"IS IT WEIRD TO BE ON GOOD TERMS WITH HIM?"

Hayden sat on the curb of the concrete outside of Johnny's apartment next to Robby, who stared at the door of Miguel's apartment thoughtfully.

Robby glanced at her before shrugging. "I don't know... I think it's kinda nice."

She raised an eyebrow. "Nice?"

He nodded, exhaling through his nose. "Yeah. Not having to be so angry all the time... it's kind of a relief."

Hayden hummed, "I would imagine it's easier than hating everyone all the time."

Robby studied her for a second, watching the way her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her shorts. "I never hated you."

This earned Hayden's attention, she raised a brow. "Not even at the All Valley?"

Robby held her stare, his throat tightening. That night had been a mess of anger, betrayal, and disappointment. But not hatred. Never that.

"No," he admitted. "I was pissed, sure. I felt betrayed. But I never hated you."

Hayden looked away, chewing on the inside of her cheek, like she wasn't sure how to process that. Like maybe she had convinced herself otherwise.

Robby hesitated, then reached out, fingertips just barely brushing hers. A silent reassurance. A quiet reminder that despite everything, they had always understood each other.

"You were the only person I ever really trusted," he continued, voice softer now. "And when you left, it felt like I lost everything all over again. Made me lose focus."

Hayden swallowed hard, her fingers still beneath his. "I couldn't stay-"

"I know." Robby nodded, staring at their hands. He didn't move his away, didn't pull back. "And I know why you did it. I'm glad you left when you did. But..."

Hayden finally met his eyes, something raw flickering there.

For the first time in a long time, there was no anger between them. No walls. Just them.

The air grew heavier, charged with something unspoken.

Robby tilted his head slightly, searching her face. "If I had asked you to stay... would you have?"

Hayden's breath hitched, the question catching her off guard. Her pulse hammered against her ribs, because she didn't know how to answer. Or maybe she did, and that scared her even more.

She could've lied. Could've told him that it wouldn't have made a difference.

But this was Robby.

So she told the truth.

"Yeah. Which is why I couldn't face you and tell you."

Robby's fingers tightened around hers. Just slightly. Just enough.

Neither of them moved.

Neither of them looked away.

But then she looked down at their hands, and she remembered everything Johnny said to her, everything her therapist said to her.

She hesitated before speaking. "Been in therapy."

That got his attention. His brows lifted slightly. "Really?"

She nodded, pulling her hand away, tucking it into her lap. The warmth lingered. So did the absence. "Yeah." She huffed out a humorless chuckle, shaking her head. "Guess Cobra Kai fucked me up more than I thought."

Robby studied her, his expression unreadable. "How's it been?"

Hayden shrugged. "Eye-opening. Hard." A pause. Then, quieter: "But I needed it."

Robby nodded like he understood. And she knew that he did. They'd both been through the kind of shit that changes you. That makes you wary, makes you sharp, makes you wonder if the damage is permanent.

She exhaled slowly. "I haven't been okay, Robby." The words felt strange leaving her mouth-like she had to pry them out. Like they had been buried deep for too long.

It was still hard to admit it. But she was working on it.

"Therapy's supposed to help me figure things out."

Robby tilted his head. "Like what?"

She shook her head. "Everything." She gestured vaguely, like there were too many things to name. "All of it. My dad. Cobra Kai. What I want. Who I am. The things I've been through."

That last part made something flicker in Robby's eyes, but he didn't interrupt. Just let her keep talking.

Hayden licked her lips, finally meeting his gaze. "I spent so much time being angry. It made me feel powerful. Made me feel like nothing could touch me." She scoffed at herself. "But it did touch me. And I let it."

Robby's hand twitched against his knee, like he wanted to reach for her again but wasn't sure if he should.

"You're figuring it out," he said eventually. "That's something."

Hayden looked at him, searching. "Do you feel like you have it figured out?"

Robby huffed out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "Hell no."

For the first time that day, Hayden smiled-just a little.

They sat there in silence after that. A comfortable one. A real one.

The air between them was still charged, still heavy with the weight of everything unsaid.

-

The shoebox was old. Heavier than expected. The corners frayed from years of being tucked away in some forgotten cabinet. Hayden sat cross-legged on her bedroom floor, flipping through faded photographs.

There were pictures of her mom when she was younger-hair wild and unbrushed, eyes bright, a smirk on her lips that looked eerily familiar. Logan too, captured in old birthday party photos, grinning with her arms around friends Hayden didn't recognize.

