#Echo x oc

[oceansssblue]

*slides $900 in Monopoly money over*

Got any sub!echo and Dom!femreader smut in the back?

Woa! I got a lot of requests and don't worry guys, I'll write EVERY SINGLE ONE, just be patient :)

We're gonna start with this one, sub!echo sounds hot! Echo's just hot, full stop.

I decided to leave the ropes and other kinky stuff out of it for now because I don't know if you wanted a "normal" sub thing or all the extra stuff included too. I think it has enough power play on its own anyhow. Hope it's what you were looking for love!

Xx,

Sky.

"ON YOUR KNEES"

TBB REQUESTS — ECHO/FEMALE READER

WARNINGS: FILTHY GRAPHIC SMUTT = SUB!ECHO, DOM!FREADER, ECHO'S BODY INSECURITIES, CUM CONTROL, USE OF WORD "SLUT" ONCE, RIDING ECHO'S WONDERFUL FACE, MASTURBATING, FULL OF LOVE TOO. 📩🔥💖

You've always admired Echo. No matter how attractive his brothers were, he had always been the one to catch your eye; since the first moment you saw the bunch of mercenaries a year ago til present time. He's as attractive as the rest of the Batch; but he's got something that makes him sparkle like a diamond in the dirt. You think it's a combination between his quirks and his determination. Echo's mind works fast; he's got a fantastic almost sassy sarcasm and great comebacks. When he's on a mission or protecting his family, it's like watching a transformation; reserved, hesitant Echo is completely overriden by a brave, confident fierce man that sets your heart on fire. You love every side of him. But this... this might be the side you love of him most, though.

Echo's neediness is something you'll never grow bored of. It's exhilarating, to know he desires you so much he can't keep his pretty moans and whimpers in and just begs you to help him with those pretty eyes of him; wide and almost innocent. When Echo's left hand slowly, almost hesitantly, slides down your back to cup your ass, you abruptly break off the kiss; pushing his shoulder against the wall of your bedroom and standing right in front of him, barely a few inches of distance between your bodies. You can almost feel each other's warmth.

"Did I say you were allowed to do that?" you ask him, voice low but full of confidence.

A warning. You know your place; it's Echo who sometimes forget it.

Echo stares down at you with his big, golden brown eyes wide and an apology quickly forming in the tip of his tongue.

"N-no, no" he answers. He then glances away and adds "I'm sorry, mam".

If this happened in the middle of a sesion, you'd be quick to correct that; ordering him to apologise while looking at you in the eyes. But this is just the start; and you're aware it takes Echo a little longer to get comfortable enough to hold your stare, to leave his shyness aside. His words are sincere and he's just so polite, though, so you let it pass.

"It's okay" you almost whisper, your own eyes dancing distractedly through every one of his beautiful features. "Take off your shirt".

That's an order. And although he's usually very eager to comply and obbey, Echo hesitates. No matter the fact that you've been doing this for a few months, it's always the same; his insecurities making undressing a hard task, more so if he has to do it by himself. You didn't even attempt to pull his shirt off until date number thirty; and even if you had been very carefull that first time, Echo had quickly voiced up his safeword.

It's really okay. You know the issues he has with his body; you've long talked about it, and how that influences his perception of himself both in and out of sex. You're always watching the signals; knowing when to push and when to step back and give him space. It's what makes you a good dom. His.

You wait patiently, then; and Echo fiddles with the end of his black long-sleeve shirt.

Your eyes lock together, and you know he needs affirmation. You give it gladly; hand slowly cupping his right cheek and thumb caressing his skin.

"You're stunning, Echo. You know already how much I love your body, how hot I think you are. Let me look at you" your soft sweet voice fills with possesiveness then, your eyes darkening with your hungry gaze. "Let me see what's mine".

A whimper is ripped from Echo's throat; and his hands shakily tug his shirt off, abandoning it in the floor. He looks up at you, expectantly and trying not to squirm under your attention; and you slowly delight yourself with the sight of his pale skin and defined muscles. Echo's been gaining a bit of healthy weight lately, his appearence getting impossibly better; though he's still a bit bony, collarbone and hips stucking out dangerously. You don't find it repulsive at all, no. He's hot; it just makes you wanna bite him, mark his beautiful pale skin with your teeth and love.

"Beautiful" you murmur, distractedly caressing his chest and shoulders with the very tip of your fingers.

You can't resist yourself and press closer to him; gently kissing the side of his neck and sucking the spot into your mouth, just one of the many marks you'll leave on him tonight. Echo shudders and his weight drops slightly forward. He always turns to mush when you start putting your attention on him.

You guide him to rest against the wall; his eyes turning hooded and lost on his growing need and submission. He's so beautiful, so perfect... It makes your heart ache.

Your kisses trail down his chest; warm mouth following the sides of his stomach to one of those pointy hips; pulling down his pants a bit so you can suck a second mark on the hollow space there. Echo whines and curves forward, pleasure starting to tingle through his veins; hand tensing in his side with his effort to not reach up and touch you.

You groan out loud.

"Maker, don't you sound pretty".

The words only turn him on more, and Echo makes his first eye contact of the night.

"Please".

Its a quiet, almost silent request.

You arch your eyebrow and stare back at him; both hands splayed over his hips.

"Yes, baby?"

Echo sighs contetly with the pet name. He's always been a lover of those; of praise. It wouldn't have the same effect if you spilt them constatly, though; so you pick the times to do so, play with it.

"Please more" he whispers back, cheeks reddening in a beautiful blush when he forces himself to mumble his needs out loud. "Want you".

You smirk, satisfied; one hand slowly moving towards his growing erection and gently teasing him over the material of his pants.

"Oh, sweety" you squeeze, and Echo quietly moans. "I know".

You decide to be easy today. It's been two weeks since you last saw him; Cid's mission taking him away from Ord Mantell for quite the time. You know how much he missed you; just as you did. You aren't in the mood for a long sesion today.

"Let's get this off of you, love" you say, playing with the waistband of his pants.

This time, Echo agrees with an eager nod and helps you push down and off the pants of him. Underware follows, and soon you've got Echo completely naked in front of you. The contrast between the dark metal of his prosthetics and the paleness of his skin is beautiful.

Subsconciously, you lick your lips.

"Were you good while you were away, sweet boy?" You ask, voice soft, while you gently close your hand around his cock and ridiculously slowly start to pump him up and down.

Echo moans louder than before and his left hand flies to find purchase on your shoulder; eyes fluttering closed with relief.

"Y-yeah" he answers, voice wonderfully broken already with his need. "W-was so difficult, cyare. I-I almost broke the rule twice".

You chuckle, and Echo melts at the sound and your hands on him. You squeeze around his cock and pick up the pace. Not to be considered fast; but not as torturously slow as before. It's a decent unhurried rythim, and Echo sighs and drops his head to the wall.

You pull up a side smile and hum, studying the way his features relax in utter bliss.

"Well, I do know what I'm doing" you answer, biting down onto his lower lip teasingly. "I knew that if I banned you from masturbating til we were reunited again you wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it".

You lean in and carefully catch his earlobe with your teeth, pulling slightly before whispering to him "And you know I always want my boy thinking about me".

Echo groans and lifts his head, watching you with a hooded gaze. His eyes lingers on your lips for a few seconds before going back to your eyes. You know he wants to kiss you; so you hover your mouth over his, almost kissing, but out of reach.

"Always thinking about you anyhow" he mumbles over your lips.

Your breaths mingle together, and it's you this time who can't resist. The truth is Echo has as much power over you as you have over him. You love him so much, you're so attracted to him, it's almost impossible to draw things out like this.

Your kiss is full of need and power. Your lips move in a precise, confident way; intent on making your man melt and reduce him to a horny mess. Echo responds just as needy, but without any purpose behind it; just letting you take the lead and giving himself to you, adapting to whatever you want to do to him. It never fails to make you wet, how agreeable he always is. How much he trusts you. How much he needs you.

Your breathing patterns are both erratic when you break the kiss. You stop touching Echo's dick; quickly silencing his protest with a new order he wastes no time to follow.

"On your knees".

Three magical words and Echo is on the floor, head tilted upwards so he can keep looking into your eyes; while his are full of desire and devotion. You caress his cheek with your thumb before it swipes across his lower lip; carefully sliding it inside his warm mouth and softly pressing down onto his wet tongue. Echo makes a needy sound with his throat and you hum in answer.

"So hot" you tell him. "Wanna cum so bad right now. And you're gonna get me there, aren't you, handsome?"

Echo moans around your finger and nods, eyes wide. So fucking pretty.

"Okay" you whisper, pulling your hand back. "Don't move, pretty boy. You're going to stay right where you are".

You wait til the words appeared to have reached his brain and step back. You make a tease out of your own undressing; pulling your tank top over your head in a sensual smooth movement and teasingly removing your bra, then turning around and bending forward while you slowly shimmy your hips out of your pants. Every article of clothing stays abandoned on a pile on the floor besides the bed.

Echo whimpers, eyes roaming over your figure and hand clenching with his need to ravage you, trying to retain himself at the sight of your ass.

You turn around with a soft "Oh?" and you gently cup your breasts on your hands, softly pushing them together and crossing your legs in a falsely shy way.

"I'm sorry, baby, is this what you want?" You ask, and Echo whimpers while bending forwards to you, not moving out of his spot on the floor but desperately trying to get closer to you.

You giggle in amusement.

"Please" he rasps, almost making you groan this time. "Please, cyare".

You hum, elegantly stepping closer to him and standing tall over his kneeling form. Echo has to tilt his head back to look up at you; but it's somehow not enough.

"Beg" you demand, firm, but not necessarily harsh. "If you want something from me, you're going to have to beg, sweet one. And you're going to have to be explicit about it".

Echo surrenders to the way you hold his chin in your hand and his bright eyes shine up at you. It's like you can read every single emotion on him when he get's like this; and you want nothing more than to take care of his needs.

"Please" he begs, sweet, needy, soft voice making you melt. "Please, wanna have your taste in my tongue, mam".

Electricity and pleassure runs through your veins at that.

"Fuck, you're so hot. So pretty" you praise him, caressing the side of his cheek and staring at his eyes. "Move and put your back towards the bed. Face up and stick your tongue out for me, mesh'la".

Echo literally whimpers with the Mando'a; showing you his tongue and repositioning while he impatiently waits for you to ride his face. You hold the back of his head and carefully lower yourself on his mouth, testing the position, not wanting to hurt him. Echo's response is inmediate; he makes a happy relieved sound with his throat, and inmediately sets to please you, his wet tongue sliding between your folds to taste you.

You moan in pleassure and throw your head back, closing your eyes and losing yourself to the feeling of your man servicing you. He's...

"Such a good boy, giving me your tongue and face for me to play with" your own tongue sets loose and your dirty talk becomes almost non-stop while you get closer to your orgasm.

You love praising Echo, verbalise how much you want him and how pleased you are with him, and he loves to hear you. It's a match made in heaven.

Echo hums against you and his scomp grazes the skin of the outside of your thigh. You know he wants to hold you, craddle you closer; you're too lost on your own pleasure, so you conceed to his wishes easily.

"Yeah, go on, baby. You can hold me if you want to".

Echo moans and his left hand inmediately pulls your ass closer, lowering you further onto his face; his tongue teasing your entrance while his nose presses against your clit. It sends a spark through your veins, and you whimper and move your hips over him, trying to chase the feeling.

"F-fuck, baby. Stay right there, right there" you mumble, thighs trembling.

The next few minutes you lose complete control over yourself. Echo's needy moans and hums against you are delightful to hear, and the way his tongue plays with your pussy and his nose bumps against your clit is nothing short of perfect. Your orgasm climbs higher and higher, the cord tensing tighter and ready to explode.

"Close, love" you breathe out, in half a moan. Your eyes roam over his figure, noting how good he looks kneeling down on the floor for you with his impossibly hard cock twitching and begging for some kind of stimulation.

He must be dying for it, but it's like he doesn't even notice it at all. He's so lost to give you pleasure, it's like he's forgotten about himself.

"Touch yourself, pretty boy" you order him, and he instantly moans and drags his hand down to close around his leaking cock. "Don't cum for me yet, though. Want it to be by my hand, not yours. You're mine, and your orgasms are mine too. Isnt't that right, baby?"

Echo trembles underneath you, his hand quickly freeing his cock for a few seconds before returning a very slow pace on it. You know what it means. It means he had almost cum right then and there, just by your words and your dominance over him, just by pleasuring you like a good little boy and...

