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

[momslilassassin]

"Mmmm, hi," Ben murmured, moving closer.

[endsthegame]

"Yes, hi," Ender said, amused. "How long are the steaks supposed to be in there for...?"

[momslilassassin]

On cue, the stove began beeping. "Until now," Ben said, untangling himself with a sigh of regret. "But then they have to rest for a few minutes."

[endsthegame]

"Hurry up, then," Ender said with a smile, reaching for his now-abandoned anatomy book.

[momslilassassin]

Ben leaned in to kiss his forehead, then hurried into the kitchen to turn off the galaxy's most annoying oven beeper.

"Want potatoes too?" he called out. "I have those ready too."

[endsthegame]

"Sure," Ender called back, flicking idly through some pages.

[momslilassassin]

Ben had put bookmarks into relevant sections--a couple with "???" on them pointing to certain diagrams.

"Eat at the table or the sofa?" he asked.

[endsthegame]

"Sofa," Ender decided. Because really, physical contact could only be a good thing for Ben right now.

He squinted at some of the more confused-looking bookmarks.

[momslilassassin]

"Coming right up," Ben said, returning from the kitchen with two plates of food and two glasses of water floating in front of him like a giant Jedi cheater.

[endsthegame]

"Lazy," Ender teased him gently, sitting back and putting the book aside.

[momslilassassin]

"Better lazy than wet," Ben declared, sitting down.

[endsthegame]

"I don't think it's an either/or situation," Ender said, scooting over until he was pressed up against Ben's side.

[momslilassassin]

"Hi there," Ben said softly, letting the food stay on the coffee table so he could lay his head on Ender's shoulder.

[endsthegame]

Ender picked up his glass of water, taking a sip. He made sure not to move too much - Ben seemed pretty snug where he was. "Ho, Ben," he said. "Thanks for dinner."

[momslilassassin]

"Thought it was a nice change from sandwiches and not-pizza," Ben replied.

[endsthegame]

"It's downright sophisticated," Ender said. "You'll be a chef soon enough."

[momslilassassin]

"Well, cooking meat seems like a pretty manly thing to do," Ben said, "or it was according to that food channel back in Fandom."

Stop babbling, Ben.

[endsthegame]

Ender just chuckled. "Ah, yes," he said, "sweet talk me with gender essentialist posturing."

[momslilassassin]

"Well, I figured dragging you by the hair to a cave somewhere would just be asking for trouble," Ben said with a little smile.

[endsthegame]

"You wouldn't be able to manage that without apologizing all the while," Ender pointed down, and set down his glass. "Now c'mon. This food needs to be eaten."

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed his cheek. "And I'll try to calm down," he added softly.

[endsthegame]

Ender touched Ben's hand one more time, giving it a slight squeeze. "We'll calm you down," he said.

[momslilassassin]

"I don't want to change my mind," Ben replied, squeezing back. "I've just borrowed your overthinking."

[endsthegame]

"How about we talk it through one more time after dinner?" Ender said. "Because that ice cream is going to start melting soon."

[momslilassassin]

"Can't have that," Ben replied with a tiny smile, starting in on his dinner.