Valentine stared at the person in front of her, not believing her eyes but knowing it was true. "Ender?" she breathed, her eyes drinking in every inch of her brother.
"That's right, Val." Ender stepped into the house with the woman right behind him. "I'm finally home."
Valentine felt tears fill her eyes as she lunged forward and wrapped her arms around her brother's neck, crying into his shoulder. "Ender!" she sniffed, hugging him as tight as she could. "You're back!"
At that shout, both of the Wiggin parents hurried into the living room and stared at their son in shock. "Ender?" his mother whispered, moving forward. Valentine stepped back so that her mother could hug Ender too. "Ender! I've missed you!"
"I've missed you too, Mom. I'm sorry I couldn't stay in contact."
"We were so worried about you. I thought you had gone off into space and died. I wanted you to come home as soon as they told me you could, but you didn't…"
Valentine watched as Ender tried to placate his mother and settle her worries. His father was busy surveying the woman that had come with Ender. Valentine took note of this first and held out her hand. "I'm Valentine, Ender's older sister."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Petra."
"What?" Ender teased softly. "Not going to give her the same introduction you gave me?"
"Not with your parents in the room, I'm not." Petra hissed back.
Ender chuckled and turned to his parents. "Mom, Dad, this is my friend, Petra Arkanian. She went to Battle School with me and was part of the force I commanded when defeating the Formics."
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Wiggin." Petra stated politely.
"It's nice to meet you too, dear." Ender's mother detached herself from her son and shook Petra's hand. "We were just finishing up dinner. Are you two hungry?"
"Famished." Ender nodded. "But I have to ask. Petra lives far away. I was wondering if she could stay here for a few days before heading out?"
"Well, I don't see why not." Ender glanced to his father with a smile. "After all, she did bring you home safely. Come, you two should eat. Valentine, show Petra where she will be sleeping. I hope you don't mind sharing a room."
"Not at all. Come this way, Petra." Ender followed along behind his sister with Petra by his side as Valentine led them to her bedroom. "I'll sleep on the couch and you can take the bed. Mom gets really upset when guests have to sleep on the couch."
"Well, I'll sleep on the couch and we'll just not let her know." Petra winked.
Valentine nodded and attempted to pass the pair of them on her way out. She wasn't ready to face the haunting memories of that afternoon. Ender watched her and shook his head, smiling as he reached for her.
"Whoa, Val, what's the rush?" Ender grabbed her by the arm and Valentine felt the pain from when Peter had grabbed her wrist earlier. Crying out, she withdrew her arm and shrank away from her younger brother, holding her injury.
Ender cocked his head and took her into his arms, lifting her shirt over her head. Petra watched the display with curiosity and both her eyes and Ender's widened to find Valentine's body littered with bruises. Anger boiled in Petra's stomach as she wondered who could have done such a thing. 'Does she have an abusive boyfriend?'
Ender's mind was in a completely different place. He knew exactly who had done this to his sister and he was not happy about it. "Peter." He growled, eyes narrowing to slits as Valentine gave a soft nod. "When?"
"Ender, you know-."
"Tell me, Valentine!" Ender snarled.
Valentine gulped softly. "H-he… He still likes playing his old games, Ender. It's even worse when he's drunk because he's so sadistic and he doesn't know when to stop. When he's sober it's only once or twice a day."
"And today too?" Ender whispered.
"Yes." Valentine's voice was small, wondering why Ender was being so quiet.
Without a word, Ender turned on his heel and shot through the door, passing Petra too quickly for her to stop him, not that she wanted to. He shoved Valentine's shirt into her arms as he passed, but Petra was right on his heels as they made their way into the living room where the rest of the family was lounging. Petra stopped just inside the door, shaking with rage as Ender moved forward and socked his brother in the jaw.
"Ender!" his mother gasped, rushing forward. Petra pulled her back, keeping her safe from Ender's anger.
"You sick bastard!" Ender roared, throwing another punch at his brother. Peter slipped to the floor for a second before Ender let him stand.
"What's wrong with you?" Peter scoffed, rubbing his jaw.
There was a soft squeak and everyone turned to the door where Valentine was grabbing her shirt back from Petra. Both Wiggin parents gasped at the bruises and marks along their daughter's body and Valentine glanced up as her mother moved over to her.
"This is why you wouldn't go to the beach." She whimpered. "And why you stayed inside during the pool party for Peter's thirtieth birthday. Valentine, why didn't you tell us?" Valentine avoided her mother's gaze as Ender slammed a fist into Peter's stomach.
"How does this feel, huh?" Ender growled, watching his brother raise his fists. "You weak asshole!"
"Weak?" Peter snickered. "I'm not the weak one. She is. She let me do it. From the time she first came home, I made sure that me torturing her was a part of her life."
"She's not weak. You're weak for beating on someone you knew wouldn't fight back!" Ender leaped forward and went rolling with his brother, slamming his head into the floor and wrapping his hands around his brother's neck.
Petra moved forward then and pulled Ender off his brother, helping Peter to his feet. "Thanks babe, what's your name again?" Peter grinned.
Petra turned to him and replied heatedly, "Petra Arkanian. I was the only girl in Salamander Army and I've got more balls than anybody else in this room." Peter frowned just before Petra's fist slammed into his nose. Ender stared at his friend in confusion and she turned to him. "I know what it's like to see someone who wasn't fighting back get beat on. He had no right to treat her like…"
She trailed off and Ender nodded. "Like the Formics."
Ender turned to his parents and watched as his father walked forward, pulling Peter to his feet while his mother fussed over Valentine's bruises. Petra glanced toward Valentine and her eyes met the soft grateful blue of the other girl. Petra felt warmth in her chest and dread for the day she would leave behind those beautiful blue eyes.
Ender's Game, not mine. Aside from that, just wanted to let you guys know I'm now on Tumblr (gothalbinoangel-fiction), Twitter ((a)gothalbinoangel), a Facebook (Goth Albino Angel) and an Archive of Our Own account (GothAlbinoAngel). There are more details on my profile.