I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't work on any other story until I write the wedding (sorry if you're reading them). (Also ended up finishing revamping early this morning).
Chapter 135: Save The Date
Rogers House - Brooklyn - 1:08 AM
Once Xavier arrived at his childhood home, he opens the door and Sigyn walks in first. They don't turn on the lights but Sigyn can tell that the house has stayed more or less the same. The shoes are on racks by the door but there aren't many since Angela and Xavier moved out. Photos are hung on the wall along the staircase but the one at the bottom of the stairs was changed from a childhood summer to high school graduation. The one above that changed from a teenage holiday to graduating from the Academy.
"It's weird not to be sneaking through the window," Sigyn whispers.
"My parents are in Manhattan for the night and I've been here ever since you came back," Xavier responds, not whispering at all.
Sigyn's shoulders drop a little and Xavier immediately shakes his head.
"No, no, not like that," Xavier says, rubbing her shoulder. "It's just that I've missed being home, that's all."
"So…" Sigyn mutters, taking one step up the stairs. She turns on the step and leans against the railing towards him. "More private?"
Sigyn needs him to feel alive again. That's why Hela brought him to her, wasn't it? Hela did want her to live and to fight for her life so she brought Xavier. Sigyn tugs at his shirt and pulls him closer. Xavier grips her hard against him, getting his hands tangled in her hair.
Xavier pulls back and heads up the stairs, skipping steps. Sigyn laughs as she runs after him, smiling at the familiar hallways. Even his bedroom hasn't changed much. It's a bit emptier but because he hasn't been here much since he left for The Academy. He does have a bag in the corner and some clothes in the closet.
When Sigyn closes the door behind him, she turns back and sees Xavier smiling at her.
"I've missed you, Sigyn, I've missed you so much."
"I know," she whispers as she walks up to him.
Sigyn shushes him with her lips. Their kiss starts as something slow and sweet but then grows wild. Not breaking off their embrace, Sigyn grabs his shirt and forces him out of it. At the same time, Xavier tears off her shirt. They kiss each other like there's no tomorrow because, in this world with the end reliant on someone they know, there might not be one.
"We really shouldn't do this," Xavier says.
"We really shouldn't." Sigyn looks at him. "When was the last time you got laid?"
"What?"
Sigyn grins. "That answers my question."
"I've been busy."
"You haven't."
"Sigyn…"
Her grin grows as she traces his chest with her finger. "Boys would flirt with me on Asgard but as if I was an objective or a check on a bucket list, a true test of courage. At least, that was the case before Apollo and I got The Serpent Crown. I never left the palace until my stay with Hela. Within those years, I don't remember speaking to anyone much."
"The same thing happened to me with girls at the Academy but they just wanted to sleep with me."
Sigyn mockingly narrows her eyes at him. Lightening the mood, they needed that. "Too bad you were so, so busy. For the record, I've been busy too."
They look at each other silently before they pull each other back in. If they were in love with each other, very truly in love, there wouldn't be anyone else.
She was done holding back, wrapping her legs around him, wanting to feel his entire body against her. Lifting her in the air as if she weighed nothing, their bodies fall onto his bed. Sigyn's breath exhales sharply, breaking the kiss for a second, stunned for a moment. Xavier's smiling, breathing heavily while looking into her eyes before her lips. Her heart explodes like it did when they were in high school or even in the car earlier tonight. Sigyn pulls him back in, locking their lips in an intense and passionate kiss once again. It's overwhelming and powerfully intoxicating. An intensified pressure of adrenaline that coursed through their veins that they couldn't control. The rush her body was experiencing was stronger than ever. Her fingers tangle in his hair as he kisses her everywhere.
-o-
Wakanda's Palace - 8:13 AM
Iqadi walks into her room and sees Imanu already there and dressed for the day. She knows that he was up earlier than her, getting their agenda while he left her to sleep. Iqadi didn't sleep in, though, she woke up with him and stayed in bed for another twenty minutes.
