Cochlear | A Cobra Kai Fanfiction

11

Jesse watched with clear amusement as her friend walked even stranger than usual towards her and the comic store. Demetri had been doing Karate for a week and a half now and each day he had something new to complain about.

"Did you know your butt could get sore??"

And today just happened to be extra entertaining.

Jesse chuckled at her friend as they both entered the comic shop. The girl gave a friendly wave to the cashier while they walked to their usual first stop for the manga.

"I've never thought about it before, if I'm being honest. But, I'll let you know you look like you just took a giant poop in your underwear."

Demetri scowled at his friend and continued stretching his body in random ways. Jesse had to take a step back to avoid getting hit by the long limbs.

"You have no idea what it's like to be long, disproportionate, off balanced, burn easily-"

"Is there a point to this?" Jesse held her hands up when the boy looked at her sassily.

"Anyways, like I was saying. I'm not made for physical competition. My brain is my strongest muscle." Demetri furrowed his eyebrows in thought. "But, I guess it's technically not a muscle so that would make my point null."

Jesse nodded sagely. "Exactly." She didn't know what he was talking about.

Demetri snorted. "Right." He knew she didn't know what he was saying.

"Oh! Before I forget!" Jesse's eyes lit up as she remembered the bag in her purse. With a grin the young teen pulled out the plastic and shoved it into Demetri's chest. "I saw this and thought of you!"

The taller teen winced and rubbed his chest, but grabbed the bag nonetheless. "Careful! Do you know how easy it is to break someone's sternum, because I do and-"

"Open the bag before I explode!"

"Okay okay! Crazy woman..." Demetri grumbled half heartedly but he pulled out the shirt inside and looked at it. Immediately the teen snorted and read the shirt. "How to be a better boss."

"Yes yes but look! It's Darth Vader reading the book." Jesse pointed out excitedly. The small teen squished her shoulder up against Demetri's shoulder and pointed at it. "Get it? He kills his employees."

Demetri definitely understood the joke and would have chuckled more if the girl he was friends with and slowly crushing on wasn't pressed up next to him. The teen cleared his throat and tried to swallow the lump. "I-it's funny. Did you know that Vader once tried to use the Force to repair the damage while he was exploring the powers of the dark side." Demetri awkwardly chuckled as he took a step away and looked at his friend.

"O-Obviously, his efforts were unsuccessful as he continued to always wear the mask throughout the films."

Jesse nodded in understanding. "That sucks. It must feel like he's suffocating all the time."

"Suffocating with power and rage."

The two friends chuckled and continued their shopping trip. This time however, Jesse tried to convince Demetri to let her dress him up.

"Please."

"I am perfectly comfortable in my Graphic Tees, jeans, and flannel." Demetri replied, avoiding looking directly at the girl.

"Come on!" Jesse begged trying to use every weapon in her arsenal to get the kid to agree. "Don't you have a girl at school you like?"

Demetri stopped his walk and looked at the almost vibrating teen. The tall teen let out a sigh of exasperation and felt like giving himself a facepalm.

"Well, what if you take her out on a date? Wouldn't you want a nice button down and jeans?" Jesse tried to convince the boy. "I promise I won't put you in anything you don't feel like is you. I-I just would like to share something in my life with you that I am really good at."

Demetri looked at his friend in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Jesse scratched the back of her head sheepishly. "Well, you're really smart and you show me all the time. I'm not the dumbest or smartest of the bunch, but I really like fashion and decorating."

And that was how Demetri was basically guilt tripped into the dressing room at a store he never knew existed. 

"How do you feel about about a sports coat?"

"I-I don't really like sports."

Demetri heard silence then a snort. Nothing was said after wards as fabric was thrown over the stall door and he let out a small yell of shock at the attack.

"Try that outfit on and come out."

"I never told you my size." Demetri stated as he stumbled to change into the outfit.

"I'm good at what I do."

When Demetri finally got the whole outfit on, his heart skipped a beat when his hand went towards the door to open it. He was a little embarrassed at the dress up.

But then he remembered the kind words Jesse seemed to repeat. How she liked him because he was himself and no one else. She didn't mind the awkward, nerdy, imbalanced teen before her. So with a deep breath he opened the door.

Jesse felt her own heart skip a beat at the attractiveness of her friend. While he was nothing to laugh at before, the button down and sports coat made him look extra fine.

"I-I like it." Jesse stuttered out and cleared her throat, but I don't think it really is you is it?"

"I-I mean it's nice." Demetri tried as he cuddled with the coat sleeves. "B-but I'm not comfortable in it."

Jesse nodded in understanding. "Fashion should make you feel good, not uncomfortable. Try this on." A few clothing items were handed over and their hands touched for a moment, causing both teens to blush and jump back.

This time when Demetri came out he felt a lot more confident. The outfit felt more like what he would wear and the added effect of his friend's kind word made him feel loads better.

Jesse raised her arms in the ASL sign for clapping and pointed. "Yes sir! That's the one! What do you think?"

"I like it." Demetri admitted while rubbing his neck sheepishly.

"We're getting it! And some shoes too... wait right there!"

"W-wait! Hold on! Jesse!"