Work Text:
Echo should have been considered defective long before joining clone force 99. Unlike the other four his mutation wasn’t as noticeable; just a little shape, something akin to a squiggle behind the shell of his ear.
Clones didn’t have soulmates: They’ll never get a mark, never have a partner, family and never be anything other than a trooper for the Republic. Echo has been told this multiple times over the years. Not that it stopped him or any of his brothers from talking about it in whispers or drawing little designs where no one could see them.
Fives had found the mark when they were cadets.
“You do this?” he asked while giving Echo a haircut.
It took two mirrors and quiet a bit of frustration before Echo saw it for himself. Back then he was excited about it. Keeping Fives awake for most the night talking his ear off about the thing. What his soulmate looked like, where they could be, maybe that he could meet them someday?
“They could be a jedi or something.” Echo had said under the covers with his best brother.
“Don’t bring that up to General Ti. Don’t bring it up to anyone actually.” Even under the darkness of a blanket and dimmed lights Echo saw how Fives’s face dropped. “Long-necks will know that you’re…” Fives hadn’t wanted to outright say defective. “and they’ll decommission you. You gotta keep this a secret.”
That was the last time Echo had talked about it. Sometimes he’d think about it, about the one out there who was marked as his. It was easy to get lost in those daydreams about the impossible.
He’d see them just before going to sleep, their appearance changing every time to match every possibility. On transport to this or that he wonders what they could do: not just the expected fun stuff but general life to life. A lot of vids show the husband getting breakfast ready before work; he could do that. He could kiss them before they leave and hug them when returning. He daydreams about the negative things too. Like arguments, because of course there’d be some kind of argument. Even then he could do that, because at least an argument meant that they were there.
Echo had plenty of time to enjoy these fantasies while in stasis. He wasn’t aware of really anything on Skako Minor. Dreams of his one and only mix with memories of explosions and strategy meetings. Eventually it’s impossible to separate his fantasy from memories. By the time Rex is in front of him it takes a moment to that it was really happening.
“Take care of him,” Echo heard Rex say inside the medical wing of Anxes where Echo was immediately forced onto a gurney. “Please. He’s been through enough.”
This was your first introduction to Echo. Where you looked down at malnourished man with concern but smiled when looking to the captain.
“And I won’t put him through anything else.” You told Captain Rex.
Like all clones Echo was polite to you and the staff. A lot of “yes, ma’ams,” “no sirs,” and “Thank you” s when a normal person wouldn’t have done the same.
“Nice to feel another human’s touch after so long.” He said when shaking your hand.
Hours after being pulled from stasis and Echo was still freezing to the touch. You tried to ignore this during the handshake, but you had to pull away quicker than necessary. Immediately apologizing when Echo’s faced dropped at your reaction.
“I’m sorry, that was rude.” You say, hand reaching up to toy with the mark behind your ear.
This mark touching was a common habit throughout the galaxy. Like some part of our brains think that touching our mark was close enough to being comforted by a loved one. A dead giveaway about your emotions but it seemed to work on some level.
Echo felt a tingle, or a small shudder, when you did this. He could just blame it on where your hand had gone or just being overly sensitive with everything that has happened. But he still looked up at you when it happened, only now remembering his defect.
“Echo?” You ask, seeing his face disassociate and go blank.
He blinks and shakes his head a bit. Coming back to himself to answer. “It’s alright. Really, I’m just…”
“Tired?”
“Sleep is the last thing I need. But I am kinda hungry…”
It hurt when a clone said they were hungry. Their rations gave the bare minimum in nutrients, just enough to get the job done. It tasted awful and was likely the reason most troopers could be considered almost underweight. What’s worse was how most would never taste anything other than those rations.
Not that any of your patients would ever be one of them.
“I’ll get you something good, okay?” You said, leaving his room before he ask what it would be.
Wherever you were deployed the necessary supplies would come with you. Like other doctors this consisted of medical supplies and tools. You were special in that it included noodles, space-tomato sauce, and rounded meat.
A simple recipe that had countless variations throughout the galaxy. A lot of children had this as their favorite meal. After most of the clones get a taste they tend to say the same. Echo was no different: Sitting up straight in his bed when you entered with a steaming bowl in your hands.
“If you don’t like it I can find you something else, no problem.” You said, although he already had a mouth full.
“Even those rations bars would taste good right now but this…” He said spinning the fork around. “Thank you.”
“Your welcome, Echo. If you don’t mind I would like to do a quick examine.” You said, taking a step sideways to look at his back.
There’s a slight pause in his eating when you say this. Although he nods there is a distinct tensing in his muscles when you first touch him. The spaghetti in his hand acting as a distraction from your hands.
Echo wasn’t just going to need a doctor; he was going to need a mechanic to take a look too. The metal was heavy and would ting when tapped. He could decorate himself with magnets if he ever wanted a new look. Those would be jokes to save for later.
Following the metal up to his head you were gentle on his skin. He’s still freezing like no man should ever be. Although you were basing this on touch it’s surprising that his heart was still beating. Once upon a time Echo was darker like his brothers, experimentation and manipulation had made him paler. The only one you’d seen lighter was Crosshair. Maybe that would be something he could bond over later; at time you start with the magnet jokes.
His hair is gone and would likely never return. Metal was wrapped around the back of his head in a single line. It’s impossible to say how deep it goes into his head without a scan. Echo is going to need more than a doctor to help. You made a mental note to get someone from robotics in here later.
He flinches when you get close to his ears.
“Sorry,” You say but don’t let go. “Are you in pain?”
“No just…You can keep going.” He says, and you do.
It doesn’t take long to see why he had flinched away. His mark was better hidden than others, but it wouldn’t be hard to find on accident. Especially when it was in the same exact spot as your own. The same almost silly squiggle shape in a faded blue color. Like it was decided last minute to give the two of you a mark. Leaving no time to design anything cool and just slapping whatever on your skin. In this moment that squiggle was the prettiest thing in the galaxy.
It was hard to try and explain everything to Echo. All he saw when you stood and looked down at him was a smile. He looks at you with a raised eyebrow, thankfully staying silent while you leaned forward to show the back of your own ear.
While Echo was smiling his had a certain layer of concern behind it. The smile eventually leaving completely as his mind starts to fall in on itself. Already becoming overwhelmed at the thought of how his life would affect you. How you were now part of his secret and not just a face that changed with every fantasy.
He wanted to laugh at the universe for making him suffer just to meet you. He wanted to cry for the future he could have had with you if things were different. He wanted to scream in fear that you were now part of a secret that could put you both in danger. Most of all; he wanted to hold you, to be held by you. He wanted so much…
At least you could do was give him a touch. Your hand, warmer than any star, against his cheek. Saving him from his own thoughts. He blinks slowly and looks up at you.
“Clones don’t have soulmates.” Echo says. His eyes dreamy but voice sad.
The cot groans a bit when you sit down. Now eyelevel with Echo who you still caress with one hand, making it two to hold him completely.
“I really don’t care what clones do or do not have. Because now I have you.” You say.
“I have you.” He repeats, using his only human hand to cover yours.