A/N: Sorry about the delay, this website would not let me upload this chapter, I've been trying for like a full 24 hours so far. Anyone, let's hope this worlds. Feel free to join my discord, when I get to 25 people on the server, I will be giving out a 25 dollar gift card to a merchant of your choice
Hello? Yeah, I just walked in
Yeah, I'm good, you still working?
Tonight, right now? Did I go out? Yeah, I went out
I went, I went to a couple of clubs
I never went to bed, shit, wine or water
You said something about a cold drink?
I don't know, I'm delirious
Cups of the Rosé
Bitches in my old phone
I should call one and go home
I've been in this club too long
The woman that I would try
Is happy with a good guy
But I've been drinking so much
That Imma call her anyway and say
Miguel sat outside in his wheelchair, the music blaring through his headphone at volumes that he knew his mother would not appreciate. But he was also not in a good mood right now. According to doctors, he was making steady progress over the last couple of weeks, the muscles in his back were healing nicely and his spine showed no signs of damage, his body was on the up and up. His improving health and good guy reputation allowed him to be allowed to roam around the hospital grounds in the wheelchair. But even as his body mended, his mind and heart were being anchored down by his last conversation with Tory.
"Hey, you alright?" asked a familiar voice
Miguel looked up to see Johnny standing a couple feet in front of him. He looked different than last time, he was cleaned up, his clothes not stained or dirty. He had shaved his patchy blond beard off. The bandage on his head had been changed and you could see where the larger bandage had been. He was also sober, he didn't smell like the cheap liquor store from up the street anymore.
"What are you doing here?" asked Miguel, "What do you want?"
"I want a second chance Miguel" said Johnny, "I told you to give up fighting when fighting is the other reason you didn't give up on yourself when you were asleep. And that was wrong of me to say that, but the reason that I said that was because I was scared"
Miguel swallowed hard at hearing Johnny admit to being scared, his sensei had seemed so fearless in the past, but now was admitting to being scared? What happened to being a badass? To no mercy? Being striking hard and fast and first?
"I know that things feel a bit off, feel a bit different, but I want to try and do right by you Miguel. I got you into this situation, let me help you climb out of it" pleaded Johnny
Miguel felt the anger bubble up inside of him, but it wasn't real. it was like lava inside of a lava lamp. Even as the hot rage bubbled and rose inside of it, it wad nothing that the cooling wax couldn't take care of.
"I want you to be able to help me, but I'm stuck in this chair, I can't train" said Miguel with a gesture to the wheelchair that he was using to get around.
"That's what I want to help you with, you're going to need physical therapy and I want to be there every step of the way" said Johnny with a small smile, oen that was mirrored by Miguel/
Cobra Kai Dojo:
The main afternoon class was waiting outside, the doors to the dojo had been locked and nobody knew why. Hawk and Kyler were silently arguing about which one of them would be knocking on the door, but the clicking of the lock on the door stopped that.
Hawk slipped in front of Kyler and opened the door, revealing the back of Tory.
"File in" she called over her shoulder as she moved to the front of the sparing section.
The sound of shoes being kicked off filled the room with soft thuds as everyone slowly stepped onto the mat.
"Sensei Kreese has left me in charge for the day, he is running errands but still wanted class to go on" said Tory as she stepped forward and walked through the columns of Cobra Kai students.
Kyler snickered "Dawg, I ain't listening to no girl"
Tory gave a confident smile and said "Class, we have our first example of the day. Parks."
Kyler face twisted with confusion, but when Hawk had everyone retreated to the edges of the mat, surrounding Kyler and Tory, the two lone people left on the mat.
"Hawk, be the ref" said Tory as she took her ready position
"Hey man, I can't hit a girl" said Kyler
"That's funny, I was going to say the same thing" taunted Tory
"Alright fuck it, gender equality and all that shit" spat Kyler as he walked across from Tory. getting into a ready position as well.
"Fight" said Hawk with a chop of his hand.
Tory didn't move as her eyes locked on Kyler's torso, Kyler was bouncing on his heels.
"The key to striking fast is to be the aggressor, you want to rush in and throw them off their balance" said Kreese, "Fights rarely last long enough for skill to dictate the result"
Kyler rushed forward, a open palmed strike at Tory's face. Tory leaned to the side, to avoid the blow, her left foot slipping behind Kyler's right foot and pulling on it. Kyler stumbled backwards, struggling to maintain his balance.
