"But there's a side to you that I never knew, never knew. All the things you'd say, they were never true, never true. And the games you play, you would always win, always win. But I set fire to the rain."

~Set Fire to the Rain by Adele~

⭒⭒⭒

A/N: Okay, this is a weird late Sunday/ early Monday post (and relatively short chapter), so PLEASE comment so I know I didn't make a mistake sharing this at the beginning of the week instead of the end <3 As usual, I'm excited to know what you think.

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

⭒⭒⭒

Third Person POV: A Few Weeks Ago

John Kreese and Dr. Folsom sit across from each other. She waits for Kreese to speak, to say anything. The room is silent. 

"All right. Enough of this," Dr. Folsom closes her binder. "You're sitting here sulking like a kid who got in trouble in class."

"What do you want me to do?" Kreese counters. "Cry into a tissue?"

"I thought you were a sensei," Dr. Folsom accuses.

"I am a sensei," he defends.

"Then act like one," she raises her voice. "Look, I'm not here to scold you. I'm here to help. I believe that deep down you're a good man. I don't believe you were always this violent person.

Inexplicably, Dr. Folsom is replaced with Betsy, Kreese's first love. She looks at him worriedly and speaks softly, "I think something happened in your past."

Kreese pauses before engaging with her, "I did lose someone. Years ago."

"Who was she?" Betsy wonders.

"The love of my life," Kreese admits, a new vulnerability breaking through.

"I'm sorry to hear that, John." Betsey sounds like Dr. Folsom when she says that. "Where were you when it happened?"

"Overseas. Her death... allowed me to do what I had to do."

"Whatever it took to save yourself," Captain Turner, Kreese's captain in Vietman, sits where Betsy once was. 

"Don't judge me like those long-haired hippies," Kreese sits up attentively. Defensively. He gets aggressive as he faces his captain again, "It was war."

"Oh, but that violence followed you home," Captain Turner continues. "See, I read your file. After Vietnam, you became a sensei, opened a dojo, taught kids how to fight."

"I taught them to be strong, to take the anger they feel and turn it into power."

Captain Turner just laughs. Kreese tries to cover his ears. Then he stands up and walks away.

"I've had enough of this."

"What an interesting choice of words," Silver calls after him. Kreese turns to him slowly. "'Take the anger they feel.' Do you feel angry, John? At who?"

"The people who put me in this cage."

"But you did this to yourself," Silver mocks.

"Don't be ridiculous. None of it is my fault."

"None of it?" Kreese blinks and Zion sits where Silver did. "You were a sensei to students who don't even care to visit you anymore. You're alone, and none of that reflects on you? One said you made them 'soulless.'"

"No, I made them powerful."

Zion looks down in dismay, "But at what cost?"

"At the cost of survival. She... They might not have survived without me."

"So you don't feel any regret?" Tory appears before him.

"Regret?" Kreese spirals. "Tell me, what exactly am I supposed to feel regret for?"

"The people you've hurt," a young Johnny Lawrence sits across from him. 

Kreese looks up in surprise, "I wasn't trying to hurt anyone... I was trying to make my students tough." He looks vulnerable again and almost regretful.

"You wanted them to be like you," young Johnny tells him.

"No, I wanted them all to be better than me." 

Adult Johnny just nods at him, a skeptical look in his eye.

Kreese blinks, and everyone is gone. It's just him and Dr. Folsom again.

"I know you can be better than the person you've become. He's locked in side you," Dr. Folsom says. "Somewhere deeper."

"You just have to find him." Kreese looks at a younger version of himself.

In this, he finds comfort. And a spark of determination reignites within.

⭒⭒⭒

Third Person POV: Presently

When Tory walks into Cobra Kai the next day, Sensei Kim finds her before anyone else.

"Nichols," she calls. The blonde turns to her nervously. "Why did you abandon your team yesterday when they needed you to lead?"

