Warnings: alcohol abuse, drug abuse, SasuNaru or NaruSasu

Rating: M (due to content of the story)

Summary: Hearts will always break, they're fragile in design. Sasuke finally discovers that the hard way when he messes up, one too many times.

Fragile in Design

Another broken promise found passed out on a queen-sized bed. Naruto sat down by the head, his hands in his lap as he patiently waited, for what seemed like the hundredth time, for the paramedics to bust into the small penthouse apartment and cart him away.

Not for him, never for him. His eyes travelled to the man lying peacefully on the bed. Eyes blocking out the world, hand thrown across his forehead as though he had a severe headache. Black hair, usually sticking up at odd angles flattened against the pillow. He was breathing, as usual, but his pulse was irregular. His breathing was shallow and Naruto was tired.

He tried to stop the slight shake, scolding himself for it. This was normal, and he should stop being so upset every time he walked into his boyfriend's apartment to find him nearly dead.

He stood up angrily, and moved away from the bed. His heart clenched, demanding he take hold of those pale hands and whisper words of love, compassion, care and protectiveness. After the third time though he stopped, and he felt guilty.

He sighed again, waiting for the door to open, knowing that they would open the door even without him answering the warning knock. It was routine now.

Every four to six months Sasuke would end up passed out on the bed, barely alive. It had become tradition for Naruto or Itachi to just wander into his apartment without consent, (and secretly the neighbour whom Itachi paid to do) to ensure he was alive and well.

But like clock work, every four to six months Naruto would get a phone call (or be the one to call) about a patient who had overdosed, again. Then Sasuke would fight the hospital to release him, since he was over the age of eighteen they could not legally hold him longer than two days.

Within two days he was back out, and then later that year he would pay the hospital another visit via emergency ambulance ride, with a frantic Naruto leaving work or school to go to his bedside.

He was tired.

How long could he watch Sasuke kill himself? He glanced to the brunette, his heart aching and his eyes burning. How long until he actually killed himself? One day someone wasn't going to be around to watch him, and then he will be gone.

Even though he says he's not trying to kill himself, each and every time it's an accident, or a mix up or too many drinks with too many drugs. It was always an excuse, always something. But what if he can't be saved next time?

Naruto took a shuddering breath and glanced at the man he loved. The man, who before everything, was sweet caring kind and a normal bastard. The man he wanted to marry.

This person lying here barely breathing was not Sasuke Uchiha. This was an alien parasite parading around in his lover's body.

He stood up as the door opened and heard the paramedics make their way into the bedroom slowly, cautiously. Naruto smiled sadly at them, and pointed mutely to Sasuke.

One of them came over to talk to him. Routine questions for a routine lifestyle.

"What happened? What did he take? Where you here? Does he do this often? Is there anyone we should call?"

All robotic answers, all the same every time.

"He overdosed. Too many to list, I'm not even sure anymore. I came over and he was like this. Sometimes. His brother, Itachi."

Itachi was always to be called. He was family, the only one Sasuke had left, and the only person Sasuke seemed to see-not listen to, but see. Naruto was nothing compared to Itachi.

Sometimes Naruto was sure he was nothing to Sasuke. Why else would he break that promise? How many times he broke it, Naruto wasn't sure. One too many.

Naruto stood up and followed the paramedics out the door, down the elevator to the awaiting ambulance. They stood there waiting for Naruto to get in, but he shook his head. He wanted to think, needed to think. He watched them nod and start the truck.

His heart thudded loudly in his chest. He felt sick; he hated himself.

The familiar beeping sound dragged him out of his unconscious bliss and made him realize that he had fucked up, again.

He kept his eyes closed, knowing his brother was sitting in the red chair staring disappointedly at him. He was always there.

"I know you're awake." That cool voiced called to him, and Sasuke opened his eyes. He felt tired, his body was sore and his head was pounding. He hated being in the hospital, and he never understood why he would always screw up somehow.

But this time he had been careful. He did not mix his drugs, or drink anything with them.

"You took too much." Itachi explained, his eyes dark and pissed. "Again," he added with a sigh.

Sasuke mutely nodded. He hated this. He hated being in the hospital with his brother sitting by his bedside with disproval; Naruto usually was in the hallway with a cup of coffee, his phone in his lap as he stared dead at it.

Why did he always go back to drugs? Why did he always fuck up?

"I will be taking you home in a few hours." Itachi muttered, his eyes were closed off and tired.

That was odd, why was Itachi taking him home? Itachi has never taken him home from the hospital before; it was always Naruto.

Sasuke scanned the hospital room and did not see a single trace of his boyfriend. Where was Naruto?

Itachi stared at him, his eyes hard and cold. Colder than Sasuke has ever seen, and he shrunk back into his bed, willing it to open up and swallow him.

"He's gone." Itachi stated, his eyes resting on his younger sibling.

That can't be right.

"Who is gone?"

Itachi just stared at him, sighed and closed his eyes. "These drugs are really screwing up your mind."

"He wouldn't-" Sasuke croaked, his eyes tired his head pounding. His mouth was too dry for a conversation.

