Broken Engines, Broken Hearts (Guillermo)

[ROSE MERCER]

His eyes had taken on an almost frightful gleam to them. "Not really." Funny, she thought she had been spot on. Rose tried to think of what she did wrong, when Guillermo pushed her off. Giving up? Fine, that was just fi- Before she knew it she was pushed against the wall, feeling Guillermo's lips trail down her neck to her collarbone. It was like a great release, being pinned there, her eyes falling shut. But then he pulled away, as fast as it had started, leaving Rose a little flustered. "Now THAT one I recognize." She stared, her face torn between anger and shock, as he winked at her.

He winked at her!

He FUCKING WINKED at her!!!

Sitting down at the table, he sat comfortable as can be.

Her cheeks were a bright pink, and her heart re-steadied itself. She had to focus, had to clear her mind. He had pulled away, right? Rather fast? Clever boy, using what little control he had against her. She went up to him, gripping her hands on the back of his chair, her face inches from his. "Well, recognize this, Baby." She said, in a soft, deadly, voice. "The closest you'll ever come to getting in my pants again is in your dreams."

There was no facade of play here. She was mad! She was pissed! And she wanted him mad and pissed right back at her. It took every piece of her not to look at his lips.


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Outside the break room window, Hiro and Stefano watched the scene go down. "What the fuck are they doing?" Hiro muttered, watching as Guillermo went back to his sleep.

"I don't even think they know." Stefano replied, feeling guilty about watching this private moment with such enthusiasm.

"They totally want each other."

"Well, no fucking duh. They won't do it though. Stubborn asses."

Hiro shushed him, as Rose crossed over to Guillermo, an intense look on her face. "Dude, I'll add thirty more to the pot, says they have some pissed of scrumping right there in the employee's lounge." The boys bumped fists, grinning widely.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

She had a dark blush creeping up her face and she furiously trapped him in his chair, her hands on the back and her face an inch from his own.
He really wanted to kiss her.
"Well, recognize this, Baby."
"Aw, you called me Baby," he interrupted, feigning flustered-ness, waving his face as if he was warm.
"The closest you'll ever come to getting in my pants again is in your dreams."
Her voice was deadly serious. Ouch. Oh, well he would have to change that, now wouldn't he?
Guillermo tickled her, to get her hands off the chair, then stood again, pushing her roughly back to the wall.
Grinding up against her, he stuck his thumbs into the waistband of her jeans, his hands sticking into the back pockets.
He smirked at her, "Well, would you look at that? I'm in your pants!"
Remaining where he was, Guillermo stiffened. He wouldn't pull away again, but the contact was difficult to handle.

[ROSE MERCER]

Guillermo had to of been one of those kids who you could get to do anything by calling them a chicken. He just had to be. In a feat of such great audacity, he TICKLED her. Seriously, tickled her. She didn't giggle, but more squirmed away, her face confused. Before she could demand an explanation, she was against the wall again, staring defiantly into his eyes. She held her breath, so as to not moan as he pressed into her, or sigh as his hands found their way into her back pockets, the thumbs resting on the inside of her waist band. "Well, would you look at that? I'm in your pants!"

Seriously?

She tried to push him away, but it was like trying to shove a wall. Damn, he was stronger than he looked. "Savor it, Baby, cause I'm telling you now, that's as close as you're gonna get." She said, voice quiet, her eyes glaring at him venomously. Why did he have to be so stubborn? This was not how broken up people acted, dammit. They didn't pin people to walls while the other angrily wished and reviled the idea of the pinner kissing them.

Guillermo, whom she loved.

Guillermo, whom she reviled.

She made the mistake of looking down at his lips. Instantly, she looked away, waiting for him to release her. She didn't fight, which was odd for Rose. She wasn't the hall-off-and-punch-you-in-the-face sort, but she definitely made a point to kick and scream if something wasn't going how she wanted. Instead, she looked back at him, her blue eyes filled with a quiet rage. "Are you done? I'd like to finish my lunch."

