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.]

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[endsthegame]

"This used to be a place where they collected their food, where they took care of their young," Ender said. "Then they died and we came and took it and stole from what they'd learned. And yet, as we do so, we're learning about them as well."

Ben's hands on his back were nice. Really nice.

[momslilassassin]

Ben kept his fingers moving, noticing how much Ender was appreciating the massage.

"What's the latest in research?" he murmured.

[endsthegame]

"They're looking at a toxic filter they found on the other side of town." Ender made a happy little noise.

[momslilassassin]

Ben shifted so he was sitting behind Ender so he could give a better massage. "What kind of toxins?" he asked. "In the soil or the water?"

[endsthegame]

"The soil," Ender said. "I don't know how long this planet was theirs. Maybe they were still working on it."

He sighed. "Do you want to go back to the house?"

[momslilassassin]

"Only when you do," Ben said, kissing his cheek. "Oh, I talked with Tahiri a bit ago--the toxins reminded me. Do you want to do an information exchange based on what the Yuuzhan Vong would do as they terraformed planets? There might be something we could learn from them."

Fourteen year old him would have boggled at the idea of learning anything from them.

[endsthegame]

"That would definitely be helpful," Ender said, nodding. "Send Tahiri my thanks. And an invite, if you haven't already."

[momslilassassin]

"I did," Ben said, smiling. He kissed Ender's neck. "And thank you for not making it weird that I'm still in contact with an ex-girlfriend."

[endsthegame]

"She's important to you," Ender said lightly. "Besides, I have real trouble conceiving of a way she'd somehow be a threat to my relationship, which I hear is pretty important for acts of raging jealousy..."

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled a little doofily at him. "We're a unit at this point," he said softly. "No need for jealousy."

[endsthegame]

Ender kissed him softly. "None at all," he said. "And I'd love to see Tahiri again."

[momslilassassin]

"Good," Ben said. "She wants to see you, too."

[endsthegame]

"Then that's settled," Ender said. "Tell her to pick a date and we'll get the place ready for her."

He slipped his hand down to grip Ben's. "And I'm ready to go now."

[momslilassassin]

Ben squeezed Ender's hand in reply. "More evened out?"

[endsthegame]

"Much," Ender said, pecking him on the mouth one more time. "Let's get home, get out of these pants, and crawl back into bed."

[momslilassassin]

"I always knew you were a genius," Ben murmured, smiling.

[endsthegame]

Ender pulled him up to his feet. "I don't know how tired you are..."

[momslilassassin]

"The fresh air woke me up," Ben said. "You?"

[endsthegame]

"Me too," Ender said, as they walked back towards the skimmer. "How about I make this little detour up to you?"

[momslilassassin]

"I'd say that you don't need to make anything up to me but I'm certainly not opposed to a round two," Ben replied with a smile.

[endsthegame]

Ender slid back into the passenger's seat of the skimmer. "It'll be less serious this time," he said. "That's fair compensation."

[momslilassassin]

Ben leaned over and gave Ender another kiss after he took his own seat. "I love you."

[endsthegame]

"I love you too," Ender said, smiling at him. "Thanks for dealing with my eccentricities."

[momslilassassin]

"You deal with my flailing," Ben said. "I think we even each other out. Let's go home."

[endsthegame]

Ender leaned back. "This once," he said, "I'll let you hit the throttle."