#it's fluffy I prommy

[dixenjackal]

Can it be Christmas yet puhlease

[pwurrz]

quincy doesn’t stop by the mansion very often but, lately it seems that every time he has, him and yakumo always miss each other. yakumo will be at his grandparents, or in town running some errands, and by the time he gets back, quincy will be long gone. it feels like it’s been forever since the two of them last saw each other.

so when their paths finally do cross again, yakumo’s more than a little excited.

he runs up to quincy and basically tackles him with a hug, a huge smile on his face when quincy’s arms wrap around him to return the hug when he’s done stumbling from the force of the loving attack. it’s only when he hears (or rather feels, since his head is pressed snuggly against the larger man’s chest) quincy chuckle that he realizes he may have gotten a bit carried away.

yakumo goes to pull away, suddenly feeling terribly shy, but quincy’s arms wrapped firmly around his waist prevent him from going too far. when he looks up at the forest guardian, he feels the flush in his cheeks intensify at the unbearably fond expression on quincy’s face.

quincy smiles even wider, gently pressing his lips against the serpent’s forehead before leaning down to give him a proper kiss, one that’s sweet and tender and filled with longing.

“i missed you too, little serpent. ♡”

[ellies-enrichment]

oh my god my editor for this fic is the slowest editor that has ever existed

*i am the editor for this fic*

[simply-windy]

all of your blogs are delicious and I get excited when any of them (that I have notifications on for) post :333/gen

Awwww! Thank you!!! That means a lot to me that you like my blogs!!!!

[flyingspicerack]

NEW UPDATE! BIG BIG ANGST!!!! MAO TRAGIC BACKSTORY REVEAL

This one actually has some big content warnings as it's heavy with angst and hurt... but there's some comfort and fluff to make up for it

Content Warnings: bullying, almost attempted suicide, parent death, depiction of panic attack

tag list: @oh-gh0st @cottonplushes @pekodayz @divinity-deos @lunarpanda

if you would like to be added to the tag list for my maoichi fic updates, please let me know and ill add ya!!

[veilkeeper]

im gonna be honest roz is having a bad time right now

i think i've been pretty clear about this but i think it's time i made a dedicated post about how bad of a time roz is having as of early act 3, because we kind of left off on a high in act 2 and it's been all downhill from there. so let's summarize. roz enjoyers, read on.

first the act starts with the emperor reveal. this is fucked in and of itself, not just because roz is a githyanki and the emperor is a mindflayer keeping their prince subdued, but because it is confirmation that they have trusted and sacrificed for someone who has been lying to them, and they're kind of locked into a dynamic with him that they don't know how to untangle themself from (more on this in an upcoming post). especially since....

they're partial-illithid, and not by choice. this is the real trigger of basically everything that comes next, at least regarding their emotional state. this is the thing that makes them feel violated and isolated and like they can't talk to anyone, and is the real heart behind the insecurity they're bringing to everything else.

astarion really wants to do the ritual, and it is becoming increasingly clear that that's a terrible idea. everything they learn about it implies more and more that it's going to require doing something monstrous (because of course) and that it's going to change astarion in ways neither of them can predict. please look at the point above. roz is not really stoked about changes they can't predict or control right now.

but... even though they think it's a terrible idea to go through with the ritual, astarion really wants to. and while roz has trouble saying no at the best of times, theyre definitely not in a good state to do it now, especially since astarion is pulling out all the stops with the "manipulative boyfriend" bingo he seems to be playing. paralyzing fear of abandonment + targeted manipulation + intense insecurity = a not great roz

all of this is of course also compounded by the fact that because of where astarion is emotionally (namely, terrified that cazador is going to whisk him away and use everything he cares about against him), astarion is also not exactly forthcoming with the touchy-feely stuff either, so roz is getting absolutely no feedback from him that like... they matter to him, and that he isn't one of the many, many people who seem to be using them.

and then, halsin propositions them. and while i stand by everything i said in my long meta post about the polymance being good, actually, for roz specifically in this exact moment, i think they're saying yes more out of a desire to be desired and to just turn off their brain and do what someone else wants, and less because they think this is a good idea right now. halsin is a great guy who makes them feel safe, but they are not in a headspace to properly make a decision on this but... well. they did.

and raphael and the emperor (and soon gortash, i believe) are playing tug-of-war with roz's loyalties and roz is basically being forced to decide which Terrible Guy to trust for more than two seconds. because even if they don't trust any of them, one of them has to protect them from their tadpole long enough to actually stop the world from ending.

oh, and because it shouldn't be overlooked: they are being tasked with saving the world.

basically at this point every time i play i'm just thinking "is this the moment they have a terrible mental break down? is this the moment they have a terrible mental break down?" it's like pulling an elastic too far. they're going to have to snap sometime, right?

[scruffydogposting]

My toe bouncing stim is not going well with a puppy lmao

[poprockpanda]

Afraid to Fade (Out of the fire: Chapter 3)

tw for almost being sufficated, body horror, and dying in a dream

Tommy twisted the plastic bag’s handle in his hand and then he watched the bag spin as the handle untwisted. He absentmindedly fiddled with the bag as he fished his phone out of his side pocket. He quickly navigated to his contacts and tapped on his friend David’s picture. The phone started to ring and he pressed it to his ear as he waited for David to pick up.

The ringing died as David answered the call. ��What’s up?” David asked.

