Ricardo wakes up to Alberto's bright grin and an enthusiastic "Buenas dias, mi amigo!" He echoes the greeting with a sleepy smile, struggling to free himself from the sheets enough to sit up. It's cold in New York, his body aching in response to it, especially his ankles and knee, but it's the first time he and Alberto will be working together in any capacity since that decision the year prior that had split them up until they'd been freed from the WWE, so he works through it.
The day's agenda is merely meet'n'greets with fans, and that's fine. He enjoys it, passing the time between autographs and pictures by sharing laughs with Alberto and discussing what's to come after the next day. It's relaxing, comfortable... something familiar. After a year of having nearly everything taken away from him, this feels like a great first step in regaining it all back. Alberto seems to agree, a happy kind of peace surrounding him that Ricardo can't remember ever really having seen before. WWE really brought out the worst in us, Ricardo ruminates, relieved that it's all behind them. I wish the others weren't going through so many things because of it as well right now... He thinks about Paige, worried for the dark haired diva, and how she's slowly slipping since losing the Divas title yet again.
He barely notices anything around him until Del Rio reaches over and touches his arm, somewhat concerned. "Mi amigo? We need to take another picture..."
Flushing slightly, the former ring announcer looks around and swallows harshly. "Si, I'm sorry, I was just..." He trails off and gets to his feet, quickly shuffling closer to the fans waiting with eager looks on their face, Alberto on one side of them and Ricardo on the other. Afterwards, he talks to the fans and signs all of their autographs, careful not to drift in the sea of worries plaguing him. They'd paid good money to see him and the last thing he wants is to leave them feeling cheated or unsatisfied.
As soon as they're gone, however, Alberto turns back to him and cups his face, searching his eyes. "Hmm, well, you don't look sick," he teases slightly. "What's wrong, mi amigo? You've never lost focus like that during a meet'n'greet before... is everything ok?"
He glances around, licks his lips and releases a sigh, his shoulders slumping. "I suppose I'm worried about Paige," he admits wearily. "She... um... She's different since losing the title. And trust me, I understand how things in WWE move so fast and you can get lost in the shuffle and never quite find yourself again, but... I don't know how to help her. I couldn't even help myself when it was me going through all of this... and her situation is so different than mine was, I was on the bottom the entire time I was there, basically, but she was on the top of the divas division for so long and now... I don't know. She's so young, but she's so talented, it's just... it's..."
"Not fair?" Del Rio suggests, resting an arm around Ricardo's shoulder and staring down at him. "A good many people said the same about you and all that you endured during your time in the WWE, you know, mi hermanito." He sighs and rests his cheek against Ricardo's forehead, smiling faintly. "Trust me, if anyone can find a way to somehow help her, support her through this tumultuous time in her career, it'll be you, mi amigo. You've always been the best when it came to helping me through difficult times. I have no doubt you will be exactly what Paige needs as well, in the end."
"Gracias, mi hermano," Ricardo breathes, absorbing some strength from Alberto as he considers his words. "Dios knows I'll do my very best..." After a few moments, they turn their attention back to the next set of fans, signing more autographs and taking more pictures, allowing their conversations to turn back to more enjoyable matters, such as the holidays coming up and Sofia's determination to make the California crew fly out to Florida for once so she could cook in her own kitchen. Ricardo beams over at Alberto as they lean over to sign one last autograph, feeling lighter than he has in awhile. He's still not sure what to do for Paige, but he's buoyed enough by Alberto's belief in him to think that somehow he'll find a way.
-x
Both men wake up at about the same time the next day, still turned towards each other as they'd fallen asleep the night before talking like they used to do. Ricardo chuckles softly and snuggles deeper in his sheets, content to stare across the room at his best friend and pretend, for a moment, that the last year hadn't happened. That they'd been friends and associates the entire time... However, this illusion fades quickly when he wakes up enough to check his phone and he coughs, finding an email waiting for him. "Ah," he all but squeaks, staring at it.
"What is it, mi amigo?" Alberto wonders, leaning over out of bed enough to meet Ricardo half way to grab the phone, read what had made Ricardo react like that. He reads the email once, then again, before looking up at Ricardo for a moment. Both of their eyes widen as he dives for his phone and fumbles through it, finally finding the email. Giving up all pretenses of sleep or laziness, Ricardo gets out of bed and quickly joins him, staring down at the screen as... "Ay dios mio, mi amigo. On the same day, virtually at the same time... Que?"
