Cold Hearted ⭒ Cobra Kai

5.5.5^

"I'm standing in the ashes of who I used to be. And I'm fading away, you know I used to be on fire."

~Angel On Fire by Halsey~

⭒⭒⭒

A/N: Happy New Year! I'm so thankful for each and every one of you. I love to see your comments and see you enjoy this book as much as I do. I hope this year is full of even more amazingness <3

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

⭒⭒⭒

Zion's POV

"It's going to be all right," Eli holds out his hand.

I stare in confusion and fear for far too long to contemplate what happened and who to trust.

My eyes flicker to behind him where Demetri stands with his phone in hand. I feel my heart rate spike as I lean on a car behind me and try to get up on my own. 

I put weight on my left leg for a second and feel like screaming out in pain. 

A hand wraps around my torso supportively within a second. My head jerks to look at Eli as he easily acts as my crutch.

I hold onto him hesitantly. He gives me a small smile.

I speak up, "You don't have to... I can handle myself."

Eli pulls me closer, "You're really beaten up. I've got you." I still look at him skeptically. "I won't hurt you. I promise."

"Um, still here, remember?" Demetri walks over.

I tense and I know Eli feels it. Demetri stops from coming closer.

"We just want to help," Demetri assures me.

"I don't want your help," I snap at him.

"Okay, but otherwise you could've been injured even more," Demetri says, though I can tell he's trying to be nice. For some reason.

"I'm already pretty fucked up," I state, not wanting his kindness.

"That's why we need a doctor or something after a quiver of Cobras attacked you."

"How did you know...?" I look between them in disbelief.

"Yeah, we heard something when we were sitting in the car talking, and followed it to you," Eli explains. His arm around my waist doesn't get any more comfortable as time passes.

"Why... Why did you help me?" I ask, ready for their revenge, too.

"Well, uh, you know, it's no secret I'm against gang assault," Demetri shrugs awkwardly. 

"Why did you help me?" I change my question. I shouldn't have had anyone's help.

"I can tell you're really not a part of Cobra Kai anymore since the... obvious, uh, beatdown," he continues.

"I tried to tell you," I glare. I still need to be alert.

"And I was a stubborn asshole," Eli admits. "Some habits are hard to break, I guess. I'm sorry."

I see the genuine softness in his eyes that I haven't seen for me in far too long. It scares me.

Headlights blind me as a car pulls in. I look down and regret it. I see a good amount of blood, my blood, reflecting on the pavement. It's on me, too. I feel sick.