Last chapter of this short story. It ended up angstier than I thought it would, but that's how it felt right. I considered breaking it up into two separate ones but decided against it. A chunky last chapter ensued. Please leave a review if you read through the entire story. I'd love your feedback.

Chapter 3

Are we good?

Saul walked close behind him watching Sky's rigid body heave with anger. He knew he couldn't possibly get through to the teen while Sky was in this state. Sky was well past angry and needed to release all this emotion before Saul handed out his consequences. But Sky was also stubborn as hell. And he knew Saul well. He'd fight with silent treatment and impassiveness for as long as possible. Saul knew he had to figure out what would trigger the release.

Upon that thought, they reached the door of his suite. Sky paused, eyes glued on the wooden surface before him. Saul stepped beside him and unlocked the door, walking inside and holding it open for Sky to enter. He watched the teen stepping in and studied him for a few seconds before closing the door.

"I know it's been a while, but I'm sure you remember the place and how things go," he said in a composed, stern tone. When Sky didn't move, he simply added, "Fine, I'll spell it out for you. Corner. Now."

Sky shot him a fierce look and Saul briefly wondered if the kid would explode then and there. After a couple of seconds, Sky licked his lips and turned to follow the direction. He walked to the familiar corner of the small living room. He stood there, hands clenched in fists as he tried to process his feelings. The familiarity of this position came as a stark contrast to the unprecedented anger and bile he held for Saul.

After the truth about Andreas came out, he hadn't been able to forgive his mentor and the closest thing to a father for lying to him all these years. And then having Adreas casually exiting a car and joining the school with a pitiful 'Hello, Sky.' As if he hadn't willfully abandoned him all these years. As if he didn't put Rosalind's stupid orders over raising his own son. As if he hadn't replaced Sky with Beatrix.

All these thoughts resurfaced and a knot formed in Sky's throat. Everything that had remained unprocessed for so long, drowning him. Bloom was a great listener but didn't have the answers he needed. And escapism was nice but brief. No amount of drinking could permanently erase this shitstorm that was raging in his mind.

If he'd been honest with himself, there was nothing he needed more at the moment than talking to Saul. Decompressing his mind, hearing his perspective. Asking for his guidance on how to navigate this upturning of his life as he knew it. But he couldn't bring himself to do so. How could he trust the man after everything?

His gaze, which had been glued to the floor, drifted upwards, meeting a framed photograph of himself and Saul. He had almost forgotten it was there. His ten-year-old self stood next to Saul, a huge grin splitting his face in half. Saul was also smiling, his eyes not facing the camera, as Sky's did, but focusing entirely on the kid next to him. A few feet away in the background was Dorian. Sky's very first horse. Saul had gotten it for him for his tenth birthday and this photograph was taken after Sky rode Dorian for the first time.

Sky's lips twitched in a small smile for a split second, before his face hardened in a mask of rage. Grabbing the frame from the wall, he turned around, looked for Saul, and hurled it in his general direction.

Saul managed to duck in time and watched the frame forcefully connecting with the wall behind him, the glass shattering into pieces. 'Here we go,' he thought to himself. Looking down he noticed which picture was inside the frame. Squatting down, he picked it up, shards of glass falling over its surface, before standing up, and looking at it.

"Dorian. I distinctly remember you hopping up and down screaming 'best gift ever!' "

"Shut up!" Sky's voice trembled as he took one step out of the corner and towards the man. "You don't get to do this! You don't get to reminisce on happy moments when it's all been a lie!"

"A single thing has been a lie, Sky. One single thing. My love for you hasn't been a lie. My caring for you and raising you like a son hasn't been a lie. All these years of us growing up together haven't been a lie."

Sky's voice boomed as he answered.

"The bullshit you fed me about Andreas being a hero has been a lie! The bullshit about how he supposedly died when you were the one who attempted to kill him…"

"You know I had no choice," Saul replied, the volume of his voice rising to meet the teen's.

"You had a choice when you lied to me," Sky yelled. "That was your fucking choice!"

"Yes, that was my fucking choice, Sky! Because when I returned thinking I had just killed my best friend, my brother in all but blood, I had to pull it together and be there for YOU. A five-year-old kid who had suddenly lost his dad and all he had was me. Do you really think I could have explained to the five-year-old Sky how I had to kill his father and then proceed to raise him?"

