Me If Any Member Of The Bad Batch Dies In Season 2:

i refuse to believe rex had the only copy of that holo

On My Radar

Summary: You and Tech stay up late working on the pod.

A/N: SEASON TWO SPOILER WARNING!! Heard "The Color Violet" by Tory Lanez and listened to it while writing 💗 I also really love Tech this season, he’s been keeping me inspired like the first time he did when I watched tbb for the first time! 💗

Pairing: Tech x Reader

Warnings: 18+ MINORS DNI; SMUT!! P in V unprotected (wrap it up my guys), angst?, Established Relationship

WC: 2.1K

Gif credit: @starqueensthings

Tay-0 lost the race and now you and the batch are left picking up pieces of him. You look over and notice Millegi and his stupid goons are walking toward you guys, ready to take Cid and do Maker knows what with her. 

“I’m here to collect, Cid.” Millegi’s deep menacing voice rumbles in all of your chests. 

The man was taller than Wrecker and that in itself scares you a bit.

“You’ll get your credits. Just give me some time. I’m good for it.” Cid talks to him like he’s not six feet taller than her. 

“That’s not how this works.” Millegi looks at all of you and starts walking toward your group. “You are out of time.”

You step closer to Omega, pulling her behind you, and Tech steps closer to you. You don’t get to see Tech’s overprotective side often, since he knows you’re able to take care of yourself. But since Hunter and Echo aren’t here, it would make sense for him to feel like he has to fill in for both of them. 

“Wanna step in here? I didn’t bring you guys for the company.” Cid looks back at Tech and Wrecker.

Wrecker drops Tay-0, or what he found of him, and readies his hand on his blaster. Tech steps in front of you and does the same. Millegi’s men point their blasters at you and you glare at Cid. What did she get you into? Again…

Millegi starts to walk toward you and Omega steps in front of you, a little too bravely. 

“Wait. How much does she owe?” Omega sticks her hand up as if to stop the man that looks like he ate the bogeyman for breakfast.

“More than you got, kid.” Millegi stops and looks down at her. 

You ready your hand on your blaster, ready to take it out if he takes another step toward Omega. 

“Well, we’re not done yet.” Omega looks back at the pretty much destroyed pod.

Millegi steps back and chuckles. “Looks like you’re done to me.”

“One last race. If you win, we pay you double.” Omega holds up one finger.

You, Tech, and Wrecker all look at each other and then back at Omega. 

“If we win, we get Cid.” Omega tells Millegi, standing up straighter, not afraid of him.

Cid looks down at Omega with a new expression you’ve never seen before. Perhaps respect? Cid may not ever admit it, but she’s got a tiny soft spot for the kid.

“You don’t know what you’re getting into, kid.” Millegi himself even looks impressed.

“I’m inclined to agree with him, Omega.” Tech turns toward Omega and Wrecker steps closer to join the group huddle. 

“Yeah, I’m inclined too.” Wrecker nods. “We don’t know anything about racing.”

“They’re gonna hurt Cid if we do nothing.” Omega seems genuinely worried.

You, Tech, and Wrecker look at each other again and then back at Millegi. 

“Do we have a deal?” Omega puts on her stone face.

If Hunter and Echo were here… oh man. You’d be in deep shit. 

“We race tomorrow.” Millegi nods. “I keep Cid, the woman, and the kid as collateral.” 

“That is not going to happen.” Tech steps in front of you and Omega again and you can’t help but look at him with a certain arousal. 

You’ve never seen this side of him. Confident. Sure of himself. Protective. 

“Yeah, think again.” Wrecker joins him.

“I wasn’t asking.” Millegi stares at the goggled clone.

“Actually, the kid and I are mechanics.” You sort of lie. “They’re gonna need us.”

With a sigh, he stares at Cid. “Just Cid then.” 

His goons come over and start to lead Cid away. 

“For your sakes, you better be able to pay up.” Millegi warns you before walking away. 

You spend the rest of the day, and well into the night, fixing up the pod. Tay-0 ended up getting run over by another pod so Tech volunteered to race in his place, which you definitely didn’t approve of. 

Omega ends up falling asleep so Wrecker carries her back to the ship so she can get some rest before tomorrow. You and Tech continue to finish up the pod together, nearly done. 

