A Life in Many Iotas (Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio/Benvolio)
So this may be something I'll continue, I know not. They'd be a series of connected one-shots set in an alternate universe. Most would focus on Mercutio and Benvolio, because I ship them like crazy. Here's the first, which I have no title for. I guess I'll go with Iota The First, though that makes almost no sense.
~~
Benvolio stalked across campus, scarf flying out behind him. The other person hurrying from building B to dorm C went to call out a greeting before noticing the uncharacteristically grim look on his face. Shoving open the heavy door to the dorms, Benvolio nodded a terse greeting at the TA on duty and climbed the two flights of stairs necessary to reach his dorm room. Sharply unlocking the wooden door, he strode in and shoved his jacket and scarf in the general direction of the coat rack. Flopping down onto the couch, he pulled his phone out.
Would it be tacky of me to tell the two girls I just found out he’s been sleeping with on the side that I’ve been having gay sex with him all semester?
Not a second later, Romeo’s response lit up the small screen of his rather old cell phone.
??? Mercutio????
No, your father. Of course I mean Mercutio. Who else have I been having sex with? Though really, the question is who else he has been having sex with.
Shifting slightly from his uncomfortable position, Benvolio frowned at his own dramatics. He felt foolish the more he thought about his anger. It wasn’t exactly like he and Mercutio had agreed on being exclusive, though he had thought that was implied in the fact that they roomed together, went out occasionally and had sex. But apparently not.
It’s news to me. BTW, have you seen Juliet anywhere?
Nope, I’ve been busy in class. Speaking of which, I’ve got a paper due next week I need to finish up.
Stretching languidly across the back of the couch, Benvolio grabbed his laptop from the table that usually held the mail off the floor. While he waited for it to power up, Benvolio leaned his head back and closed his eyes. The soft click of a door went unnoticed by him until a soft kiss landed on his cheek. Jerking into a seated position, heart racing, Benvolio whipped his head around to find a lanky blond sitting on the floor.
“Ah dear Benvolio! Off in the land of Queen Mab I see,” Mercutio commented, eyes glinting happily. Calming himself, Benvolio opened up his document and began typing. “No response? You wound me so. I was in class today, and the professor began to speak at length about the condition of the human psyche when…” As Mercutio rambled on, Benvolio found his eyes straying from the computer screen. He often was distracted by Mercutio, but remembering his anger, Benvolio began forcefully typing. Scooting over to lean against the couch, Mercutio began playing with the hem of Benvolio’s shirt.
He bore it for a moment before shifting over and snapping “Please don’t touch me at the moment.”
“Have I done something to offend you?” Mercutio jested.
“Perhaps you should ask Rosaline or Helena. I believe they’d know.” He knew it was a childish response, and while he normally avoided fighting with Mercutio, it felt good. Standing in preparation for a dramatic exit, a hand on his wrist stopped him. Mercutio clambered to his feet and looked at Benvolio imploringly, something soft in his gaze.
Benvolio waited, though his conscious was berating him for the mere act of standing still. “Where did you hear of this?” Mercutio asked, voice like a sword sheathed in velvet.
“So it is true.” Swallowing around the odd feeling in his throat, Benvolio looked away. “I suppose I shouldn’t be too hurt. I’ll… I’ll begin moving my things back into my room.” The sun shone through the window, a blatant contradiction to Benvolio’s mood.
Pulling his hand out of Mercutio’s grasp, Benvolio turned and began to walk towards their- Mercutio’s room. “Of course it is not true!” Mercutio darted in front of Benvolio and grabbed hands. “Some churlish miscreant by the name of Tybalt has been spreading horrific rumors about me. Jealous, most likely. Who would not be? Why, even Apollo, beauty himself, pales in comparison.” Benvolio cocked an eyebrow in slight disbelief.
“I am to believe that you haven’t been sleeping with women? We never officially agreed that we were together. I don’t-”
Mercutio jumped in, his whole being inflamed with energy. “As I am to believe that you trusted me so little? Benvolio, my sweet love, it is you, as it has always been, since the tender age of nine. I am not your cousin, apt to fall in and out of love so lightly. Neither distance nor death can force me to cease loving you, nor certainly not two women who I am barely acquainted with.”
Looking slightly down out of embarrassment, Benvolio smiled. He knew that it was silly and foolish, but he could not help but be pleased at Mercutio’s impassioned speech. “For me, as well, it is the same way.”
A teasing glint appeared in Mercutio’s eyes. “What?”
“Don’t make me say it.”
“Oh, but I will be so very sad. Do you still not believe me?”
With a slight sigh, Benvolio let go of his hands and wrapped his arms around Mercutio’s waist. After he responded in kind, Benvolio leaned forward and touched his forehead to that of Mercutio. “Only you,” he whispered. “As it has been and as it will be.”
