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cloneshipping7567 · 9 months

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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.

#echo/fives #echo x fives #fives/echo #fives x echo #my writing

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voices-of-my-brothers · 2 years

Note

Because I’m ridiculously predictable, could I ask for Echo and Fives with Wooley? Your choice whether it’s SFW or NSFW.

-Liz :3

Thank you for the message @eyayah-oya *flappy hands* I loooved writing this. I chose your Wooley to use as the Wooley in the middle of this Fives/Wooley/Echo sandwich. This is very very much NSFW so please don't interact if you're under 18, for the sanity of all of us.

20 minute sprint and I managed to get 419 words out. Very proud of myself. It's all below the keep reading link so that no one sees it if it's not their cup of tea.

Check out @eyayah-oya Wooley, he is such a beautiful clone! Liz has a Patreon with all her arty stuff on, if you can, check it out!

Ship: Echo/Fives/Wooley

Rating: Explicit

Warnings: No warnings apply

Tags: Anal sex, cockwarming, blowjob, praise kink, no order 66, Cute thruple, clone deserve happiness

Wooley was squirming on the couch. He adored having something filling him up and the fact that he was sat on Fives cock whilst Echo was in a blissful daze cockwarming Wooley was enough to set Wooley’s nerves on fire. He wanted to move more against Fives, he wanted to feel Fives cock grazing against his prostate instead of just a constant pressure, but Fives had a tight arm around his chest, and the other hand was rested gently on his throat.

“You’re such a good boy for us Wooley,” Fives smiled, lips moving against Wooley’s exposed neck as he spoke. “You’re so sweet, all drawn out like you are. So warm around me and look how blissed out Echo is with your cock in his mouth.”

Echo hummed around Wooley’s cock in response to Fives’ comment and let his head bob, slowly, almost teasingly, and he dragged a low drawn out moan from Wooley’s throat.

“Echo.” Wooley sobbed out with his moan and tangled his fingers in the lengthening curls of the head below him. He felt his fingers brush against the data ports on Echo’s head and smiled softly. All of the modifications to Echo’s body just showed the world how strong and amazing his partner was. He felt blessed to be included in their relationship, and blessed that he had been able to see Echo grow from the shy and timid man he had become post-capture to him becoming the sassy and amazingingly loving partner that was currently resting between his thighs.

Echo pulled back to catch his breath a second and sighed happily. He let his cheek fall to rest on Wooley’s thigh and looked up at his two amazing partners. Wooley was blissed out, golden tattoos shining in the low light of the main room of their apartment, head thrown back with his neck covered in hickies and bite marks from Fives’ wandering mouth. Echo used his flesh hand to lift Wooley’s right calf to rest it on his shoulder and then swallowed Wooley’s cock back down in one swift motion.

Wooley let out a scream and bucked his hips harshly on Fives’ cock. Fives let out a groan and his eyes screwed shut at the motion of Wooley bouncing on his cock, but he put a stop to that quickly, arms moving to wrap around Wooley’s waist to stop the middle clone moving.

“Now,” Fives smiled and almost cackled as he held Wooley down. “I think we should bring this up a notch.”

#writing prompt #star wars #star wars the clone wars #clone/clone #cloneshipping #echo x fives #echo x fives x wooley #nsfa #saucies

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kbirbpods · 1 year

Text

Original Work: things divine by @flowerparrish

Rating: Mature

Relationship: Jon Antilles/Echo/Fives

Tags: Intimacy, Asexuality Spectrum, Sex Positive, Polyamory, Established Relationship

Audio Length: 2 minutes, and 14 seconds

Summary: They are his, and he is theirs, and it may be his downfall one day, but he doesn't want to ever let them go.

