Chapter Text
‘Letting go of the past, with the memories still haunting like an open wound bleeding, is never easy.’
The mission a success despite the touch and go moment there for a while.
The imperial shuttle having appeared out of nowhere. Thankfully Rex had managed to get their ship to safety after a brief firefight exchanged. Then staying in hiding in an asteroid field to make sure the imperials were no longer in pursuit before being able to make their way back to the base.
The intel Rex and Echo had managed to get from the remote outpost’s databanks was important and with the content they would be able to track the imperial transport movements from now on. Gathering goods and resources wherever they could was a must after all to sustain their ever growing group of rebels. Clones mostly, but a few other joiners as well.
*
It was already late in the evening when Rex entered the dimly lit mess hall seeing the solemn figure hunched over a table with a mug in front of them staring into the nothingness without even realising or caring someone else had entered the room.
Rex knew immediately something was off.
As he approached Echo he could see the man was drinking. Something which Rex had noticed having been happening more frequently lately. Not that it was a problem per se. Not yet. But, Rex also knew the reason why Echo felt the need to drown his sorrows.
“Hey.”
That got Echo’s attention though, as he looked up and at Rex. A soft smile emerged just as Rex spoke. Rex had always had that effect on Echo. Ever since that time so long ago on Rishi Moon…
“Hey.”
“Mind if I join you?”
“Please!” Echo picked up the bottle he had been hiding beside the table for whatever reason placing it on the table now.
Rex grabbed a mug from the counter before sitting across from Echo. Getting a hefty fill of whatever it was Echo had chosen as his poison of the eve. Rex glared at the red liquid before daring a swig from the mug. The bitter taste insulting Rex’s tastebuds immediately on impact making him grimace in slight disgust.
“You actually enjoy this stuff?”
Echo could not help the chuckle. “Not really. But it leaves the perfect numbing sensations behind.”
Rex gave Echo a quick glance, seeing the darkened half-moons below his eyes. Echo’s demeanour having been more grumpier than usual since they had returned. Not that Echo was all that moody, not since joining in with Rex and his life gaining new momentum while doing the things he needed to do. But, simply doing the right thing wasn’t all that mattered to the Arc. Rex knew how much Echo missed his Batch, his family. And one person in particular. Hunter.
The change in Echo had happened only recently though and Rex wanted to nip whatever was going on right in the bud. Because Rex did worry about Echo. Always had, always would. Echo was important to Rex. More so than the Arc himself even could ever realise.
Rex knew his friend quite well and not just because him and Echo having been an item back in the day. Echo having died putting a bit of a damper on things for them for sure. Rex had gotten Echo back of course only to lose him to the Bad Batch. In a manner of speaking. And then, things having developed between Hunter and Echo… Well, Rex had stepped gracefully aside. Life moving on and so on.
Only now, Echo was back with Rex. At least because of their common cause.
Echo had wanted the rest of his team to join too. Hunter having been adamant though it wasn’t good for Omega. Something of a wedge between the two partners for sure. Not that Echo had not understood where Hunter was coming from. But, the reasons given in Echo’s mind had all been wrong.
Neither Echo nor Rex having managed to convince the Sergeant the base was a safe place for the Kid as any. And so, here they were. The two of them together, Echo and Rex fighting for the good cause. To free their kin. Of course there were others there too, but it was Rex and Echo who worked together most of the time. Just like old times.
Alas, here Echo was. Pining after Hunter.
Something which Rex did not like to see. Because Echo’s hurt was Rex’s hurt. And perhaps Rex did blame Hunter for his indecisiveness, his unwillingness to see any other way except his own. But, Rex could relate on some level as well. The man wanting to take care of his own. Just like Rex did. Only Rex saw the bigger picture. All the so called regs being his family. Just like Echo understood it to be. As why else was he there?
“Yeah, I can kind of see the appeal of this.” Rex took another swig, the grimace back. But the concoction was starting to grow on him as well. The taste of the bitter poison. Glancing at his friend, Rex just had to ask what had prompted this seemingly bad mood tonight. After all, it wasn’t every night Echo was sitting in the mess and drinking alone. Thankfully. “So, what are we celebrating?” The successful mission would have been the perfect cause but Rex knew this wasn’t it.
Echo sighed heavily and leaned back in his seat. It was only then when his face came to full view the soft emergency lights hitting his features. Rex could see the bloodshot eyes of his friend. Echo, had been crying. Rex flinched internally of the sight. But he did not want to add up to Echo’s discomfort further.
“I got a call today. A little after we got back.” Echo was swirling the mug in his hand before taking another swag from it.
Rex already knew whom it was calling Echo. As most holo calls usually came through their common comms channel.
“Hunter?” Rex wasn’t really asking.
“Yeah, Hunter. The rest of them…” Echo sighed again. “They sounded… so happy.”
Rex was surprised to hear this. As so far the norm having been them, the Batchers all calling Echo all hours having missed him and being mostly a mess ever since Echo had joined with Rex. So, the change of pace was confusing and rather sudden too.
Deciding to let Echo explain further as clearly, Echo wasn’t happy about well, all the happiness? Again, nothing wrong with them being happy, except it had clearly come out of the blue and with not so good news either. Rex only nodded for Echo to continue.
“They are not coming Rex.”
“What do you mean?”
“They found a place. Some paradise island somewhere beyond the Outer Rim.” Echo’s eyes were filled with tears now as he looked up and at Rex.
The pieces fell together finally. It was something Hunter had wanted for his family after all. A place somewhere where the Empire could not touch them. A place for Omega to grow up. But, doing this without Echo?
Suddenly Rex felt the bile starting to form. The anger towards Hunter for leaving Echo hanging like this.
Seething with hatred, Rex’s anger growing in the moment. Rex, always having been protective of Echo, of Fives… the two a package deal in the past… And now?
Rex had stepped back when Echo had joined the Bad Batch. He had encouraged the relationship Echo and Hunter had formed even if he had felt a tad jealous. Still did to some extent. But this? This was not right at all!
Rex got up and moved to the other side where Echo was siting. Taking a seat next to his friend, Rex placed his arms around Echo drawing him impossible close. Echo’s damn finally broke for good as he cried his pain away in Rex’s arms.