Reupload

Thank you to Harliquinn for beta reading and editing

Warning: Chapter contains spanking of a minor.

/\/\/\/\

There had been a lot of training over the last few weeks, and Skye was exhausted. She had fallen asleep in the classroom more than once and it had not been taken lightly. She was told that she was not going to be allowed to keep doing the mentorship if it was causing her to be that tired, and it was raising a lot of suspicions as to what was really going on.

It was a Friday, and Skye was resting. She had her chores done. She got a text from some of her friends.

"Are you coming out tonight? Hitting the park." The text said. That meant they were going to the park to get high. She took a breath. She wanted to. She really did. She also knew that she wasn't supposed to be going to the compound till Tuesday, so it would be out of her system by then.

"Yes, I will meet you there as soon as I can sneak out," Skye texted back.

A couple hours later she was sneaking out the window as Kate was shaking her head. She wouldn't say anything, but she didn't like it.

Skye got to the park, and it wasn't long until she was high as a kite. It helped her relax so quickly. She needed this. And she needed this badly. They were there for a bit before some flashlights where shined on them. Everyone who could took off running. Skye was too high. She tried, but she ended up falling on her face and yelping.

One of the cops helped her up. "Skyler Smith," He said, "Why am I not surprised that you were involved in this?" He said as he dragged her to a cop car and put her in the back.

She was taken to the police station, and her file was checked to look for the number of her social worker. "I should really know this number by heart." The officer said. He tilted his head. "There is a second number here to call as well."

"What? Who?" Skye asked.

"If you don't know, I'm not going to tell you," The officer said.

Skye sighed. Less than half an hour later she was sitting in an interrogation room when Steven entered. Skye's jaw dropped as she felt her heart in her throat. She looked down.

"Are you okay?" Steve asked.

Skye nodded.

"You're not hurt from falling?" He asked.

"Nothing serious, just my hands and my knee is cut up a bit," she said, showing him and looking confused. "It was worse..." She looked up at Steve.

He nodded. They would have the conversation about that later. "I'm glad you're okay." He said before he crossed his arms across his chest. "Skyler, I was really surprised to get this call."

She didn't say anything.

"What were you thinking?" He asked.

She didn't answer.

"I asked you a question," He said. The anger in his voice was evident.

"I'm sorry," she said softly.

"Not what I asked." He said, "what you were thinking?"

"I wasn't thinking…" She said. "You don't need to worry about me anymore. I'm gone from New York at this point. The mentorship is over," She said.

"No, you're not, and, no, it's not," Steve said.

Skye looked up at him.

"I spoke to your social worker and the people who run your group home. You are being given one more chance. I assured them that you and I will be having a long conversation about this, and you will be thoroughly punished," he said.

Skye looked back down.

"And at this point, Skyler, worrying about you isn't a choice. It's just how it is," Steve said.

Skye let out a breath.

An officer came into the room with pen and paper and put them down on the table "Names, everyone who was there with you."

"I don't know all their names," Skye said. It was a lie.

"You do not want to add lying to the list of your infractions tonight, Skyler," Steve said.

Skye sighed and picked up the pen and started to write the names. When she was done she put the pen down.

"That's all of them?" the officer asked.

Skyer nodded.

The officer took the pen and paper. "You are lucky Mr. Rogers is well known and liked, This isn't going on your record. Next time you will not be given any lenience."

Skyer nodded.

"Let's go," Steve said.

Skye got up and left the room. Steve followed and led her out to his car. They got in. He started to drive.

"Do you have any idea how much trouble you could have been in? They were talking juvenile detention," Steve said.

Skye looked out the window. "I'm sorry."

Steve let out a breath.

"We aren't going to my group home?" She asked, noticing the route they were taking.

"Nope. I have convinced your social worker to let you stay at the compound for the weekend," Steve said.

"Really?" Skye asked. "How?"

"I assured her when you are back to your group home on Sunday evening you will not be causing anymore trouble," Steve said.

