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

[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."

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed his nose. "Well, not for lack of trying at 14."

[endsthegame]

"But you didn't," Ender said quietly, "And I don't think you would've made a good Sith even if you had."

[momslilassassin]

"Well, I was still trying to impress you, even with Jacen's influence, so...probably true. I don't think you would have liked me as a Sith," Ben said.

[endsthegame]

"Probably not," Ender murmured, "But I'd have confidence in your coming back from it."

He touched Ben's face, his thumb brushing over the hair along Ben's jaw.

[momslilassassin]

Ben closed his eyes. "You trust me that much."

[endsthegame]

"You wanted to impress me," Ender said softly. "You succeeded pretty quickly."

[momslilassassin]

"Yeah?" Ben whispered, wrapping his arm around Ender's waist. "You played that pretty close for a while."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled a little. "Well," he said, "I was trying to keep everyone at a distance at the time, and you made it difficult."

[momslilassassin]

"Well, I could tell you were secretly a cuddler," Ben teased.

[endsthegame]

Ender let out a snort. "More like you kept latching on," he teased back.

[momslilassassin]

"That too," Ben said, knocking his head into Ender's. "I needed a friend."

[endsthegame]

"We both did," Ender said, kissing Ben's jaw.

[momslilassassin]

"I got so lucky," Ben whispered, "when I found you."