a/n: back in honor of seeing our favorite cuties at prom in the s4 trailer. decided to hop on the bandwagon and write my take. :)

title from the song easy by the lovely troye sivan.

Miguel stood at the end of the stairs in the LaRusso's house, waiting on Sam's arrival from her bedroom. He tried to conceal his nervousness, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his pants to avoid wringing them out of anxiousness. And it certainly didn't help his nerves to have Daniel a few feet away, not even trying to eye him down subtly. His mom and his yaya had came as well, but they were chatting with Amanda in the kitchen. Miguel pressed his lips together, nodding at his girlfriend's dad slash new Sensei awkwardly.

It was the night of prom, and although he was nervous, nothing excited him more than to be able to roll up to school coordinated and hand-in-hand with the girl he'd fallen so hard for ever since his first day at West Valley. It hadn't been easy, though. Things got messy (to say the least), and he'd almost lost her. But he soon realized things would always be messy for them as long as their dojos rivaled, and Miguel didn't care as long as he still had Sam.

He was proud of his promposal, too. It wasn't anything too extravagant because frankly neither of them were into all the attention. They got enough of that just from being karate students.

But he still wanted to do something special for her, so a week before prom, he stood by her locker before study hall, waiting to surprise her.

"Hi." His voice sounded warm once she approached him leaned against the locker beside hers, butterflies swarming in her belly as he leaned down to peck her lips in greeting.

"Hi. You got here fast." She raised her eyebrows as she fiddled with the combination of her locker.

"Did I?" Miguel smirked when she froze, picking up on his tone. She quirked an eyebrow at him.

"What are you up to?" she asked. Miguel chuckled, shrugging his shoulders.

"Nothing." Sam eyed him suspiciously a moment longer, but when he only shrugged again she shook her head, resuming to opening her locker. And that's when she gasped, seeing the surprise.

Taped to the door of her locker was a collage of photos of the two of them together, including the photo booth pictures from their first date. They'd been on so many since that day that it felt so long ago, but also simultaneously like it was just yesterday. There were also a bunch of candy heart stickers with corny phrases like BE MINE and UR HOT, and right in the middle of it all was a simple notecard with one word written:

PROM?

"Oh my god," Sam laughed, soaking in the photos for a little longer. She shook her head. "You're insane."

"Insane for you, milady," he teased, watching her with a grin on his face. "I hope that's a yes." He pulled a single red rose out from behind his back.

Sam finally turned to meet his gaze, gasping again once she saw the flower in his hand. Everything about this was perfect, even the single flower instead of a bouquet; it was simple and sweet and romantic and just them and he knew her so well and it made her feel like her heart would pour out over chest. She beamed at him as widely as her heart felt so inclined, nodding as she took the flower from his hand.

"Of course." He smiled at her, moving towards her and settling his hands on the small of her back just as she reached up to wind an arm around his neck, pulling him down slightly to meet her at face level.

"Since you asked so nicely." Her laugh ghosted his lips and he closed the space between them promptly, letting their kiss linger through the ringing of the bell.

Miguel perked up when he finally heard heeled footsteps coming out of Sam's bedroom.

Sam began her trek down the stairs, making bashful eye contact with her boyfriend as he gawked at her. Miguel couldn't even complain about the wait; she looked perfect. And she always looked perfect, but watching her now with her hair cascading down her back and shoulders, her gown wrapped around her torso flowing past her ankles in the prettiest shade of pink he'd ever seen, and her smile as bright as day, he felt his heart stop beating and his breath catch in his throat, his lips parting in awe at the beauty he got to call his girlfriend.

"Hi," she breathed once she stood before him, taking his hand and giggling as he parted his mouth but didn't speak.

"Sam," he finally spoke, "you look-" he shook his head, accepting his loss for words and instead leaned forward to kiss her, forgetting their families were watching them. Sam giggled sheepishly against his mouth as he held her face and pressed chaste kisses to her lips, hearing Anthony yell 'gross' a few feet away and Amanda and his yaya go 'awww' until
Daniel cleared his throat and Miguel reluctantly detached from her, apologizing.