You take your sweatshirt off, toss it onto the workbench, revealing your tank top, and when you turn around, you notice Tech’s eyes on you. When he sees you looking at him, the tension melts from his shoulders and you join him again. 

“You okay?” You ask, softly.

“I will be alright. Thank you.” He goes back to wiring whatever piece he’s working on.

“Can I tell you something?” You ask him.

He nods, putting down his tools and taking off his helmet to look at you. 

“I don’t appreciate how you just volunteered to race like that without talking to me about it.” You murmur. 

He gets up and walks over to the workbench by the wall so you follow him.

“I am doing what needs to be done. Tay-0 is in no condition to race again and we have to get Cid back.” He tells you, looking through the tools. 

You stop him. “Tech, we’re partners… we’re supposed to talk things over before we make big decisions. You didn’t stop to think about how it might make me feel and…” 

He sighs and then looks at you. “You are right. You’ve spoken about this to me before and I disregarded your feelings. I am sorry.”

You let out a breath and smile softly at your partner. “Thank you.”

He puts his goggles up on his head and pulls you to him, pushing you up against the workbench so that he can kiss you softly. You melt against him just as you always do. It wasn’t a secret that the two of you were together, but you don’t always show it in front of the others, preferring to keep it to yourselves in your room above Cid’s. 

Tech slides his hand up your chest, to your throat, moving up to cup your face so he can hold you there. You feel safe again for the first time all day. Right here against him, in his arms.

“Want you…” You whisper against his lips. “Need you…”

“I’ve got you, darling.” He promises, lifting you up so that you can sit on the workstation. 

You start to help him unclick his armor, dropping it to the floor around you, until he’s in just his pants and vest. You quickly undo his vest, sending it to the floor as well. He takes his long sleeve white shirt off until he’s just in his pants, looking down at you with a smirk.

“You’re so pretty.” You grin up at him.

He rolls his eyes, trying to hide his fluster. It’s just as endearing now as it was back when you first met him.

“I believe that you are the ‘pretty’ one in this relationship.” He murmurs as he slides his hands down to the edge of your pants, tugging them off of you and dropping them with his armor. 

It’s dark in this area of the garage, only being lit by the work light that’s shining on the pod, so if anyone were to walk by the open garage door, they wouldn’t see you about to be completely ruined by Tech.

“Seeing you so protective today, really turned me on.” You chuckle as he pulls your underwear down before undoing his belt expertly, with one hand, which just turns you on more. 

Anything this man does with his hands is enough to spur you on, no matter what.

“I know it did.” He releases his length from his pants and moves your bottom down, closer to him.

“You do?” You gasp as he trails his hand up toward your clit when you wrap your legs around him.

“Of course I do.” He pulls away from your neck to look over at you. “I may not be Hunter with the expert senses but I noticed your blown pupils and the way you leaned toward me. I know you.” 

He does know you. He knows you more than any other person has ever known you. Tech taps your lip for you to open your mouth and then slides his finger in, swiping it across your tongue. Instinctively, you close your lips around it and he smiles down at you, staring into your eyes. 

“Does that turn you on, darling? How well I know you?” He asks you, softly, his free hand trailing down to your thigh and squeezing roughly. “How I know exactly what you need?” 

He takes his wet fingers from your mouth and moves them down to your clit, starting to rub you gently, working you up slowly. All you can do is nod with a soft gasp.

“Did you forget how to use your words, cyar’ika?” He teases you.

With you only being able to manage a whimper, he chuckles and starts to line his hardened length up with you. All you can do is watch it slide in, gasping from the sweet pain of how large he is. 

“Kriff…” He groans, squeezing your thighs so that your legs have no choice but to stay spread for him. 

“Tech-” You whimper as he bottoms out.

It’s been a few days since the two of you have managed to get any sort of alone time together, so you know that both of you are pretty pent up. And with the threat of tomorrow… who knows if you’ll get any more time together. 

“So wet for me already.” He praises you. “All for me, hm?”

“Tech…” You groan, pushing up toward him so that you can kiss him again, which accidentally forces him even deeper into you, making you both gasp, breathlessly against each other. “Feels… so good.” 

“It does.” He agrees. “You always do.” 

