THE BILLS WERE NEVER ENDING.

Esme sighed, flipping through the stack of mail with tired hands. Bills on top of bills. She had worked tirelessly to pay down their debt, but no matter how hard she tried, it felt like the tide kept rising. Her exhaustion was bone-deep, the kind that no amount of sleep could fix—not that she'd had much of that lately.

A sudden knock at the door made her jump, yanking her out of her thoughts. She frowned, glancing at the clock.

Almost midnight.

She approached the door cautiously, peeking through the narrow crack as she opened it slightly. "Can I help you?" she asked, her voice wary. Her eyes narrowed as she took in the man standing on her porch— a stranger, yet something about him felt unsettlingly familiar.

"Ms. Sanders," the man began, offering a polite smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm sorry to bother you so late, but I'm here to talk about your daughter. My name's John Kreese."

Esme's grip on the door tightened. "Hayden? What do you want with her?"

"I recently opened a dojo," he said smoothly. "Cobra Kai. I heard about the... incident at her school. Word travels fast. I think she's got potential, and I'd like to help her."

"No." Esme didn't hesitate, shaking her head firmly. "Hayden's done with all that karate nonsense. I appreciate your service, but we're not interested."

She began to close the door, but Kreese placed a hand on it, stopping her gently but insistently. "Please, just hear me out. One minute, that's all I ask."

Reluctantly, Esme opened the door a little wider, her eyes still cautious. Something about this man didn't sit right with her, but curiosity and guilt gnawed at her—guilt she hadn't yet shaken since the school fight.

Kreese softened his expression, adopting the tone of a man offering wisdom rather than a sales pitch. "You see, when I was younger, I didn't know how to stand up for myself. I got knocked down more times than I care to count. It wasn't until I learned how to defend myself that things changed."

He paused, studying her face for a reaction. When he saw the flicker of hesitation in her eyes, he pressed on.

"Hayden stood up for herself during that fight. From what I hear, she's tough. Resilient. But when you forbid her from learning karate, you're sending her a message—one that says standing up for herself isn't worth the trouble. That she should keep her head down, even when life tries to knock her down."

Esme's lips parted slightly, but no words came out. She folded her arms over her chest, as if to shield herself from the truth in his words. Was that what she'd done? She had just wanted to keep Hayden safe, to shield her from the chaos that followed her everywhere. But had she sent the wrong message entirely?

Kreese noticed her wavering and delivered his final blow. "At Cobra Kai, we don't teach kids to go looking for fights. We teach them self-control, discipline, and how to defend themselves when there's no other option. The real world isn't kind, Ms. Sanders. You know that better than most."

Her eyes dropped to the ground, her hand absently rubbing at her chest—a gesture of worry, of guilt. She had tried so hard to give Hayden a fresh start, but maybe all she had done was hold her back.

"And..." Kreese's eyes flicked toward the table behind her, stacked with unopened envelopes and unpaid bills. He smiled, but it wasn't warmth—more like satisfaction. "At Cobra Kai, we take care of our own. I've traveled a lot, met a lot of people, made a lot of friends. I'm sure I could pull a few strings and help ease some of that financial burden."

Esme flushed in embarrassment, instinctively stepping in front of the table as if to hide it. Her pride told her to slam the door in his face, but the weight of those bills and the anxiety of making ends meet made her pause.

She looked back at Kreese, and he knew he had her.

"Think about it," he said smoothly, stepping back. "For both of you."

Esme didn't reply, only stared at him in silence. After a beat, she closed the door quietly, her mind already racing with doubts and decisions.

Kreese turned, a smug grin tugging at his lips as he walked away into the night.

He didn't need to hear her answer. He already knew it.

—

Hayden stood outside the Cobra Kai dojo, her jaw clenched, the morning sun casting long shadows across the pavement.

She never thought she'd set foot in this place. And now, after last night, it looked like she didn't have a choice.

Her mom hadn't said much, but Hayden could piece things together. Kreese had come to their house, and somehow, in the span of a few minutes, convinced her mom to let her back into karate. It didn't sit right with her.

In fact, it made her mad. It seemed like everyone wanted to try her.

And being freshly pissed from the night before, she was ready to give Kreese a piece of her mind.

She pushed open the door, the creak making her skin prickle. Inside, the air smelled of leather and sweat—just like every other dojo she'd been in. And just like every other time, it made her feel a strange mix of comfort and unease.

"Miss Sanders," Kreese greeted her warmly as she entered, that same unsettling smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I've been expecting you for a while now."

