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Chapter Text

Daniel and Johnny were sitting in the visiting area, waiting for those prison guards to come along with Kreese. Johnny knew this had been a  bad idea before. So why did Amanda have to suggest this?  Why did Daniel have to gang up on him with his former enemy from Okinawa and his best friend that used to be his ex-wife? Johnny’s pretty sure that Daniel didn’t want to be there either, but Johnny knew that imbecile would do anything for those children.  This was just another mistake. Johnny knew that they all can’t trust him. Why won’t any of them listen to him?

“What’s wrong?” Daniel asked suddenly grabbing Johnny by the hand.

"I can't believe you're okay with this," Johnny snapped, quickly removing his hand out of Daniel’s grasp, causing the man in the suit to realize that this was not the time or place for easing each other and coddling each other.

"You think I wanna be here?" Daniel asked. "But Amanda's right. If anyone knows what Silver's up to, it's Kreese. Hopefully, this place has taken him down a few pegs. Maybe he's ready to talk."

"Sure, he's had a rude awakening." Johnny said sarcastically.

"Old man in a place like this. I almost feel sorry for him."

"I don't." Johnny gave Daniel a pointed look.

"I said almost," Daniel rectified.  

The jail door opened. Their words were flipped upside down. When Johnny and Daniel saw Kreese was being followed and groveled by his fellow prisoners, the duo was left dumbstruck by what was happening. Johnny wanted to give Daniel an "I told you so" remark, but not out of mockery, out of warning.

"What the hell is he doing here?" Kreese snapped, reluctantly choosing to sit down, his eyes never leaving Johnny.

"You should be thanking him for getting you out of your cell," Daniel hissed.

"Well, I don't want to talk to him. I want to talk to you."

"Yeah, well, I don't really wanna talk to you." Johnny said. He looked over and whispered to Daniel "Told you this was a dumb idea." The man stood up but Daniel grabbed his partner's wrist, silently telling Johnny to sit down.

In the dimly lit room, tension hung thick in the air like a storm cloud ready to burst.

"I understand there's a lot of animosity between us," Daniel began, his voice steady despite the charged atmosphere. "But we share a common adversary. Silver is up to something, and we need to uncover his plans." Johnny shot a glare at Daniel, his frustration boiling over.

"He doesn't know anything," he retorted, his eyes darting between Daniel and Kreese. "He's been locked away in this place the entire time."

With an imaginary sly grin, Kreese leaned forward, his eyes glinting with mischief.

"Oh, I know precisely what Terry is scheming," he declared, causing both Daniel and Johnny to stiffen in surprise. The old man relished their alarm. "But if you think I’m going to lend a hand, you’re both sorely mistaken."

Kreese reveled in the bewilderment etched on their faces, though he couldn’t allow himself to smile too broadly. The way Daniel and Johnny exchanged glances was infuriating. Were they really going to communicate through mere looks now? It was utterly contemptible, especially in Kreese's eyes.

"Look, if you know what Silver's planning, why not tell us so we can stop him?"

"As if you even could. You've already failed even after I gave you a lead."

"The newspaper clipping. I should have known it was you. Who helped you get that to my house?"

Kreese smirked in a way that said he wasn't telling him anyways. "I got my ways."

"Well, following it led me into a trap. Silver blindsided me."

"Well, that wasn't my plan. But it was a nice consolation prize."

Johnny felt Daniel shift slightly beside him as he glared even harder at Kreese, the other man's teeth clenching as he was about to get out of the chair. Johnny could sense the overwhelming hatred radiating from Daniel, the tension in his shoulders mimicking the intense feelings Johnny himself had once harbored for Kreese—the same hatred that had choked him with despair the night he lost the All-Valley tournament.

Without warning, the Eagle Fang sensei quickly squeezed his partner's arm as Daniel got up from his seat, only to be pulled back for because of Johnny. He relaxed a little but not by much.

"Now you know why you can't trust him." Johnny whispered, trying to keep his anger in check. "We should leave him here where he belongs."

"I don't belong here. I'm innocent."  Kreese answered. 

Ha! Johnny thought. That's a first considering evening he did to Daniel's children. Their children. 

"I'm here because Terry was tight with the DA and I couldn't afford a real attorney.

"Oh, please." Johnny scoffed. 

"What if I could help get you out?" Daniel asked. Johnny looked back to Daniel in disbelief. What the hell was LaRusso doing!? "Silver isn't the only one with resources. I can get a lawyer. Someone who could help get you out, or, at the very least, a reduced sentence."

'If that's true then maybe I would tell you what I know. But I want a top guy, not one of your greasy cousins." 
Johnny was enraged. How could Daniel love Russo help somebody as violin ruthless as John Kreese.

"You're gonna help him get out of here?"

"Johnny," Daniel scolded but in a gentle tone. However, Johnny refuses to let go of his opinion on this. "It's worth the sacrifice. It's the only way." He looked up Kreese. "I could call my lawyer right now. Right now. We got a deal or not?"

"Deal." Kreese answered.

