#fives x echo

[melia-201]

Captain is so done with his arc troopers flirting with each other every time they drink at the bar

Original post is this one! Thank you for amazing posts!!

https://x.com/cloner1ghts/status/1283366968418947072?s=46&t=lZlVnzbgIrQ3UueW5YLR6A

[anstarwar]

Happy to finally get to share the first chapter art for Squad 11! So glad I got to work with the authors @catbuir and @elsaanna007 and my co-artist @mock-arts on this amazing story for the @cloneshippingbigbang!

Title: So There's This Guy Authors: Catbuir, Elsaanna007 Rating: E, 18+ Tags: cloneship, cloneshipping, Echo/Fives, friends to lovers, nsfw, mutual pining, first kiss, first time, masturbation, oral sex, orgasm delay/denial, smut, explicit sexual content, hand jobs, sexual tension, resolved sexual tension, clone trooper culture, clone troopers deserve better

More art to come!

[cloneshipping7567]

Romantic Confessions Part 3

Part 3/30

3. "I’ve loved you since the moment I first laid my eyes on you."

Pairing: Fives x Echo

Rating/WC: T/2411

~~~

Fives rolls his eyes for what feels like the millionth time that night alone, shoving at Jesse playfully over the table. “Oh shut up,” he grumbles.

Jesse only smirks, sticking his tongue out at him. “But am I lying?” He counters.

Hardcase snickers and throws an arm over Jesse’s shoulders, almost knocking their drinks over in the process. “C’mon Fives, lighten up! Usually Echo’s the buzzkill between you two.”

Echo perks up at hearing his name, before scowling at the rest of Hardcase’s sentence. “Why do I let you people drag me out to 79’s every shore leave?” He grumbles, but the way he’s fighting back a smile lets the others know he isn’t really mad.

Hardcase laughs again, blowing Echo a kiss. “Because you can’t resist my stunning good looks and endless charisma,” he announces.

Fives bristles a bit, looking at Echo out of the corner of his eye.

Echo only smirks, leaning forwards over the table and looking up through his lashes at Hardcase. “Don’t I know it, baby,” he coos, voice deeper than usual and sultry.

Jesse laughs at the display, playfully swatting towards Echo’s face without getting anywhere near enough to hit him. “Hey, back off! Don’t you know he’s a taken man?”

Hardcase snorts, taking a quick sip from his glass before turning to face the clone under his arm. “Aww, jealous over little ol’ me?”

Echo chuckles and leans back into the booth, before he looks at Fives and frowns.

Fives only has to wonder for a second why Echo is frowning at him, before he realizes his face is contorted into a scowl. Was he really death glaring Hardcase? Over a little flirting with Echo? He doesn’t know what’s gotten into him; usually he’s not only laughing along with his jokes, but riling him up even more and encouraging him.

Fives quickly attempts to fix his face, morphing it into a cool smirk. “Who wouldn’t be jealous of you, Hardcase?” He asks, going for lighthearted teasing. But there’s an unexpected edge to his voice, revealing the truth behind the words.

Jesse raises a brow at him, and Hardcase clears his throat before reaching for his drink again.

Great, now he’s made it awkward.

Echo is still staring at Fives, an unreadable expression on his face. “I love this song,” he announces to the group, not looking away.

Hardcase takes the hint, though. “Me too! Jesse, let’s dance?” He asks.

Jesse looks at Fives once more, for just a couple seconds too long to be subtle. Fives looks down at his drink, hiding from his friend, and Jesse sighs. “Yeah, let’s dance,” he says, and follows Hardcase out of the booth.

Fives and Echo sit in silence for too long to be comfortable, and Fives starts to squirm. “What?” He asks, voice just a bit mean.

Echo doesn’t answer right away, searching for something in Fives’ face, still turned away. “You’re jealous of Hardcase?” He prompts, hesitantly.

Dammit. Fives has been hiding his crush for so long now, and he’s done it so successfully. At least, he thought he was successful. Until he ruined it by opening his stupid mouth. “No,” Fives deflects, taking a long gulp from his beer. “It was just a joke.”

Echo studies him, and Fives hates it. He hates feeling so open and vulnerable, like a stupid reg manual Echo wants to memorize.

Fives shifts uncomfortably, finally turning to look at Echo head on. “What?” He snaps.

Echo raises a brow, unimpressed. “I just didn’t know you felt that way,” he says softly. He looks almost disappointed, and that hurts Fives.

He didn’t even get the chance to say the words out loud, and Echo has already rejected him.

Fives looks back at his drink, mood soured. He chugs the rest of it, slamming the cup back onto the table. “Doesn’t matter,” he mumbles, more just to say something. “I’ll get over it.”

Echo makes a soft noise, somewhere between a hum and a sigh. “Do you wanna talk about it?” Echo offers.

Fives growls, shooting Echo a mean look before looking back out at the dance floor. A new song has started playing, but Hardcase and Jesse are still dancing together. He fixes his eyes on them, finding it easier to watch his friends be happy than watch Echo look at him with a mix of pity and disappointment. “What more is there to say?”

“Well you haven’t actually said anything,” Echo argues, still staring. Fives can feel Echo’s eyes boring into his skull. “More…implied.”

Fives works his jaw. “I think it’s pretty clear how I feel,” he starts, taking a deep breath to steady himself. “And it’s very clear they aren’t reciprocated. It doesn’t have to be weird, I’ll get over it.”

“You’ve already made it weird,” Echo says, voice unamused.

Ouch. Fives looks back at Echo, not bothering to hide how hurt he was over the remark. “I’ll get over it, Echo,” he repeats. “I didn’t want to…to ruin anything.”

Echo only quirks a brow, before sighing in annoyance. He turns back to his own drink, clearly over with the conversation.

Fives swallows thickly, a sense of dread building in him. In Fives’ head, the worst case scenario was that Echo didn’t reciprocate his feelings. He never even considered that Echo might be disgusted. Might not want to even be friends any more.

“Echo,” Fives tries, voice small and hurt. Echo ignores him, though, taking a swig from his drink.

Fives looks back out at the dance floor, feeling devastated. He sees Hardcase looking over at him with a frown, and Fives can’t stand it anymore. He can’t stand the judgement, can’t stand the tension he accidentally caused. He hadn’t even meant to announce his feelings for Echo, and now everything is ruined.

Fives scoots out of the booth and makes a beeline for the door, pushing through them roughly. The sound of the club becomes muffled, and the cool air of Coruscant makes Fives shiver.

He walks over to a dark corner, hiding in the shadows and thumping his head back against the bricks. How did everything go so badly so quickly? How did he lose his best friend, the person he’s been in love with forever, over one stupid joke? Why did he have to open his stupid mouth?

The door opens to the club, and the music blares for just a second before it closes again. Fives doesn’t look up to see which clone is leaving, probably stumbling around.

It wasn’t a drunk clone going home, though; it’s just Hardcase. “Hey, Fives…” he starts, and trails off awkwardly.

Fives looks up, sniffling once and crossing his arms over his chest. Hardcase is scratching the back of his head, looking down at Fives’ shoes.

“What?” Fives asks after he can’t take it anymore, too heartbroken to have any patience.

“Listen,” Hardcase starts, moving his hand down and cupping the back of his neck. “I think we need to talk about earlier.”

Fives groans, slamming his head back into the wall. The dull pain is almost a welcome distraction, if Fives is being honest with himself. “No. Please. Can’t we all just pretend I didn’t fuck up, pretend it never happened?”

Hardcase sighs. “It’s kind of hard to ignore something like that, Fives.”

The ARC trooper sighs in annoyance, fixing Hardcase with a dejected look. “I know he doesn’t love me back.” Hardcase’s eyes widen and his jaw goes slack. “It doesn’t have to be this big, awkward thing! I can go right back to hiding my feelings, and we can all pretend everything is normal.”

“Love?” Hardcase asks, gawking. “You love him? How long have you-how-“

Fives looks down at his shoes, working his jaw. “Since…forever. Since I met him. It doesn’t matter, nothing is going to happen about it.”

“Dude, me and Jesse haven’t even…said that to each other yet,” Hardcase says sadly. “If I had known how you felt, I never would have gone for it.”

Fives blinks, looking up at him, confused. “What?”

“I mean,” Hardcase backpedals. “I’m not sorry or anything, I really like Jesse and he makes me happy. But I wouldn’t have asked him out if I knew you were in love with the guy.”

Fives blinks rapidly, reeling from the confusion. “What?” He asks again, almost hysterical. “What the kriff are you talking about?”

Hardcase stares at Fives, his own confusion growing. “You…you said you were jealous of me, in there. Because I’m with Jesse?” It sounds like Hardcase was trying to state a fact, but his confusion makes the sentence sound more like a question.

Fives absorbs the information, before he laughs. He laughs again, and again, until he can hardly breathe and Hardcase is starting to shift uncomfortably.

Once he’s finally calmed down enough, he shakes his hand and puts his hand on Hardcase’s shoulder. “No, Hardcase, I’m not in love with Jesse. I’m in love with Echo. I was joking that I was jealous in the same way Jesse was, jealous that you and Echo were flirting.”

Hardcase’s eyes widen as the realization hits him. “Ohhhh,” he says, and a relieved laugh escapes him. “Thank the force, I thought this was going to be so awkward between us.”

Fives smirks, patting Hardcase’s shoulder before dropping his arm again. “No, I don’t want your man,” he teases.

Hardcase grins, enjoying the rediscovered playful mood. “You sure, man? Have you seen him?”

Fives snorts and rolls his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. “You’re so annoying,” he says lightheartedly.

Hardcase chuckles, before he turns serious again. “You should tell Echo, Fives. Maybe he does love you back.”

Fives winces, the image of Echo staring at him in disappointment flashing in front of him. “No, he knew what I meant. We talked after, he…he doesn’t feel the same.”

Hardcase shakes his head, placing his hand on Fives’ shoulder. “No, Fives, I mean it. I’m sure he thought the same thing me and Jesse thought. He was probably just upset you apparently liked someone else, and probably upset that it was someone who was taken too.”

Fives doesn’t want to give himself hope, but…but even just the thought that maybe, maybe Echo at least won’t be mad at him if he learns the truth… “Can you get Jesse to dance again, so I can talk to him?”

Hardcase smirks, nodding and leading them towards the doors again. “My pleasure,” he practically purrs.

Hardcase walks a few steps ahead of Fives, leaning down to whisper in Jesse’s ear before the couple make their way to the dance floor.

Fives walks over and scoots into the booth across from Echo instead of beside him. Echo looks up in acknowledgement, before taking another sip. “Echo.”

Echo grunts, but finally looks up after a few seconds. “What?”

“Earlier, when I said I thought my feelings were pretty clear…were they? Are they clear?” Fives bites his lip, heart beating faster with nerves.

Echo looks up at him, arcing a brow. “Yes. You want Jesse. It was very clear.”

Fives can’t help but perk up, heart beating even faster than before. “No,” he says, breath hitching. “I don’t want Jesse.”

Echo’s brows furrow in confusion. “Then what did you mean?”

“Echo,” Fives says, taking a deep breath. Hope is a dangerous game. Echo could still very much reject him. "I’ve loved you since the moment I first laid my eyes on you."

Echo’s jaw goes slack, and his eyes widen. He holds his own breath, as if he can’t believe the words he’s hearing.

“Back when we were still cadets, and we first got assigned to the same training squad. The second I saw you, I knew I was in love. I knew I wanted you, knew I would love everything about you. And I do, Echo, I love everything about you. Even the things I hate. Like the way you rush head first into danger at every opportunity, or do stupid shit like charge at clankers without any backup.

“I love the way your nose scrunches up when you’re concentrating. I love how you memorize reg manuals even though they’re useless and everyone knows it. I love that you paint Rex’s hand print on your armor. I love how selfless you are, how brave and capable. I love your stupid jokes and you always make me laugh. I love the way you make me feel, like when I’m around you nothing bad can happen. I love you, Echo, not Jesse. I’ve loved you forever.”

Fives lets out a shaky breath, allowing himself to breathe after his little speech.

Echo, on the other hand, is frozen. He’s holding his breath, blinking rapidly, hands gripping the table tightly.

Fives feels his smile start to melt away, and the earlier sense of rejection returns. “I mean,” Fives attempts, but it’s too late to backpedal. He’s said far too much. There is no ignoring this, no pretending it never happened.

Echo finally lets out a shaky breath, before gasping in a new one. He’s still staring at Fives with wide, shocked eyes.

Fives looks down; he knew he shouldn’t have hoped. “It’s okay,” Fives says, sounding just as dejected as he feels. “I’m sorry I-“

“Shut up,” Echo gasps out, and Fives’ head shoots up to look at him. “Shut up, you absolute idiot. You’ve been in love with me all this time?”

Fives winces, nodding slowly. “Yes.”

Echo scoffs, and Fives closes his eyes in the face of such rejection. “You mean I could have had you from day one, and I’ve been wasting all this time pining?”

Fives opens his eyes again, staring at Echo as if he’s about to reveal it was a mean joke. But Echo is just staring at him, a mixture of exasperation and fondness on his face. “You…you want me too?”

“Yes!” Echo yells, not loud enough to draw attention in the louder club. “Yes, Fives, I haven’t been trying to be subtle!”

Fives blinks, before his grin is back and splitting open his face. “We’re a pair of idiots, aren’t we?” He asks, reaching his hand across the table.

Echo rolls his eyes and reaches out to take it, his own smile in place. “Get over here and kiss me, I’m tired of waiting.”

Fives can’t help but grin wickedly, practically teleporting beside Echo in his excitement. “Me too,” he mumbles, before leaning in and connecting their lips gently.

[needforspeed161]

Been kind of hyperfixating on my fave clone boyfriends #echofives #starwars #clonetrooper #ctecho #ctfives

[eomereadig]

Requests are OPEN!

Hey guys, just letting you know that my inbox is currently open for The Clone Wars requests!

I'm still going with all my Whumpril stuff which can be found here and on my AO3 but need some ideas for what to write after! I write for most characters but take a look at the rules below before sending one in :)

Rules:

One request per ask - feel free to send in more than one though!

I don’t write reader-insert stuff anymore so character/general pairings please

No crossovers of any kind, I’m not creative enough for that shit

I reserve the right to delete any request I don’t vibe with

NSFW is allowed (and encouraged)

If you have an AO3 account, feel free to include a link to that so when I post your request, I can tag you in it!

Red List:

The following are tropes and pairings I’m not willing to write on request at the moment so please don’t ask

Major character death

Sexual assult

Severe mental health conditions including s/h since i’m around that a lot for work and don’t wanna think about that!

Kinks involving bodily fluids or scat

If you want to request something but are a little brain-dead like me, I have a list of prompts here that I like to use!

[archer973]

My submission for @cloneshippingbigbang 's event is now live! Thank you to everyone that has helped and supported me, and to carbonele for being such a wonderful artist!!

Title: Permission To Lean Pairing: Fives/Echo Rating: Explicit Tags: Getting Together, Panic Attacks, Hand Jobs, Canon Divergence, Episode Tag: s03e01 Clone Cadets Summary: When the stress of the upcoming Citadel test overwhelms Echo, Fives hides him away from prying Kaminoan eyes in his sleep pod. But pressed so close to his brother, Fives must confront the feelings he has pushed down for so long, and discover that maybe they weren't as one sided as he thought.

[meshla-cyarika]

[wanderer-six]

THE GALA - A Clone Dating Sim

You are a Jedi General. The Council has assigned you a very important mission: the infiltration of a Separatist gala on Raxus. But you will not be going alone--you are allowed to bring a date on this adventure. In the heart of enemy territory, who will you count on to watch your back?

PLAY HERE: THE GALA

Ideal play experience is on desktop! (I think you can play on mobile it just looks a lil yuccy)

Clone bbs x Fem!Jedi player FEATURED CLONES: Sergeant Hunter, Tech, Crosshair, Wrecker, Captain Rex, Commander Wolffe, and ARC Twins Fives & Echo

RATING: 18+ MINORS DNI - The paths can be SFW or NSFW depending on your choices (2nd option is always the NSFW one!) - general warning for smut if you make those choices, more specifics below the cut!

Additional (less relevant) info beneath the cut!

HAPPY MAY 4TH! ENJOY MY LOVES~~

COMPREHENSIVE WARNINGS LIST: In general, lots of flirting, innuendo, pet names. Established relationship for all

Hunter: LOTS of flirting (he is a whore), p in v sex

Tech: Oral (f receiving)

Crosshair: Fingering

Wrecker: Not much for him honestly, implied canoodling (p in v), oblivious boy ♥

Captain Rex: dirty talk, praise, oral (m! Receiving)

Commander Wolffe: rough! p in v

Fives & Echo: Multiple clones (no clonec*st), lots of flirting, Echo is self conscious!

-ART ASSETS I drew all of the Clone art! I found the most nakedest screencap I could of any of them (SURPRISINGLY DIFFICULT) and then traced the base, then looked for Star Wars Male Fashion (WAY FUCKING HARDER) to draw on them and dress them up! I think for Hunter and Fives/Echo I just went crazy but for all the rest lmk if u can spot who I stole the outfits from, i deadass dont remember at this point For Background art I found them all on google images - from what I recall, it's mostly concept art and screenshots from games! -ENGINE I made this in Twine, an incredible tool for making text-based games! I highly recommend looking into it. It's really easy to use and there are a ton of tutorials online!

AN: Thank you so much for playing! Please let me know what you think, I had so much fun making this✨✨ it is so phenomenally cringe but I hope you all enjoy ♥ (also if you spot any bugs or typos, please feel free to let me know and I will fix!!)

TELL ME YOUR FAVORITE PATH I like Rex Crosshair Wrecker the best I think

"""taglist""" - @shinyshayminflower @starrylothcat @pb-jellybeans @jediknightjana

[omaano]

🌟The Dominoes are in the house!🌟

Well. They are in the Hades AU finally :D Thank you @lovexfroggie for your insight on the twins and their possible mythological inspiration ❤️ (the wonky stars are on me)

It's only their character art for now, because I still need to work a lot more on what I want their interaction with Din to look like (also I haven't thought of dialogue yet, so I'll need some extra time there, so stay tuned!)

[coffeeandbatboys]

The Clones reacting to you smushing their cheeks

Idk I had this idea and thought it’d be cute. Since the clones are supposed to have round cheeks, visualize live action and not animated 😂

Warnings: none, just fluff.

Fives, Wrecker, Hardcase, & Tup: Loving it so much, will lean into your hands and give you heart eyes. Maybe even press a few kisses to your hand.

Cody, Jesse, Kix, Echo, Vaughn & Mayday: Will blush profusely and look side to side for a second, before giving in and flashing you a tiny smile.

Rex, Hunter, Tech, & Fox: Not sure what to do, just give an awkward smile and internally scream because they secretly find it super cute.

Crosshair, Wolffe & Dogma: Not understanding any of it. Don’t know what you’re doing, not sure that they like it, 3/10 do not recommend.

[stellarbit]

Shifting Loyalties NSFW

Word Count: 7.7k Pairings: The Bad Batch x fem!reader, Tech girlies you get an extra treat. Warnings: I'm not gonna lie y'all, this is smut with almost no plot. I can't list it all. I have no excuses, it's all the batch at once so that should give you an idea of what you're walking into. But no clonecest here. Barely proofread. Summary: The Bad Batch and you are supporting the 501st on a mission, where you are reunited with your old squad. The Batch get a bit jealous and Jesse fans the flame. NSFW

Fives is alive for this because, who doesn’t need more Fives and who doesn’t want to scream at canon sometimes.

-

“It’s obnoxious is what it is.” Crosshair spat, biting down hard enough on his toothpick to snap it in two.

The source of his irritation was the scene unfolding amongst the men of the 501st. During another last-minute mission as General Skywalker's backup, you and Echo had settled in with your former squad before it was time to turn in for the night. Gathered in a loose circle were Echo, Rex, Jesse, Fives, Kix, and you, catching up while the Batch observed from a distance.

