A Series of Aru Shah Oneshots

Checkmate

A/N Requested by @HeHaiLiu, who wanted a oneshot with Kara in it! I chose to make it about a chess club. Unfortunately I couldn't include Hira because it only made sense to have an even number of people here. I actually do know how to play chess, but I purposely made it really vague here because I didn't want to invent a whole chess game for just this oneshot.

I couldn't stop myself from making all the fandom references...if anyone counts all the references I made and knows the fandoms they're from, I'll give you a blue chocolate chip cookie!

This is the longest author's note I've ever written. I'll stop talking now. Have fun with this oneshot!

"Hey, Aru!"

Aru looked up as she stuffed her things in her backpack haphazardly. Kara waved at her. "Hey!" she replied.

"How's school been?"

"Um...well..." Aru winced. "Do me a favor and don't tell Mom what my grade is in chemistry?"

"Don't worry, your secret is safe." The corner of Kara's mouth tugged up even as she sighed. "Aru, why don't you ever sign up for tutoring?"

Because Aiden works there. Aru tried to fight back a blush. She stood and slung her backpack over her shoulder. "Eh. I can pull my grade up myself. Anyway, what's been happening with you?"

They started walking down the hall. "The chess club starts after school today, and I know how much you like chess, so..." Kara said.

"Oh! Yeah, I forgot about that. I'm gonna call Mom and tell her. Do you know if anyone else is going?"

"Actually, I already called her and let her know that we were going. I had a hunch you would. I've been practicing, too, so maybe I'll finally beat you." Kara elbowed her playfully.

Aru rolled her eyes. "In your dreams."

"Also...I may or may not have convinced all of our friends to join us."

Aru gaped at her. "Even Brynne and Rudy?"

Kara smiled proudly. "Yup."

"Wow, I'm impressed."

- - -

They'd decided to play in two teams. On Team 1 were Kara, Mini, and Rudy. On Team 2 were Brynne, Aiden and Aru. They'd made pairings by flipping a coin. Rudy and Aiden had played against each other first. To absolutely no one's surprise, Aiden won. Now, Brynne and Mini were going against each other.

Aru crossed her fingers as she watched Brynne deliberate over the chessboard. She moved her queen in the way of Mini's king, while trying to avoid the pawns scattered nearby.

Mini just smiled at the board. "Checkmate."

"Great game!" Kara high-fived her sister, smirking at Aru. "My turn."

Aru took her place at the table, across from Kara. "Now," she said, lifting a hand dramatically, "the teams are tied. Only one person will come out of this challenge victorious, and only one team will win. May the odds--"

"--be ever in your favor," Aiden finished, rolling his eyes as he pulled up a chair to watch the game better. "Again with the references, Shah?"

"You should know by now that my first language is pop culture references."

He flicked her braid over her shoulder. "Yeah, I do know, troll."

She ignored the sudden warmth in her cheeks. "Snob."

"We should have a prize," Brynne suggested. "Losers get to buy frozen yogurt for everyone."

"Sounds good!" Aru said. "I'm looking forward to my cookies-and-cream frozen yogurt already."

"I'm good with that." Kara winked at her sister. "Let's get down to business."

Aru couldn't help herself from finishing under her breath, "--to defeat the Huns."

Kara really had gotten better at chess. Aru found herself second-guessing her moves and studying the board more carefully. Kara captured nearly all of her pawns and a knight and rook apiece. Aru took Kara's knights, horses, and one of her rooks. They were pretty evenly matched.

And then Aru saw an opening.

She schooled her features into a resigned mask. Kara noticeably brightened as she saw the look on Aru's face. She never had been good at playing poker-face.

Good. If someone thinks they've already won, they're less likely to put up a fight.

Aru let Kara take one of her knights. And then slowly, she started to rearrange the board, balance the odds. Kara finally moved her queen within Aru's range, and it was then that Aru finally struck, caging it within her remaining pieces.

"Checkmate!"

Brynne clapped her on the shoulder. "Great game, Shah!"

Aru grinned and sketched a mock bow as she stood. "Thank you, thank you." She glanced back at Aiden, who was watching her with a subtle smile on his face. "No congratulations?"

He shrugged. "I knew you would win."

Kara huffed, shaking her head. "How do you do that?"

"Practice, my young Padawan." Aru flourished as she stood. "Now, I believe there was something about frozen yogurt mentioned..."

- - -

Rudy, in a moment of generosity, had decided to pay for frozen yogurt for all of them instead of just the winners. It probably helped that Mini had kissed him on the cheek when he offered.

They were hanging out comfortably in the outdoor seating. Brynne seemed to be teasing Aiden about something. Mini was finally explaining to Rudy how a microwave worked. And Kara and Aru sat back, watching their friends.

"Can you?" Kara said between bites of her caramel frozen yogurt.

Aru paused, spoon halfway to her mouth. "Can I what?"

"Teach me how to play chess better?"

"Of course. I better start watching my back, though, in case the student becomes the master."

"Oh, you just wait. One of these days, I'll beat you."

Aiden had finished talking with Brynne. Even though he looked at the two of them, he only seemed to smile at Aru.

Something warm curled in her chest when she remembered what he'd said after the game. I knew you would win.

"Probably." She smiled back at Aiden. "But it is not today."