Revamped!


Chapter 96: A Living Hel Part Four

Hel

They move at a slow pace, keeping low and out of sight although Hela could always see them. It was just a gut instinct of what to do. It feels like every step they took summoned another creature, but nothing would appear. They only stop once, when a streak of light dances over their heads. It ends up being was nothing so they keep walking.

Sigyn's mind keeps going back to seeing Xavier in the hospital room, specifically with what she wrote on the medical report. It just reminds her that it's her fault for several problems. Xavier is here because of his feelings for her. She needs to distract herself from them and how she feels about him in return. She has this power over him, over everyone. It's dangerous and it always has been. The only difference about now is that they're at that age where they can't keep pretending that everything is normal.

"You're very quiet," Sigyn says.

"I'm trying to digest what you told me," Xavier replies.

Sigyn scoffs a little. "Oh, Xavier, that is only a nibble of the entire course."

Xavier suddenly stops walking. If Apollo banning Sigyn from Midgard over a broken promise was only a nibble, he doesn't want to continue eating.

-o-

Stark Towers - 10:53 AM

"Yo," Merida whispers to Emily, pulling her to the side of the room. She points at Xavier. "I think this was all Britney."

"You blamed Britney for literally everything," Emily responds.

"Because she's the missing link! Not only is she the only one of us not here but she's also the only one not directly in Apollo's memories."

Emily nods, listening carefully. "I'm listening."

"Britney took Xavier's heart metaphorically once upon a time and now she took it literally."

"What the actual fuck…"

Meanwhile, Apollo stands beside Xavier's bed, thinking about how impossible this all was. He heard his friends constantly say how this wasn't scientifically or biologically possible and he kept quiet since that wasn't his expertise to weigh in on. However, he does come from a land with ways that defy all things science and is a possible explanation of how Xavier ended up like this.

"I have a possibility that your science can't deduce," Apollo says.

"What's that?" Daniel asks.

"Magic."

Nobody is surprised after that word is said since it's the only possibility that makes sense. Merida looks at Emily and mouths "Britney," enunciating every syllable. Emily is too stunned to come up with a snarky response. Iqadi looks at Merida and nods her head, agreeing with her.

"You need to get back to Asgard," James tells him, remembering their earlier conversation.

Apollo nods, leaving the room. They don't know if he'll return or just step out to think about returning. He feels some sort of bad taboo that comes with going back home which is why he hasn't even tried to go back.

"Uh, guys," Daniel says, peeking at the medical records. "You might want to see this."

Daniel holds up the medical record for them to see. Across the printed text is a message written in green, sparkling magic. Specifically, it's her green, sparkling magic.

"I will take care of it. - Sigyn"

-o-

Hel

The realm has gone silent, replaced by the sound of their footsteps against the dry ground. Only the equivalent of Hel's dark sun filtered down through a thick canopy of dead branches. Time seems to stretch forever. Xavier moves warily through the decayed underbrush, his shield on his back. Ahead, Sigyn strolls along, unconcerned about anything which concerns him.

"Britney," Xavier calls.

Sigyn freezes and clenches her fists as she feels her powers resurfacing.

"Stop saying that name," Sigyn pleads as she forces herself to unclench her fists. "You don't know me anymore. You're only in love with memories that warmed you up on the inside but will tear you apart the more you dwell on them."

Xavier's hands begin to shake. "Tell me everything."

There is a long pause. A sickeningly long pause.

"You'll despise me," Sigyn murmurs.

Her chest sinks, making her feel small. She crosses her arms so hard across her chest that her bones begin to ache.

"I could never hate you," Xavier replies. "I love you, whatever the hell your name is. Do you hear me?! I love you, Britney Braun or Sigyn Lokisdottir. I love you. The best day of my life was back in the eighth grade when you sat on the handlebars of my bicycle because that's when I knew I had feelings for you. Actually, no, that's a lie. That was the second-best day of my life. The best day was when you told me you loved me."

If only she could pretend she never heard that because it hurts like hell. Sigyn grabs his shoulders and looks right at him. Her face is an inch from his but he suddenly sees a stranger.

"That's done," she says softly yet sharply. "All of those are your memories. We're both in danger now and all you can think about is something that you felt seven years ago. You act like nothing has happened in the past seven years yet look at where the hell we are! What's wrong with you?"

She hates her words. She hates what she's done to him. She hates herself. Xavier's face doesn't budge as he takes another step closer to her. Her eyes stay locked on his.

"Britney…" He whispers. "I'm still in love with you. Don't you know what that means?"

"Yes," she states.

Xavier rolls his eyes because she said that only so he'd shut up. "It means that I'm completely vulnerable to you. You have the power and the ability to destroy me emotionally but I'm trusting you not to. I can't just automatically turn off my feelings for you. Believe me, I've tried. If I wanted to give up on you, I would've left you alone the moment I found out you were Loki's daughter."

She doesn't back away, no, her lips unconsciously move closer to his but she stops herself with her palm making its way to his face. Xavier grabs her wrist, stopping her from slapping him. His eyes dart towards the silver bracelet on her wrist. Her eyes look at it as well before they look at each other again.

"Sigyn Lokisdottir of Asgard has all the most precious Asgardian jewels at her reach," Xavier says. "What is Sigyn Lokisdottir of Asgard doing with this cheap charm bracelet that I bought for her when she went by Britney? Huh?"

Sigyn remains silent, this time she's stunned.

"Let's see…" Xavier mutters. "What do these four-letter charms stand for? There's A for Amber, C for Crystal, C for Courtney, and B for Britney."

Sigyn still says nothing as Xavier lets go of her wrist. Her eyes fill with tears but still look into his.

"I thought that you, Sigyn Lokisdottir, forgot who you were," Xavier says. "If you didn't love me anymore, I probably wouldn't be here with you, would I? If you truly believe whatever crap you're saying, you would've discarded that bracelet a long time ago."

She's truly speechless. Xavier gives her a grin from the corner of his mouth.

"When we get out of this, I'm buying the S charm," Xavier promises.

Sigyn pauses, her bracelet feeling cool against her skin. She takes a breath to focus herself. "Look, you have to forget all the time apart for just a minute, okay? Forget that and forget what you ever felt for me but just for now. This realm is dangerous if you don't pay attention and stay distracted."

Xavier nods, taking another step back and putting his hands up. "Just as long as you don't get distracted by me."

Sigyn scoffs with a small grin at the corner of her mouth. "I'll try."


[Remember that charm bracelet that Xavier gave Britney back in Britney's story? Yup, that was it and I'm crying].