warnings: violence!

___

CAMERON passed a Pop Quiz. She was shocked when she saw that C splattered in big bold red across the front of the paper. She told anyone who cared to listen. However, considering that Miguel's notes had helped her, she wanted to thank him in person. So when Aisha decided she wanted to join Cobra Kai, she tagged along.

But neither were expecting such an unwelcome atmosphere.

"What the hell? No yoga till 5:00,"  Johnny said when he saw the two girls wander in. "No matter how bad you need it."

"I-I'm actually here for karate." Aisha stammered, "I saw your website. It said that there was supposed to be a session today."

"I appreciate you coming in, but there are no girls in Cobra Kai."

"Wow," Cameron uttered.

Her narrowed gaze landed on Miguel who offered her a timid smile, embarrassed by how his Sensei was being.

"Why not?" Aisha asked.

"Same reason there aren't women in the Army. Doesn't make sense," Johnny answered as if it were true.

But they do, Cameron was sure of it.

Sighing, Miguel said, "Sensei, I need to show you something in the office."

The two of them stalked over to the back, leaving the girls to discuss why they even came in the first place.

"Don't give me this sexist bullshit. All right, I'm just saying, women aren't meant to fight. They have tiny, hollow bones," Johnny explained his reasoning after the door shut.

"Aren't you desperate for new students?" Miguel asked, rather agitated.

He didn't want to look a fool for hyping up the experience, especially in front of Cameron.

"Yes," Johnny answered, sitting against the desk. "But this isn't a knitting class. This is a dojo."

"The kids at school call her names, make fun of Aisha."

"That's what happens when you eat an entire box of Twinkies every day," Johnny deadpanned.

"Aisha's Dad is Isaiah Robinson. Hall of Fame lineman for the Chargers."

Johnny blinked slowly, "Yeah, so you're saying it's genetic? Her love for Twinkies comes from her Dad?"

"No, I'm saying her family's loaded! All right, and she's a paying customer. But you don't need the money, right?"

Johnny sighed, "And the other girl? The one you've been drooling at since she walked in. That's her right."

He noted Miguel's flustered state as he tried composing himself, "Yeah, Cameron James only she's wearing contact lenses instead of glasses. Says she needs to change between them or they'll hurt her eyes."

"I don't care," Johnny rolled his eyes, "She was there when you got beaten up but those jerks."

Miguel nodded, chest warming at the battered memory, "And she slapped someone in the face for bullying Aisha."

That intrigued Johnny.

Cameron exchanged a look with Aisha when the Sensei and Student walked back into the dojo.

"Okay, take off your shoes. Hop on the mat," Johnny turned to Cameron when she didn't do what he asked, "You too missy."

Cameron replied, "Oh I'm not here for Karate. I'm here for moral support. And to thank Miguel because I passed a pop quiz with the help of his notes."

Miguel gasped, pride flashed across his face, "You did?!"

She beamed, "Yeah got a C."

"Congrats."

Putting a stop to their babbling, Johnny's turn stated, "Wait — so you're a pussy."

Miguel groaned, "Sensei –"

Mildly offended, Cameron replied, "I prefer self-preserved."

"Pussy in my book," Johnny restated.

Cameron snorted, "You don't even seem like the type to read. No offense."

Having enough of her arguments, Johnny's face dropped, "Shoes off or get out."

"Fine," she grumbled, slipping off her shoes and joining Aisha on the mat.

"Okay, after further review, I've decided to allow female students. But if you want to be in Cobra Kai, you can't act like a girl."

"What do you mean? How do girls act?" Aisha spoke Cameron's thoughts.

Johnny scoffed, "Oh, don't give me that... You know, all emotional, loud, complain-y, never letting you finish a sentence."

"Well, I know a few guys who act just..."

"Quiet!" Johnny yelled, shutting her up.

Cameron let out a small groan at the loudness, "Ouch."

Johnny decided to stand in front of Aisha, squinting his eyes, "My student tells me you've been harassed at school."

Aisha tried not to let her deflation show, "Yeah. Mostly online. I get mean texts and emails sent to me. Makes me not want to go."

"And who sends you these messages?"

"Well, they're mostly anonymous. These kids create fake accounts, and they tell me things like I'm ugly and that I should kill myself."

Cameron felt angered by her reality. Aisha was the sweetest girl she knew.

"Oh, my God." Johnny looked disgusted, "What a bunch of pussies. Back in my day, if you wanted to tease someone, you did it to their face." the girls exchanged a confused expression,  but Miguel looked somewhat inspired, "There was honour, respect. These geeks hiding behind their computers, what a bunch of spineless losers. You're not afraid of these losers, are you?"

