thank you so much for 50k reads! keep voting and commenting or i won't publish season 6

warnings: violence!

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"NO one will notice that we're missing, even if it's for an hour," Cameron murmured in between the kisses she shared with her boyfriend. Her back was to one of the walls in his apartment. The guests were far too drunk to acknowledge them making out. "Just an hour."

"Just an hour huh?" his voice lowered as his lips trailed over her neck, extracting light giggles from her. "With all the guests we have to entertain?"

"Well, we're not giving them a free show," her teasing words made him laugh.

When he was about to respond, someone yelled, "Fight!"

They snapped out of their bubble. Miguel grabbed Cameron's hand and pulled her outside to see what the commotion was.

Over by the dumpsters, Sam angrily shoved Tory away as a crowd formed around them.

"You knew that Silver cheated at the All Valley and you did nothing?!" Sam's words confused and frustrated Cameron who stumbled upon them.

"What?" Cameron looked between them, Tory glanced away in guilt.

Miguel cast her a shocked look.

"Tell her!" Sam yelled as more people circled them.

"You don't know what it's like, what I've had to deal with," Tory tried to explain, but it only angered Sam more, who slid around a disorientated Cameron and swung for Tory, kicking her into the dumpster behind them.

Tory managed to dodge her and move away, accidentally bumping into Cameron who gritted her teeth.

"Wait—you cheated," Cameron stared directly at Tory as Sam geared up behind her. Miguel tried to calm her down, while Robby got between them. "You cheated?!"

"My entire family has suffered because of you!" Sam yelled, thrashing in Miguel's arms. "She's been working with Kreese this whole time."

Robby turned to Tory in disbelief, "What?"

"You cheated," Cameron repeated angrily, making Tory swallow harshly as she took in the betrayal written on her former friend's face. "And are involved with the guy who made my life a living hell? Of course."

Sam snapped, "Why did you only come forward now? Huh? Because you're a coward."

"Screw you, LaRusso. I knew this was a mistake," Tory's voice was strained.

"No you don't get to leave," Cameron roughly dragged Tory back before she could leave. Robby could do very much against her anger. She nearly clawed at Tory's face as she shoved and pushed her back into the fold. "You've known this entire time. Is this because I left Cobra Kai? I've tried constantly to be your friend but you kept pushing away. In my quarterfinal match, I wasn't given a point. And... and then my semi-final and final all because of your sensei! Even today, the ref took his sweet-ass time announcing me as the winner." She felt Miguel holding her back but she shrugged him off. "I have been putting myself down this entire time thinking it was all on me when I worked just as hard as anyone in that tournament. Just as hard as you!"

Tory shook her head, "Cameron..."

"You're not the champ, you're not a winner. You're just a fraud."

Cameron's words wounded an already exhausted Tory who finally escaped the prying eyes and staggered away.

"Tory!" Robby called after her.

Cameron ran a hand over her face and disappeared into the crowds, wanting to be away from all of it. She ignored everyone who tried to reach her. She needed space to process everything. Of course, Cobra Kai cheated. Even today at the qualifier, the referee withheld points and hesitated before announcing the winner. She was slighted. She had been slighted, let down and discouraged.

All in the name of strike first, strike hard, no mercy.

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CAMERON could hardly sleep when she reached home. And the next day she kept her phone on silent. Her head was pounding not because of the alcohol she was drinking but because this entire time she proved herself not only to the Valley but to those who doubted her and it was all covered up with a dodgy Referee and a psychotic Sensei. She wanted to honour her dad's memory but it was tainted all over again.

So when Demetri was given the run down at the Miyagi dojo, it pissed her off even more to hear it.

"W-w-wait. Okay, so Sensei Targaryen paid off the ref at the All Valley and framed Kreese for a crime he didn't commit? Never let me miss a house party again," Demetri said, glancing at Eli.

Miguel soothingly rubbed Cameron's shoulder, but she took no notice of it. He was worried. She hadn't said much and when she did it was a stoic expression.

"We tell the Senseis," Miguel stated.

"What are they gonna do?" Sam said, sharing Cameron's sentiment. "We saw what happened to my dad when he confronted Silver. I don't want him getting hurt again."

Demetri remarked, "Besides If this ref and Stingray are on Silver's payroll, they'll never admit anything."

"I'm not so sure about that," They all turned to Bert when he spoke up, "I know he's in Cobra Kai and I'm in Eagle Fang, but Stingray's still my friend. He wouldn't lie to me."

