Author's Note: This is basically the end. There's another little bit, an epilogue I suppose, that I'm tweaking and will post tomorrow. I hope this bit works. I think endings must be hard. Mint Car's my favourite song (well, one of my favourites), but I don't own The Cure, The Boosh or The IT Crowd. Enjoy.
Vince had been dozing, breathing in the scent of Howard as he thought back over the day. It'd been another huge one and he felt like he'd used up a weeks worth of emotion in only twelve hours. He tried to think back, go through it all but there were too many highlights. The rehearsal, the confrontation, the, um, fun times with Howard, the show, the party.
The party had been genius.
Even when he'd been the self-confessed mayor of Camden he hadn't received so many compliments and given so genuinely. It was odd to be surrounded by the cream of Paris's fashion industry and to be receiving genuine praise. He'd been given cards from some top fashion houses and told to think it over but he knew that he'd already made his mind up.
It had been so easy in the end. It still seemed incredible.
It'd been when he'd been gathering his cape and preparing to go that he'd gotten the feeling that someone was behind him. He'd turned around and let out a little scream. The man who'd done the creeping up screamed too and Vince immediately felt bad for his reaction. The man seemed so sweet, despite his pale skin, black silk shirt and long black cloak. Like a kitten in the Thames.
He was strange looking but striking too, and of course very famous. Vince recognised him straight away (Well, after the initial shock). He was Richmond Avenal, an exclusive designer and total enigma.
"Hello, Vince," he said softly. He spoke with a gentle and genteel manner that made Vince like him straight away. And he called him Vince, rather than Monsieur Noir which won him points too.
"Alright," Vince responded, wondering what he should call such a prestigious designer.
"You can call me Richmond," the man told him earnestly and Vince eyed him off nervously.
"Did you read my mind?" he asked.
"No. Just your face. You have a lovely face, Vince. It's like sunshine. I think you must have a very attractive skull."
"Um, thanks?"
"You're welcome. Now Vince, I don't wish to draw this out so I must tell you..."
Vince watched, confused as Richmond gazed off into the distance. He tried to see what he was looking at but all he could see was a wall.
"Richmond?'
"Hmm? Oh, sorry about that. Drifted off a bit. Yes, I would like to invite you to come and work with me, and I should state that I do not wish to have you working for me. I would like you to be my business partner, Vince Noir,"
He said it so simply, with no expression except that same gentle intensity and Vince missed the implications at first.
"Wait. You want me to be your partner? Like how?"
It wasn't exactly eloquent but Richmond didn't seem to mind. He just nodded and stared wistfully into the distance again and Vince stared along with him, just so he didn't look left out.
"My collections have become monotonous, like a week of overcast days in the early autumn, only without the red of the deciduous leaves falling. They need colour and sunshine and I believe you are the answer."
"Oh. Ok," Vince whispered, still staring at the wall in imitation of Richmond.
"And I saw a raven sitting on a swing in the playground the other day. I think that's a good omen. I'm like the raven, obviously, and the swing represents your child-likeness. I think we could make something beautiful together. Avenal en Noir. Or Noir en Avenal. Either way, I'm not fussy or anything. What do you say?"
Vince turned from staring off into the distance to staring at the man beside him.
"For real? I mean, you really want me?"
"Oh yes. You're incredibly talented, that is obvious. And Jaquettie's a tool. You stood up to him. I hear it was impressive. And I like you Vince, you have something very special. I think the world should see that. What do you say?"
"Alright!" Vince practically squealed and shook Richmond's hand enthusiastically. The cloaked man just gave a small smile and shook Vince's hand back. I shall expect you in at my offices, soon to be ours, on Monday morning. But I should warn you, things can get a little crazy around there."
Richmond was giving him that intense stare again, it seemed to his signature look, so Vince gave him a patented Vince Noir grin.
"Like what, Richmond? You don't really look like the crazy sort, if you don't mind me saying."
"Well, I am the normal one, I suppose. But the receptionist at the front desk does have ram's legs and that can put some people off."
Vince blinked.
Ram's legs were genius. He'd been missing the magic from his life but now it felt like it was all coming back. He nodded back at Richmond and then, on a whim, pulled the other man into hug. How did life suddenly get so good?
Richmond gave him a pat on the back, returning the hug in his own subtle way.
"Thank you so much for this, Richmond. I promise I won't let you down!"
"I know you won't, Vince," Richmond replied, wrapping his velvet cloak around himself. "I think you're brilliant, I told you. I like your cape, by the way. That's some very impressive hem work."
"Thanks!"
"You're welcome. Now I think you should be getting your significant other and your daughter home. They look exhausted. Very sweet, but very tired."
"Yeah, yeah I will. Um, thanks, Richmond. I'll see you Monday, yeah? This is going to be genius!"
He'd just about skipped back to his little family where he pressed an enthusiastic kiss to Howard's lips and whisked Blanche up into a spinning cuddle.
The night had only gotten better once they were home and Vince let out a little giggle as he remembered it. It turned out Howard was a quick learner and all those years blowing into brass instruments was finally being put to good use...
The happy doze was broken by the sound of a small wail and Vince was on his feet and out of the door before Howard even started to rouse. Blanche's little head was poking up over the sofa as she sobbed, looking confused but adorable. He scooped her up, murmuring that she was ok, that daddy was here, she was loved, they were going to bed.
As he lay down in the bed with Blanche on top of him she gave another whimper and Vince began to sing to her softly.
"All of this is perfect, it's all I ever wanted. It feels so big it almost hurts. Never guessed it got this good. Wondered if it ever would. Really didn't think it could. Do it some more, I know that we should. It will always be like this, the three of us together. Say it will always be like this, for ever and ever and ever."
Blanche snuggled back down to sleep and Vince was getting there himself when he heard Howard's barely-awake chuckle.
"That's not really a lullaby, you know that, Vince?"
Vince smiled across at him, taking in his mussed hair and handsome, bedroom face.
"It's The Cure, Howard. It's genius. And I can't sing their song called Lullaby. That song's creepy. Mint Car's the ultimate happy sleepy song. And it's how I feel. Life couldn't get any better."
Howard sighed and rolled over to kiss Vince's exposed shoulder.
"You're right about that, little man," he said before pushing his face into a pillow and falling asleep.
Vince closed his eyes. All he needed now was his own brand of hair dryer and life would be perfect. And if he didn't get that he didn't mind too much. He couldn't imagine a better life than the one he had right now.