A/N: Chapter 3 is here! Good news time, readers! I got a laptop! Which is good for you cuz now I can write full lemons! Yeah! Oh, and I'm getting another tattoo. Not that you people care, you just want the smut. Lol, it's ok, I forgive you. This one is based off Breath by Breaking Benjamin and is Soda/Pony! Yes, I put my iPod on shuffle. Sue me. Also, I used the meaning a friend came up with: The voice of the song gets cheated on by his girlfriend, they broke up, the girl's new relationship isn't working out, he wants to be back in her life, she figures out she fucked up but doesn't want to face him. Yeah...this is gonna be an angsty bitch to write.

Disclaimer: Character death, language, you know, all the good stuff. Also, cutting and non-graphic beatings and rape (I do not condone this people! Leave me alone!) Oh and Pony and Soda aren't brothers. It would NOT fit the song right. So this is AU :D

I see nothing in your eyes
And the more I see the less I like
Is it over yet?

Ponyboy Evans and Sodapop Curtis had been going out for almost a year now. And the entire time Pony was hiding a dark secret from sweet, lovable Soda. He'd been cheating on him for almost four months now. And that wasn't the worst part. It was with Soda's best friend Steve. He and Steve had a mostly sexual relationship; feelings weren't really involved. But there were times when Pony would catch Steve staring at him and Soda with such untamed jealousy, chills ran up his spine.

He couldn't live with the guilt any longer. He had to tell Soda the truth before it ate him alive.

"Hey baby, I'm home!" Soda called as soon as he walked in the door. They shared a small apartment together, paid for by Soda's job at the DX, a local gas station where girls would often come up and flirt with him. Soda'd always politely decline dates and other "invitations." He was faithful to his Pony.

Too bad Pony wasn't.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Pony was practically shaking in his metaphorical boots. Today was the day, he'd decided, to tell Soda the truth. He was so lost in thought, he didn't hear Soda sneak up behind him. Soda wrapped his arms around the love of his life and mouthed his neck. Pony gasped, more in suprise than anything, and Soda mistook that as a sign to continue. He gently bit into Pony's neck before pulling him into a soul-sucking kiss.

"Soda," Pony gasped when they broke for air, "we need to talk." Soda didn't like the nervousness in Pony's voice, so he sat down at the kitchen table and pulled Pony into his lap.

"What's wrong, baby?"

"Well...you're gonna be pissed..." Pony trailed off. Soda just looked at him.

"You could never piss me off baby. What happened? Did ya break the washer again?" Pony flushed a soft red. He absently smiled at the memory of Soda coming home to see him covered in soap and crying. Soda had taken him into his arms and kissed him amidst the bubbles.

"Oh, you're gonna be pissed..."

"What'd ya do? Cheat on me?" Soda asked jokingly. When Pony got a shade paler, it hit him right in the face.

"...you...cheated on me?" Soda questioned weakly. Pony nodded slightly. Soda dragged a hand through his blonde hair.

"With who?" he questioned. He didn't sound angry, just...defeated.

"Steve." Pony whispered in a soft voice. Soda looked at him.

"I'm sorry, speak up?"

"Steve." Pony repeated in a louder, yet just as unsteady voice. That's when Soda flipped a lid.

"And how long has this gone on?" he yelled. Pony winced.

"...four months..." Pony whispered, just loud enough to hear. Soda turned red.

"So you've been cheating on me for four months with my best friend?" Soda raged. Pony whispered apologies and that seemed to cool Soda's jets.

"I don't think we can make it through this Pony," Pony tried to cut him off, but Soda spoke again before he could, "I know you're sorry. I've heard the same speech from every girl and guy I've ever dated. I'm sorry Pony, but I trusted you with my heart. I still love you, baby, I always will...but we at least should take a break." to that, Pony nodded glumly.

"I guess I'll go pack my stuff..." Pony turned to go to their room, but before he could, Soda grabbed him around the waist and planted one more kiss on his lips. Pony smiled sadly and left to pack.

"I suppose I'll come back for the rest some other time." Pony told Soda as he stood in the doorway with two suitcases. Soda nodded. As Pony walked out the door, he turned around and said one last thing to Soda.

"I love you too Pepsi. Always have, always will." with tear-filled eyes, he made his way down the sidewalk. Soda watched him go before sitting down and finally letting the tears fall.

It had been a month since then. Soda had had a few flings with guys and girls alike. He also heard that Steve and Pony had gotten together officially. Soda was happy for his best friend, but at the same time, depressed. He'd yet to find anyone like Pony, and doubted he ever would.

In my head
I know nothing of your kind
And won't reveal your evil mind
Is it over yet?
I can't win
So sacrifice yourself
And let me have what's left
I know that I can find
The fire in your eyes
I'm going all the way
Get away please
You take the breath right out of me
And left a hole where my heart should be
You gotta fight just to make it through
'Cause I will be the death of you

Steve had quit coming to the DX. Soda heard he was fired for coming in drunk off his ass. He was a little worried about Pony. How was Steve supporting himself if he didn't have his job at the DX? Steve lived and breathed cars. Soda brushed it off as him getting a job at a bigger garage.

That was, until he saw Pony at the store.

