Chapter Sixty-Two: Unsuspecting

"Go on and be a big girl. You asked for this now. You better show 'em why you talk so loud."

~You asked for this by Halsey~

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Revised: May 23, 2023

Warnings: abuse, addiction, anxiety, biphobia/homophobia, depression, domestic violence, slight eating disorder, language, panic attacks, sexual harassment/assault/abuse, violence, and other mature themes

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Zion's POV

I hold one side of the punching dummy for Kenny and Robby holds the other as the young boy goes at it. We share a smile.

"Everything outside of this room doesn't matter a bit to me. You deserve all the love in the world and I want to give it to you because you're the only one I want. I love you."

My heart flutters as I try not to cry again at how perfect he is. "I love you, too," I whisper in response.

We're in love.

"There's something I need to tell you guys about last night," Tory comes over to us.

"What's up?" I ask as Kenny continues punching the dummy.

The door to the dojo rings and I see Piper enter and take off her shoes.

I glance at Tory, then Piper, and then back at a Tory as she turns bright red. I laugh and Robby cracks a smile.

"She's early," Tory looks down in slight annoyance.

"Hey," Piper walks over to us. "Hey, you."

"Hey," Tory puts back on her game face.

"I'm here to try out for Cobra Kai. Tory says my gymnastic skills give me a natural talent for karate... and for other things," Piper looks at my best friend suggestively.

Robby covers Kenny's ears and turns him away from the inappropriate conversation as I smile at the duo.

"Anyway, we're testing out some stuff and going on a date sometime soon," Tory says quietly.

"That's so great," I smile at her.

Piper looks around, "So, where's the sensei?"

"They're coming back any minute now," I nod. Sensei Kreese let me know that they'll be gone for a little bit, but will be back in time for class.

"Listen up. Gather around," Sensei Silver walks in as if on cue.

Sensei Kreese follows him to the front as we fall in. I look at Silver wearily since I've only talked to Sensei Kreese since last night.

"We just had a little powwow with the senseis at Miyagi-Do," Sensei Silver explains. "From here on out, there'll be no fighting until the tournament."

We all stare in shock at the decision.

"So, if our enemies humiliate us, we just have to back down and take it?" Tory asks.

"Of course not. We should always show our enemies no mercy," Sensei Kreese addresses.

"But, there's a time to fight," our other sensei speaks up. "No need to waste a punch if its not gonna score a point. So, if your enemies do something to mess with you or laugh in your face, good!"

I look at Tory worriedly. This isn't the Cobra Kai I know.

"Take all that anger and store it! Because you're gonna need it when the time comes. And not a second before so they can learn our techniques and secrets," Sensei Silver directs his words at me.

I feel everyone's eyes fall on me and bite my lip not to back talk him. What I did last night needed to be done. My eyes shift to Sensei Kreese, but he looks down in tacit agreement with Sensei Silver. I can't believe this.

"Is that understood?" Sensei Silver continues.

"Yes, Sensei," everyone says as I stay silent.

"With conviction," he addresses everyone as his eyes narrow on me.

"Yes, Sensei," I join them this time.

"Z, come with me," Sensei Silver walks to the back room.

I take in a deep breath as I look at Sensei Kreese and he nods. I turn back to Robby and Tory to see them waiting for me to follow this man. So, I do.

"Congratulations on your win last night, Star," he says.

I let out a deep breath as I try to get past the fact that his first few teachings don't resonate with me.

"Thank you, Sensei," I say tensely.

"I had a move in mind for you, but you seem to lack discipline. I find it odd, though, since you're Sensei Kreese's top student. Unless he was wrong about you. Was he?" Sensei Silver steps right in front of me.

"No, Sensei."

"Prove it."

I look up at him in confusion.

"You have a temper. You need to learn to control your emotions and let your anger fester inside you. Letting it out before the tournament only gives your enemies more advantage over you. You think Sam LaRusso isn't adapting to your fighting tactics right now? You think that you didn't push her further than ever before to destroy us? You could have screwed over the whole dojo."

"Sorry, Sensei," I say as I avoid his piercing gaze.

