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Chapter Text

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The Sekai Taikai was fully underway, and Miyagi-Do had partaken in their initial stages of the heavy and intense competition. They had been Barcelona bound only a few days, but for Robby it felt a lot longer. They only just started, but he felt like his both his balance and his focus were being thrown off all because of Tory.

One night, he and the gang decided to go into town. They ended up at Teo’s Tapas Bar after Eli had convinced Sensei Chozen to let them leave the hotel to relax and clear their minds.

Robby sat across from Sam, the bar was becoming livelier. People were walking in, music and the sound of glass clinks were in the air.

“I hope Carmen’s ok,” said Robby. “Did you get to talk to Miguel before he left?”

“For like, thirty seconds,” Sam sighed, “We were so excited about exploring Barcelona together. And now…” she shook her head in despair. “How’re you feeling?”

“Not great, “Robby replied, just as despairingly. “Thinking about adding rum to this coke.”

“Yeah, right. You don’t drink.”

“Now might be a good time to start,” Robby said, circling his straw around mindlessly. “I’ve just been screwing everything up since Tory put us on a break. And you know what makes it worse? It’s not even affecting her. She’s been fighting better than ever.”

Robby wasn’t wrong with what he was saying. Tory’s fighting hadn’t been unnoticed by anyone since the tournament’s first event. She was stronger, more aggressive, more confident, and more deliberate which is what was unsettling for the Team.

“Tory chose the other side,” Sam said, bluntly. “And I feel terrible for her. But we can’t keep letting her get in our heads like this. It’s time to accept that she’s against us.” After a short pause, Sam added, “I know it’s hard, but…with time, you’ll realize that I’m right.”

As if on cue, the bar’s doors swung open, only to have their Serpent rivals walk through. Kwon walking in with his black Cobra Kai jacket, looking cocky as ever. Tory following behind, almost immediately noticing Robby and Sam. They locked eyes awkwardly. Sam excused herself, telling Robby she needed some air.

Robby stood up and went over to the bar.

“What can I get you?”

“Uh…can I get a rum and coke? Double.”

It was hard for Robby to avoid Tory’s short glances and Kwon’s smug smirks at the end of the bar. Robby was just conflicted. He knew he needed to get his head on right. It was hard for him to watch his girlfriend team up with a Dojo that once led him astray, that filled him up with anger and hatred. A Dojo that he worked so hard to get others away from. He was in no position to judge her, but why couldn’t she have come to him first?

Many more thoughts rustled through his head as he was handed his second double rum and coke. But they were soon interrupted, when Kwon’s face came close to his.

“No need to worry. I’ll keep her warm tonight.”

The words came seething down him just as the hot alcohol was. Robby stood up now at eye level with Kwon.

“Oh, come on. Make a move.”

Kwon was succeeding getting under Robby’s skin. Robby desperately wanted to wipe the smirk off his face, but he held back. He was already losing it to Kwon on the mat, the last thing he wanted was to bring the brawl off the mat as well.

“I guess I’ll just have to kick your ass on the mat, then. Again,” Kwon said with a cheeky smile. “Now, excuse me. Someone is waiting for me.” With that, he swayed out off the bar.

Robby plopped himself back down on his bar stool. He was hoping he could find solace at the bottom of his glass if he kept the drinks coming.

“Hey,” a voice then from beside him said. He turned his head and saw a girl approach him whom after a minute he recognized as one of the Iron Dragons captains.

“Hey.”

“Doesn’t look like you’re having a good time,” she said.

“Yeah, not really,” barely looking up from his drink.

“That’s a shame…it’s a nice night to enjoy yourself.” She stepped a little closer. “Do you mind if I join you?” Robby shook his head and pointed to the seat beside him, still not really looking up at her. “We haven’t been formally introduced. I’m Zara, Zara Malik.”

“Robby Keene.”

“Nice to meet you, fellow Captain.”

“Likewise,” Robby said, nodding his head. “Sorry, I’m not the best of company right now.”

“It’s ok, I’m a socializer,” Zara said, running a hand down her wavy hair, “I can do the talking.” Robby now looked directly at Zara. A tiny smile crept on his face at what she had said. “See, I made you smile. That’s a good sign. You’re too cute to be looking so miserable.”

“I just…have a lot on my mind,” Robby simply said.

“A lot meaning…one blonde-haired girl in particular?” Zara asked, resting her face on her hand. Her newly painted nails pressing against her cheeks. Robby looked at her curiously. She continued talking. “It was kind of obvious with the looks you were giving her and I kind of picked up on it yesterday when were taking the captains picture.”

“Oh…it was obvious, wasn’t it?” Robby said.

“No love loss between you…”

Not so sure about that anymore, Robby thought to himself. He noticed Zara did not have a drink in her hand. “How come you’re not having a drink?”

“Oh, I’ve had a few already. I’ve got a tab going…are you inviting me to have another?”

Robby downed the rest of his drink and nodded his head at the same time. “Yep. You can put your next one on my tab.”

Zara stared as Robby ordered himself another drink. She smiled knowingly to herself.

The night went on. The music continued to flair. Robby had forgotten all about Sam stepping out and he hadn’t noticed when Demetri or Eli left the bar. At some point he and Zara had moved away from the bar and went and sat at an empty table.

“I was watching you on the mat though. You do have some skills,” Zara said, sipping some more of her Spanish margarita cocktail.

“I could say the same about you,” Robby said, “No - I will say the same about you. Your karate is pretty badass. I’ve seen a lot of female karate competitors at competitions back home, but you’re…next level.”

“I mean, what can I say? It is the truth,” Zara said, holding up her hand. “But that was a preview of what’s to come. You haven’t seen anything yet…”

Robby smiled, nodding his head. “I’m sure.”

Zara grinned. She now gave him a different kind of look. “Looks like you’re feeling much better.”

“More than better. Like you said,” Robby leaned over and bumped his glass with hers. “Tonight is a night to enjoy. That’s what I’m doing.”

“And that’s thanks to me…” said Zara, twirling her hair between her fingers.

“Most definitely,” Robby’s eyes were now locked on her, he found her gaze intriguing. “You want to dance?”

Zara had other ideas. “Maybe another night. Why don’t we leave from here?” She stood up taking his hand in hers.

“You want to call it a night?”

“Oh, I have no intention of calling it a night. I just want to get out of here.” There was a sultriness to Zara’s voice, and her antics pulled Robby up from his seat. He let her lead him out the bar.

The two exited the bar. There was a warmth from the Spanish air that blanketed them as they walked back to the hotel. Robby felt a pleasant buzz from the drinks he had, his head swirling in a haze of excitement and recklessness.

As they reached her hotel room, Zara turned to him after the door shut with a playful smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Ready for your next adventure?” she teased, her voice low and inviting. Robby nodded, feeling a rush of adrenaline mixed with the lingering effects of the alcohol.

“Good…” she said, turning her back to him again. “I think they recently stocked my room with a bottle of wine.” She was stopped going any further, when Robby pulled her back by the arm.

“No…” he shook his head, his eyes not leaving hers. Zara’s own eyes now filled with lust. Robby took a deep breath and said, “You’re absolutely…gorgeous, you know that?”
Zara didn’t respond, just tilted her head and sweetly smiled. She cupped his face, stood on her tippytoes and pressed her lips against his. Robby gently pushed her back. “Woah…”

“Come on, what’s stopping you?” she asked.

Robby’s breathing started to labour, he thought for a mere second then shook his head and pulled her back against him. “Nothing at all.” He covered her mouth with his. Zara wrapped her arms around his neck and managed to prolong the kiss. They slowly started to kiss desperately and before they knew it, clothes were being shred and they were falling back on the bed.

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The morning sun streamed through the window. Robby’s eyes slowly started to open. He had to squint to clench the burning sensation. He shifted his head and shoulders, trying to regain his self-consciousness. When he managed to fully open his eyes, he slowly looked around remembering that this was not his room. His head was throbbing, and he could taste the remnants of bitter alcohol in his mouth. He noticed his hoodie and pants were on the ground. He slowly lifted the comforter and peered down at himself. He flinched at the sight of his bareness.

“Oh shit,” he groaned, his hand going over his face as he realized what went down.

Just then, Zara came into view with a mug in her hand, she had a sweet grin on her face. “He rises.” She leaned against the wall, looking at him. Robby groaned again, clutching his head. “It’s Zara…your wife.”

Robby removed his hand and gave her a look. “My what?”

“We jumped a plane to Las Vegas, tied the knot. Don’t you remember?” She teased, playing with the hem of her shorts. “We’re in the Bellagio Hotel. The honeymoon suites were all booked up.”
She laughed as Robby groaned again. “I’m just teasing…here, I made you some coffee.” She placed the mug on the bedside table and sat next to him on the bed.

Robby slowly started to sit up. He noticed the bottle of wine on the far-side table. “Did we start drinking wine?”

“Well, I wanted to, but you had other ideas…” she said, looking at him mischievously.

“What time is it?” Robby leaned over and reached for his phone. His eyes widened at the texts and missed calls from Sam. He muttered under his breath and hurriedly pulled on his underwear and pants. “I gotta go.” He stumbled into the bathroom, feeling a rush of panic. He splashed cold water on his face and let his head hang over the sink for a moment, trying to come to terms with what happened last night. He lifted his head and stared at himself in the mirror as droplets of water came down his face. He came out after a few minutes and pulled on his red t-shirt.

“Do you want to go down and get some breakfast?” Zara asked.

“No!” Robby then said, a little too forcefully. Zara was a little bit taken a back at his actions. “Sorry, I just…I need to leave.”

“Ok…” she said. Her expression shifted slightly, a hint of disappointment crossing her face.

Robby turned and opened the door, slinging on his hoodie. Zara walked out behind him. He turned around when they were by the doorway.

“My head is pounding,” he said, feeling thankful for a little fresh air. “I…barely remember last night.”
“Well, good thing I do…” Zara got on her tippytoes and planted another kiss on his lips. Robby didn’t respond to it, nor did he push her away. Unbeknownst to him, Tory was looking on from the elevator. When Zara pulled away from him, he turned and walked away slowly. Zara, however, did notice Tory watching on and blew her a kiss before the elevator doors closed.

Robby practically burst into his hotel room. Heads turned as he came into view with his Team.

“Dude, where the hell have you been?” Eli asked, standing up from the bed.

“I’ve been texting and calling you,” Sam said.

“I know, I’m sorry…”

“You should see yourself. You look like—

Devon stood up and cut off Demetri before he could say more. “Alright! He’s here now. Sensei LaRusso and Sensei Chozen want us all to meet. They said they have some news…and whatever it is, from the sounds of it…I don’t think it’s good.”

Robby nodded and just walked silently into the bathroom without a word. He was happy and relieved that his dad and Miguel were back in Barcelona and that everything was ok with Carmen and the baby. He excused himself and left the room, not really feeling up to conversing with everyone else. Sam decided to go after him, she found him sitting in the lobby.

“There you are,” she came over and sat down next to him. “Are you ok?”

Robby sighed, “I think my headache is finally starting to die down.”

“Wild night, wasn’t it?”

“You could say that…”

Sam shifted uncomfortably. “I’m sorry.”

Robby gave her a look. “What? Why?”

“I shouldn’t have left you alone last night…”

“Sam, listen, it doesn’t matter.”

“What happened after I left? Did you and Tory get into another argument?”

“No,” Robby shook his head. “I think she left early.”

Sam nodded and decided to change the subject. “Look, Robby. I hope it’s all out of your system now. We have to reset and refocus from hereon.” Robby nodded. “If you don’t remember what I told you last night, I’ll say it again. You have to accept the fact that Tory is against us. She’s Cobra Kai. And now that Silver’s back…”

“I know…”

The ding echoed from the lobby, elevator doors opened revealing the Iron Dragons, Sensei Wolf, and Terry Silver.

“Speaking of the devil,” Sam said, looking behind Robby. Robby turned his head to see the Dragons huddled around Silver.

“Doesn’t waste much time, does he?” Robby said.

“As if they don’t have enough to deal with, having a Sensei like Sensei Wolf,” Sam said.

Robby now turned and looked back at Sam. “What does that mean?”

“Nothing,” she stood up, “I’ll see you later, ok?”

Robby stood up to leave, himself. He didn’t want to be in eye’s view of Silver again. Before turning the corner, he and Zara did exchange short looks to one another. He headed to the elevator and stopped as he saw Tory trying to enter at the same time. The two stood there for a moment, before Tory stepped in first. The elevator doors closed, and the tension in the small space was palpable.

“So was last night just a petty revenge move?” Tory asked, breaking the silence.

“What are you talking about?” asked Robby.

“Don’t act like you don’t know,” Tory shot back, “You and Zara. I saw you leaving her room this morning.”

“But it’s okay for you to hook up with your new teammates then, huh?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Tory asked.

Before Robby could answer, the elevator dinged, stopping at a floor. He stayed quiet as somebody entered. He and Tory marched out. They stopped in the middle of the hallway.

“You and Kwon.”

“There is no me and Kwon, you idiot. Your dumbass got played.”

Robby shook his head, getting more frustrated. “Ok, you know what? I don’t give two shits what he said. How can you be mad at me when you’re the one who ended things?”

“I said pause, not hook up with our enemies.”

“Pause. Pause? What does that even mean? Pause for what? So, you can prove a point? To me? To our Senseis? To the people that were your friends?” Robby was tired of holding back now with everything going on. Tory didn’t respond, just continued to stare at him. “This isn’t even about Zara! This is about you and me and what you’re doing! You know, ever since the tournament started you’ve been fighting stronger, and a lot prouder, but me? You probably noticed that I’ve been screwing it up out there up, down, right, left, and centre…literally! I’ve been getting distracted, my head’s been all over the place, because of you. You lost your mother…and I’ll say it again, I’m sorry. When Sensei LaRusso stopped that fight, it wasn’t because he preferred Sam over you to be captain, he was worried about you and your mental state. He was worried about what that hurt and anger would make you do. I would know, because that’s what Cobra Kai fed off me. They used my anger to their advantage, to get me to fight for the wrong reasons. I thought you would’ve figured all that out by now after everything we’ve all been through. You want to pause things? That’s fine, but I’m off pause. I’m going into full play mode. I’m done getting distracted. I was made captain for a reason, and I’m not going to let Miyagi-Do down.”

And with that, Robby continued his way down the hall, feeling more determined as ever. Tory was left standing in the hallway by herself.

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Robby stood in his hotel room later that evening. He had just finished a training session with all three senseis. However, he wasn’t quite ready to call it a day yet. The weight of the upcoming event pressed heavily on his shoulders, and he felt like he needed to blow off some steam. He grabbed a small duffle bag and slung it over his shoulder, determination still coursing through him.

As he made his way out the door, he saw Miguel coming his way.

“Hey, man,” Miguel said, “Where’re you off to?”

“To get back on track,” said Robby, “I figured some time in the gym might help. You in?”

“No, I’m good.”

There was a moment of silence between the boys. “I’m glad your mom and the baby are ok. It must’ve been a real scare.”

“Yeah, it was. Even on the way there, it felt like we were on that plane forever. All the thoughts running through your mind…”

“Yeah, I can only imagine…”

“Your dad even called on the flight attendant to complain about the in-flight map. He wanted her to tell the captain to fly the plane straight and not slanted,” Miguel said, shaking his head.

“What? You serious?” Robby chuckled.

“Dead serious,” Miguel said, a small smile came on his face.

“Anyway, it’s good to have you back.”

“Listen, Robby,” Miguel said, his voice now turned serious. “I wanted to say I’m sorry. I was coming at you pretty hard before I left.”

“Bro, listen. There’s nothing you said that I didn’t have coming. You were right…I am completely blowing my opportunity to be captain. But not anymore…I got the reality check I need and I’m going to do better for the Team. No more distractions.”

“I guess you didn’t get lucky with her while I was gone?” Miguel asked.

Robby frowned at the question. “What?”

“Tory,” replied Miguel, “Did you get a chance to talk things over?”

“Oh…no, I didn’t,” Robby said, “Well, no that’s a lie. Yes, I did, but I think she’s just finding every opportunity she can to avoid coming to terms with what she’s doing. But like I said, I’m not going to let it get in the way of doing what we need to do to win.”

Miguel nodded and held up his fist. “I believe you.”

Robby smiled and bumped his fist with his. “I’ll see you later.”

Robby pushed open the door to the hotel gym. It was only occupied with a few people, which he was thankful for. He started walking over to the weights, figuring that it’d be a good place to start. He then stopped as he heard a familiar “hyah” coming from the other end of the gym.

He turned to see Zara practicing on a freestanding bag. She was accompanied by two other teammates from her dojo. He couldn’t help but become curious at what he saw her do next. He saw her take a plastic water bottle and place it on top of the bag. Robby folded his arms and watched on. With a deep breath, she focused her energy and concentration. With a swift motion, she kicked the bag just strong enough for the bottle to fall over the edge and with a fluid motion, she unleashed a quick and powerful roundhouse kick. Her foot connected perfectly with the bottle causing it to soar into the air. Zara whipped her hair around and grinned at her teammate who clapped for her. Even Robby had to admire her agility and precision.

He settled on the bench and adjusted his grip on the barbell, inhaling deeply to center himself. With each lift, the weight felt lighter, he was getting more in the zone, and the frustration of the past days slowly melted away with each rep. It didn’t take him long to break out into sweats. He wanted to feel that burn, as it was like igniting the fire and fury that was once there.

Just as he was fully immersed in his workout and lost in the rhythm, he felt an unexpected shift beneath him. The bar grew heavier and when he opened his eyes, he saw Zara perched on his lap. With a clank, he placed the barbell on the rack to catch his breath. He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“You don’t have to ignore me, you know…” was what she said, giving him a semi-amused look.

Robby shook his head and found his grip on the bar again. With another deep breath, he lifted. “I’m not ignoring. I’m just trying to stay focused.”

“And how’s that working out for you?”

“It wasn’t before,” he groaned as the bar landed back on the rack, “but I’ll be ready.” He sighed and sat up, gently pushing her off his lap. “Mr. Iron Man not training with you?”

“Axel? No, Sensei trains with him one-on-one sometimes,” Zara said.

Robby nodded. “By the way, ease up on your training a bit. You’re going to make me look bad.”

“Ah, so you were watching me,” Zara said, with a smile.

“It was kind of hard not to,” Robby said, “You made that bottle fly high.”

“Why, thank you,” said Zara, shuffling her feet. “By the way, I should probably tell you…” she fiddled with the strap of her black alo sports bra.

“What?”

“Nichols, your girlfriend if that’s what you’re calling her, saw us together. When you were leaving my room.”

Robby looked at her for a moment, and then said, “Yeah, I know. She told me. We’re not together. Not anymore…”

Zara turned and looked more intently at him. Genuine curiosity was on her face. “Because of—

“—No, no,” Robby held up his hand, “Not because of that. It’s a lot of stuff…I don’t want to get into it.”

“Well,” Zara started again, “If you ever need to talk, I’m here.”

Robby scoffed, “Are you sure that’s not fraternizing with the enemy?”

“You weren’t asking that the other night, were you?” Zara countered. “Besides, I’m not your enemy. I’m just someone you won’t be able to beat. There’s a difference…don’t you think?”

Before Robby could answer, someone else answered for him.

“—Oh, I don’t think so,” both his and Zara’s face turned to the doorway to see Silver standing there. “Anyone who is against you is always the enemy, Miss Malik. Isn’t that right, Mr. Keene? I thought I heard your voice in here.”

“What do you want? What are you doing here?” Robby sternly asked. Silver’s aura was always a mixture of confidence and danger that would send a shiver up anyone’s spine, but Robby never had any problems standing up to him.

“Well, like I was telling Mr. LaRusso,” Silver said, coming closer to the pair. “It wouldn’t be life without a few surprises. I’m here to support the best.”

“Yeah. Sure you are,” Robby said with his shoulders straight, “You couldn’t beat Miyagi-Do, you couldn’t succeed with Cobra Kai, now you’re trying to sink your claws into another dojo. Your games are getting old.”

“Games?” Silver chuckled, shaking his head. “Oh, my dear boy, this is no game. This is about potential. Something that you once had before you decided to waste your time with the wrong crowd.” Silver opened his arms, “Come on, we both know what it means to be part of something bigger.” He now turned his attention to Zara, who could do nothing, but look on intently. “Mr. Keene is letting his emotions cloud his judgement,” Silver said, his voice smooth like silk but laced with an edge. “The Iron Dragons have some powerful fighters. Under my guidance your true strength could be unlocked. You’ll be more than just a fighter. You could be a leader.”

Robby’s fist clenched, without thinking, he stepped in front of Zara. “Don’t,” he warned Silver. “You know nothing about true leadership. You manipulate, and you lie, just to get what you want.”

Silver chuckled, taking a step back, creating some distance. “You’ve got the same hot attitude as your father. You always did. But remember, every choice has consequences.”

“Is that a threat?” Robby asked with no change in tone.

“No,” Silver grinned, “It’s a fact.” With that, he turned around and headed towards the door. Before exiting, he turned around and said, “Looking forward to working with you, Miss Malik.”

Robby ran a hand through his hair, irritation creeping up. Zara stared at the doorway, before turning back to look at Robby.

“Are you alright?” she asked, as he now headed towards the boxing bag. “You really don’t like that guy, do you?”

Robby balled up his fists and started going at the bag. “Do yourself a favour and keep your distance from him. At first, he acts all charming and acts like he has your best interests at heart. Who he’s really out for at the end is himself.”

Zara got behind the bag and held it steady for him. “Almost sounds like a cult following.”

“You could say that,” Robby said, throwing his fists faster and faster.

“I will say one thing,” replied Zara, “I don’t need anyone to unlock my ‘true strength.' I do that on my own.”

Robby stopped hitting the bag, he stood up straight to catch his breath. “Well, make sure Silver knows that.”

Zara now let go of the bag and took a step closer to him. A cute smile crept on her face. “Thank you for the warning.” With that, she tiptoed and kissed his cheek. Robby didn’t react, he was still serious after his interaction with Silver. Zara gave him her little wave, as she did with people when she was on the mat and walked away.

Little did Robby know, Devon was stood at the side of the door looking on in some shock and confusion.

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Robby got off the elevator and headed towards his room. He stopped and turned around when he heard his dad call out for him. He and Daniel were side-by-side.

“Everything good?” Daniel asked.

“Yeah, I’m good,” Robby replied, but then shook his head. “I was at the gym, trying to find my balance again and I saw Silver.”

“What happened?” Johnny asked, taking a deliberate step forward. His fists clenched. “Listen, if that son of a—

“—No, dad,” Robby said quickly, holding up his hand. “It’s fine. Nothing happened. You know how he is…just trying to push my buttons.”

Daniel sighed, “Yeah, that’s what Silver does. He tries to get to you up here,” he pointed to his head. “Once he does, that’s how he controls you.”

“He’s going to try something,” Robby sternly said, “I know it. I mean, we saw the tricks he pulled with Cobra Kai, but now the Iron Dragons. They’re already tough to beat, and now that he has control…”

“Listen, Robby…” Daniel started again, “Your dad is right. We took Silver down before and we can do it again. We know how he operates. But we can’t be focusing all our energy on him.”

“How can you be so nonchalant?” Robby asked. “He had you locked in a dog cage. Like an animal.”

“Robby, we gotta remember that we’re not back in the Valley,” Daniel said, “We have to look at the bigger picture here. The only thing Silver cares about is winning…if we pull that…”

“We pull him,” Johnny finished.

