"Are you just itching to go a couple of rounds with my belt?" Bruce stopped what he was doing at the computer and swiveled in his chair to face Jason.

"Are you itching to go a couple of rounds with my fists?" Jason staunchly asked back.

Gasps were heard throughout the cave. Jason and Bruce were eyeing each other down, hoping the other would be the first to blink or call the other's bluff. It was Tim that ended up breaking the silence. "Jason, don't." Tim just wanted his brother to get out of this pissing match he was in with their father.

"Don't what?!" Jason bit back, now staring down Tim. Tim didn't react. He knew Jason well enough. Tim gave Jason a disappointed glare back. He didn't need to say anything to get his point across. Jason read his expression. Tim wanted Jason to remember that he was actively trying to re-join his family, not push them away.

"Jason." This time it was Bruce that broke the thoughts that swarmed in Jason's head. "Why don't you go upstairs and cool off in your room?" This wasn't actually a question. It was an order. Everyone in the room knew the subtext. "I'll be up there soon."

Jason knew Tim was right. He hadn't actually meant to snap at Bruce. He hadn't meant to swear and insult Bruce moments ago. He did want to become apart of his family again. He missed everyone. He missed having Bruce as his father. As much as he wasn't going to like what would happen as soon as Bruce made his way upstairs, he knew everything would be much better if he just accepted it. After taking a deep sigh to calm himself, Jason silently made his way out of the cave and back up to the manor.

After Jason was gone, Bruce also released the breath of air he was holding. The tension eased.

"You're going to give him a beating, right father?" Damian, Bruce's youngest, asked.

Bruce narrowed his eyes at the inappropriate comment coming out of the pre-teen's mouth. "What do you know about getting a beating?"

Dick openly laughed at Damian's arrogance. "Let me guess, you had a whipping boy growing up?" Dick jabbed at his younger brother.

"-Tt- No! As a matter of fact, I didn't!" He said as he crossed his arms over his chest. Not only was Dick laughing, but Damian somehow brought a smile to Tim and Bruce's face. "I just think that Todd needs to learn his place."

"And where do you think that is, Damian?" Bruce asked half-heartedly.

"Not disrespecting you and getting away with it!" Damian honestly answered. Nobody laughed at that.

"Kid has a point." Dick agreed.

"Jason's still trying to adjust." Tim piped up to defend Jason. Tim felt alittle guilty about the whole situation. He had been the one who helped facilitate Jason trying to reconcile with everyone today. He hoped Jason could've held his tongue but, he also should have expected something like this to happen.

Bruce gave Tim a warm smile. He knew his son just wanted what was best for the whole family. "Tim, I appreciate your sentiment, but Jason is a grown man and can face the consequences of his choices."

"You mean a spanking, don't you?" Tim quickly asked.

"Yes." Bruce didn't mince words. Tim's face dropped to a frown. "Why don't you boys finish your training up? Dick is in charge of the lessons for today." Dick nodded his head towards Bruce in acknowledgement. Bruce stood up and started making his way toward his wayward son's room.

Jason had been sitting on his old childhood bed. His room hadn't changed much in the past seven years. It had been cleaned regularly, by Alfred. He was sure some of his things must have been touched. His collection of dirty magazines had been removed, for one thing. He couldn't put his finger on it, but his room just didn't feel like 'his' room anymore.

It wasn't too long before Jason had company in his room. Bruce knocked and entered his room before he had the chance to tell him to come in. It was Bruce's house after all, why should he need permission? Bruce had a scowl on his face as he watched his son on his bed.

"I'm sorry, Bruce." Jason said apologetically without prompting. This actually threw Bruce off abit. "I shouldn't have acted out like I did."

Bruce let out a heavy sigh and took a seat next to Jason on his bed. It was then that he remembered how Jason used to be as a child. Jason, unlike any of Bruce's other kids, would always offer up an apology before he was punished. He was the first one to tell Bruce what he did wrong, before Bruce had to punish him. In fact, out of all of his sons, Jason got the least amount of spankings growing up. There were a few times that Jason was really out of line and an apology just wasn't enough to atone, and this was one of those times.

"I know you are, Jason. I know that this whole thing must be difficult for you; coming back here and trying to get along with everyone." Jason nodded as he let his head dropped to look at the floor. "I am happy that you've decided to make the effort. I love having you back with us."

