Now we're entering the arc I've been excited for since, literally, 2015. It technically started with the last chapter but too much was happening in the ANs. In my notes, it's been called the medley. There are no missions since we're entering a, sort of, domestic feeling where everyone's catching up. If you're reading SHIELD Academy, it has those vibes.
Chapter 132: Welcome Home
Wakanda's Royal Gardens - 8:53 AM
Iqadi didn't think she'd fall asleep after telling Imanu everything. They were sitting in their bed. She told him everything that happened after he returned to Wakanda and woke up the next morning in his arms. She wasn't sure when she fell asleep but she remembers getting to the end of the story. Iqadi left him asleep while she got dressed and ready for the day.
Today wouldn't be a training day. Today will be a day where she will be in the clear with her parents about certain things.
Iqadi was through the palace and sees her parents sitting outside in the gardens. They light up when they see her and Iqadi can't help but smile as she goes over to hug them. One of the palace staff must've told them that she came back late last night and just went straight to bed.
She's almost brought to tears as she embraces her parents. Ever since she learned about Ragnarök after the cataclysmic events following her plans, she just wanted to be held.
"Imanu informed us about your extended stay in America," T'Challa says, opening an arm to the empty chair between him and Ororo.
Iqadi takes a seat. "He has?"
T'Challa nods. "He told us that Apollo returned."
Iqadi sits back, trying to keep herself together. "Well, yes, and Sigyn came some time after."
"How wonderful!" Ororo exclaims. "It's been so long since they were last here. You know, darling, Imanu has been doing a splendid job at avoiding us. I've tried to tell your father that but he said it's nothing new."
"It's not," T'Challa states.
Iqadi knows that they're onto her but she wants to find out what they know before diving in. "He was only doing my duties."
"Avoiding us was one of your duties?"
Iqadi doesn't want to say yes but, then, it was. Her mouth goes dry and she reaches for a cup of tea to give herself something to do.
"I had to take care of something," Iqadi says, putting the cup back on the table.
"Or because your plans got stolen and used," T'Challa suggests in a way that means he knows that's the answer.
Iqadi sighs, thinking that she had more time before confessing. Instead, she solemnly nods. "You know about that?"
"It was harder not to know about it. Iqadi, you got subpoenaed for it."
"I tried to intercept it. I thought it worked."
"It was delayed. We got it a week after the trial happened. Actually, not us. Imanu got one and it was the exact moment he started hiding from us. Iqadi, you knew you were breaking a law against those we've allied with."
Iqadi clears her throat, feeling her body slowly start to tense. "Mother, Father, Imanu knows the details of my Contingency Plans because he helped me make them. I know I wasn't allowed to reveal any details to him but I had no choice. He helped me reverse them when I created them. I wanted to protect my friends so he helped me find loopholes and remedies for each plan. Imanu is the reason why I finished and he won my heart that way."
Iqadi looks up at her parents and their faces are softer. They're not monarchs concerned about their heir breaking an important rule. They're parents learning a secret behind their daughter's suffering for the past eight years. So Iqadi continues telling them what happened. She reveals how she hired Clint and Natasha to look for them before she took over. Iqadi told them about SHIELD Island and everything that happened afterwards, right down to Ragnarök.
Iqadi waits for them to say something. Her body starts to shake nervously as she watches her parents look at each other. They don't even know how to react. Iqadi notices her father's gaze look out past them. Before she looks over, she already knows what it is.
"Imanu!" T'Challa calls. His tone is stern.
"Father," Iqadi says as she hears Imanu waking over on command. "Imanu knew that he wasn't allowed to see my plans but I let him. It's my fault. Please, don't do anything."
"T'Challa," Ororo says as Imanu arrives.
Imanu senses the tension at the table as he stands behind Iqadi. He sees her worried face as she mouths an apology and holds his hand. She knows that he wants to run away.
Imanu clears his throat. "Yes, sir?"
T'Challa eyes him with squinted hunter-like eyes. "You fired a gun at someone you had a hunch was masquerading as my daughter?!"
Iqadi didn't think her father would bring that up.
Imanu nods nervously. "Yes, sir, I fired a gun at her - or her imposter. I'm not a good pacifist when people are threatening my wife and her friends."
T'Challa keeps his gaze on him, turning it into a glare. Imanu clears his throat again nervously as Iqadi tightens her grip on his hand.
Ororo straightens, getting Imanu's attention. "We also know about the Contingency Plans as well."
Imanu sighs. This morning isn't getting better for him. "So, you do."
