Status: Edited

Ender sat on his bed in the darkness after hearing the door slide back into place behind Lara, a sudden emptiness opening like a pit in his stomach. His heart was still pounding frantically from when she'd sat so casually beside him.

His mind raced as he watched the blinking red light of his digital clock. Had it been out of place to ask her to talk with him? Had she only come because he was her commander and felt she couldn't say no? Ender desperately hoped this wasn't the case.

Turmoil took over Ender as he second guessed himself. He'd never felt more confused in his entire life.

She wouldn't have asked to hang out again if she hadn't enjoyed herself, Ender reasoned. The prior emptiness he felt was suddenly replaced with butterflies at the thought of Lara wanting to see him again.

What was this feeling that came all too often with any thought of her?

As realization shook him, it felt as if a firework had gone off inside his head. The sudden need to see her overtook him, causing him to immediately jump to his feet. Over time, these feelings had steadily begun to take over his entire being, to the point where he could no longer keep them to himself, as they had consumed his mind with only thoughts of her. He knew what he had to do.

Ender made his way through the darkness to the door, pressing the button and allowing it to slide open. Quickly, he jogged down the corridor after Lara.

He was frantic to reach her before she made it to bed. It was as if a beast had woken up inside his chest, raging to be released. He had to find her. He had to tell her.

. . .

"Ho Lara."

Shock ran through me and I blinked to clear my confusion. "Ho Bonzo."

Bonzo's face stayed blank except for the shadows dancing across it in the dim corridor lights. "What are you doing up past curfew?"

I tried to keep my voice calm, suddenly reminded of the last conversation we'd had and specifically what it had been about. I glared suspiciously. "I could ask you the same thing," I replied.

He was silent for a moment as he scrutinized my face. "I was going to the bathroom," he said at last.

I gave an unamused snort. "Like hell. Sneaking around, more like." I held his gaze, eyes hardening.

His brow was furrowed now as he returned my glare. I expected him to retaliate with a snide comment to match mine, but his words almost made me fall over with surprise. "Look Lara, we don't have to be enemies," he said, watching me carefully.

I took a step back, giving him a cautious glance. "We're from different armies. Of course we have to be enemies," I responded, voice guarded.

"I could help you," he spoke again, this time taking a step foward. "I could teach you more than Wiggin could." His voice had turned uncharacteristically soft, but there was a bite to the way he said Ender's name that made me nervous.

I stood my ground this time. "No one teaches better than Ender," I voiced fiercely. "He's taught me everything."

Bonzo just stared down at me. He had taken a step towards me once more, reaching out his hand to tuck a stray hair behind my ear, causing me to flinch slightly. He ignored it, gently resting his hand against my cheek. His voice was barely more than a whisper as he leaned closer, eyes flicking to my lips. "Has he?"

I could feel his hot breath across my face, but I couldn't make my feet move away from him. It was as if someone had glued my shoes to the floor, leaving me frozen and terrified.

And then the heat was gone. My eyes widened. "Ender," I breathed.

Out of nowhere Ender had appeared. He grabbed Bonzo's arm, spinning him to face him before gripping the front of his shirt and slammed him against the wall. He was fumming. "Listen here, Bonzo," he started, eyes glinting with malice. "You do not touch my soldier. I don't want to see you near her ever again." His breathing was heavy and his eyes glared daggers into Bonzo's.

Bonzo glared right back, just as much anger in his eyes. He seemed about ready to kill someone, and it was that look that broke me out of my stupor.

My voice was barely over a whisper. "Ender, let him go." I shifted nervously. Neither boy looked at me and Ender didn't move, instead pushing Bonzo harder into the wall.

Raising my voice, I tried again. "Ender."

Refusing to break eye contact, Ender finally released Bonzo, taking a step back. I breathed a shaky sigh of relief.

"Get out of here," Ender said, his voice cold as he spoke to Bonzo.

