Being in a Relationship with Beth Harmon-
A/N - This is a headcanon/story (idk how to describe it) about being in a relationship with Beth Harmon. This takes place many years after where the book ends (Post-Borgov win). Also in this story, you have a sister.
Story Context - Beth's reign as one of (if not the) best chess player to ever exist is still happening. She's winning tournaments left and right; her name value is skyrocketing, and she finally has it all. Except one thing.
After the Borgov win, she flew back to America and gotten closer to Benny Watts. They began a romance that spanned 2-3 years. But, there were problems in their lives that stopped them from fully having a normal relationship. Beth and Benny's relationship was troubled by their lives outside of chess. She had loved Benny—or at least she loved the way their minds clicked in sync when discussing the game. But, that was the problem. When they weren't talking of the Sicilian Defense or Alekhine's Defense, they were strangers making love in a bed; waiting for the next to make a move so the other could dissect and counteract with another move. There was love at the beginning, but soon they went their separate ways.
Beth received a letter in the mail in the Summer, inviting her to Atlanta for a chess tournament. It wasn't a offer to compete, but more of a public appearance to drum up some hype for the tournament. The offer was for $100 and maybe a game against the winner
Beth reluctantly agreed; wanting to get out of Lexington for a bit and certainly not turning down $100 to go on a small vacation
The tournament was a pretty well attended gathering of people from all different races. Beth was a bit overwhelmed by how popular she was in the American south. A good handful of people stopped her and told her how inspiring her win against Borgov was and how she inspired them or their children to take up Chess.
One person though caught her eye. Your sister Tiffany. A ten year old that moved the chess pieces with the terrifying precision that made Beth's chest ache with recognition.
After the matches were over, Beth was at the hotel cafe drinking on a coffee and reading through some new book about a girl name Carrie White. She felt a tug on her shirt and there she saw Tiffany. Tiffany was start struck and stuttered through asking for an autograph.
"M-M-M-Ms. Harmon," she held up a pen and a piece of paper, "would you mind? I-I-I'm a huge fan."
Beth felt a rare warmth in her stomach as she took the pen and paper from the little girl's hand. "Of course, Tiffany. Your game against Miller this evening was brilliant. Your endgame is very mature."
Tiffany's face lit up with a kind of genuine glow that Beth was not used to seeing on the circuit.
"Tiff!" A voice called out. You came walking from behind them and kneeled down to eye-level with your sister. "I've been looking all over for you. The car's double parked and we gotta get home before—"
"Y/N! It's her! It's really her. Can you just wait a couple more seconds?" Tiffany asked as she gestured wildly to her idol
"Y/N," Beth thought. She looked at your sister and looked at you. The first thing she noticed was that you had kind eyes; eyes that didn't look like they were calculating three moves ahead. They just looked, concered
"Sorry, Ms. Harmon. My sister didn't mean to interrupt your private time," you smiled. "She's been jabberin about meeting you ever since the papers said you'd be here. I try to keep her on schedule, but she's just a bit faster than me." You offered your hand and she accepted
"I-it's no trouble," Beth uncharacteristically stammered. She looked back down at the paper and finished the autograph. She handed the paper to Tiffany. Tiffany thanked her, clearly wanting to talk to her more, but you insisted that dinner and going to bed on time was more important
The next day, during a certain break from action (there was a small fire in the lobby, causing all play to be paused until the firefighters were done checking everything). Beth was in the very back of the hotel playground, standing in the shade and trying to protect herself from the summer heat; she smoked a cigarette and wondered when things were going to start feeling normal again—if they ever would.
Off to the side she heard a conversation being had. "I'm nervous about it Y/N."
She recognized that voice. It was Tiffany. Beth looked over just enough to not make herself look like she was eavesdropping and saw you pushing your sister on the swing set.
"If I lose today, I won't get the invite to the junior open and then I'll have to start all over again."
"Tiff, you're a fantastic player. I don't know the difference between a knight and a rook, but what I do know is that win or lose; it's not the end. If you win, we'll go get some milkshakes and I'll be the luckiest sibling in the world. If you lose, we're still getting milkshakes and I'll still be luckiest sibling in the world. Win or lose, I'm proud of you and I'll always be proud of you."
