Back to Basics 2: Encontrar una Manera chapter 38
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Alberto has no match on Monday. He does come out to face off with The Shield to continue what he and the other ten men had begun the week prior, but other than that, he sits backstage. He watches Ricardo, listens to his interview with new Divas champion, Paige, taking in the ease the two have with each other, despite the language barrier since the interview is to air on the Spanish broadcast. Looks on as the show rolls on without him, lost in thought whenever Ricardo isn't nearby, needing to stay on top of his game, if only for the former ring announcer's sake.
He has a rematch against Big E on Main Event, but it's not announced on Raw the night before, nor is any other match for the night, and he doesn't have high hopes for the contest, not after last week. Sure enough, he loses in under ten minutes, but again, it barely impacts him, his mind elsewhere. Ricardo looks sympathetic when he rejoins him backstage, but Del Rio doesn't acknowledge this either. "Mi amigo, let's go home," he says simply, already throwing his things in his bag, anxious to return to Florida. "If you don't mind, may I accompany you to training this week?"
Ricardo blinks but before he can answer, Alex- who's been hanging around more since the drama last week- approaches them with a small smile. "Hey guys."
"Oh, hola, Alex," Ricardo greets him, glancing uncertainly over at his former employer as Alberto stares at Alex.
"Did I hear something about training?" he asks, looping an arm around Ricardo's shoulders and grinning at Alberto in a way that just bleeds false to him right now. "I'm in, I hope to get booked in a match soon."
Ricardo swallows, watching as Alberto's eyes narrow ever so slightly more. "Si, I hope so too, Alex. I, I would like to train with both of you," he says awkwardly, the Mexican aristocrat's gaze turning to rest on his fretful face.
Alberto sighs, immediately forcing the tension to drain out of his body. No matter what he thinks about Alex, and what may possibly come from the week prior, he can't add to Ricardo's tension. Not now, not when Alberto's already laid the stress of his uncertain contract status on his shoulders, nor when he's still so dissatisfied with his own status in the WWE, also born by Del Rio's actions all of those months ago. "Fine, mi amigo, if it's what you want. That's fine." The words are bitter and false against Alberto's tongue but, as he watches Ricardo's face brighten at their utterance, he smiles as well, it all worth it now.
After a quick flight the next morning, the three of them arrive in Florida mid-afternoon and, after dropping some things off at Alberto's house, immediately leave again for the training facility. There's a fourth man there, wearing a mask, and Del Rio looks at him suspiciously for a long moment before resting his hand on Ricardo's shoulder, silently urging him to walk faster into the building. When the masked man follows them, Alberto grows angry, turning sharply to confront the man when Ricardo beats him to the punch. "Hola, Kalisto!" He falters at the cheerful, friendly tone to Ricardo's voice, glancing over to find Alex at ease with this situation as he too greets the other man.
"Hola, Ricardo, Alex," he greets them, barely seeming aware of Alberto's presence. "How are you today?"
They exchange small talk for a few moments before Ricardo finally seems aware of the missing piece to all of this, a guilty look on his face when he turns to look at Alberto. "Oh, El Patron, lo siento, I thought you would... eh, well. Kalisto, this is the Mexican aristocrat, Alberto Del Rio. Alberto, this is one of NXT's competitors, Kalisto."
The two men examine each other for tense, long moments, before Kalisto holds a hand out to the taller man. Alberto can feel his lips twitching into a sneer, about to disregard the sign of respect, when he notices a deeply desperate look in Ricardo's eyes, as if he'd give anything for the two men to get along. Yet again, his gut reaction falls short as he stares at the mysterious man, wondering why exactly it matters so much to his former ring announcer. But, either way, it does, so he reaches out and clasps Kalisto's hand, shaking it strongly, leaving no doubt towards his intentions. But Kalisto doesn't even flinch, Del Rio surprised but glad of it- Ricardo needs friends who are strong, won't duck away at the first sign of hardship. Won't be desperate enough to allign with those so vehemently opposed to everything that truly matters just to get ahead... His eyes dart over to Alex, watching as his best friend talks with him lowly.
When the four of them enter the room with the various rings filling the floor, Ricardo swallows and stands in the middle of one, his eyes closed as he takes it all in. Kalisto looks up at him, a small smile on his face, but Alex appears as clueless as Alberto feels regarding the emotional look on Ricardo's face. Finally he looks down at them and smiles as well, motioning to Kalisto. When he enters the ring, the two men stand side by side, examining each other before Ricardo once more turns to look out of the ring at Alberto and Alex. "I, um. I wanted to tell you both, and what better time than now, when we're all here together?" He licks his lips, looking nervous. "Kalisto here is going to debut on NXT television next month and... he's suggested we become a tag team. We might even go for the tag titles down the road."
Alberto feels numb. When he glances over at Alex, however, there's a deeply bitter look on his face that breaks through some of Alberto's daze, a refreshed sense of anger pulsing through his veins as he stares at him, knowing immediately: Alex, who had had Mike in his corner through all of NXT, and had had a decent amount of time in the ring competing and showing what he could do before injuries and time as a commentator and pre-and-post show analyst had left him sidelined, is honestly standing there, begrudging Ricardo, who had been in the WWE main roster longer and yet had only wrestled a handful of matches- as himself or as El Local- this one chance to try to gain a spot, however small it may be, on the card once more. The developmental card, no less. Del Rio isn't sure who to hate more- himself, for how he's feeling towards the situation right now, or towards Alex for the lingering look in his eyes that's slowly draining the smile from Ricardo's hopeful, shining face.
