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The fourth instalment of the Touch Starved Series and this time it’s with the handsome Echo who feels as though he’s not worthy of any comfort.
warnings: This ones a little angsty as Echo is super insecure about his relatively new ‘modifications’. Reader comforts Echo so fluff will be expected too.
Masterlist 🤍
My Ko-Fi 🤍
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Echo being touch starved was not a surprise to anyone. Echo knew he was and so did you and so did his vod to be honest.
The only problem was that he did not like to be touched. At all. The only contact he had recently was with Tech who makes adjustments to his newly modified body and the thought of anyone else touching him made him feel sick.
Sick because he no longer felt like a human and sick at the thought of someone being disgusted by him.
When he met you however, he saw no signs of disgust on your face when you first met in that hangar. However, he stayed way back from you whenever it came to physical contact.
In fact, you thought that you had insulted him when you stuck out your hand to shake his but as he went to put his hand towards you he winced silently and just nodded instead.
But, the two of you got along and that’s all that mattered.
It was a quiet day for the squad, drifting through space as Hunter and Crosshair took control of the cockpit, Wrecker was snoozing in his bunk meanwhile Echo and Tech were tinkering away in the main hull of the ship.
Echo was calibrating something for Tech, the use of his scomp being a valuable asset to the task but Echo noticed that it began to malfunction. He pulled it out of the socket and gave it an experimental twirl but sighed as it got jammed. This wasn’t the first time either, it had been happening at least three times a week and it happening in the middle of working wasn’t great.
“Hey Tech,” he called over to the goggled clone who was head down in his datapad and scanning through the ships files, “my scomp is jammed again.”
He looked up and frowned. “I’m afraid I can’t assist you at the moment.” Then, you walked in and a lightbulb ignited in his brain. “Y/N can help you.”
“Help you with what?” You question, surprised at the sudden task being put on you as soon as you entered.
Echo felt a little nauseous. “Oh, er- it’s nothing.”
“It’s not nothing when we need your help with repairs on my ship. Now let them help.” Tech said almost dismissively as he stood and went to speak with Hunter about whatever which just left you two alone.
You immediately sensed his slight hostility about you helping but you were now adamant to tend to whatever he needed and so sat on the swivel chair next to his and smiled. “Is it your scomp?” You nod towards his arm and he arches a brow.
“How did you know?”
“Heard you were having trouble with it a few days ago is all.” You tell him, grabbing some of Tech’s tools that he left on the side by his workbench. “I probably won’t get it working perfectly but I could have a nosey at it.”
Echo chewed on the inside of his cheek, tossing the proposition of you helping him up in his mind until he sighed and nodded. “That’ll be helpful.”
“Not a problem, just place your arm up on here.” You pat the workbench and Echo does as he is told, begrudgingly laying his arm or what was left of it on top and watches as you inspect it before grabbing a small scalpel.
“I’m just gonna see if it’s jammed with dirt first.” You figured telling him what you were about to do with his body was the best step to take, not wanting to do something that might make him snap at you which if you were being honest, didn’t think would ever happen. Echo was always so kind to you and made you caf in the mornings but you soon began to realise you didn’t know much about him. You knew he was a ‘reg’ but you were not told the whole story of how he joined the squad in the first place.
You only joined a month or two after he did as a medic who also knew their way around a power converter and repairing engines so Echo knew he was in somewhat good hands.
You scraped the scalpel alongside the socket, gently tugging at any dirt or oil residue that may have slipped in and cleaned it on some tissue before putting it back in.
Echo sat still but rigid. Your hand not occupying anything came up and gently rested over the crook of his elbow and his heart jittered a little at the odd warmth sensation that traveled along his upper arms. He didn’t mean to but he let out a sharp exhale which caused you to look up with panic stricken eyes.
“You okay? Did I hurt you?” Your voice was so soft yet so fearful Echo instantly felt bad at his randomness and he quickly shook his head.
“N-no, I uh…” he tried to think of a lie in his head but nothing could come through. As his mind raced for an answer, you had softly rubbed against his upper arm again as if to show comfort and his heart stopped. “I like you touching me.”
You blinked rapidly at his rushed words and Echo instantly realised what he said probably came across as super odd or super weird… or both.
“O-oh.” You squeak in surprise, cheeks burning pink as you were now unsure if you should let go of his arm as you looked back and forth.
“Wait! I meant as in I like that you’re helping me.” He rubbed the back of his head, cursing internally at his lack of grace in his words.
Sensing his embarrassment, you ease the atmosphere with a soft laugh and nod in understanding. “Well good. I’m glad I don’t make you uncomfortable.” You tell him, swapping for a bigger tool this time as you began to unbolt a screw that attached the scomp to his arm, wanting a closer look. You tell him this of course.
