The conversation from the previous day lingered in Kael's young, curious mind as he sat at the kitchen table, kicking his legs absentmindedly. Ere'ana was humming a soft tune as she prepared breakfast, her golden wings catching the light. Kikidori leaned back in his chair, sipping his morning coffee—or whatever passed for coffee in Hell.
Kael tilted his head, his tiny horns glinting in the dim light. "Hey, Mom, Dad?"
Ere'ana turned to him with a warm smile. "Yes, sweetheart?"
"What age would I be if I was human?" he asked, his big eyes wide with curiosity.
Kikidori raised an eyebrow, glancing at Ere'ana. She paused for a moment, thinking. "Well, considering you've only been in existence for about five years, but celestial beings age differently... in human years, you'd actually be... hmm... around negative seven."
Kael frowned, his nose scrunching up. "Negative seven? How can I be negative seven?"
Kikidori, who had been quiet up until this point, leaned forward with a mischievous grin. "Well, kid, it means that in human years, you wouldn't even be born yet. You'd still be swimming in my b—"
Ere'ana's head snapped toward him, and with a swift, graceful motion, she smacked the back of Kikidori's head softly but firmly. "Kikidori!" she scolded, her voice sharp but not angry.
"Ow! What was that for?" Kikidori rubbed the back of his head, pretending to be hurt.
"You know exactly what that was for," Ere'ana said, glaring at him with a mix of disapproval and amusement.
Kael, completely oblivious to the undertones of the conversation, tilted his head again. "Swimming in your what, Dad?"
Kikidori froze, trying to stifle a laugh, while Ere'ana sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Kael, it's nothing. Your father was just about to say something inappropriate, as usual."
"Inappropriate how?" Kael asked, his curiosity only growing. "Is it something bad?"
Ere'ana shot Kikidori a look that could pierce through steel. "No, Kael, it's not bad. It's just something... grown-up and unnecessary for you to hear right now."
Kikidori chuckled, clearly enjoying Ere'ana's discomfort. "Yeah, kid, don't worry about it. Just know you'd be... uh... somewhere else, not here."
Kael pouted, clearly unsatisfied with the vague answers. "But why would I be swimming? I'm not a fish."
Ere'ana shook her head, trying to redirect the conversation. "Kael, sweetheart, it's just an expression. It doesn't mean anything, really."
Kikidori smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Oh, it means something. It means—"
Another smack from Ere'ana cut him off mid-sentence. "Kikidori, I swear, if you say one more word—"
"Alright, alright!" Kikidori laughed, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "I'll behave. For now."
Kael crossed his arms, his wings twitching in frustration. "You guys are so confusing."
Ere'ana smiled gently, ruffling Kael's hair. "That's because you're still young, Kael. Some things don't make sense until you're older."
Kikidori snorted. "Yeah, like why your dad keeps getting smacked for trying to tell the truth."
Ere'ana rolled her eyes. "Or why your father can't seem to filter his words around a child."
Kael sighed dramatically, sliding off his chair. "You guys are weird."
Ere'ana laughed softly, and Kikidori just grinned, clearly amused by the whole exchange. As Kael wandered off to play, Kikidori leaned closer to Ere'ana, his smirk widening. "You know, you're lucky I didn't finish that sentence."
Ere'ana raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? And why's that?"
"Because it would've been hilarious," Kikidori said, chuckling.
Ere'ana shook her head, though a small smile played on her lips. "You're impossible."
"And you love me for it," Kikidori shot back, his tone teasing.
Ere'ana sighed but didn't deny it.
End of Chapter 23