So by now, I finished revamping everything. For those of you who are curious, the only arcs that had major changes are: The Kleptomaniac, African Storms, and Symbiosis. All the other arcs had minor changes and some name changes.

Chapter 136: Back to Midgard We Go

Asgard

Despite growing up on Midgard and having his best friends there, he felt more comfortable on Asgard. The prophecy had a factor that sent him back here but he also has his parents and Freya. His mind feels at ease although he's still jumpy at the thought of Ragnarök and The Midgard Serpent waiting to eat his realm. If it's all in his control, then he has nothing to worry about, right? He can't answer his questions. He doesn't know which ones to ask. Apollo thinks that now's the time to work it out, find all the answers he needs without throwing a fit or cowering in fear.

Maybe now he can think of a way out.

"Why didn't you go to Hela?" Apollo asks. "Is it because she's involved or because of my birth?"

"I knew Hela wouldn't help," Thor responds. "Look at what she did to you, Sigyn, and Freya while you were there."

"And Xavier."

"And Xavier. Look, Apollo, I'll continue to find a strategy but if you can't win, you can find alternatives to fighting."

"We've tried for years. My best solution is not to start it but I don't know how I would start it so that's a bust."

"Yes but now you're thinking straight."

Apollo can't argue with that. He can now talk about his death without screaming.

Thor puts a hand on his shoulder. "Nobody is the same person after they've seen what they're meant to be. Calmness and strength, two things I feared you lost, are slowly coming back."

Apollo nods. "I agree."

"Stay on Midgard for a bit, until after the wedding, at least. You can't be stressed about Ragnarök anymore or else you're giving it more power. Let that Serpent know it's your realm and you're back to protect it."

"But it's The Midgard Serpent. Isn't it his realm more than mine? It's been there longer than I have and it's literally in its name."

"But you were better on Midgard."

Apollo scoffs. "I didn't have any memories. That doesn't count."

"Odin banished me without powers and I came back a better man."

"Wait, you're seriously banishing me?"

"Without the dramatic flair and you can keep everything."

"This isn't fair! I'm telling Mother."

"It was your mother's idea." Thor smiles at his frustrated son. "You have until tonight or else I will be dramatic about it."

-o-

When nobody responded to her knocks, Freya slowly opens the door and peeks into Apollo's room. She sees him asleep with his back facing her so she steps inside and closes the door behind her. Freya walks inside, sitting at the edge of the bed. She's slow, cautious because she isn't sure when she last saw him slept because she only remembers the constant night terrors.

"I just wanted to say that I love you too," Freya says to him. "I never responded to you in Hel when you were bleeding out because…because I don't think I've ever said those words to anyone I wasn't related since they all died."

To her surprise, Apollo turns around. Freya almost falls off the bed but stands up, staring in shock as Apollo sits up against the bed frame.

"Really?" Apollo questions. "Years?"

"How long were you awake?"

"I wasn't asleep."

"Have you been getting any sleep?"

"Yes, in between my nightmares."

Freya gives him a face as Apollo smiles at her. It doesn't help.

"Back to what you started with because I'm not letting you leave that alone," Apollo says, "I think a reason I never pursued you was because my gut was telling me that I could never have you. I'm destined to die."

"I should've done more," Freya responds.

"Same for myself. You deserve better so I'll become better. For starters, do I have anger issues?"

"No because you can fix issues."

Apollo narrows his eyes at her small laughter. It's funnier because she's serious. It's through a pained smile that still radiates joy. Love isn't magical. It can't transcend time and space or fix anything. It's just love. Maybe he subconsciously knew that it's better never to have something so that he'd never lose it. Some people weren't meant to be together. They were meant to be great.

"Look, I got banished to Midgard," Apollo tells her.

"When do you leave?" Freya asks, raising a brow.

"When the sun goes down, I guess. Why?"

"I'll need time to pack a bag."

-o-

Rogers House - Brooklyn - 15:58 PM

Sigyn was surprised to see Freya show up to Xavier's house just for her, even more so when Freya was wearing Midgardian clothes. Sigyn didn't ask where Freya got the jeans, sneakers, or varsity jacket but they look like clothes she once owned. Her guess is that Freya found the Midgardian clothes Sigyn had stored away somewhere but Sigyn just made the ones she's been wearing with magic.

"So," Sigyn starts as they sit out on the front porch together. "How's Apollo?"

"He's taking all this better than I thought," Freya says, "maybe it's the comfort of the wedding coming up. Jane thought that banishing Apollo would help and I agree but Ragnarök is still going to be his focus."

