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The Nurse’s face flushed as she she reached into her pocket and pulled out her last few coins, finding it wasn’t quite enough.
“Ah… Please, sir, if you could be so kind as to spare—”
“No.” the merchant snapped. “I don’t do charity.”
She bit her lip nervously. “I understand, sir, but it is only one piece of fruit, and I—”
“Do you not understand me, old woman? I said no! If you can’t pay, then leave!”
The Nurse looked down, fidgeting with her hands. She checked her pockets once more, but still found nothing.
Meanwhile, across the street, Mercutio had happened to overhear the commotion. He didn’t know why, but something about it just made his blood boil. Before he realised it, he pushed himself off the wall and started walking over. Why must he feel things so deeply?
The Nurse looked over her shoulder and forced back a groan.
“Great, this scurvy knave again.”
She braced herself, expecting to be humiliated again. Instead, Mercutio spoke sternly to the merchant.
“I’ll take two of those, good sir.”
Mercutio pulled out a small, dark purple drawstring purse from his pocket and conjured up the coins like it was nothing.
“Right.” the Nurse thought, shaking a little as she looked away. “He’s bought himself double, just to make me look even more pathetic.”
Then, to her surprise, Mercutio dropped the two rich pieces of fruit into the Nurse’s basket. Before she could say anything. He threw his hands behind his head and casually strolled away. She looked at him, bewildered. Had he not just been making fun of her a few hours ago? What a strange man…
“Well, you’ve got your charity.” the merchant folded his arms. “Now leave, you old wretch.”
The Nurse simply gripped her basket tighter and rushed in the same direction Mercutio had gone. Eventually, she caught up to him.
“Excuse me, sir…?
Mercutio spun around on his heel.
“...What?” he snapped.
“I… I just wanted to thank you. That was incredibly kind of you, back there.”
Mercutio felt his face flush. “Oh, please… Don’t thank me. It was merely so people would think more highly of me.”
The Nurse tilted her head, curious. “I had gathered that you didn’t care what other people think of you.”
“Well, I—” Mercutio looked away, caught in a trap. “You’re right. I don’t. Now go away, ancient lady…”
The Nurse chuckled softly. “Well, good day, sir. And my name is Angelica.”
Smiling to herself, she turned and walked away. Mercutio stood there, feeling incredibly frustrated, though he wasn’t sure if it was at Angelica, at himself, or both. His signature unbothered smirk faltered for a moment before he rolled his eyes and walked away.
***
The next morning, Mercutio was perched on the edge of the fountain impatiently, with Benvolio stood beside him.
“Mercutio, please, let’s just go. We’ve been waiting here for almost two hours. Romeo isn’t coming.”
“He’ll show himself soon enough…” Mercutio muttered, trying to convince himself more than Benvolio.
Benvolio sighed. “You stay, then. I’m leaving.”
Benvolio went off, and Mercutio was left on his own. Again. Even so, he stayed there. He didn’t have anything to do anyway, and it wasn’t like he had anywhere to go.
Angelica turned a corner and saw Mercutio sat on the edge of the fountain, sulking like a little boy. As she watched him, she remembered the way she had helped her, and the way he had mocked her. She had never met anyone quite so contrary! Curiously, she approached him.
“… Are you quite alright?” she asked.
“I don’t need you pitying me, ancient lady.” Mercutio folded his arms. “And I think you’ll find I’m part left.”
Angelica stared at him, the joke clearly flying over her head. “… Pardon?”
Mercutio let out a huff of bewildered laughter. “Oh, forget it…”
He abruptly stood up, trying to make his escape.
“What are you doing out here all by yourself?” Angelica asked.
Mercutio glared at her, trying to figure out her intentions. “Well, my best friend was supposed to show up, but clearly he’s given me the slip. Again. Probably gone off with that Rosaline, the cold-hearted, porcelain-faced wretch with her quivering thighs, and the delicate pink flower that blooms between them—”
“I say, do you kiss your mother with that mouth?” Angelica raised an eyebrow, smirking.
A tense silence immediately fell between them. Mercutio’s shoulders tensed as he looked at the floor. The seconds ticked by at an agonising pace.
