Work Text:
“Nathan Kennedy Keister, you get your butt down here!"
Nathan winced where he was sat on his bed, tucking a slip of paper into his textbook and hauling himself upright.
He'd been a last minute addition to Dr Bairdall's dorm house. Rather than use the official Accountability Partner programme, he had organised a campus housing solution that paired students in a more sibling-like relationship, especially those who needed a bit more of a hands-on approach. A junior or senior top with a freshman or sophomore bottom. There were two main dorm rooms per house, meaning four students would share the space at any one time. But then Nathan had had a disaster in his first semester and Dr Bairdall had gotten him squeezed in. It meant his room had once been storage, but it had a window and they'd managed to fit in a bed, desk and closet.
Nathan loved it.
Even more, he loved his new roommates. The other bottoms were both sophomores and also both brats, and they'd both taken him under their wings like a project to be worked on. Nathan himself hadn't a bit of brat in his designation, but he'd found himself getting close to Reuben especially, with how busy Josh was with various extracurricular activities.
The 'big brothers' of the equation were Nick and Leo. Leo was a senior, and had considered being an AP, but realised he wanted something a bit different than the one-on-one nature of that relationship. The family dinners, events and bonding of the dorm and others like it had encouraged him to join. Nick had come up through a similar rooming situation already, and the junior had quickly slipped into the role of the big brother Nathan had always wished he had.
He checked in on him, made sure he was happy and comfortable, helped with his homework when he needed it and made sure he ate. The first night he was there, at the dinner table with people who had already lived together for a semester, Nathan had panicked. He had no idea how to talk to any of them. But Nick had made a point of including him, asking him questions and actually sounding interested in the answers. Nathan had felt like a lost puppy following him around, but Nick didn't seem to mind.
Nick also didn't seem to mind smacking Nathan's bottom when he was naughty.
It didn't happen often — according to Dr Bairdall, Nathan was a natural good boy. He wasn't like Reuben and Josh, who both enjoyed pushing boundaries and getting into trouble. Instead, he preferred to behave and get the spankings he wanted because he'd been good and was getting a reward. It wasn't like there was nothing in it for him, otherwise he wouldn't be at RBU. But he didn't like being in trouble.
Nick had picked up on that, and also his less than stellar self-care habits. Things like he was always home by curfew, but he stayed up into the early hours trying to cram in more studying. Nick had noticed and given him a gentle scolding before putting Nathan over his knee. That had been in his first week at the new dorm, and it had broken the ice with the others. Now he was mostly just treated like their baby brother, and he couldn't help but blush under all of the attention, yet preen at the same time. It was nice.
Nick was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, arms folded and foot tapping. It was a pose that had Nathan pausing for a second, stopping in the middle of the stairs. Nick pointed at a spot in front of him on the floor and Nathan figured moving was the best choice he could make at that moment.
“Yeah, Nick?” he asked, walking at a more sedate pace the rest of the way down, until he was standing in front of the junior.
“What did we have a firm discussion about when it comes to Reuben and his homework?” Nick asked, standing with his arms folded over his chest.
Nathan bit his lip.
“Um,” he said, feeling incredibly eloquent. “To help but not do it for him?”
“Mm-hm,” Nick agreed, nodding. “Have you been following that rule?”
Dr Bairdall had declared Nathan helpful to a fault from almost the moment he met him, a people pleaser to the extreme. It meant he struggled saying no to people, and especially to people he liked. Reuben was so damn nice. Funny, kind and more than a bit scatterbrained, it didn't feel like a big deal to offer him help with his homework when Nathan was taking the same class Reuben was. It wasn’t like Reuben had ever asked him to do his homework, but Nathan had found it easier than trying to break it down in a way the other boy could understand. Besides, he learned from examples, why shouldn’t Reuben try the same trick?
(He knew why. Reuben didn’t learn from examples when he could just… use them.)
“Um,” he said again, shifting his weight from one foot to another. “Yes?”
Nick’s eyes narrowed.
“You wanna try answering that one again, Nathan?” he asked.
“I didn’t do it for him this time,” he argued, automatically putting his hands behind himself. “I just gave him mine as an example!”
“And do you think Reuben has the willpower to just use your essay as an example to write his own?” Nick asked.
