─────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───────
──EPISODE EIGHT

"HEY, MRS LARUSSO," Élodie waved as she entered the LaRusso residence with a shy smile on her face, "Sorry I'm not staying long tonight, but thanks for inviting me over."

"It's no bother, sweetie, c'mon," Amanda grinned.

Daniel's mother was over, as Sam had told her, and the family had insisted she come over for an hour or so before dinner too as Ms. LaRusso had always been fond of her when her and Sam were close.

She was eating dinner at Miguel's tonight, at Carmen's insistance, of course.

She followed Amanda out into the garden, where a conversation was already in full swing, "You know, it's bad enough that this monster is teaching kids. Now he's somehow convinced the All Valley Board to let Cobra Kai back into the tournament," he paused to welcome Élodie in, "Oh hi sweetheart, sit down!"

"Élodie, darling!" Lucille beamed, hugging Elodie before she sat down at her side, "But oh, that's horrible. They can't let them back. They're nothing but a bunch of bullies."

Élodie knew what they were talking about, and looked anxiously at Samantha beside her. Sam looked nervous, "They can't all be bullies, right?"

"Trust me, sweetheart, you don't know the half of it. Those Cobra jerks made my little boy's life miserable. Tell them how they pushed you down that hill," Lucille insisted, shaking her head as she recalled the events the kids had heard a thousand times.

The conversation continued between the adults at the table, Amanda asking her mother-in-law if she'd like any potato salad which she declined. There was obvious tension between them as there so often was, so the two teenage girls started a conversation amongst themselves.

"How're things with Eli?" Samantha asked in a hushed voice, curious, to which Élodie simply looked down at her feet for a moment before she spoke, "I think the Cobra Kai thing is changing him for real, Sammy..."

Samantha frowned, "Really? How come?"

"He's just been so... different... and the whole 'Hawk' thing is crazy. He's taking Cobra Kai so seriously, it's worrying me."

"...You know, that son of a bitch has a lot of nerve entering the tournament, especially after everything he's done to you," the girls rejoined the conversation now as Louie spoke, as talk returned to the ordeal with Johnny Lawrence.

"And you fixed his car for free. I don't know, man," Louie took a swig of his beer as the family looked at him, "I say we get the car back. You know, I could find out where he lives."

Sam drew in a sharp breath, "Dad, what if Cobra Kai has changed?"

Élodie was curious to hear the answer too.

"I mean, there's some kids from my school who are in it, and it doesn't automatically make them bad, right?" Sam asked, and her father scoffed.

"Please, Cobra Kai will never change. Promise me you girls will stay away from the kids who are associated with it. All right?"

The two girls looked at eachother with shared sympathy, saying nothing as they pondered what had just been said.

———

"Hey, guys," Élodie smiled as Miguel and Johnny reached the apartment complex. She was stood just outside Miguel's apartment, chatting to his mother.

"How was training?" Carmen asked, a smile on her face.

"Oh, your son's doing great," Johnny nodded, turning to head home

"Miggy, go get cleaned up. Yaya's making seco de carne," Carmen told her son, who entered his home with his best friend at his side, "Okay, bye, Sensei."

"She's so gonna ask him to have dinner with us too," Élodie giggled as she took a glance back at the two adults awkwardly chatting, "I think they like eachother..."

"Really?" Miguel seemed in disbelief, but Elodie nodded, "100%."

And just as predicted, Johnny followed Carmen into the room, sitting down at the dinner table with them as Élodie helped Carmen and Rosa set the table.

"In nombre de padre, y mijo, y spiritus sancto. Amen," Carmen spoke, Johnny looking confused as Élodie smiled on, just about understanding the words.

"Amen! That one I know," Johnny awkwardly laughed, and Carmen sent him a smile that didn't go unseen by the two teenagers.

"Okay, let's eat."

"So, um, Miguel told me all about the tournament. I hope he doesn't get hurt," Carmen said, concern on her features as she looked between Johnny and Miguel.

"Mom, I told you there's referees. You can't get hurt." Miguel told her.

"At least not permanently," Johnny added, earning a snort of laughter from Élodie, "He'll be fine."

"So have you always lived in Reseda?" the polite small talk continued, "No, I grew up in Encino."

"Really? Really nice houses there."

"Yeah," Johnny shrugged, "Well, just because you live in a nice house doesn't mean nice things are going on inside."

There was an awkward silence for a moment, until Élodie spoke to break it, "This food is delicious, gracias!"

"Mm," Johnny agreed, "I really like these bananas!"

"They're called plantains," Carmen told him as he took another bite.