Tech starts thrusting into you, still rubbing firm circles over your clit, forcing you to bury your face into his neck so that you can bury the sounds, biting ever so slightly, causing him to groan. You’ll never get tired of hearing how he comes undone just for you. 

“H-harder…” You beg. 

Tech begins slamming into you, keeping his speed consistent, and you know he can feel you clenching around him. He grips your thigh around his waist, holding it there so you don’t slide away on the workbench. You hold onto his shoulder with one hand and the shelf behind you with the other, trying to keep yourself firmly in place as he ruts into you.

He pulls his face away so he can practically swallow the sounds you're making, kissing you breathless.

“I need you to cum for me, darling… I need to feel it.” He whispers, his voice low and needy.

“My clit… more…” You gasp, barely able to get coherent words out.

Tech understands, though. Of course he does. He starts to rub a bit faster, applying more pressure, but pushes you back so that he can reach deeper inside of you with his cock. That’s exactly what does it. You feel the warm familiar fuzzy feeling pooling inside of you, threatening to send you flying over your edge.

“That’s it, love… I can feel you so close.” He smirks, slamming his cock in and out of you so perfectly, it echoes off the walls of the garage. 

You start to cum around Tech’s cock, thrown immediately over your edge for him. He loves watching you cum around him, loving the way your walls choke his cock. His hips stutter slightly as he’s thrown from his own edge, painting your walls with himself, filling you as full as he possibly can, leaving both of you gasping and panting.

“I really… am sorry.” He whispers, helping you sit up before pulling out of you.

You rest your forehead against his, nodding, cupping his cheek. “It’s okay. I’m sure everything will be alright. I trust you.”

You know that he knows that you’re thinking of last month when you tried to get that war chest for Cid, who’s just seemingly getting you into all sorts of shit lately, and how he broke his femur… 

“Thank you for trusting me.” He leans in and kisses you.

You both clean up in the fresher before finishing up the pod and going to get a few hours of sleep before you have to be up. You curl up next to each other in the bunk on Cid’s ship, holding each other as tight as you possibly can, since you don’t know what could happen with the race. As long as he comes back to you in one piece, you think everything will be alright.

TAGS: @twistedstitcher27 @rebel-finn @grievouus @madameminor @dumfanting @rain-on-kamino @corona-one @tecker @ladykatakuri @brynhildrmimi @the-sith-in-the-sky-with-diamond @zoeykallus @maulslittlemeowmeow @littlemousedroid @arctrooper69 @rexxdjarin @agenteliix @padawancat97 @hated-by-me @sleepingsun501 @crosshairmylove587 @idlenesses @redheadgirl @dnxgma @themcuwriter @ashotofspotchka @sunshinesdaydream @crosshairsimp73 @ariadnes-red-thread @rosmariner @heyitsaloy @starstofillmydream @high-ct5555 @echos-girlfriend @sleepywych @nekotaetae @justanothersadperson93 @brownstalebread @aconstructofamind @book-of-baba-fett @chopper-base @palliateclaws @501st-rexster @dead-poolz @nahoney22 @where-is-my-mind-tho @inparanormal @greaser-wolf @moonstrider9904

I’ve been listening to “The Way I Are” repeatedly 😭

ATTENTION

If you see this you are OBLIGATED to reblog w/ the song currently stuck in your head :)

I think that scene between Hunter and Echo in ep 1 is the first time Echo has had that much dialogue in one go.

HE HAS WORDS! ACTUAL WORDS!

It really makes me think about how much he was underutilised in S1 because even rewatching it I'm just like

HE HAS WORDS!!!

Random predictions for Season 2, let’s see if Apollo is a Star Wars fan.

Bonus

Echo didn't tell him.

Hunter looks like he drinks Tea.

Here is another stupid drawing inspired by something I just to do when I was a kid.

Graves of Memories Passed Away

ARC Trooper Echo x Reader Fluff

Summary: Echo was so quiet and kept to himself for a while after he'd been found. But yet, the medic of his team caught his eyes with a energetic personality, booming laughter, bright eyes, and voice of controller chaos. Why did he exactly like you?

Warnings: Just a whole bunch sweet of flashbacks, a bit of angst actually, mentions of Fives' death

GIF NOT MINE!!

