warnings: violence and blood

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BURPEES. The Cobra Kai's punishment was burpees until someone owned up to trashing the Miyagi dojo. They would keep it up for as long as Sensei Lawrence demanded.

"This all could be over in an instant," he stated, watching as they all struggled to keep up. "The decisions yours. Who trashed the Miyagi dojo?" He received no answer, just more grunts. "Y'all know I'm no fan of LaRusso's, but that sort of bullshit we don't teach in here. At least not anymore." He glimpsed at Kreese. "So, I'm gonna ask you again. Who trashed Miyagi-Do?"

Raymond stood up, panting, "It was not me, Sensei. I would never disrespect another man's dojo..."

"Shut your cake hole, Chubs." Sensei shut him down, causing him to continue his burpees.

Cameron groaned before she stood up, "I'm shocked." Some turned to her as they groaned on the ground. "I'm shocked anyone thought the dojo was worthy of trashing."

A wicked smile almost graced Kreese's face.

"Not now James," she let out a scoff as she kept up with the burpees, ignoring the face Miguel pulled. "I'm not looking for excuses. I'm not looking for cheek. I'm looking for answers."

Miguel jumped up, breathing out, "Sensei, we really don't know who did it."

Kreese spoke up,  "Somebody knows something. Question is, who's gonna break?"

The office cell phone rang, alerting Sensei Lawrence, "Keep going. We can do this all day."

When Sensei left to answer the phone, Mitch stood up, and stated, to Kreese, "Sensei, we need a water break."

He granted it after looking around at their exhaustion, "Two-minute break."The class sighed in relief. "Get your bearings."

Cameron downed nearly half of her water bottle, by the time Miguel approached her.

"Why would you say that? About Miyagi do?" He asked asked her, slightly irked.

She waved him off as she leaned against a wall, "Relax, it's not that deep."

"We're suffering because clearly one of us did it," Miguel said hushedly, gesturing around.

"Trust me, I'm pissed because they should just own up to it." She partially agreed with him, "But Miguel, this Miyagi-do bullshit needed to stop. I'm just glad someone trashed it."

Miguel scrunched up his face, "Are you serious?"

He was hoping she wasn't, but she didn't budge on this one.

"We gotta be. We need to be all in. Need to do what it takes to win, to thrive. No mercy okay?" She continued, "Cobra's aren't naturally aggressive. They only become that way when they're threatened."

"You're threatened by Miyagi-do?"

"I'm not," she scoffed at the thought. "But I'm not mad someone did this, just pissed I have to be punished for it."

He didn't respond, stunned by her view, and the fact he never thought he would be so opposed to hearing a fact from her.

"But don't worry Mig, it wasn't me," she joked, tapping his arm as she drank the rest of her water.

But that wasn't what he was worried about.

Sensei Lawrence wasn't seen for the rest of the class, Kreese took over, determined to find out whoever trashed Miyagi-do making them go through grueling training.

Battle ropes were the worst. In the workout room, they had to strain every muscle in their body as they used them. Others used weights or press-ups.

"Keep going. I have all day." Kreese said with indifference, watching them all suffer.

"You think it's okay if I puke in here?" Richmond asked Aisha.

She looked disgusted, "No."

"Navy SEALs puke all the time," he panted.

Cameron hissed, "We're not in the Navy SEALS."

"Do not puke," Aisha demanded.

"He's not gonna let up. We gotta figure out who did it," Miguel huffed up.

Tory turned to him, "I bet it was shit Breath."

Getting off the ground, Mitch snapped, "Hey, screw you."

Tory dropped the battle ropes as did others. "What'd you say?"

"You wanna do this right now?"

Miguel got in between them.

"Stop! Would you really like to know who did it?" Kreese turned to the class, many waited in suspense, "It was Hawk." Shocked, they turned to him as he looked down, not of embarrassment but guilt. "And it was Diaz." Miguel snapped his head toward Kreese in irritation. "And James." Cameron simply just stared at him, "and Robinson. And it was Nichols, Chubs, Red. When one of you makes a move, you all make a move." He continued, "You live and you die with the consequences and the spoils because you are all Cobra Kai." The students looked around "Main dojo, five minutes. You're about to begin your real training."

Tory and Mitch were the first to spar, as Miguel played referee. Even when she won a point, Kreese commanded her to strike him once more, despite him being on the ground. A fight isn't over until the enemy is finished. A lesson he wanted everyone to glean. Showing the enemy no mercy.

