A/N: For some reason, I just can't get these two out of my head. I keep coming up with little moments between them... usually during English class, although this one popped in during algebra yesterday. Fun, right? I'm trying to write this in my notebook and take a test at the same time. Anyway. I never thought I'd write fanfiction for Shakespeare, and definitely not slash fanfic for Shakespeare, but these characters have a mind of their own. Forgive my dialogue. I am not a Renaissance England playwright, nor will I ever be. Ah well. One can dream, right? :)

Mercutio lived to hear himself speak. Benvolio knew this well.

They often spent their days together, on days when Romeo was nowhere to be found and neither wanted to look for him. Nowadays, that happened more and more. Neither really minded.

But today, Mercutio was uncharacteristically silent. "Wherefore art thou so quiet?" Benvolio asked him.

"Were I to tell you, no longer would I be so quiet," Mercutio informed him.

"Thou lives to hear thyself speak," Benvolio said. The words were not inherently kind, but Benvolio's tone made it clear that they were in good nature. "Such silence is not like thee."

"Spoken words are only words," said Mercutio. "They mean nothing when they need not be said."

"Rarely have I seen thee with no words to say."

"Perhaps I am just thoughtful this day."

"Thou seems it. Good Mercutio, what lies heavy on thy heart to make thee so silent?"

"Matters that are of little consequence," said Mercutio with a shrug.

"I like it not that thou seems so sorrowful."

"There are such days," Mercutio responded with another shrug.

"I would that thou confide in me," said Benvolio. "Thy sadness brings me no joy."

"Wherefore do thou care so deeply?" asked Mercutio, looking slightly surprised.

"Thou art my friend, good Mercutio. Friends do care for friends, do they not?"

"They do," said Mercutio with a nod. "Thou hast surprised and moved me, dear Benvolio. I knew not that thou cared for me so deeply."

"I care for thou with all my heart," said Benvolio without thinking. Then he cursed himself for the slip of his tongue. Would Mercutio realized what he had meant?

Mercutio grinned. It was his smile, the good-naturedly wicked done that Benvolio had come to love. "Do thou now?" Mercutio asked. "Then thou wilt not protest should I do this?"

With that, he gently pulled Benvolio toward him and kissed him.

For a heartbeat, Benvolio was too shocked to do anything. When he felt the other boy hesitate and begin to pull away, Benvolio kissed back.

Eventually, Mercutio broke the kiss. He began to speak, but Benvolio pressed a finger against his lips and told him, "Words mean nothing when they need not be said."

And he smiled, and gently kissed Mercutio again. No words needed be said.