#jon antilles #clone trooper fives #clone trooper echo #echo x fives #polyamory #jon x echo x fives #clone shipping #tcw echo #tcw fives #clone wars fic #clone wars podfic #kaje pods #flowerparrish writes

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solar-writes · 2 years

Link

I finally posted something for the first time in a long while that I don’t! Immediately! Hate! :D

Chapters: 1/3 Fandom: Star Wars - All Media Types, Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Cartoon) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Crosshair/Hunter (Star Wars: The Bad Batch), CT-21-0408 | CT-1409 | Echo/CT-27-5555 | ARC-5555 | Fives, Tech/Wrecker (Star Wars: The Bad Batch) Characters: Crosshair (Star Wars: The Bad Batch), Hunter (Star Wars: The Bad Batch), Wrecker (Star Wars: The Bad Batch), Tech (Star Wars: The Bad Batch), CT-21-0408 | CT-1409 | Echo, Cal Kestis, CT-27-5555 | ARC-5555 | Fives Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Medieval, Established Relationship, Order 66 Happened Differently (Star Wars), The Jedi Are Alive, Inspired by Game of Thrones, CT-27-5555 | ARC-5555 | Fives Lives Series: Part 2 of can’t break, can’t change, can’t take us down Summary:

“Your husband is alive,” the Jedi tells Echo.

#the bad batch #crosshair x hunter #cloneshipping #tech x wrecker #echo x fives

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clonesuperiority · 16 days

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Have a Ventress doodle while I'm working on more clone content 👀

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candyfloss5000 · 27 days

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I'm just gonna leave this here 🤗

"Do you think it hurt?" The question had been eating Wolffe alive, ever since he had deserted the Empire and realised what he did.

Rex turned to him, "Did what hurt, Wolffe?"

"The general..." Wolffe couldn't bring himself to say anymore, as he felt the bitter bile stir in his stomach.

"No," Rex tried to sound reassuring, tried to sound like everything will be alright when it ultimately won't and will never be, "I think it was quick, painless."

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abigfanofstarwars · 1 year

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if there’s one thing the men of star wars will do it’s be sassy with their slutty lil waists

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anstarwar · 1 year

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Art for Chapter 3 of "So There's This Guy" by the amazing @catbuir and @elsaanna007! Lines by me, color by the uber-talented @mock-arts!

Check out chapter 3, The Morning After, out now!

#cloneship big bang #csbb2022 #csbb2023 #collaboration #my art #fic rec #echo x fives #cloneship #cloneshipping

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sinfulsalutations · 10 months

Note

Quote the clones/tbb characters getting caught staring at reader: "if undressing me with your eyes isn't working I can do it for you?"

the reader is obviously joking.. or are they? You can do whatever you want but I would like tech and Fives reaction? NSFW or sfw it's up to you!

𝕔𝕝𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕓𝕒𝕔𝕜 ⋆*･ﾟ 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕓𝕒𝕕 𝕓𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 + 𝕔𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕟 𝕣𝕖𝕩 + 𝕒𝕣𝕔 𝕥𝕣𝕠𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕣 𝕗𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕤 + 𝕝𝕚𝕖𝕦𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕛𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕖

➼ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ ☆ ꜱʟɪɢʜᴛʟʏ ꜱᴜɢɢᴇꜱᴛɪᴠᴇ ɪɴ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴛꜱ, ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ᴋɴɪᴠᴇꜱ (ɴᴏ ᴜꜱᴀɢᴇ ᴏʀ ᴅᴀᴍᴀɢᴇ ɪɴꜰʟɪᴄᴛᴇᴅ)

⋆ ★ ᴏʜ ᴍʏ ɢᴏꜱʜ ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴍʏꜱᴇʟꜰ ᴀɴᴏɴ ᴜʀ ꜱᴏ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛɪᴠᴇ, ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴇᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴘʀᴇᴍɪꜱᴇ ꜱᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ! ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴀʏ, ɪ ꜰɪɴᴀʟʟʏ ɢᴇᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴡʀɪᴛᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ꜰɪᴠᴇꜱ! ʜᴇ'ꜱ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ʟɪꜱᴛ ꜰᴏʀᴇᴠᴇʀ ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ɢᴏᴛ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ɪᴛ.

