A/N: Well, chapter thirteen is ready. Unfortunately, I have a really good explanation as to why this took so long. Good and awful. I've been sick for a while and writing has been the last thing that I had the energy to do, but I did manage a lot of planning, so hopefully this chapter makes up for the delay in finishing it. ;)

I still don't own Cobra Kai or the Karate Kid, just showing my appreciation.

Chapter Thirteen: Head Games Part 2

The dojo was in full class mode, but to Robby it seemed more like some form of basic training in those old army movies. His injuries made it almost impossible to keep up to his own standards. In any case, he was less interested in the techniques anyway. Not like he cared what Kreese or anyone else thought of his karate. What had happened spoke for itself.

"Bert, Keene pair off." Kreese barked.

Robby recognized the skinny bespectacled kid in the Cobra Kai gi from the All Valley. He hadn't gone against the kid himself, but Sam had told him of how he'd eaten mat in the preliminaries. So he hasn't been cut out of the ranks yet? Huh…

Robby bowed, keeping eye contact, and he almost cringed at the glare he received.

"Look," Robby said. "I get this is complicated but-."

"Ai!" Bert assumed the fighting stance.

"Okay then…" Robby assumed his own stance wincing. He really didn't want to fight anymore. "We're doing this…?" Great.

Bert moved for Robby aiming for his side. Robby blocked easily, and kept blocking every strike he could: face, side, knees, nose, backing up and around. He wouldn't make another mistake. He couldn't let it get that far.

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me," Robby heard Kreese, but continued his path. "Are you a pussy Keene, fight back."

Bert kicked for Robby's head, then his shoulder. His previously injured shoulder. Robby dodged the first hit, but the second made contact as Robby hit the mat, and it was enough.

"You're a disgrace, a loser. Your old man would be laughing his ass off!"

Robby stayed on hands and knees, could feel Bert approaching, but there was a lull Robby didn't expect.

He glanced over, gasping for air and he could see Bert's face through his own blurring vision as he struggled to stay conscious. He looked...scared… He was shaking. And the fact that there was a Cobra that was scared… it was...weird.

"Finish it!" Kreese commanded.

Before he could think, Robby was moving. He snapped his foot out still on hands and knees and swept Bert's leg, ignoring the pain as he brought the other boy down, and brought an elbow down on the side of his face.

"Well done Mr. Keene. Seems you have a little Cobra in you after all." Kreese chuckled holding out a hand to help the boy up.

Robby blanched fighting the urge to puke as he wiped away sweat. He struggled to get to his feet avoiding taking Kreese's hand up. One of the other Cobras was helping Bert who looked near tears, and Robby's gaze landed on his mouth as the boy wiped away blood. He pressed his lips together to really keep from heaving as a wave of dizziness hit. "I'm sorry," Robby slurred out softly. He wasn't even sure Bert heard. His eyes closed against the dizzy spell, and he felt a grip around his shoulders. His hands went up as he punched weakly trying to get out of whoever's hold he was in.

"Whoa there Son," He was moved and he couldn't stop it.

"M'not your son," Robby spat weakly pushing against who he now knew was Kreese.

"Sit," Kreese said.

Robby blinked taking in the surroundings. It was the back office of the dojo and he had been pushed into a chair in front of the desk. He closed his eyes against the light, placing his palms over his eyes and rubbing hard.

"You seem like you need a break, let me help." Kreese said. Robby could make out a red bag. It looked like some kind of first aid kit.

Kreese pulled something out, a bottle of pills, and a tube of ointment, and Robby stiffened moving quickly as far back as the chair would allow. " Help, that's rich. You're not my dad, you're not my Sensei don't touch me," But the words came out too slow to have any effect, besides an amused chuckle from the older man and Robby biting his lip hard against another dizzy spell.

Try as he might, once he was seated, no longer fighting, kicking, punching, Robby felt every inch of what had happened, and he knew Kreese fucking knew it. It was why he had been brought to this back room, away from the others. The show was over. He'd tortured Robby publicly enough.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Kreese asked almost pleasantly as he squeezed the ointment out. "You came all this way. Did it work in your favor?"

Robby stayed silent, his eyes locked on the older man as his hand moved for the bruise on Robby's forehead. He moved quickly in the opposite direction and tried to get out of the chair, but Kreese moved him straight, held him still and placed the ointment on the spot.

"You did good work today, a lot like your dad. You've got some natural skill."

You're a natural.

Robby pursed his lips hard. Hearing compliments from this guy...hearing those compliments from this guy made his stomach flip. Considering what he'd done just moments ago. He scoffed. "Yeah, well I'm not." He spat. "You screwed him, don't pretend you care."

"But I do," Kreese said simply. He let Robby go backing up. "He was my top student. He's like a son. That means, you're like family."

