The Mercer Experience *Guillermo*

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

After a few moments of attempting to keep her emotions in check, she appeared to give up slightly."I-I'm sorry. We shouldn't have-" She dropped the washcloth into the sink, her hands shaking violently. "You d-didn't need t-to see..."
Rose turned away from him, wiping her eyes. He felt frustrated that she hid from him.
"I should have just ignored him. Not brought up... that story. That was a very nice thing you said."
Her voice was soft and a bit sheepish, as if she didn't know what to say. He shrugged and took the washcloth from her, dabbing it on her cut tenderly, sure that it would be bruised by the next morning at the very least.
Guillermo ignored the fighting, focusing on Rose's shaking body, physically refusing to show weakness.
"Jesus- I knew... I'm sorry. I had convinced myself if I just kept a distance..."
She blinked hard, trying to avoid tears.
"I'm being dumb, I'm sorry. I shouldn't be crying. It's just- damn it- this really stings."
He stared at her.
"Rose, don't you ever apologize for crying. He hurt you and you were strong enough to know what was coming and take it anyway. You should have told me, I would never have brought you if I'd have known."
His dark eyes scanned her white face gently. He pulled her to his chest, holding her, before pulling away to look in her eyes.
"Don't be afraid of me, Rose. You don't have to hide yourself from me," he said softly as she dabbed at her own tears, embarrassed.

[ROSE MERCER]

"Rose, don't you ever apologize for crying. He hurt you and you were strong enough to know what was coming and take it anyway. You should have told me, I would never have brought you if I'd have known." She let herself get pulled into a hug, feeling pathetic as she sniffled a little. Besides being trained since youth that crying was a show of weakness, it made Rose uncomfortable. Her head pulsed at the tension it cause, and her body felt heavy from the exhaustion of it. He wiped her tears away, and for that moment Rose didn't mind the threat of feelings that arose from the tenderness. "Don't be afraid of me, Rose. You don't have to hide yourself from me."

But Rose was frightened, in a completely different way than she was frightened of her Father. She swallowed hard, shrugging as if to be as blase as she was about everything else, but her eyes thanked him for caring. It was pleasant and unpleasant all at once, causing a great confusion in the stony Rose Mercer. Her cheek started to fade into a soft violet, puffing out slightly from the impact it had received. "If Tio asks, don't tell him." Rose ordered gently, though leaving no room to let Guillermo think it was a request. "I don't need this turning even bigger..." A soft knock came from the door, making Rose tense instantly, her body turning to face whatever it was.

To her surprise, it was seven. The little girl had a nervousness about her, and Rose was left to assume she wasn't suppose to be there. "Are you okay?" She whispered, looking over her shoulder.

"Yeah, Se- Sam. I'm fine." Rose said, glad that the blood had been washed away.

The girl studied her closely, then Guillermo, before nodding. "There fighting pretty bad. Aunt Maria is crying-" Rose was slightly touched that Sam Number Seven called her Mother 'Aunt' as oppose to the general 'Miss Maria' the other cousin's used. "Uncle Jimmy said that Nana could shoot him if she likes, but he was going to 'get' him." The little girl pointed her pale finger at Guillermo, and Rose instinctively grabbed his arm. She didn't want him to rise to this challenge. No, she was done with this. Tonight had been a mistake, there was no need for anymore. "He's waiting by the front door."

"Thanks Sam. You should go before you get in trouble." The little girl nodded, in agreement, giving one last worried glance before shutting the bathroom door. Rose went a head, locking it. "Come on, we'll go to the shop and have Thanksgiving dinner with that lot." Rose whispered, nodding at the window.

She knew what would happen, if Guillermo and her Dad would get into it. Her Father would get in a few sucker punches, but Guillermo would prove the victor. Between Jimmy Mercer's bum leg and sloppy movements... and if Guillermo's battle scars were any indication. Her Father would get sore, at losing to a younger specimen, one who was in Rose's high favor, and call the cops. He would tell them some horror story, like her had when Fernando discovered bruises on his niece, and put Guillermo through a legal hell. Well, Rose wasn't dealing with that shit. Fernando lost six months in Jail to this nonsense, she wasn't having it happen to Guillermo too.