"Oh. In English, we call them bananas," now that earned an eruption of laughter from both Miguel and Élodie as awkward silence enveloped the adults in the room for a moment.

"What's so funny?"

Suddenly, Miguel's phone began to ring. "Sam?" Élodie mouthed, to which he nodded as he clutched his phone in his hand, "Oh, God, sorry."

"Answer it, Mijo, it's fine," Carmen beamed at him, "Don't take too long, your food's gonna get cold."

"Does he have a girlfriend, Élodie?" Carmen asked, and Élodie blushed pink as she didn't want to answer, "...So yes?" Carmen smirked.

Rosa mumbled something in Spanish under her breath, "No significa que a él todavía no le guste." [It doesn't mean he doesn't still like her].

———

"Hey..." Eli's voice was quiet as he saw the girl in his doorway, standing aside to invite her in, "I'm glad you came."

Élodie didn't speak at first, but stepped in and followed him up to his room.

"I'm uh, I'm really really sorry, Ellie," he pouted, taking her hands in his as he pleaded with her with his eyes as well as his words, "I shouldn't be treating you differently, it's not fair. And being all... territorial and stuff."

Élodie huffed, "You're not just treating me differently though, Eli. You're being a dick to some of your best friends."

"I know," he sighed, an irritated expression on his face, "But I can't be a pussy if I want to be a part of Cobra Kai..."

Élodie shook her head, "Well, don't you see why that's a problem? You're changing so fast nobody can keep up. It's badass that you're so good at karate now, yeah, but I'm still better than you... and I don't have to be an asshole bully to prove it."

Hawk clenched his jaw, knowing she was right but wanting to stand his ground. He dropped her hands, cupping her face in his palms and leaning towards her, "I'm sorry, Ellie. I'll try, I promise. For you."

Deep down Élodie knew that these words weren't enough; It wasn't just her who mattered, so his reduction of the situation to its impact on their 'relationship' was annoying. But she leaned forward, so their noses were touching.

"I mean it, Eli," she whispered, sending chills down his spine, "You've gotta stop this charade, it's not you. But I trust you, and I know you won't let yourself become like the assholes I had to fight to protect you."

He smiled, colliding their lips together now desperately almost in a plea to her that he was going to try and make things okay.

She kissed back, the kiss deepening as she climbed into his lap and his arms wrapped around her waist, "Be my girlfriend? Please?" he asked, his eyes sincere even in the brief passion of asking mid-make out.

"Yeah, okay," Élodie beamed back, smashing her lips back against his as she revelled in the fact that after weeks, he'd finally asked.

"Someone's gotta keep you in check, eh?"

———

It had been a few hours, and given that it was a Friday night, and Eli's mom was so fond of Élodie, she'd been allowed to stay the night. She'd have to sleep in a different room, of course.

Now, they sat on the edge of his bed, chatting and flicking through their phones.

"Hey, I know it's late but... would you like to, uh, train with me for a bit?" Hawk suggested, eyes narrow as he asked the question, "I'm not at all tired, I guess. We can go downstairs into the study... mom's a light sleeper... I just want the chance to spar against you, I'm training for the tournament so..."

"You've just asked me to be your girlfriend and now you're asking to fight me," Élodie feigned disgust, before bursting out into laughter. Hawk lifted his palm to cover her mouth, whispering "Not that light a sleeper!" causing her to poke her tongue out so he drew his hand away quickly.

They tiptoed downstairs, both in a pair of sweats and t-shirt (hers borrowed from him of course), and found their way into the wide study space, where mats had been put down, clearly recently, to practise karate.

"Show me what you've got, Moskowitz," she teased, smirking at the boy as he quirked his eyebrow with a smug smirk too.

"Oh, it's on, princess."

Trying to ignore the butterflies swarming her stomach at the nickname, she easily dodged his first thrown fist, before successfully blocking his second and knocking him back.

He chuckled, just as his fist lightly caught her shoulder with success this time, "Nice," she licked her lips, before landing a kick to his thigh that sent him backwards.

He retaliated with another punch, twisting his hips, but Élodie gripped his arm, twisting it so that he missed but that she didn't hurt him too much.

"That all you got, Ellie?" he smirked, slipping his arm from her grip, catching her off guard as he threw her to the ground. He kneeled over her now, knees either side of her torso as he gripped her shoulders to hold her down while she caught her breath.

"Not bad, Hawk," she smirked, and he winked down at her before leaning so their faces were impossibly close.

He pressed a kiss to the corner of her lips, before slowly moving across to her ear, his deep breaths sending chills down her spine, "Sorry, princess."

