Title – Crimson Tails

Rating – NC17

Pairing – Danny/Steve

Summary – Danny and Steve's relationship takes a new turn as Steve decides Danny needs to learn some discipline.

Warning – Domestic Discipline

A/N – so you go online to do some research in hopes of some plot bunnies, which leads to this and that and t'other and oh look, there's the bunny.

Steve knew having Danny move in would be a test of his patience. For all that they loved each other; they both had bad habits that grated on each other's nerves. They just learned to live with them, like any couple did. Now and then a snide remark would be made by either man, but all in all, they made their differences work.

Bad habits Steve could live with, he wasn't perfect or a saint, but the house descending into a pit of untidiness was beginning to grate on him more than he cared to admit. He loved Danny, but his habit of putting things off until later drove Steve to distraction. They worked hard and sometimes days went by before Steve could attack the house to bring it back to some semblance of order. But while he worked at keeping it clean and tidy, Danny made use of his time doing pretty much nothing or doing chores at a more leisurely rate.

At first Steve let it slide, because Danny had just moved in and because he didn't want to turn into a nag, fearing Danny would resent him for it. Only he was beginning to resent Danny's slovenly ways. He tried everything to persuade Danny to help and it wasn't like Danny didn't do chores, he just didn't put much effort into them. Then he'd make some sly remark as Steve straightened out cushions or wiped down the table, going round a room after him to put it into better order and eventually Danny would just leave Steve to finish up any way.

But after a few months, it was becoming a tired routine of Steve doing all the work as Danny eased his way through the house, leaving mess in his wake. Steve hated to nag, because Danny did pull his weight in areas. He paid half the bills, he would do the food shop because it was one of Steve's pet hates and for all that he couldn't cook a decent breakfast he made a mean lasagne and other culinary delights that surprised Steve. Steve just figured Danny wasn't a morning person but by evening, firing on all cylinders, he was magic in the kitchen. But the dishes were never tidied afterwards and fair enough, Danny cooked so Steve would clear the dishes. Only when Steve cooked, he had to clear those dishes also.

Danny was great at decorating and together they transformed the master suite to suit their own tastes and created a gorgeous space for Grace when she stayed over. Only Steve had to wash the paint drops from the wood floor and gather up the painting tools to dump in the garage. Danny did DIY jobs around the house that Steve didn't remember needed doing. Only he'd leave the screwdriver or drill lying out and they'd remain there until Steve put them away.

All the while Steve kept quiet about it, keeping his thoughts and opinions to himself because he really, really didn't want Danny to think he didn't appreciate all he did. But his resentments were starting to pile up and Steve knew he had to say or do something about it before he blew. It wouldn't be fair to Danny to go off on one at him for something he didn't realise was bothering Steve.

So Steve started asking, politely, for more help. When Danny fixed a fitting, Steve asked him to make sure the tool box was put back in the garage.

"Yeah sure babe," was Danny's easy reply. But an hour later, the box remained by the fitting until Steve kicked it with his bare foot and stomped down on his pain with a sharp yelp. He'd flung the box onto the garage floor to alleviate his mood.

When he cooked supper, he asked Danny if he would load the dishwasher.

"Sure thing," Danny told him. "Just let the food settle first."

Hours later Danny was lain out on the couch and Steve was clearing up the mess, banging cupboards and dumping dishes into the washer, temper stewing.

When Steve began bugging him further over things, Danny started to snap back, causing tensions to rise. Petty arguments would begin and Steve would back down because it really wasn't a big deal, the jobs got done, even if he was the one doing them all. He didn't want to drive Danny away and Danny would eventually apologise and make more of an effort which lasted at the most a day until he fell back into his usual ways.

It had been a long ten days, a case overwhelming stressful mentally and physically. Their days consisted of following up leads and driving what seemed like all over the Island in hopes of a breakthrough. They'd get home late at night, eat, collapse into bed with barely a goodnight kiss, rise early in the morning and start over again. It was with some relief they got the case closed, Steve demanding the team take downtime for a day or two to recoup. He drove home, Danny barely staying awake on the drive and with tired exhaustion they went to sleep.

Steve woke first as always, an early riser despite his lack of sleep in the last week. He got up, showered, dressed, forgoing his morning exercise routine and nursed a coffee down his throat as he wandered through the house. It looked like a bomb had hit and his fingers itched to get started. Finishing his coffee with clear focus he began the living area, dusting, fluffing cushions, wiping down the table. Clearing papers, tidying books and DVD's by the TV. He moved into the hall, dumping shoes into the shoe box, hanging up coats and sweaters. He swept up and took a moment to step out onto the front porch, grabbing the paper and letting the early morning sun warm his skin. When he stepped back inside he was surprised to see Danny, clad in just his sleep pants, making his way sleepily down the stairs.

