#tbb s2 e8

[kaminocasey]

Wherever You End Up

WC: 1.4K

WARNINGS: MINORS DNI; ANGST

Pairing: Echo x GN!Reader

A/N: DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN EPISODE 8, PLEASE!!!

Summary: It's not a goodbye. It's a see you later.

“Palpatine was one step ahead of us during the war, and he’s still several steps ahead of us.” Rex looks between you, the Batch, and Senator Chuchi. “We played right into his hands.”

It’s been a long couple of days. Between trying to help Rex and get the proof of Rampart’s involvement in the downfall of Kamino, you’re running on a lack of sleep. You keep looking at your partner, Echo but he won’t meet your eyes. He’s been quiet since you got back to the Martez’s garage. 

“I don’t understand.” Omega speaks up. “We did the right thing. We told the truth.”

Hunter looks down at her. “And he twisted it to his advantage.”

“The Emperor wanted us to implicate Rampart to get what he was after all along.” Rex fumes. “Senate approval for his stormtrooper program.” “The fate of all clones is now sealed… because of us.” Echo looks at Rex and you can practically feel the regret radiating off of his body. “What’s gonna happen to them?”

Echo’s been done for a while now. You know there’s more that he wants to do. You keep thinking that one day you’re gonna wake up and he’s going to be gone so that he can join this new “rebellion” with Rex. You’re completely torn because… you want him to be happy. But now, you think that maybe he’ll only be happy if he’s out there, still fighting. Or at least helping people. When you helped Gungi, the Jedi Wookiee child, you saw a spark in Echo’s eyes that had been missing for a while. A spark that wasn’t even there when the two of you lay in bed together at night. 

It hurts, but you get it.

“I don’t know.” Senator Chuchi sighs. “But I will keep fighting for the clones. You all deserve the same rights as every citizen.”

She leans down toward Omega, with promise in her eyes. “I won’t give up.”

Omega nods and the senator stands back up, looking at all of you. You admired her. She was standing up for what’s right and not backing down out of fear like the Emperor wants and expects out of this new “Empire”. 

“If you need anything Rex, just say the word.” Hunter looks at the captain and then nods at Senator Chuchi. “Senator.”

Echo steps forward, looking between you and Hunter. You get a weird feeling in your stomach and you furrow your brows in confusion as you look at Echo. What’s going on?

“Wherever you end up, remember what I said.” Hunter pats Echo on the shoulder and starts to head back to the Marauder. 

“Don’t get in trouble without us.” Wrecker

“Without us?” Omega asks, looking up at Echo, confused.

Oh… You understand now. And your heart still breaks into a million pieces. 

“Best of luck, Echo.” Tech nods with a smile and then heads back to the Marauder with Hunter and Echo. 

“Luck with what?” Omega asks.

You don’t know what to say. The lump in your throat is making it difficult to speak anyway. But Echo finally looks at you, into your eyes once before looking down at Omega.

“I’m going with Rex.” Echo tells her. 

You can tell he’s firm in this decision. This decision he’s made without you… 

Omega looks up at Rex and he nods slightly, his eyes full of respect for the young girl. 

“The clones will need our help now more than ever.” Echo tells her. “I can’t turn my back on them.”

Even though he’s kind of turning his back on you… sort of. You know it’s more complicated than that. But still, the ache starting to form in your chest is about to become unavoidable. 

“You… You can’t leave.” Omega starts to look to you for help, but you’re still not able to form words. “We’re- We’re a squad.” 

“Omega… this is something I have to do.” Echo sighs. “I’m going where I’m needed.” “But… we need you, too.” Omega’s eyes start to tear up and your heart shatters even more as you place a hand on her shoulder.

She’s been through so much. And the fact that Echo is blindsiding her with this really upsets you. Hunter apparently knew. Wrecker and Tech seemed to be fine with it. Did they really not think to let Omega know so she’d be better prepared? 

