From Little Flame to Raging Fire
I don't own anything but my OC's.
Chapter 11
"Mama!"
Alan's eyebrow twitched.
"Mama!"
"We get it." Alan suddenly said. "You can say 'mama'. You don't have to say it every five seconds."
"Mama!"
"'Manda, he's showin' off!"
Amanda grinned at her brother and son. "Oh, leave him alone, Alan." She stirred the food in the tiny bowl and handed it to Alan. "Why don't you just feed him?"
Alan scooped some of the green stuff from the bowl. "Ew. What is this?"
"Mushy peas. He loves it."
Alan scrunched his nose up in disgust. "That's gross."
"Just feed him, Alan."
Alan moved his chair over to Maverick's highchair. He scooped some of the mushy peas up with the spoon then held it to Maverick's mouth. Maverick pouted and swatted it away. Alan set the bowl on the tray of the highchair and gently nudged Maverick's lip with the spoon. Maverick pushing the bowl away, making it fall from the tray. It fell until it landed on Alan's lap, covering his trousers with mushy goo. Alan shot up as Maverick giggled. "Ah! New trousers!" Alan exclaimed. He looked at Maverick. "Think that's funny, do ya?" He pressed his fingers to the mess and flicked some in Maverick's face. Maverick paused, then blinked. Suddenly, he began giggling louder. He clapped his tiny hands in delight.
Alan raised an eyebrow. "You find that funny?" Alan grinned. "Kooky lil' kid."
…
Rodney hummed a happy little tune as he picked up a towel and hung it over his bent arm like a butler. He picked up a tray with his free hand, a bowl full of water and a cup full of tea balanced on top. He wanted to skip out of the cavern, but didn't want to risk spilling either of the liquids, so he was forced to walk slowly outside. As he exited the cavern, he heard grunts and thumps and walked towards the noises. He smiled happily as he saw Montarg, completely shirtless, punching a tree. Rodney stared. Montarg was well-built. He wasn't too full of muscle that you thought he used some sort of drug to get that strong and he wasn't too skinny that you assumed that he hadn't had a decent meal for ages. Montarg was chock full of protein from all of the meat he ate and he was one of those men who drank milk right from the carton. Rodney always scolded him for doing that, but Montarg would simply stare then grunt and return his lips to the carton of dairy drink; gulping it down loudly.
Rodney, on the other hand, wasn't as well built as Montarg. Perhaps it was because Montarg trained each and every day, sparring with different sorcerers and attacking trees and bags of sand. Rodney didn't like violence. Even though he was flattered that Montarg would protect him from insults and harassment, he was always trying to convince Montarg that it was a bad thing to fight back. Of course, then again, that was like telling Montarg to stop training or to stop eating meat. He won't listen. Rodney did have muscle on him, of course, but he was mostly bone. He wasn't so skinny that you could see his ribs, of course. He was still well fed, even though most of the food Montarg brought back was meat. Rodney hated meat - he was a vegetarian. But sometimes he forced himself to eat the meat Montarg got. He didn't want to waste any food. Montarg repeatedly told him not to eat it and that he could just leave it there (no doubt the other sorcerers would be begging for it), but Rodney almost always waved him off. The rock sorcerer would apologize at least a thousand times in his head to whatever poor animal he was holding then bite. He would feel disgusted with himself for the rest of the day.
Montarg yelled out angrily as he hit the tree, leaving an imprint on the bark. Rodney spoke up, "Don't break it, Montargo. Arachnid's already told you off for knocking down trees."
Montarg stopped and looked over his shoulder at him. "I don't care what the skeleton says. If he has anything to say, he can say it to someone who gives a damn."
Rodney let out a tiny giggle then placed the tray down on a nearby stump. "Right, so I gave you some water this time so you can wash your face. Try not to use it all at -"
He stopped when Montarg suddenly snatched the bowl from the tray then brought it up and tipped it over his head. The water dripped from his hair and trickled down his cheeks, dripping onto his chest and trailing down his well-toned stomach. Rodney watched one little droplet as it trailed down Montarg's torso and disappeared as it was absorbed by the fabric of his trousers. Rodney blushed. " - once."