"We have speeches to give, a royal portrait to pose for, and so much more because you just got back," Imanu says. "I wanted to do as much as I could so you could relax when you returned but I couldn't pose for the portrait on my own nor would I want to do it on my own and I tried putting off the speeches but -"
Imanu stops talking to take a breath, unaware he was rambling. Iqadi smiles since that's one reason he delayed the speeches. It's also one of the reasons why she made sure his subpoena didn't make it to him. He wouldn't be able to face the Council.
"It's fine," Iqadi says as she walks up to him. "I'd be happier to be busy."
Imanu looks at her and smiles, biting on his lips from the inside. "You're a hero already in ways that were dreams I got to see with my own eyes. You're changing lives. It's amazing."
Iqadi isn't sure what to say. That is why Imanu should do a speech. He knows what to say on a whim whereas she'd need to write it down in advance. Instead, she kisses him. She holds him there and he puts his hands on her waist to pull her closer but they instantly stop and turn towards the door when they hear someone knock.
"Come in," Iqadi says, stepping back from Imanu.
"My prince and princess," a handmaiden says, taking a step in the room, "your friends in America have sent a wedding invite for next week. Your parents have the details in the throne room."
"Thank you. Let them know we'll join them soon."
Once the door close, Iqadi and Imanu look at each other excitedly. Emily and Daniel going to get married in countable days which means they'll be leaving for America to see everyone.
"I guess we have some rescheduling to do," Imanu says, grinning because he won't have to do a speech.
Iqadi laughs behind her smile as she kisses him again.
-o-
James's Penthouse - Upper East Side - 9:17 AM
James isn't sure what's happened in the last twenty-four hours. His girlfriend moved in, the next few hours were a blur, she unpacked (which wasn't much since a lot of her stuff was already here), and it was another blur into the night. Now, he's on the balcony on the phone with his dad while she's baking in the kitchen with the ants as sous-chefs. It feels normal, although she's baking early in the morning as if this is their daily routine. Their daily routine. It's been one day.
"I know what she's doing," James whispers in the phone, looking over his shoulder to make sure Angela wasn't listening. She looks preoccupied with the mixer. "She wants me to pop the question."
Hank: How does her moving in prove that?
"Living together is a trial run for marriage."
Hank: Cohabitation is an alternative to marriage, even common-law relationships.
James pauses. They're basically married. "Ah, shit I'll never win this."
Hank: Then just propose.
"Right before the wedding of two of my best friends? Has Mom taught you nothing?"
Meanwhile, Angela glances at the balcony where she sees James talking on the phone. When her dough is mixed, she stops the machine and takes out the bowl. She decided to bake because she needed something familiar to steady her nerves. It makes people happy and she loves seeing that. There's nothing wrong with the right pie.
James comes back inside and ditches his phone on the counter.
"Can you pass me some flour?" Angela asks him.
To her surprise, James hands her a bouquet. Angela has more questions than answers as she stares at the arrangement of red and pink tulips with lavender.
"When did you get those?" Angela asks, still staring at the flowers.
"I flew downstairs when you weren't looking," James responds, setting the flowers down. He'll get a vase later. "There's a vendor outside."
"How's this pie?"
James looks over to a cooling rack where a beautiful and fresh apple pie sits. There's a slice already missing since she already had one, claiming it to be breakfast. He loves this woman. He takes a fork out of the drawer and cuts off a piece where she took her slice. James takes a bite and notices her waiting for his opinion so eagerly. He took a peek at the recipe before he went out to call his dad and only wondered what the hell a canola was.
James clears his throat after he swallows. "Well, to be honest…" He notices her brows immediately wrinkle in worry. "It's great."
Angela smacks him on the arm as he laughs. He really loves this woman. Before he could say something, he hears a knock on the door and walks over. Once he opens it, he sees Daniel.
"Wow, it smells nice in here," Daniel says. "Are you baking?"
"Angela is," James responds as they walk into the kitchen to her. "She moved in yesterday."
"That was unexpected."
"I would've called you but… I'll just stop talking."
Daniel nods, knowing where that was going and didn't want to go there. "Good call. Anyways, this is from me and Emily."
Daniel pulls out a card from his jacket's inside pocket. Angela walks around the kitchen counter to look at it beside James. They read through the pretty cursive before erupting into screams and hugging Daniel tightly, even the ants are rejoicing.
