Okay for the sake of my sanity, let's pretend that I took a bit of a break between writing the last chapter and starting this chapter. Let's not acknowledge it's only been about a day or two. I'm writing this in May 2021. The fourth anniversary hasn't even happened to me yet. [Publishing Me here to remark that we're only weeks away from the fifth anniversary].
Chapter 201: The Wedding Notice and Registry
[Addressee]:
We hope this letter finds you well.
You couldn't have been aware of the events upon receiving this letter but all activities and drills at Camp SHIELD on the date of this letter have been cancelled due to the unplanned and sudden event that unified the polarized programs … which was three weeks ago as you are receiving and reading this letter. All future events were played by ear but remained as close to the plan as possible.
We happily announce Dr. James Pym had the honourable privilege of marrying us, Captain Xavier Rogers and Sigyn Lokisdottir. The private ceremony was held on Camp SHIELD grounds, on the pier overlooking the lake in the sunset. It was nothing fancy but full of love, spangles, and box cake.
We regret not being surrounded by all our friends and family. It was bittersweet but we are more than thrilled to be married, and we appreciate all the well wishes and continued love and support sent our way. We will return home soon and will be more than elated to tell you all the details!
Attached you will find our wedding registry should you buy anything and many photos from the big day.
Signed,
Captain Xavier Rogers and Mrs. Sigyn Rogers
Camp Dad and Camp Mom
-o-
Camp SHIELD - 6:00 AM
It wasn't the sound of his alarm, the sun hitting his face through the window, or his wife hogging the sheets that woke Xavier up. It was James walking into his cabin, whistling while tapping his pen on his clipboard as he walks to the side of his bed. Xavier squints at James, wanting to deck him for barging in and not even being subtle. Lucky for him, Sigyn grabs her pillow and whacks James with it without even rising from under the sheets. James weakly blocks it with his clipboard as Sigyn laughs and brushes the hair out of her face as Xavier wraps his arm around her. She perks up, looking at James as she rests a hand on Xavier's chest.
"Morning newlyweds," James greets as he's been saying since the day after their wedding, "long days and longer nights I see. Out of all the years that I've known you two, I don't think I've ever seen you two tired. Anyways, there are pancakes in the cafeteria since I know you're both starving. Camp has finally come to an end which actually saddened some cadets, oddly, and we'll leave around mid-afternoon. I'll handle last-day activities which will probably be free time. You two take a day."
"Wow, James, thanks again," Xavier said.
"Oh, this is so you'll debrief to Vander since the man still scares me." James smiles down at them. "Please, you two just got married and it's been a blissful three weeks at Camp. I'm also so proud of you for finally getting laid at camp and it was by your new wife. Only you, Xavier, only you."
Sigyn laughs, pulling the sheets up as she rolls on her back. Xavier grabs another pillow and smacks James with it too hard it breaks his clipboard.
"I'm telling Vander," James says. "Or you will since you'll be debriefing. See you two when we leave."
James flies out their window and Xavier lies back. He turns over and sees that Sigyn isn't there anymore. She watches her come out of the bathroom fully dressed. Dark green athleisure and bright yellow Camp Mom windbreaker. Sigyn stands at the foot of their bed as she finishes tying her hair into a ponytail. She opens her hands exasperated as if he had magic to snap his fingers and be ready.
"Get dressed," she orders, "I want pancakes."
-o-
Hand-in-hand and in their windbreakers, Sigyn and Xavier walk into the cafeteria. Cadets are scattered all over, not restricted by program niches. They're talking and laughing over their pancakes, waving over at their camp parents as they pass. At their newlywed table that remained in its spot when the rest of the cafeteria was put back following the wedding reception, there was a stack of pancakes between their two seats. Around them were all the fixings Camp had to offer, which was just a sticky bottle of maple syrup, and sporks.
Sigyn takes the whole plate for herself. "Get your own serving, Xavier."
Xavier watches her in disbelief as she drowns the plate in syrup without a second thought. As the syrup drips down the sides of their pancake stack, she glances at him still standing there and staring at her.
"I see you're suffering so we'll share," she murmurs as she pushes the plate to the middle of the table.
"Sounds like a marriage to me," a cadet mutters as they walk by them to return a set of plates to the kitchen.
Xavier nudges them as Sigyn laughs. He takes a seat and puts his arm around her as she shoves an unexpected sporkful of drenched pancakes in his mouth. When he tries to kiss her cheek to get syrup on her face, she stabs him with the spork which breaks when it contacts his torso. She simmers into laughter with him as she closes her hands on the pieces to rebuild it with some magic.
"You think this is box mix?" Xavier whispers, leaning closer to her.
"I hope it is," she responds. "Where the hell would they get actual ingredients? I'm convinced they tapped a spile into some maple tree in the nearby Ohio Wilderness to get this syrup."