"I didn't remain five, Saul! In the damn photo, you're holding I had just turned ten," Sky growled. Moving towards the end table near the couch he grabbed another frame and hoisted it up for Saul to see.

"Here I'm twelve!" Smashing this frame too, he moved towards the dining table grabbing a third one, "And here I'm fourteen!"

Sauk grabbed the picture before it could be thrown across the room.

"And every single year, right before your birthday I'd tell this to myself, too, Sky," Saul yelled back, his voice clearly trembling now.

"He's older now… He can understand. He'll understand! He'll forgive me. And then every time I attempted to talk to you about it, I'd see how you looked at me. I'd see love and trust and admiration reflecting in your eyes. And, no, I never told you. Because I couldn't bear the thought of how that look would change when you learned the truth. I told myself you needed me, you still needed a father, you still needed guidance and I couldn't bring myself to risk you losing your trust in me, too."

"Bullshit…" Sky attempted to answer, but Saul cut him off, stepping closer to him.

"That's right, Sky. Bullshit! In reality, I couldn't bear the thought of you hating me. For better or worse I ended up being your father. And you are my son. I don't care if we don't share the same blood, you're my son. And maybe if one day you have a son of your own, you'll be able to understand why the mere thought of them hating you is unbearable."

"That didn't give you the right…"

"No, it didn't, and that's the one single thing you're right about. It didn't give me the right to lie to you. I raised you to be honest. I raised you to not lie and to not hide things. I kept telling you secrets were a certain path to misery, you remember? And every single time I told you these words I was the biggest hypocrite, because now here we are."

Sky was panting with the effort to keep his tears from falling. Saul was being open with him, and this he hadn't expected. He expected arrogance and refusal to admit being in the wrong. He expected anything but seeing Saul completely open, vulnerable, and honest. At the verge of tears, just like himself.

"Here we are," Saul repeated quietly.

Sky watched a stray tear escaping the man's eye and his hastened effort to wipe it. And just like that, he felt his own resolve breaking. His resolve not to cry. His resolve to appear strong. His resolve to keep hating Saul, his resolve to make him suffer. Saul had been suffering. For eleven long years. And now Sky allowed himself to actually see it. Sky's face crumpled and a loud sob escaped his lips. His knees buckled and he sank to the floor, surrendering to the violent release of his own tears.

Saul immediately crossed the distance and lowered next to Sky on the floor, his arms enveloping the young man's frame in a strong embrace. He started slowly rocking the teen from side to side, stray tears quietly rolling down his cheeks, too.

"It's okay, Sky. It's okay. I'm here. We'll figure this out, I promise. We'll figure this out."

Sky leaned into the familiar hug that smelled of safety, home, and belonging. He didn't have it in him to fight it anymore. He needed Saul and didn't care about tormenting him anymore. Burying his face into the man's shoulder he let his tears out like he had so many times before.

Sky opened his eyes with some difficulty. He looked around him briefly confused about where he was. When the space around him registered as his room at Saul's the memories from the previous night came crashing in. He felt his heart rate elevating and a confusion he wasn't used to feeling. Equal parts of relief, embarrassment, guilt, and worry slowly surfaced.

He got up and rushed through his morning routine. When he came out of the small adjacent bathroom fresh from the shower, he changed into clean clothes that Saul always kept in his dresser. As he brushed his hair and looked at himself in the mirror he wondered what the next few hours would bring. Taking in a deep breath he stepped out of his room and into the living room, where Saul was cleaning up the mess from last night.

The man's eyes rose to meet Sky's and he offered a small smile.

"Good morning. Did you manage to get any rest?"

"Yeah. Did you?"

Noticing the sincere concern in his tone, Saul felt a surge of relief. He wasn't sure if last night was the end of it.

"No. Not really. I kept checking up on you, making sure you were alright."

"You didn't have to do that."

"I know. But I needed it. It's been a while since you last stayed here."

Sky simply nodded and squatted down, carefully picking up the larger glass shards and the broken frame. Saul swept the smaller pieces. Finishing their cleaning after a couple of minutes, the man motioned to the kitchen. "I have made coffee, bacon, and pancakes."

Sky smiled at the mention of his favorite breakfast and followed Saul to the kitchen. The two of them sat on opposite seats at the small table. Sky served himself a generous serving of breakfast, as Saul poured him coffee in a mug.

