Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
The way Howard received a lack of greeting upon his return was a dead sign something was terribly amiss. He'd dreaded coming back to the shop and finding Vince somehow caused another mess, but he'd housed a small hope that this time his friend would prove him wrong. Perhaps just this day would be different than all the others - that maybe, Vince would make a few sales, not invite any crack foxes into the shop, or come to blows with any cockney gangs working for the Hitcher.
But Howard Moon should have come to the realisation a long time ago that Vince Noir had a knack for attracting trouble, just as he had the uncanny ability to draw men and women to him with his brilliant looks and keen fashion. This time, as Howard stepped over the shop's threshold, he knew it'd been one of the worst of the scenarios in his mind.
Nabootique resembled the aftermath of a hurricane- everything was either broken, overturned, out of place or simply vanished from the property. Worst yet, Stationary Village was in shambles- split through the center and trampled by feet or some other flat blunt object wielded as a weapon. Howard's short lived joy-filled evening was vacuum sucked into oblivion when he realised he would have to admit to Naboo he'd left Vince alone yet again.
Speaking of which... Howard cast about, expecting his spry friend to be standing amidst the wreckage with a guilty yet completely divine smile in place. But when that image didn't arise, that empty spot in Howard's gut that'd been vacated by joy quickly filled with dread - its nasty cousin.
"Vince? Mate, where are you?"
A soft thump sounded from the back of the shop and he followed it to the closet. A chair was wedged with its back beneath the door knob and legs planted at an angle. "Vince, are you in there?"
"Lemme out!" Came his friend's desperate cry.
Howard wrenched the chair away and pulled the door open. Vince sat on the floor within, fists held ready to knock again. His hair was an utter mess, the clothes he wore were spotted with dust and his eyes red from crying. Beyond him lay a mess of albums that must have been neatly stacked at some point in their life, but now lay scattered and broken at his feet.
"Vince," Howard asked patiently. "What happened in here?"
His friend looked fearfully at the mess then quickly away, shaking his head in shame. "Nothing, I fell is all. They had nothing to do with it."
"Right," Howard said, not really understanding but knowing his friend well enough to know he didn't always make sense. "But what happened to the shop?"
"Oh that." Vince shrugged distractedly. "Beady eyes and his woman friend did that after they locked me in here." He shuddered and scooted further away from the records.
Howard sighed and pulled Vince to his feet. He tried to lighten the heavy mood that Vince was in. "Well, whatever a person can walk away from..."
"Yeah what he can walk away from." Vince said, or to the point- lamented. He didn't sound grateful in the slightest for being rescued from his imprisonment.
Howard couldn't imagine what was going through his friend's mind, but there was no point in laying the blame completely on Howard. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"This has got to be the worst day of my life." Vince said, arms crossed and jaw locked. "And it's entirely your fault."
"My fault?" Howard sputtered. Sure he'd talked Vince into covering both their shifts but he hadn't gone and found a robber too. "Don't you think you're being a little unfair? This is nothing we can't fix..."
"Nothing we can't fix?!" Vince's voice rose an octave. "I'm gonna have nightmares for the rest of my life!"
Howard wanted to argue, to tell Vince he was being ridiculous, when the surprised but not entirely unexpected voice of Naboo reached them.
"What happened to my shop?!"
"Look-" Howard started softly.
"Don't!" Vince pushed past him and stormed into the main room; a perfect image of wronged innocence. Sometimes Howard found himself disgusted by how beautiful his friend was.
Naboo stood just inside the doorway with a shopping bag in one hand and Bollo at his side. When his gaze fell on Vince his demeanor changed entirely. "Are you alright?"
"I was stuck in a cupboard for hours with Howard's jazz!" Vince replied.
The realisation that the broken mess of albums he'd so casually brushed aside was his collection of sixties Jazz was a low blow. Howard's mouth dropped and he glanced back at the gaping closet.
"Bollo, quickly go fetch some tea."
Howard's attention slowly drifted back to the scene. Naboo directed Vince to sit behind the shop counter and left his purchased goods on the floor.
"Are you feeling a bit faint?" The shaman asked.
