[chapter one] the queen's gambit

( 2017 ... Dallas, Texas )

A ZESTFUL AND DIGNIFIED MOVE LEFT THE FILE WIDE OPEN. The alabaster-colored papers formed a report of one's flow of thoughts and the blue ballpoint scribbles signified doubts and possible queries of the therapist.

The birds chippered, as the soft sun rays touched the man's slicked-out greyish hair and stopped at his nameplate that was visibly placed at the desk and reflected the sunlight, shining as the most polished trophy. It revealed the therapist's identity.

Dr. Maverick M. Mobius

"So you don't talk to your brother anymore, is that correct?" He wanted to be assured that everything in the documents is exactly to reality.

"The issue about my twin brother... I would like to talk to him but he's persuaded that his journey is the only one that matters. He's selfish as he is praising his own darkness. And if he ever has the opportunity to talk, he chooses my husband to share things with," I sighed when the chit-chat got back to my brother that I don't like to talk about that much since it's hurting me that he doesn't even care.

"What is your husband like?" Mobius asked, taking the file and putting it back on his thigh since he wanted to have a normal conversation with proper eye contact that could possibly establish a bond.

"He's affectionate but... If you ever search up the word stubborn, his face will pop up since he's pretty much the definition. There's no one more stubborn than him," I gestured an explosion with her hands, proudly smiling and nodding at the comparison. 

"I think there would be a few more adepts," he mumbled, taking a slight glance at a framed photo of a girl, his daughter, whose fair wet hair was sticking to her forehead, smiling widely with a life jacket on, holding onto her father's waist.

"Trust me, she's too adorable to take that place. What's her name?" I asked, glancing at the photo of a girl sitting on a jet ski.

"Emma, nevertheless, she encouraged me to call her the Ruler of All Seas ever since I took her to the waters," he chuckled since his mind created a vivid memory of his ten-year-old daughter trying to reach for the sprinkling water.

She loved jet skis as much as he did.

"Take care of her like a gem. To the fullest, I beg you. She deserves the whole world," I declared with blithe twinkles in my eyes that shined, even more, when Mobius locked eyes with me as he was frowning his eyebrows to understand it better.

His forehead creased as his lips puckered in confusion since it was a strange but thoughtful demand.

"Of course, I will give it to her," Mobius laughed it off to get rid of that weird atmosphere that I unintentionally created. "What's up with that?" He was wondering. The wonder is reflected on his face since his brows are slightly raised.

"Mayhaps, it's just a little request from Emma herself," my shoulders shrugged. A tiny smile formed on my coral pink lips but the smile disappeared as the waning feeling ran over my back similar to shivers that aroused whenever my fears approached me. The fear of losing everything was the strongest.

"I'm taking that into consideration." Mobius smiled as well.

His eyes ticked between me and one of the papers that he was holding tightly and it started to crumple on the edges. He shook his head amusedly since he was drowning in his own thoughts.

"But let's keep going, we're running out of time," He was inclined to proceed with this session because of his busy schedule.

"I assure you, we do not," I interrupted him with a calm voice while I was adjusting my navy blue jacket.

"Not likely, I haven't had lunch yet and that's quite a problem if I speak for myself. I tend to be irritated, grumpy, and many other things when I have an empty stomach, so apologies in advance," Mobius explained, and at the end, he raised his hands in a defensive gesture.

He didn't like to be persuaded because he always ended up agreeing but not today.

"How long have you been married?" He continued with his questionnaire.

"I can't say exactly but it feels like an eternity. Love is timeless."

"In what sense?" Mobius tilted his head in my direction, wanting an answer. "Is that something that makes you happy or not?" he added to point out his idea.

I didn't answer.

"Is there anything in particular that makes you happy?" Mobius queried as he was writing notes.

"No, I mean, of course. The world does. But... I can't help thinking that I would be happier if my husband was faithful to me," I sighed since I let the true emotions float to the surface of a stormy sea of my emotions which tried to pull me down like raging waves

"See, he's kind on the inside but on the outside; it's all there in my face every day. . ." I opened up about the things that bothered me the most. Then I paused since I felt how my voice started to tremble.

"Is he cheating on you?" A slight uncertainty overshadowed Mobius' facial expression, lifting an eyebrow.

I shook my head.

