I managed to write this so here you go. And there's a grown-ups themes warning for this one too.

Ta.

Howard walked down the hallway toward Vince's bed, trying to think how he would be able to do what he needed to do, but was intercepted by a nurse.

"The man who was with Mr Noir just before," she said in a meaningful tone. "Was that his father?"

"No," Howard shook his head. "It was Gary. Gary Numan, the pop star. Why?"

The nurse pursed her lips and looked off in the direction of Vince's room.

"Is his father likely to visit? Only," she paused and Howard could see she was searching for words. "When I told him his father was here to see him, because I thought the other man, Gary, was his father, he became very distressed. He calmed down when he saw who it actually was but... I'd like to know if Mr Noir is likely to have visitors who could distress him. If he keeps crying out and screaming he'll do permanent damage to his vocal folds."

Howard shuffled from foot to foot, his panic rising at the thought of Vince's distress but at least now he could give some answers.

"No," he said, shaking his head. "His dad's dead. So's his mum. It wasn't particularly nice, and..."

"I understand," the nurse nodded with a sad smile. "He's sleeping again now but when he wakes up I'll change the dressing on his eye and give him some pain meds. I'll ask one of the doctors to stop by too, to sign off so I can take the IV out. I got the feeling he really didn't like it."

Howard gave her a small smile in return.

"Vince hates needles. Um... can I see him now?"

The nurse's smile widened.

"Of course, pet. Just tell him to keep quiet and he should be free to go by Thursday or Friday."

Howard thanked her and walked nervously into Vince's room, closing the door behind him. He didn't really want an audience for this. Not yet, anyway.

As he sat down on the chair by the bed it gave a squeak and Vince's good eye fluttered open. He looked like a princess from a fairytale, weak after her enchanted sleep, and Howard grinned sheepishly.

"Sorry."

"Mmpf."

Howard nodded like he'd understood and glanced at Vince's tired and frustrated face. They had always been rubbish at talking to one another but maybe it would be easier now that one of them couldn't actually talk. it was worth a shot. Howard cleared his throat and Vince looked up at him, pouting but silent.

"You're not allowed to talk. Sorry, little man, doctor's orders. Well, nurse's orders, but I think she got her orders from the doctor, so... anyway, you're not allowed to talk until your throat's had a chance to heal. You caused a hemorrhage in your vocal folds."

Howard saw Vince's confusion and his free arm darted up to his throat.

"It means you bruised your voice box, Vince. You just need to rest it for a few days, alright?"

The pout deepened but Vince nodded and Howard took it as a good sign. He shuffled the chair as close to the bed as it would go and then took Vince's hand. Vince jumped at the initial contact but then tightened his grip convulsively and Howard knew he wouldn't be getting away any time soon, even if he wanted to.

"Vince, I-"

Howard suddenly felt panic grip him again. What if he was wrong? What if Vince didn't fancy him? Didn't love him at all? He might be about to make a complete tit of himself over a series of misinterpreted signals. But then he looked at Vince, peering at him with his one good eye, the bandage on the other somehow making him look like a lost little soldier and utterly adorable. Anyone else would look odd and unfortunate but Vince could even work bandages and Howard felt strangely proud.

Vince gave his fingers a squeeze and Howard recalled himself.

"Vince. You really scared me last night. I saw you having that nightmare and saw you hurt and I didn't know what to do. And I want to be there for you, Vince, as more than... a mate. We- we talk all the time, you and I, but we never really converse. Yeah, I'm bringing that word back into the workaday vocab and don't you be laughing."

Vince smirked but didn't try to speak and Howard took a deep breath and continued.

"And the reason we don't talk, it's not because you're not smart enough, or because I'm too boring. (Shut up, I can see you laughing behind that eye of yours.) I think it's because there's so much to say that we don't know where to start, like trying to clean up the stock room after Naboo's been in there looking for his 'special' merchandise. There's just so much that we need to say and... I can't even think of an appropriate soliloquy for the occasion. So..."

He started to lean in and saw Vince lick his lips. Whether it was from nerves or anticipation Howard couldn't tell but it spurred him on and he pressed his lips gently against Vince's.

It was better than he'd been expecting. Vince's mouth didn't taste bad and his lips, though a little chapped, were still soft and full and responsive. It felt nice. And then Vince ran the tip of his tongue across Howard's lower lip and suddenly the kiss wasn't just better than he was expecting, it was so far beyond he felt like he was falling again. Vince's lips parted and his tongue darted out to stroke Howard's lips until they opened desperately and then it began to stroke his tongue and Howard felt a rush that was definitely more intense than plummeting off a cliff. He moaned and Vince sighed and continued to kiss him achingly slowly, with a level of tenderness and care that made Howard's head spin. He closed his eyes and the sound of their lips, their tongues, their mouths made him ache and push against Vince a little harder.

