Luke let out a little "oof" as Ben's full weight hit him--the kid wasn't light any more--but hugged him back. Ben wasn't overly demonstrative with him most days, so he'd take the contact when he could.

"You be careful," he whispered fiercely.

Yes, the last few times Ben had been with him, he'd been tortured, beaten up and almost eaten, and starved, and nearly killed, and maimed--and it finally hit Luke that that might not be the normal state of things for most people.

He closed his eyes. "Ender is lucky to have you," he added.