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𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐀 pulled into the Reseda strip mall and slid her sunglasses onto the top of her head before unbuckling. She stepped out, locking the car with a practiced flick, purse slung over her shoulder as she headed toward the dojo.

"I need somewhere romantic, but not too romantic," August stretched, groaning like he'd just carried the weight of the world.

"Romantic for what?" Stella asked

"I have a date with Sam tonight." August grinned, sweeping his sister into a hug.

"Oh hey, that's great." Stella smiled, returning the embrace before pulling Aisha into one as well.

"You could take her to get tattoos," Hawk suggested, his voice dead serious.

Stella raised a brow. "What are you even talking about?"

"I know a guy. Just hooked me up with this bad boy." Hawk smirked, hopping to his feet. He tugged his gi loose and revealed fresh ink.

"That is so badass," Aisha said, impressed.

"Okay, I do have to admit, that's pretty awesome," Stella said, a reluctant smile curving her lips.

"Right? Fourteen hours in the chair," Hawk bragged.

"Wait, are your parents okay with that?" Aisha asked as Hawk pulled his gi back on.

"Oh, they have no idea. Definitely gonna have to wear a T-shirt until college. Probably longer. Please don't tell them."

August dragged a hand down his face. "Okay, um... any other suggestions? Stella?"

"How about dinner and a movie?" she said with a shrug. "But I'm not one to be giving out suggestions. I've been out of the dating game for a while."

"We need to get you back in the game," Aisha teased.

"Aisha, you have any suggestions?" August pressed.

"Don't look at me. Sam and I used to be friends. We're not anymore."

"I'm sorry, but I still need your help."

"Fine. I know she likes chocolates. And astronomy."

"I could definitely work with that," August nodded, hopeful.

Stella smiled faintly, shaking her head at their plotting—until her gaze landed on Johnny. He stood across the mat, phone pressed to his ear, jaw tight. The usual fire in his eyes softened the moment they locked with hers. It was instinctive, the way her chest warmed. She gave him a quiet smile, and he returned one, almost unconsciously, before she drifted toward his office.

"Banned? What are you talking about?" Johnny barked into the phone. Stella slipped into the office, sliding into his chair like it was her second nature. "No, you don't ban me! I'll ban you!" He slammed the phone shut, fury radiating off him.

"Okay, what's going on?" Stella asked, standing again, concern pulling at her voice. "What did you mean by banned?"

August rushed in, "Sensei, what is it?"

"There's a lifetime ban on Cobra Kai from entering the tournament," Johnny bit out.

"What? How is that fair?" August demanded.

Johnny slumped into the chair, shoulders heavy in rare defeat. Stella reached out instinctively, laying a hand on his shoulder. The contact was brief but electric. August noticed the way Johnny didn't shrug it off. Instead, his hand twitched, like he almost wanted to cover hers.

"It's not. There's nothing I can do about it," Johnny muttered.

"Alright, sensei. Sounds like you're accepting defeat," August challenged. "What happened to never accept defeat? There is no no?"

"That was girl advice. This is different. This is the real world. There are rules," Johnny said flatly.

Stella rolled her eyes. "Wow. Since when does John Lawrence care about the rules?"

Johnny's lips twitched, the faintest ghost of a smirk breaking through.

"She's right, sensei. We don't take no for an answer. You said that. You've gotta fight this," August urged.

"You know what—you're right." Johnny surged to his feet, fire rekindled. "I'm gonna go down there and beat their asses—"

"No, that's not what he means," Stella cut in, placing herself in his line of sight, grounding him.

"Exactly. I'm saying maybe there's a more delicate approach," August said.

"The way of the fist is not delicate," Johnny grumbled. "Cobras are not delicate."

"Alright, he didn't mean that. That was obviously the wrong choice of words. But maybe, possibly, there's a smarter way to fight back?" Stella offered, tilting her head.

Johnny's gaze softened again, lingering on her like she was the only one in the room. "What do you suggest?"

"What if I go with you? Keep you calm and keep you from making an ass of yourself?" Stella said.

Johnny nodded, the fight draining just enough to let her in. "Thanks."

