A/N - This is a little shorter than usual, but ... it's that or make it a gargantuan chapter, and I thought this was the better option.
Chapter 46: Just A Little Chess
The following morning, the Summers family made their way to breakfast together. After the way the night had gone for James, Scott wanted to stick a little closer to both of his kids where he could at least feel like he could keep them safe by proximity. But overprotective father aside, the truth was that with the substantial time zone difference, the family was jet lagged. Jet lagged, but still adjusting quickly enough. The three of them sat down to coffee as a group with Alex and Lorna laughing at how wiped out they all looked, though even with that, it was clear that James was the odd man out of the Summers clan. Scott and Rachel looked unrested, but they had at least slept a little. James - was not entirely awake with his hair sticking up slightly here and there after having been up most of the night anyhow. He sat down next to Rachel and promptly leaned his head on her shoulder while holding his cup of coffee close to himself.
"Are you even awake?" Rachel teased.
"Trying to be," James muttered with his eyes closed, though that had Scott smirking to himself. If there was any area where James was utterly unlike his father, it was his preference to sleep in when given a chance. And he had no shame about it, either. It also didn't hurt that James leaning on his sister helped her to relax a little too. Just a bit of normalcy for them in a strange country.
"You're not trying very hard," Rachel said as she leaned her head on his. "What's the plan today?"
"I dunno," James muttered, eyes closed and his face just over his mug, inhaling the fumes. "Ask Billy."
"I was," she chuckled, prompting James to pick his head up and crack an eye open as Billy took the seat next to him then kissed his cheek.
"Just going to go to my favorite places," Billy answered, smiling at Rachel. "Are you going to work on your tan?"
"Possibly," Rachel conceded. "Though it'll probably be whatever Uncle Alex has in mind."
"Which is passing the buck on saying 'beach time'," James said, to which Scott grinned and nodded.
"I hope you'll find the time to discuss the laboratories with me, young man," Erik said, and when the Summers family looked up, it was clear that Wanda had tried to stop him from breaking up their quiet morning. "You've had time to think over all that you saw. We can talk over chess - I'm sure Scott has taught you the basics."
"Yeah, he taught me a little. Like the horse is a dumb representation of a knight," James deadpanned before he took a sip of coffee and Rachel managed to control her grin.
"James should get a chance to wake up before you start pushing for chess, grandfather," Billy said. "And we have plans."
"Nothing that would take up the rest of the week," Erik pointed out.
"I really don't want to play any games. It's not really my thing," James said, though he still looked as if he was half asleep.
Erik looked irritated, but simply turned his sights to Scott instead for the moment. "What about you, Scott? Care to show the boy how it's done?"
Scott looked toward James and Rachel, quickly weighing out all possible outcomes. He didn't want to play Erik any more than James did, but he also knew Erik wasn't going to let the kid out of it. He needed to redirect Erik away from James in any way he could. "It's been a while," Scott warned.
"Nonsense," Erik said with a smile. "Charles taught you well. I'm sure you'll do wonderfully."
Scott hummed to himself and squeezed both of his kids' shoulders as he stepped around them to keep Erik occupied. He knew James hadn't slept by how tired he was - and having him play him while he was only half awake wouldn't do any of them any favors. James' inner filter would be off entirely if he was tired - something he'd inherited from his mother that would only come back to bite them.
He sat down across from Erik with a tight sort of smile. "It's been years since I played," Scott said as he got comfortable.
"Yes, but I'm sure you remember the rules of engagement," Erik said, smiling more warmly. He gestured to the board, and Scott nodded once. It had always been this way for the Professor when the two of them had played chess as well. Erik preferred for someone else to open. The professor had explained it years ago … a simple tactic that was Erik's measure of how easy it would be to beat his opponent.
But Scott had learned from Professor Xavier long ago. He knew what Erik was up to. He knew his games, and he knew how Erik liked to play.
Three moves into the game and Erik was smiling to himself. "My boy, it seems as though you haven't missed a step in all this time."
"Hard to forget the basics," Scott said, then not two moves later, he purposely missed a vital move that might have won him the game outright. Erik had seen the mis-step and smiled to himself, though he didn't say anything. Not when he was so pleased, generally speaking.
James still looked asleep as he switched from leaning on Rachel, to leaning on Billy's shoulder to Wanda's utter amusement. The two of them looked content and relaxed, and the fact was that Scott had managed to distract Erik thoroughly enough that the boys were comfortable and holding hands - and Billy was openly tickled.
But Scott wasn't going to just let Erik win. That simply wasn't in his nature. He couldn't. So, he rallied, and he managed to get to a point that Erik had to work for it. Even then, the game ended in a draw. There was no clear way for either of them to win, and that seemed to entertain Erik almost as much as a win. "I can't say that anyone's been able to do that since … well, Charles."
Scott swallowed hard and nodded once. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"That is how I meant it," Erik said gently, then lowered his voice almost to a whisper. "Well done, my boy." Scott smiled tightly and blew out a breath as both men got control of their emotions. "Now. Send the boy over," Erik said to Scott.
