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It’s not working.

Robby took another big gulp of the sickeningly sweet liquid and felt it burn its way down his throat.

Why isn’t it working? It should be working by now.

Robby Keene had never been much of a drinker, so he wasn’t sure how this was supposed to work. What he knew was from the stories he’d heard from his parents, which often started with “I was so wasted…” - stories that were the reason he avoided drinking in the first place. Although, right now, he felt like a judgmental idiot for doing that.

They drank for a reason, didn’t they? To make the voices in their heads go silent for a while? To forget their shitty lives for a bit? He used to think alcohol was the reason why they were both losers in life, but Robby never touched the stuff and he was still proving himself the biggest loser of all. So what was the point? Especially when there was so much he wanted to forget.

There was Tory to begin with - and the very thought of her was messing with his head.

He thought they had something special - both teens who’d gotten their hearts broken and found something better in each-other. Both knew what it was like to struggle and fight and still never feel like they were good enough. He thought she understood why they needed to do it together.

Her mom’s dead… She doesn’t know what she’s doing…

Robby shook his head. He wanted to be there for her. He would’ve been there for her if she’d just told him something - anything. But she’d cut him off and disappeared completely. Was he just a ‘good-times’ boyfriend to her? Someone to fool around and fuck when things were okay? Did she really care so little that she wouldn’t share her grief with him? That she’d use his feelings for her against him?

Because that was exactly what she was doing. She said she wanted them both on the podium together, but no matter how many times he looked, he couldn’t feel an ounce of love or support for her. She was all in with Cobra Kai… and now with Kwon…

Robby took another swig, forcing himself to try and think of something else. He wondered how his dad did this - how he could enjoy feeling this dizzy and numb on the outside while his mind kept replaying the worst things about his life over and over again his head. Maybe he should ask him.

Dad’s gone too… So much for being there for me when I need him.

No, that wasn’t fair. Carmen was in serious trouble and Johnny needed to be there for her - even though there wasn’t anything he could actually do for her. But maybe his presence alone would be enough to make a difference. At least, Robby hoped so - Carmen was a good woman. A saint, actually, for putting up with his dad’s shit. And if something happened to her or the baby - Robby shuddered to think about it. His dad would lose his shit, spiral out of control and abandon Robby all over again.

Even so, he wished his dad was there, giving him his own unique brand of gruff wisdom to help him make sense of things. Or maybe he could’ve taken Robby with him instead of Miguel. Miguel could’ve taken over the captaincy - he definitely deserved it more and he’d proven it over and over again through the matches so far. And Robby would’ve been spared any further humiliation.

No - that wasn’t fair. Carmen was Miguel’s mom, so of course he had to go. But why didn’t his dad ask him to come along too? It was obvious that Robby was worse than useless at this point. Maybe Hawk could’ve taken over - he had beaten Robby before, hadn’t he?

You know why. You’re not really a part of that family. They just put up with you because your dad is stuck with a loser son, but you know that they are the family he chose and they don’t really want his past failures hanging around.

“Hey, there. Having a nice night?”

Robby jerked, startled and turned to look at the voice that had interrupted his thoughts. It was that girl - the female captain from that blue-gray dojo -

Iron Dragons -

standing next to him with a big smile on her face. He stared back at her uncomprehendingly. Was she talking to him? Why was the captain of the best dojo in the tournament talking to a loser like him? Was he… supposed to say something back?

“Aren’t you a little too cute to be drinking alone?” She asked him with a smile firmly fixed on her face.

She

was

talking to him. And like an idiot, Robby was just staring back wordlessly for who knew how long.

“I’m not alone.” He said, finally finding his voice. “My friends are…”

He turned around to locate them and found his eyesight pretty blurry and unfocused. He must be drunker than he thought but he should still be able to locate them, right? Especially Hawk with his American flag mohawk that would stand out for miles around.

“Huh… guess they left.” Robby said, a wave of self-pity washing over him. “Guess everyone always leaves.”

“I’m still here.” Zara told him.

He didn’t hear her - not really. His mind was too focused on the fact that his friends who’d brought him out there to take his mind off his losses had all left him behind and disappeared. Sam had gone out for some air and never returned and the rest…

I don’t know if it meant anything, but… we all think it should be you out there.

They didn’t want him as their captain in the first place. Hawk probably thought he was being subtle, but the doors of their room were thin and Robby had heard him loud and clear when he’d turned the shower off. They hadn’t even had the balls to say it to his face.

Not that Robby could blame them - they were all Miguel’s friends first. Hawk and Demetri had met him first. Sam had been his girlfriend first. Devon had joined Eagle Fang first. Even Tory had been Miguel’s girlfriend first. Robby didn’t know why their senseis had held that stupid competition at all when it was so obvious that Miguel should’ve been the leader all along. Were they only trying to set him up to fail?
 
Before he could think it through, he noticed that Zara had gotten close to him. Really, uncomfortably close.

“Uh… I have a girlfriend.” Robby said, leaning back.

“You mean the girl who ditched you for the Korean boy?” Zara asked with a knowing look on her face.

Yes, that was exactly who Robby meant - but he couldn’t blame her for it. She’d just lost her mom and Robby hadn’t been a good enough boyfriend to her. He couldn’t blame her for seeking comfort elsewhere, but if he wanted her to come back to him…

“I should go.” He said, pushing himself back to his feet.

He must’ve drank more than he thought because the whole world swayed around his eyes and he found himself tilting sideways, almost falling over if not for Zara’s hand on his arm.

“You’re in no condition to go back alone.” She told him. “What room are you in? I’ll take you back.”

“604.” Robby replied, Then he shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. “No… wait. Kwon took that room from me. He… took everything.”

“It’s fine.” Zara said, slinging his arm over her shoulder and helping him walk straight. “We can figure it out on the way.”
 
Axel stared at the door nervously, waiting for the knock to be answered. He already knew he’d fallen short tonight, but he had no idea how badly. But win or lose, he needed to make his report and seek further guidance.

“Well?” Sensei Wolf asked, after he opened the door and saw the teen standing before him.

“I ran into one of them.” Axel explained quickly. “One of the girls… Samantha LaRusso. Miyagi-Do’s captain. We talked and… she’s nice. She has a boyfriend, but she wants to travel and - ”

“Didn’t ask for her life story.” His sensei interrupted him. “Did you find anything you could use?”

Axel swallowed nervously and stared at the floor. He hadn’t found anything they could use against Miyagi-Do - except for the fact that they had some beef with Cobra Kai, but they knew about that already. Sensei Wolf had told them to find

something

and Axel hated disappointing his sensei, no matter how unreasonable his demands.

And this did feel unreasonable. This wasn’t about training or learning new skills - Sensei wanted them to get close to Miyagi-Do for some reason and find out things they could use against them. It made no sense - Miyagi-Do wasn’t a threat. They were one of the weakest dojos around.

“I expected better from you.” Sensei Wolf told him. “At least Zara has been putting in the work.”

“Does it matter?” Axel asked, still not daring to look up. “They’re weak, sensei. They’re not a threat - especially not with that captain of theirs. We’ll easily beat them on the mat if they - ”

“Are you questioning me?” Wolf asked, angrily stepping up to the boy.

Axel shrank back in fear. Trust between sensei and student was the foundation of martial arts. It was something sacred - something not to be questioned - and there was a painful price to be paid whenever he doubted it.

“No, sensei.” He replied, staring at his feet. “I want to… understand. What’s special about them?”

“You don’t need to know that.” Wolf replied. “All you need to know is that they need to be humiliated - on

and off

the mats.”

Axel didn’t get it. As far as he knew, his sensei had never even heard of Miyagi-Do before, let alone those three kids - Tory Nichols, Samantha LaRusso and Robby Keene. But for some reason, he had a bug up his ass about them. He’d told his students to go especially hard on the three of them - or, failing that, anyone from Miyagi-Do - and Axel had no idea why.

“Well…” Wolf said, staring at his phone after it buzzed. “Perhaps one of my students has some potential after all.”

Axel looked up cautiously, wondering what he meant.

“Come.” Wolf told him, closing the door behind him. “Let me show you what a

real

winner looks like.”
 
Axel followed Sensei Wolf with a growing bubble of resentment inside him. He was unbeatable on the mats and he’d proven it over and over again - but it wasn’t good enough. Zara had been running circles around him off the mats and Axel wasn’t capable of things she was. He’d only ever cared about training - karate was his ticket out of his crappy life - but he’d never taken the time to become popular or build any kind of social media presence.

Normally, it wouldn’t have mattered, but according to Sensei they had to win off the mats too. That was the only way for things to go back to ‘normal’. And Axel wanted that pretty desperately.

Sensei had been different ever since he came back from his sabbatical. He’d always been hard on his students - always preferred the stick to the carrot - but ever since Vietnam, he’d been quicker to anger, more focused on aggression and less tolerant of mistakes. And Axel shuddered to imagine how he might react if they lost. 
 
Wolf barely had to tap the door before Zara opened it.

“I got Robby Keene back with me.” She told them. “He’s throwing up in the bathroom. Totally wasted.”

But why him?

Axel wondered once more. He understood Sensei’s reasoning well enough - winning was everything in a world that wasn’t kind to losers. And sometimes you need to play a little dirty to win. Messing with your opponents outside the bounds of the tournament was a perfectly valid strategy. But why Keene? He wasn’t a threat. He was the weakest captain Axel had seen so far, losing one match after another in succession. He was unfocused, undisciplined and out of his league. If they wanted to secure their victory, shouldn’t they go after the real competition?

“Did you find anything we can use?” Sensei asked her.

“Plenty.” Zara replied. “He couldn’t stop whining about his girlfriend - that chick from Cobra Kai. Apparently, she ditched him to join another team and now she ditched him to spend the night with her co-captain.”

“She couldn’t have.” Axel spoke up. “The Korean boy tried to attack me and Sam tonight and the girl wasn’t with them.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Sensei Wolf shook his head. “If he believes it, we can use it against him. Did you do what I told you?”

Axel’s stomach fluttered with anxiety at the memory of his sensei’s instructions. Americans were emotional and easily distracted - it made sense to toy with their hearts to make them lose focus. But the things Sensei Wolf was telling them to do, Axel didn’t know if he had it in him.

“I tried. I really did, but…” Zara replied, wriggling her pinky finger in explanation. “He’s way too drunk for that.”

“Must I do everything myself?” Sensei huffed in frustration and pushed past her into the room. 
 
Zara followed and Axel went in after her, closing the door behind him. He had a feeling that whatever Sensei was about to do, he wouldn’t want any interruptions. He could hear the sound of flowing water from the bathroom and moments later, Robby Keene stumbled outside.

He didn’t look good. Despite his face still dripping wet after the wash, there was a faint smell of booze coming from him and it made Axel scrunch up his nose in disgust. He was unsteady on his feet, his face vacant of all emotions and he barely seemed to register the three of them in the room with him. He looked around, eyes blinking and unfocused, as he seemed to understand that something wasn’t right.

“This isn’t my room.” He said, slurring his words. “I need to… go back.”

“You lost your room to Kwon, remember?” Zara said, gently taking his hand and leading him inside. “You don’t want to go there. He’s probably got Tory there. But you can spend the night here.”

There was a flash of hurt in his eyes as he followed her meekly and Axel felt a pang of sympathy for the boy. He looked so lost and broken… so completely out of it. Like he’d been completely beaten already. There was nothing to be gained from beating him down even further.

But Sensei Wolf had a different look on his face - something hungry and predatory - and it sent chills down Axel’s spine.

“This boy - Kwon - he has a rivalry with him?” He asked Zara.

“I guess.” Zara shrugged. “He keeps messing with him - keeps trying to get a rise out of him. But I don’t know why.”

“Cobra Kai has some history with Miyagi-Do.” Axel told them about what he’d learned. “But that has nothing to do with us.”

“Doesn’t mean we can’t use to our advantage.” Wolf replied. “That boy - you know what room he’s in?” Zara nodded. “Get him to come here. I’m sure we can offer him something good tonight.”

Uncertain, but not really reluctant, Zara left to obey, leaving Axel alone with his sensei in the room. Robby had already found his way to the bed, collapsing on it bonelessly to sleep the alcohol off and Axel hoped that his unconscious state might stay Sensei’s hand. After all, what was the point of doing something if he wasn’t even going to know it.
 
“Watch how it’s done.” Sensei Wolf said, before grabbing Robby’s arm and pulling him back to his feet. Axel’s eyes widened as he watched the man tug off Robby’s hoodie and pull his t-shirt over his head.

“Whatchu doing?” Robby mumbled, eyes barely open. “Lemme go.”

Wolf grabbed the shirtless boy’s jaw, making him look up at him with a smirk on his face. “He’s a pretty one, isn’t he?” He said. “It’ll be a lot more fun this way.”

“Sensei… what are you doing?” Axel asked, a nervous pit growing in his stomach.

“What we have to.” Wolf replied.

Axel watched in numb shock as Sensei’s huge hands moved down to Robby’s chest, pinching his nipples and eliciting a whine out of him. Wrapping them around his slim waist, Wolf latched onto his neck, licking and sucking his way lower over his chest. Robby squirmed in his arms, trying to push him away, but he was helpless as a child in Sensei’s grip.

This is wrong,

Axel thought, fists clenching at his side. Robby was barely conscious, completely helpless and clearly resisting. This wasn’t karate where they were matching skills to prove themselves superior. Hell, this wasn’t even seduction - this was… Axel didn’t know what this was. But whatever it was, as Wolf unzipped Robby’s pants and pulled his soft cock out, it became obvious that Robby did not want it.

“You said they needed to want it.” Axel reminded his sensei.

That was supposed to be the line. Karate was about discipline and self-control and before they bent others to their will, they had to gain control of their own. They weren’t mindless, violent brutes who’d force themselves on others through violence. They’d be no better than animals if they did that. But… that’s exactly what Sensei was doing.

“There are ways to make him want it.” Wolf replied, pushing his hand in his pocket and pulling out a bottle of pills. One handed, he popped the cap off and took one out. “This will make sure he’s on board with everything and he won’t even remember it the next morning. Well, not completely.”

Something about it struck Axel as fundamentally wrong. He almost interrupted when Sensei shoved the pill in Robby’s mouth and clamped his hand over it until he swallowed with a disgusted look on his face. It didn’t feel right to treat someone like this but… but this was Sensei Wolf - the man who’d saved him, who’d led him to victory. He must know what he was doing and all Axel needed to do was trust him blindly. 
 
“Lemme go…” Robby mumbled again as Wolf tugged his pants and boxer-briefs down his legs. He tried to walk away, tripping over his legs in the process and Sensei caught him him and threw him on the bed face down before he finished stripping him completely.

Even in the dim light, Robby’s pale, perky ass looked pretty enticing and Axel felt a strange stirring in his stomach despite the situation. Clearly, Sensei felt the same. He landed a few well-placed swats of Robby’s upturned butt, before pushing a finger in between his cheeks and roughly shoving inside.

Robby groaned, squirming in discomfort as the digit entered him dry and sensei held him down by his neck while pumping his finger in and out of him. There was something about Keene - something about the way his ass was wriggling as he tried to get away - that made Axel’s blood rush south and his underwear started to feel uncomfortably tight.

“Stop it…. Get away…” Robby begged, ineffectually trying to kick at Wolf. “Don’t… it hurts…”

The older man pulled his fingers out and shoved them in his mouth instead. “Get it wet. That’s all the lube you’re getting.”

Robby whimpered, gagging on the fingers shoved down his throat and twisted beneath the bigger man, still struggling to get free. Flushing in shame, Axel reached down and adjusted himself in his track-pants while Sensei Wolf pulled his own slacks down to his thighs.

Axel was… scared. Not of a person, but of what might happen and what it meant, and he hadn’t felt like that for ages. Something monumental was happening - something that could change his life more than any tournament or a trophy and he had no idea how it was going to play out.

“Sensei, we’ll be disqualified if you hurt him.” He said, anxiously.

“Don’t worry, no one will believe him.” Wolf replied with a smile. “And we won’t leave a mark.”

We?

Wolf pulled his fingers out of Robby’s mouth and turned him around, pushing his cock in his face.

“Dad…” Robby whimpered, trying to pull the man’s hand out of his hair. “Where’s my dad? I need my dad?”

“Daddy’s gone, little boy.” Sensei replied, sneering down at him. “He left you. He won’t be coming to protect you anymore. But suck me off nice and I’ll make sure nobody hurts you again.”
 
Swallowing and in a daze, Robby leaned forward and took the thick penis in his mouth, wrapping his lips around the shaft as he licked the head. Sensei Wolf was not a small man - he was impressive in both length and girth and Axel had no idea how the man would fit inside the tiny pucker he’d spied before without ripping Robby open. He prayed it wouldn’t go that far as he watched the erection disappear inside Robby’s mouth while the boy looked up at Wolf with a tear-streaked face. Axel felt a strange pang in his chest at the sight of tears leaking out of the corners of Robby’s eyes and rolling down his cheeks, but his sensei showed no mercy when he shoved himself down Robby’s throat, making the boy gag and choke on his dick.

“See this?” Sensei Wolf said to Axel. “This is what happens when you’re weak. In this world you’re either predator or you are prey. Better get your act together if you don’t want to end up like him.”

It’s a lesson,

Axel realized with a start.

Of course, it’s a lesson. Sensei wouldn’t do something like this without a good reason.

He pulled out of the crying boy’s mouth and flipped him over, smirking down at the sight between his legs. “See that? Told you he’d like it. Little bitches with little cocks always want to be fucked.”

Axel didn’t know what Sensei was talking about. Robby might not be winning any big-dick competitions anytime soon, but he was by no measure “little”. Compared to his smaller body, he looked rather big in both length and girth. But more than that, his slightly curved pink cock looked proportionately perfect - like something that would pleasingly fit in anyone’s hand or mouth. But Sensei was right about one thing - the erection proved that Robby was enjoying this, no matter how much he protested with his words.

As Wolf spread his legs open and pushed his cock between his asscheeks, Robby seemed to realize what was happening.

“Don’t… please don’t…” He begged, gasping as the man’s blunt head nudged against his opening. “Please… dad, please…”

“Call me daddy.” Sensei Wolf said, pushing inside his tight sphincter and making him whine and arch his back. Robby thrashed on the bed, struggling to get free, but Wolf’s hands held on to his thighs and kept him in place, as shoved into him until he was fully seated inside.

A low, guttural whine tore out of Robby as the man pulled out and slammed home again. Wolf started fucking him with a brutal rhythm and Axel stood there, watching in horror as his sensei raped Robby’s ass.

“You said you wouldn’t hurt him.” He reminded the man. Robby was crying pitifully - choked, broken sobs ripping out of him with each thrust and he felt certain that Sensei much be fucking him bloody.

“It doesn’t - trust me.” Sensei replied. “The pill I gave him will keep him relaxed and loose all over. The little slut wouldn’t be hard if it actually hurt.”

That makes sense… it makes sense, right? Sensei knows what he’s doing and he’d never do anything to sabotage us.

“Watch and learn, boy.” Wolf went on. “Some of us are made to be fucked. Made to take it up their ass. And others are made to do the fucking. All the soft words in the world won’t change that and when the moment comes, you’ll know which one you are meant to be. But you already know, don’t you?”

Axel looked down at himself, the outline of his erection clearly visible through his pants. That was all the proof he needed, right? Even though his stomach recoiled at the thought of hurting someone like that, his mind was enjoying the sight before him. Robby’s tight, muscular body writhing on the bed as his ass got fucked, the tears leaking out of his big green eyes, the way his cock twitched and wept every time Sensei fucked into him - Axel liked watching it all and a part of him wanted to be the one to make him whimper and sob like that.

Sensei was right - Robby was nothing but a weak, pathetic prey and there was nothing wrong with a predator feeding on him.

“Daddy…” Robby begged again. “Daddy, please. Don’t…”

With a grunt, Sensei wolf thrust into him for one last time and buried himself to the hilt. His whole body shuddered as he came, filling the boy up with his seed and Robby arched his back, his own cock pulsing as it shot its load all over his abs.

Satisfied, Wolf pulled out of the boy and tucked himself back in. “See that? He came without being touched. What more proof you need?”

Numbly, Axel nodded in agreement, watching as the sobbing boy turned to the side and curled up. Even in the dim light, Axel could see between his legs and he saw how his red hole twitched, trying to close in of itself as Sensei’s cum leaked out of him.

“Be sure to take good pictures of what comes next.” Sensei Wolf told him. “They’ll be useful later.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“I was sure this was a trick.” Kwon said with a twisted smile on his face. “But does not look like it.”

Axel glowered at the boy with his fists clenched by his side. He hadn’t forgotten how he’d tried to ambush him earlier that night. Kwon was a threat on and off the mats and he was the one they should be breaking down - not a loser like Robby Keene. But Kwon ignored him completely. His eyes were fixed on the naked form passed out on the bed.

“We might be enemies out there, but tonight, our interests align.” Sensei Wolf told the newcomer. “I heard you had it out for Keene. Thought you might like the chance to break him too.”

“He looks pretty broken already.” Kwon sneered.

“If you’d rather not - ”

“Did not say that.” Kwon replied, shrugging off his leather jacket. “Already made him my bitch on the mats - maybe I make him my bitch in here too. Show you how it’s done.”

Sensei Wolf nodded approvingly as Kwon pulled his shirt over his head and stepped aside, letting the boy walk over to an unconscious Robby. Axel looked over at his sensei for instruction, hoping that the man would realize this had gone far enough. But Sensei just nodded at Zara with a smile on his face and Axel’s co-captain pulled her top off.

Robby groaned once more as Kwon dragged him to his feet and pulled him back to semi-consciousness. Blinking and barely able to stand, he stared up at the Korean boy while Kwon yanked his hair back, bending his body backwards. Snorting, he spat on Robby's face, making him flinch as the glob of saliva landed on his cheek. Then pried his jaw open and spat in his mouth.

“This is how you break a bitch.” He said out loud, punching Keene in the stomach. Robby dropped to the floor, coughing and retching, and Kwon pulled his foot back, aiming a kick at his ribs.

Axel moved before he knew, hooking Kwon’s foot with his own and tripping him up. He had him pressed against the wall before he could react and raised his hand to punch his lights out - but found his wrist getting grabbed before it could land. Sensei Wolf stepped between them, pushing Axel away while keeping Kwon pinned to the wall with one hand.

“That is no way to treat our guest.” He snarled at his student before turning to the other boy. “And you - we invite you to play our game, but you play by our rules. I don’t want a single bruise on him in the morning. Understood?”

He waited until Kwon grunted in agreement before letting him go. Robby was still coughing and gasping for breath on the floor and he looked up in fear as Kwon advanced on him once more. With a sudden burst of strength, he stumbled on his feet and tried to run, but Kwon grabbed him by the waist before he got two steps and threw on the bed.

“Pathetic little bitch.” The Korean boy scoffed. “Wonder how he made it to Sekai Taikai.”

“He is pretty.” Zara said, running her hand through Robby’s hair. “Maybe he fucked his way to the top.”

“With that useless dick between legs?” Kwon laughed.

Almost lovingly, Zara cupped Robby’s chin and pulled his face up. “Bet his mouth isn’t that useless.”

Robby looked up at her with teary eyes. “Tory… please - ”

She slapped him across the face, anger twisting her features. “Get the name right, bitch.”

Kwon laughed, unzipping his pants and pulling his dick out. “Nothing more pathetic than a loser in love.” He said and spat on his hand before tugging his erection to its full length.

“With that cunt?” Zara scowled, peeling her panties off. “He could do better.”

Axel looked away awkwardly - it felt disrespectful to watch a girl naked - before he realized that there was nothing respectful about what was going on. Glancing to the side, he saw Zara push her crotch in Robby’s face and rubbing his nose on her sopping wet cunt.

“Go on, baby.” She cooed at him. “Lick me open and maybe I’ll let you fuck me.”

“

You

can do better.” Kwon told her, stepping between Robby’s legs. “Probably won’t even feel his tiny cock inside you.”

You’re one to talk,

Axel thought bitterly. For all his attitude, Kwon didn’t have enough between his legs to back it up. Or maybe that was the reason for his attitude in the first place - he was overcompensating for something.

Still, he was by no means “small” and Axel knew that he’d make Robby feel every inch.

The boy grabbed Robby by the hips, lifting his ass in the air before spreading his cheeks. And on the other end, Robby started obediently licking Zara’s slit, pushing his tongue between her folds and making her sigh in pleasure.

Kwon pushed the boy’s knees under him and guided his cock into his deep cleft. Axel could see his whole body trembling as the Korean boy’s cock found his slick, sore hole and Robby squealed like a stuck pig when he shoved it inside in one hard thrust. The noises he was making went right up Zara’s pussy and she grabbed his hair and shoved his face deeper into her folds. Disturbed as he was, Axel still felt his own cock twitch as he watched Robby getting violated once more.

Kwon grabbed Robby’s hair, yanking his head up and pushing it between Zara’s legs as he started thrusting into him. Robby sobbed and whimpered as Kwon pounded into him, splitting him open on his cock.

“Fuck, he’s tight. Tightest pussy I’ve ever fucked.” He said, brutally snapping his hips forward. “Fucking slut was made to be fucked.”
 
Swallowing thickly, Axel kept his eyes on the half-conscious boy getting worked over from both ends. They were right - all of them. Robby was weak and pathetic, a loser, a bitch - just a hole made to be fucked. He didn’t belong here, in the tournament of champions and the fact that his cock was hanging hard between his legs, leaking precum on the mattress every time Kwon slammed into him, was proof of it. Like Sensei said, he belonged on his knees, servicing his betters. And part of Axel knew it. That was why his own erection refused to go down.

So why did he feel so sickened by the whole thing?

Kwon raised his hand in the air and landed a stinging slap on Robby’s rear, making the boy twitch around his cock. Once again, Axel stepped ahead in anger, but his sensei stopped him with a hand on his chest, shaking his head subtly. Kwon didn’t miss that - he raised his hand and spanked Robby again, gasping as Robby cried and clenched around his cock.

“Watch how it’s done, big boy.” Kwon said, locking his eyes with Axel. “Maybe learn a thing or two.”

“He’s right.” Sensei Wolf told him, a soft smile playing on his lips. “You need a stronger stomach if you want to win.”

Swallowing down a sudden surge of bile, Axel kept watching Kwon’s cock repeatedly disappear inside Robby’s ass, wondering how long this night was going to last. Thankfully, it wasn’t long before Kwon groaned and threw his head back, shoving himself in for the last time as he flooded Robby’s guts with his hot seed.

His body still shuddering from the aftershocks of his climax, he pulled out the boy with a satisfied sigh and turned to Axel with a challenging smirk on his face. “Your turn, big guy.”

Do it fast and do it quick,

Axel told himself as he toed off his sneakers and pulled his tank top over his head.

Showing kindness or mercy would be crueler in the long run.

He pushed his joggers and briefs down his legs and his cock sprang out, slapping against his abs before jutting proudly out of his crotch. With some satisfaction, he saw Kwon’s eyes widen before his face settled into a scowl. Proportionate to his height, Axel was the biggest one there and while normally he’d have been proud of that fact, right now, he wished he was packing something smaller and leaner.

Robby’s ass looked pretty abused already. Other than the pink cheeks, Axel could see his red-rimmed hole twitching as fresh cum leaked out of it. His pucker was puffy and swollen from repeated pounding, already open and winking, but not wide enough to take Axel’s girth with ease. Every inch of his cock was going to hurt Robby and while Axel was determined to beat every contender, this was not how he wanted to do it.

He grabbed Robby by the ankles and flipped him on his back before pushing his legs up and practically folding him in half. His eyes met Zara’s over the dazed boy and she smiled at him, climbing over Robby with her thighs on either side of his face. With focus and determination, Axel guided his cock to the spasming hole and steadily pushed inside. He held the squirming boy in place, ignoring his pitiful whine and didn’t stop until he was fully seated inside.

Fuck… that feels amazing.

Suddenly, Axel knew what all the fuss was about. He was no blushing virgin by any measure - he’d fucked a few girls and gotten sucked off by a few boys - but none of it compared to what he felt at the moment. Buried deep inside Robby’s velvety heat, the way his tight channel spasmed and clenched around his shaft was enough to make him forget everything else about the situation. Drawing his hips back, he slammed back in, and fucked Robby in a steady rhythm.

“Fuck, that’s hot.” Zara gasped as she rode Robby’s face. “Fuck yeah… fuck that ass.”

Axel sped his hips up, pistoning in and out of Keene until he was punching the air out of his lungs with each thrust. The boy was gasping and whining, his mouth slobbering into Zara’s pussy as the girl played with her breasts and fingered her cunt. Soon her thighs tightened around Robby’s neck, almost cutting off his blood supply as he climaxed with a shuddering sigh.

Axel could feel the heat building in his stomach as well. His balls were already churning, ready to burst, and the sight of Robby’s debauched face when Zara climbed off him almost sent him over the edge. His chin was slick with his spit and Zara’s juices, eyes wide and dazed as he stared at Axel and begged with trembling lips.

“Miguel… dad…” He whimpered. “Please… Mr. LaRusso… I’m sorry… please…”

Axel couldn’t look into his eyes any longer. He dropped his gaze instead and watching his cock pistoning in and out of of Robby’s hole, while Robby’s cock lay hot and heavy on his abs. On instinct, Axel reached down and grasped his member in his hand, giving it a few experimental tugs.

That was all it took to make Robby cum again - his cock spasmed in Axel’s hand and erupted, spewing all over his chest and abs. His hot, silken channel fluttered and clenched around Axel’s cock, driving him over the edge as well. With a guttural groan, he thrust in until his balls slapped against Robby’s ass and he spilled his seed inside the velvety heat.

By the time he pulled out his softening cock, Robby was already unconscious once again. 
 
“Tonight doesn’t change anything.” Kwon told him before leaving. “On the mat, I still make you my bitch.”

Axel growled in reply, more focused on Sensei and Zara still standing at the door.

“Clean him up and give him a proper send-off.” Sensei Wolf told her. “This is a game we need to play carefully and we can’t tip our hand too soon.”

Zara nodded and went back inside, closing the door behind her and leaving Axel alone with the man. The boy took a deep breath, ready for his sensei to tear him down once again, but Sensei Wolf turned to him with a smile on his face.

“You did good tonight. Better than expected.” He said with an approving nod. “Get some sleep. This isn’t over.”

Axel nodded and headed off to his room, his sensei’s words playing in his head on a loop.

Sensei had praised him. Sensei was proud of him. That was all that mattered because it proved he’d done it right. Nothing else mattered - that’s what he needed to tell himself. That’s what he needed to believe. Not the way Robby cried. Not the way he begged them to stop. Not the way he tried to helplessly squirm away…

Axel ran the rest of the way back to his room and hastily opened his door. He barely managed to make it to the bathroom before he was throwing up all into the sink.
 
“I can barely remember last night.”

“Good thing I can.” Zara replied, leaning up to kiss him on the lips.

Robby resisted the urge to back away. He couldn’t treat her like that. He wasn’t going to be one of those assholes who used girls to feel better about himself and treated them like shit afterwards. So he stood there, without responding as he felt her soft lips on his own before turning and walking away in a daze.

What the hell did I do last night?

He walked along the corridor slowly, trying to make sense of the various aches and pains in his body. His head was pounding, his throat was dry and his tongue felt like sandpaper - but that was the booze. Even though he lacked the personal experience, he’d seen enough hangovers in his life to know that. His abs hurt too, but he’d gotten beaten up pretty often during the past few matches and the alcohol must have exacerbated that ache.

But there was something else too - this deep, throbbing pain in his ass that he couldn’t really explain or even understand. Had Zara gotten up to something freaky with him last night? Had he agreed to it? He must have… right?

Try as he might, he couldn’t remember anything. Last thing he remembered was stumbling into the bathroom and throwing up in the toilet bowl. He wasn’t even sure if they had sex in the first place.

“There you are!” Demetri said irritably as soon as Robby entered their room. “Where the hell have you been? Mr. LaRusso wants to see us pronto.”

Hawk was closer to him and he scrunched up his nose in disgust as Robby passed him by.

“Dude, you reek.” He said. “I’m guessing it wasn’t Tory you hooked up with last night.”

Robby shook his head numbly and grabbed a towel before heading off to the shower.

“Glad to see losing hasn’t hurt your libido.” Hawk said, bitterly. “Getting laid would be the last thing on

my

mind if I’d let my team down like that, but you do you.”

“Don’t be jealous, dude. At least he’s getting some.” Demetri replied, rolling his eyes.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Robby ignored them both and closed the bathroom door behind him. He started the shower to drown out their voices before stripping out of his clothes. Those two bickered like an old married couple, but something felt different now - something was worse. And Robby didn’t have it in him to care at the moment. 
 
He stood before the mirror, naked as the day he was born, and examined his body, trying to see something - anything - that felt different. But he could see nothing at all - nothing he didn’t expect to see. Not even when he turned around and spread his cheeks, trying to get a good look between them.

Feeling tired and spent, he stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash the soreness away and he tried to remember last night once again.

It was a dream, right? It had to be, because it made absolutely no sense at all. He was getting flashes of a man’s face swimming above him - the Iron Dragon’s sensei - as something hot and thick was shoved into his ass. Except, the face turned into his dad a moment later. He saw some kind of Tory-Zara hybrid slap him and push his face between her legs. And then Miguel was fucking him from behind and then on his back. Except, it was Kwon a moment later. And then it was that big guy from Iron Dragons.

It felt like a bad acid trip - which meant it must be an alcohol-induced dream. His dad and Miguel were half a world away, Tory and Kwon had probably spent the night together and he’d never even exchanged so much as a word with the Iron Dragon’s sensei or their captain. It was a nightmare, that was all and the booze made it feel vivid and visceral. His dad was the expert on drinking, so he’d have to ask him about it later, but he knew one thing for sure - he was never drinking again.

Too late for that, Keene. The damage is done.

Robby felt a deep-seated ache in his chest. Any hope he’d had of making up with Tory was well and truly gone now.

Robby would have forgiven her anything. She’d just lost her mom and who was he to judge her for how she grieved. True, her actions - her lack of trust - had hurt him deeply. Joining Cobra Kai, targeting them during the matches… sleeping with Kwon - each of those things was like a knife to his gut. But he’d have gotten past it somehow.

But Tory would never forgive him this. Once she found out - and she would find out - she’d end things with him for good. There was no going back.

No one’s coming to save you.

Robby felt something break deep inside of him. With a sob, he went down to the floor and sat in the corner, letting the shower wash over him. He curled up, pressing his knees to his chest and started crying his heart out.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

His head still throbbed, vision still a little dizzy and he almost tripped on his feet, barely catching himself in time to avoid face-planting in the corridor. His stomach felt weird, growling and bubbling in turns and he couldn’t figure out if he was nauseous or hungry. If this was what hangovers were like, no wonder neither of his parents could get shit done. Drinking had ended up being a big mistake. The only thing it’d helped Robby forget was last night itself and it’d led to a dumb decision. If the others found out about it…

He knew he looked like shit too - skin pale and sallow, dark circles around dazed, red-rimmed eyes - even Mr. LaRusso had noticed his condition. He’d feel better once he ate something, hopefully. Maybe more clear headed and calmer, but there was something he needed to do first - something more important than anything else.

Terry Silver was back and Tory needed to know about him.

Kreese knew about him too and Mr. LaRusso had suggested leaving it to him to tell Tory, but even he agreed that they couldn’t trust that man to protect her. If Silver was coming for revenge, then Tory - the girl instrumental in exposing him and bringing him down - would be pretty high on his list. Even if it didn’t change anything, Tory needed to be warned so that she’d be on the lookout for him and his possible agents.

Like Zara?

Robby’s feet faltered again and a cold chill swept over him. Mr. LaRusso told them that Silver was backing the Iron Dragons - that he’d seen their sensei with him this morning - and Zara was their female captain. So, was it possible…?

No. No way. The hangover was making him paranoid and confused. Zara might be a little vain and self-absorbed, but she was also a sweet girl who’d found him down in the dumps and tried to cheer him up. Even if she was working for Silver, getting Robby to make a drunken mistake was hardly a revenge plot. Especially since it looked like his relationship was already over.

It’s not,

Robby thought, knocking on the door.

I won’t let it.

He waited for her to reply, running through the conversation in his head. He’d tell her about Silver first and then… he’d have to tell her about Zara. Confess everything and beg her forgiveness on his knees. He’d tell her that it was a drunken mistake, that he let Kwon get in his head and did something incredibly stupid, that she meant nothing to him and Tory was the only one for him.

He tapped his foot impatiently, wondering what was taking so long. He was pretty sure he saw a shadow behind the peephole earlier. Was Tory avoiding him?

“Tory, c’mon. It’s me.” He said, knocking again. “We need to talk.”

They did need to talk and hopefully, it’d end better this time. Their last conversation hadn’t ended well and it’d messed up Robby’s performance. He’d felt guilty and concerned through all of his matches, eyes going to her over and over and he’d kept letting his team down. Things could not go on like that. One way or another, he needed some kind of closure. 
 
The door finally opened and Robby jerked back in surprise, watching a half-naked Kwon behind it. Despite keeping his eyes trained on the boy’s face, he did not miss the fact that he was clad only in a pair of tight compression shorts or the sizable bulge at his crotch.

“What are you doing here?” Robby asked, fists clenched at his side.

“Me? Didn’t I tell you - I keep her warm.” Kwon replied with a cocky smirk. “What are

you

doing here?”

Robby tried to answer, but the words stuck in his dry throat. He swallowed nervously, trying to remember why he was there. He knew it was something important but his mind went blank and he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the taller, more muscular boy standing before him.

She traded up,

a traitorous voice whispered in his head.

Robby knew he was no slouch himself, but he’d always had a lean build and it wasn’t easy for him to maintain his muscle mass. And no matter how hard he worked out, there was nothing he could do about the fact that he was smaller and shorter than practically everyone else around him. Kwon, on the other hand, was naturally ripped. His muscles bulged effortlessly, without him having to flex. Defined abs, broad shoulders, and jawline that could cut glass - Kwon looked like he’d stepped out of a fitness magazine.

Kwon’s grin widened as he caught his wandering eye.

“Here to see Tory, yes?” He said, slinging his arm around Robby’s shoulder and pulling him inside the room. “Come. You should see her.”

The air inside was thick with the scent of teenage pheromones - thick, musky smell of sex wafting and clinging to his nose like smoke. Any hope that this whole thing was some elaborate prank was gone disappeared when he saw Tory lounging on the bed, clad only in an oversized button-down hoodie that Robby knew wasn’t part of her wardrobe. She was scrolling through her phone with an almost bored look on her face and her eyes were cold as ice when she looked up at him.

There was an itch in Robby’s eyes, making him blink rapidly as Kwon laughed in his ear and patted his chest like an old friend.

“I take your room first. Then your girl. What else you got?” He said, his hand moving down Robby’s back until it was fondling his butt. “Maybe I take your ass next.”

Robby jerked away from him, shrugging his arm off and took a step closer to Tory.

“What the hell are you doing?” He asked her, unable to keep the pain out of his voice.

“Tournament’s on a break for the day.” Tory replied, shrugging nonchalantly. “Figured I’d take advantage of the

pause

.”

Robby flinched like he’d been slapped. “With this asshole?”

A kick to the back of his knees made him stumble and Kwon grabbed his hair, yanking his head back and forcing him to look up at him.

“Who you calling asshole, bitch?” He snarked, spittle flying in Robby’s face.

He should’ve countered on instinct - that was what all his training was for. But when he needed it the most, it deserted him and he was filled with crippling fear instead. He didn’t know why his mind was freezing up, flashes of why he could feel a phantom flash of Kwon’s hands on his ass, his cock spearing him open or why it made his blood rush south to his groin.

“Let him go.” Tory said, face twisting into an ugly sneer. “He’s not worth it.”

Kwon did let him go - for a moment when he pushed him and Robby flopped on the bed. Then he was back on him, twisting his arm behind him and pinning him down with a knee to his back.

“Don’t think he gets it.” Kwon said, his hot breath tickling the back of Robby’s neck. “How many times we fuck last night, huh? How many loads I dump in you? But see the way he looks at you? He still wants you.”

“Like I care about what he wants.”

That wasn’t true. She said she cared about him, so she must be lying. Unless… she’d lied before. No - she was lying now. She’d gotten so focused on doing whatever she had to win that she’d lost sight of who she was.

“Tory, c’mon…” He pleaded with her. “You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to throw away everything we had.”

He knew he could get through to her. He could make her see sense and stop this insanity - and he might’ve if not for the larger boy looming over him.

“What you had… was nothing.” Kwon said, his voice dripping with venom. “Tell him, Nichols. Tell him what you told me before.”

He grabbed Robby’s jaw, forcing his face up and making him look into Tory’s cold, green eyes.

“Don’t be shy now.” He said to her before turning to Robby. “She told me that I was the best she ever had. Told me about you too. That you fuck like a little boy - eager and sloppy and small. That you never last long enough for her… that she always has to fake it to make you feel better and then finish herself off later.”

He was lying. Tory wouldn’t say those things.

“Told me that she needed to know how a real man can fuck.” Kwon went on. “She was screaming my name all night long. How many times did I make you cum?”

“Must have lost count.” Tory replied, shrugging.

Something broke inside him at her reply. Robby sobbed, hanging his head down again and trying to hold back the tears of humiliation. He’d hoped - prayed - that what Tory was doing was her way of grieving her mom. That she’d come to her senses soon. But it was getting harder and harder to hold on to that illusion with every word coming out of her mouth.

But this wasn’t like her. She wouldn’t do this without a good reason.

“Tory, please… whatever he offered you, it’s not worth it.” Robby said in a broken voice.

“You don’t think so?” Kwon was the one to reply. “See for yourself.”

His meaning became clear a moment later when he started pulling Robby’s shirt over his head. A wave of dizziness washed over the smaller teen - a surge of weakness that left him unable to resist as he was stripped down to his briefs. Heat rose in his cheeks, eyes stinging from embarrassment, when Kwon fondled and spanked his butt and pulled his underwear down his legs as well.

“Why you two together in first place I don’t know.” Kwon said, swatting his asscheeks again. “Bitch got a better ass than you. Belongs on his knees, taking cock.”

The strange ache was back - that almost pleasing soreness deep inside his ass that made his stomach flutter and his dick chub up between his legs. Robby couldn’t explain it - not even to himself.

“So weak…” Kwon said, giving Robby’s round ass another smack. Robby bit his lip, but he could not help letting out a muffled moan. As the young stud played with his ass, all Robby could do was grip the sheets and try not to look at his girlfriend. Though each time his eyes strayed to her, his cock throbbed. “Bitch loves getting his ass played with. Fucking slut.”

He proceeded to spit between Robby’s cheeks and allowed it to trickle down the crack, before scooping it up with two fingers and smearing it all over his hole. He pried his ass open with both hands, thumbing his rim before making Robby shudder when he pushed inside.

Robby was no stranger to experimentation - he liked playing with his balls, rubbing between his legs or even working his finger inside when he jerked off. But he’d never gone this far before. His ass always clenched up around the intrusion any time he tried to go deeper than the tip of his finger, making the whole thing feel weird and uncomfortable.

It refused to do so now. As the thick digit penetrated him, his channels spread open like it was trying to suck it in and his cock leaked precum onto the sheets as the hard calluses scratched his silken walls. He sobbed again, torn between shame and desire, unconsciously spreading his legs wider when Kwon worked the second thumb inside.

Kwon held his ass spread open, cool air touching Robby in places it never could before, and spat again. This time the glob of saliva landed inside him, making him gasp as Kwon used its warm slickness to work him open even further. Hooking his fingers in Robby’s ass, Kwon dragged him further onto the bed before maneuvering him around and pushing his face in his crotch.

“Go on, take it out. You know you want to.” Kwon said, rubbing his damp, clothed erection in Robby’s face. “Get me nice and wet before I use it to split you open.”
 
Still red with embarrassment, Robby hooked his fingers in Kwon’s compression shorts and pulled them down his legs. His cock sprang out, smacking Robby on the cheek, leaving a smear of precum. Kwon kept one hand on his ass, two fingers still scissoring him open while the other tangled in his hair, guiding his mouth to the stiff, girthy erection before his eyes.

Steadying himself with his hands on Kwon’s muscular thighs, Robby wrapped his lips around his warm length and slowly took him in, making him hiss in pleasure. He was no stranger to sucking dick - he used to fool around with Trey and Cruz all the time and they tutored him well in the art, making him practice over and over until he perfected his technique. He kept his teeth out of the way and hollowed his cheeks, slowly escalating the suction. But Kwon’s impatience got the better of him. His hand tightened behind Robby’s head and he shoved inside, stabbing his dick against the back of Robby’s throat and making him gag.

Robby grabbed at his thighs, desperately trying to push him away, but Kwon made him even weaker by twisting his fingers inside Robby’s ass while his cock kept up the assault on his throat.

“Truly thought he’d put up more of a fight.” Kwon chuckled. “Must be a natural bottom. Like you, he too needed a real man to show him what he liked.”

Robby sobbed, choking on the thick member and struggling to breath through his nose. There were tears leaking out of the corner of his eyes and his permanent flush of shame intensified when he realized that Tory was right behind him, watching him get his ass fingered open. His girlfriend - the girl he loved more than anything else - was watching him spread his legs and needily push his ass back on the enemy’s fingers while moaning and slurping around his cock. He couldn’t imagine the look on her face but he didn’t think she’d ever want him inside her again.

Kwon pulled his cock out of him with a plot and maneuvered him about once more. His fingers tugged at Robby’s sensitive ring, making the boy moan as he was pulled up to his knees and turned around on the bed. Still blinking back the tears, Robby glanced up to see Tory’s legs before him, the oversized hoodie hanging down to her thighs and he didn’t have the guts to meet her eyes again.

“The way he sucked me off, it wasn’t his first time. Your boy’s been sucking cock his whole life.” The Korean’s sneering voice rang down over him. “Bet he didn’t tell you about that, did he? Makes you wonder… did he truly love you or was he using you to pretend to be a man?”

It wasn’t like that. He had a past, but he never did it when he was with Tory.

“Well… answer him.” Tory asked in a cold, quiet voice. “Did you love me?”

“I did. I do.” Robby replied desperately. “I’d have done anything for you.”

“Aww… he still wants to make you happy.” Kwon laughed, pushing his head forward. “Go ahead then, bitch-boy. Make her happy.”
 
Tory unbuttoned the hoodie, letting the flaps fall to the side and reveal that she was naked underneath. Robby got a whiff of the musky, familiar scent from between her legs and moved ahead like he was mesmerized. Breathing her in deep, he liked a stripe along her slit, making her shudder in pleasure.

This was something he could do. He knew what Tory liked and he liked making her happy. There was a time she used to appreciate that. She used to tell him how great it was to be with a guy who cared about her needs instead of being solely focused on his own. He never thought this was what it’d come to, but maybe he owed her this. He already knew things would never go back to the way they used to be, but maybe he could make her happy for one last time.

“Filthy cum-guzzling cock-slut. Sucking my jizz out of her pussy.”

Shame prickled his skin again, itching him all over his naked, exposed body, but the unnamed hunger inside him was stronger and he kept lapping between Tory’s legs, wriggling his tongue inside her folds. Behind him, he felt Kwon’s large hands on the smooth skin of his ass, parting his cheeks and nudging his thick cock in between. When Robby felt it press against his ring a moment later, he gasped, shivering in fear as an inexplicable sense of deja-vu washed over him. It felt like he’d been in this position before with him… and not that long ago either. But that was impossible, right?

“Beg for it.” Kwon demanded. “I’ll give you the best fuck of your life if you beg like a whore for it.”

Robby stayed stubbornly quiet and focused on pushing his tongue inside Tory’s slit, sucking her sweet juices out of her. He couldn’t stop the disappointed whine when Kwon pulled away, but while his body might’ve betrayed him, he wasn’t going to let his mind do the same.

“Beg!” Kwon said again, landing a few open-handed, stinging slaps on his upturned ass. “You know you want it.”

His refusal only made the boy angrier. Robby cried out when Kwon backhanded his low-hanging balls and tried to close his legs, clutching at his nuts, but Kwon easily held his knees apart and slapped his hands away before striking him again. Robby whimpered, throbbing pain shooting through his groin into his stomach, but he resisted the urge to give him, earning him a few more smacks and a punch to his balls.

“Beg, you fucking slut!” Kwon snarled, squeezing his nutsack in his fist and twisting it to make Robby cry harder.

“Stop messing around.” Tory told him coldly. “Either fuck him or let him go.”

Robby sobbed in relief when Kwon let him go. His balls still throbbed, but the absence of the sharp, shooting pain sent endorphins coursing through him and made his dick leak harder onto the sheets. Grateful, he licked Tory harder, pushing his tongue in deeper while Kwon parted his ass again and his cock returned to Robby’s hole.

A long, keening sound tore out of him when the thick cockhead breached his puckered opening. Tory sighed in pleasure, her thighs trembling over Robby’s face while Kwon pushed in, stretching him open inch by painful inch, until his balls were tickling the bottom of Robby’s ass. He grabbed his hips, pulling out almost completely before slamming in to the root once more. Like he had with his mouth, the Cobra Kai’s captain set a brutal, punishing pace, shoving Robby’s face into Tory’s mound with each thrust.

Robby held on to her legs to steady himself, but Kwon grabbed his wrists and twisted his arms behind him, holding them pinned to the small of his back with one hand.

“You don’t get to touch her.” He told him, spanking him again in punishment. “She not your girl anymore.”

Kwon’s dick stabbed against something inside him - some spot that sent sparks of ecstasy shooting through him, overwhelming the burning pain of being stretched open. Robby moaned into Tory’s pussy, eyes rolling back in his head as the last of his mental defenses crumbled. As painful as the humiliation was, giving in to it felt even sweeter. He didn’t have to think so hard anymore, didn’t have to keep fighting and getting hurt over and over… he could simply let himself go limp and enjoy the ecstasy of surrender.

Kwon rode him like a cowboy, holding on his hands like reins and spanking his ass every few thrusts. The sound of skin slapping against skin filled the air as Kwon’s low hanging balls clapped his asscheeks and the dick stabbing into Robby’s special spot kept making him moan into Tory’s moist heat. He was teetering on the edge, off-balance, held suspended horizontally by Kwon’s grip on his wrists and Tory’s hand in his hair. Waves of intense pleasure mixed with pain ripped through his body, overwhelming his mind and the only escape was to bury his face between his ex-girlfriend’s legs.

Tory shuddered and came - thighs trembling as her juices squirted over Robby’s tongue and dripped down his chin. She moaned, squeezing and pinching her breasts as he tried to bury Robby’s face deeper between her legs. Her legs were almost smothering him, holding the air hostage pending the completion of her climax and Robby’s whole body tensed up as he struggled to breathe.

His ass clenching around Kwon’s invading cock sent the other boy over the edge as well. With a satisfied howl, he slammed inside, slapping his ass to make him clench even harder in his pulsing cock. Robby was on the verge of passing out when he felt the hot torrent of cum shooting into his hole. Rope after rope of steaming cum flooded the tunnel, painting his insides white. Kwon almost pulled out while still cumming, then rammed in so deep it had Robby’s eyes rolling back into his skull.

When he could finally breathe and regained his bearings, he was free to move again, even though he did not have the strength to do so. Tory was already lounging back on the headrest and Kwon had pulled out, leaving Robby with an empty, gaping hole where his ass used to be. His cock was still hard, trapped between his body and the mattress, still leaking like a faucet. 
 
Still not satisfied, Kwon grabbed him by the back of his neck and dragged him off the bed, throwing him to the floor on his knees.

“Since you did so well, you get your reward.” He said, standing before him in all his naked glory. “Go ahead. Jerk yourself off.”

Robby couldn’t look up - couldn’t bear to see the disgust and contempt on Tory’s face. Instead, he kept his eyes focused on Kwon’s flaccid cock hanging between his legs and wrapped his hand around his own.

“Look at him,

Captain

of Miyagi–Do. What would his team think of him now?” Kwon laughed. “He really thought he had a chance? Fucking, pathetic loser. If he had any sense, he’d sit back and let others do the fighting. Maybe then his dojo won’t have to go home in shame.”

Robby sobbed and came, his cock spurting all over the floor and Kwon’s foot. Another hot flash of shame made his cheeks burn when he realized Tory was watching him get off on being humiliated and before his cock stopped spasming, Kwon slapped his face and yanked his hair back.

“Disgusting freak.” He said, spitting on his face. “No one wants your cum in them or on them. Clean it up.”

Obediently, Robby knelt down and licked his cum off Kwon’s foot. A sickly, sweet taste coated his tongue, his own cum mixing with Kwon’s sweat and dirt, and he had to force himself to swallow it down. A moment later, Kwon dragged him back to his knees and pushed his cock in his face. Getting the message, Robby took his soft dick in his mouth and started licking it clean ass well.

“How does your ass taste, slut?” Kwon asked, laughter filling his voice. “Filthy whore. So hungry for cock, you don’t care where it has been.”

Robby ignored the jibes and kept sucking him clean until Kwon was satisfied. He could feel the dick growing hard in his mouth again, but Kwon pulled him off and threw him back instead of making him suck him off all over.

“I’m gonna fuck your girl now. Again.” He told the fallen boy with a considering look at his own cock. “Maybe in… like, five minutes. Wanna stick around to watch?”

“I don’t want him here.” Tory spoke up. “I’m done with him.”

“Hear that, loser?” Kwon said, smirking down. “She’s done with you. Get the fuck out of here.”

Numb and tired, Robby forced himself to his feet and gathered up his discarded clothes. Kwon wouldn’t even give him the time to put them on - the moment he had them in his arms, he grabbed Robby’s neck and started dragging him tot eh door. 
 
“Wait!” Tory said, like she’d just remembered something. “Why the hell did you come here anyway?”

Oh… right!

“Wanted to tell you…” Robby said, eyes still on the floor. “Silver’s here. And he’s backing the Iron Dragons this time. They’re out to get us and won’t be long before they come after you too. So… better watch your back.”

Kwon didn’t bother to let her respond. He pushed Robby the rest of the way and threw him out of the room into the hallway, still naked and clutching his clothes. There was no one there, thankfully, but Robby didn’t think he’d  have cared if the whole Sekai Taikai was there, laughing and pointing at him. As he pulled his clothes back onto his aching body, feeling Kwon’s seed leak out of him and roll down his thighs, he realized that he’d already lost the respect of everyone who mattered to him. 
 
“Why’d you do that?” Tory asked, a lump of guilt heavy in her throat as she stared at the closed door.

“You wanted him humiliated, no?” Kwon shrugged, pulling his shorts back and tucking himself in.

“Not like that.” Tory shook her head. “You took it too far.”

“Didn’t hear you complain.” Kwon replied.

She couldn’t. That would show weakness, which was exactly what Robby was trying to do. He was trying to mess with her head, make her lose focus - that’s what Sensei Kreese had told her. She needed to turn the tables on him and once she made the choice, she needed to own it.

“Now that he already thinks we did it…” Kwon said suggestively. “Maybe we should do it for real, huh?”

She might’ve wanted to get back at Robby, but there was a line Tory wouldn’t cross for her own sake. Robby was sweet and kind and attentive and she’d never pick an asshole like Kwon over him - not even to get back at him.

“Keep dreaming.” She scoffed, throwing his sweatshirt back at him. 
 
“There is no me and Kwon, you idiot.” Tory snapped at him. “Your dumbass got played.”

Her words kept ringing in Robby’s head.

He didn’t know what had come over him that day - or the night before. He’d never been so weak and pathetic in his life, never so broken down by his losses building up. But the moment his head had cleared, he’d felt ashamed and pissed off at himself for letting people take advantage of him like that.

“I just wanted to make you think that I slept with him.” Tory added, sullen tone masking the guilt underneath. “Didn’t think he’d take it that far. And you didn’t exactly fight back either. Never saw anyone give up their ass so easily. How do you expect anyone else to respect you when you don’t respect yourself?”

Robby swallowed, eyes locked in on the boy across the mat, engaged in combat with Miguel. Snakes like him were always preying on the weak and the vulnerable and as much as he hated himself for it, Kwon was the one who’d taken advantage of him. But Robby didn’t feel weak today and he was going to make him pay for it.

I’ll show her!

He thought to himself as Miguel rolled towards him and tagged him in.

I’ll show him! I’ll show them all!

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Robby Keene was weak. A pathetic loser. A slut. A pussy. A hole to be fucked by better men. He was a cocky, arrogant little shit who thought himself their equal despite lacking the strength or the skill to back it up. And for that, he needed to be beaten down. Punished. Humiliated.

Those were the words his sensei had left him with and Axel kept repeating them in his head like a mantra. That was the only way he could make sense of that night. And everything he’d seen in the tournament so far bore it out.

Even now, with his dojo on the verge of elimination, Robby couldn’t get it together. He got flustered and confused when his teammate tagged him in and lost the match for his dojo pretty much immediately. He had no focus, no discipline and no control over his teammates. Maybe Zara was right - maybe he had slept his way into captaincy - because Axel could see no other explanation.

“See that?” Sensei Wolf whispered to him as Miyagi-Do walked off the stage in shame after another loss. “They don’t belong here. They never did.”

Axel nodded hesitantly. “But I still don’t see why we had to do

that.

” He replied. “They were never a threat. Shouldn’t we have done that to real competition?”

Sensei looked away to the side with an anxious look on his face before turning back to Axel sternly. “Are you questioning me?”

“No, sensei.” Axel replied immediately. “Just… trying to understand.”

“You don’t need to understand. All you need to do is trust me that this is the way to get our old lives back.” Wolf narrowed his eyes at him. “You do trust me, don’t you?”

Axel nodded. That was one thing he could answer honestly - his trust in his sensei was never going to waver.

“Good.” Wolf nodded approvingly. “Because there is something else I need you to do.”
 
Robby hurried down the corridor with a nervous pit in his stomach. He had some time before the next match, but probably not enough to stave off the latest crisis. He still had to try. He’d humiliated his dojo enough with his performance - he couldn’t add to that by having pictures of him broadcast all over the world.

He’d gotten a DM from an unknown account - a series of pictures of him, buck naked and his junk on display, passed out on the bed. Followed by a message to meet the sender in a particular training room. It was Zara, of course - it had to be her - and the pictures had to be from their night together. And while he understood the not-so-subtle threat behind them, he couldn’t imagine what she wanted.

She couldn’t want him to throw the match - they weren’t slated to face the Iron Dragons and even if they had been, his performance would make the request redundant. Did she want to sleep with him again? If so, threatening him was definitely the wrong way to go about it.

Robby went into the designated room and was surprised to find that it wasn’t Zara waiting for him - it was her co-captain. That big guy called Axel Kovacevic.
 
“Hey!” Robby frowned at him uncertainly. “I’m… looking for Zara.”

“You’re looking for me.” Axel told him, drawing himself to his full height and advancing on him slowly. “I asked you to meet me here.”

“You?” Robby frowned in confusion. “You sent me those pictures? Did Zara give them to you?”

A smug smirk was all the answer he got and Robby took a nervous step back. He didn’t know what game this guy was playing, but he knew he wouldn’t be easy to deal with. He’d seen him in action and he wasn’t sure he could take him - especially not the way he was now.

“What do you want from me?” Robby asked, readying himself for an attack.

“Cute.” Axel chuckled, eyes darting towards his clenched fists. “You really think you can take me? I haven’t lost a single point the whole tournament and you haven’t won a single one. The best captain vs the worst one around? It won’t even be a challenge.”

Robby took another step back, anxiety closing in on his chest like a cold fist.

“I asked you a question.” He said, pushing through his fear.

“I want what you want.” Axel replied with a sneer. “I want you to get on your knees and suck my big fat cock.”

Robby blinked in surprise. “What?”

“You heard me.” Axel said, smiling cockily. “You’re a slut, Robby and I know you want it bad. So I’m letting you have it. I want to see those pretty lips wrapped around my hard, juicy dick.”

A bubble of mirth rose up inside him despite the situation. Robby choked back a laugh for a moment, then it burst out of him and he doubled over, chortling. Axel stopped advancing on him, suddenly uncertain and his ears going red with embarrassment.

“Something funny?” He asked angrily.

“It’s just… ‘hard, juicy dick’?” Robby said in between fits of laughter. “Are you auditioning for a porno?”

Axel’s face turned beet red and he stepped back, unable to look at Robby anymore. But a moment later, he regained his composure and turned back with a determined look on his face.

“You don’t get a say in this, loser.” He snarled. “I’m stronger than you. I’m better than you. Which means you do what I tell you.”

What the hell is he playing that?

Robby wondered, cocking his head to the side and regarding the boy curiously. Somehow, the tables had turned between them. Mere seconds ago, Axel had been imposing and intimidating - now it looked more like empty bravado. Robby was never one to back away from a challenge, but this didn’t really feel like one.

