Trusting His Own

Summary: Follows Training His Own. Will struggles to be honest.
Warning(s): AU; Spanking of adults. Spoilers for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

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The day had started out innocuously enough. Will had woken at the sun's rising when the golden rays slanted over his face through the window. He'd dressed and met the rest of the household for breakfast. Everyone was in a good mood, and when Robin had asked Will if he'd delivered the package to the village tailor as Robin had requested the week before, his brother didn't sound impatient or distrustful. He just sounded curious. Will immediately answered in the affirmative, returning Robin's proud smile of affection with his own quick grin.

After breakfast, he'd immediately retrieved the package from his room and gone to the tailor to deliver it. The whole way there, he'd been watching to make sure Robin didn't see him. He didn't want his brother to realize he'd lied. There had been no reason to lie and he honestly couldn't understand why he had, but now that the lie was out there, he certainly didn't want Robin to find out.

He didn't relax until the package was safely delivered and he was back home, in his room, uncaught. At least, he hoped. He ignored the nagging, uncomfortable feeling that kept prodding his gut when he thought about the fact he'd lied.

***

After  breakfast, Robin had spent the morning with Marian, going riding with her. When they returned to the castle, he took some time to wash and change out of his riding clothes. Then, he walked to his brother's quarters and knocked lightly on the door.

Marian would be taking the afternoon for herself. Robin hoped Will would want to spend some time with him.

Will had spent the morning, after delivering the package, in various activities in an effort to stop thinking about his unnecessary lie. As a result, he'd got sweaty and in need of a bath. He'd returned to his quarters about half an hour before Robin knocked, and arranged for a tub of steaming water to be brought in so he could bathe. He had just finished rinsing suds from his hair when he heard the knock. Thinking it was the servant with a change of clean clothes for him, he called out, "You can bring them in!"

Robin opened the door to his younger brother's quarters and stepped inside, immediately noticing Will was in the bath. "I wasn't aware you were bathing. I apologise for interrupting," he said.

Will blinked at realizing it was his brother and not the servant, though the servant did come in nearly immediately after, with clothing and towel. Will watched the servant put the items on a nearby bench, leaving and closing the door to his chambers with a click. Will, facing his brother unexpectedly, couldn't help but slide deeper into the tub, a guilty flush covering his skin and his eyes unable to look into his brother's own eyes. Maybe Robin would attribute the blush and awkward behavior to embarrassment instead of what it truly was: guilty shame because he'd lied for no reason.

"I... Tis fine, brother. D... Did you need something from me?" Will finally said, his voice higher pitched and cagey, despite his efforts.

"Has something happened?" Robin could have attributed the blush, and sinking into the tub, to being embarrassed that his brother had walked in on him bathing. However, the tone of his voice was enough to raise Robin's concerns. Had something happened? Almost without thinking of it, Robin was moving closer to the tub...searching Will's body for any signs of injuries.

 Will's eyes widened as Robin moved toward him, obviously worried. "No, sir!" he blurted in a panic, scrambling to cover his privates with his hands before his brother reached the tub. All the suds had dissipated by this time and while the water was murky now, it wasn't opaque by any means. "I'm sorry!" he blurted again, his guilt deciding it was time to apologize.

Robin paused, his eyebrows arching at the apology. "What happened, Will?" His voice was gentle; not accusatory or suspicious in the least. He couldn't imagine what might have happened between breaking their fast and now for Will to be this affected by something, but an apology was a good start. It meant his brother was less likely to try and continue hiding the truth from him.

Will blinked before looking down again in obvious shame. To his horror, tears were already pooling in his eyes and sliding down his cheeks. His shoulders shrunk in dejection. Robin was going to be so disappointed in him...so ashamed. How could his brother ever trust him to tell the truth, when he lied about stupid stuff that there was no reason to lie about? "I'm sorry..." he repeated again, choking the words out in a small, hopeless voice. "I lied to you... And I'm so sorry...."

Robin moved next to the tub and crouched down. He reached out and wrapped his arms tightly around his brother, heedless of the fact his own clothing would get wet. "Talk to me, Will. Tell me what happened."

"This morning," Will whispered. "I said I'd delivered your package to the tailor, but I didn't...," His voice caught. "I forgot, so took it this morning after breakfast...."

"Why did you tell me you delivered it?" Robin's voice was gentle, not accusing, as he tightened his embrace around Will, still holding onto his brother.

"I... I dunno. I didn't want you to be frustrated I forgot and I knew I could do it right away... But as soon as I said it, I knew I shouldn't have..." Will let out a tiny sob. "I knew you wouldn't be angry...just frustrated. Lying was what made my mistake bad. I'm so sorry...."

"I'm not angry, Will." Robin hugged his brother tighter as he added, "I'm not frustrated, either. I don't believe you meant to lie. We talked about you possibly slipping back into bad habits before," he said gently.

"I know..." Will said, in a small, sad voice. "I expected it to be for important things, though... Not things that there was no reason or need at all... If I can't keep from lying for things like that, I'll never be able to stop...."

"Of course you'll be able to," Robin replied. "If you were never going to be able to stop, you would be lying to me all the time. And I know you aren't doing that."

Will took a deep, quivery breath to try and stop crying and then sniffled. "...Don't want to lie to you... Want you to trust me." His voice was small and dejected. Worried. "I'm sorry I was bad and lied this time."

"I do trust you, Will." Robin brushed a gentle kiss over his brother's head. "We'll deal with the lying, but it won't change anything between us," he promised. "Lying doesn't make you 'bad', little brother."

"...Doesn't?" Will asked hopefully and pressed into the kiss. "...Feels like I am bad," he admitted. He'd stopped trying to hide by this point and was leaning into his brother, unabashedly and unashamed. What was the point of hiding his nakedness? If Robin was going to deal with his lie (as he realized he needed his brother to do), he'd soon be at least half-naked over the older man's knee, anyway.

