Out of Place [Cobra Kai OC x Robby Keene]

124 - Superhero

TW- light talk of trauma (reminiscing over passed family members)

"You're up early," Mr LaRusso says as he walks into the kitchen, "I figured on weekends even you'd sleep in."

I shrug. I usually do, but with school back in session and early morning show choir rehearsals in full swing, 'sleeping in' usually becomes 'waking up when normal people do'. I don't mind so much though. It's quiet and peaceful when you're the only one up, and the LaRusso house is so pretty. I hope to have a house like this when I'm older. Doesn't even need to be as big.

"I've been baking for the party," I say, vaguely gesturing at all of my work-in-progress bakes, "and someone ate all the cannolis I made yesterday so I have to redo those. There were twelve of them. Who's eating twelve cannolis in one sitting?"

Most of what I have to do is frost and add fillings to things. I made the cookies Miguel- and everyone else- loves so much, along with a bunch of Puerto Rican and Italian desserts, and I've been practicing a few Ecuadorian bakes for today as well. They've gone surprisingly well. Any excuse for me to bake a bunch for people I love is a good excuse. Mr LaRusso chuckles.

"If they were made by the Parker Reyes-LaRusso, I think most people could eat two dozen," he says, rolling up his sleeves and washing his hands, "now what do you need help with?"

Normally I'm generally opposed to people even being in the kitchen while I'm baking or cooking because they just get in my way or distract me from what I'm doing, but I'll let it slide today for bonding time with Mr LaRusso.

"Do you know how to prepare focaccia to be baked?" I ask.

"'Do I know how to prepare focaccia to be baked'- dai, Parker,"

"Zitto, zitto," I wave away and he chuckles as he gets to work.

The two of us work in tandem to finish my spread of deserts and snacks. We don't say much, aside from the occasional question from Mr LaRusso about what to do next. That's okay. I think too much talking right now would bother me. It's nice to finally have a father figure who actually listens to me and trusts me- and it's nice to finally have a father figure I can trust in return. When I was younger, before things got bad, my family and I would cook together in the kitchen. My dad wasn't always horrible to me, but he always expected the best from me, so he could be hard on me at times, even when things were good. There was always something I was doing wrong in the kitchen. Always. Dr Narváez thinks it's part of why I'm so good now- because, like karate, when I was criticized heavily or lead to believe I was failing, I obsessed over it, and in doing so became really good. It's also part of why I don't like people in the kitchen with me while I'm working. When my mom died, I was in the kitchen in all of my spare time making sure I memorized and perfected all of her recipes. My dad always managed to find something wrong with them. But having Mr LaRusso working with me, going along with what I say, and letting me do what I need to do? It's nice. Maybe I should let people work with me more often.

"Well? Is that everything?" Mr LaRusso asks as we finally seem to come to a stopping point. We look around at everything we've accomplished. Lots of pale blues and pinks for fillings and decorations. I've never been one for gender reveal parties. I think they're silly. But I've actually had a lot of fun getting to help for this one, and it's for Ms Diaz and Mr Lawrence, so I'll make an exception.