Ben & Ender's house on Shakespeare [some evening]

[momslilassassin]

Ben was curled up on the sofa with Ender's rather dry book on anatomy after Ben's research into the subject had brought up suggestions like "Bend Over," "Eating Out," and other titles that had sent Ben into an unhelpful cycle of flail. (Jane had a wicked sense of humor, not that Ben knew that.)

He had a dish of ice cream while he waited for dinner to warm up--his only outward sign of nerves--and kept glancing at the door waiting for Ender to come home.

Just another night, right? If he kept repeating that to himself, maybe he'd believe it.

[OOC: This is going to get waaaaaaay NWS, methinks. For the boy.]

Comments

[endsthegame]

"And all the frank language in the world couldn't touch it," Ender murmured.

[momslilassassin]

"It really couldn't," Ben replied, resting his forehead against Ender's. "I'm glad it was you."

[endsthegame]

"I'm glad it was you, too," Ender said softly. "But I've always been glad." He ran his fingers through Ben's hair. "This wasn't about 'bending over', anyway."

[momslilassassin]

"It really wasn't," Ben agreed, sighing happily.

[endsthegame]

"Not in the least because there wasn't much bending," Ender said, because he couldn't really resist it. He kissed Ben's cheek. "This has been a good night. Thank you."

[momslilassassin]

Ben laughed, blushing. "We'll do it again?" he murmured.

[endsthegame]

"I'd love another steak," Ender said seriously.

[momslilassassin]

Ben blew a raspberry against Ender's neck. "Brat," he said fondly.

[endsthegame]

Ender reached out and tickled him gently. "We'll do it again," he agreed. "Maybe even the other way around."

[momslilassassin]

"Sounds fun," Ben said. "This time was more serious-feeling."

Possibly because Ben had spent a good chunk of that being scared.

[endsthegame]

Ender's mouth curved. "You were worried."

[momslilassassin]

"Yeah," Ben admitted.

[endsthegame]

"That tends to make things serious," Ender said.

[momslilassassin]

"True," Ben said, kissing Ender again mostly because he could. "Next time will be less...fraught."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled. "I think so," he murmured. "Less to be afraid of. Less unknown variables..."

[momslilassassin]

"Less fussing about logistics," Ben added, brushing Ender's hair from his face.

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled a little. "That wasn't so scary, was it?"

[momslilassassin]

"No," Ben said, kissing Ender's nose.

[endsthegame]

Ender took a deep breath, then released it. He sounded downright content. "Good," he murmured. "But save me. It's making me introspective."

[momslilassassin]

"I like when you get introspective," Ben said, snuggling in against him. "We have good talks then."

[endsthegame]

Ender's mouth quirked a little. "I'm just thinking," he murmured. "What if I hadn't kissed you? Would we still be here, just sleeping in separate beds?"

He hesitated before adding, "And am I ridiculous for wanting to think we would be?"

[momslilassassin]

"If you had asked me to come, I would have come," Ben murmured. "Even if you'd never kissed me. Even if I was living in my own house on the other side of town."

[endsthegame]

"My favorite part of the day used to be going to sleep in my room with you in that room with me," Ender admitted softly. "When you spent the night over with Tahiri... I'd turn my focus back on my obsessions and I'd barely get any sleep."

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed his cheek. "I didn't know that," he murmured.

[endsthegame]

"Don't get me wrong, it was my own choice, and I got a great deal of valuable research done," Ender said. "But I slept easier with you in the room. Much easier. I'm not sure I would've let you move across town."