➼ ᴛʜɪꜱ ꜰɪᴄ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀɪɴꜱ ɴꜱꜰᴡ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ 18+ ᴅɴɪ

⋆ ★ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴏɴ ᴀᴏ3 ⋆*･ﾟ ᴛᴀɢʟɪꜱᴛ ꜰᴏʀᴍ

You see how he catches glimpses at you. Always carefully and politely, afraid to be caught or overstep. Not that you’d mind if he did, in reality; you’re just as interested in him as he is in you.

But one day, he slips up; his eyes rake over yours almost hungrily just a few feet away, unable to satiate how he’d want to ravish you if he had your permission. Suddenly, you can’t stop yourself before you’re saying:

“If undressing me with your eyes isn’t working, maybe I can do it for you, huh?”

Your tone is (mostly) joking, of course. But hopefully, if you cross your fingers, he'll pick up on the suggestiveness laced in oh-so discreetly…

Hunter

Before he's fully able to process what you just said, he begins to stammer.

Kriff, he even drops his vibroblade straight onto the ground;

that never happens.

For just long enough for you to bask in it, Hunter looks at you dumbfounded.

Any casualness or relaxation he exuded is gone now.

You can't help but feel a little prideful and laugh; it's not often you get to see this absolute bastard (affectionate) not in total control of himself.

He scoffs at how you laugh at him, and he quickly gains his composure again to your dismay.

He signs and leans in onto his knees with his elbows, eyes lingering on yours as he leans into your ear and murmurs,

"Don't tempt me."

Tech

"Puh-pardon?" Is the first thing that comes out of his mouth.

Your eyes snap up to him, worried that you'll begin to regret your decision, but as you look at his furrowed expression, you realize he's just confused.

"What is... 'undressing someone with your eyes' mean to you?" He repeats your words like something new, yet fascinating, a tone you do not expect.

He talks it out.

"Perhaps it has suggestive connotations, that would make the most sense, and you accused me of doing such a thing while I was-" He pauses for a moment, eyes flicking to you and to the ground. "And offered to-" He stops completely.

"Oh."

Before your stupid open-mouthed ass can do anything, he's already turning to hide his face, a coat of red flushing behind his hands.

A breathy, disbelieved chuckle escapes you unintentionally. You don't mean to be mean or teasing though. Honestly, you just think it's really cute.

Both of you just nod it off after that.

Little to your knowledge he tosses and turns in bed all night, cussing himself out for not just taking the damn opportunity right in front of him! You buffoon!

Wrecker

This poor boy gets so nervous.

He'll immediately want to deny:

"My eyes weren't doing that- they'd never do that. I mean, I wasn't even really looking at you, so, er-"

Don't blame him for that though; half of it is instinct, and the other half is that he's so scared of frightening you off. Both with his subtle (charming) perviness and his overall stature.

A small bead of sweat forms on his neck the longer he talks, eyes flitting up to you then back to the floor, pushing himself into a corner.

"It really wouldn't be appropriate for me to think of you like' that. In that way. I don't wanna ever step past your boundaries- your privacy, yeah? And I'm really sorry that you thought I-"

Quickly, you lean in and cup his cheek softly, softly handling him to look back at you.

"Hey," You say it in a way that feels as though a secret between the two of you that never dare be shared. "It's okay. I was joking."

You can feel the tightness in his chest ease, though he still has that worried expression on his face.

"Oh. Well, I mean I kinda knew that from your voice, but I still don't want you to get the wrong idea... Kriff, I'm such a karkin'"

Only a sickly smitten giggle comes out of you, interrupting him, and without any hesitation, you lean in and place a chaste peck on the tip of his nose.

You've never seen Wrecker's face this red in your life.

Crosshair

Eats it up.

Crosshair, the snarky little shit he is, adores when you indulge him like this. Endless teasing that could come off as jokes, but beneath the surface, you both know what is at play here.

He's loving that you're initiating this.

Doesn't even think that you might've just been joking before he's got a stupid smirk plastered over his face, chuckling softly as he leans in close.

"Well isn't that a delectable offer."

