„But if we're meant to be together, why can't I tell her the truth?"

„Because she has to understand that she should love both sides of you," Platt murmured while nibbling off his Camembert.

Adrien sat on his bed and sighed loudly while he was looking at the ground.

Since he realized that Ladybug had a crush on his casual side – Adrien – he was completely confused. How could she like his boring life? Actually he was very lucky, because the love of his life shared his feelings but just not the way, he wanted her to.

"That's impossible. She really hates the flirty and cocky side of Chat Noir and I would be like this if I don't hide my true self anymore. How am I supposed to win her heart when I'm not myself anymore?" Adrien wanted to know.

"That's not the point Adrien. You don't have to act. Just show her that there are also other things about you. After all, Adrien is not fictitious."

"But still he is not completely me."

"It would be the best if you just wait. Give her time, distract yourself a bit and maybe you should talk to someone else about it," Plagg suggested. Usually he was not good at giving advice and that Adrien should wait didn't help much, but perhaps Plagg was right. If Adrien didn't gave her free space it would not help her and probably hurt him.

"And what should I do, according to you?" he asked.

"What do you think about that girl in your class? Marinette? You already know her, so why don't you visit her sometime?" Plagg said hypocritical. The certain way his voice sounded showed that he knew something he did not want to reveal.

"Marinette?" Adrien asked and let himself fall on the bed behind him. Why of all things should I go to her? And how should she help me with my problem?"

"Just think of it once. She knows Ladybug so maybe she has some hints for you?" Plagg explained and stuffed the last big piece of cheese in his mouth.

"That's true. But I don't want to take advantage of her. She is a nice girl and I don't think it would be the best idea to visit her just because I have a broken heart."

"You will probably find a way and for now give me more of this delicious Camembert," Plagg demanded while he was flying above Adrien's head.

"You had enough! And if I am supposed to get some fresh air, you wouldn't have enough time to eat anyway," Adrien grinned and shouted, "Plagg transformation!"

"Marinette, Marinette!" Tikki shouted excitedly. She jumped off her place at Marinette's desk and looked at the patio door.

"An Attack?" she wanted to know.

"No, but I think you are going to be visited," Tikki told her. It happened often that Tikki felt Plagg's presence and also when Chat Noir was nearby, for her, that was no problem at all. She sure had told Marinette about that, but in spite of that, she was still looking confused at Tikki.

"A visit? Now? Who should…? And first of all, why up there?" she asked.

Just in that moment Marinette was doing some drafts for her new Outfit and didn't want to be interrupted. Well – her actions as a superhero couldn't wait but 'a visit' was something completely different.

"You will see it in a second," Tikki was giggling and before Marinette could react, she disappeared under her bed because right in this moment someone knocked at the patio door.

Surprised Marinette got up and went a few steps in the direction of the door where she discovered two green eyes which looked at her.

"Chat Noir?" she shouted terrified. She was expecting everything but… - Wait! What does Chat Noir want? At her home? Did he discover who she really was?

"May I…?" he asked and pointed at the door handle.

"Eh? NO! I mean, no, bad idea. Stay outside!" Marinette screamed immediately. I panic she was looking around her room. Fortunately it was not possible to see everything from where Chat Noir stood. It was absolutely unnecessary that anyone realized with what she had wallpapered her room.

Two confused green eyes looked at her.

"Am I disturbing you?" That would have been the last thing he intended and it was all Plagg's fault!

"I'm sorry. My room is not tidied. Wait, I'll come," Marinette replied. Actually she could have done that already in the beginning but she was just standing there without any motion and thought of all possible scenarios how he could have discovered that she was Ladybug.

"I apologize that I am showing up here without any warning, Purrincess. I was just near your home and thought I could visit you," he mentioned. Gentlemanlike as he was he bowed in front of her, took her hand and gave her a soft kiss on it.

"Yes, eh, that's all right," Marinette stuttered. She pulled her hand back fast because she was absolutely not flattered by these flirtations.

"How is a beauty like you doing in such a night?" Chat asked flirty.

"Stop that, Chat. What do you really want?" Obviously there had to be more to it.

At least Marinette thought that Chat Noir would never had visited her just because he had to do something in her surrounding area.

"Mewoutch~ as if I need to have a reason to see you."

"Do you visit every girl's home you once saved?" she wanted to know. Of course she was a bit upset because Chat usually flirts only with Ladybug and it was impossible that he knew about that. Not if he reacts like that.

"Not really," sighed Chat. He understood that Marinette's opinion of him was not that high. In spite of that fact his eyes had an aura of indescribable sadness as he realized what he was doing. Marinette was right. "I have not been nearby but I really wanted to talk to you," he said the truth.

