Simon's POV

I was in a state of total shock.

When Jace attacked me for making Clary cry, I honestly couldn't blame him for doing it -but now that I had ability to fight back, I did. I don't know if it was for my pride, instinct, or an attempt to surprise Jace.

Yeah, great for me. I fought back, so Luke is probably gonna publicly whoop me too! I should have just let Jace beat me up… But then, it would have been so much worse for him if he would've just beaten me.

I sat in shock at myself. Why did I care what happened to that stupid Shadowhunter? The jerk was starting to grow on me.

What shocked me the most about this whole ordeal is the spanking Luke gave Jace -and it was quite a spanking indeed! I found myself trembling as I watched Jace crying and screaming over Luke's knees, and I actually found it in my heart to feel pity for Jace. I wondered if I was going to suffer the same fate. Probably. Luke had given me the same warnings as he had given Jace…

Panic swelled up in my chest at the thought of a public thrashing, but a little voice in the back of my head nagged me.

Jace took a public whipping. You can too.

Yeah, but Jace is tougher. He can take a lot more than me, even if I am a vampire now…

That's why it must have been worse for him -the humiliation he must have felt… It's only fair.

I huffed, knowing my conscience was right -it was only fair that Jace and I suffer the same fate. Plus, I doubt I'd have any say in whether or not I would face similar consequences. If Jace couldn't convince Luke, then I sure as Hell can't.

I looked back up at the spectacle taking place before me -and the rest of the park. It seemed like Luke was determined to carry out his promises, because at that moment, he raised the belt high. I tensed in anticipation and practically felt Jace's fear. I cringed at the crack the belt made when it connected sharply with his sure-to-be already burning backside. I felt even worse when Jace cried out.

My mind still couldn't quite wrap itself around the thought that Jace Lightwood, the greatest Shadowhunter of all time, was lying across a werewolf's lap, screaming and crying while getting spanked like a little boy. I wondered what Alec, Isabelle, and everybody else would have thought about that.

As soon as the more-than-likely painful whipping was over, Luke righted Jace onto his lap and cradled him. My mind was working a mile a minute, trying to prepare myself for the battering my ass was probably going to take any minute now.

I knew Luke was talking because I could see his lips moving, but it was just about impossible to hear what he was saying. His words were drowned out by Jace's continuous sobbing and the crowd's loud comments.

By straining my vampire hearing, I was able to catch Luke one of Luke's whispered phrases -the one that probably held the most meaning.

"I'm so sorry for hurting you, my baby. I love you so much… I'm so sorry…"

My own heart constricted at the pain that Luke sounded like he was in for having punished Jace so harshly. I focused on the comments and jeers of the on-lookers in an attempt to distract myself.

"What a baby!" sneered one kid, while a group of his friends laughed and nodded their heads.

"This is SOOOO going on Youtube!" shouted another. I wanted to kill them all.

For some strange reason, I felt protective of Jace now, since he was so defenseless. It was an odd feeling, but it was there and I felt it. Maybe we could become friends after all. The sentiment was slowly growing.

I narrowed my eyes and accidently growled at some kid who was still recording the interaction between Jace and Luke. Jace was starting to calm down and apparently heard my growl because he glanced over at me with red-rimmed eyes.

The kid turned back to me, wide-eyed. "Did you just growl at me, bitch?"

"Yeah, I did. Shut the camera off, idiot. It's not funny what just happened to him." I venomously shot back at the idjit.

"The Hell it isn't! And if I didn't know better, I'd say you're next." he sneered. I curled my lip into a snarl.

"Yeah, I probably am. But, I don't care. Stop recording this." I stood up and took a few steps closer when the kid made no move to turn his camera off.

"Simon!" I heard Jace calling my name. His voice sounded thick with tears and shaky. "Don't worry about it." He said before he leaned his head back down against Luke's shoulder.

I sighed and glared daggers at the kid, who finally lowered his camera. I was relieved but nearly groaned when he started talking.

"The camera's going back on when that dude calls you over for your whipping."

I narrowed my eyes but said nothing. Instead, I went to go find Clary -which wasn't too hard to do, considering she was the only short girl with bright hair crying.

"Hey… Clary… Don't cry, Clary." I tried to soothe her, but to no avail.

"It's my fault! You two were fighting because of me and now Jace was humiliated and is probably not going to sit down for so long! And you're probably next… I don't like being the cause of any of this, Simon." Clary sobbed and my heart constricted.

