Stark Industries, Monday

[endsthegame]

The security system was close to finished, and there was little more he could really add to it. Instead, Ender had decided to take a close look at Stark's hologram technology, and the way it could be applied to building things.

He understood the basics quickly enough, shifting little blocks from one end to the other. He wasn't completely into it; his mind was still a little preoccupied with the problems that Ben had brought up.

Even if he probably shouldn't.

[ open! ]

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[momslilassassin]

Ben debated about stopping in or not on his way back from where the shuttle had dropped him off.

Maybe Ender would be busy.

He poked his head through the door. "Hello?"

[endsthegame]

"Back here," Ender called back, a little distracted. He made one hologram do a little 180 degree turn, then shifted it down and open. Interesting.

[momslilassassin]

Ben hefted his bag up over his shoulder and followed the sound of the voice. "Oooh, holo technology?" he asked.

[endsthegame]

"Stark's," Ender replied, because it really did explain everything. He opened up the display with a whirl of the pen in his hand. "He has me coming up with new merchandise for his company." Just a little amused.

[momslilassassin]

Ben didn't quite smile, but the corners of his lips turned up. "What kind of merchandise? We use the technology for just about everything back home."

[endsthegame]

"Something big that'll take time," he said, switching off the holo display. "Ho, Ben."

[momslilassassin]

Ben let out a small sigh. "Ho, Ender. How was your weekend?"

[endsthegame]

"Quiet, for the most part," Ender replied. He paced around the now-dead display, still testing the weight of the small controller in his hand. "How was yours?"

He was starting to accept that as part of the social code here. It'd been a while.

[momslilassassin]

Ben scuffed his boot against the floor. "Not that quiet," he admitted. "I went home."

[endsthegame]

That paused Ender's steps, at least. "Did you talk to you father?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded. "Not sure how much he heard," he said softly.

But that was for other reasons.

[endsthegame]

"He wasn't listening?"

A slight frown crept onto Ender's brow, but he left it for what it was, training his eyes on Ben's face instead. It wasn't like Karal's problems, which could be easily discussed and decided upon rationally, and that made him cautious.

[momslilassassin]

Ben shook his head, staring at his totally fascinating boots for a long time.

"Mom was killed, so Dad's kind of...not there right now."

He was proud of how his voice didn't quaver when he said that.

[endsthegame]

He'd moved a couple of steps closer to Ben before he'd realised he was moving, but once he did, he fell still again. "What happened?" Ender asked, trying to make his voice sound a little calming, just in case.

[momslilassassin]

He was pretty sure he knew what happened, but the investigation was ongoing. "It was my fault," he said.

Because that part he was sure of.

"I told her about Jacen, and now she's dead."

[endsthegame]

"I think we've already talked about how little blaming yourself is going to help," said the pot to the kettle. "Ben..." He ran a hand over the back of his head. "I'm sorry." It sounded as stupid and trite as he'd always kind of thought he was.

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded a little numbly. "I go back for the funeral in a few days," he said, running on autopilot. He chewed on his lower lip. "I don't suppose you'd want to come with me?"

[endsthegame]

He studied Ben's face again.

It'd help if he knew a few things about Ben's world, if he understood better. And he might... need to.

Even if the freedom to make that choice suddenly seemed more alien than ever. "Sure," Ender said, and for a moment, he figured he should have some kind of joke to throw it off, but it wasn't worth it. He was still serious. "It's not like I have that much to do at present."

Beyond the fifty things he volunteered for, but that was just keeping his hands busy.

[momslilassassin]

A weight lifted off of Ben's shoulders. "It'll be a lot of politics," he said apologetically. "Mom's a member of the Jedi Council."

Pain flashed in his eyes. "Was, I mean. It's all being planned while I'm here. The funeral's Thursday so it could fit into the Chiefs of State schedules. We'll leave Wednesday and be back Friday afternoon."

He blew out a breath. "Jacen'll be there."

[endsthegame]

"Politics were never my thing," he said, "But I'll live."

Jacen, though. The now-dreaded name. "They don't know about him?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben shook his head. "I asked Mom not to tell," he murmured.

His fault, his fault, his most grievous fault.

[endsthegame]

Hesitantly, but only noticably so if you knew where to look, Ender reached over to lay a hand on his shoulder. "That was her judgment as well as yours working," he pointed out, softly.

Grief wasn't something they'd had to deal with a lot, back at school: everyone hid theirs deep to keep it safe. But as always, he remembered Valentine, and Alai, and that was enough.

[momslilassassin]

Ben's shoulder tensed up before relaxing again slightly. "She was a professional assassin," he said. "I thought she was invincible."

[endsthegame]

At least that had worked. A little bit.

"Unfortunately, people never seem to be," he offered. It was trite, too, but at least it was a truth he was absolutely certain of. "But she would've known what she was doing."

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded. "She knew things I don't." He wiped the palm of his hand across his eyes. "It's why I told her."

[endsthegame]

Ender nodded, too. It made sense, for Ben: both the fact that that had been his mother, and that he'd gone to her. "Don't take guilt where you don't have to," he said, "Color me crazy, but I don't think you set out to kill your mother."

[momslilassassin]

Ben recoiled. It was just so...stark...to hear it that way.

[endsthegame]

That was something.

But after a minute, Ender's expression softened just a little bit. "So I really doubt you did," he continued, "Mistake or otherwise."

[momslilassassin]

Ben looked far from convinced. "If you say so," he said softly.

[endsthegame]

"People have enough to feel guilty about without tossing extra things in the mix," he said, mildly, but dropped it. "Were you close with her?"

Well, that came out suddenly.

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded, not making eye contact.

[endsthegame]

He... wasn't completely sure what to do.

WWVD. What would Valentine do?

"So tell me something nice about her."

[momslilassassin]

Ben's throat tightened up as he sifted through memories.

"She would mess up my hair when she wanted to hug me," he said, "because she knew I didn't want to get hugged in public."

[endsthegame]

He nodded, feeling a dull kind of ache at the heart of it. Ender and his mother, well-meaning as she'd been, had never seen eye-to-eye. It made him feel a little more distant. "She sounds like a good woman," he said, lifting his arm, considering something for a minute.

What would Valentine do, indeed.

[momslilassassin]

"She was the best," Ben said, wrapping his arms around himself.

[endsthegame]

He reached over, finally, and tried to ruffle Ben's hair; a silly part of him was mostly relieved that the movement wasn't as awkward as he'd expected.

[momslilassassin]

For a brief second, Ben's face crumpled, but he pulled himself together.

"Thank you," he said softly.

[endsthegame]

"I've also been known to hug people," he joked, smiling slightly, "But it is a little public."

He was pretty sure Stark wouldn't care.

[momslilassassin]

"I'm fine," Ben said with an equally small smile, "but I appreciate the thought."

[endsthegame]

He nodded. "Salaam, small fry," he replied, because that word had always mattered, and maybe now Ben needed it-- or he needed to say it to Ben. He wasn't sure. "I'll be there Wednesday."