"The fuck you doing here?"

I stood in the den of my shared home, wondering what Natanya wanted to talk to me for. I mean, I was in no way, shape or form, telling her to leave, but it was just baffling to see her in my house. Especially since she never asked me where I lived or if we could hang out. It made me question how she even found out where I lived. It wasn't like it was common knowledge.

"Hey, Troy," She waved at me and I grinned, watching her take off her beanie, taking a seat on the couch. I took a seat next to her. "I mean, not like I'm upset or anything because hell yeah, I fuck with this," She giggled, pushing a piece of her hair behind her head. "But why is Natanya Kane in my house on a Saturday?" I raised a brow, leaning on my arm and she turned to look at me. "Well, you're the only one that doesn't seem to run away from me," She chuckled but I could hear the self-deprecation in her voice.

Here in No Man's Land, everyone around you, every person that you saw, those were the only people you could talk to. Those were the only people you could have contact with. Even if they didn't know or didn't care, these people were your friends. 

"When I see beauty likes yours, I can't help but be drawn to you." I smirked, watching her blush. I couldn't come on too strong because it just wasn't in my nature. They had to want this, they had to give me their consent and once they did, then I went wild. "That's sweet," She whispered, leaning back and I could sense that something was wrong. "What's wrong?" I asked, genuinely curious about what was plaguing her mind. Natanya sighed before looking at me, a grimace on her lovely face. "I'm just lonely," She whispered and I reached over to wipe a tear that had left her eye on its own.

"No need to cry, beautiful," I grinned, sensing her pain. She stared at me with wide eyes before smiling softly. "Why are you lonely?" I pondered. "I see that everyone has someone to live with because of the law, but I live by myself," She confessed and I narrowed my eyes, asking myself what sort of authority she had to be able to have such privileges like that. "Adding onto that, everyone seems to be afraid of me because of my father," She rolled her eyes in mere annoyance. "It makes me want to break every single law just so that I can prove myself to these people, to him. I just want to have friends but people heard of the things that he did to some of the people who used to live here and now," She shrugged. "No one will talk to me!" She pouted and I sighed, knowing that it must be hard.

"I hate that he does this to me because it makes it harder for me to live my life when everything that I do is a direct representation of him," She snarled, pushing her hair back over her shoulder and I watched her, feeling utterly attracted to her despite the situation. "Who's your father?" I puzzled, wanting to know why everyone knew of him but me. "Everyone says that he's scary because they never met him. They all say that no one wants to meet him, but I think that's bullshit cause they're pussies." I folded my arms and Natanya smirked as if I had just uttered words of taboo.

"Oh, you never heard of him?" She furrowed her brow and I shook my head. "Nah. You know the only damn thing I hear around here is talk of the demon lord," She stared at me for a bit, mirth in her eyes as if she was living through a secret in her mind. "Well, let me whisper his name into your ear. He hates to have his name heard out loud. He has like ten different aliases," She said and I frowned in confusion, wondering what type of person he was. What person hated his name? He wasn't that damn important but for the sake of her, I obliged, leaning over as her succulent lips perched themselves outside my earlobe, whispering softly.

"Maddox Kane."

I snorted, shaking my head. "What a basic ass name," I rolled my eyes, pulling away from her as she let out a giggle. "Don't let him hear you say that. He'll kill you," I laughed despite feeling a bit of unease at the certainty in her tone. If it was meant as a joke, it didn't sound like one and it definitely didn't feel like one. "Why are there rumors about him?" I questioned because as far as I know, this dude was just like the rest of us. Natanya pursed her lips together as if she was pondering on what to tell me. "He's pretty scary when he wants to be. Unlike us, he can decide who he wants to kill, how and when. He's not at all an understanding man. He's so confusing and he makes me so fucking upset," For a second there, I thought her eyes went from blue to yellow. I must be tripping this morning.

"My father doesn't know how to love," She confessed. "He's hard, he's rigid and his heart is extremely cold. He doesn't care about anyone but himself and it makes me sad. He's constantly telling me that I need to protect myself," She sniffled, trying to stop herself from crying. "But how can I when he's the only thing that I need to protect myself from?" It appeared to me that this Maddox fellow was devastatingly terrible. "He has his good days, but I wished he cared more about me and less about everything else," Natanya clenched her fists and I rubbed her shoulders as a way to comfort her. 

It was indeed sad because she was obviously hurt by her father and how neglecting he was towards her. 

"Don't get me wrong, I love that man," She chuckled. "But just hope that you'll never meet him." I rolled my eyes, wishing the assface would bring himself to me. I didn't know him, but he sounded like a complete dick to me. "He would hate to know that I'm here with you right now," With a chirp, she was calm and back to softly laughing at her own words like there was some inside joke that I was missing out on. Whoever Maddox Kane was, he was a complete dipshit that belonged beyond the dark holes of purgatory and into the fiery pits of Hell. He sounded so terrible and for what? I ain't know.

