Lost in Hollywood

Complications

The first day of training after joining the dojos, was a disaster.

It was clear that the Senseis had not planned it at all. Arguments arose all the time, people got hurt, Chris puked in Sensei LaRusso's boat and Hawk ended up kicking a foot through a Japanese sliding door.

Not that he wasn't tense already, but that particular incident made Sensei LaRusso pretty pissed - which, in turn, made Hawk feel like crap. He had wanted to make a good first impression, but now—

Well, he was well on the way of fucking things up, as usual.

And It wasn't just that kick through the sliding door. It was the way no one talked to him, the way the Miyagi Do's looked at him as if they fucking hated his guts. Had it not been for Demetri, Miguel - and miraculously Sam too - the rest of them probably would have kicked him out of here.

Hawk tried not to care, but it was impossible. The rejection hurt and he had no idea how to make everyone realize he wasn't that guy anymore, that he was trying so hard to leave all that behind. To change. And if he couldn't do that here—

No, I have no other place to go to. I have to make this work. I fucking have to, whatever it takes.

That thought was heavy, but what weighed on his chest even more, was the absence of Sky.

When he had dreamt about leaving Cobra Kai, that dream had always included her. In his hopes, she had always been there, in whatever new dojo he would join. She had been there, training with him, a wild smile on her pretty face as they sparred, her hair flying through the air in a thick, flaming braid, her laughter happy and carefree, like it had once been.

The fact that she hadn't shown up today was killing him.

Even if he knew that she had suffered a concussion, and probably couldn't train for a while Hawk had hoped Sky would still come, if not to spar, at least to see how things were going. He knew her well enough to know that she must be thrilled about the fact that the dojos had joined forces.

So why wasn't she here?

Was it because she didn't want anything to do with him?

Would she quit karate now that they were both Eagle Fang and had to train together?

That thought made Hawk feel miserable. He didn't want to be the reason for Sky to stop doing what she loved. If only she'd hear him out... He would tell her she didn't have to worry about anything, that he would give her all the space she needed. This was her dojo, and he was the new guy here, the intruder. He would respect that and keep his distance if that was the way she wanted it.

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When they finally called off that day, it was getting late already. The Senseis left without another word to each other, both looking tense and annoyed and most of the kids did the same as they were too exhausted to do much more. They wandered off, one by one until only Sam, Miguel, Demetri, and Hawk were left, standing in the parking lot in a small group, discussing the disastrous afternoon.

"I have never seen such a complete lack of cooperation. Did they seriously not plan this at all?" Demetri asked, frustrated, watching how Johnny's taillights disappeared down the road.

"Clearly not," Sam replied with a frown. "I don't know how we're going to make this work. Today was a disaster."

"It was only the first day. I'm sure It'll get easier as we all get used to each other's styles." Miguel glanced at Sam with what was probably supposed to be an encouraging smile, but he couldn't hide the worry in his voice.