Turning a Corner (TBB Echo x Fem Separatist Reader)
Word Count: 3024
Warnings: NSFW, fingering, oral sex (both receiving), unprotected PiV sex, aftercare, minors DNI
A/N: Per request, this an enemies to lovers fic with Echo and a Separatist reader. I didn't have a lot of details to go on, but I hope this fits the bill. If you'd like a version of this with an aspec or a masc reader, please send me a message or ask!
Smoke cleared to reveal the two soldiers pointing their blasters at you. You were trying to escape the fighting just outside the city with nothing but a stolen datastick. You put your hand over the pouch that held it. You weren’t going to let it get into enemy hands, but instead hoped it might keep you in the good graces of the Separatists. You knew both armies were looking for it. You were terrified of the rumors you’d heard about what the Republic would do to you, and hoped its recovery to the Separatists would result in at least a hot meal. The war was raging just outside your doorstep and you were doing all you could to run from the battle and get the information to Separatist leadership. Unfortunately, you were caught. You expected to find clones. Instead, well, maybe they were clones. One had goggles and was already comm’ing the rest of the team. You could have sworn the other was glaring at you from beneath his customized helmet. His cybernetic legs and scomp arm got your attention. If he was a clone, he’d been through some things.
You moved just slightly, trying to find a way to escape.
“Nope,” came the clone’s reply, seemingly reading every micron of body language.
“Hunter, Wrecker, and Crosshair will meet us at the rendezvous point,” informed the goggled soldier. He then looked at you. “We’ll take the datastick now.”
You looked at him indignantly.
“I’ve worked too hard to sneak around and find this just to give this over to you,” you replied with a scowl on your face. You would normally be frightened, but their demeanor brought out a rebellious side of you.
“Fine,” they replied in unison. Both men walked toward you and you weren’t sure what was happening. You turned to run, but they were on your tail, each one taking one of your arms and walking off with you. They brought you to a familiar clearing. You assumed this was the rendezvous point. If you were to pick one, you would have picked here too.
The soldier with the scomp arm took off his helmet while the other still held your arm firmly. So, he was a clone. He’d clearly been through some things, but you knew those facial features from the battalion that had attacked your planet. At least, you were told they attacked and unprovoked at that, but you were starting to question who to believe as the war raged on. You expected to be killed on the spot if the Republic caught you with that datastick, but these two hadn’t shot you.
“Look,” he said with a deep frown, holding his helmet under his robotic arm, “We don’t want to hurt you. We know you’re desperate for information just as much as we are, but give us the datastick and we’ll let you go.”
You tugged against the goggled clone’s grip. He was surprisingly strong. Desperation leaped up your throat and stopped you from saying anything.
“We don’t want to search you,” the pale clone warned, taking a step closer to you as you still tried to escape.
You stopped and felt a rage. How dare he. How dare both of they. You were trying to survive and just needed this to ensure your own safety. Maybe it wouldn’t, but you were trying your best to make it through one day at a time. No one was there for you and you felt them trying to take your safety line. You knew the leadership would pay for anyone coming forward with information.
“I can’t give this to you,” you spat out. “Then I’ll have nothing!”
Both men felt a strong duty to retrieve what they were here to collect. With the city on fire, you held the only copy of key information. Echo put two and two together. He stared at you, both mad and upset. Why couldn’t this woman just hand over the karking information? He kept his gaze on you while Hunter landed the Marauder behind him. You hoped you wouldn’t be taken. Instead, he walked on to the ship, grabbed a box of ration bars, and handed them to you.
“How much is this worth to you?” he asked. The ration bars were really all they had and he decided to play along in the hopes you could all go your separate ways. You looked at him, stunned. You could make those bars last a long time.
A tall gray-haired man and a very large man poked their heads outside the ship. The large one interrupted.
“Uh, Echo? Those were for later.”
“Apologies, Wrecker,” replied the goggled soldier. “It would seem we are negotiating.”
So it had come to this. How much food could they give you to make up for what you wouldn’t have as a result of not selling the data yourself? You swallowed and dared to make eye contact with both the man holding your arm and the one staring you down. With your one free hand you pulled back your poncho, reached into your pouch and pulled out the datastick. You made the exchange quickly and with that you were let go.
You felt shame as you watched them fly away. The war had brought you so low, and you felt incredibly guilty for giving up data that could help the Separatists. This was a cause you believed in, or rather, one you had believed in at one point. Now it just seemed like it was all you could do to get through each day. You stared at the packets of ration bars in your hands. You hadn’t had so much food in such a long time. You looked behind you at the smoke coming up behind the trees several kilometers away. Everything was burning. Everything was gone. Instead of going back, you started walking forward. Frustration bubbled in your stomach until you sobbed it out.
