Chapter Forty
Two days later, he had his arm altered so that the computer implant could be detached at will and a mechanical hand connected. There was a bit less feeling in it than his flesh one, but that was a whole lot better than nothing. And having fingers was awfully nice.
Then came physical therapy, and Echo worked on regaining his mobility for the next week, going from spending all his strength just walking across the room, to full on running. The progress was amazing, and he began training in the gym, pushing himself hard to regain the muscle he'd lost.
Maybe too hard.
"Sit down before you drop," a cool voice growled next to him.
Echo yelped and jerked around to meet Hunter's steel gaze. "Kriff! Announcing yourself would be nice!"
He didn't say anything but came forward and pressed his shoulder until he sat down. "Off with the gloves. Drink your Electrade. You're gonna end up passing out one of these days."
Echo rolled his eyes. Why did everyone treat him like he was made of glass?
I'm not that fragile. I'm an ARC Trooper, for kriff sake, and ARCs can go more than a measly forty-five minutes without having a sit down.
"Have you eat—"
"—yes I have!" Echo snapped, irritated. "An entire ration bar, five slices of whole wheat bread with jelly or honey and some cheese on them, and two bowls of the soup Ella made. I've drunk so much water I feel like you could turn me into an aquarium, and I got five hours of sleep last night. No, my head doesn't hurt. Yes, I sunbathed. Yes, I've had all my supplements and I'm feeling just fine!"
Hunter opened his mouth, surprised at the outburst from the usually even-tempered soldier. "Echo—"
"—I was an ARC Trooper, in case you and everyone else forgot!" he cut him off, voice rising. "I could run a klick and not break a sweat, shoot a hairpin target over five klicks away, and go hand to hand with armed assailants and come out the victor. I'm not a china vase!"
His chest was heaving from how he'd been yelling, and he stood there panting as Hunter stared him down, arms crossed and an unamused scowl on his face.
"You done?" he asked calmly.
Echo couldn't have said another word if he'd tried.
"Good," he nodded. "Now, I don't know who's been treating you like glass, because I have no intention of following suit. I know you were an ARC, and have no doubt you can get back to that place. Unfortunately for you, however, I'm going to check on you because that's what I do with all my brothers, whether they like it or not. Ask Cody. I give him osik about his excessive coffee consumption all day long. Doesn't matter if you're him or a shiny. I'm gonna make sure you've eaten and drank and warn you when I think you're making a mistake or overworking yourself."
Echo stared at his feet, feeling like an idiot. He'd really just gone off. Out of all the people who'd badgered him about 'taking it easy' and 'remembering his limits,' Hunter was the one who hadn't been demeaning or immoderate. He asked if he ate. Asked if he drank. Asked about pills. That was it really. Nothing like the medics, who really, now that he was thinking about it, had every right to be asking those questions.
I'm such a di'kut. And a jerk.
"I… I'm sorry," he whispered.
Hunter just sighed. "It's okay, Echo. I get it."
"I just… I don't want everyone to look at me like I'm… like I'm—"
"—like you're broken," he finished.
He nodded.
Everyone seemed to have this look of pity on their face these days. Shinies. Some of the people he'd known. Even Jesse a few times. Only Rogue, Chopper, and Winter really got it. Them and Rex.
Ella… it was a confusing mix. He knew she was upset he was hurt. Did that mean she considered him weak? Did she think of him as someone who needed coddling? Someone broken?
I don't wanna be fixed. I want to be what I was before. I want to show everyone I'm just as useful.
"You're not broken, Echo," Hunter declared. "You're struggling, but you're not broken. You're a fighter."
"I just… I need to prove that. To the others, I mean."
To myself, his heart corrected. He shoved down those pitiful thoughts as hard as he could. He was fine. It was everyone else who needed to realize that.
Just then, an idea occurred to him.
"The Generals, Captain Rex, and Jesse are strategizing on the communications platform, right?"
Hunter nodded, "Yeah. So?"
A smile slowly stretched his lips, and he looked up determinedly. "Hunter, you might wanna get your boys ready, just in case my plan works. I'm gonna be needing your skills."
•~§~•
She'd been uneasy ever since she'd seen the date. Today was impossible to forget. It had now been a complete year since Echo disappeared. And now she was on edge.
