From Little Flame to Raging Fire
I don't own anything but my OC's.
Chapter 7
Arachnid couldn't believe this.
It'd been a few months since Amanda had come to his door, crying and saying that she was pregnant. She was scared. Scared that something would happen to the baby. Scared that something would happen to her. Arachnid and Christine had assured her that they would help her in any way they could. However, it was Arachnid who was usually the one that helped with the cravings and morning sickness. The mood swings, however…That was Christine's job. Arachnid was a little afraid to go near her during the mood swings.
Arachnid sighed in relief as he finally got to sit down. What a rotten time to find out you're pregnant- when the child's father is away on a trip. Arachnid rubbed his face. He was happy for them, for finally getting 'round to having children, but he was also upset. This should be his baby, not Xavier's. But it was the werewolf's, and there was nothing he could do about that. Arachnid let out another sigh as he heard Amanda puke in the bathroom. This was going to be a long few months…
…
Rodney knew whenever Montarg entered the kitchen.
The smell of gunpowder would reach his nose and the fact that he was a rock sorcerer - able to sense, through the ground, wherever someone stood - helped. He heard the scraping noise of a chair's legs against the ground. "Good morning, Mon-" He paused when he saw what Montarg was reading. "No…No, Montargo, please."
Montarg looked up from the book he held in both hands. It had a brown, worn cover and no title or picture.
"No, Montargo. Please. You already tried that years ago." Rodney pleaded.
"Listen, it says these tattoos- these spells- can give someone a sorcerer's powers…" Montarg said thoughtfully. "Perhaps…" He looked down at his right arm. "I'm already a sorcerer, so it'll give me more power…"
"No, Montargo!" Rodney exclaimed. "I won't let you!" Rodney snatched the book from Montarg's hands.
Montarg stood up. "Give it."
Rodney held it over the pot. "I'll do it."
"There's nothing in the pot."
Rodney's eyes narrowed. "How do you know?"
"I can't smell anything and I can't sense the heat."
Rodney frowned then quickly sprinted to the entrance of the kitchen. Montarg reached out to grab him, but missed. "Rodney!"
Rodney ran into the main part of the cavern, Montarg chasing him. Rodney ran over to the bedrooms, leaping up onto the platform in front of his own. Montarg watched as Rodney disappeared into his room, growling angrily. The fire sorcerer jumped up onto the platform, then ran inside. Rodney was holding the book over a lit candle on his bedside table. "I'll do it."
Montarg waved a hand, and the candle's wax smudged; smoke trailing out from the wick. Rodney looked down at the smudged candle. "Oh, that's it! Ruin my candles!" Rodney took either side of the open book in both hands. "I'll rip it."
"Don't you dare." Montarg warned. "It took a lot to get that book."
"I don't care!" Rodney exclaimed. "I won't let you do this, Montargo!"
"Alright!" Montarg suddenly yelled. "If I promise to not practise this work, will you give me the book back? Has sentimental value."
Rodney tilted his head. "Promise?"
"Yes, yes. Promise."
Rodney stared at him for a moment, before slowly closing the book and handing it back. Montarg took it from him. "Thank you."
Rodney pointed a warning finger at him. "Remember, Montargo, you promised."
"Yes, yes. Of course."
As Rodney smiled at him, Montarg couldn't help but think, Sorry, Rodney…
…
Marcus and Montarg walked down the street. Marcus was kicking at rocks with his hands in his pockets. Montarg walked calmly beside him. Marcus turned so that he was walking backwards and looked at Montarg. "Hey, Montarg, I've been meaning to ask ya. What were you and Rodney doing last week? With the chasin' and stuff?"
"He took my book."
"That's it?"
"Has sentimental value."
"Ah." Marcus nodded. "An' what's with the glove?"
"What glove?"
"The one on ya right hand."
Montarg glanced at his hand, where the white, cotton glove was. "Can a man not wear a glove if he so pleases?"
"Well, why one?"
"I felt like it."
Marcus shrugged. When he turned back around, he spotted a familiar face. "Hey, Mandy!" He exclaimed, jogging over to her. Montarg groaned and followed.
Amanda turned to them, smiling. Marcus skidded to a halt. "Woah," He muttered, seeing her stomach. Montarg stopped beside him, eyeing the human's stomach as well. "Uh, Mandy," Marcus hesitated, grinning nervously. "I'm gonna say this in the friendliest way possible…Ya gettin' a bit…" He made a sphere in the air with his hands. "…round. But don't worry, love," He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Rodney can fix ya up somethin' that'll get ya back to ya ol', skinny self." He patted the bump.
"Um…Marcus…" Amanda muttered, smiling.
"She's with child, you moron." Montarg exclaimed.
"Ya pregnant?" Marcus asked, absolutely surprised. Montarg slapped a hand to his forehead and groaned. "That's great, Mandy!" Marcus exclaimed. "Congrats!"