"F-fuck, Echo!" You whimper, the stimulation to your clit finally reaching it's objective and pleassure running from your pussy to every other vein in your body. "I-I'm cuming!"

Echo moans and licks you faster; and you cum all over his face. Every one of your muscles tighten before the pleassure bursts and your nerves tingle; then relaxing with a content tired sigh.

You step back and weakly command Echo to move a tiny bit forward with a small push on his shoulder; letting yourself kneel down on the floor right behind him and wrapping your arms around his body, one hand taking hold of his cock and the other one caressing his chest.

"Such a good boy. Such a good boy, baby, using your clever little tongue on me and making me cum all over your face" you whisper to him, voice tired but equally confident and loving, making Echo whimper and melt back against your body. "You almost came before, didn't you? Too much excitement for little Echo to take?"

"C-cyare" Echo whines, left hand squeezing your thigh hard while he reaches back around your back with his scomp arm, in a half hug.

You hum and press small kisses on his neck, small teasing licks here and there.

"Yeah, baby?"

"W-wanna cum so bad" he moans, turning his face to the side so he can glance at you. "C-can I fuck your hand, please please?"

You moan and involuntarily push your own hips against him. That's Echo's level of hot; already making you horny again despite just having finished.

"Wanna hump my hand like a desperate little boy, love?" You coo, giving a playfull nip at his shoulder. "That what you need to do?"

Echo eagerly nods and cries out his request again. He's so beautiful. He's so beautiful when he's all broken and vulnerable for you like this.

"Please" he begs you, tears blurring his sight. "Cyare, mam, please..."

You kiss his cheek and hold your hand still. Your other arm looses around his torso, giving him free space to move as he likes.

"Go on, pretty boy. Make yourself cum on my hand like a desperate little slut".

It takes eight pumps in your hand before Echo breaks down into a strong orgasm and his cum drips into the floor in front of him, some sticking to your hand as you finish him off gently. It's beautiful, the way he shudders and trembles and explodes in his orgasm, hard cock twitching in a final effort and moans and whimpers mixing together in a beautiful mess.

Echo slumps back; his sudden body weight making you tumble on your knees behind him. You steady yourself inmediately, chuckle quietly and clean your hand on the bed sheets; quickly wrapping your arms around his body and pressing your warmth against him, spreading kisses all over the left side of his face, neck and shoulder. Echo hums back contently, eyes closed and face in the perfect definition of peace.

"You did so good, my Echo" you whisper, caressing him softly and swimming in your feelings for him. "Love you so much".

Echo sighs and melts against you. His head hangs down in exhaustion and happiness, and you're already thinking on the warm bath your going to prepare for him, and on both of you cuddling close in bed together, falling asleep to the sound of each other's hearts.

Echo mumbles his answer in a quiet, but warm and soft voice.

"Love you too, cyare".

THE END.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Tara!

I CANT WRITE SHORT THINGS HELP. nah, i'll just try to keep the other requests shorter for real lmao i always get too invested. It came out much fluffier than I had initially planned for cause I just love echo so much. Hope you liked it!

Also, just wanted to let you know I'm not going to re-read this and correct mistakes much cause that'll take too much time. And that english is not my first language, so apologise in advance if something doesnt make much sense.

I'll be working with the other requests next, be patient and stay tunned!

Love,

Sky.

Back to my general masterlist here!

[wenalena]

This man deserves so much love...

[starry-crossing-zone]

The Medic - Echo (TBB)

Summary: Before the Citadel, Echo fell in love with the 501st civilian medic. After he's rescued, Echo tries to not think about her and what she's doing. But the Force has other plans. Length: 2056 words Warnings: Unnamed Female Medic (Can Read as Reader or OC), Canon Angst, Body Dysmorphia (Echo)

Part 2

Echo remembered everything about her. The way that her hand fit into his own as they laid together in her bed after a long campaign. He remembered the exact weight of her as she slept against his chest. The distinct way that her eyes always crinkled with joy whenever she spotted him among his brothers. 

He remembered all of it. All of her. But at some point he had to wonder if it was masochistic to keep thinking about her. 

She thought he was dead. And that was so long ago now. And a woman like her? There was no way that she wouldn’t move on. She was beautiful. She was smart. She was talented. There was no way that she was still waiting for him to come home. And why should she? Echo stared down at his scomp as his memories continued to whirl around his head. 

“Echo?” Omega called softly, breaking Echo out of his thoughts. 

“Hmm?” Echo hummed, turning to face Omega. 

“Are you alright?”

“Of course, I am. Why do you ask?”

“You looked upset,” Omega observed, causing Hunter to glance worriedly in their direction. “What were you thinking about?”

“Omega,” Hunter started to warn her, but Echo shook his head. 

“It’s alright, Hunter.” Turning back to Omega, Echo cleared his throat as he tried to come up with an explanation. “I was thinking about an old . . . friend of mine.”

“How did you know them?” Omega asked curiously.

“She was a medic for my old squad.”

“She?” Omega repeated, taking a few steps closer to Echo as she studied his expression. “There were civilians with you?”

“She was one of the few,” Echo replied softly. “And one that I miss. A lot.”

“We should look for her!” Omega suggested with a beaming smile, but Echo shook his head. 

“Any involvement with us would only endanger her. And besides, I’m pretty sure that she still thinks that I’m dead.”

“You never told her that you were alive?” Omega asked, sounding taken aback. 

“I didn’t have a chance. She left the GAR after the Citadel mission, according to Rex. And then I left with this team after I was rescued. There wasn’t much time after that to track her down.”

“I’m sorry, Echo,” Omega replied quietly, causing Echo to nod. “I’m sure she misses you.”

“Yeah,” Echo returned, though his voice lacked conviction. 

Echo got up from his seat and walked deeper into the Marauder. Omega watched him disappear into a separate room before turning to Hunter for further explanation. But Hunter merely shook his head in return, nonverbally telling Omega to drop it. 

*~*~*~*

“Come on, there’s someone I want you to see,” Rex stated, gesturing for Echo to follow him further up the hill. 

“Where are we?” Echo asked, frowning as he walked behind Rex. 

“Just a small pit stop.”

Echo continued to frown, but didn’t comment further. Once they reached the crest of the hill, Echo spotted a farm with a few huts scattered along the dirt road and a large barn adjacent to the dense forest. Rex strode over to the barn, where some light spilled out from the cracks in the door. Rex typed in a code and opened the door, revealing a large group of clones. 

It reminded Echo of the barracks from the war. Brothers were spread out around the barn, some still dressed in their plastoid armor, but most were in some mix of civilian clothes. Rex greeted the brothers that they passed and Echo nodded to them, but did not say or do much else. 

“So, this is where the operation is headquartered?” Echo asked, causing Rex to shake his head.

“No, just a small offshoot. Mostly for the brothers who want to disappear into the galaxy. Those who are ready to put the war behind them,” Rex explained to Echo, who glanced around the barn again curiously.

“Then why are we here?” 

“There’s someone here that I want you to see,” Rex replied, causing Echo to raise an eyebrow. 

“Who?”

“You’ll see.” 

Rex walked around a set of metal shelves, stacked with farm tools and fertilizer, but also medical supplies and other boxes. In the dim lighting, Echo quickly spotted the medical table under a brighter spotlight. An injured trooper sat on the table as the woman in front of him wrapped his bicep with a bandage.

“That should do it,” the woman stated, pinning the bandage in place. “You’ll be good as new in about two rotations.”

Echo froze at the familiar sound of her voice. And the closer that he looked, the more familiar that she got. Her hair was shorter now and she was no longer wearing her GAR uniform, but when she turned around, her eyes were just as he remembered all of those cold nights on Skako Minor. 

“Cyare?” Echo whispered, almost as a reflex. 

“Echo?” she returned, sounding just as surprised as he did. 

Rex nudged Echo in the shoulder before helping the injured trooper over to where the rations were kept, leaving the former couple alone for the first time in years. Echo stood frozen and rigid, not unlike a droid would, as she slowly stepped towards him, coming out of her own shock before him. Her eyes searched his face as the familiar warm smile fell over her lips. Echo was still frozen in time, but not frozen enough to miss the subtle tears building in her eyes. 

“You’re here,” she whispered out breathlessly. 

You’re alive, is probably what she meant to say. 

“Most of me, anyways,” Echo returned quietly, moving his mechanical arm behind his back a bit. Looking at the floor for a moment, Echo slowly returned his gaze to her, a bit sheepishly. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Over two years,” she returned sadly. 

“I’m sorry,” Echo replied, but she shook her head in return. 

“What are you apologizing for? You didn’t ask for . . .” Her eyes fell to his mechanical arm and headband before meeting his eyes again, “. . . what happened.” A silence fell between them before she continued, “I’m just happy that you’re alive. And free. That’s all that matters.”

Echo nodded slowly, his face dropping as he felt the warmth and kindness radiating off of her that he wasn’t sure he deserved after everything that he put her through. 

“What did they tell you?” Echo asked, his voice deeper than usual. 

“Fives told me about what happened at the Citadel. Most of it, anyways,” she replied softly, fiddling with her fingers nervously. “And he gave me the letter that you wrote.” Echo nodded painfully, remembering every last word that he wrote right after they got their orders. “But then I left the GAR about a month after and that was the last time that I tried to think about it.”

“Why?” Echo asked quietly, causing her to pick her head up. “Why did you leave the GAR?”

“It was . . . too emotional,” you returned softly. “I was too emotional. It was just easier to leave and start over.”

“When I told you to not be afraid to move on,” Echo spoke softly, causing her to wince and look up at him through her eyelashes, “you didn’t have to change your whole career around. You were integral to the battalion.”

“It’s alright. I found my calling elsewhere. I worked at a clinic on Coruscant for a while. Fives would visit me a lot.” She trailed off for a moment at the mention of the fallen trooper before snapping back to the present. “But after . . . I had enough of Coruscant. Of the Republic, even. So, I fled here. It was just a fledgling refugee camp at the time but we built it up. And now, we’re nearly self-sufficient. It worked out in the end.”

“I’m glad that it did,” Echo replied honestly, looking around the barn again. “But how did you get involved in this operation then? After you left the GAR and everything.”

“Rex found me. He asked for help and I wasn’t about to tell him that I couldn’t.”

“You’re taking a huge risk,” Echo warned her, causing her to pause for a moment. “If the Empire finds out about this operation . . .” He trailed off, that old concerned look that he got right before every battle coming over his face, “. . . it’s dangerous.”

“Existing in this galaxy is dangerous right now,” she pointed out, a bit firmly. “And if there’s something that I can do to help, I’m going to do it. Especially for your brothers.” 

Echo nodded, not arguing with her on that point. After all, he knew that he would lose. Every time that he told her to be careful or let someone else pull off the riskier part of a mission, she always went ahead and did it anyway. She never pulled back from a difficult mission and Echo wasn’t shocked to see that she hadn’t changed. 

“Thank you,” Echo replied quietly. 

“You don’t have to thank me for that,” she responded softly. “For any of it.” 

They stared at each other for a long moment, a wordless exchange of emotions passing between them. Echo spotted the conflict in her gaze, the way that she twitched a bit and looked grief stricken in a way that he knew meant that she felt guilty. And he had an idea about what caused it. That didn’t stop his stomach from flipping uncomfortably. 

“And you don’t have to explain anything to me,” Echo returned, causing her to frown with a bit of confusion. “I knew it probably happened anyways.” 

“You did?” she breathed out, pressing a hand nervously to her chest. 

“I told you to move on,” Echo pointed out, causing her expression to quickly change. “You shouldn’t feel guilty about that.” 

“Echo, that’s not what I meant,” she replied, her expression growing more serious. 

“Then what did you mean?” Echo asked, now confused. 

She hesitated for a moment, struggling to find the words, when the sound of footsteps caused them to turn. Rex, Gregor, and Fireball walked over to them, all suited up and ready for the next mission. Echo straightened up subconsciously and she quickly turned away, knowing that the moment was now gone. 

“Ready to ship out?” Gregor cackled, punching Echo on the arm. 

Rex appeared apologetic as he glanced between them, but Echo waved off his concern. Gregor and Fireball walked off to ready the ship while Echo turned back to her. She offered him a small, encouraging smile and a nod. 

“Good luck.” 

“Thank you,” Echo returned, nodding curtly. 

The two of them shared one last longing look before Echo forced himself to turn around and catch up with Gregor and Fireball. Rex watched Echo walk off before turning back to her, to find that she was still staring after Echo. 

“Did you tell him?” Rex asked her quietly. 