Echo sat in the co-pilot’s seat on the Marauder. He and Tech shared a look. That wasn’t how either of you thought a data extraction mission was going to go, but here you were. It wasn’t long before Tech started analyzing the data as the squad flew through hyperspace. Tech sent the information to Cody and within an hour Clone Force 99 was debriefed on the next mission. Echo forced himself to focus, but while trying to sleep that night he could only think about you. How could you continue to hold that datastick and not just give it over? Didn’t you realize you were lucky they’d been sent to find you and you weren’t just shot in the firefight that had taken place? Why were you trying to help a cause that had sent him spiraling through so much pain? That had taken all of his former squad? How could you continue to fight when you were so clearly conflicted? He didn’t want to admit it, but when he looked at you, he simply saw an extension of what the war had done to him and to everyone else. It left you fighting for scraps any way you could and he hated it.
When the war finally came to an end, you were on Ord Mantell. You’d left Separatist territory not long after the encounter with the unique clone squad. Your jaw nearly hit the ground when you first saw them - or rather, most of them - wandering around and entering Cid’s. There was no mistaking it. You tried to avoid them, but the one in the goggles recognized you immediately. Instead of saying anything, he simply nodded and continued walking with his squad.
“Was that who I think it was?” Echo asked.
“The lady with the datastick who got our ration bars,” Wrecker answered, still mourning the loss of his food.
Echo ground his teeth, but he wasn’t sure why. He took in a deep breath and spun on his heel. You felt cornered, but this time instead of being carried away speechless, you held your ground.
“What?” you demanded.
“You’re her.”
“The person who was trying to survive?” you replied. “Oh wait, there are millions of us.”
Echo bit his lip. He wasn’t sure what he was going to say or why he approached you exactly. He growled and turned around again, marching off to join the others. You huffed as you watched him walk away.
As time went on, you couldn’t help but continue to run into the group. You accompanied Omega and Wrecker back to Cid’s on more than one occasion. They took the time to get to know you. Tech and Hunter observed from a distance, but both were pleasant. Echo still had a distrust of Separatists, but he couldn’t ignore how his feelings were changing. This was especially true on the evenings Omega challenged you to dejarik. You knew you’d lose, but you had fun with her. She was easy to talk to and you let your guard down. Her four brothers sitting at the bar enjoying a drink didn’t escape your notice. They kept a close eye on her, but you could read people and knew it was safe to open up.
Omega asked about the war, who you’d been before, and what brought you here. She was, of course, curious as to why her brothers recognized you. Echo wouldn’t say much and Tech gave a matter-of-fact answer. Wrecker and Hunter didn’t quite know the details. After Omega asked how you knew them when they’d neve been to Ord Mantell before that day your paths crossed a second time. You glanced at Echo who was leaning against the bar and watching you closely. You grimaced a little, but explained to Omega what happened with the datastick, how you obtained it, and how you were looking for safety. You would have done just about anything for food and shelter. Your home was on fire, your family gone, it seemed like you had no future and you knew that datastick was at least worth something. As you spoke, Echo felt his heart sink. You’d been a hiccup on a mission to him and he had zero patience that day, but your whole world had changed.
Since then, he was more relaxed every time your paths crossed, now waving when he saw you. He even held the door for you one day and referred to you as “ma’am.” Seeing the protective side of him made you feel warm. You wanted to be annoyed because of your history, but it wasn’t long before you gave in and admitted to yourself that you liked him. One of the turning points was the day he helped Omega learn to fire her bow. He was such a good teacher and wonderful big brother. He was always trying to do the right thing.
Small glances became brief conversations and those morphed into discussions and even some inside jokes. One night you glanced at the chrono after a longer conversation. Echo knew that meant you were about to head out.
“Let me walk you home,” he said before he could stop the words. He swallowed and his heart seemingly skipped a beat.
Your stomach fluttered as you answered, “Okay.”
Echo cleared his throat and escorted you out. You walked silently until Echo cleared his throat again and spoke.
“I never apologized for the way we met, for how gruff I was.” He continued walking but glanced at you.
“It’s okay,” you replied. “Times were different.”
“I know,” he said, “but still, I’m sorry.”
“We’re on the same side now and you’ve certainly changed my mind about you.”
You couldn’t help but smile to yourself as you noticed his sheepish look. You turned a corner and were at the door to your small home.
Echo couldn’t quite make eye contact, but then said, “I’ve become fond of you.”
“I could say the same,” you admitted. “Even more, actually. Would you like to come in?”
