"You don't have to look so worried. I'm not going to murder you."
"Easy for you to say." Donnie muttered. Chris sighed in response.
"What did I tell you last night?"
"Which part?!" Donnie asked with attitude.
"Strike one. No need for attitude Donovan."
"Sorry." Donnie replied.
"Why the attitude? I thought we agreed last night." Donnie shrugged, looking down at his half-eaten sandwich.
"You know that's not an answer." Donnie glared at Chris this time, wondering why his older brother was so on his case suddenly.
"I just didn't sleep well."
"Nightmares?"
"Not exactly." Donnie had woken up in the middle of the night and even walked around the apartment for a while, fretting over what Chris would say and do in the morning. He had been sure that Chris would wake up and order him back to bed, but surprisingly his big brother had slept through it.
"Meaning?" At Donnie's look Chris continued: "I know I'm being hard on you, but frankly I think that's what you need right now. Me being firm and showing you the error of your ways. You lied to me Donnie, it's not something I can simply ignore and pretend that it never happened. Especially since it happened repeatedly." Donnie blushed and focused on his hands instead of Chris, but did answer truthfully:
"I woke up in the middle of the night."
"Any special reason why?"
"No." He wasn't about to spill to Chris how insecure he still was around his older brother, especially since it was his own fault they weren't closer by now.
"Were you fretting over the conversation we are going to have?"
"Maybe." Donnie admitted in a small voice.
"I told you nothing between us is going to change because of this mess, so what are you scared of?" Chris asked, his tone much gentler now.
"Disappointing you." The answer came out of Donnie's mouth before he could stop himself.
"I am disappointed, but that won't last forever, Buddy."
"You haven't read my essay yet, what if you get more disappointed if I didn't do a good job?!" Donnie wondered anxiously.
"Did you do your best?"
"Yes sir."
"Then you have nothing to be worried about. Besides, I already read it."
"You did?! Why didn't you say so?!"
"Strike two, Donnie. I don't like that tone." Again, Donnie felt like Chris was a bit too quick with his counting, but bit his lip to stop himself from sassing the older man.
"Sorry, but why not tell me?"
"Because it wouldn't have stopped you from fretting over our talk either way."
"Still…" Donnie muttered without any heat.
"Eat your breakfast."
"Did you like it?" Donnie asked, ignoring the order.
"I'm not sure if like is a good word considering it's a punishment essay on why you shouldn't lie to me, but yes, it was good."
"Is it the best one you've read?" Donnie had to ask. "Or the worst one? Or in between?"
"I don't take sides."
"Come on Chris, just humour me, I won't tell."
"No."
"No as in you won't tell me or no as in it wasn't the worst one ever?"
"No as in no. It was good. That's all you need to know. Eat your breakfast."
"But…"
"Kid, you don't want to reach three this early, trust me. Just eat."
-The Other Side-
"I liked your essay." Chris started the conversation Donnie had been fretting about ever since he got caught.
"But…"
"Let me finish please." Chris's voice was firm, not giving any room for objections despite the please. "But we are still going to discuss it."
"Do you always or is there something wrong with mine?"
"I always do it this way. As I said, it has worked wonders before. And there are a few things I want to clarify once we get to certain parts of your essay." Well, that didn't make Donnie any less nervous.
"First of all you seem to have a good idea why I won't tolerate lying."
"I've heard every reason there is since I was six years old" Donnie couldn't help but point out.
"Thankyou for the reminder that although you are new to this punishment you aren't new to the rules."
"I just dug my own grave, didn't I?!" Donnie groaned.
"Since you know why, we won't talk more about it, but if this happens again, you'll be repeating the reasons three times a day until I'm certain you not only know them, but also remember them even in the heath of the moment."
"It won't."
"Let's hope so." Was Chris's answer though he highly doubted Donnie wouldn't lie to him ever again, he was after all a teenager. They were bound to disagree at times and with Donnie not wanting to disappoint him the least, he was sure the kid would resort to lying at one point or another. "You also got to the conclusions I wanted you to get to in regards of where lying gets you, but I think there are a few things we should discuss regarding that. I don't agree with it being almost impossible for you to regain my trust. I'm not saying that it will be easy, and it will be harder for you because of the continuous use of lies, but it will happen, and that is what I want you to remember. It's not a lost cause, Donnie."
"Okay."