"Imanu," T'Challa states. "When I first met you, you were one of my last choices for my daughter. You were a nice and intelligent suitor who followed rules and, truth be told, I was surprised when Iqadi chose you. Even for these past years, I occasionally returned to those thoughts. But now, I realize that I've underestimated you all these years. I have grown not to judge you based on your ability to fight because you stand firm with your beliefs. I wasn't born with my skills and neither was Iqadi. You truly have the wisdom and strength needed by a prince consort. Do you fully understand the role of a prince consort?"
Imanu shakes his head. "Even after all this time, I don't think so, sir."
T'Challa smiles a little. "It's to serve, obey, protect, and love their spouse. You, my son, have done that and so much more, and for that, you have my greatest blessing."
-o-
Rogers Household - Brooklyn - 12:50 PM
Angela and Xavier ended up going back home in Brooklyn. All they wanted was to be with their parents in their childhood home. After they parted from the others, the twins wanted a sense of comfort. They wanted a piece of their childhood innocence back, even if it consisted of crying to their parents about their issues in hopes that they'll get rid of it. But they know that won't happen. They're adults and Ragnarök is something nobody understands.
All they can do now is sit in the kitchen over breakfast. It felt nice to wake up in their old beds and have that familiar warmth. (And they got to use their sick days which was a bonus.)
"I can't stay angry or sad," Angela mutters. "If we all accept this, then I'll accept it even if I don't want to. My mood conforms even if I want and should be angry."
"Give it time," Xavier says. "It'll give up."
He's about to continue talking until he hears a knock at the door. Xavier gets up to go answer it. When he opens it, he's confused for a moment because it's Apollo. He's clean-shaven as if to show a fresh start now that he's back back. It spooked Xavier because not only did he not expect Apollo to show up but he looks almost like the Apollo who left. Almost. There was no erasing the trauma from his eyes that Xavier can evidently see.
"That was quick," Xavier says. "What happened to Asgard?"
"It's still there," Apollo responds with a small smile. He's keeping his Asgard accent.
Xavier let's out a small laugh that sounds like an exhale. "Well, that's good."
Apollo quickly clears his throat to keep talking and avoid an awkward silence. "I'm heading back soon. I came here to let you know that Sigyn left for Midgard and she's somewhere around."
"What am I supposed to do about that?"
Apollo shrugs. "Be Xavier."
Xavier gives him a face. Really? In return, Xavier smiles a little which makes Apollo smile bigger. On instinct, they hug each other. This is the first time since Apollo's return that they can have the hello they thought they'd have ever since he left. One of the best things about their friendship is that they can simply ignore the awkwardness by a mutual agreement based on a truly unimaginable connection.
It's like his job is to look for the Asgardians when they randomly show up.
"Fine," Xavier says happily, "go back to Asgard and I'll be Xavier."
"Thank you. I'll be back soon, I promise. Say hi to your parents for me."
Apollo heads off and Xavier closes the door. He grabs his keys from the side table by the door and heads back inside to get a jacket. Angela sees him and recognizes that smile.
"What are you up to?" Angela asks.
"Being Xavier," he responds.
"The way you love is like nobody else. I was lucky to have witnessed it on Britney so I know for a fact that you still love and care for her."
"You don't need rocket science to know that."
Angela laughs a little. "Say hi to Sigyn for me and tell her to drop by."
-o-
Asgard
Apollo walks through the palace and, now that his head is clearer, everything is brighter. It feels as if the past eight years had a dark filter on every room he walked through. It's a good difference, maybe meaning that he'll be truly happy for the first time in years. He's starting to feel it ever since he shaved his beard. It'll grow back but now he'll try and be a blank canvas.
Everything will be fine. Ragnarök isn't coming to kill him. Xavier will look after Sigyn. Everything will be fine.
He enters a foyer and sees Freya entering from another door. She takes a few steps inside before stopping once she sees him. Apollo's stopped in his tracks. They're both silent, having not seen each other since Hel. One of the last moments she saw was when he tried to kill himself to prove a point and he said he loved her.
Not his best moment but he isn't sure what he could say to her now. And now she's walking up to him. Apollo isn't sure what to do. He could barely think of a sentence with her before all this happened. But, sometimes, the people who say the least have the most to say.
Freya stops in front of him. She eyes him for a second before smiling softly.
"Welcome home," she greets.
Apollo smiles brightly, hugging her tightly. He doesn't say a word as he buries his head in the crook of her neck. His muscular arms hold her body firmly, almost desperately into his. Freya could feel his agony through her touch. He's in pain. She could feel his entire body relax after hearing her words. This is one of those moments when words are futile. He needs her to be there so she just embraces him, accepting his tears in her hair, skin, and clothes.
"They all know," Apollo whispers.
"That's good," Freya responds.
"It is?"
