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When Echo let himself be convinced by Wrecker to join the Batch in celebrating their latest successful mission, this wasn’t what he’d expected. He’d assumed they’d hit some dimly lit bar, drank a few shots and stumble back to the ship to sleep it off.
Simple, predictable, low effort.
The fact that the giant clone had handed him a neatly folded set of civilian clothes, the nice ones, should have been his first clue that the night would be anything but ordinary.
Now, he found himself in a boot in the mezzanine of a crowded club, watching the chaos below with a mix of amusement and longing. In his other life, before the citadels and Skako Minor, he would have been already down the dance floor.
Up here, the pulsing music and flashing lights weren’t as overwhelming for Hunter's sense and Crosshair’s eyes. Not that neither seem bother by the situation as Crosshair is lounging across both Hunter and Tech’s laps like a spoiled lothcat, a please smirk firmly in place on his face.
Echo, on the other hand, was pressed against Wrecker’s side, half-listening to the murmur of conversation as they nursed drinks and picked at a platter of food.
Echo couldn’t help but chuckle softly as he followed Wrecker’s gaze to the dance floor below. The flashing lights reflected in Wrecker’s wide eyes like a child staring at the galaxy for the first time. People moved in sync with the rhythm, their bodies swaying and spinning in unison, carefree and alive.
“You want to join them, don’t you?” Echo teased, nudging Wrecker’s side with his elbow.
Wrecker grinned; his expression sheepish yet not denying it. “Been awhile since I got to dance. It’s boring to dance alone. But uh…” He glanced down at Echo, his massive hand lightly drumming on the table. “You’re not really the dancing type, are ya?”
“I never say that.” Echo raises an eyebrow hiding his smiles with the rime of his glass as he takes a sip.
He forgot that the whole batch didn’t know about his wilder side.
Wrecker made a surprise noise oud enough to make Hunter glance their way with a smirk before returning his attention to Crosshair and Tech’s kisses.
“C’mon, Echo. Just one dance!” Wrecker pleaded; his enthusiasm infectious. “Doesn’t have to be fancy. Just … move a little! Loosen up!”
Echo’s first instinct was to refuse. The idea of stepping into that crowd with his body full of sharp edge and metal parts sent a ripple of anxiety through him. But the genuine excitement oozing from Wrecker made him hesitate. How often did they get moments like this? A chance to be … normal. To just be themselves without the weight of the galaxy on their shoulders?
He sighed, setting his drink down. “Alright, fine. One dance.”
“Really?!” Wrecker’s face lit up like a kid on Life Day. He jumped to his feet, nearly knocking over the table in his excitement, and grabbed Echo’s hand with surprising gentleness.
“Wait—now?!” Echo stammered as he was hauled up.
“No better time than now!” Wrecker declared, his booming voice cutting through the ambient noise.
As they made their way to the dance floor, Echo couldn’t help but glance back at the mezzanine. Tech gave him an encouraging nod, while Crosshair … well, he was too busy looking smug and comfortable. Hunter joke about not doing anything he wouldn’t do.
That was a really small list.
The music was louder down here, the bass thrumming through Echo’s chest like a second heartbeat. Wrecker dove into the crowd with a whoop, his sheer size parting the sea of dancers with ease. Echo followed reluctantly, already regretting his decision.
“Just move, Echo!” Wrecker said over the music, his grin wide enough to rival the club lights. “It’s not about how you look. It’s about how you feel!”
Echo rolled his eyes but tried to mimic the casual movements of the people around him. His steps were stiff at first, awkward and jerky, but Wrecker’s unabashed enthusiasm was hard to resist.
“Yeah! That’s it!” Wrecker cheered, clapping his hands to the beat.
To Echo’s surprise, he started to relax. The music didn’t seem as loud, the lights didn’t seem as blinding, and for the first time in a long while, he felt … free.
Echo’s movements became fluid, almost effortless. For the first time since waking from the Cryo-cycle stasis pod, his prosthetic legs and arm didn’t feel like mere extensions parts designed to keep him functional. They felt like him, fully integrated, as if they’d always been a part of his body.
He was startled when Wrecker’s hand settled firmly on his hip, guiding him closer. Their bodies didn’t take long to move as one to the rhythm of the music. A grin spread across Echo’s face, a mix of surprise and exhilaration. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arm around Wrecker’s neck, letting himself sink into the moment, the beat, and the connection between them.
Wrecker smiled down at him, the tenderness in his expression mingling with something undeniably sensual. Emboldened by the warmth and strength of Wrecker’s presence, Echo moved his body more provocatively against him, caring nothing for the onlookers around them. In this moment, nothing else mattered, just the music, Wrecker, and the heat coursing through him.
Minutes or perhaps hours slipped by Echo couldn’t tell. When the lights dimmed and the tempo softened, Echo let his head rest against Wrecker’s broad shoulder, catching his breath.
“If I’d known you were such a great dancer, I would’ve asked you to dance with me ages ago,” Wrecker murmured his voice husky and breath warm again his ears.
Echo smirked, his lips curling into a teasing grin. “An ARC trooper never reveals all his secrets at once,” he replied, his words playful as their bodies swayed gently together, moving in sync with the slow, intimate melody.
Wrecker wraps both arms snugly around Echo’s waist, his grin widening. “So you’re saying I have to work harder to uncover those hidden talents of yours?”
“Maybe,” Echo replies with a playful glint in his eye. His lips curve into a soft, genuine smile. “But I had a lot of fun tonight. So… I guess I can show you one more thing.”
“Oh yah? What is it?” The giant clone’s excitement is palpable.
Echo lifts his flesh hand, gently pressing it against the back of Wrecker’s head, guiding him closer. With no hesitation, he tilts Wrecker’s head down and captures his lips in a passionate kiss. Wrecker freezes for the briefest moment before eagerly responding, his arms tightening around Echo. Their kiss deepens and Wrecker pulls the smaller man flush against his broad chest, as if wanting to ensure Echo never slips away.
When their lips part, they barely pull back, just enough for their foreheads to rest gently against each other. The world around them feels distant, leaving only the warmth they share in the moment.
“A great dancer and an even better kisser,” Wrecker murmurs with a broad, boyish grin, his voice filled with awe. “I’m really lucky.”
Echo chuckles softly, his fingers tracing a light pattern against the back of Wrecker’s neck. “Guess you are.”
Wrecker grinned playfully. “So … how about another dance?”
Echo smirks, tilting his head slightly. “Sure, big guy. And every dance after that.”
Wrecker laughs, lifting Echo slightly off the ground in a joyful hug.