A/N – Sequel to No Pride, so go read that one first!
A/N#2 – "The girl mentioned is YOU, the reader.
Disclaimer: insert witty "it ain't mine" speech here
Everyone always said that Vince was full of Joy. Everyone, especially Howard.
The Vince in the hospital bed told a different story. Doctors surrounded him, Naboo and Bollo (having finally been told) were there. Howard wasn't. Howard was still lying in a pool of his own blood, on the living room floor.
The doctor had his hand on the red switch, about to turn it off. He flipped it. A loud single beep filled the room. Tears spilled over the rims of Naboo's eyes while Bollo's mixed with his fur.
The loud single beep suddenly stammered. It started a steady beating again. Vince breathed in and opened his eyes. And the first word he said was…
"Howard?"
"Vince, Howard isn't here. We can't get hold of him." Naboo spoke, in the south-London lisp.
"Oh." Vince tried to hide his disappointment by faking a smile, but the Joy was gone from his eyes.
Two days later hey came home from the hospital. Vince ran upstairs, leaving Naboo and Bollo to carry his bags. Vince ran into the living and stopped suddenly. He had seen Howard's body.
"No, you can't be dead, please don't be dead."
Vince dropped down next to Howard's body, tears spilling from his eyes, and he noticed the note.
Dear, Whoever finds me.
I see no reason to go on anymore.
My best friend has got a 10 percent chance of waking up from his coma.
My other friends aren't here anymore.
My Best friend. The only person I have ever cared about.
The only person I have ever loved.
Vince Noir.
Please cremate my body and put my ashes in the urn on the mantel piece.
Vince always told me he wanted to be cremated when he died.
When he does, mix his ashes with mine and lay us to rest.
Together.
Howard Moon.
Vince noticed his name carved into Howard's arm as a single sentence escaped his lips…
"But… I loved you too."
Vince struggled though the funeral before realising he didn't want to go on without Howard. He found a dealer working the street near St. Marx Commix. He overdosed in his room. He succeeded in dying this time. His note read…
Dear Naboo and Bollo,
Mix my ashes with Howard's.
Give a fifth to his parents,
a fifth to mine,
scatter a fifth in New Orleans (jazz central)
and a fifth in Berlin (electro capital).
I want you two to keep the last fifth. Naboo, you have saved us so many times, we love you. Bollo, I've got two feelings about what I'm about to do. A good, and a bad. Bad cause I'll have to leave everything behind. But good cause I'll be with Howard. You've got to understand I'll be happier up there with him, than down here without. I'll miss you all so much. Oh yeah, tell Leroy that that girl was meant to be my date! But he can have her now, cause I'll only ever love Howard.
Love,
Vince Noir, Rock'n'roll star x
Two years later you cast your eyes at the ring on your hand. You are sat on a bench in London, somewhere near where you met Leroy, your fiancé. You look up at the setting sun, with one cloud in the sky.
It's shaped like a heart.
Atop it, you must be going mad, but you can clearly see two figures. Both clearly male, both clearly happy, both clearly holding hands, both clearly in love with the other. They wave at you, the taller kisses the younger on the cheek as they turn around and set off towards the sunset.