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warnings: violence, grief and mentions of death!

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EXPRESSIONLESS, was how Cameron appeared in the face of betrayal. Other's sported confusion, hurt or even anger. She caught the former on Robby's face; she knew he was unaware of his girlfriend's decision. So she didn't ask. Just put on her captains headband as all the other captains were instructed to do.

"All right. Listen, go get your room keys. Get everyone else settled in. All right? We gotta take care of the driver." Johnny urged his students whilst they stood outside the hotel lobby. "Go ahead."

Once inside the hotel with their baggage, Robby collected the keys and strolled over to his friends.

He asked, "Which room do you guys want?"

"Uh, I'll... I'll... I'll go with you." Demetri stammered, then took one key.

Miguel made a face, "Really? I figured Robby and I would..."

"No. I'll bunk with El Serpiente." Eli cut him off, then joined his side. He faced his best friend in contempt. "You fart in your sleep."

Demetri challenged, "Erroneous. And he who observed it served it, by the way."

"Whoever said the rhyme did the crime." Eli retorted.

"You just rhymed."

"You said the rhyme first. But you also rhymed."

"Okay, but... Thank God we aren't boys." Devon laughed.

Cameron groaned, "They really need to get their shit together."

She put her phone away after sending her mom the 10th message about the description of the hotel.

"Hey, are you cool with everything?" The younger girl asked them both, yet her eyes landed on Cameron.

Cameron answered, "Like after I bawled my eyes out in front of the entire dojo? Great."

"Well technically it wasn't the first time," Sam mentioned, referring to their loss at All Valley.

"Thanks Sam for the reminder," Cameron said wryly, earning a small smile.

"And I'm referring to Tory," Devon whispered toward the end.

"She made her choice." Cameron replied callously, concerning the girl.

Sam knew it was merely a facade as she was hurt as well.

"I just thought things had changed," She exhaled.

Cameron nodded, "and I thought going after her would help."

"You tried," Sam declared, hoping it would provide comfort.

All sympathy evaded her face when the new Cobra Kai's confidently strutted up to them, parting their dojo in half.

"Whoa. So you're the famous Miyagi-Do." The male captain spoke, eyeing them all. "We have heard about you, but I do not know why." He scoffed. "You do not look like much."

Eli stepped forward, getting in his face, "Yeah? You'll see better when you step on the mat."

"Come on, guys. It's not worth it." Robby said, tugging him back.

Miguel agreed, "Robby's right. Forget about them, okay? They're just any other dojo here."

Tory rushed around her old dojo, passing her new teammates. She gripped her bag and avoided all eye contact.

Robby called out, "Tory. Hey, wait."

He followed her fast strides.

Kwon's laughter taunted them, his eyes settled on the girls, specifically Cameron. Her unbothered attitude aggravated him, although didn't let it show. He remained amused, whilst he pushed past the rest of the dojo with his team in tow.

Eli muttered, "Should we be worried about him?"

Miguel shook his head, "No. Robby's gonna be fine."

"I wouldn't be fine," Demetri retorted, much to their annoyance. "What?"

Miguel sighed, then approached his girlfriend, he pulled away from the girls, sending them smiles before turning to Cameron.

"Hey," he said softly.

"Hi," she sounded confused.

His eyes softened as he stared at her, "I know back home was rough."

"More than rough but go on."

He struggled to find the right words, "if you're pissed, I understand." He paused, "Roni you hardly said anything on the plane. And when you did you were snappy which I get. You ate, which is great. Because it means it'll help your medication target your receptors and trigger the right response," he ranted, making her brows furrow. "I just don't want this to impact you too much. Not like before."

"Well I haven't stopped taking my meds. Nor would this lead me to doing that." She reassured him as well as herself. "Besides, a lot of things are happening right now and I just need to focus on what matters. Not Tory, who I know is going through a lot."

"Something you can relate to."

She humourlessly laughed, "Only she'll cope better according to her."

"What? Wait did she say that?" Miguel stepped closer.

"Don't worry about it."

He rapidly shook his head, "No, if she said that —"

"A lotta things were said that day. Too much, especially from Johnny," She gritted.

Miguel let out a sigh, "I know. And I don't think he meant it."

"Doesn't matter. Because I can't focus on that."

"But you can't avoid it either."

Yes she could, it was her MO.

