Addendum to Late
Author: Nelson
Pairings: O/C Nelson/Zach
November 2003
Comments: Written especially for E.M. Inquiring minds wanted to know…
“I’ll get it,” Nelson said. He leaned up from his position against Zach on the couch to answer the ringing phone. Zach groaned with displeasure at being rousted from his comfortable position against his lover but moved out of the way so Nelson could reach the cordless.
“Hello?” Nelson said, punching the “talk” button on the handset. He absently rubbed a hand down the inside of Zach’s leg beside him. “Hey, Vic. What’s up?” he asked, pausing to listen to the other end of the conversation. “Oh, really?” Zach looked away when Nelson turned piercing eyes toward him and he got that uncomfortable feeling in his stomach. It was obvious Vic was saying something about him. It became even clearer when Nelson stopped Vic by saying, “Hang on.” Nelson got up to leave the room for some privacy, but tipped the phone down, covering the mouthpiece to speak to Zach first. He said, “Don’t go anywhere.”
That didn’t sound good, Zach thought to himself. He recognized from Nelson’s end of the conversation coupled with Nelson’s demeanor that Vic was likely telling him something Zach wouldn’t want him to know. Like the fact that he had talked Ben into staying out beyond curfew. Zach craned his head to hear while trying to trim his nails by nervously chewing on them. He could hear no more than the muffled tones of his lover’s voice beyond the den doorway in the hall. He jumped up when he heard Nelson moving back toward the den.
“Hold it right there, young man,” Nelson said from the doorway.
“But, I have to go to the bathroom,” Zach explained, grasping for a reason to get out of the room.
Nelson looked at him suspiciously, knowing his lover was smart enough to have likely figured out the purpose of the phone call. But, he also thought Zach’s bladder might just be doing its part to protect its backdoor neighbor, if Zach had to go to the bathroom at all. Just in case he really had to go, Nelson said, “Hurry along and come right back in here, Zachary.”
The fact that Zach didn’t ask what was going on was more than enough evidence to convince Nelson that he knew exactly why Vic had called. He watched Zach go in the bathroom adjoining the den and Nelson took the time to put the phone back in its cradle. He sat back down on the sofa and drummed his fingers anxiously against his knee, waiting for Zach to return. Zach was anxious himself behind the bathroom door, trying desperately to think of a way out of facing Nelson. The harder he thought about it, the madder he got at Ben. There was no way he could be linked to Ben’s late afternoon without Ben opening his big mouth.
His thoughts were interrupted, and he jumped in surprise when Nelson knocked on the door. “Hurry up, Zachary. You can’t stay in there all night.”
Zach managed to still his heart and he called back, “I’m not DONE yet.”
“Make it quick. We have something to talk about.”
Thanks for the newsflash, Zach thought, but he said, “I’m coming. Just give me a minute.”
Nelson left Zach to his thoughts and took a look at his watch. Two more minutes and he would be back at the door if Zach hadn’t come out. Zach looked at his reflection in the mirror and demanded of himself, “Think!” His own eyes peered back at him, but no ideas for getting out of trouble lurked behind the baby blues. He rolled his eyes and took a deep breath before heading back to the den. He was so caught up in his thoughts that he forgot to flush the toilet for effect. It didn’t escape Nelson’s attention but he chose not to say anything.
Nelson rose from the sofa where he was sitting and he motioned for Zach to take a seat. Zach flopped down on the couch and Nelson asked, “Any idea why Vic might have been calling me?”
Zach turned wide eyes to Nelson and he answered, “Maybe?”
“Why don’t you tell me?” he asked but it was obvious from the inflection of his voice he wasn’t asking a question.
Oh, God. Zach didn’t want to hang his own self and had no idea exactly what Vic had said. What if he added something incriminating that Nelson didn’t already know? He tried to tell the story leaving his own actions out of it. “Well, I know Ben was late getting home tonight. I guess that’s why he called.”
“Hmm. Interesting that Vic would want me to know that. Why would he think it was necessary for me to know when Ben did something he shouldn’t have?” Zach crossed one sock-covered foot under his thigh and picked at the threads of the inseam on his jeans. “Zachary? What do you think?”
“I don’t know…”
“You don’t know or you don’t want to tell me?”
Zach kept his eyes on his leg and couldn’t seem to look up. “I don’t know?” he offered again.
Nelson came over closer and reached for Zach’s chin, tipping it up toward him. “I think you DO know. Do you want to take a guess at why Vic would think I needed to know Ben was late tonight?”
