[ Chess 2 ]

Geoffrey's eyes slowly went to the weapon resting on the table, then to the one who conjured it.

"The games we've played felt pretty real to me..." started Geoffrey.

Levi grabbed the weapon, pointing at the ground next to him and fired a shot.

The gunshot resounded loudly, smoke exiting the muzzle.

"I won't exert myself here. I know you're smart enough to understand that if you don't do what I say, the next bullet goes through you."

"Yeah. I know."

Geoffrey sighed, looking at the pieces before him.

If playing textbook moves is what triggers him, then maybe I should play a famous game? But he's likely to know the famous games, and those are the only ones I've ever studied. 

He closed his eyes a moment, breathing in.

"Play seriously," said Levi.

Geoffrey opened his eyes again, his neutral gaze set on Levi, and the gun he was holding once more.

"Alright."

He extended his arm, moving a pawn forward.

Levi put the weapon down, and matched his move.

The sound of the pieces hitting the board resounded again, this time more aggressively.

Everytime Geoffrey made a move he looked at his opponent, noting a slight frown each time he moved his pieces.

"Really?..." said Levi under his breath.

Levi locked his hands and rested his chin on them while he looked at the board.

He then slowly extended his hand toward his king, one of his last remaining pieces.

Geoffrey, in a similar fashion, only had a handful of pieces remaining.

"You enjoyed this, huh?" said Levi, moving a piece.

"What do you mean?" asked Geoffrey.

Levi pointed at Geoffrey.

"You've been staring at me, smiling. Deviously smiling, might I add."

Geoffrey raised his hand, touching his own face, feeling his own expression.

I'm smiling?

He could feel it at the tip of his fingers. He then looked at the board. There weren't many moves remaining.

After minutes of careful planning, Levi moved his king. Yet, it took a few seconds for Geoffrey to answer with his own king move.

Levi frowned, looking at his opponent. Geoffrey's cold eyes were staring at him. 

He could see it in Levi's eyes, the confidence seeping through the cracks. 

"Let's play another," suddenly said Levi.

Levi quickly reset the board, giving his opponent the white pieces once more.

Geoffrey moved his first piece, and Levi grabbed his own forehead as his eyebrows arched.

"Really? You're doing a different opening now?" said Levi.

Levi pushed a pawn forward, intensely staring at the board, yet he could still feel Geoffrey's gaze hovering above him. 

This conscience that zeroed-in on him. As if he could see through him, no matter where he went. 

"Again," said Levi.

He reset the board, and they played once more.

This time, however, Levi truly gave it his all, even forgetting who he played or where he was.

But he could hear it.

When he moved his own piece, he could hear Geoffrey's chuckle.

"Really..." said Levi.

He moved his king, barely any pieces remaining on both sides again.

Expecting a quick answer from Geoffrey, he waited to see his move yet none came.

"What is it?" said Levi.

"You lost."

Levi raised his eyebrows, looking at the board once more.

"We're fairly equal, right now," said Levi.

"We're not."

Geoffrey moved his king in one quick move.

"Really..." let Levi out.

The game continued for a few moves, the outcome already sealed.

Levi knew it.

Every move forward felt like just a little bit was taken from him.

Like time is inevitable as every second passes, every move brought him closer to defeat. 

He was the one who conjured a weapon, yet he was the one staring down a barrel, taking a step closer at every move.

"The way you play says a lot," finally said Levi.

He extended his arm, grabbed his king and laid it sideways one final time.

"you win," said Levi.

"Well played," said Geoffrey.

"Well played? I've played the greatest players, and while you don't come close to them, I fear you as much as I feared them."

Geoffrey exhaled, his gaze on his opponent.

"I heard what they said in the classroom after the incident with Leo. I'm not the only one who realized it, a handful probably did too. You've already made a move. I can tell from this game, whatever move you've done wasn't from the real you."

"The real me?" 

"The one who recklessly exchanges pieces until we inevitably reach the endgame. The Geoffrey who chuckles at every move while his opponent is barely able to think straight while forced into trading every piece he has. You're an endgame prodigy. Just, the way you get there is reckless. You could've tried and checkmated me many times before..."

Geoffrey stood up, and took a few steps away from the table, before turning back.

"I know your real gift," said Geoffrey. "It doesn't work on me."

He then turned away to leave the park, stopping once more as Levi yelled behind him.

"This is it?!"

He looked at Levi once more.

"What do you mean?"

"You're telling me you know my gift and leave?! Where's the person I just played chess with?! You're back at being a passive? Where's the reckless moves?! You're just leaving?!"

Geoffrey sighed again, as if disappointed.

"Life isn't a game of chess."