Title: When Dad’s Away
Author: Nelson
Date: April 2004
Cordelia’s attention was captured by the sound of angry voices coming down the hallway, and she looked up in time to see the owners of those voices appear, stamping down the corridor.
Spike had his hands on either side of Connor, resting on his shoulders, and pushing him along in a determined march. “I SAID bedtime, and I don’t want to hear more of your lip. I’ve heard quite enough of it for one day.”
Connor tried to wriggle free from Spike’s grasp, but he stubbornly clung like a pit bull. Spike’s fingers dug in, not loosening one bit, but that didn’t stop Connor from trying. “Leave me alone!” Connor squealed. “I said I’m not tired!”
He whirled around suddenly, his eyes fixed on Spike, and planted his feet firmly in place to face him. Spike approached, and Connor shot his hands up in front of him to push Spike back then crossed his arms over his chest. His blue eyes dared Spike to try to move him. Gunn heard the scuffle and came around from behind the desk, mainly to see if Spike needed any help with the defiant son of their boss. Connor’s tantrums and attitude were nothing new, but with Angel gone, he knew it might take more than one of them to get him under control. “Need anything, Spike?” he asked with his eyes fixed on Connor.
Spike cut his eyes over at Gunn then back at Connor in a millisecond. “No. Because Connor is going to bed like he’s supposed to. Aren’t you, Connor?”
“I’m. Not. Tired,” he challenged. His unkempt hair fell over his eyes and he shook the light brown strands out of his face.
Spike closed his eyes slowly in exasperation then his lids rose at the same pace. “You are going to bed, RIGHT now,” he answered slowly, “or I’m calling your father to tell him about this little show of yours. See if that makes you more tired.”
Connor glowered at Spike, but mentally flinched at the threat. He was careful not to let it show on his face. “You wouldn’t call Dad over this…” Connor said.
As though it had been there all the time, Spike’s cell phone appeared in his palm, and a flick of his thumb brought the cover open. The same thumb hovered over the number two pad and he said, “Angel’s on my speed-dial. Won’t take me a second to call him.”
Connor’s nostrils flared as he breathed heavily in anger, a scowl defining his features. “Why can’t you leave me alone!” he screeched. “You’re not the boss of me!”
“Why can’t YOU do as you’re told for once?!” Spike snarled back. “Just because your Dad’s not here, you have to act like a little…”
“Whoa, whoa,” Lorne said from across the room. He made his way over to the two and squeezed between them. “I’m sorry, but I don’t do ‘tense’,” he said with a wave of his hands and a shake of his head. “And, this is definitely tense. What’s the problem, Cupcake?” he asked Connor.
Connor’s forefinger shot out accusingly at Spike. “HE thinks he can boss me around just because Dad’s gone!” Connor said with a glare at Spike.
“More like YOU think you can act like a spoiled-rotten brat,” Spike retorted. “Which isn’t much of an act, by the way.”
“I’m NOT a brat, and I’m NOT a kid! You can’t make me go to bed. I’ll go when I’m good and ready and not before!” he argued vehemently.
“Oh, GOD, you are SO a brat,” Spike said, gazing to the ceiling for assurance from on high. Shifting his focus back to Connor, he said, “And, you damn well ARE a kid. One WITH a set bedtime. That’s not news to you.”
Connor shook his head slowly and said, “I don’t know what my Dad sees in you.”
“Why don’t I call him and you can ask him after I tell him about how you’re acting?” At the second threat to call his father, Connor reeled it in a bit, choosing not to retort. Spike took the opportunity to try to help the boy see reason. “What time do you go to bed EVERY night?” Connor faltered, but didn’t take his eyes from Spike. “Well? Speak up, boy, I can’t hear you,” Spike said sarcastically.
“I’m not tired,” he repeated quietly.
Lorne stepped in again, trying to get things under control before they spiraled even further downhill. “Now, Sugar Lump, you know you go to bed at 10:00. I’m going myself. Why don’t you and I go up together, hmm? Don’t do anything to get your Dad’s dander up. It’s never pretty.” He looped an arm around Connor’s shoulder intending to lead him to the stairs.
Connor finally took his eyes from Spike and said while wrenching himself out of Lorne’s clutches, “I just don’t see the need in going to bed when I’m not tired. I’m not a baby.”
“You certainly ACT like…” Spike started before being interrupted by Lorne.
“You act like a teenager, Cupcake,” he said at a pitch high enough to override Spike and cut him off. “A teenager whose Dad has dictated a 10PM bedtime,” Lorne said gently. “That’s not Spike’s fault. Now, come on; let’s go before you two give me an ulcer. I can’t take the shouting. Please? For Lorne?”
Connor failed to give in, standing steadfastly where he was. Cordelia came around the counter and approached Connor when his fiery eyes fixed back on Spike. “Connor,” she said forcefully. “Go to your room. Please. It’s time for bed.” If anyone could get him moving by merely asking, Cordelia could. He looked to her doubtfully, not wanting to have lost to Spike, but wanting to please her at the same time. He argued within himself, trying to determine how he could go to bed and still maintain his dignity.
All eyes in the room were on him, and they saw him visibly relax. He tipped his chin down, and he looked first at Cordelia then at Lorne. “Fine. I’ll go.” He drilled Spike with a caustic glare and asked, “Happy?”