Jason's body twitched beside Bruce. This was far too emotional than he had hoped this day would go. "I'm really sorry I fucked it up."

Bruce put a finger under Jason's chin and moved his head up to look him in the eyes. "Jason, we do not use foul language in this house." Jason nodded in agreement. "You messed up. It's ok to mess up sometimes. I know you aren't perfect, and I don't expect you to be." There was a pause before Bruce continued. "But there will also be consequence if you do."

Jason's eyes shut. He knew to expect this, but it didn't make it any easier. He knew from Tim that Bruce still relied on physical punishments. Jason just hoped he'd never have to face those again. "Bruce, aren't I too old?" Jason asked softly.

"Afraid not." Bruce answered. Jason's bottom lip curled up into a pout. "Maybe by the time you are Dick's age and you don't act in a way that would be deserving of it."

"Dick is almost thirty!" Jason exclaimed. Dick is actually twenty-nine, but close enough..

Bruce nodded. "Luckily, you have some time." Jason dropped his head again. Bruce didn't want to keep debating this. He wanted to get it over and done with. Bruce stood up and began removing his belt from his pants' loops. "Jason, turn over."

Jason stayed in place and hadn't moved. He had heard Bruce. He wanted to obey. He just couldn't get his body to follow the orders. "I'm sorry, Bruce."

"I know you are, buddy."

"How many am I getting?" Jason sheepishly asked.

"Well, normally, I would give you your age in swats." Jason flinched at the thought of having to accept twenty-one swats with the belt. "But I believe you that you are remorseful for what you've done." Jason looked up at him as if to ask why he'd still have to get a spanking if Bruce believed he was sorry. "So, I have decided to give you ten to dissuade you from acting out again."

Jason thought about it for a moment. Ten wasn't so bad. The only other time he got the belt was after he'd gone to Ethiopia all on his own. Bruce had caught him. Jason was 14 and got 14 swats with the belt and that was after a very long trip over Bruce's knee. Talia hadn't found much need to discipline Jason when he lived with her, so he hasn't gotten a spanking since Ethiopia. "Ok." Jason mumbled out before getting himself off the bed and laying back down, on his stomach.

Bruce didn't let too much time go by before he began raising the belt up in the air and bringing it back down harshly. Jason flinched as it made contact. Although he hadn't made a noise, Jason was in pain. Jason knew that he wouldn't have to cry or plead or beg Bruce to stop for Bruce to know that Jason was in pain and the punishment was effective. The belt swished in the air over and over again. Jason hadn't made a sound while all ten swats landed. Bruce knew that he wasn't going easy on his second oldest and that Jason would likely be feeling this for the next few days at the least.

Once it was over, Bruce replaced his belt and listened to his son's laboured breath. After a few moments, Bruce placed a hand on Jason's back and rubbed it. "It's over, my son. It's ok. I forgive you." Jason couldn't help it. He suddenly broke out crying. Bruce stayed there with him, consoling him until Jason's tears faded and he was back to taking short, shallow breaths. Jason finally turned himself around and dove into his father's lap and gave him a hug. Bruce promised to never let him go and gave him a gentle kiss to his forehead.

The two of them cuddled on Jason's bed for the next hour. Finally, when they did break apart, they both felt much better about their relationship than they had for a long time.

At dinner, everyone was staring at Jason to see how he faired. It was Tim that finally asked. "He didn't go too hard on you, did he?"

Jason stopped moving his fork toward his mouth and turned to face his brother. Dead seriously, Jason answered. "Dude, it was the worst thing ever! I got the belt for like an hour!" Tim and Damian both gasped loudly in shock at what their father was capable of doing.

"Yeah, sure you did." Dick rolled his eyes. Dick and Jason were the only ones of Bruce's children to have gotten Bruce's belt. Dick knew better than anyone that while it wasn't a pleasant experience, that Bruce would never seriously abuse any of them.

Bruce just held in a smirk the whole time listening to Jason and Dick going back and forth. Finally, Bruce cut in with his own commentary. "Jason, just remember that what I gave you was just a warning." With that, Bruce wiped his face with his napkin and got up to take his plate to the kitchen. Tim and Damian were now even more traumatized than ever.