~~
Urgh, I'm not really sure how I feel about it. It's kind of an odd alternate universe. Not really modern day, not really Shakespearean. The first text comes form Texts From Last Night. Constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated.
~~
Benvolio stalked across campus, scarf flying out behind him. The other person hurrying from building B to dorm C went to call out a greeting before noticing the uncharacteristically grim look on his face. Shoving open the heavy door to the dorms, Benvolio nodded a terse greeting at the TA on duty and climbed the two flights of stairs necessary to reach his dorm room. Sharply unlocking the wooden door, he strode in and shoved his jacket and scarf in the general direction of the coat rack. Flopping down onto the couch, he pulled his phone out.
Would it be tacky of me to tell the two girls I just found out he’s been sleeping with on the side that I’ve been having gay sex with him all semester?
Not a second later, Romeo’s response lit up the small screen of his rather old cell phone.
??? Mercutio????
No, your father. Of course I mean Mercutio. Who else have I been having sex with? Though really, the question is who else he has been having sex with.
Shifting slightly from his uncomfortable position, Benvolio frowned at his own dramatics. He felt foolish the more he thought about his anger. It wasn’t exactly like he and Mercutio had agreed on being exclusive, though he had thought that was implied in the fact that they roomed together, went out occasionally and had sex. But apparently not.
It’s news to me. BTW, have you seen Juliet anywhere?
Nope, I’ve been busy in class. Speaking of which, I’ve got a paper due next week I need to finish up.
Stretching languidly across the back of the couch, Benvolio grabbed his laptop from the table that usually held the mail off the floor. While he waited for it to power up, Benvolio leaned his head back and closed his eyes. The soft click of a door went unnoticed by him until a soft kiss landed on his cheek. Jerking into a seated position, heart racing, Benvolio whipped his head around to find a lanky blond sitting on the floor.
“Ah dear Benvolio! Off in the land of Queen Mab I see,” Mercutio commented, eyes glinting happily. Calming himself, Benvolio opened up his document and began typing. “No response? You wound me so. I was in class today, and the professor began to speak at length about the condition of the human psyche when…” As Mercutio rambled on, Benvolio found his eyes straying from the computer screen. He often was distracted by Mercutio, but remembering his anger, Benvolio began forcefully typing. Scooting over to lean against the couch, Mercutio began playing with the hem of Benvolio’s shirt.
He bore it for a moment before shifting over and snapping “Please don’t touch me at the moment.”
“Have I done something to offend you?” Mercutio jested.
“Perhaps you should ask Rosaline or Helena. I believe they’d know.” He knew it was a childish response, and while he normally avoided fighting with Mercutio, it felt good. Standing in preparation for a dramatic exit, a hand on his wrist stopped him. Mercutio clambered to his feet and looked at Benvolio imploringly, something soft in his gaze.
Benvolio waited, though his conscious was berating him for the mere act of standing still. “Where did you hear of this?” Mercutio asked, voice like a sword sheathed in velvet.
“So it is true.” Swallowing around the odd feeling in his throat, Benvolio looked away. “I suppose I shouldn’t be too hurt. I’ll… I’ll begin moving my things back into my room.” The sun shone through the window, a blatant contradiction to Benvolio’s mood.
Pulling his hand out of Mercutio’s grasp, Benvolio turned and began to walk towards their- Mercutio’s room. “Of course it is not true!” Mercutio darted in front of Benvolio and grabbed hands. “Some churlish miscreant by the name of Tybalt has been spreading horrific rumors about me. Jealous, most likely. Who would not be? Why, even Apollo, beauty himself, pales in comparison.” Benvolio cocked an eyebrow in slight disbelief.
“I am to believe that you haven’t been sleeping with women? We never officially agreed that we were together. I don’t-”
Mercutio jumped in, his whole being inflamed with energy. “As I am to believe that you trusted me so little? Benvolio, my sweet love, it is you, as it has always been, since the tender age of nine. I am not your cousin, apt to fall in and out of love so lightly. Neither distance nor death can force me to cease loving you, nor certainly not two women who I am barely acquainted with.”
Looking slightly down out of embarrassment, Benvolio smiled. He knew that it was silly and foolish, but he could not help but be pleased at Mercutio’s impassioned speech. “For me, as well, it is the same way.”
A teasing glint appeared in Mercutio’s eyes. “What?”
“Don’t make me say it.”
“Oh, but I will be so very sad. Do you still not believe me?”
With a slight sigh, Benvolio let go of his hands and wrapped his arms around Mercutio’s waist. After he responded in kind, Benvolio leaned forward and touched his forehead to that of Mercutio. “Only you,” he whispered. “As it has been and as it will be.”
~~
Urgh, I'm not really sure how I feel about it. It's kind of an odd alternate universe. Not really modern day, not really Shakespearean. The first text comes form Texts From Last Night. Constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated.