Room 614, the Arms Hotel, Sunday morning

[momslilassassin]

It was positively decadent, sleeping on a soft mattress without worrying about mosquitoes, bickering teenagers, annoying co-workers, or potential planetary eradication...

So Ben was sleeping in today. Mmmm. Sleep.

[OOC: For Ender!]

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[endsthegame]

"Yes," Ender said. "You're not going to talk him out of it, Ben."

[momslilassassin]

Ben rested his head against Ender's. "It's going to end badly."

[endsthegame]

"Maybe," Ender said. "But it's not up to us to decide that for him, and fighting him... Well, you remember what you were like at that age."

[momslilassassin]

"Stubborn and dumb as a rock?" Ben offered, making a face.

[endsthegame]

"And cute," Ender said, "But yes."

[momslilassassin]

"Well, and three-quarters in love with you," Ben said, "but that's not going to help Kol much."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled a little. "You have to let him find his own path," he said. "Even if that means we'll have to let him go at some point."

[momslilassassin]

Ben sighed heavily. "It was easier with Val."

[endsthegame]

"Val loves you best," Ender said softly. "They're all different kids."

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed him again. "She loves you too."

[endsthegame]

"I know," Ender said fondly, "But you're her favorite."

He and Val were a little too similar.

[momslilassassin]

"For now, maybe," Ben admitted. "But you've got the boys."

[endsthegame]

Ender chuckled. "And now it's starting to sound like a competition," he said, giving Ben a little nudge.

[momslilassassin]

"Divide and conquer," Ben said, smiling softly. "As long as they're all taken care of, I don't care who's got the lion's share. It shifts back and forth often enough."

[endsthegame]

"I just like seeing you and Val," Ender said softly. "You get so worried about the boys, it's nice to see you at peace all snuggled up."

[momslilassassin]

"They're too much like me," Ben admitted. "And I'm not that smart."

[endsthegame]

Ender kissed his cheek. "You're smart," he said. "Just stubborn, that's all."

[momslilassassin]

"Compared to the rest of you, I'm slooooow," Ben said, kissing him back.

[endsthegame]

"Fast enough for me," Ender murmured.

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed his nose. "I still love hearing that."

[endsthegame]

"You're sharp," Ender said, kissing Ben's mouth, "and you balance it out with enormous heart. I'm glad the boys took after you, too."

[momslilassassin]

Ben toyed with Ender's hair. "We made pretty great kids," he said softly. "Think we tell them so enough?"

[endsthegame]

"We'll tell them again when we get home," Ender said. "Twice, if we have to."

[momslilassassin]

"Make sure you tell Kol twice," Ben murmured, kissing him. "He won't hear it if I say it."

[endsthegame]

"I promise," Ender said softly.

He nipped very gently at Ben's bottom lip.