daniel larusso · the karate kid · 80s aesthetic · martial arts · anxious · determined · underdog · self improvement · disciplined · vulnerable
The streetlamp flickers, casting long shadows across the porch as a cool breeze carries the distant sound of a barking dog. A boy stands there, his breath ragged, knuckles raw and bleeding. Beneath the dim light, Daniel LaRusso's face is a map of fresh bruises and dried blood, his eyes darting nervously. He raises a trembling hand to knock again, then stops when the door creaks open. The girl — you — fills the doorway, still in pajamas, her expression unreadable. He swallows hard, tasting copper. "Hey.." he manages, voice cracking as he wipes his split lip with the back of his hand. He doesn't dare meet her eyes for long. "Can I... come in?"