Jasminta Blossom- I am so glad you loved the last chapter! I was worried it wasn't Loki-y enough, actually!
Guest- I am so happy that you loved it! Mercutio will get help.
ComedyMonarchy- Yes, Loki's reputation as a trickster and gifted liar has caused problems for him and he does need to be more sneaky! Thor is too nice, he needs to tell Loki where to stick it at times!
Hope you all enjoy this update! Happy new year to all of you!
After the rain finally ceased to drown the world outside, hours after taking shelter within the cave, the Montague cousins tried to drag the distraught youth outside to head back to the Hostel. When the two both tried pull him away from the wall he had determinedly pushed himself against, the tall youth let out a screech like that of a mother being separated from her young.
"Please, Mercutio!" Romeo protested. "We just want to take you back to the Hostel, back to the warmth and food! It's so dark outside! People will be searching for us!"
"Let them..." came the tired reply. "I don't care."
Anger flashed within Benvolio's calm grey eyes. "You're coming with us right now!" he yelled, and with that, he pulled Mercutio up to his feet in one big pull. The green eyes of the taller youth flashed dangerously and he kneaded the smaller youth in the gut with his knee. Benvolio gasped and fell down while Romeo gasped and ran to help him up.
"Get your hands off of me, murderer," Mercutio growled, and ran out of the cave before anyone could stop him.
"Romeo, go after him!" Benvolio urged, arms wrapped around himself as he struggled to catch his breath. "Please! I'll be fine, just go!"
Romeo nodded and ran out into the wet darkness.
Mercutio ran forward towards the light he could see in the distance, his arms swinging madly by his sides as he urged himself to go faster. As he stumbled forwards, he found himself tripping forwards and falling headlong down a muddy hill.
His side bashed against something soft and his eyes flickered open, a blurry figure stood above imposingly and Mercutio felt everything go black.
"Who the hell is this?!"
When the scared teen awoke, he found himself in a warm bed in a warm room. He sat up and winced as his ribs ached with pain from where he'd fallen on them. He looked around.
The curtains were drawn and the flickering candle on the bedside beside him made them glow a bloody red. He shivered, not feeling safe here, wanting to be back home in England, no Italy. He wanted to be in the sun, where the real light was, where the happiness was. Why had he left? Why? He tried to think back but his mind was fuzzy and blurred.
Then, it all came rushing back to him. The cries, the yells, the blood. Mercutio screamed and the door banged open. A figure came in, a bowl of soup in their hands. They sat down in a nearby chair, and when the light revealed their face, Mercutio gasped loudly.
"George?!"
It was hopeless. He was gone. Gone. Romeo headed back into the cave where his cousin anxiously awaited him, pacing back and forth and biting his nails. At the sight of him, Benvolio's eyes widened.
"Cousin?" he asked." Where is he?"
Romeo shook his head mournfully. "He is gone, cousin. Gone. I could not find him."
Benvolio shook his head, clenching his fists, his entire body tense and ready to spring, tears building up and spilling down his face. "No..." he whispered, so faintly it was as if he had never said it." No... Romeo, no."
"I tried to reach him, but he was too fast."
"No... No, no, NO!"
He lifted his head, his eyes and face reddening, swollen with overflowing tears. "This is all our fault! Romeo, it's our fault!"
"We did NOT kill his father, Ben, you hear me?" Romeo had stormed over and embraced his distraught cousin." We were not to blame, we were in the wrong place at the wrong time, that's what happened!"
Benvolio clutched at his cousin's shoulder, shaking his head as tears poured down his face. "I-I-I never meant to get in the poor man's way. He saved my life for his own and now-" he gulped. "Now Mercutio remembers and he will never forgive m-m-ee-eeee!"
"Then he shan't forgive me, either," Romeo firmly stated back. "We'll get through this, Ben, I promise you."
"We have t-t-to find him, cousin! He c-could g-get h-hurt!" Benvolio stuttered.
"Whatever happens, Ben, just remember," and he drew the other teen back so that he looked his cousin in the eye, "we did not kill Salvatore Mannicini."
Benvolio shook his head like a man sent to the gallows. "We did. God help us, Romeo, but we did..."
Thor, Hal, Richard and the other Gang members sat in silence as the two Italian girls looked at each other and nodded. "It began," Juliet said, "like any other normal day. The sun was shining, not a cloud anywhere in sight. A perfect bright blue sky accompanied this perfect weather, and not a care in the world could have brought us down..."
"Mercutio, hold still you little minx!" the desperate, tired voice of a young woman with brown, wavy hair accompanied the struggles of trying to hold the energetic four year old in front of her still. The small boy wriggled impatiently.
"But, Mama!" he protested."I want to go play and feed the birds by the fountain in the market square!"
"Your father will take you there shortly, just hold still and let me put your shoes on!"
The boy pouted, his lower lip wobbling, but he allowed his mother the peace of tying the shoelaces for him. When she was done, he stood up and began to dance excitedly.
The laughing, warm, booming voice of a strong, well muscled and blonde haired man filled the room, soon followed by its owner, who carried a small infant with him.
"How now, son?" he ruffled the boy's unruly hair and grinned at his wife. "Not causing your mother too much distress, I hope?"
