Let's see how many chapters I can write while in quarantine! (I know you're likely reading this in July or sometime after, but I'm writing this in March.)
Chapter 133: Last-Minute Planning
Stark Industries - 13:24 PM
Later in the afternoon, Daniel heads over to Emily's office. After their small coffee date, she went to the office to handle some things and she told him to join her in a bit. Now, he's knocking on her office door as he slowly opens it. To Daniel's surprise, the entire office is filled with different flower arrangements. Every visible surface - the floor, couch, tables, chairs, desk, shelves - have vases of flowers on it. In the centre of the apparent florist shop is Emily chatting on the phone. When she sees him, she smiles and waves him over. Daniel nods, watching where he steps. It's like walking through a minefield, which he only knows from his days in the Academy.
"Thank god you're here," Emily says as she hangs up. "I was scared the flowers would die on us. Unrelatedly, one of my secretaries walked in and thought I was hosting a funeral."
"Hey, babe," Daniel says, trying to kiss her without getting petals in his face. "How did you get all this so fast? Is this for the wedding or are these all engagement gifts?"
"If we're going to get married next week, we have to start the planning for real and quickly. There are things to order."
Daniel nods, still no believing all the flowers but having faith in his fiancée's power. "Em, there's no point in arranging flowers since they'll fall into their natural symmetry."
"I know which means that we need to pick flowers that have the prettiest natural symmetry. I've thought this through. Tell me which one catches your eye." Emily glances at him and recognizes that grin, pointing right at it with a frown. "And don't say none because I caught your attention because I don't need that now."
"Alright, alright," Daniel says. She's onto him. He'd take a step back but he feels a vase right against the back of his calf so that won't be a smart idea.
Emily huffs, sitting on the edge of her desk after moving some flowers over. She then sighs tiredly. "I thought wedding planning would've all whimsical and majestic … actually, I never did but you get my point."
"You started this five minutes ago. We have a week. Shouldn't you be working?"
"I'm not doing much today and nobody can fire me."
Daniel smiles as he puts his hands on her arms, rubbing them up and down. "Do you still want to do this?"
"It's been eight years and Ragnarök won't stop me from walking down the aisle."
"Good." He smiles, leaning forwards to kiss her forehead.
Emily sits up. "Oh, idea! We should just serve cheeseburgers and fries at our wedding."
Daniel laughs at that idea although she seems serious about it. "I'm cool with that."
"And it'd be great since I wouldn't have to worry about fitting into my wedding dress since I'd already be wearing it." Emily claps her hands together. "Forget what I said. This will be easy and whimsical and majestic. I'll do the planning and you tell our friends and family that it's next week."
"Why do I get the hard part?"
Emily takes his hands and pulls him closer to her. "Because, son of Betty and Bruce Banner, we're getting married next week."
Daniel smiles, edging closer to her lips. "And, daughter of Tony and Pepper Stark, we have nothing planned."
"We would have one thing if you tell me which flowers you like."
Daniel laughs as he kisses her.
-o-
Angela's Apartment - Manhattan - 13:56 PM
After Xavier left their parents' house, she cleaned up and spent more time with her parents before leaving. When she returns to her apartment, she didn't expect to see a letter wedged in her door between the door and the frame. Before she goes inside, Angela takes it out and opens it. It's from her building manager.
Angela wasn't sure about today's date but the letter says she's behind on rent. She believes it's because she forgets the last pre-dated cheque she wrote, but this letter implies it was for last month's rent. When was the last time she even slept here? Not sure. She has until the end of the week to pay or else she's getting evicted.
"Huh…" Angela mutters, unlocking her apartment.
The door closes behind her and she looks around. Angela glances back at the letter before grinning to herself. She crumples it into a ball before tossing it in the recycling.
-o-
Upper East Side - 14:21 PM
"This is where you're staying?" Merida questions although she knows the answer is yes.
Merida looks up at the hotel she and Blake walked to. She's passed it a couple of times whenever she would stop by the Upper East Side, which wasn't that often. This hotel is, according to word of mouth, one of the fancier hotels in this part of town. The guests wore suits or fancy dresses with heels and the staff were dressed like fairytale castle servants. Every car that stopped in the front was a brand she couldn't pronounce, let alone afford. She didn't even know what language the hotel's name was in and she speaks a variety of them. She might as well be in a different country.
"What's wrong with this hotel?" Blake questions. She happens to notice that he's in a marine suit ensemble with a white top but no tie. He looks like he half-belongs here.
"Only stuck-up assholes stay here and live in this area," she responds.
Blake eyes her for a second before smiling. "I know. I checked in wearing a sweatshirt with the sleeves rolled up. Nobody took me seriously and almost ignored me because of my tattoo. It wasn't until they bothered to read the Shakespeare quote that I got some eye contact. But the only reason I'm here is because my asshole firm is paying for it."
"Come to my place."
Blake is so stunned that he laughs after seeing her seriousness towards that offer. "What? Really?"
Merida nods. "I can tell you hate it here and it'd be great to know that your asshole firm is wasting their money. Besides, you're not a liver pâté served on endive type of guy - dear god what does that even mean? I would offer you ramen instead."
"From a package?"
"And a microwave."
"You really know your way to a man's heart."
"That's meant for anyone's heart, really, mine included."
"So you're offering your place to a stranger?"
"You're saying yes to one."
"You have ramen from a microwave."
"You're not a stranger. We've met before."
"You're nice."
"I'm not. I work at SHIELD, I don't have to be nice."
"I barely know you."
"Wouldn't you say something stupidly corny like we have forever to get to know each other." Merida fakes a smile, putting her hands under her chin as she mockingly bats her lashes when she looks at him.
Blake is stunned before letting out a small laugh. "You know, your smile, when you're not being obnoxious and inexplicably pissed at the world, is beautiful."
