You're in luck cause I'll be finishing this arc and updating it by the end of the year!

Intersession: New Old Places

Two Years Ago - Asgard

Apollo's had so many vividly frightening dreams that awake him so much that he's lost track of the days, the nights, and when he'd last slept. Time's passed by so oddly for him that he can't focus on a single second.

But this vision of some sort that he just had? It left him so shaken that he was just sitting up in bed. His eyes always flicker to the shadows the moon outside cast to objects in his room. If that's the goddamned— no, he must remain calm. Freya's asleep peacefully next to him. He cannot wake her again, he can't. Despite his nightmares causing him to scream so much that his throat strains, tears burn his eyes, his chest constricts, and, in most extreme cases, the palace staff and guards burst in thinking they're being attacked - If only they could help fight the demons plaguing his mind, but he's alone in all this - the most painful sight is seeing Freya burst awake and try to calm him after he's scared her.

He has never felt safer with her because he trusts her with his life; meanwhile, he invoked fear into her and yet she's still here. It's not out of duty, but her love for him. She says he didn't put any fear in her, but he's not that deluded.

Still, this dream or nightmare (he doesn't know exactly), was different because it was a distant memory of when life was easier but he thought it was over.

He was walking the streets of the neighbourhood where he once resided as a teenager. He was so preoccupied with the 180 his life recently turned that although he had his headphones in, no music was playing. He didn't even notice that Emily and Daniel pulled over on the side of the street, got out of the car, and were looking at him with concern. They were still in a dress and suit, so young, having come straight from the school dance and shocked to see him. He bailed on that cause he couldn't think he could fake a smile and pretend everything was alright when his life went downhill.

And what he told his friends was that he would go to Asgard. And he did. It ended up being a screaming match with his father. He doesn't even remember what he said, but it resulted in them both coming back to Midgard, arguing in the living room with his mother close by until Apollo slammed the door (not too much that it broke off its hinges … couldn't have that happening again) — and then he was fuming down the streets.

"What the hell?" Emily stated, "I thought you were in Asgard."

"I was," Apollo responded, "just came back with my dad."

His father also wanted to make sure that his new cousin was settling in well. And, sure, she was. After being in hiding for a month and screaming every other night from her own nightmares, she was at the school dance with his best friend all giddy and in love. Meanwhile, he went to Asgard to lose his mind over her existence. So, sure, everything went damn well because she was okay.

"And now you're just wandering the streets?" Daniel asked.

Apollo nodded. He would've waited for his new dear cousin to come home but he didn't care. He needed to get out of the house she now lived in.

"Do you want a ride or -?"

"Thanks for the offer but I'm good."

"You sure?" Emily asked.

"Yes."

"You really sure?"

" … yes. "

Apollo couldn't meet Emily's eyes but he caught his hesitation. It wasn't the ride he wanted. If only he could tell her and everyone else what he's been through in the past … how long has it been since Britney Braun knocked on his door and found out they were cousins?

"Are you going crazy?" Emily asked, stepping closer to him.

"I am not going crazy. I can't go crazy. I cannot and will not go down that way!"

"Apollo, just because you're a fighter on Asgard, doesn't mean you have to deal with whatever this is all alone," Daniel told him.

Opposing the oldest ideology of what makes the prime warrior, Apollo wanted to burst out crying right then and there. But he only nodded, forcing a small smile that he knew they saw through because they were his best friends. He didn't need a solution because nothing needed a resolution. He just needed to vent, to cry, to have someone be on his side. Knowing someone's darkest secrets is a burden no one should ever have to carry on their own. He couldn't even trust Britney Braun in their shared secret because he doesn't know her and, to be frank, doesn't want to know her.

"That's the thing— I'm not alone. I mean, it may look like I'm alone and, guys, I really want to tell you but you have to trust me right now. It's not just my world that's changed and I'm having trouble considering that."

"Your world does revolve around you," Emily states. "That's what makes it your world."

"If only the world really worked like that."

"Hey, listen to me. You've been down before, you've been hurt before, you've gotten up before. You'll be good to go and we'll all be here."

Apollo forgot the thought leading up to hugging Emily, but his arms were suddenly around her … until she disappeared.

Then he became aware it was a dream. Even Daniel and his neighbourhood vanished into the void and he was awake, lying on his back in his bed on Asgard, empty arms. If only he could hug Emily Stark now…

If only he could go back to the days when his biggest problem was Britney Braun as his cousin, the cousin he had before Sigyn Lokisdottir. He doesn't know her anymore.

