Nagoya [a month later]

[momslilassassin]

Ben was still smiling as they walked away from the Portalocity terminal, his hand in Ender's. "That was a nice visit," he said. "Dad's really, really excited about becoming a grandfather, huh? I think the Ewok-themed nursery might be a bit much, though."

[OOC: For the boy!]

Comments

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled a little. "I just sometimes worry that we rush through the good stuff too much," he said quietly. "Not that I don't enjoy it." He leaned up and kissed Ben's jaw. "I just love the parts of you that aren't in your pants, too. Like that thing in your skull."

[momslilassassin]

Ben nudged his forehead into Ender's shoulder, blushing. "We can keep talking," he said. "I love the talking."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled a little. "Me, too," he said softly. "So tell me something you're excited about right now."

[momslilassassin]

"Meeting someone that looks a little bit like me and a lot like you," Ben whispered.

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled. "I meant besides that," he said fondly, "Though for my part, I'm hoping she gets more than a 'little bit' from you."

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed Ender's cheek. "We'll have to wait on that," he said. "But other than that, I'm excited about the ship. I'm excited to meet Karla's little girl. You?"

[endsthegame]

"I'm excited about having a quiet day to myself without relatives," Ender said, teasing. "But I'm also excited about those things-- what the baby's like. What the ship is like, thanks to your capable work."

[momslilassassin]

Ben beamed at him--compliments from Ender were never taken for granted--and offered, "I can show you what I have so far, but you'll really have to use your imagination still."

[endsthegame]

"I'll be coming by to do some welding tomorrow, remember?" Ender pointed out, fondly. "Though I wouldn't mind seeing what hull design you settled on."

[momslilassassin]

Ben blushed. "I kind of tuned out after I had the mental image of you welding," he admitted. "Think that's why Tony doesn't let me mess around in his lab much now."

[endsthegame]

Ender laughed softly. "Well, now I know what I need to say to make sure you stop listening in," he teased.

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed him again. "Shhhh. You've found my blind spot."

[endsthegame]

"Well," Ender said, kissing him back, "Think about how when we have that ship finished, you're going to have to teach me how to do maintenance."

[momslilassassin]

"Mmm," Ben said, a slow smile crossing his face. "Me bossing you around while you weld? Best day ever."

[endsthegame]

"If you finish all the walls in one section, I might even let you do me there after," Ender teased.

[momslilassassin]

"Good way to check the integrity of the welding, too," Ben made up, grinning.

[endsthegame]

Ender chuckled. "And it might inspire you to actually work out the astronav system so we don't get any bumpy rides."

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed him again. "I'll pay attention to the documentary now."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled. "I'm here for all your questions if you have any," he said, half-truthful, half-teasing.

He tucked his head against Ben's shoulder.

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed his hair. "I love the hell out of you."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled. "I love how fascinating this is to you," he said. "When I started learning the technical side of space travel, it was largely just to have something to do."

[momslilassassin]

"I come from a line of mechanics," Ben said. "And if you're stuck somewhere--when you're stuck somewhere--it's good to know how to fix the ship you're in. Dad once jumpstarted his fried X-Wing while hanging dead in space by pretty much unwrapping the entire jump drive."

[endsthegame]

"What's the biggest thing you've ever done?" Ender asked.

[momslilassassin]

"Got Ship not to kill me," Ben replied. "I wasn't really Sith-y enough for it."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled. "That doesn't surprise me."