This is the first Kickin It story I have posted. I hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kickin It or its characters or the quotes from Seven Years or anything you recognize.
Once I was seven years old, my momma told me go make yourself some friends or you'll be lonely.
–"Seven Years" by Lucas Graham
Sam had never had a real family, at least not one that he could remember. He was bounced from foster home to foster home like a beach ball, and Sam didn't know what it was like to have friends or a family.
Until he met the Wasabi Warriors.
"Don't you want a family?" Rudy asked, a slight scowl on his face due to irritation over the pranks Sam constantly pulled on the sensei and his students.
"I've never had a family," Sam confessed. "Are they really that important?"
Rudy laughed in disbelief. "Family is one of the most important things in the world. Who's there for you when you're crying? Who's there for you when you have no idea what to do? Who's there for you when you're not strong enough?"
Sam shrugged. "No one…" he answered. "But I'm doing just fine on my own!"
Rudy chuckled. "I thought so, too. But then, I met my students, and I realized that life was much better with a family. I felt like I belonged somewhere, like someone would be there for me in my darkest hour. It's an amazing feeling."
"It sounds amazing," Sam agreed.
Someone to be there for him. Someone to care for him. Someone to chase away the loneliness weighing down on his heart. It sounded great.
Sam wanted a family…
…
"Why don't you stay with me for a little while?"
Rudy had seen the nightmare Sam could be, the troublemaker he was, and yet… he'd taken a chance, brought Sam into his home, and changed Sam for the better.
Sam looked around at Rudy, the man he thought of as the father he never had; Jack, Milton, and Jerry, the brothers that would be there for him, no matter what; Kim, his protective, kind sister; and Bobby, his best friend.
Sam wasn't lonely anymore. He had people to give him life when he felt like he was dead inside. He had people to chase away the darkness of depression and loneliness whenever it dared to come near Sam. Sam was loved.
For the first time, Sam knew what it was like to have a family.
Once I was eleven years old, my daddy told me go get yourself a wife or you'll be lonely.
–"Seven Years" by Lucas Graham
Milton, Eddie, and Jerry were oddballs, geeks, losers, outsiders. They were the poster kids for bullying victims everywhere. They didn't have any true friends.
Until they came to the Wasabi dojo.
"It can't understand how we know we won't win, but we continue fighting anyway!" Milton realized as the robot started malfunctioning, twitching and sparking over and over again.
"It's shutting down!" Jack cheered as the robot fell to the ground and didn't get back up.
"I know our rule is never hit a man when he's down, but you're not a man," Rudy stated, kicking the robot one last time.
"Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm beat," Milton said. "I'm going home."
"Me, too," Jerry agreed.
All of them walked out of the dojo and went their separate ways, but since Jerry, Eddie, and Milton lived in the same direction, they wound up walking beside each other.
"I still can't believe we defeated a fighting robot," Eddie chuckled.
"I know, right?" Jerry agreed.
"I'm not surprised," Milton told them. "When we work together, we can be pretty awesome."
Eddie's phone dinged, and he saw a text from his new girlfriend, Lillian (my OC).
Milton's phone rang, and he saw Julie's picture light up the screen.
"I told Brenda I would call her once I left the dojo," Jerry said, referring to his own girlfriend.
"You know, a year ago, if someone would've told me all three of us would have steady girlfriends, I would've laughed," Milton said.
"My dad always told me to get a girlfriend. I just don't think he ever thought it would happen," Eddie laughed before they headed for their own houses.
...
"I love you guys."
"Aw, we love you, too!" Milton said as the Wasabi Warriors swept Jack into a hug.
Milton, Jerry, and Eddie aren't lonely anymore. They have girlfriends who love them for who they are, flaws and all. They have friends that are more like a family. They found a home in the dojo and with each other.
They look around at all that they're blessed to have. The brothers they have in each other and Jack; the sister they found in Kim; the father figure that was their sensei, Rudy; the friend they have in Bobby Wasabi (the man, not the dojo); the girls they're glad to say they're dating.
They have people around them to love them, to care for them, and to help them whenever they need it. The people around them will defend them, even if they get hurt in the process. Jack, Jerry, and Eddie are loved.
For the first time, they know what it's like to be loved by people outside of their biological family.
Once I was twenty years old, my story got told before the morning sun when life was lonely.
–"Seven Years" by Lucas Graham
Jack had been invisible for as long as he could remember. He blended in; he wasn't noticed by girls or classmates or anyone. For years, he felt ignored, like he was someone kind of ghost. See through. Invisible.
Until he came to the Wasabi dojo.
"Jack, you are the best student I've ever had. You're a second degree black belt. If anyone deserves to go to China with the best in the world, it's you," Rudy told Jack.
Jack sighed as he sat down on the bench in the dojo.
"Rudy, not everything you told those guys about me was true. I'm not undefeated. This guy, Kai, beat me so badly, I gave up karate until I came here," Jack admitted.
"That doesn't matter," Kim replied. "Jack, you've worked so hard. You deserve this. More than anyone I know."