His serpentine voice so close to your ear sends a delightful shiver down your spine. You don't back down, because, well, deep down this is what you hoped would come out of this; it's just surprising it's actually happening, is all.

Before you know it, he's tucking a strand of hair behind your ear and looking at you like a delicious meal.

"How pretty, even with all that fabric. And you still want me to see all of you?"

You fold.

Like, immediately.

But, *cough cough*, worth it ;)

Echo

By instinct, his signature surprised/confused face appears; he doesn’t even initially process it how he usually processes the words you say.

“Why are you-wait…”

His mouth opens slightly. You can’t help but giggle. His cheeks dust the fairest tint of pink.

He then washes (most of) it away, and looks at you incredulously, unsure of what to say.

Was that… flirting? His skills and knowledge about this stuff can’t be that rusty. It most certainly had to be some form of it.

But then again, a strong part of him doesn’t want to believe that it is.

So, like most interactions with you, he laughs lightly through the back of his throat, rubbing his neck to ease the buildup of tension there and (failing miserably to) forget about it.

Why am I like this… he dares to think.

Rex

He processes what you say quite quickly, and just reverts back to his basic way of reacting to things: nodding with a small smirk. But his eyes give away his unease and uncertainty.

This man has got negative rizz. Doesn’t know at all how to respond to a flirtatious comment or even initiate one himself.

So this is a straight up curveball.

“Heh… if you say so, nehutyc’ika.”

JANGO ABOVE WHAT ARE YOU SAYING-?

You see his nervousness (not surprising, of course, you know Rex well enough, so you decide to deter the conversation from there.

That manages to ease him up, but his mind is still on the comment you made;

it makes him realize that, kriff, he’s really got to make a move…

note: nehutyc’ika means feisty one in mando’a!

Fives

The first reaction that’s elicited out of him is a brief raise of his eyebrows; the only hint that he might’ve been surprised.

He then leans in and smirks, muttering “Oh?”

Suddenly, you get a little nervous under his stare; just like every time he’s been suggestive with you.

You stammer for a moment, careening away and throwing a hand in the air.

“N-nothing,” You tell him.

He groans, shaking his head, but his blinding smile doesn’t dissipate.

“Oh, come on,” He says. “Don’t do that now.”

Your eyebrows knit.

“Do what?” There’s a very small grin on your lips that you dare not to let spread, lest you wanted him to annoy tease you the entire night.

“Pretend you didn’t just say what I know you said,” He shakes his head, leaning in closer to you. The voice that comes out of him is hushed, not necessarily close to your ear but close enough it sends a thrill through you. “Don’t be a minx.”

Without a moment wasted, he leans in further. You have to push against his chest to get him out of your personal space.

“Fives!” You squeal. “Just forget it!”

He looks into your eyes, then down to your lips, so close to kiss, but he only gives you the faintest of winks and pulls away.

“Hm. Kind of hard to.”

You just roll your eyes and allow the two of you to fall into blissful silence.

When he finally has to get up and leave you, he tells you discreetly with a laugh.

“Sorry, cyare, don’t think I’m gonna forget. Gonna wait to see if the offer was serious or not. Gotta be worth it... don’t you think?”

You’re left totally dumbfounded and tugging at your sleeves.

Jesse

This sly guy retorts easily. With a striking smile, he gets comfortable beside you.

"My eyesight's doing me wonders, babe."

You laugh softly, leaning the side of your head on your arm and waiting for him to continue. He does so gladly.

"But the real thing must be stunning, eh?"

It's unintentional how your breath hitches.

The nature of your relationship has always been playfully flirting and teasing, sweet encouraging words to each other that, hopefully, one day, will escalate into something more.

Maybe this is the day?

"Worthy of worship," You praise yourself with a glint in your eye, even purposefully pursing your lips to emphasize it.

He eats up your praise, agreeing wholeheartedly and leaning in.

"I'd love to, if you'd let me," He says.