Opening the bathroom window, she pulled Guillermo too it, her eyes insistent. It was gentle, but again, not a question.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"If Tio asks, don't tell him." Rose ordered softly. Apparently, there were no exceptions in this case. "I don't need this turning even bigger..."
He got the hidden implication that this had happened before.
A soft knock was heard and Guillermo readied himself for anything.
The little girl from before stood in the doorway teetering slightly, as if unsure whether she should be there.
"Are you okay?" the little girl whispered before checking behind her warily.
"Yeah, Se- Sam. I'm fine."
The pale eyes jumped from Rose to Guillermo swiftly.
"There fighting pretty bad. Aunt Maria is crying- Uncle Jimmy said that Nana could shoot him if she likes, but he was going to 'get' him."
The girl pointed at him and he felt a sudden chill. Rose grabbed his arm tightly in response to the statement.
"He's waiting by the front door."
"Thanks Sam. You should go before you get in trouble."
Sam nodded, and scurried out. Rose locked it behind her.
"Come on, we'll go to the shop and have Thanksgiving dinner with that lot."
Guillermo had to admit that it sounded much more enjoyable than what was going on here.
He thought to protest, after all, he was never one to run from a fight, and a justified one, at that. And he felt a bit guilty at taking her from her mother and Nana Grace, who were obviously relieved by her presence.
Rose crossed the bathroom silently, opening the window. Her eyes were determined. He wouldn't change her mind. He nodded and slipped through the window, waiting for her once outside, his heart pounding from the adrenaline and fear that her father had caused.
They would have to make a run for it, to his truck across the street in front.

[ROSE MERCER]

Rose sighed in relief when he climbed through the window, silently following right after him. The backyard was a wasteland, with a rusted swing set that had once belonged to Rose in her days of youth, and a decaying flower bed. Time had not been kind to the once immaculate Mercer home. Rose's heel sank into the dry ground, snapping off as she tried to yank it out. Yep, this made it official. Tonight just sucked. God, holiday's were awful. Removing her shoes, she tried not to wince as the ground prickled her feet.

She waved him forward, creeping up to the fence quietly. Her Father was yelling, ostentatiously, enough so that the neighbors were beginning to poke their heads out to see what the fuss was about. "I'LL KILL THAT LITTLE BASTARD-"

"Jim- Man, calm down."

"Screw you Andy! I'LL SLIT THAT LITTLE BASTARDS THROAT! GODDAMN! Little prick knocked out a tooth-" Despite the slight tone of panic, Rose couldn't help a small little smile that came from this.

Tommy Jenkins, who was the only little person Rose had ever came close to liking, scootered up to the fence Rose was peering behind, his eyes wide. "Tommy, what are you doing out here?" She hissed, getting his attention. He tiptoed closer, so that she could here him whisper.

"Did you do that?" He asked, pointing up at Jimmy Mercer's rage.

"More or less." Rose shrugged, not really wanting to start into it. Especially with a twelve year old. "Hey, where's No-Good and Stinky?"

Tommy relaxed, ignoring Jimmy's raving, with the kind of smoothness that implied he was rather use to this himself. "Stinky went to his Geema's, and No-Good got locked up for the next couple of weeks."

"Damn, I could use a distraction right now." Rose grumbled. Her Father continued to make wild threats, while Uncle Andy continued to try and chill him out.

"I'll do it! Five bucks, and he won't be worried about you guys, I promise." Rose frowned at him, mostly skeptical, though their was a pinch of annoyance at the charge. "C'mon. How many choices you got. You know if he sees you guys, he'll just come after you with his car." So much for Rose kind of liking this kid.

She dug out a five, handing it too him, his grin wide. "Kid, you better make this good." He started to head towards his target. "Hey! Nana drinks Whole Milk. No more of that 2% shit."

"You got it. Miss Grace could have said something herself though." Rose shrugged, becoming restless. He scampered up the stairs. "Hey Mr. Mercer, I think their over there." Little shit! Rose felt the urge to throttle him, at least until she heard a sudden yelp of pain, along with the cries of her Aunts and Uncles. The image of Tommy kicking her Father square in the junk would have to be savored later, as Rose hopped the fence.