•--•

The bar was lively today. Not in the sense that there were a lot of people, but in the sense that everyone was relaxed. You'd all finished your mission yesterday and Cid saw how pent up even you were, so she allowed a small break. But she was happy too, seeing past her grumpy smile was the joking Cid that was enjoying Hunter's company.

But you, oh you were why the whole bar was so lively. At least, that's how Echo saw it. Your laughter was booming across the bar as Wrecker, you and Omega all were playing a card game. That sweet laughter, no wonder he loved you more than anything. Even more than Omega (don't tell Hunter he said that though).

Your mouth was open, teeth showing as you laughed at one of Wrecker's stupid jokes, Omega coming back with someone more clever in return. Smart kid, she always had a good comeback; and a way to make you smile. The top of your nose was scrunched as your eyebrows leaned to press together. Omega was giggling, watching you. His heart melted at the two of you - it always did, seeing the corners of your eyes crease with happiness whenever his little sister cracked a joke. He hoped one day he'd see a sight like that again, with a different kid, one you both named and watched come into the world. One day.

"Why is it that you find her so fascinating?" Tech asked, rubbing his index finger against the glass. He had moved his gaze from the liquid to Echo, a light tilt of his head and a look of pure curiosity. "I figured maybe you'd go for someone more... calm?"

Echo's face was somewhere between shocked and trying to find an answer. There were many answers, but what was one that Tech would like? Multiple, Tech would always want multiple answers, as many as there was.

"I guess- well, have you ever heard the speculation that you love someone that resembles your closest family member in personality?" Echo asked, envisioning Fives laughing at his words and clapping him on the shoulder with a taunt in mind, 'Maybe that's why I always liked the sassy ones!'

Tech looked surprised at that, "No, I've actually never heard that one. But please continue."

Echo cleared his throat, trying to ward off the image of Fives making fun of him for even believing such a stupid quip. "Well, I guess I see a lot of Fives in her. She's so out there and not embarrassed for being seen or heard. She's funny and confident and she just has this feeling of home to her. She's so smart too, hides it behind all that beauty. Fives used to be the same - he was second to you Tech, extremely smart, just was hidden behind his looks and hair."

"Not as smart as Echo though!" you cheered, mouth wide with a smile spread from cheek to cheek. Fives sat there on the other side of the booth in 79's with his eyebrows furrowed from the lack of attention as you sat next to Echo, his arm wrapped around your shoulders tightly.

"I'm as smart as Echo, you just can't see it past this sexxyyy exteriorrr," Fives said, drawing out the two words as he ran his hands playfully up and down his chest. He looked ridiculous, getting more giggles from you.

You returned the gesture by rubbing your hands across Echo's chest, "Echo's sexier than you, loser."

"We both look the same, di'kut."

"Liar, look at him," you reached up and squished Echo's cheeks together, him side-eyeing you with an unamused expression even if you knew he found it funny, "His right eye twitches when you make fun of me. And he's just soooo handsome," you pressed kisses all over his cheek, leaving lip-gloss marks across his tanned skin.

Tech wasn't focused on his drink anymore, his hand being the only thing that suggested he still knew about it. He watched Echo's eyes sparkle as he talked about the two people he loved most; though only one was still with him.

With a smirk, indicating Tech wanted to lose some of the legitimacy of how he usually spoke, he stated, "Of all the memories you've talked about, he's never come off as the smart type."

"He never did."

"We're gonna get in trouble," Echo spoke softly into your ear, making you smirk and turn to capture his lips in a mischievous kiss. When you broke from it, you still had that stupid look on your face; it made his heart flip every time he saw it.

"My sweet Echo, we'll be fine, you were the one that said you were hungry," you whispered back, giggling sweetly as you snuck through the kitchen on Kamino. Fives had found a back entrance that was always locked - lucky for the Domino Twins, Echo had a hot girlfriend that could lock pick. Fives' words exactly.

Echo grumbled, "I don't want you in trouble cause I was hungry."

"Can you guys stop initiating a reproductive ritual right now, I'm hungry as fuck!" Fives whisper-yelled.

"Watch your mouth vod."

"'Watch your mouth vod.'" Fives mocked back, holding up his hand like it was a sock puppet to make the pretend Echo talk in a high-pitched voice. That earned a slap to the arm by your Arc Trooper boyfriend.

"What did you mean by she 'has a feeling of home to her'? I do not understand what that entails."