Glaring harshly, Bonzo stepped away from the wall. He clenched his fists, and for a second I thought he was going to swing, but instead he turned back the way he'd come. We watched in silence as he disappeared out of sight around the corner.

Once he was gone, Ender rushed to me, worry filling his eyes as all traces of anger left him. "Are you okay?" he asked hurriedly. "Did he hurt you? He didn't try anything, did he?"

I smiled reassuringly. "I'm fine, Ender. He didn't do anything."

He searched my eyes disbelievingly, but at last he relaxed. "I don't know what I'd do if he hurt you," he said quietly. My eyes widened at this, but Ender pushed on before I could speak.

"When we first met, Lara, I honestly just thought you were competition I had to beat. I didn't think of any one as a friend, least of all you." He sighed.

I'd never seen him distraught enough to ramble, but there's always a first time for everything. Ender was so composed all the time that it was refreshing to see how human he was. "But then everyone shut me out." He continued. "Shut us out. You were the only one who really understood what I was feeling. All I had was you." He eyes met mine. "And you were the greatest friend I'd ever had."

Ender paused with a shake of his head, voice turning darker. "But then they split us up. I'm positive they didn't want us to get close."

I nodded, suddenly feverish to explain what I'd known since the beginning. "They didn't want us to be friends, Ender. They wanted us to be. . ."

"Enemies," He finished my thought. A smile then took over his face. "But it was too late by then. They'd isolated us from everyone but each other." A laugh escaped him. "There wasn't any coming back from that." I smiled, amused.

He shook his head. "There wasn't a moment where I didn't miss you, Lara. They took me away and all I could ever think about was how much I wished you were there with me. Even now, all I think about is you." He took a deep breath, holding my gaze. "Look, I know it's ridiculous because we're young and being trained for war, but I really like you, Lara."

He looked down at the floor, but missed the smile that spread across my face by doing so.

"You don't have to like me back." He said quickly. "All I need is to have you as a friend and. . ."

I cut him off by swiftly pressing my lips to his.

He was shocked for a moment, but I felt him smile against my lips before cupping my face with his hands and kissing me back. I ran my hands over his back as he kissed me slow and sweet. Being in his arms like that, pressed so close I could feel his heart beneath my fingers, it was like coming home after a long long day.

Only when our lungs burned for air, did we pull away, breathing heavily. I looked Ender in the eyes, smiling broadly. "I like you too, Ender."

His eyes shined with happiness as he pulled me into an embrace. Grinning foolishly, I let my head rest against his chest as I drew circles carelessly on his back.

"Ender?" I whispered into his chest after a minute.

"Mmm," he hummed as he held me tighter.

I smiled lightly, but pulled away enough to look at his face. His eyes met mine as I spoke. "Ender, as much as I would love to stay like this forever, it's late and we both need sleep."

Ender sighed before releasing me, running a hand through his hair. "You're right." His voice grew dark as he continued. "I'm walking you back to the barracks though." His tone left no room for argument.

I laughed before nodding as we headed off to Dragons' barrack. As we walked, I carefully slipped my hand into Ender's. He squeezed it lightly.

When we reached the barracks, Ender gently turned me to face him. "Lara," he began. "I want you to be careful, okay? Bonzo doesn't let go of things easily, and I'm worried he might try something. Please be smart."

I frowned as worry flashed across his features. "I know," I said. "But you have to be careful too. The way Bonzo looked at you. . . His eyes just. . ." I took a shuddering breath. "He wanted to kill you, Ender." I gripped his hand tightly. "That can't happen."

Ender pulled me into another hug. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

I frowned, but decided against saying anything as he released me. Taking a step back, I let the concern melt from my face. "Thank you."

Leaning forward, he lightly kissed my forehead. "This doesn't mean you get special treatment, you know," Ender stated roughly, only making my smile grow.

"Of course not," I responded with a laugh.

He chuckled. "Good. Well good night, Lara."

"Good night, Ender."