Muscle Memory

Molting (15)

Author's note: 

This chapter is particularly long because I had a lot of Anastasia's backstory to unload in this one, so it's quite a bit longer than all the other chapters

Italicized text is lyrics
Song's featured are "We're Not Gonna Take it" by Twisted Sister and "Somebody to Love" by Queen

Underlined and italicized text is flashbacks

Translation:
Echt Kolnish wasser is real cologne water
Mitte unter den linden is center under the linden trees

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Johnny cracks open a can Coors Banquet as he stands on top of an old van, the sound of dogs barking distantly in the junk yard as he takes a sip. Anastasia watched from her place behind the group of kids, although she allowed herself to openly check the blond man out as she stood there with his thumb in the pocked of his jeans. Her eyes kept drifting back to the red leather bomber jacket he was wearing that reminded her of the red leather Cobra Kai jacket that she eyed every time she opened their closet.

"You've trained hard," Johnny told the group of kids standing below him on the ground. "You've gotten stronger, tougher, faster. You've done your best. You're ready for this tournament, am I right?"

"Yes, Sensei!" The kids all yelled back.

"Wrong!" Johnny yelled back, chucking his beer can on the ground. Anastasia frowns, waving at the wet spot on her black leggings and shoes from where some of the beer that had still been in the can splashed her. Her eyes met Johnny's as he gave her an apologetic look; however, she didn't miss the way his eyes roamed over her chest as she bent down causing the loose fabric of the V-neck t-shirt, she'd 'borrowed' from him to give him quite the view of her cleavage. Clearly, she wasn't the only one allowing themselves a glance here and there.

Anastasia smirked, standing up straight, pulling her own red leather jacket around her chest as she crossed her arms, effectively ruining the nice view the blond was enjoying. She gestured for him to go on, flipping her hair and the tails of her black headband over her shoulder.

"Your best ain't shit!" Johnny quickly continues when he notices the kids have stopped staring at the can of beer in surprise. He begins to pace along the roof of the van, "If you wanna win the All Valley Under-18 Karate Tournament, you gotta give me better than your best. Which is why from now on, you're gonna get me and Sensei McMaster's worst."

Anastasia glanced self-consciously at her black adidas shoes, not knowing what her worst even was.

"Do you understand?"

"Yes, Sensei!" The kids yelled.

"Are you losers?"

"No, Sensei!"

"Are you nerds?"

"No, Sensei!"

"Are you sure?"

"No, Sensei!"

Anastasia snorted loudly as Johnny dug the palms of his hands into his eyes in frustration.

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"Move those feet! Go! Go! Go!" Johnny shouted as Miguel and Hawk ran through a line of tires.

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"Your enemies are all around you. Destroy them!" Johnny instructed the kids as they all held make shift weapons. They began to walk away, and Anastasia eagerly tore her red leather jacket off, tossing it in Johnny's face before bending down to grab a crowbar.