All that glitters isn't gold -Inanimate Insanity AU-

-A friend forsaken, a foe accepted-

"What if they hate me?" Taco fretted, pacing back and forth, the two were huddled inside of the Gemory Cave as a storm raged on above. MePad could see the winds pick up the rains, spraying the water into the opening of the cave. Thus the two had retreated back, deep into the cave's underground systems. The only two lights allowing them to transverse those deeps came from MePad's screen and the torch Taco held in her hands.

MePad observed Taco's grip on the torch, her knuckles white as she dung her nails into it's metal casing. MePad sighed, continuing to quietly watch as Taco paced back and forth. Muttering worried fantasies to herself, flailing her arms around at some points so that the light emitted from the torch's end scattered across the rocky walls of the cave tunnel.

"Oh- they must surely hate me- how am I to apologise if they'll yell at me- if they are aggressive to me! I know I deserve it but- I just-," Taco kept going on, her voice rising and falling with each syllable, her British accent strained and anxious. "I can't- they'll react so poorly- plus- they may never want to hear from me again, what if I'm just a bother to them? I understand why they must never want to see me again. I hurt them both so badly, how am I to compensate for that? How am I to fix this? I don't even think I can fix this- I-"

"Taco," MePad finally interjected, wishing for Taco to calm down so he can talk calmly to her. Taco halted in her steps, stopping her pacing motion as she whipped her body around towards MePad. Staring at him with a mouth agape, brows furrowed, eyes wide and dilated.

"Yes?" Taco muttered indignantly, teeth clenched as the same with her hands.

"May I speak?" MePad asked carefully, testing the waters to whenever or not Taco wanted to stop rambling.

Taco fought for a split moment, glancing away as she was unable to meet MePad in his digital eyes. "Yes.. you may, what is it?" Taco grumbled.

"Well- now that I can put my two cents in this, Taco I understand that you are worried about their reactions to an apology from you, I understand you fear things could get worst from this action, and I understand that you mainly fear that they won't accept this apology nor do they even want it, however-" MePad got up from the spot he sat down at, inching his way closer to her. "You don't apologise to make things right, you don't apologise for a good reaction."

Taco blinked, taken aback, stunned by MePad's bold comment. "Excuse me?" Taco gasped, her face contorting in frustration, "isn't that the whole point of an apology? If an apology is not that, then what is it?"

MePad sighed, "you apologise to show that you regret what you did. Maybe it'll be received well, maybe it won't, but you can't control that, you shouldn't control that. There is no deception in an apology nor an excuse in it. There is only an explanation, a statement of regret and guilt; then finally, a promise to be better.. this promise doesn't necessarily mean you have to be in the person that you harmed, in their life.. just that- you promise for future encounters and relationships, you'll be better then what you were to them."

MePad met Taco's eyes evenly, he soften his gaze upon her, letting Taco know he wasn't berating her or talking down to her. They are equals, he sees that and hopefully she does as well. They are merely two friends, sharing advice, trusting each other.. healing.. that's all there is to it.

Taco absorbed his words, her expression scrunching up with thought and concentration.. before her face furrowed up into a scowl. Taco opened her mouth to snap something at the tablet before her eyes widen, and she closed her mouth. Taco's expression and posture shifted, she glanced away again, face frowning but not scowling.. she deflated.. "I don't deserve forgiveness.. nor do I deserve.. them.. you are.. right MePad.. I just-" Taco sighed, rubbing at her eyes, the excess pressure on one side of her face resulted in a cracking sound to be emitted by her shell. "Why is this all so complicated? Do I even deserve to heal and to move on? When I made such a grave mistake.."