“No, not yet.” Looking to the floor, she let out a shaky breath. “I’m worried about how he would react to the news after everything that he’s been through.” Turning back to Rex, she straightened up. “But I will tell him. Soon. He deserves to know.”

Rex nodded, shot her a small, encouraging smile, before walking off to join his brothers. She stood there for a moment, lost in her thoughts, before her comm went off. Knowing what that meant, she headed out of the barn and to her speeder. 

Driving down the dirt road for about three minutes, she came up to her hut. Parking the speeder outside her hut, she slid off and headed inside after typing in the code. Heading into the room that faced the sunrise, she moved to relieve her droid. 

“Thank you, NAN. You can go recharge,” she suggested, gesturing to the charging port. 

“Thank you, Mistress.” 

The droid walked off. Walking over to the large wooden crib along the wall, she leaned over and smiled at the sight. Her two identical boys were curled up against each other, both looking up at her with wide honey brown eyes that they got from their father. Running her hand through their hair, she clucked her tongue as they babbled.

“You two drained your nanny droid. Again,” she teased her sons, pressing her finger gently against their chubby cheeks. “You’re going to be little menaces when you’re grown, aren’t you?” 

[stars-n-spice]

Giving Echo a girlfriend because I think he deserves it <3

I'm slowly assembling a collection of significant others for the Batchers, so here's Echo's!

Meet Viram Cossa! A Mikkian aspiring medic who also won't hesitate to kill a bitch.

Feel free to check out the others!

Wrecker's GF Crosshair's BF

Hunter's Parnter

Close ups under the cut!

[sinfulsalutations]

𝕗𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕤𝕝𝕖𝕖𝕡 ⋆*･ﾟ𝕒𝕣𝕔 𝕥𝕣𝕠𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕣 𝕖𝕔𝕙𝕠

➼ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ ☆ ꜰʟᴜꜰꜰ, ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ᴘᴀꜱᴛ ᴛʀᴀᴜᴍᴀ (ꜱᴋᴀᴋᴏ ᴍɪɴᴏʀ)

⋆ ★ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ꜱʜᴏʀᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴡᴇᴇᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ᴍʏ ʙᴏʏ 😍

⋆ ★ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴏɴ ᴀᴏ3 ⋆*･ﾟ ᴛᴀɢʟɪꜱᴛ ꜰᴏʀᴍ

Echo doesn’t sleep well. He never has, though it gets better with you. Despite the fact he isn’t a big cuddler (he worries his prosthetics will hurt you; he also doesn’t find it very comfortable for long periods of time), he revels in your presence. Your warm body beside him, knowing and feeling that you are here, that you’re real and everything is okay. It is something no other past memory would be able to replace.

He hates silence. Hasn’t been able to enjoy it since Skako Minor. Echo likes to fall asleep to the sound of someone talking. Or even simple white noise. It’s another form of soothing that helps calm him.

So you talk to him when the two of you go to lie down, tell him about your day or your interests, anything that's on your mind; he’s always been a great listener. However, don’t be offended if he falls asleep through what you say. If he is able to doze off to the simple sound of your voice, it is a compliment that ascends words; it means he trusts you eternally, feels safe enough to be in your arms when he falls unconscious, and knows he won't wake up back in the cryo chamber.

[dangraccoon]

Oyuba’din - Chapter 27: Focus

Summary: As the Batch struggles with the loss of one of their own, Hunter tracks something the others can't see.

Warnings: discussion of major character death, grief, mention of torture and near death experiences

Author’s Note: Hope y'all don't hate me right now 😅 btw there’s going to be an epilogue 🤘

3 4?! chapters remain

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“‘How many time’s she’s’ what?” Hunter asked.

Sinya shook her head rapidly. “I said too much, I can’t-”

Hunter moved in close. “Tell us…now,” he growled.

The intimidation sunk into the twi’lek, and she appeared to become more uncomfortable by the second. She swallowed, her fingers fidgeting. 

“How many times she’s died.”

“She- that’s not possible,” Echo muttered, eyes wide.

“It’s a curse,” Sinya shrugged. “It happened when she was young. She doesn’t like to-”

“Unless she was resuscitated, it would have been impossible for her to have died,” Tech interjected.

Crosshair shook his head. “But that blaster shot she took before she was assigned to us; she couldn’t have survived that, right?” 

“I mean, she’s here, isn’t she?” Sinya replied. “Obi Wan told me about that one. It was pretty rough.” 

“You can say that again; that shot knocked her out of the frontlines for six weeks,” Echo scowled.

“We’re still not sure what she lost that time,” she hummed, mouth pulling into a tight line. “She won’t go through the list with me, not that she’s added anything to it recently anyway.”

“Jainey loses stuff, too? I lose stuff all the time,” Wrecker chuckled nervously, earning a sharp look from Hunter. 

“She doesn’t lose objects like that. She loses memories. Obi Wan told me that the first one she lost was of her first love.”

Tech cleared his throat. “Her-”

“That isn’t something I’ll tell you,” Sinya interrupted, her words forming a sharp edge. “That story is hers to tell if she wants.”

Wrecker shifted his weight between his feet, eyes trained at the floor. “What if she- will she forget us?”

“Wrecker-” Tech’s voice came, vague irritation along with it. 

“I don’t know,” Sinya answered, the corners of her mouth coming up in a reassuring smile. “But I don’t think she could forget you boys if she tried.” 

Wrecker nodded, a small grin matching hers. 

The rest of the recording included Sinya saying her goodbyes and a brief squabble over taking watches. 

“So it’s true then; she has to come back. She’s cursed to come back,” Crosshair rasped, his voice still shaky, as he combed Jaine’s hair away from her face, her head in his lap. “She has to come back.”

“Cuir’ika,” Tech said, his voice low. “We cannot begin to understand how this supposed curse works, or if it exists at all.”

“She has to come back,” Crosshair repeated, making it clear that he wasn’t listening to his twin any longer. 

Tech sighed, pulling himself to his feet. Camp had been made here at the bank of the river, despite Tech pointing out that it was not an ideal place to set up, even for a short period of time. But there was no moving his brother. 

Tech walked the short distance to the small shelter Hunter and Wrecker set up.

“Still won’t budge?” Hunter asked, already knowing the answer. 

Tech gave a small nod. “His vitals show no sign of deterioration, even if he seems to be in shock.”

Hunter hummed an acknowledgment. 

“Have Echo and Wrecker had any luck finding a signal?”

Hunter sighed. “Last he checked in, he was trying to find a tall tree to climb. We managed to get a partial message through to Cody, but it wasn’t much.”

Tech nodded. For the first time since- well, ever in his life, everything seemed still. The numerous sounds that always surrounded him, constantly pulling him in and whipping his brain into a faster pace, seemed to be somewhat quieter now. He could still hear them if he listened; the rush of the water flowing down the river, the leaves rustling as the wind shook their branches, Crosshair’s quiet, reassuring mantra. 

“You look tired,” Hunter noted, having watched Tech’s eyes close as he concentrated on what he could hear. “You should rest.”

“I have the most training in field medical aid out of the rest of us,” Tech replied. “I should be alert if anything were to happen.”

“Tech-”

“I am fine, Hunter,” Tech asserted as he began to tap rapidly at his data pad. 

Hunter sighed heavily. “Tech, don’t you think it’s time you stopped lying to me?”

“I am not-” Tech began, but was cut off by the tired incredulous look on Hunter’s face. 

“We’ve never…lost one of our own,” Hunter lamented, his eyes focusing on Crosshair by the riverbank. “Years of testing and training and torture, hundreds of missions, too many close calls, but we made it through it all. But now…”

Tech watched as Hunter’s eyes squeezed closed, noticed the way his jaw and fists clenched, saw his shoulders slump almost imperceptibly, heard his breaths quicken. He always had to see the details- all of the details. He put it together in his head; it had been a long time since he had seen these tiny clues on his eldest brother. Hunter was scared- terrified, really. 

“Sol’ika,” Tech whispered, knowing it would be loud enough for his brother to hear. “This is not your fault.”

Before Hunter could begin to respond, a small ping sounded from his vambrace, followed by a shout from Wrecker, not far away.  

“It’s Cody,” he said, standing up. 

“Sergeant,” Cody greeted, the sound of blaster fire and explosions in the background.  “Heard you boys are out on Damussa, but you said this was urgent?”

“Yes, sir,” Hunter uttered. His heart had dropped into his boots and his mouth felt drier than the sands of Tatooine. “Commander, Is the General available? This message concerns both of you.”

“We’re a bit busy,” Cody hummed, his head snapping towards some sound that barely came through the static. “Can this possibly wait?”

“Commander, it’s-”

Another explosion sounded through the comm, followed by a crash and a loud grunt.

“Hello dear,” Obi Wan’s voice dripped like honey. “Fancy meeting you here.”

“Sergeant Hunter, you’ve got your window now. Make it quick.”

Hunter tried to steady his breath. “General Kenobi, sir. It’s J-...I regret to inform you that Lieutenant Vale-”

The words choked in his throat, the air in his lungs seemed to turn to lead. 

Through the static of the signal, the blaster fire, the bombs, Hunter could make out Kenobi’s faint voice. “Jainera?”

The line continued with simply the background noise of war.

“Thank you for informing us, Hunter,” Obi Wan finally answered, his voice a schooled calm, but lacking its usual character. “We are less remote and will have better luck getting a message through to Sinya on Coruscant. Stay safe, Sergeant.”

With that, the line cut, and Hunter sank back down onto the log he’d been occupying before, praying to gods he couldn’t believe in for…someone- anyone to guide him through this.

Starlight, a quiet voice hummed in his ears, causing his whole body to tense up. His hair stood on end as his eyes darted around.

“Hunter?” Tech questioned, but his voice seemed distant.

Relax, the voice called again.

Hunter scowled as he stood up, eyes searching the area. He couldn’t see anyone - or anything - that could be calling to him like this. He was vaguely aware of Tech vying for his attention, asking if he was okay or what he was hearing, but right now he could hear a threat and he needed to gather information.

I’m no threat, Starlight.

Hunter just about growled, somewhat startling Tech.

“Hunter,” he repeated, placing his hand on his brother’s shoulder, following his line of sight towards Crosshair and Jaine.

“There,” Hunter breathed, slowly approaching the riverbank. The unshakable focus in his expression and the way his stance adjusted reminded Tech of a predator stalking some prey, and not for the first time.

Thanks for reading! - River

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[fandom-friday]

Self rec!

Finally got a new chapter up of New Members!

HELL YES FOR SELF RECS! You know I love seeing those in my inbox each week. And I can't gush enough about how much I adore Rasha and Ari right off the bat. Like yes, we love our familiar main character clone boys because HOW COULD YOU NOT??? But I just adore the introduction you've given your OCs and how we are immediately able to tell so much about their personalities and dynamic with one another. I LOVE IT (and the tag "Anakin Skywalker has Issues"). Thanks so much for sending this one in!

Participate in Fandom Friday to show your favorite creators from this week some love! :)

[ilcuoreardendo-fic]

“So,” Hunter prodded, “who was she?” He sat up straighter, leaned forward like he was after a secret. “Someone untouchable? A prime minister’s daughter? A senator?”

Echo glanced at Tech, who was watching him expectantly, head slightly cocked.

“She was a Jedi,” Echo said and took a sip of his whiskey.

“Bullshit.”

“Jedi can…” Wrecker looked puzzled, then strangely delighted.

“You fucked a Jedi?”

Tech hid a small smile behind his glass.

Hunter looked from Tech to Echo. “How did that happen?”

“Rescue mission on Bernilla. She invited me and Fives back to her room for a drink after. It went from there,” Echo said.

“I heard about Bernilla,” Hunter said. “Civil war broke out after the Bernillan CIS rep was killed in a shuttle crash. They blamed Republic sabotage. The capitol city was lost. But you got a Jedi out of it?”

Crosshair finished his beer, fished a toothpick from his pocket, popped it between his lips. “So your general took you both back to her quarters to reward you for a job well done?”

Echo narrowed his eyes at Crosshair. “She was a consular, negotiating an agreement on Bernilla. Not a general.”

“Well,” Crosshair’s eyes glittered, “that’s a little disappointing. Still, good on you, finally getting your head out of your reg manuals.”

From A Place Called Home (read on AO3)

Yeah, Crosshair was proud of Echo's past exploits, but he'd have been even prouder if he'd hooked up with a general.

[techs-feral-wife]

You're Cute When You're Jealous (Echo x f!OC)

Summary: Leli is doing her part to help Rex and his brothers. She is prepping to leave for her next mission, and Echo is not happy about it. (I suck at summaries, sorry) Content: mild jealousy. parenthood(?). Babies in general(?). Pre-established relationship.

