Bad Dreams, Summer Days
Summer gift for @binkyisonline !
This was a but shorter than my usual stuff, I'm probably gonna go on a small hiatus after this, but I will be back (William afton ref anyone?)
This was written as my part of the @clone-exchange summer exchange! I hope you enjoy!!
Echo woke up in fright, his heart racing, breathing more of a pant. His eyes darted around the lazily lit room as he raised his arm to see.. a hand. He signed in relief before feeling the cold metal of said hand, his heart sank. It wasn't a nightmare. It was real. But just before he could start his spiral, a voice more akin to silk than actual sound cut through his panic, a strong warm hand rested on his arm as the connecting body spoke
"Same dream again, cyare?"
Echo whipped around to him, tears filling his eyes
"Wait but if you're.. then how.."
Five snorted and rustled Echo's slow growing hair as he sat down on the bed next to him, curling the fellow arc into a cuddle
"It was all fake, so Fox and I could warn other clones, remember? He never actually hurt me."
Echo sighed and looked up at the other arc. The Pabu sun had done him wonders. He looked far more alive than he ever did running missions in the GAR. His arms were toned from manual labor on the island, his voice a bit deeper from the amount of whisky he now consumed, the island fit him.
"Now, are you going to lay here and keep panicking, or are we hitting that festival?"
"The festival?"
"Yeah? With all the funky foods and fireworks.. I also heard there's cocktails.. so get the kark up already!"
Both men were laughing as Fives dragged Echo out of the bed; he tenderly helped the cyborg attach his prosthetic legs and then helped him dress in comfortable shorts and a tank top, not bothering with shoes.
When they exited the little hut, the streets were already decorated to the nines with streamers and balloons. Children's giggles filled the air as they ran past them with pinwheels and sparklers.
Echo snorted as a stray pinwheel loged itself in the collar of Five's shirt, causing the ARC to flail a bit in an attempt to remove the toy and return it to the sniffling child who lost their grip of it.
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As the evening went on, Fives dragged Echo up to a secluded ledge on the mountain, once they were settled he plopped a drink in Echo's hand, making the other arc snort
“Haven't we drank enough already?”
“It's summer, no such thing”
He snuggled closer to the cyborg, Echo patting his head softly as he planted a gentle kiss on his forehead
“You didn't even know what summer was before Rex brought you here”
“And now that I do, it's the best thing ever”
They smiled at one another as they sipped their cocktails, Fives’ being more alcohol forward, Echo's being a bit more balanced. Before much longer the sun had sunk below the horizon and the first few fireworks launched into the sky, exploding in beautiful hues of blue and green.
Down below them, the festival roared on, villagers' screams of joy and laughter, loud even up on the ARCs ledge. Everything felt perfect. Fives slowly moved Echo's chin to his own as their lips met for a sweet, slow kiss, just as the final fireworks exploded down below.