“… Not anymore.” Mercutio broke the silence wearily.
Angelica looked at Mercutio with wide eyes. Tilting her head in confusion, she prompted him to continue.
Trembling slightly, Mercutio clenched his fists at his side. “My family don’t want me. If you could even call it that. It’s more like...a business arrangement. You’re not a person, you’re an asset. People always think life in that palace must be so grand and wonderful, but it’s just so...cold. You just shut up and do as you are told. I’m bad at both of those. My uncle—ahem,-- His Highness, certainly doesn’t applaud my mother for dragging me out into his so-called family. Eventually, when he finally figured out that I am truly a lost cause, he just… kicked me out like it was nothing. I kept my status, because of course he cannot afford the scandal, but I was just...gone. Nobody stood up for me that day, not even my mother. I suppose they’re too afraid to defy the Prince of Verona. Or maybe they all just hate me. Either way, I’ve been on my own ever since. It’s why I always hang around with Romeo and the Montagues. Even now, I suspect Romeo will probably give up on me, just like everyone else does, now that he’s began chasing every pretty face he sees...”
Angelica stood there, shocked. “I… I’m so sorry…”
Mercutio blinked, snapping back into the present. He laughed nervously, realising he had just said all that.
“Oh… uh… I do apologise. I spoke far too much. It really isn’t that big of a—Ah!”
Angelica wrapped her arms firmly around Mercutio’s shoulders, cutting him off. His eyes widened as his hands hovered uselessly in the air as he tried to comprehend what was happening. In reponse, Angelica only held him tighter.
Apprehensively, Mercutio lowered his hands onto Angelica’s back. Years of emotion he had forced back with crude jokes and harsh insults for so long suddenly began to rise up his throat. Letting out a choked gasp, he buried his face into Angelica’s shoulder.
Floods of tears escaped him as the walls he had so carefully built finally collapsed. His whole body shook with the force of his sobs as he clung onto the fabric of Angelica’s dress like a lifeline. He shook his head against her shoulder, trying to will himself to stop, but the tears just kept coming faster.
Angelica’s fierce, protective grip stayed firm as she rested one hand on the back of Mercutio’s head, gently running her fingers through his tangled hair, just like how she used to comfort Juliet when she was little.
“That’s it…” she murmured.
Mercutio’s chest heaved as he slowly started to calm down. Even as his whole body trembled, he felt lighter. Sniffling, he buried his face deeper into Angelica’s shoulder. Although his memories were hazy, something about her embrace reminded him of his mother.
Angelica looked down at Mercutio in her arms and smiled sadly. It was strange to think that the broken boy crying into her shoulder was the same loud, arrogant young man who had laughed at her the day before. Perhaps people were more complex than she thought.
Like the flick of a switch, Mercutio abruptly pulled away from Angelica. He looked around anxiously, his eyes red and swollen.
“Right...well.. I apologise, madam…that was...unseemly of me…”
Strangers walked past, openly gaping at Mercutio.
“… This is mortifying…” Mercutio stared at his shoes.
He folded his arms over himself, trying to make himself smaller. It felt unnatural, as he was used to trying to seem larger than life itself.
Without thinking, Angelica pulled out her fan and handed it to Mercutio.
“What… What’s this for?” Mercutio asked, confused.
“To hide your face.”
Mercutio paused, stunned. Then, despite himself, he let out a huff of laugher as he opened the fan, pretending to hide shyly behind it.
“… Hey, you’re meant to be sad!” Angelica chuckled warmly.
In response, Mercutio giggled brightly, contrasting the theatrical, booming laugh he usually forced out. Angelica couldn’t help but laugh along as she took her fan back.
Mercutio watched Angelica, feeling completely out of his depth. Why did she care about him? What did she want? He kept staring at her expectantly, waiting for the catch, and yet nothing came.
Mercutio fidgeted with his hands. “Thank you, ancient lady-- I mean...Angelica.
“Of course, uh… I don’t believe I ever caught your name.”
“That’s to be expected, considering I never dropped it.”
Angelica chuckled, shaking her head. Mercutio grinned.
