𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 / ❛ mars ❜

[ episode seven, all valley ]

Marlee never expected to be here. She had walked into Cobra Kai thinking it would be some sort of nightmare — all rigid rules, aggressive workouts, and constant yelling. But, as it turned out, she was actually kind of good at it. The moves came naturally to her, the balance, the strikes. There was something freeing about it. She didn't have to overthink, just react, just go with the flow of it all.

The nickname Johnny gave her had taken a little getting used to. "Mars," he'd started calling her one day in class, and it stuck. It wasn't as bad as she expected. In fact, it felt kind of normal. There was something about the way Johnny said it, like he actually believed in her. And, in a weird way, that made her want to show up.

Of course, then there was Hawk. Or Eli, or whatever he was calling himself now. He had completely transformed, not just physically with that mohawk and the tattoo but in his attitude, too. He'd gone from the quiet, awkward guy she knew to a cocky, confident figure who was always in the front of the pack. It wasn't just his new look. It was how he held himself now.

Some part of Marlee couldn't help but notice that change. There was something magnetic about the way Hawk carried himself, like he owned the place, and it made her both annoyed and impressed. He wasn't the same Eli she remembered, but she couldn't deny that there was something about him now that drew her in.

"Fighting positions!" Johnny yelled, and everyone in the dojo snapped into stance. Marlee could feel the energy shifting in the room, everyone trying to focus, the air thick with tension.

Johnny walked past them, scrutinizing each of them as he went. He stopped in front of Hawk, his eyes sharp. "Hawk," he said, kicking the kid's foot forward. Hawk grunted in response. "Stabilize your base. Keep your balance. Full rotation when you strike." Johnny demonstrated, his voice firm.

"Yes, sensei," Hawk replied, his tone sharp, striking the air in front of him with more precision than before.

Marlee stood in her position, watching Hawk for a moment. It still felt a bit unnatural for her—this whole concept of Cobra Kai, the fighting, the focus—but something about it clicked. She liked it more than she expected.

Johnny moved to another kid, who flinched back slightly as Johnny got too close. "Did you just flinch, virgin?" he barked.

Marlee raised an eyebrow as the kid nervously straightened up. Johnny wasn't holding back today.

"Holy shit, we got a room full of flinchers," Johnny muttered, shaking his head. He walked toward Marlee, who stood firm, giving him an unamused look.

"Alright, we got one," Johnny said, his eyes scanning the room. "Raise your hand if you've never been punched in the face."

The room fell silent. Everyone except Miguel and Aisha sheepishly raised their hands. Marlee kept her hand by her side, uninterested in playing along.

Johnny's smile twisted into a more serious look. "Put your hands down," he commanded. "All your lives, you've been avoiding fights, worried about breaking a nose or losing a tooth. This concussion nonsense." He paused for effect, staring each of them down. "So there's only one solution, and that's before you leave this dojo, each and every one of you is gonna take a punch. A very hard punch. To the face."

Marlee's eyes widened. "Oh, shit," she muttered, not expecting this turn of events. Jace chuckled beside her, probably entertained by the idea of what was about to unfold.

"Line up, Linto!" Johnny ordered.

Johnny gave a sharp nod, his eyes scanning the line. "Good," he muttered, as the first kid—Linto—stepped forward. Johnny gestured toward him. "Let's see what you've got."

The room was silent as the kid braced himself, clearly nervous about the punch coming his way. Marlee couldn't help but watch as Jace flinched just before Aisha's fist connected with his cheek, sending him stumbling backward.

A small smile tugged at the corners of Marlee's lips, but she kept it hidden as she glanced sideways at Hawk. There was a new energy between them, and she wasn't sure if it was the tension of the dojo or something else. Something more.

"Your turn," Johnny called to Hawk, his eyes locking onto the kid, challenging him.

Hawk stepped forward confidently, his posture more solid now. He wasn't flinching, wasn't backing down. He was ready. And Marlee? She couldn't help but stare, watching how he stood there, brimming with that new cocky confidence.

This was going to be interesting. Hawk stepped forward with all the bravado he could muster, but the moment Aisha threw a punch, it connected squarely with his jaw. His body lurched backward and he fell hard to the floor with a loud groan, clearly winded.

The dojo went silent for a split second, everyone watching intently. Marlee bit her lip, trying to hold back a laugh, but a smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. She stepped closer to the fallen Hawk, crossing her arms.

"Come on, it can't be that bad," she teased, her tone light. "You're a badass now, remember?"

Hawk groaned again, rolling slightly to his side. "Yeah, well, that punch definitely wasn't in the training manual," he muttered, rubbing his jaw.

Aisha stood, eyes sharp with amusement as she looked at Marlee, who still had that teasing grin on her face. Without warning, Aisha flicked her gaze toward Marlee, her eyes glinting with challenge.

Before Marlee could react, Aisha stepped forward and, without hesitation, threw a punch right at her face. Marlee gasped, stumbling back just enough to lose her balance. She ended up falling directly onto Hawk, landing with an undignified groan.

Marlee just groaned in annoyance as she pushed herself up, her face flushed from the impact and the ridiculousness of the situation. "Sorry, M," Aisha spoke.

"Well, that was unexpected," she muttered, sitting up. Hawk was still on the ground, rubbing his face, but there was a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"Guess it's your turn now, Lana," Hawk said, a cocky smile creeping back onto his face despite the pain.

