Look who's back on that Halfway Between Heaven and Hell grind! *flexs* I'm so pathetic :/

Halfway Between Heaven and Hell

by thepeacockandthebutterfly

He tried to step through the gate, reaching a hand into the crimson swirling of the abyss. Searing pain lanced through him as the gate rejected his presence, stabbing him with what felt like millions of thorns. Pushing him back.

But Adrien fought through the pain with gritted teeth, finally making it through the barrier and falling on the ground. The ground was black, dark sand with little shards of glass mixed in. They bit into his skin, bringing blood welling to the surface. Everything was designed to hurt, to inflict misery and suffering. The thick air was acidic in his lungs, pressing in on him. Showing him just how out of place he was.

Bright blue eyes and an angelic smile that caused him to suck in a sharp breath, her palms soft against his. The way her delicate waist curved against his hand and her hair shone under the witch lights above them.

He wondered for a moment how such a girl was able to survive in this foul waste-land, but he also remembered her wicked smirk and sinful hips as they danced together. The way she had fired comebacks to each of his statements, sharp tongue poking at him. Somehow she had fit perfectly into the role of a devil, mimicking their movements.

"She is the Halfling for a reason, I guess," Adrien sighed before spreading his wings and taking off into the air. He looked back behind him, gazing in wonder at the now-coal black feathers on his back. Once he was in the air, some of the strangling evil of the Pit seemed to fall off him. It felt oddly right to be flying above the brimstone of the Pit, feeling the heat of the burning lava pools against his skin. Oddly familiar, as if the memory of the feel of the place was ingrained in his self.

He circled over a configuration of houses, finally landing on the little house with dangling red ribbons hanging from its sides. Marinette.

The door opened easily for him and he stepped inside, suddenly assaulted with the sweet smell of fresh pastries. The little house was warm and expressive of Marinette's personality, comforting to him. Little candles flared to life as he closed the door, making the room seem just that more homely and welcoming. Little decorative colors were everywhere, showing Marinette's creative taste.

"It's more like an angel's house than a devil's..." Adrien realized, eyes still wide at the sight of the house. He smiled softly, feeling like he understood Marinette in some weird way.

But the little black cat that lunged at him, hissing and spitting, wasn't nearly as welcoming.

Adrien smacked at the furball, jumping back. "What the hell?!"

"Trespasser," it hissed, bright green eyes narrowed in mistrust, "What are you doing in the Pit, angel?"

Adrien swallowed nervously. "My name is Adrien Agreste, and I was sent here to find Marinette Dupain-Cheng and return her to the Sky where she rightfully belongs."

The cat nodded slowly, making a slightly choked sound in its throat. "I am Marinette's kwami, Plagg." Those unflinching green eyes bored into Adrien's own grassy orbs. "And Mari left several hours ago looking for you on orders from the Serpent."

Adrien swallowed sharply, feeling a sick nervousness pooling in his gut at that. "Why does he want to see me?"

Plagg snorted derisively, but there was an emotion akin to concern swirling in the depths of his electric stare. "I don't know, but it's likely nothing good."

The angel reached out a finger and gently touched the top of Plagg's head, suddenly curious about the floating creature. "What's a kwami?"

"I'm a guardian. One kwami per angel/devil."

"Does that mean I have a kwami?" Adrien asked.

Plagg looked up at him, seeming suddenly disgusted by his presence. "Angel kwamis live in their halos. Are you telling me you didn't know that you had a guardian?"

Adrien frowned, feeling a awful surge of guilt pounding through him. "No."

"Stupid angel," Plagg said in a bitter tone, "You don't even know how lucky you are."

"Does Marinette know about you?"

Plagg's eyes visibly darkened at the question, regret and sadness forming. "Devil kwamis aren't allowed to show themselves to their devils."

Adrien wrapped his hand around the little black kwami, drawing him closer to him. Adrien awkwardly tried to hug the cat kwami despite their size difference, causing Plagg to chuckle softly.

"Thanks, kid."

Then the pressure seemed to reappear over Adrien, trying to swallow him whole and crush him into a splattering puddle of gore. The Pit was pushing him out, rejecting his angelic presence. "Come with me, Plagg."

Plagg looked at Adrien in shock. "What?"

"Come to the Sky with me! You deserve to meet Marinette and my kwami!" Adrien beamed goofily despite the fogginess that was starting to make his head spin. He felt light-headed, faint.

Plagg swallowed before nodding once sharply and hopping into one of Adrien's pockets.

Adrien grinned down at the little kwami before flying away from Marinette's quaint home. He reentered the harsh outside of the Pit, feeling his lungs burn. The acidic air attacked him, making him dizzy and weak.

But the angel pushed on, finally reaching the gate. He reached a hand through with ease as the Pit tried to shove him out, to dispose of the angelic goodness that had forced its way in.

Cackling with glee, Plagg and Adrien went sprawling into Purgatory, free of the evil that was the Pit.

Marinette soared above the fluffy white clouds, laughing loudly. Several other angels turned to watch her, entranced by her pure giggles and carefree attitude. The bright ball of sunshine that was Marinette ensnared their eyes, forcing them to watch her fly.

Her wings rose and fell, carrying her through the azure sky. Her fingers dipped to rest on the tawny back feathers of a golden eagle that flew below her, stroking the vane feathers and watching as the barbules separated before latching back together as they shone gold under the light of the sun. The bird let out a noble call as it dropped into a steep dive, hurtling downward. The blur of a bird grazed over emerald grasses before launching itself back into the air, flying ahead.

Blue eyes watched the bird go before continuing on, white wings continuing to flap gently, soaring above the clouds. The urge to touch the clouds passed through her mind and she flew lower, lowering her hand to run it against the surface of the seemingly fluffy white cloud. With a gasp, however, she found the cloud wet and pulled her soaked hand out from within the cloud. A giggle left her lips at the surprise. She shook gleaming water droplets off her slender fingers, eyes following them as they fell through the sky surrounding her.

Everything here is so beautiful.

"Marinette?" a lower-pitched female voice asked in surprise.

Marinette felt a cold chill run down her spine as she turned to face the hazel eyes that bored into her. "Hi, Alya."

Sorry about the short chapter, guys! I thought about adding the next section in, but it would've taken me a while and I didn't want to make you all wait any longer than you already have been...

*heart* Thanks for sticking with this story even though I published it so long ago!