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

[endsthegame]

"Val was talking about how, if we move on--" though that 'if' was starting to turn into more of a 'when' already, "--she might want to get university accreditation." Ender glanced Ben's way. "Maybe we should look into getting you some kind of police academy teacher degree while we're at it."

[momslilassassin]

Ben looked surprised. "I'd never thought of that. That would be astral."

[endsthegame]

"It might be a good compromise," Ender said, throwing him a small smile.

[momslilassassin]

Ben used the excuse of the crowd pressing into them to brush his hand against Ender's. "It is."

[endsthegame]

Ender closed his eyes briefly at the touch. He had to.

"Do you want to stay until the end of the act?" he asked.

[momslilassassin]

"Not really," Ben said. "It's not like we have to make an appearance any more."

[endsthegame]

"Then let's go," Ender said, smiling a little. "We'll be able to see the light show a lot better from a distance."

And he'd be able to get Ben alone in the house. He'd gotten too used to contact after refusing it for so long; now he was suddenly struggling with the lack of it.

[momslilassassin]

Ben could certainly understand that.

"Think we could climb onto the roof?" he said.

[endsthegame]

"I think you can," Ender said wryly. "Me, I'd have to figure it out."

[momslilassassin]

"I'm not going anywhere without you," Ben murmured in his ear.

[endsthegame]

"Let's just get going already," Ender murmured. "I don't think this audience fits either of our moods."

[momslilassassin]

"Race you home," Ben said, eyes twinkling.

[endsthegame]

"Fine, fine," Ender said, though he knew he'd lose. "Move."

[momslilassassin]

He wouldn't lose as badly this time?

Ben smiled again and disappeared into the crowd.

He'd be taking a quick pitstop for the sweets Ender liked before heading back to the house.

[endsthegame]

Ender shook his head and followed after him. More fluidly than his previous attempts, but still not anywhere near as well as Ben could manage it.

He didn't mind. Especially not when he'd slipped out of the crowd entirely and their house was coming into view.

[momslilassassin]

Ben met him at the door with a pastry. "Ho, kreetle."

[endsthegame]

"If you had time to buy that," Ender said, walking up to him, "I'm really, really slow."

[momslilassassin]

"You didn't say I couldn't cheat this time," Ben replied, "so I did."

[endsthegame]

Ender snorted and handed him the keys to the door.

[momslilassassin]

"You love me," Ben proclaimed with a grin, opening the door up and stepping inside.

[endsthegame]

Ender shut the door behind him and let the mask drop away from him. "Just a little," he said. "An ounce."

[momslilassassin]

Ben leaned in and kissed him softly. "There you are again."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled and slid his arms around Ben's waist. "I missed you," he murmured, figuring Ben would understand what he meant.

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled up at him. "I know. Something else to add to our list of next planets..."

[endsthegame]

Ender leaned in and kissed him softly. "That might limit our options a little too much," he said. "But I'm not exactly adverse to finding somewhere more liberal wherever we go next."

Not that he was exactly the making out in the street type, but there was a level of casual touching he'd gotten used to with Ben.