Wrapped In You [mpreg|sequel]

xxii

Abel hesitates at the door as he looks over his shoulder, looks at the withered figure that's his mother.  She looks back at him, assessing him and making Abel feel vulnerable, uneasy with her unblinking eyes.  The unease he feels makes the baby inside of him wiggle, give a gentle kick to remind him where he is.

"I uh, I'm going to school, ma," Abel chokes, the lie beating in his chest as he adjusts the strap of his empty backpack, "I'll be home later."

She gives him a nod before turning to the task at hand, sorting through their bills.

Abel escapes with a breath of relief, his hand settling on the underside of his belly to soothe his baby.  His strides are short but purposeful, glancing occasionally at his phone, reading and re-reading the text Mr. Brock sent.

He worries his bottom lip as he sees the words asking him to meet up at the apartment.

Between Mr. Brock and the news stating more mysterious deaths piling up, Abel will admit he feels ansty.  Carnage, though, is oddly silent inside and it doesn't sit well with Abel.

Eventually, he stands frozen in front of the apartment he's been to dozens of times with ankles swollen and achy.  He raises his hand to knock, when the door is yanked open abruptly.

A young girl, not much older than him with brightly colored hair stands at the door glaring.  Abel is struck by her image, her pale face and purple hair and sharp eyeliner and freckles.  Her lips twisted in scornful distaste.

"Hi," he croaks with an awkward wave, swallowing thickly.

She rolls her eyes and opens the door wider, letting him through.

He waddles inside the apartment with embarrassment painting his cheeks as he says a quiet, "thank you."

She sniffs, though ignores him as she slams the door closed, making Abel jump at the startling thud.  Carnage manifests then, snarling at the girl as he forms into a large humanoid version that towers over Abel, over the girl and higher still above the door.

A clawed hand rests over Abel's lower back as the red symbiote leads his pregnant mate into the house, away from her.

Abel shivers but rests against Carnage's warmth, relies on his strength.

"Abel," Anne greets, standing to press a kiss to his cheek and ignore Carnage's growled warning.

"Hi," Abel smiles shyly, returning the motherly embrace.

"We're glad you could make it," Eddie calls from the table.

It's only then that Abel takes in the sight before him, blinking owlshly before it sinks in.  The balloons, the table cloth, the food, the presents.  The banner that has "it's a girl" crossed out to read,  It's a symbiote!

Abel can't help but choke with tears as he realizes what this is.

"Surprise!" Mason shouts giddily, running to Abel and hugging him around the legs before reaching up to pat Abel's swollen belly.

Abel scrubs his flushed face from the tears that won't seem to stop.  He's so happy that words fail him and he can't express how he feels, how thankful he is for everyone.

The girl from before scoffs at his display of emotion, of weakness, as she bumps against his shoulder on her way to take a seat beside a man, a man Abel doesn't recognize.  The obvious conversation the stranger was having with Dr. Dan has seized in favor of scrutinizing him.

Carnage bristles at the girl who deliberately bumped into Abel, growling lowly and threateningly.  Abel soothes the red symbiote through his thoughts, assuring him he's okay, their baby is okay.