Author: Nao_asakura, aka SuperMiss
Disclaimer: see chapter 1.
Thanks: kapi & my readers.


#3 Fabulous Jacket

When Vince came back to the shop, in the afternoon, he was literally beaming with joy. His new jacket was just wonderful. Perfect. Howard was going to hate it. Naboo would probably kill him when he'd discover that he had taken the money from the register to buy it. But it was definitely worth the cost. Marvellous jacket. And Bollo, well, Bollo had eaten enough "magic cakes" to stay stoned for about a week, at least, so he wouldn't give a damn anyway.

Vince was late – again? As always? Howard didn't even want to know what he was up to this time. Another psychedelic excuse and it would be forgotten, because there was nothing he could do, and Naboo didn't care, despite the typed reports Howard was regularly handing him.

The door bell jingled and a jacket-clad rock star entered the boutique. Said jacket was so red and so flamboyant Howard was pretty sure it was going to cause retinal burns. Vince smiled, apparently so engrossed in his new purchase that he was totally forgetful about the fact that he was half a day late. A cheerful "Alright?" was already forming on his lips, when a tall man lunged at him from behind and grabbed him. Vince made a startled gasp and his blue eyes went huge when the other man clawed at his jacket and rammed a gun against his head.

Vince's first thought was that the man was after his jacket. Then one word only kept flashing in his mind: "crease!" and he had to fight the overwhelming urge to shake the other man's grip from his shoulder and neck. Only then it occurred to him that Howard looked utterly petrified, his small eyes fixed on, the shiny, deadly gun the man had to his head, pressed against his lovely hair.

It was beginning to get rather painful, being hit in the head with that thing. The robber was shouting in his ear, and Howard stayed behind the counter with his hands in the air on either side of his head, doing his best impersonation of a rabbit stuck in the headlights of a car. No help from him, then. Anyway, it wasn't as if there was anything left in the register.

What to do, what to do? Think heroic, think maverick. "Oh God, don't kill me, I've got so much to give!" Howard sputtered, and Vince looked pissed.

"Oi, tiny eyes, you're not the one with a gun to— ark!" The robber tightened his grip on the smaller man and Vince began to cough.

"Shut up, both of you!" cried the thief. "You!" Howard raised his hands a little higher with a shriek. "Give me the money or I put a bullet in the man-lady's head!" He pressed his gun threateningly against the side of Vince's face.

The cash register opened with a small "ding" and Howard visibly paled at the sight of the empty drawer. He seemed to be overwhelmed by despair, the robber was shouting again, deafening Vince, and no one saw him reaching for his pocket.

A blaring alarm made them all jump, and the thief didn't wait to see where it came from. The gun clattered to the ground and he was fleeing from the boutique. Vince took the time to brush his shoulders, straightening the cloth, then he picked up the discarded weapon.

"What— what are you doing?" stammered Howard from behind the counter where he was rooted to the spot, his arms still in the air.

"It's a toy gun, Howard, it's written on the side."

And to prove his point, Vince pointed the barrel of the gun towards Howard's face and pressed the trigger, shooting water in the other man's eyes, who made a strangled, unmanly noise.

"What was that, earlier?" asked Howard, water dribbling down his chin.

"The alarm, you mean?" Vince cracked a smile. "Genius, innit? It's the jacket's emergency pocket." He patted the side of the red and glittering garment, as if it explained everything. "You know, to attract the attention of people if you're in trouble."

Howard didn't really like the idea of Vince needing something like that to protect himself. Vince's life was supposed to be happy and carefree and full of rainbows. He didn't know what to think of it, but the jacket had actually proved useful, so he didn't say anything. As an afterthought, he asked: "Where's all the money?"

Vince had the decency to pull a guilty face, but quickly added: "Took it yesterday. But the jacket saved us from being mugged, so it's a good investment, don't you think?"


A/N: Merry Christmas ~ Joyeux Noël !
Next chapter will be entitled "Winter Wonderland" (though it's not a Xmas story) and should be here before 2010.