Tory shifts awkwardly, "Um, my mom needed me. She fell, so I had to go home. I had no other choice. Uh, she's okay now." 

Sensei Kim glowers at Tory for the obvious lie. "Find your spot." She turns away.

"Tor," Piper rushes over once Sensei Kim is gone, "what happened? You haven't responded to me since yesterday. Is everything okay?" 

"I did something bad, Piper," Tory whispers quietly. "But I can't tell you now."

"Is your mom okay?" Devon walks over and scares the girls. "I overheard you talking to Sensei Kim."

Piper looks at Tory in confusion and nervousness as the blonde replies, "Yeah, she's okay now."

"Let's fall in," Sensei Silver emerges from his upstairs office. Kenny finds his spot on his own since Shawn's class is later in the day. "We'll start of with some simple burpees. Get ready for today's lesson because now that we're in the Sekai Taikai, there's no time for laziness or slacking off."

After everyone gets going, Sensei Kim singles out Tory, "Nichols. Double time."

Silver lowers his voice, "What reason did she give for leaving the exhibition?"

"Lies," Sensei Kim sneers.

"LaRusso. Lawrence. Toguchi. They'll all pay for that little stunt they pulled at the Sekai Taikai," Silver says with venom in his voice.

"They are mosquitos. And the next time an unwanted pest lands on our arm, we will swat them."

⭒⭒⭒

Zion's POV

It doesn't matter what I do: sleep, try to eat, scroll on TikTok. I can't shake Silver and what he's done from my mind.

Robby sits in his bed with me at Shannon's, but we haven't exchanged more than a few words all morning. I'm embarrassed, and I've lost all hope. I can tell that even Robby doesn't know what to do now.

He tried reasoning with the students after I got jumped. I've tried talking to Kenny directly. Nobody wants to listen to us. Silver has them all manipulated. As far as I know Tory ran off after going rogue.

I stare off into space, trapped inside my own mind. I'm spiraling. I canceled therapy for the week because of the Sekai Taikai qualifiers. I was so stupid to do that. I had one of the worst panic attacks ever last night. It took forever for me to calm down. I don't even remember most of that party. 

Something has to be done.

I hear Robby close out of TikTok on his phone. I glance over to see him typing with his brow furrowed.

I turn to him, "What is it?" My voice is raspy and sore from crying.

"Uh," he shrugs casually, "it's Sam. She invited us to Miyagi-Do."

"Why bother?" I ask. "Silver won."

"You're really giving up?" Robby asks in surprise.

"Why shouldn't I?" I wonder, not looking for a real answer. 

Robby frowns, "There has to be some way to take him down as a team."

"I don't have the strength to," I whisper as I try not to cry again.

"You're so strong," Robby brushes the hair out of my face to get me to look at him. Tears threaten to fall. "You told off your mom. You told off Kreese. You overcame an addiction. You survived Silver-"

"And he manipulated me anyway." I think about it for a moment, "Why? You want to go to Miyagi-Do?"

"I think it's worth a shot," he decides.

"There's no way to take beat Silver. There's no way to prove that he cheated or what he did to me..."

Then it hits me.

"Stingray," I tell Robby.

⭒⭒⭒

My hair is a wreck, my eyes are red from violently sobbing all night, and I feel unstable. Still, I'm here with Robby and what might be an insane plan. 

"Wait, wait, okay so Tory said that Sensei Targaryen paid off the ref at the All Valley? That's what went down while I was in the bathroom last night?" I hear Demetri ask Miguel and Sam we walk over to them, Eli, and Bert.

"Zion," Eli looks at me worriedly, "are you okay?" They all turn to me.

"Not really," I mutter honestly and cross my arms to close myself off from them.

Robby stands by me protectively and speaks up, "She has more information about Silver."

"What is it?" Sam asks eagerly. 

I take in a deep breath. "He's the one who tried to kill Stingray, not Kreese."

"What?" Eli asks.

"How do you know?" Bert asks me.