“He told me he wouldn’t copy it,” he mumbled, looking down, which wasn’t really an answer to the question he’d been asked.
“Nathan,” Nick said again, and he squirmed in place. “You’re not responsible for what Reuben may do with materials he has, but you are responsible for your part in giving them to him. This could be seen as you helping him cheat, you know.”
“I know,” he said miserably, remembering the conversation they’d had about that very topic the last time they’d been in this situation. “I just wanted to help.”
“I’m sure you did, kiddo,” Nick said, and fingers lifted his chin, making him reveal his welling tears. He hated how easy he cried. “But sometimes what we think of as helping is actually a hindrance. Understand?”
“Yes, sir,” he sighed, wiping at the moisture in his eyes.
“Alright, go get me your paddle,” Nick said after briefly squeezing his shoulder. “We’ll take care of this in my room, okay? I don’t think we’ll both fit in yours.”
Nathan’s face flushed, but he didn’t argue, just heading back up the stairs at a more sedate speed than before. His school paddle was rarely used, sitting in a drawer in his nightstand. Despite that, he still knew he’d earned it this time. Nick had pressed on him the importance of letting Reuben do his own work. It had just been easier for both of them to give him something pre-written. And disappointing Nick made his chest ache in a way he knew was best healed by an ache being left somewhere else.
Pulling open the drawer, he moved a few pieces of paper and general debris out of the way to find the small, dark wooden paddle he’d bought at Wear Out at the start of the year. Picking it up made his face twist with distaste — he liked being spanked in the right circumstances, he didn’t like this paddle. It was only used when he was in trouble and needing to be taught a lesson, and the sting it left behind was just plain mean. Which was exactly why he owned it, he guessed.
Tucking it into his hoodie pocket, Nathan left his room and shuffled his way down the hall to Nick’s. He was sharing with Leo and their room was always comfortable looking. Lived in, but neat. Belongings and knickknacks, photos tacked up on a cork board and books on their nightstands. But it was clean as well, not like the room Reuben shared with Josh.
The whole thing was meant to appear like a normal family home as much as possible, which meant the biggest room actually belonged to Dr Bairdall, tucked at the end of the hall. Nathan wouldn't say he saw the man as a 'dad', but he was pretty close in terms of the dorm's dynamics. He was a calming presence, if a little stern when someone broke the rules. But if you needed him, he would be there. There was a lot less floundering than Nathan's first semester.
Standing outside Nick’s door, he hesitated about knocking. He really didn’t want to face the consequences of his actions, even if he knew he’d earned it. Luckily, or unluckily, depending on how you looked at it, his dilemma was solved for him by Nick opening the door and stepping aside to let him in.
Neither of them said anything for a moment as he entered, looking around as he always did. Nothing seemed to have changed since he was last there, other than the books on the desks having been swapped out.
“Did you do what I asked, Nathan?” Nick asked, sliding past him to sit on his bed.
He swallowed and nodded, pulling the paddle out of his large front pocket and glancing back at the door. As far as he knew, they were alone in the dorm house, but that didn’t mean Leo couldn’t…
“Leo's staying away until I tell him the coast is clear, don’t worry,” Nick said as he took the paddle and put it next to him on the bed. “C’mere.”
“I’m sorry,” he said before he was even at Nick’s knee, and he let himself be pulled between the junior’s thighs so they were a little closer, and he was bracketed in.
“I know you are,” Nick said, resting his hands on Nathan’s hips, making a connection. Nathan shoved his own hands into his hoodie pocket. “You did something naughty, kiddo. It’s not the end of the world, okay? I’m only using your paddle because it’s the second time we’re talking about the same thing.”
“Okay,” he croaked, shifting his weight. “I’m still sorry, though.”
Nick grinned, showing off a sliver of bright white teeth before rubbing his thumb over Nathan’s side.
“I think I have a good idea of what will help with any lingering guilt, as well as being a good reminder to follow the rules,” he said. “Come around my side, kiddo, we’ll get this done.”
Nathan couldn’t stop a small whine as he was led into place by his hand, but he didn’t fight as his jeans were thumbed open and he was tipped over Nick’s knee. He caught himself on the floor, pressing his palms against it to lift his torso up a little, although Nick quickly got him around the middle and hoisted him a little further over so his feet were off the floor.