“Okay… let’s see it.” He said, curious about where this was headed.

“Huh?” Axel blinked in confusion.

“Your big, fat cock - the one you want me to suck.” Robby reminded him. “Let’s see it.”

Though still looking nonplussed, Axel hurriedly undid his gi-belt and pulled his dick out of his pajamas, tucking the waistband under his balls and letting it hang out. He wasn’t lying about his size, that was for sure - it hung thick and heavy between his legs and Robby could only imagine how big it might get.

“Well?” Axel asked, jerking his head downwards.

“Well what?” Robby replied. “I’m supposed to suck a hard, juicy dick, right? It’s neither hard nor juicy.”

Grunting in frustration, Axel spat on his hand and hurriedly wrapped it around his dick, trying to tug it erect as fast as he could. “Just give me a minute.” He told Robby as he jerked himself off.

Was he new to bullying or something? He should know this wasn’t how it worked, right?

“Don’t look at it.” Axel snapped at him. “I can’t get it up with you looking at it.”

“And you want me to suck you?” Robby asked, frowning. “Dude… do you even want this?”

“Doesn’t matter what I want.” Axel replied. “I need to do this.”
 
Suddenly, in light of everything he’d learned recently, it all clicked together. “Silver put you up to this, didn’t he?”

“Who?”

“Terry Silver.” Robby explained. “Tall guy. White hair. Ponytail.

Owns

your ass.”

“I don’t…” Axel shook his head, still confused as he tried to place the guy. “No… that man is nobody. He’s just one of the sponsors or something.”

“Wow… you don’t even know…” Robby muttered in awe. Silver was truly diabolical - way worse than what Mr. LaRusso had said. He’d turned all these kids into his pawns and they didn’t even know about it.

“Know what?” Axel asked angrily. “If you’re implying something about my sensei - ”

“I’m not implying shit! I’m telling you.” Robby snapped back. “Your sensei made a deal with the devil and he sold all your souls in the bargain. Silver is this asshole who used to own Cobra Kai until my dojo exposed him for his dirty tricks. Now he owns

your

dojo. Your sensei works for him - which means, so do you.”

“That’s bullshit.” Axel scoffed. “My sensei only cares about his students. Nothing else.”

“Then tell me why he told you to come after me?” Robby challenged. “And why are you still standing there with your cock hanging out?”

Axel’s jaw fell open - a sudden shadow of doubt and surprise flitting over his face. Blushing, he pulled his pants up and tucked his cock back inside. Clearly, Robby’s words threw him for a loop and while he didn’t know what was going on his head, he knew Axel was shaken to his core.

“No…” He shook his head. “Sensei wouldn’t… you’re lying.”

Robby felt a pang of sympathy for the boy. He knew from experience how easy it was to get brainwashed by Cobra Kai and how hard it was to break free. Even when they knew better, there were kids like Kenny and Tory who couldn’t break free because they thought that was the only path open to them. And this

was

Cobra Kai - just with another name.

“Let me guess - the only thing your sensei cares about is winning?” He asked, more gently this time.

“Of course he only cares about winning.” Axel snapped back. “Winning is the only thing that matters. People like you won’t understand. You don’t know what it’s like to be homeless. To go hungry. To be so lost and confused that you have no hope left. People like me need to win to live.”

“You’re wrong. I

do

understand.” Robby told him sharply. “Everything you just said, I’ve been there. But I also know that winning isn’t the only thing that matters. You need to live with things you do. Can you do that?”

Axel hesitated to reply once more, doubt and confusion flitting over his face.

“What did he tell you to do?” Robby asked.

“I…” Axel swallowed, looking away. “I’m supposed to get you on your knees. Take a picture of you sucking my cock. And another one… with m-my… cum on your face.”

Robby pursed his lips. “And if you can’t?”

A flash of fear on Axel’s face gave him the answer he needed. Sensei Wolf was one of the things they’d talked about when Mr. LaRusso had broken the news about Silver and Sam had told them about the bruises she saw on Axel’s back. Now with Silver in charge, God only knew what they’d do to him if he went back empty-handed. The last time a student had defied him, she’d walked away with a broken hand.

The whole situation was so fucked up and it was even more fucked up that Robby was considering it.

“Fine.” He said. “I’ll do it.”

“What?” Axel looked back at him in surprise.

“I’ll suck you off.” Robby clarified. “But you have to promise me that you’ll delete the pictures after you show them. Not just from today, but all of them, okay?”

“O-okay…” Axel said, still trying catching up. “But… why?”

“I’ve embarrassed my dojo more than enough already.” Robby replied, shrugging. “If I can save them from further humiliation by getting on my knees… it’s a cheap price to pay.”
 
Axel did not understand the boy - not at all. One moment he was pathetic and crying, begging them to stop. The next he was cool and confident, ripping right through his facade with a cutting laugh. Axel had rehearsed his speech too - practiced it before to mirror to appear strong and intimidating - and Robby had still seen right through it.

And he was going to do it anyway? What was wrong with him? Axel would never be this… weak.

Or was it strength of a different kind? Robby was reluctant, but he wasn’t scared. Axel hadn’t cowed him into obedience like he was supposed to - Robby was choosing to do this. He was choosing to come closer, pull his gi apart and run a gentle hand down his smooth chest. He was choosing to kiss his way down while undoing his pants and letting them slide down his legs before pulling his cock out of his gray trunks.

“You give me your word, right?” Robby asked, getting down on his knees while holding Axel’s thickening cock.

Axel nodded in reply. Deleting the pictures would be easy - he’d just tell Sensei that he lost his phone or something. And once Miyagi-Do got eliminated today, it wouldn’t matter anymore. They could all go back to focusing on karate like they were supposed to.

He gasped as Robby tentatively licked his cockhead and ran his tongue under his foreskin. Robby wet his lips before licking a stripe along his shaft, then he wrapped them around the head, sucking gently. One hand reached between Axel’s legs, tickling his balls, while the other wrapped around the girth, squeezing him tightly as he took him in even deeper.

His knees wobbled, almost buckling under him as the wet, warm heat of Robby’s mouth enveloped his member. This felt nothing at all like the sloppy blowjobs he’d gotten before - there was some kind of technique to it. Something that was making his cock grow harder than ever before. Soon, it was bumping against the back of the throat and Robby hollowed his cheeks out, creating an indescribable sense of suction around his shaft.

Axel groaned out loud, resisting the urge to thrust his hips forward. His fingers tangled in Robby’s hair, trying to force him to take his cock in deeper, but Robby controlled the pace and the depth with his hand wrapped around the base. With the other, he pulled out Axel’s phone from his pants pocket and tapped it on his thigh, reminding him of what he was supposed to do.

Hastily, Axel unlocked his phone and took a quick picture. One should be enough - he had no intention of taking this humiliation any further than he had to.

Once again, Robby hollowed out his cheeks and sucked him hard like he was trying to draw the cum out of his balls, making him groan in pleasure.

He’s good at this,

Axel thought, his breath coming in short, stuck bursts.

Did he learn this somewhere?

Suddenly, he remembered Robby’s words from before - going hungry, being homeless… being lost and confused. Axel knew what that was like and he knew that sometimes people needed to do things like this to survive. He’d been lucky never to have been pushed quite that far - he’d had his size and strength to keep him safe and Sensei had plucked him from the streets before things got too bad. But a pretty boy like Robby… was he one of the unlucky ones?

Except… he couldn’t be. He was supposed to be one of the pampered, spoiled Americans, right? One who’d never known any real struggle in life? And his dad was a sensei at his dojo - that was the guy sensei hated for being soft and well-fed. So how could Robby end up on the streets?

Axel gasped again when he felt Robby’s fingers tickle their way down his taint. Before he knew it, one was pressing against his opening, trying to wriggle its way inside. He mumbled a half-hearted protest - Sensei would kill him if he found out that Axel had let anyone put anything up there - but his mind was too far gone to care. And his cock twitched needily when Robby worked a digit in and started pressing around on his rectal walls.

Slowly, Robby pulled his head back, letting Axel’s slick shaft out of his mouth while rapidly jerking him off with one hand. His finger crooked inside Axel’s anus, pressing against a spot that made him see stars and it pushed him over the edge. His cock spasmed and erupted, shooting his load all over Robby’s face. Axel moaned, throwing his head back as Robby held his pulsing cock in his tight grip and the bigger boy somehow managed to keep his legs from collapsing under him.

Sighing in relief once the aftershocks were done ravaging his body, Axel looked down in a daze and Robby looked back up at him, fresh cum dripping down his nose and chin.

“Hurry up.” He reminded him once more.

Right!

Hastily, Axel took the second picture he needed to.
 
“Can I ask you something?” Axel asked as Robby wiped his face with a damp towel. “How did you get to be the captain? Did your dad give you that spot?”

“Ha!” Robby scoffed, shaking his head. “My dad would’ve picked someone else. But I fought for it and I won it fair and square.”

“Won it?” Axel frowned. “But… what about the curly-haired Mexican?”

“Miguel’s from Ecuador.” Robby corrected him automatically.

“Okay…” Axel shrugged. “He’s a good fighter… much better. And… you’re not. Did you really beat him?”

Robby pursed his lips, looking away with a sad expression on his face.

“You sound like him.” He said, sighing. “Hell, you sound like all of them. Maybe I should just quit and let Miguel take over but…” He took a shuddering breath and turned back towards him. “Look, I’m not at my best right now, alright? I’ve got a lot of shit going on and it’s hard to focus.”

“This is about the Cobra Kai girl?” Axel asked, narrowing his eyes. “You will throw away a chance of a lifetime over a girl?”

“She’s part of it, yeah - but I’m not trying to throw anything away.” Robby snapped at him angrily. Then he sighed again, pinching the bridge of his nose. “You really are like him. I don’t know why it’s so easy for you guys to push everything aside and focus on the goal, but I can’t do it, okay? I just can’t. If that makes me a loser…”

Axel tilted his head, still trying to figure him out. Robby was a loser - there was no doubt about that. But he was a loser with a big heart. He cared enough about the girl who ditched him to let it affect his performance. He cared enough about his friends not to badmouth them even behind their backs. Hell, he even cared enough about Axel - his enemy - to…

“What does your sensei say about it?” He asked, pushing the train of thought away.

“Nothing.” Robby shrugged. “But I know what he will say - same thing Miguel has been saying all along. That he should’ve been the captain. And the way he has been fighting, he’s right - ”

“No, he’s not!” Axel said before he could think it through. “That is not how a captain should behave. A captain is supposed to build his team up, not tear them down.”

Robby stared at him for a moment with a strange look on his face. Then he turned away, frowning. “You don’t know them, alright? They should be pissed off at me - I’m the one letting them down.”

“I only know what you tell me.” Axel replied stubbornly. “And what I hear is they don’t support you. You need their help and all they do is ignore you or tear you down.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” Robby snarled at him, taking an angry step forward. “And you’re one to talk. Your sensei is the one telling you to pull this crap in the middle of the tournament.”

Axel felt a bubble of anger rise up inside him once again.

“Hey! My sensei is trying to help us win.” He snapped back. “I may not understand his methods, but let’s not forget which one of us hasn’t lost a single fight and which one hasn’t won once.”

Robby glared at him like he wanted to kill him, but Axel didn’t miss the flash of hurt in his eyes.

“Fine! I’ll see you on the mats.” The boy told him with a stubborn set of his jaw. “And you better delete those pictures.”

The Iron Dragon’s captain blinked in surprise as Robby turned on his heel and stormed off. There was a fire in his that he hadn’t seen before - one that he hadn’t even realized Robby was capable of. He didn’t look weak in that moment… he didn’t look like a prey.

Axel still believed in his sensei. Whatever he’d gotten into with that Silver man, he knew Sensei was doing it for them. As for Robby… the tournament would prove his worth. Once he lost, it’d prove that he didn’t belong there after all and it’d mean they did not make a mistake. 
 
Robby Keene was not weak.

The reason why Axel was so good at karate was because he had a great eye for these kinds of things. He could assess a fighter’s worth at a glance. He instinctively understood what kind of threat they presented. He knew how good they were without having to fight them.

And Robby - the real Robby, not the pussy posing as him so far - was good. Better than good - maybe even good enough to make a worthy opponent to him.

“Hmpf… he got lucky.” Sensei Wolf said, rolling his eyes.

Axel kept his features schooled, but inside, his heart was thumping wildly with excitement. The other boy - Miguel Diaz - he’d gone toe-to-toe with Kwon and it was luck that Kwon had gotten a point first. But Robby had completely outclassed the Korean boy. He’d toyed with his opponent, humiliated him and completely dominated him by the end. If it’d been a points match, Robby could’ve gotten a dozen before Kwon got a single hit.

Was he capable of this all along? If so, why…?

Axel narrowed his eyes, watching Robby’s teammates swarm all around him. They sure seemed supportive now that he’d won, but where were they when he was at his weakest and he desperately needed someone to be there for him? Where were they

that

night when Robby was drunk and vulnerable and alone, desperately begging someone to save him?

His eyes alighted on the curly-haired Latino hugging Robby and ruffling his hair.

Miguel Diaz - that was the name Robby had said more than once. He’d said his name that night too. And Axel had spied him holding hands with Sam earlier. He still remembered how fiercely Robby had defended his teammates who had nothing but contempt for him.

He was the reason, wasn’t he? The reason why

this

Robby hadn’t shown his face in the tournament until now? He was the one that Robby cared about enough to defend. The one who tore him down, threw him off his game and made him doubt himself - and all because he was jealous that Robby had gotten the captaincy over him.

He’d made Robby weak… pathetic… and that night wouldn’t have happened if he’d been a good teammate and supported his captain like he should have. He was the one to blame for everything and Axel wasn’t going to forgive him for that.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Miguel fucking Diaz…

Axel couldn’t stop staring at the guy. Couldn’t stop wondering what was so special about him. He was a good fighter, sure. Maybe even a great one. But Axel did not feel threatened by him, just like he hadn’t felt threatened by Kwon. Not like how he’d felt when he’d watched Robby manhandle Kwon all over the place. Robby might be less consistent, but he had a lot more potential - and somehow, Miguel Diaz was ruining it.

He flushed and looked away when Diaz caught him staring, his eyes moving to Robby next. The boy was starting to make so much more sense now.

It was kind of scary how easy it was to find out someone’s life story by simply following a few right accounts. Between the clips and comments, Axel had managed to put a lot of things together and he’d figured out why Robby was the way he was. And the blame kept coming back to Diaz.

He’d stolen Robby’s dad first - somehow getting him to train him over his own son. He’d stolen his trophy next - cheating in the tournament to win. Then he’d stolen his girl - the same girl he was still dating. Sam had seemed like a sweet, nice person, but clearly she’d fallen for Miguel’s wiles. And when Robby had finally had enough and fought back, he’d ended up in juvie because of an accident. An accident that clearly wasn’t that bad, by the way, since Miguel was back up and running in a few months. Not content with ruining his life, clearly Diaz was hellbent on breaking Robby and keeping him under his thumb. Axel didn’t know how he did it, but clearly he must have done something because why else would Robby stick with them and put up with their shit?

Of course, Diaz wasn’t the only one to blame. There was Robby’s dad - what kind of an asshole picked a random stranger over his own kid? Then there was the other sensei - Sam’s dad. He’d been Robby’s teacher first, but clearly his attention had shifted to his daughter’s boyfriend. There was Sam herself - she seemed like a smart girl and Axel didn’t know what she saw in Diaz. And then there was the other girl - Tory. The one that Robby loved. The one who’d abandoned him to join the enemy.

They’d fucked with Robby’s head. They’d all broken his confidence, made him weak and pathetic and Robby didn’t even see it. He criticized Axel for his trust in his sensei, but at least Sensei Wolf was making him stronger. The people around Robby - the ones who supposedly cared about him - were sabotaging him instead. Axel’s eyes kept going back to Miguel Diaz - the guy who was the source of it all.

If only Miguel wasn’t around, Robby would be a better fighter. Someone who could actually give Axel a challenge. That’s what Axel truly wanted and one way or another, he was going to get it.

What the hell is wrong with him?

This was not the same boy who’d bodied Kwon in the last match. Somehow, for some reason, Robby had lost his mojo again. Not all the way like before, but he’d definitely lost a step. He was hesitant - no longer as aggressive or confident as he’d been. And this was not the guy Axel wanted to fight.

He had to find a way to get that guy back because that was the only way to make sense of

that

night. Robby was strong and when Axel beat him at his full strength, it’d prove that Sensei Wolf was right all along. That his way worked. Keene would realize that he deserved what happened that night because he’d let others make him weak and vulnerable. He’d see what happened as a lesson - a wake-up call - and then…

Axel wasn’t sure, but maybe Robby could join their dojo. No matter what that man Silver wanted, once it was over, things would go back to normal and Sensei would go back to putting his students first. He was always on the lookout for talent and Robby was talented - he just needed to get his head out of his ass.

But none of that was going to happen if he kept fighting like this.

“Are you going to keep defending or are you going to fight?” Axel snarled at him in frustration before pushing him away. He realized his mistake a moment later - he’d pushed Robby right in Kwon’s arms and, like the snake he was, the Korean didn’t hesitate to take advantage of that.

“Hey!” Miguel Diaz yelled, charging forward.

No, you don’t!

Diaz was back to his old tricks, trying to undermine Robby again. Robby didn’t need protection from someone like Kwon - he could handle him easily if he wanted to. But if Diaz “saved” him, he’d lose his confidence and grow even weaker. Axel stood between them, determined not to let that happen. The next moment, all hell broke loose.

Axel didn’t know what was going on or how it suddenly went so wrong. He was surrounded, fighters coming at him from all sides - fighters he’d beaten before looking for payback, only to get beaten down once more. But no matter how many he put down, they kept coming one after the other. And Diaz was among them, attacking him over and over no matter how many times he beat him down.

Axel focused on the fight like he’d been taught, fighting them all off until he saw something that made his stomach clench - Robby on the ground with Kwon trying to stomp a hole in him and Sam rushing ahead to help.

No!

He threw Miguel to the side and rushed towards Kwon himself.

He’s mine!

Situation normal… All fucked up.

Robby took deep, calming breaths as he moved his legs in measured steps, going through the katas. He needed this after the shitshow that was today. Hell, he needed this after the shitshow the whole Sekai Taikai had been.

Victory had always been a long shot. This was their first time in the tournament and they were up against dojos that had been at it for years. But after he’d gotten his act together, Robby had hoped to return home with at least something to show for it. If not the first place trophy, then maybe ranking in the top three? Maybe he could’ve earned some prestige and recognition - something he could’ve used to start building his life back home.

But no - he couldn’t even have that much, could he?

Fucking Kwon! I’m glad he’s dead!

He felt a rush of shame at the thought, shuddering as he tried to focus on his moves once more.

Robby hated Kwon. The guy had such an asshole to him for no reason. He’d kept coming for him, kept needling him and humiliating him… after the shock of seeing someone die was over, Robby had felt relief that he was gone. And then he’d felt ashamed of himself for feeling that way.

What kind of monster would be happy about a teen’s death? It could’ve just as easily been him. After all, Robby had lost himself to Cobra Kai too. Kwon was like him - angry, lost and brainwashed. He didn’t deserve to die for that and there was something wrong with Robby for feeling like he did. 
 
“Good kata.”

Startled, Robby turned around to see the other bane of his existence standing at the door. As if it wasn’t bad enough that the dead guy was still messing with his head, now Axel had to show up to do it in person?

“What do you want?” Robby asked him coldly. “Or should I say, what does your sensei want?”

“Sensei didn’t send me.” Axel replied, coming inside without an invitation. “I want to clear air between us.”

Strangely enough, Robby did too. His mind had kept going back to the guy after their last ‘tryst’ and Robby felt like he needed to figure out how to handle him. Because Axel was nothing at all like any other Cobra Robby had met.

Cruelty was the hallmark of Cobra Kai and every student who’d gone through their tutelage had learned that lesson. Miguel, Hawk, Tory, Kenny… even Robby himself - they’d all done cruel things not because they had to, but because they’d wanted to hurt someone. But Axel wasn’t like that. His last attempt at cruelty had fallen flat on its face so badly that Robby wondered if he even had what it took to be part of Cobra Kai.

To be fair, he wasn’t technically part of Cobra Kai yet - but with Silver pulling the strings, it was a distinction without a difference. But maybe, Axel wasn’t like that because Silver hadn’t gotten his hooks into him yet. Which meant, maybe he could still be saved. And maybe they should try to do it for their own sakes - because the thought of a fighter like him doing things the Cobra Kai way made Robby shudder with fear.

“So what do you want?” Robby asked again, more softly this time.

“We never got to finish our match.” Axel replied.

“Match?” Robby frowned. “Dude, after what happened today… you still just care about the trophy.”

“Don’t care about trophy.” Axel shook his head. “Care about winning.”

Robby stared at him with a confused look on his face. Was this Axel talking or was it his sensei? “There are no winners today.” He told the taller boy. “And the tournament is suspended.”

“Don’t care.” Axel shook his head stubbornly. “All we need is a room and two of us. Last one standing wins.”

“Didn’t you already win today?” Robby asked, jaw clenched in anger. “You were the one left standing.”

Axel stepped back like he’d been struck. “It wasn’t my fault!” He snarled, nose flaring in anger. “

He

came at

me.

With a

knife

. What was I supposed to do? Let him stab me?”

The ferocity of his defensiveness did not surprise Robby. He understood it, as well as the guilt it was trying to mask. “It was an accident. No one blames you for what happened.” He told him kindly.

“Well, they shouldn’t blame you either.” Axel huffed.

“They… don’t.” Robby said, confused again.

“No, not for Kwon. I meant…” He shook his head, sighing. “Never mind. Are we fighting or not?”

“We have no reason to fight each-other.” Robby argued.

“Yes, we do.” Axel insisted. “We need to see who is better. Need to see who is

right.

If you don’t fight me with everything you have, then my sensei is right about you. You’re just a bitch made to take it up the ass.”

The words sent a shiver of fear creeping up Robby’s spine. Once again, the uncomfortable visions flashed before his eyes - him on his back, legs in the air while something thick and hot split his ass open.

“Look… whatever Zara told you about that night, it was a mistake, okay?” He said, pushing the thought to the back of his head. “I was drunk and lonely and I screwed up… but that’s in the past.”

That was not the response Axel was expecting, apparently. “You don’t remember?” He asked, mouth open in surprise.

“Remember what?”

“Zara didn’t have to tell me anything. I was there.” Axel told him. “Blame the booze all you want, but you liked it. You liked getting fucked.”

A cold, clammy hand seemed to grip his heart inside his chest, making chills go down his body as he broke out in sweat. His mind flashed back again, sneering faces leering down at him, rough hands pinning him down, spreading his legs…

It was a dream,

he told himself.

A fucked up, drunken dream.

“You’re lying.” Robby tried to say firmly, but the tremor in his voice betrayed his doubt. “Why would I like it?”

“You were drunk. And lonely.” Axel shrugged, going on with a cold look on his face. “Maybe you wanted to feel wanted. You did keep whining about it - my girl left me. Daddy doesn’t love me. Nobody respects me. And Miguel - ”

Robby took an angry step forward, fists clenched at his side and barely kept himself from decking the guy. He stopped himself, staring up at Axel’s glittering eyes with a tight set of his jaw - this was what he wanted and Robby wasn’t going to play into his hands.

“Whatever happened that night, that wasn’t me.” He told him calmly and firmly. “I was drunk. And I made a mistake.”

“Prove it.” Axel challenged him back. “My sensei says you’re either born a potential winner or a perpetual loser meant to take it up the ass. Show me which one you are.”

“I don’t have to show you anything.” Robby replied coldly. “I have nothing to prove to

you.

”

Slowly, deliberately, Robby turned his back on Axel. He wasn’t sure what the guy was after, but he was confident that he wouldn’t attack him from behind. For some reason, it was really important to him that Robby agree to this fight.

“You owe it to him.” Axel went on. “If you hadn’t been such a bitch that night, Kwon wouldn’t be pissed about losing to you.”

Robby froze in place, refusing to turn around. “What does Kwon have to do with it?”

“It wasn’t just me - we all fucked you.” Axel replied. “Well, not Zara - your cock wasn’t big enough for her. But you ate her out real nice. And the rest of us… I fucked you. My sensei fucked you. And you kept saying his name, so we invited Kwon over too. He loved taking his turn and you loved taking his cock up your ass. Kept moaning like a pornstar and begging for more.”

Maybe Robby was wrong about him - maybe there was more of Cobra Kai in Axel than he’d thought. He was definitely being cruel right now and Robby couldn’t even tell how much of what he was saying ws true.

You know it’s true… you remember…

Robby didn’t know what he remembered. He also remembered seeing his dad hovering above him. Amd Miguel. Except, that was obviously impossible since they were literally on a plane that night. And he’d thought Kwon was with Tory… except, there was no Kwon and Tory and that meant…

“I wasn’t me.” He said through gritted teeth. “What the hell did you do to me?”

“You did it to yourself.” Axel replied. “You turned yourself into a weak, pathetic, desperate little cockslut.”

He whipped around, leg extending and nailed Axel on the chest with a roundhouse kick. The bigger boy stumbled back, but otherwise, barely looked fazed. Rather, he looked pleased at the sight of Robby readying his stance.

“Fine.” Robby snarled at him. “You wanted a fight? You got it.”
 
Grinning with determination, Axel toed off his sneakers and pulled his tracksuit off. Then he tugged his tank-top over his head before taking a fighting stance, his huge, shirtless body flexed and imposing to Robby’s sight.

“Before we start,” Robby said, ignoring the attempt at intimidation. “How do you think this is gonna end?”

“With you on the ground.” Axel replied. “And then you’ll know I was right.”

“Right about what?”

“My sensei!” The taller boy said angrily. “He might be hard on me, but he makes me stronger. Yours made you weak. They made you pathetic. Once I win, you’ll know that’s true… or you’ll know that you are a cocksucking, ass-fucked pussy.”

So he needed to fight to prove that he wasn’t a pathetic loser?

Of course you do. When, in your whole life, has it been any other way? No matter how many times you prove yourself, it’s never going to be good enough.

“Aits!” Robby yelled, rushing ahead.

He leapt high in the air, lightning-fast feet throwing a triple-kick at Axel - which the older boy blocked and countered with a heavy hit that sent Robby sprawling on the floor. He planted his hand on the mat, swinging up with a double-legged kick and got blocked again. He rolled under Axel’s roundhouse, trying to get behind him, but Axel turned on a dime, kicking him in the chest and sending him sprawling once more.

Snarling in frustration, Robby focused on defense and Axel advanced, going on the offensive.

It wasn’t enough… the guy was way too good. He was much bigger and stronger than Robby - even the blows Robby blocked sent him reeling back. His technique was perfect. There were no gaps in his defenses and he had a counter ready anytime Robby attacked. The only way for Robby to stay in the game was by staying on the defensive - blocking everything Axel threw at him - and even that wasn’t going to last long. His hard-hitting attacks would wear Robby down until he had nothing left in the tank.

“C’mon! Fight back!” Axel snarled at him.

Despite his arm raised in defense, Axel’s fist landed on the side of his head, sending his staggering with his ears ringing. His guard was down and a kick to the chest sent him flying back until he slammed into the wall. Then Axel was on him, twisting his arm behind his back and pinning him against the wall with his larger body pressing on his back.

With a shiver of fear, Robby knew what that warm, hard thing pressing on his back was.

What the hell is this guy’s problem?

Robby couldn’t begin to fathom what Axel actually wanted from him. He’d already proved himself the better fighter. He’d dominated him in and out of the arena. He’d… made him his bitch. And despite his words from earlier, it didn’t feel like he was out to humiliate him.

“Fight back!” Axel snarled in his ear again. “Why won’t you fight back?”

What the fuck do you think I’m trying to do?

Grunting, Robby slammed his foot down on Axel’s and his grip loosened enough for the smaller boy to break free. He followed with a back-kick to his shin that bought him some reprieve, but soon, Axel was attacking again, driving him into another corner.

Robby managed to land a kick to his knee, making him stumble, but Axel caught his foot midair when he tried to follow up. Desperate, Robby swung around, using his captured leg to pivot in the air and his heel caught Axel across the jaw, making his head snap to the side as blood and spit sprayed out of his mouth.

The older boy stumbled back, pausing his relentless attack and staring at Robby. Then he brought his hand up to his mouth to wipe it and stared at his bloody fingers in surprise.

Maybe he’s not so invincible after all…

Robby rushed ahead, feinting a high kick to make him put his guard up, then went low, kicking out the back of his leg. Axel stumbled, a strike to his chest sending him sprawling back on the ground and before he could recover, Robby landed on top of him, knees digging into his taut abs and driving the air out of him.

He had him… for this moment, Robby had the advantage. He straddled his bare torso, pinned him down by his shoulders… then leaned down and kissed him on the lips.

What the hell am I doing?

Maybe this was the only way for him to avoid a beating. Or maybe he was tired of fighting. Or maybe he’d finally gone insane from all the karate drama. He didn’t understand it, but his body was acting on its own, his instincts driving him out of his control. He ravished Axel’s mouth, their blood mingling together as their tongues battled for dominance. His hands moved lower, stroking Axel’s bare, broad chest and his blunt nails left thin, red lines on the pale skin. Lower still, he pressed down on the bigger boy’s hips, grinding his ass over the straining erection.

Suddenly, Axel grabbed his waist and flipped them over and now Robby was pinned beneath his weight. In a swift move, he ripped his gi open and fumbled with his pants, pushing them down his hips. Robby tried to push the bigger boy off, but Axel grabbed his wrists and pinned them over his head and his mouth started kissing and sucking its way down his neck.

Robby gasped, arching his back when Axel found his nipples and nibbled on them, before moving lower, running his tongue along the groove of his abs. His warm breath ghosted over Robby’s dick through the thin layer of cotton and Robby shuddered with pleasure when he ran his tongue over the covered shaft.

Axel pulled his briefs down and swallowed his erection in one go, making Robby arch into his mouth as the wet, warm sensation enveloped his cock. Breathing heavily, Robby’s hand tangled in his hair and he jerked his hips up, trying to push himself deeper into Axel’s mouth.

This wasn’t sex - at least nothing like any sex Robby had had before. It was something baser, more primal. Clearly Axel had never done this before, but there was a hunger in the way he was sucking Robby’s cock. Like he wanted to devour him, swallow him whole. Like he was trying to turn his insides into goo and suck them out through his dick. Robby could feel his desperation in the way he slobbered over his knob and his hands kneaded Robby’s muscular thighs, leaving bruised fingerprints all over him.

He whined pitifully when Axel pulled off his cock and a moment later, found himself getting flipped over again. Axel pushed his jacket out of the way and yanked his pants and briefs down his ass, grabbing his cheeks with his big, meaty hands. Robby shuddered - a flash of a memory of a thick, cock spreading him open made his stomach clench in fear - but Axel spat in his crack instead.

Then he dove face-first between his cheeks and started eating his ass out.

Robby moaned as the warm, wet tongue licked over his puckered hole, desperately pushing his ass back on his face. One thick finger found its way past his ring, pushing into his tight channel and before his body could adjust to the intrusion, a second one joined it, roughly scissoring him open. Axel’s tongue pushed in between them, slobbering and drooling and leaving a trail of spit that rolled its way down his taint.

Fight it!

Something screamed inside his head.

Don’t let him make you his bitch!

Whether fighting or fucking, this was a battle for dominance, for control, and Robby was losing it badly. He’d completely lost the advantage he’d began with and he’d all but accepted his position on the bottom. Then Axel’s fingers crooked inside, pressing down on the bundle of nerves in his ass and the remaining fight went out of Robby in a rush.

What was he fighting for anyway? His ego? His pride? Because he’d gotten fucked before and apparently, he’d liked it. He was liking it right now. He was so tired of fighting over and over again to prove himself - especially when he didn’t really understand what he was trying to prove or to whom. He was tired of pretending, trying to act all tough and cool when all he felt was empty and hurt inside. Axel was doing what the booze could not - making him forget that he was unwanted.

A plaintive noise tore out of him when the fingers pulled out and a moment later, he felt a thick, warm shaft pushing between his cheeks, a slick, blunt head nudging at his wrinkled opening. The girth and the weight felt familiar and a flash of fear made Robby clench up.

Axel paused, holding his cock against Robby’s hole instead of pushing in. “Tell me to stop.”

“Don’t stop.” Robby replied through gritted teeth. “Make it hurt.”

Axel mounted him like a dog, grabbing his hips and pulling him up on all fours while using his cock to spread his asshole open. And, like a bitch in heat, Robby spread his legs and arched his back, keening low and loud as the thick dickhead breached his ring. Once the bulging, mushroom head was inside, Axel shoved in the rest of the way with a hard thrust, punching the air out of his lungs. Then he pulled his hips back and slammed home once more, barely giving Robby’s channel a chance to adjust to his girth.

“Unnnngghhhh!” Robby cried out, instinctively trying to crawl away from the pain, but Axel held his hips in a bruising grip and kept pounding into him. His channel fluttered and clenched around the searing hot cock invading, the burn of the stretch making his choke on his breath, but soon he started to adjust. And became aware of the tiny sparks of pleasure shooting through his dick, every time Axel’s cock rubbed against his sweet spot. Moaning and whimpering, Robby reached down between his legs and grabbed his leaking cock, tugging at it frantically.

Axel kept pistoning into him, his breath coming in hot and heavy, brushing against Robby’s neck as he leaned over. His body grew damp, sweat dripping on Robby’s back as the sound of a slick

splat-splat-splat

filled the air every time his thighs clapped against Robby’s asscheeks. Now that Robby was trying to push his ass back and take his cock in deeper instead of trying to get away, Axel let his hands wander, squeezing and kneading Robby’s muscles all over his body. He reached down, pinching his nipples before running his hands over his abs. Then he slapped Robby’s hand away and grabbed his cock in his own warm fist. With the other, he pulled Robby to his knees, pressing his chest firmly against the smaller boy’s back.

The rhythm continued, growing more spastic and erratic by the second. Axel grabbed his hair and turned his face to the side, invading his mouth once more. And Robby retaliated by biting down on his lip hard.

With a guttural moan, Axel buried his cock deep and it swelled, pulsing and gushing his seed inside Robby’s channel. Robby felt stretched impossibly wide and stuffed full and with a painful twist of his hand, Axel pushed his cock over the edge as well. Whimpering, Robby held on to Axel’s arm, trying to push his ass back even further as he shot his load on the mat. 
 
Robby stared down at his body numbly. He could see Axel’s fingerprints on his thighs. His ass felt sore and empty and his hole twitched under him, Axel’s cum still leaking out of it. He was glad that the Sekai Taikai was over because he knew he wouldn’t be able to walk straight for the next few days, let alone fight. He was going to regret taking Axel’s cock up his ass tomorrow.

But not tonight. Tonight, he just felt… tired.

“Guess you have your answer.” Robby said wearily.

“Answer?”

“If I’m just a loser who likes getting fucked.” Robby clarified, shrugging. “I guess I am.”

“You’re not a loser.”

Robby looked up in surprise. Like him, Axel was sitting slumped against the wall, pants still down to his thighs. He was gingerly pressing his fingers to his swollen lip where a fresh bruise from Robby’s kick bloomed.

“No one else has landed a hit on me the whole tournament.” He said in awe, like he couldn’t believe it himself. “No one but you.”

Robby stayed silent, unwilling to engage in whatever crazy stuff was going on through the guy’s mind.

“I don’t understand.” Axel mumbled on. “You are strong fighter. How could you let them beat you?”

“I was distracted.” Robby shook his head. “I had some stuff going on - ”

“No, not other fighters.” Axel clarified. “

Them.

Your friends. Your senseis.”

“What?” Robby stared at him, bewildered. “Dude, I’m not the one getting beaten up by my sensei.”

Robby jerked his head towards him. Axel was half-turned away from him, giving him a clear view of his back and for the first time tonight, Robby could focus on it. It was covered in bruises, some old and fading and others a lot fresher - welts like he was whipped.

Axel shied away from him and looked at the floor.

“My sensei makes me strong.” He told Robby again. “But you let them tear you down. Especially

that

guy. That… Miguel.”

“You don’t know anything about him.” Robby snapped at him. “Miguel’s a good guy, okay? He’s the reason I got my shit together. He helped me believe in myself. He reminded me I could be a leader.”

“If he’s such a good guy, why he did not do that before?”

Robby… didn’t know how to respond to that. It was complicated, to be sure. Their rivals-turned-step-brothers dynamic was something they were still figuring out. And Miguel wasn’t his keeper. It wasn’t his responsibility to help Robby get his shit together. But he didn’t think he could explain all that to Axel.

“You wouldn’t understand.” He replied instead. “All you care about is being stronger, right? Winning is the only thing that matters? Kwon thought that too and look at what happened to him.”

Axel turned away again with a troubled look on his face and Robby pushed himself to his feet, wincing at the throbbing pain deep inside his ass. His whole body ached as he pulled his clothes back on, ready for this horrible day to end.

“I can’t stop thinking about him.” Axel muttered under his breath. “There was… so much blood. And his eyes… the way they just kept staring…”

“Want me to say something to make you feel better?” Robby asked, studying his face curiously. “Like… he was an asshole? He started it? He deserved it?”

Axel looked up at him with wide, hopeful eyes.

“Sorry, dude. I got nothing.” Robby shrugged. “Yeah, he was an asshole and he was messed up in the head, but he was still a person. He didn’t deserve that.”

“You really think that?” Axel asked. “Even after everything he did to you?”

Robby considered the question carefully. He did hate Kwon. He wanted to hurt him and he wanted him out of his life… but wanting him dead?

“He could’ve changed.” He replied. “He could’ve learned to be better. Now he’ll never get that chance. Maybe you should feel like shit about that. Maybe… maybe there is something wrong with you if you don’t. So yeah, I really think that. Everyone should feel bad about what happened today and I’m not gonna tell you some bullshit to make you feel better.”

Axel shuffled to his feet as Robby tied his belt back in place.

“Thanks.” The taller boy said softly. “That helps. A lot.”

Robby stared at him in surprise at the unexpected response and Axel gave him a hesitant, soft smile. “See you around?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Robby replied, shaking his head. “I doubt we’ll ever see each-other again.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

It wasn’t such a bad thing - being a loser. Giving up. Accepting defeat. Making peace with your fate. There was something freeing about acknowledging that this was what your life was and this was all it was going to be. You didn’t have to struggle and fight anymore. Didn’t have to see your hopes go up only to come crashing down all over again. Didn’t have to let yourself and others down over and over again.

Life had tried to teach him that lesson before, but Robby had always been a slow learner. Every time he thought he was going to change his life… put it all together….

Like when he thought he could just go back to school and ended up right in juvie.

Or when he thought winning the All Valley might change things for him and became known as a two-time loser.

Or the Sekai Taikai. Even if they hadn’t proven themselves the best, being second or third best at an international level still would’ve meant something. But he couldn’t even have that. The whole tournament had ended in a debacle and he’d come home with nothing.

Less than nothing, actually. Others still had what they’d had before - Miguel had Stanford, Demetri had MIT, Hawk had… well, he was still figuring it out, but at least he had

options

. Robby, on the other hand, had lost his girlfriend, lost the respect of his friends, gotten embarrassed in front of everyone and humiliated in private… That’s what he got for daring to dream. But he’d learned his lesson now.

The best he could hope for was to finish high-school, get a job so he wouldn’t be much of a burden and just keep his head down. That was his reality and he’d been trying to make his peace with it over the past month since they’d come back from Barcelona.

So when his dad started talking about the Sekai Taikai

again…

“And the best part is, they’re moving the whole thing over here.” He said, shoving another spoonful in his mouth. “No more wasting money on flying here and there and if you or the baby need me, I’ll be right here.”

Robby pushed his food around on the plate, suddenly not feeling quite as hungry anymore. At least he could learn his lesson, but his dad kept doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. Thankfully, Carmen was sensible enough to check his enthusiasm.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea? After what happened?” She asked, hesitantly.

Johnny sighed, his excitement appropriately dampened. “Look, it’s a crying shame what happened to that kid, but with a Sensei like Kreese, it was only a matter of time.” He explained. “It’s not like anyone told that dumbass to pick up the knife. Why should the rest of them have to pay for his mistake?”

“Johnny, that’s not what I meant.” Carmen replied. “It’s not about him, it’s Cobra Kai. Everywhere they show up, disaster follows. At this point, I just want to stay as far away from them as possible. I don’t want something like that happening to Miggy. Or Robby.”

She said the last part like she just remembered he existed and she might not have had Robby not been right there.

“It’s not like we can get away from them, mom.” Miguel chimed in, looking equal parts excited and anxious. “They keep coming after us and they’ll never stop unless we stop them.”

“And this isn’t about them.” Johny added. “Cobra Kai doesn’t matter, okay? They already lost their champion and Kreese won’t have the balls to show his face around here again. But this is still an opportunity of a lifetime and after everything we’ve put into it, we can’t walk away with nothing. The kids deserve this chance.”

“A chance to do what?” Robby spoke up, scowling at his plate of uneaten food. “Humiliate myself even more in front of the whole world?”
 
The conversation around the dinner table died out immediately and everyone looked at him with concern and pity. They’d tried to make him feel better, told him to shrug it off, but it was hard to do when there were clips on the internet of all the times he lost - compilations of him getting his ass kicked over and over again.

“Robby c’mon - I know you fumbled the ball at the start, but you got your shit together.” Johnny tried the predictable platitude. “I’m proud of you for that.”

“Is true.” Rosa added in broken English. “Does not matter if you lose rounds - you still win with knockout.”

“Yeah - and the bigger they are, the harder they fall.”

Robby wished they’d stop it already. He knew they meant well, but all their words couldn’t change what happened. They didn’t change a goddamn thing.

“Yeah, well, sometimes the bigger they are, the harder they kick your ass.” He replied, putting the spoon back down.

They all looked at each-other, hesitant and concerned, and Robby was growing tired of it. He was tired of being an object of their pity, something broken that they could neither fix nor get rid of. He used to hide it pretty well before - with a smile plastered on his face, a posture that projected strength and confidence - but since Sekai Taikai, he didn’t really see the point. It was the last great thing he could’ve done in his life and he’d completely blown it. He was letting his true feelings show a lot more than he used to and clearly, it was bothering them.

“It’s gonna be completely different this time.” Miguel shrugged. “Kwon won’t be around to mess with your head anymore, he already beat one captain in the semis and Axel… after what happened, they shouldn’t even let him come back. He was the one who started the whole brawl.”

No doubt he thought he was being comforting, but it was pretty insulting to know that that’s what Miguel thought - that the only way Robby could win was if all the other captains dropped out for one reason or another. It was true, but still…

“Then maybe you should take over for me.” He replied. “You always wanted it more.”

“Robby, c’mon - you won that spot fair and square.” Johnny told him.

“And Miguel earned it.” Robby shrugged. “I was all over the place, but carried the team. I had one good match, but we wouldn’t even have made it that far without him, right? He deserves to represent us in the finals. I’m sure he’ll embarrass you a lot less than I would.”

“Yeah, well, we can’t just change captains for no good reason.” Johnny replied.

Can’t,

Robby thought,

not won’t.

He didn’t say that he didn’t want to change captains, that Robby didn’t embarrass him or that Miguel wouldn’t do any better. It was obvious that, like others, he wanted Miguel to be the captain - but he was stuck with Robby because he’d won a match on a fluke. No one would ever say that to his face - especially not his dad - but they were all thinking it. 
 
Suddenly, his lack of appetite turned to revulsion and Robby pushed his plate away. “Not hungry anymore.” He said, standing up and walking out of there.

He only got as far as the courtyard before his dad came after him.

“Robby, c’mon! What the hell is going on with you?” He said, grabbing his shoulder and forcing him around. “You know, we’re all getting a little tired of this attitude of yours.”

“Got it.” Robby replied grimly. “I should just keep my mouth shut from now on.”

“Hey! That’s

not

what I said.” Johnny told him sharply.

“So I should only say what you want me to say?”

“That’s not… Robby - ”

“Then I don’t know what you want from me, dad!” He snapped at him.

That wasn’t true. He knew exactly what his dad wanted from him - he wanted him to be a confident, kickass badass. He wanted him to be a winner - someone who could overcome any adversity and beat all opponents no matter what life threw at them. He wanted him to be someone he could be proud of. He wanted him to be… Miguel.

Except, Robby wasn’t Miguel no matter how hard he tried to be and he was getting tired of falling short over and over again.

“Look… I know you’re still messed up about what happened with Tory, but that’s no reason to take it out on the rest of us.” Johnny told him calmly. “You need to get your shit together and go win her back.”

Robby scoffed and shook his head. His dad only knew part of the story and he didn’t have the balls to tell him the rest.

“I mean it. Listen, I’m always on your side okay and I know she screwed up.” He went on. “But you screwed up worse. I know she still cares about you, deep down and I know she still needs you. All you need to do is apologize and… I’m sure things will work out. But one way or another, you gotta get your shit together, okay? Or… or I really will make Miguel captain. We can’t blow this chance just because you’re going through some shit.”

Robby blinked, his eyes suddenly stinging due to the cold, night air and he swallowed the lump in his throat. He already knew it wasn’t going to work - he’d already broken things beyond repair - but maybe this was the only way of getting his dad off his back.

Fuck… fuck… fuck them all!

Miguel gasped, thrusting his hips up into his clenched fist.

Fuck Sensei. Fuck Sam. And especially, fuck Robby fucking Keene! What the fuck are they doing to me?

Like a typical teenage boy, his mind had directly gone to one thing when he’d found himself alone at home. He’d barely waited for the car to roar out of the driveway, taking his mom and yaya to the doctor for a checkup, before he was closing his bedroom door and shucking his boxers off. He hadn’t had the privacy for a nice, long jerkoff for a while and he wanted to do it right this time. He’d scrolled through a bunch of different videos before landing on one that had caught his eye.

It was focused on a guy getting dominated by a bunch of girls - not something Miguel was usually into, but he was open-minded enough to give it a shot. But instead of all the hot, mean girls in the video, his eyes kept going to the teen-looking twink with a tight, smooth body and a cute bubble butt on his knees. He had soft, straight hair, dark but lighter than Miguel’s. Plump, pouty lips and big green eyes hazy with lust. He moaned so prettily as the “mean girls” toyed with him - pinching his nipples and playing with his cock - and then suddenly, Miguel had had a vision of Robby emerging from the bathroom, skin flushed and damp and towel tightly wrapped around his waist.

That’s who he reminds me off.

He’d thrown his phone aside in disgust, but his brain had a mind of its own. Images had kept flashing before his eyes - Robby shirtless, Robby in a tight tank-top, flexing his biceps, Robby showing off his ass in a tight shorts - and his hand had found his way back to his unabated erection. 
 
“Miguel, you there? I - Holy Shit!”

Miguel yelped, jumping up in surprise. He’d been so lost in his fantasy that he hadn’t even heard the door open, much less see Robby come inside. Keene was staring down at him, face caught between shock and amusement, and Miguel grabbed a pillow to hastily cover himself up.

“Sorry, I -”

“Get out!” Miguel yelled, blushing crimson with embarrassment.

“Yeah, I’ll give you a minute.” Robby replied, hurriedly closing the door behind him.

Deep breaths,

Miguel tried to calm down his racing heart while his cheeks burned bright pink. He’d nothing to be embarrassed about, he told himself. Every boy did it - even Robby. Hurriedly, he pulled his shorts back on, squeezing his erection to make it go down, and then sat back down on the bed, making sure it wouldn’t show as much. 
 
“You can come in now.” He said in a strained voice, hoping Robby was still there.

He was. “Done already?” He said teasingly as he came inside.

“I didn’t finish. You kinda killed it.” Miguel replied, scowling. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be winning Tory over?”

The mirth going out of his face was all the answer Miguel needed. Robby sighed, grabbing the desk chair and sat down with a sad, hangdog look on his face.

“I’m sorry, man.” Miguel said, pursing his lips in sympathy. “I really thought you guys were meant to be. Even if you did make a mistake… so did she.”

He honestly didn’t know what Tory was thinking. She couldn’t have asked for a sweeter, more thoughtful, more supportive boyfriend and sure Robby had made a mistake, but she’d been the one to ditch him first. She’d been the one who let her teammates mess with his head. Miguel knew she was messed up because of her mom, but it was all the more reason why she needed Robby in her life.

“I made… more than one mistake.” Robby told him quietly.

“Oh…” Miguel frowned. “Zara?”

Robby pursed his lips and shook his head tersely. And despite wanting to pry, it was obvious that Robby wasn’t ready to share those details just yet. Though it did leave Miguel in a bit of a quandary - how was he supposed to make him feel better if he didn’t know what happened?

“I’m sure she’ll come around.” He made a lame attempt.

“Why should she?” Robby shrugged.  “She needed me and I wasn’t there for her. She deserves better.”

Miguel huffed in irritation. There it was again - the self-pity that kept Robby mired in his losses. Robby was a beast when he was focused, but when focusing itself was this hard…
 
It wasn’t his fault though - Miguel understood that now. It was Sensei’s fault - and Miyagi-Do’s. The very first lesson Sensei Lawrence had taught Miguel was to use his emotions - to let his anger fuel his focus - and that had become the foundation of his karate. Robby, on the other hand, had learned to suppress them instead, because that was the “right” way. So when things went to shit for him, his skills and focus did too.

“Did you mean what you said last night?” Miguel asked, changing the subject. “Or was it just self-pity talking.”

“Maybe… Both…” Robby shrugged. “C’mon, man, we both know I blew it at the tournament. I did good in just one match and even there I can’t all the credit.”

Technically true - but it wasn’t all on him. If Miguel hadn’t been an asshole to him earlier, if he’d given him a pep-talk before.

“Too bad the brawl didn’t count.” He said, smiling at the memory. “You were kicking ass all over the place. I couldn’t even get past one guy.”

“Nobody could get past

that

guy.” Robby replied, smiling ruefully.

He wasn’t wrong there either.  Axel was a beast, unlike any Miguel had seen before. The guy was built like a tank and acted like one too and no matter how many times Miguel replayed their fights in his head, he couldn’t see a way to win.

“You really think they wouldn’t let him back in?” Robby asked him curiously. “What happened was an accident.”

“So was what happened at school and you still went to juvie for it.” Miguel reminded him. “But even if he does come back, we have time, right? We can study him, find his weakness. Every Achilles has his heel and we’ll figure out a way to bring that asshole down.”

“He’s not an asshole.” Robby sighed. “He has just… had it rough.”

Miguel found a bubble of irritation nagging under his skin. “You sound like Sam.” He said, unable to keep the bitterness out of his voice. “He has had it rough… his sensei is an asshole… well, everyone’s got a sob story, but that’s no excuse for being a jerk. And if things are that bad with his sensei, why doesn’t he just leave?”

“You won’t get it.” Robby shook his head. “It’s not easy to leave when you have nowhere else to go.”

He was right - Miguel didn’t get it. This wasn’t like a sensei like Kreese turning students into assholes because Kreese never hurt his own students. If someone in your life was toxic and abusive, leaving them felt like such an obvious choice. His mom did it when she was pregnant and alone in a foreign country. Robby did it when he ditched Cobra Kai in their hour of glory, without knowing if Mr. LaRusso or Sensei would take him back. Surely, it’d be a lot easier for a guy like Axel. 
 
“Everything okay with you and Sam?” Robby asked, shifting the topic again.

“We’re fine.” Miguel replied sullenly. He wasn’t a fan of the fact that Sam was defending that guy, but that wasn’t what was bothering him.

“You sure?” Robby pried further. “I mean, why are you taking care of

that

yourself when you have a girlfriend.”

Miguel flushed, looking down at his crotch again. His erection had flagged but the outline of his cock was still clearly visible through his shorts.

“She… fooled around with someone.” He admitted sullenly, adjusting himself once more.

“Oh… I’m sorry, man.”

“It’s not like that.” Miguel corrected him right away. “It didn’t mean anything. It was… Yasmine. And Moon. And she just told me about it, y’know? Like… it wasn’t a big deal.”

“What did my dad say about it?” Robby asked with a knowing smile.

“That it’s hot.” Miguel replied, huffing. “That girls mess around with their friends. That guys do it too and there is nothing wrong with that. Hawk said the same thing. So did Dem. And I just… I don’t know, man - am I making a big deal out of this?”

“I think… maybe you should talk to Sam if you’re not comfortable with it.” Robby suggested awkwardly.

“That’s the thing - I don’t know how I feel about it.” Miguel replied, frustrated. “I’m not pissed at her, I’m not jealous, I’m not scared of losing her… but I feel like I’m supposed to feel some way and I don’t and… I don’t know. It’s messing me up.”

He didn’t know how else to explain it, but he hoped Robby got it. He should, right? Robby was a pretty empathetic guy. No one else had been able to say anything to help him make sense of it - not even the guy he always went to for advice. But maybe Robby could…
 
“Want me to suck you off?”

Miguel took a moment to process the words before looking up at him with a shocked face. “What!?”

“I said - ”

“I heard you. What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you say something like that?”

Robby shrugged nonchalantly. “Everyone else is always sucking your dick. Figured I’d see what the big deal was.”

He’d been doing that a lot lately - making snide, sarcastic comments that could be either compliments or insults, but Miguel could never tell. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?” He asked angrily.

Robby took a moment to answer. “We all think it should be you out there?” He said, paraphrasing. “That’s what Hawk said to you, right? And Demetri agreed?”

Miguel firmly pushed down the pang of guilt he felt at the memory of that conversation. That had been a low point for their team, but before today, he’d comforted himself with the fact that Robby didn’t know about it.

“Can you blame them after your performance?” He asked sullenly.

“I don’t.” Robby shrugged. “But let’s not pretend it was about my performance. You could’ve been shitting all over the mats and they’d have still wanted you as their captain.”

“That’s bullshit!”

“Is it?” Robby asked. “Are you gonna pretend that they wouldn’t have picked you if we’d put it to a vote? Can you honestly see them say that to me about you?”

Honestly… he couldn’t. Miguel had good, supportive friends and he wasn’t going to regret that fact. It wasn’t his fault that they liked him more than Robby. Why should he feel guilty about that?

“Well, If it means anything, I’d have picked you.”

Robby scoffed in disbelief.

“I mean it.” Miguel insisted. “Yeah, I want that spot for myself and yeah, I’d take it in a heartbeat if I get the chance - and yeah, I was fighting a lot better than you. But if I look at things objectively…” He sighed. “Look, a captain is supposed to do more than just fight. He’s supposed to make the whole team better. And not just at karate. I… don’t really know how to do that. You do.”

Robby looked at him thoughtfully, a sliver of skepticism in his eyes preventing him from taking Miguel’s words to heart. “Doesn’t matter anymore.” He said, shrugging. “Team events are over.”

They sat in awkward silence for a while, each boy staring at his feet, and Miguel’s mind went back to the offer Robby had just made and the small flutter he’d felt in his stomach. It was a joke, right? A segue into what Robby actually wanted to talk about?
 
“I meant it.” Robby said, like he could read Miguel’s mind. “I’ll suck you off if you want.”

His cock twitched at the thought of seeing those lips wrapped around his shaft. “Why?”

“Might help you figure out your Sam problem.” Robby shrugged.

That made sense. If friends messing around was okay, then there shouldn’t be a problem if he fooled around with Robby. And if it felt wrong - like a betrayal - then he’d know how he was supposed to feel about Sam’s actions.

“O-okay…” Miguel replied hesitatingly.

His stomach fluttered with excitement as Robby stood back up, green eyes gleaming down at him. His fingers brushed against Miguel’s neck, sending a jolt of electricity running through him, before he tugged at his collar, pulling his t-shirt over his head. His hand trailed down Miguel’s chest, tickling softly and sending sparks of pleasure dancing over his skin, before they brushed over his clothes erection, making his dick twitch.

“Can I… see you?” Miguel asked, mind flashing back to the twink he’d been watching in the porno.

Robby looked almost surprised at the request, but shrugged. “Sure.” He said, pulling his shirt over his head.

He’s so much hotter,

Miguel thought, heat pooling in his stomach. Compared to Robby’s ripped physique, that guy looked soft and pudgy. His heart fluttered at the way Robby’s muscles rippled under his skin as he pulled his jeans off and his throat went dry when he hooked his thumbs in the waistband of his underwear, eyes locked in on the treasure trail disappearing beneath the fabric.

Robby hesitated and turned around before tugging his boxer-briefs down and Miguel swallowed at the sight of him, bent over and giving him the perfect view of his ass. The others like to tease Robby about it - tell him that he had a pretty ass, better than most girls - and Robby took it in good humor, but he could simply shut them up by mooning them once. His tight, bubble butt was definitely pretty, but it was pure, solid muscle - toned and hard like it was carved from marble. It was round and firm and smooth, with a dusting of hair between the cheeks that Miguel caught a glimpse of before he straightened up. He reached out and touched it almost reverently, making Robby jump and turn around.

Blushing and covering his crotch, Robby gave him a shy smile before leaning down. Miguel was disappointed when he went straight for his neck instead of kissing him - but perhaps that was one of the unspoken rules about this thing. He shivered when Robby kissed his way down, gasping when his tongue flicked over his nipples and his hands tugged at his shorts. Obligingly, Miguel lifted his hips up, letting Robby pull them down his legs, and his hard cock sprang out, smacking him on his abs.

Robby moved lower, kneeling between his legs and pushing his thighs apart. His hot breath ghosted over Miguel’s cock, making it twitch in excitement, then he grasped his shaft and slowly pulled his foreskin back, revealing the slick, pink glans underneath. Miguel’s whole body shuddered again when Robby’s tongue flicked out and licked the drop of precum forming at the tip of his dick. 
 
“You… you sure about this?” Miguel asked, his heart pounding in his chest like it was about to burst out of him.

Why did I say that?

He wondered, angry at himself.

What if he decides to stop?

But Robby looked up in surprise as well and nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure.”

Miguel moaned, hand tangling in Robby’s soft, silky hair as his lips wrapped around the cockhead and a gentle suction made his muscles tighten up. He barely stopped himself from bucking his hips up and shoving his dick into the warm, wet cavern. He tried to catch his breath as his fingers twisted the bedsheets when Robby slowly took him in deeper.

This isn’t his first time,

Miguel realized with a start. He’d tried this with Sam and it hadn’t been like this. Going down on him did nothing for her and her obvious discomfort and inexperience had made Miguel lose his erection rather fast. But Robby knew what he was doing. He kept a firm, tight grip on the base of Miguel’s grip, kept his teeth out of the way, tickled his balls with his other hand and he made every muscle in Miguel’s body go taut when he hollowed out his cheeks and sucked him in hard.

“Fuck… you’re good.” Miguel mumbled, his own fists clenching the sheets. “So fucking good.”

Robby hummed in agreement, the sound sending deep vibrations all along Miguel’s shaft. He started to bob his head up and down, making soft, slurping noises as he took his cock in deeper. Miguel’s hips jerked up of his own accord, seeking more of his warmth, his dickhead bumped against the back of Robby’s throat, telling him it was as deep as he was going to go.

Robby proved him wrong two seconds later. After gagging a little, his throat opened up and his mouth went lower. Miguel’s eyes rolled back in his head as his cock was swallowed to the root. Robby bathed his shaft in warm, slick spit with his tongue while his soft throat muscles spasmed around the dickhead. His nose was buried in Miguel’s pubes and his chin was tickling his balls.

He stayed still for a while, making low, humming noises as his mouth adjusted to Miguel’s girth and the tremors along the shaft tore a pitiful moan out of the other boy. He started moving again, slowly pulling back until only the head remained in his mouth and then swallowed him whole once more.

Miguel held on to his head, barely resisting the urge to thrust in and make him go faster. Especially when Robby’s fingers snaked under his balls and started scratching his taint, pressing down to make sparks of pleasure shoot up his dick.

“I’m… ‘m close…” Miguel warned him, thighs trembling in ecstasy.

Instead of slowing down, Robby took that as the cue to slurp on his cock faster. His hand gripped the base tighter, kneading and twisting, while his cheeks hollowed out over and over, like he was trying to hoover the cum out of him. His hand kept stroking between Miguel’s legs, tickling his balls and even scratching his asshole now and then.

Miguel’s breath came in short, erratic bursts. His whole body trembled, muscles fluttering as he desperately tapped Robby’s head. He was too far gone to form any coherent words and that was the only warning he could give him before he bust his nut with a long, drawn out moan.

Robby held his spasming cock in his mouth, throat still clenching around it as he desperately swallowed his load. Miguel had always been a bit of a gusher, but he couldn’t remember the last time he came this hard or this much. Despite how hard Robby tried, he couldn’t keep up with Miguel’s pulsing cock and his slick, hot seed dribbled out of his mouth, tickling its way down his balls.

Finally, he let the spent, softening cock go with a plop and wiped his mouth. As he stood back up, Miguel caught a glimpse of Robby’s own dick, hanging hot and heavy between his legs, and felt a pang of conscience.

