norestforme-imwicked

[norestforme-imwicked]

Chess Buddies WIP

Annabeth loved chess. In her opinion it was the best game, it allowed her to show off her intellect and strategic abilities while also allowing her a chance to indulge in her fatal flaw without the deadly consequences.

Unfortunately for her, there wasn’t really anybody that wanted to play her.

——

The first time Leo offered to play Annabeth in a game of chess she was wary. Leo had one of the worst cases of ADHD she had ever seen in a demigod and had a notoriously short attention span when not focused on one of his many projects, but there wasn’t anyone else willing to play so she went with it.

She had set up the board at a table in Bunker Nine, allowing Leo to be white, and waited for him to make the first move. Normally, when she played against her siblings, they would take a few minutes to decide on a strategy before making a move. Leo took one look at the board before moving one of his pawns.

Annabeth huffed a little as Leo took random bits of wire and metal out of his tool belt and began fiddling with them, seemingly unbothered by the game in front of him. She focused on the board and thought carefully about her first move.

By the time Annabeth finally moved her knight Leo had already built a small metal bird, that he then released. She watched it fly around Leo’s head before chirping and landing in his hair. Leo gave it a gentle pat before moving one of his bishops.

Annabeth narrowed her eyes at the quick move, Leo had barely even glanced at the board before deciding. Maybe it was a bad idea to accept his offer of playing since it seemed like he wasn’t taking it seriously. She strategized for a few minutes before making her next move.

And again Leo barely looked at the board before he moved one of his pieces.

At this point Annabeth was beyond annoyed, but her pride wouldn’t let her just quit the game. No, she had to win. She had to show Leo why he should’ve been paying attention, because she was about to demolish him. 

With that thought in mind Annabeth made her next move, fully prepared to checkmate the boy across from her in a few more moves.

“Checkmate.” 

Annabeth froze. She gawked at Leo, before looking down at the board. He was right. In just four moves he had managed to beat her. He had managed to beat her. 

“How?” She demanded, staring hard at the boy. Leo blinked a couple times, taken aback by the sudden harshness of her tone, before answering.

“I calculated the probability of which moves you would make and played my pieces accordingly.”

Annabeth stared. She was absolutely dumbfounded. He had beaten her strategy using math. She didn’t bother replying as she got up and left the bunker.

——

The next day Annabeth demanded a rematch. She had underestimated Leo the first time, but this game was going to be different. She was prepared this time.

Just a short one shot WIP that's been sitting in my drafts for almost two years. Might finish it, might not. Who knows? Certainly not me.