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Chapter Text

The Miyagi-Do dojo had changed, which didn't surprise Terry since it had been over thirty years since he had last set foot upon it. Back then, it had been far too quiet for a karate dojo, with only the old man and his singular student. Now the place looked like pure chaos. Nothing like the order and discipline he and his oldest friend had been taught to keep.

John was intent on marching right in there to give them a piece of his mind about their unruly students, but Terry pressed a hand to his chest and stopped him. John had briefed him, but he wanted to assess the situation himself.

There was LaRusso, he looked just like he did in his car ads. He was leading a group of students through a set of movements which were more tai chi than karate. All that fire he had in his youth, it was all but snuffed out. That was, until he turned to yell at Lawrence to shut up.

Terry glanced at John and they exchanged a smirk.

"Hey man, I need to teach my students too, you know!" Johnny shot back.

"I know that, but would it kill you to do it a little more quietly?"

"Karate isn't quiet!"

Terry laughed softly to himself. "Your best student, huh?" he said to John.

"Hmm, he was," John said. "He's had his chances. Now come on."

Terry shook his head. "You know, I think there's a better way to handle this."

John frowned at him. "You backing out?"

"I wouldn't call it that."

"Then what would you call it?"

"A calculated retreat. At times essential in both war and business."

John raised his chin. Terry could see him thinking about it.

Terry tapped him on the shoulder and gestured towards his car. John took one more look at the bickering senseis, then followed him.

"You see, if we go in there with all guns blazing, we'll just push them closer together," Terry said, getting into the driver's seat. "And they'll be all the more eager to work together if we show them how united we are."

"Then what do you suggest?"

"It's obvious, isn't it? They're already at each other's throats. So…"

"Divide and conquer?"

"Exactly!" Terry said, grinning. He could see the possibilities already.

"What do you have in mind?"

"Oh, just leave it to me."

**

Over the next few days, Terry thought about LaRusso and he thought about Lawrence. Mostly he thought about Lawrence. There were plenty of sensible reasons why he shouldn't focus his efforts on LaRusso, him being unlikely to trust him a second time coming close to the top of the list, but truth be told, Terry was rather intrigued by the scruffy blond man in the ridiculous eagle t-shirt.

The eagle painted on the side of his van was even more ostentatious. Terry could easily imagine a younger man making such an artistic choice — Terry had made similar ones himself — but John had told him he only just opened his own dojo. What, was he having a mid-life crisis or something? Good. That would make him easier to talk into making further unwise decisions.

The first step of his plan was to orchestrate a meeting with Johnny Lawrence. The dojo was out, with LaRusso and students hanging around. And following him home to ambush him wouldn't give the impression Terry wanted to make right now.

But Johnny made it easy for him. The first time Terry followed him when he was leaving the dojo, he drove to a bar, alone. Perfect.

Terry took a space at the other end of the parking lot and waited a reasonable amount of time before going inside.

The bar was reasonably empty. Johnny was slumped on a bar stool, industriously shelling nuts. Terry strode up and took notice of what Johnny was drinking, a Coors Banquet, and ordered one for himself.

"Thanks," he said when the bartender brought his drink. "Hey, you know who owns that eagle van outside?"

Before the bartender could answer, Johnny whipped his head up and leveled Terry with a stare. "Ugh, you're about to tell me you backed into it, right?" There was a note of anger in his voice, but mostly resignation. This, along with the eagle and drinking so early in the day was starting to paint a picture for Terry. "That's about the last thing I need."

Terry shook his head. "No," he said. "I just liked it, is all." He raised his beer bottle.

Johnny's eyes drifted to the bottle, and he gave Terry a nod of acknowledgement.

Terry sidled a little closer, and took a sip of his beer. It was awful. "Where'd you get a thing like that done?"

"Oh, I know a guy," Johnny says, throwing a nut into his mouth and dropping the shell onto the pile in front of him.

"LaRusso Auto?"

Johnny wrinkled his nose. "Ugh, not that guy. I think I have his card someplace." He reached into his pocket and brought out a handful of crumpled up business cards and receipts. He dropped half of them on the bar and the other half scattered on the floor.

Terry bent to help him pick them up, and then Johnny went through them. "Look, I dunno, man. I thought I had it. He's over in Reseda someplace."

Terry nodded. "Nothing more American than an eagle, right?"

"Damn straight!"

"Almost as American as karate, yeah?" Terry said, and couldn't help but laugh.

Johnny laughed too. "Yeah."

"So, Eagle Fang Karate?"

Johnny smiled fondly. "Yeah. That's me. Us. I gotta admit we're kinda between locations right now, but I'm sure we'll get that sorted out before the All Valley Tournament."

Terry took another sip of his beer. He hesitated to bring it up so soon, but he couldn't be certain he'd get another opportunity this good. If Johnny was just going to walk into his trap so easily, who was he to look a gift horse in the mouth? "Well. It just so happens that I'm in the property business. Maybe I could help you out."

"Oh," Johnny said, narrowing his eyes. "You're one of those snakes."

Snakes? For a moment Terry was afraid that Johnny was onto him, but he didn't let his smile slip. "I'm afraid there's a lot of sons of bitches in my line of work."

Johnny snorted. "You can say that again."

"But not me. Naturally." He gave Johnny his best innocent look, then held out a hand. "Terry," he said.

"John Lawrence," he said, shaking Terry's hand. He had a nice firm grip. "Johnny."

"Nice to meet you, Johnny," Terry said. He let his eyes drop to Johnny's shirt. He had changed out of the eagle shirt he was wearing at the dojo and was now wearing a faded tour shirt. "Hey, Guns 'n' Roses! You know, one time I met Slash at a party."

"What? No way!" Johnny said, and as his eyes widened Terry felt himself instantly going up in Johnny's estimation. "What was he like, man?"

Terry laughed. "I have no idea. It was the eighties. And it was one of those parties."

"I get you," Johnny said, smiling. "Closest I ever got was seeing him on stage from the pit. Was pretty damn awesome though."

"I bet," Terry said. "Those were the days, right?"

"Yeah. The eighties were the best!" Johnny went to take a drink, but then shook his bottle. It was empty.

Terry signaled to the bartender to get him another.

Johnny smiled at him as he took his drink. This is almost too easy, Terry thought to himself. Johnny was easy to talk to, easy to please. It was almost a shame.

"You know what really boils my piss, man? The way you can only get decent music on the radio these days if you tune in to the oldies stations. Freakin' oldies? The eighties ain't oldies! Oldies stations should still be playing Elvis or some shit."

Terry shook his head. He remembered struggling to get into what he saw as the kids' music in the eighties that was so different to what he had grown up with, but he didn't want Johnny to think he was old and uncool. That would be counterproductive to his plan. Yeah. Damn, he really couldn't get caught up in wanting to get Johnny to like him. "Exactly. What is this world coming to?"

Johnny shook his head. "I dunno, man." He passed Terry a peanut.

Terry deliberately kept the conversation light and stuck to topics Johnny seemed to enjoy talking about: music, action movies, fast cars, hot babes, all while being careful not to reveal too much about himself. It was a terribly mundane conversation, but it was easy. Terry mentally filed away anything that sounded useful for driving a wedge between him and LaRusso. He kept the man supplied with Coors Banquets and Johnny didn't seem to notice that Terry was making the same one last.

Several hours passed quickly. By the end of it, Terry was already formulating a plan in his mind. Oh, he couldn't wait to tell John all about it. He'd be so pleased. If this succeeded, he could redeem himself in John's eyes and maybe actually earn his respect.

Earning Johnny's had been a breeze. He didn't detect any of the stubbornness or insubordination that John had told him about. Johnny had naturally accepted Terry as an equal.

Ha, what a sucker.

Chapter Text

At first, Johnny hadn't thought much about his new drinking buddy. Sure, he was tall and handsome enough to get all the chicks he wanted so certainly didn't need his company, but this was LA. You got a better class of loser in LA. Not that Terry was a loser. Far from it. Terry had this air of success about him, but more important that that, he was… kinda cool.

Soon Johnny started looking forward to seeing him. Unlike so many people in his life, Terry didn't judge him and was actually interested in the things he had to say. Damn, that was a depressing thought.

Terry didn't seem as dedicated to hanging out in the worst bars the Valley had to offer as Johnny was. But whatever, drinking buddies would always come and go. Sometimes their lives got better. Or worse. Sometimes you never found out which.

When he'd had a particularly bad day with LaRusso and his students, he went to the bar and hoped Terry would be there to listen to him.

When Terry came in he walked straight over and flashed him a bright smile.

"Bad day?" he said, and gestured to the bartender to bring him his usual.

