The morning sun bathed Los Angeles in golden hues as the taxi dropped me off at my door, the roar of the engine muted against the rustling of leaves dancing in the wind. I walked up the steps, the weight of the journey falling from me like a curtain I could finally push aside, the familiar smell of wood and coffee enveloping me like a hug I didn't know I needed. "Ahhh, nothing feels better than home…" I murmured, my husky voice echoing in the silence as I set my backpack down on the floor, my eyes fixed on the mirror that reflected a face I was still learning to recognize.
"Well, let's test if it really works…" I said, my heart pounding with a mixture of curiosity and longing, the wolf—or what was left of it—growling quietly as I raised my hands. "Phasmatos gekira safire negation…" The words came out like a sacred whisper, and I felt the power drain from me like water running through my fingers—my strength, my magic, all of it gone in an instant. My body went weak, my knees shaking as I became just human, an emptiness that was both liberating and claustrophobic, like being strapped into a saddle for twenty-four hours. Now I was just an ordinary human, with no powers at all…
I grabbed a knife from the kitchen, the metal cold against my palm as I cut my finger, a red line sprouting across the skin. "It's not healing…" I muttered, slamming my fist against the floor with a hoarse groan. "Ugh, shit, that hurts…" I ran to the mirror, my reflection staring back at me with brown eyes, the green lines that once shone like emeralds now just a faint trace, a reminder of who I once was. "That's it… It's about four in the afternoon now…"
Riiing, riiing, riiing.
"Tory?" I answered, the sound of her voice cutting through the silence like a ray of light I didn't know I needed.
"Hi?" she replied, her tone thick with caution that hid the longing I could feel even through the line.
"Hey, Tigress," I said, my voice softening with a smile she couldn't see, my love for her burning inside me like a flame I didn't want to extinguish. "Are you ready for our fight?"
"Where are you?" she asked, urgency dancing in her voice as she continued. "I asked Samantha about you, and she said you had to travel fast. I thought you ran away again, but she said you went to help a friend…"
"Yeah, that's taken care of," I replied, my tone firm as I thought about Stefan and Bonnie, the weight of my promise to her dancing through me like a melody I couldn't ignore. "I'm home now. How about we do it tomorrow morning?"
"Okay, tomorrow at nine at the dojo…" she said, her voice filled with a determination I knew well, her fire shining like never before.
"Okay, get ready to be my girlfriend, Tigress," I replied, my tone playful and mixed with a passion I couldn't hide. "I won't let you get away this time…"
"You idiot…" she muttered, the sound echoing with a smile I could just imagine, her brown eyes sparkling with defiance. Her thoughts: I would be yours only if you asked me for more, since you want it that way… "Get that million dollars ready for me…"
"I'm not going to go easy on you just because it's you…" he said, his love for her dancing in every word as he chuckled softly, the sound echoing in the silent house.
"Hmph, as if that would help you in any way…" she retorted, her tone full of challenge that warmed me like the morning sun. "I have to go now, I'm working. Bye, see you tomorrow…"
"Until…" I mumbled, the silence returning as I hung up, the weight of the promise dancing in me like a flame I wanted to keep burning. "Well, now let's practice some karate moves. I know the basics…" I thought, the echo of past fights dancing in my mind. But after years, Tory is not the same as on the roof, and this time it's for points… Right now, I must be at Demetri's level in karate, hahaha. Average at best, nothing above average like Roby—this kid has talent, just like Eli and Miguel…
I have an advantage against her—I'm bigger, 6'3", heavier, 185 pounds… But that doesn't matter now. Let's train… The emptiness of my lost magic weighed on me, the photographic memory that once guided me now fragmented, but my body still carried an above-average strength, an echo of what I was. I trained, the sound of the blows against the bag echoing in the house like a drum trying to erase the silence, I ate something light, took a shower feeling the water wash away my tiredness, and slept, the weight of the next day dancing in my dreams like a promise I couldn't break.