Some way to treat him. Robby rolled his eyes.

"Families fight, but that doesn't mean they're not family. You know, you could learn a lot from him."

"Gee, thanks Gramps but I'm not looking for family therapy from you." Robby said. He moved to get up from the chair, and this time Kreese didn't move to stop him as the bell of the dojo door rang.

"Looks like we have visitors." Kreese passed him, placing a hand on his shoulder briefly.

Robby shirked it. But before he could make it out the door, Kreese was ahead, and already making his way to the front.

Robby's stomach dropped when he saw just who those visitors were.

Miguel was in the hospital room as his mom held up a bottle of water with a straw.

"Are you sure you're feeling alright Miggy?" Mama asked.

"Considering," Miguel said once he'd finished taking his sip. Was he feeling alright? That question was loaded. He was still in pain and this contraption he had to wear wasn't helping, and Sensei wasn't here. He was surprised by that. "When's Sensei getting here?" He was probably just busy. That had to be it. But he knew he had to talk to him. He had to explain.

"Mija..." Yaya looked to Mama.

Miguel saw his mom's face and his brow furrowed. "What?"

Mama sighed. "Miguel...Johnny's not coming."

"What?" Miguel repeated. "Why not?"

"It's not… the right time Mijo."

Miguel could tell there was more to it. "It's not his fault Mama,"

"Miggy… that's not…"

"Then what?" Miguel asked.

As Miguel waited for an answer, he knew what his mom's feelings on this were. It was clear as she could barely meet his eyes. "I…"

"He's not going to hurt me," Miguel said. "Please Mama!" He needed Johnny here.

Mama sighed and nodded. "I'll talk to him."

Daniel and Johnny entered the dojo followed by Sam, Demetri and Aisha.

Johnny immediately noticed Kreese, and behind him…

"Robby!" He and Daniel called out

"Dad…." Robby blinked following the sound of the voices. "Mr. Larusso,"

The kid looked like shit and as though he could barely stand on his feet. Johnny paled, noticing fresh cuts and bruises.

"What the fuck is your problem man?" Johnny turned to his sensei and moved toward him.

"Is that any way to say hello?" Kreese asked.

"Let's just skip the bullshit and finish this," Johnny replied.

Daniel took advantage of Johnny and Kreese's conversation and moved to where Robby was. He knew getting him out of the crossfire would be for the best.

"Robby…" Daniel spoke reaching a hand out and placing it gently on Robby's shoulder.

"Mr. Larusso, I…'M..." Robby leaned onto Daniel for support as he struggled to speak.

"Later," Daniel said. There would be time. He reached into his pocket for his phone.

"Mr. Larusso," Robby's gaze had traveled and he squeezed Mr. Larusso's arm noticing what was happening nearby.

Sam looked around the dojo, staying close to her friends, fists clenched at her sides as she searched out Tory.

"What the hell are you doing here Larusso?" Tory smirked. "Didn't have enough? Had to go to Daddy?" Her gaze traveled as she noticed Aisha. "Didn't expect to see you here."

"There's something you should know," Sam said struggling to keep her voice calm. "Do you have some time to talk?"

"Why would I talk to you?" Tory said.

"It's about Miguel." Sam said

"Tory," Aisha said. "You know this is stupid, can we please just talk?"

"You have no right," Tory said. She moved in Sam's direction and kicked.

Sam backed up, and tried to block, but was forced to block with her bandaged arm and tripped as her wound took the impact. "Augh,"

"Sam," Aisha went over to her friend.

"I...I'm okay." Sam said cradling her arm.

"Get up and fight bitch," Tory goaded, kicking Sam once more in the knee while she was on the ground.

"Leave her alone Tory." Aisha said. "This is over."

"No mercy…remember?"

Aisha's expression hardened and she put her hands up. "This is over." One way or another.

Meanwhile, Demetri had gone over to where Hawk was. He had to see if he could tell him about Miguel.

"Eli,"

No response.

Demetri sighed heavily. "Hawk!"

"What do you want nerd?" Hawk moved closer and grabbed Demetri by his shirt.

"I, I really don't want to do this anymore." Demetri said. He was sick of this. "Just, can you, can we just talk?"

Hawk scoffed pushing Demetri hard, right into a nearby heavy bag. "You owe me a rematch."

Demetri groaned and got to his feet. Really? Screw this.

A/N: So, yeah that happened. I did have to move some events to the next because well, this chapter was a lot like writing an incident report, so they will be in Cobra Kai for a bit longer.

I do have some news. This story is now the first in a series called Seeking Balance. It will officially be getting a sequel.

I will also be starting a music based oneshot collection for Cobra Kai, so if anyone has any requests for songs or characters or situations, I'd love to know.

In other news, anyone see season 3 yet? I did and I loved it.