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Chapter 166: Agents of Asgard Part Four

FBI Correctional Facility, Maximum Security - Time Unknown

Apollo was lying in bed in his cell, looking up when he sees two officers unlocking his cell and standing at the door. Apollo rises skeptically, obeying their orders when they bark at him to follow them once his hands are cuffed. One officer is behind him and another leads the way. Apollo doesn't catch sight of any other prisoners or guards, wondering if this is a set-up. He doesn't want to draw suspicion but he's ready to take them on if something bad happens.

They lead him to a room he's never been in before, unshackling him before they shove him inside. The room is halved with a table that had chairs on both sides, facing each other. Between the chairs, there's a tall glass divider and each section is divided like cubbies, each with phones on the side. Visiting area.

Apollo leans forwards, jumping back at the sound of someone kicking the vending machine. He steps closer, unable to get to the other side but he sees her in black jeans and a bright red leather jacket. Once he notices her hair and sword shaft, he smiles in disbelief, especially when she turns around to face him. Freya's hair flies around and she smiles in disbelief as she walks over, sitting on the other side. Apollo sits across from her and they both pick up the phone.

"Skittles weren't worth it," Apollo tells her.

"Clearly." Freya takes a breath, leaning back in her small plastic chair but keeping the phone to her ear. "When you said you would be spending more time on Midgard, I didn't think you meant serving time."

Apollo's face doesn't budge. "Not funny."

Her smile falters. "Sorry."

Apollo sighs. "No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be like that. It's just, I don't know what I'm doing."

Freya's expression softens as she sits straight, resting her arm on the table. "With what?"

"Everything. This stupid mission, Ragnarök, maybe even you."

"Me?"

Apollo shrugs, losing eye contact with her. He jumps when Freya knocks on the glass, nearly breaking it. When he looks at her, her face is sharp with furrowed brows aimed right at him. The phone in her hand is gripped so tight her knuckles blanch. The phone cracks in her hand and Apollo is shocked she didn't take her sword out and stab him through the glass.

"You, Apollo, my dear, need to snap out of it," Freya orders, "I'm not going anywhere, alright? You need to plan ahead, for this mission and for Ragnarök, even for me if you have anything." She settles. "Let us help you. Don't leave me again. I just got you back."

-o-

Apollo awoke when he falls out of his metal prison bed after an endless night of tossing and turning, drifting in and out of a restless sleep he tried to force himself into. He scurries and sits up against the cold wall, clutching his rest as lightning crackles outside with a massive roar of thunder. Frightened someone will burst in, his eyes dart around his cell as the rain patters against the building outside and the wind swirls. His cheeks are wet with tears as his dreams cling to him, like every one he's had for the past eight years. His mind is becoming a whirlwind again because he's denying his Fate and Freya was always there to be the calm in the storm.

No wonder his dream had Freya in it: because she isn't here with him.

Forget going back to sleep. His mind is louder than the storm outside. He paces around his cell, wishing he was at least out in the yard to have more ground space, but at least nobody will see him in his tiny space.

He thinks about the seven years after graduation, what happened after Sigyn killed her mother and then Vanaheim with The Serpent Crown. The new anxiety and fear culminated into a rage he never thought was possible for him. He always thought Sigyn was the only one who changed after graduation, but he became someone else. It wasn't like him, or at least the him he always believed he was. All this time in a cell wondering who he is and what to do with himself when Fate decided to gift him with his final battle.

He's Apollo Foster. Son of Thor and Jane. Prince of Asgard. Midgard's Protector. Asgard's Champion.

In what order? Hard to say.

What happened to him?

He has to get out of here, out of everything. He's on a mission, entangled in a destiny with Sigyn.

One more night. That's all they need.

He hopes.

-o-

Apollo couldn't eat the next morning at breakfast, not that he wanted to since his oatmeal looked like grey sludge and his fruit was so bad he couldn't tell what it was. He looks around at the other prisoners, watching them go through every day with the same scheduled routine, not even with a different outfit. He can't help but wonder how they continue to keep going when he's barely been here a week and he's standing at the edge.

"How do you do it?" Apollo asks Jensen who sits next to him. "How do you not lose your mind in here?"

Jensen laughs. "I lose it every fucking day but find it again only to lose it again. An endless cycle."

Apollo's mouth dries. "Fascinating."

"Why?"

Apollo sits up and turns to face him. "Have you ever, like, been given a vague approximation of your death date and cause, but aren't sure if you could do anything about it since you're responsible for getting to that point?"

Jensen stares at him blankly and blinks. "I'm on death's row."

"Ah…" Apollo nods. "Nevermind."

