@vodika-vibes This Is Fluffily Beautiful!!! Thank You For Writing My Request! ❤️❤️ The Actual

I fully recommend this Howzer series. Such depth and characterizations.

Quantum Entanglement: Howzer + Aurelia - Master List

Even as a cocky young shiny, there were a few people who saw the integrity and depth beneath Howzer's facade. Aurelia was one of them, but life tore them apart. However, when they found themselves reunited on Ryloth, with drastically different circumstances, they have to learn anew how to navigate a changing world and their undeniable feelings for one another.

Content/Trigger Warnings for Entire Work (individual chapters not labeled): wartime peril, injury, and death; sexual assault up to kissing; relationship passion up to making out and heavy petting; sexual relationship alluded to (smut is posted separately); pregnancy, birthing trauma, and stillbirth (chapters 30-39, can be skipped and still keep up with the story).

Growing Pains

Disillusionment

Potential

Good Intentions

Disarmament

Exploration

Tricky Navigation

Competition

Affinity

Conflict of Interest

Divergence

Correction

Surprise

Loss

Transitions

Suspicions

Tentative Curiosity

Foundation

Rescue

Reckoning

Fresh Start

Comfort and Provision

Passion and Perspective

Blowing Off Steam

Medical Practice

The Choice

Moonlight

Shifting Protocols

Deception

The Stand

Unstable Footing

Direction

Baby Steps

Opening Up

Opportunity

Relief and Regret

Not As Planned

Entanglement

Reunion

Future Gazing While in Waiting

Catching Up

Coming Clean

I’m sure he needs it! It’s exhausting being Cross.

Cross is sleepy, let him sleep! 😴 💚💕

@legacygirlingreen @thora-sniper @sukithebean @thecoffeelorian @neyswxrld @somewhere-on-kamino @clonethirstingisreal @royallykt @morerandombullshit @burningfieldof-clover @tbnrpotato @keantha @anxiouspineapple99

Thanks @zahmaddog I’ll see if I know 10 people. (Oh, I don’t.)

List 10 your favorite characters from 10 different fandoms, then tag 10 people.

In no particular order:

1. Echo - Star Wars

2. Spike - Buffy/Angel

3. Dr. Cox - Scrubs

4. Fiona Glenanne - Burn Notice

5. The Vulture - Brooklyn 99

6. Charon - John Wick

7. Nacho Varga - Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul

8. Jack Donaghy - 30 Rock

9. Sameen Shaw - Person of Interest

10. Angela Montenegro - Bones

No Pressure! @techhasmjolnir @badbatchsprincess @missfrieden

List your 10 favorite characters from 10 different Fandoms, then tag 10 people!

Thanks for the tag, @mystical-salamander!

1. Garazeb Orrelios, Star Wars

2. Alastor, Hazbin Hotel

3. Starscream, Transformers

4. Shadow the Hegehog, Sonic the Hedgehog

5. Castiel, Supernatural

6. Blitzø, Helluva Boss

7. Fox McCloud, Starfox

8. Shawn Spencer, Psych

Can't think of any more 😅

Tags: @seth-shitposts @heart-0f-a-rebel16 @lost-in-derry @birdsandbeetlesandmoths and anybody else who wants to do this!

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

Such sweetness 💕

A Mother's Lullaby

501st & Jedi!Fem!Reader

Summary: After returning home from a long campaign, you and your soldiers find it difficult to fall asleep. Echo has a bad dream which starts a chain reaction of clones entering your room looking for a different place to sleep for the night.

Pairing: 501st & Jedi!Fem!Reader

Characters: Rex, Fives, Echo, Jesse, Hardcase, Tup, Kix, Dogma

Tags & Warnings: platonic clone cuddles, snuggles, and kisses, smidge of angst, comfort, fluff

Word Count: 3k

Author’s Note: I came up with this one from a dream I had. All gestures are 100% platonic. The lullaby the reader sings can be found here. Honestly, these boys need all the cuddles, snuggles, and love they can get. As always, please enjoy! 💚

After being away for several rotations on a long campaign with the 501st, you have finally made it back home to Coruscant. You leave your weary troops in the barracks and head towards your chambers to clean up and get some rest. You enjoy your first warm meal in what feels like forever and hop in the shower to wash the grime off your skin. You let the hot water caress your body as you stand underneath its invigorating spray, never wanting to leave the warmth. 

You finish your shower, slip on your night clothes, and crawl into your bed. You nestle under the covers and take a deep breath, letting the familiar scents of your room fill your senses. There’s nothing quite like sleeping in one’s own bed. At last, you can get some good sleep. Sleep during campaigns is always a hit or miss and never the top priority, but when you’re here, when you’re home, you can sleep comfortably knowing no one is trying to end your life or the life of your men. 

However, tonight you endlessly toss and turn in your bed. You're exhausted, you know it, you can feel it. You want to sleep desperately, but something is keeping you awake. You continue to toss and turn, but slumber seems to escape you. You sigh and stare up at the ceiling in defeat. So much for a good night's rest. After all those long nights on the hard ground with blaster and cannon fire, you wish for nothing more than to sleep.

Unexpectedly, you’re pulled out of your thoughts by a presence entering your room. It’s too dark to see anything, but through the force, you can see exactly who it is. “Echo?” you ask while sitting up against your pillow.

“Ah, sorry to wake you general,” Echo answers while putting an awkward hand on his neck. 

“I wasn’t asleep,” you admit with a sigh as you rub your forehead. “Are you having trouble sleeping too?”

“I…” Echo begins to answer, but hesitates, unsure of how to say what he wants to say. “I had a bad dream.”

You cock your head to the side and give him a sympathetic smile. “Dreams are only dreams, Echo. They can’t hurt you.”

“Yeah,” Echo agrees half-heartedly. “I know.”

