Disclaimer: I own nothing
The Mighty Boosh
Howard beamed - actually beamed - when Holly entered the kitchen the next morning. Then he caught himself and hastily re-arranged his features. Howard Moon didn't beam like that - maybe Vince did, and Holly did, but Howard was more reserved.
' Morning,' Holly smiled, before noticing the c.d player on the work top,' Oh for god's sake,' she muttered, turning it off.
' Hey! ' Howard protested, turning around quickly.
' I'm sorry, but we are not listening to that stupid jazz-funk before nine o clock. If you want some jazz music on, we're having normal plain jazz. Or we'll have a bit of Human League. '
' I'm in the mood for jazz-funk! And I've told you before, sunshine kid, that music of yours makes me physically sick,' Howard complained.
' Then we won't listen to anything,' Holly countered, sitting opposite him at the kitchen table and reaching over to steal a piece of toast from Howard's plate.
She smirked as she took a bite from the toast and he rolled his eyes. As she ate it, Howard watched her; she seemed to get more beautiful by the day, even if he still thought her dress sense was just weird. Today she was covered in glitter and sequins. Not that she couldn't pull it off, he thought.
Today she wore silver drainpipes and little silver kitten heels. Her torso was adorned in a golden vest covered all over in sequins. She had a black belt around her waist with the words Jesus Loves You spelt out in silver studs. Around her neck was a silky silver scarf. And of course, she was wearing one of her hats - this one a gold cowboy hat covered in glitter.
' What? Have I got something on my face? '
Howard realised he was staring, and blushed,' N-no, it's nothing. '
' Oh. '
Howard cleared his throat and decided that things between he and Holly needed to progress, before he got stuck in the friends rut, and she always say him as just as friend.
Mustering up all the courage he could find - which was very litte right now - he began,' So, um, I was thinking ... maybe tonight, you and me could ... '
Holly's eyes seemed to light up and she grinned, leaning closer to him, over the table..
' Hey guys,' Naboo called as he swept into the kitchen.
Howard sighed and gritted his teeth together. Holly very nearly groaned - she'd been dying to find out what Howard was going to ask - and she closed her eyes, her face falling.
Naboo noticed their reactions to his entrance and smirked,' Am I interrupting something? '
' No,' Howard said, much too quickly, whilst Holly leant back in her seat and looked away from Howard.
Naboo looked between them, wondering just what he had walked in on, before Holly asked him,' So, have you got something to sort out Jimmy? '
Howard noticed how she shuddered even saying the name, and he wanted to wrap his arms around her and look after her, protect her from everything.
Naboo nodded,' Right, I've got this dust, which you need to blow out of a digeridoo. Forget-me-lots. I've made it up so he'll forget all about you, Holly. '
' Genius,' she smiled,' so all I have to do is blow this in his face? '
' Yeah,' Naboo nodded,' or Vince or Howard could do if, if you'd prefer. '
' Great,' Holly grinned, taking the digeridoo that Naboo held out and hugging him,' thank you. Thanks a lot. I'll - I'll go open up the shop, Howard, you finish your cuppa. '
With that she skipped away, and the moment she was gone, Naboo turned to Howard.
' Right,' he said,' I kinda lied to Holly. The thing is, this dust needs to be blown by someone who loves Holly. '
Howard raised his eyebrows,' A-and why're you telling me? Vince can do it, can't he then? '
' Nah,' Naboo insisted,' it has to be someone who's in love with Holly, not family love like Vince. '
Howard stammered,' W-why should it be me then? '
Naboo just laughed,' Aw come off it, Howard. You're so into her, it's unreal. You're in love with Holly Noir, you just won't admit it to anyone. '
Howard was about to say something, but paused - this was his chance to be Holly's hero,' Yeah,' he said, feeling very proud,' I'll do it - I want to help her. I'll do it.'
' Right, great,' Naboo said, holding back a laugh,' me an' Bollo are off to see Pete - he says they've got some new deals at Dixons. '
*****
Naboo and Bollo left out of the back door which led into the alley, and Howard joined Holly downstairs in the shop.
He stood in the doorway and watched as Holly turned over the Open/Closed sign, humming to herself happily.
