章 16: 16.

The sun was barely rising, casting a warm, orange glow over the orphanage as Alvin stood in the front yard, watching as Xavier prepared to leave for the day. Despite Xavier's confident smirk and teasing remarks, there was a softness in his eyes as he looked at Alvin, an unspoken promise hanging in the air between them.

Alvin crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe, his sky-blue hair catching the morning light. "You sure you can handle your family on your own?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "Convincing them to let you marry me won't be as easy as throwing a few punches, you know."

Xavier chuckled, stepping forward to stand in front of Alvin. "They'll agree, trust me." His voice was filled with his usual confidence, but there was a gentleness in the way he tucked a strand of Alvin's hair behind his ear. "I've faced worse things than family squabbles. Besides, you're worth the fight."

Alvin rolled his eyes, though he couldn't stop the small smile tugging at his lips. "If they don't agree, I'm blaming you for dragging me into this mess."

Xavier grinned, leaning down to plant a quick kiss on Alvin's forehead. "You love being in this mess."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Alvin muttered, though his face flushed slightly as he swatted Xavier away. "Now get out of here before the kids start asking why their 'Father' never goes to work."

Xavier laughed, giving Alvin one last playful wink before heading toward his car. As he got into the driver's seat, he called out, "Don't miss me too much, Alvin."

Alvin flipped him off with a smirk, and Xavier's laughter echoed through the yard as he drove away.

Once Xavier was gone, the weight of the day settled back onto Alvin's shoulders. There was a lot to do, and with the impending apocalypse creeping closer every day, he couldn't afford to waste any time.

By mid-morning, Alvin was back inside the orphanage, his phone in hand as he contacted the moving company he had hired earlier that week. There were a few heavy things—old furniture, worn-out appliances, and some unnecessary clutter—that needed to be cleared out. He wanted to make sure the orphanage stayed as organized as possible before they moved to the mansion he had prepared for the coming storm.

As he waited for the movers to arrive, Alvin sat on the old couch, staring out the window with a sigh. "Maybe I rushed this whole thing with Xavier," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair. "Getting married, merging lives... I barely even know if he's serious."

But then, the memory of Xavier's possessive eyes flashed through his mind—the way they had darkened with jealousy when the kids had crowded around him, the intense gaze he had whenever they were alone. Alvin's cheeks flushed as he thought about it, and he quickly shook his head, cursing himself for blushing like a teenager.

"Pull it together, Alvin," he grumbled. "You're a semi-god mage, not some lovesick fool."

By noon, the movers had come and gone, clearing out the heavy furniture and clutter that had been weighing down the orphanage. Alvin, feeling satisfied with the progress, decided it was time to move on to the next task.

He pulled out his phone again and dialed Luis and Jax.

"Hey, boss," Jax's voice came through the line, cheerful as always.

"We're heading to the mansion today," Alvin said, getting straight to the point. "I need you both there to help with some prep work. Be ready in an hour."

There was a brief pause before Luis chimed in, her voice filled with curiosity. "Finally making the big move, huh?"

Alvin smirked. "You could say that. See you both there."

An hour later, Alvin stood in front of the mansion he had secretly prepared for the apocalypse. It was tucked away on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by tall trees and fortified with strong walls and reinforced security systems. The place was enormous, far more spacious than the orphanage, with multiple rooms, storage spaces, and areas that Alvin had magically fortified for protection.

Luis and Jax pulled up in their car, stepping out and taking in the mansion with wide eyes.

"Whoa," Jax said, whistling as he looked around. "I didn't think you were serious when you said you had said that we can come and live here. Now I see this whole thing, I want to live here."

Luis raised an eyebrow at Alvin, clearly impressed. "Looks like you've been planning for this for a while, huh?"

Alvin shrugged, his usual sarcastic tone slipping back into place. "I don't do things halfway, Luis. Now, come on. We've got work to do."

As the three of them made their way inside, Alvin couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in the mansion. He had spent months preparing it, reinforcing it with magic and resources to ensure it would withstand whatever chaos the world threw at them once the apocalypse hit. This would be their safe haven—the place where they could ride out the storm.

But for now, there was training to do.

