My Cobra Guy

Episode Forty-Nine

The Cobra Kai students practiced in the back room under Silver's supervision, while Kreese sat across from Robby. Robby's big eyes were distant, thoughtful, and unmistakably troubled. This was a critical moment, where Kreese would either cement Robby's loyalty or drive him away.

"I know this is hard for you, son," Kreese said, keeping his voice gentle. He'd just told Robby about Daniel's fate. He'd wanted to speak to the boy before Silver crowed about his latest victory to the other students. Robby required care, delicacy.

"Is he dead?" Robby asked. He may have tried to hide the quiver in his voice but he failed.

"That isn't up to us. That's up to the doctors," Kreese said. "If he's treated on time, he'll live. But he may have lost that proud streak, that defiance."

"I can't, I can't be a part of something that would kill someone over, over nothing," Robby said quietly.

"Over nothing?" Kreese kept his voice even. "This is a war that started long before you were born. Danny-Boy was breathing when Silver left him right at Miyagi-Do, where he could get help."

"This isn't a war!" Robby's voice rose. "These are just people. You don't do this to people over a stupid karate competition! Mr. LaRusso, he was good to me. He took me in. He never wanted me to hurt anyone." His voice grew quiet now, reflective. "I did that myself. I wanted to blame everyone around me. But I did it. I hurt Miguel. I made that choice."

"Son, who do you think is involved in a war? It's always just people," Kreese said patiently. "Johnny's gone and replaced you with Miguel and that blonde broad. You're a good son, in need of a good father. And that isn't Danny-Boy either. You know Danny is fucking your father?"

Robby blinked in confusion. He looked away but only for a moment. "Even if that's true, it doesn't make them my enemy. My dad's a fuck up. He has admitted it. He hasn't been there for me most of my life. My mom was there physically, but never really there. Dad tried to reach out, but I think he didn't know how. I think he was lost, just like I was." Robby narrowed his eyes. "But I'm not lost anymore."

Kreese slammed his palm on the desk. He couldn't take any more. "Maybe you're no better than your traitor of a father. Such potential and you waste it. I bet you couldn't even get a second place trophy, because you're too much of a snowflake, a whiny, sorry snowflake. You make excuses for the people who hurt you and go back for more. And you wonder why you're so easily replaced."

"If it's so easy, then have fun with it," Robby said with a sneer.

Kreese rose. "You can't walk away that easily. Not unless you want your life destroyed. You won't be able to go a day without looking over your shoulder."

Robby shrugged and grabbed his bag from the floor. The floor he had been sleeping on since coming here. "I've been living that way for a long time, old man. Nothing new." With that, he walked out the door without a backwards glance.

Kreese's hands clenched into fists and he rose, remembering long ago when Daniel had walked away from Silver. Danny-Boy had a problem with theft, stealing Kreese's soldiers. He should have requested Daniel be killed.

He strode to the room where the other students trained. He could feel the vein pulsing in his forehead.