A/N: Happy TouTou Day! I've always been a little late to the ChessShipping Day festivities, but better late than never, right? This is going to be a ten-part ficlet series on Hilda (White) and Hilbert (Black) — who were born on the same day a year apart — and ten different birthdays. I'll typically be updating once a day until the end, so stick with me on this! Please review if you notice any errors and have the time :)

As always, thank you to the lovely deerdryad for being the most patient and helpful beta!


promise me this
ages 6 + 7


"Do you promise?"

"Yes!"

"But Black, do you really, really promise?"

"Yes!"

"Really, really, real—"

"Yes, yes, yes! I promise!"

"Cross your heart and hope to die?"

"Stick a needle in my eye! I promise that we'll be friends forever."

"Okay, good."

"But what if we became more than friends?"

"...best friends?"

"Yes! Well, no. But what if we became twins?"

"Twins?"

"Yeah! My mommy says that twins are when two people have the same birthday. It was my birthday first, but I don't mind sharing with you."

"Hmmmm... 'kay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah, let's be twins!"

"Yeah, okay!"

"And twins have matching names, right?"

"I guess sometimes."

"So I'll be White! Because you don't like your name. And because our mommies call you Black. That way we match, see?"

"Yeah, I see!"

"Good."