Training. Soccer. Recovery. Lack of sleep. Everything circles Ricardo, crowding him. Leaves him distracted, staring blankly at the TV screen as show after show drift past whenever he's not forcing himself to be active, focusing on whatever's going on around him. Teaching someone the right way to twist to suplex, or aiming a kick at a soccer ball rushing towards the net, or...

Watching as Alicia loses to Sasha on the preshow of TLC, her anger and disbelief after the three count palpable through the screen, across the miles between them. He winces, rubs at his face and wonders if maybe he should offer to train her, help her to sharpen her offense a bit, maybe grow more secure in her defense to keep things like this from happening. If she would accept it as it is- a way to help her, not an insult, but a sincere offer of help. Her time in the ring is so scattered anyway, sometimes she gets matches and sometimes she doesn't, of course her ability wouldn't match up as well with the others who are in the ring week in and week out.

He sighs and closes his eyes, the insomnia tugging at him as he dozes off and on, deciding to dwell on it at some other time, think about a way to help her when she's actually home and in a good enough mood to talk to him, which... should be the day before she flies back out for weekend events. His lips twitch in a wry smirk.

Except that Alicia wins something better than just some random match against Alicia the next night- she manages to win a match against Bayley and Sasha to determine leader of the Survivor Series team pitting the Raw women against the Smackdown women. Ricardo gapes at the TV screen as she cheers her success, glaring out at everyone who ever failed to believe in her, daring the crowd to continue booing her, insulting her with their very presence, before letting off a bright grin and rushing up the ramp to begin her 'captain' duties.

Which are tested not much later as the Smackdown women invade, scaring off Dana Brook and immediately fighting Sasha, Bayley, Mickie and Alicia off, pounding them down and leaving them sprawled out on the floor, groaning and visibly shocked by the blatant attack by their rival brand. "Shit," Ricardo breathes, barely blinking as the rest of the seige happens before Shane ushers his roster back the way they came, smug as he looks upon a cowering Kurt Angle.

He paces around the living room, tugging at his lip with his teeth and waits for Alicia to call, to text, something, the wait excruitiating until finally his phone lights up. "I hate them!" she yells into his ear, the vague sound of things crashing around her making him wince. "How dare they ruin my night!"

"Alicia," he says soothingly, trying to calm her. "Deep breaths. Come on, it's ok, you'll pay them back at Survivor Series."

"I don't wanna wait!" she screeches. "I wanna wreck all of their pretty little faces right now!"

"Follow my breaths," he continues to try, slow, calm. "In, out. Close your eyes, focus on yourself for a moment. Alright?"

She whimpers. "I hate them." Quieter this time. Almost weak, limp.

"I know. I know, but it'll be ok. You'll get them back. Just stay here with me, keep breathing." Stop breaking things, he pleas quietly. You've been fined enough the last week... It had ate into rent, he would have to cover for her for awhile which, thankfully now that he's got a few bookings coming his way, shouldn't be too difficult, but still. He twists at his hair and grips his phone tighter as she breathes in and out, finally calm. Finally settled. "Better?"

"Yes," she sighs. "Thank you."

"I love you, Alicia," he says, deciding to curb the suggestion that he help her train for now. There's enough going on right now. Maybe closer to Survivor Series...

"Love you too," she responds with a soft giggle. "Thank you for talking me off of the ledge again."

"Always," he promises, smiling as she blows kisses to him over the phone.