I am officially on break...for a week.

And this is another chapter I'm excited about.

Year One: Secret's Out

[12:30 PM]

Group Chat - Banner Cubed
Members: Betty, Bruce, Daniel

Betty: Daniel, if you want to come home for a bit, you can.

Bruce: Just talk to your professors or counsellors about accommodations if you need them. They'll be generous given the circumstances.

[moments later]

Daniel: What are you two talking about?

-o-

Sci-Tech Lecture Hall - 12:32 PM

Daniel puts his phone back in his pocket, waiting for their response. It doesn't seem like anything too concerning or else they would've called. Or they wouldn't have dialled if they thought he was in class. And if that was the case, they would've messaged him to leave class so he could call them. If worse comes to worst, he'll call them during his lecture's break.

"Look at that emerald," a girl nearby says. She zooms in on a photo on her phone to show her friends. "Do you even understand how beautiful emeralds are? They require their own cut that other gemstones adopted! Of course, she has one. It only makes sense. The other gemstones wish to be emeralds like we wish to be her. And they're the brilliant shade of beryl."

He wonders why she knows all that about emeralds. Maybe she's in Intro to Gemmology. The other girls fawn as Daniel passes them to get to a seat. He walks up a few steps in the auditorium-like rows, choosing a spot in the middle. He throws his bag down and is about to take out a notepad and pencil but noticed something different about the room; not in the layout but within his classmates. Everyone seems preoccupied with something outside the Academy. Is there something in the water? How is he out of the loop? Daniel bets that James would know but he's at one of his Operations classes today.

"It's confirmed!" A boy in the row in front of him exclaims. "There's a statement!"

"A statement for what?" Daniel asks.

"You didn't hear? Emily Stark's engaged!"

All the colour leaves Daniel's face as those last three words echo against his skull. How did they know? How did anyone know? No wonder those girls were talking about an emerald ring. It was a secret that's now exposed. At least he looks at surprised as every other lovesick boy around him, minus the heartbroken. Daniel's heart races and his body becomes restless. How did this happen? Emily would never do this to him and neither would his friends. He doesn't want to be here anymore. He wants to run out and scream somewhere. This must be what his parents were talking about.

If there was one secret Daniel wouldn't want to be exposed, this was tied for the top of the list. The hulk inside of him is something he never wanted to think about. At least the engagement leak is a good distraction from his own mental turmoil. It helps that everyone around him is talking about it, analyzing press photos of her with the ring and dissecting every word she's said to get even the smallest clue. They're salivating for substance on who proposed to Emily Stark. He can sense it. Little did they know that the fiancé is dead centre in the room.

The professor enters and silences the class as she prepares. Daniel takes out his phone and sees the onslaught of messages from his family's group chat, his friends, and calls from Emily. Oh god, his engagement is out there. This isn't some sick dream. Daniel puts his phone away and slides into his chair.

A trip back home while Sci-Tech was going berserk isn't a bad idea.

-o-

Halfway through the lecture was a break. The moment it was announced, Daniel leaped out of his seat and zipped out of the room. He doubted anyone saw him since they returned to scoping for new information on Emily Stark's engagement.

Daniel walks into the nearest bathroom. He peeks underneath the stalls to see if anyone's here. When there are no feet, he locks the main door and sighs loudly. It doesn't help with his nerves but it relieves some tension. Tension that will come back the moment he returns to class. But it'll work for now.

He paces across the bathroom and stops after a few laps. Daniel looks at his reflection and isn't sure if he sees himself. It's Emily Stark's fiancé, that's who it is. Imagine if people here found out. Oh, it's you? Really? But she's Emily Stark and you're someone so ordinary. If only they knew who he really was. If only they knew that Emily is the love of his life outside of the superficial headlines...and that he still has to pay off the ring he used to propose to a billionaire.

To distract himself, he takes out his phone. Scrolling through the notifications, he finds the ones from Emily to call her back. Thankfully, she picks up on the first ring.

"Babe -" Daniel starts but he's cut off by Emily's sobs and panics.

Emily: Daniel, I'm so sorry! I don't know what happened. Iqadi and I were just getting our nails done and I didn't think anyone was listening since there was nobody there -!

If there's one thing Daniel hates, it's when Emily's overwhelmed. And he knows that it's because she blew a secret she kept for his sake. If it was up to her, she would've revealed the engagement the moment it happened.

"No, Em," Daniel mutters. "It's fine. Nobody here knows it's me."

He's lying to her and himself. The only truth is that he's anonymous. None of this was fine but maybe it will be by the end of the day.

Emily: Jarvis did a fine sweep of every article out there and will continue to monitor. Nobody has your name and nobody ever will. My parents are giving me hell for this but I deserve it.

Daniel shrugs although she can't see. "Emily, it's fine. Where are you?"

Emily: My hotel room. Your parents messaged me. Are you going home because if you are, I'll join you.

"I think it'll be alright here." He isn't even convincing himself.

Emily: I could take the ring off if that'll make you feel better.

"But you won't be better."

There's silence on the other line because Daniel knows she's got her biting her tongue. Emily taking off the ring is the worst thing that could happen to his sanity but she has good intentions. And he knows that she would never take it off. It's her reminder of him, their love, and everything they have together like their friends and family. Emily's out there in the world and that ring is her lighthouse that will always point her back home.

"Besides," Daniel says to continue the conversation, "it won't matter. There's a statement confirming it. Who gave one?"