He'd gone to pick up some groceries. His icebox was running mighty low on a few things, so he went to stock up. And lo and behold, who did he see over in the vegtable aisle inspecting tomatoes? One Ponyboy Evans, love of his life.

Soda all but sprinted over to Pony, merrily hoping he'd left Steve or been dumped by Steve. After a month with just day long flings, he wanted Pony back. They could work it out, Soda told himself.

When he finally reached Ponboy, he tapped him on the shoulder. Pony tensed, then turned to look at him. 'Hmmm...that's not normal. Pony don't flip when someone touches him...Johnny's the only one that does that...' Soda lost his train of thought when Pony looked at him with those beautiful gray/green eyes of his. Then he noticed something peculiar. It looked like Pony was wearing makeup. He frowned and ran his thumb across Pony's cheek. He visibly trembled this time. Soda looked at his thumb; he was right. Pony was wearing makeup. But why?

And then he noticed it. A dark bruise on his right cheek. Soda wondered how he got it. All this time, neither he nor Pony had spoken. Now he broke that silence.

"Pony," he said slowly, "why're you wearin' makeup? And what's with the bruise?"

"I wanted to cover the bruise. It's kind of embarrassing to fall down the stairs and have a black eye, ya dig?"

"Oh yeah I dig. I dig that someone hit ya. That's from a fist, not stairs."

"Listen Soda, it's none of your business. I'm fine, really." Pony started to walk away before Soda grabbed his arm. Pony winced lightly. He'd grabbed his left arm, the arm that held scars and fresh cuts alike. Yes, he cut. Yes, he was in an abusive relationship. There were no domestic violence shelters that accepted gay men; they were steered towars heterosexual women.

"He beats ya, don't he?" when Pony opened his mouth to answer, Soda cut him off, "I'll bet you're hidin' more bruises under here." with that, he jerked Pony sleeve up to find...cuts? Was Pony cutting himself? No...he couldn't. Could he?

"Are you...cutting?" Soda questioned softly. Pony sighed.

"Leave me alone Soda." he walked away with Soda right on his tail.

"No! Pony you need help; let me help you! I want you back, I love you!"

"I'm sorry Soda. I'm already damaged. You can't fix me." Pony left Soda standing there shocked.

"You! Y-You get m-my boooooze?" Steve slurred drunkenly. Pony sighed and handed him the bottle of whisky he'd bought at the store.

"Wha's wit da sigh? I was gonna let ya off easy t'night, but since yer gonna be that way..." Steve trailed off and slapped Pony across the face.

"Ya know I hate hurtin ya babe, but'cha keep makin me angry." with this, Steve mounted Pony and raped him, not for the first time.

Pony sighed in contentment as the blade dragged across his wrist. This was his escape. He never cut deep enough to kill himself; he was too cowardly to do that. He cut just enough to feel before putting the blade away and cleaning up any spilled blood. Didn't want Steve to see that.

This will be all over soon
Pour the salt into the open wound
Is it over yet?
Let me in

One day, on a whim, Soda decided to look Steve up and visit him and Pony, just to assure himself that Pony WAS being abused, and to collect evidence to get Steve put away. Pony may hate him for awhile, but as long as he was safe, he didn't care.

After about a half an hour of searching, he finally found Steve's apartment. He was not prepared for what he saw when he got there. Beer bottles were strewn across the floor and the place was dark and damp. But that's not what made him scream loud enough for the neighbors to hear and call the police for someone disturbing the peace. It was Steve, laying on the floor with a gun in his hand, unconscious and drunk, and Ponyboy laying next to him with a bullet hole in his head. Soda screamed enough to wake Steve. By then, the police were there and heard the second scream. They thought someone was hurt or in danger. They ran up the stairs leading to Steve and Pony's apartment, breaking down the door to find Soda on the floor, cradling the dead Pony's body while Steve ranted and raved about being woken up, all while waving the gun around. When it went off and shot a cop in the shoulder, they had more than enough evidence to give him a life sentence. Paramedics gently pried Soda off Pony's body so it could be transported to the hospital.

So sacrifice yourself
And let me have what's left
I know that I can find
The fire in your eyes
I'm going all the way
Get away please
You take the breath right out of me
And left a hole where my heart should be
You gotta fight just to make it through
Cause I will be the death of you

Pony's funeral was four days later. Soda broke down looking at his dead love's body, resting peacefully in the casket. He clung to his older brother Darry and sobbed. No one could really blame him. They all knew how much Soda loved Pony. When they lowered the casket into the ground, Soda nearly lost his mind. He didn't stay to watch them throw the dirt; that would only confirm that Pony was gone for good. Never coming back.

I'm waiting
I'm fading
Realize
Start hiding
You take the breath right out of me
And left a hole where my heart should be
You gotta fight just to make it through
'Cause I will be the death of you

Just because Pony was gone did not mean he forgot his love. Pony lived on in his heart for the rest of Soda's days. And when Soda finally died, the last person on his mind was Ponyboy Evans, and wondering if he'd see him on the other side.

Well, that was angsty. Wow...didn't know I had it in me lol. Now if you'll excuse me, I must go study for my Chemistry and World Studies midterm. Please shoot me now. Thank you. Oh and whoever reviews gets a cyber cookie! And I had to make Pony's last name different. It woulda been weird if they had the same last name XP forgive me *gets shot by my friend Charlie*