From Little Flame to Raging Fire

I don't own anything but my OC's.

Chapter 13

Rodney was washing his hands in the kitchen sink when Marcus stepped in. "Morning, Rodney."

"Morning, Marcus!" Rodney chirped.

Marcus grinned. "You're happy."

"Yup!" Rodney replied. He was still wearing the pink suit from yesterday.

Marcus was about to say something when he spotted the pancakes on the counter. He licked his lips and reached out for one, "Aw, great! Pancakes!"

A spatula was whacked against his knuckles and Marcus quickly pulled his hand away, grasping it with the other hand. "Ow! What was that for?"

"Those are for Montargo."

Marcus frowned. "How come he gets 'em?"

"Because he's nice to me."

"So am I!"

"I'm sorry, did you give up your whole day just to cheer me up? No? Montargo did." Rodney said curtly.

"Yeah…well…I had stuff to do…"

"Like stare at women?"

Marcus scoffed, trying to cover up a nervous laugh. "Yeah, well…" He paused, then pointed at the chef. "You stare at blokes and give them numbers!"

"Used to, darling, used to."

Marcus crossed his arms. "Yeah, right. I bet ya stare at Monty when he's taking a shower."

Rodney scoffed; a real, genuine scoff. "I do not. I respect Montargo's privacy."

As if on cue, Montarg came into the kitchen, rubbing at the back of his neck with a towel. He was shirtless and panting slightly. "Hey, Monty," Marcus said. "You ok?"

"Yes," Montarg panted.

"Came back from a morning workout, huh?"

"Yes."

Rodney swiftly hid the pancakes in the cupboard nearest to him. He turned back to Montarg, grinning and blushing. "Morning, Montargo! And how is my favourite fire sorcerer today?"

Montarg looked at him. "Fine."

Marcus grinned. "I'll just leave you two alone, then." He patted Montarg's shoulder as he walked out. Montarg picked up a banana from the fruit bowl on the table as Rodney turned back to the food he was cooking for breakfast. He could hear footsteps and the smell of gunpowder increased.

"That looks good,"

Rodney blushed harder at the sound of Montarg's husky voice in his ear. "What is it?"

"O-Omelette." Rodney replied.

Montarg nodded and turned, peeling the banana and biting into it. He chewed on the piece of soft fruit, swallowing the mushy stuff in his mouth, and proceeded to break the rest of banana off from the skin; throwing the outer layer into the bin. He chewed on the fruit and sat at the table. "I see you're still wearing the suit."

"Uh, well, yes. I-I like it."

"By the way you squealed when I handed it to you, yes, I'd imagine you rather enjoyed it."

Rodney grinned sheepishly.

Montarg finished the fruit and stepped outside, calling for his men to assemble the tables.

Rodney sighed in relief. He really couldn't work on making the food for the sorcerers with Montarg sitting there, practically displaying his chest for all to see. Rodney didn't know whether it was a good or bad thing that Montarg walked around shirtless sometimes.

Rodney called for the boys to assist him with the food and drinks and, like always, they did just that. Rodney looked over his shoulder, then opened the cupboard and brought out the plate of pancakes. He walked out of the kitchen, just as Montarg said that the men could eat. Rodney jogged over to Montarg (who, by now, was wearing his shirt again) as he sat down, then placed the plate of pancakes in front of his leader. "Here you go, Montargo!" He chirped. "Especially for you!"

Montarg stared at the plate. He nodded slowly. "Thank you."

"What?" Richard exclaimed. "How come he gets 'em?"

"Cause he's 'nice to 'im'." Marcus spoke up.

"I'm nice to you too!" Richard crossed his arms. "C'mon, Rod, we're cousins!"

"Oh? You used to torment me when we were younger."

"Like how?"

Rodney sat down in his chair as he responded, "Throwing my football into those dark bushes and making me go and get it."

"One time!"

"Locking me in the basement and waiting for Auntie to come and find me, which took hours by the way!"