“Mercutio.” He bowed theatrically. “At your service.”
Angelica ruffled his hair. “Very well, Mercutio.”
***
The next day, Angelica searched the streets of Verona for Mercutio. She wanted to see if he was okay. After their exchange yesterday, she found herself feeling strangely protective of him. Sort of like Juliet.
Soon enough, she came across Mercutio in the middle of one of his spontaneous performances for a small crowd of townspeople, gasps and laughter filling the air. Amongst the crowd she saw all kinds of people: some young, some old, some rich, some poor…and Angelica thought it was beautiful. She smiled warmly, watching from a distance. She wasn’t as good with words as Mercutio was, but still she enjoyed the show.
Eventually, the crowd dissipated, leaving Mercutio stood with his arms folded and a smug grin on his face. He turned and recognised Angelica, and his smirk faltered. Trying to appear nonchalant, he approached her.
“Fancy seeing you here, ancient lady.” he said as if he hadn’t clung to her like a life raft the day before.
“Good morning to you too, Mercutio.” Angelica was entirely unfazed by his attitude. “I see you’re full of energy today. You remind me of Juliet when she was little. Well, she certainly wasn’t as foul-mouthed as you, but she had your spirit. Do you know Juliet? Lovely girl, she is.”
“I know of quite a few Juliets. There are many of them in Verona.”
“I speak of Juliet Capulet, the only daughter of her household.”
“Right. I know of her, but I do not know her. Capulets have a tendency to avoid me.”
“Oh, right, you’re friends with Romeo…”
“Escalus by blood, Montague by association.” Mercutio affirmed.
Angelica softened, remembering what he had told her about his family situation. “...You are lucky to have them.”
“I think it would be far more accurate to say the Montagues are the lucky ones, having me on their side.”
Angelica chuckled. “Right. Could you not at least try to be humble?”
“Well…” Mercutio tapped his chin, pretending to think. “No.”
Angelica giggled out loud. Mercutio smiled. Then, he looked at her curiously.
“...What about your family?” he asked.
“Oh...well…” Angelica’s smile faded. “My husband passed just last year… We had a daughter, Susan, bless her, and one night she fell asleep, and...she never woke up. I suppose it’s why I ended up working as a nurse. All I’ve ever wanted was a child of my own…”
Mercutio’s eyes widened. “I… I’m terribly sorry…”
Angelica continued on, lost in her thoughts. “I’ve always found it dreadfully unfair. There are so many children like you out there who have nobody they can look up to at all, and yet I get paid to play the mother for children of wealthy parents who simply...don’t want to put the effort in. Some people… Some people want to have children, but they don’t want to be parents.”
Mercutio went silent, stunned. What was he supposed to say to that?
“I suppose…” he began, “I suppose we’re both kind of...alone.”
Angelica smiled warmly at Mercutio. “Well… Not anymore.”
Mercutio paused, his lips parting slightly. Then, his shoulders dropped as he beamed brightly.
“No… Not anymore.”
Before he could contain himself, Mercutio practically leaped forward, throwing his arms around Angelica.
“By the saints--!”
Angelica chuckled as she returned the hug tightly. People gave them strange looks as they passed by, not used to seeing a kinsman of the Prince throw himself into the arms of a servant, but one of that really mattered. They just held each other anyway.
***
As the sun shone down on them the next morning, Mercutio and Angelica walked together down the street, chatting and laughing without a care in the world. Then, a familiar voice rang out from across the street.
“Mercutio! Come on, we’ve been waiting for you!”
Mercutio spun on his heel to find Romeo excitedly waving at him, with Benvolio stood beside him. Angelica glanced over and grinned, gesturing for Mercutio to join them.
Mercutio smiled at Angelica. “Farewell, ancient lady.”
Angelica chuckled, ruffling Mercutio’s hair. “Have fun. Try not to get into a fight.”
“Well… I suppose I can try!” Mercutio laughed as he jogged over to his friends.
Romeo and Benvolio both threw an arm around either of Mercutio’s shoulders, and all three of them giggled. Angelica watched from a distance, smiling warmly. Both her and Mercutio had finally gotten the one thing they had always wanted.