"Miggy, you're gonna ruin her lipstick before you even get to the prom!" his mom scolded him.

"Sorry, I'm sorry," he apologized, putting his hands up, and Sam reached up to wipe some of the residue off his lips.

"This is for you," she told him then, pulling a red boutonnière from her bouquet. He watched her adoringly as she pinned it to the breast pocket of his blazer, getting it on seamlessly.

"And this-" Miguel reached for the corsage he placed on the table nearby, "-is for you." She smiled, holding out her wrist for him to tie it around.

"Okay, okay, picture time!" Amanda cheered, gesturing for the two to pose as she got her camera ready. Miguel placed his hands on Sam's hips for the conventional photos, and Daniel audibly cleared his throat again. Amanda rolled her eyes at him.

"Where do you want them to go, Daniel? Her shoulders?"

"That'd be better, actually."

"Go to the kitchen."

"What? But-"

"Go!" Daniel slumped at his wife's scolding, making his way towards the kitchen reluctantly and away from their line of sight as Miguel's mom and grandmother laughed.

"Now." Amanda gestured at them with her eyebrows, and Miguel took the opportunity to pull her close and flush against him, wrapping his arms around her abdomen and leaning his head into the crook of her neck as Sam lifted one hand back to hold his cheek.

"Aww!" The three women in the room cooed, continuing to snap pictures of them even as they broke out into laughter. They took a few more, some of the pair smiling, some goofy, and just as Amanda snapped one of Miguel kissing Sam's cheek, Daniel walked back into the room.

"Alright, I think you got enough," he announced, prompting Miguel to separate from Sam.

"You guys should probably get going," Carmen told the pair, glancing at her watch, and they nodded, heading for the door.

"You sure you don't want me to drive, Sam?" her father asked her, and she shook her head.

"We're good." She opened the door with Miguel in hand, leading the way.

"Wait!" her dad called, and Sam turned around expectantly, waiting for him to speak.

"You look beautiful." He walked over to kiss the top of her head, and Sam smiled.

"Thanks dad."

"Just, no funny business, okay?"

"Dad!"

"Daniel!" Amanda called. Miguel scratched the back of neck awkwardly.

"Okay?" he repeated anyway. Sam rolled her eyes.

"No promises," she joked, and Miguel widened his eyes.

"Sam!" Miguel would be lying if he said he wasn't afraid of her dad.

"Hey, I can always chaperone," her dad offered, and now it was Sam's turn to widen her eyes.

"Okay, okay, I promise, 'no funny business,"" she told him. "Don't show up, please."

"Daniel, let the poor children go to their prom already," Amanda exasperated, and Daniel sighed, waving goodbye before Sam took off, leaving Miguel to shut the door hurriedly.

"Sorry about that," she apologized, walking to her car.

"You should be," he told her. "It's like you want your dad to kill me." Sam laughed.

"My dad won't kill you."

"Maybe not, but you just made practice tomorrow hell for me." He shook his head as he reached the driver's side of her car to open the door for her, but Sam turned to face him instead, wedging herself between him and the car.

"I think you did that to yourself," she leaned back against the door, "kissing me in front of my parents like that. When'd you get so bold, Diaz?" Miguel chuckled, taking a step towards her and placing his hands on her waist.

"Couldn't help it." He gazed at her fondly, his expression so tender with adoration it almost became overwhelming for her. Sam felt her cheeks heat up under his intense gaze, growing nervous but unable to break from their eye contact. A beat of silence passed between them before he leaned down to kiss her again, slowly, before it deepened, this time a lot less chaste than the one in front of her parents. Sam sighed against his mouth, bringing her hands up and around his neck and curving into him as his arms wound around her waist, pulling her flush against him. They let a few minutes go by before parting for air, pressing their foreheads together, neither of them eager to separate.