“No, sir,” Zach said, dropping his eyes away. He couldn’t lower his chin because Nelson still clung to it.
“Zachary Adam…” Nelson said, letting the sentence dangle without completion.
Zach took the use of his first and middle name as a sign that he needed to start talking, and talking fast. He tried a vague answer and said, “Maybe he thought it was my fault.”
Nelson wasn’t having it, and was not interested in ambiguity. He pressed for more details and asked, “Why would he think that?”
Zach snapped from his nerves, yanked his chin out of Nelson’s grip and said, “You know why he called and what he thinks! Why are you asking me all these questions when you know the answers already?”
Nelson leveled his gaze on Zach and he said calmly, “I want to hear the answers from you, Zachary.” He paused and watched Zach’s eyes drop once again. “Why would Vic think it was your fault?”
Zach knew it was over by the look on Nelson’s face. “I guess because I thought it was too early for Ben to go home at 5:00.”
“Since when are Vic’s rules subject to your approval?”
“They aren’t,” he answered earnestly.
“Tell me what you said to Ben,” Nelson directed.
Zach sighed and said, “I just told him it was too early. That’s all.”
“You didn’t mention that he had to be home earlier than you because Vic couldn’t trust him?”
Ouch. Ben could have left out that little detail, but no. “Well, it’s true,” Zach commented.
“Oh, I see. I didn’t realize you and Vic had discussed his rationale for setting a 5:00 curfew for Ben.”
Nelson’s sarcasm wasn’t a good sign. Zach asked in his own defense, “Why else would he make Ben get home so early?”
“That’s none of your business. The time Vic set for Ben to be home is between them, not them and you.”
“Well, just because I said it, is it my fault Ben believed me? If it was between them, he should have known it wasn’t true.”
Nelson stood silent for a moment, the quiet being extremely unsettling for Zach, causing him to squirm a bit on the sofa. “I know you, Zachary,” Nelson said. “You can be very convincing when you want to be. You were teasing him about it.”
It was obvious he was in trouble so he asked frankly, “So, I’m in trouble because Ben believed something he should have known wasn’t true? And, because Ben disobeyed Vic? How is that fair?” Zach asked with pleading eyes penetrating Nelson.
“No. You’re in trouble for disobeying me.”
Nelson’s comment confirmed what he already knew but he still wasn’t sure why he was in trouble. Zach asked, “What? What did I do?”
“I was just about to get to that,” Nelson said. “How many times have I told you not to taunt Benjamin?”
Zach’s mouth dropped open in surprise. “I didn’t TAUNT him. I just calmly pointed out how I saw things.”
“I understand. You were just trying to enlighten him, right? Your comments had nothing at all to do with the fact you wanted him to stay later so you could do what you wanted to do.” Zach blushed at his motives being found out. “I’m guessing that reasoning with him didn’t work so you had to try something else. You know what buttons to push to get Ben worked up so you pushed them.”
“I didn’t mean to get him in trouble.”
“You’ve known Vic a long time. Just what did you think would happen if Ben went home late?”
Zach said, “Ben didn’t have to listen to me. That’s not my fault.”
“No, Ben is responsible for his own actions, as are you. You aren’t in trouble because Ben went home late, but because of your role in making him decide to be.”
“But, that’s not fair!”
“I’ve told you time and again about teasing and pushing him. One day, you’re going to learn. Hopefully, that’s today.” Nelson walked over to where Zach sat on the sofa and pulled him to his feet. He took a seat in his place and began to work Zach’s belt buckle loose and then his fly.
“Nelson! This isn’t fair! I shouldn’t get in trouble for pointing out the truth! Telling the truth isn’t teasing!”
“You only told the ‘truth’ to get Ben to do what you wanted. He’s had to be home at 5:00 for a long time and suddenly you pick today to tell him the truth as you see it?”
“It IS true. If Vic trusted Ben, he wouldn’t set such a ridiculously early curfew.” Zach continued to argue even as his jeans slid down his thighs. “I wasn’t ‘taunting’ him!”
Nelson paused in his efforts to bare Zach’s bottom so he could respond, taking both of Zach’s hands in his own. “What did I say? You don’t know why Vic set 5:00 as the time for Ben to be home, but you knew that was the set time. I don’t care if we call it ‘taunting’, ‘teasing’, ‘pushing’ or whatever. We’ve talked about it before. This is a perfect example of what is not appropriate and you know it. Don’t you?” Zach looked down and didn’t answer. “Don’t you?” Nelson asked again, giving Zach’s hands a squeeze.
