Unfair punishment chapter 4
A/N: The response has been unexpectedly positive and for those of you not sure about Chris using his belt; you'll get a little bit of an explanation in this chapter.
Donnie woke up nestled into Chris's shirtfront, feeling calm for the first time in a week. Chris's arms were as tightly wrapped around him as his hands were wrapped into Chris's shirtfront as if he in his sleep had thought that Chris would leave him if he didn't hold on.
"Good morning, sleepy head." Chris smiled down at him and released one of his arms to gently run a hand through his hair. "How are you feeling?" Donnie blushed but answered honestly:
"A little sore, but surprisingly good."
"Good. Are you ready to face the day?"
"In a moment." Donnie nestled closer to Chris again, enjoying the rare moment of being wrapped up safely in his big brother's arms. It felt especially good after their week long fight. He enjoyed it for a moment longer before squirming out from under Chris's arms. "Now I am."
"There will be no school for you today, your Dad has already told the school to not expect you today." Chris explained, rolling out of bed.
"Okay." Donnie had kind of expected it. Chris raised a surprised eyebrow at the calm answer.
"The two of us need to talk and spend some quality time, but that's it for today's agenda. You get first dibs on the bathroom while I go check what my pantry has to offer us for breakfast. Donnie nodded his thanks and headed over to Chris's walk-in closet and grabbed a pair of his jeans that had a stationary place in Chris's closet along with one of Chris's T-shirts. It would be too big on him, but he couldn't resist the opportunity. Walking out into Chris's open concept living room/kitchen five minutes later he was met with the sight of Chris at the stove cracking eggs and the smell of freshly toasted bread.
"Could you set the table please?"
"Okay."
"And once that's done there are some canned peaches in my pantry you could get out. It's not much of a breakfast, but I wasn't planning on company. What's that grin for?" Chris asked curiously at Donnie's sudden bright countenance.
"I love peaches."
"You do? I actually didn't know that." Chris said with a smile of his own.
"Not many people do." Donnie shrugged and started setting the table. Once everything was ready Donnie sat down and was unsurprised that Chris served him two eggs and two pieces of toast.
"Eat up. I have it on good authority that you haven't been eating enough this past week." Donnie chose to not comment on that, instead digging in to the surprisingly tasty breakfast.
"And here Nate has always told me that I never should let you cock."
"Yeah…he might be right about that, but the few things I do know how to make and enjoy making I'm pretty decent at."
The pair ate in comfortable silence after that, both of them lost in their own thoughts.
"Could you clear the table please? I need to call your Dad really quick. Just sit down on the sofa once you are ready, it shouldn't take long."
"Yeah, sure."
Chris took his phone and closed both the bedroom door and the balcony door behind him before dialling James.
"Good morning Chris, is everything going alright?"
"So far so good, yes. But I did want to run something by you."
"Go ahead."
"First though you need to know that I got a call around midnight last night from Hawk that he and Detective Collingwood had found Donnie playing basketball at the school."
"I had a feeling it was something like that." James sighed.
"Yes, well I didn't take it too well that the kid once again putting himself in danger so I spanked him once I got him home."
"Go on." James sensed there was more to the story than that.
"I mostly used my hand but I finished of with seven with my belt."
"Hard?"
"The last three might have stung a little extra, but it was mostly psychological. My Dad doled out the same punishment to me the first time I put myself in real danger and it was memorable even if he later told me that he barely put any strength behind the swats with the belt."
"It sounds to me like you did the right thing."
"You aren't mad?"
"That you used your belt? No Chris, it sounds like you really took care to not hurt Donnie while still making your point. I trust you Christopher, so trust yourself."
"I just had to make sure."
"Anything could have happened Chris, he needs to know that." James replied firmly. "And I've seen the aftermath of you spanking Nate with a belt…you are doing just fine kiddo."
"Yeah…I wouldn't normally doubt myself, but I was unsure if my judgement was clouded or not."
"From what?"
"Donnie kind of told me he hated me when he left yesterday. That's why I gave him space, I wanted to take some time to think about what he said and why he did it."
"He didn't mean it." James assured him. "He loves you Chris."
"I really hope he still does after tonight."
"Stop beating yourself up so Chris."
