chapter twenty-two:
❛ stingray ❜

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The backyard of Miyagi-Do was quiet for a moment, save for the faint rustling of the leaves in the wind. Alessia, Eli, Demetri, Sam, Miguel, and Bert all stood around, absorbing the weight of the conversation. The air felt thick with disbelief as they recounted the shocking events from the party the night before.

Alessia couldn't hide her astonishment. Her mouth hung open, her eyes wide as she glanced from Sam to Demetri, waiting for some confirmation that this was some kind of sick joke. "W-w-wait. Okay, so Sensei Silver paid off the ref at the All Valley and framed Kreese for a crime he didn't commit?" Demetri stammered, his voice rising in disbelief. When everyone nodded solemnly, Demetri let out a groan of frustration. He looked between Alessia and Eli with a desperate, pleading expression. "Never let me miss a house party again," he begged, shaking his head in disbelief.

Alessia chuckled, still stunned by the turn of events. "Yeah, I would have come, but you know..." she trailed off, the words getting stuck in her throat. She didn't feel the need to elaborate—her reasons for staying home the night before were personal. She had decided not to go because she was concerned about someone bringing drugs, and she didn't want to risk losing her sobriety. She was grateful that her friends understood and supported her decision. Staying home and watching her niece and nephew had felt like the safest choice, even if it meant missing out on the chaos that followed.

Sam's voice cut through the tension, a soft but heavy question. "What are they gonna do? We saw what happened to my dad when he confronted Silver. I don't want him getting hurt again," she asked, her eyes filled with concern. She looked at the group, her sadness palpable as she sought answers that no one seemed to have.

Alessia's heart sank at the thought of Daniel being left battered and bruised after his last encounter with Silver. The image was still fresh in her mind. She let out a slow breath, her eyes flickering to Sam. "If this ref and Stingray are on Silver's payroll, they'll never admit anything," Alessia said, her voice laced with defeat. She shook her head slightly, as if to dismiss any hope of a quick resolution.

Out of the corner of her eye, Alessia noticed Bert flinch at her words. His body language stiffened, and he looked down, avoiding her gaze. Alessia turned to face him, her brow furrowing in concern. "Bert..." she warned softly, but firmly.

Bert's eyes remained on the ground, his shoulders hunched slightly. The tension in the group was palpable as everyone's attention shifted to him. Eli narrowed his eyes, his voice sharp, a mirror of Alessia's concern. "Bert," Eli repeated, his tone more stern now, a protective fire burning behind his words.

Bert finally lifted his gaze, meeting the eyes of the group around him. His face softened as he sighed, shoulders slumping in resignation. "I know he's in Cobra Kai and I'm in Eagle Fang," Bert began, his voice shaky but steady. "But Stingray's still my friend. He wouldn't lie to me. At least, I hope he wouldn't." He paused, his eyes darting back and forth between the group, unsure of how they would respond. "I might be able to get something out of him," he added, the uncertainty in his voice almost too much to ignore.

Alessia closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose as frustration and concern swept over her. She let out a quiet sigh, trying to calm her racing thoughts. "First of all, a grown man should not be your friend," she muttered, almost to herself. Her voice was low, but the weight of the words felt heavy as they settled between them. She exhaled, letting go of the frustration she felt for Bert's relationship with Stingray, though she couldn't quite shake the discomfort it caused her.

Alessia stepped forward, her hands reaching out to grasp Bert's shoulders. Her grip was firm, but there was a softness in her eyes when she met his gaze. "Second of all, thank God you are his friend," she said with mixed emotions, her voice laced with both relief and a touch of anxiety. She wasn't entirely sure how to feel about Bert's connection with Stingray. There was a part of her that was grateful for it, and yet, the thought of Stingray's involvement with Cobra Kai and Silver's manipulations made her uneasy.

Bert was momentarily confused by the mixture of gratitude and frustration in Alessia's voice. His eyes flickered between her and Eli, trying to process what she was saying. "What?" Bert asked, his voice quiet, unsure of how to interpret her words.

Eli, however, didn't seem as conflicted. He just shook his head, understanding Alessia's concern but also realizing the importance of getting Stingray on their side. "Think you can get him to talk?" Eli asked, the urgency in his voice clear. He, too, was beginning to understand the weight of what they were up against.