Something was bound to happen today. She knew it. She expected a million things, prepared for them and was always on the lookout.
Somehow, that didn't prepare her for her best friend's announcement as she was just getting up to leave her room.
Galene didn't knock, knowing that she was alone in the room, and just burst in. "Just wanted to let you know that the troops are being organized to go take the assembly complex back. Master Windu and Kenobi's men."
She frowned, "The 501st isn't participating?"
"Well, not most of them. Jesse is taking a group for cleanup and sweeps, and Kix is taking Vutyc to do medical evac and on site emergencies. Your hubby's plan actually. He's going to Trench's ship and—"
"What do you mean?" she gasped. "He's... going on a mission?" Ella whimpered. "He just got back! He's… he can't!"
Galene sighed, "Sorry, Ella. That's what I heard. According to Kix, who heard from Jesse who was there at the strategy meeting, he, Rex, Anakin, and the Bad Batch are all heading to infiltrate Trench's ship and trick him into giving up Anaxes by relying on his algorithm."
The brunette shook her head, clenching her fingers around strands of her long, silky hair. "No, no, no, no, he can't! What if he really gets killed this time! What if… Allee, he can't go!"
"Ella, I understand that you're scared, but—"
"—no! You don't!" she snapped. "Your husband didn't come back to you after a year of being tortured and having his mind assaulted! You don't have to live with the fact that you cheated on him! Or that you lost the only child you might ever be able to give him! I can't lose him again, Allee! I can't!"
Her friend's eyes were filled with hurt betrayal and remorse, and she turned to leave. "You're right, Ella. I don't. But I tried to be there for you all the same. Sorry I wasn't enough."
Ella immediately realized her mistakes and shook herself, reaching out and grabbing her friend's shoulder. "Allee… I was wrong. I'm sorry. That was totally uncalled for, and definitely undeserved. I'm sorry."
She hesitated then sighed.
"I'm really scared. There's so much going on and changing on me all the time now. Most of it is great, just… heavy. Hard to process. I still can't fully believe that I go to sleep with him in my arms every night and wake up with him still there beside me. I cannot lose him a second time, Allee. It was today!" she sighed. "I lost him a year ago today, and I can't go through that again! It will kill me. I know it!"
Galene hugged her. "I know how much Echo means to you. And I cannot imagine how I'd be able to handle the situation if I were you, and Kix was in Echo's place. I just… I'm trying, Ella. I'm trying to understand how to help and it's confusing for me too."
"I know. And I can tell. Please don't take what I said to heart. They just came out of nowhere. You have been there for me. You've been a constant for me. Thank you." Then she took a deep, calming breath. "Does he have to go?"
"This isn't what you want to hear, Ella," her friend warned. "But you can't treat him like an invalid. He won't find the strength he needs to get through this from babying."
"I know. He's not an invalid. I don't doubt for a second he's capable of doing anything he sets his mind to," Ella explained. "He's an ARC Trooper, Allee. That kind of title is the opposite of weak or frail. I know he's had a dozen procedures, but he's not incapable of doing what he did before. It's not about me not thinking he can do it."
"Okay. That's good," Galene nodded. "Just make sure he knows that."
"I'm gonna go and send him off," she said.
"Don't ask him not to go, Ella," her friend warned. "Especially not in front of the others."
"I won't," she vowed, "but he better come back. He'd better."
•~§~•
Echo was just stepping foot onto the Havoc Marauder when someone flung their arms around him from behind. He turned and his arms were immediately around his wife.
His eyes widened. She was trembling like a leaf.
"Ella?" he whispered concernedly. His worry only grew when she lifted her head and he saw tears in her depthless eyes. "What's wrong?"
She shook her head, "I-I won't ask you not to go," she croaked. "Just… please!"
What was it she was asking? Was she, in contradiction to her former statement, begging him to stay? Or was it something else?
"What?" he prompted.
The tears spilled over as she brokenly whispered, "Please come back! I… I don't doubt you at all. I know… I believe in you. I just… I can't go through that again, so please be careful and don't… just please, for me, be safe."
Her voice held such misery, it stunned him. And for some reason, it struck him that he didn't know what she had gone through in the time they'd been apart.