“Exactly,” said Daniel, “In the meantime, try to keep your distance. Don’t let him get to you.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. LaRusso, I’m not going to do anything stupid,” Robby promised, “But I’m not afraid of him.”

“We know he’s going to fight dirty…but we’ll deal with him on the mat,” Johnny said. The three of them nodded in agreement. “Alright,” Johnny placed a hand on Robby’s shoulder, “Why don’t you go chill out for a bit and we’ll go down and get something to eat afterwards?”

“Sounds good.”

“Hey, Robby,” Johnny called out again. “You kicked ass with your training today. I know you weren’t feeling it before, but you got this.”

For the first time in a while, Robby smiled. “Thanks, dad. That means a lot.” Robby went back to the room. No one was there except Devon and Kenny. “What are you two up to?”

“Making amends,” Devon said, giving Kenny a knowing smile. Kenny returned the smile and stood up on his feet.

“Are we good?” Kenny asked, holding out his balled fist.

“Never better,” Devon said, giving him a fist bump.

“I’ll see you later,” Kenny said, bumping shoulders with Robby before leaving the room.

Robby then asked Devon, “Everything ok with you two?”

“Yeah, it’s just…tying up some loose ends and taking accountability…” Devon said, moving from the chair and now sitting down on the bed. “It’s going to be a relief for everyone to have Kenny back on the Team…”

Robby looked at Devon curiously. “Why do you say it like that?”

“What Sam said was right. I haven’t been helping the Team. I wanted so bad to be here—

“—Devon, you earned your spot. Whatever mistakes you’ve done before doesn’t take away the fact that you’re a great fighter. Our senseis saw that. Don’t worry about what Sam said, we’ve all been under a lot of pressure. I mean, look at me… the Team needs you. Don’t ever doubt that.”

“Thanks, Captain,” Devon softly said, “You sound a lot like Sensei Lawrence. You get a lot of those leadership qualities from him.”

“Oh, thanks…I need to start showing them a little more,” Robby said.

Devon hesitated a little before she continued to talk, “And I know you’ve been worried about Tory, but she’s strong. She always has been. If it weren’t for her, I’d still be under Silver and Kreese’s web. I know that you and I haven’t really talked much—

“It’s ok, you can say it. I need to get back on the ball.”

“I’m sure you’ve heard enough of that. I was going to say that I understand that Tory needs to find herself. I think that’s why we bonded so quickly…I lost my mom to cancer,” Robby turned and looked at her, his attention drawing closer. “Everything I did in my life was for her. I wanted to be a better person, a better fighter, a person who didn’t give up…”

“I didn’t know about your mother, I’m sorry,” replied Robby.

“Grief, it…it just makes you do things…things you never thought you would. It pushes you to seek comfort and healing in ways that you never expected.”

Robby sighed and sternly nodded, “She has to deal with this her way. She has to heal. I respect that. But I made it clear that I’m not going to lose my head over this. So, I ended things…”

Devon looked shocked, “Wait-you…broke up with Tory?”

“I had to do what I had to do just like how she had to do what she had to,” Robby directly said.

Devon looked down and nodded her head. “Was that why…”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“No, go on, tell me.”

“Tell me to mind my own business,” Devon said, “But I passed by the gym earlier and I just happen to see you talking to Zara Malik. You guys seemed…or at least she seemed a little close…I saw her kiss you.” Devon was studying his face trying to look for any expressions, “I wasn’t spying or anything, I just happened to be walking by.”

Robby sighed and shook his head. “It was nothing.”

“Hey,” Devon said quickly, touching his shoulder. “Don’t worry, I didn’t say anything to anyone.”

Robby smiled kindly. “Believe me, Devon, it’s nothing to worry about. I just went for a workout, we started talking and…Silver showed up.” Robby’s expression immediately shifted.

“Really? What did he say?”

“The regular small talk. He’s going to make sure his new dojo rises to the top, goading me for not following him, threatening to bring us all down.”

“Of course,” Devon said, not sounding surprised.

“Anyway, she started asking about him and I just warned her to keep her distance from him,” Robby explained, “She thanked me.”

“I see…I’d just be careful around her. I mean, you see how she is…all into herself,” Devon said, carefully. “It’s all about branding for her, as she called it. I’m sure she can take care of herself.” But I just have to ask…is it really the end for you and Tory though? Who knows…after this is all over…you may reconcile again.”

“I don’t know…let’s not worry about that. Let’s focus on the tournament and on winning.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Devon said with a nod. “Coming down for dinner?”

“Yeah, I’ll be right there. I’m just gonna grab a shower first.”

Devon nodded and left the room.

XX The next day XX

There were now eight dojos left in the Sekai Taikai event. Today was the final group event. Robby knew it was do or die for Miyagi-Do. If he didn’t turn things around, they’d be going home. He told himself he wasn’t going to make any slip-ups or any silly mistakes. He went out into the hallway and saw Sam, Eli, and Demetri talking.

“What are you guys whispering about?” he asked.

“Nothing,” Eli said.

“It’s not nothing,” Demetri replied.

Sam sighed. “They’re just worried about Kenny’s loyalty. They don’t think it’s a coincidence that he shows up at the exact same time we find out Silver’s here.”

“Not me, really,” Eli said, he turned and gave Demetri a look, “It’s him.”

“Don’t you think it’s a bit convenient though? We’re no strangers to Silver’s tactics and Kenny can turn on us at any minute.”

“Guys, come on,” Robby said, putting his arms up. “We can’t be worried about something like that now. All that is in the past. People change. Things have changed so much in the last year – with all of us!”

“Kenny is a wild card, Robby,” Demetri explained, “It’s already a miracle we’ve even gotten this far in this tournament.” Sam rolled her eyes at him. “But now that we have, we can’t afford any surprises or screw ups.”

“Yeah, you’re the one to talk about screwing up,” Eli muttered, undoubtedly implying more than one thing toward his friend.

“You’re really gonna go there again?”

“Guys, enough!” Robby shouted. “Look, I get it, you’re worried. But what we can’t afford is to shut people out. We didn’t just come here to fight. We came to compete. To win. What you’re doing here, is exactly what Silver wants. He’s making you paranoid and we haven’t even gone up against his Team yet.”

“Robby’s right,” Sam said, “We have to unite. Not fight each other.”

Demetri sighed out in frustration, “Alright, fine. But if he pulls anything, it’s on the both of you.” He gestured to the two Captains.

“I’m hungry!” Robby said, “I need some fuel before tonight’s event. Anyone want to check out another restaurant with me? Seriously, this hotel’s got plenty.”

“I’m actually going to go meet Miguel,” Sam said, “Now that he’s back, we’re going to explore more of Barcelona together while we still have the chance to be here.”

Robby would’ve preferred if Sam had accompanied Eli and Demetri as he noticed the two were always going at each other over the smallest thing. He wasn’t sure if it all stemmed from that night at the Tapas bar or from when Eli revealed that he did not apply to M.I.T.

“Alright, well, I think I’m going to check out the W Lounge,” Robby said, “If any of you want to join…feel free.”

Robby made his way down to the W Lounge in the hotel. He was amazed by its interior. When you step inside, the first thing that strikes you is the colours, with deep blues and rich purples and whites, that were reminiscent of the ocean’s depths which the lounge overlooked. There were plush, oversized sofas adorned with luxurious fabrics inviting guests to sink in and unwind. In one corner, there was a clean and sleek bar that stretched along the wall, stocked with a colourful array of selections. There was also a soft hum of Spanish music that breezed through the lounge.

“Hey, boss. I’ll get a menu,” said Robby, leaning against the bar.

“Not a problem,” one of the hosts handed him a menu.

Robby turned his head in and around, continuing to admire the spacious and elegant lounge. He then looked between the white pillars and tilted his head when he noticed Zara sitting on one of the long couches. She sat cross-legged, occupied on her phone. Robby was going to leave her be but decided to go over.

“Prepping your followers for tonight?” he asked, startling her. She looked up at him through a pair of sunshades. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.”

“No, it’s ok,” she quickly said, stuffing her phone into her pants pocket. “I was just checking some things…” She then stood up and walked past him. Robby frowned at her hurriedness to get away from him.

“Hey, sorry if I was interrupting something,” Robby said, sounding a little amused as he walked after her. “You don’t have to leave.” He caught her by the arm, stopping her. “And why are you wearing sunglasses in here?” Robby removed them from her face, much to her dismay. The amused look on his face slowly faded as he noticed a bruise on her face. Her skin was swollen, and it was tinged with a slight red and purple underneath her eye.

“Woah, what happened to your face?”

“Nothing, just give those back!” Zara grabbed her shades from Robby’s hand.

At first, Robby thought she was wearing shades to make herself look more appealing for one of her livestreams, but he could see now, that clearly wasn’t the case.

“How did that happen? That wasn’t there when I saw you yesterday,” Robby said, “And we haven’t had any events recently.” Not that anyone’s been able to touch Zara on the mat, Robby thought as an afterthought.

“It was a training accident,” Zara quickly said, trying to avoid his gaze. “It’s not a big deal.”

Robby’s expression now shifted again, turning more serious. “By accident, you mean Silver.”

“By accident I mean accident.”

“Zara, you don’t need to defend him!” Robby said, grabbing her arm. “I know what he’s capable of.”

“I just told you. It wasn’t him,” Zara shot back, yanking her arm away from him. She looked around again, making sure they weren’t drawing any attention. “I don’t know what your beef is with that guy, but it wasn’t him. It was my Sensei…”

“Sensei Wolf? Why would he do that? Why would he hit you?” Robby pressed. “And I’ve had my share of training under different senseis over the years. I can tell that wasn’t an accident.”

“He found out that I was speaking to you…”

“And…what?”

“I’m not supposed to be talking to opponents.”

Robby paused not really knowing what to say. He could not tear his eyes away from the bruise on her face.

“Your world doesn’t revolve around being on the mat, you know…”

“I have to go,” Zara said, putting her shades back on. “I’ll see you out there tonight.”

Robby was left in the lounge staring after her. He heard both Demetri’s and Eli’s voice coming from inside the lounge. He forgot everything about how he had invited them. He hesitated for a moment, but then left the lounge and went after Zara.

Chapter Text

XXXX

The elevator dinged. Robby stepped onto the ninth floor. Zara was just outside her room, still twiddling on her phone. She flinched when Robby called out for her and hustled to open the door to her room.

“Why did you follow me?”

“I wanted to make sure you’re ok.”

“I told you I’m fine,” she said, removing her key from the card reader. “I can’t be seen talking to you.”

“That makes a change,” Robby said, from the doorway, “Seeing as just yesterday you were the one that said I shouldn’t ignore you.”

“I’m sorry,” Zara said, now feeling a little embarrassed at his words. “Thank you for coming to check on me. Good luck in the finals. Goodbye.”

Robby put his hand on the door before she could close it on him. “Zara, hold up. Come on…” Zara sighed and gave in. She gently pulled him in the room and closed the door. “Look, this is about more than just your Sensei, ok? This is about what you and your dojo are getting yourselves into if you don’t be careful. And this…” Robby pointed to her face. “This is just a preview of it.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“So, why’re you afraid to be seen with me?”

“I have to obey my Sensei, Robby!” Zara responded, “It’s because of him I’m here. He trains me to be the best.”

“There are better ways to train…” Zara shook her head and stayed silent. Robby’s brows furrowed. “Question…”

“Yes?”

“You said you’re not allowed to talk to your opponents…did you find that out before or after we…slept together?”

Zara blushed, running a hand through her hair. “I always knew not to.”

“But you did anyway…”

Zara sighed. “If you want me to be honest…I found you attractive from the moment I saw you, but I saw that…” Her expression changed slightly, shifting to a bit of annoyance, “you only had eyes for Nichols. Then I saw you at the bar looking so sad and I couldn't keep away.” Robby nodded, standing there with his arms folded listening to her. “Now, I’m facing my consequence. I knew better…”

“Why’re you acting like you’ve done something wrong?” Robby asked, “A real Sensei challenges you. He doesn’t bully or intimidate you. And I feel bad that this happened because of me.”

Zara immediately shook her head, putting her hand on top of his. “No, don’t be silly. It’s not your fault. I came to you.” After a few moments of silence, she spoke up again. “Anyway, enough about that. Why don’t you tell me about your story…” She sat on the bed, crossing her legs.

Robby shook his head, “What do you want to know?”

“Anything you want to tell. Like why you hate Mr. Silver for a start…”

Robby scoffed, “Don’t call him Mister. And it’s…”

“Let me guess…it’s a long story,” Zara said, with a knowing smile.

“It actually is,” Robby sighed.

“Well, you obviously think I need protecting from him…which I think is sweet,” Zara looked up at him with a twinkle in her eye. She sat up and stood close to him, so they were only inches a part. “So…don’t you think I have a right to know what I’m up against?”

Robby couldn’t help but smile. “Well, you should really make up your mind. Yesterday, you said I shouldn’t ignore you, then it’s we should avoid each other, now it’s tell you everything.”

Zara smiled. “Only if you want to.” Her fingers started playing with the collar of his shirt. “Besides, you’re right. Why should I be letting someone dictate who I can and cannot talk to?”

Robby stood there, and locked eyes with hers. He raised his hand and gently stroked her bruised face. He then asked with a low and attentive voice. “Are you sure you’re ok?”

Zara smiled and answered, “I’m better now.” She tiptoed once again to reach Robby’s level and pressed her lips against his. This time, Robby did not just stand there and let her kiss him. This time, he reciprocated. He couldn’t help himself. He held her face and kissed her back. In his sane mind, he was telling himself that he shouldn’t be doing this, but at the same time he wanted to. Zara grinned against his mouth as Robby found his enthusiasm. Robby could feel her hands rise underneath his shirt. He found himself removing his shirt. Zara took it from him and tossed it aside. She let out a breath as she felt the tightness of his six-pack through her wandering fingers. Robby heard her moan as he started kissing his way down her neck towards her collar bone. He hoisted her up in his arms, causing her to squeal in delight. She brushed her hair aside as he placed her down on the bed. Robby grinned down at her, as she did up at him and the two kissed passionately again.

XX An hour later XX

Robby laid blissfully on his back, breathing in and out. His arm was wrapped around Zara who laid contently on his chest. The two had been silent, taking in the moment.

“Sooo, what are you thinking?” Zara then asked.

“Really? Why did I know you were going to ask that?” replied Robby.

Zara giggled. “You’ve been silent.”

“So have you.”

“Come on, seriously, what are you thinking?” she asked again.

Robby shook his head and chuckled. “That, this is crazy. What the hell I’m I doing? What the hell are we doing?”

Zara huffed in offense at these comments. “Ok…”

Robby frowned as she sat up. “What?”

“Sorry, that being with me disgusts you so much.”

“What? No, no,” Robby immediately said, grabbing her arm. “I didn’t mean that! You completely misunderstood what I meant. I just meant that I never expected to be doing this with the captain of one of our dojo’s biggest rivals.”

Zara’s chin was now on his chest. She smiled. “Mhmm…well, I promise I won’t get in your way, but as you can see on the mat, I never hold back.”

“I know.”

“Anyway, back to what we were talking about before and don’t divert from the subject again. Don’t worry, we don’t have to talk about Silver. I don’t want to ruin the mood. Tell me about your karate journey…”

“How much time do you have?”

“Sounds like I’m in for an intense story…”

Robby sighed, “Well, it starts from drugs, stealing, hanging out with the wrong crowds, a deadbeat mom, a deadbeat dad, almost killing someone, being on the run, sleeping rough, switching from one dojo to another…” Robby went into detail from when he started training with Daniel and Sam at Miyagi-Do to the brawl between him and Miguel at the high school and how he ended up putting him in the hospital.

“And then after I got out of juvie…I still had trouble figuring out who I was. It was like I was pretending to be someone I wasn’t without realizing. I was angry at the world. That’s part of the reason I joined Cobra Kai…I was looking for something.” Zara was looking on, so engaged in his tale. “I found that being in Cobra Kai…for the first time I was able to confront my past. All the anger I had built up for sixteen years at the time came out and I used it against my enemies. Particularly against my dad.”

“But then you realized…they weren’t your enemies,” Zara said, softly.

“Yeah, exactly,” Robby said to her. “All the anger I had started to eat away at me. I even saw it reflected through someone else I mentored. That’s when it hit me…it’s not who I wanted to be. I learned to forgive my dad.”

Zara ran a hand through her hair. “He must be proud of you. How far you’ve come. Being able to be by your side at the biggest international karate tournament. And as Captain.”

Robby smiled and nodded. “Yeah, it took a while, but…our relationship is pretty good.”

Zara gently ran her fingers along strands of his hair. “If you don’t mind me asking…, is it really Terry Silver you hate? Or do you hate that he is a stark reminder of the person you used to be?”

Robby was silent. She did ask a good question. He did learn to control his anger, and it was only people like Kwon and Silver who brought it out.

“That’s a valid point,” he replied. He didn’t respond, but in a way, Zara got her answer.

“It must be very beneficial for you though,” she continued, “to now have two Senseis to lead you and guide you.”

“Yeah, it is,” Robby said. He laughed, “It’s an interesting dynamic that my dad and Mr. LaRusso have. They were once enemies. Now they’re side-by-side teaching. Personalities and techniques do clash sometimes, but they’ve come a long way.” Robby now decided to change the subject. “Anyway, let’s move on from me. Tell me about you. How the hell did you learn to fight like that? Was that all under your Sensei’s teachings?”

Before Zara could answer, she heard Robby’s stomach grumble. She laughed. “Why don’t we order some room service? I assume you came to the lounge to get some food, and you didn’t because you came after me.” She sat up and pulled Robby’s t-shirt over her head.

“Yeah, sure,” Robby said, putting his arm behind his head.

And so, they ate. Zara ordered some food for them, and it was brought up to her room.

“I started Taekwondo and karate when I was a little girl, a baby practically,” Zara said, forking up some of her food.

“I had a feeling,” Robby said.

“Both my parents are Chiropractors, so naturally they wanted me to pursue something in the healthcare sector and follow the tradition. Typical Desi family.”

“Mhmm…and you chose to live dangerously,” replied Robby with a smirk.

Zara blushed, “I was bullied when I was small, and I was very timid. I could barely look anyone in the eye because I was so intimidated by everyone. So, when I started to learn martial arts, it was like an escape for me. I never wanted to be in a position where I was helpless or defenseless. I wanted to be the one in control.”

Robby nodded his head, “Yeah, I feel that.”

“I was about six and a half when I got my first-degree black belt and by the time I was seven, I was already participating in world championships.”

“Damn…” Robby took another bite out of his food.

“That’s when I realized I had a place in this world.”

Robby smiled as Zara told her story. “What do your parents think now?”

“They’ve come around. They’ve always been proud of me, because I wanted to become the leader of my own life.” As he listened on, Robby found that he didn’t have the ideal parental upbringing like Zara had, but he realized what they had in common. It was how karate had not only taught them self-defence but how it had also provided a sense of belonging and empowerment. Zara placed a supportive hand on his shoulder. “Hey, we all have our own battles, right? What matters is how we find our way through them.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Zara’s phone buzzed. She picked it up and smiled as she looked at it. “Did you gain a new follower or sponsor?”

Zara shook her head. “Neither. It’s my mom, sending a message on behalf of my favourite follower.” Robby noticed her eyes soften. She turned the phone toward him. He saw a picture of Zara next to a small boy. He had a big grin on his face, a bo staff in his hand, and Zara was kneeled beside him giving him a kiss on his cheek.

“That’s cute. Who is he?”

“That’s my little brother, Kiyush,” Zara said, “He’s eight. He’s my everything. Who I do it for.”

Robby finished off his food. “Zara Malik. I’m learning a lot about you.”

“I don’t usually open up to just anyone like this.”

“Well, I’m glad I was here to listen,” said Robby, now getting off the bed. “Anyway, I should be heading back now. Team is going to start wondering where I got to.”

“Sure, no problem,” said Zara, clearing up the plates and cutlery.

“We’re moving into the last group event,” Robby said, slipping on his shoes.

“Before the finals,” Zara said, coming towards him with her hands on her hips. “Do you feel ready?”

“I do…no more distractions. I’m going to give it all I got.”

“Good for you,” Zara said.

Robby stood and looked at her before opening the door. “I really enjoyed today…all of it.” Zara blushed. “And thank you, for the talk.”

“Thank you, for looking out for me,” Zara said, in a soft tone, “I really enjoyed as well. Good luck tonight.” Robby smiled and wished her the same. They leaned in for a short kiss before he turned and left the room.

Chapter Text

XXXX

The spotlights shone over the Sekai Taikai’s remaining dojos as they all stood facing centre stage where the tournament’s host, Gunther Braun stood with the committee behind him.

“Top eight dojos, welcome to our final group event. Over the course of the tournament, you have each proven yourselves worthy of your place atop the leaderboard.” As Braun spoke, the tension spread across the arena. Daniel, Johnny, and Kreese all shooting daggers at Silver, who stood there with a calm, cool, and cocky smile on his face. “And after today, only the best of the best will gain entry into our tournament of champions.”

Braun went on to explain the rules of the round. There were more looks being given across the dojo lines, including Axel giving Miguel a look that had a mixture of fury and jealousy which confused Miguel. Robby then turned his head back and looked at Zara, who after a second caught his eye. She smiled at him, and he smiled back.

“Fighting will be continuous. No stoppages, no timeouts. So, use your teammates wisely. The first dojo to score three points wins the match. By the end of today, your captains will either be fighting in the tournament of champions or be eliminated, watching from the sidelines. May the best dojos win!”

The Iron Dragons and Cobra Kai had their rounds first. The Iron Dragons against the Tiger Strike from Russia and Cobra Kai against the Storm Vipers from France.

By no surprise, Zara and Axel had full control of their opponents from the commencing fight. There was no need to tag in their fellow Dragons who stood their ground on the sidelines of the decagon. Their fighting consisted with a mixture of agility and power and their synchronicity as partners was on point. Together, they showcased a stunning and unstoppable symphony of combat easily making them earn their three points to win.

Cobra Kai was just as ruthless in their first round. However, it mostly came from Kwon’s effort. It was now Tory’s turn to become disheartened and distracted in her fights. She wasn’t focused and this was noticed by the onlooking dojos.

Miyagi-Do was up next against Furia de Pantera from Spain. Robby thought Team started off strong, but there was confusion and misalignment amongst them, specifically around Kenny. Sam managed to earn them a point, making them tie with Team Pantera, but they were soon thrown again. Robby along with the rest of the team except for Demetri, begged Eli to tag Kenny in. They knew he was the secret weapon for the Team, but Eli refused. His feet shifted side-to-side, and his head turned in all directions around the decagon, including in Silver’s direction. Robby also turned his head to look at Silver who he noticed was notedly looking on. He was knocked back into focus when he felt Eli slap his hand and tag him in. This caught him off guard. He tottered into the centre.

“What are you doing?” Robby hardly had time to react. He was immediately taken down by a foot sweep by one of the Pantera fighters. He got back up and just barely blocked a few kicks and punches. Miguel noticed his distress and stretched out his hand, desperate for a tag. But the Panteras knew they had Robby where they wanted him, so they barred him from tagging him in. After a few more blows, they earned their third and winning point against Miyagi-Do leaving Team stunned and frustrated.

Robby banged on the mat in frustration. “Damn it!”

