Guys … we're finally here (almost).
Chapter 145: Wagner Cove
Rogers House - Brooklyn - 5:27 AM
Sigyn heard Xavier come in late from the bachelor party. She pretended to be asleep and kept her back to him. Sigyn listened to him get changed and climb into bed next to her. She didn't bother asking why he smelled like the ocean and burnt sand, but he didn't wake her over why she smelled like cake and champagne. They definitely had fun at their parties. Eventually, she heard him drift off and she did as well.
She woke a few hours later and her eyes dart towards the window. It was white outside.
Sigyn rubs her eyes to wake up more and get rid of that image but she isn't dreaming it. It wasn't white like fog or overcast, it was falling from the sky like snow. This can't be. It's only September. It never snows this early in New York. Sigyn doesn't feel cold so it might still be warm outside which is even stranger. She turns around and almost wakes up Xavier but stops herself. She watches his chest move up and down slowly, in rhythm. She can't interrupt that.
Instead, she brings her knees up to her chest and rests her head, keeping her eyes on the sudden snow. It's a blank world. She's imagining the cold drops settling on her pale cheeks, melting on contact.
This could be her last winter and she can't fully enjoy it, but that's okay, right? It's almost over…
Fuck that. Today is Emily and Daniel's wedding. She's enjoying it. Ragnarök be damned.
-o-
James's Penthouse - Upper East Side - 9:46 AM
Apollo saw the snow when he woke up and he didn't take it lightly. He thought he could ignore it. Take a shower, brush up, get dressed for the wedding and it would go away but it didn't. It looked like it got worse.
This had to be for him and caused by him. He started Ragnarök, didn't he? He wasn't even sure of what he did to do it. And on Emily and Daniel's wedding day too! They waited eight years to get married and, on the day of, he had to cause a freak snowstorm. Some friend he is. They'd probably wish he was dead for ruining their relationship's biggest moment.
"Apollo, this wasn't you," Freya says, trying to reason with him. He's been rampaging through James's place, yelling about how this is his fault and how he isn't ready to die for about thirty minutes. "The Serpent -"
"Freya!" Apollo yells, facing her again. "Don't mention that thing."
Freya doesn't bat a lash. "The Midgard Serpent wasn't invited to the wedding; therefore it won't be there. You didn't invite it so I bet it's polite and respects your wishes."
"Besides," Angela adds, chasing after Apollo as well. She had to be careful not to ruin her dress, hair, and makeup since she and Freya already got ready. "This is the last wedding it would want to interrupt. We'll be there with our parents and Emily will be so pissed at the Serpent that it'll slither back to its hiding place."
"Exactly."
Apollo nods, taking breaths to calm down. The snow is nothing. Emily probably worked some magic to give herself a winter wonderland wedding in September. And if her wedding got interrupted, she would wreak havoc on The Midgard Serpent. It'll be fine. Apollo looks at Angela and Freya who have calmed down, matching the mood he's giving them.
"You look pretty," Apollo says to Freya.
"Thanks, dear," Freya responds, fixing his suit jacket.
"You look nice in red."
"Angela says it's a pastel red."
"What's a pastel?"
"This colour, apparently."
"It's red."
"Tell her that."
Apollo looks at Angela. "It's red."
"Pastel red," Angela teases. She's happy Apollo finally settled.
Angela glances back at James who has been on the phone with Daniel this whole time. Daniel picked the bad time to call when Apollo was freaking out and given that Apollo's so loud, Daniel heard and got concerned.
"Don't worry, we diffused it," James reassures over the phone.
Angela grabs the phone from him. "Freya and I diffused it. Anyways, we'll see you there."
Angela hangs up and turns around to hand back his phone but James doesn't take it because this is the first time he's really seeing her this morning since the chaos with Apollo distracted him. James knows he looks good in his suit but damn. James's eyes first fall on her legs - long and graceful. Then they move up to her toned and slender frame where a fitted pastel coral pinkish-orange dress hugs her body. She sends off a different vibe than usual. She's enchanting and classy. Her hair is styled in light waves that only enhance her transcending beauty. The peachy colour of her lips makes them look more appetizing.
"James!" Angela calls, shaking his phone in her hand.
James snaps back to reality. Good thing Angela's still there looking like this. "You will be my Mrs. Pym one day."
Angela narrows her eyes at him. "Not now!"
James smiles at her, taking his phone and slipping his phone into his pocket. "Fine, but there's no way I'm crying at the wedding."
"You cried in your sleep."
"Did not!"
"Did too!" Apollo and Freya yell.
-o-
Banner House - Manhattan - 9:57 AM
Daniel got back in from the bachelor party a few hours ago. He only remembers being dropped off at his parents' place since he and Emily believed in the it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding tale and falling asleep on the living room couch. He closed his eyes and had flashes of bright fireworks that went away when he saw himself fixing his tie in the mirror.
Ever since he got engaged and had to put on a tie, he always thought that one of those times will be on his wedding day. And now that this is the moment, it's still so surreal to him.
The next time he does this, he'd be looking back at when he did this on his wedding day … he's confusing himself.
"Better be getting ready, you're exchanging rings today," Bruce says from across the house.
"Yeah…" Daniel mutters nervously, readjusting his tie.