"The Suffocation," he steps away from me and his tone of voice relaxes. "The move is formulated for smaller individuals and has your opponent coming to you before you strike hard. I told you your defense was weak, just as it must have been when your ex boyfriend kicked you off LaRusso's daughter?"

I look at him in surprise. I suppose everyone thinks that I didn't choke Sam any more because of Hawk, but I had made the decision not to before he even made contact with me.

"Yes, Sensei," I comply anyway.

"This move takes everything away from your opponent. A man can't breathe, he can't fight. That's why it's called-"

"The Suffocation," I finish.

He nods in approval, "Good. You learn quickly. That's good. Like I said, you need to get a grip on your emotions. Maybe try talking out what happened with me?"

I straighten my stance, "Sam said that I was-"

"Not last night," Sensei Silver stops me. I look up at him in confusion. "The night Sensei Kreese told me about. When you babysat for Hansen."

I feel a lump in my throat, "Sensei, I don't want to talk about that."

"Why not?" he questions.

"It doesn't... make me angry," I shrug as a lame excuse. I don't want to think about it.

"No, but it does make you scared," Sensei Silver acknowledges.

I look down as I try not to think about it or shake or have a panic attack.

"Think about it. Getting rid of your fear makes a stronger fighter. It's only then that you can truly recognize your opponent's fear."

My breathing becomes shaky as he walks away from me and I relax a little.

"Maybe some other time. Go back to the others and we can work in some time to train. You're the smallest one in there. If you follow me, you will be a star. I guarantee."

"Thank you, Sensei," I say nervously before wandering back into the main part of the dojo.

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Johnny's POV

I sit down to drinks with LaRusso, "You can tell me who the hell that guy was in a minute. I need you to hear this first."

I take out my phone and Daniel stops me, "I don't need to hear Ratt again. I'm familiar."

"No, I'm not showing you my badass music... right now. I'm showing you some voicemails I came across," I sigh as I slide through my phone. "I wanted Miguel to be here, too, but uh..."

I try to swipe the icon thing and it doesn't work. I try again and again.

"Give me my voicemail, you little bitch!"

"Johnny," he takes my phone and it opens to the screen I need. "Chill out."

I sigh in embarrassment, "Thanks. All right, so look. Z left me a shit ton of voicemails and text messages that I just now got when I set my phone up."

"What? Why would she do that?" Daniel glances at my phone for proof.

"It was after Miguel's fall," I explain. "She was freaking out and called me in a panic and I didn't have my phone because I threw that shit away, but I could have done something to help her."

"What does she say in the voicemails?" Daniel humors me.

"It's kind of private and she ends up speaking more to herself than me, but here. I can... play one of them." I press the first one.

"Hey, Johnny... Sensei."

Her voice is broken and hoarse from crying, most likely.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I really, really need someone to talk to. I don't know where to go or what to do. I really don't want to bother Carmen and Rosa, what with everything. And I hate to bother you, but I figured that in a few days it would be okay for me to maybe crash at the dojo? I'm out of town right now and I didn't... I didn't know where to go, really. I mean, who can you trust?"

We hear a small sob cause her to pause. Daniel rests his chin on his hand as we listen intently.

"I won't go back to my mom. She called me and threatened me, basically saying that I have to go back to school. I can't go back to living with her and you said to call if I need anything, so... I'm overexplaining. Anyway, I'm in Santa Maria."

"Why would she be there?" Daniel asks and I shush him.

"I'm crashing at my best friend, Jess', but obviously that won't last forever. I guess if the dojo doesn't work out, I can just live in my car. That's not why I called. I..."

Silence on the other end. We shift uncomfortably.

"I wanted to know if there's an update on Miguel? I don't know who else to reach out to. Robby's on the run, Tory's... somewhere, Hawk and I aren't really speaking, and that leaves pretty much nobody. Jess is great, but she doesn't understand the long rivalry or the drama. This is a long voice message, so I'm going to go. Just... call me back? Maybe? Thanks."

The message ends and I sigh in frustration. I fucked up. Again. He was right to attack me about being a bad father to Robby because I messed up Z and I know I'll mess up Miguel, too. I have to fight for that not to happen to Miguel.

