Work Text:
Barry’s hands are glued to his steering wheel, his eyes to the road ahead of him. It’s no easy task to ignore the pouting teenager in his passenger seat, but he’s trying his best. His nephew Wally has always known how to throw a temper tantrum when he doesn’t get his way, and Barry would rather not deal with that until they’re home. The fastest man alive has had more than his fair share of trouble for one day. The Rogues had put him through the ringer, and Wally had made his job infinitely more difficult by showing up unannounced.
If Barry had his way, Wally would never have gotten superpowers - he was a kid, a young man who should have been more focused on doing his homework than on trying to fight criminals. Barry wasn’t Bruce. He didn’t want a sidekick to help him with his superheroics. The Flash was more than a match for most of the criminals who threatened Central City, and on the rare occasion that something happened that required him to ask for help, he had friends in high places. There was no need for him to have a protégé.
But when Wally visited his aunt Iris for spring break earlier this year, a bolt of lightning caused a chemical accident and gave his nephew the same powers as Barry’s. It still feels impossible to leave, like the universe is playing tricks on him. Barry often ponders if there’s some greater force guiding the events of his life. Iris would call it God’s plan, but Barry isn’t sure. There’s something tangible about this feeling, more real than any he’s ever felt at Sunday School. Since this unseen hand of fate has given him a superpowered nephew, Barry believes the universe must need a Kid Flash.
He’s just not sure he’s ever going to be okay with it.
“So are you waiting until we get home to start chewing my ass out?” Wally pesters.
“First off, watch your language,” Barry huffs. He takes a second to glance over at the kid, whose hangdog demeanor suggests that he’d like to put his feet on the dashboard if he thought he could get away with it. “Second, I’m not going to be doing any chewing. You already know what you did wrong...”
“Absolutely nothing,” Wally grumbles.
Barry sighs, and counts to five before continuing; “... and you’re grounded. I don’t see the point in throwing the book at you. You’re a smart kid, you can figure out how to behave on your own.”
“If I’m so smart, why did you call me an idiot?”
“Don’t put words in my mouth, Wally.” In spite of himself, Barry raises his voice. He takes advantage of a traffic stop to collect his thoughts and speak in a calmer tone. “I said that trying to pick a fight with Heatwave and Weather Wizard at the same time was not a bright idea. That’s not the same thing.”
He turns left, going down the street that will take them to Barry and Iris’s house. Wally’s currently taking up residence in the guest bedroom. After the incident with the lightning, he and Iris had agreed to take in their nephew for the summer vacation so that Wally could get some time learning how to control his powers from the man who knew super speed better than anyone.
“Hard to tell the difference.” Wally scowls, and Barry scowls back. “You do that kind of stuff all the time, so why is it only a stupid idea when I try to do it?”
“I have been doing this for three years. I’ve fought all of those guys one-on-one and as a group several times. You have not, and that lack of experience could get you seriously hurt,” Barry rattles off. He can’t believe that he has to explain this to Wally. “More than that, I told you to stay at the mall and not to come running after me to help. So you disobeyed me on top of all that, which is another reason that you joining in the fight was not a bright idea.”
“How am I supposed to get experience if you never let me fight anybody who’s actually dangerous?” Wally demands. “We’d work a lot better as a team if you let me...”
“We are not a team, Wally,” Barry asserts as he directs his car into the driveway. “I’m not Batman, you’re not Robin. There’s no Dynamic Duo here. You’re a kid who happened to get superpowers, I’m your uncle who’s responsible for showing you how to use them. That’s it. I don’t want you chasing after trouble. If something happens to you, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“So I’m just supposed to have these powers and do nothing with them?” Wally chortles dismissively. “What kind of person would I be if I have the power to do good and I don’t use it?”
“A normal teenager, which is all I want for you.” Barry parks the car, and gives Wally a stern look. “Not one more word about Flash, Kid Flash or anything else until we’re inside the house. I do not want my neighbors overhearing, got it?”
“Yeah, I got it.” Wally slumps out of the car and slams the door, then marches up the porch and into the house without another word. His attitude is a mile thick, and Barry counts himself lucky that he didn’t think about zooming inside the house at superspeed. Thank goodness he didn’t have these powers when he was a teen. He probably would have been just as insufferable.