“Team Pantera with an impressive victory,” the announcer said through the intercom, “Miyagi-Do’s loss puts them on the verge of elimination after their first match.”

Zara stood with her dojo by the curtains. She looked on worriedly as Robby struggled to hold his ground. She then glanced over at Silver and noticed the taunting smiles he had toward the Miyagi-Dos.

Meanwhile, the dispute continued on the mat.

“You completely disappeared after the Shittening. And then you coincidentally come back the same time as Silver,” Demetri pointedly said to Kenny. “You really want to tag in a mole?”

“Are you serious?” Kenny exclaimed. “I fly all the way here to help us win, and you won’t even give me a chance? Everybody laughed at me in the woods, but now somehow, I’m the bad guy, right?”

“See? He’s still pissed,” Eli now said, “It’d make sense why he’d want revenge.”

Kenny now came face-up to Eli, “Say something, you—

“Hey!” Robby said, coming in the middle of them. “This isn’t about Kenny. I’m the one who lost the match. Me.” With that, he stormed off in vexation.

Robby couldn’t believe he started off the elimination round like this. Regardless, if he expected to be tagged in or not, he knew he should’ve been ready for any scenario. There was a break before the next round. He wanted to be alone to give himself some time to get back on track. As he walked around, trying to gather his thoughts, he stopped when he noticed Silver and Sensei Wolf hovered around Zara. He noticed Silver whispering something in her ear, while her Sensei pointed his finger at her, telling her something else.

Silver noticed Robby standing there, looking at them from a distance. He grinned and opened his arms to him. “Ah, Mr. Keene. I’m a little disappointed. I once saw that skill and that rush in you, but when it came to having that killer instinct…you never could release it, could you?” Robby’s fists clenched. He recognized this tactic immediately. He was trying to play on his vulnerabilities again. “Quite frankly watching that loss was like watching a car crash in slow motion.”

Robby charged up to him, his patience hanging by a thread. “You don’t intimidate me.”

“Hey,” Sensei Wolf said, giving him a push back, “Easy, son. Don’t do anything stupid.”

“Robby!” Miguel called out from behind.

“You see,” Silver laughed, his face brightening at Robby’s aggressiveness, “This is what I’m talking about. This is what we want to see.”

Miguel came up from behind him, “Robby, what are you doing? Come on.”

“Run along, Mr. Keene,” Silver said, “Sensei Wolf and I have our dojo to attend to before our next match. But I wish you all the luck.”

Miguel tried pulling Robby back. “Don’t react to it. Let’s go.”

“Alright, I’m good, I’m alright,” Robby said, moving his arm away from him. He walked away from Silver and Wolf. Miguel followed him up the stairs to the second floor of the stadium. Zara stood in between the two men, and stared after Robby, but quickly diverted her eyes, not wanting to attract attention from her Sensei.

Robby leaned against the railing, looking down and over the stadium.

“Yo, Robby!” Miguel said, coming up beside him. “What’s going on? What was that about?”

Robby folded his arms. “You can see what’s going on. I’m completely screwing it up out there.”

“If you’re talking about the match, that’s not on you. That was a team loss, ok?” said Miguel, “What’s really going on? What happened while I was away?”

“A lot,” Robby responded, “Tory and I ended things. Well, more like, I ended things and then—

“What? I thought you guys were just gonna give it some time?”

“It’s done…we’re over.”

“Right and then….?”

“I hooked up with Zara Malik.”

Miguel shook his head in disbelief. “Wait-what? Zara Malik? The Iron Dragons captain?”

“Yeah,” Robby simply said, shrugging his shoulders. “At first, I thought I only did it because I was messed up about Tory, but…I realized it was more than that. She and I got closer. And then Silver appeared again…and I don’t know…I thought I was over him, but he still has this way of pushing my buttons. It’s like an old wound was reopened.”

“And that’s why you got so triggered. Now that he’s got the Iron Dragons…you think he’ll go after her.”

“Yeah,” Robby sighed. “Worst thing, it’s no one’s fault but my own. I’m blowing it on and off the mat. You were right. You should’ve been captain.”

“That’s bullshit,” Miguel responded, shaking his head. “You earned that spot, ok? You’re just in your head right now. I get it. Who wouldn’t be? And I’m not going to judge you, especially not with all the battles you and I have had with each other over the years. But the Team is hanging on by a thread. And we need a leader.”

“Yeah, I know. But I’m not it.”

“That’s more bullshit. Look. Robby, you got Kenny to Miyagi-Do. You led the charge for everyone to leave Silver. And now you’re trying to do it again for someone else. Like it or not, bro, you’re a natural-born leader. Ok? You fight for what you believe in, and you don’t give up. So, this whole “I’m not a leader” thing is…is…”

“Bullshit,” Robby finished with a small smile.

“Yes. So, lead us and we’ll follow. I’ll follow. Even though I’ve been acting like an asshole to you before I left. It was just…it wasn’t you.”

“It’s ok.”

Miguel looked at him deep in the eyes. “When the time is right, you’re gonna step up. Like you always do. Like the leader you are.”

Robby took a deep breath and nodded. “Thanks, man.”

“I got you,” Miguel tapped him encouragingly on the shoulder.

Robby took a little more time for himself before heading back downstairs. After that talk with Miguel, he suddenly felt a lot lighter. He went back over to his Senseis who were looking rather pleased with themselves about something.

“Hey, you alright?” Johnny asked.

“Yeah, I’m good, dad.”

“Look, don’t get discouraged,” Daniel said, “We can get through this. All we need to do is—

“—Stay focused, stay balanced, and breathe,” Robby said, with a smile. “Don’t worry, I know.”

“Ok then,” Daniel said, looking at Johnny and Chozen.

“You guys seemed a lot cheerier just now…” Robby said, looking at the three of them. “What’s going on?”

“Let’s just say we have enemies under our control,” Chozen said strongly.

Robby and the rest of the Team received a quick pep and prep talk from Johnny and Daniel before the next round. What they needed to understand is that they were no longer individuals fighting each other, they were one dojo, they were Miyagi-Do. Silver being present had shaken everyone up, but they needed to focus on who they were fighting in the moment.

They were up against the Redentores from Brazil for the elimination round. Robby stood strong, with his fists clenched, ready to redeem himself. Miguel tagged him in, he got in the centre in his fighting position. He kept his balance and earned his first point. Then there was the decision of loyalty. Kenny was desperate for a tag, as was Eli. Demetri was still adamantly against Kenny. Miguel’s voice then sounded in Robby’s head: “So lead us, and we’ll follow.” Sometimes all it takes is a reminder to get yourself back on track. Those were the words he needed to hear. He felt a wave of control flow through him. His heart was racing, and he knew what he had to do. He rushed over and tagged Kenny in. Kenny readied himself on the spot, but only for a minute. His defence was on point against his Brazilian opponent. Then, in a moment of perfect execution, he launched himself up and delivered a striking blow to the face. He was on a roll, literally. He rolled over and delivered a second blow to the face.

“Another point! Miyagi-Do wins!” the referee yelled, raising his hand.

“Yes!” Robby yelled.

He and Miguel hoisted Kenny on their shoulders in celebration.

Miguel slapped Robby on the shoulder. “Good job, captain!”

And for what felt like the first time in a long time, a huge smile appeared on Robby’s face. He breathed an air of relief. He could feel the ground under his feet again. If Miyagi-Do won their next round, they’d advance to the tournament of champions. He finally felt like a true captain. He bowed to Daniel in happiness and satisfaction. As he continued the celebration with Team, he turned and once again caught Zara’s eyes. She still stood watching from the background. She gave him a smile and gently applauded him. He smiled back at her and gave her a nod. Team made their way back to the locker rooms before the next and final match. Robby said he’d be in shortly.

He went over to Zara who stepped away from her team members. Her Sensei and Silver were not in sight.

“That was a smart tag, captain,” Zara said as she smiled at him.

“Thank you, captain.”

“See? All you needed to do was take a step back and you found your feet again,” she said.

“I appreciate your confidence in me,” responded Robby. “How’s the face?”

“It’s ok,” Zara said, putting a hand just below her eye. Her bruise was not as obvious as it was before, but it was still visible. “Bruises fade.”

“Well, yeah…the ones on your face do.” Zara gave him a look, but did not respond to that statement. Robby shook his head. “Sorry, that came out wrong. Listen, I wanted to apologize for earlier.”

“What do you mean?”

“For losing it the way I did with Silver in front of you.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Yeah…” was all Robby could say. “I realized the only one who was making him a problem was me.”

“You shouldn’t apologize for how you feel, Robby,” said Zara. “I was more worried about what it was doing to you.”

“Like you said…it’s how we get through our battles, right?”

Zara smiled, her gaze softening. She felt her cheeks flush, a mix of surprise and content that he remembered what she told him.

“You got this,” she said. Robby felt her hand entwine with his.

“Oh wow…” a voice came from behind him. Kwon strolled over, a teasing grin on his face. “Look at this.” Robby and Zara exchanged looks. “One girlfriend not enough for you. You move fast.” Zara just glared at him and shook her head. Robby also didn’t bother to say anything. He was tired of Kwon’s snarky remarks. “Enjoy her while you can. After the next match…you’ll be saying goodbye.”

“See you on the mat,” Robby said, in a challenging tone. Kwon chuckled and continued walking. Robby turned back to look at Zara. “I gotta get back. I’ll see you.”

“Ok, see you,” Zara said, waving to him. She stared after him for a minute or two.

Up next was the tie-breaking match against Cobra Kai. Robby was feeling anxious, but a good anxious. It was the final round. A chance to be rid of Cobra Kai once and for all.

Chapter Text

XXXX

The pressure was up, and emotions were running high. Robby sat with Team in the locker rooms. His eyes moved around, looking at the people he’s become so close with over the years. Through the tough times, through the uncertain times, through the sad times, and through the good times. The silence filled the room, but he could sense what everyone was thinking. Eyes welled with mist, kneecaps bobbed up and down and downward looks of uncertainty was given.

Finally, Robby broke the silence. “Come on, guys. We beat Cobra Kai before. We can do it again.” He did feel a twinge of nervousness in him, but he felt confident and proud.

“One more time,” Miguel said, “Let’s send our captains into the finals.”

“One last time,” Sam said, in synchronicity. “Win or lose. The last time we’ll ever fight together as a Team.”

Daniel and Johnny joined them in the locker room and gave them one last talk of inspiration, but they had already beaten their Senseis to it.

“It’s time to get out there and kick some Cobra Kai ass!” Johnny exclaimed.

“Let’s go!” Robby yelled, feeling pumped.

They all headed out to the arena and took their places on the sidelines. Tension filled the air.

“Because both Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai are both one and one, whoever wins this match advances. And whoever loses is eliminated,” the announcer voiced through the intercom.

“Alright. Remember, trust, tag, teamwork,” Daniel said.

“You got this. Who’s in first?” Johnny said after.

The Team turned their heads one by one and looked at Robby. He smiled and nodded. He was ready to take that first spot. He took his place in the centre. Kwon was approaching him. Robby knew he was gunning for him, but it didn’t bother him. He wanted to wipe that smirk off his face once and for all and eliminate him and Cobra Kai. But before Kwon could step on the mat, Tory pushed him aside and took his place.

“What are you doing?” Robby asked her.

“You’re disgusting,” Tory shot at him.

“What now?” Robby asked, holding up his hands.

“You! Still sleeping with Zara,” she bluntly said.

Robby looked a little stunned, but not all that much. It was only a matter of time before she found out.

“Ready,” the referee said. Tory readied herself, so did Robby. “Fight!”

Tory being all Cobra Kai struck first. Robby immediately activated a quick defense mode. He sparred against his ex for a few moments. He eyed her carefully and intently, not wanting to lose his ground. Unfortunately, she did take him down. Sam asked to be tagged in. He gave her a tag.

Kwon stood on the sidelines just waiting to give him another snide remark.

“How you say, uh, lovers’ quarrel? Or love…triangle?”

Robby shook his head, as the male captain of Cobra Kai laughed at him.

He tried to ignore Kwon and focus on the match in front of him. Tory was eventually tagged out. She swapped places with Kwon.

Robby turned and faced her when she was back on the line. “Look, I don’t know what you want me to say. Yes, I’ve been getting closer to Zara. What’s it to you? We’re not doing anything wrong.”

“God, you can’t be that blind!” Tory retorted, her eyes going from him to the mat. “She’s using you to stick it to me! She’s practically been throwing herself at you from the start of the tournament.”

“Did you stop to think that for once things aren’t about you?” Robby shot back at her.

“Oh, so you really think she’s genuinely interested in you and that this isn’t about me. All that girl cares about is her public image. She’s playing you. And you’re letting her because you’re mad at me.”

As Kwon and Sam sparred on the mat, Robby and Tory's heated exchange simmered just under the surface, ready to erupt again at any moment.

“You think Zara is using me?” Robby responded, trying not to raise his voice. “Maybe she is, but she’s actually been giving me the support I need. Can you say the same? Kreese is using you as a pawn to get back at everyone he hates.”

Tory's eyes widened, momentarily stunned by Robby's words. Robby took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions. He couldn't afford to lose control now.

“That’s not true!” Tory said, trying to maintain composure, though her voice wavered slightly. “I’m fighting for myself, for my own reasons.”

“Yeah, you sure about that?” Robby challenged. “Or are you just doing what Kreese tells you to do, letting him manipulate you to think you’re making your own choices?”

The intensity of the match resumed, but the tension between the two still lingered, an invisible force that crackled in the air. Robby turned his attention back to the fight, watching the sharp and aggressive movements from both his Team and the Cobra Kai fighters.

He dangerously eyed Kwon. He wanted him on the mat. After a great effort, Miguel was taken down, earning Cobra Kai their second point. Both dojos were now locked at two. Robby was now tagged in by Miguel. His eyes not leaving Kwon’s.

It was time. The final showdown. Robby felt determination and strength seep through him. He felt like nothing could bring him down now.

“You got this, Robby!” Sam yelled with encouragement.

He trained for this moment, and he wasn’t going to let it slip away.

“It’s about time. Let’s see what you got.”

Kwon smirked, aggressively but confidently. Robby strictly got in his fighting stance. They circled each other like predators, each waiting for the perfect moment to strike. With every attempted kick and punch, Robby blocked and deflected like it was nothing. Each time, frustrating Kwon more and more, increasing his rage. It was clear he hadn’t expected such a challenging opponent. Robby was the better fighter, and, in a way, this was his final chance to prove himself. The intensity continued on the mat, but also on the sidelines of the decagon as team members watched on intensely. None of them could bare to look away. Robby felt the weight of his dojo resting on his shoulders, but it didn’t faze him. It fueled him.

He saw an opening and moved swiftly, delivering a series of rapid strikes. Kwon was forced to retreat, trying to regain his balance. The air was thickening more with anticipation.

“Finish him, Robby!” Eli shouted from the sidelines, his voice cutting through the noise.

If Robby weren’t so focused, he’d shoot a knowing smile at Kwon. He needed no further encouragement.

He held up his fists once more with dominance. “Aiiiiis!”

He saw the perfect moment and seized it. He and Kwon charged towards each other with a purpose. With a burst of speed and agility, Robby leapt into the air in sync with Kwon, his body twisted mid-jump. His leg extended into a flawless high kick, slicing through the air with precision and power. The strike connected directly to Kwon’s face, dropping him hard to the ground. He hit the mat with a resounding thud and groan, unable to recover.

The referee wasted no time confirming the win with a swift hand gesture. “Point! Miyagi-Do wins!”

The crowd erupted with a thunderous cheer, Sam squealed in excitement, Miguel yelled at the top of his lungs, blown away at his friend’s performance. Robby stood tall, a triumphant smile on his face, yelling in exhilaration. He felt like he could beat his chest and spit fire. He had done it. He was a winner. He secured victory for his dojo. He had shone as captain.

The announcer’s voice boomed throughout the arena. “With the win, Miyagi-Do advances to the tournament of champions! Incredible!”

“Yes! Yes!” Robby cheered to himself. He felt like he was on top of the world. Like he could make the earth shake beneath him. He felt overjoyed as his teammates surrounded him with love, hugs, playful shoves, and pats on the back. Johnny pulled his son into a strong hug. The pride and joy truly sinking in for father and son in that moment. Cobra Kai had been eliminated.

As the excitement began to settle, the team members gathered around Robby, their faces glowing with pride and joy. Sam, still buzzing with energy, suggested, “Hey, how about we go out and celebrate tonight? We deserve it after that victory!”

Miguel nodded enthusiastically, “Yeah, let’s do it! It’s not every day we make it to the tournament of champions.”

Robby grinned and nodded with equal enthusiasm as his teammates. “I’m in. We do deserve it.”

“Is it really happening? Cobra Kai…gone?!” Sam asked excitedly and in disbelief.

“It’s real, it’s real!” Miguel said with a big smile. The three laughed together. Their smile faded slightly as they saw Tory walk by. She had a very disheartened look on her face.

“I wish you could be celebrating with us,” Sam said in an honest tone.

Tory didn’t respond but just walked away. Despite the bicker they had during the match, Robby couldn’t ignore the feelings of disappointment and failure that she must’ve been feeling. After all, like all the other competitors here, she did come to win but she didn’t succeed. She was going home, and Robby knew he’d have to say something eventually. But for now, it was his and his Team’s time to celebrate their victory.

After the excitement at the arena, Robby returned to his room to get ready for the celebration. He was still on a high from their win, his heart pounding with anticipation for the night ahead. Just as he came out of the bathroom after taking a shower, he heard his phone buzz with a text from Zara.

It read: “Hey, can you meet me in the lobby for a sec?”

Curiosity piqued. He texted back. “Yeah, give me ten minutes.” Another notification came to his phone as he saw that Zara had hearted the response.

He quickly got dressed and left the room. He told everyone that he’d be back. He made his way to the lobby, where he saw Zara was already there waiting. She smiled when she saw him come towards her.

“Hey, cutie. Congratulations.” She gave him a hug. “You were amazing out there.” Her voice filled with genuine admiration.

“Thank you, Zara. It means a lot,” Robby replied, hugging her back, a smile spreading across his face.

“I just wanted to say I’m proud of you. That kick was so badass. You realize it’s going to be talked about for like forever, right?”

“So, you wouldn’t mind if the attention was taken off you for a bit is what you’re trying to say?” Robby asked cheekily.

Zara playfully swatted him on the shoulder. “Shut up.”

Robby laughed and shrugged his shoulders. “I was pretty good, wasn’t I?”

“You were!” Zara said with a brightness in her eyes. “Your dojo held strong. You kept them motivated and focused.”

“Like a true captain?”

Zara smiled and affirmed. “Like a true captain.”

Robby took a step closer to her. “You still worried about us being seen together?’

Zara quickly shook her head. She took his hands in hers. “No, I’m not.” Robby gave her a nod. “My Sensei wants to win. He wouldn’t risk anything happening to his star fighter. So…I’ll do what I want.”

Zara’s confidence and charisma brought a smile to Robby’s face.

“Doesn’t mean you should forget about what he did to you,” Robby said, his expression now changing. He held up his hands before she could respond. “But, but – I’ll say no more for tonight.”

“What about you?” she asked.

“What?”

“Are you worried about being seen with me?” Her eyebrow arched.

“Not at all.”

“Good,” she took a step closer to him. “Because you know I like spending time with you.”

“So do I.” The two leaned in and shared a kiss. The kiss lingered for a minute.

Zara spoke when they pulled apart. “Anyway, you probably want to go celebrate with your Team tonight.”

“Yeah, we’re going to hit the town,” Robby sighed.

“Go, have fun.”

Robby leaned down for another kiss. Zara happily met him in the middle. Their kiss was interrupted when they heard voices from behind.

“Dude!” Demetri bellowed at Robby.

“What the hell!” Eli then shouted at the two of them. “Are you serious?”

Kenny appeared alongside Devon. The two exchanged looks of surprise between each other.

Robby and Zara looked at each other, trying to find a way to respond to everyone. Robby felt it wouldn’t have been fair to Zara for her to be bombarded by questions from his dojo.

“Guys, can I just ask that you not jump to conclusions?”

“Not jump to conclusions?” Demetri repeated, sounding astounded. “We see you locking lips with the Dragon Heiress,” he threw a hand at Zara, “and you’re telling us not to jump to conclusions?”

Eli stepped forward, his face a mix of anger and confusion. “I knew something was off. Ever since that night at the Tapas Bar.”

Devon now stepped in the middle of it. “Guys, maybe we should give him a chance to explain.” Devon gave Robby a knowing look. She took a more subtle approach to the situation.

Robby felt Zara squeeze his hand for support. He let out a sigh. “I have been spending time with Zara, and we have been getting close.”

“What about Tory?” Kenny asked. “I know she switched sides, but I thought you were going to work it out.”

“Tory’s going through her own battles right now,” Robby replied, “I respect that and at the same time I realized that we both need to lead our own paths.”

“He ended things,” Devon then said shortly. Eli and Demetri turned their heads to look at her.

“You knew?” Eli asked.

“About him breaking up with Tory, yes,” Devon said, a little nervously. “I had no idea how close he and Zara were getting. Not really. I may have had an inkling, but it was none of my business.”

“There’s nothing malicious going on,” Zara now said, standing in front of Robby. “I respect your dojo, and I don’t want you to think I’m using Robby for my own gain.”

“Yeah, that’s debatable,” Demetri muttered under his breath.

“Look, guys, if Robby says it’s cool, it’s cool,” Kenny said.

“Yeah, come on, guys,” Devon said, “This is our time to celebrate! It’s a big moment for us.”

Robby’s hand slid around Zara’s waist from behind.

“I got my head in the game,” he said, sounding calm and confident. “You saw it tonight. You don’t have to worry.” There was silence amongst the group. “So…are we celebrating or not?”

Eli turned to Demetri. “Let’s go catch up with Miguel and Sam.” With that, the two turned and left.

Devon stared after them and then turned back to Robby. “I’m sure they’ll come around.”

“Yeah,” Kenny said, “You’ve never steered us wrong before.”

“Thanks, guys,” Robby said, smiling. Curiosity came across his face. “Why’re you guys being so nice?”

Kenny simply shrugged his shoulders. “After all the shit that I’ve pulled. I know…bad choice of words…” Devon softly laughed at him. “I’d be the last person to judge anyone. I’ll always have you to thank for how far I’ve come.”

“Alright, no more sentimental stuff,” Robby responded to the two.

“Right?” Devon said, nudging Kenny to move. “We’ll see you out there.”

The two left to exit the hotel. Robby sighed and turned back to look at Zara. He ran a hand through his hair. “Well, that actually went better than I anticipated…”

“Are you ok?” Zara softly asked.

Robby nodded, looking at her carefully. “How about you? You ok?”

“Yeah, I’m good,” she said. “They seem like they’re a nice bunch. Some of them…”

Robby laughed. “Yeah, they all are, once you get to know them.”

“I don’t want to keep you any longer,” Zara said, putting her hand on his cheek. “I hope I didn’t put a damper on your evening.”

“Not at all. Don’t worry about it. Have a good night, ok?”

“Same to you,” Zara smiled and waved goodbye to him.

Later in the evening, Miyagi-Do went out into Barcelona to celebrate their win. The vibrant streets were alive with music and laughter, the energy of victory coursing through them. There was still tension between Robby and a few of his team members, thankfully, their Senseis didn’t take it on too much. The alcohol seemed to distract and make up for it with everyone involved.

