Author Note: I'm aware this one is fairly short, but it's kind of a reverse view of chapter one when Chat goes to Marinette. I know Adrien is generally oblivious to the obvious signs of her interactions with him, but we're going in a different direction here. After all, the simplest explanation is generally the right one, and I believe our boy is finally coming out of his blissfully ignorant shell…because I fell, after all, he is incredibly perceptive and smart. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter Two: Occam's Razor

His feline ears twitched, folding backwards a little as he cautiously approached the rooftop. Her sobs sounded so broken. Had he caused this? After all, he was the only one she was avoiding.

"Marinette," he whispered under his breath, dropping easily onto her building. His fingers spun his baton deftly before he clutched it and stuck it into the sheath at the back of his waist.

His heart was beating erratically, threatening to escape his chest with each hard pound, but he gathered his Chat Noir confidence. Why was he so nervous anyway? He tapped gently on the glass, peering in through the small crack. "Marinette?"

She didn't seem to notice him at first, but she finally turned her head towards him, calling his superhero name, and he swung easily into her room. "Princess?" He tried to force a smile onto his face, after all, Chat Noir was incredibly playful, but right now, seeing her like this, he felt pained.

"I'm fine," she said firmly.

He raised a hand to touch her face without thinking. "Your tears would suggest otherwise."

The bluenette jerked violently from his hand, startling him. She seemed angry at him for even trying to touch her, but she reiterated that she was fine. "What are you even doing here?"

The words hit him harder than any blow from an akumatized victim could offer. He felt gut punched, and it took him several moments to remember he wasn't Adrien. He wasn't her friend. Sure, he was a friendly superhero, but aside from saving her life a time or two, she didn't owe him anything.

"I was passing by on patrol, and I heard your cries." He scooted closer, slowly. He saw how defeated she was, and he wanted, more than anything, in that moment to chase away the pain. His fingers ensnared her chin, his firm grip demanding she look up at him. "Princess." She should not feel hurt. Whatever it was, he could fix it. Right?

"No, chat!" Her face contorted with anger now, and he accepted it. He would take her wrath, every minute drop, if it was going to heal her pain. "I am fine!"

"Puuurrrincess," he purred, the vibrations emanating from deep within his chest. It was supposed to be endearing, but she shook her head.

"No!" Her clenched fists connected with his chest, and he took a step backwards in astonishment. He wasn't hurt, or even angry…just….surprised, but he was going to take every ounce of her lashings…if it was going to keep the agony from her eyes. "Stop saying that! I'm not a princess, I'm nobody's princess! I'll always just be stupid, clumsy, plain Marinette."

Fresh tears spilled down her rosy face, and he stiffened. Her body buckled under its own weight, and he caught her, lowering her gently as he got down on his knees. Did he make her feel stupid? No, he couldn't have, he thought she was incredibly smart. Clumsy? Sure, but he found that endearing. Plain? "I don't know who would make you feel plain, but Mari, you are NOT plain. I promise."

Her face pressed into his shoulder, and her uneven sobs had Chat curling his arms around her, hugging her close. "He's in love with someone else," she murmured, hiccupping. "Of course he's in love with someone else.

His stomach did a freefall, and his body became rigid. She was upset over a boy? What did that have to do with him? His brows pulled together, trying to go over the last conversation they had together. He picked up the lax girl, carrying her to the bed. "Talk to me," he finally muttered, trying to coax more information out of his distressed friend.

Adrien and Marinette both tried to apologize. She told him he should go first, but he insisted she go first instead.

He sat next to her, but she rolled away from him just as swiftly, and he desperately tried to conceal his disappointment. "I can't. It's nothing." Her voice began to lull, but the emotion disappeared until she almost sounded robotic. N-no..please don't, Mari.

She was sorry she had tried to kiss his statue. If she had known…

If she had known? He thought she was pranking him because he was trying to prank her?

If she had known she wouldn't have tried to kiss the statue because she..

No, he was sorry because he wasn't good at pranks. The girl he loved….didn't like them, either.

Marinette stammered. "The girl you love?"

She turned away quickly, and he had asked her what was wrong, because the atmosphere quickly changed.

No, that couldn't be it. Why would she be upset about the girl he loved? She didn't even know who it was. His catlike eyes skimmed up to her wall as he listened to her breathing even out. She had definitely fallen asleep, but it didn't comfort him as his eyes settled on all the pictures of himself, as Adrien.

Hearts decorated the pictures, and he frowned more deeply. Manon had mentioned the hearts, but Mari insisted they were upside down spades. Inspecting the designs now, he was sure they were hearts. Had she lied? Why would she? No, she was just really into fashion design. The hearts were probably because she liked the posters so much.

The girl I'm in love with doesn't like them, either.

Then she was immediately withdrawn, and now she wasn't comfortable being near him. She was ignoring him. He's in love with someone else. His eyes widened, and his ears twitched as his gaze shot down at the sleeping woman. Was Marinette in love with his secret identity?