Work Text:
The box of checkers rattled as Joel shook it in front of her face, a small smirk occupying his. He’d found the game in an old apartment they’d camped out in, and after explaining the rules to Ellie in a short, stumbling way, they decided to play.
She didn’t tell him she’d played before, back in Boston with Riley. Ellie figured she could use that to her advantage.
She did want to win, after all.
Joel finished laying out the pieces on the board and nodded at her. “You first, kid.”
Ellie scrunched her face in mock concentration and moved her piece, enjoying the way Joel’s face softened as he watched her.
The game went on for a little while longer, before Ellie raised her hands in triumph. “Aha! King me, motherfucker.” She said, stacking her piece with another as she made it to Joel’s side of the board.
She preened and waved to an imaginary audience as Joel stared calmly down at the board.
“Hm. Alright.” Joel said, and picked up his piece, hopping four of her pieces and King-ing his own.
He looked up at her with that same stupid smug smile he got when he shot Tommy’s dumb rifle.
“What. The fuck.” Ellie said, staring down at half of her pieces laying to the side of the board.
Joel shrugged. “Maybe you should pay more attention instead of gloating.”
Ellie picked up one of the checkers off the ground and threw it at his head. “Maybe you should be nicer to me.”
Blowing out a deep breath, Joel hummed. He shook his head. “No, I think I’d rather win.”
“You dick!” Ellie laughed, throwing another piece at him. “I’ll show you!”
Joel smiled at her, and Ellie felt happy.
Yeah, okay.
She could get used to this.