"And you can always talk to me about it, especially since you don't really seem to know how you'll regain my trust."
"Mom and Dad grounded me and have me doing a long list of chores to keep me occupied. But it doesn't feel like something you would do."
"You are right about that. I know why you did it which is why I'll go easier on you this time. If it was for any other reason, you'd be looking at a much shorter leash."
"What can I do though, to regain your trust?"
"Be honest with me about everything. The first step is telling the whole story, which you have done. The second step is being honest with no exceptions and showing me that you are. Don't try to sugar coat things because you don't want me angry, tell it to me as it is and we'll work from there, okay?"
"Yes sir."
"Check in with me, even when you don't have to. Tell me about your day, the good and the bad. I missed signs I shouldn't have. James caught on to you while I didn't."
"It's been years Chris." Donnie told him kindly, feeling the need to reassure his older brother. "I might be easy to read at times, but I'm also an expert at hiding things when I want to. It will probably take some time until you know all my tell-tale signs the way you do with Nate."
"The hiding part is something I want to get rid of really fast. Being straight with me from the beginning will get you much further than hiding things and confessing only because you have to."
"I'll try Chris."
"That's all I'm asking for."
"Is that it?" Donnie asked after a moment of silence.
"This is it, yes. So done, dealt with and forgiven, okay?"
"Yes sir."
"Good." Chris drew the teen looking shyly at him into a close hug to show him that he truly was forgiven. "Trouble Junior."
-The Other Side-
"I see they let you out." Tony commented with a grin when he opened the door for Donnie at King's house.
"Don't know what for." Donnie shrugged. "Can't be for good behaviour exactly."
"Even prisoners get to go outside. I should know. I've been in your situation often enough."
"You have?!" Donnie asked surprised. Tony snorted before answering:
"More times than I can count."
"Why? I've seen you with your Dad, you practically radiate of respect." Donnie was truly confused. There was a reason the gang had taken to calling Tony "golden boy". As far as he had seen Tony was a perfect son.
"Seldom because of disrespect. Usually I've done something stupid. A prank gone too far, neglecting chores or trying to get my Dad's attention any way possible."
"Really?!"
"You aren't the only kid ever to want somebody's attention."
"What do you mean?" Donnie asked, not sure where Tony was heading with the comment.
"Think about it. You knowingly chose to mess with me, despite the rumours of me being King's nephew."
"You think that's why I did it?!"
"No. Not entirely, but maybe a part of you unknowingly factored that into the decision to go along with Carl and the others. What greater way to get Dwayne Pride's attention?!"
"You might actually have point there." Donnie had to admit. Unconsciously that might have been another reason for him.
"I always have a point." Tony grinned.
"You've been hanging around Chris too much."
"How can you tell?" Tony wiggled his eyebrows. "I sound nothing like him."
"Hey! Quit making fun of me!" Chris shouted from upstairs. "Tony you still have a lot to pack. You heard your Dad; he wants one box done before the two of you do whatever you want to do."
"Coming Chris." Tony shouted back, heading upstairs with Donnie in tow.
"Wow. It looks more and more like Nate's old room." Donnie took a slow spin around the room, feeling like he was thrown back in time 5 years to the last time he had been here with Nate. With Tony having packed up most of his stuff already it felt like nobody but Nate had ever lived there.
"That's kind of the point. Giving the two of you your space back."
"It's Nate's really, not mine." Donnie had to point out, even though he as well had stayed there for a while.
"We've solved that as well. Help me pack a box first though, I think Uncle Pride wants to be home for the surprise."
"What surprise?!" Donnie asked curiously, wondering just what they had come up with, a bunk bed for Nate's room maybe?"
"You'll see." The pair worked quickly, filling one of the boxes with Tony's books and comic books as well as the posters and framed photos. With every piece removed from sight a feeling of mixed emotions came over Donnie. On one hand he was happy Nate's room was going back to normal, but on the other hand he was reminded with ever piece that it was only a question of days before Tony would be going home.
"Who's that?" Donnie questioned curiously, pointing at the framed photograph of a red headed woman Tony was about to carefully put into the box.
"My Mom. She died a long time ago, but I still like to have it with me. She was pregnant with me at the time."
"I'm sorry."
"It was a long time ago. Anyway, we are finished with the box so why don't we do something else?!"
"What would you like to do?"
"Anything that doesn't include climbing on the rooftops"
"I think that could be arranged." Donnie smiled brightly, his head already filling with ideas of what they could force Chris to participate in.
-The Other Side-
"Can we show him?" Tony asked excitedly as soon as his Uncle made it through the door later that evening. Donnie looked pleadingly at the man as well, he wanted to see whatever it was.
"Sure buddy. It's not done yet, but Tony did help out with painting it yesterday." King smiled and put an arm around Donnie's shoulder and squeezed gently. "Great to see you Buddy."
"What are you all talking about?"
"You'll see" Chris smiled and put his hands over Donne's eyes without warning.
"Chris! I can't see."
"It's the point." Tony took a hold of Donnie's arm and started leading him upstairs, while Chris still made sure he couldn't see. At the top of the stairs they took a sharp left instead of the right he was used to take to get to his/Tony's/Nate's bedroom.
"Where are we going?"
"Just a second." Tony stopped walking and Donnie could hear the sound of a door opening. "Watch out here is a threshold." Tony warned as he led Donnie inside.
"You can let him open them now." King said and Chris dutifully removed his hand.
"It looks great in here but wasn't this Laurel's old room?!" Donnie asked confused at the transformed room before him.
"It was." Chris answered simply.
"Tony came to me a few days ago with the idea of giving you your own space at my place. As he so rightfully pointed out you and Nate can't really share his room if you ever stay over at the same time. We talked about it and decided that I could do without an office here. Laurel overheard us though and thought that it might be best to have you sleep as close to me as possible, so instead of taking over my office, she suggested that I give you her room." Donnie felt like his heart jumped over a beat. They had gone through the trouble to give him a place at King's.
"Are you sure?!" Donnie didn't want to have Laurel as an enemy because he had taken over her childhood room.
"She's a grown woman Donnie. To top it off she lives four hours away, I think she can do without her childhood room." King explained patiently.
"Still…"
"It's yours, so get used to it." Chris said with finality.
"I don't want to sound ungrateful, but Laurel's old room?!"
"It's completely fine. She even came up with the idea of giving you the old guest room furniture until we have time to go shopping for something better. She's happy for us, kiddo."
"Thankyou" Donnie gave all three of them a big hug before exploring the room. Tony had chosen a forest green to give it some contrast to Donnie's own room at his parents' house. The light wooden bed set was accompanied by a desk and desk chair under the window facing the side yard. There wasn't a lot else, but Donnie didn't mind it, that only meant he could customize it. Besides, fixing it further would give him an excuse to come over more. And going shopping with King did sound fun.
"You are welcome. Tony. I have something for you too." Donnie heard but didn't pay attention to it, being preoccupied with inspecting the desk that looked like a gorgeous piece of handiwork.
"Tony and Gibbs built that for you." Chris told him.
"Really?!"
"Yes, Tony insisted on it."
"I have to thank them both."
"This is amazing Chris." Chris smiled at his excitement.
"We are happy you like it."
"Where did Tony and King go?" Donnie asked when he suddenly realized it was only the two of them left in the room.
"Across the hall, King had a surprise for him as well." Walking across the hall Donnie saw that the old office had been painted a light sky blue and all furniture was removed. "Remember that just because Tony gets his own room as well here doesn't make yours any less special.
"I know Chris."
"It's great. Thankyou." Tony said and who moved to hug King but was stopped by a Chris's voice behind him:
"Here I painted it, but it's your Uncle who gets all the hugs." Chris grumbled.
"Thanks Chris." Tony still hugged King before hugging his older brother. "It's perfect. Absolutely perfect."
"I should probably have said this before you started packing; but feel free to leave whatever you want to here. It's your room now Tony. If you want to take all your stuff back home it's fine too, we'll just pick up some more the next time you are in New Orleans." Tony instantly scurried of back to his old bedroom and returned a moment later with the two packed boxes balancing on top of each other in his arms.
"I'll help you unpack if you want." Donnie offered.
"Donnie"
"Yes sir?" Donnie asked looking back at King surprised.
"Feel free to bring whatever you want over. As I said we'll have to go shopping soon but until then you might want some small items to make the room feel like yours."
"It already feels like it, but thanks."
"You are welcome son."
"King?"
"Yeah?"
"Could I by any chance sleep here tonight? I know I'm grounded but I could go home in the morning…" Donnie asked, giving his mentor his bet puppy eyed look.
"I guess that could be arranged." King smiled.