Howdy! How about short drabbles (at least 2 if that's ok!) with any characters you'd like, with a (female or gn) reader who is a bad kiter (their in-game description would state a significant vaulting speed debuff lol), but during the ongoing match they've actually managed to contain the hunter really well, to the point there were only 2 machines left (with them both already decoded approximately halfway)! The reader, often feeling as a burden to the survivors bc they usually kite badly, finally is knocked down, but a fellow teammate rushes to them, while the hunter is distracted with someone else, and praises the reader while healing them)
✧ [ SFW general headcanons ] ✧
andrew kreiss, edgar valden, and william ellis (separated) & a gn! reader who did really well kiting <3
a/n: hhiii ! can be viewed as platonic or romantic for all three:D
edgar knows your usual kiting skills, rendering them .. as something that 'needs a little more work', in his eyes, for the team. your bond with him remained a little wounded at the start, much more if there is no form of intimacy within. the painter is difficult to convince otherwise once he is certain of a thought of belief of his own. and oftentimes, these thoughts, when it comes to matches, are not the friendliest. they do not cheer anyone up. in fact, they hurt. the painter does take matches seriously.
earlier in the match, when you shouted ' the hunter is nearby ! ', edgar was creating ideas in his head already; if he should rescue must you get downed 30 seconds in, or if he should come over and help. hence why, when you kited so well, completely overthrowing his thoughts, he couldn't quite believe it. he denied it, thinking in the back of his mind that a teammate was supporting you 5 ciphers in the match. one, two, three! ciphers popped, and that was the only time when you went down close to his area.
with uncertainty (because edgar was persistent on thinking about how you managed something as such), he approached to lighten your wounds at least a little bit while another teammate distracted the hunter from picking you up.
it was then that he, unexpectedly, gentled his touch. he tried to make them stern, putting it in his mind that healing was a serious business, but he couldn't. he handled your injuries with care.
because he looked up to you after what you've done. he'd never admit that, though.
' thank you- ' (name) muttered.
edgar huffed, finishing up on one of your arms. once more, he tried to do this with serious hands, but he still couldn't.
it was a surprising comment. instead of his usual dismissals, he began to specify what about your kite had stood out to him:
' a splendid performance, considering the hunter was hullabaloo. i saw some of your predictions, your feet were not clumsy, you did not trip, '
' really? you think so? ', name mumbled in shock.
edgar's cheeks tinted to a hue of red ever so slightly from embarrassment, and he scoffs, pulling away.
' .. whatever, don't get ahead of yourself --- we're still not out of here. get up. '
andrew knows you well; he keeps an eye on each individual of the manor. he is quite familiar with your enhanced skills in other areas, however, he fears for your safety when you kite the hunter.
' god, please let (name) be safe, ' he nearly shocked himself as he no longer focused on the machine, turning his attention to the haunting thoughts. ' within a minute from now, something will happen.. '
poor andrew had nearly shocked himself over four times, driven out of focus as he worried about (name). what if they were hurt? did something wrong happen? with their vulnerable vaulting abilities, andrew's mind persisted on panicking and he could not calm down for a moment. everything was in shambles. he could not and did not stop worrying until he came to support you.
but after he saw you in safe hands, completely managing just fine, he was ... still worried. no, he will never stop worrying until you are both out of the match --- what if something can go wrong at any moment?
hence why he immediately rushed to heal you all up as soon as three ciphers announced completion; the hunter was right there beside you, distracted by a nearby batter, but did it matter? to andrew, no. he mentally thanked ganji for being there, for threatening the hunter must they ever picked you up.
in panicked breaths, andrew could not control his shaking fingers as he guided you up from your position. he nearly held your arm too hard, almost snatched you towards him, eager to leave the scene while the opportunity was still there. andrew couldn't even talk as he did. his thoughts were filled with your outstanding performance, and the desperate need to leave the area and keep you safe.
guiding your shaky footsteps, andrew directed the both of you to a less dangerous area where he muttered,
' you... you did very well, (name). i.. i'm impressed, and .. quite relieved you are safe. a great job. '
andrew may even, with his trembling hands, gently pat you or offer a sort of physical praise. maybe rub your back. considering you both know each other well, andrew is largely familiar with your self-depreciative thoughts and finds them a hindrance. they are false and troublesome, so before you could even doubt him, he would stop you.
' thank you, ' (name) would say. however, they were reluctant at andrew's words, unused to praise and, quite frankly, not believing them. ' .. but it wasn't really anything great -- '
andrew would shush them with a shake of his head, sighing with just the slightest bit of sternness. ' accept the words; you are a great one, and you did very, very well. i will not hear anything else out of you.. '
filled with nothing but concern and the persistent urge to help, william has observed your strategies in kiting, realizing how often they remain short and rather chaotic. unlike edgar, he doesn't perceive your short-kiting abilities as a thing that brings the team down. rather, he believes that, as a team, he and the others should help you --- that's what a team is.
the cipher machine rattled as william decoded. when the match had begun, he had already prepared himself as soon as the hunter chose to pursue you first. terrorshocked and seated too early? he will come to rescue. ballooned at a safe distance? he will get you out of there. william is alert and ready to offer assistance whenever you needed it.
however, no call from you arrived. you had not yelled for his help or another teammate's, and you were holding for an incredibly long time. william waited on, on, and on, and soon, his cipher along with two others have finished. it does not take him a while to understand what was going on.
to say that this man was STUNNED is an understatement. he is very surprised at the consistency in which you've held the hunter at bay for. from a distance, he could see you pulling your little moves, doing the little left and right --- he is awed. and proud. very, very proud of you and your accomplishment.
william went through a joy of his own at seeing you succeed --- look at you go!
.. the reward for your kite was william. william and william as he nursed you back to good health with norton distracting the hunter some steps afar.
' holy, (name), ' william would laugh, roughly patting (name) on the back, making them cough as he cheered them on during healing; ' (naaaaammmeeeeee)!!!! ha ha ! '
he was so , so happy for you.
' yeah, i don't know why you talk so bad about yourself. those sad eyes, the pout everytime you quickly get downed --- stop doing those. you're great in a way that you can't see, ' he demanded, ' it's unacceptable, got it? '
' this was a development, (name). i always knew you had a knack for something hidden in there. you're amazing, and you'll keep that in your head, alright? '
' shhh - nonono, no bad little words- be quiet-! '
william couldn't stop bringing your victory up for the entire day. he was much too joyful for it!
