I watched The Queen's Gambit a while ago, and then I remembered Sanjana's gorgeous piece about Jeopardy. Somehow, those two things combined to form this. I love you, friend.

I want to add that I wrote these last several pieces to the fantastic soundtrack Romeo & Juliet by Abel Koreniowski. (Especially the tracks Eternal Love and A Thousand Times Good Night). I don't own this or that or the other thing.

Chess

She watches him, and he watches her right back. Without breaking their eye contact, he makes his next move. She tries not to smile because he had unknowingly sealed his loss. She could now checkmate him in four turns, maybe less. She highly doubts he could see that, though. Neutron had brains, but he sometimes lacked the foresight to see her strategy until it was too late, as was the case today. It also helped that he didn't have much of a poker face. The glint in his eye and the twitching of his fingers always gave him away.

She places her last piece with a victorious grin. "Checkmate."

His eyebrows furrow in confusion. "Gas planets, I didn't even see that. How did you- you know what? Nevermind."

She laughs as she puts her pieces back on her side of the board. "You left way too many openings for me, Neutron. You don't think strategically enough."

"Okay then, since you are so confident, perhaps we should make this more interesting. The loser of the next game removes an item of clothing of the winner's choice," he winks at her, and heat bubbles in her stomach.

"I suppose that could be fun, especially since you are on a losing streak," she replies, silky and smooth.

"I wouldn't be so sure of victory yet," he quips back, and she revels in their familiar competitive flirtation.

"You better get ready to get your ass kicked."

Two games later, he's in nothing but his underwear. When she declares checkmate, he sighs in defeat. "I bow to your prowess, my Queen."

"Not so fast. I won again, and rules are rules."

His eyes glitter with mirth. "You temptress."

"Oh, you do love to flatter me."

There's a beat.

Then in a flash, Neutron moves the card table between them and is kissing her deeply. She breathes in the familiar scent of his soap and the tang of something vaguely chemical. His fingers wander to the strap of her camisole, brushing against her skin as light as a feather. As she embraces the pull of their mutual desire, she decides that she loves playing chess.