Johnny and Robby decided to take a walk away from the bustling group, seeking a quieter moment to catch up amidst all the excitement.

As they strolled along the cobblestone streets, Johnny glanced at his son. “So, you did good tonight,” he said, a hint of pride in his voice.

Robby laughed. “And that’s probably like the fifteenth time you’ve told me that tonight. Thanks, Dad.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Making Kwon really feel that pain." He sighed a loud sigh into the air. “Man, was that ever satisfying.”

“Yeah, I saw that,” Johnny replied, “You were really making it hurt. That’s what you gotta bring to the finals tomorrow.”

After a moment of silence, Robby took a deep breath. “There’s something I should tell you before you hear it from someone else.”

Johnny raised an eyebrow, his curiosity rising. “What’s up?”

“I’ve been hanging out with Zara Malik,” Robby blurted out, his eyes searching Johnny’s face for a reaction.

Johnny’s expression hardened for a moment, a myriad of emotions flashing across his features—surprise, confusion, and a hint of anger. He stopped walking and turned to face Robby. “Zara Malik? As in, the fighter from the Iron Dragons?”

Robby nodded, bracing himself. “Yeah. I know it’s not ideal, but it kind of just happened. I really like her.”

Johnny started rubbing the back of his neck, exhaling sharply. “Robby, she’s from a rival dojo. This could complicate things. For you, for the team, even for her.”

“I know,” Robby said, his voice steady. “She’s already had a run-in with her Sensei. He was a real dick.”

Johnny scoffed. “Yeah, no argument there. What about you and Tory?”

“Like I’ve been saying, Dad, Tory’s got her own life to live and her own battles to fight. I’ll never stop caring about her, but I had to step away.” Robby looked at his dad again. “You can trust me.”

Johnny looked into his son’s eyes, seeing the sincerity there. He sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. “Alright. Well, just don’t ever let your guard down. I mean, you know I’m the last one to give relationship advice but be careful. With Sensei Wolf and now Silver pulling the strings, motive is higher.”

“I get that. I understand.”

Johnny clapped a hand on Robby’s shoulder, a smile tugging at his lips. “Alright, let’s get back to the others before they think we’ve ditched them.”

They continued their walk, the bond between father and son strengthened by the honesty they had shared. The night was theirs to celebrate, and for now, that was enough.

Chapter Text

XXXX

The next morning, a little before dawn, Robby found himself outside Zara’s hotel room. He softly knocked on her door. It opened, revealing Zara in her casual attire, her hair tied back in a ponytail. Her eyes slightly widened with a glint of surprise. A warm smile came upon her face.

“Robby…what are you doing here so early?”

Robby smiled, shrugging his shoulders. “I owe you breakfast.”

Zara tilted her head, a tinge of confusion on her face. “Do you?”

“Yup,” he simply said, “Remember, I shot down your first invite.”

Zara thought for a moment, before her eyes softened. She blushed, a big smile spreading across her face.

“You don’t have to, but I am happy to see you,” she said.

“So, you up for it then?”

“I’d love to,” she said, “I’ll just freshen up a little and we’ll go down.”

“I was actually thinking we could get out of the hotel and find one of those cafés by the beachfront.”

“Sounds good. Give me a few minutes.” After a few minutes, Zara came out of her room. Robby couldn’t help but stare at her up and down. She smiled when she noticed him looking at her. “Are you checking me out?”

“You do look good,” Robby admitted, noticing her white crop top and army cargo pants.

“Why, thank you,” said Zara, with a soft laugh. She grabbed his hand. “Come on.”

Robby and Zara walked down the beach line, the sound of seagulls and the distant crash of waves guiding them towards their destination. They soon arrived at a quaint breakfast café nestled along the beachfront. The café, with its charming rustic decor, exuded warmth, and comfort. Wicker chairs and wooden tables were scattered beneath the shade of large, striped umbrellas that fluttered gently in the breeze.

The scent of freshly baked pastries wafted through the air, mingling with the salty tang of the sea. The café's exterior was adorned with blooming flower boxes, adding a splash of color to the serene surroundings. Inside, the ambiance was inviting, with soft Spanish music playing in the background and the hum of cheerful conversations.

The two chose a cozy table on the outdoor terrace, offering a perfect view. Zara ordered a frothy cappuccino and an omelette with toast and avocado spread, while Robby opted for a strong espresso accompanied by a plate of crispy churros dusted with cinnamon sugar.

“So…,” Zara said, pushing her sunglasses over her head.

“So…,” Robby said, taking a sip of his drink.

“I was wondering when you were going to ask me out…” said Zara, with a cute smile. She propped her chin on her hand and eyed him intently.

“Is that what you think this is? A date?” Robby asked.

“Are you saying it’s not?” Zara asked in a mockery of offence, sitting back in her chair.

“What I’m saying is I like you and I like spending time with you…and…”

“Robby…” Zara waved her hand at him. “I know. It’s ok. I was playing with you.”

“Oh, were you?” Robby asked with a smile. “You seemed pretty sure of yourself just now.”

“I usually am…I have good insight to these things. I have a very sharp monocle.”

Robby nodded as he sprinkled a little more cinnamon on his churros. But he lifted his head when he realized what she said.

“Did you say a monocle?”

“Yeah.”

“Doesn’t the monopoly guy have one of those?”

“Exactly, yeah,” she said, in a matter-of-fact way, after taking a bite out of her toast. “I’ve learned a lot from him.”

“How do you know the monopoly guy?” Robby asked, with a frown but amused look.

“Don’t worry about it,” Zara simply said, giving him a wink.

“What? Are you…trying to make me jealous?”

The two paused and stared at each other in silence for a moment, before laughing.

“You seem a lot happier,” said Zara, folding her arms on the table. “More content.”

“I am…I can’t complain,” Robby said, the smile on his face not fading. “A lot of weight’s been lifted off my shoulders. I feel good. I feel like I have more of a purpose now…”

Zara let out a sigh and shook her head. “Stop being so hard on yourself. You should be giving yourself more credit. And not just about karate. I’m sure you have a lot going for you in life. You’ve survived so much already.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“And…” Zara’s expression now slightly changed. She poked her omelette with her fork. “If you don’t mind me asking…”

“Anything, go ahead…”

“How do you feel about your ex being eliminated from the tournament?”

“I mean…it was either my team that was going to be eliminated or it was hers,” Robby said, “She had her reasons of joining Cobra Kai, but now she’s going home with them. Like I was telling my dad last night, I’ll always care about her, but she has to go her own way. She has to heal and find answers that I’m not able to give her.”

“I understand,” Zara responded. She took a short breath before speaking again. “And what about…when you go back home?” She tried to ask the question as casually as possible, but her tone slightly wavered.

Robby smiled knowingly at her, thinking to himself how cute she looked in the moment. “How about…” He leaned forward and forked a piece of her omelette and put it in his mouth. “You just ask me what you really want to ask me.”

Aside from initially being intimidated by Tory’s fighting skills at the commence of the tournament, Zara hadn’t really shown any signs of weakness or vulnerability. But when it came to Robby, that’s when some of it came out of her.

“I shouldn’t even be…” she sighed, “It’s not my place. I mean, we’re not…”

“Hey,” Robby placed a hand on top of hers. “Let’s not talk about Tory. Let’s just talk about the here and now. We’re in Barcelona and we have a tournament to fight in.”

Zara smiled at him. “Yeah, you’re right.” She brushed away her insecurities in the moment. “Did you have fun last night? How were things after I left?”

“The night was fun. I still got a few stares from some of my teammates, but it’s all good. They’ll be fine. I told my dad as well.”

“Oh. What did he say?”

“He was a little shocked. My dad’s always been a karate guru and very competitive so…any dojo that isn’t ours is a rival. And he’s not a fan of your Sensei either or Silver. So, in that sense he didn’t quite like the idea of me hanging around you, but…he knows he can trust me and that I have good judgment.”

"That's nice,” Zara said, taking a bite out of Robby’s churro.

"Yeah," Robby nodded, "He knows I'll make the right choices. And anyway, it's not like we're plotting against each other’s teams. We're just friends."

Zara's heart skipped a beat at the word "friends." It felt both reassuring and bittersweet. She wanted to believe that their connection was deeper than that, but she also didn't want to push him away by overstepping boundaries. After all, they’d only be in Barcelona together for a short while longer.

“Hey, we should probably head back to the hotel,” she said, brushing her emotions aside. “Our teams will wonder where we are.”

Robby nodded, standing up from his chair. "You're right. Let's go."

As they walked down the beach, back towards the hotel, Robby couldn’t help but steal glances at Zara. She was a different person when she was on the mat, stunning people with her amazing skills, going all out and hard. But he also liked this side of her, the relaxed, the witty, and chilled side.

“You think you’re ready for the semi-finals?” she asked him.

Robby let out a sigh. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Cobra Kai is out, but that now means you’ll have to fight my dojo,” Zara said, her eyebrows arching.

“I know…” Robby placed his hands behind his back. “I don’t think you’re quite ready for that.” A smile tugged on his lips.

Zara’s jaw dropped. She stopped on the spot. Robby stopped and turned around. He tried not to laugh.

“Did you really just say that to me?”

Robby shrugged his shoulders at her. “I think I did.”

“You really just said that to me,” Zara repeated, she grinned and took a few threatening steps toward him.

“Yeah, I did,” Robby said, straightening his shoulders. “You saw what my dojo and I can do. You said it yourself.” Zara’s grin widened at him, while she shook her head. “Still shocked that I said that. Alright.” What Robby did next surprised Zara, but in a good way. He removed his sunglasses and his t-shirt. He put his hands up in fighting position. “Come on…”

“Ok then, hot shot,” Zara removed her own sunglasses and whipped her hair around. “Let’s see what you’re made of.” And without warning, she launched a swift, playful kick aimed at Robby’s side. He dodged it smoothly, his reflexes sharp, and countered with a light jab. They began to move in sync, their feet shifting effortlessly on the sand as they sparred.

Laughter mixed with the sounds of their mock combat, drawing the attention of passersby. Some stopped to watch, intrigued by the impromptu display of martial arts on the beach. Zara’s movements were fluid and precise, a testament to her training, while Robby matched her every step with his own honed skills. Each of their moves had a challenge and response and even though it was a playful combat, it was like an unspoken competition for Robby at the same time.

With a swift movement he took her down and held her hands down in the sand. He smiled from above her and asked, “Convinced?”

However, just when he thought he had her, someway she got him with a leg maneuver where she was able to flip him around. She did it in a way which was not painful, but swift and powerful. Before he knew it, Robby laid on his back with her on top of him. His eyes widened in shock.

Zara breathed heavily and grinned widely at him. She leaned down and answered his question, “Almost.”

Robby groaned, putting his hands over his face. The onlookers started applauding their performance, some even whistled at Zara. She helped Robby stand up. He noticed her giving him a smile as he dusted the sand off himself.

“You put on quite a challenge,” Zara said, also brushing the sand off her body.

“You’re too good,” Robby said, pulling his shirt over his head.

Zara quickly snapped a selfie of them before they continued walking to the hotel. The two eventually reached the hotel. They walked together near the receptionist desk.

“Thank you for breakfast,” Zara said, “I had a nice time.”

“Same here.”

“Hey, will you promise me something?” Zara asked softly, looking up at him.

“What is it?”

“Whatever happens in the remaining events…no hard feelings? We stay in touch?”

“I’ll promise that, if you do.”

“I do,” said Zara.

Robby gave a nod. “Will you promise me something now?”

“For you, yes,” Zara took a step closer to him. “What is it?”

“I’ll just say it straight out. After the tournament is over, I can’t control how you’ll decide to fight or what you do with your dojo, but…can you promise that you’ll be the one to decide what you’re fighting for and not let anyone decide for you?”

Zara felt the weight of his words, understanding the deeper meaning behind them. “Robby, do you really not trust me to make my own decisions?”

“No, I do. It’s not about trust, Zara,” Robby said, squeezing her hand. “It’s just that I know what coercion looks like and feels like.”

“Are you really that worried?”

“I just want you to be careful.”

Zara sighed, she reached up and held his face in her hand, trying to reassure him. “I promise. Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone but me dictate my path.”

“Thank you,” a little bit of relief came over him.

XX An hour later XX

Robby stood gathered with Sam and Miguel in the lobby. A few other dojos were also coming together. Robby noticed Tory sitting by herself by one of the windows, no doubt contemplating the previous day’s events. He went over and apologized to her, for one, accusing her of hooking up with Kwon. He knew she wasn’t that type of person. She wasn’t up for conversation, which he understood and respected. Kwon then came over calling him a lucky bastard, the malice in him was evident. Robby didn’t give into fretting about him, so he unclenched his fists and kept his calm, and subtly told him off. He turned and told Tory to get home safe.

“Hey, bro. How’d it go?” Miguel asked.

Robby sighed. “Pretty much how you’d expect it to go.”

“Miguel told me about you and Zara,” Sam said, folding her arms. “I just have to ask. Is it really worth it, honestly? I mean, I know I was the one who said to deal with the fact that Tory switched sides, but…she’s lost her mother, the tournament, and now you…”

“I’m always going to be there for Tory if she needs me,” said Robby, earnestly. “I may not have all the answers right now, but I have to go with how I feel and what I believe is right.”

“Are you sure you can trust her?” Sam asked, a concerned look in her eyes.

Before he could answer, the PA system beeped from above them and the announcer spoke.

“Attention Sekai Taikai competitors. All dojos convene immediately in the main lobby. Including those who have been eliminated.”

Robby, Miguel, and Sam looked at each other, their curiosity piquing.

The competitors and their sensei gathered, murmuring in hushed tones as everyone wondered what could warrant such an urgent assembly.

Braun announced that it was discovered that one of the dojos had resulted to cheating. Robby right away figured it had to be either Kreese or Silver who’d done something sinister and sneaky to get the upper hand. It turned out, however, that the Russian Tiger Strike were the culprits. Four of their competitors tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. They were immediately eliminated from the tournament and banned from site.

“Replacing Udar Tigra will be the dojo with the next highest point total.”

Robby felt a churn in his stomach. He heard Devon speak beside him. “Wait. That means…”

“Cobra Kai.”

Robby’s eyes shut in dismay, trying to take in what he just heard. He tried to drown out the Cobra Kai fighters’ cheers of joy that they were back in the tournament.

“Did that really just happen?” Devon asked.

Robby shook his head, clearly irritated. “One step forward, one step back.”

“Hey,” Miguel said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “You got this.”

The draws of the semi-finals were announced before the crowd dispersed. Robby would go up against Axel. Sam against Tory. Zara against Maria Alvarez and Kwon against Diego Aguilar. Robby along with the rest of the Team felt bummed out at the news that Cobra Kai was still in the game after having been so close to eliminating them. For good. Nevertheless, Robby shook it off and stayed focused. He told Team they had the rest of the day to tune up for the semi-finals. It was anyone’s tournament to win.

__________________________________

The semi-finals had arrived. The lights were bright, and the arena buzzed with excitement. Robby looked up and around the arena, it somehow looked bigger than it was tonight. Gunther Braun started with his usual introductions and rules for the semi-final events. While his strong words of power and inspiration filled the arena, Robby felt proud and blessed to be standing next to Sam as they both exchanged looks of pride, knowing what was to come next.

Robby couldn’t help but take a glance over at the Iron Dragons. Silver stood behind Zara and Axel looking on, aside Sensei Wolf.

As Braun’s voice boomed across the arena, the first match was called. Kwon stepped on the mat to go against his Spanish opponent, his composure calm. He had the upper hand from the first move. It stunned the crowd how after a few short movements, he delivered a precise knockout to his opponent, making Cobra Kai top the board with an impressive twenty-seven points.

Zara’s match was a little more aggressive, but she delivered a flawless performance against her female Spanish opponent. The showstopper hardly left room for Maria Alvarez to earn a strike against her. Each step was deliberate, displaying a perfect blend of swiftness and precision. She countered Maria’s moves with powerful strikes and kicks. Despite, the intensity, it didn’t stop her from people pleasing and blowing her signature kisses. By the time the final strike was delivered, Zara stood tall and triumphant.

“And Zara Malik moves on to the girls’ final with a dominant shut out.”

Robby shook his head, still wondering to himself how she does it.

He took a breath and bowed to his Senseis as they, along with his team members cheered him on. He inwardly braced himself as he was about to go up against his toughest opponent ever. It was evident that when it came to fighting, Axel didn’t really have any weaknesses to show. What Robby needed was strategy.

“Breathe, focus, stay centered.” That was the mantra he needed to go by.

He stepped onto the mat, his heart pounding with anticipation. He bowed to Axel, who returned the gesture with a steely gaze. The referee signaled the start of the match. Robby launched into his offense strategy, his movements quick and precise. He aimed a flurry of punches and kicks at Axel, hoping to find a chink in his armor. But Axel's defense was impenetrable. He deflected all of Robby’s attempts, barely breaking a sweat. His size and power gave him an advantage that was hard for Robby to overcome. He was then suddenly met by Axel’s offense attacks which were just as powerful. It was like being hit with a ton of bricks, Robby had no control or balance. His face was met with a blow so hard that blood flew out of his mouth. He had no choice but to revert into defense mode. This soon annoyed Axel. He placed Robby in an arm lock and muttered in his thick European accent,

“Are you going to keep defending? Or are you going to fight?” Robby was then forcefully shoved back into the Cobra Kai fighters. Kwon took the opportunity and delivered a cheap blow to his side, causing him to groan out in pain. The crowd could be heard jeering in the background. Miguel immediately caught wind and ran to defend Robby but got pushed down by Axel. Meanwhile, Robby got up in Kwon’s face.

“Cheap shot, bitch. You want to try that again?”

Zara broke rank from the other side and came forward on the mat to intervene. The tension was heavy in the air for all dojos as they were literally on edge. The crowd’s jeers grew louder. Robby and Kwon continued to exchange heated words. Before Zara could intervene, Tory shoved her back.

“Hey, don’t even think about it, bitch,” Tory warned, blocking her with a fierce glare.

“Stop!” Braun yelled from the sidelines. “Stop this!”

“Try it again,” Robby challenged Kwon.

“Hit me!” Kwon dared him.

“Get a hold of yourselves!” Braun yelled through the noise.

“I swear I will wipe the mat with your face as soon as I get the chance, bitch,” Zara spat, her eyes locking intensely with Tory’s, giving her an icy stare.

“Everybody off the mat now! Or this tournament—

Gunther Braun was cut short by a hard blow to the face. The strike could be heard across the arena, as he fell to the ground knocked out. The Russian Sensei, Sensei Ivanov, stood above him. For a split second, the entire arena seemed to hold its breath, suspended in a tense silence. Then, as if a cannon went off to signal a war charge, chaos erupted. Fighters from all dojos surged forward onto the mat, fists flying and voices roaring. All the built-up tension with the dojos was released in an uncontrollable surge of aggression. Fighters grappled, kicked, and punched with a fury that had been simmering for weeks. The crowd was an uproar of shouts and screams, and the referee and committee’s pleads were lost amongst the mayhem.

Zara and Tory clashed ferociously, each move a blur of raw emotion and technique.

Kwon fought off other opponents. He noticed Robby taking on his other Cobra Kai teammates. He stormed towards him with a vendetta. He was blinded with rage.

“Keene!”

He knocked him down and viciously attacked him. Zara noticed this from the ground, she immediately got up and ran towards him. She delivered a swift kick to his side, making him grunt and stumble back. Zara stood in front of Robby in a fighting stance.
“Bad idea,” Kwon said, giving her a furious look.

Zara filled with a mixture of readiness and a bit of fear, stood her ground against Kwon. Fear was not something she felt a lot, but Kwon had a look and demeanour of hate, unchecked anger, and an unhinged determination that was unrelenting. She put up a good fight. Robby tried to fight off the other two Cobra Kai fighters. He didn’t want her to go up against Kwon alone.

With a jump kick, Kwon took Zara down, making her fall back against Robby, knocking them both down. Sam noticed the distress and rushed to help but fell short as Kwon also delivered a kick making her fall back. He was on a rampage, determined to take down anyone who got in his way.

Axel was the next fighter to attempt to take him down. He grabbed him by his Gi and roughly pulled him back. He dodged and blocked a few of Kwon’s attacks and then delivered a kick so powerful that it sent him flying backwards and colliding with the camera set standing behind him. The force of the impact busted open his nose and bruised his hand. He groaned in pain, but his fury did not abate it only enhanced. Kwon’s eyes shifted, his eyes falling on the eunjangdo lying on the mat. He started breathing heavily and evilly laughed as he picked it up.

Robby’s heart skipped a beat when he noticed the weapon in Kwon’s hand, realizing his intention.

With a deadly roar, Kwon charged forward. It was as if everything had turned a into a blur for Robby and time seemed to slow down, he saw Kwon run toward both Zara and Axel.

“Zara, no!” he shouted. He lunged forward and gored her out of the way.

Kwon was met with Axel, who with one fluid motion, met him halfway in the air. He swept Kwon’s leg from under him, causing him to fall and land on the upward pointing eunjangdo. A scream erupted from his lips as the dagger pierced through his heart. A scream so heart-wrenching and deadly it echoed off the walls of the arena and silenced the brawl in an instant. All the dojos froze in their spots. It was like a seize on the battleground. Everyone started taking steps closer to Kwon who laid face-first on the ground, not moving. All they could do is stare, some whisper. There was a puddle of blood that slowly spewed out beside him.

Daniel was the only one who came forward. He knelt beside him. “Kwon?”

When there was no response, he turned him over, revealing his fate. Gasps filled the air, as they saw the dagger sticking out of his lifeless body. His eyes were open, and his face marked with lines of blood. The fire was extinguished out of all fighters at that moment. Robby stood frozen with Zara by his side. The Sekai Taikai had taken a horrific turn from a contest of skill to a battle of survival.

Braun gulped, staring down at Kwon’s body. “Cut the feed.” He looked up at the broadcasting cameras and yelled out again. “CUT THE FEED!”

And the feed was cut.

Chapter Text

I wanted to wait until after the weekend, but I couldn't wait to get people's opinion about S6 part 3! What did you guys think? I didn't like how all the parts were pretty much leaked all over social media, but I guess in this day in age it's inevitable. Overall, I think the entire saga was a masterpiece, everything came into full circle for all characters; from Daniel, Johnny, Kreese, Tory, Miguel, Robby etc. I really liked in part 3 how we got a bit more focus on the Iron Dragons with Axel, Sensei Wolf, and Silver BTS. As for Zara, she was such a bitch in this finale...I loved it!! lol :) but so badass

Although Kreese and Silver's end...know one knew of their fate. Seeing as this is the end...I feel that was left open...

And after all that...Demetri is NOT going to MIT, but caltech lol

I have a few ideas of how I can take the rest of the story, still trying to iron them out though. A few spoilers/ideas I have (could change):

- Robby and Zara reunite after a month
- Robby still struggles with his confidence as a fighter and with what he wants to do with his future
- Robby is injured by Axel
- Feud continues between Zara and Tory
- Zara feels torn between her loyalty to her dojo and her feelings for Robby
- The pressure intensifies for Zara from Sensei Wolf and Silver
- Robby takes Zara to Miyagi-Do dojo for her to find focus and regain balance
- Zara's family arrive at the valley for the finals; her parents and her little brother

Chapter Text

XXXX

One month had passed since the Sekai Taikai’s tragic ending in Barcelona. Miyagi-Do tried to shift their focus and get back into past routine and find some normalcy, but it was a struggle. The common phrase would say: what happens in Barcelona, stays in Barcelona. But what happened in Barcelona was something the Team could not wipe from their minds. Kwon’s death and an unfinished tournament loomed over them like a dark cloud.

