"King?" Donnie watched his mentor carefully, his voice sounding smaller than he wanted I to.
"Yeah Bud?"
"Can we talk?"
"Yes, of course, why don't we continue this out here?"
"Okay." Donnie agreed quietly. Once he and King were seated Donnie mumbled out an apology: "I'm sorry."
"For what Bud?"
"For the attitude, I didn't think about you being worried."
"Are we on the same page now?" King asked calmly.
"Yes sir."
"Good. Now while you were upstairs I spent some time thinking and I'm going to give you two options: you can let your parents handle this or let me. The choice is yours. If you aren't comfortable with me handling this I want you to tell me Donovan."
"I am! I'm sorry, I just…I don't know. I want you to handle this, but it seems like I never say the right thing anymore. Things were so easy just a month ago…"
"Maybe that's something we should work on." At Donnie's doubtful face, King continued: "You were bound to test me son, once you got comfortable with having me and Chris around, you were bound to test the truth in my words and promises. And for you not doing anything right lately, I disagree."
"But…"
"No, Donovan. I can count on one hand the times you've been in trouble lately. James and Katherine chose grounding you those times, which probably have made you feel like you've been in trouble more than you have."
"Well yeah, but…"
"Let me ask you something Donnie."
"What?"
"What were you hoping to get out of this weekend?"
"I don't know…"
"I think you do. I also think you weren't entirely truthful earlier."
"What do you mean?!"
"Just answer my question Donnie."
"I wanted you to see that you hadn't made a mistake in taking me in. I wanted to prove myself, but at the same time push you to see if that one more time was going to get you to throw me out, now that you don't have my parents to simply hand me over to."
"First of all: that's never going to happen. You are in my life to stay Donovan, no matter what you do. Secondly: when have I ever handed you over to your parents?!"
"The first time, and after the fiasco…"
"The break in?"
"Yes sir."
"Kiddo, the first time I didn't know how to handle you and James was the only one who could get you to calm down after the break in. You did face consequences from me though as well if I remember it correctly. Have you made up your mind on who you want to deal with?"
"Neither?" Donnie asked hopefully. King just met his gaze steadily. "Didn't think so…would you…could you, maybe handle it?"
"I think you made a wise choice, son. Why don't you head up to your room; I'll be right behind you." Donnie never got used to hearing King call the room his, no matter how many times he stayed over. True to his word, King entered the room barely 30 seconds after Donnie. What he entered with though had Donnie backing into a corner with his hands raised pleadingly in front of him.
"Calm down, Donovan, I won't use it for the entire spanking." King beckoned him over with one hand and put the brush on the bed next to him with the other. "Besides, we are going to talk a little first. Depending on how that goes I'll see how much I need to use it." Donnie resigned himself to his fate and walked over to King.
"Why am I doing this?"
"Because you love me and want me to grow up right."
"Exactly." King smiled at him and gently caressed his face for a moment. "I want you to always remember that Donovan."
"I will." Donnie assured him.
"What did you do wrong?"
"Everything, basically."
"Not everything, there were some things you did right, and now since you don't seem to know them, I want to hear what you think you did right."
"I…" Donnie hesitated. "I was careful?"
"Not careful enough, but yes, I do appreciate that you were at least somewhat careful and aware of who your partner was selling to."
"I told Principal Loughead most of the story"
"Yes."
"That's all I can think of."
"I can think of one thing more."
"What?" Donnie asked curiously.
"As far as I know you've been truthful with me in your narration of the story."
"I have been. I really hate lying to you King."
"That's good to know, son." He smiled. "Ready to get this over with?"
"Yes sir." King tipped him over his knees and started the spanking without any further ado. Donnie grabbed onto his pant leg and buried his face in it, inhaling the familiar smell of the man he had come to love so much. King watched the boy on his knees closely as the spanking proceeded, looking for signs of the lesson sticking and him giving up the fight. Once that happened, he would continue with the brush to make sure Donnie wouldn't put himself in danger anytime soon. After the first round was over, Donnie had barely emitted a sound, causing King to look down suspiciously. Carefully lifting the young boys head, he could see the visible bite marks on his lip.
"None of that kiddo. Where in the world did you get the idea that you needed to do that?!"
"Nobody."
"Donnie…"
"I just figured I needed to man up a little bit, be more like Chris and Nate so that you won't think I'm too much trouble if I act like a five-year-old."
"Bud, I though we went over this yesterday already, there is nothing you can do to make me throw you out."
"But I don't want you to think I'm a baby either."
"I will never think less of you for crying son."
"Really?"
"Really, put your head back, but this time, let your lip be, I don't want to see any blood when we are done, do you understand me Donovan?"
