Fixer-Uppers, Monday

[endsthegame]

Ender had come back from Eros earlier that morning - about an hour late for work, but he'd done his best to make it back quickly. It'd have to do. Instead of heading up to his room, he'd immediately beelined for the store, which was why his (one bag of) luggage was currently resting behind the desk.

It had been a busy weekend, but that was fine - it had kept his mind off of things. Still, the quiet of the store was a blessing right now, and for once he didn't skip right ahead to his research; he took a moment to wander around the building and enjoy the feel of solitude.

Don't judge him.

[[ open! ]]

Comments

[endsthegame]

"I didn't want to talk about it in December," Ender said, flatly.

Wow, Ben, look at this control issue you just tripped over.

[momslilassassin]

Ben's eyes went a little wide and he began treading carefully. "So talk about it now," he offered softly.

[endsthegame]

"There's really nothing to talk about." Not strictly true, but what there was to talk about wasn't something he was willing to bring up - it certainly wouldn't do Ben any good.

[momslilassassin]

Ben shifted a little bit closer. "Ender. It was a rough few months for you then even before someone pulled a gun and decided to make your day a little more interesting."

[endsthegame]

"And yet I've had much worse," he returned, shooting Ben a glance. "Besides, we already tackled the parts of that that were vaguely interesting."

[momslilassassin]

"Even though I didn't have the complete picture," Ben said.

[endsthegame]

"The only way you could have a 'complete picture' is if you'd been there," Ender said, mildly. "The rest is just guesswork through the fractured glass of other people's perceptions."

Ben kept his thoughts to himself because he didn't want to be a bother, or they were difficult. Ender did because for a long time they'd been the only things he'd owned, and he didn't like anyone trying to put some claim to them.

[momslilassassin]

Ben gave him a very tiny smile. "I've gotten pretty good at peeking through your glass."

That had sounded less strange before he said it.

[endsthegame]

Yes. Yes, it probably did. Ender didn't look fazed, though. "That's not really the point I was trying to make, kreetle."

[momslilassassin]

"I know," Ben said, taking a sip from his drink as an excuse to avoid eye contact. "For future reference, instances of mortal peril, however accidental or incidental, are things I'd like to know about."

[endsthegame]

There was a little ping of an instant message -- which was Jane passing comment, because Ender knew he hadn't actually logged onto any systems.

He had no interest in hearing it, so he ignored his laptop. Ender shot Ben a look that was still faintly annoyed, but sighed, and said, "As long as you don't start making mountains out of molehills," he said.

[momslilassassin]

"Again?" Ben finished for him a little wryly. He knew he'd been ridiculous.

[endsthegame]

"Again," Ender agreed. "Agree to those terms and we have a deal."

Which he'd probably break the next time it seemed more important not to tell Ben something.

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded, then held out his hand. "Deal."

[endsthegame]

"Deal," Ender repeated, shaking his hand. "And now we draw up the contracts..."

[momslilassassin]

"I trust you," Ben said simply, leaning in to knock his forehead into Ender's as a bit of an apology.

[endsthegame]

Ender knocked his forehead back gently in reply, and brushed away a stray bit of worry that he might be trying to manipulate Ben the way Peter would right now. It wouldn't be a good idea to wallow and question himself in front of the Jedi at the moment.

"Satisfied?"

[momslilassassin]

Ben found himself weirdly reluctant to pull away, even though he knew hovering like this would irritate Ender.

"For now," he said, trying to keep it light. "I'll add some stuff about disarming an opponent to our workouts."

[endsthegame]

"Try doing it in Spanish next time," Ender said, in an effort to clear the mood and steer himself away from the topic of Peter-as-compared-to-himself.

[momslilassassin]

"There will be a lot of car comparisons," Ben said with a laugh that was only a little forced. "I still need to add to my vocabulary."

[endsthegame]

"As long as you don't tell me to ram anything with my bumper," Ender said, "There are only so many feats of gymnastics I can manage in a day."

[momslilassassin]

"Arms and legs are better for blocking things than your bumper anyway," Ben deadpanned.

[endsthegame]

"Ah," Ender said, "Now there's the expert advice I signed on for."

[momslilassassin]

"Your bumper is not really that impressive," Ben added.

[endsthegame]

"And the insults," Ender added in turn. "Lots of them."