𝐎𝐍𝐄.𝖬𝖤𝖱𝖢𝖸 𝖨𝖨

Liam Hayes walked through the doors of Cobra Kai with a quiet confidence that only came from years of military training. His military uniform had been long discarded, but the sharpness in his posture and the intensity in his eyes remained unchanged. He didn't expect to be welcomed with open arms—he was an outsider here, a stranger in a dojo where loyalty ran deep. But the truth was, he didn't care. He wasn't here to make friends.

As he stepped into the dojo, his eyes scanned the room, the walls adorned with the same Cobra Kai logo he remembered from the moment he heard Johnny Lawrence’s name for the first time. It had been years, but somehow, it all felt familiar. His time in the military had taught him discipline, structure, and toughness—but he had never truly been able to shed the past. The trauma, the guilt—it lingered, even if he tried to push it away.

The door clicked shut behind him, drawing the attention of a few of the students who were scattered around, either practicing or talking among themselves. The atmosphere was different from what Liam had imagined—it was intense, but there was a strange energy to it, a fire that seemed to ignite everyone who walked through those doors.

The first person to approach him was Zhen—or as most people called her, Lilu. He hadn’t seen her in years, not since the day she left China. But despite the years apart, she hadn’t changed. The same fire in her eyes, the same fierce determination in her movements. And there was something else—something he couldn’t quite place, but it pulled at him.

"Liam?" Lilu's voice was almost disbelieving as she took a few steps toward him.

Liam nodded, his expression unreadable. "Didn't expect to see you here, Zhen."

She crossed her arms, studying him, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I didn't expect you to show up, period. You left without saying goodbye, Liam. What the hell happened?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You know how it is. Things... change. I needed to get away."

She gave him a look, but said nothing more. He could see the concern in her eyes, the way she was trying to read him, trying to figure out what had been going on with him. But he wasn't ready to share that part of himself just yet. Maybe not ever.

"So, you're training here now?" Lilu asked, her tone more casual now, though the tension between them remained thick.

"Yeah. Thought it might be a good fit," Liam replied, his gaze flicking around the dojo, taking in the students. He could see the potential in them, the way they trained with a kind of hunger. Johnny Lawrence was no fool—he had created something fierce, something that demanded respect. But Liam had his doubts. Was it all about strength? Power? Or was there something deeper, something more meaningful?

Lilu tilted her head, studying him again, her expression softening. "You know Johnny doesn't pull any punches, right?"

"I can handle it," Liam said, his voice steady. But there was a flicker of something in his eyes—something old and painful. "I'm used to harder things."

Lilu's gaze lingered for a moment longer, as if she could see right through him. She didn’t press him for more, though, and he was grateful for that.

Before she could say anything else, a voice called out from across the room.

"Hey, new guy! You’re not just gonna stand there looking like a statue, are you?" It was Hawk, his blue mohawk standing out against the sea of students. He grinned, the cocky attitude evident in the way he spoke. "Come on, let's see what you got."

Liam glanced over at Lilu, who gave him a small, almost imperceptible nod. With a sigh, he stepped forward, ready to show the others that he wasn’t just some guy who had walked in off the street.

The moment his feet hit the mat, Hawk lunged at him, fast and aggressive. Liam was quick to block the attack, his military reflexes kicking in immediately. He sidestepped Hawk’s next move, taking a moment to gauge the other fighter’s rhythm. Hawk was good, but Liam had seen better. He was accustomed to the precision of military combat, the way every strike had a purpose, every movement calculated for maximum impact.

Liam’s counterattack was swift, a powerful jab to Hawk’s side that made the other fighter stumble back. But Hawk wasn’t deterred—he came at Liam again, this time with more ferocity, throwing a series of punches in quick succession.

Liam deflected each one with ease, his eyes locked onto Hawk’s. There was a fire in Hawk’s eyes, but it was nothing compared to the cold determination that burned inside Liam. Without warning, he grabbed Hawk’s wrist mid-punch, twisting it until Hawk was forced to the floor.

The room fell silent. Hawk lay on the mat, breathing heavily, his face flushed with embarrassment. Liam stood over him, offering a hand to help him up, but Hawk just glared at him, refusing to take it.