Jack smiled. "Thanks, Kim. And thanks, Rudy, for entering me."
Rudy shrugged. "No problem. I didn't need to think twice about it."
Jack grinned.
...
"Never say die, Jack."
Jack hadn't had much encouragement growing up. His grandfather was really the only one who gave him the encouragement he needed. His parents loved him, but to them, it wouldn't make any difference if he gave up karate or stuck with it. They wouldn't care if he gave up on something. No one in his family would, except for his grandfather. Some of them might even be happy if he gave up karate.
Jack looked around at his family. Kim, his crush and best friend; Milton, Jerry, and Eddie, his brothers; Rudy, his sensei and big brother, maybe even a father figure; Bobby, a great friend.
He wasn't alone anymore. These people, they noticed him, and not just because he was good at karate. They noticed Jack for everything was, and none of Jack's traits could drive them away because they loved him for who he was.
He had encouragement, people to remind him that he could do anything he put his mind to, people to remind him to never lay down, to never say die. To remind him that people cared about him. Rudy didn't let him spar after two nights without sleep. Kim left the best dojo in town when Frank kicked Jack in the leg. Milton had helped him when the Black Dragons- dressed as clowns, one of Jack's greatest fears- were destroying the Halloween set up in the courtyard. They'd all pitched in to tell his story- their story- to help get his memory back when Jack hit his head. They'd all shown concern for him at one time or another. Jack wasn't invisible. Jack was loved.
For the first time, Jack knew what it was like to not be invisible.
Soon we'll be thirty years old, our songs have been sold. We've traveled around the world and we're still roaming.
-"Seven Years" by Lucas Graham.
Rudy was a lonely kid growing up, and if possible, an even lonelier adult. He didn't have many friends, perhaps too many enemies. And he was used to that. For a while, he was okay with being lonely. He was alone, and he accepted that.
Until he met Jack, Jerry, Kim, Milton, and Eddie.
They were his family. The people he'd needed all along, but didn't know he needed them.
"This dojo… it's your home. It's my home. It's the thing that keeps us together as a family, and I shouldn't have sold it," Rudy told his students.
"Rudy's right," Jack said. "This place is our home, and we're a family. Without you guys… I felt lost."
"Me, too," Kim agreed.
"Let's promise each other that nothing will bring us apart again. It's obvious we were miserable without each other," Eddie said.
Rudy smiled as he held out his hand. "Wasabi?"
His students placed their hands on top of his. "Wasabi!"
…
"I know you're always going to be there for me, and I'm always going to be there for you."
Rudy couldn't believe how far they'd come in more way than one. They were one of the most successful dojo in the state, and they'd won countless fights at all the tournaments they'd been, too. They'd traveled the world, from China to Scotland to all over the US. They'd come so far.
Rudy had never had a constant in his life. Even his biological family hadn't always been there for him, but now, he had people that would be there for him, through thick and thin. He had people to worry over him, to comfort him, and to forgive when he made mistakes. Rudy had a family. Rudy was loved.
For the first time, Rudy knew what it was like to have something stable to stand on.
Soon I'll be sixty years old, will I think the world is cold or will I have a lot of children who can warm me?
–"Seven Years" by Lucas Graham.
Bobby didn't have friends. He hadn't been outside until recently in twenty years, and even before that, he was so busy with making movies and training, he didn't have time to make friends.
"Who needs friends when you can have yourself, right? What's the use of a friend anyway, a kind word, a shoulder to cry on…a-a light in the dark…" Bobby dissolved into tears, kneeling over to hide his tears from Sam.
"It's okay, Bobby. You can be my best friend," Sam offered.
Bobby sniffled. "Really?"
Sam nodded. "Really."
"Oh, thank you, Sam!"
The two of them hugged, and Bobby was so relieved to have a friend. Having a best friend certainly felt better than being all alone.
...
"We were swear by the light of the Dragon's eye to be loyal, honest, and never say die."
Bobby had been alone for a huge portion of his life, isolated, a king within the walls of a glass castle, just waiting for it to crumble around him and trap him within the prison of isolation he had created for himself.
But just as the walls began to tumble, the Wasabi Warriors pulled him out of the rubble of what was left of his lonely kingdom and showed him what it was like to truly live.
Loyalty. Honesty. Two things Bobby used to live by before both things were forgotten. He had no friends to be loyal to, and he wasn't being very honest with himself when he told himself that he was happy in his mansion with nothing but his food and his silent ninjas. He lied to himself when he said he didn't need friends or family.
Bobby is a firm believer in destiny, and he always believed that the people you are meant to have in your life will find you just as you will find them. But so many years ago, alone and isolated and having forgotten what being loved by friends and family felt like, Bobby accepted the fact that he was meant to be alone. Instead of leaving his mansion to find those people who would care for him and live him, he laid down and almost let the loneliness consume him. He almost said die…
But he didn't because Wasabi Warriors are loyal, honest, and never say die, and Bobby finally knew what being a Wasabi Warrior felt like.
Once we were alone. Then, we found family and friends, and we were never lonely.