Summary: Tech doubts that you love him. Thinks she deserves a better, a less logical based clone who is able to meet her needs better then he is able to. She assures him it's only ever been him.
He took your hand in his and kissed the back of it. The brush of his plush lips sent warm tingles surging throughout your body. The gentle caress of his fingers sending waves of shivers down your spine. Before his attention was pulled away from you, back to datapad.
Normally he'd regale you with a new fact he had discovered that day. Memorizing the exact details in which he had heard it. It had become a constant part of your routine when you saw one another. On his days of leave.
Today unfortunately he was quieter. More reserved in his conversations. Actually barely any conversation had taken place. You found it rather odd. Sometimes you both would find comfort in the long stretches of echoing silence. Those moments were few and far between.
But today. Today was not one of those days. As you laid your head in his lap, legs draped across your couch seats, you sensed something was off.
Tech was off.
You didn't need to be a Jedi to feel it.
His eyes were the first to give him away. They were distant. Far off in another place. Where that place was you did not know, but you wanted to. You wanted to know what had him so far from you.
Even if his brows were not knotted together, or his jaw was partially clenched, betraying his normal demeanor. Or how tense his muscles felt beneath you. His unsteady breath too was giving him away.
You knew. You just did.
Something was wrong.
What could it be though? Concerning Tech it could have been a multitude of matters. His sleep schedule was non existent, was that the source of his distressed condition? Had he not been eating enough? Hunter said there was times when Tech would forget to eat. He hadn't mentioned it in several rotations so maybe that wasn't the case.
Not that he'd tell you, having to have found out from Echo, but could the others clones be giving him a hard time yet again? If that was the case, you didn't mind getting into a fight for his honor. Normally you were not the type to use your fist as a solution, but if it was to defend his honor, for Tech you absolutely would.
The disrespect he and his brothers faced enraged you. Just because he and his batch were enhanced did not give the other clones a right to treat them like they were beneath them. Every-time you saw it happened, your heart rate increased and anger took over. Instead, now the notion that this was potentially the case made you somber more then anything else.
However the conflicting feelings you felt in asking him faded away as a new culprit dawned on you. Your heart immediately sunk.
Was he this way because of something you had done? Did you upset him somehow?
Come to think of it, it was only a few days that he had made a comment that at the time seemed strange, but now completed the puzzle.
Was he planning on leaving you? Was that why he was out of character today? Afraid to tell you the truth of the matter....
Your body tensed and you could sense the tears starting to form. But you wouldn't let him see you like this.
No.
Remaining strong when he ultimately presented you with his decision would be how he saw you for the last time.
Yet you couldn't help how crushed you felt. As if someone had thrown a rock at your chest. Smashing your heart into nothing but dust and ash.
It was his sudden statement next that flipped everything you had just thought previous on its head.
"Cyar'ika, I have come to the unfortunate conclusion that perhaps it would be for the better if I terminated our commitment to one another rather than you executing it. I know I am lacking in the area that is programmed to handle romantic affections. Therefore I do not wish to make you suffer from my—"
You blinked, surprised by this turn of events.
"Why would you think that, Tech?" You questioned him, sitting up.
The words tasted bitter on your tongue. Minutes ago you had thought that he was going to end your relationship. Now here he was thinking that you were going to be the one who would end it.
Tech adjusted his eyewear. "It is a well known fact that my specific mutation has allowed for the logical side of my brain to rapidly advance. However in this said process the portion that deals with emotional capability and deciphering, those specifically pertaining to romantic relationships has unfortunately been overshadowed. Resulting in my lack of forming meaningful emotional connections—"
"Tech.."
"I deemed you would terminate our current relationship to find one that is more suitable to your needs. With an individual who will be able to meet those needs you require where I am not able to provide for you".
You couldn't believe what you were hearing come from his mouth. Was this truly how he felt? How he thought you saw him?
Certain you were that he was going to break up with you because he was tired or bored of you. Whereas here he was thinking he was not adequate, not good enough for you. Your heart hurt to hear such a thing. It pained you to know that he was carrying around this kind of thinking.
By the maker how long had he been thinking this way about himself? Days? Weeks? Months? Hopefully it wasn't years.
Then as like the skies clearing after a torrential downpour or the smoke dissipating from a raging wildfire, an epiphany struck you.
"That's why you've been acting strange lately. Isn't it". You questioned him.
He sighed, confirming it. Your eyes glazed over with tears building. Hindrance. That's what he thought of himself to you. Shaking you head wildly you reached for his hand. Lifting and bringing it up towards your face. Where you proceeded to kiss the inside of his palm tenderly.
When you finished peppering kisses to his knuckles you gently gripped his face between your hands. Bringing his features closer to yours. The grip in which you held him was firm. Protective. Allowing it to sink. Letting him know that you wouldn't rid yourself of him. Ever. Not even if you had no choice. For the long run, he'd always be yours.
Locking eyes with him, you then spoke the words that you needed to say. The words he desperately needed to hear.
"I love you Tech". It was oath, a promise you'd recite to the heavens if possible. "There will never. Never. Be anyone for me, but you. That is a truth I need you to hear loud and clear and know".
A burden he was not. Nor would he ever become.
"I love you as well mesh'la, but I am a hinderance to—"
Placing a finger over his lips, you again shook your head. "Have I ever once told you that your lack of romanticism is a hindrance in our relationship?"
He shook his head. "No, but—"
"Then there isn't a but Tech". Dragging your hand down his neck, feeling the soft velvety texture of his blacks before the hard exterior of his armored chest piece replaced it. You rested your hand over where his heart was. "I chose you".
Leaning in, you pressed a delicate kiss to the corner of his lips. "And I'd chose you all over again".
"Thank you mesh'la". He sounded lighter. Relaxed by your words of affirmation from how you watched his shoulders fall. A point of satisfaction for you.
This was always something you wanted to tell him. Show him. Where he thought he paled in his romantic abilities/ interests, he made up for with his fondness when it came to your primary care. A gentle hand was used when he would examine you after each and every mission.
The words of encouragement he'd bestow upon you. Even if at times it would came out jumbled more then anything else. Others would have have seen it as a long winded explanation. Slipping his hand across the sensitive portion of your exposed collarbone, you knew the truth.
Under your chin Tech slipped his two fingers, tilting it up to meet his eyeline. It gave you a perfect opportunity to see the red working its way across his cheeks. You didn't deny how attractive you found Tech with flushed rosy cheeks. He couldn't deny the way it made him feel when he saw it present on your features.
His breath caught at how remarkable you were.
Watching you he realized just how blessed he was for having you in his short existence. For a split second he wanted to curse himself for ever thinking you'd abandon him and this relationship.
Seizing the opportunity that was fully presented to him, your parted lips, eyes glimmering like the night sky, he closed the distance between you.
But not before he whispered, "You are my universe, cyar'ika".
You smiled warmly, cupping his face and melting as his lips found yours.
And he was yours.
Back to back Tech one shots...heck yes! He deserves the love and attention! All my Tech girlies sound off!!🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻✌🏻
Also there might not be a one shot for a few weeks. I've been pumping these out week after week since January and my brain is fried lol. I want to build up my catalogue again so it may be a few weeks before you get another one. In the meantime I want to talk about/ discuss the next few episodes on here until I get a new one shot finished.