((A/N)): Hey you guys! So I have a 8 page report due on Monday, so I decided to work on this instead of course!

Just for clarification, Aldred disappeared for about three days before Natalya went out to find drugs in the last chapter. This chapter is about a week after that.

Warnings!: Language, drug use, sex!

[Disclaimer]: I don't own the song or the characters.

The chipped and gravel strewn concrete dug into her knees, leaving marks and scrapes through the holes in the knees of her worn jeans. Foul smells invaded her nostrils and stung her shut eyes as a low voice moaned. Her fingers gripped jeans that weren't hers to keep herself kneeling as she struggled to keep her throat relaxed and her teeth out of the way as she swallowed, sucked, and licked around the hard member in her mouth.

As the stranger's hips bucked in her mouth, Natalya's nose wrinkled and her throat spasmed as she choked around the erection. There was an unhappy grunt from the man who had what she wanted and his hands tugged at her long hair to keep her from pulling away. Her eyes squeezed shut tighter and Natalya swallowed back another cough, eliciting a quiet moan from the stranger.

Her head bobbed up and down, back and forth, as the man leaned back against the wall and her senses were filled with him. Filth, sleaze, cheapness. This is what she'd become. A girl who's only purpose was to get down on her knees for drugs, inject them into her veins, and then repeat.

But then the cycle was broken in a second.

There was a sharp pain in her shoulder and Natalya was yanked back, hitting the ground and leaving the man she'd been servicing exposed to the alley. Landing back on the heels of her palms, she grimaced in pain and her eyes shot open for the first time in minutes to glare up angrily at the person who'd shoved her. Those jaded eyes widened with recognition as she shifted her weak balance and wiped the disgusting corner of her mouth.

"A-Aldred…?"

"Hola, flaca." The man grunted, not looking down at her, his fist cocked as he landed a blow to the jaw of the drug dealer Natalya's lips had just been on. Aldred let out a breath, his complexion paler than the olive it usually was with dark circles under his eyes, and watched as the man hit his head against the wall and crumpled to the ground.

Natalya let out a shout of shock, her eyes wide as her legs splayed out in an odd way, her knees still under her. Sharp eyes found her and Aldred's jaw tightened as he looked up and down her disheveled appearance. From her matted hair to the wet, fresh stains of filth on her knees, then back up to the bruising of her lips.

He didn't speak, just as she expected, instead stepping back from the unconscious drug dealer and his whore. And so it was her voice that broke the perpetual noise of the dying city they claimed residence in.

"Where've you been...?" Natalya asked in a low voice, testing him as she scooted back to sit up and stagger to her feet.

Aldred looked away from her, his cheekbones nearly as sharp as hers, but reached out an arm and tugged her up to her feet. "Occupied."

The spike of relief and joy that she'd felt from first seeing him had a jagged fade before it was gone altogether, replaced by that same dull hatred and craving. "Occupied? What the fuck, Al?!" She shoved his arm away, stumbling over to use the wall's support instead of his.

The man made no indication that he'd noticed her harsh tone or her action, merely retracting the hand that had been helping her and shoving it in his pocket. "I've been busy, but Nat, we gotta get outta here before the—"

"Too busy to come see...?!" Even though she'd interrupted him , her voice trailed off before it could break or reveal what she'd wanted. She'd wanted to see him, no matter what the context.

Aldred's near red eyes flicked up to meet hers and his mouth pursed into a straight line before his frustration started to get the better of him. "I've been locked up! I-I couldn't exactly come see you." That stutter made him swallow and look away again.

Natalya straightened up against the wall, not slouching as much as her eyes narrowed. "Locked up..? Did... Did you get your dumb ass thrown in jail?!"

An annoyed breath escaped through his nose and his teeth gritted. "No... No, I-I.. We have t' get outta—"

"You did, didn't you?!" Her voice was raised as her eyes burned with hate directed only toward him. "You got fucking thrown in-"

"No, I didn't...!"

"Then where've you been, huh?! Fucking lockup?! You stupid mother fuck-"

"No!" Aldred's voice changed as he finally looked up at her, stepping forward and pressing in on her with the intimidation his height advantage gave him. "I didn't!" His arm flew up and cut Natalya short with a cry as he pinned her to the wall.

Her eyes widened with shock. Her windpipe was closed off and she felt the pale skin of her neck flushing with a forming bruise. Natalya whined, a manner that she would have deemed pathetic, as her fingernails clawed at his forearm. "A-Al.." she choked out, her eyes filling with involuntary tears.

"No!" He shouted in her face with gritted teeth. "You Never. Fucking. Listen!" With every word, he slammed back on her throat again until the small woman was holding back sobs. Her bruised throat struggled for air that would not come and her hands balled into fists against that restraining arm.

