Author's note: Hey you sweet readers, hope your September is rolling along happily and that you're safe wherever you are. Steve says his hand needs a break and he is thoroughly looking forward to whatever the next story is because he's certain his errant kids will no longer be misbehaving. First to finish this one lol as there are definitely a few chapters left. Peace!

Chapter 9

Nehele carefully coiled the battle ropes into the barrel they stored them in when not in use. His upper body ached but it was the kind of discomfort that he relished. The ache he still felt in his backside was not.

"That was a hell of a workout." J spoke up from behind him. "It's no wonder you're so jacked."

Nahele nodded sagely. He knew there was curiosity amongst the school crowd about why he hadn't tried out for the football team and even the coach had approached him about it. It had been difficult initially to put into words, but it came down to him loving his freedom too much to be tied down to the frequency of practices and games, but he couldn't deny that it was a boost to his ego to be sought after. He was incredibly thankful that Steve had told him it didn't bother him if his son didn't follow in his footsteps sports wise. The thought of his dad reminded him of the uncomfortable conversation that was pending and Nahele sighed. Both he and J had worked out hard that morning. Nahele had been thankful to have something to distract himself with and suspected J felt the same. He had noticed Steve's eyes on him more frequently than normal and wondered if his father had picked up on tension between them.

"You two tired this morning?" The subject of his thoughts paused at the edge of the patio, and folded his arms across his chest. Nahele wondered if it was too much to hope that Steve had worn his arms out too much to administer much of a punishment. He doubted it. He'd seen Steve tired, but had never seen it affect his capacity for movement.

"No." Nahele stood upright, the battle ropes tucked away. He glanced towards J, who met his eyes and shrugged. They weren't going to get a better opportunity to talk to Steve, who judging from the intensity radiating from his clear blue eyes, had already picked up on something being off with them. He wondered if J had realized that, or if his friend was simply recognizing the clear opportunity they were being presented with. It felt strange to be preparing to broach a serious conversation with J by his side. With as much time as they'd spent together, it didn't feel wrong exactly, but Nahele couldn't help but feel almost guilty with the feeling that he should be protecting his friend from whatever was coming their way. He couldn't deny however that J was responsible for roping himself into the situation, and Nahele felt his heart warm as he recalled J describing Steve as someone who actually gave a damn.

J deserved a family that loved and cared for him as much as anyone did, and Nahele kind of liked the idea of the friend he loved like a brother, being treated more like a brother within his own house. He just wasn't sure how J was going to feel after actually experiencing discipline at Steve's hand. He had no doubt that their private conversation had been an eye opening experience for his red haired friend, but other than that he'd only experienced Steve's more fun side.

Nahele suddenly realized that both J and Steve had their eyes trained on him, clearly waiting for him to speak. That confirmed Nahele's suspicion that Steve had already read into the situation enough to know a confession was forthcoming. He also realized that even though J was going to stand by him, he was still going to need to take the lead on the conversation.

"Dad…uh… I… do need to talk to you about something, actually."

"We." J corrected firmly, his expression nervous, but his tone straightforward.

Steve eyed them both. "Alright. I'm listening."

"We just… uh…" Nahele exhaled. "I want to be completely honest with you from now on and there is something else that has been going on at school. I didn't mention it yesterday because we were just talking about everything else, but I… want to tell you now."

Steve nodded. "This involve you too, J?"

J nodded.

"I can't hear you."

Nahele grimaced slightly. Steve clearly had no intention of easing J into the swing of things.

"Yes, sir." J answered quickly.

"So you know your ass is on the line too? Assuming this is as serious as you two are indicating. Last chance?"

J shook his head stubbornly. "Nahele wouldn't have even been at that party if not for me… Tell him."

Nahele decided there was no point in dragging things out any further. "We call it fight club. It's only been going on for about a week, at least as far as I know, but after school we've been meeting up with guys behind the maintenance shed and basically holding our own mma matches. There's guys from that MMA gym by the school and the football team and a few others. We wear mouth guards, but that's it. That's how my face got busted up this week. And we got invited to the party on Friday to fight for their entertainment and so they could do some ammature gambling." He flicked his eyes over at J. "Did I miss anything?"

J shrugged uncomfortably. "I was pissed at my dad and wanted to fight it out, which is why we agreed to go to the party."

"Shit guys." Steve was staring at them in amazement. "Do you realize how dangerous that is? Especially for the guys that don't have any training? One of you could have broken your damn necks!"

Steve's words immediately conjured up several images for Nahele, of times when even with his mind clouded with anger, he had cringed with concern at the complete lack of any regard for safety amongst the other guys.

"If you guys are wanting to train and test yourselves, there is no shortage of gyms and dojos where that can happen. You know school's not the place!"