"Don't be naive," Cameron rolled her eyes. "Tory was once my friend and look what she did. She crossed lines that I would never have. Cobra Kai's fucking horrible." She grumbled out, earning a firm nod from Sam.

Miguel stared at his girlfriend teetering between worry and concern.

Feeling the tension rise, Eli turned back to Bert. "Think you can get him to talk?"

Bert timidly nodded.

"Find out where he lives," Sam ordered.

Bert, Demetri and Eli walked off.

Miguel turned to Cameron, who exchanged a look of understanding with Sam.

"Amor, do you think you should think about this?" he cautiously asked.

She didn't hesitate to respond, "No."

She then took off with Sam, leaving Miguel to trail behind them.

"Are you really that mad for me or are you mad because it's Tory?" Cameron questioned Sam.

Sam's jaw clenched, "Both I guess."

A smile almost broke through Cameron's stoicism, "Aw. Do you like me or just hate Tory more?"

"...both." Sam eventually answered, ignoring the warmth that flooded through her. "But what she and Cobra Kai did is messed up. I mean look how you had to do a drug test at All-Valley. And don't forget all she put me through. We're gonna expose them."

"Agreed," Cameron replied with an equal amount of determination.

Miguel winced at the thought of both of them sharing the same mindset.

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LUCKILY for Bert, he found Stingray's house. They were there for answers, nothing friendly. But being quickly pulled into a nerdy explanation didn't help Cameron in the slightest. It wasn't helpful and more confusing than anything.

"Okay, okay. All right. Let's try this one more time, okay?" Demetri said, trying to resolve this. He stood between a sitting Cameron. Sam and Bert were on either side of her sitting opposite Stingray. Miguel and Eli were impatiently stood behind them. "What happened that night? Who hurt you?"

Stingray turned to Bert, "Hey, Bert, how does it feel?"

"Look. Look at me. Look at me," Demtri tired pulling his focus back to him.

"To stab a grown man in the back between his shoulder blades and stare at the blood as it trickles down his back?"

Eli snapped, "God, enough! No more games."

Stingray gulped when he looked at him.

"Seriously, you should be used to this. I've broken your nose enough times," Cameron couldn't help herself. She shrugged off Miguel's hand which was attempting to calm her. "Be the changed man you always claimed you wanted to be."

Stingray averted his gaze.

"My dad went through a lot of pain because of you and Silver," Sam spoke up, tone darkening with frustration. "Now a lot of other people will too if you just sit back and do nothing."

"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." Stingray looked as if he was about to cry. Cameron exhaled sharply, thinking they should give up. But the grown man looked up, between them. "Actually, there... Um, wait. Okay, so I've been working on this new D&D campaign..."

"I don't think we have time for this," Miguel cut in.

Eli stopped him from turning away, "Wait a minute. What happens in the campaign, Stingray?"

Cameron glanced up at him, seeing a sly smirk, then she turned to see the same one on Stingray's face.

The man exhaled, and started, "Okay, so, once upon a time," he held up a toy piece of himself, "there was a Dwarven monk, and he was a member of the most badass guild in all the land. Uh, he was banished for a time. You know, typical PC crap." The girls rolled their eyes. He continued. "But, um, 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. What did the monk do? The monk made a pact with a silver-haired king who would usurp the leader." He added another piece which eerily favoured Silver. "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." He used the pieces to depict his experience, drawing an understanding from the teens. "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."

"And you were..." Demetri corrected himself. "The Dwarven monk was let back into the guild?"

Eli scoffed, looking around the mansion, "Yeah. With benefits."

"Aye. With benefits, yeah." Stingray agreed.

Miguel leaned closer to ask, "So why can't he just tell everyone what really happened?"

Annoyed, Sam stood up, "He doesn't wanna lose his benefits."

Stingray quickly denied, "No! No. I would... The-The monk would give it all back if he could, but the-the silver-haired king, you know, he... He almost killed the monk. He could have killed him. And why? To get power. So, yeah, the monk fears what that king would do to keep that power. I think the monk just... The monk just wanted re-entry into the guild because he thought that he could be like a... Like a proud and noble warrior." His gaze saddened when he looked between them, "Just like you, Hawk, Cameron, Samantha, all you guys. But he's neither proud nor noble. Definitely not a warrior. He just sits around playing with them all day. The monk's just scared. I just can't. I'm sorry."

"That's great. Thanks for nothing," Sam muttered, leaving the room.