Montarg's eyes narrowed and he glared at Richard. Richard glanced at him, then frowned. "Oh, c'mon, don't look at me like that! I was a kid!"

"You locked your own cousin in a basement?" Marcus asked. "You rotten git."

"Aw, c'mon, Marc! I was a kid! I barely knew better!"

"It was dark and creepy in there!" Rodney exclaimed.

Montarg growled like an angry dog at the wind sorcerer. Richard threw his hands up. "Wow, ya lock one kid in the basement and suddenly your Halloween's Most Wanted!" He exclaimed sarcastically.

Marcus frowned at him, then looked as though he'd remembered something. "By the way, Monty, what're we gonna do with that sewing machine out front?"

Montarg slowly lifted a hand to cover his eyes and muttered, "Oi…"

Rodney looked at him, eyes wide and curious. "What sewing machine?"

Montarg lowered his hand, then glared at Marcus. He stood and motioned, with a finger, for Rodney to follow. Rodney did as he was told and Montarg led them outside.

There, on a small table, was a sewing machine. Rodney tilted his head.

"You said you've been wanting one for a while now," Montarg said, staring at the machine.

Rodney gasped happily and clapped his hands together. He raced toward the machine, inspecting it and running his hands over it.

"I even carved your name into it," Montarg said as he approached. He tapped the top of the machine, where Rodney's name had been carved (Rodney guessed Montarg used his sword).

Rodney couldn't contain himself any longer and let out a loud squeal, "Oh, Montargo!" He spun around and jumped up, throwing his arms around Montarg's neck. Montarg smirked.

"Oh, thank you, Montargo! If you were homosexual, I'd kiss you!" Rodney released him and Montarg's lips fell slightly. As Rodney ran to inspect the thing, Montarg watched. He didn't quite know what it was, but seeing Rodney so happy made him…happy. Not happy enough to smile, but…happy. "This isn't stolen, is it, Montargo?"

Montarg looked up. "Hm? No."

"It's not? Then…how -"

"It was outside someone's house, on that table. No one was going near it, so I took it."

"Was it going to be used?"

Montarg shrugged. "I don't go around, asking people what they're going to do today."

"Montargo! Someone's probably looking around for their sewing machine!"

"Correction: they are looking around for your sewing machine."

"Montargo…" Rodney muttered. Montarg really needed to get rid of the stealing habit.

Montarg tilted his head. "Have I made you unhappy, Rodney? Do you not want it?"

Rodney shook his head. "Oh, no, Montargo. I do want it." He smiled and leaned his back against Montarg's chest, looking over his shoulder at him. "And you always make me happy, Montargo."

Montarg stared at him, then Rodney turned to the sewing machine once more. The rock sorcerer put both hands to it and tried to lift it, cringing as he did. He breathed out and tried again. The sewing machine didn't budge. Montarg walked over and picked it up without struggle. Rodney stared at him for a second, then pouted, "I need to get stronger…"

Montarg grunted and carried the machine in, while Rodney picked up the table and carried it into the cavern.

After Montarg had set the machine down in Rodney's room, Marcus approached him. Montarg looked at him. "What?"

"Got anymore gifts for 'im, Monty? Ya been doing that a lot lately. Giving him gifts."

"I wish to cheer him up."

"Well, I think he's all cheered up. Might as well get 'im a cat."

"He still has not gotten over Montargo."

"…What?"

"Montargo."

"He named a cat 'Montargo'?"

"Apparently, it looked like me."

…

As Montarg put his coat on, Rodney approached him, now wearing his sorcerer clothes. Montarg stared at him for a second, "What?"

"Nothing." Rodney shrugged, smiling happily.

Montarg raised an eyebrow at him as Marcus and Richard came over. "Ready for some workout, Monty?" Marcus asked, patting him on the back.

Montarg grunted then turned as the water and wind sorcerers headed out. He listened carefully to the footsteps behind him, then stopped walking. Someone let out a little "Oof!" as they collided with him. Montarg looked over his shoulder as Rodney looked at him, "Montargo, why did you stop?"

