A/N: Takes place a bit before the events of the show.

"Guys! Quit it!" I was whining; it's really the only way. "Come on, that's mean!" It was. Mercutio teases rough, always hits just a little too close to home, but we know he loves us and there's really nothing to do but whine about it and wait for him to grudgingly apologize.

"I'm going to find somewhere to piss in private." I stomped around a corner, into an alley… and ran smack into someone who was standing pressed to the wall.

"Sorry-" I started, but that fast I realized it wasn't just any someone, it was Tybalt, out alone in Montague territory at night.

I opened my mouth to call for the others, but I'd only gotten as far as "Guys!-" when I happened to look up into his face. He was frozen – eyes wide – it looked like fear.

No, he mouthed silently. Shook his head.

My mind caught up with me – of course he was terrified. Things had been so bad lately, and we owed them. If we got hold of Tybalt he was ending this night in the hospital, or worse.

We're all pretty good at smelling blood in the water, but where Mercutio's a shark about it I am a nurse. The others were right around the corner and calling my name, but there was a second left and I used it. "Guys," I yelled again, "This alley's full of rats. It's an improvement!" Tybalt was so tense I was afraid he was going to snap and do something stupid, maybe pull a knife or try to push past me and run. I reached out and put a hand on his chest to hold him back, and with my other gestured finger to lips for shhhh.

We stood there, stock still and silent, while my friends laughed and yelled screw you Benvolio! but didn't come any closer.

After a couple of seconds I let go of him and backed away. You owe me, I mouthed.

He frowned. Gave me a look.

Was he saying no?"Come on," I hissed, the quietest whisper I had. "You hold a grudge til Judgment Day. I just did you a solid, how can you-"

He lunged at me and covered up my mouth. "Shh," he breathed in my ear. "I know. I won't forget this."

I nodded against his hand. Good.

"Now go back to your friends." Even with just the lightest breath, hardly even a whisper, he was able to convey a sneer.

But everybody's mean to me; I'm used to it. When he let go of me I just reached up to pinch his cheek, and gave him a snide whisper of my own. "Get home safe now."