Out of Place [Cobra Kai OC x Robby Keene]

36- Going In Alone

"You're ready to take me on?"

"Yes, I believe I am,"

My totally-not-Willy Wonka-haired friend gives me a look. I can't help but grin and pretend to be hurt.

"If I remember correctly, I've beaten you in spars multiple times," I say.

"I've beaten you too. And I've gotten better, I'm just saying," he says back. Oh well now it's on.

"Alright, come on, stand up. I could spar you- and win- blindfolded," I say jokingly, getting up and grabbing the headband I used as a blindfold the other day from under the cot. A grin spreads across his face as he stands up too. My whole body seems to smile with the memory as I tie the headband over my eyes and we take our ready positions.

"Ready?" Robby asks.

"And fight!" I reply.

I recall my training with Mr LaRusso, shifting my focus from my eyes to my ears, waiting for any signs of movement and therefore attack. Suddenly I hear his foot shift. It sounded like just a pick up... I use sand the floor as to not get hit by his kick and to my delight, I was correct in assuming it was a lower kick, meaning I was able to deflect it. I kind of have to wait for him to strike because I have no idea what kind of stance he's in or how far away he is or anything really. Make your move, Robby Keene. ...Nothing... Well shoot. I guess I'll go. I double round kick, taking care to point my toes so I don't poke him or anything. I make contact with him somewhere so... point to me I guess! I hear his feet move against the floor. He hasn't thrown any hand techniques- not to my knowledge anyway... I use a forearm block to block his arm, then step through, putting a hand on his shoulder and a foot behind his, and in one motion, I send Robby crashing to the ground.

When I take off the blindfold, I see him grinning up at me with a look of impressed shock. I laugh a little as I help him up.

"That was-"

"Knock knock!" I hear Mr LaRusso say from the door. I love how he doesn't just knock, no, he has to verbally do so as well. It's kind of nice actually. It means I know who's at the door.

"Come in," Robby and I call back, laughing a little as we do. Mr LaRusso comes in, smiling.

"Hey you two," he says, "are you ready for tomorrow, Parker?"

"As ready as I can be... I'm nervous about the sparring... I was first place last year and then at the All Valley I came second... I don't know, I just feel like I have to win," I say. I know it's stupid, but I feel like everybody expects a lot from me now, and the last thing I want is to let them down.

"Believe me, I get it. I felt the same way going into my second All valley, and I only had to fight in the last match. Win or lose, you're a champion in our eyes," he responds. I put a hand to my heart, which is how I usually respond to compliments. The words are reassuring.

"It's not just fighting, right? You said something about forms the other day," Mr LaRusso asks. Robby looks over at me in curiosity.

"Right, yeah, it's not quite like the All Valley. Last year it was a little more similar because the sparring was on a whole separate day, but it's been pushed back so much due to unconfirmed teams and schools, so they're really trying to get everything in on the same day. Which I guess I can't be mad at, because if it was sooner then I would've had to fight with a bad knee. Sparing is in the afternoon, and the other divisions are all in the morning. I'm personally competing in musical forms, regular forms, board breaking, and sparring, and then me and one of the other kids from my tae kwon do school are opening the sparring portion with a demonstration. I'm sorry I'm missing training," I say. Although I did train for most of the day a couple days ago and almost had a heat stroke in the process, so I think it balances out a little.