Aboard the Mrs. Morgan [a month after last time]

[momslilassassin]

Game night had gone without a hitch (well, other than the argument Ben had in his halting French with a colonist trying to skip Park Place in Monopoly) and he and Ender were now heading back to their room after a brief stop for ice cream and drinks in the mess.

"That was fun," he said, bumping his shoulder into Ender's. "Movie night next?"

Comments

[endsthegame]

"Well, I certainly don't plan to use you like that," Ender said quietly. "But please don't pretend like there isn't some situation or another where I could stand in the way of your life."

[momslilassassin]

"I'm sure there's a few ways that could play out," Ben agreed, stroking Ender's cheek, "but let's not borrow trouble, okay?"

[endsthegame]

"I'm not," Ender said. "But you asked."

[momslilassassin]

"I did," Ben replied, kissing his neck, "and there are a number of options who aren't me being put in your path, too."

[endsthegame]

"I just keep going," Ender said quietly. "I don't think anyone will stop me."

[momslilassassin]

"I won't," Ben said very, very softly. "I want you to be as happy and fulfilled as you'll allow yourself to be."

[endsthegame]

Ender sighed and hugged him closer. "That's what I mean," he said. "I don't want you to feel obligated to keep tagging along long after you started wanting to settle down."

[momslilassassin]

"Settle down?" Ben repeated, smiling at him. "My family's definition revolves around people, not places. This is as settled as I ever plan to get."

[endsthegame]

"Planning being the operative word," Ender said gently.

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded. "I'll try not to let how I feel about you get in the way of logic," he said. "That's the best I can offer."

[endsthegame]

Ender nodded, then rested his head against Ben's shoulder again. "Then I'll be here," he said very quietly, "Hoping it never actually comes up."

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed his forehead. "Me too."

[endsthegame]

Ender released a deep breath, but he seemed to have settled now-- emotionally as well as physically.

"So what else did you do today?" he asked after a little bit.

[momslilassassin]

Ben let his eyes drift closed. "More time with the game night gang," he said. "They're teaching me how to curse in German."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled. "Now that's a useful life skill," he said. "We people do always bond best through our expletives."

[momslilassassin]

"I've been teaching them Bothan," Ben said. "I think they believe it's some kind of local aboriginal language."

[endsthegame]

"You're telling me it isn't?" Ender asked.

[momslilassassin]

"Well, it's local," Ben said, smiling, "just not to your planet."

[endsthegame]

Ender poked Ben's stomach. "Har har," he said. "Are they taking to your lessons?"

[momslilassassin]

"They seem to be," Ben replied, "even if their pronunciation can be hilarious at times."

[endsthegame]

Ender quirked a slight smile. "Try not to mock them too terribly," he said. "They're learning."

[momslilassassin]

"I don't," Ben said. "I'm sure my German is just as bad."

[endsthegame]

"I'm sure there's some terrible cultural stereotype I could put up against that," Ender said, "Like 'just gurgle really hard, no one will be able to tell the difference'."

[momslilassassin]

Ben snorted. "That's not very nice."

[endsthegame]

"Oh, just wait until you hear the kind of things people have said about American English over the years," Ender said.