My Scumbag System Chapter 481: The Winter Queen’s Christmas Movie

I collapsed onto my bed face-first, body still aching despite Emi’s healing. The duel with Reyna had taken more out of than I wanted to admit. My muscles scread with every movent, and I was pretty sure at least three organs were still figuring out where they belonged.

You look pathetic. Nel whispered inside my head.

"Fuck off," I muttered into my pillow.

Such eloquence. The Audience is truly getting their money’s worth.

I rolled over with a groan. The room spun slightly before settling. Maybe I had a concussion. Probably should have ntioned that to Emi.

A soft knock at my door interrupted my pity party.

"Co in," I called, not bothering to sit up.

The door opened, and Celeste stepped in. She’d changed out of her formal clothes into sothing I’d never seen her wear before – simple gray sweatpants and an oversized white sweater that hung off one shoulder. Her silver-white hair fell loose around her shoulders instead of her usual perfect updo. She looked... normal. Beautiful, but normal.

"You’re supposed to be resting," she said, closing the door behind her.

"I am resting. Horizontally and everything."

She approached the bed, her bare feet silent on the hardwood floor. "Your definition of resting involves talking to yourself?"

"I have a rich inner life."

A small smile tugged at her lips. "I imagine you do." She hesitated at the edge of the bed. "It’s... my night."

Right. The ridiculous schedule the girls had worked out. Wednesday was Celeste’s night.

"You don’t have to—" I started.

"I want to." She sat on the edge of the bed. "Unless you’re too injured?"

I sat up, ignoring the protest from my ribs. "I’m fine."

"Liar." She placed a cool hand against my cheek. "Natalia told you had three broken ribs, internal bleeding, and a hairline fracture in your arm."

"Had being the operative word. Your sister’s pet healer patched up."

Celeste’s fingers traced down to my neck, finding my pulse. "Your heart is racing."

"You have that effect on people."

She smiled again, wider this ti. "Charming even when half-dead. It’s irritating."

"Part of my appeal."

She shifted closer, her thigh pressing against mine. "I don’t want to... I an, I know we’ve..." Her cheeks flushed pink. "What I’m trying to say is—"

"You don’t want sex tonight."

The blush deepened. "That sounds so crude when you say it out loud."

I laughed, then winced as my ribs complained. "What did you have in mind then, Winter Queen?"

Her eyes lit up at the question. "Actually, I brought sothing." She reached into her sweater pocket and pulled out a small data chip. "Pre-Rupture movies. Real classics. I thought we could watch one together."

"Movies? That’s what you want to do with your night?"

She looked down, suddenly unsure. "I never... I never got to do normal things growing up. No sleepovers or movie nights or..." She shrugged. "It’s stupid."

Sothing in my chest tightened that had nothing to do with my injuries. "It’s not stupid. What movies did you bring?"

Her face brightened. "Several options. An action movie about a cop in a tower at Christmas. A romance about two people eting repeatedly over decades. A science fiction film about a computer taking over a ship—"

"Die Hard," I said imdiately. "We’re watching Die Hard."

"Is that a good one?"

"The best. Trust ."

She smiled, a real smile that reached her eyes. "I do."

Fuck. That shouldn’t have made my heart skip like that.

I shifted over to make room for her on the bed, wincing as I moved. Celeste connected the chip to my tablet and propped it against the pillows. Then, with surprising hesitation, she climbed onto the bed beside .

"Is this okay?" she asked, hovering awkwardly.

"Co here." I lifted my arm, inviting her closer.

She nestled against my side, her head resting on my shoulder. She was cool to the touch, like always, but not uncomfortably so. It felt nice against my overheated skin.

"Comfortable?"

She nodded, her hair tickling my chin. "Very."

The movie started playing, the familiar 20th Century Fox logo appearing on screen. Celeste watched with rapt attention, like she was studying for an exam rather than enjoying entertainnt.

"You can relax," I told her. "It’s just a movie."

"Sorry." She consciously loosened her shoulders. "I’m not very good at this."

"At what?"

"Normal things. Being casual." She glanced up at .

That hit harder than it should have. I tightened my arm around her. "You’re doing fine."

We watched in companionable silence as John McClane arrived at Nakatomi Plaza. Celeste gradually relaxed against , her body molding to my side. Her hand rested on my chest, right over my heart.

"Your heartbeat is slowing," she murmured. "That’s good."

"Told you I was fine."

"Mm-hmm."

By the ti Hans Gruber made his first appearance, Celeste had practically lted against . One of her legs had draped over mine, and her fingers idly traced patterns on my chest. It was surprisingly nice – comfortable in a way I hadn’t expected.

The peaceful mont was shattered by my door bursting open.

"Master! I’m bored and lonely and—" Maki froze in the doorway, her eyes narrowing at the sight of Celeste curled against . "Oh."

For fuck’s sake.

Maki stood in nothing but one of my t-shirts, her cat ears perked up and her two tails swishing behind her in obvious agitation. Her golden eyes locked onto Celeste with predatory focus.

"You’re the ice one," she said.

Celeste stiffened beside . "And you’re the familiar that likes being naked."

"Master doesn’t mind." Maki stepped into the room, shutting the door behind her. "What are you doing?"

"Watching a movie," I said. "Which we’d like to get back to. Alone."

Maki pouted. "But I’m lonely. And hungry." Her eyes glead with mischief. "I want a treat."

"There’s tuna in the kitchen," I said flatly.

"Not that kind of treat." She licked her lips slowly. "I want sothing only Master can give ."

Celeste’s temperature dropped noticeably. "Is she always like this?"

"Unfortunately."

Maki sauntered closer, her hips swaying. "I’ve been a good girl today. I didn’t break anything, and I didn’t show myself to the regular humans."

"Congratulations on doing the bare minimum," I said. "Now go away."

Instead, she crawled onto the foot of the bed, her movents sinuous and entirely feline despite her human form. "I want to watch too."

"Maki—"

"I’ll be quiet." She curled up at our feet, her tails wrapping around her thighs. "Promise."

Celeste looked at , one eyebrow raised in silent question. I sighed.

"Fine. But actual quiet, not Maki-quiet."

Maki grinned triumphantly and settled down, her eyes flickering between us and the movie. I unpaused the film, and we returned to watching Bruce Willis crawl through air ducts.

It lasted almost ten minutes before Maki started inching closer.

First, she stretched her legs, "accidentally" brushing Celeste’s ankle. Celeste’s temperature dropped further, but she said nothing. Then Maki yawned dramatically, repositioning herself a few inches higher on the bed. By the ti McClane was saying "Yippee-ki-yay," Maki had sohow worked her way up beside on the opposite side from Celeste.

"This is a good movie," Maki purred, pressing her breast against my arm. "Very exciting."

"Maki," I warned.

"What? I’m watching." She nuzzled her face against my shoulder. "Master slls nice tonight."

Celeste cleared her throat. "Perhaps your familiar would be more comfortable in her cat form."

Maki hissed softly. "Perhaps the ice princess would be more comfortable sowhere else."