Perched on a crate, with Fives at your side leaning on an elbow and talking your ear off, you crossed your ankles and swayed your feet lightly, clearly enjoying the conversation. When Fives' hand casually landed on your thigh, emphasizing his point, Wrecker couldn't suppress a low groan.

"What's so special about those guys, anyway?" Wrecker grumbled, tossing a hand in your direction as a loud laugh escaped you. "I bet it's not even that funny!"

Paying as little attention to the situation as possible, Tech interjected, "There's nothing 'special' about them. It’s simply a shared history." He glanced up to see Fives stand a bit taller, gesturing animatedly as he dominated the conversation. Fives leaned closer to you, his hands gripping your knees for balance.

Logically, there was nothing wrong with their behavior. As Tech understood it, such comradery was not uncommon amongst the regs. Yet seeing you at the center of it set his teeth on edge.

Kix and Jesse had picked up on the Batch’s attitude the moment you stepped off the Marauder. Rex warmed up to the 99’s but the rest of the 501st maintained their distance. That distance solidified into distaste when you left the 501st to join the Batch.

As Rex and Echo broke away on their own, Jesse sidled up to your side, opposite of Fives, with Kix at his side. While Fives pulled every laugh out of you he could, Kix noticed the scowl Tech was leveling him and subtly nudged Jesse.

“Looks like we’ve got an audience.” Kix muttered.

Jesse glanced briefly towards the four Batch members who were watching intently. "Oh, really?" Jesse scoffed, his gaze sweeping over the group before returning to you with a renewed, cocky smile. “Well, then let’s give them something to look at.”

Hopping up next to you, Jesse leaned into your space to position behind your back and hovering over your waist. “Say, Shorty?” He finally interrupted Fives’ ramblings, getting the ARC trooper to push off of you.

“Oh!” You laughed. “Back to ‘Shorty’ are we?”

Fives crossed his arms and grinned, “Well, seeing as how you are shorter than us - you’ll always be a shorty to us.” He nodded towards his brothers at your side. You rolled your eyes, but the small smile tugging at you betrayed your enjoyment

Catching this, Jesse and Fives shared a knowing look, Fives briefly glancing at Jesse's hand still poised near your side. Fives then uncrossed his arms and nodded subtly.

“As I was saying…” Jesse continued, his tone teasing. “You ever get over that little twitch of yours?”

A confused look passed over you. With a small shake of your head you asked, “What ‘twitch?’”

Without warning, Jesse’s hand snapped to your side, his fingers wiggling into your ribs, eliciting a yelp as you jumped into him. In a desperate attempt to escape his tickling, you shimmied forward, laughing through the discomfort. The sudden movement toppled you off the crate, straight into Fives’ waiting arms. Without missing a beat, he caught you with one arm cradling your ass and the other holding you by your waist.

Jesse and Kix chuckled as you shoved against Fives, your feigned anger fooling no one. Kix leaned over to Jesse, musing, "Oh, they didn't like that one bit."

“Looks like someone should go lend them some comfort.” Jesse said sarcastically, sauntering off towards the four troopers.

From their side, the Batch watched on in disgust as you sat in Fives’ arms losing yourself in laughter. He hoisted you over his shoulder, bouncing you a couple of times for show, before setting you back on your feet.

"Show off," Hunter muttered under his breath, rolling his eyes as he turned from the spectacle. He gestured to his brothers with a brisk nod. "C'mon lads, let’s head inside." Despite the order, Tech, Wrecker, and Crosshair remained firmly in place as Jesse approached, his presence igniting further irritation.

A guttural growl rumbled from Crosshair as Jesse closed in, his tone playful yet provocative. "You're not heading out so soon, are you, fellas?" He jerked a thumb back in your direction, his grin sharp. "You’re missing all the fun over here."

“Oh goody.” Crosshair angled a mean smile at him, placing a toothpick between his lips. “Tell me, are all regs as dull as you?”

Maintaining his composure, Jesse leaned in slightly, his confidence unshaken. “With her smiling like that, I can’t say I’m too worried about being dull. We always kept her smiling. In fact, most nights with us ended with her being happy.” He casually rested a hand on his hip, his smirk widening. “Guess you fellas are only good with clankers.”

Tech, standing next to Crosshair, frowned deeply, his eyes flicking between the men of the 501st and you. His voice was sharp, clinical. “What exactly are you insinuating?”

Before Jesse could reply, Wrecker pushed forward, his massive frame towering as he stepped between his brothers. His voice was deep and menacing, each word dripping with threat., “Yeah, what are you in-sin-ua-ting?”

Jesse stepped closer, meeting the challenge and smirking up at the large clone. “I’m saying, we must’ve been doing something you aren't.” His gaze briefly flickering over to where you were mingling with others, finally realizing where Jesse had strayed off to. While he could, Jesse snuck in one more jab. “Guess Echo didn’t tell you everything. We were more than a squad to her.”

The implication ripped a growl from Crosshair, but before he could escalate the situation, your warm voice broke the tension. “You wouldn’t be causing trouble now, would you, Jesse?”

Jesse turned toward you with a feigned innocence, his chuckle light. “Of course not,” he replied smoothly. “Just catching them up on the old days.” As he clapped a hand on your shoulder and gave it a playful shake, he threw in, “Speaking of which, why don’t you bunk with us tonight, Shorty? It’ll be just like old times.”

His use of your nickname in front of your squad heated your face. From the noise Crosshair made, you were going to have trouble living that down.

With a laugh, you rolled his hand off your shoulder, your tone light but firm. “Oh, I don’t think so. I actually need to get some sleep.” You poked a finger into Jesse’s chest plate playfully yet pointedly. “Which I’m sure wouldn’t happen with your lot around.”

Wrecker's eyebrows flew up as he shot a look at Hunter, who wore a similarly stunned expression. They were just beginning to catch glimpses of your unfiltered self, and while they had suspected the men of the 501st were trying to rile them up, they never dreamt of the level of intimacy you just admitted to.

Seeing you banter so comfortably with the regs, with laughter and playful jabs, left the Batch glowering. For the first time in their lives, they were truly jealous of these regs. They were getting used to being the closest to you, the ones you leaned on during missions, and this unexpected side of you—closer with regs than them—struck a chord.

“Let’s go, lads.” Hunter ordered with a firmness that turned your head. You knew your squad was on edge with the regs, but Hunter sounded almost angry. He left without another word and his brothers trailed behind shortly after. Crosshair was the last to leave, flicking his toothpick past Jesse, barely missing his face.

Watching them retreat to the makeshift barracks adjacent to the 501st’s, you turned to Jesse, your expression one of exasperation. "What did you do?" you demanded.

Jesse put his hands up innocently, saying, “Not my fault your squad doesn’t like to share.”

Share? Weighing the worth of further questioning him against checking in with the Batch, you grumbled in frustration and pointed a warning finger at your former squadmate, “You’re just as bad.” Not allowing him to get under your skin as well you made for your barracks. 

You walked in on the Batch quietly conversing, standing around Wrecker as he sat on a bottom bunk. Out of the lot, Tech and Wrecker turned slightly to see you walking in their direction. You gave a little wave as you neared. The conversation fell silent the nearer you got, widening your nervous smile. They are not happy, you inwardly groaned

Attempting to break the tension you said in a light tone, “Can’t believe we’re actually sleeping in the barracks.” Pulling up to the corner of Wrecker’s bunk, you leaned against the post, arms crossed. “Echo will be pleasantly surprised.”

Crosshair snorted, “It fits. He’s full of surprises.” His odd response, again, pinched your brows.

Widening your eyes and raising your brows in the awkward moment, you flared your fingers out around your arms. “Well, I’ll just pick a bunk.”

You pushed off the bunk only for Wrecker to catch you by the elbow and tug you into his lap, teetering on his thigh, with a hand at the small of your back.

You twisted in your spot to smile at Wrecker, who was looking unexpectedly bashful. “What’s all this?” They boys had only recently started toeing past physical boundaries, this was a bit of a jump for them. Further trying to dissipate the tension, you rocked into Wrecker with your hip. “Scared of sleeping alone suddenly?”

Wrecker swallowed hard, his eyes darting briefly to his brothers as if seeking support or reassurance.

Maintaining a polite, albeit confused, smile you followed his line of sight.. While Tech kept his nose in his datapad, Crosshair stepped up next to Hunter, prompting the Sergeant to step forward and take a knee in front of you.

Hunter's gaze was heavy as he took a deep breath, then slowly lifted his eyes to meet yours. The intensity there caused you to catch and hold your breath, something going taut between you.

"We've been thinking," Hunter began, his voice cautious, as if testing the waters. His hand gently came to rest over your knee, his touch causing you to straighten instinctively, pressing you further into Wrecker’s lap. Until then, you had almost forgotten your position with Wrecker, but his large hand then settled more firmly around your waist.

The dual sensation of their touches sent a shiver through you, a subtle tremble that Wrecker evidently felt too, eliciting a soft, strained noise from him.

“There’s something we’d like to do for you.” Hunter smiled, his hand sliding north of your knee.

You went stock still, eyes blown wide as Hunter leaned in. You shot a look at Crosshair to find him twirling a toothpick between his fingers with a satisfied smile. Next to him, Tech caught your eyes. Where Hunter’s eyes had stilled you, Tech’s thrilled you. You were happy to be seated with Wrecker, because having Tech’s full attention made you feel weak.

“What’s that?” You asked, voice just above a whisper, as you broke away from Tech to find Hunter still watching you. You heart jumped into your throat when Hunter’s thumb smoothed over your inner thigh.

“Have you ever thought about-” Hunter paused, clearing his throat to cover up his hesitation. Slowly and calmly he started again, “Have you ever thought about spending the night with us?”

“I already-”

“Think a little harder.” Crosshair cut you off with an amused tune. Your eyes snapped to Crosshair and, somehow, the arrogance in his stance filled you in on Hunter’s meaning. Heat flared through you, flushing your face so quickly you knew even your ears were red. 

On more than one occasion you’d found release lost in the fantasy of being the center of their attention. Every time you witnessed them sans armor you had to manually breathe through professionalism.

Again you looked to Hunter, pulling your bottom lip between your teeth with a slow nod. Hunter dipped his head, hiding the way his smile widened. Barely lifting his head, he chuffed and followed up with, “Would you like to spend tonight with us?” 

You were able to swallow the whine in your throat enough to nod another affirmative. Hunter opened his mouth but was interrupted by Tech.

“That will not suffice.” Both you and Hunter looked to Tech for clarification. Tech adjusted his goggles but shook his head. “If this is something you want, you will need to agree to what we are asking verbally.” Your legs squeezed together at Tech’s stern tone.

You felt Hunter’s gaze shift back to you, but you eyes were trained on Tech. A smile, wobbly and excited, fluttered over your lips. “Yes,” Heat pooled between your legs, you squirmed in Wrecker’s lap, and you said. “I want to spend the night the night with you guys.”

Wrecker’s other hand found your side, firming his grip to hold you in place. He laughed through his nerves, “Watch it with that.”

Suddenly, you became very aware of where you were seated in his lap. Pushed back over his knee, just an inch or so from his crotch. If you twisted even the slightest you’d pressed him. With intent, you carefully turned into him to offer a smile. As Wrecker groaned against the pressure of your leg you offered a half-assed apology. 

Wrecker took one look at you and crashed his lips into yours. A moment of shock hit you before your started moving against him, melting into the feel of his tongue against yours. When Wrecker leaned you back and deepened the kiss, a little needy noise escaped you 

It was enough for Crosshair to kick Wrecker’s foot.  “Ease up.” Crosshair. Wrecker did indeed ease up, breaking the kiss and leaving you dazed and panting in his eyes.

“Sorry,” He chuckled, lifting a thumb to wipe your lips dry. “Got a lil excited there.”

All you could manage was a hum as he righted you in his lap. Hunter tilted his head back, his smile turning into a challe, “You sure wanna do this?”

You answered by sliding from Wrecker’s knee onto his, slipping your arms around his neck, and stopping just as your lips hovered over his. Lightly squeezing his thigh between yours, you said on a breath. “I’ll only say it once more. I want this.” Grinding onto him, you added. “Badly.”

Catching his lips in a slow kiss, you moved with his hands as they found your hips and pressed you harder onto his knee. With every brush of your clit against him, an ache, hot and desperate, grew in your core. The sound of shuffling armor only reached you as Hunter tapped your thigh, easing you back into reality. “Let’s get you out of those clothes.”

Eager to continue as quickly as possible, you bounced off of Hunter’s knee to make quick work of your attire. By the time you were down to your underthings they were all down to their blacks in some way. Tech’s was still zipped up, Crosshair and Hunter had theirs stripped to the waist, and Wrecker was stepping out of his. 

Just the sight of them fully dressed was enough to fluster you, finally seeing them bare made you feel downright feral. 

Wrecker stepped over to you, his already erect cock swaying with him. Your mouth went dry at his size, though it was fitting for a man of his stature. He tilted his head with a grin and gestured for the bunk behind you.

As you sat, you came face to face with his massive member before he dropped to a knee. The idea of taking him first, after not having anyone for a long time, thrilled you as much as it intimidated you. A warm body pressed against your back as a pair of long legs, still dressed in black, appeared on either side of you.

Wrecker hooked his fingers into your panties and pulled them off as Tech, in a low tone, said into your ear, “He’s going to warm you up.” 

The chill his voice sent through you hit at the same time Wrecker’s tongue slid over you. Arching into Tech, you whined as Wrecker picked up a steady pace of long flat licks that ended with covering your clit with his mouth. 

Tech wormed a hand between your bodies to discard your bra and give him access to your chest. Gloved hands cupped around your breasts, gently tracing the shape of them before rolling your nipples between his fingers.

Your entire body tensed as Tech played with your nipples. From between your legs, Wrecker chuckled as he slid his middle finger into you, “Oh, she likes that.” The ache Hunter had ignited grew as Wrecker kissed and sucked on your clit while working his finger into you.

“Is it true that you enjoy this?” Tech asked, applying more pressure as you writhed against him.

“Yes,” You barely managed to pant as you quickly reached your peak. “I do, I do, I-”

As you tightened around Wrecker’s finger, he suddenly broke away from you, leaving you empty and at the painful edge of release. “Not yet.” Wrecker left a kiss on your inner thigh as you grabbed to pull him back, only stopped by Tech holding you against him.

“Not yet.” Tech repeated sternly, again stilling you with his voice in your ear.

Wrecker stood as Tech slid out from behind you. Wrecker took his place, positioning you on top of his lap to spread your knees with his. Taking his finger, still wet with you, he traced your slit all the way to your ass. You were starting to tense at the sensation when Wrecker cooed as he slid his finger into you. “Don’t worry, I gotcha.”

Spread wide as Wrecker fingered you, Hunter could see how badly you ached to be filled. With each stroke of Wrecker’s finger, you visibly clenched. Hunter finally released the length of him when you pressed a hand over your mouth to restrain a moan.

Crosshair stepped in to pull your hand away, letting the tail end of your noises loose. “They could hear.” You whined louder than you wanted.

Crosshair held your face in his hand, angling you to face him. With a hand braced on the top bunk, Crosshair leaned down to your eye level. Sucking on a tooth, he smirked as his eyes roamed your writhing form. Meeting your gaze again he gave you a gentle shake as he practically purred, “Then let’s give them something to listen to.”

He’d distracted you enough that Hunter’s sliding into between your legs startled you. Crosshair released your face when Hunter’s cock made contact with you. You leaned forward for a glimpse of him. His swollen head slid over you until he brushed up passed your clit. Precum leaked from him and slid down to mix with your own wetness. Hunter traced you a few times before he tipped your chin up. 

Lined up with you, Hunter asked, “Ready?” Wrecker buried his finger in you as they both waited for your answer.

“Hunter, please.” You quickly whined, bracing your hand on his shoulders, truly desperate to be filled with him.

Hunter leaned in and rolled his hips into you, slowly breaching you until he was completely inside. “You feel,” Huntered groaned, “So good.” As he started pulling out, Wrecker timed his fingers with him. 

Standing within reach of you, Crosshair pulled himself free of his blacks as he watched on. Your attention only pulled away from where you and Hunter were joined when you caught sight of Crosshair stroking himself.

Your noises grew in volume as the Hunter and Wrecker filled you over and over. Only a few strokes in and your toes were already curlling. Feeling your sudden grip, Hunter fully sheathed himself in you as Wrecker left you empty.

“You good?” Hunter asked in a strained voice as he throbbed within you.

You nodded, a blissful smile flashing over you. “Really good.” 

Beneath you, Wrecker squirmed to reposition himself, even raising you out of his way as he did. You heard Wrecker spit but couldn’t tell what on. Hunter pulled you against him for support as Wrecker pressed up against your ass and slid over its entrance. You tried to whip around but Hunter held you firm. 

Pressing a kiss into your neck, Hunter mumbled, “Tell us to stop and we will.”

While Wrecker waited, throbbing against you, Hunter lightly rocked his hips, moving just enough to rub into your cervix. You watched Crosshair’s head angle to get a view of your ass, then your heaving chest, before settling back on your eyes. He continued stroking himself, smirk growing as a needy expression flooded you. 

You swallowed hard when precum spilled out of Crosshair’s cock. “Keep going.” You moaned, granting Wrecker the permission to pull you down onto him. Your body went taught when the flare of his glans pushed past your threshold. Inhaling, you whined and waited for more of Wrecker.

You only waited a second longer before you were grinding yourself over him, not only taking more of Wrecker but grinding farther onto Hunter. “That’s a good girl.” Wrecker sighed happily as he leaned back on one hand and supported your ass as you moved over him. 

The two of them had you completely filled, stretching you in a way that made you see stars. You knew you’d never be the same after feeling this. Hunter angled your hips enough that each thrust pushed into your G-spot. Each of their thrusts had you whimpering louder as you felt the ache in your core tighten.

Giving your ass cheek a firm grasp, Wrecker’s head fall back in ecstacy. It took everything in him to not move faster and push harder into you. He wanted to feel you make you come completely undone around him, break apart for him even, but he sat back and let you pleasure yourself on him.

Eyes still on Crosshair, you extended an open hand to him, urging him closer. The sniper snorted but obliged you, giving you full access to his body. Resting back on Wrecker, you let Hunter take over the rhythm as you pulled Crosshair closer. 

Swiping a thumb over Crosshair’s slit, his precum spilled over you. Crosshair ran a hand over your hair and around to your jawline. “Of course that’s not enough for you,” Crosshair mused. His cock, thick in your hand, had a small patch of silver hair at its base you brushed as you pumped your hand over him.

