𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗲 / ❛ led me on ❜

[ episode ten, no mercy ]

The group stood outside the building, the cool morning air thick with anticipation. Miguel was completely zoned out, throwing sharp, rapid punches at the air. His recent breakup had clearly taken a toll.

"Yo, Miguel, calm down, man. Save some for the tournament," Hawk said, glancing at him. Miguel ignored him, his fists still flying.

Marlee walked up, her jaw tight, eyes set straight ahead. Her presence shifted the dynamic immediately. She came to a stop next to Aisha, the silence that followed her arrival louder than anything anyone could have said.

Hawk's eyes flickered toward her, the smirk he usually carried faltering. "Mars," he started, his voice tentative, almost hesitant.

She didn't so much as glance his way. "Don't," she said curtly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Aisha, standing between them, raised an eyebrow as she glanced between the two. "Uh, what's going on here?"

Hawk took a step closer, his voice low. "Marlee, can we just—"

She turned her head sharply, finally looking at him, her gaze like ice. "What part of 'don't' don't you understand?"

Hawk blinked, taken aback by her tone. The look in her eyes almost made him hesitate. "Come on. I've been trying to talk to you—"

"You mean trying to justify your bullshit?" she cut him off, her voice rising slightly, earning curious glances from the others.

"Whoa, okay, what the hell happened?" Aisha asked, looking between them."

"Nothing," Marlee said firmly, stepping closer to Aisha as if to shield herself from the conversation. "It doesn't matter. Let's just focus on the tournament."

"Doesn't matter?" Hawk repeated, his voice tinged with frustration. "Marlee, you're acting like I—"

"Like you what? Lied to me? Led me on? Hooked up with someone else? Take your pick, Eli."

The use of his real name hit like a slap. Hawk's jaw clenched, and for a moment, he was at a loss for words. He glanced around, noticing the group watching them now with a mix of curiosity and discomfort.

"Hey," Aisha said gently, putting a hand on Marlee's arm. "You don't have to do this here, use your anger for the tournament."

Marlee took a deep breath, her hands curling into fists at her sides. She stepped back, putting more distance between herself and Hawk, her expression carefully guarded.

Hawk's brows were knit together as he gazed at Marlee, regret flickering in his eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, anything, to explain himself, but every word he thought of felt like it would only dig the hole deeper.

The silence between them was suffocating until Marlee finally broke it, her voice sharp and impatient. "Where's Sensei? It's gonna start soon."

"He'll be here," Aisha said with a shrug, though even she sounded a little unsure.

"I don't know about that," Bert muttered, causing the group to whip their heads toward him.

"What are you talking about?" Aisha asked, narrowing her eyes.

Bert hesitated, scratching the back of his head. "I saw him last night at the mini-mall. I was buying...a carton of milk when I heard him in the parking lot. He was drunk. Yelling. Seemed pretty bad."

"And you're only telling us this now?" Aisha's voice shot up, her frustration evident.

"I don't know!" Bert protested, his face flushing. "I guess I'm so used to seeing him drunk, it didn't seem like that big a deal."

Marlee folded her arms, her jaw tightening, clearly not in a good mood anyways. "So, we've been busting our asses for months, and he's not here when it matters."

"It's officially a big deal," Hawk chimed in, his tone more serious than usual. "What if something happened to him?"

"Like what?"

Hawk shrugged, his expression darkening. "I don't know—like he drove off a cliff, or bought a gun and blew his brains out."

"Dude, stop," Marlee interrupted, her voice sharp.

"No, Sensei wouldn't kill himself," Aisha said firmly. "That's too pussy a move."

"And he definitely couldn't afford a gun," Marlee added with a scoff.

Hawk nodded reluctantly. "I mean, we're here. We're gonna have to do it without him."

A familiar voice cut through the tension like a knife. "Do what without me?"

They all turned to see Johnny strolling up toward them, his sunglasses perched crookedly on his face, but his presence immediately dissolved their fears. Relief washed over the group like a wave.

"We didn't think you were gonna show up," Hawk said, his usual confidence creeping back into his tone.

Johnny raised an eyebrow, looking insulted. "I may not always win, but I never back out of a fight."

