Alicia has problems of her own, getting into a public disagreement with Ronda Rousey's husband which puts a damper on her weekend as well. Ricardo leans against the balcony railing of their apartment and looks over the city as she listens quietly to someone on the phone. When she joins him, she looks annoyed and he weighs asking but she kisses his shoulder and snuggles under his arm and it's obvious that the silent support is badly needed by both of them right now. He gently tips her head up and presses a soft kiss to her mouth, relieved when she kisses him back. He loops an arm around her and draws her in close, the light and bustle of New Orleans below the soundtrack as she slips her hand under his shirt and strokes his skin with a teasing little smile.
He wavers, considering moving inside for a little more privacy, but ultimately remains as she kisses down his jaw, along his throat, before scraping her teeth along his collar, unbuttoning his shirt slowly with her free hand. The night air is cool against his skin and he shivers a bit, the warmth of her mouth an interesting contrast against the wind, and he closes his eyes, resting his back against the wall as she continues to kiss his flushed skin. "I love you," she breathes between his pecs and he presses his head against the wall, staring down at her in awed affection. "We're gonna get through this. Together."
"Of course," he breathes, body tingling as she wraps an arm around his waist, kissing lower, along his stomach. "N- no doubt there." He exhales in a shuddering fashion. "I love you too, Alicia," he whispers, running his fingers through her hair.
She smiles at him and shifts back up, cupping his face and searching his eyes. "Whatever you need, I'm here for you, Ricardo," she vows, the cool band on her finger grounding him as he stares at her. "If you decide to finally leave Alberto in the past, or to let this go and try to continue working with him, I'll support you. Don't doubt that, ok?"
He nods, emotions welling up as she leans in and kisses him tenderly. He's still not sure what he's going to do regarding everything, but her words sooth him. "Gracias," he murmurs, hugging her close. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
She strokes his shoulders. "You never have to worry about that," she tells him, pressing more, heated kisses to his skin.
They return to Texas once Wrestlemania weekend wraps up and Ricardo forces himself back into training, determined to ignore the Alberto situation as best as he can. Family emergency, is the line that Alberto's passing around, but it seems a bit too convenient after everything. Ricardo's not sure what to believe, or what he's willing to accept out of all of this, but he focuses on what he does have, which is a building full of students willing to learn and eager to follow his suggestions, eyes lighting up whenever they realize something new, finding a shortcut to make wrestling easier, more sustainable as a career path down the line for them.
It's on the second night in a row of training like this, Ricardo showing one of the women how to best perform a submission hold, her getting it quickly and tangling him up so thoroughly that he has no choice but to tap when he hears soft applause from behind him. He knows without looking who it is, relieved when he's back on his feet enough to confirm with his own eyes. He and Alberto stare at each other for a few moments before Ricardo turns to the milling people. "Take ten, guys. Get some water." He then leaves the ring, walks by Alberto with a meaningful look, and walks outside, his hands buried in the pockets of his sweatpants.
Alberto follows him quietly and they find themselves by an empty business, "For sale" signs all but pleading someone to pay the dilapidated building some attention. "Mi hermano-" he starts to say, but Ricardo doesn't let him finish.
"You know I let myself look forward to working with you again," he says quietly, twisting his hands deeper inside of his pockets. "I thought it would be like old times, the two of us sharing laughs and reminiscing about all of our years together. And it did end up like old times, but instead all of the times you left me to fend for myself, threw me in the deep end with no consideration about what I needed from you." He looks up, a tired kind of realization in his eyes. "You were always a very selfish best friend, Alberto. And I always gave too much. I doubt I can do it anymore."
Alberto looks stricken. Reaches out towards Ricardo, just for his hands to falter just short of grazing his skin as if he realizes that that would be too much. He drops his arm back to his side with a resigned, tired twist to his lips. "Ricardo- no, por favor-"
"All of the times I've needed you over the years," Ricardo says slowly. "When Sheamus brogue kicked me, when Swagger broke my ankle. When you fired me and broke my heart, when you seduced Paige. I've forgiven you time and time and time again, told myself it's just the price one paid to be the one closest to someone as rich and influential as you. I have tried to be that person for you, and I may wake up tomorrow and decide to keep trying, but I am so tired, Alberto." He laughs brokenly. "I moved here for you, you know? I could've stayed in California with my family and Alicia, seen Mike and Sara and John and everyone over there regularly and been happy, but I wanted to be with my best friend, to repair our personal and professional relationship before you retired from wrestling. I've been booked places in the upcoming months because people thought we were a package deal again. What am I to do if you no-show those as well? Lose out on more money and opportunities because you have another emergency?"
He steps away, scuffing his feet in the dry gravel, and sighs when Alberto approaches him, words once more dying on his lips. Instead, he grips Ricardo by the shoulder and turns him around, staring down at him. "Lo siento, mi hermano." His hands are tight, desperate as he clings to Ricardo, and his eyes are gleaming with emotions that Ricardo isn't used to seeing from the other man. It's only this that leaves Ricardo from bailing as he tugs him closer and hugs him, murmuring in broken Spanish against his neck. "I have always had everything handed to me. I am not a good friend, I agree. I am selfish and childish, and you have always deserved better..." He closes his eyes, digging his fingers into Ricardo's spine before easing back slowly to look him in the eye. "I think I need help."
Ricardo's shoulders slump as he feels himself giving in again, never able to refuse Alberto when he looks so wretched. "I have to finish this class," he says quietly, side stepping Alberto. He feels more than sees as Alberto's face falls. "Hang around, I'll catch up with you later and we'll... we'll figure this out then."
Ricardo still isn't sure if this is the right decision when he pushes the door open and returns to the ring, Alberto settling in a chair in the back of the room, watching closely as the students get back to work once Ricardo announces the end of their break. But he can't think of anything else to do right now so he resolves to focus on it later, after he muddles through the last half an hour of his class.
