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Second place.
A trophy and six weeks in a sling is what he gets. Offering a hand to his opponent and feeling his arm rip out of its socket and go numb with molten pain in return. Pulling off the hardest fucking move he's ever done and it's still not enough.
Second place.
One second of hesitation and a kick in the ribs is all it takes in the end.
"Point! Winner! Eli Moskowitz from Miyagi-do!"
Turns out, 'whatever it takes to win' isn't good enough.
Second place.
A sick, slimy feeling sitting in his stomach all day, starting from when he saw his Dad and Mr Larusso across the mats and they didn't look angry like they were supposed to, just unbearably sad, ending in looking up at Kenny's face and realising he's molded this kid in his own image and how much of a fucking mistake he's made.
The millisecond of terror when he thinks Sensei Silver might actually go for him, in front of the dojo, the crowd, his Dad, everyone.
His fists hitting the mat in frustration, immediately drowned out by cheers from the dojo he helped restore, from the kids he helped train. Before they all realised what a fucking psycho he is, and they'd be better off forgetting they ever knew him as anything other than the enemy.
Second place.
"Your Father lost because he was in love."
"Trained at Miyagi-Do, now Cobra Kai. You'll have enough skills to kick all our asses."
"Are you fighting your friend, or your opponent?"
"You're showing him respect? This fight should've been over by now!"
Second place.
"Hey Mom. I uh, I went to Vons and got those frozen pizzas you like. You wanna make dinner and uh, watch a movie?"
"Oh. That's so sweet honey. Um, I actually have to run a couple of errands. But uh, we can do that tomorrow night okay?"
"Yeah. Sure."
Second place.
"Did I mention that that deadbeat came by to see me yesterday?"
"No. What'd he say?"
"Mm, just some bs about you moving in with him as if he suddenly gives a shit."
Second place.
"We have to be quiet my son is sleeping."
"All bark and no stick."
"Shhhh my kid's asleep."
"You want me to be happy don't you Robby?"
"Gimme a sec to drop this off, I don't wanna wake my son up."
"I love you sweetheart, I'm going out tonight. Maybe another time okay?"
"Alright boss man I like how you take charge. We gotta be quiet okay?"
"Be good for me Robby, I'll be back soon."
Second place.
Maybe his Dad means it this time, maybe for once he won't live up to the expectations Robby's had hammered into him by bitter experience since the day he was born. Maybe he actually cares-
There's another kid. Dad's handing him something, a bundle of white fabric that Robby doesn't recognise until he catches a glimpse of the snake printed on the back.
"Are these your pajamas Daddy?"
"What? Shit, gimme that! No Robby, that- that's Daddy's old gi."
"What's a gi?"
"It's like a uniform, for karate."
"Cool! I wanna do karate!"
"Yeah? I bet you'd be awesome. Maybe one day kiddo. When you do, you can wear this. Sound good?"
"Yeah!"
Weird how disappointment always burns the same with his dad. Weird how he still never learns.
Second place.
"How'd it go?"
"Same way it always goes. He cares more about his rivalry with you than he does about me."
Second place.
"From now on, no more lying."
"Sounds good."
"I know what you did at the party. You kissed Miguel."
Funny, it's not as much of a surprise as he thinks it probably should be. Still punches a bleeding hole in his chest though. Go figure.
Second place.
"You like that move? Learned it from your Dad!"
This isn't mercy.
Second place.
"Robby what did you do?!"
His feet sting in his converse. He probably has a thousand blisters. He hasn't stopped running. He lost track of how long he's been going, but he stopped recognising street signs a little while ago. God the way she looked at him. The way everyone was looking at him.
Oh god, what did he do?
Oh fuck. He killed Miguel.
A stupid fight about Father's and girlfriends and he's the one who killed someone over it.
It was an accident. They can't put him away if it was an accident right? What the fuck is he talking about, of course they can. He's a poster child for broken homes and development problems, no court would blink twice before saying guilty.
They all know it was an accident though right?
They have to know he wouldn't do something like that on purpose.
Right?
God maybe he should just take a dive off the nearest bridge, save everyone the trouble of deciding what to do with the rabid lunatic, who murdered a guy over a Dad who never wanted him anyway.
