Some planet, afternoon [NFB for distance]

[momslilassassin]

Ben still was exactly sure where he and Ender had ended up but the food was good, the view from their room was fantastic, and nothing had tried to eat them.

He was calling it a win.

He leaned against the balcony railings and ate a piece of fruit (weirdly blue, but other than that very tasty) and watched some kind of birds float serenely on a lake in the near distance.

"Not a bad way to spend time, huh?" he asked.

[OOC: And not so much with the work-safe these days...]

Comments

[endsthegame]

"I'd say so," Ender muttered. "You liked that."

[momslilassassin]

Ben's cheeks turned red. "I didn't hear you complaining much either."

[endsthegame]

"Didn't have much to complain about," Ender said, leaning over to kiss that mark. Very gently.

[momslilassassin]

Ben let out a contented little sigh. "I'll have to check you for bruises later," he murmured. "Thoroughly."

[endsthegame]

Ender chuckled softly, and let his head drop to Ben's shoulder. "Got to be careful."

[momslilassassin]

"Not that I mind these sorts of bruises," Ben offered softly.

[endsthegame]

"Like I said," Ender murmured, "I'm getting the impression that you like them." He glanced up at Ben's face.

[momslilassassin]

Ben turned bright red in reply. "Um."

[endsthegame]

Ender sighed, and reached out to brush at some of Ben's amazingly shaggy hair. "Hey," he said, "This is not a complaint or an accusation."

[momslilassassin]

Ben clung a little tightly. "I know," he said quietly. "I just don't want you to think I'm wrong or broken or...something."

[endsthegame]

Ender looked downright amused. "You might want to remember who you're talking to," he said. "Besides. At best, you're slightly bent."

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled back, looking more relieved. "As long we're both bent in the same way, right?"

[endsthegame]

Ender laughed again, softly - he really was ridiculously relaxed. "Or at least make some interesting knots," he agreed. "I like finding out."

[momslilassassin]

"I like that you trust me enough to try stuff out," Ben offered.

[endsthegame]

"It's the one advantage I have, being new at this," Ender said. "No preconceptions." He ruffled Ben's hair.

Of course, he was also less innately self-conscious than Ben was in general.

[momslilassassin]

"I'm new to this part of this," Ben said, nipping along Ender's jaw. "Stubble is different."

[endsthegame]

"I'm not getting my jaw waxed," Ender joked, tilting his head back a little. "I think we've been pretty good at figuring this out one step at a time."

Well, kicking off with that giant leap at the start, where they managed to stick to first base for all of a week.

[momslilassassin]

"It helps that it's you," Ben said quietly, kissing a small mark he'd made on Ender's neck. "You already know me better than just about anyone."

[endsthegame]

Ender quirked a little smile. "If I didn't, I might not have wound up in this predicament," he joked, running his fingers over Ben's shoulder blades.

[momslilassassin]

Ben made a happy little noise and moved closer. "And you'd always struck me as a take them home after the first date kind of guy," he teased.

[endsthegame]

"And never call back," Ender agreed. "That's me."

[momslilassassin]

"Never even ask their name," Ben added.

[endsthegame]

"Who are you again?" Ender asked. "I never did ask."

He shifted closer, too, and kissed Ben's neck again.

[momslilassassin]

"Jagged Fel," he said with a grin. "I run a good chunk of a galaxy. Hi."

[endsthegame]

Ender chuckled softly into his neck. "Stop abusing poor Jag," he murmured, "And his poor, vast empire."