"That obvious?" Johnny said. "You'll never guess what. LaRusso has only been teaching Miguel to fix cars behind my back, and he's been teaching him to drive like a pussy too." Terry raised an eyebrow. "You know, slowing down for yellow lights and shit."

Terry shook his head. "You'll get eaten alive out there if you don't drive aggressively in LA."

Johnny pointed at him. "Exactly!" he said. "I'm glad somebody gets it."

The bartender brought them each a beer, and Johnny quickly downed the rest of the one he was drinking so he could move onto the new one. He eyed Terry as the man beside him took a small sip from his bottle. Terry always drank so slowly, like he was savoring something expensive. But he never said anything about Johnny's drinking habits, so neither did Johnny.

Terry noticed Johnny staring at him and a slow smile spread on his face, like he was happy to catch him. Johnny wondered about Terry. He'd never mentioned chicks, other than to agree with Johnny when he talked about someone hot. Not even an ex-wife he hated.

Terry always seemed happy to see him, and hung on his every word. Maybe he should have thought that was suspicious before now. Could it be that he'd just been trying to get into his pants this whole time? It was an odd feeling. God, was that how chicks must feel about men all the time? Maybe he should stop telling them to take it as a compliment. Now the shoe was on the other foot it didn't seem so much of one.

Terry peeled at the label of his beer bottle and sighed. "Johnny, I have to be honest with you about something," he said.

Oh, here it comes, Johnny thought with trepidation. He had the urge to make a run for it, but that was pussy move. He'd turned down chicks before. This would be no different, right? But the problem was he kinda liked Terry and he really didn't want to have to add him to the list of people to avoid for the rest of his life.

Terry bowed his head and kinda grimaced. Oh. Maybe he'd got the message already from the look on Johnny's face. Johnny felt kinda bad for him. But he was gonna turn him down anyway. He had to. He was in no way drunk enough for making a decision like that. Even though, say, just theoretically, if he was chick, by this point he'd be totally wondering what Terry looked like with his shirt off.

Terry lifted his head and seemed to regain his nerve. He gave Johnny an embarrassed smile. And oh, Johnny did like the way he smiled. Johnny glanced at his beer bottle. Maybe after a few more of these he could… He was on the verge of saying to hell with it, when Terry spoke again. "I don't actually like this beer," he said.

Johnny's mouth fell open. He was doubly shocked, after all that bullshit that had just been going through his mind. What the hell was he thinking? "But, but—" he spluttered. "I've literally never seen you drink anything else!"

Terry smiled guiltily and shook his head. He looked around at the bar. "Look, this isn't my scene. I wanted to fit in, you know? Be down with the common man?"

Johnny squinted at him. He had got the feeling that Terry had money. "So what, you got bored of drinking champagne on your mansion balcony?"

"Exactly that," Terry said, his shoulders slumping.

This was one hell of a whiplash. Going from thinking Terry was hitting on him to… whatever this was. He wanted to be offended that he was being treated like some kind of performing monkey by a bored rich dude — had Terry just been internally laughing at him the whole time? — but the bored rich dude looked like he felt so bad about deceiving him. The kids would call that a green flag.

Johnny smiled and patted Terry on the arm. "Hey, I'll finish that for you. You order what you want."

Terry visibly relaxed and gestured to the bartender. "Barkeep! Is that the only Scotch you have?"

The bartender gave him a solemn nod.

"It'll do. Bring me one on the rocks, yeah?" Terry said, sliding his barely touched bottle of beer over to Johnny.

"Did you think I hated all rich guys because of what I said about LaRusso?"

"Maybe it crossed my mind."

"For the record, man, I don't," Johnny said. "LaRusso isn't even all that bad, it's just real tough sharing a space with him. We keep on getting in each other's way."

"Are you kidding? After all you've told me about what he's done to you? Don't make excuses for the man!"

"I'm not." Johnny shook his head.

"Aren't you? Don't forget, he's a salesman. Sounds to me like he's got you wrapped around his little finger with his manipulative tactics." Terry clutched his glass tightly.

It's not true, Johnny wanted to protest. But then he thought about how Daniel had talked him into teaching his students and even tried to force his style of teaching on Johnny. He hated that Terry had picked up on that. He didn't want Terry to think he was some loser who let himself get pushed around.

Terry tapped him on the arm. "Anyway, drink up. I have something to show you."

Johnny fought the urge to say something hilarious like I've heard that one before. "Oh yeah?" he said.

"I think I have just the thing to solve all of your problems," Terry said cryptically, swirling the Scotch in his glass.

Johnny wondered what Terry was talking about as he quickly finished his beer, then moved onto the one of Terry's. He probably shouldn't think about how Terry's lips had been on this bottle, because who would care about something like that?

Terry didn't say where he was taking him, but the streets were familiar and made him think about those endless summers when he and his pals rode their bikes, and later their motorcycles together. The memory was so strong, he could just close his eyes and he was back there again, young, free, the world at his feet. He thought of Tommy and his heart ached. And Dutch. He should probably get back in touch with Bobby and Jimmy and go visit him sometime. But it was always easier to put it off.

"Everything okay? You're very quiet," Terry said.

"Huh? Yeah. This part of town brings back a lot of memories, is all." Johnny sighed.

Terry gave him a sympathetic look. "You know what the best thing about memories is? You can always make new ones. And this, this is the very place to do that!"

They were driving down Lankershim Boulevard, and up ahead on the corner, Johnny could see it, one of his very favorite places from his childhood. It was boarded up and whatever it had become it wasn't any more because it didn't even have a sign out front, but it was unmistakeably the original Cobra Kai dojo.

Johnny considered pointing it out to Terry, but before he could, Terry was pulling up at the side of the street.

"I know it doesn't look much, but this place has history," Terry said.

Johnny unconsciously held his breath as he got out of the car and followed Terry. He hadn't even thought about trying to reopen Cobra Kai in its original location. He didn't really know anything about real estate so he'd just taken the first place where they wouldn't run those stupid credit checks.

He didn't want to get his hopes up too much in case Terry was going to show him the place next door or one around the corner. But Terry stopped in front of the old dojo, turned around and spread his arms dramatically. "Here we are," he said. "What do you think?" It was almost as if he knew the significance of this place. But he couldn't, could he?

Johnny couldn't keep the smile from his face. "This is the place I learned karate as a kid," he said. "How?" He wondered if he'd mentioned it, he couldn't remember.

Terry smiled widely. "Come in and take a look around," he said, unlocking the door.

Johnny followed him inside. It had changed so much, and yet, Johnny's mind was instantly flooded with memories. It was like meeting an old friend again. He smiled to himself and ran his fingers along the wall like he had so many times as a kid.

"They made it into a candle shop, but we'll soon turn it back into a dojo," Terry said.

"Pfft, a candle shop? No wonder they went out of business if they were only selling candles," Johnny said. Kreese would hate that even more than he did. "So, how much is this place?"

"We-ell… it's a rarity in this market," Terry said, swinging the keys around his finger. There was that guilty smile again. "I thought it was perfect, so I may have already bought it.

Johnny shook his head. Throwing money around like that was crazy. But it meant the original Cobra Kai location could be his, and that was something he could have never even dreamed of. It had to be fate. Maybe all was meant to be, meeting Terry and all. "So, you're gonna do me good deal on the rent, right?"

"Oh, no no no, I'd never enter a landlord-tenant agreement with a friend."

"What?" Johnny said, his hopes dipping. "Then why'd you bring me here?"

Terry placed a hand on his chest. "I'll tell you a thing about me, I like to treat my friends. And I thought this place would be perfect for you. It's yours if you want it."

Johnny stared at him. "You mean like, free?"

Terry nodded. "Yes."

Johnny frowned, trying to comprehend what he was hearing. This was like the guy at the park who said he could train his students there for free, but times a million. He laughed. "You're joking, right?"

Terry shook his head slowly. "Johnny, I've been very fortunate in life. It's a privilege to be able to help out others. And I see how much you've been through, how you've struggled, how much you care about your students and wish you could do better for them." He spread his arms, palms up. "Wouldn't you… allow me to help?"

An uncomfortable thought that Johnny had been trying to push to the side was that this was like getting handouts from Sid. Only Sid would never be so nice about it. He'd get the money, but only after justifying himself to the point of begging and being told he's an idiot and how everything he does is stupid.

Terry didn't make him feel that way. He was almost apologetic about wanting to help.

How could Johnny say no?

"This is… I don't know what to say. Thanks ain't gonna cut it," he said, looking around at the place again. It was like a dream. "Hot damn, I could kiss you!"

Terry smirked. "Oh yeah? Then why don't you?"