"Not bad, new guy," Hawk said through gritted teeth.

Liam didn’t respond. He was used to this—being the outsider, being the one no one understood. It didn’t matter. He wasn’t here to make friends.

As he turned to walk back to the edge of the mat, he caught a glimpse of Lilu standing off to the side. She was watching him intently, her expression unreadable. Their eyes met, and for a moment, there was a quiet understanding between them. No words were needed. She knew the man standing before her—the man who had fought so many battles, both internal and external. And though he may not have been ready to face them all, he would in time.

The tension was broken by Johnny’s voice, his rough tone cutting through the silence.

"Alright, enough of the showboating. Liam, you’re with me. We’ve got a lot to talk about."

Liam nodded, not missing the hint of something dangerous in Johnny’s tone. But he was ready for it. He was ready for whatever this dojo could throw at him.

As Johnny led him toward the back, Lilu lingered for a moment, her gaze following Liam. Her thoughts were a whirlwind—old memories, new questions, and a feeling she couldn’t quite shake. But one thing was clear: her life was about to get a lot more complicated with Liam back in the picture.

And as she turned to rejoin the others, a new question entered her mind. Would the past ever really stay behind her? Or would it always find a way to catch up?

---

Liam’s footsteps echoed down the narrow hallway as he followed Johnny into the back of the dojo. His thoughts were a swirl of memories, both from his time in the military and from the life he had tried to leave behind in China. His past was something he had buried deep, but it wasn’t something that would stay hidden forever—not here, not in this place.

Johnny stopped in front of a door, turning to face him. “Look, I know you’ve got your reasons for showing up here, but if you’re gonna be part of Cobra Kai, you need to understand what we’re about. This isn’t a place for the weak. We don’t take excuses.”

Liam met Johnny’s gaze, unwavering. The weight of Johnny’s words hung in the air, but Liam was used to tougher environments. The military had taught him discipline—how to follow orders and how to push through pain, how to survive when the odds were stacked against you. But there was something about this place, something about Johnny’s approach that reminded him of the structured chaos of boot camp.

“I’m not here for excuses,” Liam said, his voice calm but firm. “I’m here because I need to find something. And maybe... maybe this place can give it to me.”

Johnny raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but still skeptical. “You think Cobra Kai can give you what you need? You’re not here to prove something, are you? This isn’t a competition. It’s about strength.”

Liam’s lips curled into a slight, almost imperceptible smirk. “Strength is more than just what you see on the surface. It’s mental, emotional... internal. I know how to fight, Johnny. But it’s not the same as fighting for something that matters.”

Johnny studied him for a long moment, clearly sizing him up. “You’re not like the others. But I don’t have time for therapy sessions, okay? If you’re gonna train here, you need to prove yourself.”

“I don’t need to prove anything to you,” Liam replied, his tone quiet but piercing. “I just need to figure out where I fit in.”

Johnny gave a rough grunt, stepping aside. “We’ll see about that. Follow me.”

They entered a small, dimly lit room in the back of the dojo. It smelled faintly of old leather and sweat, the kind of place where countless battles had been fought—physical and emotional. Johnny led Liam to a set of heavy punching bags hanging from the ceiling.

“Start with these,” Johnny said gruffly. “No punches pulled. I want to see what you’re made of.”

Liam didn’t hesitate. He stood in front of the bag, cracking his knuckles. His military training had taught him how to fight with precision, how to control every move to deliver the most devastating impact. But in this dojo, it was different. Johnny wasn’t here to teach him military tactics. It was about raw power, unfiltered aggression.

The first punch landed with a resounding thud, his fist making contact with the bag like a battering ram. His muscles flexed as he unloaded a series of jabs, his body moving with a practiced, efficient rhythm. Each punch felt like a release—each one an attempt to purge the ghosts that haunted him from his past.

Johnny watched from the corner of the room, nodding to himself. “Not bad. But you’re holding something back. I can see it in your eyes. What are you running from?”

Liam’s hand paused mid-punch, his breath catching in his throat. For a split second, the memory of the battlefield flashed before him—the screams, the chaos, the weight of lives lost. He clenched his fist, his knuckles white, but he didn’t speak. He didn’t want to.