"No," Aisha answered.

Johnny questioned, "Are you gonna take shit from these losers?"

"No," Aisha replied more sternly.

"Good, because when I'm done with you, you're gonna be sending a message back, only it's not gonna be with your keyboard. It's gonna be with your fists."

Aisha smiled.

Cameron spoke up, "Again I'm only here for support."

Johnny turned to her, "You're the one with a dude's name."

"Cameron."

Miguel added, from where he stood, "And it's unisex."

Johnny ignored him, "Must've been a tough life. Bullied because your parents wanted a boy."

Cameron tilted her head in confusion, "I was planned."

Johnny sarcastically nodded, "Sure you were."

"Cameron would've been my name even if I was a boy so..."

"Quiet!" Johnny yelled, making her head hurt. "My student tells me you also know gymnastics. A girl's sport."

Cameron narrowed her eyes, as she said, "Guys do it too. But yeah. I was at level three." 

"Okay, let's see what you got, Ms. James." he stepped back as she tentatively took a step forward, "Bow."

Cameron's jaw dropped, "Me and you?"

"Got a problem with that?"

"A grown man and a teenage girl?" she retorted, earning an offended look.

Johnny scoffed, "Think I'll go easy on you?"

"Sensei maybe not," Miguel stepped forward.

Johnny waved him off, "Relax, I just want to see how good her reflexes are. I heard you're a slapper."

The teens all gasped at that.

Miguel exclaimed, "Sensei."

"I don't get around," Cameron defended, "and even if I did it wouldn't be a problem."

Johnny didn't understand their outrage, "What?"

"Slapper means a promiscuous woman. It's British slang," Aisha explained.

Johnny shrugged, "Well we're not British. This is America. And you slapped someone for being mean to your friend."

Realization dawned on Cameron, before she nodded, "Oh. Yeah I did.." she flinched back when a a fist flew her way. "A warning would be nice."

Johnny changed his stance as he responded, "It's about reflexes. Did you get warned when you had to tumble or flip or whatever you girls do?"

"Yes." She stepped out of the way when he attempted to strike her again. "Jesus."

"Sensei maybe something else. Like punching a dummy," Miguel hoped he wouldn't hurt her like he did him.

"Have some faith, Diaz," Johnny responded.

He thought he was finally going to tap her face when her body contorted into a backbend, hands grazing the floor before she bounced back, stunning the others.

"So hot..." Miguel muttered under his breath.

"Awesome," Aisha said in awe.

Cameron rolled her neck as she stared ahead at the Sensei who he hid his surprise.

"Yeah, well let's see how you do when a kick is flying at you next time. Go sit down," he ordered.

Cameron walked passed, high-fiving Aisha whilst talking her glasses before sitting down.

Johnny cleared his throat to get Miguel's attention. He snapped his head back towards his Sensei and picked his jaw off the floor.

"Ms. Robinson." Aisha prepared herself, anxious because she couldn't do what her friend could do. "Face me." Miguel and Aisha did, "Bow." they complied. "Face each other. Bow. Mr. Diaz, show her everything you've learned."

Miguel reeled back, "Uh, whoa, wait, I don't think this is right, Sensei."

Johnny rose a brow, "You don't think what's right?"

"She's a girl, I'm not gonna..." Miguel trailed off, glancing between everyone.

"And? I thought you said women were equal to men."

"I hope you said that Miguel," Cameron called out from where she sat on the mat.

"I did say that," Miguel blurted out, eyes wide. "I didn't mean it like that you know. I meant that she..."

"All right, show her women are equal. Give her everything you got," Johnny instructed.

Aisha's alerted, "Wait. I just want to remind everyone this is my first day."

"Your enemies don't care what day it is." Johnny challenged, "They prey on weakness. If you want to beat them, you gotta conquer your fears and jump face-first into the fire. Now, are you ready, Ms. Robinson?"

Aisha breathed out, "I guess."

"Come on Aisha!" Cameron chanted, before receiving a scolding look.  "Sorry."

"Mr. Diaz. Fight!" Johnny yelled, yet neither moved. "Don't just stand there. Fight!" Miguel sighed and got into a fighting stance.

"I'm sorry," Miguel apologised before kicking Aisha in the chest knocking her down.

"Aisha!" Cameron gawked, watching as Aisha looked up in pain at him.

"Oh, my God, Aisha, are you okay? I'm so sorry." Miguel regretted it immediately, he ushered her to take his hand, "Come on."

Something switched in Aisha's mind, your enemies don't care what day it is. "Ugh!" She rushed, body-slamming Miguel onto the ground right in front of Cameron who shuffled back in shock.