Can’t leave him hanging, right?

He thought to himself, reaching out to touch it.

Gotta return the favor.

But Robby moved out of his reach the moment his hand brushed against him. “It’s fine.” He told him in a tight voice as he turned away. “You don’t have to.”

“I want to.” Miguel replied, squeezing his ass instead. “I can blow you too. Probably won’t be as good, but - ”

“I said it’s fine.” Robby told him sharply before bending over to pull his underwear back on.

Miguel stared at his broad back, confused, and then he heard him sniff. A sound of someone desperately trying to hold back his tears. And it didn’t make sense - Miguel hadn’t forced himself on Robby or anything. He hadn’t made him do anything he didn’t want to. Robby had offered… insisted…

“Dude, what’s wrong?” He asked, pulling his own shorts back on and standing up, concerned.

“Nothing.” Robby shook his head. “Did you figure out what you needed to?”

Miguel stared at the blinking, green eyes and nodded slowly. He did figure it out - through the whole thing, he hadn’t felt guilty or bad even once. Which meant what they did wasn’t wrong. Which meant Sam wasn’t wrong either. There was nothing wrong with an occasional ‘brojob’ and Sam was equally welcome to fool around with her friends.

But he was feeling guilty

now

and he knew it was about Robby. But he didn’t know why.

It’s a trap,

Robby thought as he hurried along the street.

Most definitely a trap.

There had been no communication, no contact for over a month and then out of nowhere, he’d gotten that DM from the same unknown number as before. There hadn’t been any actual words this time - just a picture of Miyagi-Do’s backyard and it’d brought him there running.

You’re being an idiot. You need to tell Mr. LaRusso. Or dad. Or call the cops.

That would’ve been the smart move - but instead, Robby used his spare key to let himself in and rushed inside. He was expecting an ambush - dozens of them swarming him from all sides. But all he saw was a lone figure on the sparring deck waiting for him in the darkness.

“What are you doing here?” Robby yelled, determinedly charging towards him.

Axel smiled and jumped down. “I’m here for you.”

Growling, Robby put his hands up and took a fighting stance, ready for another throwdown.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Wow!” Zara looked around the mansion in awe. “How do you say in America? Nice digs.”

Axel nodded in agreement, dumping his bags on the ground.  The rest of their team was over an hour behind, still stuck in traffic. Though Axel didn’t know why the rest of their team was there at all - it wasn’t like they’d have anything else to do. Come to think of it, he wasn’t sure why they were there either. Sensei hadn’t been forthcoming with the details and he hoped that their host would be more accommodating.

For his part, Silver greeted them with a warm smile. “Thank you.” He responded to Zara’s compliment. “My finances are a little strained at the moment, but I wanted the best for my champions.”

“We could’ve had the best back home.” Sensei Wolf grumbled. He’d been pretty grumpy for the whole trip and the attitude did not bode well for his students in Axel’s experience. “Why are we here? The committee hasn’t even decided if the tournament is back on. Much less if it’ll be in America.”

“They will. And it will.” Silver replied with an enigmatic smile. “As for why you’re here now - we had a deal, remember?”

“Yes. To beat your enemies in the tournament.” Sensei replied. “You ask me to risk disqualification for my students before we begin.”

“Break the enemy before the battle and you’ll win the war without a fight.” Silver replied, shrugging. “You did good work in Barcelona - especially with Robby Keene.” His eyes went to Axel, making the boy’s ears go red. “But it wasn’t enough. He still managed to make a comeback.”

More than a comeback,

Axel thought to himself. By the end, Robby had seemed stronger than at any other point in the tournament.

“Hardly.” Sensei Wolf scoffed. “Couldn’t score a single point in the semi-finals. If not for that foolishness, he’d be in the hospital.”

“Underestimating them is not a mistake we should keep making.” Silver replied. “We caught them off-guard and off-balance before - this time they’ll be better prepared. Even stronger.”

Axel hoped so. Something told him that he still hadn't seen the best that Robby was capable of.

“We need to keep them off-balance if we want to win.” Silver went on, patting Sensei Wolf on the shoulder as he prowled closer to the students. “You understand that, don’t you? You’ve been following my instructions?”

He was looking at Zara and Zara looked back at him with a confident smile on her face. “A new video every couple of days and my fans love to share it around.”

Silver nodded approvingly and turned to Axel. He was uncomfortably close and the teen felt uncomfortably violated when the older man ran a hand down his chest.

“And you… guess mind-games aren’t your thing, but you are built like a horse.” Silver said, grabbing his crotch and making him flinch. “And hung like one too. There are ways to use that to your advantage.”

He stubbornly avoided the man’s gaze, looking to his sensei for guidance or permission to break free, but Sensei Wolf was too busy looking around at the mansion.

“We can’t stop at Keene this time.” Silver went on, finally letting him go. “We need to break them all. Diaz, LaRusso, Hawk, Payne - the whole lot.”

“I can handle the bitches.” Zara said, shrugging. “Probably take another shot at Robby too.”

“No!” Axel spoke up hastily. “He’s mine!”

That made them all look at him with curiosity, waiting for him to go on.

“I know how to push his buttons.” Axel explained. “Maybe I can use him against others too. Only… I need to find a way to catch him alone.”

“That shouldn’t be too hard.” Silver shrugged. “Send him a veiled threat and he’ll come running.”

That made Sensei Wolf scoff in derision. “The boy would be a fool to face Axel alone after their last fight.”

“He is.” Silver agreed with a sinister smile. “He’s cocky and arrogant and thinks he can handle the enemy on his own. He always jumps into the danger feet first, without knowing how deep the waters are.”

That didn’t sound like him… not to Axel. Robby had done that before, sure - he’d come running to him back in the tournament as well. But why he’d come alone was something Axel had never understood. 
 
“Didn’t come to fight.” Axel said, raising his hands in surrender. “Only wanted to talk. Alone.”

Robby watched him carefully, wary of any sudden moves as the taller boy came closer to him. “What are you doing in LA?” He asked again.

“Sekai Taikai.” Axel explained. “Our sponsor is certain it’ll happen here.”

Of course!

“So you’re Silver’s lackey now?” Robby asked, sneering.

“Yes.” Axel admitted, looking down at his feet in shame. “It’s the only way to get our dojo back. My sensei… he ran into some problems and Silver is helping him out.”

Feeling conflicted, Robby lowered his hands and looked at the bigger boy with pity. He’d learned enough about Silver to know how he operated - ‘helping’ desperate people and trapping them in his web of lies. He could tell Axel that - actually, he already had - but he doubted it’d make a difference at this point.

“And what does he want you to do this time?” Robby asked.

“To mess with you… all of you.” Axel replied, with a guilty look on his face. “He wants to make sure we break you before the tournament resumes.”

“You’re not doing a very good job.” Robby pointed out.

“No… I suppose not.” Axel shook his head. “I don’t want to. That’s why I came to warn you. I want to prove myself the best because I am - but I cannot do that unless I fight you at your best.”

It was messed up that he still cared so much about that after everything, but at least it was something Robby could respect. “And is that the only thing you care about?” He asked.

Axel took a step closer, lips twitching in a smile. “No, I suppose not.”

He leaned down to kiss him and Robby took a step back, staring at him in surprise. Right away, Axel flushed and looked away from him with a mumbled apology. “Sorry… I thought… after last time - ”

“It’s fine.” Robby told him, cheeks going red at the memory.

“I suppose… you are back with that girl now.”

“Like she’d take me back after what I did.” Robby scoffed.

Once again, Axel looked up with a thoroughly confused expression on his face. “Take

you

back? But… she ditched you.”

“She was going through something.” Robby told him, shaking his head. “Her mom right before the tournament and she thought she had to win for her sake.”

“Wait… her mom died?” Axel asked, face scrunching further. “And… she just left the people who care about her to join the enemy? And she blames you for it?”

“I wouldn’t put it like that.” Robby told him defensively. “Yeah, she messed up, but she was messed up. And if I’d stuck with her better - ”

“Why do you do that? Why do you always blame yourself?” Axel asked, sounding distressed. “Why do you… what did they do to you to make you like this?”

“Like what? A nice guy who cares about people?”

“Pathetic!” Axel replied.

Blood rushed to his cheeks and Robby took an angry step towards him. “You’re one to talk. I’m not the one getting my ass beat by my sensei.”

He waited for the predictable response - for Axel to angrily defend the man - but the older teen unexpectedly agreed. “You’re right - my sensei humiliates me when I do something wrong and I let him do it to make me better.” He took a step closer as well. “But you let

everyone

humiliate you. Do you like it?”

A flush rose in Robby’s cheeks, memories of his humiliations flashing before his eyes. He’d hated it… and he’d hated himself for getting off on it - but that wasn’t what Axel was referring to.

“Fuck you!” He said through gritted teeth and turned to leave. 
 
Axel grabbed his wrist and forced him around. On instinct, Robby swung his fist and punched him right across the face - but the bigger boy barely flinched. Robby tried again, Axel caught his other wrist and it was on. He kicked the bigger boy, tried to headbutt him, twist out of his grip - all to no avail. It felt like the first time they’d fought, where Axel had gained one point after another, beating him all over the mat. And with no referee to break it up this time, Robby soon found himself on the ground with a heavy, immovable weight pinning him down.

“Let me go!” He hissed, struggling to get free.

“Not until you answer.” Axel replied, overpowering him once more. “Why do you let them treat you like that?”

“Because that’s all I have!” Robby screamed back.

For a moment, silence hung between them. Axel eased up and Robby stopped struggling, the two of them looking at each-other.

“I already ruined my life, okay? You wouldn’t understand.” Robby said a little more quietly. “I’ve done shit… made mistakes… let them down - Sekai Taikai was my one shot to make something of myself and I screwed that up too. Got distracted… got my ass kicked over and over… let my whole team down. But they didn’t abandon me. They took me back. And I… I don’t have anything else.”

“But… they did abandon you. Before.” Axel replied, letting him go. “How do you know it won’t happen again?”

“I don’t.” Robby replied, the words feeling heavy like a punch to his gut.

All those months of pushing that thought to the back of his head and Axel had dragged them right out of him. His dad might think that everything changed for him at the last All-Valley, but Robby knew that his real crossroads came a little later - on the trip to Mexico to find Miguel when his dad had bought him a bus-ticket back home. He’d stood there, watching the stub in his hand and envisioning the two paths before him - he could’ve walked away in anger, blamed his dad for choosing Miguel over him again, maybe done something stupid to try and punish him. But he’d have been the one to get hurt. His dad wouldn’t have cared about him walking away - he had Miguel, he had his new family, he had his other students. He’d have forgotten about Robby five minutes after he left.

So Robby had chosen the second path - going back to him with his tail between his legs. He’d figured it was time to try something different - to be nice to his dad and others in his life. To help them anyway he could, earn them approval, make them want him around. And then maybe, eventually, they might care about him like he needed them to. It hadn’t been easy at the start, but he was getting the hang of it.

But Axel was right - he was always one bad day away from losing everything all over again. And the whole thing with Tory showed that it didn’t even have to be his bad day.
 
Dazedly, he accepted Axel’s offered arm and let himself be pulled up to his feet.

“Take your clothes off.” Axel told him calmly.

“What?”

“Can’t go back empty handed.” He explained. “Need to mess with you… or go after the others.”

Robby narrowed his eyes at him. “Thought you didn’t want to do that shit?”

“Fair enough.” Axel nodded. “I even things out.”

Robby watched with raised eyebrows as Axel shrugged off his hoodie and peeled off his t-shirt. His eyes widened at the sight of his broad shoulders, bulging chest and the taut, defined abs before moving down to his thick, muscular thighs as he stripped his pants off as well.

It wasn’t the same as it’d been with Kwon. Maybe because Axel wasn’t as cocky or cruel about it… no, that wasn’t it. There was something wrong with Robby that day that made him feel scared and intimidated. With Axel though - he was impressed, sure. Even attracted to him, judging by the flutter in his stomach at the sight of the hefty bulge in front of his tight boxer briefs. But he wasn’t afraid.

“Well?” Axel prompted him, hesitating to remove the last article of his clothing.

“Well, what?” Robby asked, eyes tracing every cut of his muscle. “What exactly is this supposed to accomplish?”

Axel flushed, realizing that he didn’t have a plan after all. There was something almost endearing about the way he suddenly became aware of how exposed he was and resisted the urge to shy away from Robby’s gaze. He wasn’t made for this shit. If the only thing Silver had wanted was to win the tournament, he couldn’t have asked for a better student… but because he was more focused on mind games, he couldn’t have asked for worse.

“You’ll have to do better if you want to fool Silver.” Robby told him kindly. “That asshole is way too smart to fall for lies and you’re not a very good liar.”

The bigger boy swallowed and nodded. “I don’t want to lie to anyone… All I want is to prove myself best against the best.”

“That’s great, but you’re not gonna get that chance.” Robby replied, remembering someone else who wanted the same thing. “Silver cheated to win the last All Valley. He cheated to get into Sekai Taikai. And when one of his students wouldn’t play along, he broke her hand to punish her. If you don’t do what he says… what did he tell you to do anyway?”

“Break Miyagi-Do’s spirit.” Axel replied awkwardly. “Make you lose your morale… turn you against each-other. Make sure you are easy to beat.”
 
So, the same old playbook? Robby wasn’t surprised. Even though Sekai Taikai wasn’t certain to come back, it made sense that Silver would be gunning for them anyway. And of course he’d use others as pawns in his games. But Axel deserved better. He’d earned his spot in the tournament and all he deserved was a fair, honorable fight - and he deserved that.

Shit! This is gonna be tricky.

How was he supposed to help Axel fool Silver without actually letting it affect the rest of the team? Letting the rest of the team get affected wouldn’t matter anyway because Robby would have to be the one to face him on the mats. And given how easily Axel had overpowered him minutes ago, it was obvious he wasn’t going to win. It’s like Kwon told him, if he had any sense…

Wait…

A pit of despair grew inside his chest as his mind gave him a way out of it. Robby knew he couldn’t win… but Miguel could. Miguel was built different. He didn’t lose his focus like Robby did - the angrier he got, the better he fought. If Robby stepped aside and let Miguel be the captain, it’d work out for everybody.

He deserved it anyway - he’d carried the team through the whole tournament. And Axel would get the tough, honorable fight he wanted. And Robby… well, he’d end up with nothing once again, but at least he’d avoid further embarrassment.

Making it happen was a different question however. He wasn’t even sure if they could switch captains halfway through the tournament - but Robby was sure of one thing, if Miguel asked him to, Johnny would find a way to make it happen. But Miguel would be too nice to ask for it unless he was pushed to the edge. 
 
“You need to go after Diaz.” Robby told the other boy. “Don’t try any dumb mind games - just be yourself. You’re tough. Intimidating. You didn’t lose a point through the whole tournament and you kicked his ass - keep reminding him of that. Also, Sam likes you and she’s too nice to reject someone’s friendship. Use that - he’ll think you’re trying to steal her and he’ll get jealous. And Silver will think you’re doing your job.”

Axel frowned, cocking his head to the side. “You’d throw your teammate under the bus?”

“No - it’s gonna motivate him to fight harder.” Robby replied, shaking his head. “Silver will think you’re breaking him, but he’ll get pissed off and he won’t hold back against you on the mats. Then you’ll get the fight you wanted.”

“But you’re the one I face.” Axel said, jaw open in surprise. “Unless… you drop out for some reason?”

Robby shrugged. He hadn’t quite figured that part out yet. There was a lot he still needed to figure out - like what was going to happen with Cobra Kai now that their champion who’d made it to the finals was dead. Would they be allowed a replacement or would it be an automatic forfeit? He’d have to look through the rules for the answer. Find some loophole they could use.

“You’d give up your big chance for him?” Axels asked, face scrunching in disbelief.

“I’d only screw it up.” Robby shrugged again.

“Because you know you stand no chance.” Axel said, taking a step forward. “You know you are loser. Weakest captain in Sekai Taikai. Could not win even one point.”

Robby looked up, surprised at the sudden shift in his tone before the answer clicked in his head. Axel was doing what he just told him to do - being tough and intimidating - except, he had his target all wrong.

“It’s not gonna work, dude.” Robby said, shaking his head. “You can’t intimidate me.”

“Don’t have to. You did it to yourself.” Axel scowled at him. “You’re already a beaten dog, looking for a way out. Maybe I give it to you, huh? Maybe I let you go out with some dignity?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Robby asked, fists clenching by his side instinctively.

“I go back and I tell sensei that I took care of Robby Keene once and for all. And I do not lie.” Axel explained, taking another step forward. “I tell him I beat you black and blue like dog. I bent you over and fucked you like a bitch. And then I broke your arms… ended your karate career for good. Then you can step aside… let someone better take over.”

A chill went down Robby’s spine at the grim expression on Axel’s face. They were standing chest to chest and he couldn’t help but notice how much taller and bigger the other boy was than him. He could do everything he just said and Robby would be completely helpless to stop him.

“But bad idea, right?” Axel prompted him. “Will start a war? They will come for me? Your father? Your friends?”

“They won’t.” Robby replied in a thick voice, turning his face away. “They’ll do the smart thing… settle it on the mats.”

Axel grabbed his jaw and forced him to look back up at him. “Then why shouldn’t I do it? Give me good reason.”

“I… can’t.” Robby replied, closing his eyes.

He waited for the blows to start - a punch to the face, a knee to the groin - but instead, he felt Axel’s hot breath on his cheeks before his lips captured his own. Surprised, Robby parted them and let his tongue invade his mouth. Axel was kissing him, hand tangled in Robby’s hair, and this time, Robby didn’t pull away.

What’s wrong with me?

Robby wondered as his body was enveloped in Axel’s warmth.

He was pretty sure he didn’t used to be like this. Sure, he’d gone down on his knees for Trey and Cruz plenty of times, beaming with pride when they told him he sucked dick like a pro - but that was about pride in a job well done. He’d never quite felt this need - this hunger - inside him before.

Maybe sometimes with Tory. He used to like letting her take charge now and then - climb on top of him, pin him down and do what she wanted. But it wasn’t the same - that was about giving up control now and them. This was different.

“They’re right about you. All of them.” Axel mumbled, taking a break from plundering his mouth. “Fucking loser. Weakass bitch. Nothing but a hole for me to fuck.”

Robby shuddered at the touch of his warm hands on his bare skin as the taller boy pulled his shirt over his head. His own hands were back on the wide planes of Axel’s broad chest the moment they were free of their sleeves while Axle unbuttoned his pants and pushed them down his legs, mouthing at his neck the whole time.

“Cumslut! Cockhungry whore!” Axel kept talking, grinding his clothed erections against Robby’s naked one. “Just gagging for my cock, right? Want me to split your ass open on my thick tool?”

He grabbed his jaw and turned his head to the side, exposing more flesh of his neck to his mouth. Robby took the chance to take his fingers in his mouth and started sucking on them, getting them as wet and slick as he could for what was to come.

As his fingers shoved down Robby’s throat, his over hand fondled his ass, dry digits rubbing over his furled asshole, threatening to push in. Axel’s words were at complete odds with his tone and actions - anyone else would’ve shoved in already; made him scream from the friction burn of dry fingers pushing into him. Bus Axel focused on rubbing them over the folds of his wrinkled skin while his mouth made his way down Robby’s chest, sucking and licking at his nipples.

“Gonna fuck you dry.” He went on, nibbling at Robby’s tits. “Gonna rip you open. Make you

bleed

.”

The threat didn’t carry the same weight once he pulled his fingers out of Robby’s mouth and pressed them against his puckered opening. He tested his defenses, prodding and pushing until Robby gave in and let his sphincter spread open on his slick digits. He moaned, his clothes sliding off his legs as he hooked his leg on Axel’s hips, spreading himself wider and allowing him easier access. It wasn’t long before the second finger joined the first and started scissoring him open.

Axel picked him up, one hand cupping his ass, and Robby obligingly wrapped his arms and legs around his body.

Maybe coming in second wasn’t so bad if he was losing to someone like Axel - someone bigger and stronger and better than him in every way. Maybe there was no shame in surrendering to a better man. Maybe that better man would be the one to protect him in the end, from all the people who wanted to hurt him.

Robby whined when the fingers pulled out, leaving him feeling open and empty. But he didn’t have to wait long before Axel’s thick cock nudged between his cheeks, his slick cockhead pressing against his wrinkled hole, demanding entrance.

“Beg!” Axel hissed in his ear. “Beg like the slut you are. Tell me you want me. Tell me you want to be fucked so hard that you won’t walk straight for days.”

“Please…” The words spilled out of Robby, out of his control. “Fuck me, please… I want you… I want your cock inside me….”
 
Axel

was

strong - stronger than anyone Robby had fought before. He could hold him aloft with ease, loosening his grip and letting his cockhead penetrate Robby’s hole at the pace he chose. Robby whimpered, feeling the tight ring of muscle spread open on Axel’s thick cock as he breached him - but Axel held him mid-air, with only his mushroom head inside, as he waited for Robby’s anus to adjust to his girth.

Robby whimpered, pushing his ass back and trying to take him in deeper. And Axel got the message, loosening his grip and letting him slide down on his cock.

This is pathetic,

Robby thought, tightening his legs around Axel’s trim waist and clinging to his body with all his strength.

I’m pathetic.

This wasn’t about surrender or control - it was about accepting his own weakness. That night that he’d gotten drunk and stupid had changed something inside of him - forced his true self to the surface. That was the only explanation. Robby wanted to be strong and tough - he wanted to be someone his dad could be proud of, could love - but when stripped of all his pretensions, he was nothing more than a weak, pathetic pussy, made to he fucked by bigger and better cocks. And maybe… that was okay.

Maybe this was what he’d struggled with all along and accepting the truth about himself was the only way out. His dad would be disappointed - he’d definitely prefer a young, alpha male like Miguel over Robby. And his friends would lose all respect for him. But if he didn’t have to hurt anymore… if he could feel this good over and over again…

“

Aaaaaahhhhhhh…..

” Robby moaned, feeling Axel’s thick, throbbing cocks stab at his prostate as the young man bounced him up and down on his cock.

Not for the first time, Robby marveled at his strength. Robby wasn’t exactly weightless - but he might as well have been for all the effort Axel was putting into holding him aloft and fucking into him in steady, measured thrusts. He could cup Robby’s ass with one hand, lifting him up before letting him drop down on his cock while snapping his hips forward.

“Been working out? You’re bigger.” Axel said breathily, thick, calloused fingers pinching Robby’s pecs. “Won’t matter - still gonna beat your ass.”

Robby whimpered, grating his cock against Axel’s washboard abs. He should’ve cringed from the insult, but all he could think was

he noticed.

Sleep didn’t come easily to him since the Sekai Taikai. In his nightmares, he was the one lying dead on the floor with a knife sticking out of his chest -

after

being humiliated by every single opponent he’d faced. He dreamed of himself getting beaten, stripped naked and ass-fucked in front of the whole crowd before being unceremoniously killed and he’d wake up, covered in sweat and with a shameful hardon straining his underwear.

He didn’t want to resort to drinking to get a good night’s sleep, so he’d started working out like a maniac. Just so he’d be bone tired by the time he got to bed. And yeah, a side-benefit of that was he’d bulked up pretty considerably over the past month, but he’d figured he must have been making it up in his head because no one else in his life had commented on it.

But Axel noticed and given the way he was sucking on his tits, he liked it. Robby tightened his legs around the bigger boy’s waist, squeezing his leaking cock against his abs while clenching his channel around the hot, thick tool penetrating it. Axel moaned, mouth on Robby’s collarbone, as the smaller boy’s ass tightened around him hard enough to keep him from pistoning in and out. His hips stuttered mid-movement and for the first time, his legs wobbled under him, threatening to drop them both to the ground.

“So hot… so fucking tight…” He kept mumbling, pushing his hips in shallow thrusts. “Biggest cock you ever took and you take it like a champ. M gonna wreck your ass… break it open… leave it loose… sloppy…”

His breathing got harder, more erratic. His damp, sweaty chest slid against Robby’s, slick abs rubbing his leaking cock. His big arms enveloped him in his body heat and Robby felt like he was being absorbed into another person. He barely registered the words spilling out of the boy - his mind was filled with his soft, cooing voice instead.

“Make you limp for days… they’ll all know you’re my bitch.” Axel went on, thrusting into his tight, clenched heat. “If they don’t, I’ll do it again… in front of everyone. Gonna beat your ass… rip your clothes off and fuck you in front of everyone.”

It wasn’t the words - it was his tone that did it. And his tender touch - tight enough to make him feel held without leaving a mark on his skin. Robby moaned and shot his load, ropes of hot, white cum erupting from his dick and splattering all over their chests. His fluttering hole clenched around Axel’s big cock and sent the boy over the edge as well. It pulsed inside him, swelling and stretching his hole while it flooded his guts with his warm seed.

Robby shuddered and clung to the bigger boy, face buried in his neck, unwilling to give up the warmth and comfort of those beefy arms wrapped around him. He felt sated and full, and he feared the pit of emptiness he’d be left with once Axel pulled out. But despite his desires, Axel’s softening cock slipped out of him and his feet found the ground once more.

His legs wobbled, unable to carry his weight, but Axel held him up, one hand slipping between his cheeks again. He scooped up the cum leaking out of Robby’s gaping hole and pushed it back inside, making the boy whimper into his chest.

“I understand now…” He whispered.

“Understand what?” Robby mumbled.

“You want to be humiliated.” The taller boy explained. “Like you want to be punished… like you think you deserve it. But I wish you get over it soon. Because I want to fight you for real.”
 
Robby played with his food, pushing the peas around with the fork while his mind replayed Axel’s words over and over again. He was checked out of the conversation happening around the table, but as usual, no one seemed to notice because Miguel was more than making up for his silence.

“Dem’s gonna crow about it, but he’ll help.” Miguel was saying. “And he was right - Hawk should’ve applied and figured out where he wanted to go later. And I thought… can’t let Stanford leave me hanging, right? Gotta look at other options?”

Axel couldn’t be right, could he? Robby didn’t

like

being humiliated - it was just something that kept happening. As for his physical reactions… no, no way was Axel right.

“We’ll order some pizzas, play some games and work on college apps.” Miguel went on. “So… can I go?”

“Of course, Miggy. You don’t need to ask.” Carmen replied in a strained voice.

Despite being lost in thought, Robby didn’t miss her side-eye and the quick jerk of her head towards him. She probably thought she was being subtle and Robby almost scoffed out loud at the obvious hint.

“Oh, right!” Miguel still managed to get there a step slower. “Robby, you wanna come too? For sleepover at Hawk’s?”

“I wasn’t invited.” Robby pointed out with a wry smile.

“I’m inviting you.”

A pity invite - probably the only kind Robby was going to get from now on. He wanted to tell him that he’d rather not go where he wasn’t wanted, but he wasn’t exactly wanted at home either. Carmen was probably trying to get him out of the way so she could spend some quality time with Johnny.

“You get to just do that?” Robby asked instead. “Invite people he doesn’t like to his house without his permission?”

“Robby, c’mon, don’t be like that.” Johnny said, placatingly. “You guys are all friends.”

“Yeah - he just didn’t think about it because we were talking about applying to colleges.” Miguel added.

Was that supposed to make him feel better? Being reminded that his life wasn’t going anywhere?

“Whatever. I’ll see if I have the time.” Robby replied, rolling his eyes and going back to his food.

He’d hoped that that would be it - that Miguel would take the hint and leave it alone, but Miguel was like a dog with a bone once he got stuck on something.

“Dude, c’mon - stop sulking and just come with me.” He said, cornering Robby in his room later. “We’ll work on some apps, have some fun - it’ll be great.”

“Why do you even want me there? They’re your friends.” Robby replied irritably, sitting up in his bed. “Don’t wanna get in the way of you guys bitching about how you should’ve been the captain all along.”

“Dude…” Miguel huffed, face scrunching up in guilt. “You know it wasn’t like that. They’re your friends too. They care about you.”

Robby scoffed in response, about to lie back down and end this pointless conversation.

“Seriously, stop feeling sorry for yourself.” Miguel went on. “Yeah, they were my friends first but you more than earned their respect. They’re not just putting up with you because of Sensei or me - they care about you and they want you around.”

Robby sat up again, eyes gleaming as an idea took shape in his head. “Wanna bet?”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Yo! Robby! Wanna get in on this action?” Hawk made the offer.

“What’s he gonna write?” Miguel scoffed. “I

almost

won a bunch of karate matches?”

He saw the flash of hurt in Robby’s eyes before he turned back to the game and firmly pushed the bubble of guilt down. They were trying to figure out the best way to list their accomplishments to make themselves look like attractive prospects for colleges and it was way too easy to take a shot at Robby’s lack of any. His remark got a curious side-eye from Hawk, but the boy went back to work without commenting on it.

“Dude, you suck.” Demetri said, putting down the controller as Robby’s character fell to Demetri’s on the screen. “Didn’t even take one round.”

It wasn’t a fair challenge. It was Robby’s first time playing Mortal Kombat and he was still getting used to the controls. And he was getting better at it - Miguel wanted to point that out.

“C’mon, man - if you can’t win a fight in real life, at least win a fake one.” He said instead.

Once again, his comment went unaddressed.

“Let’s go, loser.” Demetri punched Robby’s shoulder jovially. “Let’s see those tits.”

That had been Miguel’s idea too, to make the games more interesting. In between working on their applications, they were taking turns on the game and the loser had to take something off. So far, Robby had lost his shoes, socks, belt and his overshirt, but like a good sport, he didn’t hesitate to pull his t-shirt over his head.

“Like what you see, Diaz?” Robby asked, cocking his eyebrows at him.

Miguel swallowed and went back to the screen, covertly taking peeks at Robby toned physique in between. He looked good - even better than he used to. Other than the self-deprecating comments, Robby didn’t exactly share what was going on in his head, but Miguel hadn’t missed the fact that he was working out harder than before and watching his diet like a hawk. The results were hard to argue with - his bulging muscles stood out despite his relaxed posture and his ripped physique was a testament to his low body fat percentage. Clearly, if they got another shot at the Sekai Taikai, Robby was determined not to make the same mistake again.

And neither was Miguel.

Stretching his arms over his head, he casually got up and walked over when Robby grabbed the last slice of pizza. The rest of them had scarfed down their share pretty quickly, but Robby was a slow eater and some sense of fair play had made them leave the last piece for him. Until now.

“Hey!” Robby barked at him, jumping to his feet when Miguel snatched it from his hand. He scowled, ready to fight him for the last slice, but Miguel stared him down with a smirk on his face.

“Try it, shortstack.” He challenged.

Robby backed down with a grimace.

“Yeah, didn’t think so. Maybe lay off the junk food and work some of that flab off your fat ass.” Miguel went on, pinching his obliques and making him squirm away from him.

“Dude, c’mon!” Hawk shouted angrily, making Miguel turn to him with hope. But he was staring at his screen with his face twisted in anger. “Net went down.” He explained, getting up. “C’mon, I’m ready to go another round.”

“Sorry, dude. Kinda tired of kicking your ass.” Demetri shrugged off his invitation, making Hawk turn to Miguel next.

“Busy.” Miguel replied, shaking the pizza at him. “But Robby’s got you. He needs the practice.”

“Pass!” Robby said, turning away from him.

Miguel spied the waistband of his underwear peeking out of his jeans and on instinct, grabbed it and yanked it up. Robby groaned, lifted off his feet by the wedgie and grabbed his crotch, trying to ease the sudden pressure on his balls. The others burst out laughing at his predicament, watching him squirm as Miguel wrapped his arm around his neck to hold him in place. Then, with a final, painful tug, he let him go.

“Don’t be fucking rude.” He said, spanking his denim-clad ass. “Go play a round with Hawk.”

Sullen and scowling, Robby pushed his hand down the back of his pants to tug his underwear free from between his cheeks, but he sat back down and picked up the controller without further objection. 
 
He was going to lose again and it was obvious from the start. Like a lot of first time players, Robby was more focused on smashing all the buttons in vain hopes of landing a hit and Hawk’s counters sent his character reeling.

“Whoa! Is that a hickey?” Demetri asked, peering closer at Robby’s exposed collarbone.

“What?” Robby panicked, looking away from the screen. And that was all the opening Hawk needed. Moments later, Robby’s character was out for the count again while Hawk’s celebrated over his body.

“This game sucks.” Robby said, throwing down the controller. “And this one doesn’t count. He distracted me.”

“Dude, don’t be a sore loser.” Hawk chided back, laughing.

Miguel barely heard them through the blood rushing in his head. His eyes were fixed on the spot Demetri had looked at - at the small, fading discoloration on the otherwise smooth skin. The bruise was unmistakable.

“Who cares the game?” Demetri said, looking at it again. “Are you back with Tory?”

“No!” Robby replied, flushing.

“Then who gave you that?” Hawk asked, excited.

“Nobody! It doesn’t matter.” Robby blushed even redder. “Let it go.”

Miguel wanted to know too. No - he needed to know and he didn’t quite understand why. He should’ve been happy for him - he wanted Robby to get over Tory and find love again. Then why did it feel like his blood was boiling in his veins?

“Was it a guy?” He asked quietly. And the way Robby averted his eyes answered the question. “Did you suck him off too?”

“Too?” Demetri caught on to the word immediately. “Who else did you suck off?”

“A whole lot of people.” Miguel replied on behalf of the red-faced teen. “Didn’t you know? Robby’s pretty awesome at sucking cock. That’s one tournament he’d never lose.”

“Fuck you, Miguel.” Robby said, lips curling down in anger.

Did I go too far?

Miguel wondered, a flash of guilt making his stomach clench. Proving a point was one thing, but he didn’t want to cross any lines in the process.

“Fine - don’t tell us.” Hawk snapped at him. “But you lost the game, so… pants off.”

“Screw you.” Robby scoffed. “It wasn’t a fair win. Demetri distracted me.”

Perhaps, but Robby would’ve lost anyway and a bet was a bet. Miguel moved behind him and before Robby could react wrapped his arms around the shirtless boy and trapped him in a bearhug. Robby jerked in his grip, struggling to get free, but a nod from him and Hawk was on him too, grinning ear to ear as he unbuttoned his jeans.

Robby jerked back, throwing him off balance and taking them both down to the couch, but Miguel held on and all it managed to do was let Hawk tug his pants off his legs, leaving him in his bright red briefs with white stripes.

“Lemme go!” Robby demanded, squirming in his arms while the patch of fabric barely protected his modesty.

Still grinning like a maniac, Hawk pinched his nipples, twisting them hard to make Robby cry out and shudder. He suddenly went still in Miguel’s arms, flushing beet red as they all saw his dick twitch in his underwear.

“Guess pretty boy likes getting his tits played with.” Demetri commented, reaching over and brushing his fingers over Robby’s bulge.

This wasn’t like Miguel. He wasn’t this person. He might hurt someone out of anger and jealousy, but that was always intentional. He wasn’t one to “mess around” - hurt his friends and make a joke out of it. He didn’t toy around with people like that and he didn’t like it when others did it to people he didn’t care about - like Kyler. And this was Robby squirming in his arms. If he kept going he might end up hurting someone he actually cared about.

“You guys wanna mess around?” He went ahead anyway. “Trust me - once you get his mouth on your dick…”

He loosened his grip, fingers tickling Robby’s abs and drawing out an unwilling moan from his lips. His friends got the message pretty quick, with Hawk stroking Robby’s milky thighs and Demetri playing with his nipples again.

“Guys, c’mon…” Robby moaned, still squirming, but his dick filled up in his underwear, soon straining the material and threatening to pop out.

“Dude, it’s cool - we’re just messing around.” Hawk reassured him.

That’s right. It’s harmless,

Miguel told himself. After their afternoon together, Robby should understand that. And Robby didn’t fight back when Demetri pulled his undies down his leg, setting his trapped cock free and letting it smack on his abs. Nor did he protest when Hawk spat on his hand and pushed his between his legs to rub his taint.

“He’s a real slut, isn’t he?” Miguel said, grinning eagerly. “Got a body like a man, but he’s a real bitch inside. Loves to suck cock. Bet he’d love to get his ass fucked too.”

It was insane how easily the two supposedly straight boys got on board with that. Robby whined, arching his back, and Miguel didn’t know if it was because of his words or because of Hawk’s slick fingers shoving into him. Demetri added to the sweet torture by rubbing his thumbs over the sensitive numbs and they all watched, fascinated, as Robby’s cock twitched over his abs, a pearl of precum forming on the tip.

“Man… how did I lose the captain’s spot to this bitch?” Miguel wonders out loud. “Must have been really messed up. Next time, I’m gonna fuck him in front of everyone. Make sure he remembers who’s the top dog and who’s the bitch. If I’d done it before, maybe we’d have come back with the big trophy.”

That earned him a strange, surprised look from his friends. Miguel was definitely not acting like himself. Even when they were bitching about Robby behind his back, they hadn’t gone that far.

“Yeah…” Hawk murmured in agreement. “He’s the reason why we almost lost, right?”

It wasn’t enough - whatever they were doing to the squirming boy in his lap, he was liking it. Miguel needed to go further… needed to make sure that Robby was humiliated.

“We should punish him for that.” He said, getting up and pushing the naked boy off him. “Make sure he doesn’t screw up like that again. Hawk - you got duct tape lying around?”

Perfect,

Miguel thought, taking a step back and admiring his handiwork.

Robby was bent over the back of the couch, legs spread wide with his ankles taped to furniture’s feet. His wrists were taped to the front panel, keeping him in position and immobile while the three boys had fingered him open, debating the best thing to shove up his ass. It’d come down to a hairbrush or a ping-pong racket, until Hawk came back with a long, thick, weirdly shaped carrot from the kitchen and they’d unanimously agreed that it was the best choice. All except Robby - he’d squirmed, tried to push them away, but his cock belied his protests. Still hard and leaking, it hung down straight between his legs, straining against the back panel of the couch.

“Alright - here are the rules.” Hawk said, handing Miguel a couple of bouncy rubber balls. “Your feet must be behind the line. 5 points for a hit, 10 if you get his dick, 20 for bullseye.”

Miguel squeezed the ball in his hand tightly. This wasn’t his idea. Sure, he’d played dumb boy-games like nutball with his friends before, but things were fair in that with every player having a shot at hurting the other. Taking shots at someone tied up and defenseless wasn’t something he’d have considered - but this was the boys’ night he’d committed to and Robby was already trembling with anticipation.

Rearing his arm back, he let the first ball fly and it smacked Robby’s left buttcheek, leaving a red print. “That’s 5, I guess.”

The next one struck his thigh. Then Miguel aimed more carefully and swung harder, nailing the base of the carrot and making Robby whimper as his whole body twitched violently.

“My turn.” Demetri said, closing one eye and taking aim.

His first throw landed on Robby’s low-hanging balls, making his whole body jerk, almost ripping the duct tape off. He cried out, squirming and trying to close his legs over his throbbing nuts while Demetri hooted in excitement. “Whoo! Bullseye on the first try.”

“No way, man!” Hawk objected. “Asshole counts as bullseye. That’s 10 points.”

“Bullshit!”

As the two argued, Miguel sauntered over to the front and lifted Robby’s face up by his chin. He shouldn’t look this pretty - not like this. His face was flushed and damp with sweat, he was biting his plush lips to keep his cries inside and his eyes were watery with unshed tears. He blinked up, trying to school his expression into something tough, but his mask kept slipping over and over.

“You like this, don’t you?” Miguel asked, smirking down at him.

Robby shook his head stubbornly, earning him a slap on the cheek from the taller boy. “Liar! You wanna be my bitch.”

“Dude - get out of the way.” Demetri told him, rearing his arm back again. “We decided that balls count as bullseye.”

His next shot landed on Robby’s ass and the third struck the carrot-plug again, making the boy whimper each time.

“What would sensei think if he saw his baby boy acting like a slut?” Hawk said, stepping up to the plate.

What would sensei think if he saw us treating him like one?

Miguel wondered, stomach knotting up with anxiety. He’d be pissed right? He’d kick all their asses? Or would he shrug it off as boys messing around?

True to his name, Hawk ended up being better than either of them with all three of his shots landing on Robby’s most intimate areas. Smirking in victory, he bounded over to the front of the couch, shucking his sweatpants down to his thighs in teh process. “Guess I go first.”

That was the deal - the winner got the first turn and the others played again for to decide who’d go next. Hawk pulled his thick, flaccid cock from his boxers and slapped Robby’s cheeks with it before running the tip over his lips.

“C’mon… let’s see those pretty lips on my dick.” He said, nudging at Robby’s mouth.

Sniffling, Robby obeyed. He opened his mouth and let Hawk push inside, gently sucking on the head to make him shudder in pleasure. While Hawk’s hair tangled in Robby’s silky hair, Miguel took aim and threw the ball again, nailing Robby’s leaking cock this time. The action made Robby gasp and moan around the Hawk’s shaft and the mohawked teen couldn’t resist pushing himself deeper into Robby’s wet, warm mouth.

Miguel had to resist the urge to push Hawk away as Robby started gagging and choking on his tapered cock. He didn’t understand what was going on with the guy, but it was starting to feel like the mess in Robby’s head was infecting him too. Tonight was supposed to be a fun guys’ night - a time for them to have some fun, maybe give each-other hand-jobs and ‘brojobs’ and fool around a little. It was supposed to be a safe-space, free of expectations or judgment or jealousy - but Miguel

was

jealous and he couldn’t explain why.

He swung his arm again, getting Robby in the balls this time. And the third one got his ass.

It took them three rounds to decide the victor between Miguel and Demetri because their scores kept tying up. By the end, Robby’s ass was peppered with red spots and big, fat tears were rolling down his cheeks, but Hawk kept shoving himself down his throat heedless. Robby was trying to do a good job - hollowing out his cheeks as he slobbered all over his knob, but Hawk’s relentless movement was making things harder for him.

“Think I’ll start on his butt.” Demetri said, tugging the weird carrot out of him while pulling his own cock out.

Robby whined as the knots and the ridges rubbed against his silky channel and the root got pulled out of him. His slick asshole spasmed and winked, valiantly trying to close in on itself. But before it got too small, Demetri pushed his curved cock inside, holding the shuddering boy down while he sheathed himself in his tight channel. Robby squirmed, shifting his hips around to get away from the intrusion, but soon went limp again once Demetri started pounding his ass, matching his rhythm to Hawk’s thrusts.

“Dude, I’m almost done.” Hawk said, his hips stuttering erratically. “Sure you don’t want his mouth. It’s fucking awesome.”

“Nah - I’m good.” Demetri replied, squeezing and slapping Robby’s cheek. “His ass is even better. So hot and tight.”

Miguel watched his step-brother getting spitroasted by his two best friends with shame and desire warring inside him in equal measure. His hand moved down of its own accord, grasping his bulge through his jeans and languidly stroking his cock. He’d started this and he needed to see it through.

Hawk came first, pulling out of Robby’s mouth at the last moment and shooting his load all over Robby. Ropes of cum erupted from his spasming slit, painting Robby’s face with streaks of white. Once his dick was done shooting, he smirked at Miguel and stepped aside, tucking himself back in.

Miguel took his place, running his thumb over Robby’s lips to smear Hawk’s release all over them. “Fucking, cock-hungry cumslut.” He said, slapping his cheek again. “Can’t get enough, right? Bet you wanted to get fucked by the whole team. Hell, you’d have bent over for the whole Sekai Taikai if you had the chance.”

Despite the permanent flush on his cheeks, Robby grew even redder. He sobbed and looked away, but Miguel grabbed his jaw while pulling his dick out of the zipper and pressing the uncut head against his lips. Once again, Robby’s mouth obediently parted and he swallowed Miguel’s cock, making his moan from the warm sensation enveloping his shaft.

Not enough!

He thought, frustrated as he felt Robby’s throat clench around his dickhead.

When will it be enough?

He grabbed Robby’s hair and forced his face up, watching his own thick cock disappear inside his pink lips. His big green eyes were swimming in tears, staring at him pleadingly and Miguel responded by spitting on his face. Then he went back to shoving his 8-inch cock down his helpless throat.

Despite the urge to finish it quickly, Miguel held off and waited for Demetri to climax. He didn’t have to wait long - the tall, skinny boy moaned out loud, fingers squeezing Robby’s waist hard and making him squirm. He stopped moving, burying himself in Robby’s tight heat and Miguel watched his whole body shudder as he came. He stumbled back with a satisfied grin on his face, his slick, softening cock still hanging out and Miguel pulled out of Robby’s mouth at the same time.

“Get him to clean you up.” He suggested, eyeing Demetri’s dick.

They exchanged places - Demetri in front of Robby’s face, making him lick his cock clean of cum and Robby’s ass-juices. While Miguel went around and knelt down, taking a good look at Robby’s puckered hole.

They hadn’t gone easy on him. His opening was rimmed red and looked sore, twitching like it was hungry to be filled again. His stiff cock was pressed against the back of the couch, still rock hard and leaking precum that got soaked up by the fabric right away. Demetri’s cum was leaking out of Robby’s hole, trailing down his thighs before Miguel scooped it up with two fingers and shoved it back in.

“That’s it, baby girl!” He said, pumping his fingers in and out and watching Robby wriggle his ass. “You’re a real slut of getting your ass played, right?”

The truth was undeniable. Robby’s cock twitched and leaker harder every time Miguel shoved his fingers in and pressed against that tiny bump inside his channel. The silky walls fluttered around his digits and Miguel couldn’t resist bringing his other hand up and punching Robby’d dick.

He didn’t do it to hurt him - just hard enough to make him whine. He kept working his ass, then flicked his cockhead with his fingers… then aimed at his balls. It wasn’t long before Robby’s cock was pulsing and shooting all over the back of Hawk’s couch.

“Fuck… don’t even have to stick it in anything.” Miguel said, sneering at the mess Robby had made.

He stood back up and gave Robby a couple of stinging slaps on his ass. Then he guided his cock between his cheeks, finding the furled ring and easily pushing inside. Robby had been thoroughly fucked open and his channel didn’t even put up the pretense of resistance as it swallowed Miguel’s cock in its velvety heat.

Gripping his ass tight with his hands, Miguel started thrusting his hips, punching the air out of Robby’s lungs. He raised his hand and brought it down on the pink asscheeks, leaving red handprints as Robby whimpered and clenched around his cock. A few more slaps and Robby couldn’t keep his sobs inside anymore.

“Fucking bitch - don’t act like you don’t deserve it.” Miguel said, striking his thighs next. “You’re the reason we came back with nothing. How are you gonna make it right, huh? Should sell your ass for five bucks a pop to pay for my college.”

Robby shifted uncomfortably, Miguel’s words clearly having an effect on him. But the other two in the room were fascinated by the scene playing out, eyes fixed on the boys like they were waiting to see how it ended.

“Good idea, right?” Miguel said, smirking at his friends. “We’ll have a line around the block by the evening. Screw scholarships - his ass would pay for all of our tuition and then some. Throw in his mouth and we can probably buy a new house.”

“Dude…” Hawk sounded concerned, almost like he was going to object.

“What?” Miguel shrugged. “Not like the rest of him is of any use. All that yapping about proving himself and he couldn’t do shit. At least this way his worthless ass could be of some use.”

A heartbroken sob from Robby, is channel fluttering around Miguel’s pistoning cock and he was driven over the edge. He buried himself deep inside the slick hole and flooded Robby with his hot seed, painting his insides with his cum. He groaned through his orgasm, almost collapsing on Robby, and stayed buried inside him until his legs felt steady enough for him to pull out. 
 
“Let me go!” Robby whispered quietly.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you? But - ”

“Let. Me. Go!” Robby repeated, louder and sterner.

Suddenly, it felt like a spell was broken. Panicking, Miguel quickly pulled the duct tape off his legs and arms and Robby didn’t even make a sound in the process. He straightened up, grabbing a napkin and hastily wiping the cum from his face and between his legs. The he quickly started dressing himself back up.

“Dude… you okay?” Demetri asked, sounding worried.

Robby didn’t respond. The moment he had his clothes back on, he brushed past them and headed up the stairs.

“What’s his problem?” Hawk asked sullenly. “We’re just having some fun.”

Just some fun?

Miguel stared at his friend, disgusted, before following Robby out of the house. 
 
“Robby, wait!”

He caught up to the boy in the street outside Hawk’s house. Rather than wait for an uber, Robby was already hurrying away, planning on walking all the way home.

“I’m sorry, okay?” Miguel said, grabbing him by the shoulder and forcing him around. “I didn’t mean any of the things I said. I didn’t mean to take it that far.”

He wouldn’t blame Robby for punching him in the face. In fact, he fully expected him to do just that. But instead, Robby sighed and shook his head. “You’ve nothing to be sorry for. You did exactly what I told you to.”

That was true… technically.

“Don’t hold back on me.” Robby had told him before. “Insult me, call me names, beat me, fuck me - go crazy with it. If I want you to stop, I’ll let you know for real.”

And Miguel had - he called upon the worst instincts inside him and surrendered to them. But it was never supposed to go this far. Hawk and Demetri were supposed to stop him - call him out on acting like an asshole and take Robby’s side for once. That was the bet he’d agreed to and he’d been so sure he’d win…

If they’d just said something - questioned what was going on with him or told him they weren’t cool with what he was saying or doing - Miguel would’ve won. Then Robby would’ve been forced to admit that people cared about him - that his whole snarky, self-deprecating attitude was based on bullshit. But Miguel had lost instead.

“Look… you won the bet. That’s enough, right?” He asked, placatingly. “You don’t actually want me to - ”

“Chickening out, Diaz?” Robby cocked an eyebrow at him. “Don’t act like you didn’t want this.”

He did - that was the bitch of it.

He was jealous of Robby for winning the captaincy at first, and resentful of his performance. But he’d gotten it together, pulled his head out of his ass and apologized for it. He’d realized that if he was the kind of team player who couldn’t support his captain, then he probably didn’t deserve that position. But now, thanks to the stakes of this dumb bet, he’d have to go right back to being that asshole.

“Dude, c’mon - it was a stupid bet.” Miguel tried to get out of it anyway. “Why’d you make me do it anyway? There was no upside for you.”

“I had my reasons.” Robby shrugged. “And you’re not getting out of it. You need to figure out a way to replace me as captain.”

If Robby had handed it over earlier, Miguel probably would’ve taken it without an ounce of guilt. But now it felt like he was screwing him over - like every bit of happiness he had in his life came at Robby’s cost. And he hated the idea of being the reason for Robby’s misery.

“Just… go back to

your

friends, Miguel. Have a great night.” Robby told him, shrugging. “I’ll be fine on my own. I always am.”
 
Miguel stomped his way back down the stairs with a thundercloud over his head. The sudden silence upon his entry told him that he’d interrupted a conversation and part of him was afraid to ask what it was about.

“So, did you calm the princess down?” Demetri asked, trying to lighten the mood.

“No.” Miguel replied tightly. “He’s going home.”

“Man, what’s his problem?” Hawk huffed. “He’s been such a bummer every since we came back from Barcelona.”

“You’d be too if you realized that your friends don’t care about you.” Miguel snapped at him.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You really have to ask?” Miguel almost yelled. “What the hell was that tonight? How could you treat him like that? Aren’t you supposed to be his friends?”

“You’re one to talk.” Demetri replied. “You started it. And you did way worse.”

“I know!” Miguel yelled, all his anger going out of him in a rush. He sighed, sitting down on the couch with his face in his hands. Even if Robby had given him the permission, if it came out of him that easily, didn’t that mean he was just a big jerk inside?

“Dude… what’s going on?” Demetri asked, concerned.

They’re still worried about

me

?

“Yeah, man - tell us. We’re your friends.” Hawk added.

“Friends aren’t supposed to let friends act like assholes.” Miguel replied quietly. “You were supposed to call me on my bullshit. You should’ve just told me I was being an ass.”

They both looked at each-other in concern.

“I thought Robby was in on it.” Hawk told him hesitantly. “That you were doing a thing.”

“Yeah… but you never bothered to ask.” Miguel replied, scoffing. “You know what

thing

we were doing? Robby said you guys didn’t care about him. That even if I acted like total shit to him, you’d always take my side.”

“But… that’s not true!” Demetri argued. “We care about him.”

“Good luck convincing him of that after tonight.”
 
A day of thinking it over and Miguel decided to hold up his end of the bargain. Even though the Sekai Taikai finale wasn’t certain yet, they’d decided that it was best to be prepared and if any changes to the lineup were required, they were better done right away.

And it wasn’t about his own ambitions - it was about what was best for everyone. Including Robby.

Robby was a great fighter when he was focused and he was most focused when he felt cared for and supported. That’s why he’d beat him for the captain’s match when Tory had showed up. And why he’d managed to get his act together when Miguel told him he could. Right now, he was still reeling and that’s why he was so eager to give his position up.

Miguel only had to

try

to take it from him. Becoming captain wasn’t actually up to him. Even if their team preferred him, the final call was their senseis’ and there was no way they’d push Robby aside for him. So if Miguel tried to take over Johnny shut him down, it’d prove that he supported his son and Robby would be able to get his act together.

And if he didn’t… Miguel didn’t want to think about that.

“It’s there in the rulebook.” He explained from the backseat as Johnny pulled the van into the dojo. “If the captain is hurt or unable to continue at the start of the matches, you can put in an alternate.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Johnny snapped at him, glaring at him through the rearview mirror. “Robby isn’t hurt. Are you seriously trying to snake the spot right in front of him?”

“Dad, it’s fine.” Robby interjected quietly. “I had my shot and I blew it. Maybe it’s Miguel’s turn to shine.”

“You didn’t blow anything.” Johnny told him angrily. “You made it through the eliminations and the match never ended. I don’t wanna hear anything else about it.”

He got out of the car, angrily slamming the door behind him and Miguel followed with a smug smile on his face. But Robby just shrugged and told him that he’d come around.

They caught up to Johnny as they went into the backyard through the side gate and found him rooted in spot, staring straight ahead. Miguel followed his gaze as well and his heart skipped a beat.

“What the hell?”

Axel from Iron Dragons was the first one he saw, sitting on the sparring deck with Sam, holding her hand in his own.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Was it an attack? It didn’t feel like one.

Johnny surveyed the Miyagi-Do backyard carefully, paying close attention to the strangers. The entire Iron Dragons team was there and they didn’t look like they were there to fight. They were standing separate from the rest of the dojo, talking amongst each-other. Only the big guy was consorting with the enemy - holding Sam’s hand as he said something to make her laugh. But Sam spotted them come in and immediately snatched her hand back with a guilty look on her face.

“What the hell is going on?” Johnny asked out loud.

“Johnny.” Daniel’s voice called out to him from the side. “Mind coming inside?”

He was standing on the porch with that smug asshole - Wolf - right beside him and Johnny clenched his fist as he gave him his usual superior smirk.

“What the hell is he doing here?” He snarled.

“That’s what we’d like to talk about.” Daniel replied calmly. “Let’s go inside.”

The man turned and walked away, expecting Johnny to follow him like a dog and Johnny hesitated, pissed off at being ordered about. But eventually, his curiosity won out. “Keep an eye on them.” He told his boys before going in. “And if they try anything, kick their asses.”
 
“Sensei Wolf is here to settle things.”

“Works for me. Let’s go - right here, right now.”

Daniel gave him an exasperated sigh while Wolf chuckled, shaking his head.

“What I mean is, I wish to avoid another incident like before.” He explained. “What happened at Sekai Taikai was a tragedy and I do not want to put my students at risk again.”

“Wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t started shit.” Johnny reminded him.

“True - we all made mistakes.” The man agreed. “Perhaps we should learn from them.”

Johnny found his fists unclenching at those words. The man wasn’t wrong and no matter how much he deserved an asskicking, Johnny didn’t want to be the one to start shit up again.

“Does that mean you’re no longer working for Silver?” Daniel asked. “Because I’m not gonna trust any of his lackeys.”

“That’s… not as simple.” Wolf replied regretfully. “The man owns my dojo and the only way for me to get it back is by giving him what he wants - victory at Sekai Taikai.”

“That’s not happening.” Johnny told him challengingly.

“Listen - what happened back then was bad for everybody.” Wolf explained calmly. “We were on track to win the whole thing and we had to walk away with nothing. But there is talk of Sekai Taikai coming back. And if it does, I don’t want something like that to happen again. I do not want to jeopardize my students’ chance of winning with honor.”

“Honor?” Daniel scoffed. “That’s rich coming from someone working for Silver. You have any idea about the kind of shit he pulled here?”

“I do.” Wolf replied. “I also know that you were the ones to attack his house while your students attacked his dojo. Why you were all not arrested is beyond me.”

“Look, man, whatever bullshit you’re peddling, we ain’t buying.” Johnny told him. “You can promise to settle it on the mats all you like, but Silver doesn’t play by the rules and I sure as hell am not gonna trust you. I’m gonna do what I have to to protect my family.”

“Protect… your family?” Wolf chuckled softly, giving Johnny a smug, superior look. “You should. A man who cannot protect his own is no man at all.”

It felt like a joke at his expense and Johnny clenched his fists again, but Daniel held him back with a hand on his arm.

“Well, there you have it.” He said. “There is no truce to be had if we can’t trust each-other. And we can’t.”

“That’s fine with me.” Wolf shrugged. “Come after me all you want. Come after Silver too - we will be ready. But make sure that your students leave mine alone.”

What’s he playing at?

Johnny wondered, frowning at him. He wasn’t stupid enough to believe that the man had come to negotiate in good faith, but he couldn’t quite figure out his real goal. “And if they don’t?”

Wolf sighed, shaking his head. “If that’s the way you want it… let’s do this then. There will be no brawls of students. If they have a problem, they’ll settle it on the mat.”

“I just said - ”

“I mean the mat out there.” Wolf gestured to the door. “If students have problem with each-other, they can throw down a challenge and settle it under senseis’ supervision. This way, at least they’ll be safe.”

That… wasn’t a bad idea. In fact, it was Johnny’s preferred way to settle disputes while making sure no one got seriously hurt. “How about you and I go a couple of rounds?” He suggested.

“As much as I’d like to kick your ass again,” Wolf smirked back, “This is about the students. We’ll settle our differences the old-fashioned way -

away

from their sight.”

“This is a terrible idea.” Daniel interjected before Johnny could call the guy a coward. “We should be teaching these students to get along with each-other - not starting fights.”

“Perhaps they will if they get it out of their system first.” Wolf shrugged. “We could start today - put the bad blood between our dojos to bed with a single match. Your champion against mine.”

Was that his goal all along? Was he actually being genuine?

Try as he might, Johnny could not see the flaw in the plan. It’d worked for Robby and Miguel - and for him and Chozen. And they’d be right there to stop them from going too far. And if the guy was looking to start some shit - well, they had the numbers here. Only six Iron Dragons against the entire Miyagi-Do.

“Fine, you got it.” Johnny accepted before Daniel could come up with another objection. “Your big lug vs Robby. Tournament rules.”

“Robby?” Wolf raised his eyebrows. “I asked for your champion.”

“Robby’s the team captain.” Daniel told him.

“For Sekai Taikai - which this is not.” Wolf replied. “I do not want people complaining that you only lost because you did not send us your best. We all saw their last match… we all know Robby Keene is too weak. The boy has humiliated himself at the tournament enough. I’d rather not add to it. Surely you have someone better?”

Is this my fault too?

Robby wondered as he watched Axel go back to his little group.

I gave him the idea… and it’s working.

“Seriously, we were just talking.” Sam said defensively.

“And holding hands. That’s, like, a thing with you, right?” Miguel sounded sullen.

“He asked me about the bracelet you gave me.” Sam held up her hand to show off the little golden octopus. “I was just showing it to him.”

“Sam, c’mon - you can’t be that naive.” Miguel replied. “Guys don’t just ask to see a bracelet, okay?”

“I know!” Sam huffed. “But I already made it clear to him that I have a boyfriend and that I’m not interested in him like that. But I’m still going to be nice to him and if you can’t trust me enough to know where to draw the line…”

It

is

my fault…

He’d been too focused on the bigger picture to think about collateral damage. Axel was following his advice - needling Miguel to make him fight better - but if he ended up ruining his relationship in the process, it’d be on Robby.

“Guys, relax. You don’t have to worry about him.” Robby intervened to do some damage control. “He’s not interested in Sam like that.”

“I mean… he’s a little interested.” Sam sounded offended. “But this isn’t about him.”

“Yeah, it’s about you liking it whenever a guy pays you any attention.” Miguel chimed in snidely. 
 
Luckily for them, their senseis chose that moment to emerge from their conference and Robby went to the porch with the rest of the class to hear what they had to say. He had no doubt there was some plot afoot and he couldn’t begin to guess what it was. Hopefully Mr. LaRusso would shed some light on the situation.

