THE WAY WE BREAK || cobra kai

Kreese and Silver watched as Robby broke from the Cobra Kai huddle without a word, his jaw clenched, eyes trained on the far side of the mat. He didn't flinch at Tory's biting, "Where the hell are you going?" and barely registered the way Kenny's gaze turned to suspicion, his arms folding tightly across his chest. He moved fast—threading through the crowd—his entire focus locked on the girl with the pink cast halfway across the floor.

John Kreese watched quietly, hands clasped neatly behind his back, his expression unreadable but far from detached. He missed nothing—not the shift in Robby's shoulders, not the obvious anger in the girl's spine, and certainly not the pain etched into the space between them.

Beside him, Terry Silver's mouth curled downward into a scowl. "He walked off the line," he said, voice quiet but edged in disappointment. "Cobra Kai's prodigy chasing after a kid with a broken arm."

Kreese didn't so much as blink. "That's not just any kid. That's his sister."

Silver raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth curling ever so slightly. Amusement flickered behind his eyes. "Family complications—classic weakness."

They both shifted their gaze back to the floor, where Tessa's anger was clear in every movement. Her shoulders stiff, jaw clenched, hands slicing through the air in sharp, furious gestures. Every movement was a rejection, a wall slamming shut in real time. She wasn't just angry—she was livid, betrayed, and completely done listening. Robby, meanwhile, looked gutted—frozen in place as if the wind had been knocked out of him.

"She was supposed to compete," Kreese murmured. "Good instincts, tough, but that arm..." He eyed the bright pink cast with a flicker of smile. "Means one less distraction."

Silver chuckled softly, not taking his eyes off Robby. "And one more reason for him to prove himself."

Kreese gave a slow, satisfied nod. "Exactly."

For a beat, neither of them said anything. Tessa was gone, slipping out the door with Amanda LaRusso close behind. Robby remained rooted where she left him—lost, adrift in the noise. His chest rose and fell in uneven breaths, his hands balled into fists at his sides.

Silver turned to walk away, the smirk never leaving his face. "Let the pain sit. Let it fuel him."

Tessa pushed through the front doors with more force than she meant to, blinking hard against the sudden brightness outside. Her chest was tight, her arm still cradled to her chest as she fought the sting in her eyes. Everything felt loud, even in the quiet—the echo of what had happened still ringing in her head.

Behind her, the door creaked open again. "Tessa, wait—" Amanda's voice was soft, careful. But Tessa didn't turn around. She didn't trust herself to.

Tessa kept walking until she reached the edge of the front steps, then stopped. Her eyes were on the pavement, but her thoughts were nowhere near it. Her breath came in shallow bursts.

Amanda just followed, quietly and calmly, and came to stand beside her. "Tess, honey, are you okay?"

"Yeah," Tessa lied, her voice barely holding steady. "I'm fine. I just needed some air."

Amanda didn't speak this time. She just walked up beside her and quietly sat down on the low stone ledge. Tessa stood for a while longer, silent and still. Then, slowly, she sat down next to her.

Amanda's hand gently rested on the back of Tessa's head, her fingers threading through her hair as she spoke softly, "I'm always here for you, Tessa."

The words wrapped around her like a blanket, and for the first time in what felt like hours, Tessa let herself relax just a little, feeling the safety in the presence of the woman beside her.

After a long moment, Tessa exhaled. Some of the tension in her shoulders began to fade, not all at once, but enough. She leaned her head gently against Amanda's shoulder. "Thank you." she whispered.

The two lingered outside for a while, the silence between them a quiet comfort, before finally making their way back inside. By the time they returned, the semi-final qualifying rounds had already begun, with fights taking place on various mats around the room.

She watched as the matches played out—some of her friends advancing, others falling short. Her eyes narrowed as Devon was crushed by Tory, a wave of frustration washing over her. She couldn't help but wish it had been her on the mat instead—maybe then Cobra Kai wouldn't have come out on top.

She cheered loudly as Eli and Sam secured their victories, the energy in the air buzzing with excitement. Next up was Keene vs. Payne, and Tessa leaned forward, eyes locked on the mat. When Robby launched a brutal kick across Kenny's face, sending him stumbling backward, she couldn't help but laugh—loudly. She tried to stifle it, especially when she noticed Anthony looking at her with a puzzled expression. The crowd around them gasped, some grimacing at the hard hit, but Tessa's amusement only grew.

"What?" she giggled, glancing at Anthony with a grin. "We both know he needed that. His ego was way too big." She paused, her smirk widening. "I just wish it was me kicking his ass."

Anthony watched as Kenny ran off the mat, then got up and followed him. He glanced back at Tessa for a moment, but she was already lost in her own world—turned and chatting to Harper.

Next up was Eli and Miguel's match. The two boys fist-bumped, a mutual look of respect passing between them before they took their places on the mat. They bowed in sync, eyes locked, and the match began.

Miguel was the first to strike—fast, focused, throwing punches. Eli met every hit with sharp, clean blocks, his stance steady. The energy in the room shifted instantly, all eyes glued to the mat. Tessa leaned forward on the edge of her seat, clutching Harper's hand so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her heart thudded in her chest. She loved them both—there was no side to choose.

Miguel moved in again, spinning into the air for a high kick. But the landing didn't come.

Instead, he crashed to the mat, hard.

Tessa shot up from her seat, her breath catching painfully in her chest. For a second, everything felt too quiet—too still. Then Miguel groaned, rolling slightly to one side, clutching his back as a sharp cry of pain tore from his throat. "Sensei!"

Carmen's was already on her feet, grabbing Rosa's hand tightly as they rushed down the bleachers, pushing past stunned spectators. Tessa followed without hesitation, heart pounding in her ears. Her sneakers hit each step harder than the last as she wove through the crowd, eyes never leaving Miguel's crumpled form on the mat.

authors note!

I didn't want to hurt Miguel :(

later,
daisy