Daniel shook his head and stood up to leave, with the prison guard following him and leaving Johnny alone in the room with his former sensei. He didn't want to help Kreese get out of prison; Daniel was just too naive for his own good. Johnny had no kind words for the man—none that he could say, anyway. He was too angry about the situation to remain calm. The only thing preventing him from punching John Kreese in the face was the thought of Daniel being nearby, and Johnny will do whatever it took to keep him and the kids—especially Sam, Robby, and Miguel—safe.

Daniel had returned just as Johnny and Kreese were having at it. Daniel slammed the paper on the table and told Kreese to start talking. He sat down next to Johnny as Kreese explained how back in 1980, Silver became obsessed with Tournaments and expanding Cobra Kai's marketing. However,  Kreese declined, deciding to work on the students instead, especially Johnny Lawrence.

“Sliver listened to me back then. So we didn’t expand. I wanted to focus on you.”

"Don't make this about me," Johnny hissed. He didn't need to hear this. Daniel wanted to calm him down but resisted the urge to do so.

"Hold on. What are you saying? Sliver’s gonna enter another tournament?”

“Not just another tournament. The biggest tournament in the world. And if he wins…."

"Cobra Kai goes global," Daniel said, looking at Johnny, who shared an equal expression.

"Sliver has taken the Valley. Now he’s putting together the pieces to take everything else. You may have found the will to fight. But you’re outmatched and outnumbered. Sliver is on the verge of getting what he’s always wanted. Well, I think I’ve held up my end of the deal. The lawyer’s number?” 

Kreese unfolded a piece of paper but found no phone number written on it. Instead, the words in Daniel's handwriting conveyed a clear message.

NO MERCY MOTHERFUCKER!

When Johnny saw that note, he couldn't help but smirk at the message and then back at Daniel, who was leaning forward, with his eyebrows narrowed and giving Kreese a smirk. He loved this man. He knew there was no way that Daniel LaRusso was going to help free Kreese. It would've been a cold day in hell before that could happen. This life or any other life. The move was definitely a badass! He struck first, struck hard and showed no mercy. 

The fury in Kreese's eyes was fitting enough.

"You actually think you're gonna be able to take him down without me?" Kreese snapped. He glared at Daniel and then at Johnny. "He's gonna make mincemeat out of you."

Johnny and Daniel stood up.

"We'll see about that," Daniel hissed.

"Enjoy rotting in your cell," Johnny snapped. They gave Kreese a sharp glare before making their way out of the visiting area. Kreese sat there in disbelief, that his former student and LaRusso had bested him again. Them and that little family of theirs will not leave well enough alone.

Chapter Text

Johnny, Kreese, and Silver suddenly froze, their focus drawn to the chilling sound of a dying scream. Silver had been wanting to take Kreese and Johnny, but that urgency faded in an instant. And they all knew it was a familiar scream. From  one of their students. Urgency suddenly runs through Johnny's veins and he fears that it's one of the kids who got hurt or worse. They rushed out from behind the heavy curtains to find their students huddled together, faces pale with horror. At the center of the scene, Daniel LaRusso moved slowly toward the lifeless body of Kwon Jae-Sung, his expression shifting from disbelief to deep resolution, the weight of the moment palpable in the tense air.

Daniel felt a chill quickly overcome him. No one was dating to move. Not even Axel, the boy Daniel saw Kwon attempt to stab, had a word to say. How was he to know that Kwon would try to kill him? 

"Kwon?" Daniel said. He placed his hand on the kid and turned him into his back. Daniel isn't sure if his heart can take this. The man's mouth drops as he backs slightly away in horror at seeing the dagger sticking out of Kwon's chest and the pool of blood below him. Tory is closing her eyes as Robby put his arm around her shoulder. His daughter's face is buried her face in Miguel's shoulder, who is wrapping his arms around her. Johnny and Chozen are either blinking or turning away. Kim Da-Eun doesn't even know what to do or say. Everyone, even Silver and Kreese is at a loss for words. The refs aren't moving except for Gunther, whose mouth is open. Daniel is standing still. 

The boy was dead... This can't be happening!

"Cut the feed," Gunther ordered. Seeing that kid lying here is terrible. When no one did as he asked, Gunther shouted it again. 

Axel is the first to speak as everyone looked at him. 

"I... I didn't mean to!" he cried in defeat. He's horrified but Johnny grows concerned when Daniel doesn't move or look away. 

"Someone call the authorities," someone yelled. Axel is afraid. He's going to be arrested. He knows it. 

"I didn't mean to do that. I swear I didn't mean to do that!" Axel shouted. 

"Relax!" Gunther said. "Look at me. This wasn't you. It was an accident. A terrible, awful accident, but not your fault." He glanced across the mat, his gaze hardening as it landed on Tiger Strike Sensei. The Tiger Strike sensei is in shock. He  had been angry at his dojo being disqualified from the competition but he never meant for it to go this far. He can tell that. 