Johnny raised an eyebrow as Liam continued to hit the bag with renewed force, his punches even more intense. The tension was thick in the air. Johnny had seen his fair share of soldiers come through his doors, all of them carrying their own baggage. But Liam was different. Johnny could feel it—the weight of the past pressing down on him.

Liam finally stopped, his breathing shallow, sweat dripping down his face. He wiped it off with the back of his hand, then turned to face Johnny, his jaw tight, eyes narrowed in determination.

“I’m not here to talk about the past,” Liam said coldly, his voice almost a growl. “I’m here to fight. So, let’s get to it.”

Johnny smirked, clearly impressed by Liam’s resolve. He stepped forward, sizing him up one last time. “Alright. But I warn you, if you want to train with me, you better be ready for what’s coming. Cobra Kai’s not for the faint of heart.”

Liam nodded. “I’m not faint of heart.”

With a sudden movement, Johnny lunged forward, throwing a powerful right hook. Liam easily dodged, stepping back and using his military instincts to pivot around Johnny’s attack. The two circled each other in the small space, each looking for an opening.

“Not bad,” Johnny grinned, clearly enjoying the challenge. “You’re fast. But speed isn’t everything. It’s about power. It’s about how hard you hit when it counts.”

Liam’s eyes narrowed, his movements becoming more calculated. He had trained for this his whole life. He knew the art of war. But this? This was a different kind of battle. A mental one. And Johnny was right—he had to hit hard when it counted.

With a swift movement, Liam closed the distance between them, throwing an unexpected elbow that sent Johnny stumbling backward. Johnny’s eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly recovered, grinning as he wiped the blood from his lip.

“Well, damn,” Johnny said, his tone a mix of approval and admiration. “You’re not just some rookie. You’ve got some serious skills.”

Liam stood still, his stance relaxed now, though his mind was already racing with questions. He had just proven to Johnny what he was capable of—but what about himself? Could this dojo give him what he needed? Could it help him heal, or was he just here to fight another battle he couldn’t win?

“Not bad for a guy who’s been out of the game for a while,” Johnny said, breaking the silence. “I think you’ve got potential, Liam. But we’ll see if you’ve got the heart for it.”

Liam didn’t answer. He just turned, walking toward the door, the weight of his past heavier than ever. But maybe, just maybe, this would be the place where he could finally find a way to move forward.

As he stepped outside, the cool night air hit him like a slap, the noise of the dojo still buzzing in his ears. He wasn’t sure what he was searching for, but the fire inside him was alive again. And in the distance, he could just make out the figure of Lilu watching him from the shadows.

She didn’t say anything, but her gaze held a thousand unspoken words. There was history between them—too much history for either of them to ignore. And for the first time in a long time, Liam wasn’t sure whether he was ready to face it.

But the one thing he knew for sure was this: he wasn’t alone in this fight anymore.

And neither was Lilu.

---

Liam walked out of the dojo, the weight of the night pressing on his chest, his mind still racing. The adrenaline from sparring with Johnny still buzzed through his veins, but there was something more—something deeper that lingered in his thoughts. He couldn’t escape the feeling that everything was connected, like this was more than just a fight, more than just a training session.

He walked down the street in the cool night air, the sounds of the city humming softly in the distance. He didn’t know where he was headed, but he didn’t care. He just needed space. And yet, the closer he got to the park, the more he felt an invisible pull drawing him there. The moment he stepped onto the familiar path leading to the bench, he saw her.

Lilu.

She was sitting on the edge of the bench, her figure silhouetted against the dim light from a nearby streetlamp. He could tell she’d been waiting for him, and a strange mix of emotions stirred in his chest—regret, relief, and something else, something he wasn’t ready to face.

She stood when she saw him approach, her eyes sharp as always, but there was something softer in them tonight. “You’re late,” she said, her voice steady but with an undertone that told him she’d been thinking about him.

“Didn’t feel like sticking around after the workout,” Liam replied, leaning against a nearby tree, crossing his arms. “Johnny’s... a bit of a handful. But I think I can handle it.”

Lilu raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smirk. “You think you can handle Johnny Lawrence? The guy who’s turned his life into a battleground? Good luck with that.”

