Chapter Text
The Cobra Kai dojo was quiet that Sunday morning, with only the low hum of the air conditioning and the soft thuds of footsteps echoing through the space. Robby Keene walked in, trying to exude his usual confident demeanor, though the memory of Friday night still weighed heavily on his mind. After the prom—what happened with Tory—things had shifted between them, and he hadn’t seen her since.
He scanned the empty dojo for a moment before hearing the door creak open behind him. Tory Nichols stepped inside, her gaze flicking between Robby and the floor, a trace of uncertainty evident in her usually sharp eyes. She looked as fierce as ever, but there was an unspoken tension between them now, and Robby could feel it pressing down on him.
They stood apart for a few moments, the silence thick with everything they hadn't yet said.
“Hey,” Robby finally said, his voice soft but steady.
“Hey,” Tory replied, her voice carrying a similar uncertainty.
Just as they seemed on the verge of breaking the tension, Silver’s voice broke through the air, smooth yet commanding. He walked toward them from the back of the dojo, his hands clasping behind his back, a satisfied grin on his face.
“Did you two enjoy yourselves at prom?” Silver asked, an almost playful tone to his voice as he studied their reactions.
Robby nodded quickly. “Yeah, Sensei Silver. Thanks for setting us up with the outfits and lending us the car. That was... really generous of you.”
Tory nodded in agreement, her voice more certain this time. “Yeah, Sensei. We really appreciate it. It meant a lot.”
Silver’s smile widened, but his eyes sharpened, reminding them both of the weight of their responsibilities. “I’m glad to hear that. But remember—your real thank-you will be when you both dominate the All Valley Tournament. This isn’t just about looking good. You both have the potential to be champions. And champions don’t just win—they crush their enemies and leave no doubt about who’s superior.”
He paused, letting the words sink in before adding with a smirk, “Winning is the only way you’ll repay me. Make sure you do it.”
Robby and Tory exchanged a look, both nodding in unison, feeling the pressure but also the motivation that came with Silver’s words. There was no room for hesitation, no time for distraction.
Silver glanced at his phone as it buzzed in his pocket. “I have a call to take,” he said before turning to leave, his tone turning into a final reminder. “Remember—there’s no second place at Cobra Kai. You either win, or you lose.”
With that, he disappeared into his office, leaving them alone once again.
Robby shifted awkwardly, wanting to address what had happened between them but unsure of how to bring it up. He opened his mouth, ready to say something, when the door swung open once more, and the sound of laughter and chatter filled the dojo.
Kyler entered first, followed by Piper, Kenny, and the other Cobra Kai students. The energy in the room shifted as Kyler clapped Robby on the shoulder, grinning from ear to ear. “Yo, Robby! Tory! You guys were the literal stars of prom, man! Especially when you kicked LaRusso and Diaz’s asses at Stingray’s afterparty. Cool as shit!”
Kyler’s eyes drifted over to Tory, and his grin turned flirtatious. “Tory, you were super hot that night. Seriously, never seen you look so sexy.”
Robby’s jaw clenched slightly, feeling a strange surge of jealousy as Kyler openly flirted with Tory. He didn’t say anything, but his scowl deepened. Tory noticed the flicker of jealousy in his eyes, but she didn’t comment on it, a slight smirk pulling at her lips instead.
Kyler, oblivious, kept talking. “I swear, I think LaRusso and Diaz totally broke up that night. Saw them arguing after they climbed out of that pool. Man, they were pissed.”
Robby exchanged a brief glance with Tory, neither of them feeling the need to gloat about what they’d accomplished. Instead, they brushed off the comments.
“It was all just to mess with them,” Tory said smoothly. “Get them off their game for the tournament.”
“Yeah,” Robby agreed, playing along. “Worked pretty well.”
Before Kyler could push any further, the door swung open again with a force that silenced the room. Kreese walked in, his expression unreadable but his presence commanding. His gaze swept over the students before he barked out a single command.
“Line up!”
Immediately, the students fell into formation, their voices echoing in unison. “YES, SENSEI!”
Robby and Tory stood side by side, still feeling the tension between them, but for now, they pushed it aside. Kreese was here, and that meant it was time to fight—both in the dojo and in the tournament ahead.
As the drills began, Robby stole another glance at Tory. She met his eyes briefly before focusing on the task at hand. There was still so much unsaid, so much unresolved. But for now, they would let their fists do the talking.