"Maybe I'll play hard to get," Ben teased back, nipping the join of Ender's neck and shoulder.

"Extremely obviously happy to see you?" Ben said.

Ben smiled, then kissed him again. "I am extremely obviously happy to see you."

"You did," Ben said, smiling against Ender's mouth. "And in return, I'll make your brain shut up."

Ben flopped stomach first onto the bed with a happy sigh. "Mmmm. Okay."

"Mmmmm, more so now," he said.

Ben moaned low in his throat. "Kreetle."

Ben groaned. "Maybe, yeah," he agreed.

"I breathe, I worry," Ben mumbled. "It's what I do. Less so here than on new planets, at least."

Ben sighed. "Part of why I love here so much," he said. "I know where everything's supposed to be."

Ben sighed again, closing his eyes. "When we're on a different planet, I'm always on alert, trying to figure out what's normal for that place at that time. I know the tempo of Naboo, how things work here, our routine. I can tell more quickly when something's out of place. Other places I worry I'll miss something because I'm not as good at separately the mundane from the out-of-the-ordinary."

"Me too," Ben said, shivering. "I can acclimate as well as anyone on a new planet, but my primary role is keeping you and the Vals safe, so I have to stay alert."

"Really won't," Ben agreed, tipping his head on the pillow so he could smile at Ender. "Not because I don't know you can kick ass on your own, though."