There was silence, then Montarg said, "I have my sandwich with me."

"I know."

"Then why're you following?"

"I'm coming with you."

"You wish to watch?"

"No. I'm going to train with you."

Montarg's brow furrowed. Rodney hadn't sparred with him in years. The one main problem was that Rodney was more fragile and weaker then most of the sorcerers. He cried too easily, that was the problem. Montarg could imagine that Rodney would've cried over a bruise when he was a child. Montarg grunted and continued to follow the water and wind sorcerers. Rodney grinned and latched onto Montarg's arm, resting the side of his head against it. "Won't this be fun, Montargo? Just like old times!"

Montarg simply grunted.

Marcus turned and began walking backwards with a grin, which faded as he saw Montarg's companion. He tapped Richard's shoulder and the wind sorcerer turned. Marcus pointed and Richard muttered, "Aw, ya kiddin'." Both men stopped walking. "Hey, cuz." Richard said. "Come to watch?"

"Nope. I came to train with you boys."

Marcus looked at Montarg, who simply shrugged in return. Marcus chuckled nervously. "Hey, uh, Monty, can I talk to ya over there?" Before Montarg could respond, Marcus took him by his arm and pulled him aside. "Monty," He said in a hushed tone. "You sure 'bout this? I mean, no offence to Rodney or anything, but do ya really think it'd be ok for him to train with us? I don't want 'im to start cryin' during a sparring match or anything."

"Rodney is perfectly capable."

"Yeah, but he's a bit…"

Montarg tilted his head. "Bit what?"

"Sensitive…"

"Ah. Well, yes. Comes from his childhood."

"Having fun talking about me, boys?"

Both men turned to Rodney, who was scowling at them, arms crossed. "'Oh, let's not let Rodney come and train with us, he's too fragile and weak!' Is that what you think? Marcus?"

"Uh, well…" Marcus said awkwardly.

Rodney turned to Montarg. "Montargo?"

Montarg glanced off to the side. Rodney's scowl deepened and Marcus saw his eyes beginning to get wet. "Fine. I didn't want to take part in your training anyway. Wouldn't want to bring you all down with how weak I am." He turned and began to walk away then suddenly picked up speed, putting a hand to his eyes.

Marcus cringed. "Ah. Well, great. I feel terrible."

"You will after training," Montarg said. "You have upset my chef, which is something I do not tolerate."

Marcus gulped.

…

Marcus hesitantly entered the kitchen, seeing Rodney pick the chopping board out of the cupboard. "Hey, Rodney."

Rodney didn't respond. The rock sorcerer turned and shoved the board into Marcus's chest. Marcus looked at him confusedly. Rodney crossed his arms. "Sorry, Marcus," He said sarcastically. "I'm too weak to chop vegetables."

Marcus sighed through his nose and put the board on the table. "Look, Rod, I'm real sorry. I didn't mean to upset ya. Really, I'm sure ya pretty tough. Just…"

Rodney put up a hand. "Yes. I know. I cry too easily. I hate that about myself and so did Father. I know Montargo doesn't like it either."

"Naw, 'e just don't like to see ya upset."

"Quite."

"But, ya know, you ever wanna join us for training again, ya can. Won't stop ya."

Rodney smirked deviously.

…

Marcus yelled out as he was thrown through the air, landing on the ground with a loud thud! Marcus's eye twitched. Rodney grinned and clapped his hands, bouncing up and down on the spot. "Look, Montargo! I win!"

Montarg smirked as Marcus peeled himself off of the ground. "Who the hell knew he actually had muscles on 'im?" Marcus whimpered.

Richard was laughing, pointing at Marcus. "Oh, man, that was classic! Rodney creamed ya!" He laughed harder.

Marcus mumbled to himself and wiped the soil off of himself. Rodney turned to Montarg and smiled. "Your turn, Montargo."

