A/N: So, welcome to my first endeavor into the realm of Matrix fandom. This is just a short for Valentine's Day; oddly enough, my inspiration came from a Snapple bottle cap. Funny how these things work out…

I hate asking for reviews, so even though this is the part where I'm supposed to, I only ask this instead: If/when you DO review, I appreciate constructive criticism, but please, no flames. Thank you, and please enjoy…

Wide-Eyed Escape

By Ragdolli

For as long as I have ever been able to remember, it was always better for my family to be benefited than for me to smile. Yet somehow, I still found those hidden grins in getting into trouble-which certainly was the worst way to help my family.

I used to go walking in the village below our fort, wearing rags to match the filthy peasants I met along the way. It was there that I found my escape (or really, it took me away), and through this my final reason to smile.

But I find myself jumping ahead of myself; forgive me. I suppose it started years ago, when the gypsy caravan came to the village of Lyon-my home.

In my family there was one rule: you behaved, or you were beaten…or so my Grandfather said. He had been a military general in his prime, now my father carried on the tradition. Between the two of them, there was no acceptance of anything but submission. My mother, however, taught me the true variations of the Household Rules. Never get caught. This was the mantra by which I lived. I knew all of the military codes by heart, and so it was in this way I came upon that first letter.

Many followed after it, leading up to the letter in which I was given away to the mysterious correspondent. Obedience buys you nothing in this life, rebellion got me everywhere. But again, I find myself skipping on a tangent. I should get back to why I left.

A week after I was promised to Monsieur Smithson, I was informed of the arrangement. The conversation went something like this:

My father entered my chambers in the drafty old stone fort without making his presence known, and scurried to hide away my papers (I'll explain those soon). "Ma fille, I have wonderful news!"

I gulped down air from my recent scare and eyed the sparkle in his eye with suspicion. "Yes?"

"You are betrothed, and tomorrow he shall arrive! Bon soir, ma fille!"

Disgusting. My own father could not even be bothered to give me the name of the foul man I was to marry against my will-which is where my papers tie in. Have you ever felt that there is something wrong with the world? Well, I suppose you must have felt this to be reading this account, but I continue. I had heard of a man by the name of Morpheus, who ran a rather infamous cabaret in the Moulin Rouge in Paris. He took in many people to work for him, and he seemed to hold the answer to my questions. I knew I would search him out, if he could give me answers I would do almost anything. It was in this way that I found myself writing the legendary Morpheus a letter when my father decided to make an appearance.

It's comical how fate works. One moment fate finds us betrothed to a general we have never met, and the next it finds Morpheus and his troupe locked in the fort's jail cell for prostitution. Sometimes, fate just makes things work out in ways we never imagined. And seeing this, I snuck down to see Morpheus in the dead of the night.

"I can get you out," my sound carried through the empty dungeon corridor.

"I know," his smile was both sly and innocent, and I knew at that moment I would do whatever he asked.

A/N: So, this is what I suppose could be called the "Teaser". I will post the rest of the story on Valentine's Day, since that WAS the point of writing it in the first place. There will be romance, and hopefully everyone as in character as possible in the AU setting (tell me if they seem too OOC). I would like to point out that THIS WILL NOT FOLLOW THE MOVIES! So don't expect that plot. I hope you tune back in, and until then, swift travels. .