-o-
Merida's Apartment - Manhattan - 10:27 AM
Merida woke up on her bed, instantly remembering that Blake took her couch. He refused her bed because they'd be moving too fast and he's a gentleman (his words, not hers) and when she said she would take the couch while he took her bed, he refused again because he's a gentleman (his words, she didn't care enough to argue). So that was their arrangement. She slept in her bed and he took her couch. In her studio apartment, they're in the same space but half a wall divides the two. Besides, in terms of being a good host, he got the comfier of the two pieces.
Merida peeked over the edge and saw him still asleep. She quickly got ready and slipped out. She thought that she should get some edible food to add some points to her good host score. Merida wondered if she should've woken up and told him she'd be back soon, but she didn't want to be rude or deal with his annoying charm this early when her stomach's empty and her mind non-caffeinated. Besides, it's not like she had his phone number to text him so he'd read it when he woke up. She'd be back quickly.
Merida locks her door and walks down the main hallway. She's lucky her dad gave her a corner unit so she'd only deal with one weird neighbour across from her and one down the hall, rather than being sandwiched by them. Merida hears the elevator open and makes a sprint for it, stopping when she sees Emily step out.
"How did you get in?" Merida asks as the doors close behind her. Her fingers are secretly crossed, hoping that Emily doesn't ask to visit her. At least Emily didn't make it to her door, especially if she wasn't there and Blake opened it.
"Your dad was downstairs," Emily responds. "He let me in."
Merida nods, pretending not to be freaking out. She'd have to make her quest for food shorter and at top speed. "Does he know I'm here?"
"I think he does since we're all back in town. Why would he think you weren't?"
Merida shrugs. "I stayed with them for a night and he probably thought I'd go back to work. I should use the fire escape. Anyways, what are you doing here?"
"Personally delivering wedding invitations."
Emily hands her an off-white one-sided card with a black ribbon border and the fanciest cursive written across it. Merida holds it delicately, afraid she might devalue it just by looking at it. She looks it over and can't believe any of it is real.
"This is the most expensive thing I own and wow that date is soon," Merida states. Her friends are getting married. Shit.
Emily smiles at her. "Save the date. All other details will follow."
"Wow, that's five days."
"I'm crossing my perfectly manicured fingers out of excitement! And luck because we still have a lot of planning to do."
"You need a dress."
"And a location."
"And a cake with plates and all that crap. I'm never dealing with all that."
"I have faith in you."
Merida doesn't react because she doesn't want to give anything away. She's off her game, feeling like she's about to be busted for something Emily probably wouldn't even think about. However, Merida can't help but have a hunch that Emily senses a boy in her apartment. But she's just being paranoid. Emily's a woman with a thousand things in her mind at every second but she wouldn't think of that, would she?
-o-
Rogers House - Brooklyn - 3:24 AM
Sigyn wakes up in Xavier's room. She's in the dark and alone. She stretches her arm to feel beside her and the space where Xavier was is cold. He's been gone for a while. Her body is arched like a comma. She's like an unfinished sentence in the middle of a pause. She slept under their roof without interruption. Not even hearing Xavier move beside her or get up. She felt comfortable, safe. For a moment, she was asleep for so long that she forgot she was alive.
Sigyn gets up and puts on her clothes minus her shoes. She steps out of his room and walks down the stairs. She hears someone in the kitchen and is about to call Xavier's name but stops when she sees his mother turn around and smile softly at her. At first, Sigyn isn't sure if she should go back upstairs or disappear in a snap of her fingers but she takes a seat at the kitchen island. She figures it'd be better if she lets Xavier's mom start the conversation because she doesn't know what to say after eight years and coming back like this.
"You look like you've been crying," Peggy says.
Sigyn touches her face, feeling a bit puffy. She should've looked in the mirror before coming downstairs. "Jet lag is just messing with me."
Peggy doesn't buy it and neither does she. "Dear, when was the last time you properly slept?"
"Does being unconscious count?"
"No."
"Probably eight years ago. As the years went on, Midgard gradually began to feel distant, almost a place in my imagination."
"Sigyn, darling, things will be better from here on out."
"You believe that?"
"I do. You're happier now, aren't you?"
Sigyn smiles after reflecting on that question for a bit. "I think so."