"No, Father!" the little boy chirped innocently, while his mother rolled his eyes, scoffing.
"Good. Now," he bounced the small toddler in his arms gently, and the blonde haired child cooed delightedly, "shall we head off?"
"Yes, Papa!" Mercutio squealed delightedly as his father gently placed the toddler on his playmat and turned to his eldest with a smile. "Let's go now!"
The boy grinned over at his brother, and bounced over to him. "Someday, Valentine, you can go and feed the birds with us, too! But not till you're much older, okay?" He grabbed one of the toddler's tiny hands and shook it excitedly. Valentine grinned a toothy, gummy grin and yelled: "Bird! Want bird!" much to the delight and amusement of his parents.
The tall man patted his sons of the head. "Ay, someday, Valentine. Someday."
He stood up, and took Mercutio's hand. "Say goodbye to your mother, son."
Mercutio grinned a toothy grin up at her. "Goodbye, Mama! See you soon!"
The woman knelt down and hugged her son tightly, then her husband. "Just stay safe, Salvatore. Stay away from the Capulets and avoid any fights."
"I will, I promise. We'll be back within a few hours."
"Be careful, son!" Salvatore warned his son as the young boy danced about dangerously on the top of a wall, the bright green eyes glowing with excitement.
"I will, Papa! Don't worry!" Mercutio leapt from the edge of the curb and landed smoothly on his two small feet. He beamed up at his father. "I'm fine! See?"
Salvatore sighed, and took his son's small hand. "Stay safe. The Montagues and Capulets are out, most likely they will be fighting..."
He knelt down in front of his son, took him by the shoulders, his face serious. "Promise me, Mercutio," he said softly. "Promise me that if anything bad happens to me at any point today or in the future, you look after your mother and brother. Promise me, son."
Mercutio's small eyes widened. He nodded frantically. "I promise!" he cried. "I promise, Papa!"
The tall man gave his son a reassuring smile and hug, his strong, warm arms enveloping the scared boy in a tight embrace full of love and calm, like a warm hot chocolate on a cold winter's night. He patted the boy on the back. "I hope that you should never have to fulfil this promise, Mercutio. Not till I am an old man full of life's joys and contentment."
He pulled away to look the boy in the eyes." I warrant you'll be a tall lad, like me. No matter how hyperactive or immature you become, remember this, son. Never let the world get you down. Enjoy life to the fullest. Have friends, go out as an adult to bars and parties. Make sure you have common sense though, son. In sad times, people needed a firm rock and shoulder to cry and depend on. Just..." and he struggled for the words. "Never let the world change you. Be who you want to be. Have a good job with good grades, even have a family. It doesn't matter whether you have a family with a girl or a boy, Mercutio. Live your life with love and happiness. By the end, I hope you're as content with your life as I know I am of mine right now. Whenever you need me, I will always be here," and he pointed to his son's left lower chest, "in your heart. I will always be with you son, and your mother and brother too. Whenever you're alone, scared or frightened, or need me, I will always be here to help you and guide you, even when I'm not physically here beside you. Keep those you love in your heart and they'll always be here for you. Always."
Mercutio's young eyes had filled with tears, and he threw himself at his father. "I love you, Papa!" he cried." I'll remember! I promise I'll remember you! I'll live life well and happy! I promise! I'll guard Valentine and Mama with my life! I swear, Papa!"
Salvatore patted the little boy's tiny back. "I know you will. I am so proud of you, son. You remind me so much of my father, God rest his soul."
He stood up and took the boy's hand. "Let's go to the fountain and get an ice-cream, eh?" he grinned. Mercutio grinned up at him and nodded.
As they approached the fountain, Mercutio let go of his father's hand and gleefully ran towards it, whopping with delight at the sight of seeing other children there.
Salvatore gasped. Capulet and Montague loitered nearby. He called out for his son, who had joined the young Capulet children, Hermia, her brother, Tybalt, and cousin, Juliet, in a joyful game of Splash-In-The-Water-Fountain. Salvatore called out for Mercutio again, and a Capulet male turned his head to the noise.
"Well, if it isn't Mr. Mannicini, the Montague-Kisser. And his ADHD brat, too!"
Other Capulets turned to jeer and Montagues looked relieved.
"Mercutio!" Salvatore called again. "Come on, son!"
He stepped forward to collect his son and pulled him out of the fountain. "It's dangerous here," he whispered to the four year old boy." Let's go home now."
"Oi!" a Capulet placed a hand on young Tybalt Capulet's shoulder." Keep your demented freak of a son out of here, away from our children. Especially when he's been playing with those Montague filth brats!"
"You keep your insults somewhere else, Capulet scum!" a Montague yelled. "If you let those little girls play around with other children like that in fountains, they'll grow up to be sluts!"
"HOW DARE YOU?!" a voice roared, and Lord Capulet came storming out of the house, his brother in tow. "How dare you accuse my daughter and niece of growing up to be filth like that?!"
"Born from filth, always will be filth!" the Montague retorted and spat in the direction of Lord Capulet, who now saw red.
"Stop it!" Salvatore cried. "The Prince has forbidden fights among you all within the streets! Think of your children! Should they see a death this day? So young?"
