Object Shipping Shorties (New)

Start Over? (TestMic)

A/N: [Not exactly a ship chapter, but I wanted to write a little chapter on how Mic would apologize to TT and become friends.]

~~~

Microphone was still fully awake as she lay in her bed, gazing up at the ceiling. She struggled to fall asleep. Not with all these thoughts racing in her mind about... Taco.

She should've known Taco was just using her... how can she be so blind..? This was most likely why Taco and Pickle had stopped talking. Taco had moved on to different prey, she wants to do the same thing to Microphone, abandon her once she claims that cash prize. Due to their bonding, sharing of secrets, and Taco's assistance in helping Microphone win the majority of challenges, she has always felt that there was something more between the two of them.

She believed she had a genuine friend. But turns out-

...She was wrong.

Microphone wanted to cut Taco out of her life for the better, she even eliminated herself so she would no longer be a pawn to Taco.

So Microphone was now lying on the hotel bed, musing on events that felt like they happened yesterday.

She was all alone at the hotel now. She shared a room with Test Tube, but the two hadn't spoken since that incident... so now Microphone had no one to talk to...

Unless she wants to make amends with Test Tube.

Which was going to be difficult...

Microphone turned her head to Test Tube, seeing the scientist "sleeping" in her bed, back turned to Microphone. She sighed and rose from her bed, stepping up to the vial. She's got to fix this.

"Hey, Psst... Test Tube?" Microphone murmured to her, gently shaking her. Hoping she wasn't fully asleep.

"..."

Microphone sighed, knowing that this was most likely a bad time. She was ready to re-enter her bed when she heard a voice.

"What do you want?" Test Tube slightly hissed, back still turned to Microphone.

"Listen... about what happened a week ago... I really didn't mean to hurt you! I even warned Taco not to do anything drastic, but I guess she had... other intentions."

"That still doesn't justify why she was there in the first place!" Test Tube sat up from her bed to glare at Microphone. A look Microphone has never seen Test Tube make before... "I would never imagine you out of ALL the contestants here to be CHEATING! Knife, maybe, but YOU?! Not only that, but Taco could have seriously injured Fan back there while you sat back and WATCHED!!" Test Tube snapped.

Microphone could see the fury and hatred in the scientist's eyes. She was really upset... who could blame her? She had every right to be.

Microphone rubbed her arm sheepishly, eyes downcast. "I understand... and I apologize for what Taco did! Taco can be... a bit difficult to understand at times. You're not the only one who has suffered this, you know..." Microphone went on somewhat inaudibly, capturing the scientist's attention as she listened in.

"All this time, I thought I'd finally made a friend...! Taco was a friend who was close to me... But soon... I realized she was merely using me!" Microphone was on the verge of tears, her fists trembling as she remembered Taco and how their moments together were all part of her plan. Taco doesn't care about her after all. "And... I genuinely apologize for what happened and hope that we can at least start over? We don't have to be friends..."

Test Tube was silent, she did feel bad about what happened to Microphone. Microphone didn't have anyone to talk to, therefore she constantly followed Taco for guidance, and the two were always at each other's sides... from a distance. Test Tube let out a small sigh then climbed off her bed, approaching Microphone.

Microphone rubbed her teary eyes as she gazed down at Test Tube. Test Tube looked up and then offered a small smile. "I wouldn't mind being your friend. I could tell you've already suffered enough with Taco... So, absolutely! We can start over."

Microphone grinned then lifted Test Tube into a hug. Test Tube could hear Microphone softly sobbing, she patted her back to assure her everything was alright now.

Microphone set Test Tube down, wiping away her tears. "S-sorry... I just needed to let it all out..."

Test Tube nodded. "I completely understand." Test Tube grinned and slid back into her bed for the night.

Microphone did the same and then called Test Tube again, eliciting a "Hm?" from the scientist. "Hey... in the morning do you maybe... wanna hang out? I never had actual friends to do the things I wanted to do..." Microphone said meekly, stroking her arm.

"Sure-" Test Tube responded accidentally too quickly. Before starting again, the vial cleared her throat. "What I meant is... certainly!"

Microphone grinned before laying back on her bed. She can finally have a good night's sleep now that she and Test Tube were on good terms. But she can't get her mind off Taco...

What was Taco doing right now?

[Meanwhile]

~~~

Taco sat by the dock, watching the moonlight reflect off the lake, giving it a sparkling appearance. She couldn't take her thoughts away from Microphone and her words "gaining a friend."

Taco sighed and reached for a rock nearby, tossing it into the water and seeing it skip twice before disappearing into the chilly, dark depths. She already felt bad about how she treated the poor mic... she and Pickle were her only two friends and she knew she hurt them both.

She was aware that she had caused the greatest pain to Microphone; the two had been inseparable until the end... She wasn't going to blame Microphone for not trusting her or even forgiving her. Taco is prepared to apologize to Microphone.

Even if Microphone doesn't want to hear another word from her...

"I wish I could start over..." Taco said gently, tears flowing down her face as she stared at the water below her. Taco couldn't recall the last time she had cried or been this emotionally invested in someone... She felt guilty about what she had done to Mic and regretted every second of it.

"What have I done..? They were my only friends, the only ones who genuinely cared about me and I just threw them away like rubbish..." Taco grabbed a rock and tossed it into the lake, creating a small splash. She knew she couldn't blame Microphone for being so upset with her... she wouldn't be shocked if Microphone stopped interacting with her entirely.

"Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to... talk about it..?" Taco told herself. She rose off the dock and went away from the river, intending to locate Microphone and make things right.