onepieceyaoi100 | For the Consolation Topic

Title: Back to the Checkerboard
Pairing: Shanks/Ben
Rating: PG
Word Count: 300

‘Why’d I let myself get dragged into this? I should know better by now. Damn Shanks.’

Ben stared morosely at the checkerboard, his two red pieces looking forlorn and vulnerable in the midst of the encircling mob of black. Across the table Shanks was leaning back in his chair, satisfied smirk on his face. There was no hope for it. He was backed into a corner, no way to make progress, stuck between suicide and a war of attrition. It wouldn’t have been so bad if this was merely the first game, even the second or third. But it would be the seventh game he’d been forced to resign, unable to claim a single victory. At last he sighed, pushing his chair away from the table.

“Fine. You win.”

“You do remember our wager, don’t ya?”

“How could I forget? You’ve only rubbed it in my face every time I’ve lost.”

“Now, now. No need to be bitchy. I know you. You’ll try ta wiggle out of it if ya can.”

“I will not! I gave you my word.”

“Ya also thought you could win. Don’t know why. You never have before.”

Ben grumbled, rising to his feet. “There’s a first time for everything.”

He walked around the table, resisting the urge to sweep the hated checker set onto the floor. It wasn’t the game’s fault he lost. Nor was there anyone to blame beside himself for the mess he’d gotten into. He stretched out a hand, Shanks taking it with a broad grin.
The captain slung his arm around the first mate’s waist, leading him towards the bar.

“Let me buy ya a drink or two before we head back. Don’t worry. I’ll at least get ya liquored up ‘fore you have to uphold your end of th’ bet.”