Amanda giggled. "Thank you, Marcus." She looked at Montarg. "Montarg?"
Montarg stared at her. "What? You'd like me to congratulate you on creating a spawn? No. I don't like children."
"Monty!" Marcus exclaimed.
Amanda suddenly scowled and gritted her teeth. She took a few steps toward Montarg. "You know what, Montarg?" She snapped. "I've had it with you! All you ever do is look down on people who are trying to help you-"
"I do not need people to help me."
"Don't interrupt me."
Marcus looked absolutely terrified. In their cavern, if Montarg interrupted someone, they would just shut up.
"I'm sick of being insulted by you just because I'm a woman! Well, I'm sorry, Montarg! I'm sorry I was born a weak, simple little girl while you were born a big, strong boy!" She exclaimed sarcastically. "You're not strong! All you are, Montarg, is a sexist jerk!"
Marcus stared, wide-eyed. Montarg simply stared and tilted his head. There was silence before Montarg spoke, "You have hidden rage, woman." He tilted his head in the other direction. "I like that in a person."
Amanda paused and was taken aback. Was that a compliment? An actual compliment? Since when did Montarg compliment people?
"Come along, now, Marcus." Montarg called. "We have to go back."
"Y-Yeah, Montarg." Marcus muttered. He went to follow Montarg, who had already begun walking away, but stopped beside Amanda. "Well, uh, Amanda. G-Good luck with the kid, tell me how it goes and, uh, see ya around." He quickly jogged over to Montarg.
"I do not know why you fear her, Marcus." Montarg said. "She is nothing. I could flick her across Halloween Town if I wanted."
"That's pushing it a bit, don't ya think, Monty? Besides, I've never seen 'er so mad."
Montarg grunted.
"Hey, uh, Montarg? You sure you're alright? You just…haven't moved your right arm all day."
"It's fine."
"You sure?"
"Yes. It's just a cramp. I've slept on it strangely, that's all. Happens sometimes."
Really? Marcus thought, Weird. Been living with ya for a long time and you've never had problems with your right arm before…
…
"You alright there, cousin?"
Rodney looked up at his cousin. "Yes…Yes, I'm fine."
"You sure? Ya seemed deep in thought."
"Just thinking of…events."
"Yeah? Like what?"
Rodney glanced at him. "Oh, uh…boyfriend stuff. Don't worry."
Richard shrugged. "Oh. Ok." He sat on the floor beside his cousin. "So, you notice Montarg's choice in fashion? The glove?"
"Yes. I have. Strange man, isn't he?"
"Oh, y-"
"Oi, lads!"
Everyone looked over at Marcus and Montarg, who stood in the entrance of the cavern. "Guess what, lads?"
"Montarg's homosexual?" Someone guessed.
"No, I am not!" Montarg yelled out. "Why does everyone think that? Just because I dislike women, doesn't mean I'm attracted toward males!"
A few sorcerers sniggered.
"The woman is with child." Montarg called out, almost groaning.
"What woman?"
"The human one."
"Amanda!" Marcus exclaimed, clearing it up.
Some of the sorcerers cheered, some laughed. Rodney squealed. "Aw, that's adorable! I love babies! They're so cute!"
"What's so cute about them?" Montarg asked as he approached. "They're tiny versions of us who spit and cry and go to the toilet in their own absorbent underwear all the time."
"Montargo, you don't have a fatherly bone in your body."
"No. No, I do not."
…
It was on a Monday that the day finally arrived.
The 11th of November, the day after her meeting with the two sorcerers, was the day Amanda was in Arachnid's home, standing up to get a drink, when suddenly she felt it. The pressure, the feeling of liquid escaping her. She put a hand on her stomach. Her breathing became heavy. Oh, God. "Arachnid!" She screamed.
There were quick, heavy footsteps and Arachnid suddenly burst into the living room. "What is it?"
"The baby. I-I think it's coming!"
"What, now?"
"Yes! Now!"
"Oh, God!" Arachnid turned. "Christine! The baby's coming!"
Christine ran down the stairs. "Now, Arachnid, sir?"
"Yes!"
Amanda made a sound of pain. Arachnid panicked. "Christine, meet us there."
"What?"
Arachnid scooped Amanda in to his arms, bridal style, and ran out the door. He rushed down the streets, shouting, "Don't worry, Amanda! Your baby will be born safely!"
…
Arachnid paced back and forth outside the room in which Amanda was giving birth. He could hear her cries of pain.
This wasn't even Arachnid's child and yet he was so worried. He was worried for Amanda and for the baby. What if something went wrong? What if the baby died? What if Amanda…?
No. He couldn't think like that. Not now. He had to be brave, strong, a king. For Amanda. For the baby.