Montarg stood up from his place on the ground and brushed himself off, removing his coat. Rodney wasn't wearing his coat either. Marcus limped over and sat where Montarg once sat. Montarg walked over to Rodney, who jabbed him in the chest with one finger. "And you better not hold back on me."

Montarg grunted. Of course he was going to hold back on Rodney. Rodney walked away from Montarg, making some distance.

"Alright, lads, ready?" Richard called.

"Yup!" Rodney called, hands behind his back.

Montarg grunted.

"Go!"

As soon as Richard had called that single word, Montarg's hand shot up and a wave of fire flew toward his chef. However, Rodney's hands came out from behind his back and he sent both hands skywards; a wall of rock bursting out of the ground, blocking Montarg's flame. Montarg ran toward Rodney and ran up the wall, jumping over it. Rodney gasped and looked up as Montarg landed behind him, his sword pointed at the back of Rodney's head. Rodney frowned and stomped his foot and a pillar of rock burst out, shooting Montarg into the air.

"Ooh." Richard muttered. "Is it just me, or did that hit him in the crotch?"

Montarg did a flip in midair and landed in front of Rodney, putting his weight on his right foot. A small burst of flame erupted from underneath his boot and Rodney yelped at the heat. "Montargo, that hurt!"

"Fighting is about pain." Montarg lifted a fist, then paused. This wasn't Marcus or Richard or any other opponent, this was Rodney. Fragile, sensitive little Rodney. If he hit him in the belly, no doubt the wind would be knocked out of him. If he punched him in the face, there was no doubt Rodney would start shedding tears with, most likely, a black eye as a bonus. Montarg couldn't do that. But where could he hit him? The leg? The arm? The…privates, perhaps? That would certainly hurt. Then where…? Montarg bit his lip and settled for the arm, punching his bicep. Rodney's hand shot to his bicep as the pain dug in. "Ow! Montargo!"

The adrenaline pumped in Montarg's veins, making his heart beat faster. Something in the back of his head was telling him to continue. To continue…hurting him. That part actually liked it when Rodney cried out. He cursed that part to bloody hell. That was his father talking. That man had influenced him to be so violent. It also didn't help that his father was, quite severely, homophobic - just another thing Montarg absolutely despised about him. Before he could stop himself, Montarg punched Rodney again, this time in the side of his stomach. Rodney coughed slightly and Montarg used his left hand to hit Rodney's arm again. Rodney whimpered and fell to his knees. Montarg was about to raise his foot, when he was aware of sniffling. He paused, his eyes widening ever so slightly.

"This is what I was afraid of…" Marcus muttered.

Montarg stopped as Rodney continued to sniffle. "Rodney?"

"H…How could you, M-Montargo…?" Rodney cried.

Montarg stepped forward, hand out to comfort him. "Rodney -"

"How could you -"

Montarg cringed.

"- leave such a big chance for me to attack?"

Montarg's eyes widened as Rodney suddenly grinned and kicked out, kicking Montarg's feet from under him. Montarg fell to the ground and, before he could even think about getting up, Rodney slammed both hands on the ground. Arches of rock came over Montarg's wrists and ankles, keeping him pinned down to the ground; hands above his head and legs stretched out. Montarg grunted and tried to pull his arm free, but couldn't. Rodney giggled. "I think I win, Montargo."

"That was a dirty trick. Using fake sadness against me. I thought you were really harmed."

"I am harmed. You still hurt me, you big jerk."

Montarg grunted. They could hear Marcus and Richard beginning to get into their own fight. Rodney laid down next to Montarg on the grass, trying to ignore the fact he was getting dirty. "Nice weather, isn't it, Montargo?"

Montarg grunted.

Rodney smiled at him, then stopped. His smile faded. "Montargo, you know I never told you my real name?"

"Hm."

"I want to make that up to you."

"You -"

"I'm going to tell you my last name."

Montarg paused. He barely even knew if his sorcerers had last names. Since last names were quite rare in Halloween Town (save for the Skellington family, of course), many of the sorcerers just abandoned their surnames. Montarg had abandoned his long before Halloween Town came into his sight and mind.