"Clary, listen to me. None of this is your fault, okay? It's my fault, it's Jace's fault, but it's certainly not your fault. Get that through your head!" I said firmly but gently. Clary looked up at me with tear-filled eyes and I pulled her into a hug. My gaze reverted back to Jace and Luke, still sitting on the bench. Jace looked pretty recovered and he'd be heading over here soon, which means I would take his place. I wasn't too sure though -Luke looked pretty tired and heartbroken. I didn't know if he was up for delivering another whipping; physically or emotionally.

Whatever Luke decided to do, I wouldn't struggle. I steeled myself for the inevitable and concentrated on soothing Clary, until it was my turn over Luke's knee.

000

Jace's POV

I desperately craved Luke's comfort and forgiveness. I wasn't sure how I survived that whipping, but I did.

If I was crying and screaming the whole time, does it still count?

I shook my head and pushed my thoughts away. I blocked the crowd of on-lookers , so that I wouldn't be tempted to go over there and knock someone's teeth out for taunting me -it seemed Simon was ready to do that for me though.

My sense of hearing was better than a lot of Shadowhunters -so good, sometimes Alec would tease me, telling me I had vampire ears. But, his hearing was just as good, so his joke never lasted long.

I glanced over at where a kid was shooting footage of everything that was happening, and I was surprised to find Simon threatening him. I didn't understand why Simon would inch himself closer into a fight with that kid just for me, but I knew I couldn't let him. That would just land him in worse trouble. Why I cared? I don't know. Maybe because he's sacrificing his hide for me even after I had just attacked him.

"Simon!" I called and waited until he turned around to look at me. I cringed at how childish I probably looked, sitting on Luke's lap, with tear stains on my cheeks. My eyes were no doubt still puffy -I was still crying a little. "Don't worry about it." I told him before leaning back against Luke, feeling like I actually did need protection from the laughing crowd.

Luke hugged me tighter and I looked up into his face. I was only half-surprised to find that Luke was near tears himself. I knew he loathed punishing me, but I guess he thought he was too harsh. I didn't know what to think of the punishment except that it hurt and that if Luke deemed it necessary, then I deserved it.

"Jace…" Luke began but I cut him off.

"I'm really sorry, Luke. I promise I won't ever fight Simon again, I won't disregard your warnings… I'll be good in general." I promised him. I felt true remorse for everything that had happened and I wanted Luke to know that I meant it when I said I was sorry.

Luke sighed and ran a hand through my hair, obviously ignoring the comments about me coming from the other people. "Jace, I know you're sorry. I believe that you will try to behave, but I'm not kidding -you must control yourself." I lowered my eyes to avoid Luke's gaze, but he merely dipped his head to catch my eyes again. "Hey, none of that. It's alright, you've been forgiven, Jace. Okay?" He asked, wiping a stray tear from my cheek. I nodded and gave Luke the most convincing smile I could muster, considering the pain in my rear and the embarrassment that I was feeling.

"Jace, I'm sorry for punishing you so harshly. I -"

"No, Dad, you don't need to be sorry. I deserved everything you dished out -you were just keeping your promises. I deserved it. It's fine." I mumbled, leaning into Luke and resting my head on him. I hid my face in his chest, not only for comfort, but also because I was still too embarrassed to look him in the eyes. I was embarrassed at getting publicly spanked, at crying and squirming, but at my behavior. I had completely disregarded Luke, something I vowed to try extra-hard not to do ever again.

"Jace, look at me." He said softly. I shook my head no, but Luke wouldn't take that. "Baby, come on, look at me." He tried once more. When again, I didn't raise my head, Luke shook me gently. "Jace…"

I finally raised my eyes to Luke's. "I still don't think I should have been so harsh." I opened my mouth to protest -which was rather comical, I thought -but Luke raised his hand to stop me. "No, Jace, let me finish. I know I was just keeping my promises, and I am never going to go back on a promise, no matter what it is. I was just hoping that you'd never give me reason to follow through on these promises. Yes, you did deserve it and I am so thankful that you own up to this, but I still think I should handled you a little more gently. I didn't even let you tell me your side of the story, and for that I'm sorry, son. Would you like to explain to me what happened?"

Before I could answer, Luke held up a finger to silence me. "Wait." He commanded and I suppressed a laugh. Luke stood me up and I all but whined and cried to crawl back into his lap. He stood up and stepped in front of me as he addressed the crowd standing before us.

"There is nothing left to see here, ladies and gentlemen. There was nothing to see here in the first place, but I think you all have observed this scene long enough." Luke's voice was commanding and serious, and slowly the crowd of now-grumpy-teens dispersed. The only ones left near me were Luke, Simon, and Clary.