Zach looked miserably at Nelson, not ready to admit to any wrong-doing. He was vaguely aware of the sweat breaking out on his palms in nervous anticipation. Having them held in Nelson’s hands just made them feel hotter.
Nelson continued, “You pushed him to get your way and that caused him to get in trouble. You knew better. Didn’t you?” Zach looked at the floor. “Didn’t you, young man?” Zach stood silently again, still not willing to cave. “I didn’t hear you, Zachary.”
Zach said, “Maybe. But, not really! I just told him what I thought and he agreed!”
Nelson slipped Zach’s underwear down and put his hand in the small of Zach’s back, pushing him toward his lap. Zach leaned down and laid himself over Nelson’s knees, protesting the whole time. “And, I still don’t think it’s fair, Nelson. It’s not! Just because Ben listened to me, I’m getting a spanking?” Zach’s voice cracked with tears, knowing once at this point, there would be no turning back. At least it had never happened before.
“Zach, I’m going to tell you this again,” Nelson said from above him. “I’m not spanking you for Ben’s decision but for yours in goading him. I’ve told you many times not to do it. This time, you convinced him to do something that got him into trouble.”
“But, he didn’t have to stay out past curfew just because I said something. It’s not my fault! I didn’t goad him!” Zach complained to the sofa cushions.
“I’m obviously not making my point,” Nelson said. “Did you or did you not tease Ben about his curfew being earlier than yours?”
As much as Zach hated having a conversation in this position, it was buying him some time. He thought briefly about his answer. “I don’t know if you could call it ‘teasing’,” he said.
“What would you call it, Zachary?” Nelson asked.
Zach could feel the weight of Nelson’s hand resting against his bottom and it was severely distracting. His mind raced to come up with the perfect descriptor that would give a name to what he did without getting him in trouble. He came up empty so he said, “I don’t know what you would call it. But, I wasn’t teasing or pushing him! He just made me look bad to Vic because he was in trouble!”
Nelson tipped Zach up and pulled him into his lap. He could see Zach was obviously not convinced he was deserving of a spanking so he felt he should explain the reason more clearly before proceeding. It was important that Zach understand and accept that he needed to be punished, if in fact, he did. Zach was just too insistent that he didn’t do anything wrong to go further without some clarification. He wanted to be sure Ben hadn’t exaggerated Zach’s actions to save his own skin.
Zach was surprised to find himself on Nelson’s lap and was momentarily hopeful that he wouldn’t be getting a spanking. His pants were still around his knees but that could be quickly remedied if Nelson changed his mind. He was afraid to believe it could be true, but there was a first time for everything.
His hopes were dashed when Nelson said, “Vic’s version of events is somewhat different from your recollection. He said Ben went home late after being pushed by you. You’re telling me that isn’t how it happened. I think maybe we need to get Ben and Vic on the phone and the four of us discuss the situation and see if we can’t come up with a scenario that we all agree on.”
Zach blushed furiously and said, “I don’t want to call them.”
“Why not? If Ben exaggerated and you didn’t do anything, I want to know it and Vic should know it, too.”
“But, it doesn’t make any difference,” Zach said.
Nelson locked his arms around Zach’s middle, intertwining his fingers against Zach’s bare hip. “I disagree. It could make a difference in whether you get a spanking or not.” He looked at Zach closely trying to read his thoughts. Zach’s blush told him Vic’s version was likely the more accurate of the two, but until Zach admitted it, he wasn’t going further with punishment.
Zach knew if they were all on the phone, he would have a difficult time minimizing his role in the events of the day without all-out lying. He knew how things happened and knew that Nelson would not be impressed. Zach said, “I don’t want you to spank me, but I don’t want to call them either.”
“Well, Zach, as it stands right now, I have two accounts of what happened. The one Vic relayed to me means you’re in trouble. The one you told me means Ben might be in further trouble for implicating you unjustly. I’m not comfortable punishing you unless I know what really happened.”
Zach knew how things would end if Nelson called Vic and thought it might even be worse if it came down to Zach having to admit what he did after the call. He was comforted by the fact that Nelson was willing to believe him but also guilty at not being totally honest about what he had done. Zach’s mouth turned down in a frown and tears threatened to spill over. He looked at Nelson and said, “Don’t call them. It was sort of like Vic said.”