Miguel's shoulders relaxed, though his voice still carried an edge. "Alright. Let's sign up."

Johnny shook his head, stopping them in their tracks. "Not yet. There's one more lesson I need to teach you."

The group entered the dojo, forming a tight circle around Johnny. His intense gaze swept over them as he began pacing. "You've all learned to strike first, to be aggressive, to not be losers," he started, his voice firm and commanding. "I taught you to strike hard, to put every ounce of your power behind everything you do."

He paused, meeting each student's eyes, his tone growing heavier. "But I haven't taught you the third rule of Cobra Kai. No mercy."

Marlee straightened her posture, her fists unconsciously tightening.

Johnny continued, his words sharp. "The older you get, the more you'll realize life isn't fair. You wake up one morning feeling great, and then life throws a spinning heel kick to your balls."

Marlee cringed slightly.

"You get an F on a test, you get suspended, you fall in love with a girl and some other dude comes and steals her away," Johnny said, his words cutting deeper for some. "Car gets set on fire. Just when you think things are going good, everything falls apart."

Marlee's gaze dropped to the floor, her clenched fists trembling slightly. His speech struck a little too much.

"That's how it goes. Life shows no mercy," Johnny said, his tone biting. "So neither do we. We do whatever it takes to keep our heads above water, whatever it takes to keep moving forward, whatever it takes to win!" His voice rose with passion.

He stopped, his eyes blazing as he scanned the group. "Remember who you are. You're badass! You don't give a shit! You kick ass! You're Cobra Kai."

"Cobra Kai!" Miguel shouted.

"Yeah!" the rest of the students yelled, their energy building, their collective pride filling the room.

Johnny smirked at their enthusiasm. "All right, guys, let's get down there and kick the crap out of everybody!"

"Yeah!" they all roared, grabbing their bags and pulling out their white gis.

Johnny's voice cut through the excitement, halting them. "No, you're not wearing those."

Confusion spread through the group as they turned to look at him.

・゜゜・・゜゜・

The Cobra Kai students stood outside the tournament doors, the anticipation thick in the air. Marlee took a steadying breath, her hands fumbling slightly as she tied her belt around her waist. She pushed down the nervous energy bubbling inside her. This was her first tournament, and the fear of disappointing everyone—especially herself—clung to her like a second skin.

"You need help?" Hawk's voice broke through her thoughts, soft but clear.

Marlee glanced up at him, her expression unreadable. She hesitated, her grip tightening on her belt before she finally spoke. "Don't you have Moon to help?" Her words came out colder than she'd intended, laced with bitterness.

Hawk's face fell, his mouth parting as if to say something. "Marlee, I—"

Before he could finish, the announcer's voice boomed over the speakers.

"From Reseda, returning to the tournament, we have—"

"Cobra Kai! Cobra Kai! Cobra Kai!" the team chanted in unison, their voices echoing as they jogged into the arena in a straight line. Miguel led the charge, and the sound of cheers from the crowd filled the space.

Marlee's heart raced as they entered, the bright lights making the moment feel surreal. The bold black and yellow gis they wore gleamed under the overhead lights, the snake emblem on the back demanding attention. The new look screamed intimidation, and Marlee couldn't help but feel a small swell of pride despite her nerves.

As the group came to a halt in the center, Marlee's gaze scanned the audience. Her heart lifted when she spotted her brother and father standing up and cheering her name, their faces beaming with pride. She allowed herself a small smile, but it quickly vanished when her eyes shifted to Moon.

Moon stood in the crowd, leaning forward with a wide grin, her gaze locked on Hawk. Marlee clenched her jaw and turned away, the sting in her chest threatening to pull her focus.

"Now that's what I call an entrance! And a badass name for a dojo! Let's hear it for Cobra Kai!"

The crowd erupted in more cheers and applause, the noise washing over Marlee like a wave. She glanced around at the other competitors, sizing them up as the team spread out. Her arm brushed against Hawk's, but she didn't acknowledge it.

"And finally, fighting unaffiliated from North Hills, we have Mr. Robby Keene!"