Johnny turned to him. This was… playful banter, right? Right? To his horror, he realized he wasn't actually sure. Sure, guys hung out in bars with other guys. But guys didn't buy other guys property, right? Before Terry could notice he got to him, Johnny scoffed. "You wish," he said.

Maybe that was the wrong thing to say, because Terry took a step closer. Johnny stepped back in a way he hoped seemed casual. He hated that Terry was forcing him to retreat. Another step, and Johnny's back hit the wall. Terry was close. Too close.

Johnny narrowed his eyes. "The hell are you… doing?"

Terry laughed. "Did you think I was gonna make a move on you or something?"

Johnny didn't think he wanted this, but now adrenaline was pumping through his veins and maybe he did. A look must have flashed across his face because Terry pounced on it. He put his hand on the wall beside Johnny's head and leaned over him.

Johnny swallowed. The badass thing to do would be to strike first and be the one to initiate the kiss. No, no. The badass thing would be to knock Terry on his ass for messing with him. He could feel Terry's breath hot on his face and he didn't even know any more.

"N'aww, disappointed?" Terry said.

Johnny stared at him. He could barely breathe.

Terry leaned in for a kiss, and Johnny let it happen. He was surprisingly gentle considering he'd just backed Johnny up against the wall. Not wanting to be bested, Johnny tilted his head to kiss him back, pulling him closer.

Almost immediately, Terry pulled away and shrugged Johnny's hands off of him. He patted Johnny on the cheek. "Wouldn't want to leave you disappointed," he said. "I'll have the contract drawn up, okay?"

Before Johnny could respond, Terry was gone.

The keys were in his hand.

What the hell had just happened?

Chapter Text

Johnny had another awkward session trying to teach his students in the confines of the cabin while LaRusso and his Miyagi-Dos had full reign around the outside, but it didn't bother him as much as usual because he knew that soon things were going to change. He was dying to tell his students the news, but decided he wanted it to be a surprise for them, like it had been for him. He'd fix the place up and tell them to meet him there, then hit them with the best of the stories of his glory days.

But he had to tell someone. And he couldn't wait to rub it in LaRusso's face that he had a better place to move to. He cleared up while he was waiting for all the students to get out of there.

LaRusso's reaction wasn't quite what he was hoping for. "That place? I don't need to check to know a location like that is way out of your budget."

"Oh, my buddy's taken care of it. Paid for everything. It's not gonna cost me a dime."

LaRusso narrowed his eyes. "Your buddy, huh? Well, you better forgive me, but this sounds highly suspicious."

"You would say that!"

"Johnny, how well do you know this person? He could be planning on using you for some shady bullshit."

"Like what?"

"Money laundering, drugs, organized crime, who knows? Maybe all of the above!"

"Nah, this guy's legit. Look, I've got his card." Johnny dug through his pockets and handed Daniel Terry's minimalist silver business card.

Daniel looked like he'd seen a ghost. "Oh, shit," he said under his breath. The card slipped through his fingers and landed on the ground.

"What?"

Daniel shivered and avoided Johnny's eyes. He took a shallow breath that was more of a gasp. "You're in trouble, Johnny. This is bad. Oh boy, I can't tell you how really bad this is." He went to gesture at the business card, like he didn't realize he'd dropped it.

This was one hell of an overreaction. Why couldn't LaRusso just be happy for him?

"I'm gonna be outta your hair, man. I thought you'd be glad."

"I…" Daniel began, his voice thin. He looked like he was going to collapse. "I need to sit down."

Johnny bent to pick up Terry's card. "What the hell, man?" he said, going after Daniel. He was actually starting to feel concerned.

Daniel sat down heavily on the deck and dropped his head into his hands. Johnny sat down beside him and turned the business card over and over. Daniel had just taken one look at it and totally freaked. There was literally nothing to freak out over. It was just a name and a number.

For a while, Daniel said nothing.

LaRusso was a businessman, and he'd probably bought at least one house. It wasn't out of the question that he and Terry had crossed paths at some point. But LaRusso wasn't telling him anything. He was just sitting there looking like he was trying to bury his head in the sand. Johnny had seen him upset before, but never like this.

"What, this guy screw you over or something?"

Daniel rubbed his forehead and opened his eyes. He shivered again, even though it wasn't cold. "Something like that," he said. Suddenly he sat up straight and hit his hands on his knees. "Well you probably know all about that anyway. Him and Kreese, they're just the same!"

"What's that supposed to mean? What's Kreese got to do with anything?"

Daniel laughed bitterly. "You know, at first I didn't actually make the connection. Just seeing that man's name is enough after all the shit pulled." He shook his head. "But that's how you know him, right? Gotta be. You back in cahoots with Kreese, huh?"

Johnny narrowed his eyes. "Are you done talking crazy?"

"You're calling me crazy?"

"Well I don't know what the hell you're talking about, so yeah, I do call that crazy."

"Oh, drop the act, Johnny. Look, if you've decided to go back to the dark side with those two, there's nothing more I can say. But trust me when I say, it's gonna get a whole lot worse now that he's back. You have no idea."

Johnny shook his head. "Dark side? Those two?" he said. "There's only the one guy."

Daniel stood up. "I've had enough of this dumb act from you. Are you trying to be funny? Piss me off?"

"Dumb act?" Johnny said, standing up slowly and balling his hands into fists.

"Are you actually trying to tell me you don't know who Terry Silver is? How can you not know?"

Johnny threw up his hands. "He's just a guy," he said. It was weird describing him like that. He'd become a good friend. A, um, really good friend.

"For god's sake Johnny, he's the co-founder of Cobra Kai!"

Johnny laughed, then shook his head. "Co-founder of Cobra Kai," he repeated. "There's no co-founder of Cobra Kai. There's only ever been Kreese. And then me, but I wasn't—"

"Think about it, Johnny! Were you there the entire time Cobra Kai was open?"

"Well, no."

"Well I was!"

Johnny frowned. "No you weren't, you were in freaking Jersey!"

"After, Johnny, after!" Daniel was pacing now. "Do you have any idea what happened the year after we fought at the All Valley?"

"You won again," Johnny said with a shrug. "Yeah yeah, rub it in."

Daniel stopped. "You don't know anything, because I've never told anyone." His voice was strained, borderline hysterical. "Against my better judgment, I joined Cobra Kai, and Silver was my teacher. But I can see you don't believe me, so you can just go on living in your fantasy world. Forget that there's probably records of it, because obviously I'm just making it all up!"

Johnny stared at him. The way Daniel said that Terry was his teacher was filled with so much venom. His head was spinning with all this new information. Terry founded Cobra Kai? Terry knew Kreese? Terry knew karate and had never even mentioned that once? He wanted to reject all of this outright as nonsense, but Daniel was making such a massive deal out of it.

"Tell me."

Daniel looked up at him. "What?"

"There's obviously a lot I don't know." Johnny felt cold. Part of him didn't want to know. But he had to ask. "So tell me."

"Okay. Okay. This is going to be a long story. Or a short one. I'll tell you… what I can."

Daniel told him a story about a Terry Silver who bore little resemblance to the one Johnny had come to know. If it wasn't for the fact that he was rich, and maybe the ponytail, he'd think he was talking about a different guy. Maybe he was. Johnny wanted that to be true.

Johnny wanted to wave it all away and say it wasn't all that bad. Maybe LaRusso was exaggerating. He did do that. But he was clearly shaken by it even now. It made him think of how Kreese had turned on him. And that made him feel sick.

God, he needed a drink. But not at that bar. If he saw Terry right now he couldn't be held responsible for his actions. He'd grab some beers on the way home.

Why? he thought as he cracked open a can at a stop light. Why does every good thing that happens to me turn to shit?

Chapter Text

John wasted no time in getting straight to it when they took their seats in the restaurant. "So, what was it you could only tell me at a fancy place like this?" he asked, his disdain clearly showing on his face. He enjoyed it really, Terry was sure, just like a lot of things he pretended not to appreciate.

Terry clapped his hands. "Oh, this thing is in the bag, baby!" he said.

John cracked a smile. "Oh is it?"

"I just set Lawrence up with a brand new location, one that he couldn't say no to!"

"Oh yeah? And where's that? Don't tell me, you've got him a place at the strip mall so we can keep an eye on him?"

Terry smiled at the thought of flitting back and forth between dojos. "Even better. The old Cobra Kai location was back on the market. Can you believe it?"

John was quiet.

Terry's heart sunk. "What? You don't like it? Come on, it's brilliant."

"You bought our rival our old dojo?"

"I'd have bought it for you if I knew you wanted it so much."

John shook his head, as if he didn't believe him. Terry hated when he did that. John should know by now that Terry would do anything for him. Had he not proven that enough times?