"W-what are you going to do?" Skye asked.

"I'm not entirely sure at this point," he said.

Skye didn't say anything. Steve pulled into the parking structure of the compound and parked. He reached into the back of the car and pulled out a bag. "Packed by your roommate."

Skye bit her lip and took the bag. "Do you know if she is in trouble?"

"I'm not sure," Steve said.

They both got out of the car and went inside. Steve led her to a spare bedroom. "This is your room. Mine is across the hall. There are towels in the bathroom if you would like to shower. Get some sleep. We will talk tomorrow."

Skye nodded.

"Good night," he said.

"Night," she said.

She went into the room and closed the door. She looked around. It was a good size room. It was a light purple color and about the size of her room at the group home, but it had just the one queen size bed. There was a large picture window with a window seat below it that was covered in pillows and cushions that matched the room. She went over and closed the large thick curtains that covered the window. The bed frame and rest of the furniture all matched and were a light wood color. There was some art work on the walls. Her favorite was a silhouette painting of a girl. She put her bag down on the bench at the end of the bed. She went into the bathroom.

It was painted the same color as the bedroom and had a double vanity, a soaker tub, and a separate stand-up shower. She wasn't sure who funded the build and furnishing of this compound, but whoever it was had not spare any luxuries, if this was a spare bedroom. She noticed a few towels stacked neatly on the counter and some new bottles of shampoo and such.

She decided to take a shower like offered. She got into the shower and turned it up to the hottest temperature. Hot water was never hot enough for her. She just stood under the falling water, letting it hit every sore muscle in her body. She looked down at her hands that were now completely healed from the scratches. It didn't make sense to her how this ability was coming out of nowhere. She would ask someone about it tomorrow. She washed her hair and body with the shampoo and body wash that she had brought into the shower. When she was done she got out of the shower and wrapped herself in the softest towels she had ever felt. She felt like she was being wrapped in a warm hug. She let tears fall. She couldn't remember the last time she had actually been hugged. She took a breath and wiped away the tears. She went into the bedroom and searched through her bag and pulled out a pair of pajamas and got dressed. Right before she went to bed she texted Kate.

"I'm really sorry if you got busted because of me." She sent the message before she climbed under the sheets. Again, they were the softest sheets she had ever felt. She fell asleep pretty quickly only because she was exhausted. Most of the night she tossed and turned in her sleep from nightmares of what was going to happen to her.

/\/\/\

The next morning she stretched as she woke up. She looked over at her phone. It was 7:00. but she was still pretty tired. She looked at the text that had come in.

"No, I didn't get in much trouble. Got told I'm not responsible for your choices. But fuck I don't think I have ever seen her so pissed when your social worker told her that you were staying in the home and that the government insists on it. You are in for it…" Kate said.

Skye sighed. 'Yeah… Kinda of wish I was just out of there. She has never liked me, and I don't know why. I mean, I get it. I've gotten in trouble, but so has every other person in that home. It's why we are in this home specifically."

"It's because you have a future that she could only wish she had. She hates running the home, but she doesn't have a choice," Kate sent.

"Okay. But that can be said about everyone in that home – having a future – and she's a grown ass woman. She has a choice," Skye sent back.

"Yeah. We all have futures, but we all see the drive and passion in you that no one else has. When you find what it is you want to do, you are going to be more successful," Kate said.

"Ha. If I don't end up in juvenile detention," Skye sent.

"Well, you keep making the choices. You are so fucking lucky that Steve Rogers has taken interest in helping you. She can't figure out why he has either. She actually told him there were much better candidates for a mentoring program than you when he was here picking up your stuff," Kate said.

"Did you hear what he said to that?" Skye asked.

"Yes. He told her that he picked you because you were the best fit, nothing much more than that. We all know something is going on that we don't know about, and I have to admit some of the other girls think you two are more than mentor and mentee…," Kate sent.

Skye's jaw dropped. "God, no! EW!" she sent.

"He is Captain. Fucking. America. Did you really just say EW?" Kate asked.