"I'll try. Hey, why didn't anybody tell me that the kid loves peaches?" Chris asked, changing the subject.
"It hasn't exactly crossed my mind to do so." James replied a little surprised. "Are you all good now to go deal with Donnie?"
"I think so. Thanks James." Chris ended the call and walked back to the living room in time to see the kid finish wiping off the table.
"Ready to talk?" Donnie shrugged, feeling his bright mood lessen.
"Hey now, we had a good morning. It might not be what either of us want to do, but that's the only way to move forward."
"I guess."
"Come here." Chris drew him into a tight hug, holding on for a couple of minutes until he felt Donnie relax again. The kid had definitely been working himself up while Chris talked to James.
"What did Dad say?"
"That he is giving the two of us time. He isn't happy about your late-night adventures, but you don't have to worry about him now. And while we are on the topic of worrying your punishment already happened, nothing you admit to today will change that unless you start giving me attitude, okay?"
"Yes sir."
"Good. There is though the alternative of you writing it down first if you think that would work better. It's up to you."
Donnie thought it over. Chris hadn't given him a choice in the past and Donnie knew this was his only lifeline. If he couldn't handle having a conversation with Chris he would surely regret his choice. But he didn't want to disappoint Chris either.
"Will you be disappointed if I choose on over the other?" Donnie wondered, voicing his fear. He had a clear preference, but Chris giving him a choice was something new and Donnie was afraid that the choices came with a right and wrong.
"I won't be disappointed whichever you choose. I'm giving you a choice for you Donnie, not for me."
"Writing." Donnie answered instantly, still haunted by the words he had said so coldly to his brother yesterday.
"Okay then, grab the pen and notebook, I want the whole story from the beginning up until last night. I want all of it Donnie, no matter if you think I'll be disappointed, hurt or angry."
"Okay." Donni hesitantly grabbed the pen and started writing. The first part was easy, but getting to the part where Chris had grounded him, had Donnie stopping. How could he possibly describe his feelings about it?!
"Trouble?"
"Not sure how to fraise it." Donnie answered tensely.
"Just write it how it feels. I do have a pretty good idea that you haven't exactly been happy with me the past week."
"Not sure I want to relieve those moments mostly."
"That bad?"
Donnie bit his lip and shrugged, trying to act like it hadn't been a big deal, but after seeing Chris's unimpressed look he sighed and elaborated:
"Not the moment you grounded me, but being grounded…there's a reason I took it so hard after all."
"You mean because of the game."
"The game I've spent the last year preparing for." Donnie corrected him.
"I guess that sucked."
"Yes." Donnie replied shortly.
"Tell me about it?"
"I was mad, mostly. And hurt, it felt like you didn't listen to me. You didn't even give me the chance to explain, just handed me my grounding."
"I'm sorry you felt that way."
"I knew you were pissed that I defied you but I had a good reason and you wouldn't even listen."
"You scared me kiddo. It's a dangerous place."
"I can't reason with you about that because of the murder there, but we have different opinions about that."
"And that's okay, but you still have to listen to me, especially when it comes to your safety."
"I hate this."
"What's this?"
"When you get all mad about something and forget to listen."
"How about you write about it? If I read it, I can't interrupt you."
"Okay." Donnie sighed unhappily, but continued to write. He got stuck once more when he reached the previous day, his words to Chris ringing in his ears.
"Yesterday?" Chris asked knowingly casting a glance towards him from the kitchen table where he was writing himself.
"Yeah."
"I know it's hard, but try to write it down anyway. If I'm not totally wrong I believe that the situation you are hesitant to write about has something to do with why you snuck out, doesn't it?"
"You aren't totally wrong." Donnie admitted reluctantly.
"Then get back to writing." Chris ordered then glanced down at his phone that had started to buzz. "It's King, I have to take it." Chris left the room, phone to his ear.
King. Donnie shuddered at the simple thought of his mentor. How mad wouldn't he be?! When Chris re-entered the room minutes later, phone still to his ear he correctly interpreted Donnie's worried look and sighing told King to hold on while he handed the phone to Donnie.
"Hi." Donnie greeted timidly.
"Hi kiddo." King's voice was soothing and Donnie instantly relaxed.