Some of the men assembled hung their heads in shame, including Lord Capulet. His brother took his children's hands, urging Juliet to follow. He knew all too well what was going to happen next.
A Capulet grinned. "As you can see, there are no children here," and he gestured around, Salvatore following his gaze to see that only Mercutio remained, "so let's fight and kill these Montague dogs. Let's rid the entire world of Montagues and all!"
"OVER MY DEAD BODY!" a voice roared. Heads whirled to see Lord Montague and his brother storm down the path on the left hand side of the market square towards them.
Lord Capulet pulled out a dagger from his pocket. "Montague dog!" he snarled. "Prepare to die!"
"Not before the sword of Mannicini strikes you down first!" Montague spat back.
Heads whirled back to Salvatore, who stood tall, yet scared. Little Mercutio was clinging onto his father's legs from where he'd hidden behind them, terrified.
"Nay," Salvatore replied, calm and firmly, "I shall not fight anyone this day. Drop your weapons and go home."
"Who do you think you are, the Prince?" a Capulet man sneered and spat in his direction." Prove yourself a man, Licker, and fight us!"
Some Capulets cheered.
"Nay, I shall not fight this day," Salvatore replied again. "Drop it. Go home."
"What?! Treachery, Mannicini?!" Montague snarled. "Prove your promised oath and allegiance to our house, and fight for us!"
Some Montagues cheered.
"No. I have said I shall not fight any of you. Not for Montague or for my own house." He stood tall and proud, the summer sun beaming down on his head and making his bright blonde hair shine like the golden halo on an angel's head. He took his son's hand and tightened his grip on it. "Come, son, let's go home now."
He turned and quickly started to walk away, Mercutio in tow, when a hand reached out and pulled him back.
"Fight for us, Mannicini!" Montague yelled, his face a vicious snarl." Help us strike down these Capulet pigs where they so rudely stand!"
"Nay! He cannot fight!" Capulet sneered, his dagger tight in his hand. "He is like all Montague-lickers: cowards!" He spat towards Mannicini and his son.
"Aye, his son will be one, too! Let's prove his heritage by making him fight as well!" a Capulet sneered.
"No," Salvatore stood his ground. He glared at them all. "No one will fight today: not a Montague or a Capulet, certainly not me or my son. Go home."
"Treachery!" howled Lord Montague.
"Coward!" spat Lord Capulet.
In an instant, a circle enclosed around the father and son. There was no way out. At the same time, Capulet had joined his men far behind where the two stood. A large oval circle had covered the area, stretching from the top of the front path, behind Montague, to just past a sign post far behind the Mannicinis.
Montague and Capulet stood at either far end, a long distance between each other, Salvatore bang in the middle.
He tightened his sweaty grip on his tiny son's equally sweaty hand.
Then, in a cruel twist of fate, two little boys came bounding down the right path to the right of Salvatore. Little Romeo and Benvolio Montague came skipping down towards the assembled group.
Heads turned, but then ignored the two boys as Montague's voice rang out:
"Prepare to die, Capulet viper!"
"No if I get you first, Montague dog!"
Salvatore closed his eyes, tightened his grip on his son's hand even more till it was bright white.
Gasps were heard and Salvatore opened his eyes.
Little Benvolio Montague was slipping! He was stumbling down the tilted path and couldn't stop! He was heading straight towards Salvatore and was going to be impaled on the sharp daggers of the two Lords! He couldn't let little Ben get skewered like meat on a kebab!
He knew what he had to do.
As Benvolio skidded closer, Montague and Capulet charged, unaware of the tiny boy falling ever closer to being stabbed.
Benvolio fell in front of Salvatore and Montague's eyes widened in mid-motion. He was going to impale his little nephew and couldn't stop!
The boy stumbled into Salvatore's path.
The tall man pushed him aside, pushed Mercutio to his right and onto the floor.
The daggers plunged into his chest and his back. Salvatore's eyes widened as blood splurged out of his body and he fell to the floor on his knees.
His hands became soaked in his blood as he slowly placed one in the dagger sticking out of his chest.
He slumped forward as men ran away, Capulet and Montague included.
"PAPA!" little Mercutio screamed, rushing to his side in an instant. He turned to Benvolio. "Go get help Ben! Please!"
He looked up to Romeo, who stood there in front of him, shaking.
"Go, Romeo! Get help please! Get a doctor! Get my uncle!"
Benvolio joined his cousin, both running back the way they came.
"NO! YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY! COME BACK! UNCLE IS THE OTHER WAY! PLEASE! STOP! COME BACK!"
But the two Montague children carried on running.
Mercutio looked back down at his father, tears pouringdown his little face. "Please don't leave us, Papa! I don't want to fulfil this promise until you're old! Please! What about Mama and Valentine? Please don't die!"
Salvatore gave a small smile and grasped his son's hand as best as he could with his bloodied one.
"D-don't c-change, M-Mercutio," he rattled. "I-I love y-you, s-son. R-remember w-what I-I said. D-don't f-f-forget m-e-e-e..."
His hands and head slumped to the floor.
"Papa?" Mercutio shook him. "PAPA?!"
The body remained lifeless.
"I won't forget, Papa! Just wake up!"