“I picked up the snacks and I am on my way to the park. I should be there in like 7 minutes,” Tommy replied as he crossed the street.

“Okay, cool. I’ll be by the big tree waiting for you,” David said. 

Tommy opened his mouth to say goodbye and hang up but the ground beginning to shake made the words die in his throat. He nearly fell over as the ground was racked with one final quake and an impossibly loud thud.

Tommy willed his legs to turn him around to face whatever the fuck was shaking the ground like that. Not even 200 feet from him a massive thing was knelt smack dab in the middle of Wilson Street.

The sight of the thing that towered over everything surrounding it froze Tommy in his tracks. He lifted his head to look at the being’s face. They had an irritated expression on their face as their eyes scanned for something on the ground.

Tommy dared to take a breath after he realized that he hadn’t been breathing. The being’s eyes immediately snapped up and locked onto him. The hand that was draped over their knee lifted to reach out for him. Tommy turned around in a split second as adrenaline made his legs run faster than he ever had before.

“Tommy?” David’s voice reminded Tommy that he had yet to hang up and he accidentally tapped the speaker button when the ground shook. He gripped the phone as he ran down the cracking sidewalk. 

All too suddenly a flash of flesh blocked his exit and Tommy was running far too quickly to stop in time. The tree sized fingers curled around his body as his phone and the bag were bumped out of his hands. He began to scream for help as he was pulled into the air.

He struggled and squirmed in the crushing grip as the being inspected him with cold, uncaring eyes.

“Tommy! Tommy, talk to me! What’s happening?!?” David’s yelling attracted their attention to Tommy’s phone. They looked at it with a look of disgust as they easily crushed it beneath their fingertip.

They looked back to Tommy for a moment before placing their thumb over his mouth to silence his screams. They turned their head up to look around for anyone else but their search was cut short as a voice came from their walkie talkie, shouting something Tommy couldn’t understand.

Tommy could feel his life start to fade as his air supply was cut off. He started to lose consciousness as black dots flooded his vision. Air whipped past his ears as the being pushed themselves to a stand. They took one last look around as they began running back the way that came from.

He could hear the street cracking beneath their feet as he lost his last grasp on consciousness. 

Suddenly he went weightless for a moment before smacking against a hard surface. He gasped for air as he looked around the new environment. He couldn’t see anything, not even himself in the suffocating darkness.

With a click a blindingly bright light turned on above him. The light showed him where he was.

Is this a cage? Where the hell am I? Tommy looked around the box. It was barren and empty, nothing in it but him. He approached the plastic wall opposite him to try and see what is beyond the cage. No matter how hard he squinted, all he could see was the same darkness surrounding the cage.

Maybe I can climb out. Tommy tilted his head up just in time to see a hand far bigger than any he had ever seen reaching down for him. He stumbled backwards and tried to back away from the hand but his feet were stuck to the floor. He fell onto his back as he struggled to move his feet. 

His arms were as stuck as his feet and he could do nothing but scream and watch as the hand dragged him into the darkness.

He was weightless again as he was dropped into the cage on his back. Pain set his spine ablaze but he forced himself to sit up. Something felt…off.

He looked around him to see if anything had changed but it was the same barren cage and infinite black. His gaze fell onto his right hand as he realized what was wrong.

His ring finger was gone.

His heart raced as he grabbed his hand with the other. He couldn’t drag his eyes away from his hand as the flesh on his hand started to rot before his eyes. The flesh turned to nothingness, leaving only bone. He screamed as his bones began to turn to dust and disappear. 

He could feel his other limbs start to rot and turn to dust as he tried to get away from his arm. Before he knew it his entire arm was gone as he screamed with all his might. His voice started to die as the rot reached his lungs. He lost sight as the rot took over his face and covered his eyes. He only had time for one last simple thought.

Help me.

And then he was gone.

Tommy woke up screaming, pain scorching his raw throat. His eyes darted around looking for anything that would show him he was alive. He couldn't  see anything in the darkness, same as before. He stopped screaming as something wet fell onto his hand. He didn’t even notice that he had been crying.

He yelped as a massive silhouette shifted in front of him. In an instant it sat up and he was being stared down by two massive, yellow eyes. 

Their eyes.

The same massive yellow eyes that stared him down as he suffocated in their grip.

The being’s hand reached out for him again.

He started scrambling backward but he knew we would be too slow.

I’m too slow.

With a click, warm light filled the room. Tommy froze as he took in the realization that he wasn’t dead. He wasn’t in some dark void, he was on a bedside table with a lamp beside him. He lifted his arm to his face. It was perfectly intact, aside from his ring finger.

There was no sign of the rot and decay that had overtaken his body. He remembered the being in front of him and his head snapped up to their eyes.

He saw his captor’s eyes……but it wasn’t them. The eyes were sat on a concerned face. The snake alien’s face.

I-it was a nightmare. Just a nightmare, Tommy.

He was dragged from his thoughts once again with the sound of the alien’s voice. He felt his entire body untense as the alien spoke softly, their words and their meaning were lost on him. All he knew was that they were there and his captor wasn’t.

Tommy takes a deep breath, the feeling of his breath filling his lungs calming him down even more. The alien waved their hand slowly to get his attention before pantomiming scooping Tommy up and bringing him to their chest.

He debated their offer for a moment. The warmth would do a great deal of good but the idea of being held made him decide to refuse. Tommy shook his head and their expression softened further. They hesitated for a moment before slowly moving their hand toward him. 