"Your barracks or mine?"

tags: @starstofillmydream @pb-jellybeans @corrieguards @badbatchbabe @ladytano420 @jediknightjana @sleepycreativewriter @shinyshayminflower @heidi-lc28 @thebahdbitch

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nottonyharrison · 2 years

Text

This month's poll runner-up was Echo and Fives showing off in the barracks ❤

It's not nail polish, it's space sharpie

Full version on Patreon

#echofives #echo x fives #clonecest #cloneshipping #star wars #clone wars #arc trooper echo #arc trooper fives #my art

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cloneshipping7567 · 11 months

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Romantic Confessions Part 8

Part 8/30

8. "I was made to love you."

Pairing: Echo x Fives

Rating/WC: T/3010

Warnings: miscommunication trope, angst with a happy ending

~~~

Here is the thing about the Domino Twins: they are simply meant to be together. Everyone who has ever met the pair acknowledges this, at least to some degree.

The Kaminoans knew it, electing to assign them to the same training squad based on how close they were when they were little. Inseparable, attached at the hip.

Captain Rex knew it, the second he laid eyes on the pair. Something in the way in which they had finished each others' sentences and thoughts, as if they shared one brain. The way they gravitated towards each other, instinctively watching each others' sixes. He had elected to adopt them both into the 501st, instead of letting Cody take one of them or leaving them at the mercy of redeployment.

Officers like General Skywalker know it. Their general had attempted only once to send them in different directions on the battlefield, before realizing how distracted they were, how instinctually their fighting style relied on having the other to watch their backs. He never separated them again after that.

When Rex had sent them to ARC training together, their commanders knew it. Every time there was a training sequence which required pairs, Echo and Fives were matched. Every time one required a group, Fives and Echo wound up in the same group. They even topped their training class together, with Echo coming first exactly one point higher than Fives.

Their brothers in their new squad knew it. Torrent Company usually goes out together, but Rex also has a squad he takes with him on every mission he can-his Lieutenant Jesse, his medic Kix, his ARCs Fives and Echo, and Hardcase, Dogma, and Tup.

Fives is pretty sure that the entirety of Rex’s squad knows about the nature of Fives’ feelings. They all know that the Domino Twins are just a bit too close, too codependent to be a normal friendship.

He’s 100% certain that Rex knows; nothing goes over his head. He knows all.

In fact, the only person Fives isn’t decently sure is aware of his feelings is Echo himself.

Fives takes a deep breath, stomach fluttering with nerves. Tup’s earlier words from the pep talk bounce around his skull, both reminding him and encouraging him that he can do this.

It’s Echo, Fives. He’s your best friend, he loves you in one way or the other. The worst he can do is say no.

Fives nods to himself, walking into the ARC barracks. The other 501st ARCs are deployed planet side right now, and Jesse knows about Fives’ plan. They’ll have privacy here.

Echo is sitting at the desk they all have to share, eyes flitting between two different datapads. He looks up when the door slides closed, a small smile forming in greeting. “Hey, Fives.”

“Hey,” Fives greets, taking one last deep breath before walking over to Echo. “Whatcha doing?”

Echo looks back to the datapads. “I’m going over the plans me and Rex came up with today, and trying to get them to fit into the current position the General has the troops in.”

Fives nods, sitting on the bunk closest to the desk. It’s moments like these when Fives is reminded how different the two are. Fives is more of an improviser, quick to think of a reliable plan in a pinch that gets everyone out alive, and usually gets the mission accomplished. He’s always been more of a ‘run head first into trouble and hope for the best’ type of trooper, and he was never one for care about the rules. It’s why he and Hardcase get along so well, most of the time.

Echo is his polar opposite. He likes to plan ahead as far as he can, likes to come up with plans B-Z on top of it. It’s like a puzzle for Echo, one in which he is sure he can solve. And he always does; his plans are always perfect, always full proof. It’s why Rex hogs so much of Echo’s time.