You sense he has something else to say, but he is too nervous to ask you. “Is there something else you want, Echo?” you ask to try and get him to tell you. “You know you can talk to me about anything.”

Echo opens his mouth to speak, but then closes it. He doesn’t want to step out of bounds with you as his general, but he also doesn’t want to go back to the barracks. Finally, he musters the courage and asks. “Can I sleep here tonight?”

You’re initially taken aback by the request, but your heart softens towards the tired clone. The nightmares that plague him must be horrific if he wants to sleep with his general. You think about it for a moment, but decide that it won’t hurt to let him stay the night with you. You pat the empty portion of the bed to the right of you to show him your approval. “Come here.” 

Still a little wary of the idea, Echo meanders his way over to the bed and crawls from the base up to where you are. You stretch out your arm and invite him to rest his head on your chest. He obliges with a little hesitancy and you gently drape your arm over his side and back. You can feel every ounce of tension in his body escape at your touch. He breathes deeply and lets out a relaxed sigh, knowing nothing can hurt him now.

You smile at the clone clinging to you and run your fingers through his hair. As a Jedi, you’re not allowed to have attachments, but there’s nothing in the code that says you can’t show compassion. These clones. They’re children, stuck in adult bodies, fighting a war that they never asked for. They never asked to be created. They never asked to be expendable. They never asked to be slaughtered. The least you can do is to offer them some sort of comfort. 

As you settle in with Echo and to try to get some rest, you sense another presence come into your room. Perhaps you should keep your room locked from now on. As the figure enters your dark room, you can see through the force that its Fives. “Looking for Echo?” you ask knowingly.

“Uh, yeah,” Fives answers with a jolt of surprise. “How’d you know?”

“The domino twins will always be inseparable,” you chuckle softly. “Where one goes, the other usually follows.”

“I didn’t think we were that predictable,” Fives rolls his eyes.

“Let’s just say that it doesn’t take a force wielder to know your thoughts,” you explain with a smile. “Would you like to join your brother?”

“I can’t sleep well without him nearby,” Fives admits as he crawls over the base of the bed and scooches next to Echo.

“Better?” you ask while looking over at him.

“Much better,” Fives answers as he nuzzles into the blankets.

You look down at both the clones now sleeping in your bed and you smile. You never thought something like this would occur, but here you are. It’s not that you don’t want them here, but you do feel a weird sense of maternal instinct as they lay there in your presence. Clearly they feel safe with you, but you’re not sure why. Other than being their General, leading them into battle, force healing their wounds, and giving them pep-talks, you’re not sure why they are attached to you.

Your thoughts are once again interrupted by a figure entering your room. You let out a slightly exasperated sigh when you realize it is yet another clone tip-toeing his way into your bedroom. “Looking for something, Jesse?” you ask the sneaking clone.

Caught by surprise, Jesse stumbles back into the wall. “Uh, well, you see,” he begins to explain in earnest. “Echo and Fives aren’t in their bunks, and they’re usually up to no good when they’re together, so I went looking for them.”

“Well, you found them,” you point out in a hushed tone. “They’re right here, sleeping with me.” 

Jesse pauses as he thinks about the situation before him. “Can…” he begins to ask. “Can I sleep here too?” 

“I don’t see why not,” you answer. Your bed is definitely big enough, but you’re still not sure why all these clones want to sleep in your room. They have the barracks and bunks of their own, and they sleep with all their brothers. It is odd to you, but nevertheless, you let him climb into bed with you, Echo, and Fives. He crawls over the end of the bed and situates himself on the left side of the bed, across from the others. Close, but not close enough to touch you. You smile at his reservation. 

As you begin to nod off, you’re pulled awake by yet another disturbance in your room. You wonder if you’re ever going to get any sleep at this rate. You look up at the figure standing across from the bed and with a sigh you ask them what they want. “What do you need Hardcase?”

“Oh, you knew it was me, huh?” Hardcase asks with a little embarrassment.

“You have a very distinct pattern in the force,” you answer with a small yawn.

“Really?” he questions with great interest. “I do?”

“Technically, you all do,” you explain further. “So, what can I do for you?”

“Jesse, Echo, and Fives aren’t in their bunks,” Hardcase begins to explain. “I thought they went to the refresher, but when they didn’t come back, I got worried.”

You smile at him and his concern for his brothers. “Don’t worry,” you soothe. “They’re right here with me.”

“What?” he questions with reproach. “They get to sleep with you? No fair!”

“Would you like to sleep here too?” you propose, thinking one more clone wouldn’t hurt. 

“Really?” he asks with excitement. “Can I?” 

“Only if you keep your voice down,” you hush as you feel Echo stir under your arm.

“Oh,” he quickly whispers. “Right. Gotcha. I’ll be quiet.”

Hardcase crawls into bed next to Jesse and Jesse wraps an arm around his brother to make sure he feels included. You look around at the group of clones covering your bed and let out a small chuckle. You’re not sure how one turned into four, but there’s no going back now. You can only hope that no more wayward clones will show up in your bedroom looking for a different place to sleep or their missing brothers.

However, your thoughts betray you as you sense Kix’s force presence entering your room. Should have seen that one coming. “If you’re looking for Echo, Fives, Jesse, or Hardcase, they’re here with me,” you announce, deciding to jump to the chase. 

“You sound exhausted,” Kix jests as he folds his arms. “I can make them leave, you know.”

“It’s fine,” you answer while running your fingers through Echo’s hair. You remind yourself why you began this little clone sleepover in the first place and smile softly. “Sometimes, we just need each other.”

“Amen to that,” Kix agrees. “You got room for one more?”

“Of course,” you smile at the medic. “Grab a spot wherever you can find one.”