“Hardly,” Spike said, crossing his arms over his dark gray t-shirt.
“Come on, Doll,” Lorne said, putting an arm around Connor again. “Let’s go. I’m beat.”
“Connor’s the one who should be beaten,” Spike muttered as they walked away, and Connor whirled around to let Spike know he heard the crack, and to let him know he didn’t appreciate it. His middle finger was on the rise when Lorne quickly covered the offending digit.
He expelled a nervous laugh as his fingers closed over Connor’s fist. “Ohhhh, wait a second,” he said. He turned Connor again with his mouth hanging open, ready to combat Spike’s words and supplement the visual. Lorne said, “No need for that.” Connor reluctantly went with Lorne, giving in to his gentle urging. “Come on, Connor. He’s just angry. Let’s not upset him any more than he already is.”
“That’s right, I’m angry,” Spike goaded. “I get sick and tired of hearing your lip when your Dad’s gone,” he said, raising his voice to carry up the stairs behind Connor.
Connor turned around again midway up the stairs and said, “Well, if you’re tired, YOU go to bed and leave me alone!”
“Ooohohoh,” Spike said with an ominous chuckle. “You just wait until your father gets…” he started to say before he stopped himself. He pressed the heel of his hand to the bridge of his nose between his eyes. “God, I can’t believe I almost said that,” he muttered to himself.
“Tell Dad, if you’re going to!” Connor snapped. “See if I care!”
“ONE more word out of you…” Spike said, letting the open threat hang in the air.
“And, you’ll what?” Connor demanded, his head high.
“You don’t want to know,” he said.
Connor snorted a laugh as Lorne turned him around, prompting him up the stairs. He muttered, over his shoulder, “That’s what I thought.”
“Connor!” Spike said, heading for the stairs. Lorne picked up the pace to get Connor quickly up the stairs, while Cordelia rushed over to Spike at the same time.
Her hand went to Spike’s and she grasped it, catching him before he could get any closer to the stairs. “Spike,” she said and he turned to her. “Please, you’re making him worse.”
“Worse?!” Spike asked incredulously. “Worse??!! Just stake me if that happens. I won’t have the will to live.”
“He’s just a teenager; too old to be a kid and too young to be a man.”
“Well, he’s a BOY. And, I’ll have you know, that boy all but cursed me in the other room,” he said with a thumb pointed toward the hallway. “He knows damn well what time he goes to bed.”
“I know. He’s just pushing because Angel isn’t here.”
“I hope he bloody well hurries back before I throttle his kid,” Spike said, looking toward the void on the stairs where Connor disappeared with Lorne.
Cordelia gave him a supportive smile while she tucked her hair behind one ear. “Well, you know he’s going to give you grief if he gives it to Angel – which we know he does.”
“Yeah, but he also knows when to stop with Angel,” Spike pointed out.
Cordelia raised her eyebrows and turned away to go back to what she was doing, and Spike followed her. “Maybe he needs to know that with you, too, Spike. Draw the line in the sand.”
“Ha!” Spike exclaimed, collapsing onto the round sofa in the waiting area. “I’m not punishing him. He argues with me enough as it is. I’m not adding fuel, love.” He propped his elbow against his folded arm, and covered his eyes with his hand. “I can’t even get the little bugger to go to bed.”
Fred chimed in and said, “He just needs to know you’re the Alpha male when Angel isn’t here.”
Spike twisted his mouth around in a sideways grin, and peeked at her under his hand. “Why don’t I just let Angel tell him about that?”
“Are you telling Angel about how he acted tonight?” Gunn asked.
“I’m thinking on it,” Spike said. “It wears me out just trying to deal with him. He’s not nearly so bad when Angel’s here.”
“I think he’d want to know,” Gunn said.
“I might just tell him after I strangle him for leaving the hellion with us,” Spike considered.
“He’s not so bad,” Fred said, taking a seat beside Spike with a smile on her face. “He’s just testing his limits, like all young boys do.”
Spike smiled back at her and said, “All right, love. We’ll have YOU put him to bed tomorrow night if Angel isn’t back. How’s that?”
“I don’t mind talking to him,” she offered. “He just needs someone to listen to him, and explain things to him.”
“I’ll explain things…” Spike muttered. “He needs things explained to his backside.”
“You two fight like cats and dogs when Angel isn’t here,” she said with a chuckle.
Spike rolled his eyes up at her from his slumped position on the couch. “It’s tiring. He argues with me just because he can. If I say ‘it’s black’ he’ll say ‘it’s white’ just for the bloody hell of it.”
“Maybe you need to make it so he can’t argue with you,” Gunn suggested. “Or, make it so he won’t want to.”
“What should I do?” Spike asked sitting up. “Tape his smart-aleck mouth closed?”
“Talk to Angel when he and Wes get back. See what he suggests,” Gunn said.
Spike leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, checking his fingernails. “You know, I don’t want to tell on him, believe it or not. Angel wouldn’t be happy about this, not one bit. I’d rather handle it myself, but I don’t want to do that either.”
“You need to establish dominance,” Fred said. “He needs to know you’re the boss, because right now, he sure doesn’t see you that way.”
Spike looked over at her and kissed her cheek. “Then, I guess I’m telling on him.”