"She's been through more pain than I'd thought anyone could and still be the person we know as Ella, Echo," Rex had told him just after they'd left Skako.
"What do you mean? What's happened to her?" he'd asked.
But his brother had shaken his head and sighed heavily, "Not my stories to tell. You'll have to ask her for yourself, or wait until she tells you. But just know that Ella has held it together, broken, and put herself back together more times in the last year than she may ever have in all her life. She's going to need you a lot."
These words came back to him as he felt her shaking against him tremulously, desperate hands tentatively clinging to the chinks in his armor. He could tell she was trying so hard to keep it in. To not let him see just how scared she was. But didn't that betray her fear anyways?
He held her tighter to him and pressed a kiss to her brow. "Oh, sweetheart… it's okay. I'm going to come back. I'm not gonna leave you."
"B-But what if—"
"—no, love," he interrupted. "I promise you. I am going to go on that ship, do what needs to be done to stop Trench, and I'll be on the ship when it comes back. I'm going to be fine. You're not gonna lose me again. I swear."
"I need you!" So much emotion swam in those three words.
"I love you, Ella. You'll see. It's gonna be okay," he whispered, taking her face in his hands and thumbing away her tears. "Hey, how about when we get back, we watch a movie together?"
The smile she managed was wobbly, but it held, "I actually have a great one you've never seen before. Want to have snacks?"
"Don't I always?" he chuckled. "You be safe too, angel. You hear me? I need you too."
Ella wove her fingers through his larger ones, and leant her forehead upon his, nuzzling his nose before kissing him. He could see stars and taste the lights of hyperspace on his lips with every miniscule touch and go. Or was that the cotton candy lip gloss? Maybe they tasted the same.
She lay her hand over his heart, on the blank piece of plastoid that formed a breastplate. She smiled. "You gonna ask Rex to redo the handprint?"
He smiled, "Actually… I had thought I'd ask you both to do that. With different shades."
"That sounds like a great design."
"It'll turn your left hand blue for days," he warned.
"I don't care. It's kinda hot, actually… in a way."
He chuckled, "Only you would find having a stained hand hot, Ella."
"It connects me to you," she retorted amiably.
He sighed. "I have to go, Ella."
"I know."
"Do you?"
"Mhmm."
"Okay. I'll—"
"—just one more!" she whined before her lips surged against his again.
He laughed into her mouth and acquiesced.
Pulling away from her was harder than it should've been. He savored the feeling of her hand sliding down his arm slowly as he backed away, fingertips twitching in an effort to keep from curling around his hand and pulling him back to her. When they finally separated, his body tingled, every cell alive and burning in its own liquid fire of love and wanting, an echo of the fires alight in her eyes.
"Love you, Ella," he whispered, one foot inside the Marauder, the other lingering at the door.
"I love you!" she called back, sounding choked but brave.
He had to move out of the way to allow Tech and Rex to get in, but he watched her through the window, memorizing the beautiful, heart-touching sight of his beloved wife until she was too small to see through the atmosphere. Even then, he stared.
"Ooh! He's got it bad!" Crosshair's voice teased, a smirk on his face.
Echo sighed. "I feel bad for leaving her."
"She'll be okay for a few minutes, Velcro Husband," he said, somewhere between sarcastic and reassuring.
"I thought I told you to call me Princess Aurora, Salty," he smirked.
"So you did, Your Highness. But I'm not one for titles, so Velcro will have to do," he winked.
Echo nodded and stood to go stand by the droid input socket, ready to carry out the next part of his plan. Looking around, watching Tech play with his data pad, Wrecker mope about not blowing things up, Crosshair lovingly cleaning his sniper rifle, and Hunter speaking with Rex and the General, he had to smile. This was beginning to feel like home again.
And these guys… they're not a bad lot.
•~§~•
Ella lifted one of the 187th's men onto a stretcher, biting her lip when he let out a cry of pain. "Shhh. Shh, it's okay. You're gonna be alright, sweetheart."
He just looked up at her through squinted eyes, pleading for relief.
"Vutyc, I need a stim," she called. Her friend threw one to her and went back to stitching a long cut on the arm of a 212th man. "Okay. Pinch… there. You'll feel better any second now. Try to breathe slower. It'll help."
