A/N: This chapter and the next chapter are the last chapters before the plot officially starts. The reason I didn't just jump into "Ace Degenerate" and move on from there was because I kind of wanted to get more of a feel for writing Jason. That and I kind of rushed into "Ace Degenerate" originally.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Karate Kid movies, Cobra Kai or anything else that I might reference.

Happy Birthday

The last six or seven weeks had been an interesting experience for Jason. After enduring what could be called a two or three-week crash course in Cobra Kai, Kreese had changed tack and started training him in what to do during an actual fight. He had known what to do in an actual fight already, but he had to be trained. Shaking someone down was different to fighting someone in self-defence, after all.

Jason decided to just get taxis and Ubers to travel around the Valley instead of having a limo drive him everywhere fairly early on. He also, eventually, got a driver's license. Unfortunately, he didn't really have a car to go with it. And he had a feeling that he needed a car in order to do the work that Silver had wanted him to do.

Then again, today was his birthday, so there was a good chance that he could end up getting a car.

He really hoped that he would be getting a car.

Mainly because it would make travelling around the Valley more convenient.

….

The cab came to a complete stop at the gate to Silver's house.

Jason got out of the cab and walked up to the gate after paying the cab driver.

The gate opens and Jason walks through.

He notices Silver's car, or cars, in the driveway and something covered by a tarp.

The door opened and Silver walked down towards him.

"Happy Birthday, Jason. John wishes you a Happy Birthday as well. He's looking for other prospects, if you want to call them that." Silver says.

Jason smiles slightly. "Thanks."

"In case you were wondering, I did get you a gift. It's just under there." Silver points to the tarp.

Jason goes to remove the tarp and almost gasps at what's beneath the tarp.

He sees a Dodge Viper underneath the tarp and his eyes widen.

Jason looks at the car then looks back to Silver. "So, am I getting car keys? Or do I have to hot wire it?"

"I almost forgot about that." Silver hands him the key to the car.

Jason puts the car key on the key chain that he'd been carrying around with him.

He unlocks the Dodge Viper. "You don't mind if I give this a test drive, right?"

"Not at all. Just try not to celebrate too hard. You've got work to do." Silver replies.

The gate to Silver's house opens.

Jason unlocks the Dodge Viper and gets into it before starting the engine. "Don't worry. I'm not going to celebrate too hard. Later."

He watches as Silver walks back into his house.

Jason turned on the radio and lowered a window.

He was going to enjoy taking his new car for a test drive, at the very least.

….

Jason found driving a car liberating.

He didn't have to wait around for cabs or Ubers anymore.

Getting a car made getting around the Valley a lot easier.

Jason drives around for a little bit before eventually stopping near a beach.

He stops the car and gets out.

There are other people on the beach but they don't take any notice of him. It was close to the end of April, but that wasn't a deterrent for people at all.

He sits down on the beach and watches as the waves lap against the shore.

So much had changed for him since Silver had visited him in juvenile detention. He had a house, a car and a job of sorts. Before he was arrested, he was practically couch surfing or homeless and didn't have a car. Or a job. His life had been steadily spiralling downwards.

But it wasn't spiralling anymore.

Jason sits on the beach for a little bit longer before walking back to his car.

He was going to get lunch before he would find some other ways to celebrate his birthday.

….

Jason eventually parked outside of an In 'N' Out.

He turned off the radio and stopped the car before getting out.

Jason walks into the In 'N' Out and notices that there is a bit of a line.

He walks to the back of the line and waits.

Fortunately, the line moves pretty quickly.

Jason orders a bacon cheeseburger, fries and a Coke.

He sits down at a table when his food's ready.

There's something that he'd been meaning to do since getting out of juvenile detention.

He was going to go and visit his father in the prison that he was in.

,,,,

The drive to the prison where Martin Kreese was being held was a relatively pleasant one.

Jason was waiting in the visiting area for him to show up.

He sits back in his chair and watches as other prison inmates walk over to the tables where people visiting them were sitting.

Finally, Martin Kreese emerged and walked over to the table where Jason was sitting.

He moved the empty chair back and sat down.

"Happy Birthday, kid. Thank you for visiting me on your birthday. Even though I might not deserve it." Martin says.

Jason nods. "You're welcome."

"I didn't think you'd be out of juvenile detention so quickly." Martin starts.

Jason smiles. "I'm lucky to have a well-connected family friend, I guess."

"But he's not your friend, is he? He's your grandfather's friend. The only reason he helped you is because he still thinks he owes him for saving his life in Vietnam. And because he thinks that you might be useful to him." Martin replies.

Jason shrugs. "Maybe. I didn't know who Terry Silver was until he showed up. And, I never really knew Grandpa Kreese before he trained me."

"He trained you? That's more than he ever did for me. He trained other people and valued their successes over me. Until he stopped winning. Then he stopped giving a shit about me altogether. I wonder what he's said about me…" Martin's voice starts to rise, prompting a guard to look in their direction.

Jason frowns slightly. "But that's got nothing to do with me. Your issues with him are your own. So, don't put them on me. He did say that you're weak and a disappointment, though."

"Of course, he did. He's never had anything good to say about me. Then again, it's not as if he put any effort into raising me. He cared more about his students, and his so-called "Champion," than me." Martin says.

Jason sat back in his chair. "What's that got to do with me?"

"You don't get it, do you? They don't care about you. In fact, the only reason you got out of juvenile detention early was because you're useful to them. That's all." Martin answers.

Jason pushes his chair back. "I guess I'll just have to take my chances and trust them, then. Because I'd still be in juvenile detention otherwise."

"You know I'm right. You just don't know it yet." Martin remarks.

Jason stands up. "I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."

"I think we're done here." Martin sits back in his chair.

Jason looks at him. "Yeah."

He walks out of the room, giving the guard a little nod.

There was still time for him to celebrate his birthday.

And he was going to make the most of it.