"Wait, this isn't what Sensei Lawrence has been teaching us," Miguel prevented Tory from going through with it, standing up to Kreese.

"Excuse me?"

"There's no honour in being merciless," Miguel challenged, whilst Cameron winced at his explanation. "Tory scored a point. It's over."

Kreese mulled over his next words before speaking, "Sensei Lawrence is right, of course. In a tournament, the fighting stops when you land a point." He began walking toward Miguel, "But in the real world. It's not about scoring the points. It's about being a winner or a loser." Miguel maintained his gaze, "and there are no losers in this dojo." Kreese turned to Cameron, "James and Chubs get up." Tory and Mitch moved off the mat. "Demonstrate what I mean."

Miguel deeply inhaled when Cameron bowed to her opposition before getting into her fighting stance opposite Richmond who mirrored her with labored breaths.

"Fight," Kreese instructed, from beside Miguel. His eyes darkened with glee as she struck Richmond multiple times, causing his nose to bleed with the punch to his face. "No mercy."

Cameron stood over Richmond who now groaned on the floor, her eyes flickered over to Kreese who inclined his head, nodding. She forced herself not to stare at Miguel who winced as she sent one final punch to Richmond's face.

"Good."

Cameron stiffened at the blood coating her fists.

"Class dismissed."

Miguel stood outside the Dojo as Cameron emerged with Tory and Aisha, laughing about whatever was on their phones.

"Roni," he called out before she could take another step.

"Mig, we're going to my mine, my mom wants people around, doesn't like the quiet. You coming?" She invited him as she pulled away from her friends.

Ignoring her he took her hands in his, eyeing the blotchness. He wasn't mad about the injuries or the strains they sustained today, it was because of why they did. Why she did.

"Hey, give us a minute," she told the girls who nodded and made their way to the mini-mart. "What's wrong?"

"Kreese," Miguel said, gently dropping her hands. "Don't you think he's contradicting everything we've already learnt?"

"Honestly," she exhaled, staring up at him. "No. He's only adding to it. Of course in a tournament we'll stop once the point is given, but in life, nothing ever stops the bullshit from hitting us hard." Her chest ached at the thought and slowly her boyfriend understood where she was coming from. "It's eat or be eaten. Consumed or consumed. Predator or prey. I know which one I wanna be."

She flexed her blotchy hands and held them out for him.

Drinking in her explanation, he took them.

"I'll come to yours."

"Good, just be mindful, Lily and Drew will be there," she joked, "but I'll be your backup."

━━━━━━━━━━━━━

MIGUEL decided that he needed more backup.

He invited Hawk.

"Oh, what the hell?" Aisha gasped when she saw who walked in.

"My man," Drew chuckled, dapping him up as he walked in with pizza boxes. "How did you get that mean mug?"

"Some asshole," Hawk stated, settling down the boxes on the side counter, avoiding the glares from Aisha and Tory.

Alexis exclaimed as she walked into the kitchen, "Language."

"Sorry Mrs James," Hawk apologized.

Cameron exacerbated, "Mig, why..."

"It's cool. We can be mature exes," Lily emphasized so Hawk didn't get the wrong idea.

"Exes? How did you fumble so hard, ow," Drew winced when he received a pinch to the arm. He turned to see Tory quietly giggling to herself from where she sat. "Sorry bro."

"Grab a seat," Alexis gestured to the couch, "but first everyone wash their hands. Everyone."

Cameron shook her head, staring at her boyfriend, "You're an idiot."

"It's back up," Miguel explained, shrugging when he neared the sink.

Aisha argued quietly, "It's an ambush."

"Hey," Hawk greeted his ex.

The feelings couldn't just fade, not when his knees wobbled at her hazel eyes. 

Lily mustered up a smile,  "Hey."

Searching the cupboards, Cameron turned to her cousin, "You did not eat all the M&M's Drew."

"They were just there," Drew replied, with a grin.

"They were for Miguel."

Tory turned to him, "You knew that, didn't you?"

"Yeah."

"Dude," Miguel clicked his teeth as he glared at him.

"The store isn't far. And you have pizza," Alexis said calmly, settling the bickering, "Just don't get any food over my... Blake's chair." She said almost pleadingly to the children. Tory's brows furrowed as the others nodded understandably. "Thank you. Now no music is too loud. I don't need the neighbours in my case."

"Yes Mom," Cameron said at the same time as the others, "Yes Mrs James."

