"I've noticed," Ben said softly, tucking himself more tightly into him. "I didn't realize a coup in my universe would hit you this hard."

He nuzzled Ender's neck. "Maybe I'm just used to my governments only lasting a few years. I'm numbed."

Some of the pieces clicked together for him. "You feel like you lost?" he asked softly, tracing a pattern on Ender's stomach.

Ben kissed his neck in reply. "It hasn't disintegrated into civil war, Daala wasn't killed outright, and the three in charge temporarily seem to have good heads on their shoulders. I don't know much about Treen, but I can trust Saba and Wynn Dorvan to do the best thing for the GA rather than trying to play politics. It couldn't have gone that much better, kreetle."

"That's assuming she would have recognized the Senate's right to impeach her, which wasn't necessarily a given," Ben replied, giving Ender another squeeze. "Feeling a little less wobbly now?" he added.

Ben smiled and leaned into Ender's hand. "I didn't think you were," he murmured.

Ben's cheeks went pink as he nipped at Ender's lower lip. "That was something good?"

"You never owe me anything," Ben said, kissing the mark he'd left on the hollow of Ender's throat.

"Call me cliche but I just want you," Ben said, blushing hard.

"I've been getting through that book of yours--" Ben replied, still blushing.

"Aren't you proud of me?" Ben replied, sliding his hands up Ender's legs.

"That's nice to hear," Ben replied, rolling his hips up into Ender.

"That's what I have you for," Ben replied, reaching out to squeeze Ender's rear again.

There was something about how Ender said that that made shivers run down Ben's spine.

"I'm here," Ben replied, kissing Ender's neck. "And here--" he added, biting down on his collarbone, "--and here--" he finished, running his tongue around Ender's nipple.