And then there were her baby pictures.

Hayden traced her fingers over one of herself-barely a year old, big eyes staring up at the camera, Esme holding her close.

Hayden stared down at one of herself, barely a year old, bundled up in a tiny hoodie with Esme holding her close, looking at her like she was her whole world.

But there was nothing of him.

Nothing of the man whose name she didn't even have.

She let out a quiet sigh, running her fingers over the edges of the photos before placing them back into the box.

Then came the knock.

Hayden exhaled, pressing her lips together. She wasn't sure why she thought there would be. Why she thought she'd suddenly find answers in an old, forgotten box.

She was about to close it when a knock sounded at her door.

"Yeah?" she called, expecting her mom.

Instead, Miguel pushed the door open slightly, leaning against the frame. His hair was still damp from the heat outside, his usual easygoing expression dimmed by something softer.

"Hey," he said. "Your mom let me in. You busy?"

Hayden hesitated, then shrugged. "Nah. Just looking through old pictures."

Miguel's gaze flickered to the box on her bed. He stepped in, closing the door behind him before sitting beside her. "Anything interesting?"

Hayden huffed a laugh, tossing him a picture of Logan, braces and all. "Depends on what you consider interesting."

Miguel studied it, smirking. "Wow. Never thought I'd see Logan with braces."

"She'd deny it if you asked her."

Miguel sat cross-legged on the floor beside Hayden, sifting through the photos she had pulled out. His fingers brushed over one of Logan holding a much younger Hayden in a loose headlock, both of them mid-laugh.

Hayden, now leaning back against the bed, let out a quiet huff. "We were probably arguing five minutes before that was taken."

"I can see it." He chuckled, setting the picture aside, but his focus shifted to the rest of the box. The way the photos were spread out-the way none of them featured a father figure.

Hayden could feel his question before he even asked it.

His smile faded just a little. "You looking for something?"

She hesitated for a moment, then exhaled. "More like... someone."

Miguel didn't say anything, just waited for her to go on.

Hayden picked at the seam of her jeans, voice quieter now. "You kinda... inspired me."

Miguel blinked, caught off guard. "I did?"

She sighed, voice quieter now. "I never really... thought about him before." She picked at the frayed hem of her shorts. "But after Mexico, after seeing how badly you wanted to know..."

Miguel's expression softened, understanding clear in his eyes.

"I guess I started wondering, too."

Silence stretched between them, thick but not suffocating.

"I spent so much time thinking I didn't care," she admitted, eyes flickering back to the photos. "But maybe I do. Maybe I always did."

Miguel studied her, the quiet weight of her words settling between them.

Miguel finally spoke, voice soft. "Are you gonna ask?"

Hayden's fingers curled slightly. "I don't know."

Miguel studied her, then, without thinking too hard about it, he reached for her hand.

Hayden froze.

Not because it was unfamiliar. Not because it was uncomfortable.

But because it wasn't.

Her fingers twitched, but she didn't pull away.

"You should," Miguel murmured. "If you want to know, you should ask."

"I think I'm scared of the answer." Hayden responded quietly.

Miguel nodded. "I know the feeling." He answered, mind flashing to the way his heart raced when he stepped onto the bus with no definite plan in mind. "It doesn't go away, though. I think you should ask."

Hayden blinked, the weight of the moment pressing against her chest.

Then, before it could settle, she shook it off.

She pulled her hand away-not too fast, not too slow-just enough for it to seem natural, even though nothing about this felt natural to her.

She sucked in a breath, exhaling through her nose. "So..." She lifted a brow, tilting her head toward him. "What are you doing here, Diaz?"

Miguel hesitated, like he wasn't expecting the shift. But then he smiled-soft, familiar, a little teasing. Like he knew exactly what she was doing.

"Can't I just stop by?"

Hayden snorted, giving a pointed look. "Try again."

Miguel huffed a small laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "Okay, fine. Johnny's working on some big 'family bonding' thing, and I needed an escape. Figured you might, too."

"Thought you and Robby were cool now." She said, putting the pictures back in the shoebox and placing it on top of her bed.

"Yeah, I mean it's something. We aren't trying to beat each other up anymore but it's just a little too early for handholding and hair braiding."

Hayden snorted, shaking her head.

Johnny's bonding ideas were almost always a disaster waiting to happen.

"Yeah, okay. You might be right," She laughed out.

Miguel grinned, leaning back on his palms. "I usually am."

Hayden rolled her eyes, but the tension in her shoulders had eased-just a little.

