Blake pov

The walk back was tiring and my legs were nearly shaking by the time I got back to civilization. The sun was beating down on my hooded head at an extreme heat.

I wanted nothing more than to take off my hoodie, but I knew anyone seeing my face could end with handcuffs and a jail cell.

I thought of a place I could blend in for a little while and the beach crossed my mind. It was September and still hot enough so maybe there would be a lot of people there.

I cursed myself for not stopping at the country club and using the showers in the men's locker room yesterday because even I could smell my own B.O.

Someone in a hoodie and sweatpants wasn't common at the beach, but I doubted anyone would really care that much. I walked along the sidewalk and glanced to my right at the beach below. Wasn't as crowded as I thought but maybe I could find a spot to think.

Another structure gave me an idea. There were small little shower stalls in the corner where most people typically washed the sand off of their bodies before going up the steps to get back in their cars.

I didn't have soap or anything, but… maybe someone else did.

No, I can't add more crimes to my list. That wouldn't get me anywhere, but I needed a shower. My current body odor would def turn some heads if I didn't clean myself soon.

I walk down the steps careful to keep my head down and walk into a stall. I remove my clothes and grit my teeth as I slowly peel the bandages from my back. They were stained with my blood and crusty to the touch.

The cold water would usually make me jump back, but right now, I might as well have been in heaven as I soaked my tender skin in the stream of the shower.

I hear the stall door open next to me and glance to the space under the door where someone places a bottle of body wash and shampoo.

"Convenient," I mutter to myself as I put my hand under the crack and squirt a bit of both in each hand.

My neighbor didn't seem to notice thankfully but my grunt of pain must have caught his attention as the soapy body wash seeps into the gashes on my back and stings like hell.

At that moment, I craved a hot shower and a doctor with stitches but those were luxuries I'd have to accept as things of the past unless I wanted to get them in handcuffs.

I take my sweet time rinsing the dirt and grime out of my hair and skin before finally turning the water off. No towel.

I'd have to let the air dry me off for now. Due to the heat, it didn't take very long before I was putting on a new set of clothes consisting of a clean tshirt, a grey hoodie, and black sweatpants. I pulled my hood up over my damp hair before walking out of the stall with my backpack.

I stashed my old clothes in but threw away my now bloodstained and torn black Henley shirt that I had worn during the school fight. No hairdryer or deodorant unfortunately but those were two things I probably wouldn't ever get again. Even in prison, inmates don't get those.

I leaned against a palm tree at a distance from everyone else and thought about my next move. I put a hand of frustration on my forehead as I realized that the option of finding Robby sounded like the best course of action. I literally had no other choice unless I wanted to try on my own. I'd last for some time, but my insulin would only last for around two more days and my back wasn't healing fast at all.

I would be pissing on Miguel's tombstone by doing this, but maybe he'd want me to do what I could to survive. Even if it meant working with his killer.

Miguel was always good like that. Always saw the best in people even when they didn't deserve it. I hope he'd been able to see the best in himself before the fight. Miguel deserved for the world to know how amazing he truly was and how kind of s person he'd been. Something I never was.

For the first time in my life, I'm happy Miguel won the All Valley instead of me. He'd deserved the title a lot more than I ever did.

He would've probably won again next year. He had heart I couldn't even dream of and he would've found a way. Now even if he miraculously survived, he'd be watching us from a wheelchair. It should've been me who fell over that balcony.

However, the hardest part was actually finding Robby. I had no idea where to look. Robby is intelligent and he's probably already across the border by now. Plus, even if I did find him, there's no way he'd be willing to work with me. I'd tried to kill him the last time we met. Would Keene even be willing to take the risk?

I racked my brain for places he could've gone before gunning it to Mexico. The LaRusso's house, Sensei Lawrence's apartment, the Miyagi Do dojo or the dealership.

Then the pieces began to fall into place. Keene spent some time working at the dealership and a car was usually one of the first things a fugitive would need in order to allow for fast travel. Even if Robby was already on the beach in Mexico sipping on Mai Tai's, I could possibly get my hands on a car so I wouldn't be forced to walk every place I went.

I began my trek to the dealership but purposely avoided any source of media and waited until the moon was bright above me in the sky in order not to risk running into my father.

I crouched behind a bush as cars drove by across the street. I realized that maybe I should've gotten here a bit earlier because there was no way I could get a pair of car keys without setting off some alarms.

I crouch behind a bush near the back of the building just waiting and thinking. The only progress I make is psyching myself out and hesitating. I shouldn't have come here, I had no clue how to commit theft from an actual dealership with cameras and alarms. Anything worth value was probably in a locked room somewhere with a code I didn't know or a lock I had no keys or bobby pins to open.