Tory, Samantha, Robby and Miguel stand there watching their sensei standing there. Johnny put his hand on his sons' shoulders and asks if they're alright. Nothing.

Security finally makes it to the arena. 

"Everyone clear out!" The first security guard yelled. They started to push everyone out of the room in their supervision.  He saw Daniel standing there, too shocked to even move out understand what was going around. No matter how many times gone third tries to get Daniel's attention, he does not move. Da-Eun looks at Chozen for a second before moving away. Kreese looked back at Kwon. His death is still haunting him. Even Terry Silver stopped in his tracks before being escorted out. Samantha and Tory don't move. And neither does Miguel. All of them were worried about their sensei. Even with security moving them forward Daniel would not move. Sam breaks away from Miguel's embrace, not sure if she should approach her dad. She's seen him defeated before but not like this. However, Johnny put his hand on her shoulder, telling his stepdaughter he's got this. Sam nodded with a look of understanding dawning on her face. 

Johnny put his hand on his partner's shoulder. 

"LaRusso, come on, you have to get up." 

That doesn't work. 

Johnny gets down on his knees. 

"Come on, Daniel. You need to get up," Johnny said. He knows that LaRusso would react to Johnny saying Daniel's name but he isn't moving. He's just looking at Kwon's body and then back to Daniel. 

"There's nothing more you can do now, Daniel." 

Nothing i could do for him. But I could have stopped this. Daniel thought. He looked away from Kwon and up at Johnny who was nodding for him to move. He gently pulled him off the ground and Daniel doesn't resist because he is too distressed by what had just transpired. Lawrence hated seeing LaRusso like this. Despondent and in complete denial. Last time he saw Daniel like that was when he had opened those papers informing them all that Mr Miyagi killed his opponents in the last Sekai Taikai. And now it happened again. Johnny's keeping protective arm around Daniel's shoulder when Eli, Demetri, Kenny, Devin, Sam, Robby and Miguel all look to their three senseis with concern. They come across Da-Eun and Kreese, the latter of whom has his eyes locked on Johnny then Daniel.

Tory decided she was going with them. She didn't care. For Tory, she didn't understand why Daniel stopped the fight between her and Sam but now she did. It was worry that Daniel and Amanda expressed not favoritism for Sam. Now that she knows what Sensei LaRusso witnessed, Tory understands now what grief can do to a person. She wiped her tears away. She gives Kreese one last look before Miyagi Do continued with Robby and Sam showing their support for her. For Daniel. For their senseis. Kreese said nothing else as Tory leaves with Robby, clearly not letting her gaze drop from Daniel. 

Robby’s concerned about his father-figure too. He doesn’t think anyone deserved something like this, especially watching someone die when they could stop it. He’s seen Mr. LaRusso down before. And that was after Silver had went up, beat up Mr. LaRusso and gave him a black eye. Robby’s looking at the man who was practically another father to him. Like his dad, Robby’s keeping his arm around Tory’s shoulders as she started crying.

Samantha and Miguel are profoundly shaken by Kwon's death, especially as Daniel is compelled to lift Kwon's lifeless body, revealing the knife lodged in his chest. Sam is filled with anxiety, haunted by the thought that her father might have faced a similar fate had he intervened in what she suspects he was about to do. Some might call her selfish, but her primary concern is for her dad. Yet, she can't ignore the weight of Kwon's death; it’s been ages since anything like this has happened, and she feels a flutter of unease in her stomach. The earlier conversation with her father about Mr. Miyagi lingers in her mind, and she struggles to accept that the Sekai Taikai ended in such tragedy. Meanwhile, Miguel is anxious for both of his Senseis, who remain silent, and the students mirror their quietude. He recalls the time he was left in a coma after Robby accidentally pushed him over the railing. Although they’ve moved past that incident, Miguel feels fortunate to be alive, surrounded by friends like Hawk, Robby, Tory, Eli, and a girlfriend like Sam, along with mentors like Johnny, Daniel, and Chozen.

When John saw Kreese looking at them, the blond sensei makes his protective grip on Daniel grow stronger. He may not like LaRusso but the look on the man's face makes Kreese realize they are all reeling in what happened with Kwon. They were wrong. Kreese had this look that made Johnny realize that his mentor knew this went too far. He just had to. No longer wanting to look at Kreese's face, Johnny continued guiding Daniel out.

Daniel LaRusso's heart ached at the thought that nothing could ever alter that grim truth. The shadows of regret loomed large. He had the harsh reality that some battles could never be won.

 Why couldn't he stop it? They knew Kwon's blood was on Kreese's hands. And nothing could ever change that. 

Chapter Text

John Lawrence was pissed as hell. First he have to deal with his nosy new neighbor Miguel Diaz bothering him. So much for living in an apartment complex where people weren't supposed to talk to him. It was the only reason why Johnny lived there for all those years. Then has to deal with a b*****y customer that gets him fired, his son's not talking to him and his ex-girlfriend is probably sleeping around with her latest score, leaving Robby completely alone.

