Welcome, everyone! This is mostly drabble, which I've never really done before. But it's got a bit of a point to it; good ol' Mercutio/Benvoilio slashage! *applause, applause*

Anyway, this is rated T for language. It's written in modern-English because this is more of a character-study focus than a detailed, epically-proportioned period piece. It is a side story to "Mercutio and Allegra"; if you haven't read that, though, it's no big deal if you don't, you should be able to get the beat anyway. Oneshot, two chapters.

Disclaimer: Look at my face, we're all beardless over here.

Anyway, please review, I like reviews. Feel free to enjoy as well, I like enjoys.

Corny

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One of the first cloudy days of April found Benvolio alone in the corridors of his uncle's home, with only an apple to keep him company.

It was unfair that the way the apples tasted every day never matched what kind of day it was in Verona. At least, they never did at Romeo's house. Whenever Benvolio decided, walking down the street, that that day had turned out pretty well, he'd stop at Romeo's for a snack and pick out a sour apple. On days like today, though - warm enough for early April, but cold enough for mid-December and lonely enough for a prison cell - Benvolio realized he always managed to find the sweetest apple ever.

Benvolio sighed. Today's apple was sweet, kind of mushy, exactly the way he liked his apples. Al dente apples sort of sucked, he thought…

Geez, am I bored.

Benvolio slowly became aware that he was alone, for the first time in what seemed like a year. He didn't have any desire to say anything, to be with anyone. He liked the rare moments he had to spend alone with a good old mushy apple - especially when he was sure no one would intrude upon him. This was Romeo's house, but Benvolio had no particular desire to seek out his cousin… He was off doing whatever it was Romeos did best…which probably meant he was off girl-hunting. Romeo hadn't exactly been open lately, and if he had a latest soul mate, Benvolio and the others didn't know who.

With a long yawn, he stretched out on the corridor-long windowpane, taking a bite of the apple as he closed his eyes, basked in whatever sunlight the day could muster. Nothing was bothering him, and nothing would…not as long as he was in hiding.

He was lost in sleep when he heard a horrible scream from the awake world. He cried out in shock, looking around in panic before rolling onto the ground with a thump. "Oomph.." He glanced up at his upside-down wake-up call.

"Rise and shi-ine!" Mercutio sang, waving in Benvolio's face. "Seriously, wake the fuck up…whatever happened to 'I'll meet you at noon'?"

It hadn't hurt, but Benvolio had been enjoying a nice nap. "Sorry, sorry…slipped my mind, okay? I had stuff to do." He glared.

"Oh, clearly. I can see you were just ever so busy, snoring away over here," Mercutio said, starting to pace. "Sleeping must really tire you out. But hey, that's cool, it's not like we had plans or anything, not like you were gonna help us round up Romeo's ass so he can meet Allegra, who by the way, really, really wants to meet him. and I wouldn't mind proving to him that she actually exists," he added under his breath.

"Shit." Benvolio pushed himself up. "I totally forgot about that."

Mercutio hadn't stopped moving since the second he entered this hallway. He crossed his arms and tapped his foot as he waited for Benvolio to go on.

The ever-so-familiar sensation of being sorry, which Benvolio knew he felt way more than the average person, started to kick in. It wasn't easy to speak when he felt so down on himself; it was as if some Capulet had punched him in the stomach. "I know Romeo isn't home, but maybe he went to church. Maybe he thought whatsherface would be there - what's her name, Rosaline?"

"We already checked," Mercutio said. "Skinny horse said she hadn't seen Romeo in a week. Now, are you gonna go back to your happy little nappy, or are you gonna leave the nursery and play with the big boys?" Mercutio gave him huge, fake-caring puppy eyes.

As sorry as Benvolio was, he hadn't forgotten all the futility that came with hanging out with them nowadays. "Forget it, good-night." He plunked himself back onto the windowsill and lay down.

Mercutio stared. "Okay, good-night." He laid down not far from Benvolio, just to annoy him.

He'll leave, Benvolio told himself. He never liked naps..

Benvolio was starting to feel heavy and content again, ready to drift into sleep, when Mercutio started to pretend to snore. Benvolio growled and got up. "Mercutio!"

"Mommy," Mercutio muttered, turning over.

"Come on!" Benvolio cried. "Why do you have to do this to me?"

"SNORE!" Mercutio said.

Benvolio sighed in exasperation and fell against the window.

Mercutio didn't take long to copy him. "You know what, Benny-Bens?" he asked. "I've been thinking, and I think I know what you need."

"Oh yeah?" Benvolio said bitterly.

"Yeah," Mercutio said, putting his arm around Benvolio. "You need a girl in your life."