“Sort of how?” Nelson asked gently.
“I didn’t mean it, Nelson. Things just got out of hand. Ben wanted to go home like he was supposed to but I wanted to stop by Sam’s to check out the new DVD releases. He was riding with me so if I took him home, I wouldn’t have time to go to Sam’s without being late myself.”
“I see. So, what did you say to him?”
“What I already told you I said, but he got mad and we started arguing,” Zach paused to wipe a hand over his wet eyes.
“Go on,” Nelson prompted.
“I got mad, too and that’s when I told him he had to go home early because Vic didn’t trust him. But, HE decided not to go home. It wasn’t like I made him stay.”
“I never said you did. Why did I say I was going to punish you?”
Zach swallowed hard and said, “Because I ‘taunted’ Ben. But, I didn’t.”
“You don’t think you were taunting him when you said things intentionally to upset him?”
“I didn’t think I was,” Zach said. “I just wanted to go to Sam’s.”
“I know you did. But, instead of going another time or putting yourself at risk of being in trouble, you chose to push Ben into making a bad decision. Didn’t you?”
A tear slipped down Zach’s face and he angrily wiped it away. He whispered, “Yes, sir.”
Nelson sighed deeply and said, “I don’t think we need to call them after all, do you?”
Zach hadn’t wanted to call them anyway but was too choked up to point that out so he just shook his head ‘no’. Nelson planted a kiss to his cheek and pushed him off his lap saying, “Hop up.” Zach quickly found himself back across Nelson’s lap, looking at the cushions. He didn’t see the need to restrain the tears any longer and let them flow before Nelson even began.
Nelson said, “I don’t want you teasing Ben or goading him into trouble. I mean that. We’ve talked about it before and we’ll continue to do so until you get the message. Is that clear?”
Zach squeaked out a “Yes, sir” and Nelson began. His large open palm smacked down hard against Zach’s bottom, which was clenching against the anticipated swat. Nelson saw the evidence of his first swat appear in the form of a red handprint against Zach’s right cheek before he added a matching print to the left. Zach’s pleas were almost indistinguishable but Nelson made out several “sorrys” and “please don’ts” while his hand was falling until Zach gave up and just cried. Nelson judged the spanking complete by the color of Zach’s cheeks and his tears.
He stopped the spanking and pulled Zach up once again, leading him to the big chair with his feet shuffling against his downed pants. Nelson stopped to pull his pants carefully back in place then continued to “their” chair. He settled into the cushions and got Zach situated in his lap, his head resting against Nelson’s shoulder, tears still falling. Nelson hugged him tightly and reached for the box of tissues on the end table. He moved Zach’s hands from his face and wiped at the falling tears. Zach took the tissue from him and held it to his eyes to absorb the leak there.
Finally, the tears began to subside and Nelson handed Zach a clean tissue to blow his stuffy nose. Zach said through his hiccups, “I didn’t mean for it to happen. It just got out of control.”
“I know you didn’t. But, you need to learn to control yourself when things get out of whack like that.”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Shhh,” Nelson said. “It’s all right.”
Zach sat quietly except for the sounds of his breath hitching. Nelson held him, stroking his back to further calm and reassure him. Nelson said, “You’ll need to apologize to both Vic and Ben.”
Zach frowned to himself and looked at the mangled tissue in his hand, his head still lying against Nelson’s shoulder. “I don’t want to talk to Ben. He got me in trouble.”
“He did not, Zachary. YOU got you in trouble by disobeying me.”
Zach disagreed. “He did so. He told on me.”
“If you had taken him home like you should have, he wouldn’t have had anything to tell, now would he?” Zach couldn’t think of an argument to counter with so he kept quiet. “Would he, Zach?”
Damn. Nelson wouldn’t stop until he admitted it so Zach said, “No, sir.”
“I expect you to apologize and I don’t want to hear any arguments about it. You’d better not start anything with Benji later either. Do you understand me?”
Zach sniffed and answered, “Yes, sir.”
“I mean it, Zach. If I find out you did, you’re going to get another spanking.”
“Okay! I said I understood.”
Nelson kissed the top of Zach’s head and said, “I hope you do.”
“I do,” Zach insisted.
After several more minutes passed and Zach’s breathing was back to normal, Nelson said, “Let’s get that phone call out of the way.”
“Wait!” Zach said in a panic. He was in no mood to apologize at the moment, still being plenty angry with Ben, especially with the throb in his butt still fresh. “Don’t make me talk to them now!”
