don't rescue me

🤕🧲

"don't be a burden. i'm not gonna make it my responsibility to save your ass."

"right back at 'cha. don't dare assist me if you want to get out of here in one piece."

was the usual inderect bickering the mercenary and prospector had before the start of their matches. thinking back on it, it was not because they disliked each other, or other people. it was, in a way, their way of expressing their worries about the other. though neither one of them would ever admit that.

the match started long ago, with the prospector successfully containing the hunter so far. he'd been chaired once, but was rescued successfully before it was critical, and was now doing a great job rebound kiting.

Norton Campbell has been containing the hunter for 160 seconds.

the system pinged the survivors. though naib wasn't the one kiting, nor rescued earlier for he was far from where the actions were, he has been on the tip of his boots, edged over when the agony would ever end. his cipher was long primed and he, along with the gardener, emma, that helped decode, was just waiting for a signal, or for the prospector to get incapacitated for being hit once again.

deep down, he was agonizing for the prospector, brows scrunched and forehead wrinkled in worrying. sure, norton was an arrogant asshole, but surely his body has its limits too, right? the mercenary would know since he's been in far harsher battlegrounds.

alas, norton shrieked, struck down by the hunter. still absorbed in his worries, naib didn't get to pop the cipher and was instead did so by emma. the blaring horns rendered him motionless for a moment, before he gathered himself and began running to the exit gate.

meanwhile norton still had to kite to buy the others time to decode the gates. he turned back to run to the farther gate, as if he stayed on the same side as the nearer one, he could disturb and might get the survivor decoding the gate into trouble with him.

however much the ending was near, it was getting pretty difficult to keep up. he could feel his legs aching, ragged breath leaving from his lungs that was long heavy from him gasping for air from the running. he threw down palettes, turned every corner, desperately throwing his magnets, barely grazing the hunter's scratch.

disoriented, he saw something in the corner of his eyes whoosh past him, and now caught in surprise, he was sure he'd get hit by the hunter now. he shut his eyes, blindly running straight in anticipation for the pain of getting hit; he could feel it just at his back. Tschk! the sound of the hunter's attack landing— but it didn't hit him...?

norton still could barely wonder in confusion, for something grasped his hand, and pulled him to run faster to which he hoped was the gates. when he opened his eyes, he was met in shock with the back of the mercenary, clad in his army green hoodie.

"y-you...! that was a detention hit!" he exclaimed, holding at his helmet in disbelief.

"yeah, save your pity, we're getting out of here, campbell." naib replied, seemingly unbothered, until he evidently winced when the delayed damaged caught up to him, damaging him half health. norton merely gaped at him, unsure of what to feel. they carried on running hand in hand.

they managed to escape before naib could get fully incapacitated, knees nearly buckling from exhaustion when they arrived back to the manor. they heaved for air and norton would've collapsed then and there, until he noticed the mercenary's hand still clutching his own. his face grew hot, abashed at the sight, but he played off the thoughts in his head as him still being breathless from running.

he drew deep breaths, and deciding he was collected now, he tugged at the mercenary to go now to the infirmary. they both know where and what the location lead to, as they were always the ones ending up in there. as much as he wanted to treat the mercenary first, he was far too tired, limbs already melting like jelly when he sat down one of the beds. naib then got the first aid kit and bandages, then got to treating him first. norton snorted at his sloppy work, only to receive the same response when it was his turn to treat naib.

"can't help it, i can't feel shit in my arms." he chuckled as he tied the bandages he dressed on naib.

"thank you.. for bodyblocking for me back there,"

"i thought i told you to save your pity."

"oh yeah, and i thought you said you wouldn't save my ass." naib tugged his hoodie down, embarrassed at the point the prospector was making.

"hmp, it's just i was there. i wouldn't want to lose y... a comrade.. when i could do something to help."

norton stood silent, relishing naib's broken response in his head. "i wouldn't have forgiven myself if it was anyone else that was struck down... because of me. i'm glad you were there."

norton fought hard to let down his pride and answer truthfully. naib would understand what he meant... what he felt... he's sure of this.

naib grinned at him, reaching to take the prospector's helmet off to ruffle his black locks, "you did well, campbell."

character & ship study attempt i guess ? lol
also holy shit my first decent ending
i don't really mind whatever ship as long as my meow meows are meow meows