Kix crawls over Jesse and Hardcase, kicking them playfully in the process, and flops himself across from you near the edge of the bed. He grabs a fistful of covers and nuzzles them softly. You smile wide at his childish movements. They really are just children. Children who had their childhoods stolen from them. You can’t quite reach Kix, but if you could, you would rub his back to lull him to sleep. Maker knows medics need their sleep.

No sooner does Kix settle in, do you feel another force presence enter the room. This one is a little more cautious, as if he’s contemplating that he doesn’t belong. You feel his hesitation and call out to him. “Dogma. You can come in.”

“General,” he acknowledges as he steps closer. “I don’t mean to intrude.”

“You’re not intruding, Dogma,” you reassure the hesitant clone.

“Can…” Dogma begins, still feeling like he’s not allowed to ask for this. “Can I sleep here too?”

Your heart softens at his innocent and heartfelt plea, and you smile at him. “Yes, Dogma. You’re welcome here too.”

He smiles back and crawls across the edge of the bed and nestles neatly just below Echo and Fives. You wonder about Dogma sometimes, because he keeps to himself a lot and has trouble opening up to others. You feel great reservation from him, even on the battlefield. But you’ve heard from the others that his previous general was abusive and uncaring. It breaks your heart that anyone could be so malicious towards such beautiful souls. They didn’t deserve that.

Suddenly, you feel an intense presence of sadness and fear enter your room. Your heart begins to race as the force scrunches around you. You want to jolt up out of bed, but you don’t want to disturb your sleeping clones. As the force becomes less distorted, you can finally see who it is. “Tup?” you ask with concern. “Are you okay? You scared me.”

“They left me alone,” Tup says through a shaky breath while clenching his fists. “I don’t want to be alone.”

The pain in his voice breaks your heart. Every ounce of maternal instinct in you tells you to get up and hug this sad clone until all his pain is gone, but you can’t get up at the moment, not with all these sleeping clones surrounding your every side. Instead you invite him to come join you by patting the open real estate next to your left side. “Come here, Tup.” 

He rushes over to the bedside and crawls over Kix to get to your side. You open your free arm and let him rest his head on your chest. You can feel a little shake in his body so you rub his back and place your head atop his. “Shhh. It’s alright,” you soothe. “I’ve got you. Your brothers are right here with you.” You feel the force settle around him and his breathing becomes soft.

“I wish I had a mother,” Tup admits into your chest.

You're surprised by the statement, but it’s not a completely unfounded thought. The clones are test-tube babies. Copies from an original source, with no mothers to speak of. Perhaps that is why they feel safe with you. Perhaps, because you are a woman, they feel a certain level of maternal attachment to you. That’s why they feel safe. That’s why they want to sleep here with you. That’s why they relax in your presence and melt under your touch. They just want a mother.

“What’s it like having a mother?” Tup asks out of curiosity.

“I don’t really remember mine to be honest,” you answer. “I was taken from her at a young age to be trained as a Jedi.”

“Oh,” Tup answers sadly.

“But,” you continue. “I do remember that she was warm and kind. She had a good heart and would sing me lullabies to go to sleep.”

“Lullabies?” Tup wonders at the strange word.

“Yes,” you explain in a hushed tone. “Mothers sing them to their children to help them go to sleep.”

“Would you sing us a lullaby?” Tup asks as he nuzzles further into you. 

You’re shocked at the question. No one has ever asked you to sing, let alone sing a lullaby. “Well, I don’t know...” you hesitate.

You feel Echo tug gently at your hem and whispers. “Please?” 

There were several more ‘pleases’ and ‘mhms’ coming from the lumps on your bed. You look around at the seven sleepy clones and wonder how you got yourself into this predicament. But, their innocence captures your heart and you feel a tender fondness for their simple request. How hard could it be to sing them a lullaby? You close your eyes and think back to when you were still with your mother and try to remember the words and the tune she sang to you.

Lay down your head and I'll sing you a lullaby

Back to the years of loo-li lai-lay

And I'll sing you to sleep and I'll sing you tomorrow

Bless you with love for the road that you go

May you sail far to the far fields of fortune

With diamonds and pearls at your head and your feet

And may you need never to banish misfortune

May you find kindness in all that you meet

May there always be angels to watch over you

To guide you each step of the way

To guard you and keep you safe from all harm

Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay

May you bring love and may you bring happiness

Be loved in return to the end of your days

Now fall off to sleep, I'm not meaning to keep you

I'll just sit for a while and sing loo-li, lai-lay

May there always be angels to watch over you

To guide you each step of the way

To guard you and keep you safe from all harm

Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay

Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay

Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay

Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay

Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay

Loo-li, loo-li, lai-lay

You finish the lullaby as tears form in the corner of your eyes. The words of the song unlocked the sweet memories of your mother from so long ago. She was a strong and loving woman, and even though you don’t remember her face, you could feel her embrace you through the force as the lyrics of her soothing lullaby escaped your lips. Such a soft and simple song, but so full of love, care, and comfort.

You look around lovingly at the clones sleeping softly in your bed and smile. Your heart is full. They’re all sleeping peacefully, probably for the first time in a long while. But your happy thoughts are pierced with poison as you remember why they exist. The bloody war. The war that no one asked for. The war they lay their lives down for. Not all of them may come back, but for now, yes, for now they are safe here with you. 

You look up as you sense the final presence you knew would show up eventually. “Captain,” you whisper, trying not to wake the clones. Rex came into the bedroom while you were singing the lullaby and leaned against the wall while he waited for you to finish. 

“I was wondering where my men went,” Rex chuckles while looking at his sleeping soldiers spread out across your bed.

“They needed a little mothering tonight,” you say as you leave a gentle kiss on Echo’s head. 

Rex smiles. “I can see that.”

“Will you join them?” you ask. “There’s room for one more.”

