At the point of me writing this chapter, I finally took another break. It got me to finish planning the season where I will take another hiatus. More on that when we get there.
Chapter #205: Why Matter Exists
Yesterday - Nidavellir
The mines were immediately silenced once Apollo walked in and removed the hood of his cloak. The hushed whispers of the shocked dwarfs stilled as they stared up at him awestruck. Never did they expect to have Asgard's Champion walk on their land, granted that they crafted his weapon for the Norns to gift to him and then Mjölnir centuries before. They expected him even less when they heard rumours of his descent into madness after learning about his Fate. His father stopped by during those years for help but the dwarves couldn't be of any assistance.
All the dwarfs part, cleaning a path for their head to greet him as they wonder why Asgard's Champion is present and unannounced. Apollo bows his head.
"You know your fate," the head dwarf starts, turning his head to look at the centre star that gives power to its weapons, "you know your role in your final battle. Is that why you're here?"
"I'm making preparations," Apollo responds. He takes a deep yet calm breath before a storm simmers in his brain. "Still have a lot to finish first."
"A weapon is no good without a mighty warrior or even a hero, a Champion, call it what you will. The terms are interchangeable. Swords are mostly blunt and axes chop down trees"
The dwarf ignores Apollo's glare.
"Or heads," he corrects. "What can I do for you, my Prince?"
"I need a replication."
"Direct copy?"
"Personalized." Apollo places a ring in the dwarf's palm. "One fit for your queen. Allow my assistance to design."
The whispers grow within the mines as Apollo keeps a neutral expression. He hopes word doesn't get out. Nobody knows he's here and he isn't sure how long it will be.
"Be sure to send a message to the palace when you're finished," Apollo orders. "A direct line to me. Say nothing unless I'm on the receiving end. Nobody can know yet."
-o-
Present Day - Stark Towers - 9:09 AM
Apollo didn't think he'd ever be in the room during a battle of the scientists, but here he is. He brought his mother so she could get her to say on the matter, bad choice of words, the moment they heard from Sigyn that Iqadi and Imanu were flying in to settle some, again, matters. He heard that they debated on Kili's homework on matter and wanted outside opinions from different fields.
Still, it enlightens him to see everyone so vibrant. Iqadi and Imanu stand their ground by the bar, bodies close to each other. He's happy to see that, during his seven-year absence, they've grown more in love with each other. Even he got to know Imanu better since he's only met him twice before he left for Asgard. Now they stand as their own team in this multifaceted debate.
Next to them are Hank and James. Although they came to the event separately, they sat next to each other at the bar. Apollo couldn't think of a time that wasn't a formal event where he saw them together and standing beside each other. Maybe it was that James was finally going to resign from SHIELD and work for his dad since he completed his dissertation in his father's field, but Apollo notices the two men look so much alike.
Emily stands with Daniel, his parents, and her father. A beautiful mess of PhDs in overlapping fields and more dissertations than people. Their combined IQ is a strong force.
As the scientists and geniuses discuss matter, Apollo stands to the side with Angela, Janet, and Pepper. He's cleverly named them as Team Doesn't Matter. The three women are on their phones, not bothered and uninterested. Eight years ago, he wouldn't have cared either, but he loves seeing the passionate banter with words bigger than he could comprehend even if he tried.
Apollo isn't even sure how much time went by but now James is standing on the bar, arms up, bouncing on his toes and ready to fight Bruce.
"You think you're smarter than me because you have more degrees?" James asks, ready to throw hands.
"I'm smarter than you in any case," Bruce responds without faltering.
James pulls back, lowering his fists. "And to think I referenced your works in all my lab reports."
He jumps down from the countertop as the conversations continue. Diagrams are pulled up and rotated, arm gestures and fingers point to emphasize their words. Apollo doesn't understand how this isn't entertaining to the women beside him, but his guess is that they're used to it.
"Hey," Apollo says, leaning closer to Angela. "Can I make this debate worse?"
Angela clicks her phone off. "Please."
"Entertain us," Janet says.
"I was waiting for you to do something," Pepper adds.