Montarg looked at him, then crouched and shook himself like a wet dog. Rodney shielded himself as water droplets flew everywhere. He looked at Rodney again. "Qu'est-ce?"
"Montargo, you're speaking French."
Montarg paused, then stood up. "Yes." He turned and began attacking the tree again.
Rodney sighed through his nose and turned.
"Sit on my coat if you really dislike getting dirty."
Rodney looked over his shoulder at him. Montarg wasn't looking at him, but the punching had stopped. Rodney looked over at Montarg's coat and walked over to it, unfolding it and laying it on the floor, then sat down on it. He watched Montarg begin to fight the tree again. Rodney let his eyes wander over the muscles on Montarg's back and arms. Rodney gulped. Look at you, he thought to himself, you have a lover and here you are, staring at another man - your best friend. Father was right. You're disgusting.
Rodney paused. He hadn't seen his father since he was fourteen - since he told his parents he liked men. He'd been thrown out. Quite literally. His father had grabbed him by his collar and dragged him to the front door, opened it, then threw him. Rodney still had a scar in the middle of his back where he landed on a sharp, jagged rock outside their home. Montarg had cleaned that wound and had wrapped bandage around Rodney's middle to stop the bleeding on his back. After his father had thrown him, Rodney had just ran for it. He had just sprinted away, eyes shut, tears flowing down his cheeks with nothing but the clothes on his back. Rodney couldn't believe that the man who had thrown him used to be 'dad' and the woman doing nothing used to be 'mum'.
Soon after, he had been attacked by a group of men who knew his father - who knew him.
He was rescued, though. By Montarg.
The day that was supposed to be the worst day of Rodney's life became one of the best. The day he met Montarg. Montarg had been fifteen when they had met. Montarg was now twenty-five and Rodney was twenty-four.
Rodney and Montarg had been together ever since that day. Back then, before the other sorcerers arrived, Rodney and Montarg did practically everything together. If Rodney went shopping, Montarg would tag along. If Montarg went out to train, Rodney would follow him (though, secretly, it was because he didn't want to be alone in that big cavern on his own - so vulnerable). Sometimes, Arachnid would invite Montarg to dinner at his house (out of pity, Rodney was sure), but, most of the time, Montarg would say, "Not without Rodney." Sometimes, he was forced to leave Rodney behind. Even then, Rodney would hang around somewhere near Arachnid's home; waiting for his friend to come out. It was sad, but it made Rodney feel better.
But that was back before Montarg wore his red coat and hat. Back when he wore the black shirt and large belt.
Rodney flopped down on Montarg's coat then rolled onto his side. Rodney breathed in and smiled. Montarg's scent was all over this coat. The gunpowder-like scent with a little something mixed in - something that could be described as 'Montarg'. Rodney suddenly felt sick again. "I'm disgusting…"
What he didn't know, however, was that Montarg had heard him.
…
"C'mon, kid." Alan said encouragingly. He was kneeling on the floor, arms stretched out. Maverick was in front of him, crawling. "C'mon, come to Uncle Alan!"
Maverick continued to crawl toward his uncle, making little noises as he did so. His tail swished back and forth happily. "C'mon, come to me." He patted the ground.
Maverick stared at him, then tried to push himself up. He could do this. This is what Uncle Alan wanted him to learn. Maverick wobbled and he stopped for a moment to try and stable himself. Then he stepped.
Alan laughed in triumph as his nephew took the last few steps toward him. "Mandy! Get 'ere, quick!"
Amanda ran in, just as Maverick reached Alan's lap. "What?"
"Aw, ya missed it, 'Manda. He took his first steps!"
Amanda looked to Maverick. "He did?" She gasped happily and patted her leg. "Maverick, sweetie, come to mummy."
Maverick turned and giggled, then went to step, but fell. He paused, then his eyes filled with tears and he began wailing.
"That's weird," Alan muttered. "He did it earlier…" He scooped his nephew up and shushed him calmly.
Amanda saddened. How could she have missed her son's first steps?
…
Montarg wasn't happy.
Of course, then again, when was he ever happy? Rodney had gone out with that man. Montarg hadn't met Cameron, nor even knew what he looked like, but he still disliked him. He was all Rodney could talk about for several days. Montarg say good morning and Rodney would suddenly exclaim, "Oh, Montargo, you'll never guess what Cameron did! Go on, guess!"
