Hi guys! Happy New years and I worked hard to get this chapter out to you guys, sorry if it seems short. Also, sorry for any grammatical errors, I'm trying to just get this ya'll. I just really wanted to try to give it as a gift to you for 2022. The reviews are amazing and totally agree! 45 mins would never be worth any punishment to me. Sorry, there's plenty of cursing, I feel like Linc would have cursed a lot when he was younger. Well enjoy guys and cheers! Jewelie
Michaels shaking hands took Linc's knife and it was heavier than he expected. He didn't want to complain or pout; he turned walking out of the apartment down the creaky stairs. He admittedly was walking slower than he ever had and felt himself getting angry. Who used switches anymore? Was this a bad rerun of a show from the fifties? He was 16 now, not six and this was stupid! As all these thoughts swirled in his head, he found himself out in front of the apartment building cutting stupid sticks. I mean why sticks? Lost in his thoughts he didn't hear his friend Jasper calling his name, until he felt a hand on his shoulder. This caused the knife to slip off the branch and cut the tip of Mike's finger. "Fuck!" He yelled loudly immediately sticking his bleeding finger in his mouth.
"Oh, shit Mike, I'm sorry I thought you heard me calling you." Jasper let go of Mikes white t-shirt and shook his head in remorse. Mike looked at Jasper and even though his finger stung, he was happy to see his friend. He hadn't seen him since they got busted a week ago. "Hey Jaz, ugh no it's okay, I wasn't paying attention. Are you freed from your house?" Jasper smirked, "Nah, my mom asked me to run to the market for some milk." Jasper saw in Mikes hand there were some tree branches with the leaves pulled off. "What's going on with you?" He looked down pointing to Mikes branches.
If Mike could have died in that moment he would have, "Long story, I better get back to it though before Linc comes looking for me. When are you off being grounded?" Jasper smiled. "Ah, who knows, you'd think my dad whipping my ass would be enough you know? But, nope, grounded, but at least when school starts, we'll be able to hang out a little." He smiled and Mike laughed, "Yeah, true, I'll see you then." Jasper waved bye as he continued to the market.
Michaels finger had stopped bleeding and he brought his sticks up to the apartment. He'd managed to find three good ones that were the thickness of his pinky. He'd read somewhere that was the perfect size so they wouldn't sting as bad. He also plucked the leaves off carefully leaving nubs behind. He kept his head down the whole time, even though on is way up an older neighbor whistled that someone must be in trouble. Mike didn't care, he knew from the cries in the apartment other kids got spanked too and he found comfort in that. He opened the apartment door and walked into the kitchen looking for Linc. His brother was still there looking at a car magazine waiting for him. He laid the sticks on the table and handed Linc's pocketknife back.
"What took you so long? Should have only taken you ten minutes, not twenty." He ruffed out. Michael could lie, but he was too tired, "Jasper saw me on the way to the market for his mom and said hi. I told him I was in trouble, and he left." Linc shook his head, "Yeah, saw him out the side window walking, figured he'd stop to say hi." Michael sighed internally that he told Linc the truth, because he knew if he was caught in a lie Linc would have no mercy. Linc took the branches and showed Mike how to clean the nubs off. He told him they were dangerous and could cut him during a switch'en. Michael listened and felt his nerves building, he didn't want Linc to follow through with his promise. When Linc was done he finished off his second beer to relax his own nerves and told Michael to go shower. Linc needed a minute to relax, and he swung one of the switches against his leg. He tried to find the perfect force so he wouldn't hurt Michael.
Discipline wasn't about swinging the hardest or even causing maximum pain, it was about the lesson. It was about Michael understanding what he did was wrong and not to do it again. Yes, some pain would help Michael remember the consequences of his decisions, but Linc didn't want to be his father. His Father worked out his anger on Linc's backside and Linc knew that was what the gym was for. As he swung lightly, and the switch bounced off his thigh it stung fiercely. The sting faded though in a couple minutes and Linc knew that was the right power from his swing. A minute later Michael appeared showered and dressed in his comfy sweats. He also had a long t-shirt and gripped the bottom of it.
Linc took the two switches and walked into the living room setting them down on the green suede couch. Michael felt awkward, his brother used to seem larger than life to him, but now they were almost the same height. He didn't feel as intimidated by Linc and knew that these days of whippings would end soon. He imagined that unless he robbed someone or did drugs Linc wouldn't need to spank him anymore. He looked at Linc and his brother grabbed his forearm and turned him away from him. "We're going to start with a warmup and then you'll bend over the back of the couch. We're doing twenty with the switch, got it?" He steeled his voice in a low tone that scared Michael. He hated that Linc was mad at him.