Echo kneels down on the ground, sitting his helmet down and putting a hand on her other shoulder and she closes her eyes for a moment. 

“It’s not forever.” Echo promises her. “I’ll be back.”

“Will you?” You finally speak up. 

“Of course I will.” Echo looks up at you and finally, the tears slip past your lids and down your cheeks. He looks back at Omega. “Keep up with your training while I’m gone, huh? Understood?”

Omega slightly nods, launching herself into his arms, wrapping her own around his neck. He looks up at you with surprise at such an action. Like, maybe he wasn’t expecting her to be so attached to him. Even after all this time. He wraps his arms around her one last time and you look over at Rex and the senator, who now have decided is the time to step away for a moment. 

“Yes, sir.” Omega wipes her tears as she pulls away. 

“Keep an eye on them.” Echo nods in the direction of the Batch and she nods. 

He stands up with his helmet and tosses it to Rex before Rex walks away. Omega runs back to the Marauder but stops one last time to glance at Echo again before climbing aboard where Hunter pats her on the shoulder. You look up at Hunter and he nods to you that they’ll wait. 

When you turn back around, you find Echo staring at you, cautiously.

“A heads up would have been nice…” You murmur. 

“I thought maybe you’d try to talk me out of it.” He looks down. 

You run your hands down your face, exhaustion starting to settle in your bones. 

“We’re partners… we’re supposed to make decisions together… Right?” You clench your fists at your sides, not sure what to do with them. “I’d never try to talk you out of doing the right thing. But I’m glad to know the thought never occurred to you to ask me to come with you.”

You’re so angry at him. You understand. But Maker, you’re so angry… and heartbroken. 

“Of course the thought occurred to me.” He looks back at you. “I just know that your answer would’ve been no.” 

Would it have been? Would you really have told him no? Would you have been able to leave this little family you’ve found? You suppose you may never know now. 

“I know you. You need them as much as they need you.” Echo takes your hand.

The urge to bitterly pull it away is strong but you don’t. How many more times in this lifetime will you get to hold his hand? He said he’ll be back one day… but the future is always uncertain.

“I love you.” He tells you, pulling you into his arms and kissing you on the head.

“I know.” You whisper, tears still falling. “I love you, too.”

“I know.” He rests his forehead against yours one last time. “We can still comm each other whenever, you know.” 

The thought honestly hadn’t occurred to you. You supposed that’s true. 

“Long distance never works out and you know it.” You laugh, softly, wiping your tears.

“We can make it work.” He nods, cupping your face, pulling your eyes in level with his so he can look into your eyes one last time.

You crush your lips to his, pulling yourself against him desperately, as a goodbye and he squeezes you to himself, as if he’s trying to make sure his body remembers yours against his. You know that yours will. 

“I swear to the Maker, Echo… if you get yourself hurt or worse… I won’t forgive you.” You try to make a serious face.

“I fell in the water one time and now I’m never gonna live that down, am I?” He rolls his eyes, amused.

You shake your head. “Never. Fives would be so proud of me.” 

He laughs, nodding his head in agreement.

“Fives would be proud of you.” You sigh, coming to terms with this decision of his.

He needs to do this. For all of his fallen brothers. For the Domino Squad. For the 501st. For Fives. He needs to do this. And you’ll support him, no matter how hard it hurts, no matter where he ends up.

TAGS: @twistedstitcher27 @rebel-finn @grievouus @madameminor @dumfanting @rain-on-kamino @corona-one @tecker @ladykatakuri @brynhildrmimi @the-sith-in-the-sky-with-diamond @zoeykallus @maulslittlemeowmeow @littlemousedroid @arctrooper69 @rexxdjarin @agenteliix @padawancat97 @hated-by-me @sleepingsun501 @quigonswife8 @idlenesses @redheadgirl @dnxgma @themcuwriter @ashotofspotchka @sunshinesdaydream @crosshairsimp73 @ariadnes-red-thread @rosmariner @heyitsaloy @starstofillmydream @high-ct5555 @echos-girlfriend @sleepywych @nekotaetae @justanothersadperson93 @brownstalebread @aconstructofamind @book-of-baba-fett @chopper-base @palliateclaws @501st-rexster @dead-poolz @nahoney22 @where-is-my-mind-tho @jediknightjana @erishimoon @witching3

[abigfanofstarwars]

If it weren’t' for this squad, I'd still be a prisoner there or worse.

