Stronger Than Swords

To the outside observer, it might have seemed the Capulet heir had superpowers.

She stopped a blade without touching it—no futuristic tech or magic—but her authority alone.

"Miss Juliett, I was—"

"You violated my father's orders, Tybalt," she spat, "and not for the first time."

Romeo almost felt bad for the swordsman. Almost. Of course, the guards lowered their heads and weapons, too.

"Miss Capulet, we caught them behind the safety screen. How should we proceed?" one asked.

The copper-haired girl sat at a fair distance from Romeo, but her cinnamon scent—

"Didn't Lord Capulet plan to unveil it thirty minutes from now?" Julie asked, removing her firefighter helmet. Her green eyes could have melted even that enormous mech behind them.

"Yes, but he also told us to guard this area—"

Mercutio tried to say something, but Romeo kicked him in the shins. He knew him well enough to expect an inappropriate joke. He could make their situation much worse.

"Miss Juliett, I apologize," he bowed his head instead.

His classmate shot him a curious glance, almost like she only realized now that he was here.

"My friend, Mercutio here is a bit too free-spirited and loves your family's mechs," he said. "He couldn't wait any longer to see the newest engineering miracle, but we had no ill will."

Her smirk was telling. She struggled to hold back her laughter.

Tybalt was the opposite. His rapier was still hanging in the air, lips twitching. He looked like someone about to explode.

"Miss, these men insulted you and attempted to steal our latest tech. Had I not stepped in—"

The wheelchaired firefighter laughed.

It was her usual, bright voice, but the undertone sent chills down Romeo's spine. He didn't have to look to know that Tybalt was shrinking under the mocking sound.

"Right. You stopped them good." Julie rolled closer. "And with a sword, no less—nobody used such a piece of metal in war for hundreds of years. But you defended the newest mech with it."

The irony wasn't lost on Romeo either.

From Tybalt's red face, he too realized how ridiculous the situation was.

"My Lady, the Capulet's honor—"

"Don't you dare bring that up now, Tybalt," Julie sneered.

She was scary even in a wheelchair and a borrowed costume, despite only reaching up to Tybalt's waist. While the physical height difference was there, the swordsman kept shrinking.

"Do you know who this is?" she pointed at the trespassers. "Mercutio is the governor's relative and my father's esteemed guest. Did he tell you to leave him alone or not?"

"He did, but that was before—"

"Before what?" Julie challenged him. "Are you implying something? Because I'd rather you didn't insult our guest further. My father wishes to ally himself with Lord Escalus."

That was news to Romeo, but he was busy admiring his classmate's destructive power. Swords or guns, not even that mecha behind them could have had the same psychological effect.

He never wanted to make her his enemy.

"He promised my hand to the governor's protege, and here you are, treating his relative like a thief?" Julie's last sentence was like a gut punch to Romeo.

Promised her hand? What protege? Paris?!

Her words hung like a blade over his heart. The cinnamon scent he loved now tasted bitter.

Their secret meeting in the hospital came rushing back. She already warned him that her father had someone in mind. But did that have to be Paris?

"I—I wasn't, my Lady, but this Montague—"

Tybalt's mumbling didn't even register anymore.

"You talk about Romeo?" Julie's mention shook him up. "He's the heir of our rival, sure, but he also risked his life to save mine."

Tybalt finally lowered his sword, his hands shaking.

"Yes, you should feel terrible. You claim to serve at my father's house, but what did you do instead? Ignoring his direct orders, causing diplomatic issues, and yes—"

That green glare would have killed Romeo were it aimed at him.

Tybalt couldn't exactly cope with it either.

"Your little actions at school this week put my life in danger. Now you threaten the very man who saved it? Are you trying to kill me, Tybalt?" The Capulet heir was ruthless.

Romeo would have been happy—or scared, if not for her earlier words about her engagement.

Now he was only sad.

"I must apologize," Tybalt bowed his head, pale and shaking.

"Get out of my sight," Julie demanded, maintaining her cold authority even after she won. The swordsman could only obey, sheathing his rapier and shooting one last glare at Romeo.

It was more than hatred. It was the look of a man outmatched, eager for revenge.

Mercutio's silence spoke volumes.

His mouth hung open, and Romeo failed to remember him ever looking this amazed—or speechless. The guards returned to their posts, too, pretending this never happened.

Julie rolled closer, her face still stern while Tybalt stormed off, but softened once he left.

The merman clapped. "That was quite the show, Miss Capulet."

Romeo kicked his shin again.

"I mean, I apologize for disturbing your amazing party." The kick forced him to skip to the correct track. "It was silly of me to sneak a peek at the Mk. VI, and even drag Romeo with me."

"That is all right," Julie maintained the same official tone.

Her smirk was different, though. Once the guards left her earshot, she sighed.

"I'm surprised to see you here," she noted, aiming at Romeo. "If you already came, you could've said hi. But I guess I found you anyway."

Romeo blushed, struggling to find the right words.

"Yeah, the boy has one good property, and that's standing out," Mercutio grinned. Romeo considered choking him to death for the second time this afternoon.

"Yes, it'll take some time for me to get used to his white hair," the girl nodded.

His friend shot a knowing glance. "Getting used to? I thought you only met this week."

Her pale skin made it stand out even more when Julie blushed. This confused Romeo to no end. Mercutio laughed it off.

"This is an excellent mech," he nodded at the Mk. VI and took a step back. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I should go look for Benvolio before he gets in trouble too."

Before Romeo could react, he left them alone amidst the loaded silence.

He cleared his throat.

"Right, um—I'm sorry for the trouble too," he mumbled. "And congratulations on your engagement." He'd rather have Tybalt stab him to death than accept that fact.

"Come on," Julie rolled her sparkling green eyes. "Don't act like I didn't warn you."

"That you did," Romeo admitted, staring at his shoes. "But Paris of all people?"

"I know, right?" she yelled, the stone-cold authority gone from her voice. It dropped to a whisper. "You know him? He's kinda creepy, isn't he?"

Her conspiratory tone urged his heart to beat faster. Julie leaned back in her wheelchair.

"So, are you gentleman enough to push an injured maiden in trouble around, or do I have to call for a servant?" she teased.

The tonal whiplash surprised Romeo more than anything.

"Injured maiden?" he asked, regaining his voice. "Your thugs in class were proud about how you were already back on your feet, and look at you now."

"That is rich, coming from the guy who broke my leg," she giggled. "Now shut up and push my wheelchair. I want to show you something, but you'll need the alibi."