Chapter Warnings: Language, Deceit, Mild Threats
In which we learn the true identity of Iffy the Barista~
Sorry for the delay in this chapter! ;; I was gone all weekend, so had no time to work on it until tonight!
Also, this chapter gave me really bad writer's block? It messed up my usual rhythm with two chapter in a row of the same group!
December 5th, 2030, 12:03 PM
Los Angeles, California
"Looks like they know the Fischbachs."
As soon as those words were said, Bing went rigid as stone. His companions eyed him curiously, and he couldn't help but flinch when Chase's hand was suddenly on his shoulder. The Septic was quick to pull away.
Garring. Hunter. Who were they? And why was Iffy telling this 'Garring' about Chase and him knowing the Fischbachs? He didn't say their names, but it was all too easy to tell that Iffy meant the two Egos who'd entered his cafe. Did he… No, no. That wasn't possible.
"Are you all right?" Amy's brows furrowed with worry.
All Bing could offer was an awkward half-shrug. "I-I dunno, man." Behind his sunglasses he was eyeing the barista. When their eyes met again, phone still pressed to the man's ear, the android still felt discomfort, but the icy chill that had settled in his core the first time didn't return. Odd.
The man put everything up on the counter and called their names as if nothing had happened. Bing wouldn't budge, so Amy actually wound up grabbing his coffee for him. Amy set it down in front of him and nudged him gently. "Hey. What's up?"
"I dunno, man," he repeated, shaking his head. "Could we just…y'know, head back? Please?"
The barista leaned on one elbow against the counter. He wouldn't take his eyes off Bing, now. There was just something…off, about him, that Bing didn't like, and the way he wouldn't break eye contact didn't help any. Iffy just gave off a vibe that reminded the android of some of the other Egos, and not in a good way: Stubborn, standoffish, hiding something, but damn good at keeping it all under the surface. Like a combination of Green and Red, Dark, Ed, and Wilford. He didn't like it. It sent his circuits sizzling and alarms buzzing in his head to get away.
"Can we go?" he repeated. Bing didn't notice the rising urgency in his voice when the barista perked up slightly and tightened his grip on the cellphone. When the barista's voice became more hushed as he realized the android could hear him. "Please?"
Chase and Amy exchanged a look. Bing didn't seem to notice, too fixated on the barista. His knuckles began to creak as he curled them into tight fists to keep from fidgeting.
"Ben—"
"We need to go," he was practically whining, now. Begging. "Somethin's…off. I-I don't like it…"
Another look was shared between his companions before they stood, grabbing their drinks and (in Chase's case) food. "Sure…" said Amy. She sounded uncertain, and kept glancing between the Egos. Chase just shrugged. Despite his Perception, he couldn't Feel Bing's emotions since his were just programs. It left him as lost to the situation as the human.
It was when they stood that Iffy almost rushedly ended his call and waved to catch Amy's attention. "Hey! Mind chatting for a bit?" He put on a warm, polite smile. "It's been way too long!"
The woman returned the smile, and it was only when she approached the counter and the man's gaze moved to Bing again that Chase stiffened as well. There was a crack in the mask the barista had put on. Irritation. …Irritation? Chase could Feel it radiating from the man. It was just so out of place with the facade he was putting on. The father wouldn't have even known had he not been able to Feel the barista's emotions when he actually decided to pay attention to them.
The Septic's brown eyes met the android's veiled pair. Bing's didn't linger long before returning to Iffy's form.
Had it been possible for robots to have natural fight-or-flight responses, Bing would have been practically shaking with the anticipation of bolting from the cafe. Instead, his entire frame practically locked up. It was as if he was preparing himself to throw a punch or be punched with how rigid he'd gone despite the fact flee was the response he was feeling.
"…Who is he?" Chase asked in a hushed tone. He barely heard himself, but he knew the android would head.
"I-I dunno, man. But we need to get outta here. What do you Feel?"
Chase shook his head. "He…reminds me of Ed: Fake. But hiding it really well, and I don't like it. I almost couldn't tell what he was really feeling." He paused, frowning deeply. "…Something annoyed him, and I think it's you." He paused again and gave Bing one of those looks the android used to get when he'd eavesdrop on Chase's phone calls with Stacy; before Bing would snatch away the phone and start a shouting match with her. "You were listening to him, weren't you?"
Instead of answering, Bing just repeated, "We need to get outta here."
"Chase, Ben! C'mere, you doofs." Amy was trying to wave them over. The pair exchanged uneasy glances. "Come on you two!"
She was leaning against the counter, out of the way if customers came up but still close to the barista. Iffy himself had his arms crossed over the polished wood surface and offered an apologetic glance in Bing's direction. "Wanted to apologize," he said as the pair made a cautious approach, sticking close to Amy. "This's supposed to be a comfortable environment for my customers, and you're clearly not comfortable." He tipped his head toward the swinging door that would lead to the kitchen. "I'm the only one working right now, so why don't we talk in back? I'd like to set things right."