"Sometimes, I wish my mother was still here," Natanya looked at the ground, biting her lip. I almost felt sorry for her but then I remembered that I too, experienced the same thing. "Where is she?" Dumb as fuck question, Troy. Obviously, she was dead. "She died not too long after I was born. Daddy never talks about her but from what I heard, she was extremely pretty," She had to be because Maddox sounded ugly and she was too beautiful for that. "I never heard anything else about her and I can't speak of her. My dad doesn't allow me to," She relented and I scoffed, wondering what this dude's problem was. 

It wasn't my business though.

"Enough about me though. I feel much better after ranting," Her long brown hair was covering her legs as she folded her knees up, resting her head on them. "I have a question for you," This was the longest I had ever had a conversation with a girl that wasn't about me wooing her panties off of her and strangely enough, I was fine with it. Though at some point, I was going to turn back on the Troy Morelli Charm™ and have fun with her. 

She had to have known of my reputation because everyone did. They constantly reminded me of it. I wasn't shallow, I just loved sex. If she wanted a friend, then after many tries and consistent rejections, I would be her friend.

"Shoot, man," I motioned for her, wondering what the hell she had to ask me. If it wasn't about my dick size, how I kept the ladies coming back, my stylishly good looks and sexy voice, or the pure tenacity I had, then I didn't know what was going to come out of her mouth. What? Don't look at me like that. 

"How can you be so calm and carefree? I mean, you're the only one that these cops have an intense hatred for." She stated, her eyes narrowed in confusion and I smirked, liking how famous I was. It wasn't a question that I expected from her, but I always had an answer for everything despite not wanting to answer it. "When you're somebody like I who has lost everything, you choose not to give a damn about what happens later. When you're somebody like who has so many regrets, nothing seems hard anymore," I was smirking, yes, I was relaxed, yes, but that was only because I was trying to keep her from seeing the pain and the tears that I wanted to let out. 

Though she understood, she'll never truly know how deep it cut to see both of your parents dragged away to their death. It was so long ago, that I would've forgotten about it, had those demon cops not reminded me of it every time they studied my image. 

Vasily and Maria Morelli.

And yet, people have the god fucking damn audacity to tell me I should abide by all of the laws. How dare they tell me what to do when they haven't walked a day in my shoes? We all came from some common ground, so they should understand the ebbing and flowing waves of the ocean that was grief. They should understand that it was my life and my choice. "Like I tell everyone who tells me that I'm a fucking idiot for constantly defying the law, this ain't the world I want to live in and because it ain't, don't think I'll do the right thing and obediently listen." We let those words sink into our heads, silencing us. 

"Troy," Natanya whispered and I looked into her ocean eyes. "Yes?" I replied, refraining from the usage of terms of endearment. "Do you hate the demon lord?" She asked and I turned to look at her, my face void of emotions and jaw set in a firm line. "Hell yes." There was no one I hated more than the man who hid behind the facade of a radio. She visibly jolted, furrowing her brows. I didn't think she expected me to say it with so much animosity, detestation, and resentment. "How could I not?" My voice was no longer playful, by any means.

Any mention of that demon lord soured my mood. 

He was the very being I loathed. Between him and those demon cops, I couldn't tell whose head I wanted to bash in with my foot. They were the very reason why I had nothing. "I don't know about you but it wasn't the fact that my parents were killed. That was extremely upsetting but," I cleared my throat to stop my voice from breaking. This was the first time in a long time that I would ever willingly talk about this. "But it's the fact that a part of me has died along with them and I still continue to live," I murmured, looking down at the white ground, wondering if the particles were bits and pieces of what my heart used to be.

"So no, the demon lord can kiss my ass." 

Natanya peered at me with wide eyes and a sad face like she didn't expect me to say that. "I'm so sorry..." She trailed off and I waved a hand at her. I hated feeling sad and depressed. That wasn't who I was. I was Troy motherfucking Morelli, the toughest and uncompromising person in all of No Man's Land. Moments like this made me vulnerable and it reminded me of moments from long ago, the person I used to be.

But no more.

"No need to be. It was a long time ago," Who was I kidding? It was four years ago when the demon lord made his fabulous debut. "What has been done has been done. There's no need to dwell on it." It wasn't that I was okay with dying because I was okay with it if it was just me. However, I couldn't fathom the death of anyone else. Yea, selfish and impulsive Troy Victorino Morelli cared for the well-being of others.

Don't say it out loud or I'll slit your throat.

"That sounds so cold-hearted, Troy," Natanya muttered and I shrugged. "Yea well, I never said I wasn't. You wouldn't be the first person who has said that to me. You know how many people have called me heartless?" I asked incredulously, wondering why she appeared to be so appalled. "It's just the way that I am," I smirked. I hated allowing anyone to get close to me because they would really learn the truth about me and I hated pity. I hated feeling sad. I hadn't felt sad since I was fourteen, and I wasn't going to allow it to happen now.

