Notes: Oh, yeah. You know when Scott disagrees with Charles on anything, that is a HUGE deal, so I hope one day K will hear about how this went dwn so she can realize just how much these guys like her ;)

And I must like protective lil duck fluff too, because... this next chapter is PURE DUCK FLUFF.

Chapter 9: Clint Absolutely Does Not Approve

"I'm not wearing that thing," K said flatly when Jean tried to suggest a training uniform for the spar she'd finally conceded to doing.

"Everyone has one—"

"I'm not everyone else," K argued. "It smells. No."

"No matter how much you like yellow," Clint teased in a whisper from around Jean's side.

"Not helpful, duck fluff."

"I'm not a duck," Clint said, sticking his tongue out at her.

"Coulda fooled me," K said as she reached over and messed up his hair.

"Everybody likes my hair," Clint grumbled.

"Because you're adorable," K said before she turned toward Jean. "What's wrong with my jeans? honestly."

"Honestly, it's a way to keep from destroying our everyday clothes — the uniforms are sturdier."

"I'm not that attached," she said.

Clint tugged on Jean's arm to get her to crouch down to his level. "You can go shopping with her," he whispered, which had Jean laughing as she finally shook her head and waved her hand K's way.

"Alright, wear what you like," she said — as Clint gave K a thumbs up behind Jean's back.

"How does this work here?" K asked as they headed down toward the room.

"We just want to see what happens when you're actually prepared for a fight and it's not a reaction," Scott said when they got there. "Don't worry; I set up the sim myself."

"That doesn't do me a whole lot of good," she said under her breath.

Scott tipped his head toward the door. "Go ahead," he said. "You said you didn't want an empty room, so…"

She looked up at him and simply held his gaze for a long moment. "I'm trusting you."

"I'm pretty sure you won't be disappointed," he promised.

K was clearly wary as she finally turned toward the door and opened it up, only to frown at the scene inside. "What the actual hell?"

Scott smirked, tipping his head at the Alaskan sky — complete with Northern Lights. "It's an old stomping ground of mine."

"Anchorage?"

"Yeah — have you been?"

"Once or twice," she said, nodding before she blew out her breath. "Okay. I'll try it."

"Good luck," Jean said warmly as she and Scott took Clint up to the booth to watch — since he had insisted on being there to make sure his mom was really okay.

K took a moment to take stock of the surroundings, her arms wrapped around herself as she did so. It was a typical open area, with a few trees indicating that they were supposed to be somewhat near the tree line or at the very least a clear-cut section.

She tried to see if there was anything under the snow, but it was of course just deep enough that most of the obstacles were fairly well hidden. "How do you want this to even start?" K called up to the booth.

"Logan's ready for a good spar. Find him — and this time, I think Clint would like to see you win," Scott said with a lightly teasing tone.

She let her shoulders drop as she looked up at him. "In case you missed it — I let him walk."

"Don't let him do that this time," Scott said — though K could clearly hear Clint giggling too.

K closed her eyes for a second and shook her head, but unlike everyone else that had to try to play hide and seek with Logan, K didn't have to mess around with the preliminaries. Instead of a nervous, cautious walk wandering through the sim, she blinked twice, turned her head, and broke into a run, silently disappearing into the woods and circling around to attack from behind. Much easier when she was working with a scent instead of hide and seek.

Logan had of course been watching for her, but she'd been quiet enough to get close before he heard her. The fight started with a flying tackle that would have been a lot nastier if either of them had been using claws.

Scott simply hadn't expected her to manage a decent tackle like that — particularly since there were several members of the team taller and broader than K that had trouble managing anything close to it. The punches she landed were hard, and didn't seem to slow her down, which had both Jean and Scott leaning a little closer to the glass.

Didn't Remy break his hand doing that a few weeks ago? Jean asked as Logan dodged a punch and returned the tackle, taking her down into the snow.

There has to be something else going on there, Scott agreed. Even with the healing, that should still break…

The snow was flying, though what had looked like a serious fight went dirty fast when K whipped a snowball in his face that blinded him and followed it up by knocking his feet out from under him before she took off — making him go on the offensive.

It only took a few moments before he shook it off and darted after her — but the usual growls and snarls he usually pulled out to screw with his sparring partner just weren't happening. It looked for a moment like he was going to manage to pull off the same attack she'd used to start it, but as he lunged around the corner, she tackled him from behind, and it turned into a more straightforward, all-out wrestling match.

He couldn't get a solid hold on her, and she couldn't keep him down once she managed what should have been a good one.

"Alright, that's good," Scott called down from the booth.

