This was supposed to be a one shot but it got too long, so now it will have at least two chapters. I'm using this story to expand on the backstories of characters plus my own headcanons - if you want to see anybody specific, just shoot me a request on a review.
The air smelled of sizzling beef and old fryer oil. One could hardly hear the dull roar of wheels and boards slapping and grinding against concrete in the diner. It was lunch time and the place was packed.Jackie swirled the straw in her glass, swishing the brightly-colored soda around. They were supposed to be celebrating - it was Dr. Marbles' B-Day - but the borg wasn't here yet. Fortunately, he'd texted them his order so it'd be ready when he got there. Jackie wasn't sure how much longer she wanted to stay; all the voices, noises, music, and commotion was giving her a headache.
Matt didn't seem to care, if anything even more energized by the crowd. "Pretty cool that Dr. Marbles can take a half-day off," he yelled over the noise.
"I don't think I've ever seen him relaxing," Inez noted, popping a breaded, fried onion in her mouth. She eyed Digit, who was giving her the most adorable puppy eyes he could muster, and scooted the appetizer across the table to him. Matt took the chance to nab some as well.
"Yeah, well, a B-Day is only once a year. We gotta make sure he enjoys it to the fullest," Digit said through a mouthful, more focused on the food than the actual conversation.
Jackie sipped the blueberry-esque soda, the sugar easing her headache slightly. "Didge, how old is he?" The thought had never really occurred to her before.
"Ummm…" Digit drawled, tapping his feathered fingers on the table in an attempt to bring back the memory. "Uh, I guess… sixty…three? But I couldn't tell you for sure, to be honest, so don't take that too far."
Matt had somehow sneaked the bowl of fried onions in front of himself. "I'm kinda surprised he likes this place. I always thought he was a coffee-in-a-cafe kind of guy. Or maybe Italian."
Inez grabbed the bowl back and placed it in the center this time, where nobody would have to fight for it. "Italian?" She said with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, y'know, because of the mustache," Matt said, holding a fry horizontally above his grin.
"Oh, brother," Inez said.
Jackie silently agreed with him. Dr. Marbles just didn't seem like a Radopolis enjoyer - the doctor was a trim, intellectual fellow who alphabetized his fridge. Built stuff! Fixed your toaster while simultaneously upgrading it to perfectly and evenly brown your pop tart! He was that guy who would probably never understand the thrill of speeding along on your skateboard, preferring safer modes of transportation. But, hey, she wasn't complaining, not when they might be able to drop by Slider's garage later.
"You okay, Jax?" Digit asked.
Jackie looked up from her dead stare into the glass of soda. Digit stared at her with an expression of mild concern. "Yeah, I'm good. I have a massive headache! I guess I'm just hungry." To capitalize on her point Jackie rubbed her throbbing forehead.
"I hope our food comes soon," Digit agreed.
"I'm starting to think it'll never come," Jackie grumbled. She knew she was being a little dramatic so she slumped backwards in her chair and stuck her tongue out to make a joke of it, igniting laughter out of the group.
"Backspace, Jackie, you won't starve. But from the looks of things in here, we have a bit of a wait."
The group shot up in their seats, heads whipping to the borg behind Jackie.
"Doc!" Digit yelled, flapping his wings. Dr. Marbles pulled the last chair out from the table and sat down next to Jackie, a tired smile pulling at his lips.
"We ordered yer stuff! They'll have it out in a jiffy-" Digit tried to get out of his chair but fell over in his excitement with an oof. Matt caught his drink before it spilled all over the table and the bird scrambled around the table to hug the doctor.
"No need to fret, I'm not in a hurry right now," Doctor Marbles said, returning the hug.
"We got you a water to start," Inez said, pushing the glass closer to him and handing him a straw.
"I can't believe you like this place!" Matt said, "I mean, they have the best pizza but I've never even seen you here."
Dr. Marbles smiled a little wider, opening his straw and placing it in his water. "I told you to meet me here because I knew you liked it."
Digit, who'd just sat down again, slapped his wings on the table, nearly spilling his drink again. Matt shifted it a little further away from the bird. "But Doc! You were supposed to pick a place that you liked!" Digit protested.
