WARNINGS FOR THE CHAPTER: Spanking, and lots of it. With the hand, the hairbrush, and a wooden paddle. Bad Dom Louis. Unfair punishment which can be considered abuse.

"It wasn't me!" Harry sat up, seeing the look on his Dom's face. "I swear, it was Niall! He was being a jerk the whole day and I—"

"Excuses, excuses," Louis growled, interrupting him. "Unacceptable ones, that."

Harry just gaped. Louis believed Niall but not him! This was so unfair! Scowling, he said, "Lou, please, just listen for a moment—"

"No, you listen, Harold," Louis interrupted once more, glowering at him. "I was just hoping for nothing else than a peaceful day with well-behaved Subs. I was not hoping for disobedient Subs who go against the rules."

Harry's heart sank. "But you won't even let me explain my side of the story," he said in a weak voice.

"I have a good idea of what happened already," Louis retorted, crossing his arms. "Stop trying to argue with me; it'll just make your discipline worse."

"But—" Harry opened his mouth and then closed it reluctantly, seeing the look on Louis' face.

"C'mon, be thankful I'm only using my hand. I know for a fact that your bum still hurts from the last time I spanked you but if you don't come here right now, I'm going to go get the paddle."

Harry wanted wail and stomp and argue that it wasn't fair but he knew that would just make everything worse. Slowly, he got up from his bed to where Louis was on the armless chair that was so conveniently placed next to his drawers and draped himself over his lap.

He tensed, struggling not to make a sound, when Louis pulled down his trousers and boxers. He flinched at the first loud smack and painful stinging. "OW!" he exclaimed, jerking.

"Your bum was already pink and rosy from the last time you misbehaved," Louis lectured as he smacked down again. "Do you really need more?"

"It wasn't me!" Harry wailed. "Niall was being a jerk; he was being mean! And he's the one who did everything!"

"The more you lie, the more you start to believe it," Louis retorted, spanking mercilessly. "The sooner you start telling the truth the faster it'll be over."

Harry muffled his quiet sobs by burying his face in his arms. He couldn't believe this. Louis didn't believe him. All the times Louis had disciplined him (or at least attempted to), they had been fair at least! Louis had at least listened to Harry's story before disciplining him!

"It wasn't me!" Harry screamed, kicking. He involuntarily slammed his fist down on Louis' knee, furious that this was happening. "LOUIS!"

"That's 'sir' to you right now," Louis growled back, giving a spank so hard that Harry jerked and almost flew off of Louis' knee. "I'm very disappointed right now, Harold."

Harry sobbed. He could say yellow or red. But he didn't want to disappoint Louis any further than he already had. Louis was disappointed enough already. So he just swallowed back all of the curses and sobbed into his arms, feeling miserable and betrayed.

"I can't believe you'd lie to me," Louis was saying. "Especially after Niall told me everything. Honestly." Louis stopped for a moment.

Harry quivered on Louis' lap, trying not to let his weeping become loud. But that idea was soon gone when Louis spanked him again. He let out wails and sobbed, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! No more!"

"Have you learned your lesson?"

"Y-Yes!" Harry howled.

"Tell me what you've learned then," Louis prompted, not continuing in his smacking.

"I-I, OW! D-Don't play football indoors," Harry spluttered.

"Good. And?"

"B-Behave even if you aren't w-with me."

"And the last one?"

Harry shuddered before whispering, "Don't lie."

"Good boy." Louis stopped.

Harry would've normally jumped in for a cuddle after being disciplined, but he didn't want to look at his Dom right now. So he pushed him away when Louis tried to hug him, and just sobbed, "G-Go."

"Haz, I need to care for you," Louis said softly.

Like hell you do, Harry thought bitterly, just crying into his pillow continuously. "I-I don't care," was all he said. "P-Please."

"You can always come in for a cuddle, yeah? I'll be in my room."

Harry nodded, sniffling and rubbing his bum. He heard his Dom sigh and head outside, closing the door.

Harry glared at the closed door later bitterly.

Why didn't you believe me?

Harry curled up in his bed, feeling absolutely miserable and betrayed.

Harry avoided Niall and Louis like they were the plague. He didn't talk to Louis, except for when he absolutely had to answer a question. He didn't even look at Niall because he knew that he'd just get reminded of 'Niall the Dick', as he had named it.

On the other hand, it was obvious that Louis was trying to figure out what on earth he had done wrong for Harry to be so quiet and cross at him.

At 5 AM, Harry woke up needing to use the bathroom. He headed toward the bathroom near the hallway when a hand grabbed his arm. Jumping, Harry barely managed not to scream.

"Hey, it's okay. It's just me," Zayn soothed.

"You jerk!" Harry scowled. "You scared me!"

"I'm sorry, but mind that tone of yours," Zayn warned sternly.

Harry just pouted.

"I need to talk to you," Zayn continued. "Come with me."

"I need to use the bathroom," Harry argued.

Zayn sighed and said, "Go. Use the bathroom, then come to my office."

Harry quickly finished his business and headed toward Zayn's office. He hesitated and entered when Zayn called, "Come in, Curly."