A/N: Welcome, friends, to Max's self-indulgent fantasies. Seriowan's Dad!Clone content gave me brainrot and I have not been able to get Echo with twins out of my head. This is just some fluffy nonsense I started writing on a napkin at work the other day. Hope you enjoy! (credit for the twin's names goes to @seriowan. Thank you for letting me use them Nay!) tags: @techtalksfics @seriowan (I know I already tagged you, but 🤷🏻‍♀️)

Word count: 1.6k

“I don’t like this,” Echo said for the hundredth time that afternoon.

“Ya know, I’m starting to see why your brothers named you Echo,” Leli smirked, pulling the poncho Rex had given to her over her head. After all the missions she’d done with Rex, she still did not understand the train of thought that led all clones to think that poncho = civilian. 

Echo gave an unamused huff from where he sat in the corner of the boys’ room. She didn’t have to look at him to know he was pouting. It was that same kicked tooka look that he wore when Fives had approached her at 79’s back when the world still felt normal. Seeing him from across the bar with that cute little pout on his face made Leli’s heart flutter in her chest, and although that night felt like a lifetime ago, something just never changed.

She finished adjusting her new ensemble before walking over and placing a gentle kiss to his forehead. She felt some of the tension ease beneath her touch, but she could tell he wasn’t going to give this up anytime soon. She reached out to cradle his cheek in her hand, tilting his head up to place a chaste kiss on his lips. The kiss was far too short for Echo’s liking. When Leli pulled away he chased after her, but she stood up straight, a satisfied smirk dancing across her lips. 

“Relax, will ya? I’ve run this sort of mission dozens of times,” Once the war had ended, Rex found himself short on allies. She had found him waiting for her outside of her apartment in the lower levels of Coruscant and had been helping him anyway she could ever since. 

“That doesn’t mean I have to like it,” In fact, it made him dislike it even more, but he would never admit it. 

“Quit worrying trooper, I can take care of myself,” 

“That’s not what I’m worried about,” He grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest. It wasn’t a lie, not fully anyway. Leli wasn’t a soldier, sure, but she had never been one to shy away from a fight, especially when it came to defending clones. It was one of the things Echo loved about her--the passionate way she defended him and his brothers touched him so deeply, but it had gotten her into more than her fair share of trouble over the years. Now, more than ever he was worried for her safety. If anything happened to her or the boys, he would never forgive himself. But something else about this mission just didn’t sit well with him. 

His eyes followed her as she moved about the room to continue prepping for tonight. She tucked the counterfeit chain codes Rex had given her into the pouch at her hip then made her way towards the two cribs that sat against the far wall of the room. Leli bent down and plucked one of the twins from his crib, cradling him gently against her chest. Based on all the fussing, he knew it must have been Sky. 

Over the last few months, Echo had committed the twins’ disparate mannerisms to memory. The events of the Citadel and his imprisonment at the hands of the Techno Union (as well as his own insecurity) had robbed him of the first year or so of their life and he was determined to make up for lost time. Quinn was typically calm, he rarely cried and went down for naps without a fight. Sky on the other hand was a menace. 

He takes after Fives, Leli had joked the day that Echo had finally met the twins. He’s always up to something.

At the time, Echo did not understand how an infant could be “up to something”, but after the first week with the boys, he understood completely. 

Once Sky had stopped fussing, Leli adjusted him so that he was settled on her hip. She smoothed her hand over the small tuft of curls on his head and pressed a kiss into his hairline. The sight made Echo’s heart melt. He stood up from his seat and made his way towards her. 

“The boys will be alright too,” She said, her tone more serious. “I would never let anything happen to them,” 

“I know that,”He said softly, stepping closer to her. And he meant it. Leli had managed to take care of the boys on her own for so long. Echo knew that she was more than capable of keeping them safe. 

Sky babbled happily on her hip, unaware of the conversation taking place between his parents, drool dribbling steadily down his chin. Before he could think better of it, Echo reached out his hand and wiped Sky's chin, then  grimaced at the mess it had made of his glove. The look on his face made Leli snort. He wiped his hand on his blacks before smoothing her hair back behind her ear. Leli scrunched up her face at the residual dampness which made Echo let out a snort of his own.

“Then why are you so worried?” She questioned with a smile. Kriff, he loved that smile. Echo bristled.

“Who said I was worried?” He tried playing defense, but Leli was not having it.

“You did, now spill”She shifted her grasp on Sky and placed her now free hand on her hip. Echo knew there was no getting out of this one. The ex-ARC trooper sighed, bending down to pick up the neglected Quinn from his crib in an attempt to buy himself more time. The action was still a bit awkward as he tried to use his scomp as minimally as possible, but he was starting to get the hang of it. 

He held Quinn against his chest the same way that Leli had and relished in the warmth of his son pressed up against him. He would never get tired of this feeling, even when the boys decided to spit up on him. 

Leli tapped her foot impatiently, but couldn’t help the smile that spread across her lips at the image before her. It was a sight she thought she would never get to see, a little different than she had imagined, sure, but it was still a sight she would treasure forever. Echo met her gaze sheepishly before turning his gaze back to Quinn with a heavy sigh. 

“I just don’t like this mission, alright?” Echo frowned. The mission itself was simple enough. They were essentially smuggling a deserter off world and into the outer rim where they would theoretically be beyond the reach of the Empire. It was a standard operation for Rex and his men, Echo knew that. But it was the way in which they were going about it that got under his skin. 

Smuggling a single clone trooper onto an off-world transport was tricky. They were more likely to be recognized if they were traveling alone. A family however--

Echo scowled at the thought. He knew that the twins made Leli the perfect candidate for this role, but he still didn’t like it. The thought of someone else cosying up next to her, even if it was one of his brothers, bothered him to no end.

 A knowing grin split across Leli’s face as she watched Echo wrestle with his thoughts. She let out a bark of laughter that made him look up. 

“Awww look Sky,” she cooed playfully. “Buir’s jealous.”

Heat crept up Echo’s neck and his cheeks dusted an adorable shade of pink that only added to Leli’s amusement. Echo sputtered a bit, desperately searching for a reply. 

“Am not!” Was the best he could come up with. 

“Are too,” Leli smirked, leaning in to press a kiss to his flushed cheek. “You’re upset that I have to pretend to be someone’s wife.”

She had hit the nail right on the head, but Echo was too proud to admit it. 

“No,” He said lamely, letting out an exasperated huff before trying another excuse. “I just don’t like this mission. You sneaking onto a transport past imperial security with the boys.”

“Technically I’m not sneaking. I do have a boarding pass, ya know.” She said, her tone remained playful as she grinned at the flustered clone before her.

“There’s too many variables. What if something goes wrong?”

“Nothing is going to go wrong. And if it does, my husband will be there to protect me,” She teased. Echo scrunched his face at her use of the word husband. His face was so red he could've passed for an imperial guard. Leli let out another bark of laughter. The look on Echo’s face was priceless and she wished she could snap a holo of it for future reference. 

“Very funny,” Echo rolled his eyes, lightly bouncing the baby in his arms. Quinn snoozed soundly against his father’s chest, completely unfazed by the events unfolding around him. In this moment, Echo envied his son. 

“Aw don’t be like that Eck, I’m only teasing you,” She purred, stepping close enough to rest her head on his shoulder. “And besides,” She placed a kiss at the base of his neck that made him shiver. “You’re cute when you’re jealous.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Echo grumbled, but he couldn’t hide the smile that tugged at the corner of his lips. He rested his head against hers, drinking in the moment. 

A beat of tender silence passed between them before he spoke again, voice barely above a whisper.

“I am worried, though.” He murmured against the top of her head.

“Everything’s going to be fine, Echo. I promise.” She replied, pulling back to look into his beautiful deep brown eyes. “You’ll be there to watch my back, won’t you?”

“Always, cyare.” His breath fanned against her face as he leaned down to capture her lips in a gentle kiss. 

“Good,” She said once they had parted. She pressed a quick peck to his cheek and gave his butt a gentle tap. “Now, help me get your sons ready for tonight. I’ve got a husband to meet.” 

[anxiouspineapple99]

Darkest Days

Pairing: TBB Echo x OC!Jedi Avery Leto

Summary: In an AU Avery meets Echo during his time as an ARC Trooper and fall in love. This is their Order 66 experience in that AU.

Warnings: Canon violence, Order 66…I think that’s it!

Word Count: 1352

A/N: This is an AU in which Avery meets Echo in his ARC trooper days and ends up with him instead of Tech! Inspired by @deejadabbles 💖

I will ship Avery with Tech until the day I die but DAMNIT! She and Echo would have been lovely together! 🥰 And since I’m not possessive over my ships and absolutely love shipping AUs, here we are!

Echo kicked his feet onto the console of the Marauder, holoprojector in hand. An unconscious smile crept to his face as Avery’s shimmering blue figure hummed to life. After nearly dying in the Citadel, he refused to go into any major mission without talking to her first.

She was seated at a desk.

Must be back on Coruscant, he thought to himself. He’d know her quarters anywhere. He’d snuck in plenty of times during his time as an ARC trooper. And a few times now that he was a Corporal. He knew that room as well as he knew his barracks from the sweet incense she burned to the soft bed he laid her down on. It was burned into his memory. It hadn’t even left him when he was being held captive by the Techno Union. The sweetest dreams were of her even in his darkest days.

“How's life back at the temple, mesh’la?” He crooned, smooth baritone drawing the corners of her mouth into an affectionate smile.

She rested her cheek in her hand. “Would be better if you were here. I have medbay duty in about an hour and tomorrow morning I’m on youngling duty. I have to admit, I am pretty excited to see the littles again. I missed them.”

“Mmm. You care so much for the young’ns. Love that about you. Always taking care of everyone. Even me.” His voice softened, laced with gratitude and admiration.

“You’re my favorite. Don’t tell the kids I told you that.” She rocked back in her seat. “Where are you boys headed?”

He chuckled softly which, much to his delight, still made her blush. “Wouldn’t dream of it. We’re headed to Kaller. General Bilaba’s padawan sent a call out for reinforcements. That’s us. I’ll contact you when we’re done.”

“Mmm. My hero,” she hummed with a dreamy expression. “Always ready to rush in and save the day. Please tell Caleb Dr. Leto says hi!”

“Now you’re just flattering me.”

“Is it working?”

“Cyar’ika, I’d fight the Battle of Anaxes a thousand times just to be your hero.”

Tech’s voice broke through the background announcing their approach to Kaller. Avery’s shoulders went rigid. The bright smile she had donned only seconds before twisted into a scrunched brow and pursed lips.

Echo dropped his feet to the floor, as a surge of anxiety washed over him. “I know that look. What’s wrong?”

She inhaled deeply, attempting to shake the tension from her shoulders but they never quite returned to where they were before. “Just…” She dragged her bottom lip between her teeth and sighed. “...be careful Echo. Please. I…have a bad feeling.”

“You’ve been getting those a lot lately.” He narrowed his eyes, trying to decipher her expression but the hazy blue of the holo hid her distinct microexpressions. “Usually you tell me it’s nothing.”

“I’m beginning to think I’m wrong.”

“I’ll be careful ner cyar’ika,” Echo hummed in response before ending the hologram.

The preparation for the mission pushed his anxiety out of his mind. Unfortunately, just when he thought the battle had been won, a whole new war was beginning.

“Hunter, I can’t reach her. She never…what if…” He was agitated and growing more so with every passing moment that Avery didn’t answer a hologram or com. She’d at the least have her datapad on her. She hadn’t even answered the messages he’d sent.

“Echo, we don't know anything yet. The regs on Kaller may have just been…an isolated incident.” Hunter tried to reassure him but that was difficult seeing as he’d just seen the same thing Echo had. Another Jedi General gunned down by her own men. And considering the nature of their relationship, it was unlikely Echo would relax before some sort of confirmation that Kaller was an isolated incident. Or the less favorable outcome.

“Or maybe the regs followed orders and finished her off.” Crosshair muttered under his breath. Hunter shot him a dirty look but it seemed only his enhanced hearing managed to pick up on the sniper’s cold observation.

Echo began pacing, a habit he’d picked up from Fives. He was an ARC Trooper. A corporal. A master tactician. Yet he had no answers and no ideas on what to do. She’d warned him. He’d thought it was just lingering worry from what happened to him at the Citadel. That she was just scared of losing him again. They both thought he was the one who needed to proceed cautiously. He never in a million years thought she would be the one in danger. She was at the Temple. It was supposed to be safe. She was supposed to be safe. There were other Jedi, including guards. She herself was a skilled Jedi. He’d seen her hold her own countless times when she had accompanied him and Fives on missions. But that was different. Those were clankers, not soldiers bred for war. Bred for killing. Soldiers she trusted and wouldn’t see their attack coming.

