Shuttle landing zone, Hijra [Six months in stasis, twelve years Earth time gone, Tuesday in Fandom]

[momslilassassin]

After saying their final goodbyes to Ender's parents before getting to Ganges, there wasn't really much point to staying awake between stops, and so all three of them went into stasis for the duration of the flight between Ganges and Hijra, a planet they'd picked for its relative obscurity, warm, dry climate, and sand (but not too much sand, Ben had been sure to check. He hadn't come all this way to end up on another Tatooine. There was obscure and there was "furthest star from anything.") Besides, after their trip back to Kaeleer, Ben hadn't exactly been anxious to be alone with his thoughts for much time.

He'd memorized what little information had changed about their new home planet: very quiet, minimal interference from Earth's government (which was now a few generations past Peter's time, and that was a little hard to get used to), made up primarily of Earth immigrants from the Middle East, and Northern and Central parts of Africa. They'd been drawn to the heat as much as Ben had been. With all of his possessions in the duffel over his shoulder, he stepped down out of the shuttle and took his first breath of non-recycled air in six months. "Sure is hot," he said, tilting his head up to the sun. "Feels good. Where's our house again?"

Comments

[arcane-delphi.livejournal.com]

"Grandmothers are claiming it's a djinn to get the children to sleep on time and eat their vegetables," Alai said.

[endsthegame]

Ender chuckled softly. "Well played," he said.

They kept walking, Alai pointing out things of interest. Ender chatted about little but the planet itself and Alai's role on it - he shared nothing of himself.

Soon enough, they were coming back around, heading back towards the house.

"It's a beautiful colony."

[arcane-delphi.livejournal.com]

Alai smiled proudly. "Thank you. We've worked hard."

[endsthegame]

"I can tell," Ender said with a little smile, coming to a stop at the front door of his house. "We'll see you again while I'm here, I hope?"

Though for Ben's sake, not too often.

[arcane-delphi.livejournal.com]

Alai gave him a genuine smile in reply. "If you'd like."

He'd noticed Ben, too.

[endsthegame]

One didn't get to - or through - Battle School without being perceptive. "I would," Ender said sincerely. "But as it is, I think we need to finally get ourselves settled."

[arcane-delphi.livejournal.com]

"Here's my contact information," Alai said, handing over a card. "Give me a call when you're ready." He gave Ender another smile. "It really is very good to see you again, Andrew."

[endsthegame]

"Likewise, Alai," Ender said, pocketing the card. "Even if it was a surprise."

[momslilassassin]

"Bye, Alai," Ben added with a little wave.

Subtle he wasn't.

[endsthegame]

Ender managed not to sigh.

He reached out to give Alai a firm handshake. "Until next time."

[arcane-delphi.livejournal.com]

"Ma’a salama," Alai replied, inclining his head.

[endsthegame]

Ender inclined his head in turn.

That was the end of it, as far as he knew.

[momslilassassin]

Ben blew out a long breath and ran his hand through his hair. "Well."

[endsthegame]

Ender stepped into the house before answering. "That was unexpected."

[momslilassassin]

"Yeah," Ben said, flopping into a chair and closing his eyes.

[endsthegame]

Valentine glanced from one to the other and back. "Right," she said, "I'm going to go set up my stuff upstairs." She vanished up the stairs.

Ender sat down in another chair.

"What are you afraid of?"

[momslilassassin]

"I don't know," Ben admitted softly, putting a hand over his eyes. "It's like fighting against a ghost...like with Tahiri and Anakin again. I know I don't need to, but--"

[endsthegame]

Ender rubbed at his forehead. "Ben, how long have we known each other?"

[momslilassassin]

"Almost ten years, depending on how you count time," Ben murmured.

[endsthegame]

"I knew Alai for seven, give or take," Ender said, "And for near half that time, we weren't friends."

He sat forward. "That time ended over ten years ago. Now, there's nothing left here to fight."

[momslilassassin]

Ben curled his arms around himself, still not trusting himself to make eye contact. He felt stupidly vulnerable right now. "Okay."

[endsthegame]

Ender slipped out of his chair and sat down on his knees in front of Ben.

"Hey," he said quietly, looking up at him.

[momslilassassin]

"Hey," Ben whispered back. "I'm kind of an idiot."

[endsthegame]

Ender reached up and touched his cheek. "You are," he agreed. "But that's okay."

[momslilassassin]

Ben closed his eyes and leaned into Ender's hand, more than a little desperate for contact now.