Sorry about this chapter. But it's not the end.

And so Howard and Vince went to the zoo. Vince sold his apartment and used the money to rent a zookeepers hut from Fossil. They fell into a routine which worked for a while but never really made them happy. There were adventures certainly, but japes that had started out exciting and magical eventually became dark and terrifying. Banter turned into disagreements, which turned into arguments, which turned into fights, which turned into a deep seated disappointment. But they stayed together, through every terrible job and misadventure. Vince's money kept them afloat when the zoo closed, and financed Naboo's shop, but Howard never thought about it. No one did. Vince was just that lucky, weird little man-child. It made sense that he would always have the necessary cash to keep them all going. No one bothered to ask Vince, because Vince was a simpleton and probably wouldn't know anyway.

And every year Vince wondered if this would be the year that he would be brave enough to tell Howard the truth, but it never was.

And that was how it continued.

Until it didn't anymore.

...

The kiss happened. And for one glorious moment Vince thought that maybe it was all going to work out and be a happy ending. But then he'd ruined it and then Howard had ditched him for a girl and it had hurt so much he'd decided it had to end. He'd decided to leave Howard for good.

Only that hadn't gone according to plan either. He'd been ditched by the band and Howard had been whisked off to Europe instead.

And then the letter had come. Vince was turning thirty, which meant that the rest of the money and property he had inherited would soon be at his disposal. He'd almost forgotten about the inheritance. He'd almost forgotten his real age, and the date of his birthday. Maybe it was time for a more permanent change of scenery.

And then, quite unexpectedly, Howard came back.

...

"Why did you come back, Howard? Why bother?"

Howard looked down at his feet, reminding Vince of an over-grown ten-year-old, which was what Howard had been in any case.

"Because it's a Tuesday?"

Vince wanted to scream. He wanted to stamp and shriek and throw things but he couldn't. Not when Howard said something like that.

"I have to go, Howard. I have to get out. I'm going to go back to France and live quietly for a bit. The whole Camden scene, it's not for me anymore."

Howard was shocked. Vince could tell by the way his jaw hung open and his eyes were open so wide you could almost see all the brown.

"But I just got back!"

"Doesn't matter." Vince shook his head. "I was going to do it anyway. You coming back has just made up my mind for me."

"But what about your dreams? How're you going to achieve them in some French village? Vince Noir Rock'n'Roll Star? Isn't that what you've always wanted?"

"Not really, Howard. I told you years ago, back at the zoo after that disaster with the Electro girls and the Spirit of Jazz. I don't think the world of rock'n'roll's for me. Besides, it was just the way my mum remembered who I was. It didn't mean I was destined to be a great front man or anything."

"But all those years we spent doing gigs and searching for the new sound?"

"You were the one who was desperate for fame and fortune by that point, Howard. If I'd really wanted a music carrier that badly, don't you think I could have just thrown some money around and got it done that way?"

"Money? What money?"

"Have you really forgotten?"

"But... What about the times you went off with other bands?"

"Well..." Vince sighed. "That is a bit embarrassing. I joined the punk band because I'm easily influenced aren't I? And I'm rubbish at saying no to people. Plus it made you jealous. You went back to performing with me right after that. And we started crimping again. I wouldn't have got through the whole Flighty Zeus thing if we hadn't been back to being close again."

Howard nodded. All of that certainly sounded like Vince.

"What about the Black Tubes?"

"Oh, them." Vince blushed. "I knew they were going on tour straight after their gig in my Electro Circus and well, I needed an excuse to get away for a while."

"But why?"

Vince bit his lip.

"I thought you hated me."

He said it in such a small voice that Howard nearly missed it, but he didn't, and it made his heart hurt to hear his best friend so vulnerable.

"Why would I hate you?"

"Because of the whole Crack Fox thing, and because of the party and because of..."

"The kiss?"

"Yeah. The kiss."
"Oh, you simpleton," Howard smiled, rolling his eyes but he stopped when he saw the dejection on Vince's face.

"Yep, that's me. Your simpleton."

He was looking down at his gold boots and Howard thought he saw the younger man's bottom lip tremble. Did Vince really believe that? Did Howard? Vince had used to claim he was dumb, an air head, a simpleton, when he was trying to get away with something, or escape notice. At some point Howard had started agreeing with him and somewhere along the line Vince himself had started to believe it.

Once upon a time Vince's mantra had been 'I'm a gifted child'. Now he was more likely to tell himself, 'Accessorize and everything will be ok'.

When had that happened? And how much of the change was down to Howard's rough treatment of his friend?

It didn't bear thinking of but Howard knew he had to.

"You're not a simpleton, Vince," he whispered. "You're Vince Noir: the boy who convinced countless adults that he was three years older than he really was; the boy who made me believe in magic and adventures; the boy who managed to live independently at the age of twelve; who was top of the class before I pulled him out of school too early. You're Vince Noir. You made me see possibilities in life. You..."

"I just held you back, Howard. I'm nothing. I'm the kid no one wanted. I have seven uncles and thirteen aunts. None of them wanted me. My mum couldn't even remember who I was when she died." He sighed. "I need to get away for a bit. I need to find out who I am."

Howard felt sure he would cry now. He shook his head. Things had gotten out of control and he wasn't sure how that had happened. Wasn't sure when he'd forgotten who his friend was and made him into something else. Because that was the problem with Vince. He'd become what he thought you wanted, even if it hurt him. He needed to fix this. But how?

"I think..." He took a deep breath. "I think you're right, Vince. I think this needs to end."

...

And that was how it ended.