"Yeah, it's your B-Day!" Jackie said, dismayed at the thought that the borg would put himself out of his comfort zone just for them.
Dr. Marbles stopped short. "What?"
"It's… your B-Day?" Inez repeated for Jackie hesitantly.
The song playing on the speakers ended as Dr. Marbles stared blankly through his glasses at Inez, brow furrowed in confusion.
Jackie looked at Digit and back at Dr. Marbles. This would be really awkward if Digit got the date wrong.
"What's the date, today?" Dr. Marbles asked.
"April, the twentieth," Matt replied with a quick glance at his skwak. Another pop song came on, the bass pumping louder than ever.
Dr. Marbles started laughing and his lightbulb flashed a few times. "Oh, dear, it seems I've forgotten my own boot-up date!" He returned to stirring the ice in his glass, laughing. The kids laughed with him, starting with awkward, nervous chuckles that blossomed into regular humor.
"Shooh!" Digit wiped some sweat off his forehead. "I thought I'd messed up there, for a second!"
"That would've been awkward!" Jackie remarked.
"It makes more sense why you'd come here, knowing that," Inez said with a chuckle.
Matt finished off the onion appetizer. "What'd you think we were doing?"
"I thought it had something to do with one of your missions!" Dr. Marbles said.
Jackie sipped some more of her soda. Her hunger headache was so bad she could smell their order.
"I'm afraid I was so caught up in my work on Pyramidia that I lost track of the date," the doctor explained. The ice chink-chinked in his glass as he stirred, deep in thought. Finally he leaned in closer and said in a low whisper, "There may be evidence of more parts for another encryptor chip!"
Jackie gasped and Matt whooped, making both Inez and Digit cover their ears. A couple of Radsters glanced their way.
Digit rubbed the side of his head, glowering at Matt. "That's great, Doc, but let's keep the exciting stuff for later. Anybody could be in here, it's so crowded!"
"Plus our food is coming," Inez said, leaning back in her chair so the server would have room to set down the plate.
"Yeeesss," Jackie moaned as a food-runner set down her plate. Her mouth was watered as she eyed the gorgeous, juicy tofu burger in front of her.
The server and two food-runners rapidly set down all the plates and refilled drinks (food-runners kept drink dispensers on them for this purpose). Within moments they'd swept away to another table, hardly acknowledging the 'thank you's from the table. Gotta love speedy Radster service.
Borg, bird, and teen alike dug into their food, all talk at the table silenced for a few minutes.
Dr. Marbles grabbed a napkin. "I have to say, it's nice to eat at a table for once. Usually I am on the run and have to eat something quickly, or in the coop."
Digit nodded in understanding. "Yeah, that would suck, twenty-four-seven. But today…You're getting dessert, too." Dr. Marbles opened his mouth but stopped himself when Digit jabbed his fork in the air menacingly, a few cheesy macaroni noodles dangling precariously from the tongs. "Or else."
Jackie laughed. Looking to Dr. Marbles, who was halfway through a bite of their 'Totally Rad Grill Burger', she asked, "Well, how do you like this place, even if it was an accident that you're here?"
Dr. Marbles swallowed and cleared his throat. "Quite nice, albeit loud-"
"Well, well, if it isn't the B-Day borg himself," a borg said behind her, loud enough for them to hear over the rest of the commotion.
The whole table froze, even Matt, whose teeth were sunken deep in a pepperoni pizza. They'd recognize the gravelly voice anywhere - it was the shock of where they were hearing it that made them slow to figure out what was going on.
Jackie finally turned with Dr. Marbles, drink still in hand and her mouth still over the straw. Standing a few feet away from the table and its inhabitants was Hacker, waving casually like they were neighbors.
"Hacker!" Dr. Marbles finally got out.
Digit reacted first, flinging himself across the table to hop on the back of Dr. Marbles' chair, toppling over his drink glass for the third time. Matt didn't even see it, a gaze hot with anger set on the intruder.