His heart threatened to race but he managed to calm himself down as their hand pinched his makeshift blanket. They draped it back over him and moved to turn off the light.

The darkness returned but it didn’t feel as scary as before. The alien stared at him for a moment before laying back down. He also wanted to go back to sleep but he knew better than to think he was going to fall asleep again tonight.

He pulled his blanket over his head to at least try and get comfortable but he couldn’t seem to feel right. He sighed as he sat up. The alien’s breath indicated that they were still awake. He stood up and grabbed his blanket.

He walked back a bit and ran forward, propelling himself off the edge of the nightstand. He landed on the soft mattress, sinking into it slightly. He heard a small chuckle from the alien as he snuggled up against their side. A finger came to pet his head and ruffle his hair before disappearing again.

Tommy’s thoughts carried him lightyears away as he looked out to the darkness.

Taglist: @beckyu @skullsnbruises @data-expunged-0

If you would like to be added to the taglist just let me know!

[collisionxkiss]

Wrote a fic for the first time in forever

Check it out if you wanna <3 I'd rlly appreciate it!

[cleewii]

I'm personally a fan of gyu being a big softie around his partner bc while I am a horror enjoyer I also have a weak heart :(((((

Insults are part of his love language and he's never one to sugar-coat but he has a soft spot for his partner like he has a soft spot for Daki and would do anything to keep them safe and happy (though he has a pretty loose concept of "safe"...and "happy" lol).

I don't think he'd want a partner that's blind to the horrors of the world. Or any sort of short-term partner. If he loves someone he's not leaving them until his corpse has long decayed, and probably longer than that. Gyu might find someone that's fun to torment for a while, but there's no affection there.

Yandere scenarios suit him well I think. I can see him thinking it's best to keep his s/o caged in a room or building. He doesn't like to see them sad but he's convinced it's for their own good so he brings them all the treats and trinkets they could ever want to keep them... happy enough. The situation would be worse for his partner if gyutaro considered it temporary and that he'd find some other way to keep them safe eventually. He prioritizes their long term happiness over short term, so if they're miserable for a while they can just get over it.

OH GOD YANDERE GYUTARO!!!! see, i think he just innately has yandere-esque traits?? no matter how hard i try, i can’t imagine violence and unhealthy obsession NOT being important (or i suppose notable?) parts of a relationship with him.

not to say that every aspect of being with him romantically is horrifying or bad, of course!!

obviously my mans has never ever been in a relationship before, and because this plus the fact his views on humanity and charity are so twisted, I think he gets very obsessed and possessive of anybody who views him romantically. so, his violent nature just, well—I don't think he can help letting it slip out sometimes!

A person gets too close? yeah he's ending their entire bloodline immediately...

someone is mean to you? yeah, no, they're never seeing daylight again...

sigh... he's just very protective and prone to jealousy, but I don't think he'd ever take that out on his s/o. he'd dote on them just like he does daki! although, I think the part of his brain that punches this out of him is just a little bit toxic ❤️ but its okay tho cuz he can be a total sweetie and his love for his s/o is undeniable!!

[4arconinoma]

Started looking at more spider images/videos/facts recently to rid myself of my vague fear of them and started with tarantulas because they seemed the scariest

Now I have a full on tarantula hyperfixation

[saturnmortis]

[flygutz]

like, randy being in disbelief that someone would willingly take on any part of his identity. that someone would do it with PRIDE,,that BENSON would do it. bc bensons the most confident, comfortable person in randy’s mind.

but he also knows that benson wasn’t happy with the life he’d been living, and this feels like a gift he can give him - a second chance to be who he really wants to be. to literally embody part of randy’s potential (which was part bensons to begin with)

what about benson & randy getting married, & they never discuss last names but benson does the paperwork to change his & doesn’t tell randy. then one day a letter comes in the mail for a “benson bradley” and randy rips benson’s cut off tank top & jorts off with record breaking speed & efficiency

[catboymoments]

Honestly after all the designs you've made and posted, I'm curious what your character design process is?

(Also new pfp, same sapphic me that will gush over your designs)

I usually get a lot of my designs from following a few core principles!!

1. Simple and effective designs that aren’t overly complex

2. Limited color palettes

3. Reoccurring motifs and recognizable characters

Like for example. Lumata guys. I’m gonna draw them again ok I prommy. But Kay el is short and has sharp edges, similar to Yoko, but what makes them stand out from each other is he’s got a more slender masc muscular build, a more yellow/orange color palette and a reoccurring star motif. His bleached fluffy hair is meant to resemble the shape of a star, he’s got a subtle star shape in his eyes, his scars and broken nose and missing tooth showing a lifetime of hardship and fending for himself.

I could talk at LENGTH about all I’ve learned about character design over the years but I’m so tired rn. BUT. ALSL. check out Pinterest for clothing and face inspo and even general character inspiration to give them unique traits and quirks!