Logan stopped a moment after that, but K whipped another snowball at him, plastering the side of his head. "It slipped," she said with a little smirk, and Logan turned her way slowly with a disbelieving look on his face.

And the snowball fight started up.

"Can I come down and play?" Clint asked, blinking up at Clint with eyes as wide as he could make them and with a crooked sort of smile firmly in place. "I wanna throw snowballs too."

"Sure, we can leave the sim up," Jean said with a smile.

"Great!" Clint said before he took off running to get down to the Danger Room, with Jean behind him helping him to announce his arrival in the fight by dumping a tree full of snow on Logan's head as the two of them arrived.

"Ha! Whitewashing! Yes!" K called, only giving him enough time to get the snow out of his eyes before plastering him with another snowball. "Come on, Clint — score some points!"

The little battle got intense — to the point that Logan was very clearly outnumbered and losing. Clint had started laughing at the two women doing a full on attack until, finally, Logan had enough and he made his way over to scoop up K around the waist. "Alright that's enough," he said. "Call 'em off."

"Clint — take 'im down," K said as seriously as she could.

Clint grinned as he crouched down to pack his snowball and then took aim. Even though Logan was hiding behind K… he could still see a shot. And then he let out a whoop when he nailed Logan in the side of the head. "Ha! Didja see that?"

"Damn," Logan said, taking a step back and shaking his head hard as K darted over to high-five Clint. "Hell of an arm."

"And I can throw knives too!" Clint said happily.

"Playing with knives with Logan?" Jean teased, grinning Logan's way. "He's not too worried."

"Oooh, yeah, Mom says that's a stupid idea with her too," Clint said, nodding seriously.

Logan paused as he thought about the fight in the woods — and it was clear the moment he figured it out. "Holy crap. That would explain a lot."

Clint smirked at Logan, completely misunderstanding the expression on Logan's face. "Yep. She can take people down!"

"She sure can," Logan said, shaking his head at that.

"Well. If you're ready to concede, then I guess it's time to get into dry clothes," K said, shaking the snow off. "What do you say, handsome? Cocoa?"

"Yes, please. With marshmallows," Clint said, nodding quickly and all but skipping out the door with her.

But the X-Men remaining only waited a few moments before they had to address the spar — and the revelations that had come from it.

"Alright. Thoughts?" Logan said to Jean, though he looked up toward Scott too. "Tell me you at least suspected something like that." When they both looked like they weren't entirely sure, Logan let out a frustrated sort of noise and met Jean's gaze before he focused on projecting to her the first fight they'd had in the woods — and the way that K had paused, as if she was armed and holding back.

Jean's eyebrows rose at what she saw, and she glanced up at Scott. "When she didn't break her hand hitting you… we had to at least suspect."

"She was just playin' around today too," Logan said. "Nothing serious in front of the kid."

"That was part of the test, really — see how controlled she can be," Scott admitted. "She is definitely holding back."

Logan gave him an entirely unamused look. "Thanks for the warning."

Scott didn't look the least bit perturbed. "Clint really wanted to see you go down in the snow."

"You're a pain."

"Yeah, and it got Clint to relax around you a little more."

Logan held the dry expression for a long moment before he shook his head with a grumble and started toward the door. "Right."

Scott shook his head at that as he headed down to meet up with Jean, though with the microphone turned off, Logan didn't hear the muttered, "Yeah, you're welcome," he said under his breath.

The institute was still pretty quiet when Clint came downstairs to make himself some breakfast. The team had gone out to do some superhero stuff, and Clint knew that they had gotten home late because he had woken up a little bit when they were clomping around the hallways, but he'd gone back to sleep no problem. So, even though he was going through a growth spurt again, he still woke up before them.

They must've been really tired.

So he was surprised when he got downstairs that Logan was there… and he was sitting with K sharing coffee and smirks that Clint wasn't so sure about, because he knew what those looks meant.

Clint closed one eye as he considered Logan, arms crossed, and tipped his chin up. "How come you're not sleeping like the rest of the costumed crusaders or whatever you guys call yourselves?" he asked.

"I was with the Avengers last night," Logan said. "Missed the party apparently."

"Miss Jean said they were gonna go help someone who was getting bullied," Clint said. He watched Logan for a moment until his curiosity overrode the distrust he had for Logan. "What'd you do with the Avengers? Was it fun? Did you do stuff with Iron Man?"

"I was with Cap, hunting down Hydra," Logan said. "Stark was doing something for the company, I think."

Clint shrugged at that. "Okay, well… I wanna meet him one day," he said. "I saw him flying one time and it was really cool. Is he cool?"

"He has his moments," Logan said as diplomatically as he could.