He nodded and you both stepped inside. Echo held his helmet under his arm and looked around. You watched him and moved closer. You reached up to cup his cheek, causing him to close his eyes and lean into your touch.
“How fond would you say you are of me?” you asked, almost teasingly.
“Very, very fond,” he answered. He opened his eyes and his expression softened.
“Stay with me tonight,” you whispered.
He nodded and leaned in to kiss you. Your lips met his, starting with the softest touch. You found yourselves kissing as you wandered to the bedroom. Echo felt like he was so out of practice, but that wasn’t going to stop him. He let you lead and took off his armor as you took off your own clothes and tossed them in a pile next to the bed. You got under the covers, but Echo stood next to the bed.
“We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” you said.
“It’s not that,” he replied. “You’re so beautiful.”
You smiled warmly at him and he took off his under armor. You pulled the blankets aside for him to join you. He let out a shaky breath as he felt your legs intertwine with his own. You were so warm and he didn’t want to make you cold because of all the metal. You didn’t seem bothered at all, instead focused on taking his hand in yours and kissing each fingertip. You kissed his lips and his hand traced patterns over your back. He tried getting comfortable on the pillow but ended up taking off the piece around his head.
“I didn’t know you could do that,” you said.
“I can from time to time. It seems more comfortable off right now.”
He melted into your touch as you cupped his cheek again. You took your time together, checking in along the way. He laid back and your hand traced his sides before momentarily resting on his hip. You didn’t just caress his thighs as you kissed him, but you continued to his metal knees before running your fingertips back up along his legs and coming to rest on his hip again. You loved all of him just as he was. Eventually you came to settle between his legs and asked if he’d like you to go further. He nodded and inhaled sharply at the sensation of your lips around his cock. You swirled your tongue around his tip and rhythmically bobbed your head. While you gave attention with your mouth, you gazed directly into his eyes. He reached for your hand and held it. He felt heat throughout his body and stopped you before he got too close. He pulled you up toward him and kissed you tenderly.
“May I?” he asked.
You laid back and he got comfortable above you. His hot breath over your breasts caused your nipples to pebble and an almost wicked grin grew on his face. He kissed his way down to your soft thighs and hooked your knees over his shoulders. One arm rested along your stomach while his fingers gently opened your wet folds. He let out a low hum at the sight before licking your clit.
“Like this?” he asked, flicking it with the tip of his tongue, “Or like that?” he asked before sucking gently.
He could tell your favorite by the sounds you made. His fingers weren’t idle either. He gently pressed them inside you and found a rhythm between his hand and mouth. You involuntarily arched your hips in an effort to feel more. Echo flattened his tongue and shook his head from side to side, sending you over the edge. You felt like you could barely breathe as you came and he didn’t stop until you were satisfied.
He laid back on the bed and you didn’t waste any time. You straddled his hips while he licked the corner of his mouth and grinned at you.
“I want you, Echo.”
“Then have me.”
You sank onto his cock and started to ride him. He reached up to run his hand over your breasts and his eyes locked on yours. You started moaning, but could still hear him softly say “so pretty.” He tried to hang on for you to finish again. He stopped you momentarily so he could sit up and angle his hips to rub your clit just right. He held you while you rode him and rested your forehead to his. You gasped as you came again, waves of pleasure reverberating through your body. He came with you with a muffled “oh kriff.” You held him to your chest. By now you were both catching your breath and your tired limbs wrapped around him with you just sitting in his lap. After several moments you moved off him and held out your hand. You cleaned each other up in the shower and Echo had to admit that he could get used to this. He joked he meant the soft towels, but you both knew there was more to it.
Just as you were getting something hot to drink, his comm went off.
“Echo? Where are you?” It was Hunter.
Echo responded, “I’m fine. I’ll see you before we head out tomorrow.”
You stood in the bedroom doorway holding two mugs and bit your lip in uncertainty.
“I told you I’d stay,” he said.
“I understand if you need to go,” you replied.
“We’re not leaving until tomorrow and I want to stay.”
You got into bed together and sipped your drinks. You both laid down and got comfortable again. Echo put an arm around you and kissed your forehead.
“This wasn’t just a one time thing for us, I hope,” he said.
“I would be sad if it were,” you replied. You kissed his cheek and put an arm around his waist.
“Then you’ll be the first one I look for when we’re back from our next mission,” he said.
“And you better come back,” you added.
“I will. I promise.”
You kissed his neck and he left another kiss on your temple. It wasn’t long before you both drifted off to sleep.
Tagging: @dukeoftheblackstar @staycalmandhugaclone