Work Text:
The dawn poured into your room, painting Coruscant's familiar hues with a vibrant light, a stark contrast to the recent cloudy days. Its radiance pierced through the blinds, jolting you awake with an obnoxious whine escaping your lips as the brightness invaded your sleepy cocoon. Rolling away from the blinding glare, you reluctantly pried open your eyelids, groggily reaching for the datapad on your bedside table.
0946 hours stared back at you, evoking a disinterested hum before you settled back against the pillow, intending to steal a moment's rest.
Reality struck like a bolt as you abruptly jolted upright, a sudden realization hitting you like a meteor. "Kriff! I'm late!" With a clumsy scramble, you hurled yourself out of bed, entangling your legs in the sheets and crashing onto the floor with a resounding thud. Undeterred, you sprang back up, hurtling towards the refresher, immediately igniting the rushing water.
Frantically scrubbing away weariness, the steaming water cleared your senses, cursing your forgetfulness for neglecting to set the alarm.
Today marked your return to your family's business, a day your punctual parents emphasised greatly. While it would have been somehow easier to brush off if you worked for anyone else, promising your parents punctuality made your tardiness a harder pill to swallow. Dressed hastily in work attire, socks forgotten, you slipped on your shoes, dashing out of the apartment and racing toward the awaiting transport in the basement.
Spotting your speeder bike, you ignited the engine and bolted out of the building, narrowly missing collision with the busy workers hurrying about their day.
Glancing down at the watch strapped to your arm, you groaned at the realisation that you had less than five minutes to arrive, despite knowing there was at least another ten minutes worth of traffic ahead. Resigned to your impending lateness, you pulled your speeder bike to a temporary stop, mentally preparing a repertoire of excuses for your inevitable 'tardiness.'
Pressing onward, you were making decent progress until an unwelcome occurrence struck — the engine of your speeder began to sputter, faltering unexpectedly.
"Oh, not now, please…" you whined, wincing as the mechanical sounds grew more alarming, bolts rattling amidst ominous spluttering. Steering out of the transport lane, you found a suitable spot to dismount and inspect the damage firsthand.
Rolling up your work shirt sleeves, you cautiously approached the speeder’s rear to diagnose the issue. However, just as your fingertips grazed the engine, it emitted a disgruntled clatter, spiraling into a sudden short circuit, spewing sparks and a cloud of smoke.
Standing in disbelief, hands now resting on your hips, you watched helplessly as your speeder practically disintegrated before your eyes.
A series of sniggers captured your attention, drawing your gaze towards three figures—two Gotals and a Pantoran —observing your misfortune with apparent amusement.
"What are you gawping at? Get going," you snapped sharply, very uncharacteristically if you but it was simply fueled by their mockery.
The trio departed, leaving behind a parting taunt as they vanished down the street. Rolling your eyes, you glanced at the time, confirming your undeniable lateness.
Frustration boiled within you—the combination of an empty stomach, impractical work attire (now glaringly obvious as you realise you picked up the wrong shoes entirely and of course, no socks), and the catastrophic breakdown of your bike led to an exasperated groan. In a fit of irritation, you unleashed a series of frustrated kicks upon the malfunctioning heap of metal in front of you, uncaring of the odd glances from passersby.
"Stupid... piece... of... trash!" you grunted vehemently between each kick.
Eventually ceasing your assault on the bike, your hands moved to your hair, pulling it into a haphazard bun atop your head in a futile attempt to alleviate your frustration. Yet, the tension lingered, unrelenting.
"You know, kicking and shouting at it won't repair it, ma'am."
Startled by the slightly muffled yet modified voice, you turned to find a figure detaching themselves from a nearby wall, stepping closer. Despite not noticing them upon initially dismounting, a tinge of embarrassment tinged your cheeks as someone had caught you mid-outburst.
"Maybe so. But there's no chance of me fixing it in time for work," you uttered with a defeated sigh, turning to face your bike, a faint mist of smoke still emanating from its main engine.
"Is there a mechanic pit nearby?" inquired the stranger, maintaining a cautious distance.
You pondered for a moment, acknowledging the wisdom in the stranger's advice. However, the realisation hit you hard—due to oversleeping, you hadn't even grabbed your bag containing your purse and license. Even if you wanted a mechanic's help, the lack of credits and ownership identification would hinder any possible repair.
"There is, but I don't have anything to prove that this pile of junk is mine," you remarked, rolling your eyes in frustration.
The stranger then knelt beside you, examining the bike closely. It slowly dawned on you that this person was some sort of clone trooper. The familiar sound of their voices had echoed countless times around you, but the distinct armor they wore differed from any you'd seen before—dark greys and blacks accented with red lining, the helmet which was slightly different to others you had seen, concealing his face.
