"THEY'RE A JOKE."

Hayden scoffed, tying her hair up into a tight ponytail. "I mean, how do you pick a fight and then not show up? Cowards."

"They know you and I are the biggest threat. But they also know we can't risk violating probation," Robby responded, glancing over at her.

"Yeah, well, the way I see it, if they're scared of us, they've already lost." Hayden muttered, adjusting Kenny's stance as he threw another punch into the training dummy. "Keep those elbows tight, and watch your footing," she instructed, her voice sharp but steady.

Kenny nodded, making the necessary adjustments and continuing to punch harder.

"Better," she muttered, turning to Robby. "We need to get them somewhere isolated. No witnesses."

Robby tilted his head, arms crossed, his expression unreadable but curious.

"Listen up, gather 'round," the two senseis stepped out of their office, walking to the front of the class with their usual authoritative stride. "We just had a little powwow with the senseis at Miyagi-Do. From here on out, there'll be no more fighting until the tournament."

Hayden raised an eyebrow, taking a step back, her lips curling in disbelief. "Right, so Miyagi-Fang or whatever they're calling themselves now can drench us with water, and we just stand there and take it?"

After the sprinkler stunt, Hayden had gone home, dried off, and stewed over the fact that Miyagi-Do/Eagle Fang had backed down from a fight.

It wasn't just the humiliation; it was the missed chance to smash Sam's face in. That was the part that really burned.

"Of course not," Kreese added, his gaze cold as he looked out at his students. "We show no mercy. Always."

Silver stepped in, his tone more measured but still firm. "There's a time to fight, though. No reason to waste energy if it won't score a point. So, if your enemies push your buttons, laugh in your face, good. Store that anger. You're gonna need it when it matters. Understood?"

"Yes, sensei," the class replied, though it was clear that no one was happy with the new rule. The thirst for revenge was palpable.

Hayden blew a raspberry, glancing over at Robby. "Guess we'll have to settle for another plan, huh?"

—

"There are three things that make a champion!"

"aits!" the class yelled in unison, stepping forward and launching a high kick into the air before stepping back.

Silver paced in front of the class, eyes scanning his students. "The three D's! Desire, devotion, and discipline. The first two, I can't give you," he said, pausing in front of Hayden. His eyes locked onto hers as he spoke. "The last one, I can, but you have to be willing to receive it."

Hayden's foot flew into the air for another sharp kick, but she didn't break eye contact with him. She could feel the weight of his gaze on her, the underlying tension between them from the moment he had called her out on her weaknesses. It had left its mark. They weren't exactly in sync, but she wasn't backing down.

"Are you willing?" Silver's voice was low, challenging, his eyes not leaving hers.

She stepped forward, her kick sharper, more controlled, her eyes narrowing in response. "Yes, sensei," she answered along with the rest of the class, her tone cold but steady.

Silver held her gaze a moment longer, his expression unreadable, before he finally broke the stare and moved on. "Alright. Junbi stance!" he barked.

The class quickly fell into position. "Now, I understand you want to defeat your enemies. And you will, when the time comes." He walked down the line, his footsteps deliberate. "Until then, stay focused on your training. Understood?"

"Yes, sensei," the class replied, less enthusiastically.

"With conviction," Silver demanded.

"Yes, sensei!" the class responded, louder this time, a hint of forced enthusiasm in their voices.

"Good. Arms out. Attention. Chae-ryut. Kyun-nae," Silver commanded. The class bowed in unison. "Dismissed."

As the class began to break off, grabbing water bottles and packing their gear, Kyler huffed, wiping sweat from his brow. "Second sensei's really pushing us today," he grumbled, heading toward his bag. "Guy's going beast mode! Sucks we can't give a beatdown before the tournament."

Robby grabbed his own water bottle, eyeing the group. "Just because we can't fight doesn't mean we can't get payback," he said, a mischievous smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Hayden stared straight ahead, a faint smirk quirking at her lips. "I have an idea." She spoke.

The two exchanged looks, silent understanding passing between them. The group shifted, all of them catching the vibe without a word spoken. Payback was coming. It was just a matter of when.