"And the eggs came from some feral chickens?"
"Now you're getting it. Hey, babe?"
"Yup?"
"Everything in the room except us is frozen."
"Yes, dear, I noticed."
Xavier and Sigyn look up from each other and their stack of pancakes. Cadets in the cafeteria have stopped moving. All their expressions paused mid-laugh or mid-sentence. Some were in the middle of walking, stopped with one foot in the air. Even the main doors were left half-opened. The last time this happened in Manhattan with Xavier was when Sigyn first showed up with Hela's fleet.
In sync, Sigyn jumps onto their table's bench, lighting her hands with bright spheres of magic at her fingertips. She glances at her husband who is standing on the ground holding a spork. She doesn't even try to keep a brave face and laughs. It even breaks Xavier's battle expression and he mutters for her to stop but she doesn't.
They hear footsteps come out of the kitchen behind them. Sigyn and Xavier turn around to see Loki strutting out of the kitchen eating leftover and three-week-old box cake with a spork. When he sees Xavier and Sigyn staring at him spooked but ready to fight, he grins and opens his arms.
"Look at the power couple," Loki states.
Sigyn lowers her hands and sits back down as Xavier tosses his spork on the table. He keeps his eyes on Loki as Sigyn goes back to eating pancakes.
"Charming place," Loki says as he looks around the cafeteria. "I caught some of the nature out the window and I see the appeal. This cake is questionable, though." He looks at Sigyn and Xavier who say nothing. "Why couldn't you use magic to make a cake?"
"Because, no," Sigyn responds, turning to face her father with a plastered smile. "What are you doing here?"
"I got your letter and photos. Very demanding registry, I might say. I heard Freya might send over some Asgardian linens but do act surprised. Just a heads up, Xavier, Apollo might beat you up the next time he sees you."
"Thanks but I'm more concerned about Angela," Xavier responds, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Can't blame you. Sigyn's told me she packs a punch." Loki nods, pointing his cake-covered spork at Xavier. "You look spooked."
"I am."
Xavier would consider this interaction as his first time officially meeting Loki. Technically, they first met during his high school graduation when Sigyn's mother attacked the event. Even then, Xavier and Loki didn't really meet. It was a quick conversation before they had to fight for their lives.
Xavier clears his throat as he circles the table to stand in front of the trickster. "Loki, if I may-"
Sigyn groans as she stabs her pancakes. "Gods, no."
Xavier ignores her. "I know it's late and probably not necessary but may I have your blessing?"
Loki is taken aback by Xavier's question, glancing at Sigyn who shrugs before facing him again. "You've been in her life longer and more prominent than me. I'm not even sure if she likes me."
"That's what I said," Sigyn states, taking Xavier's hand. "Xavier, keep quiet."
Loki grins as he takes another bite of the box cake. "Married for a few weeks and already disobeying the Mrs. when she's in the wrong, consider yourself blessed, Xavier."
Xavier smiles as Sigyn rolls her eyes. "Thank you."
"I'll make sure she doesn't leave you."
"She can't do that now. She promised and it's too much paperwork."
Loki laughs and Xavier joins in. Sigyn stares at their amicable interaction. As much as it warms her heart to see them get along, she loses her appetite.
-o-
SHIELD Academy - 15:43 PM
They returned to the Academy on a jet that had a small "just married" sign hanging from the back. Xavier and Sigyn were the last ones off, holding hands as their cadets applaud them in their windbreakers and the upper-years gawk in confusion. Xavier can't blame them because nobody would expect to see happy cadets upon return and chatting outside their program. Amongst their cheers is a mashup of the military alphabet and their new Camp SHIELD anthem.
As the cadets head back to the dorms to unpack, Xavier leads Sigyn across campus. Upper-years who know him or knew of him stare in shock. It has nothing to do with the happy first-year cadets returning from camp with smiles, it's the simple fact that he's holding a girl's hand on campus. Sure they were holding hands when they left the Academy to go to Camp but nobody was paying attention back then. And now he's holding his wife's hand. Upper-year cadets only laughed at the freshies who were about to embark on what was hell for them.
"So this is where you went to school?" Sigyn asks, looking around at all the buildings.
"Yes," Xavier responds, "but not all the upper-years look at you like you're in the Twilight Zone, though."
"I can hear your phone vibrating in your pocket."
Xavier hides his grin as he opens the door to Operations' faculty building for her. "You don't have a new phone yet so everyone is trying to call and message me now that we're back in civilization."
"Damn…" she mutters. "I should've put one on the registry. Out of all our wedding photos, I'm making the one James took of us with the just-married sign as my wallpaper. The one where he made us turn around and show our Camp Mom and Dad insignias."