Then he's got to see his high school rival, Daniel LaRusso's face plastered on every billboard he drives by, and now? Now, he's walking into La Russo's stupid auto store, because three teenage girls hit his car. Why, out of all these places, did his Firebird have to be ditched here? He rather go to a cheep auto mechanic than have Daniel LaRusso touching his car. As he entered,Johnny's head over his blonde hair and glasses over his blue eyes. He takes them off to look presentable in front of the receptionist. It rather as much as he could.

"Hi, welcome to LaRusso. How can I help you?"

"Hi, I just need to pick up my car. I'm in a bit of a hurry." The sooner he gets out of LaRusso Auto the better.

She looked at Johnny's receipt. "Oh, this came in last night? It's gonna be at least a couple of weeks, but we'll call you with an estimate."

"No, no, no, my car was not supposed to come here. Okay? I want it towed to a different body shop."

"Why? We have the number-one service team in the Valley. We beat all prices. We kick the competition."

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard it a million times." Johnny tried getting a hold of himself. He's not making his problems with Daniel her problems she probably haven't tossed out if he does lose his temper with her anyways. "I just prefer to do my business elsewhere."

Johnny heard a couple getting instructions about how to refill their reflective car. Then the sound of Daniel LaRusso coming out to talk to them. He's only expecting to get the car as fast as he could. He was not going to let Daniel Larusso spot him. He looked back to the receptionist.

"Can you hurry it up? I got to go."

"Hold on," the receptionist said, keeping her cool as she searched for his car in the computer.

"Um, it says your car is in one of our intake lots. I'll just figure out which one."

Johnny's getting tense now. He can't let Daniel see him like this. He couldn't let himself see LaRusso now. He hasn't seen the guy (at least directly) for seven years. 

"You know what? I'll come back tomorrow."

"But, sir, I--"

Johnny quickly turns without a proper goodbye.

"Johnny?" a voice called out.

Crap! Johnny thought to himself. He turned around begrudgingly. Daniel still recognized him!

Seriously? There's no end to this! He should have known that sunglasses wouldn't conceal his identity. It may have worked for Clark Kent, but Johnny's not fucking Superman.

Daniel is only a fifty-one year old man; a few wrickles, consistent brown hair. That crooked smile of his never really changed. 

LaRusso looked really good. 

Johnny can still see the scars and bruises on Daniel's face most of them inflicted by Johnny himself. He didn't deserve a beating but LaRusso. 

The moments where LaRusso hit him in the face that led him to congratulating the underdog. Daniel still had those Bambi eyes.

"Johnny Lawrence." LaRusso came running up to him with a goofy smile. He can't hold back his excitement seeing his old rival. Daniel's hugging him. (not that Lawrence hated it. He just couldn't push Daniel LaRusso away and just let's the man hug him.

"How the hell are you?"

"Hey, man." Johnny said in a calm tone. Daniel looked at him up and down. "Oh, my God, look at you. You still got those golden locks, eh?" LaRusso jokes, pointing at the man's hair

Oh, so you like my hair, huh LaRusso? Johnny wanted to say. However, he doesn't.

"God, this is crazy. How you been?"

"Great, man. Thanks. I've been great.";

"I haven't seen you since high school."

"Yeah," Johnny interrupted him. He wished to maintain the status quo. From the moment Johnny encountered Daniel, he sought to steer clear of him. However, that intention was rendered futile, as circumstances had changed unexpectedly. He shouldn't bring up Ali. He didn't have to bring her up. Least he wasn't mentioning the fight at all. 

"So I see your still into all that bonsai trees. Keeping the legacy alive?"

Daniel LaRusso was at a loss for words. He was surprised Johnny would go there.

"Well, it sounds like a gimmick to other people but in a way it's respect to Mr. Miyagi."

"Yeah. I heard about your sensei." Johnny interrupted him. Lawrence had to remind himself that LaRusso had no idea Johnny had come across Miyagi one day. No idea that he had come to him for advice. No idea that Johnny himself had been at Miyagi's memorial, away in the distance. Johnny had begrudging respect for the former Japanese sensei since he saved his ass from Kreese in that parking lot back in 1984. He never wanted to forget it.

"Sorry about Mr. Miyagi's passing, man."

Daniel gave Johnny a look that he couldn't really pin. But it was a mournful one. It's the same one Johnny had when he lost Laura. Oh well. At least Daniel didn't have his Sensei try to kill him . 

"Thanks." 

"No problem." 

"Look, just hold on once second," Daniel said. " I'll be right back."

Johnny just stands there for a few minutes and realizes that mentioning Mr. Miyagi might have been a bad idea. On the other hand, it was nice to have an edge over that guy because of the crap LaRusso pulled on him.

However, out of respect for the old man who saved his life, he decides not to say anything.

Suddenly, a teenage girl walks into the car lot and greets Daniel. Johnny looks up and sees LaRusso hugging his daughter.

Look at them… such a sweet moment. Johnny thought. I wish my kid had that kind of support.