She glanced at the box again, like it was taunting her.

Then, after a beat, she looked away like it was hurting her to look at it.

Miguel watched her for a moment before nudging her again. "C'mon."

Hayden arched a brow. "C'mon where?"

Miguel stood, stretching slightly before offering his hand. "Let's get out of here."

Hayden eyed him warily. "And do what?"

Miguel grinned. "Literally anything else. Something that doesn't involve you sitting in your head all night."

Hayden sighed, eyeing his outstretched hand before shaking her head. "You're annoyingly persistent, you know that?"

Miguel just wiggled his fingers expectantly.

After a beat, Hayden rolled her eyes but took his hand, letting him pull her up.

"Where are we going?" she asked as she grabbed her jacket.

Miguel smirked. "Guess you'll have to find out."

Hayden huffed but didn't ask anymore questions.

-

She was starting to regret leaving her warm house.

The cold air felt like a slap against Hayden's skin as she and Miguel strolled down the quiet streets, the faint sounds of the city filling the silence between them. She didn't ask where they were going, and Miguel didn't offer any hints.

It was nice, in a way- just walking, no filling the silence with meaningless conversation, no pressure.

Eventually, they ended up in front of a small diner, its neon "OPEN 24 HOURS" sign flickering slightly. Miguel gestured toward it with a small smirk. "Figured you could use some comfort food."

Hayden gave him a look but didn't argue, following him inside.

The place was nearly empty, save for a tired-looking waitress behind the counter and an older man nursing a cup of coffee in the corner. They slid into a booth by the window, the red vinyl seats sticking slightly to Hayden's skin.

Miguel grabbed a menu but barely looked at it. "So, what's your go-to?"

Hayden tilted her head, glancing over the options. "Fries and a burger."

Miguel grinned. "Good choice,"

They placed their order-Hayden going for fries and a chocolate shake, Miguel opting for a burger-and when the waitress walked away, the silence between them stretched. Not uncomfortable, but full of unspoken thoughts.

Hayden tapped her fingers against the table absentmindedly, eyes boring into Miguel's. "I've never heard of Agnes' Diner." She read the menu name.

Miguel hesitated, then leaned forward slightly. "I found it a while ago. Its hidden behind a lot of buildings so not a lot of people know about it. Agnes, the own, she's sweet. A little old lady, she's gonna retire soon, I think. Food tastes homemade, and it's cheap. I like it. Come here to think sometimes."

Hayden looked around, nodding and licking her lips before speaking. "I like it. It's cozy."

Miguel grinned, "You showed me your spot, figured I'd show you mine."

Hayden arched a brow. "So it's a, show me yours and I'll show you mine situation?"

Miguel choked on his coke, coughing earning a laugh from Hayden. "I didn't mean to-"

"Relax, Diaz. I'm fucking with you." She snorted, stealing his cup and drinking some of his soda.

Miguel laughed, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. "So, how've you been? Since... you know, everything."

Hayden grew stiff. "Fine."

Miguel threw her a pointed look.

Hayden sighed, glancing out the window. "Okay, maybe I haven't exactly been fine lately."

Miguel nodded, as if he already knew that. "Is it... about your dad?"

Hayden hesitated, then shrugged. "It's everything." She gestured vaguely. "The All Valley, Cobra Kai, Silver, therapy, him-" she stopped short, jaw clenching.

Miguel didn't need her to clarify. He knew who him was.

She exhaled sharply, gripping the edge of the table. "I spent so long convincing myself I didn't care. That it didn't matter who he was or why he left. But now..." She swallowed, shaking her head. "I don't know what's worse-not knowing, or finally getting the answers and hating them."

Miguel leaned back, studying her. "You ever think maybe the truth doesn't have to be good or bad? It's just... the truth?"

Hayden let out a dry laugh. "That's easy for you to say. You actually found your dad."

Miguel frowned slightly. "And I still don't know how I feel about him." He looked down at his hands. "I spent years building this version of him in my head. Thinking maybe he'd be some great guy who would be proud of me." He exhaled. "But when I found him, he wasn't that guy. He wasn't anything like I hoped."

Hayden watched him carefully.

Miguel looked back up at her. "So yeah. Maybe knowing isn't always better. But not knowing? That eats you up too."

Hayden stayed quiet, mulling over his words.

Then, in true Miguel fashion, he broke the heaviness with a small smirk. "Besides, if you do decide to find him, you'll have an advantage."

Hayden raised a brow. "Which is?"