The words hit Beth like a physical blow. She never experienced something like that growing up. She never had that person in her life to say "I'm proud of you for who you are." With Benny, it felt like she was always having to meet him at his level instead of them finding a middle ground. With everyone else in her life, they were always intimidated by the myth, the legend of BETH HARMON
Brining the cigarette to her lips she accidentally knocked her elbow against a brick wall, causing a bit of ash to hit her skin. She let out a hiss of pain.
She looked up and saw you squinting through the sunlight and she noticed it again. The eyes, the concern.
"Miss Harmon? Is that you?" You walked a bit closer. "You okay? You look a little bit pale."
"I'm fine. The air here, it's a bit... much." She waved dismissively.
"This Atlanta heat sure is something. You want me to get you a water or anything? It's no trouble at all." You smiled. Beth felt something in her chest she couldn't describe, nor wanted to even acknowledge.
A minute or two later, you had convinced her to sit on a bench nearby the swingset. You got a water bottle from your bag and gave it to her. You sat at a respectable distance from her while you both watched Tiffany swing.
"She worships you, you know? After your win against Borgov she just became enthralled with the game. But I try to remind her that there's a life outside of those sixty-four squares. I don't want her to be thirty and realize she forgot to have a life."
Beth felt the words settle deep into her mind. I'm exactly what you're afraid she'll become, she thought.
"You're a good sibling," Beth managed to say.
You turned to look at her. Your expression was unreadable to her, but there was a warmth there; one she hadn't seen in a while. "Y'know, you look like you haven't had a milkshake in awhile, Miss Harmon. How about when the game is over, you'd accompany us to go get one? I'm sure Tiff would just explode at the news."
NONONONONO, You don't know what you're doing. Her inner thoughts were going crazy. You two just met and now you were inviting her to go get milkshakes with your sister??? She wanted to say no. She wanted to tell you to run away and that getting close to her was a terrible mistake, but then she saw you smile and something inside her melted. "I..I'd like that."
Tiffany eventually won the tournament match and was awarded $95 (which was going towards her college fund). At the milkshake shack you sat next to Beth; your distance still respectable. And Tiffany sat across from you two. The whole affair was something Beth didn't know she needed. You were quiet most of the time and let your sister ask her idol questions like: "What was it like in the Soviet Union?" or "Is it true you were taught by a janitor?" and a question that made Beth crack the smallest hint of a smile, "You think that you could teach Y/N to play chess so they'll be cool?"
But like all good things, they had to come to an end. Beth, you and Tiffany said your goodbyes the next day and she had to fly back to Lexington to resume her life. But, before she departed, you gave her your phone number and said to call you if she was ever feeling lonely.
She always felt lonely when she returned to her home.
She'd spend her days and nights just looking at the phone. She'd trace the numbers on the paper and wonder what made you so special. You were just someone who drove their sister to compete in a stupid old chess tournament. You were just someone who...cared about the well-being of their sister...You were...Cute, loving...everything she wanted.
She would lay in bed and try to take her mind of of this person that she had met at some random chess tournament in Atlanta by replaying old chess matches in her mind, trying to work on her endgame for the upcoming matches at the US Open, and even tried picking up new hobbies. But when she was left alone the thoughts would invade her mind. Watching a movie; "I wonder what Y/N is doing". Taking up knitting for the first time; "Do they think about me like I think about them". You're on her mind 24/7 and she tries so hard to repress it but you somehow burrowed yourself in her psyche
Then, MANY WEEKS later around 4 in the afternoon she broke and called you because she needed someone to talk to about the tournament.
When she called, Tiffany picked up and said that you were at work and you'd call her back. Beth was so embarrassed that she wondered if she made a mistake even calling in the first place because the silence stretched on for far too long, but around 7:30 her phone rang. She picked up and heard your voice. The feelings came back and she was smiling the whole conversation with you (although she'd never admit it ever)
Suroringly, Beth was the one to ask you out.
After a few months of long phone calls, letters back and forth and the one visit to Lexington while Tiffany was on vacation from school. Beth jumped headfirst into the deep end and said, "I think there is something between us." Which in Beth-speak meant "I'm tired of pretending like I don't spend my nights thinking of you and my days counting down the minutes till i can speak to you."