Without much convincing, Rex pushes himself off the wall and crawls onto the foot of the bed. He lays sideways at the edge, positioning himself to guard over his men. Rex is a great leader and a great Captain. He cares deeply for each of his men and puts their safety above his own. It’s just like him to take the most vulnerable and uncomfortable position so his men can relax and feel covered under his dutiful watch. You smile fondly at their brotherly bond. 

You let out a small sigh and lean over to the left to leave a small kiss on Tup’s head. You would kiss them all goodnight, but the rest are too far out of your reach. “Codladh sámh, my little ones,” You whisper while leaning your head back against the pillow to finally let yourself fall asleep. “Dream of a life far away from this one.”

Masterlist

A03

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Perfect!

@here-comes-the-moose

My bad, his ego was getting too big

Totally believable.

the bad batch see echo as this more-experienced, grumpy yet loving motherly figure who always checks on them, whether it’s making sure tech gets some sleep to giving hunter/crosshair glasses so they don’t get overstimulated to treating wreckers scar to putting omega to bed. he is the responsible one.

when they mention this to rex, he stares at echo in horror. because that boy is a demon. the same boy who snuck out drinking with fives, who once broke his knuckle punching a droid, who used to jump cody/rex/anakin from behind doors and try to tackle them.

no one belives rex when he says this.

echo is hiding behind a nearby door, listening in and preparing to jump rex.

Sweet and 🔥

Echo x Fem!Reader

Summary

When you accidentally overhear Hunter confronting Echo with his feelings for you, you take your chance and make the first step.

Rating: Teen and Up

Word Count: 4116

Warnings: No warnings! Just enjoy sensual juicy Echo fluff! 🍓♥️

AO3

That karking flap broke.

You sit in a maintenance shaft inside the Marauder and press one part of the flap against the rogue one, rolling your eyes theatrically even though no one can see you, waiting for the spaceworthy superglue to finally do its job.

You can live with doing repairs, letting your hands do the magic but you absolutely hate having to be still, waiting five karking minutes for the glue to finally dry. Your restless mind tells your body to flounder but you try to keep it under control - you don't want to ruin the end result. Then you'd have to do it all over again. Another five minutes of absolute boredom.

“...and we should get two or three regulators as spare parts, the current ones seem to be at the end of their lifespan and become increasingly unreliable." Echo and Hunter enter the Marauder and approach the back where you are stuck in the maintenance shaft with a small mesh separating you from the corridor with the two men.

You don't want to eavesdrop and prepare yourself for the classic “ahem" to show them you're here when Hunter starts talking.

“Enough about the spare parts...let's talk about the mechanic."

O-o...did you do something wrong? Or right? Is it still a good idea to pretend to clear your throat?

“What about her?" Echo asks. He looks a bit annoyed. Maybe you did do something wrong.

The idea that Echo would be upset with you hurts - ever since the crew of the Marauder commissioned your boss's shop to do the repairs you had your eyes on him but never got anything in return. He was stiff, distant, uptight and all about work and his constantly gloomy, slightly grumpy mood didn't help establish a communication either. You had almost made your peace with the idea that for some reason he just didn’t like you. Almost…you couldn’t help yourself and still kept on trying to get close to him, start some smalltalk or catch his eye.

Maybe Hunter noticed that you tried to get his attention and wanted to check with Echo if it bothered him or affected your work...and get someone else if it did. And you genuinely thought you chose a subtle approach to show Echo you're interested. Obviously you didn't. It apparently upset Echo and got Hunter's attention. You weren’t subtle - just very unprofessional.

The embarrassment you feel is overwhelming. You got carried away when all you had to do was repair a spaceship while it made landfall. Maybe they'll even tell your boss about it. You feel so sheepish...the very idea that your boss will learn about it and confront you with your misbehavior makes you want to curl up and die.

“I've seen the way you look at her" Hunter answers and raises an eyebrow...as far as you can see through the mesh.

You stare at the scene with eyes wide open. Is this going in a different direction than you thought?

Echo purses his lips.

“And what way would that be?"

Hunter gives him a warm smile and touches his shoulder.

“Echo…just stop pretending. I know you have feelings for her."

Echo clenches his jaw and is visibly upset with Hunter's approach - he surely doesn‘t want him to address this topic so openly. He takes a step back to get away from his touch and is about to say something but Hunter is faster.

“Don't try to deny it. Enhanced senses, remember?”

Echo's cheeks are flushed red now. He furrows his brows and groans.

"Doesn't matter. I have different priorities."

Hunter raises an eyebrow at him again.

“We both know that's not the real reason. Why don't you give it a shot? I think she really likes you."

Echo angrily stares at Hunter for an awfully long time. It is pretty obvious that he feels that his sergeant overstepped.

“It's really none of your business“ he grunts. “Now if you don't have any more questions about the spare parts I ask to be dismissed."

Hunter scoffs. Since they've been on the run he's never been so formal that he would dismiss one of his crew. You'd be surprised if he'd played that game before Order 66 at all. This team didn't seem to follow the strict military rules anyway – probably with the exception of Echo.

Hunter gives Echo a nod and shortly looks in the direction of the mesh that's hiding you and the bits of the maintenance flap you glued together. Adrenaline flushes you and you hold your breath. Did he see you?

But then he quickly turns around and leaves the Marauder.

A few days later you find yourself in the Marauder alone with Echo, doing repairs while the others explore the planet. Of course the conversation between Hunter and Echo never left your mind and you don’t know how to feel about being alone with him.

Echo...he had feelings for you... something you wished so much but didn't dare to hope for. But ever since that moment in the maintenance shaft you felt even more flustered in his presence. Knowing about his feelings could have made you feel confident, but you are just nervous when he's in the room – and even more now, that you're alone. After all he clearly rejected the idea of taking it further, he had no intention of acting on his feelings. 'We both know that's not the real reason' Hunter said to Echo.

Whatever the reason is - maybe he just needed a little push?

