"I'm sorry."
"...W-What?"
Tails were agape at the new information brought to Him. He felt Flabbergasted, to say the least. To go out shopping for new parts, And To be confronted by your Former Bully was... Something.
"S-Say that Again Rory?"
The Red Fox before Him gave a heavy sigh in response. He brought His head down and clutched his right arm with his left hand in a nervous gesture.
"J-Jeez, Do I have to say it again?" Tails could notice the fox's voice also had a high octave. "Look, Miles- I-I mean Tails, Tails I mean!" He quickly corrected.
. . .
Taking another deep breath, Rory calmed himself down. "Gaia above, Why is this so damn hard...!" He would mutter.
Tails Cocked His head. "Rory...?"
Rory found himself speaking again. "Look, Miles, I just wanna say that... I'm sorry, okay?"
Tails raised a brow at those words. "Sorry...?"
Rory continued to shift his gaze around as he spoke. "Y'know, For teasing and Bullying you back then...Back in that village, we used to live in... Remember?"
Tails Nodded. "Yeah, I remember that..."
He scratched the back of his head, Embarrassed. "Yeah, I was a real jerk back then... Which I regret. A-And if You don't forgive me...That's alright-"
"It's Okay, Rory."
Now, It was Rory's turn to be agape. "S-Seriously?!"
Just like that, he forgave Him? He couldn't seriously believe what he heard! "B-But-"
"It was a long time ago, Rory." Tails cut him off, Smiling sincerely. "I'm sure we all grow to realize our wrongdoings as time went on."
Closing His mouth, Rory could only nod at the Fox's words. He was right of course.
He did grow to realize how awful he was as time went forward. Hearing about all the amazing things the Kit has done, Saving the world, Stopping Eggman, Securing peace...
But still... But still!
"B-But still!" He gritted his teeth. not even bothering to look at Tails, He looked at the ground in shame while his ears drooped down.
Shame at himself.
He felt his body begin to shake as he blubbered with a regretting tone. "..I-I called You a freak, Me and my friends destroyed your s-stuff, I bullied You r-relentlessly, And I even said you were a d-disgrace to Fox Kin-"
"I don't care about that."
before he knew it, The Red fox felt a pair of hands around Him. He realized quickly that the Tails hugged him.
He stopped in his rambles as he felt him. Slowly, He returned the hug.
It felt soft...
He, Felt soft.
"What I do care about, is the fact You owned up to it." He felt him hug tighter. "That means more to me.. Friend."
Eyes widening, He glanced at him. "Really? Even after all I did...?"
"Of course!" He cheerfully replied. "It's always nice to make new friends. Plus this way, We could start over! wouldn't you like that?"
A chance... To start over?
Rory could feel his lips curve. The words he would say would then echo forever in their minds;
"Yeah... I would like that, Miles."
"Good!" he heard. His heart fluttered at the sheer happiness behind the words. It felt really nice.
"But first though..."
"Hmm?"
He could feel Tails pull back from him. From there he could see his face in all glory, Cute and innocent, even after all this time...
"Can You call me Tails?" He asked, Smile written with Glee. "All my friends call me that!"
Rory grinned as well.
"Sure thing Tails."