Echo looked back at the girl he had loved for years and years. She'd always been there, by his side, telling him how much she loved him, how she felt about him, what he meant to her. For someone that looked like the most basic clone ever made, she loved Echo more than she had loved anyone. All those rotations, alone with only the men that had always been around her. She'd lost a lot but she still waited for him, even when Fives died, her hope almost gone, she waited.

"Echo, can we talk?" you sweet voice rung through his head as he turned around. You invited him over, cooked dinner for the two of you and laughed with him the entire night. The absence of Fives was weird, Echo wasn't used to Y/n completely leaving Fives out of a hangout night, but he didn't question anything.

Echo saw you, hair blowing in the wind, covered in a hoodie that was way too large for you with shorts he had to strangle himself not to admire. The clone got up, walking over to you and looking at you with curious eyes. You looked so tiny and nervous with your bottom lip quivering as you looked at him. You didn't look upset though, you just looked like you were about to explode if you didn't see him.

"I- I think that I love you," you whispered, reaching up to rest your hand on his cheek. He'd know you for months, laughed with you forever, been your partner in crime since the day you had met. The feeling of your soft skin resting on his face, breeze blowing against him.

Echo moved his hands to your waist, holding you in his hands like you were made of glass, "Mesh'la, I've.. I believe I've always loved you."

The kiss he was sucked into killed him. Destroyed him. If Echo ever left you, he'd never love again and he believed that with all of his heart. The moment you two shared completely ruined him, he didn't believe there was love other than this. He'd be destined to live out life with you till he died.

"It means that I love her. You'll understand, trust me. Everyone deserves to understand."

You dropped your datapad on the floor, making a loud sound across the hangar. You looked at Echo with a sadness he had never seen you wear. You were so happy all that time ago. But then Fives had left you, the only person who soothed the pain to numbness.

Tears rose, turning your eyes into glossy marbles. You ran at him, maybe with the armor on it would be a heavy hit, but you gave up all sense of logic. Hitting him hard, you clung to him, arms around his neck. But he did what he knew best; Echo caught you in his arms, your feet barley touching the ground as he hid his face in your neck.

You were real. He felt Hunter staring at him but he didn't care. His girl was alive. When Echo let you back on your feet, you held his arms with soft fingers. You were crying, the skin around your eyes red and damp and your nose also red and irritated.

"Echo, my Echo, I knew you'd be alive."

"I did promise you that I wouldn't go anywhere," Echo joked, smiling so wide, tears threatening his own eyes. He felt safe, the least tense he'd been in forever.

"So uhhhh, are we getting a new teammate?" Wrecker asked, voice booming from behind the two of you.

"I hope so," Tech responded, taking a sip out of his glass, "Though it's not likely."

Echo only laughed, shaking his head at the stubborn nerd. 'You also thought it was,' Fives teased before fading into the background as he always did when Echo's thoughts stopped rushing around. They'd stopped a lot recently, ever since the day you first referred to the Havoc as home.

•--•

Masterlist

Lol Idk if you guys noticed or maybe I'm just now noticing it but when you're on the tumblr website and go to report the p*rnbots, it used to just say 'report for spam' and now it says report spam/bots lmao. Idk why that cracks me up so much but it does.

Echo Screenshot Edits

Part 4: Snack Time

Echo has a reputation as a picky eater but sometimes he gets cravings like all of us and steals away with a chocolate bar!

I’ve been suspecting this for quite some time but couldn’t find evidence - this time I caught him!

NB: I did not edit the facial expressions in these! And he looks sooo caught 😂 I bet it was the last chocolate bar.

@ladykagewaki After our last conversation about baby Echo I suspect it was Nala Se and her snackies for scomp maintenance that started it all.

Taglist: @padawancat97 @starrylothcat @anxiouspineapple99 @pb-jellybeans @meiloorunvendor @yubnubhub @rain-on-kamino @littlefeatherr @clio3kantarella @youreababboon @makahitaki @clonemedickix @amorfista

UNDERSTANDING ──── echo.

summary: in the middle of the night, echo finds you, hurt and exhausted and in need of an apology. with the prompt "you want a bite?" / requests are closed!

pairing: arc trooper echo x reader

word count: 1.6k

warnings: none! just a sprinkling of angst and grief.

a/n: so…. i kinda went crazy with this one….... it's a bit angsty but i hope you like it anyway! to me, this prompt felt like it would be awkward, maybe used as a way of proposing a truce, or a peace offering. also, i listened to “waves” by chloe moriondo while writing this!

