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Tory’s breath hitches in her throat.
“You said we would stick together.” Robby clings to her hands tight, a cloud of worry blossoms across his eyes. The water of the aquarium bubbles around them, suffocating like his gaze on her creased brows. She tries to formulate something to say anything, the words are coarse and wont come out. She feels like crap all the time lately, she feels angry again, like the way they used to be together in Cobra Kai. There was no other choice, no other way of letting it out. Just like the good old days.
“Robby, I-” Somebody walked over into the hallway aquarium, a brunette with braids woven perfectly. Sam. She pretended not to see them, and looked into the aquarium. Tory stared, willing her to look at her, or maybe to vanish to stop complicating things. She wished Sam would stop breaking her heart over and over, even if she didn't know it. Until, Sam's eyes averted, drifted and landed on Tory’s face. Tory didn't want her to know how much she cared, even if she already did. She didn't want Robby to know either.
“I- Robby, we shouldn't talk about this here.”
And she ran, turnt and left, walking as quickly as possible. Leaving behind the only two people who cared about her behind. She couldn't face them, couldn't face the truth.
Tory didn’t look back as she rushed down the curved hallway, the faint glow of the aquarium lights tracing her silhouette. The sound of her footsteps echoed in the quiet space, a rhythm that matched the pounding in her chest. She didn’t care where she was going—she just needed to get away. Away from Robby, away from Sam, away from the suffocating feeling of being seen too clearly.
Robby turned around to see what Tory was so focused on behind him. What is she doing here? Her expression is unreadable. His jaw set tightly, his fists clenched at his sides. The nails dug into his palms, feeling that anger again, Surging through his body.
“What the hell, Sam?” he snapped, his voice sharper than the knife-edge of the tension between them. “Why are you even here? Haven’t you done enough?”
Sam’s brows furrowed, hurt flickering across her face. “What is that supposed to mean? I was just—”
“Just what?” Robby cut her off, throwing his hands in the air. “Looking for her? Following her? You don’t even like Tory, Sam, so why are you always... always around?” He stepped towards her, towering over the cowering girl.
Sam’s stomach twisted, did she even like Tory? Why was she here, what made her follow her. “I wasn’t trying to cause anything, okay? I just—” She paused, swallowing hard, searching for the right words. Her heart suffocated her airways making it hard to breathe right. “I care about her too, Robby. Maybe—Maybe, more than you think.”
Robby froze, disbelief flashing across his face. Then he laughed, a bitter, hollow sound. It came from somewhere he didn't like. “Right. You, care about Tory? That’s rich. Just because you two were not trying to kill each other, doesn't mean anything.” He sounds like he's trying to convince himself of this, trying to tell himself that their friendship doesn’t bother him.
Sam’s lips parted, but no words came. How could she explain it? How could she tell him that beneath all the fighting, all the chaos, there was something—whatever it was it mattered. It brought Sam all the way here, and brought Sam to Torys room the night before. She couldn't unfix her mind from the heat of Torys body next to hers, the feel of her tears on her thumbs.
“You know what?” Robby’s voice broke through her spiraling thoughts, his tone venomous now. He was done chasing, trying to fix something that was unmendable. Not everything was about Sam or Tory or their drama. “Maybe you two do deserve each other. It was both your fault this entire thing started in the first place.” He spit the words out, forcing the thick sludge out.
Before Sam could respond, he turned on his heel and walked off, leaving her standing there, alone in the glow of the aquarium. Her eyes prickled with tears, but she held them in, strong same. You can do this. It isn't your fault, you're going to fix it. She reluctantly placed her fingers around the long faded scar, now hidden by her hoodie.
Sam clenched her fists. She couldn’t let Tory leave like that. Not this time.
Sam found Tory outside the aquarium, standing in the dim glow of a streetlight, her shoulders tight and her head bowed like she was bracing for a storm, pacing around. Sam’s footsteps echoed against the pavement, her heart pounding as she approached.
“Tory,” she said, her voice firm but edged with something softer. “I’m not letting you walk away this time.” Not this time, no she wasn't going to let her run away, break herself into more pieces she would never be able to piece back together.
Tory turned sharply, her face twisting in a scowl. “What the hell do you want, LaRusso? You can’t fix everything with your little speeches, so save it.” Something deeper took over her, the pain wanting to escape, hurt, poison everything.
Sam’s temper flared, her jaw clenching. “I’m not here to fix you, Tory. I’m here because I care, even though you keep trying to make me regret it.”