' The Beatles? ' Howard asked, noting what she was humming - All you need is love.
She didn't even flinch or gasp, not even suprised that he'd shown up so quickly. She just turned around and grinned,' Yep. Just a song I heard somewhere. ' she decided not to mention that she'd heard it from the moon. ' Vince still not up? '
' No,' answered Howard, going to check that the jazz records were all still in place, as Holly sat on the counter,' you know we hardly ever see Vince before 10AM. '
' Right,' Holly nodded, reaching for the latest copy of cheekbone, which Vince had left downstairs last night,' say, um, Howard? '
' Hmm? '
' Before Naboo came into the kitchen, you were gonna say something,' Holly said,' I was just wondering what that was, exactly? '
Howard lost his bottle. He couldn't ask her now - somehow that courage from before had just ... gone. Damm Naboo for interrupting,' Nothing,' he told her, not looking at her properly,' it doesn't matter now .'
' Oh. ' Holly had been certain he was going to ask her out - it was stupid to think Howard would be interested. Sighing heavily, she turned the page of the magazine and tried to forget.
It was mid-afternoon when Holly was in the little store-room at the back of the shop. They knew it needed cleaning out, so the three of them - Vince having finally emerged from upstairs - had drawn straws. Holly got the short straw.
She tried to move a big box, which turned out to be far too heavy. Stumbling, she caught her foot in a long length of rope which was left over from a camping trip, and fell straight over.
' Ow,' she winced, her body aching.
In a flash, Vince was stood in the doorway of the storeroom,' You alright? ' he demanded quickly.
' M'fine,' she said from where she lay on the floor,' just kinda ... hurts like hell. '
Vince stepped over some of the rubbish there and grasped her hands, helping her to her feet. ' God, what're you like? ' Vince laughed as she stood up and let go of his hands.
' Are you alright? ' Howard asked as Holly followed Vince into the shop.
Holly pressed a hand to her side,' Think I've cut it on something,' she said, one hand sliding under the bottom of her top, where she poked her side. When she withdrew her hand, it was stained with a bit of blood.
' Plaster? ' Howard offered.
She nodded.
Vince grinned as Howard went in search of the medical stuff. Calling after his friend, he shouted,' See if there's any of them ones with the Mr Men on them! '
When Howard came back with a few different sized plasters, he handed her them awkwardly, not knowing what to do.
She frowned at him,' Well I can't do it myself - it's in an awkward place! '
Howard looked at Vince - willing Vince to do it - he (Howard) couldn't do it. He was embarrassed just thinking about it.
Vince shrugged,' I don't even know how a plaster actually works. I've never really bothered with them. D'you glue it on? D'you peel that things on the back off, or is that meant to be there? D'you - '
' Oh, forget it,' Howard muttered,' I'll do it,' he decided, telling himself to calm down and just et it over with, even if he was very embarrassed about the thought of being so close to her.
Howard was quite a bit taller than Holly, and knelt down at her side.
She lifted up her gold sequined top with two shaky hands. She lifted it over her stomach and held the fabric above the place where the cut was in her side.
Howard's eyes wandered across her smooth, creamy skin, and he had to fight to tell himself to focus on the job. He placed the plaster on her side and flattened it down with one hand.
His hands tingled at the touch, and Holly's stomach lurched at the touch of his hands against her skin.
Howard drew himself up to full height and smiled gently. She gave him a grateful smile and was about to let go of her top, when Vince demanded,' What's that? '
Holly looked down at her body and quickly dropped her shirt,' Nothing,' she insisted.
' It was not nothing,' Vince cried, getting close enough to her and yanking at the fabric, pulling up just a little.
He and Howard stared at the mark across her stomach. It looked quite similar to Vince's. It was a long line which went horizontally just above her belly button.
' What happened? ' Howard asked, shaking his head.
' Hair straightners,' was her reply,' he got really mad one time. This was when I first declined his offer of becoming a lap dancer. I was doing my hair, he threw me against the wall, grabbed the straightners, and ... '
' Jesus Christ, Hol,' Vince sighed,' it's - I feel like such a bad brother. '
' Shut up; don't be stupid,' she said,' S'not important now. '
Vince reached forward hugged her. Her top still up a little, his hands on her back, he felt a few small lines on her back,' Not more? ' he asked.