Élodie was frozen for a moment, but she lifted her left leg to hook it over one of his, throwing him down onto his back now so that it was her straddling him.

"Oops," she grinned, kissing his jaw, "Sorry, princess."

———

The next day, the Cobra Kai gang were sat in the cinema, Eli's arm hooked around his girlfriend's shoulder as he threw popcorn across the room.

"I can't stop thinking about what Sensei told me about Sam's dad," Miguel expressed his concern, and Élodie frowned.

"So Sensei and Sam's dad had some beef. What that have to do with you?"

"Do I have to spell it out for you? Sam's dad hates Cobra Kai, l'm a part of Cobra Kai," he explained with a huff, "So by the transitive property, Sam's dad is gonna hate me."

"Jesus Christ, you're such a nerd," Hawk laughed, earning a light elbow to his side from Élodie, "Sorry, sorry," he kissed her temple.

"I'm telling you, it's not just on my mind. Sam was acting weird the other day when her dad walked by," Miguel pouted, and Élodie felt guilty.

"Look, I'm close with the LaRussos and her dad does hate Cobra Kai but... he's the sweetest, you've just gotta show him you're not an asshole."

"I haven't even been invited over yet," Miguel looked almost defeated, "She's probably too afraid to introduce me."

Hawk scoffed, stuffing a few kernels of popcorn in his mouth, "Dude, just go over there. It's an alpha move."

"An idiot move, more like," Élodie shook her head, entwining her hands with Eli's subconsciously even though she was insulting his idea.

"Nah, he's right," Miguel nodded, and Élodie rolled her eyes as her immature boyfriend threw another kernel of popcorn in the crowd.

This time, a furious looking man stood up and looked around, "Who the hell did that?"

Panicked, Hawk clasped Élodie's face in his hands and pulled her into a deep kiss, as though they'd been making out the whole time.

"Gross," Aisha faked gagged, as Miguel looked on silently too.

———

"Hey grams," Élodie beamed as she entered her grandmother's home, "Sorry I've been over less these past few weeks."

Her grandmother shook her head, "Don't be silly sweetheart. You've had school, and that boyfriend of yours," she teased, winking.

"Stop it," Élodie blushed, beginning to prepare both herself and her grandmother a coffee, "But you're not wrong, I guess."

"I never am."

Élodie carried their drinks into the lounge, placing them on the coffee table and sitting down at her side.

"He's picking me up, you can meet him briefly if you'd like?" she offered, to which her grandmother nodded profusely, "Of course, honey. I'd love that."

Gaining her grams' approval was exactly what Hawk knew he needed to do to make things properly right with Élodie, and so as he approached apartment 106 he gave himself a pep talk, stopping as Élodie pulled open the door.

"Hey babe," she kissed his cheek, "Grams, this is Eli... Eli, this is grams!"

Eli smiled, that shy awkward smile she used to adore so much on him, "It's lovely to meet you Mrs Marshall." he blushed.

"Oh, he's got manners," she joked, winking at her granddaughter who told her to stop being silly, "I'm kidding, but it's lovely to meet you too, darling. I've only heard good things about you."

Eli's face flashed with a sort of relief. He knew how close Élodie was to her grandmother, and had feared she would've been told about all that had gone on recently. Evidently not.

"I've been looking forward to meeting you, El has told me so much about you," he replied, anxious to impress the woman his girlfriend cared so dearly about.

"I'm glad to hear it, eh," Grams laughed, pulling the boy into a hug and startling him as she did so, "I can see you make her happy, and I'm grateful. My baby girl deserves it."

"She does, she deserves the world," Eli nodded, still shy. Élodie had worried about his shyness before, but seeing it again sent butterflies flitting in her stomach now, "I care about her a lot."

"Well I'm glad. You kids better head off," she replied, a wide toothy grin adorning her face, "Have a nice night. Use protection... I don't want great-grandkids, alright?"

The two teenagers blushed as they turned to leave, "Shut up, grams," Élodie jokingly huffed, and her grandma just winked as Eli waved and turned to start his motorcycle.

"A blue mohawk," Grams mouthed to Elodie, wide eyed as soon as Eli wasn't looking at her, "Look at you go, sweetie,"

Élodie laughed, shaking her head, "See you soon Grams, I love you."

"Love you too, darling."

─────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───────
AUTHOR'S NOTE !
thanks as always for reading, i hope you enjoyed
this chapter — élodie and eli are finally together
which i know lots of you won't be happy about but
i'M soRrY !!! hope you enjoy this regardless <3

drama kicks in more from now on really so 👁👄👁