-...and then he literally said the same thing again...but later, you know.- Mercutio had had too much wine; the words he spoke were only partly articulated and hardly understandable. Benvolio, whom he was telling the story to, was tired. He had drank too much also; he could feel his head spinning and eyes dropping. They had been sitting in the tavern for over 3 hours. At first it had been fun, but now it started to get boring.

-Yes, I get it. What a hypocrite- he answered dryly just to satisfy his friend.

-Right?- Mercutio's cheeks were flushed from the alcohol and emotions. He took a bite of the figs that they ordered and then a sip of wine.

-Yea... you have a bit of food...- Ben pointed at the corner of his own mouth, acting as a mirror for the drunk one who put down his glass and tried to say something, forgetting about the wine he just swallowed. It resulted in Mercutio choking and wine bursting out of his nose as he could not resist the cough that he tried to cover up by pressing his lips together.

-...sorry...- he said through laughter after getting back to normal. They were both sprinkled with blood red dots.

-I think it's time for us to go now- Ben was smiling too, even though it was him who got the biggest load of the explosion.

-You're right... next thing I'll vomit or something...-

-It's not a thing I would like to watch, that's true-

Merc only shrugged in response. He handed Ben some money who counted it and left it on the bar. After they stepped out of the building, a wholly new world welcomed them. The hot climate that had been ruling Verona for the few last weeks finally broke and a cold wind carrying a dark and heavy cloud took its place. The night air was buzzing, filled with that tension shortly before a thunderstorm.

-Uh-huh- Mercutio sang after taking a deep breath. -Finally-. He could barely stand straight.

Ben looked at the sky.

-Let's hurry- he said. -I don't want to get struck- while talking, he pulled the arm of his friend over his shoulder to offer support. Mercutio snickered in response, hugging Ben and leaning his head against his shoulder. They moved towards the castle, Mercutio more being dragged and Ben more weaving than walking. When he was drunk, he always became extremely tired.

-If I were a girl I'd let you take my virginity- Mercutio said, clinging to Benvolio. -No, wait- he laughed -I forgot that there's nothing left to take-

The blonde smiled and pushed him away delicately- it wasn't the first time that something like this happened. Mercutio was always very unbashed; under the influence of alcohol he became even less reserved.

-Hey...- he started talking again.

-Hmm?-

-Want me to blow you?- while saying this, Mercutio smiled that typical smile of his, which made it hard to recognize if he was serious or joking.

-Mercutio, don't embarass yourself again.- Ben answered, laughing.

-Why? What do you mean?- the black-haired really seemed confused, but he was still smiling.

-Nothing. I just didn't know that you've had THAT much wine-

-It was... only a few...you drank some lot too-

-True. I'm not saying out loud everything I'm thinking though- Benvolio giggled.

-Oh. How do you know what I'm thinking?-

-I don't, I just... suspect-

-Oh. Yes or no then?-

-No.-

-Oh-

It began to rain. At first only some single, small drops fell and cooled the ground, giving away a bittersweet smell. Later then, they began to multiply and became heavier. The sound of them hitting the stone street grew louder and louder and Mercutio and Benvolio quickened their steps.

When they finally reached the castle, the storm was in full rage. It was pouring so much, that the rain appeared to be a curtain that blocked the view on the rest of the world. On the bridge leading to the Castelvecchio they stopped walking for a moment.

-Looks like you're going to have a hard time finding home- Mercutio announced jokingly.

-Can I stay at your place? I'm sooner going to drown than to find the way. Only if it's no problem.-

-You know its not- after saying this, he approached a guard that bowed and opened the gate as soon as he recognized him.

The courtyard was huge, laid out with small, smooth stone bricks on the outer corners with a field of grass covering the middle. They followed the stone path and entered the building on the right side of the gate, which wasn't but the servants' house. Mercutio led the way through the empty corridors and countless stairs, choosing strange routes.

-We could have just taken the door straight to your rooms, you know.- Benvolio said to the prince's relative.

