Cobra Kai: Under the Cobra Emblem

Max didn't take Ellie to her house, well, he didn't even know if it was really her house, nor did he care. Just as he helped Tory, he at least made sure Ellie wasn't attacked on her way home.

"Don't go out alone at this hour again," Max advised as she got out of his car.

"You're not my dad, for God's sake. If you're always like this, you'll never get a good girlfriend," Ellie shot back, slamming the door without even saying thank you.

Max, stunned, murmured, "What's wrong with this crazy girl?"

It already seemed odd to him that a pretty girl like Ellie was out alone so late at night, but now he realized she was one of those bad-tempered girls who didn't seem to care about anything in life.

With nothing else to do in that area, Max prepared to return to his lonely home, where Ryan might be staying the night.

"Well…" Max was about to leave, but just then he got a message from Devon.

"Are you awake?"

"Yes. Do you need something?" Max responded immediately.

Devon, reading his reply, asked, "Did something happen at the club?"

Being a good observer, she had noticed that Max was very upset, which was one of the reasons he left early. However, she had no idea that the issue had been resolved and that Max was now waiting for a proposal to participate in a tournament abroad.

"Do you want some burgers?"

"Yes, I'll see you at your place."

Max's car engine roared as he sped down the road. Before heading to Devon's house, he decided to pick up some food.

These late-night meetings weren't at all common, especially since there wasn't much to talk about at such hours. But Max felt he needed to tell someone what was happening to him, and Devon was the only one who knew everything.

"Max, over here!" Devon greeted him, standing and waving from afar as Max arrived quite late.

"I brought a lot this time—we can eat as much as we want," Max said, handing her a bag filled with burgers and drinks, the only things he could get at this hour.

Devon took one of the bags and murmured, "This is way too much."

"I haven't eaten anything."

"Come in then. We can talk in the basement."

In Devon's house, there was a decorated basement where she usually watched movies alone. That day, when Max visited her house at her father's request, they ended up watching a movie together.

Knowing the place, Max walked in silently and asked, "Your dad?"

"He's asleep. He had a long day at work.

When they got to the basement, Max opened one of the bags. Devon, watching him in silence, finally asked, "What happened?"

"I'm going to fight in a tournament. I don't know exactly where, but it'll be in Europe," Max said, taking a bite of a burger.

Devon, confused, asked, "Did that thing arrive?"

"Yes. There was more unnecessary information than I cared to read, but the person who wants me to fight in the tournament dealt with one of the killers."

"Max, you're getting involved with really dangerous people who have a lot of power. If you make even the smallest mistake, you could be in serious danger."

Devon hadn't said this before because the topic never came up, but now it was different.

Her friend, sitting across from her, was deeply involved in a vengeful path connected to the killers of his parents. Things had grown serious, far from harmless, ever since the first of the killers had been murdered in prison.

"I've never lost a fight."

"That's the problem. What makes you think those you beat won't hold a grudge against you?" Devon, who had seen many movies, imagined a world of possibilities, all of which spelled serious trouble for Max.

"I'll be fine."

Devon knew she couldn't change Max's mind. She was sure she would do the same if she were in his situation, so she decided to change the subject.

What Max needed now was to talk about other things and, hopefully, forget—even if just for a moment—what was weighing on him for the rest of the night.