Hijra [A few weeks later]

[momslilassassin]

Ben was catching up on emails from home--news about the Sith, the latest gossip from Jag and Jaina's corner of the galaxy and whatever Allana had gotten herself up to while being unsupervised (there was a lot of "it'd seemed like a good idea!!!" in her correspondence)--and then poking around scientific journals about advancements in reproductive technology.

You know. For no real reason. Cough.

He drank tea and really missed having those yummy red fruits around. He'd need to ask when they came back the next time he went to the market.

Comments

[momslilassassin]

"Maybe they've had too much tea?" Ben offered teasingly, giving Ender a quick thank you of a smile for the order.

[endsthegame]

"Possibly," Ender said, smiling back at him. "So. The two girls sitting behind me. What's their story?"

[momslilassassin]

"Oh, that's easy," Ben said. "They know one of the dancers and are meeting her here after the performance. The one on the left thinks you're very cute. She keeps glancing this way when she thinks I'm not noticing."

[endsthegame]

Ender chuckled. "And how do we know she's not looking at you?" he asked.

[momslilassassin]

Because that option never occurred to Ben?

"Because you're cuter," he replied immediately.

[endsthegame]

"I don't know about that," Ender said. "I think I disagree."

[momslilassassin]

Ben laughed. "Yeah, but you're biased. It's mostly dark hair around here--I stick out, but you're more their type."

[endsthegame]

"True, but the red hair makes you exotic," Ender pointed out.

[momslilassassin]

"Or peculiar," Ben said.

[endsthegame]

"Could go either way, but you stand out more," Ender noted as the waiter brought their drinks.

[momslilassassin]

Ben sipped from his tea. "It's why I always dyed my hair during covert missions," he said. "I looked silly with hair as dark as yours."

[endsthegame]

Ender took a sip from his own coffee. "I can't even picture you like that," he admitted, "Though I must've seen the remains of that once or twice."

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded. "When I shot Omas, especially, but I was kind of hiding after that anyway."

[endsthegame]

"You were very little back then," Ender said, shooting him a faint smile.

[momslilassassin]

Ben's lips quirked up. "But not young."

Thanks for that, Jacen.

[endsthegame]

"I wonder what that's like," Ender said. "To be young."

[momslilassassin]

Ben smile turned more genuine. "You were the most serious six year old in history."

[endsthegame]

"I had my thoughts monitored every day of my life up until then," Ender said. "Never mind dealing with the strains of being a Third."

[momslilassassin]

Ben tapped Ender's leg under the table. "I know, kreetle," he said softly. "You were more than justified."

[endsthegame]

"I'm not trying to defend myself," Ender said. "We both had our reasons."

[momslilassassin]

"And it's nothing I want for Kol, Nat or Val," Ben murmured.

[endsthegame]

"That's what I was thinking," Ender said quietly. "But they'll have their hardships, be they ours or be they theirs. We can't avoid that. I'd just like to avoid the trappings until they're a little older."

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded. "Everyone grows up a little broken," he said. "It's what gives them a sense of humor."

[endsthegame]

"We at least have proof Nat will have one of those," Ender said wryly.

[momslilassassin]

"And Val," Ben said, smiling a bit.