Each deliberate move of your hand challenged Crosshair’s composure. He clenched his jaw to hide the pleasure he felt. His resolve cracked as his eyes fluttered and he leaned in to your grasp.

The rare sight of Crosshair’s softened features made you whimper and writhe in Hunter’s hold. Your tightening grip rushed Hunter to his limit. He rested his forehead in the crook of your neck. “Mesh’la, keep doing that and I won’t last much longer.” 

Allowing himself a few shallow thrusts, Wrecker groaned, “I’m right there too.” He’d barely gotten the words out when Wrecker groaned loudly, pumping hard into you as he throbbed and lost control.

Hunter picked up his pace until he quickly pulled out and, a second later, coated you in cum. His hips kept rocking against you, rubbing over your clit and fueling the ache in your core. “Right there, right there.” You encouraged him as he kept moving over you until completely emptied himself. 

With Wrecker still throbbing inside you, paired with the sudden pressure on your clit, your orgasm hit you hard. It wracked your body until your legs quivered. Fucked into an euphoric state, you leaned towards Crosshair, still aching for pleasure. You’d never dreamt this would be a reality and you were quickly becoming greedy. 

“Easy now,” Wrecker murmured and, as gently as he could, eased out of you. Without him and Hunter, you felt emptier than ever before. 

Hunter scooted back enough to sit back on his knees, panting and pushing his hair back out of his face. He watched as Wrecker pressed a kiss to your shoulder and helped you crawl over his legs to face Crosshair.

Prying your mouth open with a thumb, Crosshair hummed down to you, “If you want a taste, you better do it quickly.” A chill ran down your spine as Crosshair pulled you by your mouth, guiding you to the tip of his cock. 

You stuck your tongue out to swirl around his head. He hissed as you eagerly took him into your mouth, bobbing over him and swiping your tongue side to side as you did. As promised, Crosshair only allowed you a small taste of him before pulling you off him.

He knelt to your eye level, crouching on the balls of his feet, to ask, “Do you want more?” 

Your brows pulled together and a lazy smile lifted your lips. “I want you, Crosshair.”

Crosshair stilled for a moment, something striking a chord in him. His eyes quickly scanned yours before he caught your lips in a fast, hurried kiss. He broke the kiss just enough to murmur against your lips, “On your knees.”

The sniper helped you to your feet and got you onto the neighboring bunk. He guided you onto your hands and knees, facing his brothers. There was no teasing nor dragging out the moment. No, Crosshair immediately lined himself up with you, leaned over to cage you in his arms, and whispered, “I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.” 

In one smooth thrust, Crosshair buried himself inside of you, immediately taking up a steady pace as he fucked you into the bunk. Crosshair draped himself over you, sneaking a hand around you and right to the apex of your thighs. 

“Incoming.” Tech chimed from across the room. 

Crosshair held you in place as the barracks door swooshed open and Echo walked in. A drop of panic hit your stomach when Echo’s sweeping look found you. Confused, horror overtook the cyborg and as he hurried over.

Nearly stumbling over Hunter, still regaining his composure on the floor, Echo ripped around to you. “Crosshair, what do you think you are doing?!”

Crosshair pushed off of you, straightening to posture over you and face Echo. Using your hips as leverage, Crosshair slowed his pace and confidently answered, “Whatever what she wants.”

Echo’s expression went stunned as he knelt in front of you. Slightly dazed, flushed, and cum covered, you tucked your face into the mattress in a rush of embarrassment. Still, you whined each time Crosshair’s hips hit yours. 

Echo reached a concerned hand out, encouraging you to lift yourself again. His eyes searched yours, but you were too far gone to do anything but reach for the man in front of you. You ran your hand as far down Echo’s torso as you could and turned to press a kiss into his palm. “Echo.” His name came out on a moan that brought heat to his cheeks. 

“Looks like there is something else she wants.” Crosshair chuckled behind you. He leaned back over you, bringing his mouth to your ear but holding Echo’s stare. “Why don’t you tell Echo what you want?”

You could barely think through Crosshair’s relentless thrusting and the rhythm of his fingers. “Echo.” His eyes slid to you to catch you kissing his hand again. “I want to taste you.” Licking the length of his hand, you wrapped your mouth around his forefinger.

Echo had been growing hard from the moment he saw your bare skin until the softness of your mouth got him instantly hard. Glancing between you, Echo kept an eye on the hand still reaching for him and slowly brought his hips to meet your touch.

As you pried off his codpiece with one hand, Echo assisted in pulling himself out of his underlayer. 

You pulled Echo by his thigh so that he overshadowed your face. Starting at his base, where his balls met his shaft, you flattened your tongue and ran it up the length of him. Reaching his tip, you steadied him with your hand. 

Echo mumbled under a grunt as you moved your mouth over him, “Oh, stars.” 

The taste of Echo narrowed your focus on him, seeking to hear his pleasure. When Crosshair heard your own muffled moans, felt them with his chest against your back, he lifted off you. He traced a finger down your spine, feeling you arch into his touch as he went.

Echo was still adjusting to the reality he’d walked into when you started working your hand in tandom with your mouth. His hand flew to your head, his fingers threading into your hair. He couldn’t help himself as he kept his hand firm and met your rhythm with his own. You slackened into him as he pushed against the back of your throat.

The way you twitched around Crosshair, pulled a moan from him. Sensing your little struggle as you tried to take more of Echo, Crosshair again reached for your clit. “Relax.” He whispered as his hand made lazy circles around you.

Sliding off of Echo you swallowed and looked up to find him watching you with wide eyes and mouth slightly open. You didn’t look away as you opened wider and took him into your mouth. With a deep breath you relaxed as best you could and pushed him to the back of your throat. Moaning around him you pressed on until you felt him squeeze down your throat.

A moan, breathless and low, finally escaped Echo and he held you fast against him. The sounds you’d worked so hard for twisted that familiar ache in your core. Your eyes watered against the pressure as his cock twitched in your throat. You tasted him spilling inside you as he came undone. 

Crosshair grunted, shuddering as you clenched down on him. Unwilling to finish before you did, Crosshair focused his touch on your clit into light, fast strokes.

You tapped Echo repeatedly until he pulled his softening cock out of you. Gasping for air your fell onto your elbows, head hanging over the side of the bunk. Face down, ass up you sounded on the verge of tears as you warbled, “Cross, I can’t. I’m gonna-”

His thrusts become long, slow, and angled right into the soft spot inside you. “Go on then.” Crosshair urged you on. “We all want to hear you.”

The low tone of his voice finished you. Your eyes rolled back and you cried out as you lost yourself in Crosshair’s hold. He continued pushing you through your release as long as he could until Crosshair had to pull out. Gripping your hips tight, he thrust one final time against you and sent ropes of his cum down your back. In the throws of his own pleasure, his groans matched yours in volume.

It took a few moments for your both to settle back into the present. Your legs were so weak that you were at Crosshair’s mercy to keep you upright. He felt you relax and sag into his him, prompting him to gently lay you to rest on your side. He brushed your hair out of your face, letting you look up at him without moving your head.

He watched you pant a second longer, swallowed and asked, “You okay?”

A little smile came to you. You coughed out an affirmative hum, and warmly croaked, “More than okay.”

Echo came around to your side, looking over you with concern. “What can we do?”

“Relax.” Hunter, already half dressed, came behind Echo and gestured casually towards another area. “Tech’s on it.” His gaze softened as he smiled down at you over Echo’s shoulder. “You really are something.”

His praise sent a wave of warmth through you, though you could only muster a pleasant hum in response, your energy still recovering.

“Tech’s gonna help you get cleaned up. That okay with you?” Hunter waved someone, presumably Tech, over. 

Taking a deep breath, you raised onto your elbow. Tech was indeed inbound carrying some supplies and still full dressed. Suddenly you felt as bare as you were. You couldn’t look away, but gave Hunter the nod he and Crosshair needed to step away.

“C’mon boys, let’s give her some privacy.”

Echo looked you over once more, nodded and followed his brothers lead.

Soon it was just you and Tech in the quiet. For most of what happened, you’d lost track of Tech. Who had, by the looks of it, had steered completely clear of the scene.

Tech settled down next to you, placing a stack of necessities beside your head—clothes, towels, all topped with a bowl of water. You pushed yourself up to a sitting position with one hand, inspecting the items he had brought. “Thank you,” you mumbled shyly, the simple kindness in his preparation bringing some softness you very much needed.

“Sit up.” Tech instructed as he brought the water closer. You followed his order, positioning yourself with your back slightly turned. Looking over your shoulder, you watched Tech dip a small towl in the water before bringing it to your shoulder.

The towel was cool against your flushed skin. Jumping you said through a chill, “That’s cold, Tech.”

“You do not want warm water for this.” Tech said matter-of-factly. “Heat will denature the proteins in the se-”

“Oh! I didn’t know that.” You said quickly, cutting him off while also doing terrible job at covering your embarassment.

Tech rotated between wiping your back and ringing out the towel. When silence again fell over you, Tech asked softly. “Are you in any pain?”

You thought for a moment, doing a mental sweep of your body, and replied, “No, I’m okay.” You squeezed your eyes shut hearing yourself stuttering your words.

Tech immediately questioned you again, “Are you having regrets?”

You flinched to turn around, but kept your back to him. “No.” You replied softly. It went quiet again as Tech did a final swipe of your back.

“Now turn around.” Tech swapped out the towel for a fresh one as you slowly turned to face him. 

Again, Tech dampened the cloth and brought it to your skin, the cool touch hitching your breath. As his hands carefully wiped your skin, he observed your slow, controlled breathing. His eyes darted to yours. 

“You are uncharacteristically silent.” Tech noted bluntly with no follow up theory as to why.

Shoving your nerves to a manageable level, you blurted out, “Why didn’t you join?”

Tech’s hand stilled, but he kept your gaze for a beat. Moving to dampen the towel, he followed it with his eyes. He shrugged, saying, “Not really my thing.”

Your stomach dropped at his simple dismissal. Under your breath you said, “Oh.” 

You kept watching Tech as he brought the towel back to your chest. When it came time to wipe your breast, Tech found your gaze again. He flattened his hand under the cloth and ran his whole hand over your breast, his thumb catching on your nipple.

A brazen surg hit you and you pushed, “So, I’m not really your thing?”

Tech pulled back slightly with his hand wiping you. Raising a brow he asked cautiously, “My thing?”

Despite slightly regretting your line of questioning, your fingers fidgeted together as you clarified, “As in, you’re not interested in being with me.”

His wariness faded as he focused back on his work, again rinsing the towel. “That… is not entirely accurate.” He lowered the towel down between your breasts to your stomach. He wore a cocky smile as he said, “Besides, something such as after care requires a more delicate touch.”

You caught his hand before he made it to your navel. “Then what would be entirely accurate?”

Tech looked up through his goggles, his lip pulling to the side as he weighed what to say next. He wanted to make sure he was indeed being entirely accurate as he confessed, “I’m not interested in being with you in the company of others.”

His insinuation caught you off guard. Sitting a little more upright, your angled your head for a better view of those brown eyes. “So… you do want me?”

Tech’s head sagged slightly as he deadpanned. “Well, of course I do.” In your surprise, you released Tech’s hand and allowed him to finish wiping you down.

Steeling yourself against the warmth following his touch, you prodded further, “What if it was just you and I?”

Missing the subtlety behind you question, Tech simply replied, “That would be different for me.”

“It’s just you and I now, Tech,” You reminded him, voice barely above a whisper.

He was mid rinse when he heard you. The thought caused him to pause only for a moment before he wrung the towel out and turned back to you. Tech didn’t move to touch you. Instead, he muttered, “I did consider that, but I was not certain such an arrangment would interest you.”

Unable to let the chance pass, you grabbed Tech’s wrist again and flat out admitting, “It very much interests me.”

His attention fell to your hold on him for a moment. Gently he pulled out of your hand, moving the cool towel between your legs. Leaning closer as the fabric met your skin, Tech asked, “Does it interest you right now?”

“Well, of course it does.” You repeated his words in an impression of him. He hadn’t anticipated the sudden playfulness in your voice, but it brought a small smile to Tech.

Carefully, he wiped you clean, noting the movement in your face as he found every sensitive bit. When he was satisifed with his work, Tech set all the items he brought on the floor. He sat in front of you, one leg over the side of the bunk, and adjusted his goggles as he took in the full view of you. “You are beautiful," He marveled.

You got to your knees and scooted closer. With bated breath you asked what you've wanted to for weeks, “Can I kiss you?”

Tech blinked once, then twice before responding, “Given the circumstances, that wouldn’t be unwarranted.” There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice that forced a smile from you.

Your reaction pulled a mirrored smile from Tech that had crawling into his lap. With no restraint, you moved in to kiss him. Pecking him with feverish kisses, Tech quickly relaxed into your rhythm to deepen the sensation. It seemed he'd been waiting just as long as you.

His hands slid around to your back and tugged you against him. You held Tech’s face in your hands and ran your tongue across his bottom lip. It took little coaxing for Tech to give you access to his mouth, eagerly meeting your tongue with his.

You sat intertwined, blissfully lost in the taste of each other and comfortable in each other’s hold. Tech hardened beneath you and the angle your were sat on Tech had your crotch directly against his. The realization hit you both at the same time as started moving against one another.

The friction of his blacks made the pressure between your legs that much more mind numbing. Moaning into your kiss, you retreated a fraction with Tech chasing your lips. “Get out of this.” You managed to say.

Tech straightened himself while keeping you in his lap and his mouth on yours. Without breaking away from you, he peeled out of his blacks. Only when he couldn’t budge them farther did Tech pull away. You both were desperate for air, but more desperate for each other.

Dodging Tech’s hands, you helped him the rest of the way out of the clothing and hurried back into his lap. Tech leaned back against the bed post when you were saddled on top of him. With Tech’s assistance you raised yourself over him. The natural curve of his cock allowed you to line up with him without your hands. 

You tried to lower yourself, but Tech’s hand on your ass held you in place. “May I record this?”

Without question you nodded. After he tapped the side of his goggles, he returned your nod and released his hold on you. 

As soon as he eased up you sunk onto him. The sudden fullness of him immediately brightening your smile. Tech firmed his grip on your back, pulling you and your clit against his abdomen. “I’d like you to start slow.”

You gave in to his request, supporting yourself on his shoulders as you patiently rolled your hips. He had you pressed against him in a way that constantly stimulated you, sending more warmth between your legs. When he felt what it did to you, heard his name on your tongue, he started moving beneath you, saying almost in warning, “I’m going to move faster.”

Tech was stronger than you'd imagined, effortlessly sliding you over him and thrusting into you from below. The pace at which you moved against each other, completely intertwined, quickly sent you into delirium. He pressed against you in every way, against the walls of your pussy and the ache in your clit. By the grip you had on Tech, there was no hiding your rising ecstasy.

“That-” Tech grunted out, leaning you further so you were completely against him. “Must feel good.” His tone was confident, arrogant even and it made you want to fuck him until he couldn’t speak.

Still, your new position gave Tech the leverage he needed to find your G-spot. As he grazed it, you cried out his name, encouraging him to maintain that specific angle. “Tech! Keep going right there, please.” Your encouragement ended in pleading.

Doing exactly as you asked, Tech held you in place and drilled into you. Keeping a careful, steady rhythm that in moments took you right to the edge of an orgasm and shoved you right over.

You couldn’t speak as you shook in Tech’s arms. Every inch of you quaked as a softer wave of heat spread through you. Lolling against Tech, he held you close and he rocked you both forward.

Still seated inside you, Tech rested you onto your back with your legs hooked behind him. Turning your cheek with a kiss, Tech exposed your neck. He pumped into you while he trailed kisses to your ear.

“This is the only way I’ll have you.” Tech purred into your ear. You locked your ankles and pulled Tech deeper inside you. Tech noticably throbbed and chuckled softly, “That is not going to help me last.”

You used your legs as leverage to move over him, humming, “Good, I don’t want you to.”

Tech pulled back to flash you smirk. “In that case…” He rested a elbow by your head, held you by your waist and pulled out to thrust back into you. “I’m already close. You need to tell me where you want me.”

Feeling him deep inside you made it an easy decision. You pressed him with another kiss as you said, “Inside.”

Tech rocked hard into you, thoroughly filling you as he came inside you. The two of you settled into each other, spent and panting through mutual trembling. 

“Well,” Tech took a deep breath and pushed up over you. “Let’s get cleaned up.”

After all the heat died down and you were all in fresh clothes, you laid out on your cot with an arm over your eyes. In their respective cots, Crosshair and Echo lounged on the edge of sleep while Wrecker and Hunter and Tech were quietly chatting.

Before the night ended you had one last relentless question.

Popping up on an elbow, you looked towars the still awake men. “Hunter?” You singled out the leader. Once you caught his eye you asked, “What caused all that?” The silence that fell pulled a suspicious smile from you.

With his back to you, Crosshair snorted, broadening your smile. You laughed and asked again, “What?” 

Wrecker groaned, rolling his head back. “It was the regs.”

Echo immediately perked up, twisting to exchange a look with you. “What about them?” Echo asked warily.

Hunter sighed, “Jesse told us about how they used to…” He took a deep breath and rolled his hand as he continued, “Make you happy, let’s say.”

“And Echo knew.” Wrecker grumbled.

“Wait-” You and Echo tried interjecting, but Tech cut in.

“Not to mention you said how you wouldn’t get any sleep with them.”

When the dots connected for you, you covered your mouth, hung open, with a hand but couldn’t back the laugh that bubbled out of you. 

From his cot, Echo covered his face with a groan, “Oh, no.”

Even Crosshair now sat up, exchanging confused looks with Tech, Wrecker, and Hunter.

Crosshair glanced at you and with an annoyed undertone he asked, “What?” He clearly did not like being on the outside of whatever you and Echo knew.

You shook your head and couldn’t fully answer through your laughter. “I never…”

Echo waved his prosthetic in the direction of the wall shared with the 501st. “We never did any of that. Jesse was just getting under your skin.” He groaned again, looking upwards and  begging the Force for help. Gesturing in your direction he added, “And we wouldn’t get any sleep because they’d never stop yapping.”