"I..." I glance at Robby as he nods in support. "I saw Kreese in prison one time, and he... he told me." I see Miguel look at me because he also knows the truth. 

"And you believe him?" Eli asks skeptically.

"Yeah." I can't let them know that I only believed Kreese because of what Silver did to me. I won't let them ever know about what Silver did to me. 

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Sam asks in an accusatory voice.

I look down guiltily as Robby defends me, "Hey, at least she did."

"We need to tell the senseis," Miguel insists.

Sam disagrees, "What are they gonna do? We all saw what happened to my dad when he tried to confront Silver. I don't want him getting hurt like that again."

"Me neither, but we have to do something," Robby says. 

"If this ref and Stingray are on Silver's payroll, they'll never admit to anything," Demetri points out.

"I know. I don't know how to get him to admit it," I admit.

"I'm not so sure about that," Bert interjects. I turn to him in surprise. "I know he's in Cobra Kai and I'm in Eagle Fang, but Stingray's still my friend. He wouldn't lie to me. At least I hope he wouldn't."

"Do you think you can get him to talk?" Hawk asks.

Bert nods. Sam nods determinedly, "Find out where he lives." I'm surprised by the quick solution. 

"Let's go," Hawk tells Demetri as they follow Bert to find Stingray's address online. I really, really hope this works.

"Hey," Robby pulls me aside, "I didn't mean to push you to do this today. We can go back and-"

"I think I need this," I tell him honestly. "I want to see Silver in jail. This plan has to work."

"Got it!" Demetri exclaims. Robby just gives me a nod of encouragement. 

⭒⭒⭒

Third Person POV

"Dismissed," Sensei Silver addresses the class.

Everyone relaxes, and Tory immediately walks over to talk to Piper and leave with her.

"Except you, Nichols," Silver tells her. The girls' faces fall. "I need you to stay a little longer."

Tory nods then turns to Piper with a whisper, "I guess I can tell you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Piper wonders.

"I've already been here all day. I'm exhausted, and there are still chores at home to do. I'll talk to you tomorrow," Tory says sadly before walking to the dojo's bar for a bottle of water to wait out everyone leaving.

"Bye," Devon smiles at Piper. Piper looks after her girlfriend worriedly before grabbing her bag and leaving.

When the dojo is basically empty, Silver, Sensei Kim, and three other senseis gather around Tory and set up a stone dummy before her. 

"What is this?" Tory asks.

"This is your enemy," Sensei Kim explains. "Destroy it."

The blonde hesitates and walks closer to examine it. Then she turns back to Silver, "It's solid stone. I'll break my hand."

Silver stays silent in agreement with Sensei Kim. She speaks up, "It will heal in time for the tournament."

Tory looks between the two, "This is crazy." She steps away. "I'm going home."

Suddenly the other three senseis block her exit. "You will go home when the lesson is over."

With no other choice, Tory steps back to the stone nervously. She keeps looking at Sensei Kim for a sign that this is a joke or that she'll change her mind. She doesn't. 

Tory tests her fist on the stone gently once. Then she punches it and lets out a grunt of pain. 

"Not hard enough," Sensei Kim states. "To break it, you must use all your power."

Tory tries again. This time when her fist makes contact, she cries out and bends over to clutch her bleeding knuckles.

Silver just watches as Kim taunts, "Are you even trying?"

Tory tries three times in succession and still fails. She steps away in pain then falls to her knees. 

"Something is holding you back," she says. 

"I-I can't do it," Tory gives up.

"It's your girlfriend, isn't it?"

"No," Tory gasps in pain and in disbelief at the mention of Piper.

"Then perhaps you friendship with the Ambrose girl." Sensei Kim offers. 

Tory looks up in surprise, her one hand clutching the hurt one. 

"You act strong, but inside you're soft."

"That's not true!" Tory argues.

"Your feelings have made you weak."

"No!" 

"You care more about friendship than your own dojo!" 

"I gave up all of my friends because of this dojo, you bitch!" Tory screams and throws a punch.