Liam chuckled dryly, glancing down at the ground. “I’ve been through worse.”

For a moment, there was silence. Then, Lilu spoke again, her tone gentler than usual. “I know,” she said quietly, her gaze softening. “You’ve been through a lot, Liam. We both have.”

He didn’t respond immediately. He wasn’t sure if he could without revealing too much—about himself, about the things he had locked away. But Lilu had always been able to read him, even when he didn’t want her to.

“How’s the training going?” she asked, her voice light, but he could hear the underlying curiosity.

Liam hesitated. “It’s... it’s harder than I thought. Johnny’s got this... edge to him, like he’s trying to teach me something more than just karate. But I don’t know if I’m ready for it.”

“You don’t have to be ready for everything at once,” Lilu replied, her voice calm but firm. “Sometimes, you just need to take things one step at a time. You can’t force the past to go away, and you can’t run from it either. You have to face it, Liam.”

Her words hit harder than any punch he’d thrown that night. It wasn’t the kind of advice he was used to getting, especially not from someone like her. But it felt... right. He looked up at her, his eyes meeting hers, and for the first time in a long while, he felt a flicker of hope. Maybe this was the place where he could finally start to heal, where he could find a way to move past everything that had haunted him for so long.

“I don’t know if I can,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “The military... it changes you, Lilu. I don’t think I can ever go back to the person I was before.”

“You don’t have to,” she said softly, taking a step closer. “You’re not the same person you were back then. But that doesn’t mean you have to carry it all alone. You’ve got a choice now. You can choose who you want to be.”

Liam stared at her, feeling the weight of her words sink in. She was right—he did have a choice. And as much as he wanted to keep running, to keep burying the pain and the memories, he knew he couldn’t. Not anymore.

“I’ve never been good at this,” Liam murmured, his gaze dropping to the ground. “At letting people in. I... I’ve hurt people before. I don’t want to do that again.”

Lilu stepped closer, her voice steady and unwavering. “You don’t have to be perfect, Liam. None of us are. But you can choose to be better. And that starts with being honest. With yourself and with the people who care about you.”

Liam felt a lump form in his throat as he looked at her. He wanted to say something, anything, but the words didn’t come. Instead, he just stood there, feeling the weight of everything he had carried for so long slowly start to loosen.

For a long time, they simply stood in silence, the sounds of the night around them creating a peaceful kind of stillness. But Liam didn’t mind the quiet. For once, he didn’t feel the need to fill the silence with words. He just needed to be.

Lilu broke the silence first, her voice low but full of conviction. “You’re not alone in this, Liam. We’re all in this together.”

He nodded, the words sinking deep into his chest. There was something in her gaze, in the way she stood there, that made him believe her. For the first time in a long time, he didn’t feel like an outsider. He didn’t feel like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders alone.

“I know,” he said quietly. “Thanks, Lilu.”

She smiled, and it was the kind of smile that told him everything he needed to know. That no matter how much time had passed, no matter what had happened in their past, they were still connected. Still in this together.

And for the first time in a long time, Liam allowed himself to believe that maybe, just maybe, he could find a way to move forward. With Lilu. With Cobra Kai. With everything.

The future was uncertain, but for the first time, it didn’t feel as terrifying as it once had.

---

The days following that conversation with Lilu felt different for Liam. There was a shift inside him, something that had been buried for so long finally stirring to life. He still had his doubts, his fears, but every time he thought about quitting or walking away from everything, he remembered her words—you don’t have to be perfect, Liam. You can choose to be better.

It wasn’t easy. The memories of his time in the military, the things he had seen, the things he had done—it all came rushing back at the most unexpected times. But Lilu had shown him that it wasn’t about burying it all. It was about facing it. And that’s exactly what he intended to do.

---

Liam entered the dojo one evening, more focused than he had been the day Johnny first brought him in. He was ready for whatever Johnny had to throw at him, ready to push himself further than ever before. It wasn’t just about karate anymore. It wasn’t just about proving something to Johnny or anyone else. It was about finding peace, about finding some semblance of himself again.