"Yes, I did. God, no. Nothing like that. Never. Ew." Skye sent.

"Yeah, I didn't think so either. Especially after I heard what he plans to do about your choices last night," Kate sent.

"Wait, you know? How do you know? What is it? He hasn't told me," Skye sent.

"Well… Ms. Torres told him to not waste his breath or time lecturing you, that nothing was going to get through to you. And he told her he was going to lecture you, yes. But he was going to do something that should have been done a long time ago as well." Kate sent.

"What does that mean?' Skye asked.

"That is exactly what Ms. Torres asked him. And he said something like he was going to hand you your butt," Kate said.

Skye gasped and her eyes went big. "You're messing with me, right? You're just annoyed with me and trying to scare me, right?" Skye sent.

"That would be a good way to do it if I was, but no. I'm telling you the truth," Kate said.

"OH MY GOD! I haven't been spanked since I was like eight!" Skye sent.

"Yeah, that's about the same age I was the last time too. But I don't think there is much you can do. He is legally responsible for you this weekend, meaning it's a viable option," Kate said.

"I'm going to get out of here and run far," Skye sent.

"Skye, don't. You are just going to make it worse on yourself. You will get found, and I'm guessing you'll end up in juvie if you do," Kate sent.

Skye got up and changed clothes before shoving everything she had with her into the bag. She fixed the bed and made the room look like it had before she'd used it. She grabbed her bag and opened the door to the bedroom as quietly as possible. She made sure no one was coming and started to tiptoe down the hall towards the exit.

"Morning," a voice she didn't recognize said.

She froze.

"I'm not sure what you are planning, but you can't get out of here without sounding off an alarm," he said.

"D-do you know how to turn off the alarm?" Skye asked.

"I do. But I'm not going to help you," The young man said with a chuckle in his voice.

Skye sighed.

"I'm Peter," He said. "You're Skye?"

"Oh, so you know who I am, huh?" Skye asked.

"I know you're being trained by Steve and Wanda, your name, and that you are thirteen. That's about it," Peter said.

Skye nodded and looked at him. "Peter, what do I get to know about you?"

"Well, can you keep a secret?" Peter asked.

"Ha, yes," Skye said.

"Well, I've been training with everyone. I started with Tony as an intern when I was fifteen. I'm Spiderman," Peter said.

Skye's jaw dropped.

Peter nodded, "I'm trusting you not to tell anyone."

Skye nodded. "I won't. I get having to keep secrets."

"Okay. So how about I give you some advice?" Peter said.

"Okay," Skye said slowly.

"So, I obviously don't know your full story. But I'm guessing that, if Steve has shown interest in helping you on the downlow, your parents or whoever is responsible for you don't know what exactly is going on. My aunt didn't at first. And I'm guessing, if you're here and trying to leave without telling Steve, you are in some kind of trouble. So, you can run and hide. You may be able to hide for a period of time. But you will get found and just make things harder for yourself. Trust me, I know," Peter said.

Skye let out a breath. "You've been in trouble with Steve before?"

"Well, yes, but more so Tony. Tony was my mentor. I answered to and still answer to him," Peter said. "But, the one time I pissed Steve off when Tony wasn't around, he did the same thing that Tony would have done."

Skye nodded slightly.

"So my advice is to accept what is coming. And don't do whatever it is you did again," Peter said.

Skye nodded. "Easier said than done when you think you know what is going to happen, and that it hasn't happened in a lot of years."

Peter nodded. He knew what she was getting at. He remembered the first time he had gotten in trouble with Tony. It was after he did exactly what he was told not to and went after the villains himself. Tony had taken his suit. And before Tony gave it back to him had spanked him. He remembered how scared he had been so he could understand why this girl just wanted to run, but he also knew that wouldn't do anything to help her. "I get it. It had been a long time for me, too. I was about ten, and then fifteen when I ended up in that position with Tony. I was terrified, but it wasn't as bad as I expected. It hurt like hell, yes. But, it wasn't as bad as I expected."