"No problem. You know I've got your back." Stella's smile was warm, steady—the kind that cut right through the armor Johnny showed the rest of the world.

･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･

Johnny stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his tie with that sharp, restless focus that always seemed to burn off him in waves. The apartment door creaked open, and Stella walked in with August at her side.

"Hey sensei, you nervous for the meeting?" August asked.

"I'm not nervous. I'm pissed off," Johnny muttered, eyes never leaving his reflection. His jaw flexed, and Stella had to admit—God, he was hot as hell when he was pissed.

"Johnny, you have to be nice to these people. If you get pissed, what are you gonna do?" Stella asked, stepping close. She slid her hands up, brushing his wrists aside as she took over the tie. The brush of her fingers against his chest made the air between them spark.

"I don't know. I usually just punch the guy," Johnny said flatly, though his eyes flicked to hers in the mirror.

"Nah, you can't do that. How about this—when someone makes you angry, you just make a fist like you're about to punch them, but don't?" August offered. Johnny ignored him, his focus tightening on Stella instead.

For a moment, the world fell away. Stella looked up at Johnny, and their eyes locked. Her fire burned bright and unyielding, daring him to meet it. His gaze was darker, unreadable, but it pulled at her all the same. The irritation she used to feel around him was gone—replaced by something that made her want to stay near him, maybe forever.

"Sensei?" August's voice cut through the heat between them.

Johnny blinked, breaking the stare. "Yeah, what?"

"Did you hear what I said?" August asked.

"Yeah. Make a fist but don't punch anyone. Hold it in. I can try." Johnny shrugged.

Stella quickly handed him a sleek, worn briefcase. "Oh—we brought this for you. It was our grandpa's. Grandma let you borrow it. There's nothing inside, but I thought it'd be a nice touch."

Johnny's mouth softened into a smile as he took it. "Thanks." He turned to August, the moment with Stella still buzzing under his skin. "So, you nervous for your date?"

"Yeah, a little. A lot," August admitted, scratching his neck.

"There's nothing to be nervous about. Just relax, be cool, and when the moment's right, you make a move," Johnny said.

"A move? What move? I don't have a move," August stammered.

"You gotta kiss the girl," Johnny declared.

"I mean, I'd like to, but I don't technically have to, right?" August asked, panicked.

Johnny snorted. "No, you could just learn to braid her hair and talk about the other guys who had the balls to kiss her on a first date. You're a Cobra Kai. Strike first, strike hard—those lessons aren't just for karate. They're for everything, all right?"

Stella rolled her eyes at their exchange but couldn't hide her grin. "Did you decide where you're taking her?"

"The observatory. Picnic on the lawn, chocolate tasting three ways, and if the sky's clear, we'll look at the stars," August said.

Stella lit up. "Ah, she'll love that."

Johnny rolled his eyes. "The only thing that made sense was three way. All right, if you wanna impress this chick, you gotta take her where I used to take all my babes back in the day." His voice dipped lower, and the thought that he'd once imagined taking Stella there flickered behind his eyes.

"And where's that exactly?" August grinned.

･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･

Later, Johnny parked his Firebird. The engine purred to silence as Stella stepped out beside him. Her light blue baby doll dress fluttered softly in the breeze, her heart-shaped locket catching the faint glow of the streetlight. Her long, brunette hair spilled down her back like silk.

Johnny's breath caught. He masked it with a grunt, but when she turned that radiant smile on him, he felt every defense he had begin to crumble.

"All right, you've got this, Johnny. I'll be right here. Remember what August and I told you," Stella said, her voice warm, grounding him.

"Yeah," Johnny murmured, though it sounded more like a promise to himself.

"Okay. Good luck." Stella's smile turned softer as her hand lifted to his cheek. The warmth of her palm lingered, and before she could second-guess herself, she pressed a gentle kiss to his chin.

Johnny froze for a split second, then let a slow, real smile spread across his face—the kind he hadn't worn in years.

As he walked into the meeting room, that smile stayed with him. Stella sat back, pulling out her phone to text Kara and Lori, though her gaze lingered on him just a little longer than it should have.