Kamino brought no reprieve to the worry. The Supreme Chancellor deemed all Jedi traitors and were to be executed on sight. Tarkin demanding Clone Force 99 demonstrate their loyalty to the Empire. Crosshair leaving and Omega joining them. He almost had no time to think of Avery let alone worry. Almost.

Every passing day that he didn’t hear from her left him feeling less and less hopeful of ever seeing her again. He briefly wondered if this was how she felt after the Citadel but even then she’d had closure. He busied himself, occupied hands meant a heart distracted from an ever deepening ache. Omega’s presence was a new yet unfamiliar comfort. A sweet bright eyed vod’ika that needed his protection. But sometimes he couldn’t stop the intruding thoughts, “Avery would have loved her.” “Avery’d know what to do with the kid. She worked with young Jedi. That had to be harder than a clone.” When the thoughts pushed their way in, he retreated into himself. He’d lost so much. So many brothers. And now the woman he loved was gone too.

Every day she would visit Cid’s. Sometimes she would order something. Most days she sat quietly, hood drawn, watching patrons entering and leaving. Cid had stopped demanding the loth-cat stay outside. It was a losing battle and the feisty feline was all she had anymore.

So there she sat. Another day, another drink, and her lot-cat curled in her lap as she waited. She knew him. She’d watched him navigate some of the most dangerous and complex missions with his brother. He was smart, thought on his feet and could adapt to the unexpected. She also knew he was aware of Cid and her alliance with the Jedi. If his squad needed help, he’d know where to look.

She’d become so accustomed to going home alone that when he walked in the door she nearly stopped breathing. They had a child with them and Crosshair was gone.

She watched with bated breath as Cid introduced herself and directed the group to her office. The door closed and she pushed the breath she was holding through pursed lips.

When he finally emerged she rose to her feet. It was now or never.

“Echo.” Her fingers trembled as they hovered over the hilt of her lightsaber.

“Avery,” her name was a gravelly whisper on his lips. That wasn’t reassurance enough for her. The single step he took toward her was enough for her to engage her lightsaber.

He threw his hands up, stopping abruptly. “Easy mesh’la. Our chips didn’t activate. We-I’m not going to hurt you.”

“The younglings…” she choked out a sob “my younglings… I was too late. I couldn’t—” Her knees buckled as her lightsaber clattered to the floor. Echo was in front of her in three steps, hooking his arms under hers and pulling her in tight. His scomp softly rubbing her back as his hand carded her hair, firm loving kisses pressed to the crown of her head.

“I’m so sorry, Avery. I’m so so sorry.”

He pressed her closer, vowing he’d never be separated from her again.

Ragu List: @secondaryrealm @sev-on-kamino @dystopicjumpsuit @mooncommlink @moonlightwarriorqueen @sunshinesdaydream @starrylothcat @starqueensside @mandos-mind-trick @multi-fan-dom-madness @808tsuika @msmeredithrose @trixie2023 @wolffegirlsunite @mythical-illustrator @wings-and-beskar @wizardofrozz @ladyzirkonia @eyeluvmusic21 @523rdrebel @idontgetanysleep @clonemedickix @isthereanechoinhere96 @littlemissmanga @sinfulsalutations @the-bad-batch-baroness @freesia-writes @dickarchivist @eclec-tech @dreamie411

[oceansssblue]

~[SOULMATE AU/OFC] SERIES MASTERLIST

CROSSHAIR HATES THE IDEA OF EXCHANGING HIS BODY WITH HIS SOULMATE. HE'S A SOLDIER, FOR MAKERS SAKE.

ECHO'S SOULMATE THINKS SHE WONT EVER FIND THE PERSON WHOSE NAME IS MARKED ON HER SKIN;

HUNTER'S SOMEHOW A CREEPY STALKER,

WRECKER'S WEAK IN COMPARISSON TO HIS,

AND TECH IS, AS ALWAYS, THE TEACHER.

(THESE STORIES ARE ALL INDEPENDENT TO EACH OTHER)

• CROSSHAIR/OFC 💖

• ECHO/OFC 💔💖

• HUNTER/OFC 💖🔥

• WRECKER/OFC 💔 (violence)

• TECH/OFC 💖

[wenalena]

Full version on my +18 Twitter account

( I still not receive refunt for my tablet 🫠)

[starry-crossing-zone]

The Medic - Echo (TBB) (Part 2)

Summary: Echo returns to his medic for help after the Bad Batch is betrayed by Sid. Length: 2475 words Warnings: Unnamed Female Medic (Can Read as Reader or OC), Canon Angst, Some Body Dysmorphia (Echo); References to the Citadel; Fives is Brought Up; Tears; Happy Ending **Picks up right after Season 2 ends. Written before Season 3 came out but is compliant with it. No spoilers.

Part 1

After Sid’s betrayal, Echo was first and foremost focused on getting somewhere safe to regroup. They needed to heal. They needed to gather information and supplies. And they needed to have a plan. Running after Omega blindly wasn’t going to solve anything.

They needed help.

“Where are we going?” Hunter asked Echo, walking into the cockpit.

“Somewhere safe,” Echo replied, keeping his gaze forward.

“Pabu?”

“No, somewhere different. Somewhere with brothers who can help us. Rex showed me a colony of clone deserters. Some were rescued directly from the Empire, so they may be able to help us.”

Hunter nodded and turned to sit at the computer, slowly typing away. Echo tried not to stare, knowing that the sergeant was still slightly manic from watching Omega be taken away. And Echo didn't need to be a medic to know that Hunter was still in pain from his injuries from their failed mission.

The weight of losing Omega so soon after losing Tech weighed heavily on the Bad Batch. And Echo needed to get them somewhere safe before something else happened.

Pulling out of hyperspace, Echo maneuvered the Marauder down to the same landing patch. Once the Marauder touched down and the landing sequence was complete, Echo stood up.

“I’m going to speak with my contact here. I’ll be back.”

Hunter nodded and Echo disembarked from the Marauder. Walking around the ship, he wasn’t shocked to see some of his brothers lined up with blasters. But when they spotted him, they lowered them. Echo walked forward and greeted them before getting straight to business.

“We were attacked. We need a medic.”

Echo gave her name and the clones nodded before walking off to contact her. Looking up at the Marauder for a moment, Echo followed after them.

*~*~*~*

When she heard that Echo had returned, albeit with a different ship and brothers, she hurried to meet him. Turning NAN back on, she jumped on her speeder and took off, her heart pounding in her chest. If Echo asked for her by name, that had to mean that he was conscious. And not severely injured. Right? But that didn’t make her blood pressure go down.

Slowing her speeder down, she slid off of it and grabbed her medic bag, barely breaking her stride as she ran down the hill. Echo turned around at the sound of footsteps and straightened up when he saw her approaching. She stopped in front of him, managing her desire to throw her arms around him.

“You came back,” she stated softly, reminding him of their conversations after battle.

“I need your help,” he replied, causing her to nod. “We were attacked. Our mission . . . everything that could have gone wrong went wrong. I have two brothers injured and they’re very sensitive right now. We lost two of our own.” Echo looked back at the ship before returning his gaze to her. “I didn’t know where else to go.”

“I’ll look at them,” she promised him.

Echo led the way into the Marauder before guiding her over to Hunter. After a brief round of introductions and an explanation of his enhancements, she started her assessment. Working diligently and professionally, she patched him up before reaching into her bag. Pulling out a pill bottle, she turned back to Hunter.

“How does your body take medicine compared to a normal clone?”

“Usually, they give me half or less of the normal dosage,” Hunter explained slowly, causing her to nod. “Tech had it all written out somewhere.”

“What about sleep pills? Did you ever try them?”

“A long time ago. When I was still a youngling.”

“How much did you take then?”

“A quarter of a pill.”

“Then let’s try half a pill,” she prescribed, moving to break a sleeping pill in half.

“I don’t need sleeping pills,” Hunter stated, straightening up.

“You need a bacta chamber, but we don’t have one of those here.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Muscling through the pain will only prolong your recovery,” she replied calmly, breaking a sleeping pill in half. “And right now, the best thing that you can do is have a good night’s sleep. Let your body relax and repair itself.” She held out the half pill to Hunter, who stared down at it. “There’s no shame in accepting help when you need it, Sergeant.”

Hunter stared at the pill for another moment before picking it up. She poured him some water before turning back to Echo. Leaving Hunter, Echo led her down the hall to where Wrecker was sitting. Echo made introductions again before she began to assess him as well.

“You definitely took some hard hits,” she commented, assessing Wrecker’s neck and spine. “Luckily, whoever set your casts did it correctly, so I don't have to redo them.”

“Echo did them,” Wrecker explained, causing her to turn to him.

“You taught me,” Echo reminded her, a bit sheepishly, earning a soft smile in return.

“I remember.”

Giving Wrecker some medication and a pain killer so that he could sleep peacefully as well, she packed up her med kit and made her way off the Marauder. Echo offered to walk her to her speeder, and she accepted. Throwing her leg over it, she offered him a smile that was brimming with anxiety.

“They’ll be alright, Echo. They just need some time to heal.” She let a moment pass before she asked, “Are you sure that you don’t need any medical attention?”

“I’m mostly machine. And metal can take hits better,” Echo replied, causing her to wince. “I’m fine. Thank you for taking care of them.”

“Of course.”

They stared at each other for some time, just silently communicating how relieved they were to see each other again. And in one piece, for another. She wanted to stay. She wanted to speak with Echo. To tell him. But he had just lost members of his squad and she knew that he wasn't in any shape to have that kind of discussion.

And then her alarm went off and she knew that she had to go.

“How long will you be staying?” she asked softly.

“I’m not sure. A few days? However long it takes for Hunter and Wrecker to heal some more.”

“Come visit my hut whenever you can. I’ll give you the coordinates.” She gently grabbed his arm and typed them into his vambrace, before releasing him. “Just . . . before you go.”

“I will,” he promised her, causing her to smile.

“Thank you.”

They bid their goodbyes before she rode off into the night. Echo watched her go until the small dust cloud from her speeder dissipated. Returning to the Marauder, Echo stepped into the barracks. Wrecker was already snoring in his bunk, but Hunter still seemed to be awake. Echo silently climbed up into his hammock and settled in for the night.

“That’s her?” Hunter asked quietly, causing Echo to look down.

“Yeah . . . that’s her.”

*~*~*~*

“Jemis! What did I tell you about biting your brother?” she scolded, pulling her son off of his twin. Marching over to the cot, she placed him down in toddler jail and when he started to pout and cry, she kneeled down to his height. “Don’t bite your brother, Jemis.”

Leaving Jemis to sit there for a moment, she turned to pick up her other sobbing son, who was holding out his arm to show her the bite mark. She pressed a kiss to the bite site before cuddling him into her chest and rocking him back and forth.

“I know, Rubem. It’s okay. You’re okay.”

When she soothed Rubem enough for him to focus on his toys again, she walked over to free Jemis from toddler jail. Picking her younger son up, she brought him back to her chest and pressed a kiss to the dark hair atop his head.

“Now, if you stop biting your brother, you’ll stop going into toddler jail, alright?” she promised him, wiping his tears and snot away from his face. Pressing a kiss to his chubby cheek, she set him down beside his brother again. “There, now can we have peace in this house for one moment?”

A knock at the door caused her to whirl around. Tapping NAN in for a moment to watch the twins, she made her way to the front door. She glanced out the window and sucked in a breath when she spotted Echo standing there. Taking a moment to gather herself, she opened the door.

“Hi, Echo," she greeted him nervously.

“Is this a bad time?” he asked, causing her to shake her head.

“No, no, come in.”

Sitting down at the table, Echo thanked her as she ran and grabbed him a cup of caf. They chatted casually, trying to ease into the conversation. They had a long history with each other, but with everything that had happened since the Citadel, it was best to be cautious.

“It’s a lovely hut,” Echo stated, causing her to nod. “Very spacious.”

“Thank you.”

“Do you live here . . . alone?”

“No.”

“Oh,” Echo replied awkwardly, causing her to pick her head up.

“Echo,” she stated, causing him to meet her gaze, “there’s something that I need to tell you.”

Here it was, Echo thought to himself. The moment that she told him that she had moved on and there was no way that they could ever go back to anything like they had before the Citadel. At least she was being kind about it.