Not even now, in 2132.

"Troy, why are you so impulsive?" Jade questioned as I ran into the house behind her, the crashing rain delivering me from evil. "We literally could have died!" She hissed, looking out of the window as the house automatically locked itself, sensing our distress. "Chill, man," I waved a hand at her, my ever so faithful robot handing me a towel to dry myself. "It was either fight them or get captured and killed. I don't know about y'all," I pointed a finger at Jade and Avery, wondering when they got the stick up their asses.

"But I would like to keep living until I get to be 18." I shrugged, knowing that the demon cop was severely injured by my steel bat, so he wouldn't come after us. "It ain't like it'll go on your record. It'll go on mine, so the least you dipshits could do is say thank you for saving your lives—" I put a hand on my chin, counting the number of times I came to their rescue.

"Again."

I rolled my eyes when they got quiet. It always baffled me when I see the way that they acted. They were the total opposite of me. They cared about how they were seen. I didn't give a damn and I did what I wanted. They took caution in everything that they did, no matter how innocent or small their actions were. I literally acted carelessly with everything, no matter if it was big or small. Reckless was my middle name. They listened to the rules of the demon lord, what everyone else said was correct, but I didn't. I followed my own rules and I lived the life that I wanted to live. I knew that I would never get what I wanted if I just followed aimlessly, so I just did it.

"I," Jade stammered, her green eyes wide with sadness as she stared at me. She was the one who constantly worried about my safety. "Thank you Troy," She whispered and I waved a hand at her, not needing her thanks. "Whatever," She probably took my response as a pang of hurt but to me, I didn't need a token of gratitude every time I saved their lives. They were the most important people to me so no matter what, I'd have to save their lives even it was against their wishes and against the laws.

"No need to be so upset, Troy." Avery chastised me and I rolled my eyes. Everyone seemed to misunderstand me, but I guess that was their problem. If they saw me as a literal jackass, who was I to try to change their mind? I was content with whatever helped them see fit. "I wasn't. I just don't care for you to say thank you because I don't need thanks. I'm not that fucking shallow," I groaned in reply, walking over to sit at the island in the kitchen, not wanting to hear their words. Despite being my best friends, they were the main ones giving me so much grief about what I did. 

Avery grumbled to himself before taking a seat next to me, listening to the harsh water slap against the roof of Jade and I's house. "You do realize that the same demon cop, who you just fought, will be after you?" He asked in a careful tone and I nodded, knowing the rest of them would be as well. "Yes, Avery, I'm not a fucking idiot, damn," I sighed. They had been after me since the last two years that I lived in No Man's Land. "It's nothing new to me, man. Don't worry," I snorted humorlessly. "I won't bring them to you. If it bothers you, you can avoid me for the time being, trust me. I won't be upset," I scowled and Jade pouted.

"You know that's not what he means Troy," She folded her arms, her fair skin reddening. "Yea, well, it doesn't seem like you guys appreciate the things that I do for you, breaking the law or not," I took a sip of the water that my A.I brought me, sighing. "Whatever you want. Call me fucking selfish, I don't give a shit," I stood up, slamming my cup on the table, walking towards the stairs to be moved up. "But I would lose my shit if anything happened to y'all." I finished, cracking my neck as the stairs did their job, transporting me to my room.

My heart had died long ago, so it didn't matter what they thought of me. 

I was used to everyone's words of hatred and assault, judging me for my character. I didn't give a damn because no one could tell me what the fuck to do if they hadn't seen what I saw. As far as I was concerned, I was doing everyone a favor by diverting the attention of the demon cops towards myself and away from them, but hey, people heard and saw what they wanted and nothing else. 

I let out a belittling laugh, refusing to feel sad about the situation. It was what it was and I couldn't change it. I definitely wouldn't change myself so if they didn't like it, then that was okay. I would get used to being on my own.

But for some reason, those two never left.

"Don't worry about me, Tanya," I let the nickname slip from my lips and the corners of her mouth quirked up, letting me know that she liked it. "I'll be fine," It was a lie but what she didn't know wouldn't hurt her, right? "Just be happy with the fact that I'm your friend now and who knows," I wiggled my eyebrows, my charm unable to be held down for so long. "Maybe I'll upgrade later," My famous smirk wormed its way onto my lips and Natanya shook her head, stifling a chuckle. I guess I had a way in after all. 

"Hey," I poked her after a moment of silence, wanting to give her courage. "Tell your dad that if he's got a problem," I grinned, teeth shining bright, tilting my head at her as I chuckled, cracking my knuckles simultaneously. I took a challenge whenever I wanted to, with whoever I wanted to. It didn't matter the cause. Why not? I had absolutely nothing to lose.

"Then he can talk to me."