Happy Valentines Day!! Bonus gift for @akingnotaprincess !!! I hope you enjoy!!!
Posted as a part of the valentine's clone exchange by @clone-exchange
Tech jerked awake in fear, he grasped his heart to soothe it from its racing, his eyes darted around the dimly lit bunks, searching for the source of that horrid sound that had just disgraced his ears and jolted him from his already fitful sleep. He scrambled for his blasters the moment he heard it again before his eyes went wide, he rested his blasters back in the shelf as he fell back onto his pillow with a groan.
âMust you cough so incredibly loud!?â
Tech hissed as he repeatedly kicked the bottom of Wreckerâs bunk, making him groan awake and roll over to look the technician in the eyes.
âWhy do you always gotta complain? Jus go to sleep Tech.â
Wrecker growled as he rolled back over, making Tech blink in astonishment, that did NOT just happen.. The technician scrambled for his goggles and popped up next to his batchmate, his eyes just barely peering over the railing.
"You cannot speak to me like that Wrecker, that was quite rude.â
âYeah, like tellin someone to stop coughing with a foot in their sheb isnât?â
âYou would not have woken up otherwise; I required your attention immediately and that was the most efficient option.â
âAlways the most efficient with you, huh?â
Wrecker sighed as he pushed past the smaller man with ease, -careful to not knock him on the floor or wake the rest of their squad- making his way to the kitchenette and grabbing some Juma Juice and a glass. Tech was hot on his tail, popping up next to him while still struggling to get the top of his blacks on
âWhat has gotten into you? Why are you acting like this?â
Wrecker groaned and looked down at Tech, his caramel eyes shining with worry in the dim lights of the Havoc Marauder, they reflected a look of concern, yet Wrecker was in no mood for Techâs attitude tonight, they had just had a particularly rough mission, and on top of that, this planet they had laned on to refuel, well he was apparently allergic to some of the local fauna, making his nose clogged and his throat store, which combined was quickly nightmare to breathe with, souring his mood. Wrecker finally sighed and softened his face.
âIâm just in a real bad mood from the mission, and my karkinâ nose is all stuffed up.â
Tech slowly nodded before scratching the part of his head he always did when he was thinking,
âSo, your sour temperament is due to a sensory overload from todayâs mission and your nasal obstruction?â
Wrecker looked at him blankly, Tech quickly perking back up and finishing his statement
âI was simply restating what you said, I apologize.â
Now it was time for the giant to laugh and pat Techâs back, causing the technician to scrunch his nose in displeasure as his goggles slipped off the bridge of his nose.
âNow what is so humorous Wrecker?â
âSince when do yâknow how to say âsorryâ?â
Tech blinked a few times before chuckling softly and adjusting his goggles back into place
âI always have, although that is quite the exclusive privilege.â
âI feel pretty darn special then.â
Wrecker offered Tech a sip of his drink before snorting at the face he made and grabbing him a fresh cup. He grabbed it from Wrecker with a nod of the head and a smile. Tech poured himself some of the alcohol into it and chased it with some blue milk before sipping it slowly and speaking slowly, trying to speak in more simple terms than he was used to. He shifted uncomfortably before looking at Wreckerâs nose to stimulate eye contact; he wanted the giant to listen, despite how, far too often they cannot understand one another.
âI checked your vitals, your O2 levels⌠which is the air in your blood⌠it appears to be quite low.â
âYeah, probably because I canât karkinâ breathe!â
âIs⌠there something restricting your airways?â
âYeah, all this stupid snot. I wish I could just get rid of it already!â
Tech rubbed his chin at Wreckerâs words, before perking up with an adjustment of his goggles and jogging off to the cargo hull, leaving Wrecker standing alone with their drinks. He let out a loud snarf before shrugging and shuffling back to the bunks
âWell, Iâmma try to sleep again if youâre gonna be weird.â
As the night marched on, occasionally the other batchers would stir from Wreckerâs nonstop coughing, yet only Echo really bothered to wake from his dead sleep, he nudged him awake with his scomp
Wrecker snorted while waving a hand to Echo, the cyborg chuckling and dodging the wave. He offered the giant a piece of soft flimsi before flopping back in his own bunk, pausing on the way over to reassure Hunter and Crosshair of their demolitions expertâs condition. When he got comfortable he glanced at Techâs empty bunk and rolled over with a smile and sigh
âHe doesnât know how to sleep I swear.â
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Meanwhile down in the cargo hull, Tech tapped away on his datapad, fighting sleep with every fiber of his being; he had been up for two rotations. Humans can survive up to eleven rotations without sleep, and he was genetically modified after all, he figured he could handle at the very least, one more rotation awake. He rubbed the tired away from his eyes, leaving his goggles slightly askew, he let out a quiet âah!â when he found what he was researching, quickly equipping his armor and helmet; he smiled as he ran his hand down Wreckerâs blaster on his way to grab the backup DC-17s -not risking awaking his batchmates to get his own from his bunk-.
Tech quietly slipped out of the Marauder, hushing Gonky on the way out and began his journey. He made his way throughout the flora and fauna, dodging limbs and other odd plants with such precision reserved only for commandos. He smiled to himself as he breathed the fresh air through his helmetâs filter, leaning his head from side to side to release the tension in his neck before he began to sprint again, intent on returning to the ship before sunrise.
After around an hour of travel, he finally made it to his destination, a small township. He sighed as he raised his visor as he slowed his speed to a jog. He didnât notice how the locals all wore masks as well, even less so the looks of confusion, maybe even terror, that they gave him. He walked the small central road before giving a small âah!â when he saw a sign, lowering his visor to read it, he made a small hum when he read âpharmacyâ, before pushing the door to enter. Accidentally startling the tiny shopkeeper with his height and causing them to drop a bottle of pills they were carrying, Tech knelt and began assisting them with collecting the scattered pills.