"Just for once!" Aldred snapped as his arm pressed harder and Natalya gagged as her bloodshot eyes screamed for mercy. "For once! I wish you'd fucking listen instead of spitting in my face!"

"A-Al.." Natalya begged, her voice weak as her eyes fluttered shut for a moment and a tear streaked down her cheek.

And then, all of a sudden, the weight pressing her against the wall and keeping her from the breath of life, pulled away. Natalya fell from the wall, her hand at her bruised throat as she doubled over and gasped for desperately needed air. Shakes raked through her body. It wasn't like those opium ones anymore. These were different. More emotional…

Natalya never showed emotion. Never. What had happened?

"Y-Y-You.." she stuttered through choked breath and sniffs as she wiped at her cheeks.

"I didn't.. No." But he had. He'd done that. He'd brought frightened tears to the eyes of the strongest woman he'd ever known, that's what Aldred had done. "No.. No, I c-couldn't.. I-I.." he muttered under his breath, backing away.

Natalya coughed violently again, one hand going behind her to help support her against the wall as the other clutched at her head. A pounding from the lack of oxygen was spreading through it quickly, but it was nothing compared to what she would be going through again if she didn't get some more smack. It was not nearly as bad as it had been that day when she'd stumbled through the alley, but the craving was still setting in.

"Da." She said forcefully, sliding down the wall a bit and casting her gaze over to the drug dealer who was stirring. "You did, Aldred. And you fucked up my deal. I-I… I'll have to find someone else who… likes Slavic sluts." Her eyes found him in a moment, still a bit clouded from what he'd done to her, and she began to straighten up. "Unless… You have some, Al…?" Maybe she wouldn't have to whore around anymore… Not if Aldred was here.

His eyes widened slightly in shock as he took a step back, those near red orbs flicking over to the man who was almost conscious again. "I-I.. No, Nat. I don't.."

Natalya's face fell into a scowl as she began to back away, her foot nudging the drug dealer who was bound to want both of their heads on sticks. "You… Don't have any..?"

"No-!" Aldred cut himself off, gnawing on his lip and looking more nervous than she'd ever seen him. His hand reached out unconsciously to stop her, grabbing ahold of the sleeve of her coat. "Y-Yes! I do!"

There was a flash of something in his eyes. Doubt. But Natalya ignored it. Of course he had some smack; he was a heavier user than she'd ever been. So even if he knocked her around again, she knew all his hiding places and could steal his stash and be in an uncharted alley before he knew which way up.

Aldred tugged on her sleeve again and the decision was made for her as she heard the telltale groan of a man waking up in pain that would quickly be replaced by blind rage. Allowing herself to be tugged through the streets by her fuck buddy, partner in crime, and most recent abuser, Natalya stumbled along in a blur. It could have been seconds, but was more likely close to an hour before the odd, but seemly well fitted pair finally stopped walking.

Exhaling in exhaustion due to malnutrition, Natalya fell back onto a stray couch that had been dragged into the abandoned building. Well it had been abandoned by all respectable society. Apparently that meant that now it was Aldred's. Her eyes slid closed for a moment as she let out another shaky breath—her chest falling as her ribs and hipbones poked out under stretched ivory skin. Those eyes fluttered open after a moment, just in time for her eyebrows to furrow.

Aldred was moving about the room, the lighting from odd slates in the ceiling giving him an eerie look for a moment before he turned. Then his face filled cautious warmth. Though he was thinner than she'd ever seen, for some reason he looked healthier than ever.

Natalya prompted herself up on her elbow, pushing the long hair from her eyes as her lips pouted. "Al…?"

"Hm?" The man asked, looking away quickly and around the place that he seemed to have nestled in. Odd. She'd thought that he didn't have a place to crash, using her or his other 'friends' for shelter. But maybe this place was new.

"… What are you doing…?"

Aldred's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed uncomfortably. "Err…" His hands fumbled with the hem of his sleeve.

Things were too weird. This was not the Aldred that she knew. Aldred was supposed to be an asshole, not this nervous jittery thing. He used women and enjoyed smacking her around in bed. He didn't fiddle or avoid the issue like this.

"Aldred…" she drawled, her voice testy and drawing his sharp gaze again.

"I wasn't in jail." It was a statement, said with an even tone.

"Oh…?" Natalya's strength faltered and her elbow slipped as she fell back against the couch. "Then where were you 'locked up'?"

Silence.

"Aldred," she scoffed, glaring over at him as his gaze fell down to his scuffed shoes.

More silence.

Oh. Oh, no.

"Aldred…?"

The man bit his bottom lip. "It's…"

"No…" she whispered in a hoarse voice, sitting up as her eyes widened. "Aldred, tell me… No."

He swallowed again. "Sorry, Nat. I'm so sorry…"

No. Fucking no.

"You should go see them too."

Fuck.

((A/N)): So just like always, I hope you guys liked it!