Chapter Text
“Water park! Water park! Water park!” the trio of imps cheered.
“Ya know, chanting ain’t gonna get us there any faster,” Cash told the pipsqueaks before looking at the red light with an annoyed glare. “Especially with these fucking things turning red at every damned opportunity.”
“Just be patient dear,” Tilla advised, looking back to see a happy Stolas in the back seat. “Are you excited to go to the waterpark?”
“Yes, Miss Tilla! Thank you for inviting me!” Stolas chirped happily.
There was a good deal going on where kids under 12 could get into the local waterpark–Scarlet Forest Waterpark–and the kids were begging to go since they hadn’t yet that summer. They also wanted to show Stolas what a water park was like since it was more than likely he had never been to one. After pleading their case–the kids giving the owl king the biggest cutest eyes they could muster and Cash and Tilla promising that Stolas would be safe–Paimon eventually agreed on the condition he would attend as well.
He wouldn't necessarily get in the water but he could at least get some outdoor time and keep an eye on his son.
Mr. Butler would attend as well to make sure that no one would be hurt or sick from being in a place so…crowded. Stolas wanted to ride with the Buckzo family so his father and butler would meet them there. He was very curious what it would be like and was practically bouncing in his seat at what his friends were telling him.
“It is SO cool, Stolas!” Blitzo grinned. “There’s a bunch of waterslides, a lazy river, a kiddy area if ya ain’t into the big pools, and a wave pool!”
“That sounds exciting! What do you all like there?” the prince wondered.
“Water slides!” Barbie cheered. “When ya ZOOM down the solo ones? It’s a helluva thrill!”
“I like the lazy river.” Fizz commented. “Just chilling along in a tube is nice and relaxing…well, until ya get a stupid waterfall splashing you.”
“I love the wave pool!” Blitzo told his buddy excitedly. “Ya bounce really high like you’re surfing and if ya hit a wave just right, it’ll sail ya all the way back to the shallow end of the pool! But uh…ya might wanna wait a while if you eat before going in. No one wants to be THAT demon that barfs in the pool.”
“Good to know.” Stolas replied before looking at the older imps in the front of the truck. “Do you think my father would find something he’d enjoy?”
Cash laughed at the thought, looking at the prince in the rearview mirror. “If that fussy dad of yours actually gets into the water, I’ll get you kids any ice cream ya want.”
Tilla shook her head at her husband’s weird teasing of King Paimon before turning to him again. “I’m sure he’ll find something to enjoy. These places usually have something for everyone to enjoy. But he might like the group waterslide.”
The family usually did that one when they were about to leave but if Stolas wanted to check it out first, they’d head there first. A new experience for the prince was always a treat to watch and the kids were more than happy to give him something fun to do. Plus they’ve been wanting to go to the waterpark anyway.
They arrived and parked pretty close to the entrance, Cash snickering at how overdressed Paimon was for a waterpark. He was still in his fancy robes and stuck out like a sore thumb even among the hellborns and sinners that came to this park. Tilla was proud of the king for stepping outside of his comfort zone for his son’s sake and Stolas was happy to spend time with his father outside of the palace.
“Father! You found it!” Stolas smiled, trotting up to him excitedly. “Blitzo and his family were telling me all about the attractions at this place! Are you going to try them out?”
Not wanting to damper his son’s mood, Paimon gently patted his head. “Well…how about you scout ahead first at what looks the most fun and I will trust your judgement,” the king told him.
“Funny. I didn’t know you were a fuckin’ chicken.” Cash smirked, grinning at the annoyed look that Paimon gave him.
“I can assure you that a theme park that can entertain small children is nothing I can’t handle, plebeian.” Paimon snarked.
“Didn’t you say they were glorified toilets?” the ringmaster reminded him.
“Oh I have my methods for combating that,” the owl king chuckled, gesturing to the rolling cooler Mr. Butler was carrying behind him. “Which reminds me, Stolas I know they have showers at these types of places but you should wash properly when we get home. I would prefer your feathers not be tinted green.”
“Yes Father.” Stolas nodded, recalling a time when poor Charlie and her parents had gone swimming at Mammon’s palace and came back with green hair. It took a few days for that to wash out.
He had cheap chlorine and all.
The kids got in for free but for four adults, it was around $80 since they were local residents. Paimon and Mr. Butler paid for their own tickets while Cash and Tilla handled their own. It was nice that residents of the Pride Ring had a discount which made going to these places much easier. If the kids didn’t hit their growth spurts, that would make it even better for future visits in the meantime.