He nodded and began taking deeper breaths to regain control of his uneven breathing when Ella's comlink chirped.
"This is Ella!" she called.
"Ella, you hear me?"
She blinked, alarmed. "Echo? Is that you?"
"Yes, it's me."
"Are you okay?" she asked concernedly.
"I'm fine, but I need you to listen to me quickly and get out of there!" he called, fear in his voice.
"What? What's wrong?" she asked, rising to her feet and preparing to run.
"There's a huge bomb that's set to go off in any minute! Ella, I'm gonna send Windu the sequence for shutting it down if I can, but just in case, you have to get out of there!"
Her heart crashed like boulders being tossed into the sea, and she nodded. "I hear you! I'll tell the others and we'll start evacuating. Please be safe!"
"I will, but it's you who's in danger so go! Hightail it and don't turn around!" he barked.
"I'm already moving, love. I'll see you soon!"
"You better or so help me I'll do something!"
'That sounds so intimidating,' someone in the background snarked.
"No need to go to extremes. Now work on disarming it and get back here. I love you!" she called.
"I love you too!"
Then the connection ended and she nodded to Kix, who was already talking to Galene through his wristcom, and Vutyc was growling at Wander and Winter through his.
"Let's get these guys out of here," Ella said, pushing her patient towards the nearest exit. "Whoever can walk, help someone who can't!" she ordered.
Soon everyone was evacuated and she was standing in a transport next to Jesse and Kix, lifting high above the ground and heading back towards the base. Obi-Wan was staying and waiting for Mace to return, but he was still a considerable distance above the ground, just in case.
"You think he'll get the codes in time?" Vaughn asked.
"Course he will," Jesse replied confidently. "He's got it."
I sure hope you're right, Ella thought, to herself, praying this would all turn out alright.
•~§~•
"Tell me the sequence to shut it down," Master Windu requested through his com.
"I'm decrypting it now," Echo replied.
"You have to unplug! They're going to detect us!" Tech yelled, but he could tell that he wasn't half as worried at being caught as he was about his friends being harmed.
"No, no, we need these codes!" he shot back.
There was a woman with long brown hair and twinkling brown eyes, counting on him to get the bomb disarmed. His brother's wife who was helping evacuate those at the base and could be killed if he failed. All the brothers who wouldn't make it, the equipment lost, the devastating blow it would be to the Republic and the danger its citizens would be in.
"The first number in the sequence is three." He waited until he heard the beep on the other end, indicating that it was accepted, then continued. "The next is… one… eight…"
It continued like that for a few successful moments.
Then,
"They're onto us!" Tech exclaimed worriedly.
Those were the last words he heard before searing pain wracked his whole body. White hot energy took over his vision and pulled him back into a cold, metal cage, wires sticking out of his body. Why wasn't he unconscious? He was always unable to see in there, so why had that changed?
"What a marvelous experiment you'll be, CT-1409," Trench's voice grated scathingly.
NO!
Then all was dark.
He felt someone grab him and the pain stopped, fading away slowly. He wished he could move or open his eyes, but it wasn't any use. He ached too much to even garble a sound, and his body was heavy again. Too heavy to lift.
"It's alright brother," a voice whispered. "I've got you."
Rex?
His brain took this as permission to shut down and he faded into nothingness, praying that he hadn't broken his second promise to his wife.
•~§~•
When the word came in that the bomb was successfully disarmed, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The medics began to move the men back into their cots, apologizing for the false alarm.
"It's fine," one sighed. "If it had gone off, I'd much rather have been in the air than down here."
"Ella!" Galene's voice cut through the crowd right before the nurse was tackled in a hug. "I'm glad you're okay!"
"So am I!" she sighed in relief.
"We've all got your husband to thank for that," she sighed, winking at her.
Ella blushed and smiled, "I'm proud of him."
"Speaking of husbands, have any idea where mine is?" she asked.
"He's trying to calm Edgewise down. We had to stop his morphine drip in order to move him, and when he woke up and heard people running and shouting, he panicked and tried to run, and ended up falling on his back," she explained.
Her friend grimaced sympathetically, "That had to hurt like crazy."
