Milliways, Thursday evening

[momslilassassin]

Ben had been to some stupidly decadent restaurants (being the son of Luke Skywalker had its privileges), but this one blew even those most ridiculous on Coruscant out of the water.

"This is barvy," he muttered to Ender as their waiter led them to their table. "Look at all of the people here. And...other beings...of course."

Ben hadn't been knocked so completely off-stride in years.

[OOC: For the boy and great SP justice.]

Comments

[endsthegame]

"Anakin Skywalker is an exception in many ways on many fronts," Ender said, also dryly. "Still, it has to leave you curious."

[momslilassassin]

"Very," Ben admitted. "I should catch him after class and ask him things, but I worry he's uncomfortable that I was named for him."

[endsthegame]

"It was a lot of pressure to put on you when you were young," Ender said.

[momslilassassin]

"Yeah," Ben said. "Looking back, I thought I was handling it a lot better than I really was."

[endsthegame]

"What was different between your thoughts and reality?" Ender said.

[momslilassassin]

"I didn't think there was much pressure on me," Ben said.

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled quietly. "Until our junior year."

[momslilassassin]

"Yeah, that wasn't the best year ever," Ben vastly understated.

[endsthegame]

"Now that's the understatement of the century," Ender said. "You nearly got killed."

[momslilassassin]

"...this is true," Ben replied, "but I'm not the only one at this table who's almost been killed."

[endsthegame]

"But that was my choice," Ender said quietly.

[momslilassassin]

Ben reached out to squeeze Ender's hand. "Yeah, but I'm much happier you're here with me watching the universe explode instead of...not."

[endsthegame]

Ender squeezed back. "At least if we're going, we're going together?" he joked softly.

[momslilassassin]

"That is absolutely the plan," Ben said with a tiny smile.

[endsthegame]

"It's certainly a romantic idea," Ender murmured. "Facing our own dawning irrelevance together."

[momslilassassin]

"You're not irrelevant," Ben said, poking Ender's leg with his foot.

[endsthegame]

"Ah, but I will be," Ender said, nudging him back with his own foot. "And so will you, when we've settled down and we're done breeding."

[momslilassassin]

"Well, if I'm irrelevant with you, I'm okay," Ben said.

[momslilassassin]

"You say the sweetest things," Ben teased, leaning over to kiss him.

[endsthegame]

Ender kissed him back softly. He skimmed his fingers over Ben's cheek. "I try," he said, "You deserve them. Most of the time."

[momslilassassin]

"I love you so much," Ben said, smiling softly. "It's probably grossing our friends out at this point."

[endsthegame]

Ender laughed softly. He sat back. "Well, we didn't invite them on our date for a reason."

[momslilassassin]

"Because someone had to watch the baby?" Ben teased.

[endsthegame]

"And because I thoroughly enjoy being gross with you," Ender said fondly. "Even when you taste like wine."