He takes another deep breath and goes inside, preparing to nip any potential argument in the bud. The last thing Barry wants is for Wally to ruin Iris’ day with his bad attitude.
“What’s got you in a tizzy, kiddo?” The sweet sound of his lover’s voice improves Barry’s mood. Iris seems more concerned than irritated. “Rough day of crime fighting? Did the bad guys beat you up?”
“As if.” Wally’s rudeness makes Barry’s brow furrow. He follows their conversation until he’s in the kitchen. He sees Iris busying herself moving cookies off of a cooking pan and onto a cooling rack. “If Barry has his way I’ll never even get to be a real crime fighter. I don’t see what the point of even having the stupid costume is.”
“It’s to keep your identity a secret so none of my enemies try to hurt you or anybody you care about,” Barry reminds him. “And you won’t be wearing that stupid costume for at least a week.”
Wally rolls his eyes. “Whatever.”
“Alright then, two weeks,” Barry amends, and Wally’s jaw drops. “I’ve got plenty of other things to do than teaching a student who won’t listen to me.”
“You suck,” Wally spits, glaring daggers at Barry. “You never let me do anything.”
“Wally, that’s enough backtalk,” Iris scolds, wagging her wooden spoon at him. “I don’t care how upset you are with either of us, you’re going to keep a civil tongue in my house unless you want it washed out with soap.”
Wally’s face flushes, and Barry sympathizes for a moment. But then he keeps popping off. “I’m not a kid, Aunt Iris! I’m almost sixteen years old and it’s time people started treating me like it! I can handle things if people just give me a chance.”
“I’m sure Barry will give you a chance to do something important when you’re ready,” she offers, clearly trying to calm Wally down. “You need to trust him.”
“He needs to trust me!” Wally groans, getting out of his chair so he starts marching around as he complains. “I hate it here. I should have just stayed in Blue Valley and become Nebraska’s resident superhero all by myself.”
“Sounds like a good way to get yourself killed,” Iris dismisses. “You’re lucky to have someone around to look after you.”
“Shut up!” Wally stomps his foot. “You don’t know what’s best for me!”
“What’s certainly not best for you is to disrespect your aunt like that,” Barry intervenes, standing at his full height and pointing directly at Wally. “I’m not going to tolerate you treating her that way, young man. Not for a single minute.”
“Oh, you’re not?’ Wally pushes, getting into Barry’s face a bit. His chin is sticking up and his eyebrows look ready to punch Barry in the face. “What are you gonna do? Spank me?”
“Just... just go to your room,” Barry demands, his face flushing for a moment. When Wally stays put, he stands at his full height and puts his fists on his hips. “Now.”
Wally’s lip curls, but he relents. Huffing and puffing, he stomps past Barry and marches up the stairs. Barry keeps his attention on the staircase until he hears Wally slam the door to his room. Then he takes a deep breath, unclenching his fists so that he can massage his temples. Why is the boy acting up so badly today?
He looks over at Iris. She’s still got her arms folded and has a nasty scowl on her face. Barry feels a pang of guilt in his stomach, and addresses her. “I’m sorry for not sending him up to his room sooner. You didn’t deserve to have that attitude thrown at you.”
“No, I didn’t.” She sighs, but allows herself to uncoil. “I hope you do go up there and spank him. Otherwise he’s going to be a real pill at dinner.”
“Iris!” Barry feels a lump in his throat. He’d been uncomfortable when Wally brought up the very idea of spanking, but hearing the sentiments echoed from his girlfriend? That’s a whole other can of worms. “You don’t mean that.”
“I don’t make a habit out of saying things I don’t mean, Barry.” Iris refocuses her attention on the task of moving cookies onto the rack to cool. “He’s got a real attitude there. Overconfident, disobedient, disrespectful - he could certainly benefit from a hot seat.”
Barry leans against the doorway of the kitchen and gives her a searching look. “Hey. I thought one of the reasons you wanted to have him visit us on his vacation days was to get him away from his Dad. If we start beating him, how are we any better?”
“Rudy’s an asshole and a control freak. And a Republican,” Iris snaps, depositing her spoon into the sink and washing her hands. “I’m not talking about smacking his mouth or leaving welts on his back, Barry. I’m talking about warming his sorry little bottom so that he has something to think about the next time he wants to break one of our rules. It’s not going to break his heart or anything. Mom and Dad spanked me plenty and I turned out just fine.”