Tilla and Barbie went to get changed in the ladies’ locker room while the guys took their spots. Paimon–shrinking himself down to six feet so he wouldn’t hit his head–had his eye twitching the whole time. He had Mr. Butler crack open his cooler of various soaps and sprays so he wouldn’t get any germs on him while showering. Stolas didn’t mind doing a quick routine in the showers since he knew it would make his father happy but he also knew he would be getting a bath tonight anyway.
Cash and the boys did a quick soak under the showers after changing into their swimsuits. Hopefully Tilla and Barbie were able to scope out some good locations for their chairs and get enough of them. Stolas ran ahead with Blitzo and Fizz and once his eyes adjusted to the light, he was astonished at how lovely the water park really was.
“It’s huge!” he gushed, not sure where he wanted to start.
“And there’s more fun where that came from, buddy!” Blitzo grinned, spotting his mom and sister waving them over. They found the perfect spot that was right where the edge of the wave pool area was and the entrance of the kiddy area. “Dad, they're over there!”
“Hold your horses, kiddos. No runnin’ remember?” Cash reminded him, putting a hand on his shoulder before pointing to the dinky pool in the far corner. “Don’t wanna end up in pool jail, do ya?”
The boys turned, seeing a few kids and some adult demons sulking in a pool that was behind a gate. Unlike public pools which just had lifeguards yell at you if you broke the rules, you basically got put in time out depending on your crimes with a sort of three-strike system. And with how much some people paid to get in, no one wanted to waste their time over there looking like an idiot.
Tilla had just finished putting sunscreen on Barbie as her family came over, Paimon surprisingly wearing a robe-like pool covering. “Are you shy, your majesty?” she guessed.
“Oh I’m fine, madame,” Paimon assured her, sitting down on a deck chair. “The children should get their sun protection first is all.”
With that, Blitzo and Fizz got lathered up in sunscreen smelling like coconut while Stolas got a spray that would protect his feathers and wouldn’t make them all greasy. He did have to squeeze both sets of eyes shut so he wouldn’t get anything in them.
Once the kids were all set, it was the grownups turn. Tilla helped Cash rub the sunscreen in on his back which made him happy and Mr. Butler was prepared to help Paimon. Though when Paimon took his robe off, it was like a switch turned for the grown demons around them. Much to their surprise, Paimon was quite fit under all those bulky royal outfits with lean muscle. He was surprisingly toned for his age as an older king. Several demons couldn’t help but stare as he sprayed himself down.
Even Cash found himself staring.
Paimon, noticing this, gave the imp a smirk. “You didn’t expect me to just sit on my arse all day as a royal, did you?”
“Y-You have magic! You can look how ya want!” Cash retorted, smacking his own face to get a hold of himself.
“I can assure you that while magic can be an asset in my appearance, I still have to maintain myself like everyone else.” Paimon shrugged, turning away to allow Mr. Butler to spray his back.
Cash looked down at his beer gut before crossing his arms with a pout. “Stupid fit king…” he muttered under his breath, wanting to get into the water to cool off already.
Tilla glanced briefly at the king before wrapping her arms around her husband. “You’ll always be sexy in my eyes…” she told him, hugging him.
Cash felt his face heat up more as his tail started to wag. “T-T-Tilla ya sure you wanna flirt here?” he stammered, trying hard not to let his voice get too squeaky.
“You’re my husband. Why wouldn’t I flirt with you?” she asked.
“Well…look at what’s on the next chair over.” he commented, gesturing to Paimon who was laying back on his chair. “I ain’t blind to how good he looks. I mean, anyone would look better than me.”
“He does look nice…” she agreed before kissing her husband on the cheek. “But I love you more.”
Cash felt his face grow even hotter as he felt his wife snuggling up to him. Sometimes he felt self-conscious that a gorgeous woman like her fell for someone like him. But seeing her genuinely looking at him with loving eyes and complimenting him without dismissing his worries meant the world to him.
“Thanks babe…” Cash smiled, giving her a smooch back. “Want me to help ya get some sunscreen on?”
“I’d appreciate that.” Tilla nodded, turning around to let her husband work. She let out a squeak as the lotion got on her back. “C-C-Cold!”
Cash grinned as he started to rub it in. “Want me to warm it up for ya?”
Blitzo rolled his eyes as Barbie, Fizz, and Stolas giggled from the nearby deck chairs. No matter what they did, if they found a way to be all mushy-gushy with each other, they would. Maybe splashing them with some water would cool them off.
He just needed to find a bucket.
[To Be Continued]