Chapter Text
Daniel trailed behind Mr. Myagi, his head pleasantly buzzing. He’d done it! He’d won the All valley! He brought balance to his life, he got the girl, he was basically a celebrity! God, he felt like he was on top of the world! That, of course, didn’t last long.
“That’s not fair! I got second place!”
Daniel who had been about to reach the car that Mr. Myagi had already turned on turned his head to look at the commotion, Johnny Lawrence, the boy who had made his life miserable since he moved to California, was in a heated argument with his own sensei.
“Second place is no place Lawrence! You’re off the team!”
Daniel still remembered what Johnny had said to him when he won
“You’re alright LaRusso”
“I tried my best!”
Daniel was snapped out his thoughts at the outburst from the blonde boy
“What did you say?” Kreese responded, a dangerous glint in his eyes. Kreese made Daniel’s hair stand on end on the best days, but his skin was crawling. All the sirens in his head were going Danger! Danger!, Danger!
“I said I tried my best!” Mr. Myagi had gotten out of the car by then
“You’re nothing! You’re a loser!”
“No, you’re the loser man!” That sealed the final nail in Johnny's coffin. Daniel flinched as Kreese grabbed the younger boy in a headlock
“Now who’s the loser?” Kreese breathed by Johnny's ear, some of the other cobras rushed to help him
“You’re really sick man!” Tommy yelled as he went to pry Kreese’s arm from Johnny’s neck. Kreese pushed him down to the floor. That finally snapped Daniel out of his shock he rushed towards the group to help, ignoring Mr. Miyagi as he tried to stop him
“Let him go! He can’t breathe man! You’re going to kill him!” Daniel yelled
“Daniel’s right sensei! Please let him go!” Bobby chimed in
“He’s sorry sensei!” Dutch continued
“He really is” Jimmy pleaded
Tommy just glared up from his place on the floor
“Mind your business!” Kreese barked, Johnny’s lips were turning an alarming shade of purple and his face was steadily turning red. Daniel, rushed towards Kreese as fast as he could in a panic, desperately trying to pry the man’s arm from Johnny’s neck. Kreese pushed him back, making him land flat on his ass, but he did let Johnny go. He roughly shoved the blonde boy onto the hard cement. Tommy rushed over to him as Johnny let out raspy breaths. Mr. Myagi stepped in then, Kreese had a maniacal look on his face as he swung his fist in the direction of the older man. Daniel feared for a split second that Kreese was going to kill his sensei but Mr. Myagi simply sidestepped the punch, making Kreese’s hit land through a car window. Kreese stared at his bloody hand, as did everybody else in the parking lot. Kreese quickly recovered throwing a second punch. Mr. Myagi simply sidestepped that as well causing Kreese’s fist to crash through another window. Mr. Myagi grabbed Kreese by the back of his neck and forced him to his knees. Daniel saw the cobras staring in awe and terror as Mr. Myagi pulled his hand back preparing for a deadly blow
“Mercy is for the weak, we do not train to be merciful here”
Kreese’s eyes widened. Daniel had never seen anyone so terrified.
“A man face you, he is enemy!”
Daniel felt a warm body next to him, Johnny had shuffled close. He looked just as scared as Kreese.
“An Enemy Deserve no mercy”
Daniel took a chance and reached for Johnny’s hand. He was scared too. Johnny gripped it tight, his cobalt blue eyes still transfixed on the scene before them. They all held their breath as Mr. Myagi’s hand wooshed down, only to…
“Honk!”
They all let out a relieved sigh, Johnny looked at him then down at their hands. Daniel let go like he had been scalded. Mr. Myagi came over to help them up, saving Daniel from having to look at Johnny’s kicked puppy dog face. He wasn’t quite ready to try to understand the weird squirmy feeling in his chest when Johnny looked so genuine. Johnny helped pull Tommy who quickly pulled him into a bear hug which the other cobras quickly joined in on. Daniel was just about to leave when he felt a hand on his wrist. It was Bobby, his eyes pleading for him to stay. Another hand joined Bobby’s. This time it was Tommy, he was gently tugging, encouraging him to join in on the hug. Daniel looked over at Mr. Myagi for help. His sensei just smiled softly and nodded his head. Daniel hesitantly joined the hug nestled between Tommy and Bobby, getting a noseful of soft blonde hair that smelled like cigarette smoke and expensive shampoo. Again Daniel really didn’t want to think about why that gave him butterflies in his stomach. When the hug ended Jimmy laughed.
“Kreese was our ride home,” he said, looking at the spot where Kreese had been just a couple of minutes ago. The rest of the cobras laughed too.
“Speak for yourselves!” Dutch said, Basically having had to cough the words out from how hard he’d been laughing
“I brought my bike, I can take one of you” Jimmy immediately volunteered to ride.
“What! My house is really close to his. It makes sense!” He protested when Bobby slapped him on the head, muttering something about being nice to people.
“Me and Bobby can just call our parents, there’s a phone booth nearby and I’ve got the change,” Tommy said.
“Yeah, Johnny you can come too. We should get those checked out as well” Bobby replied, pointing towards Johnny’s neck where there were hand-shaped bruises were slowly appearing. Daniel winced sympathetically, they looked painful. Johnny simply shook his head
“I don’t feel like going home right now guys” He responded. His voice was soft and raspy like Daniel had never heard it before. Daniel, being impulsive as ever offered to take him to the diner and then home if he wanted to.
“You can even stay over if you want” That part Daniel mumbled, kicking at the ground. Johnny cocked his head to the side, squinting his eyes now truly looking like a golden retriever puppy
“Are you sure?” He rasped out
“Yeah man! It’ll be fun!”
“Umm, Ali won’t mind right? Your mom? I don’t think your sensei would be too happy to take me” Daniel was not used to this. Seeing Johnny so shy and unsure
“Myagi happy to take Daniel-San friend” Mr. Myagi smiled warmly at Johnny nodding in his direction, turning around and climbing back into the truck
“See! My mom won’t care either, she’ll just be happy I've got friends other than Freddy Fernandez!” Daniel’s eyes widened at what had just come out of his mouth
“I mean... We are friends now right? I mean I guess sorta, Only if you want to be though, I me-”
“Yeah!” Daniel was cut by Johnny
“We’re friends now LaRusso” He gave him his signature smirk and offered a hand for Daniel to shake. He took it
“You have a good grip,” He remarked, Johnny Laughed
“Wish I could say the same!” His smirk had turned into something more genuine and almost soft and for some unfathomable reason, it made Daniels's heart melt. As the two boys began trudging towards the truck Johnny bumped his shoulder to Daniel’s.
“You really are alright… Daniel” He smiled again, that small shy thing, before opening the door for Daniel and helping him up before getting in himself.
“You’re alright too Johnny” He found himself saying
Johnny’s smile was blinding.