The car ride home had been made in silence with his Dad gripping the steering wheel tight and Tony looking out the window, neither one saying a word. As soon as they pulled up outside the house another car pulled up beside them, but Tony turned his back against the driver and hurried towards the front door wanting a few seconds by himself to get a hold of his thoughts.
"Upstairs, now." Was all his Dad said as he suddenly stood right behind Tony while he struggled with finding the keys.
"Yes sir." It was expected and Tony didn't feel like pushing his Dad on that particular front right now, soon enough his Dad would have enough to be mad about. As soon as he found his key he hurriedly opened the front door and jogged upstairs without looking back once. Closing the door behind him Tony dropped down on the floor suddenly realizing how much trouble he was in. Angrily he threw his backpack across the room enjoying the feeling for all of three seconds before his Dad shouted:
"No throwing things Anthony!" from downstairs. Sighing Tony buried his head in his hands for a minute feeling a headache forming. Massaging his temples lightly Tony suddenly let his head fall back against the wall hard when a plan formed in his head. He saw his Uncle's expression when he had told the man he destroyed his life and suddenly realized that taking it a step further would give him the revenge he was looking for. A few seconds later his Dad called him from downstairs and while making his way to his Dad and Uncle Tony put his plan in motion.
-Flashback ending-
His Dad and Uncle had studied the confession with similar expressions for the longest time until they finally put down the papers and focused on him.
"Why didn't you tell us?!" His Dad sounded both annoyed and hurt at the same time and Tony gulped.
"I was scared for Tim"
"Is that really the whole truth Anthony?" Damn his Uncle and his ability to read Tony after the punishment last year. His Dad was even better at it, but having both knowing gazes on him made him feel trapped into a corner.
"Two" His Dad's voice was calm, just like his Uncle's but the disappointment in both of them was also clear.
"I felt like I deserved it." Tony said, barely a whisper and focusing his eyes on the table top rather than his Dad or Uncle.
"Why would you ever…?" His Uncle started before seemingly realizing something. The scraping of the chair next to his and the hand that cupped his chin wasn't unexpected but Tony still tried to resist it, not that it made a difference. Sooner than he would have wanted he was staring into his Dad's eyes.
"Why do you think you deserved it?" His Dad knew, Tony was sure of that, but his Dad still wanted him to say it. Glancing at his Uncle from the corner of his eye and seeing the expression he sported Tony sighed deep before admitting:
"I've been nothing but trouble lately and you've been nothing but understanding even though you kicked my ass a couple of times you always forgave me and I felt that it was more than I deserved. It was about Tim though as well."
"We know." His Dad simply stated before falling into thought.
"Dad?" Tony asked in a small voice when his Dad hadn't said anything a couple of minutes later.
"Yeah buddy?"
"Please just say something."
"Tony, you never deserve to be bullied, you get that through your head. No matter what, you never deserve it. I give you punishments for a reason and why I wasn't as angry as you might have expected me to be because you talked to me and explained it. I trust you Tony. I also trust you to come to me with things like this, just like it was with your teacher. You should have told me."
"Yes sir." The hug that followed was unexpected but tight and Tony felt the last of his tears fall on his Dad's shoulder.
-Flashback-
"Disrespect, lying, pranking…" his Dad started while shaking his head. "Clearly there is more than a few things we need to set straight here and more than a few things you've been hiding from me."
"You make me sound like a five year old."
"You behaved like one." His Uncle chipped in, but Tony ignored it instead focusing on his Dad as if his Uncle hadn't said anything.
"All I did was pull some pranks! They never hurt anybody!"
"Tone and voice Anthony."
"It isn't as bad as it seems." Tony said lower looking his Dad in the eyes.
"No because it's worse." His oh-so helpful-uncle decided to chip in giving Tony a look he didn't acknowledge. The comment had stung but Tony tried to ignore it still following his plan. His Uncle didn't mean anything to him anymore and he would be sure Steve knew it to. The Uncle title was gone as far as Tony was concerned.
"Do you have any idea what your little pranking game could have led to?!" His Dad asked angrily.
"It didn't lead anywhere!"
"It could have had major consequences, both for you and your Uncle!" Of course. Tony felt the comment hit his heart and focused on the table top trying to get a hold of his emotions. Steve was more important, it was Steve they were concerned about. If that was how his Dad wanted to go about it then so be it. When Tony looked up he sported the same expressionless mask his Dad and Uncle were so good at. Tony saw Steve flinch a little when he noticed the expression while his Dad only furrowed his eyebrows.
