(The Bad Batch) Beach Vacation - Echo’s Ending
The Bad Batch lands on the tropical resort planet of Spira. A contact of theirs is helping you all out by letting you lay low in a private beach house on one of the islands. You and Echo have been secretly dating for a little while, and you hope to make the most of the romantic setting.
Word Count: 1,432
Warnings: Kissing
“I think I’ll stargaze with Echo.”
The man in question cleared his throat, nodding in an attempt to look casual. “Sure, I’d appreciate the company.”
The others didn’t react, save for Wrecker who couldn’t seem to hold back the grin that spread across his face as he glanced between the two of you. Crosshair gave one of his signature eyerolls and stood from the wicker chair he’d been occupying, tossing his toothpick in the nearby trash.
“I’m heading out.”
“See you later,” you called.
Hunter and Omega grabbed their things before going off in their direction toward the village. Tech exited the bungalow with his nose buried in a holopad. Wrecker passed by you, giving you a playful nudge on his way out that had you shaking your head.
“Unbelievable,” you muttered after he’d gone. “After all the painstaking trouble we go through to keep our relationship a secret…”
Echo stepped toward you, a warm, flirtatious smile playing on his lips as he entered your space. “Absolutely painstaking,” he uttered, taking your hand in his. “It is very difficult to stay away from you.” His lips hovered just inches from yours, breath fanning your face.
“Yeah?” you murmured back. “To be so close, and yet so far?”
His warm brown eyes glinted at your words. “Sounds like you know the feeling.”
“Oh, I do.” You closed the distance to tenderly press your lips against his. Echo leaned into it, sliding his hand from yours to reach up and cup the back of your neck and draw you closer. He tilted his head to meet your lips again before pulling back to see your lovestruck expression.
“We have a little time before the stars come out,” he said.
“Really?” Your lips curled up in a cheeky smile. “I’m already seeing stars.”
Echo chuckled. The low rumble was music to your ears. You loved how his body shook slightly with the action, and the way his eyes crinkled at the edges in soft amusement. His hand brushed along your jawline. “You’re something else.”
He wrapped his arms around you, enveloping you against his chest. You rested your head on his shoulder, feeling his chin settle on you, and listened to the thrum of his heart. You’d been watching him all day in the sun, stealing subtle looks of affection, waiting so patiently for this moment alone.
Now that it was there, you were sure to bask in it. Like turquoise waves sweeping over the sand, his embrace smoothed over your lot of cares and your longing.
“I’ve missed this,” you whispered against him. Echo hummed in agreement, his hold not letting up for even a moment.
The sun began to descend, casting an orange light through the windows of the bungalow. The bright blue sky gave way to shades of strawberry and marigold.
“How about we set up before it gets dark?” you asked. Echo nodded, though he didn’t let go of you just yet. Your heart pounded in your chest as he melded his lips against yours once more in a heated dance. With a small peck, he pulled away, taking your hand.
The two of you went down the porch stairs to the shed where Echo said he’d seen the telescope. There was a stack of folding chairs in the back, so you grabbed two of those while Echo hauled the telescope out.
You found a spot on the beach where you’d have a nice view of the open sky. The sun continued to sink beneath the horizon in a brilliant display of color that spilled into the shimmering water.
The rush of water was more gentle in the evening hours, kissing the shore instead of crashing the way it did around midday. A breeze whispered through the air, warming your skin like another embrace.
Echo dug into the sand to make sure the telescope was sturdy and wouldn’t topple over on the uneven surface. While he was busy with that, you made a dash for the bungalow to grab a little snack and a few blankets.
By the time you were both ready, the first stars had already become visible. The sun disappeared behind the ocean, and the vibrant colors sank into a deep indigo. Echo inserted his scomp into a slot on the telescope, calibrating the device and directing it toward the moon as it began its own climb higher up in the sky.
He peeked through the eyepiece, scomp turning once more to focus the lens. “There it is.”
You joined him at the scope curiously.
“Take a look at that,” he said, stepping aside so you could see. “Amazing.”
You leaned in to peer through the eyepiece, squinting a little as your gaze adjusted. Then you saw it. The moon was full and almost perfectly round, close enough that you could see the rocky texture. Your eye wandered the darkened spots that marked craters on the expanse.
“Wow,” you breathed. “What a beautiful moon.” You stepped back to look at the moon through your own perspective again, marveling at the difference. From where you stood, it simply looked like a glowing ball of white.
“It sure is,” he mused, leaning in to get another look. “You’d think that seeing this stuff would get old, but it never does.”
“I hadn’t thought of that.” You folded your arms as you gazed at the sky. “We do see stars a lot from the ship. Somehow, they look totally different from down here.” A particularly luminous star caught your attention, twinkling and glimmering like a gemstone.
Echo followed your gaze. “They do. It’s a wonder.”
Another breeze tickled your skin, ruffling your clothes. You exhaled softly and let your eyes fall shut at the sensation.
You felt an arm slowly slide around your waist, and you leaned into the contact. “Do you like this, or camping in the woods better?”
“Both are fun,” he replied. “I’m not much of a beach man during the day, but this…I could get used to this. Feels like a dream. You know, the last time I was at the ocean, Fives got pinched by some crab.”
“Really?” you chuckled at the image conjured up in your mind.
“He complained about it the rest of the day. Was worried that some toxin was injected even though Kix checked him out and said he was clear.”
The two of you laughed at the story and a few others as the night stretched on. Eventually, Echo had spread out one of the blankets onto the sand so you could cuddle up to him, both folding chairs and the telescope forgotten. He draped the remaining blanket over you both to keep in the warmth as the air grew cooler without the sun’s rays.
Kisses were exchanged. Stories were told. Time flew. Before long, you heard voices of the others in the jungle behind you, signaling their return to the bungalow. Though you and Echo strived to keep your relationship secret, at that moment, neither of you made a move to separate. You figured if someone happened upon you, then that was that.
But fortunately, no one came wandering back onto the beach, so you were able to simply enjoy the time.
“I just saw a shooting star!” you said suddenly, jumping a little. Echo craned his neck to try and get a better look.
“I missed it.”
“It was so pretty. Maybe another one will come along.”
The moon was shining brightly overhead, washing the beach in silver light. The air had gone from pleasantly cool to chilly in the early hours of morning. Both of you decided to go inside and get some sleep. It would be another full day tomorrow of sunshine and excitement.
You grabbed the blankets and snacks while Echo brought the telescope and chairs back. All was quiet inside the bungalow as you snuck in the front door. Everyone was already fast asleep in their rooms, unable to hear the creak of your footsteps on the wooden floor.
Echo walked you to your door, pausing to take your hand and lean in.
“I’ll see you in a few, milady,” he whispered.
There he went with that term of endearment that made you swoon. You melted into the goodnight kiss he bestowed upon you, goosebumps blooming along your skin as he deepened it.
“Goodnight,” you murmured.
“Goodnight.”
With that, you disappeared into your shared room with Omega. She was a sleeping bundle atop her bed, completely oblivious to your arrival. You slipped into your own bed and curled up, falling asleep to thoughts of Echo.