"Whaddaya want, Hacker?" Digit growled. The rest of the kids moved to stand, and Inez nearly knocked over a server.
"Hello, kiddies. Doctor," Hacker greeted. He pointed a finger at Jackie. "You're spilling your soda on your shirt, my dear."
"I ain't your kiddie," Digit retorted.
Jackie realized he was right and took her eyes off Hacker for a second, banging her glass on the table and crossing her arms. She could feel a disturbing amount of moisture against her chest but ignored it for later.
"I'm just here to wish the best for our dear Dr. Marbles. I just happened to stop in right when my favorite cybersquaders are here, that's all," Hacker crooned. Jackie studied his face, hard - looking for that hidden edge of anger.
Of all times when Hacker was scariest, in Jackie's opinion, it was when he was using that tone of voice. Sickly sweet and oozing with such fake kindness that it almost tricked you - then you would look into his eyes and see the wicked, cold darkness inside, almost like a jumpscare in a movie. It never ceased to make her shudder - but she didn't feel that now.
"Oh, sure, you just happen to be here too, right when we are, in a diner that I'm absolutely sure you don't like. Sure," Matt said, crossing his arms. Jackie noted mentally that Hacker was wearing casual clothes, for him - dark jeans, his usual boots, and a bright pink button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up.
Hacker held his hand over his heart and raised the other, grin stretched wide in amusement. "I promise!" He laughed. "Whatever makes you think I don't like it? If it's sophisticated enough for Dr. Marbles then it's fine for me, too."
"It's too young for you," Inez said, tone flat. Sometimes she surprised Jackie with how little she pulled her punches with a borg three times her size.
Hacker's eyes flashed and his fists curled in place. He dropped them downwards quickly, the colorful bands on his wrists drawing her attention to them. Dr. Marbles leaned ever so slightly in the corner of her vision, peering at something behind Hacker.
Jackie took a quick glance. Buzz and Delete in a booth a few tables away - and… a little girl? Buzz was watching them, looking semi-bored, and Delete was folding his napkin in his attempt at origami with the girl. She was giggling as she watched, braiding her hair.
"What, too slow in your old age to think of a comeback?" Digit said with a devilish smirk.
Hacker uttered a noise that was a mix of a growl and a squeal. "Shut your beak, cyberturkey," he said through gritted teeth. "I'm not lying. I'm here with some company of my own." He wiped the snarl off his face and replaced it with a calm smile. The look set Jackie on edge. "You should consider yourselves very, very lucky today that I have my niece with me."
Oh, yeah, his niece! That's where Jackie's seen the girl before. Harmony.
"Why do you care what she thinks, anyway?" Matt demanded.
Hacker shot him a glare before Dr. Marbles pointed behind him. "Here she comes, Hacker. Be nice," he said, smirking with that same glee that Digit had. Hacker whipped his head around to see that indeed, the girl was running from the booth up to him, braided hair in hand. He looked back at the group, turning slightly red, and drew a finger quickly across his neck with an ugly grimace.
Ah, what perfect timing for Harmony to pick! Jackie pressed a hand against her face, stifling a giggle before realizing that she had sticky soda on that hand. Any threat they might've felt from the borg melted away as Harmony bounced up beside him, tugging his shirt despite already having Hacker's attention.
"I need a hair tie," she announced.
"Okay," Hacker replied, kneeling and holding up his wrist for her to pick which color. He'd wiped his face clear of aggression, but Jackie could tell by the way his shoulders heaved and how loud his breaths were that he was furious. Digit and Matt chortled at the borg's expense. Jackie turned back to the table for a napkin to wipe her hands off.
"She's awfully cute," Inez said, sitting back down at the table, cracking a grin. "What was her name again?"
"I'm Harmony!" The girl said, getting distracted from choosing a color and blissfully unaware of her uncle's reddening face.
"Pick a color, honey," Hacker reminded her gently, a subtle tone of urgency in his voice.
"I think you should do pink, so you and Hacker can match," Jackie suggested, unable to resist this prime time for teasing. Harmony squealed in delight.