"I'm sorry." He wasn't, but he wanted this conversation over and done with.
"Sorry for what you did or that you got caught?!" His Uncle asked rhetorically, making Tony see red and having a hard time ignoring it.
"I should have told you about the pranks, but it was just nice having a little freedom at school to do things I never would have gotten away with at home. Being a former Marine's kid, your kid, is harder than you may think. All I wanted was to be like my classmates, for somebody to cut me a little slack."
"Cut you a little slack?!" Steve commented.
"The pranks never hurt anybody they just gave me a chance to be like everybody else."
"More like your Principal's worst nightmare." Tony saw the realisation start to hit his Uncle when he didn't react to that.
"Tony." Steve now tried, but Tony focused on his Dad.
"I said I was sorry, I never thought about what it might be like for you if you ever found out."
"This isn't going anywhere right now. We both need some time to calm down a bit more." His Dad finally stated and Tony tried to hide the hurt at those words, silently hurrying upstairs, feeling his Uncle's gaze on him until he was out of sight.
-Flashback ending-
"Goo morning" Tony greeted his Dad the next morning only to see his Uncle sitting at the breakfast table once he made it into the kitchen.
"Morning to you too Kiddo." His Uncle teased.
"Didn't know you stayed over." Tony answered.
"Well we did have a few things to talk about, like how to get this thick-headed nephew I have to start talking to us." Tony blushed at that and looked down focusing on the sandwich he was preparing.
"Tony." Tony looked up at his Dad's voice and relaxed when his hand started gently massaging the back of his head. "We are fine, we just want you to start sharing things with us without us having to force you to."
"I try."
"Sorry kid, but you'll need to try harder."
"I will." Tony promised.
"Good boy." Gibbs commented dropping a kiss on the top of Tony's head making the boy smile wide.
"Still to make it all good again you are going to write us daily reports of what's going on." His Uncle suddenly said.
"What?!"
"Daily reports kid of the major happenings."
"You are aware that I soon can't move a muscle without one of you knowing?!"
"It's happening kid so get used to the idea." Tony glared at his Uncle making said Uncle raising one eyebrow unimpressed. "Behave kid. Don't go do anything you'll regret."
"You can't control my life! That's what your first year was about and look how that turned out!"
"Anthony. That year is history and will remain so. This isn't the academic reports I'm talking about, I'm talking about you writing a report of your day for us to read. And believe me when I say I'll know if you leave anything out so don't even try."
"I don't have a choice then." Tony stated unhappily.
"No son, afraid not. We need to know that you'll come to us and since you haven't we feel that this is the best solution." Tony felt the anger and stubbornness rise within him and clearly his Dad saw it too because just seconds later he got a swift head slap.
"Oh no you don't! This isn't up for debate Tony and I do not want a repeat of you going stubborn on us."
"I'm only as stubborn as you two."
"Anthony." His Uncle's voice was just as unimpressed as his expression had been only moments ago making Tony blush and feel like a kid being reprimanded.
"Calmer?" His Dad asked giving him the same unimpressed look Uncle Steve had.
"Yes Dad, sorry. It just feels like I can't breathe when both of you have me under constant control."
"Tony the diary/report thing doesn't mean you have to state everything you and your friends talk about, but we do expect you to be honest and write down or tell us if something special happens during the day. School or not."
"Still not too happy about it."
"Then do it and show us we can trust you to tell us and we'll skip it."
"How long will that take?"
"At least two or three weeks."
"Fine." Tony stated with just a hint of attitude.
"Anthony Leroy."
"Sorry. Okay, I'll do it." Tony agreed sighing, knowing pushing further would lead to Anthony Leroy Gibbs or three which either way meant consequences.
"Good, now how about you sit down and eat your breakfast before we all get late."
-Flashback-
"Are you okay kid?" His Uncle asked, coming into his room an hour later. Tony ignored his question and kept doing his homework. "I did ask you a question son." Tony only turned around briefly to glare at his Uncle and was therefore grateful when his Dad made it into his room only seconds later, cutting of Steve's reply.
"We still have some talking to do." His Dad said, eyeing him sternly.
"Yes sir."
"Is that homework?"
"Yes sir."
"Good." The word boy was missing from his Dad's usual comment and Tony felt another stab of pain.
