The Bad Batch - Mini Stories

A Missing Member

Echo knew one thing about the batch was the distance one member had with the others. He had never taken much notice of it until he was sitting in the bar known as 79s and the batch were sitting laughing with the 501st boys but that wasn't what he was bothered about, nope it was the missing member of the batch. 

"Excuse me" Echo's words were barely waved off by Hunter who didn't acknowledge him as he kept an arm tucked around his sister who was basically his daughter from the way Hunter looked after her. Omega had been with the batch since the start and had been on loads of missions, she was allowed as she was sixteen in nat-born years, a year younger than the marksman of the batch. 

Leaving the bar, Echo had one destination and that was where the ship was left. Carefully he walked through the streets holding his gun at the ready just in case because as much as the Jedi were a fan of the clones, not everyone liked them. It took him a good ten minutes to locate the ship and climb aboard only to frown, there lying in his hammock was the missing member. 

Crosshair, his youngest brother was sound asleep curled into the hammock holding tightly to the fabric blanket. 

"Cross?" Echo rubbed the marksman's shoulder only to frown seeing a wave of pain spread across the marksman's face as Crosshair blinked awake. 

"Ec-cho?" 

"God, you're red hot. Are you feeling okay?" 

"Im fine, tincan" 

"Sure you are. Want me to take a look at that injury?" Echo rolled his eyes as Crosshair frowned before he shivered as the blanket was removed. Echo's eyes widened at an alarming rate seeing a bleeding cut across Crosshairs chest. 

"Where did you get this?!" Echo demanded, Crosshair only looked off to the side, "No one" the marksman murmured.

"Cross, I can't help you if you don't tell me through the truth" 

"I don't want to get him in trouble" 

"So it's a he?" 

"No!" 

"Cross, please" 

"No, I'm not telling you" 

"Is it someone close?" 

Crosshair tried his hardest not to flinch as Echo only rolled his eyes cleaning the cut while the marksman was distracted with glaring at the door. 

"Someone within the batch?" Echo whispered, kissing Crosshairs hairline, the marksman snuggled closer into the arc troopers chest for warmth. Echo only smugly grinned, kissing his hair again. 

"You know I will find out, who's hurting you one way or another, you know that don't you Cross?" Echo whispered looking down at the younger man who had fallen into a deep sleep, Echo only sighed, rocking the hammock slightly as he wrapped up the marksman tightly and fell into his own type of sleep. One thing he knew for certain, Crosshair was sick and he wasn't going to ask for help so Echo was just going to make sure to be there for him and maybe get Kix to help out. Even if Crosshair was stubborn no one was as stubborn as the medic of the 501st. 

A few hours passed before Echo heard the rest of the team come in while under the influence of alcohol. He remained where he was holding Crosshair tightly to his chest and closed his eyes hoping to trick the others. 

"Ah look, Hunter. Your slut is curled up with Echo" 

He immediately recognised that voice as Rex, the disrespect the captain had in his voice almost had Echo up on his feet ready to punch his brother but he restrained himself from doing anything especially when he heard another voice.