“Okay.” Barry remains unconvinced. He takes a seat, determined to calm Iris’ temper and get her on board with a gentler parenting approach. “Still sounds the same to me.”
“Well, it isn’t.” Iris takes a deep breath before addressing Barry again. “Look at it like this. Remember when talking gorillas came to Keystone City last year and tried to go all Planet of the Apes on us? I saw you fight their leader hand to hand. He was swinging to take your damn head off. But you were just trying to knock him out so that you could save the city. You were both punching, but you had different goals. Rudy wants a mindless kid who does exactly what he’s told. I just want Wally to be respectful, and to listen when you tell him things that will keep him from getting hurt.”
Barry feels a little better about her opinion after that explanation. While he tried to find non-violent solutions to his problems whenever possible, being a superhero who faced dangerous superbeings (including telepathic ultra-intelligent gorillas) meant that sometimes a direct approach was the only possible solution. That didn’t make him one of the bad guys, at least as long as he practiced self-control.
“Didn’t your parents ever smack some sense into you when you were being a stubborn kid?”
“I don’t think so,” Barry admits. “I can’t remember if my parents ever smacked me, but I know Daryl never so much as lifted a hand to me, and not for lack of a good reason. He believed in letting natural consequences teach me a lesson.”
“Right. But what are the natural consequences if Wally picks a fight with one of your enemies? I know the Rogues have their own code and try not to hurt innocents, but what about Eobard?” Iris comes over and places her hand on Barry’s, squeezing him in sympathy. “You think that man is gonna think twice about hurting Wally just because he’s a child? Not a chance. If he’s going to be in the superhero business, then his natural consequences could be deadly. If you could prevent that by giving him a spanking, wouldn’t that be worth it?”
This isn’t the first time that Barry has heard this perspective on things. It’s Bruce’s philosophy when dealing with Robin, and he knows that most of the Justice League have put Billy Batson over their knees. He’s seen Diana discipline grown adults to prove a point. But he’s always had a little bit of distance from this question - they aren’t his kids, they’re not his responsibility. It’s always been easy to disagree with the principle of the thing and avoid engaging with it in any meaningful way.
But Wally’s his kid. He lives in his house, he has the same powers. When he and Iris marry, he’ll be his nephew. And Wally already calls him “Uncle Barry” when he’s in good spirits. There’s no avoiding the topic of disciplining the kid when he’s Barry’s responsibility. Is spanking something that Barry wants on the table?
“But he’s a good kid, really... he’s just testing his boundaries,” Barry argues. He can’t hear any conviction in his voice.
“And if you don’t give him some boundaries, then you’re going to fail that test, Barry Allen.” Iris leans over and kisses his forehead. “Now, I know this isn’t fun. It never is. And if you’re not ready to step up and discipline that kid, that’s fine. I’ll march right up and spank him myself. Wouldn’t be the first time. But if you want him to respect you, then you’ve got to lay down the law.”
Barry frowns, but nods in understanding. As tempting as it is to let Iris handle this, he knows that’s a losing game. He’s got to make sure Wally listens to him.
“So, what are you gonna do?” Iris asks, trying to fire him up.
“I... I guess I’m gonna go up there and spank Wally.”
“Good man. Don’t worry.” Iris smiles, takes his hand and cajoles out of his seat. “You’re going to do a great job. It’ll hurt you more than it hurts him.”
Barry rolls his eyes. Iris surprises him with a loud pop on the seat of his jeans.
“Hey!” He narrows his eyes at her, and she grins and shoos him off.
“Go on, Barry. It’s about time I get dinner in the oven. Take care of our nephew.”
The playful, encouraging smack gets Barry to smile for the first time in almost an hour. He takes a moment to enjoy it, but then focuses on the task at hand. He goes up the stairs, thinking about what brought him to this point. It truly was an unfortunate series of events. Today was supposed to be a relaxing day where he took Wally to the Keystone Mall to shop around a bit; a reward for Wally being diligent with their training over the last two weeks.