“How's it going down there?” Fives asks, watching Echo’s shoulders move as he types. “Do you know when Torrent gets to go back into the action?”

Echo hums softly, typing for a few more seconds before turning to look at Fives. “It’s going great, actually. We might not need to get deployed again this campaign.”

Fives makes a face. “That means we’ll be on clean up duty,” he complains half-heartedly.

Echo grins, cracking his neck and rolling his shoulders. “That’s what we get for being the first company deployed. We got all the fun.”

Fives pouts at him. “Not all the fun,” he argues. “I’m sure there’s plenty more fun to have down there.”

Echo shrugs. “I just sent Rex my most recent plan, and if he chooses to implement it, the planet will be won within the rotation.”

“Why wouldn't he implement it, then?” Fives asks, cocking his head to the side.

Echo snorts, amused by the answer. “Because it requires General Skywalker to cause a distraction, and that means he won’t be there for the victory.”

Fives huffs his own amused laugh, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “Oh, you better have a back up plan then.”

Echo chuckles, looking over his shoulder once before turning back to Fives. “Are you hungry? I should have at least half an hour before Rex will respond. We can go to the mess hall together.”

Fives takes in a shaky breath. This is his chance. “Actually,” he starts, and clears his throat once. “Actually, I needed to talk to you about something.”

Echo gives him a reassuring smile, having sensed Fives’ nerves. “Yeah?” he encourages when Fives doesn’t elaborate.

Fives opens his mouth, blushes and has to look away. The worst he can do is say no. He looks back to Echo, swallowing thickly.

“It’s okay,” Echo says, scooting closer with the chair. “Whatever it is, it’s okay. Everything will be okay.”

Fives looks back at him, and finally smiles shyly. Echo is perfect, in every single way; he doesn’t need to be nervous. “It’s nothing bad,” he starts, tapping his fingers against his thigh. “Okay, I-I’m just going to say it.”

Echo nods, his own comforting smile still in place.

Fives clears his throat, turning so his body is facing Echo. He takes one more deep breath, letting his nerves leave him on the exhale. “I have…I love you, Echo. I have feelings for you.” Fives smiles brighter, chest feeling lighter now that he’s finally admitted it to the object of his affection. Fives knows his cheeks are flushed, and his smile is wide and joyful. He lets out another shaky breath, rubbing the sweat off of his palms onto the material of his lower blacks.

Echo blinks rapidly, smile slowly disappearing off of his lips. He leans back in his chair, shaking his head as if to clear it. “What?”

Fives’ own smile falters, but he tries to stay positive. Maybe Echo is just surprised. “I’m in love with you, Echo. I’ve loved you since…I don’t even know, since forever. Since I first laid eyes on you, I think. I just, I needed to tell you. I couldn’t keep it inside me anymore.” He clears his throat, trying to smooth out his smile.

Echo frowns at him, staring with wide eyes.

Fives shifts on the bed, his smile finally fading into nothing the longer Echo stares without saying anything. “I love you,” Fives says, softer than before. He looks around the room, unable to keep up the eye contact any longer. The worst he can do is say no.

Echo stays silent, simply staring at Fives with that same frown. It makes Fives’ stomach twist uncomfortably. He feels like he’s done irreparable damage.

“I just…I just wanted to tell you.” Fives finally looks back to Echo, squirming under the stare. He knows his voice sounds weaker, knows he looks just about as nervous as he feels.

Fives opens his mouth to say something else when Echo finally speaks. “Relationships between clones are against the reg manuals. It’s forbidden.”

Fives feels a spike of fear shoot up his spine, before he suppresses it. Echo wouldn’t report him, he just wouldn’t. Hell, Echo is aware of other clone couples, and he never reported them either. He doesn’t need to be afraid.

More than likely, he’s using the regulations as an excuse to let Fives down easy. That’s all. “It-it’s okay if you don’t feel the same way,” Fives manages, stuttering at the beginning. He searches Echo’s face, trying to read him.