Merida is speechless as she lowers her hands. How is she supposed to respond to that? This conversation isn't fair. She's left standing like a deer-in-headlights while he's ahead of the game with that stupid grin on his face.
"I'll be back," Blake says. "You could wait out here."
"Good because I'm not going in there," Merida responds. "They might see my arrow tattoo and call the cops."
Blake looks at her for a moment longer before heading inside. Merida steps to the side, close to the road. As she waits, she goes on her phone. This stupid hotel doesn't even have free wi-fi. When she looks up, she sees James staring as he approaches her. Merida puts her phone away. She's surprised to see James but isn't when she realizes that he's here because his condo is a few blocks over. Merida puts her hands in her pocket, trying to act naturally so James doesn't get suspicious. She hopes that Blake doesn't come out or else James will never leave her alone.
"What are you doing here and why are you smiling?" James asks. He looks frightened for those two reasons. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, just needed some air after all that Ragnarök stuff."
"Can't blame you. So what are you doing here and why are you smiling?"
Merida lowers a smile she didn't know she had. " … I have no idea."
James narrows his eyes a little as if he was studying her. "Fine. I'll let you go with your secrets, but I'll find out."
"Whatever," Merida says as James leaves. When she looks at the hotel, she sees Blake walking back out. Perfect timing. He just changed his outfit, ditching the suit for a jacket and jeans.
"Who was that?" Blake asks, referring to James.
"My asshole friend who lives here."
-o-
James's Penthouse - Upper East Side - 15:20 PM
James enters his kitchen as his microwave beeps. He pushes open the door and is greeted by steam. He forgot what he put in here but it'll surprise him. Fresh from the microwave! Before he could take his food out, he hears a knock on his door. James closes the microwave and heads over. When he opens the door, he sees Angela standing there with some bags and a bright and excited smile.
"This is my answer to where our relationship was going," Angela says.
When did she ask about that? James stares at her blankly as he thinks. He's focused more on how little Angela has so she couldn't have taken long. Because of her intense work schedule and their relationship, she was rarely at her place. It's because Angela did what she had to do when it mattered, to save lives. The world isn't as pretty as they hoped when they were children. The long-dormant romantic in her awoke and she knew the only answer to give.
"...but you were the one asking me so wouldn't it make more sense for me to move in with you?" James asks as he starts bringing some of her bags inside.
"Your condo is nicer," Angela argues, getting the rest of her things.
James smiles wildly as he pulls her inside and closes the door behind her. Angela drops her bags and wraps her arms around him as he brings her further into place. Before she could finish, in a heartbeat, he holds her against the kitchen counter. He lifts her onto the edge and as she leans against him. Her mouth finds his and she grips his shirt at the waist until his chest is against hers. Their kisses are soft and slow because, after all the years they've been together, their bodies have found their rhythm. He nibbles on her bottom lip as she pulls off his shirt. She throws it across the kitchen, not caring where it landed. A small laugh escapes him but his lips never leave hers.
James presses his body even closer and kisses her neck all the way down, taking his time. Her body is on fire when he touches her. When Angela lowers her head, she feels his heart beat rapidly. She wraps her legs around his waist as he lifts her off.
-o-
Asgard
He can't blame his mistakes and anger on the Norns, his parents or even Sigyn. He has to be his own example. Now, everything is back to as normal as it could be. Normal, whatever that concept means. It's a clean slate. All he can do is move forwards.
"Ragnarök explains why The Gods didn't scold me for marrying Jane or reprimand us for deciding to raise you on Midgard," Thor says.
Apollo nods. "I'm not trusting this fear. I'm strong but it's also making me lost. I don't know what I want anymore."
"Whatever happens, Apollo, you are and will be forever stronger than the things or those who comes against you," Jane says, rubbing his arm.
"Just take this time to reconnect with people," Thor tells him. "I'll figure this out."
Apollo waves his hands, backing up. "No, let's just forget about it for a moment. We've wasted eight years of our lives stressing over this and are now back where we started. Let's just, I don't know, wait it out. See what happens?"
"Whatever you want," Jane says.
Apollo sighs. "I actually don't know what I want … I'll get back to you on that. I have to go find someone."
Apollo walks away from his parents, leaving the throne room. He walks through the halls of the palace, smiling at the staff who pass by. For the past eight years, these hallways have been dark and the staff have hidden from him and his madness. They were afraid he would strike or scream at them and he was scared of that as well. Now, the hallways are brighter and he can see clearly. Some of the staff smile at him and he apologizes for the havoc he caused.
Life looks like it will go his way for a while. Ragnarök feels like it was only an eight-year-long nightmare that is still to come.
Apollo stops at the end of the hallway when he sees Freya exiting her room. She looks his way and stops in her tracks when she sees him. Apollo isn't sure what to do. Does he approach her? He's been back for a while and she must've known about his presence.
Instead, they start walking towards each other, stopping when they're close enough. She doesn't ask if he's happy since she knows that he's not. The best he could say is that he's not as sad. He isn't broken, he's destroyed but trying to fix it.
"You said you were afraid to lose me but then you faced your fears and left," Freya tells him.
"That was out of my control and you know that," Apollo responds. "Everything is but I think I'll work on changing that. I've missed you."
"I missed you too. I missed waking up in the middle of the night because of your thoughts. At least it meant you were there."
Freya looks at him for a second before smiling and hugging him tightly. Her arms wrap around his neck as she rests her head next to him. Apollo holds the small of her back before crossing his arms on her back.
Maybe one day, he could consider pursuing something more with her. He's fallen in love with her and bared his soul. But not now. Not when she's already seen everything. They love each other to death but they don't go around talking about it, even to each other because they already understand it. And sometimes words can be awkward and complicated, even when they've known each other for years.