Robby jogged out from the lobby, his movements confident. As he passed by the Cobra Kai group, Marlee lifted a hand for a quick high-five, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Miguel's glare burned into her, but she ignored it.

"All right, folks," the announcer's voice echoed again. "Get ready. It's karate time!"

The energy in the room surged as the fighters moved into position, and Marlee felt the weight of the moment settle on her shoulders. Whatever happened next, she had to give it her all.

The atmosphere was electric as the quarterfinals continued. Cobra Kai had been on fire, barely losing any matches, but the pressure was building. Bert had taken a hard loss, and Big Red had bowed out, leaving just a few of them left standing for the quarter finals. Now it was down to Marlee, Hawk, Jace, and Miguel for the quarterfinals.

Marlee's and Robby stood opposite to each other on the mat, signaling the start of the next match. She glanced around the arena, seeing familiar faces in the crowd, including her brother, her dad, and even Johnny, all watching her with expectant eyes. Her heartbeat echoed in her ears, but she forced herself to focus.

Robby stood across from her, a familiar calm in his stance, though his eyes weren't completely relaxed. She could see the way his body was poised, like a coiled spring, ready to react at any moment. He gave her a small nod, and she responded with a subtle tilt of her head.

The referee called them to bow, and the match officially began.

Marlee wasted no time, immediately closing the distance between them. She threw a quick jab to Robby's face, but he easily blocked it with his forearm, his expression focused. She followed up with a roundhouse kick, aiming for his side, but he dodged to the side with a fluid step, the motion fast.

"Come on," she muttered to herself, frustration creeping in as Robby danced around her with ease.

She tried to anticipate his movements, but Robby seemed to always be a step ahead. He launched a spinning kick toward her head, but Marlee ducked just in time, feeling the air rush above her as his heel missed by mere inches. She retaliated quickly with an uppercut aimed at his ribs, but he twisted his body, narrowly avoiding her strike and countering with a kick to her midsection. The force of it knocked the wind out of her, and she staggered back a few steps, gasping.

The crowd cheered as Robby got the first point, Marlee shaking her head to clear the dizziness.

The second round started, and Marlee knew she had to pick up the pace. She faked a right hook, baiting Robby into a reaction. When he moved to block, she quickly pivoted and launched a sidekick to his stomach, earning a point as her foot made solid contact.

1-1.

As Marlee and Robby circled each other on the mat, the energy between them intense, Hawk stood by the sidelines, his eyes locked on the match. His jaw was clenched, his hands fidgeting at his sides, but his gaze never left the two fighters.

Every time Marlee moved, Hawk's muscles tensed, his body leaning slightly forward as if he could somehow help her. With every punch and kick, Hawk felt a rising knot in his stomach. "Come on, Mars," Hawk muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing as Robby dodged Marlee's attacks.

Robby grunted but didn't seem thrown off. His eyes narrowed, and he launched himself at her with a series of rapid strikes—punch, punch, kick. Marlee blocked the first punch but wasn't fast enough to stop the second. Robby's fist collided with her, and she felt the sting reverberate through her body. 

Another point to Robby.

Her vision blurred slightly, but she quickly recovered, throwing a spinning kick at his head when the referee blew the whistle.

Robby ducked and used the momentum to grab her leg mid-spin, sweeping her off her feet. She crashed to the ground, the air knocked from her lungs. Before she could react, Robby quickly moved to straddle her, holding her down momentarily and raising his fist to hit her.

Marlee bucked beneath him, using the opportunity to twist her hips and throw him off balance. With a quick movement, she pushed him off, jumping back to her feet.

The crowd's cheers seemed distant to Hawk now. All that mattered to him was Marlee—her grit, her resilience—but also her closeness with Robby. When Robby swept her off her feet and ended up on top of her, Hawk felt his stomach churn. He quickly looked away, trying to distract himself, but all he could think about was her.

They both stood there for a moment, breathing heavily, each of them eyeing the other carefully. Robby's lips curled into a small, almost apologetic smile, and Marlee glared, unwilling to give him the satisfaction.

The final round was here. Both fighters were now clearly exhausted, sweat dripping down their faces as the intensity of the match reached its peak.