[tubbytarchia]

hello number 1 jimmy understander. do u have jimmy fic recs 🎤

Whoagh what high praise!! I don't actually... :(

Sorry anon... All I can offer are some rancher fics since I combed all the way through that tag awhile back (I'll read more Jimmy fics in time I prommy):

"those were kinder times" by SurrealSupernaturalist - 10k words of ranchers doing rancher things. Light angst, mostly fluff and hurt/comfort as Jimmy's healing, and the agriculture elements in this were absolutely encapsulating. Cozy ranch life...

dull&slow by canarydarity (AO3)- The ranchers are arguing for 6k words and it hurts a lot but it's very well written

strawberry wine (and all the time we used to have) by canarydarity - 2k oneshot that nails the vibes of "peaceful insignificance". It's comforting and I enjoy Tango's introspection a lot

to build a home by pastelitey - Series of mostly fluffy scenarios after the ranch gets burnt down, 10k words. There's a few moments within here that made me feel a lot of things though

[happy-beeeps]

Right Where You Left Me

WC: 5.5k

Pairing: Echo x f!reader

Summary: After Echo was presumed dead, you started a new life on Tatooine, but what happens when he comes back?

A/N: This is a two-fer! @starboytech and I did the roll for clone that @ghostofskywalker created a while back, and I was able to combine it with a prompt for @clonexreaderbingo! My roll for clone prompts included Echo, exes, fluff, and a playlist! So enjoy this fic that got away from me, I will be writing another part or so, and enjoy the playlist below! Also this playlist is for like this fic vibes and I prommy its fluffy but the general synopsis is slightly angst so sorry for all the sad songs!!!!!

You Missed My Heart- Phoebe Bridgers

Cornelia Street- Taylor Swift

Come Back, Be Here-Taylor Swift

Chicago-Louis Tomlinson

Right Where You Left Me-Taylor Swift

Fine Line-Harry Styles

Francesca-Hozier

The Night We Met-Lord Huron

You really had no idea what brought you to this godforsaken dust pile. Well, technically it was a collective bantha shitload of grief and a well placed advertisement promising a new life and a new career. What the advertisement promised was the aforementioned new life and career, somewhere exotic where no one knew your name. What the advertisement didn’t disclose until you were on the landing platform of the Mos Eisley spaceport with your bags in hand was what an absolute wasteland Tatooine really was. In reality, you could’ve coughed up the cash and went home to Coruscant, or even to your birth system, but what was there to go back to? Echo, your love and light and bright spot in every way, was gone, he’d been gone since the Citadel and there was no chance he was coming back. You couldn’t keep dragging his brothers down when they came to visit you, or moping around your friends’ wine nights. Besides, your credits went far here and you were out of the way enough to escape the general turmoil of the war–and the foundation of the Empire.

The work came easy, and you settled into a stable routine. The cantina paid fine, and you were able to afford a small house in one of the lesser crime ridden areas of the town. Serving drinks was simple and mind numbing, and you found it easy to bat your eyelashes and flirt your way into extra tips. Every so often a rogue bounty hunter or homesteader tried to take you out, and once or twice you even obliged. The last man you agreed to go out with, a quiet moisture farmer named Timo, became one of your closest friends on the system when you explained you just didn’t have it in you. You hated pulling the “dead boyfriend” card, you had built your character here on being strong and dependable, so just settled with calling him your ex. And so he remained your ex Echo, allowing you only the quiet moments of the night to truly mourn him.

What you hadn’t counted on, exactly, was how hard it was to stay dead.

*

Timo was hunched over the bar, sipping some new ale your boss had smuggled in recently when his eyes pointed over to the group of men sitting down nearby. “New bounty hunters?”

You eyed them suspiciously, four men, two with their backs to you. Of the two who faced you, one had the familiar face and stature of a clone trooper, altered only by his shaggy hair and face tattoo, and the other appeared to be his brother, though you hadn’t recalled ever seeing a clone of that size and stature before. You’d seen a trooper or two around here before, but seeing a full squad was surprising. The other two men appeared buried in their work, and your heart ached at the sight of cybernetics on one of the men’s bodies. You looked a little further and your mouth dropped open, eyes shooting back to Timo. “Did they bring a fucking child in here?”

Timo looked over before bringing a hand up to his mouth, stifling a laugh. “I mean, when in Mos Eisley I guess?”

You made to move over there, you rarely got involved in customer’s business, frankly you were convinced that's how you’d survived this long, but a child in the bar was evidently your line. You leaned closer to yell at them when an all too familiar voice broke through the air.

“Right, ‘cuz Cyd’s never given us a reason to distrust her before.”

You knew it was crazy, he was dead and there were quite literally a million other people with that voice, but it was so him. His cadence, his tone, it was all so surreal it had you dropping the glass you were carrying onto the floor, and you dropped to follow it before the troopers turned to look at you. Timo glanced down worriedly at you, and you looked up at him, eyes wide and mouth open. A memory, one forced down in a feat fueled by both pain and survival, fizzled into your brain.

You were both tangled in your bed, your hands dancing around the tufts of black curls you had your fingers threaded through as Echo murmured sweet nothings into your neck.

“Why do you have to leave, why can’t we just run away to Scarif or something?” you murmured, bringing a hand down to cradle his cheek. He leaned to press his lips against your palm.

“You know I can’t do that.”

“I know, I’d never really ask you to. You know I’m always here waiting for you.”

He’d smirked, pushing himself off of your chest and placing both strong arms on either side of your head. “You’ve never given me a reason to distrust you before.”

You hadn’t realized how long you’d been down there, or how frozen you must’ve been, because Timo was suddenly disappearing from behind the counter and approaching the troopers. You heard his voice murmur something, and more voices responded, before he dashed back to where you crouched behind the bar. “I got help, these two guys are soldiers or something, they said they can check if you’re hurt-”

“Timo…” you groaned, but your voice was pulled back out of your throat when you looked up into Echo’s wide eyes, filled with a heartbreaking combination of fear, shock, and complete adoration.

