15-Aug-2000
Category: Experiment
Pairings: 13x4
Disclaimer: Not mine, no money being made or sought here.
NOTES: Well, due to very positive response, I love you all you know that right?? I'm going to keep going! I had thought that things would move a little more quickly but I probably should have known better with this pair. I feel like I have two tigers by the tail! Again to remind everyone this is NOT a CoF arc story but an AU all on it's own.
Two hours later, the board had been stripped of all pieces except two kings, a queen, three rooks, two knights, a bishop and a couple of pawns. Treize leaned against the desk, his long fingers toying with the black queen who sat off to the side of the board. He watched his opponent's face, looking for any hints of distraction in the focused turquoise eyes.
Quatre was very much aware of the position of his queen. He was also aware of Treize's attempt to make him focus on her loss. Quatre slowly licked his lips and forced his concentration to narrow down to just the board, letting everything else disappear into a haze of white noise.
He still had possession of his knights, his rooks and the pawns. Treize was trying to force him to drop back, to try and protect his king. Quatre was having none of it and instead he brought his rooks together, stacking them one behind the other, pointed towards Treize's end of the board.
Kushrenada raised a forked brow and slowly drew his index finger off the captured queen.
"An aggressive move Winner." He intoned smoothly, straightening to take in the situation.
Quatre said nothing. Neither of them had spoken much since the game began. The game and their individual approaches to it, had spoken volumes. Treize found Quatre a very methodical if somewhat reckless opponent. The little blond made no wasted moves. Every action yielded Quatre at least two options, often more. Treize had tried time and again to lay cunning traps and though he had often been able to capture key pieces, he'd yet to fatally cripple the Arabian's position.
'These pilots are used to fighting from the weaker position. I must remember that.' Treize mentally chastised himself.
Treize reached over and took a slow sip off his brandy, then he made his move. Pressing his queen forward to threaten Quatre's king.
"Check."
Quatre bowed his head a little. Politely acknowledging the threat. He moved a knight forward, blocking the white queen's line of attack. His hands were still manacled together and he had to lift his arms at an awkward angle to keep from knocking all the pieces off the board.
Treize began to maneuver his bishop. In two moves he could have the bishop back behind the queen. He'd be able to close on the black king then. Quatre reached forward, away from the main action on the board and nudged a pawn.
Treize turned his ice blue eyes away from the trap he was setting and looked curiously at the move. He blinked. Amazing. He'd been so focused on the action at the other end of the board, he'd missed Quatre quietly moving the pawn forward, till it now sat one square off Treize's starting blocks.
Kushrenada felt a tingle of anticipation and he bowed his head as he was forced to retreat, bringing his queen back down the board to protect his cornered king and to also be in position to recapture the black queen should Quatre bring the pawn that final step forward.
The game, suddenly moved very quickly. Quatre pounced forward, bringing the leader of his stacked rooks right down the board till it sat, threatening the white queen. Treize froze. He couldn't put the queen back into play.. he'd leave himself open to check. None of his pieces were in position to take the rook, they were either defending the white king, or pressing the attack on the black king. Treize looked up over at Quatre as he brought the queen down the board, taking the black rook.
Quatre met his gaze directly as he rammed the second black rook home, capturing the white queen and leaving the coast clear for the single black pawn to jump forward one more square... reclaiming the black queen to the board.
"Check." Quatre spoke politely.
Treize positioned his knight to block the black rook and Quatre smoothly brought the pawn into the corner square. Treize once more, bowed as he swapped out the black pawn for the black queen. He then shifted his bishop, trying to bring the piece back into a position where he could better defend his king.
Quatre pressed the advantage. He brought the rook forward, capturing the white knight and once again his sweet tones echoed in the room. "Check."
Unable to take the rook, Trieze was forced to move his king out into the open. Quatre quickly pounced forward with his re-aquired queen. In two moves, he used the rook and the queen to pin the white king, capturing the game with a gentle but firmly spoken...
"Mate."
Treize studied the board. Reaching forward, he carefully knocked over the white king, acknowledging his defeat. Looking up, he met and held the aqua gaze. Quatre said nothing, the young man was completely still but there was an expectant air about him.
Treize made a languid gesture with his hand and toggled a switch on his desk. A voice immediately answered an unheard page.
"Yes, your Excellency?"
"Send Dr. Urthan to cell block A-4. He is to treat the injured prisoner."
"Sir." Came the smart response and Kushrenada turned off the communicator.
Quatre did not relax his guard but he leaned back from the desk, taking the pressure of the intensity of his body language off Kushrenada, retreating from the older man's personal space. Treize smiled inwardly. He appreciated the gesture, though it was needless. He'd long ago learned how to function with people crowding him.
Treize leaned back. He studied Quatre at his leisure. Time was his ally at the moment and he used it to take control of the game back. Quatre was aware of the ploy. He'd often been left cooling his heels in front of his father's desk, waiting while Master Winner glared at him for some youthful indiscretion.
Quatre's eyes twitched as he made the error of letting himself think of home. Of the colonies. The colonies he and the others were supposed to be protecting. A job none of them could until they found a way to escape.
Kushrenada smiled slightly as his keen eyes caught the barest fidget from his enemy. "I imagine it is difficult to be patient."
Quatre forced himself to take a slow, measured breath. He linked his fingers and rested his hand casually on the tops of his thighs. He refused to rise to the bait. Once more, Treize had to swallow a smile. He could remember the very same etiquette lessons. For a moment, Treize wondered how many times Quatre had to hold tacks between his palms before he got the perfect distance between his hands.
"I had to hold the tacks over 134 times before my governess was pleased with my effort." Treize remarked in an off handed manner, nodding towards Quatre's clasped hands.
A wary look came into Quatre's eyes. The change in conversation threw him a little. He was uncertain of it's meaning.
"I... mmm... 67, I believe." Quatre decided to play along for the moment.
Treize inwardly smiled. He had control of the conversation. Quatre was following. It was a minor victory but at least the conversation was not meaningless.
"Very dutiful of you." Treize spoke smoothly.
Quatre couldn't quite stop the small grin that danced on his lips. Treize caught it and pounced quickly.
"Though I imagine that flying a Gundam, is not dutiful of you." He said it in an off handed tone but the words caused Quatre's head to snap back up, bright eyes flashing angrily.
Treize allowed himself to smile. "Even adversaries can have something in common. Do not let it soften your feelings towards your enemy. You can not afford to let down your guard."
Quatre's cheeks flushed a bit and he looked back down at his hands. Treize found himself inwardly puzzling at his own actions. Why was he teaching this boy? This boy and the other four were his enemies.
Standing suddenly, Treize stepped around his chair, looking out over the courtyard of the base. "Dr. Urthan should be with your team mate by now. The guards outside the door will take you back to your cell."
Quatre lifted his head, studying the broad back with a quirked brow. He had said nothing, yet he got the feeling that the dismissal was a retreat. For Treize.
Standing gracefully, Quatre gave the broad back a sketch of a bow, knowing Treize could seem his reflection in the window panes. He turned and moved away from the desk, towards the door. He was reaching to open it when Kushrenada's voice drew his attention back to the desk.
"I would like a rematch. Tomorrow." It was both, request and command. Treize did not turn from the window but now there was an expectant air about him.
Quatre tilted his head slightly. Studying the older man and feeling a quick hint of something... control.... washing over him.
"My pleasure." Quatre answered formally.
End Part 2
Laekin
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