"You aren't bad, brother," Robin promised. Gently rubbing Will's shoulders, he asked, "Have you finished bathing?" He thought there was no reason to put off handling Will's actions; not if it was affecting his brother this badly.

"Yessir..." Will responded, before carefully beginning to stand. Once upright, he gingerly stepped out of the tub. The towel was still sitting on the chair.

Robin moved to pick up the towel and then returned to his brother, beginning to help Will to dry off.

Will blushed at being taken care of like a child, but didn't say anything. It felt safe, having his brother just take over.

Once his brother was dry, Robin moved to collect Will's clothing...though he didn't immediately start dressing Will, instead looking to see if his brother would be more comfortable dressing himself.

Will smiled crookedly at his brother, uncertain if he should take his clothing and dress or if he needed to wait for Robin to decide what would happen.

"Would you prefer to dress yourself?" Robin asked, deciding that he could determine the best course of action based on Will's reaction and response to his question.

"I... I probably should..." Will sighed and slowly reached for his clothes, beginning to dress.

Robin waited until his brother was dressed and then reached out, placing a hand on Will's shoulder and squeezing gently. He then guided his brother towards the bed.

Will swallowed hard but followed his brother. He was obviously relieved not to be getting away with his actions. "I'm sorry..." he whispered.

"I know. And I forgive you. This won't change anything between us, brother," Robin promised. He sat down on the bed and guided Will across his lap.

"Because you love me?" Will found himself asking pathetically, as he willingly went over Robin's knee. He knew he didn't deserve the easy forgiveness.

"Because I love you," Robin confirmed. "You're my little brother and so very important to me."

At those words, Will began to cry again. His voice shook as he begged in a small voice, "Please... Punish me so I can be right again...."

Robin gently rubbed Will's back before he bared his brother. There was no point in dragging this out any longer, or reiterating what Will had done. So he didn't say anything. He just kept one hand in place on Will's back, rubbing gently, even as he lifted his other hand and brought it down in a firm, stinging swat that he then repeated.

Will was beyond trying to act brave and unaffected. He immediately began to squirm in response to the sting, but it was obvious he wasn't fighting. He wrapped his hands around his big brother's ankle and held tightly, tiny whimpers and gasps escaping in between the tears he'd already been crying.

Robin continued to swat firmly, working his way down to Will's thighs before starting over from the top. Partway through the second circuit, he began to speak. "You made a mistake, little brother. It doesn't mean you're bad or beyond hope."

"I... I k...keep making the same mistake!" Will managed to say through the tears. He had no idea if Robin could understand him.

"It's not a surprise that you'll slip up sometimes. We talked about that possibility before," Robin said gently. "I don't blame you. I'm not upset with you. And even if it happens again, it won't make any difference in how I feel about you." He completed the second circuit and began a third, swatting a fraction harder and faster.

"Y... You'll teach me and f...forgive me..." Will's voice quivered and then he slumped, just crying and accepting the punishment. The sense of relief that he'd paid for his mistake and it wouldn't hang over his head was immense.

"Always." Robin stopped spanking and moved his brother onto his lap instead of over it, cuddling Will tightly.

"I love you..." Will whispered in a small voice, cuddling as close as possible. "I want to do right for you...."

"I love you too. So much." Robin brushed a kiss against his brother's forehead. "And I believe you'll do right for me. Being temporarily naughty doesn't change my belief and trust in you," he promised.

Shivering slightly and sniffling as he finally began to calm down, Will continued to snuggle. For the first time since his lie that morning, he felt at peace. He stayed like he was for several long moments, soaking in his brother's love, affection and forgiveness. Finally, though, he pulled back and wiped his eyes. "May I pull my trousers up, sir? Philip said he would come around before dinner and if the scent coming from the kitchens is not fooling me, that will be soon...."

Robin nodded. "Of course. I can ask a servant to bring up some fresh water, if you'd like to wash your face," he offered.

"Yes, please..." Will gave his brother a wan but contented and genuine smile before gingerly standing and fixing his clothing. Other than the remnants of his crying, he looked presentable. After Robin had the servant deliver a basin of water and Will had scrubbed his face, he looked as if nothing had been wrong.

It was just in time, as Philip knocked on the door to his room. "Come in!" Will called out, leaning into Robin to make it clear he didn't want his brother to leave

Philip opened the door and slipped into the room, giving both men a smile. "Oh good! I can show both of you before dinner!"

Robin wrapped an arm around Will, drawing his brother in close, even as he smiled at Philip. "What did you want to show us?"

Philip held up a sword. "I made this! Thomas says it would make a good blade for a beginner... He is willing to take me as an apprentice. If that is allowed, sir?" He turned toward Robin, since as Lord of the manor and Philip's warden, he had final say.

Will's eyes widened. "That is a beautiful sword. I did not know you wanted to be a smith...."

"I didn't either...but I was watching Thomas as he worked and he noticed and started giving me small assignments and next thing I know, he is having me make this and...he says I am good at it..." Philip sounded surprised. "I would be able to have an honest job...."

Robin smiled. "Being a smith is certainly a worthy and honest job. I'm happy to give my permission for you to be an apprentice to Thomas. I agree with Will," he added. "The sword is truly a beautiful piece."

Philip's smile grew. "Thank you, sir. Thomas said he would come around after dinner to get your permission, if that is acceptable...."

Will shifted to Robin's left side so that Philip could walk on his right and tell them a bit more about the apprenticeship. They left his room and headed toward the dining room. Will was much happier.

In the presence of his brother and his brother's best friend, Robin was relaxed...happy. He looked forward to spending the rest of the day with his family and chosen family.

The End