Cochlear | A Cobra Kai Fanfiction

44

"Kyler."

"Jessica."

Jesse stared at her twin brother from down the hall, a new distance developing between as time continued to pass and the shadows of the expensive artwork on the walls seemed to swallow her hole. There was never a spot for their art, unless it was on each other's walls like that spaghetti necklace that Jesse had made in kindergarten that Kyler kept on his closet door or that handprint turkey Kyler created in first grade that hung framed and signed on Jesse's wall.

An artificial home where only their individual rooms could be safe spaces of uniqueness and identity.

"Where you goin'?"

"Out. With friends." Jesse said simply, diplomatic all the way as she slowly closed her bedroom door. Her eyes flickered over to the duffel bag and the messed up knuckles that held the handles tightly. "...you?"

"...out. With friends." Kyler repeated, slower, lower. His eyes flickered to the piece of art next to his room and then over to Jesse's nose, bandage-free, his lips wavered as if he had wanted to say something important, urgent, perhaps even life-threatening, but instead he nodded once. Twice, turned around and paused. "...dad called."

He was muffled, but her hair stood up on the back of her neck anyways.

"Yeah? What... what did he want?"

Please don't be coming home.

"He's coming home in a week."

"Oh."

"Business."

"Is there anything else?" Jesse asked bitterly, looking up at the chandelier in the hallway. Perhaps it was more of a corridor.

Kyler shrugged, descending down the stairs slowly, purposefully. Jesse waiting, wishing she could hear the front door close so she knew when to leave. Instead, she recited Smash combos in her head until she grew tired of it, daring to leave the home on shaky legs.

The master bedroom was on the first floor. It was mandatory to pass by in order to enter the home and for most of their lives it remained the house cleaner's favorite place to clean. Jesse felt her heart skip as she walked by the rich wood.

Her cello was still in the closet.

She'd have to practice.

————————

"No, no, no!" Jesse cried out, throwing the manga in front of her in frustration and disbelief. Next to her she heard snickering and quickly she took the book off the dashboard and used it as a fly swatted, smacking the red head as he tried to guard against the attack with a loud laugh. "Rude! Rude! Do you know what this has done to my heart?!"

"Yeah, it's not that bad." Hawk snickered, hitting the book away and laughing again at the gasp of disbelief. "Stop being a drama queen."

"Don't let him fool you." Demetri interrupted from the back, sticking his head and accidentally getting whacked in the face by a murderous teen. "Ouch! Damn it, Jesse! Just-!" Demetri tried to grab at the book while Hawk laughed boisterously, which only fuelled Jesse's anger as she dodged the grabs and reached over to smack Hawk. "Jesse! Stop-! You're not helping!" He snapped at the mohawk who only held up his hands, before quickly guarding his face with a snicker.

Demetri finally got a hold of Jesse's arm, but she switched hands, leaning over the console once again to either strangle the redhead or smack him in the face - so he'd have to wear the bandage on his nose this time - it didn't matter. She went for her justified revenge, but was pulled off guard by Demetri yanking her right arm held hostage, sending her flopping forward with a yelp onto Hawk's lap.