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“I didn’t think you were a fan of chess,” Satan spoke up, refusing to meet their eyes and instead looking at the chessboard.
They smiled, ignoring the silent question. “I’m not.”
Torn between telling them they didn’t have to be here if they didn’t want to be and he would hold no grudge against them if they left, but also not wanting them to leave, he simply asked;
“Why did you ask me to play then?” He felt a brief spark of irritation at the implication they’d wasted his time and weren’t even enjoying the activity.
“Don’t look so scorned.” They smiled in amusement. “It’s not the chess I find enjoyable, it’s you.”
Satan fingers froze around his knight, cheeks dusted a rosy pink. “Ah, how so?” He desperately tried to sound composed. They may just have been attempting to throw him off his game.
“Did you know that every time you play a game of chess, it’s likely that sequence of moves has never been done before?” Their eyes remained fixed on his hand as he moved his piece, not making eye contact.
“I did,” He confirmed, wiping his other hand on his clothes under the table. Why did they change the subject?
“I figured you might. I think that’s something you enjoy about it. That while you can guess, you’ll never really know how the game is going to go. It’s a battle of wit and strategy.”
Oh.
Their eyes moved just as much as their lips as they surveyed each piece on the board. Then, they reached over to move one; a move they seemed quite pleased with, given how their smile widened subtly and their eyes narrowed in humour.
“It just shows on your face, I guess. It’s an expression I quite enjoy looking at.”
Satan swallowed, trying to gather his words and not sound like a fool, “So you pay attention to my face?”
It didn’t sound quite as smooth as he’d hoped, more awkward than anything.
“The eye is often drawn to beautiful things. It’s one of my favourite expressions of yours.”
Why were they so smooth? Satan bit his tongue in frustration. He sounded like a fool by comparison, trying to be smooth and just sounding flustered.
“Oh, really?” He cleared his throat. “And the others?”
They raised one eyebrow, but chose not to scrutinise. “That’s a rather loaded question. Are you going to make a move?”
Satan was either dreaming or his brain had short circuited. Surely they hadn’t just said that. That wasn’t even flirting anymore, just blunt honesty.
“What?” He blurted out articulately.
“It’s your turn,” They explained patiently, “you haven’t moved any of your pieces yet.”
“Oh- Oh, right.” He swallowed nervously again. Surely they knew what they were doing? No wonder they had such a good grade in Seductive Speechcraft. When they didn’t burst out laughing, anyway.
“When you see one of your favourites on the breakfast table.” They said, their eyes on him and his on the board, trying to force the blood out of his cheeks.
“What about it?” He really was on fire today, ten out of ten for oracy, articulacy, and intellect.
“Your expressions? Or was that a rhetorical question?”
It was entirely too hard to split his focus between the conversation and the game, something he could normally do with ease.
“No, I just- uh,” He didn’t know what to say, “Continue.”
‘Bossy’, they thought humorously, and obliged anyway. “When you remember it’s Levi’s turn to choose the family activity.”
“He always chooses the beach!” Satan fumbled, defending himself in indignation.
“What’s wrong with the beach?” They were definitely making fun of him. He knew they already knew why he didn’t like the beach, they were just teasing him!
“I thought you would understand! You can’t read books at the beach.” He rebutted quietly, his embarrassment evident.
Although the blush on his cheeks was gorgeous, they graciously refrained from teasing him, simply responding, “No, I suppose you can’t” and taking out one of his remaining pawns.
“And Lucifer always complains if I try and stay on the beach to read. I swear he only does it to annoy me. ‘If we come to the beach, you need to go in the sea.’ I don’t have to do anything!” He ranted, so engaged with his mini speech he didn’t even properly process what move they had made.
“It’s not so bad. If all you do is read, how will you ever find a partner to make you a cup of tea when you’re too busy reading, or tell you to go to sleep so you don’t keep telling yourself ‘one more chapter’, hmm?” They smiled, narrowing their eyes at him knowingly.
He responded defensively, “I’ve been better about that lately!”
They couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, because I make you!”
“Hey, you’ve got no room to criticise, you don’t even like chess.” He widened his eyes playfully.
They watched as he made his move, smiling and rebuking, “I never said anything about disliking it, it just doesn’t particularly interest me.”
“Okay, well then I’m going to make you like chess.” He said, putting their tower he had just taken off to the side.
“Oh really?” They countered verbally and in game.
“Yes, really.” He stared them down, making them smirk mischievously.
“Funny, ‘cause...checkmate.” Their voice lowered on the last word, watching his expression in greedy delight as he realised what had happened.
“No!? What the hell?” He sounded shocked, smiling involuntarily. “I thought you said you didn’t play chess!”
They stopped giggling long enough to correct him. “I said it didn’t interest me, not that I wasn’t good at it.”
“So what, were you just trying to distract me the whole time?” Satan remained light-hearted, knowing he had no right to feel hurt.
“Everything I said was true. Although I think I have a new favourite expression of yours.... losing suits you. We’ll have to play together more often.” With another flash of that devious smile, they got up to leave.
Satan blushed at the innuendo - was it intentional or was he just reading too far into it?
“Yeah, I’d like that.” He agreed, nodding at them.
“Excellent.”
Satan cursed as they closed the door behind them. Both the game and conversation had been a battle of wits.
And he’d lost. Spectacularly.