Saul sipped his coffee, watching the teen eating quietly and wondering how he'd proceed. He wasn't used to not feeling confident about navigating disciplining Sky. He hoped he'd figure this all out soon, though, because this needed to be handled, and it needed to be handled now. Upon these thoughts, Sky's phone rang.

Swallowing hastily, Sky picked it up. By the softness of his tone alone, Saul could tell it was probably Bloom. Saul's gaze drifted to the window and he looked at the small patch of the grounds that fit the frame.

"Yeah, I'll meet you there in ten…"

Sky's words made him turn his head towards him and sit straighter in his chair.

"No, you won't," the man immediately replied. Sitting up he reached over and snatched the phone from Sky.

"Hey!" The teen protested.

"Bloom? Yeah, good morning to you, too. Let me ask you something. Was I not clear last night?"

Sky watched, eyes enlarged with dread and embarrassment.

"You're not to leave your rooms for anything but classes. Hooking up with your boyfriend is not considered a class last time I checked, and it's definitely not something allowed when you're as grounded as it gets!"

"Saul!" Sky, groaned, getting up and attempting to get his phone back.

"I'm hanging up now and you'd better make sure you keep yourself where you should, or so help me, I will take harsher measures with you, too," hanging up with that, Saul returned the phone to Sky.

"I can't believe you just did that! What's the matter with you?" Sky demanded, his expression disbelieving and upset.

"What's the matter with me? What's the matter with you two? Arranging a date right in front of me after I grounded you all yesterday? 'Meet you there in ten'? Sky, I'm grateful we found some common ground last night and I'm beyond relieved we finally had that conversation, but what I brought you here for in the first place is another, different kind of conversation, which is still pending."

Sky's face flushed a bright red and his eyes lowered.

Saul felt some relief that the boy looked contrite. Realizing the time had come and he needed to stop stalling, Saul drew in a deep breath. "Are you done with your breakfast?" He asked the teen.

"I am now,". Sky mumbled dejectedly.

"Good. Let's take this to my office."

The familiar words made Sky gulp. He knew this was coming. He knew the moment he hung up the phone on Saul's face yesterday. Yet it's a different thing knowing something is going to happen and another entirely when it happens. His legs felt weak as he slowly followed Saul out of the kitchen and into the office.

His gaze drifted around him. It had been a while since he'd been in there. The cozy space was filled with furniture made of warm-colored wood. The small sofa that stood against one of the walls was vivid red with a dark blue throw covering part of it. Numerous paintings of different sizes hung on the walls, along with framed pictures that mostly depicted Sky and Saul, though there were some older ones with Adreas there, too. One big window illuminated the room with vibrant morning light. The large desk was the protagonist of the room. A big sturdy piece with carved edges.

Sky moved to the sofa and plopped himself there, leaning his head back and closing his eyes, hands clasping on his lap.

Saul leaned against his desk and studied Sky. After the transition to where they were right now happened, everything fell into place. The familiarity of this scene was simultaneously comforting and unpleasant to them both.

"Why are we here Sky?"

Saul's trademark opening question made Sky open his mouth to answer but he closed it again immediately, making Saul smirk. He could tell Sky had managed to stop himself from a smart-ass comment that would probably get him in even more trouble.

"Because I went out last night."

"So much information is missing from that statement. Do elaborate."

"Fine, I snuck out last night, to have some fun with my friends."

"And that fun entailed…?"

Saul's question made Sky gulp. After the man's own struggles with alcohol, Saul was very strict with his no-alcohol rule. Sky had made the mistake of breaking that particular rule only once before. And Riven was to blame - naturally! After that, he had vowed to never repeat it. Until last night. And several nights before that, which he hoped Saul would never learn about.

"Dancing?" Sky tried with a resigned tone, eyes still closed, head still leaning up against the back of the couch.

"Sky…"

There was that warning tone again.

"Fine… Drinking. We drank. We didn't get wasted, but we drank some."

"And why was that incredibly irresponsible and dangerous, Sky? Aside from the obvious alcohol addiction perils, which I know perfectly well you're well aware of."

"Because when we're drunk we can't protect ourselves adequately," Sky replied quietly, his head returning to an upright position and his eyes meeting Saul's briefly.

"Exactly, young man. And especially under the current circumstances, not knowing who our enemy is, who we can trust, and when the next attack will happen, you simply can't risk letting your guard down!"

Saul's scolding tone made the teen's cheeks redden, as he nodded silently.