Miguel grinned. "You've got me, the most experienced father-hunter in the Valley."

Hayden rolled her eyes but couldn't fight the small, amused smile that tugged at her lips. "Right. Because your last mission went so well."

Miguel gasped dramatically. "Excuse you, I survived an underground fight club and only mildly traumatized myself."

Hayden snorted, shaking her head. "Yeah, no thanks. I think I'll handle it on my own."

Miguel lifted his hands in surrender. "Fair enough. But... if you change your mind, I'm in."

Hayden hesitated, then gave him a small nod. "I'll think about it."

Miguel smiled, satisfied.

Their food arrived, and as they dug in, the conversation shifted-lighter, easier. They made fun of the outdated jukebox in the corner, debated the best milkshake flavors, and for the first time in a while, Hayden felt something close to looser.

-

The knock on the door made Hayden furrow her brows. She wasn't expecting a visitor.

She hesitated before pushing off the couch, her body still sore from a restless night. She opened the door, expecting Logan or maybe even Miguel, but the last person she thought she'd see was Samantha LaRusso.

Hayden's stomach twisted, her fingers instinctively tightening around the doorframe. They hadn't spoken since the All Valley. Since she lost. Since she walked away from it all and locked herself away like a coward.

Hayden blinked. "Uh... hey?"

Sam stood there, arms crossed, expression unreadable. "Hey."

The silence stretched.

Hayden raised a brow. "No offense, but... what are you doing here?"

Sam didn't waste time. "Remember when you came back to Miyagi Do for the All Valley and you said you owed me one?"

Hayden stiffened slightly. "...Yeah."

"Well, I'm calling in my favor now."

Hayden narrowed her eyes, trying to gauge where this was going. "Okay..."

Sam exhaled, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation. "Look, I know we're not exactly best friends, but this is bigger than both of us." She turned to face Hayden fully. "Silver and my dad got into it."

Hayden's breath caught in her throat.

Her body reacted before her mind did-her jaw clenched, her nails dug into her arms, her shoulders stiffened like she was bracing for impact.

Because his name alone was enough to make her skin crawl.

Terry Silver wasn't just a man. He was a ghost, haunting her even after she thought she was free.

The bruises had faded. The pain had dulled. But the fear? That was still there. That would always be there.

Her silence didn't go unnoticed. Sam studied her carefully, and for the first time, she didn't look at Hayden with distrust or resentment. She looked at her like she understood.

Like she knew.

Hayden forced herself to swallow, forcing her voice to stay even. "Got into it how?"

Sam clenched her jaw. "Silver beat him. Bad."

Hayden inhaled sharply through her nose.

Her stomach twisted. It was happening again. The way Silver broke people down. The way he made you feel like nothing. Like you were only as strong as he allowed you to be.

And Daniel-Daniel LaRusso, who had spent so much time preaching about balance and peace and doing the right thing-was crumbling under the same weight she had carried for so long.

"And now... my dad's given up."

Hayden's brows furrowed. "What do you mean 'given up'?"

Sam swallowed hard, clearly hating to admit it. "I mean, he thinks Miyagi-Do is done. He's convinced himself that he failed-not just the dojo, but all of us. And if he's given up, then that means Silver wins."

Hayden's throat tightened.

She understood that. She understood exactly what it felt like to let Silver get into your head. To convince yourself that you lost before you even had a chance to fight.

Because that's what he did. That's how he won.

Hayden's grip tightened around the doorframe, her jaw clenching.

She thought of the bruises Silver had left on her, the way he pushed her past her limits, made her doubt everything she was.

The way he broke her down, convinced her she was nothing without him.

The way he was doing the exact same thing to Daniel now.

Hayden inhaled sharply. "What do you need me to do?"

Sam met her eyes. "I need you and Robby-the two kids he thinks he failed-to convince him that he didn't. That Miyagi-Do still matters. That he still matters."

Hayden hesitated. Not because she didn't want to help, but because she didn't know if she could.

Could she really face Daniel after everything? After betraying Miyagi-Do, after losing at the All Valley?

Sam must've seen the doubt flicker across her face because she stepped forward. "Hayden, you were one of the best fighters in Cobra Kai. You walked away. You chose to fight for something better. If anyone can prove to my dad that he didn't fail, it's you."

Hayden exhaled slowly, pressing her lips into a thin line.

She wasn't sure if she believed in herself.

But she did believe in taking Silver down.

And if this was how they had to do it?

Then she was all in.

She nodded once. "Let's go find Robby."