The server came over and took their drinks order.

"Come on, Johnny, it'll be ours again in no time."

"How do you figure that? He's not gonna leave without a fight."

"As soon as we crush him and LaRusso at the All Valley, he'll shut down and we'll move straight in." Terry shrugged. He picked up a menu and slid it over to John. "Easy."

John tapped his fingers on the menu but didn't open it. "We'll see."

"Besides, I put some sneaky get-out clauses in the contract. I'll just tell him he signs it and the place belongs to him. Nobody reads those things. And even if he does, you think he'll understand it?"

Terry's phone buzzed in his pocket. He ignored it.

"In the meantime, I'm keeping him and LaRusso apart and making sure he knows that it's LaRusso not us who is his biggest threat. They focus on each other and our students will win the tournament by a landslide!"

"Ah. So you work on Lawrence, and I work on LaRusso?

"Not necessary. From what you told me your past negotiations have been less than successful. I don't want you getting hurt again."

John frowned, clearly taking Terry's genuine concern as an insult. He was too old to be getting into real fights, but John would not want to hear that.

"Just leave it to me, okay?" All he wanted from John was for him to be impressed and grateful when his plan worked. For a smile and a kind word, he'd go to any lengths.

Their drinks arrived, and Terry's phone was buzzing again. With his settings, he was only notified of calls from a handful of people. Which meant it was either the person he'd recently added to the list, or some kind of emergency. He hoped for the former, and raised his glass.

"To our success."

"A little premature, but… fine," John said, clinking his glass with Terry's.

Terry drank and took a moment to tell himself to stop reading negativity into everything John said to him. He was satisfied with him coming out to dinner with him. Yes. He would appreciate that.

This time when his phone stopped buzzing only to start again, he looked at it.

"What are you so happy about?" John asked, and Terry hadn't even noticed himself smiling when he saw Johnny Lawrence on his phone screen.

Terry didn't answer. This was new. They had exchanged numbers but hadn't called or messaged each other until now. He wondered what it was about. Could it be about the way he left things? That hadn't even been part of the plan.

Johnny stopped calling, only to call again a moment later.

"I need to get this," Terry said, standing up.

John nodded. He looked suspicious. Jealous, maybe.

Terry aimed a deliberate smile at his phone screen, then headed out to take the call. By the time he made it outside, Johnny had stopped calling. But then he immediately tried again.

"Johnny Lawrence! What can I do for you?"

There was a delay before Johnny answered, and then Terry had to hold his phone away from his ear. "Don't give me that! You lied to me! How could you not tell me?"

Well. This was not entirely unexpected. Terry knew he was walking on a knife edge with this plan. That was why it was so exciting.

"Now Johnny, calm down. I can't understand what you're saying."

"Yeah right. You know what I'm talking about! I'm gonna…" Johnny's voice went progressively quieter. Maybe he dropped his phone. He did sound very drunk. "Why didn't you tell me you knew karate?"

"Karate is your thing, I didn't want to-"

"Why didn't you tell me you're Cobra Kai?" Johnny demanded.

"Listen, we really should sit down and talk about this when we're both calmer."

"Calmer? I'll give you calmer! You get over here and I'll show you karate!"

Terry laughed. "Are you inviting me over to kick my ass?"

"So what if I am?"

"Well, that's very kind of you," Terry said, and bold to assume you could, he didn't add. "But I'm afraid I don't know where you live."

Johnny barked out a street address, and hung up.

Terry smiled and shook his head. He wasn't worried. Plan A, he would talk Johnny round. Plan B, he'd kick his ass and earn his respect, then talk him round.

To avoid having to explain himself, he left a message with the maître d for John to order whatever he liked while he was gone, then headed over to Johnny's place. There was traffic, so the journey took longer than he expected.

Terry wasn't sure he had the right place, but the eagle van told him that yes, this grim apartment building really was where Johnny lived. There was loud music coming from somewhere. A couple yelled at each other. He couldn't imagine what it must be like to be stuck in a place like this.

Initially there was no answer at his door, so Terry waited. He knocked again, and… nothing. He tried to peer in through the window, but the blinds were closed. When he tried to call it went straight to voicemail.

What was going on?

Terry looked over his shoulder, suddenly concerned that this might be an ambush. But no-one was around.

Johnny had sounded pretty drunk. What if he'd hurt himself?

Terry knocked again, then stepped back. He could easily kick the door down, but maybe he should look for a spare key first? There was nowhere obvious he might have hidden it.

He touched the door handle and almost laughed. It was open.

Johnny was slumped on the floor by the couch. The whole place smelled of cheap alcohol.

"Johnny?"

Terry rushed over and knelt down beside him.

Johnny had spilled booze down himself and his hair was all messed up. Terry was tempted to fix it for him, but then his eyes flickered open. "Huh? What?"

"Are you okay?"

"Hmm? Yeah," Johnny mumbled, seemingly too drunk to remember being mad.

"Are you hurt?"

"Don't think so."

"I think you should go to bed."

"Nah, I'll just crash here."

"You can't sleep there. Here, let me help you." Terry slipped an arm around Johnny's back and the other under his knees and lifted him up. Johnny was heavy, but at least he didn't resist and make things harder.

Johnny let his head fall onto Terry's shoulder. "You smell nice," he mumbled.

Terry was struck by a weird feeling in his chest. He was wearing a new cologne. It was nice that Johnny noticed, especially in such a state.

Johnny's bedroom door was halfway open, and the comforter was on the floor, so getting him in bed was straightforward. Terry took off his shoes and placed them to one side, and covered Johnny with the comforter.

Johnny made a contented noise. His eyes were already closed. Terry leaned over him and brushed his hair away from his forehead.

"Did you drink so much because of me?" Terry asked. Johnny didn't respond.

Terry went to the kitchen and found a clean glass to fill with water. The refrigerator had beer in it, and a soggy container of ham. Most of his cupboards were empty, but he found half a packet of graham crackers which might not yet be stale.

When he returned to the bedroom, Johnny was breathing heavily, already asleep. He looked nice and cozy, certainly more comfortable than on the floor. Terry was feeling rather pleased about his good deed. He barely even thought about how it would make a good bargaining chip to convince Johnny he was on his side.

It would be going too far to kiss Johnny on the forehead. Or to stick around to watch over him until he woke up. He wasn't even sure why such things crossed his mind.

He found a scrap of paper to write a note on, and left it with the water and crackers.

On his way out, Terry's foot collided with a set of keys. He should lock the door behind him, in case someone with worse intentions than him should get in there.

He locked the door and was wondering what he should do with the keys when he heard footsteps. He turned around to see a teenage boy with a backpack staring at him. This must be Miguel. Johnny's neighbor and star student.

"Can I help you, sir?" he asked. Polite, but with an underlying hint of suspicion.

"Miguel, right?"

"Yeah. Do you know Mr Lawrence?"

"I'm a friend of his. He's had a rough," Terry paused, noting the sun was still up but decided to go with, "night."

Miguel nodded, clearly familiar with this sort of thing.

"Can I leave his keys with you?"

"Yeah, of course," Miguel said, taking them.

"Would you check on him in the morning? I'm a little worried about him."

"I'm sure he'll be fine, but yeah. Thanks for looking out for him."

Terry smiled. "Not a problem."

And it wasn't. It was nice to take care of people. And Johnny seemed to need a lot of taking care of. Back on the road, he allowed himself to live in a fantasy world where things were simple and he was helping out his friend and they were opening a dojo together.

Oh, he was probably just being wistful about the past.

If he hated Johnny, this would all be so much easier. He knew how to hurt people. How to make decisions with no regard to the effect they had on anyone. He had every right to hate Johnny, considering the amount of time and effort John put into resenting Johnny far outweighed that which he put into their partnership. He couldn't let John down, but the thought of letting Johnny down also bothered him.

He was so caught up in it all that he drove a good part of the way home before he realized he was meant to be returning to the restaurant.

Chapter Text

Johnny woke up from the most wonderful dream. And then his head started pounding. He could barely open his eyes. To distract himself, he tried to recall his dream.

Terry had showed up at his apartment, picked him up and took him to bed.

Holy shit.

He guessed that kiss had been on his mind more than he even realized.

But no, it wasn't one of those kinds of dreams. Why hadn't dream him gone for it? He'd have totally gotten away with it and nobody would know.

But he'd been so weak and tired, and Terry had just gently tucked him into bed. What kind of loser dreams about stuff like that? Oh, but it had been kinda nice. But no way he was ever telling anyone about it.

Ugh, he really shouldn't be thinking about Terry like that. Especially not now he knows he's a lying asshole.

Suddenly his alarm was going off.

