Chapter Text
On the other side of the world, Tory decided to go to the LaRusso’s house to let them know who truly won the tournament. It just so happened to be the day both their dojos were accepted into the Sekai Taikai. Of course Sam already knew something was up when Tory DIDN’T fight her, so when she showed up at her house.. Sam couldn’t strike first. Sam was just getting ready to go to the party to celebrate, anyway, so why ruin her progress?
“Tory?” Sam tilted her head.
“Listen, I don’t want any problems, I just.. there’s something you and your entire family need to know.”
“Oh. Um. I can grab my parents-“
“I understand if you don’t feel comfortable letting me in, especially after what I’ve done.. to your house. We can talk right here.”
“That won’t be necessary, Tory. Come in, please”, Daniel urged.
Sam paved the way and everyone sat at the table where Amanda already was.
“Tory”, Amanda greeted.
“Mrs. LaRusso.”
“So Tory.. what’s going on?”, Sam asked before Daniel could.
“I hate being the one to tell you this, but I also know no one besides me and Silver know, so.. here goes nothing. Silver bribed the referee at the tournament so we could win, and.. that win belongs to you guys. I’ve felt disgusting holding that trophy in my room, but it got worse when I placed it in the dojo- when I thought getting it out of my apartment would help. It broke my heart the way it breaks yours, as shutting down your dojo- which is what you perceive to contain the best philosophy- is equivalent to me knowing I actually wasn’t the best student when I did my best and fought fair. It makes me question if Cobra Kai is the right dojo for me, or if the problem is just in the sensei’s that lead it- not Cobra Kai itself. And then I tried to get Kreese to help, but he dumped me and backed out as if it’s my problem now. Which I guess it is, but.. I’m just.. I’m sorry.”
Tory was clearly fighting her hardest not to let her watery eyes slip, and Sam’s anger turned into a sorrow empathy.
“Oh my god, Tory..” Sam began.
“We are sorry to hear what you are going through”, Daniel began.
“But we thank you for telling us. That must’ve taken a lot of courage”, Amanda assured.
“You’ve come to the right place”, Daniel assured.
“Cobra Kai cannot enter an international tournament with a sensei like that.”
“And now that we know the whole picture, we can help each other. Besides, we also have reason to believe Stingray is lying about Kreese”, Sam suggested.
Tory shook her head in disbelief. She didn’t think Silver would stoop that low- but who was she kidding.
“It’s just.. we need proof. And the only proof I can think of is the footage at the new dojo- specifically when I confronted Silver about it. Of course he compared it to when my mother “stole” leftover food at her restaurant so me and my brother could eat- and asked if it was really cheating- if you’re doing what you have to in order to succeed, to win, to thrive..”
Daniel’s eyes widened.
“The nerve of that man! To remind you of your past to justify his sick, twisted game!”
“Listen, Tory. Silver may have friends in high places, but.. so does my dad. Should this go to court, we’ll have really good lawyers. We just need to convince Stingray to open up, change his statement. That would help our case more than we know. Regardless of how this is handled, it needs to end with Silver going to prison.”
“I agree. I know you like to handle things without involving us Mr. LaRusso, but we are all involved, now. Anything me and Sam can do to help, we will.”
Like getting Demetri to retrieve that footage , they both thought to themselves.
Daniel sighed, and so did Amanda. They knew Tory was a woman of her word, and Sam had Daniel’s hotheadedness.
“Well whatever we do needs to be done quickly. Before Silver hurts another child.”
“We’ll be in touch, Tory. Stay safe and lay low”, Amanda commanded.
“If you all don’t mind, can I steal Sam for a bit?”
Sam appeared confused, but her curiosity got the best of her.
“Yeah! Sure. Nice to see you two.. like this”, Daniel confessed.
“Besides, it’s about time you went to the party”, Amanda said awkwardly knowing Tory wasn’t exactly invited.
“Wait, Sam! Do you need a ride?”, Daniel asked.
“Yes! I’ll come back inside when I’m ready”, Sam said as she got up, Tory leading her to the front door.
_
Tory led Sam to the mailbox so they could sit by the unoccupied street.
“So.. what’s up?”, Sam asked a little awkwardly; she was more timid than anything. She didn’t realize how being alone with Tory would affect her until it was too late.
“There’s something else you should know.. about.. Robby and Miguel.” Tory was playing with her hands the way Sam was, unable to make eye contact until after Sam replied.
“Robby and Miguel? I thought they were getting along?”
“Exactly..”
Tory paused for a sigh.
“I think there’s more going on to that.”
Sam tilted her head in confusion.
“I’m not following..”
“Normally I’d hate telling you my troubles, but this one may involve you, so. Here goes nothing. Again. Me and Robby broke up that day at the water park. I felt so shitty about it, as all he wanted to do was keep me safe from Cobra Kai, and.. I refused to leave. It was all because of fear, really; and because it’s all I know. It would be a huge step for me to leave, and I guess I wasn’t ready to face that or my fear. Anyways, I did some thinking, and thought maybe I could tell Robby about what was going on. Maybe he’d understand why I wasn’t leaving yet. Of course deep down I knew I would have to. Eventually.”
Tory’s eyes were sweating again.
“Take your time”, Sam assured. They weren’t at the level of physical comfort yet.
“Of course now I for sure plan to leave the dojo sooner rather then later, but.. basically when I went to talk to him, I went to sensei Lawrence’s apartment as I knew Robby had been spending time with his dad. I just figured he’d be there. But when I got there.. I just left after what I saw..”
Tory braced herself, as did Sam.
“What did you see?”