Emily: I did. I should've consulted you but you weren't answering and articles were popping out from everywhere -

Before Daniel could question, loud knocks on the door startle him. His heart jumps in his throat as Emily screams for him at the other end of the line. He almost drops his phone as he looks at the door in pure horror. Who's there and how much did they hear? Maybe if he says nothing, they'll go to a different washroom. But the knocking continues.

"Shit," Daniel states.

Emily: What was that? Babe.

"I don't know."

"Dude, it's me," James says from the other side of the door.

"And me!" Merida exclaims.

They both sound out of breath. Daniel sighs out of relief as he opens the door for them. Once they're inside, Merida closes and locks the door behind them. James and Merida are drenched in sweat on their training uniforms. They must've sprinted here from a class they were already running in. Both of their faces are splotched and limbs sore. They can barely stand but they ran across campus for him. James takes a minute to catch his breath as Merida redoes the bun on top of her head.

"Is that Stark?" Merida asks, pointing to the phone.

Daniel nods. "She's at her hotel."

Merida grabs the phone. "I told you those nails were evil!"

Emily: You know what, Merida, I'm having a crisis! I don't have to deal with you right now!

"Now you do!"

As they argue over their manicures, Daniel looks at James who's sitting on the sink's counter. "I thought you already knew."

James shakes his head. "I would've told you the moment I found out. Nobody in Operations talks since we're all too busy catching our breaths."

Merida scoffs, taking a break from her call. "Speak for yourself. Anyways, grab your things and find someone to get the notes from. We're having a team meeting."

"Where?" Daniel asks.

"Your residence is a war zone so not there."

-o-

Atlantic Residence - 14:18 PM

Their safe place is Angela and Merida's dorm. Since nobody in Operations cared about the engagement, they could technically talk as loud as they want but they wouldn't take that risk. Who knows who's listening? Presently, Angela and Merida sit on their respective bunks, James is next to his girlfriend, Daniel's lying on Angela's desk, and Xavier's standing by the door. Xavier taps on his phone, finding the statement that Emily said confirming the engagement.

Xavier clears his throat once he opens a link. "'Stark doesn't deny her engagement, revealing that the emerald ring was from a proposal. She says, [the relationship] is long distance. It's hard but incredible. I love, trust, and respect him from a distance and he feels the same for me and more. We'll be absolutely unstoppable together.' She gave no details about her fiancé, the proposal or the wedding and pledges to never will until further notice."

Daniel nods, smiling a little. "I love her."

"So, it's out there," Angela states.

"I blame Britney's birthday," Merida says. The story was leaked on Britney's birthday since it happened due to their green manicures.

Xavier crosses his arms. "Merida, you don't have to shift blame that was never on you."

"And you don't have to defend someone who isn't here to be blamed."

Xavier glares at her. Merida mocks his flare with an exaggerated pouted lip.

"You two, zip it." Angela focuses back on Daniel. "Maybe Sci-Tech will forget about it once the media's buzz dies down."

James laughs. "Babe, Emily is the program's goddess. They're not sleeping on this one."

"They have to eventually."

"Yeah, when they have answers they'll never get."

"Maybe the timing on this is right," Daniel says. "You know, this being leaked on Britney's birthday."

"How so?" Xavier asks.

"I got the ring with her."

-o-

Yesterday - Asgard's Palace

Yesterday, Sigyn Lokisdottir turned nineteen-years-old. Yesterday, Sigyn Lokisdottir didn't celebrate.

Asgard wasn't in the mood. Nobody was in the mood. She wasn't in the mood.

And it's been like that for months. They did nothing for Apollo's birthday and he's their golden boy, so why would they do anything for her? She could never tell what day it was or how much time passed since her last thought. If nobody reminded her, she would've forgotten her birthday. Loki brought it up in passing and she shrugged it off.

She's been dead on the inside for months. Apollo should be as well but he's still throwing wood into a fire that will inevitably burn out. The smoke is getting to his brain and slowly driving him insane. She's tried talking to him, convincing him to stop, but he's too focused on that flame to listen to reason. Hell, he probably hates her now. She knows she does.

Sometimes, like now, she would spend time alone in the throne room. Everyone else was busy catering to Apollo's needs. Apollo. Their poor golden heir who heard a bad story and now can't sleep at night without screaming. Nobody cares about Sigyn anymore and she isn't offended because she feels the same way about herself.

But that doesn't matter because she's sitting on Asgard's throne. Her back is craned over one arm and her legs are stretched out over the other. She looks at everything upside down. The blood rushes to her brain as she watches the ends of her hair falling to the ground. The building pressure in her skull combined with seeing the world from this angle is exponentially better than her current reality.

Even seeing Apollo upside down as he walks in the room is funny. He doesn't question her laughing because she's been more insane than usual these past few months. Around the same time, he started spiralling. It should be comforting that they're cousins and are sharing this experience, but they've never been more apart. And it grows worse every day.

"Here's to the fake birth certificate club!" Sigyn exclaims, holding up a fist. She's still upside down so she's pointing her arm to the ground. If she had a glass of wine, it would've been better and all over the floor.

"That's a club I never wanted to be in," Apollo responds. "You damn well know that."

Sigyn straightens, facing him right side up as she looks at him. She shrugs apathetically but barely moves her shoulders. "Well, welcome to the club about life never going your way. You're the president and I'll be your vice-chair. At least our death certificates will be real."

I won't bother listing the Asgardian counterparts since they'll be the same set of chapters unless stated otherwise.