Embarrassment flooded through you; here knelt a trooper serving the Republic, while you, in a fit of petulance, had a minor breakdown over a speeder.
As you gazed down at the trooper, absorbed in observing their armor, you missed his initial question, lost in your internal conflict.
"Sorry, what was that?" you hastily inquired, snapping out of your reverie.
"I said that I could try and fix it. It should only take me around twenty minutes or so," he suggested, rising to his full height and moving around the speeder to assess the damage.
"What? Really? You would help me?" you asked incredulously, taken aback by his unexpected kindness.
Beneath his helmet, a smile played across his lips as he shrugged casually. "Why not? You haven't given me a reason not to," came his simple reply before he delved into repairing the speeder.
Observing from a distance, you couldn't help but notice the scomp device attached to his forearm, sparking your curiosity about its purpose. However, you knew better than to pry into personal matters, so you shifted your focus to something hopefully less intrusive—his rank.
"So, are you a Commander?" you ventured after a few minutes of shared silence, the only sound being the gentle whirring of his device as he worked.
Peering at you from behind his visor, he questioned, "What makes you say that?"
Gesturing towards his waist, you tilted your head slightly. "You're wearing a Kama, and most Commanders I’ve seen tend to wear them," you remarked simply.
He nodded in understanding but then shook his head moments later. "Ah I see but no, I was an Arc Trooper a while ago."
Picking up on the slight hesitation in his voice, you probed cautiously, "Oh... are you not one anymore?"
"It's... complicated. I fight with a different band of brothers now. I was part of the 501st, but... things happen," he trailed off, hinting at a deeper, untold story.
Sensing the reluctance to delve further into the topic, you respectfully refrained from pressing any further. Opting instead for a quiet moment of respite, you found a small crate to perch upon, crossing your legs and leaning back against the wall, basking in the warmth of the morning rays.
Echo couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy witnessing your frustration after the encounter with the mocking trio. Having just finished gathering resources from the nearby market for Tech, he saw you and decided to intervene, deeming the resources non-urgent. Well, in his mind anyway - maybe not Techs.
His scomp unit snugly embedded within your speeder, Echo glanced up in your direction, noticing your comfortable perch on the crates, a gentle smile gracing your lips as the Coruscant sun enveloped you. Taking a moment to fully appreciate your presence, he noticed your striking beauty, a thought he wished he'd acknowledged earlier.
Unaware of how long he'd been gazing, you sensed the weight of someone's eyes upon you. Though looking skyward, you stole a glance in his direction, offering a soft smile. Only then did Echo snap out of his reverie, startled by another clashing noise from your speeder, prompting him to hurriedly withdraw his scomp unit. Grateful for the helmet concealing his flushed expression, he started an attempt of some small talk.
As you conversed, the exchange flowed effortlessly. You explained that you were late for work at your family's old blacksmith shop, establishing a connection through understanding his armor. It was pleasent to talk to someone normally for a change so much so, it seemed both of you found yourselves reluctant to stop talking, secretly hoping he'd prolong the speeder repairs.
"Well, I think I'm done here," he announced somewhat awkwardly, taking a step back after switching the engine on to much of his reluctance.
You descended from your perch and approached to inspect his handiwork, taking a seat on the speeder and revving it up. The engine roared back to life, sounding as good as new.
"Wow. Thank you so much," you expressed in wonder, turning to face the clone with another grateful smile. "I, uh..." You fumbled in your pockets, producing a small handful of credits you had stashed away. "It's not much, but I don't know how else to repay you for helping me."
Tilting his head slightly, he glanced down at the credits in your palm, then returned his gaze to meet yours, witnessing your sincere gratitude.
"That won't be necessary," he assured you, reaching out with his flesh hand to gently close yours within his own.
The unexpected touch sent a pleasant shiver through you, prompting you to suppress a breath to conceal the slight tremor in your voice. "Oh, well, thanks," you responded, a hint of shyness colouring your tone.
"Ma'am," he acknowledged with a nod, stepping back to give you space to depart. As you moved past him, a sudden impulse halted your steps, and you glanced over your shoulder to find him already walking away.
"Hey! Wait!"
Echo paused at the sound of your voice, turning to meet your gaze as you faced him.
"What's your name?" you inquired, prompting a slight chuckle from Echo.
"I go by Echo,"
Your brows furrowed, a playful smirk forming on your lips. "Echo?"
"Yes, Echo."
"Echo?" you repeated.
"Erm, yes?" His reply came with a gentle laugh behind his helmet.
"I think you missed my joke," you teased, a glint of mischief in your eyes.
Another laugh escaped Echo. "What's your name then?"
As you shared your name, he repeated it, playing along. However, as much as you wanted to linger, you knew you had to leave.
