This will just be a short little piece, only two chapters. Chapter one is completely slash-free and can be read as a stand-alone, for those who are not into slashiness. Chapter two will be entirely slash and probably pretty naughty, just for my fellow Joe/Dex shippers. Reviews are wonderful, and make an author's day. Thanks for reading!

The rain pounded against the window to Sky Captain's office unrelentingly. "This is ridiculous," Dex said quietly.

"I'm going as fast as I can," Joe replied, his voice carrying a trace of annoyance. "You're going to win anyway, you always do." He frowned darkly at the board between them. "Bloody chess."

"I meant this letter is ridiculous, Cap. Not you."

"Oh." He glanced up apologetically. "Who is it from?"

"Dr. Kessler. He got a job teaching in Berlin, remember?"

"Right."

"Well, the government pulled him out of the university and put him to work developing bombs for the military."

Sky Captain's brow knitted as he looked up. "What, do you mean they forced him?"

"Yeah, I mean at least that's how it sounds."

"You're right, that's ridiculous. They never should have been left alone when they marched into Czechoslovakia. It should have been stopped then."

"You don't hear me disagreeing," Dex replied as he folded the letter and slipped it into his pocket. They were silent for a long minute, both staring at the board, lost in thought. "He said he doesn't think he's going to be able to get any other messages out."

"Mmm."

"I think it was supposed to be a warning." Their eyes met. "We're ready for a war, but I can't vouch for the rest of the world," he answered the unasked question in Joe's gaze.

"Damn. Here, your move." He nudged a pawn into a new space, then stood up and went to stare out the window. "Well, ready for a war or not, it sounds like the world might be fighting one soon enough."

"Yep. Check."

Sky Captain whirled around. "You moved already?" he sputtered, stomping back to the desk. "What…ugh."

"What about your war, Cap?" Dex asked a little teasingly.

He snorted. "I've quit that war. Pulled out all the troops and let her have the field. I'm done with her."

"Surprised I missed hearing you wave the white flag."

"I did it last night, at her place." He made his move.

"…You're kidding me."

"Yes, Dex, I know I shouldn't have dumped her right after we had sex, but I had to make sure I knew what I was doing, didn't I? I'm always more lucid right afterwards, it seemed like the right time."

"No, not that." He shook his head, staring at the game board. "That doesn't surprise me, believe it or not."

"You know me too well, then. I might have to kill you."

"Ha, ha," he said flatly. "Your move is what surprised me."

"Why? It's a perfectly legitimate strategy, Dex. I'm surprised you don't recognize it."

"You could have gotten out of check really easily, Cap."

"Yes. I know."

"So why did you knock all the pieces on to floor?"

"I told you, it's a perfectly legitimate strategy."

"What, just…wrecking the game?"

"Yes! I wasn't pleased with the way it was going, so I decided to destroy what was making me frustrated so that I could start all over again new."

"Do you have a name for this quote-unquote method?"

"I do. I call it the Totenkopf gambit."

Dex blinked at him, once, twice, a third time, an incredulous look dawning on his face just before he burst out laughing.