Check & Mate

TITLE: Check & Mate
AUTHOR: WotanAnubis
DISCLAIMER: I don't own these characters and am not making a profit.
RATING: NC-17
PAIRING: Lash/Sonja


* * * * *


It was not the anniversary of the defeat of the Black Hole army. Nevertheless, the Wars World COs had decided to throw a party anyway. With peace across the globe there wasn't much to do for these military officers other than endless training exercises, so they'd decided to get together, trade war stories and, perhaps, get incredibly drunk.

Emperor Kanbei had graciously offered to hold the party at his palace and now the once stately ballroom was filled with tables covered in food and drink, speakers blaring modern music and people who clearly didn't know the proper etiquette around an emperor.

And, in a far corner of the room, a table with a chess board.

Even though the music in this corner was as loud as everywhere else in the room it still felt muted somehow and the noise of loud and merry conversation didn't really penetrate this corner. The only sound that could really be heard here was the occasional tapping of a chess piece being moved. Sitting on one side of the table was Sonja, intensely studying the chess board. Sitting on the other side of the table was Lash, intensely studying Sonja.

Lash hadn't been surprised when the invitation had arrived in the mail. When all was said and done, she had fought side by side with the good guys and the strange things about good guys is that a little thing like that makes them think you're one of the good guys as well. It was a pretty silly notion, really, but it was one that made the good guys the good guys. Lash very definitely wasn't one of the good guys. OK, so maybe she wasn't exactly one of the bad guys either any more, but whatever she was, she wasn't a good guy. Girl. Whatever.

Anyways, she'd got invited to the party. It hadn't taken her very long to reach a decision on whether or not to go. When all was said and done, all those 'good guy' COs were a bunch of idealistic morons. Fun to fight, sure, but boring to hang out with. Really, there was absolutely no reason for her to go. If it hadn't been for one little thing, that is.

Actually, it wasn't a little thing. It was a huge thing. Actually, it was bigger than that. It was major.

Sonja.

Sonja stimulated Lash in all sorts of interesting little ways. Sure, she wasn't beautiful or graceful or anything and, frankly, she needed to learn how to relax once in a while. But her mind. Oh God, her mind. It was cold and sharp and analytical and Lash loved it. She was the only girl Lash had ever met who even approached her genius. Heck, the first time they met in person, Sonja had lured her into a trap and managed to obliterate her entire army with a few well-placed rocket launchers.

It had been such a turn-on.

Unfortunately, brilliant though she was, Sonja seemed totally oblivious to the fact that she was extremely good at making Lash very horny. When Lash had suggested to go play a game of chess, she'd... actually, she'd really meant a game of chess. And she was enjoying the game, she really was. She really had to pay attention to what Sonja was doing and she actually had to think about her own moves, which never happened when she was playing against anyone else. It was just that matching wits against Sonja in full tactical mode also made her really wet. Clearly, something needed to be done.

"Romantic, isn't it?"

"Hmm?" said Sonja, not looking up from the board. "What is?"

"Those two," said Lash, nodding towards the dance floor.

Sonja looked up and towards the dance floor. The music being played wasn't really for dancing, but more for background and setting a cheerful mood. Nevertheless, Jess and Sasha were dancing as if it was the most romantic lovesong ever played.

"I suppose," said Sonja.

"You suppose?" said Lash. "Look at 'em, her all dolled up in expensive clothes and jewellery and make-up and everything and she just wearing her uniform as usual. It's classic!"

"Classic?"

"You know, the high-born aristocrat and the lowly soldier meeting each other on the battlefield and falling in love and everything. Romantics love that kind of thing."

"I didn't know you had a fondness for romance," said Sonja.

"Well, maybe not romance as such, but definitely love," said Lash, meaning 'lust'.

"Love? Really?"

"Oh yes," said Lash easily. "It's one of the most powerful, chaotic forces on the planet. It doesn't care about standing or etiquette and it's one of the most destructive forces around even when it creates."

Sonja looked Lash right in the eyes and, right now, Lash would've preferred it if the girl hadn't done so. Having images of a naked Sonja writhing in ecstasy suddenly flash through her mind made it really hard to focus on the conversation. Sure, they were delicious in the short term, but Lash tried to do some slightly longer term groundwork here.

"I should've known you would approach the subject like that," Sonja said, although there was little accusation in her voice.

"Well, let's face it, if love was reasonable Jess and Sasha probably wouldn't have fallen for each other the way they have. And besides, you went out of your way to destroy an entire army of mine just because you love your country."

"I suppose you have a point," said Sonja, returning her attention to the chess board. "Check."