You both work in the Marauder, silently, separately on different stations. Echo keeps the conversation on a professional level and keeps his distance. You sometimes peek over to him, try to catch his eye. Sometimes he looks back at you very shortly, but immediately looks away when your eyes meet. The whole morning is the very definition of awkward.

A quiet beeping informs you that it's time for the lunch break. In a way you've been looking forward to it, hoping it will give you the chance to talk to Echo, maybe exchange as smile or so. But now that it's time you're afraid it will be an embarrassing disaster of uncomfortable silence.

You go over to the tactical stations in the back of the Marauder - two identical working spaces on opposite sides of the fuselage. Both of you lean against the consoles and face each other. Echo gives you a forced smile and a formal nod, then he bites into the GAR standard ration, a brown cylindrical and very dry bar that tastes like cardboard. A loveless piece of food for clone troopers that contains all vitamins, proteins and other nutrients a hard-working soldier needs, carefully balanced to match the average calories a genetically standardized man requires when he performs his standard tasks in a standard environment. Not one bit about this bar is about taste, indulgence, enjoyment. It was made for assets that are supposed to spend the shortest time possible eating to be as productive as they can be.

The fact that it was Hunter who insisted on providing you with lunch today - and you’re sure it’s definitely not a bar like that - tells you that no one in this team has to eat those tasteless abominations of food anymore. Still that's what Echo has for lunch. And you get it. It's all he knows, all he's ever known and whatever kinds of food he got to know on his missions he still keeps on coming back to the standard bars. It is part of his routine, something that grounds him, something familiar.

You nod back and open your lunchbox. You are well aware that his formal behavior is just his way to deal with the awkwardness of the situation. Now that you know he has feelings for you it's easier to look behind his distant facade. He is just afraid of this moment as you are, being alone with each other, being expected to come up with some clever topics for small talk or having to face uncomfortable silence instead, with the sounds of your chewing and swallowing filling the room.

You open your lunch box, see the mouthwatering wholemeal sandwich with fresh salad and cheese Hunter got you - and laugh in surprise when you see the treat he put in the compartment for dessert.

Strawberries.

Of all the food you love, this is what you love most.

You never thought he'd get you strawberries!

And of course Hunter picked the perfect strawberries - you expected nothing less. His enhanced senses surely helped and you have no doubt that they will taste as good as they look - deep red, ripe and juicy, their sweet scent filling the air, watering your mouth. Perfect, just perfect!

A smile spreads all over your face. This is such a lovely gesture from the sergeant. A few days ago you mentioned that you grew them in your garden as a child, how much you always looked forward to the time of the year when they got ripe, how much you’d love to eat them again.

But you never thought he'd surprise you with strawberries for your lunchbreak! You didn't even know it was possible to get them on this planet.

Your smile keeps on growing. One could say it’s just food but these are strawberries! They are never ’just fruit’. A little treat during rough times. And knowing that it is a kind gesture from Hunter makes them even better.

You look over to Echo who already takes the second bite of the tasteless bar and tries to look like someone who doesn't feel uncomfortable in your presence but in such a peculiar way that it is hard to miss how he really feels about the situation.

You look down at the strawberries. Their seductive scent must have reached him and his unsavory GAR ration by now. You look up to him and finally break the silence.

"Have you ever tried strawberries?“ you ask and hold one of the thick red fruit up.

Echo looks over, surprised about your attempt to start a conversation.

“Erm... no" he answers.

"Would you like to try one?“ you ask tentatively and hope he will take the bait.

"Sure, why not" Echo answers and tries to make it sound as casually as he can.

He doesn't know what he just started…at least not yet.

But soon he will.

You get up and with a pounding heart you slowly move the hand with the strawberry in his direction. He reaches for it but you ignore that. You have no intention of giving it to him...at least not this way. You lift your hand up to his face and place the strawberry in front of his mouth, tip forward.

Echo's eyes widen and you see panic in them. He swallows hard and you can feel his breath flowing over your fingers, his mouth still closed, his mind racing. This is not what he signed up for.

You keep your eyes on his even though he doesn't dare to look back into yours. Your pounding heart is the only proof that time isn’t standing still right now.

Echo blinks a few times, irritated, his body frozen. The tension is killing you. And him. You can see his mind working. He said he wanted to try one so he can't tell you he made up his mind just like that. It would be rude.

"The tip is the best part of it” you rasp to break the unbearable silence - and he finally opens his mouth. You feel his warm breath on your skin before he slowly bites off the tip.

You leave your eyes on his and slowly retreat the hand with the remaining half of the strawberry to stick it in your own mouth and eat it. He's still not returning your look while he chews slowly and finally swallows. He shows no reaction to its taste - his mind is probably somewhere else, dealing with your move, trying to process, trying to not give his feelings away, trying to get in control of the situation again.

"You want another one?“ you ask him.

Echo finally looks at you. The panic hasn't left his eyes. He doesn't answer. You see his chest heave quickly under his armor. Your little assault was probably a bit too much for him but you don't see a ‘no’ in his eyes either so you take another strawberry and offer it to him.

His lips are still parted, his breath warm against your fingers and this time it takes only a few breaths before he takes a bite. You eat the other half again and don't bother asking, you just take another strawberry and offer it to him.

He still takes his time before his lips enclose the tip of the fruit but he is not as hesitant as before. You give him a rushed and nervous smile and he gives you one back. Just for half a second, just really quickly, but a smile nonetheless, an unmistakable sign of his consent. Finally...

When you give him the next strawberry you allow your eyes to wander down to his delicious lips, slightly wet and juicy from the treats you’ve been feeding him. Irresistible. You watch their every move when he takes the next bite, watch them gently enclose the tip of the strawberry and suck lightly when he finally bites it off. You breath through your mouth, infatuated by the sight, flustered by the sensuality of his lips, captivated by a little drop of juice running down the corner of his mouth.