“I saw them holding hands. The act alone is already strange, but if that’s not enough proof something happened between them, Johnny was acting like it was all okay. As if he knew about whatever this is. I mean think about it. When has either guy held hands with any of their friends?”
Sam thought back to what Robby initially told her before training- and what Miguel told her during training- minus her responses. She evaluated it a bit closer, a bit deeper.
“Fair point. I mean, both Robby and Miguel told me their own version at training how beneficial their time together has been. Miguel was thanking me for our break up as even though Mexico began their bond, us not being together gave them more time to be. Robby told me while he was initially upset by his dad’s lie, he isn’t the type of person to leave him alone on a mission like that. Plus, he had already let go of most of the grudges after the tournament. He realized his time in Cobra Kai was up, I guess. I don’t know if he’s completely forgiven him, but.. amends have started. Long story short, Robby knew he’d face Miguel, and he decided to stay anyway. He even said he felt something when he saw Miguel absolutely crushed, devastated and vulnerable in front of him due to his own father. It was as if Robby forgot about his own feelings, and hated their rivalry for a second. At least that’s how he explained it. I think being found was the only good thing in that trip for Miguel, really. It’s sad, but it was also a necessary closure Miguel had to face to find himself. And of course ever since that trip, they haven’t stopped being able to find something to like about each other; in Robby’s words.”
“I knew it!” Tory said aloud. Sam knew to stay silent.
“Ok I’m sorry to just jump like this, as I had no idea you had a break up, but.. I told you all of this because I thought you were still with Miguel. Of course I am still SO sorry about dumping this on you.. it’s just.. after what I saw, I just knew something had to have happened in Mexico! God did I get cheated on!? Did you!? The fact you and Miguel broke up seems to be because of Robby!”
“Whoah whoah whoah”, Sam had to place the tips of her fingers on Tory’s lap, just barely. She knew they weren’t there yet.
“First of all, I broke it off with Miguel because I needed time and space for myself after the tournament, and outside of karate and relationships. And as we just spoke about inside, there’s bigger issues at hand than me and Miguel. But.. I honestly don’t think they cheated. Maybe something happened in Mexico to connect them, but I feel like if anything happened, it had to have been more recent. I don’t know. We can always see what they’re up to at the party- from a distance of course”, Sam assured Tory.
_
Robby, Miguel, Hawk, and Demetri took on the responsibility and honor to host the party at Johnny’s. They literally each drank as they were setting up sillily- Demetri had the least, Hawk the most. But Demetri drinking at all was progress, and Hawk needed liquid courage after his loss- and Moon, who he of course invited.
“I would introduce you to a few chicks, Miguel, but it looks like you’re already taken”, Hawk teased as Miguel and Robby were both sitting on the counter with their hands practically touching.
Miguel and Robby gave each other a mutual look which has now become a habit; their thing.
“I guess I am.”
“Man Yasmine predicted this. Told you they hooked up”, Demetri said with pride, holding out his hand.
“Alright fine here’s your $50 bucks”, Hawk said handing over the money.
“Did you guys seriously make a bet about us?”, Robby asked in disbelief.
“Hey! It wasn’t my idea!”, Demetri defended.
“When Hawk offered, I just knew I’d win, so.. why refuse?”
“They love us”, Miguel said cockily.
“So much. But so do I”, Robby replied assuring Miguel by placing his hand over his and inevitably clashing with and falling for those dark brown eyes.
Suddenly that seemed like the only thing to celebrate.
“You realize what you just said to me, right?” Miguel asked uncertain but hopeful.
Robby abruptly got off the counter and dragged Miguel by the hand to the couch in a vacant spot, like two teenagers in love.
Once they were situated, facing each other, Robby just said “I do.”
“You know what that means?”
“I do. Otherwise I wouldn’t have said it. I’m beginning to love the idea of us more and more even sooner then each day, now. Everytime I see your face, it’s as if I find something new to kiss or compliment. Looking into your eyes after what I just said makes it all worth it. It’s simple, but complicated the way it all happened. I’m simply falling for a man whom I’ve never had a simple relationship with. It means what it means.”
Miguel smiled as if he had a giant realization, and had the happiest tear up in his eyes. Now he grabbed both of Robby’s hands.
“You know, that day when you saw me at my most vulnerable, for the first time.. you had seen more of me then anyone ever has- in any relationship. You understood my pain from a mile away, even more then sensei who put you through that same pain. I also felt empathy for you, and hugging sensei was comforting but odd because of it. I think we began to care for each other in that moment, and the world told us to shut up and accept it when.. you know. And now I refuse to accept any other truth if it doesn’t involve me and you. Because I’m falling for you, too. I love us too.”
Robby mirrored Miguel with a content face filled with watery eyes.
They mutually wiped each other’s tears, and as the tears dried, their desire to feel the type of passion that can only be felt intimately drew them onto each other.
It was at this moment where the crowd somehow paved the way for Sam and Tory to witness this relationship blossom; from the outside looking in. But they were ghosts- both at the party, and of the past. Their tears wouldn’t change what’s to come, and their presence wouldn’t be felt the same way anymore- by either boy. Perhaps it wouldn’t be felt at all.
There was lots to do as a team, but perhaps now Sam may need to close a chapter as Tory did; A chapter that no longer belonged to her, a chapter begging for revision- but it would never see the light of day inside of her head again.
Neither girl recalled their words that were the source of their torment, or when they got home; but Miguel and Robby recall everything from that night, what brought them together, and what currently keeps them together. They began their own chapter that was more than just their life’s book- it was a never ending journey they would purposely add to, despite any exhaustion. It was the beginning of many other beginnings and endings. It was a love meant to be exercised. It was theirs.