"We should probably get going," she whispered anyway, and Miguel sighed dramatically, making her laugh.

He stepped back to open the door for her, closing it at after she sat down before walking over to the passenger's side and getting in.

"Don't you think your dad's gonna wonder why we're just now leaving your driveway?" Miguel asked as she put the car in reverse, looking towards her house anxiously.

"We'll just say..." she dragged in thought as she got onto the road, "that I had to tie my shoe." She shrugged, and Miguel gave her a look.

"What?" she asked.

"You're in heels, Samantha."

"Then, you were tying your shoes, I don't know."

"For that long?"

"And I had to fix my corsage, then you threw up in a bush- I don't know! You're the one that starting kissing me. Again." Miguel scoffed, feigning offense.

"Don't say it like that."

"How did I say it, Miguel?"

"Like you weren't just completely enthralled by me back there. Feeling me up and everything."

Sam burst into a laugh. "Shut up!" She used her right hand to backhand his shoulder as he laughed with her. He picked her hand up then, lacing their fingers and pressing a kiss to the back of her palm. He held it the rest of the way.

Once they reached the entrance to the school, the eerie feeling Miguel had been trying to push to the back of his mind all day came to the surface. And with one glance at Sam who stood by him, linked at the arm, he could tell she felt it, too.

They'd be lying if they said there wasn't an impending sense of doom present whenever they had something planned, and with prom being only a week before the All Valley Tournament, it wouldn't be a shock if Cobra Kai pulled something tonight.

Miguel looked to Sam beside him, who wore a matching look of concern, and he pulled her in under his arm to press a kiss to her hair.

"Don't worry," he told her quietly, "everything will be fine. Let's have fun tonight."

"I hate that we have to worry about them everywhere we go," she mumbled into his chest.

"I know." He pressed another kiss into her hair before releasing her to link arms again. "But it's okay. Let's pretend we're not part of rivaling dojos for a night." Sam scoffed, smiling anyway.

"Maybe in some alternate universe..."

She mumbled her words as Hawk and Demetri approached them, clapping Miguel on the back and greeting the pair.

"Looking good, guys!" Demetri told them. Sam grinned.

"So do you guys!"

Hawk and Demetri were in tuxes of their own, Hawk's purple bowtie identical to the hue of his hair and Demetri's light blue tux matching Yasmine's blue gown, who stood a few feet away talking to Moon.

"I can't believe you guys are actually together," Miguel pointed, gesturing to Yasmine. "This might be my favorite thing to come out of this year. Well, second favorite." He smiled at Sam.

"Gross." Hawk made a face, and they all laughed.

"Don't be a hater," Sam retorted, putting an arm around Miguel's back.

"Sorry, force of habit." Hawk shrugged. "You look pretty-" Sam widened her eyes in surprise.

"-princess," he finished with a smirk, knowing she hated the nickname, and Sam rolled her eyes.

"Alright, alright," Miguel spoke up. "C'mon guys. We're on the same side, right?" The four shared a knowing look, and Hawk's expression hardened.

"I swear to god, if those wannabe cobras try to pull something tonight-"

"They won't. No one's gonna do anything."

"Actually, it's not completely out of the question-" Demetri started.

"Hey guys!" Moon came up to them with perfect timing, and Miguel and Sam sighed in relief. "Photo booth! Now." She shoved the group in the booth's direction, and Miguel was thankful for the distraction.

Set up to the side of the dance floor was a spot decorated with streamers and balloons as a photo booth area, with props nearby and a tripod with a camera handled by someone from the yearbook committee. The five of them piled in front of the camera, with Yasmine joining in beside Demetri after spotting them. They took their time with the photos, taking turns using all of the props, including a boa thrown around Sam's neck that she later threw over Miguel's shoulders. One by one, members of the rest of their merged dojo who were at the prom saw them and jumped in. Eventually, they could barely all fit the frame, and the photographer had to dismiss them and let others get a turn.