In one of the mansion's larger rooms, Alvin had set up a makeshift training area, complete with weights, sparring mats, and other equipment. He had told Jax and Luis that they needed to be in top shape if they were going to survive the apocalypse—and he wasn't about to go easy on them.

As they stood in the center of the room, Alvin circled them like a hawk, his eyes sharp as he observed their movements. "You two are too slow," he barked, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "If you can't handle basic drills, how do you expect to survive when the real fight starts?"

Jax, already sweating from the intense workout, groaned. "Easy for you to say, boss. You're said yourself that you were secret agent. You could probably lift this entire building without breaking a sweat."

Alvin smirked, crossing his arms. "You're not wrong. But I'm not the one who needs training, am I?"

Luis, who was doing push-ups next to Jax, shot Alvin a glare. "We're doing our best. Not like we have magic running through our veins."

Jax, wiping the sweat from his forehead, suddenly looked up at Alvin with a mischievous grin. "Why don't you join us, boss? Let's see you do the same training we're doing. Show us how it's done."

Alvin raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "You really want me to outclass you both that badly?"

"Come on, Alvin," Jax pressed, his grin widening. "You're always making savage remarks about our form. Let's see if you can keep up."

Alvin's smirk widened, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Fine. But don't start crying when I make you both look like amateurs."

Without wasting another second, Alvin stepped onto the mat, joining them for the next round of exercises. And just as he had promised, he dominated the workout. His form was perfect, his movements quick and precise, and despite the grueling intensity, Alvin barely broke a sweat.

"Is that all you've got?" Alvin teased as he did push-ups next to Jax and Luis, who were both struggling to keep up. "No wonder you two are falling behind. At this rate, you'll get eaten alive before the apocalypse even starts."

Jax, panting, shot him a playful glare. "I don't know whether to be impressed or insulted."

Luis, who was clearly exhausted, gave Alvin a look of disbelief. "How are you not even tired?"

Alvin shrugged, standing up and stretching with a casual yawn. "Like I said, I'm built different."

By the time they finished, Jax and Luis were lying flat on their backs, completely worn out from the intense training session. Alvin, on the other hand, looked as composed as ever, barely winded.

"You two need more work," he said, smirking down at them. "We'll go again tomorrow. Same time."

"You're a sadist, you know that?" Jax muttered, his voice filled with mock exasperation.

Alvin laughed, turning to leave the room. "And you'll thank me when we're the last ones standing."

Later that evening, after the training session from hell, Alvin, Luis, and Jax sat around the large dining table in the mansion, too tired to cook. "Let's just order something," Jax suggested, scrolling through his phone.

Alvin sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Fine. But make it quick."

He had told Jax and Luis about apocalypse in their last meeting a week ago, They were shocked and then accepted it when he showed them some indications with real life.

They agreed to live with him and help him raise the kids but who knew he will have...that man Xavier all of a sudden...

The mansion was finally quiet, the hum of the evening settling in after a long day. Alvin had just finished sorting through the next day's plans when his phone buzzed on the table beside him. He glanced at the screen and saw Xavier's name flashing across it.

"Here we go," Alvin muttered to himself, already anticipating what kind of conversation this was going to be.

He picked up the phone and brought it to his ear. "What do you want, Loid?"

On the other end, Xavier's voice was low, hoarse, and heavy with something Alvin couldn't quite place. "Alvin," he rasped, drawing out the name like a prayer. "I miss you."

Alvin rolled his eyes, though a small smile crept onto his lips despite himself. "Miss me? It's been barely a day. You're already that needy?"

Xavier let out a rough chuckle, and Alvin could practically hear the smirk in his voice. "You know I can't stand being away from you for too long. What can I say? You've ruined me."

Alvin leaned back in his chair, twirling a pen between his fingers as he prepared to respond with a savage retort, but then he hesitated. He remembered that Xavier wasn't just some random lover anymore. He was his partner now—someone Alvin had agreed to spend the rest of his life with. As much as he enjoyed teasing Xavier, there was a part of him that felt the need to be... gentler. Not that he'd admit it out loud, of course.

So instead, Alvin sighed and softened his tone, though the sarcasm remained. "You're hopeless, Loid. But fine, I suppose I can entertain your desperate call. What's going on? Thought you'd be busy dealing with your family."