“Echo?” you asked, voice barely traveling past a whisper, and his eyes widened again in realization that it really was you. Your name came across his lips so soft it was like a prayer, and his arm reached down over the bar to help you up. You grabbed his hand, still not sure if he was even real, how this was even happening. You glanced at your friend who was staring between the two of you with a concerned curiosity, and to the other goggles wearing trooper who seemed to be making the same expression. “Timo, this is Echo.”

“Ahh, the ex. Nice to meet ya’!” Timo extended his hand to Echo and he shot a look at you.

“The ex?”

You sighed, running a hand through your hair and shooting a glare at Echo, “I hardly think that is our biggest issue right now.”

“No, it certainly is not,” goggles trooper stated, looking at the datapad in his hands, “it appears Echo is on the brink of a heart attack.”

“Great, that makes two of us.”

*

It was a short and relatively silent walk to your apartment. Timo had told your manager you had fainted and, given your spotless record, he agreed to give you the rest of the day off. Echo and his squad, and their child soldier, followed you to your house, where you promised they’d be safe and he promised he would talk. It was hard not to stare at him as you walked side by side. He was your Echo, but so much had changed. He was pale and still slightly gaunt, as if the mental scars would never feel. His legs looked to be cybernetic below the mid thigh, and one arm had been replaced by more circuitry and ended in a heavy looking scomp link, not to mention the ports and wiring that wrapped around his head. Above all, he just looked sad. You unconsciously ran a hand through your hair. You didn’t feel much different. 

The walk ended shortly and you approached the house. Echo turned to face his brothers when you started unlocking the door. “Guys, it’s fine we can trust her, she’s my ex.” He had huffed as the group of you walked inside. 

“Well technically I’m your widow but that seems to be a little redundant now doesn’t it?” You nearly chucked your keys onto the small table near the door, and the child soldier, whose name you learned was Omega, burst in infront of them.

“Look at this place! It’s like a real home!” She yelped, and your heart softened at the way he smiled down at her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Maybe this was why Echo hadn’t called, hadn’t reached for you. He had a family now, and it was becoming strikingly clear that it did not include you. You let them all filter into your home, and pointed out the features around you. It wasn’t huge by any means, but it was a good enough space. You had a small living space with a few sofas and chairs you had collected from neighbors and a well-to-do art dealer you’d met at the bar. There was a kitchenette attached, and you had two bedrooms, though one was doing little else other than collect space. You weren’t entirely sure why you had elected to pick the home with two bedrooms, some gnawing hope in your gut that maybe one day you really would have a family. 

“You all can stay as long as you want. I’ve got a spare bedroom, and there’s space to sleep here,” you gestured to the couches around you, “how long will you be on system?”

Echo chimed in, “Three rotations, but we can stay on the ship, really it’s not an issue-”

“Come on Echo, don't be such a downer!” Wrecker is the first to respond, quickly sprawling out on, and dwarfing, the couch closest to the door. “This is the softest couch I’ve ever felt.” His words are enough to spur the interest of Omega and Tech, who both settled on the couch opposite Wrecker. Hunter stayed standing, shooting an apologetic look to his brother. “If it isn’t too much trouble?”

“Not at all, I’d appreciate the company.” You hustle over to the kitchen, pulling out various takeout containers and inspecting each one, placing them on the small counter. “There’s a bunch of leftovers here, don’t know what you’re hungry for but help yourself.” You grab a bottle of wine and a small food container and move closer to Echo, voice dropping to a murmur. “I think you and I ought to have a moment alone.”

He follows you immediately, without even throwing a glance over his shoulder.

The thing you loved about this house was the outdoor space. It wasn’t exactly orthodox, but if you crawled through the window you were able to sit out on the small ledge that gave your back entryway some shadow. It was small and private, due to the small courtyard your house backed up against, and you often left a small candle and a blanket out there to rest after a long day. Now it provided the perfect backdrop to sit with Echo, the chatter inside the house fading to a mumble as you both settled. He was so radiant, even now, eyes looking up at the crimson colored sky. It took everything in you not to reach for his hand right then and there, even though you desperately wanted to. The quiet is deafening, Echo will hardly look at you, and your body is screaming for him, to touch him and make sure he’s still real. This doesn’t feel real, the whole experience. You both quietly sip from your glasses, until one glass turns to two.

It was you who broke the silence first.

"I mourned you, you know." You say, biting with more venom than you intended.

"I'm sorry I hurt you-"

"I was stuck there, stuck in the spot you left me. I couldn't study, couldn't eat. Echo, I missed you."

He has nothing he can say, and you see your words hit their mark. He's hurt you, and he knows it. You sit in the silence for a beat longer and continue.

“I know why you didn’t call me.”

“So you understand?”

“She’s a remarkable little girl, Echo. I don’t know how she came to you, but, I understand. You’ve got a family now.”

“What? Cyare, no-”

“No, I don’t want you to apologize.” You did betray yourself then, placing a hand atop his, “I just want you to know that she seems like she’s worth it.”

