#ginger quickfics

"You want me to go get you a chair or something, Edeem'ika?" He was laughing at you, you could hear it in his voice.

"So help me I'll edim your ika or whatever you said you smug little- Kriff!" You swore and kicked the shelf, which only resulted in a sore foot. Crosshair just laughed as you hopped on one foot, growling and grumbling. "It's not funny!" You snap at him, pointing a finger threateningly.

"Sweetheart, this is the best thing I've seen all week." He snickered, folding his hands behind his head and watching you from under hooded eyes as he stretched from his spot on the sofa.

"You're gonna be sleeping on that couch if you don't get your ass over here and give me a hand."

Crosshair just raised an eyebrow at you, challenging your threat. "It's a comfy couch. I'm not seeing your leverage point here."

"Just get over here." You snapped, huffing and pouting. Crosshair rolled his eyes at your theatrics, but got up and leisurely sauntered over to stand over you, arms crossed.

"You're adorable when you're frustrated." He commented, moving to pat your head.

"I'm going to eat your kriffing kneecaps so help me." You threatened, biting at his fingers, which he pulled out of your reach with an eye roll and smug grin.

"I can think of something better of mine to eat late- Gah!" Whatever wisecrack he was going to make was forgotten as you grabbed his shoulder for leverage and put your knee in his side, pushing yourself up above his head and getting your other knee on his opposite shoulder. This now gave you the problem of being too tall, and you whacked your head on the ceiling and swayed on your precarious perch.

Crosshair's hand reached up to steady you as he froze in place. "Watch it you little monkey!" He grunted, shifting a bit to make a better base lest the two of you end up in a heap on the ground. "You think I'm a damn tree or something?"

"If you're gonna stand there uselessly like one, I'm going to climb you like one." You bit back, reaching for your prize and dropping it to the ground below with a thud. Crosshair reached up a hand and pulled you to the side.

"You got your box, now get off me." He caught you as you slid off his shoulder and to the ground, rolling his neck and the arm you were putting your weight on with a sigh of relief. "If you want me to just pick you up, you can ask."

"Nah. You make a good tree." You pick up the box and paw through it for the paperwork you need, unconsciously rubbing your head while you do it.

"How about you don't make me take the couch tonight and we'll call it even then." He offered back, kissing the spot where you had knocked your head.

"Fine." You huff, sitting back. You can't help giggling though after a moment. "You should have seen your face though. You looked so offended I cut off your joke."

He was stuck a few levels above you, where he had been visiting Crosshair and his partner. Since the war had ended, a lot had changed with you two. Changes in routine were common, especially with simple things. With a mechanic down the street from your little housing block, one of the ‘simple things’ that had been neglected in civilian life was the charging of Echo’s alternate batteries for his legs, in case the kinetic charger failed.

Which lead to the current predicament. Echo had tripped over a gap in the catwalk on his way home. He had meant to get the kinetic charger on his left leg fixed that evening, but his leg had decided to die on him, leaving him stuck.

“Yes, because this is so funny.” He grumped as you came into sight with a new battery.

“I mean, it kinda is.” You shrugged. “The tough and gutsy ARC trooper of a thousand battles defeated by his own lack of foresight and a faulty battery charger.” You crouched down by where his foot was caught in the gap.

The plating was loose and with a little delicate maneuvering and you pulling up on the loose panel of the catwalk, you managed to get his foot free with minimal scuff marks on the glossy black coating of his prosthetic.

With a hand on your shoulder for balance the two of you helped him hobble to the lift down to your level.

“Hey, it’s alright. Accidents happen.” You reassure him, kissing his cheek which was still red with embarrassment. “And I’m sorry for laughing. You’re just so unflappable and careful and brave that it’s so funny to me you’d be stopped by a dead battery of all things.”

“…when you put it that way, it is pretty amusing.” Echo conceded, the embarrassed blush fading.

“Besides, any excuse to get in your pants sounds great for me.”

The comment got you a callused palm to the face as he playfully shoved you away, making a face. “That was horrible.”

“How else am I gonna get at the panel at your thigh?” You pout. Echo rolled his eyes.

“You aren’t going to be doing anything. I can replace the battery on my own.” He huffed, hopping on his good foot as you unlocked and opened the door, flopping on the couch as soon as he was in range. His dead leg stuck out a comical angle.

“I know you can, dear.” You sigh, helping him tug his pants off and folding them neatly, leaving him in his undershorts and giving access to the panel on his thigh. Leaning down, you press a kiss to the ring of scars that just barely peak out from where his visible leg ends and the metal starts, although you knew from past experiences his legs went down farther inside the prosthetic.

“You’re gonna be the death of me.” Echo muttered, the blush creeping back up his neck.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” You winked at him cheekily. Echo deftly got the panel on his thigh open and the battery changed out. You pulled him to his feet as he flexed his ankle, then knee to check nothing had been damaged.

“Had enough adventure today?” You ask, watching him take a few test paces.

“Nope. We’re going to that mechanic and getting the leg fixed right now.”