She pushed him away,' It's nothing - it's in the past now. Just leave it, will ya? '
' Holly? ' Vince pressed.
' Fine. It was a spanner. He's into D.I.Y, you know. That's how he got his name - Jimmy Tools. He's actually called Jimmy Smith, but he got into D.I.Y, and then he started battering the people who annoyed him, with his tools. '
' Holly,' Vince frowned,' what else - '
' I've told you! ' hissed his sister,' it's all in the past! Please, Vince, just leave it ... '
As Vince relucantly let go of his sister and left her alone, Holly sat down on the counter, whilst Howard sat in the chair behind the counter.
Howard noticed how Holly's left hand was on her back, as she traced the lines where the scars were. Howard winced, thinking about what she'd been through, and still reeling from the effects of touching Holly's skin and being so close.
The door swung open loudly, and all three looked up.
Damn, Tools was back, and none of them had noticed. This time she didn't have time to hide, and nor did Vince, but at least this time, they had a method - they knew what to do.
' Ah,' boomed Tools,' so you were lying,' he said, looking at Howard, before turning to Holly.
Holly bit down on her lip, and took a step backwards.
Tools sneered,' I knew I'd find you - you owe me thousands. You thought you could get away from me? You stupid cow. '
' Hey! ' Vince cried in protest, but backing away when Tools turned to face him.
' Ah,' the bully said,' the girly brother, right? Well, Holly, you made a mistake coming here; these two idiots don't look as if they could help anyone out. '
' Get lost,' snapped Holly,' Vince and Howard're both genius! '
Tools laughing, striding towards her, at which point she edged away until she was stood at Howard's side, Vince quickly coming to stand on her other side in the role of the protective brother.
' You, Holly, are pathetic, you know that? ' Tools laughed,' you're nothing but a hooked nosed midget with the dress sense of a hooker. '
' Howard,' Vince hissed,' where's that thing of Naboo's ... '
Howard grabbed the digeridoo from besides the counter and lifted it up,' You, sir, are history. '
He blew hard into the digeridoo and a lot of brown dust shot out of the bottom, where it hit Tools in the face and caused him to fall to the ground.
' Is he - ? ' Vince asked.
' Dead? ' finished Howard,' shouldn't be - Naboo said it would just make him forget who Holly was. . .'
Tools groaned,' Oh, God. Where am I? ' he asked, sitting up,' who am I? '
Holly had to stop herself squealing with joy - not only had he forgotten who Holly was, he'd forgotten everything, by the sounds of it.
Holly was in shock that her problems were over and could barely talk. She closed her eyes and leant back against the counter, barely aware of Howard and Vince ushering the new forgetful Tools out of the shop.
' Guess that stuff was stronger than Naboo thought,' laughed Vince,' Genius! '
He then noticed that his sister was in a state of shock and crossed the room to get to her.
' Holly,' he said, poking her arm,' it's all over. '
' Howard,' she breathed, looking up, and almost ignoring Vince completely.
Howard looked at her in suprise - he'd expected her to throw her arms around Vince and hug him, leaving Howard out.
' Oh Howard, you did it,' she whispered, her arms around him before he eve noticed what was happening,' that was amazing - you're such a hero,' she told him.
Howard thought of what Naboo had told him - how it had to be the person who loved Holly. Now he was Holly's hero - this was great. He hugged her back and kissed the top of her head.
When they broke apart, Vince approached his best friend,' Thanks,' he said,' you were really good. I'd have freaked out. '
He too, tried to hug Howard, but Howard brushed him off,' Don't touch me,' he said.
Vince frowned,' You let her touch you! ' he protested, pointing an accusing finger at his sister.
Howard shrugged and gave no answer.
Vince, meanwhile, worried. Howard let Holly hug him, but wouldn't let anyone else. Why? Why? Vince worried that Naboo was right, that Holly had lied to him last night. Vince worried that he'd lose both his sister and his best mate to love, of all things.
