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 slanted another look at him. "I'm not too good at being happy," he murmured.

[momslilassassin]

"You're not too used to being happy," Ben corrected gently, tightening his arms around him. "I think you'll be very good at it."

[endsthegame]

"I don't think so," Ender said, though he curled up further into Ben. "I have no idea who I'd be if I was."

[momslilassassin]

Ben leaned his head against Ender's. "I want to come with you when we're finished here," he blurted.

[endsthegame]

Ender blinked once. Then twice. Then: "Are you sure?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben was quiet for a moment. "It feels right," he said softly. "Yes, I'm sure, if you still want me there."

[endsthegame]

"I don't like to rescind my invitations," Ender said, shutting his eyes. "I'm certainly not doing so for this one."

[momslilassassin]

"You okay?" Ben murmured, looking down at him with concern.

[endsthegame]

"I'm fine," Ender said, letting his forehead drop down to Ben's chest. "I love you," he said, and hoped to God that after all his efforts not to force Ben to make this decision, he hadn't accidentally done so anyway.

[momslilassassin]

"I never doubt that," Ben replied softly.

[endsthegame]

"Good," Ender murmured, "Or we'd be having a terrible failure to communicate."

[momslilassassin]

Ben reached out to tilt Ender's head up so he could look him in the eyes. "And I love you an indecent amount," he said softly, "but that's not why I want to go with you."

[endsthegame]

Ender looked back, but didn't say anything - though those words alone made him feel a bit of relief.

[momslilassassin]

He felt the relief but wasn't entirely sure of the reason behind it, and chose not to press it.

"Think you can sleep now?" he murmured.

[endsthegame]

"Think I can give it a shot," Ender murmured, dropping his head back to Ben's chest.

He really was terribly exhausted, wasnx't he?

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed the top of Ender's head. "I'll be here when you wake up."

[endsthegame]

"I'll take that as a promise," Ender said, his attempt to add some humor to his voice failing under the weight of that exhaustion.

He sighed, trying to grope around for the blankets without moving them too much.

[momslilassassin]

Ben reached into the Force to pull them up (though he'd been enjoying his view of naked, relaxed Ender) and tucked them up around Ender's chin. "Sleep, kreetle," he murmured. "You haven't in weeks."

[endsthegame]

"Pretend I put up resistance with a witty comment of some kind, please," Ender requested, shutting his eyes and letting his worries go - at least an increment, anyway - to enjoy the heat of Ben's body near him.

[momslilassassin]

"I will," Ben promised, continuing to rub Ender's back and hum some nameless melody his mother had used when he'd been small.

[endsthegame]

No matter how great his worries still were in the wake of what had happened, it had been only adrenaline keeping him awake all these days, and now that had left his boy. Ender slipped his arm over Ben's body and kept it there, even as he drifted off and finally fell asleep within moments.

[momslilassassin]

Ben watched him sleep for a while before drifting off himself.