Harry yelped softly when Zayn pulled him into his lap and pressed a kiss on his curls, saying, "What's the matter with you lately, Curls, hmm? You're all sad and quiet, and I know something's wrong. Is this about you and Niall breaking the vase and you getting spanked by Louis?"

"None of your business," Harry huffed, trying to push the Dom away.

"Hey, Harold, don't do that," Zayn scolded lightly. "I'm trying to talk with you because I care for you. Did Louis do something wrong? Did he go overboard?"

Harry just glared at the floor before sighing and muttering, "It's nothing."

"Harold, that's enough," Zayn reprimanded. "Tell me, or I'll whack your bottom."

Harry pouted. "You're being unfair, just like he was!" he huffed, making a move to get off of Zayn's lap.

Zayn wrapped his arms around Harry's waist, saying, "We can stay here all night and day. I don't care."

"Fine!" Harry snapped, fed up off the Dom's stubbornness. "Louis disciplined me unfairly, okay? I wasn't the one who caused trouble, it was Niall! The moment he got home, he believed Niall and not me! There, you have it!"

Zayn was silent and Harry's anger was still bubbling. "He promised he wouldn't do that anymore! He said he'd be fair with me! Yeah? Well, he did the complete opposite." Harry managed to rip out of Zayn's loosening grasp and muttered, "He's a dick."

"Oh, Harry," Zayn whispered. "That's what happened?"

Harry avoided Zayn's gaze, eyes prickling slightly. Zayn tipped his chin up and said sternly, "Harold, look at me." When Harry forced himself to slowly le his eyes wander up, Zayn looked at him very seriously and said, "Harold, did he abuse you?"

Harry shook his head. "No … he didn't … not like before. He just … he wouldn't listen. He just immediately assumed all of it was my fault."

Zayn just sighed and said, "I'll talk with him."

"No!" Harry yelped. "Don't!" He lowered his voice and his head and whispered, "I don't want him to get angrier."

"Harry—" Zayn tried.

"No, Zayn, please," Harry begged. "Don't tell him yet, please."

Zayn eyed him for a few moments and Harry continued giving him puppy eyes. "Fine, but you'd better tell him sooner or later or I'll do it," the Dom grumbled.

"Okay, I will," Harry promised.

Zayn gave him a small smile. "Good lad," he said quietly. "Curls, come here."

Harry hesitated. "Am I in trouble?" he asked hesitantly.

"What? Nonsense?" Zayn shook his head and then raised an eyebrow. "Unless you've done something I don't know of?"

"No!" Harry shook his head, shaking at the thought of another spanking before his bum healed.

Zayn gave a quiet laugh and patted his lap. "Over."

"Zayn, I promise!" Harry whined. "I'm not lying!" He stared at Zayn's muscly thighs in fear. They looked very uncomfortable to lie on top of, especially if it was for a spanking.

"I know you aren't, sweetie," Zayn soothed. "I just want to put some cream on your bum; help the soothing, yeah? C'mere, cutie."

Though a bit suspicious, at the sound of soothing cream Harry reluctantly inched forward and laid himself over Zayn's lap. He winced, not used to all of the muscle. No offense to Louis, of course.

He barely managed to hold in a whine when Zayn bared his bum completely, patted it affectionately and began applying the cream.

"Ouch!" Harry hissed, wriggling a little.

"Sorry, I'm trying to be as gentle as possible. Louis got you good, huh?"

"No shit," Harry grumbled.

Zayn smacked his bum, making him yelp. "What was that for?" he huffed, turning around to look at Zayn.

"Don't swear outside of the bedroom," Zayn said pointedly, raising an eyebrow sternly. "It makes you sound like you're some hooligan."

"Sorry."

"It's okay, just don't do it again. Now relax, it'll be easier when you're not tense."

Harry gritted his teeth and let Zayn finish the job. He quickly got up when he heard Zayn close the lid and pulled up his pants. "Thanks," he said softly.

Zayn grinned at him affectionately. "No problem, Curly. Now go back to sleep."

Harry returned to his room and flopped down on the bed, exhausted.

The next time Harry's eyes fluttered open, it was past eleven in the morning. He groaned. He must have been exhausted from talking with Zayn last night.

He definitely wasn't expecting to see what he saw when he went downstairs.

Niall was over Liam's lap, sobbing and bum bright red as Liam spanked him with a brush on the couch. Harry froze, not sure of what to do. Liam just paused, ignoring Niall's sobbing and whimpering, and just said, "There's French toast being kept warm in the oven, Harry. Go eat breakfast."

"O-Okay," Harry stammered before stumbling into the kitchen. He winced when he heard the smacks start up again with Niall's sobs. He was confused for a few moments until it clicked – Niall had confessed. Either that or Zayn had told Liam. "I swear to god, if that gorgeous bitch told him …" Harry muttered under his breath.

"Did you call for me?" Zayn entered, smirking.

"You told him?" Harry jumped up and hissed at the Dom, clenching his fists in anger.