"Our ninety days are up," both say at the same time before clasping hands and tugging each other in for a hug. "Finally," Ricardo murmurs against his neck as Alberto nods joyfully. "I'm glad they finally settled with you, El Patron. The thought of continuing my journey around the indys without the chance of getting to work with you for another year..."
"Ay, we don't have to worry or dwell on such things anymore, mi hermanito! We can do whatever we want now!" Alberto pulls away and cups Ricardo's face, his grin so large it almost looks painful. "And I think I know exactly what I want to do..." His grin turns mischevious as he searches Ricardo's slightly more subdued, uncertain expression. "Seeing as how we both enjoyed working together this weekend so much, what do you say we do it again next weekend?" He smirks. "Say, in Pennsylvania?"
Ricardo's eyes widen and Alberto grins, hugging him tightly once more. "Of course, El Patron," he murmurs, considering what indy dates he'd heard about then. There was Signamania, of course... and House of Hardcore, but there was no way... would they really book them on such short notice...?
His question is answered by Wednesday. Things had moved fast, Alberto had made it public, his settlement with WWE on Sunday night while they'd flown back to Florida, and WWE had replied in kind on Monday afternoon. From there, Alberto had looked ahead. Bookings for himself through AAA, bookings for him and Ricardo anywhere else. Ricardo too had had some success in getting his own bookings... including one in Germany, for himself and his masked 'amigo' in March of 2015... But he quickly begins to feel silly over forgetting just how resourceful Alberto could be when he finds Ricardo sitting in the kitchen, playing with his phone and watching Sofia do her thing around the kitchen, trying out new recipes for the holidays. "Hola, El Patron," he says absently, barely aware of the proud grin on Alberto's face.
"Hola, mi amigo, guess who's just gotten themselves booked onto House of Hardcore?"
Ricardo freezes for a moment before looking up, taking in the smug pleasure on Alberto's face. "Ah, congratulations, El Patron. Your big return to American wrestling... I'm happy for you." And he is, really. But after Alberto had hinted about them working together again after how well New York had gone, yeah, it kinda stings. He's just turned back to his phone, trying to hide his disappointment, when Alberto's hand rests on his arm, squeezing slightly. Ricardo looks up and releases a soft breath. "Si, El Patron?"
"I'm happy for myself as well," he says softly. "Because I get to work alongside mi hermanito for the second weekend in a row, at two places in one day no less."
Ricardo catches on slowly, he has to admit. Because he's still getting used to places wanting him, and booking him, fans wanting to come and see him after so long of being overlooked by WWE and left to do little more than interviews or commentating. "Wha- what?"
"Get your warm clothes out, mi amigo... we're going to Pennsylvania this weekend." Alberto laughs at the plumbstruck look on his face and pats his cheek fondly. "Did you really think I was going to leave you behind? Ay, no no, they suggested immediately we be a packaged deal... and even if they hadn't, I'd have never agreed to the booking without you, Ricardo."
Ricardo starts to look a little choked up and Alberto tsks, stroking his jaw before hugging him. "Lo siento, I just thought..." he shakes his head, swallowing roughly. "I'm still getting used to all of this, mi hermano. I looked forward to the day that we could... possibly work together again, but I wasn't sure you'd really actually want to. All of those interviews and comments you made about prefering to work solo..."
"It was part of my ridiculous plan to try to help you, Ricardo. It was pointless, and I never should've done it, but it worked out in the end, si?" He pulls away and looks down at Ricardo with a small smile. "We can finally do as we wish, where we wish... as a team or apart, it'll be by our choice, made together. I promise, Ricardo, I won't try dictating your career anymore, or force you into a situation you're not comfortable with or ready for. Everything will be better this time."
"It is already, El Patron," he whispers, looking forward to this weekend with an even clearer mindset than he had for the weekend prior when it was a countdown to the confirmation that their 90 days had concluded. "Gracias." They sit there for a moment longer before Ricardo stands up and smiles. "I need to go call Paige, let her know I'll be in Pennsylvania this weekend..." He hesitates in the kitchen doorway and stares back at Alberto. "Gracias for finding ways to keep me from worrying while she's gone, El Patron. There's no words in any language to properly describe how glad I am that we're mejor amigos again..." Turning sharply on his heel, he walks towards his bedroom before Alberto can formulate a response.
Eventually, he merely grins and stares down at his hands, strong and sure and once the cause of so much of the younger man's physical and mental anguish... now used for much better purposes, to defend and comfort, support and guide. He sighs and closes his eyes. "I am as well, mi hermanito..."