Tory let out a bitter laugh, stepping closer. “Care? That’s funny. You care about Robby, you care about your perfect little dojo. You don’t give a damn about me.” Her own words hurt her, made her clench her teeth tighter, whatever, she didn't care what Sam thought anyways…
“That’s not true!” Sam snapped, taking a step forward herself. “I’ve been trying—” Her deep blue eyes shining so bright Tory wanted to look deeper and find herself lost in them. Everything that happened last night was just- just pretend.
“Trying to do what?” Tory cut her off, her voice rising. “To play the hero? To prove you’re better than me? Guess what, LaRusso, you win! You’re perfect, and I’m a mess. So go back to your stupid hotel room and leave me alone! I can't believe I thought-”
“God, you’re so impossible!” Sam shouted, throwing her hands in the air. “You act like you’re the only one who’s ever felt hurt, like you’re the only one allowed to be angry.” The rage was infectious, why couldn't she just listen, believe. Sam wanted to rip apart the feeling in her chest and shove it towards Tory till she accepted it.
Tory’s eyes darkened, her posture shifting into something defensive, dangerous. “You don’t know a damn thing about what I’ve been through.”
“I know enough,” Sam shot back, her voice shaking with frustration. “I know you push everyone away because you’re scared to let anyone see the real you. And I’m sick of it.” She stepped forward, pushing Tory with her index finger.
Tory’s fists clenched at her sides, her body vibrating with the familiar feeling she always had. “If you’re so sick of me, then why don’t you leave?” she spat. Her hands ran through her hair, stepping forwards, “Or are you here to gloat? To remind me how much better your life is than mine?” She pushed Sam harder back.
“That’s not what this is about, and you know it!” Sam yelled, her chest heaving. “You’re just too much of a coward to admit you need someone. Little miss Tory can't handle letting her walls down.”
Tory’s face twisted in fury, and before Sam could blink, Tory lunged, her hands striking out in a series of sharp, controlled blows. Sam reacted instinctively, blocking and dodging, her training taking over.
“Seriously?” Sam growled as she countered a kick aimed at her ribs. “You want to do this now?”
Tory didn’t answer, her movements fueled by anger, but her strikes lacked true intent to harm. It was raw emotion, channeled into every punch and kick. Sam matched her blow for blow, her frustration spilling over into every counterstrike. They fell into a familiar dance, something they did often, a familiar habit. This wasn't like every time they've fought. It was like Sam knew where Troy was going next.
“You’re so damn infuriating!” Sam shouted, ducking a high kick and shoving Tory back. “You think fighting me will make you feel better? Go ahead—take your shot.” She put her hands up.
Tory advanced again, her hands trembling as she grabbed Sam’s arm and spun her against the wall. “Shut up!” she yelled, her voice cracking. “I can't handle you, princess. You don't understand—ugh!”
Sam twisted free, pinning Tory’s wrist against the cold brick. “Then make me understand!” she shouted, inching forward, their faces barely apart. Something warmed inside Smas chast. “Tell me why you keep shutting me out when all I want to do is—”
“To what?” Tory snarled, her breath hot against Sam’s face. Her snarl doing something to Sam’s body she couldn't explain. “Save me? You can’t save me, Princess. No one can.”
Sam’s heart pounded, her anger and desperation boiling over. How could she be so stupid. “God, you’re so full of shit!” she snapped, her voice breaking. “You don’t even see how much I like you, do you? How much—” She cut herself off, her voice dropping to a near whisper. “How much you're capable of.”
Tory froze, her chest heaving, her eyes wide and wild. “Why?” she rasped, her voice barely audible. Not letting herself hope. “Why do you care so much?”
“Because I just do!” Sam yelled, her voice shaking. “Because I see you, and it drives me insane, and I can’t stop thinking about you, and you’re—” She stopped, her breathing ragged. “You’re everything I shouldn’t want, but I do. I do, Tory.”
Tory stared at her, her lips parting, a thousand emotions flickering across her face—anger, confusion, vulnerability. She opened her mouth to say something, anything, reply, confess, shut everything down before she could hurt Sam again. But Sam didn’t let her.
“Shut up, Tory,” Sam said, her voice low and raw, covered in something Tory wanted to have all for herself “Just... shut up.”
Crashing her lips against Tory’s in a kiss that silenced everything—the anger, the pain, the chaos. Tory froze for a moment, she waited for this so long she didn't know what to.Until everything just clicked and she felt herself melt into it, her hands tangling in Sam’s shirt as the world blurred around them.
Sam’s grip on her wrist thighthing, her other hand shifting to her neck to hold her there. Make Tory hers. Kissing Sam felt like their fight, hot and sweaty, violante and passionate. The feel of Sam's teeth on her lips.
When they finally broke apart, breathless and wide-eyed, Tory’s grip on Sam’s collar tightened. “Come with me,” she said, her voice rough but steady. It wasn’t a plea. It was a command.