Charlie's Angels 💛

Kara 💛
So, how's it going at the
all valley committee?

We just got here. Johnny just walked in,
so I'm waiting out in the hall, while he presents
his appeal.

Lori 💛
I think it's crazy to have a lifetime
ban on Cobra Kai. Wonder what happened?

Not sure. But I guess we'll
find out.

As Stella continued texting her best friends, waiting for what felt like an eternity, the double doors finally creaked open. Johnny stepped out. For the first time all day, he looked...nervous. Shoulders tense, jaw tight, that usual swagger dimmed.

Stella shot to her feet and caught him by the arm, guiding him to the bench beside her. She slipped her hand into his—warm, steady. A simple gesture, but he held onto it like it anchored him.

"Johnny, how did it go?" she asked softly.

"It's all up to a vote now," he muttered, frustration roughening his voice. "They either let Cobra Kai compete or they don't. All because of the past—my old sensei, some other guy's baggage."

"John—"

"We're different, Stella." His voice sharpened, fire back in his eyes. "I wanted them to see this is a new Cobra Kai. Kids like your brother—they'll finally stand up for themselves. They won't get pushed around because they're different. They'll get stronger. Not just in karate, but in here." He tapped his chest. "You believe that, don't you?"

Stella's hand covered his, grounding him again. Her smile was soft but fierce, like she was daring him to believe in himself as much as she did. "Of course I do. I have faith in you, Johnny. I know you're going to do the right thing."

For a second, he couldn't look away from her—like her belief in him burned hotter than his own doubts.

The meeting room door swung open, breaking the moment. Daniel stormed out, his expression sour.

"Congratulations, Johnny," Daniel muttered, voice clipped, before stomping off down the hall.

Stella frowned. "What was that all about? You'd think he'd be happy for you."

"LaRusso's always been a drama queen," Johnny scoffed. Without thinking, he pulled Stella into a tight embrace. His arms locked around her, solid and sure, and for a moment neither of them moved. It wasn't just relief—it was something heavier, something neither of them wanted to let go of.

･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･

Back at the Reseda strip mall, after Stella headed back to her apartment, Johnny slapped an All Valley poster against the office wall, stepping back to admire it with a proud grin.

"Ooh, who's the man?!" August shouted as he barged in, tossing down his bike helmet.

"I'm the man! Oh shit, are you the man too?" Johnny shot back, grin widening. "Tell me you're the man."

"I'm the man! I crushed the date!" August grinned ear to ear.

"I crushed the committee meeting. Your sister was there to help me out," Johnny said, the smile softening just a bit at the thought of Stella.

"So Cobra Kai's in?" August asked, eyes wide.

"Hell yeah, we're in." Johnny smirked, slapping the poster. "Cobra Kai's back, baby."

"All right, I'm gonna grab a soda. You want a banquet?" August asked, heading for the fridge.

"No, this calls for a real toast." Johnny disappeared into the office and came back with a half-full bottle and two cups. "The good stuff. For real men."

He poured, sliding a cup to August. The kid sniffed it and recoiled instantly. "Ugh, the smell."

"Drink it. It'll put hair on your balls," Johnny said, deadpan, setting the bottle down.

"Is that a good thing?" August asked cautiously.

"Yeah, it's a good thing," Johnny replied with that trademark edge.

August lifted his cup with a grin. "To Cobra Kai."

Johnny clinked his cup against his. "Never accept defeat."

    ･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･

After grabbing a beer from the fridge, Stella plopped onto the couch and flipped on the music, landing on an '80s rock station. She tucked her legs beneath her, opened her notes, and started reviewing for next week's exam. Just as she lifted her beer for a swig, the doorbell rang. Probably Lori or Kara.

With a sigh, she set her notes and bottle on the coffee table and headed for the door. "I'm coming!" she called.

"Hey." He shifted a little, suddenly not as sure of himself. "Sorry. I know it's late."

"Nonsense," Stella said softly, stepping aside. "Come on in."

Johnny walked in, eyes scanning the apartment. His gaze lingered on the photos that filled her walls—Stella with Lori, Kara, and Carter, Stella with her parents and August. She alive in every frame. Something about the warmth of her spirit in every shot made his chest tighten.