His tears turned to anger.
"MONTAGUE! CAPULET! I HATE YOU ALL!"
When Escalus arrived at the scene, he found a crowd of people huddled around the body of the dead father, his son buried under his arm and sobbing. Several people had tried to get him to talk, or to move away from the dead body, but the boy just screamed at anyone's touch.
"Mercutio!" Escalus called out in relief, and the little boy scrambled to his feet and headed full pelt at his uncle.
"Uncle! Papa was killed by Montague and Capulet! They ran him through with their daggers!" Mercutio was howling, hitting his uncle with his tiny fists, tears streaming down his swollen face like a never ending waterfall. "They stabbed him! The blood!"
Escalus grabbed his nephew and pulled him into a tight embrace as the boy wailed in hate, anger and fear at what had happened. Tears poured down the Prince's face as he saw the body of his brother being covered by a white sheet, blood seeping through down the cobblestones next to where the body lay.
"My brother..." he whispered. "My poor, little brother..."
He lifted his head to address the gathered crowd that watched with tears pouring down their own faces at the poor boy's misery. "Go home," he ordered, his voice much calmer than he actually felt. "Go home to your families."
The crowd slowly dispersed, women crying and men with sombre heads.
Escalus knelt down to his nephew's height when they were gone, and placed gentle hands on his shoulders. "Mercutio, why don't you come to the palace with me? We can bring your mother and brother with us."
Mercutio shook his head, looking at the floor. "Mother and Valentine don't know... They need me now, Uncle..." he mumbled.
"I will look after you and your family now, Mercutio. We will bring the people responsible for this to justice, I promise."
Mercutio looked up. "Arrest my friends, too," his eyes were alight with a strange fire and Escalus felt afraid. "Benvolio and Romeo. They caused it as well."
"How?"
The young boy explained how Benvolio had ran into his father's path. How his father had pushed him away to save him and took the dagger for himself. "If Ben hadn't got in the daggers' path, then my father could have survived," he explained calmly. "He's responsible, too. If Romeo and Ben hadn't been running down our way, then it wouldn't have happened, Uncle."
Escalus sighed. It wouldn't have mattered whether Ben and Romeo had happened to run into the group that afternoon. Salvatore had been trapped and pinned into that circle. He was doomed the moment he and Mercutio had entered the market square...
He stood up and took his nephew's hand. "Come, let us go to the palace, Mercutio..."
Mercutio took one lingering glance at his dead father's body before following his uncle out of the square, what was once a beautiful day had turned into a cloud of raging storms that no one would forget...
Mercutio was left in the company of his older cousin Paris, a young lad of eleven years. The older boy tried to engage the younger one in a game of Ludo, but the latter refused and sat by the window, watching the storm clouds gather and the rain pelt down on the grey ground...
Going to his sister-in-law's house to tell her the horrible news was the hardest thing that Escalus had ever had to do in his time of being alive and being the ruler of a city.
Her reaction would never be forgotten in his memory: pale white face, trembling hands and lip, wide eyes, screaming.
He'd pulled her into a hug as she wailed, "It can't be! He was just going to the market square!" over and over again. Little Valentine crawled over to his uncle and tugged at his leg. Escalus had knelt down and scooped the little boy up into his arms, holding him tightly.
"Papa?" the infant had piped up, tugging at Escalus's collar. "Papa go way? Birds!" He clapped his hands delightedly, unaware of what had happened to his life. "Papa and Cuio go get birds!"
His mother lifted up her head at the mention of her eldest, eyes wide and fearful. "Mercutio?! Is he safe?! Is he dead, too?! Escalus, tell me he isn't!"
Esaclus shook his head. "He is safe, Sofia," he told her. "He is at the palace now. I've come to take you with me. You can live with me from now on."
Sofia crumpled to the floor, sobs racking her body. "Oh, my poor husband and my poor children!" she moaned. "What are we to do without you, Sal? Why did they have to take him?! He was the kindest soul that had ever graced the Earth! Why?!"
Escalus pulled her to her feet. "Madam, take comfort in your children. They need you now." He handed her Valentine, who she clutched desperately to her chest like life support. As his retinue came into pack up the family's belongings and clothes and other necessities for them, Escalus led his poor sister-in-law and nephew to his private car to take them to the palace where another son waited for them...
At the sight of her eldest son, Sofia let out a sob and held her arms open for him. Mercutio leapt into them and the two sobbed openly and loudly for the father and husband they had so brutally and suddenly lost in a pointless feud that they had never been involved in in the first place.
Escalus watched, holding Valentine, and tried to hold back the tears at the fate of his dear little brother.
He failed.
A few days later, Lord Capulet and Montague were arrested. It was the crime case of the century. Paparazzi crammed outside the court room, desperate to take pictures of the defendants while newspapers all over the world gossiped over the brutal murder, wondering what had happened to the man's two young sons, royal princes of Verona.
Escalus wanted to keep that disclosed as much as possible.
Something happened to Mercutio. He caught a fever. He hadn't spoken since the murder and numerous psychologists had failed to get him to speak. They diagnosed him as a sufferer of: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. No matter how much they tried to speak to the boy, try to open up into his world that he had disappeared to, the poor lad wouldn't say a word.