Arachnid jumped as Amanda let out another yell. Ok, that was nothing in his 'be brave plan'. He sucked in some air and-
Another yell of pain.
Oh, who was he kidding? He was terrified. As Arachnid scratched his skull, the door opened and Christine poked her head out. "Arachnid, sir."
"Is it the baby?" Arachnid asked hurriedly.
"She wants you in there, your-"
He didn't hear the rest, because he had shot passed her.
Amanda was sitting up, her back against the headboard of the metallic bed she was on. The doctor was at the other end of her, wearing black gloves. "Arachnid," Amanda whimpered. "H-Hold my hand."
"Yes, yes! Of course!" Arachnid exclaimed, taking her hand in one of his.
Immediately, she began squeezing and Arachnid actually yelped. The woman was stronger then she looked. As she gritted her teeth together, letting out another pained sound as the doctor told her to push, she squeezed harder and Arachnid, too, gritted his teeth. Suddenly, he screamed.
"Why're you screaming?" Amanda shouted.
"You broke my hand!" Arachnid exclaimed, but Amanda half ignored him.
"One more push!" Christine told her and Amanda did so, letting out the loudest noise of pain she'd made all day.
And they heard a baby crying.
Arachnid, despite the pain in his hand, laughed a joyful laugh. "Amanda! You did it, Amanda! You did it!"
Amanda, panting, managed to chuckle.
Christine smiled at her and handed her a little bundle of blue. "Here you are, Amanda. Congratulations, you have a bouncing, baby boy."
Amanda smiled and held out her arms as Christine handed over her son. Her son. That felt so odd, yet so wonderful to think about. This was her child. Her little boy. Xavier's little boy. Their little boy. The baby was still crying, his tiny little hands tucked under his chin. A little patch of brown hair was on top of his head. His eyes were squeezed shut, so she still wasn't quite sure what colour they were.
Arachnid leaned over, smiling at the baby. "Isn't he handsome…?"
Amanda grinned. "Very. And very much worth the wait…" She gently kissed her new son's forehead.
"Have you thought of any names?"
Amanda paused. "…No."
"No?"
"Well, I didn't send a letter to Xavier either. I want our boy to be a surprise…"
Arachnid smiled.
"Help me name him, Arachnid?"
Arachnid thought hard. "Well…I can think of many names…Edward, Stephen, Samuel, Jack, Oliver, Russell, Atticus, Ichabod, Benjamin, Victor…"
"Anything with an M?"
"An M?"
Amanda nodded.
"Bit specific, isn't it?"
Amanda shrugged.
Arachnid held back a laugh and uttered, "Montarg?"
Amanda laughed. "Oh, excellent name."
"No." Arachnid said through his chuckles. "Well…there's Michael, Mitchell, Maverick, Montgomery-"
"Wait!" Amanda exclaimed. "What was that one you just said?"
"Montgomery?"
"No. The one before that."
"Maverick?"
"Maverick…" Amanda muttered and smiled at her baby. "That's it. My little baby Maverick…"
By now, the baby - Maverick - had stopped crying. He looked up at them curiously and Arachnid almost gasped. Blue. Blue eyes. Xavier's blue eyes. Arachnid smiled down at the baby. "Welcome to the world, Maverick."
…
Richard rushed back to the cavern and swept Montarg's curtain away from the entrance. "Montarg!" He panted. "Montarg!"
Montarg looked over his shoulder at Richard. Marcus was sitting opposite Montarg, a chess board between them. "Breathe, Richard."
Richard took a few breaths. "It's Amanda…"
"What about the woman?"
"She's…She's had her kid…"
Marcus smiled. "Yeah? What's she 'ad?"
"Boy…"
"Aw, that's nice." Marcus looked at Montarg as Richard left. "Maybe we'll meet 'im one day, eh, Monty?"
"Yes…" Montarg muttered thoughtfully. "Perhaps…"
…
Author's note:
Mav: Welcome to the story, lil' me.
Me: Aw, Mav's been born. *Wipes sweat away from forehead* My first ever time writing a birth scene. That's why it's pretty…lame. But, still. This chapter's told in short, little snippets. Uh, oh. Montarg's up to something. So, our 'Little Flame' has been born!
Mav: Montarg's got a plan!
Me: And Rodney's got suspicions. Will the kid be ok?
Mav: Why's Montarg wearing that glove?
Me: And, whatever it is, will Rodney find out about it?
Mav + Me: Find out next time!
Mav: Since you said it was your birthday chapter, I'm guessing it was your birthday? Hope ya had a happy birthday, love. And, yeah, we knew you were a girl, but sometimes, people don't like it when their genders are spread across the internet. That, an' J has the habit of calling people 'they' instead of he or she when she's on the internet. Sorry, 'bout that. And, MissBliss8527, a review's a review.