"We kids have to keep you on your toes, though." César adds cheerfully.

Revenge comes quickly. "Oh, wow, your hearing is really good. You'll have to let me know if the soundproofing downstairs—" His brain bubbles up the adjacently related reminder of whose voice he's definitely almost shouted this week, within her bedroom, within town limits, and without the soundproofing of downstairs. He cuts himself off as his cheeks start to heat up.

"—w-works well."