Vices and Maces

Chapter 36: How do the In Laws Interact Better Than the Blood

CW: breaking and entering

Logan looked around the house to make sure everything was clean. He double checked the corners to see it was all vacuumed, looked at the shelfs to see no dust, and made sure the bed was still made.

Patton watched his fiance running around, looking for something to clean, making everything spotless. He sighed as Logan anxiously tapped his foot, looking through the kitchen cabinets for what the nymph couldn't tell.

"Logan, relax, it'll be fine," he tried to reassure the elf.

"I can't let even the smallest thing be out of place. It has to be perfect," Logan explained.

"Your dad isn't going to care. I know you're worried, but you need to relax. He's still your father."

"Exactly. When I lived with them, whenever guests came over, we had to make sure the house was completely cleaned and picked up. If I don't do the same for them, then he'll freak out!"

"And then what?" Patton leaned against the kitchen counter.

"Then... I don't know."

"Are you scared of him being disappointed? Because you know you're not a disappointment to your dad, right?"

"I-I know," Logan defended, though he didn't sound so sure. "But I just..."

"You don't need to prove anything to him. You are twenty seven now, and you're a smart man. Just take a deep breath, and relax before they come over. How long are they staying?"

"For the week, that's why they're coming today."

"And do you know what time they're arriving?"

Logan opened his mouth to answer, but the sound of the doorbell ringing interrupted him. He paled and turned towards the front door.

"Guess that answers my question," Patton stated. "Let's go, it's not gonna be as scary as you say it is."

The nymph made his way towards the door, Logan trailing behind. Patton opened the door and smiled wide when he saw a woman with dark skin, her black hair starting to gray.

"Mrs. Jamfield!" he greeted, opening his arms for a hug.

"Ah! Patton!" She shouted, pulling him in. "Oh how are you dear?"

"I'm well! It's so good to see you. How are you?"

"Oh I'm doing okay. And you know that you can just call me Mabel, sweetheart. I mean, you're going to be my son in law soon! Aren't you excited?"

Patton nodded. "Oh, where's Mr. Jamfield?" He looked outside over Mabel's shoulder, seeing someone just outside of vision getting stuff from their car.

"Oh, he's just grabbing some bags. Why don't you go help him?"

"Alright!" Patton let Mabel step inside before leaving.

Mabel turned to Logan, who was awkwardly standing to the side, and gave him a bright smile. "What are you doing over there, can't you give your mother a hug."

Logan gave her a nervous smile and came forward to hug her. "Hello mother."

"What are you so anxious for? You know I don't bite." She pulled back, standing just below Logan's chin. "Oh look at you, all grown up! You need to call home more! Or come visit us sometimes! We miss you, little elf."

"I would but..." The halfling rubbed his arm. "You know how father is."

Mabel shrugged. "So your father can be a bit of a hardass sometimes, big whoop. You dealt with that for 19 years, you know he's not that bad of a guy."

"I know I'm just..."

"Nervous? You always were. But your father has a soft side that he likes to hide. Oh you should have seen him once you officially moved out, he was struggling to hide his tears."

Logan rolled his eyes. In his whole life, he has never once seen tears on his father's face. That man has probably never even cried before! He certainly isn't going to start now.

"Oh, here he comes now," Mabel said, moving Logan out of the doorway so Patton and Mr. Jamfield could come in.

Patton came in first, carrying two bags. He could be using his magic but they weren't too heavy. Well... Logan wouldn't say anything about the small gusts of air that were flowing underneath them.

And then... his father. His ears were pointed and blue freckles dotted his dark face like a night sky. He had a stubble of a beard, and a bushy mustache that was full of graying hair. He took off his hat as he came inside, a brown hat to match his brown jacket.

He turned to Logan and gave him a smile. "Logan, it's good to see you again."

The halfling gave him an unsteady smile. "Hello father."

"Oh Liam, look at our son's home!" Mabel said. "The living room is all neat, and the bookshelf- oh those are such cute little figurines. Well doesn't that have Patton written all over it."

"It does indeed." Mr. Jamfield looked around the house. "Well, I suppose a house tour is in order."

Patton took Logan's hand and gave it a squeeze. "That's a perfect idea! First let's stop by the guest room so we can put these bags away. And then we can show you any changes we've made since your last visit!"

~~~

"I just want to fucking scream!" Kayden shouted, throwing his arms up towards his ceiling.

Sidney hugged a pillow to her chest, sitting against the wall. "I mean... it is your dad's life."

"Oh but if I was dating someone from Wolfsbane he'd skin me."

Cecil laughed, "Oh no, he'd skin the person you would be dating. Where are your dad and uncle anyway? Why aren't they home?"

"I don't know, there was an emergency at the labs. Apparently some of the guys working on insulin got into a fight."

"Oh they are going to be pissed then," Sideny stated. "You can't fight around insulin! So much could go wrong."

"I hacked into the cameras there, they took it outside," Kayden explained. "But the medical bills are going to be high."

"What was the fight even about?" Cecil asked.

"I don't know, something stupid. But even Sal was called."

Sidney gasped, "Sal! Wait, do you have a video of the fight?" She tossed the pillow aside and moved closer to Kayden. "Lemme see, lemme see!"

"I'll send it to you later."

"Sal is so cool! Your dad helped her transition, right?"

"From what I heard, yeah. But I wouldn't really know. I was adopted only a little four years ago, after dad killed my last parents since they were trying to kill him. He only really adopted me 'cause he felt bad leaving me on my own."

"But if he didn't, then we wouldn't have met!"

"You just need a distraction," Cecil said. "Oh! Guess what I found out? They deciphered Dr. Noble's notes! Turns out they were just in another language, but with really messy handwriting."

"Oh right, that inventor you're always going off about," Sidney commented. "Didn't he get in a car crash a couple of years ago?"

"Yeah but I mean he survived! But... he kinda went off the grid after that. Oh but he's so cool! I've looked at some of the notes that were published and I've learned a lot from them! I just can't quite figure out how he-"

Cecil cut himself off when there was a crash from the living room. Kayden and Sidney sat up and looked towards the hall, the three of them dead silent.

"What was that?" Kayden asked.

"Was it-"

"Sh!" Sidney hissed. She closed her eyes and listened, hearing some rushed voices. "That's not Petals or Thorns..." The angel's voice wavered. "Someone broke into the house."