"I Tried"

Furor Paxx 31- The Game

Scott glared menacingly into the eyes of his opponent. Pietro sat across from him at the kitchen table with Kurt, Wanda and Kaysin peering over his shoulders. Freddy, Todd and Jaysin were at Scott's side, leering at Pietro and his fans. The game was Connect Four.

Amid the clinking of plastic pieces and gnashing of teeth, a steady swooshing sound could be heard coming from outside. Lance was working on a new project, and he wouldn't tell anyone what it was.

Pietro stared at the pieces in the board that separated him from Scott. No matter where he put his piece, Scott would only be two moves away from winning. It was agonizing to know he was going to lose to Summers for the fifth time. Pietro sighed and let a disc slide down a random column. Scott ignored the piece, deciding to add insult to injury and set up yet another way he could crush Quicksilver's ego. Kurt and Kaysin both winced as the piece fell into the column and waited for Pietro to make his move.

There was an opening for Pietro, he could take advantage of it, but Scott would only block him at the last moment. Pietro moaned and placed another random piece.

Scott smiled. "I win." He let one last piece slide into the center column and smirked. The bastard had set Pietro up three ways and the Speedster hadn't even noticed. Pietro pushed his chair back from the table and left the room without saying a word. His entourage followed, muttering idle threats about what they would do next time.

"So, who's up next?" Scott asked cheerfully. There was an immediate onslaught of excuses as everyone tried to find something else to do.

Lance tramped into the kitchen just as Jaysin was settling into the chair opposite of Scott. Lance glanced at the game as he opened the fridge and grumbled about the lack of anything edible. "Where's Wagner?"

"With his boyfriend." Scott answered as he dropped another piece. "And Pietro is probably moping someplace. Wanna play?"

Lance gave the Connect Four game a look so blank that Scott looked at it himself. "I'm a bit more mature than that."

"Aw, you know you like games, Lance. C'mon. Name it."

"No. I've got better things to do."

"Ah, I see. You're afraid I'll beat you."

"At Connect Four? I wouldn't be caught dead playing that first grade game."

"Well then, tell me what you play so I can kick your ass at it too."

Lance froze.

Scott yawned. "What? I learned it from you."

"You think you can kick my ass at my best game?"

"Yeah."

"You? You think you can beat me at my own game?"

"Yes. I know I can beat you and your game right into the dirt. Name it and let's go."

"Is this a good idea?" Jaysin asked. "I mean, what if he picks a sport or something. You only said game, right?"

"No," Lance closed the fridge door and turned around slowly. "Todd, get the board."

Todd gulped and scurried out of the kitchen. He was back in about two minutes with a dark mahogany board and two small chests. He carried them reverentially and placed them on the table just as carefully.

Scott looked at the board. "Checkers?"

Lance placed one chest in front of Scott and pulled the other towards himself. Scott opened the chest. "Chess? You play chess?"

"Prepare yourself, Summers. Your defeat will be total."

"Hah, dream on, Alvers."

Lance put his pieces on the board and waited for Scott. "You can move first."

Scott smiled. "Thanks."