She didn't return the smile. "What part of no didn't you understand? You seriously went behind my back to talk to my mom."

Kreese didn't flinch at her bluntness. If anything, his smile grew. "I wouldn't call it going behind your back. I saw potential in you, and I did what any good sensei would— helped open a door you weren't ready to open yourself."

Hayden crossed her arms, her glare sharp. "I didn't ask for your help."

"No, but you needed it." Kreese's tone remained calm, but there was a hard edge to it. "You've been holding back, letting your past decide what you're capable of. I simply gave your mom the nudge she needed to stop doing the same. Your mom means well, but she doesn't understand what you need."

Hayden's jaw tightened. "And you do?"

"I know what it's like to fight," Kreese said, his tone softening, but his eyes remained hard. "To have to prove yourself over and over again because no one else will. That's what you've been doing your whole life, isn't it?"

Hayden didn't answer, but the slight twitch of her fingers betrayed her discomfort.

Hayden's eyes narrowed. "How'd you even know my mom wouldn't let me back into karate?"

Kreese leaned back slightly, still smiling. "Miss Nichols mentioned it." Hayden's eyes flicked to the side, remembering that she had in fact told Tory her mom wasn't allowing her in karate.

She must've taken that as a cry for help, Hayden thought.

"She's a loyal student. Said you were on the sidelines, holding back because your mom was worried about you getting into more trouble."

"And now, after everything you've been through, your mom thinks she's helping by keeping you out of karate? Out of the one thing that gives you control?" He shook his head. "She's afraid. Afraid you'll get hurt again, afraid you'll make the same mistakes. But we both know you're stronger than that."

Hayden scoffed quietly, shaking her head. "So you just decided to play hero?"

"Not a hero. A sensei." Kreese took a step closer, his voice dropping to something almost fatherly. "I see what others don't. You've got strength, Hayden. Real strength. But strength doesn't mean much if you're afraid to use it.

She stared at him for a long moment, trying to ignore the knot forming in her chest. She'd heard this before. Variations of it, anyway. First from her dad, then from Mr. LaRusso. Now Kreese. Another father figure in her life trying to mold her into something she wasn't sure she wanted to be. And every time, it backfired.

"I don't need another sensei telling me how to live my life," she said coldly. "I've been down that road, and all it got me was more people deciding what's best for me."

"I'm sure LaRusso let you down. Much like you, I'm not fond of him, never have been." Kreese countered, his voice calm but firm. "I'm offering you a path. Different than LaRusso ever could. Whether you walk it or not is your choice."

Hayden narrowed her eyes, and Kreese could see the slight crack in her expression. He almost had her.

"I've been where you are," Kreese continued, his voice low and persuasive. "Everyone doubting you, trying to put you in a box, make you smaller. But you're not small, Hayden. You're a fighter. And I can help you be the kind of fighter no one can ever doubt again."

"I don't need help," she muttered, though the words lacked the usual conviction she carried.

"Everyone needs help sometimes." He smiled, but it wasn't warm—it was calculating. "Even the strongest soldiers fight better with a good commander."

Hayden felt her fists clench at her sides. She hated how his words got under her skin, how they made her question herself. But that didn't mean she trusted him. Not even close.

She hated how the words hit her, how they made her feel seen in a way that was both infuriating and comforting. He was framing it like he wasn't taking over her life, like he was just giving her the tools she already had. It felt wrong. But it also felt... tempting.

"Fine," she said after a long moment, her voice devoid of emotion. "But I'm not doing this for you. And you stay away from my mom."

Kreese gave a small nod, his expression triumphant despite the neutral gesture. "Of course. You're doing this for yourself. That's the only reason that matters."

Hayden stared at him for another moment, trying to convince herself that she wasn't making a mistake. That she wasn't walking into another situation where someone would end up controlling her life.

But for now, she would play along. Keep her guard up. Stay in control.

That's what she repeated to herself.

But she'd been burned before, and this time, she wasn't going to let it happen again.

—

"What the hell is this?" Hayden asked, her voice low but laced with disbelief as she stepped into the dimly lit back room of Cobra Kai. Her sharp eyes zeroed in on Robby, who was crouched down, neatly folding a small pile of clothes.

Robby straightened up slowly, a hint of guilt flickering across his face. "It's nothing."

"Nothing?" Hayden's eyebrows shot up, her tone incredulous. "You told me you had somewhere to stay. What happened to that?"

"I lied," he admitted, his voice steady but quiet, like he'd already made peace with it.

Hayden let out a sharp scoff, taking a step closer and shoving his shoulder lightly—not enough to hurt, but enough to make a point. "Why?"

