Stalemate
Naruto Shippuuden
Characters: Nara Shikamaru, Uchiha Sasuke
Notes:For Cinnerman! I love you, you majestic unicorn. Hope you like this. It's been a hot minute since I've channeled my Shika muse so I may be a tad rusty but oh well. I tried. Anyway! Read on and enjoy!
Shikamaru stared at the game board in front of himself, contemplating.
His eyes scanned the whole, taking every detail in and noting where each piece was and what it all meant as a whole.
It was, for all intents and purposes, a stalemate.
The question that lingered in the shadow wielder's mind was not if he could break it; he knew he could. All it would take is two simple moves for things to go his way, yet...
The question that echoed in his mind was if he should break it.
Though it was but a game with clear-cut rules of win or lose, Shikamaru approached his games with a sense of reality and realness to it.
He was a Tactician; he needed to see all angles and options. Victory was ideal in most cases, but he'd come to find through life and circumstance, hardship and draws could be just as meaningful.
Situationally, this stalemate could be broken and victory within grasp, but there was a sense of morality and realism in his thought process that kept giving him pause.
For one side to struggle so hard to keep the pace, to keep matching him. He was a genius, though he hated the label and term. It was very, very hard for others to keep up with his moves in any capacity, so when he found opponents that could match him...
He wanted to draw it out.
To make things last, savour the feeling of being pushed.
In this case...
To be pushed this far by a certain someone he'd once admired wordlessly caused a singular droning noise in the back of his head to loop endlessly as if this very moment needed to be drilled into his mind.
It made him tense in a strange way, his hands were subtly shaking as he brought them close and laced them together as he frowned, continuing to weigh his decision within his mind.
He could feel their eyes on him, the piercing stare that held inquisition and silent challenge.
His throat felt dry as he licked his lips anxiously, letting his eyes once again scan the board.
Yes, victory was easy.
But victory wouldn't bring him the results he wanted.
This stalemate, this draw, however...
To him, in his mind, it was just as good as a checkmate.
Slowly, he looked up from the board to meet the other's eyes as he moved his hand to signal surrender.
"I concede to a draw." He said.
He watched the puzzled furrow of dark brows and the confusion settle within their gaze and offered them a dry chuckle as he leaned back, reaching for a cigarette and lit the stick, taking a long drag from it.
As he exhaled the smoke, the other voiced their question.
"Why? Why settle?"
To that, he gave a small, lopsided grin. "Because, Sasuke," He began, leaning forward once more to rest his weight on his elbow, drawing in another drag of the cigarette.
"To me, a stalemate can be just as good as a checkmate. A stalemate has no clear winner, no decisive conclusion. You're forced to aknowledge the other as an equal. And in a statistical light, you're matching resources, strength, and such else to your opponent. In a real war this could mean neither side has the resources to continue and must settle."
There was a lot of hidden meaning within his words as he voiced them, tilting hi head as he watched the other process and unravel his words.
Understanding flashed within the other's eyes as they looked to him once more.
Something changed.
Their gaze had shifted marginally.
The Uchiha's eyes were almost warm despite the inky blackness of them.
"I see." Was all the other acknowledged.
A stalemate...
A draw, an acknowledgment of equal force.
Perhaps it wasn't the victory he could've achieved, but for Shikamaru, it was the right step to reestablishing a near-dead link.
It was enough for him.
"Another round?" He asked, arching a quizzical brow.
"...I'd like that." Was the quiet answer.
A real smile made it to his lips.
Yeah, a stalemate could be as good as a checkmate.
-End-