"And letting your guard down like that… That's something you've done more than once in the last couple of weeks. Am I wrong?"

Sky felt his stomach dropping to his feet, despite being seated. So Saul knew. Of course he knew, he inwardly groaned. This was just getting better and better.

"Am I wrong, Sky?"

"No, sir."

Saul nodded, before asking his next question.

"And what happened yesterday after you snuck out and went drinking?"

Knowing what the man was getting at, Sky shifted in his seat.

"You called me and told me to get back to school."

"And did you obey that order, Sky?"

"No, sir."

"No, you didn't. You chose to ignore me and go against the rules and orders of both your guardian and your commander, Sky."

Saul hadn't raised his voice the slightest bit. His tone, though, was scathing in its seriousness, disappointment, and sternness.

Sky managed to lift his eyes and meet Saul's. "I know. And I'm sorry."

"I'm glad to hear that. But you know just as well as I do, that is not gonna cut it. Actions have consequences, Sky. And last night's actions could have resulted in much grimmer consequences than the spanking you're about to get. Last night could have ended up with several deaths, Sky. Yours among them. Do you realize that?"

Sky felt his ears and his eyes burning with embarrassment and guilt.

"Yeah. I do."

Clasping his hands together and standing up straight, Saul declared, "Good. I think we've covered everything and it's clear to you what you're about to be punished for?"

"Yes, sir," Sky answered, voice quiet, cheeks and ears blazing red with embarrassment.

Saul simply nodded before taking the few steps between them and joining the kid on the couch. Taking hold of Sky's forearm he gently tugged him.

Sky didn't resist him, and moved his body to drape himself over Saul's thighs. He felt the man maneuvering him and laying him over his left thigh, using his right leg to lock both Sky's legs between his own. Sky closed his eyes preparing himself.

But nothing can prepare anyone for a Saul Silva's spanking. The first smack echoed loudly in the room, the sound registering before the heat it produced. Not as loud as it would be if Saul had decided to bare Sky, but still loud. The next smacks fell at a furious pace. Sky for a few brief seconds didn't feel the pain until it suddenly exploded and with every consequent slap intensified. Before Saul reached double digits Sky was already hissing.

"Saul! C'mon! You just started!"

"You got that right," Saul confirmed, not letting up the pace or the strength he packed behind each smack. "I'm not gonna lose you, Sky. Not out of your own thoughtlessness."

Sky felt tears prickling in his eyes and struggled to focus on anything other than the pain. But he failed miserably. The burning intensified with every smack and all he could do was lay there and take it.

"Imagine for a second what would happen had the mole informed the blood witches about your whereabouts. Imagine what would have happened if they'd have followed you there, caught you drunk and off guard. Imagine for a second what could have happened hadn't I get to you in time."

"You're right! You're right," Sky replied through his tears, hissing loudly at the intensity of the pain. He had been here before. And not once or twice. But he was confident he was getting the hardest spanking Saul had ever doled out.

"Would some escapism be worth it, Sky?"

"No, sir!"

"Would upsetting me and disrespecting me the way you did be worth it?"

"No sir!"

"Do you realize that not only you, but your friends' lives could be lost in a matter of seconds? Riven's? Bloom's?"

"Yes, sir!"

The questions came with no break, no change in the rhythm or intensity of the spanking. Sky couldn't believe how fast and how much it hurt. It made him realize how measured and intentional his mentor had always been.m, while punishing him. And he was intentional now, too. This was the worst shit Sky had ever pulled. And Saul was determined to make sure the kid would never do anything similar ever again.

Focusing on the task at hand entirely, Saul remained silent for the next two minutes or so, his hand doing all the talking for him. When Sky's crying intensified even more, he briefly paused. His hand hurt and tingled fiercely, which was a solid indicator of how much Sky's butt should be hurting.

"Alright, Sky. We're almost done. For the last bit, I need you to stand up and move to the desk."

"What?" Sky asked, through his sobs, confused at the direction he'd never received before.

"I want you to get up and move to the desk. You'll bend over it for the last part of your punishment."

Sky stood on trembling legs, his hands immediately going to his ass, as he instinctively tried to relieve the pain. He had no idea what was happening, as Saul had never spanked him in any other way other than draped over his lap. He did as he was told, trying to focus on the fact that his punishment would end soon.