For Robby, it was more than difficult. He was so close to making history and becoming a champion in a world tournament. Yet, the only thing he came home with were a few bruises on his face to show. But his Senseis had told him many times that they were proud of him. He fought with everything he had, but most importantly, he fought with honour. He went back to work at LaRusso Auto. Daniel thought it’d be good for him to keep busy and keep his mind focused on other things. But unfortunately for Robby, there was a void that just hovered over him that he couldn’t fill.

The principal at West Valley called for him to meet with her alongside his dad, a very pregnant Carmen, his mom and his mom’s new beau to discuss options for his future. Robby was absolutely dreading it.

“It’ll be tight to graduate,” was what his principal said. “We could talk about next year, but college may not be in the cards.”

“What if he adds an extra course?” asked Carmen. “If he can catch up on the material, can he close the credit gap?”

“Maybe, but the workload—

“If I may,” Robby’s mom’s new boyfriend interrupted. “There’s always a way to fast-track these things.” Robby noticed him slide his hand through his mom’s. He didn’t know whether he genuinely meant what he said, or he was just saying it to impress her. “Especially for talented kids like Robby.”

“We’ll do whatever it takes to support him,” his mom said.

“I appreciate that,” the principal said, with a sincere tone. “But as I tell a lot of our football players, Robby’s unlikely to go professional with his chosen sport. So, we can support him by speaking our truth on that. Without shame.” She took out some brochures from her desk drawer and handed them to Robby. “A lot of people look at trade school and other alternative paths. Try to keep an open mind about what life might be like without karate.”

Robby sighed, looking at his parents. “I think we’re finished here. Can we go?”

He did not wait for an answer, he got up from his seat and walked out the office door.

His mom and Carmen apologized on his behalf, explaining to the principal that he’s been through a lot lately. It was the emotions and frustration. The principal was understanding.

When Robby arrived home, he went straight to his room and locked himself in. He took another look at the brochures in his hand and then threw them aside. He groaned and dropped down on his bed. He laid on his back, facing the ceiling. The events of the tournament started replaying in his mind like a haunting reel. He could still hear the cheers of the crowd, the sounds of the strikes delivered to his opponents. He balled his fist by his side as he remembered taking them down on that mat.

Amidst the adrenaline of combat, there was always one moment that stood out, that unfortunately seared its way into his memory – Kwon’s death. The image of his final moments was vivid, the whole arena turning silent in an instant. Robby could still hear the thud as Kwon hit the ground and the sound of the eunjangdo piercing through his flesh into his heart. That and his scream was like a relentless replay that was stuck in his mind.

Robby blinked and unballed his fists when he heard a ding from his phone. He smiled as he read the text that came up.

Zara Malik: “Hey, there! Do you want to ft?”

Robby sat up on his bed and pressed on the video call button.

After a few rings, Zara’s face came up on his phone.

“Hello, there,” Robby said with a big grin.

“Hello yourself,” Zara replied, with a smile that matched his.

“What are you up to?”

“I just finished at the gym,” she said. “Now I’m here making a protein shake.” Zara held up the blender so he could see.

“No rest for the wicked, eh?” Robby said.

“Never,” she simply replied. “Tell me. How’re you feeling? How are things?”

Robby sighed, placing his hand behind his head. “Honestly, same how it was when we talked a couple of days ago. Nothing exciting.”

Since being back home in the Valley after the events in Barcelona, Zara was one of the only ones Robby spoke to aside his friends and family. He found talking to her therapeutic. She was a good listener and it’s like she always knew how to make him smile even on days when it was harder than most. Also, communicating with Zara was an escape from the routine life he was forced to come back to.

“I feel like more’s going on with you than you’re letting on,” said Zara, propping her chin on her hand, watching him closely.

“Nothing I want to bore you with.”

“I would pry it out of you, but it’s not the same with the distance,” Zara said, her eyes softening. “I do miss you.”

“I miss you too,” Robby sighed. “I miss our long conversations.”

“Well, like I said before, once things settle down a bit maybe we can plan to get together somewhere.”

“Are you sure you’ll have time for me?” Robby asked with a small smile.

Zara gave him a look. “Why would you ask that?”

“You may not have been crowned girl’s champion, but I’m sure your sponsors are keeping you busy.”

“Hey, if I want to see you and you want to see me, I can make it happen,” replied Zara, running her fingers through her hair. “Like you said, the world doesn’t revolve around being on the mat.”

Robby smiled when Zara recited his words back to him.

___________________________

Later that evening, Robby made his way down to the dealership. It was the eighteenth anniversary of LaRusso Auto, and Daniel was hosting a shindig for his closest family and friends. Robby looked around the joint and thought it was done up well. The banner, the balloons, the champagne, and the music. Everything was pretty spiffy.

Miguel and Sam came up to him. Robby looked at the couple and said, “You guys cleaned up well here. Snazzy.”

“Oh, we were at it all morning and into the afternoon,” Sam said, looking about. “My dad wanted everything to be picture perfect.”

“How’s he been holding up recently?” asked Robby. The three looked over at Daniel who was occupied mixing and mingling with his guests.

“I feel like he’s just trying to focus all his energy on his work,” Sam said, still eyeing her dad carefully.

“Trying to block out what happened in Barcelona,” Miguel then said.

“Guess it’s his way of coping,” Robby responded.

“Hey, bro, how’d your meeting with the principal go today?” Miguel asked.

Robby sighed, running a hand through his hair. “She said it’ll be impossible for me to graduate this year and that I pretty much have no shot at a future with karate.”

“Hey, come on, man,” Miguel said, slapping him on the shoulder. “How could she know that? Don’t get discouraged.”

“Yeah, I mean, the circumstances aren’t your fault,” Sam said. “And who knows what the future holds? I’m sure it’ll work out.”

The three turned their attention as Johnny and Carmen approached them.

“Hey, guys.”

“Hey, Sensei,” Miguel and Sam greeted.

“What’s up, dad?”

“I got some exciting news for you guys,” Johnny said, looking amongst them. “The tournament is back on.”

Robby was equally stunned as Miguel and Sam. They all looked at each other.

“Wait – you serious?” Robby questioned.

“Dead serious.”

“When did this happen?" asked Sam.

“Your dad got a call from the host of the Sekai Taikai, and he said if all Senseis agree…it’ll be back,” Johnny said, the excitement could be sensed in his voice.

“And he agreed?” Miguel asked.

“I’m surprised he would…” Sam said. “He hasn’t said a word about the tournament since we got back to the Valley.”

“Well, it took some convincing, but I think we finally got him on board,” Johnny said.

“We?” Robby asked curiously.

Johnny stood silent for a moment. He looked at Carmen when he felt her hand on his shoulder.

“You might as well tell them…” she softly said.

Robby’s brows now furrowed as he looked at his dad. “Dad?”

Johnny took a swig of his champagne. “Yeah, I had a little run in with Silver.”

Robby’s expression changed again. Miguel was the first one to question:

“Silver’s back in the Valley? Again?”

“When was this?” Robby sternly asked.

“Earlier today. Look guys, don’t worry about Terry Silver. You guys are getting another chance to kick ass and become world champions.” Miguel and Sam did eventually smile at the idea, but Robby still had a look of concern on his face.

“Dad, can we talk for a minute?”

“Yeah, sure,” Johnny said. They moved over to a quiet corner. Johnny couldn’t contain his enthusiasm. “Second chances don’t come along a lot. This is your chance to become—

“Dad, dad, slow down,” Robby quickly said. “Why are you making deals with Silver? Are you forgetting what happened between you two in Barcelona?”

“Of course I haven’t.”

“He always has something up his sleeve. He’s going to fight dirty,” Robby pointedly said. “And now that we’re in the finals, he’ll be ruthless as ever.”

“Listen, Robby,” Johnny placed a hand on his shoulder. “LaRusso and I have it under control. We’re going to win that tournament and you’re going to be world champion.”

Robby smiled, shaking his head. “Meaning, you bought whatever story he tried to sell you.”

“Hey, come on, what’s gotten into you?” Johnny asked, throwing his arms out. “Tournament’s back on, last round. You’re an inch closer to holding that trophy.” Robby stood staring at his dad, but a smile crept on his face. His dad was right. He wanted it and he wanted it bad. He wanted to put on his Miyagi-Do Gi, tie the captain’s band around his head and take the mat again. At last, he nodded.

“You’re right. Screw Silver,” Robby said with confidence. “This is our time. My time. Let’s do it. Let’s win this thing.”

Johnny took another swig of his drink. After swallowing he said, “That’s what I want to hear.”

Robby, Miguel, and Sam walked up to Daniel to confirm the news they just heard.

“Dad. Is it true? Is the tournament back on?” Sam asked.

Daniel exchanged looks at Johnny who stood with equal anticipation awaiting the final word. Daniel turned back and nodded. “It’s true. If that’s what you all want.”

Robby exchanged looks with Sam and Miguel. They all had looks of equal readiness and enthusiasm.

“Bring ‘em on.”

Chapter Text

XXXX

The news spread to all remaining competitors that the tournament was back on, and all fighters were in full prep mode. Robby along with the rest of Miyagi-Do suited up with their gis and went straight into all-round training. Robby specifically wanted to focus on techniques and strategy to take down Axel. His dad and the rest of the Team were great help and encouragement. Robby did feel good being able to fight again. It didn’t take long for that adrenaline rush to take over.

Daniel, Amanda and Chozen had taken a trip up north to the Ojai Valley to do wine tasting. The Team was given the opportunity to train alone. Demetri and Eli asked Robby to meet them at the dojo. They didn’t say too much, but they said they had a way that would guarantee them to win the Sekai Taikai.

“Hey, what’s up guys?” Robby approached Demetri and Eli alongside Miguel.

“Hey, there he is,” Eli said, grinning. “The future champion of the Sekai Taikai.” He said it trying to imitate Gunther Braun’s announcing voice while Miguel fist pumped, cheering him on.

“And with a new do,” Demetri added, looking at Robby’s hair.

“Last time I saw you like that, was like what? Two years ago? When we fought at the All Valley?” Eli said, also noticing Robby’s new haircut.

“Yeah, I felt it was time to cut it,” Robby said, running a hand through his hair which kept its volume, but now shorter and slicked back. “Felt like a change.”

“Stud,” Miguel said, giving him a slap on the back with an amused look.

Robby sighed and said, “Anyway, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Nobody scored a point on Axel all tournament.”

“Yeah? Well, that’s about to change,” Eli said, he and Demetri exchanging looks.

“What’s all this?” Miguel asked, looking down at the pulley which had two boxes stocked with different kinds of equipment.

“All this is how Miyagi-Do is going to win the Sekai Taikai,” Demetri said with confidence. Robby’s curiosity now piqued, wondering what his friends concocted.

XX Meanwhile at Tory’s apartment XX

Tory turned down the hall toward her apartment with a grocery bag in hand. She stopped when she noticed Sam sitting in front of her apartment door.

“LaRusso?”

“Yeah,” Sam said, slinging her mauve duffle bag over her shoulder.

“What are you doing here?” Tory asked, not expecting to see her.

“The Miyagi-Do boys are training together. And I know we have to fight each other in the semis, but I figured if I’m going to fight the best, I wanna train with the best,” Sam said sounding hopeful.

Tory shook her head. “I’m not fighting. I quit.” She walked past her and opened the door to her apartment.

“Wait, what?”

“You should be happy. One less person for you to fight.”

“Have you talked to anyone about this?”

“I don’t need to talk to anyone about anything,” Tory said, turning to face Sam. “I’m not putting that Cobra Kai gi on ever again. You’re not gonna convince me otherwise.”

“That means I advance to the finals,” Sam said, while Tory mindlessly put away her groceries. “I have to fight you-know-who.”

“Nobody deserves to get their ass kicked more than that bitch,” Tory pointedly said. “Only now…there’s a new obstacle with that.”

Sam shifted uncomfortably, knowing right away what she was referring to. “You’re talking about Robby. You think they’re still in contact?”

“Oh, I don’t doubt it,” Tory replied. “Knowing her, she probably still has him wrapped around her diamond-clad little finger. No idea what he sees in that-…” Tory trailed off, not finishing her sentence. She merely continued to put away her groceries.

“Look, if that’s what you’re worried about. Don’t let it get to you. Finish the fight and fight for yourself. Or at least help me train to beat her.” Tory looked at Sam still uncertain. “Come on. This could be your last opportunity to try and kick me in the face.”

XX Back at Miyagi-Do dojo XX

Robby stood still while Eli strapped him up with a protective vest and arm pads. He felt like he was a human experiment as the Binary Brothers hooked him up to a computer. The receiver went off and lit up in a rainbow of colours.

“We call it Fully Integrated Generative Haptic Technology, or FIGHT,” Demetri explained. “It is the most advanced karate training program in the world.”

“Okay, but what does it do?” Robby asked.

“Put these on and you’ll see,” Eli said, handing him a headset that looked like snowboarding goggles.

At first all he could see was Miguel’s image and data analyzing and feeding through. But after a second, Miguel was no longer Miguel, he was replaced with Axel. A full-bodied, real life, but virtual Axel. Robby could hardly believe his eyes at what appeared in front of him. It was truly amazing what technology could do and what his friends were able to create.

“Woah,” he looked at the figure up and down.

“Is it cool?” Miguel said, moving his arms about and doing hip thrusts.

“This is trippy,” Robby said, now pushing the goggles over his eyes. “You weren’t lying when you said you had a way to win.”

“We uploaded data from Axel’s fights to develop an algorithm that could be fed to Miguel’s headphones.”

“So today, Miguel’s Axel. You may increase your odds of winning.”

“Okay, what are my odds now?”

The Binary Brothers looked at each other. “Well, the program is still in its infancy.”

Robby turned the laptop and looked at the screen. “I only have a twelve percent chance of winning.”

“Great odds considering the last person to fight Axel…ended up dead,” Demetri said. “Not a bad place to build from.”

Robby decided to give it a try if it increased his chances of winning. And this was quite literally the closest he’d get to facing off with the real thing in a couple of days. But unfortunately for Robby, the virtual training wasn’t going liked he’d hoped. Even though it was his best friend he was sparring with, AI Axel was just too realistic for him. He stopped and pushed the headset over his head again.

“How am I doing?”

“Uh, the AI is still calibrating,” Eli said, looking up from the laptop. Robby started to get annoyed at his friends sugarcoating the truth. He walked off the sparring deck and took another look at the laptop. His succession probability dropped by eight percent.

“Four percent?” Robby tore the velcro off his gloves and shook his head. “How about we just call it like it is. The headset’s not the problem.” He dropped the goggles on the table and walked off inside the dojo. He paced back and forth trying to gather his thoughts. Was he kidding himself? The training just brought everything back from when he faced Axel on the mat. He couldn’t find a breakthrough. If he was having this much trouble now, what chance did he stand winning the tournament?

“So, what’s it like fighting with that thing on?” Miguel asked, entering the dojo.

“It’s pretty realistic,” Robby said, still pacing back and forth. “Probably a little too realistic.”

“It doesn’t matter what the numbers say, okay? You can beat Axel.”

“I know I’m a good fighter, but clearly, I’m not the best. The numbers prove it.”

“Screw the numbers. Bro, you’re too hard on yourself.”

Robby instantly heard Zara’s voice in his head, remembering when she had told him the same thing. But it didn’t stop him from still thinking what he was thinking.

“No, I gave it everything I had last time, Miguel. It didn’t make a difference.”

“So what? You’re gonna give up just because Axel scored a few points, and you didn’t? What about when I beat you, how come you didn’t give up then?” Robby bowed his head at this. “Because you knew how far you’ve come. Remember what I told you in Barcelona, this was never supposed to be easy! Forget the computer. You’re letting your nerves take over because you’re seeing his face through a headset? Forget the tech, forget the numbers, numbers are for pussies! All that matters is whether or not you want to win!”

“Of course I do,” Robby said, his expression now turning serious.

“Then prove it,” Miguel exclaimed. “Get your ass back out there. Training isn’t over.”

Robby was stunned, looking at his best friend who stood in front of him. “Scary how much you just sounded like my dad.”

“We both know Sensei probably failed math. It wasn’t a big stretch.”

Robby smiled, suddenly feeling a lot better. He was so grateful he had Miguel to give him that shove back in line when he needed it. He straightened his shoulders and stood up tall.

“Okay. Careful what you wish for.”

“Alright! Game on!”

A second round of the virtual combat was activated. Robby started off slow but began to find his rhythm and adrenaline with his fighting. Demetri and Eli made sure to increase the complexity of the moves that they fed through to Miguel. Sometimes powerful kicks, other times quick jabs to try to throw Robby off balance. Despite the challenge, Robby thrived with each move, he even started to anticipate the next ones. He mentally took note of each move. With every strike and block, he felt himself growing more confident. Then realized he wasn’t just training to fight but preparing to take control.

“You got the technique down!” Eli shouted from the corner.

“You just need to keep honing your strategy!” Demetri yelled out after. The boys were impressed at the increasing numbers of Robby’s success rate and continued to give their encouragement.

After the intense round, they paused to catch their breath. Robby pushed the headset over his head. He grinned and Miguel’s eyes lit up with pride at his friend’s progress. The two high-fived and hugged each other.

“Man, that’s beast mode! You got this,” Miguel said, wiping the sweat off his forehead.

Robby stepped off the deck and checked his phone. His eyes rose as he read the text from his dad.

“Dude!” he exclaimed to Miguel. He looked over and noticed Miguel had the same look on his face as he checked his own phone.

A big smile spread across their faces. “My mom’s in labour.”

“We’re gonna be big brothers,” Robby said. Him a big brother, he thought to himself. It was finally happening.

The two quickly changed out of their gis and into their clothes and hurried down to the hospital. It turned out Robby was in for more than one surprise. He found his dad dressed in a tuxedo and immediately questioned what was going on. He explained how he had an entire proposal planned up with music, decorations, dinner and the works, but plans changed as he got the call that Carmen was in labour. So, if she couldn’t come to his proposal, his proposal would come to her. And that’s exactly what Robby walked into when he came into his soon-to-be stepmother’s hospital room. It was simple, but sweet. Soft music orchestrated in the background accompanied by himself, Miguel, Chozen, Daniel, and Amanda.

Despite the circumstances that happened a month ago, there was definitely magic in the air. The happiness in the room was contagious as it radiated amongst everyone. Robby smiled big as pastor Bobby recited the vows at his dad and Carmen. The worries and doubt Robby was facing seemed to disappear in the moment.

“Johnny Lawrence, you may now kiss your bride,” Bobby happily announced to his long-time friend.

The couple laughed in happiness as they sealed their union with a kiss. Everyone started applauding. But the moment was cut short, when Carmen moaned in pain against her husband’s mouth. She grasped his shirt.

“Woo! Baby’s coming.”

Everyone gasped and looked at each other with excitement and anticipation. Johnny quickly shooed everyone out of the room.

Robby sat in silence outside. He twiddled his fingers, feeling more anxious with every passing minute. Then finally, after long last, his dad came out the room looking tired, emotional, and over the moon at the same time.

“Alright. You guys ready to meet her?”

Everybody got up from their seats and quietly but excitedly entered the room. Robby felt his breath catch in his throat. He felt his heart start to beat faster, almost exploding with happiness as he looked down at the beautiful bundle in Carmen’s arms. It was an indescribable feeling.

“Meet baby Laura. She’s named after Johnny’s mother. And she’s perfect.”

And that’s exactly what she was. She was perfect. Everyone was in awe. There was a new addition to the family. Robby never would’ve imagined this would be happening. The other day he was a law-fracturing menace to society, angry at the world and literally made an enemy out of nearly everyone who stood in this room. Now he was on the verge of becoming a world karate champion and he was now a big brother. Someone’s protector. He had a new reason and motivation to keep fighting.

“Welcome to the Valley, Laura,” Johnny whispered, tenderly kissing his newborn daughter on her forehead. “Your brothers and I are going to bring you home a trophy.”

Robby exchanged a proud smile with Miguel. He was determined now more than ever to win the Sekai Taikai and bring home that championship.

After a few minutes, Robby felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He tore his eyes away from Laura for the first time. Another smile crept along his face as he saw the text that came up. It read:

Zara Malik: I’m in the Valley!

Looks like little Laura wasn’t the only newly arrival to the Valley.

Chapter Text

XXXX

The previous day’s excitement still lingered, but today’s excitement and anticipation were different. After a month of not seeing her, Robby was finally going to reunite with Zara. They agreed to meet up at a bar and lounge that was nestled in a corner of the Valley, and which was of reasonable distance from the hotel Zara was staying at.

Robby was already sat at a corner table in the lounge. His knee bobbed up and down as he sat twiddling his fingers. He knew he was early, but he looked at the time on his phone anyway. They agreed to meet up for around noon. It was only ten to. Even though they’d only spent about a week together, he missed her more than he could put into words. The texts and video calls couldn’t compare to seeing her in person. Another five minutes passed, and Robby looked at his phone again. He still had five minutes, but he couldn’t help the feeling of anxiousness.

Just as he was about to check his phone once more, the door to the lounge swung open with a gentle chime. Robby looked up, and there she was. Zara stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room until they met his. Her radiant smile lit up her face.

He stood up from his seat and let out a breath. “Zara.”

Zara moved gracefully through the lounge, her presence drawing the admiring eyes of a few male patrons.

“Hey, stranger,” she said, her eyes sparkling.

She reached the table and Robby immediately embraced her, feeling a sense of happiness and relief.

“How are you? How’ve you been?” Zara asked, as they embraced. She thought it was cute how the hug lingered, and he clung onto her longer than expected. Nevertheless, she hugged him back. “Hey, this is quite a hug.” Robby did eventually let her go. She looked up at him with a wide grin. “Did you miss me?”

“Yeah, I did,” Robby said, with a smile that matched hers.

“I missed you too,” Zara responded. She leaned in and pressed her lips against his. Robby responded. When the two pulled apart, Zara gave him another look. “You look really handsome.” She ran a finger down the black t-shirt he’d chose to wear with a pair of blue jeans. Her hand went up to his hair, noticing his new cut.

“Thank you,” Robby responded. It was his turn to look her up and down. “And you…always look good.” Zara blushed and giggled. Robby chuckled at what he said as his face went red, but it wasn’t a lie. She looked stunning. She wore a white button-up blouse that complimented her figure completely, and a pair of black leggings. Her hair was now straightened instead of wavy like before.

“Thank you,” she said. Her fingers entwined with his. “Come on, let’s sit down.”

“Welcome to the Valley,” Robby said, sitting down across from her.

“Thank you,” Zara said, getting comfortable in her seat. “It’s nice to be somewhere that’s calmer and quiet for a change.”

Robby smirked and said, “Not quite Barcelona, right?”

Zara smiled at him. “Not quite, no. But like I said, it’s a nice change.”

“Right,” Robby said, his smile not breaking.

One of the servers brought them over some drinks.

“So, come on,” Zara said, taking a sip of her drink. “Tell me. What have you been up to in the past month?”

“Hmm…well before I found out the tournament was back on…it was pretty much a shit show for everyone. It was hard to go back to normal, because…I felt like there was nothing to look forward to.”