"Well with the captains photos coming up in like 29 minutes. Yes I can." She winced when he shifted on his feet. "You know how much I wish you were a captain? That you're gonna be by my side for all of this?"

"The best man one that day."

Her eyes softened, "Which means you just gotta prove yourself more. You're gonna have to fight harder. To prove you're not number 2."

"Thanks Roni," he muttered.

"You're welcome."

He reiterated, "And I mean it. You can't avoid those feelings for long."

He squinted at the smirk tugging at her lips. She stepped closer to whisper.

"I have a room all to myself. So I think I can." A shiver tickled Miguel's spine when she salaciously spoke.  "Besides, I'm not angry. Frustrated and hurt, yes. But I know how to find a medium. The only variables in this competition are my opponents, not me. I know how I'm gonna fight," she vowed, yet he still hadn't fully recovered from her flirting. "Now, I'm gonna go unpack. I'll see you later." She pulled him in for a chaste kiss, one that he wanted to last a little longer. "Love you."

"Love you too." He muttered against her lips.

"Cameron!" Sam's voice made them jump. "Rooms. Let's go."

Cameron rolled her eyes at the faux disgust on the girls' faces.

"You'd think she was the captain with how she's giving out demands." She muttered, amusing her boyfriend dearly.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━

ROBBY wasn't okay. But he was captain. Cameron was also captain and determined not to allow him to lose focus. So when the photographer made the captains from every dojo pose, she nudged him to maintain focus.

The camera shutter clicked between each shot. It was impossible not to check out more the competition, everyone came in different shapes and sizes.

"Now, everybody smile and say, 'Barcelona.' One, two, three."

"Barcelona." They expressed.

The photographer instructed, "Louder. Barcelona!"

"Barcelona!" They repeated loudly.

Cameron was getting sick of taking pictures, her smile was wearing thin and she just wanted to have a shower. She could feel eyes on her, more than just the stupid Camera lens. Her boyfriend and friends were watching it all go down. But instead she turned to her left to see Tory staring, not just at Robby but her. Only briefly. Yet there was another girl, shorter, darker with longer flowing brown hair. Cameron turned away and back to the stupid camera.

"All right, show me the tongue. One, two, three. Sexier. And one more." The photograph was drawn to a stoic looking captain. "You there in the back, smile. Show some emotion. Okay, let's get one more." Tory had stormed off and out of the room, "Okay, never mind. We're done."

Everyone dispersed. Cameron let her face relax and now she could wear a more genuine smile. Robby had faded into the crowd, most likely to go after Tory. Which left Miguel to join her, grinning down at her, holding something behind his back.

She tilted her head, "What's that face for?"

"Got you something from the gift store." He pulled out a stuffed shark, "So now, Leo won't get lonely."

"Aw," She smiled at the toy and took it from his hands.

"You can spray your perfume all over her."

"It's a girl?" She gasped. "Like your sister."

"Well, I was gonna say because we already have a boy but sure. That works too."  He stared at her firmly holding onto the shark.  "Wanna name her?"

"...sharky?"

"Original." He snorted.

"Hey," she playfully warned. "I have other things on my mind and that's the best I can come up with." Her tone became snappy toward the end, making him raise his hands in defence. From the distance she caught sight of Eli and Demetri murmuring about something which worried her. "Go stop them before they do something stupid." Miguel followed her gaze. "I'm gonna go find Sam in the Aquarium. I need to take pictures for Lily."

"Yes ma'am." He nodded along, then waved at the stuffed animal. "Bye sharky."

Cameron suppressed a laugh as she left to go in the opposite direction. She didn't let go of the toy as it would be joining Leo the leopard on her bed.

The tunnel to the aquarium was beautiful, she recorded as much as she could and snapped a few pictures until her wonder faltered at the sight of Sam talking to Tory. Her grip on the toy shark tightened.

She breathed out slowly, "Sam!" Her voice got their attention. "Let's go."

Her words echoed what Sam had instructed to Devon moments before. The only difference is when Sam had complied and Tory tried to speak to her closest friend, Cameron didn't turn around to respond. She kept walking.

"She clearly wants to talk to you." Sam sighed.

"She can talk to her new teammates." Cameron's retort, made Sam stop trying.

"Hey, I've got some news." Sam quietly informed on their way back out the Aquarium. "Cute toy by the way," she quickly complimented, noticing the stuffed animal her friend clutched.  "Kreese talked fo Tory before her mom passed. She told Robby about it."

