Chapter Text
The scent of Camden was something he never thought he would miss. If you were ask him exactly what that scent was, Howard would explain it as a mix between cat piss and orgy's with a hint of cinnamon. But god, did he miss it. Here he stood, suitcases in each hand, standing on the side walk as his cab drives off behind him, taking a deep breathe in to bring back all the memories he'd had standing on this exact side walk in this exact spot breathing in that exact cat piss and orgy scent.
The cat piss scent most likely coming from the back alley just past the shop before him and the orgy scent trailing off from the Velvet Onion a couple of blocks away. The cinnamon scent though? Well, that was something quite possibly only Howard could pick up on. The cinnamon scent came from inside the shop. It came from a small, dark haired man with the smile that could light up the moon himself. It came from the man who dressed like a disco ball and walked like he was on a runway. It came from the man and the reason Howard was back in Camden to begin with. Vince Noir.
Ever since Howard had left Vince here to go and pursue his acting career, he couldn't help but shake this feeling he'd made a mistake. At first he thought it was because he'd accidently left his lucky Hawaiian shirt at home like a ballbag. But after finding it a few days later, he quickly came to realize that wasn't it. Then he thought it was because maybe acting just wasn't his calling after all - maybe he was meant to be a jazz musician. But that wasn't it. Maybe it was because he was meant to stay in Camden and never branch out? Or, maybe it was because he was meant to stay in Camden with Vince..
He'd suddenly found himself with a lot of free time now that Vince wasn't yapping to him non-stop and he didn't have an antique store to practically run, and with his new found free time he pondered. His mind would often drift back to that fateful night on the roof of his birthday party. The kiss the two of them shared. It had been magical. Not just because it was Howard's first kiss, but because it had been with Vince. Howard wasn't lying when he professed his feelings to the young man, proclaiming to now be a massive gayist. In fact, all of that was 100% true and he'd known it for quite some time - perhaps just the rush and the high of the moment helped him with some encouragement to finally get it all of his chest. Everything was perfect in those amazing few seconds. Where did it all go wrong?
Ah yes, Vince's reaction. The shut down. The rejection. The "it was just a kiss". Looking back at it now, Howard thinks he can understand Vince's hesitation. Howard was being very forward and probably took the young man by surprise, not unlike the incident in the Tundra. So when they landed on that bouncy castle, and pencil case girl arrived, Howard backtracked. Denying everything with it all just being a "momentary lapse". Idiot.
He had him. If only Howard kept pushing and truly showed Vince he was serious, maybe everything would've ended up differently. Maybe they wouldn't have been tiptoeing around their feelings anymore. Maybe Howard wouldn't have taken up the offer to move away. Maybe.
But ultimately, that wasn't the case. And Howard has regretted it ever since. Only a few days into his new acting lifestyle Howard came to terms with how he truly felt about the electro poof, and made the decision to come home to him. Howard liked to believe he knows Vince pretty well, and with all that new found free time he had he also thought back to times when Vince could've been coming onto the jazz maverick. And Howard came back with quite a few examples that led him to believe Vince did indeed feel the same way he did.
So he took the chance. He became a man of action. Jumped on the first flight to Camden to be re-united with the one person he truly couldn't live without. Maybe this could turn out to be there fairytale story. Maybe this would all blow up in Howards face. Either way, he wasn't going without Vince again. He'd stay here with him. As his boyfriend. As his best friend. It didn't matter. He cared about him too much.
Which brings us back to now. Howard standing outside the Nabootique, suitcases in hand and breathing in the deep smell of cinnamon from within. Howard was suddenly very aware of his own heartbeat in his throat, the thudding harrassing his eardrums. He was nervous.
Here goes nothing.
The ding of the bell above the door was music to his ears as he pushed it open, eyes wandering the walls of the all too familiar shop. He noticed his Jazz items still for sale and secretly blushed at the thought of Vince wanting to leave them out when he could've easily thrown them away now. His eyes trailed the walls, making their way eventually to the counter, excited to once again lay them upon the most beautiful face he'd ever known. Except..
It wasn't Vince behind the counter.