Not long after the last attempt, Mercutio caught a glimpse of the two Montague cousins outside in the street, trying to get in. At the sight of him, their eyes lit up and they tried to climb up the nearby tree that hung over into the courtyard of the palace to get in. Mercutio had watched, his face passive and silent, as they climbed down the tree towards him. As they grew closer, Mercutio grabbed two oranges from another tree and headed over to them.
The two boys asked him frantically about what had happened to him. Why he hadn't seen them in so long? What was going to happen to Lord Montague?
The young, mute boy simply walked up to them very closely. He stood in front of Romeo, orange in hand.
He pushed the orange into Romeo's forehead, the orange bursting and the juice spraying the Montague's clothes and hair.
He then went over to Benvolio, stared him in the eye the hardest, and did the same.
Grabbing a black marker pen from Romeo's pocket, the traumatised four year old pushed into both of their foreheads as he wrote on both of them one damming word:
MURDERER.
He then took another orange, biting into it with zeal before turning around to walk back inside the palace, leaving the other two stunned boys alone in the bleak courtyard.
Later that day, Mercutio came down with a fever. He had been outside, trying to climb up a tree in the same courtyard he'd been in a few hours earlier, when he suddenly collapsed and fell out at a dangerous height for a boy his age. A servant had been gardening nearby and had heard the sound of a loud thud not far from where he was tending to the flowers. He'd rushed round the corner to see the boy lying there, lifeless on the floor, blood seeping from his head.
The unconscious boy was taken to hospital, where he was dominated by the doctors' constant watches. His head wound was sown up, but it was likely that it would leave a permanent scar
Overnight, Mercutio's fever reached a dangerous level. It went up and down frequently, hot and cold, while the boy constantly murmered in his sleep and tossed and turned fitfully. Escalus wept over the loss of his brother, vowing to God his life for that of his nephew, while the two Montague cousins had no idea of what was going on.
The scarred child did not wake up for two weeks. When he awoke...
He could not remember a thing.
The doctors were relieved to find that there was no lasting brain damage from the fall, but that the fever or/and the fall had caused him to suffer from amnesia. Escalus decided that it was in the best interests of the boy's mental state that he should not be reminded of anything to do with his father's death. Calling upon all the members of the Capulet and Montague houses, as well as making a public declaration, to say that no one should ever say anything in the boy's presence of the murder. If they did, it would be classed as treason of the highest degree- pain of exile, possibly death...
Lord Montague was arrested and charged with murder. He was sent to prison for 20 years with 5 years before a chance of parole. Lord Capulet was given the same sentence.
At the news that his father wouldn't be coming home, Romeo wept, Benvolio too. Tybalt, Hernia and Juliet were shocked: Tybalt was angry at Mercutio off all people, whereas the two girls wept for Mercutio and for their father/uncle who wouldn't be coming home.
Lord Montague's brother was attacked not long after the event, also killed at the hands of aggressive Capulets and angry loyalists of the Mannicini house. Benvolio was left an orphan at the age of four.
Lady Montague consoled the two children: telling them that they mustn't ever mention anything of the murders to Mercutio, that his father and Montague's brother died of a fever in a plague that had ravished the town.
Benvolio had nodded his head, tears streaming down his cheeks. For Mercutio, he had to keep quiet. He would keep quiet, no matter the consequences...
"Hey!" Mercutio looked up to see a small boy looking down at him. He had piercing blue eyes and striking blonde hair that curled at the back of his head. He held out his hand. "I think you dropped this..."
Mercutio, now five, took the toy from the boy's hand. It was September, 2001, and he, Romeo, Benvolio and the other Montague/Capulet children were now in Year One of primary school. He looked curiously at the boy, not recognising him from anywhere.
"Who are you?" Mannicini asked. "You weren't in Reception last year."
"No, I'm new. My name's Henry. Henry Plantagenet the Fifth to be."
"You're Henry IV's son?"
The small boy nodded. "My father wanted me to go to a normal school, instead of having private tutors."
"Well, this school's full of royalty like us."
"You're royalty, too?"
"My uncle is the Prince of Verona. I moved to England from Italy in July last year, before school started in Autumn."
"What's your name?" the young boy asked.
"Mercutio," the other one replied, puffing up his chest." Mercutio of the House of Manncini."
The young boy giggled. "You can call me Hal! I've got two cousins also called Henry: Harry and Tudor."
Hal held out his tiny hand. Mercutio gripped it tightly, eyes brimming with excitement.
"Hal and Mercutio. Mercutio and Hal! Mighty and powerful princes!" Mercutio climbed up onto the table nearest to him and trusted a hand in the air. Hal climbed up beside him, doing the same.
"Where bad men go, we shall follow! Knights of England and Italy!" Hal roared.
"RAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
Another young boy tried to climb up beside the two lads. "Why are you yelling?" he asked.
"Ewww! Yorkist! Yorkist!" Hal leapt down from the table.
The other boy pouted." Not fair! You stupid Lancastrian!"
"Richard, Richard, Richard, the stupidest Yorkist of all!" Hal taunted.
"Oi! Quit being mean!" Romeo stormed over and grabbed the boy by the arm. "You stop being mean right now! Or I'll tell the teacher!"
