(no subject)
Title: Let the Good Times Roll
Author: Concupid
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Howard/Vince
Warnings: angst
Summary: Vince and Howard run into a snag at security
Author's note: I know it's been forever since I updated, but at this point it would be silly to rush the story! I appreciate anyone who is still reading.
"Why isn't your mascara running?" Kylie asked Vince as she dabbed her own eyes with a tissue, "You're crying as hard as I am."
"Enchanted mascara," Vince explained, mentally thanking Naboo, "It only runs for tears of pure sadness."
He couldn't help but peek at Howard, awkwardly hanging back and looking very British. A monsoon couldn't move his stiff upper lip. Vince's mascara would never run again, because he would never again be separated from Howard. While the thought set him crying again, his mascara stayed in tact because he knew he would see his friends again.
And he and Howard were finally going home.
xxx
The New Orleans airport was not only named after Louis Armstrong, it was chock full of boring information about jazz. Howard had read every plaque when they'd arrived, and he seemed determined to read them all again before they left.
Howard was chattering about the places he would still like to see in the Big Easy when he suddenly fell silent. Vince watched his lover's face fall and his little brown eyes become unbearably sad. When Vince reached out to stroke the side of his friend's face, Howard flinched away. Vince knew it shouldn't bother him, that Howard had his reasons to be defensive of his personal space, but it still hurt a bit. Maybe it always would.
"Sorry," Howard whispered, offering his cheek like a dog angling for a scratch behind the ears. Although the gesture was downright adorable, Vince was reminded of finding Howard in Old Gregg's cave, battered and broken and willing to do anything for little kindness.
"It's all right, Howard," Vince promised, "You don't have to do everything I want."
Howard avoided Vince's eyes, but gave him a small smile, "I want to."
"I know, but... It's more important to me that you feel safe and... respected, I guess, than..." Vince wasn't sure how to finish his thought so he started over, "I only want to touch you when you want to be touched."
I just wish it were all the time, he added silently. Vince pretended to read a plaque, but tears were blurring his vision. He was physically tired of crying, and longed to actually be able to focus on the boring plaque in front of him that combined the twin yawnfests of jazz and geography. He didn't turn his head when Howard tapped his shoulder, not wanting his friend to see him tearing up yet again, but then Howard physically turned him around. Vince was about to feign having something in his eye when Howard kissed him. It was a lingering and romantic kiss and when Howard pulled away, his cheeks were pink but he was standing tall. Howard looked proud of himself. Vince was proud of him as well.
xxx
Airport security was always a drag. Vince was far too fond of accessories to ever get through a metal detector in one go. On the way into New Orleans, Howard had tapped his foot impatiently while Vince removed item after item. The trip back was no different. Vince ended up being patted down by a surly guard before he was able to start putting his outfit back together. If airport security got any tighter, he'd just have to start walking through the metal detectors naked.
Howard rolled his eyes, but gave him a warm smile when Vince was finally cleared. Howard, himself, was on his second walkthrough. It was a sign of the toll their trip had taken on Howard that he forgot to take the pen out of his shirt pocket the first time through.
The machine beeped accusingly. Vince watched in amusement and Howard patted down his pockets, searching for the stray bit of metal. Vince resisted the urge to make a joke at his friend's expense. He didn't want to do anything to slow down the process even further.
xxx
Howard was down to his trousers and vest as a security guard ran a wand over him. The beeping seemed to be coming from his back. Vince could hear Howard saying that he was relatively certain he had never been shot, nor had any parts of his body fused together with metal. Vince was beginning to wish they'd just waited a day and hitched a ride home on Naboo's carpet. He'd considered it, but was hesitant to suggest Howard remain in the city for another day.
There was some conferring among the security personal. Vince didn't have to hear what was said, he saw the color draining from Howard's face as he shook his head no.
Vince saw the security tensing as he approached, apparently prepared for a violent attack or at least a hissy fit.
"My friend isn't carrying a weapon. We work in a shop, we're not anarchists," Vince explained with a 1000 watt grin. No one was impressed, especially not the heavy set African-American woman who seemed to be in charge. Her name tag read "Sugar".
"This is standard procedure, sir," she barked at Howard, "If you'll put your arms out, Stanley is going to pat you down, using the outside of his hands..."
Howard was beginning to tremble.
"This isn't necessary," Vince interrupted, "Look at him. He's clearly a geography teachers from Leeds."
A guard turned to Howard and said, "Can you ask your little 'friend' to step back before he gets into trouble?"
The emphasis put on the word friend made it sound like an insult. Even though Howard had been hearing similar comments on a nearly daily basis for years, he suddenly looked uncomfortable. Vince wished he had worn a less flashy outfit, or maybe less make-up. Howard always made Vince feel so comfortable expressing his particular sense of style, it had been years since it so much as entered Vince's mind that Howard would ever feel uncomfortable in the company of a man with purple eye shadow.