Montarg didn't see why Rodney would want a lover. What a waste of time. Someone who wanted to hang around you 24/7? No, thanks. Montarg paused as he removed his coat. Rodney wanted to hang around him almost 24/7. Montarg grunted. Almost.
Montarg would've gone to get Rodney by now. It was already night time and Rodney usually got up early in the morning.
Montarg's day had been completely unproductive. It was the same. Got up, ordered some guys around, ate breakfast, trained, showered, meditated, went into town (only to get insulted), ate lunch, ordered some guys around, meditated, trained, took a bath, ordered some guys around, ate dinner, scowled as Rodney went off for his date, ordered some guys around and got ready for bed. Montarg couldn't be bothered to take off his shirt and trousers right now, so he -
"M…Montargo…?"
Montarg looked up, then over his shoulder.
Rodney was standing in the doorway to his room, staring at him. Montarg's name had come out as a whimper more then anything. Montarg tilted his head as he saw the tears in Rodney's eyes. "Rodney?"
Rodney sniffled. "C…Can I come in…?"
Montarg nodded. Rodney stepped inside. Montarg turned to him as he approached. The fire sorcerer tilted his head. "What happened?"
Rodney sniffled again, then suddenly grabbed fistfuls of Montarg's shirt and cried into the fabric. "He broke up with me, Montargo!" He cried.
Montarg paused. Broke up with him…? Montarg took hold of Rodney's arm and inspected it. It didn't seem broken. "Which bone did he break?"
"What?" Rodney asked, lifting his head from Montarg's chest. "No! He dumped me!"
"Dumped you?" Montarg asked, surprised. "What? Did he knock you unconscious or -"
"No!" Rodney exclaimed. "He ended our relationship!"
Ah. Well, now Montarg understood. Montarg tilted his head. "Why did he do that?"
"I don't know!" Rodney responded.
Montarg gently led him to his futon and sat him down. He took a tissue from the old box on his shelf and handed it to Rodney. "Thank you," Rodney muttered, sniffling. "I thought it was going so well, Montargo!" He suddenly exclaimed.
Montarg nodded. "Well, he is an idiot for, as you say, 'dumping you'. Can't find anyone better."
Rodney paused then looked up at him. "R…Really?"
Montarg nodded with a little, "Hm."
Rodney smiled and wiped his eyes. "Thank you, Montargo. You're so sweet."
Montarg grunted. I am not sweet. He thought. I am a fierce warrior. Montarg turned to go, saying, "I'm going to get us some beverages. Stay."
Rodney sniffed and watched him go. He smiled. Montarg always had his back. He paused. Did Montarg always have those little saucers on his shelf? Rodney wiped his nose in the tissue, then stood and made his way over. He looked into them. Inside them, the liquid was a reddish-purple. He brought one to his nose and sniffed. "I didn't know Montargo kept grape juice on his shelf…" He giggled. "Oh, Montargo, I know your dirty little secret…" The rock sorcerer glanced over his shoulder, then looked back at the saucer he held. "I'm sure he won't mind if I take a sip." He brought the saucer up to his mouth and drank it down. Rodney clicked his tongue. It certainly tasted like grape juice. Rodney looked at the lines of saucers. "Well…I'm sure he won't mind…"
…
Montarg carried the tray over to his room. On top were two cups of tea. Montarg rarely made tea (such a womanly thing to do…) but Rodney seemed too upset to make anything right now. He entered his room, watching the cups, and said, "Alright, Rodney, I -"
"Oh, Montargo…!"
Montarg looked up and his eyes widened. Rodney was swaying on the spot, grinning like an idiot. The saucers on Montarg's shelves were empty, some laying on their sides. One was still in Rodney's hand. "What the…?" Montarg muttered, placing the tray on the small table. "You drank my wine!"
Rodney giggled in a silly manner as Montarg jogged over. "My God, man, how much did you drink?" Montarg exclaimed, looking at Rodney.
"Oh, Montargo…!" Rodney giggled, throwing his arms up into the air. "Catch me!"