She grinned at Spike and pushed him away. “You’re so crazy.”
“If I’m not already, that kid will drive me there.”
Cordelia chimed in and said, “With all this talk of bedtime, I think I need to go home and get to bed myself.”
“Dennis will be waiting for you,” Fred said, referring to Cordelia’s resident ghost.
“Yeah,” she said. “He gets cranky when I’m late.” She grabbed her jacket as she rounded the counter and said, “’Night everyone.”
************
It wasn’t much later that everyone went to bed, leaving Spike alone with his thoughts. All he could think about was the exchange with Connor that had built up throughout the course of the day. Connor had pushed Spike on every front, until Spike had enough. He thanked the gods that Angel didn’t leave very often. He needed to tell Angel, as much as he didn’t want to have to. He knew damn good and well what Angel would think of Connor’s behavior, and so did Connor.
Worried over the boy after their heated exchange, he decided to slip upstairs to check on him, to be sure he was sleeping all right. He glided easily up the stairs and cracked open the door enough to see inside. The moonlight shone brightly enough to illuminate the bed. The empty bed. Panic struck his heart as he realized Connor had given them all the slip, probably while they discussed him downstairs. He hoped Connor was in the bathroom, but was not optimistic he would find him there. Seeing the bathroom empty as well, he grabbed the door handle. “Bloody hell,” he muttered, closing the door more soundly than he meant to. He went to the kitchen to see if the boy was there, grumbling the whole way.
He entered the kitchen to see the refrigerator door standing open, and someone bent over to look inside. “Connor?” he asked. Lorne straightened up from the fridge and looked over the door at Spike.
“Sorry, Sweet Cheeks. Just me,” he said. He saw the worry creep back into Spike’s face and he asked, “What’s wrong? Or, do I want to know?”
“You don’t want to know,” Spike said. “I’m going to kill him.”
“Let me guess; someone’s gone AWOL.”
“You got it,” Spike said. “Damn it! I should have known better, that little…”
Lorne shook his head and guided Spike to the kitchen table. “Now, don’t get worked up. We don’t know where he is. Maybe he just needed some air.”
“He’ll need it when I choke him,” Spike hissed. “What should we do? Should I call Angel?”
Lorne looked at the clock on the wall behind Spike. “I don’t know. It’s only midnight. He’s been gone two hours if he left right away. Maybe he’ll come straight back.”
“Or, maybe he won’t,” Spike said with a grimace. “God, Angel! I’m going to kill you or your son, whichever I encounter first!”
Lorne sighed. “Maybe you should call him.”
“I think I will,” Spike said wearily, snapping his cell phone off his belt. He flipped the phone open and pressed the two pad for speed-dial. He scowled when he got the “cellular customer you are trying to reach…” message. “Fuckin’ hell. What good are these things if you can’t ever reach anyone?”
“Maybe we should wake Gunn and go look for him,” Lorne suggested.
“He could be anywhere. We could look all night and never come across him,” Spike said.
“Then we should stay here. He won’t stay gone forever. He has to come home sometime.”
********
Spike snapped the phone closed again after trying Angel for about the hundredth time. Lorne had gone back up to bed a half-hour ago, leaving Spike to pace the floor alone. His footsteps stopped when he heard the front door swing open. He abruptly turned to face the miscreant who was walking in as though nothing were wrong.
“Where have you been?” Spike demanded as Connor sauntered into the entryway of the hotel.
“Out,” he replied simply. He walked toward the stairs and was halted by Spike’s hand on his arm. Connor glanced at it then into Spike’s hard eyes. “You have a problem with that?” he asked sarcastically.
Spike used his grip on Connor’s arm to turn him around to face him. “Yes, in fact, I do. You know you aren’t to leave here without a word to anyone. Your father has told you that time and again.”
Meeting Spike’s eyes, Connor said, “Yeah?” He took a pause to glance around the room. “Well, Dad isn’t here, is he?”
Posing as he’d seen Angel do on many occasions, Spike put his hands on his hips and said, “No, he isn’t. But, that doesn’t change the rules for you. You were supposed to be in bed, not wandering the city.”
“It’s none of your business,” Connor said defiantly. “You aren’t my father.” Then, knowing the relationship between his father and Spike, he added, looking Spike up and down, “Or, my mother.”
Spike blinked his eyes slowly and pursed his lips. “No, but I know your father. Quite well, actually, and I’m guessing he’ll think it’s HIS business, though, won’t he?” Spike asked ominously, totally ignoring the “mother” reference. Connor’s eyes faltered and he looked cautiously at Spike, the defiance beginning to slip away. Spike saw the change and moved in for the kill. “Yes, he will; I’m sure of it. And, he WILL be hearing about this when he gets back.”
Connor sensed there wasn’t the slightest bluff in Spike’s threat. His Dad would hear about this for sure, unless Connor could change Spike’s mind. Looking into the unhappy face of his father’s lover, he knew that was going to be a tall order. “Look, Spike, I’m sorry if I worried you. And, I’m sorry I’ve given you a hard time tonight. Dad doesn’t need to know about this.”
“Ooooh…repentant all of a sudden, are we?” Spike asked crossing his arms, with one eyebrow hitched up questioningly. “You think Angel doesn’t need to know about this? I think he does. As soon as he comes home, I’m going to tell him,” Spike announced. “All of it. Then, maybe you’ll think twice about pulling this stunt the next time he has to leave or about using that smart mouth of yours on me.”