Freya nods as she parts to look up at him. "You're all different which means new perspectives, reactions. Surely, they'll want the same outcome as you but they can analyze it and help both you and Sigyn. They won't want you or Sigyn to die."
Apollo sighs. "Sigyn blessed me, in a way, with everything she did."
"How so?"
"She didn't take you away from my mind. Well, she did but then you came back."
Freya perks up in a way that Apollo can tell her heart stopped for a second. He watches as Freya smiles. The gods don't give them the people they want. They give the people they need to help them, support them, hurt them, love them, and make them better people.
"Did she take away your beard?" Freya asks, putting her hands on his cheeks.
Apollo laughs as he puts his hands on top to hold hers. "No."
"Good. I love the beard."
"It'll grow back."
"I'll wait." She lowers their hands from his face but keeps a pair of them intertwined. "I want you to walk by my side and hold my hand. We're back now and we could accomplish whatever you want together."
-o-
Manhattan Streets - 14:04 PM
Merida woke up about an hour ago and went to bed five hours ago. She didn't call in sick but she figures that since Angela, Xavier, James, and Daniel would've called, SHIELD would assume she was faking sick as well. Now with the day off, she didn't know what to do since everyone else in her life was miserable and all over the city. She's off to a great start.
She plans just to walk around the streets and, maybe, just maybe, she'll find something to do.
"Agent Mer!"
Merida's body slows down, processing that familiar nickname as her head straightens. She stops before slowly turning around. New Yorkers walk around her and the man she recognizes from San Francisco a couple of months ago. Holy shit. He's smiling at her and she hopes she's smiling back. She isn't sure what her face is doing. Maybe she's happy, maybe she's confused, maybe she's both (only growing as he walks closer to her).
Blake Wilde. Journalist. Love letters. Fake FBI agent. First date in a bar. Drinking before noon. Going to work hungover.
The odds of looking at him is phenomenal. It's a singularity in a city of millions, especially since they first met across the country.
"Hi," Merida says once she gains control of the situation.
Blake smiles at her. "You look amused."
"I don't know how I look."
"You look great."
Merida narrows her eyes at him. She should've seen that one coming but she's off her game. Who is she kidding, she would've missed that on any other day. And here's Blake Wilde smiling the same way he did in San Francisco. He brought the California sun to the city on her gloomy day.
"How am I supposed to respond to that?" Merida asks.
"How about a our subconsciouses found a way to keep us linked," Blake suggests, grinning at her disgusted face.
"Shut up."
"It seems as if fate has brought us together."
Merida pauses, pointing right at the centre of his face. "Don't throw that fate thing in my face. It hits too close to home."
"Because it came true?"
"Because something completely unrelated to this conversation made it worse."
"Well -"
Before Blake could finish, Merida explodes and tells him everything that happened. She starts from when she left him in San Francisco for the 0-8-4. She tells him about The Serpent Crown, the Sigyn dream, Apollo's arrival with no memories, the Contingency plans. Merida doesn't even spare a thought on how to phrase them. She remains unfiltered. Asgard. Hel. Ragnarök. Fate. Destiny. All those and more were said as they were in a one-sided conversation between two people who basically just met on the streets of New York.
Merida finally exhales, tired and stressed by having said all of that. She leans forwards, wanting to throw up on the sidewalk. How did all that happen in a year? She looks up at Blake and he's silent. His face has no shock, pity or fear. He's likely waiting for her to see if she's done or simply has nothing to say.
Why was it so easy to talk to a stranger about your problems? Maybe because he knew nothing and didn't know which piece of information to hang onto. It was a lot and more. Maybe it was because the tattoo on his forearm was the quote: look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent underneath and she just learned about the future with The Midgard Serpent. Or maybe it was because he's coincidentally present whenever anything Asgard-related is about to happen. That's a stretch.
Or maybe she just doesn't completely hate him. Based on her days in the Academy, she meets the best people while on duty and gets to like them when tipsy. Just because she's not romantically involved with Blake doesn't mean she isn't attracted to him as a person. Besides, she wants company from someone on the outside of all this (even if her telling him everything brought him inside).
And, admittedly, it's nice to see him again.
"Wow," Blake says once he realizes she's done talking, "you've been through a lot. I'd hug you but you're already so vulnerable and I know you hate that so I won't make it worse for you. Why don't we do something fun?"
"Like what?" Merida asks.
Blake shrugs. "This is your city, Manhattan. You tell me."
She'll think of something. "Follow me."
To Blake's surprise, she starts walking at an alarmingly fast pace. He quickly turns around and jogs a little to catch up.
"You walk fast," Blake says.
"Everyone in New York walks this fast."
Blake Wilde, our man, is back. He's one of the reasons I was excited about this arc. From this point forwards, he'll be in the story more.