Work Text:
Sometimes, regaining one’s soul is as easy as a bucket of paint.
For the clones, the colours had always meant individuality above all else. Having been a shiny before gaining that right to become a true trooper only to be facing the horrors of war. And in this Clone Force 99 had been no different. The black, red and white colours donning their armour in the Clone War. The designs painted on back then having been specific and unique for their squad when they too had entered the war as the designated soldiers they had been bred to be.
Times may have changed them all, but the message for them all was quite clear.
After having stripped the colours for the rescue mission, the one now behind them, the team members then having decided to repaint their armour. It would be in the honour of them all having gained their freedom from the Empire. But also, having not only one member been returned to them, but three in a short amount of time.
The six Bad Batchers now seated in the new base of Rex’s. The drawings of models in front of them with paints of various colours laid out among brushes and such.
Crosshair and Hunter having been the ones to take care of the design elements after everyone’s input and then making the drawings of the designs wanted. The skull was still present there, the kind of insignia of the squad. But the added elements were featured with such as a headshot of Batcher, the insignia of the former Republic they had served. A reminder of where they had started, for what they were born for.
The armour still greyish black but with blues and oranges to be added to the mix. An homage to Rex and Cody, their two leaders. Echo having wanted to incorporate the number five along with the stylised ninety-nine still present.
Crosshair having made one design for his own armour modelling Commander Mayday’s helmet An image of the Havoc Marauder, their ship but also former home for a long time honoured on all their armours. There were other designs there as well, honouring their friends and a few places they had left behind.
It truly was something of a snapshot of all their lives lived the armour turning out to become.
Omega even having earned her own armour. A specially modified one as she was still shorter and leaner than most shinies. Thankfully, Rex’s rebel clones having been replenished by a plethora of clones from Tantiss having several talents among them as well, with two of them helping to modify the plastoid to fit the size for Omega.
*
“So, shall we start?” Hunter asked, the group sitting in a round on the floor around the paint supplies and their armour.
“Who will go first?” Omega asked, curious and eager too to start painting, but they had agreed to start with one of them painting their special image during the first round.
“Tech should go first.” Echo then suggested, Hunter having given Echo a glance and a nod to start the project at hand. Alas Echo had other ideas. As Tech deserved to be the first one in this.
Tech, having gone through a difficult change so far from CX-2 to well, himself. Not unlike what Echo himself had endured all that time ago. The scars still very much present on Tech’s body, some from the injuries sustained during his fall other from the conditioning program. And Tech too now housed artificial limbs much like Echo did. Tech’s own legs having been broken beyond repair during his plunge into death.
They all murmured their agreement on Echo’s suggestion. Tech feeling honoured did not protest, dipping his brush into the paint then drawing on the first symbol onto his own armour. It too being black now with the rest of them. The symbol simple yet telling. CX-2. A painful reminder but a part of Tech now.
After Tech having made his first drawing, he paraded the cuirass with the new paint in front of the team, his family, the agreeing murmurs once again filling the space. As sometimes, words were not needed when among those whom knew one the best.
Hunter’s turn was next, choosing the famous one they all knew so well. The symbol for 99. The paintwork done quickly enough, the others watching closely. As it had been agreed, the first round they would each take their turn making the the first marking on their armour. After that, it was all hands on deck for the decorating. Each of them adding their own variations of the commonly agreed images in addition to their personal designs.
“Echo, you are up next.” Hunter told the Arc.
Getting a nod from Echo before him dipping the brush into white paint and then making the specifically designed number five onto his armour mimicking the tattoo on Fives’ forehead to perfection with only the colour being reversed as it was, black plastoid.
Crosshair made his trademark crosshair with a slightly modified twist. A heart surrounding the design. They all knew the reason why and what it meant for the sniper. Crosshair having explained it in not so many words.
With a simple term. “You.” Pointing at the team around him.
Wrecker was next, his picture a singing and tap dancing bomb. Something of a humorous twist for sure which had gotten a few raised eyebrows and objections at first. But it was Wrecker through and through.
“Cause I like to blow things up, get it?” He had stated softly.
“Omega?”
Omega then went to work, the image of an island with the bluest water around it. Yes, it had been home for a while, but there was no way they could return there for a long while for the safety of those living there. Pabu.
And so, each having painted their special markings, they all went to work. The several hours spent in each other’s company, a perfect day for them all. With a few good memories shared along with a few familiar songs which Echo had started singing. It was family time at best.
Their armour perhaps becoming more colourful than intended, but it was the most perfect picture book of all their lives just the same.
*
“Rex!”
The late evening, the paint work done, with the armour still drying. But Echo had his cuirass with him as he entered Rex’s office.
“Echo! Have you all finished the paintwork already?”
“Well, almost.”
Echo placed the piece of armour on top of the desk. Rex could not help but admire the artistic endeavour he was seeing.
“Looks great!”
“It does.” Echo had admired all their work, all of them having different interpretations of the various designs. “But mine is still lacking.”
“Oh?”
A small container of blue paint emerged onto the desk as well.
It did not take a moment even for Rex to realise what Echo was asking from him.
“If you could, please?”
A smile emerged on Rex’s face.
“Anything for you, Echo.”
Rex dipped his palm into the container. Making sure that the paint was covering it properly before placing it on Echo’s cuirass. The same exact spot as so many years ago. The handprint Echo had missed since getting his new armour after joining the Bad Batch.
Echo looked at the armour donning Rex’s hand print and the bold number five on the opposite side. This way, Echo would never forget where he came from, even if Clone Force 99 was his family now.