Alessia let go of Bert's shoulders and stepped back into her spot between Demetri and Eli. She crossed her arms, still frowning but more focused now. She knew it was risky, but if Bert could pull something from Stingray, it could be their best shot at gathering information to expose Silver.

Bert hesitated for a moment, still processing the situation, but then a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. His shoulders straightened as he nodded, a spark of determination lighting in his eyes. "Yeah," he said, his voice now tinged with a hint of confidence. "I think I can get him to talk."

Alessia and Eli exchanged a glance, both of them silently acknowledging that this was their best shot. They didn't have many options, but if Bert could get something from Stingray, they might finally have the leverage they needed to bring Silver down and clear Kreese's name.

As the group fell into a quiet lull, each of them processing the gravity of the situation, Alessia's mind raced. She wasn't sure what was going to happen next, but she knew one thing for sure: they couldn't let Silver win. Not this time.

The sun had barely begun to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the street as Eli, Alessia, Demetri, Sam, Miguel, and Bert stood outside Stingray's apartment. Bert was the one standing at the door, his hand raised as he knocked, while the others crouched against the wall, keeping themselves out of sight. The group knew they needed to catch Stingray off guard—if they were going to get the truth out of him, it wouldn't be easy. They had to be prepared for anything.

The sound of footsteps echoed from the other side of the door, and a moment later, it swung open. "Bert! What's up, dude? Wanna play some D&D?" Stingray greeted enthusiastically, his voice loud and boisterous, but there was something in the way he said it that hinted at a feigned coolness.

Alessia and the others couldn't see Stingray, but they could see the small group of people who had been leaving his apartment. They were visibly angry, storming out one after another, muttering things under their breath as they passed. It was clear Stingray's social life wasn't exactly thriving at the moment.

"These, uh... Oh, there they are. These noobs were entering the light and exiting night," Stingray laughed, trying to play off the situation as though nothing was wrong, attempting to maintain some semblance of control. His words felt forced, the smile plastered on his face like a mask.

Alessia couldn't help but roll her eyes at Stingray's attempt to seem cool. She exchanged a quick glance with the rest of the group before giving a small nod. Slowly, almost as if they had choreographed their movements, they stepped out of the shadows, revealing themselves one by one.

Stingray's jaw dropped at the sight of the teens standing in front of him. His eyes widened with disbelief. "Miyagi-Fangs?" he stammered, the name rolling off his tongue in a mix of confusion and surprise.

Alessia smirked, crossing her arms as she looked over at Miguel. "That's kinda a sick dojo name," she whispered, not caring if anyone heard. It was loud enough for everyone to catch, and they turned to give her a quick look of surprise. They hadn't expected that reaction from her, but Alessia didn't seem bothered by it. If anything, she looked amused by the situation.

As the others gave her quick glances, trying to adjust to the sudden tension, Stingray's face began to register the danger. He realized what was happening just a second too late. "Oh, this is a trap," he finally yelled, his eyes flickering between the group, now understanding the intent behind their unexpected visit.

The group stood firm, silently glaring at him. Stingray's gaze locked onto Bert, his expression shifting from shock to betrayal. "You Admiral Ackbar-ed me. Et tu, Bert-tay?" Stingray muttered, his voice laced with disbelief and hurt.

Alessia couldn't keep herself from rolling her eyes, exasperated by his antics. "Please stop," she snapped, her voice firm and unyielding. "We know Kreese never hurt you."

At her words, Stingray's smirk faltered, and he turned his attention toward Alessia, shaking his head as if amused by her statement. "According to my testimony in a court of law, he did," Stingray countered, the smirk now firmly back in place. "So... read the transcript."

Sam's face turned red with anger, and she practically growled as she spoke. "You lied in court." Her voice was sharp and accusatory, cutting through the air with a force that made everyone pause. Stingray's smirk quickly disappeared as he realized just how serious they were. Sam wasn't playing around anymore. "And you lied to Sam's dad," Alessia added, her voice quieter but just as intense. She locked eyes with Stingray, her gaze unwavering as he flinched, clearly uncomfortable under her scrutiny.