Montarg blinked and the rock sorcerer suddenly fell forward. Montarg lunged and caught him. Rodney giggled. "Ooh, Montargo!" He hiccupped. "You're so strong and manly…!"
"What?" Montarg asked. "Rodney, for God's sake, you're drunk."
"With lurve…" Rodney slurred. He hiccupped. "Montargo, are you always so w-warm…?"
"Naturally." Montarg replied.
Suddenly, Rodney jumped up and giggled, using two fingers to walk up Montarg's chest. Montarg watched them and Rodney used an index finger to poke his nose. "Poke!" Rodney giggled.
"Rodney, stop it."
"Ooh…" Rodney grinned. "Order me around some more, Montargo!"
"No." Montarg said.
"Oh, you're so boring, Montargo!" Rodney whined. "I-I don't wanna Cameron…!"
Montarg stared. What did that mean?
"I wanna M-Montargo!" Rodney leaned up…
And pressed his lips to Montarg's.
Montarg's eyes didn't widen nor shut. He didn't tilt his head nor kiss back. He simply stood with his neutral expression on his face, staring over the top of Rodney's head. Rodney had a hand on the back of Montarg's head, pulling him in. His other arm was wrapped around Montarg's shoulders. Rodney's eyes were shut, so he was obviously trying to get some passion in there. But all Montarg got was drunken flare. Rodney tasted of grapes, Montarg noticed; even though he didn't want to. God knows what Montarg tasted like, but, apparently, Rodney liked it. God, Montarg was glad none of the sorcerers walked in. Finally, the rock sorcerer pulled away. Montarg allowed his eyes to drift down to him. Rodney had a silly smile on his face. He giggled and skipped over to Montarg's bed then flopped down onto it. He rolled onto his side, propping himself up with an elbow, and motioned with one finger for Montarg to come over. "Come here, Montargo…!" He called flirtatiously.
"Are you trying to seduce me?" Montarg asked.
"Do you want me to?" Rodney giggled, hooking a thumb into the waistband of his trousers.
"Don't." Montarg snapped.
Rodney giggled. "So boring!"
Montarg approached him, then gently nudged him with his foot. "Get up."
"Nope." Rodney replied.
"Yes."
"Oh, Montargo, you're so demanding…"
"Get up."
"Nooo…" Rodney suddenly sniffled. "Please, Montargo, I don't wanna be alone…"
Montarg stared. Whether Rodney was in his bed or not, he was still going to sleep in it. It would be the first time they slept in the same bed, however…
Montarg grunted, then laid down next to him.
"Yay!" Rodney exclaimed, then half-climbed on top of him. "We be best friends forever, Montarg-y." He slurred.
Montarg raised an eyebrow. That was not a nickname that would catch on. Montarg was about to say something when he was aware of snoring. Rodney had fallen asleep, half on top of his leader. Montarg looked up at the ceiling, realizing something.
That had been his first kiss. Rodney had stolen his first kiss. Montarg wasn't one of those people who made a fuss over his first kiss; he honestly didn't care. But…with Rodney of all people.
As Montarg blew out the candle, he realized the much bigger thing.
Montarg had let Rodney take his first kiss.
…
Author's note:
Translations:
Qu'est-ce?: What?
Me: There you go. The one-sided Rontargo kiss…I dunno whether to feel happy or sorry for Monty. However, I have just noticed that I'm quite cruel to characters I really like. I mean, poor Rodney got kicked out of his home at fourteen, Montarg got abused, Maverick dies several times and poor lil' Maxwell has to put up with his scary 'grandfather'! Oh, the horror!
Mav:…I feel kinda awkward knowing that my 'dad' and my 'third dad' have had a sort of kiss.
Me: Well, get used to it. So, Rodney's given Monty some lip action!
Mav: I've taken my first steps!
Me: And Amanda's sad about missing her son's first steps! So, what'll happen to 'Rontargo' now?
Mav: What will I do next?
Me: And will Rodney get over his break-up (if he hasn't already)?
Me + Mav: Find out next time!
Mav: By the way, guys, feel free to vote on the new poll on J's profile! Well, 'ello, Ali Skellington! Thanks for callin' me cute! An' ya probably right, MissBliss8527, Montarg would probably do that. But, as ya can see in this chapter, they have a, uh, 'special friendship'…