"I didn't want you worrying about me," he said simply. "Didn't want you risking anything."

She stared at him for a long moment, irritation flashing in her eyes. "You didn't want me to worry?" she repeated, her voice dripping with disbelief. "Robby, you can't just sleep on the floor. Especially not here. This place isn't exactly a five-star hotel."

"Then why're you here? You decided to join Cobra Kai all of a sudden? Out of the blue?"

"It was hardly out of the blue. This was bound to happen. And don't change the subject."

"I've slept on worse," he said, looking away like it didn't matter.

"Yeah, well, I don't care if you've had worse," Hayden snapped, crossing her arms. "You're not doing this. I told you—there's space at my place. You don't have to do this alone."

Robby hesitated, his jaw tightening slightly. "I didn't want to be a burden."

Hayden sighed, her expression softening just a bit. "You're not a burden, Robby. You're one of the only people I have left." She paused, her voice quieter but firm. "We only have each other to rely on, right?"

Robby looked down for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Right."

"Good," she said, stepping back, satisfied. "No more lying. If something's wrong, you tell me. Deal?"

"Deal," Robby said, his voice steady but a little softer, as though some of the weight he carried had just been lifted.

"Now," He zipped his bag up, "we have somewhere to be."

—

"Why are we in the woods?" Hayden muttered as they approached the group, Robby's arm slung loosely around her shoulders.

"You'll see," He murmured, guiding her to the specific spot Tory told him to meet her at.

Tory caught sight of them and quickly looked away, jaw clenched. Robby noticed the fleeting reaction, narrowing his eyes slightly but deciding to let it go.

When her eyes met Hayden's, she tilted her head. "Do we have a new Cobra Kai member or not?"

Hayden shifted her gaze, glancing first at Robby, then at Hawk, before turning back to Tory. She could feel the weight of their stares—expectant, curious, maybe even a little doubtful. The tension in the air was thick, every second dragging as she wrestled with her decision.

Her instinct screamed to walk away. Cobra Kai wasn't just about karate—it was about loyalty, trust, and a history that hadn't exactly done her any favors. But another voice, quieter yet persistent, urged her to stay. This wasn't about Kreese or even Cobra Kai itself. It was about control—about not letting the past, or anyone else, define her future.

Hayden lifted her chin, expression calm but resolute. "Yeah," she said, her voice steady. "You do."

A flicker of approval passed through Tory's eyes, though she hid it quickly behind her usual cool exterior. Hawk raised a brow but didn't say anything. Robby, standing at Hayden's side, gave her a small nod of support.

"Welcome to the team," Tory said, stepping forward and offering a fist bump. Hayden hesitated for half a second before returning it, sealing her decision.

"About time, badass," Hawk muttered with a smirk. "Let's see if you can keep up."

Hayden didn't respond, but the determined gleam in her eyes said enough. Whatever was coming, she was ready for it—or at least, she'd figure out how to be.

For now, she was in. And she wasn't about to back down.

"You took your sweet time," Tory remarked at Robby, her voice tinged with impatience.

"You invited him?" Hawk asked, his tone sharp as his eyes flicked to Robby. He was cool with Hayden—Robby, not so much.

"Dude." Hayden shot him a warning look, silently telling him to drop it.

Tory crossed her arms, unfazed by the tension. "Yeah, he's kind of a package deal with Hayden," she muttered under her breath. The group chuckled at her remark, earning a glare from Hayden and a tight jaw from Robby.

"Okay, everyone be cool," Hayden said, rubbing her temple in exasperation.

Tory sighed, relenting. "Relax, I'm kidding. I invited him. You got a problem with that?" She arched a brow at Hawk, who pressed his lips into a thin line but stayed quiet.

As they stood near the old building, Hayden kept her arm linked with Robby's. The unease gnawed at her—something about this felt off. Before she could dwell on it, a light nudge caught her attention.

She glanced down at the can of beer Hawk was offering Robby. Her eyes flicked up to meet his.

"Aw, what's the matter, Robby?" Hawk taunted with a smirk. "Scared to take a few sips of beer?"

Robby didn't even flinch. "Nah, I just don't need beer to feel cool."

Hawk took a step closer, his expression hardening, but before things could escalate, Hayden stepped between them. "Can you guys chill? Beer tastes bad anyway."

There was a moment of silence, the tension still thick in the air, before Kyler spat out the beer in his mouth with exaggerated disgust. "Okay, thank God someone said it. I've been pretending that tastes good for way too long."