But then Barry saw the news of another Rogues robbery under way. Their high-tech weaponry was more than the police could handle, and while Captain Cold preferred not to harm anyone in his crimes, the risk was always there. Barry had told Wally to shop without him and not to worry, that he’d be back as soon as possible and they could enjoy the rest of their outing. Wally had insisted that he come along, that teaming up to fight the Flash’s enemies was a better use of his time than shopping around for new CDs or video games.
But Barry’s stubborn.
And Wally’s disobedient.
That really is the crux of the issue, when it gets down to it. The boy listens when Barry teaches him how to use his powers, or when Iris asks him to do chores around the house. It’s when they tell him what not to do that he gets a defiant attitude. He probably just feels a need to prove himself, and Barry can understand that. But he’d promised Mary and Rudy that he wouldn’t allow any harm to come to their son. How can he possibly keep that promise if he encourages Wally to join in his crime-fighting crusade?
“Not until he’s ready,” Barry mutters to himself. He stops just outside the guest bedroom and takes one more calming breath. Then he gives a courtesy knock. “Hope you’re decent, kid, because I’m coming into this room in about twenty seconds if you don’t answer me.”
“It’s not locked,” Wally grumbles. It’s not an invitation, but it’s good enough for Barry to make his way into the room. His nephew is sitting cross-legged on the bed, sneering at his handheld game console and tapping furiously at the buttons. “Hi.”
“Hello, Wally.” Barry pulls out the chair from the corner desk and brings it closer to the bed. He sits on it backwards, resting his arms on the back of the chair. “Hmm. You know, I sent you up here as a consequence for the bad attitude. I don’t think that playing your video game is in the spirit of that.”
Wally huffs, but shuts off the game immediately. Evidently, he wasn’t doing anything of too much importance. “Yeah, well. It’s a stupid punishment. Unless you’re going to be watching me all day, twenty-four/seven, you can’t expect me to never do anything fun. Life’s boring enough as it is.”
“I don’t think I should have to monitor you that closely just to make sure that you’re following the rules. You’re a good kid, and I’d like to trust you to make good decisions.” He taps his fist against his elbow, biding his time. He isn’t sure how to broach this subject, and for a moment he considers going back downstairs and letting Iris take care of this. But then he puts himself in Wally’s position, and he imagines how embarrassing it would be to get a spanking from his aunt. It’s probably kinder to spare him that. “Of course, you haven’t done a lot to earn my trust today.”
“Oh, get off that train already,” Wally scoffs, rolling his eyes. “I’m already tired of hearing it. If you don’t have anything else to say to me, just leave me alone until dinner time.”
“I’ve actually got plenty to say to you, young man.” Barry sits up straighter, fixing Wally with a stern gaze. “I’m tired of you popping off at me whenever you don’t like my decisions. Like it or not, you’re still a kid and you don’t have authority over every aspect of your life. When it comes to superspeed, I’m in charge. You do as I say, or there’s going to be consequences.”
“Right, like sending me to my room and grounding me,” Wally chuffs. “I get it.”
“I wasn’t done talking.” Barry raises his voice just enough to make Wally notice. His face flushes and he hangs his head a bit, so Barry takes that to mean he understands not to interrupt him again. “Wally, I need you to understand that having superpowers doesn’t make either of us invincible. You can still get hurt, and rushing headlong into situations that you aren’t prepared for is a surefire way to tempt fate. I’d lose my mind if anything happened to you. So until I’m convinced that you can handle the responsibility of working alongside me, you won’t be doing the teenage superhero thing. Got it?”
Wally bares his teeth, reminding Barry of Iris when she knows someone is lying. “What if I do it without your permission?”
Barry taps his fingers on his arm for a moment. Here it comes. The pivotal moment where he abandons his views on corporal punishment and tries things a different way. He’s scared of it. He doesn’t want to be the one causing Wally pain. But if a stinging bottom will keep Wally out of a hospital, or worse, then it’s worth doing it.
“What would happen at home if you showed such blatant disregard for the rules?” he asks.
Wally twitches. He rests his arms on his knees, and avoids Barry’s eyes. “Daddy would drag me to the woodshed, take off his belt and give me a good, hard whipping. No doubt about that.”
Barry closes his eyes. He stomps out the urge to shake his head and condemn Rudy. He knows Wally loves his Dad, even if he’s more scared of him than a son should be of his father. Critiquing him isn’t going to do his nephew a lick of good right now. What might help him is if Barry shows him a better way.