Lash looked at the board and frowned. She didn't mind the fact that Sonja's bishop now threatened her king. What she did mind was that Sonja had somehow missed the fact that she'd left herself wide open to a counterattack. All Lash needed to do was put a knight in the bishop's path and it'd be checkmate. Apparently, simply talking to her had distracted Sonja from the game too much. Dammit, she didn't want to win. Well, yes, obviously she did want to win, she just didn't want to win right now. Once the game was over, Sonja might go off and do something else and Lash didn't like the thought of that at all.

Lash moved a rook and took Sonja's bishop.

"Hmm," said Sonja, frowning.

"So what's your opinion?" Lash asked.

"About what?"

"Love, obviously."

"I think it can be beautiful and sometimes terrifying. Other than that, I don't really have an opinion," said Sonja, moving a pawn.

"Well, that's boring," said Lash, placing her queen one square to the left.

"Sorry," said Sonja.

"Oh, don't apologise," said Lash. "I guess you've never been in love before."

"What makes you say that?" said Sonja.

"Well, you probably spend all your time studying tactics and... just studying other stuff as well and I'd imagine that doesn't leave much time for walks in the moonlight."

"I guess," said Sonja as she carefully moved a knight. "How about you then?"

"I think it's safe to say there's someone on my mind," Lash said, moving a pawn.

"Poor guy," said Sonja.

"Guy? When did I say it was a guy?"

"Oh," said Sonja. "Checkmate."

"What do you- wait, what?"

Lash looked down at the board. And there, surrounded by black on all sides, the white king had no place left to escape. With a flick of her finger, Lash toppled the wooden piece.

"Well, that was stimulating," said Sonja, leaning back in her chair somewhat and relaxing.

"You have no idea," Lash muttered.

Sonja turned to look at the dancefloor with a ponderous look on her face. "I don't really feel like rejoining the party just yet," she said. "How about you?"

"I'm up for another game if you want," said Lash.

"I think I've played enough chess for one night."

"Oh," said Lash. "Well, do you wanna go outside for a bit then or something?"

"Much too cold," said Sonja. "Let's go to my room. I have some books you might find interesting."

"What kind of books?"

"Well, your genius certainly helps you out on the battlefield, but it's obvious you never really properly studied tactics. I have some books that can help you out with that if you want."

Lash considered this for a moment. On the one hand, really boring books. On the other, Sonja's bedroom.

"Sure, sounds fun."

-----

Sonja's room was surprisingly big, even though Lash realised she shouldn't be surprised about that. When all was said and done, Sonja was still a princess and this was the imperial palace. It made sense for her room to be big. Yet, somehow, Lash had expected Sonja's room to be small and stuffy and littered with books. There were, it was true, a lot of books here, crammed neatly into several bookcases. There were also some desks and closets and chairs and things, but Lash hardly noticed those. The only thing Lash really noticed about the room, the one thing that flamed in her mind like a shining beacon was the bed. It was an incredibly ordinary bed, but it was still where Sonja slept and (presumably, hopefully) masturbated. It had been such a key element in Lash' fantasies of late that simply being near it would've made her horny if it wasn't for the fact that being near Sonja was more than enough to make her incredibly horny already.

"Nice room," said Lash.

"Uhm... thank you," said Sonja and suddenly her voice had changed in a way Lash had never heard before. She was nervous.

"Lots of books," Lash said.

"Well, I like to read," said Sonja, walking to one of the bookcases and pulling out a book. "'Commander Ciron's Campaigns'. When he was alive, people thought he was mad, but his strategic insight was incredible. I think you'd..." She faltered, stopped and put the book back. "Lash, there's something I need to tell you," she said, her voice losing its nervous edge and gaining one of steel resolve.

Lash sat down on the edge of Sonja's bed. "Really?"

"You're rude, chaotic, frequently insufferable, but... we work well together in battle and I wonder why."

"I stopped wondering about that a while ago," said Lash, leaning back so that she was lying down and looking up at the ceiling with her arms underneath her head. "It's because I'm the only one who lives in your world and vice versa."

"What are- Oh. I see," said Sonja. "You really think so?"

"Well yeah," said Lash. "I mean, you may like your dad and everything, but I doubt he can play a decent game of chess. Actually, he may actually be decent at chess, but that's not enough to beat you, is it? All around you, people with minds that just aren't quite as quick or sharp as yours and that's just dull. And then there's me."

"There is never a dull moment when you're around," said Sonja. "But that's not necessarily a good thing."

Lash giggled. "Aw, but I'm a good girl now."

"No, you're not. You're just not an enemy any more."