"Yeah. We're hoping Obi-Wan can spare a minute to help him," she sighed. "I'll go and stay with him. You come get your hubby."
She hugged her again, "You're the best. I'll return the favor if yours gets back before Obi-Wan."
"No need, I'm here already," the jedi's voice from behind them. "I understand that one of your shiny's is badly injured?"
Ella nodded, "No matter what we do, we can't stop the infection from spreading, and the wound isn't healing. It's like we've missed something but the scans are coming up clear every time and Vutyc is one of the most attentive surgeons I've ever worked with."
"I'll see what can be done for him," he said softly, following them to a screened section in the back. "I did happen to bring a healing crystal. I always do now, after an incident a while back."
"Oh?" Ella queried.
"Jedi need to be able to use something to ground them. Something that's connected to the earth and solid. It anchors us. You know how helpful it is to hold someone's hand when they're in pain? How it gives them something to tie them, something tangible? It's like that," he explained.
"Oh. What kind of crystal?"
"It can be any kind really," he said. "There are certain types with specific metals and minerals which help more. But it just depends."
They turned a corner and Ella stuck her head inside the curtained off space their patient was residing. Her eyes prickled are the sight before her.
Kix was practically cradling the younger boy, hushing him and rocking them both back and forth. "It's okay, Edgewise. Breathe, vod'ika. Breathe."
Edgewise's face was a mess of tears and his breathing was shallow.
"Oh, Kix…" the nurse breathed.
The medic whipped his head up and sagged in relief when he saw her. "He's running a horrible fever. I just don't know what to do for him anymore."
She stepped inside and beckoned Obi-Wan to follow her.
Kix smiled weakly when the jedi entered. "General Kenobi. I'd stand, but…"
Obi-Wan waved it off briskly. "No need for that. This is your domain, Kix, and you're working. How high is the fever?"
"105.2 is what the thermometer read," he informed. "His breathing is labored and shallow."
He nodded and hopped up onto the edge of the cot. "Edgewise, can you hear us?"
The boy nodded a little, moaning in pain.
"Alright. I'm here to help you. I'm going to use the force to try healing you. You'll probably feel pressure, and it may hurt. It's been known to before. If you will not fight against me but work with me, it'll be easier on both of us," he said evenly.
Resting his hand on his patient's shoulder, Obi-Wan closed his eyes. A moment later, Edgewise stiffened and gasped, shutting his eyes tightly and curling up into a ball.
No sound was uttered.
Then he slowly went limp, his body stretching back out. The only signs of life were the hissing breaths sawing between his bared teeth.
A second later he cried out, arching his back against something. Obi-Wan's brow furrowed in concentration.
Edgewise fell upon Kix weakly, panting for breath, and the jedi slumped, breathing heavily. Then he held up his hand.
Barely even visible, a tiny spec of something metallic glinted at them evilly in the sanitized light.
"I am not surprised that it was missed, Kix. I almost missed it myself. It was so small. I've managed to start the body in flushing the infection, but he'll need to be put in bacta for a good rotation. That should do it," he sighed, wiping his brow.
"The fever's already gone down," Ella said, looking at the scans. "100.7. He'll be okay, thanks to you, Dr. Kenobi," she teased.
Obi-Wan brushed the compliment off with a smile and a wave of his hand, "Please. I just did what I could with something I was given, just as the rest of you have done. Don't underestimate your impacts." Then he stood and stretched sorely. "Mind if I borrow a cot, or bedroll even?"
Kix nodded, "There's one to the left of this room. Feel free. And thank you, Master Kenobi."
"My pleasure, Kix. Ask Wander and Winter to come relieve you of him so you can take care of your wife. She's been anxious to see you," he advised.
He nodded. "I will."
Ella helped Kix maneuver his way off the cot, gently easing Edgewise down onto his stomach, pressing a kiss to his temple.
"You're gonna be okay, sweetie," she whispered to him. "Just hold on a little longer."
He nodded wearily and shut his eyes.
The curtain parted and in came Wander and Winter, who quickly pushed him out and towards the bacta tanks.
Looking around the now empty space, Ella sighed and stepped out as well. It was strange, the way an empty room could hit you in a medbay. They had so many different feelings that brought vastly different emotions.
