Chapter Text
“I’m sorry. For all of it.” Hawk said to a dumbstruck Demetri.
The boy stared at him, almost offended, but he had to shake it off. Was he really going into this territory right now?
“Can we talk about this later ? In case you haven't– look out!” A kick, and Hawk stood in awe, just as they used each other as leverage for taking down the rest of the Cobra Kai goons. Call it civil.
After many badass takedowns, Hawk could really use a good– no, great – source of pick-me-up. A cold beer, maybe.
Majority of the bodies that were sprawled out from the fight evaporated the moment Tory told them to haul ass, and as adrenaline settled out of their systems, pain started to slowly take its place. Some shards of broken glass were stained with blood— could have been from his former Cobra Kai teammates— as of late, Hawk felt as if one of the shards traveled from his arm towards the left of his chest, piercing through, and he couldn’t tell what caused it. All it ever warranted in response was his hand clenching to the area. Count that, and a ton of whirring sounds in his head. And aching. His muscles ached pretty bad.
Everyone else went on to either limply leave the door. Sam and Miguel were huddled in a corner as she tended his bloodied wounds. Hawk locked eyes with the beaten Miguel, replying silently. A few minutes after, they were hurriedly out the door themselves.
He was alone with his thoughts.
His brain ground multiple gears at once, taking its sweet time to process everything– and he wasn’t sure where the wheels were going. He knew exactly what it was, and he was… remorseful. He was part and parcel of the mayhem, and slowly accepted the fact he’d been the biggest asshole to everyone, especially to Demetri.
“Hey,” Hawk called out to the boy, who was sitting by the dining table, head hung low. He looked beat. “Let’s dip before they show up.”
There was brief hesitation at first. But Demetri was beat, and he didn’t have it in him to come up with a string of excuses once the LaRusso’s show up. He just hoped that, at the back of his mind, they didn’t have to use their karate on each other tonight.
The fourth sidewalk lamp post (from where they were walked) flickered in abnormal patterns— once, then thrice, long pause. It kept flickering three times, and Hawk was pressed in the dead of night. Can’t you just fucking stay on, he thought.
It was lit. Flicker flicker flicker. Flicker–– a long pause, then flickered once. There was about a 7-second buffer between the last blink of the light, until it went on, until it eventually died. Huh, odd.
Demetri paced by Hawk’s left when he noticed the other deep in thought. It’s funny how both of them felt familiar being this close together, but at the same time, out of place. It was barely the comfort space Hawk had once teased.
Hawk had his eyes fixed closely to the cone of the busted lamp, completely slipping away from the fact that Demetri was uttering–
“Now would be an apt time to explain yourself.”
Hawk trailed his gaze from the lamp post to his left side. Demetri wasn’t looking in his general direction when he spoke. He seemed to be equally focused on the same lamp post from a distance. It wasn’t staying on anyway, so what was he looking at it for?
“Starting with what, the fact that I already said I’m sorry for everything?” Hawk jabbed. He ran his words back again and thought it sounded differently in his head. “Do I have to spell it out for you?”
Demetri sang. “Ah see, there. There he goes again . Just give up the tough guy act and be apologetic.”
“Well you should start talking less like a chick and–”
“You know what– I was your best friend, asshole!” Demetri stopped under the third lamp post. Hawk was two steps ahead as he turned his heels to face him. Demetri was heaving his chest.
“And by the way, do you know how sexist you sound? I should know! But– ah, I’m getting carried away here. We could start with the fact that you—” He swung his right arm like a fish out of water. “You broke my arm! It would have been swell if I was— oh, I don’t know— ambidextrous? I barely finished building my Millennium Falcon Lego—”
“ Wah wah wah, it always has to be about you. Not my fault your bones were so brittle.”
“Oh, just cut the bullshit already!”
The light from the third lamp post blanketed the top of Demetri’s face, which contoured a few features, including a lot of his fresh bruises. It was a little hard to make out what his face sent. Did he look betrayed? Eli barely saw the worst in Demetri when he got worked up, except for when he failed at the things he claimed to be good at. They stared each other down for a good minute before the lankier kid broke it off. He fixed his footing, and redirected his gaze two sidewalk tiles, right under the famed rebel.
The truth is, Hawk knew somewhere deep down that he owed Demetri the responsibility of mending whatever was willingly left of their friendship– except his mouth couldn’t deliver the waves of words his brain was threatening to wash up on shore. He couldn’t get it out, and out of it.
A prisoner of his own thoughts. Of the many times he delivered quick-wit and slander, he wasn’t getting away with it now.
“So this is what’s come down to? Well, is there anything else you wanna nitpick?” Hawk retorted. It might as well be an empty threat, but knowing this guy, he wouldn’t back down. Or, so he thinks. “I’ve got all night. Try me.”
Demetri continued strong, gesturing to him. “This constant, desperate bout of aggression you have?” Hawk could only stare, hands in pockets, the truths slowly seeping in. “It has to stop. We might have settled the altercation with your posse back there… but there’s a lot more you need to unpack, Eli.”
Demetri passed by the mohawk-ed boy with thunderous steps. The light from the fourth lamp post flickered again, and Hawk could only groan as he clenched his jaw hard, facing the night sky. This was going to be a long walk home.