Usually Echo is so easy for Fives to read. Like a book, the words written plainly in Basic on Echo’s expressions. But not now; now, he just stares at Fives with a frown firmly set in place.

Fives can’t tell what emotions are behind Echo’s eyes. Is he angry at Fives for even suggesting it? Is he disgusted, perhaps, by the thought of his best friend thinking about him like that? Was he thinking about how to tell Fives he doesn’t want anything to do with him anymore? He’s suddenly much less sure Echo wouldn’t turn him in.

“I mean, I just…” Fives looks down at his lap, swallowing the sudden nausea rolling his stomach. He feels like he could cry. “I can just…I can go.” Silence, and Fives looks back up to Echo’s eyes, begging him to do anything. “Do you want me to go?”

Echo simply stares, frozen in whatever thoughts are going through his head. He says nothing, does nothing. Simply stares at Fives with that fucking frown.

Fives swallows thickly, standing on shaky legs. Echo follows his face, tilting his head up. So he can move, he just refuses to. “Okay,” Fives chokes, tearing his eyes away from Echo’s to stare at the floor.

He walks to the door, hesitating once more. He turns around, and sees that Echo has once again swiveled the chair to watch Fives. The silence is suffocating, and Fives feels like he physically can’t breathe. “Okay,” Fives repeats in a whisper, unable to raise his voice much louder than that.

He finally allows himself to submit to the urge to flee, closing the door behind him before sulking his way to the normal 501st barracks. Torrent is the only company on the ship, so it’ll be more private than it normally would be.

He walks in with his head hung, wincing at the way the room falls silent at his entrance.

“Oh, no,” Kix says softly, standing from where he was sitting on Jesse’s bunk.

“It didn’t go well?” Tup asks, throwing his legs over the side of his own bunk.

“Well he’s here, not with Echo,” Dogma points out, which earns him an elbow in the side from Hardcase. “What?” Dogma hisses, frowning.

“No, it didn’t,” Fives answers Tup. “It did not go well at all.”

“What happened?” Jesse asks, standing next to Kix with his arms crossed.

Fives scratches the back of his neck, eyes glued to the floor. He feels raw, like someone carved him open and left him in a display case. “He said relationships between clones are forbidden.”

Hardcase scoffs, standing up and slapping Jesse and Kix on their shoulders playfully. “Yeah, and?” he asks, throwing his arms over their shoulders and pulling them close to his own body. “It’s not like he doesn’t know it doesn’t happen.”

Kix rolls his eyes, gently shoving Hardcase. “It’s different knowing it happens and actually breaking the rules, you know.”

“Yeah,” Dogma agrees, going to sit next to Tup. “It’s different.”

Fives shrugs, sniffling once and giving himself away for how affected he is. “You didn’t see his face. I don’t think it’s just that, I think…I think he was debating reporting me.” He ignores the gasps of surprise. “He looked…I don’t know. Disgusted, like he couldn’t…” Fives works his jaw, swallowing the lump in his throat. “I don’t think he even wants to be my friend anymore. I don’t know, I’ve never not been able to tell what he’s thinking before.”

“No way,” Tup says, standing and walking over to Fives. He puts a hand on Fives’ shoulder, squeezing gently. “He’s your best friend. Even though he doesn’t feel the same way, there’s no way he’s just going to avoid you forever. He’ll miss you too much.”

Fives winces, hearing the words out loud. Even though he doesn’t feel the same way. It stings, like salt in an open wound. “If he doesn’t report me,” Fives mumbles.

“Who’s he going to report you to?” Jesse argues. “Rex? Skywalker? Both of them have no room to judge you for your choice in partner, and they both love you anyway. He won’t be able to do shit to you.”

Fives looks up at that, face twisted in pain. “The fact that he wants to get me decommissioned would still hurt, Jesse.”

“You don’t know he does,” Kix argues. “All he did was point out the rules. That doesn’t automatically mean he wants to do anything about it.”

Hardcase nods along. “Yeah, maybe he was just in shock. People say weird things when they panic.”

Fives shrugs again. “Maybe.” Tup’s hand falls down his arm and squeezes his wrist, and Fives lets out a shaky breath. “Let’s just…let’s just go get some food. I don’t really want to think about it anymore.”