You’re not sure what to think of Echo.

Most of the time, he’s quiet. When he does speak, it’s usually to enforce a rule, remind the group of their current plan, or to keep Wrecker in check.

Officially, Hunter is the group leader; ever since Clone Force 99 accepted you into their squad, that much has been clear.

You’re the only non-clone—or “natborn” as the others refer to you—living on the Marauder. It’s been several months since you saved Omega from bounty hunters on your home planet of Pantora, and now, you’re as much a part of the Bad Batch as anyone else.

Except, you’re not a batcher. Not really.

Despite how much you care for your squadmates, it’s easy to feel separated from them at times. Easy to feel different.

Most of the others have picked up on this by now, and often go to great lengths to make you feel like one of them.

Not Echo, though. He seems wary of you, and you’re not sure why. Once, you brought it up to Tech, who simply waved you off with one of his shrewd, knowledge-filled comments. “You are new here, you know. Some people are simply slower to open up than others.”

You, however, know that’s not the case. You’ve seen Echo with his brothers, and with Omega. He can be kind, and funny, and even angry. But to you… to you, he’s nothing but quiet.

For some time, you tried your hardest to be yourself around him—to crack your usual sarcastic jokes at his expense, to be friendly, like you are with the others. But the constant avoidance and clipped answers leave you increasingly confused and hurt.

So you withdrew from him, too.

It still bothers you, sometimes. But you’ve learned to brush it off.

Now, you sit in the cockpit, feet resting against the control panel. A ration bar—one of the good ones—rests in your hand. Every so often, as you watch the blue glow of hyperspace streak past the viewport, you take a bite of the ration bar.

You’re on first watch. Someone has to stay in the cockpit to oversee the ship’s journey back to Ord Mantell—and, since you still can’t fall asleep in hyperspace, you keep volunteering for the job. The cockpit is mostly dark. All the lights are off, and the viewport is dimmed. Anything brighter reminds you of how sleep-deprived you are, and so you’re content to sit in the blue gloom.

Leaning your head against the headrest of the pilot’s chair, you close your eyes. Your entire body feels heavy with exhaustion, but every time you try to drift off, the rumbling of the ship’s hyperdrive jerks you awake.

The sound of footsteps startles you. You open your eyes, leaning around the back of the chair to inspect what little part of the ship’s corridor you can see. You can hear the sounds of someone moving around by the small common area, but you can’t tell who it is.

Tech’s probably experimenting again, you think wryly, and settle back into your comfortable position.

Soon, though, the footsteps grow closer. Someone enters the cockpit with a tired sigh, placing something on one of the chairs nearer to the door. It sort of sounds like Hunter, but with the similarity between everyone’s voices, you can’t be sure.

The footsteps halt suddenly. You look up to find honey-coloured eyes surveying you with apprehension. In the dim light, awash with blue, you register the glint of a cybernetic headpiece.

“Oh,” you say, blinking up at Echo, “hi.”

Echo only grunts.

You frown, looking down at your hands, at your half-eaten ration bar. “It’s late,” you say quietly. “You, um—you should get some rest.”

When Echo answers, you don’t look up. “I slept for a couple hours.”

Slowly, you nod, fiddling with the foil wrapper of the ration bar. The cockpit falls silent; you wait for Echo to leave, but he stays still, his shadow falling over your tired frame.

You want to ask why he’s still here. You want to be rude, to ask him to leave so you can have some peace and quiet. But truthfully, he isn’t saying anything, or causing any disturbances, so instead you hold up your unfinished ration bar. “You want a bite?”

Echo blinks. It seems to take him a moment to process your question. Then, to your faint surprise, he nods. “Thank you,” he says as you hand him the ration bar wordlessly.

It’s a peace offering, of sorts.

He sits in the co-pilot’s chair and takes a hesitant bite, chewing slowly. You see his expression brighten—probably at the realization that this is one of the good ration bars, the kind that Hunter always says not to hog—then return to his usual neutral one.

You watch as he swallows. He hands you back the bar, holding out his hand, but you don’t take it.

