Room 204 [afternoon]

[momslilassassin]

Ben didn't have classes on Wednesdays, so he normally went out on a nice long run before climbing the Rocky Bits (yes, for fun, and yes, without safety equipment), so it wasn't entirely unheard of for him to come home with a few scratches on his arms or legs.

Today, though, he was limping heavily and cursing under his breath about big sharp teeth and stupid kriffing bunnies.

He was a Skywalker. Of course something had tried to eat him.

Comments

[momslilassassin]

Ben took his time ogling Ender instead of being bratty in reply.

He finally reached out to trail his fingers along Ender's bicep. "Not bad, Wiggin."

[endsthegame]

"Not everyone can have tree trunks like yours," Ender said, "But I do my part."

Of completely not vanity-oriented workouts.

Though, predictably, he was going to linger here for a moment and enjoy the attention.

[momslilassassin]

Which was why Ben made sure to appreciate the view every time. He leaned out to kiss Ender's bicep.

"I appreciate the work," he teased.

[endsthegame]

"You're welcome," Ender said, only a little dryly, and even that was completely off-set by the smile on his face. He ran his own fingers over Ben's abs. "Same to you. Even if you're a little obsessed with doing it."

[momslilassassin]

Ben reached out to trace Ender's smile. "It'll help throw the next herd of bunnies."

[endsthegame]

"I'm not sure how that makes sense," Ender said with a soft chuckle.

He looked down at Ben's face, something tender settling in his belly. Strangely, it made him feel old.

[momslilassassin]

Ben gazed back at him. "You all right?"

[endsthegame]

Ender shut his eyes and took a breath.

"I just let my thoughts escape with me," he admitted.

He opened his eyes again and met Ben's expression with a small smile. "Sometimes I let you carry me away," he said. "Sometimes I wonder how I got here."

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled back. "You're not the only one," he murmured.

[endsthegame]

Ender leaned down and kissed him gently. "You bring me so much joy," he said. "Every day. Sometimes... I don't know what to do with it. Sometimes it puts me outside of myself like this - I just look at you and wonder how it is this fits into my life."

Apparently he felt like talking. For once.

[momslilassassin]

Ben tightened his arms around Ender to give him a fierce hug, finding himself at a loss for words.

"It's real, kreetle," he whispered softly.

[endsthegame]

"You don't owe me anniversaries," Ender murmured, wrapping his arms around Ben, too. "You do more than good on the ordinary days as it is."

[momslilassassin]

Ben buried his face against Ender's neck and breathed him in for a moment. "I'm going to love you as hard as I can for as long as you'll let me," he replied.

[endsthegame]

Ender snorted softly, but didn't move. "You're stubborn as hell," he murmured. "And I remember the reunion. There's no letting about it."

[momslilassassin]

Ben's hand drifted down to swat Ender's rear. "We've dodged that particular scenario, thank the Force. And not just because of my beard."

[endsthegame]

Ender laughed a little bit, reaching down to grip Ben's wrist to keep him from doing that again. "I had a hard time not thinking about that night for a long time," he admitted.

[momslilassassin]

"Oh yeah?" Ben replied, happy to let Ender take his wrist. He kissed Ender's neck softly. "Guilty pleasure or just guilty?"

[endsthegame]

Ender sighed. "The former," he admitted. "Just because I wasn't putting in requisition orders for tissues that summer..."

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed a different spot on his neck. "I'm sure Tony would've sent you some..."

He took a moment to enjoy what he was doing before adding, "I thought about it too."

[endsthegame]

"I thought so," Ender said softly, tilting his head to encourage Ben in what he was doing. "But I avoided bringing it up."

[momslilassassin]

"Why?" Ben asked, nipping gently at Ender's jawline.

[endsthegame]

"I was trying to prevent us going anywhere," Ender said, making a soft little noise in enjoyment. "Admitting I was still thinking about you and I naked seemed counter-productive."

[momslilassassin]

Ben sucked a little noisily at the spot just under Ender's earlobe. "Wonder how the Maw would've changed if I'd just admitted to myself why it bothered me when Rolund was flirting with you," he murmured.

[endsthegame]

"I don't know," Ender replied. His voice broke halfway in and he reached up to tangle his fingers in Ben's hair. "Though I'm not sure it would have gone well if you'd tried to do something about it."

[momslilassassin]

Ben arched up against him in reply. "Because I was a little crazy at the time?"