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Days after Tory won, she found herself standing face to face with none other than Johnny Lawrence, on the Cobra Kai mat. “I was taught by Kreese, too, as you know. I know how tempting it is to fall back into his web, but don't let him get to you. Not any more than he already has.”
“Kreese may have taught you,” Tory stepped forward, eyes cold and calculating, searching Johnny's who was looking right back at her with the same intensity. The same apprehension. “But he taught me better.”
“You're a kid—”
“Whoever lands three points first, wins. If you win, I'll leave Cobra Kai. If I win,” Tory stepped forward, looking up at him with a youthful defiance, fury and fire in her eyes. “If I win, I get your Cobra Kai headband.”
To that, Johnny frowned. “You want my headband? Why?”
“Maybe I just want to have it.”
“I've done karate far longer than you have. Are you sure you want to do this?” Asked Johnny with the narrowing of his eyes.
“I've trained with Kim, with Kreese and Silver, I've fought Sam, I've fought everyone, and I've won where it matters,” bringing her fists up, she nodded her head. “I'm more than sure.”
“Okay.” Johnny nodded right back at her, bringing his arm up to block once she threw her fist towards him in a quick jab. Bringing his elbow down into the inside of hers, he pushed her arm down, bringing his hand up to hit her in the shoulder, landing a point as she stumbled back. “I get that you're angry, but Kreese? He's only going to make everything worse. He always does.”
“When I was still living with… with my mom,” clearing her throat, Tory swiped her hand down to block his kick. “He was the only one that helped me. He stood up for me when everyone else went against me.”
“He may act like he cares, but he is not your father.” Throwing her fist out, she caught him off guard, his head whipping to the side as her fist crunched against his cheek.
“I don't need a father.”
Wrapping his arm around her from behind, he lightly squeezed down on her throat, her hands coming up to grip his forearm as he held her tight against him in the hopes to calm her down. “Cobra Kai isn't the answer. I thought it was, once, but Cobra Kai isn't meant for any kid. Let alone one who's already broken.”
Jamming her elbow into his side, she bit down into his arm, hearing his hiss as she twisted out of his grip. “I'm not broken.” Jumping up, she threw another fist, followed by her other one as she landed on her feet, his hands wrapping around her wrists to stop her. Throwing her forehead forward, she heard his nose crack as she ripped her hands free from his, stumbling back to where she fell on the mat, thrown over by the force of her own pull. “But your nose might be.” She strained out once she noticed the blood trickling down to his lips.
“Robby misses you, you know?”
“Right. Just not enough to call.” Kicking her foot out, she jammed it into the side of his knee, redirecting the kick he had aimed at her chest, watching his foot fall to the mat before she twisted around, kicking him in the stomach to force him back so she had time to jump up, hair tickling her face. “You all preach that you care so much, yet, when I needed someone, no one spared me a second glance.”
“Can you blame them? You tried to kill them— Sam.” Johnny blocked her kick by sending one of his own into her side, sending her off balance. “Last point wins.”
Shaking it off, Tory inhaled sharply, shaking her hands out as she came to face him once more. “Last point wins.” She echoed, waiting for him to approach her this time, and it seemed Cobra Kai was still wormed into his blood, because he stepped forward with three quick jabs she managed to block, meaning to hit her in the shoulder. Driving her elbow into his side, she heard his sharp hiss, feeling his pointy elbow digging into her arm which she swatted away. Throwing her own elbow into the back of his, he watched his whole body jerk with it, static shock running through his arm as she rolled her fingers up above her palm, eyes flaring with anger as she brought her forearm up, hitting his chin point on, forcing his head back, eyes facing the ceiling, and then, she scored the winning point by driving her hand hard into his chest, forcing the oxygen from his lungs as he crashed into the mat with a loud thump. Holding her side where his kick burned, Tory hobbled over to him, her eyes looking down at the man she'd once looked up to. Reaching down, hand still pressed to here side, she wrapped her hand around his headband and tugged, watching the very thing come undone.
“He taught you his signature move?” Johnny strained out through ragged breaths, his eyes searching and unclear.
“He did.” She smiled. “Appears you don't know everything, Mr. Lawrence.” Mr. Lawrence, where once would've said Sensei Lawrence. It came like another kick to his ribs. “And, about your son, you might want to tell him how a phone works.”
“If you stay with Kreese, you'll end up dead, or worse,” he paused, pushing himself up to his feet once Tory spun away from him. “With bones broken and a darkness in your heart. Don't let it fester, don't let it get to you.”
“I've already broken something for this dojo once,” Tory stated. “And now I've won.”
“Did you?” Johnny called after her. “Is a trophy truly winning if you've lost everything else? Was it really worth it?”
“Maybe, maybe not. I guess we'll never know.” Tory answered with a shrug. She'd become detached. Closed off, walls rising around her heart, but also her mind. She didn't care anymore. Not after her mother died and she stood to lose her brother, too.