A/N - Dedicated to my wonderful beta reader + best friend -Sassy-Saz-
HOWARD'S POV

Disclaimer - I don't own anything except drug dealer, and Superintendent Naples.

The black walls seemed to swallow me whole, the black walls inside my mind, that is. Ever since that night in the club. The night all happiness left me.

I don't think I was falling for the clothes, the glitz or the glamour. I think it was the person inside. He used to…he used to…well, y'know, be so chirpy, so happy, so grateful to be alive.

We went out to the club, I think it was early May. Yes, it was. He went to get a round in. I watched silently as his long black hair swished, his red jeans so tight you could see the perfect curve of his arse. I imagined touching him. His slight figure wrapped around mine, kissing, hoping it might lead to more. I suddenly switched back to reality. He was talking, talking to someone, someone other than me.

I got up, walked briskly over, and looked at the man staring at him. His matted brown hair, his huge muscles, not one to be messed with.

"Howard!! Sit down!! Go away!! Just leave me alone!!"

I slunk away, but I couldn't resist another look. I saw something being passed, something in a packet. That something was crack cocaine.

After about half an hour, he sat back down, ignoring me completely. I glanced over, plucked up some courage, the kind you get from listening to all those amazing jazz records, I am the jazz maverick.

"Vincey?"

He didn't answer.

"Who was that man?"

He glared at me, then looked away.

"And where are the drinks? You've been gone half an hour and haven't even brought the drinks back."

He got up and slowly walked away, as if he was hesitating, but was too proud to sit back down. He left.

I got to the flat, above the Nabootique, the shop we both worked in. He wasn't there. I was worried. The next day came and went, the next week came and went, the next four months came and went. He still hadn't come home.

It was September. I was sitting in bed one cold morning, feeling particularly down. I got up, got dressed, and walked to the table by the front door, where Naboo puts the post, without reading it. An official looking letter was there, amongst all the other junk. I picked it out, sat down at the table with a cup of coffee and started to read.

Dear Mr Moon,

We have been informed that you are the next of kin to Mr. V. Noir. We need you to come down to the station to identify a body. We believe this body is his. It was found under Tower Bridge. He was found without clothes, but a black locket was found around his neck, a gold ring – with a flower on it, in the centre, a 'V' - on his finger.

Yours sincerely,

Superintendent Naples

My heart sank. Everything in the world seemed to crash around me. Nothing mattered. I had given him the locket the previous Christmas, and the ring for his birthday. I threw my coffee at the wall, leaving a trail of black liquid along the brightly coloured carpet. Everything reminded me of Vince.

Everything.