Johnny rolled over to hit the button, and almost knocked over a glass of water. Why had he put that there?

There was also that half packet of graham crackers he forgot about. And a note.

Wow, he really was drunk last night. What the hell had past him thought to write to present him? This was gonna be a hoot.

But it wasn't his handwriting.

Johnny, try to eat and drink something and take it easy today. Call me when you can. I have your contract ready, but more importantly I want to know that you are okay.

Terry

What?

Terry had really been there?

Had none of that been a dream? Did Terry really come round to scrape him up off the floor and put him to bed? Oh man, that was embarrassing.

How the hell had he got into his apartment? Wait. How did he even know where he lived?

Johnny stumbled out of bed and went looking for his phone. There was nothing from Terry, but there was a message from Miguel saying that he had his keys. Why? God, he really had to stop getting this drunk.

Oh crap, had he forgotten he was mad and propositioned Terry or something? There was no proof in his messages, but looked like he called Terry a whole bunch of times yesterday. He remembered going to a convenience store and grabbing the last box of Coors Banquets and… oh, that cheap bottle of bourbon, that probably did it. But after that…

Suddenly the door opened, and Johnny braced himself for Terry, but it turned out to be Miguel.

"Sorry for bursting in like this, sensei, but I gotta go to school," he said, handing Johnny's keys over. "Man, you look terrible."

"Oh, well, you know…" Johnny said vaguely. He looked at the keys in his hand. "What happened? Did I drop these outside?"

"No, a guy gave them to me. Said he was your friend."

"Did he say anything?"

"Not much. He was worried about you. Seemed nice."

Worried about him? Johnny didn't need anyone to worry about him. He scoffed. "Yeah yeah, he'll soon learn this is normal," he said. "Hey, you wanna ride to school?"

Miguel looked down at Johnny's whiskey stained shirt. "Uh, no, I'm good. See you later, sensei!"

"Yeah," Johnny said, actually glad he didn't have to drive. His head was still pounding. Maybe he should actually drink that water.

Now he was even more confused about Terry. Miguel thought he was nice, and Johnny trusted Miguel's opinion. The only thing that didn't fit was what LaRusso had told him. And that was like thirty years ago. Johnny had done stuff he wasn't proud of in the past. He wasn't the same person he was back then. Maybe Terry was alright. He sure hoped he was.

He drank the water and ate some of the graham crackers Terry had left for him, and thought about calling him. But Terry had told him to call, and he didn't feel like doing what he was told, so he sent him a message asking if he was free today.

Terry answered pretty quickly, and suggested they meet at the new Eagle Fang dojo in a couple of hours. Johnny found himself smiling at Terry calling it that. Then stopped himself. What if LaRusso had said was right?

A couple of hours was just enough for him to sober up, take a shower and put on some presentable clothes.

There was a decorator's van outside the dojo when he got there.

"I thought I'd get started on renovations," Terry told him. "But I'll leave the color scheme and all the details to you."

Johnny found himself nodding. He couldn't remember what he'd said to Terry yesterday, but Terry was acting as if nothing had happened.

"How are you feeling?"

"Fine," Johnny said reflexively.

"You look better. There's some color in your cheeks," Terry said, patting him on the arm. He turned to watch the decorators returning to their van for supplies. "I've got your contract here. How about we go to a cafe and talk things over?"

"Uh, sure," Johnny said. Yeah. Talk things over. They should. He did have the option of just not mentioning anything LaRusso said. Things would go a lot smoother between them if he didn't. But it'd bother him. Oh man, what to do?

Terry insisted on paying for their coffee. The contract was long, and Johnny was lost before he got to the end of the first paragraph. Terry passed him a pen. Johnny picked it up, and skipped to the end where there was a space for his signature.

He put the pen down again.

"Actually, there's something I need to talk to you about first."

Terry nodded and leaned forward.

"LaRusso remembers you, from the eighties."

Terry nodded again. "And I remember him." So he wasn't denying it. Johnny studied his face, but he wasn't sure what he was looking for. "That was why you were upset with me, isn't it? I should have told you about my history with karate, and this place."

"So it's all true? You co-founded Cobra Kai? You trained LaRusso?"

Once again, Terry nodded.

"He seems to think you're a really bad dude."

Terry started to snigger. "Sorry. That's just a funny way of putting it," he said, and composed himself again. "I'm not sure what LaRusso told you, but let me tell you what really happened. LaRusso wanted to fight in the tournament — eighty five, I believe it was — but his sensei didn't want to teach him. So he came to me. We were short of time and he was desperate to win, so training was a little more intensive than usual."

"He said you injured him. Repeatedly."

A look crossed Terry's face. Guilt? "I didn't. He might have injured himself. But don't forget, this was in the days before health and safety regulations. You must remember what it was like."

"Yeah. World's gone nuts about that health and safety stuff," Johnny said. Everything Terry was saying seemed perfectly reasonable. But there was one part that didn't add up. "Wait, why did you train LaRusso if he was fighting for a different team?"

Terry spread his arms in a shrug. "I was under the impression he would fight for us. For me."

"You said us. So, you and Kreese?"

Terry dropped his gaze to his coffee cup.

"LaRusso said something about you faking Kreese's death to freak him out."

"Now that's just ridiculous!" Terry said, looking at Johnny again. "He clearly misinterpreted something I said. Kreese needed a break from karate, so I took over. Then he came back. Surprised me too."

"So, you and Kreese are best buddies, huh?"

There was a long pause before Terry answered. "At one point, I guess you could say we were."

Johnny kinda wanted to ask more about that. Kreese was not the easiest guy to get along with, and the fact that Terry was his friend said something about him. But Johnny wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing. So instead, he just said, "How could you not tell me any of this?"

"I was going to, but then you said something about Kreese and it made me think you wouldn't want to know. Then I found this place and wanted it to be a nice surprise for you."

Johnny watched Terry sip his coffee, and took a drink of his own. "So what, you're some kinda magic karate guy who shows up any time someone has karate problems that need solving?"

Terry laughed. "Hey, don't tell everyone. They might take advantage."

"Kinda sounds like they have already. LaRusso used you to win a tournament, and Kreese got you to fill in for him while he what, took a vacation?"

"I paid for his vacation! And do you think he thanked me when he came back?"

"Sheesh. What an asshole."

"Hmm. Yeah. But that never stopped me from wanting to help people. I can tell you're genuine. You're not just out to take advantage." There was a hint of doubt in his eyes, like he desperately wanted Johnny to reassure him that he wasn't.

"Of course not, man. I don't go back on my word, unlike some people."

Johnny rolled the pen back and forth on the table as he finished his coffee.

"I don't get it. Why would LaRusso say all that?"

"Don't be so hard on him, he was young. And those tournaments are a lot of pressure, I'm sure I don't need to tell you that. I imagine he wanted someone to take it out on."

"Huh. Figures."

"Look, even if he really believes what he is saying, don't you think it's strange that he only brings it up now, when it benefits him? If he can keep you around under his thumb, he can poach your best students. You told me yourself it's already starting to happen."

"You think he doesn't want me to have my own dojo?"

"It's possible."

"Well, screw that." Johnny picked up the pen and signed the back page of the contract. Then he realized there were two copies. Of course. One for each of them. He signed the other one.

Terry smiled. "You deserve this place," he said, his fingers brushing against Johnny's as he passed back a copy of the contract.

"Yeah, I do, don't I?" Johnny said. He thought of all the trouble he'd had with Zakarian (and LaRusso!) at the strip mall, then trying to teach at the park, and the abandoned factory, and Miyagi-Do, he didn't know which was worse. Finally, this was a place of his own. With no complications. He looked at Terry. Okay, maybe one small complication.

"Nice doing business with you, Johnny," Terry said, holding out a hand to him across the table.

Johnny shook it. "Hey, I thought this wasn't business."

"Yeah, you're right," Terry said. "Not business, but a gift to a good friend of mine."

Good friend. Johnny liked the sound of that. "Still don't understand what you're getting out of this."

"I get the satisfaction of helping you."

Terry looked genuine, but Johnny suspected there was a bit more to it than that. Now all that stuff with LaRusso was settled he could go back to thinking about Terry kissing him in the dojo. He wouldn't mind a repeat of that. "Hey, we should go for a drink to celebrate."

"Oh, I think I can do you one better than that."

"Oh yeah?"

"I'll take you to one of my favorite restaurants, my treat. What do you say?"

"Sounds great!" Johnny said. He couldn't stop himself from smiling. A guy taking another guy out to dinner, totally normal. Yeah, right. Just like buying him a dojo. Terry was clearly trying to impress him. And now Johnny had the opportunity to impress Terry with his badass teaching and interior design choices. Take that! Nothing wrong with two guys enjoying each other's company and trying to impress each other, right?