Echo relaxed a little more then. Glad that he didn’t creep you out as that would never be his intention. Especially with someone he kind of had a small crush on.
He didn’t want to admit it to himself at first. He thought it was foolish to be so attracted to someone they’ve only just met but as weeks went by and then months, his attraction to you grew stronger and so did his starvation of touch.
But now you were sitting across from him, your fingers delicately fixing a device on his arm that he never thought he would have. That’s when a twisted feeling settled in his stomach. What were you thinking about as you fixed this foul modification on his arm? Did you see him as a man or a mere machine? His jaw clenched at the thought that didn’t go unnoticed by you as he turned his head away and closed his eyes.
You watch him for a moment and a horrible feeling sets in your stomach as you just had an inkling you knew what was bothering him. But, being the slightly inquisitive person you were, you just had to ask: “Echo? What happened to you that made you end up like this?”
Your question was hushed in the fears that Echo didn’t want anyone else to overhear. If anyone else had asked, he may have dismissed them but with you? His expression softened just the slightest.
“I, uh, got blown up.”
Although it shocked you, you kept your face neutral. Echo wasn’t one who wanted pity or sympathy so you just nodded and carried on your maintenance on his arm. “Oh… and you lived?” Dumb question, obviously but this earned a small laugh from the Clone.
“I did… and I didn’t…”
Eyes flickering up to him with a quizzing look, Echo began to tell you the horrific tale of how he ended up being used as a war-tool for the Separatists. You pushed halfway through your work to listen with intrigue and a part of you wished you never asked him the question as your eyes began to slightly water and a dejected look crossed his features.
“Echo… I’m sorry that happened to you.” Ever so gently, the hand that was resting on the crook of his elbow travels up to his cheek where a jolt of warmth shot through his body at your sincere touch.
Echo hisses, so unfamiliar with such a lovely gesture but as you quickly go to pull away due to his reaction, his flesh hand comes up and hovers over yours to hold it back to his face.
The gesture was sweet and unexpected but you kept your hand there and tilted your head to the side as he began talking again. “I don’t know how you can do it.”
“Do what?”
Echo gulps a little and gestures down to his scomp that was now in little pieces on the workbench. “Act like this doesn’t bother you.”
You frown and stare at him. “I’m a medic, Echo. Things like this don’t bother me at all.” Your voice is a little stern and you feel your heart sink momentarily as you hear him scoff.
“Come on, don’t do that.” You shake your head at him and this time pull your hand away, the warmth of your touch vanishing from Echo. “If this kind of thing bothered me I certainly wouldn’t be in this profession.” You began welding some pieces together, very aware that he now had a slightly strong gaze on you.
“Why doesn’t it bother you?”
You chuckle. “I’ve treated many soldiers - I’ve seen worse. I’ve… dealt with worse.” Your chuckle subsides as the thoughts of men you have tended to during battles, some never making it back home to Kamino. You weren’t sure Echo was particularly lucky but he was lucky to still be alive.
“I suppose. But doesn't seeing a Reg like this bother you?”
You had reattached the compartments back onto his scomp, using a small welding tool to forge it together for more durability when he asked the question. “You’re different from the Regs.”
You pull away from his scomp and swivel round in your chair, rummaging through a toolbox as Echo settles on your words. “Different how?” He questions, sensing that it wasn’t just his appearance you were suggesting too.
Glancing over your shoulder, you idly look him up and down and your mouth ran dry at what you really wanted to say. “W-well, you’re a lot kinder than a lot of your brothers. You’re not arrogant like some I’ve met.” You mumble, looking away as you try to hide how you truly felt about him.
“Huh, really? Why don’t you tell me how you really feel?” He crossed his arms over his chest, suddenly looking a little smug.
His words surprise you and you turn to him with slightly wide eyes as you try to read what he was suggesting. Did he know that you liked him? Your stomach twists at the thought and you try to shake out your nerves.
“Shut up.” You say almost bashfully, grabbing a small tool and facing him fully. “Now give me your hand again.” Outstretching your hand to him.
And he did.
You instantly looked down to see his flesh hand take a hold of your own and you let out a small breathless laugh. “I meant the, uh, other one.” Cheeks turning pink a little as he smiled warmly at you, his digits gently grazing against the skin on the back of your hand.
“I know what you said.” He replied casually but he just had to feel your touch once more. In fact, he found himself longing for it as you had pulled away, begrudgingly, after a few moments and reached over for his scomp for some final touches.
