Daniel LaRusso (The Karate Kid ) x Reader

No Hard Feelings?

My heart beating 10x faster as I walked out of my bedroom.
Leaving the boy I like in there...
I closed the door behind me, the click louder than I meant.
I stared at it for a second,
 unsure if it was to keep things out or keep me in.

Why didn't I just let him stay?
He forgot your birthday, that's why,
And your dad is right outside...

My hand lingered on the knob for a moment.
My heart was still thudding, but not from fear, but Daniel.
The way he looked at me when I told him to go.
The way his lips parted like he wanted to say something, but didn't.
The way he didn't fight me.
I shook my head and turned toward the hallway.
Too late now.

" Y/n! "
My dad's voice slurred from the living room.
I stiffened. My steps were cautious, heavy, like I was walking toward
something I already knew would sting.
When I turned the corner, there he was,
slouched on the couch, beer in hand, the TV flashing blue and orange light across his face.
He didn't even look at me when he spoke.
" What'd you do tonight? "
I paused.
"Just hung out with Jack. "
He squinted, his lips tightening like he could see straight through me.
" Jack, huh? "
He scoffed, louder now.
" You lie to me, girl? "
" N- No, dad "
I said, quiet but firm.
" Just Jack. "
He grumbled something under his breath, waved his hand dismissively like swatting away a fly, then said,
" Get me another six-pack from the fridge. "
Of course that's all he cared about...
I didn't answer. I just walked away, teeth clenched so tight I thought they might crack.
I pulled open the fridge door. The cold hit my face and the tears finally pushed past my lashes, but I didn't let them fall fully.
Not yet. Not until I was back behind a locked door.
My birthday. My own dad didn't even say it.
And Daniel... He forgot too.
I handed over the six-pack. He took it like I was just some delivery girl
 and grunted,
" Go back to your room. "
And I did.

That's when my heart stopped.

Daniel was still there.
Sitting on my bed. Hands crossed tightly over his chest. His foot tapping.
He looked up when I walked in, and his eyes were worried,
like he had been waiting to hear yelling.
Or worse.
I don't know what came over me, but I,
" What the hell are you still doing here!? "
I whisper-shouted, closing the door behind me,
almost hoping my dad didn't hear.
 " I told you to go. "
He opened his mouth, then shut it.
Looked down. Tried again.
" I-I- I couldn't leave like that. "
My chest hurt.
I turned away, wiping at the tears now freely falling.
" You were supposed to leave, Daniel. You could've gotten caught!
I told you! You- You! You- "
I choked on my own voice, biting the inside of my cheek hard.
" You forgot my birthday. "
Daniel stood slowly.
" I know. "
He said.
His voice was so soft, it felt like it might break apart if I touched it.
" I messed up. I know I did. "
I notice he then reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a cassette tape,
the label worn slightly at the edges.
My name was written across it in his messy scrawl handwriting.
" I made this for you... about a few weeks ago. "
Daniel said.

" Just some-uh songs that reminded me of you.
I wasn't sure when I was gonna give it to you, but, I guess now's better than never."
He held it out like it was something delicate, breakable. Like it was his last shot.
I took it slowly, staring down at the tape. I didn't say anything.
Couldn't. Because somehow, even after everything tonight,
this quiet, stupid little gesture still got to me.
" I know forgetting today was the worst thing I coulda done. "
He added.
" But I-uh I didn't forget you. I never do. "
That broke something in me.
What dies this mean? What does HE mean?
I turned, blinking back the tears, and without a word.
I needed some air...
I hoped he'd leave if I had just stayed outside my window and call it a night...
So I crossed the room and opened the window.
The night air rushed in, cool against my face. But I didn't climb out right away.

A part of me wanted to stop and ask why.
I turned back around, the cassette still in my hand. Daniel stood there,
watching me like he was waiting for me to tell him
 to leave again.

" Why'd- Why'd you stay? "
I asked, quieter than before, the tears now dried up.
" After I told you to go. "
He rubbed the back of his neck.
" Because I knew you didn't really want me to? "
I looked down, thumb running over the edge of the tape.
" I didn't know if you'd come back. "
I didn't answer. I didn't know what to say exactly after he's says why...
He nodded like he expected the silence.
" I-I shoulda said somethin' earlier. Before you walked out.
But I didn't know how. Or if it would even matter. "
Still, I said nothing.
 " And I'm not gonna pretend like a tape makes it all okay and just,
I don't know, fix everything. "
God why does he have to make it up to me in the hardest way possible...
After a beat, I put one foot out the window.
I didn't say anything. I just held his gaze for a second longer, the breeze was colder now, but it didn't feel harsh.
Then my idiotic self just said,

" Do you wanna... come out with me? "
I asked, and I don't even know why I said that!
" We could listen to the tape you made me? I have the dual jack thing."
His eyes softened.
" Yeah. I'd really like that. "
I climbed out first, careful not to slip on the slope of the roof.
Daniel followed a second later and sat beside me, close but not too close.
The air was still. The kind of quiet that only shows up late.
I pulled the Walkman from the pocket of my jacket, plugged in the splitter,
and handed him one the other set of headphones.
He took it without saying anything.
I slid the tape in and smiled when the first song started, something soft and familiar.
The tape clicked, only to hear
"Africa by TOTO" while the intro embodied my head.
" You know I-uh actually jumped out and grabbed the tape from my room quickly
 before you came back. "
Daniel spoke breaking the long silence.
I pause thinking about it.
Did he really do that?
" Really? "
I ask him, and he,
" Yeah, I forgot that I was makin' you one... "
He nervously said like he was referring that relates to forgetting my birthday as well...
" Side A are the slower stuff. Like he kind that sounds like late nights and long thoughts or somethin'. Side B is mostly songs you'd roll your eyes at.
Daniel spoke quietly.
" I uh didn't overthink the songs, "
He said after a while.
" They just- I don't know... Felt like you. "
I gave a small nod, eyes on the sky.