Mostly Dead Pirates Shouldn’t Push Their Luck

Summary:  Inigo takes exception to Westley facing Humperdinck alone when he was still weak.
Warning(s): Semi-consensual Disciplinary spanking

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Inigo was tempted to take up the mantle of the pirate. It was fairly obvious that Wesley wasn't going to return to his life as a pirate, not with Buttercup with him and Humperdinck no longer coming after them.

What concerned Inigo was knowing that Westley had gone after Humperdinck, despite being so weak he could barely stand. Despite having been tortured until he was mostly dead and only brought back because he hadn't gone all the way. But he could have done...and a big part of Inigo was reluctant to leave without making his feelings on the matter known.

So, before he'd made the decision to leave and become the next pirate Roberts, Inigo had sent a message to Westley...asking the man to meet him at the inn Inigo was staying in, so that they could talk.

Westley had accepted the invitation to talk, even though he didn't like leaving Buttercup so soon after reuniting with her. Inigo was considering becoming the next Dread Pirate Roberts and as the prior Dread Pirate, it was his responsibility to impart all his knowledge to Inigo, so that the choice and possible transition would be smooth.

When he walked into the Inn's tavern, he was waved up the stairs with a loud, "Room three, on the right." It didn't surprise him Inigo wanted to meet in his room instead of the tavern area. They had a lot of secrets. Meeting in the more public area could be problematic.

It was just Inigo in his room, having sent Fezzik away so that he and Westley could talk privately. He now sat pensively on the bare mattress, lost in thought, as he waited for the other man's arrival.

Westley knocked on the third room on the right just to make certain it was Inigo. As soon as the other man answered, he slipped in, closing the door behind him. "You had questions about being Roberts?" he asked.

Inigo glanced up and smiled at the other man in welcome, though there was still a slightly pensive look on his face. "Some," he admitted. "But there is something else I need to ask you that's more important."

Westley blinked and have Inigo a bemused look. "I'm not sure what I could help you with that isn't Roberts related, but I'll do my best to answer," he said.

"How did you escape from Humperdinck, when you were left so weak, you couldn't stand without help?" Inigo asked directly.

"Lies and obfuscation, of course!" Westley declared flippantly. "I spoke in such a way as to distract him from the way I was moving. Scared him into dropping his weapon at which point, with Buttercup's help, I restrained him. Just in time too, as I collapsed immediately after, but by then, he couldn't hurt us." He gave Inigo a confused but curious glance. "Why?"

"You pushed yourself too far and too much," Inigo said. "Why did you not ask for help?"

"Who would I have asked?" Westley was honestly confused. "You were fighting the six-fingered monster who killed your father. Buttercup had seemingly given up hope. I don't know where Fezzik was...."

"If you had asked for my help, I would have willingly waited for my vengeance until then," Inigo said. "You were fortunate that the strain you put yourself under didn't send you to death."

"You had waited so long... I didn't wish to be the cause of further delay..." Westley said hesitantly.

"Instead, you endangered yourself unnecessarily," Inigo said. "I asked you to come and meet me because I want to ensure it won't happen again. Come here, please."

Westley frowned, obviously confused, but he still did as Inigo requested. "What do you wish to ensure?"

"That you do not endanger yourself again." Inigo reached out and wrapped an arm around Westley's waist, pulling the other man over his lap in one swift movement. After tugging Westley's britches down, he rubbed his backside for a few moments as he said, "You were tortured until you were mostly dead. I'm concerned that your behavior will end with you fully dead." With the last word, he lifted his hand and brought it down firmly.

Westley couldn't say he was surprised by the position. He'd expected something to occur, even if he hadn't known what, so being upended didn't shock him so much as wind him; he was still recovering from being mostly dead. He didn't fight the position, instead trying to get himself into a better position to breathe while Inigo roasted his butt. He did stiffen uncertainly as Inigo rubbed his bottom, but then the other man landed the first swat, and he was gasping, shifting, and trying to find a comfortable position to breathe while accepting the correction. "I... truly upset you..." he observed, in a small voice. "I'm sorry."

Inigo delivered a firm circuit of swats down to Westley's thighs and then paused to rub as he began speaking. "If you'd been killed, it would have been a terrible thing. You should not have endangered yourself." Noticing Westley's position, Inigo moved his own, settling further back on the bed so that Westley was laying across his lap instead of over it, so that he could breathe more easily.

Westley gratefully adjusted so that he was supported by the bed. Once he was breathing more easily, he put his hands behind his back in an act of submission, accepting what Inigo had decided to do. "I did not consider the danger to myself," he admitted. "I only wanted to finish it."

Inigo took Westley's hands in his, squeezing them gently, as he began a second circuit of swats. After he'd finished, he resumed rubbing as he said, "I understand, but it doesn't make your actions right. It would solve nothing were you to die."

"I know you are right," Westley said softly, shifting both in response to the stinging swats and then because of the rubbing.

"Your life is important and should not be thrown away. Not when there are people who you have a responsibility to." Inigo began a third circuit of swats, a fraction harder and faster, and then began to rub once more. "You had people you could turn to for help, rather than push yourself to the point of collapsing."

"Y... you are right. I have people. It has been a long time that I didn't...." Westley's breath hitched and he blinked back tears.

"You need to rely on the people around you, on your friends, to help you." Inigo resumed swatting, focusing more on Westley's sit spots and thighs.

Westley gasped softly before just slumping, boneless. "I will try..." he said, in a quivering voice.

Inigo stopped spanking and resumed rubbing squeezing Westley's hands with his other. "I believe it would be better that I stay close by."

"If you believe it best." Westley swallowed hard.

"I think you will be less likely to take reckless, dangerous chances when you know there is someone who will deal with those actions," Inigo said.

"So Dread Pirate Roberts will remain absent for a while longer?" Westley swallowed hard again, obviously fighting tears.

"He'll have to." Inigo continued rubbing as he said, "My friend needs me."

"I do... deeply..." Westley shivered. "Thank you."

"I care about you. I care about what happens to you and that you stay safe." Inigo stopped rubbing and resumed swatting, spreading the smacks out evenly over Westley's backside. "I will not leave you," he promised.

"...I believe you!" Westley gasped out, before beginning to cry vocally; not loudly, but loud enough Inigo could hear.

Inigo stopped spanking and helped Westley to stand, so he could hug his friend, rubbing Westley's back and down over his bottom. "I am gladder than I can say that you are whole and well."

Westley thought he should be more upset at the fact he was standing half naked in his friend's arms after being spanked. He wasn't upset. He was relieved and all he could do was lean into the embrace and accept whatever Inigo decided to do. "I am glad you are staying. I would miss you terribly," he admitted.

"I would miss you too," Inigo said honestly, letting his hand continue the gentle rubbing. "You are my friend. I cannot leave you."

"I'll be more careful... I promise." Westley continued to snuggle.

"Good," Inigo replied. "You know what will happen if you are not."

"Yeah. I'd deserve it, too," Westley agreed.

Inigo just nodded his agreement, still holding onto his friend, still rubbing Westley's back and backside comfortingly. "You will have someone you are accountable to."

"That's good. I will need that. I love Buttercup with all my heart, and she is slowly regaining her spark. But life's events have made her a bit helpless in some ways..." Westley frowned as he thought of it but tried not to worry.

"She will need help from you," Inigo said. "And you will have help from me."

Westley nodded, sinking against Inigo. "Thank you, friend. That is a great weight lifted from me..." he whispered.

There was no need for further conversation. Inigo held his friend and tried to provide as much comfort for Westley as he could, planning to be the other man's support as long as he lived.

The End