Tessa Keene was a sweetheart through and through- pure-hearted, kind, and incapable of cruelty. She didn't have much, but she had Robby, and that was all she needed. He was her rock, her safe place, the one person she could always count on. But when...
The thought alone made her stomach twist. She didn't want to see the peaceful koi pond, or the quiet trees, and she definitely didn't want to face Daniel LaRusso. Not with that same careful expression he always wore around her—like she was made of glass, like he was just waiting for her to crack.
But she did want to hit something.
And she knew that if her Dad was there, leading the lesson alongside Daniel—punches would be thrown. Johnny would make sure of it.
That was the only thing keeping her from turning around and walking away, forcing her feet to move, step by heavy step toward the dojo. As much as she didn't want to get dragged further into the Eagle Fang and Miyagi-Do mess, the anger inside her was only growing—and she had no idea where else to put it.
Tessa swallowed hard, but the lump in her throat wouldn't go away. It sat there like a rock, wedged between her heart and her voice. She followed her Dad into the yard, each step feeling heavier than the last. The yard was full—students scattered in quiet clusters, waiting. Daniel stood at the front, strong and still, like nothing had changed.
She kept her head down, letting her hair fall forward to shield herself from their stares. She didn't need to look up to feel their eyes on her. Every gaze felt like a stone on her back, pressing her down, making her feel smaller with each breath she took.
She'd said it loud and clear: this was going to be a "total disaster," a "train wreck that would ruin everything." She never thought the dojos could work together. Never believed Johnny and Daniel could put their rivalry aside for more than two minutes. And yet, here she was, stuck in the middle of it all.
The fight had left its mark: a busted lip, dark bruises along her cheekbone, a hollow look in her eyes that made it clear she hadn't slept. But the worst of it—the parts no one could see—was what hurt the most.
The part where Harper never called back. The part where every text, every voicemail, was swallowed into silence.
She hadn't even started to recover from losing Harper when Robby shattered her all over again.
Robby left her—again. But this time, it wasn't just that he disappeared. He walked straight into Cobra Kai, like it was the easiest choice in the world. Like she hadn't been standing right there, waiting for him to change his mind.
She blinked hard, forcing the tears back, and found a spot off to the side. Not quite with the group, not quite apart. Just somewhere in between.
Tessa watched as Johnny and Daniel bowed to each other.
And just like that, it started. But for Tessa, it felt like she was still standing outside of it all—bruised, broken, and more alone than ever.
"Ready?" Daniel asked.
"Let's begin!" Johnny yelled.
Everyone exchanged confused glances.
"Uh, being what exactly?" Demetri asked, raising a hand.
Daniel and Johnny shared a look, like neither of them really had an answer.
"Begin a new era," Daniel finally said, turning back to the group. "Many of us used to be enemies, but rivalries don't need to last forever." He paused, glancing at Johnny. "The Valley Tournament is just a few months away, and this year, the stakes are higher than ever. We know Cobra Kai's gonna use every dirty trick in the book. There's only one way we can beat—"
"By kicking their asses so hard they shit themselves!" Johnny cut in proudly, earning a look of disbelief from Daniel. Johnny kept going, fired up now. "We've gotta take things to the next level," Johnny started pacing. "Gonna teach you an aggression stronger than anything Cobra Kai can throw at us."
Tessa stood a little straighter at that.
"They strike first? We'll pre-strike!" Johnny shouted.
"Okay, we're getting ahead of ourselves," Daniel said, stepping forward. "We're going to respond to what they do—"
"Eagles do not respond!" Johnny interrupted again, and Tessa sighed, shooting Miguel a look that clearly said, told you so. "They swoop in and take what's theirs," Johnny went on. "And that's exactly what we're gonna do—take back the Valley."
"With a measured and organized approach," Daniel added quickly, trying to rein things in.
"We bite first!" Johnny shouted.
Daniel sighed, already regretting letting Johnny speak at all. "Let's just warm up with some basic exercises."
"Alright, line up!" Johnny barked.
Tessa stepped forward, taking her place between Miguel and Sam at the front of the group.
"Just breathe and follow me," Daniel said, his voice calm as he led them through a quick breathing exercise.
"Fighting positions!" Johnny called out, already amped up. "Right leg back! Front kick—ready? Hi-yah!"
Without missing a beat, Tessa snapped into stance, following the movements exactly as her dad taught her—sharp, aggressive, fast.
A loud thud echoed through the dojo as Mitch's kick sent Nate sprawling.
"Shit, dude—sorry!" Mitch blurted, but Nate only groaned in response.
The rest of practice unfolded just as Tessa expected—Daniel and Johnny clashing at every turn, voices rising, punches flying, and something inevitably getting broken. This time, it was the door.
But through all the chaos—Tessa didn't waver.
She moved like Eagle Fang.
She moved like her father.
And Daniel felt it like a slow, twisting knife. Every strike, every aggressive step forward—it was Johnny's imprint, not his. Not Miyagi's. Not the balance and peace Daniel had tried so hard to teach her.
It felt like losing her.
Losing the sweet, happy girl he once knew—now replaced by someone burning with anger, someone hardened by things he couldn't protect her from.
Someone who didn't look for balance anymore.
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authors note!
Season four! Season four! Season four! I'm excited omg omg omg!!
