After leaving Alberto's house, Ricardo is quiet. He's lost in thought, digging through his things and setting them up around his room. Anything that Paige or Alberto gave him he'd left behind, which really just means that he'd not brought a lot, just things that he'd owned when he was in California, or the things that he'd bought while living with Alex, and the few things he'd brought from India.
Alicia sits Indian style on the bottom of his bed, watching him quietly. She's not sure what to say, if there's anything to say, but she wants to support him through this, so she stays, hoping that he's not bothered by her being there. He finally finishes rummaging through the second box and sits back, cradling his old Chimaera mask in his hand before looking up at her. "You know, I gave up everything to come here, to be Alberto's ring announcer?" He sounds devastated, his eyes dark and focused on the fabric his fingers are rubbing spastically. "My family, my foothold in SoCal wrestling, my friends... my life. Just to come here and be marginalized, all but ignored as Alberto's scapegoat. He was supposed to get all of the attention, all of the focus, while I got nothing but all of the humiliation and beatdowns."
A tear drips down his nose and Alicia immediately moves, scoots off of the bed and wraps her arms around him, hugging him. "I'm sorry," she breathes into his soft hair, rocking him back and forth. He shudders and clings to her arms, trying to breathe normally, as she runs her fingers through the long, dark strands of his hair, glad he'd taken it out of its ponytail. He had talked, of course, of cutting it upon landing in the States but between the jetlag and proposing to Paige and trying to get back into a somewhat normal schedule, it had never happened, to her relief. She could never decide what to do with her own hair, whether she wanted it shaved, or a weave, or just chop it all off and go bald- which really, could never happen in the WWE, but she gets so disgusted with it sometimes that it's something she considers.
So, while he reflects on everything lost, his voice low and shaky, she settles in behind him and gently brushes his hair out, braiding it for him once all of the tangles are out and it's a wave of shiny, black sleekness. He pauses when she wraps her arms around him and stares at him in the mirror, smiling softly. "Whoa," he breathes out, feeling completely different with his hair managed like this. "You didn't have to."
"Yeah, I did," she says. "I like styling hair, about as much as I like fashion. Any time you want me to do it again, just let me know." She smiles and rests her chin on his shoulder, humming quietly.
"I'll keep that in mind," he whispers. "Thanks." She nods against his shoulder before pulling away. He watches, somewhat perplexed, as she gets up and leaves his room, the sounds of her rummaging around in her room confusing him further. When she returns he all but drops his mask, staring at her in awe.
"Well," she says, smoothing the creamy tank top that shows off her arms and midriff perfectly, "what do you say we go to the beach? I have an idea that we can have some fun with."
He nods blankly, waiting until she leaves once more to change into shorts and a grey tank top of his own. Once done, he joins her in the living room and she smiles at him, holding something out to him. It takes a few moments before he realizes, eyes widening even further. "A metal detector?"
She laughs at the incredulous tone of his voice. "Yep! I used to go out on the beach with it a lot, Alex never cared for the hobby so it's been collecting dust, but I figure, if you're interested, what better time to start again than right now?"
"God yes, I'm interested," he almost chokes out, gaping at the device. "Come on, what are we waiting for?!" It's the first time he's sounded alive since moving in with her, and Alicia's grin is wide and beautiful as he grabs her hand and runs out the front door, only waiting long enough for her to lock it behind them before continuing on into the sand. They work together for awhile, taking turns holding the device or digging, before Alicia decides to go dig for seashells and let him continue on digging up random change and other pieces of metal that people have dropped over who knows how long into the sand.
Before long, they have a bit of a contest going to see who can get the bigger pile, Alicia's seashells, towering over the pile of pennies and broken watches, scrap metal that Ricardo's found in the sand. He gasps like it's something new every time the device beeps, digging like his life depends on it and although it never turns out to be much, Alicia enjoys the wave of childlike wonder that takes him over every time. Finally, after about an hour, when they're both tired out and sporting impressive suntans that will probably spread into sunburns in time, they call it an afternoon. Alicia's seashells are glistening just right, proving their dominence over Ricardo's junk pile, and he pouts at her.
She laughs and leans against him at this, an impulse she'd had since going with him to Alberto's house welling up within her all over again. "Hey Ricardo?"
"Mm hmm?" he murmurs into her hair.
"I was thinking," she says. "We seem to get along well... you're the most quiet house guest I've had in, well, ever... so what would you think if I suggested that we make this a little more permanent? Would you, ah, want to live with me? Officially?"
He doesn't answer for a long moment and she starts to fear that she's insulted him, or overstepped boundaries- Or maybe this was always going to be temporary and he'll forgive Del Rio and Paige and leave you all alone with the memories of your failed marriage once more, she tells herself viciously- but then he exhales and pulls back, staring at her. "What's my portion of the rent going to be?"
Alicia's face lights up and she laughs, throwing her arms around him and hugging him tightly. "Yay! We're roommates now!"
He chuckles and hugs her back. "Yeah, I guess we are," he murmurs.