Chapter Text
It was Benvolio's armband and shirt on Tybalt's floor.
Juliet confirmed that much when she started giggling at some that Romeo had sent her.
She wouldn't show her cousin whatever was sent— said something about it being classified until further development— but did reveal that Benvolio was missing both items Tybalt had found on his floor.
Which honestly? Damn him. Why did he have to prove their cousins right? That was just something Juliet would brag about forever.
Thankfully, it was Saturday. No school meant no worrying about what was going to happen when the two of them eventually had to talk to return whatever had accidentally been taken or left behind— Tybalt had noticed that the shirt he had worn to the party was missing.
They would have to talk.
Contrary to popular belief, Tybalt didn't... hate the Montague family. He only hated some specific members— like Benvolio's parents. But his aunt and uncle hated the entire family, and that's what they influenced him to do when they took him in, so...
Adults seemed to do that a lot. Influence a child to do something, then pretend that whatever they influenced them with never happened and act all offended whenever someone brought it up.
In another world where their families didn't absolutely hate each other, Tybalt and Benvolio could've been friends again.
Well, Tybalt and Benvolio before the accident could've been friends again.
Now... that probably could never happen.
Tybalt sighed, falling back on his bed. That pillow still smelled like... him.
Fuck, if it really was true— that he and Benvolio really did sleep together...
Would Benvolio remember?
Tybalt grabbed the pillow and pulled it over his face to scream into, but just ended up lying there and inhaling the lingering scent of him. Of course that cologne had smelled familiar— the two of them had picked it out together!
He remembered when the two of them had gone shopping for that exact cologne. They had barely been eleven— and still with their respective parents who didn't care what their children did during the day— and they had decided to skip school together and hit up the mall. In the end... it had been a bad idea. A horrible idea. But still. For kids, it had been one of Tybalt's best memories.
The new Benvolio probably would faint at the idea of breaking rules like that. Skipping school? He'd probably turn himself in for a month's worth of detention for even the idea.
That's how a lot of Tybalt's thoughts seemed to be going these days whenever the Montague boy crossed his mind. Old Benvolio this, new Benvolio that. What happened to his Benvolio? What happened to the boy who used to lie beside Tybalt and make shapes out of clouds? What happened to the Benvolio who would sneak into Tybalt's room when they lived next door, and spend hours discussing how they would run away? Tybalt knew it wasn't fair to judge him. The accident made him— made everyone a new person.
But it wasn't fair. He could've believed that his Benvolio and this new Benvolio were two different people if they didn't share so many of the same habits. The way he'd chew on erasers when he was stressed. The way he obsessively brushed at his hair when he got bored, or when it was too messy. The way he'd tilt his head and do this tiny little smirk when he found something amusing. The way his left eye would twitch whenever he was lying.
But it was the worst to see him hear an inside joke. It was terrible to watch him tilt his head, smirk, then open his mouth to make the punchline... but he couldn't remember it. And he'd just stand there, the smirk fading. Then he'd blink slowly and excuse himself like a fucking gentleman before heading to the bathroom to cry and try to force himself to remember.
Tybalt had followed him once. He... wasn't planning to ever do that again.
Juliet slammed open his door, and Tybalt almost threw the pillow at her, terrified. Why the hell did she keep barging in?!
"What the fuck are you doing?!"
"I could ask you the same." She raised an eyebrow at the fact that his pillow was still in Tybalt's arms. "You've been smelling that pillow allllllll morning."
"...Shut up."
"Right." She cleared her throat. "Well, get up. We're going out."
"No."
"Uh, yes. Romeo asked me out to the fair."
"...You two can't be seen together, though?" He sat up. "Are you trying to cause shit with your parents?"
"No, that's why I need you there!" She sighed, shaking her head, before giving a small smirk. "Benvolio's coming."
"Then yeah, I'm absolutely not going." He took the pillow and rolled on his side. "Bye. Have fun on your date."
"Tybalt!" She snapped at him, "Stop acting like a child! It's Benvolio. You two used to be friends, for fuck's sake!"
"Key words: used to." He sighed quietly. "Now go away."
"You come with me, or I tell Benvolio everything."
"... Everything? Like—"
"What happened last night." Juliet paused. "And what you were planning on the day of the accident."
"...You're blackmailing me to... be the fourth wheel on your date?"
"No. It's going to be a double date." Her smile never faltered. "If anything, Mercutio will be the fifth wheel."
"Mer... cutio is going to be there?" He blinked, running through a list of names. "You mean the kid who hangs out with Romeo and Benvolio? Their third musketeer? The one whose camera has bonded with his hands? The kid who spiked all the drinks last night?"
"Mhm. Romeo said, quote, 'If Benny and I are going to be there, 'Cutio is going to find a way to tag along, whether we know it or not. I'd prefer to invite him and know he's there than accidentally stumble across him and have him make a problem of our families being near each other.'"
"Right..."
"I'll see you in twenty!"
"Wait, Juliet—"
The door slammed behind her.
What the hell had Tybalt just agreed to?