"Why resort to lying?"
"Didn't feel like I could tell you the truth."
"Why not?"
"You wanted me to be the perfect son which I never could be, I tried but I just wanted a chance to be normal every once in a while."
"Every once in a while." Uncle Steve snorted. "More like every second." Tony saw his Uncle's eyes narrow when he once again didn't react to the comment.
"Tony I never wanted you to be perfect. I just wanted you to be you but still behave the way I raised you."
"Does that mean I don't have to be the perfect son?" Tony asked, letting the insecurity shine through.
"You already are kiddo, just like your brother. You both are perfect in your own way, but a little less mischief and trouble would be appreciated kid, you truly are giving me grey hairs.
"Thanks Dad, I'll try."
"Now that we've been through that I'd like to know what the disrespect was all about."
"He overreacted."
"He is in the room." Uncle Steve commented with a raised eyebrow.
"What I did didn't warrant that kind o a reaction, besides he mixed work and personal time. My full name is not something he should be able to use against me in school."
"So you shouted at him?"
"He promised not to read my file and yet he did it. He broke his promise!"
"And from what I understand you two had a deal, I would have done the same thing in his shoes." Tony wasn't shocked at that so he didn't answer just stared straight ahead to make sure his Dad knew he wasn't happy with that statement, but that he accepted it.
"You got me buddy?"
"Yes Dad."
"Good boy." Tony felt a weird smile spread out on his face at the words but frankly didn't care.
"What is it buddy?"
"You said 'good boy'"
"Yeah?"
"First when you came in and asked me about my homework, you only responded with good- It felt good when you didn't leave out the last part this time." Tony admitted embarrassed.
"Oh buddy…I never knew you took in every word that way. You do know I love you no matter what so don't try to find a message in my words I didn't put there."
"Love you too Dad."
"Hate to interrupt the moment, but I wouldn't mind seeing my other nephew before I leave."
"Is Tim at Grandpa's?"
"Yeah, I sent him there as soon as Steve told me what was going on."
"We decided on me handing out the punishments kid, after all it was mostly me it affected. The disrespect gives you a 2000-word essay on respect. I want it by Tuesday morning 8 o'clock. Other than that, a lot of things are going to change. First you are grounded which means that when your Dad is at work I or Mike will babysit you to make sure you stay out of trouble, and the grounding is indefinite because it comes down to trust."
"Furthermore, I requested weekly updates from your teachers which will go through your Uncle."
"And I am moving your locker to just outside my office."
"What?!" Tony couldn't possibly ignore that.
"You heard me right, consider the locker nearest my office yours."
"That's not fair!"
You don't get to decide that buddy, not after today, not after deliberately using my trust in you against me. I told you I'll have hawk eyes on you, this is just the start. Every Friday you'll report to my office and we'll go through the reports from the teachers together. In case your Dad is home we'll do it at home instead. You'll explain every single detail the teachers give me and hopefully that will keep you in check."
"Keep me in check?!" Tony spit out disgusted.
"You do seem to find trouble everywhere." His Uncle said still as calm.
"Still." Tony muttered before clamping his mouth shut again, He wasn't talking to Steve.
"It's your life now kiddo, so get used to it." Tony didn't acknowledge the comment just turned towards his Dad.
"Is that all?!"
"One. Cut the attitude Tony."
"Yes sir. Is that everything though?" Tony asked with less attitude.
"Do you know the rules for your grounding?"
"No electronics, my bedroom door remains open, no going outside the house without permission to do so."
"Then that's it. Your grounding ends when we both trust you again."
"You both?!"
"Both me and Steve. You lied to us both son."
"Still, you are my Dad." Tony argued angrily.
"And he is your Uncle so you are going to earn our trust again. Both of ours."
"But…"
"Two."
"Yes sir." Tony answered defeated.
"Goodnight son, finish your homework and then go to bed, I'll check on you in an hour." Gibbs said dropping a kiss on the angry teens head. He knew that discussing this any further tonight wouldn't lead anywhere.
"Night Dad."
"Night Trouble." His Uncle teased and tried to ruffle his hair but Tony ducked and refused to acknowledge his Uncle's words, instead choosing to sit down and finish his homework. From the corner of his eye Tony saw the raw hurt on his Uncle's face at his actions and almost changed his mind, but forced himself to stay strong. After all the man wasn't his Uncle anymore, so why care?!