The Causeway, Sunday Morning

[endsthegame]

"The castle's still standing," Ender observed. "That's good."

"Unless it's been taken over by evil space ghosts," Jane proposed merrily.

Ender ignored her and shot Ben a quick smile. They'd had an excellent two days, an only slightly less excellent 5-hour-layover (there were worse places to have to camp out than a world of pillows. Like a yurt. A yurt was most definitely worse) and now they had - he guessed - about one more day of weirdness to endure here.

And nothing was on fire.

That was good.

[[ open! to the boy, but also to anyone else ]]

Comments

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled back. "So far, no one shrieking at us and holding signs."

[endsthegame]

"There's a relief," Ender said. "But I think it's too early to start not regretting coming back."

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled at him. "I'd hug you or hold your hand but I'm afraid that it might bring them."

[endsthegame]

"We can hug when we're back at the hotel," Ender promised, stretching his arms above his head now that he didn't have to deal with the backpack for two seconds.

[momslilassassin]

"And they'll go home tomorrow, right?" Ben said. "Most of this weirdness is over by the end of the weekend."

[endsthegame]

"Well, you never know, but in theory, that's how it's always worked," Ender said. He glanced towards Ben. "That's not a terribly reliable basis to go on, I know."

[momslilassassin]

Ben shrugged a shoulder. "I'm trying out this optimism thing."

[endsthegame]

"It looks good on you," Ender said, picking up his backpack again.

[momslilassassin]

Ben smiled at him. "Thanks for a great birthday, kreetle."

[endsthegame]

"I'm going to play it dangerous now," Ender warned, before leaning in to peck him on the cheek. "You're welcome."

[momslilassassin]

Ben blushed and reached for his hand. "Then I will too."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled quietly to himself. It really had been a nice couple of days - enough to push him closer back towards an equilibrium he'd been drifting away from since he'd found out about Natalie - or even before that.

He chose to bask in the afterglow of that now, letting Ben take his hand.

[momslilassassin]

Ben squeezed his fingers. "You seem happier too."

[endsthegame]

"I needed this, I think," Ender said. His eyes flitted towards Ben's. "Fandom isn't terribly good for me, as it turns out."

[momslilassassin]

"We're almost done," Ben promised. "Our next trip back will be much shorter."

He was starting to run out of family to visit.

[endsthegame]

Ender sighed, squeezing Ben's hand. "Don't get me wrong," he said. "I'm not about to start keeping you from coming here and seeing your family. But I'll be relieved when we go."

He would never describe himself as happy, but he had felt more-- balanced, capable of handling the future-- on Shakespeare.

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded. "I know," he said softly. "That's part of why you want Cade with us on Naboo, too, right?"

[endsthegame]

"It'd be nice if he saw us at our best," Ender said. "And I won't complain if it brings out his best, either."

He paused and glanced towards Ben. "He knows about Naboo," he said. "Apparently his dad told stories about it."

[momslilassassin]

"We keep it that long?" Ben asked, looking a little surprised. And touched.

[endsthegame]

Ender's mouth quirked briefly. "Cade says it was one of his dad's most favorite places in the galaxy," he said.

[momslilassassin]

"Well, I can understand that," Ben said, smiling back.

[endsthegame]

"Gives you a little bit of hope, doesn't it?" Ender said. "Not all that's ours will be lost."

[momslilassassin]

"Yeah," Ben said softly. "And that he had at least one good memory of us."

[endsthegame]

Ender smiled a little bit more as they neared the hotel. "We're not all bad."

[momslilassassin]

"I never thought so," Ben said, "but he might have another opinion."