This leads Del Rio to licking his lips and slipping into the ring, resting his arm on Ricardo's shoulder as he looks into his eyes. Remembers the few times they'd tag teamed together- against Colter and Swagger, Big E and Dolph, Cena and Bret Hart... He sighs, wishing with everything in him that it'd been more, that- during their time working together- he had fought harder for the higher ups to book the younger man into something other than just being his ring announcer, give him a better chance at competing properly sooner, so he wouldn't have had to spend months training just to get stuck back in developmental after being in the company for close to four years already. "I'm happy for you, mi amigo," he says simply, thinking he succeeds at keeping the bitterness out of his voice. "I have no doubt that this will go well for you."
Ricardo's eyes shine with relief and pleasure at his former employer's words, smiling. "Gracias, Alberto." The four of them stand awkwardly for a moment before Ricardo steps forward, nodding at Kalisto. "How about we try some of those moves you mentioned...?"
As the future tag partners step into a different ring to do whatever it is that they're planning, Alberto's eyes remain locked on Alex. His words, the lack of response he'd had towards Ricardo's news, all of it eats at him until he storms into one of the spare rings. "Get in here," he orders A-Ri briskly, loosening himself up for what's to come. Despite his visible reluctance, Alex enters the ring and stares across at Alberto as he slaps his wrists, shaking out the tension in his shoulders as he glowers over at him. "Move." He's on the younger man before he's prepared, forcing him into an awkward lock up in the middle of the ring, Alberto quickly overpowering him into the turnbuckle before hitting an abrupt enzuigiri to the side of his head, sending him to the mat.
He laughs darkly and slams his knee into Alex's midsection before slapping him ruthlessly across the face, flooring him further. Totally overwhelmed by his own anger, he grips the downed man by his collar and forces him upright, staring him right in the eye. Ignoring his desperate scrabbling, Alberto shakes him a time or two before holding him up once more. "I don't care how easily Ricardo accepts your little excuses, if you ever consider such a ridiculous prospect while he lives with you, I will make this right now seem like child's play." He can hear Ricardo and Kalisto talking lowly across the room, but it's not enough to bring him back to earth. Freeing one of his hands, the other still holding Alex in place, he punches the other man, sneering as Alex's head rocks back with the impact. Again, and again, and again, Alberto not breaking a sweat as he takes out some of his anger, until-
"El Patron! STOP!" There's an arm on his shoulder, another wrapped around his midsection, trying to pull him away and he wants to fight, rage, but those pleading words do slowly break through the fog and he realizes. He'd been assaulting Alex to the point of causing himself pain, his knuckles raw and angry right now. He can tell by first glance that Alex as well will be showing the wounds of this little encounter for awhile to come, bruises already forming around a split lip. Del Rio thinks he should feel bad but he doesn't, not really. Kalisto is kneeling down in front of Alex, talking to him lowly, but Ricardo keeps ahold of the Mexican aristocrat. It takes a minute for Alberto to realize, and when he does, he feels horrible- the former ring announcer is trembling against him, his breath stuttering against the side of Alberto's face. "Por favor, just stop."
Alberto swallows and rests a hand on Ricardo's arm, nodding faintly. "Si, mi amigo, I'm- I'm done." But this doesn't seem to comfort him as he remains in the same position, holding him back needlessly as Kalisto helps Alex leave the ring, slightly overwhelmed by the other man's height. "Ricardo..."
"What was that?" he mutters, sounding more tired than angry, which somehow makes Alberto feel worse. "Why..."
Del Rio disentangles himself from Ricardo's arms and turns to face him, taking in his pale, clammy appearance in the face of his best friend beating down his roommate. "Lo siento, Ricardo-"
"You should be apologizing to him, not me," he says blankly, struggling to make it to his feet to get away. He's barely taken a step when Alberto rests a hand on his arm, stopping him. He falters, looking into Alberto's eyes, shaking his head. "El Patron..."
"I will," he promises quietly. "But right now, I think we need to talk for a minute." Ricardo looks even more anxious at this but Alberto doesn't back down, squeezing his shoulders gently, an understanding expression on his face as he takes a breath and begins to speak.
Not long afterwards, Kalisto is examining some of the workout equipment with a thoughtful expression when Alberto approaches him. He looks understandably reluctant, Ricardo still cleaning up Alex's face not that far away, but Del Rio raises his hands in supplication until Kalisto relaxes slightly, keeping a close eye on him even as he pretends to turn his attention back to the weights. "Is there something you need?" he inquires, crossing his arms over his chest as he looks over at the taller man.
"Si," Alberto responds. "I'm not sure what you know of Ricardo's history, but..." He hesitates, wondering how best to word this without making Kalisto doubt his pick in tag partners, or cause Ricardo further pain if it should get back to him. "He has had a difficult year. Many people have left him in the lurch, myself included, and I would hate to see it happen to him again. I hope you will not continue the cycle."
Kalisto stares at him doubtfully, before looking over at Ricardo as he presses a wet washcloth to Alex's mouth with a sympathetic grimace on his face. "I see no reason why I would... eh, leave him in the lurch, as you say. We gel well, I believe we will make a good team. You have nothing to worry about."
Giving up the pretense of poking around the machines, Kalisto walks over to Ricardo and Alex, unaware by Alberto's gaze following him. "I hope you truly mean it," he mutters, sighing.