"But there's a side to you that I never knew, never knew. All the things you'd say, they were never true, never true. And the games you play, you would always win, always win. But I set fire to the rain."
~Set Fire to the Rain by Adele~
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A/N: Okay, this is a weird late Sunday/ early Monday post (and relatively short chapter), so PLEASE comment so I know I didn't make a mistake sharing this at the beginning of the week instead of the end <3 As usual, I'm excited to know what you think.
Warnings: abuse, addiction, anxiety, biphobia/homophobia, depression, domestic violence, gun violence, language, panic attacks, sexual harassment/assault/abuse, violence, weapons, and other mature themes
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Third Person POV: A Few Weeks Ago
John Kreese and Dr. Folsom sit across from each other. She waits for Kreese to speak, to say anything. The room is silent.
"All right. Enough of this," Dr. Folsom closes her binder. "You're sitting here sulking like a kid who got in trouble in class."
"What do you want me to do?" Kreese counters. "Cry into a tissue?"
"I thought you were a sensei," Dr. Folsom accuses.
"I am a sensei," he defends.
"Then act like one," she raises her voice. "Look, I'm not here to scold you. I'm here to help. I believe that deep down you're a good man. I don't believe you were always this violent person.
Inexplicably, Dr. Folsom is replaced with Betsy, Kreese's first love. She looks at him worriedly and speaks softly, "I think something happened in your past."
Kreese pauses before engaging with her, "I did lose someone. Years ago."
"Who was she?" Betsy wonders.
"The love of my life," Kreese admits, a new vulnerability breaking through.
"I'm sorry to hear that, John." Betsey sounds like Dr. Folsom when she says that. "Where were you when it happened?"
"Overseas. Her death... allowed me to do what I had to do."
"Whatever it took to save yourself," Captain Turner, Kreese's captain in Vietman, sits where Betsy once was.
"Don't judge me like those long-haired hippies," Kreese sits up attentively. Defensively. He gets aggressive as he faces his captain again, "It was war."
"Oh, but that violence followed you home," Captain Turner continues. "See, I read your file. After Vietnam, you became a sensei, opened a dojo, taught kids how to fight."
"I taught them to be strong, to take the anger they feel and turn it into power."
Captain Turner just laughs. Kreese tries to cover his ears. Then he stands up and walks away.
"I've had enough of this."
"What an interesting choice of words," Silver calls after him. Kreese turns to him slowly. "'Take the anger they feel.' Do you feel angry, John? At who?"
"The people who put me in this cage."
"But you did this to yourself," Silver mocks.
"Don't be ridiculous. None of it is my fault."
"None of it?" Kreese blinks and Zion sits where Silver did. "You were a sensei to students who don't even care to visit you anymore. You're alone, and none of that reflects on you? One said you made them 'soulless.'"
YOU ARE READING
Cold Hearted ⭒ Cobra Kai
Fanfiction"People lose their morals when they get to the top." ⭒ After her father's death, Zion moves to Reseda where she makes a new group of friends. Then, one boy in particular catches her eye. When Miguel invites her to Cobra Kai karate, her initial goal...
