Ben & Ender's bedroom, Shakespeare [Monday evening]

[momslilassassin]

It was old habit that led Ben to sit on asking Ender "what the hell was that?" about their meeting with Cade, their frankly terrifying and surly grandson, what the hell what the hell what the hell, until they were tucked into bed together.

"Soo..." he began. "What the hell was that?"

[OOC: For the boy!]

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[endsthegame]

"Take your time," Ender said, increasing the pressure a little. "Lay down?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben shifted to an empty part of the bed, rolled onto his stomach and rested his head on the pillow. "All right."

[endsthegame]

Ender crawled over and pressed a kiss between his shoulder blades. "Hey," he said softly, resuming what he had been doing.

[momslilassassin]

"Hey," Ben echoed, reaching a hand back to rest on whatever part of Ender was closest.

He closed his eyes again, trying to make the voices in his head shut up for a minute.

[endsthegame]

Ender worked silently for a little while, happy to let himself linger on thoughts of affection and care and reassurance.

He was gentle with Ben's scars for once.

[momslilassassin]

Ben finally started relaxing. "He's so angry. It practically vibrates off of him."

[endsthegame]

"He's had some really bad experiences," Ender said. "I don't think losing his dad helped."

[momslilassassin]

"At all," Ben agreed. "He wasn't dressed as a Jedi, either."

Unless Jedi were now going sleeveless in the winter, but a few of them were brighter than that.

[endsthegame]

"Sounded like in his time, being a Jedi is a dangerous occupation," Ender said, kissing the back of Ben's neck.

[momslilassassin]

Ben let out a little sigh. "Yeah," he agreed. "How much do you want to bet that's what Dad's harassing him about from blue Force heaven?"

Because Luke got a little one-note when Jedi were involved.

[endsthegame]

"I wouldn't bet against that," Ender said, digging his thumbs into Ben's back. "Your father needs to realize that being born a Skywalker isn't equal to being born a member of the royal family."

[momslilassassin]

"It does if you're Aunt Leia," Ben said with a smile, "but I bet she cuts people breaks."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled down at him. "I bet she does too," he said. "But yeah. Luke wants a dynasty - that's always what he's wanted. He has trouble accepting that his children and his children's children might have different ideas about what they want to do with their life. And that there might be other people waiting in the wings dying to take a chance."

[momslilassassin]

"I think he sees it as part of redeeming his father," Ben said after a pause. "Granddad exterminated the Jedi. Dad wants to rebuild them in that same amount of time, but that's not how it works. It's always faster to tear down than build up."

[endsthegame]

"Much faster," Ender said. He patted Ben's shoulder. "You can turn around now," he murmured.

Ben did always like to be in a position where he could touch.

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled as he flipped over, then kissed Ender. "Hi there."

[endsthegame]

Ender cupped his cheek and kissed him back. "Ho, Ben," he said. "Looking better."

[momslilassassin]

"Feeling better too," Ben replied. "Thank you."

[endsthegame]

"That's what I'm here for," Ender said, pressing his forehead to Ben's.

[momslilassassin]

Ben wrapped his hands in Ender's hair to keep him where he was, breathing in the closeness. "And we'll figure this out."

[endsthegame]

"We'll figure this out," Ender said. "We'll talk to him again at graduation. Go from there." He slid his arm around Ben's waist.

[momslilassassin]

"Maybe I can get more out of Jaina," Ben said, curling into Ender.

[endsthegame]

"You can always call her this week," Ender said, hugging him close.

[momslilassassin]

"I will," Ben said. "She's got to know at least a little more about what his deal is."

Not that Cade had struck him as being particularly share-y.

[endsthegame]

"Hopefully," Ender said. "If he hasn't run away from her full-speed, too."