—

Hayden couldn't help but think back to her first day at West Valley High. How nervous she'd been, texting Miguel to figure out where they'd meet up that morning, her sister dropping her off in front of the intimidating, sprawling building.

She remembered staring up at it, her stomach at the very bottom of her feet, her heart pounding like it was about to rip through her chest. The first duo she'd met was Demetri and Eli. They'd stuck by her ever since.

Demetri, as nerdy, talkative, and opinionated as ever. Eli? Eli was quiet, reserved, and a total enigma, to say the least.

Hayden had immediately been drawn to him, a strange sense of protectiveness growing over the boy who had a talent for making people second-guess him. She didn't quite understand why, but she'd never questioned it.

Now, standing in the back room of Hawk's Tattoo Parlor—Hawk's Tattoo Parlor, to be specific—Hayden couldn't help but reflect on how far things had come.

Never, not in even her wildest dreams, could she have imagined herself now getting revenge on the boy she used to protect.

But he brought this on himself. She repeated the mantra to herself, eyes scanning the room. She was tired of being underestimated, tired of being the quiet one, the one people walked all over. Sending Hawk back like this would get the message across.

"Okay, let's go," Robby muttered, snapping her out of her thoughts. He motioned for the rest of the group to follow.

As they opened the door, Hawk's voice drifted from the distance. "Hey, Rico, you good?" he called out, sounding distracted, oblivious to everything happening around him.

"Tattoo shop's closed for the day," Robby called out, his voice cutting through the air as all the Cobra Kais stormed in, Hayden and Robby falling in behind.

Hawk shot off the tattoo table, kicking it toward the Cobras who were about to surround him. "Where do you think you're going?" Kyler exclaimed, running around the table and throwing a punch at Hawk's shoulder.

Hawk kicked him in the stomach, but didn't realize the Cobra behind him had pushed him forward.

Hawk turned, sending a swift kick to the stomach of his attacker, sending them stumbling back. Still, it quickly became clear that, despite all his skill and abilities, Hawk stood no chance against three of them.

One pinned Hawk's left arm down, another Cobra holding his right, and Kyler held Hawk's head down, a cloth wrapped around his neck. "You weren't that hard to find, you little bitch," Kyler muttered through gritted teeth, holding his head down while Hawk struggled.

Hayden watched from the corner, leaning casually against the wall, picking at her nails with bored precision. Hawk's eyes locked on hers, still struggling against their hold. It almost seemed like he was waiting for her to stop them.

"You assholes just ignoring the no-fighting rules?" he spat.

"Oh, we're not here to fight," Robby said, his voice cold as he picked up the large razor on the table, pulling the blade out so Hawk could see exactly what was coming.

Hayden never took her eyes off Hawk, the smirk that tugged at her lips barely noticeable. "Bye-bye, Hawk," she muttered under her breath, casually continuing to pick at her nails as though none of it phased her.

—

The parking lot of the strip mall was eerily quiet, save for the hum of passing cars in the distance. Hayden adjusted her duffel bag strap over her shoulder, her steps steady as she made her way toward the dojo for her third training session of the day.

Her two a days turned into three a days, and would soon turn into four a days. She'd dedicated one hundred percent of her time in the dojo, all with one goal in mind.

Win the All Valley.

The late evening glow bathed her in golden light, but her face was as hard and unreadable as ever.

"Hayden."

The voice stopped her mid-step. She turned slowly, her gaze landing on Miguel, who stood a few feet away. He looked like he'd been waiting for her—hands in his jacket pockets, eyes carrying something heavy, something she didn't care to unpack.

"What're you doing here?" Her tone was flat, but her grip on the strap tightened.

"I saw what you guys did."

Hayden blinked, tilting her head slightly as if to feign confusion. "You're gonna have to be more specific than that."

"Hawk," Miguel said, his voice soft but edged with disappointment. "At the tattoo parlor."

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Oh, that." She shrugged, turning her back on him and taking another step toward the dojo. "Just a little payback for your stunt at the baseball field."

"It was to avoid a fight," Miguel argued, stepping closer. "You guys turned it into—"

"Into what?" Hayden spun around to face him, her arms crossed. "A reality check? Maybe Hawk finally got what was coming to him."