“As everyone here knows, rivalries can spiral out of control.” Sensei LaRusso began calmly. “A lot of people here have hurt each-other in the past. And we also know that they don’t die easily - especially if you’re on opposite sides. But things have already gone too far and nobody here wants a repeat of what happened. So… we’ve come to an arrangement with Sensei Wolf.” He gestured to the man behind him. “If you have any beef with any student from the other dojo, you’ll settle it here. In a one-on-one match under supervision.”

Shit! That’s a terrible idea.

Robby thought, his stomach sinking.

They’re practically giving them a free pass to come into our dojo and kick our asses. What the hell is Mr LaRusso thinking?

He tried to meet his dad’s eye for an answer, but Johnny stubbornly refused to look his way.

“In order to settle all the past differences, we’ll start with a match today.” Daniel went on. “Tournament rules - the *ahem* top students of each dojo facing against each-other. And the losing dojo will give the winning dojo a wide berth. Which means, if there is a confrontation down the line, the losing dojo will walk away. And if you have a problem with that, you can bring it back to the mat.”

If Robby thought his stomach had sunk before…

Seriously, what the hell were they thinking? He couldn’t beat Axel. They were setting him up to fail, just so everyone could blame him when they started getting picked on.

“Axel.” Sensei wolf jerked his head towards his student, making Robby’s stomach flutter in fear. Obedient as ever, Axel went to the platform and jumped on top without another word.

Time to face the -

“Miguel.” Daniel called out.

Robby froze, the relief of not hearing his name being called out lasting merely a fraction of a second. He turned to look at Miguel in surprise and found him staring ahead with a similar look on his face. But then he looked over at the bigger boy on the deck and a look of determination came over his face.

“Miguel.” Robby stopped him as he turned to go. “You don’t have to.”

“It’s what you wanted, right?” Miguel reminded him with a shrug. “Don’t worry. I got this.”
 
He didn’t have it. Miguel was a great fighter - something Robby could testify to from personal experience - but the longer it went on, the more obvious it became that Axel was on another level.

“Point!” Mr. LaRusso declared reluctantly as Miguel pounded the mat in frustration.

“C’mon, Diaz - focus! Don’t get hit!”

“Let’s go, Miguel! You got this!”

“Slither and strike! Slither and strike!”

Robby wished he could get with the program like the rest, but he couldn’t deny a sliver of satisfaction when Axel countered Miguel’s attack by sweeping his legs and sending him to the mat. Maybe he was still a little salty about everything Miguel had said to him the other night. Or maybe… he didn’t like how they’d chosen Miguel as the ‘best’ student so easily.

Why did they do that?

He didn’t think he’d be doing any better against Axel. And this was his plan from the start - to let Miguel replace him because he’d have a better chance at leading their dojo to victory. But did they have to do it so quickly? Couldn’t they have at least pretended to believe in him for a little bit? And Miguel, for all his crap about Robby being the better choice, certainly didn’t hesitate to step up when the time came.

So maybe he had a good reason to resent him a little. Maybe it was okay that he felt a little joy when Axel landed Miguel on the mat again.

“Point!”

Someone must be keeping score because Robby was not. He didn’t see the point of it - not when Axel was scoring hit after hit and Miguel was yet to land a single blow. A blow to the side of his head that made his bell ring, a knee to the stomach and Axel flipped Miguel over his shoulder again, slamming him down on the ground again.

“Point!”

Robby had to admire Miguel’s tenacity though. Say what you will about the guy, he did not know when to give up. He was a tad slower to get his feet, his attacks lacked the strength from before, but he kept going no matter how many times he got beaten down. And the longer it went on, the less satisfied Robby felt and more the bitter guilt in his mouth grew.

“Defense, Diaz!” Johnny yelled. “Focus on defense!”

Robby looked at his dad in surprise. The man never advocated for defense - not even when Robby was getting his ass kicked. His idea of defense was showing even more aggression. But it made sense that if he was going to change his entire fighting philosophy for anyone, it’d be Miguel.

Miguel’s performance saw an immediate improvement once he focused on defense. He still couldn’t score a point, but at least he wasn’t getting tossed around like a ragdoll. His eyes were still focused, face still determined and Robby knew exactly what he was doing - he was saving up his strength, his anger, ready to unleash it the moment he saw an opening. And since Axel’s defense was pretty perfect too, he was hoping to make one by frustrating him by not letting him land a blow.

Wait… that’s not right…

There was something about Axel’s fighting style… Robby’s mind flashed through all their past encounters, as well as the one happening right now. He was so good all around that it was hard to pin something specific down, but his counters were especially on point. Suddenly, Robby realized that Axel had never failed to take a point whenever he countered his opponent’s attack.

“Too scared to fight back? Pussy.” Axel sneered at his opponent.

Miguel growled in response, but refused to take the bait, watching his opponent closely instead. He saw the same thing Robby saw - the slight shift in his hips, the awkward way his feet were planted like he was trying to shift between stances and forgot what he was supposed to do. It was an opening.

Miguel moved in, feinting going low before flying high, swinging his leg in a wide arc.

No! You idiot! It’s a trap!

Axel dodged his kick and swung around, his own leg flying high and his heel catching Miguel square on the jaw. Miguel’s head snapped to the side, sweat and blood flying out of his mouth. His whole body went stiff, eyes glazed over and he stood there, unmoving for a moment. Then he tilted to the side and fell down, unconscious.

Johnny rushed to the mats before Mr. LaRusso could call the match. 
 
“You look like you went a couple of rounds with the Terminator.”

“Funny.” Miguel said wryly, pressing an ice pack to his bruised ribs. “I’d laugh but…”

Grimacing sympathetically, Robby came inside the room and locked the door behind him. Miguel was supposed to be resting and his mom and yaya were giving him some space because he’d asked to be alone - which was why Robby had chosen this time to check in on him. He had a feeling Miguel wouldn’t want to see him with others around.

“I’m sorry, man.” He said, softly. “It should’ve been me up there.”

“It’s not your fault.” Miguel shook his head. “Sensei was the one who picked me and I went along with it. Guess I deserve it for that alone.”

Robby swallowed the lump of guilt in his throat. It

was

his fault - this was the result of the chain of events he’d set in motion. Giving Axel the idea of going after Miguel. Telling Miguel to take over as captain. Telling his dad that he was willing to step aside - all of that had led to this. And he didn’t know how he could even begin to apologize for it.

“I really thought you had a chance.”

“Yeah, because the whole thing was so close, right?” Miguel scoffed. “Well, at least not everyone can see the guy for the asshole he is.”

Robby bit his lip and looked away, unable to agree with him.

“You’re kidding right?” Miguel asked incredulously, watching the expression on his face. “You’re still on his side.”

“No!” Robby replied indignantly. “But c’mon, man - his sensei is making him do this crap and he can’t get away from him. All he wants is a worthy opponent to fight in the tournament and I really thought it could be you. I still do.”

Slowly and wincing in pain, Miguel pushed himself to his feet, his face twisted in anger and confusion. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I can’t beat him, alright?” Robby said, looking down in shame. “And I’m tired of embarrassing myself in front of everyone.”

“That’s what the whole captain BS is about?” Miguel asked. “You’re too scared to face him, so you hung me out to dry instead?”

Robby kept staring at his feet. It wasn’t how he’d have put it, but yes, that was the gist of it.

“You don’t know you’d have lost for sure.” Miguel argued. “Your match never ended…” He trailed off, watching the guilty look on Robby’s face. “Unless, it did.”

“He wanted to finish the fight.” Robby admitted. “But I knew I wouldn’t win…”

“Did you fuck him?”

The sudden, unexpected question made Robby flush in embarrassment. He couldn’t lie to Miguel, couldn’t look him in the eye for the fear that he’d see the truth in it and that was enough to confirm it.

“You said he wasn’t interested in Sam…” Miguel mused, putting things together. “He was the one, wasn’t he? He gave you that hickey.”

Miguel was probably conflating more than one event, though Robby wasn’t sure that the distinction mattered anymore.

“Wait… so you knew they were here!” Miguel went on. “You met him, you knew those psychos were in LA and you didn’t tell anyone? What the hell, man? You just let us all get blindsided?”

“I…” Robby wasn’t sure how to respond to that.

“What the hell, man? Whose side are you on?” Miguel yelled at him, moving closer angrily.

Robby wasn’t sure how to answer that either. He was on

their

side, of course, but Axel was a good guy getting brainwashed by an abusive Sensei and even more abusive sponsor. He needed saving too.

“Wait - is that what the bullshit at Hawk’s was about?” Miguel went on. “Are you just looking for an excuse to switch sides again?”

“No!” Robby replied hotly.

“So what? You were just too pussy to face him again? Scared that he’d kick your ass or…?” Miguel’s face cleared in sudden understanding. “Or scared that you’d like it?”

Once again, the flush on Robby’s cheeks gave him the answer he needed.

“I’m not scared of getting hurt.” Robby replied. “B-but I don’t want to keep letting people down.”
 
Miguel was close to him - really, uncomfortably close. Robby could smell the sweat on his skin, feel his warm breath on his cheek, the heat emanating from his bare chest. He looked away awkwardly, but Miguel grabbed his jaw and forced him to look back at him.

“If that’s the shit you’re into, all you needed to do was ask.” He said, face twisting in a sneer.

I’m not!

Robby wanted to protest. But the way his dick hardened when Miguel grabbed his crotch said otherwise.

At the very least, he didn’t want to be into it. He’d tried to convince himself that Axel was wrong about him, that he wasn’t the kind of guy who liked being used and degraded, but everything he did to disprove it kept confirming it.

Why am I like this?

His mind kept going back to that night over and over again. It was the only thing that made sense - one night of drinking had ruined him beyond repair. There was something he must have buried deep within his subconscious - some truth about himself that he could not accept - and alcohol had cracked that shell open and brought it to the surface. Overnight, it’d conditioned his body’s response and he could no longer fight against his own instincts.

It’s why he didn’t resist as Miguel ripped his clothes open and stripped him naked. Why he didn’t fight back when Miguel pushed him on the bed. And why he could only tense up in anticipation when Miguel spread his cheeks and spat between them.

“Fucking pussy!” Miguel snarled, showing two fingers inside his puckered hole and making him cry. “You’re the coward. At least I had the balls to fight him fair and square.”

Whimpering, Robby spread his legs and Miguel roughly scissored him open. Unlike before, there was no care or finesse to it - no slow stretch with copious amounts of lube to make sure that it wouldn’t actually hurt. Miguel was simply trying to stretch him enough to accommodate his thick girth and the furled ring of muscle burned from the friction as he pumped his fingers in and out. The ache got worse by the second and there was no compensating pleasure from the stimulation of his prostate. And yet, despite the pain, his cock kept getting harder against the sheets.

Robby gasped for breath, hands clenching the sheets, as his ass tried to adjust to the intrusion. But before it could, the fingers left him and a blunt cockhead pressed against his sore opening.

A long, keening sound ripped out of him as Miguel’s mushroom head breached the ring of muscle. His instinct was to scurry away from the pain, but with one hand on his ass and the other in his hair, Miguel held him in place. He pushed inside, feeding his ass the thick length inch by painful inch until he was fully seated inside.

“Not scared of getting hurt right?” He hissed once he was fully seated inside. “I’m gonna make sure it hurts. Gonna make sure you remember it every day you’re limping around. You won’t even think of letting the enemy fuck you again.”

Robby whimpered again. Miguel started with shallow thrusts, gradually growing longer and harder. He twisted his hand in Robby’s hair, yanking his head back and using it as reins as he fucked into him. Despite his pain, Robby didn’t miss the soft, breathy moans that escaped Miguel and he knew it wasn’t all about the pleasure of his ass clenching around his dick.

Miguel was hurt too. He was beaten to hell and back - and it was all Robby’s fault. He couldn’t really be enjoying this right now - but he

needed

it. Axel hadn’t just beaten him in a match, he’d completely dominated and humiliated him. And Miguel needed to do the same to someone else to feel strong again. To feel like a man.

Who better for it than Robby? He was the reason why it happened anyway.

“Miguel… please…” Robby sobbed, gasping as it felt like the other boy was trying to split him in two. “Go easy…”

“What? You want mercy now?” Miguel snarled, thrusting in even harder.

“Don’t hurt yourself.” Robby managed to get out, making him pause in surprise.

A moment later, Miguel yanked his dick out of him, leaving him whining at the sudden emptiness. The taller boy flipped him over, bending his body in half until his knees were by his head and aimed his cock back at his fluttering hole. Robby barely had time to gasp before he was spearing him open once again.

“Don’t act like you care now!” He snapped. “Didn’t care when he was kicking my ass, did you? After everything I did for you…”

He grabbed Robby’s flaccid dick, kneading and twisting until it filled up despite the burning pain in his rectum. He whimpered again, clutching at Miguel’s wrist to ease up the rough handling, but Miguel kept twisting the sensitive flesh as he started thrusting into him again.

“Fuck you, man.” He went on, face twisted in a permanent grimace as the bruised muscles rippled from the effort. “I blamed myself… thought I was the one being the asshole. But you were waiting for the chance to screw me over.”

He came with a painful groan, almost collapsing on top of Robby as his orgasm ripped through him. His whole body shuddered, the taut lines of his physique clenching and fluttering and Robby could practically feel his ache.

He reached up, stroking Miguel’s bruised ribs in comfort, but Miguel slapped his hand away and kept twisting his cock. He stayed buried inside him despite his softening dick and it wasn’t long before his furious tugs tore the climax out of Robby as well.

“Feel better now?” Robby asked after Miguel finally pulled out of his aching hole and pulled his sweats back up.

“Hell no.” Miguel replied, shaking his head. “But I know what will make me feel better. I’m gonna train hard, get better and then I’ll kick your boyfriend’s ass.”

Is this what they call poetic irony?

Robby wondered. They’d taken the scenic route, but they’d ended up there anyway. 
 
Robby winced, moving through the katas in slow, measured steps. Despite the deep-seated ache in his body, he found himself back at Miyagi-Do that night, going through the exercises to get his mind off the conversation he’d had earlier. And it wasn’t working.

“Carmen wants to cheer Miguel up.” Johnny had told him. “We’re taking him to Applebees and I hope they don’t remember that I’m supposed to be banned.”

“I’ll get ready.” Robby had responded, getting off the bed. And then he’d noticed the awkward look on his dad’s face. “Unless… ‘we’ doesn’t include me.”

“Look… Miguel’s a little down in the dumps and he needs some space right now.” Johnny had explained. “Just order in for the night, okay?”

What the hell did it mean that he needed some space? They were supposed to be family, right? Family was supposed to be stuck with each-other.

You know the answer already.

He did… but he didn’t want to believe it. He wasn’t part of that family. He was an add-on - an extra piece of baggage they tolerated because of his relationship with Johnny and even that tolerance had its limits. They weren’t gonna put up with him screwing them over and he’d pretty much ruined things after what he did.
 
“Nice kata.” A familiar voice spoke from the side.

Robby whirled around, anger flashing on his face at the sight of the tall boy leaning against the open door. “What the fuck do you want now?”

“Came to see you.” Axel shrugged, coming closer with a smile.

Just see him or…? Robby couldn’t believe the nerve of that guy.

“You really thought I’d want you anywhere near me after the shit you pulled today?” He scoffed.

That made him halt, face flushing in shame. “It was a fair fight.”

“Bullshit! You fucked with his head and you cornered him into it.” Robby snapped back. “Miguel’s a good guy, okay? He didn’t deserve that.”

“Didn’t look so good when he took your spot. That should’ve been you up there.” Axel looked back up with a scowl. “And it

was

a fair fight. He’d have done the same if he could.”

“No, he wouldn’t have! He’s better than that.”

Axel didn’t respond, but his face told Robby that he didn’t believe him. Which left them at an impasse because Robby neither had the time nor the desire to prove him wrong.

“What do you really want, man?” He asked wearily instead. “You already won, okay? You set out to mess with our heads and you did. Why do you keep coming after me?”

“I… don’t know.” Axel stuttered, looking away in confusion. “I really don’t. Things are…” He huffed in exasperation. “Everything has been such a mess since that night. Feel like the whole world is crazy. Talking to you is the only thing that makes me feel sane.”

A part of him still felt sorry for the boy… but Robby stubbornly smothered it. He’d felt sorry for Axel before, tried to help him out and both Miguel and his ass had ended up paying the price for it.

“If you’re looking for a real fight, you’re gonna be disappointed.”

Axel shook his head. “Don’t want to fight you. Just… wanted to see if you’re okay.”

“I’m not the one who got my ass beat black and blue.” Robby scoffed. “Why wouldn’t I be okay?”

“Because they chose him over you again.”

That… no, that wasn’t fair. Robby had wanted it this time and it’d actually worked out for him.

“They made the right call. At least Miguel put up a good fight. I’d have embarrassed them even worse.” He said with a wry smile. “I’d have probably let you fuck me in front of everyone.”

“You don’t believe that.”

“Doesn’t matter what I believe.” Robby sighed, shrugging. “Gotta face that facts, right? I told myself that night was a mistake… that it didn’t mean anything. But I still bent over for you guys. And I've been bending over for others ever since.”

“Th-that night?” Axel said, suddenly looking scared. “You mean Barcelona? You didn’t do anything wrong… you were drunk.”

“I tried telling myself that too.” Robby replied numbly. “Trust me - I’ve seen enough drunks to know that’s not how it works. Booze doesn’t change who you are - it just brings out the real you from inside. And apparently, this is the real me. A broken bitch that likes getting fucked.”

Axel kept staring at him with his mouth hanging open, eyes blinking in surprise. His mind seemed to be malfunctioning, like he was having trouble processing something and that confused Robby. He wasn’t saying anything that Axel didn’t already know.

“You didn’t make mistake.” He muttered. “You didn’t do anything.”

“Dude - ”

“You were barely conscious.” He went on. “Couldn’t stand… kept passing out. You were so wasted… you didn’t know what was happening. And then sensei gave you this pill - ”

“Pill?” Robby tensed up, a cold wave of fear washing over him. “What pill?”

“I don’t know.” Axel shook his head, looking away. “He said it’ll mess with your memory… a-and make you more cooperative. You didn’t do anything because you

couldn’t

do anything. But you tried to fight back… you tried to run. He didn’t let you. And then… you started begging. Asked us to stop… then begged your dad to save you…”

“No…” Robby shook his head, his heart pounding in his chest as cold sweat beaded his forehead. “No, you said I liked it. You said I begged for it.”

“I-I told myself you did…” Axel swallowed thickly. “You were hard… and you came… and sensei said - but I’ve been trying to make sense of it. Robby, you did try to fight back, but even if you hadn’t, it wouldn’t be something you did.”

“No way.” Robby shook his head stubbornly. “No fucking way. You’re trying to mess with my head again. You’re trying to tell me that I was begging for help and you just stood there?”

The shame and horror on Axel’s face looked pretty real. “Sensei told me to… I trust him. I have to do what he says.”

“Do you even get what you’re saying?”

Axel nodded, finally looking up and meeting his eyes. “They raped you and I stood there and watched.” He said firmly. “And then I raped you.”

Robby stood rooted to the spot, waves of hot and cold washing over him. He could feel the sweat trickling down the back of his neck, his heart pounding in his chest and his stomach twisting itself in knots. That word was out - the big R-word and there was no putting that genie back in the bottle.

“Robby…” Axel came closer. “I’m so sorry. I - ”

Robby swung his arm, fist connecting with Axel’s jaw and this time, the boy stumbled back, a trickle of blood leaking out of the corner of his mouth. He shrank away from Robby like he was a beaten dog and Robby was the guy with a stick, but sympathy Robby might’ve felt was dead and buried.

The fucking nerve of this guy…

He’d raped him, watched others do the same and then he’d gaslighted him into thinking that he’d liked it… that he’d wanted it. And he expected Robby to feel sorry for

him

?

He punched him again and watched in satisfaction as his knuckles left a bloody bruise on his cheekbone.

“Get out!” He snarled at him.

Axel stood rooted to the spot, looking down at the floor - too guilty to look up and too ashamed to make a move.

“I said get the fuck out!” Robby screamed at him, pushing him back.

Axel stumbled back, barely maintaining his balance. Then with a last guilty look at him, he turned and practically ran out of there.

Once he was sure that Axel was gone, Robby finally let himself think.

He was… raped? No - shit like that wasn’t supposed to happen. Not to him. He was no stranger to people trying to take advantage of him, but he was supposed to be stronger than that… tougher and smarter like he always had been. He’d made mistakes, done things he was ashamed of, but they’d all been

his

choices. Choices he could own even if he regretted them. He wasn’t a weakling who’d let this shit happen to him.

And yet, visions kept flashing before his eyes. Things that he’d pushed to the back of his mind as nightmares - memories of him naked and helpless, pinned down and crying, begging, hurting as something thick and hot shoved inside him…

His whole body was shaking. He was sweating bullets and his heart was racing. The heartbeat was pounding in his ears, growing louder and louder until it was the only sound left in the world.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“What the hell are you doing?”

“What does it look like?” Robby raised the glass of amber liquid. “Having a drink.”

Except, it was the middle of the day and drinking hard liquor before five was something even Johnny didn’t do very often. Not to mention, Robby didn’t drink. The kid could be a bit of a judgmental asshole about it, actually. He never said anything, but Johnny didn’t miss the dirty looks he got whenever reached for the extra beer. In fact, he’d cut down on his drinking a lot since Robby moved in with him and a part of him appreciated the kid for it. So this day-drinking nonsense? It was definitely a bid for his attention.

“Put that down!” Johnny told him in his stern, dad-voice.

“Make me!” Robby responded.

He could… he probably should, but the last time he’d gotten physical with Robby, things had ended badly. So instead, he sighed and sat down on the couch next to him.

“Robby, c’mon. What’s going on with you?”

A sullen glare was all the response he got.

Despite what some people might think, Johnny wasn’t completely clueless. He noticed things and it didn’t take a genius to figure out that Robby’s attitude had taken a turn for the worse since that disastrous match with the Iron Dragon a couple of days ago. He was never much of a talker, but now he was moody and withdrawn, locked in his room most of the day, monosyllabic in his answers…

Picking Miguel for that match over him must have really hurt him. Johnny had tried to do damage control - told him that it didn’t mean anything. That he was equally good as Miguel and the only reason they hadn’t picked him was because Wolf had asked for Miguel. He’d told him that they didn’t want to put him on the spot - that he was dealing with a lot between Tory and Sekai Taikai and they hadn’t wanted to put this burden on him. And Miguel had lost anyway, so maybe he should be grateful that it wasn’t him up there.

Clearly, it wasn’t enough. Robby still saw it as a rejection - proof that his dad didn’t believe in him. And Johnny being focused on Miguel for the past few days certainly didn’t help.

He wasn’t going to apologize for that. Whatever Robby was feeling, Miguel was going through a lot worse. He hadn’t lost a fight that badly since he stopped being a skinny nerd. Being completely manhandled during the match had left him shaken. He’d lost his confidence, he was ashamed of himself for letting others down and no matter how much he tried to reassure him, he wasn’t ready to face the world yet.

Miguel needed Johnny’s support more - as well as time to heal before he could face others. He felt like he’d failed them - that because of his loss, the others were going to be bullied and chased around by those assholes. And technically, he wasn’t wrong. But it wasn’t his fault - it was his senseis’. They’d let themselves get hustled and their students were paying the price for it. He’d tried explaining that too, but Miguel wasn’t ready to listen and for now, he wasn’t ready to be around his fellow students either.

Which included Robby, unfortunately, and it made things a little awkward around the dinner table.
 
“Is it about the Stanford trip?”

It was Johnny’s brilliant idea and he was rather proud of it. Miguel needed a break. He needed something positive to focus on and a trip to his dream college might do the trick. Carmen wasn’t sure about it - she thought it’d be like rubbing Miguel’s face in the fact that he was deferred, but Johnny had a plan. While there, he was going to find someone from the admissions office and tell them what a big mistake they’d made. He was going to convince them that Miguel was a badass and they’d be lucky to have him as a student and they’d better start rolling out the red carpet for him or else…

“Look, I wanna take you with us, but Miguel needs some time to himself.”

“You mean he needs your time to himself.” Robby replied. “Like he hasn’t had enough already.”

Johnny sighed, caught between a rock and a hard place. When things had fallen in place for him, he’d promised himself he wouldn’t choose between his boys - that he would be there for them equally so neither felt neglected. But Miguel needed his undivided attention and Robby needed him too so… this was going to be tricky.

“If you really wanna go, I can talk to -”

“Why would I wanna go?” Robby slurred, turning to him. “So you guys can rub my face in a place I could never get into? Things I’m never gonna do? I’ll pass.”

“It’s only a few days.” Johnny tried again. “You can stay with your mom - ”

“Why are you still talking about this?” Robby snapped at him. “I never said you can’t go!”

No, he didn’t - but his attitude was saying it all. The way he took another swig of that drink, scrunching up his face in disgust as it burned its way down his throat - Johnny was getting pretty tired of this passive-aggressive bullshit.

“That’s enough!” He said, snatching the glass from his hand and putting it down on the table. “You’re drunk and you need to sleep it off. We’ll talk about this later.”

“Later… it’s always later…” Robby mumbled, getting up. “Always something more important you need to do

now

, right?”

“Fine! Let’s talk now!” Johnny snapped, his temper flaring as he pulled his son back down on the couch. “I get it, okay? Your girl dumped you, you big shot went nowhere and everything sucks right now. But you need to get over it and pull yourself together. You’re acting like a whiny little bitch and it ends today. You can’t expect me to keep holding your hand through it all - people have other shit going on and they need me too. You’re not a kid anymore and you need to get it through your head that - ”

Robby chuckled derisively, cutting his rant short.

“Something funny?”

“Yeah - you!” Robby replied, still laughing. “Trying to act like a dad, pretending that you have a clue about what’s going on… it’s so pathetic that it went right back to being funny.”

Johnny glared at him with a clenched jaw, an angry vein throbbing in his head. He thought they were past this shit, but clearly, Robby was still holding on to some of his anger from before. But things were different now - Johnny was different. Before, he’d have simply walked away.

“Fine - tell me what’s going on.” He said, forcing himself to be calm again. “Tell me what you’re thinking.”

“Like you care.”

“Hey! You don’t get to pull that shit anymore, okay?” Johnny snapped. “You can’t act like I’m screwing up without telling me why. What the hell is going on with you?”

Robby gave him a heavy, dejected sigh instead of an answer and picked up the framed picture from the side-table. It was the one from Miguel’s prom night - one with their families and LaRussos all together - and Johnny didn’t get the significance of it. Remembering Carmen’s advice, he decided to wait patiently and quietly until Robby was ready to confide in him.

“I’ve been thinking… would anyone even miss me if I was gone?” He finally spoke, musing softly. “Maybe you guys will cry for a couple of days… feel sorry for me for a while… but you don’t really need me around, right? You got a new family, a new baby on the way… the new son you always wanted… you don’t really need me around.”

That’s not true!

The words stuck in Johnny’s throat as the weight of Robby’s words washed over him. He didn’t really feel like that, did he? He was just being dramatic because he felt neglected. He wouldn’t actually consider…

that.

But the pain in his voice felt very real as he went on. “I’ve been looking at this picture all day. Everyone looks so happy. And guess who’s not in it. Doesn’t take a genius to figure it out. Bet things would go back right to it once I’m gone.”

“Robby…” Johnny started, wondering what he was supposed to say to that. This went deeper than simple jealousy over Miguel. Robby must have felt like that for a while and the whole thing with Miguel brought it to the surface. He needed more than just reassurance that Johnny would spend time with him - he needed to know his dad would fight for him just as hard as he would for anyone else. And he could do that.

“You wanna know what I did the rest of that night?” Johnny asked. “I tried to get you out of Cobra Kai. Went over there to kick Kreese’s ass. And Silver’s. Didn’t work. Got my ass kicked instead. But I tried, man.”

“Is that supposed to impress me?” Robby said, rolling his eyes. “How was fighting them gonna help me? Don’t act like you did that shit for me, okay? You did that to feel better about yourself. That’s all you’ve ever done your whole life - just enough to feel less like a shitty dad.”

Johnny stared at him, taken aback by his words. “I-I know I screwed up - ”

“Don’t! Stop doing that!” Robby cut him off sharply. “I’m sick of it, alright? I’m sick of feeling sorry for assholes like you. I’m sick of letting you gaslight me into thinking you care… that things are gonna be different. I’m sick of giving you one chance after another because they’re never different.”

But they were different. He’d changed. Robby had changed. They’d put the past behind them and things were better now… Except it felt like they were right back where they started. Everything was crumbling away and Johnny didn’t understand why it was happening.

“That’s not true!” Johnny said forcefully, heart pounding with sudden panic. “Robby, you’re my son and I love you more than anything. There is

nothing

I wouldn’t do for you!”

“There is

nothing

you ever did for

me

!” Robby screamed back.

Johnny flinched, his son’s words hitting him like a slap to the face. And Robby wasn’t done. He stood up, still drunk and unsteady on his legs as he glared down at his dad.

“You just keep talking and talking… about how much you care, how you regret shit, how you are trying. But when it’s time to do something, you’re never there. Not for me, right? You always figure it out for everyone else - for Miguel and Carmen and all your other students. But never for me! I’m never important enough… I don’t really matter to you.”

Johnny shook his head stubbornly, reaching up to grab his arm, but Robby angrily slapped his hand away.

“You never fought for

me.

Never came through when I actually needed you. Not even when I came to you, begging for your help. Because helping Miguel was more important, right?”

“What the hell did you want me to do?” Johnny asked, chest aching from him racing heart. “Robby… what do you want from me?”

“I want you to prove me wrong!” Robby replied. “Name one time you actually came through for me! One time that you fought for me to the end. Something… something you did just for me. Not for the whole family, not to make yourself feel better - just for me.”

Johnny could name a hundred - all those times he’d tried. All those times he’d fought for him… but seeing it through? Actually accomplishing something for his son? He went through them, one after the other, remembering how all of his efforts had ended in failures. Or him giving up halfway through.

“Tell me…” Robby pleaded in a broken voice. The anger was gone from him in a flash, leaving behind a scared boy who looked like he was begging Johnny for a lifeline.

One that he couldn’t throw him, Johnny realized with his throat going dry. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t think of an example of a time he’d come through for his own son. Not even after they’d reconciled. He thought about bringing up the Mexico trip… but even that was about finding Miguel, right? He stared at the floor, chest aching and face warm with shame, unable to meet his son’s disappointed eyes.

“You can’t, can you?” Robby shook his head in defeat. “You’re never there when I actually need you. Not when I was homeless. Not when I was in juvie. Not when I got raped. Not when - ”

“Raped?” Johnny’s head snapped up. “What do you mean ‘raped’?”
 
Robby stared at the floor, mouth hanging open like he couldn’t believe what had come out of it.

“Nothing.” He said, shaking his head. “I didn’t mean… it’s nothing.”

“Robby…” Johnny reached up to comfort him, but Robby jerked away violently like he was burned by his hand.

“Don’t touch me!”

It’s true,

Johnny realized with sudden cold clarity, an indescribably sense of horror washing over him. Robby was afraid. His tough, brave kid who could handle snakes without flinching and stare down psychopaths was scared shitless of a simple touch. That kind of trauma didn’t just come from nowhere.

“Who?” Johnny asked, standing up as rage simmered inside him. “Who did that to you?”

Robby shook his head, stubbornly refusing to answer or meet his eyes. He shied away from his father in fear as Johnny advanced on him - like he would actually hurt him. But the older man grabbed him by the shoulders and held him in place.

“Tell me who did it.” He said, shaking the boy. “Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“I didn’t know, okay?” Robby cried, squirming to get away. “I didn’t even know until a few days back because they drugged me. It messed with my head and… and I thought I was the one who screwed up. I got drunk. I went back with her… How was I supposed to know it was a trap? That she was gonna call her sensei over… and the others…”

Words were spilling out of him faster than he could think, but Johnny had enough context to fill in the blanks.

They?

He thought it through.

He said they…

Robby had gotten drunk in Barcelona… he’d ‘made a mistake’ with Zara. Except, maybe he’d blacked out, gotten drugged and that bitch had taken advantage of him. And not just her - he said something about her sensei and others. Which meant it was that asshole Wolf. And probably that dickhead student of his too.

“Iron Dragons?” Johnny asked, forcing Robby to look up. “They did that to you? Who? I’m guessing that girl you thought you slept with and that Axel guy and their sensei, right? Who else?”

“Kwon…” Robby replied, looking away again. “They called him over too… I don’t know why.”

Good thing he’s already dead.

“And you didn’t remember what happened?”

Robby shook his head. “I-I… knew something… but I thought… but then they showed up here and…”

Suddenly, it all made sense. Whatever drugs they’d given him had left Robby muddled and confused. But even though he couldn’t remember what had happened, the wound was still there, festering under the scab and making him angry and depressed. That’s why he’d been different ever since he got back. And when they’d showed up at the dojo, he’d suddenly remembered and it’d ripped him open once more.

“Jesus, Robby! They came to our dojo days ago.” Johnny yelled at him. “Why the hell didn’t you say anything?”

“You needed to focus on Miguel.” Robby replied numbly.

Johnny let him go, feeling the sting of everything he’d thrown at him all over again. He’d told himself that it was okay to let Robby take a backseat for a bit, that Miguel needed him more because he was hurting - but Robby’s wounds didn’t hurt any less. They were just a lot less visible. And Robby didn’t tell him. He just assumed that Johnny would still focus on Miguel.

“So you decided to get drunk instead?” He asked, looking at the almost empty glass on the table. “Even after what happened the last time you got drunk?”

Robby looked up, eyes squinting in anger. “So it was my fault?”

Johnny had regretted the words as soon as they’d left his mouth, but as usual, it was too late.

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Yes, you did.” Robby said, taking a step away from him. “That’s what you think. You get blackout drunk your whole life and that’s fine, but I do it once and I deserve whatever happens, right?”

“No… no you don’t.” Johnny said, shaking his head. “Robby, c’mon - don’t turn this on me. I wanna help you. Please… just tell me what you want.”

“Why don’t you just leave me alone, dad?” Robby replied, turning away from him. “It’s what you do best.”
 
It was already dark by the time Johnny haphazardly parked the van and stumbled out of it, staggering his way back home through the parking lot. Drinking hadn’t helped him at all today. No matter how buzzed he got, the things he’d learned kept playing in his head and his mind kept concocting horrific scenarios of how it might’ve happened. He needed to know the truth - the whole truth - just so he would know what to focus on. But he didn’t think he could face Robby again just yet.

There is nothing you ever did for me.

He thought he had. Letting him stay with him over summer. Settling his beef with Miguel. Helping his friends get out of Cobra Kai - he’d helped with all of that. But he couldn’t claim that he was doing it all for Robby. It was just as much about what he wanted.

And the rest… he’d known Robby was struggling. He was uncertain about his future, worried that his life wasn’t going anywhere. And there was everything that had gone down with Tory. Johnny had made all the right noises - told himself that he was being supportive because he kept saying it’d work out. But none of that actually amounted to anything.

And now, with what he’d learned today, he was more at loss than ever. What was he supposed to do? How was he supposed to help Robby?

As usual, his mind had come back to the same solution and when Robby refused to talk to him, he headed out, roaming around the city and hoping to run into those assholes from Iron Dragons. He’d checked out a whole bunch of hotels trying to find them, gotten kicked out of about half-a-dozen before giving up and drowning his sorrows in a bar. And now he had to return home in failure, once again having accomplished absolutely nothing.
 
He stood in the courtyard, staring at the door as he tried to gather the courage to go in. Then he changed his mind and headed to the apartment opposite to it instead.

“Johnny?” Carmen greeted him with a smile. Which quickly disappeared when she smelled his breath. “Have you been drinking?”

Johnny grumbled, pushing past her and going in without an invitation. He spotted Miguel on the couch right away, dressed for the night in a loose tank-top and shorts and his chest tightened with guilt once again at the sight of his fading bruises. Robby wasn’t the only one they’d hurt - they’d come for Miguel too. All the more reason for him to go after them.

“I need you to do something for me.” Johnny told him. “I need you to find out where those assholes from Iron Dragons are staying.”

“Sensei?” Miguel stared back at him, confused by the request.

“You can do that, right?” Johnny went on. “Do some computer hacking shit? Tract them through posts and tweets and shit?”

“Uhm… n-no?” Miguel frowned. “Sensei, what’s going on? Did something happen?”

“You know exactly what happened.” Johnny scoffed, shaking his head. “They hurt my kid and they need to pay for it. I’m gonna find out whatever hole they’re hiding in and kick their asses. Make sure they never come anywhere near any of us again.”

The mother and son looked at each-other in concern before Carmen gently grasped his arm. “Johnny, come sit down for a minute.”

“I’m fine!” Johnny replied, pulling his arm away. “I don’t need to rest. All I need is to find out where they are.”

“I’m not letting you go anywhere like this.” She said more firmly. “Now sit down and let’s talk about this.” She waited for him to finish grumbling and obey before speaking again. “We’ve been down this road before, right? You need to think carefully before you do anything stupid.”

“I thought about it.” Johnny replied angrily. “What kind of man can’t protect his own family, huh? If I couldn’t protect my kid, I’m sure as hell gonna get payback for what they did.”

“Sensei, I don’t need you to get payback.” Miguel chimed in. “It was a fair match and I lost to a better opponent. I’ll get over it.”

“Jesus, Miguel! Not everything is about you?” Johnny snapped.

He hadn’t meant to blow up and he regretted it immediately - but really, Miguel assuming that Johnny meant him was exactly what Robby was talking about. This was Johnny’s fault too - he’d fought for Miguel so often and so hard that they’d all but forgotten that Robby was his son too.

“R-Robby?” Miguel stared, confused. “Did something happen to him?”

“It couldn’t have.” Carmen shook her head. “I saw him half an hour ago when I dropped off some food at your place. He was fine.”

“He’s not fine.” Johnny told them wearily. “He hasn’t been fine ever since we got back. I was just too blind to see… too busy with other things to ask. But he told me everything today… how that… that

bitch

took advantage of him…”

“You’re talking about Zara, right? About what happened in Barcelona?” Miguel asked and Johnny gave him a terse nod in reply. “Sensei… Robby got drunk and he made a mistake - ”

“No, he didn’t!” Johnny responded hotly. “He was drunk! He didn’t know what was going on. And they drugged him on top of that. You really think he wanted

them

to do that to him? That dumbass bigfoot? And his asshole sensei? And that nutjob, Kwon? You think he’d have let them touch him if he had a choice?”

Realization dawned on them slowly as they understood what he was saying. Miguel kept staring at him, unblinking, like his mind had stopped working. And Carmen gasped in horror, hand flying to her mouth as she turned away from him.

“You get it, right?” Johnny asked, looking at them hopefully. “I

need

to do this - for my son. I need to make them pay for it.”

“Johnny - we can go to the police…”

“Police? Like they’re gonna do shit!” He scoffed, shaking his head. “Couldn’t even hold Silver after we practically gift-wrapped him for them. You know exactly how this is gonna work - they’ll say it’s not their problem because it happened in another country. Then they’ll say it's Robby’s word against theirs and its already too late to get proof. That he was drunk that night… that he’s imagining things… making shit up…. No - I gotta handle it myself.”

They should understand. He

needed

them to understand. He already knew how badly it could turn out and he needed them on his side on this.

“Miguel, go to your room.” Carmen told her son.

“Mom - !”

“Now!”

Huffing, Miguel obeyed and trudged away, shooting worried glances at Johnny over his shoulder. The two adults sat quietly for a while and Johnny could practically hear the wheels turning in his fiance’s head as she tried to figure out how to handle him. 
 
“Johnny… we’ve been down this road before.” She told him calmly, taking his hand in hers. “They do something horrible, we retaliate and on and on it goes, getting worse each time. At some point, we need to end this cycle of violence.”

Johnny nodded slowly, realizing how much sense she made. “Yeah… yeah, you’re right. Making them pay isn’t enough. We need to finish them off once and for all.”

He’d talked about killing those assholes before, but he wasn’t sure if he had it in him. He’d always stopped short of actually going through with it. Not this time, though… this time, they’d pushed him too far.

“That’s not what I meant.” Carmen said with a hint of panic in her voice. “Johnny, think about it. Even if you manage to kill them, what then? You go to prison for murder? Leave us all behind?”

It’ll be worth it.

“You really want to leave another child behind to grow up without a father?”

That gave him pause. But… they wouldn’t really put him in jail, would they? Not for doing what any father would do?

“And you think this is what Robby needs?” Carmen went on. “Who is going to protect him if you’re not around?”

“But I

didn’t

protect him.” Johnny replied brokenly. “What good is sticking around if I can’t even do that? I told him… I

promised

him that I was done leaving him behind and I did it again.”

“You can do better now.” Carmen told him. “If Robby is telling the truth - ”

“If?”

“I mean… Robby needs you right now.” She corrected herself quickly. “He needs your help to get through it. You can’t do that from a prison cell.”

Johnny shook his head angrily and got up, that word ‘if’ still ringing in his head. Carmen didn’t care about Robby because she didn’t believe him. All she cared about was making sure Johnny stuck around. But this wasn’t about her or their baby or even Johnny - this was about Robby. And if Miguel wasn’t going to help him find them, someone else would.

“Johnny, ask yourself this,” Carmen called out as he was about to leave. “Are you doing this for Robby or are you doing it to make yourself feel better?”

There is nothing you ever did for

me

.

Johnny froze in place, hand still on the doorknob as her words sunk in. Was she right? Was he so focused on his own failures that he was ignoring what Robby needed again?

“I…” He hesitated. “I need to talk to my son.”

He opened the door and left, mind still ringing with those condemning words. 
 
“Robby?” Johnny knocked on the bedroom door softly. “I’m coming in.”

He’d washed his face and gathered himself first. He needed to handle this calmly and rationally - he couldn’t keep screwing up with his kid like he had before. Which meant he needed to keep his emotions in check. He needed to actually listen to what his son had to say without getting angry or defensive. And before he did that, he first had to convince Robby that he’d actually listen this time. So, with a heavy heart, he turned the knob and went inside.

Robby was lying on the bed, pretending to be asleep, but the subtle rise and fall of the covers over him gave him away. He was curled up on his side with his back to his father and Johnny felt him tense up when he touched his shoulder, making him back off immediately.

“Listen, Robby… I wanna start by saying sorry.” Johnny began calmly. “I know it probably doesn’t mean anything right now. I’ve done it so many times already… but saying sorry after you screw up is the bare minimum, right? So yeah, I’m sorry, okay? Not just for what I said today - I should’ve paid more attention to you. I knew you were going through something, but I told myself you were gonna be fine and I dropped the ball again. If I’d been a better dad to you, maybe this wouldn’t have happened. I wanna tell you that it won’t happen again, that I’ll do a better job from now on, but at this point, I don’t think you’re gonna believe me.”

Robby didn’t respond - he gave no indication at all that he heard him. But Johnny knew he was listening.

“Look, you gotta give me some time to figure this out, okay?” Johnny went on, sitting down on the chair next to his bed. “I wanna - I’m going to help you get through this, but I don’t know how to deal with something like this. If you’d gotten beaten up, I’d have told you to stop picking dumb fights… or train and get better so you could kick their asses. But you didn’t pick this fight. You didn’t choose this. And pretty pretty tough already. But it still happened to you. It’s fucked up, but it’s not your fault.”

The rise and fall of his shoulders grew more pronounced as his breathing got heavier. Words alone were never going to fix this and Johnny knew that already. There was no magic line he could say to make it all better… but at least he could buy himself some time.

“I wanna make this better for you… but I don’t know how. I thought…” He chuckled, shaking his head. “I thought if I made them pay… took care of them once and for all, that would make you feel better. I’ve been wandering around the Valley all day looking for them. Think I might be banned from half the hotels.”

“They’re not staying at a hotel.” Robby told him quietly. “They’re staying with Silver.”

Of course.

Johnny’s mouth dropped open at the realization.

Why didn’t I think of that?

Silver was behind it all - had been from the start. He was the one who’d recruited the Dragons. Probably told them to go after Robby. He was the one who’d brought them over too. So it made sense he’d be putting them up in his swanky mansion. And Johnny knew exactly where that was.

“Got it.” He said, getting back up. “I’ll be right back.”

“Back?” Robby sat up and turned around. “Where are you going?”

Robby wanted this too. He’d never say it out loud, but he wouldn’t have said anything at all if he didn’t want it. He told them where they were. Which meant he wanted Johnny to do something about them.

“To take care of it.” Johnny replied. “You won’t have to worry about them after tonight.”
 
He needed a weapon. A baseball bat was good, but maybe not enough to get the job done. A knife was better. Two even more so.

“Dad…” Robby watched him rifle through the kitchen cabinets with trepidation. “Don’t do anything stupid.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t.” Johnny replied, testing the edge of the knife against his finger. “I’ll be careful. In and out. I’ll gut them in their sleep before they know what hit them.”

Guns! What the hell was he thinking? He needed to use a gun. This wasn’t about honor or fair-play or proving a point about karate - it was about keeping his son safe. He needed to do whatever he could to make sure it ended tonight.

“Dad, c’mon - that’s not what I meant.” Robby sounded panicked. “I don’t want you to get yourself killed.”

“I said don’t worry about it. I can take them.”

“I’m not letting you go after them.” Robby said, putting himself between Johnny and the door.

Why did he do that? Why did his kid insist on defending people who were going to hurt him? He did the same thing when Johnny had tried to take care of Kreese, even if it meant getting hurt in the process. But Johnny definitely wasn’t going to make the same mistake this time.

“Get out of the way, Robby.” He told him calmly. “I’m doing this for you.”

“No!” Robby shook his head, still panicking. “This won’t fix anything. No matter how this plays out, they’ll blame me. They’ll say I’m the reason you’re gone and they’ll hate me for it.”

“No, they won’t.” Johnny scoffed, shaking his head. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You didn’t even ask me to do anything wrong. And no one’s gonna think I did anything wrong when I kill the bastards who hurt my son.”

Robby shook his head and kept staring at Johnny with wide, pleading eyes with his back against the door.

“Robby, c’mon… you were right, okay?” Johnny told him placatingly. “I never did anything for you. Maybe if I’d been a better dad… if I’d been there for you, it wouldn’t have come to this. I thought I had to support the whole team, but you needed me more and I dropped the ball. If I hadn’t, it wouldn’t have come to this. You wouldn’t have ended up drunk and vulnerable and alone for them to take advantage of. Hell, even if it did happen, you’d have come to me right away if I’d been a better father to you. This is all my fault, okay and… I can’t fix it. This is the only thing I can do to make it better, okay? And don’t tell me them being gone won’t make it better.”

Robby looked at him with a pained expression on his face before turning away.

“If you do this… no matter how it plays out… you’ll leave me behind again.” He told his dad. “You can do what you want, but don’t pretend you’re doing it for me.”

Despondently staring down at the floor, Robby moved out of his way and went back to his room, leaving Johnny torn and staring between them. He could still go… he really

wanted

to go but…

Well, fuck!

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Breakfast was a quiet affair, thankfully. Other than the morning pleasantries, Johnny didn’t say anything to him, but he kept shooting him worried looks that turned to forced reassuring smiles the moment he looked up. And it was getting kind of annoying. Robby had no idea what was going through his dad’s head or what stupid thing he was planning to do now.

He’d somehow managed to talk him off the ledge last night and he wasn’t sure how long it’d last. It wasn’t his job to keep the man in line anyway and he had more than enough shit going on of his own. Maybe going away for a while would be good for him - he’d spend a few days with Miguel, get his head on straight…

Speak of the devil.

“Sensei?” Miguel came in after a perfunctory knock, like he owned the place. “Got any plans for the day? I thought I could hang out here today?”

“Shouldn’t you guys be getting ready to hit the road?” Robby reminded him. “You know? The big Stanford trip?”

“I cancelled it.” Miguel shrugged. “They’ll either take me or they won’t, but I don’t wanna get my hopes up.”

Robby frowned, looking at him and then at his dad as he shoved the last bite of scrambled eggs in his mouth. Did his dad have anything to do with this ‘cancellation’? Maybe because he was trying to make a show of ‘being there’ for Robby or whatever? Because last he heard, Miguel was actually looking forward to this trip and Robby didn’t want to be the reason it got ruined for him. Especially since Miguel was already pissed at him for a dozen different reasons already.

“I’ll get out of your hair.” Robby said, getting up and putting his plate in the sink. “You guys can hang out and I’ll - ”

“I can’t. Sorry Miguel.” Johnny shrugged casually. “I picked up a shift at LaRusso’s.”

“That’s fine, sensei.” Miguel replied with a smile. “I can hang out with Robby.”

Robby looked between them, confused. Last he checked, Miguel didn’t want to be around him and now he wanted to hang out? Even though he couldn’t look him in the eye. Then he saw the guilty look on his face - the same look his dad was wearing - and it all clicked together.

“You

told

him?” Robby whirled on his dad in anger. “You fucking told

him

? Jesus, dad - what’s wrong with you? You can’t go five minutes without telling him my shit?”

“It’s not like that.” Johnny said, swallowing guiltily. “I just happened, okay? It wasn’t about Miguel.”

“Damn right it wasn’t about Miguel. It’s none of his business.” Robby snapped, glaring at the both of them. “What? You wanted to make him feel better about himself? He got beaten up, but at least he didn’t get fucked all over the place? Did you tell your friends too? Have a good laugh about the pathetic loser?”

“No!” Miguel shook his head, horrified.

“Jesus, Robby - no one's gonna laugh at you.” Johnny told him angrily.

“Wait - is that what this whole ‘hang out’ thing is about? You think I’m gonna slit my wrists or something when you’re not looking?” He asked, looking between them again. And the identical worried looks on their faces confirmed it. “Holy shit! It is, isn’t it? You think I’m gonna off myself.”

“Well, what am I supposed to think?” Johnny snapped. “You were the one talking about no one missing you if you were gone.”

Robby kept glowering at them. This was so typical of his dad - one confession in a moment of weakness and he’d use it against him till the end of the time.

“Robby, listen… I know you’re dealing with a lot right now, but you can’t let it ruin everything.” Johnny tried to placate him. “You’ve come so far, kid. You have people who care about you and I’m not gonna let you push them away. They want to support you and you need them around you to get through this. Okay?”

Except, Miguel didn’t care about supporting him. In fact, he didn’t want to be anywhere around him. Which meant his dad was making him do this. For once, Johnny was making Miguel do something he didn’t want to for Robby’s sake… and Robby wasn’t sure how to feel about that.

“Do whatever you want.” He told them before storming over to the couch and turning the TV on. 
 
He stared at the screen, at some long-winded nature documentary playing on it that he was only half listening to and stubbornly refused to look at the others. He didn’t look up when they kept exchanging worried glances. Or when his dad left, telling them he’d be back soon. Or when Miguel plopped down on the couch next to him, groaning from his still aching ribs. And especially not when Miguel reached for the remote and Robby snatched it away from him.

If he wanted to hang around that bad, Robby was going to make him suffer for it.

“Alright, fine. I’m sorry, alright?” Miguel broke first. “I’m sorry for acting like an asshole, but in my defense, I had no idea what happened. And you made it seem like you set me up to get my ass kicked.”

“I did set you up.” Robby told him smugly. “Didn’t expect you to get your ass kicked, but I’m the reason you went up against him. I thought you’d have more time… that you’d get stronger and find a way to beat him because I know I can’t.”

“I think you can.” Miguel mumbled. “But either way, I’m still sorry.”

“Why?” Robby scoffed. “What happened to me doesn’t change anything.”

“Are you serious? Dude, it changes everything.” Miguel said incredulously. “I thought you did it to screw me over. Because you were pissed at me for showing you up or something. But… in a weird way, you did it because you believed in me. And I get why you didn’t wanna face him yourself. I’d be scared too.”

“I’m not scared!” Robby felt indignation rise within him. “You think I’m the kind of pussy who’d be scared to get his ass kicked?”

Miguel stared at him, mouth opening and closing in confusion as he tried to formulate a response. “Man… I don’t get you.” He shook his head. “You’ve been so different since we got back. I mean, the dick-sucking thing alone - ”

“That has nothing to do with what happened.” Robby snapped at him. “I’ve been doing that since I was 13 - I just didn’t do it for you before.”

“

What

?”

“What?” Robby shrugged.

“Dude… 13? Isn’t that a little… young?”

Robby could sense some kind of judgment emanating from the other boy and he did not like it at all. And that was a little too much attitude for a guy who’d moaned like a pornstar with Robby’s mouth on him.

“Who gives a shit?” He shrugged. “I was always good at it. Got rave reviews from everyone - including you.”

“That’s why you do it?” Miguel sounded incredulous again.

“Why else would you do it?”

“I don’t know… because you like it? Or to make someone you like happy?” His tone was definitely judgmental. “Not because you’re good at it.”

Robby glared at him coldly. Miguel couldn’t be naive enough to think that people only did that stuff because they wanted to, right? And if he actually was that naive… well, Robby didn’t want to get into that right now. 
 
“The point is, that has nothing to do with Barcelona.” Robby brought the subject back.

“And the rest of it?” Miguel asked a little quieter. “The… other stuff you asked me to do?”

That was harder to answer. He didn’t want to drag Miguel into his shit, but after everything they’d done together, he figured he owed him an answer - even if that answer was totally confusing and completely messed up.

“I-I was trying to figure something out.” Robby said, looking down at the floor. “I didn’t know what happened that night… I didn’t remember everything… still don’t. But I knew I got drunk, that I went back with Zara… and that she wasn’t the only one there… I knew that others did stuff to me…”

“And?” Miguel asked, still confused. “What does that have to do with…?”

“It wasn’t supposed to happen to me!” Robby replied. “I know what you’re thinking about my sucking dick, okay? That I was too young to know better, that I was manipulated or pressured or whatever - but nobody

forced

me. I wasn’t helpless. I chose to do it and I could’ve stopped if I felt like it. I couldn’t imagine something like that happening to me and not being able to stop it. So I figured I must have let it happen… and if I did, then I must have liked it…”

Miguel kept staring at him with an expression on his face that pretty much confirmed that his logic was as insane as he’d suspected.

“Look - I didn’t just come up with that out of nowhere, okay?” Robby told him defensively. “Axel told me that I liked it… that I begged for it.”

“And you believed him?” Miguel scoffed.

“And there was this thing with Kwon the next day…” Robby spoke before thinking.

“What thing?”

Shit!

He hesitated to reply, face flushing once again as the memory flashed before his eyes. He wasn’t sure why he was hesitating though - Miguel had already seen him do worse.

“I went to Tory’s room to warn her about Silver being back… and Kwon was there.” Robby explained quickly. “That time, the night before was still a total blank for me… didn’t know that he’d already taken a turn. But he just pulled me in the room and… had his way with me. Was a total asshole about it too - but for some reason, I didn’t fight back. I got off on it.”

“But…” Miguel shook his head in confusion and Robby wondered if he’d finally found the line. “What was Kwon doing there? Where was she?” Robby flushed redder and looked away, giving Miguel the answer. “Wait! She was

there

? And she just watched you get humiliated?”

“Yeah, that was the point.” Robby told him in a numb voice. “She was pissed at me. She thought I slept with Zara. Hell, I thought I slept with Zara. She knew about it and I guess she wanted to punish me?”

For some reason, that made Miguel’s face twist in horror. “Dude, what the fuck? What the actual fuck?” He stood up, distressed. “She just stood there and watched you get humiliated? How could you still be in love with her after that?”

“I told you - she had a good reason to be pissed.”

“It doesn’t matter. You don’t do that to a person you care about no matter how pissed you are. You don’t stand by and watch someone…” Miguel gestured his arms wildly to make his point.

“You’re one to talk.” Robby reminded him in a cold tone.

The fight went out of Miguel at those words and his burning ears told Robby that he was thinking about the same night.

“It still didn’t mean anything.” He said in an almost sullen tone. “Look, I don’t know how roofies work, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the effects lasted longer than a night. We don’t even know what kind of drugs they gave you… maybe they were still fucking with your head the other day. Maybe that’s why you didn’t fight back. And ‘getting off’ on it - that’s just a physical reaction. Doesn’t mean anything.”

Robby sat up, looking at Miguel with his mouth open. He wasn’t sure, but Miguel seemed to make sense. He was hungover that day… physically and mentally drained. Thinking Tory was with Kwon was an emotional gutpunch that had sent him reeling… and he knew he couldn’t think straight. That his mind kept going numb and blanking out. 
 
“I didn’t think of that.” He mumbled. “But… then how do you explain that night at Hawk's?”

“That’s different.” Miguel replied. “You asked for it. From someone you trusted. You knew I’d stop the moment you asked me to. That makes it different. You get that right? Tell me you get that.”

Robby wasn’t sure. Humiliation was humiliation. If your dick got hard when someone called you names and slapped you around, then what difference did it make if you asked for it?

“Can I ask you something else?” Miguel said hesitantly as he sat back down. “Axel?”

He didn’t need to elaborate. Robby knew exactly what he wanted to know and at this point, there was no reason to keep it a secret.

“I told you he wasn’t interested in Sam.” He replied with a wry smile. “Keeps coming to find me… trying to ‘talk’. Acts like he wants something from me and I don’t know what. He was the one who told me about that night… my head is still a mess about that…”

“I don’t get it.” Miguel shook his head. “You had no problem kicking Kwon’s ass after what happened. Why were you scared of Axel?”

“I told you, I wasn’t.” Robby sighed. “Kwon was messing with me from the start. He messed with my relationship, with Tory… I was pissed at him. I wanted to hurt him. But Axel was different. He…” Robby swallowed. “I thought he was a good guy trapped under a bad sensei. A guy who was just using him to do bad shit. You know what that’s like, right? I didn’t want to hurt him… I wanted to help him.”

“And now?”

“You were right - he’s an asshole.” Robby admitted dejectedly. “He was messing with me all along. He lied to me about that night, used my sympathy against me… used me to mess with others. Is that what you wanted to hear? You were right about him… and he was right about you.”

“Me?”

“You’re a nice guy, okay? A good guy… most of the time.” Robby told him. “But when it comes to taking something you want, you don’t hesitate. Even if someone gets hurt along the way.”

Miguel swallowed thickly and looked away, nodding slowly. “You’re talking about taking the captain’s spot?”

“No, man. I’m talking about what you did after the fight.” Robby replied. “You… hurt me. You

wanted

to hurt me.”

He felt a twinge of satisfaction at the guilty look on Miguel’s face.

“I was messed up.” The boy admitted quietly. “I… I felt weak. Pathetic. And you pretty much told me that you were behind it all. I…” He swallowed. “I wanted to feel strong again. Hurting you…”

“It wasn’t the first time either.”

He wasn’t sure why he said that. Or why he was saying any of it when they’d already put the past to rest. His dad was right - Robby didn’t have that many people in his corner that he could afford to push them away. Miguel was one of the few who could be genuinely supportive… given the right conditions. And Robby didn’t want to screw up what little he had going right for him. 
 
“Maybe I should go…” Miguel mumbled, getting up.

Robby was struck with a dismaying sense of familiarity as he watched Miguel go. All those times of watching his dad walk away from him after he blew up at him flashed before his eyes and he didn’t know why he kept doing that over and over.  He always pushed them away and then blamed them for not caring about him.

“You’re right.” Miguel turned around at the last moment. “Maybe I am an asshole. I told myself it was Cobra Kai bullshit at first, but I wanted to hurt even after we got back from Mexico. The only reason I didn’t was because of sensei - so the moment he told me I could… I guess that makes me the jerk, right? I wanna say I’m better, but I’ve been doing it again, right?”

At least he was admitting it.

“Maybe this is who I am.” Miguel went on. “So why don’t you try to be more like me? Go ahead - take a shot. Kick my ass or fuck it - just get it out of your system, okay?”

Robby gave him a blank look and shook his head. Miguel still didn’t get it - not really. Screwing up was the privilege of people like him - the ones who were loved and would always get another chance no matter how many times they messed up. Robby, on the other hand, was always going to be hanging by a thread.

“I don’t

want

to hurt you.” He told him. “I just want to forget this shit happened. Can you help me do that?”
 
Despite the anxious pit in his stomach, Robby gasped when Miguel’s tongue licked its way from his nipples to the grooves of his abs. Miguel’s hands flinched away from his body like they got burned… like he was scared of hurting him…

“You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” Robby offered him the out.

“I think we’re way past pretending that I don’t want to.” Miguel replied with a wry smile. “I’m more worried if you do.”

Robby glanced down at his crotch in response. He’d started getting hard the moment Miguel had pulled his shirt off and now the outline of his erection was clearly visible through his shorts, making the question pretty redundant.

“That’s not what I mean.” Miguel traced the imprint of his shaft with his fingers. “Just because you like it doesn’t mean you want it. Do you really

want

to?”

Miguel clearly saw some distinction even though Robby couldn’t - so all he could do was wonder if he wanted this. And he wasn’t sure of the answer.

