Shakespeare Colony [A month later]

[momslilassassin]

They'd waited for the weather to turn more reliably warm and dry before hosting an outdoor dance in the center of the village. The fight over music had been mostly smoothed over by agreeing to vary the selections between what the colonists who'd arrived recently liked and what the natives had become used to after Ben had offered to provide enough droid spoken word albums to last the entire dance to break the impasse.

Because everyone had agreed that droid spoken word albums were the worst.

And now, in the fine tradition of dances everywhere, no one was dancing in the area cleared for that purpose as everyone gathered in nervous groupings around food and drink tables, staring at people across the floor and hoping someone would ask them to dance.

Ben sighed and tugged at the tie around his neck. "Should we draw names from a hat or something?" he asked Ender.

Comments

[endsthegame]

Ender stepped close to Ben once they were there. "I also approve of this being outdoor, by the way."

[momslilassassin]

Ben grinned. "I thought the stars were still new enough to be interesting," he said quietly.

[endsthegame]

"I like seeing the sky," Ender said just as softly.

[momslilassassin]

"I know," Ben said, sneaking a kiss very quickly, cheeks going red.

[endsthegame]

Ender just smiled softly at him. "I love you," he said.

[momslilassassin]

Ben's cheeks were still red as he leaned up to murmur in Ender's ear, "Then take me home."

[endsthegame]

Ender sighed softly. "After this dance," he promised quietly.

[momslilassassin]

Ben moved a half-step closer and began playing with the hair at the back of Ender's neck. "No real hurry," he said. "I enjoy spending time with you."

[endsthegame]

"I know," Ender murmured, his hands finding Ben's hips. This was the kind of dancing he could at least easily manage. "I really do."

[momslilassassin]

"I'm not really subtle about it," Ben said with a little smile.

[endsthegame]

"You're not terribly subtle about a lot of things you care about," Ender said, "So I take it as a compliment."

[momslilassassin]

"Good," Ben said, smiling more broadly.

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled back, but he fell silent. For a little bit, he actually allowed himself to enjoy the moment - Ben's company, the stars, the knowledge there was nowhere else he needed to be, even for just a little while.

It was a kind of contentment tainted with the slightest hint of melancholy, but he'd take it.

[momslilassassin]

Ben gradually leaned in to rest his head against Ender's shoulder, sighing softly.

[endsthegame]

"Time to go," Ender whispered eventually, definitely more than one song later.

[momslilassassin]

"Mmmm," Ben said, opening his eyes back up. "All right."

[endsthegame]

Ender reached for his hand, tugging him off the dance floor.

[momslilassassin]

Sorry, people who might be trying to get Ben's attention: his focus was almost entirely on Ender now, a tiny contented smile playing across his face.

[endsthegame]

Ender said some cursory, short goodbyes as he passed by some notable people, but soon enough they were out into the streets. There were some others, returning home from the party, chatting loudly-- and then there were the lights of the city, shining bright.

It was nice.

[momslilassassin]

"That was a pretty astral night," Ben said softly, brushing his shoulder against Ender's.

[endsthegame]

"I agree," Ender said, giving Ben's fingers an extra squeeze. "Nothing quite like Fandom's old dances."

[momslilassassin]

"Well, here I don't need to joke about decorations coming to life and attacking us," Ben replied.

[endsthegame]

Ender leaned in to peck him on the mouth. "I'll have to make up for that when we get home," he murmured.

[momslilassassin]

"Sounds like the best way to end the evening," Ben replied, linking his fingers through Ender's.

[endsthegame]

"This might be a good time to start thinking about what you want," Ender said serenely, "Or I might decide it for you."