“You are…too understanding. It’s slightly annoying.” Seri’s face heated up once he realized what he’d just said.
Severo chuckled. “Sorry. I just can’t find it in myself to be mad at you. But, don’t worry, I’m not always such a pushover, promise.”
“No…No… I’m sorry. That was mean of me to say.” He rubbed his eyes. “Sorry.”
“And I’m sorry that I failed to keep my language appropriate in front of this little mimic. I do try, but the explosion startled me a bit.”
“Stop apologizing. Goddess, you are too nice, and it makes me feel bad because I am kind of a jerk.” Seri pouted, before feeling the need to defend himself. “Also, it was a minor chemical reaction, not an explosion.”
“You are not a jerk, you are just a little prickly. Also, there was smoke.”
“Because of the chemical reaction. There was no fire, the chemical compound?—”
“Seri, there is no reason for you to explain what happened. I won’t understand.”
Seri huffed, before grumbling, “I’ll be more careful with my mixing from now on.”
“Good.”
“Can I have my baby back now?”
Severo chuckled. “No. She’s my shield and she smells good!”
Seri snorted. “Now that's a lie. She is a stinky little girl and needs a bath. And most likely smells like spoiled milk because she spit up earlier.”
“Oh, can I help give her a bath? I got these new ducky bath toys that hover over the water!”
He eyed the Dweller, brow raising before he asked, “You’re secretly a kid in a man’s body, aren’t you?”
Severo gasped. “I am not! I may have fought kicking and screaming as I was dragged into adulthood, but I am fully an adult, thank you very much. Also, I'm way older than you.”
“Kicking and screaming, huh?”
“Of course, my path was one of all kidults. One of reluctance!”
“Right… How old are you?”
“I’m two hundred and thirty-eight.”
“Age really has nothing to do with maturity.” Seri got up tsking, and without hesitation, plucked Skya from Severo’s arms.
“No, my shield!” Severo cried.
Rolling his eyes, he headed off towards his room. He got to the hallway and looked back. “You coming or not?”
“COMING!” Severo jumped up, bouncing on his feet.
Seri chuckled, shaking his head again.
“Quack! Quack!”Severo said, having the duck kiss Skya’s cheek.
The little girl squealed happily, flailing around in her little bath seat, sending water flying. Seri had finished washing her, so they were now just playing. From what he knew, she didn’t need the bath seat as she did have gills, it just made bath time playing easier.
“She’s not going to go to sleep any time soon,” Seri said with a sigh, but the sigh sounded kind of happy to Severo. The Nymph was also smiling, so he figured he wasn’t too upset.
“If she has trouble, I can always take her into my room so you can get some sleep. Especially since I’m the one hyping her up,” Severo offered with a laugh.
He hadn’t really been sleeping much at night, so what was a little less? Though he’d have to leave a clone with Skya, so he could prevent Seri from having nightmares…
