HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHAKESPEARE!
The canon-ness of this pairing makes me happy. Unfortunately I'm not actually as smart as Merkie, so doing something from his point of view is slightly problematic. But oh well. I also debated whether or not I should try to write this in Shakespearean English, but I figured that I'd probably end up mutilating it, so I didn't. I tried to make it sound a little bit Shakespeare-ish, though, but I think that all I did was mess up the grammar. ¬¬
Mercutio/Romeo, Merkie's point of view. Supposed to be after Benvolio hauls him off to die in whatever house he dumped him in.
Romeo and Juliet and all related characters and awesomeness belong to William Shakespeare. Not me. Just in case you were confused.
***
Teasing gibes. Laughing at your pain. Trying to stay light.
It's all just a cover, disguising what must be disguised. My face can stand bare- my heart is what will betray me.
You love a woman, and while you cannot have her heart, I have given you mine to replace it. Can you refuse something that you do not know has been given to you? A thousand times yes. Of course you can. Every word, every gesture, every time you say her name you refuse my heart, even if you do not know it.
I give my life gladly for you, even though you will never think it any more than the natural action of a friend, even though my death will only serve to increase the hatred between the houses. If I could give my life for you in a different way I would, but that choice was not given to me.
Farewell, forbidden love. Farewell, endless torture. Farewell, bright world.
Forgive me.