"Yeah, I understand and I'm sorry Linc." Lincoln didn't answer instead he raised his hand high and swatted. The first swat didn't hurt, it just felt warm. It felt uncomfortable standing there and getting swatted like a child. He felt like he was ten again in trouble for something mundane, but he knew this was just the start. The burn began to build after ten swats, and he began to wiggle around and dance in place. Linc stopped swatting after fifteen and turned Michael to face him. "Why are we here?" Michael had a couple tears on his cheeks and looked down at his feet. He decided to not wear socks because it was warm outside, and his sweats made him feel warmer.
"I," Lincoln shook his arm and Mike looked up into his brothers eyes, they were a dark green. Linc was pissed, "I really like her Linc, and I just wanted to see her." Linc took a deep breath "Why couldn't you see her?" Michael took a ragged breath in, "because I snuck out while being grounded." Linc nodded. "Exactly Michael, and normally I'd be like good with you hanging out. I'm not a complete asshole, but it's because you were grounded. Then, I thought, ah fuck it you could see her at the taco truck, no harm. Then when I say no, you don't show me respect you fucking insult me. You embarrass me at work, right?" Michaels blue eyes blurred with tears, and he felt ashamed for his attitude. His brother was right, and he acted like a bratty kid who didn't get his way.
"I, I know Linc, I'm sorry and I just got caught up in the moment. I didn't think it out…" Linc felt satisfied that Michael understood why he was in trouble. He let go of Michaels arm, "Yeah, well sorry kid but sweats down and lean over the couch please." Michael didn't put up a fight even though he felt embarrassed and with shaking hands took down his sweats. He leaned over the couch and closed his eyes tightly. Linc decided he'd take down his brothers boxers so he could see what he was doing. He grabbed the back of his navy boxers and tugged. The boxers fell to Mikes ankles and embarrassed, Mike started crying immediately. "Listen Michael Scofield, I never want to do this again, ever! So, from now on, you will listen to me and stop your fits. I've explained this before but, you are old enough to try and control your emotions. It's okay to cry, to be pissed off, to get angry and even break rules. Its all-normal shit, but to disrespect me, embarrass me with your behavior, that's not cool."
Before Mike could answer Linc swung the switch and it whistled in the air laying across Mikes bare butt cheeks. A red line bloomed immediately but before Mike could scream another painful stinging line blossomed. Mike held his mouth open in a silent scream, his drool fell on his t-shirt and eventually a blood curdling scream escaped. Linc was only on the 5th stroke, and he was frightened by Michaels scream and stopped swinging. He immediately rubbed Mikes lower back, "Just breath Mikey, in and out." Mike got ahold of himself and caught his breath. The pain stung like bee's and burned at the same time. He'd never felt a pain so intense. "It really hurts Linc, please stop." He was able to gulp out and Linc wasn't sure what to do. He saw the light thin red lines, but the skin wasn't broken. It seemed like he was fine, so Linc hardened his heart, "We're almost halfway through." Michael cried so hard, Linc thought he'd make himself sick if he didn't calm down. He also knew to stop a switching and start again would hurt Michael even more in the long run.
So, he swung the switch again, landing 5 more quick strokes and Michael felt like his skin was scorching like hot water was being poured on it. The burn was intense, and all Michael could do was slump over the couch and cry. When Linc reached 10, he saw 10 thin red lines over crossing each other. For the first time in his life, he couldn't make himself go through with the next 10. It brought back memories he buried long ago, about his own switching and how painful it was. He decided that his hand could finish up the last ten. So, he threw down the switch and grabbed Michaels hip putting it next to his. Michael was so delirious he didn't notice that Linc was using his hand and just cried. In front of Mikes face, there was a wet puddle of tears streaked over the couch.
No matter how much Michael liked to pretend a whipping wouldn't hurt, it always did, and it never mattered how young or old he was. Linc finished quickly with lite swats and finished the last ten. "Alright Mikey, we're all done." He rubbed the teens upper back until he calmed down, "I'mmm, I'mmm, just soarey Linc." He stuttered out. Linc looked at his brother and felt a little guilty, when could he stop being the bad guy? When would Mike just listen and learn? "I know Mikey, I know, but I really hope you've learned this lesson." Lincoln said sadly. Michael bent down and quickly pulled up his boxers and sweats. He felt embarrassed and as the material scraped over his tender skin, he bit his tongue so he wouldn't scream out.
Michael turned and threw himself into Linc crying. Linc held him and whispered comforting things to his little brother. Being the parent when all you want to be is the brother, is the hardest. "You hungry?" Linc asked softly. Michael felt exhausted from the crying, "I could eat." Linc laughed. "Okay, well I'll order the pizza and you go take a nap. We can talk when you wake up. Deal?" Michael shook his head yes, relieved he could go rest and walked towards his room….