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

She tried, in vain, to push him away.
"Savor it, Baby, cause I'm telling you now, that's as close as you're gonna get."
Her glare was dangerous.
Guillermo grinned at her.
"Oh, somehow I doubt that, Rose."
He whispered into her ear.
He watched as her eyes flicked to his mouth and away.
She then looked him in the eye furiously.
"Are you done? I'd like to finish my lunch."
"Not quite yet, doll."
He frowned and suddenly pressed tighter to her. God, she felt amazing.
Guillermo swallowed a moan, before leaning in close to her face.
The tip of his tongue swirled over her lip. He could taste and smell cinnamon.

[ROSE MERCER]

Guillermo leaned close to her, whispering in to her ear heavily. "Oh, somehow I doubt that, Rose." She could not melt, not after she had been so strong. "Not quite yet, doll." She gave him a scandalized look, almost offended. But it was short, as he pulled her closer, his frown suddenly serious, she had to ignore the weakening in her knees. She had to hold her breathe to keep from making any encouraging noises. She was NOT his doll, his carina, his Rose. Not anymore. His lips hovered over hers, his clever tongue grazing her ever so gently. Automatically, Rose gave an sharp inhale, wanting it and fighting it all at once.

Focusing on her prerogative, Rose turned her head away, her voice less strong than she'd like it to be. "You always so keen on touching things that don't belong to you?" Though her face stayed away from him, her blue eyes gazed at him steadily from the corner of her eye. They were too close, for her to see his whole face. His lips and chin came into view, and Rose gave a small, quivering breathe, before looking away. He had such a nice chin.

Perhaps this was the inevitable? She remembered telling him that they weren't very good at staying away from each other. And it was true, they were just awful at it. Even if she had been a complete bitch to him since the moment he came into her line of sight, Rose still felt a comfort at his presence. She loved him. Wasn't there something about love conquering all obstacles? Did this apply, when the lovers had given up fighting? Had they really even given up fighting at all? Her body against his, it really didn't look like it.

But no. No! NO! He didn't trust her! He thought she was lying, playing a game, when she told him what was happening in her life. True, it wasn't like she could prove it, but if he couldn't take her at her word... then what were they even doing here? Rose was not a creature of faith, but Guillermo had been the exception to that. And then he crushed it. She tried to push again, meeting his sturdy resistance. "Didn't you see what happened to the last guy who touched with out an invitation?" There was threat laced in her voice, though there were two obvious differences in what was happening here. One: She lacked a car hood as a weapon. Two: This wasn't so unwanted. And though her face was built like stone, she had too look away before her eyes could give her away.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

Rose gasped and he grinned.
Suddenly, she turned her head away and he sighed in frustration.
"You always so keen on touching things that don't belong to you?"
She kept her head turned, but her eyes flicked back toward him.
He felt the sting of her words.
Staying up against her, Guillermo carefully analyzed her face. Many emotions were playing across it, but the one that stood out prominently was the hurt.
He took a breath in, his eyebrows drawing together with concern.
She tried to push him away.
"Didn't you see what happened to the last guy who touched with out an invitation?" She glared away from him.
He pulled instantly away from her, removing his hands from her back and stepping a few feet away.
Guillermo had a slight wounded look, not because of his ego, but because of the memory of the fight they had.
He shrunk away from her, though it pained every part of him. His body was actually. physically resisting leaving her.
"Sorry," He mumbled, his eyes meeting hers balefully.
He looked away from her, finding it difficult to keep eye contact too long.

[ROSE MERCER]

When he pulled away, she allowed herself to breathe again. He looked so stung... guilt washed over Rose. It came across her expression, the stoniness that had enveloped it before was suddenly warm and empathetic. She wanted to reach out and touch him, but knew that would be counter productive. Her heart skipped a little, when he looked at her, sadness in his sharp brown eyes. "Sorry,"

She sighed a little, knowing the situation was fucked up. But, GOD, he was a glutton for punishment. Did he think that everything would be cool, with him working here. That there wouldn't be any of that tension. "It's okay." Rose spoke with a gentleness that she really hadn't possessed before knowing Guillermo. Sure, she could have talked sweetly before, but this was his voice. A voice she used for no one but him. It was mixed with love and devotion, and anger and frustration, and joy and sadness. All for him. "I mean, I understand. It's hard to turn off something... something like that." She sat down in her seat, face pensive. "Want a chip?" She offered the bag, testingly.

