Ducky and Daddy - Snippets

Don't you ever do that again

She was only out for twenty minutes.

Just a walk. Just around the block. She'd left her phone at home, figured it was no big deal. Daddy was in his workshop. He wouldn't even notice.

But when she walked back in, barefoot, hoodie too thin for the cold, she felt it.

The shift.

The air inside the house was heavy.

He was waiting.

Arms crossed. Jaw clenched. And quiet — not the soft kind. The storm kind.

"Where were you?"

She froze. "Just a walk..."

"No phone."

She nodded, guilt blooming fast stomach sinking.

"No message."

"I was coming right back—"

He didn't raise his voice. Didn't move. Just said:

"It is 11:30 at night. In the middle of January, little girl. It is pitch black outside and you are not even wearing shoes, much less an appropriate jacket. You could've hit by a car. You could have tripped and fell. You could have been taken. And I didn't have had any way to get ahold of you. You didn't have the forethought to bring your phone, so you had no way to call me." He held up her phone to make the point.

Silence stretched, the tension taught like a rubber band pulled tight.

She started to tear up.

He walked forward and tipped her chin up. "Upstairs. Now. Bedroom."

Her stomach drops. Crap. Crap. Crap, I messed up.

He followed her in, closed the door behind him.

She stood there, shifting on her feet, and he just... looked at her. For a long time.

"I want you to stand in the corner while I cool down. Then we will deal with your punishment." He waited until she walked to the corner and pressed her head to the wall before he sat on the bed.

She couldn't hear him behind her but she knew he was there. Her heart felt heavy, she knew she broken several rules. She knew before she even left the house. Why did she think it didn't matter? Why did she think he wouldn't care? Of course he would care.

An eternity later, or maybe just five minutes, he spoke. "Come here, baby."
Turning quickly, she nearly tripped over her own feet before pressing herself into his arms.

"I don't punish you for being human, Ducky," he says, low. "I don't punish you for mistakes. But this? This was dangerous. You put yourself and your health at risk. You scared me. And that's not something I will let slide."

She nodded, already sniffling.

"I'm going to give you ten with the belt. Not to be harsh. For remembrance. You don't walk out of this house without your phone. Or shoes. Or proper clothing. And you definitely don't go walking around at night alone. Ever again."

He waited until she confirmed — quiet, tearful, but steady.

He bent her gently over the bed and pulled down her leggings and underwear to just above her knees. Next she heard the cling of his belt buckle as he removed his belt. He placed one hand firmly on her lower back. "Will you be able to keep her hands in front of you or do I need to hold them?"

"Please hold them, Daddy." She wasn't sure she could control what her hands did in the face of a belt smacking her bottom.

"Okay, baby. I'll count." He gathered her wrists at the small of her back. The first swat landed fast and sharp. By the third swat, she was wiggling around, trying to throw herself out of the way of the next swat. His firm hold on her wrist and lower back kept her from moving very far. By the fourth she was sobbing.

"D-Daddy! Stop! I'm sorry!"

He stopped and she gasped for breath. He rubbed her lower back with his thumb. After a few moments he spoke, "Can you continue, baby? Or do you need to take the rest of them tomorrow?"

Tomorrow? No way did she want to do this again tomorrow.

"I can continue, Daddy. But I really am sorry."

"I know you are, baby. But you know you need this."

He administered the remaining five swats quickly. They left her bottom throbbing and tender. The pain radiated deep. As soon as the last swat hit, she heard his belt hit the floor and he pulled her up to press her firmly to his chest, rubbing her back. His other hand held her head against his chest as she sobbed.

"I don't liking having to punish you that harshly, baby. But I will not shy away from giving you want you need. You're mine to protect," he breathed into her hair. "And I will not let you forget that."

After a few minutes, her sobs reduced to ragged breaths.

"I'm sorry, Daddy," she whispered.

"I know, Softheart. And you're forgiven. But don't make me teach you this lesson twice. Now come on, let's god snuggle on the couch. I think we have some hot coco in the cabinet."

He lifted her up, wrapping her legs around his hips, and carried her downstairs to the living room for some much needed cuddles.