Only Aisha wasn't done, she kneed him in the chest after jumping on him.

"Badass," Cameron muttered, eyes dragging toward her friend who stood back.

"Girl's a natural Cobra," Johnny realized.

"I know that's right!"

Johnny stifled a smile, even ignoring Miguel's groaning before snapping his head toward the sound of muffled yelling next door.

"Students, wait here. Diaz, you're in charge."

He walked out as Cameron finally came to his aid.

"You were amazing." She praised Aisha as they helped him up, "Miguel are you okay?"

"Yup. Great," he wheezed out.

"You're a natural cobra huh?" Cameron teased her friend as she rubbed Miguel's back.

"And your back is so bendy. I wish I could do that." Aisha marvelled.

"You could with time. Mine is just muscle memory."

"Great muscle memory," Miguel coughed out, nodding to Cameron who didn't stop her soothing movements.

"Let's hope your next fight you won't end up on the floor," she laughed slightly, making a pained smile appear on his face. "And also. Don't let Lily ever find out a grown white man tried to hit me. Or my mom."

Aisha understood, "Yeah, that won't go down well."

"Like at all."

━━━━━━━━━━━━━

"WHAT is happening..." Cameron was dumbfounded when Sam approached their lunch table and set her tray down.

After an eventful movie night with Kyler, they didn't go as planned and rumours began to spread.

Aisha shook her head, after taking a sip of her drink, "Oh, don't even think about it."

Sam exacerbated, "Come on, I need a place to sit."

Lily responded, without looking up from her phone, "I heard hell is nice at this time of year."

"Or... you can go sit with Kyler. I hear he doesn't mind that you suck," Aisha said snarkily.

Lily cackled, whilst Cameron grimaced.

Sam hesitantly picked up her tray and moved.

"So CJ blocked this guy's punches?" Lily quickly moved on.

The girls answered, "Sensei's."

"So now you're a karate student," Lily stated to her best friend.

Cameron shrugged, "I guess."

"You should come," Aisha suggested to Lily.

She shut that down, "No. Aisha you should know by now, I don't do sports. Tried it. Hated it. I'm an observer, a coach but never a player."

"Got it." Aisha then turned to Cameron,  "So when you were level three at gymnastics. What was the most you could do?"

"Basic floor, beam, bars and vault." Cameron listed,  "I think I still have the same core strength. But not physical strength."

"Your reflexes are on point."

"Well thank you, Miss Cobra Kai."

"You're very welcome, Miss Cobra Kai."

Lily eyed them with an influx of nausea, "This is gonna be a thing isn't it?"

"Yes it is," they chorused with a laugh.

Miguel came up behind Cameron, settling a hand on her chair, startling her slightly.

"Hey, I was wondering if I could talk to you about something," he said quietly, as she turned to face him.

She nodded in intrigue, "Yeah what?"

He cleared his throat, and awkwardly rocked on his heels, "I was wondering If you wanted to —"

"Hey, guys." Kyle's voice tore through the cafeteria, getting everyone's attention, "You know that billboard with a big-ass dіck on it? I guess Sam takes after her dad."

Annoyed by his antics, Miguel turned around, "Hey, Kyler!" He yelled, striding toward him, "Why don't you shut the hell up and stop being such an asshоlе?"

Everyone watched on in intrigue.

"Want another beatdown, 'Rhea?" Kyler pushed him, causing Aisha to stand up, "I'm ready for your lame-ass karate this time."

"It's not lame-ass karate." Miguel blocked a punch and twisted Kyler's hand as he fiercely corrected, "It's Cobra Kai."

Miguel threw a punch to his face.

Lily directed her phone in their direction.

The students ooo'd in suspense, all moving out of the way or recording the fight as it continued. Kyler tried dominating, even picking up Miguel and slamming him onto a table, but everything turned around in seconds.

Miguel elbowed him in the stomach, twisting his arm back and kicking him toward another table.

"Whoo! No mercy!" Aisha cheered.

"So hot," Cameron muttered under her breath before more of Kyler's friends rushed toward Miguel, who turned, ducked and swept their legs, kicking and spinning his leg through the air. "Holy shit."

Lily turned her phone landscape to get a better angle, "Already recording..."

Even when he was hunted and rushed toward, Miguel didn't sweat, using lunch trays and chairs to block any attacks.

Kyler made one last advance toward him but the red tray in Miguel's hand sent him flying down to where his friends lay.

Cheers and applause quickly followed.

Stunned, Miguel stood from the table and looked around, seeing the phones and praise as his gaze landed on Cameron who cheered the loudest.

