The manor had never felt so alive.
The echoes of footsteps filled the marble halls as the Loid family officially moved into Alvin's estate, transforming the quiet, strategically fortified home into a hive of voices, clashing personalities, and familial chaos. The apocalypse raged outside, but inside these walls, the greatest threat was deciding who got which room.
Alvin stood with his arms crossed near the grand staircase, watching the family scatter like well-dressed, emotionally unstable pigeons.
"You're really letting them take over?" Luis whispered, stepping beside Alvin and holding a clipboard—Alvin had given him and Jax partial logistics authority, a decision he was only mildly regretting.
"They're my future in-laws," Alvin replied dryly. "I've fought demons, dragons, and an immortal lich king. But tell a wife she can't pick her own bedroom and suddenly you're the villain."
Luis nodded, scribbling something into the margins of the mansion's floor plan. "Aunt Sasha scares me."
"Smart," Alvin muttered.
Alvin stared at the family of Xavier and decided to become a good man in front of them for a while. He wants entertainment.
--
Sasha Loid stood in the hallway like a queen inspecting a new palace. Her sharp eyes took in the chandelier, the antique frames on the walls, the thick velvet curtains, and the marble statues in the corners.
"It's tasteful," she said. "A little cold, though."
Alvin, always respectful, bowed slightly. "If there's anything you want changed—"
Sasha held up a hand, silencing him.
"I'll handle the redecorating. You've done well enough for a single man."
Alvin, not quite sure if that was a compliment, merely nodded. "I'll leave it to your expertise."
Xavier approached from the hallway and wrapped an arm lazily around Alvin's shoulder. "See? He's already behaving like a good son-in-law."
Sasha raised an eyebrow. "Keep that attitude, and I might actually give my blessing for a spring wedding."
Alvin gave Xavier a sideways glance. "Should we be concerned she's negotiating your dowry in her head right now?"
"Too late," Sasha said with a smirk. "I already started that spreadsheet yesterday."
Alex Loid, ever the relaxed shadow to Sasha's storm, stepped beside her with his hands in his pockets.
"Wherever you sleep, my love, I shall follow," he said gallantly.
Sasha rolled her eyes but looked mildly pleased. "We're taking the master suite."
Alvin blinked. "Oh. That was… my room. But of course." He sighed slightly again, as a goodman. "I'll arrange for it to be cleaned and aired out. Please, make yourself comfortable."
Alex clapped him on the shoulder. "You're a good man."
Luis, watching the exchange, leaned toward Jax. "I think Sasha just claimed the throne."
Jax whispered, "I think we're her servants now."
--
Natasha Loid swept into the upstairs hallway and declared, "I shall take the sunlit room with the balcony!"
"That's four rooms claiming a view of the east garden," Luis muttered to himself, marking something on the clipboard.
Natasha entered the room, did a single twirl, and dropped her travel bag like a crown. "This shall be my recovery sanctuary. No loud noises. No intrusions. Only silk sheets and existential brooding."
From the hallway, Daniel's voice called out, "Do your existential brooding quietly, please. I'm taking the room next to yours."
Natasha opened the door and glared. "Creepy older brother much?"
Daniel stepped into view, carrying a book under one arm and a mug in the other. "It's called practicality. I'll be close in case you try to sneak out to find another toxic boyfriend."
She huffed. "I hate you."
"I'm warmed by your affection," Daniel replied calmly, walking past her and entering the room adjacent to hers.
Luis leaned over to Alvin as they watched. "How is it that these people survived this long without blowing up their own house?"
Alvin sighed. "Money. Lots of money. And probably pity from the gods."
--
Later that afternoon, as bags were being unpacked and the Loid chaos temporarily subdued by food and space claims, Alvin and Xavier finally walked toward their new room—formerly a spare guest room on the third floor, now chosen for privacy and peace.
"Are you really okay giving them your old room?" Xavier asked, glancing at Alvin.
"Would you like me to tell your mother no?" Alvin deadpanned. "Would you like to witness my death up close?"
Xavier laughed. "Touché."
The new room was still massive—high ceilings, antique furniture, bookshelves lining the walls, and a huge bed already made with dark navy sheets. Xavier collapsed backward onto the bed, spreading out like a cat soaking sunbeams.
"This bed's big enough for ten people."
"And you're already taking up 80% of it," Alvin replied, tossing a pillow at his face.
Xavier peeked over it. "Hey. At least I'm not a blanket thief."
"That's rich coming from someone who wraps around me like an anaconda every night."
Xavier grinned smugly. "What can I say? You're warm."
Alvin smirked and began unpacking his clothes into one of the ornate dressers. "We'll keep this room functional. No royal redecorating. I already had to surrender a suite to your mother. I'm not turning this place into Versailles."
"Boring," Xavier teased. "How about just a chandelier shaped like a dragon?"
Alvin tossed a sock at his head. "Get up and unpack your clothes."
--
Dinner was quiet—shockingly quiet. Mostly because Sasha had declared herself in charge of all meal rotations and had appointed Jax and Luis as her helpers.
"No explosions," Alvin whispered to Xavier. "I expected flames by now."
"You underestimate my mother's intimidation skills," Xavier whispered back. "Luis flinches every time she says 'garlic.'"
After dinner, the family spread out—Alex taking Sasha on a walk through the greenhouse, Natasha on the balcony journaling with a dramatic sigh every five minutes, and Daniel reading in the library with the door shut and a "do not enter unless you're bleeding" sign taped to it.
Alvin stood at the center of the hallway, hands on hips.
"I live with in-laws now."
Xavier appeared beside him and slipped an arm around his waist. "Yes. But you also live with me."
Alvin looked at him. "That's the worst part."
Xavier laughed. "You love it."
"Debatable."
"But you're stuck with me."
Alvin smirked and leaned into him slightly. "Let's see."