Connor thought to the last time he had “pulled this stunt” when his Dad was home. He wasn’t so much worried about the fight over bedtime, but he had been promised a paddling if he ever left without a word again. He hated that thing. Hated the feel of it against him before Angel started bringing it down on his butt, then hated the wicked sting it always produced. It hurt far worse than a hand spanking, and that hurt bad enough. “Don’t tell him, Spike. Please?”
After having worried most of the evening, Spike enjoyed Connor’s unease. It was a pleasant change to the haughty attitude he was showing just moments ago. “Why shouldn’t I tell him? He’s your father; he needs to know.” Spike said.
Connor thought about it and chose not to admit the real reason. He was aware that Spike knew he had been spanked for it before and would likely be spanked again. What Connor wasn’t sure of was whether or not Angel had told Spike he planned to paddle Connor if it happened again; Connor wasn’t going to tell him. “He’ll be mad,” was the best he could do. “You know how he is when he gets mad, and he’ll be really mad.”
Spike looked at him, saying nothing for a moment. “I should say so,” he finally said slowly and deliberately. “As I recall,” he said, surveying Connor, “he wasn’t exactly…shall we say, “happy”?… the last time you did it.” Connor looked away uneasily, remembering the last time. It was all too vivid in his mind.
Lorne came into the room about that time, interrupting the uncomfortable thought. “Connor!” Connor looked around at the sound of his voice, and Lorne approached him from across the room, his silken robe swishing with his movements. “Where have you been, Kitten? You worried us.”
“I just needed some space. I was just going to try to convince Spike of that.” Lorne looked from Connor to Spike, and saw the determination in the vampire’s eyes.
“Well, you had us worried,” Lorne explained again. “We didn’t know where you were or if you were safe.”
“I can take care of myself,” Connor pointed out.
“That’s not the point,” Spike said. “Go to bed, Connor. Where you should have been already. I’ll fill Angel in as soon as he comes home.”
Not concerned with the fact that Lorne was standing there, Connor pleaded again, “Please, Spike. Don’t tell him.”
“Go to bed, I said,” Spike said evenly.
“But, Spike…” Connor said.
“No. Mum will be up to check on you shortly,” he answered smartly, “and make sure you’re where you’re supposed to be this time.”
Lorne looked over at Spike quizzically and mouthed, “Mum?” Spike’s eyes cut over to Lorne then back expectantly at Connor. When Connor didn’t move, he pointed toward the stairs. Knowing how stubborn Spike could be but still hopeful he could change his mind, Connor went upstairs as he was asked, not intending to make him any angrier.
His stomach flip-flopped in his belly, worried about when his father would be home. He knew what to expect, and knew that Spike would, in fact, tell him everything. He slipped out of his jeans and shirt, leaving nothing on but his underwear, then pulled on a t-shirt. He crawled into bed and peered into the dark, waiting for Spike to come up as he promised. His stomach clenched again at the thought of facing his father and the damn paddle. It would hurt, and he knew his Dad wouldn’t stop until he was reduced to tears; in fact, he’d go further than that. He hated crying almost as much as having his pants down for a spanking. The whole business was humiliating. His mind churned, searching for a way out, when he thought again of Spike.
Spike had never spanked him or punished him in any other way. But, he had seemed mad enough to try it tonight. Not just after the disappearing act, but earlier when Connor refused to go to bed. Connor thought about Spike’s build; slight and muscular, not much taller than Connor. But, compared to his father, Spike was quite small. His Dad was much larger than either of them, and had a powerful right arm. Connor thought it through and decided he should take his chances with Spike. Spike didn’t have any experience in spanking or punishing teenagers, to his knowledge, and Connor was hopeful he might get off easier, even with Spike angry.
His attention was drawn to the door when he heard footsteps approaching and his stomach clenched involuntarily as he waited for it to swing open; the thought crossed his mind that it could be Angel. It was only Spike, a possible savior of sorts.
“Well, at least you can be a good little boy about some things,” he commented when he saw Connor in bed. He leaned against the doorway with his arms folded, and Connor could see his outline in the light from the hall. “Do I need to stay in here tonight and hold you down in the bed?”
Connor sat up and peered at Spike in the darkness. “Spike?”
“What?”
“Dad’s going to spank me if you tell him,” Connor explained bluntly.
“I know he will. I think he should,” Spike replied. “I’ll hold you down for that, too, if he wants me to.”
Connor threw his legs over the side of the bed and clicked on the bedside lamp. “What if I let you do it instead, will you not tell him?”
Spike threw back his head and laughed. “Let ME do it?” he asked as the laughter died. “Not my place,” he said. “Sorry, boy.”
“But, you CAN do it. Please? I won’t fight you.”
“Wouldn’t matter if you did,” Spike said somberly. “But, I’m not doin’ it. Your Dad can handle it when he gets home.”
“Please, Spike? Please?”
“No,” Spike said without hesitation.
Connor rose from the bed and went to Spike, taking his hand and tugging him toward the bed. “Come on, Spike. You just have to sit on the edge of the bed and I’ll lie across your lap…”
Spike cut him off, “I KNOW how a spanking goes. I don’t need a lesson from you. I said, ‘no’.” Spike stopped following halfway to the bed. “Get back in bed. You’ll just have to wait for your father to do it.”