One one hand, an empty room could be good. It could mean the patient recovered and is living and breathing in relative happiness. Then, on the other, the emptiness might herald death.
Galene and Kix were kissing again when she entered the hallway, her back to a wall and hands grasping at his hair.
Ella sighed. "Come on, guys. Get a room."
They broke away for a second, having the decency to blush, then raced out as if the room was as drenched in flames.
Ella shook her head at their antics and walked out to the airstrip, scanning for a familiar ship.
She gasped when her eyes found it in a far corner, and quickly took off at a sprint to get there.
Rex was walking back to base, and looked up when he saw her.
Subtle sadness played across his eyes, but he smiled all the same.
She slowed to a stop, terrified. Echo wasn't with him.
"Rex?" she asked, wringing her hands. "Is… is he...?"
He nodded, "Echo is perfectly fine. He's probably very sore, since he was electrocuted pretty bad trying to get the last number. But he's alright. He's on his feet and moving around, and I've been kinda driving him insane checking on him every few minutes."
She nodded, "Then, why…? Where is he?"
Rex sighed, "Ella… he's going to join the Bad Batch."
Her eyes widened and she gasped. "But… he didn't even talk to me about it! I mean, I'll go wherever he goes, but… why didn't he let me know?"
He shrugged, "I think it's something he's been thinking about since he left on this mission. And I'm glad. Really. It's the safest thing for him to do."
"What do you mean?" Ella asked.
Rex bit his lip, "This is the only way to keep him from being treated just as he was in his captivity all over again. The only difference is the people who'd be in charge of the abuse."
"What? I… I don't understand!" she gasped, horrified. It hadn't occurred to her that her husband was in danger here.
"Think about it, Ella," he said. "Think of how, though we who are close to him know otherwise, others would doubt his loyalty. He's good as a slicer now, and he'll get back to a healthy weight, color, and musculature, but with time and a lot of work. Think about the 501st's average missions. How often do we need slice work?"
She bit her lip. The odds were already stacking so high.
"Even if all of that didn't matter," Rex continued, "we'd be powerless to keep him from the Kaminoans getting their clinical hands and instruments on him and taking him apart piece by piece to figure out how the Techno Union's handiwork runs, and how to duplicate it." He shook his head. "The Bad Batch is the safest place for him."
Tears had filled her eyes and she covered her mouth with her hands. "I… I can't believe I hadn't thought of that. I'm sorry."
He hugged her, "No need. Just… I'm gonna miss you. So much."
She rested her head on his chest and squeezed her arms. "Me too, Rex. Me too."
"I… I guess you'll be taking the piano then? You know… since you're going."
She shook her head, "No. you keep it. I'd be honored for you to have it."
He swallowed hard and rested his head on her crown, letting out a watery sigh. "Thank you. For being my friend. For always being there when I needed you, and being so nice to everyone. You've given me strength when I had none and done so much for the men here. Thank you."
She looked up, "I will always, always be your friend, Rex. That won't change just because we won't see each other every day. If you call me, I'll answer you, and if you need me, we'll come help. I promise."
He nodded and sighed, struggling to compose himself enough to head back inside. Then he stepped back and took a deep breath, piecing together a smile that he'd keep there, come hell or high water, as he strode ahead, not once looking back.
Ella looked up through a blur of tears to see the Bad Batch coming to meet her. They all wore wide smiles, and Hunter stopped in front of her, extending his hand.
"On behalf of this squad, I'd like to welcome you into our tight knit force. We're a little… sensitive sometimes," he admitted.
"Rough around the edges," Wrecker sighed.
"Can be too sarcastic and blunt," Crosshair said.
"And talk about random or technological things for too long," Tech added, shifting nervously.
"And some of us are kinda broken in different ways," Hunter continued. "But we'd love for you to be part of the mess. What do you say?"
Ella smiled, "I happen to be a little broken too," she confessed. "But brokenness doesn't make you weak unless you don't turn it into strength. I say I feel honored, and thank you. If you can bear hearing me sing all day long."
"Anything's better than hearing Wrecker reenact a dying wampa and call it singing," Tech exclaimed excitedly.
"Hey!" Wrecker yelped, stung.