“I don’t want to feel like crap all the time.” He replied. “I don’t want to feel ashamed… or weak. I don’t want to feel like a pathetic loser who - ”

“Hey!” Miguel interrupted him, cupping his cheek. “You’re not!”

“I wanna feel like I matter.” Robby continued. “I don’t wanna feel like some

thing

that people are just gonna use and throw away.”

Miguel nodded with a smile and leaned down to kiss his stomach again, but Robby stopped him at the last moment.

“This doesn’t mean anything though, right?” He asked. “I don’t wanna ruin anything for you. This is just… one friend helping another to feel better.”

“Yeah…” Miguel replied with a strained smile. “It’s just about feeling better.”
 
He tugged at Robby’s shorts and Robby obligingly lifted his hips to let him pull them off, leaving him almost naked in his tented underwear. It was bunched up around his hips, his bulge sticking out obscenely and Robby sucked in his breath when Miguel licked the damp spot forming at the tip. Spreading his legs apart, Miguel got comfortable on his knees, letting the spit build up in his mouth before licking a stripe over Robby’s covered cock. As the moisture wicking into the fabric made the erection stand out clearer, Miguel grabbed Robby by his thighs to keep the twitching boy steady.

“Wow, you’re really sensitive.” He commented. “No one did this for you before?”

Once,

Robby thought, while he shook his head. Axel had taken him in his mouth in the heat of the moment, but Robby wasn’t sure if it counted. It’d felt more like he was trying to eat him alive than give him a blowjob.

The easting of his underwear caught his hardon when Miguel tugged them down his legs, pulling the warm column of flesh down until it snapped out and smacked against his taut stomach. Robby jerked again, making the other boy smile as he grasped his dick in his rough, calloused hand.

“That’s a shame. Because it looks really good.” He said, licking a stripe along his length. “Thick and… juicy, I guess. Nice and big and…” He sniffed it as well. “Smells good too. And the taste…” His tongue flicked out, licking up the pearl of precum forming at the tip. “Y’know, I always wondered - how is sucking dick any good for the one doing it… Guess now I know.”

Robby had often wondered the same - which was why he’d never asked for reciprocity. Despite the musky smell he usually found down there, the bitter taste and the choking and gagging, he liked making people happy. Liked it when they patted his cheek and told him he did a good job. But he’d never felt like pushing others into something they didn’t want to do.

Miguel closed his lips around the head and Robby jerked when something sharp brushed against his sensitive glans.

“Teeth!” He warned him, squirming under his hands.

“Sorry.” Miguel replied with a guilty smile. “Kinda new at this.”

Robby could tell by the way he wrapped his hand around the base to keep it steady and sloppily ran his tongue all over the tip. He took him in his mouth again, swallowing about the third of the shaft, and thankfully, kept his teeth out of the way this time. Then he started bobbing his head up and down, no doubt trying to imitate the blowjobs he’d seen elsewhere.

Robby sucked in his breath, trying to enjoy the warm, wet sensation engulfing his cock, a feeling that was simultaneously pleasurable and frustrating. There wasn’t enough suction and a little too much spit sliding down his shaft. Miguel wasn’t taking him deep enough and the rest of his cock fluttered with need, begging for the heat of his mouth as well. Robby’s fingers tangled into Miguel’s thick, curly hair and he suddenly understood the urge guys had to shove themselves down the throat, even if it was uncomfortable for the person between their legs. 
 
Miguel was inexperienced and it showed - but he was doing his best to make Robby happy and that alone gave him a warm, unfamiliar feeling in his stomach.

But maybe the guy could be a quick learner because, as if sensing Robby’s desires, he pulled his mouth off and started licking his shaft from base to tip. His goal seemed to be to get Robby as wet and messy as possible and he was succeeding because trickles of spit started rolling over his tight ballsack and between his legs.

Breathing heavily, Robby squirmed on the couch, his flushed, naked body on display for anyone who might walk in. Being on the receiving end wasn’t just familiar - it felt unnatural. Even wrong. He felt guilty for enjoying it while his partner got nothing in return, but he couldn’t stop himself from spreading his legs wider, leaving himself open to whatever Miguel might want to do.

Miguel pushed his hand between Robby’s legs, long, slick fingers stroking his taint before they pressed against his furled ring. Robby gasped, twitching as one breached his hole, pushing past the tight ring of muscle and scratching the silky walls inside. Miguel’s drool was providing more than enough lubrication to make the intrusion comfortable and Robby’s hips jerked up in surprise when a blunt nail pressed against the bundle of nerves inside.

Smiling in victory, Miguel took his cock in his mouth again, swallowing him deeper this time as he started pumping the digit in and out of him. Robby’s fingers tightened in his hair and his hips started thrusting up, pushing his shafter deeper and deeper into the warm, wet cavern until the dickhead was bumping against the back of his throat.

A sudden gagging sound gave him a pause, concerned that he might’ve pushed things too far. But Miguel soldiered on, adding another finger to stretch his hole open while trying to relax his throat and take him in deeper. His other hand stayed on the base of the shaft, squeezing in and twisting until Robby started jerking up again.

Robby surrendered to the sensation. He threw his head back and closed his eyes, fingers tightening in Miguel’s hair every time he tickled his prostate. His breath came in hot and heavy, his muscles fluttering from the dueling sensations on his cock and up his ass - both sending waves of pleasure coursing through his body that were, at once, too much and not enough.

He quite liked this - this slow ride to the edge. The gradual build up of pleasure as his balls filled up and his dick started feeling unbearably tight. His ass clenched around Miguel’s fingers, trying to suck them in deeper and wishing for something thicker and longer in their place. This was the point where guys started getting impatient - started shoving themselves in with abandon as they chased that high - but Robby somehow held himself back.

He knew he was close when his asshole started squeezing the invading digits and his cock felt rigid like a flexed muscle. He tapped Miguel’s head in warning, to give him time to pull up, but Miguel took him in deeper instead, finally sucking him hard like he was supposed to. His fingers curled inside Robby, pressing against his sweet spot and that finally sent him over the edge.

His whole body jerked as he came, his cock spasming in Miguel’s warmth. He couldn’t hold back the mewling, whimpering moan as fresh warmth engulfed his twitching shaft from his cum flooding Miguel’s mouth. Miguel gulped it all down and wrapped his tongue around Robby’s dick, trying to suck out every last drop out of him. Even after it was done shooting, he kept trying until Robby was squirming from overstimulation. 
 
Then he finally let him go, leaving him spent and sweaty, and looked up at him while wiping some cum from the corner of his mouth.

“Was it good?” He asked eagerly.

“Yeah…” Robby replied, still panting. “It was good.”

“Damn, dude.” Miguel gave him a pout. “You really know how to boost a guy’s ego.”

“It was great.” Robby told him, adding, “For your first time.”

“Jackass!” Miguel lightly punched his leg and got up. “Would like to see you do better.”

Robby figured as much, glancing down at his crotch. Miguel’s jeans looked uncomfortably tight, his erections straining against the denim like it was going to rip out of it. Robby reached up to touch it, but Miguel held his hand before he could.

“I was kidding.” He told him, plopping down on the couch next to him. “I already know you can do better. And this was about you.”

He slung his arm around Robby’s shoulder and Robby leaned in. He didn’t feel the need to put his clothes back on as he curled up against Miguel’s warmth. 
 
“Johnny!” Daniel’s voice was strained. “Can I talk to you in my office?”

“With a customer, LaRusso!”

“Louie can take care of it.” Daniel said, pushing his cousin forward. “Johnny! Now!”

Grumbling, Johnny followed his work-boss to his office. He was so close to convincing the guy to do the right thing. Like an idiot, the guy had bought a car from Cole’s a couple of years ago and it’d turned out to be a lemon. But instead of getting it fixed, he was going to buy a new one. He was just going to throw away the old car like it didn’t matter… and Johnny wasn’t going to stand for that. Sure, talking a customer out of a sale was a strange thing for a salesman to do, but there was a little thing called doing the right thing.

Of course, LaRusso wouldn’t see it that way.

“Look, man! I was trying something.” Johnny defended himself preemptively.

“Doesn’t matter. Whatever

that

was, I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” Daniel replied, waving his hands at the door with barely restrained excitement. “I called you here to show you this!”

He handed Johnny his phone and Johnny stared at the wall of text on it, squinting to read the words. It looked like one of those long-winded terms and conditions things and when Johnny tried to scroll up, he ended up somewhere else instead.

“It’s a mail from the committee.” Daniel explained eagerly. “Sekai Taikai is back on. The rumors were true - they’re hosting it in LA.”

“Whoa…” Johnny looked up, staring at his co-sensei with a thrill going through him. “That’s… great.”

“Thought you’d be more excited about it.”

So had Johnny. But he was realizing that the Sekai Taikai had caused them nothing but trouble with nothing to show for it. A kid was dead. Kreese and Silver were back in their lives. Miguel got his ass kicked. And Robby…

“It’s gonna get worse before it gets better, right?” Johnny replied. “The stunt they pulled won’t be their last.”

“No… you’re probably right.” Daniel agreed gravely. “Do you wanna… pull out?”

“And run away like pussies? Hell no!” Johnny scoffed, handing him his phone back. “But we gotta be ready. And we gotta get the kids ready for anything.”

Daniel nodded, looking through his phone again.

“There’s more.” He continued. “With how things ended last time, they’ll restart the whole captains’ division. That match that happened doesn’t count. And since Kwon is dead… they’re letting the teams swap in alternates. Which means, dojos can put up someone else as a captain.”

“Makes sense.” Johnny nodded. “Can’t expect a dead guy to fight in the final. And the guy who lost to him might get another shot. But that’s not gonna change the Dragon’s lineup.”

“No. but… I was wondering if we should change ours.” Daniel suggested hesitantly. “Sam told me that Miguel’s been pretty down since his loss. Kid’s taking it pretty hard. And he hasn’t been back to training since.”

“And?” Johnny frowned at him.

“And… if you want to make him captain, I won’t fight you on it.” Daniel explained. “Miguel could use something to fight for. It might make him feel better to know that we haven’t lost faith in him.”

“What about Robby?”

“Robby would still be the captain of record for the team events.” Daniel replied. “I figured, this might be a way to show the boys that we care about them equally.”

Jesus Christ! Is that what I sound like?

He’d used the same rationalization before - that he couldn’t show favoritism to either boy. That he had to show them that he cared equally. But Robby was right - he never let ‘treating them equally’ matter when Miguel needed something and yet, he used it as an excuse whenever Robby needed him ot have his back. And now LaRusso was doing the same thing.

“That’s bullshit!” Johnny snapped at him. “Robby earned that spot. And he needs it more than Miguel. You’re not taking it from him.”

“I was just trying to - ”

“I know what you were trying to do. Your daughter feels bad because Miguel feels bad and you’re trying to make her happy by making him happy. But you’re not screwing over my son along the way, got it?”

“Screwing him over?” Daniel looked offended. “What are you talking about? You know how much I care about Robby.”

“If you cared about him you’d have been there for him.” Johnny replied angrily. “He needed you, man. I left you in charge and you dropped the ball.”

“And how exactly did I do that?”

Johnny stopped himself short from answering. As much as he’d love to make LaRusso miserable by telling him what had happened on his watch, Robby had already blown up at him for telling his secret to others.

“Johnny… did something happen?” Daniel asked, sounding worried now.

“You tell me.” Johnny changed tracks. “You’ve been so obsessed with a dead man’s legacy that you don’t care what your students actually need. Robby needed you, man. He has been pretending everything’s fine, but he needed you. He doesn’t think he has a future, his relationship went down the crapper and… and he kept messing up and his sensei did nothing to help him. You didn’t even notice how much he needed help.”

I didn’t notice it,

Johnny thought, swallowing thickly.

Whatever I say to him, I’m worse.

“And now you wanna take away the only thing he has going for him?”

Daniel looked away guiltily and Johnny felt a sick sense of satisfaction rising inside him. He shouldn’t be putting his shit on the guy - God knew that Daniel had done way more for Robby than he ever had - but he was sick of being the only failure in his son’s life.

“Look, you are right about one thing - kid needs something to fight for and he needs to know we believe in him.” Johnny offered him a way out. “He

needs

this win. And I’m not talking about him doing his best and you telling him you’re proud of him - he needs to

win

, okay? He needs to hold that trophy, stand on that podium and

know

that he’s the best. And you need to do everything you can to make it happen.”

“And you think I haven’t been trying?” Daniel said indignantly. “We’ve been training this kids as hard as we can.”

“Bullshit. You’re holding out on him.” Johnny scoffed. “All those secret Miyagi-Do techniques - pressure points and nerve blocks and who knows what else - you don’t teach them any of that. Because you’re too worried about what your dead sensei might think about it.”

“That’s not…” Daniel shook his head. “Johnny - those things are dangerous. After what happened with Kwon…”

“Newsflash, LaRusso - karate is dangerous.” Johnny countered. “You’re putting these kids in danger by teaching them karate. And then tying one hand behind their backs by not teaching them the best you can. How the hell is that being a good sensei?”

He was getting through to him. He could see the doubt on the man’s face, the slow realization as he considered Johnny’s point.

“C’mon, Daniel - Robby can handle anything you teach him.” Johnny gave him a final push. “You either believe in him or you don’t. So… which is it?”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Hey! We’re not done. I got another hour of training left for you.”

Robby grumbled, rolling his shoulder to get the ache out of them and looking at his fellow students. After being humiliated on the international stage and in their own backyard, it was no surprise that their senseis decided to train them harder and started teaching them new techniques - but there was a limit, right? Some point where training started being counterproductive?

To his side, Sam and Miguel shared similar looks of frustration.

“You two lovebirds can hit the road.” Johnny added. “This one’s for Robby.”

Robby furrowed his brow, looking at his dad questioningly before following his unspoken instruction to climb back on the sparring deck. Was he taking it easy because it was Miguel’s first day back?
 
When the Sekai Taikai news broke and the first wave of excitement died out, everyone figured they’d put Miguel forward as a captain. Sure, he got his ass kicked too, but his overall performance was still better than Robby’s and they were sure that getting beat before would drive him to train that much harder. But both their senseis had insisted that there was no reason to change the lineup.

His dad was probably trying to make some sort of point about being on his side for a change. And after the talk he’d had with Miguel, it was no wonder that he agreed too. But this was going to backfire on them. They didn’t have that much time and no amount of training would be enough for them to cover the gap between him and Axel. But Johnny was determined and Robby sighed in envy, watching Miguel and Sam head out while his senseis got ready to put him through more.

“You got a tough fight ahead of you.” His dad began. “I mean, you saw the guy fight, right? He beat Miguel, Kwon and everybody else at the tournament. Nobody even came close to landing a hit on him. That’s not a reflection on you - you’re still tough. You’re still a badass. But he’s better - we need to start by admitting that much.”

“Yeah, I know.” Robby rolled his eyes. “There is no way I can beat him.”

“I didn’t say that. I was tougher than LaRusso, but - ” Johnny cleared his throat like it hurt him to admit it. “He managed to beat me. With the right combination of technique and training, you can beat someone tougher than you.”

So that’s what this was about. They’d already started on the new techniques - though Robby wasn’t sure what the training entailed and why he was the only one getting it.

“It won’t be easy.” Johnny continued. “The guy is way bigger than you. Stronger too. He has more reach and hits harder. He had got perfect offense and defense and a perfect counter for every move you make.”

“And how am I supposed to beat someone like that?”

“By being faster.” Johnny replied. “React quicker. Attack and defend at the same time. Use his range against him - hit him from unexpected angles. Switch up your style so he doesn’t know what’s coming and then finish him off when he’s off-balance. Use your anger, but don’t lose to it. Find peace inside you, but not so much that you don’t wanna fight at all.”

“Want to figure out world peace while I’m at it?” Robby rolled his eyes. “How about I solve climate change too?”

“Robby, pay attention - this is important.” Mr. LaRusso said in a serious tone.

“Nah - he’s right.” Johnny took a deep breath. “Telling him all this ain’t gonna do shit. And teaching him kata crap will only take him so far. This is something he’ll learn by doing. So… come at me.”

“What?”

“This is your training.” Johnny explained. “I’m standing in for Axel. I got all the advantages over you that he does. So if you can figure out a way to kick my ass, you can kick his.”

“I can’t!” Robby shrugged, exasperated. “Dad, I know what I can do and what - ”

“QUIET!” Johnny snapped, shutting him up. “There’s not going to be any loser talk around here. I’m not gonna put you in the ring to humiliate yourself, okay? You’re doing this because I know you can.”

“So can Miguel.” Robby mumbled, looking away.

“Yeah, Diaz has been fighting better than you.” Johnny agreed. “He’s focused and consistent and you’re… not. But I’ve seen both of you fight and I can tell you that you got more room for improvement. You’re our best shot against that Frankenstein.”

He was obviously lying to make Robby feel better, but Robby couldn’t deny that it was working. “Don’t tell Miguel that.” He said, rolling his eyes.

“I won’t.” Johnny replied. “Now - you wanna do this shit or not?”
 
Robby numbly stared at the glass of rum and coke before him, wondering what exactly he was doing there again.

He always knew their senseis held back when training them, but until today he had no idea how much. His dad had pretty much ragdolled him during the whole training session. He didn’t even give him the chance to try out the new moves he’d just learned. Every time Robby tried to focus on them, he found himself being pushed on the defensive, barely able to fend him off. Johnny kept telling him to fight harder - to use his anger - but after getting slammed on the mat for the fifth time, he’d started losing the will to fight back.

That wasn’t why he was there though… not exactly.

His dad had given him a long-winded lecture on the way back. Miyagi-Do might’ve taught him to let go of his anger and forgive, but that wasn’t always a good thing. Some anger went so deep that ‘letting go’ wasn’t an option and pushing it down only made it fester in your soul. Something bad happened to him and he deserved to be angry about it. He deserved the chance to let it out. And the people who did it, didn’t deserve his forgiveness.

Which wasn’t about being judgmental or vindictive, apparently. If those people weren’t punished, they’d keep doing this shit over and over to him and to others. And that wasn't what Robby wanted, right?

He’d thought about those words long and hard during the day. Even had his dinner in his room, claiming to be too tired to face any company. His dad made sense - but then, so had Kreese and those words sounded a lot like what he’d heard at Cobra Kai. He’d watched kids become vindictive assholes following those words; almost become one himself. If he went down that road again, he wasn’t sure he’d know where to draw the line.

He’d made up his mind when he saw Zara live streaming the Iron Dragons’ night out at a club and he sneaked out of the house and headed there. 
 
He wasn’t sure if he came here looking for a fight. He didn’t have a plan - all he knew was that the Iron Dragons were messing with his friends. They kept showing up at all their favorite haunts, using the terms of their agreement to chase them off. And with Axel looming large behind them, no one dared to object. He’d gone there, ready to stand up to them tonight.

Except, they weren’t messing with anybody tonight. They were on their own, partying and having a good time. And Robby would be the asshole if he messed with that. So he’d ordered himself a large rum and coke and found a corner at the counter to sit and stare at it.

Don’t do it,

his dad’s voice rang in his head.

After what happened the last time…

It wasn’t fair. His dad was such a fucking hypocrite. He’d made mistake after mistake and he’d never stopped drinking, but Robby was supposed to give up after just one time? Screw that - he was going to drink if he wanted to.

Although, he didn’t exactly

want

to. What had happened aside, he hadn’t enjoyed it last time either. He hadn’t liked being dizzy and unable to walk straight - and throwing up had felt horrible. He wasn’t sure why he felt this urge to drink again at all, except to prove to himself that he could. 
 
He kept staring at the drink for a long, long time, trying to find the nerve to take a sip. But the moment he picked it up, a strong hand gripped his wrist and forced it back down.

“Should not be drinking.” Axel told him, his face frozen in a mockery of a stern look. Like he was the one to talk. The moment he came close, Robby could smell the alcohol on his breath.

“Leave me alone.” He jerked his hand away.

“Bad idea with rest of us around.” The boy warned him. “They did not notice you yet but - ”

“What part of ‘leave me alone’ don’t you understand?” Robby snapped at him.

For a moment, it looked like he got the message. But the next he turned to the bartender. “Hey - he can’t be here. He’s underage.”

Robby glared at him. It was an unspoken rule of places like this that you didn’t rat each-other out.

“So is he!” Robby returned the favor.

“I’m 20!” Axel replied.

“20?” Robby scoffed, looking at him in askance. “But you are in the tournament.”

“Tournament for 25 and under.” Axel replied. “Half the people there are over 20. You did not know?”

He didn’t - and it was a pretty weird detail for him to miss. He must have had his head further up his ass than he thought.

“Cool story, bro!” The bartender interrupted them. “But the club’s for 21 and over. Get out! Both of you!”
 
Robby buried his hands in his pockets and walked faster, keenly aware of the presence following him.

What the hell does he want now? A fight?

Robby doubted it. If Axel wanted a fight, all he needed to do was come to their dojo and throw down a challenge. Robby had given him a good excuse for that. Instead, he was following him at a distance, unsuccessfully trying to stay hidden, like he was looking for the right moment to ambush him.

He had an inkling of what Axel might want. Their previous encounters all tended to end the same way. He’s heard enough people compliment him on his dick-sucking skills to know he was good at it. And those who fucked him sang high praises of how pretty and tight his ass was as well. He wouldn’t be surprised if Axel wanted another turn.

Anger bubbled under his very skin at the very thought of it. Axel had used him - lied to him about him wanting it that night and took advantage of that confusion. The very thought of letting the guy touch him again made Robby sick to his stomach. 
 
The road was relatively empty and if Axel was going to attack him, it was going to be soon. Before he found himself truly vulnerable, Robby turned into an alley and ducked behind a dumpster, determined to turn the tables. Not a minute later, he saw the other boy turn as well, peering into the darkness in confusion before hurting down the pavement to catch up with him. Robby watched him pass by and sneaked out of his hiding place, quickly padding up to him and kicking him in the back.

Axel stumbled, almost falling down, before he whirled around with his fists raised in defense. And then quickly lowered them when he saw his attacker.

“Don’t want to fight!” He said, raising his arms in surrender.

“Yeah, right!” Robby scoffed. “You picked the wrong dojo for that.”

“Not here, please!” He backed away from Robby. “Want to win the tournament, yes, but don’t want to hurt you.”

Is he kidding me? After what he did?

With a snarl, Robby reared his arm to attack and Axel flinched away from him. Robby paused, watching the boy cower in anticipation of his strike with his brows furrowed in confusion. Why the hell was he scared of him? Axel had already shown that he could take anything Robby could dish out and more.

“Why the hell were you following me?”

“I…” Axel glanced up and looked away just as quickly. “Wanted to make sure you got home safe. Don’t want you getting hurt.”

“You’re joking, right?” Robby scoffed. “

You

hurt me. You are the danger. You and your friends.”

His shoulders hunched and Axel kept staring at the ground like he was trying to make himself smaller. He kept himself half-turned away like he was expecting Robby to start hitting him at any moment.

“Not the only danger.” He mumbled. “Cobra Kai is here… for tournament. They enemy too, right?”

Robby stared at him thoughtfully. They’d been so focused on the threat represented by the Iron Dragons, they’d forgotten about Kreese and his Korean team. They didn’t feel much like a threat now that Kwon wasn’t in the picture and Tory… Robby wasn’t sure where she stood in all this. But knowing Kreese, he wouldn’t be surprised if the guy had a few cards up his sleeve.

“And why do you care if they come after me?”

Axel glanced up again and repeated, “Don’t want you getting hurt.”

He sounded like he meant it and Robby wanted to believe him. But this was one of Cobra Kai’s tricks - feign remorse and concern to get you to drop your guard. Kreese had done it, Silver had done it and now, Axel was doing it too.

He’s not that good of an actor…

“You expect me to believe that after what you did to me?” Robby married his eyes. “If you actually cared, you’d quit that team. Stop doing shit they tell you to.”

“Can’t… need to win tournament.” Axel shook his head. “But I

am

sorry. That’s why… that’s why I tell you truth about that night.”

“You did that to mess with my head.”

“It was already messed up.” Axel replied. “You thought you were weak. You thought… you didn’t deserve to be captain because of that night. You lost will to fight and I wanted you to find it again.”

Robby narrowed his eyes at him. If that was true, why would he lie to him before? Hell, why would it be true in the first place? Breaking their will to fight was what they were after in the first place.

“Well, you got it.” Robby said, raising his arms to fight again.

“Not here.” Axel shook his head, cringing from him. “Tournament is the right place.”

“You just wanna have your way in everything, don’t you?” Robby huffed, advancing on him angrily. “Not gonna happen. Either we throw down here and now or… take your clothes off.”

“What?” Axel looked around, panicking. “Here? But anyone can see.”

Robby wasn’t sure where that had come from, but once he thought about it, he felt even more committed to the idea. Axel wasn’t a good enough actor to fake everything - which meant he must feel some regret for what he did. But that wasn’t enough. He had no idea what kind of humiliation he’d put Robby through and he needed to feel it himself to know it.

“You said you were sorry for what you did.” Robby replied. “Prove it.”

Much to his surprise, after a moment of hesitation, Axel shrugged his jacket off and started pulling his t-shirt over his head. Robby had expected him to refuse - to call him crazy and either fight or simply walk away. But before he knew it, Axel was standing before him in his tight, grey trunks, awkwardly thumbing at the waistband.

It was a trick - it had to be. Silver must have told him to make a big show of remorse to earn Robby’s trust. Robby didn’t know to what end, but he was curious to see how far Axel was willing to take it.

“Keep going.” He told the bigger boy coldly.

Flushing, Axel hooked his thumbs in the waistband and tugged his underwear down his legs before standing back up, awkwardly covering his crotch with his hands. Not for the first time, Robby felt a pang of resentment at the sight of his perfect physique. 
 
Despite the slouched posture, Robby could clearly make out his rippling muscles. The distant, dim street light cast shadows over his body that made the ridges and the valleys look even more pronounced. Tall, broad-shouldered and without an ounce of fat anywhere on him, Axel seemed like an example of the ideal male form. Even hunched over, he stood bigger than him and Robby couldn’t deny the spark of desire he felt at the sight. He was never going to let Axel touch him again - not a chance in hell - but that didn’t change the fact that a part of him wanted it.

“Turn around.” Robby told him in a bitter tone. “Hands on the wall.”

With a nervous look and eyes fixated on the ground, Axel obeyed. He put his palms flat against the concrete walls lining the alley and pushed his hips out, like he already knew what was coming. Robby eyed his toned, muscular butt, pale and smooth under the moonlight, as he pulled his belt from the loops.

The first strike made Axel gasp and jerk, leaving a red streak across his asscheeks. The belt whistled through the air again, licking his thighs next and leaving another welt in its wake. He took it better this time - only flinching away from the pain without a sound. But Robby wanted to hear him cry - wanted to know that he hurt him. He swung the belt even harder next time, ripping a whimper out of the bigger boy.

His dad was right - as hard as he kept trying to let things go, he’d only managed to push the anger down instead. The poison had built up inside him and it felt good to let it go. Watching the red red welts appear on Axel’s toned, muscular ass felt satisfying… cathartic.

He stopped at ten and admired his handiwork of criss-cross pattern or streaks across Axel’s backside. Anyone else would’ve been bawling and begging for mercy by now, but Axel had barely made a sound. He’d felt every strike through and he twitched every time the cold, night air brushed against his sore skin.

Robby moved closer and ran his hand over the smooth, warm ass, making Axel flinch from pain and anticipation. But instead of resuming, Robby pushed his hand between his muscular cheeks and rubbed a finger over his dry, wrinkled opening.

“Never had anything up there, did you?” He asked, watching as Axel squeezed his eyes shut. “Your sensei never went that far?”

Gasping at the sudden pressure on his hole, Axel shook his head in response.

“But that didn’t stop you from shoving your cock inside me. Even though I begged you to stop.” Robby could practically taste the venom of his words on his tongue. “You have any idea what that feels like? Getting something shoved inside you when you don’t want it? Do you know how helpless it makes you feel? Do you wanna know?”

He didn’t wait for a response. Axel was clenched tight, but one hard push and Robby managed to breach the wrinkled ring of muscle and shoved one finger up his tight, silky heat. He made the boy cry from the intrusion, his whole body shuddering as his ass clenched around the invading digit, futilely trying to push it out and Robby cruelly twisted it inside him, pumping it in and out to show him how powerless he was against that intrusion.

“Please… please, don’t.” Axel whimpered, begging. “Take it out… please…”

Robby pulled his finger out, watching his knees wobble as the crying boy barely stayed on his feet. He gave him a quick, stinging slap on his abused bottom and pushed him off the wall, forcing him to face him again.

Axel was crying - actually crying. Big, fat tears rolling down his cheeks as he valiantly tried to keep the sobs in. But instead of feeling sorry for the guy, Robby felt a sick sense of satisfaction blooming in his chest.

“On your knees.” Robby told him, unbuttoning and unzipping his jeans.

The tall, muscular boy kept staring down, hands back at his crotch to cover himself up. Robby grabbed his wrists and pulled them apart. He took a moment to look over his thick, flaccid cock hanging between his legs before he slapped his crotch, knuckles rapping his low hanging balls and making him choke back a whimper. Then he grabbed his nuts and twisted them hard, making Axel gasp in pain.

“You wanna show me how sorry you are, right?” He asked, sneering. Axel nodded hesitantly and Robby yanked his balls down in response. “Then get on your fucking knees.”

He obeyed this time, slowly lowering himself to the ground and Robby didn’t miss the fact that his dick grew thicker and longer. He pulled his own significant girth out of his underwear and waved it in the boy’s face.

“Go ahead. Make it good. Show me how sorry you are.” He told Axel. A moment later, Axel raised his hand to touch him and Robby slapped him across the place to remind him of his place. “Hands on the ground. You don’t get to touch me again - got it?”

The boy nodded, cheek growing redder in embarrassment and leaned forward, taking Robby’s flaccid cock in his mouth. Robby’s whole body shuddered as the damp heat enveloped his member, lips sealing around the base and he grabbed Axel’s hair, holding him in place while slowly starting to thrust his hips forward.

This wasn’t like before - there was no slow, sensual buildup like there had been with Miguel. It didn’t even feel that good - not really - but then, that wasn’t the point. And despite the strangeness of wet, slick sensation, Robby slowly grew harder in Axel’s mouth as he kept pumping in and out.

And so did Axel. Looking below, Robby saw his thick cock rising up from his trimmed pubes, gradually pointing upwards. He smirked to himself, watching his hand slowly move towards it and waited until he wrapped it around his shaft to pull him off and slap him again.

“You think you deserve to touch yourself?” He asked.

Still teary-eyed, Axel looked up in fear and shook his head.

“Neither do I.” Robby told him. “Hands on your side.”
 
He pried his jaw open and stuck his now fully-erect cock back in his mouth, pushing it deep enough to hit the back of his throat. Axel made a sudden retching sound, throat convulsing around Robby’s dickhead, but Robby held him in place until he relaxed and then pushed in deeper. Despite the desperate gagging, Axel kept his hands by his side and eventually, his esophagus gave up, letting Robby shove in until Axel’s nose was buried in his pubes.

He gave him a moment to adjust before pulling out and shoving in again - starting a snappy, rough rhythm to fuck his mouth. He ignored the gagging, the smooth muscles constricting around his shaft and the fresh tears rolling down Axel’s cheeks - but he couldn’t ignore the 11-inch monster waving in the air.

Fucker’s getting off on it?

Robby thought angrily before he brought his foot down on it, smashing the thick shaft against the pavement.

His cock choked off Axel’s scream and his hand kept his jaw open, making sure he wouldn’t be able to bite down. Robby moaned in pleasure as the sounds coming out of Axel’s throat reverberated along his own dick and he kept thrusting himself into his mouth, forcing his throat to accommodate his girth with each pump of his hips. He could see Axel’s hands curled into fists against his thighs, resisting the urge to defend himself as he pressed his foot down on is dick again.

“And you called me a bitch!” He said cruelly. “Look at you… your dick’s so fucking hard. Can’t even pretend that you don’t enjoy it, right?”

Axel sobbed, his cock twitching under Robby’s foot and he ground it against the pavement. It was like using the gas pedal, except every time he pressed down, Axel moaned and whimpered, sending shivers along his length that pushed him ever closer to the edge.

Not like he wanted to make it any longer than he had to. The point was to teach Axel a lesson and the longer it went on, the more he started to wonder if he was making a mistake. He could feel his orgasm build up in his balls. His shaft grew stiffer, twitching like it was getting ready to shoot and Robby started thrusting himself down Axel’s throat even harder.

He came with a groan, shooting two loads down Axel’s throat, before he pulled himself out and emptied the rest on his face. He watched in satisfaction as Axel closed his eyes, but made no other attempt to flinch away from him while his flushed cheeks were painted with streaks of white. Robby moved his foot once he was done unloading and saw that Axel was already going soft. Somewhere along the way, he’d cum from getting his dick trampled on.

“Filthy freak!” He snarled, wiping the sole of his shoe on Axel’s thigh. Then he gave him a swift, sharp kick between his legs, making him whimper and clutch his balls in pain.

Robby took a step back, aiming his cock at Axel’s scrunched up face, and let another kind of pressure build up inside him. This one didn’t take as long and moments later, he let his bladder loose. Axel jerked when the stream of hot piss hit his face, but he stayed kneeling with his eyes closed, letting the warm liquid wash the cum off his face as it dripped down his naked body.

“Now you know how I felt.” Robby said, shaking the last few drops off his dick and tucking himself back in. “Think about that next time you blindly follow your sensei’s orders.”

He turned to go before he could feel too bad for the boy. His dad was right - as were Tory and Kreese. It wasn’t that it felt good, but getting the poison out of his system felt cathartic. He already felt stronger, lighter - but he knew the feeling wouldn’t last if he actually had to watch the damage he’d caused.

“Thank you.”

Robby stopped short at the mumbled words and turned around to watch Axel curiously.

“Sensei says when you do wrong, punishment helps make things right.” He explained, slowly getting to his feet. “It make you feel better. So… thank you.”

“So you feel better now?” Robby asked, disbelieving.

Axel nodded in response, still unable to meet his eye.

“Good for you!” Robby told him bitterly before turning around and storming off. 
 
“Focus, Robby!” Johnny snapped at him. “Dig deep and give me all you got!”

He was trying - he really was. But for some reason, he couldn’t summon it anymore. That simmering rage, that itch in his veins that made him want to hurt someone - it wasn’t there right now.

“Think about what they did to you.” His dad easily avoided his swings. “Think about how that felt. Picture their faces.”

He tried that too - but all he could see was Axel’s tear-streaked face, covered in cum and dripping with piss. Which then turned to Kwon’s blank eyes staring up with blood coming out of his mouth.

“It’s not working!” Robby yelled back. “I can’t do it - I can’t be that asshole again.”

Johnny sighed, putting his arms down and taking a break from their training. It was just the two of them today. Mr. LaRusso got called away to handle some work at the dealership and his dad insisted that they weren’t leaving until Robby found a way to get in the right headspace.

“Look, I get it - you went down the wrong path before and you don’t wanna do that again.” He told Robby. “But there is nothing wrong with dishing out some hurt to guys who deserve it. I know you’re scared of losing yourself - of becoming like them - and I won’t pretend it’s gonna be easy. You’ll have to walk a razor’s edge, okay? Make it hurt without going overboard.”

“I don’t know how.” Robby shook his head sullenly.

“Yeah, you do. You did it before.” Johnny replied. “That tag match with Kwon? You kicked his ass, you made it hurt, but you didn’t fight dirty, you didn’t keep beating him after it was over, you didn’t go overboard - that’s the headspace you need to be in.”

Easier said than done. The pain was still fresh back then and the cause of it right in front of him. He didn’t choose to get into that headspace - he’d simply found himself there.

“I get it. You don’t wanna become the guy you were in Cobra Kai. And you won’t. I have total 100% faith that you’ll stop yourself before you go too far like you did before. Believe in yourself - forget about rules and honor and winning and just let it out.”

No, you don’t get it at all.

It wasn’t his Cobra Kai self that scared him, it was the one from the school fight - the one who’d lost complete control and done something he couldn’t take back. He’d already lost everything back then and if he lost himself like that again…

Then what? What exactly do I have to lose?

He could feel the thrum of anger under his skin again. His dad was still as clueless as ever - he thought a few encouraging words like ‘things will be okay’ and ‘I believe in you’ were enough to fix everything. They weren’t - not even close. They didn’t change the past and they couldn’t magically fix his future.

“Fine.” Robby said stiffly. “I’m ready to go again.”

“Good. Picture his face in your head.” Johnny smiled, taking his stance. 
 
Robby didn’t have to. The object of his ire was right in front of him. This time when he attacked, he didn’t hold back. Nor did he lose himself like he had the last time he’d tried to hurt him.

Hurt him? I want to… hurt dad?

His flying kick was blocked. The swinging backhand got parried and the leg sweep didn’t even come close to connecting. But his dad’s roundhouse kick sent him stumbling even though he’d managed to block it. Robby growled in return, anger bubbling inside him once again.

Dig deep, his dad told him and it turned out, he didn’t have to dig that deep to find his anger towards the guy. It wasn’t just annoyance at what he was trying to force him into now. He had seventeen years’ worth of disappointments stored up, just waiting to bubble to the surface. The memories flashed before him one after the other: the forgotten birthdays. The broken promises. Watching him hug Miguel in the parking lot. Walking away from him at Mr. LaRusso’s house, leaving him with nothing. Letting Miguel fight dirty. Ruining his presentation. The hours he spent waiting outside his house, wondering when he’d come back. Waiting for him at juvie, imagining what excuse he’d make this time.

He finally managed to land a hit, knuckles slamming into his dad’s jaw with a satisfying crunch. Johnny’s eyes widened in surprise and he quickly wiped the blood trickling out of the corner of his mouth with his thumb - but Robby couldn’t remember having felt better. He kicked low before his dad could recover, making his dad curse as his foot connected with his knee.

His heart was pounding in his chest, blood rushing to his head, as he took a step back and readjusted his stance. Something about this whole thing felt like it was a long time coming. He’d told himself that he’d let go of all his past anger - that he’d come to terms with whatever little love and attention Johnny chose to give him. But like his dad said, he’d only managed to suppress it and it was inside him all along, festering in his soul.

Now he was ready to let his dad have a taste of it.

I’m faster than him,

Robby realized as he dodged his dad’s swinging fist. He knew it wasn’t going to make up for the difference in strength, reach or experience, but it was an advantage he could use. Ducking to the side, he shot off a quick elbow to Johnny’s ribs, making him grunt, but got a glancing blow to his shoulder in return.

Johnny was still holding back and while normally that would’ve made Robby hold back in return, but today he was too angry to care. Grunting through the pain, Robby countered with kicks that got blocked, but still sent Johnny stumbling. He knew he wasn’t strong enough to finish the man off with one move - which was fine because he’d rather wear him down with blow after blow.

He bent to the side to dodge another blow and landed one of his own, knuckles finding Johnny’s ulnar nerve as he struck his elbow. He saw him jerk in satisfaction and quickly used the opening to kick him in the stomach.

But before he could follow up, his dad slipped around him and grabbed him from behind, pinning his hands to his chest.

“Robby, that’s - Fuck!”

Robby jerked his head back, hitting his nose with a satisfying crunch, while simultaneously smashing his heel on his foot. Johnny stumbled back, blinking back the sudden tears and Robby didn’t miss the opportunity his temporary blindness provided. He struck low, trying out the nerve strikes Mr. LaRusso taught him and he knew he’d missed when his dad didn’t fall to the ground right away. But his guard was lowered and Robby twisted his body, planting his hands on the mat and swinging high next. His heel caught the side of Johnny’s face and another kick finally sent him flat on his back.

Robby jumped on top of him, aiming swift punches to his face, but his dad threw him off before he got more than a few. He rolled with it, kicking out and catching his jaw again, then jumped right back on, ready to resume.

Then he stopped.

Johnny’s face was bloodied and bruised, eyes dazed as he stared up at him. He was going to have a spectacular shiner tomorrow and a fat lip, and he’d be lucky if his nose wasn’t broken. Suddenly, Robby felt all the anger and the fight rush out of him. He scooted away, staring down at the mats and unable to look his dad in the eye anymore.

“That’s what I’m talking about.” Johnny said with forced enthusiasm, but Robby didn’t miss the undercurrent of pain in his voice. “Now you’re getting it. This is what you need to do.”

“You don’t get it.” Robby mumbled under his breath.

“Say something?” Johnny asked. “Sorry, my ears are still ringing.”

“You don’t get it, dad.” Robby spoke loudly and clearly. “This isn’t going to work. None of this is going to work. Even if I somehow win the tournament, it won’t fix anything. It won’t change what happened. It won’t change why it happened. It won’t… it doesn’t mean anything.”

His words hit the man harder than his punches had. He saw his face crumple as he gave him that familiar, pitiful look again.

“Robby… I’m trying - ”

“You still don’t get it. This isn’t about you.” Robby snapped at him. “You think I was picturing someone else in my head when I cut loose? I wasn’t - I was pissed at

you.

You were the one who let me down over and over and over. If you’d tried harder or sooner, maybe I wouldn’t have been in that situation. Hell, if you’d actually tried harder to be a dad to

me,

I’d have come to you after it happened. Asked you for help. It wasn’t just that night - I was going through shit the whole time and I didn’t come to you because I didn’t think you’d actually help. Because you never do.”

“Well, I’m trying to help now!” Johnny snapped back. “What more do you want from me, Robby?”

“I want you to understand that it’s too late.” Robby replied, shaking his head. “

You’re

too late. Even if you find a way to make things better for a hot second they’ll go back to being shit and I’ll end up right where I am. You can’t fix this, okay? You can’t fix me. I’m too broken for that.”

Johnny shook his head stubbornly, ready to argue the point, but Robby had no interest in listening to him anymore. With a disappointed shake of his head, he got up and walked off the sparring deck, grabbing his bag along the way.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Letting the poison out of your system felt good. It felt cathartic. Like taking a baseball bat to the room and smashing everything in sight. But once you were done, all you were left with was this hollow feeling inside and a mess all around you that you didn't know how to even begin to clean.

That was the part no one had ever talked to him about. Not his dad, not sensei Kreese, not even Tory. Maybe they didn’t have an answer. Maybe they didn’t even think it was a problem. And while it was probably too late for his dad and Kreese, maybe someone else could still be saved.

“I’ll have a chicken salad, an OJ and five minutes of your time.”

Tory gave him a weary look as she jotted down his order. “You really think ambushing me at work is gonna change my mind?”

No, Robby didn’t think that. Tory had made her position perfectly clear - she still cared about him, she valued him as a friend, she had feelings for him and she was sorry about what she did. But she didn’t know how to trust him again - not if it was that easy for him to seek comfort elsewhere just because she was going through something.

“I just wanna talk.” Robby said, looking away.

“What’s there to talk about?”

Plenty…

Robby could tell her the truth - that he hadn’t sought comfort elsewhere. That nothing that had happened that night had been his choice. Tory would understand that, right?

She should, but Robby wasn’t sure if it’d change anything. He didn’t know how she’d react. Would she be disgusted by him for being so weak? Would she feel sorry for him? Would she be pissed at him for letting it happen? Robby didn’t have an answer and he didn’t think he could bear to have another person look at him the way those who knew did.

Before he could answer, the chair to his side scraped as it was pulled out and someone else took a seat next to him. Robby turned, eyes widening in surprise as he saw Zara Malik smiling back at him.

“Babe, you didn’t order without me, did you?” She asked with a sweet smile on her face.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Robby asked, dumbstruck by her nerve.

“I’m here for our date.” Zara shrugged, her phony grin still firmly in place. “Did you think I was standing you up?”

He heard Tory huff and walk away, and turned to her in a panic. “Tory, wait!”
 
He got up hurriedly and caught up with her in two steps, grabbing her and making her turn around. Tory snatched her arm away, shooting him an angry glare and Robby held his hands up in surrender.

“She’s lying. I didn’t call her here.” He told her quickly. “I want nothing to do with her.”

“I know.” Tory replied with a bitter look at the girl behind him. “That bitch has been coming here every day just to mess with me.”

So not even Tory was safe? He should’ve expected that. And while they had the safety net of their dojo to fall back on, Tory didn’t even have that right now.

“Mess with you?” Zara sounded offended. “I always leave a big tip. You could use the money, right?”

“Why don’t you just leave us alone?” Robby snapped, turning around and putting himself between the girls.

“What’s the matter? Blondie can’t fight her own battles?” Zara asked, smirking up at him. “Needs a big hero to protect her? Too bad she got you then.”

He could feel the flush rising in his cheeks from that hinted threat. But before Zara could say anything else, Tory pushed him aside.

“I can handle you myself. Meet me in the parking lot anytime you like.”

“As much as I’d like to kick your ass again, I told you - we can’t fight without supervision.” Zara replied with a rueful shrug with a playful glance at Robby. “But if you wanna settle things captain to captain…”

“Sounds good. Let’s do that.” Robby agreed immediately.

He could feel Tory’s confused eyes on him and even Zara looked a little surprised.

“That was the deal, right?” Robby reminded her. “You guys won the last round, so we’re supposed to leave you alone. And if anyone has a problem with that, we get a rematch.”

“It was…” Zara agreed with a shrug and gave Tory a smug look. “I just figured your dojo had had enough of being humiliated.”

“We’ll see about that.” Robby replied. “See you at Miyagi-Do tomorrow.”
 
Tory stood beside him in her yellow top and grey sweatpants with the rest of the dojo wearing their gis. Robby had told her everything about their arrangement with Iron Dragons yesterday and she’d shown up at the dojo, bright and early, eager for some asskicking. But she didn’t wear her Miyagi-Do gi nor her Cobra Kai one and Robby was grateful for that - neither would’ve been appropriate.

Zara looked pretty eager too. Like before, the Iron Dragons had shown up in force with their whole team to witness the event. Like before, they stood apart from the rest, throwing cocky, condescending looks at them while their sensei had a quick, tense conversation with theirs. Mr. LaRusso looked weary, throwing Robby angry glances for getting them into this and his dad glared at the other man with barely restrained rage. It was a good thing Robby had warned him about it yesterday and told him in no uncertain terms that he was not going to do anything stupid.

Eventually, an agreement was reached and Mr. LaRusso headed over to the sparring deck to act as the referee. It felt cruel to make him do this, but he was the only one who had too much honor to even try and cheat for his team.

“Well, here we are again.” He told the gathered students tiredly. “Let’s get this over with. Captains step forward.”

Zara blew a kiss in their direction and excitedly headed towards the deck. In response, Tory’s face twisted in anger and took a step ahead - but Robby stopped her and went forward in her stead.

“Hold on! What’s going on?” Sensei Wolf asked, looking at their senseis. “This fight is with Nichols.”

The others looked confused too - they were all looking at him strangely - and Robby didn’t quite understand why. It felt pretty obvious to him. “What gave you that idea?” He replied. “Your arrangement is with Miyagi-Do and Tory is part of Cobra Kai. Why’d you think she’d play your little game?”

“But this is fight between captains.”

“Yeah - and I’m captain of Miyagi-Do.” Robby reminded him. “Can we get on with this shit or you got more dumb questions to ask?”

The man looked troubled, clearly not used to being outmaneuvered, but Zara had a different idea. “Sure this is what you want?” She asked, smirking. “It’ll be much worse getting your ass kicked by a girl.”

Robby shrugged in response and Wolf grabbed his student’s shoulder in concern, but Zara patted his hand in reassurance. “It’s fine, sensei. I’ll make him my bitch… again.”

He let her go and Robby found Tory tugging at his sleeve for his attention as well. “I don’t need you to do this.” She told him. “I can fight my own battles.”

“I’m not doing this for you.” Robby replied, pulling his arm away. “And this isn’t your battle.”
 
Zara was good - Robby had to admit that much. But everything that worked to his disadvantage in his usual fights didn’t apply to this one. He was bigger than her, stronger than her and he could easily avoid everything she threw at him. He parried her blows, letting her push him back, before unexpectedly closing the distance between them and backhanding her across the face.

“Point!” Mr. LaRusso declared in an uncertain voice.

Zara had started off confident - showboating for the audience with her first few moves - but she didn’t look so cocky now with that blooming bruise on her cheek. Her teammates had cheered for at first, but they too had gone quiet. And Robby’s own friends were uncertain from the start.

This wasn’t what they were taught. Honor and chivalry were important to Mr. LaRusso and Robby could practically feel his growing disappointment as he kicked Zara in the stomach, earning another reluctant point. Hell, even his dad, who thought that if girls wanted to be treated equal, then they should be treated equal in all regards, would’ve considered this going too far. Zara wasn’t strong enough to win against him - not unless Robby held back - and he had no intention of doing that.

There was no way Zara could’ve taken him in a straight fight. Her only chance was Robby holding back - which was what she’d probably expected. And Robby loved the growing fear in her eyes as he disabused her of that notion.

“You gonna fight back or just keep running away like a bitch?” Robby sneered at her.

She’d switched to defense and his last kick had sent her sprawling on the mats. He didn’t win a point because she’d managed to block it, but he could tell by the way she cradled her arm that no one had hit her that hard before.

Snarling, Zara rushed at him, jumping high and wrapping her legs around his neck. She twisted her body, trying to throw him with her momentum, but Robby planted his feet and slammed her down instead. A quick punch to her side and two more to her face had her legs loosening and Robby pushed her off.

“Point!” Mr. LaRusso said reluctantly.

Zara struggled to her feet, glaring at Robby with eyes full of hate and wiping the blood from her face. He bounced on his feet, giving her a taunting half-smirk as he waited for her to come to him.

She looked like she was struggling - fighting her instinctive fear and forcing herself to go on the offensive - and Robby might’ve felt sorry for her, shown some mercy and let her win a point, if he could only forget everything else she did. She was the one who’d found him drunk and vulnerable and taken advantage of him. She was the one who’d called her sensei and Axel to her room, brought Kwon over, used him for her pleasure and then pretended he’d wanted it in the morning. And unlike Axel, she hadn’t shown an ounce of shame or remorse for her actions.

Robby wasn’t going to hold back - not against someone like that. He moved back when she attacked again, easily avoiding her blows and noticing the hesitation behind them. He caught her wrist mid-aid, using it to pull her off balance and slammed his knee in her back. Before she could stumble two steps, he grabbed her hair, yanked her head back and brought his hand down to her neck with a chop that sent her to her knees, coughing and gasping for breath.

“Alright! That’s enough!” Sensei Wolf yelled, jumping onto the platform. “The match is over!”
 
Robby backed away and watched the man rush to his student’s side, arms protectively curled around her as he struggled to breathe. The other students were closer too, ready to jump in at a moment’s notice and his own dojo mates got ready to respond. Everyone was ready for another brawl - everyone except Axel, who stood back from the rest, still staring at the ground like he had this whole time.

“So you forfeit?” Robby asked, smirking.

Wolf glared up at him, face twisting in disdain. “Feel like a big man? Beating up girls? You feel good about yourself?”

“I’d feel better if it was you in her place.” Robby replied.

Wolf stood up, taking a threatening step towards him and right away, both his dad and Mr. LaRusso stepped forward, protectively pushing him behind them.

“Cheap tricks.” Wolf scoffed at them. “Your dojo has no honor.”

“You wanna talk about honor after you did, you fucking asshole?” Johnny snarled back, waiting for the first punch to be thrown. “You wanna have a throwdown, we’re ready. Or you take the L and slink back to whatever hole you crawled out of.”

The man looked at them, then back at Robby, clearly assessing his options.

“This loss means nothing.” He shrugged confidently. “We can turn it over right now if you’re man enough to take another challenge.”

“I’m ready.” Robby replied, looking over his shoulder. “Is he?”

Of course he was talking about Axel. That guy was Wolf’s trump card - the fighter who never took a hit and could make up for any loss. Except he wasn’t in the right headspace to fight. The way he stood apart from his teammates, hunched over and hands shoved in his pockets while refusing to look up, made it clear that making him fight now wasn't going to end well for Wolf. The man could see it too and he turned back to them with his face twisted in rage.

“Fine… you win this round.” He told them with a sneer. “But don’t get too comfortable.”

“You too.” Mr. LaRusso told him. “Don’t forget - Sekai Taikai is coming up and you don’t want your students ending up in hospital right before that.”

With a defiant grunt, the man jerked his head, telling his students to back off. He helped Zara off the stage and walked away with one last baleful look at Robby - and Robby watched him go with a sick sense of satisfaction in his chest.

Three down, one to go…

He wasn’t expecting Miguel to be waiting in his room for him. Actually, he wasn’t expecting anyone since he’d made it pretty clear that he wanted to be left alone. Despite their win, Robby could feel his teammates’ troubled gazes on him - they didn’t know how to feel about this one. Despite acknowledging that some girls were better fighters, what happened still felt wrong. And if Robby didn’t know the whole story, he might’ve agreed too. Which was why he needed some time to himself to figure out how he was supposed to feel about it.

But apparently, Miguel had other ideas.

“Here to lecture me about beating up a girl?” Robby asked him.

“You kidding me?” Miguel looked up with a rueful smile. “After what she did, I’d say she got off easy.”

He couldn’t deny that it was a relief to know at least one person was on his side.

“What can I do for you?”

Miguel took a deep breath. “You can tell Sam about what happened.”

The request made him uncomfortable, which Miguel would’ve known, so Robby waited for him to explain.

“We got into a fight. Really bad one/” Miguel told him. “I saw her talking to Axel after today’s class. The guy came back looking for something.”

“I’m sure they were just talking.” Robby replied, sitting down on the bed next to him.

“It’s not that.” Miguel shook his head with a chuckle. “I know they were just talking but… the guy is dangerous. I mean, if Sam hadn’t backed off that night, it could’ve been her instead of you. I don’t think those assholes are done messing with us and she needs to stay away from him.”

Robby nodded slowly. Miguel wasn’t wrong - Axel had pretty much told him about Silver’s instructions to go after specific students and Sam was one of them.

“She won’t listen to me.” Miguel went on. “She thinks she can save him… or whatever. She can show him a better way… help him walk away from his sensei. But it doesn’t work like that. I’m scared she’s gonna get herself hurt and she won’t listen to me.”

“So you want me to tell her the truth to make things right between you?” Robby asked numbly.

“No… I don’t think that’s how it works.” Miguel shook his head. “I asked her to trust me. That’s all I did. I shouldn’t have been a big deal, right? I was her boyfriend and if she couldn’t even do that much for me then… what does our relationship even mean? She didn’t like me saying that though… then we started arguing about one thing after another and…”

“You guys broke up?” Robby turned towards him, startled.

Miguel shrugged helplessly, apparently unsure of the answer.

“Hey, you guys break up all the time.” Robby bumped his shoulder comfortingly. “You’ll be back together before you know it.”

“I don’t know about that.” Miguel replied despondently. “This feels… different. I could always tell why we broke up before. Someone was always at fault. But this time… I mean, even if you tell her the truth and she gets it, it won’t change the fact that she didn’t trust me. And I always got so upset when we broke up before, but I don’t feel like that this time. I don’t… I don’t know how I feel.”

Oddly enough, Robby got that. He’d felt the same way when he’d accepted that things were over with Sam. He hadn’t wanted them to be and he was sorry about losing what they had, but he didn’t have that burning desire to get it back. Luckily, back then he had Tory to make him feel better about it.

“I don’t think I can tell Sam the truth.” He confessed, jostling his knee against Miguel’s. “But I can try to make you feel better.”

“So… what? Another brojob?” Miguel asked, smiling shyly.

“If that’s what you want.” Robby replied.

“And if I want something more?”

Robby saw his fingers clench and twist, hovering inches away from his leg like they were trying to work up the nerve to touch him. Somehow, he understood Miguel’s need because he felt the same - this anxious thrum in his veins that hungered for physical contact. He’d felt the same thing after he’d watched Kwon die and he could remember what it had led him to like it was yesterday.

“I’m up for it.” He shrugged in response. 
 
Miguel’s hand tangled in his shirt and pulled him in. His lips latched on to Robby’s, tongue pushing into his mouth, and Robby was surprised by the urgency of his need. He could feel Miguel’s hunger as he ravaged his mouth, his hands gripping his body tight as his tongue massaged Robby’s own, and his own hands found their way to Miguel’s thick, dark hair, tangling with his curls. He’d intended to pull him off and tell him to slow down, but Miguel found his way under his shirt and the touch of his warm hands against bare skin made Robby moan into his mouth.

Miguel continued to ravish his mouth, tongue determined to explore every inch of it as it dominated Robby’s on, while his hands roved all over his smooth muscles, pushing his shirt up. His hands moved lower, blindly unbuttoning his pants and Robby responded in kind, tugging Miguel’s t-shirt up as well.

By unspoken agreement, the two of them broke the kiss and stared at each-other, panting for breath and flushed with excitement. Then they simultaneously started taking their clothes off as fast as possible.

Robby’s breath hitched in his chest as Miguel’s bare body came into his sight, only now realizing how chances he’d had to appreciate his toned physique. Miguel wasn’t as ripped as Robby himself, nor did his muscles bulge out like Axel’s, except for his biceps that looked strong enough to hold him down. But he was made of smooth, defined curves all over and his muscles shifted and rippled under his skin as he pulled his pants down his legs. He’d come a long way from the skinny nerd he used to be.

“What?” Miguel asked, watching Robby’s wide eyes.

“Nothing.” Robby shook his head as he pulled his own jeans off. “You’re hot.”

“You’re one to talk.” Miguel replied, pushing him against the wall and forcing him around.

He grabbed his hair and yanked his head back, capturing his mouth in a bruising kiss once more. While his hand snaked around Robby’s trim waist and started fondling his growing bulge. It slipped inside his underwear and Robby moaned in his mouth again when it wrapped around his shaft, squeezing a pearl of precum out of him.

Miguel let his mouth go and pinned him against the wall by his shoulder, lips latching on to the back of his neck before he started kissing and nibbling his way down his spine. The wet, warm kisses punctuated by kitten licks made Robby gasp in pleasure before Miguel’s fingers hooked into the waistband pulled his black boxer-briefs down the swell of his ass. He felt his soft, slick lips on his cheeks, sucking a bruise on the smooth skin before his warm breath puffed between his legs and ghosted over the sensitive skin in between.

Robby spread his legs wider and pushed his ass out invitingly while Miguel pushed his asscheeks apart, blowing hot air over his wrinkled pucker. He licked a stripe, starting between his legs and going all the way up to the top of his buttcrack, and Robby keened, fingers scrabbling against the wall for purchase. Miguel spat on him, a glob of saliva landing in his cleft, before licking another stripe and this time, he teasingly stabbed his hole with his tongue. Then he dove in, burying his face between the thick, muscular cheeks with the goal of getting Robby as wet and messy as possible.

The repeated brushes of his soft, silky tongue against the sensitive ring of muscle drove Robby crazy. He moaned, pressing his face against the wall while he held himself open for the taller boy and that gave Miguel’s hand the freedom to join his tongue in exploring Robby’s intimates.

Miguel kept licking him open, slowly convincing his clenched pucker to relax while his finger prodded at the opening, testing his defenses. The moment he found a chance, he pushed a finger inside and Robby instinctively clenched around the intrusion, whining as Miguel pushed it in deeper into his tight heat. He crooked it, pressing down on that spot inside him and Robby groaned louder, knees wobbling and his body going slack enough for Miguel to work another one inside.

“Your ass is so fucking hot.” Miguel said breathily, hot air brushing over Robby’s wet hole. “Big and juicy… looks all soft and bouncy but it's like made out of granite.”

Robby flushed from the praise and spread his legs wider while Miguel kept scissoring him open. He felt him stretch the ring wide and then wriggle his tongue in between. Robby gasped at the feeling of the warm, soft flesh finding its way inside his channel, his hole clenching around it like it was trying to suck more in while Miguel’s fingers tickled him between his legs, keeping him loose and needy.

It wasn’t enough. As good as Miguel’s tongue felt inside his ass, Robby needed something bigger and thicker and harder - something that could reach places that neither his mouth nor his fingers ever could. Hungrily, he grabbed Miguel’s hair and pulled him off, dragging him to his feet and kissing him again as he pushed the both of them towards the bed.

Miguel barely got his shorts down his legs before plopping down on the bed and his thick, uncut length smacked against his taut abs, standing stiff and proud from between the mess of curls between his legs. Robby spat on his hand and wrapped his slick palm around the throbbing girth while he climbed onto Miguel’s lap, barely slicking him up before guiding him between his cheeks.

Miguel held on to his hips, breaths coming in short, stick bursts when Robby’s muscular cheeks clenched around his shaft. His tip found Robby’s slick hole, nudging inside his ring as Robby lowered himself and gasped in pleasure, feeling the pucker stretch around his mushroom head.

Once the head was lodged securely, Robby held on to Miguel’s shoulders and slowly lowered himself, feeling every inch of his cock stretching him open. The stretch burned, making him throw his head back with a moan, and yet he couldn’t get enough of it.