Clint nodded. "Yeah, I bet he's cool. And — and — and — I wanna meet Wasp because she can fly too and I think she's probably nicer than the other people on the team and I wanna ask her how come she's so small and how her wings work and stuff."

Logan shook his head at that and got to his feet. "Hungry yet?" he asked, making his way to the kitchen.

Clint nodded. "I'm gonna get some cereal… I guess I can get you some too if you want it?"

"I'm makin' omelets," Logan said. "All the cereal's sugared up."

"Yeah, I like it," Clint said. "What about you, Mom? You want me to get you some cereal?"

"I'm gonna see how the chef here handles himself," K replied.

Clint raised his eyebrows Logan's way and then smirked at his mom. "Oh, I get it. Are you gonna steal it if it's good?"

"Doesn't have to. I told her I'd make her one. You can have one too," Logan called out. "Pick what you want."

Clint stopped where he was and stared at Logan. "You're… why?"

"Better than cereal," he said.

"Okay, but… but that's for you," Clint said. "And … and I know you're tryna be nice to my mom …"

"Everyone cooks now and again here, kiddo," Logan said as he got started. "It's not a big deal."

Clint watched Logan for a long time and then shrugged. "Okay… well… I really just like cheese and ham…"

"Grab it," Logan told him, tipping his chin up. "Won't take long."

Clint nodded and headed to the fridge, grabbing what he wanted before he pulled up a chair to stand on so he could see what Logan was doing, watching with a little frown. "My mom ain't easy," he blurted out suddenly.

Logan turned his head to look at him for a moment. "Didn't say she was."

"Yeah. Yeah, but… but you look at her and I know what it means when people look at her like that and she ain't gonna let you get lucky just 'cause you made breakfast," Clint said, still with his arms crossed and talking faster as he went on.

"Good," Logan said with a little nod.

Clint frowned at Logan, not expecting the easy reply. "Okay. Well… well good," he said.

Logan didn't say another word as he finished up the first omelet and slipped it onto Clint's plate. "Anything else on your mind?"

Clint tipped his chin up slightly and watched Logan. "Just… if you try anything, then she's gonna hit you, so… there."

"She already hit me," Logan said. "And I didn't try anything."

"Yeah, but you wanna. You look at her like those stupid guys at the rodeo."

"What rodeo?" Logan asked, already working up the next omelet. "Maybe I need to crack one of 'em in the face."

Clint parked himself on the counter with his plate. "She totally beat 'em, and they're sore for losing to a girl," he said. "Which is dumb because they like girls fine when they're just looking."

"Too bad for them," he said.

Clint nodded before he continued — still talking in the same sort of rush, with words tumbling out as fast as he could say them. "I dunno why you're looking at my mom now 'cause you were sorta staying away before, and I'm just telling you if you hurt her, I'm gonna put my pocketknife in the back of your knee, okay?"

"Got it," Logan agreed. "And I'm not plannin' on hurtin' anyone. I'm just makin' breakfast."

"Uh-huh," Clint said, sticking a forkful of eggs in his mouth. "She's my mom."

"I know," Logan said, though he didn't slow down as he finished up his cooking. "You comin' or what?"

Clint narrowed his eyes at Logan for a moment before he nodded and hopped down with his plate, heading to the dining room, though he did mutter a little 'thank you' — because K did teach him manners, after all.

"What's the verdict, sweetheart?" K asked as Clint sat down.

"He can cook eggs pretty good," Clint admitted as he climbed into the seat beside her.

"That's good to know," she said, sure to pull him over to kiss the side of his head. "That's already a step ahead of Iceman then, huh?"

He couldn't help but grin at that. "Iceman starts a lot of smoke for a guy made of ice," he said.

"I know," she agreed, settling in with her breakfast and coffee. "You'd think it would be impossible for a guy that handles ice to burn water."

"Maybe he forgot how to deal with fire?" Clint offered

"More like he just wants to order out," Logan said as he sat down as well.

"I do like pizza," Clint admitted.

"Just about everyone does, but you can't live on it," Logan said before he grabbed both his and K's coffee mugs and headed off to refill them.

Clint waited until Logan was in the next room before he leaned forward, his expression totally serious. "Mom…"

"Yeah?" K said, turning his way.

"You know he's trynta get in good with you, right?" he whispered.

"I caught something like that, yeah," she assured him.

"Okay, as long as you know," Clint said, leaning back in his seat a little.

"I'm more interested in what his intentions would be. I don't think this one is like your brother's old idiot."

Clint tipped his head to the side as he considered her. "Yeah… I guess 'cause he's an Avenger he's not that much of a pain," he had to agree. "But Jacques was real stupid. That's not really fair to compare to a really big idiot like that."

