(Disclaimer: All the characters and names totally and utterly belong to Shakespeare. Trust me. If I owned any of these names, it would be a much different story. By the way, this is 1996 version)
It was another hot day in Verona city. On the portable T.V, news was being reported as always. Romeo, the only son of Montague, was roaming the beach, looking for his dear friend, Mercutio. The wild, comical kinsman of the Prince, had recently lost his smile, and continuously avoided their little group. Romeo was worried of course, so he decided to confront him.
Romeo walked around the dry wasteland, finding his dreary friend leaning against the broken carousel that marked the famous Montague meeting spot. He smiled.
"So, this is where you've been!" Romeo said, coming closer to Mercutio. The tall man turned slightly at the sound of his voice, but still did not fully face him. Romeo came to a stop in front of the dark skinned man. "Good Mercutio, what troubles you? Have you finally lost your wits?" Romeo's grin stretched further at the small chuckle Mercutio awarded him.
"No, No, my dear friend, not my wit," the kinsman answered. "But, I may have lost my mind."
"Your mind? How so?" Mercutio pushed off the broken children's ride, beginning to walk to the large stone archway that was the entrance to the beach. Romeo followed, waiting for him to speak.
"I've become something I've always loathed. Someone I've always ridiculed." He came to a stop when they reached the stone steps. Romeo tried to catch his friend's eye, but both orbs were locked on his sand covered shoes. "I've become a hopeless romantic. My heart has been stolen by another." Both stayed silent for a minute. Romeo grinned.
"Another one of your tricks I take it?" Mercutio smiled as the wind whipped his dark hair around his face.
"Oh, but I wish it were, Romeo, but it's not." Romeo went around Mercutio, facing him.
"Then who is this person to dare have such a cold, diabolic heart that is yours?" he asked. Mercutio looked up into his curious eyes. He sat down in the sand.
"You will only laugh at me." Romeo kneeled in front of him.
"I promise on my father's name that I will do no such thing, so please," he said. Mercutio sighed, looking off into the distance.
"It's…..It's the King of Cats. Tybalt of the Capulet's." Romeo stared at his dark friend in shock, but regained his senses.
"How has such a love emerged?" Mercutio was silent for a while.
"I don't know. His arrogance is as big as the moon. It almost rivals my own," he started, jumping up. "His voice is pompous, cocky; he acts like he owns the world. And somehow it has me captivated." Romeo nodded, blonde tresses falling into his face. "I-I just don't understand! It's so damn frustrating!"
"I see," Romeo said as he watched Mercutio pace back and forth. "I think you should embrace this new love."
"WHAT?" Mercutio said harshly, spinning on his heel. "How can you say that? He's your mortal enemy!"
"Yes, but he's not yours. Mercutio, a love like this is very rare. You might not find someone you are as attracted to as Tybalt. Therefore, go. Go and-"
"Shh!" Mercutio says, cutting Romeo off. "Here he comes."
Tybalt pulled up to the archway to the beach, seeing Mercutio and Romeo by the stairs. Tybalt's eyes fell on Mercutio's muscular build. He resisted the urge to jump out of the car and throw himself on the dark skinned man. Tybalt sighed. Tybalt's eyes roamed of their own accord up the body to his face. When Mercutio's eyes met his, a sneer forming on his lips, Tybalt shivered. Yes, Tybalt was madly in love with Mercutio. He didn't know how, or when, but he just couldn't help it. Mercutio was so eccentric, so audacious, with skills that rivaled his own. Mercutio had a certain, maybe sadistic appeal to him that drew Tybalt to him. The Capulet sighed. Then, his eyes went to Romeo. He hissed.
"The little blonde bitch is always trying to muscle in on what's mine!" It took Tybalt a minute to realize that the dark skinned man wasn't really his, but still, he didn't like it. He sighed. "One day, my beloved joker. One day." With that, he turned on the engine. He pulled away from the car, going home to take a long shower.
"What was that?" Mercutio asks as both he and Romeo walk to his shiny red Ferrari. The young Montague shrugged.
"Maybe, he might feel the same way too. You saw how hard he was glaring at me?"
"Yeah, but that's because he loathes your very existence, little prince Montague," Mercutio said, leaning against the door. Romeo laughed, bur his eyes were stern.
"Mercutio, go to him. Ask him directly. You never know what his answer might be." The kinsman sighed at his friend's order. Romeo smiled, beginning to walk away. "And I want to hear how it went when we all meet for lunch tomorrow too!" Mercutio chuckled, looking up the road to where the Capulet mansion was.
"Ask him directly should I?" He opened the door to the car, getting inside. "I don't have much to lose, right?"