“After the Citadel . . . there was more than one reason why I left the GAR. Fives came to tell me about . . . and I sort of passed out. He called Kix, who ran some tests, and Kix diagnosed me with a condition.” Fiddling with her fingers, she looked up at Echo, who was on the edge of his seat with worry. “Pregnancy.”

“You—”

Echo eyes nearly popped out of his head, and he went rigid. Almost like a robot. Pregnant. She was pregnant. Well, she was pregnant. She clearly wasn’t pregnant anymore. She had been pregnant. He sacrificed himself and he left her behind, pregnant and alone. He left her pregnant. He got her pregnant.

Kriff.

“And about six months after I thought you . . . I had our sons.”

“Sons?” Echo finally rasped, causing her to smile and nod.

“Identical twins. Fives thought that it was the funniest thing in the galaxy that a clone had identical twin boys.” Wiping tears from her eyes, she turned back to Echo. “He would have given you such a hard time about it. He actually read through the entire regulation manual to find the section that explicitly outlawed fraternization between civilians and clones.”

“I can imagine,” Echo croaked, struggling to keep his voice level. “Where . . . where are they?”

“Here. In the other room.”

“Can . . . can I . . .?”

She got up and gently grabbed his hand, pulling him with her. Opening the door to the nursery, she released his hand and stepped over the toys. Thanking NAN, she scooped her boys up and turned to Echo, who stood frozen at the door. She hefted her boys up and smiled as Echo stared at them with wonder.

“Our older twin is named Rubem. And our younger twin is Jemis.” Turning back to Echo, she added, “I wanted to name them after Fives in some way, because I thought it was what you would have wanted, and so both of their names have five letters.”

“You know,” Echo croaked, throat clogged with emotion and tears started to stream down his cheeks, “if he was here, he would have joked that they look more like him than me.”

“He definitely would,” she agreed, lips wobbling with emotion.

*~*~*~*

Hunter walked down the path that Echo had, tracing his steps. He talked with some of the other clone deserters that lived here and was gathering leads on where to look for Omega. Wrecker wasn’t in any mood to discuss them, though, so Hunter came in search of Echo.

Looking up, Hunter could see Echo sitting out on a porch. But Hunter wasn’t expecting to see two toddlers on the porch with him.

The medic sat beside Echo with one toddler in her lap, who looked distinctly clone-like, while Echo lifted the other into the air with his human arm. Echo laid on his back and did upside down pushups with his son Rubem, who giggled and squirmed in his hold. Holding Rubem above his head, Echo gently lowered his son until his and Rubem’s foreheads rested against each other.

He had struggled with physical touch ever since Skako Minor. His body had not been his own for so long that he felt protective over it. And also deeply ashamed of it. Ashamed of his grey skin, the metal parts sticking out of his head, all of it.

But Rubem did not care about how he looked. His son simply laughed and grabbed ahold of his dad’s cheeks, smushing his face into Echo’s own. Smiling at the action, Echo turned back to the mother of his children as Rubem continued to headbutt him.

“He’s not the biter, right?”

“No, that would be this little demon,” she replied, setting Jemis on Echo’s chest.

There were a lot of times why Echo wondered if it was all worth it. If all of the suffering and pain was worth it. And after the last few days of his life—kriff, the last few years—he was starting to believe it wasn’t. All of that loss was for nothing. And he was just the last man standing out of sheer bad luck.

But now, holding his sons in his arms, Echo was taken back to all of the times when he knew that it was worth it. His time with his brothers of the Domino Squad. And then his brothers in the 501st. Messing around with Fives. Meeting the future mother of his children. Strategizing with Rex. Joining the Bad Batch. All of the times where he felt like there was nothing in the galaxy that could stop him.

He lost so many of his brothers—too many—but he felt them here now. This was what they had been fighting for. This was who they had been fighting for.

Echo chuckled as he watched Jemis nibble at his skomp. Kriff, this kid was reminding him of Fives. Sharing a look with his partner, Echo smiled as she shook her head at their son’s antics. She smiled teasingly as Jemis looked up at his dad.

“He gets it from your side of the family,” she pointed out to Echo.

“I wouldn’t dare disagree.”

Hunter watched the family interaction from afar. The toddlers in Echo’s arms couldn’t have been anyone other than Echo’s children. Logic was Tech’s business, but Hunter was familiar with the look of a proud father. And he had never seen Echo happier.

Not wanting to interrupt the moment, Hunter turned around and started heading back to the Marauder.

[jedipoodoo]

Love Knows No Season (Sergeant Hunter x OC, Wild West AU)

@queenquazar @dilpickledd @the-shadow-of-atlantis @themaridenstationchronicles @allwhoponder

Word Count: 5066 (H O W ? ? ?) Notes: Hypothermia, sickfic(ish), pining but they're too obtuse to realize that the other is pining too. Crosshair 110% says "y'all" y'all are just cowards.

Saachi was quite surprised to find the Sheriff was at the door when Missus Secura asked her to answer it. She was quite embarrassed that she hadn't put more effort into making sure her hair was brushed, but it had snowed heavily the night before and she wasn't expecting any of the ranch hands to show up.

"Is everything alright, sir?" She asked.

Sheriff Hunter floundered for a moment, "Is that how you greet everyone?" He asked.

"It's the badge, Hunt," Echo gave Hunter a meaningful nudge as he wheeled himself around his brother and into the house.

Hunter glanced down at the lapel of his dark overcoat, with the golden star pinned just over his heart, and quickly took it off, shoving it in his coat pocket.

"Well come on in! Don't let all the heat out!" Mister Secura chuckled good-naturedly, and Saachi stepped out of the way to let Echo and Hunter into the kitchen

"Echo, Sheriff, this is a pleasant surprise," Missus Secura smiled, offering them the plate of cinnamon rolls, fresh from the oven.

"Didn't mean to interrupt anythin', ma'am," Echo nodded, and gratefully accepted the pastry, "We just wanted to invite Yulia and Saachi to come skating with us this morning."

"That sounds wonderful," Yulia gasped and took Saachi's hand. Despite standing over the stove for the past hour, her fingers were still freezing, "Have you ever been skating before?"

"No, I-I don't believe I have," Saachi tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"No need to worry," Echo gave Hunter's arm a solid whack, "Hunter can teach you plenty!"

"Would it just be the four of you, then?" Missus Secura asked, mindful as always.

"No ma'am," Echo sat up straight, "the rest of our brothers will be there too. We're teaching Megan how to skate today as well."

Saachi and Hunter on their own would be an appropriate pair to chaperone Yulia and Echo as they pursued their courtship, but no one would question the integrity of the local doctor in addition to the Sheriff's vow of honor.

"Come on, let's go get ready!" Yulia, still grasping Saachi's hand, pulled her from the kitchen and up the stairs to her room. It was like she knew her parents were going to day yes. Saachi's father and stepmother back home would have required several more rounds of interrogation before possibly considering Saachi being around four men all day, even if they were more friends than strangers.

The Fett boys, however, were no strangers. Saachi had been staying with the Securas in Pabu Creek for the last five months, traveling around Marauder Valley helping any women in need of a midwife or any kind of medical care. In doing so, she'd gotten to know Pabu Creek's Doctor Tech, Yulia's sweetheart Echo, and their brothers quite well. Not to mention their little sister, Megan. Megan was well-versed in medicine, and had helped Saachi and Yulia once or twice. Sheriff Hunter had also escorted them all over the valley, and helped them out of a sticky situation more times than Saachi would care to admit.

"Here, wear this," Yulia handed Saachi a fluffy red scarf.

"What, why?" Saachi wrapped it around her neck anyway, she needed the warmth.

"It matches the one the Sheriff was wearing. Plus, it's a good color on you," Yulia winked.

Saachi hushed her quickly, "He could hear you!" Yulia just laughed all the louder, and brushed Saachi's hair, pulling it back into a smooth bun that could easily fit under a bonnet.

Saachi rolled her eyes. Yulia's attempts at playing matchmaker were getting more and more overt, and Saachi didn't know what to do about it. It had been six months. If the sheriff was going to make a move on her, he would have done so by now. But Saachi didn't mind, not one bit. She was happy simply to spend time with Yulia and the others.

They came back downstairs, bundled tightly. and Yulia took their thicker bonnets from the coat pegs to tie below their chin.

Saachi fumbled with the strings for a moment, trying not to tie her mittens in a knot.

"Let me," The sheriff offered. He took the strings from her hands, tying them in a secure knot just below her chin.

"Thank you, Sher- Hunter." Saachi corrected herself.

"Anytime," Sheriff Hunter held out his arm to her, escorting her down the stairs of the Secura's porch to the sleigh he and Echo had ridden in. The two horses, Havoc and Maudie, waited patiently, delicately pawing at the snow as Hunter helped Echo down the stairs in his wheelchair.

Havoc was a dark gray stallion, with gruff neighs and whinnies. Maudie was a mare with soft yellow fur and mane, and she kept blinking at the brightness of the sun reflected on the bright white snow.

Hunter and Yulia helped Echo into the back of the sleigh with some blankets, and hung his wheelchair off the back of the sleigh. Hunter slipped into the front bench next to Saachi. With a click of his teeth, he urged the horses forward, and theytook off at a brisk trot down the road towards the Fett Family Ranch.

Saachi watched the snow around them, watching it sparkle in the morning sun against a clear blue sky.

"No one ever talks about how bright the snow is. Just how it's always cold, and wet," Saachi spoke quietly, trying not to interrupt Yulia and Echo's conversation. They were adults, they could talk about whatever they wanted.

Hunter grunted, and Saachi thought that would be the end of their conversation as the sleigh hissed across the top of the icy drifts.

"Sometimes it takes seein' something for yourself to see the beauty in it," He said.

Saachi felt the inner urge to keep the conversation going, but she had no idea of what to say next.

"What's your home like?"

"What, the ranch?"

"No no, not your house here, but, you said once that your family came from the Maori islands, right?"

Hunter nodded. "Rotura. New Zealand."

"When I came to America, we stopped in Auckland on the way over. It was pretty small."

"Auckland is not New Zealand," Hunter shook his head, "That's the British New Zealand."

"Right," Saachi gave a deep exhale, watching her breath frost on the crisp air with the awkwardness.

Fortunately, the Fett Home came into view as they rounded a copse of naked trees. Wrecker was outside, chopping wood, and little Megan was helping him, hollaring and waving as the sleigh came up the hill.

"Wrecker, what's she doing out without her coat on?" Hunter sighed and climbed out of the sleigh. But before he went over to give Megan a little push back inside, he offered Saachi a hand out from under the blankets and furs that cushioned the seats.

Wrecker shrugged, and tossed some more logs on the wood pile, "She seemed fine! She was having fun making the snowballs." He pointed to the piled next to the front door.

"She's a kid, Wrecker, she'll get sick faster than we will," Echo explained patiently. Wrecker helped him out of the sleigh and into his wheelchair, helping him through the tracks left by his chair from earlier in the morning.

"How are you going to skate with us, Echo?" Saachi asked, walking alongside Echo's chair.

A loud clattering from the barn, followed by a prolonged moo from the cow, Lulabelle, answered her question. Tech stumbled out, carrying another big, bulky chair in his arms.

"I believe this one will suit our needs rather well!" He proudly announced, holding it up as high as he could with the bulky shape.

Megan threw open the door to the house, now wrapped up in a long, woolen overcoat, with a scarf, gloves, and a thick bonnet like Saachi's and Yulia's.

"Who's ready for ice skating!" She whooped and grabbed Saachi's hand, taking off at a sprint down the hill from the house to the lake.

Omega skid to a stop at the lake's edge, and Saachi nearly crashed into her, both of them studying the ice in great detail.

"So how do we do it?" Omega asked, gasping for breath.

Saachi shook her head, "I don't know."

Still holding Saachi's hand for good luck, Megan stretched out her booted foot, placing it solidly on the ice. Nothing happened. Megan leaned forward, placing her second foot on the ice with it. She gave a little bounce to see if something would happen, and her feet slipped out from under her, and she landed on her rear.

A sharp whistle pierced the air, and Saachi watched Crosshair, the last and most aloof of the brothers, approach with two pairs of shoes with blades attached to the bottom.

"I think this will make it more fun for y'all."

"What's that?" Megan groaned, pushing herself back on her feet and rubbing her bum.

Crosshair waved the smaller pair of skates at her, and Saachi noticed a third pair slung over his shoulders, "This, kid, is the 'skate' in 'ice skate'."

Saachi helped Megan off the ice again, and Crosshair showed them how to lace up the skates as Wrecker and Tech helped Echo down the hill with his new chair.