"Customer!" The man shouted, sitting up on the glass counter facing the door, a cheekbone magazine in hand. He didn't even look up at Howard.
From what Howard could tell based on his sitting position, he was tall. Probably the same height as Howard himself. He was wearing a business suit, navy blue, with a lime green tie. His hair was a short dirty blonde colour. All in all, he looked quite generic.
"Ah, hello, sir." Howard spoke, placing his suitcases down on the ground beside him.
The man continued reading his magazine, simply giving Howard a little "Hmm" in response.
"Is, uh, Naboo here?" Howard grasped his hand together, rubbing them awkwardly. This isn't exactly how he pictured his return going.
Finally the man looked up from the magazine, glancing Howard up and down before giving him a wide, fake smile. "Oh, no sorry. He's out." With that, he went straight back to the magazine. "Customer!" He shouted again, a bit louder this time.
Did this guy work here now? Is he who they hired to replace Howard?
Howard could hear some gentle thudding from upstairs.
"Oh, that's alright." He cleared his throat, his hands becoming sweaty at just how awkward this encounter was becoming. "What about Vince No-" Howard was cut off by the sound of footsteps down the stairs, and the voice of an angel echoing loudly. The smell of cinnamon entering the air.
"Yeah alright ya ballbag, I heard ya. I was just lookin' for my purple sequined scarf for tonight-..." The last word seemed to get lost in the air as Vince saw exactly who this 'customer' was. His eyebrows furrowing slightly as he seemed to contemplate if he was dreaming or not. Then, before you could even shout 'genius' his face lit up in a huge grin. "Howard!" He jumped over the last remaining stairs in his path, landing with a thud and miraculously not breaking his ankles from his high heeled boots.
"Hey, little man." Howard couldn't stop himself from making that sound absolutely like a cringey rom-com. Any nerves he had were now suddenly vanished, his whole demeanor relaxing as he looked at the face of his best friend. He looked as perfect as ever.
Vince came up beside him, arms stretched out wide as if he was going in for a hug, but right at the last second he seemed to hesitate, pulling them back and simply patting Howard on the shoulder, opting to instead leave his hand resting upon Howard's tricep. Howard hoped the disappointment on his own face wasn't too obvious. "What you doin' here? I thought you'd gone off to be a big star?" He said with that mocking expression, the big grin never leaving his face whatsoever.
"Yeah, I did. I had. But, uh.." Oh crap, he hadn't actually thought this through at all. Did he just come outright and confess everything to him now? Or does he wait? Maybe wait seems like the better option, he doesn't want to freak out Vince again and have a repeat of that night. "I realized I had everything i need right here.." Oh shit, that sounded too straight forward, didn't it? Quick, bring it back bring it back. "Ya know - you, Naboo, Bollo, the shop." He added with a slight uncomfortable chuckle. Phew, that was a close one.
Vince's smile seemed to vanish ever so slightly, and if Howard wasn't so transfixed on his lips he would've missed it. But it returned all the same, as wide as ever. Howard made a mental note to add that to his list of "Examples of times Vince Noir seemed interested in dating Howard Moon".
"Yeah, well, shops been fallin' apart without ya anyway. Naboo's gone on a trip with the Shaman council again and left me in charge. Can you imagine?! He musta been real desperate for that." Vince laughed, his hand still resting softly on Howard's arm. Howard's added that to the list too.
They were both snapped out of each other's gaze by the sound of a throat clearing, and turned their attention towards the man still sitting on the counter, magazine now closed and placed by his side as he watched the two friends chatting. A look of un-amusement and curiosity. Right, Howard kind of forgot he was here. Vince immediately dropped his hand away as if it had suddenly burnt him.
"Sorry, sir, we're just in the middle of something, do you think you could leave and come back maybe ano-" Howard began, before Vince cut him off.
"Oh actually, Howard, this is Garrett." Vince said bluntly, his lips creasing together to form a thin straight line, before straightening out his arm towards the man, Garrett, and taking a few steps towards him. As he got closer, his smile returned, and he leant up against the counter right next to Garrett, hands in his pants pockets.