"A bit, yeah."
"Bollo bring 'im a robe too!" Naboo's familiar came back into the room with a bathrobe and draped it over Vince's shoulders. "Bollo, where's Vince's tea?"
"Warming the water." The gorilla grunted. "Bollo go check now."
Vince took his mobile from his pants and scanned his reflection on its main screen. The sight made his frown deepen.
Howard, who'd stood to one side for a good minute or two- had enough. Despite not wanting to incur Naboo's wrath, he felt the need to be heard above all else. He took several careful steps into the main shop. He felt someone had to defend jazz. "Why didn't you just call one of us up when you were stuck in there?"
Vince didn't look up, rather he was too busy straightening his hair to risk breaking his concentration. Instead he directed an uppity snort in Howard's direction. "I can't believe you're trying to make this my fault. I'm the one who was violated."
"But you had a cell phone with you." Howard felt like he was shouting at a wall, though he had a sinking suspicion he'd make more progress if that were the case.
"It was a very traumatic experience." Vince said, emphasizing each word. "What would you do if you were surrounded by punk and mod?"
Howard fought the urge to roll his eyes. "I think you're being a bit melodramatic..."
"Melodramatic?" Vince's voice raised again and he gestured at his face. "Look at me! I'm pale like death. I've never been more frightened in my life!"
"What, so it's my fault Naboo stored all my Jazz albums in the back?" Howard huffed irritably, fixing both of them with an impatient glare.
"I had Bollo put them out of the way. They were cluttering up my shop."
Bollo rejoined them carrying a silver tray with tea, nodding sullenly. "Bad for business."
Vince accepted one of the cups and sipped it.
No matter how ridiculous the situation sounded, Howard did see the slightest of tremors in his good mate's hand. He felt more than a little guilty at putting someone so delicate in such a bad position.
"Look, Vince..." He took a step forward and stopped when Vince flinched. It stung his pride and did well to hurt his feelings too. "What can I do to make it up to you?"
"I don't want you to make it up!" Vince announced with a sort of finality Howard wasn't used to hearing from him. "I need a break. A nice long break."
"A break from what?" Howard asked, dreading the answer yet needing to know.
His best mate looked squarely at him over the rim of Naboo's tea cup. "A break from you and your jazz."
Howard took a step back as if he'd been struck. "You can't mean that. What about all of our times?"
Vince stood up. "Forget our times, I need some air."
The robe Bollo draped over his shoulders billowed dramatically as he stalked toward the front door.
"Vince, no!" Howard moved to follow but his mate held a hand out to halt him.
"Stay away Howard. Just leave me alone. I'm very delicate right now. I could break any second, I can feel it."
Howard paused, grasping air. He had to think of something- anything to prevent Vince of all people from turning his back on him, but his mind was an empty slate, too shocked by the notion of being alone to think of a way to stop him.
"Vince, wait!" Naboo's voice caught both their attention and for a fleeting moment Howard felt hope. Perhaps Naboo would talk some sense into him.
Howard nodded encouragingly. "Listen to what Naboo says. Has his wisdom ever led you astray?"
Vince turned to their shaman friend, curiosity and maybe even a little hope getting the better of his poor mood.
"You've still got my tea cup." Naboo said, gesturing at the drink in Vince's hand. "I'd like it back, that set cost a fortune."
Howard rubbed a hand over his brow in frustration. "Thank you Naboo, you're a very big help."
"Oh, right." Vince set the cup on a shelf beside the door and gave a weak wave. "I'll see ya around Naboo. Bollo..." His gaze flittered over Howard for a moment, and he frowned. "Be seeing you."
The door swung shut and Howard released a heavy sigh. He had half the mind to go after Vince right then, but pride and a small bit of fear held him back. He was stuck between rightful anger at being blamed for the whole situation and fear he'd only scare his mate further away if he confronted him haphazardly.
A movement at his side caught Howard's attention and he turned to find Bollo offering him a broom.
"Thank you." Howard said in a flat tone.
The ape grunted a reply and shuffled away, leaving Howard to brood over his misfortune and plan a way to win Vince back.