However, he quickly brushed off his emotions, refusing to allow LaRusso's joy to overshadow his own. Johnny did a double take, a wave of recognition crashing over him.

It dawned on him that he had encountered that girl before—she was one of the reckless teens who had collided with his car just a few nights ago. Was the universe playing some cruel trick on him? To his disbelief, he realized that Daniel LaRusso's daughter was the very girl responsible for the dent in his vehicle. Or at least one of them. How could fate be so ironic?

Suddenly Johnny remembers that this isn't the first time he'd seen Samantha LaRusso. He had seen her at Miyagi's funeral. She had just been at least 9 years old when he last saw her. Now she was at least 16. How could he not recognize her from the night before?! Then again he was drunk. But on the other hand, Daniel felt a sudden need to yell. That girl was a criminal! 

"LaRusso! What the hell?!?" Johnny successfully yelled, stomping tight up to the father and daughter duo. 

"Oh my God," Samantha muttered when she saw Johnny. 

"Johnny, what's wrong with you?" Daniel questioned. He pushed Sam behind him and held out a hand onto Johnny's shoulder

"You little monster! You hit my car!"

"Hold on Johnny. My daughter will do many things but she wouldn't do something like that," Daniel said. He looked to Samantha who was looking more guilty by the minute. 

"Please tell me you didn't." 

Sam opened her mouth but no words came out of it. 

"Sam?" Daniel said in shock but Samantha is too stunned once she sees Mr. Lawrence coming up to him.

"I... I," Sam began, starting to become worried. Daniel's confused as ever. 

Then Amanda LaRusso, who had heard the shouting came to downstairs. Johnny stopped. He recognized her. It was Daniel's wife and man she was hot! Seriously how did LaRusso get sometime like that?

"Daniel what is going on? Who is this?" Amanda said, standing protectively in front of Sam.

"This is Johnny Lawrence," Daniel admitted, as both their eyes met. Daniel's in complete calmed but he has see the rate in Johnny's eyes.

"Oh yeah," Amanda said as she looked at both Daniel and Sam then at Johnny. "You're the guy that was my husband's rival as a child."

Johnny simply nodded. Despite his mixed feelings for Daniel, Johnny knew to be polite in front of the ladies like his mother wanted him to. 

"Now mind to telling me what the hell is going on!?" Amanda yelled as Daniel and Johnny gave each other uneasy looks. Then they looked at Sam, whose not sure how to respond. All she knew was that she was in big trouble and Johnny would gladly press charges against her. 

Daniel LaRusso is so done. Right now, he's sitting in his office, with his ex-wife and ex-crush and his daughter about her reckless driving. He can't make out what they're saying and it's frustrating.

"You hit my car!" Johnny yelled. "You hit my car and you drove away!" 

"Sam, is this true?"  Amanda asked

"Answer me!" Johnny yelled. 

"I'm sorry, maybe if you didn't react like a lunatic, then maybe we wouldn't have driven away! " Samantha counter-attacked. 

"Or maybe, I should press charges for property damage."

"Okay, okay. Simmer down pretty boy," Amanda said, causing Johnny to look at Daniel's wife in disbelief. How did Daniel land a score with her when Johnny couldn't leave one with him? On one hand Johnny is completely pissed at Samantha and her friends for breaking his Pontiac but on the other piece reminding himself that she's Daniel's daughter. 

"There's a solution to this.  Fortunately," Amanda looked to Daniel. "Daniel and I have the best car dealership in the Valley. He can pick you a car, on the house." 

"I didn't come in here for a car. I wanted my old one fixed!"

"John, I'll get you  car fixed. On the house." Daniel said. Johnny looks over to Daniel and gives him a glare. Or rather he's staring at Daniel just to see his reaction and body language. Johnny can tell the other man is being sincere, especially in his Bambi eyes. The same look that Johnny found attractive attackable. Pitiful. Adorable Abominational. 

"I want more than that LaRusso," Johnny said. " I want the record straight."
Daniel bites his cheek before he and Amanda look at Sam. The two understood he wanted more than just his car to fix up. He wanted Sam to be punished.

"Sam, did you get into a Hit and Run with Mr Lawrence's car," Amanda said because they have not gotten this cleared up yet. Samantha does her father's nervous habit of biting her cheek Not sure how to answer. But Johnny could tell she had guilt in her blue eyes. (hell, whenever he pictured Daniel having a daughter he assumed that she would have brown eyes not blue.)

"Oh, my God," Amanda said. She's taking their daughter's silence as admission. Sam nervously looked at her parents and seized the worst expression imaginable: disappointment. 

"It wasn't me driving, Mom. I swear. It was Yasmine."

Johnny was pissed.  How did that make much of a difference? LaRusso beat him to it. 

"Sam, it doesn't matter who was driving. I thought we raised you better than that. Someone could've gotten hurt," Daniel said. "What if Mr. Lawrence was in the car? Or worse, what if you hit him, hurt yourself, or if you crashed in harder? Someone could've gotten hurt. And it's always important to take responsibility for your actions."

Sam gulped and guilt was written in her eyes.

