Chapter Text
The sliding doors of the Miyagi-Do dojo slammed open, shattering the tense silence left in the wake of the decision.
Tory stormed out, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles were white. The captain's headband belonged to her—she had scored the winning point against Sam, fair and square. Yet, Daniel LaRusso had called a sudden audible, murmuring about "honor," "balance," and how Tory’s fighting style still held too much anger for her to represent Miyagi-Do on the world stage.
"Tory, wait!"
Robby caught up to her by the koi pond, his face flushed with a mixture of disbelief and fury.
"Don't, Robby," Tory spat, spinning around, tears of pure rage shimmering in her eyes. "Don't tell me it's fine. Don't tell me they have a point. I won. I did everything they asked. I changed! And they still chose her. They will always choose her."
"I know," Robby said, his voice dropping to a fierce, steady register. "And it's not okay."
Before Tory could reply, the dojo doors opened again. Daniel stepped out, followed closely by Johnny.
"Robby, let her cool down," Johnny called out, looking torn. "We need to talk about the team dynamics—"
"No, you talk," Robby interrupted, turning sharply to face his father and Daniel. The hesitation that usually clouded his eyes when dealing with his mentors was entirely gone. "She won the match. You made the rules, we fought by them, and Tory won."
"Robby, it’s about more than just points," Daniel sighed, stepping forward with his hands raised placatingly. "The captain of this dojo needs to embody Miyagi-Do. Tory fought with malice in that last exchange. She isn't ready to lead with a clear mind."
"That's a lie and you know it," Robby snapped, stepping directly between the senseis and Tory. "You never wanted her to win. You were just waiting for an excuse to give it back to Sam. You talk about forgiveness and clean slates, Mr. LaRusso, but it’s a joke. You only forgive people who fit into your perfect little box."
"Watch your mouth, son," Johnny warned, though his voice lacked real conviction. He could see the absolute conviction in Robby's eyes.
"I’m done watching my mouth. And I'm done trying to earn a spot in a place that judges us for our past while giving everyone else a pass," Robby said. He reached up, untied his Miyagi-Do headband, and let it drop into the dirt at Daniel’s feet.
Tory gasped softly, her anger momentarily giving way to shock. She looked at Robby, seeing the fierce, unwavering loyalty in his stance. He wasn't just defending her; he was choosing her. Completely.
"Robby, think about what you're doing," Daniel urged, looking genuinely hurt. "Don't throw away your training over a disagreement."
"It's not a disagreement. It's hypocrisy," Robby said flatly.
He turned his back on the senseis, walked over to Tory, and took her hand, interlacing his fingers with hers. Her hand was trembling, but his grip was solid as a rock.
"Let's go," Robby murmured to her.
They walked away together, ignoring Johnny calling out Robby's name from the porch. They didn't look back until they reached Robby's car.
Inside the quiet of the vehicle, the adrenaline began to fade, leaving behind a heavy, vibrating silence. Tory stared out the windshield, her throat tight.
"You didn't have to do that," she whispered, though she squeezed his hand tighter. "That was your shot at the Sekai Taikai."
"My shot doesn't mean anything if it's built on them tearing you down," Robby said fiercely, turning in his seat to look at her. "We did it their way, Tory. We tried the peace, the balance, the defense-only garbage. It didn't protect you, and it didn't respect you. We're a team. Wherever you go, I go."
Tory looked at him, a slow, dangerous spark reigniting in her eyes. The pain of the betrayal was still there, but it was rapidly being replaced by something else: ambition. Clean, unfiltered ambition.
"There's only one dojo that actually rewards victory," Tory said, her voice dropping to a low, lethal purr. "No matter how you get it."
Robby nodded, a ghost of a smirk appearing on his face as he started the engine. The conflict of trying to please two different worlds was gone, replaced by a liberating clarity. "Then let's go give Cobra Kai their captains."