Howard still had no idea who this man was. "Uh, yeah, hi Garrett... as i was saying, I hate to be rude but-"
"My boyfriend." Vince blurted out suddenly. Eyes shifting between Howard and the stairs as if he wanted to make a run for it.
The world seemed to slow down. Howard felt the colour drain from his face and he was shocked he didn't actually fall over then and there. Howard was silent for a moment. Simply looking from Vince to Garrett and back again. Surely he didn't hear that right... right?
"Your... boyfriend?" He said, trying not to sound astonished. He flashed the quickest and most awkward smile he could so as to not make Vince feel uncomfortable.
It was Vince's turn to clear his throat. "Uh, yeah." Simply. Hand remaining in his pockets, the smile creeping down a little at just how uncomfortable he suddenly felt.
Garrett shifted slightly on the counter, wrapping an arm around Vince's shoulders and pulling him in towards him. He had a thin smirk on his face, but his eyes were soft, staring at Howard and he embraced Vince in a side hug.
"Yep, little Vincey here has made me the luckiest man in all of Camden." He placed a loving kiss on top of Vince's head, and Vince relaxed under the touch.
Howard felt a spark alight from inside of him at the sight. Crap. He was too late..
"A few things have happened since you left, as you can see I guess, Howard.." Vince chuckled awkwardly. Howard could tell he really wanted this to be over. Whenever Vince got uncomfortable, he would laugh. Trying to convince himself it was all funny and light hearted.
Howard knew he had to say something. He just couldn't seem to get his mouth to work.
Vince seemed to fill the silence. "Y'alright?" He tilted his head, eyes desperately trying to find any clue in Howard that he wasn't angry or disgusted by this new found information. "I've known i was into guys as well as chicks for a while now, i just never said anything to ya because i didn't know how you'd react and i didn't want ya to hate me or nothing..." He drifted off, and Howard could've sworn he saw his eyes glisten, almost as if he was ready to cry.
Crap, he really needed to say something. Vince thinks he hates him. Say something you berk!
"I'm sure Howard doesn't hate you, love.." Garrett stepped in, looking down at Vince as he pulled him in a little closer, and then looking up at Howard, eyes wide with expectance. "Right?" He offered to Howard.
Howard swallowed hard. "Right." He finally managed to say, shaking the cloud from his thoughts. "Of-Of course i don't hate you Vince. I could never hate you. I just.. You've taken me by surprise, is all." Which wasn't a complete lie.
Vince seemed to sag with relief, his shoulder relaxing and he let out a breathe he didn't know he was holding. That wide, goofy smile returned as big as ever as he perched up again. "Oh, good. Had me worried for a second there." He chuckled. He looked over to Garrett, placing a hand on his knee in a caressingly way - not unlike how he had his hand on Howard a moment ago. "Do ya reckon you could give me and Howard a moment to catch up?" He asked.
Garrett seemed hesitant at first, but eventually he nodded and smiled softly down at Vince. "Of course." He jumped off the counter. "Seems like you two need it." He wrapped both his arms around Vince, pulling him in tightly to an embrace. Vince's face was covered by his chest, with Garrett resting his chin on top of Vince's head.
That spark in Howard seemed to grow bigger as he watched the two of them.
During their small hug, Garrett took this moment to glance over to Howard still standing in the middle of the room. His soft eyes seemed to shrink and his loving smile turned ever so slightly into a thin smirk as his locked eyes with the Jazz lover. Howard raised an eyebrow, unsure of what else to do.
"Love ya, Vincey." Garrett said lowly, his eyes never leaving Howard's, that smirk taking up his features.
Howard couldn't shake the nasty feeling that was left in his stomach. The face, the way he was staring at Howard, the nickname. It just seemed... wrong. Howard let that simmer under jealousy.
Vince pulled back, looking up at Garrett with doe-y eyes. "Hmm. I'll call ya later, yeah?" He replied, standing up on his tip toes to plant a small peck on Garrett's lips. And with that, Garrett placed his hands in his suit pockets, walking past Howard and out the door. Leaving the two friends alone finally.
Howard didn't miss the fact that Vince never said 'I love you' back to Garrett.