Chairs slid back in towards the table as the situation turned from frightening to laughable, though Jackie and Dr. Marbles kept themselves turned in Hacker's direction. Slowly, the rest of the world filtered back in - the people passing between Hacker and the table, servers buzzing around, the music, how her hand was now stuck to the napkin. She was a little surprised sometimes at how casually cybercitizens reacted to Hacker's presence, but nobody else seemed to care around them.
Jackie could hear the boys starting to eat again, but her tofu burger didn't seem that appetizing right now. she had a feeling it wouldn't be until Hacker moved on. She watched as Harmony struggled with capturing her hair. Hacker stepped in to help her, much to her protest, promising to teach her sometime.
"You better get back to your table. I think your server's coming back around," Digit said, obviously trying to hide his cranky tone around the innocent Harmony. It was a good subtle way to say hurry up, get lost.
Hacker stood, urging Harmony back to the table. He glared at the group one last time, brushing imaginary dust off his shirt. "What, you've never seen a cyber villain fix his niece's hair before?"
His glare held no weight, no anger. If Jackie didn't know better he actually looked kind of happy - a twinkle in his eyes.
"Bye-bye, uncle-guy," Jackie said with a grin. Matt, Inez, and Digit laughed while Hacker turned to walk away, deflated.
Hacker stepped away before shooting a malicious grin over his shoulder.
"Happy B-Day, Dad."
Jackie gasped, and their was a dead beat of silence. Dr. Marbles' eyebrows crunched together over his glasses, and his mustachioed lip trembled in a sneer. Digit and Matt yelled some not-so-child-friendly insults over the crowd, eager to defend their dear doctor the only way they could, faces as red as Matt's pizza sauce. Hacker just waltzed off to his own table, where Buzz shook his fist at them. Harmony shook her fist too, mimicking Buzz, but Delete quickly stopped her.
The teens quieted and a numb silence settled. Each of their gazes slowly turned to the doctor, watching, waiting, for a reaction.
Dr. Marbles was gripping the back rungs of his chair so tightly that his blue skin was turning a sickly white around the knuckles. Jackie could almost feel the heat from his red-hot glare. He watched as Hacker talked softly to Harmony and the bots. Chuckled, tone light, as he explained something on the menu to her. Acted like he was some ordinary borg out for lunch with his precious family.
Digit and Dr. Marbles used to be that family, too, Jackie remembered, and anger flooded her face with heat. Anger on their behalf. How dare he mock them like that?
Dr. Marbles whirled back around. He picked up a fork and stabbed a piece of broccoli, shoveling it into his mouth and chewing ferociously. Jackie tentatively reached out a hand to rest on their mentor's arm. He glanced at her and kept chewing.
Digit swallowed audibly. "You…you good, Doc?"
Just like that, Dr. Marbles' anger collapsed like a broken wall. He dropped his fork and bowed his head like a broken man.
"We can go, if you want," Inez offered, reaching to hold his other arm as well. "We can pay upfront."
"No, n-no." Dr. Marbles' voice cracked and he gave up whatever argument he was about to use.
Matt stood up, shoving the rest of the pizza slice in his mouth and yanking on his jacket. Jackie took the hint and stood up, gesturing for Digit to do so as well. Inez stayed seated, still squeezing the borg's arm. They had a stronger connection than Matt and Jackie did, sharing some raw brain power in common and a curiosity for problem-solving. If anyone could comfort the doctor out of the squad, it'd be her.
Jackie tried to catch Matt's eyes, but he furiously averted them, staring at the wood floor. She could tell from the way his face was red and he wouldn't look at anyone that he was hurt on the doctor's behalf. Maybe he couldn't handle seeing him this way. Jackie wasn't sure she could, either.
"We'll go someplace serene. Maybe…the Stokified Forest?" Inez went on.
"Yeah, that place is nice!" Digit hastily agreed. He still shot a quick, fearful glance in Hacker's direction every few seconds.
Finally, Dr. Marbles raised his head. Enormous sadness pulled his features down like a hundred-pound-weight. It stung to look into his eyes and see depths of raw hurt from someone who normally was so reserved. "Okay," he agreed finally. "Let's upload out of here."