Chapter Text
Miguel tried to relax. To get the tension leave his neck and his shoulders. He leaned against the cool tiles, letting hot water flow down through his hair and down his back. A hot shower always made everything better. It left you feeling scoured clean and fresh and yourself again. That’s how it was supposed to work.
Not this time. No matter how long he stood there like that, this feeling just wouldn’t go away. This ringing in his ears, this throbbing in his temples, this quivering in his veins. Every fiber of his being felt wrong. It felt like he’d been denied something important, something that was his by right and the injustice of it was making his mind scream.
How did it get like this? He’d won and he had the trophy to prove it, sitting in his locker. So why did he feel like a loser?
There was something really wrong here - something just beyond his reach that he couldn’t put his finger on. He tried again, taking his mind through the events of the day to try and figure out where things had gone so wrong.
It started with Sam, ofcourse. It always started with Sam.
“Well, just wait. Watch what I do to Robby in the finals.” That’s what he said to her before walking away.
He regretted those words immediately. After all, Sam seemed to have a problem with how he was acting, about him treating Robby as the enemy. How was doubling down on it going to help?
But then he pushed that down resolutely.
Chicks like winners, Diaz, Sensei had told him. They like badasses. Not pussies who’d stand by and let others take what’s theirs. They do shit like flirting with guys to make you jealous. To see if you’ll fight for them. That’s what they are really after. They just pretend that they don’t like it.
That’s what was going on here, Miguel told himself. After all, this was how things had started with Sam. She hadn’t given him the time of the day before - but the way she’d looked at him after he’d kicked Kyler’s ass… she’d seen him for the badass he was and she’d wanted him. Just like Sensei had said she would.
And she’d want him again after he did the same to Robby Keene. He’d beat the guy. No - he’d dominate him. Win without losing a single point. He’d show everyone what a pathetic loser that guy was. And once he did, Sam would come running back to him. That’s how he’d win her back.
That asshole never gave him the chance.
The stage was set, the crowd was assembled, the anticipation was thick in the air and Miguel was raring to go. But then someone came out and whispered something in the announcer’s ear.
“Oh...” Even that guy couldn’t keep the disappointment from his voice. “Well, folks, it seems like Robby Keene cannot continue anymore. So here’s your champion via forfeit - Miguel Diaz!”
No, this wasn’t what he’d wanted. Not this round of disappointed groans followed by tepid, polite applause. It was nothing like the cheering crowd he’d imagined in his dreams.
“And to present him with the trophy,” The announcer continued. “Our very own DANIEL LARUSSO!”
Seriously? LaRusso gets a bigger applause than me? He’s not even a part of it.
His heart sped up a little at the announcement anyway. Surely Sam seeing her own dad give Miguel the trophy would mean something. And Sensei would definitely enjoy that as well - watching LaRusso return the trophy he’d stolen from him all those years ago.
But someone else whispered something else in the announcer’s ear.
“Seriously? Fine!” He went back to the mic. “Sorry folks. Looks like Mr. Larusso has left for the day. Family thing.”
He covered for his embarrassment by handing Miguel the trophy himself and getting out of there as quickly as he could.
No - this was definitely not the victory celebration Miguel had dreamed of.
“So you didn’t get to kick his ass. Big deal.” Demetri said with his arm around Miguel’s shoulder. “Sam wouldn’t have seen it anyway. She left way before they made the announcement.”
She left before? Miguel knew Demetri was just trying to make him feel better, but he always knew the wrong thing to say. She didn’t even stay to see me win?
Sam didn’t want to see him beat Robby - that was the only explanation. She wanted Robby to win. Ofcourse - that’s why she kept clapping for the guy every time he won a match and Miguel just got sullen glares from her.
How did Robby get her to love him so fast? How did he steal her right from under Miguel’s nose? And without him having a clue? This victory meant nothing compared to that loss.
And others felt the same. The energy - the fire - they’d brought to the tournament was all gone now. Sure they were all still gathered around Miguel, clapping him on the back, patting his shoulder, shaking his hand - but they were all just going through the motions. The excitement was gone.
Sure his mom gushed over him - but that didn’t mean anything. She’d have gushed and told him how well he did even if he’d lost the very first match.
“Honey, I don’t even know how you did some of those moves. Look...” She said, pointing to a poster of a young Daniel LaRusso. “That’s the move you did right? Did you learn it from that guy? Is he a friend of Johnny’s? That was really amazing...”
He tried to smile for her, to pretend everything was okay, but the feeling didn’t reach his eyes. And she saw through that right away.
“Something wrong, sweetie?” She asked, concerned. “You just won. You should be celebrating.”
“This isn’t how I wanted to win.” Miguel admitted dejectedly.
Carmen nodded sympathetically like she understood.
