Cobra Kai: New life

The sun slowly rose over the horizon, painting the sky in a soft, almost promising orange. Robby, with a backpack on his shoulder, watched as the gates of the correctional facility opened to set him free. Freedom, that word so longed for and feared at the same time. He wasn't sure what to expect from the world out there. He had been locked up for so long, not only physically but emotionally as well. The scars of the past still followed him, and the weight of his past decisions made him feel older than he was. But now, finally, he had a chance to change.

David, who had been his cellmate during all that time, was there waiting for him. He had been a good friend, one of the few who had tried to get Robby to face his own demons. David was not like the other guys in the correctional facility. While the others focused on fighting or surviving, David seemed to have a calmness that Robby didn't fully understand. And now, just before they stepped outside, David had something to say.

"Listen, Robby," David said with a seriousness Robby hadn't seen before. "I know this might sound like cheap advice, but when you can, try it. Apologize to Miguel, to his family. It doesn't have to be something long or grand, but maybe it'll help you close a few things."

Robby looked at him, feeling a knot in his stomach. The idea of approaching Miguel, the guy he'd almost put in a coma, felt surreal. He didn't know how to start. He couldn't stop remembering the anger that had overtaken him back then. But there David was, giving him advice that he knew he probably should follow.

"Maybe I will… or maybe not," Robby murmured, his expression hard to read.

David nodded, knowing that he couldn't force Robby to do anything he wasn't ready for. But he did want him to know one more thing.

"And don't do anything crazy, okay? In a few more months, I'll be out. Don't let your past mistakes trap you. When I'm out, look me up and I'll help you."

Robby, who hadn't said anything at first, finally nodded. "Alright. I'll think about it."

David looked at him one more time, with a mix of concern and hope in his eyes. When Robby turned to leave, David stopped him one more time.

"Before you go…" David said seriously. "Go see my mom. Tell her not to blame herself for me being here. If it was to protect her, I'd kill anyone. And you know, tell her to visit me at least once before I get out."

Robby stayed silent. His relationship with his mother wasn't exactly the best; she'd go off with different men every week, sometimes disappearing for weeks. But David had told him that even if he couldn't forgive her, he should at least try to listen.

Finally, Robby spoke, not lifting his gaze much. "Your mom must be a saint if you speak so well of her."

David smiled slightly, but didn't push further. He knew Robby wasn't ready to talk about his mother. But at least he'd planted a seed that might one day grow.

Time Skip: Three months later.

David, out of the correctional facility, walked a bit until he saw his mother's car. She had visited him before, saying to forgive her for not coming sooner. David just nodded with an understanding look. He knew his mother was a woman easily overwhelmed by problems, so he wasn't angry with her.

Once inside the car, David asked his mother if they could stop by a few places before going home. The first stop was where Robby had told him he learned karate, Miyagi-Do, taught by Daniel LaRusso, an old karate champion or something like that.

When they arrived, David entered with slow, calm steps. There were two men inside; one David recognized as Robby's father from the time he saw him at the community kitchen, and the other he assumed was Robby's former sensei.

"Hello, this is Miyagi-Do, right?" David asked as he looked around from a corner.

Daniel and Johnny, who hadn't seen David until he spoke, were surprised by his presence and then said:

"Yes, this is Miyagi-Do. Do you want to learn karate?" Daniel said, while in the background Johnny added, "Hey, it's also my dojo, Eagle Fang Karate."

"Eeh, I'm not interested in karate, I'm actually looking for a friend," David responded, looking around, to which Miguel replied:

"And who could that friend be?"

"Right, my friend's name is Robby Keene. We were together in the correctional facility and he told me he studied karate here. I was hoping to see him here," David replied. "By the way, my name is David Santos."

"If you're looking for Robby, he's not here. He's with Cobra Kai now. That idiot Kreese got into his head, and now he thinks everyone's going to betray him," Johnny replied, watching David from the side.

David, at these words, just sighed as he left, saying:

"Well, I'll go to Cobra Kai to look for him. And by the way, if you need someone to train, you can talk to me. I've got a strong body and my submissions and holds are the best you'll find here, although I'm a bit rusty when it comes to competing and fighting."

Before leaving the place, he left a paper with his phone number.

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After David left Miyagi-Do, Miguel, who had been silently observing the young man, turned to Daniel with a thoughtful expression.

"That guy's a little weird, Sensei. What do you think he practices?" Miguel asked, glancing toward the door where David had just exited.

Daniel rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "He could be into judo, judging by his strong body and his center of gravity. He's as stable as a rock."

Johnny, who had been standing with his arms crossed, couldn't help but chime in. "I say he practiced MMA or Muay Thai, along with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His legs, elbows, and knees look strong and resilient," Johnny said, nodding as he recalled the kid's stance.

Miguel thought about it for a moment, but the idea of David being an expert in martial arts left him pondering. "That makes sense, but something tells me there's more. I don't know if I saw him smile once."

Daniel smiled lightly. "What's certain is that there's a story behind him, but that'll come out with time."

Johnny raised an eyebrow. "And what do we do if he shows up here again?"

"Let him train if he wants to. If he wants to learn something about karate, he'll start in the right place," Daniel replied.

Johnny just nodded, although his gaze still reflected a hint of doubt. The three of them stood in silence for a moment, as if knowing that David's appearance could bring unforeseen changes.