Alexa's head was pressed against Demetris heart in the booth of at the restaurant, popping a fry into her mouth. Aisha held her phone out. "So you might be wondering what a team does after they won the championship. The answer? Victory nachos! It was suppose to be a round of drinks, but the waitress was not feeling Hawks fake ID."

The blue haired boy gave a panicked look. "Hey, don't talk about that. My parents follow you."

Aisha gave a guilty look toward the camera. "Sorry, Mr and Mrs Moskowitz. Anyways, until next time, no mercy, bitches."

Demetri patted Alexas head. "You'll feel better if you eat something."

"You probably got STD's." Hawk leaned across the table to feel her forehead. "You probably got some of that Xander bitches blood in your mouth."

"I feel like i'm dying." Alexa said honestly, opening her mouth for Demetri to pop a nacho in for her.

"I'm gonna send you a link to a detox smoothie." Moon nodded her next, pulling out her phone.

"I gotta say, even with a sick girlfriend, it's nice to be at a victory party." Demetri smiled as he held another nacho in his hand.

"Yeah, except you've got nothing to do with the victory." Hawk reached across the table to take the nacho from him.

"Uh, hello? This one." Demetri pointed down to Alexa, who looked like she was seconds from passing out. "She pushed down an old lady on the way to the bathroom. If it wasn't for me, she'd have charges pressed against her right now."

"Mm, he's right." Alexa sighed, sitting up more to rub Demetris back.

"And this can be considered a belated party for the coding competition we won at computer camp." the Alexopoulos boy nodded toward Hawk with a grin. "Demetri and Eli, Binary Brothers."

Alexa cracked a grin, leaning on the table as Moon and Aisha busted out laughing. Hawk dropped his voice to a whisper. "Hey. Cool it with the nerd shit, huh?"

Alexa cut in before Demetri could go on. "Okay, i'm outta here."

She looked to Demetri. "Let's make like a wiener and beat it. I'm tired and you are my ride."

"What an odd saying." Moon said honestly.

"The oddest." Aisha agreed as Demetri crawled out of the booth.

"See you." Alexa said with a little wave.

"Bye, everyone." Demetri added, locking arms with Alexa as they walked away. "You really feel that bad?"

"I think it's stress getting to me." she said honestly, heading for the car. "You'll bring me home?"

"You want me to stay?" he asked, opening the door for her.

"I don't know if my mom is still here." Alexa crawled in, waiting for him to get in on the other side. "Plus, i'll probably just down a thing of Night-quill and hit the hay."

"Okay." he gave her a little grin. "You wanna talk about your dad?"

"Not today." she nodded her head. "But, thank you."

"You know it." he tried to wink, both his eyes shutting in the process.

When Alexa got home, Ty was gone. He left a note saying that he had to work nights. She peaked her head inside of his room, finding Deanna asleep in his bed. Alexa shut the door back, pulling it to shut completely as she headed to her room. Pulling her shirt off, she eyed the bruises she got from the tournament, taking some Ibuprofen before getting into bed. Scooting closed to the window, where she got the best signal, Alexa pulled her phone out and searched her fathers name, adding in San Antonio Texas behind it.

She found the first thing with his name, scrolling for any information regarding his death. Alexa froze, staring at the article. Her heart hit her gut, sitting up straight, blinking as if it was gonna make the cause of death change.

Homicide.

"Homicide? As in, he was murdered?" Miguel gapped as Alexa walked with the pair of boys the next day, approaching Cobra Kai.

"That's what it said." Alexa nodded her head, staying between the two. "Shot in the head. The investigation is still open."

"Why wouldn't your mom say that?" Hawk asked, pulling his backpack on more. "You think she did it?"

"Maybe." Alexa pointed out with a crazy look. "I'm so confused."

Miguel wrapped an arm around her. "They'll figure it out."

"Yeah, or not." Hawk said, getting a slap. "What? The police could drop it."

"Do not give her ideas." Miguel whispered in disbelief.

"So, theoretically speaking, we're more likely to figure it out." Alexa looked to Hawk in questioning as he gave a knowing look. "I mean, I want to make sure my mom didn't kill him."

"Alexa, we should really let the police handle it." Migeul tried to reason.

"Screw that." she said, a few of the new recruits holding the door open for the trio. "We need to team up, Miguel. I can't do this alone."

"I'm with you." Hawk rose a finger with a nod. "You know I can deep dive into the web for you."

"Mig?" Alexa gave him a pleading look next. "For me?"

He huffed, shaking his head. "Fine."

"Okay." Alexa grinned, wrapping both her arms around the two. "We need a group name."

"Oh my god, we don't need a group name." Migeul shook his head.

"We could have our own reality show." Hawks face lit up.

"The Baby Cobras." Alexa hummed with a wave of her hands. "I like it."

"Quiet!" Johnny yelled from the office door way, causing the chatter to come to a stop in the crowded dojo. "The dojos closed to new students today."

"We just wanted to sign up after we saw the tournament." one of the boys said honestly, standing infront of the new recruits.

"Do I need to say it again? Get out!" Johnny demanded immediately.

"Yes, sir...Sensei." the other boy corrected himself quickly.

"Come back tomorrow. And bring your checkbooks." the blonde called out to the leaving group. He looked back to his original students. "Everyone, fall in!"

"Must've been a rager, Sensei." Hawk grinned at the broken glass and fire marks around the dojo.

"Were you celebrating all weekend?" Miguel frowned his eyebrows.

"Celebrating what? My students are a bunch of pussies." he said in return, all their faces falling in confusion. "Diaz, Hawk, Alexa, up front!"

The trio shared a look, slowly getting in line beside him in the front. Sensei turned to Hawk first. "Hawk. Did you attack your opponent when his back was turned?"

He gave a questionable look in return. "Yes, Sensei?"

"Alexa." Johnny pushed the back of her head. "Did you violate the specific rules I read out to you before the tournament? Getting yourself disqualified?"

Alexa looked to Hawk with an odd look. Johnny pushed the back of her head again. "Did you?"

"Yes, Sensei." she sighed slightly.

"Diaz." he was behind Miguel now. "Did you purposely attack your opponents injury?"

"Yes, Sensei." Miguel said back confidently.

"You think that makes you badass?" Johnny looked at the trio in questioning. The all shared a look. "What's the matter, too tough of a question? Maybe you need some help."

He turned to the remaining students. "Miss Robinson!"

"Yes, Sensei?" she stood up straight.

"Two cobras in the jungle. One kills the strongest lion, the other kills a crippled monkey. Which Cobra do you wanna be?" he looked at her in questioning, walking down the line of students.

"The one that kills the lion, Sensei." she spoke after a hesitant look.

"And why is this?" Johnny stopped by the trio.

"Because it killed a stronger animal." Aisha answered in return.

"Correct!" he shouted. "Cobra Kai is about being badass. And the baddest badass is the one who beats his opponent when he's at his strongest. Not when his back is turned. Not when breaking the rules. Not when he's injured. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Sensei!" they all called out on sync.

"That means no more cheating. No more fighting dirty. From here on out those are pussy moves, and you don't wanna be pussies, do you?"

"No, Sensei!" they called back.

"Good. That's why I had you wear your white belts. We're starting over." Johnny spoke to the white belt wearing group. Facing the trio again. "Diaz, Alexa, Hawk, 50 push-ups on your knuckles."

Alexa frowned, dropping down on her knees as she pushed up on her knuckles.

•

kylie speaks

rewatching cobra kai to
write this makes me realize
how confused all the kids
probably had been. going back
and forth between no mercy to
mercy, it's a mess.