Sensei Kim dodges it. Tory's knuckles hit the stone and successfully break it. Tory screams in agony as she drops to the floor in tears.

"That must have been a hard decision," Silver walks behind her coldly. "But you made the right choice. Let's hope you keep making them."

Then he leaves as Tory processes the pain, abuse, and loss at once. 

"Lesson over," Sensei Kim says before the other male senseis file out behind her.

Tory can only sob and hold her probably broken hand for the next ten minutes as memories of her lost friends wash over her: Zion, Eva, Liv, Jai, Robby. All gone. For this.

⭒⭒⭒

Zion's POV

I'm so anxious here at Stingray's apartment complex. This is where Silver beat up Daniel. Stingray's Cobra Kai car was in the parking lot. I have no idea what to really expect from this.

Bert goes ahead of us to knock on the door and get the invite in. I stay at the back of the group with Robby despite it being my ideal initially. I feel like one misstep could ruin any chance we have.

"Bert!" Stingray opens the door excitedly. "What's up, dude? Wanna play some D&D? These uh, oh there they are..."

I step back in fear when another tall figure comes into the doorway. Robby realizes and steps in front of me in case.

I feel really stupid when I see three middle-aged men walk out of the apartment. Robby relaxes; I don't. Stingray continues, "These noobs were just entering the night and exiting the light-"

When we emerge from around the corner, he stops talking.

Then, "Miyagi-Fangs? Oh, this is a trap." Getting him to confess will either be really easy or really hard. "Oh, you Admiral Ackbar-ed me," Stingray turns back to Bert. "Et-tu, Bert-tay?"

"Knock it off," Eli speaks up in all seriousness. "We know Kreese never hurt you."

"A-According to my testimony in a court of law, he did. So... read the transcript," Stingray evades us as expected and tries to close the door.

Sam slams her hand on the door to stop him, "You lied to the court, and you lied to my dad, but you're not going to lie to us." Then she walks in. I'm really glad she has the courage to do this. 

Stingray raises his eyebrows in surprise, "You're gonna just let her- Okay, now you're all walking in."

Robby and I are the last ones in. I take in the gaudy decor, including his snake rug. This is Silver's doing. I feel like I can't escape it. I can't escape him.

We file into the dining room where he was playing D&D. My chest tightens from being here. Demetri, Eli, and Sam step forward to interrogate him. I'm really glad I don't have to.

I watch for maybe ten minutes as they try to get him to talk. Bert, Miguel, and even Robby jump in, too, but nothing works. Stingray is sticking to his story; it's frustrating.

"Okay, okay, all right. Let's try this one more time, okay? What happened that night? Who hurt you?" Demetri asks again.

"Hey, Bert," Stingray focuses on the boy, "how does it feel-"

"Look, look, look at me, look at me," Demetri tries some more.

"-to stab a grown man in the back between his shoulder blades and stare at the blood as it trickles down his back?"

"God, enough!" Eli snaps. "No more games."

I watch Stingray suddenly sink back in his chair. He actually looks worried.

"My dad went through a lot of pain because of you and Silver," Sam says softly yet firmly. "Now a lot of other people will too if you just sit back and do nothing."

"But if I tell you what really happened... you know, h-he'll find out," the man replies.

And suddenly I get it. He's terrified.

"I can't. It's not that easy, you guys," he continues. 

It's silent for a moment. I must have tensed or something because Robby turns to me in concern. I shake my head to let him know I'm fine. But I'm not.

"Actually, there, um, wait," Stingray says. "Okay, so I've been working on this new D&D campaign-"

"I don't think we have time for this," Miguel admits as I look at Stingray skeptically.

"Wait a minute," Eli picks up on the tactic. "What happens in the campaign, Stingray?"

"Okay," he picks up a figure. "So once upon a time there was a dwarven monk, and he was a member of the most badass guild in all of the land. Uh, he was banished for a time. You know, typical PC crap."

