@specialist-week Day 1
Prompt: Data
Rating: F for Fluff with a touch of angst
Pairing: Echo/Tech
Warnings: Clone/clone, Tech is a hot mess, brief mention of Echo/Fives.
Summary: Tech isn't super great at physical affection, but he's willing to try for Echo's sake.
“You are occupying my spot.”
Echo looked up from where he was tucked into the corner of Tech’s bed. How he had managed to finagle his way back there without disrupting any of the wires or clutter that had accumulated over the few days they’d been back on Kamino was anyone’s guess, but he found he was rather comfortable amongst the organized chaos.
“You can sit there,” he retorted and nodded to a significantly smaller space next to a generator that Tech had smuggled in.
“You are joking,” Tech deadpanned. “There is hardly enough room there for an adolescent cadet, never mind a fully developed adult.”
Echo shifted his gaze from Tech’s unamused stare to the rest of the bed. Tech spoke the truth, and bluntly so. There was little space for even one person, let alone a second. Still, Echo pressed on.
“You could always cuddle, you know,” he countered with a wicked little smirk on his pale lips. “I promise I don’t bite, unless that’s what you’re into.”
Watching Tech bristle and blush was easily Echo’s favorite pastime as the Specialist’s significant other. They hadn’t really put a name to their relationship, but it was clear enough to the both of them that their time together, though so far short, meant something different than their time spent with their other squad members. Echo’s experience and Tech’s inexperience led to some interesting conversations and discoveries, most recently being that Tech was unfamiliar with romantic touches. Of course, this realization only made Echo double down on his effort to show Tech that not all romantic or intimate touch as to be sexual.
“I have not collected enough data to know whether or not that is something that I am, as you say, ‘into,’” Tech muttered, “but I would like to sit in my own bed comfortably.”
Instead of teasing him further, Echo relented, and opened his arms. “Sorry. I promise I’ll make it worth your while. Just for a minute?”
With a long suffering sigh, Tech conceded and maneuvered between the clusters of mess to press his back to Echo’s chest. It took him several minutes to settle, adjusting over and over until he fit himself exactly as he wanted with Echo’s chin resting on his shoulder. Only after he was content with his positioning did he produce a data pad from seemingly nowhere and began fiddling with it.
Echo forced back a shiver and held Tech a little tighter. The added weight against his chest was a relief that he didn’t know he needed so desperately until he had it. Things had been…different during his time in the 501st. Touch was openly given and affection was encouraged between clones. He’d spent more nights in someone else’s bunk just for the sake of having another body next to him, usually Fives, occasionally Kix or Jesse, and on the rare occasion, Captain Rex. Going from that to being a prisoner of war, to now the newest member of the mercenary clone group who kept to themselves was something of a culture shock to his system. Having Tech tucked against him, breathing slowly and evenly, existing in his same space felt better than anything had in a long time.
“Echo?” Tech’s voice dragged him out of his thoughts, but it wasn’t until a gentle, ungloved pad of a thumb wiped his cheek and made him realize that he’d been crying. Damn it, just when he’s started to make progress, he’d gone and messed it up with dredging up old memories best left behind.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized, startled and mildly ashamed of himself.
Tech shook his head, then frowned. “I do not understand. According to my data, physical affection is supposed to be one of the best relievers of stress and anxiety. Is it not enough?”
Guilt rose up in Echo’s throat, and he swallowed the hot lump forming there. “No, it’s fine, perfect, actually.”
“If that is the case, then why are you upset?” Tech pressed. It was something Echo both hated and admired about his new partner. He was always looking to be better, and that meant asking a lot of questions. He wanted to know everything about everything, and Echo supposed that himself as a subject was no different. Besides, as partners, Echo owed it to him to be honest.
“I guess I didn’t think I needed the affection that badly,” he explained, though it felt childish once the words left his tongue. “Boy was I wrong, apparently.”
A thoughtful hum vibrated Tech’s lips before they kissed Echo’s cheek. It was by no means their first kiss, but it was the first time that Tech initiated anything, and well, that felt nice in contrast to the other feelings welling up inside of Echo.
“I will try to be more attentive to those needs,” Tech affirmed quietly. “I am still getting used to having a romantic partner, but I think that cuddles are a reasonable request that I can fulfill without much difficulty.”
Echo’s heart swelled in his chest. Tech was really something else. He didn’t think he’d ever find another person he could love as much as Fives, but Tech was well on his way to being close, not that Echo was comparing. On the contrary, Fives and Tech were different in almost every single way, but something about them was the same, and Echo could never quite put his finger on what it was. It didn’t matter, though. He was going to love Tech in his own way.
“I…would appreciate that. Thank you,” Echo smiled softly and leaned his forehead against Tech’s. To his surprise, Tech leaned into the touch with a content hum and closed his eyes.
“I will collect more data and make our next cuddle time a better experience,” Tech declared.
Echo brought his hand up to Tech’s cheek and drew him into a chaste, endearing kiss, effectively capturing Tech’s breath as they pecked lips a few more times. “I think you’re already doing a pretty good job.”
