Chapter 55.4

Returning to the bathroom's entrance, Jason noticed it was empty and groaned. He entered the first room, a small preparatory room and noticed that both Alice and Maple's clothes were haphazardly placed all over the floor as opposed to being folded.

Damn brats, Jason thought as he picked up the clothes and placed them in the washer. Even though I told them not to . . .

After undressing himself and covering his lower body in a shower wrap, he entered the bathroom. The bathroom had several different baths; on one side was a Japanese-style onsen, at the other was a small swimming pool, and beyond that was a jacuzzi big enough to fit ten people. That was without counting the multiple showers, of various kinds lined up against another wall. 

Within the bathroom, Alice and Maple were gaily running around playing tag while Alina tried stopping them.

"Finally! What were you thinking leaving them alone?" Alina noticed Jason and admonished him immediately. She was wearing a black bikini that was mature for her age despite being modest.

"Had to go get their clothes ready while telling them," Jason replied before turning to strictly face the two children with a playful scowl. "To wait."

He then turned back to Alina and frowned before grunting in dissatisfaction.

"And for god's sake, wear some clothes. I'm here too ya'know."

"Wha - ? I'm wearing a swimsuit!" Alina was shocked before protesting, her eyes gazing at Jason as though he were crazy while her hands were on her hips.

Jason stared back at her with disdain as he gestured to her two piece swimsuit that was - in his opinion - a too mature for her.

"Really? That 'swimsuit' shows off your midriff. You realize that literally looks like underwear? Yeah, a bra and undie. You wanna wear swimsuit, go get the one I got for you."

"That one piece with frills?! What do I look like - eight - to you?!" Alina asked in a disbelieving voice, speechless at Jason's overprotectiveness.

"Yeah. Why else do I call you kid?" Jason asked bemusedly as though it were quite obvious. Like all older siblings, in Jason's eyes, Alina would never grow up and would always be a child.

"Not to mention, there's hardly any point in you wearing one as your flat as a - ahem," Jason's real thoughts were leaking out in a barely audible mutter yet Alina heard him clearly.

"Ungh! You are so - mph!" Alina stretched out her arms and gestured at Jason's neck as though she wanted to strangle him, tightening her hands before shouting in frustration and stomping away.

First boys and now my clothes! Alina thought with a huff. He's getting worse by the day! Honestly, who does he think he is, my dad?!

"Oh, and you can't wear that swimsuit outside in public!" Jason called out after her.

"Screw you!" Alina shouted as she flipped him her middle finger before disappearing from the bathroom.

"Huh. I think that went well," Jason muttered to himself with a nod. "Good talk. Nay, great talk."

"No, it wasn't."

Both Alice and Maple muttered at the same time and Jason turned to them with narrowed eyes and a smile that wasn't a smile. He still hadn't forgotten how they disobeyed him and tried sneaking into the pool without adult supervision.

"You two say something?" Jason asked and both shook their heads instantaneously, not wanting the spotlight to shine on them. "Good. Let's get you two washed up and then you can enter the pool."

After washing the two up, Jason made sure both knew how to swim before allowing them to play in the pool. He himself, however, moved to the jacuzzi and gingerly placed himself in the water with a sigh. The hot, bubbling water felt intensely good on his tensely taut muscles and, soon, he leaned back and relaxed himself from all the tension he had built up during the day.

"Ah, that hits the spot," Jason muttered as he closed his eyes, unaware that Alice and Maple had stopped playing and were watching him carefully.

"Isn't that water bubbling? That looks like it'll burn," Maple whispered to Alice with a wince.

"Yeah, it does. I once put my finger in and it turned red. Like a lobster!" Alice exclaimed in a low voice while clutching her finger. The very memory of the incident haunted her to this day.

"Really? But it doesn't seem to hurt him," Maple tilted her head and asked in a confused voice.

"Aunt Alle said that daddy has thick skin. Soo thick, it could bounce bullets off!" Alice explained in amazement.

"Ooh," Maple awed as well as she turned to watch Jason with worship in her eyes. She recalled how he would go out at night like a superhero from the movies and nodded with understanding, believing that Alina meant it literally. "Yeah, then that makes sense!"

Jason's mouth twitched as he heard them clearly with his enhanced hearing.

Goddammit, Alle, Jason thought as his face darkened. What do you mean I'm thick skinned?! My skin is so thick, I'm goddamn bulletproof?! Although . . .

Jason paused and thought about his shamelessness before shrugging and relaxing once more.

I can't really deny it. Damnitall.