“Well, I don’t have a woodshed and I’m not going to be whipping you with my belt,” he declares outright. Wally trembles, and Barry wonders what’s going through that head. “But I’ve seen you behave like a rotten brat today, and I've been convinced that a spanking might actually be in order. So let me lay this out for you, real simple. You don’t fight criminals without my express permission, or I’m going to give you a spanking. You don’t disobey me when I give you a direct order, or I’m going to give you a spanking. You don’t mouth off at your Aunt, or I’m going to give you a spanking. Get the picture?”
Wally shudders more and more every time Barry says the word. Conversely, every time it leaves Barry’s mouth, he feels less guilty saying it. He’s not being a dictator. He’s simply setting up clear expectations of what the most important rules are and what Wally can expect to happen if he wants to keep breaking those rules. It’s a fair warning, so he can know what behaviors to avoid if he wants to stay out of trouble.
“Yeah. Yeah, Uncle Barry, I get the picture, alright,” he mutters, twiddling his thumbs. “Does that mean you came up here to spank me?”
“It’s not the main reason I came up here,” Barry dismisses. “I came up here to make sure you didn’t run off, to have a serious conversation about house rules, and to assure you that you’re still welcome in my home even when you make mistakes. This is your second home, and you belong here. Especially now that you’ve got those powers.”
He stands up, takes a deep breath, and spins the chair around before taking a seat. “But. Yeah. I’m gonna spank you, Wally. I don’t want to, but your attitude is out of control. I’m going to put you over my lap and hold you accountable for your unacceptable behavior today. Your butt’s gonna be red and sore, and hopefully you’ll learn to mind me.”
“Oh, man.” Wally’s reaction to all of this is something Barry can only describe as involuntary squirming. His whole face is flushed, and he sits back further on the bed, as if that can keep his bottom safe from what’s going to happen. “Do you... do you have to put me over your lap, Uncle Barry? I’m... I’m not a little kid anymore, I can bend over the bed and take it like a man.”
“This is not an opportunity for you to impress me with how tough you are, Wally.” Barry walks around the bed, heading for the corner of it that Wally has retreated to. He rolls up his sleeves as he goes, tucking them into neat little folds. “For one, I already know you’re a tough kid. But more importantly, this is about me teaching you a very simple lesson: I’m in charge of you and you need to respect that authority.”
He grabs Wally’s left hand and gives it a light tug. Wally whines, but stands up and goes along with Barry. Barry breathes deeply through his nose: if Wally gets any idea that Barry’s resolve is less than iron, he’ll probably make this a lot more difficult. He’d expected Wally to either put up a fight or beg Barry not to punish him, but he’d gotten resignation and acceptance instead. He’s not sure how to take that: is Wally submitting because he feels guilty for his actions and wants to make amends, or is he scared because Rudy’s taught him to be?
Barry shakes his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He looks at Wally, looking like a kicked puppy. Feeling sorry for the kid, he takes a moment to run his hand through Wally’s unkempt red hair. Then he sits on the edge of Wally’s bed, pulls the boy down and over his knee, and secures a grip around his tummy. As soon as Wally is in position, he shifts around, testing Barry’s strength.
Iris’ words about Barry needing to pass the test echo in his memory. Barry flattens his palm, determined not to fail the test. There’s no turning back at this point. He’s told Wally he’s going to spank him, he’s hauled him into position. The only way to get past this point is to move forward. He takes careful aim, and smacks the center of Wally’s buttocks.
He feels Wally tense up, but he makes no sound. Barry tries again, and then keeps at it, bringing his hand down hard on the seat of those red athletic shorts. He finds it easier to keep going if he slaps quickly instead of thinking about each one. Wally’s a brick wall, refusing to say anything or acknowledge that Barry is hurting him. And while Barry knows what pushing through pain looks like, he also knows that if the pain was truly unbearable, Wally couldn’t fake like he wasn’t hurt. As long as his nephew chooses to be stoic, he can rest easy knowing that he’s not really hurting him. It eases the guilt, and makes it easier to deliver more firm slaps. As he gets familiar with the shape of Wally’s rear end, he changes from aiming at the middle to going back and forth from side to side.