You took deep breaths to settle down as Crosshair started chuckling. 

“In retrospect, that is the more plausible option.” Tech said, shocked Jesse got the better of him. 

Collapsing on your bunk, you called out warmly, “For the record, I am much happier as a part of this squad.”

Crosshair got the last word in, scoffing the last of his humor away, “Better be.”

taglist: @bruh-myguy-what @baddest-batchers @psychrebel I hope specifically hope this makes you happy

[nahoney22]

Congrats on 4500 followers!!! You’ve come so far and I feel so blessed whenever you’re writing blesses my feed ❤️

May I please request the bad batch and any other clone(s) of your choice learning that the reader (gender neutral) has a bunch of tattoos and they didn’t know because reader is always covered? Perhaps they find out when reader gets injured, or they walk in on reader changing, maybe things get spicy…Could be nsfw, sfw, or anything in between, your choice!

Have an absolutely wonderful day and may your writing grow and flourish!

Tattoo’s***🌊

🫧 All The Bad Batch Boys, Fives & Rex X Gender Neutral!Reader

How the Bad Batch Boys including Rex and Fives react to you having tattoo’s.

warnings: Some are safe for work and others are quite spicy so there is a 18+ warning. Gender neutral reader, tattooed reader, kisses, touchy-feely, flirting, accidental voyeurism, some friends to lovers, friends with benefits, strip poker, nudity, neck biting and kissing, some flustered clones and reader.

a/n: sorry for the wait @ihavemanychickens, hope this is okay. And thanks @probadbatch for the strip poker idea 🔥 🩵🫧

Echo

"Take a seat here; I’ll grab the medkit," Echo ordered as soon as you stepped onto the ship, guiding you to lean against a nearby crate.

You had taken a minor hit—a blaster bolt grazing your calf. The pain was sharp, but you were certain it wasn't anything serious.

As you lowered yourself onto the crate with a wince, you rolled up your pant leg to inspect the wound—a deep graze, but nothing too alarming.

Echo approached, kneeling in front of you. "Let’s have a look."

You appreciated his quick response and care, but you noticed his gaze lingering on your leg. "Is everything okay?" you asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh, yeah. Sorry," he replied quickly, shaking off his distraction as he retrieved some bacta spray. "I just didn't know you had tattoos."

You paused, realising this might be the first time any of the Batch had seen more of your skin beyond your hands and face. You weren't exactly in the habit of undressing in front of them. "I thought I mentioned it before."

"Not to me," Echo chuckled, carefully applying the spray. He winced sympathetically when you did, apologising as he dressed and bandaged the wound. "I think I would have remembered."

You shrugged casually. "I've had them for a while. Planning to add more, actually." You smiled as he stood, taking one last look at your leg before rolling the fabric back down.

"Oh yeah? Got any ideas?" he asked, genuinely curious despite lacking any ink himself.

You began to list off a few ideas, and as you did, you noticed how interested he seemed. "What about you?" you asked as you carefully hopped off the crate, putting minimal pressure on your leg. "Ever thought about getting one?"

He considered it for a moment before shaking his head. "Not really my thing, but they look really good on you."

"Thanks, Echo," you replied, touched by his compliment. He even appeared flustered by his own choice of words. "I’m pretty much covered. I could show you some more sometime?"

You meant it innocently, but the thought of Echo seeing more of your tattoos, and thus more of you, froze both of you in place. His wide eyes mirrored your own as you both stumbled over your words, trying to recover. Fortunately, a transmission started to come through, saving you from further awkwardness.

Who knows, maybe one day you would show him more.

Hunter

“Hey, have you seen my—?” Hunter’s words died in his throat as he stepped onto the Marauder, not expecting to find you in a state of partial undress.

Your back was to him, revealing tattoos that he hadn't known were there. He’d seen the small ones around your ankles before, but this was different. This was...a lot more.

You turned quickly, eyes wide as you grabbed your shirt to cover yourself. Hunter cleared his throat, awkwardly tapping his hand against the ship's wall. "Sorry, I, uh, I should’ve knocked."

"Don’t worry about it," you replied, trying to downplay the situation. "What were you looking for?"

Hunter blinked, trying to recall what he had come for. "I was looking for...you know what? It doesn’t matter." He chuckled, attempting to break the tension. "I didn’t realise you had so many tattoos."

"Oh," you started, feeling a slight flush of heat creep into your cheeks. "Yeah, my back has the most. My legs and arms are pretty much bare."

"And the ones on your ankles," he added, a small smile playing on his lips.

You nodded with a grin. "And the ones on my ankles."

An odd silence settled between you, both unsure of what to say next. You leaned against one of the consoles, watching him as he seemed to look everywhere but at you. "Do you have more than one tattoo?" you asked, pointing to your face where his was on his own.

"Just the one. But it’s, uh, bigger than you’d think."

"It is?" you asked, genuinely surprised.

"It goes all the way down to my hip," he revealed casually, his tone as smooth as ever.

Your eyes widened. How had you never known that? Then again, you both had your secrets. "Really? That’s...cool." Without thinking, you added, "I’d love to see it."

Hunter’s eyes met yours, a spark of interest in his gaze. "I could show you if you want."

You nodded, trying to act nonchalant as your heart rate picked up. You watched as he began to peel off his shirt, revealing his tanned, toned, and muscular build. Your eyes traced over the intricate design of his tattoo as it spread down his ribcage, disappearing into the waistband of his pants. You couldn’t lie, the sight of him stripping his clothes off to show you what he had hidden did something to you… it was literally impossible to focus on anything else.

"Well?" Hunter asked, a teasing grin on his face as he caught you staring. Even worse, you were even biting your lip as you practically drooled over him. You sincerely hope he didn’t hear the way your heart thundered in your chest but you doubt it.

You swallowed, managing a small smile as you met his gaze. "It’s...impressive," you said, voice soft but genuine.

Hunter chuckled, pulling his shirt back on, though the heat between you lingered. "Thanks. Maybe next time, we can compare."

"Maybe," you replied, trying to sound casual, but the way your pulse raced suggested this was a moment you wouldn’t soon forget.

Wrecker

"Headed to the gym? Mind if I join ya?" Wrecker asked, catching you mid-motion as you pulled on your workout shoes. Being back on Kamino meant access to some of the best training facilities, and you weren't about to pass that up.

You glanced up and nodded. "Yeah, sure. Want me to wait for you?"

"Nah, no need. I'll meet you there. Gotta finish up something first," Wrecker replied, already eager to start lifting.

You smiled and headed off to the gym. You started with an intense cardio session, like usual, working up a sweat quickly. The heat made you shrug off your jacket, leaving you in your training tank top. As you moved on to weights, you focused on your form, muscles tensing and relaxing with each rep.

A little while later, Wrecker strolled into the gym, ready to go. He stalls as he noticed you lifting, your body glistening with sweat, muscles working in sync—and the tattoos.

His eyes widened at the sight; he’d never seen so many on you before. He knew you had some but not to this extent. Watching you move, the way your inked skin flexed with every rep, stirred something in him. And in his pants that seemed to get oppressively tighter.

You caught his gaze in the mirror, noticing the way he was staring. Turning to face him, you raised an eyebrow. "What’s got your attention?"

He blinked, flustered at being caught. "Uh, nothin'! Just, uh... your tattoos! Didn’t know ya had that many.”

You chuckled, setting the weights down. "Yeah, most people don’t notice unless I’m dressed down like this." You took a step closer, giving him a playful smile. "Like what you see?" You ask with your hands on your hips.

Wrecker swallowed, clearly caught off guard by your forwardness, but he wasn’t about to back down. "Y-Yeah! I mean, they look... really good. You look really good," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck as he met your eyes.

You grinned, pleased by his reaction. "Thanks. It’s nice to know they get some appreciation." You paused for a moment, your eyes locking with his. "Ever thought about getting one yourself?"

Wrecker laughed, his sudden nerves easing a bit. "Me? Nah, I dunno if I could sit still that long.” And then he takes a bolt of courage. “But maybe I could get used to seeing 'em on you."

The flirtation in his tone wasn’t lost on you, and you felt a spark of excitement. "Well, maybe you should keep coming to the gym with me then. Could be good motivation for both of us."

His grin widened, the tension between you warm but playful. "I think I just might. Gotta keep an eye on those tattoos... and make sure you're not skippin' leg day," he teased, eyes twinkling with a mix of amusement and interest as his eyes roamed your body.

You chuckled, giving him a playful nudge as you picked up your weights again. "You do that, Wrecker."

As you continued your workout, you could feel his gaze lingering on you, the atmosphere charged with a new energy. It seemed like these gym sessions were about to get a lot more interesting.

Tech

You crouched beside Tech, helping him with a particularly intricate wiring task on the Marauder. The fabric of your gloves proved too cumbersome, so you slipped them off, deciding your bare hands would offer better precision.

As you worked, Tech glanced over, his eyes narrowing as he noticed something new—delicate, intricate tattoos on your fingers. He hadn’t noticed them before, and the sight of them seemed to capture his full attention.

“I was not aware you had tattoos,” he said, a note of surprise in his voice. Without thinking, he gently took your hand in his, turning it slightly to get a better look. Tech wasn’t typically one for physical touch, so this unexpected action caught you slightly off guard.

You blinked, feeling a warmth rise to your cheeks as he inspects you like data. "Yeah, they’re easy to miss, I guess," you replied, feeling your heart race a little faster.

Tech’s thumb brushed over one of the designs, his touch both curious and reverent. “Tattoos can be meaningful,” he began, his voice taking on that familiar tone of fascination. “The process, the permanence, the cultural significance… all of it is so intriguing. Did you know—” He cut himself off, his eyes meeting yours as he took a deep breath. “What I really mean to say is I have always found you attractive, but this-these tattoos- they just add to it.”

His confession left you momentarily speechless. "You find me attractive?" you asked, needing to hear it again to believe it.

Tech nodded, his grip on your hand firm yet gentle. “Yes. I have for some time now. I find myself even more drawn to you.”

You felt your breath hitch, his words sinking in and making your pulse quicken. "I have more, you know," you said softly, a playful edge to your voice. "If you’re interested in seeing them… maybe somewhere more comfortable?"

A flicker of excitement passed through Tech’s eyes, and he gave you a small, genuine smile. "I would like that."

You stood, leading him to a quieter corner of the ship. As you removed your jacket, revealing more of the intricate tattoos on your arms, Tech’s gaze followed every movement, his expression full of admiration.

“May I?” he asked softly, his hands hovering just above your skin.

You nodded, feeling a thrill as his fingers traced the designs on your arms. His touch was light, sending shivers through you. "There are more on my legs," you added, your voice barely above a whisper. "But I’d have to take off my pants to show you."

Tech swallowed, his gaze meeting yours with an intensity that made your knees weak. "I would love to see them," he replied, his voice huskier than before.

With a small smile, you slowly undid your pants, sliding them down to reveal the tattoos on your legs. Tech’s eyes widened slightly, his admiration for your body art clear in his expression.

"You’re incredible," he murmured, his hands resting on your thighs, fingers tracing the designs with care. The warmth of his touch and the weight of his words made your heart pound.

“I’m really not,” you gush, turning around so Tech could also see the back of your legs and maybe something else.

“You are being modest for someone dressed so immodestly.” Tech’s eyes darkened slightly, eyes landing on your arse. Without another word, he spins you to face him and leaned in, his lips brushing softly against yours.

As your hand wrap around the back of his neck, the kiss deepened, becoming more urgent, more needy, as you both gave in to the moment. Tech’s hands roamed over your body, feeling the curves and lines of your tattoos, and you felt a rush of warmth as his touch ignited a fire within you.

When you finally pulled back, breathless and flushed, Tech looked at you with a mix of awe and affection. "I have wanted to do that for a long time," he confessed, his voice sincere.

You smiled, your fingers brushing against his cheek. "Well, I’m glad you finally did."

Crosshair

It had become something of a routine between you and Crosshair—whenever you were alone, it was only a matter of time before things heated up. Today was no different. “It’s been too long since I last had you,”

You stood in front of him, your back against his toned chest as his hands firmly grip your hips as his lips traced along your neck, alternating between soft kisses and rougher bites.

As he moved closer to your ear, his sharp eyes caught sight of something he hadn’t noticed before—a small, delicate tattoo hidden just behind your ear. His lips paused in their assault, and you felt him stiffen slightly behind you. “You’ve been keeping secrets,” he murmured, his voice low and rough with desire. His fingers brushed over the tiny tattoo, making your skin tingle.

You smirked, leaning back into him. “Maybe you’re just not as observant as you think,” you teased, your tone laced with challenge. “You seem to spend more time paying attention to what’s between my legs than to the ink on my skin.”

A low groan rumbled from his chest, his grip on your hips tightening as he pressed his body against yours. “You think so?” he whispered in your ear, his breath hot against your skin. “Maybe I’ll have to change that.”

His words sent a thrill through you, your pulse quickening as his hands started to roam over your body, pushing your shirt up to expose more of your skin. “You should get a tattoo just for me,” he continued, his voice dripping with dark intent. “Maybe a little crosshair… right here,” he suggested, his fingers tracing a spot on your arm. “Or here,” he added, his hand moving to your chest, brushing just above your heart.

You bit your lip, your breath hitching as he slowly undressed you, his hands and words sending sparks of anticipation through your body. “Or maybe here,” he murmured, his voice dropping an octave as his hand slid down to cup your arse, giving it a firm squeeze.

Your heart raced, every touch and every word of his making you more and more aware of how hard he was against you. He leaned in closer once you turned to face him, his mouth hovering just above yours. “Or how about… right under your tongue,” he growled, his voice thick with a slight possessiveness, before slipping his tongue into your mouth in a fierce, hungry kiss.

The kiss was intense, his tongue dominating yours as his hands continued to undress you, peeling away the last of your clothes. You barely registered when he lifted you effortlessly, your legs instinctively wrapping around his waist as he carried you to his bunk.

You could feel his ache, hard and insistent, pressing against your stomach, making you tremble with your own need. He laid you down on the bunk, his body hovering over yours. “I think you’d look good with my mark on you,” he whispered, his lips brushing against yours as he spoke. “That way my brothers know to keep away from what is mine.”

“I’m yours, am I?” You grin, your hand sliding down between your bodies and between his legs.

“Yes. Mine.”

And as his mouth found yours again, you couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, a tiny crosshair tattoo wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all.

Rex

The 501st had finally earned a brief respite after a grueling mission, and the team scattered to enjoy some well-deserved downtime. Rex, however, found himself preoccupied. It was time to regroup, but you were nowhere to be found.

“Jesse,” Rex called out, spotting the trooper near a makeshift campsite and asked about your whereabouts.

Jesse glanced up from where he was lounging. “Last I saw, they were headed down to the lake. Said something about needing a dip to cool off.”

Rex nodded his thanks and he made his way toward the lake. You always had a knack for slipping away, but something about the thought of you swimming alone somewhat nagged at him. He figured he’d better go fetch you himself.

The path to the lake was serene, the sounds of nature a welcome change from the usual chaos of battle. But as Rex approached the water's edge, his breath caught in his throat.

You were emerging from the lake, the sun glistening off the droplets of water clinging to your skin. For a moment, Rex simply stared, his mind going blank as he took in the sight before him. Your wet skin gleamed in the golden light, but it wasn’t just the natural beauty of the scene that struck him—it was the tattoos.

He’d never seen them before, intricate designs that seemed to flow with the contours of your body. They were subtle, yet striking, adding an unexpected allure to the person he thought he knew so well.

You noticed him standing there and began to approach, water dripping from your body with each step. As you got closer, Rex suddenly felt very out of place. Trying to shake off his surprise, he cleared his throat. "Your, uh, towel," he said, gesturing vaguely behind you, trying to mask the way his eyes kept wandering back to the tattoos.

You chuckled softly, amused by his sudden awkwardness. “Right,” you said, turning to grab your towel and wrapping it around yourself before facing him again. “Something on your mind, Captain?”

Rex met your gaze, feeling heat rise to his cheeks—a rare occurrence for someone as composed as him. “I didn’t know you had tattoos,” he admitted, his voice a little higher pitched than he intended. “They suit you.” He finishes after clearing his throat.

You smiled, noticing the way his eyes still seemed drawn to the ink on your skin. “Thanks. They’ve been there a while, just not something I show off all the time.” You took a step closer, tilting your head slightly as you gave him a once-over. “What about you? Anything hiding under that armour?”

He felt his pulse quicken at your boldness, your gaze holding his with a teasing glint. Normally, he was the one in control, the one giving orders. But right now, under your mesmerising eyes, he felt a little out of his depth—and oddly, he didn’t mind.

Summoning a bit of courage, Rex allowed himself to relax, just a touch. “No tattoos,” he admitted, though the thought of getting one never sounded more appealing than it did in that moment. He paused, then added, “Maybe we could talk about it sometime. Over a drink?”

Your smile widened, pleased by his offer. “I’d like that, Captain,” you replied, the title sounding more like a term of endearment than a rank.

Rex gave you a nod, trying to keep his expression steady, though his mind was already racing with the possibilities what that drink might lead to. “Good,” he said, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I’ll hold you to it.”

Fives

You and Fives had been spending more time together than usual, which led to playful jokes and fun and eventually, a daring suggestion by Fives: strip poker. Since both of you were always ready for a challenge, it wasn’t long before you found yourselves seated across from each other, cards in hand.

The first few rounds were harmless enough—boots, belts, gloves—but as the game progressed, more significant pieces of clothing began to shed. Fives, ever the showman, made a big deal out of every win, laughing and teasing you as you reluctantly removed another item. But what caught his attention most was when your tattoos started to reveal themselves.

“You’ve been holding out on me,” Fives said, his eyes widening with pleasant surprise as he saw the first hints of ink on your skin. “I didn’t know you had tattoos!”

You shrugged, trying to act nonchalant as you revealed a bit more with each lost round. “I guess it never came up,” you teased back, your heart racing not just from the game but from the way his gaze seemed to linger on every new detail of your body. And admittedly, you admired his tone and muscular torso also.

