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]

"C'mere," Ender said, sliding an arm around Ben's waist. "We haven't had much of an opportunity to just listen."

[momslilassassin]

"True," Ben said, using Ender's shoulder as a pillow. "This is nice."

[endsthegame]

Ender kissed the top of his head and hummed in agreement.

He shut his eyes, enjoying not just the music but the resumption of real, undemanding contact.

[momslilassassin]

Ben closed his eyes too, soaking in the moment. He sent a quick pulse of his quiet contentment through the Force toward Ender.

[endsthegame]

"Me too," Ender murmured, "But you already knew that."

[momslilassassin]

"I do," Ben said, sliding his head down to lay in Ender's lap. "I just wanted to share."

[endsthegame]

"Thanks," Ender said, opening his eyes. His fingers found Ben's hair, combing gently through it.

[momslilassassin]

"That feels astral," Ben murmured.

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled, adding a little more pressure, turning it into more of a scalp massage. "That's the idea," he said fondly.

[momslilassassin]

Ben let out a low, contented groan. "Kuso. This is an asral night in."

[endsthegame]

"We just got back ten minutes ago," Ender teased, "But I understand the sentiment."

[momslilassassin]

"I'm listening to interesting, joyful music while the person I love most in the universe gives me a massage," Ben said, "and there are delicious pastries downstairs. I'm a happy guy."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled down at him. "In that case," he said, "I'm glad."

Years ago, he wouldn't have believed that would've been possible in their present circumstances. But a lot had changed over the past few years, and it was all starting to hit him now.

[momslilassassin]

Ben reached out and hugged Ender around the waist. "Talk to me, kreetle."

[endsthegame]

Ender's mouth quirked a little bit. "You were right and I was wrong," he said. "But don't tell anyone I said that. Least of all Val. She'd become insufferable."

[momslilassassin]

"Can't have that," Ben murmured, smiling. He sat up so he could kiss Ender softly on the mouth.

Tonight seemed like a time for softness.

[endsthegame]

Ender made a soft little noise, an echo of the smile on his mouth.

He wrapped his arms around Ben. "I thought you'd be gone by now," he said. "I thought I'd be carrying on. I'm not unhappy to be wrong about that."

Just a little bemused.

[momslilassassin]

"Love of mine," Ben murmured, tracing Ender's mouth with his finger, "you're never getting rid of me."

[endsthegame]

"Keep saying that," Ender said wryly, "I might keep you to it some day."

[momslilassassin]

"Good," Ben said, kissing him again. "Please do."

[endsthegame]

Ender sighed, and said nothing, and applied all that energy to kissing Ben back instead.

[momslilassassin]

Ben let out a contented whimper and slid closer. This was his favorite part: when Ender showed how much he loved him.

It was a wonderful reminder each time for a boy who'd grown up a bit attention starved.

[endsthegame]

Well, Ender hoped he'd made sure Ben wasn't going attention starved again.

He kissed Ben softly one more time, then pulled... well, his mouth away. The rest of him was sticking firmly close to Ben where it had been. "I love you," he said. "Bear with me if I'm only just starting to figure out what that really means."

[momslilassassin]

"We have time," Ben said, hugging him again, "and it's not like either of us have ever done something like this before."

[endsthegame]

"Except for the past-- how many years has it been?" Ender said, but in spite of the snark he rested his chin on Ben's shoulder and took a moment to just enjoy the hug.