"Time to go!" She said, praying their was no glass as she darted across the street. Luckily, there was not, and she climbed up the passenger seat of the beast, seeing her Father clutching his manhood in the fetal position, and Tommy already down the block.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"I'LL KILL THAT LITTLE BASTARD-"
"Jim- Man, calm down."
"Screw you Andy! I'LL SLIT THAT LITTLE BASTARDS THROAT! GODDAMN! Little prick knocked out a tooth-"
Guillermo smirked. The prick deserved it.
"Tommy, what are you doing out here?"
Rose's irritated whisper caused him to notice the kid standing near them. The kid was also whispering.
"Did you do that?"
"More or less. Hey, where's No-Good and Stinky?"
"Stinky went to his Geema's, and No-Good got locked up for the next couple of weeks."
Guillermo felt a little confused, but decided that he just didn't want to know.
"Damn, I could use a distraction right now."
"I'll do it! Five bucks, and he won't be worried about you guys, I promise. C'mon. How many choices you got. You know if he sees you guys, he'll just come after you with his car."
Rose frowned but handed him a five as his grin widened.
He kinda liked that little kid.
"Kid, you better make this good. Hey! Nana drinks Whole Milk. No more of that 2% shit."
"You got it. Miss Grace could have said something herself though."
The kid walked away and Rose sighed.
"Hey Mr. Mercer, I think their over there."
A moment of panic before a cry of pain.
"Time to go!"
Rose jumped up and sprinted to the truck, Guillermo on her heels. He jumped in beside her, half-laughing at Mr. Mercer in pain.
He revved the truck loudly and burnt rubber, speeding out of the neighborhood quickly.

[ROSE MERCER]

As the truck peeled away, Rose sighed in relief, her entire body simmering as more and more distance was put between her and her Father. She knew her Nana would understand, in fact, she might have planned the whole thing. Well, most of it. Perhaps not the whole Rose's Dad getting booted in the junk thing. Oh well. That was a bonus. Her Mother would be more hurt, but honestly, what did she expect. Even in childhood, Rose would constantly runaway from home. She'd always come back, but that part of the trend would probably not be repeating itself. Holding up her blue heel, she gave an irritated glare. True, she had only bought them because they matched her sweatshirt perfectly, but dammit, she had really liked them. Tossing it aside, she gave Guillermo a half smirk. "Damn, Tommy runs fast."

She wanted to make light of the situation. Perhaps not to the extent of her Mother, Rose did not want to dwell on the unpleasantness. No, tonight would get better. She would hang out with Guillermo, her Uncle, Hiro, Stefano, Misa...

Things were okay now.

She watched Guillermo closely, her blue eyes warming a little. Leaning forward, she brushed a little plaster from his hair, letting it fall on to the seat. "By the way, nice right hook." Perhaps it was a little unnatural how calm she was now. Rose laid her head on his shoulder, careful not to impede his driving, or further irritate her swollen face. "That was cool, what you did. I'm sorry I brought you to that mess. I kind of feel like a dip, to be honest." Her eyes shut for a moment, letting all of the frizzles escape her, feeling the safest she had felt all night.

But it was short lasting, as was all of Rose's sincere moments of emotion, and she moved back to her seat, pulling her purse from under it. Lowering the visor, she inspected her face in the mirror. The bruise was already gaining color, and swollen. She knew she should put some ice on it, but seeing as how they were on their way to the shop, so she dug out her foundation and decided to fix the color. If all else failed, she could simply deny the swelling, so long as no color could be seen. "Take a left on Burgundy, then a right on Seventeenth."

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"Damn, Tommy runs fast." Her tone was casual but Guillermo knew she was uncomfortable.
She leaned over and brushed at his hair. His skin caught fire under her fingertips.
"By the way, nice right hook. That was cool, what you did. I'm sorry I brought you to that mess. I kind of feel like a dip, to be honest."
Her head was laid on his shoulder and he wished she would stay there, safe and calm forever.
It ended predictably, her pulling away to fix the bruise on her cheek.
She began dabbing at her face with skin colored liquid and powder.
Covering it, to avoid her uncle.
"Take a left on Burgundy, then a right on Seventeenth."
He obeyed.
"You aren't a dip. It's not your fault, Rose. Stop pretending that you got me into it. You're my best friend. I'd do anything for you, kid."
He reached over and rumpled her hair gently, grinning.