Luke sat back down and pulled me back to sit on his knee. I winced when my butt made contact with his leg, but he shifted me so my backside was now hanging off. Luke wrapped his arms around me. "Okay, now we can talk."

I smiled a little and began telling Luke of what had happened between Simon and I. By the end of my tale, Luke sighed deeply.

"So, you see…" I began once Luke didn't say anything. "It wasn't Simon's fault -he was only fighting back. I don't think you should spank him..." I had no idea where this was coming from, but I could say this -I didn't actually hate the little fledgling. I tolerated him, and I felt bad for attacking him. But, my pride and love for Clary took over, even though it was stupid and I had attacked the poor kid. It really hadn't been his fault. This time.

Luke peered at me curiously. "Young man, are you trying to talk me out of punishing Simon?"

"Yeah." I answered with a small voice. Luke shook his head, but he was smiling.

"Well, Jace. I'm proud of you. It looks like it took a fight, but you're finally treating Simon a whole lot better, even if it isn't directly. It's good to hear you sticking up for him when you know that something wasn't his fault. But, I'm afraid I'm going to have to punish him anyways -"

"Why? He was fighting back, not instigating the fight… I mean, we wouldn't have fought if I hadn't attacked him… It's just…" I couldn't find the right words to explain to Luke. He'd probably do what he thought was right anyways.

"Shhhh, listen." Luke tried.

"But -"

"No, no. No, sh. Be very quiet. Good. Okay, I get where you're coming from, Jace -but he fought you either way, and that merits a spanking."

I knew I couldn't convince Luke otherwise, so I tried to compromise. "Okay fine. But, please don't belt him. It really wasn't his fault."

"That wouldn't be fair to you, Jace."

"It wouldn't be fair to him if you did."

Luke sighed and began shifting me on his lap. I thought for sure he was upset and was going to push me off, but instead he pulled me closer.

"Jace, I am going to do what I think is right. Simon won't be getting as much with the belt as you did, but he will get it for fighting." When I opened my mouth to protest, he gently swatted my backside. "That's enough, son."

I pouted but was safe in the knowledge that I had at least tried to rescue Simon from this punishment. Besides, Luke said Simon wouldn't be getting as much with the belt, and I had only gotten ten. Maybe Simon will get five.

"In Simon's place, I thank you for trying." Luke said, smiling. I rolled my eyes and smiled back. "Alright, kiddo."

Luke began to lift me back onto my feet, but I resisted for a moment. "Are you gonna spank him here too?"

Luke sighed and rubbed a hand over his eyes. "Jace."

"Are you?" I persisted.

"Yes."

"What about the kids? They'll come back and film his whipping too."

"I'll get rid of them after, like I got rid of them just now. End of discussion, kid."

I nodded, resigned. I felt bad for Simon, but I knew there was no changing Luke's mind once it was made up.

I allowed Luke to push me to my feet and offered him my hand to help him up. He gently declined and I knew that meant Simon's turn was going to be in the next 30 seconds or so.

Luke massaged his right hand a little bit before giving me a small smile. "You've got a hard backside, Jace."

I laughed. "Your hand is harder." We laughed for a moment and then grew serious. "Does it still hurt?" I asked, semi-hopeful.

"Nope. Werewolf healing, remember?"

"Oh. Yeah."

"Alright, kid. Please go tell Simon that you're sorry and send him over here, will ya?"

Luke didn't have to tell me to mean it when I told Simon I was sorry -he knew I meant it.

I walked over to where Simon and Clary were at, slowly. I didn't realize I was stalling for Simon until nearly a minute later, I was still in arm's reach of Luke.

A swat landed sharply on my backside and I yelped, tears springing to my eyes. I turned back to look at Luke.

"You know I don't condone stalling, whether it's for yourself or for someone else, Jace." Luke said semi-sternly.

"Sorry…" I muttered before quickening my pace towards Simon and Clary. When I came close enough, Simon stood up.

I looked Simon straight in the eyes. "I'm sorry for lashing out at you, Simon."

Simon smiled a bit. "It's alright, Jace. I know why you did it." He held out his hand. "Friends, maybe?"

I shook his hand. "Yeah, friends. Sort of." We both laughed slightly. "Thanks for going easy on me with the forgiveness… and for sticking up for me against that kid with the video camera."

"Don't stress it, Jace. And, I would have attacked you too if you had made Clary cry."

"I know you would have. I guess, I just hated that you made Clary cry, so I wanted to see you crying too… But, you will be in a minute." I said this last part somewhat reluctantly. "Luke wants you over there, now."