Stingray, now visibly nervous, lowered his head slightly, refusing to meet anyone's gaze. The weight of their words hung heavy in the air, and it was clear they weren't going to let him off the hook this time.

Then, as if the conversation had been rehearsed, Eli spoke next. His voice was colder, sharper. "But you're not going to lie to us," he warned, narrowing his eyes at Stingray. His stance was rigid, arms crossed tightly over his chest. It was a look that could freeze anyone in their tracks, and it seemed to have the desired effect on Stingray, who now seemed to shrink under the intensity of the group's collective stare.

Alessia, not willing to waste another moment, took a step forward and moved past Bert, pushing gently but firmly at Stingray's shoulder. "Out of the way," she muttered, her voice low but resolute.

Stingray, still stunned by the sudden change in power dynamics, blinked in disbelief as Alessia brushed past him. His eyes followed her as she moved into his apartment, and for a moment, he just stood there, his mouth hanging open, unable to process what was happening.

He turned back to the group, the reality of the situation finally settling in. His jaw dropped again. "You're just gonna let her—" But before he could finish his sentence, the rest of the teens began to file past him, pushing their way into his home without hesitation.

"Now you're all walking in," Stingray muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with both irritation and resignation. The playful front he had tried to maintain was long gone, replaced with the anxiety of facing the truth and the inevitable confrontation he had been avoiding.

Alessia and the others stepped into the apartment with purpose. They weren't here for pleasantries or games. They were here for answers. And they weren't leaving without them.

The group had been at Stingray's apartment for nearly an hour, trying to extract any valuable information from him, but so far, nothing. The air was thick with frustration. Bert, Demetri, and Alessia sat at the coffee table, while the other teens stood in a line behind them, watching Stingray from a distance. He sat across from them, his demeanor tense but trying to appear unfazed.

"Okay, okay. All right. Let's try this one more time, okay?" Demetri said, his voice calm yet clearly tinged with aggravation. Despite his best efforts to remain composed, it was obvious that Stingray's evasiveness was beginning to wear on him.

"What happened that night? Who hurt you?" Demetri asked, his tone now soft with genuine concern but edged with frustration. It was clear he was trying to break through Stingray's walls, but the man refused to acknowledge the question.

Instead of responding, Stingray turned his gaze to Bert, his voice becoming quieter and more unsteady. "Hey, Bert, how does it feel?" he asked, his eyes glassy as he sought to shift the focus. Alessia could feel her anger beginning to boil at the way Stingray was attempting to manipulate Bert.

Demetri stepped in, sensing the tension escalating and hoping to take a different approach. He leaned forward, his tone shifting to something more authoritative, but still calm. "Look at me," Demetri instructed, trying to make Stingray engage.

Stingray, however, refused to meet Demetri's gaze, his eyes drifting elsewhere. That's when Demetri made his final attempt. "To stab a grown man in the back between his shoulder blades and watch as the blood trickles down?" Demetri's voice was steady but grim as he continued, trying to push for a real answer.

Bert, visibly uncomfortable, shifted in his seat, clearly struggling with Stingray's manipulation, but unwilling to confront the man.

"God, enough!" Eli suddenly yelled, slamming his hands down on the table, causing everyone in the room to jump. He leaned over Alessia, his face mere inches from Stingray's, his presence imposing. "No more games."

Alessia, matching Eli's intensity, added coldly, "You're not fooling anyone."

Stingray gulped audibly, his eyes flicking from Eli to the others. His usual bravado was faltering under the pressure.

Sam, who had been watching silently, finally spoke up, her voice tight with barely-contained anger. "My dad went through a lot of pain because of you and Silver. Now a lot of other people will too if you just sit back and do nothing."

Stingray shook his head, his gaze dropping to the ground as he fought the guilt clawing at him. "But if I tell you what really happened, you know, he—he'll find out. I can't. It's not that easy, you guys." He looked at them, his expression becoming more panicked as he began to backpedal, a nervous edge creeping into his voice.

Everyone's faces fell as they realized that Stingray was more afraid of his own safety than willing to do the right thing. Before anyone could respond, he seemed to find an escape route, his eyes lighting up as if an idea had occurred to him. "Actually, I've been working on this new D&D campaign—" he trailed off, not noticing the collective groan from the group.