Chapter Text

Daniel stood in the doorway with his arms folded. "You can't be serious, Johnny," he said.

"I'm here to pick up my stuff, how more serious can I get?" Johnny said, throwing the attendance folder in a box.

"But Johnny, after everything I told you? I thought for once you were actually listening to me."

"I was!"

"So what, you decided to disregard everything I said and make a deal with the devil anyway?"

Johnny scoffed. "Deal with the devil? Aren't you being a bit dramatic?"

"No, Johnny, I'm not." LaRusso looked deadly serious.

"Honestly it kinda sounds like you took advantage of him, got him to train you and then won against his team."

"Do you actually hear yourself right now? You finally see through Kreese's bullshit and then you go ahead and fall for the same crap from Silver?"

"It's not the same at all!" Johnny protested. "In fact, you know what this is the same as?" He spread his arms. "Mr Miyagi gave you this place."

"Oh, don't even go there!"

"Why not? Because it's true and you don't wanna admit it?"

"It is not even remotely the same situation! Mr Miyagi was like family to me!"

"So what, you're allowed to have your own dojo, but I'm not?"

LaRusso sighed, and ignored that question. "So you're just fine with him lying to you?"

"He had a good reason to."

"Which is?"

Johnny frowned at Daniel. He was acting like some kinda overprotective parent and Johnny was the kid who was dating someone he didn't like. Oh, he'd better not say that. "Look. Shut up, LaRusso. This is none of your business."

"I'm just worried about you and your students, that's all. That man hurts people."

"He said you hurt yourself."

Daniel sighed and sagged against the wall. "Of course he did." He stood there and watched as Johnny got the rest of his stuff together.

"Hey, it's been thirty five years. Things change. Bet you never thought you'd be sharing dojo space with me, huh?"

Daniel didn't return his smile, and instead shook his head. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

"Yeah yeah, whatever," Johnny said, picking up the box. He was glad to be out of there.

**

With the help of the guys Terry brought in, the new dojo was open for business in no time at all. Johnny designed the banner himself and picked out mats and new equipment. Terry had stopped him from stenciling bite like an eagle on the wall and suggested a tasteful neon sign instead. The place was looking good.

"Congratulations on your grand opening," Terry said, raising his wine glass.

The restaurant had insisted decanting Johnny's beer into a glass. He raised it and clinked it with Terry's wine glass. "Thanks, man. Couldn't have done it without you."

"It's my pleasure. It's nice to see your students happy. And it's nice to see you happy too."

"The kids love it! And with the new categories at the All Valley this year, we need a place that kids actually want to come and learn karate at. Just in time too, before Cobra Kai scoops up all the new students."

"Yes, I've noticed that too."

"So you're keeping an eye on your old pal, huh?"

"You could say that," Terry said. "But enough about him. What's your plan of attack?"

Johnny shrugged. "I guess I'll go print some more flyers with the new address on them."

"Flyers? That's your plan?"

"Well, yeah?" Johnny said, Terry's reaction making him feel a bit stupid.

"And how's your social media campaign going?"

"My, uh, what?" Johnny said, before figuring he meant internet stuff. "Oh, Miguel handles that side of things."

"Well you might wanna take a look. I didn't see much of an online presence for Eagle Fang."

"Oh, damn. That website he made was for Cobra Kai." Johnny sighed. Everything had happened so fast. "I'll talk to him about making a new one."

"If you need any help, you only have to ask."

"Not that I'm ungrateful, but I can't ask you to do everything for me."

"It's no trouble," Terry said. "Have you thought about merchandise?"

"The kids already have t-shirts. I've got a box of 'em of left for new students." He snorted. "One size fits most, you know how it is."

"I think we can do better than that. Let me put you in touch with my suppliers. They'll do you some great deals on a whole range of products."

"Thanks," Johnny said, trying to look like he meant it instead of showing his fear of looking like someone who didn't know what he was doing.

Johnny busied himself with leafing through the whole menu. He did not want Terry to think he was some kind of loser. But if they got more merchandise, it'd give Johnny the opportunity to come up with some new badass designs to impress Terry… and everyone else.

The server came over to ask if they were ready to order. Terry looked at Johnny.

"Uh, sure. I'll get the Lobster Newburg," Johnny said, "and can I get fries with that?"

Terry hid a smirk behind his hand.

"I'm afraid fries are not on the menu, sir. Can I recommend a side of Lyonnaise Potatoes, or—"

"What, you don't even have them on the kids' menu? 'Cause I'm pretty sure I saw them on there."

"Indeed, sir, but—"

"Hey, bring 'em in a separate tray if you gotta."

The server looked unhappy, but scribbled on his notepad and said, "Very well, sir."

Terry asked for something unpronounceable and complicated and the server had no complaints about his order for some reason. Johnny wondered if he had screwed up by not playing along with the rich people food game.

"Can you believe that guy? No fries, my ass." he said to diffuse the tension.

"Oh, I like a man who knows what he wants," Terry said with a dazzling smile.

And I could tell you another thing I want and he's sitting right across from me, Johnny thought. God, he couldn't say that. It was kinda bad that he even thought it. But hell, was Terry flirting with him? No, he still couldn't say it.

"As if I'm gonna let a guy in a stupid bow-tie tell me what I can and can't eat," Johnny said instead.

Terry clapped his hands and laughed. "You're truly a model example for us all, Johnny Lawrence."

The food was really good. Terry stole some of Johnny's fries, and by the end of the meal Johnny was almost certain Terry was subtly flirting with him. And all Johnny could do was stupidly smile back at him.

Johnny followed Terry back to his car, contemplating tackling him onto the hood and making out with him right in the parking lot. But he found himself leaning on it instead and prattling on about how good the food was. He should've brought up the kiss in the dojo at dinner. Maybe he should now? But Terry hadn't mentioned it, what did that mean? Terry had been acting as if it never even happened. What if it was all some dumb joke? Johnny hadn't literally meant he could kiss Terry. Well. Not at first, anyway.

Johnny was way too sober for this. "Hey, um, wanna go get a drink?"

Terry looked distant for a moment. "I really should get back."

"Come on, one wouldn't hurt."

Terry stepped closer to him. "Listen, Johnny," he said, putting a hand on Johnny's arm. He leaned his head closer to Johnny as if he was going to say something to him privately… or kiss him, maybe.

Terry ran his hand down Johnny's arm and squeezed gently. Johnny shivered. Damn, that was a good move. Did Terry always look at him with this level of intensity? He glanced at Terry's lips.

"I really shouldn't," Terry breathed. He spoke so quietly it sounded like he was talking to himself.

Johnny rehearsed several replies in his head and to see which one sounded coolest, but before he could decide they were startled by a sudden beep.

"Get a room! You're blocking my spot!" a guy in a truck yelled.

"Screw you!" Johnny yelled back reflexively.

The guy revved his engine.

Terry stepped in front of him and placed a hand on the hood of the truck. "It would be a shame if something happened to your ride," he said.

"You just try it, buddy!" the guy said. His date in the passenger seat was averting her eyes.

Terry laughed menacingly as he backed off.

"Asshole!" Johnny yelled as he followed him.

"I'll have someone let his tires down," Terry said conversationally, "Somewhere else, so he can't pin it on me."

Johnny laughed. He had to be joking, right? That was the kind of vindictive crap he'd pull. Only he'd probably do it as soon as the guy went into the restaurant.

"I'll get you those contacts I promised you," Terry said, as if that was just the next item of business.

Johnny was anticipating bitching about that guy and then blowing off some steam by making out, but Terry was already getting back into his car.

"I'll come round by the dojo some time, okay?" Terry was already starting the engine.

"Cool," Johnny said, hoping he looked like he was playing it cool. "You owe me a sparring session."

Terry laughed. "Oh do I?" he said before driving off.

Okay, that was definitely flirty.

Johnny didn't go slash the tires of that guy's truck, but he did give one of them a kick on the way past. God, this was way more complicated than dating a chick. If a chick kissed him, he'd have no problem making a move on her. Was it bad that it was different with a guy? Was he being sexist right now? Maybe he should ask the internet. Terry just made him feel so out of his depth.

He wasn't gonna let himself get obsessed with this. He'd put it out of his mind like with all the other stuff he didn't wanna think about. He had a brand new dojo to concentrate on.

He smiled as he imagined Terry coming to the dojo to spar with him. Okay, not thinking about it failed already.

Chapter Text

Terry had parked his car a block away from the dojo. He needed the walk to clear his head.

He kept on reminding himself that he had everything under control. If his plan had been to nurture Johnny and Eagle Fang, it would have been succeeding. Likewise, if his plan was to seduce Johnny… well, haha, that seemed to be going very well too.