I see Miguel and Robby share a look. I wait for what Stingray might say next. 

"But, um, once he paid his penance, he returned. Only by then, the guild was under new leadership." He sets another figure next to his. I guess it's either Silver or Kreese. "And the monk was denied reentry into the guild. And quite unceremoniously, might I add."

I remember the day Stingray came back. I remember Kreese humilating him and telling him to get out. I didn't realize how much that really hurt him.

"So what did the monk do? The monk, he made a pact with a silver-haired king," Stingray looks down in regret, "who would usurp the leader." 

He makes Silver's figure knock down Kreese's. My heart pounds, and I try not to cry. I know what happens. It was all a pact, a nefarious promise from Silver. I know-

"And it was early one morning before any of the warriors had arrived that the king struck the monk down." Silver's piece now knocks down Stingray. "Again."

My head pounds.

"And again."

My chest tightens.

"And again."

It's hard to breathe.

"It was then that they framed the leader for the assault, and the leader was put in chains," Stingray tries to explain while obviously reliving it all. My breathing is heavy. I can't control the panic because I understand. "And the silver-haired king took over the guild."

It's silent for a moment. I feel Robby's hand try to find mine. I turn away slightly. Miguel looks over at me in concern. Only they know.

"And you were..." Demetri breaks the silence, "the dwarven monk was let back into the guild?"

"Yeah," Eli nods casually, "with benefits."

"Aye," Stingray masks his pain, "with benefits, yeah."

"Okay," Miguel tries to understand, "so why not just tell everyone what really happened?"

"Because he doesn't want to lose his benefits," Sam says curtly. I look at her in surprise when she stands up; that's what she really thinks?

"No, no! I- The monk would give it all back if he could, but the... the silver-haired king, you know, he... he almost killed the monk."

I turn my head away and press my lips together as tears fall. I try to stay so silent. I can't take this.

"He could have killed him. And why? To get power. So, yeah, the monk fears what the king would do to keep that power. I think the monk just... The monk just wanted reentry into the guild because he thought that he could be like a... like a proud and noble warrior. Just like you Hawk, Z, all you guys."

I look over at him when he says that. Then I see Demetri look back at me, and his eyes widen when he sees me crying. Before he can say anything, Stingray continues.

"But he's neither proud nor noble. Definitely not a warrior. He just sits around playing with them all day. The monk's just scared. I know that may sound stupid-"

"It's not," I manage to say. 

"Z," Miguel turns to me with a frown. I see them all turn to me in concern now.

"It's not stupid... because... because I know how it feels."

They stay silent. They let me have my moment. I can sense Robby's hesitation. I have to let this out. I can't hold it in any longer.

"Silver got me the night of prom."

My hands shake. My head pounds. My chest tightens.

"I was doubting his teachings, and he tried to get me to stay. Then he hit me. Over and over and over again. I was powerless. I wasn't noble or proud, either." My eyes are filled with tears now. I can't see anything. "I was terrified. I thought I was going to die... He actually grabbed my neck and... I don't even remember how I made it out of there." 

I wipe my eyes in a desperate attempt to stop crying. 

"You really don't know who Terry Silver is until it's too late. You don't understand Cobra Kai until you're in it. But Stingray," I look at him directly, "you have to say something. You have to tell the truth. You're the only one who can. You had a trial. You have privilege as a white man and an adult. You can get Silver locked away for good so this doesn't happen to more people."

I can feel myself talking faster and faster. He doesn't respond; he just looks at me in pity and conflict.

I continue to plead, "This can't keep happening. Silver can't go unchecked. Please, you have to make a move. Please."

Stingray frowns as he looks around, "I want to... but I just... I can't."

My heart shatters. I turn away in embarrassment and humilation. I begin crying for real, loudly. I just told everyone one of my biggest secrets, and it didn't even matter. It didn't make a difference. I just showed them how weak I am. I just showed them the worst parts of myself. 

All for nothing.