-o-
Wagner Cove - 10:54 AM
The venue was already set. In front of the riverside gazebo, a small array of chairs, enough for their small reception, are divided into two sections of four rows of five chairs, all covered in a plastic tarp to block the light snowfall. A small stone pathway divides the chairs, making up the aisle Emily will walk down in a few hours from now. At the end of her expected path is the gazebo where she and Daniel will exchange rings and say their vows in front of their friends and family.
But for now, off to the side, Emily is getting ready with her mom in a canopy tent that was put up so Emily could get ready on-site and Daniel couldn't get a peek at her dress. She could barely sleep and seeing the snow made her giddy. The scenery was matching her dress which was something she didn't know she needed.
From where she sits in front of her vanity, aside from the calm city background noise, she starts to hear people arriving. She smiles, excited for how real her wedding is becoming.
"Apollo, I promise we have control over this snow," Iqadi reassures.
Ever since Iqadi and her family arrived, Apollo hounded her about the snow (after he complimented her elegant pastel purple dress). Freya managed to distract Apollo long enough for Angela to fill her in on his panic attack this morning.
"I've tested it out myself and we can control this snow," Ororo adds to put him at ease. She holds up a hand and waves it above their heads, a path of flakes follow her swirling fingertips.
Apollo nods slowly, still skeptical. "Are you sure?"
"Positive," Iqadi states. She looks over at two people arriving and smiles at the sight. "Look, Sigyn's here."
Apollo turns around and sees Xavier circling the front of his parked car. Sigyn stands with her arms wrapped around her waist and starts walking with him into the venue. They're not holding hands but standing close enough to show that they came together. Besides, it can't be coincidental that Xavier's pocket square is the same light shade of pastel green as Sigyn's dress.
Apollo approaches them. Sigyn stops a few steps behind Xavier, looking at Apollo as if she hasn't seen him in years when, really, it's only been a week. Xavier notices the cousins staring at each other in a silent shock, knowing that they'd be in this position until the end of Emily and Daniel's honeymoon if he didn't interfere so he clears his throat.
"You both okay?" Xavier asks them.
"Yes," Apollo and Sigyn reply in sync as they look at him. Once they realize they said the same thing, they look at each other with small smiles. For once, they mean it. It feels good to be back after so long, like time slowed and stretched, like all the years between never happened.
Xavier notices Thor and Jane arriving, excusing himself to let them reconnect. Apollo and Sigyn turn around to face Thor and Jane. They expected Apollo's parents to check up on Sigyn first because that's what they've always done, but this time they doted on him first. Sigyn was the only one who found that odd and she didn't think she'd be as jealous as she is. She tells herself it makes sense since they banished him to Midgard but she's been here too.
"Ororo told us about what you thought about the snow," Jane mutters. "Thor doesn't think it's Ragnarök's opening."
Apollo shrugs. "Maybe the Serpent likes the snow."
Sigyn glances at him and is surprised to see him smiling behind a laugh. "Oh, so we can joke about it now? That's where we're at? You and The Serpent."
"That's Midgard Serpent to you."
"Of course."
-o-
Merida's parked to the side of the road, glad to see everyone chatting amongst themselves so they won't notice her and that Emily is paying for parking. She scans the venue, wiping her window with her hand to clear it despite the snow being on the outside. She can see enough to make out that she's the last person to arrive. Even Emily came before her but it's her wedding.
Merida looks down and picks pieces of lint from her pastel blue-green dress that aren't there. She glances over to the passenger seat and sees Blake peering out her driver's window to get a glimpse at what's to come. He looks like he's ready to walk across the street and start a conversation with everyone at the cove. Ironically, Merida's the one who wants to drive away.
"Are you sure you don't want to leave?" Merida asks. "My parents are in there."
"Yeah, I assumed the lady with the same red hair was related to you," Blake replies. "I'm fine, excited even."
"Really? It doesn't bother you?"
"Not really. Does it bother you?"
Merida narrows her eyes as she looks away. Now would be the time for them to get out of the car but Merida hasn't unlocked it yet. Instead of forcing the door or asking, Blake sits back with his eyes on her and crossed arms.
"You know, you really didn't have to come," Merida says. "There's still time. I could drive you back to my place."
"You were practically on your knees, begging me to come," Blake says.
"Was not."
"You wanted a sober driver."
"I have friends in there who can't get drunk and will probably get a hotel room at the reception."
"Besides, there's free and expensive champagne, and a hotel room now that you mentioned it."
"I thought you would be my sober driver."
"Now I don't have to if you got sober friends in there and a hotel room."
"Point."
Blake smiles. He can sense her nerves but knows not to mention them. "Any tips for approaching treacherous waters?"
"Don't ask anyone if they're with the bride or groom. The answer is both. Also, everyone in that cove can kill you."
Blake doesn't even blink. "Comforting."
"Except Imanu." Merida points at him.
"I'll hang out with him."
"But that's because his wife would do it for him." Merida points at Iqadi.
"She looks intimidating."
"My point exactly." Merida huffs. "Fuck it, let's go."
Merida steps of the car and locks it once Blake's out. She looks both ways before crossing the road, glancing back to see Blake a few steps behind her. He catches up with her, standing by her side when she steps onto the sidewalk which is when everyone's eyes are on them. Merida saw this moment coming but she still isn't prepared.
"As you said, Agent Mer," Blake whispers, "fuck it, let's go."
"I'm changing my words to fuck this," Merida says before running.
Blake watches her disappear into the venue. He saw that coming. When he looks at all the eyes still on him, he waves before starting to introduce himself.