Fives grin widens as more of your tattoos came into view. “They’re pretty awesome,” he complimented, clearly enjoying the discovery. “I’m starting to think losing isn’t so bad after all.”

But then, his eyes locked onto a specific tattoo, and his playful expression shifted to one of surprise. It was a simple design, but one that he recognised all too well—a number 5.

“Wait, hold on—” He leaned in closer, pointing at the tattoo with a mix of shock and amusement. “Is that a 5? Did you get a tattoo for me?”

You blinked, momentarily thrown off by his excitement. “What? No!” you quickly explained, realising how it looked. “It’s not for you, Fives. It’s just a coincidence.”

Fives however wasn’t having it as his smile shifted into a mischievous smirk, crossing his arms over his bare chest. “Sure, it is. Admit it, you’re secretly obsessed with me,” he teased, his tone dripping with playful arrogance.

You rolled your eyes, trying to keep your composure, but Fives wasn’t letting this one go. He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a low, challenging tone. “Come on, admit it. It’s for me. I knew I was your favourite.”

The heat of the moment—combined with the growing awareness of how little clothing both of you were wearing—made your heart race. “Fives,” you warned, but your tone lacked any real bite. The truth was, his playful determination was getting to you, making it hard to keep up the act.

Seeing you start to falter, Fives pressed on, moving closer until your faces were only inches apart. “Say it,” he whispered, his breath warm against your skin. “Say it’s for me.”

You couldn’t hold back the smirk that tugged at your lips. “You’re insufferable,” you muttered, your voice betraying how much you were enjoying this. But before you could think of a comeback, Fives closed the distance, his lips crashing against yours in a heated kiss.

The intensity of the kiss caught you off guard, eyes wide, but you quickly melted into it, your hands tangling in his hair as his wrapped around your waist, pulling you closer and into his lap. The realisation of how nude you both had become only fueled the fire between you.

Fives pulled back just enough to murmur against your lips, “So, you’re not denying it then?”

You laughed breathlessly. “Maybe it’s time you focus on winning the game instead of running your mouth,” you challenged, though your voice was laced with affection as your lips ghost against his.

He grinned, before he pulled you back in for another searing kiss. “I’m already winning,” he whispered, his hands roaming over your body, exploring the tattoos that had started this whole thing.

🌊 Masterlist is pinned 🌊

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[kometqh]

𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

501st x F!Jedi!Reader General Skywalker clearly wasn't a reliable source of intell, having pointed you and Rex's squad into the icy tumbra of a long deserted planet, however, it was due to his calculated mistake that the Clones were able to reveal your deeply hidden desires. Being stuck in a cave with numerous handsome, attractive men was not on your to-do list, yet you weren't complaining. Word Count: 3028

Warnings: Unedited, random brain rainbow vomit I had whilst practicing writing techniques <3 It's somewhat (quite) spicy towards the end. There is a lot of fluff throughout most of it! A/N: This is mostly just Tup, Rex and Fives x reader as this was a very spontaneous fic T_T pls forgive me.

"General Skywalker said this would be an easy mission," Fives hissed under his breath, the deep, reverbrating sound of his voice lost underneath the wolfish howling of the wind, clusters of snow beating at his helmet. This was supposed to be a quick and easy diplomatic trip, but where did he and the 501st Legion find themselves? Somewhere on a deserted, icy, snowy planet. "My toes are about to fall off!"

"Yeah, he promised us there'd be clear blue skies and hot weather. A beach even!" Echo added on, shrugging his shoulders in defeat. Rather than being on a hot, sandy beach, the brothers had found themselves treading through waist-deep snow, their fingers and toes turning into icicles, their blasters heavy in their grasps. 

"I thought this was supposed to be a diplomatic trip, Captain," Fives continued, his voice becoming white noise as Rex all but ignored his brother, gracing him with an occasional hum or grunt, to let him know he was listening. But he wasn't hearing. Rex was also unhappy with the circumstances, but it was his job to do this kind of thing. It's not like the clones could refuse not going on a mission, not going head-first into a battle, so he definitely would have appreciated General Skywalker's honesty, over trickery. 

The weather was only getting worse, the wind and snow beating at the men cruelly, the blue paint on their armour completely disappeared under the clusters of snow that had latched themselves onto the clones. 

He paused in his tracks, scanning the area through his optical goggles. He spotted something. Something dark, something round. His men stopped behind him, eerily silent as they anticipated their Captain's next words. 

Rex, turning to face his brothers, couldn't help the way his shoulders visibly relaxed as he relayed the news, "I see a cave entrance just a couple yards ahead, boys! We will seek shelter there!" He exclaimed, waving his arm, signalling for them to keep going, to keep following him. 

In the very back, just behind Tup and Jesse, a lone, female Jedi guarded their backs, one hand hovering protectively over her weapon, the other shielded away in the pocket of her coat. A backpack hung onto her shoulders, the leather material soaked and cold, receiving most of the onslaught of the weather. 

Her mind was wandering, body craving to feel the heat of a hot sun glazing against her bare skin, just as Anakin had hinted to. But instead, she was stuck walking through a blizzard, her body cold and tired.

She had also been excited to spend some quality time with the boys from the 501st, whom she had been recently often paired with for missions. The sight of them all relaxing and enjoying their time on the beach, with their tops exposed, tan skin glistening under the sunlight.. Yeah, that would have been a sight worth seeing.

A sudden, much harsher gust of wind jolted her from her thoughts, clumps of snow quickly settling against the icy skin on her face. 

Her robes, too, were soaked, struggling to maintain the warmth in her body as she did her best to follow the path created by the clones, snow crunching under her winter boots. 

She too wasn't made aware of the true conditions of the mission. She couldn't tap into the force either, to predict or to feel some kind of warning of the mission ahead. What was Skywalker thinking? He was lucky none of her men had fallen! The moment she'd get back, the moment her eyes would land on him, he would be wise to run for the hills. She could imagine the fear in his eyes as she comically choked him out, swaying the male back and forth in a fit of anger.

Relief flooded the squad as one by one, they made their way into the cave, it being cleared by their Captain and medic, Rex and Kix. 

Quickly setting camp, the clones hovered around their makeshift fire, some huddled close together, others snuggling under individual, soaked blankets. The snow had penetrated all of their supplies; food, water, tents and blankets. All they could do was hope that the fire would last long enough for the storm to pass, for their blankets to dry out and warm up. 

"What the hell was the General thinking?" Fives muttered, his eyebrows furrowed. He rubbed his bare hands together until they were warm enough, and then he shifted closer to the fire. 

His feet stung, the feeling just barely coming back to him after that gruelling tread. He was sure if his feet didn't fall off yet, then something else soon would. 

You exhaled a heavy sigh, a blanket resting over your shoulders as you extended your palms out towards the fire. Rex had been kind enough to lend you his blanket, noticing that your robes and skirt were practically drenched from the weather. Sure, you weren't dressed for the beach, but you also weren't dressed well enough for a blizzard. 

You were lucky to have been warned, or rather told, by Master Kenobi of the true conditions of your mission. If you hadn't been, your troops wouldn't have had enough time to prepare for the weather. 

Looking over your squad, you made eye contact with Tup. A worried frown ghosted over his rough features, the creases that you hated so much appearing on his forehead. 

Slowly, you made your way over to the trooper, one hand outstretched.

"Tup? Are you okay?" You asked, resting your hand over his shoulder. As if startled, the man looked to you, his brows quirked in surprise. 

"G-General? Why do you ask?" He questioned, gaze flickering down to your hand, before coming back up to stare into your eyes. A soft, pink hue dusted over his cheeks, and your heart fluttered at the sight. Sure, he was sweet and kind, he was the shyest of your men. He was almost like a puppy, his chocolatey brown eyes so deep, so sweet, you had lost yourself in them again. 

He was the only man who gazed into your eyes long enough for you to drown, a soft smile erupting on your face as you fought your best to not reach up and caress his cheek in your palm. 

"General? Are you listening?" He asked, his gloved hands reaching up to shake at your shoulders, gently. 

Your lashes fluttered over your eyes, taking in a deep exhale, you shrugged. Were you really okay? 

Taking a moment to respond, your gaze flickered up, noticing how wet his hair was. 

"Tup, d'you want me to dry your hair?" The words tumbled from your mouth before your brain could finish processing their meaning. Tup's eyes widened into saucers as he stood there, frozen. You had never been so caring to your men, at least, not like this. 

Remember that pink hue that dusted his cheeks just a moment ago? Yeah, now that's turned into a beetroot blush, the colour painting his ears, his face and neck in a deep shade of reddish-purple. Would it be okay for you to display such blatant acts of affection? Wouldn't that be against the rules and regulations of the Jedi council? Against the regulations of the GAR? If so, would his brothers snitch?

"S-Sorry, I didn't mean to-" You started, your mouth quickly dropping into the shape of an 'o' as Tup interrupted you.

"General, I would love for you to dry my hair." He said with a soft smile, scratching at the back of his nape.

Realising it was too late now to back out, you gave a small nod of your head before taking his gloved hand in yours, the leathery material scraping nicely against your soft skin, as you led him closer to the campfire. 

Motioning for Tup to sit down, you stood directly behind, and, above him, reaching to remove your dry blanket from your shoulders. You didn't have a towel, so a blanket should be a good enough substitute. Your hands reached to remove his hairtie, sliding it over your hand to rest on your wrist, your fingers quickly making their way to masssage Tup's scalp. 

As he leaned his head back into your soft hold, Tup couldn't help the relieved sigh that escaped his lips. Your fingernails grazed softly against his skin, tugging gently at his soft curls, sending eletric shivers down the male's spine. 

But it was when your hands slid from his scalp, over to his nape and shoulders, applying soft but firm pressure against his tired muscles that the involuntary groan escaped his lips, rumbling deep from within his chest. 

Your body stiffened, stopping your ministrations as a familiar spark shot through your heart, right down to your abdomen. 

Your eyes, wide and unblinking, stared into Tup's as the colour red flushed his cheeks once more. His eyes searched yours, a worried glint dancing across as he waited for your reaction. His lips stuttered as he was about to apologise, provide an excuse, tell you it was okay if you didn't want to continue. 

But the words fell short on his tongue as the corners of your lips tugged upwards, your hands applying the slightest bit more pressure to his sore muscles. 

A grunt was stiffled in his throat, his eye fighting hard to stay open, looking anywhere but at your face. He didn't want to make you uncomfortable, give you the wrong idea-

None of his brothers did. 

Though a lump formed in his throat as Tup looked around the cave, noticing the numerous lingering gazes of his brothers as they sat there, watching your movements. He could almost feel the jealousy vibrating off of Rex in waves, his gaze hardened as the corners of his lips fought to stay straight. 

A smirk tugged at Tup's lips, as he noticed Jesse squint his eyes at him. Deciding to add fuel to the fire, Tup groaned again when your hands pressed against a particularly tense muscle in his shoulder. 

"Woah, General, where did you learn this?" He asked, a familiar warmth blooming in his abdomen as your nimble fingers danced across his shoulders, tugging at the black suit he wore, exposed now as his armour rested beside a sleeping bag nearby. 

"Oh, you know, just learned bits here and there when I was stationed with Commander Wolffe," You chuckled, wetting your lips with the tip of your tongue, "That man was full of knots in his shoulders." You added, feeling Tup's shoulders relax more and more, until you had mentioned Wolffe. That's when his posture straightened, from a relaxed lean, to a pin-straight sitting up position. 

He tilted his head back to look at you, a curious yet worried glint in his golden eyes.

"Were you and Commander Wolffe close, by any chance?" He questioned, his breathing paused. 

If you were Wolffe's girl, then he knew the 501st couldn't, wouldn't pursue you. 

Or, if you weren't, then they knew at least they could ask the Commander of his previous.. Experiences, with you. 

Slowly, you caught onto Tup's drift, and your gaze travelled around the room. Some of the men were fully facing the two of you, legs spread, eyes laser-focused as they listened to your conversation, the cave suddenly, and eerily silent.

A shiver travelled down your spine, and a gentle smirk tugged at your lips.

"Oh, just you know, the occasional date here and there.." You said, shrugging your shoulders nonchalantly. Your smirk threatened to grow as you heard someone scoff, and you looked up to see Rex rolling his shoulders, a scowl on his face.

"Date? Isn't that, like, forbidden?" Fives questioned across from you, leaning over curiously, his eyebrows raised, resembling the blue markings on his helmet. 

A giggle escaped your lips as your hands returned to Tup's hair, suddenly remembering why you were giving him a random shoulder massage. You reached over to grab the blanket Rex had given you, placing soft curls between the two valleys of softness created by your hands, which were hidden underneath the soft cushion.

Your hands brushed through Tup's soft hair, gently dragging the strands through the dry, fuzzy material of your blanket. 

"I don't mean a romantic date, Fives, though I wouldn't be opposed to one." You mused, softly tugging at the locks. "I don't particulaly agree with the 'No Attachments' rule. But that doesn't make me less of a Jedi, or does it, do you think?" You questioned, your gaze softening, a small scowl now tugging at your lips. 

"Of course not, General," This time, it was Rex who spoke up, albeit too fast for his liking, "You're one of the most dedicated Jedi I've had the pleasure of working with," He stated, soft footsteps making their way closer and closer to you, "Plus, it is human to wish to form attachments." He whispered that last part, now standing directly above you as you twisted Tup's hair into the towel.

Your heart fluttered at the proximity, warmth enveloping your pinkening cheeks.

"Is it now, Rex?" You asked, looking up at him. Your heart palpitated at the close proximity, your hands gliding down to caress Tup's shoulders. Your gaze stayed unwavering, unbreaking as you looked into Rex's deep, honey-gold eyes. The Captain suddenly shifted, breaking eye contact as he stepped back a little. 

"I-I believe any of us s-should be able to form attachments," He paused, his gaze flickering from your eyes to your lips, and back to your eyes, "Romantic ones, especially." A chorus of 'Yeah's' and humms of agreement followed, catching your attention as you looked around.

The atmosphere in the cave seemed to have completely shifted, the sound of howling wind drowned out underneath the loud beat of your heart. You swallowed a forming lump, looking between Rex and his brothers, Tup now stood by your side, sandwiching your body between his and Rex's. 

Gloved hands came up to softly caress your shoulders, fingertips lightly tugging at the edge of your collar, grazing the skin underneath. 

"What do you think, Commander?" He whispered into your ear, hot breath fanning over your skin.

"Of?" You prompted, turning your head lightly to look at Tup. 

"Of close relations between Jedi and their Clones?"

Your eyes widened, feeling a familiar heat rush over your body, and you took inhaled a slow, deep, shaky breath. As you looked between Tup and Rex, the latter had made his way closer to your body, his hands making their way to your hips.

The sound of soft footsteps reached your ears, and you saw Echo, Fives, Jesse, Kix, Dogma and Hardcase making their way closer to the three of you, looking completely entranced by the conversation. You hadn't casted any spells on them, have you?

Your breath hitched in your throat, shivers overtaking your body as someone nuzzled their nose into the crook of your neck, inhaling deeply, exhaling with a shaky sigh. As they spoke, your heart fluttered with recognition. 

"General, answer the question." Fives whispered, his voice gravelly and deep, one gloved hand gently grasping your chin, twisting it to face him. His gaze flickered to your lips,  just mere inches from his own. He could almost feel the taste of you on his tongue. Oh how he wished to kiss you, right then and there. He was so sure you'd let him, too.

Sure, maybe you did fantasise about the men from time to time, when your thoughts weren't preoccupied by ongoing battles and Jedi duties. How you wished to be allowed to form a connection deeper than General and Trooper, but did they?

"I- I.. I don't k-know?" You questioned, a soft whimper escaping your opened mouth, before you knew it, his lips crashed against yours, his hands latching themselves into your hair, pulling you closer, if physically possible.

The kiss was, to simply put it, sweet. His goatee rubbed nicely against your chin, his lips melting together with yours, as if they were always meant to. His tongue prodded at your bottom lip, asking for permission. Slipping in, it danced with yours, hot breaths mingling together as you felt something press up against your front.

Rex.

You had almost forgotten you were trapped between Rex and Tup, too engulfed with the sudden kiss Fives had engaged you in.

The smell of pine and smoke invaded your nostrils, their scents overwhelming, flooding your senses as Fives became rougher, his hands tugging at the roots of your hair. With one hand, you grasped the side of his face, thumb rubbing soothing circles into his rough skin, your breath hitched as a groan escaped his lips.

"Okay, that's enough I think." Kix spoke, the kiss abruptly interrupted as he pulled Fives away by the scruff of his neck. 

"General? Are you okay?" Rex's voice was soft as he neared you, his breath fanning over the sensitive shell of your ear. 

Inhaling a shallow breath, you grasped his biceps with both hands.

"Call me Y/n.." You whispered, hazily meeting Rex's stare, his eyebrows raised, eyes wide.

"R-Right.. Y/n, d'you want us to continue?" He questioned, bringing a hand to gently clutch your chin. 

Your eyes widened as you took in the situation around you; eight men surrounded you, watching. Waiting. Ready to pounce, the moment they received your permission. 

And receive it, they did.

With a brisk nod, you allowed your eyes to flutter shut as Rex closed the gap between the two of you, his lips rough but warm as his body pushed roughly against yours, your back meeting Tup's chest in a close embrace. 

Your hands rested against Rex's chest, feeling the soft material of his shirt underneath your thumbs. His chest was warm and firm under your touch, the feeling of his heart racing beneath your hand had your own chest swelling with joy. A sigh left your lips as you felt a pair of lips press open-mouthed kisses against the expanse of your neck, a new pair of hands rubbing up and down your hips, encouraging you.

You weren't dreaming, were you? You weren't about to wake up, were you?

Your questions were answered as you felt Rex bite your bottom lip, his hands tugging at the roots of your hair.

No, this definitely wasn't a dream.

And if it was, it wasn't one you wished to wake from.

[cloneshipping7567]

Romantic Confessions Part 12

Part 12/30

12. "You are all I can think about."

Pairing: Echo x Fives

Rating/WC: M/7036

Warnings: heavy angst, angst with a hopeful/ambiguous ending, angst with little/no comfort.

Notes: I got the idea for this fic stuck in my head and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. What did you think? <3