"My father's out at some meeting, and my mother's staying at a friend's place tonight," Xavier replied, his voice still deep and raspy. "She won't be back until tomorrow. I've got the whole place to myself, but it's not the same without you."

Alvin couldn't help but laugh softly. "You're really laying it on thick tonight, aren't you?"

Xavier's tone shifted slightly, becoming more flirtatious. "You're the one who said we're partners now. Shouldn't you be here, keeping me company? You know how much I hate sleeping alone."

Alvin shook his head, though he could feel his heart speeding up slightly at the sound of Xavier's voice. "Oh, please. You've survived just fine without me for years. One night won't kill you."

Xavier's voice dropped even lower, the sound like a velvet caress in Alvin's ear. "But it feels like it might, Al. I've been thinking about you all night. About the way you looked when I left the orphanage this morning. About how good it felt to kiss you." There was a brief pause, and then Xavier added, his voice filled with warmth, "And about how much I just want to hold you right now."

Alvin's breath caught for a moment, and he cursed inwardly at how easily Xavier was getting to him. "You're unbelievable," he muttered, though there was no real heat in his voice.

"Is it working?" Xavier asked, amusement coloring his tone.

Alvin sighed dramatically, rubbing his temple. "You're impossible. But fine, since I'm such a kind-hearted person, I'll indulge you for a bit. What exactly do you want, Xavier?"

There was a low chuckle on the other end of the line, and Alvin could almost feel the heat of Xavier's gaze, even through the phone. "I just want to hear your voice, Al. That's all I need right now."

Despite himself, Alvin felt a small warmth bloom in his chest. He sighed again, this time more softly. "You're so damn cheesy."

"Only for you," Xavier quipped, his voice teasing but sincere. "Come on, admit it—you miss me too."

Alvin scoffed, though his lips quirked up in a small smile. "I'm not feeding your ego any more than I already do. You're unbearable as it is."

Xavier's laugh rumbled through the phone, sending a pleasant shiver down Alvin's spine. "I'll take that as a yes." His tone softened again, turning more intimate. "But seriously, Al. I've been thinking about you all night. About us. I never thought I'd find someone who fits into my life the way you do."

Alvin raised an eyebrow, surprised at the sudden turn of vulnerability in Xavier's voice. "Are you getting sentimental on me, Loid?"

"Maybe," Xavier admitted, his voice still soft. "It's hard not to when it comes to you. I know we started this whole thing pretty fast, but it feels right, you know? Like it's supposed to be this way."

Alvin didn't respond immediately, his mind briefly flashing back to the possessiveness in Xavier's eyes that morning. The intensity of it had rattled him at first, but now, hearing the sincerity in Xavier's voice, Alvin realized that maybe... it wasn't so bad to have someone feel that strongly about him.

"You're not completely wrong," Alvin finally said, his voice quieter than before. "It does feel right. Most of the time." He quickly added with his usual snark, "But that doesn't mean you're off the hook for being a pain."

Xavier laughed again, his voice a deep rumble that sent warmth coursing through Alvin. "I'll take what I can get."

There was a comfortable silence between them for a few moments before Xavier spoke again, his tone turning flirtatious once more. "You know, if you're not too busy tonight, you could always come over. I've got a perfectly good bed here, and it's just missing one thing—you."

Alvin rolled his eyes, though his heart fluttered slightly at the offer. "Tempting, but I'm not falling for that. I know exactly what you're after, and I've had enough of your 'charm' for one day, thank you very much."

"Can't blame a guy for trying," Xavier replied, his voice filled with laughter. "But seriously, I'll see you tomorrow, right?"

Alvin smiled, even though Xavier couldn't see it. "Yeah, you'll see me tomorrow. Just don't do anything stupid until then."

"No promises," Xavier teased. "Goodnight, Al. Dream of me."

Alvin scoffed, shaking his head. "Don't flatter yourself. Goodnight, Xavier."

As Alvin hung up the phone, he couldn't help but feel a strange mix of warmth and exasperation. Xavier was relentless, but there was something comforting in that—a sense of stability that Alvin hadn't expected to find in someone so wild and unpredictable.

He sighed, setting his phone down on the table and leaning back in his chair. "I can't believe I'm actually marrying this guy."

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