"I didn't think of it," Sam admitted with Lawrence raising an eyebrow. "I'm sorry."

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but you're grounded. Give me your phone."

Amanda held out her hand as she stood next to Daniel.

"What? Why?"

"Because I know as long as you have internet, sending you to your room is like sending you out to play. Now, hand it over. And apologize to Mr. Lawrence."

Sam shook her head and placed her phone and watch on the table. Johnny stood there, waiting for the girl's apology with his eyes softened a little when he saw Sam giving him a look Johnny had often given Laura when he accidentally hurt his mother's feelings. She was Daniel's daughter. Not that he gave a shit but whatever! 

"I'm sorry, Mr. Lawrence," Samantha said reluctantly. "We should never have hit your car and we should never have just drove away." 

Johnny wanted to drag this out longer just to irritate Daniel. However, he looks at his" rival" and is reminded of his small friendship with Mr. Miyagi. He looked at Sam and could tell her apology was genuine, to say the least.

"Alright. Well, I'm sorry too. I guess I could have handled it more maturely rather than come off as a stark raving lunatic," Johnny said, and he saw in his peripheral view of Daniel looking at him with his eyebrows raised. 

Meanwhile Daniel is absorbing this 'new Johnny' approach... And he can't help but smile. Man, he's really, uh, something, wasn't he? Still the same pretty boy... Well almost the same guy he older was. Back when they were kids in high school, the Johnny he knew then would never have apologized to Sam like that. He would break her radio and then put himself in a fight with Daniel, thinking that the other guy would've been flirting with her. Something must have happened to Johnny. He was a completely different person. Almost like the greatest best friend he ever had. The longer Daniel looked at him, the more he saw Johnny was putting up an effort. What the them happened to him?
----
Johnny walked out of the dealership, with his bonsai tree in hand. He's got half a mind to just give it to somebody else, maybe drop it on the floor. LaRusso said every customer gets one, no matter what. Johnny will be back in a few weeks, with Daniel promising his car will be ready by then. There's no way in hell he's taking out money from Sid. There's just no way he wanted that a****** to show up at his apartment again. Some Stepfather Sid was. At least Samantha has a father who doesn't treat her like shit.

He's thinking about his meeting with Daniel and Amanda in their office and how Amanda told Sam to wait for her downstairs. Apparently in addition to Sam's phone being confiscated and her apology, Amanda had said "You will go wait for me downstairs. You're grounded for the rest of the week, which means no going over to you father's house and no friends over." 
Samantha had nodded.

Johnny's right. He shouldn't have reacted the way he did that night Yasmine hit her car with his. He's thinking back to his friendship with Mr Miyagi and how the old man had taught him about strong roots in any tree in general. 

Johnny's got to remember that as he looks at the bonsai tree LaRusso gave him. The Daniel he knew back in high school was completely the same dork he was all those years ago. But he's not married anymore or in any relationship Lawrence could think of.  However it was obvious that it was an amicable one between Amanda and Daniel. It was a shame LaRusso and Johnny couldn't get along.  How lucky he was that he had a kid, an ex-wife he's still friends with and a purpose? Very much so. Well now. Johnny's going to have one too. 
Because the roots are strong and the tree will survive. 

When Johnny gets to his apartment, he put the bonsai tree down on the table. and began to trim.

Chapter Text

Johnny's apartment is bathed in the soft glow of string lights. Roses are everywhere: scattered on the floor, clumsily arranged in beer bottles, and even taped to the walls. Pink balloons spelling out "WILL YOU MARRY ME?" bob awkwardly amongst the décor. Johnny, dressed in a slightly-too-tight button-down shirt, paces nervously, rehearsing his proposal to himself.

"Okay, okay. Deep breaths. Daniel. My Daniel. My stubborn, bonsai-loving, Miyagi-Do Daniel. Will you, uh… will you…"

He stops, grimacing.

"That sucked. Too formal. How about... Daniel, you're… annoying. But, like, in a good way. No! Too much teasing!"

He kicks a stray rose in frustration.

"Daniel, ever since I saw you on that beach with Ali, I thought I was jealous of you but now I'm starting to realize that I was bad at feelings and I was really in love with you. That kick to the face was practically a kiss. No, no, too weird.

Suddenly, he hears the key turning in the lock.

"He's here! Okay, Johnny, play it cool. Be smooth. Be… romantic.

He takes a deep breath, pastes on a nervous smile, and turns to face the door.

The door swings open, revealing… not Daniel. It's Miguel, beaming.

"Sensei! Hey!  Sensei LaRusso needed to finish things up at the dojo and my mom can't make it to dinner tonight so I thought I'd help you. .."

Miguel stops dead in his tracks, his eyes widening to the size of saucers. He takes in the roses, the balloons, the whole scene.

"Oh. My. GOD.

Johnny’s face falls.

"Miguel? What are you doing here? It’s supposed to be Danie–"

"You're...you're proposing! To Sensei ! Oh my god, sensei, you're proposing!

