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Miguel Diaz gazed in terror as Samantha LaRusso stepped onto the mat, swathed in that notorious Cobra Kai uniform, the flag of South Korea stamped on her arm.
Dazed, he somehow managed to glance at her, hoping that this was all just a fluke and she’d smile that classic LaRusso grin of hers and run into his arms and it would all be fine. Yet, it was not the case as she smirked, her half braided curls falling around her face as Sam bared her fists.
“Ready! Fight!” The announcer commanded and Sam and her opponent sparked into action.
*****
Miguel stared helplessly as Sam flew towards her opponent; a cute little redheaded French girl named Aurelia from L’etoile Karate. The two appeared completely mismatched as Sam immediately landed a deft tornado kick and a punch to her abdomen. However, just as Sam was writing off the competition, the pink- gi’d girl swung abruptly and Sam blocked just in time. Their duel continued as Aurelia sliced through Sam’s defenses, and Miguel was reminded of a nature documentary he had seen with Hawk and Demetri during one of their sleepovers.
He could feel his senseis bristle beside him, torn between needing Cobra Kai to lose and not wanting Sam to fall. For now, though, they were reduced to spectators as Sam snarled after Aurelia landed a hook punch to Sam’s stomach, an apparent fury etched on her face Miguel hadn’t seen since prom.
What happened next would haunt everyone in the arena as Sam lunged at the unsuspecting teen, and Aurelia was helpless to block as Sam executed a palm strike and as she drew in a deep breath, leaned on her feet and soared through the air in a perfect 540 kick, sending Aurelia toppling to the ground, blood seeping from her tiny body.
“WINNER! LARUSSO!” The official declared as he seized Sam’s hand.
Sam stood tall, her eyes gleaming with the intoxication of victory. Miguel looked to his two senseis. Daniel had gone pale, and Miguel caught a glimpse of his trembling hands. Johnny looked like he was equal parts proud and shocked. Yet, no one made a move to try to reach her as Kreese and Kim beamed tauntingly as Sam scurried back to the rest of the Cobras, having now secured her spot in the Final Four.
“All right, before we begin the boys division, we will have a 30 minute break, so we can clean up the blood off the mats and you can take care of your students who need it and of course we have a great selection of craft beers and concessions available as well!” The announcer stated and Miguel watched as Sam exited the arena.
“I’ll be right back” He muttered to Daniel and Johnny.
“Miguel..” They warned simultaneously but Miguel ignored their objections as he followed in Sam’s path.
It was exactly one second after stepping out of the main arena before he realized his water bottle was empty and he was just a smidge dehydrated, so he quickly maneuvered to the nearest water fountain. Just as the water monitor switched on, a hand clamped over his mouth and yanked him back into a secluded hallway.
“MMPH!” Miguel struggled, his voice muffled.
A low giggle erupted and he immediately stopped resisting as the hand dropped and Miguel was face to face with the former Bonsai Badass.
“Sam? What the hell?” Miguel demanded, though his voice came out more like a frightened shriek.
“You really are such a sea guppy.” She retorted.
Miguel stood up at that comment- perhaps Sam wasn’t as lost as his senseis believed.
“That fight… I’ve never seen you so…”
“Formidable? I guess, I’ve trained under every single Sensei in the valley practically. It just all kind of blended together, and I don’t know. At first, I was scared, but truthfully? It feels as natural as a heartbeat and just- oh Miguel,” Sam cried as she clasped her hands in his, her blue eyes shining with tears.
“I did it. I proved that I was the best, and with Tory back home, I just have to take on Devon and she’s good, but she’s not exactly Jersey Tough. And when I win, it will all be okay and…
Miguel?” Sam pressed in the wake of his silence.
Miguel gazed at the eldest LaRusso. He wanted to believe her, and as he looked into those sapphire eyes, he almost did.
Then, he caught sight of her cheek.
“Sam, y- you’re bleeding.” Miguel murmured and before he knew it, his instincts kicked in as he gingerly caressed Sam’s face, crimson blood trickling onto his thumb.
“Oh. That bitch probably clipped me somewhere. It’s ok, it’s just blood. Believe me, Sensei Kim and Kreese did way worse.”
Miguel closed his eyes, his own former Cobra Kai days playing like a bad movie in his brain.
The thought of Sam being subjected to the same training, if not worse, made his stomach lurch.
“Sam…” Miguel murmured, his hands wandering from her bloodied and bruised face to a few loose strands of those curls he had come to know so well over the years.
There was a still as he absentmindedly twirled the locks in his hand, taking in the new hues of black mixed with scarlet.
“It’s not too late, Sam. You earned your spot, you proved it, like you said. I don’t know what Kreese has promised you, but it’s not worth it. Please, come back… come home .” Miguel found himself pleading, his voice uneven.
Sam just squeezed his hand.
“Have you ever thought that we were wrong?” She countered.
Miguel blanched.
“Wh-”
“I mean, this whole time, it’s been this whole “good versus evil” fight for the soul of the world and such, but what if it’s more nuanced than that? What if it’s just about who holds the trophy at the end of the day and who- who loses everything?”
Miguel just stared.
“I know you don’t believe that. Just talk to me, Sam please. Where’s the girl with the blaze in her eyes, the one who defended honor, defended life. The spitting image of Miyagi Do.”
Sam scoffed and Miguel winced at this newfound frostiness.
“I’m allowed to change, Miguel. We’re almost 18. I’m going to the University of Hawaii and you’re off to Stanford after this tournament for sure. It’s time we faced the truth.”
“I’m not leaving you.” Miguel blurted, recognizing Sam’s tactics immediately.
