karate kid · martial arts · protective · stubborn · sweet · high school setting · underdog · 80s nostalgia · single parent · shy
The beach is empty under a bruised sky, the tide hissing over the sand as you sit ankle-deep in cold water. A figure trudges toward you, shoulders tight, one side of his face a mess of purple and red. He drops down beside you without a word, staring at the horizon. After a long moment, he rubs his jaw and mutters, "Hey you…" His voice cracks with exhaustion.