“I didn’t call you because you deserve something better.” His voice comes out fast, bitter. He pulls his hand back so fast you gasp at the lack of warmth, even though you haven’t been cold in what feels like millenia since you got to Tatooine. “The day that Rex came to you, I should’ve died. I, I think it would’ve been better.”

Your heart nearly shatters at the admission, and you move closer to him. He doesn’t resist when you put a hand on his cheek, your breath shaking. “Don’t ever say that again.”

“I’m a mess mesh’la. I’m not even whole, I couldn’t see you, couldn’t face you. And my brothers,” his head dips towards the house, “They get me, you know? And we’ve been on the run, honestly, I just figured you’d have found someone else by now.”

You shake your head fast, your tears finally slipping as you watch something, hope perhaps, slip back into Echo’s eyes at your admission. “There’s never been anyone else, there can’t ever be.” You bring your forehead to his, and he closes the gap to press his against yours. “You’re always you, Echo.” You pull backwards, resting on your folded legs. “You’ve got a hand to hold, a face to kiss, your heart to love,” you put a hand on his chest at the admission, and you don’t miss his eyes going glassy, the way he gnaws on his lower lip. “Did you think I wouldn’t love you anymore? That I’m that superficial?”

“It’s not that, you need someone better, someone who can make you happy. What about that guy at the bar, Timmy, Tibo…”

“I don’t want Timo,” you don’t care how pouty you sound now, your face scrunching up, “I want you.”

“You shouldn’t.” It’s an admission that betrays his heart, and his voice cracks as he says it. All you can do is stand and reach for him. He accepts your hand in silence as you hoist him up, long having forgotten about the wine, as you lead him back into your room.

“Sit.” You push his shoulders so he’s seated on your bed, and you walk out of the room. The suns have dipped below the horizon during your conversation, and you want to make sure everyone is settled for the night. Wrecker is fast asleep on the couch, mouth open as he snores with Omega curled into his side. Tech and Hunter are hunched over your kitchen table, though Hunter stands quickly before you get in the room. “I’m locking up for the night, you’re all ok to rest.” You turn to walk away before a voice cuts you off.

“He talked about you. A lot.”

You whip your head around to face Hunter, who is slowly trying to scoop a sleeping Omega into his arms and carry her to the small spare bedroom. He and Tech will figure out who gets the floor or the spare couch. The unspoken implication does not miss you. 

“He used to say he had this girl on Coruscant, that she was so smart but so crazy. That you and his brother would steal drinks from Cody’s boys on nights out.”

You laugh at the memory as the two of you walk down the short hall, but there’s a pang of finality in your gut. Echo would never have left Fives alone.

“He said you were a student,”

“Was.” You smile, and unlock the spare door as Hunter sets Omega down. “Hard to grieve and focus, you know?”

He gives you a knowing smile and a grateful pat on the shoulder before turning back towards the living room, leaving you to go into your bedroom alone.

Echo is sitting on your bed where you’ve left him, but there’s a few things moved from where you’ve left them. An old necklace he got for you on a mission has been pulled from your jewelry box, the perfume you used to wear is on your nightstand. He’s currently pouring over your datapad, and when you sit next to him you see he’s looking at the photogallery.

“Do you remember this?” You ask, pointing to the one he’s currently looking at. You’re both clearly drunk and walking around one of the fairs Coruscant would host in the square. Echo has one arm wrapped in your hair and another dropping low down the skirt of your dress, and you’re both beaming like lovesick children.

“I think about it nearly every day.” He swipes to the next one, he’s at a gala for your university, his ARC trooper armor looking freshly scrubbed while you accept an award. The next, you’re both laying in civvies, watching a flick on the holonet together.

“I am not going to beg for a spot in your life. You have to know you deserve me.” You move the datapad off of his lap and stand up, wedging your body between his knees. “But I am yours, body and soul. I’ve lost you once, but I can’t do it again.” You press a kiss to his forehead, thumbs sweetly caressing the side of his face before you turn to the small chest of drawers in your room. You rifle through them quickly before finding your prize, and hand him the bundles of fabric.

“Are these my blacks?”

“Now they’re my pajamas,” you smile, pulling your dress off over your head and pretending to ignore the way his eyes rake over your body before pulling on a thin shirt, “figured I could share. Let’s go to bed.”

*

You wake up to the movement in your bed when Echo rises, and you let yourself bask in the bliss of the reality you’ve created. Watching through curtained lashes, you watch as he stretches his arms up high overhead, muscles straining taught against his back. You want to reach out and pull him back to bed, want to press yourself against his body, but you don’t. He moves quietly as he clicks his armor together, a task you used to do easily and with the training of a well practiced soldier. You slept together last night, but you didn’t sleep together. You still aren’t sure where you stand, and your chrono is ticking internally. He’s only here for two more days.

“Good morning,” he murmurs when he catches you starring, and you smile back at him, a real and raw one.

“Mornin’” sleep is still dripping from your voice while you stand and make your way to the kitchen as Echo follows. The rest of the squad is idling in the kitchen, having figured out your caf pot. You offer them a small wave and don’t miss the way Tech’s eyebrows climb high on his forehead at the two of you.

“We’ve got a busy day today, Cid has evidently presented us with a number of small jobs here and in Mos Espa. I’ve charted a day that puts us at the most efficient, while also avoiding the most direct sunlight.”

“Thanks, Tech,” Hunter claps his brother on the shoulder before moving over to you. “Do you think you could keep an eye on Omega? I hate to bring her on missions if I don’t have to.”

