Dedicated to @Robby2Keene and @AbbyWatson4 for their incredible support!

Lost.

This was the single word audible to Robby as he sat in his car, his hands clutching the steering wheel robotically. The road of Otsego street slowly faded away behind him as he drove aimlessly forward. When most people feel lost, they go home to regather their thoughts, only Robby didn't have a home, he never had.

I don't deserve to have anything after what I did.

His surroundings became only specks of shapelessness as he drove without thought of destination. All his senses had become muted after the resounding slam of the Paynes' door. He felt as though his pulse had stopped, his heart struggling for its last beats, yet his body seemed to push past the very boundaries that held life together, forcing him to stay conscious in the empty void that surrounded him. Because against all sense of reason, he was alive. Without purpose, maybe, but nonetheless, still breathing.

To think only a few months ago, he was content training under Sensei Kreese. He wasn't in it for the power or fame like the other students were. He wanted something more pure. Revenge. He would have done anything to prove to Miguel, to his dad, to himself, that he wasn't a worthless drop-out. He was going to be better than any of them could've ever been. Of course, he would have felt bad if Kenny had gotten hurt, but only as an extension of kindness to his friend, Shawn.

But that was the exact reason Robby had landed himself in the mess he now knew as his life.

All I was thinking about was myself and what I wanted from others without even realizing how much I was hurting the people around me who actually did want to help, who actually cared.

But things were different now. He didn't just care about Kenny as an ally or a friend, he loved him. And nothing scared him more than attachment.

The second I start caring about someone, I lose them. I guess that just proves that Kenny was no different than Sam or Mr. LaRusso.

Robby found himself parked outside his dad's apartment without any recollection of driving there. Every place would seem the same to someone who didn't care where they landed, after all. As soon as he exited the car, a wave of pain crawled up his body radiating mostly from his ribs and back.

Shawn may not have been the most tactical fighter, but he definitely hit harder than most of my other opponents.

The car keys jingled quietly in his left hand as he walked up to the smudged door of his father's apartment. Unfortunately, in his rush to find Kenny, Robby had completely forgotten to bring the new set of house keys his dad was letting him borrow, so he was left with no other option but to knock on the door and hope Johnny was inside. He honestly wasn't sure if he'd rather his father be inside or not.

I'm either going to be locked outside for hours or have to tell what happened between Kenny and I...

There was no response at the door for several minutes, the whistling air of the LA breeze being the only instrument of noise playing within his mind.

"Dad, are you home?" called Robby, peering in through the front window.

Everything was in its usual place, dishes in the sink and broken chips strewn across the floor (the normal setting of a grown man living alone) with the exception of the small lamp on the couch's side table being on, although he vaguely remembered turning it on himself before his sudden departure.

He moaned angrily, pounding his fist against the door in frustration.

Why can't he just be there for me for once?!

"I have a spare key if you'd like to use it," offered a woman from behind him, kindly.

Her words unexpectedly soothed Robby's temper, his anger slowly disappearing. When he turned around, he recognized the woman who was standing in front of the neighboring apartment's doorway as Carmen Diaz. He could tell she had been sleeping from the light gray robe wrapped around her slim frame.

Great, just another person whose life I screwed up.

"Um, thanks. Sorry for waking you up," said Robby awkwardly, as he took the keys from Carmen's extended hand.

"It's okay. Johnny's done it more times than I can count," smiled Carmen, understandingly.

Robby didn't know exactly how to respond, so he merely nodded in acknowledgement.

It was surprising to see her so calm around him, considering what he'd done to Miguel. He didn't know how, but it was almost as if she had this sense that something was wrong with him and wanted to help.

But she shouldn't have to care about me after all the awful things I've done to her family.

"I know this doesn't make up for what I did, but I am truly sorry for hurting Miguel," sighed Robby, genuinely.

"I'm never going to be able to be okay with what happened to him at that school, because I just don't know what I would've done if I lost him," started Carmen, slowly.

Robby breathed heavily as he listened to her words, avoiding eye contact as she spoke. He was positive that his chest would have tightened from guilt if not for the fact that he couldn't possibly feel any more regret than he was already feeling towards what happened with the Paynes.

"But I also understand that people make mistakes, especially kids, which means we have to allow you the chance to make those mistakes if we want you to grow."

Everyone's made it very clear to me that one mistake can ruin your life.

"Johnny told me that you helped him search for Miguel and that shows how much you've really changed over the last few months. It meant a lot to me to hear," continued Carmen.

"I'm not always a bad person," commented Robby, rhetorically as he started to unlock the door.

She doesn't owe me any of this.

"You're right, you are a good person, Robby. You've just had a bad life, which is why I forgive you," finished Carmen.

Robby suddenly stopped in his tracks, his heart pounding against his chest rapidly.

Did she just say that she forgave me?

"It's okay, Mz. Diaz. I can't accept your forgiveness," dismissed Robby.

As his gaze shifted upward, he was met by Carmen's kind smile.

"Yes, you can. I understand how much you've been through during your life-" reassured Carmen.

She stopped mid-sentence, almost as if the next words hurt just to say.

"Because I grew up in rough circumstances too. My family lived in a poor neighborhood in Mexico when I was growing up, and my parents always had to work long hours to provide for us. We were lucky if you even got food on the table," explained Carmen.

I never knew she'd grown up like that.

"Why are you telling me this?" asked Robby, confused.

"Because I want you to know that one bad circumstance doesn't define who you are, only you can decide the person that you want to be."

Robby didn't respond, but not because he wasn't listening. In fact, it was the complete opposite. He'd never seen anyone be so honest about their issues before, including himself.

"I can't take your forgiveness," repeated Robby, turning away as tears slowly started to well in his eyes.

"It's okay to ask for help sometimes, Robby," urged Carmen as she placed her hand on the teenager's shoulder.

And in that moment, Robby realized that she wasn't just being nice or polite because he was Johnny's son, she honestly cared about him enough to make sure he was okay. Not even his own mother had cared enough to do that, yet somehow, Carmen did. She found a way to understand the very person who almost killed her son.

Without thinking, Robby wrapped his arms around Carmen in a tight hug. The sensation it gave him was simultaneously uncomfortable and relieving, similar to that of his few hugs with his dad.

"Thank you," whispered Robby, softly as he pressed his chin against her shoulder.

"You're welcome. And trust me, you'll be able to mend your other mistakes, if you just give it time," replied Carmen.

He didn't exactly know how to comprehend what happened, only that it removed a small bit of the pain swallowing him up.

This doesn't make up for what I did to Kenny, but at least it fixes one of my problems.