Is that what made you join them?

This was where I fit, where I was needed.

The fate of all the clones is now sealed, because of us.

What's gonna happen to them?

The clones will need our help now more than ever.

I can't turn my back on them.

I'm going where I'm needed.

[differentfandomsandthings]

Do you think Omega might try to become a senator for clones? I mean, we know it doesn't work out in the end but it would be cool to see her try to be the voice for clones. If not, Chuchi is doing a pretty good job.

[ghostmistdraws]

CURRENTLY NOT OKAY

!! THE BAD BATCH S2 E7 AND E8 BELOW!!

AHHHH ECHOOOO

I mean it makes sense for him to go with Rex, I'm just sad. I love him with the Batch, and with Tech. I like their dynamic. Also how this is gonna impact their team? losing two members?

AND OMEGA DIDN'T EVEN KNOW BECAUSE SHE WAS AT THE SENATE BUILDING WITH RIYO-

I predicted that he would leave, I just wasn't ready to lose him again. I know he's not dead, but he isn't with Rex, Wolffe and Gregor in Rebels...

I don't wanna think about that.

Echo's continuing the work that Fives started and I know that he's proud of his domino twin.

[lazinesswrites]

I will request some "Cross rejoins the Batch version 53832" to help you finish it.

Thanks! As I said in another ask, it turns out I pretty much finished it yesterday, so there's only really editing left, but you still get three 'old' sentences from that one, and then three new ones from a different WIP!

Here's one of my favorite bits of Cross rejoins the Batch version 53832:

It all quickly goes to shit, because of course it does. While the Batch don’t seem to notice his presence, the Imperials certainly do. Their aim is terrible, but the canon they turn on him is powerful enough to destabilize the watchtower he'd set up perch in, and he has to move, quickly, before it collapses under him.

And three fresh sentences from Reunion on Coruscant:

“Huh,” Rex says as he looks out the escape pod’s viewport, to the chaos and destruction below them, “that trooper’s about as crazy as you lot.” It looks like one of the new soldiers – not quite the stature of a Clone, at least from this angle, and wearing all black armor, no paint or anything. But he’s using the top of the crashing Venator-class Star Destroyer as a bridge across the length of the shipyard, so Rex might have to give him some credit, for courage and creativity.

[dystopicjumpsuit]

@healingskywalker here!

For the Bad Batch Ask Game: 1, 14, 28!

Hi Ash! Thanks for the ask! I answered number one here - as a Wrecker girlie (gn), I would marry Echo if Wrecker were off the table.

14. When you first entered the fandom, who did you think was gonna be your main man? (and were you correct?)

I fell in love with Wrecker as soon as he charged off the Marauder in TCW S7, and he's still my main man! What was a surprise to me was how much my opinion of Crosshair changed over the series - which is, I think, the point. I really didn't care for him in TCW, and of course he was set up as the primary antagonist of TBB S1. But "The Solitary Clone" episode made me re-evaluate. Also I have a pathological need to take care of people, and my love language is feeding people, so the minute Rampart interrupted his lunch, I was all aboard the "Give Crosshair a Nap and a Snack" train.

Season 2 spoilers/Season 3 speculation below the cut, just in case anyone reading hasn't finished it yet.