Connor was banking on the fact that Spike wouldn’t spank as hard as Angel, so he kicked the pleading up into high gear. “Please, Spike!” he said pulling on Spike’s arm again. “Don’t make me wait for Dad to do it. I’ll worry about it all night. I can’t take it.”
Spike looked into the eyes of his lover’s son and tried to read them. “Yes, you can. What you’re hoping is that I don’t spank as hard as he does since I don’t have any practice.” Connor swallowed and looked at Spike. He wasn’t going to admit it.
He went for the ultimate award in acting and said, “But, I’m scared… Don’t let him spank me… Please?”
Spike snorted in disbelief. “Scared, my arse.”
The two stood looking at each other, trying to read the thoughts behind the eyes they looked into. Spike thought about the proposition and was overwhelmed with the advice he was given unbidden by the group downstairs. He needed to set boundaries, be the Alpha male. Maybe this was just the thing that needed to happen. Spike suddenly took Connor by the hand and pulled him over to the bed. “Careful what you ask for, my boy.”
“What are you doing?” Connor asked with alarm in his voice, when he saw the resolute expression on Spike’s face.
“I’m going to spank you like you wanted,” Spike said, taking a seat on the edge of the bed. “But, I can assure you, it won’t be the stroll in the park you’re hoping for.”
“Wait,” Connor said, suddenly concerned that he’d made the wrong choice. Spike looked terribly determined and he HAD been rather angry. “Are you still mad at me?”
“You’re not my favorite person right now, but that has nothing to do with what’s about to happen. You wanted me to do it, now let’s do it. Get your knickers down.” Spike indicated the boy’s briefs and waited for Connor to comply.
“Ummm,” Connor said, second-guessing his decision, and he started shaking his head. Spike was already showing he had too much knowledge on the proper way to spank by telling Connor to remove his underwear, and doubt reared its head. Connor said, “No, I’m not pulling my pants down for you to spank me. Pulling my pants down wasn’t part of the deal.”
Spike stood from the bed immediately and said, “Fine,” hands thrown up in the air. “Let Angel do it. I reckon he’ll let you leave your pants on,” Spike pointed out darkly with a smirk. “I didn’t want to do it anyway.”
He started toward the door lithely, and flashes of the last spanking attacked Connor’s memory, as he saw his only hope walking away. It had been bad enough with only Angel’s hand, and he didn’t want a repeat of the same with the paddle. He quickly compared his options: dropping his pants in front of Spike or getting paddled by his Dad. Somehow, baring his ass for Spike’s hand didn’t seem so bad. Connor said, “NO! Wait, Spike. Come back. I’m sorry. I’ll pull my pants down.” Spike turned from the door and looked hard at Connor. “I will. I swear. Just don’t tell Dad, okay?”
“I’m not promising not to tell your father. But, I will tell him that I’ve already punished you, if I do it.”
It wasn’t the promise Connor wanted, but it would have to do. He hesitated and said, “Okay. Deal.” His father was a reasonable man, after all. He hoped he would be reasonable enough to consider a spanking from Spike punishment enough.
Spike eyes held his momentarily, and he stood where he was, unmoving. Connor worried that he wasn’t going to punish him after all, deciding instead to leave it to his father. Eventually, he took a step toward the bed then stopped again. He asked, “You’re sure? Any more of your nonsense, and I’ll leave it to Angel to deal with.”
“I’m…I’m sure,” Connor stammered.
“Right. Then, let’s get this done,” Spike said. He walked over to the bed and sat back down where he had been. “Now, where were we? Ah, yes,” he said, smacking his thighs. “You were about to pull your pants down, I believe. Is that what you remember?”
Connor swallowed hard and nodded his head, his fingers moving to his waistband. He hooked his thumbs under the elastic, and looked up at Spike hopefully. Spike’s eyes hardened into narrow slits, and Connor immediately began to lower his underwear when he saw the change in his expression. He slipped his underwear down his thighs, and automatically covered his penis, although his t-shirt covered it for the most part.
Spike’s gaze followed Connor’s hands as they moved to cover his crotch. “I’m not interested in that,” Spike said with a dismissive wave toward Connor’s penis. “It’s the other side I’m interested in, and I’ll thank you to keep your hands off it while I give it some attention. Bend over my lap. You know how this is done. At least, you should by now.”
Connor’s heart was beating hard in his chest as he lowered himself across Spike’s knees. He put his hands on the floor for balance when Spike shifted to make them both more comfortable. As soon as he was in the position Spike wanted, Spike raised his hand and began bringing it down repeatedly on Connor’s backside. Connor’s mouth fell open in shocked surprise at the sting that was quickly building in his ass, and he wondered if he shouldn’t have just waited on his father; the pain was the same. He bit back a sob that threatened to rise from his throat but was unsure of how long he could hold onto it. Spike was unrelenting, determined that Connor would learn a lesson regardless of whether it was delivered by him or Angel.