“In what sense?” asked Zara. “You did seem a little down when we would talk.”

“In the sense that…” Robby trailed off, not really wanting to be reminded of the past conversations about his future. “Never mind. Anyway, on a better note,” Robby smiled, “I’m officially a big brother.”

Zara’s face lit up once more. “Oh my gosh, Robby! That’s amazing. Show me pictures!” Robby showed her a few pictures of baby Laura. Some of them were of her coddled in her parents’ arms and others of her in her cot in the hospital room. “She’s perfect.”

“Her name is Laura. She was named after my late grandmother. My dad’s mom.”

“That is sweet,” Zara softly said, “Did you get to hold her?”

“I did, but only for a few minutes.”

“I’m happy for you and your family.”

“That’s not all that transpired last night,” Robby continued to tell Zara of the wedding that took place before his sister was born. How it was so last minute, but perfect at the same time. Zara told him that sometimes things happen at the perfect time and when they’re supposed to.

“I understand what you mean by it being like a magical moment,” Zara said, sipping from her straw. “It was the same for me when Kiyush was born. It felt like it was just yesterday. Now he’s growing up way too fast for my liking.” Zara chuckled to herself.

Robby smiled at her. He leaned forward and rested his arms on the table. “How’ve things been for you since the tournament?”

“Well, we’ve hardly had anytime to process all that happened,” Zara said, looking at her drink. “My Sensei wanted us to go into all training mode even after we left Spain. Especially for me and Axel.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet,” Robby replied, looking at her intently.

Zara nodded. “He’s been pushing us to our limits, and sometimes it feels like we can barely catch a breath, but it’ll all be worth it, you know? We want to win.”

Robby leaned back, taking in her words. “Yeah, I get that. Make sure you stay balanced though. No matter what happens, balance is important.”

Zara smiled appreciatively. “That’s true. Thanks, Robby.”

After a while, they ordered some food and just continued to chat and enjoy each other’s company.

“How’s your training going? Are you ready to face Axel again?”

“Getting there,” Robby said, shrugging his shoulders. “I’ve been just trying to remember where I was before and where I want to be when I step back on the mat. He can put up a fight, but I won’t back down.”

Zara smiled, admiring his words. “Good to hear. I know you won’t.” She raised her glass. “To us and may the best dojo win.”

Robby lifted his glass and clinked it with hers. “Cheers.”

“Before I forget,” Zara continued, another smile spreading across her face, “I have some exciting news myself.”

“Yeah?”

“My sponsors are flying in my parents to the Valley so they could be here for the finals.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Zara, that’s awesome,” Robby said, genuinely happy for her. “I can imagine you must miss them, being all over the place.”

“Yeah, I do. It’s been a while since they’ve watched me compete live and…” Zara averted her eyes for a moment, but then shyly said, “I’d like them to meet you.”

“Why?” Robby simply asked.

“Robby…you protected me from Kwon when he had that dagger. My parents saw everything.”

Robby shook his head, remembering how Kwon was ready to take out anyone who stood in his way to prove he was the best. “Kwon was gunning for me. He couldn’t stand the fact that I beat him. At the end he lost his life rather than a big defeat. I wasn’t gonna let him go after you. But I wouldn’t really call it heroic.”

“How about we call it admirable?”

“Alright, I’ll take that.”

“Anyway, I’m not expecting you to buy me a ring,” Zara said, smirking at him. “But I just want to give them a face to the name. Only if you feel comfortable, of course. If you don’t want to, I totally understand.”

Robby’s eyes softened, he sighed and put his hand on top of hers. “I’d love to meet your parents. Why not?”

Zara smiled warmly, her eyes glistening with gratitude. “Thank you, Robby.”

“Okay, let’s finish this food before it gets cold,” said Robby.

Zara giggled, “Okay.”

They continued their meal, enjoying the comfortable silence that fell between them. As the last bite was taken and the plates were cleared, Zara looked at Robby with a confident and inviting smile.

“Do you have to be anywhere right now?”

“No, I’m free for a while,” Robby answered, “What did you have in mind?”

“I was wondering,” Zara responded, eyeing him intently, but carefully, “if you’d like to go back to my hotel and hang out for a bit.”

“Sure,” Robby said, almost immediately. He was having a hard time tearing his eyes away from her. Zara made a gesture to get the bill, but Robby stopped her and insisted that he’d cover it. She was a visitor after all.

When they got to her hotel, Zara led Robby to her room. As soon as they were inside, Robby’s mouth was on hers. Zara responded with equal favour, a connection they both seemed to crave.

“So,” Zara said when they pulled apart. She turned and dropped the key on the dresser. She cheekily smiled at him. “I think it’s time I showed you a little bit more how much I missed you.” She started unbuttoning her blouse, her eyes not looking away from his.

Robby smiled as he watched her. He took a step closer, his hands reaching out to gently rest on her hips. He peered now at her chest for a moment then looked back up at her. He whispered:

“I think that idea sounds pretty good.” He gently pushed the blouse off her shoulders, revealing her perfect and toned body.

Zara leaned in and pressed her lips against his. Robby held her close and feverishly kissed her back. Her hands went up his shirt, lifting it up. Robby helped her take it off. Zara held him tight as he roughly pulled her back against him and reattached his lips with hers. Her eyes closed and she smiled and gasped as she felt Robby’s mouth on her neck. The passion started to override and there was a fire between them that ignited. Robby groaned when he felt her fingernails dig into his back as the two dropped down on the bed.

Later, the couple lay peacefully just taking in the moment.

“You know, that was amazing,” Zara said, as she laid with her head on his chest.

“Yeah, it was,” Robby replied, as he played with her hair.

“Don’t think I forgot though how you brushed me off earlier when I asked you what was wrong,” Zara said, sliding her fingers across his chest.

Robby chuckled. “Yeah, I know you wouldn’t have.”

Zara lifted her head to look at him. “Tell me. What is it?”

Robby started telling Zara about the conversation he had with the principal at his school.

“And everyone was just “Robby should do this, and Robby should do that, and Robby should consider--…it was almost as if I wasn’t there. I mean don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the support they were all giving me. But I guess a lot of it was not knowing if I’ll be able to get anywhere with karate. Small-town boy from the Valley.”

“Robby…you’re doing it again. Selling yourself short. You’re a great fighter.”

“I know I’m a pretty good fighter.”

“Well,” Zara propped her elbow up and rested her face on her hand. “I think the first step is to ask yourself, what is it that you want? Are you sure it’s something you want to pursue?”

Robby turned his head and smiled at her. “You know, you’re the first person to properly ask me that.”

Zara smiled back, her eyes softening. “Well, I’d like to know. So, Robby, what do you want? What makes you feel alive?”

Robby sighed deeply, his eyes drifting to the ceiling as if searching for an answer there. “The sex we just had definitely made me feel alive.”

Zara laughed at this as did Robby. “I’m glad you were satisfied.”

“You know that karate’s helped me so much in my life. And once I learned balance and how to use my karate for something else other than fighting…that’s when I realized that I want it. It’s something that I can’t imagine not ever doing in the future.”

Zara’s hand found his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Then that’s what you’ll do. If you really want it. It doesn't matter what anyone else says or thinks. You just have to believe it.”

Robby turned his gaze back to Zara, feeling warmth spread through him. “Thanks.”

“How’s your training going?” Zara then asked, putting her head back down on his chest. “You seem a lot more confident today then you did when we talked about it before.”

“Yeah, like I said, I know he’s not gonna be easy to beat and I have had my moments of self-doubt…but I’ll come through. I mean, I got to fight an AI Axel so…it was cutting it pretty close.”

Zara frowned against his chest. “A what?”

Robby let out a chuckle. He squeezed her closer against him. “It’s something my friends put together, don’t ask me how…but it was too real.”

“Did it help?”

“Yeah, it did. Helped me find my rhythm and strategy.” They lapsed into a comfortable silence, simply enjoying each other’s presence until Robby spoke again. “You know, I noticed you haven’t been posting on your social media or livestreaming like you used to.”

“Hmm,” Zara sighed, “Yeah, after what happened at the tournament…I just decided to cool it for a bit.”

“Okay. Got it.”

Zara frowned when she noticed him smiling. “What?”

“Nothing. That was very thoughtful of you.”

Zara rolled her eyes but smiled. “I have an idea,” she lifted herself off the bed. “Get dressed.”

“Why? What’s up?”

“We’re going to train.”

“Train?”

“Yes, a champion never stops training,” Zara said, putting on her clothes.

“I was actually quite comfortable here.”

“Come on,” Zara said, throwing his shirt to him. “The hotel’s got a fair size gym downstairs. We’ll go there.”

“For real? You want to do this?”

“Yes, I’m all for it.” Zara said, giving him a wink.

Robby stayed silent for a minute but then followed suit.

As they made their way to the gym, Robby spoke up again. “Hey.” He pulled Zara back, making her turn around. “Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, you told me your Sensei doesn’t like you hanging around your opponents. Now you want to help me train.”

Zara reached out for his hands. “Robby, you rushed in to protect me against someone wielding a knife at me. It’s the least I can do for you. I don’t want to think that I’m not appreciative for what you did. It’s not like I’m revealing any secrets.”

“A little outside training wouldn’t hurt,” Robby said, following her to the corner of the gym which had sufficient space for karate movement.

Robby removed his shirt and stood one side while Zara stood on the other.

“I remember you started off in full offense mode against Axel,” Zara said, tying her hair back. “So, let’s switch it around. You start with defense, and don’t let me through, whatever you do. Axel is not as agile as I am, but when it comes out of him…it does come out. When you see an opportunity, go for it.”

Robby gave a determined nod. “Got it. Serve it up.” He readied himself in his fighting position. “Ais!”

Zara lunged forward with a swift jab, testing Robby's reflexes. He deflected her strike, stepping back to maintain his balance. She followed with a quick succession of punches, each one met with a deflecting block.

“Keep it up!" Zara encouraged, her movements fluid and relentless. She switched up her attacks, combining high kicks with low sweeps, forcing him to constantly adjust his defense.

Robby's focus sharpened. He began to anticipate her moves, his blocks becoming more precise. A low kick aimed at his leg was met with a solid block, and he countered with an upward strike, which Zara deflected with ease.

"Remember to stay light on your feet," Zara advised, circling around him. "Axel will try to overpower you with brute strength. It’ll give you a chance to use your power and agility.” Robby nodded, adjusting his stance. As Zara came at him again, he moved more fluidly, evading her attacks with quicker footwork. Zara's eyes gleamed with approval as she intensified her assault, pushing him to his limits. "Now, look for an opening," she instructed, launching a series of rapid punches. "Find that moment when I'm off balance." Robby's eyes narrowed, his focus unwavering. He waited, his body coiled like a spring. But he seized the opportunity a little too quick, making him hesitate slightly. Zara caught on to this and immediately took him down with a front kick. Robby yelped slightly as he fell back. Zara now stood still, breathing in and out. She dropped her arms and sighed.

“Damn!” Robby said with some frustration. “So close.”

“Robby, that was too easy…come on…” Zara went and sat herself on his lap when he sat up.

“Yeah, I know…easy slip,” Robby groaned.

“Your defense is on point,” Zara said, with a small smile.

“Yeah, well, for me it was all defense I learned before offense,” Robby said to her. “That’s Miyagi-Do karate.” Zara nodded at him. Robby eyed her intently. “Hey. Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“What are we doing? I mean…we’ve been spending time together, we’ve been getting pretty close. Very close. We’re from two different dojos, two different worlds…so…”

Zara blushed, looking down at her fingers. “We have been getting really close. I did want to ask…are you truly over Nichols?”

Robby's expression softened as he let out a deep breath. "Yeah, I am. I’ll always care for her. She hasn’t had it easy. But we both know where we stand.” Zara smiled, running her fingers down his shoulder. A small smile tugged at Robby's lips. "We just have to tread carefully for now. Our dojos... they may not understand."

"I know," Zara replied, determination flickering in her eyes. "But maybe it's time to change that. Maybe we can show them that we don't have to be enemies."

Robby reached out and took her hand, squeezing it gently. "Then let's do it. Together."

Zara's smile mirrored his as she leaned in, resting her forehead against his. "Together," she echoed. For a moment, they stayed like that, savouring the closeness and the promise of what could be. Eventually, Zara stood up, pulling Robby to his feet. "Come on, let's get back to training. We still have a lot to work on."

Robby chuckled, shaking off the last remnants of their last spar. "Alright, but this time, I'm going to find that opening."

Zara grinned, her competitive spirit flaring up. "I'd like to see you try, Robby. Bring it on."

As they resumed their sparring, there was a newfound energy between them, a blend of rivalry and mutual respect that fueled their movements. Each punch, each kick, was a step closer to not just mastering their martial arts but also understanding their bond better.

Chapter Text

XXXX

There was a pre-fight coverage of the Sekai Taikai airing on tv. Robby sat watching with his family. Clips of each remaining fighter flashed on the screen.

“Robby, you’re famous,” Carmen excitedly said, tapping Robby on his knee.

“Feel good?” Miguel asked, beside him.

“Yeah, I mean, I feel a little nervous,” Robby said, with baby Laura mewing in Johnny’s arms. “Last time I fought Axel, it didn’t go too well, and there’ll be a lot more people watching this one. But I’m feeling a lot better than I was before.”

“Hey, forget about who’s watching and screw the cameras,” Johnny said to him.

Old footage of Johnny’s fight with Daniel at the All Valley thirty-five years ago aired. Robby shook his head at Daniel taking down his dad with the crane kick.

“Man, I never get tired of seeing that kick, it’s badass,” Robby said. He turned and looked at Johnny. “No offence, dad.” Miguel sniggered at the comment.

Johnny cleared his throat. He took another sip of his beer before glumly saying, “None taken.”

“I did it too at my first All Valley,” Miguel added.

“True, but nothing beats the OG,” Robby said smirking at his stepbrother.

“Alright, enough, here comes my interview,” Johnny said, pointing to the tv. “Turn it up.”

Unfortunately, Johnny’s one-hour interview was cut to less than a minute, leaving him annoyed and disappointed. He was hoping to see himself in the spotlight again for once. The interview then shifted to Silver who so easily spewed a web of lies with his natural, and calm composure.

“And what would you say to those concerned about your alleged history of tournament cheating?” the interviewer asked.

“One of the ugly truths of our society is people find joy in coming after those on top and that’s exactly what my Iron Dragons are: undefeated and on top.”

Robby scoffed and shook his head.

“Hey,” Miguel nudged him, “You, okay?”

“Yeah, nothing he says surprises me anymore,” Robby said.

“You think he might try something?”

“Oh, I know he will. It’s just a matter of what and when,” Robby simply said. “Remember, all he cares about is himself and winning. Doesn’t matter who he brings down in between.”

The Iron Dragons’ emblem appeared on the screen. Sensei Wolf, Axel, and Zara were next to appear. Robby felt relieved to see her face rather than Silver’s. He watched as she showcased her skillful movement with the bo staff.

“She’s a real advocate for female empowerment,” one of the journalists said.

“I want to be able to lift people up with my martial arts,” Zara said, “especially females. It’s not just about fighting. it’s about inspiring them to be champions. Competing hard is one thing, but at the end of the day, we’re all winners.”

A small smile crept across Robby’s face. He felt Miguel give him another nudge. Miguel gave him a knowing nod, making him smile again. He and Miguel hadn’t really talked much about his relationship with Zara, but Robby could see that he was starting to see that Zara was making him happy.

XX A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER XX

Robby, Miguel, and Johnny pulled up at the All Valley Sports Arena. The parking lot was already packing up with fans holding signs, supporting their favourite fighters and dojos. Coach buses stood parked as competitors exited them.

Robby stepped out of the van, alongside Miguel. He looked toward the building of the arena.

“Phew,” Miguel said. “Brings back some memories, huh?”

Robby sighed. “Yeah, good ones for you. You won here.” Miguel smiled and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Robby continued to stare ahead. Today was the day his whole life could change. He could be named a world karate champion.

“Hey, guys, go sign in. I’ll grab the bags,” Johnny said from behind them.

“Okay,” Robby took a breath. “Here we go.”

“So…you gonna make me ask?” Miguel said, as the two walked toward the entrance.

“What?”

“Come on, man, you and Zara…you must be happy she’s here and I take it you’ve seen her already…”

“Yeah, I did…we met up yesterday actually,” Robby said. There was a tint of red on his cheeks.

“Nice.”

“She helped me out with a little bit of training.”

“For real?”

“Yeah…” Robby stopped by the entrance and turned to look at Miguel. “Hey, look, I know you may not like the idea—"

“No, Robby,” Miguel held his hand up. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you smile about anything. Not saying that I trust her a hundred percent, but…there must be something there if you guys are still connected despite everything that’s happened.”

Robby shrugged his shoulders and laughed under his breath. “I don’t know, bro. There’s just something about her…I can’t keep away.”

Miguel gave his stepbrother a nod. “I just hope that…whatever happens on the mat…it doesn’t mess anything up.”

“Yeah, me too,” Robby said, sighing. He and Miguel looked up at the entrance.

“Ready for this?” Miguel asked, sounding pumped.

“Let’s do this!” Robby said, holding up his fist.

Miguel gave him a fist bump. “Let’s go, champ!”

When they walked through the doors, the buzz of energy hit them. Competitors gathered around, guests chatted excitedly while getting their food at the concession stands, promotors and sponsors were Tabeling and handing out brochures. The boys signed in and Johnny came in not too long after them.

After changing into his karate gi, Robby entered the arena area. The Sekai Taikai was once again, in full swing. Banners held high, the four remaining dojos were shown on the big screen, and guests were starting to come in and take their seats in the stands. The atmosphere was electric, and the tension palpable as Robby took in the sights and sounds of the arena. It fueled his determination.

The excitement of the crowd was a constant hum in his ears as he made his way through the arena. He scanned the area and spotted Zara near the edge of the mat. She was engaged in conversation with some sponsors, her lively demeanor drawing their attention. She turned and smiled as she saw Robby approaching her. She finished off her conversation with them before giving him her full attention.

“Hey,” Zara said, stepping closer to him.

“Hello,” Robby greeted her, his hands going behind his back. “I know we probably won’t have a lot of time to talk before we get started, but…I wanted to say thank you again for yesterday.”

Zara reached up and stroked his face. “Don’t worry about it. How do you feel? All set?”

“Had some pre-fight jitters, but I’m ready,” Robby said, trying to sound nonchalant. Zara gave him a nod. Her smile slightly faded as she looked over Robby’s shoulder. Robby turned in the direction of her eyes. He noticed Silver standing across the mat. He stood next to Sensei Wolf, his eyes locked with Robby’s. It was the serious, but cocky gaze Robby had recognized. He turned back to Zara. “You, okay?”

“Yeah, I’m good.”

“I’ve seen that look before,” Robby said. “He’s trying to tell you something. Don’t let it get to you.”

“You know…I’m starting to see what you were talking about in Spain…I admit he knows his stuff, but it’s just his—"

“Motive,” Robby said, tying the captain’s band around his head. He then took Zara’s hand in his. “Hey, I’m here for you, no matter what happens. Remember what I said.”

Zara squeezed his hand tightly, nodding in affirmation. “Thanks, Robby. That means a lot.”

Suddenly, a voice called out for Zara from behind. “Didi!”

Zara turned and her expression softened as she saw a little boy running towards her. His small frame filled with energy and excitement, and his eyes wide with love and admiration.

“Kiyush! There you are!” she exclaimed, kneeling to catch him in a tight embrace. The little boy threw his arms around her neck. His brown eyes sparkling with joy and warmth as he held onto her. Robby stood watching from behind, thinking how adorable it was the way he wrapped himself around Zara.

She cupped his face in her hands when they pulled apart. “I missed you, baby. So much.”

“I missed you too, Didi,” Kiyush replied, giving her a peck on the cheek.

“Where’re Mom and Daddy?”

“They’re coming,” the little boy pointed behind him in the crowd.

Zara stood up and turned back to Robby, with Kiyush still holding onto her hand. “Robby, this is my little brother, Kiyush. Kiyush, do you want to say hello?”

The little boy looked up at Robby. His eyes filled with curiosity. “Hi,” he shyly said.

“Hey, dude,” Robby held out his fist. Kiyush smiled and hit it hard with his. “You excited to watch the matches and cheer for your sister?”

Kiyush nodded vigorously, his enthusiasm notable. “She is the best! No matter what!”

Zara smiled down at him and rubbed his hair affectionately. “He’s my ride or die until the end.”

“There they are!” Kiyush pointed toward a couple who was making their way through the crowd. Their faces lighting up as they approached. Zara’s face broke into a wide smile as the couple came to them.

“He ran off from us when he saw you,” the older woman said, looking down at her son, giving him a disapproving look.

“Sorry, mom,” said Kiyush, still clutching Zara’s hand.

“Robby, these are my parents,” Zara said, gesturing towards them. “Rai and Joyti.”

“Mom, dad, this is Robby Keene.”

Zara’s dad extended a hand to Robby with a firm grip, his eyes warm and welcoming, but stern at the same time. His dark hair, slightly greying at the temples. “Nice to meet you, young man. Zara’s told us a lot about you.”

“All good things, I hope,” Robby replied with a smile.

Joyti, with her long, jet-black hair neatly tied back, laughed softly, her eyes twinkling. "Of course, dear. Thank you for looking out for Zara. And you are a fine fighter yourself, Robby.”

“Thank you very much,” Robby said, standing proudly.

“We should go take our seats,” Zara’s father said, with his deep voice. “Best of luck to the both of you. Come now, Kiyush. Let’s go.”

Kiyush reluctantly let go of his sister’s hand, but gave her one more long hug, wishing her all the luck. He trailed off behind his parents but then stopped and turned around. He ran towards Robby and gave him a quick hug as well.

Robby looked at Zara who smiled at her brother’s sweet gesture. Robby gently tapped him on the back before the little boy took off behind his parents.

Robby and Zara exchanged knowing looks. She thanked him for meeting her parents. He shook his head telling her not to worry about it. He complimented the bond she had with her brother as well. He could see how much he adored Zara. Zara explained to Robby that “Didi” meant big sister in Hindi, and it was what Kiyush would call her out of respect.

Just then, a sudden announcement boomed through the speakers, signaling the start of the tournament. The crowd's roar intensified as the competitors prepared themselves, each one focused on the upcoming matches.

Zara tip toed and kissed him. “Good luck.”

“Same to you,” Robby said. The two went back to their dojos and stood on their respective sides as returning host, Gunther Braun took his place in the middle of the mat.

“Of the world’s sixteen best dojos, it’s all come down to our final three. The Iron Dragons… Miyagi-Do karate… and Cobra Kai!” It was a full house, and all dojos had supporters. It was quite apparent as the arena filled with cheers, yells, and applause. The audience then stood on their feet and fighters bowed their heads as there was a moment of silence to honour Kwon’s death. The anticipation was felt as the competitors tightened their belts and adjusted their uniforms. The energy in the arena was electrifying, with spectators eagerly waiting for the first match to begin. Zara and Robby exchanged a final glance and nodded to one another, both filled with mutual respect and commitment.

As Gunther Braun finished his introduction, referee and former All Valley champion Darryl Vidal took his position on the mat.

“For our first match or should I say rematch,” Braun said into his mic again, “Axel Kovačević versus Robby Keene.”

Taking deep breaths, Robby turned his attention to his Senseis.