"Whoa, calm down, Princess," Zayn smirked again. "I didn't tell anyone, I swear. However, someone's guilty conscience did get the better of him." Zayn pointed with his thumb over his shoulder toward Niall.

"Ouch," Harry winced.

"That's not the only bottom that'll be getting spanked today," Zayn added.

Harry frowned. "I didn't do anything … oh."

"Yep. He's in the corner in my office right now." Zayn sighed and shook his head.

"You don't have to spank Lou," Harry said softly.

"I do," Zayn replied. "He's gonna get what he deserves. You can't say he doesn't deserve it."

Harry hesitated. "You're not going to be really harsh, are you?"

"I'll be as harsh as you need to," Zayn responded. "You are welcome to join us. You can sit or lie on my cot and watch the discipline session."

Harry hesitated. "I'm not sure if I want to," he said. He personally didn't enjoy when Louis cried from pain and he didn't want to humiliate his Dom – it was unusual when a Dom was being spanked, not a Sub.

"Of course." Zayn nodded. "You can come upstairs whenever you need to. After breakfast." Zayn pointed to the bowl and Harry rolled his eyes jokingly before heading back over to his seat.

He watched Zayn go upstairs. He listened to Niall's sobs and blubbered apologies and wondered if Louis would be doing the same soon.

Louis jumped when Zayn entered the door and shut it none too gently.

"C'mere," the Dom barked.

Louis, biting his lip, hurried from the corner to where Zayn was sitting in an armless chair. He knew full well he deserved this; he just hated the fact that he had been so unfair to Harry.

"Louis."

"Yes, sir," Louis answered.

Zayn raised an eyebrow, looking slightly surprised at the title, but just pointed to his lap and said, "Pull down your pants and boxers, and over."

Louis, still stiff with nervousness, did as he was told without any objections – he had earned this. This was something new and different to him; usually it was him who had the naughty Sub over his lap, not him over someone else's! He was horrified when Zayn patted his bum and said, "I'm going to spank you hard. You know you've earned this. I'm going to start right away with the wooden paddle. Your safeword is 'red' and you are welcome to use it whenever you need to. Are you ready?"

Louis wanted to say no, he really did. But that wasn't much of a choice for him right now. "Yes," he whispered.

Zayn started immediately and mercilessly. Louis was silent with shock, but then he soon found his voice and jerked with every swat, yelling, "OWWW!"

"Hush down, Lou. You're louder than Niall when he's getting spanked," Zayn reprimanded.

"Not my fault that blondie's ass is so well-trained!" Louis yelped back.

"Just as yours will be if you keep the behaviour up," Zayn said dryly, not letting up on the spanking at all even as he talked. "What you did with Harry was absolutely unacceptable."

"I know!" Louis sobbed.

"I'm not even sure if you deserve to train a Sub," Zayn said.

Louis sobbed and kicked. "I-I knowww!"

"You always, always, make sure you understand exactly what happened before giving out discipline."

"Y-yes, sir!"

"If there are two people, then you need to hear both sides of the story – something that you didn't do."

"Y-yes, sir!" Louis sobbed.

"What are you going to do next time?" Zayn inquired.

"Understand the situation b-before!" Louis wailed.

"Are you going to just blame one person after hearing one story?"

"N-Noooooo, I won't! I swear!"

"You sure?"

"Y-yes, sir!"

Louis was weeping, his shoulders trembling and unable to lift his head in shame. Zayn landed two firm smacks on each cheek before he stopped, rubbing Louis' hot, red cheeks comfortingly and said, "You were very good, Lou."

"T-thank you," Louis whimpered.

He made a move to stand up and move away from Zayn's lap when Zayn stopped him by saying, "What are you doing?"

Louis sniffled and looked at Zayn, confused. "S-Standing up."

"Nonsense," Zayn said. "C'mere, you idiot."

Louis hesitantly went into Zayn's arms – this had never happened to him before.

"You know that nothing's changed between us, right?" Zayn murmured.

"Yeah," Louis said softly. "Thanks for that though, I needed it. I felt absolutely horrible."

"I know, and that's why I did it. It's not good for both Doms and Subs if they're beating themselves up over a mistake. But mistakes are how we learn, yeah?"

"Mm," Louis hummed.

Zayn ruffled his hair and said, "I think you owe someone an apology, though."

"Oh yeah," Louis said, the thought suddenly hitting him. "Thanks again," he said and headed downstairs to wear Harry was, not bothering to check his appearance. Harry probably knew already anyway. Louis found the curly-headed boy at the kitchen table eating breakfast at a slow pace.

"Hi, Lou," Harry said when he saw him.

"I'm sorry," Louis said bluntly. "I was being unfair. I promise next time I'll be more sensible. I've been a horrible Dom."

"You're allowed to make mistakes," Harry pointed out.

Louis smiled. He loved his Sub. "I try not to," Louis said with a sigh. "I suppose things don't always turn out the way you want them to."

"If you're unhappy, then that's means that not the end of the road," Harry said firmly, green eyes bright and twinkling as always. "Endings will always be happy no matter what."

Louis laughed and said, "Of course. I love you."

"Love you too."

"Love you more," Louis said, and he meant it.