A/N: Opening inspired by "Simon Says" episode and other portions from the Christmas Special. I've always liked "Simon Says". It develops the relationship of Adrien and Gabriel slightly more, while revealing (or rather, teasing) the audience with potential foreshadow.

Chapter 3: Communication Error

When Adrien gets into another argument with his father, he runs off into the rain. Why is his father always so stubborn?

"Head up to your room, now," Gabriel replied, flatly. "You've had enough excitement for one day." As an afterthought he added, "Nathalie, make sure he stays there."

Nathalie nodded as she lead Adrien up the stairs. Gabriel didn't want to argue with an overly dramatic teenager right now. He expelled a quiet sigh as he rubbed the oncoming headache from his temples, returning to his office. The boy could be such a handful. So... stubborn. Why did he have to be so emotional?

Adrien stormed into his room, making sure the door was fully shut before throwing himself back first onto his bed.

"Father's concerned I'm never sure of anything..." He muttered aloud, tossing his arm over his eyes. His eyebrows furrowed together before he slammed his fists down into the blankets.

"Why doesn't my father ever listen to me?"

He flipped over onto his chest, burying his face in a heap of blankets. Plagg flew over his shoulder, hovering over him as the boy suppressed a shudder. Adrien was trying not to cry. This was usually how the arguments ended. Anytime Adrien would initiate a conversation with some type of request involved, Gabriel would tell him it was unreasonable. Adrien would insist and Gabriel would disagree again, or avoid giving him as straight answer as he sent him to his room to cool down, preventing Adrien from bargaining any further. The teen would shut himself in his room where he ultimately released his suppressed mountain of emotions.

His jaunts with Plagg as Chat Noir seemed to help alleviate some of the teen's emotions. While it was a heavy responsibility, Plagg could feel Adrien's excitement and enthusiasm every time he had a reason to transform. With the mask, he could be anyone. Adrien chose to be carefree. Of course, he did what was required of him, but that was part of the fun. It was like living in another reality, or a fictional life. As Chat Noir, he didn't need to pose if he didn't want to. He didn't have to follow a strict schedule, dress or act a certain way; He became his own person, not the one his father and society imposed on him.

His father... His father thought he was stubborn, but if anyone saw their interactions, they'd probably say Gabriel was equally as such, if not more so. He didn't always seem to be this uptight. But ever since Adrien's mother disappeared, the man became withdrawn. He shut himself in his office for a majority of the day, distracting himself with work. And while his mother had always been the more relaxed of the two, Adrien felt he could at least talk to his father and discuss the concerns he had when he was younger. It wasn't like that anymore though... And Adrien felt himself wishing more and more things could be as they had been. But there was no changing the past, he told himself angrily, wiping furiously at the tears that formed. And if his father was going to be a jerk about everything, so be it.

He'd had enough.

"Plagg, transform me," he half growled as he summoned the entity.

After the transformation was complete Chat looked up at the large windows, noting large amounts of water washing down their surfaces. He hadn't even noticed when it started raining. He pushed a window open, extending his baton as he climbed onto the sill. He needed some fresh air. Now. And a little rain wasn't going to stop him. Without a second thought he vaulted himself out of the room, splashing lightly into a puddle as he landed on the cement below. He took off immediately.

He ran and ran, darting over puddles, past groups of umbrellas, ignoring onlookers as he traveled. Once he reached a more densely populated area, he vaulted to the rooftops, leaping from one to the next, not minding the direction he went; just so long as it took him away from that infuriating man, he was content. The rain hadn't let up and continued at a steady rate, making the rooftops slick. He welcomed the added challenge as it further distracted him from his thoughts. It required him to take exceptional care toward his footing and selecting locations for landing.

He had been running for a good ten minutes when he decided to stop for a moment to place his hands on his knees and catch his breath. His hair was drenched. What wasn't dripping directly to the ground formed rivulets of water running from his bangs down his mask and cheeks. Surprisingly, the rest of him was dry. The leather suit was remarkably waterproof, but he didn't feel excessively sweaty either. He had never taken the time to notice before, likely due to the fact that fighting akumas never gave him a moment to sit and ponder things like suit breathe-ability. He chuckled to himself quietly upon making the realization, only to look up and find himself staring back at him.

It caught him a little off guard, causing him to take a step back in alarm. He reached for his baton before he noticed it was just another giant billboard with his image along with designer clothing plastered all over it. His eyes twitched with irritation as he followed the image to the name of his father's company. That's all he was to the man. A marketing strategy. He didn't really care how Adrien was, as long as he was alive and looking perfect. Why else would he be so overprotective but not bother to give him time of day? Rage balled up inside of his fists as he stood in front of the ad. He let out an angry shout as he slammed his hand against the billboard, reducing it to a crumbling pile of ash.