“Robby, you can do this,” Daniel said with an encouraging smile. Robby gave him a nod.

“Lock in. Trust your skills,” Chozen said sternly. Robby nodded at him next.

“It doesn’t matter what happened last time. It doesn't matter how many people are watching. It’s just you and him on the mat. You trained for this. You’re ready,” Johnny said after. Robby took another sharp breath before nodding at his dad. He bowed at his three Senseis.

He then faced forward, his mind clear, his body tense but ready. Axel stood across the mat, his eyes locked onto Robby with intense focus. Robby could hear the energy of the crowd as their cheers and applause fed into him. The mat beneath him seemed to vibrate with intensity of his steps as if entering a battlefield.

Vidal now in position, ordering fighters to bow to him and then to each other. “Fighting stance!”

Robby’s muscles coiled as he got into his stance. He was ready for action. “Ais!”

“Fight.”

Axel struck first, a swift kick aimed at Robby's midsection. Robby blocked. He evaded Axel’s second kick to the head, which was even more powerful. Robby knew that every move would count. He did a flip to the side. Axel’s aggression was met with Robby’s discipline, each seeking to find the other’s weakness. Robby’s virtual training came flashing through his mind as he dodged Axel’s fierce and fast strikes. He took a leap and got him with a round-house kick under the arm.

“Point!” Vidal yelled.

Robby felt a surge of adrenaline. The crowd cheered as did his teammates when he earned the first point. The scoreboard marked one.

Zara’s voice came into his head: Keep to your strength and agility, then find that opening.

The crowd started to chant Robby’s name. Axel stood there looking shocked that he was able to land a hit. Silver and Sensei Wolf were equally surprised. Robby stayed in his stance and at the ready, not wanting to waver for a second.

Axel turned around and growled in frustration. His eyes now blazing fiercely, as he got into another fighting stance. One that no one had seen before. Robby staggered on his feet for a second, a little stunned at how fast his opponent could flick an internal switch. Axel was pissed already. Robby tightened his focus, sensing Axel’s shift in strategy and temperament. Axel charged forward, launching a new series of attacks.

Robby tried to activate his defence mode, but his reaction time faltered. Axel’s fists connected swiftly. It didn’t take Robby long to notice that these were moves that he’s never seen Axel use nor were they a part of his ‘programming.’ He did his best to adjust on the spot, but Axel’s power along with his agility came out. Zara was right, when his offense came out, it came out. Before Robby knew it, two points were earned against him. Axel’s movements were unyielding, Robby was finding it harder to maintain his balance and stay steady on his feet. Axel was on him, pulling on him like a ragged doll. He broke his defense and landed a solid punch and push on Robby’s chest.

“Point!” Vidal’s voice echoed. The horn blared. Tension rose as the scoreboard now showed Axel’s five-point advantage, leaving Robby at one point. He eyed him intensely, before walking past him back to his corner. He took a deep breath and exhaled sharply.

He bent down, facing his dad and Daniel, trying to catch his breath. “He’s a machine. He literally reprogrammed himself right in front of me.”

“He adapted,” Johnny said. “Now you adapt.”

Robby sighed. “I don’t know if I can.”

“Robby Keene not knowing how to adapt. That’s a first,” Daniel said, eyeing him knowingly. “You’ve never had things easy, Robby. You’ve been knocked down every which way more times than anyone I’ve ever known.” Robby lifted his head and stood up, resolution coming to his eyes. “But you’ve also gotten back up more times too. You stood up to Kreese. To Silver. Whenever you knew something was wrong, you stood up. Even when you had to do it alone.” Daniel proudly looked on at Robby as did his teammates. “You turned your rival into your best friend. You patched things up with your dad. No one has adapted more than you.” Daniel’s words hung in the air. He felt the weight of the inspiration press down on him. “So, tell me. Can you do it again?” Robby smiled and bowed once more to his Senseis. The crowd started applauding once more as he turned and walked back onto the mat in a more calm and confident manner. He knew he had to dig deep to rekindle the resilience and adaptability his Senseis believed in.

Zara stood at the Dragons’ corner, looking on in intent. She smiled as she saw Robby come forward more at ease. Vidal drew his hand in between the two fighters. Robby got in his fighting stance. “Ais.”

“Fight!”

This time the combat commenced with a bit more duality. Robby anticipated Axel’s moves, his movement showed more fluidity. He kept light on his feat and maintained precise balance. Axel doubled up on his power, sensing Robby’s approach. The crowd was on the edge of their seats, the tension evident as the two fighters clashed. Axel’s forearm collided into Robby’s face like a sledgehammer.

“Point!”

Robby quickly recovered, delivering some rapid blocks before striking Axel’s chest.

“Point!” Vidal yelled again.

Axel roared in frustration, his aggression starting to fuel.

Zara noticed Silver starting to get frustrated himself. She simply stood her ground and continued to watch on.

Robby bobbed up and down on his feet, still at the ready. Axel regained another point, landing a hit on Robby’s chest. Robby countered his next attack with a 360-spin kick to Axel’s face. The crowd cheered louder around the arena at Robby’s force and diligence. He did not waver, he was no longer just in defence, he was in the fight. His power started to surge through him. The kick had left Axel reeling.

“Come on!” Robby yelled at his opponent. Axel may have gained the lead, but Robby gained control.

Their movements were now like a dance of skill, pressure, and willpower. Each fighter refusing to back down, each of them earning one point after the other.

Robby saw his moment, he saw the opening he was looking for and with all the strength he could muster, he leaped into the air, his body twisting like a coiled spring. He delivered a flying kick to Axel’s face resulting in a resounding thud.

Robby felt blood rush through his body and up to his head and yelled: “Aiiiis.”

“Point, Keene!” The horn then blared, accompanied with the sound of cheer and joy around the arena. The audience, including Zara’s family stood on their feet applauding Robby. It was a whirlwind of action. Robby eyed Axel, a grin spreading across his face. The scoreboard updated to six-eleven. Robby walked back to his corner. He was met with smiles from his dojo.

“That’s great. You got five points,” Daniel said.

“Yeah, but so did he.”

“Yeah. So what?” Johnny replied. “Now you see he’s not a machine. He’s human. But if you want to catch up, you have to get a knockdown.”

“Oi,” Chozen stepped forward. “Knock him on his ass!” The Master Sensei meant business.

Robby marched back onto the mat with a purpose. His fists were clenched, ready to end this.

“You got this, bro!” he heard Miguel yell from behind.

Vidal centered his hand and looked between the two boys. “This is it, gentlemen. Final round.” Robby got into his last fighting stance. Axel did the same. “Fight!”

The final round began with a flurry of strikes and blocks. Robby was determined to not let Axel through. The adrenaline surged through his veins. He yelled and leaped in the air, executing a perfectly timed flying roundhouse kick, aiming for Axel’s face with all the strength he could manage, wanting to knock him down. However, with a swift motion, Axel caught his leg mid-air, twisting his body to throw him to the ground with brutal force.

There was no way Robby could break out of his hold and before he knew it, he was lying flat on his back on the mat as he felt his bone in his knee crack. He cried out in anguish. “AHHHHHHHHH.” His cries echoed through out the arena, silencing the crowd. Their cheers turned into a gasp. Robby curled up on the mat and wailed in agony. His screams were heart wrenching.

From the Iron Dragons corner, Zara felt her heart race at what she just witnessed. Without thinking, she rushed onto the mat past Axel who stood a few feet away.

“Robby!” she shouted, her voice filled with concern as she knelt beside him.

Robby groaned through his gritted teeth. He could barely open his eyes, trying to catch his breath while battling the excruciating pain. “Argh! Zara, it’s my knee!”

Johnny came over and knelt beside his son, checking him over. The arena was now being flooded with boos and shouts of displeasure. Braun was trying his best to calm the concerned crowd. Chozen quickly restrained Miguel from charging at Axel. Another brawl was the last thing that needed to happen. Zara’s mom held Kiyush close as the small boy looked quite shaken up at what had happened to Robby.

Daniel called for the medics. “Hey, shouldn’t that be a disqualification?” He anxiously asked Vidal.

“From what I saw, they both got tangled up, and they both hit the mat. So, no point scored.”

Daniel despite his objections, gave in, knowing there was nothing the ref could do.

Zara took in what the ref said. She slowly lifted her head and caught eyes with her Sensei who was giving her a very cold and dangerous gaze as Robby continued to groan out in pain beside her. The medics eventually lifted Robby up slowly and took him away.

“Robby Keene has fifteen minutes to return to the mat,” Braun announced. “If Keene is unable to return, Axel Kovačević will be awarded the win.”

Zara walked back to her corner of the mat. She felt both her Sensei’s and Silver’s eyes burning into her, but she pushed the feeling aside. She knew she’d be suffering the consequences at the hands of her Sensei for breaking rank. Axel gave her a different look. It was a look of plead. He wanted to say something but fell quiet. He stared after her as she walked past her team members and into the back.

Silver exchanged looks with Wolf. Wolf looked at him and said: “Don’t worry. I will take care of her later.”

Meanwhile, back in the locker room, Robby laid on the table while the doctor and medics examined him. His parents and his Senseis around him.

“I’ll let the judges know,” the doctor said. “You did well out there, young man.”

“Wait,” Robby said. The doctor turned back to look at him. Robby took another breath and asked, “Is there absolutely no way I’ll be able to compete?”

“Well, I don’t like to use the word impossible, but…it’s very unlikely.” With that, they left the room.

“Dammit!” Daniel said, banging his hand on the locker. “Just like that. Chozen, do you know how to…” He started rubbing his hands together.

“Heat massage not magic, Daniel-san. Bone needs time to heal,” Chozen responded in an honest tone.

“I just can’t believe Silver’s going to get away with this.”

“Well, I did say so, didn’t I?” Robby said with some bitterness in his voice. “Time after time. When we were in Spain and even now. He was gonna try something. And now look. I ended up being one of his pawns…again.”

“Hey,” Johnny said, coming to his son’s side. “If he thinks we’re gonna let this lie, he’s got another thing coming. That ponytail bastard is not going to know what hit him.”

Robby sighed. He tried to steady his breathing, not wanting to put pressure on his knee. “I’m sorry, Mr. LaRusso.”

“Nothing to be sorry for, Robby.”

Robby’s mom leaned in beside him. “Hey, you were awesome. I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Robby whispered, his eyes now getting misty. He couldn’t remember the last time his mom was this tender with him. It was like all the emotions were coming to the surface at once. “Do you guys mind if I can have a minute to myself?”

“Take all the time you need, Robby-san,” Chozen said, tapping him on the shoulder.

For a moment, Robby forgot about the pain in his knee, because that pain didn’t compare to the ache in his heart.

“You gonna be alright?” Johnny softly asked.

“You know, I could’ve won,” Robby said, his voice cracking. “Sucks the world will never know that. But I do…” A tear now slid down his face. “I did my best. I fought with honour. If that lands me in second place, there are worse places to be.”

“No matter what happens, you’ll always be a winner,” Johnny said, getting just as emotional. “Especially in my eyes.” Robby grinned through his tears and held on tightly to his dad’s hand.

A moment later, the two looked up and saw Zara appear at the doorway. She looked a little hesitant, but her face was full of concern.

Johnny’s face hardened. “You got some nerve. One more for the socials, eh?”

“Dad. Don’t, please,” Robby said. “It’s ok.” Johnny gave Robby one last look before leaving the locker room. The two were left alone.

Zara slowly approached Robby. She knew asking if he was ok would’ve been a stupid question, so instead she asked:

“How is your pain?”

“Oh, you know,” Robby clenched his eyes, trying to harden himself from the pain. “It’s there. Not as bad as before.”

“Robby, I’m…I’m so sorry,” Zara said, stroking his cheek softly.

“For what? You didn’t do this. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I didn’t know he was going to do that…I swear, Robby…I didn’t—"

“Hey, hey,” Robby reached out for her hand. Zara placed her hand in his. “It’s ok. I know this wasn’t you, Zara.” He then smiled up at her. “I mean, you were the first one to come to me out there on the mat. I know you were taking a risk.”

Zara tried her best to smile, but she found it hard. “What did the medics say?”

Robby sighed, rubbing his eyes. “They said it’s not impossible for me to finish, but…it’s highly unlikely.” He shook his head and stared up at the ceiling. “I was just telling my dad, that…I could’ve beaten Axel. I thought I had him…and now I…I’m finished. I didn’t get a chance to show the world what I can do…”

A tear now trickled down Zara’s face. “Please, don’t say that. You were incredible out there, Robby. Everyone saw that.” She hastily wiped away her tears. “God, this wasn’t supposed to happen…”

Robby sighed and closed his eyes as she continued to rub his face. “This is something I have to deal with. Don’t take it on, Zara…”

“What?” Zara asked, confused.

Robby opened his eyes and fixed his gaze on her. “You helped me, you’ve encouraged me, you’ve listened to me, and that means more than you know. If I can’t fight, it’s something I have to make peace with. You just focus on your match. Last thing I want is for you to get to…” Robby stopped and clenched his teeth as he felt another shot of pain from his knee. Zara held onto his hand. “The last thing I want is for you to get in trouble with your dojo because of me.”

Zara’s eyes filled with emotion, but she tried her best to stay strong for him and for herself. She leaned in and gently planted a soft kiss on his lips. She didn’t know what more to say at that moment. She gathered herself and slowly left the locker room, not bothering to go back into the arena. As she walked back to the Iron Dragons locker room, she could hear Braun’s voice echo through the walls.

“As Robby Keene cannot continue, Axel Kovačević moves on to the finals.”

She removed her gi and her captain’s headband. There was another presence looming in the background.

“You trained him,” a cold voice hissed from behind her. Zara felt her skin crawl and a shiver down her body. She turned to see Wolf standing there, with his icy glare piercing through her. “Did you really think I wouldn’t have noticed?”

Zara took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. “Sensei—”

She gasped as Wolf grabbed a fist full of her hair. She winced but stood her ground. “Look me in the eye and tell me you’ve been training the Miyagi-Do captain.”

Zara knew the consequences of her actions, but she also knew that she couldn’t regret helping Robby. “Yes, I did help him train a bit. Helping Robby wasn’t about betraying our dojo. It was about doing what’s right. If it weren’t for Robby…I could’ve been hurt back in Barcelona, Sensei…”

Wolf glared, not showing any ounce of emotion. His eyes filled with sneer and disgust. He roughly let go of her hair. “Empathy has no place in this dojo, Zara. We fight to win. We do not coddle our opponents.” Zara felt her Sensei grab her by the face, so she’d have no choice but to look him directly in his eyes. “You are a disgrace.” Zara stared at her Sensei, trying to find the words to respond, but she couldn’t. “I thought you learned your lesson of what happens if you step out of line.” Zara took a breath and remembered when her Sensei had struck her after finding out from Silver that she had been hanging around with Robby.

Wolf released his grip, and Zara stumbled back, rubbing her sore cheeks. She knew she had to stand firm, but the weight of his words bore heavily on her.

“I give you my word that I won’t lose my focus, Sensei. I’m going to fight to win,” Zara said, with her head high, trying to maintain composure.

Wolf’s expression hardened. He stepped closer, his presence menacing. “You’ve brought shame upon my dojo. Your actions will have consequences, Zara. Every decision comes with a price. Change into your training gear. You have five minutes.” Wolf turned to walk out of the locker rooms.

“Sensei, my family will be waiting for me,” responded Zara.

Wolf stood silently for a minute and then took a threatening step toward her. “You do as I say. Five minutes.”

Chapter Text

Hello my lovely and loyal readers! I just wanted to update you. I really wanted to get the next chapter up before Christmas, but unfortunately, I don't think it's possible as it's the holiday season also I have a head cold :( for about a week now. I'm really sorry about that, but definitely before the new year!

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Stay blessed! Enjoy!

DD

Chapter Text

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If Zara was to describe herself it’d be as someone who fought in the shadows of loyalty, but who held a spark of defiance. She changed into her Iron Dragons training sports bra and shorts. She tried to steady her breathing subtly. She knew she didn’t regret helping Robby and she was never going to. At that moment, she wished he was by her side.

She stepped into the training room where she and her teammates would normally train. There was a coldness in the room that made her nerves feel unsteady. She noticed her Sensei and Silver waiting for her. The silence and their gaze on her were unnerving. It was like an oppressive silence being broken by the dripping sounds of a leaky faucet.

“Begin!” Wolf barked as Zara approached, his voice slicing through the still air like a whip.

Without hesitation, Zara launched into the exercises Wolf dictated. Push-ups turned into crunches, crunches into lunges, the cycle relentless and unforgiving. It didn’t take long until sweat started dripping down her face, her breaths coming in sharp bursts, but she pushed through, determined to prove she wasn’t a weakling—wasn’t the disgrace he claimed her to be. She didn’t think about anything else except getting through this training.

Wolf motioned toward the mounted rectangular steel plate, its surface glinting ominously under the fluorescent lights. “Now,” he commanded, his tone sharp and unyielding, “Strike through the plate.”

Zara looked at her Sensei in disbelief. She was finding it hard to even catch her breath.

“Stand up straight!” Silver said from behind her.

Zara frowned and ran her hand around the thickness of the steel. She looked at Wolf. “Sensei, this is pure steel. I’ll injure myself.”

“Your hand will heal before your match with the Cobra Kai captain,” Wolf said, with an eerie tone.

“You’re lucky…there’s time in between your fight with Nichols,” Silver said, with his two hands folded in front of him.

Zara clenched her fists, trying to stop the trembling. The exhaustion was weighing on her. She couldn’t bring herself to stand in position. “What is the point of me doing this?”

Wolf's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized her hesitation, his lips curling into a faint sneer. "What was that?”

The room fell silent, the tension hanging thick like storm clouds about to burst. Zara's mind raced, weighing the consequences of defiance against the pain she was about to endure. Wolf's stare bore into her, unrelenting, as if daring her to back down. She looked at the steel plate again, her fists clenched and unclenched. She took another breath and said,

“You can’t force me to hurt myself.” She couldn’t bring herself to look her Sensei in the eye.

Wolf took another step closer to her. Zara could feel his body heat on her. “You will pay for your defiance. Your actions have consequences. Weakness has become your defect.”

“No, it hasn’t!” Zara objected.

“What are you waiting for then?” Silver asked, now taking a step closer, his shadow falling across her like a phantom. His smirk twisted into something darker, his words laced with venom. “If you can’t summon the courage to face a steel plate, how do you expect to stand against Nichols? I’ve seen her break through a block of solid stone with her bare hands. She’ll have the upper hand over you, quite literally.”

The words stung. Zara’s jaw clenched and her brows furrowed. The last thing she wanted was for Tory to have any advantage over her. She still wanted to wipe the mat with her. She turned back toward the steel plate. Her reflection stared back at her, distorted and warped by the cold surface, as though mocking her hesitation. She lifted her arms and positioned herself.

“Strike through, or don’t bother striking at all,” Wolf said daringly.

She looked forward and lifted her arms once more. Her hand tightened and after swallowing her hesitation, she pulled her hand back and struck the steel. She gritted her teeth and held her ground, refusing to show debility.

"Again," Wolf demanded, his expression unreadable, though there was a glint of something sinister in his eyes.

Zara hesitated only for a fraction of a second before striking the steel again. This time, the skin on her palm broke, and a thin line of blood spread across the surface of the plate. Her chest heaved and her teeth clenched harder.

“Pain is temporary. Weakness is forever. Harder!” Wolf bellowed.

Zara tried to harden herself from the throbbing pain coming from her hand, which moved its way to her arm. She hardened herself from her Sensei’s taunts, for this wasn’t about the taunts, it was about resolve.

“Do it, Miss Malik,” Silver urged, “Prove you’re not just talk.”

The room felt heavy with silence as Zara gathered herself for one last strike. Her heart was beating faster, sweat continued to trickle down her face, she could feel the blood on her hands. She inhaled sharply, her jaw clenched and with one more reserve of strength she swung for the glinting steel plate and struck it with her closed fist. This time, she did cry out in pain as the sound of the impact echoed sharply through the room. Pain shot up her arm, white-hot and searing. Her legs gave out and she was now on the ground cradling her hand. Wolf moved so he was in front of her and looked at the now dented steel plate. He looked down at her, apparently satisfied that his fighter fulfilled his cruel expectations.

“That’s enough for today,” Wolf declared. “Be ready. Your enemies won’t wait for you to heal.” He turned around and walked out.

Zara could barely lift her head, as the pain was too much.

“You’re probably the best female fighter I’ve seen, Miss Malik,” Silver said, his face now of all serious. “It’d be a shame if you lose yourself with emotions for Robby Keene. But you made the right choice just now. Keep making them.”

Zara moaned as she rocked back and forth, cradling her injured hand against her chest. She pushed herself to sit upright, her gaze fixed on the dented steel plate. The room went silent, apart from the buzz from the ceiling lights. Her thoughts flickered briefly to Robby, to the choices Silver mentioned, and to the battles that lay ahead—not just on the mat, but within herself.

She went back to the change room and ran her hand under cold water. She winced as the water met the torn flesh of her palm. She gently pressed a gym towel against the hand. After gathering herself and changing off, she left for her hotel. Reaching her room, she closed the door behind her and leaned against it for a minute. Her body ached with tiredness and pain from the late-night training. She was still clutching her injured hand as she made her way into the bathroom and reached for the compression bandage wrap on the counter. She slowly started wrapping it around her hand. Zara wasn’t the one to usually feel lonely. Being the star fighter that she was, being a social media influencer and being all around the world, kept her active and busy, but tonight it was a different feeling. Something inside her yearned for the comfort of her family. Unfortunately, her sponsors could not accommodate them at the same hotel she was staying in.

Her phone buzzed faintly in her pocket, pulling her from her thoughts. She pulled it out, her brows furrowing as she noticed a few missed calls. Her heart twisted when she saw that they were all from her mom. She felt a little guilty as she really hoped to spend time with them after the matches today. She hesitated, staring at the screen. Her mother’s voice echoed in her head as she knew what she would say: “You don’t have to bear everything alone, beta.” Zara blinked back the sudden sting of tears and sat on the edge of the bed. She did not want to call back, because she didn’t know how to explain the choices she made, the risks she was taking, or the pain she was enduring in the moment—not just physically, but emotionally. But at the same time, she wanted to hear her mother’s voice, she needed to. She pressed the call button and put the phone to her ear.

“Hi, Mom. I’m sorry I missed your calls.”

“Zara, what happened? You’ve been training for this long. It’s been hours,” her mother said, sounding concerned.

“I know…I not too long ago finished. I’m sorry I couldn’t see you tonight,” Zara softly said. “I miss you…”

“We miss you too,” her mother, Joyti’s voice softened. “Remember we will always be proud of you. You don’t have to exhaust yourself. You have nothing to prove. No matter what happens. You are my brave girl.”

Zara stayed silent. Her vulnerability was at its highest. She felt a lump in her throat. The pain in her hand was relentless, but the pain of her emotions was worse. She composed herself and took a breath, not wanting her mother to catch on that she was trying not to cry.

“Thank you, Mom.”

“Have you spoken to Robby? How is he doing?”

“Umm…I-…he’s not doing so well, but taking things a lot better than I expected,” Zara replied with a heavy sigh. “I don’t know how he’s going to make out right now.”

“Send him our best wishes.”

“I will.”

“Hold on, someone here wants to talk to you.”