“Why… why are you here?” you ask quietly.

As soon as the words leave your mouth, Echo drops his arm and breaks eye contact, looking almost—embarrassed. Or maybe even ashamed.

Still, you wait for his answer. Several long, painful seconds pass before he says anything. When he speaks, it’s like he’s forcing out the words.

“I wanted to—” he pauses. His flesh hand fiddles with his metal one. “I wanted to apologize.”

You feel your breath hitch. Staring, you try not to gape. “What?” you say, whispering without meaning to. “I don’t—”

“I’ve been horrible to you,” Echo continues, voice steadier. “I didn’t mean to be so… withdrawn. I didn’t realize I was doing it. I… I hope you can forgive me.”

Instead of acknowledging his apology, you bite the inside of your cheek with uncertainty, then cross your arms over your chest. One of the others must have put him up to this. Probably Omega, or perhaps Hunter. Raising an eyebrow, you ask, “Who sent you?”

“No one!” Echo replies hurriedly, then presses his lips into a thin line. “I mean, Hunter told me that you—he said that—” He sighs. “I didn’t realize it on my own. But I came because I wanted to.”

You blink, cursing yourself when you feel your eyes sting. With a start, you realize that this is the most Echo has said to you since you joined the squad.

Taking in a breath, you wring your hands anxiously. “I just… I just don’t understand why.” You shrug. “You’re not the same with me. Not like how you are with the others.”

Echo swallows. “It’s not—”

“I just want to know what I did wrong.”

At that, Echo falls silent. Guilt permeates the air, enough that you can feel it.

“Hey,” Echo says, kinder than you’ve ever heard him. “Look at me.”

You do. His eyes, like lava, or maybe liquid gold, bore into you. It almost hurts to look.

“This,” he continues, gesturing to the space between you, “is not your fault.”

Against your will, a lone tear slips down your cheek. “So whose fault is it?” you whisper, barely loud enough to be heard over the ship’s engine

It’s obvious from the look on Echo’s face that he’s thinking of something—or someone—specific. Despite how much you want to, you don’t ask.

You just wait.

“It’s my brother,” Echo finally murmurs, and you raise your eyebrows, quickly cycling through the rest of your squad. Hunter, Wrecker, Tech… maybe Crosshair? You can’t think what any of them, even the one who’s no longer a member of your group, have to do with you.

“Your... brother,” you repeat dumbly.

“Yes.” Echo nods. “Fives.”

Oh. A fellow soldier, then. Probably from before the war ended… and probably long dead.

Drawing in a shaky breath, you hastily wipe your cheek with your sleeve. “What—what about him?”

“You…” Echo shakes his head, then lets out a humourless chuckle as he turns to look at the viewport, at the swirling blues and whites and greys of hyperspace. When he speaks again, his voice is barely above a whisper. “You remind me of him.”

You blink.

Truthfully, you have no idea what to say to that. Luckily, Echo continues, saving you from having to come up with an answer.

“Your sense of humour, I mean. The sarcasm, the jokes.” He shrugs, and the light from the viewport catches on his cybernetic headpiece, glinting in the otherwise dim cockpit. “And… and the way you know people.”

“‘Know people’?” you echo, confused. “I’m not following.”

“You understand people,” Echo says, and finally looks at you again, eyes impossibly sad. “Somehow, without ever having experienced what others have gone through, you understand their pain—and you feel it with them.” He closes his eyes for a brief moment, then opens them again. “Fives used to do that too.”

And suddenly, as though a switch inside you has been flipped, it all makes sense. “That’s why you’ve been avoiding me,” you realize, and Echo winces. “It’s because I remind you of him.”

“See?” The barest hint of a smile graces his lips. “You’re doing it now. And you’re not even trying.”

“I guess I never thought about it like that.”

“I’m sorry for everything,” Echo says. “I am. It just…”

“Hurts,” you finish, and Echo blinks, surprised. You smile softly. “I know you too, you know.” Reaching out, you take his flesh hand, gently prying it open and taking the ration bar. As Echo watches, you split the remaining piece in half and hand one to him. “And for what it’s worth—I forgive you.”

The shadows colouring Echo’s face suddenly seem lighter. He smiles, then—really smiles.

You take a bite of the ration bar and smile back.

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