"Monsieur, Adrian Agreste is ready to provide his statement!" Ladybug announces as they both make their way over to the chief of police. Removing his hat to show sympathy, Rodgers takes Adrian by the shoulder to sit him down on the steps to make the young Agreste more comfortable before he begins questioning him.
"I must be going now. There is a lot to do now that this battle is over." Ladybug states before she swings her yo-yo away from the manor.
"Adrian, you have been living with the masked supervillain known as Hawkmoth. I must ask, how long have you been aware of the situation and what led you to reveal this news to the heroes of Paris?" at the questions, Adrian takes a deep breath before delving into his version of events.
"It was the anniversary of my mother's disappearance, so I went into the garden to calm my thoughts. Shortly after, my father came out to tell me something. I thought he 'was going to say 'he and Natalie were getting together', and I said as much. He was outraged at the idea. That 'he will not stop loving my mother, that my aunt and cousin were on their way and that I should make myself present." Adrian starts. "I pushed the situation out of my head until I got home yesterday. Too curious about what he wanted to talk to me about, I went to his office to question him on what he wanted to talk to me about before I interrupted him. He told me everything, how he was Hawkmoth, how 'he was doing it all for Mother and how 'he won't stop till he gets' his wish. He showed me his lair, butterfly harvesting room and mot-" Adrian rambled 'tears starting to bubble out. "-and mother and then he sent me to my room. I was then going to run away by using my bedroom window, that was when Chat Noir found me, and I told him everything." He finished after composing himself.
"Ladybug and Chat Noir have had numerous situations where they could have stopped Hawkmoth but didn't. What were you going to do? if he managed to get away again?" The 'Chief' questions.
Adrian opens up his bag revealing the map and a book with research on butterflies. "I was going to run away before he could akumatise me for what I did, and since he could akumatis anybody in Paris without leaving his lair... I was going to leave Paris altogether." He confesses, looking to the ground in defeat.
At that moment, a car rolled up in front of him. It was a car belonging to somebody from social services. "Chief Rodgers, I believe you called for me?" questioned the person leaving the vehicle.
After hearing the question, the chief went towards them. "Yes, it's about the child on the steps over there, 'he found out his father was Hawkmoth. I feel like there is more to the story than he told me. Could you see if he feels up to sharing anything else, please? I have got a lot of paperwork to fill in." He answered as he then got in his car and drove away.
"Hi, my name is Sam. What's your name?" They questioned, waiting for a reply, "I guess you don't feel up to talking, which is 'totally' fine, especially with the revelations that you've received recently. I was just wondering if you felt up to sharing any information about 'what your life was like before these events?" they elaborated.
Adrian looked into the eyes of the person he knew wanted to lay his worries to rest. "Adrian." The Social Worker nodded their head to encourage Adrian to go on, " I don't know where to begin. There are two sides to it all." 'More like three if I include the Chat Noir side to this situation!' Adrian thought to himself.
"Most people 'often' start at the beginning, though if you want specifics, I guess we could start with your school life like?" they questioned. Seeing Adrian's face downcast, they went on to elaborate. "Was it easy for you to make friends in school when you were younger, or was it easy for you."
"I didn't go till I was 14. Natalie taught me until then. The only friend I had was Chloe. Though I wouldn't call her a friend, she was more like an annoying sister." Taking a deep breath he went on " Father wouldn't let me go to school at first. I had to sneak out on my first day of school but Natalie caught me and brought me back, after I tried a second time that day she let me go to school and convinced my father"
"Did he let you stay after that, seeing as you were happy 'going to a public school?" Sam questioned, intent on knowing the 'full story'.
"Well, he let me go to school, but he would ban me from going to school if I upset him or disobeyed one of his rules, though I guess it was more him banning me from interacting with my friends, then when Nino tried to get his help to throw me a birthday party he banned him from coming here and told us we couldn't be friends, though I guess that day wasn't so bad as he made me a scarf for a birthday present rather than the same fountain pen he was giving me for three years in a row."
"Were there any other occurrences where you had to run away from home or interactions with your father?" questioned Sam, a bit worried about how Adrian seemed to think that all this was normal.
"At Christmas, I was really upset as it was my first Christmas without my mother, I tried to talk to my father, tried to celebrate with him but he said he had work to do and all the emotions burst out so I decided to run away, Santa found me and took me back home, my father accused him of kidnapping me so then Santa got akumatised, another time when I ran away I only wanted to go watch a movie at the cinema that my mother was a part of before she disappeared, but then fath-Hawkmoth akumatized my bodyguard into a king kong sized villain, when trying to get away from him he gripped hold of me a ladybug at the top of a tall building when I was able to free myself from him the only way to get to freedom was to listen to Ladybug who told me to jump which resulted in me falling off if it wasn't for Gorazzila letting go of Ladybug at the last second and Ladybug catching me I fear I may have died that day.
