Cold Hearted ⭒ Cobra Kai

4.9.6^

Chapter Eighty: Stalemate

"Hey now, hey now, don't dream it's over. Hey now, hey now, when the world comes in they come, they come to build a wall between us. We know they won't win."

~Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House~

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Revised: July 6, 2024

Warnings: abuse, addiction, anxiety, biphobia/homophobia, depression, domestic violence, slight eating disorder, language, panic attacks, sexual harassment/assault/abuse, violence, and other mature themes

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Robby's POV

I walk off the mat after my match with a bad feeling in my stomach about how I hurt Kenny. I was just doing what it took to win. Why are my dad and Mr. LaRusso looking at me like I just killed Kenny and why do I care? I swore I was done with both of them.

I go over to the Cobras as they cheer me on for making it to the quarterfinals. I glance around to see how the other people are doing with their fights when my eyes land on Zion. She walks away from Sam on a bench and I feel the guilt return.

I saw her run away after I kicked Kenny in the way I did. I saw the fear in her eyes and the pain. I realize how awful it was of me. The rules of life change everyday and it's so confusing, especially since not too long ago she was in the dojo I chose. 

I rush after her, "Zion." She doesn't hear me. "Zion." She doesn't stop. "Zion!"

"What?" she turns to me with a sad look on her face. I fucked up. "What?"

"I-I saw you... I saw that something set you off?" I try not to lead on that I may have been the one to trigger her. I'd never forgive myself if it truly was me, especially after all we've been through and everything she's told me.

"Yeah, no shit."

I reach for her hand, "Are you all right?" I want to help fix the pain I caused. 

She shifts away, "No. I'm not."

"Quarterfinalists, get ready to fight in five minutes!" Daryl announces.

"You're past reason," Zion begins to tell me. "It's hard for me to even look at you right now, so..." My whole body deflates at the realization that I hurt her so much. "I'm sorry that I made you like this. I'm sorry that I pushed you this far and that this is probably confusing to you."

I can't focus on her words when my eyes land on her neck as she speaks and nods her head back and forth.

"I'm sorry that I didn't realize this sooner, either."

"Wait, wait," I stop her, "what happened to your neck?"

I worry in an instant and just want to hold her close and assure her that everything's okay, but I know that's the last thing she wants from me and that it's my fault. Her neck is covered in bruises that vaguely resemble a handprint, though, and it makes me wonder...

"I don't think you'd believe me if I told you," Zion responds and avoids my gaze.

I examine it worriedly and decide that it's too big of a hand to be something Janice did, from what I recall about the woman. 

"Of course I will," I lower my voice so she can tell me and only I can hear it.

I'll help her in any way I can because if it was Janice, then we can go to the authorities. Or, if it was one of the other dojos who did this, then I can figure something out, we can figure something out together.