"You're good at this..." Sabo mumbled, scratching his chin as he pondered on his options as he watched the black and white squares of the chessboard. He took a bishop in hopes of having it destroying on of your knights. He smirked as he hit the piece sending it out of the board, but shivered as your smile didn't falter.

"You shouldn't leave your king in such a vulnerable position, Sabo-kun. I thought you knew that." Crap, he thought, seeing how you moved a rook in order to definitely check his king, and grinned widely. "Checkmate."

"Hmm, dammit." He breathed, pressing his cheek against his palm in what looked like bored fashion. "What were we betting again?" Your smirk grew wider as you mimicked his pose.

"We never betted." You sighed, and he flinched at the mischievous look on your eyes. He, however, loved how out-going you had become when around him, although if it meant constant teasing; constant teasing that he would, for sure, give back. "Aren't you tired?"

"What do you mean?" The blond asked, tilting his head in question. You could feel your eyes gleaming at the memory of that time when he saved you, and got angry. Ever since then, you haven't seen him like that since then, but you had to admit that he looked firing hot when he was angered.

More now than before you were curious if he would break into fire since he got his deceased brother's Mera Mera no Mi...

"I'm just asking if you're tired of losing." You cleared your throat as you saw his eyes widen, as well as his pupils turned slightly smaller. You stuck your tongue out. "Just kidding. You're just not used to this kind of games, are you?"

"Are you trying to anger me?" He asked with false sweetness, and you bit your lip in frustration. It wasn't false sweetness, actually. He always reacted like that when you tried to get him angry, which was pretty often.

"Maybe..." You responded mysteriously, which got him rolling his eyes playfully. He leaned over the table in order to look deep into your eyes.

"I should be the one asking if you're tired of this." Shaking your head was everything you did to answer him, and he sighed. "I'm sure you don't want to get me angry."

"Oh, but I do." At that last comment, he closed his eyes as if submerged in deep thought and, perhaps, even frustration; he opened them finally before getting up, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips, without you seeing it.

"We'll see..."

You didn't see Sabo the rest of the day, but you didn't mind actually. You had managed to entertain yourself with Koala, the only one – besides Sabo – able to rise some colors onto your cheeks. 

"So you don't fear the consequences of him getting angry?" She asked, wiggling her thin eyebrows, and you scoffed; seemingly, your confidence had disappeared much sooner that it was expected, and wanted.

"I'm just curious." You mumbled, fidgeting with your fingers as the sight of an infuriated Sabo came to your mind; his sweet and kind side was nice, but if he got really serious, or even annoyed, you were sure he looked gorgeous. 

"Things may backfire you, (Y/N)." The crazier girl warned you, but you just decided to wave it off. Seeing that it was already late night, you went to sleep, not feeling hungry, again. It was the third night in a row that you skipped dinner. You were actually worried about what could happen if Sabo got carried away in anger. But nothing could happen...

...It's just a game... right?

The next morning, you woke up thirty minutes earlier than usual. Koala was still sleeping, so you just left the room and went to the kitchen to make yourself some breakfast.

As you entered the room, you were surprised with Sabo's presence; usually, he was one to oversleep, what was he doing up so early? 

You smiled softly and walked towards him, watching how he chewed on a toast as his gaze seemed to be far away through the window.

"Hey." You greeted, waving your hand. However, he didn't answer you. He didn't even look at you. You tilted your head at this, but decided to let it slip off since maybe, and just maybe, he was too sleepy. 

You got yourself some juice and drank it all in a gulp, sighing afterwards. And when you looked back at Sabo... you realized he had left. A questioning grumble left your lips.

"What's with him today?"

Things didn't stop there. Later that day, you came out of the base to train. Sabo was already there, practicing with his own skills, and greeting everyone that came next to him and joined him. He didn't look sleepy anymore, so you braced yourself and strolled towards him.

"Hello, Sabo." You called, getting your weapon of choice ready. "Wanna duel?" You offered with a soft smile. But, once again, he ignored you. He stretched and made his back creak, then left without even sparing a glance at you. And you were left alone to train. 

You then went to the kitchen, and asked the cook if it was okay for you to make lunch that day; the man accepted, and you got to work. You were definitely going to snap Sabo away from whatever strange curse he was in!

Some hours later, you had made food for every member of the Revolutionaries, and the galley started to get busy and loud. You smiled to yourself as Koala came in, knowing that she was always accompanied by Sabo.

But to your surprise, nobody came behind her.

Everyone got their lunches, you included, and went to sit down and dig in. You started eating next to Koala, almost afraid of asking about the blond man. But the brunette noticed your discomfort, and threw a concerned stare at you.

"Is everything okay?" She asked softly. You flinched a bit, realizing that your food was untouched, your mind had being at another place. You shook your head and took a small bite, but Koala wasn't the kind to be easily deceived. "(Y/N)..."

"Okay... I was wondering where Sabo is...?" You whispered, and your friend tilted her head. "I-I mean... he needs to eat."

"I guess he's in his room. You can go and see, if you want to," Nodding your head once, you got up, quickly dashing into the kitchen and coming out seconds later with a tray on your hands. You left the galley being unnoticed, except by your female friend. 

Once in front of his door, you didn't hesitate to come in, so you pushed it open with a foot, and closed it then as you stepped in. There was Sabo, sitting on his desk and reading something. You took a step forward, and noticed that he didn't even flinch.

"I was worried." Was the first thing that slipped from your lips, almost dryly. He didn't answer, and you pursed your lips as you came fully next to him. "So I brought you food."

Again, silence, as his eyes kept dancing onto the inked page. You nibbled on your lip. 

"I... I know I'm not the one to talk since I've... been skipping dinners lately..." You whispered the last part, but your eyes regained a challenging glint after your pause, and you continued. "B-But you need to eat, because you're strong."

You noticed that his lips twitched, but you couldn't tell what caused it. He still continued not paying any attention to you. You left the tray next to him.

"Are you angry at me?" You asked then, gripping your arm tightly. "...Because I don't eat, maybe?" 

He said nothing.

"Or maybe it's because of the teasing?"

He never looked at you, ignoring the food you had made. Especially for him. For him to stop ignoring you. You felt tears tingling your lower lids, and you sniffled a bit.

This is not what I wanted...

Stop ignoring me, please...

"I-I'm sorry." You sobbed, breaking down then. "I swear I won't tease you anymore. I won't skip foods. A-And I won't try to anger you anymore. Please... just don't give me the silent treatment. I hate it..."

He exhaled deeply through his nose. And, finally, he spun around to look at you. It was a small smile that was painted on his lips, but you couldn't say what emotion it reflected.

"That's what I needed to hear." He breathed, bringing you down onto his lap and nuzzling your neck, his smile widening as the breathless gasp you freed seemed to echo in the room. "I told you that you wouldn't like me being angry at you."

"I never said that I wanted you to ignore me." You mumbled ashamed, slowly wrapping your arms around him. "Don't do that ever again, I was scared."

"You were the one asking for it." He chuckled, kissing your forehead. "But it was so difficult to ignore you..." You smiled and giggled a bit.

"Because I'm awesome." 

"No. Because I love you." He grinned as a blush settled on your cheeks, and hugged you tighter. "I won, didn't I?" He breathed out, his breath tingling your neck and making shivers run up and down your back. "Checkmate."