Axel was starting to settle into his life in Los Angeles. His integration into the Dunphy family's social circle was seamless, though he always maintained a degree of independence. Claire continued to insist he visit for dinner, Phil treated him like an apprentice in the art of real estate, and Alex—well, she was the most interesting of them all. Their conversations had become frequent, especially after she started noticing just how advanced his knowledge was.
It was the evening after Axel's second day at Piedmont High, and he had been invited over for dinner again. This time, he arrived on his latest prototype—a sleek, military-grade bike that he had been perfecting for months. It was unlike anything seen on civilian roads—streamlined, matte black, with an advanced suspension system and a silent engine. The bike was set to be showcased at an upcoming Arms Expo, where military investors would evaluate its combat readiness.
As he pulled into the Dunphy driveway, Luke ran out. "Whoa! That is so cool! What is that?"
Axel smirked, patting the frame. "Prototype combat bike. Stealth capabilities, self-stabilizing tech, and adaptable terrain navigation."
Luke's eyes widened. "Can I ride it?"
"Absolutely not," Alex interjected, stepping out onto the porch with her arms crossed. "You're already reckless enough on a skateboard."
Axel chuckled. "She's got a point. This thing is built for military use, not joyrides."
Phil walked out next, clapping his hands together. "Now that is a piece of engineering! Have you considered marketing it as a high-end luxury vehicle? Because I know people."
Axel grinned. "That's… not exactly the target market, Phil."
Later, as the two sat in the backyard, Axel pulled up a tablet, showing Alex the specs of his bike. "I want to get your thoughts on something. The military's interested in this design, but I'm considering a civilian version. Something safer but with the same stability and efficiency."
Alex adjusted her glasses, scanning the data. "This is incredible. But are you sure you want to get involved with military contracts? Once you start working with them, you lose some control over your own creations."
Axel nodded. "That's what I've been debating. I don't want to just sell weapons—I want to innovate. Make something that pushes boundaries, but in a way that helps people."
She looked at him thoughtfully. "I think it's amazing that you even care about that. Most people would just take the money and run."
"Yeah, well," he said, smirking, "I'm not most people."
Alex rolled her eyes but smiled. "Clearly."
Meanwhile, inside the house, the chaos of the Dunphy-Tucker wedding planning was in full swing. Mitch and Cam were caught up in the stress of organizing their perfect wedding while Claire and Phil tried to manage everything without losing their minds. Axel, sitting outside, could hear the arguing and frantic planning through the walls.
"This family is something else," he muttered.
Alex smirked. "Oh, you have no idea."
Axel wasn't just growing close to Alex—he was becoming part of this strange, chaotic family dynamic. But deep down, he knew this was only the beginning. With his military contract looming and a new life here in Los Angeles, things were about to get a lot more complicated.