Cameron's face scrunched up, "Wait, Robby knew?"

"Robby knew." Sam confirmed.

"Huh."

And things just got worse. Apparently the boys had lost themselves a room to Cobra Kai, who baited them into competition. They failed, and now there was four to a room.

"Well, this sucks." Miguel commented, sitting at the foot of one beds.

From the corner of the room, Sam remarked, "Not a very smart gamble, boys."

"Yeah. Somebody said it wasn't gonna be a gamble." Demetri shot Robby a look.

"I didn't wanna get involved remember?" Robby replied, earning a scoff of disbelief from Eli who lay in bed. "I told you to stay away from Cobra Kai. It's so simple."

Eli spoke up, "If it's simple, why don't you follow your own advice?"

"What are you talking about?"

"We all saw you talking to Tory."

"Come on. I mean, she's his girlfriend," Devon defended.

Miguel added, "Yeah, he's dealing with her decision. Same as the rest of us."

"I wouldn't say that exactly," Sam accused Robby, "You knew Kreese came to Tory."

"What?" Miguel squinted his eyes, "You did?"

Cameron pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Yeah. I... I mean, I knew that Kreese went to Tory, yeah, but it was before her mom died." Robby explained, when they all turned to him in aggravation. "He was trashing Miyagi-Do, saying she wasn't gonna have a fair shot. She told him to get lost. Come on. I didn't know she was gonna do this."

Sam scoffed, "Really? This is what Kreese does. He played her. And he played you. And you lied to us about it."

Robby desperately looked around the room. "Come on, guys. That's not fair. I didn't lie." He turned to his surrogate brother for support. "Miguel."

The boy in question sighed.

"I believe you." Cameron spoke up. Although she didn't seem happy about it. "But not only are we down a great teammate. You guys are down a room because of Cobra Kai."

"Ain't that the truth," Demetri muttered.

Cameron ignored him, "Miguel, you can stay with me."

"What?!" The binary brothers exclaimed.

Miguel furrowed his brows when he peered at them, "Where did you think I was gonna stay? With you guys?"

"Robby too," Cameron was determined to show her support for him.

Although that meant the binary brothers were forced to share a room but at least not a bed.

"Thanks," Robby managed to smile, others did not.

"Just be ready in the morning. We've beat Cobra Kai before. All versions. This is just another face." Cameron stated. "But we also need to remind ourselves that Tory is on a different sides. She may be your girlfriend." She threw her hands out to Robby, "And our friend but we need to forget that history. I know it's easier said than done. Trust me. I know.  Whats in the past is in the past. Let that shit go. We decide what happens next. So let's finish what we started."

"Hell yeah," Eli beamed at her.

But it definitely is harder for others to do that.

When it came to sleeping it was a struggle. Not for Cameron and Miguel who slept soundly in their shared bed. But the latter's eyes fluttered open when he heard Robby leave the room.

He quietly groaned and went back to sleep, spooning his girlfriend.

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IT was time for the first event. Cameron ensured she and the girls had eaten well for breakfast, drank enough water and even coffee for the hours they couldn't sleep. Her braids were wrapped up into two low buns so they didn't get in her face unlike a few stray curls.

The entire team stood ready yet some were very nervous. 

"The time has come." Gunthar spoke into his microphone in the middle of the large mat. "Welcome to our first event. I hope you're all well rested and ready for a new and unique competition. We call it the 'Captain's War.'" Cameron craned her neck to smile at Daniel behind her, purposefully ignoring Johnny. "We told you how important your captains will be. So let's see how well you protect them. Four dojos will take the mat. Only one will be left standing. If you hit the mat, you're out. If one of your captains hit the mat, your entire team is out for this round. Check the boards to see your group, decided by random draw. Group A, you're up."

Falchi della Notte, Iron Dragons, Miyagi-do and Cobra Kai.

Daniel scoffed, "Cobra Kai, of course."

The Sensei's stepped back as their students huddled together.

"Let them come to us. Protect the egg. Make sure Cameron and Robby are safe." Miguel whispered.

"I can be on the front line." Robby replied.

"No. You just stay back and stay focused."

Robby suppressed a glare, "Why wouldn't I be focused?"

"You did leave the hotel room last night." Miguel said accusingly, startling the team.

