A/N: Chapter three is ready. Well, it kind of took a direction I wasn't expecting but I think it fits, when the decision was made to go full length, my muse kind of took the wheel. Still do not own Cobra Kai or Karate Kid.

Chapter Three: Treading and Drowning

"You goddamn suck at this," Sam blinked looking at her little brother in disbelief as they huddled over the video game. It was the karate game.

"Hey, watch it, I can do this for real." Sam replied as she jammed a button and the tiny character on screen did an almost perfect imitation of the move that Tory had taken her down with, and a lump entered her throat at that point.

"You gonna kick that girl's butt that did that to you or take down Robby?" Anthony asked, and surprisingly he moved the small screen away and sat on the arm of the couch. Because being that her little brother was only 12 years old and firmly entrenched in the violent and respawning after mistakes mindset those video games taught, he didn't know that what he was saying wasn't a joke. Though he did surprisingly enough seem to know enough to not make her play anymore. "You're pissed at him right?"

"I don't know," Sam said. The truth of it was, she didn't know what she would do when she saw Robby again. They had visited Miguel, he still wasn't awake, and seeing Mrs. Diaz so shattered, seeing her mom so scared when she was in the hospital that she had just left a matter of hours ago, well things with Robby she wouldn't know an answer to give.

"I'll do it for you." Anthony said. "And dad. He's a black belt."

"No!" Sam said, and the urgency in her voice startled him, she could tell. That kind of thinking had started this whole mess. Even if her little brother wasn't Cobra Kai, far from it, it scared her seeing so much anger. Anthony was annoying, yeah, and an ace at shouting at noobs online but real anger didn't suit him.

"Sam, are you okay?" Her mom had heard the shout and come running in.

"Fine," Sam said. She got to her feet and swerved to avoid her mom who had come to check on her and catch her as if she would fall. Dad's wheel technique was harder than leaving the couch for the stairs. And her mom was the last person she wanted to talk to right now. Even though part of her wanted a hug. The part that had been terrified of a bunch of pixels just moments ago, that they would slam her onto tiles. Because she had heard the conversations her parents hadn't wanted her to hear. No more karate.

And that thought, it was more than unpleasant.

The path to the Larussos was familiar and well worn, but Robby felt like he was drowning in quicksand with every step.

"You should probably wait down here," Robby managed to tell his father. He knew he might at least have a chance, but considering the last time they were in the same room had resulted in an apartment sparring match, well Mrs. Larusso would probably eviscerate them on the spot.

Since many of his things were still here he might have a chance but his dad…

"No chance," His father said. And then he did something Robby wouldn't have seen coming from a mile. He clapped a hand on his shoulder.

Well there went the possibility of sneaking in and out. Shit.

Robby took a breath and went the rest of the way to the door. He didn't need to look to know that his dad was behind him though at a bit of a distance, and he found himself grateful.

He tapped on the door.

The door opened and Mr. and Mrs. Larusso stood there.

"Robby," Mr. Larusso seemed surprised, but not angry, that was strange.

Before Robby or Mr. Larusso could say another word, Mrs. Larusso spoke.

"You can have this conversation outside."

"Mrs. Larusso…I…"

"Sam just got home. She's upset enough." Amanda said. " She needs to rest."

"Amanda," Mr. Larusso said. He frowned.

"I'm not doing this now. Outside or not at all."

"Come on Robby," Mr. Larusso went back out the door with Robby. And saw his father just a few feet away.

He studied Mr. Larusso and his father's expressions ready to jump in the middle if he should have to.

"We should probably go somewhere a bit more private," Mr. Larusso suggested, and he looked at both Robby and his father when he said it.

Robby nodded as he followed both.

He was surprised when Mr. Larusso took them to the car.

"Planning a road trip Larusso?" His father arched an eyebrow

"Figured a drive would give us some time." Mr. Larusso replied, and Robby could see something the man wasn't saying, but decided not to press as his father seemed to get the message as well.

His father went to the back seat surprisingly enough, almost comically, and Robby thought maybe he was providing a barrier. But he couldn't be sure. So he got into the passenger side of Mr. Larusso's car without asking the question, questions, he really wanted to. He was afraid to speak. He still couldn't read exactly what Mr. Larusso had in mind.

"You got it off," His father commented.

Robby could still see some remnants of the red paint job on the yellow car though most had been washed off, and his father's observation made him focus on that point rather than either of their gazes even through the rearview.

Daniel nodded. "Took some time,"

"Look," His father said. "About all that…"

"It doesn't matter," Mr. Larusso said plainly.

"Doesn't matter?" Robby finally chose to speak, incredulous.

"No,"

They finally reached their destination, Miyagi Do...or what had been Miyagi Do. Robby wasn't sure what it was now. Though he'd been laying low, he'd seen the coverage of the fight. It was a shit show. Everyone involved had been suspended and he wasn't sure what was next.

There was an eerie feeling walking through the gate, and everyone felt it. Because it was empty, though nothing outside had been moved, it hadn't been used either. Miyagi Do hadn't had the presence or the same attendance rate as his father's dojo, but for Robby, well what he had told his father had been true. The most honest he had been with the man barring today.

Miyagi Do helped me a lot.

Mr. Larusso was good to me.

And what did I do with what he taught me, I almost killed someone. I'm probably going to jail.

"The reason I brought you here," Mr. Larusso said once he had stopped outside the door. "Well, I'm shutting it down."

A/N: So, yeah that happened. The way I figure is that even though Daniel was packing things in the finale, he still hadn't told the news and with Robby being AWOL, he probably wouldn't have found out until now. Things go kaboom in the next chapter. In more ways than one.