“I know. I didn’t like it when your friend hurt that boy either.” She said, rubbing his shoulder. “You are a good kid, mijo , worrying about someone else like that. I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
She thinks I’m worried about Robby-fucking-Keene?
“It’s not that.” Miguel replied. “I just didn’t want to win by default.”
“Sure. That too.” Carmen agreed.
She didn’t get it. And she wasn’t going to get it. It was a guy thing after all. And when it came to guy things, there was only one person Miguel trusted to give him advice.
He found Johnny standing close to the exit, watching people leave. Like he was waiting for someone. He’d looked the same way after the announcement - when he had distractedly patted Miguel on the back and told him “good job” before rushing off somewhere else. In fact, he’d looked like that throughout the tournament - like his mind was on something other than his students that day.
“Hey, Sensei. Waiting for someone?” Miguel asked, casually standing by his side.
Johnny shook his head, barely listening to him.
“Did you see LaRusso leave?” Johnny asked him after a while.
Is he waiting to rub his victory in LaRusso’s face? Sensei wouldn’t be that petty, would he?
“Uh… my friend told me they left ages ago.” Miguel supplied.
Johnny nodded and continued waiting.
The silence was getting awkward now and Miguel had to break it.
“Sensei, I know this isn’t how we wanted to win - but a win’s a win, right?” He said. “We got the trophy and Cobra Kai is back on top. Who cares if I didn’t get to kick some loser’s ass?”
“Yeah - good job.” Johnny said, distracted.
He’s not even listening to me, Miguel thought irritated. “Hello! Earth to Sensei.”
Johnny turned to him, finally paying attention.
“I said - a win’s a win, right?” Miguel repeated, holding up his trophy.
Go on, tell me that’s right. I’ll believe it if you do. I’ll force myself to believe it if it comes from you.
Johnny shook his head, sadly. “How you win matters too, Diaz.”
Finally. Someone who gets it. He knew Sensei Lawrence wouldn’t let him down. He knew he’d feel the same way as Miguel. This hollow victory was ashes in Sensei’s mouth as well.
“I know. I didn’t want to win this way either. I wanted to do this right.” Miguel admitted.
There was a flash of pride in Sensei’s eyes at that.
“Hawk shouldn’t have done that.” Johnny said, shaking his head.
Hawk? How is this his fault?
Oh…
Sure Hawk had been the one to kick Keene in the back - but how was it his fault that Keene was too pussy to take a kick? This was karate, after all, not patty-cake. If Keene couldn’t take a hit, then he shouldn’t have been participating in the first place.
“Have you seen him by the way?” Johnny asked, turning his attention back to the slowly exiting crowd.
“Hawk? He’s right over...” Miguel motioned behind him.
“No - Robby.” Johnny clarified. “Did you see him leave? I wanted to check on him.”
Why the fuck would you want to do that?
“No.” Miguel almost snapped. “Haven’t seen him.”
Miguel’s mind was in turmoil as he walked away. What was it about that guy? Why was everyone so obsessed with him? Why was Sensei worrying about him instead of helping his students feel better?
It may not have been how he’d wanted it, but he’d still won, dammit. Everyone should be fawning over him - not chasing after Robby-motherflippin’-Keene.
No - he was being ridiculous. Sensei had no reason to care about Keene - which meant he was doing it for Hawk. Hawk had screwed up and potentially hurt someone. And Sensei might talk tough but he was a real softie at heart. He didn’t want Hawk to get into any trouble, so he was just trying to make sure that Keene was alright. That was the only reason why he’d rushed forward to check on the guy after Hawk had kicked him.
Yes - that made sense. Sure Miguel wished Sensei would focus on him more, but Johnny was focused on protecting the student who needed him more. And Miguel could put up with that for a while.
“What did you expect? This is why they were banned, you know?”
Are they talking about Cobra Kai? Miguel turned as he overheard the snippet of conversation to find the source. It was Xander Stone - the former champion and this year’s third place winner.
“Something you wanna say, Stone?” Miguel asked. If the guy thinks he can badmouth Cobra Kai…
Xander regarded him coolly for a moment.
“Nope.” He replied, turning back to his friends.
“Hey - don’t be a sore loser.” Miguel called out. “If you have something to say about Cobra Kai, say it to my face.”
He probably should’ve just let it go. That’s what his mom would’ve told him to do. But Miguel was already in a bad mood and he wasn’t done fighting for the day. He’d make Xander eat his words or he’d gladly kick the guy’s ass all over again - he was fine with either option.
“Just the facts, man.” Xander shrugged. “Cobra Kai likes to cheat to win - my Sensei told me all about it.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Miguel asked, incredulous. The guy didn’t even know Cobra Kai.
People were gathering around now. Black and blue gis sorting themselves out into their respective teams. Miguel had eyes only for his enemy.