A smile curled over his lips and he outstretched a hand to Bing.
The android just eyed it, arms crossed tightly over his chest.
The woman elbowed him gently in the side, and Bing flinched away from the contact. With a huff, he stretched out his own and the two shook hands. "…Fine. But I ain't stayin' long."
Setting their drinks and food on the counter next to Amy, the Egos followed Iffy in back with a lot of hesitance. There was something up with this guy, but they'd never find out what if they didn't let him explain himself. That is, if he even told the truth.
"All right. Spit it out," Bing growled as soon as they were out of earshot of the rest of the diner. He was still ready to bolt at any moment, and the feigned acid in his tone made it clear he wasn't at all confident.
At his side, Chase tensed up. "Dude!"
A shrug was all the barista offered as he leaned against a stainless steel fridge door. "He's in the right to be upset. I'm not offended."
Bing curled his lip slightly, teeth bared. In return, the Septic elbowed him roughly in the side; both grimaced: Bing out of reflex, and Chase because he'd just bruised his fucking elbow on a robot. "Watch your temper, bro," the father warned. What that really meant was 'turn your fucking emotions back on.'
Iffy raised his brows and cleared his throat. "Anyway—"
"Why the interest in us?" Bing asked after a moment.
"Interest? I don't know—"
Interrupted yet again by the android, the barista was forced to go quiet, "Don't fuck with me, man. I heard your conversation with that 'Garring' dude. So what's the deal?"
The barista's smile dropped and expression morphed into something that sent a chill down their spines. Bing instinctively put an arm in front of the Septic and pushed Chase behind him.
"Can't have a little fun, now, can I?" Iffy rolled his eyes and huffed. Chase gasped as the man's hold on his emotions dropped and the true ones hit the Septic like a train; all at once so he had to struggle to sort through them. He eyed Chase a moment, then, "Fine. Just wanted a nice little talk, but now I want you out of my fucking diner. And I suggest you get your asses outta here well before the Hunter shows up."
Iffy pushed himself away from the fridge and before Bing knew it, the man was right in his face. The android couldn't suppress a growl as he stiffened. Chase's eyes blew wide. Humans did not make that sound. Fuck…
The sound just made Iffy frown. "Another fucking…" He shook his head and leaned forward, nose-to-nose with the android. Bing was shorter than him and could smell the man's peppermint breath as he was forced to look up to meet the man's eyes. "Get out of my fucking diner, Egos."
The reaction of the two got a grin from the man. They both went from tense and uneasy to downright panicked: Looking around almost frantically for a way out, eyes wide, mouths falling open, Chase's face paling.
Chase was the one who dared to speak. "H-how did you—"
Scoffing, the barista gestured at them as he stepped back and took his spot against the fridge again. "You two are some of the most obvious I've ever laid eyes on."
Bing's brows furrowed. "And…you're not freakin' out?"
"Ha! Why would I?"
"'Cause…we're not…" Chase shook his head without finishing. He combed his fingers through his hair; he only then realized that he'd left his hat back at the house. Well, dammit.
Iffy shrugged. "Not human? Do you not know another Ego when you see one? My fucking God… You two new out here or something?"
The pair exchanged a look. Bing spoke this time, "You mean…you're an Ego?"
"Duh? You two are a pair of goddamn idiots if I ever saw one."
Chase pushed Bing behind him this time, despite the android's squeak of protest. "First of all: Knock it the fuck off with the insults. Two: Who the hell are you?"
Brow raised, Iffy put up his hands in lazy mock surrender. He grinned without saying anything, and it widened when he noticed the rise it got out of Chase.
"Spit it out, man!" the Septic demanded, trigger finger twitching. He was this close to pulling a gun.
"Infelix." His grin disappeared and was replaced by that cold expression yet again. "Now get off my fucking property."
Iffy—no, no…Infelix—whipped around and stalked farther in the back, disappearing into another room. Chase swallowed and stepped backward. His back bumped Bing's chest, and both yelped with surprise.
The android broke the silence. "Infelix? That…That's PewDiePie's dark Ego—kinda like Dark and Anti, but he was formed completely from headcanons. I haven't looked, but I don't think he even ever got a video."
"Dude. One: Anti's not that bad, you just don't like him 'cause you're a robot. Two: Be super-computer-smart at home. We need to get outta here."
Nodding and composing themselves, the pair returned to Amy's side with convincing smiles. "How'd it go?" she asked as they gathered up their food and drinks from the counter.
Bing shrugged. "I…think we've come to an understanding. Let's get back home so we can start packin' up our shit." The next grin came a little more naturally, even if what Infelix had said was gnawing at him, making it hard to focus even on his own two feet as the trio headed out to the van. Who was the Hunter, and why would he be after them? "I think we're all excited about gettin' into the new place!"
He and Chase shared a knowing look once Amy turned away. Hopefully the new location would make it harder for that Hunter dude to find them. Whoever he was, he didn't sound like good news…