In retrospect, it really did seem stupid. Nahele wondered why a group of guys who literally had their own MMA facility to spar in, would feel the need to come test themselves against students on school property. It was actually not the first time the question had crossed his mind, but it was the first time he allowed himself to explore the question. Was it ego? Boredom? Marketing? Nahele shook his head. He certainly wouldn't be setting foot inside their gym. That was if he ever had the freedom to step anywhere outside his room again.

"Obviously, I get it, as far as needing to relieve stress. Boxing and wrestling are a good way to do that in my opinion, not to mention it's important to be skilled enough to take care of business when need be. But neither of you were in any kind of mindset this past week, where you should have been stepping into a ring. Everytime you face off against someone, you need to take a minute and thank your training partner. Value him for giving you the experience! Accidents happen and obviously you're not just dancing around each other. But when someone gives you the gift of being your training partner you owe it to them to be in control so things don't go too far. You understand me?"

"Yes sir." J said softly.

Nahele didn't answer immediately, his throat feeling constricted. A couple of weeks ago he had been watching Steve and Myah wrestle around outside and he had thrown her hard enough that she caught quite a bit of air. Even as he threw her, Nahele had seen Steve's hand supporting his sister's neck, ensuring her safety as she fell. Steve had the most lethal skills of anyone that Nahele could imagine, but first and foremost, he was a protector. That was a path Nahele desperately admired and wanted to follow. Taking out his anger on guys that not only had no training, but had done nothing to him was the opposite of that.

"Nahele." Steve's voice was stern.

"Yes sir." he answered quickly.

"So was it a guilty conscience that brought this confession on or something else?"

Nahele exhaled and wished he could ask why it mattered. The problem was that although he had been well on his way to quitting fight club, he wasn't sure he would have confessed the whole thing to Steve if not for Rachel's text.

"Taking your time to pick your words, son?"

Sometimes it really would have been easier to have a parent that didn't read people for a living. However, Nahele didn't see any point in deviating from the truth at this point in the game.

"I was going to quit. I wasn't going to tell you."

J shot him an incredulous look.

"Thank you for your honesty." Steve said dryly.

"I got a text last night… I'm 100% sure it was from Rachel. She's trying to blackmail me. If I show the video of her trashing her aunt's car to anyone, she'll release fight club videos."

"I'd like to get my hands on whoever was recording…" J muttered, then reddened under Steve's glare. "Not that it matters now."

"So you figured you'd get out in front of that by telling me first." Steve concluded. "I will say, I'm glad to have heard it from you instead of the principle."

"So does that mean…" Nahele didn't finish his sentence.

"It means at least you're not in trouble for lying to me. We'll talk later about the best way to handle this are still consequences for fighting at school. For putting yourselves and other people at risk. " Steve shook his head. "Hiking today is non-negotiable for my mental health and I think it is for you guys too. So let's get this over with now."

Nahele had been able to workout that morning without any modifications, but he still didn't have any desire to sit on a chair for a prolonged stretch. He desperately didn't want another spanking, but he was determined to tough it out. Especially with J present.

The walk to the house seemed far too short. Myah was leaning against the island, her head down, her focus on her phone. She briefly glanced up and then being no stranger to the male mood, straightened up to look at them. "You guys look like you're about to be sick."

The Saturday morning prior had been the first time Nahele and Myah had been punished in the same room, and as far as Nahele was concerned, the only benefit to that was that he no longer felt any embarrassment about her knowing. He shrugged and motioned to his still healing lip, indicating Steve now knew the reason for it. He belatedly realized Steve was watching.

"Oh." Myah said softly, but then with one question answered, another immediately formed in her eyes. "J?"

J was the one who looked thoroughly embarrassed at this point and Steve cleared his throat. "Myah, go plug yourself in upstairs. I'll be up to talk to you in a bit."

"Yes sir." Myah's expression was a mixture of confusion and concern, as she shot one last glance at Nahele and J, before quickly vacating the kitchen.

Steve watched her leave the room and then turned his focus on the boys. "J, have a seat. Nahele, you're first. I think… ah… let's go out to the garage."

Nahele nodded and turned towards the door, trying to pretend that he wasn't caught off guard by the new location. He felt his stomach churn, and forced himself to walk normally. He turned to look at Steve, who had shut the door behind him, and was eyeing him, albeit not unkindly.

"I haven't been nervous to come into this garage in a long time." Nahele said, making a half-hearted attempt at keeping his tone light.

Steve actually smiled in response. "You mean like back when you first started helping me with the car?"

"Yeah. That seems like forever ago now."

"A lot's changed since then."

Nahele nodded and dropped his head. "I didn't think I'd screw up as much. My plan was to toe the line."

Steve shrugged. "You're human. And as of yet, you haven't beat my record for screwing up."