Before Zara could respond, she heard a small rustling sound as the phone exchanged hands. “Didi?” came the bright voice of her younger brother, Kiyush.

“Hey, Kiyush,” Zara said, a smile now tugging at her lips as her heart warmed.

“Are you coming tonight?” he asked eagerly, his tone filled with a mix of hope and innocent expectation. Zara closed her eyes for a moment, her heart clenching at his words. She could picture his face, round and earnest, his big eyes brimming with curiosity and affection.

“I wish I could, Kiyush,” she said softly. “I’ve been training really hard, and I’m so tired.”

There was a pause on the line before he spoke again, quieter this time. “But you said you were coming to see us. I miss you.”

Zara bit her lip, keeping her voice steady. “I miss you too. So much. There are no matches tomorrow, so we can spend the whole day together, okay?”

“Okay,” he said, his voice brighter now. “Promise?”

“Promise,” she assured him, sealing it with as much warmth as she could muster.

“Are you in pain, Zara?”

She was taken a back at how her little brother could pick up her energy even from a distance. She looked down at her strapped hand before responding: “No, hon. I’m just tired.”

“You should make some soup,” little Kiyush said, in a matter-of-fact way. “Remember, you would make some after you were done training? It helps relax your muscles.”

“Yes, I should do that,” Zara said, “You’re so smart. I love you.” She smiled at his little words of wisdom that were far beyond his years.

“I love you too, Didi.”

Her mom came back on the line moments later, her voice gentle but tinged with concern. “Zara, take care of yourself, beta. We’ll be here, waiting when you’re ready.”

“I will, Mom,” Zara whispered. “I love you.”

As the call ended, Zara let the phone slip from her hand onto the bed. For the first time that night, a sense of calm washed over her, even if just briefly. She went into the bathroom and turned on the shower. She stepped in and let the hot water hit her skin, her muscles unwinding under the steady stream. She tilted her head back, letting the droplets cascade down her scalp while massaging it, washing away the remnants of sweat and fatigue. The heat seeped into her aching shoulders, her arms, her legs, melting away the rigidity she'd carried all day.

XX Meanwhile at Robby’s apartment XX

“I hope you don’t mind us dropping by,” Sam said, sitting down on Robby’s sofa, alongside Miguel. “We wanted to wait until tomorrow, but…”

“It’s all good,” Robby said, carefully sitting himself down across from them. “Better you guys than my mom smothering me.”

“That’s a good sign though…seems like she’s around more often now,” replied Sam.

“Yeah, I shouldn’t complain. She’s been great.”

“How’s the knee?” Miguel asked.

“Stable. Pain is not as bad.”

“I seriously could murder Axel for what he did to you, bro,” Miguel said, his eyes turning a little dark. “He just couldn’t face the fact that you were fighting better and stronger and that you could’ve won. So, he took the coward way out.”

“Yeah, you and me both,” Robby said, looking at his leg. “Guess I have to get used to using these for a while.” He gestured to his crutches. “But I still want to fight him.”

“You will,” Miguel said shortly, with not an ounce of doubt in his voice. “You’re gonna get your chance.”

“You know all this kinda has me questioning things as well,” Sam now said.

“What do you mean?” Robby asked.

“We took a huge dip on the scoreboard and even if we didn’t…what is it I’m fighting for?” she asked between the boys, who were both silent. “I mean, it was such a huge accomplishment, us making it to the Sekai Taikai. I was so eager to show the world what I can do. Now it’s come down to the point where…I may have to fight Tory again? For what?” Miguel then sighed beside her, looking down at his hands. “Even if I beat her again, would I even make it past Zara? And does it even matter?”

“Do whatever your heart is telling you,” Miguel said in resolute, “No one would think bad of you if you didn’t want to fight. You’ve always fought with honour, Sam, and you always make the right decision in the end.”

“Miguel’s right,” Robby said, giving her a nod. “There’s no dishonour.”

“Don’t mention anything to my dad or to Johnny. If I decide to pull out, I want to be the one to tell them,” Sam said.

“By the way,” Miguel now turned back to Robby. “We saw how Zara rushed out to you when you got injured. Have you heard from her?”

“Not since I left the arena.”

“You know, I’m gonna be honest,” Sam said, leaning forward. “I questioned the relationship you had with her in Barcelona, but…the way she came to you on the mat…I even saw the look on her Sensei’s face. I can see she really does care about you.”

“She knew what she was doing,” Miguel said after.

Robby shrugged his shoulders and sighed, “And now she’s gonna suffer the consequences for it.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Sam’s expression now changed to a look of discomfort.

“What’s wrong?” Miguel asked.

“I saw first-hand how Sensei Wolf is when his students don’t…let’s say “perform” to his expectations. Like when we were in Barcelona, I saw him training Axel. His tactics are just aggressive and then I noticed bruises on Axel’s back. He tried to play it off, saying it was from the bo staff competition, but I knew it wasn’t.” Sam looked at Robby again. “It’s not an excuse at all for what he did to you though.”

“I get what you’re saying, because I’ve seen it too,” Robby said. “He must’ve caught wind that Zara was hanging around me back in Spain and he hit her. Her face was black and blue.”

“Oh my God,” Sam said.

“She tried to play it off too, but…” Robby trailed off and then continued. “At first, I thought it was Silver, but she told me it was her Sensei.”

“Well, we all know Silver likes to get his hands dirty behind the scenes,” said Miguel.

“Oh, I’m sure he’s there goading and pulling the strings on everything,” Robby’s face now hardened. “I know he’s the reason this happened to me.” Robby leaned forward and looked at his friends with determination. “I’m not gonna be taken down because of manipulation and a power-trip. I may not be able to fight for myself right now, but…it’s not going to stop me. And I’ll be damned if I let Silver use Zara as a pawn in his games.”

Miguel gave a supportive nod. “You know I got your back, bro. I mean look at me. One minute I was in a hospital bed with a doctor telling me I may never walk again. Look at me now.”

Robby smiled at his stepbrother but looked down at his leg again. “Only difference, you had time to train more and heal. I don’t think I’ll have all that time. Tournament’s only going to run for a short time…”

Miguel shrugged his shoulders, still not seeming bothered. “It’s like Sensei LaRusso said: When you were knocked down, you’ve always gotten back up.”

Sam smiled at her boyfriend’s words. “Yeah, we have to be smart about it and not lose focus, but you’re not in this alone, Robby. We’re in this together.”

Robby smiled across at the two with appreciation. “Thanks, guys.”

Chapter Text

XXXX

The following morning, Robby found himself at the Miyagi-Do dojo. He knew he should have been home resting, but he didn’t know how. He was determined to keep his mind focused and his body active. He stood in the center of the courtyard, as the heat pressed down on him.

He removed his t-shirt and slowly and carefully placed his crutches down on the ground. He started breathing in and out, trying to stay balanced. After a moment of trying to stay grounded, he managed to stay still. He smiled, feeling a little hopeful. He began practicing some kata moves, moving deliberately through the fluid motion like Daniel would teach him. There was a dull throb of pain in his leg, but it didn’t seem to bother him like before. He gritted his teeth and pushed through, his stubbornness urging him forward.

Suddenly, his leg gave out beneath him. Robby crumbled to the ground. He let out a frustrated groan. The back door slid open, Daniel came out, obviously startled from the noise.

“Robby?”

“Hey, Mr. LaRusso.”

Daniel hurried over to him. “Are you alright? What are you doing?”

Robby let out a dry chuckle. “I don’t quite know. Trying to find my balance again, I guess.”

Daniel crouched down and flung Robby’s arm around his shoulder, helping him up. “Robby, there’ll be plenty of time to find balance again. What you need to be doing right now is resting so your leg can heal properly.”

Robby sighed as he leaned against Daniel for support. “I just feel useless sitting around, Mr. LaRusso. I need to keep moving, to do something—anything.”

Daniel guided him to the steps by the dojo’s entrance and eased him down with care. He sat beside Robby, his expression steady, yet empathetic. “I get it. I really do. But sometimes, healing means accepting where you’re at and working with it. Pushing too hard before you're ready can set you back further.”

Robby clenched his fists, staring at his crutches that lay abandoned in the courtyard. “But what if I lose everything I’ve worked for? All the progress, all the training—it feels like it’s slipping away every second I’m stuck like this.”

Daniel placed a hand on Robby’s shoulder and looked him in the eye. “Robby, progress isn’t just about physical strength. It’s about resilience, patience, and learning when to let things take their natural course. I’ve seen you fight through challenges before—you’re more than capable of overcoming this. You haven’t lost anything. You’re just building a different kind of strength right now.”

Robby looked at him and shook his head. “I can’t this time, Mr. LaRusso. I need to keep fighting. I want to face Axel again. I need to. I know I can beat him.”

“I’m sure you could too, but I don’t think this will be the way,” Daniel sighed. “My hands are tied. I don’t know if there’s any way for the Iron Dragons not to advance.”

“Can’t you speak to the committee? Can’t we find some way to delay it for a bit? I don’t know…just something to give me more time.”

“Look, Robby. I know how bad you want to get back at him for what he did to you. God knows, I want to get back at Silver for what he’s done.”

“We can’t let them get away with this…not again.”

“I don’t have an answer right now…your Dad and I have to talk it out and figure out where we go from here.” Daniel gave Robby a supportive slap on the back.

“Actually, Mr. LaRusso,” Robby said, making Daniel turn around before going back in the house.

“Yeah.”

“Do you think you could give me a ride downtown?”

“Yeah. Where to?”

The car ride was quiet at first, the hum of the road filling the silence between them. Robby stared ahead, his thoughts racing. He wasn’t just thinking about Axel. His mind kept drifting back to Zara. He hadn’t spoken much about her to anyone, but the truth was he couldn’t stop worrying.

“Mr. LaRusso, I don’t want you to think I’m making any rash decisions,” Robby said, breaking the silence. “You started teaching me karate, not only to find balance, but so I wouldn’t have to fight.”

‘Yeah, I did,” Daniel said, turning to look at him. “Now you want to.”

“This is more than just a fight,” Robby continued. “This is about standing up for what’s right, even when it feels impossible. It’s a fight that I need to win. My confidence wasn’t all there before, but after being on that mat yesterday facing off with Axel again…sometimes fighting is what brings balance.”

Daniel sighed. “Let’s take things one step at a time. You don’t want to rush your healing. You could injure yourself permanently.” When they reached downtown, Daniel pulled up in front of a hotel. “Are you sure this is where you need to be?”

“Yeah,” Robby said, shortly. “Thanks for the ride, Mr. LaRusso.”

Daniel gave Robby a look that was equal parts understanding and caution. He stepped out of the car and helped him with his crutches. “I’ll probably meet up with your Dad and Chozen for a couple of hours. But call if you need anything.”

“I will, thanks,” Robby said with a thankful smile.

XX At Zara’s hotel XX

Zara stepped into the washroom, still in her sleeping wear, her hair a little tousled. She looked at herself in the mirror. She almost grimaced at her own look. She didn’t get too much sleep last night. Not only because of her physical pain, but because her head was all over the place. She slowly loosened the bandage, revealing her battered hand. The bandage cloth was soaked in dry blood. She winced slightly as she ran cold water over her hand, watching the pale red, swirl down the drain. The memories of the previous night flickered in her mind like a cruel reel of film, each scene sharper and more painful than the last. Zara leaned against the edge of the sink, gripping it tightly to steady herself.

A faint knock on the hotel door broke her trance. “Just a second!”

She quickly wrapped her hand in fresh gauze. She checked the time, as she wasn’t expecting her parents for another hour. She looked in the mirror and tried to straighten herself out. She opened the door hesitantly, her breath catching when she saw Robby standing there, his expression a mixture of concern and determination.

“Robby,” she whispered, startled. “What are you doing here?”

“Sorry for showing up like this,” Robby replied. “I um…let my crutches do the walking.” Zara faintly smiled at him. “I wanted to see you.”

Zara stepped aside and opened the door fully. “Come in, please.” She stuffed her right hand into her sweatpants pocket. “I wanted to text you last night, but I—”

“Hey, it’s ok,” Robby interrupted gently.

Zara was barely making eye contact. She felt very unfocused and fidgety. “Robby, I need you to know that I had nothing to do with you getting injured. I need you to believe me that I would never to do anything to hurt you in any way.”

“Zara, I know,” Robby said, “I told you yesterday that it wasn’t your fault. I didn’t blame you for a second. Trust me, I know who to blame.” Robby then watched her closely. He could feel a little tension in the air, as she shifted on the spot uncomfortably. “Are you feeling, ok?”

“I’m okay…why?”

“It’s just…you look a little, um…distracted, stressed? And your eyes are red.”

Zara shook her head, brushing her hair back. “I just didn’t get the best of sleeps last night.”

“Late night with your family?”

She hesitated a bit before answering. “No, I didn’t get to see them.”

“Why not?”

“I was training until late.”

Robby tilted his head, studying how she avoided looking at him. “Zara,” he said gently, trying to meet her eyes again. “What’s going on?”

Her lips parted, but the words didn’t come out. Instead, she answered with, “Nothing. I’m ok. Why don’t you sit down? I don’t want you to be uncomfortable. I’ll get us something to drink.”

Robby wasn’t one to push, but something didn’t sit right. Before she could walk past him, he reached down toward her side, where her hand was partially hidden. When his hand made contact, Zara flinched, a sharp intake of breath betraying her as she felt a sting of pain.

Robby frowned at her reaction. “Wha—”

“Robby, please,” Zara whispered, her voice a mix of pleading and frustration.

Robby now chose to ignore her and brought her hand forward. He noticed it was gauzed but noticed the dry blood on it. Robby looked up and caught her eyes. “What happened?” Zara stiffened and tried to step back, but it was too late. Robby tightened his grasp on her arm and slowly unwrapped the bandage wrap. His eyes widened as he caught a glimpse of her battered hand. Crimson streaks from dried blood and the skin on her knuckles was raw and jagged, peeling in places. Robby’s chest tightened as he absorbed the sight. “What the fuck. Zara…”

Zara hastily took her hand back and readjusted the gauze. “It’s nothing…”

“Don’t,” Robby sharply said, “Don’t you dare say it’s nothing. Don’t start that again. This is the second time you’ve covering for them when they’re hurting you, Zara.” When Zara stayed silent, that’s what confirmed it for Robby. “It was because of what you did yesterday, wasn’t it? You came to me, and they made you punish for it. What did they do to you? Tell me!”

“They’re pushing me to win!” Zara replied.

“Zara, this is bullshit!”

Zara just shook her head, biting her lip as though holding back words as she wasn’t ready to say. There was conflict stirring within her. Robby could see the brokenness in her eyes. “I can handle it, Robby. If I don’t win, I’ll be nothing to them. And this—this is how they remind me to stay in line.”

Robby’s hand curled into fists as he clutched his crutches tighter. “Zara…what is happening to you? This isn’t you…this isn’t the Zara that I know or that everyone knows. You told me yourself, you don’t need anyone to show your worth or to dictate your path!”

Zara looked away, her voice almost trembling. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do anymore.”

Robby sighed and gently pulled her into a hug. Zara immediately wrapped her arms around him and clung on. She really needed that embrace. The two laid down on the bed together. Zara told Robby about the training last night. A consequence of disgracing her dojo. Robby’s stomach churned at the thought of Zara laying into the steel plate bare-handed. She explained how she woke up in cold sweats last night, because of the pain she was experiencing. Robby was undoubtedly filled with anger, but he couldn’t help but feel guilty at the same time.

“This is because of me,” he said.

“What?” Zara lifted her head from his shoulder and looked at him.

“I’m the reason this is happening to you.”

“Robby, I made choices. I knew what I was doing. You’re not going to blame yourself for that.”

Robby reached for her hands. “Zara…you have to stand up for yourself. I’m telling you. I’ve been telling you. This is only gonna get worse. He’s already sucking the life out of you. I was in the same position you’re in now. I was so stubborn, so angry, Sensei LaRusso warned me about the path Silver was leading me on…I didn’t listen. I was too busy getting in my own way, wanting to prove I was the best. I don’t want to see you get hurt. I promise you this won’t stop after the tournament. He’s not gonna stop until Iron Dragon gis are wrapped around every future karate student worldwide. And now alongside your Sensei…it’ll be even worse.”

Zara sighed deeply. She lifted herself off Robby and sat up. “I have to win. I have to beat Nichols. I can beat her.” Her voice was fragile but had a bit of defiance and bitterness.

“Hey, I never said you can’t beat Tory, but this is not about her or about winning. This is about what and who you’re fighting for. You can fight but fight for yourself. Not because someone else is pulling your strings.” Silence filled the room again, as they laid together. “You know that it’s wrong…I know you do.”

The two were interrupted by a knock at the door.

Zara and Robby exchanged a glance. “Oh, no. I completely lost track of time.” Zara said, looking at the bedside clock as she moved off the bed.

“What?” asked Robby, slowly sitting up on the bed.

“My parents. We planned to spend today together,” Zara said, straightening herself out.

“Oh, do you want me to leave?”

“Hold on,” she said, going over to answer the door.

Zara opened the door, revealing her parents, Rai and Joyti, standing side by side with warm, expectant smiles.

“Good morning, beta,” her father said, gathering her in a short hug.

Zara’s mother gave her a gentle, but inquisitive look. “Why aren’t you dressed yet?”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Zara said, smiling as she held Kiyush against her as the little boy had rushed past his parents to give her a hug. “I lost track of time.”

“It was actually my fault,” Robby said, now coming in front of Zara’s parents, who looked surprised to see him. “I showed up unexpectedly to see Zara.”

Zara blushed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“It’s good to see you, son,” Jai Malik said, shaking Robby’s hand. “Firm grip.” He added, making Robby laugh.

“We’re so, so sorry for what happened,” Zara’s mom then put her arms around him and hugged him.

Robby softly smiled as the older woman embraced him. “Thank you. I’ll be fine.”

“You’re a strong fighter,” Jai said, giving him a nod. “I have no doubt you’ll get back on your feet in no time.”

“Zara, what happened to your hand?” her mother asked, looking down at her bandaged hand.

“It’s just from training, Mom,” Zara said, avoiding eye contact. “I’m okay.” There was a short silence in the room, before Zara spoke up again. “I’m gonna go change my clothes. Excuse me.” She gently touched Robby’s chest before going into the bathroom.
Robby sat himself down on the bed. It wasn’t long before little Kiyush came and plopped himself next to him.

“I think you are a really good fighter, Robby,” he said.

“Thanks, bud.”

“Don’t give up. Maybe you can still win,” he piped up. “When you fall. You get back up again.”

Robby smiled at the boy’s innocent, yet earnest face. “You got it. My leg’s gotta heal up first though or else I’ll hurt myself even more.”

Kiyush looked at Robby’s leg. He paused for a second in thought. After pondering for a moment, his head perked up again. “Just wait a minute.” He got off the bed and quickly went over to his knapsack that he dropped by the door of Zara’s room. Robby looked curiously after the little boy as he rummaged through his bag. Kiyush’s small hands dived deep, until he emerged triumphant, clutching a pixelated little figure. He hurried back to Robby, his eyes bright with the solemn joy of someone about to bestow a treasure.

“Here,” Kiyush said, placing the blocky Minecraft figure—a steadfast little character with a pickaxe—carefully on Robby’s knee. “It’s my favorite. He always keeps going, even when he falls in the lava.”

Robby chuckled, looking at the figure in his hand. “Quite the hero, eh?”

“Yeah.”

“Pretty cool,” Robby responded. He handed it back to Kiyush, but Kiyush shook his head, pushing it back.

“I want you to keep it.”

Robby’s hand stilled, the weight of the plastic figure suddenly much heavier than its size would ever suggest. He looked from the toy to Kiyush, who stood straight and earnest, his small chin tilted up in determination.

“You sure?” Robby asked.

Kiyush nodded. “He’s for you. So, you remember not to give up, like in Minecraft. Sometimes you lose all your stuff, but you start again, and you build something even better.”

A gentle warmth threaded through Robby’s chest. He closed his fingers around the toy, letting a smile curl at the corners of his mouth. “That’s a good reminder. I’ll take good care of him. Maybe he’ll help my leg heal faster, too.” Kiyush grinned, relief and pride mingling in his expression. He climbed back onto the bed beside Robby, legs folded, content just to be near.

Robby then looked up at Zara who had finished changing into her clothes. She still looked a little uneasy.

“One second, bud,” Robby said to the little boy next to him. He stood up with his crutches and went over to the corner of the room where she stood. He gently touched her shoulder. “Hey.”

Zara turned, touching up her hair. She smiled softly. “Hey.”

“Zara, I think you should say something to your parents,” Robby whispered. “They’re gonna catch on that something’s wrong.”

“Nothing is wrong, Robby…I just need to keep my head in the tournament.”

“Then why’d you lie about what happened to your hand?”

“I didn’t lie,” Zara said back to him. Zara’s eyes darted to the window for a moment, haunted by thoughts she didn’t voice. She knew Robby wasn’t judging. He was only concerned.

Robby shook his head, lowering his voice so only she could hear. “I’ll keep my distance from you then.”

Zara looked up at him, confused. “What do you mean?”

“Maybe it’ll be easier if we didn’t see too much of each other for a bit.”

“Why would you say that?” Hurt now flashed in her eyes. “Why would that help?”

“It’ll help take the pressure off you for one thing.”

Zara stood there in silence. She looked up at him. The hurt could still be seen in her eyes. “Is that how you want it to be? You don’t want to see me anymore?”

Robby stared her in the eyes and then shook his head. “No, that’s not what I want. But maybe you need space—just until things settle. I don’t want to make things harder for you, Zara.”

She flinched as if his words stung. “Space isn’t what I need,” she whispered. “Not from you.” The air between them shimmered, heavy with words left unsaid and the ache of misunderstanding. Zara stood on her tippytoes and pressed her lips against his. Robby sighed and slowly responded and kissed her back. They parted after sharing a moment. Zara’s fingers played with the hair on the naps of his neck.

“What are you gonna do then?” he asked her.

“Can we just forget about it for a while?" Zara whispered. “There are no matches today. I just want to relax.”

Robby looked at her—really looked at her. He gave in and nodded. “Okay.”

The two went back into the front where Zara’s parents were waiting.

“Are you ready now?” Kiyush asked his sister.

“Yes, I’m ready,” she said.

“You guys enjoy your day out. It was nice seeing you again,” Robby said to them. He turned toward the door, before Joyti stopped him.

“Well, now that you’re here…why don’t you join us?” she said kindly.

Robby hesitated, not really knowing what to say.

Zara’s father now came forward. “We were going to find somewhere to eat. We have a rental car so we could drive you back instead of you walking on those crutches all the time.”

Robby hesitated, glancing at Zara. “Uh…I don’t know. I don’t want to impose. I know you haven’t seen Zara in a long time, so…”

Joyti waved away his concern with a gentle laugh. “Nonsense, Robby. The more, the merrier. Besides, you need to eat, don’t you?”

Robby’s cheeks tinged faintly pink, but a small smile crept onto his face. He glanced once more at Zara, who met his gaze with a comforting nod. He gave in and said, “Sounds good. Thank you.”

Chapter Text

A/N: Hello everyone. Thank you for bringing to my attention the confusion about the chapters and their order....I have no idea how they ended up like that. I think I fixed it now...it cost me all your lovely reviews on the recent uploaded chapter though.

I see that my previous Author's Notes count as chapters on the site FYI

Thanks again,

DD