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]

"I know," Ender said, kissing his cheek. "But you're good enough for me. No matter what shape you're in."

[momslilassassin]

"Oh, I'm never good enough for you," Ben murmured, "but I try."

[endsthegame]

"I'd say the opposite is true," Ender said, "But that would get into a very silly argument."

[momslilassassin]

"True," Ben agreed, leaning in to kiss Ender on the jaw. "Let's just say we each appreciate what we have."

[endsthegame]

"And I do," Ender said, releasing Ben's hand, touching his thigh instead. "I wonder-- what was it like, the first day you started working on getting those callouses?"

[momslilassassin]

"Hard," Ben replied quietly. "Jacen had started training when he was two or something insane, an I was years behind. I got a practice lightsaber--it only emits a major shock when you get hit because losing an arm when your little is bad--and I think I was working with it for six solid hours that first day. I only hit the target droid once."

[endsthegame]

"How'd it feel?" Ender asked.

[momslilassassin]

"Frustrating," Ben said. "I thought I'd just be able to do it without really needing to work at it that much."

[endsthegame]

Ender's mouth quirked a little. "Now there's something that changed."

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled back. "Yeah, Mom dissuaded me of that notion almost immediately."

[endsthegame]

"I can imagine that," Ender said with a chuckle. "What'd she say after your first day?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben's Coruscanti accent thickened. "'Of course it was hard, Ben'," he recited from memory. "'Everything worth doing is at the beginning.'"

[endsthegame]

"Indeed," Ender said, his own voice adapting to the same accent immediately.

[momslilassassin]

"Nice accent," Ben said, laughing as he leaned in and kissed him.

[endsthegame]

"Yours has gotten a lot weaker," Ender said, still trying to use the accent, sliding his hand into Ben's hair. "I have to make up for it."

[momslilassassin]

"Well, I haven't exactly spent a lot of time on Coruscant recently," Ben replied, kissing him again. "That's not a complaint, mind."

[endsthegame]

"Just a few more years and we'll have you talking like an American," Ender said dryly.

[momslilassassin]

"Force forbid," Ben said, eyes twinkling.

[endsthegame]

"We are a terrible people to imitate," Ender agreed, smiling.

[momslilassassin]

"Your obsession with orange cheese covered things alone," Ben teased, "is terrifying."

[endsthegame]

"Didn't I see you cover something in orange cheese yesterday?" Ender asked. "Most specifically, another block of cheese?"

[momslilassassin]

"That's because you're a bad influence," Ben declared.

[endsthegame]

"Uh huh," Ender said.

[momslilassassin]

Ben blew a raspberry against Ender's neck. "It could be."

[endsthegame]

Ender's hand slid along Ben's thigh again, and he tilted his head. "Nope," he said, giving Ben a proper kiss.

Now there was an argument.