[ROSE MERCER]

As she tried to repair the damage on her face, Guillermo got cheeky. "You aren't a dip. It's not your fault, Rose. Stop pretending that you got me into it. You're my best friend. I'd do anything for you, kid." Rose held her make up sponge tightly, grinning widely as ruffled her hair. Behind the friendly facade, there was a certain intimacy to his words. For once, it did not frighten Rose, though it was perhaps because she was slightly distracted by a certain word.

Kid?

Oh, he was going to pay for that.

She watched him from the corner of her eye, her grin curled coquettishly. "Kid, huh?" Her giggle was flirtatious, but she had to turn quickly to stop a slight, sharp, pain from her cheek. She passed it off as her looking out her window though, even if it seemed without reason. Sucking it up, she put her hand on his thigh, whispering into his ear. "I seem to recall you singing a different tune..." Her giggle went from flirtatious to devilish, and she wondered if it would sting to kiss him. Her teeth grazed his earlobe gently, as her hand trailed dangerously up his thigh. The fact that he was driving, added to the rush.

Sadly, it was a short lived tease, as the approached her Uncle's shop. And while Uncle Fernando did like Guillermo, a bit more than Rose was comfortable with to be honest, she wasn't sure how he would feel about his darling niece's hand up Poor Guillermo's leg. Pulling away, she gave a quick look over at her face. "How do I look?" Her cheek was swollen, but the color was mostly it's normal peach glow, minus the freckles.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"Kid, huh?" She giggled then looked out the window. He felt her cool hand slide onto his thigh and he swallowed hard, instantly regretting his choice of words as she whispered in his ear.
"I seem to recall you singing a different tune..." Her grin turned from unbearably adorable to dangerously sexy in half a second.
Her teeth grazed his earlobe and her hand slipped further up his thigh.
Guillermo bit down on his lip.
God, he wanted her.
"Come on, Rose! Play fair, for once."
She was such a sly little imp when she wanted to be. He loved her like this. Rose was irresistible to him, like tequila to an alcoholic.
"Sólo el amor que me abofetee, ¿no?" he muttered, his teeth gritted and his hands clasped tightly on the steering wheel.
When they pulled up to her uncle's shop, she pulled away from him, to his great disappointment. She displayed her face.
"How do I look?"
The bruise was covered up, but there was a slight swell that could easily be dismissed. He inspected for a few more seconds.
"Beau- Great. You look great. I doubt he'll notice."

[ROSE MERCER]

"Come on, Rose! Play fair, for once." His reactions to her teasing had always served to entertain. When alone, he had moved past the trying to ignore her deal. Like he could. Though, being that his current Roommate was the closest thing to a Brother that Rose had ever had (a bit of a clingy one at that), some tact was always in order. Anyways, because Rose could not tease him for long in private, at least without being whisked away, she had to resort to... more devious tactics. Like, Public for instance. Sometimes it was a touch. Sometimes it was a whisper. The whammy was when she did both of course. The way that he would tense, like how he gripped the steering wheel. The way that he bit his lip, or the focus in his eyes. It all pleased Rose. "Sólo el amor que me abofetee, ¿no?"

"Si."

She wished that she could smile wider, but it stung too bad. It was a peculair problem, as Rose had always been known to be a grave child. They pulled into the auto shop parking lot, the florescent lights almost blinding. "Beau- Great. You look great. I doubt he'll notice." The last bit was a comfort, and she was glad for it. But her attention when to what he almost said.

"Beau-?" She giggled. "Beau-?" Rose teased, pouting her lip out, batting her eyes. Better to make light of it, as oppose to dwell on it too long. If she did, she'd start acting weird, then he'd get all sore, then she'd have to be super cute. Too much work, and she didn't want to fuss tonight.