"That sounded nothing like the girl who beat up my daughter," he states in surprise.

"She was scared," I say. "If I had had my phone, maybe Kreese wouldn't have gotten to her..."

"What do the other messages say?" Daniel urges me to go to another one randomly.

"Hi, it's Z again. Sorry to bother you again. Anything on Miguel? I'd really like an update, if at all possible. Or, maybe on Robby? I don't know where everyone has ended up. I just hope they're all okay and... and alive."

I press another message.

"Sensei? Are you hearing my messages or ignoring me on purpose? I really need you, someone to talk to."

I can hear her voice breaking.

"I'm too scared to go by Reseda or the dojo. It's bad enough that everything reminds me of what happened and what I've done. I can never make it up to Miguel, if he lives. I can never make it up to Carmen. I don't know how. I should have stopped him or Robby, but instead I let my anger get the best of me. It's all my fault."

She cries and then it ends. She must have hung up.

"I don't understand how she blame herself for that. None of what happened to me at the school was her fault." I think back to Tory being the cause of it after Sam and Miguel kissed. Robby and Z weren't the purpose behind it, right?

"Robby mentioned, while he was staying with us, that Zion's mom was a bit harsh and abrasive with her," Daniel nods.

"She's always hated her mom. I get it. I hated my step dad," Sensei agrees with him. "I thought maybe there was something more there, though. I never met the mom. I knew Z moved out, though. I got the feeling that she was abusive once her dad passed."

"Dear God," Daniel is stunned. "I didn't know... I didn't know all that. That explains so much, but doesn't excuse it."

"She blamed herself for Miguel's fall," I piece it together, "because she was conditioned to being blamed for everything?"

"And Kreese is manipulating her based on that," Daniel finishes.

She's in deeper than I ever thought before and I feel awful.

"Her last message made me feel like shit. She called at three am and-"

"Hold on. I got it," Daniel takes my phone.

"Hey, Sensei. I don't know if you have an update on Miguel, but um..." She breathes heavily and her voice is shaky. "...if you do, please call me back. I'm sorry I've called you a lot already. I just..." She pauses and a loud sob escapes her mouth and it hurts my heart all over again. "...am looking for some reassurance that he's okay. Nobody knows anything or cares. Please, um..."

Static on her end as she tries to breathe in and out. We can hear her muttering to herself, but it's incoherent.

"Okay. Thanks. Bye." And it ends.

"I keep messing up," I curse myself. "At least now we know that it isn't all her."

"She seemed pretty confident on her own last night," he refers to Sam. "After Sam struck her because of you."

"Hey, our plan was to train each other's groups. Why do you get to get mad at me and I don't get to be angry about you taking Miguel away?" I question.

"Taking Miguel away?" he asks. "You- You know what? We're not here to fight or argue. We both have our techniques and the kids will find their right way."

"Right, with Eagle Fang," I nod.

"Or Miyagi-Do," he says tensely.

We sit in silence and take a long drink from our glasses.

"More, please," I slide it over to the bartender.

"I think we should tell the others about this for a better understanding," Daniel suggests.

"No, no, she's private," I stop him. "There's a reason you didn't know about her mom."

"We're just going to keep this from them?" he questions.

"Would you like your secrets spread everywhere?" I ask him.

He stays silent.

"Right. So, now, tell me who the hell the tall, fancy guy from this morning was."

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Zion's POV

I clear security and make my way through the hallways of West Valley High. It already feels different since the drive-in. I see everyone's looks of disgust and fear.

I assume the word is out that I stole Robby from the princess, not that I truly mind. He and I made the decision to let everything think as much.

"We need to talk," Jai appears beside me and scares me half to death. "And, don't tell me it's nothing. I hear the whole school talking about your backstabbing scandal."

"Um, it wasn't meant to happen," I tell them as I try to keep up the cover that we really cheat. "Everything just... fell into place." I don't want them to hate me.

"I won't lie; I made the same mistake," they sigh.

"What?" I ask as they drop their head in dismay.

"Okay, so at my old school, I had a crush on my best friend. Cliche lesbian love story, right? Until, I started dating this girl from the art class I got stuck in. Charli and I were going strong until my best friend, Hannah, told me that she had feelings for me."