Wally starts to whimper, apparently unable or unwilling to keep completely quiet. The sound hurts Barry’s heart, but knowing that Wally’s dam is beginning to crack also tells Barry that the spanking is accomplishing something. And what does he want it to accomplish?
“Tell me why I’m punishing you, Wally.” His order is gentler than his hand, but it’s obviously a command and not a question.
“No,” Wally answers through gritted teeth. Barry gives him the benefit of the doubt, assuming it’s the kind of automatic “no” that comes when you don’t want something to happen. But when no words follow, he realizes that Wally is defying him. Barry narrows his eyes, and against his instinct, spanks harder. Wally gasps and hisses. “I don’t want to talk about it!”
“I don’t care if you want to talk about it or not. You’re going to.” Barry smacks the other cheek with equal intensity, and keeps it that way as he pushes forward. Wally becomes more animated, squirming about on his lap and trying to avoid the swats. “I told you exactly why you deserve to have your butt smacked, so I know that you know. So tell me why I’m punishing you.”
To his surprise, Wally shakes his head and refuses to answer. “If you already know then it doesn’t make sense for me to tell you.”
“Things don’t have to make sense to you, Wallace.” Barry holds him more tightly, pulling him closer to his own body and pinning him down so he can keep spanking. “When I tell you to do something, you still need to obey. That isn’t up for debate. What’s going to happen when you disobey me, young man?”
Wally grunts and groans and growls against his forearm. “You’re gonna...” He pauses to bite back a cry. “Gonna spank me?”
“Yes, Wally. I am. Just like this.”
Barry emphasizes this boundary with a flurry of spanks, paddling Wally’s keister until he can feel the heat burning through his shorts. He feels that old pang of guilt about causing Wally pain, and decides to investigate the results. Without warning, he pulls down Wally’s shorts and the briefs underneath, revealing two round cherry orbs that are radiating heat.
“Uncle Barry!” Wally protests, reaching back to grab at his shorts. “No, don’t do that! Come on, man...”
Barry pushes Wally’s hand away, and studies the state of Wally’s bottom with the same scrutiny he would apply to a crime scene. He realizes that the worst of his worries are unfounded; the pink glow starts to fade with time. Barry spanks experimentally, taking note of the rippling skin and the red burst of stinging heat that it leaves, but watches it merge with the rest of the color. Satisfied that he’s not causing any lasting physical damage, Barry grabs Wally’s waist again and returns to his solemn task.
“Ow! Ow, oww! Barry! Oww, stop it, come on! Oww! I’m too old for this.”
“Oh, are you?” Barry shakes his head, finding some dark humor in the situation. “You can take your Dad whipping you with his belt but you can’t handle me smacking your bare bottom?”
“I... I... oww! Oww! I don’t know! It’s embarrassing.”
“So is your behavior, Wally. You say you’re too old for this, but you make snotty comments and throw a tantrum when you don’t get your way.” Barry’s scolding makes Wally whine, and his yelps of pain grow louder and longer as Barry’s chastising quickens. “Well, I think that if you don’t have the decency to be ashamed of your impulses and correct your behavior yourself, then you deserve to have your naughty bottom bared for your spanking.”
“Uncle Barry!” The whine is considerably more contrite than any of Wally’s comments have been all day. “Oh man, oh man. Oww, oww! This sucks!”
“It’s not supposed to be fun, Wally.” Barry feels like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders. The spanking is getting the results he wants, and isn’t even half as traumatic as he feared it would be. Now that he’s the one dispensing the discipline, he finds his colleagues' views on the subject more reasonable. Warming his nephew’s bottom like this is a lot better than tending to any wounds he might acquire by recklessly trying to play hero. “Now, one more time. Tell me what you did to get yourself in such big trouble with me?”
“Oww, ahh, oww! I disobeyed your direct orders, which I’m not allowed to do. Oww! And I picked a fight with the Rogues without your permission, which I’m also not allowed to do! That’s why you’re spanking me! Oww, ouch, ouch! Barry, please!”
“I’m glad you were listening, Wally. But you’re missing one more thing.” Barry looks at the splotches of scarlet on his nephew’s cheeks and decides to aim lower, spanking where his bottom meets his thighs and making Wally crow in the process. “What’s the other naughty thing you chose to do today, and what do you deserve for acting that way?”
