From Chilly Boulder to Room 204 [evening]

[momslilassassin]

Ben reappeared where he'd been on the 7th: in Chilly Boulder, but without his creepy visitors.

There was a napkin on the nearby table that read "remember" and Ben was flooded with memories of this place: dates with Tahiri after invasions, milkshakes and conversations with Karla, the various staff members who knew him by name after so many years of coming into this shop...

...and Ender, which was when Ben glanced at his phone, realized that it was now Sunday, and bolted for the dorms. If the sidewalks and trees along the way back weren't exactly how he remembered them, he didn't care. He had much more important things on his mind.

"Ender?" he called, opening the door to their room.

Please exist...

Comments

[endsthegame]

Ender had returned here right after they'd returned from Special Collections. It wasn't that he didn't want to check that Ben was okay, but the weight in his arms reminded him that he had other duties, ones he couldn't so easily throw to the wind.

He'd placed the coccoon under his bed, and he was just standing up when Ben came in.

He didn't say anything - that would have been ridiculous - but strode across the room and hugged him.

[momslilassassin]

Ben let out a long breath and clung tightly. "You look terrible."

[endsthegame]

"It's been a long couple of days," Ender understated, and for once in his life, actually clung back.

[momslilassassin]

"Seems like we've got time to talk about it now," Ben said, running his hands along Ender's back, then up into his hair. "I saw the stars again."

[endsthegame]

"We had to spend some time in Special Collections to do it," Ender murmured, "But we brought you back."

[momslilassassin]

Ben tugged Ender toward the bed--he really was concerned that Ender was going to tip over--and about jumped as his phone went off.

Several dozen times.

He looked down and almost burst into tears. "Dad wants to know where the hell I've been."

[endsthegame]

Ender hugged him closer. "We'll grab our finals this week," he murmured, "Then head back to your universe for a while."

[momslilassassin]

"Have you heard from Val yet?" he asked, tucking his head into the crook of Ender's neck.

[endsthegame]

"She left a message," Ender said, dropping his chin to Ben's shoulder. "It was very snarky."

[momslilassassin]

"Thank the Force for that," Ben said with a relieved laugh that was still fairly shaky. "You all right now?"

[endsthegame]

"As okay as I'm going to be," Ender said.

He wasn't letting go, though.

[momslilassassin]

Ben tried to scoot closer (physics be damned). "Thank you for bringing us back," he murmured.

[endsthegame]

"Thank you for coming back," Ender murmured. "I think that's much more impressive."

He kissed Ben's temple, and then his cheek, and then his jaw.

[momslilassassin]

It was only then that how scared Ender had been began to really register for Ben. "I'm here now," he murmured, putting as much reassurance into those words as he could. "But you're welcome to check for yourself."

[endsthegame]

"I might take you up on that offer," Ender said softly, and kissed him on the lips this time.

[momslilassassin]

Ben sighed softly and wrapped his fingers through Ender's hair so he wouldn't move.

"Love you."

[endsthegame]

"Love you too," Ender said, with a tiny quirk of his lips.

It was instinct not to seem too visibly distraught, nor to show any of the bone-deep relief he was feeling. He knew Ben felt it anyway.

[momslilassassin]

Ben would eventually try to get what he'd missed while he'd been gone out of Ender, but reassurance seemed much more important right now.

He tipped backward against the pillows, pulling Ender down against him on the theory that more contact was better right now.

[endsthegame]

Ender's face wound up against Ben's collarbone, his eyes shut, his arm curling around his waist. "You're a little late," he murmured.

[momslilassassin]

"And I forgot to bring dinner," Ben added, kissing the top of Ender's head. "Forgive me?"

[endsthegame]

"Tomorrow's dinner had better cost twice as much," Ender said. "I demand value for my money."

He gave Ben a squeeze, and found his body gave a shiver of tension release in turn. "I think I missed you."

Understatement.

[momslilassassin]

And as much as it was Ben's instinct to deflect something this emotionally raw with humor, he didn't want to this time.

"Are you all right with that?" he murmured, stroking Ender's hair. "I know how you are about getting attached."

[endsthegame]

"Even if I wasn't," Ender muttered, "I don't think there's much I can do about it, is there?"

[momslilassassin]

"Probably not," Ben admitted, moving his hand to touch Ender's cheek. "I'm sorry I scared you."

[endsthegame]

"Going to apologise for the rotation of the Earth next?" Ender asked, reaching up to touch his hand.