Chapter Text
Bobby Brown didn’t expect to hear this news from Daniel LaRusso. Or to meet his buddy’s teenage son, who had managed to make all of the news headlines in this set of circumstances. But expecting the unexpected, well that had come with the territory, occupational hazard.
“Yeesh…well guess it was a matter of time,” Bobby put his hand to the bridge of his nose. He took a breath. “Do you want to sit?” He could see the boy was troubled, and could tell LaRusso was too. He knew there was a lot to discuss.
“Um…okay,” Robby looked over to Daniel who gave a miniscule nod, before he sat down in a pew.
As the teen asked the expected question of why they were here, and how Daniel knew him, as he tuned out of the explanation that no doubt had been carefully curated over the years, Bobby found himself lost in thought. He knew they had all done their damn best to move past what had happened all those years ago, some of them more successfully than others. But after hearing about what had happened to Johnny, the fight at the high school, Bobby knew he had to help somehow, however he could. And it seemed, Daniel LaRusso had the same thought.
“So…you and Dad were in Cobra Kai together?” Bobby blinked at the teen’s question.
Bobby nodded. “We were. Yeah.”
“And did you…?” Robby glanced over to Daniel.
“Yeah…” Bobby nodded. “It’s still something we regret.” Going as far as they had well…he knew it was wrong. “But you know Robby, there’s…a lot your Dad’s been doing to try to make it right.”
“Yeah…” Robby nodded, and Bobby didn’t need to be a mind reader to know he was calling bullshit, this clearly was Johnny’s kid. But…there was something else there too. “That explain the career choice?” He nodded toward Bobby’s getup.
Bobby chuckled slightly. “Maybe it does.”
“Right…” Robby smirked slightly before it fell into a less than comfortable silence. His leg bounced as he put folded hands to his chin.
“LaRusso…” Bobby nodded to somewhere a ways off.
Daniel got up from the seat, putting a hand to Robby’s shoulder momentarily before going with Bobby.
“How’s he doing…?” Bobby asked.
“Johnny, he’s… in bad shape.” Daniel said. He explained what the doctor at the hospital had said. “Robby’s not faring much better. They…how much did Johnny tell you?”
Bobby sighed. “Said he brought back Cobra Kai and Kreese was back,”
“And you saw the news?”
“Yeah, shit…”
“Thought coming here, talking about things, might be able to help,” Daniel said. “Will you…?”
“Sure thing man,” Johnny was one of Bobby’s best friends even after all this time, if he could help his kid, he would.
Johnny was still thinking about the photographs even when he and Daniel had sat down with their drinks.
"So, uh… you got kids?" He nodded toward the other room where the photos had been.
"Oh, yeah," Daniel nodded, and Johnny recognized something that made his stomach flip, imperceptible if he hadn't been there himself, but well to know for sure he would have to keep this conversation going or shake down that old man if he ever came back. Great… what the fuck are we supposed to talk about? "My daughter Samantha and my son Anthony."
Well, it seemed one thing hadn't changed. Despite Johnny's ambivalence toward LaRusso's kids, he was strangely relieved.
"Their Mom know about this roommate situation, you need a background check, make sure I don't have some kind of criminal record?" Fuck being subtle right now. Everything else was flipped on its ass.
"No,"
Johnny frowned.
"I mean no on the background check," Daniel added quickly as he swirled the amber liquid in his glass and downed half. "That…won't be necessary."
"You're shitting me?" Johnny blinked. "You trust some random guy when you've got kids coming here?"
"To be honest, you might not even meet them," Daniel sighed. "It's… complicated. Plus, you asked, that's good enough. Anyone that needs one doesn't do that."
Okay… Johnny was trying not to let his complete confusion show at this invasion of the body snatchers show. "Okay uh sure… so you mind if I ask, what's the deal there?"
"Divorced," Daniel said. "She has full custody,"
Shit, is it…? Could that really be Amanda? "Okay sure, but you really, I mean how?"
"A misunderstanding," Daniel said. "Point is you probably won't have to worry about them."
"Did you take her to court?" Johnny couldn't wrap his head around this. "How bad was it?"
Daniel took another drink
A pile I assume… Johnny blinked. By that reaction.
"I get pictures, I gave my number." Daniel said. "Whether they use it," Daniel shrugged.
The conversation was interrupted by a familiar ringtone, and Daniel frowning down at the cell phone on the table. "I've got to take this," He said. "Just make yourself at home."
Johnny nodded as he took a long swig of the whiskey as LaRusso left the room.
"Learn lot?"
Johnny jumped out of his skin as he looked up from the glass to see Miyagi sitting in the spot Daniel had occupied moments ago.
"Christ old man, can't you use the door?"
“Daniel San hear. This way easier.”
“Wait, so he can hear the door, but can’t see you that doesn’t…” Johnny rubbed his forehead and trailed off. “Whatever. What’s the big idea?”
“Daniel San still have temper,” Miyagi replied. “Sure you remember.”
“Yeah I, but what the hell happened? Amanda and, she wouldn’t. She puts up with his shit.”
“There another, Kumiko San” Miyagi said. “Trip to Okinawa business, Daniel San met old friend.”
“You’re saying he cheated?” Johnny scoffed. “LaRusso, what did he have an affair with some hot secretary?”
“No, but Amanda not know everything.” Miyagi shook his head. “Much grief… make emotions bigger. Samantha San was young…misunderstand.”
“Grief…was this when you…?” Johnny thought about it. “Wait, you're saying LaRusso took his kid? But not Amanda?”
Miyagi nodded. “Work busy, both needed bond.” Miyagi said. “Funeral here, but other wishes…”
“You still helped him without karate?”
“Ay, Daniel San make own path. Miyagi still around.”
“Huh…”
“You confuse?” Miyagi raised an eyebrow.
“Nah, just…thinking.”
Daniel came back in. “Sorry, I have to cut this short. Somewhere I have to be.”
Johnny looked over as the other man reentered the room, keys in hand. He noticed the same troubled look was still on his face. “If you want to stick around, it shouldn’t be long. We can work out the details.”
“Huh, okay. Sure.” Johnny forced himself to nod, to not look toward the chair that was supposed to be empty.
“Okay,” Daniel nodded, heaving a slight sigh as he left the apartment.
“Curious?” Miyagi asked.
“Uh, I guess so,” Johnny said. It’s not like there was anything else to do. “What else can you tell me?”
“Show.” Miyagi said bluntly. And then he got up from the chair, gesturing for Johnny to do the same.
Johnny got up carefully and went over to Miyagi, assuming they would go to the door.
“Yahh!” Miyagi struck, and Johnny, working on instinct and complete goddamn shock, blocked the attack, but then he felt the old man grip his arm. He blinked momentarily and found they were no longer in the apartment, but a familiar strip mall parking lot.