~~~

"No," the captain says, shaking his head violently as if to clear it. "You're dead. I saw you die. Fox shot you. You're dead."

"Boo," Fives mumbles, but the joke falls flat. He scratches the back of his head, looking anywhere except Rex's eyes. "I don't know why I'm alive either. All I know is that I was shot, I thought I died, and then I woke up."

Rex narrows his eyes suspiciously at Fives, and the latter can't really blame him. He hardly believes it either, and he's the one back from the dead. "How long have you been back?"

"A few hours," Fives supplies, and watches Rex's eyes widen in shock. "I was in a bacta tank somewhere on the lower levels. The better question is: how long was I gone?”

Rex bites his lip, chewing on it in a nervous habit he doesn’t indulge in often.

“That long?” Fives tries to joke, but his voice gives him away. “Come on, Rex just tell me.”

“A long time,” Rex finally supplies, rubbing at the back of his neck. “Too long, Fives. Almost two years.”

Fives swallows thickly, before forcing a shaky smile. “You didn’t win the war without me, did you?” Rex continues chewing on his lip, making Fives wince. “So we won?”

“Depends on what you mean by won,” Rex mumbles, shifting his weight.

“I don’t like that answer,” Fives mumbles, starting to bounce on the balls of his feet with anxiety. “Are we safe out here in the open?”

“No,” Rex says immediately, looking over his shoulder. “Who was with you?”

“Fox,” Fives says, and cocks his head in confusion. Who else would have bothered to save a dead clone?

“He isn’t safe,” Rex mumbles, grabbing onto Fives’ wrist. “We have to go, and fast. Is Fox here? Is anyone watching?”

“He said I could go,” Fives says, his skin crawling. “Something about how his new boss wouldn’t be happy to find out he saved me. Who’s his new boss?”

“He isn’t new, not really,” Rex starts to tug on Fives’ arm, so Fives starts to follow. “You were right, Fives. About everything. We should have listened to you.”

“No,” Fives says, eyes wide with horror. “It’s happened? The chips?”

Rex doesn’t verbally confirm, but the silence is answer enough.

“Did you kill Skywalker?” Fives asks, after too many minutes of thick, awkward silence.

Rex ducks his head, and Fives’ heart hurts. His general was crazy, but he loved him. Anakin was a good man, a great fighter, and a better friend to the clones.

And they repaid him by putting blaster bolts through him.

“Rex, are all the Jedi gone?” It makes him shiver; there were thousands of them. Fives had met and worked with many of them, liked many of them. Especially his own general, and his general’s old master, General Kenobi.

“There are at least three alive that I know of,” Rex supplies, turning them to a new, less crowded street.

“Rex, is Ahsoka-“

“She’s one of them,” Rex is quick to say, already sensing the over-looming sadness threatening to swallow Fives whole. “Her and another padawan, according to a friend. All the other younglings…”

Fives swallows thickly, almost slipping. “They were just children,” Fives says, as if that makes it impossible.

“General Skywalker was the first to die, I think,” Rex says after several more minutes of silent walking. It makes Fives flinch. “The 501st had split up, and the half I wasn’t with went off with Skywalker to Coruscant, to protect the chancellor. Order 66 went out a few days later, while they were still on the planet. Then the 501st went to the Jedi temple, led by the sith’s new apprentice, Darth Vader. They killed everyone inside, and burned it down.” Rex stops suddenly, turning to Fives with a broken expression. “The general would have stopped them, if he were still alive. Or he would have died trying. He wouldn’t have let us do that.”

Fives nods in agreement, and keeps his head down. It’s so much to take in. Tup had tried to warn Fives, and Fives was too late to save him. And then Fives was too late to warn Rex. To warn everyone. Fives failed, and the Jedi are all dead because of it.

“Rex, I’m…I’m so sorry.” Fives says, and Rex doesn’t reply. He just keeps them moving, up the levels and around alleys and skirting the attention of literally everyone.

They finally find a ship, and Rex leads Fives on quickly. “How do you have this?” Fives mumbles.

“Stole it,” he says easily, going to the controls and starting up the ship. “There’s a few of us who work together to…” he trails off, piloting them out of the lower levels and into the regular traffic of Coruscant. “I’m trying to save and free as many of our brothers as I can. It’s slow, difficult work. But I’m trying.”

“Who are you working with?” He asks softly.

“A bunch of people. Mostly senators who resent the new Empire.” He sighs sadly. “Remember senator Chuchi?”

Fives smiles at that. “She’s grown a lot, since we first met her.”

Rex lets it sit like that, the silence slightly less uncomfortable after a more upbeat note to pause on. “If my intelligence is right, and the Bad Batch usually are right, I might be able to find Cody. He deserted a couple months ago.”

Fives’ eyes widen. “Are the chips wearing off or something? How are they fighting the control?”

Rex hums, flying out of the atmosphere and sending them into Hyperspace. He turns to Fives then. “They’re phasing clones out. I don’t think Palpatine is watching us as closely anymore.”

Fives winces, immediately understanding what Rex is implying. “Who are the Bad Batch?” Fives asks, just to change the subject.

Rex’s eyes widen, and his breath hitches. “Oh, Fives. I forgot. I forgot, of course you wouldn’t know. I met them after-“ he cuts himself off, eyes wide.

“After what? The order?” Fives asks, rubbing his palms along his blacks. He wishes Fox had given him his armor back, or even armor to borrow. But he supposes the armor would have made it harder to sneak around with Rex.

Rex suddenly smiles, wide and genuine, excited almost. “Oh, Fives. I have the biggest surprise for you. You’re going to love it.”

Fives quirks a brow, but doesn’t bother asking. Rex has decided it’s a surprise, so a surprise it will be. “Whatever it is, it has to be better than all the other surprises I’ve woken up to today.”

Rex’s smile falters, but he manages to get it back easily. He types in new coordinates, and then leans back in his chair. “You should rest. You’ll want to be awake for this.”

Fives genuinely can’t think of a single thing he wants that would get Rex this excited and happy after their conversation. Maybe seeing Ahsoka again; it would make sense if it was her, actually, since she’s alive and apparently just as much of a wanted man as Rex is. And of course she would be the type of person to want to help the clones.

“Bad Batch is a funny name,” Fives says, standing up and stretching. “The Domino Squad called ourselves a bad batch.”

Rex’s smile melts into something fond, and a little sad. “I think Echo told me that once.”

Fives winces at Echo’s name. He doesn’t let himself think about his lost lover very often; except for he can never seem to help it. Every once in a while something will happen and Fives will turn to share a look with Echo; or someone will say Echo’s name, or someone will behave like Echo did. He was meaner to Dogma than he normally would be, for that very reason.

“I’m going to lay down. Wake me up when we get close.”

~

Fives dreamed of Echo. Dreamed of his smile, and his expressive eyes, and the way Fives could so easily make them roll. He dreamed about having Echo in his arms again, of him whispering I love you, you dumbass.

It was such a sweet dream, that it almost makes Fives cry when he opens his eyes and finds that he’s alone.

Instead of crying he goes to the ship’s ‘fresher, cleaning up quickly and getting redressed. He goes back to where Rex is, staring out at the stars. “Oh good,” Rex says, typing something into the controls. “I was about to wake you. We’re pulling into the system.”

“Where are we?” Fives asks, watching as they pull out of hyperspace.

“Pabu,” Rex says, pulling them into the gorgeous looking planet. “It’s a refugee planet. The Bad Batch stays here most of the time.”

Fives almost decides to tease Rex, ask how Ahsoka is liking it. Spoil the surprise. But Rex seems so genuinely happy and excited, and Fives hasn’t seen him like this since before Umbara. Maybe even since before the Citadel.

Rex flies them over the water for a while, before they come upon an island. Rex either visits a lot, or these refugees are far too trusting, because they wave them in happily in greeting.

Rex parks the ship in the middle of a square, seemingly designed for just this purpose, and practically vibrates out of his seat. “Stay in the ship, and don’t peek.”

Fives cracks an amused smile, but nods in promise. “Okay, I won’t peek. This is some surprise, Rex.”

Rex only beams at Fives, before exiting the ship and taking off in a run, barking into his comm. 

Fives smiles again, deciding to sit in the back with the safety harnesses. It’s far enough away from the front and the door that he can’t see outside, but not so far in the ship he feels alone and scared again. Like when he woke up in the bacta tank. 

Fives sighs in annoyance when he realizes this isn’t going to take just a few minutes. He’s always been impatient and antsy. 

Luckily, he isn’t left alone with his thoughts for too terribly long. Rex comes on the ship, bouncing and beaming at Fives. “Okay, don’t say anything yet. Just close your eyes and come here.”

Fives almost makes an inappropriate joke, but keeps his mouth shut and closes his eyes as well. He walks over to Rex, and feels Rex’s hand land on his arm to guide him. 

“Okay, a little to the left. Okay. Stay there, don’t make that face, just trust me.” Rex must have been talking to Ahsoka, because Fives wasn’t making a face. “Okay, you’re both in place. One second.” He hears Rex hop off the ramp, and then shift a bit. “Okay. Open.”

Fives opens his eyes, excited to see his lost commander. But he doesn’t see Ahsoka. 

He’s confused, at first. He doesn’t understand this surprise, why Fives should be excited. Not at first. And then he sees the eyes. This surprise is infinitely better than Ahsoka. 

Fives’ jaw drops open, and his eyes widen in shock. He takes a step forward without telling himself to do so, his arms stretching out to reach. 

Because that’s Echo. Those are Echo’s eyes and those are his lips and Fives just knows. Even though Echo is paler and he’s got some new limbs and his regulation haircut is gone. It’s Echo. Fives knows it, knows it more surely than he’s ever known anything in his entire life. 

Echo stays still, eyes wide with disbelief, mouth hanging open in shock. Echo must have been back for some time, if he was so used to Fives being dead. 

A part of Fives recognizes that there are others around them. People he’s never met, and Rex, and locals further away. But all Fives cares about is Echo. 

Fives does tell his legs to walk the rest of the way down the ramp, barely holding himself back from sprinting into Echo’s arms. Instead he gets right in front of him, hands finding their way to Echo’s sides. He rests them there gently, just letting himself feel that Echo is alive. “Echo,” he says, and it sounds far away. 

Echo’s hand shakily raises, reaching out and cupping Fives’ cheek. His shocked expression morphs into the widest smile he thinks he’s ever given Echo. Fives’ eyes flutter closed and he leans into it, choking on a sob. 

He thought he would never feel this again. “Echo, I thought you were…Echo. I love-” 

Echo snaps his hand back suddenly, breath getting quicker and louder as he steps away. 

Fives opens his eyes, his smile faltering. “Echo?” His hands fall to his sides. 

“Why did you bring him here?” Echo snaps, his voice clipped. He’s addressing Rex, but he’s eyeing Fives with a mix of anger and…disgust, maybe? 

Fives’ eyes widen in shock, and he turns to Rex. He’s mirroring Fives’ shocked expression. The people who are watching are also surprised, the little girl seeming completely at a loss. 

“It’s Fives,” Rex says, voice a bit confused. “He’s alive, aren’t you…I thought you would want to see him as soon as you could.”

“You were wrong,” Echo all but growls. “Take him away,” he shouts over his shoulder, turning on his heel and stomping away. He pushes past one of the people who tries to stop him, marching away from Fives. 

Fives blinks rapidly, confused and hurt. “Echo?” He whispers, even though he’s far too far away to hear anymore. Out of all the ways he pictured himself seeing Echo again, hearing him say he isn’t happy to see him wasn’t on the list.  

Rex gets closer to Fives, putting a hand on his shoulder. “I…thought that would go differently.”

“He’s alive,” Fives says, and the joy he gets from saying that far outweighs the confusion and hurt. “Rex, he’s-he’s alive. Echo’s alive!”

“I know,” Rex says, and his confused frown melts into a pleased smirk. “I wish you could have been there to save him, Fives. I was so happy to have one of you back, I just…”

Fives shakes his head, looking after where Echo went. “Maybe it’s a good thing I wasn’t there…Is he mad at me? Does he blame me for not saving him?” Fives did. Fives used to stay awake at night wondering what he could have done differently, how he could have saved Echo if he was just better. He hated himself so much after, for surviving when Echo didn’t, that he barely had time to miss his lover. 

“No, he definitely doesn’t. I’m sure of that.” Rex says, and walks them over to the others who were watching their less than perfect reunion. “Fives, this is the Bad Batch.” He points at each member as he names them, and they wave. “Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, Crosshair, and Omega. Echo joined their squad after we saved him.”

Hunter steps forward, and Fives has the feeling he’s their leader somehow. “Fives. We’ve heard a lot about you.”

Fives smiles at him, offering his hand in greeting. Hunter takes it in a firm shake, and Fives just gets it, suddenly. The way Hunter grabs his hand, the way the shake is a bit too tight to be anything other than assertive. He gets why Echo ran. 

Echo is with Hunter now. 

He doesn’t blame Echo, of course; he isn’t mad or even upset. Fives was dead, he died. He wouldn’t want Echo to have been lonely all these years, not like Fives had been. 

What upsets Fives is that it was so easy for Echo to get over the shock of seeing Fives alive again, and instead of being happy Fives isn’t dead, he’s angry about it. Would he rather Fives had stayed dead? He can handle Echo not wanting him anymore, can handle the idea that Echo has moved on in the years Fives was absent. What hurts is the idea that Echo would rather Fives be really dead than this. 

Some of that hurt must shine through the cracks of his polite mask, because Hunter suddenly slackens his grip and winces in guilt. His eyes flick away, unable to keep eye contact; and if Fives hadn’t been sure before, he is now.