Marlee shot him a playful glare, but she couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped her. "You're lucky you're cute," she teased, climbing to her feet and brushing herself off. Their eyes locked for a brief moment, there was an undeniable shift in the air between them.

.・゜゜・・゜゜・

"I need somewhere romantic but not too romantic," Miguel said, stretching alongside the others in a circle.

Hawk smirked, his eyes glinting mischievously. "You could take her to get tattoos."

Aisha burst out laughing, and Miguel gave Hawk a puzzled look. "Tattoos?"

Hawk shrugged, standing up and taking off his shirt with a dramatic flair. "I know a guy. Just hooked me up with this bad boy."

He turned around to reveal a massive hawk tattoo on his back, the ink sprawling across his skin in intricate, detailed patterns.

"Shit," Jace grinned, eyes wide. "That's badass."

"Right?" Hawk flexed in the mirror, his cocky grin widening. "Fourteen hours in the chair, nonstop."

Aisha whistled. "Damn, that's commitment."

Marlee couldn't help but chuckle at the way Hawk was showing off. She met his eyes for a brief moment, and he winked. A smile tugged at her lips before she could stop it.

"And how do your parents feel about this?" Marlee asked, raising an eyebrow.

Hawk's expression faltered for a second, but he quickly recovered. "Oh, they have no idea. Definitely gonna have to wear a shirt until college. Probably longer. Please, don't tell them," he said with a mock pleading tone as he sat back down, pulling his shirt on.

Marlee raised an eyebrow, playing along. "I should tell them. You know, blackmail material."

Hawk gave her a long, almost flirtatious look. "You think you can blackmail me? You're gonna have to try harder than that, Mars."

She laughed, shaking her head. "Oh, trust me, Hawk. I've got plenty of leverage."

A cocky grin spread across his face as he leaned back, his eyes not leaving her. "Is that so? You're really going to challenge me, huh?"

Marlee shot him a playful smirk. "Only if you're up for it."

"I'm always up for a challenge," he replied, his voice dropping an octave.

Miguel glanced between them, clearly sensing something between Marlee and Hawk,

He pushed it aside and cleared his throat. "Okay, so... tattoos are off the table. Any other ideas for a first date?"

"How about an escape room?" Jace suggested, grinning. "You know, nothing says 'romantic' like trying to solve a mystery while you're locked in a room together."

Aisha rolled her eyes. "You're really trying to set up a horror movie, huh?"

"Alright, alright, forget the romantic stuff," Hawk said with a chuckle. "The goal is to just have fun. No pressure."

Miguel smiled, clearly appreciating the advice. "Thanks, man. I'll figure it out."

"Banned? What are you talking about?" Johnny yelled form the office, Miguel jumping up and running in to see what was happening.

.・゜゜・・゜゜・

The dojo was quieter now, the hustle of the class having tapered off as most of the students had already left. Marlee stayed behind, taking her time to gather her things, her fingers running along the edges of her water bottle as she tried to shake off the lingering energy from the fight with Hawk. She could still feel the adrenaline pumping through her veins, but there was something more—something she couldn't quite place.

The sound of footsteps behind her broke her from her thoughts, and she turned to see Johnny walking towards her, his face a little more serious than usual.

"Still here?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah," she replied, glancing at the clock. "Just trying to get the hang of things. Didn't want to rush out like everyone else."

Johnny grunted, nodding in approval. "Smart. Cobra Kai's about commitment. You don't just show up, you put in the work."

Marlee leaned against the wall, crossing her arms. "I figured I'd stay late to practice some of what you taught us today. That punch drill... still feels off, you know?"

Johnny's gaze softened slightly, and he stepped closer, his stance relaxed. "It'll take time. You're doing fine for a beginner. Better than some of the guys I've seen here."

Marlee smirked. "I don't know, I'm just trying not to get my ass handed to me every day."

Johnny chuckled, a rare, genuine laugh that made his usually gruff demeanor seem a little more human. "You're tougher than you think, Mars. You've got the right attitude. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

She raised an eyebrow at him, surprised by the praise. "You're not so bad yourself, Johnny. I thought you were just all about the tough guy act."

He shrugged, a grin playing at the corner of his mouth. "Maybe I used to be. But I've learned a few things over the years. A good fighter doesn't just throw punches—they think about it, take the hits, and learn from 'em."

Marlee laughed, the sound light and easy. "I'm pretty sure I've taken a few hits today."

Johnny's smile widened. "That's the spirit. Now, you're starting to get it."

For a moment, they both stood there, the dojo quiet except for the distant hum of the air conditioning and the soft clink of weights in the back. Marlee felt a strange sense of calm settle over her, something she didn't expect to find in a place like Cobra Kai.

"So, uh," Johnny started, shifting on his feet. "You plan on coming back tomorrow?"

"Definitely," she said without hesitation. "Wouldn't want to miss out on the next round of ass-kicking."

Johnny smirked, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall next to her. "That's what I like to hear. Keep that attitude, and you might just go far here."

Marlee looked at him, a flicker of something soft passing between them. It was weird, but for the first time, she felt like she might actually belong here—despite the chaos, despite the weird vibes, despite Hawk's cocky smirk every time he passed by her. This place, with Johnny, maybe it wasn't as bad as she thought.

"Thanks, Johnny," she said after a beat, surprising herself. "I think I actually might be starting to get it."

He gave her a rare, approving nod. "Keep it up, Bsihop. You've got potential." He pushed himself off the wall and started toward the door. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, see you," she replied, watching him leave. She repeated the words in her head. Potential.