Cameron shook her head, "Just stay focused guys." Her words drew their annoyed gaze away from Robby. She turned to him briefly. "Let them protect us. And if the line falls then our defence is on 100. Okay?"

Robby stiffly nodded.

Their Sensei's stepped forward,

Daniel said, "I know it hasn't always been pretty lately but no one could ever count us out. You hear me? Do it for each other."

"And wipe the smirks off their ugly faces." Johnny advised.

Gunther exclaimed, "Ready? Begin!"

Tory broke her way through her team and attacked first.

Demetri yelled, "Protect the egg!"

The strategy had already flopped, the Cobra Kai's had charged them. Taking off Demetri in seconds.

"Demetri's out. Robby, stay back," Miguel yelled, kicking an oncoming opponent.

Cameron downward punched a kick, then thrusted out her leg, sending it into the side of a Cobra Kai student. They were fast, resembling Kenny's speed but they were also taller than her. Her defence couldn't falter. Longer reach, Speedy and viscous. Defence! Defence! Defence!

Daniel exclaimed, "Guys, protect Cameron. We can't have her go down."

Eli groaned, as he fought, "Sensei, I got my hands full."

Sam gritted, "Ai!"

She took out one of Cobra Kai's students.

Shortly after Cameron landed a sharp kick to one their faces.

Devon battled Tory, but was taken out.

"Lee's out. Hawk, protect the captains." Johnny instructed.

Miguel fought two people at once before Eli went down.

Cameron and Sam fought side by side, the latter wasn't gonna let her coating go down. Cameron punched another opponent, who had been relentless with offence, but clearly lacked endurance, allowing her uppercut to send him down.

Sam's attack was on point. And once she did of another opponent, she glanced at Cameron, and quickly followed her gaze to Tory.

"No more protect the egg," Cameron rushed out. "Remember the kata on the balancing deck on the pond?!"

Sam understood her immediately, "Got it."

"You got this girls!" Daniel encouraged feeling proud of when they hastily circled and sprinting Tory who took a step back at the attack on both sides. Their movements weren't in unison, but followed each other. Like the balancing deck, Tory moved harshly and uncaringly. "Wow." He realised how much acrobatics his daughter picked up. Cameron was Tory's target, but the former wouldn't back down. "Come on girls."

"That's badass," Johnny remarked, realising what they were doing.

They went low, swiping out their legs, lighting gracing each other when Tory jumped up and out of the way. Cameron spun as quickly stood up, her foot hit against Tory's knee, whilst Sam's kick hit her back. 

"Ais!" Cameron gritted, contorting her body into a side Ariel, making Tory stand on her defence, glancing behind her to find Sam doing the same. Their attacks tightened up and left no room error. "C'mon Sam!"

One last attack and Tory would be disoriented.

But the horn blew, faltering their movements. The huffed in frustration.

It was announced, "Captain down. Miyagi-Do is out!"

The remaining fighters: Miguel, Sam and Cameron realised it was Robby that fell. He  angrily hit the mat before rising.

The girls sped over to the edge of the mat, rejoining their team.

Cameron noted the irritation that the rest of them felt but they couldn't turn on each other. It might've been the first event, but turned the foundation for the rest of the tournament.

"Falchi Della Notte captain down. They are out. Only Cobra Kai and the Iron Dragons remain alive."

Cobra Kai had three fighters to Iron Dragon's seven. It was a shock for sure.

Whilst Cobra Kai deliberated their strategy, the Iron Dragon's did themselves 5 of their fighters leaving them with their captains standing. The girl was short compared to the boy who stood tall and muscular. But appearances could be deceiving and people could be underestimated.

Cobra Kai's overconfidence was their fault, they went down in seconds, their male captain first and then Tory. Both were apprehended by their opposition with precise and accuracy.

It was announced, "Both Cobra Kai captains go down. The Iron Dragons win."

The crowd cheered over the confusion and shock that other teams wore.

The iron dragon's female captain stood over Tory, who laid on the mat.

"Welcome to Barcelona, bitch." She then flashed a smile to those in the balconies and blew them a kiss.

This tournament would the hardest thing they would have to face.

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a/n:

avoiding feelings can only last so long, just like what cameron's therapist said.

cameron is gonna keep supporting robby, because she knows an unsupported captain won't get them very far. it's clear how they all turn to miguel for guidance which makes them worse off since he's not the captain.