I stare in shock at their confession.

"We ended up kissing and I had to text Charli the next day and end things. She never forgave me," Jai frowns.

"You've gone too far this time and... and none of us will ever forgive you."

"But, you learn from your mistakes and move on. So, I have no right to judge you and I'm sure this 'Robby' dude is awesome. You know, for a dude," Jai smirks.

"You don't hate me and want to shun me forever?" I ask.

"You overthink things, Z. I do not hate you and neither will Liv or Eva," they assure me. "We are going to have a lot of fun this afternoon working on this project."

"This afternoon?" I ask.

They nod and I curl into myself in self hatred.

"I have karate after school and then I'm scheduled to work right after," I groan. "I thought we'd do this later in the week."

"Take it up with them. I don't care when we do it. I don't have a social life here yet," Jai shrugs with a smile. "Relax a little, okay? It'll be fine."

I nod as we walk down the hallway, but feel my chest tighten when I see Miguel, Hawk, Demetri, and Sam huddled together and blocking our path. His mohawk is purple now, I notice.

They all turn to look at me, except for Hawk.

He slams his locker shut and walks away from me. I can't even see his face, but I can tell how mad and hurt he is.

I look at Sam, and she evades my gaze like a coward. Miguel grabs her and pulls her away and they disappear into a classroom.

"You aren't getting away with what you did to Eli," Demetri steps forward. "I don't care about the no fighting rule. There are ways around it."

I shift away from Jai to keep them out of it. "Have fun trying to take me down."

Demetri stares in confusion at my response as I gesture for Jai to follow me past him. I'm not threatened by his little dick energy.

"Shit, are you just enemies with everyone?" Jai questions in amusement as we head to my locker.

I open it up and a couple notes fall out. Jai and I open them together and I gasp when I see the vulgar words typed onto the little slips. It sends a shockwave through me.

I rip it up immediately and do the same to the others before even reading them. I just know that if I were to read them, I'd breakdown right here.

Jai turns to me in concern, but I speak up before they can, "I'm fine. I need... I need to, uh, get to class."

I turn to find the bathroom, but see a bunch of people staring at me, like they were in on the stupid prank. It's mainly boys who give me lewd looks as I try not to run down the hallway to get away.

I make it into the bathroom and lock myself in a stall. I guess it flew over my head that I'd be ridiculed like this for owning up to cheating with Robby. I mean, I knew what everyone said about Sam after Tory told everyone; I should have been prepared, but I wasn't, especially not after Adam.

I spin my snake ring on my finger as I begin to count down. One hundred. Ninety-seven. Ninety-four. Ninety-one. Eighty-eight...

I don't think I can face this kind of bullying everyday alone. It just sends me into a panic that I can't shake.

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Robby's POV

"There are three things that make a champion." All of us train as Sensei Silver speaks. "The three D's. Desire. Devotion. And discipline." He stands before the class. "The first two I can't give you. The last one I can, but you have to be willing to receive it. Are you?"

"Yes, Sensei!"

"All right. Junbi stance. Now, I understand you wanna defeat your enemies. And you will, when it matters," he looks at Tory specifically. I can't say I disagree, but there's always another way. "Until then, just stay focused on your training. Is that understood?"

I stay silent and see Tory doing the same. Z agrees with a couple others, "Yes, Sensei."

"With conviction," Sensei Silver says in irritation.

"Yes, Sensei," we all agree now.

I glance at Z as she looks straight forward and away from our Sensei. I wonder what's going on in her head.

I wonder if she's thinking about Hawk. She lied for me in front of everyone. I know I should feel good, but instead I feel angry. I'm angry at Hawk, especially after he kicked her last night. He makes her think she isn't worthy of love and it hurts my heart.

"Good. Arms out. Attention. Chae-ryut. Kyun-nae." We bow to him as he does to us. "Dismissed."

I turn to Z and see her already heading over to grab her things.

"Hey, you all right?" I jog over in concern.

She doesn't look up from her bag, "I need to get to work."