Skye let out a breath.

There was the sound of someone coming in the door. She looked up to see Steve.

Steve saw her bag and that she was dressed like she was about to leave. "Going somewhere?" he asked, eyebrow raised.

"I . . . um. . . well," Skye stumbled over her words.

Steve looked at Peter. "I didn't know you were here this weekend. Welcome home."

"Thanks. Yeah, just a short trip," Peter said.

"Do you know what is going on here?" Steve asked.

"She is afraid of the repercussions of her actions," Peter said.

Steve nodded. "But you don't know what I even plan to do."

"Yes, I do," Skye said

"How?" Steve asked as he looked at Peter again.

"I didn't tell her. She seemed to know," Peter said.

"He didn't tell me. Um, sound carries in the group home. So, the conversation you had with Ms. Torres was overheard," Skye said.

Steve sighed. "Okay. Well, I wanted to be the one to tell you. I didn't want you to have to sit with the worry about it for long."

Skye swallowed hard.

"I'm going to go help Pepper with breakfast," Peter said, leaving the room quickly.

Steve took a breath and gently took her bag. "You can't run from your problems. You made the choices you made, and now you are going to deal with the consequences. Now, breakfast will be ready soon. We will talk after."

Skye nodded. "Okay."

Steve gently pushed her towards the kitchen and pointed to the table. "Sit. I will take this back to your room." He looked up at Pepper. "Do not let her leave the table."

Pepper nodded. "Okay."

Skye sighed and put her head in her hands.

"You're going to be okay," Pepper said softly.

"I don't know about that," Skye said.

"Trust that no matter what you did, it is no worse than some of the things I have done," Peter said.

Pepper shook her head at the young man. "Yeah, you sure did get into your fair share of trouble."

"You ever sneak out and go to a park to get high, get caught by the police, and need someone to come pick you up from the police station for like the fifteenth time ?" Skye asked.

"No," Peter said. "I just hacked a multimillion dollar suit to turn off a tracker so I could sneak around and do the one thing I was told not to do and go after the bad guy on my own."

"Yup. I don't think I have ever seen Tony that angry," Pepper said.

"Nope. That tops the list of things that have made me angry," Tony said, coming into the kitchen. He hugged Peter. "Good to see you, kid."

"Good to see you, too," Peter said, hugging him.

Tony kissed Pepper.

"But, clearly, I survived the wrath of Tony. You will survive the wrath of Steve," Peter said.

Skye nodded.

Slowly everyone came into the kitchen and sat down to eat breakfast. Skye had to force herself to eat. She didn't feel very hungry, but she knew she needed to eat.

When everyone was done. Skye started to help clear up the table and clean the kitchen. Once it was cleaned, Steve put a hand on her shoulder. "Come on. Let's go talk."

Skye went with him to an office that she had never seen before. "It's a spare office we don't use much," Steve told her when he saw her face.

Skye nodded.

Steve pointed to the couch in the room. "Sit."

Skye sat. Steve leaned against the desk.

"Want to tell me what led you to sneak out and go to the park and get high?" Steve asked.

Skye looked down and shook her head.

"Okay. My mistake, I made it seem like you had an option. What happened to make you choose to do those things?" Steve asked.

Skye sighed and ran her hand through her hair. She didn't say anything.

"I have no plans today. We can stay in this room all day. How long we're in here depends entirely on how quickly we can get through this conversation," Steve said.

"I just wanted to, that's all," Skye said.

"Don't lie to me," Steve said sternly.

Skye huffed and crossed her arms.

Steve moved to the other side of the desk and sat down in the chair. "I'm here when you are ready to talk," he said.

They sat in silence for a good thirty minutes before Skye broke. "You don't understand."

Steve looked up from where he was filling out some paperwork. "You're right, I don't. I can't understand if you don't talk to me."

"If I tell you, I don't know how you are going to take it," Skye said.

"You're worried I'm going to be angrier than I already am with you?" Steve asked.