It was almost as religious as them teasing, the nit picking. Not full blown arguments. They would lose patience with the other before any yelling could be had. It would be various things, little things. Mostly started by Rose, when Guillermo was around too long, and she was too comfortable with it. But she wasn't starting anything tonight.

So she winked and exited the truck, feeling the nervous flops in her gut, wondering if Tio would see under the foundation mask.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

She was so pleased to be affecting him. Her voice was gleeful and her eyes lit up.
"Si."
He looked to the heavens, as if praying for patience, then grinned at her. She was in quite the giddy mood now.
"Beau-?" She giggled. "Beau-?"
Guillermo smiled softly, not saying a word. He didn't want her to run away today.
When she did, he ended up disappointed or frustrated, making her stubborn and annoyed.
She got out of the truck and he groaned, unbuckling and stepping out into the shop.
"Are you sure it's okay that we're here? It's kind of short notice," he pointed out. He didn't think Fernando would turn them away, but he felt rude barging in on his Thanksgiving.
He knocked on the door, backing away and swinging his arm casually up to rest on Rose's shoulder.

[ROSE MERCER]

"Are you sure it's okay that we're here? It's kind of short notice," Guillermo asked, earning an eye roll from Rose. He'd have to get use to how Rose's REAL family worked. Rose couldn't help but laugh a little as he knocked, and she opened the door immediately after.

"Guillermo, Carino, seriously. Try and be less polite, you'll creep em out." She giggled, heading up to the second floor where Fernando lived. The shop's usual smell of gasoline and motor oil , and instead was filled with the smell of Turkey and homemade Tortillas. The upstairs was warm from cooking, obviously decorated by an aging bachelor. Pictures of various dream cars littered the walls, as well as a Colombian flag over the window behind the couch. Her Uncle was busy in the kitchen, while Hiro and Misa were setting the table. Stefano, who was sniffing a bottle of tequila as the entered, smiled in surprised at them. "Honey, that ain't Baby Formula."

"Thought you were being all lame and seeing your folks tonight, Chica." He said, setting down the liquor like it was poison.

"Nah. Couldn't miss Mini Wet Burritos and Turkey!" Rose said, not wanting to stay on the topic of her parents long. She went into the kitchen, snickering lightly at the cheap, floral, apron her Uncle was wearing. Especially as he was such a huge, intimidating man. "Hola Tio."

"Hola Rosa." He said, kissing her forehead. "Hola Guillermo. Bienvenido."

"Hey Bruja. Bruja's person." Hiro said, as Misa tidied his table setting. Rose stuck out her tongue at him, taking a bite of tomato.

All was going well.

"¿No vas a ver a tu mamá?" She detected the worry in Fernando's voice, his eyes looking her over closely.

Her voice remained flippant, not meeting his eyes. "No, voy a salir con ella a cenar alguna vez." She started to move to the couch, not being in anyway a chef.

Fernando caught her arm, turning her gently to face him, his hand holding her chin in inspection. "¿Qué pasó con tu cara?"

"Huh?" Oh. Acabo de abrir la puerta del camión en la cara. No es gran cosa." Rose kept her cool, though she winced a little as he rubbed her make up away. Damn, he would have been a killer parent. Nothing got past him.

Fernando was immediately suspicious, looking up Guillermo. "¿Es eso lo que pasó, Guillermo?"

Stefano, Misa, and Hiro all watched closely. Misa and Hiro didn't speak a word of Spanish, but could detect the tense tone easy enough. Stefano grasped some words, but was basically going off from the same information as the others. Rose paused, wondering what Guillermo would say, a little tiffed at her Uncle for putting him on the spot.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