“We’re gonna start on your underwear,” the junior said, getting his jeans worked down his legs and Nathan felt his face heat up as the blood rushed in. He appreciated Nick’s habit of keeping him informed of what to expect, but that didn’t make it less embarrassing. “And with my hand first. Why’re you getting a spanking, Nathan?”
“Because I gave Reuben my homework instead of helping him,” he said softly, crossing his feet at the ankles.
“And why was that not a good choice?” Nick asked, resting his hand on Nathan’s butt. It was hard not to squirm.
“Because Reuben struggles to not just copy it and I know that,” he admitted, hanging his head.
"Exactly," Nick replied, patting his cotton covered target. "And it's because you know that that you've earned a spanking, and because it's the second time that I'm going to end up using your paddle."
Nathan didn't have time to contemplate his fate any further, as the spanking actually began at that moment.
He'd experienced more than a few in his time at RBU, even if he did his best to avoid them whenever he hadn't explicitly sought them out. The saying was true though: no ass was safe at Rosie Baughm University. But that didn't make taking this one any easier, and Nick wasn't one to ramp things up, start soft and get harder. Oh no, when you earned a punishment with him, he made sure you were feeling regret for your actions from the off.
The strong hand danced from one cheek to the other, visiting the same spot multiple times until it was almost too much before moving down and starting the routine again. Nathan tried to hold back his sounds of pain, the whimpers and the gasps, even as guilt swelled heavily in his chest. But Nick wasn't going to let him get away with hiding his reactions for long, and when he got to Nathan's sit spots, he could no longer hold back a few whines and whimpers.
"It's kind and generous that you want to help your friend," Nick lectured, his hand now moving more erratically since all of Nathan's backside had been covered in stinging swats. "But you need to actually be willing to help, not just take the easy path."
"Yes, siiiir!" Nathan cried, kicking his feet.
His 'brother' continued to pepper sting and burn all over his backside, and Nathan's eyes watered before finally there was a pause. But he couldn't enjoy it for long, knowing what was coming next.
Nick slipped his fingers into the waistband of Nathan's underwear, and while he let out a little whimper, he lifted his hips without being asked.
"Good boy," Nick said, rubbing his already sore bottom for a moment before patting twice to let him know he was about to start again.
"Niiiiick," he whined, unable to help himself, and he felt his back being rubbed as well for a moment before he was shifted slightly over Nick's lap, the older boy making sure he had Nathan securely.
His underwear hadn't offered that much protection, in the grand scheme of things, but Nick's practised hand on his bare skin made him gasp and squirm, dancing his toes against the floor, just about able to reach, and he yelped a few times as Nick quickly made sure the initial ember had been fanned into a true flame. Anyone who denied the power of a hand spanking had simply never had one delivered like Nick Wallops could.
"Ow, ow, ow!" he cried, breathing catching in his throat as more tears welled, and this time he couldn't hold them back. "N—Nick, I'm sorryyyyy!"
"I know you are, Nathan," Nick said, not pausing or losing steam, but rubbing a spot of bare skin near Nathan's hip with his left thumb as he sniffled. "You're a good boy, I wouldn't expect anything less. But even good boys make mistakes, and when they make that mistake twice, that tells me they need a proper lesson to help things stick. So, I'm going to torch your bottom, and your sit spots, and your thighs with my hand until you're good and red and sore, and then we're going to finish up with your paddle. And I want you to listen to me, Nathan Keister, because if we need to have this conversation for a third time, you will not enjoy it one bit."
He wasn't enjoying this one, but Nathan vigorously nodded his head all the same. He knew better than to voice that opinion when he already had a meeting with a paddle scheduled.
But he did air a few other opinions, mostly wordless cries as Nick's practised hand made Nathan's once pale bottom a cherry red. Only when tears were finally slipping down his cheeks did another pause come, and he let out a little sob as something hard and cold tapped against his stinging skin.
"Niiiick, I won't do it again, I promise," he pleaded, and Nick's left hand rubbed soothing circles between his shoulders.