"Maybe," Skye said.

Steve got up and moved to sit next to her on the couch. "Talk."

"The training we have been doing has been really hard. I've been exhausted, and I have fallen asleep in class a couple times. The people at the home have noticed and have connected it to the mentorship. Questions have been raised, and I've been told if I fall asleep in class again I won't be able to continue the mentorship. They also are trying to figure out what exactly I have been doing that is making me so tired," Skye said.

Steve nodded. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was worried you would stop the training," Skye said.

"Well, stop it? No. But, we are going to have to cut down on it if it's causing issues with school work. School is your priority," Steve said.

Skye nodded.

"But that doesn't really explain why you snuck out and smoked marijuana," Steve said.

"Well, Ms. Torres and I have never really gotten along. I do what I'm supposed to do. But she has had it out for me since day one. And she has been on my case even more so lately. She has been picking on every little thing that I do 'wrong', saying my chores haven't been done, and even adding on extra chores. I needed space to breathe. People texted me and asked me if I wanted to go to the park and get high. I just wanted to relax for one night. I didn't want to think about everything going on. I just wanted to forget for a couple hours," Skye said.

Steve nodded. "How long has she been putting extra chores on you and being harder on you? Is it just you, or is she doing that to everyone?"

"A few weeks, and just me," Skye said.

"Did she give any reason?" Steve asked.

"She said it was so I don't let my 'ego' get the better of me," Skye said.

Steve looked a bit confused.

"She thinks I am starting to think I'm better than everyone else," Skye said.

"Do you?" Steve asked.

"No," Skye said, "not at all."

"So why does she think you are thinking like that?" Steve asked.

"She doesn't think I should have gotten this mentorship. She thinks that it should have gone to someone 'more deserving'. She also thinks that I will let it go to my head," Skye said.

Steve shook his head. "Why didn't you tell me this was going on?"

"I didn't know what you would do," Skye said.

"Were you worried I would be angry with you?" Steve asked.

"No. I was worried you would go to my social worker or try talking to Ms. Torres yourself, and that would make the situation worse," Skye said.

Steve nodded. "Your social worker wouldn't just take you out of the home?"

"Not at this point. There would need to be clear proof of physical abuse before she would bat an eye. She has reached the end of her tolerance for anything to do with me," Skye said.

Steve shook his head. In his mind it should never matter what any child did. They should never be left to deal with abuse – any kind of abuse – because of past choices. Kids made mistakes. That was part of growing up. Yes, there should be consequences, but not like what she had been dealing with.

"Okay. I'm guessing there is no physical abuse?" Steve asked.

"No, nothing physical," Skye said.

Steve nodded. "Okay. I don't want to make your life harder in your home. I'm going to see what I can do that will help without putting you more in her line of fire."

Skye nodded.

"You keep doing what you're told. I know it's hard when you are being given more than you can handle. We are going to go to training once a week on the weekends. Maybe I can see about getting you out of that place on the weekends more often," Steve said.

"Are you really willing to do that?" Skye asked.

"Yes," Steve said.

"Thank you," she said.

"But, we still need to have a conversation about your actions last night. What is going on in your home is not an excuse to break the rules. Was I unclear about how being part of this training and mentorship meant no drugs or sneaking out and staying out of trouble? " He asked.

"No, sir, you were clear," She said softly.

"And was it clear that there would be consequences if you broke any of the rules?" Steve asked.

"Yes, sir," she said.

"And, although I didn't want you to find out the way you did, you know what those consequences are going to be today. Right?" He asked.

Skye nodded.

"What are they?" Steve asked.

Skye groaned. "You're going to make me say it?"

"Yes," Steve said.

She sighed. "You're going to spank me," She said almost in a whisper.

"Have you ever been spanked before?" He asked.

"Yes." Skye said. "The last time I think I was about eight."

Steve nodded. "Well, I'm glad it's not something people have overused with you. It's definitely not something that should be done easily. It should only be for serious offences," He said.