28. Tell me a random headcanon you have about Wrecker

I think at this point it's pretty well accepted in the fandom that Wrecker is smart AF (man literally built a cannon out of scraps while being shot at), but I have a very specific headcanon about why he acts less intelligent than he is, and it's based on my own sibling interactions. We've seen how important it is to Tech to be seen as The Smart One™, and Wrecker, being the emotionally intelligent king that he is, is happy to take a back seat in that area to let his brother shine. It frees Wrecker up to focus on his own thing, which includes just being chill and having a good time, and it makes Tech happy.

If Tech is indeed dead (and I waffle on whether I think he is truly gone or not), I think this is going to present an opportunity for some really interesting character development for Wrecker in Season 3. We saw at the beginning of Season 2 how much Hunter struggled without Tech when he and Wrecker were trying to escape Castle Serenno, and that was just one mission. The Batch really lean on each other's strengths, and when someone is missing (like Echo post-S2 E8), they feel that loss keenly; not just in an emotional sense, but also in their effectiveness as a team. Wrecker is going to have to step up in a major way without Tech there to do the braining.

I do feel like Wrecker's character development has been subtle and mostly in the background up to this point, and I'm really hoping that he'll get his moment to shine in the final season - though given what the show did to Tech, I would be kriffing terrified if he started getting a lot of character development out of nowhere.

Send me a Bad Batch ask!

[am3mb3r123]

TBB S2 E7 and E8 Spoilers without Context

.

.

[kaminocasey]

Chuchi: Can you keep a secret?

Omega: Oh yeah. I’m really good at secrets. I still haven’t told anyone about how Wrecker and I used Echo’s scomp to scoop out the peanut butter because Wrecker couldn’t find the spoons!

Riyo: Um… never mind.

Omega: Yeah, that thing still doesn’t work right sometimes.

[kaminocasey]

Literally sobbing at 5:30 in the morning.

[abigfanofstarwars]

there is SO much to talk about in these two episodes

but honestly there’s only one thing on my mind rn

!!!BAD BATCH SPOILERS!!!

okay yes it was upsetting seeing crosshair and cody in ep 3 and what not but THIS LAST EPISODE?? are you fucking joking?! that was the first time ive legitimately shed tears

now my tummy hurts 😖🥺

like the whole episode our boys vibe is so fucking off,, and really you can feel the change since the beginning of the season right? the beginning of the episode & the short conversation w/ omega really sealed the realization for me and i was like dammit he’s really gonna be leaving us

AND YET THAT ENDING????? THAT SHIT HAD ME ACTUALLY SLAPPING MY HAND TO MY MOUTH LIKE AN AUDIBLE SLAP WAS HEARD IN MY ROOM

🥺

how are they gonna survive without their mother ?

[lazinesswrites]

Cross rejoins the Batch version 53832 for wip wednesday?

Okay so, I went back to the file and realized... I can't actually write more for this. It's pretty much done as it turns out (I forgot how much work I did on it yesterday), so all that's left is some editing. BUT I will still give you three lines from it, and since that isn't actually progress, which is the point of this whole thing, I'll write and share three lines of something else too.

First, from Cross rejoins the Batch version 53832 (arguably, the very moment when Cross rejoins the Batch in this particular fic):

He does technically have official orders to kill him on sight, but he doesn’t fire. He doesn’t fire and he doesn’t fire and he doesn’t fire, until he catches sight of the Imperial trooper in Tech’s blind spot. Then, finally, he shoots to kill.

And three new sentences from Reunion on Coruscant, since no one has asked for that one yet (that I've seen):

Crosshair has confirmation now (not that he needed it) that they’re not trying to steal the ship: It’s still magnetically sealed down, and they all know the ship will break long before the seal does. They’re just causing as much damage as they can, creating a distraction. Crosshair exits the gun-tower by way of the roof, using the cable attachment for his rifle to cross onto the roof of the Venator as it half-slides, half-crashes across the shipyard –  following the trajectory of the ejected escape pod that veers off from the others.