AN: This is a snippet from my Always Human Au! Everyone is, and always has been human!

Slider chuckled at something Matt was saying as the pair walked out of school together, setting his skateboard on the sidewalk as he re-shouldered his backpack and got ready to skate back to the group home he was currently in. That was until someone cleared their throat, making him look up.

Hacker, Mr. H himself, was leaning against a very expensive car and staring Slider down with that same look of disapproval that he'd perfected over the years. Slider was tempted to skate right past him anyways, but instead gave Matt a half smile and a wave before picking his board back up and giving Hacker a nod. "What's up?" He hummed, crossing his arms with a blank expression. He'd quickly learned that if Hacker appeared, he wanted something.

Hacker snorted, still looking at Slider in disapproval before opening the car door and gesturing for him to get in. Slider let out a quiet groan of annoyance before sliding into the backseat, setting his skateboard between his legs. He hated Hacker's fancy car. It made him feel small and like he was dirty, touching something nice and leaving streaks of dirt behind. He looked down at his worn laces. Some dried mud had already fallen onto the carpeted floor. Slider slid his gaze over as Hacker climbed in next to him, knocking on the window for the driver to start driving.

Slider stared blankly at Hacker, who seemed to be giving Slider a once over. Slider sure as hell wasn't going to start the conversion. Finally, after a few beats of silence, Hacker opened his mouth. "You need a haircut." He hummed, nose wrinkled as he reached over to push the hair out of Slider's face. Slider flinched back with a wince, eyes falling back to his muddy shoes. "Your clothes are so -"

"I was at school, not some fancy restaurant or something." Slider snapped. He hated when Hacker did this, picked him apart. He was fine just the way he was, and he was sure his pops would agree... wherever he was.

Hacker's mouth formed a thin line, annoyed at being interrupted. "I need you to come with to a meeting and dinner. We'll stop to get you clothes and a haircut." The way he spoke made it sound like he wasn't asking.

Slider sunk lower in his seat. He tried to think of a way out of it. He could say homework, or maybe fake a sudden and hopefully lethal sickness... "Why?" He muttered, giving Hacker a frown, "Aren't you afraid I'll embarrass you in front of your fancy friends or something?" He sighed, turning to look out the window.

Hacker snorted. "Your grandmother wants to see you." He sneered as Slider froze, eyebrows jumping up.

"Gma-board?" Slider murmured, surprised. It was a joke on her name Slider made when he was younger that stuck. The woman had been pretty ill and plenty busy, Slider wasn't sure she even remembered him half the time... but she apparently asked to see him... "Oh." He fiddled with his hands in his lap. He liked Motherboard and her caretakers Dr. Marbles and Digit. Frowning again in thought, he looked at Hacker in confusion. "Does she still think you live with -"

Hacker cut him off, clearly irritated. "It doesn't matter. She wants to see you, and -"It was Slider's turn to cut Hacker off, a look of distaste on his face that matched Hacker's own. "And you want something from her, so you're using me to try and soften her up first?" He snarked, rolling his eyes. How predictable.

Hacker glowered at Slider. "My business ventures are none of your concern. You're coming with me, and I expect perfect behavior. Are we clear?" He snarled.

Slider crossed his arms and sunk even lower in his seat, grumbling but not fighting it, he'd learned quickly that it was easier to just stick out whatever scheme Hacker had until he could bail at the end.

The rest of the ride and afternoon were spent in uncomfortable silence and snippy comments between the two. Slider begrudgingly allowed his hair to be trimmed but loudly complained as Hacker requested it to be styled with gel. Slider also found himself shoved into a changing room with several fancier outfits, where he changed into a nice button down and a nice pair of jeans, shooting Hacker a glare when the man asked about wearing a suit instead.

Slider caught sight of his reflection in the car ride over and made a face. He liked his comfy clothes and his look. He looked down at the clothes folded in a bag at his feet. His new shoes were uncomfortable. He was uncomfortable. He glanced at Hacker, who looked smugly back. Slider didn't like it when he looked at him like that. He missed his pops.

Slider liked Motherboard. She was gentle and kind, and asked him how school was, if he liked any classes, if he joined any clubs, and if his father's were feeding him enough as he was much too skinny. He swallowed, his relaxed grin freezing as he glanced over to Dr. Marbles and Digit. Was this just her being sick? Slider had heard of sicknesses like that, where people got confused... but the other two were looking at him expectantly, and then Hacker had his hand on his shoulder and was sharing about how clever he was and how proud they were. Slider couldn't breathe. They didn't know. His pops could be hurt or dead, and they didn't know. Hacker's grip on his shoulders tightened, and Slider kept his mouth shut, and he felt like throwing up.

Slider spent the entire dinner pushing his food around his plate. Any appetite for Digit's cooking was long gong. Was his pops hungry? Hacker was telling Motherboard and Dr. Marbles the benefits of investing in his latest company project. Digit kept giving Slider looks and asking if he felt okay. Slider made excuses about having a late lunch.

Motherboard gave the best hugs. And Slider managed to give her a weak smile and nod when she told him to stay in touch. He even managed to hold the smile and give a small wave until they were out of sight. He felt sick.

Hacker asked him something. Slider looked up from the window of the car they'd returned to. Hacker looked pleased. He must have gotten his business deal. Slider looked down at outstretched hand as the car pulled up in front of the group home. Hacker was holding out several folded bills with a smirk, as if this entire endeavor was charity work. Slider met his eyes again with a look of disgust. "For future information, normally you can't rent foster kids." He snarled before grabbing his bag of clothes and stomping up the driveway to go to his room and change. He needed to shower to get all the slime of spending time with Hacker off.

Hacker watched him go, tisking at the idiocy of rejecting a rather painless handful of cash. He hesitated for a moment, eyes on Slider's retreating form, before knocking on the window to tell the driver to move along.

That night, Slider got a text that simply read, "Tonight was enjoyable. Perhaps we'll have to go out more often." He blocked the number.