-o-

Present Day - Angela's Apartment, Manhattan - 21:03

After a long day, Angela Rogers has finally moved into her first apartment. Was the place cleaned down? Perfectly. Were things unpacked? Not all of them. But did she and her girls: Emily, Merida, Orchid, Victoria, Naomi, and Iqadi help so much so that they only had to take one trip with all her stuff? Yes. Did Emily bring bottles of champagne and glasses for them to celebrate? That was all she did to help, but it was the most important role. So now the bottles were popped and drinks were fizzed, toasts shared as they sit on taped boxes and makeshift chairs.

"This is so much nicer than the apartments in Alumni Residence," Naomi says. "Those are some crusty rooms."

Alumni Residence was a building reserved for graduates — newly minted agents — who were still on campus for various reasons. There were co-ed, single suites, private bathroom and kitchen alongside with potential issues with plumbing and weird stains from the well-lived-in walls and floors. Tuition was changed for rent because The Academy knew that even the fresh agents now had income.

Naomi was still a student finishing off her Sci-Tech program, but since she graduated Communications, she was granted a place after being on the waitlist. She was next door to James who helped her move in. He was here "working for Prof Nine" and "finishing his PhD" since he wasn't cleared for the field yet. She knew that Xavier and Daniel were assigned to separate floors upstairs and Keith was near the ground floor. If rumour had it right, Xavier got a room on the top floor since he was the Residence Director and supervised all the residence buildings which had an office (that he would never be using cause he hates paperwork, according to Angela). Victoria was down the hall from Naomi and as much as the girls love their personal and private space, they missed living together in a tiny dorm.

"Yeah, I offered to get Daniel a place because those rooms were sadder than the dorm he shared with James," Emily says. She shudders, sipping her champagne. "I'm shocked James didn't bother getting something."

Angela shrugs. "I don't think he'll be on campus for much longer anyways. He might get cleared for the field at some point."

"My crusty apartment there is merely a storage unit 'cause I'll be floating around," Victoria mutters.

"I was rooting for you to be homeless, not gonna lie," Merida tells her.

"I still can't believe I moved back home," Orchid sighs. "I actually missed Tennessee, I won't lie. They have me stationed at the SHIELD base right on the border between Kentucky and my state which is so convenient for me."

"I'm still waiting to hear from my research position in the general portal," Naomi says. "My application was accepted and they're looking to match me but god help me if there's no match."

Emily clears her throat. "If you need me to continue funding—"

"Stark, you've done more than enough and I'll forever be grateful."

They clink glasses and sip through small laughs.

"Sometimes Imanu and I go to his parents' house to escape my parents," Iqadi mutters.

"You escape one set of parents to the other," Angela states.

"The difference is that I adore his parents and he still fears my father. We've been married for four years."

"Have you seen your father? He is terrifying."

Emily raises her glass. "Do what I do to escape my parents."

"Not all of us have the luxury of escaping to other countries on a whim. Some of us have responsibilities."

Emily glares at her. "I have a thesis to write and defend this coming year. I have responsibilities as well."

"Ew," Merida says.

"I'm starting the PhD right after and helping my parents out with Stark Industries."

"Double and triple ew." Merida pours herself another glass as Emily and Iqadi cheers.

"Barton, Rogers, we're likely stuck at a desk for at least a year," Victoria says. "Or, at least I am more than you two."

"Don't remind me." Merida sips straight from the bottle.

"Yeah, forget all that," Angela frowns.

Orchid scoffs. "Oh please, that's the easy stuff. I could and will do it in my sleep."

-o-

Professor Nine's Office, SHIELD Academy, New Jersey - 21:11

James knew something was strange when Prof Nine told him to send out an emergency memo. He'd already grown accustomed to doing Prof Nine's administrative tasks. He enjoyed taking phone calls and chatting off-topic with whoever called, filling in Nine's schedule around his classes, answering emails, and fetching and sorting mail. Sometimes, he did stuff not listed in his work contract like take over Nine's office hours or fulfilling some TA duties, all alongside doing the literature review for his long-overdue PhD.

James was sitting in Nine's office, helping himself to a White Claw that Nine has in his office's mini-fridge when the office phone started ringing. It was too late for any business calls, even those coming from overseas, so James was confused when he picked up the phone. He was even more shocked to see Prof Nine on the other end.

Prof Nine: I'm driving to campus now. Send an emergency memo to Dr. BV, Agent Vander, Agent Iyu, Agent Moore, Dr. Banner, and Not Your Girlfriend Agent Rogers. You're supposed to get one too but you're hearing it from me. Mark it as a high priority. Set up a meeting.