"Sorry, cousin..." Hal mumbled. Richard nodded and tackled the Lancastrians boy to the floor, tickling him.
"Say York is the best!" he yelled.
"Never!"
"Tickle, tickle!"
"Never!"
"Say it!"
"Fine! York is the best!"
Richard looked smug. He let the boy up and Hal grinned.
"PSYCHE!" he yelled, lifting up his crossed fingers he'd been holding behind his back. "Lancaster forever!"
He grabbed Mercutio by the hand and ran out of the classroom and into the empty playground, the two laughing gleefully, hands entwined.
Hal slumped down into his seat. The entire room was quiet. Thor was staring at his hands, trying to not focus on what he had just heard. Loki was stood by the window, glaring at the foul weather like it was its fault for everything that had gone wrong. Richard was white. Anne was pale. Hermia and Juliet looked at each other and then at the other students in the room. Harry was trying not to cry. Edmund was looking at the floor. Ned had his head in his hands. Geoff was stood by the door, an unreadable expression on his face. Valmont was stretched out on the sofa, looking at the ceiling. Macbeth and Banquo were looking at each other in shock. Tudor was sat next to Harry, his hand on the other Lancastrian's shoulder. Sigyn was heading for the door, tears streaming down her face. Kate was crying into Hal's clothes.
"Pet.." Loki turned and hurried after Sigyn as she ran out the room. No one looked up at them as they went.
Hal choked out a sob. He clutched at Kate and felt tears fall down his face. "I-I-I, oh God!" he cried. "Oh God!"
Everyone else was silent.
"Now that he remembers, he'll be sent over the edge! He'll go mad!" Hal wept. "PTSD! My God! Forgive me, God! I didn't know!"
Thor stood up. "I'm off to bed."
Richard stood up. "Me, too."
"Me, too," Ned whispered.
"Goodnight," Tudor mumbled.
They all headed out of the door, leaving Kate, Hal, Juliet and Hermia alone.
"I hope you're happy, Hal..." Hermia looked down at him.
"I didn't know! And now-"
"Now Mercutio will be as good as dead."
"It would have happened at anytime!" Hal protested." He could have remembered at any time!"
"But you made him remember."
"I DIDN'T KNOW! LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Juliet pulled her cousin away, leaving Kate to tend to her husband.
"I didn't know, Kate..." Hal wept into her embrace. "I didn't know!"
"Ssshhh..." Kate whispered, holding him close. "It's not your fault, Henri. It's not your fault."
"It is! I shouldn't have said what I said!"
"It's not your fault..."
Hal rocked back and forth, sobbing and wailing into his wife's arms. Thunder and lightning crashed about and the storm ravaged the Earth once again...
Mercutio sat up. "George! You're alive!"
George gave him a faint smile. "Yeah, I am..."
"Where have you been all this time?!"
"Here."
"How?"
"It's a long story..."
Hyde entered the room, scanning the area with his vivid eyes. "Dear, I trust he's settled?"
"Just woken up," George replied.
"Good. Make sure he's settled and then come and see me in my room."
George gave a stiff nod in reply.
There was a thud outside. Hyde went to the front door to see two men on their knees.
"More guests!" Hyde called into the house. "Get the stove on!"
"Please, we're looking for our friend-"
"In the back," Hyde pointed to the house and the two rushed inside.
At the sight of Benvolio and Romeo, Mercutio let out a screech and pushed himself against the wall. "GET AWAY FROM ME!" he yelled.
Hyde raised an eyebrow in amusement. George looked confused.
Benvolio and Romeo gasped at the sight of George by the bed. They ran to hug him.
"We thought you were dead!" exclaimed Romeo. "Where have you been?"
"With me," Hyde answered, taking George by the arm. "He lives with me."
Benvolio looked confused. He turned to George. "We're going back to the hostel. You have to come with us."
Hyde growled. "No, he does not!"
"Who are you, his babysitter?" Romeo spat.
"No, I'm his lover!"
"No you're not!" George pulled away. "I'd rather be dead!"
"That can be arranged, dear!" Hyde snarled, pulling George back to him. "It's be a shame to see your blood over my carpet when I'm through with you!"
"Oh, please!" George rolled his eyes. "I'm not afraid of you!"
"You should be!"
"We need to get back!" Romeo yelled over the shouting. Benvolio had gone to Mercutio's side, but was being kicked at again by the taller teen. "Mercutio needs help."
"You're damn right he does!" Hyde laughed. George smacked him round the face with his fist. Hyde twisted his arm back and pinned him against the wall.
"I could take you right now if I wanted!" he snarled into the smaller teen's ear. "But I need you still, so I won't! Consider yourself lucky, George!"
"I hate you!" George spat, crying into the wall. "I hate you so much, Hyde!"
"I love you, George..." Hyde replied. "So take this as a warning. Please."
He pulled away. George slumped against the wall, crying a monsoon. Hyde watched, a pale face.
"Mercutio, let's go," Benvolio pulled the teen to his feet. Mercutio wailed and tried to throttle the teen away. "Please! Mercutio! Stop it! Please! We love you, stop trying to hurt us!"