"Morning," Danny yawned with a smile. Steve closed the door and smiled back, leaning down as Danny lifted his face for a kiss. His breath was mint fresh but he hadn't yet showered or dressed, patting Steve on the side before he went to the kitchen.

Steve followed him, dropping the paper to the table. "It's a beautiful day, how about we put the house to rights this morning and make an afternoon of it, go for a drive or something?"

Danny poured himself a coffee and nodded back at him, still half asleep, "Sounds like a plan."

Steve grinned, happy to be spending some quality time together after their hectic time at work. He headed back out of the door.

"Well, after you've had your coffee and breakfast, would you do in here? I'll go start upstairs."

"Sure thing babe," Danny's easy reply filtered through the door to him and Steve made his way to the bedroom.

He gathered up their dirty clothes, dumping them in the basket to put a wash through later. He straightened up the bed, planning on putting on clean sheets when Danny came up to dress so he could help out. He fluffed the pillows and lay them down, dusted the dresser and side tables, picked up two discarded ties from under Danny's side of the bed. He straightened out the bathroom, noting how Danny's toothbrush lay soggily on the side, running it under the tap to rinse it before he put it into the holder. He cleaned the sink and the shower unit, scrubbed the toilet, dumped in some cleaner and washed his hands.

Satisfied he grabbed the vacuum from the hall closet and quickly ran it through the bedroom and top landing. He stuck his head into Grace's room but everything was in tip top shape ready for her stay over on Tuesday through Friday. He closed the door again and put the vacuum away; making his way downstairs, hoping to chase Danny up to dress so they could get going. It had been forty minutes; surely he'd at least made a start.

He paused in the doorway with utter dismay and a thrum of irritation. Danny had made himself toast and eggs. The bread was still open on the counter as was the egg box, egg shells strewn over the counter, the fry pan on the cooker, grease drying on it, spatula dripping more grease on the bench. Ketchup bottle left open, knife smearing red goo onto the sink. It was a massacre. The dishes from the night before still filled the sink and Steve didn't need to open the dishwasher to know it still needed emptying. Danny sat at the table, engrossed in the paper, dirty plate pushed to one side.

"Seriously?" Steve snapped out angrily, lifting his arms in wonder at the sight.

Danny looked up, frowning when he the anger on his face. "What?" he asked innocently.

"I asked you to clean up," Steve said quickly, "Not fucking add to the mess."

"Gees calm down dad, it'll get done," Danny sniped back. Steve felt his hackles rising at that. Danny had taken to snidely calling him 'dad' every time he nagged at him to get something done.

"Don't even," Steve warned pointing at him.

Danny reacted by retreating behind a wall of sarcasm, rolling his eyes and giving a small smile and shake of his head. "Babe, please, chill out. It will get done. Try taking the rod of out your ass, you get out of the wrong side of the bed this morning?"

"I've been up for fucking hours getting this place cleaned so that we can do something nice for the day," Steve told him, bristling with anger. "I ask you to do one thing but, as per fucking usual, you haven't lifted a finger."

"God what is this?" Danny said, standing up and glaring at him. "You think I don't help out around the house?"

"No, you don't," Steve yelled at him. "Not unless I nag you to death about it first."

"Yeah and you're real good at that dad," Danny agreed, picking up his plate and dumping it on the counter.

"Yeah and you're real good acting like a brat when you're made to do something you don't want to do," Steve retaliated. "And quit calling me that."

"Or else what?" Danny challenged and Steve squared up to him, a face off across the room.

"You know what you need Danny," Steve said with an authoritative tone perfected from years of practice as a Naval officer. "A good fucking spanking, maybe a sore ass would pull you down a peg or two, helps you focus."

"Yeah right," Danny snorted. "And who's going to spank me? You Steven?"

"If I have too, yeah," Steve warned, temper thinned to calmness.

"Whatever," Danny rolled his eyes again.

"Yeah, whatever," Steve agreed with a firm nod.

He couldn't believe he'd suggested it. But it made perfect sense to him, Danny let his temper flare far too quickly and situations escalated to this ridiculous farce when they should be talking about it like grown adults did. Some people just needed that extra stern discipline to keep them focused and in their place and it wasn't new to Steve to tanning a bare backside when he thought it warranted. He wasn't sure why he hadn't thought about it before as a tactic to use on Danny. He was the perfect candidate for such treatment.

Danny looked suddenly nervous, eyeing him closely before turning his back to him with a derisive air. "You wouldn't dare."

Steve gripped the back of the chair tight, knuckles white from the force, to save from marching over to him and proving him wrong. He needed to tread carefully, because as much as Danny needed it, he didn't want to force it on him through temper or a sense of proving him wrong.

"I would dare Danny," Steve warned, but in a calm firm tone. "Keep pushing me and you'll leave me no choice."