At 8:30 in the morning, the sun was shining brightly, painting the sky with golden hues as I stood up, my heart beating fast with a mixture of love and anticipation. "Well, it's okay, let's go…" I murmured, the weight of my promise to Tory dancing through me like a melody I wanted to play. Today was going to be the day—either I made her my girlfriend, or I lost a million dollars… Honestly, it didn't even matter to me…
I got in the car, the roar of the engine cutting through the silence as I drove to the dojo, the love for Tory and Sam burning inside me like twin flames that I didn't want to extinguish. "Shit, my heart is racing…" I thought, the weight of the fight falling over me like a curtain that I couldn't push aside. Why does everyone in fanfics say that fighting is easy? This shit is harder than I imagined… I've fought many times, but this fight is different from anything I've ever faced. Hahaha, I'm literally fighting with a girl to date her? I'm ridiculous… Haha…
I walked into the dojo, the sound of voices and blows echoing in the hot air as almost everyone was already there, Sam and Tory training together, the contrast of them—one gentle, the other fierce—dancing like a painting I couldn't stop admiring. "Hey guys, good morning!" he said, his voice filled with the warmth I felt for everyone there.
"Clark, good morning…" Daniel replied, his tone firm but gentle as he looked at me with a nod.
"Good morning, kid…" Johnny said, a crooked smile curving his lips as he greeted me.
Tory stopped training, her brown eyes fixed on me as she crossed her arms, the fire in her burning like a flame I wanted to reach. Sam ran to me, her brown hair dancing in the wind as she jumped into my arms, the warmth of her against me like a home I didn't want to leave. "Baby, you're here!" she exclaimed, her lips meeting mine in a kiss that erased the world around us, the love for her burning inside me like a flame I couldn't put out.
"You get more beautiful every day, Sam…" I murmured, my eyes fixed on hers, the warmth of the love I felt for her dancing in every word, the world around us disappearing for a moment.
Author's Note: Just to remind you, readers... This world for MC is the real world. There is no delay of years between seasons like in the show, so Sam here looks almost exactly the same as Sam from the first season...
"So you're here," Tory said, her arms crossed as she glared at us, her tone thick with a challenge that belied the weight of what she felt. "Has he told you yet, Larusso? What does he want if he wins the fight?"
"Yes…" Sam replied, his voice steady as he stared at me, the love for me shining in his brown eyes like a soft flame. "He told me…"
"You're not going to freak out about this?" Tory asked, her face contorted in confusion as she stared at her, shock dancing there like a shadow. Her thoughts: She said I should confess to him… But why would someone's girlfriend say that to a girl in love with her boyfriend? Pity? No… Acceptance… She accepts me with Clark… Understanding flashed across her face like a bolt of lightning, her brown eyes shining with a mixture of surprise and gratitude as she stared at Sam.
"No, Tory," Sam replied, his voice thick with acceptance that came from deep within his heart, his eyes fixed on hers with a gentle strength. "I'm not going to freak out or get angry about this… I've come to understand that in order to move forward with this—" She stared at me, her love for me dancing like an unquenchable flame. "—or to be with him, I have to accept this. Otherwise I'll never see him completely happy…" Her gaze returned to Tory, the weight of that truth echoing like a melody I could feel in my chest.
Her thoughts: She's shocked... But how can this possibly work? Tory was silent, her eyes wide as she stared at Sam, understanding dancing there like a flame she couldn't name, love for me mixed with confusion as she tried to process.
"What's up, Tigress?" I interrupted, my tone filled with playful passion as I stared at her, my heart pounding with the desire to reach her. "Are you admitting defeat yet?"
She gave me a mocking smile, her brown eyes sparkling with the fire I loved. "Okay, if you want to get your ass kicked so bad, let's get this over with…" she said, jumping onto the mat with a quick leap, her body dancing like a flame I wanted to embrace.
"Okay, let's get this over with…" I replied, the love for her burning inside me like a flame I couldn't put out, the weight of the promise dancing like a melody I knew would never leave me as I climbed onto the mat, my heart racing with the certainty that, win or lose, she was already a part of me.