This caught her off guard as she staggered backwards before regaining composure.
“Oh, I know you wouldn’t. But I meant it- there’s more than meets the eye, it is true. Just not in the way that you think. I have never felt more free, more alive. At first, I admit, I joined in order to- well it doesn’t matter now, but they both fulfilled their word. Sensei Kim and Kreese may be unorthodox and cruel, but they unlocked something in me that my dad and Johnny and even Chozen and Barnes never could.”
“No, Sam, they’re just manipulating you. I know you! This isn’t you. It’s their poison, they’ve gotten in your head. Let me draw it out.” Miguel whimpered, his despair increasing with each passing minute.
Sam looked up at him fondly momentarily before an expression Miguel had never seen before form on her face.
“Come on Miggy,” She drawled, suddenly backing away.
Despite having just fought a visceral match, Sam looked radiant, like an angel that had been cast to Earth.
Whether that angel was Lucifer or Jophiel, Miguel wasn’t quite sure, but he remained ever entranced by the curly- haired beauty in front of him. Entranced, frightened and hopelessly in love.
“Haven’t you wondered? What would it be like to go back to Cobra Kai… to feel things you have never felt before… to see things? Experience and… touch things that you scarcely dared to dream of? There’s beauty underneath, you see. I know you feel it. I know you feel me. ”
With that, Sam untied the belt on her gi and Miguel’s breath froze in his lungs as her gi started to slide off her shoulders, revealing a red and black floral scalloped edged lace bra.
“SAM!” Miguel yelped intuitively as the realization sank in.
Sam just grinned, but made no further moves, clearly not wanting to push him.
Still, Miguel was only a man, and eventually, his eyes naturally wandered down to her chest. His very core burned with emotions he had never known a human could feel, and it took all of the late night meditation practices he had done with Sensei LaRusso to keep him somewhat grounded.
Nonetheless, it was a measly match as he coughed awkwardly as her boobs rose in accordance with her own ragged breaths.
“See? I told you. There is more than one way of training.” Sam murmured, and that voice- that damn voice of hers effectively drove him to distraction and he blazed with a desire so overwhelming his sense of ration all but faded.
Frantic, Miguel shut his eyes and willed himself to think of something to focus on. It worked and his eyes flew open, and he let out a gasp.
There, lying on her exposed neck, was a gold chain- with an octopus around it. It was unquestionably the same one he had given her just a few months ago.
At that moment, Miguel knew that Sam was right- there was more than what she was telling him. But it wasn’t because Sam wanted to be there, at least deep down. There was a reason beneath all the parroted bullshit she was spewing in his face- and all hell be damned, Miguel Diaz would suck out the toxins that Kreese had put in Samantha LaRusso.
It appeared that Sam had noticed Miguel’s gaze falling on the chain he had given her as she re- tied her gi, covering herself back up.
“What elaborate lives we lead, huh?” Sam said resignedly and Miguel looked up, and sighed as a glimpse of the real Sam waived through the sultry pretenses of earlier.
She sniffled, and Miguel was gripped with an innate ache to enwrap her in his arms.
“All these choices, they keep tearing us apart- our senseis- our friends. It’s so exhausting, Miggy. I just want everyone to be free and for this to be over. Kreese is the best means to an end of that, you’ll see.”
Sam whispered, her hands falling to her knees as she sank to the ground.
Miguel knelt determinately beside her.
“No.” He stated, a powerful clarity washing over him as he took Sam’s palm in his.
“Miguel…”
“Quiet.”
Miguel murmured as he deftly pulled them up and with that, crashed his lips into hers and kissed her with every atom in his soul.
And he kept kissing her, letting the taste of cherry and vanilla chapstick coat his lungs and that familiar strawberry shampoo scent fill the air as Miguel entwined his hand in her hair, the other pressing her against him.
They had embraced before but this caress was different- it was a kiss of all time, a kiss that ended all other kisses and one that was full of a crystal clear resolve.
“ I am going to love you Samantha LaRusso, ” Miguel thought.
“ I am going to love and hold you and prove that Cobra Kai’s nonsense will bow to the sheer force of my affection for you- and for our dojo. For us.”
With that, he broke their embrace.
The two were still for a moment as they tried to catch their breath.
“You just ignited war with that kiss, Miguel Diaz. Only you would stoke this in my soul. If you can figure out why I left, then I will come back. Free me, if you dare.” Sam challenged.
Miguel grinned, his eyes fixating upon her octopus necklace.
“Let us meet our destiny then. I promise you this, Sam, I love you so much it consumes me- and now it will consume you too.” Miguel growled, yet the affection in his voice was evident.
Wasting no more time, Miguel drew Sam as close to him as possible and brushed his lips against hers once more.
It was a kiss laden with an unshakable oath and a will so fierce that no God or geriatric Sensei could surely challenge it as he let go of her after some time, and the two made their way back to the arena.
As he met John Kreese’s eyes, he smirked at his former sensei.
Seemingly possessed, Miguel marched right up to him and Sensei Kim and extended his hand.
However, Miguel looked right at Sam who was watching quietly.
“Devil take the hindmost.” Miguel sneered.
Kreese blinked, taken aback.
“May the best dojo win- Captain .” Kreese eventually retorted after a brief pause.
Miguel grinned.
“Yes- the one with the beauty underneath and that is destined to- and it certainly isn’t Cobra Kai. See, there’s a weapon even you underestimate, Kreese- and it will be your undoing.”
With that, he winked at Sam and nodded towards her pendant.
As she smiled softly, the octopus chain twirling in her hand. Miguel Diaz knew that the battle was in the palm of his hand- and he was intent on not losing it.