The seat was the same wicker frame as Echo's wheelchair, but instead of the wheels, the framework beneath the seat was attached to two handles, much like the brake in a railroad engine, so that Echo could steer the ice skates at the bottom of the framework.

Yulia laced up her own pair of skates and was the first one on the ice after Echo. While he figured out the mechanics of his new chair, Yulia took Megan's hands and led her out on the ice. Megan's feet almost slipped out from under her, but Yulia kept a firm hold on her, showing her how to position her feet and keep her balance.

"Where's Hunter?" Saachi glanced around, but couldn't see the Sheriff who had brought them there.

"He's puttin' the horses in the barn to stay warm," Crosshair winked at her, "You're welcome to wait for 'im if you want 'im to show ya a few moves..."

Saachi's face flushed with warmth from her chin to the tip of her nose, despite the cold. Did everyone know that she was sweet on the Sheriff?

"Wrecker! Can you show me how to skate?"

"Me?" Wrecker was momentarily confused, but it was quickly replaced with a grin as big as the Grand Canyon, "Sure thing!"

Keeping her hand on Wrecker's arm, Saachi carefully pulled herself to her feet. She could balance a sword on her fingertip, she could balance her body on a single blade. She placed her feet on the ice just as Yulia had told Omega, and let Wrecker lead her across the ice.

Her legs wobbled a bit, “How do you move on these?” she asked. 

“Like this!” Wrecker shot forward, yanking Saachi with him. Saachi squealed and hung on to Wrecker’s arm for dear life as she was dragged across the ice with him, her feet flying out from under her as she tried to get a semblance of balance.

Yulia laughed as Wrecker skated past with Saachi and tow. She was skating lazily, using Echo’s chair like a cane to keep her balance. Saachi caught a glimpse of Crosshair’s smirk and turned to shoot a rude comment in his direction, only for her grip to slip from Wrecker’s arm and send her tumbling face first into a thick leather jacket.

Hunter caught her under the elbows, holding her steady until she got her feet under her. Wrecker didn’t seem the least bit apologetic for his shenanigans.

"Thanks, Wreck," Hunter said, his voice low and his eyes never leaving Saachi's, "I got it from here.”

Wrecker laughed, “If you say so, boss!” He skated over to Megan, much more gracefully than one would expect of a man his girth.

Hunter took Saachi’s hand and tucked it into the crook of his elbow. His arms weren’t as big as Wrecker’s, but they were firm and warm, and it kept her hand tucked up against his warm chest. Saachi tried to place her second hand there for a more secure grip, but Hunter gently pushed it away.

“You’ll need that to keep your balance. Here,” He gave a little push with his skates, and he almost pulled away from Saachi before she pulled herself after him.

“Start with smaller strokes, it’s easier to keep yourself from fallin’ over. Watch me,” He pointed down at their feet. Though his feet moved almost diagonally as they pushed against the ice, his body kept moving in a straight line. Saachi matched her steps to his, slowly but surely gliding across the ice. Now she was starting to see why this was enjoyable. 

Hunter led Saachi around the perimeter of the lake, helping her get accustomed to the movement and letting her find her balance.

“You know how to dance, right?”

Saachi blinked up at him, “Do you?” She demanded.

Hunter chuckled and spun himself in front of Saachi. Still holding her hand, he was skating backward as he led her in a lazy Figure Eight.

“C’mon now, you didn’t think we’re that uncultured out here did ya?”

Well, the Secura’s did host a dance from time to time,but Saachi couldn’t think of a time she’d seen the Sheriff dancing at one.

Before she could come up with a witty retort, Hunter gently pulled her in closer, holding her hand in his and placing his free hand on her waist. Saachi fell into dance position easily, and without missing a beat Hunter glided through the waltz steps– one, two, three, one two three –and spun Saachi under his arm.

Like any upper-crust lady who’d been taught how to dance, Saachi anticipated the move, lifting her right foot just above the ice, and rising to the tip of the blade of her skates. She wobbled on such a small area, but Hunter held her firmly, and kept her from falling.

Saachi landed with her back against Hunter’s chest, both his hands clutched in her, and the others applauded their show.

“Well done,” Hunter whispered in her ear. Unable to do anything but giggle childishly, Saachi gave a curtsy to her dance partner.

Megan laughed, more than confident enough in her own abilities as she skated by, grinning at Saachi and Hunter, like she knew something that they didn’t.

The sound of a gunshot ripped through the air, and everyone paused for a moment. When no one reported any injuries, they all relaxed, but Megan stayed frozen.

It turned out Saachi was warmed by more than just the movement required for skating. The ice was getting thinner, creating a spider-web of cracks beneath Megan's feet.

"Help me," She whimpered.

"Wrecker, you and Echo get off the ice," Hunter said. Everyone began talking at once, Wrecker protesting trying to say that he could help, Yulia trying to make her way over to Echo, Crosshair skating towards Megan as fast as he could, and Tech drawing closer as he tried to tell Megan how she should avoid falling through the ice.

"Everyone shut up and stop moving!" Hunter barked. His voice sent the birds scrambling away in the trees.

"Wrecker, you're too heavy. We need as many of us off the ice as possible."

Wrecker and Yulia helped Echo get his chair off the ice, and slowly Tech made his way to the edge of the lake.

“You too Cross,” Hunter said. Crosshair tried to move closer to where Omega was, but he was still halfway across the lake, and Saachi and Hunter were already closer to Megan. Finally, he gave up, and joined the others on the snow.

"Yulia, get us a stick or something!" Hunter waved a hand at the woods. Yulia stumbled through the snow, growing slushier with each passing second, and Crosshair was right being her, trying to find a stick the perfect length to reach Megan.

"Just stay right there, Megs, it's gonna be okay," Saachi smiled at her, trying to ease Megan's racing nerves as well as her own.

"Spread out your body weight, Megan, it will keep the ice from cracking faster!" Tech said.

Megan was balanced precariously already. The more she stared at her feet, the faster the cracks seemed to appear.

"Here!" Wrecker passed a stick as tall as Crosshair to Hunter. Hunter tossed it over to Saachi who held the stick out to Megan.

"Grab on, kid," He nodded urgently. Saachi held on to the other end of the thick stick, providing a counterbalance for Megan's weight and lifting her off the ice just slightly.

"Now what?" Saachi asked.

Hunter scrambled for a bit, trying to put his thoughts into words.

"We've got to swing her over to the edge of the lake, or at least off the weak part of the ice,"

Saachi nodded, wondering if she had the strength to do that on her own. She and Hunter were both too scared to move, any movement could make the ice crack faster and send them all into the frozen water below.

Strength, she almost certainly had. She'd picked up Megan and stacks upon stacks of encyclopedias at the library dozens of times before. It was her balance that was in question.

Saachi's breath frosted in the air, clouding her glasses as she gathered her strength. As best she could, Saachi swung the stick like a cricket bat, launching Megan at the lakes edge. She let go of the stick in the process, stumbling forwards and landing on her hands and knees.

Everyone heaved a sigh of relief as Tech caught Megan under her arms, helping her to her feet.

Saachi braced her hands on the ice to stand up, only to realize that this patch of ice was much darker than the rest.

She fell face-first into the freezing water without a chance to gasp for air.

"Saachi!" She heard everyone screaming her name, but all she could see was the dark water around her. She tried not to scream and lose what precious air she had left, kicking and searching for the surface as her fingers began to grow numb and the cold stabbed at her skin.

A stick jabbed her in the stomach and she grabbed it on instinct, trying to push away the offending object, but instead it tugged her upward, into the biting wind.

Saachi gasped for breath. By some miracle her glasses were still on her face, though her thrashing had pushed them down the tip of her nose. She could make out a clump of blurry shapes with Hunter's orange coat and the red knit hat and scarf Omega had made him. He was crawling towards her on his belly, across the ice, a death grip on the stick they'd used to save Megan.

"Take my hand!" He yelled. Megan and the others were also yelling, asking if Saachi was okay or what they could do to help.

Hunter shoved his hand in Saachi's face so she wouldn't miss it. Her fingers fumbled, unable to quite bend around his hand in a firm grip. Hunter gave a small tug, pulling her a bit farther out of the ice, allowing him to grip her wrist tightly.

"Wrecker! Grab my feet!" Hunter called over his shoulder.

Wrecker cautiously made his way across the ice, only stepping on the solid white parts as before he leaned forward, grabbing Hunter by the ankles.

The ice held beneath Saachi as the biting cold became slightly less cold as she was carefully pulled out of the hole in the ice.

"Good, good, keep going!" Hunter said, though the encouragement didn't feel directed at anyone in particular. Saachi reached for him with her free hand, digging her fingers into the leather of his coat as best she could. As her fingers slipped, Hunter seized her other wrist.

"Hang on, sweetheart, just a bit farther," He gasped, glancing over his shoulder. Wrecker had reached the lake's edge, giving Hunter the confidence he needed to move a bit more freely and pulled Saachi closer, wrapping her up in his coat and placing his had on her head. The laces of her bonnet still hung around her throat, like an icy necklace, and her waves had slipped from her bun, freezing against her bare skin.

"I'm getting her inside," Hunter was on his feet before Wrecker could offer to carry Saachi, following their footprints back to the door of the cabin.

Saachi blinked her eyes, trying to get rid of the icicles that were starting to form on her eyelashes.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Hunter said. It was almost the same tone that he used with the horses when they were acting up, but this sounded much more worried.

"Don't fall asleep on me, keep your eyes opened," He urged. His warm breath fanned across her face. It was a pathetic breeze compared to the snowfall, but it kept Saachi's nose from freezing.

Hunter kicked open the door and set Saachi in the rocking chair closest to the fireplace. The fireplace itself was down to the embers

"Karking hells-!" a mixture of all his sibling's names poised at the tip of his tongue, but he settled for growling instead. He tossed three logs on the embers, only to snuff out what was left of them.

He cursed again and grabbed the matches from the mantle. He tried once, twice, three times before the flame caught, and he pressed it up against the wood.

The fire spread slowly, too slowly for Hunter's liking. He yanked the blanket off of Megan's trundle bed and went to wrap it around Saachi, only to realize that she was still shivering in her wet clothes.

Yulia finally caught up.

"Do you have any spare clothes she could use? We need to get her things dried off."

Hunter climbed up the ladder to the loft, tossing down another blanket and his nightgown, thick linen for the cold months.

Yulia drew the curtain that gave Megan's little bed some privacy as the others made their way inside.

"Which one of you was dumb enough to let the fire go out in the middle of winter!?" Hunter snapped.

Tech huffed, offended, "Well, you are the one who said we should always be careful to put out a fire before leaving it unattended."

Megan giggled as Hunter floundered like a fish out of water.

"Hey Hunter, you still have your skates on." Wrecker pointed out.

"How'd you make it up the hill like that?" Echo murmured what Saachi was thinking.

Yulia helped Saachi peel her frozen things off her body, rubbing her hands against her arms and legs every so often.

"You alright?" Yulia asked, "That was a bit of a shock."

Saachi shook her head and pulled on the nightgown, "Und-d-ders-t-tatment of th-the cent-t-ury."

Saachi was quickly settled in the rocking chair in front of the fire and wrapped up in a pile of blankets. Echo and Tech escorted Yulia back to the Secura’s farm so she could grab some of Saachi’s things and explain that they needed to stay with the Fetts until Saachi was better, and Crosshair and Wrecker were seeing to the cows and the other animals on the ranch.

Megan, having been assured that it wasn’t her fault that Saachi had fallen through the ice, was asleep on Saachi’s lap, since Saachi was using her blankets. Hunter poured some water from the kettle into a bucket for Saachi’s feet, and used the rest to make some tea.

“Thank you,” Saachi whispered.

“Nothing like Indian tea, to be sure,” He joked, “But it’ll warm ya up.”

Saachi smiled up at him, and he quickly glanced away to hide his own smile.

“What was that for?” She asked, trying not to jostle Megan.

“Nothin’,” Hunter waved it off and sat on Megan’s bed with his own cup of tea.

Saachi wasn’t sure she wanted to take the man at his word. He had run up the hill in skates to get her to safety, and the water in the bucket was already warm before he added more.

If she wanted to find out if the Sheriff was sweet on her, like Yulia and Crosshair insisted, it was now or never.

“Sheriff, are you trying to court me?”

Hunter was quiet for a moment, then a chuckle echoed in his tin cup, “Have been for the last six months, but I was beginnin’ to think you weren’t interested.”

“Not interested?” Saachi asked.

