Accident of the Evening

Reality

Adrien began walking the streets when early evening rolled around. He knew he wouldn't need to be out long before the Gorilla would find him and he was right. He had barely gotten past the past the spot he had lost him the night before when the car pulled up beside him.

"Get in Adrien," a cold voice sent a shiver through his spine but he nodded and climbed in, reluctant to look at the emptiness inside.

"Where have you been? Why have you not replied to any of our efforts to contact you?" his father demanded through the screen in the back of the driver's seat.

"My phone was flat, I'm sorry," Adrien lied. It was too easy to lie to someone you never saw in person. All you needed to know was what faces to pull and what words to say.

"You ran away again last night, I was worried." Adrien didn't even need to look to know his father was fine. His white hair was perfectly styled, his clothes perfectly flat and his eyes perfectly emotionless and well-rested. Of course, he didn't say anything out-loud.

"I just went out with some friends," Adrien told him. "I was Saturday, I wanted to have some fun for a change."

"You missed two photoshoots and an interview today, not to mention your Sunday fencing lessons."

"Well, according to my schedule yesterday, I had nothing planned, how interesting," Adrien mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing father. I will make up for my missed fencing lessons and personally contact the photographers and interviewers I missed today and apologise for my behaviour."

"Good. Now I have to board the plane for Milan. Be sure to have your suit fitted for this weekend's annual Parisian Masquerade ball. I expect you to be there and to represent our family. You have a duty to the people, Adrien."

"Father, they aren't my people, they aren't our people. We have loose relations to royalty in another country, one that most people have never even heard of."

"Bite your tongue Adrien. You will attend and you will watch yourself because you are an Agreste and you have a duty to the people." Gabriel clicked off and Adrien let out a low moan.

He had forgotten about the ball. He could bring a plus one, but he had no one he wanted to bring, well, no, he had no one he wanted to subject to that. Maybe he could ask Marinette to go with him. Oh, but she wouldn't go because the Mayor hosts the event and wherever the mayor was, his daughter was never far behind. And she would be looking for him.

Adrien shook his head. What was the point of a masquerade ball if no one knew who each other was?

The boy climbed out of the black car at his apartment complex and turned to lean in the passenger side window.

"Look, I'm sorry for making your job harder on you, um...sir," Adrien added when he realised the man was not going to give him his name. "I just don't see why my father thinks I need a babysitter-bodyguard, I meant bodyguard. I'm sorry. I actually have a lot of respect for you and the lengths you go to for me. I'm just sorry my father and I have different views on my life."

"Don't be sorry Adrien." The gorilla grunted out and Adrien widened his eyes. That was the first time he had spoken to Adrien...well, ever.

"Well, um, have a good night. I promise if I leave I'll let you know. Goodnight."

"It's Gideon. Goodnight Adrien, I'll hold you too that. For more than tonight, okay?" Adrien nodded and watched the man pull away, still in shock by the fact that he spoke, the fact that he could speak.