Miguel, standing at the back of the group, rolled his eyes in disbelief. "I don't think we have time for this," he muttered, shaking his head in frustration.

Demetri, however, widened his eyes in realization. "Wait a minute. What happens in the campaign, Stingray?" he asked, a sudden connection forming in his mind.

Stingray, eager to latch onto anything that would redirect the conversation, looked up at Demetri with a spark of relief in his eyes. "Well, um, once upon a time, there was a Dwarven monk," he began, placing a character piece on the board in front of him, his hands shaking slightly.

He went on, narrating the tale as though it were any other ordinary story, but everyone listened closely. "The monk was a member of the most badass guild in all the land," Stingray said, his voice animated as he set the scene. "But he was banished for a time. You know, typical PC crap."

The group exchanged glances, trying to make sense of where this story was going. Stingray continued, seemingly lost in the narrative. "But, uh, once he paid his penance, he returned. Only by then, the guild was under new leadership. And the monk was denied reentry into the guild. And quite unceremoniously, might I add."

Miguel leaned forward, intrigued despite himself. "What did the monk do?" he asked, his voice casual but curious.

Stingray looked up at Miguel, offering him a grateful smile, before returning his attention to the board. "The monk made a pact with a silver-haired king who would usurp the leader," he said, moving another piece on the board. "And it was early one morning, before any of the warriors had arrived, that the king struck the monk down. Again, and again, and again."

The room fell into a heavy silence as everyone processed his words. The details were clear. Stingray was no longer just narrating; he was reliving the pain of what had happened to him. The words felt too close to reality.

Stingray paused, his breath becoming erratic as he choked up, his eyes watering. He struggled to maintain composure. "It was then that they framed the leader for the assault, and the leader was put in chains, and the silver-haired king took over the guild."

A shudder ran through the group. Alessia felt a chill spread down her spine, the weight of Stingray's emotions becoming palpable.

Stingray inhaled deeply, trying to regain his calm. "And the monk... the monk was let back into the guild, but not without conditions," he said, his voice quieter now, filled with a deep, sad resignation.

Eli, who had been standing near the back of the group, let out a low mutter. "With benefits," he said, his tone not masking the bitterness.

Alessia glanced behind her, her eyes taking in the disarray of Stingray's apartment, her thoughts shifting. "No shit," she breathed out, a sharp edge to her voice. She turned back to Stingray, her expression now softer. "So why can't he just tell everyone what really happened?"

Stingray shook his head violently, as if to push away the painful reality of what he was about to say. "No!" he shouted, his voice breaking. "The monk would—he'd give it all back if he could, but the silver-haired king, you know, he... He almost killed him."

Alessia's heart softened in understanding. Her own experience with control and manipulation echoed in Stingray's words. She leaned forward, her voice soft but firm. "He could have killed him," she said, her eyes locked with Stingray's.

"Why?" Stingray asked rhetorically, his voice trembling. "To get power."

There was a long silence in the room as Stingray wiped his eyes, trying to compose himself. His voice cracked as he continued, "The monk fears what that king would do to keep that power. I think the monk just... He just wanted reentry into the guild because he thought he could be a proud and noble warrior."

He looked at Eli, and then at Alessia, his eyes filled with a mixture of shame and admiration. "Just like you, Hawk," he said softly, his eyes flicking from Eli to Alessia. "Alessia, all you guys... The monk has always been a fan of you guys."

He slumped further into his seat, his shoulders heavy with regret. "But the monk's not proud or noble. He's just a scared man who sits around playing games all day, waiting for someone to take control. He's scared. And I'm scared."

Sam, unable to contain her frustration any longer, stood up, her voice cold. "That's great. Thanks for nothing," she snapped, storming out of the room.

Miguel immediately ran after her, leaving the rest of the group to process Stingray's words in silence.

ASH SPEAKS!

no robby and alessia this chapter :(

yall s6 is gonna be tough cause idk if i should have them have issues or not😭 what do you guys think i should do? (please comment suggestions. do i have them break up if so how? and if not how do i write around that storyline in s6 part 2?)

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!!
COMMENT AND VOTE! IT HELPS US WRITERS STAY MOTIVATED:)