The only other interactions I have had other than seeing him on the iPad Natalie carried around are when he was telling me off or when I was the subject of an Akuma attack. He was never really there when my mother 'dissaperd.' I was just there left to figure things out for myself, then shortly after, is when I enrolled myself into school and made the most amazing of friends who are always there for me."
"Were there any other times that Hawkmoth akumatised someone close to you, similar to Santa and your bodyguard?"
"Well, I guess there was the time Nino tried with the birthday party he got akumatised shortly after that interaction and then when I miss placed one of his important books he got Akuma- he- he- he akumatised hImSelF!" Adrian choked out at the realisation.
Sam puts a reassuring hand on Adrian's back saying "I'm going to take this information away now, it will be really helpful in supporting you down the line during the court case I will see you later and I suggest you stay with someone you can trust to help support you" after saying one last goodbye they were gone.
Just as Adrian was about to go into the gardens a police officer turned up "Is there anyone you can stay with while we investigate the area and get in contact with any legal guardians to care for you, I can drop you off if need be?" they asked politely.
"Thank you for the offer but I would like to stay here for a bit longer, I have got a lift already on the way to where I need to go," He answered. As the car drove away, Adrian began to walk back to the statue of his mother, 'back to where it all began'.
"How are you doing kid?" the kwami questioned looking into the distant eyes of his charge, "What are you thinking about?" he quizzed.
"I don't know." Adrian answered bringing a hand towards his face, feeling a wetness across his cheeks along with powerful heat, "I'm just thinking about my mother and how she used to sing me a song whenever I was upset." He went on wiping his face.
This is a song called 'Little Sunshine' by the Youtuber Ink Rose.
"Hey there, my little sunshine, you driving Natalie up the wall?" questioned a pale-looking Emily to a little Adrian whose face was starting to droop at the sight of how pale his mother was, "It's ok, I will get better, how about I sing our song that always seems to calm you down?" she questions, to which he nods yes. Adrian jumps onto her bed and curls up in the nook of her arms, smiling up at his mother.
"Hey, there little Sunshine,
How do you do,
there's a great kingdom,
waiting for you!
As you lay your tiny head,
dream of the world,
They're gonna love you,
their sun will return!
Little Sunshine, Little Sunshine,
let your radiance show!
Little Sunshine, Little Sunshine,
Let your kind heart glow!
Though the shadows may close in,
You will stay strong,
Your little spark of love,
will cast out the dark!
Know that you're not alone,
the moon's at your side.
together you'll cleanse the world,
you'll always be my pride!
Little Sunshine, Little Sunshine,
Let your radiance show!
Little Sunshine, Little Sunshine,
Let your kind heart glow!
I may not always be here,
to guide your way,
But I know you'll be fine,
ruling the day!"
"Mum, please stay awake, don't go!" cried out an older Adrian fighting past his father to his mother's bedside. Emily began to hush him as she sang to him what she knew would be her final time.
"Dance among the clouds,
my dear, bring in the light.
Be good for me, my dear,
as my soul alights!
Little Sunshine, Little Sunshine,
Let your radiance show!
Little Sunshine, Little Sunshine,
Let your kind heart glow..."
"How did the song go?" asks Plagg
"I think it went like this," Adrian said as he went on to sing.
"Hey there, little moonbeam.
how do you do?
there's a great kingdom
waiting for me and you!
As you lay your tiny head
dream of the world,
they're gonna love you
their moon will return!
little moonbeam, little moonbeam,
let your radiance show!
little moonbeam, little moonbeam,
let your kind heart glow.
though shadows may close in,
you will stay strong.
your little spark of love
will cast out the dark!
know that your not alone,
the sun's at your side.
together we'll cleanse the world
we'll always be Mum's pride!
little moonbeam, little moonbeam,
let your radiance show!
little moonbeam, little moonbeam,
let your kind heart glow.
Mum may not be here now
but I'll guide your way
I know that we'll be fine
ruling the night and day!
Dance among the clouds
bring in the night...
be good for me sister
as our souls fly!
little moonbeam, little moonbeam,
let your radiance show!
little moonbeam, little moonbeam,
let your kind heart-
-glow!" sang Adrian as the memory of his mother sang the last note with him. "I am so proud of you, my little Sunshine." Adrian heard his mum whisper into the wind.
Adrian glances back to the statue of his mother as he says goodbye to the life he once knew with his father, ready for a fresh start being his mother's 'little Sunshine'.