I leaned up against the curved cave wall, my hood creating a soft barrier between the cold stone and my head.
"King to A5..." I murmured, watching as the small black piece slid to its intended square on the black and white marble board.
Across from me, Widow hummed in concentration. I could almost imagine the gears turning in her head as she planned and plotted her next moves.
"Knight to D4..."
I tisked, shook my head, and spoke again.
"Pawn to D4..."
Widow groaned as my piece move into her Knights space, causing the latter to dissolve into a swarm of tiny albino spiders.
"I'm surprised Widow... your no grand master, but you've never let one of your knights be taken so easily..."
She smirked, but I could tell she was shaken slightly. Something was off.
"Window... Don't hide things from me. You should know I understand you better than anyone..."
She sighed, shifted uncomfortably before moving to sit beside me, leaning her head against my shoulder. It was somewhere between affection and comfort for her, though I knew she enjoyed my company by no small amount.
"I... I don't know, Zero... it's... Everything that happened..."
I sighed, rubbing a scarred palm along her arm, down to her hand, where my fingers intertwined with hers. She squeezed my hand.
"All those people... I destroyed everything... and I enjoyed it." She whispered, revulsion dripping from her tone.
I squeezed her hand in my own.
"Widow... I don't know how else to put this. Yes, you willingly took the Hackstick, allowed it to use you as a conduit for that destruction... but that doesn't make you the bad girl. Sometimes it's not the person behind the weapon that kills people, but the weapon itself that does so."
She curled up against me, and I could feel her shaking gently. No tears fell from her eyes, but I knew that her sadness was rooted deeply.
I turned to face her, leaning my head against her own.
"Widow... If I honestly believed for a moment that you had truly wanted to do that much harm to people, I wouldn't be here now. Hell, if I had never met you, gotten to know you for how you truly are, I'd likely have come after you for a bounty by now." I whispered, and she nodded slightly.
It wasn't much, but it was better than her beating herself up over past mistakes. I leaned in closer, bringing my lips to hers.
She hummed and squeezed on my hand a little. I broke away, looking into the endless blackness of her eyes.
"Have I told you just how beautiful you are?" I asked, a smile on my face.
Widow grinned, a blush coloring her face. "Not in the last..." She held up her wrist, checking an imaginary watch, "Thirty minutes."
I laughed, "Well, I'm quite the terrible boyfriend, aren't I?" I bowed deeply, holding her hand above my head. "Pardon my transgression, my dear. I will not allow such a blunder to occur again."
She stifled a giggle, and in the most serious and regal tone she could muster, replied.
"See to it that it does not, or there shall be dire consequences. Dire consequences indeed..."
We stared at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter that echoed and reverberated off the walls of the cave.
Laying on the cool floor, our hands still intertwined, I looked over at Widow, smiling at the sight of her gasping slightly for breath. I rubbed my thumb across the palm of her hand, enjoying the almost paper-like feel of her skin,
She pulled herself closer, placing her head in the crook my neck. She wrapped an arm around me, humming a quite tune.
"Feel better now?" I asked quietly.
She hummed in response, "Yeah... Thanks Zero..."
I smiled. "If you want to thank me, how about we get back to that game of chess?"
END
Author's Note: Well that went well! I wanted to write more, but I've got a feeling I may have made Widow a bit out of character. Just a bit. -.- Other than that, I hope you enjoyed!