Alex was always mainly the center of attention without doing anything, just existing was enough. And always had people around him despite him just talking most of the time. Hanging out with people he hardly knew and them acting like his longtime friend was fun but also exhausting. Which is why he goes missing at night most of the time.

He found a mostly empty park at night, found a bench and just recharged. He did that for days until a particular person came to disturb. He rested on the bench and he looked quite tired that night, then he felt a tap and a soft voice asking if he was alright. You looked worried for a stranger. When he didn't respond you took that as anger and quickly apologized. That's how you two met.

He'd notice you every night and you both started talking somehow. You made him relax somehow, he felt comfortable and himself around you. You came every night to buy beer, you'd sit and chat for an hour, he'd noticed the bruises but he'd never pried and so did you. You just talked you knew a lot about each other and at the same time nothing. It went on for months.

This particular night you bought the same bottle of beers but this time sporting a black eye yet still as cheerful as ever.