The rain effectively masked his tears as he dropped down the side of an air vent, plopping himself down against it. He threw his head back as he smashed his teeth together. A choking sob escaped him. He pulled his knees into his chest as his body rattled with shivers. His transformation had worn off and the chilly rain was now seeping through his shirts. Plagg made a small noise at his side, drawing Adrien's attention away from his thoughts. He blinked past the rain and tears as he reached for the small kwami, picking him up to carefully place him into his inner pocket with a wedge of Camembert. Once Plagg was safely tucked away, he folded back into himself, resting his chin on his knees as he allowed himself to cry freely again. Was it too much to ask for a parent who actually cared?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hawkmoth walked into his observatory as the aperture covering the window expanded open. It had been a slow day as his mind was heavily preoccupied with his earlier interactions with his son, and he found himself in need of a distraction. Surely, despite the rain, he could find a worthy candidate for a new akuma victim. As he scanned the city, handfuls of individuals stood out to him, some exerting more anger or sorrow than others. An especially intense energy caught his attention, deep in the center of the city. As he honed in on it, he was surprised to find who it belonged to.

"Adrien?"

He muttered the name aloud in confusion, wondering when the boy could have managed to get so far into the city without him having noticed or been informed. Muttering something about incompetence under his breath, the aperture closed and Gabriel found himself briskly returning to his office as he de-transformed, yanking his cell phone from his pocket and hitting speed dial. The ring back toned.

Adrien lifted his head, tiredly blinking as he realized the low rumble he heard was coming from his pocket. He pulled it out to find his father's picture on the screen. Adrien sighed. If he was calling him, then he knew he was no longer in his room, which likely meant the man would be upset. He grimaced as he braced himself for the worst.

". . . Hello father," Adrien answered tentatively.

"Adrien, would you please inform me as to your whereabouts?"

"I'm just taking a walk," he replied frankly, wiping quietly at his nose.

"It's awfully poor weather for walking, wouldn't you agree?"

Adrien didn't reply.

"Son. . ."

Adrien side glanced in the direction of his phone as he waited in anticipation. What did he want? Adrien wouldn't ask him outright, but he knew his father would never call without a purpose. His conversations were always quick and to the point. Why did this one feel like it had already been dragging on for ages?

"Are you upset?" Gabriel asked.

The question took Adrien aback. How was he supposed to answer that? Responses raced through his mind. 'Yes, father, thank you so much for asking. Now if you don't mind, I'd like to end this conversation.' Or perhaps, 'yes. I find you distant and difficult to communicate with. Would you mind speaking with me more in the future so we can avoid these unnecessary, unpleasant discrepancies in our relationship?' Or, 'what tipped you off? Did you finally realize you can be a self-centered jerk who never gives a thought to anyone beyond himself?' Did he want an apology? Had Adrien's unapproved walk inconvenienced him in some way? He blinked furiously as his red eyes were aggravated by another surge of tears.

"I'm- fine," the teen replied, making a concentrated effort to keep his voice level and the emotion undetectable.

If his father was looking for some kind of connection now, he could forget it. He couldn't talk to the man about everyday things, why would he expect Adrien to confide in him?

"I apologize if I upset you earlier," he heard his father say.

The reply was short and concise. No accusations, no demands, just a simple apology. Adrien's mouth hung open slightly, his lips not moving as he didn't know how to respond. His father never apologized. And if he had, it had long since been forgotten. The boy stood there mouth agape as rain continued to fall, completely saturating his clothing. The silence on the other end remained as if hoping for a reply.

The words finally came.

"I'm. . . sorry too, father."

Silence spanned between them again. It wasn't normal to be talking. Not like this.

". . . I was planning to ask Nathalie to get some take out from that Chinese restaurant down the street. Were you planning to be home for dinner?"

A small smile crept up Adrien's lips.

"Yes. I'll be back home soon," he promised.

They said their goodbyes, and it probably couldn't have been more awkward. But Adrien supposed it couldn't have made him feel happier that he had spoken with him. He pushed the rain water around his face with the palms of his hands, scrubbing away the snot that had dribbled out his nose. Plagg peeked out from under Adrien's collar to find the boy smiling at him. His anger and fatigue had been replaced with a happy hope.

"How does Chinese sound for dinner?" Adrien asked.

Plagg nodded in agreement, coming out of Adrien's shirt. It was still raining, but the clouds on the horizon were parting, revealing a vibrant orange sunset. Perhaps things would be okay, even if they weren't how they had been. Plagg smiled back at the boy as Adrien raised his hand.

"Plagg, transform me!"