âYes, I do hope you can assist me. What antihistamines do you currently have available that are suitable for clones?â
âAre you really a⌠no, you donât look like no clone to me!â
Tech rolled his eyes, not this osik again. He forced a gritted smile despite his helmet hiding his face, remembering Hunter previously informing him to smile when interacting with civilians to seem âfriendlyâ.
âI am a genetically enhanced clone; however, I would greatly appreciate if you could simply answer my question. I have just walked forty-five clicks and need to travel that same distance to return to my ship.â
ââŚ. Approximately one kilometerâŚâ
âWhy didnât you just fly in your ship??â
Tech let out an audible sigh and shoved some credits at the shopkeeper; he was far too tired to deal with an exceptionally curious civilian such as this one tonight.
âPlease just provide me with the medication I have requested.â
The shopkeeperâs eyes shot wide, they had never seen such pristine republic credits before. They wasted no time loading Techâs backpack full of varying different medications, even some spice, before shoving the clone out of their shop and waving
âCOME SPEND MORE CREDITS NOT CLONE!!!â
Tech sighed and gave the shopkeeper a salute, he fully intended to never return to this township, ever. He looked up and started his journey back to the Marauder, quietly kicking himself for not anticipating how much longer the trip would feel with an overloaded pack, he desperately needed some sleep, soon. He groaned and broke into a sprint, deciding the journey would feel shorter if he ran. He once again dove through the flora and fauna, yet now the brilliant greens and blues of the plants began to look hazy, he dismissed his vision growing blurry as simply his goggles being smudged somehow, or maybe even the morning dew developing on his lenses, only further reason for him to get back to the ship soon.
Soon, his feet began to feel heavy, and his movements less precise, he began taking some hits of moving limbs and small birdlike creatures, grunting each time and shaking his head. His visor began flashing warnings of major sleep deprivation, warning him to rest, now. Yet he still had twenty clicks to go, twenty clicks to the safety of the Marauder, twenty clicks to his bunk, twenty clicks to⌠to Wrecker. His breath hitched as he dismissed his own vital warnings on his visor and brought up Wreckers, all with a few quick flicks of his eyes, he pushed to run faster when he noticed Wreckerâs O2 levels even lower than before. Every muscle in his body was screaming at him now, everything hurt so bad, it was beginning to grow horribly overstimulating, the smells, the sun rising, his body screaming at him to stop; he let out a yelp as his ankle caught on a root and suddenly⌠darkness.
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âTech, come on you diâkut! Wake up already!!â
âWrecker, let him rest, we donât know how long he was out there, or how long he had been awake before that.â
Echo hushed as he patted the giantâs back and gently tugged him away from the sleeping technicianâs bunk, yet Wrecker refused to get too far. Wrecker went as far as Echoâs own bunk, across the room, flopping down and rattling the entire ship, earning a hiss from Crosshair as he almost fell from his own bunk. Wrecker muttered a soft âmmâ sorryâ before coughing a few times, causing the sniper to soften his face and roll his eyes before he down to stroll to the fresher, clearly not upset with Wrecker, just worried as well.
Before much longer, Tech groggily opened his eyes, he groaned when he saw the bottom of Wreckerâs bunk above him. He reached for his helmet, quickly becoming horrified when he couldnât find it, he began frantically searching for it, only to find Wrecker twirling it on his index finger with an unamused look on his face. Tech leaned up with a grunt, he rubbed his now sore ankle as he sighed and put his goggles on.
âWrecker, give me back my helmet so I may check your vital signs.â
âOnly if you tell me what the kark you were doing over twenty clicks from the ship, alone.â
Tech blinked at his words, it was unlike Wrecker to take that tone, usually an indicator he was upset⌠no, it meant he was angry.
âI was looking for medication for your congestion to improve your O2 levels. Besides, I was exactly twenty clicks away when I clearly passed out.â
Wrecker rolled his eyes and held up a blister pack with three doses already taken out of it, Tech gave a small nod as he watched him put the pack back on the pull-out shelf and push it back into the wall of the ship.
âYeah, I know that and thanks, but thatâs not what I asked.â
âThat is, precisely what you asked?â
âThatâs⌠ugh Tech why were you out there ALONE?â
âOh, that.â Tech swayed back and forth for a moment before tapping his fingers on his knee in a pattern that only Echo ever could match, before continuing,
âI was wanting to assist you while allowing the rest of our squad to get adequate rest.â
Wrecker sighed and stood up, he tossed Techâs helmet aside -making the technician huff in frustration- before plopping down on the bed next to him and wrapping him in a tight hug. Tech initially stiffened up before relaxing into it and leaning his head against Wreckerâs chest; he didnât hug him back, yet the gentle nudge of his head against his chest was hug enough for Wrecker. He pushed them both back, making both men lay on their backs in the admittedly tiny bunk.
âYou scared me Tech, real bad.â
âWhy were you concerned? I am more than capable of running my own solo missions.â
âI know you can, but thatâs not what scared me. I woke up and you were GONE.â
âWrecker, that tends to happen when people leave an area, I am still not understanding your concern.â
Wrecker sighed and gently held Techâs chin, his felt as though it may beat out of his chest as he gently led the technicianâs lips to his own, savoring the tiny sound he made in surprise before feeling Techâs hand rest against his cheek before they finally separated and led into a Keldabe kiss, reminiscent of a culture neither ever felt truly a part of. After a bit longer they both smiled, Wrecker significantly more so than Tech, before the technician chuckled out
âI suppose that would be quite the legitimate cause for your concern.â