"I don't know if that's the best idea," Wanda said, trying to redirect her father slightly. It was clear that she didn't want a game to happen between the two of them, and even Billy was looking tense at the idea of it.
"James," Erik said in a more stern tone. "The board is set, my boy."
Billy opened his mouth to argue, and James gave him a squeeze. "It's okay," he said quietly before he raised his voice. "I really don't want to play." But he was already on his way to where Scott had been sitting just moments ago. He looked down at the board, but didn't sit down.
"I insist," Erik said as James frowned at him and his chess board.
"You don't have to play him, James," Wanda promised - a sentiment that was plainly echoed by the remainder of both Billy's family and the Summers in attendance. Which was exactly the protective move that had James determined not to use the buffer they were trying to give him.
"No, that's fine," James said as he took a seat then looked across the board at Erik, irked that he'd pushed Scott into a game he didn't want to play either. "Little unrealistic, don't you think?"
"What's unrealistic about it?" Erik asked, frowning, though James didn't drop his gaze or blink.
"The fact that you want me to open. I don't start confrontations."
Erik looked shocked, but Rachel did a fine job of keeping her smile under control while Scott looked like he was holding his breath.
"Neither do I. All the same, someone has to open," Erik said, gesturing at the board.
James finished his coffee then nodded once. "If that's what you want," he said before he reached out to open with the most aggressive intro he could think of - a Danish gambit that resulted in Erik quickly capturing two pawns but also opened himself up to a wicked attack that James took advantage of.
Erik responded in turn, obviously pleased to have two crafty players to contend with, though he honestly hadn't had James pegged for a worthy opponent. The game moved quickly for several rounds, with Erik looking pleased as he captured more important pieces and was even prepared to chide James on his game … until he realized he was playing himself into a corner. All while James calmly kept pushing Erik into sacrificing one piece after another to protect his king.
As the game progressed, Wanda drifted over to watch with Billy - both of them becoming more entertained as they watched Erik get more defensive and flustered while James calmly kept up his steady assault. When Erik tried to quiz James on his role with Stark and the Avengers, James calmly and quietly told him that legally he wasn't at liberty to discuss the finer details - which seemed to irritate Erik further. Scott crossed his arms as he stood behind James with a proud smirk knowing that James had Erik moving exactly how he wanted him to. Which was about when the checking started.
"You're doing well for someone who didn't want to play" Erik said, moving his king after James checked him.
"It's really not a game I like to play," James said, then moved a bishop one square over. "Check."
Erik frowned, and took a moment to reroute his strategy. But it was already over. With every check, Erik got more desperate for a better move until James finally forced checkmate with the pawns he had left on the board and his bigger pieces still well protected and out of reach. There was no way out of it. James simply sat back waiting for Erik to admit defeat. The fact that he managed to keep a straight face after winning with pawns instigating the final moves had Scott smiling wider and Rachel trying not to laugh outright.
"It seems we've come to an impasse," Erik said slowly.
"That's one way to put it," James agreed, though he crossed his arms and raised one eyebrow waiting for the concession.
"Perhaps another game, then," Erik said instead of simply conceding that he'd lost.
"Do you want to try starting white this time?" James said in an even tone that managed to sound friendly in a way Logan never could have pulled off. "Might be more in your wheelhouse."
"Maybe later," Wanda said, reaching over to rest her hand on James' shoulder with a smile. "Daddy, the boys had plans for the day. I'm sure you can find time to play another game before Scott and his family end up leaving."
"Of course," Erik agreed, sitting back and frowning at the board, to the Summers family utter amusement even as BIlly pulled James away from the game and out of the palace.
Billy didn't bother stopping until they were in the courtyard. And then, he only stopped James long enough to steal a very involved kiss and break into a laugh. "You won with his least favorite pieces forcing him into checkmate." Billy was grinning broadly. "How far ahead did you plan that?"
"After the fifth turn," James replied. "Thought it might be funny."
"He'd be so mad if he knew your long game was anywhere near that long."
James' smile slipped. "Are you going to keep telling him everything about us?"
"I … haven't …" Billy stumbled on his words. "I didn't tell him everything… just … what was necessary to keep him at bay."
"For how long?" James asked, though to reassure Billy that he wasn't mad, he reached out to take Billy's hand.
"More in the beginning," Billy admitted after a long moment. "But I didn't say anything about where you live or what exactly you do at the tower … which … what does he have you doing?"
"I'll tell you all about it when we try out that new Kurdish place in the city," James said, then smiled crookedly. "If you want to go with me, that is."
"Are you sure you're not mad?" Billy said, almost cringing.
"No," James promised. "I'm actually kind of impressed with your spy skills. Has to be a better application for that though."
"So … does this mean you still want to go with me to my favorite spots on Genosha?" Billy asked quietly.
"Sweetheart, I still want to go with you to your favorite places anywhere," James said with a crooked sort of smirk. "Maybe we can find a few places of our own to make memorable in the process."
Billy started to smile. "I like the sound of that."
"Thought you might."
"So … if we're still on for just you and me today, then … why are we still here?"