Rose made a mockery of his common courtesy.
"Guillermo, Carino, seriously. Try and be less polite, you'll creep em out." Rose strode boldly in and up the stairs. He sighed and followed, laughing softly.
Stefano greeted them first, holding tequila.
"Honey, that ain't Baby Formula."
"Thought you were being all lame and seeing your folks tonight, Chica."
"Nah. Couldn't miss Mini Wet Burritos and Turkey! Hola Tio."
Fernando wore a flowery apron and a smile when he saw Rose.
"Hola Rosa. Hola Guillermo. Bienvenido."
"Hey Bruja. Bruja's person." Hiro said and Guillermo grinned.
"¿No vas a ver a tu mamá?"
"No, voy a salir con ella a cenar alguna vez."
Fernando caught her arm, and Guillermo has a sinking feeling. They were caught now.
"¿Qué pasó con tu cara?"
"Huh? Oh. Acabo de abrir la puerta del camión en la cara. No es gran cosa."
Fernando turned to him, looking stern and skeptical.
"¿Es eso lo que pasó, Guillermo?"
"Ah..." he glanced from Fernando to Rose a few times.
"De hecho, fuimos a la de Mercer, pero su padre no estaba en el mejor estado de ánimo. Pero no te preocupes. Le dio un puñetazo en la cara. Todo está cuidado."
He glanced at Rose warily. "Lo siento."

[ROSE MERCER]

"De hecho, fuimos a la de Mercer, pero su padre no estaba en el mejor estado de ánimo. Pero no te preocupes. Le dio un puñetazo en la cara. Todo está cuidado." Rose closed her eyes, not wanting to see her Uncle's face. Or Guillermo's. Traitor. "Lo siento." Oh, he was sorry. Well... Good for him. Rose wasn't really angry, so much as worried. Guillermo had never seen her Uncle angry before.

Instantly, she felt her Uncle's hands on her shoulder, the panic of a Father in his voice. "Estaba de mal humor? ¿Te ha golpeado?"

"Pastoreo me-OW! No tan duro." Rose tried to play it cool, but her Uncle's thumb started rubbing away the make up, revealing a smudge of bruise. She rubbed it, completely caught.

"Voy a matarlo-Usted le dio un puñetazo en la cara?" Her Uncle started with anger, but it was instantly subsided by shock. Fernando was suddenly colored impressed by Guillermo, his shoulder's squaring proudly.

"Sí. Ha sido atendidos. ¿Podemos dejarlo caer ahora?" Rose said quickly, crossing her arms, looking strikingly younger than she usually did.

Fernando ignored Rose, commending Guillermo. "No se disculpe Guillermo. hora de que alguien puso ese hijo de puta en su lugar. repugnantes. debo llamar a Maria arriba"

Rose couldn't take this anymore. "Tío Fernando, recibió un puñetazo en la cara. Ha sido atendidos. tengo guardado por un caballero de brillante armadura, no hay honor más necesita ser restaurada. Por favor. Dejarlo caer." Her Uncle looked startled at her outburst, but returned to the food, muttering under his breath.

"Anyone else get the feeling they missed something big?" Hiro said suddenly, in his usual graceless tact. Misa elbowed him, as Rose waved it off.

"Nothing. No big deal." Rose said, suddenly feeling ice wrapped in a washcloth touch her face. She flinched away from it, but accepted it as her Uncle placed it in her hands. "Thanks."

As she sat on the couch, Stefano cleared his throat loudly, and Rose felt a wave of appreciation that he knew to change the subject. "Guillermo. Dream car, make and model."

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"Estaba de mal humor? ¿Te ha golpeado?"
Fernando was nearly frantic.
"Pastoreo me-OW! No tan duro."
Guillermo winced as she flinched under his hand.
"Voy a matarlo-Usted le dio un puñetazo en la cara?"
Guillermo gave him a sheepish smile and nod. He saw the pride there and thought of his own father. Would he be proud?
"Sí. Ha sido atendidos. ¿Podemos dejarlo caer ahora?"
Rose started to pout and Guillermo grinned at her, reaching over to tap her lower lip with his finger.
"No se disculpe Guillermo. hora de que alguien puso ese hijo de puta en su lugar. repugnantes. debo llamar a Maria arriba"
"Tío Fernando, recibió un puñetazo en la cara. Ha sido atendidos. tengo guardado por un caballero de brillante armadura, no hay honor más necesita ser restaurada. Por favor. Dejarlo caer."
Her uncle turned back to the food.
"Anyone else get the feeling they missed something big?"
"Nothing. No big deal." Fernando handed Rose a washcloth and she accepted it graciously. "Thanks."
"Guillermo. Dream car, make and model."
"No man, I've got my dream car and it is that monster sitting outside." He said proudly.