Rodney sat up. "Now, only Richard knows this. You have to promise me you won't laugh."

"I haven't laughed in years."

Rodney faltered. "Well, still. You have to promise."

"Yes, yes, I promise."

"Pinky swear?"

"What?"

Rodney reached up and hooked his little finger onto Montarg's. "There. That's a promise. Cross your heart."

Montarg just frowned at him and Rodney giggled and blushed. "Oops. Sorry."

"Just get on with it."

"Alright, Montargo, but just remember, you promised." Rodney gulped nervously. "Ok…my surname…is Bellaham…"

Montarg paused. "Bellaham?"

Rodney covered his face with his hands. "See? You're going to laugh."

"Nonsense. Though I hope you realize the irony in that name."

"Hm?" Rodney uncovered his eyes.

"That translates to beautiful ham. You're a vegetarian."

Rodney paused, then threw his head, covering his eyes again, and exclaimed "Oh!" Rodney looked back at Montarg. "See, Montargo? You probably have an amazing surname - one that actually suits you - and I get Bellaham! You know what the worst part is? My family is Jewish! We don't eat pigs!"

Montarg raised an eyebrow. "Thought you said you're no longer Jewish."

"Well, no, I'm not. I lost faith ages ago. My parents haven't lost faith. I had my Bar Mitzvah and everything, though. Lovely thing. It was fun."

Montarg grunted, then muttered. "Roderick Bellaham…"

Rodney groaned.

"What a nice name." Montarg tilted his head.

Rodney looked at him surprise, then blushed bright red. "Thank you, Montargo…"

"However, I am still going to call you Rodney. This is ok, yes?"

"Oh, definitely."

"Hey, Rodders!"

Rodney jumped as Richard and Marcus stared at them. "Didn't know you were a bondage fan, Roddy!" Richard laughed.

Rodney's entire face became as red as a tomato. Montarg looked at him. "What does that mean?"

Rodney squeaked. "Nothing!" He slammed a fist to the ground and a pillar of rock shot out from underneath Richard, shooting him up into the air.

…

"Thanks for doing this, Alan."

Alan smiled and hit the nail with the hammer once more. "No problem, 'Manda. Mav's gonna love 'is new bed."

As if on cue, Maverick walked into the room. He had grown up considerably and could now walk around without assistance and he was almost out of the need for his 'absorbent underwear' (as Montarg would say). "Hey, Mav," Alan said, grinning at him from his place on the floor. He was knelt down beside Maverick's new bed. "Ya like it? Tis ya big boy bed."

But Maverick shook his head, looking as though he was about to cry. "No." He turned and walked out of the room again.

Amanda and Alan looked at each other, then snorted with laughter.

…

Arachnid sat on the end of the bed, two bundles in his arms. They were finally silent after some time.

She was dead. Christine was dead. His wife was dead.

He knew he deserved this. Even he knew he partly went with Christine just because Amanda was gone. He had practically used her, just because the best one was gone. He felt disgusted with himself. Now, he had these two bundles in his arms. These two wonderful bundles, which his wife had died giving birth to. The one in the black bundle had come along first, then the one in the purple bundle. Arachnid looked to the black bundle. "I name you Eleanor," He looked to the purple bundle. "And I name you Jackson."

His princess and prince were born and alive in his arms, even if his wife could not be.

…

Author's note:

Me: R.I.P Christine. What an interesting chapter. Rodney's last name is pronounced exactly how it looks. Bella, and then, ham. Bellaham. Marcus got his butt whooped by Rodney. XD

Mav: Rodney…had a cat called Montargo…?

Me: Yes. Yes, he did. Well, Rodney's last name is revealed (as well as his Jewish family).

Mav: Arachnid's kids are born!

Me: And Mav just does not want that bed! Will Arachnid's children be ok?

Mav: Will I be ok?

Me: And what will the sorcerers do now? Find out next time!