They hit the dance floor soon after, dancing together to the upbeat music that streamed from the speakers. Miguel was actually having fun, and with a quick glance at his girlfriend who was miraculously in his best friend's proximity, the unlikely pairing lip syncing to the song together, he had to smile, taking everything in. The fact that Sam and Hawk had finally been able to bond meant a lot to him, and he felt a sense of pride watching Demetri dance with Yasmine. The rest of their dojo's members were all together, too, simply having a good time, and it made him momentarily forget about Cobra Kai and the fate of The Valley that would be revealed in less than a week.

Inevitably, a slower song started to pour out from the speakers, and Miguel made eye contact with Sam before they both started reaching for each other. Hawk gagged obnoxiously once she wound her arms around Miguel's neck, and Miguel promptly told him to fuck off as he pulled her close, the pair laughing as he rolled his eyes in response. To Hawk's surprise, though, a girl they were unfamiliar with approached him, shyly tucking her hair behind her ear before asking him to dance. He shared looks of excitement with Miguel, who nodded his head, motioning for him to dance with her.

Sam turned to see what he was gesturing at, gasping in surprise once she saw Hawk slow-dancing with the girl.

"He's dancing with Rebecca!" she cheered happily.

"Who's Rebecca?"

"She's in my calc class. Literally the sweetest person ever and perfect for him. He better not mess this up." Miguel chuckled as they both watched the new pair.

"I don't think he will. He's a lot better now."

Sam turned to face her boyfriend again, a grin on her face.

"Crazy how people can change, huh?" she said quietly as they swayed to the music. Miguel smiled faintly.

"All it really takes is one person." His gaze on her softened, and she moved one hand from behind his neck to his jawline, caressing the skin there with her thumb.

"Sam." His voice came out hoarse with emotion, and he swallowed nervously, leaning forward to press his forehead against hers.

"Yeah?" she whispered, both of their gazes on the floor.

"I never want to lose you again." She frowned, reaching up to bump his nose with hers.

"You won't," she assured him, "I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere." He sighed.

"You have to promise you'll never fall into a coma again," she said instead. He chuckled faintly, and even though he knew it was lighthearted, she pressed forward.

"Promise me." Her voice was barely above a whisper, but traced with a sense of urgency.

"I promise." He kissed her forehead and they both shut their eyes, holding onto each other for a brief moment.

"I love you." He'd said it so softly he wondered if she even heard him, but when she looked up at him with wide eyes, her lips slightly parted in shock, he got his answer.

Just then, the doors to the gym were kicked open with a loud jolt that caught the attention of everyone in the room. Miguel and Sam turned simultaneously to find the source, only to find exactly what they had been dreading all night.

"Happy prom," Tory announced venomously. She strode in arm-in-arm with Robby, the rest of Cobra Kai behind them. She scanned the room, stopping once she spotted Miguel and Sam, smirking devilishly.

"Time for the after party."

The words were like the detonator of a bomb as the room set off with fights between their dojos. Screams were heard throughout the gym as bystanders tried to run from the violence, and Miguel felt his pulse quicken in defense mode, moving to go fight alongside his friends.

"Wait, Miguel!" Sam pulled him back, her expression distraught, "I- I didn't say-"

"Don't say it back."

"What?"

"Tell me after." Her eyes searched his eagerly as she reached for his face, all of her anxieties from before coming to the surface.

"But what if-" She didn't need to finish her sentence for him to get at what she was worried about, and he shut his eyes tightly, shaking his head at the memory.

"It won't. We're gonna get through this, okay? We'll meet back after. Find me." Sam nodded, but it wasn't enough for him.

"Promise me you'll find me." He spoke louder over the rising volume in the gym, desperate to ignore the probability of things not going in their favor and instead hold onto the sliver of hope that everything will be okay. They will be okay.

"I promise."

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