Second place.
"Just give him a little more time."
"He's not coming. I knew it."
Second place.
"Your girl left. Your Dad hates you, you got nobody."
"Is that a black eye? Are you starting fights, after everything that's happened?"
"Why didn't you show up?"
"Something happened at the hospital-"
"Right."
"Come on Robby-"
"No it's fine. I shouldn't be surprised you chose Miguel over me, again."
"Hey I'm not the one who put him in the hospital."
"...Robby c'mon-"
"Don't fucking touch me asshole!"
Second place.
"You're going to be our champion."
Strike first.
"You're not going to disappoint us are you Robby?"
"No Sensei Silver."
Strike hard.
"You understand this is all to make you stronger son."
"I understand Sensei Kreese."
No mercy.
Second place.
"I like you. A lot, Keene."
"I really like you too Nichols, keep drinking your water."
"I miss him sometimes."
"Who?"
"Miguel. You miss Sam sometimes, right?"
"...You're really drunk Tory. C'mon lets go home, Brandon's probably still up waiting for you."
"Okay."
Second place.
"I-I know it's not fair... But I'm worried about Robby living so close now Mami."
"Los chicos han arreglado sus diferencias Carmen. Miguel se ha hecho amigo de él, tú también tienes que dejarlo ahora."
"Sí, lo sé. But what if something happens between him and Johnny, and he lashes out? I just don't want Miguel getting hurt. I can't go through that again."
Second place.
"Yeah we're uh... We're having a baby. Shit we were supposed to tell you two together, so make sure you act surprised."
What?
Oh.
Okay then.
Second place.
"You said you'd take me to my parole meeting today."
"Shit I'm sorry Robby. I forgot Miguel had a physical therapy-thingy appointment, and with the baby, and Carmen's car being busted, it just slipped my mind."
"I was half an hour late Dad. They already hate me, and this is kinda really fuckin' important y'know. For my nonexistent future and all that."
"Look I'm really sorry Robby okay, I-I won't forget next time, promise."
"Sure Dad. It's okay."
Second place.
"Robert Keene, report to the counsellor's office please."
"-I'm sorry Robby, but we have to be realistic here. With your... Record, most colleges, they might not want to take the-uh, the risk."
"Oh."
"...You know, there's still lots you can do to boost your application! After-school volunteering and clubs and such. A-and the local community college offers great classes to everyone, regardless of-"
"Thanks Mrs Vasquez. But it's okay, I'm not going anywhere anyway."
Second place.
"No way he's gonna be on the sekai taikai team."
"Yeah, he's good but isn't he like, kinda nuts?"
"Well Hawk's kinda nuts all the time."
Yeah but Keene's like, scary kinda nuts, you remember the fight between him and Kenny Payne right?"
"At least Miguel's got the captaincy in the bag."
Second place.
He can hear his kiai turning into harsh shallow pants, his balance must be shit with the way his breathing is fucked. Doesn't matter. Keep going.
He should've kept running when he had the chance
-second place second place-
Nobody wants a runner up
-second place-
He's defective
-second place-
Dangerous
-second place-
Pathetic.
-secondplace-
Not enough.
His vision keeps going blurry round the edges. Just gotta blink it away.
"A little discomfort is a requirement for greatness Mr Keene."
"...Yes Sensei."
-second place second place second place-
It hurts though Sensei.
It really hurts.
-secondplacesecondplacesecondplacesecondplacesecondplacesecond-
"Hey Robby."
-secondplacesecondplacesecondplace-
"Look, I've been thinking about the captaincy fight tomorrow-"
His chest feels like it's collapsing in on itself.
"I'm proud of you Miguel."
"Thanks Da- Sensei."
-secondplacesecondplacesecondplacesecondplacesecondplace-
He can't breathe properly.
"-and I don't want this to put a rift between us. I uh,- Robby? Hey you okay man?"
-secondplacesecondplacesecondplacesecondplacesecondplacesecondplacesecondplacesecondplacesecondplacesecondplace-
It hurts.
"Dude, are you even listening? Can you hear me?"
-secondplace-
God it hurts.
Fuck.
Why can't he breathe?
Second-
"Oh shit!-"
Oh shit.