As he continued to spank Connor’s backside, Connor finally let go and started to cry. After a few more solid smacks, Spike stopped. Spike tried to assess whether he had done a good enough job by the color of Connor’s ass. He was never able to see his own, since the mirror didn’t grant him a reflection, and his neck wasn’t made of rubber. It looked red enough to him, and his hand stung. He shook his hand in the air as if to flick the sting off, and Connor jumped to his feet, prancing in place while he cuddled his hot bottom. “That h-h-huurt!” he sobbed. He yanked up his underwear and was instantly sorry for the rough action when they rubbed against his butt.
“Spankings generally do,” Spike pointed out, not unkindly. “You knew better, Connor, and if I’m not mistaken, I saved you from getting a paddling. So, don’t complain to me about your sore arse.”
Connor roughly wiped his eyes. “Leave me alone!” he cried. “Just go.”
“Hey, you asked me to do it,” Spike said. “Don’t get all high and mighty on me, now.”
They were interrupted when the door was flung open and Angel stood watching them in silent curiosity, looking first at his child, then his lover. Surprised at the opened door, Connor stopped crying long enough to process the information, but when he saw his father standing there, the tears began again. He dashed to the door and flung himself at Angel, clinging to him.
“Shhh,” Angel said with his arms around Connor. “What’s wrong, son?” He glanced across the room at Spike and raised his eyebrows.
Spike looked at the shaking teen in his lover’s arms and opened his mouth to speak, but Connor spoke first. “He…he…sp-spanked me,” he gulped against Angel with a finger outstretched toward Angel’s lover.
Spike rolled his eyes at the accusation and muttered, “Oh, God.”
Angel took Connor by the upper arms and pulled him back to look at him. “He spanked you?” he asked, and looked over Connor’s shoulder at Spike. Spike nodded agreement with a shrug of one shoulder. “Why? Why did he spank you, Connor?” Angel ran a hand over Connor’s face wiping at the tears. Connor instantly wished he had kept his mouth shut, but at the time, all he wanted was his father’s comfort. He licked his lips and looked behind him at Spike for help.
Spike said, “Don’t look at ME. Tell him. Save me the bloody trouble.”
Connor looked warily at Spike, then at the floor. Angel took his chin in his hand, and raised his face. “What did you do, Connor?” Connor shook his head, still in his father’s grasp, with his eyes focused downward. “Connor. What did you do?”
Connor began to struggle out of his father’s grip. “Leave me alone,” he said. “I want to go to bed. Just leave me alone, both of you!”
Angel’s fingers tightened against Connor’s arms, holding him firmly. “Calm down, Connor. Stop it,” he said. When Connor continued to struggle, Angel whipped him around and landed a solid swat against his already-warmed rear end, eliciting a teary yelp from his son. “I said to stop it,” he repeated, the single swat stilling Connor’s struggles. With Connor’s undivided attention, Angel said, “Answer me. Right now.”
Connor drew a shaky breath and looked to Spike once more. Spike swept up his palm in an inviting gesture, welcoming Connor to tell all. Connor swallowed hard, and looked back at his father. “I…I…” He stopped and looked to Spike again helplessly.
Angel saw it and turned Connor’s face back to him, saying, “I’m not asking Spike, I’m asking you. Don’t look at him; look at me, and answer the question.”
Moisture pooled in Connor’s eyes and the dark figure of his father blurred. “I went…I went…,” he choked. “I don’t want to tell you! I don’t want to talk about it!” he exclaimed, wrenching his arm out of Angel’s grasp.
In a flash, Angel had him by the arm again, and his palm connected once more with the cotton-covered bottom of his son, with no regard whatsoever for the fact he had just been spanked enough to make him cry. “You’re going to tell me what this is about. Understand?”
“OW!” he screeched. Connor squeezed gently at his left cheek where Angel had swatted him.
“Do you understand me, Connor?” Connor wiped his face while he nodded. “Then tell me; right now. You went where?”
“Nowhere. I went out without telling anyone where I was going.” He tucked his head and said softly, “That’s why he did it.” Connor broke down again, knowing Angel would be less than happy about the news. He gripped Angel to him, and felt Angel’s hands rubbing his back through his t-shirt.
“All right. That’s enough. Shhh,” Angel said. He held Connor until he began to calm, and could hear him speaking. “Come with me,” he said. He took Connor’s hand and led him to the bed.
Expecting another spanking, Connor started pulling against Angel. “Nooooo,” he wailed.
“Stop it, Connor. I’m just going to hold you for a minute,” Angel explained. “I want you to calm down for me.” Connor gave in and allowed Angel to settle him onto his lap on the edge of the bed. Connor turned into him, burying his face against Angel’s leather jacket. He could smell the scent of the leather intermingled with Angel’s aftershave.
Spike recognized the need for their privacy, and said, “I’m going downstairs, unless you need me.”
Angel shook his head and said, “No, that’s okay. I’ll be down in a bit.” At the threat of leaving the room, Connor clutched a fistful of Angel’s black shirt in his hands, as if to keep him there forever. Angel’s arms encircled him and he kissed the top of his head while Spike left the room. As soon as they were alone, he asked, “It couldn’t have been all that bad, now could it?”
Connor sniffed against his father saying nothing. Angel hugged him and asked, “Did he spank you harder than I do?” Connor thought for a moment. If he said “yes”, it would be a lie, but if he said “no”, Angel might not think it was done well enough. Angel finally felt him shake his head against him. “Then, why are you crying so hard?”