"God, I love you. I know that we had three weeks to ourselves at Camp but I still have so much time to make up for."
"As do I." She kisses their linked hands.
Even when they walk down the faculty hallway, onlooking profs and agents have caught onto the different return from Camp. Like the upper-year cadets, the sight of happy first-years and Xavier with a girl is a mind-boggling reality.
They approach Agent Vander's door to report about Camp SHIELD and it's already open. Xavier knocks before he and Sigyn walk in to see Agent Vander reading their wedding notice.
"Don't remember planning a wedding but congratulations," he says, putting the letter down on his desk before smiling at the beaming newlyweds. He looks at Sigyn. "I knew something was up with you before I left Camp."
"Sir-" Xavier starts.
Vander holds up a hand to cut him off. "Talking with your Mrs., Rogers."
Sigyn clears her throat. "Called my orphanage, Sir? Found my file?"
"Only once I got back here. Even before we met in the cafeteria and way before I saw Rogers - Captain Rogers - I knew something was up."
"What are you talking about?" Xavier asks.
Vander laughs a little. "Boy, you were smiling. I've known you for about five years and I've never seen you happy let alone that happy. And at Camp of all places. You were always miserable showing up. I knew things would change when you asked permission to bring a girl but damn."
Xavier is speechless. He glances at Sigyn who's squeezing his hand.
"And you," Vander looks at Sigyn, "you got the boy to smile, Communications to play an active role in Camp, unified the programs - I even have some first-years asking if they could be counsellors in upcoming years. You're phenomenal. You really are a wizard, or so the cadets have been saying."
Sigyn nods, starting to love the idea of cadets thinking of her as a wizard. "Thank you, Sir."
Xavier puts his hand around her waist. "She really is. And, Sir, one more thing?"
"Name it," Vander states.
"Can we be assigned to Camp next year?"
Vander pauses, studying Xavier's genuine tone and Sigyn nodding when he looks at her. "Wow, she got Xavier to smile and to return willingly, begging for Camp."
Sigyn steps forwards. "Between us, Sir, the windbreaker really helped."
Vander laughs. "I was counting on that when the cadets told me they were getting him one. I assumed he was happy because of it but you helped it so much. Congrats to you more than him."
-o-
They're barely outside the building and in the parking lot when Xavier is tackled to the ground. Sigyn lights up her hands to retaliate but stops when she sees that it's only Angela. Only a guard or a sibling would attack someone in the middle of the parking lot.
"You really eloped without me and didn't tell me for three weeks!" Angela screams at Xavier as she throws punches at him from the ground. She tears the shield from his back and starts bashing him with it. "At Camp! By James!"
Angela pauses and takes a breath, turning around to face Sigyn with a sweet smile that doesn't look like it just beat up her twin in the parking lot. She stands up, shield in hand, and walks up to Sigyn while leaving Xavier on the ground. Sigyn isn't sure if she should stand defensively but Angela squeals before hugging Sigyn tightly and lifting her off the ground.
"Can't. Breathe!" Sigyn yells.
"Sorry, sorry," Angela says, putting her down and letting her gasp for air. "Oh my god, you're my sister!" She looks at Xavier who's still on the ground. "Screw you!"
Angela turns and sees James staring at the scene. He didn't expect to see her here and was probably looking for Sigyn and Xavier. The moment his girlfriend frowns at him, he shrinks and flies, and she throws the shield. To everyone's surprise, a portal shoots down from the sky. Sigyn immediately recognizes it as Asgardian so she has a hunch on who's coming and takes a step to the side.
Apollo lands on the ground with the shield in one hand and a fully-grown James in the other.
"I believe this is yours," Apollo says, passing James to Angela.
"I'll explain later, I promise," James whispers to Angela who's still glaring.
Apollo turns to Sigyn. "You said Camp was foraging in the wild! Not weddings! The palace was in an uproar when they read your letter! Mostly from me, but uproar!"
"I'm expecting a good gift from the registry," Sigyn says with a sour smile. "Don't get me linens, though."
Apollo ignores her as he walks up to Xavier who still hasn't gotten up. He hands him the shield which Xavier holds over his body and curls into since Loki told him Apollo would beat him up the next time he saw him. It didn't make Xavier feel safer that Apollo caused an uproar when he read the letter and then came shooting down to the Academy.
"Get up," Apollo orders despite pulling Xavier up himself as if he weighed nothing. Before Xavier could land on his feet, Apollo gives him the same bone-crushing hug Angela gave to Sigyn. "You were always my brother but now you really are!"
Xavier and Sigyn glance at each other. Just like their vows said: Through their new shared siblings, Angela and Apollo. And James. (And Freya).
I don't know when the next chapter will be up since this is literally the last one I have planned for now. The latest will be the fifth anniversary but I have a feeling I'll be back sometime before then.