"I guess this is pretty serious," Skye said.

"Yes, it is," Steve said.

"I'm really sorry," Skye said.

"I can see that you are. But there needs to be a consequence. Because, if I hadn't stepped in, you'd be sitting in a jail cell right now," Steve said.

She nodded her understanding.

He moved so he was sitting in the middle of the couch and held a hand out to her.

Skye took a breath and let him take her wrist and help her over his lap. She was visibly shaking.

"Breathe, and tell me what you did wrong," Steve said gently, placing a hand on her back.

She took a breath. "I snuck out, was out past curfew, and smoked pot," she said.

"And why aren't those things acceptable?" Steve asked.

"Because I'm thirteen." She said

"Yes. But, also, because it puts you in unnecessary danger. What if it hadn't been a cop who found you basically unable to move? What if it had been someone who wanted to do you harm?" Steve asked.

"I-I didn't think about that," Skye said.

Steve nodded. "I hope that this sits in your brain as a reminder of how damn lucky you are right now to not be in a cell or dead," he said before he brought his hand down.

Skye gasped. It wasn't very hard, but she felt it. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry," she said.

Steve brought his hand down again a little harder.

"You are in this world for a reason. You have a purpose, and I will not just stand back and watch you throw away a chance at that purpose," he said, bringing his hand down a third time.

Skye whimpered. It wasn't taking much for it to hurt.

Steve wasn't using his full strength by any means. He knew he had to be very careful. He didn't want to actually cause her any harm. Rather, he just wanted to warm her butt up enough so she knew how serious he was. He continued to bring his hand down.

'Damn it! When did his hand turn to steel, she thought. And how had she not noticed how big it was? He was covering her entire butt with each smack. She continued to whimper and started to squirm, trying to get away from his hand.

He put an arm around her waist and pulled her back into place. "Skyler, stay still," He said firmly.

"I'm sorry," she cried out.

"I know. But, I want to make sure you remember this the next time you even consider doing something like this again," Steve said.

He continued to bring his hand down. By the time he reached twenty-five smacks she was sobbing loudly.

"Just five more," he said before he brought down his hand in the hardest five smacks of the entire spanking.

She was sobbing uncontrollably. He flipped her over easily, wrapped her in his arms, and let her sob into him.

Skyler felt herself ending up in a hug in his lap. Steve held her as she clung to his shirt and sobbed. He rubbed her back and spoke softly, telling her it was forgiven and that they could move on now.

She eventually calmed down, but she was evidently very tired.

"Do you want to go take a nap?" Steve asked softly.

"I-I can take a nap?" she asked softly.

"Of course," Steve said, helping her stand up. "If you want."

Skye nodded. They left the office. She went to the room she was using and crawled into bed, falling asleep right away.

Steve went into the kitchen and grabbed a beer from the fridge.

"A beer, at 10:00 a.m.?" Sam asked.

"Yes," Steve said, popping the lid with his hand and going to sit down in the living room.

Sam followed. "Is this because you had to punish her? We all knew it was only a matter of time before she did something she shouldn't."

"No, not because I had to punish her. But because of things she told me that are going on in the house she lives in and how she clung to me afterwards. That girl has not had any kind of affection shown to her in a long time," Steve said, taking a sip of the beer.

"Damn," Sam said. "How bad is it? Do we need to intervene?"

"I want to, but I don't think it will help her. I think the best thing we can do is have her here as much as possible. And we need to cut back on the training during the week. She has fallen asleep in class a few times. I just want to go in there and pack her up and bring her here permanently," Steve said.

"You want to adopt her?" Sam asked.

"Yes," Steve said.

"Then do it. We will all support it," Sam said.

"I've looked into it. I don't know if I could with the work we do," Steve said.

"We will figure it out. She will never be alone here," Sam said.

Steve nodded. "I'm going to try. For sure." He said

The rest of the weekend was good. Skye was really happy there. Even after being punished she felt like she belonged that's he was wanted there.