Tory leapt forward, acting like she was going to throw a punch, something that Kyler was about to throw his arms up in an X over his torso to block. But to his and everyone else's surprise, Tory dropped to the ground and swept his legs out from under him in a single spinning kick.
She bounced back to her feet and put her foot on Kyler's chest, pinning the boy to the ground.
"Now, as I was saying class, Kreese left me in charge and still wants class to run as normal" said Tory before she stomped on Kyler's chest causing the downed teenage boy to wheeze.
That really set the tone for the rest of the class as nobody wanted to be on the other end of Tory's fist. The class went over several blocks and dodges, mostly to avoid punches from behind. The class passed in a blink of an eye and before Tory realized it, it was already 5PM and she was sending everyone home for the day. Well not home, but they were done with their lesson in the dojo for the day.
Kyler had taken it upon himself to invite everyone to what he was calling it "A kick ass party bro".
Tory rolled his eyes and said "I can't, I have to study for my GED test and I have to visit Miguel in the hospital"
"You still hung on that guy, isn't he stuck in a wheelchair?" questioned Kyler
Tory glared at the arrogant teenager and said, "What your mouth before I put your ass on the ground again"
Hawk bumped Kyler with his shoulder, "What the hell is wrong with you"
Kyler ignored Hawk's snarled words and shrugged "Whatever"
Tory and Hawk watched Kyler climb into his SUV and drive off, the pair of them spraying the equipment used with disinfectant, before they went outside and Tory moved to lock the front doors to the dojo.
"I gotta ask, how is he?" asked Hawk as Tory finished locking the doors
"He's better, moody and angry, restless" said Tory before she raised an eyebrow, "Haven't you been to see him?"
Hawk flinched as she asked her question and that was all Tory needed to know the answer.
Tory turned with a hmph and Hawk sped up as he followed her, putting his hand on her shoulder, trying to get her to stop.
She whirled around and slapped Hawk's hand away, "Don't touch me"
Hawk held his hands up in the air, trying to calm down the angry girl.
"I'm sorry ok" said Hawk
Tory glared at him, "You're his best friend in Cobra Kai and you never even visit him. You should be sorry"
Hawk lowered his hands, "I'm not ... I wasn't ready to see him like that. He was unbeatable, invincible to us. He was the pillar of the Dojo and now he's what? Laying around in a bed all day? I refused to see him like that"
"How do you think I felt?" asked Tory rhetorically, "I caused the fight that left him in a wheelchair and the worse part is that he isn't even angry with me"
Hawk remained quiet
Tory sighed, "I'm going to see him now, why don't you climb into my car and come with. I'm sure that he'll be happy to see you"
Hawk nodded before he processed what she said a moment later and his face twisted into one of confusion, "Since when do you have a car?'
The Hospital:
Miguel had his feet draped over Johnny's arms as his upper body was close to the ground, his arms were straining as he slowly did some incline push up, the feeling of gravity was other worldly and he was dripping with sweat.
5 ... 4 ... 3 ... 2 ... 1
Miguel was gently placed on the ground after he finished his last 5 push ups before Johnny scooped him up in a bride's carry before moving him over to the bed and lowering him into it.
"25 pushes" commented Johnny, "That's not bad for a first day"
"It's not where I was" complained Miguel
"It's further than you used to be" said Johnny, "When I first met you, you couldn't do a single push up"
Miguel smiled and said "You remember that?"
"Hell yeah I do" said Johnny, "You got your ass kicked outside the mini mart by that Asian kid and his friends"
"Hey, I had never been in a fight before" explained Miguel
"Probably because you were a 115 pounds soaking went and couldn't fight off pack of teddy bears" teased Johnny as he ruffled Miguel's hair, "But now look at you, All Valley Champ"
Miguel beamed with pride at the reference to his title, his back ached a little less with the mention of what he had achieved.
"You're going to be back to that form sooner than later kid" whispered Johnny
"I hope so sensei" whispered back Miguel
There was a soft knock on the door and the pair of them both turned to look at pale hand that was pushing the door opened, it revealed a slightly too big for their body head, a slender thin frame and a sad face.
