Connor has read through twenty-seven articles, thirty-two handbooks and manuals, and has watched twelve different interviews with ex-bodyguards that protected children.
He waits patiently in the parking lot of Peter's school.
Connor wasn't given order or permission to directly monitor Peter within the school, but he was given a watch connected to Peter's current info on vitals. Peter's heartbeat has been slightly elevated all day, but Conor had been told that it was because of a "medical condition" and that he shouldn't worry about it unless it drastically heightens.
Peter's temperature is also a bit lower than average, a bit similar to the temperature that Midtown sets their thermostats at. (His body temp was also waved off because of a "medical condition." It could pass, Connor thinks, Peter does look deceptively small.) Connor wonders how much of a spider "Spider-man" is. It shouldn't be possible for someone to actually be half-spider, right?
Spiders are cold-blooded, and while they aren't put in much pain because of the cold, Connor worries slightly over how easy it would be to have Peter become dormant or tired with the use of temperature.
Connor makes a note to request for extra, warmer clothing for Peter to wear or change into in case of emergency.
The school bells ring for the seventh time- Peter's school has students taking eight classes a day- and Connor settles further into his seat, deciding to spend the next few hours reading up on today's teen slang.
2016 slang is surprisingly confusing. Lots of words meaning lots of things. Hmmm. Would he, Hank, and Markus be considered a 'Squad?'
Markus sighs- a strange and subtle action programmed by CyberLife when trying to make the androids less creepy to look at. He's been told to wait outside the meeting room that Stark is in. Markus had read rumours of Tony Stark being a lay-about, party-goer that disregarded secretaries and board members, but the real Stark seems to make a bigger attempt at his job than what the news had said.
Markus was forwarded yet another package of NDAs to sign as Tony told him about the number of meetings he had today. Tony hadn't met his eyes, but Markus could clearly see the pity in the man's grimace when he told Markus that he'd have to go through them all and sign where needed.
It really was no problem though, Markus had swiftly gone through each contract page and signed every place where needed.
On the other hand, now Markus has completed the one assignment he could do for the moment. Now he had to wait. For Tony to finish his meetings. Nothing to do. Noone's around to give him something to do.
Markus fidgets with his thumbs slightly. He glances at his new tablet, which is sitting next to him on another chair. Markus' eyes zero in on its screen.
Finally giving in to his curiosity, Markus turns, picking up the tablet, and switches it on.
"JARVIS? When were you born?"
Connor sits up straight when the last, last bell rings throughout campus. He moves to step out of the car to more properly look for Peter among the many teen heads but decides not to when he realizes the other adults in cars around them aren't doing the same. Soon, Peter exits a building and spots him from afar.
With a small smile, Connor waves. Another teen is with Peter, and with a quick scan, Connor learns that the teen's name is Edward Leeds. An equally intelligent boy like Peter, but more so in engineering and coding sciences than in biomedical topics. A good friend, if social media is anything to go by.
The two teens head over, and Connor easily hides his slight confusion as Ned gets into the backseat with Peter.
"Oh! Um, this is Ned, he and I are going to hang out at mine for a while," Peter quickly explains before awkwardly putting on his seatbelt. Connor nods and waits. His eyes stare at Ned through the rearview mirror. Ned waves a hand and smiles.
"Hi! I'm Ned and wow, are you really Peter's bodyguard? That's so cool-" The words rush out of Ned and Peter harshly whispers for him to stop.
"Yes. My name is Connor, I have been hired by Mr Stark to protect and escort young Peter-"
Peter coughs, face inflamed, and Ned finally puts on his seatbelt. Connor, sensing the awkward tension, nods and smiles as softly as he can. He pulls the car out of the parking spot and begins the drive back to Peter's residence.
"...do you know Karate?" Ned suddenly asks.
Markus smoothly stands up to dutifully follow after Stark. The meeting had finally ended and, though he thought that he and Stark have been getting on well enough, Stark exited and paid almost no attention to him. Other than a cursory glance and a grimace, Tony had seemingly decided to ignore his existence for the foreseeable future.
Markus silently wishes that this had happened after Tony was fed. Now he has to try getting the man to actually eat lunch without offending him. It'd be nice to not get fired.
"Tony, it's your set time for lunch-"
"I'm not hungry."
"I'm sure you would feel otherwise if you were to start on a meal-"
Tony interrupts him with a sigh and stops in his walking to run his hand over his eyes and down his face. Markus stands a little ways away, back straight with a placating smile to match the demeanour.
"What's lunch for today, JARV-"
Before Markus realized Stark was asking for JARVIS to answer, he spews the meal information as easily as any other android.
"I had prepared sauteed broccoli and asparagus, along with a main meal of grilled chicken in garlic flatbread. If you would please head towards an employee lounge or to your personal quarters, I can have them heated up in a few minutes." Markus finishes and, out of habit, he tilts his head down a bit in a bow before he straightens back up to meet Stark's eyes. Tony stares at him for a moment, and Markus makes a show of awkwardly shifting his weight onto another foot. Markus suddenly realizes he has his hands formally clasped behind him, under his backpack. He quickly moves his arms out from the ex-mandated position.
