Cold. His first thought when he lands in Illinois early the next morning is It's cold. In comparison to the balmy Florida weather, it's terrible and he and Evan Bourne exchange glances as they collect their luggage and head out to the rental car waiting for them. They drive from Chicago to Lasalle, a good two hour drive. Knights of Columbus is obviously an older building, and he's immediately drawn by the small town charm of it all, smiling slightly as he steps out of the car, taking in the area.
There are a few hours before the event begins so he explores the building, saying hello to the competitors who are also arriving early, getting the lay of the land. Each place has a different set up, new people to meet, others to reacquaint oneself with. He enjoys the fluidity of it all, having new experiences, the general freedom of getting to go where he wants, do what he wants, all of it. He spots his opponent and releases a breath, realizing that he has an entourage, all of them glaring at him as he walks past, hearing one of them say something mockingly about his being nothing more than a ring announcer. Gritting his teeth, he walks on by without another glance at them, relieved when it's almost time for the first autograph and picture session to start with Evan.
Time goes by quickly and the next thing they know, they're being told that it's time to wrap up so the preshow match can begin. They leave the ring to take one last picture, Ricardo staring at a girl as she wanders towards them, appearing uncertain and confused. She talks with Evan for a moment, looking at him with an unreadable expression on her face, before realizing they were about to take a picture, walking off once more. Evan shrugs at Ricardo before they get in position for the picture, both of them then needing to go backstage to begin getting ready for their individual matches that are coming up shortly.
Ricardo's match sneaks up on him and he sighs, zipping up his gear before getting to his feet. He's about to head to the ring when he realizes his phone is flashing. He frowns and peers out towards the ring, listening as one of Bucky Collins' associates mocks his being a former ring announcer- the loud mouth that he'd overheard earlier, if he can guess- so he takes the opportunity to check, reading the text with a surprised look on his face as the man in the ring completely fails at announcing Collins, his voice dying on the final word. Buoyed by what he'd just read, he walks with more certainty towards the curtain, unable to keep the smirk at bay as Alberto's theme music starts to play, heralding his entrance to the ring. Somehow, Alberto had thought ahead and contacted Dreamwave Wrestling's higher ups, encouraging them to use his music... and hadn't told Ricardo until sending that text, allowing it to be a surprise as much for Ricardo as it is for the people in the crowd.
He falters internally, however, finding that Bucky has his friends with him at ringside, but squaring his shoulders, he makes his way to the ring anyway and faces off with Bucky, working to hold his composure. Sometimes he forgets, finds himself back in that mindset, where he was vulnerable and seen lacking in the WWE, held down by The Authority and whatever else, but as the last strains of Alberto's theme fades away, he steadies himself and approaches Bucky, relieved when the ref ensures that the others are out of the ring. Not that it stays that way- he gets some offense in, a second-rope moonsault, his standard kicks and blows, but it doesn't stop the men on the outside from attacking him every chance that they get. He's breathless and struggling to keep his head above water when finally- finally he finds his chance and succeeds at taking out the three men before they can do anything further to him. The win that he manages against Bucky following this is unexpected, happily so, and he crouches in the ring, catching his breath and watching as the three men assists his opponent out of the ringside area. The match had been frustrating, due to all of the outside interference, but he'd won, and that was the important part as Alberto's music plays throughout the room again and he steeples his hands in front of his face in thanks before rolling out of the ring.
There's another autograph and photo session at intermission, leaving him only enough time to get out of his gear and for a quick shower, his aches and pains slowly eased by the hot spray of the water. He then dresses in an orange shirt and black pants, pulling his hair back into a short ponytail before making his way out to the side room that these sessions will be held at. He stands around, watching as people, not understanding that you have to pay extra for these autographs or pictures, get turned aside. It's almost funny, if not ridiculous, but there's nothing they can do but stand and watch as all of the line disappears, people looking disgruntled at the prices and who knows what all else. He's just turned to say something to Evan when the girl from earlier who had talked to Evan slips into the room, looking at them. Oh great, is she going to join the others in grumbling when...?
But no, she grows a little more confident, Ricardo's gaze locked on her as she approaches the table and addresses the man in charge of the session. Ricardo expects her to say that she wants Evan's session, especially since she'd talked to him earlier and only stared at Ricardo... but no, she clearly says his name as she hands over her money to the man, glancing over at him as he murmurs in Spanish to himself. "She chose me?"
His surprise isn't over then, however, as she is prompted about what she wants autographed and holds up an old picture of him from his SoCal days, looking a little nervous as she once more looks at him. "Is this ok?"