"What's wrong?" I whisper to her. I wonder if it truly is about her ex.

"We'll talk later, okay?" Z finally looks at me. I see sincerity in her eyes, like she wants to tell me, but not here.

"Okay," I nod in agreement.

Z leans in and we kiss for a couple seconds before she pulls away.

"I really have to go. See you tonight," she checks the clock on the wall before walking out the door.

"Second Sensei's been working us hard today!" Kyler comes over and grabs his water bottle. I see the others following him; he's growing on me. "Guy's going beast mode."

Tory and Kenny walk over as Kyler continues to talk.

"Sucks we can't give a beatdown before the tournament."

"Yeah, Z was the only one," Kenny agrees.

"Hawk was stupid to believe it, too. I'm relieved that you're in my life, Robby Keene."

"Just because we can't fight doesn't mean we can't get a little payback," I tell them as a plan forms.

"So, what do you have in mind?"

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"Rico, you good?"

We enter behind Hawk as he lounges on the table without a care in the world.

"Tattoo shop's closed for the day," Kyler says as all of us walk in.

I glare at his back. I need him to know that he will never get Zion back and he will never hurt her again. The other Cobras see this as revenge for him being a traitor; I see it as an opportunity to break Eli Moskowitz once and for all.

He put the girl I love through hell. She's hesitant to even talk to me about what I can only assume is him. We reap what we sow.

I share a mischievous look with Tory as I walk around the shop for something we can use.

"Hey," Kyler holds his arms up and taunts Hawk.

Hawk jumps up in fear as Kyler and a few others rush after him. I put Kyler in charge of pinning him down while Tory is beside them for backup.

Hawk kicks the table he was on at them, but he's beaten by too many of the guys at once. I see him looking around for Zion in desperation. Pathetic.

Finally, Kyler pins his neck with the belt and I turn to Tory as she holds his arms down.

"You weren't that hard to find, you little bitch," Kyler grunts in his face.

It's then that I look over and notice his stupid mohawk is purple now. Not for long.

"You assholes just ignoring the no fighting rules?" Hawk grunts through the restraint.

"Oh, we're not here to fight," I grab the scissors methodically.

I walk over to the wimp and wave them over his head. He looks up at me in fear as I give him a small, satisfied smirk.

"Aw, I think he's gonna cry," Kyler mocks him.

"Does Z know you're here? Where is she?" Hawk struggles.

I roll my eyes at his idiocy. He can break her apart and say he hates her and say he will never forgive her and put her through hell, but he still expects her to feel something for him and save him?

"It's time you realize the truth and get a dose of reality, Moskowitz," I tell him.

He grunts, "Yeah? What's that?"

"Don't think you have the upper hand here, Eli," Tory smirks down at him.

I snap the scissors in front of his face and it makes him jolt. I see slight tears in his eyes.

Some of the Cobras laugh as I walk around the table and look at his ridiculous haircut. He struggles again to get free. I cut off a chunk of his hair.

"When will you get it through your thick skull that she doesn't care about you?"

Another cut.

"That she doesn't want you?"

Another.

"That everything you went through. wasn't. real."

The purple falls to the floor and leaves the boy mutilated.

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Zion's POV

The last customer leaves two minutes before we close. Now, I can go to Shannon's and finally have some alone time with Robby.

I can feel the weight of the day pressing on my shoulders and making it hard to breathe. I need to tell Robby about what happened. I need to hope he understands how much it's impacted me. Am I terrified of his reaction? Yes. Do I trust him? Yes. So, this is my best option, right?

I walk out from behind the counter and begin to sweep as the door to the small shop rings; I groan internally in frustration.

"Welcome to Subway. We're about to close, so..."

I pause as my eyes take in the visitor who surely isn't a customer.

"I'm talking and you're listening because I deserve to get a word in."

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A/N: I don't even know what to comment with after this chapter. It speaks for itself.

There will be a POV from Eli published in my other book Exile later on, just to break your heart a little extra.

Okay, I know I said I was taking a break, but it was a lie because I really wanted to publish this.

Heads up: Updates will be less frequent once I get out of quarantine tomorrow, but yay I get out of quarantine tomorrow:)