Mercutio stopped. He looked at Benvolio in the eyes, his own green ones full of hate.
"I will never forgive YOU, Benvolio Montague! Never!"
Hyde picked up Mercutio and pressed a hand down on the teen's mouth. "You so much as yell again I will snap your neck. Got it?"
Mercutio nodded.
Hyde turned to Benvolio."Help George up and let's go. Lead the way to the hostel, Benvolio."
Loki pulled Sigyn to him as she tried to rush up the stairs, crashing his mouth against hers as he held her face in his shaking hands. He pulled away and held her close to him, murmuring soft words into her hair.
"Loki...I, I, I-"
"Sssshhh...Sigyn.'
"That poor boy! That, poor, poor boy!"
"It'll be okay, Pet. I promise you, everything will be okay. I promise, I promise."
"How?! He'll be traumatised! So scared! Alone!"
"He'll get help, Pet, I promise. Please, please stop crying. I hate to see you upset."
Sigyn buried her face in his chest, clutching at his coat. 'I-I saw something, Loki... I saw a glimpse of... our future. Loki!"
Loki tightened his grip on her. Muttering something under his breath, he and Sigyn disappeared just as Thor walked into the hallway.
The two gods materialised into a room. There were two beds, a wardrobe, two desks and a computer. Loki pulled Sign down on the bed nearest to the door and held her to him.
"Tell me," he simply said.
'I saw a city on fire. There were people screaming, strange creatures flying in the sky. You were there on top of a tower with blue eyes, grinning. Thor was there. You were fighting him..."
"Why would I fight my brother? And my eyes are green!"
"You stabbed him, Loki! You stabbed Thor!"
"What?!"
"You stabbed him and fled!"
'I have no idea of why I would do that. I love Thor!"
"I don't know, Loki! I don't know!"
"Did you see anything else, Pet?"
"I heard the sound of babies crying, but not there. This was in another place. Two blue Jotun babies crying.'
'Jotun babies?"
"Yes. They were blue, with red eyes. Next, I saw blood and a lock of black hair."
"Black hair. Mine?"
"I don't know. That's all I saw!"
Loki sighed and placed a hand on his forehead. This night was just getting worse...
"Loki? What are we going to do?"
Loki turned and looked at her. He placed his hands on her temples and concentrated deeply, closing his eyes.
The images of fire, screams, Thor being stabbed by a figure that was indeed him- but with blue eyes, longer hair, a strange staff- two Jotun babies screaming their eyes out, a lock of black, bloodied hair...
He let go of her head and pulled away.
Sigyn looked at him with fear on her face, brown eyes wide and scared.
She started to cry into her hands.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Loki leant over and pulled her into his embrace, then pulled her down so that they were both lying on the bed- her back against his chest, arms wrapped around her tightly. "I'm here. Sigyn, I'm here, don't cry."
"I'm scared, Loki!"
The dark prince held her tight, nuzzling his head into the crook of her neck, kissing it gently. "I won't let anyone hurt you, Pet. You are always safe with me."
"I don't know what to do..."
"Ssshhhh... Pet, Sigyn, love, love, I love you so much, darling... I love you, I love you, I love you, Pet, dear, Sigyn..."
"Kitty! Kitty, hold me, please!"
"No matter what happens, know that I love you more than anyone else in the nine realms, Pet!" He was crying into her neck, sobbing.
Sigyn turned around so that she was facing him, staring straight into his eyes. She placed a hand on his face and pressed their foreheads together. "I promised your mother that I'd protect you. I won't let her down."
Loki placed a hand on top of her's. "You promised my mother?"
"When I followed you and Thor to Midgard, yes." She looked up at the ceiling. "Does anyone else live in this flats with you and Thor?"
"Two other people live in the joined room next to ours, but no, not in our flat, no."
"Does Thor keep them awake with his yelling and snoring?"
"Ehehehehe! No, thank Odin!"
Loki pulled her closer, his hand possessively running down her waist. "Emmm..." he grinned at her. "Lying here like this with you is too tempting..."
His hand went down lower, between her thighs. Sigyn gasped and grabbed his hand pulling it up to his face.
"Keep your hands to yourself, Loki Odinson!" she was trying not to smile, but failed.
"Ehehehehe! Merely staking my claim, dear!"
"You have no claim to me, Lo!"
Loki took her hand and kissed its fingers slowly. "I will soon... Then I can do what I've been denied for so long..."
He locked his lips with hers, moaning and fisting a hand in her hair. Sigyn pulled away.
"We can't."
Loki sighed and turned to the other side of the crammed, single bed as best as he could, immediately feeling the cold between them.
"I'm sorry, Loki..." she tried to take his hand, but he sharply and immediately snatched it away.
"Don't be..." he curtly responded. "It's not your fault. It's mine."
"Loki-"
"No, Sigyn. Don't."
"But-"
"NO!" Loki sat up. "I cannot deal with this anymore, Sigyn! I want you for myself but I cannot have you! What am I to do?!"
Sigyn sat up and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Loki. I really am, but-"
"But my father will not let me have what I want! He never has looked at me in the same way he does Thor!" He turned to look at her. "Maybe you should go and fuck Thor, then at least one of us will have you!"