Johnny was already in the center of the room, stretching his arms out in preparation for the lesson. He looked up as Liam walked in, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“You actually showed up on time,” Johnny said, his voice half-mocking but with an edge of approval.

Liam nodded, walking past him to grab a pair of gloves. “Didn’t want to waste any more time.”

Johnny raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Alright, kid. Let’s see if all that talking matches your action. I’m not here to babysit. Get in the ring.”

Liam didn’t need any more encouragement. He stepped into the ring with Johnny, taking his stance, ready to go toe-to-toe with the man who had become both a mentor and a challenge.

Johnny didn’t waste time, launching into a series of aggressive moves that Liam was quick to block. He’d trained with many before—soldiers, martial artists, tough guys who thought they could take him down. But Johnny’s style was different. It wasn’t as refined as the military techniques he had learned, but there was a brutal efficiency to it. He fought with a raw, unpredictable energy that made him difficult to read.

But Liam wasn’t the same man he had been when he first walked through those doors. He had learned to adapt. To fight smart, not just hard.

The sound of fists landing against the pads echoed through the dojo as the two sparred. Johnny’s moves were fast, each strike aimed to break Liam’s defenses. But Liam had grown sharper, his reflexes faster, his instincts honed from years of living in survival mode.

“You’re improving,” Johnny said, his tone more approving than before. “I’ll give you that.”

Liam didn’t reply. He was too focused on the fight, his mind quieting as the rhythm of the match settled into his bones. He blocked a punch from Johnny and countered with a sharp roundhouse kick that sent Johnny stumbling back.

“Not bad,” Johnny muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. “You’re starting to get it.”

Liam felt the surge of confidence, but he knew this was just the beginning. There was so much more he needed to work on. But for once, he didn’t feel like an outsider. In the dojo, with Johnny’s approval and Lilu’s support, he felt like he belonged.

---

The next few days were a blur. Liam spent every waking moment in the dojo, training relentlessly. Each punch, each kick, was a step forward, a piece of the man he was becoming. But even with the physical progress, the emotional weight still lingered. Every time he closed his eyes, the images of his past flashed before him.

Lilu had always been there for him, a constant reminder that he wasn’t alone. But she had her own battles to fight. They hadn’t talked much since their conversation in the park, but Liam noticed how her gaze lingered on him whenever they crossed paths. There was something in her eyes—an unspoken understanding.

One evening, after a particularly grueling training session, Liam left the dojo, drenched in sweat and exhausted but strangely energized. He was walking down the street when he saw her—Lilu—leaning against the hood of a car, her arms crossed, watching him.

“You look like you’ve been through hell,” she said, her voice light but with a hint of concern.

Liam stopped in his tracks, a small smile tugging at his lips. “You have no idea.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Johnny’s not going easy on you, huh?”

“Not at all,” he replied, wiping his forehead. “But it’s not just Johnny. I’ve got my own demons to deal with.”

Lilu’s gaze softened, and she uncrossed her arms. “I get it. You’re not the only one with demons, Liam.”

He looked at her, the words heavy on his tongue. He had spent so long trying to outrun the darkness, but maybe—just maybe—he didn’t have to run anymore. Maybe he could face it, with her by his side.

“I know,” he said quietly. “But I think I’m finally starting to figure it out. Maybe I don’t need to carry everything alone anymore.”

Lilu’s eyes softened, and for the first time, he saw the vulnerability in her that she usually kept hidden behind her tough exterior. She stepped closer to him, closing the distance between them.

“You don’t,” she whispered.

Liam took a deep breath, the weight of her words sinking into him. He didn’t need to be perfect. He didn’t need to have it all together. He just needed to keep moving forward.

And for the first time, he didn’t feel afraid of what was ahead.

“I’m glad you’re here, Lilu,” Liam said quietly, his voice full of sincerity.

She smiled at him, that same smile that had been his anchor from the start. “I’m not going anywhere, Liam.”

In that moment, standing on the edge of something new, Liam realized that he wasn’t fighting alone anymore. And for the first time in a long time, he felt like he had a place to belong.

It wasn’t about winning the fights. It was about finding the strength to keep fighting, no matter the odds. And with Lilu by his side, he felt ready for whatever came next.

They didn’t need to say anything more. Their silence said it all.