ᴄʟᴏɴᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ꜱʜᴏᴛꜱ

Just in Time (Echo x Reader)

Possible TW: death threats, financial struggles

Reader is late paying rent and the landlord takes payments deathly seriously.

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"You'd better pay up before I see you again," he drawled, toying with his blaster,  "or I'll be forced to do something about you."  Your eyes widened as you searched his expression for any sign of mercy.

"Like what?"  You cursed smile that you donned as you spoke.  "You're a sensible businessman, Darig.  You would lose tenants if you–"

"You've been warned, y/n.  Let's hope, for your sake, that you can scrap up those credits in time."

When Echo looked up, his eyes flicked immediately to the light in the drab cockpit.  A smile tugged at his lips as he watched you listen intensely to Omega as she told a Phee-esc story.  The way your face lit up at certain details that Omega dramatized... you looked so happy. 

He could spend hours with you. Something about you radiated life—it was like you knew the colors inside of you could enhance each moment and everyone around you, so you wore them on your sleeve.  At first, it was frustrating seeing how bubbly you were when he was so used to being with war-hardened soldiers, but it didn't take long before everything about you was endearing.  Of course, Echo could never have the guts to say this.  Maybe he'd drop hints—the raising of his brows whenever you were mentioned; letting his eyes linger a little too long as you walked past; extra smiles while you talked to him.  

Someone laid a hand on his shoulder and he started, looking up at a smug Hunter.  "You might have some competition,"  Echo rolled his eyes.

"You see me keeping track?"

Hunter chuckled.  "I would be lying if I said no."

Echo looked back at you and Omega.  The younger had begun to act out something she'd done—by now he had gathered enough context from his just now tuning in to know Omega was telling about a mission a few weeks ago that she had headed.  It wasn't often that the kid took charge, but she was the best option they had on overt operations when y/n wasn't there.  Nobody notices a kid in a crowd.

"And then Echo burst in and POW POW POW!!  Just in time, he took out the rest of them before they could get me!"

You turned and met his eyes and Echo swore his stomach did a flip.  "Oh really?  And did you thank your knight in shining armor?" Omega frowned in thought. 

"I don't think so."  She bounded over and practically jumped into his arms to give him a smothering hug.  "Thanks, Echo!"

He chuckled, returning the hug.  They were getting a lot more frequent, so they didn't catch him by surprise like they used to.  "Anytime, kid."

She skipped back over to y/n to finish the story.  Hunter clapped Echo's shoulder and sat in the chair opposite him.  It wasn't long before they arrived at Ord Mantell and Tech came and took Omega's seat.

I'll be forced to do something about you.

When the Marauder touched down you got up and stretched, stiff from the long trip and shaky from your overworking mind.  You retrieved your gear, hardly registering the others as you made for the door.  When you were young it didn't take much to ease your fears.  You had a vivid memory of your mother's beautiful eyes peering into yours as she told you a story.  Her soothing voice distracted you from your trembling body and hot tears as she carried you off into another galaxy.  Now you couldn't recall what made you so afraid that day.