Danny turned to him again, wariness in his eyes now, brow furrowing. "You knock your head on something this morning?" he asked, trying for nonchalant. But Steve sensed he understood he was perfectly serious with the idea. His sarcasm was lost as he tried to figure Steve out. "You try it, I walk out that door," he weakly threatened, looking about as close to carrying out the threat as he was growing a second head. Something told Steve Danny got the message that he was perfectly serious and set on the task if he didn't change his attitude.

"The way things are going, you'd be out that door in a few months anyway," Steve said, feeling a pain in his chest at the very idea. But he knew he couldn't deal much longer with Danny's slovenliness. There was only so much resent he could bury. He watched Danny's eyes flicker with hurt and he gave a shrug of apology. "I'm sorry D that sounds brutal and harsh. But this, living like this; I can't say for sure I can last much longer without something giving. I love you, can't imagine not having you in my life, but these bad habits you have, for all that I adore you, god you need some discipline and I'd give you that and more rather than let us go on the way you are and losing you because I didn't do anything about it to help you, us."

"You're completely serious aren't you?" Danny asked, all show of sarcasm gone as he sank back against the sink. He dropped his eyes in dismay and shook his head. "I'm sorry, I didn't realise I was that much of a burden for you to live with."

Steve sighed and rolled his eyes at Danny's reaction, he sure could be dramatic when he wanted to be. "You aren't a burden D."

"Whatever," Danny snapped, shaking off his hurt, hiding behind a barrier of nonchalance once more as he turned to the sink. "I'll get the dishes done."

Steve watched, wanting to continue the conversation but Danny began clearing away, banging the dishes and cutlery down, turning on the tap too fast so a spray of water shot everywhere until he scrambled to shut it off. He didn't bother mopping up the water, leaving it to mix with the rest of the mess. He opened the dishwasher, pulling dishes from it and all but throwing them into the cupboard or laying them down on the dirty counter and Steve irked at the way they clanked one on top of one another.

"Danny," he warned as plate after plate crunched together, then cup after cup was bashed down, Danny's frustrated anger showing clearly in his behaviour.

"Fuck I'm doing it okay," Danny snapped back, Steve's irritation hitting a limit as Danny clashed a cup onto the bench so hard it broke. It was a wonder he didn't cut his hand.

"Danny, be careful!" Steve said in concern, walking around the table.

"Fuck, I know," Danny yelled back at him and Steve had to duck when another cup sailed through the air past his head and hit the wall behind him.

Steve stared at him, seeing Danny blink wildly at what had just occurred, a look of shock and horror in his face at the act. Without a hint of anger or temper Steve made a sudden decision that he knew would make or break them. But he also knew he needed to help Danny and was confident enough in their trust of one another to do what he had to do. Without another word he grabbed Danny by the arm, jerking him forward as he pulled out a chair. Before Danny could protest Steve had sat down, more than capable of dealing with a resistant brat as he pulled Danny down, knocking him off balance as he kicked his foot lightly against his shins. Danny collapsed with a holler of indignation, squirming and fighting all the way. Steve calmly retaliated with a strong grip, swinging a leg over Danny's to pin him in place and pulling his pants down to reveal the pert, firm buttocks about to be turned crimson by his palm.

Danny yelled, cursed and writhed, hands scrambling behind him to stop Steve as he insisted he 'get the fuck off' in his struggle. Steve fought long enough to grab both his wrists, holding them down with one hand against the small of his back before he began.

"You want to act like a brat Daniel," Steve warned him calmly, full command and authority in his tone as he took charge. "Then you will be treated like one."

Without further ado he brought his hand down with a solid swat against Danny's butt. Danny jerked, more at the indignity than the actual act, writhing and shouting out his reaction as Steve settled into a rhythm. He landed his palm firmly and succinctly, making sure to cover the entire area as Danny's ass turned from creamy white to soft pink. Danny continued to resist with shouts and hollers and Steve continued to rain down his blows, ignoring his lovers' indignation or the pain in his palm. When he felt the fight beginning to seep out of Danny's body and his ass was turning a deeper shade of red he stopped, moving his leg to let him up.

Danny sprang from him angrily, hands on his ass, anger in his eyes that glistened with tears, "What the fuck Steve?"

"I did warn you," Steve retorted standing, with a calm satisfaction at what he'd just done. "You got what you deserved, what I warned you you'd get. Now go put your nose to the corner until you've calmed down so we can talk."

"Fuck you," Danny spat back, hot tears leaking from his eyes. "This - this is abuse."

"Is it?" Steve questioned, looking him in the eye. "I love you Danny, I'd never hurt you for no reason. I spanked you because you're acting like a spoiled brat and I think you could greatly benefit from this kind of discipline. I'd do it again if you gave me cause too. I'd do it because I couldn't bare living without you, but we'll break apart if nothing is done about it. But you're a police officer, your cuffs are in the hall drawer same as always if you want to get them, arrest me, charge me, go on, go. If not, go to the corner like you've been told."