"I have the two recordings, Wrecker; you can try to compare them if you want," his littlest brother poked matter-of-factly.
"Please," Ella interrupted, "where's my husband?"
Crosshair and Hunter stepped apart and revealed the nervous man, who squirmed under her pointed gaze.
"Hi Ella?" he squeaked.
She smiled innocently. "We need to talk, darling," she mewled, adding way too much sweetness to her tone, letting him know that yes, he was in some trouble.
Apparently, the entire Bad Batch got the memo too. Hunter winced in sympathy, as did Tech whose eyes got really big. Crosshair moved a little closer to Wrecker, who actually seemed to shrink.
"Uh… Echo?" the gentle giant said. "I think you're in trouble."
Ella's unfortunate husband nodded, "Yep, got that." Then he followed her inside the base and back to her room.
As soon as the door was closed, she leapt at him and smashed her lips against his, completely taking him by surprise. He melted into her and rested his hands on her waist, letting them wander just a little.
She pulled away and narrowed her eyes, "You didn't tell me! Why didn't you tell me? I'd have agreed, you know!"
He looked down, sighing. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize it would make you so upset."
"I'm not upset," she replied. "Not about going with them. It's a very good idea. I just… you didn't talk to me. And… I mean, that's important! I like when you talk to me!"
Echo pouted his lip, "Aw, you felt left out."
She pouted back, "Yes I did. It wounded me through and through."
He kissed her quickly. "Did that help?"
She shook her head, "More."
He smirked and obliged, raising his eyebrow in question as he pulled away.
She smiled and shook her head again, "No, I need more! Still more!"
He laughed, "What are you, three?"
She laughed, "And what are you? One?"
"Your number one," he replied smoothly.
She giggled and shook her head, "You little cutie."
"Is that an insult?"
"Hmm… maybe. I'll let you decide."
He laughed and picked her up. She squealed, giggling against his neck. He lay her on the bed and kissed her, cutting off the bubbling mirth with his lips.
A minute or so later, he pulled away and sighed, panting against the skin of her collarbone. "Didn't you mention something about snacks and a movie?"
She nodded, running her hands over the knobs on his bald head. "Want popcorn?"
"Hmm… salty, buttery, tastes like movie nights? I think I can partake," he joked.
She smiled, "Anything else?"
He bit his lip, "There's this beautiful woman who makes these amazing baked goods."
A blush rose to her cheeks. "Anything in particular?"
"Surprise me," he murmured before kissing her again and letting her up.
Ella fairly skipped as she raced towards the mess hall and back, not even hampered by the popcorn and other treats she carried.
Echo was already in his pajamas and snuggled in bed when she got back, the fairy lights spreading pixie dust across his face.
She left the tray on the bed and grabbed her own pajamas, changing quickly at the vanity on her side of the bed, letting her hair fall out of the bun she'd wrestled it into earlier, the curls seeming to explode and crash down onto her bare shoulder blades. Her husband's eyes clung to her every move as she dressed, then walked to the end of the bed and fiddled with the holoprojector.
"What are we watching tonight, angel?" Echo asked, his voice husky and low.
She smiled over her shoulder and came back to lie beside him, snatching the remote on the way.
"The best love story ever written," she breathed against his lips, resting her head on his shoulder and pressing play.
•~§~•
Echo hadn't really been prepared when the joyful music spilled from the speakers and a beautiful memory played out before his eyes.
"The day I met Ella, I thought I was just going to check on my brother. But then I saw her and... I forgot how to breathe," his own voice said. "I could only give her these kinda dull answers about me. When I told her I liked reading regs, I thought she'd be weirded out; but she asked why and was seriously intrigued. It was just mind blown that this girl was actually interested in what I said and liked."
He had to bite back a gasp when he saw himself, dressed in his formal uniform, strong, built, not to mention all limbs accounted for. And hair. What lovely dark locks he'd had, with no lumpy droid parts to interrupt them. And his skin was nice and tan.
"She caught me staring at her, but didn't say I was weird. Asked if I'd ever seen a girl before, which I actually hadn't. Not really besides pinups or jedi who were either like mother figures or sisters."