I sigh in frustration and consider just leaving and coming up with another plan to somehow find a means of survival or at least a somewhat appropriate place to sleep. However, just before I call it quits, I hear something. It almost sounds like… FOOTSTEPS.

I quickly get in an army crawl position and deeper into the bush to remain out of sight. I focus on the sound, but hear nothing at first, but then I open my ears and swear I hear quiet footsteps coming from the trade in lot. I squint and make out a silhouette.

The figure looks shorter than me and I can't see a face, nor tell what color his or her clothes are. The shape seems hooded just like me and begins moving looking in all directions. The figure then creeps through the maze of cards and as it gets closer, I can see a pair of Converse sneakers.

I only see the white soles that make up the bottom of the shoes, but can't see anything besides the figure's feet as he disappears into the maze of cars.

I decide to get a closer look despite the risk. It definitely was not an employee because whoever it was seemed to be trying to remain out of sight. I didn't think the LaRusso's hired any graveyard shift security guards so me and whoever this was were alone here.

Once I reach the maze and crouch using car windows to keep sight of the figure, I see the colors of his clothes. My blood runs cold as the familiar outfit from two days ago weaves around the parked cars.

A thin light blue hoodie, dark blue jeans, and converse sneakers. The hood was pulled up, but the only human being I'd ever seen wearing that outfit was him.

Robby Keene.

This had to be something out of a movie. I pondered finding Robby and guessed on a whim he'd be here and not already across the border. Despite how impossibly convenient this was, I had somehow managed to guess correctly.

However, despite how hard I tried to stop it, my heart rate increased and I kept hearing the thud and crack of Miguel hitting the stairs. I keep seeing flashes of his still body and his legs bent at awkward angles. This was all because of him. This… Miyagi Do prodigy.

I knew this was the wrong choice, but the intrusive thoughts won as I stood up and walked over to him. As I got closer, Robby froze in his tracks and turned his head just in time to be met with my fist directly in his face.

It was Robby after all as his startled eyes met mine before his eyebrows raised as my fist collided with his nose.

Keene fell onto his back before scooting away frantically. I saw red as I grabbed him and threw him roughly against the bumper of a minivan. He hit the vehicle with a loud thud as his head slammed into the metal and his hood fell off showing his disheveled long hair.

We were both breathing hard and Keene didn't struggle as I held him pinned.

"You…" I growled.

"Murphy?" He asks panicked.

"I figured I'd run into you here. Looking to steal a car?" I growl.

Robby's rapid breaths begin to slow as his face contorts into a glare of fury.

"You always have to be the hero, don't you? Go ahead, do what you need to do. Get your revenge. I don't CARE ANYMORE," Robby spits in my face with a raspy flustered tone.

"You don't care?! Miguel is gone BECAUSE OF YOU!" I bellow and punch him in the gut as hard as I can.

I reel back to punch him again but he blocks it and shoves my arm away.

He ducks under my next punch and my fist painfully slams into the minivan's bumper making a small dent and causing my right fist to explode in pain.

I grunt and Robby elbows me right on the shoulder blade where my three gashes are. The excruciating white hot sensation from this makes me scream loudly into the night, but Robby's hand clasps over my mouth and his other arm wraps around my waist.

I feel my feet lift above the ground and Robby suplexes me onto the concrete. The landing knocks the wind out of me and I cry out, but it's muffled by Robby's hand clasped over my mouth. Robby puts me in a headlock and uses both arms to squeeze my air pipe shut.

I let out a gasp and start struggling despite the wounds on my back screaming out in pain.

"As much as I'd love to fight you, this petty bullshit is far less important than staying out of jail and I'm not letting you of all people ruin my chance of escape," Robby remarks.

I struggle harder as I begin to see spots.

"You and the other Cobra Kai's can rot in hell for ruining my life. You're just as guilty as me you son of a—" Robby remarks through gritted teeth as my vision begins to blur.

However, his last sentence causes my rational thoughts to once again depart. The feeling of a furious fire boiling my blood returns as I put my arm in the air and bring it down hard on Keene's ribs. He cries out briefly before tightening his headlock.

I continuously elbow his ribs with all my might as my gasps grow more desperate. I can hear him hissing in pain and he grabs my arm. I use this opportunity to reel my head back and snap it back into Robby's nose.

The momentum causes the back of Robby's head to smack against the concrete which stuns him long enough for me to pry his other arm loose and roll out of the headlock. I violently cough and wheeze as I attempt to regain oxygen.

