After witnessing Big Show insulting his bus driver/assistant and, first, stealing his tires and then splashing paint all over its side and across the giant himself, Alberto Del Rio sits on the back of a tow truck, the cool January wind ruffling through his hair until they're on the street outside of the arena, Ricardo Rodriguez smoothly pulling over to the side of the street so his employer could get out of the cold. As he hops down and slips into the passenger's seat, his ring announcer grins over at him briefly before taking to the road once more, something that had been niggling at Del Rio nearing the surface more and more the longer he stares at his friend.
They're at a red light, Ricardo turning to glance at his employer, lips falling into an uncertain frown when he realizes just how intensely Alberto is still staring at him. "Is... something wrong, El Patron?"
"That was me only a couple of months ago," the words slip from his mouth and he realizes with a flush of shame that that's what's been sticking with him since leaving the arena. Confusion gleams in the ring announcer's dark eyes and Alberto shakes his head, knowing that the younger man hadn't heard any of what Big Show had said, waiting nearby with the truck so they could make their quick getaway. Del Rio hadn't wanted to risk Ricardo being in range of Show's reach yet again, so he'd been the only one to hear the dismissive words that Show had laid upon the unfortunate driver. "That giant perro, he was so insulting... so intimidating to his driver. Is why it was so easy to make the man help us... but the more I think about it, the more I realize I have been no better to you the past few years."
Ricardo gulps visibly, eyes flickering from the road to Del Rio. "El Patron..."
"I know I have apologized already for it all, but... to actually see it first hand in someone else, and realize that that used to be me..." He shakes his head. "It's a disgrace. I'm not sure how you didn't do... what that driver back there did, and help others against me after so long of my mistreatment of you. Your loyalty, mi amigo, is beyond commendable..."
"It wasn't all bad times, El Patron," he murmurs, struggling to figure out how to explain in a way that would make Del Rio feel better, stop looking at him like what had happened all of those months prior to TLC was unfixable. "I understood much of it was the stresses of the business, especially last year. I could never hold that against you. You had to endure so many disappointments and injuries, and I could've done a better job for you-"
"No," Alberto interrupts immediately, lips twisting into a grimace as once again Ricardo tries to take the pressure off of his shoulders, absorb it himself. "You have always done perfectly, mi amigo, with what I provided for you to work with. You may not hold it against me, but I hold myself responsible for it all. I will redeem myself for all that I've put you and others through. I promise, mi amigo."
Ricardo glances over at him at yet another red light, overwhelmed by the sincerity in his eyes, conviction in his voice. "You already are, El Patron."
Alberto's eyes soften as he reaches out and claps Ricardo on the shoulder, knowing that he still has a long road ahead but feeling a little bit lighter even so. When the ring announcer smiles in response, he releases a soft breath, accepting finally that Ricardo's already forgiven him, whether it's deserved or not. "Gracias, mi mejor amigo."