They’re about to head down to the mess hall when the door slides open, and Echo stands in the way, eyes wide. “Oh,” he gasps out, stumbling back a step.

Fives swallows thickly, crossing his arms over his stomach as if to hold himself together.

Jesse clears his throat. “We’re going down to the mess hall,” he says, a bit too loudly to be casual. “Do you mind…?” he motions for Echo to move.

Echo steps out of the way, eyes locked on Fives. “Fives, can I speak with you for a minute?”

Fives sighs internally, but nods before anyone can answer for him. He’d rather get this over with, whatever this is about to be. “I’ll meet you guys down there,” Fives mumbles.

Jesse hesitates, looking about ready to tell Echo off. But Kix gently nudges him, and he lets out an annoyed sigh. “Yeah, we’ll save you a seat Fives.”

The others file out slowly, Tup giving one more sad look over his shoulder. Echo steps into the now empty barracks, letting the door swish shut behind him.

The silence is back, and Fives shifts uneasily. When it’s gone on long enough he can’t stand it, he finally looks up with a vulnerable expression. “Are you going to report me?” he asks, more just to say something at all.

Echo’s face screws up in appalled surprise, immediately shaking his head. “Of course not,” Echo rushes to reassure. “You could commit treason and I wouldn’t report you, Fives.”

Fives cracks a sad smile, relaxing again. At least Echo wouldn’t want him to get decommissioned. “Okay,” he says. “That’s good.”

“I didn’t mean to scare you, I just-I was just-I was just…” Echo looks away, eyes darting around the room. “I was just saying what…what I’ve been telling myself.”

Fives blinks, head cocking slightly to the side in confusion. “Huh?”

Echo takes a deep breath, before he’s suddenly in Fives’ space. Fives’ eyes widen, and he gasps in a breath at the sudden closeness. “Fives, I have been telling myself that relationships between clones are forbidden to keep myself in line. Because…because I…I’ve loved you since we were decanted. I’ve wanted you since I knew what loving someone was. But I was so scared of losing you, of scaring you away, that I shoved it all down so I could keep you as my best friend.”

Fives’ eyes widen in shock with every sentence, his arms falling slack at his sides. “You…what?”

Echo smiles, and it lights up his whole entire face like the beautiful sun that he is. He grabs one of Fives’ hands, interlacing their fingers. “Fives, I do feel the same way. I’m sorry I froze. I just…I was made to love you. It’s the reason I’m alive, it’s my purpose every day. I wasn’t born to be a soldier or tactician, I was born to love you. I’m in love with you too, Fives.”

Fives stares in shock for just a moment, caught off guard by the sudden 180. But then his face breaks out in a smitten grin, and he pulls Echo’s hand in his own to his lips, kissing the knuckles softly. “You gave me a kriffing heart attack, Echo.”

Echo barks out a laugh, a small blush painting his cheeks. “I know, I’m sorry. I panicked.”

Fives shakes his head fondly, letting out a shaky breath. “You can make it up to me,” he teases cockily, feeling much more like himself again.

Echo’s eyes light up with mischief, his free hand cupping the back of Fives’ neck. “Oh, I can? Do you have any ideas on how I should go about it?”

Fives hums playfully, pretending to think. “Oh, I have a few ideas…” he leans forward, connecting their foreheads softly. “You could start by kissing me.”

Echo gives a playfully long suffering sigh, eyes dropping to Fives’ lips. “I guess, if I have to,” he murmurs. He waits for Fives to chuckle breathily before leaning in and connecting their lips, feather light.

Fives gasps into the kiss, feeling like everything in the entire universe simply slid into place all at once. The phrase I was made to love you suddenly makes so much karking sense. The kiss feels like everything from before this moment was just exposition, just setting up for the moment their lips finally connected.

Fives pulls away, all witty remarks kissed out of his brain. “Oh,” he whispers, his own free hand resting on Echo’s waist.

Echo laughs breathlessly, smile wide. “There’s more where that came from,” he whispers, and his breath ghosts over Fives’ lips.

Fives hums, deciding he would rather kiss Echo again than respond.

#echo/fives #echo x fives #cloneshipping #my writing

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