Playing a Game

I wrote this for a DeviantArt challenge I'm participating in. We're challenged to write something about our favorite pairing every day. Characters belong to Disney & Victor Hugo.

The beautiful gypsy sat across from Captain Phoebus, her chin resting ever so delicately upon her laced fingers. A secretive flicker in her sparkling green eyes was all the emotion that snuck through her practiced mask. But then, there was always that sparkle in her eyes when she was around the soldier.

Phoebus shifted in his seat, unsettled by her unwavering gaze. He kept glancing down at his pieces on the board, debating his next play. Eventually, he moved his rook three spaces forward, keeping an eye locked on his playing partner.

As soon as he lifted his finger off the piece, Esmeralda swept her queen across the board to daintily knock over Phoebus' king.

"Checkmate," the gypsy said with a grin and a wink, tossing her thick dark curls over her shoulder.

Phoebus stared uncomprehendingly at the board, where his king piece was gently rocking on its side, waving a silent farewell to an apparently incompetent master.

"No one..." the soldier started. He had to clear his throat and begin again. "No one has ever beaten me at chess before."

"And most definitely not a woman, I would think," Esmeralda commented lightly, rising to her bare feet and snatching the small pile of coins off the table. "Don't feel bad, Phoebus. I'm sure you're a very capable strategist when it counts."

The captain continued to stare at the board, at the gypsy's white pieces scattered across the playing field. He mumbled, "I'm a very good strategist period."

"I believe it. When you're attacking cathedrals and rescuing damsels." Esmeralda knelt for a moment to look beneath the table. Two bright eyes blinked back at her. "Djali..." the gypsy grumbled distractedly.

Phoebus silently nudged the little goat with is foot and continued to study the playing pieces. He seemed utterly perplexed as to how this ending had come about.

Djali eventually came tottering out from beneath the table into the gypsy's arms, and Esmeralda rose to her feet, her lilac skirts swirling around her ankles.

"I think I'll go spend some time with Quasi. He seemed too lonely the other day. Who could be surprised, with only stone gargoyles and brass bells for companions up in Notre Dame?" With that, the gypsy turned and started towards the entrance to the room.

Just as she gripped the handle, Phoebus called out, "Wait!"

Esmeralda glanced at him over her bare shoulder.

"I want a rematch," the captain stated firmly.

Shrugging, the gypsy set her goat down and returned to her seat across from Phoebus. As they reset their pieces on the board, there was a bright gleam in Esmeralda's ivy eyes.