"Whatever you say, Aunty," Drew comforted her as she walked away with a small smile.

"What happened?" Tory thought Aisha was the best person to ask, pulling her off to the side.

"Blake is... was her husband. Cameron's dad. He..." Aisha whispered as the others started digging into the pizza. "He killed himself during the All-Valley Tournament. Surprised you didn't hear it was all over the news."

"I heard," Tory said, face paling. "I just didn't get the name."

She turned back over to see Cameron being embraced by Miguel who fed her a slice of pepperoni pizza. They rocked back and forth as they chuckled about something.

She didn't understand how Cameron was so... put together. How she was so calm about it all. It was clear Cameron didn't have the perfect life, she just assumed that the dad wasn't in the picture.

Boy, was she wrong.

"What's going on that pretty little dyed head of yours Victoria?" Drew broke her from her thoughts. She blinked rapidly as she stared up at him. "Hey, you okay?"

"Are you?" She asked immediately, stunning him with the concern clinging to her voice.

"Y-yeah," he stammered.

"Good."

She walked off leaving him with a pensive look. He stood off to the side, watching when she approached his cousin, whose eyes widened at the hug she gave her.

"Oh so no hugs for me," Lily gasped, pretending to look hurt.

"I guess we're just chopped liver," Aisha teased as they all jumped on top of each other, falling onto the couch, "oh my god."

"What the hell?" Hawk snorted hearing them all groan.

"Hey, man. I never asked you," Miguel said, smile slowly fading making his friend tense up. "You okay? With the break up."

Hawk bowed his head as he watched his ex just simply have some fun.

"I'm good," he lied.

Miguel just nodded, then sighed when Drew flashed him a smirk.

"Sorry about the candy. Just couldn't resist," he said, shrugging his shoulders.

Miguel retorted, "Like Tory?"

Drew's eyes flashed with intrigue, "Why, what did you hear?" He came to stand next to the boys.

Hawk informed, "She's feeling you, bro."

Drew asked Miguel, "Is that true Diaz?"

Miguel begrudgingly answered, "Maybe. She's a tough one."

"Tough's my type," Drew cleared his throat and wiped his hands, "Watch this."

Hawk bet, "5 bucks he'll fail."

Miguel pondered, "I don't know man. For some reason, I don't think he will."

They observed as Drew pulled Tory to the side, whispering things in her ear, that made her hold back a smile, as her cheeks flushed red.

"No way..." Hawk's mouth gaped open when she kissed him on the cheek. Stunning the girls, mainly Cameron who looked disgusted. Drew returned to the boys with a grin. "What did you say?"

"That's for me to know and you to read when I write a book about my life."

Miguel couldn't help but laugh.

Cameron called out from the ground, "Someone played some music. I need it to distract me or I'll gouge out my eyes."

Aisha connected her phone to the speakers. Cameron pretended to body slam Tory, whilst Lily recorded.

Normal Girl by SZA started playing, rendering the boys smiling as they sat back and watched the girls belt out every word.

Sometimes all people needed was Pizza and music.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━

WANTING to make amends with Kreese, Miguel slowly walked into the Second Dojo of Cobra Kai as friends and teammates trained in the main one.

He cautiously approached Kreese who lifted weights. 

"Sensei Kreese?"

Kreese gritted out, "What can I do for you, Mr. Diaz?"

"I wanted to apologize for yesterday. It was disrespectful of me to challenge your lesson."

Kreese set down the weights with a loud thud. He turned on his heels to stalk toward one of the students.

Miguel straightened up when Kreese spoke, "You honour Sensei Lawrence with your allegiance. An allegiance is nothing to apologize for." He reassured, "Sensei Lawrence's heart's in the right place, but I'm afraid he's a little mixed up." He said softly, patting Miguel's shoulder, "Together, we'll make sure he gets back on track. Won't we?"

A smile formed on Miguel's face as he agreed, "Yeah. Okay."

The wicked grin returned to Kreese's face when Miguel vacated the area. No Mercy, his subconsciously bellowed as he hummed to himself in great satisfaction.

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a/n:

you can tell that cameron's slowly being influenced by Kreese. that man is so cunning it's scary. miguel knows and can see it too, but just wants to do what's best for his girlfriend. this chapter was probably the most fun to write especially for tory's subtle way of comforting drew after finding out about blake. lily is trying to be mature about the situation and accept what she did was for the best. tory and drew getting close... how do you think that'll play out?

next chapter is coyote creek— one of my favourite episodes.