Almost as if she heard him say something stupid, Sigyn walks up to their table and sits across from them. She doesn't have her breakfast tray but they assume she trashed the bad food and will eat something from the commissary later because they had the same plan.

"Why can't you count cracks in the ceiling or talk to a mouse like the dude next door to me?" Sigyn says to Apollo. "Just keep your head down."

"Do you want me to lose my mind again?" Apollo asks, voice cracking by the intonation of the question. Sigyn keeps quiet.

"Everyone does in here," Jensen says. "Go to the lounge after you eat. You'll like the session they're having today. Maybe Britney can join you."

Sigyn pauses, almost forgetting she was going by that name here. It's still odd to her. "Pass. I'm searching for someone."

"Who?"

"Ivory Gates."

Jensen shrugs. "Don't know her. Probably in a different block."

-o-

After breakfast, Apollo heads over to the lounge where he sees a few plastic chairs arranged in a circle with one of the prison's psychologists standing in the centre. Apollo sits in one of the empty chairs, nodding at other prisoners who nod first. He slouches in her seat, crossing his arms as the psychologist starts talking.

"Welcome to Existential Counselling."

Apollo has never wanted to leave a place more in his entire life, even the classes he dreaded back in high school. He's heard about these types of meetings from the other prisoners, the ones they have to pass the time and not because anyone here really cares about changing their lives. What was left to do if you're set to die? It's more so to determine if they've reached a point of no return and to receive aid. Apollo isn't sure who could actually help him.

"Discover life's meaning. Accomplish something."

Apollo knows what his life means. He never had to worry about his purpose before The Norns showed up and handed him his destiny on a Serpent Crown.

"Experience a value. Anything."

At least Apollo was with his family on Asgard, sticking by his mom's side while his dad tried to help him and Sigyn escape Fate. Even when Sigyn was being distant, at least he knew she was still there. He didn't think she would listen to his ban from Midgard on her but she did and he can never repay or atone for the worst thing he's ever done to her. And Freya. Freya Sorsdottir. His friend, his love, whatever. She stuck by his side, stayed the nights even when he scared her awake. He told her in his dream that he wasn't sure what to do with her and, thinking back, he doesn't know what he meant.

He needs a plan for everything.

-o-

Later, at their designated yard time, Apollo sees Sigyn stalking by one of the prison towers, probably searching for Ivory by asking around but her defeated face shows no luck. He puts his hands in his prison jacket's pockets and leans against the wall to sit on the ground. Sigyn joins him, sitting crossed-legged as she faces him. She doesn't say anything but her face softens with concern as if, for once, she's picking and choosing her words wisely. Apollo imagines his blue eyes are glazed, potentially red from holding back tears because he won't dare cry in here.

Everything about him is breaking again and she's realizing she can't lose him again.

"Have you ever thought about your last day?" Apollo asks her first.

Sigyn hesitates. "I mostly thought of the day after."

"So, no."

"No."

"Do you think being in prison is a metaphor for us trying to escape fate? There's no way out and we're just trapped. Maybe I really suggested not to use our powers since they're useless in trying to stop or rewrite Ragnarök."

"I think you're overthinking all this but we have to get out. Not just prison but Ragnarök."

Apollo nods, leaning his head back against the wall. "But I'm thinking of the way out and you're getting what we need to escape."

Sigyn fans her hands out to get his attention again. "Okay, prison aside. What am I or was I supposed to get for Ragnarök? The Serpent Crown? Or something else?"

"I don't know!" He yells before realizing his voice escalated and Sigyn leaned back, putting a hand on the ground behind her so she won't fall. He forces himself to take a deep breath and calm down. "I'm still connecting all the pieces."

"What's there to connect?" Her voice shakes a little. "You have it so lucky. You start Ragnarök so, ultimately, you can pick when you die. I've told you this before so let's go live lives. Start the end in a thousand years for all I care; when we're ready to go. What's more honourable than that?"

Apollo doesn't want to admit she's right. He never did when it involved Ragnarök. " … can we get out of here first and then I'll deal with that?"

"Fine." Sigyn gets up. "I'll get more info about Ivory. I'm not having any luck with finding her. I'm tempted to ask a guard."

"Don't trade your soap this time."

Apollo fans out his pocket and Sigyn crouches when she sees what he has for her. She glances in all directions to see nobody staring at her before shoving a pack of ramen down her pants. Prison gold now in her possession.

"We're getting out of here," Sigyn says, making a promise she isn't sure she can keep but he knows she'll try her best. She manages a fake faint smile. "We'll be okay. We have to be, right?"

Apollo isn't sure how many times she's said that to him. Ever.