Lily laughed behind her phone, trying to capture every detail even a certain glimmer in Sam's eyes.

Counsellor Blatt stormed,  "Hey! Hey!" She scolded, "Get down from there right now!"

Miguel was yanked off the table as the cheers didn't die down. 

Nor did Lily's suspicion.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━

ALEXIS and Blake James lowered their voices when their daughter came out from her room to grab a drink of water.

They noticed her busy with her phone and occasionally rubbing at her hands.

"Cami, what happened? Are you okay?" Her mom asked, taking a deep breath as she stood back from her husband.

Cameron glanced up from her phone and followed her worried gaze, "It's just from karate. Went to the Cobra Kai dojo straight after school."

She stood by the fridge where her passing pop quiz was attached with a magnet.

Alexis tiredly said, "If it ensures that you're out of your room I'm okay with it."

"How does it make you feel Cami?" Blake asked as she filled up her glass.

Cameron couldn't help but giggle, "Alive I guess."

"Mmm I need some of that," he mumbled, not expecting them to hear.

"Come along Dad, I think my sensei would let you watch in even though he's against parents staying, something to do with insurance or whatever. But it would be cool to see you. You could be one of those stage parents. Like on Dance Moms." Cameron made them laugh with her suggestion.

"And is that boy gonna be there?" Alexis questioned, almost causing her daughter to drop her glass.

"What boy?" She asked innocently.

Blake answered, "The one you were up all night texting."

"You only know I was texting someone because you never sleep." Cameron retorted cheekily as she took a sip of water, missing the sadness flashing across her mom's face.

"Exactly. You're young, you should get all the sleep while you can."

"To answer your previous question. That boy will be there. His name is Miguel," Cameron bashfully told them, almost avoiding their stares.

"Our daughter is messing with a Latino."

Cameron rolled her eyes, "He's Guatemalan, so yes. And he's sweet."

Her phone chimed, gaining their attention.

Miguel ;)

You looked amazing when you
were blocking Sensei's punches.
Seen

"That better be PG," Blake almost glared as he pointed at her phone.

"Yeah thanks, Dad," Cameron called out, not listening to whatever he was saying. "Love you too."

Hearing their daughter's door shut, they returned to their previous argument.

"Blake put the money back into your pension fund," Alexis snapped, eyeing her husband as she passed him his medication.

"It's for her college fund." He reasoned, annoyed that she was ever informed of his decision. "She won't need to struggle this way." He forced out, before dry swallowing a pill. "Maybe she'll need a part-time job and that's it."

"I'm working to increase her college fund." She felt like she had been killing herself. Working overtime, and missing moments at home just to maintain financial stability. "There's a few grand in there already." She whispered hissed, as she drew closer to him, "Now take it back. I mean it."

━━━━━━━━━━━━━

MIGUEL had a new level of confidence in him. Cameron noticed and it was highly attractive. He stood closer to her, body language was flying off the charts as she ranted how he was going viral whilst they stood outside the dojo.

"Miguel, all I know. Kyler won't and can't say shit to you after yesterday," Cameron joked leaning against the dojo. "I mean look how many people are here now," she gestured to crowds of kids all outside the dojo.

They either stared in awe, whispering about Miguel or just rewatched and studied his video.

"Yeah, it was just me, you and Aisha yesterday."

"And now it's growing." She gasped, before another fact flew from her mouth, "Hey, did you know that sharks don't stop growing?"

He fondly smiled at her, "I do now."

Before Miguel could ask her something, she patted his chest and pointed to the red car pulling up.

Turning his gaze to Johnny, Miguel pulled away from the wall and approached the man who stared around in amazement.

"Looks like we're in business," Johnny commented, putting a bigger smile on Miguel's face as the doors to the dojo were pulled open.

"Ladies first," Miguel insisted, letting Cameron enter before him. "And I like what you did with your hair."

"Thought if I was going to be doing exercise I should put it up," she gestured to her high bun as they walked in, careful to take off their shoes before stepping onto the mat.

"Well, it looks really good. Really insinuates your cheekbones."

Cameron smiled so hard she had to look away.

If she kept getting compliments she would burst, but at least she now had something else to focus on that wasn't a boy.

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a/n:

cobra kai is now in session. (and somehow i'm over halfway through writing the fanfic)

i think based on cameron's avoidance when it comes to confrontation she would deflect johnny's punches instead of attacking back, unlike aisha who is ready to just jump all in -- suggests the difference in the bullying both girls received throughout their childhood. cameron also added a little acro into that demonstration. johnny is more intrigued by cameron, maybe because of how miguel describes her to him.

thoughts on this chapter? especially with blake's behaviour?