The video was a blur. He looked forward to Ella's scenes and soon began to dread his own. The reminder of who he once was shouldn't be so painful. He shouldn't feel so insecure when he looked at the handsome man staring back at them.
But somehow he did.
A horrible thought occurred to him then.
I really can't let her see me now. Not with this as her memory. There's no way she won't be repulsed by me. She'll leave.
How a single thought could hurt.
As the lights faded and they left for their honeymoon, Echo felt himself closing off. Protecting himself.
From his own wife.
Ella turned to him with those same eyes he'd praised to heaven and back in the video, the smile that had stopped and restarted his heart. Love was written all over her face. Love he didn't deserve to be given and was too ashamed to receive.
"I love you, Echo," she whispered, kissing his lips. He flinched.
Belatedly, he replied, "I love you, too."
She smiled and leaned back in for another kiss, but he shook his head, pulling away when things began to get deeper. Ella looked up with confused eyes.
He didn't know what to say for a minute. He couldn't tell her. That was for sure. She didn't need to know just how weak he was. And besides, it would only make her curious.
Then he sighed, "Sorry, Ella. I'm just really tired right now. Some other time?"
Her smile didn't reach her eyes and his heart fell at the shielded look in them. He'd hurt her. He hadn't meant to. But this was for the best.
Ella nodded and stood up to turn off the holo, then walked into the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth. When she returned, she pecked his lips once, chastely. He could taste the confusion.
"Gnight, Echo," she whispered, turning off the magical fairy lights.
"Gnight, Ella," Echo replied, his back to her as they blinked in darkness. He prayed he wouldn't dream tonight. Wander wouldn't let him take anything now.
•~§~•
Rex was mildly surprised when Ella came into his office the next day. Her face was pale and shaken and set his heart beating. Nothing good ever followed that kind of look.
"Ella? What's wrong?" he asked.
She shuddered, wrapping her arms tighter around herself. "I… did anyone tell Echo about Ayah?"
Rex shook his head, "The whole battalion is under severe orders not to say a thing to him. It's your story, not ours. I didn't say anything either."
"Did you… about the night I went out?" she continued.
He shook his head, "I told him you tried to move on but couldn't. That was all. Ella… what happened?"
Her lip trembled, "I… I think I made him upset somehow last night. Now he's kinda… I don't know. He's not the same as he was then!"
He furrowed his brow, "What do you mean?"
"It's little things," she explained. "Nothing anyone but me would likely find strange. He was gone when I woke this morning. Gone for hours. His side of the bed was cold. I saw him in passing this morning and his smile was strained. I don't know. I rarely see him so little, even on busy days, and it's a slow day. He always kisses my cheek before he leaves. He didn't do that. I'm not just talking about before," she said. "Up until last night, nothing changed. Not really."
"Can you describe what happened last night?" Rex asked.
She did and his confusion only grew.
"You're saying he just said he was tired? I don't find that unusual. He was shocked pretty violently, and had been exerting his mental energy quite a lot during the mission," he pointed out. "Any possibility you're imagining things? Or over analyzing? He's been working himself hard after all. Maybe he's just tired? Has a headache from yesterday?"
She shrugged, "Maybe you're right. I don't know anymore. I'm sorry."
He sighed and walked around the table to hug her. "It's okay. Just… I don't know. He might need a bit of space for a little while. See if that helps, but don't ever feel bad for coming to me when you're worried about something."
She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. "Thank you, Rex. I really hope you're right."
Dun dun dun!
Sorry peeps. I warned ya. Echo and Ella are in for a long and confusing ride. Here's my own personal advice (I've never been in a relationship but I'm privileged enough to be around plenty and get a gist of the inner workings):
Never keep a secret from your SO. It brings miscommunication and distrust. It makes one or both fear. We are supposed to be a safe place, not someone who makes them insecure and hyper paranoid about every little thing. Just be brave and vulnerable, because that's what a relationship is made of and is most beautiful when it is so, and tell them what is in your heart. If you value their love, you must fight for it. Fight toprotect them and and to protect your relationship, and never forget that it is you two together against the problem, not against each other.
This has been my TED talk.
I hope y'all are well! If y'all are Mando fans, OMG ITS SO SOON!
Love, Peace, and
LittleBitOfGrace