You were hesitant because you lived 5 hours away, but made it work through both of your patience. Sure, there were times when Beth would want some human touch and think about you holding her. You'd get a bit frustrated at trying to take care of your sister by yourself, work a job, AND manage a long distance relationship at the same time—but it all worked out somehow.
Beth threw a hail mary: She offered that you come live in Lexington with her and Tiffany could finish out her school years in Kentucky
It was a hard sell at first; you'd lived in Atlanta your whole life so far, Tiffany had too and had a few friends in school, plus the thought of uprooting your lives and moving to Kentucky on a whim didn't sit right in the stomach. You sat down with Tiffany one afternoon and had a heart to heart about it. She jumped at the opportunity, telling you that she'd grown tired of Georgia and the thought of living in the same house as her idol would be a dream come true. And after your parent's accident; it'd be nice to start over with new history.
Beth sent over some money to help with moving costs and off you two went to Lexington.
Beth is very respectful of you and your sister's relationship. She doesn't try to play mother and raise Tiffany; however she will offer guidance when needed. If Tiffany has questions about life, chess, or anything in between—Beth is there to be a guiding hand that she never had growing up. She doesn't want Tiffany to fall into the same self-destructive pattern that she did growing up
As Beth grew older she became more of a cook and learned how to make things that weren't frozen or came in a can. Beth would cook dinner for you three almost every night. You'd try your best to help, but you mainly stayed to the side and were the moral support.
When you and Beth first sleep together in the same bed she prefers to be the little spoon and you be the big spoon. It changes depending on the occasion. She might rest her head on your chest and listen to your heartbeat or have you talk about your day while she feels the vibrations in her ear. She wants to be near you, but is scared to say it.
When it's time for her to go to other states for tournaments, sometimes you accompany her and leave Tiffany with a babysitter for a bit. If it falls on a week that Tiffany is on vacation from school you three all go. Beth much prefers it like that because it feels nice to have you two cheering her on (silently) from the crowd.
The longer you're around Beth the more you try to get her to open up about her past. You never pry or force information out of her, but you let her know that you don't see her as the Chess God, but as Beth Harmon. You know next to nothing about chess and aren't holding her to the standard that the public is. When she does open up, you sit with her and meet her at her level. If she becomes too overwhelmed and feels like she's said enough, you nod and say, "I'll be right here when you're ready". After hearing that, she realizes that you might be the one she's been looking for her whole life
When you two bicker/argue it's never a screaming competition or childish insults thrown at each other; you both have seen too much of those in your life and want to break the cycle. It's mostly you two waiting until Tiffany goes to bed before sitting at the table and talking it out. I'm not saying things don't get heated every now and then, you two just know how to deal with each other
For your first year anniversary, you take Beth out to a very nice Italian restaurant in town and talk for hours about your journeys so far. Your gift to her is a book in Russian about the history of chess and her gift to you is a 2 page letter about how thankful she is that she met you, and she also gives you a record from your favorite band
When it comes to Tiffany, Beth is basically her coach/mentor/best-friend. Beth sees the potential that Tiffany has in chess and uses her past experiences to help Tiffany grow as a chess player and a person. Like i said, she never takes on the mother role, but deep down in Beth's heart she does feel a bit maternal towards Tiffany. She'll play matches against her and Tiffany will come close to winning, but she's not there... Yet. Beth will spoil Tiffany with gifts (chess sets, new clothes, etc) and you will just smile when you see your sister hug Beth and thank her
Dates are very frequent between you and Beth. Movie dates, dinner dates, even just a walk to the local diner are enough for you two.
As the relationship progresses and you near 2/3 years you see more of a change in Beth. While she's still the ice-cold assassin between the chess squares, when she's alone with you there's a certain cuddly side that wasn't there before. She becomes a magnet-type of gf. When you're on your lunch break at work; she's there with food, ready to eat with you. When you get home; she's there to meet you with a hug, burying her face into your chest. When you sit at the dinner table; she damn near shoulder to shoulder with you while you eat. There's a light that shines through her that wasn't there before. Before you, she had to be tough and always be on the offensive, but with you she can let that guard down and just be her. The her that will always be accepted by you
