Like A Phoenix ➳ Cobra Kai

Lost and Found (42)

Kat parked her car near the skatepark, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. Her mind swarmed by the fact that Hawk, her ex-boyfriend, had kept the letter from her. She felt abandoned by Robby after he had put Miguel in a coma and fled the school, but she also felt equally betrayed by Hawk for hiding the letter from her. With a deep breath, she hopped out of the car and scanned the area, searching for anyone who looked like Robby.

Her eyes landed on a group of kids skating on a ramp nearby. She approached them cautiously, her heart pounding in her chest. "Hey," she called out to them, "have you guys seen a boy with ear-length brown hair, light eyes, white? Possibly under the alias of Robby Keene?"

One of the kids nodded, pointing towards the other side of the park. "Yeah, sounds like that guy over there," he said, indicating Robby.

Relief washed over Kat as she thanked the boys and made her way towards Robby. She didn't call out for him, simply standing before him with a sad smile. His hair was different now, slicked back and shorter than she remembered.

Robby noticed her presence and stopped skating, his eyes flickering to the bandaged wrist that Kat held close to her body. It was a clear reminder of the pain she had endured when Tory had cut her.

"Kat," he whispered, perking up. He picked up his skateboard and rushed over to her.

Kat swallowed hard, meeting his gaze. "Everyone's looking for you, Robby," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "The cops, LaRusso's, your dad..."

Robby let out a sigh, his shoulders slumping. "But not you, right?" he asked, his voice tinged with guilt. "After what I did..."

Shaking her head, she affirmed. "No, Robby," she said softly. "I didn't know about your letter in the hospital. Hawk kept it from me."

A flicker of anger crossed Robby's face, but he quickly composed himself. "Of course, he did," he muttered bitterly. "That's what he does. He lies to make me look like I gave up on us."

Kat couldn't help but feel grief, for what they had, and over Miguel's injury as she looked at Robby. "You did give up on us," she said, her voice tinged with disappointment. "You had a fling with Sam, and then Hawk kissed Moon at that party. And to top it all off, you kicked Miguel from the second story of the school."

Robby's expression was pained, his eyes darting away from Kat's gaze. "I don't know what came over me," he admitted, his voice filled with remorse. "It was like something took control of me. I fucked up, Kat. I fucked up our relationship, and I fucked up Miguel."

Kat sighed, her eyes welling up with tears. "Miguel's in a coma right now," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm sure you heard about it. Now everyone's weaponizing karate. I held Miguel in my arms while I bled out, and he remained unconscious. It's not the first time that's happened to me, where I can't save the ones I love. Either way, my life has gone to shit, and my best friend is in a coma."

Robby's shoulders sagged, and he nodded, the weight of what happened falling heavy upon him. "I feel horrible about it, Kat," he confessed, running a hand through his hair. "I didn't know there was a ledge when I kicked Miguel. I never meant for things to turn out like this. I messed up, and I'm so sorry."

Kat reached out and gently placed a hand on Robby's arm, offering him a small measure of comfort. "I know you're sorry," she winced. "But that's not enough. I don't want you to waste away in jail. You need to do something about it. First, you need to make sure nobody finds you. Tory got expelled, and Sam is suspended for two weeks. They have more time to do whatever they want, and that includes sending a witch hunt to find you."

Robby's eyes widened with realization. "You're right," he replied, his voice filled with urgency. "I can't let them find me. I'll make sure of it."

Kat nodded, her expression serious. "Cutting your hair is a start, but it's not enough," she said firmly. "You need to get rid of that van you stole. It's probably got a GPS tracker from Daniel LaRusso's dealership. They'll be able to trace it back to you."

Robby's jaw tightened as he contemplated Kat's words. "You're right again," he admitted. "If I can escape the system, then I will."

"Good," Kat said, a hint of relief in her voice. "But promise me one thing, Robby. Promise me that you'll turn yourself in when the time comes. You can't run forever."

Robby looked into Kat's eyes, his gaze firm. "I promise," he said, his voice steady. "And when that happens, will you visit me?"

Kat mustered a small smile, her eyes glimmering as she spoke. "Yeah, I would."

I'm glad I got to see you before everything falls apart," he said softly. "Take care of yourself, Kat. And please, visit me when I inevitably get caught and taken to jail."

A tear rolled down Kat's cheek as she nodded, her voice choked with emotion. "I will," she promised. "The others might not, but I'll be there for you, Robby."

Robby's smile grew, a sense of bitter sweetness in his expression. "Thank you," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "Thank you for still caring, despite everything. Take care, Kat. And I'm truly sorry about Miguel."

With that, Robby turned and walked away, disappearing into the distance. Kat stood there, watching him go, her heart aching at the sight.

Kat then left to the hospital, standing near Miguel's hospital room, her heart heavy with guilt and sorrow. Through the cracked door, she could see him lying motionless in bed, still trapped in the depths of his coma.

A gentle hand on her shoulder startled her, and she turned to find Miguel's grandmother standing behind her. "Mija," the older woman said softly, her voice soft. "I didn't mean to startle you. You can see Miggy if you want."

Kat nodded, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.

With a deep breath, Kat entered the hospital room and took a seat beside Miguel's bed. She reached out and gently clasped his hand, her fingers trembling slightly. "Miguel," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so sorry. It's my fault you're in this coma."

Tears welled up in Kat's eyes as she continued to speak, pouring her heart out to her unconscious friend. "I didn't help you fight because I was caught up with protecting Sam from Tori," she confessed. "But Sam was the entire cause of this dispute. She messed with another girl's boyfriend, and it all spiraled out of control."

Kat's voice trembled as she spoke, her words filled with regret. "I don't want you to join my brother Darrel or my grandma in heaven, Miguel," she said, her lips pursed. "It's not your time. I wish I could switch places with you because nobody would miss me like your family misses you."

A bittersweet smile flickered across Kat's face as she recalled their times together. "I wish we had more time to hang out outside of karate," she murmured, a mix of laughter and tears in her voice. "Do more fun shit, maybe even get a drink, even though you're an aggressive drunk. I miss that, y'know?"

Kat's smile faded, and tears streamed down her cheeks. "I would've gotten you a fake 'Get Well Soon' card," she said, frowning. "But there's no point. Anyone can buy a shitty store card, but not everyone can talk to someone who can't respond."

She let out a shuddering breath, trying to steady herself. "Hawk stole a letter for me from Robby while I was in the hospital," she confessed, choking on her tears. "I understand he might have tried to protect me, but that's my choice. I should've known what was in that letter."

Leaning closer to Miguel, Kat pressed her forehead against his hand, allowing the tears to fall. "I just hope you can hear me, Miggy," she whispered, her words laced with vulnerability. "I hope somewhere deep inside, you know how sorry I am and how much I care about you. I've never felt so alone. Please wake up. Please come back to us."