Finally, Stark's annoyed face breaks into a small smile. He shrugs and heads toward an elevator.
"Let's just eat in my lab, I have a microwave there," Tony explains off-handedly as they get into the elevator. Markus carefully keeps his face from frowning. He'll make sure to keep any chemicals away from Tony's eating space, but the easy disregard for lab safety itches at his programmes. Quickly, the thought is pushed aside as Markus remembers the conversation he had with JARVIS.
"Tony, may I ask a question regarding your AI JARVIS?"
Tony glances at him before shrugging again and nodding.
"Sure, kid, just don't go spilling company secrets to anybody," Tony jokes.
"Have you ever thought of building a body for JARVIS?"
Tony stills and his easy-going grin flattens. He turns bodily towards Markus and tilts his head. Markus feels strangely naked in front of the billionaire.
"Why're you asking?"
The elevator bell dings and Markus steps back a bit to let Tony exit first. Tony doesn't move, and instead continues to stare at him.
"...I just thought it would be nice. To give him a body, he's- he seems like a real person."
Tony hums idly and finally exits the elevator. He steps into the lab and his arms extend outward in a presenting pose, he spins to face Markus and makes a show of gesturing his hands.
"This is my lab," Tony breathes in before he turns and plops down onto a wheeled stool with a leather seat and metal stand." I've definitely thought of giving JARVIS his own body. Microwave is over there," Tony answers casually.
Markus makes his way over to the industrial-looking microwave and quickly scans it to figure out the settings and buttons. After he's taken the prepared meal box out of his bag and placed it in the microwave to heat up, he turns around and steadily positions himself into idle standby.
"I drafted up plans for a body once. JARV kept saying I was making him too tall, isn't that right?" Tony's back is facing away from Markus, and he already seems to have begun work on some project.
"That is correct, sir. You seemed to have developed a strange attachment to the idea of me being tall enough for professional basketball," JARVIS answers. Markus feels something in him thaw as the robotic tones filter subtly into JARVIS' voice. It's interesting, many of his way older android friends had pre-recorded voice samples they pulled from rather than computer-generated tones. Way back when, they didn't exactly have to say anything other than things like "Yes," "I apologize for being unable to fulfil your request," "Of course," and "I'll be sure to get that done as soon as possible."
"Why didn't you ever go through with it?" Markus asks. He turns back around a millisecond before the microwave would've started beeping and pulls out the hot food, unflinching at the heat it radiated. He walks over to Stark and perfectly sets it down on the tabletop next to the man. Stark mumbles a thank you before focusing once again.
"People went crazy over my Ironman suits. I don't think I want to restart popular slave trading by making bodies for my AI. JARVIS doesn't deserve that," Stark says easily. He shovels in some chicken and swallows it down before looking back up at Markus, "Are you going to eat too?"
Markus smiles awkwardly and shakes his head in the negative.
In a different area of the state, Connor is asked the same question as he unhesitatingly follows Peter and Ned into May's apartment. He, of course, declines the food. The two boys had immediately gone over to the kitchen and started making a rather large amount of peanut sandwiches. Connor could tell Peter was a bit surprised by something.
"...So how long are you supposed to stay? Like, I know that you're supposed to protect me and all but I'm home now," Peter says. Peter's eyes are focused on his food and an uncomfortable blush is on his cheeks. Ned sits by him, also eating (Though he seems more relaxed).
"I will be staying until Ned leaves. He is not an authorized guest that can act as your guardian, so I am not allowed to leave him too alone with you," Connor answers with a smile. Ned's eyes are wide and Connor is confused for a moment as Ned seems to focus on his face.
"Woah, you're like a real agent! Are you SHIELD? Where did you train? Why do you talk like that?" Ned asks rapidly. Connor blinks, neuron-like information transmitters spark through his mental processors as he tries to figure out a way to respond. His head tilts curiously.
"Could you elaborate?" Connor asks. Peter keeps elbowing Ned with a scolding expression.
"You sound so formal! Did you work for SHIELD? Do you know Black Widow? Or Hawkeye?" Ned continues to ask, ignoring Peter and not fully elaborating as much as Connor would have preferred.
"I have not worked for Shield, no, but I did do police training in Detroit," Connor answers. Ned seems to brighten up even more.
"Detroit? That place is crazy! We went over Michigan in government and politics class-"
"Oh yes, at this time, Detroit has yet to begin the same city and overall technological advancements as other large cities. I assume though, thet they will begin rebuilding later next year," Connor immediately says, a strangely defensive emotion accidentally slips into his tone. "Things have been difficult for us, we're doing the best we can."
Ned's face tenses awkwardly and then he's looking down at his food. Peter grimaces and his face takes on a more sympathetic expression that he directs at Connor. Connor stares back nonplussed, not understanding the sudden tension in the room.
"Sorry for offending you," Ned mumbles, his mouth bunches up and his eyebrows furrow worriedly. Connor, horrified, immediately tries to comfort the boy.
"I am not offended, no worries. I seem to have reacted inappropriately which has led to discomfort. I assure you, I can not be offended," Connor says. Connor's facial features relax into a calm and smiling resting position.
Peter faux coughs and says he and Ned should get started on their project.