Before you can think about it your hand is already at his cheek. You run your thumb over his chin, gently wipe away the juice. You lock eyes - this time he doesn't look away - and you slowly retreat your hand to suckle the juice off of your thumb before you eat your half of the strawberry.

Even though your eyes are on his you see him swallow hard.

You take another strawberry and offer it to him. Everything's in slow motion now. Your hand, his lips, his breath flowing over your fingers...

Your eyes are still locked.

You can see that he’s nervous but so are you. Echo accepts your gift another time and you eat the rest.

You reach for the next strawberry when you realize that Echo already has one in his hand - looks like he finally put his unsavory bar down and wants to return the favor. He’s moving it slowly towards your mouth, his eyes firmly on yours. His hand is shaking - you have no idea how in the universe you managed to keep yours steady all the time. You slowly lift your hand and hold his, stabilize it in front of your lips. His ashen skin feels cold, almost as if it had been waiting for your warm touch. You both move the tip of the strawberry closer.

Your mouth is slightly open. This time it is you who lets him feel your breath on his skin. You take your time before you put your lips around the tip, even dare to stick out your tongue a bit to lick over the underside of the strawberry before you slowly take what's yours.

Echo knows what's supposed to come next - the other half is his. Your hand is still on his, gently guides it towards his mouth. But when he gets there you stop him.

He doesn't understand, you can see it in his eyes...you hold your position for a few breaths and then start moving - very slowly, very carefully. You don't want him to get too eager and eat it. Not yet. After all there is a reason why you bit off only a small part of the strawberry. The fruit is juicy and still very defined where you bit it off... it's perfect, it’s just the way you need it to be.

You slowly guide his hand closer to his mouth and run the juicy part of the remaining strawberry over his lips. First the lower lip, left to right, then the upper lip, his breath fast and hot on your fingers all the time. When both his lips are glistening with juice you finally let him eat the rest.

Your eyes are now firmly locked, tied together by an invisible force. Your hand searches for the next strawberry and finally finds it. You feed him the tip again and are just about to put the other half in your mouth when he softly runs his cold fingers over yours, still trembling lightly, but a lot less than before. And he guides your hand to run the remaining strawberry over your lips now.

It took you until this moment to notice that he bit off a lot less than before too - he is a fast learner.

You breath through your mouth, excited, aroused, drawn to this man, let him feel your hot breath on his cold skin, let him hear every breath you draw, let him hear the shuddering, let him see how close you are to losing your composure while he wets your lips with the sweet strawberry juice. The tension is almost unbearable…how you wish he'd let go of the strawberry and brush his lips over yours...

... but he's not there yet. He feeds you the remaining half and waits for your next move when he takes another strawberry and offers it to you.

Your patience has left for a hunger that can no longer be controlled. You suck the tip of the strawberry hard and suggestively, leaving no questions open, before you bite off the tip with so much passion that your desire is on full display. Then you take his hand with the remaining part, move it close to his mouth, a fierce, determined look in your eyes - and run it over his lips before you run it over the corner of his mouth and wet the skin on his cheek. You don't bother feeding him the rest and satisfy your own hunger by finally moving forward, your lips close to him, finally kissing the juice off of his cheeks and the corner of his mouth before you move on to his lips, gently lick the juice off, your hot breath mixing with his until you finally kiss, softly, sensually, hungrily tasting each other, your strawberry lips, your strawberry tongues, your strawberry saliva.

Echo pulls you closer and you lean your body against his, feel his armor, hard plastoid keeping a physical distance but also intriguing, reminding you of his hard physically demanding work. You reach for the blacks under his chest plate and grab them tightly, pull him closer too, let him feel your grip on his skin while you indulge more and more in each other's taste.

Your free hand still holds the rest of the strawberry and you move it up, run it over the sensitive spot at his cheek right under the place where his ear is covered by the head piece and you move it slowly down towards his neck, move it across his throat and further down from there, then break the kiss and follow the juicy trail with your lips. Echo moans softly and you feel the vibrations under your kisses. He tastes so good…it’s not just the strawberry, not even primarily the sweet fruit, it's him, his unique taste, manly and slightly salty, making the strawberry juice a faint refinement of an already perfect taste.

Echo takes the strawberry remains from you and runs them over your skin, starting under your ear, going on over your sensitive neck and moving closer to your neckline. You slowly pull the zipper of your jumpsuit down, brush the fabric over your shoulder to expose your skin and he gasps quietly and continues his trail on your collar bone. Then he gently kisses the juice off, adds little licks while he's on his way, flickers his tongue over your skin in such a skillful way it robs you of your senses when you realize the promise that lies within. You gasp quietly, feel his hot breath on your skin, hear his little moans, let out little gasps of pleasure and forget the world around you when he...

"Hey Echo, look what we got at the..." Omega's cheerful voice cuts through the air and you quickly let go of each other and stare into her curious face. Wrecker comes through the door, relaxed and in a good mood until he sees your surprised faces, your exposed shoulder, the reddish strawberry juice on your skin and both your red cheeks. He quickly covers Omega's eyes from behind but she loudly complains and squirms her way out of his grip. She is just about to say something when Hunter rushes in, quite obviously to stop them but already aware that he's too late. He could probably sense that the two of you were making out when he was still outside...

Your eyes shortly meet Hunter's and suddenly you realize...

... he must have known that you were in the maintenance bay when he asked Echo about his feelings for you. He couldn't have missed that, not with his enhanced senses. And it was not like this was an ongoing conversation when they entered the corridor.

He started that conversation.

He chose this topic.

He brought it up.

On purpose.

Knowing that you'd be there to listen to him.

Knowing that the chances that you'd make a first move would be a lot higher than Echo's.

And then the strawberries...the strawberries he found for you the very day when you and Echo would be alone on the Marauder. Which was probably something he scheduled on purpose too.

He had planned all this.