He rushes into the apartment, nearly tripping over a beer bottle rose vase.

"This is amazing! This is… wait a minute. Pink balloons? Beer bottle vases? Sensei, did you set all this up?

Johnny crosses his arms defensively.

"Yeah, so what? Don’t judge my… aesthetic."

"No, no, it's… it's perfectly Sensei. It's awesome! Sensei LaRusso's gonna love it! Oh man, I am so happy for you guys!

He grabs Johnny’s arms, shaking him slightly.

"You love him, right? You really, really love him?

"You know you do. Yeah, Miguel. Come on. You know I do. He's... he's everything. Even when he's driving me crazy. I thought I'd blamed him for all my mistakes but now I know he is the one. "

"Okay, good, good. Because this is huge! This is the best thing ever! Do you have the ring? What are you gonna say? Wait, wait, let's practice!

Miguel starts pacing, buzzing with energy.

"Okay, you get down on one knee… no, not like that! More… sincere! Okay, and then you say…"

" Whoa, hold on there, Speed Racer. You're more excited than I am!"

"Of course I am! This is Sensei Lawrence and Sensei LaRusso! Getting married! It's like… like the ultimate reconciliation! The Miyagi-Do/Cobra Kai love story! History in the making! I need to record this!"

Miguel pulls out his phone, ready to document everything. Johnny groans.

"No photos! No videos! This is between me and Daniel!

Miguel lowered his phone slightly, still grinning. 

"Okay, okay. But I get to be there, right? Like, hiding in the closet or something? Just to witness the magic?"

"Absolutely not. You're going to go make yourself scarce. But...thanks, Miguel. For being happy for us."

"Are you kidding? This is the best! Now, you practice that proposal, Sensei Make it good! I’ll just be… over here… practicing my silent ninja cheering.

Miguel backs away, barely containing his excitement, leaving Johnny to grapple with his nerves and the absurdity of the situation. He looks around at the roses, the balloons, and sighs.

"Okay. Back to square one. This has to be perfect."

He takes another deep breath, a small smile playing on his lips. He can do this. For Daniel.

Chapter Text

Daniel approached Amanda, his mind racing with thoughts of Johnny and the lingering shadow of Cobra Kai. Ever since Daniel had assured Johnny that he would repair his battered car free of charge—an act of kindness prompted by the mishap caused by Sam's friend—he had been haunted by a peculiar sense of disquiet. It was an intriguing blend of gratitude for the bond they shared and confusion over how their relationship was shifting in subtle yet profound ways. Thoughts of their evolving connection swirled in his mind like autumn leaves caught in a gentle breeze, tempting him to dive deeper into his emotions. Yet, Daniel quickly pushed those reflections into the recesses of his mind, reluctant to confront the complexities of the feelings that simmered just beneath the surface.

With a roll of his eyes, he recalled trying to get Anthony to ditch the guys screen games,   but it didn't with.  Not even when he offered to get Anthony a drink of pop. It was a sigh of exasperation wrapped in the warmth of family life, but it only added to Daniel’s sense of frustration. Right now, he was in the cozy yet chaotic atmosphere of the club with Amanda, surrounded by laughter and the clinking of glasses. Now,it was her week to juggle the kids, but today, they were attending their annual county club party, a tradition that brought them together despite the chaos that often surrounded them. And although Daniel and Amanda are divorced, they thought that it was better off as friends who always cared about each other. 

Yet, Sam's recent grounding had thrown a wrench into the plans, dampening the excitement that usually accompanied this event. In that moment, Daniel felt the weight of familial duty mixed with personal turmoil, leaving him to navigate the complexities of relationships and responsibilities in a world that seemed to shift beneath his feet.

Then he's thinking about Johnny  again and remembering the Cobra Kai sign he saw on his way home from work, his home being big enough for him and the kids. Johnny put him through so much shit, it was agitating. 

"You know, I would have killed to visit a club like this when I was his age." Daniel told her. " You know where I had to hang out in the summer? On a filthy street in Newark--"

"With a broken fire hydrant next to your Aunt Tessie's," Amanda said with a smile. 

"Yeah."

"What do you say we let Anthony play with his thing and you and I get a couple drinks?"

"Dirty martinis?"

"Yes, ice, ice cold.

"LaRussos!" Isaiah Robinson shouted. 

"Isaiah, hello," Daniel said with a smile. 

"Hey yourself," Isaiah said with a smile. "Still kicking the competition?"

"Well, we're trying," Daniel said. 

"And Aisha, how are you sweetie?" Amanda asked. She still regrets this. 

"I'm good, Mrs. LaRusso," Aisha said with a smile. Even though Amanda and Daniel were not married anymore, she still kept his last name and did technically own part of the auto because she's still family. 

"How's the Q5 treating you?" Daniel asked. 

"Wouldn't know," he admitted. He gestured to his daughter. "This one over here's been behind the wheel all month, going back and forth to robot camp."

"Dad, it's an AP physics prep course," Aisha said. She looked around for her friends. "Hey, where's Samantha? I feel like I haven't seen her all summer."

