Adrien was miserable.

His father was miserable.

His mother disappeared.

It's been months now since it happened, but he wasn't over it. Neither him or his father were, and probably never would be.

He sighed, looking of his window, seeing the world outside of his home. The world he didn't get to freely explore, only ever out for photo shoots and fashion shows.

He remembers his mother telling him that he head fallen down the stairs, and anything before eight years old, he can't recall. Memories from before then were wiped away from a nasty fall, just like that.

He remembers a girl, though, from when he and his father had returned from the hospital, his father looked distraught that day, but also determined. He can't recall details, but he remembers Gorilla carrying away.

Kicking.

Screaming.

Crying.

But that was as far as his head will let him remember. He barely even remembers what she looks like, just that she was there when he arrived back home- and then, she was gone. He never saw her again.

Focusing back outside to the bustling life of Paris, he craved to go outside.

He needed to go outside.

Checking the time, he noted that his father wouldn't be busy at this moment and decided to try his luck.

Exiting his room, he made his way to where his father would most likely be- looking at her painting. Going down stairs, carefully, he pushed open the door and peeked in.

"Father?" he called softly to the man who stood where he knew he would be. "May I...go to the park?"

"Adrien," his father called coldly, "you know I don't want you going out unless it's for shoots."

"I know," Adrien looked down at his feet, "but it's so...I need fresh air, please. I'm sufficating." His father didn't respond for a moment, and Adrien just took it as a sign of it's out of the question, go back to your room. Turning to go back to his bedroom, he had barely opened the door when his father spoke up.

"You can go for a short time, but you must take Gorilla with you and be careful."

He looked back, shocked, but gave a small smile.

"Thank you, father."

-

He spread his arms and spun around, breathing the fresh air around him before sitting himself down on a bench, so happy to be out with the sun on his face and actual nature and people around him.

He hated being caged in his own home. He wanted freedom, he wanted to be like other people his age- go to school, have friends, actually have to take home homework!

His only friend was Chloe, the mayor's daughter. Chloe had always seemed a little too happy to be his only friend, but he never really questioned her. What was there to question? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Gorilla was off to the side, watching the area with a careful eye. Most people around were adults with their toddlers and infants, not many teenagers, which made his job easier, but didn't relax any less. It was the weekend after all.

Adrien had gotten up and started walking the path layout around the park, looking around him and playing with some kids who ran past or around him.

Suddenly, there was stark, midnight blue hair flowing from a pony tail, coming from a girl who jogged past him with earbuds in her ears, and seemed to have been here for a while if the amount of sweat was any indicator.

His eyes trailed after her as she kept going, and decided to sit down and wait for her to come back around.

There was something about her that...

(Kicking.)

Just seemed...

(Screaming.)

For some reason...

(Crying.)

'Familiar...' he thought, just as she was coming back around, slowing down to a walk to catch her breath, and was checking her phone. Putting it away she was nearing him and suddenly-

Their eyes met.

She kept walking, until she was in front of him, only her head turned to look at him.

This meeting didn't seem right.

"Can I help you with something?" she asked, not looking away from him. But there was something heavy in the way she looked at him, almost expecting.

"Oh, u-uh," he stuttered, flustering as he realized that he was probably being weird, maybe borderline creepy, "n-no, sorry..."

"It's fine," she brushed off, and turned to start walking away but hesitated, then turned to him again. Her blank face was almost unsettling, but oddly comforting. "Are you alone?"

"Ah," he glanced over to Gorilla who seemed to watching the entrances at the moment. "Yeah. I just...needed some air."

She raised a brow, "I see..." she purses her lips, thoughtful, "would you like some company?"

Adrien looked at the girl, she seemed his age. She could possibly a fan, but she definitely wasn't acting like one. If anything, she was treating as- an equal. Just another person.

He smiled, appreciatively, "I would like that." In a few strides, she was at the bench and sitting down with a relieved sigh, tired from her exercise. "I'm sorry if I was rude, staring at you like that, I was just kind of zoned out."

"You're fine, I wasn't really bothered. Just curious."

"About me staring?" he flushed, embarrassed, "I guess I was curious, too. Um...you jog regularly?"

"I do," she nodded, looking at the occupants of the park, "I dance, so it's important I stay somewhat in shape."

"Wow, really? I always liked the idea of dancing, but I only know formal ones..." she nodded, understanding. She didn't seem like much of a talker, but she seemed to be pushing herself for his sake, which flustered him further, "Dancing is...a nice way of expressing yourself."

"There's many ways of expressing yourself," she commented, "music, sports, hair, make-up, fashion- all are arts. But there's so many ways to just express, but some people are are afraid to. Tell me, Adrien Agreste," he tensed, looking at her, but she wasn't looking at him, there was no hostility or motive that he could find; she was simply leaning back on the bench, looking ahead, hands in her pocket, relaxed. Then, she finally turned to him, bluebell eyes looking into his green ones, "how do you express yourself?"

"Me?" he echoed, thinking, "I..." How did he? He never really thought about it. He had many talents, but they were all learned over the years of private tutors and lessons that his father had chosen for him. Was there really any way that he truly expressed himself? Of his own volition?

"If you don't have an answer, it's okay," she stood up, looking over he saw that Gorilla was looking over at their direction, his eyes narrowed, but he didn't move from his spot. "If you need more time to find the answer, then you take your time. Eventually you will find your answer, and I hope, then, you will be happier than you are now."

"Wait!" he stood up as well, furrowing his brows, "What's your name?"

She stared at him, before an empty smile stretched itself onto her pretty face. Now that he was really looking at her. Hair clinging onto her skin, which was glistening with sweat, still, her eyes were big, had a small nose, and a small mouth- over all, she was very pretty. But just looked so done, so tired, and it showed in the smile she gave him, that she was so, so sad.

But why, he doesn't know. 

"Tell me, Adrien, what do you think my name is?"

Not receiving an answer, she turned away and began to jog once again, leaving Adrien alone with his thoughts, sitting back down on the bench, he watched her leave, escaping the park- 

(Escaping the cruel reality.)

Why would she think that he would know her name? Does he know her, or maybe met her before? Was it rude of him to not remember-

He paused.

(Kicking.)

Remember.

(Screaming.)

Maybe...

(Cryingcryingcryingcrying.

"You can't do this!" He watched Gorilla carry a screaming, crying, kicking girl away from him and his parents. He didn't know what was happening. His head hurts. He didn't understand. He was so confusedconfusedconfused- 

"Gabriel Agreste! Let me see him!"

"You fucking bastard!"

"Karma will get you! Just you watch! 

"It's not fair...it's not-" 

The door closes. 

He never saw the girl again, and later, she became a distant, distant, memory at the beginning of his new ones.)

Maybe he does know her.