"Did you expect him to stay with you?"

Sasuke frowned. Of course he did, Naruto was the one solid foundation that was never going to leave him. His one constant, the one he could depend on. The blond was everything he wasn't-positive, full of smiles, and bright.

"Sasuke, he has been with you for six years," he murmured out, "six years and look how you treat him?"

Sasuke shook his head, dispelling the words. It wasn't true, Naruto wouldn't….he just wouldn't.

"You're lying."

"I spoke to him twenty minutes ago Sasuke." Itachi hotly told, "he's done."

"Stop." Sasuke murmured, "this isn't funny."

"Good." Itachi scolded, "maybe you will learn something for once."

He felt his blood boil, how dare Itachi. How dare Naruto! What happened to sticking with someone through thick and thin? Through good times and bad times? For better or for worse?

Naruto was his everything.

He was not going to lose that. He would not allow it.

"Give me your phone."

"No."

Sasuke's eyes widened.

"I need to speak to him."

Itachi glared at him. "For what? To tell him you're sorry? That it will never happen again? Please to forgive you? You said this all before, and you expect to say it again to him?"

Sasuke deflated, his heart lurched.

"He wouldn't…why would he leave me?"

Itachi's eyes softened, the man on the bed reminded him so much of a young innocent child.

"What reason did he have to stay?"

"I love him."

Itachi nodded, that was probably the most honest thing that Sasuke had ever said to Naruto. He never doubted Sasuke's feelings.

"He loves you."

Sasuke stared, curious and confused into Itachi's eyes. His hand were clenched at his sides, his face was paler than normal.

"Then why…?"

"Think about it from his perspective Sasuke."

Sasuke mulled that over.

If Naruto had been to the hospital for drug over dose…he furrowed his brow. He didn't even know how many times he had been here for overdosing. Anyway he had probably been here three times, so going off that.

If Naruto had over-dosed three times and ended up in the hospital, Sasuke would be pissed. Why would Naruto do that to himself, he had so much to live for, so much happiness in him that it was hard to image his boyfriend on this bed.

But that's different. Naruto was different. He was happy.

If Naruto were in this bed instead, Sasuke would still be there for him. He felt bitter bile rise up in his throat at the fact that Naruto had abandoned him.

"There's no excuse Itachi," Sasuke said determination in his voice, "I would have been there-"

"Really?" Itachi mocked, "you would have continued to support him after overdosing seven times in the past three years? You would stayed with him after you had lost a job from calling in too many times sick as he stayed with you while you vomited your life down the drain?"

Sasuke paled, he hadn't done that. That wasn't his fault.

"Would you stick with the one person you love who was purposefully killing themselves in turn killing you? Do you even know what this does to him? To me?"

Sasuke felt sick. This was not his fault. How dare Itachi turn it on him!

"I don't need this." He muttered out darkly, "I don't need to deal with your shit." He growled out, "what it does to him? To you? Don't make me laugh. You don't care what happens to me! He certainly doesn't care! He's not even here! So don't you dare preach to me about how much he seems to care when he isn't even fucking here!."

Itachi stood up, humour wiped from his face and promises of death issued from his eyes.

"You make me sick."

Good, because he was feeling just as sick.

It was two days later that Sasuke sat in his apartment, feet kicked out on his coffee table with a bottle of scotch placed just at his heel.

Water was dripping down his hand from the cold glass but he couldn't care. He felt empty.

He took a large swing of the drink, sloppily leaned forward to snatch the bottle from the table. Just as he was pouring another drink he heard the soft click of his door lock and quiet footsteps as someone entered his apartment. He didn't care. They could steal whatever they found, or even kill him, what was there left in his life.

He smiled bitterly and stared down into the amber liquid before smirking and taking a sip. Fuck life.

"Sasuke?"

He turned his head to the voice and a malicious smile spread across his lips. He went to place the glass on the table, nearly missing.

"Well if it isn't Naruto," he chuckled staring at the impassive blond man whose gaze was fixated on the scotch bottle. Like he cared.

"What are you doing?" he curiously asked, his eyes dancing around the room. He was holding a small brown box and Sasuke knew what was in there. His things.

"You really are dead last. What does it look like?" he shot an angry glare, his eyes firmly on the box that held everything he ever left over at Naruto's house. Everything the blond wanted or forgot, things they shared. Like the life they were supposed to share.

Naruto sighed, and moved into the living room more; his bright blond hair descending into the darkness that surrounded Sasuke.

"I just wanted to give these back to you." He held the box out for Sasuke who scolded in distain to it.

"I don't want that shit."

Naruto seemed to tense, he slowly placed the box down on the ground beside the arm of the couch.

"Keep it." He told firmly and turned around walking back to the door. Sasuke growled, stood up and picked up the box. He took out a book and quickly threw it towards the retreating back.

Naruto froze as the book hit in him the middle of his back. Thankfully it was a soft cover novel and that Sasuke's drunkenness threw off his aim.

"I don't want it!" he hollered. Naruto didn't even turn around and walked towards the door he had entered from. Sasuke felt panic rise into his chest, Naruto can't leave. He reached into the box again pulling out a shirt, he angrily tossed it aside and found a crystal oriamnet of a fox he had given Naruto.