"That's not a record I'm gunning for."

"That's a relief. I'm guessing J filled you in on our conversation?"

"Yeah. Poor sap doesn't know what he's in for."

"He knows you're no slouch… and I know you're still not sitting comfortably. Normally, for something like this, I'd probably use my belt, but I don't think I should after yesterday."

Nahele's eyes held his question, as he was unsure what Steve meant, and Steve answered by sitting down on the weight bench and tapping his knees. "Come on."

Nahele couldn't help but groan softly in protest. The rational part of his brain knew that if Steve used his belt, it would probably blister his still tender skin. However, at least getting whipped felt a little more dignified, if that was at all possible. To have to bend over his dad's lap for a spanking made him feel like a little boy, although he couldn't deny that Steve's hard right hand carried plenty of weight. Steve raised his eyebrow at Nahele's hesitation. "Now."

"I'm… I'm too old." Nahele protested weakly. "Yesterday was just because it was for Myah."

Steve rolled his eyes. "You know what, I'll let you know when you're too old to be spanked, and I'm guessing that'll be when you're done doing things to earn it. Now, don't make me tell you again." There was steel in his voice this time.

"Yes, sir." Nahele forced himself to step forward and lower himself unceremoniously over his dad's knees, catching himself with his hands before his nose hit the concrete floor.

Steve didn't waste any time and Nahele hissed at the first swat, squeezing his eyes shut tightly, trying not to make any noise as his already sore backside was lit up.

"Tell me why you're getting this spankin', son."

Nahele wondered briefly if Myah was aware that among Steve's many talents, he could also talk and spank without missing a beat or even breaking a sweat. He was caught off guard when he received a sharp smack to his thigh and couldn't help but let out an agonized yelp. "I was stupid… I was fighting at school…. Taking my crap out on other people… putting other people at risk." The barrage to his backside continued and Nahele was no longer able to fight back the tears. As usual, once that happened all attempts at bravado were for naught and his shoulders started to shake. Through the blazing inferno Steve's hand had incurred on his behind, Nahele finally noted the spanking to have stopped.

He attempted to calm his shaky breathing, and noting Steve's hand to be gently on his back, awkwardly sat halfway up, choosing to lean against his dad.

Steve sighed. "You okay?"

"Yeah."

"Anything else you need to tell me while we're out here?"

"No, I think I am confessed out."

"I guess it's J's turn. Though I think waiting in there's probably worse than anything I could do to him."

"I kind of disagree." Nahele responded. They both slowly stood and Steve hugged him tightly. Nahele relaxed against his chest and let out a small sigh of relief, thankful that everything was now out in the open.

"So… uh…" Steve hesitated and Nahele looked up questioningly.

"Did you win?"

Nahele nodded, trying to bite back a grin.

Steve shot him a look. "I'm not in favor of your fight club at all… I was just wondering."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it." Nahele tried to keep his expression neutral. "I did all right. I mean, I never lost."

"Not that it matters." Steve shook his head. "Tell J it's his turn to face the music."

"Yes, sir."

H50 H50 H50

Steve tapped his foot on the concrete floor as he waited for his next miscreant to enter the substitute woodshed. He'd punished his kids in the same room the night before because he'd felt like Nahele especially, needed to understand the full effect his actions had on others. However, in general, Steve thought discipline needed to be carried out in private. Humiliation didn't serve any purpose in driving his point home.

J carefully closed the door behind him, after entering the garage. Steve had to give him credit… he looked absolutely terrified, but had squared his posture and stepped forward without hesitation.

"After our conversation yesterday, I didn't think we'd be here so soon." Steve said dryly.

J swallowed. "Me neither."

"Any regrets?"

J stared down at the floor and shook his head, before saying softly. "No, sir."

"I'll be honest with you. You're getting a harder punishment than Nehele did today. But that's only because he just got wore out yesterday."

J nodded.

"Put your hands on the bench."

J slowly bent over, settling his hands firmly on the bench, jumping slightly when Steve put a firm hand on his back. "I expect you to stay in place, you understand me?"

"Yes, sir." J whispered.

"If you need to cry, that's fine, no shame. When this is over, it's a clean slate between us, you understand?"

"Yes, sir."

Steve's heart twisted at the sight of the boy, the son of a high school bully, now the best friend of his own son. J had clearly made some poor choices, especially as of late and he deserved the whipping he was about to get. Regardless, in Steve's opinion, he had already far surpassed his father, as far as his qualities as a man. He didn't think that'd be a helpful thing to share just yet and so kept that to himself. He kept his left hand firmly on J's back, both for protection of his spine and for the physical connection he knew was important.

