her. "You do it as a joke. A lot. But he and Jan are working really well, and Jan's one of my favorite people in the world. Her ex used to hit her, so we're watching out for her, you know?"

"She doesn't seem to be too bothered, so what I do can't be serious," K reasoned.

"No, not really," Clint said. "It's more that, you know, Barney…" He trailed off, trying to figure out how to explain it. "It's complicated. Me and my brother bounced around families, so he doesn't like when things get complicated. Does that make sense?"

"Yes," she agreed. "But the other one …" she pulled a face, waiting to hear if she was off on Logan, too.

"Oh, Logan?" Clint glanced up at her openly. "He taught me how to throw a carbanadium knife into Victor Creed's ass," he said, because he knew it would impress her if she remembered even a little bit about who that guy was.

"Shame he didn't teach you a better target."

"Well, his heart, but it's funnier to say it that way," Clint said, his eyes glinting like any kid who was swearing.

"So … fair game, then," she decided with a nod.

Clint's grin turned crooked, and he leaned toward her. "Totally," he said. "And considering he adopted me and Barney, you should know we like you two together."

K matched his crooked smile and leaned in closer. "Is it just that or are you waiting to see what he'll put up with?"

"We like trouble too," Clint teased. "Seriously, I know you don't remember it, but you're part of our family. And I'm just really glad you're okay." He paused and blushed lightly. "Sorry I cried on you, by the way. I know you don't remember me…"

"If all that's true, I will," K said as she pulled him over for another tight hug.

Clint attached to her tightly, his face almost buried in her shoulder, since he was getting taller now. "Barney was caught with you and me. He was scared for you; that's why he's being weird," he whispered. "He was scared for me too. The bad guys wanted me to help them, and he hates that."

K gave him another little squeeze but let him stay there until he loosened up his grip. "I think you two rated enough guys in spandex to keep that from being a big problem."

"Yeah, I sort of accidentally guilt-tripped Captain America when I was a kid, and they haven't left us alone ever since," Clint joked.

"Yeah, don't stop doing that," she laughed.

"You got it," Clint promised. He hugged her tighter again and then glanced up. "Okay. So. I do actually need to wash all this sand off. I kind of ended up stranded in the desert earlier. Long story."

"I think all of us could use a rinse," she agreed, then messed up his already jacked-up hair.

Clint grinned delightedly, even though he was trying to fix his hair back up. "Just in case I do end up crashing — 'cause I am tired — don't let my dad get away with anything he hasn't earned, huh?" he teased her.

"Sliding scale," she said with a wave. "Kinda looked like he wanted to work anyhow."

"Yeah, he's like that." Clint gave her one last hug. "Have fun, okay? And if you remember me, come find me, please."

"Okay, will do," she said, then tapped the end of his nose, then headed off with Logan.