A/N: Okay, first and last time I ever try to write a part story. Thanks to Cucumber and Kousei.

Dedication: To Chelsea, for being so nice, and helping with the beta work, and not hitting me… not even once!

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"Ow!"

"Stop acting like a baby"

"It hurts"

"You've taken worse beatings boy, *my* beatings"

"It's different"

"Aye, at least you keep your mouth shut when I beat you"

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For Spike, it had been difficult to process what had happened after the 'sit down'. At some point, Angelus had produced a basin of warm water and a whole lot of bandages. Before he even took in what was happening Angelus was peeking closely into the hole in his chest.

"Lie back" he had said. Spike had looked at him, not sure of what to expect "Now" Angelus had shoved him and then pinned him on the bed single handed "don't move". Angelus had peeked on his chest again, and after what felt like hours, he had released him and let him sit up again.

"What the…" Angelus had silenced him before he could finish.

"I was looking for splinters; you wouldn't have liked to spontaneously turn to dust."

After that, Angelus started to patch him up… at least he tried.

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"It's a pride thing" said Spike cockily "when you're flogging me, complaining would prove me weak."

"I see, and screaming like a baby when I'm bandaging you is so very manly."

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"It looks a lot better, how's the leg?"

"Fine" answered Spike quietly, being fully aware of what was coming.

"Hands against the wall, try not to move"

It had been almost a week since Angelus had taken Will hunting, in that time the boy had become a bit more respectful, especially towards Angelus. He didn't call him 'Sire' but he didn't call him 'wanker' nor 'gramps' either. He was 'Angelus', 'mate' and very occasionally 'sir'. Angelus was satisfied with William's behaviour, but he couldn't let go without punishment the incident during the hunt. He hated to think on how close he had been to losing him.

Spike braced himself, he knew that sooner or later this was coming, he wasn't entirely sure of why though. He hadn't endangered the family, he hadn't drawn attention to them, and those were usually the motives of his punishments. To be honest, the only one in real danger that night had been himself. He shook his head. There was no point in questioning Angelus; at least he had had the decency to wait until he was better. Spike bit down a scream.

"One" he said through gritted teeth. At least it wasn't the nine-tails…

"Challenging older vampires is stupid William" 'great' thought Spike, like he didn't know that one already.

"Two"

"Challenging stronger vampires is even more stupid"

"Three" why wasn't he using the nine-tails? Spike wondered absent-mindedly.

"And doing so alone when you could've asked your *Sire* for help is the most idiotic thing you could've done"

"Four, five, six" Spike gasped… he certainly seemed in a nine-tail mood. "not my Sire" he said barely above a whisper. He knew that his little insolence was going to cost him, and above all, he knew that he'd deserve it. But it felt good to be back, especially after a week of bowing his head and answering 'yes sir', 'no sir'.

"William" said Angelus in a mediating tone "you could've been killed" Spike said nothing. Angelus raised the strap again.

"Seven, eight, nine, ten" then, a very quiet "so what?" Angelus didn't answer, instead he hit Will again "eleven…" 'it's not even a whip' he realized. 'It hurts like hell, but it's not a whip'… that was a first "really Angelus, what if I had been killed? …twelve" he bit his lip "Dru would've gotten over it, eventually. Darla would've thrown a party. And you shit! Thirteen"

"I boy, would've lost a Childe" Spike held back a bitter laugh.

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Angelus stopped when the count came to thirty, even though he had never stopped under a hundred before. He wiped the strap and put it in his pocket.

"Try not to do anything like that again Will, and if you do. Don't let me find out" he took William's arm and wrapped it around his shoulders. Another first Will noted. After a beating, Angelus would leave him in the floor. Later Dru would come and help him. And yet, another first. He had just been thrashed by Angelus, and he could walk.

"I'm not your Childe… no matter what you say or do, I'm not" William said when they were by his bedroom's door. Angelus half-smiled.

"You are whatever I say you are William, and you're not what you think. You are mine" with the last word Angelus leaned down and gave William a chaste kiss, and without saying a word, walked down the hallway to his own room.

Spike stared at the retreating form of his sire… his sire…

"Sire" he said out loud, now *that* felt natural.

In the hallway, Angelus smirked.

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Fin