Marlee lunged forward, throwing everything she had into a series of rapid punches. Robby blocked and dodged, dancing around her with a fluidity that was almost impossible to follow. She tried to land a clean punch, but Robby slipped past her guard.

Marlee grit her teeth, determined not to give up. She swung a punch at his head, and Robby caught her wrist, but she wasn't out yet. She brought her knee up, aiming for his gut, and she landed a solid hit. Robby grunted.

2-2, the next point would win.

Mars immediately ran up to him and threw a punch, Robby catching her wrist again. He quickly spun her around, using his momentum to slam her onto the mat with a thud. Marlee struggled beneath him, but before she could get up, Robby was already in position, his leg poised for the final strike. With a quick sweep, he brought her legs out from under her, and she fell back hard, unable to catch herself in time.

It was over.

Robby stood over her, offering a hand to help her up. She took it reluctantly, pushing herself to her feet, her chest heaving with frustration. Robby gave her a small, respectful nod. "You were good, Marlee," he said softly.

Marlee swallowed hard, nodding curtly but not speaking. She turned her gaze to Hawk, who had been watching from the sidelines. His face was unreadable, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. He was glaring at Robby, but his focus quickly shifted when she caught his eye.

Her heart ached, but she pushed the feeling down.

The announcer's voice came through once more, "Robby Keene has made it to the semi finals!"

Robby gave Marlee one last look before walking off the mat, the crowd erupting into applause. Marlee didn't join in. She simply turned with a sigh, Miguel hyping her up from the fight, not noticing Hawk's gaze lingering on Robby.

He tried to distract himself, but the jealousy burned hotter, and he couldn't shake the image of Robby leaning in, a look of concern on his face as he helped her up after the match.

Marlee had lost, but in that moment, Hawk couldn't help but feel like Robby had won something else. And that stung more than the match itself.

Johnny clapped her on the shoulder, offering a small smile. "Good job out there, Mars."

Marlee gave him a tight smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Thanks, Sensei," she muttered.

Johnny raised an eyebrow. "So, what's the deal with you and Hawk? He's been staring at you this whole time. Seems pretty pissed."

Marlee sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I'll tell you later," she said, brushing off the question. She wasn't in the mood to talk about Hawk, not right now. There were bigger things to focus on.

The announcer's voice came through again, his tone excited. "There is only one true winner, and they are standing on this stage right now. Will it be Miguel Diaz from Cobra Kai Karate?" Miguel stood tall, bowing to the audience, his expression intense.

"Will it be Hawk.. well, I guess it's just Hawk, from Cobra Kai Karate?" Hawk bowed, Marlee glancing up to look at the crowd.

"Will it be Robby Keene, unaffiliated?" Robby gave a small, respectful nod, bowing.

"And last, but certainly not least, last year's champion, fighting out of Topanga Karate, Xander Stone!"

Xander's mom was in the front row, wearing blue face paint and cheering loudly for her son. Marlee could barely suppress the roll of her eyes. She'd had enough of Xander's self-righteous speeches earlier, and now she had to listen to his mother's over-the-top cheers. The whole scene felt a bit ridiculous to her.

The announcer handed the microphone to Xander, who stood there with his chest puffed out, taking the spotlight. "I just wanted to say, even though I love to fight, we all need to fight together against hatred," he began, his voice dripping with self-importance.

Marlee barely contained a scoff. She could already tell where this was going.

"And as I look around this arena, I pray for every race, religion, and gender that we can all live together in peace," Xander continued, his arms sweeping dramatically as he looked up to the arena. "Please join me in a moment of silence as we strive to end intolerance in our time."

Everyone around her bowed their heads in somber silence. She glanced over at Jace, who locked eyes with her for a split second. The both of them nearly burst out laughing, but they held it in—barely. The whole thing was so over-the-top, it was hard to keep a straight face.

Finally, the announcer spoke again, cutting the tension. "All right! First up, Stone versus Diaz!"

The crowd erupted into cheers. She watched as Miguel and Xander stepped into the ring, ready to fight, and couldn't help but feel a bit of anxiety settling in her stomach.