“All good things,” the big one-Wrecker-pipes up, with an awkward laugh. He knows about Hunter and Echo, but doesn’t know Fives knows. 

Fives lets go of Hunter’s hand, turning his forced smile to Wrecker. “That’s nice to hear,” Fives says, trying to keep the peace. It makes Wrecker relax just a bit, obviously proud of himself for not giving anything away.

“I am sure Echo is just having trouble adjusting to you being back. Perhaps a few moments alone to come to terms with the idea would be beneficial.” The one with goggles, Tech, adds after another awkward pause. 

The silver haired clone, Crosshair snorts and rolls his eyes. “I don’t think any amount of time is going to fix the fact that-”

“Hunter,” the little girl asks, side eyeing Crosshair. “I want to play in the ocean.”

“We can take her,” Tech butts in before his squadmates can, taking hold of Omega’s hand. Who even is this kid, and why do a bunch of mutated clones have her? “Perhaps Phee is down by the water as well.”

“I’m always down for a good swim!” Wrecker booms, and Fives really likes him. He reminds Fives of Hevy, and of Hardcase. He wonders if Echo thinks of Hevy too, around Wrecker.

“Can I talk with you for a second, Hunter? Before you go with them?” Fives asks, overly polite. Fives is fully certain Rex doesn’t know about Echo and Hunter’s relationship; he wouldn’t have brought Fives here if he did know. But he knows Fives is off, and he knows Echo wasn’t happy to see Fives again, and Rex is smart. The older clone shifts his weight and looks between the pair with a worried frown between his brows. 

To his credit, Hunter nods after only a second’s hesitation. “You guys go ahead, I’ll be down there in a few minutes to join you.”

Wrecker grabs Omega and puts her on his shoulders, grabbing Crosshair by the scruff of his neck and leading him; which is a very great idea, because he fights it and hisses something about staying with Hunter. 

Rex hesitates by the ship, before he sighs. “I’m going to go see if Echo is okay…Fives, are you…are you okay?”

Fives doesn’t look at Rex; he has eyes only for Hunter. He doesn’t know why, but he has the feeling Hunter is nervous. If he is, he’s doing a fantastic job of hiding it. “No,” Fives says, surprising all of them with his honesty. “Just make sure he’s okay, please?”

Rex stares for a few minutes more, before sighing and nodding once. “Don’t…do anything,” he says, but to whom Fives isn’t sure. He heads off in the same direction Echo left for. 

Hunter shifts his weight, keeping eye contact with Fives even though he obviously doesn’t want to. “You wanted to speak with me, Fives?”

“Has he been happy?” Fives asks, making Hunter’s eyes widen in confusion. 

“What?” Hunter asks, taking a small step back. 

“Echo,” Fives clarifies, as if that was the confusing part. “Is he happy? Here, with you, with your squad. Is he happy?”

Hunter narrows his eyes suspiciously. “Yes. He is.”

Fives nods, breaking eye contact first. “Is that your daughter?” Fives asks after a beat. 

Hunter barks an amused laugh, causing Fives to look up. “What are you playing at?”

Fives sighs, and allows himself to look as tired as he feels for a second. “I’m not. Echo being happy is all I’ve ever wanted. What I wished for every single day since…it happened. Echo is alive, and he’s happy, and-” he pauses, looking around the island unnecessarily. “He’s even safe, which is more than any trooper could ever have hoped for their...” he trails off, unsure of what to call Echo now.

Hunter stares, and Fives sees the appeal; he’s very pretty. Echo used to say that Fives was pretty; he would say Fives was too pretty for his own good, even. 

Now he wishes he had never seen Fives again. Now he wishes Fives was still dead. He’ll never look at Fives with those loving eyes again, never call Fives pretty. 

Echo will never say he loves Fives again. Fives will never hear those words spoken to him again. 

The thought makes Fives’ face crumbles, and he looks away so Hunter won’t see it; he’s pretty sure Hunter sees it anyway. He sucks in a breath that feels like it stings, feeling the breath shake as he exhales. 

“Omega is a clone,” Hunter says suddenly, and it startles Fives out of his head. “She doesn’t age the same as us, and she’s…a girl. But she’s a clone. We took her in, she’s family. She might as well be my kid.”

Fives nods once, fingers tapping on his thighs. “So you’re all…raising her? Together?”

“Kind of,” Hunter says. “We’re her brothers. We’re brothers.”

Fives nods, opening his mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. He doesn’t know what he would want to say here. 

“Fives, listen,” Hunter says after a few beats, shifting his weight again. 

Fives doesn’t want to listen, not anymore. “I get it,” Fives says softly, cutting Hunter off. “You don’t have to say it out loud.”

“He misses you. All the time.” Hunter shifts his weight carefully. “He doesn’t talk about it very often, only when Omega begs for stories. But he misses you all the time.”

Fives looks back to Hunter, letting out a shaky breath. “Doesn’t change the end result though, does it?” Fives asks rhetorically. “I meant it, Hunter. The fact that he’s alive and happy is enough for me. I can live with that.”

Hunter opens his mouth, starts to say something. Changes his mind. Looks around, and tries again. “You would be easier to hate if you weren’t such a good person.”

Fives barks a laugh; out of everything Hunter could have said just then, that’s possibly the very last thing he would have expected. “Ditto.”

It’s quiet for a minute, and then Hunter sighs heavily. “You said you could be happy, but you’re very obviously devastated.”

Fives winces a bit at being called out. “I mean, he said he wished I was still dead. Or at least, that I never came back. That still stings. But that’s something else entirely. It’s nothing compared to how happy him being alive makes me.”

“So you’re not going to try and take him away with you? Win him back?” Hunter lifts his chin, and very obviously looks down his nose at Fives.

Fives doesn’t rise to the bait, just smiles sadly. “No. I don’t think I could take that type of rejection with a straight face.”

“You don’t know if he would reject you,” Hunter argues. 

“He’s moved on, Hunter,” Fives says, and how fucked up is it that he’s the one lecturing Echo’s new boyfriend about how this works? “He has you, he has a family, he has a home.” His voice breaks on the last word, and Fives has to look away again. 

He and Echo had talked about it, late at night or in between battles, when their words weighed a little less and the thought of a future at all seemed unlikely. They would talk about where they wanted to set up a home after the war, which planet and how big and if they’d get any pets. Farm or city apartment, mid or inner rim, with their brothers or somewhere just them. 

One time Fives had joked and said he would settle anywhere Echo existed, even if it was mustafar and there was nothing but lava and heat. Pabu is much nicer. 

“He told me once that you and him were soulmates, if they exist. That nothing could ever replace you in his heart, and that he’ll spend forever mourning you.” Hunter steps closer, and Fives looks up with tears in his eyes. “You’re talking like he’s forgotten you, like you don’t have a chance.”

“Why are you trying to convince me to get him back from you?” Fives asks, lashing out in response to the deep cuts. Because maybe all of that is true, maybe, but it still isn’t enough for Echo. Echo still ran, still spit out that he isn’t happy Fives is alive. Still told Rex to take Fives away.  

Hunter huffs. “Because you don’t want to. Because you’re willing to walk away and let us be happy.” Fives shakes his head in confusion, and Hunter sighs. “You’re making me feel like the bad guy, here. Like I love him less than you because I don’t want to give him up.”

Fives blinks and one tear escapes his eye. “This isn’t a game, Hunter. I’m not trying to be better than you-“

“I know,” Hunter cuts him off. “That’s why it’s infuriating. If you were manipulating the situation it would be easier to sink my claws in. But you’re a good person, and Echo does love you, and he should get to choose without feeling guilty. We can give him that, if I get on board.”

Fives shakes his head. “I said I can’t handle that rejection. He will choose you, even if he loves me more. Because you come with a family and a squad and a home, and I come with nothing. Literally nothing; I don’t own anything, I’m legally dead, I’m at Rex’s mercy. I’m probably just going to be a soldier again, jump right back into the fight; wherever the fight is now. This isn’t just about who he loves more, it’s about Omega and your Batch and Pabu.”

“It’s easy to love someone for what they can give you,” Hunter says softly. 

“Stop trying to make me think I have a chance, here,” Fives says finally, looking back at his feet. He kicks a rock, wipes at his face. “He chose you the second he turned away from me. He saw me, knew he could have me, and chose not to. He chose to turn around and keep you instead.”

“He’s just overwhelmed right now, Fives. He just needs time to think about-”

“You’re hurting me,” Fives whispers, but it’s apparently loud enough for Hunter to hear because his jaw clicks shut. “He wishes I was still dead, or at least that he thought I was still dead. He said that, he said he didn’t want to see me and he didn’t want to know I was alive. I was in the middle of telling him I love him, and he-” Fives cuts himself off, looking at his feet again in case can’t hold his tears back. “I do want him to be happy, it’s all I’ve ever wanted. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt, what he said. What he did.”

“He wouldn’t have run if he didn’t love you anymore,” Hunter says softly, taking a small step closer. “He wouldn’t have felt the need to get away from you if he felt nothing for you, if he moved on. He would have stayed and talked to you.”

Fives swallows thickly. “Crosshair is probably going to find a way to shoot me if you take much longer,” Fives croaks, unwilling to repeat himself again. He can only talk about how obvious it is Echo won’t choose him for so long before he breaks. 

Hunter stares, and he waits, but he finally sighs and nods. “I better get down there. I…It was nice to meet you, Fives. I’m glad I got to meet you.”

Fives doesn’t say anything back, and eventually Hunter’s footsteps start to recede as he walks away. Fives makes his way back onto the ship, going as deep into it as he can and finding a hiding spot that feels good enough to pretend he wouldn’t be found. 

“He’s alive,” Fives whispers, and despite the pain and the heartbreak, the words make him smile. “Echo is alive. He’s alive, and that’s all that matters.” Because it is all that matters; Fives doesn’t need Echo to love him anymore, if that’s the price he has to pay to know Echo is alive to not love him. 

The idea of Echo holding Hunter, of whispering that he loves him, of smiling at Hunter like he used to only smile at Fives; that hurts. It does. But it barely registers on a pain scale where the idea of Echo being dead exists. Fives can still breathe knowing Echo loves someone else, chose someone else. It hurts, sure; but Fives wanted to stop existing when Echo died. He couldn't breathe, he didn’t even want to, when Echo was dead. The pain he feels now is absolutely nothing in comparison. 

Fives will be okay, one day. He’ll still miss Echo, and he’ll long to hear him say I love you again; but he’ll be okay. Because Echo is alive, and he’s happy, and he has a family, and he has a home. He has everything Fives could never give him, and Fives will just learn to let that be enough. 

He hears the ship doors open, and sinks further into his hiding spot. He doesn’t want to talk to Rex again yet; he knows Rex didn’t know, but he can’t help but blame Rex. If Rex had given Echo a heads up, Fives wouldn’t have had to hear him say he didn’t want to see Fives alive again. 

“Fives?” Rex calls, and Fives ignores him. He needs time, alone, to accept the truth. To accept the pain, and learn how to love it. It’s selfish; he knows he’s being selfish. He wants Echo all to himself, and he needs to get over it. He knows that. He’ll be okay again.

He just wants a few minutes to be selfish. 

“Fives, I know you’re on here. There’s nowhere else for you to go.” Rex’s footsteps start to come closer, and Fives sighs in disappointment.  

He comes out of his hiding spot, meeting Rex halfway to the back of the ship. He knows he looks bad; knows he looks like he’s been crying. Rex’s startled gasp is enough proof of that. “Are we leaving now?” he asks instead of saying anything else, because he wants to say something mean and that wouldn’t be helpful. 

Rex swallows and frowns grimly. “Fives, I’m sorry about…what happened. I really did think Echo would have been ecstatic to see you. I didn’t know about Hunter.”

Fives allows himself to look away, to take a few seconds to breathe through the urge to start crying again. “I know you didn’t,” Fives finally gets out, his voice thick. “Is he okay?”

Rex is quiet for a minute, long enough to encourage Fives to look up again. “Not really. He feels guilty, and conflicted. He wants to talk to you.”

Fives sucks in a breath, shifting his weight. Is he selfish enough to deny Echo that? He wants to be. He wants to tell Rex to get them the hell off of this planet, and preferably into the closest and most dangerous fight he’ll let Fives into. “Rex,” he whispers, finally looking up and allowing Rex to see the pain in his eyes. 

Rex winces, but his mouth is set into a firm line. “I think you should talk.”

“He’s going to tell me he chooses them,” Fives says, and he feels a tear fall down his face. “I’m okay with him choosing that, but I don’t think I can-I can…I don’t know if I can hear him say it without breaking.”

Rex is quiet again, mulling the words over in his mind. “If it were Cody, I would want to hear him say it. Just to have the closure. Just to know it’s really over, and I could start healing from it.” He stares at Fives, arms crossed over his chest. 

He didn’t say that Echo would choose Fives. He didn’t dangle that false hope in front of him. Was that Rex being kind or being cruel? Fives can’t decide. 

Fives didn’t realize how badly he wanted Rex to tell him Echo would choose Fives until he didn’t. It hits harder than his conversation with Hunter did, and Fives feels like he’s already broken enough for a lifetime. 

Maybe Rex is right. Maybe it’ll be the closure he needs, and he’ll start to heal after. Maybe it’ll be like that time Kix did sutures on him without any numbing spray; maybe it’ll hurt like hell while it happens, but then he’ll start to get better and he’ll be grateful in the end. 

“Okay,” Fives says, clearing his throat and wiping his face. “Okay. Just…Okay.”

Rex claps a hand on Fives’ shoulder in encouragement, and then turns around. “I’ll send him in and give you guys some privacy.”

Fives nods despite Rex’s back being turned, and takes deep breaths to calm himself down. He hears new footsteps clamber onto the ship, and feels himself tense up instinctually. He forces himself to relax his shoulders, and takes one more deep breath before looking up. 

He looks right into Echo’s eyes, and he feels the breath leave him. Despite the guilt and anguish there, despite the fact that Fives knows exactly what’s about to happen, just seeing those eyes makes Fives feel so happy and at home. He can’t stop the smitten smile from forcing its way onto his lips, can’t stop the warm feeling from spreading through his chest. “Echo,” he whispers, reaching out to touch before snapping his hand back when he remembers. 

Echo isn’t his to touch anymore. His need to reassure himself Echo is real is irrelevant now. 

Echo winces, looking away with a guilty frown. “I wanted to apologize for earlier,” Echo says, and clears his throat. “I…panicked.”

Fives nods, even though Echo isn’t looking at him. “It’s okay,” he lies, his voice breathless. 

Echo looks back at Fives, and Fives feels like nothing bad could ever happen to him again. As long as Echo keeps looking at him, as long as he can see Echo’s eyes, so alive and impossibly warm despite the guilt and sorrow in them. “I didn’t mean it. I am glad that you’re alive. And I’m glad I got to see you again.”

Fives swallows, and the smile refuses to leave his face. His heart is so impossibly full, and he’s so desperately in love with Echo. 

Every second he gets to look at Echo is a gift; every second in his presence is a heaven Fives never deserved. He never wants this moment to end. He would let Echo say all the devastatingly hateful things he wanted, as long as it meant Echo was talking to him.

It doesn’t even hurt right now, the high he’s on is too powerful to let him feel any pain. 

“Don’t look at me like that,” Echo says, and he sounds so guilty and hurt. Fives never wanted to hurt him; never wanted to be the reason Echo felt any sort of negative emotion. 

Fives looks away, blinking rapidly to keep the tears he didn’t know were building at bay. “I’m sorry,” Fives says, and the high is already wearing off again now that Echo isn’t in his field of vision. “I won’t.”

“Don’t-” Echo huffs, and he shifts his weight from one leg to the other uncomfortably. “Don’t apologize.” 

“Okay,” Fives whispers, because he doesn’t know what Echo wants to hear. He used to always know that, used to know instinctively exactly what Echo wanted him to say. As if he could read Echo’s mind. 

It’s quiet, and Fives can’t help himself. He looks back at Echo, and the other clone is staring at the ground anyway. His breath catches, and he greedily drinks his fill of Echo. So alive and undeniably himself. His Echo. 

No, not his. Not anymore. Fives doesn’t get to call Echo his anymore. The thought almost hurts, but looking at Echo dulls the pain into just a mildly unpleasant buzz under his skin. 

“I moved on,” Echo blurts out, and his eyes flick up to Fives to gauge his reaction. 

“I know,” Fives says, and feels like it was the wrong thing to say. “It’s okay. I was gone a long time, it’s okay.”

Echo’s hand clenches into a fist, and his jaw sets angrily. “That’s it? That’s all you’re going to say to that?”

Fives swallows thickly. He should know what Echo wants him to say, he always used to. “What do you want me to say?” he asks, even though it’s the only thing he could have said that he’s sure is wrong. 

Echo’s nostrils flare in anger, and Fives wants to kiss the wrinkle between his brows until it smoothes away. 

He wants to hold Echo, and whisper how much he loves him and how much he never stopped thinking about him for even a second, despite his best efforts. He wants to make Echo melt into him again, make Echo feel safe and happy like he used to be able to.

“I want you to say the truth. I want you to be mad and tell me how much you hate me.” Echo crosses his arms in challenge, and Fives is almost lost in his desperate need to pull Echo into him and kiss him until he’s giggling and loosening his arms again. 

“I don’t hate you,” Fives says truthfully, staring at Echo even though he requested Fives not to. “I couldn’t.”

“I’m with someone else!” Echo reminds him, voice raised in his anger. 

“I know,” Fives reminds Echo, hands twitching at his sides. “I said it’s okay.”

“It’s not!” Echo yells, throwing his arms up in impatience. “I betrayed you!”