"LOKI!" Sigyn slapped him round the face and the prince fell back onto the bed. "YOU DARE SAY THAT?! DON'T YOU EVER SAY THAT!"
"Why not?!" Loki spat back, sitting up. "I bet you've been doing all sorts with HIM behind MY back, haven't you?!"
"As if I'd do anything with Thor when it's you I'm in love with, you fool!"
"A likely excuse. You're just like your whore of a mother!"
"Please, Loki! Stop this now!"
"Why?!" tears were pouring down Loki's face. "Why?! Why should I?!"
Sigyn pulled his face close to hers and stroked his cheeks. "Please, Kitten, please!"
Loki's eyes widened and he heaved a sob. "I'm sorry! I promised I'd never hurt you and look at me! You deserve better than me!"
"I love you, Loki. I'm never going to let you go. Never."
Loki, encouraged by her words, pressed his lips to hers, salty tears pouring down his well defined cheekbones.
Sigyn let him pull her close, her hands on his shoulders.
Mischief pulled away. Gave a small smile. "We'd best be getting back."
"No."
"What?"
"No."
She lay back on the bed, eyes filling with yearning and desire. "Please, Loki..."
"Pet..."
"Please take me now, please. I can't deal with it anymore."
"Sigyn, do you know what this puts us in? The shame?"
"I don't care anymore. As long as I have you, I don't care."
"Are you doing this out of guilt or shame?"
"No. I really want this now. Don't you?"
"Of course, but-"
"Just now, you wanted this. I want it as well, I was just concerned about what your father and Asgard would do and think. I want this now, Loki. I need you now."
She took his hand, interlaced her fingers with his. She pulled him down on top of her. Loki's eyes widened.
"Sigyn, my love..."
He traced her neck with his lean fingers. Pulled her dress strap down. Kissed her shoulder.
She started to pull up his shirt over his head. He threw it to the floor. Pinned her down with his arms.
"Loki..."
That was all he needed. He swooped down, claimed her lips. Her hands reached up to run through his silky black hair. His hands went to her dress, willed it off with his magic...
He lost himself in her and never looked back. Not for one moment...
Even though Warwick and the other students were asleep, Thor couldn't sleep; Loki and Sigyn were still missing, and Thor would never forgive himself if anything happened to his little brother...
He went downstairs, entered the wreck room, and waited with Hernia and Juliet for the Montague cousins and Mercutio to come back, hoping for Loki and Sigyn's return...
At about 12:45am, Thor pulled the girls back as the window swung open, letting the cold air burst through into the warm room.
Hyde leapt through, landing on his feet like a talented gymnast, Benvolio came behind him- Mercutio on his back- Romeo helping George at the back, arm around his shoulders.
"Mercutio!" Hermia exclaimed, tears in her eyes. "George! You're alive!"
Hyde dusted himself down.
"The police have been looking all over for you!"
"They won't anymore," Hyde grinned." Right, dear?"
George shivered from the cold and in fear. "Did you have to kill them?"
"My dear! That was the only way I could keep all of you safe!"
"You're dating a psychopath!" Romeo hissed to George.
George shrugged. "I didn't choose him, he forced himself on me."
Romeo looked shocked.
"No, not like that, thank God!"
Hyde turned around. "What was that, dear?"
"Nothing!"
"Good!"
Benvolio gestured for help, and Hyde lifted the sleeping teen off of the Montague. Benvolio then took Mercutio and held him tightly to his chest.
"I'm taking him to his room," he said, and he turned and walked out of the room towards the stairs. "Goodnight."
Hyde grabbed hold of George, pulling him along as he ran up the stairs. "Dear, you have to show me your room! I'm sharing your bed with you!"
"Oh no..." George groaned, stumbling as Hyde eagerly pulled him up the wooden stairs.
Thor turned to Romeo. "Did you see my brother and Sigyn out there?" he asked.
Romeo shook his head. "There were only us five out there. Now, I'm off to get dry, changed and some sleep! Come on, girls."
He and the two Capulet cousins headed up the stairs, leaving Thor alone.
"Please be safe, brother..." Thor whispered, before following the three Italians up the stairs to his room.
Loki lay in the darkness, limbs entangled in the twisted bedsheets, naked skin pressed against kissed skin. Mischief held Loyalty tightly in his strong arms, inhaling the scent of HER as it joined with HIM. He'd finally got part of what he'd desired. He'd wanted her, lusted for her, for so long and now they lay entangled in each other's bodies, finally feeling whole. They were one now, their flesh consummated a pact that no order could prevent. He was hers, she was his, that would never change.
Loki snickered. "Take this, Father..." he laughed. "She is no longer pure! She is mine now! No one but me will want her! She is shamed for all to see! She is mine! The blood on the bed sheets proves that now!"
There was another bonus factor. Loki looked down at the bed and laughed out loud.
On the floor were a pair of red pyjamas, discarded in their passionate haste for each other.
Loki's pyjamas were green, and they lay neatly on the bed next to the one they were crammed into- a single bed.
They'd fucked each other not in his bed, but Thor's!
Loki laughed out loud, burying his face in Sigyn's naked back to muffled the quakes of laughter that threatened to overcome him.
It would be a nice surprise for Thor when they all got back to England!