Lash raised herself to a more or less sitting position. "Thanks. That means a lot to me."

Sonja gave Lash a cool look. Cool, but not cold. "I'm not in love with you, Lash."

"Me neither," said Lash. "But that's what makes it interesting, doesn't it?"

Sonja sat down next to Lash and took her hands, sending a little spark of excited electricity through the perkigoth's body. And at that point, well, things could have been said, but there wasn't really a need for them any more.

Sonja leaned forward ever so slightly until her lips brushed Lash's. It surprised Lash, for a moment. She'd never dreamed Sonja would be the one to move first. Not that she minded. Lash put her arms around Sonja and pulled her close. Sonja's lips weren't soft and she was a clumsy kisser, but Lash didn't mind that either. Something at the back of Lash's mind knew that this was only the beginning, that there would be other times and, also, that Sonja was really good at learning.

Something else was beginning as well. Sonja's right hand suddenly pressed against Lash's bare stomach and moved down into her short, black pants. Lash tried to keep her lips on Sonja's as the girl explored the wetness between her legs, but gasps and soft moans escaped from Lash's mouth all the same. Lash pulled Sonja as close as she possibly could, nuzzling the girl's neck, breathing deeply. Even though Sonja didn't know Lash nearly as well as Lash knew herself, nevertheless every little movement of her fingers sent pleasure shivering through her body. When the girl closely circled her clit (probably by complete accident), Lash could no longer contain herself and yelped.

"S-sorry," Sonja said. "Was that... painful?"

Lash looked up at the girl, her eyes dark with a lust that blocked rational, coherent thought. Instead she reached up and kissed Sonja passionately, slowly grinding her hips against the girl's hand, increasing her arousal beyond what she thought imaginable. She came quickly, falling onto her back onto the back, gasping for breath. Somehow the orgasm Sonja had given her wasn't as good as when she masturbated, but it was more intense somehow. Sonja lay down on her side next to Lash, her hand still smoothly circling Lash's flesh. Lash opened her eyes, still trying to catch her breath. The animal part of her knew that if she let Sonja keep doing what she was doing she would quickly send Lash into another orgasm. But through that haze of sheer want, Lash managed to gently take Sonja's hand away from her before putting her hands on the girl's shoulders and rolling her onto her back. Sonja looked up at her, her expression mostly unreadable. She raised her hips slightly to allow Lash to lower her green skirt and the unsurprisingly simple panties of white cotton. Lash smiled faintly and put a hand on Sonja.

"Smooth," she breathed.

"I... kind of like it that way," Sonja admitted.

"So do I," said Lash, before going down and kissing Sonja between the legs.

Lash... wasn't quite sure how this thing went, but figured she understood the theory close enough. She kissed and licked her way across the girl's slit, intensely enjoying the heat of her body on her lips and delighting in the small gasps and moans that came with every little touch. Lash looked up briefly to see Sonja looked back at her, her face a blushing red, her mouth open with the effort of breathing steadily. Grinning, Lash ran her tongue from the bottom of the girl's folds all the way to the top, then kissed it again somewhere in the middle. Lash used her hands to spread Sonja before her and kissed her again, this time entering her with her tongue. Lash could feel Sonja's reaction throughout her own body. The girl's back arched and her hands grasped the sheets. Lash played inside of Sonja, the feeling of Sonja's body writhing on the tip of her tongue arousing her greatly.

"L- La-"

Whatever Sonja was trying to say (though Lash felt pretty sure she could guess) was lost as Sonja gasped and shuddered her way through her orgasm. And then, the emperor's daughter relaxed completely. So much even that Lash briefly suspected the girl had fallen asleep. She hadn't. Instead she was smiling at Lash in a way that could only be described as beautiful.

Not in love?

Oh, who were they kidding?

-----

It was... later. The moon was shining through the window because neither Sonja or Lash had bothered to close the curtains. The girls were lying underneath the covers of the bed, holding each other. They were naked, but nothing really sexual had happened since the first time, now a few hours ago. Ocassionaly, they would kiss or whisper. Mostly, they just looked at each other.

"Lash?" said Sonja.

"Hmm?"

"When I threatened your king with my bishop you could have easily mated me, yet you didn't. Why?"

"I was enjoying our talk too much," said Lash. "I didn't want the game to end so soon."

"Oh," said Sonja. "Actually, I did want it to end so soon. I really wanted to show you my room."

Lash smiled and rolled her eyes. "Oh, now she tells me."

Sonja giggled. "Don't worry. I'm sure we'll make up for all that lost time somehow."

"Oooh, is that a promise?" said Lash.

"But of course," said Sonja.