"Lovely story," Cameron irritantly said, getting up. "We should have never come here."

She didn't have to turn around to know Miguel was following her.

"Cameron," his voice stopped her. They ended up in the hallway. "I know that it sucks, not getting the answers we want... and I know you're angry and hurt and betrayed but we'll find a way."

"Will we? This entire summer started on a lie. The tournament was fixed Miguel," she gritted out, feeling a wave of sadness wash over her. "The tournament where I wanted to prove to myself and my dad that I could win. That I could come out on top without all the anger and pain I endured when he died and after. But no, I didn't get that. And Tory..."

"She told us," Miguel tried to reason, "She could've said sooner, yes. But she did in the end."

Cameron shook her head, "I don't care. You knew what this did to me, oh wait no you didn't because you weren't there."

Her words, hit him hard, "Cameron."

"I know what Cobra Kai does. I lived and breathed their brainwashing but I never stooped to this," Cameron's fingers curled into her palms, stopping her from lashing out, "If I knew I didn't deserve a trophy I wouldn't be parading it around like some pretender."

"But...Silver isn't Kreese."

She scoffed, "Yeah, and I'm not Tory."

Miguel stepped closer to her and sighed. "You know where to find her if you want more answers. It's your decision and I'll support you in whatever you choose to do."

Cameron bit her cheek and stiffly nodded. When she turned around Sam stood there, keys in hand.

"You coming?" she asked.

Cameron hummed, "Yeah."

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KNOCKING at Tory's door was something Cameron hadn't done in months. And neither she nor Sam expected the door to be answered by Tory who sported a sickening hand injury.

"What are you doing here?" Tory was sceptical of the both of them.

"Well..." Cameron's eyes trailed over to the ice she held.

Sam's mouth gaped open, "I... Oh my God! What happened?"

Tory lightly scoffed, "Don't pretend like you care." her eyes flickered to her former friend, "Either of you."

Cameron bit down her cheek again.

"Look, I don't wanna be here. But if you're having problems with Cobra Kai," Sam gestured between them, "we'd be willing to listen."

Cameron bopped her head slightly, "And I would know better than anyone right?"

They were soon allowed into the apartment. It was a tip. The sight wasn't much of a surprise to Cameron, but Sam had a hard time taking it all in, especially when caught sight of a hospital gurney in a room with the door ajar.

"Is Brandon not around?" Cameron dared to ask.

Tory took a second to answer, "At a friend's house."

Cameron didn't say anything else. She and Sam stood in front of her as she iced her knuckles.

"I wanted to win the All-Valley more than anything. When they handed me that trophy... " Tory glanced up, seeing her former friend stiffen. "That was the best moment of my life. But then I saw Silver and that ref, and it just killed me. I felt like a fraud." Cameron winced. "I wanted to get back at Silver so bad. That's why I listened to Kreese, but then I got caught up in more lies. And now my life is a living hell."

"Caught between those two would certainly do that," Cameron murmured. "I'm glad I never had the privilege to be taught by Silver... but Kreese," she exhaled, memory flashing with images of his twisted lessons. "He's the fucking worst."

Tory averted her eyes and nodded in agreement, "Yeah"

Sam's stare never left Tory's knuckles when started speaking, "I didn't know what you were going through. But now that I do... maybe we can help each other." Tory looked up at the offer. Sam gestured between her and Cameron. "We tried to talk to Stingray. He basically admitted it was Silver who assaulted him in the old dojo. He's afraid to go to the police."

"I knew Silver was involved, but... I had no idea he did it with his own hands."

"He's more than just paying off some ref," Cameron murmured.

Sam stated, "Exactly. The problem is we can't prove it."

Tory pondered before blurting out, "If it happened at the old dojo, maybe we can."

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a/n:

it was tough trying to figure out cameron's feelings in this chapter. she was angry, frustrated and felt cheated. and what was worse what her and tory were once very close. sure the friendship ended because cameron switched sides. but there were lines that tory crossed and that's why cameron is so adamant that hates tory. the pain and loss she felt after the tournament could've been stopped once tory found out that it was rigged and of course because of silver, tory kept quiet. but it still hurts cameron. i think it's also easier for her to lean on sam because sam never liked tory and they relate to each other a lot. miguel can see all of this and doesn't want to overstep.

also, since cameron told miguel that she would never cross the lines tory did... do you think she would? if kreese or silver gave her an order to hurt a friend? it's easy for cameron to say she wouldn't but at that point the only friends she had were in cobra kai.