《 Skip a Beat 》

Unfinished business

"Knight to E4... damn! This is brilliant!"

Jacob watched raptly, eyes almost popping out of his head, as his black knight lumbered to its feet and trotted a few squares down, then one right. It reared up on its hind legs and crunched itself down upon Tina's rook, which crushed into smithereens on the board.

"Nice one!" encouraged Leta, peering over Jacob's shoulder with her arms crossed.

Tina couldn't help but sneak a smile at his (still) awe-filled expression. From behind her chair, Newt didn't hesitate to grin.

After all, Jacob had only begun learning to play wizarding chess, and frequently requested games just to watch the pieces rip each other to bits. And still, after their third game that evening, he couldn't stop himself from gawking at it all.

Tina stole a glance behind her.

"What do you say?"

Newt braced his hands on the back of her chair, peering over her shoulder.

"Move that pawn there," Newt suggested finally, gesturing to one of her white pawns positioned across the board.

"But then they can take it! Look- there's a black bishop there..." she murmured back.

"That's the point, Tina," countered Newt. "It could be a distraction..."

Tina threw her hands exasperatedly into the air, however, her radiant beam didn't falter one bit. "A distraction! You thought you'd say that when they're sitting right there?" she chided playfully, gesturing to Jacob and Leta.

"They don't know what we're distracting them from, Tina!" bickered Newt back, also unable to wipe the smile off his face.

"Oh, then why don't you go ahead and tell them?" she snapped back, voice laced with amused sarcasm. "Chess is a game of wits, Newt. Wits. Something that you have a very limited supply of."

"And this is coming from the person who moved their rook there after I told them specifically not to!"

"I got distracted!"

"Exactly my point!"

"Ahh!" Tina gestured audaciously again. "You're being too clever, Newt! Why can't we just play chess like a normal family?"

Newt beamed again, though it was caused by Tina's choice of wording rather than her compliment.

Family.

Yes, they'd started as mostly strangers, when Newt's friends arrived into England for a holiday. They'd become acquaintances with Leta and Theseus, who'd stuck with them and travelled around Europe. They'd morphed into friends after the attack on Newt, which had them all drawn closer over those several months...but now they'd turned into a family.

They could all laugh and joke and tease each other better than actual siblings, but they were all there to pick each other up through the tough times too. They were a kooky, crazy family now.

Jacob crossed his legs up on the chair, staring again at the chess pieces as if they'd get up and dance for him. Leta shook her head at Newt and Tina, as if wondering if they'd ever make a move so they could progress with the game.

"Teen, can you help with dinner? Theo is making a mess!" tittered Queenie's voice, wafting from the kitchen.

Tina wordlessly stood time her feet, then tagged Newt in telling him to continue playing on her behalf.

"Sure," he acquiesced and dropped into her chair, gaze immediately training on the white pawn that they'd argued about earlier.

Tina smiled, then before she could stop herself, leaned back down and kissed him on the cheek. She softly bit her lip, then turned on her heel and swept out of the room.