galaxycrxss || Echo; CT-1409
Echo watched Jesse with a neutral expression, but the curve of his brows and softening around the eyes showed appreciation — at least Jesse wasn’t staring at him like he was some exhibit for display or, worse, the enemy. The newly made ARC trooper conversed normally, as if Echo had just come back the same as he ever was ; he wasn’t sure when he’d drifted off into his head, but he pulled back as he, once again, referenced Fives.
“… Yeah. It’s a little hard.” If there was one person who would have been at his side, regardless of what anyone said, it would have been his twin. Though, Echo was sure he would have to worry about Jesse throwing a swing at someone just as much as he would have Fives. “Still got that hot-headed temper or can I stop worrying about the trouble you’ll cause?” Casual as his words were, and as teasing as he meant them, they were also heartfelt. A little brother jokingly pestering the older. Jesse, after all, had been there before the Dominoes. A small laugh huffed through, head shaking slowly, small smile tugging at the lips subtly.
“All you have to do is fill the empty spaces with needless information, like weather conditions, terrain travel, inter-personal squabbles, team morale… I’ll show you. Don’t worry — we’ll make a decent ARC outta you yet.”
Caramel gaze lowered as a sigh hefted shoulders up, then down. It had been difficult to process the damage he had caused on Anaxes — the number of casualties he was certain were due to his own tactics. He hadn’t been allowed to read over those reports ; trust was a factor in all limitations, but Echo knew Kix had a hand in controlling what he did and did not see, most likely to control just how overwhelmed he could become. For as put together as Echo seemed, he was barely able to stand most of the time. Between the glaring eyes of brothers and hushed whispers of avoidance and disgust horror, Echo had chosen not to socialize or get to know anyone new. One would think waking up from stasis would bring something good — waking to a better outcome. He’d only woken to a worsening war and less familiar faces ; losses he could not have predicted. And a lot more that he did.
“I don’t think they let traitors stay ARC troopers, Jesse…” But, Echo trailed off as Jesse continued and his expression shifted to one of hope and relief — finally… answers. “ ‘Course not, Jes. It’s not something I’ll repeat.” His tone had all but begged ; just tell me.
Attention was all but glued to the other ARC trooper. From the instant Jesse had huddled close to speak to the very last syllable that dropped — Echo was keen on keeping neutral. But, as the story spun round and round, his brows creased in mild frustration and confusion.
“I knew he was gone, but…” Assassination attempt … ? Fives ? His twin didn’t half-perform at anything — if he wanted to take someone out, he would have. But the anger and frustration was beginning to mix with a heavy weight — sorrow. The regret of not being present when he was clearly needed ; who better to have had his back than his twin ? It sounded fake, like Jesse was lying to him, and a smirk almost pulled as Echo allowed fantasy to give way. Words choked out in slow drag, like a mumble in one’s sleep, mind already slipping out of his control. Fives, what the hell were you getting into this time ?
“Fives wouldn’t do that — Fives wouldn’t do that without a reason — he wouldn’t just lose it like that. You know that — everyone knows that. How can they say that ? This — it’s a joke… right ?”
Jesse wasn’t joking. And despite claiming he knew nothing factual, his emphasis on rumors only made colder man’s blood burn ( boiling for a fight ). His brother, his twin, reduced to nothing but hearsay and rumor — too much information. Fives, his batchmate, best friend and twin, labeled a traitor in his own way, shot down like any other enemy, conspiracy surrounding it, lies and slander tied between, a virus that may or may not have existed, Rex and Kix had known and neither one had said a damned word. Glaze settled over empty stare, gaze focused no longer on Jesse, but staring at a distant point no one could see, trying to process everything as it was.
He knew Fives wouldn’t let anyone pick on Echo. The fact that anyone bothered to try was what made the Trooper furious. The whole reason he was an ARC, the whole reason he even so much as agreed to it was because of the twins. Firey spirit of Fives and the quieter presence of Echo... He appreciated both. He cared about both. When Fives returned without twin, trooper had known by the look on his face that Echo wasn’t caught up talking about strategy. He was gone. And the trooper before him would never know that blank stare that came with the first look at Fives after the citadel. Jesse owed it to him to do what he could.
There was a soft laugh, the trooper giving a small smirk in response to the joke, careful nudge given mind to possible soreness. He knew the guy wouldn’t just bounce back from being stuck in stasis. “Nah, someone looks at you sideways and I’ll end their career. Not as quickly as Fives would have, but pretty kriffin’ close.” Kix would be busy as he had been while they were here, but.. He’d seemed preoccupied with something extra when he wasn’t working on the wounded. Attention moved to the other trooper, small smile given. “Look forward to it.”
He knew it was Echo’s voice they’d found, but he hadn’t been part of the extraction team. He knew that it was going to be a struggle. It was because of the rumors he’d heard that he realized Echo was even here. Which meant Kix would need to be pulled away every so often so he wouldn’t work himself sick. Now he was afraid to let anyone else near, knowing how poorly brother had been treated well before he was lost at the Citadel. “You’re still an ARC trooper in my book. And if the Captain has anythin’ to say about it.” loyal, kind, and often times the trooper that could be relied on to have another plan in place in case things got messy.
And messy they just got, he watched Echo while he processed the words that left him, but he knew that the twin of Fives would never truly accept what he just heard. “I know he wouldn’t go after someone unless he was protecting his brothers. By the time Ringo Vinda happened, he was tired of losing brothers.. he was just starting to get closer to fully past your passing.” He stopped after a moment, noticing the distance in the trooper’s eyes. The look of being here but also not. “Echo?”
Gloved hand reached out, waving before the other for a moment before glancing around. Whatever this was, he was a little concerned. “Echo, hey... Echo...” Finger pressed to thumb, snapping a little bit to try to catch trooper’s attention, though... now he knew not to talk too much about Fives.