𝙎𝙣𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙗𝙞𝙩𝙚 {𝙏𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙉𝙞𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙨}

𝘿𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙎𝙖𝙢𝙚

Later that night, Johnny came home, his mind preoccupied despite the light buzz from the beers he'd shared with Michael. Their conversation had left him unsettled, a gnawing worry that he couldn't shake. The fact that Kreese's grandson was in his dojo—it felt like a cruel twist of fate, one that Johnny couldn't ignore. Why hadn't Zeke told him? Was he afraid? Did he not want him to know?

As Johnny paced through his small apartment, his thoughts circled around Zeke. He could still vividly recall Kreese's betrayal, the way the man had twisted him up, manipulated him, and ultimately tried to kill him.

The idea that Zeke, Kreese's blood, was training in his dojo—under his guidance—felt almost too much to bear. He thought about kicking Zeke out, ending this connection to Kreese before it festered. After all, Zeke was just a kid, but the memories of Kreese lingered, sharp and painful.

But then Johnny remembered his conversation with Michael at the bar. Michael had noticed Johnny's unease when Zeke's name came up, and with a hint of something manipulative in his tone, he had tried to reassure Johnny. Michael had asked him not to give up on Zeke, explaining that the kid had it rough—he'd been kicked off both the football and soccer teams at his last school. Zeke needed something solid, a place where he could find his footing. Michael had even hinted that Zeke's troubles might run deeper, making Johnny feel as if turning him away would only add to the boy's struggles.

Johnny sighed and rubbed his face. He decided to bring it up with Miguel and Hawk. They had spent more time with Zeke; maybe they had some insight. As they gathered in the dojo the next day, Johnny laid it out for them, watching their reactions closely.

Miguel's eyes widened in shock when Johnny revealed Zeke's lineage. "Wait, Zeke is Kreese's grandson?" he asked, clearly startled. But then he quickly defended him. "Sensei, Zeke helped me when Kyler and his friends were beating me up. He didn't have to, but he stepped in. That says a lot about him."

Hawk nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and he's helped me gain confidence. I mean, I was a loser before I started Cobra Kai, and Zeke—he's been there, man. He's a good guy."

Johnny listened, his resolve wavering. Zeke was a 16-year-old kid, with the potential for both good and bad. Maybe what he really needed was guidance, not rejection. And after all, it wasn't like Kreese was going to walk back into their lives any time soon...right?

With his mind made up, Johnny called Zeke into his office later that afternoon. Zeke entered, his expression cautious as he stood before Johnny, clearly sensing something was off.

Johnny didn't mince words. "I know who you are, kid."

Zeke's eyes widened, his posture stiffening. "You do?"

Johnny nodded, leaning back against his desk. "Your grandfather did a lot of damage, not just to me, but to a lot of people. He's the reason I almost lost everything. So, yeah, I thought about kicking you out."

Zeke's expression darkened, a bitter edge to his voice. "Are you going to?"

Johnny paused, weighing his words carefully. "I won't. But you need to understand something, kid. This dojo? It's mine. Not yours, not your grandfather's—mine. You follow my rules, and you respect what I'm trying to build here."

Zeke nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "I understand, Sensei."

Johnny's gaze softened just a bit as he gave a curt nod. "Good. Now get your ass out to the mat. We've got work to do."

As Zeke left the office, Johnny watched him go, the old wariness still simmering but tempered by something new—hope. He would keep an eye on Zeke, make sure the past didn't repeat itself. But for now, the kid had a place in Cobra Kai. It was up to him what he did with it.