The implied insult hung in the air, and Howard looked mortified.
Sugar looked pissed off. She didn't say anything, she just shot the guard the kind of disapproving look that said, "I'll be professional now, but I will kick your sorry ass if you push me."
At least, that's what Vince saw in her expression. Vince could spot a sympathetic soul from a mile away, even one that was hidden in a TSA uniform.
"Please, just.." Vince was at a loss. He couldn't think of a plausible lie and Howard would never forgive him for telling the truth.
Sugar pulled Vince aside and asked, "What's wrong with the big guy?"
"He... He got hurt..." Vince was flailing and he was about to start crying again. There was a good chance his mascara would run this time.
Sugar roughly patted Vince on the shoulder, nearly knocking him off balance, "We'll get him through this."
xxx
Sugar said there was no avoiding the pat down, but she said it could be done in private, and she agreed to let Vince stay with Howard with the agreement that if anyone came by, she would have to wrestle him to the ground and say he broke into the room.
Howard hadn't looked at Vince once since the ordeal began, but Vince never took his eyes off of his friend. He tried to will Howard the strength to get through the search with as much dignity as possible. In a flagrant violation of policy, Sugar did the pat down herself, seeming to understand it would be less traumatizing from a female. She moved Howard around like a rag doll, using the kind of rough but not unkind approach that told Vince she was a mother.
"There's something right here," she said, pointing to the spot on Howard's back that had earlier set off the wand. "There's something under the skin. I can feel it."
Howard had been staring at the floor through the whole process, but his head suddenly shot up. His voice was steady and confident when he said, "It's a tracking device."
xxx
Howard wouldn't let Vince call Sally or Kylie. He stormed out of the airport to one of the many taxis already waiting. Vince practically had to run to keep up with him. Howard had a long stride and Vince was in impractical heels.
"What are we gonna do, Howard?" Vince whispered as they climbed into a cab.
"Where ya headed?" the cabbie asked.
"I have no idea," Howard answered before burying his head in his hands.
xxx
Naboo knew what to do. He sent Bollo to the shop for an Exact-o knife and performed the surgery himself. The fact Howard was willing to go along with it, showed just how scared he was.
"Standard semi-magic tracking device," Naboo commented, "I've got the same model on my carpet."
"Semi-magic?" Vince asked.
"Yeah. It requires a spell and a AAA battery," Naboo explained before turning back to Howard. "I couldn't see it when you're back was all scratched up. Sorry, Howard."
"Not your fault, Naboo," Howard said quietly, staring at the floor. Vince wasn't sure Howard had lifted his head once since leaving the airport. It was like the tracking device was still weighing him down.
"I can give you two a lift home tomorrow," Naboo offered, "but, I got something going on tonight I gotta take care of."
Vince wondered what could be so important, but he couldn't question Naboo after all he'd already done for Howard.
Vince found a hotel easily enough. It was amazing how different the city seemed after Mardi Gras. There were still plenty of people milling about, but in comparison to the madness of a few days earlier, it looked like a ghost town.
Their luggage was already en route to England, and Vince felt delightfully seedy checking into a hotel without so much as a toothbrush. Howard didn't look like he'd be up for much activity of the seedy variety, but Vince was looking forward to a good snuggle.
xxx
The room was lovely and eccentric, with all kinds of unnecessary furniture. There was a closet, chest of drawers and an armoire to hold their non-existent clothing, as well as two couches and three mismatched chairs.
Vince checked behind and under every item of furniture while Howard stood by the door, wringing his hands and looking miserable.
"S'all right, Howard, you can relax now. We're safe."
Howard let out a bitter laugh, "He had a tracking device... Not that he needs it. He knows where I live, they both do. You'll never be safe as long as you're with me."
Vince wanted to cover Howard's mouth, but settled for taking his hand.
"We're a team, Howard. You've never been bothered by the dangers of spending time with me," Vince reminded him, "We're not meant for normal problems, Howard. It's always been like this for us."
He waited for Howard to argue, but he just pulled Vince to his chest. He could feel Howard's heart thumping in his chest.
"We can move," Vince suggested, "You have that money saved up. We could buy a little house. Don't even have to be in London. We could live in the country and commute to work like businessmen. I could learn how to drive and all so it wouldn't always be you..."
He trailed off as Howard squeezed him in a bear hug. He snuggled into Howard's embrace and closed his eyes, enjoying the warm smell of Howard. Howard always smelled of strong tea and old books and other things Vince didn't especially care for and yet found comforting.
"You should keep your distance, Little Man," Howard sighed, "I wish I had the strength to push you away."
"World's full of monsters, Howard," Vince reminded his friend, "And you're the only person interested in saving me from them. I'll always be safer with you than on me own."
Vince could feel that Howard was crying, even though he wasn't making any sound. Vince held him tighter and tried to send soothing vibrations through his body. He couldn't protect Howard from monsters or airport security, but sometimes he could cheer him up a bit.