Miguel gripped his hips tightly and his mouth found Robby’s muscular chest, tongue flicking out to lick his nipples. Then he bit down on one, shooting a jolt of pleasure through Robby’s body and used his distraction to jerk his hips up and bury himself inside to the hilt. Robby yelped, gasping for breath from the sudden, intense pain ripping through him from both sides, but Miguel held him in place, licking the sensitive nub he’d just bitten while his fluttering channel adjusted to intrusion.

Slowly, Robby found the strength to push himself up on his knees, rising from Miguel’s cock until only the head was stuck inside. Then he let himself drop back down, impaling himself on the length once more. His hand tangled on Miguel’s curls again, pushing his face against his toned pecs and Miguel started sucking and licking his tits in turn. Robby found his rhythm, bouncing on Miguel’s lap, letting his pulsing shaft split him open while Miguel kept biting and soothing his sensitive nubs. His own weeping cock grated against Miguel’s washboard abs, smearing his precum all over the boy’s tanned skin.

It wasn’t enough. No matter how hard Robby slammed his hips down, it didn’t feel enough. Miguel’s throbbing dick felt good rubbing against his silky channel. His bulging glans brushed against Robby’s prostate with each thrust, making stars shoot behind his eyelids. His tongue flicking against the nipples sent tiny sparks of electricity dancing over his skin. And yet, it wasn’t enough. He needed it to… hurt more.

He tugged Miguel’s hair, yanking his head back and catching his mouth in a kiss. He bit down on his lower lip, making his almost-half-brother moan in pain and Miguel got the message. Grabbing Robby’s toned ass, he lifted him up and flipped them over, pinning him to the bed in one smooth move, without ever pulling out of him. Robby hiked his legs up, wrapping them around Miguel’s hips and Miguel shoved back into him with a swift, brutal thrust.

“Unnnnghhhhh….” Robby moaned out loud, canting his ass up to take him in deeper.

“Fuck! So fucking tight!” Miguel mumbled, kissing his way down the long column of his neck as he pounded into him. “Tightest pussy I’ve ever fucked.”

I’ll show you tight,

Robby thought, clenching his channel around the invading shaft. Miguel groaned, finger tightening around his waist in a bruising grip as Robby’s ass flexed around his cock, squeezing it with all his might. His hips stuttered, unable to maintain the rhythm and Robby pushed him over the edge with one final squeeze.

He felt the warm column of flesh swell and pulse as Miguel emptied his balls inside him. He moaned through the orgasm and bit down on Robby’s nipple, hard, while grasping his cock with the other hand. It only took a tug before Robby was cumming too, shooting his load all over his chest. His insides felt hot and full as Miguel kept flooding his guts with his seed and his own splattered all over his chest.

Miguel groaned in exhaustion, falling down limp on top of him with his cock still buried inside and Robby folded his legs on either side of his body, holding him close. He was still panting, trying to catch his breath while his fingers traced idle patterns through the cum staining Robby’s abs and Robby kept running his hand through his thick, curly air.

He was pulled out of the afterglow when Miguel gave him a low chuckle.

“What?”

“Nothing.” Miguel shook his head, smiling against his chest. “It’s just… this friends messing around thing is pretty awesome. Can’t believe I missed out on years of this.”

Robby gave him a wan smile and kissed the top of his head, not letting him see the troubled look in his eyes. He didn’t know why, but for some reason it felt like they’d crossed a line today - that it wasn’t just friends fooling around or trying to make each-other feel better. It felt deeper, something more primal and Robby wasn’t sure what it meant. 
 
Robby was barely through the first round of katas when he saw the tall figure leap over the fence. Axel came, just like he knew he would.

“You know my dad would kick your ass if he found you here.” Robby told him as he came closer.

“I know.” He replied.

“But you came anyway. Why?”

“You asked me to.”

Johnny would probably kick his ass too if he found him consorting with the enemy. Others wouldn’t be too pleased either. Robby knew that and yet he’d messaged Axel to meet him at Miyagi-Do where the two of them could talk alone. He didn’t understand why, except he needed to see him to make sense of things. As for the conversation itself, he had a pretty convincing excuse prepared.

“You need to stop messing with Miguel.” Robby told him. “I know it was my idea, but things have changed. Miguel won’t be the one fighting you in the tournament. You got nothing to gain from going after him.”

“I don’t go after him.” Axel shook his head.

“He saw you talking to Sam.” Robby reminded him.

“Sam talk to me.” Axel replied. “I was here hoping to talk to you and she find me. She was… worried. She is a nice girl and we only talked.”

“Whatever, dude. Miguel thinks you’re gonna hurt her. So leave her alone.”

“I’d never - ” Axel began hotly.

It only took a look from Robby to make him shut up and look away in shame. “Fine. I’ll leave her alone.” He grunted. “Is that all you wanted to talk about?”

It wasn’t - but Robby had hoped for a better segue.

“I also…” He cleared his throat. “I also wanted to apologize for what I did the last time. I’m… sorry.”

It was something he figured out during the day after his time with Miguel. He didn’t regret hurting Zara because she didn’t regret hurting him. Like his dad said, there was nothing wrong with letting his anger out on assholes who refused to learn the lesson. But Axel was different. He wouldn’t have let Robby do that to him if he wasn’t genuinely remorseful and in doing that Robby had become the asshole.

His apology, however, seemed to confuse Axel.

“You’re sorry?” He frowned at him. “For hurting me? But… I hurt you first.”

“Doesn’t mean I should hurt you back.”

“Why not?”

“Because…” Robby didn’t know how to answer that. How to explain the concept of mercy to someone so alienated from any. And then something else occurred to him. “Axel… what did he do to you?”

“Who?”

“Your sensei.” He elaborated. “He wanted you to challenge me today and you couldn’t. Can’t imagine he was too happy about that. So what did he do to you?”

“He… nothing!” Axel shook his head, unable to look him in the eye. “I screwed up. I let my team down…”

“Show me.”

Axel hesitated, clearly uncomfortable, but the urge to obey was ingrained deep within him. Still unable to look up, he pulled his dark hoodie over his head and turned around, letting Robby see the fresh, red welts all over his back. Robby sucked his breath in and came closer, almost touching them before Axel flinched away from his warmth.

“Why would you stay with someone who’d do that to you?”

“I have no choice.” Axel replied, shying away from him. “I come too far. Sticking with sensei the only way I win… and I need to win or I lose everything.”

“You won before… the last Sekai Taikai.” Robby reminded him. “Did that make you happy?”

“Of course.” Axel replied. “Got me lot of money, lot of sponsorships…”

“That’s not what I asked.” Robby told him. “I asked if it made you happy.”

Axel looked at him, mouth opening and closing in confusion like he couldn’t comprehend the question. “Winning… make you happy, right?”

“If you win the right way.”  Robby replied. “That’s what my sensei taught me.”

“But… losing not make you happy either.”

No, it didn’t. And Robby supposed that if those were the only two choices, he could understand why someone would choose a crappy win over a loss. But they weren’t the only choices - it was possible to win the right way, especially for someone like Axel.

“You’re confusing me.” Axel shook his head and stepped away from him. “Sensei said you’ll try to get in my head… make me weak. I can’t… I can’t let you do that to me.”

“I’m not trying to mess with you.” Robby replied angrily. “I’m… I’m worried about you.”

The admission surprised himself - and yet, as he said those words, he knew they were true.

“Why would you worry about someone who hurt you?”

“Guess I have a thing for that.” Robby shrugged with a wry smile. “Look, man, I get it. I’ve been where you are. I followed the wrong sensei, did some messed up shit, but I found my way back. Even if I took a few Ls along the way, I’m happier for it.”

“But I’m not strong like you.” Axel replied.

Robby scoffed. “Seriously? The guy who has never lost a fight.”

“I win because I have to. Because I’m nothing if I lose.” Axel replied. “But you… I thought we broke you that night. I thought you were weak already, but we finished you off. But no matter what happen, you keep fighting. Like you are… unbreakable.”

“I’m not.” Robby didn’t know how else to respond to that. “Trust me, I’m a total mess in my head.”

“But you don’t quit… you keep fighting harder.” Axel told him. “I can’t do that. If I lose… I’m done.”

“Would that be so bad?” Robby asked him. “I mean… your own sensei keeps hurting you. And by the looks of it, he’s not gonna stop. Wouldn’t you rather be done with it?”

Axel stared at the ground, doubt and distress ghosting over his face as he struggled with Robby’s words.

“It’s fine.” Robby told him with a smile. “You don’t owe me an answer - it’s something you need to figure out for yourself. And you were right before - you wanna fight me at my best and I wanna fight you at yours. But if you actually want this win to mean something, you better figure out what you’re fighting for.”

Axel looked up with a frown again. “What do you mean? I told you - ”

“Being scared of losing isn’t a good reason to fight.” Robby replied. “If you don’t wanna lose, then don’t fight at all. You need to fight for something that’s important, right? Something that means a lot to you.”

Axel nodded slowly and came closer to him.

“I thought I knew what that was, but now…” He said out loud, eyes trained on Robby’s face. “Maybe I find something better to fight for.”

He leaned in to kiss him and Robby almost let him, mesmerized by the warmth of his bare chest - but he leaned back and pushed him away at the last moment.

“I… I’m kind of with Miguel now.” He told him, taking a step back.

“Miguel?” Axel frowned. “You’re together?”

Not really. They hadn’t actually talked about it. In fact, Robby didn’t even know if that afternoon had meant anything to the other boy or if he’d go running back to Sam the first chance he got. But it’d felt like the beginning of something new and he couldn’t ruin things before they started.

“We’re figuring it out.” He gave the diplomatic answer.

“I see.” Axel’s face fell and he turned away. “I… I better go.”

Robby watched him go with a guilty feeling in his chest that left him more confused than ever. Miguel or no Miguel, there was no way anything could ever happen between him and Axel - not after what Axel had done to him and what Robby had promised himself. So why did he feel guilty about rejecting him?

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“I’m sorry, dad. I really thought I had her.”

Sam had nothing to be ashamed of. She’d gone toe-to-toe with Zara in the semi-finals, gaining and losing the lead in equal measure. They’d both won one round apiece and Sam had focused on maintaining her narrow lead during the last bit, but Zara had outmaneuvered her and scored a quick 10 point in the closing seconds, securing her place in the finals.

“Hey, it was close. Could’ve gone either way.” Mr. LaRusso told his daughter with a smile. “And thanks to you, we’re in a much better position than when we started.”

Robby looked up at the scoreboard with a smile on his face. 
 
Since the committee had decided to begin anew, the matches had reshuffled and the board looked nothing like it did when it’d started. The Iron Dragons had started off with a massive lead and they were determined not to lose an inch. But the rest of them…

Tory had beaten Maria from the Spanish Panteras to earn Cobra Kai a pretty comfortable lead. Axel had absolutely destroyed Diego and put the Spanish team at the bottom of the rankings. Sam’s performance had given them the edge over Cobra Kai and as long as Robby didn’t screw it up, they could go into the finals with a real chance at winning the whole thing.

As long as I don’t screw it up,

he reminded himself.

“You got this, Robby.” Johnny said, clapping his shoulder. “Remember what you learned. Focus. Don’t hold back. Nobody can beat you once you’re locked in.”

Robby nodded with a terse smile and made his way through the small gate, standing in the contestant isolation booth as he waited to be called in. 
 
Things were different this time around - a lot different. The committee wasn’t going to risk the chaos of last time repeating itself. Apart from the additional security they’d hired, they’d also put barricades all around the arena and every team had to stay in their own designated section. Only the contestants of an authorized match were allowed to cross and if anyone else did - sensei or student - their whole team would get disqualified. And if a fight broke out behind the barricades, all dojos involved would earn a lifetime ban from the Sekai Taikai, regardless of who might be at fault for it.

The small box surrounded by guardrails was the only area where fighters from different dojos were allowed to be near each-other and Robby curiously looked to his side as Yoon, the new Cobra Kai male captain, walked into his place. His eyes moved past him to the team behind him - to Tory and the ponytail sensei and the rest of them. There were fewer members of that team around than he’d expected, although only the captains were really needed. But the most surprising absence was Sensei Kreese. Robby had been on the lookout for the man ever since he’d heard that Cobra Kai was back, but he hadn’t so much as seen his shadow.

“Kreese didn’t wanna come?” He asked Yoon conversationally.

The teen looked over at him, surprised that he’d start a conversation, but shrugged and replied, “He still grieves for his student.”

Robby wasn’t expecting that answer. Kreese never really struck him as the grieving kind. Before he could ask anything else, they started to announce his match and Yoon rushed ahead, clearly up to something. Robby followed with a frown on his face and watched the boy say something to the announcer and take his mic.

“Before we begin, I wanted to say few words.” He spoke into the microphone, catching everyone’s attention. “I… do not belong here. This was not my place. My friend - Kwon Jae-Sung - was the captain who brought us this far and it should’ve been him here. What happened to him was a tragedy, but I know he’d want us to keep fighting. So we fight in his name, to honor his memory… and before we begin this match, I’d like us all to have a moment of silence for him.”

What the hell is he playing at?

Robby wondered as a hush fell over the auditorium. This whole crap was so trite and cheesy, so unlike anything he’d seen from Kreese that Robby had to wonder if Yoon was really from Cobra Kai.

But the audience ate it up. They all went quiet, throwing sympathetic looks at the Cobra Kai team before bowing their heads and praying for the dead boy. And Robby could feel a bubble of irritation flaring up in his chest. Yoon was playing them, winning over their sympathy while trying to make Robby feel guilty - trying him make him hold back - and it was complete and total bullshit.

He grit his teeth through the moment of silence and made his way to the mats, taking his stance while the referee announced their names and asked them to bow. Yoon had some nerve talking about honoring Kwon when Kwon never had any honor. He hadn’t realized it until now, but Robby was sick and tired of everyone venerating Kwon ever since he died. He knew they weren’t supposed to speak ill of the dead, but dying didn’t make you a saint… it just made you dead. It was a shame that Kwon died without having the chance to change his ways, but after everything the guy did, Robby was sick of pretending that his life was something to be celebrated. Or honored.

“Begin!”

Robby shifted his weight on his back foot, watching carefully as Yoon rushed towards him. Eager to quickly establish his dominance, Yoon leapt high in the air, aiming a kick at Robby’s head. Robby leaned to the side, avoiding it and raised his own leg high, slipping past his opponent’s arms. His heel caught Yoon’s jaw and Yoon’s own momentum carried him into it. He flipped mid-aird and fell down to the mat with a grunt.

Robby stood over him, his guard still up, carefully watching the unmoving boy on the mat. There was a hushed silence all over the hall as everyone waited with bated breath - then the whole auditorium broke out in thunderous applause.

“And that’s a knockout! Robby Keene decisively earns his place in the finals with a 20-point, 2-second knockout. That has to be the shortest match in Sekai Taikai history!”

Still numb in surprise, Robby let the referee raise his hand and walked off the stage. He went back to his team - to the excited hugs, pats on his back and hands ruffling his hair - and he couldn’t help but feel a smile tug at his lips. 
 
Robby pressed himself against the wall and replayed the clip on his phone, going through it frame by frame for the umpteenth time. Zara might’ve posted stuff like this online to try and intimidate him, but it could turn into a valuable teaching tool. He’d been watching Axel fight on the screen over and over again, studying every move, memorizing every tell - he felt like he was trying to cram in one final revision before the exam.

He still couldn’t see it - that critical weakness that could help him win the next match. Robby might be faster, but that wasn’t going to be enough to offset the advantage Axel’s size gave him. And despite learning a whole lot of new moves since they’d faced each-other last, Robby didn’t know how useful they’d be against someone like him. If they managed to land in the first place, that was.

He’d learned a lot of new techniques but he couldn’t quite get the hang of them. Those moves required focus and precision and while he was better at using his anger, there was still something missing. Some intangible element that made him miss the mark nine times out of ten. Which was probably a good thing. According to both Sensei LaRusso and Chozen, those weren’t moves one should use to win trophies. Even the slightest mistake could cause damage they couldn’t take back and Robby didn’t think he had it in him to risk that. 
 
“There you are! Dude, are you hiding?”

Robby looked up and saw Miguel coming towards him, finding him in his private corner along with Hawk.

“Kinda…” Robby replied with pursed lips. “If I have to hear my dad give me one more ‘you got this’ pep-talk…”

Miguel chuckled and leaned against the wall next to him while Hawk took the other side.

“Man, you missed an awesome match.” Hawk told him. “Tory one and she kicked Zara’s ass. Not like you kicked her ass, but it was pretty epic.”

His heart skipped a beat and Robby let out a relieved breath. He’d surmised as much from all the cheers, but it was still good to get the confirmation. He felt happy for her - Tory had needed this so badly. She’d sacrificed so much for this. Robby was glad she wasn’t walking away from it with nothing, even if he probably wouldn’t be able to keep his side of the bargain.

“Yeah, but it sucks that Cobra Kai is now in second place again.” Miguel added. “Now it’s all down to you. You can’t just win like the last match, you need to score big.”

Robby almost laughed out loud at the absurdity of that demand. “You really think I stand a chance?”

The two boys exchanged troubled looks with each-other.

“Dude, I know I didn’t have your back before… and I’m sorry about that.” Hawk told him quietly. “That’s not on you, okay? You’re a badass and if anyone has a chance - ”

“That’s not what I asked.” Robby sighed, shaking his head. “I’ve had all the pep-talks I could take. What I need is an honest opinion because… I’ve been watching his fights over and over, okay? And I don’t see a way I can win.”

“Not with that attitude.” Miguel replied.

Miguel didn’t get it. He couldn’t. He thought that all he needed to do was stay optimistic, believe in himself and things would work out. And they usually did for him. But people like Robby had to be realistic and manage their expectations better.

“Look, forget about the trophy. And forget about Axel.” Hawk added. “You do your best when you’re fighting for something you believe in. So… what are you fighting for today?”

Robby thought it over, his mind replaying his dad’s endless speeches. “Payback, I guess.” He shrugged. “That’s what my dad tells me to fight for.”

“For what he did to Miguel?” Hawk frowned. “That’s cool, I guess.”

That wasn’t what Robby had meant, though he couldn't blame Hawk for misunderstanding. He gave Miguel a worried glance and Miguel smoothly covered for him.

“That’s not you though. You are not the guy who fights for revenge.” He told him. “You fight for the right thing, right? Something like… standing up to him. Showing them that they can’t walk all over us?”

Robby nodded slowly, hearing Mr. LaRusso’s words coming out of Miguel’s mouth. That was certainly a more noble reason to fight than revenge, but it didn’t feel right either. Not against Axel.

A much better answer would be that he was fighting for his own future - to fix his life and make things better for himself. But that was something he had a hard time believing in. Things had a way of regressing to mean, especially if what he got came at a cost to someone else. And right now, it felt like Axel needed this win way more than he did.

Robby shook his head, pushing the thought away. “Look, this isn’t about believing in myself. I know I’m tough and I don’t need another lecture.” He told them. “What I need is a strategy. I’ve been looking at the way he fights forwards and backwards and I can’t figure out a way to win. This isn’t like last time - I’m focused, I know I have to win for all of us and I know we can’t let Silver get away with it. But… Miguel, you fought him. Can you think of a way to beat him?”

Miguel bit his lip and looked away, confirming what Robby already knew. He wasn’t crazy. He wasn’t scared or intimidated - he simply had a realistic appreciation of his opponent’s skills.

“I don’t care how tough that guy is.” Hawk replied in his friend’s stead. “When you fight for something you believe in, you become capable of things you can’t normally do.”

“Wish I knew what that was like.” Robby scoffed with a wry smile.

“Dude, you’re thinking way too much.” Miguel said, glancing at his friend from across Robby. “You’re in your head and if you go out there like this, you won’t be able to focus. You need to trust yourself, okay? Trust that you know everything you need to know and it’ll come to you. Stop thinking so hard and just do it.”

“Yeah - and I know exactly how to get you out of your head.” Hawk added with an impish grin.

“Hey!” Robby jumped as the boy’s hand brushed against his thigh and jerked away from him. 
 
Miguel grabbed his arms from behind, distracting him with a quick swipe of his tongue across his neck while Hawk latched on his neck, deftly undoing his belt and the drawstrings of his pants.

“Guys, c’mon!” Robby mumbled, shuddering from their touch on his skin. “Dad said - ”

“No hanky-panky before the match.” They both replied in unison, laughing.

“Trust me, it’s gonna work.” Hawk reassured him, kissing his way down Robby’s chest.

They were completely exposed. Anyone could walk by and see the Miyagi-Do captain getting molested by his teammates. And if they had a camera, this embarrassment would spread halfway across the world before Robby’s final match. Despite that danger - or maybe because of it - Robby felt the heat pool his stomach as Hawk flicked his tongue over his nipples.

Miguel nuzzled his neck, hands slipping under his open robe and scratching up and down his sides while his pants slid down is thighs, revealing his tight, bulging briefs to Hawk’s ministrations.

“Guys, c’mon…” Robby moaned.

“Not thinking about the match anymore, are you?” Miguel whispered in his ear, hot breath brushing against his skin.

Robby jerked, pushing his hips forward as Hawk’s hand teasingly hovered over his bulge, seeking his touch that the boy cruelly denied him. Miguel’s hand slipped inside the back of his underwear, fondling his butt before he tugged the waistband down the curve of his ass. His dick caught in the elastic, stretching low while Hawk licked the grooves of his abs and slowly went to his knees before him.

He yanked his briefs down, finally releasing his weeping erection from the cotton confines and gave him a smirk before wrapping his lips around the tip and running his tongue over the glans. Behind him, Miguel’s hand pushed into his cleft and his fingers pressed against his puckered opening. For a moment, Robby was torn between the two. And then Miguel breached his hole with a slick digit and he jerked his hips forward, pushing his cock deeper into Hawk’s wet heat.

“Forget about everything else, alright?” Miguel told him, pumping his finger in and out of his tight hole. “Forget about points, about strategy, about winning - just focus on feeling the fight. Shut everything else out.”

He curled his finger inside, pressing it on the sensitive bundle of nerves and Robby jerked harder, moaning while Hawk swallowed him deeper. A warm hand wrapped around the base of his cock, squeezing and holding him in place as the boy hollowed out his cheeks and increased the suction tenfold.

This was bad - so fucking bad. He was supposed to be saving up his anger and aggression for the match. He needed to use every last bit of it to stand a chance and he wouldn’t be his best if he went into it all sated and happy. He wanted to stop Hawk - but then the boy tickled his balls and Robby lost all coherent train of thought.

Maybe it was Miguel stimulating his prostate at the same time, but Robby found himself hurtling over the edge embarrassingly fast. He felt his shaft contract, ready to shoot and all of a sudden, Hawk’s fingers tightened around the base of his dick. Robby whined and his cock pulsed, but nothing came out and Hawk kept his shaft pinched tight, letting it out of his mouth with a plop and grinned up at him. Soon, the pressure in his groin receded and the urge to cum faded away, leaving him confused and frustrated.

“Dude, what the hell?” Robby snarled at him while Miguel pulled his underwear back up and tucked his stiff cock inside.

“Can’t let you cum right before your big fight!” Hawk replied like it was obvious. He pulled the lapel of his gi back together and tied his belt around his waist. “We need you at your best, right?”

“So you just…” Robby gestured at his still tented crotch.

“Exactly!” Miguel said, patting his ass. “Blue balls make you fight harder than any dumb pep-talk. Now let’s get going - I think they’re about to start.”
 
“Point!”

Robby snarled in frustration, but refused to give into it. He kept his mind focused and his guard up, waiting for his opponent’s next move. Axel came at him, heavy fists bludgeoning his defense into nothing and Robby barely ducked under him to avoid losing another point.

So much for all that training…

No, he wasn’t being fair. The training had helped and he was better now than before. Before he hadn’t managed to score a single point and now, by shifting between offense and defense a lot better, he’d racked up quite a few. But it still wasn’t enough. Halfway through the second round and Axel already had a pretty significant lead over him. He kept forcing Robby to go on the defensive to avoid losing points one after the other and he never gave him a chance to win any back. The few that Robby had earned were the result of doing something unexpected, using the element of surprise and he was fast running out of those.

Axel’s sensei yelled something at him and Robby could tell by the grim look on his face that he was about to step things up. But before he could, Robby charged at him instead, once again confounding him with his lack of strategy. He feigned high and went low instead, trying to sweep his legs out, which Axel easily avoided. But he followed it up with a high kick that the bigger guy barely blocked and aimed a kick at his exposed side while he was still reeling.

The moment his foot connected, he felt an elbow dig into his chest and the blow sent him sprawling on the mat.

“Point! And point!” the referee declared.

Robby quickly leapt back to his feet, barely avoiding his fall from turning into a knockdown and handing Axel another 10-point lead. He’d managed to land a hit and he was still no closer to closing the gap between them.

“Time!”
 
Robby took a step back and bowed at his opponent stiffly and Axel did the same. The fighters were allowed a moment of respite between rounds and that was the only time sensei were allowed near the arena. Robby turned around and went back to his corner while his dad rushed in with a bottle of water in his hand.

“You’re doing great!” Johnny told him as he gratefully gulped it down. “Just stop holding back and you got this in the bag.”

“Holding back?” Robby glared at him indignantly. “Dad, I’m giving it all I got.”

How could the man not see that? Robby had tried everything he could think of to give himself an edge. He’d followed Miguel’s advice first and gone on the offensive - which Axel had turned to his advantage to quickly earn point after point. Then he’d turned to defense, dodging and blocking everything Axel threw at him and refusing to concede a single hit - and it’d worked. Until he realized that he’d end his match with zero if he went on like this.

He’d finally found a strategy that worked - focusing on defense, waiting for Axel to show an opening and then taking advantage of it by doing something unexpected. Axel was too technical a fighter and Robby’s unexpectedly reckless moves momentarily threw him for a loop. But it wasn’t enough to make up for the points he’d lost and judging by the last tie, he was already growing accustomed to it.

“C’mon, man - you still haven’t used any of the moves Daniel taught you.” Johnny reminded him.

“I’m being careful.” Robby replied through gritted teeth. “Those moves are a double-edged blade. They can seriously hurt him and if I miss, I leave myself - ”

“That’s bullshit!” Johnny snapped at him. “That’s your doubt holding you back. Do you wanna be known as the guy who came in second for the

third

time?”

Low blow, dad.

Robby clenched his fist and glared at him.

Throwing that in my face now…

“Robby, listen to me carefully.” Johnny told him in an urgent voice. “You need this. After what he - they - did to you, you need to show them that it didn’t break you. That’s the only way you’ll get past it. I won’t love you any less if you lose, but you need this for yourself. If you lose today, it’ll haunt you for the rest of your life. You’ll always wonder why you weren’t good enough - and no matter what you do to prove yourself wrong, it’ll never feel enough. Take it from someone who lost and give it everything you got, alright?”

Robby nodded slowly, taking his words in. His dad wasn’t wrong - he’d always accepted his losses gracefully and been proud of himself for that, but he couldn’t deny that they still stung. Even when things worked out or when he had other things to worry about, the fact of losing itself made him feel like he wasn’t good enough. His dad was right - he needed this win…

But then, so did Axel.

Robby looked across the mat where Axel stood before his sensei, head bowed and body cringing from him like he was expecting to be struck. Even though Robby couldn’t hear them, he could guess what Wolf was yelling at him about. Axel wasn’t supposed to lose a single point - he was supposed to humiliate Robby like he’d humiliated Miguel. He was supposed to dominate him so badly that people would say that Robby never stood a chance - not let him walk away like he was a worthy opponent. Wolf must already be on edge after Zara’s loss and he was taking it out on Axel.

He… needs to lose.

“It’s okay, dad.” Robby told his father calmly as the referee announced the end of their break. “I got this.”
 
He saw a flicker of something on Axel’s face as they returned to the arena - desperation quickly masked by his usual stoic look. But it was enough to confirm what he thought. Axel believed he needed to win because he thought losing would mean his life was over. But Robby knew from personal experience that losing wasn’t always so bad. In fact, it could sometimes be illuminating. It could show you a path to be better and it could show you who was truly on your side. That was what Axel actually needed - not a trophy. He needed to lose this match as badly as Robby needed to win and maybe some part of him already knew that.

“Begin!”

Robby went on the offensive again, going low and attacking his legs in a maneuver he’d perfected against his dad. For someone as tall as him, an attack from a low angle was sure to throw him off balance. And sure enough, he drove Axel back, even though the guy was too good to actually get hit.

Robby switched halfway through, leaping high in the air and swinging his leg around. Axel was too surprised by the move and his guard was too low to get up on time. Robby caught him square across the jaw with his heel, knocking him to the side and landed on his feet, quickly backing off to avoid any counter.

“Point!”

Axel gingerly touched the blooming bruise on his jaw before returning to the fight with a determined look on his face. Robby went on the defensive, moving back with his blows until he saw a flicker of hesitation on his face as he reared his arm back. And he knew what that meant.

It was Kenny’s move - that crippling strike to the chest. Robby had seen it enough times and he knew exactly how to counter it - but Axel had no way of knowing that. He probably thought he was pulling out a surprise of his own and Robby let him, obligingly lowering his guard to let him strike.

He side-stepped it at the last second, letting it glance off his shoulder and returned with the same strike, slipping past Axel’s lowered guard. He’d only seen it in action, never tried it himself, but he knew he performed him a lot smoother and faster than either of them and the strike landed on the target, making Axel step back in surprise.

“Point!”

The next moment, he clutched at his chest and went down to his knees, gasping for breath.

“Knockdown! That’s ten points.” The referee declared.

And just like that, Robby closed the gap between them. But he didn’t even bother to look at the scoreboard to make sure of that. Nor did he look to the crowd to see how Silver liked watching him use his move against his student. His eyes were on the choking boy on his knees in front of him, while the referee knelt down, asking him if he was okay.

Axel had clearly never been through this before. Hell, he’d probably never been hit this hard in a match before. He didn’t know how to deal with this sudden sensation of losing control - not like Robby did.

“Don’t try to take deep breaths - it’ll only make it worse.” He told him quietly. “Start with short breaths and slowly make them deeper.”

The referee looked up at him in surprise. Axel didn’t - but Robby knew he heard him because he started following his instructions. It didn’t take him long to get his breathing under control and he kept staring straight ahead, unable to meet his eye. Not until Robby reached down and offered him his hand.

Axel looked up in surprise and accepted his gesture, pulling himself to his feet and reassuring the referee that he was good to go.

“A noble show of sportsmanship from Keene. But he might come to regret that. The way Kovačević fights he can easily make up the difference.”

Whoever the guy on the mic was, he didn’t get it. Robby didn’t show mercy to make a point - he did it because he knew he wasn’t going to lose. All those gaps in Axel’s defenses he’d exploited to win points, they weren’t accidental. Perhaps not consciously, but on some level, Axel knew he needed to lose. He wanted to lose because that was the only way for him to be free. From the day they’d met, Axel had been begging him to beat him and Robby had been too blind to see it before.

They squared off again and Robby let the taller boy come to him this time. Once again, he focused on his defense, twisting his body under Axel’s heavy swings until he could slip around him. He saw his chance and took his shot, his punch landing in the middle of Axel’s back and knuckles digging into his spine.

He didn’t win any points with that blow to the back, but it served its purpose - Axel’s whole body jerked as a jolt of electricity ripped through him. He stumbled, hastily turning around and raising his arms to guard against Robby’s kick. And despite blocking him, he staggered and fell back on the mats. He quickly tried to get back up to avoid the 5-second limit that would turn it into a knockdown, but his arms and legs gave out as a wave of numbness overcame his whole body.

“10 points!”

“Another unexpected knockdown by Keene and just like that, the tables have turned. Keene has completely obliterated Kovačević’s lead and with less than 20 seconds left on the clock, he’ll need a knockout to turn things around.”

Axel had the same idea. Face twisting in anger and desperation, he pushed himself to his feet and got back in the fight. Robby bounced around him, focused on defense and waiting for him to come to him. All he needed to do to win was focus on defense, not yield a single point and run out the clock.

If only Axel would make it that easy.

His attack came hard and desperate, pushing Robby back with his relentless assault. He was chock full of openings, not caring if he lost a few points as long as he managed to land the finishing blow. And the only thing keeping him from losing more points was the fact that Robby didn’t want to hurt him.

Except, he had to. It wasn’t about wanting - it simply had to be down. Robby moved with his kick and returned with a strike to his thigh, knuckles digging into his thick muscles and finding the nerve hidden underneath. Then before he could retaliate, Robby struck his bicep next.

Axel didn’t even realize what had happened. He kept up the attack, scoring a quick point which made Robby think he’d missed the mark again. But then his leg gave out and Axel fell to one knee, mouth open in surprise as he stared down at his arm hanging by his side. He instinctively raised his other one to defend himself and Robby quickly rendered it useless as well. This was it - Axel was defenseless with no chance of recovery before the match ended. And yet, Robby could finish it decisively. Knock Axel out with a blow and win another 20 points in the closing second.

He hesitated too long. Before the blow could land, the buzzer rang, announcing the end of the match. Robby stopped himself, fist inches away from his face and pulled his arm back as the crowd erupted in cheers all around him.

He took a step back and waited for Axel to find his way back to his feet. Then he gave him a final bow with a smile and turned back to rejoin his team.
 
“Dude, that was friggin’ awesome.”

“Knew you could do it, kid.”

“Robby, I’m so proud of you.”

“Fought with honor. Nothing more important.”

Robby grinned at them, accepting the hugs, the pats on the back, hands squeezing any part of him they could find. So this was what winning felt like? It was… not what he’d expected.

Don’t get him wrong - it was better than the dark satisfaction he’d felt after beating Kwon. Or Zara. Those wins had been exhilarating in the moment, but they’d left him feeling ashamed and troubled only a few hours later. And it was definitely better than losing and feeling like a failure.

But the ecstasy he’d expected, the rising sense of euphoria, was just not there. What he felt was relief instead. A tired comfort of it finally being over and making it through without letting himself down. And a nagging fear in the back of his head that this wasn’t actually going to change anything.

Then his dad hugged him again and Robby pushed the thought aside, deciding to focus on enjoying the moment instead.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Winning fixed everything - at least that was what his dad seemed to think. The man couldn’t stop smiling. Couldn’t stop beaming with pride and giving Robby shoulder-squeezes and one-armed hugs whenever he got too close. And Robby grinned every time he did, feeling a rush of warmth grow through him every time he was touched. He’d finally made his dad proud, shown himself to be something more than an object of pity and regret and he intended to hold on to that feeling for as long as he could.

Even though other things felt a little less than perfect.

“We kept our promise… two of us on the podium, side by side.” Robby smiled at Tory hesitantly. He got a few warning looks from her teammates behind her and her sensei definitely wasn’t happy to see him so close to her, but luckily, they were smart enough not to jeopardize themselves any further.

“Yeah, you were really something out there.” Tory replied with a strained smile. “Wish you’d stuck around for my match, but I guess you had some last minute training to do.”

He was taken aback by her passive-aggressive tone. After telling him over and over to leave her alone, that she needed to focus on her goal and she needed him away from her for that, he didn’t think she’d even want him there. He wanted to remind her of that, but saw Johnny waving him over and excused himself. 
 
The Sekai-Taikai gala was a chance for them to reap the rewards of their work. They were supposed to hobnob with sponsors, investors and other bigwigs of the martial arts world, and any one of those guys could set them for life with one signature. Both his dad and Mr. LaRusso were working the crowd hard for the sake of all their students.

“There’s the man of the hour.” Johnny clapped him on the shoulder and pushed him towards the semi-circle of men in suits. “I was just telling them about that badass, flip-spin kick you did.”

Robby blushed and stared at his feet, awkward about being pushed into the spotlight like that. He was usually a lot smoother than that, but then, he wasn’t usually the center of attention either.

“That last match was one for the ages.” The Sekai-Taikai committee chair - Gunther - complimented him with a smile. “We could use more kids like you in future tournaments.”

“They don’t make ‘em badass like him.” His dad added.

The man chuckled indulgently and the few others around him joined in. “Perhaps, but not what I meant.” He replied. “Sekai Taikai has always been tough and competitive, but recently things have taken a turn for the worse. And after what happened in Barcelona…” The man shook his head. “It was good to see someone show sportsmanship and treat their opponent with honor and respect. I hope your example catches on because that nobility of spirit is what karate should be about.”

“Th-thanks…” Robby mumbled, blushing and at loss for words.

“Yeah, my kid’s got nobility shooting out of his ass.” Johnny added, squeezing his shoulder again. “And he’s not the only one.” He turned to the boy on his other side. “Miguel was almost our team captain until he lost that spot to Robby. And since then, he has been his biggest supporter.”

That wasn’t exactly true, but Robby didn’t begrudge him that little lie. He smiled and nodded, letting Miguel enter the spotlight in his stead while his dad continued to work his ‘magic’.

“Yes, you were certainly impressive during the team matches.” One of the sponsors complimented Miguel. “Maybe we’ll see you with a captain’s headband next time?”

“Maybe…” Miguel shrugged, abashed. “Not sure how much time I’ll have for karate once I head off to college. And I still need to figure out how I’m gonna pay for it.”

He wasn’t exactly subtle with that hint, but it flew right over their heads.

“What about you, Robby?” Another guy asked him. “Are you going to college too?”

Robby shrugged in reply. “Winning a tournament doesn’t exactly make me a straight-A student.”

“Hey, any college will be lucky to have you.” Johnny told him. “And Miguel too. Those guys at Stanford are gonna come begging when they find out about today.”

“Stanford?” Gunther perked up, interested. “That’s a great school. I’d be more than happy to write you a letter of recommendation if it helps you get in.”

“Actually…” Miguel cleared his throat and looked down at the floor. “I already got in.”

There was a sudden silence around them and Robby realized that their conversation had attracted more people than he’d realized. Sensei Larusso had joined the group at some point. Sam, Hawk and Kenny were hanging on the periphery. And everyone went quiet at Miguel’s declaration.

“I applied again.” Miguel explained, shrugging nonchalantly. “And I got their acceptance email yesterday.”

“Holy shit! Miguel, that’s awesome!” Johnny grabbed the boy and pulled him in a hug. “You got into Stanford? That’s crazy, man. This day just keeps getting better.”

The others chimed in with their congratulations as well and Robby had a familiar sinking feeling in his stomach. It felt like something was slipping through his fingers again - like he was about to lose something important, but he didn’t know how it was. He did know, however, that he was supposed to be happy for his step-brother. So he plastered a smile on his face and gave him a hug.

“That’s awesome, man. You’re awesome!” He said to him excitedly. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I don’t know.” Miguel scratched the back of his neck, abashed. “I told my mom and yaya… but you guys needed to focus on the finals and I didn’t want to mess with that.”

That was just the kind of guy Miguel was - thoughtful and considerate. Anyone else would’ve been shouting it from the rooftops, but he’d kept the good news to himself for Robby’s sake. And if Robby couldn’t be genuinely happy for him, then Miguel deserved better than him. But despite knowing that, Robby couldn’t get rid of this growing pit in his stomach.

“Congratulations, Miguel. You deserve this more than anyone.” Mr. LaRusso patted the boy on the back.

“Yeah - now I just need to figure out how we’re gonna pay for it.” Miguel replied.

“Don’t worry about it.” Johnny gave the committee chair a confident look. “Sekai Taikai takes care of all its champions, right?”

“True… too bad the boy is not a champion.”
 
The man’s voice was like cold water dumped all over their excitement. Robby saw the grin on his dad’s face turn into a scowl as he looked at the Iron Dragon’s sensei and Robby was grateful that despite the clenched fists, he avoided throwing a punch.

“Hey, man - we’re in the middle of something.”

“I heard.” Sensei Wolf smirked and turned to Miguel. “Congratulations, Diaz. Smart of you to have other options lined up, because karate wasn’t going to work out for you. Let’s hope your…

father

can scrape enough to pay for it.”

Robby looked around, wondering if the guy was actually trying to start some shit. All the dojos were at the gala - even the ones who’d lost - hoping to highlight some value in their performance and walk away with something. He could even see Zara shopping around for new sponsors - which made it all the more odd that Axel was nowhere to be seen.

“Don’t worry about that. We got this.” Johnny told his rival, stepping in to shield Miguel from him. “This was a team event and Miguel had just as much to do with our win as Robby. And I don’t wanna hear anything from a sore loser.”

“

Your

win?” Wolf grinned at him. “Maybe you need to get your eyes checked. Your boy might’ve won the finals, but

my

dojo won the tournament. They might throw your son a few scraps, but the rest of you…”

“That’s bullshit!” Johnny snapped, turning to Gunther. “Right?”

“Actually…”

It was true, Robby realized with his throat going dry. Despite his win, the Iron Dragons had more points overall. They’d made it to the captain’s bracket with a sizable lead and both of their captains had made it to the finals, whereas Robby and Tory had split their gains between two different dojos. Despite gaining big in his matches, Robby hadn’t closed that gap and things might’ve been different had Sam made it to the finals.

Or if I scored higher…

He’d screwed up. He felt his stomach sink as he realized that. He’d been so focused on himself and Axel that he’d forgotten all about the others counting on him. If he’d gotten his shit together sooner or if he’d knocked him down a couple of more times or knocked him out in the final seconds when he had the chance, he could’ve scored big for his dojo. They’d have been the champions and things would’ve worked out for all of them.

They’d all supported him and he’d still managed to let them down.

“Sekai Taikai sponsors champions but they are not the only ones who get something out of this.” Gunther explained. “This is why we have the gala - so that others can find their own students and dojos worth investing in.”

It wasn’t the same. With others, there were going to be strings attached - they weren’t simply going to give Miguel the money to go to college.

“It is truly a shame.” Wolf added. “The boy who has a future can’t afford it. And the boy who won is still a loser with no future.”

“Sensei Wolf, please. This is unbecoming.” Gunther interjected before Johnny could throw a punch. “We’ll see you at the awards ceremony tomorrow.”

With a final condescending smile, the man walked away and the conversation moved on, feeling a lot heavier than it had minutes ago.

“Don’t listen to that loser, okay?” Johnny told Miguel, firmly clasping his shoulder. “You’re a champ too and we’ll figure out the rest later. Getting into Stanford is a pretty big deal. Enjoy that win before worrying about the rest.”

Miguel gave him a grim smile and nodded, and Robby suddenly understood what that sinking feeling in his stomach was all about. 
 
Robby went through the motions during the rest of the gala with a fake smile on his face and a heavy lump in his chest. A lump that grew heavier as Miguel’s news spread and everyone lined up to congratulate him.

Things just couldn’t be about Robby, could they? Not even for one day. He’d won the biggest karate tournament in the world and it was already old news. Everyone was moving on to Miguel’s big win, especially his dad.

Robby was pissed - at Miguel for stealing his thunder, at his dad for letting him and at himself for feeling this way. He wasn’t supposed to be this guy, especially when Miguel had been nothing but supportive. Miguel had celebrated his win without an ounce of resentment and he deserved the same from Robby - but as hard as he pretended otherwise, the nagging anger wouldn’t go away.

“I know you don’t drink, so I got them to make you this.” Miguel said, putting down a glass of brightly colored beverage in front of him. “It’s a virgin mango mojito and it’s friggin’ awesome.”

Robby grunted and took a sip, face scrunching the excessive sweetness of the drink. He pointedly pushed the glass down and pushed it away, scowling while Miguel chuckled at his reaction.

“Wanna get out of here?” Miguel asked, fingers brushing against his own. “We could finish what we started before.”

“Mess around some more?” Robby asked sarcastically, pulling his hand away. “Nah… I’m good.”

Miguel frowned at his tone. “Dude, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing - everything’s perfect.” Robby shrugged, failing to keep the bitterness from his voice. “I won the tournament and you got into Stanford… I mean, after all the shit you gave me about not getting in because I was the captain and you got in anyway. How friggin’ awesome is that?”

“Did you… not want me to get in?”

“No, that’s not…” Robby sighed, giving up the pretense. “I’m happy for you. Really, you deserved to get in from the start. But did you have to tell everyone about it today? You couldn’t just let me have this one day to myself?”

Miguel looked away, cringing guiltily. “This is still your day, man. And I wasn’t going to say anything… it just slipped out.”

“Sure.” Robby rolled his eyes. “C’mon man, don’t pretend this isn’t what you wanted. My dad was focused on my future for once and you couldn’t have that.”

“Are you kidding me?” Miguel snapped at him. “He has been focused on you for weeks and I’ve been putting up with it because you needed it. You think I didn’t want to run to him first when I got that email? I didn’t because you needed him more.”

“Gee, thanks Miguel.” Robby scoffed. “I don’t need your pity, alright? I don’t need you to lie to people to protect my feelings.”

“Wait - so, now you’re mad that I kept it a secret?” Miguel shook his head in disbelief. “Make up your mind, dude.”

Robby didn’t want to. He wanted to have it both ways, be unreasonable and he wanted to stay pissed at Miguel.

“Robby, what’s going on with you?”

“So, I’m not allowed to have feelings?” Robby snapped back.

“C’mon, man - this isn’t you.” Miguel shook his head. “You don’t get pissed about good things happening for people you care about. And Sensei not caring about you? You know that’s crap. You know that he’s still talking you up to everybody.”

Robby glowered at the fruity drink before him, resisting the urge to throw it at the wall. Miguel might have a point about his dad, but he was wrong about Robby - he did hate this good thing happening for Miguel because every time he thought about it, he wanted to punch someone.

“You know what, man? When you’re ready to talk about what’s

really

going on, I’m all ears.” Miguel told him, shaking his head in disappointment. “But I’m not gonna let you shit all over me for this.”

He left him with those words and Robby angrily stared at the table, the pit of resentment inside growing bigger as his mind replayed those words. There was something dark uncoiling inside him… something that wanted to hurt Miguel. Or at least, hurt

someone

.

He pulled out his phone and shot off a quick text. He didn’t have to wait long for an answer. 
 
Robby watched Axel go through practice katas, feet moving along the mat in circled steps, before coming closer and letting his presence be known. He hadn’t wanted to do this at Miyagi-Do - it felt disrespectful somehow - and Axel was already at the AVT where the finals had taken place. Nobody else was there, not even a security guard, so it’d felt like an appropriate place for their confrontation.

Except, as soon as Robby saw the other boy, he knew there wasn’t going to be a confrontation. The simmering discontent that had driven him there was gone by the time he got there and now he was more curious about what Axel was still doing there.

“Missed you at the gala.” He said, drawing the other boy’s attention. “Why weren’t you there with the rest?”

“Gala for winners. Not a winner.” Axel replied with a disappointed curl of his lips.

“Seriously?” Robby shook his head in disbelief. “Dude, your dojo won the tournament. You know they couldn’t have done it without you.”

“My dojo there because they win. I do not.”

That had to be Axel’s sensei speaking through him. That asshole was punishing him despite Axel doing his best and Robby felt a surge of sympathy for the boy as he looked him over carefully.

“Did he hurt you? For losing?” He asked.

Axel shook his head. “Sensei doesn’t blame me for losing - he blames himself. He said he got too confident in my strength… and too complacent. He must train me even harder.”

You mean beat you even harder?

Robby thought, pursing his lips. He could tell exactly what that man was doing, even if Axel couldn’t - guilt-tripping him into blaming himself so that no matter what he did later, Axel would feel like he deserved it. 
 
“Why are you not at gala?” Axel asked him. “Did sensei do something?”

“No.” Robby replied, giving him a strange look. “I needed a break to clear my head.”

“Seemed pretty clear during match.”

“Yours didn’t.” Robby told him. “Why’d you hold back?”

It was clear that Axel didn’t understand the question. He frowned in confusion and looked around like someone might explain it to him.

“C’mon - you said you wanted to fight me at my best. And you did.” Robby obliged him. “But were you at your best? I couldn’t find a single opening to land a hit the first time we fought and this time, there were holes all over the place.”

“You are better now… a lot better.” Axel replied uncertainly. “I cannot believe how strong you grow in such short time. Maybe you just didn’t notice them before?”

It was definitely possible. That’s what his training with his dad was all about. But still, something about the match didn’t sit right with him.

“I did not hold back.” Axel insisted. “I did not want to hurt you, but I accepted I must for sake of winning. Would’ve been disrespectful to you to hold back. And I needed to win.”

He wasn’t lying - as far as he knew. But Robby could see there was a lot more to it. The need to win, the desire not to hurt your opponent with the reluctant acceptance that it had to be done - his mindset sounded the same as Robby’s, but there was some critical difference between them he couldn’t put his finger on.

“Maybe, but your head wasn’t in the game.” Robby told him. “Take it from someone who knows.”

Axel looked away, troubled, and sat down at the edge of the platform, fiddling his fingers as he tried to think it through. Robby sat down next to him and put his hand on his knee, patiently waiting for him to work his thoughts out.

“I knew I had to win… but I did not know why.” He finally admitted in a voice barely above a whisper. “Didn’t know if I deserved to… Things so messed up since that night. I always believed in my dojo… my sensei. Always trusted he wanted best for me even if it meant hurting others. I don’t know what to believe anymore.”

The answer seemed obvious to Robby, but he also knew Axel wasn’t going to be convinced that easily.

“I know what you will say, but you are wrong.” Axel told him before he could reply. “He does care about me… did everything to make me stronger. That is how the world works… to have something, you must take it from someone else. Even the win today… we could not both have it. I had to lose for you to win. And losing leave you alone and miserable - with nothing to show for your work. That is why sensei wants me to win - he wants me to be happy.”

“But…?” Robby prompted him.

“But… not sure if I want to win this way.” Axel admitted. “Sensei says win is win but hurting you like that… going after your dojo… breaking your will to fight - does not feel right.”

Robby almost smiled at his answer. Axel might not have had the benefit of a good sensei like Robby did, but he’d almost found his way to the right path anyway. He only needed a nudge to accept it.

“There is something we learn at Miyagi-Do.” Robby told him gently. “Winning or losing doesn’t matter. If you fight with honor, people will respect you.”

“That’s bullshit.” Axel shook his head. “Nobody respects a loser.”

“Come to the gala and see for yourself. All those losing dojos? They’re still there, talking to people about their work, their skills… and people respect them for it. Zara lost just like you did and she is still getting new sponsors.” Robby took a deep breath, watching Axel stubbornly stare at his hands. He realized this wasn’t the way to get through to him. “But maybe there is another Miyagi-Do lesson you’ll find useful - never put passion before principle. Even if you win, you lose.”

“That makes no sense.” Axel looked up, frowning. “What does that mean?”

“It means getting others to respect you doesn’t matter if you can’t respect yourself.” Robby explained, drawing on what he’d learned through his own experience. “If you can’t win in a way you can be proud of, then you’re better off losing. Respecting yourself is way more important than any trophy.”

Axel looked back down and mulled those words over… then he angrily pushed Robby’s hand away and got off the ledge, turning on him in anger. 
 
“Why are you doing this to me? Why you keep messing with my head?” He snarled at him. “Is this revenge for what I did? You already won - what more do you want?”

“What…? No!” Robby replied indignantly. “I’m trying to help you.”

“Bullshit! Why would you care about helping me?” He growled. “Why are you here anyway? Why not enjoy the gala with your new boyfriend?”

“Miguel’s not my boyfriend.” Robby snapped back. “We were just messing around.”

Axel scoffed in disbelief.

“It’s true.” Robby insisted. “I just told you that to get you off my back - but all we did was hookup a couple of times. In fact, I’m here because we had an argument. He got his admission to Stanford and he just had to tell everybody today.”

“So you scared of losing him and you come here to make yourself feel better!”

“Losing him?” Robby scoffed, getting up himself. “Dude, I told you - we’re not together. We just hooked up. Doesn’t mean I’m in love with him.”

“But you want to be!” Axel countered. “You want it to turn into something and now you’re upset it never will.”

“No… that’s not…” Robby shook his head stubbornly. Axel was wrong - he had to be. No matter what he’d briefly hoped might happen between them, Robby would never expect Miguel to give up his dreams for him. This was about jealousy, plain and simple. It was supposed to be his day and Miguel had found a way to take it from him. “I just wanted my dad to focus on me for a change.”

“Then you should be happy he is going. Your father will have no one else to focus on with him gone.”

The answer left him speechless. Robby knew it wasn’t the same thing - that he wanted his dad to pick him over Miguel, not simply be the option he was left with. But he’d already accepted it was never going to happen. He’d stopped expecting that, made his peace with the fact that Miguel would always come first and he’d learned to be happy with what he got.

“Look at you…” Axel scoffed, shaking his head. “So smart. So wise about everything. See everyone so clearly, no? Everyone but yourself. Don’t know your own heart… and you just let everyone play with it.”

“And you think you know me?” Robby looked up at him with the anxious pit in his stomach growing bigger.

“I know why you wanted to win so bad.” Axel replied. “Wanted to prove yourself worthy, no? Wanted to make daddy proud? But I know it won’t change anything.”

“At least we agree on something.” Robby shot back. “Win or lose, this tournament wasn’t going to change anything. For either of us.”

That was a conversation ender if ever there was one. There was nothing else they could say to each-other after that. The only thing to do now was to walk away… or do something else.

Axel chose the latter. He came closer to Robby, taking his face in his hands and leaned down to kiss him. And Robby closed his eyes, lips parted in expectation and his hands gripping Axel’s wrists to keep his warmth on his face.

Then a sudden noise made him jerk and they stepped away from each-other.

What the hell is he doing? What the hell am I doing? Why am I even here?

Miguel hid behind the stands, straining to hear the muffled conversation and wondering how exactly he’d ended up there. He was supposed to be at the gala, enjoying the best day of his life. Not only had Robby won the tournament, Miguel had gotten the Stanford news before that, proving that he didn’t need the captaincy or the trophy to change his life. He’d done that on his own and that was something he could be proud of.

But of course, Robby had found a way to piss all over it. Accused him of hogging the attention and made him feel guilty about something good. And then, instead of correcting his attitude and apologizing, he’d snuck away, forcing Miguel to follow him. Robby tended to do stupid things when he was upset and Miguel was responsible enough to keep an eye on his step-brother.

And this was beyond stupid! Ditching the celebration of the biggest day of your life with your loved ones was bad enough, but doing it to spend time with

that

asshole? What the hell was Robby thinking?

He’s not! He never does. Stupid, selfish, self-destructive…

He hadn’t wanted to make his presence known. He’d only meant to hang around to make sure that Robby was safe - but he couldn’t help but move when he saw the big lug put his hands on Robby’s face. The two of them heard him and jumped apart, looking around in panic like they’d been caught doing something wrong.

“Miguel?” Robby’s eyes widened when he saw him. “What are you doing here?”

“I should ask you that.” Miguel replied, glaring at Axel and Axel glared right back. “Were you really gonna let this asshole touch you again?”

“You don’t tell him what to do!” Axel snarled, taking an angry step towards him.

“That’s enough! Both of you!” Robby said sharply, stepping between them and holding Axel back with a hand on his chest. “Ax - back off! And Miguel… it’s fine, okay? We talked about our shit and we’re cool now.”

Ax?

The nickname made Miguel’s blood boil. What Axel did was unforgivable. He did not get to just lose a fight and have everything be cool. Robby might be forgiving to a fault, but Miguel was smarter than that. He had to protect Robby from his own stupidity.

“Dude, c’mon!” Robby said to him, arms spread placatingly. “We had a lot of stuff between us and we settled things too, right?”

That was different. What happened between them was an accident - a misunderstanding. And they were on the same side so they

had

to settle things. Axel was still the enemy and as his sensei had proven that very day, they were still out to get them.

“I didn’t settle shit!” Miguel replied angrily.

“You want your ass kicked again, pretty boy?” Axel sneered at him. “Anytime, anywhere.”

“Seriously?” Robby whirled around on him. “After everything we just talked about?”

“Deal!” Miguel jumped at the chance. “You already got your ass kicked by one guy half your size. I’d be happy to do it again. Our dojo? Tomorrow? Same rules?”

“I said, that’s enough!” Robby angrily pushed Axel back and glared at Miguel, daring him to take a step forward. “What the hell is wrong with you two? We

just

settled things on the mat and you wanna start this shit all over again? You wanna start another war? Is that what we stand for?”

Robby didn’t get it - this wasn’t about their dojos or senseis or ideals. This was about them. Miguel’s relationship with Robby had already gone through a lot of crap to reach where it was now. He couldn’t let Axel mess that up. Couldn’t let him just stroll in and become Robby’s new best friend… or more.

“You’re right - this not about dojos.” Axel replied, tugging his belt loose. “I do not fight for honor or trophy - I fight to teach him lesson.”

“Funny - I was thinking the same thing.” Miguel sneered at him.

“No need to get others involved, yes?” The taller boy pulled off his gi, flexing his muscles intimidatingly. “No need to wear dojo colors if we don’t represent them. We settle this here and now.”

“Axel…” Robby said warningly.

“Don’t worry - won’t hurt him too bad.” Axel gave him a condescending reassurance.

The boy’s physique was impressive - Miguel couldn’t deny that. And he felt a shiver go down his spine as he remembered how their last encounter had gone. But if Axel thought he could scare him into submission, he had another thing coming. Miguel might not always win, but he’d never run away from a fight.

“You’re not gonna hurt him at all.” Robby said firmly. “I’m not gonna let you.”

A part of Miguel was happy to hear Robby defend him. And another part was pissed at how he just assumed Miguel would be the one getting his ass kicked. Robby wasn’t the only one who’d trained harder these past weeks. Even though Miguel wasn’t going to represent them, he’d still worked his butt off to get better.

“Robby, this is happening.” Miguel said, shrugging off his overshirt and pulling his own tee over his head. “Either get on board or get out of the way.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Axel watched the shirtless Latino stretch before their fight, his muscles rippling under his darker skin. He’d never seen Miguel Diaz bare before - never even bothered to imagine what he might be hiding under there. He’d just assumed the kid was skinny and he was surprised to see the toned, muscular physique revealed before him.

Surprised, but not intimidated. The boy was lithe - his coiled tendons packed with power - but Axel was bigger and stronger. He’d proved it before and he’d prove it again.

Robby still kept staring between them with a distressed look on his face. He’d given up on trying to stop it and now only wanted to do some damage control.

“Tournament rules, okay?” He told them both. “First one to 3 points wins.”

They both snorted with contempt in response.

“That’s not how we did it.” Miguel reminded him. “If you really want us to settle this shit, we need to beat the crap out of each-other until we’re satisfied.”

“Agreed!” Axel nodded. “No points. No rules. And no mercy.”

“Seriously?” Robby looked on in exasperation. “You guys barely know each-other and you hate each-other that much?”

Robby wouldn’t understand. Someone like him - who forgave even the unforgivable so easily - would not understand this need to hurt and be hurt. Axel did not know everything that had happened between the two of them, but he knew Miguel had hurt him. He’d let him down, he’d left him alone and vulnerable and that’s why

it

had happened. Axel owned the part he’d played in it - he was ready to accept punishment, but Miguel wasn’t innocent either. Not only had he hurt him before, he’d hurt him today too. Robby might be ‘cool’ with it, might forgive it just as easily, but someone had to stand up for him.

His opponent rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck, bouncing on his feet as he got ready for the fight. Robby stepped aside with a frustrated sigh and the two boys squared off against each-other, eyes full of promise of pain. 
 
Miguel attacked first, leaping high in the air and swinging his leg around. Axel easily bent backwards to dodge it and kicked his leg, flipping him midair and landing him on the mat. He was on him a moment later, one hand on his chest and the other raised to punch his lights out, but Miguel swung his leg up again and his knee caught him on the side of his head, throwing him off. He jumped back to his feet right as Axel rolled to his own and the two squared off again.

Axel got the first hit this time by grabbing Miguel’s wrist and punching his exposed side, but Miguel returned with a knee to his thigh that sent a jolt of satisfying pain through his spine. He countered by kicking the back of Miguel’s legs, grabbing his throat and slamming him on the mat. He almost had him after that, but Miguel planted his foot on his chest and flipped him over, resetting them once more.

He’d missed this. Despite the conversation he’d had with Robby earlier, there was something raw and primal and satisfying about cutting loose and letting the violence take over. This time, Axel knew for sure he was holding back - he’d never have left himself this exposed to Miguel’s counters in a real match. But it wasn’t because of what Robby had said about not hurting Miguel. Quite the opposite - he didn’t want it to be over too soon. He could already feel himself growing hard in his pants and he didn’t want to knock Miguel out before he was thoroughly humiliated.

Miguel wouldn’t go down as easily either. Axel noted with some satisfaction that he was a lot better than the last time. Or rather… he was more driven.

He wasn’t as cautious - wasn’t as scared of getting hit and didn’t hold back in his counters. It must be a weakness his sensei saddled him with because Robby was the same before. Still, there was something fundamentally different about how they fought. Robby kept his anger tightly bridled - Miguel rode it like a horse to battle. He used it to dish out the pain while accepting the same in return.

