The Cut That Always Bleeds | Cobra Kai

Chapter 28

Robby zipped up his duffel bag, packing the last of his clothes quickly before the students arrived for morning training. He wasn't planning on staying much longer. As he walked into the main room, he saw Kreese, fists pounding into the dummy, each hit precise and deliberate.

"He rises," Kreese greeted him without breaking his rhythm. "Sorry, you had to sleep on the floor."

Robby shrugged, indifferent. "I've slept in rougher places."

Kreese offered a faint smile, wiping sweat from his brow. "Likewise. If you want some coffee, it's not great, but it's hot." He pointed toward his office, but Robby didn't move. He wasn't here for hospitality.

"Thanks for letting me crash here. It was just for the night," Robby replied, making it clear he had no intention of getting too comfortable in Cobra Kai territory.

Kreese's smirk widened, seeing through Robby's tough front. "You stay as long as you like," he said, returning to the dummy. "Come here. Maybe you'll learn something." Robby hesitated but stepped closer, intrigued despite himself. Kreese stood poised in front of the dummy, his focus sharpening. "This is called the Cobra Strike. It's a combination of two moves: the lunge... and the bite—"

Suddenly, Hawk's voice pierced the air. "What the hell are you doing here?" Robby turned, surprised. He hadn't noticed the students filing in. Hawk stormed toward him, fury in his eyes, fists clenched.

Before Hawk could reach him, Kreese intervened, placing a firm hand on his student's shoulder. "Hold on there. Mr. Keene is our guest."

At the revelation, Hawk stopped, but his glare remained fixed on Robby, burning with unspoken rage. Robby met his eyes with a cold, calculating stare, unflinching. Tory walked up beside Hawk, gently gripping his arm to calm him down. Though Hawk eased slightly, the tension lingered as Kreese guided him toward the office. Once the door shut behind them, Hawk's frustration spilled out.

"He's not one of us!" Hawk snapped, pacing in the small space.

Kreese remained unfazed, leaning back in his chair. "With the All Valley back on, we need as much strength as we can get."

"We don't need him," Hawk repeated, his voice low and bitter. "He's the reason Isabelle almost died. He's the enemy."

Kreese's eyes darkened slightly, his tone shifting to something more serious. "You know, when I was overseas, it was hard to tell who the enemy was. One minute, a defenseless local could be begging for help. The next minute, they'd have a knife at your throat. You learn to adapt... to trust no one." Hawk narrowed his eyes, listening intently. Kreese leaned forward. "But you know what I learned? The enemy of your enemy... is your friend."

Meanwhile, outside the office, Tory seized her chance to confront Robby. She approached him with a cold gaze as he stuffed the last of his clothes into his bag.

"Quitting already?" Tory asked, her voice dripping in disdain.

Robby didn't look up. "Never joined in the first place. I don't belong here."

Tory's lip curled into a smirk. "Oh, so you're running away?" she asked sarcastically. "That worked out well for you last time."

Robby shot her a glare. "I'm not running away."

"Like you didn't run away from Isabelle after she told you she loved you?" Tory's voice was sharp, cutting deeper than Robby expected. His jaw tightened, but he stayed silent. She took a step closer, her words carrying weight. "I hate you for what happened to Isabelle. I hated Sam LaRusso. I even hated myself. But the one person I've never hated is Isabelle. And you hurt her." Tory's voice grew colder as she continued, "All you do is cause pain because you don't know how to deal with your own hate. Kreese taught me that if you take all that hate, and you channel it..." Tory's foot snapped into a nearby punching bag, sending it crashing into the wall with a loud thud. "...it makes you stronger. And it feels damn good."