"And what's the matter?" Marinette did not waste any time even though she could clearly see that Chat Noir was not in a good mood.

Perhaps she should calm down a bit and stop acting like it was the biggest problem on earth that Chat was here. It could be something important and just because she couldn't handle with his personality as Ladybug she did not have to project that behaviour on herself as Marinette.

"It is about Ladybug. I heard that you know each other… maybe that you are even friends."

"Oh," was all Marinette could say. That really was a problem.

"Please don't think that I want to take advantage of you. I just want to know why I have no chance to win her heart." Chat Noir sat down at the edge of the patio. It was maybe a bit uncomfortable to stand all the time when he wasn't feeling good.

"Why do you think, that she would tell me about those things?" Marinette asked. She had calmed down by now and sat down next to him. With some distance.

"I don't know who the person behind this mask is, what friends she has. My kwami just told me that it would be a good idea to talk with you about that."

"Your… what?" she asked and pretended to be completely innocent so she wouldn't know what Chat Noir was talking about.

"My… ehm, he is the reason why I became Chat Noir. He helps me to transform."

"I see," Marinette replied. She had to overthink well what she was going to say. Maybe she was lucky and he would finally give her some space. But – does she really want that to happen? At least it was nice to have him around even if it got too much from time to time. She would probably miss it if he wasn't permanently there with his puns and flirtations.

Without realizing it she started looking at her partner who started watching her questioningly.

"Yes?" Chat Noir asked and nudged her on the nose which brought back to reality fast.

"Well, actually there is something I know," she finally started and immediately stared at the ground in front of her feet again. "Her heart belongs to someone else."

"I already know that," Chat growled. "But as much as I know, she hasn't told him yet because she thinks that she doesn't have a chance."

"You know that?!" she uttered and in the same moment she covered her mouth with her hands.

Well…I mean: Good that you now about all that. But don't you think that could maybe…?"

"No…well maybe a little bit. But that's not the point! I want to win her heart and don't just watch how she breaks into pieces because of her unrequited love," he explained.

"Adrien is not the right one for her. He isn't even free and does everything his father wants him to do!" he added.

"Stop saying all these mean things about Adrien!" Marinette impugned right away. "He is a very nice and well educated… boy. And I also think that there is maybe more to him than what he shows!"

Chat Noir winced frightened as Marinette started to protect Adrien. Normally he didn't talk bad about others but he really had not an high opinion of himself. He was so injured because Ladybug liked Adrien but not Chat Noir. And she didn't seem to be the only one.

"I am sorry, I didn't want to talk badly of him. I just thought that my life is more interesting, than his."

Ouch. Again he has hit Marinette's weak point.

"What do you even think? Just the fact that you are Paris' superhero does not mean you can have such an opinion about a person you barely know!"

With these words she jumped to her feet and was now standing angry right in front of Chat Noir.

"Do you like him?" he suddenly asked in the middle of her fit of anger.

"Wha…Th…that's none of your business!"

"Hah! So I'm right. My princess has a crush on Adrien Agreste," he grinned. Chat Noir laid his hand conspiratorially under his chin and examined Marinette. It was easy to calm her down.

"Shut up! We're friends and I just defended him," she opined immediately. It was impossible to fail to see the light shade of red on her cheeks.

He really liked to make another joke but this time he thought better of it. Just why did everyone like Adrien that much? He couldn't even get rid of this side of his character or split himself in two parts. Maybe Marinette would fit together well with Adrien so he had someone and then Chat Noir maybe had a chance with Ladybug.

"Maybe he isn't as bad as I first thought. Anyhow there must be a reason you all like him," he finally mentioned. That all didn't really help him but it still cheered him up a bit. Not that everyone seemed to have a crush on him but just Marinette herself. There was something up to her that really made him feel better.

"He's not. And about Ladybug… you should maybe try to take care of her feelings a little bit more" Marinette murmured. "After all she's only human and sometimes she is also sad because she rightly knows that she doesn't really have a chance to get together with Adrien. Give her time."

It was really untypical for Marinette to give hints, how Chat Noir could win her heart but then it maybe would become better. She didn't wish for anything else but just that Chat was not depressed anymore.

"Princess…"

"You should better go by now! It is getting late and I still have some work to do. But keep that in mind: Give Ladybug free space!"

"Of course. Thank you. I will take it to my heart. It was nice to talk to you, Marinette," Chat Noir said. This time he didn't even take her hand and showed restraint which was obviously something that would not last for long.

"See you," she said and disappeared in her room before she could give him more of these stupid advices.