Axel liked this a lot better. Fighting Robby always left him feeling ashamed - like he was an asshole for hurting a sweet boy. But this could be the true expression of combat he could enjoy to the fullest.

“Think I’m gonna let you get away with what you did to him?” Miguel snarled at him, rearing his arm back. “Zara paid her due and Kwon got away with it - but you won’t. Neither will your sensei.”

Axel grunted in pain when Miguel punched him in the chest, a failed attempt to recreate Robby’s Silver Bullet counter. Robby had left him incapacitated with that move, but Miguel barely slowed him down. He watched the boy’s eyes widen in surprise as he charged at him. Miguel raised his arms in defense and Axel slipped under, grabbing him around the waist and throwing him to the mat on his front.

He climbed on top of him, holding him down by his neck and pushed his hips against his butt.

“You know nothing about that.” He snarled in Miguel’s ear. “Maybe, I show you, yes? Maybe I fuck

you

like a bitch.”
 
A shiver went up Miguel’s spine as he felt the bigger boy’s erection rubbing on his ass. He had no confidence at all in his ability to beat the guy, but he still wanted to make him hurt as much as he could. Except, it felt like he was enjoying it… and he was going to hurt Miguel in ways he’d’ never imagined.

“Get off him!”

Suddenly, the weight was off. Robby charged in to throw Axel off and now stood between them, fists raised against the guy. Miguel felt a rush of joy when he saw Robby take his side. And then another, darker one when Axel’s face crumpled before him.

“I think you guys have proven your point.” Robby forced himself to be calm. “You need to - ”

Miguel didn’t let him finish. Using Robby’s body as a pivot, he swung around and Axel never even saw the move coming. His heel caught the guy right on the jaw, snapping his head to the side in a spray of spit and blood. Miguel might not be able to beat him alone, but with Robby by his side, there was no stopping the two of them.

The unexpected blow to the head made Axel dizzy. He stumbled on his feet, shaking his head to clear his vision and raised his hands instinctively to defend against the next blow. Smirking, Miguel took a step back and aimed carefully before kicking him right between the legs.

Axel’s breath hitched mid-yell, eyes bulging as the pain radiating from his balls to his skull. With a choked cry, he staggered backwards, legs buckling as he clutched his jewels in a futile attempt to contain the agony. A strangled, half-formed gasp escaped his lips as his body curled inward and he fell to his knees, instinctively trying to shield itself from further harm.

“Asshole…” He hissed through gritted teeth.

“No rules, remember?” Miguel sneered down at him, fist raised to land the finishing blow.

Robby caught his wrist before it landed and pushed him to the side, once again putting himself between the two of them.

“What the hell, Miguel?” He snapped at him. “Did you forget everything that you learned?”
 
Axel was still incapacitated, his body wracked with a shooting pain that made him retch and want to throw up. He’d given Miguel the opening he needed and the moment Miguel had the chance, he’d finish him off for good. He tried to push Robby aside with a growl and resume the fight, but Robby stubbornly stayed between them, putting his hands on Miguel’s face and forcing him away from Axel.

“That’s enough, alright? Hey - look at me. That’s enough!”

Miguel did - and then responded by pulling Robby in and kissing him on the lips. Surprised, Robby let out a muffled sound as Miguel deftly undid his jeans, hands shoving inside his pants while holding him in his embrace. Axel’s eyes widened as he saw Diaz push Robby’s jeans and undies down his ass, dark fingers groping his pale, round butt right before his eyes. Then he looked up to see Miguel watching him over Robby’s shoulder, a smug look of victory in his eyes.

His balls still throbbed, making every breath he took an agonizing ordeal. But that look made him get back on his feet with a grunt and he rushed at them again. Miguel pushed Robby aside as soon as he saw him and met Axel’s charge with a quick strike to the neck that left him choking and gasping for breath.

Focus,

he could hear his sensei’s voice in his head,

or you’ll lose him.

Miguel kept up the attack, forcing Axel on the defensive, but he’d clearly never been through Axel’s kind of training. Sensei Wolf had always taught him that no matter how hard you got hit, you had to keep fighting and he’d put Axel through some hellish pain to make sure of that. He was obviously not going to be done just because Miguel had the advantage for the moment.

He stayed on defense, protecting his vulnerable vitals from Miguel’s relentless assault while regaining his breath. And the moment he did, he returned with an uppercut that sent the boy staggering. He followed it up with a punch to the gut that drove the air out of him, but before he could hit him again, Robby blocked his fist and sent him reeling with a blow of his own. 
 
Things were becoming a bit of a clusterfuck. Axel didn’t want to fight Robby, didn’t want to hurt him, but he kept getting in the way. He couldn’t get to Miguel without going through him. Luckily, Robby didn’t want to fight him either. He definitely held back this time when Axel tried to push past him and Robby used his momentum to throw him to the side.

Diaz took advantage of the opening like he’d expected, but he found Robby standing in his way as well. Their situation was the same - Robby resisted Miguel’s attempts to push him aside, somehow managing to fight despite his pants slung low and his ass half exposed. Axel watched them exchange a flurry of blows, countering each-other in equal measure, which ended with both of them kicking each other in the chest. Miguel went sprawling to the mats while Robby staggered back, right into Axel’s waiting arms.

He had to take Robby out of the fight without hurting him. That was the only way to regain sanity and get things back on track. Grabbing him around the waist, Axel swung him around and slammed him on the mat, pinning him down with a hand on the small of his back. He quickly yanked his pants down his plump bit and spread his cheeks apart, spitting into his deep valley. Robby shuddered and his whole body stiffened at the first swipe of Axel’s tongue over his cleft.

Robby might be a great fighter, but he was also really sensitive and needy and this was the best possible way to distract him. Robby moaned as Axel wriggled his tongue against his wrinkled hole, spreading his legs wider invitingly and Axel glanced up, giving his fallen rival a mocking look over Robby’s cheeks.

What the hell is he doing?

Miguel’s eyes widened in rage as he saw Axel bury his face between Robby’s asscheeks. He was eating his ass out and judging by Robby’s moans, making him like it.

Snarling, he scrabbled ahead and swung, kicking Axel in the head again and throwing him off Robby’s body. He got to his feet, about to jump on him and pound him into oblivion, when a hand caught his foot and planted him on the mat again. He kicked out on instinct and immediately regretted it when he heard Robby grunt in pain.

“You want him to fuck you again?” He snapped, turning around with his face twisted in rage.

“That’s not - mmmmpppffff….”

Miguel kissed him, twisting his body to get on top and pin him down. He pushed Robby’s shirt up, fingers scratching his sensitive abs before he found his nipples and twisted them punishingly. He got it now - he finally understood how things were. Despite the horrible, unforgivable thing Axel had done, Robby kept going back to him because he could fuck him good. The guy’s cock must be magic to make Robby this desperate for it - but if Robby wanted a good old-fashioned dickdown, Miguel would more than fulfill all his fantasies.

He ravaged his mouth, grinding his clothed erection against Robby’s semi-exposed dick while twisting his tits to make him moan louder. He could make him cum like that if he wanted to, just by rutting against him.

“Get your fucking hands off him!”

He’d lost sight of his enemy and he paid for it when Axel grabbed him around the waist and dragged him off Robby. The guy was strong as an ox, able to hold Miguel midair as his thick arms tightened and started to squeeze the air out of him. Miguel retaliated by swinging his arm back, trying to catch his head with his elbow and when that didn’t work, he started kicking at his legs.

With a grunt, Axel moved his hand lower and grabbed his crotch. His claw tightened around the bulge and sharp pain shot through his groin. Miguel screamed, grabbing Axel’s wrist to loosen his viselike grip on his balls, but the asshole had him locked in tight. 
 
Then another weight slammed into them and all three of them went down in a tangle of limbs.

“Both of you, stop it!” Robby said as the three of them tried to extricate themselves from the mess.

Axel wasn’t sure why or how things had changed, but changed they had. He didn’t feel the burning urge to go after Miguel anymore - not with Robby on top of him, half-naked and trying to pin him down. This was never about Miguel anyway, beyond showing him that Robby didn’t belong to him. That’s what Axel really wanted. Sure, he might’ve hurt Robby before, but Miguel was hurting him now and he knew that he could make the boy a lot happier than the curly-haired latino. And once he showed him that, Miguel would have no choice but to back off.

He forced himself up despite Robby’s efforts to overpower him and latched on to his neck, making him shudder as he bit down on his. His hands grabbed Robby’s waist, fingers pressing into his soft, muscular body. Robby gasped, his strength leaving him as he surrendered to the pleasure… then there was another weight on top as Miguel grabbed him from behind and started tugging Robby’s shirt over his head.

He managed to get Robby’s arms out, but Axel stubbornly refused to let go of his neck. Miguel grunted in frustration and gave up, kissing his way down Robby’s spine instead. Robby lifted his hips, letting him push his pants down even lower and Axel knew from Robby’s high-pitched keen that Miguel’s mouth had found his needy asshole. Not to be outdone, Axel left his bruised neck and worked his way lower to his exposed chest, licking and nibbling his nipples to make him moan louder.

His hand moved lower, tugging at Robby’s leaking cock along the way before pushing between his legs. He knew exactly what got Robby going and he had every intention of using it to his advantage - but much to his frustration, he found Miguel already two fingers deep inside Robby’s hole with his swiping tongue making him even looser. The bastard refused to move no matter how hard Axel tried to push him away, so all he could do was push his own finger inside Robby alongside Miguel’s.

They were still fighting. They might not be trying to hurt each-other anymore, but now they were competing over who could make Robby moan louder. Their fingers battled inside Robby’s channel, trying to push others out of the way as they searched for that sweet spot that made Robby’s knees wobble. Miguel found it first with his extra digit advantage and Axel could practically feel him smirk against Robby’s ass while he drooled all over his hand.

Growling in anger, Axel lifted his hips up and pushed his loose gi down his thighs, finally freeing his eager cock. Miguel might have the advantage for now, but there was no way he was beating Axel in this. Axel knew he was bigger and thicker and he knew he could reach places inside Robby no one else could ever dream of. Robby would much rather have Axel’s cock inside him over whatever tiny weiner Miguel was packing. 
 
Miguel knew what he was doing the moment Axel pushed his dick between Robby’s legs and Miguel’s tongue swiped over his salty tip. Growling, the guy grabbed Robby’s waist and dragged him off Axel’s lap, forcing their fingers out of his stretched hole in the process. Robby whined at the sudden emptiness and Axel grabbed his pants, trying to keep him place, but was left holding them once they slid off Robby’s legs.

With a triumphant grin, Miguel pulled Robby out of Axel’s reach and put him down on his knees, ass up in the air and chest pressed against the mat. He pushed his pants down his legs, freeing his erection and kept his eyes locked on Axel as he spread Robby’s legs before him.

Motherfucker!

Diaz was packing some serious heat between his legs. Still not as thick or long as himself, but nothing to scoff at either. Now Axel knew how he’d kept Robby coming back to him over and over. As much as he respected Robby, he couldn’t deny that the boy was a slut for a nice, thick cock up his ass. With the two of them practically living together, Axel had no doubt that Diaz had been giving it to Robby on a daily basis.

But not anymore. Axel got up on his knees too, pulling his pants off and letting his thick meat hang between his legs. He was certain that once Miguel got a look at what he had, it’d break his pride and turn his prick into a loose flop. Sure enough, Miguel’s eyes widened at the sight of him and his face twisted into a scowl when Axel took himself in his hand and tugged himself even harder.

But then Robby’s body jerked and he let out a long, broken moan. Instead of admitting defeat and backing off like a loser, Miguel pushed his cock between Robby’s cheeks and speared him open. He kept Robby’s face pressed down on the mat and started slamming into him with sharp, brutal thrusts, each one like a punctuated insult directed right at Axel.

That Axel could not abide. He crawled over on his knees, determined to push Miguel off, but was stopped at the last moment by Robby’s hands on his thighs and his mouth on his dick. His butt clenched as Robby’s wet heat wrapped around the tip and the boy sucked him in, opening his throat up to take him to the root.

Robby

chose

to take him. Diaz might’ve shoved himself up his ass, but Robby made the choice to swallow his cock. Knowing that felt even better than Robby’s lips suctioning his shaft and that felt pretty damn good. Groaning in pleasure, Axel threw his head back and grabbed Robby’s hair, trying to shove himself in deeper.

Miguel must have noticed it too because he started thrusting into him harder, pushing Robby on to Axel’s cock and making him moan around his length. But Axel didn’t care about that guy anymore. Not when Robby was slurping on his cock, trying not to gag as the thick girth invaded his throat. 
 
“You better not hurt him.” Miguel snarled. “I swear, if you choke him with that disgusting slab of meat even once, I’m gonna rip it off.”

Axel’s eyes snapped open and he glared back at Miguel. The guy had some nerve telling him not to hurt Robby when he was the one shoving his cock inside him like that. It wasn’t like Robby liked… okay, maybe he did. Still, Diaz didn’t get to pretend he was doing it for Robby’s benefit.

“I’d tell you the same thing…” He replied snidely. “But I don't think Robby can feel that tiny prick inside.”

He watched Miguel’s face twist in anger in response.

“All you guys are the same - you think you’re god’s gift because you have a big cock.” He snarled at him. “All you care about is getting off. You don’t care about making anyone else feel good.”

Nasty little shithead!

He knew what Miguel was implying - that just because Robby was sucking him off, he didn’t care about Robby’s pleasure. That was just not true and he was going to prove it.

Axel pushed Miguel, making him stumble back and slip out of Robby’s ass. Before he could recover, Axel grabbed the smallest boy and pulled him flush against his chest. He pushed his cock between his cheeks, following the trail of slick to his opening, but Miguel grabbed Robby’s chest before he found it and tried to pull him away. Axel wasn’t going to let him go so easily this time. He tightened his arms, holding Robby in place firmly and Miguel tugged harder to pull him away. Robby was the rope in their impromptu tug of war and he whimpered in pain as his torso stretched uncomfortably. 
 
They both stopped pulling at the same moment. Their eyes met each-other over Robby’s pliant body and they came to a tacit understanding at the same time. They both wanted to prove themselves better, but neither was going to hurt Robby in the process. Reluctantly, Miguel let him go and Axel pulled Robby on his lap properly, letting him wrap his legs around his waist while he guided his shaft to his puckered opening. It wasn’t hard to find, despite Robby squirming on top of him, and he felt the tight ring spread open around his dickhead. Gently, he loosened his grasp around Robby’s waist and let him sink down on his cock with a long, drawn-out moan.

He grabbed Robby’s firm, round butt, slowly lifting him up and letting him drop down on his cock, making him gasp at the sensation of being filled up over and over. As Robby clung to him, face buried in the crook of his neck, Axel smirked at Diaz over him. He’d all but won - he was going to fuck Robby first while Miguel watched, tugging his own cock. And he was not going to let Robby go without making him cum too. No way Robby would want anything to do with Miguel after that.

Except, apparently, Miguel was not one to accept defeat so easily. He came closer too, wrapping an arm around Robby’s chest while the other squeezed his cheek. He trailed it down the crack and Axel felt his finger brush along his shaft as it followed it to Robby’s spread opening… before finding purchase and pushing inside as well.

Moaning, Robby lifted his head and leaned back. His eyes half-lidded, pupils blown with lust and mouth slack with pleasure, Robby looked too far gone to even understand what was happening. But as Miguel’s finger stretched him open even wider, brushing along Axel’s cock in the process, he arched his back and Miguel pressed his bare chest against him, capturing his lips in the process. Refusing to be outdone, Axel leaned forward and started gnawing at his neck again.

Maybe Diaz was smarter than he thought. No way he was going to let Axel take all the credit. Axel knew that when he felt Miguel pull Robby up, almost completely off his dick except for the thick head left lodged inside. Then he felt Miguel’s thick shaft pressed against his own, sliding up his length as he stretched Robby open even wider and his head tried to find purchase in the opening.

“Don’t fucking dare!” Axel snarled at him.

Miguel smirked back, eyes challenging him to try and stop him. And Axel would’ve, easily, except Robby’s fingers dug into his broad back and his legs tightened around him. He gave an eager whine, pushing his ass back, clearly excited at the prospect of being double stuffed. Axel hated having to share that sweet, tight ass but Robby clearly wanted this. So he held his ass in place, letting Diaz finger him wider and push his dick inside next to Axel’s.

He felt this slick, hot shaft slide along his glans and his fingers gripped Robby’s buttcheeks hard enough to leave prints. Robby was moaning from being stretched wide open like he was in pain… but he also bared his neck and turned his face towards Miguel. Diaz caught his lips again and stuck his tongue down Robby’s throat, ravishing his mouth while his cock slid all the way inside. Pissed at the display, Axel thrust his hips up and bit down on Robby’s neck again, sucking a fresh bruise while his shaft battled for space with Miguel’s within Robby’s tight heat. Robby whimpered, squirming to get away, and Axel wasn’t sure if it was his teeth digging into him or the two cocks stuffing him full.

Axel grabbed Robby’s ass and lifted him higher, pushing his knees under him until Robby was straddling his lap and he could angle his cock to go deeper than before. Not to be outdone, Miguel wrapped his arms around Robby’s waist and started thrusting in harder as well, his steely length rubbing against Axel’s shaft to go even further. That was one contest he knew Miguel was going to lose and Axel smirked at him over Robby’s shoulder before taking the boy’s soft lips and ravishing his mouth. Miguel responded by biting down on his neck and leaving his own hickey there as a mark of possession.

Robby moaned and whimpered, bouncing on Axel’s lap as Miguel repeatedly drove his cock into him. His body was slack with pleasure like a puppet without strings and his mind was too far gone to register the ongoing rivalry between the two boys. His asshole was stretched wide and stuffed full, more than it’d ever been before, and the hands roving over his body, finding every weakness, every sensitive spot, refused to give him even a moment to regain his senses. Both Miguel and Axel were determined to be the one to push him over the edge, failing to realize there would be no way to tell who actually won. 
 
His sweat-slick body glided between the two bigger boys, cock grating over Axel’s washboard abs with the warmth of Miguel’s broad chest at his back. He moved his arms around drunkenly, grabbing on to one and then the other for support. Not that he needed to - the two of them held him so securely that he couldn’t have gotten away even if he wanted to. But every time one of their cocks stabbed his sweet spot or their fingers found an exposed nerve in the grooves of his muscles, his whole body shuddered and the world swam before his dazed eyes.

The two stiff cocks kept gliding and rubbing against each-other inside Robby’s tight heat and when Axel felt Miguel’s pulsing slightly, he knew the other boy was close. When Miguel slowed down his thrusts to last longer, it all but confirmed it. He was still focused on Robby, licking the bruises he’d left on his neck while moving his hips in shallow thrusts - and Axel took advantage of the opening. Reaching up before he could react, he pinched Miguel’s nipple and twisted hard, making him jerk with a cry.

Hips stuttered, cock pulsing uncontrollably as he came inside Robby with a deep groan. Axel smirked as he saw his face twist in agonized pleasure and his dick spasmed against his own, washing it with his hot, sticky release. He knew he’d won when he felt Miguel’s dick begin to soften against his own, still twitching from the aftershocks of his orgasm and he started thrusting into Robby in earnest.

But then Miguel flipped the script. Reaching around between their sweaty bodies, he grabbed Robby’s cock and started tugging and twisting it. Before Axel could slap his hand away, Robby came with a high-pitched keen, shooting thick ropes of cum between them. Axel kept thrusting, smearing Robby’s seed all over their chests and the hot clenching channel pushed him over the edge too. He came with a frustrated groan, filling Robby’s guts with his cum adding to Miguel’s while giving his rival an angry look over Robby’s shoulder.

Miguel returned his look with a smirk, mockingly wiping his hand on Axel’s chest. 
 
Robby felt debauched. He felt used up and spent, chewed up and spit out. His ass had never felt that stuffed in his life. His hole was still twitching, throbbing with a dull ache as it tried to close and keep their cum from leaking out. Groaning, he pushed himself to his feet and immediately regretted it when his sphincter spasmed, pain shooting up his spine and making his knees wobble. Two pair of hands immediately grabbed his arms to help him up and he angrily swatted them away.

Those two assholes…

All he’d wanted was to keep them from hurting each-other and he’d gotten pounded for his trouble. This was so fucking unfair - they’d left him sore and bruised all over with a necklace of hickeys all around his throat. He didn’t think he’d be able to walk straight for a week - and when people saw his bruised neck and awkward gait, they’d know exactly what happened. Which was such a shitty thing to happen to him the day before he was going to receive his trophy - on tv, no less.

At least his gambit had worked. The two dipshits didn’t look like they wanted to kill each-other anymore. They weren’t going to be friends any time soon, but at least the simmering resentment between them was gone for the moment.

“So are you guys satisfied or do you still wanna beat the crap out of each-other?” He asked them, just to make sure.

They both looked away, clearly ashamed of themselves in their post-nut clarity. Miguel was the first to answer. “Yeah, I guess we settled things.” He said, looking up at Axel. “It’s over now, right?”

“No…” Axel shook his head, shuffling on his feet. “It is starting.”

It didn’t sound like a threat, or even a warning - simply a reluctant statement of fact. It made both of them look up at him.

“Silver told us after we lose match.” Axel went on, shuffling on his feet. “He will not stop until he destroy all of you.”

“Let him try.” Miguel replied defiantly. “We kicked his ass before… and Robby kicked yours.”

Axel shook his head, glancing up with a guilty look on his face. “There are other ways to come after you… other than fighting.” He swallowed nervously. “I think… he’ll use that night to humiliate you.”

While Miguel frowned in confusion, Robby’s stomach sank in a pit of despair. He was a fool to think that he’d be allowed to have even one moment of happiness or relief. No matter what he tried, his past always found a way to bite him in the ass.

“I’m sorry. Truly. For all the trouble I cause.” Axel looked up at them, eyes trapped and helpless. “I don’t know what they ask me to do next, but I’ll have to do it. I have no choice.”

“Bullshit! You always have a choice.” Miguel spoke again. “You just don’t - ”

“Miguel, it’s fine.” Robby interjected, putting his hand on Miguel’s arm and turning to Axel. “It’s okay. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. You should get cleaned up for now… maybe come back to the gala with us?”

Axel shook his head stubbornly and gathered up his clothes.

“I don’t want to be there.” He replied. “I can’t leave, but I don’t want to be around them more than I have to.”

He bunched up his clothes around his crotch and walked away, still naked, towards the showers. They should probably shower too - Robby was starting to feel icky - but he got a feeling that Axel needed to be alone for the moment and he wanted to give the guy his space. 
 
“Leave?” Miguel kept staring at Axel’s retreating back with a confused frown on his face. “If he wants to leave his dojo… why doesn’t he just do it?”

“You know why.” Robby sighed, pulling his underwear back up his legs. “It’s not easy to break away.”

Miguel wanted to get it - he really did. But he didn’t think he could every truly understand it. He started dressing himself with a troubled feeling in his chest - he might not understand, but he’d seen this thing often enough to know it was a real thing. For some reason, people kept going back to those who hurt them.

Like Robby…

He swallowed nervously, glancing to the side as Robby stuffed his plump ass back in his jeans. Today proved something that he’d prayed was a lie - Robby and Axel cared about each-other. Any hope he had that Robby would see his true colors and reject him was gone the moment Axel looked up with those puppy-dog eyes and apologized. Even Miguel couldn’t hold on to the notion that the guy was still an asshole but…

But Robby deserved better. Better than Tory and a damn sight better than Axel. They’d both hurt him before and Miguel hated the idea of watching him get hurt again.

“C’mon… let’s get you back to the gala.” He said, patting Robby on the shoulder.

Robby shifted away from him, a subtle rejection that stung his chest. He hadn’t forgotten the argument they’d had before coming there, but he’d figured after everything that had just happened - with Robby protecting him from getting his ass kicked no less - that things would be cool between them.

“Dude, are you still pissed at me because I told people about Stanford?” He asked, resentfully surprised. “C’mon, man, you don’t really think I was trying to upstage you.”

“Why do you care what I think?” Robby snapped back, throwing Miguel’s shirt at him. “You just wanna use me for messing around, right?”

“What?” Miguel shook his head in disbelief. “What are you talking about? We both know things between us have gone way beyond that.”

Robby’s eyes widened and suddenly, Miguel realized that he

didn’t

know. They’d never talked about it, but Miguel had figured they were on the same page - that they were both being cautious after their respective breakups, testing the waters to see if it could turn into something real.

“Dude, c’mon - this isn’t about just a good fuck.” Miguel needed him to know that right away. “I care about you. I lo-”

“Don’t!” Robby cut him off sharply, taking a step back. “Don’t say that.”

“Why the hell not?” Miguel asked. “Look, I get it. You’re scared of getting hurt again… I don’t blame you. But you can’t close yourself off again. This… this could be something good.”

Robby stared at him for a moment. Then he shook his head and laughed in disbelief - which was not the reaction Miguel was expecting.

“Only you, Miguel…” He huffed. “Only you’d try to fuck with my head like that.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Stanford!” Robby replied. “You talk about this turning into something when you’re planning to leave in a few months?”

Miguel’s jaw dropped open as the pieces clicked together. “Y-you don’t want me to go?”

“Of course I want you to go!” Robby snapped back. “I want you to go as far away from me as you can.”

“Robby, what - ?”

“I wanted this to turn into something too, okay?” He yelled at him. “I thought it might - but then you dropped the Stanford bomb and I knew it never would. So now I want you as far away from me as possible. But you wanna have it both ways, right? You wanna leave and you wanna string me along. Fuck you!”

Miguel blinked, trying to process the flood of information coming at him. Things were starting to make more sense now, and less sense at the same time.

“Even if we’re apart, we could still make it work.” He argued.

“I don’t wanna ‘make it work’. I’m tired of ‘making it work’. I’m tired of sitting around and waiting and hoping…” Robby sighed, shaking his head. “Things don’t work out for me, okay? Shit keeps hitting the fan and I keep getting knocked down. I can’t spend my life not knowing if someone’s gonna help me up the next time. I need to know that.”

But you do!

Miguel wanted to tell him.

Because I will!

Except, he hadn’t. He might’ve been there for him recently, but that hadn’t always been the case.

“Look, I don’t wanna get into this mess right now.” Robby told him quietly. “You heard what Axel said - we already have a shitstorm heading our way and I need to be ready for that. Because I know it’s gonna hit me the hardest.”

Miguel nodded, backing off the subject for now. As he finished getting dressed, his mind kept going back to Robby’s words, analyzing them every which way. Robby never said that he didn’t want Miguel - he was just afraid of being left behind again. He was scared that he’d be stuck home, waiting for him while Miguel had the time of his life at college. Miguel understood that fear and he knew that it was unfounded. Whether he went to Stanford or not, he’d find a way to be there for Robby as long he got that chance.

But he also knew that he wasn’t going to convince Robby through words - he’d have to prove himself through his actions.

“About Silver and the crap he has planned…” Miguel began hesitantly. “I think I know how we can stop him. But you’re gonna hate it…”

So, was it worth it?

Sensei Kim’s words kept ringing in her head and Tory still didn’t have an answer. She’d smiled and said yes and it wasn’t a lie - not really. She’d loved being the center of attention. She’d loved being praised and celebrated and told that she had a bright future ahead of her. But every time she’d turned to her side, she’d found herself standing alone, with no one there to celebrate her success with her.

Was it worth it?

She’d made her choice and she owned that. She accepted that she’d hurt people who cared about her, that she’d let them down… that they probably didn’t want anything to do with her anymore.

Let’s make a deal…

Tory got up from her bed and paced around her room angrily. It was hard to pretend that they were the ones who’d abandoned her, forced her into a difficult choice, when she’d rejected every attempt Robby had made to reconcile. She kept blaming it on Zara… and on him for his moment of weakness, but she knew there was more to it than that. She didn’t know who Robby was anymore and she didn’t know if she could love who he’d become.

She still remembered the first moment she’d seen him -

really

seen him. The angry scowl in his face, fists clenched by his side, that fire in his eyes, ready to throw down right there in the parole office. It’d felt like watching a reflection of her own rage in him. That was the boy she’d fallen for - someone who’d stand up for himself against anything, even her. Because how could someone stand up for someone they loved if they couldn’t do it for themselves, right? She’d fallen more and more in love with him every time she’d seen him do that - teaching Hawk a lesson, breaking up with her over Cobra Kai, storming in and facing Silver down… she’d admired his strength, his pride and she knew he was someone who deserved to stand side by side with her on the podium.

She wasn’t sure when that changed… or if it actually did. Maybe it’d started when it reconciled with his dad - admitted defeat and agreed to play second fiddle in his own family. Or maybe it was about being meek and accommodating like Mr. LaRusso wanted. Tory didn’t know exactly what had chipped away at him, but she could no longer admire him. All she felt for him was pity.

The Robby she loved would’ve never bent over for Kwon and spread his cheeks. The Robby she loved wouldn’t have shown her any concern after she treated him like crap. The Robby she loved wouldn’t have come crawling back to her, over and over again, begging her to take him back when she’d been the one to screw up. She didn’t know what had gone wrong with him, but she knew this wasn’t the guy she wanted by her side.

Not usually…

The problem was that she could still see the glimpses of the boy she’d loved not and then. It kept flashing through - the strength, the anger - like when he’d kicked Kwon’s ass or humiliated Zara or beaten Axel for the big prize. She’d felt her passions stir, watching his strong, muscular figure move with unmatched power and grace. She’d wanted him so desperately in those moments… and then he came crawling back with those needy puppy-dog eyes that made her feel more like a big sister than a lover. She already had one kid to take care of - she didn’t want another on her plate.

Frustrated, she glanced at her phone. It was only 10 pm - too early to go to bed, but there was nothing for her to do before her big day tomorrow. Tomorrow was when it all began, when all the offers started coming in, when her life changed for the better…

Her phone dinged with a notification and Tory looked at it curiously. It was a new instagram post by Robby - a video, apparently - which was a little odd because Robby was never much for social media. He was intensely private about that kind of stuff. He’d barely made a few posts and never anything about himself. But then he was the male champion of Sekai Taikai and if anyone deserved to brag to the world about him, it’d be him.

Still, Tory had no intention of torturing herself by looking at his face. She dismissed the notifications and opened youtube instead, scrolling through random videos and hoping for something to catch her interest.

Her phone dinged again - a message from Sam. “Did you see Robby’s story?”

She frowned and swiped it away, figuring he must have asked her to say that. But moments later, it dinged again. This time it was a message from… Aisha?

“Is this for real?”

Then another one from Kenny: “Holy shit! Did you know?”

Then Devon. And Hawk. And Kyler. Even… Sensei Kim?

What the hell is going on? Did I get hacked?

It felt like a trick - like some elaborate conspiracy to bombard her into something and she wasn’t sure what. While her fingered hovered over the icon uncertainly, a knock on the door jerked her out of her thoughts.

Brandon was on the other side, looking pale-faced and shaken. “Did you see it?”

Did he? Why was he watching Robby’s stories? What was he doing up so late?

“What the hell did he do now?” Tory asked angrily.

It had to be some kind of trick - some big gesture Robby made to win her back. And she wasn’t going to be pressured into it.

“You better watch it.” Brandon told her.

Genuinely curious now, Tory opened the app and found the video that had everybody buzzing. For a moment, all she saw was a screenshot of Robby sitting before the camera, before it started playing.

“Hi…. I’m kinda new at this and I guess most of you won’t know me…” He began, smiling awkwardly. “I’m Robby Keene. Captain of Team Miyagi-Do and winner of the boys' division of Sekai Taikai - the biggest karate tournament of the world. And there is something I need to get off my chest. Something that happened to me during the tournament…”

He glanced at somebody to the side and went on, relating the chain of events that began the night Tory saw him drinking at the bar. Her mouth dropped open, throat going dry and eyes widening in horror as he told the tale of that night.

“Go back to your room!” She told her brother, snatching his phone from his hand. “You shouldn’t be watching this shit!”

He obeyed meekly enough, which told her he’d already seen it, but she couldn’t worry about that right now. Alone once more, she continued the video and took in every last word of Robby’s explanation.

Drunk… drugged… guys all around him… touching him… making him lick… using him….

They raped him, she realized with numb horror. She’d been angry at him for cheating on her, but he never had. He’d wanted to be loyal - but that bitch had drugged him, used him and let others use him too. She’d hurt him and then messed with his head to make him think he wanted it.

That fucking bitch! Tory was going to kill her for good this time.

Like you’re one to judge!

Her thoughts stopped short as the other day played back in her mind. She’d hurt him too. She’d

wanted

to hurt him,

wanted

to punish him for something that wasn’t his fault. And then she’d blamed him for not fighting back hard enough. What the hell was wrong with her?

Guilt churned in her stomach, bile rising in her throat as he resisted the nauseous urge. She’d known that Robby was shaken by her choosing the other side - that he was off-balance and vulnerable. But she hadn’t cared. She’d been too wrapped up in her own thing to be there for him or let him be there for her. And then she had the gall to get angry at him for something he never did… something she might as well have pushed him into. And as if that wasn’t enough, she’d hurt him even worse. And

with

the guy who’d already hurt him before.

Robby didn’t name any name in the video - he spoke of a female captain tricking him back to her room, a male sensei drugging him and two rival male captains who had it out for him. And he never even hinted at what happened the next day. Even so, Tory was smart enough to fill in the gaps. Kwon was there that night, raping Robby with the rest of them. And then he’d done it again teh next day… and Tory helped him. How could she do that?

And why would Robby still protect her after all that?

Fuck… fuck… what did I do?

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Let me get to the rules of this hearing first. We’ll maintain decorum at all times. And any breach will be punished swiftly and severely.”

The dread feeling sat heavy in Robby’s chest - a permanent fixture over the last few days. He never should’ve listened to Miguel… never should’ve made that goddamned video. Everything was ruined because of him.

“You didn’t do anything wrong.” Miguel had told him. “

They

hurt

you.

And they’re gonna twist that to hurt you even more. You can’t let them. You need to own it. Make it your story before they make it some twisted version of theirs.”

Robby had believed him. He hadn’t wanted to hurt anyone - especially not Axel - but he’d accepted that this was the only way to protect everyone from whatever Silver had planned next. And boy had he been wrong. He should’ve known that Silver wasn’t going to be outsmarted by a couple of teens on social media. 
 
“Only the people called to the stand are allowed to speak.” Gunther, the Sekai Taikai committee chairman, went on. “Anyone else speaking out of turn will be escorted out of the hearing. I’d also like to draw your attention to the security guards by the door. They’re armed and they will not hesitate to use whatever force they have to to get things under control. Keep that in mind if you have any intention of disrupting these proceedings.”

They’d been stupid and short-sighted. They’d thought that this was just about stymieing Silver’s plans, never realizing the broader consequences. Consequences that had started hitting them hard the very next day.

Robby had gone viral overnight. Apparently, the winner of Sekai Taikai claiming that he was sexually assaulted during the tournament was a way bigger deal than he’d expected. He’d gained thousands of followers since then, half expressing sympathy and the rest accusing him of trolling for attention.

Of course the overnight popularity hadn’t gone unnoticed. The awards ceremony the next day had immediately gotten canceled - or rather, postponed - until they could get to the bottom of Robby’s ‘allegations’. And all of a sudden, Robby found himself at the epicenter of a media storm, people asking him from all sides why he’d make something like that up.

He had people on his side. His dad, Mr. LaRusso, Miguel, Sam… and others, practically forming a wall around him wherever he went. But that was fucked up in it s own way. He was causing problems for the people he cared about and he’d never wanted to do that. Hell, he’d wanted to forget that it’d ever happened - wanted to pretend that it never did - and yet, with one dumb instagram post, he’d made sure that that’s what everyone would remember about him - the boy who cried rape. 
 
“Mr. Keene, would you please take the stand?”

There was nothing technically official about this hearing. That’s not what Sekai Taikai did. The issue was much simpler than that. Robby had said a lot of things about what happened to him and if what he said turned out to be true, all the sponsors who supported the guilty party would pay for it. Same if it turned out to be false for people who supported Robby instead. Either way, the tournament’s reputation would take a hit - either they were the guys who protected rapists or they ruined someone over made-up allegations. This hearing was simply about establishing the ‘preponderance of evidence’  and covering their asses either way.

Robby would’ve simply let them off the hook if he could’ve, but things had already spiraled out of his control.

They all sat on the dais about four feet above him, literally on higher ground, sitting in judgment no matter what they pretended. They were going to decide his fate today and based on his own past experiences, Robby knew how it was going to turn out.

At least he had a few people on his side this time around. The rest of the world had already made up its mind that he was an attention seeking whore, but his dojo knew that he’d never lie about anything like that. It didn’t matter though - they were only a dozen voices among thousands.

“Mr. Keene - did you post this video on your Instagram account?” Gunther Braun began, playing the first few seconds on the giant screen behind him.

Robby cringed at the memory. He still couldn’t believe he’d actually made his own humiliation public like that. “Yes sir.”

“First let me say that this does not reflect on your performance at the Sekai Taikai. You were an exemplary participant and we hope to see you in the future as well.” The man took a deep breath. “We are also not the police. We have no authority to judge the truth of the matter or dispense justice. But when someone makes an allegation like this, it affects everyone involved and we ourselves will be judged by how we respond to it. So, let me ask this - do you stand by your video or did someone pressure you to make it?”

Robby swallowed nervously, looking behind himself. The room was dead silent, but you could feel the tension in the air, like things were about to snap. His dojo had shown up in force to support him - his dad looked livid, Mr. LaRusso grim and others shifted between curious and concerned. But it was Miguel’s guilty look that he caught before looking over to the other side of the room where the Dragons sat, breathing fire and shooting him death-glares.

Was he being given a way out of it? If he threw Miguel under the bus… told them that he made it all up and pressured Robby to… No, he couldn’t do that in a thousand years.

“It was all me and I stand by what I said.” Robby replied.

“Even knowing that those accusations alone can ruin lives?”

“I wasn’t trying to ruin any lives.” Robby shook his head. “I didn’t call anyone out… I didn’t blame anyone.”

“Yes, that was smart. Your circumspection is the reason it wasn’t taken down immediately.” Gunther told him. “But you provided more than enough context for people to figure it out. You were seen getting drunk at the bar on the night in question. You spoke of a female captain of a competing team who tricked you into her room and people saw who you left with. You spoke of her male co-captain and sensei joining in. And you spoke of another male captain who had it out for you from the start. So, the people you claim assaulted you would be Sensei Wolf, Zara Malik, Axel Kovačević and Kwon Jae-Sung. Did I get that right?”

Robby swallowed and nodded in assent.

“Kwon Jae-Sung is already dead.” One of the female panel members commented. “Why go after him?”

“I didn’t.” Robby replied. “I just wanted to tell my truth.”

Just tell the truth,

Mr. LaRusso had told him.

Speak from your heart, don’t hide anything and don’t let them intimidate you.

And his dad had agreed. He wasn’t happy about the fact that Robby had brought even more trouble upon himself, but what was done was done. All they could do now was get through it with their heads held high.

“Your truth or

the

truth?” Gunther asked with narrowed eyes. “The timing of this revelation seems rather strange. You kept quiet about it for weeks, but spoke up the day before the Sekai Taikai ends? You did not go to the police, did not tell your family or friends because you were too ashamed - but you revealed it on social media for the whole world to see? You can understand why this sounds strange.”

Robby bit his lip, unsure of how to answer. There was a lot more context to it, things he hadn’t gotten into, and he wasn’t sure if talking about that was the best idea. If he started talking about 40-year old karate grudges and psychopathic millionaires out to get them, he’d come off as a paranoid lunatic.

“I can understand the fear of losing your fifteen seconds of fame.” Gunther sounded genuinely sympathetic. “I’ve seen this before. First time on the world stage - people get enamoured with the pageantry, the glamor… the attention. They want to keep it going - ”

“You think I did it for the followers?” Robby’s head snapped up.

“I’m only observing a fact - you have gained a lot more followers after posting that video, correct?” 
“And a lot of death threats too.” Robby snapped back. “I didn’t want this - I never wanted this kind of attention. I just wanted to tell people the truth.”

They can’t punish you for telling the truth,

was what he’d been told by everyone around him. And Robby wished he felt as confident about that now as they had.

“So it’s

the

truth now?” Gunther sighed. “Mr. Keene, you understand that you can’t go around throwing accusations and calling it the truth, right? You need proof to back these things up.”

“You just said people saw me leave with Zara.” Robby reminded him.

“And that was all they saw.” The man replied. “Her version of events is completely different. She says you were both drunk, that you spent a nice night together, there was no animosity between you two the next morning… and she cannot understand why you’d make these cruel lies up.”

Of course she said that - did they really expect her to tell the truth?
 
“Mr. Keene - do you understand the difference between rape and regret?”

Robby shrugged, unsure where they were going with it.

“You wouldn’t be the first kid to make a mistake after getting drunk.” Gunther explained. “Mistake you wished you could take back the next day, especially given the troubles you were having with your girlfriend at the same time. You may regret what you did, but that does not mean you were taken advantage of. Maybe this…

truth

is a way for you to let yourself off the hook?”

“I did regret it.” Robby replied, keeping his temper in check. “This whole time, I thought I’d made a stupid mistake and I regretted it - because I didn’t remember what actually happened. I was already drunk and I got drugged on top of that. It took a while for my mind to put the pieces back together.”

“Robby, you just admitted to being drunk and not remembering.” Another committee member chimed in. “How can you be sure that you are remembering things correctly now? Do you have any other evidence to back it up? A physical exam? A blood test? Maybe even someone seeing any bruises?”

A cold weight settled in his chest and Robby shook his head. He’d worked so hard to hide it in the aftermath and now he was paying for it.

“So all we have to go on is your word and by your own admission, your memory is unreliable.” Gunther drew the obvious conclusion. “You can understand why we can’t take any action on that alone, right?”

“I never asked you to take any action.” Robby replied thickly.

“Well, that train has left the station.” The man sighed. “At the very least, we expect you to take down the video and issue a full and unconditional apology for - yes, what is it, Sensei Wolf?”
 
Robby turned around to see the man calmly standing up amongst the crowd of his supporters. He had an angry scowl on his face and he was clearly unhappy with how things were proceeding.

“Before you let the boy off with a slap on the wrist, perhaps you should hear of all the damage he caused.” He suggested. “Maybe then you won’t make light of things he said.”

“Sir, this is not a trial.” The female panelist told him.

“No - the trial already happened.” The man sneered. “And the whole world judged us for it. And this? This is a test - for you. A test of whether the Sekai Taikai truly embodies the values of karate. If they stand up for the ones victimized.”

“You fucking asshole!”

That was all Johnny could take. He got up, angry and ready to attack if not for Mr. LaRusso holding him back - and the Iron Dragons jumped to their feets, ready to fight for their sensei. Which made the Miyagi-Dos jump up as well and the whole situation looked ready to devolve into another bout of violence.

But Gunther slammed his gavel on the bench loudly, immediately shutting it down.

“One more word out of turn from you, Sensei Lawrence, and you’ll be escorted out of the proceedings.” He told them firmly. “And if this turns into a fight,

all

dojos involved will be permanently banned from teh Sekai Taikai - regardless of who provokes it. Is that understood?”

Things calmed down right away and people started taking their seats, still grumbling in anger.

“Good! We’ll take a short break and discuss how to proceed from here.”
 
All Robby wanted was to be left alone. He was sick and tired of the constant reassurances, the ‘it’ll be alright’ and ‘we’ll figure it out’ and ‘we got your back’. In the end, none of that had meant anything - in the end he had to stand at the podium alone. He had to snap at them a couple of times to get his point through, but finally they got it and left him by himself to sort his thoughts and prepare for the worst.

But apparently, not everyone got the message.

“Hey…” Tory greeted him hesitantly. “How are you?”

Another question he was tired of hearing. It was such a hollow, pointless formality anyway - of course he wasn’t okay, but he was expected to say that he was and no one was going to believe him anyway. But that was the empty ritual, so he shrugged and Tory pretended to believe him.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Weren’t you listening in there?” Robby gave her a wry smile. “I couldn’t remember… not really. And then later…”

“Oh God…” Her face crumbled with guilt as she remembered what had come later. “I… Robby, I’m so sorry. I hurt you too, right? Like they did?”

“I don’t blame you.” Robby replied. “I never did. You were pissed because you thought I slept with Zara. Hell, I was pissed at myself for that - ”

“That’s not what I meant.” She swallowed nervously. “What I did, it was the very next day. Does that mean…? I mean, were you still…?”

She couldn’t form the words, but Robby knew what she was asking. He also knew the answer she wanted and that he wouldn’t be able to give it to her.

“I don’t know.” He sighed. “It wasn’t like that night - I knew what was happening. But I couldn’t think clearly. And I don’t know if that was the hangover or whatever they gave me…”

Her mouth twisted and she looked away, nodding to herself.

“I’m sorry…” She said softly. “Shit! I’m so fucking sorry. Robby… I wanna make this right.” She looked back up and put her hand on his face. “I’ll do anything to make it right.”

She leaned in to kiss him and Robby found himself instinctively moving back. His reaction surprised them both and for a moment, Robby didn’t understand it himself. He’d wanted her back, right? He’d wanted things to go back to the way they were before Sekai Taikai and that’s what Tory was offering him.

“I mean it.” She told him with a hesitant, scared smile. “Anything you want.”

If only it was that easy. Robby had held on to a fantasy and soon as it was on the verge of coming true, he knew that’s all it was. Things were never going to go back. Even if he could get past everything else that had happened, the trust they had was broken for good.

“What I want right now is to get through this fucking day without losing another thing.” Robby replied, stepping away from her. 
 
“The Sekai Taikai embodies the spirit of karate, but at the end of the day, it is still a competition. The esteemed members of the committee need to remember that - and the fact that some people will do anything to win.”

Robby could feel the man’s gaze on him as he stared at his hands. He knew he looked guilty, looking down like that, but he also knew it no longer mattered - they’d already made up their minds about him.

“You think this is only about a foolish boy looking for attention - but it is much more than that. I don’t think Robby Keene planned this on his own. Why would he? He’d already won, no? He has nothing to gain from this and everything to lose. But others… I’d like to remind you who it was who was so desperate for his dojo to come first. One who is more focused on the money that comes with the victory and less on the pride.”

Wolf was going after his dad. As usual, Robby didn’t just hurt himself with his mistake, he screwed everything up for everyone else as well. He should’ve known that something like this would happen when the panel decided to hear from the Iron Dragons. Why else would they want to speak if not to milk this chance he gave them for every last drop?

“I know, this is mere conjecture.” Wolf continued his speech. “But I’ve always believed there are no bad students, only bad teachers. Despite everything he has said about us, I do not think it is fair to blame Robby Keene alone for this shameful display. Nor do I think that the boy we saw fight so honorably in the finals would be capable of coming up with it on his own. It is a sad day for Sekai Taikai when people start using slander and mud-slinging to get ahead, but we have a chance to fix this today. Show that we have standards and such things will not be tolerated.”

The guy was good - Robby had to admit that much. If he’d cut loose on him instead, called him a liar and demanded harsh punishment, public opinion might’ve turned against him. So he pretended to be the bigger person instead. Acted like he wanted to forgive.

Robby kept his eyes trained on his knees, face burning in shame as Wolf went on and on about considering all the facts of the case before making a decision. Not just Robby’s motivations, but also acknowledging the damage his actions had done, unintentional or not.

“I have survived a lot of harsh things said about me in my life and I can survive this.” He winded up. “But my students have not. I taught them to fight with honor, but I never prepared them for the dishonor others were capable of. This is something you should hear from them.”

He walked away from the podium with a solemn nod and they just let him. Didn’t even ask him a single goddamn question about that night. He wouldn’t have told the truth, but his face might’ve betrayed something… but then, the committee wasn’t interested in the truth to begin with.
 
Zara went next and Robby could practically feel the pain in her quivering voice. If karate didn’t work out for her, she could definitely become an actress because she was killing it out there. She told them how she’d liked Robby from the start. How she’d found him sad and alone at the bar and wanted to comfort him. She told them that the night had meant something to her… that she’d felt happy and she thought she’d made him happy too.

She didn’t understand how he could do such a thing. Why he’d hate her so much that he’d want to destroy her life, her career… by the time she was done, sniffing and wiping her eye, Robby was starting to question his memories himself. 
 
Then she stepped aside and Axel took her place. That one stung worse than the others, even though he knew it was coming. Axel had warned them that he’d have no choice but to participate in his farce, but Robby had hoped - prayed - that he’d find a way out of it.

“Sorry, my English not so good.” He told the committee haltingly. “I prepare speech. May read?”

More like someone prepared that speech for him. Robby couldn’t help but chuckle at their request - which earned him more than a few glares, but he was way past caring. English might not be his first language, but Axel was definitely pretending to be worse than he was. But they fell for it anyway and gave him the ahead.

“Ever since I found karate, I have wanted to be the best in the world.” He began in a slow, halting voice. “I was the best last year. I fell short this time. And I plan to work harder and win the title back next time. That is how it should work - I cannot be the best unless I fight against the best. Winning or losing is a matter of skill, discipline and hard work and no matter how things turn out, I can respect a dedicated fighter. That is what I always believed… until now.” He took a deep, shaking breath. “These vile, disgusting accusations didn’t just hurt me - they shook my faith in karate. The things Robby said…”

He took another shuddering breath and Robby could hear the crinkle of a paper being folded. He could feel Axel’s eyes on him, gaze filled with hurt and betrayal much like Zara’s and he could not look back at him.

“The things Robby Keene said are all true. Every last word.”
 
His head snapped up and Robby stared at him, wondering if he’d heard him right. A sudden eruption of murmured whispers all around him told him that others were wondering the same thing.

“Did you just say it was true?” The female panelist leaned forward.

“Of course he didn’t.” Sensei Wolf interjected smoothly. “Excuse me - I need a word alone with my student.

Axel!

”

Axel flinched from him when he hissed his name, a simple act that didn’t go unnoticed by anyone in the room.

“No, I don’t think so!” Gunther replied, raising his hand. “I’d like to hear this. You’re saying that everything Mr. Keene said is true?”

“Yes. If anything, he left lot of details out.” Axel replied, swallowing and staring down. “He does not know the whole truth. How could he? He was unconscious for most of it. He tried to fight back when he was awake but he barely knew what was going on.”

“Axel, what the hell are you doing?” Wolf snarled at him, taking a threatening step closer. Right away, the two guards on either side of the dais took a step closer, hands on their tasers, waiting for the man to make a move.

“Another word, Sensei Wolf and you’ll be the one escorted out.” Gunther Braun warned him. “Go on, son. Can you tell us what really happened that night?”

What the hell is doing? What is he thinking?

Robby’s mind reeled with shock.

Didn’t he say that he had no choice?

“Maybe you are aware that our dojo got a new investor recently.” Axel said determinedly and turned around to scan the crown. He raised his hand and pointed at his target sitting way in the back. “That man - Terry Silver. Maybe you know him as the previous owner of Cobra Kai. Maybe you also know that he cheated for his dojo to win a tournament. And maybe you know that Miyagi-Do exposed his dishonor and he lost his students.” Axel turned back towards the panelists. “If you know all that, perhaps you can understand why he’d hold a grudge against Miyagi-Do - why he’d want them beaten and humiliated. But I did not know all that - not at first. All I knew was that our sensei wanted to go hard after Miyagi-Do. And especially after three students - Tory Nichols, Samantha LaRusso… and Robby Keene.”

Robby felt Mr. LaRusso tense up next to him, eyes flashing in anger as he realized that it could’ve just as easily been his daughter. But he felt a surge of satisfaction at Silver’s livid face and Wolf looked ready to start swinging if not for the threat of tasers hanging over his head.

“I’ve always trusted my sensei and that night was no different. Robby Keene was drunk, confused and vulnerable - it felt wrong to take advantage of that - but I believed Sensei had good reason and went along with it. I have hated myself for what we did that night… but I did it. I cannot change the past… I cannot make it right… all I can do is admit the truth and tell him once more how sorry I am.” He turned around and looked Robby in the eyes. “I’m sorry for everything we did.”

Robby jerked his head in a surprised nod, his heart still pounding in his chest. Not even in his wildest hopes had he imagined that Axel would come out and publicly tell the truth. 
 
“Son, you understand everything you just admitted to, right?” Mr. Braun asked, leaning forward.

Axel nodded, but his sensei spoke up despite the previous warning. “He doesn’t. He’s lying. They must have paid him to lie for him. Foolish boy doesn’t think it matters because there is no proof, but he has no idea what he’s doing.”

The panel glared at him angrily, ready to enforce their rule, but Axel around the podium and walked up to them, pulling his phone out of his pocket along the way. He quickly swiped through it before holding it up, offering it to the committee.

“What is this?”

“Proof.” Axel replied. “Sensei asked me to record things that night, take pictures. Said we might need to use against Robby. I meant to delete them later, but I thought I might need them.”

Robby flushed in embarrassment as he realized what they must be looking at. The look on the committee chair’s face - the shock and the disgust - all but confirmed it.

“So what?” Wolf said loudly. “Kid like to fuck around. That’s not a crime.”

“It is when the

kid

is crying and asking you to stop.” Gunther replied with a snarl and handed Axel his phone back. “I think we’ve seen enough. And heard enough. Ten minute recess and we’ll be back with our decision.”
 
It felt like the longest ten minutes of Robby’s life - like his fate hung in the balance. And not just his own. His eyes kept going over to Axel, still hanging around the podium, shuffling on his feet and staring at the ground. He was too scared to go back to his side of the aisle and too nervous to come over to theirs.

“You guys were right about him.” Sam said, looking over at him with a scowl. “You said I should stay away from him. It could’ve just as easily been me.”

Robby exchanged a troubled glance with Miguel. It must feel weird to him - all this time he’d spent trying to convince her that Axel was an asshole and now that she was finally on board, he was not.

“He did tell the truth.” He reminded her.

“I know, but…” She sighed, turning to Robby. “Doesn’t change what happened, right?”

Didn’t it? Maybe not literally, but it should change something, right?

He was spared the trouble of finding the answer by the committee coming back in and everyone went back to their seats, Axel wisely finding one far in the corner. The murmur died down as the members finalized the last few points and Braun banged his gavel again for their attention.

“As I said at the outset, we are not the police or the court. We’re not here to conduct a trial.” He began calmly. “But as much as I hate to admit it, Sensei Wolf made some extremely good points today. This is a test - a test to see what this committee truly stands for. A test to see if we truly embody the spirit of karate. It is not an expectation just from us, but it is the same for all those who participate in the tournament. There are standards we all must adhere to and those who cannot must not be allowed to stain our honor.”

He took a deep breath before giving a loud declaration. “Therefore, due to the actions of their sensei and their captains, the Iron Dragons are hereby disqualified from the Sekai Taikai. Which means, by elimination, this year's champions are Miyagi-Do with their senseis LaRusso, Lawrence and Toguchi.”

The crowd erupted in fresh murmurs, everyone exclaiming excitedly while Robby stared up with his mouth open in surprise.

“Furthermore…” Gunther banged the gavel again for silence. “Senseis Wolf and Silver are hereby banned from Sekai Taikai for life. And this ban will extend to any dojo they might be associated with in the future. Neither can ever show their face in Sekai Taikai again.”

The murmuring grew louder and Wolf jumped to his feet, face twisted in anger. “This is bullshit!”

“You were warned!” Gunther said, banging the gavel again. “Guards - escort this man out of here.”

The guards approached him carefully, hands on their hips and ready to draw their weapons. Wolf looked ready to fight back, but after a look around, thought better of it and stormed out of there of his own accord.

“Another point made today was that there are no bad students.” The committee chair went on. “We agree - but these students are old enough to know better. And consequences can be an effective teacher. Ms. Malik, please stand up.”

Zara obeyed, looking scared and pitiful, but this time she found no sympathy in the room.

“You’re still young enough to change your ways and we have no doubt you were pressured into it by your sensei. But you also showed no remorse for your actions and you attempted to compound the damage by trying to manipulate this committee. For that we’re suspending you from the Sekai Taikai for the next five years.”

She slumped back on the chair with a heartbroken look on her face while Gunther turned to Axel without a second look.

“Mr. Kovačević - you showed great strength of character in coming forward with the truth. It could not have been easy and it showed real courage.” He told him. “However, it does not erase your actions. But I believe more leniency is warranted. Therefore, you are only suspended from Sekai Taikai for two years. We’ll be following the both of you in the future and as long as you maintain good behavior, you may re-enter the tournament at a future date.”

Axel nodded, accepting his punishment with dignity as he sat back down. Then finally, Gunther turned to Robby.

“Mr Keene… Robby - I’m profoundly sorry this happened to you under our watch. And I’m even more sorry for what we put through today. I also apologize that we cannot dispense justice on your behalf, but please know that you shall have our full support from now on. If you wish to proceed with a police complaint, we’ll help you any way we can.”

Robby swallowed the thick lump in his throat and nodded, blinking away the sudden sting in his eyes.

“We’re dismissed for the day.” Braun declared. “And Robby, we’ll see you at the awards ceremony tomorrow.”
 
The crowd was starting to disperse, but for a while Robby couldn’t find the strength in his legs to get up. Axel was already gone and the other Dragons had slunk away as well, while his dojo milled around, forming a protective wall against him. He knew there were people trying to get closer to him, asking questions and for once he was glad that his dad and Mr. LaRusso kept them away and answered in his stead.

He was getting a lot of squeezes on his shoulders and pats on his back - guys telling him that he did good, that he should be proud of himself… that despite everything, their dojo had managed to snag the biggest karate trophy in the world. But Robby didn’t share their feelings. He didn’t feel excited or even relieved - he felt empty inside.

Finally getting up, he excused himself and rushed off to the bathroom. He knew he wasn’t supposed to, but he locked the door behind him and stood before the mirror, taking in his reflection.

He looked like hell. The last few days had been hard on him - terrified that he’d made a mistake, anxious about the price he might have to pay. And despite seemingly having gotten away with it, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the other shoe was about to drop.

A bubble of ache rose inside him and he choked, barely holding it in. Then a sob broke through and his knees gave out again. He crumpled down on the floor, crying his heart out.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Robby, you okay? We need to go.”

“Give me a minute.”

“You said that 20 minutes ago.”

Robby let out a slow, shuddering breath and looked at himself in the mirror. He looked worse than before - his eyes were red, face pale and flushed at the same time. Anyone who saw him would know he’d been crying and he couldn’t face their pity and condescension again. He splashed some more water on his face and breathed in deep again, trying to get his racing heartbeat under control.

“One way or another, I’m coming inside in 5 seconds.” Miguel warned him.

Just like dad!

Robby thought, sighing and opening the door. Miguel was the third to be there for the second time. They’d all gotten worried when he’d locked himself in the bathroom, but he needed some space - some time alone to process his thoughts - and he couldn’t seem to get a grip on it.

“What’s wrong?” Miguel asked worriedly while Robby avoided his eyes.

“I don’t know.” Robby replied, too exhausted to lie anymore. “I really don’t.”

The moment he’d gone inside, he hadn’t wanted to come out. Everything outside had become too much, too overwhelming and the thought of facing it all again scared the shit out of him. He’d tried to go out before - gone as far as putting his hand on the doorknob - but the thought of turning it sent his pulse racing like he was having a panic attack.

He didn’t understand what he was scared of. He knew it wasn’t Silver or Wolf - those assholes might want revenge, but they’d handled them before and they could do it again. He wasn’t scared of being let down or cast out - everyone around him had been incredibly supportive. Even his dad in his usual, awkward ways. He wasn’t scared of being mocked for being the guy who got raped by a girl - a lot of those assholes had already found him online and he’d learned to ignore them. Hell, he wasn’t even scared of the future because the future had never looked brighter - not only was he going to get his big award tomorrow, but Silver’s gambit had backfired and his dojo had won the Sekai Taikai. His dad might bitch about winning on a technicality but that didn’t change the perks they’d be getting.

There was nothing real or tangible for him to be scared of - and yet, some unnamed terror held him captive in the hotel’s public restroom.

“It’s gonna be fine, man.” Miguel said hesitantly.

“Don’t say that.” Robby snapped, gripping the sink tightly. “I’m tired of hearing it.”

He was being unfair, but Miguel didn’t hold it against him. Instead, he wrapped his arms around Robby from behind and Robby let himself sink in his warm embrace.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” He mumbled, leaning back into Miguel’s strong chest. “I should be happy. I was scared that everything was gonna fall apart, but it didn’t. It turned out better than anything I could’ve hoped for. But I’m still scared and I don’t know why.”

Miguel hmmed quietly and rubbed his hand on Robby’s stomach.

“It feels like… like I was juggling a thousand knives and they’re all up in the air right now. They’re gonna start falling as soon as I go out there and I know I can’t catch them all.” He took another deep breath. “It’s like everything’s gonna change when I step out and I don’t know if I can handle it.”

“Not everything.” Miguel replied, pressing his lips on Robby’s neck.

