she wouldn’t trade him for the world. he’s a good reminder that she shouldn’t be taking life so seriously all the time, even when things seem to be going to hell & she appreciates that more than he knows. like the time they made their dumb little ‘straight out of miyagi-do’ hoodies –– that was obviously not her idea, but it’s now one of her fondest memories. & one of her most worn hoodies around the house. she’ll only wear it outside if she knows he will, too. they go together, after all. & she’s not only referring to the hoodies. “ right, sorry, i forgot our uniform. ” she apologizes, giving him another squeeze before he starts dramatizing & before she knows it, he’s on his knees at her side. “ finally ! ” her smile widens in amusement, one brow arched as she lets out a short laugh. “ actually, i’m a smidge taller, which is even better. ” there’s a little pride in her voice, one of her hands lifting to smooth over one of his out-of-place hairs. “ so, how do you like it down here ? feeling my pain yet ? ”
her excitement only made his smile bigger. he knew sam. hell, he liked to think that he knew sam better than just about anyone, except for maybe the three girls, but aisha, yasmine and moon all had years on him. sam was one of his best friends, coming in second right behind eli. in the time that he’d known her, like since he really got to know her, he hadn’t seen her smile much. not since they were a trio. he thought she was almost happy when miyagi - do had three students. they had fun together. they still did, but her smile had lost some of it’s shine. so when he got a good one out of her, he cherished the moment. “oh, finally,” he echoed the word back to him, but he smiled even as he rolled his eyes. “honestly? it’s not great,” he replied with a laugh. “it’s kind of like a whole new world down here. or half a world,” he teased. “—but whether i’m taller than you or shorter than you, i always look up to you sam. never forget that.” she was the best fighter out of all of them, there was no questioning that. but she was also the best person he knew.