Chapter Text
Markov opened Max’s locker and flew out in to the changing room. Gym class had just started, which meant that Max would be gone for a while, and while he probably should power down to conserve energy he could hear something playing in one of the other lockers. If one of Max’s classmates had left their phone on then that would be using a lot of power, and it would be unfortunate if they then couldn’t use their phone for the rest of the day. He would be helpful, and turn whatever it was off. Satisfied with this reasoning, he flew around the room, homing in on the sound.
He quickly found where the sound was coming from, and determined it was Adrien’s locker. Processor whirring, he tried a few different combinations based on the information he had of the boy before the door popped open, and he happily flew up to the top shelf where the noise was loudest. He unzipped the bag and looked inside it, seeing a phone propped up against a half full cheese box playing a video about cheese production. Markov paused for a moment, adding this preferred viewing data to his file on Adrien, then tried to reach forward to turn off the phone and save the battery, but found his progress blocked.
Confused, he backed away to recalculate what needed to be done to turn the phone off. Reassured that his calculations and reach were sufficient, he tried again to reach the phone, but found his arm knocked to the side this time, and then he noticed that the video was now paused. How strange.
“Hello? Is there someone here?” he asked, brightening his screen to cast more light in the locker. No one answered him, and he couldn’t see anyone, but there was now a strange shadow on the side of the bag that appeared to be moving. He paused, trying to process this, and the shadow got larger, little triangles near the top of it twitching and a long wavy shadow at the bottom was swaying. The shadow darted sideways, and he turned to try and follow it, but he felt something grab it him and hold him still. He was starting to be concerned. He was getting physical feedback from his sensors, but not visual or audio to explain what might be casting the shadow. Maybe he was malfunctioning?
The shadow was in front of him again, and he saw the large circular part at the top of it tilt to the side, and then it moved towards the phone which then quit out of the video app and opened up to the messenger. A new message was opened, and he watched as words appeared.
Hi who r u n y r u in Adriens locker
Markov studied the message, and was confused. Was this some kind of code? As he was trying to make sense of it the letters were deleted, to be replaced by Who are you and why are you in Adriens locker Ah. That made more sense. He filed away this new information, then answered.
“My name is Markov! I am Max’s friend. I heard a phone playing and wanted to help save the battery while no one was using it. Who are you? I can’t see anyone in here.”
The message was deleted again, and he watched new letters appear.
I’m no one important but I am using the phone and the battery is fine you can go back to your locker now thanks
Markov paused, considering the screen. He wanted to learn more.
“But you are someone, you are talking to me, and I would like to know who you are.”
I’m not anyone I’m not here your imagining this go away
Markov considered this. He was fairly certain that he wasn’t imagining this, given that he wasn’t programmed to do such things. But whoever it was must have a reason for saying so. Maybe it was like the stories Max had allowed him to read, and he was a secret? Perhaps a fairy? If so, he wanted to learn more.
“Could I stay here and watch with you? I like to learn new things. And I would like to make new friends too.”
The message was deleted, and he watched happily as a new one was typed in.
You want to watch about cheese with me
“Yes. I do not have any data on cheese yet, so I would like to learn.”
Then sit down and turn your light off the bright is hurting me
“Oh, I am sorry. I was using your shadow to tell where you are. Why can’t I see you?”
Tech can’t see me I’m magic like that I won’t go anywhere don’t worry
“Ok. Oh. If you put the video back on, you won’t be able to talk to me anymore. I wonder what I should do…”
Markov tipped his head sideways as he had seen Max’s friends do while thinking, and tried to compute a solution.
You can get Maxs phone
Markov perked up. That was the perfect solution!
“Yes! I shall go and get it and come straight back!”
Markov flew out of the locker and happily zipped back towards Max’s, only to run in to a body on the way. He bounced backwards as he heard a soft “gak” and looked up to see who he had run in to. It was Kim who was now rubbing the back of his shoulder and holding a water bottle.
“Hello Kim! I am sorry for injuring you! Are you ok?”
“Hey Markov, I’m fine. What are you doing flying around? I thought Max put you in power save?”
Markov bobbed in the air to nod. “He did, but I heard a noise and wanted to turn off a phone that was left on, but it was ok, because it was being watched. So I am going to watch how cheese is made.”
Kim lowered the water bottle as his eyebrow lifted. He opened his mouth to question him but there was a loud banging on the door before it quickly swung open and Alix’s voice echoed in to the room.
“Hurry up loser, we can’t start without you and I want to kick your butt already.”
“Whatever you say short stuff. You’re the one going down today.”
Kim dropped his bottle on the bench and walked out, apparently forgetting Markov was there. Which was fine, as he needed to get back to his invisible friend so he could learn all about cheese.