A few of them laughed, the tension easing slightly. Hayden let out a small sigh of relief and looked over at Tory. "Alright, seriously. What are we doing here?"

Tory smirked. "Follow me." She walked over to a broken section of the fence, holding it up to let everyone crawl through.

Hayden hesitated, her instincts telling her this was a bad idea. Tory caught her hesitation and rolled her eyes. "Relax, it's not like you're gonna violate probation. You got out of juvie, not Alcatraz."

Hayden exchanged a skeptical glance with Robby, who gave a slight shrug.

What the hell did she have to lose? she thought. She'd already been through the wringer—cheated on, house arrest, probation.

And it wasn't like she could go back to juvie if she didn't get caught. Which she wouldn't.

Without another word, she ducked under the fence, Robby following close behind.

—

"Wow, we snuck into a zoo of all places." Hayden's voice was dry as she stood between Tory and Robby, a hint of amusement in her eyes but no emotion in her tone.

"Why exactly do we have to sneak in?" Robby glanced over at the group, his confusion obvious.

Tory's lips quirked up in a smirk as she met eyes with Hawk and Kyler, who shared a knowing chuckle.

"You'll see," Tory teased, before the group split off, leaving Hayden and Robby to follow at a slower pace.

"Hey," she said, her voice calm but firm as she caught up to Tory.

Tory glanced up, surprised to see Hayden coming toward her. "What's up?"

Hayden shifted slightly, unsure how to phrase what she was about to say without making it sound awkward. "Kreese told me you mentioned something about my mom being hesitant about karate." She paused. "Thanks... for looking out."

Tory blinked, clearly caught off guard. She wasn't used to gratitude, least of all from someone like Hayden. "Oh, uh... yeah. No problem." She rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly, glancing away. "Just wanted to help."

Hayden nodded once. "Still, I appreciate it."

Tory's lips quirked into a small, almost shy smile before she quickly hid it with a shrug. "Don't mention it."

Hayden gave her a lingering look, noting how rare it was to see Tory flustered. It was... oddly endearing.

Hayden slowed her pace down, looking down at her shoes with a hint of a smile when someone appeared next to her.

She raised a brow, looking over to see Hawk had matched her pace, catching her eye. "Welcome to Cobra Kai, Sanders. Took you a minute." His tone was passive aggressive, and if anything, was more of a fuck you than a welcome.

She smirked, humming sarcastically. "I could tell you really missed me, Hawk." She shot back, glaring back slightly.

A beat of silence washed over them, their glares slowly turning into playful smiles as they broke out in laughter.

"I'm glad you're here." Hawk admitted, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

Hayden looked forward thoughtfully, slowly nodding. "Me too. On the same side again."

Hawk nodded, as if he hadn't thought about it like that.

They moved through the zoo quickly, winding their way through the shadows until they entered a building.

"Two cameras over there. The guard's on break once every hour. We've got less than five minutes," Hawk said, his voice sharp as he briefed everyone.

The group nodded in sync, heading up the stairs without hesitation.

"What's the plan in those five minutes?" Hayden muttered under her breath, her eyes scanning the surroundings.

"We're getting a little gift for sensei," Tory replied, her tone full of mischief as she shot Hayden a playful wink.

Robby, staying close behind Hayden, frowned. "A gift? What kind of gift?"

They entered a room full of terrariums, the sound of quiet chatter and movement filling the space as some of the Cobra Kai members took position as lookouts.

Hawk pulled a brown bag out of his backpack and glanced at Kyler. "You got the snake pole?"

Kyler blinked. "The what?"

"The snake pole," Hawk repeated with annoyance.

Kyler's face shifted into a sudden realization. "Oh, shit. Right, the snake pole."

Hayden rolled her eyes, unfazed. "Of course you forgot it."

"I planned this whole thing and you forgot the one thing you were supposed to bring?" Hawk muttered, frustration evident in his voice.

"You surprised?" Hayden's voice was flat, her eyes fixed on the door, but her lips twitched with a hint of sarcasm.

Kyler held up a hand in her face, like he was telling her to shut up, but Hayden didn't even flinch. She slapped his hand away.

"I forgot, okay? I've got a lot on my mind right now. If I don't pass trig this semester, my dad's gonna shit in my mouth."

Hayden scrunched her face in disgust.

"Dude, just reach in and grab the damn snake!" Tory hissed, glancing nervously toward the door.

"What? Hell no! I'm not sticking my hand in there!" Hawk voice rose in panic.

"Who's in there?" A booming voice from the back of the room interrupted, the footsteps growing louder.

