Sometimes, things go well for so long that Ricardo forgets. Forgets his vices, and how easy it is to fall back onto bad ways. Intrusive thoughts and old frustrations creeping around at the corners, just waiting to reclaim him. He's busy, or at least he tries to keep busy, between wrestling, training, spending time with Alicia, with Andre, with Sofia. Sometimes with their friends, now that things are a little more opened up, accessible to the public.
Then it hits him hard and he finds himself sitting outside in the warm California evening, watching the sun go down, trying not to grit his teeth to dust after a fresh wave of anger. It's just not easy watching everyone getting re-signed after their time in WWE ends. Moving from company to company like it's no big deal, like they can do anything and everything, and find new places to land, while he... He shakes his head, squeezing his eyes shut hard and exhales roughly.
He had made a couple missteps somewhere, he thinks. He's not sure where, or why, but something had left him a non-factor in the eyes of the wrestling world, and no other major company had wanted him long-term, even when Alberto was a package deal. He groans, picks at his pants, and lifts his head once more, trying to make his thoughts drift off of this subject which, even after all of these years, still eats at him. He's still spiraling, however, unable to shake himself free from this, and he barely hears the door behind him ease open, Alicia gingerly stepping down, kneeling to lean into him.
"Hey," she whispers, pressing a careful, soft kiss to the side of his face. "Everything ok?"
He breathes in, leaning into her easy affections, and slowly shakes his head. "Not really," he admits.
She makes a soft, sympathetic noise, and just reaches out, wraps her arms around him, and holds him. "I'm sorry," she murmurs, nuzzling closer to him. "Any time you wanna talk, I'm right here. Always."
"Gracias," he whispers back and she smiles gently against his jaw, kissing him again before easing back to rest her head on his shoulder, staring out into the darkness to examine what stars they can see from here.
Despite the bitter darkness hanging over him, it's a lovely, gentle evening, and as he ghosts a hand up Alicia's spine, enjoying the soft humming noise she makes in response, he thinks, maybe, somewhere, there's some hope for the future yet, just waiting to be discovered.