Apollo smiles, clearing his throat to get everyone's attention. "Where does matter come from?"
Silence. All heads turn to him, blank expressions but he knows the gears in their heads are turning. He hears muffled snickering from behind him and a grin grows on his face. He catches his mother's eye and he can't tell if she's proud or pissed at him.
"Iqadi and Imanu will probably argue that their Panther God created matter," Tony says.
Iqadi narrows her eyes as she looks at him. "Excuse me-"
Imanu holds up his hand in front of Iqadi, cutting her off. "Isn't science as a whole your religion?"
Emily and Pepper laugh the loudest as Apollo cheers for him. As their debate returns to the dramatics they had before their interruption, Apollo smiles contently as he turns to see Angela eyeing him.
"Why are you even here?" Angela asks him.
"Excuse you, I live here," Apollo argues.
"Haven't been for a while. Do you need a place to crash?"
"Fair. But no on the crashing since I'm heading home after this fiasco. I came to accompany my mother and ask Sigyn something. Do you know where she is?"
"She's your sister."
"Yours too."
Angela smiles. "Check with my brother. Our brother, I should say."
-o-
Xavier (and Sigyn's) Apartment - 11:10 AM
Apollo didn't know why he was surprised to see Sigyn opening the door of her apartment, wearing casual leggings, a baggy half-zip she stole from Xavier since it had SHIELD Academy's emblem on the chest, and mismatched socks. She lets him in and Apollo notices the shoes lined up at the door. Sets of running shoes and converses. A pile of unopened mail on a door side table beside a bowl of keys. He can tell which are hers because they're newer and shinier. Fresh copies.
There's chatter coming from the kitchen. He catches his name exchanged between Sigyn and Xavier's mouths.
It's like a utopia, probably the life Sigyn's dreamt about for the longest time. A sense of normalcy. He suddenly feels like he's interrupting before he closes the door and Xavier walks out to see him. His brother, as his wedding vows and Angela have said.
Apollo clears his throat. He starts talking to avoid being asked if he's okay because he isn't sure how he feels, which would make everything worse for him because they'd be more concerned.
"Xavier, thank god you never went into STEM," Apollo says. "The nerds were arguing over matter or whatever."
"Who won?" Xavier asks.
"I honestly don't know. It's still going on," Apollo looks at Sigyn. "What are you doing a few days from now?"
"Grocery shopping or something?" Sigyn glances at Xavier. "Why?"
"The one time you don't decide to show up to Asgard and bother me is when you want to go grocery shopping?"
Sigyn narrows her eyes at him. "You didn't give me an exact day."
He pauses. "… I don't have an exact day."
Sigyn tosses a dishrag on the counter before looking at Apollo again. "Okay, so what are we doing?"
Apollo looks at Xavier and Sigyn who wait for his answer and he laughs nervously. "Asgard business."
Sigyn eyes him and looks at Xavier who puts his hands up.
"I'm not making decisions for you," Xavier states.
"I thought you as my husband were supposed to protect me?" Sigyn responds with a tad of sarcasm in her voice. "Asgard business sounds like sketchy shit."
"Which is why you're getting involved. I'll do the grocery shopping or something."
"You just want me to tell you about it afterwards."
"It sounds like it matters."
Xavier grins, waiting for her to get it. It takes her a moment but then her expression glowers. He laughs, kissing the side of her head. Apollo nods approvingly.
"Gods, you sound like those STEM nerds," Sigyn cringes. "You and your dad jokes can shut up." She looks at Apollo again. "Come back to me in a few days with your Asgard business and then we'll talk. For fairness, I would've said yes at the start."
"Apollo, since you're here, do you have some other Asgard business tomorrow?" Xavier asks.
Apollo shakes his head. "No, why?"
"Well, since Imanu's here discussing matter and I think Blake's flying in…"
Xavier's voice trails off, his mouth grinning. Apollo pieces together how he would finish that thought off and mirrors his face. Sigyn's eyes dart between them and she groans.
"Oh, gods…" She says, leaning her head back.
"Oh gods, indeed," Apollo says excitedly.
I'm so fucking excited for the next chapter.