Then a low, rumbling sound made Robby turn around curious. “Was that your stomach?”

“Hey, none of us has eaten anything since lunch.” Miguel reminded him. “And we couldn’t eat much then. Sensei’s already getting hangry in the parking lot. So whatever this is, can we figure it out over a burger?”

Robby chuckled and nodded, letting Miguel lead him out by his hand. He hesitated at the threshold, closing his eyes, but Miguel gently pulled him ahead until he was out the door. His chest felt like it was going to burst for a moment, but when the world didn’t immediately fall apart all around him, his pulse started to calm down and he quietly followed Miguel into the elevator.

“Miguel… thank-you.” He told him quietly. “For everything you did.”

“You don’t have to thank me.” Miguel squeezed his hand. “You did a lot for me too.”

“Like what?”

He gave Robby a sad, disbelieving smile and shook his head. “Look, no matter what happens between us, we’re brothers. And we’re gonna be there for each-other our whole lives.”

There it was again - that dread feeling in his chest, despite the comfort of the words. It didn’t make sense. Miguel wasn’t pushing him into anything and yet what he said felt more like a threat than a reassurance.

When they left the elevator for the basement parking lot, Robby hesitated. He knew where his dad was parked and Miguel was already trying to pull him in that direction, but something pulled at him in the opposite direction.

“Can we take a walk first?” He asked.

Miguel frowned at him, worried, but nodded anyway. 
 
The sense of foreboding grew stronger the longer Robby walked. Like there was something foul in the air, something that gave him the chills and it wasn’t the stale, stuffy air or their footsteps echoing along the concrete. Every little sound bounced off the concrete pillars and walls, growing increasingly muffled as it returned to them, but he could make out some unsettling noises in between - something like grunts and thuds that grew louder as they kept walking.

“Get dad.” Robby told Miguel, looking around worriedly.

“I’m not leaving you alone.” Miguel replied. He did the smart thing anyway, looking around for the number on the closest pillar and shooting a text to Johnny.

They both stopped and looked at each-other in concern at the same time. The Iron Dragons team had been hidden from their sight by two large vans and they came into their line of sight practically out of nowhere. They didn’t seem to notice the two boys - they were too focused on whatever was inside their little circle - whatever they were kicking at.

“Get him up!” Wolf’s voice was muffled, but Robby could somehow make out his words.

His eyes widened in horror as he caught a glimpse of a limp, bloodied figure on the ground. One of his teammates pulled Axel up to his feet, putting the barely conscious boy in a full-nelson while his sensei raised his fist and aimed a punch.

“Robby, don’t - ”

“HEY!” 
 
Robby was running towards them before the punch landed. There were six of them - two girls, three boys and one sensei - and Robby already knew he had no chance of winning. But he charged in anyway, landing a flying kick on the guy who turned around to face him and sending him stumbling into his sensei.

He swung low, sweeping under the guy holding Axel and sending them both to the ground. But before he could get back up, a hard strike landed on the back of his shoulder, making him grunt in pain and another on his leg to keep him down. He raised his arm, barely managing to block Zara’s attack - then saw her reel back as Miguel vaulted over him and kicked her in the chest. The guy behind them tried to take advantage of Miguel’s distraction, but Robby quickly swept his leg around and put him on the ground as well.

They stood back to back for a moment to reorient themselves as their enemies got to their feet. Then with one mind, they made their move with Robby going after the weakest first while Miguel kept the others off his back.

They didn’t need to exchange any words or come up with a plan - didn’t even need to look at each-other to know what the other was doing. They worked in perfect sync, instinctively knowing what the other needed and when one was creating an opening for the other to use. They covered each-others’ blind-spots, used each-others’ bodies as fulcrums and before they knew it, the five teen Dragons were on the ground, groaning and incapacitated from pain.

Only Wolf was left, standing on the sidelines as he watched them take out his students with a grim look on his face. Robby and Miguel faced him, both still standing back to back in identical stances as the man cracked his neck and took his stance. 
 
This wasn’t going to be easy. In fact, Robby already knew that this was going to be harder than beating the rest - but the man wasn’t going to let them just walk away. And besides, Robby had a debt that he needed to pay.

They moved in tandem, instinctively knowing that they only stood a chance if they were fast and attacked together. But Wolf was even faster - he shifted sideways and his kick slipped through Robby’s defense, getting him on the side and making him stumble into Miguel. Miguel barely avoided being taken down by his own teammate, only to run right into Wolf’s fist. Robby regained himself as Miguel reeled back and found his attack caught midair, with the older man using his momentum to flip him over and slam him to the ground.

It was insane how much stronger Wolf was than the two of them. The only reason they lasted at all was because they kept going at him together - one engaged him while the other recovered. And he was steadily gaining the upper hand as his strikes hit harder and they took longer to recover. Robby knew they could not go on like this. 
 
Abandoning all defense, he charged at the guy like a madman, accepting the blows to his back as he rammed his shoulder into his midsection. He already knew this was never going to work - Wolf grabbed him and swung him to the side - but Robby held on, throwing him off balance just by a little bit.

Which was enough for Miguel to leap over his back and kick Wolf in the chest. They had an opening and they took the fullest advantage of that - Miguel punched him in the face, while Robby kicked out his knees. Then Miguel went low, going under his guard to strike his legs while Robby vaulted over him and came down with an axe kick to the head. Before he could recover, Robby swung around and elbowed him in the face and heard a satisfying crunch of a nose being broken.

They had him - Wolf staggered back and a double kick from them both sent him sprawling. But right as they advanced, his body jerked up, kicking them away and sending them stumbling back.
 
They’d almost had him. The man got back to his feet, blood trickling from his nose, which proved that he was not invincible. That they had a shot.

Except, Wolf charged at them this time, dodging Miguel’s kick and parrying Robby’s strike, before grabbing him around the waist and throwing him to the side. Robby rolled with it, trying to recover as quickly as possible. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the man focus on Miguel, easily swatting aside his attacks before hitting him in the neck, right on his Adam’s apple. Miguel choked, gasping for breath. Another punch to the stomach doubled him over and an uppercut sent him to the ground, groaning in pain.

“NO!” Robby screamed, charging at the man again.

He caught him off-guard with a kick to the back of his shoulder. Then a backhand across his face. However, his next strike got caught mid-air and Wolf returned with an elbow to his head that made the world spin around in a flood of pain. Wolf yanked his arm hard and agony shot through his shoulder like it was being pulled out of the joint before the whole world flipped over and Robby found himself on the ground again, face pressed against the concrete.

“Tough kid!” Wolf snarled in his ear, pinning him down with a knee to his back. “But maybe I remind you of your place, huh?”

Robby screamed in desperation, bucking desperately to throw him off. The man’s weight was on top of him, hips pressing down on the swell of his ass, and suddenly, Robby was back in that hotel room that night feeling Wolf’s hands all over his naked flesh.

Just as suddenly, the weight was off him. Wolf went tumbling to the side with a grunt and Robby twisted around in time to see a flash of blonde and flannel put himself between him and the man.

“Stay the fuck away from my son!” Johnny snarled at the man.
 
Robby watched in concern as Wolf recovered with a snarl and his dad went on the attack. Even after fighting the two of them, Wolf was tough enough to go toe to toe with his dad. Luckily his dad knew what he was doing a lot better than either of them - he blocked the same moves the guy had used to take Robby and Miguel out, countering them with his own that got blocked in turn. Robby wanted to help, he wanted to jump in the fray, but he couldn’t see an opening to do so. Anyway he sliced it, he’d only be getting in the way and distracting his dad from the fight.

A soft groan from the side drew his attention from the fight. Axel stirred on the ground, trying to push himself up, only to collapse again. Robby watched his bruised, bloodied face in horror as he coughed and spat blood on the ground.

The next moment, he was by his side, pulling the whimpering boy to his feet with his arm around his shoulder as he watched Mr. LaRusso rushing towards them from the corner of his eye.

Axel couldn’t stand on his own. Despite the mess of his face, Robby could see that his one open eye was dazed and unfocused. He was supporting Axel’s entire weight, slowly dragging him towards a car to the side while the battle raged around him.

“Hang on!” Robby told him, smashing the car’s window with his elbow. “I’ll get you somewhere safe!”
 
Axel groaned and curled up against the door of the car, closing the jacket over his body. Robby cringed in sympathy, rubbing his hand over his shoulder and wishing he’d tried harder to get him to stay at the hospital.

The last few hours had been a whirlwind dumb mistakes and Robby expected he’d regret them all one by one before the day was over. His dad was probably pissed at him for running from a fight he’d started. Even though he had a good reason - watching Axel cough blood had freaked him out - a lecture was probably the least he could expect. He’d shot off a quick text to tell him that he was okay in response to the missed call and Johnny’s radio silence since then probably meant that he was waiting for him at home, ready to let his displeasure be known in person.

He’d also left the stolen car in the parking lot with an apology note and Mr. LaRusso’s number to get the window fixed. He hoped Daniel would have his back in this one - though he didn’t think the cops would see it as necessary.

And then there was Axel. He’d freaked out when he’d come to his senses and found himself at the hospital. He’d let them patch him up just enough to make sure he wouldn’t bleed to death, but after that, he’d insisted on checking out against medical advice. Something about hospitals scared him out of his mind and Robby couldn’t make him stay. But then he’d realized in the parking lot that he had nowhere to go. 
 
“We’re here.” Robby said as the cab pulled into the parking lot of his apartment complex.

It was the only thing Robby could think of. He certainly couldn’t let Axel go back to Silver’s. His dad was going to be pissed - he’d made his views clear on the guy and his sensei after he’d learned the truth - but Robby hoped that Axel’s actions from earlier had bought him some goodwill. After all, he was the reason why their dojo was getting the first place trophy tomorrow.

Today, actually,

Robby realized with a start.

Robby supported Axel to the door, glancing behind at the Diaz residence along the way. They were probably already asleep. He thought about going to Carmen for help with Axel, but he wasn’t sure how that request would be received. Forgiving one kid who really hurt your son was big enough, forgiving a second one would be asking too much.

With a deep breath, Robby opened the door and turned on the light, finding the place still empty. He frowned in confusion at the absence of the angry, blonde man, but a part of him was relieved as well. Given his dad’s missed call, he was sure that he was fine and if something bad had happened, he would’ve kept calling him. So he must be at the hospital too - Robby didn’t imagine that he’d gotten off unscathed through that fight with Wolf. Or maybe Miguel was being held overnight for observation and Johnny stayed with him. Either way, Robby was grateful that he now had the chance to figure his shit out before facing his dad.

“C’mon, let’s get you inside.” He told the groaning boy as he practically carried his weight to his room. 
 
His dad would not be happy to find Axel there. He’d probably say that Axel had picked his side and got what he had coming to him. And as for turning on them during the hearing, he’d argue that it didn’t make up for the rest of his crap. That one selfless action didn’t erase all the pain and misery he’d caused. But he wouldn’t turn away someone in as bad a shape as Axel, would he?

And Axel

was

in pretty bad shape. He had a broken nose, cheekbone and a concussion. A couple of his ribs were cracked, his hand was fractured from being slammed between a car door and they’d dislocated both a shoulder and a  knee. One of his eyes was swollen shut, he had bruises and contusions all over his body and Robby was pretty sure he had internal bleeding as well. He looked worse than anyone Robby had seen in his entire life. The ER doctors had patched him up the best they could, but Robby’s stomach kept turning in concern and anger as he saw more bruises when helping him out of his clothes.

No way Robby could let his dad turn him out - Axel would need someone to take care of him.

Actually, he was going to need a lot more than that. As he helped the guy out of his hospital gown and scrubs, Robby realized that Axel had nothing except for the boxer-briefs he was left in. Everything he owned was back at Silver’s mansion and there was no way he was going back there - at least not anytime soon.

“Uh… I’m pretty sure my clothes are gonna be too small for you…” Robby told him hesitatingly. “But my dad’s might fit.”

“No… is okay.” Axel slurred. “Too tired to put on.”

He’d figured as much. The way Axel winced, he was sure that every little movement hurt like hell - but he’d wanted it to be Axel’s choice.

“Get some rest.” Robby told him, helping him to the bed. “I’ll take the couch.”

Axel’s hand tightened around his own, trembling as the boy looked up at him with pleading eyes. “Stay, please. I lose everyone… can’t be alone.”

Robby hesitated. The bed wasn’t big enough for two and Axel probably needed the space to get a good night’s rest. But then, he also knew that no amount of physical comfort was going to be good enough if he was scared out of his mind. Nodding, he slid in behind him, letting his back rest on his front and buried his face in Robby’s lap with a sniff.

Instinctively, Robby stroked his hair and told him it was going to be alright.

“It won’t.” Axel’s voice broke in a sob. “I ruined everything.”

“You did the right thing.” Robby replied.

“Right thing was to stop him that night. I chose loyalty over right thing… and I couldn’t even stick to that. I made promise to him that I always obey and didn’t… I couldn’t… I lose everything.”

He started crying uncontrollably, heartbroken sobs ripping out of him as he pushed his face in Robby’s thighs and Robby held him as tightly as he dared, hoping the physical act of comfort would be enough because he certainly didn’t have the right words. He’d been where Axel was before - that point when you realize you chose the wrong side, when you know you have to get away before you lose yourself - and you do, only to realize that maybe you’re completely alone now. That maybe you’ve already gone too far for the right side to want you back.

It was a horrible feeling and with no guarantee of a safe place to land, most people would lack the courage to risk what they had. But Axel found a way to do it and Robby was not going to let him regret it. 
 
“H-how… how did you do it?” Axel asked him through painful sniffs. “How did you get through?”

“Well, I didn’t get my ass kicked this bad.” Robby replied.

“No… I mean losing everything.” Axel clarified. “You been here too, right? Having nothing and no one… How did you keep fighting?”

“Fighting who?”

“Just… fighting.” Axel sobbed. “I didn’t fight back before… I wanted them to finish me… I wanted… I want it all to stop…”

The words sent a chill through him. He knew exactly what that felt like and he knew Axel meant it. If he left the guy alone in this state, there was no telling what he might do.

“It’ll get better, okay?” Robby told him, his voice edged with panic. “I know everything feels like shit right now, but it’ll get better. Those guys… they didn’t really care about you. All they wanted to do was to use you and they were always gonna throw you aside. You’re better off without them, okay? Now you can find people who actually care for you.”

Axel turned his head and looked up, blinking through the tears still clinging to his eyelashes. “Like… you?”

“Y-yeah…” Robby replied hesitantly.

It wasn’t supposed to be him. After what Axel did, even if Robby could find a way past to forgiveness, it shouldn't be his responsibility to fix the guy, right? Besides, Axel didn’t belong there. Robby’s whole life, whole family was in LA and he didn’t even know where Axel had come from. He was only there for the Sekai Taikai and soon he’d have to go back to… no, definitely not back to the Iron Dragon. So where was he supposed to go?

“Sorry, shouldn’t have asked.” Axel turned his face away.

It wasn’t a burden. Robby wanted to make sure that Axel was okay because if he heard later that something had happened to him, he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself. He had a chance to help someone, a chance to make up for his own mistakes and he wasn’t going to screw that up.

“I do care for you… I wanna help you but…” Robby gave him a worried smile. “I don’t know how.”
 
Axel craned his neck, eyes wide and pleading and Robby knew what he needed. He leaned down and kissed him, holding his neck to keep him from straining himself. Axel’s lips gave way and Robby could taste the tang of iron in his mouth, the slight shudder in his body as his lips slid over the swollen lip, but Axel’s hand tangled in his shirt, trying to pull him closer.

His warm, clammy skin twitched against Robby’s hands, telling him that it was getting harder for him, but Axel kept kissing him desperately like he was drowning and Robby’s mouth was his lifeline. Firmly, Robby broke the kiss and despite the disappointed whine, held him down.

“Please…” Axel begged, grabbing Robby’s wrist and moving it down his bandaged chest. “Please… I need you to…”

His erection was already straining his boxer-briefs and it twitched under Robby’s palm as his hand ghosted over it. But Axel kept it moving and pushed Robby’s hand between his legs, telling him he had something else in mind right now.

“Dude, no!” Robby pulled his hand away. “Have you looked at yourself? You’re already hurt.”

“I didn’t care about your condition when I fuck you.” Axel replied.

“That was… different.” Robby shocked his head. “Besides, I’m already past that. You made up for it by telling the truth yesterday.”

“Can’t make up for something like that.” The boy shook his head stubbornly. “Please… I need to know what it feels like…”

But why? Robby had already forgiven him. Unlike others, he had no desire to cause Axel any more pain. He’d already been through more than enough.

“Please… need it… you are only one I can trust…”
 
Suddenly, Robby understood. This wasn’t about

his

forgiveness - Axel still couldn’t forgive himself. It’s how he was trained - to seek out pain as a balm to his guilt. He’d always relied on his sensei for it - a twisted bond born of abuse and fear and need - and now that it was broken, he was seeking a replacement in Robby.

Robby wasn’t that guy. He’d find a way to fix it - but not tonight. Tonight he had to give Axel some sense of stability, even if his sense of stability was all fucked up.

Letting Axel rest again, Robby got up and started taking his clothes off. It was going to hurt - no way around it. His wrist was in a cast, there was a brace around his knee and bandages wrapped around his chest. Even though they’d pumped him full of painkillers, Robby knew every little movement hurt. He could try to make it as comfortable as possible, but there was no way it wouldn’t hurt.

Which was why Axel wanted it - his erection straining against the grey fabric told Robby that.

“Tell me to stop if it hurts too bad.” Robby said as pulled Axel’s underwear off. “Promise me you’ll tell me.”

Axel nodded, wincing once more as his trunks slid down his legs and his hefty cock slapped against his abs. Robby knelt between his knees, gently lifting his legs and draping them over his thighs. He squirted some lube onto his hand before pushing his hand between Axel’s legs, running the slick digit down his taint until he found his tightly shut pucker.

He circled the tip of his finger around it, cautiously pressing in, but Axel involuntarily clenched tighter every time.

“Sorry, don’t mean to - ”

“It’s okay.” Robby rubbed a soothing hand over his taut, bruised abs. “Just try to relax.”
 
With an aching breath, Axel tried to settle down and loosen up, but Robby knew it wasn’t going to be that easy. It was instinct to try and avoid unfamiliar intrusion, especially when you were already beaten to hell and back. He moved his hand lower, brushing his fingers over Axel’s hardening cock to distract him.

“Your sensei never did this?” Robby asked him.

“No… not this.” Axel replied, trying to take deeper breaths. “He had… rules about things boys could do with each-other. Touching and rubbing okay. Taking in mouth was sign of respect, but never fully and never swallow. And anything down there was greatest shame possible. A man who let another fuck him was no longer a man… no longer worthy of fighting because he’d always be loser.”

“And you want this because you don’t believe him anymore?” Robby followed up with another question. “Or you do and you want to feel the shame?”

That did the trick. Axel was well and truly distracted by the question and his sphincter loosened just enough for Robby’s finger to push in without hurting him. He clenched around the tip immediately, trying to push him out, but Robby held hast, slowly pushing it in and out until his channel relaxed and allowed him in deeper.

“I don’t know…” Axel answered the question. “I don’t know if he was right or wrong… I just don’t want to live by his rules. Even if he’s right, I’d rather be loser than be winner his way.”
 
Robby worked the second finger into the tight channel and pumped them in and out, slowly stretching him open. Axel kept resisting, squirming in discomfort, but gradually kept getting looser. He curled them inside the tight heat, searching along the silky walls and finally managed to brush down on a small, raised bump that made Axel shudder.

“You did this before?” Axel asked.

“N-no…” Robby replied hesitantly, suddenly realizing how strange it was that he hadn’t. “I guess most guys are like your sensei - they think it’s unmanly or whatever. They look at me and all they see is a bitch made to be fucked.”

Axel’s eyes opened and Robby saw a shadow of guilt pass over his face. “But… you’re good at it.”

“Thanks… I guess.” Robby shrugged, blushing awkwardly. “I’ve been fucked a lot. I guess I’m just doing what I wish others had done for me.”

Not all,

he wanted to clarify. Some of his friends had been a lot more considerate. But still, no one had ever asked him to fuck them. Wanting him on the bottom, ass up and legs spread, seemed like the natural way of things.

“So, this is like our first time.”

Robby supposed it was. They were both doing something they’d never done before and Axel was definitely tighter than a virgin. Despite his cock leaking precum all over his abs, Robby could see his skin fluttering in anxiety and he did not want to get over-excited and hurt the guy.

“Shouldn’t the first time be special?” Robby asked teasingly. “We can wait until you are better. Get some candles, some mellow music - ”

“This is special to me.” Axel replied, pouting. “I want this to be new start for me.”

Robby couldn’t help but lean down and kiss him. He wanted it to be a new beginning too. With the ordeal of Sekai Taikai behind him, Robby hoped that whatever came next would be different from the same old shit. 
 
While Axel kissed him back, hands tangled in hair to stop him from leaving again, Robby worked in a third finger, pushing them in as deep as he could and stretched him. He wasn’t as big as Axel, nor as thick, but he had enough experience to know that he could seriously hurt the guy if he wasn’t careful. He pulled his hand back and slicked his own cock up with the leftover lube, carefully guiding it between Axel’s cheeks until his tip found the fluttering hole.

Robby pushed in slowly, but firmly and the muscular ring stretched around his dickhead, his hole practically sucking his cock inside. Axel’s face was scrunched up, his breaths coming his short and stuck and Robby froze in place, letting the hot, silky channel twitch around his cock as it adjusted to the intrusion.

“Does it hurt?” He asked worriedly.

“Little.” Axel replied, panting. “Don’t stop, please.”

Robby pushed deeper into his heat, stroking his cock at the same time to distract him from the discomfort. The slick warmth enveloped his shaft, squeezing it tighter than any mouth could and it was tempting to lose all restraining and start pounding. Robby still went in slow and steady until he was buried inside to the hilt and waited for Axel to unclench.

“Move… please.” Axel begged him. “I want… I

need

it to hurt. Please.”

Robby looked down at him with regret on his face and an ache in his chest. “I can’t.” He shook his head. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

He still moved - shifting his hips to fuck Axel in short, shallow thrusts. The older boy’s cock twitched and leaked harder every time Robby’s shaft rubbed against his prostate, but Robby maintained the pace, careful not to jolt his injured body too hard. 
 
Axel started sobbing when Robby wrapped his hand around his weeping cock again, jerking him off in tandem with his thrusts. Robby cupped his cheek in comfort - the side that was less bruised and broken - and Axel turned his head, burying his face in his hand while his whole body was wracked with gut-wrenching sobs.

Axel had to be in pain. His legs were half bent, the injured knee hanging off Robby’s hip. Even the shallow thrusts must be shooting jabs of agony through his broken bones and his crying must be playing havoc on his ribs. No matter how hard Robby tried to soothe him, running hands all over his bare, flushed skin and peppering his body with soft kisses, he didn’t think it was good enough to make the pain go away.

His shaft grew even harder in Robby’s hand, stiff and unbending like steel and Robby knew he was close. He gripped him tighter and leaned down, kissing Axel on the lips again while teasing his one bare nippled for distraction. Teh cock in his hand grew rigid and his ass clenched hard around Robby’s shaft, squeezing him like it was trying to milk him dry.

Axel screamed into his mouth when he came. His orgasm sent waves of pleasure coursing through his body, which in turn made his muscles tense up. Agonizing pain erupted in every fiber, competing with the indescribable pleasure and Axel started whimpering anew despite Robby doing his best to soothe him through it.

He went boneless and limp in the aftermath, still panting for breath as his cum stained his torso, soaking into the bandages. Robby held himself still to let him catch his breath before he pulled out. He hated the idea of leaving that tight heat unsatisfied, but this was about Axel, not -

“Please…” Axel begged again, grabbing his leg as he tried to shift away. “I need you… inside…”

“You want me to cum inside you?”

Axel nodded. “Make me your… he’ll never want me again.”

Robby understood. Axel didn’t trust himself. He was scared that despite everything the man had done, he might go running back to his sensei in a moment of weakness. He wanted to make sure that that wouldn’t be an option. He wanted to ruin himself so that even if he did, his sensei wouldn’t want him back.

And Robby was more than happy to oblige.

He started thrusting again, daring to go a little harder now that Axel’s hole was no longer resisting him quite that much. He could still make the boy clench by scratching his nipple or brushing his  hand over his sofetning, sensitive cock and that was enough. Moments later, Robby was spilling his seed inside the fluttering channel, making Axel smile through the tears. 
 
“Don’t leave me.” Axel asked as Robby pulled out of him.

Robby smiled in response and turned him to the side so he could rest more comfortable.

“I’m not going anywhere.” He told him, spooning him from behind.

He meant it too - he’d stay with Axel as long as the boy needed. Until he felt strong enough to go wherever he needed to next. After all, it wasn’t Robby who left people behind. 
 
He was starting to get worried when the door opened. His stomach had rumbled when he woke up, reminding him that he’d barely eaten anything yesterday. Axel needed to eat too - maybe something soft, but filling. He’d pulled his clothes back on and gone to the kitchen to whip them up some eggs and oatmeal.

Only then he’d realized how quiet everything was. He’d looked around the sunlit room, hoping to see some signs, but everything was as he’d left it last night. Which meant his dad still wasn’t home.

That wasn’t good. He’d left them mid-fight and assumed that missed call from his dad meant things were fine, but he couldn’t be sure that it was his dad calling him. It might’ve been a paramedic, calling to update him about his condition as they tried to save his life…
 
Much to his relief, Johnny came through the door before Robby’s imagination got too bad. He looked a little banged up, but nothing worse than what he’d had a thousand times before. Before Robby could react, Johnny took a few swift steps and pulled him in a hug, holding him tight and kissing his hair.

“You had me worried, kid.”

“Me?” Robby asked, extricating himself from the hug. “You were gone all night. Where the hell were you?”

“Lockup.” Johnny replied with a wry smile. “You got away just in time. The cops came a few minutes later and rounded everybody up.”

“Yeah, nice move, ditching us like that.” Another sarcastic voice said from behind.

Robby took a step back to see Miguel standing behind his dad and gave him an apologetic look. Like Johnny, he too sported some bruises courtesy of last night - a black eye and a discoloration on his jaw and throat - but he too seemed alright.

“Sorry.” He said, taking an awkward step back. “I thought he was dying - ”

“Dude, I’m kidding.” Miguel chuckled, shaking his head. “We had the guy handled.”

“We?” Johnny cocked his head at his student. “You guys barely did anything.

I

kicked his ass.”

“Sure thing, Sensei.” Miguel rolled his eyes.

If they could banter like that, then things must have gone alright. Still, a night in lockup probably meant some trouble down the line. His dad might be used to it, but it could spell disaster for Miguel and his college prospects.

“Sorry I dragged you in my mess.” Robby told him guiltily.

“C’mon, man - what else were you supposed to do? Let them beat him to death?” Miguel shrugged. “I was going to do the same thing. You just beat me by 2 seconds.”
 
Robby smiled, relieved by the reassurance and turned around to tend to the stove before the eggs burned. And an uncomfortable silence fell over the room as they all saw Axel standing at the bedroom door, still wearing just his black boxer-briefs and leaning heavily on his crutch. He looked up at them nervously before staring back at the ground, unsure of what to say.

“He didn’t want to stay at the hospital.” Robby quickly explained. “And he didn’t have anywhere else to go. I didn’t know where else to go.”

“Yeah… okay.” Johnny nodded uncertainly before turning to him. “But you need to get ready. We got that ST awards thing, right?”

Right - half a day dedicated to celebrating the champions. Presenting the trophies and the medals, hobnobbing with investors and scouts, getting interviewed  - all that shiz. That was the stuff that was supposed to make all this misery worth it.

“Can I come too?” Axel asked hesitantly.

Johnny exchanged worried glances with his sons. “Uh… you know your whole team got disqualified, right?”

“Yes.” Axel nodded. “But I want to… I’d like to see Robby get the prize.”

Robby blushed at the words, focusing on moving the scrambled eggs around before turning off the stove.

“Sure. You’ll need some clothes, though.” Johnny relented. “Diaz, why don’t you help him find something from my closet and I’ll whip something up for everybody.”

Miguel nodded and helped Axel down the corridor while Johnny stood next to Robby and cracked a couple of fresh eggs into the bowl. 
 
“Are you sure about this?” He asked quietly once Axel was out of hearing.

“Letting Axel come to the ceremony?” Robby asked, frowning. “I know he was disqualified, but they shouldn’t kick him out, right?”

“I meant him staying here.” Johnny clarified. “Look, I’m proud of you. You got a big heart, kid and you can forgive pretty much everyone. Doesn’t mean you need to take care of the guy who did…

that

to you. No one would blame you if you never wanna see him again. Just say the word and I’ll find someone to take good care of him.”

Robby thought it over - not about the decision he’d already made but whether Axel might be better off with a professional looking after him. He probably would, but Robby had given him his word. And he knew from experience that being abandoned hurt like hell, even if you managed to find something better down the line.

“No. I want him to stay.” He replied firmly.

“Alright.” Johnny nodded. “Then he stays.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Morning, sunshine!”

“Shut up!” Robby grumbled, shoving another spoonful of sweet, soggy cereal in his mouth.

Axel grinned in response and grabbed a bowl from the cabinet, getting his own breakfast ready while humming a tune under his breath. Robby glared at him angrily, resenting his chipper attitude when all he could think of was the warm comfort of his own bed. Axel had no right looking this happy and refreshed after the night they’d had.

“How are you not tired?” Robby asked with a scowl. “How could you sleep through that racket?”

“Babies cry. It’s what they do.” Axel replied, shrugging. “Doesn’t bother me.”

Laura Rosa Lawrence - named after both her grandmothers - was born a week ago and whatever joy Robby had felt was gone quickly when he understood what it meant to live with a newborn. He loved his new half-sister, sure, but she didn’t exactly do much except eat and poop and cry. And she cried a lot - at the worst possible times and often for no reason. Like last night when she’d woken up the whole house and then refused to go back to sleep until hours later.

“So the crying all night doesn’t bother you?” He asked, prodding for some answers.

Axel simply shrugged in response. “Kind of used to it.”

Unless he had a secret kid he never told them about, Robby didn’t see how that was possible. Over the months Axel had been living with them, he’d remained pretty tight-lipped about his past. All Robby knew was that he was originally from Croatia, he caught Wolf’s eye in one of the karate tournaments in his early teens and he’d been with the man ever since. Until, that was, the man went to prison for assault. But other than that, he tended to shrug off probing questions with vague non-answers and he seemed too uncomfortable when asked directly for Robby to pry any further. In fact, Robby was starting to wonder if there was any truth to Demetri’s theory that he was grown in a lab.

Still, having a good night’s rest was no excuse for being so cheerful when Robby was so miserable. At least Miguel had the decency to scowl angrily at the both of them when he came into the kitchen.

“Where is the cereal?” He asked, rummaging through the pantry.

“Oh… I ate the last of it.” Axel told him apologetically.

Harrumphing with displeasure, he grabbed a banana and some bread for his milk instead and started cutting it up in the bowl. 
 
Things were still dicey between the three of them. Unlike Robby and Miguel, reconciling their differences hadn’t blossomed into a deep, brotherly friendship between Miguel and Axel and while they were nice enough to each-other, there was still a simmering resentment that Robby had to perpetually keep in check.

He was the reason behind it, after all. Neither had actually come out and asked Robby to be his boyfriend and Robby was grateful for not having to make a choice. Largely because he was still unsure how it’d work either of them. They were only a couple of months away from Miguel going off to Stanford and while Axel didn’t say anything about going anywhere, now that his body had healed, Robby wasn’t sure how long he’d stick around either.

“Move!” Miguel growled angrily at the other boy.

“There is plenty of space there.” Axel replied, waving at the rest of the table.

“No - move out! Of the house.” Miguel clarified. “Seriously dude, you’re fine now. Why are we still taking care of you? You should move out and stay somewhere else.”

“Miguel - ”

“You’d like that, no?” Axel replied smugly. “Get Robby all to yourself? Not a chance.”

“Guys, c’mon - ”

“Screw you, dickhead. I just don’t want you mooching off - ”

“Hey! That’s enough.” Robby raised his voice an octave. “You’ll wake the baby.”

The threat was enough to make them go back to glaring at each-other and Robby sighed in relief.

Things in their lives felt pretty uncertain - like they were all up in the air and waiting with bated breath to see how they’d land. After the drama with the Sekai Taikai, Johnny had found a house for them to move into - but Carmen wasn’t stupid enough to let him spend too much on it. After all, Miguel was heading off to college soon, Axel wasn’t really a member of their family and Robby… he wasn’t sure, but he could feel the hint that he’d be expected to move out at some point too. On the other hand, Rosa definitely needed her own room and so would Laura once she was old enough - so they’d gotten a four bedroom house and the three boys were expected to figure out how to share the two of them.

Which was pretty tricky - neither Axel nor Miguel could stand to share a room with each-other and neither wanted the other to bunk with Robby. Miguel “insisted” that as their guest, Axel should get a room all to himself, while Axel declined saying that he was already being such a burden that he could not ask him to make such a “sacrifice”. And Johnny made things even more complicated. He made it clear that he hadn’t forgotten what Axel did and while he appreciated the boy trying to make things right, he did not trust him not to hurt Robby again. He’d made it clear that he wasn’t a fan of whatever the two of them had going on.

Robby had made the final decision to have Axel bunk with him - after all, he was the one insisting the guy stay with them - but it was a temporary arrangement and they never let him forget it.

“She was up until 4.” Miguel grumbled under his breath. “No way she wakes up that easy now.”

“Yeah, dad and Carmen were up too.” Robby replied, getting up and putting his empty bowl in a sink. “Guess we’ll have to figure out a way to school on our own. They won’t be up for hours.”
 
A quick shuffle behind him told him that he’d said the wrong thing. Things were at an unstable equilibrium between them and this was the only way to keep it that way. Robby could not pick either of them, but he wanted them both and they wanted him - so he’d asked them to act like nothing had changed and they’d agreed. Which meant letting them fuck him whenever they had the chance and not interfering when Robby was busy with the other.

Miguel reached him first today, grabbing him from behind and pressing him against the sink, while Axel stepped back with a disappointed grunt.

He really wants me…

Robby thought, gasping as Miguel shoved his sweatpants down his thighs and roughly fingered him open. His ass had taken a pounding from Axel last night and his hole was still loose, but not enough to take Miguel without any prep. And Miguel must have realized it too, because he’d barely stretched him open before his dick was nudging at the pucker and pushing in with a burning stretch.

He bent Robby over, pressed his face against the cold marble countertop as he fucked into him hard and fast. He really wanted him - Robby could tell by each desperate thrust like he was trying to prove a point to Axel. Robby moaned, pulling one leg out of his sweats and putting it on the countertop to spread his ass wide open while Miguel grabbed his cock and started tugging.

He should just be with Miguel and it wasn’t just because Miguel could fuck him so good. It made the most sense - they were already part of the same family. He could trust Miguel because they had a history and as for the Stanford thing - they could figure it out, right? Miguel would come back for the holidays and he could visit from time to time…

They were going to be in each-other's lives anyway. Axel might go away and Robby might not ever see him again, but his life was bound to Miguel’s and how awkward would it be if he rejected him and they had to spend the holidays together.

Miguel came with a groan, spurting his seed inside and no sooner than he pulled out, Axel was on top of him, wrapping one arm around his waist while fingering his slick hole with the other.

“You’re a mess. Need to clean you up.” He told him, hoisting Robby over his shoulder and carrying him towards the shower.

Choosing Axel made no sense. Even if Robby put that night aside, Axel was still a mess. He was still trying to unlearn all the toxic lessons his sensei had taught him, trying to find a way to deal with losing his dojo, his friends and everything else he’d earned until now. Sometimes, it felt like he was on the verge of falling apart and Robby was the only thing holding him together.

It had all the makings of an unhealthy, codependent relationship and given how things had turned out with Tory, Robby wasn’t sure if it was a good idea.

But standing under the hot spray with Axel’s ten inches buried in his ass, his mouth sucking the flowing water from his nipples as he bounced him up and down… Robby didn’t want to let him go either. 
 
“What do you think? Any of them catch your eye?”

Robby looked over the roster of potential students struggling through the basic katas in concern. The students were not the problem - ever since Miyagi-Do had won the Sekai Taikai, everyone and their mother was lining up to join the dojo and learn from the champions. There was bound to be some talent among them and his dad had his pick of who to let in.

The problem was that he was trying to do too much.

Mr. LaRusso quit to focus on the dealership full-time and Sensei Chozen went back to Japan to tend to his own dojo - one he’d already neglected for way too long. Which left his dad as the only sensei there and he couldn’t handle all the students - not with a new baby to take care of as well.

And then there was everything else he was trying to do on top of that.

As much as he respected them, Johnny Lawrence was no Miyagi-Do. And Mr. Miyagi’s backyard wasn’t big enough for their growing dojo. But that was okay because investors were lining up to help his dad set up a new place for training and rebrand Eagle-Fang. It’s what his dad had always wanted - a new start, a new direction and Robby was an important part of it.

“I think it’s too early to tell.” He replied, answering his dad. “I mean… your best students wouldn’t have made the cut at the start, right?”

“Yeah, but we can’t train them all.” Johnny replied, sighing. “Maybe you can take a few beginner’s classes… show them the ropes, then we can cut the losers.”

“What about my training?” Robby asked. “We’re still doing that, right?”

“Yeah, of course.” Johnny laughed.

“So I got school, my own training and taking classes on top of that?” Robby huffed in frustration. “How the hell am I supposed to handle all that?”

His dad was up to something and Robby didn’t know what. If he really needed help, he could’ve just hired new senseis - after Silver’s disastrous attempt at taking over the Valley, there were plenty of them unemployed. But Johnny kept trying to drag him into it. At first, he thought it was an excuse for them to spend more time together, but most of the time, Johnny kept getting called away for something baby related while Robby was left holding the bag.

“Dad, if you really need help - ”

“It’s not about that.” Johnny sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Robby, listen… you’re an amazing kid, alright? You can do anything you set your mind to. But things were screwed up for you for a long time and that’s on me. I’m trying to make up for that.”

“By having me teach a few classes?”

“By making you a part of this.” Johnny replied. “Look, I know it doesn’t look like college is on the cards for you. But that’s not the only way to succeed. I’m gonna make Eagle-Fang the best dojo in the country and I need my champion by my side. I can’t do this without you.”

Me? Not Miguel,

Robby wondered dubiously. Did his dad actually want him or was he the default option because Miguel had better things planned for his future. Johnny would never ask Miguel to give up his dreams for his sensei’s, but he wouldn’t hesitate to ask that of Robby…

Except, Robby didn’t have any dreams of his own. He’d never had a clear vision of what he wanted, except he wanted things to be better than they were. And this was better - he’d be by his dad’s side like he always wanted to be, he’d be doing karate which he loved and he’d be mentoring kids to be better. On paper, it felt like he was getting everything he could’ve ever wanted - so why did the thought fill him with dread?

“I think it’s too much, dad.” He told him. “I don’t wanna let you down.”

“Hey - you can never let me down.” Johnny told him with a smile. “Like I said, you’re an amazing kid and you can do whatever you put your mind to.”
 
“It sounds amazing.” Axel said, wrapping his arms around Robby’s naked body as they cuddled under the covers. “Your future will be taken care of.”

“Yeah, it’s what I always wanted.” Robby replied, pillowing his head on the bigger boy’s bicep.

“But not anymore?”

Robby didn’t know how to answer that. He thought this was what he wanted, except the thought of getting what he wanted scared the shit out of him. It was like Tory all over again - all through the Sekai Taikai he’d been desperate to get back with her. Except the moment she said she wanted that too, that had become the last thing he needed.

“You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to.” Axel suggested quietly.

“What else am I supposed to do? Just hang around?” Robby scoffed. “I might’ve won the Sekai Taikai, but it doesn’t make up for my lack of grades.”

“You have other options. What about that sponsorship? The one about other dojos?”

Robby’s stomach clenched at the thought. He’d gotten a lot of offers after the Sekai Taikai - becoming a brand ambassador, shooting adverts, joining other dojos as a pro-athlete - but this one had been the most enticing. He’d get to travel all over the world, learn different styles… but it’d mean leaving everything he knew behind.

“That’s never gonna work.” Robby squirmed in his arms uncomfortably. “My dad needs me here.”

“It’s about what you need, not him.” Axel told him.

“I can’t…” Robby shook his head. “Look, I can’t just leave on my own. I don’t… I don’t wanna be alone.”

“You won’t be.” Axel replied, kissing his hair. “Truth is, Miguel’s right. I cannot stay here forever. I have enough money saved up to do what I want… go where I want. So if you like, I could come with you.”

“Is that the big plan?” Robby scoffed, turning to look at him in half-annoyance. “Steal me away from my family and have me all to yourself?”

He saw the same troubled look on Axel’s face he had before. This wasn’t the first time they’d had this conversation and it wasn’t the first time Axel had suggested that he leave everything behind. 
 
“I never told you how I end up with my sensei, yes?”

“You did.” Robby replied, turning around in his arms. “You said he saw you at a local tournament and he had an eye for talent.”

“That’s only the start.” Axel took a deep breath. “I still lived with family back then… a little farm in south Croatia in a village no one ever heard of.”

“You never talk about your family.” Robby said curiously.

“There is reason for that.” Axel sighed, continuing. “I… come from a big family. Two brothers and two sisters… I was middle child. Never felt like I got enough attention… had to be special, to do something great for them to love me. So when I found I was good at karate, I gave it my all. Wanted to make them proud…” He took a deep breath. “We were never rich, you know? Farm always struggling. Sometimes, we don’t know if we’d have enough food or heat in winter. So when I start making money from karate, I thought, maybe I help them out. Maybe they love me more for it.”

“They must have been proud of you.” Robby said with a comforting smile.

Axel shook his head dejectedly. “They told me to quit karate. They said it was nonsense… my father wanted me to work on farm with him and older brother. Karate was my whole life… a way for me to help and they wanted me to give it up. They force me to choose between my dream and what they want for me. And when I did not choose their way…”

“They threw you out?” Robby felt anger rising inside him on Axel’s behalf.

“I walk away before they get chance.” Axel replied. “Sensei help me get emancipated… and I told them, I come back once I make something of myself and they were ready to say sorry…” He took another shuddering breath and Robby waited for him to go on. “I call them after my last Sekai Taikai… after my big win. And the first thing they say was if I was done with karate nonsense yet.”

Worriedly, Robby raised his hand cupped Axel’s cheek.

“They were too proud to even touch my money.” Axel went on, sniffing softly. “It was either their way or highway…”

“Why are you telling me this?” Robby asked him.

“To make you understand.” Axel replied. “My sensei was an asshole, but he believed in my dreams. Tried to help me make them real. You deserve the same, no?”

“It’s not the same.” Robby shrugged. “My dad’s not asking me to give up anything.”

“He doesn’t have to. Robby… you do everything for others without asking. Whether it is sucking dick to help out an enemy or giving up your own dreams for your father… you just do it. But you should not have to choose.

He

should support you.”

“He does support me.” Robby told him, turning away with an uncomfortable feeling in his stomach. “He helped me become strong enough to win… and he’s doing this for me.”

“I know… I know it feels that way.” Axel sighed, rubbing his arm. “But if he really loves you, he will support you in what you want.”

It wasn’t the same. Things weren’t that simple. If Robby had simply decided to go, then he was sure his dad would’ve let him. But plans were already in motion - his dad was building a future for the both of them and it didn’t feel right abandoning him in the middle of it.

Besides, the offer on the table wasn’t a dream - it was a fantasy. It might sound good on paper, but traveling the world, training at different dojos to understand their strengths and weaknesses, to see how they put their martial arts philosophy in practice and then writing about it… all that sounded too good to be true. It was bound to go bad somehow. It always did. Robby would be much better off staying at home.

“It’s already decided, okay?” Robby told him sullenly. “I’m staying here and I’m gonna work with my dad at his dojo. And that’s that.”
 
Robby wished that had been that. Even though Axel didn’t bring it up again, Robby couldn’t stop thinking about it - whether he was making the right decision after all.

“I mean… it’s not even a decision.” Miguel said, holding the punching back steady for him. “If Sensei had asked me to do it, I’d have joined his dojo in a heartbeat.”

“Yeah?” Robby focused on his combos. “You’d give up Stanford for that?”

The question gave Miguel pause and Robby could imagine everything going through his head. He knew that it wasn’t a fair comparison - Stanford had been Miguel’s dream since forever and for the longest time, it’d felt like something completely out of his reach. Not only had he gotten in, now that he could pay for it, it’d be cruel to make him give it up. It was something he’d worked for his whole life - not something he’d stumbled upon because of a lucky win.

But something inside Robby made him push it even further.

“It could work out for us all, right?” He suggested. “The two of us with my dad - Lawrence and sons karate - you can save all that Stanford money. We could work together, live together… be together. And you know my dad would love for you to be a part of it too. I know he’d never ask you to give up college, but if you told him that this is what you want… it could work for everybody.”

Miguel stared at him thoughtfully, still holding the bag in place.

“Maybe…” He said after a long pause. “But is Stanford the only reason we’re not together?”

“What else is there?” Robby shrugged.

“Axel.” Miguel replied. “Maybe you want to be with me, but you don’t want to break his heart. Or maybe it’s the other way around.”

“Thought I made it clear that I don’t wanna be with either of you.”

“No, you didn’t.” Miguel shook his head. “You gave a bunch of reasons why it wasn’t a good idea, but you never said you didn’t want it.”

It amounted to the same thing as far as Robby was concerned. He wasn’t going to put himself out there only to be left behind again - it was that simple.

“Wow… Sensei really messed you up, didn’t he?”

Robby looked up at him, glaring resentfully. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Dude, you’re so scared of getting hurt that you don’t have the balls to go for what you want.” Miguel replied. Then his face cleared as another realization dawned on him. “Holy shit! That’s why you’re going along with everything sensei wants - because you’re scared that he won’t want you around if you don’t.”

“I…” It was Robby’s turn to be flustered. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Yeah, you do. You’ve been like this ever since you quit Cobra Kai.” Miguel shook his head in disbelief, not knowing how it’d taken him so long to get it. “You do whatever Sensei wants - no, whatever the rest of us want too - and you never ask anything for yourself. You lose your shit now and then when it gets too much, but other than that, you just go along with everything. Hell, something horrible happened to you and you didn’t tell anyone because you didn’t want to bother them. Do you realize how messed up that is?”

He’d gotten close to Robby during his little rant - a little too close - and Robby pushed him away and turned from him, face glowering in anger. Everything Miguel said wasn’t exactly a lie - but he didn’t like how he put it.

This was how things worked - if he was a good person, people would care about him. If he wasn’t, they wouldn’t. They’d proven that when he’d turned away from the right path and joined Cobra Kai. So if he wanted to have people in his corner, he needed to be a good person - it was as simple as that. And good people cared about others. They didn’t walk over everybody, they didn’t put their own selfish needs over theirs… they were nice and considerate and thoughtful like he was trying to be.

But Miguel was making it sound pathetic instead - like he was a loser who let others walk all over him.

“You sound like Axel.” Robby told the boy. “He keeps going on and on about the same thing. How I should put myself first - ”

“He said that?” Miguel said, disbelieving. “Is that why he’s still sticking around? Because he’s worried about you?”

“What? No! He…” Robby trailed off, unsure of the answer.

Axel had lost everything and he had nowhere to go - that’s what he’d said. Except, that wasn’t true and Robby knew it. His karate career might’ve taken a hit and he might be banned from the next Sekai Taikai, but plenty of people admired his courage for standing up and doing the right thing. He still had enough money saved up to go where he wanted and standing offers from dojos all around the world who wanted a champion in their ranks. There were plenty of other competitions he could participate in and his talent was too good to ignore.

And yet, he was sticking with them - sparring with Robby every couple of days, learning Miyagi-Do lessons and reassuring them that he’d figure out his future at a later date. Robby hadn’t pressed the matter because he didn’t want to lose him, but was he really putting his life on hold for Robby’s sake?

“I guess I was wrong…” Miguel said quietly.

“About what?”

“About everything.” He sighed. “I thought he was sticking around because you took care of him and he needed that. But maybe he wants to take care of you too… maybe he wants to make sure that you don’t keep sacrificing yourself for others.”

“I don’t do that.” Robby replied uncertainly.

“Yeah… you do.” Miguel countered. “Maybe that’s why… you need to get away from him.”

“From Axel?”

“No - from sensei.” Miguel took a deep breath. “I know he cares about you, but he already messed you up. And he’s still messing you up. You think you gotta choose between following your dreams and doing what he wants and that’s messed up. You shouldn’t have to choose between that to have him in your life. Sensei’s gonna support you no matter what.”

“Are you sure about that?” Robby scoffed. “It hasn’t exactly worked out for me in the past.”

“Yeah…” Miguel agreed dejectedly. “But if it doesn’t then… you deserve better.”

They stared at each-other, uncertain of where to go next. Miguel might have a point about Robby deserving better - but what did that matter if this was the best he was going to get? It made no sense to give up what he had in a hope finding something else down the line. 
 
The silence was broken by the sound of his phone ringing and Robby jumped at the excuse to end the uncomfortable conversation. He grabbed his cell from the bag and stared at the number on the screen - an unknown caller and not a local one either.

Hesitantly, he answered, “Hello?”

There was a strange voice on the other end - half-static, half words in a language he didn’t understand. He stared at the screen again, wondering where the call was from.

“Can you speak English, please?” He said.

“Is this Robert Keene?”  The voice was clear enough now for him to know it was a woman and accented enough to know she wasn’t American.

“Yeah, I’m Robby.” He replied. “Who’s this?”

“It’s Ana - Ana Kovačević.” The woman replied. “I-I think you might know my son… Axel.”

His body went cold all over and he didn’t know how to respond to her.

“C-can I talk to you about him? Please?”
 
Robby kept his face cold and steady as he opened the door to his dad’s old apartment and stood aside, letting Axel go inside first. The older boy was confused about what they were doing back there, but Robby felt that this was the right place to do it - after all, this was where they’d shared their ‘first’ time.

“Your father kept this place?” Axel asked, looking around curiously.

“Yeah, he has trouble letting things go.” Robby replied, closing the door behind him. “He has been trying to sublet the place for months but he hasn’t found the right tenant yet.”

It was crazy how much they’d put up with Johnny bitching about the potential tenants when the answer was so obvious in retrospect.

“So what are we doing here?” Axel asked with a suggestive smile.

“Checking the place out.” Robby replied, putting his backpack down. “How about you take your clothes off and we can take the place for a spin.”

He watched Axel whip his shirt off with an eager smile before he turned around and checked his bag, hoping he got all the right tools for the job. After everything the guy had been through with Wolf, Robby wasn’t confident of this step at all, but at the same time, it was a familiar dynamic that he’d probably understand.

He stiffened as Axel wrapped his hands around him from behind, mouthing at his neck while trying to tug his shirt up.

“I didn’t say you could touch me.” Robby told him coldly.

Right away, Axel let him go and took a nervous step back.

“You said something about being punished before.” Robby reminded him, turning around. “How it helps you process your mistakes, deal with your guilt and feel better. I figured we could do the same thing - I can punish you when you screw up.”

“I… but, what mistake?”

“You lied to me about your parents.” Robby told him.

“What lie?” Axel said, indignantly covering himself up. “I did not lie.”

“Then I guess you’re still lying to yourself.” Robby replied. “I know what you did, alright? I know everything that happened. You’re gonna make this right and it starts with admitting your mistake.” He pulled out a paddle from the bag. “Now, hands on the wall, feet apart and push your ass out.”

Axel eyed the wooden instrument warily, but the look on Robby’s face told him there was no arguing the point. Robby clenched the handle tightly, watching the tall, muscular boy submit to his demand. This wasn’t their regular dynamic - more often than not, Axel took control of things between them and Robby liked it that way. But he could also be a stubborn, misguided bastard who needed a firm hand to guide him now and then. 
 
“You kept secrets from me.” Robby began. “That was your first mistake. There are things you should’ve told me and you didn’t. I’m gonna give you ten swats for that and you’re gonna count each one. Got it?”

Robby didn’t wait for an answer before he raised the paddle high and brought it down on Axel’s exposed ass.

SPLAT!

“Unggh…. One!” Axel grunted.

The first strike left an angry, red print on the pale buttcheek and Robby felt a bubble of guilt inside him. But he tamped down on it and struck again, giving him a matching one on the second.

“T-two!” Axel’s voice quivered.

Axel was a tough guy. He’d been training in karate his whole life and he was used to taking hits without flinching. Robby knew that if he wanted this punishment to count, he could not go easy on him. So despite his instincts screaming otherwise, he did not go easy.

SPLAT!

“Three.”

SPLAT!

“Four.”......

SPLAT!

“N-nine!”

SPLAT!

“Ten!”

His entire backside was red and raw by the time Robby was done and Axel was taking deep, gasping breaths, trying not to cry. Wolf must have pounded the obedience into him for years because despite this part of punishment being done, he kept his palms on the wall and stayed in position without Robby telling him too. 
 
He still finched when Robby ran a soothing hand over his warm butt. Then he gasped when Robby pushed two lube-slick fingers between his cheeks and pushed inside his hole. He’d played with Axel’s ass a few times since they were living together - but it was enough to know that he didn’t really enjoy it like Robby did. His sensei’s dumb worldview aside, Axel was a natural top like Robby was a natural bottom, but that was why he needed to do this today - he needed to push his boundaries and take him out of his comfort zone.

“C-can you tell me what I did? Please?” Axel begged, gasping as Robby scissored him open.

“Your mom called. I had a long talk with her.” Robby explained, pumping his fingers in and out. “We had a long talk about you. That’s how I knew you’ve been lying all along.”

“I-I didn’t!” Axel gasped. “I did not lie!”

“You left out a lot of details. Like the fact that you got suspended from school for beating up a student. Or that you broke an opponent’s leg during one of the matches and ended his karate career. Or that every time you came home with bruises all over you, you told your parents that it happened during training.”

“Be-because… did not matter -

aaahhhhh…..

” Axel moaned as Robby roughly pressed his fingers against his sweet spot before pulling them out. Then he grabbed the plug from the bag and kicked his legs further apart, pressing the bulbous head against the slick opening.

He shoved it inside with a rough push, making Axel whimper, and pulled the rest of it between his legs. It was a toy Robby had bought for them to use somewhere down the line - the three-part monstrosity with a curved plug on one end, a prostate massager in the middle and a rubber cockring on the other. Robby snugly fit the middle part between his legs before stretching the rubber ring and pulling his flaccid cock through it. A few tugs from his slick hand and Axel was erect, helplessly trapped in the contraption.

“You think it didn’t matter?” Robby asked, pinching his ear and leading to the couch. “You didn’t think all that had anything to do with why your parents wanted you to quit karate?”

“Ahhhh…. No!” Axel replied stubbornly.

With a press of a button, he made Axel cry out and arch his back as the plug came alive in his ass. He whimpered, legs almost buckling under him as Robby led to the couch and forced him to sit down, legs spread and his throbbing cock exposed.

“Hands by your side.” He ordered, pulling out a flogger with black leather straps. “And this time, I’m not gonna stop until you admit what you did wrong.”

“I didn’t -

hunnggghhh…..

”

Robby struck his junk first, the straps leaving their sting on his dick and tender balls.

“Your parents didn’t have a problem with karate - they had a problem with your sensei. They knew he was bad news and they were trying to protect you.”

He struck his thigh next, leaving red stripes over pale flesh.

“They didn’t like what he was turning you into - a rabid dog who’d attack anyone and do anything on his command.”

The next one went to his taut abs, leaving him gasping for breath.

“They didn’t like that he was hurting you. All they wanted to do was protect you.”

The other thigh was next.

“N-No!” Axel snapped. “That’s lie! They tried to make me quit karate.”

“Because they didn’t know the difference.” Robby replied, smacking his dick again. “They thought all karate was like that. Because that’s what you told them. You didn’t know better and neither did they.”

Axel shook his head stubbornly with tears leaking out the corners of his eyes. “They were holding me back.”

“Yeah - they were. Holding you back from jumping off the cliff.” Robby replied, whipping him harder. “What your sensei made you do that night didn’t come out of nowhere - it was a long time coming because you ignored all the signs and you didn’t let your parents protect you.”

Axel shook his head, tears spilling down his cheeks as Robby struck him again.

Robby knew that it wasn’t going to be easy and he knew he’d hate doing this - but it had to be done for his own good. Axel had lived with the idea for so long that it was hard to let go of it. He chose to believe that Silver was the one who’d corrupted his sensei with promises of wealth and redemption - that Sensei Wolf was a good person with his students’ best interests at heart and he’d simply been led astray by a manipulative bastard. Accepting that the man was an asshole from the start wasn’t something Axel would find easy.

That was why Robby had to keep at it - breaking him down was the only way to get through to him. 
 
“They were proud of you at first.” Robby told him, whipping his thighs again. “But when they saw what it was doing to you - they wanted to save you from going down a dark path.”

“What would you know about it?” Axel snapped at him in a broken voice. “You joined Cobra Kai too, no?”

Robby paused, thinking his words over.

“You’re right. I fell for the same con and my parents didn’t do anything to help.” Robby told him softly. “But yours did. They tried to get you away from karate. They tried to show you another way. They even tried to fight your emancipation even though they didn’t have enough money. They did everything they could to protect you.”

Axel kept shaking his head, stubbornly refusing to listen to him. Sighing, Robby put the flogger aside and started stripping off his own clothes. He knew that pain would only take him so far and if he kept trying to beat Axel into submission, he'd be no different from his Sensei. 
 
Once he was naked, Robby cupped Axel’s cheek and climbed on top of him, straddling his lap while guiding his throbbing erection between is cheeks.

“No!” Axel grabbed his wrist. “Need to stretch you first.”

“I told you to keep your hands by your side.” Robby reminded him coldly, pulling his wrist away.

Despite the distressed look on his face, Axel’s dick stayed hard as Robby guided it to his puckered opening and pushed his hips down, biting down on his lip. He’d been fucked so many times before that he’d gotten a little used to it - but being penetrated practically dry still burned like a bitch and he couldn’t stop his face from scrunching up in pain. But that was okay. He needed to do this to get through to Axel. He needed him to understand that it hurt him as much as it hurt the other boy.

He lowered himself until Axel was buried inside to the hilt, then he slowly lifted himself up and set a steady rhythm of fucking his ass on the thick cock. Despite the lack of lube, they’d built up enough sweat between them to make thighs easier as they went on.

“Y-your mom said she kept trying to call you.” Robby said, gasping through the pain. “Why didn’t you answer her?”

“They only want to gloat.” Axel replied in a sullen voice. “Want to tell me they were right all along. They want to drag me home and keep me there for rest of life.”

“No, they don’t.” Robby stroked his face. “Ax, they’re worried about you. The thing they were scared of happened and they want to make sure you’re okay. You need to fix things with them, alright? You need to make things right.”

Axel kept shaking his head stubbornly and Robby squeezed his channel around his cock, wrenching a moan out of him. He sped up his hips, practically slamming his ass down on his battered balls while pinching his nipple to make him arch his back and groan brokenly.

“I can’t…” He sobbed, unconsciously thrusting his hips up into Robby’s tight heat. “Can’t face them… please don’t make me.”

“You have to.”

“Please, no!” He kept begging. “You’re right, okay? About everything. I messed up. I was stupid and I push them away. They hate me now. I can’t… I can’t face them again.”

One final squeeze of his ass and Axel was coming inside with a broken sob. Robby felt his cock pulse and spurt hot jizz inside him as his body was wracked from the shock of his orgasm. He kept squeezing, tugging his own cock along the way and before Axel was done, Robby shot his own load all over him, painting his flushed chest with streaks of white.

He slumped down on top of him, letting the bigger boy bury his face in his chest as he sobbed with relief. 
 
“It’ll be okay.” Robby reassured him, running a soothing hand through his hair. “I promise it’ll be okay. Because I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

Axel looked up, blinking through the tears with a disbelieving expression on his face.

“It’s time to move on from the past and start a new chapter - for both of us.” Robby told him. “You can’t stay with us forever, okay? I’ll talk to my dad about subletting this apartment and you can stay here until you figure things out with your mom and dad. And I’m gonna be with you all the way. I promise.”

Axel kept sniffing, trying to get the crying under control until he wiped his eyes and nodded.

“Fine… you win.” He said, defeated. “H-how will this work?”

“I told you - I already talked to them.” Robby replied. “They’re coming here to see you. I already bought their tickets. They’ll stay here with you for as long as you need and… so will I. If you want me to.”

“I… yes!” Axel replied, still barely able to process it. “But, your dad. Will he be okay with it?”

“I’ll figure that out.” Robby replied, hugging him closer once again. Talking to his dad was one thing he still had on his to-do list.