"Shit," Hawk cursed under his breath, and the group scattered in a fluid motion.

Hayden's eyes remained fixed on the snake, an idea forming. She moved quickly, cutting off Robby as he was about to leave the room.

"Wait." Her voice was sharp and controlled, not a hint of hesitation. She grabbed his arm with one hand and pulled him back.

"What is it?" Robby asked, brow furrowed.

Hayden didn't answer immediately. She just looked at him, then back at the terrarium, her gaze unwavering as she calculated. The plan was simple, yet effective.

—

The two quickly crawled through the fence, Hayden adjusting her shirt uncomfortably as they emerged on the other side.

"We failed the mission because of you!" Hawk shoved Kyler's shoulder, frustration in his voice. Kyler sighed, a mix of frustration and shame clouding his expression.

Hayden let out a small, almost imperceptible laugh, catching Robby's eye. "Who said we failed?" she asked, her voice flat but confident.

The group turned toward them, and Hayden pulled the bag from under her shirt, revealing the snake inside.

"No way!" Tory grinned, her disbelief clear. "You got it?"

"I can't take all the credit," Hayden said, voice steady as she gave Robby a subtle pat on the back. "Robby helped, too."

"Nice!" Kyler jumped up in excitement.

"Let's see it," one of the members said, a grin spreading across their face. Hayden opened the bag, revealing the fairly large snake inside.

"Hell yeah!" Kyler cheered, slapping them both on the back. "You're a fucking dog for that!"

The group erupted in cheers, celebrating the two's success. Kyler kept up his excitement, slinging his arm around Hayden and Robby. "Their natural cobras, guys. Good shit!"

The atmosphere was electric, the group rallying around their unexpected success.

Hayden smiled, looking over at Robby who was already looking at her.

—

"Well done." Kreese smirked, pacing slowly down the line of Cobras. "I'm impressed." His voice was cold and measured, but there was an edge of approval as he surveyed them.

"You showed fearlessness. Leadership. Those are the qualities you need to be a champion."

The word champion cut through the air, and Hayden's eyes sparked briefly. Truth be told, she wanted nothing more than that title. She'd show everyone, especially Sam, that she was better. She would prove herself.

Kreese caught the flicker in her gaze, a knowing smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "And those are the qualities you need to be a champion," he repeated, coming to a stop in front of her and Robby. His eyes glinted with something darker. "Good job. You two are exactly what Cobra Kai's been looking for." He placed a hand on their shoulders, his touch heavy and possessive.

"Do you see what you can accomplish when you work together?" Kreese asked, walking back to the front of the room. "Alliances are important. For us. And our enemy. Because you better believe they're making alliances too."

Hayden's brow furrowed at his words, the uncertainty creeping in. "What alliances? What are you talking about?"

"Oh, you didn't hear?" Kreese feigned innocence, though the sinister glint in his eyes betrayed him. "Diaz and that LaRusso girl—they're working together. They helped save the All Valley. Got quite a speech between them. They make a good team." His smirk widened, the malice in it unmistakable.

Hayden could feel her muscles tighten, her breath hitching. Her blood began to boil, a heat rising inside her that she couldn't control. The room suddenly felt suffocating.

Just yesterday, Miguel was swearing to her that nothing was going on. That it was merely an apology. To hear that they saved the All Valley together made her livid.

She felt like she wasn't being taken seriously. Did Miguel think he could tell her lies and get away with it?

Make her let her guard down for him and make her look stupid time and time again?

She could feel Robby and Tory's eyes on her. Robby's gaze flicked to her clenched fists, concern in his eyes.

Without a word, she met Robby's gaze. He sent her a soft look, his hand brushing hers, a subtle squeeze.

Calm down.

But she couldn't. Thoughts were colliding in her mind, and none of them made sense. The anger bubbled up, relentless and fierce.

She turned to look at Tory, and their eyes locked. The expression in Tory's gaze only intensified her frustration. She could see the anger there, too, and it mirrored her own.

"Dismissed." Kreese's smirk was pure satisfaction. He knew exactly what he was doing— baiting her. And it was working.

Hayden spun on her heel, her boots thudding against the floor as she left without a word. She could hear the rapid thrum of her pulse in her ears, each breath a sharp inhale of frustration.

Pushing open the door, she stepped out of the dojo, a fire igniting in her chest. Her plan was set—she would take care of this, and it would be on her terms.

authors note.
plssss IM TRYING SO HARD TO SHOOT CHAPTERS OUT I HOPE THEY DONT SOUND RUSHED but okkk getting to Hayden's lil villain era frrr