"Okay…" James mutters, quickly logging into Prof Nine's computer. "What's the memo for?"

Prof Nine: Fury's showing up to talk.

"Nice," James states. "I'll send it out in a few."

James ends the call and starts crafting the best message possible: Drop everything and run to Prof Nine's office. Fury's paying a visit. No rescheduling, no excuses. White Claws will be provided :)

Ten minutes later, Xavier and Daniel walked into Prof Nine's office together. Given that they both live on campus, they probably dropped whatever they were doing to head over. James could tell that Xavier was probably in the middle of some stupid residence life task that he was thrilled to leave for this mysterious meeting.

"Hello, boys," James greets, "I see you got my message. White Claw?"

"What are you doing in Nine's office?" Daniel asks.

"I basically live here while Nine does whatever," James responds. "How's Imanu doing?"

"I left him watching some trashy reality television when I got this memo. We should all do something this weekend, maybe invite Keith since the girls are doing who knows what in Manhattan."

"Do you know what Fury wants?" Xavier asks as he opens a White Claw for himself and passes another to Daniel. "It has to be something about going into the field."

James shrugs just as they start hearing murmurs of voices. The words blend in with growing arguments. They hear their names and Fury's mixed in there, knowing that it's their SOs talking about this emergency meeting that Fury wanted in the middle of the night. Their conversations stop once they approach Prof Nine's office and see the boys. Once drinks are passed out, Fury walks in. For the most part, they nod their heads except James who waves and offers him a drink … that he doesn't react to so James keeps it to himself.

"Now that we're all here," Fury starts, closing Nine's office door. "Would someone care to explain why those three are assigned to The Academy next year?"

He points at James, Xavier, and Daniel, who all look at their respective SO.

"You knew Banner wouldn't go into the field regardless," BV argues first. "His psych evaluation recommended he not proceed that way as of now or ever."

"That was a recommendation you made, Dr. BV," Fury responds, "and last I checked, you weren't qualified to make those calls."

"Yeah, and that his psychologist confirmed those calls I wasn't qualified to make." She shoots him a glare through her thick red-rimmed glasses. "Besides, he'll be the lead assistant researcher on my upcoming project and he's the most competent TA I've ever had. I'm not changing my mind, you can't change anything administratively, and you're not my boss."

Before Fury could interrupt, BV downs the rest of her White Claw, recycles the can, and leaves the office without another word.

"She's so cool," James whispers to Daniel.

"I know," Daniel responds. He isn't sure if he could leave with her, but he stays standing with Xavier against the wall. A part of him also wants to know how this meeting will end, especially since he knows Xavier will be a diva about some things specifically involving the field.

Nine raises a hand. "Actually, Director Fury, the Academy barred me from signing off on Cadet Pym since he hasn't finished his PhD."

Fury narrows his eye. "Since when was that a goddamn rule?"

"Since Cadet Pym failed to complete his PhD."

Fury's glare turns to James and he smiles.

"I'm on sabbatical," James says.

"Shut the fuck up."

"Fine. I was working on a chapter but had to put that on hold for this meeting. So, really, the only person you can blame for this is yourself."

Fury ignores him and his stupid grin as he turns to Vander. "You'd better have a damn good reason for Rogers."

Vander crosses his arms. "Don't question my judgment, Fury. They might've had your funding, but Rogers is my subordinate."

"If I may interject, I would question his judgment," Xavier pipes in.

The room falls silent as the higher-ranking adults turn to face Xavier who only stares at his supervising officer. Daniel and James glance at each other, failing to hide grins. Vander looks at Xavier, piercing eyes that the boys recognize well. Keep your mouth shut, boy. They know Xavier isn't a grudge-holding type, but they'd be lying if they said Xavier wasn't bothered by not being cleared for the field and stationed at The Academy, of all places, and director of five residence buildings and campus life. Especially since Angela got cleared for the field in a heartbeat and he got mad at Vander.

Agent Iyu clears her throat. "Director Fury, I'm happy to share my report with you, although you already know the news. Since I'm remaining at the Academy and still in charge of Agent Kovanova while she awaits a final placement, Agent Barton will be under Agent Moore's watch with Agent Rogers. Barton is still my cadet, though, and she sends me debriefs against her will."

"And, Director," Agent Moore adds, "I'm still awaiting further intel and logistics before making the call, but it looks like my Agent Rogers will be sent on her first assignment soon."

And we will be getting that mission in a few chapters!

Emily's Counterpart - Chapter 38: Floral Royalty