“I don’t know,” he hiccupped. “It was different, I guess. Spike’s not…he’s not…well, he’s not my Dad.”
Angel smiled over his boy’s head and said, “Your Dad’s here now.”
“He made me pull my pants down,” Connor admitted. “I didn’t like it.”
Angel nodded slowly and said, “I’m sure you didn’t. But, it was no different than what I would have done, was it?”
Minus the paddle, Connor thought. “But, you’re my Dad,” Connor explained.
“I am,” Angel said. “But, when I’m gone, you need to learn to behave just as if I were here. If you can’t do that, you take what comes.”
Connor sniffed and looked up at his dark father. “You don’t care that he spanked me then?”
“Connor, listen to me. If you want me to feel sorry for you getting spanked because you did something you knew better than to do, you’re going to be disappointed. I think Spike did the right thing, and if you want to avoid it in the future, I’d suggest you behave when I’m not around.” Angel smiled easily at him, and said, “In fact, I’d suggest you behave whether I’m around or not.”
Connor nodded, agreeing immensely with his butt easing from the sting to the more lasting throb. Angel asked, “Are you going to be okay, now?”
Connor wondered about it then decided, “Yeah, I’m okay.”
“Good,” Angel said with a kiss to his son’s light brown hair. “Then, why don’t I get you into bed where you belong? It’s late.” Angel pushed his son off his lap and straightened the covers. He held them back, inviting Connor back into bed, then tucked them around him after he crawled between the sheets. Connor made sure he was on his stomach, and he hugged his pillow beneath his head, still sniffling.
Angel sat beside him and pushed his hair back. “Need a tissue?” Connor blinked up at him and nodded his head. “Okay, I’ll be right back.”
He was gone less than a minute, returning with the promised tissue. He held it out to Connor who propped up on his elbows. He wiped his nose, and handed the wet tissue back to Angel, who took it without disgust. “I’ll lay it right here in case you need it again,” he said, depositing the slightly damp tissue on the nightstand. He sat back on the bed and stroked Connor’s head. “Do you think you’re going to make it?”
“I guess,” Connor said.
“You know,” Angel said, with his eyes fixed on Connor, “I don’t see a paddle lying around anywhere.” Connor turned worried eyes to Angel, who said, “I believe you were promised a paddling the next time you took off like this. Isn’t that the way you remember it?” Connor looked away. “Connor? Isn’t that what I said?”
Connor rolled his eyes up toward Angel, and he admitted, “That’s what you said.”
“Well, I don’t think you got one. Did you?”
The corners of Connor’s mouth tipped down, and his throat began to constrict again. “Please don’t paddle me, Dad. Spike spanked me hard. I swear. I made him mad tonight.”
Angel looked gently at his son, then slipped the sheet down. “Let’s see about that. It sounded like he had killed you from what I heard out of you.” He pulled Connor’s underwear down enough to see his reddened cheeks and draw his own conclusions. Slipping them back up he said, “Okay. It looks like he got the job done, but,” he paused, “if you ever do this again, whether I’m here or not, I’ll give you that paddling I promised you when I get back. Understood?”
Relief flooded through Connor, who was becoming convinced that he would get paddled this time anyway. He nodded and said, “It won’t happen again, Dad. I promise.”
“I hope not. But, if it does, I mean you WILL get paddled whether Spike or anyone else spanks you, too. You’ll get one from me.”
“Okay,” Connor said. “I really am sorry.”
“Always repentant just a little too late, aren’t you, son?”
Connor smiled a little and said, “I know. The consequences don’t really matter until it’s too late.”
“Hmm. Maybe I’m not making an impression.”
“Yes, you are. And, Spike made one, too. I don’t want him to spank me anymore.”
“Really?” Angel asked. “Did you have a choice tonight? Of getting spanked by Spike or waiting for me?”
“Well, sort of,” Connor said.
“Sort of, how?”
Connor looked across the room, relaxing under his father’s hand, and said in a quiet voice, “I asked Spike to do it.”
“I see,” Angel said, as the story became clear to him. “You wanted Spike to do it so I wouldn’t, is that it?” Connor nodded. “I’ll give you this one time,” Angel said, “but, like I said earlier, if you’ve got a promised spanking coming from me, you’ll get one from me. Non-negotiable. It’s not going to matter to me whether you get spanked by someone else or not. Don’t try to sidestep me, Connor.”
“Okay, Dad; I’m sorry,” Connor said and sighed heavily.
Angel took the cue for what it was, and knew his son was tired. He leaned over and kissed his head, brushing the hair back once more. “Goodnight, Connor.” He rose from the bed and leaned over to turn off the lamp.
“Goodnight, Dad.”
As he pulled the door closed behind him, he heard Connor’s voice once more, “Dad?”
“What is it, son?”
“Just so you know, I didn’t get off easy like I thought I would.”
Angel smiled in the dark and said, “Not what you expected, was it?”
Connor said, ruefully, “No, not at all.”
Angel smiled at his son’s mislaid plan. “Sleep tight.”
*****
Spike looked up from the phone book when he heard Angel’s feet on the stairs. He straightened up from the front counter, leaving his finger on the spot he was looking at so he wouldn’t lose his place.
Angel said, “There you are.”
“Here I are,” Spike said back.