Nelson pushed him off his lap and went for the phone. “You need to apologize. I want it done tonight.”
Zach stomped his foot, which didn’t accomplish the effect he was going for with it covered in a sock. He hoped his grunt of displeasure helped communicate how he felt about it. From the look on Nelson’s face, it did.
Nelson said, “Unless you’d rather go over there…”
Zach’s eyes went wide and he scurried over as carefully as he could to take the phone Nelson held out to him. He certainly didn’t want to have to face them; apologizing on the phone with a stuffy nose would be bad enough. Nelson bit back a smile at Zach’s sudden attitude of cooperation and watched him dial the phone number to their friends’ house.
Zach glared his displeasure at Nelson while he waited for someone to pick up. Vic answered on the second ring. “Vic? It’s me,” Zach said into the phone.
“Hi, sweetheart,” Vic answered simply. He was pretty sure of the nature of the call so he waited for Zach to proceed.
“I’m…I’m sorry for today,” Zach said and was met with silence from the other end.
Vic was obviously looking for more detail as was Nelson because he uttered a simple, “Zachary…”
Zach exhaled loudly and continued, “I shouldn’t have been...,” he hesitated, looking again for the right word. He glanced at Nelson for help but all he got was a “Go ahead”. “I shouldn’t have tried to get him to stay late. I should have brought him home when he asked me to.”
“Thank you, Zach. I appreciate the apology. Don’t worry about it.”
Zach breathed a sigh of relief. One down and one to go. “Can I talk to Benji, please?” he asked.
Vic said, “Sure, hang on.” He held the phone out to Ben who shook his head vehemently. He knew it was Zach and that he was likely angry with him. Ben was in no hurry to talk to his friend. Vic held the phone to his chest to cover the receiver and said, “Benjamin. You need to hear what he has to say.”
“I don’t want to,” he said with a pout. Vic raised his eyebrows at him, and Ben rolled his eyes and held his hand out for the phone. He put it to his ear but said nothing until Vic snapped his fingers at him. “Hello?” he said quietly.
Zach frowned and said, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to get you into trouble.”
Zach’s tone confirmed for Ben that his friend was indeed angry with him, and his still-stuffy nose gave away that he had likely been in trouble as well. Ben knew if that were the case, Zach was only calling because Nelson made him. He said abruptly, “Fine,” then handed the phone back to Vic. Vic held up both hands and looked hard at Ben, so he placed the phone back up to his ear. “Is that all?” he asked with a sigh.
Zach could tell Ben was tense himself and wondered if he was mad also. Zach supposed he had a right to be, and after thinking it through briefly, was pretty sure his long-time friend was angry with him. After all, if Zach had just taken him home like he asked, Ben wouldn’t have gotten into trouble. He softened and said, “Look, I really mean it, Benji. I should have taken you home like you asked and not given you a hard time about being home at 5:00. I’m sorry.”
Zach’s sincere apology hit home for Ben. Even though he knew the call had to have been prompted by Nelson, Zach sounded like he meant what he was saying. Ben wanted things to be back to normal between him and Zach, so he said, “It’s okay. I’m sorry Vic tattled on you.” He cast a glare at his lover who didn’t look like he felt the least bit guilty for being a rat.
“That’s okay. I deserved it. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Yeah, bye.” Ben hung up the phone and went to Vic who had his arms held out for his young partner.
“Do you feel better now?” Vic asked, hugging Ben tightly.
“Yeah. He doesn’t sound mad at me. Well, he did at first, but not when we hung up.”
“Good,” Vic said. “I told you everything would be fine.” He kissed Ben’s head and turned him by his arm, delivering a sharp swat to his still-tender backside.
“OW!” Ben exclaimed then hissed through his teeth.
“That’s for the ‘tattle’ comment,” Vic explained.
“You ARE a tattletale,” Ben said with a pout, putting a hand to the fresh sting.
“Only when I need to be.” Vic took Ben’s face in his hands and kissed the pouting lips. “When will you learn to trust me?”
Ben said, “I trust you. I just didn’t want Zach to be mad.”
“I know you didn’t, but Nelson needed to know. It’s all over now, and no one’s mad at anyone.”
“Thank God,” Ben said, folding his hands in prayer.
Vic threw back his head and laughed before dropping his arm around Ben’s shoulders. Ben laid his head on Vic’s shoulder and followed him to the living room to settle down for the evening.
End
