A/N: My latest daydreaming session resulted in this Donnie/Chris/King focused story. I thought I'd be able to hold off posting it until most of my other stories are completed, but I thought that there might be somebody out there today who needs a little cheering up. So good day or bad day; enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from NCIS: New Orleans.
Unfair punishment chapter 1
"Pride" The fact that his Mentor answered his phone that way told Donnie he hadn't checked who it was from before answering.
"Hi King." Donnie greeted, trying to keep his voice from betraying his feelings.
"Time for your check-in Donnie."
"I was hoping we could do it like this, Sean invited me over." More like Donnie had begged for Sean to invite him, but still.
"No Donnie, I want you to check in face to face today."
"Why?" Donnie whined.
"I'll see you in thirty minutes." King answered firmly, ignoring the question. "Do not defy me Donovan."
"I won't." Donnie promised.
"See you kiddo." King ended the call with a softer tone.
-Unfair punishment-
"King?" Donnie walked into the squad room relieved at not seeing Chris in there.
"In the kitchen." His Mentor responded. Despite the small amount of anger Donnie felt towards King for allowing the -in his mind- unfair punishment to happen, the smile that li up his Mentor's face at seeing him was comforting. A small part of him had been worried that his Mentor would be angry with him. "Hi buddy" King enveloped him in a big hug that Donnie tried to return as excitedly as normally. "Take a seat." King ordered when he finally let go of Donnie.
"No case?" Donnie opted for asking casually once they were seated
"Not at the moment no." King answered shortly. "How has your week been?"
"Okay." Donnie shrugged trying to sound like it hadn't been a big deal. "Not much has been going on."
"Are you sure that is the truth, son?" Pride's voice took on a tone that promised consequences if he detected the smallest hint of a lie.
"I'm not counting last Tuesday." Donnie quickly explained. "It's been an okay week, could have been great without the grounding."
"A grounding I would like you to remember that you brought on yourself."
"Yes sir." Donnie answered shortly, not agreeing, but not about to get into it with King now that his grounding was over. "May I head over to Sean's now? I'm not trying to be disrespectful King, but I haven't been able to hang out with my best friend for a week and I have checked in with you face to face."
"After you check in with Chris and he agrees, you may."
"Chris?! But I already checked in with you."
"And Chris will be back here in a couple of minutes. You'll check in with him as well." Donnie fumed at it, but King's voice had told him he would start counting if Donnie kept protesting.
"Sorry it took so long, I had to take a call on the way." Chris apologized coming into the kitchen carrying three bags of take-out that he gave to King before turning towards Donnie.
"Hi there, Kid."
"Hi." Donnie did his absolute best to keep his tone even as he met his big brother's eyes.
"No hug?"
"Usually you give me one without asking." Donnie commented. Ignoring his little brother's comment Chris simply ordered:
"Come here." Donnie sighed a little but moved over to Chris. Instead of the hug he had counted on having to try to return, Chris placed both hands on his shoulders and squeezed warningly. "One."
"What?! I haven't done anything!" Donnie protested heatedly, glaring at Chris.
"You should count your lucky stars I didn't swat you."
"For what?! Not throwing myself over you the second you walk through the door?! The last time I saw you, you were handing me a one-week grounding, not exactly bear-hugging me."
"For putting up a mask. It doesn't fool anybody so quit trying to hide behind it. And I did try to hug you but you pushed me away if you remember."
"Still…and I wasn't putting up a mask."
"Two. You don't lie to me, you know that." Chris admittedly knew he was hard on Donnie, but one of the rules he had been firm about from the beginning was Donnie shutting them out for any reason. He had made a mistake with not sticking to the rules as much with Nate, he wasn't about to do the same with Donnie.
"What do you want me to say?" Donnie asked with a big sigh, shrugging off Chris's shoulders and sitting back down at the kitchen island.
"That you'll be honest with me."
"Look, I've already been punished, can't we just call it a day and let me go hang out with Sean? Please."
"No." King and Chris answered simultaneously.
"But…" Seeing Chris and King having a silent conversation Donnie trailed off. When his big brother received a final nod from King and turned back towards him Donnie had to use all of his willpower to not take off running. The look on Chris's face had Donnie shrinking back against the countertop as Chris crowded his personal space leaving merely inches between their faces. His older brother held his gaze for what felt like eternity before he picked him up into a bear hug.
A/N: This was just the beginning, but if you want to see more be sure to leave a comment!