"Or else what?" Danny challenged and Steve wondered how much Danny would test this new development between them.

Steve looked him in the eye with a firm, promising look, voice returning to one of full command and control of the situation as he pointed to the other side of the room. "Corner. Now Daniel."

"Make me," Danny said, sticking his chin out like a petulant teenager testing their boundaries.

Steve said nothing, taking Danny by the arm again. If Danny thought he was going to be marched to the corner he was wrong and Steve sat again, Danny letting out a yell and trying to squirm from his grip as he pulled him down over his knee once more. Steve didn't hold back, stripping his trousers to his ankles this time before locking a leg over his to secure him. He ignored Danny's protests and complaints, securing his wrists with the patience of a saint despite Danny's protesting struggles, beginning to spank him once more. It made no difference to him that Danny's butt was already red from a spanking, he tanned his hide as he had the first time to ensure Danny understood he was under no illusion he would discipline him as he saw fit. This time he reddened his thighs as well as turning his ass from bright red to deep scarlet. By the end of it Danny had slumped over his lap, sniffling and exhausted with his efforts. Steve finished and set him to his feet, a simpering, snotty mess, severely chastened. Steve stood and put fingers under his chin, lifting his face to look at him, noting the red blotchy eyes and downcast mouth, a lingering shock in Danny's features at all that had occurred.

"Corner, now," He demanded, turning him around, letting Danny kick off his sleep pants before walking him to the corner. He stood behind him, putting hands on his wrists and lifting them to press his hands against the wall. "You'll stay here like this until I say otherwise."

With that he turned to the chaos of the kitchen work benches, china scattered on them and the floor. He grabbed the dustpan and brush, clearing up the broken pieces before either of them stood on anything or got cut. But he left the rest for Danny to finish later. With that he sat down at the table, pulling the paper to him and with a final glance at Danny and his crimson ass facing him, turned his attention to the articles.

He made Danny stand there for a full twenty minutes, noting how Danny shifted on his legs, fingers itching to rub his sore ass cheeks. The longer Danny stood the less rigid his back became, his head lowering, shoulders slumping until he barely held his hands up anymore. And there was a definite sound of sniffling coming from his corner of the room. Steve eventually took some pity, going to him and running his hands softly against his shoulders. Danny turned his face to glance at him and gave him a watery look of remorse.

"C'mere," Steve told him, turning him round so he could gather a very naked and feeling hard done by Danny into his arms. Danny clung to him, tears soaking through his t-shirt.

"That really hurt," Danny lamented against his chest.

Steve smiled and squeezed him tight, "It was supposed to."

"What the fuck was that?" Danny groaned, self-pity drenching into him. Steve felt no remorse, just satisfaction that his method seemed to be working.

"You have to ask?" Steve asked lightly. "I know it took you by surprise D, but I did what I felt I had to do."

"Could you be a little less heavy handed next time," Danny grunted. "My ass is on fire."

"Next time?" Steve questioned, surprised at Danny's full shift into acceptance of what had happened.

Danny shuddered and pulled back with a brave smile, giving a shake of his head. "Don't worry, there won't be a next time."

Steve wished he could have faith in Danny's competence to change his ways after this first foray into discipline, but nobody changed overnight. "Uh, we'll talk about that later. Right now you can finish tidying up in here, ithen/i we'll talk about what has just happened."

Danny nodded glumly and looked about, seeing Steve had swept up the broken crockery. "Sorry about the cups, I don't even know what happened that second time. I wasn't thinking babe, I just got so mad and frustrated."

"Yeah I know," Steve assured him. "Don't apologise. It's over now, we've moved on. Just get this place into order, please?"

He didn't make it a command; he didn't want this to become a situation where he had to order Danny to get chores done. He just needed to instil some discipline to break Danny of his lazier habits.

"Yeah okay," Danny nodded pulling out of his arms.

Steve left him to tidy up, not offering to help. He'd tidied the rest of the house, let Danny take care of this one lone job by himself and prove to him he was capable of doing it and at an orderly pace. He sat in the living area, TV turned on low, listening for any banging of cupboards or clanging of dishes but none came. He left Danny for twenty minutes before going back to the kitchen, finding him propping the broom up in the cupboard. The dishes were gone, the benches and table wiped down, floor swept. Steve was impressed, Danny had done more than he usually would, mostly he opted to do the least possible to make a room look presentable.

"Thanks," Steve said as Danny turned to him with an inquiring look. He'd pulled his sleep pants back on, grimacing as he walked over to him. Steve brushed a hand over his face with a smile. "We should go talk."