Stella closed the door and joined him, pressing a cold beer into his hand as she slid onto the couch. He dropped down beside her, taking it. "Sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt your studying," he said.

"Oh, you didn't. August told me he crushed the date. I'm happy for him. I guess your advice really worked," Stella said with a grin.

Johnny smirked. "Yeah. He's a good kid."

"So how did you get the dojo reinstated anyway?" she asked.

Johnny took a pull from his beer before answering. "Well, back in '85, my old sensei and some other guy, Terry Silver, hired another dude to beat the shit out of LaRusso."

Stella blinked. "Mr. LaRusso is the one on the board?" She raised her brows, sipping her beer.

"Yeah. After that, Cobra Kai got banned for 'unsportsmanlike behavior' or whatever," Johnny said, rolling his eyes.

"Wow. And you didn't know this Terry Silver?" she pressed.

Johnny shook his head no. "No. My buddies and I left the valley for a while and headed up to San Bernardino. After my sensei tried to kill me, I didn't give a shit. I don't want to be like him."

"You won't be," Stella said firmly, leaning closer, her voice soft but certain. "I can promise you, you won't be. So... what's the next step?"

Johnny's jaw set. "Real training begins. The kids are good, yeah, but if we're gonna win, they've gotta get better. No shortcuts."

Stella smiled at him, her eyes bright. "Look, I might not know anything about karate, but I do know this—they've got you in their corner. They're gonna be just fine."

That hit deeper than he expected. He gave her a half-smile. "Thanks." A pause, then—"So, how's the whole nursing thing coming along?"

Her face lit up. "Great, actually. I start clinicals next week. I'll be at the San Bernardino hospice center. One of the girls didn't want to work there, so we switched."

Johnny leaned back, looking at her like he already knew the answer. "You're gonna do great. I've got faith in you. They need more nurses like you."

Her smile softened. "Thanks, Johnny. That means a lot."

Hours passed with the two of them laughing, drinking, and letting the music fill the silences. When George Jones and Tammy Wynette's We're Gonna Hold On came on, neither of them spoke—it just seemed to say everything for them.

Finally, Johnny stood. "Well, I better get going."

Stella tilted her head, her smile sly but gentle. "It's pretty late. And I made you a promise—you could crash here anytime you wanted. So... crash."

Johnny smirked. "As long as it's not too much trouble."

"It's not." Her eyes met his steadily, no hesitation. "You can sleep beside me if you'd like. The couch is pretty uncomfortable."

･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･

Later, Stella slipped into her bed, the glow of her vintage lamp washing the room in soft gold. She wore a pale pink Miss Elaine nightgown, a delicate rose embroidered at the center. On anyone else it might have looked old-fashioned, but on her—it was devastating. Sweet, understated, and so damn beautiful it knocked the breath out of him.

Johnny eased onto the mattress beside her, lacing his fingers behind his head, eyes fixed on the ceiling. He could feel the heat of her body just inches away. Every instinct in him screamed to roll over, pull her against him, let his hands explore the softness the nightgown only hinted at. He wanted her—God, he wanted her bad.

But more than that, he wanted this. The stillness. The way she made him feel steady when everything else in his life was a mess. For once, he didn't have to be tough, didn't have to be the loud, brash Cobra Kai sensei. With her, it was enough just to breathe in the same space.

And then Stella shifted, turning onto her side to face him. Her eyes found his, warm in the lamplight. "Goodnight, Johnny."

That one look shattered whatever defenses he had left. He reached for her without thinking, sliding his arm around her waist and pulling her against his chest. The simple act of holding her was almost unbearable in how good it felt—better than anything else he'd known in years.

"Goodnight, Princess," he murmured, voice rough, the nickname slipping out before he could stop it.

She melted into his arms, her head resting against him like she belonged there. Johnny closed his eyes, fighting down the ache of wanting more. For the first time in forever, just holding a woman felt stronger than giving in to everything else burning inside him.

And damn if it didn't make him weaker than anything ever had.