Out of Place [Cobra Kai OC x Robby Keene]

132 - Baile

TW- talk of trauma

They dismissed everyone. Mr and Mrs LaRusso and Mr Lawrence went inside to talk about something. Miguel is still here because Mr Lawrence is his ride. Sam is still here because Mr LaRusso is her ride. Robby is still here because I'm his ride. And I'm still here because everyone else being gone means I can finally do what I always come here to do when I'm upset: train.

This time, I did both remember and actually take the time to wrap my hands before taking to the punching bag. From there, it's just been drill upon drill upon drill. I need to make sure my right hand is still up to speed. It seemed okay in the fight today, but if I can get it to the caliber that my left hand now operates after not being able to use my right for weeks, then my hand techniques will be unstoppable. We're going to the Sekai Taikai. I can't just be 'okay'.

"Park..." Robby says as he walks up, "I know something is wrong, and I know you know I know something is wrong and are trying to avoid talking about it by training."

I won't lie to him and say nothing is wrong when he clearly knows that there's something wrong. It's just not going to stop me from getting better.

"I appreciate your concern, corazón," I say, continuing to throw hand strikes and kicks. It was like this after my father hit me and I ran away. It was like this after Abuelita lost her job. It was like this after Miguel ran away, my dad came back, and Abuelita and Robby both left. It was like this after I broke solid stone. Mr LaRusso had a point. He didn't teach us to fight with anger, and I don't like doing so. But training with anger? That's different.

"I've seen you like this before, and it was after you ran away from home. I'll always think that you finally realizing that you're allowed to be angry is hot as hell, but this is different, Park, this is more than that," Robby continues, "you need to stop before you hurt yourself."

"I'm fine, Robby. I wrapped my hands this time. It's just a punching bag. Solid stone hurts a lot worse," I dismiss, throwing a jump reverse side kick, then shooting and elbow strike right after.

"I'm sure it does," he says, sounding unimpressed with my response, "hey, why don't we run through some kata together? It's your favorite thing; it'll help you feel better."

I shake my head. The voices will get too loud. Here, they're continuously disrupted by the sound of my strikes hitting the bag, and the pounding of my heart in my ears.

"Kata isn't enough right now," I say, tears beginning to blur my vision. It pains me to say it.

"Babe..." he says, putting a gentle hand on my arm. He tries to apply a little force and pull me away, but I resist, taking my arm back and returning to my task.

"You're starting to scare me. You've been off all day and now you're training nonstop again. You need to stop before you hurt yourself; I need you to stop before you hurt yourself," Robby presses. Tears now fully run down my face. I'm determined to keep going until I've fully exhausted myself.

With your determination, you'd be unstoppable...