"Well, yeah, it's literally his reason to be alive."

"Sigyn…"

"What? It's true. The Norns said so."

Freya sighs. "The Norns only have one goal. Apollo seems better now but his parents think he'll spiral again."

"Do you think he will?"

Freya sadly nods. "Unfortunately, I do. I think you will too."

Sigyn keeps quiet. Now that Apollo is stabilizing, she feels like she's going to lose it. Now that Freya said to her that she sees another breakdown coming, it doesn't make her feel better. She appreciates that someone won't deny it to her but she just didn't want to hear it. Sigyn tries to keep a neutral expression not to give anything away, unsure if it was working since Freya's face didn't shift.

"If you're going to die, you have to live first…and then you could die knowing you lived a life," Freya tells her.

Sigyn scoffs, smiling a little. "Easy for you to say. Wait, what are you doing here?"

"Thor banished Apollo here and we are, as he phrased it, crashing at James and Angela's."

"Wait, since when were they living together?"

Freya shrugs.

-o-

James's Penthouse - Upper East Side - 16:18 PM

James sat through Apollo explaining his banishment and Xavier reconnecting with Sigyn. He glances at Angela and is glad that she looks like she's paying attention attentively. There was just too much going on and he could only stare at his beautiful girlfriend, knowing that she'll recap everything for him later.

"Our eunuch is free!" James exclaims, happy for Xavier.

He wasn't sure if that was appropriate to say but Angela's giving him a disapproving head shake, Xavier's turning red, and Apollo pretends he didn't hear him but he did. He isn't one to laugh but it's still funny.

James clears his throat. He remembers half-hearing Apollo talk about how he acted on Asgard, especially towards Sigyn. "Look, you reacted like a dick but that doesn't mean you are a dick. There's a difference."

Apollo nods skeptically. "Isn't optimism a good thing? I mean, come on Angela, I'm talking to you of all people."

"Your optimism resulted in delirium," Angela responds.

Apollo can't argue that. "I wasted seven years of my life, and Sigyn's life."

"Seven years is nothing if you could live for seven thousand," James says.

"If I even get another seven thousand."

"Let's forget about that for a minute because you have a minute. Look, Imanu's coming to town for Daniel's wedding and you're back. Our boy band is back together."

Of course, they wouldn't talk about death this way. Why would they do it any other way? They're young and focused on working and loving, and this mindset was before they knew about Ragnarök. Apollo notices that although they know about Ragnarök, they're still acting as if it wasn't coming by planning for a future that possibly won't be coming. A future caused by him. But this is how humans were, enjoy the best but prepare for the worst. Didn't his mother tell him that once? Death is a reward for having lived. He isn't sure why he doesn't understand that.

Apollo laughs a little as Xavier narrows his eyes. Those are the reactions James was expecting. Angela smiles to herself as she makes her way out, kissing James on the cheek.

"I'll let your boy band discuss its big reunion show," she says. "I'm calling it a night."

They say goodbye to her as she goes elsewhere in the penthouse.

"Are you sure that Daniel can find a way out of Ragnarök?" Apollo asks.

"He has three PhDs and a master's in medicine," Xavier responds. "I don't know how those will help but I'm sure he'll try to think of something after his wedding or even during. There's no limit to what he'll do for any of us, or what any of us will do for each other."

"Good that you mentioned that. Look, my father temporarily banished me from Asgard so I'll need a place…"

Apollo drifts off, looking at James who is paying attention again. He reads Apollo's face and is putting his foot down.

"Absolutely not," James states. "Angela just moved in and you ate all my food in the ten minutes that you've been here. Go live with Stark."

"She's planning a wedding."

"Xavier's right there! Live with him!"

"I'm staying with my parents for a bit and Sigyn's with me," Xavier says. He's happy that he didn't go back to his apartment.

James groans. "You ate all my food! Look, when I eat all my food, I'm sad that it's gone and then I'll have to wait until my next meal because I'm full. Now I don't have food for the next meal!"

"Freya accompanied me on my banishment," Apollo tells him. He knows that'll help. "She just went to check on Sigyn."

James's mind clicks once he heard that piece of information. As always with Freya, Apollo forgot to mention it the first time. "I'll go stock up! Have you had Pop-Tarts yet?"

"I think you gave me some when I first arrived but before then, I haven't had those in years."

James's jaw drops. "Are you serious?"

"They only reminded me of Midgard which, you know."

"I know. I'm buying every box in the store for Freya, not you … but you can have some."