"Hayden, stop," Miguel said, his voice breaking slightly. He wasn't angry—just... desperate. "This isn't you. You're better than this—better than Cobra Kai."

She stiffened, her jaw tightening. "Don't act like you know me, Miguel. You don't."

"I know enough to see that this isn't who you are," he shot back, stepping closer. His eyes searched hers, trying to find something behind the hardened wall she had put up. "You don't have to do this. You don't have to stay with Cobra Kai. Come back to Miyagi-Do."

She scoffed, shaking her head. "Why? So I can bow to the LaRusso's and pretend everything's sunshine and rainbows while people like Hawk and Sam get away with everything they've done?"

"That's not what Miyagi-Do is about, and you know it," Miguel insisted. "It's about balance. About being better than this cycle of revenge."

Hayden looked away, her eyes scanning the pavement as if it held all the answers. "You don't get it, Miguel. I need to win the All Valley. You guys can all watch me beat you one by one. Hawk, Sam, LaRusso—you all turned your backs on me. Cobra Kai's the only place that's ever treated me like I matter."

"You matter without Cobra Kai." Miguel's voice softened, his hand reaching out as if to bridge the distance between them. "Hayden, I see you. The real you. Not this version that Kreese is trying to make you into."

She glanced at his outstretched hand, something flickering in her eyes for a brief moment—guilt, hesitation, maybe even longing. But it vanished as quickly as it came, and she took a step back.

"You don't see anything," she said, her voice sharp. "All you see is someone you think you can save. But I don't need saving, Miguel. I need to win."

Miguel's hand dropped to his side, his shoulders sagging as he watched her retreat into herself again. "You're going to lose yourself in Cobra Kai. Just like I did. Just like Hawk did." he said quietly. "And when that happens... winning won't mean anything."

Hayden swallowed hard, her throat tight. For a second, she thought about saying something, anything—but the words stuck. Instead, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Miguel standing in the fading light.

"Hayden," he called after her, his voice filled with an ache she pretended not to hear.

She didn't look back.

But as she stepped into the dojo, the sound of the door closing behind her felt louder than it should have, like it was sealing something off inside her she couldn't quite explain.

And what she didn't know? Silver had camera's recently installed all around Cobra Kai and had been watching their entire interaction from home with an untelling smirk on his face.

He knew her heart wasn't fully in this.

And then and there, he made the decision that Hayden wasn't to be trusted. She couldn't be their champion.

And he'd do anything in his power to make sure that doesn't happen.

—

Hayden couldn't place why she was feeling these intense waves of hatred toward everyone who had crossed her. Miguel. Hawk. Mrs. LaRusso. Mr. LaRusso.

The man she'd once seen as a father figure had found his name near the top of her list now, bold and in red, one she was determined to cross off.

She hadn't told anyone where she was going or what she was doing. It was easier that way—no need to hear Robby's thoughts on the matter.

So much for telling each other everything, a small voice whispered in the back of her mind as she entered the building, a sweet smile plastered on her face, résumé in hand.

"Is there anything I can help you with, ma'am?" A woman approached her, grinning widely. Her red lipstick was so overlined it almost looked fake.

Hayden fought the urge to snicker. Instead, she cleared her throat, voice flat. "Yes, can you direct me to the owner's office?"

The woman nodded, pointing down the hall. "Third door to the left."

Hayden smiled a little wider. "Thank you... Angela."

She walked down the hall with purpose, a singular mission in her mind.

Piss Mr. LaRusso off.

It wasn't hard to get the job. After seeing LaRusso Auto Group listed under her "previous experience," her new boss's eyes practically lit up. The job was basically guaranteed.

She left with a new position, a new boss—Tom Cole—and the smirk on her face spoke volumes. She'd do it all with pride, with mischief in her eyes, and the satisfaction of knowing she was doing exactly what she'd set out to do.

And from then on, LaRusso's Auto information was mysteriously migrating to Tom Cole's desk. Their shipments, their sales teams' ideas, commercial ideas, anything Hayden could possibly think of, she gave away.

And she'd do it with a smile on her face.

authors note.
This is short sorry guys IM TRYING TO WRITE SO FAST