Fixer-Uppers, Monday

[endsthegame]

Ender didn't want to care about politics back home - he really desperately didn't. And to a point, he'd succeeded in that; the only part of it he cared about now was how those politics hurt his friends. Knowing Carn and Dink were safe had taken a bit of the load off, but the rest of them were still fighting.

So there he was, on Monday morning back in the shop, picking through Martel essays and trying to place the writing style. It seemed familiar, anyway.

"I can probably trace the source," Jane offered. Ender combed a hand through his hair, wondering whether he really cared.

And said yes.

Five minutes later, he was sighing, and getting up to make some orange juice out of the oranges that had popped up earlier that day.

[[ open! ]]

Comments

[momslilassassin]

"Ho, Ender," Ben said, coming into the shop with cartons of Chinese food.

[endsthegame]

"Ho, Ben," Ender said, tossing some orange peels into the trashcan.

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

Someone went running again this morning. Because someone was too stubborn to give up on anything, oh say... ever.

Which would be why someone decided to come and collapse where Ender worked. To whine like a pro. "Mr. Rogers is evil," Tony informed him from his spot on the floor.

Drama queen.

[endsthegame]

Ender glanced up from his computer - and his glass of orange juice - and raised an eyebrow.

"Are you bleeding from anywhere?" he asked, "If not, stop whining." His tone was teasing, though.

[momslilassassin]

"At least the shop isn't telling you to make lemonade out of lemons?" Ben suggested with a tiny grin.

[endsthegame]

"I prefer orange juice, anyway," Ender said, pointing at the glass he'd squeezed full so far. "So this works out for me."

[momslilassassin]

"Really?" Ben said, settling into his usual spot. "I like the tartness of lemons more."

[endsthegame]

"Good," Ender said, "That means we won't have to wrestle next time there's only one container of each in the fridge."

He sat back.

[momslilassassin]

"I'd been worried," Ben teased, putting the lunch sack on the counter.

[endsthegame]

Ender reached for the sack with a sigh.

"I traced down who's behind those essays about Armenia."

No point in talking around it.

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"You're in league with him," Tony replied with a weak little glare.

[endsthegame]

"I don't think I've had a conversation with Steve Rogers in years," Ender said, patiently. "You're blocking the doorway."

[momslilassassin]

Ben paused in mid-sip on his mug of coffee. "Peter?"

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"From all the customers?" Tony asked dryly. "I can see that."

But he did, at last scoot over to lean against the wall.

[endsthegame]

"Well, he's probably the one that ordered them," Ender said, rummaging around the sack with no real purpose in mind. "But Petra's the one writing them."

[endsthegame]

"I like to keep this place looking professional," Ender said, raising his eyebrows at Tony. "I take it you had your first training session."

[momslilassassin]

"..."

Ben stared at Ender for a long moment.

"Why?"

[endsthegame]

"Bean's loyal to Peter," Ender said, coming up with a box of food. Mostly because he couldn't poke around the bag forever. "She might believe in him, too. I don't know. Why does anyone ever do something for a leader?"

[momslilassassin]

"Money," Ben said. "Blackmail."

He paused, then added, "Loyalty. But I don't get it: what's the longterm gain for her in this?"

[endsthegame]

"What's the longterm gain for Bean?" Ender asked, shutting his eyes. "A safe world to leave behind for his children."

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"Yesterday," Tony replied. "We invented the wheel for a reason."

He was special, okay?

[endsthegame]

"Yes, to move ourselves around more easily when we have a choice in the matter," Ender said, lightly, and took a sip of his orange juice. "But that's not the reason you're running around for training."

[hoorayimrich.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, but its a nice thought." Tony Stark, ladies and gentlemen. Full of nice thoughts.

[endsthegame]

"Do you want some orange juice?" Ender asked, in lieu of going into that.

[momslilassassin]

Ben gave Ender a worried glance. "But to do that he has to clear the field for Peter," he said quietly. "At least, from Bean's current point of view."