"No. Well, he knows that I can see things about others that they can't, and he ignores it. And I'm afraid of that because I'm slowly finding out that he's the one who only cares about himself, although he made a promise to me. It forces me to do things that destroy not only me but the whole universe, tearing it apart, causing a mess, jumping from the happiest moments of my life to another one to keep myself alive, constantly looking for aid, and living as someone else. I have lived enough lives to know what is right and what is wrong. But the universe doesn't want that." I elucidated plainly as my eyes were watering since this monologue hit a broken spot of mine, scattering that thin wall of confidence that was left in me.

"Furthermore, Mr. Mobius, I am convinced you are the one that is able to help me embrace the chaos," I smirked, looking deeply into his eyes as inclement clouds were creating in them.

( Time Variance Authority )

A LOT OF PAPERWORK WAS PILING UP ON RAVONNA'S DESK. The only thing she didn't like to be in charge of deciding whenever the case is important rather than dangerous. Her eyebrows knitted, picking up one of the yellowish files packed up with similarly colored papers, giving her an idea that this variant's case had been lying here for some time.

Ravonna Renslayer was confused why she didn't notice how the file was richly stuffed like a sandwich since bright-colored notes were sticking out of it. 

She picked the file, putting it on her chest, holding it closely since it was one of the most horrendous cases they got to the Time Variance Authority, an organization that kept the reality going.

She came out of her office with a quick walk, passing busy hunters and agents on the way. They were following the rules that were set in the TVA.

Whenever Ravonna caught them doing something different, she gave them a stringent glance that forced them to continue working. She shook her head while she was passing the cafeteria, noticing Mobius sitting at one of the purely white tables preparing to eat his lunch.

This made her stop and change direction, entering the cafeteria with a pleased expression on her round face.

"You know what? It's extremely weird that I always catch you here," Ravonna smirked and sat down opposite him. Mobius had to swallow a bite to defend himself.

"You act like I'm eating all the time," He responded as he was wiping his mouth with a soft blue napkin.

"It is not far from the truth," Ravonna's smirk resonated on her lips for a minute until she became serious.

"Because of what, did fate bring us together today?" Mobius pointed to the file that its color reminded him of lanzones he saw on a picture on a calendar that the TVA had to confiscate.

Ravonna looked down to the folder that was currently lying on the table surrounded by bread crumbs.

"We need to find out before it's too late," she whispered as she leaned closer to him, and quietly pulled Mobius' dish to her since he was so focused, listening intently to her speech.

He was so excited because it sounded like a hard thing to handle, that she wanted to get help until his fork touched air, not salad.

"God damn it! This is literally the third time I fell for it. From all the Loki cases you must have gone crazy since you share with them one oddity, a lokkity as I like to say. Leave my salad alone! It didn't do anything to you! It's not funny, never do it again," He muttered in anger, putting the fork aside, looking desperately at the bowl of salad Ravonna was holding.

"I take that personally." She jumped back to her feet, picking up the file she put aside before and with tilting her head she pointed out they need to leave the cafeteria immediately.

Mobius sighed, looking directly at the salad bowl that was taken from him. Although he was forbidden from protesting, he couldn't leave the salad there alone.

As soon as Renslayer stepped aside, leaving the cafeteria, he took the plastic bowl and tucked the fork to the sleeve of his uniform's pecan jacket, with a scenario in his head, that he's going to throw away the leftovers even though he was the one who finished the meals of others when they were full.

The clatter of Ravonna's loafer shoes echoed down the lightened hall and was followed by Mobius' heavy steps.

However, he stumbled when he wanted to take a bite of a tomato that fell down to the floor, making him jump away and not get his suit dirty.

"My conscience tells me that you forgot the napkin on the table," Ravonna mentioned when he saw his shocked expression in a reflection of a perfectly polished column as he wanted to pick the red splotch from the tiled floor.

She stopped in front of the huge archway that led to a silver double-sided door. She took the tempad from her pocket, opening it and scanning a pulsing line on the display that abruptly rose.

When she closed the tempad, the doors opened without Ravonna putting an effort to knock on it.

"At least I didn't forget to bring manners," Mobius chuckled while biting the romaine salad that he almost choked on, pointing out that he always got in trouble when he didn't knock.

"Oh, zip it off, Moby. You just literally made a mess and you will still pontificate. That's simply rude. Also... there's something on your teeth, darling," Ravonna grinned, swirling her finger around her teeth to guide him to the exact place where the remnants of the salad were. 

Thereafter she smiled brightly as she entered the uniquely decorated hallway that was leading to the headmistress' office.