-

Hayden and Robby stood side by side, staring up at the familiar walls of Miyagi-Do. The place where it had all started for them. The place where, for a brief moment, they thought they had found something good.

But now, it was quiet. Hollow.

Like it had already lost.

Hayden glanced at Robby, catching the way his jaw clenched, his hands stuffed deep into his pockets. She knew that look-he was thinking too much. Regretting too much.

Before she could say anything, Sam's car door slammed shut behind them. They turned as she walked up, her fingers nervously twisting together.

"Okay," she exhaled. "My mom said they're already inside."

Hayden's sharp eyes flickered down to Sam's hands, noticing the way she kept picking at her fingers. A nervous habit. A crack in the usual LaRusso confidence.

Without thinking, she reached out, placing her hand gently over Sam's to still the movement. "Don't worry," she murmured, voice softer than usual. "We got this."

Sam hesitated, as if still not fully trusting Hayden, but after a moment, she nodded. Then, she turned toward the entrance.

They followed.

-

Daniel's voice reached them before they even stepped inside.

"Every time I try to do what's right, somebody gets hurt. I can't fail these kids again."

Hayden froze for a second, something twisting painfully inside her chest.

The way his voice cracked-raw, broken-she had never heard him like that before. And then, when she finally stepped inside and saw him...

The dark purple bruise bordering his eye.

She didn't have to ask who gave it to him. She already knew.

Silver.

She forced herself to breathe through the wave of emotions-anger, guilt, fear.

"You didn't fail us."

Robby's voice was steady, cutting through the heavy air as they stepped forward.

Daniel and Amanda turned, startled by the intrusion.

Robby stood with his shoulders squared, hands still shoved in his pockets, Hayden right beside him, arms crossed.

"Sam told us what's going on," Hayden murmured, her voice quieter than usual, but still firm.

Daniel studied them, his face a storm of emotions.

Robby took a step forward. "You know, when you first met me, I was a messed-up kid. But you gave me a job. And a home. And a purpose."

Hayden clenched her jaw. "And you did the same for me."

Daniel exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face. "I thought I was doing the right thing. But-"

"You were." Hayden cut him off, taking a step closer. "You were the only one doing the right thing."

She hesitated for just a second before continuing.

"You took me in when I didn't deserve it. You gave me another chance, and I failed you. I let Cobra Kai use what you taught me against you. And I hated myself for it."

Daniel opened his mouth, but she wasn't done.

"But you know what's worse than making a mistake?" She narrowed her eyes. "Running from it."

Daniel's face twisted slightly, as if the words hit somewhere deep.

She stepped forward again. "You know this isn't over. You know Silver is just gonna keep taking and taking until there's nothing left." Her voice lowered, something raw cutting into her words. "And you know that there are still kids in there who can be saved."

Daniel swallowed. He didn't look away from her.

"If I could take everything I did back, I would." She murmured.

Daniel exhaled sharply, stepping closer. His eyes softened, though pain still lingered in them. "The things that I did... juvie, everything-I was just trying to help you."

Robby shook his head. "No, I-" He hesitated, running a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry. I should've listened to you. Both of you."

His gaze flickered to Hayden, and she gave him the smallest nod, silent understanding passing between them.

"I didn't get it until I started mentoring someone myself. Now Silver's got a hold on this kid."

Hayden inhaled slowly, forcing the words past the lump in her throat, Tory crossing her mind. "There's some others in there I care about too. And... we need to stop Cobra Kai."

She looked Daniel straight in the eyes, the weight of everything she had gone through-everything he had tried to save her from-settling into her voice.

"But we can't do it without you, Sensei."

This earned a smile from Daniel.

Sam spoke up from beside them. "Dad, not everyone has someone like you to protect them and teach them. It's time that all of us join this fight."

"All of us?" Daniel questioned, furrowing his brows.

Sam and Hayden exchanged a knowing look before Sam turned and slide the door to the backyard open, Robby and Hayden following her out to join the rest of the Miyagi Do and Eagle Fang students.

She stood in the middle of Miguel and Robby, facing forward.

"You're not alone anymore. So, what do you say, dad? Will you fight?"

Daniel looked around the class, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Hayden and Robby back in Miyagi Do like it originally had been. Anthony. Miguel. Sam. All in one space.

He took a few steps forward so that he was in between Chozen and Johnny, smiling.

The class bowed.

Daniel caught Hayden's eye and she smiled, giving a brief nod of understanding.

authors note.
hiii im so happy for this new era i get to write im actually kinda excited guys