She slides it over to him and he stares at it, already signing it with a blue sharpie. "Wow, I haven't seen one of these in years," he comments, wondering about her. She looks young, he can't help but be curious how she'd gotten it, but she doesn't say anything, watching him autograph it quietly before taking it back. He stands to get in place for the picture, Evan moving from where he's leaning against the table as she tries to join Ricardo, and they stand there for a moment before he realizes. "You have the camera," he tells her, and an embarrassed kind of realization crosses her face as she hands over her camera to the Dreamwave Wrestling staff member waiting to take their picture. It's an older camera, and he can't figure out how to use it, so she leaves Ricardo's side a couple of times until finally the camera's good to go, the two of them standing frozen with their arms around each other, his around her shoulder and hers around his midsection due to the differences in their height, until finally the flash goes off. She steps forward and takes the camera from him, Ricardo speaking up before she can run off again, not wanting her to have wasted her money on a blank picture. "We should make sure it took," he says, watching as she fiddles around with the camera yet again.
She's a little flushed when she looks up, only allowing him a quick glance at the picture on her camera. "It did," she says, smiling up at him. "Thanks."
"Thanks," he responds in kind, blinking as she quickly turns and leaves, clutching her things like her life depends on it. He chuckles a little and shrugs when Evan nudges him, the two of them then returning behind the table to wait and see if anyone else will be willing to pay.
Evan is quiet for a moment before speaking up again. "Did you see that girl's shoes?" Ricardo merely grins.
-x
Returning to Florida is like a breath of fresh air and somber all at once. It's much warmer than Illinois, but it's quiet, Paige already flying out for Raw the next night and Alberto busy getting ready to return to Mexico before the next AAA event. But it's alright, Ricardo and Sofia sit on the wooden swing on the patio and he tells her what he'd seen, the fans who had come. The girl in the purple and blue shoes who, despite her visible anxiety, had had the Chimaera picture and had asked for him over Evan, one of the few in line willing and able to pay for the session. "Your autograph sessions are always fascinating, Ricardo," Sofia tells him with a soft smile, leaning against him. "That girl sounds like quite the dedicated fan... even if she didn't say much."
"Si, I suppose so," he comments, smiling as he rests his head against hers. They sit quietly for awhile longer before Ricardo whispers, "I've missed talking with you like this, Sofia. It's nice that we can do it whenever we want once more... Nothing against Alex, but..."
She soothes him, patting his hand. "I understand, Ricardo, you don't need to justify yourself to me. I've missed our talks as well. I'm so happy you're home... that you're comfortable enough to return home... This house was so empty without you."
He smiles and hugs her closer, closing his eyes as he considers how he had felt since leaving the year prior. "Well, none of us have to feel empty anymore... everything is as it should be once more." Alas, he can't remain there with Sofia for too long. He has his own plans to see through. Training at the dojo, preparation to go back to Puerto Rico the coming weekend. Many things to do, very little time to do them in. So he does what he's always done and hits the ground running, finally unpacking the last few things in his room, sitting at the edge of his bed and looking around. It's simple, and it's a lot like it had been before he'd left, but it shows the differences he's gone through since August 5th, his ring gear now hanging proudly in the closet next to his Zubaz instead of sitting, unused in a bag because he was too disgusted to look at it. There's a merch shirt of Mike's next to Del Rio's, and he smiles a little, kicking the box that contains his old RVD shirts into the corner of the closet, unable to get rid of them but also unwilling to unpack them. He doesn't hold that period of time against RVD, but he also doesn't want to relive it, not now, definitely not here.
He's about to return to the kitchen, check on Sofia, when he hears Alberto calling out to him from his bedroom. He lightly pushes the door open and peers in at his former employer. "Si, El Patron? Do you need my help with something?"
"I want to talk to you about this weekend," Alberto says, standing up from his desk to face his former ring announcer. "Lo siento, I wish I could come with you... or you could come with me to San Luis Potosi... but perhaps next time, mi amigo." He drops a warm arm around Ricardo's shoulders and smiles at him. "In the meanwhile, I want to make sure you're alright with going to Puerto Rico." The younger man doesn't say anything immediately and Alberto nudges him, gripping his chin. "Mi amigo, por favor. Talk to me. If you feel uncomfortable, or perhaps like what happened last time may repeat itself, I need to know."
Ricardo swallows. "No, I think... I will be alright. Things are different now." He glances up at Alberto, smiling faintly. "I am... home now, after all. My doubts are... lessened now. No more nightmares."
"That's exactly what I wanted to hear," Alberto tells him, nodding slightly. "But just in case, mi amigo... you will make sure to call me, si? If you need anything. But that's something I don't foresee happening. This weekend... shouldn't be physical. I merely want you to deliver a message to Ray Gonzalez." His eyes flash with some dangerous protectiveness that still warms Ricardo to his core whenever he sees it, well aware that only a select few garners that kind of emotion from the impressive man, and he just happens to be one of the lucky ones who do.
"Alright, what do you want me to say, El Patron?" Ricardo stares at him, eyes widening as Alberto explains to him what exactly he's to do. "I see. Si, of course, I can do that," he murmurs, lips twitching. As amazing as it is to focus on his own career after so long of not being able to do what he wants, it's still fun sometimes to go stir up trouble under Alberto's name and protection.
Alberto laughs at the ornery gleam in Ricardo's eyes, leaning over to hug him. "I have missed discussing such things with you face to face whenever I wish, mi amigo. I am so happy you're back home."