Vince let out a breathy sound that might have been a moan if his voice had been working properly and Howard pulled back to look at him, licking his lips as he did so. Vince lay panting against his pillow, his cheeks flushed and his hands clutching at the sheets.

"I needed to give you a gesture, little man, to show you that I care about you too."

Vince nodded quickly and Howard could see how worked up the other man was. He was squirming under his blanket, making more of those breathy little sounds and suddenly Howard wanted to continue the gesture.

He stood and went to the door. There wasn't a lock so he retrieved his chair from the bedside and wedged it under the handle. At least that way they'd have some notice if a nurse came calling. That done he turned back to Vince, who was looking up at him with hazy confusion that was so endearing that Howard swooped down and kissed him again, letting his worry and fear and love spill forth as his tongue ventured forth into Vince's mouth. The smaller man arched up against him and Howard could feel how aroused he was and he quickly pulled the thin hospital blanket to one side, breaking the kiss so that he could climb properly onto the bed, which squeaked in protest.

Vince's eye darted to the door and Howard thought he understood.

"Don't worry, Vince. I'm not going to try and... make love to you right now. That can wait, and to tell you the truth, I'm so tired I wouldn't be able to anyway." He blushed but Vince's smile was understanding and gave him the courage to continue. "But I want to show you that I'm serious about... us. So I'm going to do this, even though it's a Monday."

Vince's eye fluttered closed as Howard ran his hands up the smaller man's thighs, taking the hospital gown with them until Vince's little black pants, stretched taught with his arousal, were exposed. He kissed his way up one lean, strong leg and when he reached Vince's groin, pressed his nose against the bulge in the pants and continued up to kiss Vince's belly. Vince groaned softly and when Howard licked around his hip bone and bit into the pants to tug them away his breathing began to stutter.

Howard used his hands to get the pants down until they exposed Vince completely. He'd touched Vince's cock, he'd done plenty of things with and to Vince's body, but he'd never stopped to study the member now before him. He took the shaft in his hand, feeling the velvety softness of the foreskin, the hardness beneath, and the heat radiating from it, and slowly lowered his mouth onto the head. Vince gasped and Howard swirled his tongue over the tip, flicking Vince's slit until the other man was twitching with need. He began to pump Vince's shaft and let his other hand wander over his body, exploring Vince's ever-creamy skin and Vince's hands crept down to tangle in his hair in a way that was both exciting and comforting. He was enjoying this, he realised, and he had never thought he would. Being able to bring so much pleasure just with his mouth was amazing, having Vince so vulnerable and being able to look after his needs, being able to give him what no one else was allowed to (he'd make sure no one else was allowed to from now on), it all made Howard's mind reel and he wanted to be able to do it every day.

He sucked hard and Vince's hips rose off the bed. Howard let his hands snake beneath them to grasp Vince's backside, kneading the delicious flesh as he moved his lover's body for him, building a rhythm, until Vince's hips canted one final time and he choked and spasmed and shook through his orgasm. Howard swallowed reflexively and managed not to gag as Vince's come flooded his mouth accompanied by a series of husky gasps. He kept his mouth and hands in place until Vince's body had relaxed before sitting up and putting the little black underpants to rights. He smoothed down the gown and tucked Vince back in his blanket, letting his hands drift comfortingly over Vince's body as he did so, watching as the smaller man's chest began to heave less violently and the flush began to recede from his cheeks.

Vince opened his eye and gazed blearily at Howard before a wide grin spread across his face. He went to speak but then shut his mouth again quickly, pushing his lips tight and ducking his head. Howard chuckled.

"You're welcome, little man. And thank you."

Howard stood up and stretched. He quickly put the chair back where it belonged before heading into the small bathroom in Vince's room to wash his hands. He rinsed his mouth too and gave his face a scrub to try and erase some of the exhaustion he could see there and was just coming back out when the door to the room opened and the nurse popped her head around.

"Everything ok in here?" she asked before crossing over to the bed to check on Vince who blushed and wriggled around in his bedclothes.

'Yeah, he's awake now, so..."

"I'll check on that eye, then," the nurse responded and Vince struggled to sit up a little. Howard could see the eagerness on his face at the prospect of knowing whether his face would recover properly and he had to smile. He sat down beside him and held Vince's fringe back while the nurse worked.

When the doctor arrived Howard held Vince's hand as the IV line was removed and tried his best to concentrate on everything the doctor told him. The day was disappearing fast and he could barely keep his eyes open but he felt strangely happy. Looking after Vince was nice. Knowing that he was in a real relationship with someone who he cared so deeply about was nice. Going down on Vince had been nice too. Come Friday he intended to bring his best friend home to a few changes, he decided. But first he needed to go home himself and sleep.