Title: Checkmate
Pairing: Joel/Mike
Author: kazokuhouou

Mike picked his hand up, reconsidering the move he was about to make. True, if he moved there, he could take out one of Joel�s knights, but that would leave a couple of his pieces vulnerable to capture. He changed his mind and moved in another direction. Capturing a pawn was not as big a coup as capturing a knight, but it was still one less piece on the chessboard.

Joel stared at the board for a minute, then castled his rook.

Mike kicked himself (metaphorically speaking) for not foreseeing that. Now he was going to pull some tricky maneuvers if he didn't want to end up in checkmate.

Or he would have to distract Joel somehow.

As he moved a bishop, he thought that idea over. Joel always said that the two things that would pry his attention away from something were the bots blowing something up...and Mike.

He began to smirk. Joel arched an eyebrow as he moved another pawn. Mike looked at the board as he quietly removed a shoe.

As Joel leaned forward, Mike lightly rubbed his foot against Joel's leg. He jumped in his seat, not expecting that. Mike pretended that everything was normal and no-he-was-not-turning-Joel-on-to-win-a-game. Joel visible gulped as he moved a knight.

Mike saw his chance. As he picked up Joel's pawn and fiddled with it (showing off his hand), he moved a rook two squared up and hoped Joel took the bait.

But first, he had to pry his eyes away from Mike's fingers. Mike pulled his hand under then table. Joel opened his mouth to protest, but shut it and made the first move he saw.

He took the bait. Now his king was vulnerable to attack, with no one to defend him. Mike quickly moved his queen to right in front of the king; no matter where the king went, he couldn't escape.

Mike stood up, leaned over so he was right near Joel's ear, and whispered "Checkmate."