J jerked and let out a startled gasp upon receiving the first smack of the belt across his backside. Steve paused to allow the burn to take full effect and then laid on three more smacks. "Tell me why you're getting whipped, J. Tell me why we're here."

"Uh…" J was clearly caught off guard by the question, as well as Steve's apparent desire for conversation during such a time. Steve shook his head, and smacked him hard across the thighs.

J let out a howl of pain. "I don't… I'm sorry…" His knuckles whitened as he gripped the edge of the bench, as Steve laid another smack, this time connecting with the tender undercurve of the boy's bottom. This nearly proved to be J's undergoing, as he lurched and would have stood and pulled away, if not for Steve's firm hand, holding him in place.

If it had been Myah or Nahele, Steve would have threatened to bare their bottoms for the remainder of their punishments, but he decided to take pity on J. "I told you to stay still, son." he warned, his voice stern. "And when I ask a question, I expect an answer."

"I'm… I'm sorry." J hastily brushed the back of his hand across his eyes and Steve could see his knuckles were wet with tears. "I don't… you asked me…"

"Tell me why you're getting punished. I want to make sure you know why. It sure as hell is not because I like doing it."

"Because… of fight club. Because it was dumb and dangerous."

Steve nodded and decided to allow the answer. He delivered two more swats with his belt and then tossed it lightly to the side. He gave his palm a regretful glance, and then completed the spanking with the flat of his hand. J was crying, but he stayed in place. He glanced back at Steve who gave him a little nod with permission to stand. J stood, shifting his weight awkwardly, tears still tracing down his cheeks, clearly not knowing what to do or where in the room to look.

Steve hesitated, unsure if he should give him a hug or allow for a few minutes to regain his dignity. Catching a good look at the vulnerability in the teen's eyes, he decided to go with something in between. "Come here." Without waiting to be obeyed, he grabbed the back of J's neck and pulled him against his side. J didn't resist, but his posture was stiff and unsure. Finally, letting out a breath of fatigue, he leaned against Steve.

"You going to live?" Steve broke the silence and let go of the boy.

"I don't know." J answered, his face lightening a little.

"I don't want to have to do that again." Steve said seriously.

"I don't want you to either."

"Alright. Go let Nahele know you're still alive and one of you can use my shower. We've got other things to do today."

J seemed to be staring at him in amazement.

"What?"

"So that's it? Now we just move forward with our day? You're not mad?"

"You took your punishment and you took it like a man, so no, I'm not mad. We do have to figure out what to do with that video, but right now I am more interested in getting as far away from city fumes as I can."

"Okay."

Steve let J precede him into the house and took his time putting back on his belt. He noticed his hand looked a little red and shook his head, hoping for a bit of reprieve in laying down the law. Deciding he also needed to check on his daughter, he sent Myah a quick text.

"Come help me get hiking gear together in the garage."

"K"

Myah peeked out the door a few moments later. "I'm kind of scared to come out here."

"Why's that kid?"

She rolled her eyes and made a smacking motion with her hand.

"Eavesdropping were we?" Steve inwardly chuckled when he saw her eyes widen.

"I… not on purpose! You started talking to them before I was in my room!"

Steve took a step towards her and was surprised when instead of darting away she threw herself at him. He allowed the momentum to carry himself backwards and sat down on the weight bench with her on his lap. She held onto him tightly.

"Interesting move." Steve said dryly. "I thought you were going to run away."

Myah shook her head. "You'd just catch me. And the closer I am to you, the safer I am."

Steve dropped a kiss on the top of her head. "Tell me the truth… did you know about the fight club at school?"

"The what?"

"Did you know how Nahele got his face busted open?"

"No. They told me they got banged up wrestling. I did honestly think there was something more going on, but I didn't know what. Am I in trouble?" She poked her lower lip out at him.

"Has that lip ever worked on me?"

"No. A girl can hope though."

Steve chuckled. "No, you're not in trouble. For once."

"I didn't know you were going to punish J too."

"Well… he and I had a discussion yesterday. Unfortunately nobody cares enough to lay down the law on him at home, and I'm not going to let him run wild if he's going to be hanging around here."

"He and Nahele are best friends." Myah commented.

"Yeah. They're brothers and that's important." Steve gave her a tight squeeze that had her gasping for air and then set her back on her feet with a light smack. "Let's get those packs down."

H50 H50 H50

Myah carefully filled the canteens Steve had handed her with water, and pondered what he'd said. Her heart twisted at the thought of Nahele's friend with a father alive and well that took so little interest in him. She had seen the hurt in J's eyes the few times his family situation had come up and wanted to ease that pain any way she could. Still… brothers? Myah sighed. There certainly wasn't any chance in going to homecoming with him if that's the way things were going to be. Not that a guy like him would ever be interested in doing something like that with her. Which was fine, she told herself. Friendship was better anyway.