Kissing him in the dojo had been a completely spur of the moment thing. He wasn't even sure why he did it. It was Johnny's fault! He'd put the idea into his head!

But the way Johnny responded when he kissed him, and the way he'd acted around him since, Terry couldn't get that out of his mind. Stringing him along or even getting into a casual relationship would make him easier to manipulate, but it would only work if Terry could remain dispassionate. And that ship had sailed.

God, he'd been so tempted to kiss Johnny again in the parking lot. Taking him out for a nice meal had been a mistake. That wasn't necessary for the plan. Terry had done it because he wanted to. And damn it, he'd enjoyed it.

John had told him about Johnny, how he was a bit of a rebel, but was still in many ways the same scared kid he'd taught decades before. But there was a whole lot more to Johnny that that. He might have asked for fries with his main dish, but he seemed to instinctively know proper table etiquette. He was a man of contradictions, and that only made Terry more interested in him.

There were no rules against enjoying himself, but his loyalty was to John and Cobra Kai. And John had noticed that Terry was spending a lot of time with Johnny. He'd missed classes. Which made Terry think that his suspicions that John didn't really want him around might not be true. And that was just the reassurance he had been looking for. Wasn't it? Oh, but John had noted that Eagle Fang appeared to be doing well, and Terry had been forced to wave him off, saying that all was in hand. But was it?

The All Valley wasn't far away, so Terry would need to do something soon to sabotage Eagle Fang and demoralize Johnny. He had to. He didn't have to like it. It was a means to an end. If he did this, John would be happy and they would run Cobra Kai together. That was what he wanted. And some scruffy blond wasn't going to get in the way of that, even if he had a lovely smile and a huge crush on him.

Johnny. Johnny was the one with the crush.

Through the window, he could see Johnny leading his class through drills. The way he watched his students and shouted orders at them made Terry think of John. Johnny did remind Terry of John in a lot of strange little ways, and Terry didn't know how to feel about that.

He stepped inside, and Johnny turned to smile at him. Terry smiled back, telling himself that it was totally normal to enjoy exchanging a smile across a room. He watched from the sidelines, but students soon started to notice his presence. Johnny introduced him to the class as a friend, and Terry opted to give a little wave and continue observing.

Terry had to stop himself from bursting out laughing at several points. Johnny had clearly picked up a lot from his sensei, and even directly quoted things John said all the time. Terry wondered if Johnny even knew he was doing it. He suspected he didn't, from the way he spoke about John. But Johnny was a lot more lenient than John had ever been, he let the kids get away with a bit of messing around. All in all, everyone seemed more relaxed than at Cobra Kai.

At first, Terry thought the kids didn't respect Johnny enough and were getting one over on him. But they listened to him when it was important. Terry found himself imagining teaching alongside Johnny. It felt disloyal to be thinking it, but perhaps his teaching style would mesh better with Johnny's than John's. John always urged him to be strict and abide no disobedience. Nobody laughed at Cobra Kai unless it was at someone else's expense. Not so here. Terry had always dismissed the dojos who claimed that karate was a bit of fun as rank amateurs, but Johnny seemed to strike a balance between teaching important lessons and letting the kids enjoy themselves.

Terry was impressed.

He didn't like that he was impressed. He wasn't supposed to be impressed.

It would be easier if Johnny's teaching was as terrible as John claimed it was. Then Terry could safely lose all respect for Johnny and proceed with crushing his dojo.

That assumption was what this plan was built on, that Johnny and LaRusso weren't competent enough to be worthy adversaries alone.

Maybe John was wrong. And maybe Terry was wrong for trying to rekindle their partnership.

No, he couldn't think that way. He'd already gone all in.

But he could still hang around Johnny for a while like a cat playing with its prey, right? That was allowed.

Then why did it feel so bad?

He spent the rest of the class quietly ruminating on this.

Johnny sidled up to him after the end of class. "So, what brings you here?" he asked, then without waiting for Terry to reply added, "Haven't seen you at the bar lately. What gives, not given up drinking have you?"

Terry smiled and shook his head. He liked that Johnny had noticed his absence. "You missed me or something?"

"Pfft, no. 'Course not," Johnny said, but his reddening cheeks gave him away. Of course he wouldn't admit to it in front of the kids. Terry noticed Miguel and some of the others looking over at them.

"I thought I'd swing by and see how you're doing in the new place."

Johnny smiled. "Oh yeah, it's great. The kids love it. This is just what I needed." He looked around. "Honestly it's a dream come true. Yeah, this place is great."

As Johnny looked around, Terry couldn't help but detect mixed emotions. Something was bothering Johnny. He was trying to hide it, but he looked almost… sad. "But?" he prompted.

"But?" Johnny echoed.

The main door swung shut behind the last of the students.

"If you've a problem, I'm not gonna be mad. I wanna help you fix it."

Johnny sighed and looked away. "No, no, I don't have a problem."

"Then what is it?"

"Oh, you know, this place just brings back a lot of memories. Good, and, well… you heard me telling the kids about my buddies, right? Well Jimmy and Bobby, they've got totally different lives now. And Dutch, he's in jail. Haven't seen him in years. And then there's T-Tommy…" There was a catch in Johnny's voice and he dropped his head.

Terry put a hand on Johnny's shoulder.

"We lost him a couple of months back," Johnny mumbled. When he looked up at Terry, his blue eyes shone with tears. "It was… cancer."

The breath caught in Terry's throat. He sighed softly. "I'm sorry."

Johnny wiped a tear away and looked away, ashamed. "Man, I don't know why…. it was months ago."

"It's okay," Terry said, spreading his arms and subtly beckoning to him.

Johnny blinked and looked at him in suspicion.

Oh, the masculine urge to resist all comfort. Terry knew that well. "I've lost friends," he said quietly, "it's not something you get over quickly."

Johnny clenched his fists and looked down at the ground. "It was so sudden," he said. "I had no idea. Why didn't I-"

Terry took a step towards him. "You did what you thought was right at the time."

"Yeah, fat lot of good that did."

Terry edged towards Johnny and curled an arm around him. And it felt so good when Johnny relented and let himself fall into his arms. Terry held him tightly as Johnny sniffled against him.

"Sorry, man," Johnny said, pulling himself away from Terry.

Terry shook his head and gave him a sympathetic smile. "Do you want to talk about it? I have some time. Could take you out for dinner."

From the look on his face, Terry expected Johnny to shoot him down entirely, but then he said, "Nah, this is more of a pizza on the curb kinda conversation."

Terry nodded, and Johnny raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised at his willingness to sit on the curb in his suit.

A short while later they were sitting outside with an extra large pizza topped with in Johnny's words, all the meats. Terry's dietician would frown at him over this, but it was quite delicious.

"I thought it was best to keep busy, but I've not had a minute to stop and… goddamn Kreese."

Terry looked up at Johnny. "What about him?"

Johnny sighed. "Ah, I'm sure you don't wanna hear me bitch about your old pal."

"You can talk about anything you want to with me, Johnny. I want you to know that."

Johnny regarded him as he finished his slice of pizza, clearly considering this. He wiped his greasy fingers on his pants. "Okay, but it ain't gonna be pretty."

Terry leaned in a little closer to show that he was listening.

"Listen, Kreese just turned up out of the blue after he learned we won the All Valley Tournament," Johnny said.

Terry raised his eyebrows. John's words were that we won the All Valley, with the implication that John had been involved. Terry had taken it at face value and hadn't thought to check. "So last year's win was all down to you?"

"Yeah," Johnny said, a touch defensively. "He showed up afterwards. Tried to convince me he was sorry about almost killing me back in the 80s and wound up trying to kick my ass over it! And I was stupid enough to give him a chance and let him join me in the dojo. It wasn't long before he started to show his true colors and I told him to sling his hook. Anyway he spun me some sob story, I actually felt sorry for him, man. But guess what, it wasn't long before he started undermining me again."

Terry gaped at Johnny. He was speaking so fast it took a moment for his words to sink in. "Wait, slow down. He tried to kill you?"

Johnny nodded, his eyes going distant. "After the tournament in 1984. Got me in a headlock. Started calling me a loser," he said, and grimaced. "Thought he was joking at first, but then all my buddies were yelling at him to let go. Thought I was done for, man."

Terry was speechless.

"After that, I was like screw karate! All of us were."

"Understandable," Terry mumbled.

Johnny grabbed another slice of pizza and they ate in silence for a while. He was all tense, with his shoulders hunched. This all happened a long time ago, but it clearly still affected him. Terry thought of his own countless hours in therapy. Some days he still didn't feel alright.

