partners in crime - a tacophone fic

chapter 20 - better now?

"Okay, who goes first will be decided at random soooooo...."
Mephone points to Baseball and Test Tube.
"You two, how about you start us off? Whoever wins this will have to face off against Microphone."
I'm nervous that I'll have to face off with the both of them. I don't think I want any help from Taco during the challenge either since I found out she was the one that shattered Test Tube's glass. She never changes, does she? You know what? Maybe I'll tune in to give her a piece of my mind.
I turn my dial up and before I get any words out of my mouth she starts to talk.
"Why hello Mic, good thing you've turned your gain up once again because I'm here to tell you that I'm going to help out this challenge!"
"Taco-"
"All you need to do is just stand right in front of me so the competition doesn't see my bow!"
"TACO-"
"I'll give you some extra power! Maybe even help the opposing team lose, if you know what I mean."
"TACO!!!!"
"Mic, not so loud now, remember your opponents can hear!"
"Oh so NOW you suddenly care about my 'opponents' who are my FRIENDS too by the way. Who you managed to give a big crack in the middle of the face to! Consider me alone on this challenge Taco. I'm done with you."
"But Mic! You know how much I- um...."
I raise my eyebrow.
"You what?"
".... Nothing. Go off without me then. I'll just be awaiting your signal that you've won the competition."
"We both know you can't stay put for that long, Taco."
"Let me help at least this once, as buisness partners, no strings attached!"
Oh yeah, I have to remember this is also a deal we made to get the million, so even if feelings get involved I should at least use this extra power to my advantage. I rethink my decision.
"You know what Taco? You can help ON ONE CONDITION! Don't hurt anyone and ONLY help pull the rope! Nothing else. Got it?"
"..."
"GOT IT?"
"Got it Mic. Heading over to you now."
She sounds defeated but I'm not giving her any remorse especially after that new piece of information. Just because we had a little make out session last night doesn't make me anymore of a softie during the game. Speaking of the game, I tune back in because they're about to start the challenge.
"Alright Test Tube and Baseball! On your marks."
Test Tube puts her hands around the rope.
"Get set..."
Baseball picks it up by the mouth I assume, seeing that the rope is floating in mid air.
"GO!"
Mephone let's go of the middle of the rope and they both pull as hard as they can.
Baseball seems to have a good start, almost yanking Test Tube into the mud, but one hard pull from Test Tube is enough to send Baseball so close to the mud pit that he almost goes in. Almost, he doesn't have mud on him yet and his red flag isn't past the mud either. He's probably balancing on the tips of his toes right now. He yanks the rope back with full force but then screams and suddenly the rope doesn't have any force on the other side, making Test Tube fall back, winning. He seems to be in so much pain that he just couldn't take it anymore and let go. The grass underneath where I assume he is starts to move rapidly. I think he's rolling around in pain right now it's so bad. Well, he tried his best out there, it just wasn't fair for him. He deserves better.
"Well, it seems we have a winner, Which makes Test Tube and Microphone the next two to compete!" Mephone says to us.
Test Tube cracks her knuckles. I think she's been waiting for a moment like this to knock me straight into the mud. I'm not going to give up though. I turn my gain on again to ask Taco if she's here yet when I feel a tapping on my back and see an invisible bow in the air. I have to keep my back to her though so Test Tube doesn't see that I have some extra help.
Now, we are on even ground.
"On your marks."
Test Tube smirks at me, saying with a smile that she's going to be the one victorious.
"Get set..."
She takes a hold on the rope with an intense grip, I can feel it in my hands when I pick it up.
"GO!"
Mephone let's go of the middle of the rope and I pull my hardest, it seems to be a bit easier since Taco is also helping out, but I'm still barely keeping the flag on my side. One more pull from Test Tube and it's over. Test Tube seems to be enjoying seeing me try so hard and decides to take one of her hands off of the rope and yawn. While her guard is down I tug hard. The rope doesn't move an inch from under me. She's way too strong with her device on. I can see she wants to end this already as she puts both of her hands onto the rope. She does one big pull and then-
Sparks fly from her arms. It seems that she's pushed her gadget a bit too far. It starts to malfunction, and I feel her grip on the rope start to get weaker. Test Tube gets upset at her own creation, looking like she's in disbelief. I pull the rope to me and it seems to be easier than before, one more tug and I could easily end this for her.
"Not so fast!"
She tries to kick it into overdrive one last time and her arms still do nothing but hold the rope and start to move around unnecessarily, even more sparks fly and odd sounds are made. I tug one final time and her blue flag goes into the mud pit, dragging Test Tube down with it.
I look behind me and Taco's bow is still there, floating up and down probably jumping for joy since we just won against her. I start to walk away when Test Tube gets up from the pit of mud.
"Microphone wait!"
"Yeah?"
"I can't seem to get these off of my arms! I think they're stuck! Help me!"
Oh no, this is kind of serious, but then again, she taunted me for the majority of the day soooo...
"Sorry Test Tube, but you're gonna have to do it yourself. Karma sure does bite doesn't it?"
I give her a little smirk. I think she's starting to hate me even more now.
"Well, it seems Microphone is the winner for this round. Now, Baseball will have to go against Microphone!"
"No, I think I'm done." Baseball says.
"I tried my best, I gave my everything, my ALL to win this challenge and this game, HNNNG-" he groans in pain amd continues "but I really don't think I can go on anymore, especially in the condition I'm in."
He gave up. He's one of the most unlikely objects in the competition that I would ever think would give up but he's done it.
I respect his decision, he's pushed himself too far already. Everyone puts him through so much. He deserves the million, we all do.... well.... some of us more than others... but to be honest with the amount of trauma we've all had to face, I don't think even a million could bribe us into doing this again.
"Well, Baseball is out of the game then! Bon voyage Baseball!"
Mephone says in a cheery tone.
And we are down to the final two, me and Test Tube, just like that.
Mephone snaps his fingers together and opens the portal. Baseball says one more thing to us before he leaves though.
"Neither of you deserve to win this game."
I hear the portal sound signifying he walked through and sigh. The worst part is, I know he's right.
I rub my hands together and they sting, rope burn hurts hard.
"Give them to me and I can massage them for you." Taco says next to me as she pokes my hand. Is she insane???? She's still in front of everyone! Then again, Test Tube is still messing around with her arms that aren't coming off and the hosts are trying to help, plus Taco's invisible, so I think I could go for a hand rub now while nobody is watching.
".....sure, fine." I tell her.
"Perfect" she says to me and oh my gosh when I tell you that Taco gives the best hand massages I've ever had I mean it. It certainly helped with my nerves and to be honest I forgot about the pain! It was absolutely amazing. She rubs very joint in my hand and her hands are so warm. I would ask her all the time to do that to me if I could. When she takes her hands off I feel so empty.
"Better now?" She asks me.
Physically and emotionally I'm feeling rejuvenated. I was upset at her earlier but if you think about it, it's just a crack right? Plus, Test Tube can always fix it up. I really shouldn't have been so hard on her.
"Much better, thank you Taco."
She puts her hand in mine again but slowly moves it away and disappears back into the woods as Test Tube starts to walk up to me.
I miss her hand.