“Your “victory”.” Xander said with air-quotes. “You knew you couldn’t win against that other guy, so you had your friend take him out with a cheap shot.”
He thinks we planned this, Miguel realized. He thinks I wanted it this way.
“Sensei said that’s just how Cobra Kai operates. That he saw that thirty years ago.” Stone went on. “Shit like this is why they got banned back then. Guess they should’ve let you stay banned.”
He’s talking about Sensei Lawrence?… He doesn’t get to talk about Sensei.
“You’re dead, Stone.” Miguel snarled, stepping forward. But Aisha put a hand on his chest, holding him back.
“Bring it.” Xander smirked back. He was feeling real confident with a bunch of other guys at his back.
“What the HELL is going on here?”
Johnny stepped in between them, furious and everyone instinctively backed up.
“These guys think they can get away with calling Cobra Kai a bunch of cheaters.” Miguel explained.
Now you are gonna get it. Miguel thought smugly. My sensei will kick your sensei’s ass and we’ll all know which dojo is better.
“Come with me.” Johnny snarled.
He didn’t wait for an answer - he just grabbed Miguel by the arm and dragged him away. And without him there, the others dispersed as well.
“What the hell were you thinking? Trying to pick a fight like that?” Johnny asked angrily.
What was I thinking? What were you thinking, embarrassing me like that?
“I was just standing up for you.” Miguel said, hotly. “I couldn’t let them talk shit about you.”
“I don’t need you to stand up for me.” Johnny replied sternly. “Especially when it’s true.”
Miguel was taken aback. It couldn’t be true.
“It’s true, alright.” Johnny insisted. “My Sensei wasn’t the best guy and he… would fight dirty to win.”
But that wasn’t your fault, Miguel thought. But maybe this wasn’t the right thing to say here.
“There is nothing dirty about winning, Sensei.” Miguel replied. “You taught me that.”
“QUIET!” Johnny yelled. “That’s PUSSY talk, Diaz. We DO NOT fight dirty in Cobra Kai!”
Miguel didn’t hear anything after the first word. His face was red. Burning with shame. The entire hall had gone quiet. They were all staring. Looking at them. At him. He saw Xander smirk from the corner of his eye.
He was being scolded. Like a four-year old. In front of everyone .
This was beyond humiliating.
Miguel stripped off his clothes as slow as humanly possible. He was in no hurry to go out there and face people again. He didn’t want to see anyone and he didn’t want anyone to see him. After the humiliation earlier, he didn’t know how he was ever going to show his face in the dojo ever again.
Is this how Sensei treats winners? Is this what being a winner is supposed to feel like?
Everyone else was giving him a wide berth as well - which was… frustrating. He was so ready to take his anger out on a human punching bag, but no one was even giving him a chance. The last few kids in the locker-room hurried out of there when Miguel slammed his locker shut.
Cowards. He thought, disgusted. Where is an asshole to beat up when you need one? Where is Kyler? Where is Keene?
Robby Keene! He was the reason why all this was happening. None of this would’ve happened if only he hadn’t walked into Miguel’s life. The guy had ruined everything.
This wasn’t how the story was supposed to go. This wasn’t the narrative Miguel had in his mind.
They were supposed to be the underdogs - a ragtag bunch of misfits and nerds, transformed into badasses by Sensei Lawrence. The rebels fighting against the system - with LaRusso being that system. Bunch of outsiders who’d forced their way inside with sheer grit and determination, compelling everyone’s admiration through their skills and hard work, getting LaRusso and the karate committee to acknowledge them, getting Sam... there was your Lifetime movie.
But Keene had ruined it from the start. He’d shown up alone, fighting unaffiliated and out of nowhere, now he was the underdog. The David to their Goliath. Even if they’d won fair and square, it wouldn’t have been the victory they’d been hoping for - but he couldn’t even let them have that.
Miguel was almost certain now that the guy had faked his injury. He was Larusso’s student, right? That’s why he’d been at their house that day? And Sensei had told Miguel that LaRusso was a conniving, manipulative SOB who liked to fight dirty.
He must have put the guy up to it. Robby couldn’t be seen fighting for LaRusso - not with LaRusso on the committee. That wouldn’t have looked fair. So the guy had fought unaffiliated ( why is that even allowed? ). And when it became obvious that Robby was no match for Miguel ( He isn’t. Xander is just a sore loser. ), he had the guy fake his injury just to spite Cobra Kai.
What a piece of shit!
Miguel jumped back as the cold spray of water hit his body, making goosebumps rise all over his skin.
Can’t anything go right for me today?
He waited for the water to get hot until it was steaming and got under it, trying to leave his troubles behind. But it was no use. His mind just wouldn’t let him. He stood there for what felt like hours, contemplating his victory that felt like a defeat.