The pit in your stomach grows, “Is it dangerous?”

“Nah,” it’s Echo’s turn now, and you notice the smile at your worry. “Hunter’s right though, just better to be safe than sorry.”

You shrug, “sure! Just got some errands to run. I’ll let her sleep in as much as I can.”

Hunter gives you a grateful shoulder squeeze and you send the squad your wishes. You reach for Echo’s hand as your fingers dance around one another. “Come back please.”

“Of course.” 

Omega doesn’t rise for a while, which gives you time to warm up some bread and jams and run to the market near your house for a jug of blue milk. You suspect the girl hasn’t had a real home cooked meal in her life, and you’re eager to provide the experience for her. Something pulls hard in your gut, the domesticity of the actions, caring for this little girl and waking up with Echo, that makes you want to cry. This is, essentially, everything you’ve dreamt of for so long, but maker at what cost. You know Echo is hurting, it’s written clear across his face whenever he looks at you, and you can’t imagine the extent of what he’s suffered. You want this, you want him and you want this little life, but the cost it required makes you feel sick.

Omega wakes up not long after breakfast is done, and she rubs her eyes as she walks into the kitchen. “Where is everyone?”

“They left for the mission, but you’re in very good hands, I promise.” You smile, leading her to the table. She beams up at you and at the food you settle onto her plate. “Have you ever had these before?”

“No, Kaminoan food is kinda weird, and we normally just eat snacks and ration bars on the ship.” She cuts into the bread cautiously, and takes her first bite. The grin that overtakes her face is contagious, and she whips her head to you. “This is amazing!”

You come up and ruffle her hair, “I’ll make it for you whenever you like.”

“Thank you.” Her words are so kind, so genuine, that it sends a pang to your chest.

“How long have you been with the batch?”

“I dunno, it’s hard to say. I don’t like counting, I feel like it’ll jinx it.” She shrugs, “but definitely a while. They rescued me. We’re a family now.”

“You certainly are.”

She continues to pick at the food while you go into your quarters to get ready, pulling on clothes and tying your hair back. Mos Eisley isn’t exactly the ideal place for children, but you suspect she’s seen worse. Besides, you’ve got credits burning a hole in your pocket and an insatiable desire to mother this child. You come back out to her cleaning her dish and smile, “How do you feel about a day on the town?”

“Really! We don’t have to just stay here?”

“Something tells me you can handle yourself.”

She beams at being recognized, “You bet! Let me get my bow.”

The market is full of life as usual, and Omega is happily bouncing between stalls, picking up anything and everything that isn’t nailed down. You’re happy to oblige her, and you've got a bag full of dolls, snacks, a shawl, and some drawing supplies. She’s walking a few paces ahead of you, blonde hair bobbing in the sun, and she frequently turns around to make sure you’re close by. It’s rather endearing.

“You know, I used to know another blonde Kaminoan.”

“Is it Captain Rex?” 

You’re surprised she knows the name, and you blink a few times. “Have you met him?”

“Yeah, he came by the cantina on Ord Mantell,” she slows her pace to walk next to you, “he’s old.”

“Yeah he is,” you laugh, thinking fondly of the captain who looked out for you. “He’s an old friend too.”

“Did you know him on Coruscant?”

“I did. He was Echo’s captain in his old squad.”

“Oh yeah, I think he mentioned that. Did you meet him when you and Echo got in love?”

There’s a scuff as you stumble over your feet and you look down at her. “What do you mean by that?”

She shrugs, “I thought you guys were in love. At least, that’s what Echo says. You’re the girl from Coruscant, I saw the holopicture of you two in the hallway.”

Shoot. “I mean, we definitely were-”

“Because I heard Echo tell Hunter he loved you back on the ship not that long ago. They thought I was sleeping, but I wasn’t, and I heard him say he felt sad ‘cause he still loved you. At least, I think it was you. He said she was a student at a fancy school, and she was so smart, so it seems like you. Which is good because now we’re all together again, so Echo won’t be sad, because you love him too, and you’re together!”

“Omega…”

“Besides, I like you, and Echo is nice and gives really good hugs. And I think you’d be perfect together.”

“I wish it was that simple kid,” you lean down to ruffle her hair. “Let’s pick out something good for dinner.”

*

Cooking with Omega is fun, there’s something precious in the way she washes the leafy greens and vegetables while you chop beside her. The holo is on in the background, creating a warm hum of noise that keeps you both company. She’s chatty, eager to tell you about their adventures. You’re pleased to hear that Rex is alive and well, and that they’ve been helping rescue other clones. She talks about their ship, her room they’ve made for her. It’s so endearing, the way she talks about her family. You feel so drawn to it, to her. You want so badly to share in this with Echo. To have him here by your side. There’s a sigh that escapes your chest, of both relief and pain, and for the first since you’ve gotten him back you let yourself completely melt into the ache in your heart of missing him, of having him back. You don’t notice you’re crying until Omega comes up to your side.

“You must’ve really missed him.”

“Yeah Meg, I really did.”

“What was he like when you first met him?”

“He was so confident, but so strict with the rules.”

She scoffs endearingly, “Don’t worry, he’s still like that.”