"Thanks again... Echo," you said, savoring the way his name rolled off your tongue. Echo, too, appreciated the way you pronounced his name, watching you as you gave him a wave and rode off.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
The memory of your encounter with Echo lingered, weaving its way into your thoughts even as days passed. The masked individual occupied a prominent place in your mind.
There were even moments when you lay in bed after a long day at the blacksmith's, his image playing on a loop in your thoughts. You pondered over the instance when you caught him gazing at you. Was it mere curiosity or perhaps a hint of something more?
His voice, mostly monotonous, echoed in your memory, but there was that tiny laughter you managed to extract from him. Reflecting on your conversation, you marveled at its seamless flow—no awkward pauses, no misunderstandings, and no hint of any negative feelings.
As the days rolled by, you couldn't help but wonder if Echo thought about that encounter as much as you did.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
Thanks to Echo's help, you managed to be punctual for your subsequent shifts, yet the barrage of questions from your family about the initial lateness persisted. But, non surprisingly, each ride to work became an opportunity to catch sight of Echo's distinctive trooper armor. You'd linger a little too long at stop lights, hoping for another glimpse, but amidst the sea of white-clad clones, spotting him again seemed futile.
One afternoon during your break, a craving for a quick snack lured you to the nearby market.
As you purchased a tempting pastry, ready to take a bite, you froze at the sight of Echo down the street. He hadn't noticed you, but he stood among two individuals who clearly weren't clones (or so you thought), despite their similar armor. One was exceptionally tall and robust, while the other, about Echo's size, sported long dark hair and had half of his face inked.
Caught in a moment of staring, you felt a jolt of panic when the larger figure abruptly turned his gaze toward you, smiling, and then grabbing Echo's shoulders and pointing in your direction. Feigning nonchalance in a panic, you quickly averted your body and eyes, pretending interest elsewhere. Yet, the clearing of someone's throat behind you snapped you back to reality.
Swiftly turning, your eyes met Echo's visor. "Hello, ma'am," he greeted, sounding slightly flustered.
"Hi!" you chirped, attempting to act as if you hadn't already noticed him. "Echo, right? It's good to see you again." The casualness in your tone masked the fact that he had been occupying your thoughts for the past few days.
"It's good to see you too. How's your speeder?" Echo inquired, a faint smile playing on his lips as he waited for your response, although he still wore his helmet.
You chuckled softly, the sound carrying a hint of gratitude. "Really good. All thanks to you, of course," you replied, offering a genuine smile in return.
Echo then found himself momentarily lost for words, his usual composure faltering in the unexpected encounter. He silently chided himself for feeling this awkward, partially blaming Wrecker for nudging him into this situation. He'd resisted Wrecker's nudging, but the big clone's persistence had overridden Echo's reluctance. Maybe mentioning you to the others wasn’t the best idea.
Sensing the growing tension, Hunter decided to step in. "Echo, care to introduce us to your friend?" he prodded, taking a small step forward to break the mounting silence.
Your curiosity piqued, you waited for Echo's response, noticing the subtle yet telling exchange between him and Hunter. "Uh, sure. Hunter, Wrecker," Echo gestured to each of his brothers beside him before introducing you by name. "I helped her with her speeder when it broke down a few days ago."
"Is that so?" Hunter's tone was mildly intrigued, though you sensed a hint of prior familiarity. Had he been speaking about you?
"Yeah,” you start, not overthinking things, “Echo was really kind and helpful that day, although he wouldn't let me properly thank him," you added with a subtle grin, trying to lighten the mood.
"Aw, was the pretty girl too nice for you to accept any money?" Wrecker teased with a hearty laugh.
Echo's jaw tensed slightly, choosing to ignore Wrecker's remark. He shifted his focus back to you, aiming to redirect the conversation. "It's just that you seemed stressed enough that day, and any decent person would have done the same," he explained, his voice carrying a note of sincerity amidst the banter.
"Huh, you clearly don't know Coruscant that well. There's a limited amount of people who would have helped, but I'm really glad it was you, Echo," you countered, your tone carrying a genuine appreciation.
Once again, his name slipped from your lips like a reverent prayer.
"Well, I'm glad I could help," Echo replied with a smile, though obscured behind his helmet. He couldn't fathom why he hadn't removed his helmet in your presence but a pang of disappointment surged within him, prompting him to keep his face concealed to shield himself from any potential disapproval.
"I should start heading back to work now..." You sighed, glancing at your datapad. "Best not to be late again."
"Ah, I see. Well, it was nice to see you again—" Echo began to bid farewell.
"Echo will gladly walk you back to work. Won't you?" Hunter interjected abruptly, throwing a pointed look at his brother, who returned a blank stare.
"Y-yes, I would be happy to do that if you want?" Echo turned to you, a sudden hint of hopefulness in his voice. Your soft giggle and nod of agreement uplifted his spirits.
"I'd happily have the company," you confirmed, prompting a playful nudge from Wrecker towards Echo.