Mobius rolled his eyes when she tried to silence him with such a stupid note, that wasn't even true. He examined himself in the mirror that was on his left, making sure that he looks good as usual since the pecan uniform complemented his grey hair perfectly.

He adjusted the little strand of hair that was on his forehead, slicking it back, and finally as he reached to enter the office he threw the salad to the nearest trash can to remain professional.

"You better protect your king!" Miss Minutes declared with a pitchy voice as she moved a bishop piece closer to it.

I frowned my eyebrows, scanning the tiles on the chessboard.

"That's why I did that thingo there, now you cannot get any closer,'' I mentioned, leaning on the leather chair with a leer on my lips, while my hand was brushing through my blonde locks.

"Oh, I'm worried that's cheating, ma'am," Miss Minutes scowled as her big and empty pupils flared with regret that she even decided to play chess with her in the first place.

"No, it's tactics," I shook my head, "I was just helping you to realize what to do next, but you don't have an extra wheel there to do so," My mouth twitched, propping my head with a hand.

"I'm so sorry to interrupt you, both, but I need to talk to to the headmistress," Ravonna with skepticism decided to talk as she entered the office that looked like one of the 1950s business offices since the walls were bright colored with a contrast of wooden details of the panels that separated the room from bookshelves.

"I didn't hear knocking," I raised my index finger as a warning as I was slowly turning to the direction where the newcomers were standing.

"Believe me, I said that earlier too," Mobius tried to make a joke out of it, but a grin revealed his teeth exactly in the time I locked my eyes with him.

"The judge Renslayer was right, there's something on your teeth indeed," I mentioned, indicating that she wasn't lying and wanted him to be better at something, making my smile distort.

Mobius' eyes widened in awareness that he didn't look closely at all and now was embarrassed because of his mistake, putting the hand of his mouth.

"Can I have a mirror?" He asked politely since he wanted to see what these ladies were talking about. I nodded, handing out one of the pocket mirrors that I had in my purse.

"Thank you so much, Headmistress," Mobius, as humble as he was, thanked me, stepping aside in front of the light, opening the mirror, and taking a look.

I almost forgot about the fact that Miss Minutes disappeared because of how much she was startled by the unexpected guest appearances.

"Is it better, Headmistress?" Mobius questioned, grinning widely to show his teeth. I nodded, restraining the disgust that suddenly appeared as he showed his teeth. It was very random.

With Miss Minutes' disappearing, I finally had more time to think about the strategy because the only thing I did was that I based my play moves on the moves the annoying clock wanted to do.

That was one of the best things about the curse of all knowledge, using it to advantage.

"Call me Enigma, please," I begged him. I didn't like to be referred to as the headmistress even though that was my purpose and the title that everyone went with I didn't want to be taken as someone with higher status.

"Also, I can't express my gratitude enough, you literally saved my patience. Who thought that playing chess with a clock would be so time-consuming," I chuckled, sliding the chessboard away, not thinking that the chess pieces wouldn't be at their places anymore.

I needed to make a space since my antique desk was so cluttered with packed-up documents and souvenirs from all of the timelines and alternative realities that I had visited.

"We're glad," Ravonna expressed how she was relieved that I didn't push them aside to finish the game even though I already knew that I was going to win.

A woman with curly hair and skin that was darker than almond milk, stepped closer with a hand reaching out to me as she was holding the yellowish file.

"I know, you don't like to solve cases and leave these to me as one of the judges, but we have to do something about this Variant and I mean that immediately," Ravonna Renslayer expressed her thoughts that he received as she was looking through the cases that have been deferred.

I took the file since she begged me to, wondering what variant would be so destructive.

"They are causing chaos, playing the roles of several Gods at once," Ravonna explained it to me with a strict and a wave of anger that crawled up inside her voice, making it more noticeable.

My eyes widened, as I never heard about this one before. My forehead creased after I realized what all of this was about since I met the variant itself before.

"I believe that they can corrupt the TVA in a snap, obeying our security system, possibly destroying one of the time branches," Ravonna snapped as she was getting dramatic, giving it the right atmosphere, putting her hands back on her hips, clutching the fabric of her uniform.

"I think I made a connection with this person before," The worry in my voice could be heard from afar because I didn't know that this case would want to be solved in any way.

„What are you talking about, Headmistress? Who's the Variant?" Ravonna interrogated me with many questions that she wanted to be answered but my thoughts weren't in the right place.

"Someone I know."