Naruto loved that ornament, and Sasuke felt poetic justice as he threw it at his ex-boyfriend.

Naruto froze, his heart hammering as he heard the glass shatter to the wall he was standing right next to. Sasuke was obviously not aiming at him, but it still made him freeze. He turned around and stared at the man whom he loved, and his heart lurched. This is what he had become.

He felt pity and anger all swell up in him. Not only at Sasuke but at himself-for allowing this, for sticking with someone this gone.

"What is your problem?" Naruto darkly asked, finally having looked down at the glass and recognizing it as one of the most precious things he held dear to him-right under his necklace that he got from his godmother.

It was the fox crystal that Sasuke had given Naruto as a house-warming gift, four years ago. It was the only thing he had reconsidered giving back to Sasuke, but every time he looked a it his eyes stung and he had to physically pry himself away from the room as to not stare at it.

Sasuke knew how much that fox meant to him, and it lay shattered at his sneakers. Just like their relationship.

"You! You're my problem!"

Naruto closed his eyes. He needed to calm down; his heartbeats were too irregular.

"You just waltz into my life and leave when things get tough!?" He bitterly laughed and smiled, almost tripping as he took a step forward and knocking into the box. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

Naruto shook his head. He moved to turn around, to walk to the door to leave this behind. To try and start new, to try and mend. He stopped though, when he saw the hurt and anger flashing through Sasuke's eyes. Raw emotion was a rarity for him.

"You can't just leave me."

It was a demand, and Naruto decided he had overstayed his welcome. He turned around and moved towards the door in calm and calculated steps. He needed to leave; had to leave.

He reached for the door handle when he felt Sasuke shove him into the door. The gold knob digging into his stomach and pain blossomed in his head as it was slammed against the wood.

"Who the fuck said you could leave?!"

It felt like he yelled it, even if it was spoken harshly into his hear, the smell of alcohol strong.

Naruto shoved his foot out, kicking Sasuke in the shin, making the man stumble back and releasing Naruto.

He glared at the man who tumbled back, hitting the floor harshly from losing his balance.

"How dare you." He shook out, anger radiating through every pore. "You do not own me Sasuke. You never owned me, and never will. I am leaving you because look at yourself! This is not the Uchiha I started dating. Every time you said you would get clean, I believed you, but meanwhile you were sucking face downtown with some random bimbo!"

Yes, Naruto knew. A co-worker had seen Sasuke dancing with some nameless woman and later on saw them again huddled in a corner making out. Naruto at first thought it was absurd, someone who looked like Sasuke was there-but after convincing he went down to the club and saw it for himself.

He also realized that Sasuke was also high as hell and probably was not aware of what he was doing. Naruto took small comfort in that and the fact that he never seem to do anything below the waist-always just kissing. It still hurt to know.

"Yet, I stayed. I stayed when I lost my job from having to stay home with you so often. I fucking stayed when I walked in on you shooting up, and even stayed after you offered me some!" He shouted, his mind flashing back to the needle that he was offered.

"I stayed after you were carted away on a stretcher, I stayed as they told me you had almost died. I fucking stayed! I stayed through all of it, the fist fights, the overdoses, the cheating. I can't anymore. I'm tired Sasuke."

Sasuke stared at him for a few minutes. Listening, actually listening to the words. Words of denial on his lips, but his foggy memory was pushing forth the truth.

"I love you." He murmured out, as though that solved their problems and Naruto's eyes softened. He moved closer to his ex-boyfriend, and placed a comforting hand on Sasuke's shoulders.

"I love you more than you love you," Naruto told, and placed a sweet chaste kiss on his lips. It was over before he knew it and he felt his heart break, it was a goodbye kiss. This was really happening. "You need to love yourself again Sasuke."

"I can't without you."

Naruto digested that and took his hand off Sasuke's shoulder. It felt unbearably cold suddenly.

"You couldn't with me either."

And like that he was gone. Out of the apartment out of his life, just gone.

Sasuke kneeled on the floor, his legs shaking and his eyes burning but not leaking. He couldn't seem to cry and his heart was screaming at him for letting Naruto leave. He put his hands to his head and shook it, as though dispelling a bad nightmare.

Nothing changed.

His eyes lingered near the closed door and saw the destroyed fox. He stood up, shakily and moved to the broken pieces.

He kneeled down and tried to figure out how to rearrange the broken pieces. He wanted to fix this. His hands were shaking as he noticed that he could not repair this, but Naruto loved that fox. He felt sick with himself for destroying the fox.

He glanced at the scotch and stood up. He stumbled slightly once he reached the table and picked it up, forsaking his glass and taking it to his lips. He took a long chug, and right after picked up the half-full bottle and hurled it across the room.

He listened to the glass break and the liquid seep out onto the walls and to the floor. He sank into the couch and stared at the stain on the wall.

'What have I done?'

This is a two-shot, and I'm working on the second part.

This short story is inspired by a band (My Darkest Days), and that's where the story title comes from.