Once he bent over the hard surface of the desk, he gasped when he felt Saul lowering his sweatpants and underwear. That wasn't a first. But it caught him off guard and he whimpered upon trying to think how much more it would hurt now. He waited patiently, his sobs and sniffs the only sound that could be heard for a few seconds. Then the telltale sound of unbuckling could be heard. Sky turned to look at Saul with pleading eyes.

"Saul, please! Not the belt! I'm sorry! It hurts like hell as it is! Please!"

Saul doubled the piece of leather looking at the teen solemnly.

"I know it does, Sky. And I'm sorry we're here, but what you did was too serious. Too dangerous. The way you've been behaving has been too risky and thoughtless. I need to make sure this lesson stays with you. You'll get 17 with the belt. One for every year of life you so recklessly risked yesterday. And then it'll be over."

Sky knew arguing and pleading was pointless. When Saul Silva made up his mind, nothing would change it. And if he'd been honest with himself, he had earned this. He put himself and his own ego above logic. Above safety. And not only his, but of those he loved and deeply cared for, too. He also trusted Saul. Despite all the anger he had pent up all this time, after last night's reconciliation he knew he did trust the man. More than anyone. And he could now see why Saul had made the choices he did in the past. None of these choices erased who he was to Sky. And now, Sky could see it.

The belt rose and fell with precision. Saul, having a visual of Sky's butt, now, and seeing how thoroughly he was already punished, didn't pack as much force as he could behind each lick. He knew Sky couldn't feel the difference. He knew the pain would be intense enough to make an impression. And to carry through the rest of the day and possibly tomorrow, too. Saul kept careful count and watched Sky's cheek blossoming from the vibrant pink his hand had painted them, to a hot red under the force of the leather. When the seventeenth lick met its target, he lowered the belt and held it, as he walked next to the sobbing Sky and placed a comforting hand on his heaving back.

Sky was spent. His ass was throbbing and burning something fierce. He felt embarrassed not only for his current position and state but also for all the choices that brought him here. They stayed like that for a few minutes, with Sky trying to catch his breath and Saul trying to comfort him. When Sky's sobs quieted down, Saul placed the belt on the desk, before carefully readjusting the teen's clothes, and helping him up.

As soon as Sky stood, he turned his back to Saul and tried to wipe at his face. Now that it was over the embarrassment of having earned this type of correction hit him and he couldn't bring himself to look at the man. Saul knew it. Sky had always been like that. Even as a young kid. Clasping a hand on his shoulder, Saul squeezed it affectionately.

"You did great, kid. I'm proud of you."

"Bull," sky whispered.

The sharp "Hey!" he received as a response made him turn around and steal a glance at Saul.

"I'm proud of you. For not fighting your punishment, for acknowledging your responsibility and your wrongdoings. It takes a hell of a strong man to do any of that, Sky."

Sky remained silent for a few seconds not knowing what to answer, but letting the words sink in. Then he asked quietly, "Will I be staying here while grounded?"

"Do you want to?" Saul asked. "You're more than welcome here. But don't feel forced to. It's up to you this time."

"I'd like to stay," Sky said awkwardly.

"Then it's settled. I'll go grab your books and a couple of changes of clothes from your room and bring them to you."

"That's okay, I can get them."

"No. You're not to step outside for anything but classes, remember? Plus, I want a word with Riven, too. I gave him a promise last time I caught him with alcohol and I intend to keep it," Saul replied, grabbing the belt and working it through the loops of his pants as he spoke.

Sky grimaced, realizing his best friend had a belting heading his way, too, and he probably didn't even know it. He watched the man turn to leave before calling out, "Hey, Saul?"

"Yeah?" Saul paused and turned to face the boy.

"I'm sorry. For everything."

"You don't have to be sorry for everything, Sky. Just for being careless, risking your safety, and drinking."

"Yeah, just for that," Sky snorted.

"It's over Sky. You got your spanking, you'll do your time and you'll get out of this stronger and wiser.

Sky remained silent for a while.

"What about… What about us?"

"What about us?" Saul asked, unsure of what the kid meant.

"Are we good? Back to normal?"

"I certainly hope so," Saul said with a small smile. "I'm always here Sky. No matter what. No matter how angry you are with me, nothing will ever change how much I care or how much I love you. Nothing you ever do or say can drive me away."

Sky felt his throat tightening at the words. Taking a step closer to the man, he opened his arms and hugged him. Saul returned the embrace and pressed a kiss on the side of the blond head.

Yeah, they were good.

The end