"A few months ago I found out my buddy Tommy was really sick. Me and the rest of the guys went out to see him. Spent some time together. Wasn't enough. Didn't think it would happen so soon." Johnny sighed. "I guess Kreese started turning my students against me while I was gone. He turned my own son against me! Asshole. And he made some agreement with my landlord and stole the whole dojo from under me." Johnny looked up at Terry. "So that's what your buddy is really like. Always with the excuses. Always with the phony apologies."

"Wait, he apologized to you?" Terry said, and immediately knew it was the wrong thing to say when Johnny frowned at him. But that struck a nerve. What Terry wouldn't give for even a fake apology from John.

Johnny didn't say anything. And Terry started to think of all the other things he could have said instead. But they all seemed hollow now.

His thoughts were interrupted by a loud female voice. "Hey there pretty boy, who's your friend?"

Johnny groaned at the woman in tattered clothes who had wandered up to them. "He's no-one, go away," he said.

"Can't help but notice that pizza is a little too big for two, if you catch my drift," the woman said, grinning at him.

Terry stood up, picking up the pizza box and holding it out to her. She grabbed a slice and shoved it in her mouth. Terry took out his wallet and slipped her a twenty.

"Ooh, this is my lucky day!" she said as the bill disappeared into one of her pockets. "You can bring your friend around any time you like! He's pretty easy on the eyes too!" She winked at Terry.

"Thank you ma'am," Terry said, giving her a smile.

"You're welcome!" she said, grabbing another slice before she went.

Terry chuckled to himself. "Now isn't this place full of colorful characters?"

"You can say that again," Johnny said. He got up and headed back inside. Terry followed him.

"I had no idea about any of this," Terry said, because he felt he needed to say something.

"Why would you? It wasn't like you were there." Johnny squinted at Terry, as if trying to remember if he had seen him before.

"No. I wasn't. Maybe I should've been. I'm sorry."

"Why? You're nothing like Kreese," Johnny said.

"No," Terry said, but he wasn't sure if it was true. Now more than ever, he wanted it not to be.

Johnny ran a hand through his hair. "I should change, take care of stuff," he said. "Will I see you in the bar later?"

Terry shook his head. "Not tonight," he said, heading towards the exit.

"Hey, don't you walk out of here. I haven't seen you in weeks. How long is it gonna be until next time, huh?"

Terry turned back around. He was torn. He did want to spend more time with Johnny, but it felt disingenuous. But why did Johnny have to look at him like that? Didn't he know that Terry was no good for him? "Do you have plans on the weekend?"

"No."

"So, there's this event I have to go to. What do you say, wanna come as my plus one so I don't look like a loser?"

"Event? What kind of event?"

"It's a charity fundraiser. Don't worry if you don't have anything to wear, I can handle that for you."

"Uh, doesn't really sound like my scene, but-"

Terry cut him off. "Don't worry about it, I didn't really wanna go anyway," he said, waving a hand.

"What? No, you should go. Look, I'll- I'll come with you, okay?"

Terry smiled. "I'll send you the details." He'd given Johnny every opportunity to back out. It wasn't as if he hadn't given him a chance, right?

Terry hadn't been looking forward to the fundraiser until now. He knew there was no way he would have convinced John to come with him. But going with Johnny? Oh, this was going to be fun.

On the way back to his car, he wondered if he could get John and Johnny to make up. Only that would mean getting John to apologize to him, something he did not do. Only he did? Well, he never apologized to Terry for anything he did to him. That hurt.

John wouldn't be mad if it meant absorbing Eagle Fang and Johnny back into Cobra Kai, right? It would be a difficult negotiation, to be sure, but… would Johnny ever consider working with the man who had clearly hurt him so much?

Terry shook his head. He was allowing his personal feelings to cloud his judgment. The naive, idealistic part of him wanted to imagine them all as one big happy family. He didn't want to consider the alternative, that he would have to choose between them. When exactly had he started to think about it being a choice?

Chapter Text

Terry intended to keep what he'd learned to himself, but seeing John look up at him with a smirk as soon as he got home set him off. The thought that this man who he'd welcomed into his home, who he would do anything for, could be capable of something like that, he couldn't just put it out of his mind.

"So what's your excuse? Were you drunk? On drugs?"

"Excuse me. You know I don't touch that crap." John shot back. "And what do you mean was I drunk? What are you blathering on about?"

"1984. The All Valley Tournament."

"What about it?" John said, his face blank, as if he didn't know.

"Johnny Lawrence. You almost choked him to death."

"Ah, is that what he told you?"

"So you're saying it's not true?"

John stared him down. Terry wanted him to deny it, tell him it wasn't true. But why would Johnny lie? And Terry knew what John was capable of, they'd served in Vietnam together. But this wasn't war, and Johnny was just a kid. No, no, no, he didn't want it to be true.

"Alright, I may have roughed him up a little, what do you care?"

"Sounded like it was a bit more than that."

"Terry, Terry, Terry. Don't tell me you're going soft. You think I should have shown him mercy?"

"Not kicking your own student's ass after a defeat? I wouldn't exactly call that showing mercy. That's basic common decency!"

It would have been better if John was offended. But he just smiled at him. "Oh come on Terry, it's nothing compared to what you did to LaRusso."

Terry sagged down beside John on the couch. After he and John had parted ways and he went to rehab for the first time, Terry had started to think about the whole debacle with Barnes and LaRusso in a totally different way. He started to feel bad.

It wasn't the same, Terry tried to tell himself. But he could have got them killed. He was willing to go to any lengths to get that win. He'd felt guilty about it for a very long time, then buried those memories until John dredged them up and made him feel once more like what he did might have been justified. Because it was for him.

John elbowed him. "Huh? You know I'm right."

"Yeah, I guess so," Terry mumbled. He felt wretched.

John grabbed Terry by the forearm and held on tight. "You and me, we're the only ones who know what's what. Don't let 'em get you with that pussy snowflake mentality. That's not who you are. I'm the only one who understands you."

Terry looked into John's eyes. Maybe he was right. But it wasn't a comfort. What he'd done to LaRusso. What he was doing to Johnny. Most people wouldn't understand or accept that. John was the only one he could be completely truthful with. Anyone else would run for the hills.

John still had hold of Terry's arm. It hurt, but Terry didn't say anything.

"You need to get your head on straight, Terry. Or else I'll do it for you."

Terry knew he shouldn't take that, but he found himself nodding.

"Why'd he tell you that anyway? Is he an idiot? He knows you're with me."

Terry smirked. "I may have conveniently left that part out."

John laughed, and Terry joined in, but his heart wasn't in it. He felt bad, laughing at Johnny's expense. This wasn't how this conversation was supposed to go. Once again, John had twisted it around to his advantage.

"Well perhaps it's time he found out whose side you're really on."

A wave of hot terror went through Terry. Johnny would feel so betrayed. Johnny would never forgive him. Terry struggled to maintain his composure. "All in good time. I've got this under control."

"Well, hurry it up. The Tournament is just around the corner."

Terry did his best to slap a sly grin on his face, and nodded. He'd been hoping to spend more time with Johnny, but John was clearly intent on cutting it short. Oh, it wasn't fair.

Everything felt wrong. He wanted to cling onto John and sob on his shoulder. But John would never let him do that, not now.

No. John was right. Terry had to get his head on straight. There was no need to fall to pieces. Sure, he'd already invited Johnny out at the weekend but John didn't need to know about that. If John found out, he'd spin it as part of the deception.

Yeah. He had this. He could afford to play both sides a while longer.

But one thing was for certain, there was no way he was going to have his little fantasy of living in harmony with both of them. He was going to have to choose.

It was a no-brainer, really. The man sitting beside him was his oldest friend and had saved his life countless times. Was he capable of being disloyal to him? And not only that, he couldn't handle John Kreese as an enemy. John had an unfair advantage, he knew how to push his buttons. He knew that him being unhappy with Terry made Terry unhappy. And boy did he know how to use it.

Would things be different if Terry helped him win the All Valley? Would he earn John's respect? Would they have fun together again, like they hadn't since they reunited? Would John adjust his teaching methods to take into account Terry's ideas? And would John ever look at him like Johnny did?

Johnny. Could he handle Johnny as an enemy? Could he handle Johnny looking at him with hate instead of adoration?

"What's a matter with you, staring into space like that?" John asked.

And he had to ask it in that tone of voice. No concern, just contempt. All of these dreams Terry had for him and John were looking less and less realistic by the minute. And comparing that to the budding relationship he had with Johnny… oh, but did he even deserve that?

Terry didn't let his reaction show. Instead he put on another false smile. "Just dreaming of glory," he said, and John seemed satisfied with that answer.