It feels so nice to have this story and SA on weekly updates just because I love imagining the parallel of the two very different events, especially for this chapter and SA's for this week (chapter 122). They fit together really well.

Chapter 168: Agents of Asgard Part Six

FBI Correctional Facility, Maximum Security - Time Unknown

During yard time, Apollo sits on a picnic table alone while a lot of other prisoners play kickball on a field. The officers allowed them to use sandbags from the yard maintenance shed to mark their bases. Apollo wanted to join but he hasn't seen Sigyn for a while and needed time to think of a plan.

"Don't like the game?" Officer AR164, or Officer Ashton Ruiz, says to Apollo as he walks up to him.

"Got a lot on my mind," Apollo responds. Sigyn. Ragnarök. Escaping. Normal stuff. "Have you seen Sig - Britney?"

Even Apollo can't deny that saying Britney leaves a weird taste in his mouth.

Ashton doesn't question the mistake, possibly didn't notice. "Sent her to the SHU yesterday. She shanked a guard."

"What?" Apollo asks. "Why would she?"

Ashton shrugs. "I was called to bring her there."

"What's it like down there? Is she okay? When is she coming out?"

Ashton sighs. "I'm not assigned to the SHU but if she behaves, then she'll be released."

"She shanked a guard."

"Between us," Ashton steps closer, "he deserved it."

Apollo smiles a little. "I'm just feeling off about everything and want to get out."

"Do you want to see the counsellor?"

"God, no." That came out stronger than Apollo intended.

Ashton eyes him for a second. "Go play kickball and I'll check your cousin."

Apollo looks back at him. "Is that a deal?"

"Got my word."

"Fine."

Apollo leaps off the table and heads over to the field with the other prisoners. Once he's close enough, they point him towards the outfield as the next person on the other team walks up to the home plate, or home sandbag. He figures he's on this team. He listens to his teammates conspiring and inching closer, thinking the batter up wouldn't kick that far. Apollo doesn't move and decides to cover the entire outfield. Sure, the one up to kick looks small but he doubts this cover. If there was one thing he's learned from playing ball with Xavier, it was not to trust anything.

The ball is pitched and the kick is harder than expected. Apollo runs backwards, keeping his eye on the ball as it zips past the diamond. Apollo sprints, turning a corner as the batter runs the course. He leaps, catching the rubber ball mid-air as he skids to the ground, clutching the ball tightly against his body as the prisoners on his tea, cheer.

Apollo exhales, smiling for the first time in a while as he looks up at the grey sky.

-o-

Once inside, Apollo walks through the foyer. He sees prisoners playing cards in the eating area, buying stuff in the commissary, working their shifts, reading in their cells - doing whatever they can to pass the time. Apollo notices the calling area and gravitates over to an empty phone booth. He slides his prisoner ID which doubles as a calling card before he picks up the receiver. The automated voice tells him to start dialling a number but he doesn't do anything.

He doesn't know who to call. When he was on Asgard, he didn't contact his friends for selfish reasons and banned Sigyn from any communication and presence on Midgard, which she obeyed. His parents were even complacent with him. He knows they listened for him, to put him at ease, but he was cruel. Sigyn tried to put him in his place but cowered for legitimate reasons. That banishment didn't come from a place of strength or power but cowardice mixed with cruelty. The darkest, bitterest, weakest place in his bones.

He wouldn't even know what to say to Freya if he could call her. What would she even say to him in return?

Before he hands up, he turns around and sees a prisoner in line waiting their turn.

"I didn't use it," Apollo says, leaving the receiver hanging, "just dial."

Apollo exits the booth and continues wandering. He doesn't have Sigyn now and can't imagine his life if he killed her, assuming he doesn't die right after she goes.

-o-

Apollo had nothing to do so he went back to his cell until they were called for mealtime. When he stepped outside, he looked over the railing and saw Sigyn being brought back to her cell. He heads down the stairs and turns towards her cell, inviting himself in to hug her. Taken by surprise, Sigyn tenses but catches up when Apollo parts and stands at the door at an officer's orders. He keeps his hands up for a moment longer and Sigyn smiles as she approaches him.

"Ironically, being with you taught me how to feel alive," Sigyn greets.

Apollo nods a little. "You're pretty good at it too."

"Are you okay?" She asks mostly because of the hug she didn't expect. "Do I have to beat up a prison gang? I will go back into the SHU for you, you know that."

"No, no, I'm sorry."

Her face doesn't shift away from her concern. "For what? The hug?"

"No, for everything. For the past seven years. For making you so, so miserable."

"You already apologized-"

"No, shut up, okay?" Apollo exhales when she remains silent. "I've made you and all our friends sad because I was sad. I don't want to die. I don't want to kill you. I don't want to do any of this which we know but I also don't know what to do."

Sigyn puts a hand on his arm when she notices him tearing up. "Oh my god, Apollo, don't cry in prison. Don't be a little bitch."

His tears instantly vanish as he frowns at her. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, you little bitch."

They laugh as they walk over to the cafeteria serving area for a helping of a suspicious meatloaf where they didn't know the meat, mashed potatoes that didn't look mashed or potatoes, and steamed vegetables that still looked frozen. They know they're not eating that as they sit down at the end of an empty table, keeping cautious of the officers patrolling the eating area so they don't overhear them.

"How's your escape plan?" Sigyn asks, poking at the meat with the end of her fork.

"Working on it," Apollo responds despite not having started it yet.

"Good. Ivory's in solitary. When I found out, I knew I had to get there. I meant to tell you first but the opportunity came to light. I spoke to her there. She doesn't want to escape."

Apollo raises a brow. "What does that mean? I think solitary confinement got to her."

"No, she's avoiding people out in the real world. Some threat scary enough for her to hide in solitary and willingly stay there."

"So go back in there and convince her. Go beat up a prison gang or something."

"I'm not going back there. We need a new plan."

"Shank me with your toothbrush."

Sigyn catapults her mystery meat onto his tray. "No, just change your plan as we'll just get her on the way out and keep her hostage."

"I'm not changing it because you failed you do your only part."

"Little bitch."

Apollo dumps the frozen steamed vegetables onto her tray. "Fine. I'll go into solitary."

"I would rather shank you than put you in there. Apollo, trust me, your little bitch ass wouldn't survive in there. You can't go crazy in here. Or at all. Don't. I'm not losing you again."

Apollo nods at her sincerity. "You won't. I promise."

*coughs* Liar *coughs*