"That tends to be the general consensus," he whispers against Alberto's shoulder, smiling. "As I told Sofia, I am happy to be back home as well." As Alberto strokes his fingers through Ricardo's hair, he sighs and stares out of Alberto's bedroom window at the grounds that he thinks he knows better than his own hand sometimes, eyes gleaming. 'Home...'
-x
After a successful training session at the dojo, Ricardo wakes up the next morning with a smile on his face, dwelling on the last few days, how... nice everything's been. He scrubs at his eyes and sits up, only just going out for coffee when he hears giggles and stops short, eyebrows raising as he peeks into the kitchen. Sofia is there, of course, but so is Paige and... Alicia. He blinks again and stares at the three women for a long, tense moment, before venturing inside. Paige greets him with a hug and a kiss, Alicia waving cheerfully over her mug of coffee, and he gapes. "Erm," he murmurs, his arm wrapped loosely around Paige's shoulders as she leans into him. "Hola, Alicia."
"Hola," she chirps, draining more of the coffee. "Well, as nice as it was to see you again, Sofia, I have to go. Alex is probably wondering where I've gone off to." She's a whirlwind, running around and collecting her half-jacket before all but diving onto Paige with an overly enthusiastic hug that Paige seems all too eager to return, Ricardo gaping at them as Alicia grins at him and runs out of the door, throwing a cheery "Bye!" over her shoulder as she goes.
"Uhh," Ricardo mumbles as Paige leads him over to the table, pushing him into a chair and sitting next to him with a soft smile. "So, um, Alicia," he finally finds the words, eyes locked on the diva. "You two are really friends?"
"Yes, I believe so," the Brit acknowledges his clear uncertainty. "As well as anyone can be in this business, after all." She smiles up at him, stroking his knuckles. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine. Now, tell me all about Lasalle and your latest victory. Any fangirls I need to teach a lesson to?"
He chuckles a little, lifting her hand and kissing her knuckles in return. "Well, I don't know about that, but si, I did meet some interesting people..." They sit and talk, reconnecting after the last few days apart, as Sofia bustles around and serves breakfast and more coffee, Ricardo relieved for the brief distraction as he tells Paige about Bucky Collins' friends and the things they'd done and said. Still frustrating to think back on, that he still has to fight against the stigma of being merely a ring announcer... but he knows that with time, people will see he's so much more than that.
"Of course you will," Paige tells him confidently, smiling over at him as she holds his hand. "There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that you already are proving just that."
He smiles affectionately at her, still uncertain how he'd managed to attract her attention before taking control of his life once more, but he's absurdly relieved for it. Her loyalty and love had been the best boost of confidence he ever could've asked for, and right when he'd needed it the most. "Gracias..."
-x
It's always weird to pack, especially so soon after unpacking, but Ricardo wouldn't change it for the world. Despite what he may say sometimes, he really does love traveling to Puerto Rico, seeing the sights and the people. Things just feel differently there, even the air is sweeter, competition is brisker... and so he smiles as Sofia sits across from him, reading off a list of the things he'd wanted to bring, tilting her head. "Dante?"
He finds the book and pats it, looking up at her with a grin. "Si, right here."
"That's the last item then, Ricardo." She folds the paper, lays it down on the desk, and turns back to him. "I hope this time goes better for you." Just the way she says it, he realizes that she knows of his nightmares, but he doesn't find himself too embarrassed by this. It's Sofia, after all. She would never use anything she knows about him to mortify or harm him, and she's been such an integral part of both his and Alberto's lives the last four years, she already knows everything that's gone on with the both of them since they'd arrived in the WWE. "I am certain Senor has already told you such, but if you need anything, we are just a phone call away." She cups his hands and smiles into his face, eyes full of affection and worry for him. "Por favor, mi hijo... enjoy yourself."
Ricardo swallows hard, overwhelmed by a sudden wave of love for the housekeeper as he nods, blinking back tears as he reaches up to gently brush her own away, his thumbs careful under her eyes. "Gracias, Sofia, I will do my best. Te prometo."
She beams up at him and squeezes his wrists, nodding. "That's all I need to hear, Ricardo. After all, it is not often one gets to go to Puerto Rico in the lap of luxury." She winks at him and he groans, remembering all of the expense Alberto showered him with the time before.
"Ay, dios... He really does go overboard sometimes, eh?"
She smiles at him. "It makes him happy, Ricardo. And he knows that you deserve all of that and more..."
Ricardo sighs and shakes his head. "I suppose, if you say so, Sofia."
She frees his hands and shifts hers, cupping his jaw instead, to ensure that he's listening to her, looking at her. "I know so," she tells him simply, making it clear that nothing he says could sway her opinion of him. "Now come, I will make tea and we can go see what Paige is up to on Smackdown before you need to go get some sleep before your flight tomorrow."
He laughs softly as she all but drags him out to the kitchen. The house is quiet, different, without Alberto, but Sofia definitely helps to keep things from becoming boring."Gracias," he says once more, knowing that no matter how many times he says it, how many ways, he'll never be able to properly explain just how grateful he is that things are finally, slowly, turning good again.
