𝙸𝚜𝚗'𝚝 𝙸𝚝 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚜, 𝚁𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙴𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐?

|19| sᴛᴏᴘ ʟɪɢʜᴛs

Trigger warnings: yk we haven't seen skeppy in a while :) 

 Two opposing sides. Too many pieces on the board to count, but each of them have their colour, their choice. Black or white. If only it was that simple. 

Pawns. Was he a pawn? Playing directly for what someone else was manipulating him to, moving only the paths they told him to? Maybe that made more sense than he'd like, so he banished the thought. It was locked into the back corner of his mind, everly persistent and nagging at him. 

The rooks. Straightforward, guarded. No foolishness. He didn't fit that very well. Philza, he hadn't ever talked to him, but the news said he got shit done. Who did more than the commanded arms of police, though? 

Bishops. They can only move diagonally, something Skeppy found odd. He didn't understand why the creator of chess would want that for a piece. Some heroes could be described as bishops. Sound formal, but aren't. Drista. Finnster. Zelk. 

Knights. Strong. Brave. There were some younger heroes who even Skeppy was impressed by; Innit, for example. Purpled. Wilbur Soot, even, though he was older than Zak. 

The queen. The strongest piece. He would've said it was Dream, but Dream still wasn't found. Or, of course, the hero council. 

Maybe the hero council would work better as the king. After all, if someone wormed their way in and killed the spark that powered all the heroes and their societies, it would all fall apart for them. 

Zak stared at the board again, the hologram names flickering in the scarce light from his window. The moon hung in the sky, barely a slit of it left, poking out from film-worthy grey clouds that covered the sky like a veil. Each chess piece was named after someone he knew or knew of. There wasn't enough space to fit everyone, so he got out a second. Too many variables. Too many trick cards. Someone was shuffling the deck and he couldn't keep up anymore. 

He wanted to quit. 

It felt both horrible and reliving to admit that to himself. He wanted to stop. Just give up. Let the villains take over. 

Skeppy let out a wet chuckle. 

Let Darryl fuck over the country. Let him do whatever the hell he wanted. Destroy the government. Burn down the council. Dismantle PIP with his bare hands. Turn everything Skeppy worked so hard to protect and build and turn to ashes. He didn't care anymore. Deep down, he always knew this would happen anyways. 

His hero outfit laid on his bed, ready for whoever he would use it next. The stupid box-shaped mask he had made in grade ten looked back at him, eyes black and shiny like squares of oil. Darryl said it was cute when he doodled it on the side of his papers, and that had been the first time they'd talked. 

Papers were stacked on his desk. Sticky notes were covering one of his walls, the messy writing not legible to read by anyone other than him. Many of them, too, had the stuck-out tongue face drawn on the sides. 

He really was just a pawn. Used and hurt and knocked off the board. Zak only got picked back up because it was funny for inferiors to suffer. He bet that's why the hero society hired him in the first place. To play around with his emotions, give him power, then let Darryl make his walls crumble. He was only not fired, after days of unexplained leave at work, because they really didn't care about him anymore. He had served his purpose. Now he wasn't of use to them. 

No, he was expendable for their plans. 

But that's a shame for them. Because if pawns make it to the other end of the chess board, they become as powerful as the queen. And he was planning out where to move next. 

+*:ꔫ:*﹤　　﹥*:ꔫ:*+ 

"We're doing this? Like, actually doing this?" Tubbo asked anxiously, linking his arm with Maia's and falling in step next to her. She smiled down at him and bobbed her head for a yes. His voice was small when he spoke next. "What about Tommy?" 

"We won't hurt Tommy. I swear it." He lit up slightly at that, eyes crinkling when he smiled. Her dress floated behind the pair as they walked through the sun filled park, flower blooming vibrantly from the fields of green, dandelion seeds drifting through the air and floating by their eyes like small umbrellas. The trees were flooded with birds, nests bundled into the branches hosting blue Robin eggs, pigeons flying over their heads and landing right at their feet. She sprinkled out some seeds which they pecked away furiously at. 

"Want to take the bus?" They started over to the corner of the street, cars whizzing past and rays of sun reflecting off of tall buildings' windows right into their eyes. Maia squinted. 

Tubbo turned to her, opening his empty palms. "You have money for a fare?" She checked her pockets, and to their luck, pulled out a ten dollar bill that she didn't remember stowing away in there. Tubbo flashed a quick smile at her. 

A large, blue city bus turned onto the road, and slowed to a stop where they stood. The doors opened with a soft clang. As they were walking forward to the bus, a red and white blur passed behind them, too fast to see. They were rollerblading across the sidewalks. The skates had white laces with bright beads woven into them, record and music disc stickers on the yellow shoe part, and almost see-through red wheels. Tubbo looked at the person for half a second, just flicking his eyes as he stepped on the small stair. The hurt of loosing your best friend echoed in his bones. 

The interior of the bus was crammed with people, and they had to stand up close to where the driver was sitting. Thankfully, they were totally focused on navigating the busy streets, so they didn't pay attention to Maia or Tubbo. The ride took around twenty minutes, but it didn't feel that long. She blinked and minutes had passed, staring out the sliver of the window she could see between people and backpacks and time slipped by like it was trickling through her fingers, like she was lounging in a space not bound by time. 

When they arrived back at base, Philip was waiting for them at the door, face grim and mouth a thin line. Maia greeted him, per usual. "Boss?" 

He ushered them inside. "Tomorrow." 

"Tomorrow what?" Tubbo inquired, confusion gracing his soft features. Some of his hair fell in front of his eyes, and he brushed it away. 

"Plan N-H. We have to be ready by tomorrow. Unexpected shit came up, and there's nothing I can do." It felt like the air had been sucked out of the room. Sapnap dropped the plate he had been holding, mouth frozen in a gasp as it cracked on the floor. Philip sighed angrily. "The Hero Council made an announcement this morning that they're going to be training the rest of the younger generation of heroes on Friday. Seeing how it's Wednesday, that's way too fucking soon. We have no choice. We have to save them." 

"We're— tomorrow? That's too soon! I won't be able— we can't let them hurt Tommy!" Tubbo cried, water collecting in his eyes and slipping down his cheeks. Fat tears splashed down onto the collar of his shirt while he angrily wiped at his face. Maia put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed three times, turning to Philip with a grim expression. 

"We better get started, then." He nodded. 

They never had enough time anyways. 

a / n 

HELLO IT IS ME AND I HAVE A CONTEST FOR ALL OF YOU 

whoever can figure out the ✨special✨way i write abt bbh gets a prize 

(SPECIFICALLY how people say his name O-O) 

pm me what you think!! also im having a christmas special sometime soon so look out for that :D