He shrugged and set his cup aside. His winter things were hanging up to dry, leaving him in his suspenders and the work shirt that hugged his toned muscles from years of riding and hard work. He took Megan from Saachi’s arms and placed the girl in her bed with a blanket from one of their brothers.

“I thought you were trying to let me down easy, all polite and stuff.”

“Let you down, for what?”

“Well, escortin’ you to the carriage and walkin’ you around the town, makin’ sure you had the things you needed for your work, tryin’ to invite you to all the dances and stuff that Echo takes Yulia to, things like that.”

Hunter ran a hand through his hair and tucked the blankets around Megan a little tighter so she wouldn’t shiver in her sleep, “Maybe I wasn’t bein’ bold enough, like Cross said. But Wrecker said he thought I was doin’ good.” He sat on the floor next to Saachi’s chair and added another log to the fire.

"I thought you were just being nice! All the men back east do those things for women all the time."

"And you never thought they were flirtin' with ya?"

Saachi felt a heat in her cheeks that wasn't from the fire and laughed lamely, "Well, not really."

“Don’t worry,” Hunter tucked one of her curls into her braid, brushing her cheek with the pad of his thumb as he did so, “I still think you’re smart.”

Saachi glared up at him, her nose scrunching in a way that made him chuckle, the opposite of her intended effect.

Hunter pushed himself up onto one knee so that he could rest both his hands on the arm of the chair, next to where Saachi clutched her cooling cup of tea.

“Miss Saachi, I would be honored if you let me court you properly. Once you’re all better that is.”

Saachi felt the warmth from her cheeks soaking into every muscle in her body, almost as if she’d never fallen into the freezing water.

“I’d be honored, Sheriff Hunter.”

He smiled, sitting back on the floor. “I promise, once the snow starts to melt, I’m gonna pick you the most colorful bundle of wildflowers you ever saw.”

“Now that’s a high bar to reach, Sheriff,” Saachi teased, “I’ve yet to see any wildflowers on the Western Frontier that can match the lotuses of India.”

“Oh really?”

Saachi chuckled, "Tell me about your New Zealand, and I'll tell you about my India."

Hunter smiled wistfully. “Well, one of my oldest memories is of rotten eggs.”

“Rotten eggs?” This was not nearly as romantic as Saachi thought it would be.

Hunter laughed, letting his head roll back as he stretched out his legs, “Rotura is built on an old volcano. The sulfur and gasses eek out, and make the city smell worse than the British do.”

Saachi slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle her own laughter. The British had left their fair share of trash all over Saachi’s beloved home too.

“At least most of the British don’t want to settle there because of the smell, and those who are born there are used to it.

“And it’s not all bad. There’s lakes everywhere, more than I knew how to count as a kid. And the hot springs too, like Yosemite.” 

“Did you ever visit them?”

“All the time.” Hunter pulled one leg to his chest, resting his arm on his knee, “I definitely miss them during the winter months.”

“I could use a hot spring myself,” Saachi said, “During the monsoon season, it never stops raining, but it never got this cold.”

“So you’re a good swimmer, then?”

Saachi gave Hunter a glare as playful as the twinkle in his eye. “I’m good at swimming when I’ve not been taken by surprise. And the floods in India don’t chill you to the bone like the snow does here.”

“Fair enough.”

“I much prefer the summer, when the mangoes ripen and you can sit in the branches and eat your full without moving an inch.”

“Yeah, me too,” Hunter said.

Saachi looked into his eyes. The heat from the fire dried out her eyes, but Hunter’s bright brown eyes carried that same glow of warmth without the searing pain. She wanted more of that warmth, of that glow.

He almost seemed to be getting closer, or at least he would have, if the door hadn’t been thrown open with a chilling gust of wind as Yulia burst in, Echo and Tech in tow.

Yulia froze in the doorway, noting Megan asleep on the bed, and Saachi and Hunter leaning conspicuously towards each other.

“Are we interrupting anything?” She asked, a musical lilt in her voice.

“Nope.”

“No ma’am.” Saachi and Hunter both insisted.

“Well good,” Tech pushed past Yulia with Echo’s chair, “Because Missus Secura sent us home with enough stew that even Wrecker should go to bed full.”

“Well that’s good,” Hunter said, trying not to sound embarrassed.

Echo and Yulia were not as easily deterred, and both of them watched Saachi and Hunter with knowing looks. 

Saachi refused to dignify their teasing, and bent over her tea, which had gone cold.

“Here, let me get that for ya,” Hunter offered before she could even ask. 

His finger brushed against hers as he slipped the cup from her hand, and Saachi’s heartbeat stuttered in her chest.

So this was what it felt like to be courted by the Sheriff.

[wild-karrde]

Hi Karrde,

we all know and love @ladykagewaki’s comics but she is also an excellent fanfic writer!

I would like to recommend her story “Echo’s Companion” (18+).

https://archiveofourown.org/works/36550306/chapters/91153522

If anyone had ever told me about a story where Echo falls in love with a sex worker I would probably have said “Erm…no thanks that’s really not what I want to read about Seksy Eksy”. But it’s @ladykagewaki and I know she’s a brilliant writer so I just HAD to read it. And it was soooo good, so sweet and respectful of Echo and his injuries and the very lovable sex worker Reelie. I think everyone who reads this story will forever remember Chapter 3 where you can find a unique combination of spice and second-hand embarrassment written in such a superb way it will never ever leave your mind again. It is also a great example that spicy content doesn’t have to be too explicit to create vivid images in your head.

I really enjoyed this one and I think @ladykagewaki is way too modest for her writing skills so let me praise her with this post!

Echo deserves all of the softness and love in the world! Also, I am SIDE-EYEING THAT ONE TAG WITH CONCERN. But Echo would ABSOLUTELY be the type to not be an just a top-tier gentleman, and I am stoked about this OC, so loving all of this for him. And spice and second-hand embarrassment you say? Sounds very intriguing (and promisingly hilarious). Thanks for the rec!

Participate in Fandom Friday to show your favorite creators from this week some love! :)

[dangraccoon]

Oyuba’din - Chapter 25: Exhale

Summary: There’s two of them, now.

Warnings: headache, flying reptiles (similar to keeradaks), playful banter

Author’s Note: oh my god two updates in a row? and only a couple hours late What are the odds??? actually kinda high because I’m almost down writing this series

5 chapters remain

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Crosshair wasn’t grumpy. He wasn’t moody, or snippy. He wasn’t jealous. He wasn’t even vaguely upset. In fact, he couldn’t say he felt negatively much at all.

He’d gotten up to take watch nearly an hour before, only to find Jaine had fallen asleep on Tech’s pauldron, and Tech, known for his general sleeplessness, was against the cave wall, quietly snoring.

Despite the odd angle of her neck, Jaine seemed to be comfortable, a pleasant look across her snoozing features.

He snuck over, crouching down next to her, brushing a few loose strands of her hair from her face.

She mumbled quietly and a small smile crossed his lips as he watched her snuggle into Tech’s shoulder even more despite his armor.

“You alright?” Hunter whispered behind him.

Crosshair sighed, standing up. “I should be upset, shouldn’t I?

“Dunno. Should you?”

“If this is what she wants- anything she wants, I couldn’t hesitate if I wanted to; it’s hers.”

Hunter merely chuckled.

“What?”

“Missed the look of affection on you, vod,” he grinned with a pat on Crosshair’s shoulder. “I’ll take your watch, you go join ‘em.”

Crosshair thought about protesting, but the scene before him looked so warm. So he settled in on the other side of Jaine. Tucking his arm under hers and feeling his chest fill up with that warmth as she intertwined her fingers with his.

-

Echo woke with a start, as always; his wide eyes hurriedly taking in his surroundings.

Right, he thought, remembering the previous day’s events.

“Alright?” Hunter murmured.

Echo nodded, wiping the sleep from his eyes. “Yeah, fine.”

“Caf?”

He nodded again, gratefully accepting a cup of what reminded him more of jetpack fuel than actual caf, but drank it anyway.

“Figured we’d give ‘em another few minutes,” Hunter said, tilting his head towards Jaine, sandwiched between the twins.

“That’s… an interesting development,” Echo noted. “Tech’s coming back around?”

Hunter shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

“‘Ey, since when does Tech cuddle again?” Wrecker grumbled, blinking at the small huddle.

Echo scoffed. “Since last night, I guess.”

-

Jaine woke up with her face pressed against the cool floor of the cave. She squeezed her eyes closed tighter, hoping that it would disperse the headache currently setting her brain on fire.

“You’re awake,” Hunter noted quietly.

She grumbled, struggling to find the energy to sit up, let alone speak.

“Caf?” Echo asked, despite already knowing her answer.

“I hate this osik,” she muttered, accepting the cup being handed to her. “Hot dirt water.”

“And yet you drink it every day,” Echo mused. “No wonder you’re so cranky.”

Jaine scowled at him, but sipped the caf, her face contorting into a disgusted expression. “What, did you wash Wrecker’s blacks in this?”

“Ey!” The large man protested. “They’re not so bad!”

Echo and Hunter exchanged a look, bemusedly rolling their eyes.

“Where are the others?” Jaine asked, rubbing at her sore neck.

“Scouting,” Hunter answered.

“And hopefully getting along,” Echo muttered with a smirk.

“Have they not been?” Jaine frowned, glancing around. “I actually got the feeling I might be smoothing things over with Tech.”

“Sure seemed like it to me,” Wrecker laughed, playfully whacking Echo on the shoulder.

“Seemed to me, too,” Hunter smirked, handing Jaine her bag. “Certainly looked cozy.”

“What are you going on about now?” she mumbled, digging through the bag.

“Sandwiched between two batch twins can be a dangerous game, Ad’ika,” Echo hummed, his smirk giving away his attempt at disguising his amusement.

Jaine rolled her eyes. “Oh, ha-ha, very funny.” She continued digging through the bag until she found a small round container. Opening it carefully, she took a small amount of the magenta paste, smearing it from the base of her skull, down and towards her jaw, beginning to hum as she rubbed the substance in.

With Wrecker and Echo off bickering about something nearby, Hunter found himself entranced with Jaine’s little ritual. Each quiet note her voice hit filled his ears and calmed his senses. He felt a tension he hadn’t known he’d been carrying release as he watched the simple process, but found himself feeling almost heartbroken when her humming finished.

“That song, what is it?” he whispered, afraid to break the atmosphere she’d created around them.

Jaine’s eyes fluttered open, looking up at him, wide eyed. “Oh, um, it’s a Qoljaki song. It was typically sung at weddings, but my parents sang it all the time,” she shrugged. “My dad’s voice was lovely, but mom’s wasn’t very good. She used to say that she couldn’t carry a tune even if it was in a bucket.”

Hunter chuckled. “I guess you took after your dad then.”

She felt her cheeks flush as she looked towards the floor. “Yeah, right,” she snarked.

“I mean it, your voice is beautiful,” Hunter reassured her. “Just like the rest of you.”

Jaine’s eyes darted to his as surprise widened both sets. She searched him for any hint of insincerity or clue that he might be joking, but found nothing but a warm smile and admiration in his expression.

“Hunter,” she began but a loud thump followed by some shouting from the entrance of the cave drew their attention.

“What the hell was that?” Hunter growled, meeting the others at the opening of the cave.

He was immediately shushed by Echo, whose eyes never left the object of his attention.

“My files have no data on this kind of…creature,” Tech whispered.

“Has it seen us?”

“If it has, it has not shown any indication of attacking us.”

Hunter nodded. “Wrecker, Crosshair, keep an eye on that thing. We need to get moving.”

Hesitantly the three clones made their way back into the cave to begin to gather their meager camp.

“What’s going on?” Jaine asked.

“Creature outside,” Echo grunted. “Big one.”

“It appears to be a creature similar to the keeradaks on Skako Minor. Flying reptiles are somewhat uncommon to come across,” Tech noted.

“Flying reptiles?” Jaine chuckled. “That’s a new one.”

“Maybe for you. Sometimes I forget you’re newer than me,” Echo smirked.

“Oh yeah, that three month headstart really gave you a leg up, huh?” she snarked. “Two, even.”

Echo feigned offense, but couldn’t hide the lightness in his eyes.

“Alright, you two,” Hunter grinned. “We should get back out there.”

“Hunter,” Crosshair’s voice rasped over the comms. “Our new friend has a partner.”

“There is another?” Tech asked. Jaine could hear the fascination in his voice.

“Yeah, only this one looks meaner,” grunted Wrecker.

“Best hurry,” Crosshair scoffed. Wrecker looks like he wants to poke at them.”

Thanks for reading! - River

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