He looked better than the last time she had seen him. Like he had slept more, and had shaven. It was a comfort, and Rose couldn't help but wonder if Seth was prodding the moving on bit along. Or perhaps encouraging Guillermo not to give up. That sounded far more like Seth. Stubborn, determined, wven when he doesn't understand the situation. No, it was probably Jeny, Princess Jeny, who was probably leading the anti Rose campaign. But she couldn't blame her. If Rose had a brother, she wouldn't want him near someone like herself either. "Can I ask a question? Like, I know you're working here now. I'm not- wasn't- really mad about that... just surprised." It wasn't far from the truth, but it would please him, if he thought she wasn't mad. "But why would you want to work here? I mean... you had to know there would be... weirdness."

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

Her face softened.
"It's okay. I mean, I understand. It's hard to turn off something... something like that."
Rose's voice caressed him like a dream. She hadn't spoken with him like that in a long time. She sat down in her seat, face pensive.
"Want a chip?" She offered the bag, and he shook his head.
Rose studied him briefly.
"Can I ask a question? Like, I know you're working here now. I'm not- wasn't- really mad about that... just surprised. But why would you want to work here? I mean... you had to know there would be... weirdness."
He considered.
"Well, initially, I needed a job. But I didn't fit anywhere. I never really have. I'm pretty close with Hiro and Stefano. Fernando likes me. You.. uh..well... anyway.. I just fit in. And I've never belonged anywhere before."
He shrugged, giving her a weak smile.
Seeing Rose? That was just a perk.

[ROSE MERCER]

She waited, as he chose his words for the answer. "Well, initially, I needed a job. But I didn't fit anywhere. I never really have. I'm pretty close with Hiro and Stefano. Fernando likes me. You.. uh..well... anyway.. I just fit in. And I've never belonged anywhere before." That was... utterly logical. Rose stared at him, like he was a creature she had never seen before. Confused and full of wonder.

That had not been the answer she was expecting.

"So- I mean- you didn't..." There was really no way of finishing the sentence without making herself sound like a complete jackass. Her cheeks burned a little, as she forced herself to quit babbling, though her eyes did lock themselves on the chip bag in her hand. "You didn't do it just to... to try and get me back?" She felt ill, like she always did when she felt stressed. Rose was a sickly girl who became a sickly woman, and what was worse was that it was all in her head.

She gave a sad chuckle, which soon turned into thick laugh. Not that anything was funny really, more that laughing seemed to be the only thing she could do. "God, I'm like my own special shade of stupid narcissistic bitch, aren't I?" She sipped her soda, shaking her head at herself.

Her eyes lifted from the bag of chips, resting on Guillermo. Was she disappointed? Definitely. But she was happy too. Well, happy for him. It would be good for him, after all, if he just gave up on her. She untied the knot in her tank top, letting it fall down her midriff, suddenly quite ashamed of herself. "I'm sorry." She blurted, biting her nails. Rose didn't specify. There was too much to be sorry for, and not nearly enough time. There would never be enough time, for her to express how sorry she was to him. So it was better, for him to use his imagination as to what she was contrite about.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

Rose stared at him, looking bewildered.
"So- I mean- you didn't..."
Her cheeks turned pink, an she struggled to finish her sentence.
"You didn't do it just to... to try and get me back?"
Guillermo's eyes widened.
He sat near her, sending her a soft smile.
Rose chuckled, then began to laugh heartily, but she looked more embarrassed than amused.
"God, I'm like my own special shade of stupid narcissistic bitch, aren't I?"
He shrugged, "Naw, that was just a perk. I like seeing you, Rose."
His voice was soft, but serious.
Her eyes lifted from the bag of chips, and she untied the knot in her tank top, letting it fall down her midriff.
"I'm sorry." She blurted, biting her nails.
Sorry was such a general thing.
"What for?"

