Chapter Text
Sleep cannot come soon enough
Echo was once again having a difficult time getting to sleep.
Those pesky harsh memories of his time being held captive by the Techno Union once again having sprung forth from the deepest recesses of his memory.
Having put so much effort into trying to forget about everything he had endured. Even if Echo could never forgive himself of what he had been apart of, but he could move past it, live with the very fact of what he had done and try to atone for it all.
Alas, the nights were the worst. Sleep elusive at the best of times.
Tossing and turning in his hammock while on Kamino, never really sleeping while on missions, the Havoc Marauder flying from one destination to another, only getting a catnap here and there.
In the long run, it was the worst thing to happen, despite his new and improved physiology. That of being part machine. A Cyborg. But deep down, Echo was still quite human. And sleep, was something he needed desperately.
The rain was tapping the large windows of the Batch’s barracks.
Echo tried to concentrate on that soothing sound, the constant and steady beat of it. Should have lulled anyone to sleep really. It had most of his batch mates. Alas, not Echo.
He was trying to keep quiet, not wanting to wake the others. Hearing Wrecker and Tech snoring was a comfort, Hunter having dosed off as soon as he had hit the sack. But there was one that was vigilant. Having observed Echo’s dilemma.
Echo had felt them before he heard them.
The soft footfalls against the floor, closing in on his position. And then, there was the familiar and light touch on his shoulder.
“Echs, you awake?” The whispered question was more out of politeness, surprisingly coming out of the team sniper, as Crosshair was aware Echo was yet again unable to sleep.
“No.” Echo’s response was accompanied by a grin, something he knew the sniper could see in the darkness of the room.
“Good, then move over. I’m coming in.”
Before Echo could really do just that, Crosshair was already climbing onto the hammock with him. Thankfully, they were both slim, so fitting into the rather wide and comfortable hanging bed was easy.
“So, no sleep again then?”
Crosshair already knew all about Echo, the two, again surprisingly, having had a few heart to hearts since Echo joining the team. Crosshair having become quite the ally for the Arc. Then again, they all loved him, Echo having become a permanent fixture of the team, as Hunter had put it. Them all having grown fond of the former 501st member.
No backsies as the Sarge had pretty much told Rex.
“Yeah, no. Tonight has been, usually difficult.”
Echo really did not want to explain further, not that it was really needed anyway.
“So, you wanna talk about it or just, hang?”
“Guess, just hang?”
“I can do that.”
Crosshair placed his arm around Echo, drawing him in for a soft cuddle. As sometimes, it was good to just hang with a comforting person right there beside him.