Angel came around the back of the counter and pulled Spike to him for a hug hard enough to dislodge his finger from the listings. He kissed him hard and muttered against him, “I missed you.”
“You made me lose my place,” Spike complained. “I missed you, too.”
Angel looked over Spike’s shoulder at the open phone book and asked, “What were you looking for?”
“Wings. I’m hungry.”
Angel laughed and said, “You’re always hungry.”
Spike ground his hips into Angel’s and said, “Not always for food.”
Angel locked his hands at the small of Spike’s back and turned serious. “Tell me about tonight.”
Spike grimaced and said, “Your demon spawn just needs to learn to do what he’s told and not go wandering about the city at night.”
“And, my lover needed to teach him to do as he was told, even when I’m not here,” Angel pointed out. “You needed to do that.”
Spike gave him an uncertain look and said, “I don’t know. It might help, but just don’t you go sodding off again any time soon. I’d rather not find out.”
Angel gave him a half-smile and said, “I won’t. I promise.”
Spike pushed away and returned to his search for wings, finding his place again. “Do you want some wings? I’m ordering delivery.”
Angel sidled up next to Spike and ran a hand down his back, his fingers grazing his t-shirt. “No, not unless they deliver blood.”
“You need variety in your diet, lover.”
Spike picked up the phone and quickly placed his order. Hanging up the phone, he said, “Forty-five minutes. Who else is ordering this time of night?”
“Other undead immortals?” Angel asked.
“Damn.”
“You know, we need to talk about that spanking you gave Connor,” Angel said, taking Spike’s hand.
He led the two of them over to the round sofa, and pulled Spike down beside him. Spike asked, “What? You just said I needed to do it.”
“You did, but you needed to paddle him,” Angel said evenly.
“Wha-? PADDLE?!” Spike asked in feigned shock. “That damn thing hurts, Angel.”
“Exactly why I planned to use it if he ran off like that again. I told you that.” Angel’s accusing eyes bored into Spike’s. “I should use it on you for letting him off easy.”
“EASY?! Lover, you need to go look at his arse. He did NOT get off easy.”
“I looked. You gave him a good hand spanking, but Connor needs to know that the rules and consequences are what they are whether I’m here or not.” Angel gazed hard at Spike. “I don’t need the two of you undermining me.”
“I wasn’t trying to undermine you. Don’t be so dramatic,” Spike said.
“You knew what I told him the last time,” Angel said.
Spike did know and he remembered every word. Angel had come into their room in the wee hours of the morning, still fuming about Connor having disappeared. It took him hours to find him, then it took almost physically dragging him to get him back home. He had spanked him hard, and Spike had no problem hearing the swats and the tears from his stepson in the next room.
Angel had come to their room, muttering the whole time he undressed, “I swear, Spike, if he does this again, I’ll pull his pants down and paddle him good.” He was hanging up his clothes with short, chopping movements, accentuating his aggravation.
“I think you made your opinion well known. He’s only a kid,” Spike had said, rolling up on his elbow. “He’s just acting like one.”
“He’s going to be acting like a kid with one very sore backside if he ever runs off like that again. I told him to expect a paddling if he does it, so it shouldn’t be a surprise when it happens.”
Returning to the present, Spike looked sincerely at his partner. “Angel, look,” Spike said, taking his hand. “I had no intention of doing it at all when I went in there. I swear I would have lost my nerve if I had to go get that fucking paddle. That bloody thing hurts like hell, or so I’ve heard…”
“Then you know firsthand how effective it can be,” Angel said.
“You know damn well I have firsthand knowledge,” Spike said with a scowl. “Connor asked me to spank him when I went up there. If anyone had any intention of undermining you, it was him, not me.”
Angel held Spike’s gaze and said, “I’m sure he had ulterior motives when he asked you to do it. I appreciate you not letting him off the hook, even if you didn’t hook him the same way I promised him.”
“You’re welcome,” Spike said. “How - um, is he okay?”
“He’s fine. His pride hurts as much as his butt, but he’ll live.” His fingers brushed the back of Spike’s hand and Spike snagged it in his own. Angel said, “He needs a firm hand.”
“I gave him as firm as I could. You never told me how much it hurts your hand,” Spike said, looking at his palm. “No wonder you’ve taken such a fancy to switches, belts and paddles. Demon.”
Angel gave Spike an easy smile and said, “It’s not that bad.”
“It IS. If his butt hurt anywhere near like my hand, then he got it good.”
Angel picked up Spike’s hand and kissed his palm. “Is that better?”
Spike grinned mischievously and said, “If Connor saw that, he might ask you to kiss his arse.”
“Not me,” Angel said with a grin. “I didn’t spank him tonight. He might tell YOU to kiss his ass.”
“Listen to Mr. Broody Pants making funnies all over the place,” Spike said. “If he had the nerve to say that to me, I’d just have to spank him all over again.” The knock on the door interrupted them and Spike turned his head toward the door. “God, it’s a night of firsts. I spanked your kid and the wings got here in under 30 minutes.”
“Look what you started,” Angel said. He watched Spike head toward the door and pay for the order.
Spike started to say, “I love these things. Are you sure you don’t want any?”
“I’d like something, all right…” Angel said. He covered Spike with his body and kissed him all over.
The end.