You are not sure if you should feel played or if you should be grateful because he gave you the chance to get closer to the man whose touch you craved so much. You would never have taken the chance if you hadn't learned that he has feelings for you.

Hunter looks over to Wrecker and Omega while Tech enters the Marauder.

"You know what? Why don't we explore the city a little more and go to the holo cinema tonight? No need to hang around at the ship, we have that everyday" the sergeant asks.

Wrecker is over the moon and pushes Hunter‘s shoulder a little too enthusiastically.

“Awesome!"

He looks over to Omega who peeks in Hunter's direction and smirks.

“What a shame that these two can't join us. I take it they have to continue with the repairs until late at night?" she says and winks.

Hunter blushes. He wasn't prepared for Omega to understand what he‘s up to. You look over to Echo - his cheeks are flushed red. He just begins to realize that Hunter played Cupid.

Tech adjusts his googles.

“In this case I will stay here too and support the remaining repairs. It is imperative that...”

“Nooooo Tech!” Wrecker interrupts him with his loud voice. “I don't think that's necessary!”

Tech gives him an irritated look – refusing his offer to support repairs is probably one of the most offensive things he knows in his world. Omega quickly picks up on his face and steps in.

“Yeah...you know there's only limited space where they have to work and you'd be in each others' way...”

“Besides...” Hunter adds and wraps his arm around Tech “I chose the movie specifically for you. It's called 'A beautiful mind'. You're gonna love it. It's about a mathematician who...” Hunter gently guides Tech outside and gives the two of you one last look with a grin.

Wrecker rubs his neck before he starts to talk loudly.

“Well...erm...you...you just go on with the repairs...and stuff...you know...erm...”

Omega giggles takes his hand and pulls him towards the door.

“Let's see if we can get Mantell mix on this planet. No movie without junk food!”

Wrecker gratefully accepts the pull-out and Omega gives you a last wink before they leave the two of you alone.

Echo and you look at each other and laugh nervously. And now that everyone has left you realize that someone - probably Hunter - left you something at the Marauder‘s door. It’s probably what Omega wanted to show Echo when she ran in on you.

It‘s a basket with a huge variety of fruit.

Very juicy ones.

Echo didn’t miss them either. He rubs his neck and gives you an apologetic look.

“Well that’s embarrassing…“

You give him a nervous smile.

“It is…“

But then you summon up all your courage and firmly look into his eyes.

“I don’t mind at all. Do you?“

Writer’s Notes:

This fic was inspired by two wonderful fics about Echo and strawberries: Lush Meadows by @the-rain-on-kamino and Strawberries by @arcsimper5.

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Tech is immune to flirting, but she keeps trying! This was adorable!

#tech’s a coder not a flirter

Tech x Mechanic Reader

Summary: After the war, you reprogrammed a troop of abandoned B1 battle droids to serve with kindness—not violence. When Clone Force 99 shows up for a supply run, Tech questions your methods, and you challenge his logic.

You found them half-dead in the sand. Twenty B1 battle droids, dumped in a sun-scorched wreck outside the outpost, like bones picked clean by time and war. Most folks would've scavenged the parts, maybe sold off a few limbs if the servos were still functional.

But you? You were a little lonely, a little dangerous, and very, *very* good with code.

Rewiring them took weeks. You erased what the Separatists left behind, built your own parameters from scratch, and gave them something they'd never had before: choice.

You taught them to wave. To carry groceries. To call you "Friend" instead of "Master."

And when people flinched at the sight of battle droids strolling through town, you dipped your brush in paint. Mint green, lavender, sunflower yellow. You gave them smiley faces, heart decals, flower crowns made from leftover wire. You made them soft. Funny. Endearing.

They were still capable of violence—so were you—but they only used it when you gave the order.

Which wasn't often.

---

Clone Force 99 didn't arrive with blasters drawn, but the tension clung to them like dust. The mission was simple: a supply pickup for Cid. In and out. But this planet made Wrecker's nose wrinkle, and Echo kept his blaster low and ready.

Hunter spotted the droid first—lavender chassis, daisies painted across its plating, an old satchel slung over one shoulder as it meandered through the marketplace humming something vaguely cheerful.

"Is that... a B1?" Echo asked, narrowing his eyes.

"It appears to be carrying coolant," Tech said, scanning with his datapad. "And whistling."

Wrecker let out a low chuckle. "Guess the war *really* is over."

"Something's off," Hunter murmured. "Let's follow it."

They kept their distance as the droid turned off the main strip and waddled down a side alley, past a half-crumbling sign that read *THE FIXER'S NEST* in flickering neon.

The shop was a bunker of welded panels and salvaged Separatist tech. Outside, another B1—bright pink with a lopsided sun painted on its chest—was sweeping the doorstep and chatting to a GNK droid.

"Friend says no sand in the workshop," it explained, very seriously. "Sand gets in the gears. Sand *hurts feelings*."

The Bad Batch exchanged a look.

Hunter stepped forward and tapped twice on the doorframe.

You didn't even look up from where you were elbow-deep in a deconstructed astromech.

"You're late," you said, voice calm. "Tell Cid her coolant's in the crate by the wall. So's the power cells, bolts, and the weird candy she likes."

There was a pause.

"We didn't say we were here for Cid," Echo said slowly.

Now you looked up—smirk sharp, eyes sharper.

"Didn't have to. You've got that *'we work for someone mean, grumpy and morally grey'* vibe. Plus, you match the order details she sent me yesterday."

Wrecker moved to the crate and peeked inside. "Yep. All here."

"Of course it is," you muttered. "I run a business, not a guessing game."

Tech, meanwhile, was still staring at the droids—two were dusting the shelves with actual feather dusters, and another had just handed you a datapad while humming.

"These are B1 units," he said, voice laced with something between awe and concern. "Fully functional. Active. Painted."

