Ta'a Chume'Dun, Hapes, Hapes Cluster, Friday evening

[momslilassassin]

Ben leaned against the balcony of their suite in the Fountain Palace and sighed softly. Hapes really was ridiculously beautiful, and while he preferred Naboo because of the lack of constant political posturing, he did enjoy getting to show Ender and Val off to Tenel Ka, who flatly refused to believe he was old enough to have a baby of his own when she could still remember changing his bottom.

The laughter from her guards at that had almost made the embarrassment worth it. "I think it's time for dinner soon," Ben called into Ender. "It's hard to gage here by the sun because it never gets fully dark."

Comments

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled faintly, focusing on the warm feeling in his chest, letting it soak into the rest of him. He wanted Ben to feel more of it.

[momslilassassin]

Ben let out a low, satisfied noise. "Like that."

[endsthegame]

"Good," Ender said, stretching an arm out to pull up the covers. "You should."

[momslilassassin]

Ben sighed happily--the covers really were ridiculously decadent--and then declared. "Okay. Water and washcloths or we'll be stuck to this bed."

[endsthegame]

Ender laughed. "Fine," he said. "We could probably even get right back to the tub."

[momslilassassin]

"Oooh," Ben said, smiling. "But only if I'm on the receiving end."

[endsthegame]

"Feeling a little neglected?" Ender teased.

[momslilassassin]

"Hardly," Ben said, kissing him.

[endsthegame]

Ender kissed him back gently, then slid out of the bed. "But fine, I'll go first."

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled up at him. "Love you, kreetle."

[endsthegame]

Ender touched Ben's cheek in response, then walked into the bathroom, where he sank into the tub.

It felt really good, even if he badly wanted to go back to bed.

[momslilassassin]

Ben toddled in a few minutes later and slid in next to Ender with a sigh. "We need to work out more if this tired us out," he teased.

[endsthegame]

Ender laughed softly. "Or we need to surrender to the fact we're getting old," he said, curling up next to him. "Have a nap, and then I can do you."

[momslilassassin]

"You always know the right thing to say," Ben murmured, closing his eyes.

[endsthegame]

Ender kissed his shoulder softly. "Besides," he said, "We don't need to screw up and down the room like we used to."

[momslilassassin]

Ben laughed. "Nothing to prove any more?"

[endsthegame]

"Nobody listening, either," Ender said, smiling. "And just... being part of a family with you is infinitely as rewarding."

He touched Ben's leg under the water. "Not that I'm not glad we finally have a chance to do it again."

[momslilassassin]

Ben kissed him softly. "Yeah," he agreed. "Not that sex isn't great, but the family part..."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled more, pressing his forehead to Ben's. "Is she dreaming right now?"

[momslilassassin]

"She is," Ben whispered. "Think she knows we need this time without her."

[endsthegame]

"She takes after you," Ender murmured. "Always trying to make sure everyone else has their space."

[momslilassassin]

Ben chuckled. "Maybe a little bit," he agreed.

[endsthegame]

"We'll have to make sure she knows when to claim her own, too," Ender said quietly.

[momslilassassin]

"Definitely," Ben said. "She'll have double the self-sacrificing tendencies."

[endsthegame]

Ender winced. "Let's hope the arithmetic isn't that simple."