I feel Robby try to grab me and console me again, but I step away in fear. I can't take it. I can't do this. 

"Thanks for nothing," I hear Sam say over the noise inside my mind.

Suddenly two people leave. The door slams behind them. It makes me jump. I sob into my hands helplessly. I shouldn't have said anything to anyone ever. 

"Zion-"

"Don't," I hear Robby tell Demetri protectively. 

"I-I'm sorry," Stingray tells me.

"You're a coward," I turn around and snap at him. 

Everyone stares at me in shock.

"If you..." I take in a deep breath to find my words. "If you won't do something about this, then I will."

Suddenly I'm rushing to the front door. My keys are digging into the palm of my hand. I don't know where I'm going. I don't have any plan.

I just know that I need to take down Silver. There has to be some other way. There has to be some escape.

"Zion?" Robby calls after me.

I unlock my car, ready to get in and do something. My mind is spinning. My blood is pumping. There has to be some other way.

"Where are you going?" Robby asks.

I turn back to see Eli, Demetri, and Bert following us out here. Great. I hope they're enjoying the show.

"I can't let him keep doing this," I explain. "I can't- I can't let him go unchecked. There has to be another way without Stingray. There has to be proof."

"You know I understand that, but is rushing into something really a good idea?" Robby wonders.

"Maybe not, but it's the only option I have." I open my car door. 

"No it's not. You have so much that you can't lose," he tries to convince me. 

My mind spins. He's right. 

"We can talk about it," he offers.

Besides, only Stingray can admit to Silver framing Kreese.

Kreese.

"I'm sure we can come up with a rational plan," Demetri offers.

"I have a plan," I decide as I mask my fear and doubt. "I have to talk to Kreese."

"What?" Bert and Demetri ask at the same time.

"Hold on," Robby steps closer to me. I keep my hand on my car door wearily. "Don't talk to Kreese. We can figure this out together."

"There aren't any options left!" I exclaim. "For all we know, Silver knew we were here." I look at Eli, "You said 'the enemy of your enemy is your friend,' right?"

"Yeah, but not about this. Kreese put us through hell," Eli argues. "What if there was another way to get proof?"

"...What other way?"

"Well, I'd assume that one of the Cobra Kai senseis installed security cameras at some point for insurance purposes. If their server transfered from the old dojo to the flagship one, we might be able to find the footage of Silver and Stingray," Eli explains.

"Silver definitely had cameras at the old location," Robby confirms.

Demetri replies hesitantly, "But we'd have to be hard-wired in to get any of that footage. It would require breaking in."

"That might actually work," I admit as I close my car door back.

"We'd really break in?" Robby wonders.

"That violates probation, I'm guessing?" Bert asks. I frown.

"Yeah, and if we get caught you're charged as an adult," Robby turns to me in concern.

I hate to say that I'm going along with Eli's plan. It's just crazy enough to work. I reply, "Not if we don't get caught."

"Exactly," Eli nods supportively.

"This is crazy. We can't really do this, right?" Demetri tries to reason.

I look at Robby, really hopeful that he'll give in and agree. I need this. We all do.

He sighs, "I think working together to achieve it might give us a shot."

"Okay, I'll text everyone to meet us," Bert gets out his phone.

"We'll need to go to our houses and grab our computer camp gear to be able to transfer the recordings," Demetri explains.

"We'll need to get Miguel and Sam to agree, too," Robby points out.

Adrenaline pumps through my veins as I state, "One way or another, Silver's going down. Tonight."

⭒⭒⭒

A/N: God, the way this foreshadows some of season 6 part 1 but not in any way you would expect is crazy.

It's crazy that there's only one more chapter until season 5 is over (and I'll be taking a break to plan out these chapters and subplots which yay but also boo). 

Also, I move back into the dorm this week and next week classes start, so wish me luck!

Also my time to write will significantly decrease, but it'll all work well with when part 2 comes out (I'm so scared and excited and sad already)!