K took a moment to run a hand over his hair and rested her hand at his shoulder. "I know it's hard to believe, but I've seen a few guys over the years. Not everyone is a creep, and not all guys that look are going to even try to go anywhere. Okay?"

"If you say so," Clint muttered.

"What? Are you worried?" she asked, bumping his shoulder lightly. "Do I need a protective guard?"

Clint shook his head and then bit his lip. "I just… I just wanna look out for you," he said.

"And you do a better job than anyone I've ever known," K promised before she switched over to sign. I don't know that he's doing much more than the others would. I think this is just 'nice'.

I just know what it means when guys look like that, Clint said.

LIke what? The hair? Is it the hair? What does that mean?

Clint giggled at that. I mean when they look at YOU like that. Like they want to look longer but they don't want to get in trouble for looking longer.

K nodded at that. General rule of thumb is that it's nothing to be concerned with unless they aren't worried about getting in trouble for looking.

Yeah, but I told him what's what, and I don't think he IS worried.

She frowned at that. Weird. Must like getting his butt kicked.

Clint couldn't help but giggle. Must be.

She ran a hand through his hair again and then pulled him into a one-armed hug. "Is your breakfast acceptable at least?"

He nodded. "I… I actually really like it," he whispered.

"He can cook," K agreed, nodding. "That's good. Means he doesn't expect a girl to do it for him."

"Okay… that's true," Clint admitted.

"And he didn't slow down in asking if you wanted some ... so … can't be a total jerk, right?"

Clint turned slowly to face her better. "Are you… are you interested?" he blurted out.

"I don't know yet," she said. She gave him a reassuring smile and rested her hand on his arm. "But it's not a total 'nope' like it was for the ones you've seen so far."

Clint stared at her. "But… I don't…" He bit his lip and looked down at his hands he didn't know how to tell her that he didn't want her to date, that he didn't want to share her, that he didn't want to lose her. He didn't know how to say any of that without making her mad, because she had her own life before she met Clint, and he didn't want her to not be happy...

"We're going to shoot this afternoon, right?" K asked, breaking into his thoughts with a smile.

Clint nodded. "Yeah, we gotta practice," he said, seizing on the new subject happily. "That's real important or you lose what you learned! That's what Miranda and Barney say."

"Yep. And as far as I know, it's just you and me. Unless you invited someone else …" K shrugged. "And if you did, then I will be forced to invite someone too."

"I didn't invite anyone," Clint said quickly. "Archery practice isn't a date."

"I'm pretty sure Storm doesn't want to kiss me," K replied in a drawl as she smirked at him.

He paused and then smirked right back at her. "Actually, I think it would be cool to have my teachers see me shoot," he admitted. "Storm and Jean both think it's neat I know archery."

"Mmmhmm. Just want to have all the pretty women to yourself," K teased.

Clint rolled his eyes. "I'm not a lady killer. Stop trying to tell people that!"

"But it's the truth," she argued. "I mean … I'm your mom, so that doesn't count, but still …"

"I don't think you should count Miss Jean either, 'cause I'm pretty sure she just likes kids, not just me," Clint pointed out.

"No, no … she likes you," K said, nodding seriously as Logan returned with the coffee. "You're just that charming, lady killer."

"Mo-o-o-o-om."

"It's true, and you know it," she laughed, pausing only for a moment to thank Logan for the refill.

Clint shook his head at K as he hopped down from his seat, taking his plate with him so he could clean up. "You're weird"

"Yet you still picked me," she replied.

"Yeah, 'cause I like you anyway," Clint said with a smile, sure to give K a kiss on the cheek before he headed to the kitchen with his plate — fully intending to go find Sicem and spend the day at the lake.

"You goin' to the lake too?" Logan asked over K's shoulder as soon as the door closed behind Clint, leaving the two of them alone for a moment.

"Why? You want me to go?"

Logan shook his head at that. "Nope. Just figured if you weren't busy, I might borrow you for a minute or two."

K tipped her chin up at him. "You'll need to come up with a better offer than 'a minute or two'."

He smirked and stepped up a little closer. "I'd like to get you outta here for a while, if you want the truth."

She paused and turned his way, openly giving him a once-over. "Is that something that you could arrange with everyone making sure I'm on lockdown for my own safety?"

Logan smirked and leaned a little closer, though he didn't reach for her. "I can figure something out."

"What makes you think that this isn't exactly how I'd take you down?"

"I'll take my chances," Logan replied, looking entirely too full of himself.

K thought about it for just a few moments. "Alright. Gimmie a few minutes to get changed."

"Take your time. I'll be in the garage," Logan said before he flashed her an honest smile and watched her head toward the stairs.