[ROSE MERCER]

He sounded so serious, even when his voice was gentle. "Naw, that was just a perk. I like seeing you, Rose." She looked at him, a bit startled by it, for reasons unknown to her. But her eyes lost the wideness, and instead fell a bit demurely, and she nodded her head. It shouldn't be surprising. She, after all, liked seeing him too.

"Only God knows why you do." She laughed, as if it was a joke. But it wasn't.

Rose was trouble.

Rose was troubled.

Rose was troubling.

Rose was troublesome.

Hell, her name should just be trouble.

Guillermo's voice interrupted her inner musings. "What for?" She looked at him, a bit unsure of what he was asking.

But wait. She apologized. He was asking what she was sorry about. Damn, so much for him using his imagination. Biting her lip, she combed her hair with her fingers, trying to think of how best to answer. "I don't know. But I am." Her fingers nimbly weaved half her hair in a braid. "Not being a very nice person, I suppose. That would be a start." She worked on the other half of her hair, combing and braiding, just as she had with the other side. It offered a nice, soothing, quality about it. "Sometimes I get it in my head the world owes me something, I guess. Nice people don't think like that. They don't treat people who care about them like shit, they don't flaunt what they're denying people for fun. So... I'm sorry for not being nicer." She looked at him, as she tied off the braids with a hair tie. "You should really go after someone nice, you know." It was a painful thing to say. Not just, oh it was breaking her heart. No, it literally burned her throat to say those words, and subsequently, they came out a little hoarse.

Taking another drink to quench the burn, she looked away quickly, pushing her sandwich at him. "Eat. We are on lunch, after all."

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"Only God knows why you do." She laughed.
He stared at her, saddened a bit by the disbelief laced in her voice.
She began to braid her hair as she answered his question.
"I don't know. But I am. Not being a very nice person, I suppose. That would be a start. Sometimes I get it in my head the world owes me something, I guess. Nice people don't think like that. They don't treat people who care about them like shit, they don't flaunt what they're denying people for fun. So... I'm sorry for not being nicer. You should really go after someone nice, you know."
He shook his head, chuckling darkly.
"I could have left long ago if I'd wanted, Rose. But I didn't want to. I DON'T want to."
She took a drink of her soda, then pushed her sandwich towards him.
"Eat. We are on lunch, after all."
He pushed it back.
"I'm not really hungry, thanks."

[ROSE MERCER]

"I could have left long ago if I'd wanted, Rose. But I didn't want to. I DON'T want to." Rose stared at him, as if he had just insulted her Mother. He pushed the food back to her, almost as annoyed s she was feeling. "I'm not really hungry, thanks."

She was annoyed again. Rose bitterly shook her head, the pressure building in her throat. What a whirlwind of emotions, she always felt when he came round. Annoyed, she threw the rejected sandwich at the wall, standing on her feet. "I have never met such a stubborn bastard in all my life! Do you know that?" She pulled at her hair, loosening the braids she had just done, and though she sounded angry, her face was pulled into more of a desperate plea. She leaned down on the table, bringing them face to face. "How fucking mean do I have to be, before you realize I'm not good for you Guillermo? How many times do I have to hurt you before you'll just give up on me?" Tears started forming in her eyes, as her last words started falter into tears.

She could smell him again. She was too close. Before she could pull away, her eyes fell to his lips again. Pretty lips, Guillermo had. She gulped, as her blue, teary, eyes went up to his brown ones.

Heartbreaking brown.

Heart broken brown.

Completely contradicting everything she said, Rose leaned forward and kissed him lightly. Her lips wrapped around his bottom one, her eyes falling shut. It was further proof of the level of fucked she was, said the little voice in the back of her head. Not Bruja. Her conscious. She couldn't keep playing with him. She had to choose what she was going to do. But how could she?

