A/N: Warning: Use of cold shower as punishement

Kurt didn't knock when he walked into Puck's bedroom. He knew if he did, Puck wouldn't answer him. Puck enjoyed torturing himself with the waiting, sitting in a corner and wondering what his punishment would be. It was part of the reason Puck only acted up when Kurt was away, as Jeremiah would send him to his room and wait for Kurt to get home and Puck was able to anticipate his punishment for hours. Kurt was trying to figure out a way to deal with Puck's plans but short of either allowing Jeremiah to punish him or cuffing Puck to his bed, he still had no ideas.

"Puck," he greeted the boy who was sitting in a chair in the corner. "You can turn around."

Puck slowly obeyed him and Kurt motioned him forward with his finger. Unlike with Blaine, he made Puck come to him and he didn't take the boy into his arms. Instead he crossed his arms, standing close enough to touch Puck but making it clear he had no plans to just yet. There would be no touching until Puck came clean.

"Jeremiah told me you were running your mouth today," Kurt said when Puck remained silent. "You will repeat what you said, word for word, so I can decide your punishment."

"I," Puck started.

"On your knees," Kurt corrected.

"I called Sam a dumb blond and blamed him for Finn being sick," Puck said softly, eyes locked on Kurt's shoes. "Then when Jeremiah told me to go to my room, I told him he was a jackass. I'm sorry Sir. I'll apologize to Sam in the morning. I know he's not dumb and it's not his fault Finn had a flu. And Jeremiah's not a jackass."

Kurt reached down to cup Puck's chin and tilted the boy's head up to meet his gaze. He could see the regret swirling in those sad eyes but Kurt still had to punish him. He'd hurt Sam and Jeremiah and disrespected his rules.

"Good boy," Kurt patted Puck's cheek. "Stand."

Puck was his hardest boy to read and determine his needs. He'd come into their family almost completely out of control and it had taken a lot of time, energy, and care for Kurt to convince Puck he was worth more than his womanizing reputation. Puck's parents had done a lot of damage to him and the boy thought he should be punished for every little thing he did wrong, from spilling a few drops of juice on the floor to accidentally running into Finn when neither were paying attention to where they were going. If Puck and Blaine could see past the jealousy that still existed between them, they'd see they had a lot in common.

"I'm not going to wash your mouth out with soap this time," Kurt began, "but next time you insult someone in this house, you'll be tasting suds for a week. Understand?"

"Yes Sir."

"Good," Kurt nodded his approval and watched as Puck's eyes shone with pride. Puck craved his approval. If it had been Sam or Finn mouthing off, corner time would have been the only punishment, but Puck needed more to feel properly punished. Puck needed something physical. "Since you were able to tell me exactly what you did wrong, I'll let you pick your punishment tonight. Ten minutes in a cold shower or twenty swats with my belt."

"The cold shower, please Sir," Puck surprised Kurt with his choice. Kurt had been sure Puck would want to more physical punishment but he led the way to the bathroom Puck shared with Finn and turned on the shower.

"Strip," Kurt ordered. It had been a while since Kurt had used a cold shower as punishment but he still remembered the way the cold felt against his skin the time he'd tried it. Except for spankings, Kurt had tried every physical punishment he'd given his boys so he would know the safe limits. Ten minutes in a cold shower was uncomfortable and for the last few minutes, every drop of water felt like a needle pricking his skin, but it was manageable. For a severe punishment he'd feel alright with going up to fifteen minutes in a cold shower but any longer was too much. Puck would stay under the stream all night if Kurt didn't sit on the counter and time him.

Puck folded his clothes and Kurt held out his hands for them. Kurt waited until Puck stepped under the spray before he started the timer on his watch, watching Puck carefully for signs that he was either enjoying the punishment or that it was too much for Puck.

Kurt told Puck about his day as his boy sat on the floor of the tub and the cold stream rained down over him. He never left any of his boys during a punishment unless being alone was part of the punishment, especially Blaine and Puck who were so hard on themselves and thought they deserved more punishment than they received.

"Time's up," he declared and quickly turned off the water before Puck could stand. "Let's get you dried off."

He choose a huge, fluffy towel and wrapped it around Puck's shivering body. Puck barely moved to help, instead allowing Kurt to move his body around as he used the towel to both dry and warm Puck's cold body.

"I love you Puck," Kurt looked into his boy's eyes. "I forgive you."

"Thank you Sir," Puck whispered. "I love you too."

"To bed with you," Kurt nudged Puck toward the door. He got Puck dressed in pyjamas bottoms and settled under the thick, warm covers of his bed then he slid under the covers with him. He kissed his boy softly and let Puck curl up against him, stroking his fingers along Puck's back until his boy drifted off to sleep.

Once he was sure Puck was asleep, and not just pretending as he sometimes did, and that he was warm, Kurt slipped out of bed and headed to his own room where Blaine waited for him.