“I was dead,” Fives disagrees, and the idea of Echo betraying him is so incredulous it almost makes Fives laugh. “You didn’t betray me, I was dead.”

“I choose him,” Echo says, nose scrunched with anger. He opens his mouth to say something else, but Fives’s reaction must stun him into silence.

Fives knew it was coming. He knew. He told Hunter it would happen. Rex told him it would happen. He was fully aware Echo was going to stay here with Hunter and the bad batch.

Knowing it was coming didn’t make it hurt any less. 

His breath leaves him all at once, as if Echo punched him as hard as he could in the gut. The tears that build in his eyes are involuntary, as is the way his eyes shut and force them out and down his cheeks. 

Fives wishes he had died when Fox shot him. Better yet, he wishes he died at the citadel. He wishes he died at Rishi. He wishes he was never decanted at all. Anything but those words, anything but hearing Echo say it out loud. 

“Fives,” Echo chokes, and he sounds so guilty. 

“Sorry,” Fives chokes out, forcing himself to open his eyes and look at Echo. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.” He gasps in a sharp breath, feeling like he’s breathing in knives instead of air. “That’s okay, it’s okay. I understand.”

Echo takes an angry step towards Fives, his face morphing back into anger and losing the guilt. “You shouldn’t! You should be fighting for me!”

Fives chokes on a laugh, but he can’t tear his eyes away from Echo’s face. “I don’t want to make this any harder for you than it has to be, Echo. I know you’re choosing Hunter, I know you’ve moved on, I know there’s nothing I can say or do to convince you to walk away from this. I don’t want to. You’re happy here, you have a family here. You have everything I’ve ever wanted you to have.” He finally looks away, just to the right of Echo. “And if you left it for me, you wouldn’t be happy. All you would ever think about is how much you miss it here, how much you hate me for coming back to life and dragging you away from your happiness.”

“You are all I can think about!” Echo yells, and Fives finally looks back to Echo only to find him crying. “I don’t want to be happy if you aren’t.”

Fives gives up on holding himself back; he surges forward and connects their lips. It isn’t perfect; it’s full of tears and hurt and heartbreak. He pulls away from it too soon, kissing Echo’s nose and then his forehead, arms wrapping tightly around Echo. 

He doesn’t know if this embrace is a promise or a goodbye, and he knows he won’t until Echo decides. He’s never felt so helpless and desperate before. He didn’t want to ask for this exact reason; the false hope that swells inside of him, the irrational thought that Echo just might choose him after all. That Echo could leave all of this behind and join Fives in his new life on the run. 

It was easier when he believed there was no chance. When he thought Echo hated him and wanted him gone. This hope is threatening to swallow him whole, to leave nothing of Fives behind but a skeleton and a broken heart. 

“I’ll be happy again,” he says after a beat, and his voice only shakes a little bit. “Knowing that you’re alive and happy out there. That’ll make me happy. You don’t have to walk away from this just because you think I won’t be happy.”

Echo moves his head until his forehead rests on Fives’ shoulder, and his arms tighten around Fives’ torso. “I never don’t think about you,” he whispers into the skin under his lips. “I don’t know if I could go back to this life knowing you’re alive.”

“I love you,” Fives whispers, and silently begs for time to freeze them in this moment. Begs for this moment to last forever, dragged on for infinity. Just as long as Echo doesn’t pull away and tell Fives he still chooses Hunter. Just as long as he can stay here, and not know what Echo will do.

[mori-does-sw]

CLONE CRUSHES: TORRENT COMPANY

PAIRING \ Torrent Company x GN!Reader (Rex, Fives, Echo, Kix, Hardcase, Jesse, Tup) SYNOPSIS \ How the troopers of Torrent Company act when they have a crush on you. WARNING(S) \ None AUTHOR'S NOTE \ This took me an insanely long time to finish, but here we are! Yes, the Mon Gala is a reference to the Met Gala. I am inordinately proud of it.

CAPTAIN REX

Rex is awkward—awkward around you when he realizes how strong his feelings are and awkward doing anything about it. He does more fumbling than flirting in the beginning, stuck in his head and panicking about it, but he gets more comfortable over time.

Give him a break, he’s doing his best.

Despite being standoffish in his affections, Rex is a gentleman and he’ll prove it to you in a million little actions. When you’re commuting through Coruscant, he’ll always walk on the side of you closest to traffic. If there aren’t enough seats of everyone at a group gathering, he would immediately get up and give you his. The second that you admit to being cold, he’s giving you some of his spare blacks.

Speaking of letting you borrow his clothes… seeing you wearing them for the first time almost breaks his brain. He just stands there and stares at you, eyes wide and head buzzing. All he can think about is how karking gorgeous you are, and how he can get you to replace your entire wardrobe with his stuff.

Later, he tells you that you can “just keep it”, and that he has plenty of replacements. He is not subtle at all, and thus deserves all the shit he’s going to get for it.

Rex doesn’t often show up to plans that aren’t mission-critical, not unless a few members of Torrent Company drag him along. Or, if he knows that you’re going to be there.

He could be at the Mon Gala, with all the most famous and wealthy beings on Coruscant, and he’ll literally just show up and talk to you the entire time. If he can’t, if he’s trapped in a conversation that’s actually important or you’re pulled away, he’ll watch from a distance until he can make his way back.

Rex knows his priorities. With a little luck, he might just become as important to you as you are to him.

ARC TROOPER ECHO

Echo’s feelings are pretty contained, much like the trooper himself, but the way he looks at you gives it all away.

You can be doing anything and he’ll be staring at you with literal heart eyes, but he can’t help it. You’re cute. He’ll watch you go about your life, perfectly intent until the warmth in his chest spills over and forces his gaze away to sort through his thoughts.

He’s on the other side of the damn room and you’ve somehow made him go all shy.

Echo’s observant—kind of has to be, as an ARC trooper—and he’ll catalog every habit of yours down to the littlest detail. A part of him craves the intimacy of knowing everything about you, something that fuels his quiet delight at being able to suss out what you’re thinking when others can’t. 

More often than not, his insight into you catches you off guard. Convincing others that you aren’t scared out of your mind is practically a job requirement, but somehow, you can never fool Echo. Not even your bravest face can convince him that you don’t need to lean on him, tell him your frustrations, or hold hands under the table.

Usually, Echo keeps to himself, a little closed off to anyone but his closest vode. But the minute you walk into the room, his mood immediately brightens. He’s quicker to smile and laugh; it’s like all his stress melts away, and that doesn’t go unnoticed by the rest of Torrent Company.

Hardcase has sneakily captured more than a few clips of you two, edited over with so many pink filters and glitter hearts that you’re barely recognizable, and circulated them among the vode.

It doesn’t matter if Echo tries to scour them from the holonet, they become so well-known that clones from entirely different battalions will ask him about his cyare.

He's eternally grateful for the Prime’s dark complexion—you don’t even have to lift a finger to get under his skin. You fluster him too easily. He’s helpless but to forgive you, though, when you smile at him the way you do.

ARC TROOPER FIVES

Fives could care less whether other people are laughing at him or with him—he knows he’s hilarious, and that’s enough to satisfy his ego. The only person who makes him uncharacteristically self-conscious is, well, you.

Yes, Echo has (and will) tease him endlessly for this.

Whenever he’s around you, he’d feel an undeniable urge to do one thing: make you laugh. He cracks a joke and immediately peeks over to gauge your reaction. If he succeeds in making you chuckle, snort, or even just breathe a little harder out of your nose, he lights up. You’re gorgeous when you laugh, even more so when it’s because of him. He can’t help but double down on the bit until you’re too weak to breathe.

Complaining about your sides hurting only prompts him to apologize for “being too funny for you to handle”.

Fives is an incorrigible flirt on a good day, but when he’s around you it becomes 1000% worse. He’s guilty of every cheesy move in the playbook—pretending to yawn and stretch so that he can put his arm around your shoulders, asking you to “hold something” and taking your offered hand in his, or even faux-demanding that you kiss his injuries better. 

He means everything he says, but he’s very careful to make his overtures playful. Fives doesn’t want to scare you away if you don’t feel the same.

Being near to you puts him at ease, soothes an itch he didn’t even realize he had before you both met. He unconsciously seeks out contact with you all the time, pressing his knee to your under the table, bumping shoulders, playing with the fabric of your sleeves. Small things.

So, he’s touchy, and about half of the time he doesn’t even realize it. Why should he, when he’s always shared contact freely with his vode? 

Maybe he makes just one too many comments, gets a little too comfortable in your personal space, gives in to his desire to see you flustered—but when you decide to give him a taste of his own medicine, he’s toast. Smile a bit, touch him, and Fives goes from a cocky, formidable ARC trooper to a stammering cadet.

He’s kind of okay with his brain melting, though, because you’re so pleased with yourself. And although he’s hot-faced and grinning like an idiot, he’s your idiot.

LIEUTENANT JESSE

Much like Fives, Jesse is a joker—one of his favorite activities is making fun of you, and in a way that implies you’re the one who’s crushing instead of him. It’s merciless, especially when the rest of Torrent company catch on to the bit. Getting flustered only makes it worse, easier for him to tease you about “getting nervous around him”.

Watch what you say when he’s around, because anything that could be construed as innuendo will be. Ask an innocent question about if clone armor is hot to wear, and watch Jesse’s smirk grow as he says: “I think I should be asking you that, sugar.”

It’s kind of a way for him to test you, figure out how the idea of liking him affects you.

His vode discover his true feelings when he actually shares his food with you, sometimes without you even having to ask. It’s kind of mindboggling to see the same guy who threatened Kix for stealing his rations readily let you eat from his plate.

He’d be so happy if you shared your food with him, too. Even more so if you bring him things that aren’t rations. The closest he’s ever come to straight-up confessing his love for you is when you got a box of Mandalorian uj cake for him because he’d never tried it.

However, playful, joking Jesse can become a no-nonsense bodyguard at the drop of a hat. He has a protective streak a mile long, something that drives him to shield his brothers from allies and enemies alike, and more recently, you. 

Jesse is intimidating as haran, built like a tank and covered with tattoos, and it’s made so much worse when someone’s targeting you. He’s not afraid to get in people’s faces about it, either, over two hundred pounds of ARC fueled by rage and spite. A little “chat” is all they need to get them to apologize to you—though, in Jesse’s expert opinion, they don’t deserve your forgiveness.

All of his bravado melts when you quietly thank him for defending you. That’s his job, sugar, and don’t you forget it.

CLONE MEDIC KIX

Between carrying out his duty to the Republic and ensuring his idiot vode don’t keel over and die, Kix neither has the time nor the energy to be throwing himself at his crush. Even without his job running him ragged, he wouldn’t be the type—no matter how intense his feelings are.

Rather, Kix courts you. From a distance.

While Kix may not have much in terms of credits, he’ll do everything in his power to make your life a little easier; By virtue of his authority and near-legendary status amongst the troops, he has a lot of influence on his side. And if that doesn’t work, well… there’s many reasons why you don’t piss off a medic.

Little acts of service are it for him. Before you even get to the refractory, he’s set aside your favorite “flavor” of ration bar to ensure they don’t run out. If you complain about being tired, you’ll find an extra cup of caff—or a sedative—sitting innocently on your desk. 

Struggling with the mountain of stuff you’re carrying? Kix is hauling whatever items are in reach into his arms before you even ask for help. About to miss the turbolift? He’ll hold the door for you and glare at his vode if they complain too much.

Need a hand to hold during a procedure? Don’t worry honey, he’s got you.

Kix loves that you treat his time with respect, but sometimes getting you all to himself is a high-stakes negotiation. You’ll bicker back and forth, him insisting that no, you’re not intruding on him or his brothers, and you trying to reassure him that he isn’t obligated to hang out with you if he’s too tired or doesn’t want to be around natborns. He knows he isn’t, but you’re oblivious to how much he wants to.

Kix would get so slick about stealing you away. When he has the opportunity, he’ll casually strike up a conversation about field medicine and- oh, you don’t remember that training session? Well, he has a blank space on his schedule today and he’s more than happy to slot you in for a little extra help.

He’d be (quietly) over the moon if you decided to slip into his office and chat with him while he tears through paperwork or runs labs. While he fantasizes about hopes to take you out on a proper date someday, he’s content to bottle up your laughter as he complains about di’kute vode, hoarding the memory for the darkest moments of the war.

CLONE TROOPER HARDCASE

Congratulations! With Hardcase crushing on you, you’ve snagged a two-in-one deal: A personal hype man and an overexcited puppy.

In Hardcase’s eyes you’re superior at everything you do, period. He insists that you’re the best at your job any chance he gets, even going so far as to volunteer your name whenever some mission needs your kind of expertise—annoying, but it’s hard to stay mad at him for long.

Your competence is really attractive to him, and sometimes he forgets you’re not together and lets a few comments slip. Hardcase doesn’t even realize what he’s said after the fact, oblivious to the fact that your face feels like it’s been dipped in lava when he admires “how kriffing good you are at that” and how “hot” it is.

He praises you so much for doing the most mundane things, it’s like a compulsion for him. You could be helping tape him up after a battle and he’s making little observations about how perfect your wrapping is and how gentle you are with him.

Kix overhears this and tells him that he’d better go to you for wound dressing than the medbay, if you’re so much better at it. He just might, if that means he could get you to touch him again.

Hardcase loves your attention, and occasionally that translates into him being intentionally annoying. He’ll pop up all the time when he’s off duty, making himself at home in your office or at your side and bothering you to your wit’s end. He’ll hide your stylus and make you chase him around to get it, or he’ll call you acting as if he has something important to tell you and then manage to keep you on the line for an hour.

The second it seems like you’re getting upset at him, however, he cuts the crap immediately. If you’re not having fun, he’s not having fun, and he wants to make that abundantly clear to you in case… just in case it turns out you’re interested in him the same way he’s interested in you.

CLONE TROOPER TUP

Tup might not be as confident as Kix, or as widely renowned as Rex, or as charismatic as Fives and Echo… and that knowledge can weigh heavily on him. Thinking that, compared to his brothers, he doesn’t have much to offer you is part of why he hesitates to act on his feelings.

Take these thoughts with a mountain of salt—Tup excels at something else, and that’s being an absolute sweetheart. His patience is near-infinite when it comes to you. He’s always happy to explain something (however many times you need) and is the first to lend you a hand if you’re struggling.

Just don’t read too much into his full-body flinches whenever your fingers brush his, the way his words stumble when you get too close.

Being a standard, rank-and-file trooper makes it all the more difficult for him to even imagine catching your eye, but ironically, his status gives him unique opportunities. Doing grunt work around the ship means that you often cross paths, affording him the chance to say hello or strike up a passing conversation. If he’s lucky, he gets the chance to be beside you throughout his shift.

It’s useless to try and thank him for any of his help, he’ll just duck his head and insist that he’s more than happy to give you a hand. Your praise, however, has him sporting a smug little grin for the rest of the day,

The man melts under your hands like butter. You can convince him to do anything if you ask nicely enough, and on more than one occasion he’s left. He regrets it only when you’re half in his lap and doodling on his bare arm, too focused to notice his increasingly flustered demeanor even as you scold him for fidgeting. 

Privately, you worry that people are going to use Tup as a doormat—but if you mention it to the rest of Torrent, their hysterical laughter will shut you up fast. 

Don’t blame them too much, though. The last time Fives mimicked a whip cracking sound within Tup’s hearing range, he was applying bacta for weeks.

[eomereadig]

Snippet: I Carry You Beneath My Skin

Another fic written for @whumpril because i just can’t help myself - this time the prompt is ‘coughing fit’

Fandom: Star Wars

Pairing: Fives/Echo, Fives & Jesse

Rating: T

Tags: Formication, hallucinations, insects, hallucinating bugs on skin, self harm (fives scratches himself because of the fictional bugs), grief, major character death, idk if you can still call it that now we know the truth, sick fic, Fives!Whump, Fives needs a hug

Full fic now avaliable here

Fives was fucked. 

He was going to die. 

He was going to be eaten from the inside out by-

The door whooshing open startled Fives out of his panic. Hands half-raked down his abdominal muscles, Fives’ head snapped towards the threshold just in time to see a clone turning away from where they’d been watching him and marching on. 

Fives only caught the back of their head as they left but… he knew that head. 

There was a scar to the lower part of the clone’s undercut, level with his ear and off to the side. Fives knew that scar - he’d put it there himself during training on Kamino when he’d thrown a plate at… at Echo. 

Echo. 

Echo shouldn’t have been there, but Fives for the life of him couldn’t recall why. 

Why hadn’t he spoken to him? Why hadn’t he helped with the bugs? Speaking of, they seemed to have retreated for the time being, right along with his batchmate.

Frowning, Fives staggered to the door which had timed out and slipped closed, pressing his hand against the release before wandering out into the corridor, still shirtless and barefoot. 

He did so just in time to see Echo disappear around the bend at the far end of the corridor, not so much as a glance in Fives’ direction.

“Hey, Echo, wait!” Fives stumbled after him, feet feeling strangely heavy. The call apparently had no effect. Why wouldn’t Echo wait for him? It felt as if he hadn’t seen the other Domino in ages - they had so much to catch up on! If there was anyone that could make Fives feel better when he was sick, it was Echo - for more reasons than one. 

When he got to where he’d last seen Echo, Fives was once again just in time to watch him disappear around another corner. Desperate and now beginning to become irritated, Fives dutifully followed. “I said wait! Please, Echo, I love you, just wait for me a sec!” Echo didn’t make a reappearance. “Echo, come back!” Fives practically bounced off of the walls as he staggered onwards. He passed one of his comrades in the corridor but barely spared them a second glance as they stared at him. They didn’t understand. He had to find Echo. Something in the back of his mind told him it was urgent.

Full fic now avaliable here