Her heart said: YES, PLEASE, TAKE ME! I'M YOURS FOREVER!

But Bruja said: No. I'll hurt him. You'll hurt him.

Pulling away a little, she shook her head, looking like a little girl lost in a maze. She wanted to explain, to speak, to do something. But she couldn't. Rose was stuck.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

She suddenly stood, chucking the food at the opposite wall.
"I have never met such a stubborn bastard in all my life! Do you know that?"
She yanked her hair out of the braid.
Her voice was angry but she gazed sadly at him, leaning down to get in his face.
"How fucking mean do I have to be, before you realize I'm not good for you Guillermo? How many times do I have to hurt you before you'll just give up on me?"
Her last phrase was choked on tears and Guillermo's heart lurched.
His voice wavered with emotion and he felt his eyes sting with tears that didn't fall.
"It doesn't matter, Rose. I'm always going to love you, no matter how much you hurt me. I'm not giving up on you."
Her eyes studied his lips then flew up to meet his eyes.
Rose leaned forward and kissed him.
Guillermo relaxed suddenly, pulling her closer to him.
She tasted like he remembered her. Why couldn't everything just go away and let them be?
Rose pulled away, shaking her head, but he pulled her back, kissing her with more passion than before.
Why were they letting things get in the way of each other?

[ROSE MERCER]

Rose wrapped her arms automatically around his neck, as he pulled her tighter, kissing him back. Tears dripped down her face, but there was no point in stopping them, and she had no mind to wipe them away. His words echoed through her mind, as positioned herself on his lap, letting out a quivering breathe.

"It doesn't matter, Rose."

Why didn't? Couldn't he see? She was poison! And selfish, and cruel. She was a black cancer, eating away at his life!

"I'm always going to love you."

It was the most catastrophically joyous word he could possibly say to her ever. He'd always love her! She was his, and he was hers.

"No matter how much you hurt me."

But she would hurt him. Forever and ever, she was doomed just to hurt him. How long could they play this game? How long before it destroyed one of them.

"I'm not giving up on you."

She pulled her face away, examining his closely. Stubborn and strong and jackassy and difficult. And broken. Terribly broken. The only person tough enough to put with her mess. In that moment, Rose realized he was stronger than her, stronger than Bruja. "I lo- JESUS!" She jumped back, seeing Bruja's scowling face behind Guillermo. Falling on the floor, she looked up, like a child caught doing something they had been told a million times not to do. Her face went back to Guillermo, knowing that had to be a little bewildering. "I-I have to-" Before she could finish her sentence, she ran out of the employee lounge, and ran to the woman's restroom. Going to the sink, she started the water, panting, as Bruja appeared expectantly behind her.

"What do you think you're doing?" The green woman growled, in utter disbelief. Rose didn't answer, putting paper towel in the sink as a stopper, watching it fill up. "How thick can you be? What did I-"

"I did what you said! I broke up with him-"

"What's the point of that if your going to still carry on with him-"

"WHAT IS HE HURTING?" Rose asked, desperately. "You've got my body, why can't I just let him have my heart? Why can't that just be okay?"

"He's a distraction Rose!" Bruja roared, coming up close behind her host. "Together we can have anything we want-"

"I just want him."

"NO! Anything but HIM! I won't let him take another one of my girls!"

"What are you- He's not some FUCKING OZ CHARACTER YOU FUCKING PSYCHO!" It was a little ironic, really, calling you're own hallucination a psycho. Rose's voice became deadly, as she stopped the water, staring into the filled sink. "You're just scared cause he's stronger than you." Bruja started to reply, but Rose braced herself for the burning she'd know she'd receive in the water, dunking her head under. The witch cried out in pain, much to Rose's petulant delight.

Raising her head out of the water, she took a deep breath, and wiped her face, seeing Guillermo watch her in the refection of the mirror. How long had he been there? Had he heard?