-Only if we wanted to run into my uncle. Or my brother. Or both.- the older one continued to make his way forward and finally the dark door of his room appeared before them. Mercutio opened it and they walked inside. Benvolio had to take a moment to wait until his eyes got used to the darkness. He knew the room as well as his own thanks to the time they had spent here together with Romeo. It was spacious, and even though it had luxurious furniture, it was visible that the person living in it didn't care much about anything. On the outer wall there were huge windows, which were covered by dark curtains made out of heavy velvet that were blocking out most of the light and woke the suspicion of not being opened ever. Only a few narrow strips of dim, grey moonlight sneaked through and made a gloomy atmosphere. A great bed with a canopy and filled with a curled up pile of sheets, pillows and covers stood by the wall on the right. Around it on the granite floor lay a great amount of books and papers, the ones written by hand Ben identified as Mercutio's handwriting, which was like a code- so messy that if readable, then only to the author. On contary to the floor, the desk standing on the left side of the room was hardly used. The only things Ben could see were some small bones, a few clothes and glass splitters.

-Sorry for the mess- Mercutio mumbled not quite convincing. He walked towards the bed and while he was doing that, he pulled his tunic over his head and threw it into the corner. Wearing nothing but pants, he let himself fall onto the bed, all in one, smooth motion. Though it was dark, Ben could see the bright skin of his older friend's chest. He took of his shirt too, and lay down on his back next to Mercutio, who was looking at him, wondering at the sparkles that the moon woke in Benvolio's eyes.

-Are you cold?- he said.

-Only a bit.- the blonde closed his eyes and the sparkles disappeared.

Without hesitation, Mercutio pulled himself closer to the body of his friend and lay down on his stomach, resting his head almost face down on Ben's shoulder. The Montague felt Mercutio's hot breath and lips on his collarbone and the tingling of his hair all over his neck, chest and stomach, but he didn't mind.

-You smell nice- it was a weird sensation, Mercutio whispering so close to his body.

-Thanks- Ben answered, sleepily. Mercutio stroked Benvolio's skin lightly with his mouth and tongue. Ben resisted the goosebump-feeling and reacted by grabbing the half-dried curls of his friend softly and pulling his head up, so that their eyes met. The royal's teeth flashed in a smile.

-Don't do anything that you're going to regret later- the Montague said, trying to withdraw any emotions from his voice. The things Mercutio was doing weren't unpleasant to him, but it felt strange to become so intimate with a friend, even the closest one. The overdose of wine was silencing the rational voice in his head though.

-I'd rather not do anything you are going to regret?- Merc didn't even try to hide the question for allowance. A silence followed and Benvolio felt himself falling for the desire.

-I'm so drunk...- Benvolio moved his fingers in order to untangle them from the black strands. Mercutio's head dropped from being released. He slowly pushed himself up with his arms, now half-kneeling next to his lying friend's chest. With one hand he reached to the opposite side and placed it next to Benvolio's head to support himself as he lowered his face towards Benvolio's torso slightly above the place where his collarbones met. He placed a light kiss, more a touch of his lips, on his throat. The tingling of wild hair was now reaching the blonde's face and lips. Mercutio did not part his face from the the browned skin, brushing against it with every change of position that he made while kissing it repeadetly. He wandered down onto the top of the ribs now and relocated his hand and weight onto the hipbone of the one he was kissing. Ben gasped because of the cold of his fingers and a pleasant shiver went down his spine. Mercutio stopped for a secound after hearing the sound and then placed the other hand on Benvolios waist, earning some quick breaths that the blonde had to catch thanks to the coolness of those fingers too. The teeth that touched his stomach as result of Mercutio smiling, were warm though.
He had reached the Montague's belly button already and now he was sitting down on his own feet, taking his weight away again. His hands stayed in place though, and the one on the hip was now pushing its thumb into the flesh beneath the bone. After kissing his way down to the lower abdomen he suddenly stopped, got up and threw one leg over Benvolio, kneeling over his body now. He bent down and cupped Ben's face into both hands, kissing him passionately with an open mouth. Benvolio buried his fingers into the long hair of the small one and returned the kiss. After what seemed too short, Mercutio pulled himself away, rolled off and rested his head on Benvolio's stomach facing him, listening to his fast breathing and watching his ribs raise and fall.

-Why did you stop?- Ben couldn't catch a clear thought.

-I don't want to spoil you- the smile was hearable in Mercutio's words.