"Yes sir."
"Good boy. Are you ready to start again?" Donnie nodded hesitantly, and King started bringing his hand down sharply again. This time Donnie emitted yelps that soon turned into crying. Once King felt Donnie completely give up the fight, he picked up the brush. "It's been nearly 6 months now kiddo and we've done this more than once before, how many do you think you deserve?" Donnie wanted to scream 0, but even in the state he was, he knew that wasn't true.
"7?" He finally whispered through the tears still running down his face.
"I agree Buddy. And I am very proud of you for taking this seriously Donnie." King brought down the brush on the right cheek with a snap of the wrist causing the already pink skin to turn a rosier red colour. After that he repeated the process on the other cheek and then continued bringing the brush down five more times. As soon as the last SWAT fell King dropped the brush onto the bed and started rubbing soothing circles on Donnie's back while murmuring comforting words to his youngest. Once Donnie was calm enough, King righted him and brought him into a bear hug on his lap. "I can't loose you Donovan. I hate being this hard on you, but you risking your life isn't something I can allow."
"I know." Donnie mumbled into King's neck.
"Good. Love you Donnie."
"Love you too." Donnie nestled even closer to him, causing King to laugh and wrap his arms even tighter around his youngster.
-Principals and mentors-
"Are you okay?" Donnie shrugged and Logan watched him sympathetically.
"I'm sorry Da felt the need to tell on you."
"Shouldn't have done it in the first place."
"Maybe not, but it's still not fair and I'm going to tell Da that later. Couldn't risk his wrath earlier today, he was still sore at me for calling Cass an ass yesterday. Was worth it though."
"How did you find King's place by the way? Or even know I was over here?"
"Da and Ma are old friends of his, I've been over for dinner more times than I can remember. And I heard Ma and Da talk last night."
"Heard?!"
"I snuck downstairs." Logan explained with a big grin.
"Not that I mind, but what are you doing here anyway? You've known me all of one day really."
"A little bit longer, considering I've seen you at Dylan's, but mostly I felt bad for you so I came to apologize on my Dad's behalf, and…I've got a surprise for you."
"What?"
"That would be your cue Seanie!" Logan shouted, keeping in mind that King who was inside wasn't supposed to know that they were here. Seeing his oldest friend emerge from behind a tree, Donnie didn't even care that Logan was watching, he broke out into a wide smile and ran to greet his friend with a quick manly hug.
"Hi Donnie"
"Sean! I had no idea…"
"You weren't supposed to." Sean explained. "And you call your sister an ass, Logan. Stop calling me Seanie!"
"Sorry, force of habit Seanie."
"Logan…"
"What?! Blame it on Dylan!"
"I will, as soon as I get home. So where is the famous man himself that I have yet to meet?"
"Inside. I'm not sure how he'd feel about having you here while I'm pretty much on probation."
"Sorry Donnie, but I warned you it wasn't smart."
"Yeah…It's weird that you've never met him. He has asked about you more than once."
"Oh-oh. That's not good. What does he think I did?"
"Nothing." Donnie punched his friend lightly in the arm. "He's just curious."
"So what's the verdict, are you grounded or…?"
"As far as I know, no. But I more likely than not am in some way or form. We are supposed to leave for HQ in less than an hour."
"Mind if I stay for a while?"
"I probably should ask King."
"Why the nervous face?!" Sean asked with a hint of worry evident in his voice. He had never met the man himself and although Donnie had explained everything, he wanted to make his own impression before he could trust him.
"It's not what you think." Donnie replied with a sigh.
"Then tell me what you think." Donnie cast a quick glance towards Logan.
"It's fine Donnie, whatever the reason I won't judge you."
"But you barely seem to respect your Dad."
"It's not always what it looks like Donnie. I'm not a bad kid, I just like doing things that get me in trouble at times. As for not respecting my Dad, I do respect him, it's just hard leaving my school persona behind at times."
"I just don't want to disappoint him again. It's bad enough I already did it once this weekend, I don't want to do it twice." Donnie explained.
"Talk to him Donnie, from what you've told me I'm pretty sure he won't be mad, and if he is, just tell him it was my idea and that we wouldn't leave."
"But your Dad…"
"Has had bigger shocks in his life."
"We all know that for a fact." Logan snorted. "Seriously though Donnie, if he gets mad tell him the truth, you had no idea and we just popped in. If he wants to yell at somebody he can yell at me. After what Da did, I owed you. This was my way of making it up to you."
"Well whoever takes the blame better get ready because we aren't unnoticed anymore." Sean pointed out in a low voice, nodding towards King advancing on them from the backdoor and Chris from the small forest that the backyard connected to.