After a brutal duel, the protagonist is recovering from serious injuries. Celeste visits, not for intimacy, but to share a quiet night watching a pre-Rupture movie. They settle in for a screening of Die Hard, but their peaceful evening is interrupted by the arrival of Maki, the protagonist's familiar, who insists on joining them despite Celeste's clear displeasure.
"It is my turn," Celeste stated, her voice growing decidedly colder. "We established a schedule for this."
"Schedules are for mortals," Maki countered, her hand settling on my thigh. "Familiars operate based on necessity. And right now, I require my master."
I intercepted Maki’s wrist before her hand could creep further. "Enough. Transform or depart."
Her lower lip pouted. "But I was promised a reward. You agreed to give me delicious milk if I behaved."
Celeste sat bolt upright. "Delicious milk?"
"She means—"
"I am aware of her meaning." Celeste’s face grew flushed, her eyes flashing with icy displeasure. "Your familiar, it seems, is rather forthright."
Maki flashed a grin, revealing sharpened canines. "Life is far too brief for pretense. Even for a feline of immortality."
"You… you promised her…" Celeste faltered, unable to complete the sentence.
"That is not accurate," I stated firmly. "Maki possesses a highly imaginative interpretation of our conversations."
"He kissed me earlier," Maki declared proudly. "With tongue involved."
Celeste’s eyes widened. A delicate layer of frost began to creep across the bedspread.
"It was to persuade her to put on clothing," I explained hastily. "It was merely a bribe."
"Oh, so you reward all your companions with kisses?" Celeste’s tone was glacial.
"Not a companion," Maki corrected, her voice airy. "A familiar. A bonded partner. Soon-to-be mother of his kittens."
"Absolutely not," I interjected sharply.
Maki simply shrugged. "We shall see."
Celeste rose suddenly, the room’s temperature dropping precipitously. "I should leave now."
"Celeste, wait." I reached for her hand. It felt cold, like grasping an ice cube. "Don't let her disrupt this."
Celeste looked down at me, a complex mix of emotions flickering across her features. Her gaze shifted to Maki, who was now lounged with an air of smug satisfaction upon the space Celeste had recently occupied.
"It appears I am intruding upon your… sustenance period."
"She is deliberately provoking you. Intentionally." I shot Maki a sharp look. "And she is on the verge of transforming back into a cat and sleeping on the floor."
Maki stuck out her tongue. "Make me."
I exhaled a heavy sigh. "This is your final warning, Maki."
Her ears flattened against her head. "You are entirely unamitable when the ice queen is present."
"Transform. Immediately."
She held my gaze for another moment, assessing my determination, before letting out a theatrical sigh. "Very well." Her form shimmered and receded, a golden aura enveloping her until a small black cat, its twin tails twitching in annoyance, perched upon my bed.
"That is better." I gently patted the bed beside me, then looked up at Celeste. "Please, return."
She paused, a hesitant look on her face. "You maintain a rather… intricate living situation."
"You have no idea."
Slowly, she rejoined me on the bed, maintaining a deliberate distance. Maki, without missing a beat, stood and padded across the mattress, pointedly stepping on my lap to reach Celeste. To my astonishment, she settled herself in Celeste’s lap rather than mine.
Celeste stiffened. "What is she doing now?"
"She is employing manipulation tactics," I explained. "She is attempting to curry favor with you."
Maki gazed up at Celeste with seemingly innocent eyes, then emitted a soft purr that vibrated through her small body. Despite her reserve, a faint smile touched Celeste’s lips.
"She does possess a certain charm in this form," she conceded.
"Do not be deceived. She is a complete nuisance in any form."
Maki’s purr intensified, her paws beginning to gently knead Celeste’s thigh. Celeste cautiously reached out, stroking the fur behind the cat’s ears, eliciting an even more profound purr.
"See?" I remarked, drawing nearer to both of them. "Much improved."
Celeste relaxed slightly. "She is quite warm."
"A consequence of her innate lightning magic."
We resumed watching the movie, Celeste once again leaning against me, Maki nestled in her lap as if she were the picture of feline innocence. I knew better, of course, but I wasn’t about to question this fortunate turn of events.
As the film continued, Celeste’s hand sought mine, our fingers intertwining. During a quiet interlude, she turned her face towards me.
"Thank you," she murmured softly.
"For what precisely?"
"This." She gestured vaguely towards the tablet, our proximity, the overall situation. "For ordinary moments."
I tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You are deserving of ordinary moments, Celeste."
Her eyes softened at the informal address. She leaned in, her lips brushing gently against mine. The kiss was tender, unhurried. Her hand rose to cup my cheek, her thumb tenderly stroking my skin.
When she drew back, her eyes shone with a luminous quality in the dim light. "I appreciate it when you use that name for me."
"What, not 'Winter Queen' or 'Ice Princess'?" I teased lightly.
She shook her head. "Just Celeste. As if I am a person, not merely a title or a position."
A familiar tightness formed in my chest. "You are a real person."
"Not to most," she admitted, her gaze drifting downward. "To my sister, I am the designated heir. To the VHC, I am a valuable asset. To the public, I am an emblem."
I gently tilted her chin upward. "To me, you are simply Celeste."
Her smile was subtle but undeniably genuine. "And what, precisely, is Celeste to you?"
It was a perilous query, fraught with numerous potential responses, many complicated by the presence of five soul bonds and the System’s subtle manipulations. However, observing her now, displaying a vulnerability and openness rarely permitted, I found I could offer only genuine truth.
"Someone of great significance," I replied. "Someone I am compelled to shield. A person who makes me question if my inherent scumbag nature is as pronounced as I had believed."
Her eyes widened almost imperceptibly. "Such high commendation from the Stray Dog."
"Do not let it inflate your ego."
A soft chuckle escaped her, followed by another kiss, this one of greater depth. Her hand threaded into my hair, drawing me nearer. I encircled her waist with my arm, mindful of my still-aching ribs.
Between us, Maki emitted a displeased sound, compressed by our closeness. She hopped from Celeste’s lap to the floor, then, with a flicker of golden light, reverted to her human form.
"If you intend to bore me with mere kissing, I shall depart," she declared. "Summon me when you reach the more engaging part. I’m heading to Natty’s room."
She sauntered from the room, completely unclothed once more, her tails swaying with each step.
Celeste watched her exit, a look of mild surprise on her face. "She is..."
"The absolute worst," I interjected.
"Actually, I was about to say she's 'growing on me.'" Celeste's lips curved into a faint smile. "Her directness is quite stark. It's almost refreshing after a lifetime steeped in political platitudes."
"Do not voice that to her. She is already insufferably smug."
Celeste’s laughter tinkled, light and melodious. She resettled against me, resting her head on my shoulder.
"Now, where were we in the film?"
I unpaused the movie, yet my focus remained divided between the flickering screen and the woman cradled in my arms. Celeste’s fingers drew aimless patterns across my chest as we watched, her touch gentle and strangely comforting.
By the time the end credits began to roll, she was nearly asleep against me, her breathing slow and steady.
"Did you enjoy it?" I inquired softly.
She gave a slight nod. "It was truly wonderful." Tilting her face towards mine, her eyelids grew heavy. "Would you mind terribly if I remained? Just to rest through the night."
My mind flickered to my injured ribs, the discomfort of movement, and the inevitable opinions five other women would voice upon discovering this arrangement come morning.
"Stay," I said, drawing her nearer still.
A sleepy smile graced her lips as she snuggled closer, her head tucked beneath my chin. "Thank you for this evening, Satori."
"Always, Winter Queen."
She gave my side a gentle pinch. "Cel," she corrected softly.
