TWILIGHT ZONE ➭ COBRA KAI

009

ੈ♡₊˚•. ˖⋆ ━━━━━⠀TWILIGHT ZONE !
▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ ⋯ ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅ ˓ 𑁍ࠜೄ
𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 NINE ・*:·. ⇌ ஜ .·:*

Finding somewhere to stay proved itself to be harder than she thought. She already crossed Tory off her list, and when she asked Leo, he said she was welcome to share the top bunk with his five year old brother. She sure as hell wasn't going to ask Kyler or Robby, which was how she found herself standing in Kreese's doorway.

"Sensei Kreese?"

She hesitated for a moment, unsure if this was the best option, but she knew she had no other choice. Kreese diverts his attention to her, nodding for her to shut the door behind her. "What can I help you with, Mrs. Zimmerman?"

She took a deep breath and stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind her. Kreese leaned back in his chair, his gaze sharp and unreadable. "Well, it's kind of a long story," she began, words tumbling out faster than she could control.

"My parents are having this big dinner party tonight, and they've invited some friends to stay over, which means they need my room. It's a little chaotic at home, and I don't really have anywhere else to go. I was wondering if I could maybe crash here at the dojo just for tonight?" She bit her lip, hoping he wouldn't think she was completely out of her mind.

Kreese raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable as he considered her request. "You want to stay here? At the dojo?" he asked, his voice low and measured.

She nodded, feeling a mix of embarrassment and desperation. "It's just for one night," she explained, hoping he'd understand. "I promise you won't even know I was here."

Kreese leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "You know this isn't exactly a hotel, right?" he said, his tone edged with skepticism.

Her cheeks warm, nodding. "But I'll make sure I'm out of your way," she added quickly. "I'll stay in the back, keep to myself, and leave early in the morning."

Kreese studied her for a moment, then let out a small sigh. "Fine," he said, "but just this once."

A smile splits across her face, her face lighting up with relief and gratitude. "Thank you so much," she said, her voice soft but sincere. "I really appreciate it."

Kreese gave a small nod, "Silver has a lesson for you today, they're waiting for you."

She stood, her heart still racing with gratitude, and made her way toward the training area. As she entered, Silver's sharp gaze met hers, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Ready to begin?" he asked, his voice calm but commanding. She took her spot next to Tory, and the two exchanged a brief nod.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟

The wooden katana struck the back of her hand with a sharp crack.

Pain flared instantly, hot and electric, racing up her arm. The sound echoed through the dojo, cutting through the silence like a gunshot.

Gia didn't flinch. Across from her, Sensei watched closely, his gaze sharp and searching, as if he were waiting for the smallest crack in her composure.

"Pain is a distraction," he said evenly. "And distractions make you weak."

The katana rested loosely in his hand now, but the threat of it still hung in the air. "If you let pain control you," he continued, his voice low and deliberate, "it will hold you back."

His eyes locked onto hers, unyielding, intense."Use it instead."

A beat of silence. "Again."