As you bid a swift farewell to Hunter and Wrecker, you began walking, while Echo briefly spoke to Hunter, catching up in a few quick strides.
Deliberately slowing your pace, you extended the walk, cherishing the company a little longer. With the pastry forgotten in your hand, a rumble emanated from your stomach, prompting a sigh. "Do you want a bite?" You broke off a piece and offered it to Echo, but he politely declined.
"Ah, no thanks. I'm not too hungry at the moment," you replied, accepting Echo's polite refusal. The conversation continued effortlessly as you both walked, enjoying each other's company. However, your family's shop soon appeared in the distance.
"Well, thank you for walking me back, Echo," you smiled up at him, a glimmer of anticipation in your eyes, hoping to catch a glimpse of his behind the visor—alas, without success.
Echo paused, his posture shifting slightly. "I was actually wondering if you maybe wanted to get a bite to eat with me sometime? Maybe even tonight?"
Your eyes widened in happy surprise, and your voice held a hopeful tone. "Like a date?" You enjoyed your conversations with him and saw no reason not to get to know him better over a meal.
"Yes. Like a date," he confirmed, his confidence growing as he noticed the smile on your face.
"Okay, but I have one proposition," you started playfully, biting your lower lip.
Echo nodded, signaling for you to continue.
"Well, if I were to date someone, I would like to look at the person who I am going to be going out with beforehand," you spontaneously confessed, a hopeful grin on your lips.
Echo sighed inwardly, knowing this moment was inevitable sooner or later. He raised both hands towards his helmet, his left hand gripping underneath while his scomp provided support. "Alright, but I'm warning you now, I'm not much to look at," he warned earnestly before removing his helmet with a faint hiss.
You gazed up at him, pleasantly surprised. He had the features of a clone, yet distinct. His golden brown eyes drew you in, but you noticed his pale skin, not as tanned as usual and had odd bolt type modifications on his head that matches his buzzed hair. He had clearly been in some type of accident. Despite it all, you found him handsome—truly, utterly.
"Yes."
"Yes?" He looked at you, perplexed, his voice notably softer without the helmet.
"Yes, I will go on a date with you."
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
The date with Echo became one of your best experiences in a long time, if not ever. Exiting the restaurant, you both were clutching your chests, trying to stifle the laughter after Echo's reenactment of something his brother, Fives, once did.
Once the laughter subsided, you glanced at the sky and were surprised to notice how late it had become. "Guess we almost overstayed our welcome," you giggled, noticing the restaurant doors locking behind you.
"Maybe just," Echo chuckled, his helmet comfortably resting by his side. His expression shifted as he noticed his comm device beeping insistently.
"Everything alright?" you asked, curious about the sudden change.
"Yeah, it's just Hunter reminding me that we need to get somewhere early tomorrow, so I shouldn't be too late heading back," he explained softly, giving you an apologetic look. You both had contemplated going to a bar after leaving the restaurant, but you didn't want to be the reason Echo would be late for a mission the next day.
"Not to worry! We can maybe do this again… possibly?" You smiled up at him, hoping for another chance to see him.
"Sounds like another date to me." He smirked, extending his other arm. "Can I walk you home?"
You linked your arm with his, and the two of you headed in the direction of your apartment.
Outside your door, you paused, turning to face Echo, who stood somewhat awkwardly yet respectfully, observing you. "So… this is me," you gestured to your apartment behind you.
Echo nodded silently. Something in him, perhaps his growing comfort around you or the touch of alcohol from the night, led to his next words, setting your heart racing.
"I love your eyes."
His unexpected confession left you wide-eyed, your heart pounding fiercely.
"That's so sweet. Thank you, Echo," you barely whispered, flustered by his unexpectedly cute compliment. Even he blushed at his boldness.
As you reached down to grab your keys, from the corner of your eye, you noticed Echo drawing closer. Just as you raised your head to meet his gaze, his lips landed on yours in a surprising kiss.
Echo instantly stepped back, his eyes wide, almost horrified by his impulsive action. "Sorry! I, I thought you wanted a kiss on the cheek, but as I leaned in, I noticed you grabbing your keys, and you had obviously seen me coming, and I missed entirely—"
Your body felt ablaze as you listened to his endearing ramble. Taking a step toward him, you placed a hand on his shoulder before leaning in and pressing your lips gently against his, hoping you interpreted the situation correctly from tonight.
His rambling ceased, his body stiffening as your lips met. He hesitated for a moment before cautiously responding, his lips warm and gentle against yours. Though his eyes remained open, he didn't pull away as the kiss deepened, tentatively exploring the moment.
A few moments later, you pulled back, your faces still close. "You didn't miss… goodnight," you whispered, your breath brushing against his lips as you entered your apartment, leaving a momentous air lingering between you.