Wally shakes his head, clearly not wanting to answer. He at least keeps those thoughts to himself this time, but he doesn’t do what he needs to either. Barry doesn’t mind. If Wally needs him to turn his thighs red before he admits to his crimes, then so be it. He’ll be patient.
“I... oww... I was rude to you and Iris. She was just asking me questions and I mouthed off at her for no good reason.” Wally’s voice cracks, his shoulders heave, and he crosses his ankles in an effort to keep still. “I deserve exactly - ouch! - exactly what I’m getting.”
“That’s right, kiddo.” Barry makes his voice a little softer, a little more calming. He starts dividing up the smacks between thighs and bottom, letting his hand fall where it may. Wally starts kicking, his legs flailing up and down and working his clothes further down in the process. It’s a pitiful sight. “Now. I don’t want to have to spank you again anytime soon, and I don’t think you want to be over my lap again, either. So how are you going to act to prevent that from happening?”
“I don’t... I don’t know...” Wally’s answers come through gritted teeth. Once again, Barry can feel him holding back, refusing to admit to the feelings he has about this punishment.
“Wallace.” The kid whimpers and buries his face in his hands. “You’re just making this last longer. It’s not that hard to make good choices, or to tell me what those are going to be.”
“Don’t want to... talk. Trying not to - oww, oww! - cry,” he pouts.
“Oh, Wally.” Barry shakes his head, and doubles his effort to smack some sense into the kid. “I thought I told you before we started. This isn’t an opportunity for you to try and act tough just to impress me. You’re in trouble, you’re feeling guilty. You’re embarrassed and your butt’s gotta be sore. It’s normal to cry. It doesn’t make you weak, or less of a man, or whatever other nonsense somebody else has told you. Just let it out.”
Wally sniffles and sobs as Barry gives him this instruction. It’s obviously a lot to take in. But Barry doggedly smacks Wally’s aching cheeks until his own hand is stinging. And finally, he hears sobs that make it crystal clear that Wally is letting himself cry.
“I’ll listen to you! And Iris! I’ll obey, and I won’t be rude, and I won’t try to get ahead of myself! Ahhh, ahhh, oww! Oww! Oh, it hurts! It really stings, Uncle Barry! I’m sorry, I’m so sorry for being a bad kid.”
Barry slows down his spanks and sighs. “I never said you were a bad kid. You just made some sad choices today. But now you’ve been punished for them, and you’ve learned your lesson, and you’re going to make better choices. Right?”
“Yes Sir,” Wally hiccups. “I promise I’ll make better choices!”
Barry takes a deep breath. It hurts hearing Wally be so sad, but it’s balanced with good feelings. The obvious respect he’s gained is going to make their relationship easier. He’ll be able to trust Wally, to know that when he says something, he’ll be listened to. There’s a security that comes with knowing Wally will make good choices that’s worth the temporary heartache of having to warm his bottom.
He sets Wally down on his feet and tries to help him with his clothes, but Wally shoos his hands away. Barry allows him to fix the shorts himself, suspecting that Wally is just looking for a small thing that he can control after that ordeal. His face is as red and puffy as his bottom, with tears glistening on his cheeks and on his collarbone.
“Alright, young man. C’mere.” Barry doesn’t give him long. As soon as his shorts are on, he pulls Wally into a big, crushing hug. “You’re a good kid, you know that? One day, you’re going to be a great hero, I think. Nothing’s going to be able to stop you. But not yet. Right now, you’re still training, and you’ve got to earn the right to be my sidekick. And the most important rule about being a sidekick is that you’ve got to listen to me.”
“I know,” Wally admits, sniffling. He dries his tears on Barry’s shirt and clings to him. Barry pats his back and holds him tight. “I just want to do good with my powers. I’m sorry for causing so much trouble.”
“I accept your apology, Wally.” Barry ruffles his hair again, and the kid manages a weak smile. “If I were in your shoes, I’d go down and apologize to Iris, too. She was about ready to start spanking you before I sent you up here.”
“Can’t say I’d blame her,” Wally admits with a sob. “She’s so good to me and I was just awful.”
“Nobody’s perfect.” Barry nudges Wally onto his feet. “All we can do is try our best. That’s what I’m going to do as your teacher and your uncle. Give me your best in return, and I’m sure everything will work out fine.”