You were silent for the next few minutes and Echo began to feel unnerved, as if what he did had bothered you as you refused to meet his gaze from then on.
“Sorry.”
His apology made you look up but nothing but confusion crossed your face. “What for?”
“For uh, the hand thing.” He mutters, running his hand over the back of his neck. You offered him a small smile.
“That’s okay,” you reply, setting your tools down after finally finishing up, “I don’t mind holding your hand.” Okay, you definitely didn’t mean to say that out loud as you believed it was just an internal thought.
Echo almost chokes on air and your eyes went comically wide as you both looked at each other awkwardly. Neither of you knew what to say so you settled on just slowly turning your chair away and placing everything away before standing to your feet. “I should go and see… see something.” You pointed in the direction of the cockpit.
As you go to move past, from the corner of your eye you see Echo quickly stand and turn to you. Instinctively, you gaze back upon his tall frame and watch as he takes a few steps towards you. There was a conflict in his eyes, one you hadn’t seen for some time as he decided on his next set of actions but his flesh hand slowly raised, a little shaky if you really took the time to analyze it and extended it out to you. “I don’t mind holding your hand either.”
Your heart thumped crazily against your chest, a grin spreading onto your lips as your hand slipped into his own, watching him physically melt under your touch as he slowly brought you to him, scomp resting gracefully on your waist. “Echo.” You breathe his name softly, a small gasp emitting as he brings you flush against his chest.
“Is this alright?” He says so quietly that you weren’t sure if he had even spoken at all. The hand that held yours let go and soon trailed up towards your cheek and you inhaled sharply. Echo eyes shone with warmth, his breathing a little ragged as he trailed his fingers over the softness of your skin that felt like heaven to touch for him. So long he had wanted to embrace someone like this; someone like you.
“It’s perfect.” You close your eyes as you bathe in his hold, allowing him to explore your features. “You’re perfect.”
Echo felt his heart about to explode in his chest. Eyes wide in disbelief at your words but you had been nothing but honest with him since you met.
“I’m not-.”
“You are to me.”
Echo's mouth closed and a small smile flitted onto his lips. “I feel like it’s fairly obvious now but I may as well tell you cyare… I have feelings for you. Have done for a while.”
You hum, eyes opening to meet his own and a smile of adoration graced your features that made his knees shake. “I think I gathered that.”
His warm chuckle filled your soul as he embraced the warmth of your body you were kind enough to share. “I should thank you for helping me too with my scomp. Can be tricky to do but you seem to have no problem with it.”
Both of your hands move up his body, tracing over his chest plate until his arms wrap around the back of his neck. “And how do you plan on thanking me?” You purr softly, hoping he would get the hint that you wouldn’t mind sharing a little kiss with the clone.
Echo tilts his head to the side, a little bit of nervousness evident on his face at your indirect suggestion. Your fingers tickle the back of his neck making him shiver and subconsciously bringing you nearer to him. Your noses practically touching.
“You don’t have to kiss me if you don’t want to.” You tell him sweetly, easing him but he quickly shakes his head.
“No, I want to!” He said, a little too eager for his liking but this only satisfied you as you lean into him.
“Good… because so do I.”
Your lips brushed up against his and Echo felt his whole galaxy collide. Explosions erupted in his chest as his eyes closed and he embraced the sweetness of your kiss.
He cups your jaw, finding the confidence to finally move his lips along with yours and testing the waters. A heat courses through his veins, the sweetness of your lips doing nothing but filling his mind with clouded thoughts of how perfect this situation was. But, unfortunately and horrifyingly for you both, you’re both interrupted by someone clearing their throat.
You both snap away from eachother, yet the hold is still there as you both spot Crosshair leaning against the wall with a smirk on his lips. “Interrupting something?”
You blush a deep red and you shyly pull away from Echo, whispering a ‘I’ll talk to you later?’ To which he nods. Once out of sight, you giggle a little to yourself at what just happened but laugh even more as you hear Echo complaining to Crosshair.
This is Snopes-confirmed. Also be aware this is very common in sugar free food of many kinds. The retriever puppy who I know of who died of xylitol poisoning got hold of a pack of sugar-free gum.
Xylitol is also the typical ingredient in sugar free candies and some baked goods. Other names, if you’re checking labels:
What other names is Xylitol known by? Birch Sugar, E967, Meso-Xylitol, Méso-Xylitol, Sucre de Bouleau, Xilitol, Xylit, Xylite, Xylo-pentane-1,2,3,4,5-pentol.
Vader can rip ships apart and bend the Force to his every whim, but do you know what I think is better? that Obi-Wan is still outsmarting Anakin a decade later and showing him why he’s the Master.
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