“He was so clean cut, but so handsome. Always so worried, wanted to be so polite,” you lean down to whisper to her, “One time, when he first started staying at my apartment-”

“At least give me a chance to defend myself, come on!” Echo shouts as he enters the apartment, the rest of the batch in tow. He removes his helmet and he’s smiling, the lasting effects of a blush on his cheeks. The rest of the men follow noisly in, and are quick to remove boots and blasters at the door and start bustling around the kitchen to help finish dinner. You sidle up next to Echo as he finishes putting the meat in the small leafy cups, and the tips of your fingers ghost around his waist for just a moment. He freezes, then melts into your touch almost immediately, letting your hands hang around his midriff.

“Hi,” he murmurs, low enough that even Hunter doesn’t hear, filling Omega in on their mission.

“Was worried about you, Tatooine’s no good.”

“Funny, I was gonna say the same thing to you.”

You look up at him with a smirk and remove your hands as you help him distribute plates to the batch. “You got any better suggestions?”

It’s so quiet you nearly miss it, and you suppose he had hoped you would, but still, it carries over to where you stand near Wrecker. “I have a few suggestions.”

It’s not until later that night that you get Echo alone again, when you slip out of the fresher and notice him perched up on your bed in his blacks. He stiffens when you enter the room, conveniently dressed in nothing more than his blacks tops, hanging loosely off your body.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have assumed you’d want me back in here.”

You shake your head and slip into bed beside him. “You assumed correctly.”

He grins at you before setting your datapad now. You’re still so attuned to him, you notice the rigid movements in his hips and torso as he twists to set it down, and your hands are on him almost instinctively. 

“Where does it hurt?”

“It’s nothing, just chronic stuff, nothing you need to worry about.”

“Even though you tried to fire me,” you murmur as you coax him to his back and encourage him to flip on his stomach, “I’d argue it is my job to worry about.” You pull yourself up and straddle his back, perching yourself right above his hips. Your hands are quickly underneath his shirt, rubbing soothing circles along his back and shoulders, wrapping down his biceps. You pause for a moment at the spot where the prosthesis begins, and he offers a muffled sound of encouragement when you begin to rub small, gentle circles along the meeting point. Cautiously, you work your hand further south, and the sound of bliss that leaves his mouth when you find the spot where flesh meets metal in the middle of his thighs is all the encouragement you need to keep going.

“You know, the heat here helps the pain.” He tosses over his shoulder, turning his head and propping himself up on his arms to look at you. 

“Maybe you should just stay then, you know. For health reasons.”

“Oh? Would you like that?”

You say nothing, but you can see him pick up the smile, the twinkle in your eye. Instead you roll off of his back and lay down beside him, turning your head to face him. “Omega told me something funny today.”

“Oh yeah? I can’t even imagine.”

“She told me you’ve been telling stories about a girl you left on Coruscant.”

“Really? Didn’t know she’s been hearing all that. What else did she say about this girl?” Even in the low light of your darkened room you can see him starting to blush. 

“She said she was a student at a fancy school, and that you thought she was smarter than you.”

“I remember saying so smart, but, sure, she’s smarter than me.” His fingertips float along your thigh, up your body. He’s so cautious, but getting bolder by the second.

“She told me you still loved her.”

His hand freezes at its spot on your waist, moving from a light touch to a grip, as if he’s afraid this is it. This is the moment you’re gone forever.

“I think she was probably hurt at first, because she missed you and she mourned you. But she could never stay mad at you. She thinks your family is cute.” Your hand comes up to rest on his cheek, pulling him in close to you. “I think she still loves you too.”

There’s a beat where you hear him exhale, it’s shaky and soft, and his words flow quickly afterwards. “Mesh’la, I thought of you everyday. I couldn’t face you, not after what I’d been turned into, after I let you down.”

“Don’t.” Your forehead is against his now, breathing him in close, “Don’t start with that.”

And then you kiss him and it feels like coming home. Like a warm glass of bantha milk and a cookie set aside just for you, or a warm towel after a cold shower. It feels like being wrapped in a blanket of adoration, like this is all you’re meant to be doing forever. In fact, you’re pretty sure you could actually die here as his tongue grazes your bottom lip, and you absolutely blossom into the touch. You feel like the lovesick first year you were when you met Echo in the first place, when the only thing that mattered was passing exams and spending all of Echo’s shore leave tangled in your sheets. 

He pulls back too soon for your liking, though you know in reality you’ve been wrapped up in each other for maker knows how long. There’s a pitiful little whimper that breaks past your lips when he does, and it makes you blush.

“Don’t disappear like that again.” You whisper, and he pulls you into this chest and presses a long kiss to your hairline.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.”

*

The next morning is, of course, full of goodbyes, and the walk to their docking bay has you fighting tears. You and Echo stayed up all night wrapped up in one another, whispering confessions and plans for the future like you were both nothing more than two lovesick shinies again. You had both decided that you would stay on Tatooine, stay in your life. In turn, the batch planned on paying off their debt to Cid and set up base on Tatooine. Tech had agreed that, logistically, Tatooine made the most sense for those evading the empire, and Wrecker was happy to have the option of sleeping in an actual home. You had given Omega and the batch rations and well wishes, and you stood outside the ramp of the Marauder, hands clasped behind your back as you looked up at Echo.

“Come back soon?”

He moved to catch your lips in a kiss, and you reveled in the slight taste of caf on his mouth from the morning, “Wouldn’t dream of staying away.” He broke away a moment later and moved to stand on the ramp. You waved goodbye as it began to life and he grinned. “And stop calling me your ex!”