"Daniel LaRusso, you have a lot of nerve coming here after what your student did" spat Johnny as he stepped in front of Miguel, blocking the view of his student from his enemy
"Way to dodge the blame there Johnny, in case you forgot, that student of mine was your son" said Daniel before he threw his hands up in the air, trying to show that he was here for peaceful reasons, not just to argue.
"Listen, I just came by to drop something off for Miguel" said Daniel as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small plain white envelope from his jacket pocket, Johnny realizing what it was before Johnny fully even extended it.
Johnny sidestepped and allowed Daniel to approach Miguel with the envelop.
"What is that?" asked Miguel, staring at the hand extending out to him
"Take it kid" said Johnny and Miguel did as he was told, his hands holding the white rectangle with gentle care.
"I know that you can't really put a price tag on healing and healthy, but we wanted to try. That's a check to cover your entire hospital bill" said Daniel with a careful tone, "I am really sorry about what happened with Robby and I don't know how else to show it"
Miguel flicked the envelop away, the paper fluttering away down the bed landing near his feet. He wanted to kick the thing off his bed, but the reason he was getting the check in the first place was that his legs didn't work.
"I'm not some charity case that you can simply pay off with a check" said Miguel, his eyes watering with tears as he glared at Daniel, "Is that what you think I am?"
"No, of course not" said Daniel, "I'm just trying to help"
"I don't need you help" snarled Miguel as tears rolled down his checks, "I need to be able to use my legs, I need to be able to walk and run. I need everything in the world but but your help"
Johnny glanced between Miguel and Daniel, a flashback of his own rage appearing in front of him.
"Miguel enough" said Johnny with an edge to his voice, shocking both Miguel and Daniel
"But sensei" whined Miguel
"No 'buts' Miguel" said Johnny, "Daniel did not have to come down here and do this for you. He's trying to do the right thing. If you want to blame him for Robby, blame me as well for being a bad dad. I could have done everything different, I've made all the mistakes that you can make with a son. You wanna be angry and hold a grudge? I did that when I was younger as well. I thought that I could hold a grudge forever, I thought that I was mad at the world and that everyone owed me something. The truth is, the world doesn't owe you anything but the right to kick you in the chops"
"Wow Johnny, that w-" started Daniel
"LaRusso, I appreciate the gesture, but you need to leave" said Johnny with a small nod of respect
Daniel returned the nod, turning around and walking out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Johnny sat on the edge of the bed, pulling Miguel into a hug, his hand rubbing up and down Miguel's back as Miguel just sobbed into his shoulder.
"I get it kid, everything fucking sucks" said Johnny
Miguel didn't say anything as he just continued to cry, his upper body trembling and unknown to him, his legs spasmed for the first time as he cried. That was the scene that Tory and Hawk arrived to see, Miguel and Johnny hugging.
Tory knocked on the door and Johnny let Miguel go as he turned to see Tory and Hawk enter the room, he was a bit standoffish about seeing two of his former students there but he also understood that they weren't here for him, they were here for Miguel.
"Imma step outside and give your mom a call kid, let her know that you're doing alright" said Johnny as he excused himself
Tory walled forward and slid into the stop that Johnny had been sitting, but unlike him, she laid down and put her head on his shoulder.
"You still mad at me" she whispered to him, her breath tickling his ear and he felt this heart speed up in his chest.
"No" he replied under his breath
That was apparently the right thing to say as Tory put her hand on his chin and lightly directed his head to the left and their lips met, the kiss being soft and pleasant, the kind of pick me up that Miguel needed.
"I'd say 'Get a Room', but then you two might just ask me to leave" joked Hawk
Miguel broke the kiss as he chuckled and he felt his stomach bubble with an emotion he hadn't felt this entire time he had been awake, pure joy.
A/N: More things continue to happen, more things to come.
Miguel has started his physical therapy with Johnny even if it is just arms. Daniel apologizes, Tory knocks off Kyler in the Dojo's quest for top dog. And Kreese, Robby, and Sam have yet to play their full part.
For more discussion or info on the topic, PM me on here, follow me on Twitter at HKM_FF, or use code VfBpGtfF to join my discord server.
Until next time
HighKey_Mars out