"You earned it, kiddo," the junior said gently, and Nathan nodded miserably. "Be a good boy for these, and we can cuddle as long as you want after, okay?"
"Will you hold my hand?" Nathan asked in a near whisper, and he felt Nick place his hand palm up on Nathan's lower back. Knowing that was his answer, he reached back and let Nick take his hand and hold it so he couldn't reach back and try to block. He never meant to, but sometimes his body reacted before he could stop himself.
Nothing more was said, with the next sound in the room being the solid crack of wood on skin.
Nathan wailed, kicking his feet and trying to writhe away, but finding himself held tight. Each swat with the paddle felt like liquid fire being poured onto his already burning skin, and he just wept loudly as he took his final licks. He didn't know how many there were, unable to keep count. He never wanted to be back here again, because he had a feeling that whatever number he was getting now, Nick would vastly increase if they had to revisit the conversation.
Eventually, he just couldn't keep fighting. The punishment was overwhelming, physically and emotionally, and it was easier to just give into it and cry.
Once he'd gone limp over Nick's knee, it took him a moment to realise it was over. Nick was rubbing his back, and his bottom throbbed with every heartbeat. And when he sniffed and tried to catch his breath, he realised Nick was talking to him as well.
"— took that well, kiddo," he was saying, and Nathan's chin wobbled all over again. "Just breathe for me, that's it. You did good, you're all forgiven, it's over."
That just made him break into fresh tears and he found himself being hauled up to sit on Nick's lap. The junior had spread his legs so that Nathan's sore bottom could slot into the space between and avoid touching anything. He buried his face against Nick's chest and found himself being held tight.
God, he was such a baby. A hand spanking and a few paddle swats had reduced him to this? How —
"I can practically hear your negative self-talk, mister," Nick gently chided, and Nathan squeaked. "We think kind thoughts about ourselves and others in this house."
"Y—y—yes, s—sir," he hiccuped, and felt Nick rest his chin on the top of his head, and a soft amused huff.
"I'm glad Dr Bairdall added you," Nick said, stroking his hair. "You're a sweetheart, you know that, Nathan?"
His face had to be as red as his backside at that, and he once more pressed against the junior's shirt.
"A sweet boy who does his best to be good, and just needs a helping hand every now and then," Nick continued, undeterred. "And needing that help doesn't make you any less good. Understand?"
"If you'll stop saying that stuff," he said, with a few more hitches and hiccups, making Nick laugh again.
"Nick! Leo won't let me borrow his — Oh, shit."
Nathan froze at the sound of the loud voice and the door slamming open, and he felt Nick shift slightly under him, wrapping him even tighter in his arms.
"Reuben Michael Butz, what have we said about knocking?" Nick scolded, and Nathan tried to twist to see his friend, just for Nick's hand to keep him from doing so. Probably for the best, if he met Reuben's eyes right now, his face might melt off.
"Um, that it, um, is… important?" the sophomore said.
"Go to your room and wait for me," Nick said sternly, and Nathan heard the whiny, bratty noise Reuben let out before he also squeaked at whatever expression he found on Nick's face and then there was just the sound of quickly retreating footsteps and the door slamming closed again.
"That boy," Nick sighed, plopping his chin back on top of Nathan's head. "Sorry about that, kiddo."
Despite it being vaguely mortifying, better it be Reuben, who he was close to than Leo, who he was still a bit intimidated by. In fact, the surreal situation just had him letting out a watery giggle.
"See?" Nick said kindly, rubbing his back. "No worse for wear if you can still laugh about it."
Nathan nodded with a shaky sigh, wrapping his arms around the junior. His backside was still bare, but honestly he didn't want to trap the heat of his spanking just yet, so he'd deal with it.
"You just tell me when you're ready to skedaddle and I'll go deal with our little interloper," Nick said.
"Do you have to?" Nathan asked, pulling back a little to meet Nick's eyes. "Reuben didn't mean to."
"But he still did it," Nick replied, taking his chin gently. "And we've talked about it before. He needs the certainty of what happens when he's naughty just as much as you do. Now, no more trying to influence someone else's punishment, hm?"
His eyes widened and he nodded his head. He didn't want to face that discussion again.
Instead, he leaned back in and soaked up the comfort on offer.