Robby scrambles to all fours and I lunge forward. We wrestle on the concrete and go from exchanging punches to even clawing at each other before he lands another palm to the wounds on my shoulder blade.

I cry out in pain.

"We're both stuck in this situation! And it's ALL YOUR FAULT KEENE!" I bellow before throwing my full body weight onto him and managing to get him underneath me.

However, he kicks me in the shoulder and I roll off.

"Both? You have no idea what my current predicament is! Go home to your comfortable bed and parents who give a shit you spoiled asshole!" Robby yells.

"Home?! Home doesn't exist anymore!" I yell getting on a knee.

Robby roars in anger and lunges at me. We tussle on the ground for a little longer before he manages to get to his feet and land a hard front kick to my back. My arm is becoming less useful the more I attempt to move it and open my gashes in the process.

I get on all fours and spit out blood as my entire body shakes with pain.

"You just don't listen," I sneer.

To my shock, Robby stops attacking and instead gives me a confused expression.

"What?" Robby incredulously asks sounding more frustrated than confused.

"What part of "we're both stuck in the same situation" do you not understand?" I remark getting to one knee and facing him.

"I don't know what the hell you're talking about, Murphy!" Robby snaps throwing his arms out wide.

"When you kicked Miguel and ran, I tried to chase you, but Noah stopped me. He took a bullet for you, maybe even literally," I respond saying the last part with shame.

"I-I don't get it," Robby says finally sounding relatively calm, but out of breath.

I shakingly get to my feet and lock eyes with him.

"I lost control and beat him within an inch of his life. I have no clue if he and Miguel are even alive at the moment. Why Noah would sacrifice himself for the likes of you is something I'll never understand, but either way, my home is gone. Both dojos are broken. When you shattered Miguel's back, you ruined everything," I growl jabbing my finger in his chest.

Robby just stares blankly at me breathing open mouthed before letting out a shaky breath.

Was that… remorse? Despite me seeing that Robby wasn't a total piece of crap in a few brief encounters, he hated Miguel. There's no way he could feel bad for doing what he did.

"W-why are you even here? Unless your dad gave you some special key or you know how to hot wire a car, then there's nothing here thatl help you," Robby remarks in a shaky tone as he runs a hand through his long hair.

I stare at him and almost… relate to his shame. I'd hurt someone who didn't deserve it also. Despite our differences, Noah was my brother growing up and I'd loved him. Now he's in a hospital bed or in a morgue because of me.

I sigh in frustration.

Robby looks me in the eye and must be good at reading people because he says exactly what I'm thinking.

"You think I know how to hot wire a car? Even if I did, why the hell would I help you?" Robby spits.

I grunt in annoyance.

"I should be asking you the same thing. Neither of us have much of a choice. I've got some supplies, food, and water. From the looks of it, you don't even have a change of clothes," I remark.

Robby looks down.

"Despite everything, we don't have a choice. I don't know if Noah ever told you, but my dad taught me a few skills while we were on the run from the mafia. I assumed you picked up a few things while growing up a petty criminal with those bums we fought at the beach club," I remark.

Robby glares at me.

"I hate you," he growls.

"Likewise, I want this just as little as you do, but there is a way we can somehow avoid law enforcement. And it's gonna take both of us," I remark with a little bit of hesitation.

"Then why did you attack me just now?" Robby asks.

"You possibly murdered my best friend. I want nothing more than to see you six feet under, but… if I go at this alone, I'm dead in two weeks if I don't get caught first," I remark and lift up my hoodie to show him my insulin pump.

Robby looks to the ground during the first part of my statements but his eyebrows raise as he realizes I'm diabetic.

"I had to get it out of my system," I admit.

"I still don't see what's in it for me. As far as I'm concerned, you can go fuck yourself," Robby sneers.

"Sure, but do you actually have a plan or any money? You're still wearing your same clothes from the fight," I retort.

"I have a spare change of clothes and my lunch from what was supposed to be my first day back at school in my backpack. I'll be fine, but… if you've got cash…" Robby relents.

We lock eyes.

"If you're lying, I'm leaving you on the side of the road and the police can find you if you survive," Robby threatens.

My eyes go toward the ground, but I swallow my pride and just nod.

"How are we getting a car?" I ask.

"Follow me," Keene responds before turning around.

Authors note: so Blake and Robby have officially found each other. They've come to a reluctant understanding for the time being, but how will the stress and guilt they both feel impact their unwilling alliance? Can they put their differences aside and find a way to survive on the run, or will the bad blood win and screw them both over?

Also, this is likely going to be the longest book in the series and I don't wanna rush or skip vital parts so i may or may not split s3 into 2 parts.