You stood, wiping your hands on a rag. "I call that one Sprinkles."

"They're dangerous," he said immediately. "You realize they could revert to their original programming at any time—"

"Not mine," you cut in. "I rewrote them myself. Erased every combat subroutine. They're coded to help, protect, and be as non-threatening as a bowl of soup."

Tech stepped forward, clearly bristling. "Their hardware alone makes them capable of violence. You cannot override thousands of lines of military protocol with flower decals and whimsy."

"No," you said coolly, "but I can override them with skill, precision, and an understanding of droid psychology that clearly surpasses yours."

Hunter winced. Echo muttered something under his breath. Wrecker made the universal *oooooh, burn* face.

Tech, however, pushed up his goggles like you'd challenged him to a duel. "I would very much like to inspect your code."

You arched a brow. "What, no dinner first?"

His mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.

You grinned. "Don't worry, Professor. I'll even let you use the comfy chair."

Sprinkles chirped and handed Tech a cup of caf with perfect comedic timing.

"Welcome, new Friend!" it said cheerfully.

Tech took the cup automatically, staring down at it like it might explode.

You leaned on the counter and gave him a slow once-over. "You gonna tell me how unsafe I am again, or are you here to learn something?"

He met your gaze, thoughtful now. Curious. "...Both."

You smiled, victorious.

---

Tech hadn't stopped talking for fifteen minutes straight.

Not that you minded. His cadence was quick, his mind quicker, and his goggles fogged slightly whenever he got excited. Which, it turned out, was often—especially when discussing battle droid memory cores, sub-routine overrides, and how you managed to build a loyalty system based on *empathy* instead of authority.

"You replaced their original fail-safe with a social dependency loop," he said, practically glowing. "That's... innovative. Risky. But brilliant."

"I try," you said, leaning against your workbench. "It helps that they trust me. Most people don't trust anything unless they can control it. Droids aren't any different."

Tech nodded slowly, examining the code you'd opened for him on your terminal. "You used a behavioral reinforcement system. Repetition and reward. This is similar to clone trooper training methodology—except applied to machines."

You gave him a sly look. "Are you comparing yourself to a B1?"

"I am acknowledging structural parallels in behavioral learning patterns," he replied, completely straight-faced.

You grinned. "That's what I said."

Tech paused, frowning slightly. "You are... amused by me."

"Observant, aren't you?" You stepped closer, brushing your shoulder against his as you leaned in to point at a line of code. "This part here—subtle failsafe. If they ever encounter an override attempt from an external signal, it loops them back to me."

He blinked, eyes darting from the screen to your face. "That is... impressively cautious."

"I've been told I'm full of surprises."

He didn't respond—just squinted closer at the screen.

You sighed, lips twitching. "Nothing? Not even a blush? Stars, you *are* all business."

Before he could answer (or continue missing your very obvious flirting), a loud crash echoed from the street outside, followed by the unmistakable hiss of a thermal disruptor and the annoyed squawk of one of your droids.

You were already moving.

Outside, a low-rent bounty hunter—tatty armor, one glowing eye, and an attitude that outpaced his ability—was holding one of your B1s at blaster point.

"Move, scrapheap, or I'll scrap you myself," he snarled.

The droid blinked. "Friend said no yelling. Friend also said no blasters unless you bring candy."

"*Candy?*"

You stepped into the street like a storm cloud in boots.

"Is there a reason you're threatening my droid, or are you just bored and stupid?"

The bounty hunter turned to you, smug. "This thing walked in front of my speeder. I don't care how shiny you paint 'em—B1s are still clanker trash. I'm just doing the galaxy a favor."

You gave a slow whistle.

Three more droids stepped out from alleyways and rooftops, all armed with repurposed but deactivated blasters—they didn't need live ammo to intimidate. One even had a frying pan.

The bounty hunter backed up a step.

You raised a hand.

"Engage," you said simply.

They moved like a synchronized swarm. Two pinned his arms while the others knocked the blaster from his hands and dismantled his boots with surgical precision. The frying pan droid stood back and provided color commentary.

"Friend says don't be mean! Friend says fix your attitude!"

The bounty hunter was on the ground and begging within seconds.

You stepped forward, crouched down, and grabbed him by the collar.

"You threaten one of mine again, and I'll let them finish what they started. You hear me?"

He nodded frantically.

"Good." You turned to your droids. "Escort him to the edge of town. Gently."

They saluted with cartoonish enthusiasm and dragged him off, half-hopping as they went.

You stood, dusted your hands, and turned back to find Tech watching with an unreadable expression.

"Well?" you said, folding your arms.

"That was... efficient," he admitted. "But highly aggressive."

You raised a brow. "They followed my orders exactly. Didn't fire a shot. Didn't kill. Didn't even insult his boots. I programmed them to protect what's mine, not wage war."

"But the capability—"

"*Exists.*" You cut in. "Just like yours does. Just like mine. The question isn't what they *can* do. It's what they *choose* to do. And what I program them to choose."

Tech looked at you then—really looked at you. A flicker of something passed behind his eyes. Understanding. Respect.

Maybe even admiration.

"They're not like the others," he said, finally.

You smirked. "Neither am I."

He hesitated, adjusting his goggles. "Would you... allow me to assist you in refining their motor skills protocols? I have a few ideas."

You leaned on the workbench again, grinning. "You wanna help me teach battle droids ballet?"

Tech blinked. "Not... precisely."

"Come on, Tech," you said, voice low and teasing. "Live a little."

He didn't answer, but he did roll up his sleeves and pull out a datapad, already scribbling new subroutine formulas with a faint smile tugging at his lips.

You might not have cracked the flirtation firewall yet—but the code was definitely compiling.

Because Echo has a well deserved reputation. #chaos strategist

The imperials don’t scare their kids by telling them stories about the boogeyman, they scare them by telling stories about Echo.