merc, ben, and the barricades
mercutio doesn’t die on the barricades- he dies on the front lines of a whole different battle; family versus family, kids versus kid (and everyone knows there’s no reason for this god damned feud, but blood has been spilled and will continue to flow regardless, and at this point, it’s just what they do)
He dies similarly though, to some of those on the barricade. angry, first of all. so fucking mad at the world, that this was the world he was born into where he had to fight, where he had no real choice in the matter (really, what else could he have done? stand there and watch the others fight? watch his brothers fight?)
and he dies with so much left in him. after all, they’re just turning through the years, and mercutio is a child of the feud who didn’t last the night.
and he died with some similar words on his lips, with the arms of a boy wrapped around him, trying to hold the life inside his body-
“do you know, monsieur benvolio, I believe I was a little in love with you.”
he essays to smile again and then expires.