"Oh, she's--she's--" Daniel started. How was he going to explain to Aisha her best friend is grounded. 

"They're with their grandma. But we'll will tell them you said hi." Amanda said with a smile. But Aisha looked somewhat disappointed more than anything. Isaiah, Aisha, Amanda and Daniel all bid each other goodbye. 

"With their grandma? Yeah, right. Lately I can't get them to call my mom, let alone visit her."

" What am I supposed to say? She accidentally totaled your ex rival's car? That she's hanging out with her new friends?

"Look I know we don't appreciate Sam lying to us but all I know is she should be here. We come to this party once a year. She gets to see her stupid friends every day..." Amanda got suspicious. 

"Someone's in a mood. What's going on with you?"

"Nothing, I'm fine," Daniel yelled. "All right, all right. You remember that... that guy from my high school whose car I fixed for free because Sam was involved in his hit and run?

"Yeah, the blonde pretty boy that you beat in that tournament."

"Actually, I never remember calling him 'pretty.'"

Amanda thought for a second. She's pretty sure the last time they talked about him Daniel called Johnny a pretty boy. And it was right. Johnny was attractive and it's only amount of time before Daniel realizes he that he likes him still by all the years of heartache. 

"Look. The point is you’ve been acting weird since the dealership since Johnny showed up. However, that's not what's bothering you. What’s going on, Daniel?"

"Nothing. I just… you know how it is. Old rivalries die hard."

Amanda raises an eyebrow.

"Is that what Johnny is to you? Just an old rivalry?"

Daniel shakes his head.  It’s complicated you know. "It’s not about Johnny. Or a rivalry." 

"Really? Could've fooled me." 

"We had a brief encounter, that’s all. It was… awkward.

"Awkward? Daniel, you were practically sweating bullets. and Sam? She's just lucky Johnny that didn't press charges on her or Yasmine. Look, I’m all for you reconciling whatever issues you have, but you can’t pretend this isn’t affecting you."

"I’m not pretending. I just… I don’t want to go back to remembering that. Cobra Kai, the rivalry—it’s all toxic."

"But you’re still thinking about it, aren’t you? About him?"

"I just worry what it means for the kids in the valley Cobra Kai is like a virus. Just when you think it’s gone, it comes back stronger."

"So, it’s not that you have feelings for Johnny Lawrence?"

"No! Absolutely not. It’s complicated, okay? Johnny and I… we’ve had our moments, but I’m over that."

"You can be honest with me, Daniel. If there’s something there, it’s okay. It doesn’t mean you have to act on it."

Daniel looked at Amanda and he saw she was being genuine. 

"I just can’t deal with this right now! I have a business to run, and there’s a new Cobra Kai dojo opening up. I can’t afford to be distracted."

Daniel blushed a little. There's nothing going on between him and Johnny. Nothing was. He remembered panic attack back at the Dojo. Johnny comforting him and all but still. He didn't have feelings for Johnny Lawrence. Not again. 

"I just… I don’t know how to feel around him anymore. First we kick each other around and now this dojo is back because of him."

Amanda (sighs). "I get it. But you’re allowed to feel confused. This isn’t just about the dojo; it’s about you too."

"No, Amanda! It’s not feelings. It’s concern. Cobra Kai is back, and I can’t just sit back and let it spread like it did before."

"And what about Johnny? You’re worried about him too, aren’t you?"

"Maybe. But that doesn’t mean I have feelings for him!"

"Alright, let’s break this down. You’re on edge because you’re concerned about the dojo and Johnny."

"Exactly! For some reason I'm afraid that he's a loose cannon. He's going to change the lives of kids and not in a good way."

"And yet, there’s a part of you that remembers the good times."

"Good times? Amanda, he was my biggest rival. We were kids. We fought over everything. I mean. Seriously how to suffer a beating from him and he threw me off a cliff.

"Yeah, and you crane kicked him in the face. You also told me that shortly after the match he was the one who handed you the trophy. Even said it was a good match. And now, if he changed after the tournament, he's changed for the better. He might not even make his karate the one you fear.  You've changed things up since then. You're a wonderful friend. You were a wonderful spouse and you are a great father.  Maybe you should consider seeing Johnny in a different light.I mean he did have every right to be angry with Samantha for wrecking his car but he wasn't lying."

"Maybe. But it doesn’t matter. I can’t afford to let him get to me again. 

"It sounds like you’re afraid of letting your guard down."

"Not true. I just want to protect what I have. I just wish Mr. Miyagi was here...."

They both take a sip of their drinks, Daniel’s mind still racing with thoughts of Johnny and the challenges ahead. Amanda placed her hand on Daniel's shoulder, showing she missed her husband's sensei too. 

"Hey Dad where's my pop?" Anthony yells from across the room, still playing on his Nintendo. Daniel gripped his cup hard in annoyance at his son's obsession with his video game. 

"I'm going to throw him in the goddamn pool," Daniel swore, going over to maybe fulfill that promise.