"How mad are you?"
"I wasn't too happy about it, but Chris already handled it."
"Does that mean you won't punish me?"
"It means that I'll barely scold you."
"Thanks." Donnie said relieved.
"Keep working buddy, I'll see you soon, okay? Remember to be honest."
"Okay." Donnie answered, hesitant to end the call since he knew he still wouldn't get out of writing about the past 24 hours.
"Would you feel better if I came over?" Donnie considered the offer seriously before declining.
"Thankyou sir, but I think this is something Chris and I have to get through on our own."
"Good boy." The simple praise warmed Donnie's inside and he felt himself smile despite the situation.
"I have to get back to writing, but thanks again."
"You're welcome Buddy. Make me proud, okay?"
"I'll try."
"That's all I ask for." Donnie smiled as he bid goodbye to his Mentor, marvelling over how good King had become at reading him.
"What are you thinking about?" Chris asked curiously, sitting down next to him on the sofa.
"How good you guys have become eat reading me. A year ago I could barely stand to hear your names, let alone see you. I actually saw you in a store about a year ago when I ran in to grab some things for Mom, but I forced myself to walk right by you when your back was turned without saying 'Hi'" I couldn't stand seeing you guys continue with your life so causally."
"I wish I had seen you that day, but I'm really happy about how all of it turned out in the end."
"Don't you ever wish that I wasn't so needy? I mean you just got your life back a couple of years ago when Nate got deployed and barely had to worry about him before that. Then I came along with all of my stupidity and complicated your whole life. Heck I practically forced you out of retirement."
"First of all; you are neither needy nor stupid and you know well by now how I feel about you putting yourself down like that. Secondly, no. I have never regretted re-entering your life. Not for a second." Chris looked him straight in the eyes as he said it, trying to show Donnie the truth behind his words. "If I could go back in time the only thing I would change would be to never have taken on a backseat role in your life."
"Thanks Chris." Donnie scooted closer and laid his head on Chris's shoulder, happily letting his big brother throw an arm around him in a half hug.
"How long have you been thinking that?" Chris asked after a moment's silence, clearly upset over Donnie's question.
"Not long. The thought just hits me every now and then." Donnie admitted.
"When we tell you that we love you kiddo, we truly mean it. Neither King nor I would ever regret taking on a more active role in your life."
"I love you guys too, but you can't seriously tell me that I'm not more trouble than you asked for."
"Listen kid and listen good because I think I have repeated myself enough times after this. You are never too much trouble. And in case it still hasn't gotten through that thick head of yours; we chose you as you. If you think back at all the trouble we had in the beginning with you, you'll see that we knew back then what we were getting ourselves into. Besides, you are no more trouble than any other growing boy. Heck when you see my parents you'll have to ask them for stories of all the mischief I managed to get into over the years, I bet I was five times worse than you."
"If you say so." Donnie sighed, not completely convinced but ready to change the subject.
"I do. And if you ever start thinking that again I want you to talk to an adult, okay? It doesn't have to be me or King, I'm sure your parents or Nate would be more than willing to listen."
"Okay." Donnie nodded again. Nate would be his first choice to go to about something like this and speaking of, maybe he could talk Chris into spending time with him, King and Nate soon. "Could we maybe eat dinner with Nate and King sometime?"
"That's a great idea kiddo. I was actually thinking of inviting King to eat dinner with us tonight. The old man has been worried about you." Donnie blushed, instantly feeling guilty for worrying King.
"I didn't mean to worry him."
"He knows that you didn't." Chris reassured him before taking on a sterner tone: "But before that I want your story written down, please. I'd like to get this whole ordeal over with so I can spend some real quality time with you."
"Yes Chris." Donnie sighed but obediently picked up his pen.
"Hey!" Chris said softening his tone causing Donnie to look up at him once more. "I'm not mad at you anymore, please try to remember that."
"I know Chris and I'm sorry I forced your hand. And I'm really sorry about what I said."
"Thank you for the apology and you are forgiven kiddo." Chris gently brushed away the single tear running down Donnie's cheek and bent down to kiss the top of his hair gently. "You'll always be forgiven." Chris squeezed him tightly against him once more before leaving Donnie to work in peace.