(Au where Daniel comes to West Valley a year or two before he does in the movie)
After the beach the guys give Daniel a chance because he’s stubborn as shit and they find he’s not into Ali. Not even into girls but that’s nothing new around their part of the country. They find he’s actually really funny and annoyingly nice and loyal. Daniel gets so fucking worked up and angry when people say shit about them, even if it is true and the guys find it both amusing and kinda nice to have another one of them.
Daniel sort of becomes the baby of the group, both because he’s the youngest (both in age and in terms of being apart of their group) and because the guys all think he’s adorable. Not that they tell him or each other that, because that’s kinda gay.
It’s not until there’s this match, they’re all competing and Daniel’s there to cheer them on. He didn’t have much interest in participating but he enjoyed watching the guys compete, found it fun and liked the post victory high they all held.
Johnny wins (again) but Dutch comes second this year and he’s absolutely glowing with pride. He usually gets disqualified after round 2, too hopped up on adrenaline and ready to fight anything that breathes funny.
The guys all come out to the parking lot, looking for Daniel so they can all head to their favourite diner and celebrate. Thoughts came to an abrupt stop when they find him in the parking lot, leaning against Johnny’s car with a scowl and some big guy from the tournament standing in front of him. He’s got his arms crossed, the guy leaning with one arm up by his head while the other keeps trying to tug at Daniel’s arm.
The Jersey kid keeps pulling away, glaring as he says something or other. The big guy laughs, hand coming up to cup Daniel’s cheek.
The guys don’t need to know what happens next since their all running forward. Dutch is the fastest and loudest, pulling the guys attention toward them before he’s tackling him to the ground. Daniel’s eyes go wide but he doesn’t get the chance to react much, Tommy and Bobby coming up to him and dragging him away as Johnny, Dutch and Jimmy square off with the guy.
So maybe they care for Daniel a little more than they were willing to admit to themselves. And maybe Daniel’s been crushing on them since he met them all a year ago. And maybe they all turn out to be a bunch of possessive, jealous assholes when literally anyone tries hitting on their baby. And maybe! They take him home to Johnny’s (cause the guys parents are gone again) and take their turns and their sweet ass times showing him exactly who he belongs to now that they’ve gotten their heads out of their asses.
Daniel shows up to school Monday, limping like a mf, sporting a shit ton of hickies (some of them just barely hidden under his clothes) and with the widest smile anyone has ever seen on him. The Cobras don’t really act any different, nor does Daniel honestly, but everybody knows there’s a change in their dynamic.
It’s in the way Dutch gives up his food even though he’s the most possessive over it. It’s how Bobby smiles at the mere mention of Daniel. How Tommy snuggles in close to Daniel in the halls or at lunch. How Jimmy quiets near instantly when Daniel places a hand on his arm or smiles his way. How Johnny hovers constantly and glares at everyone who looks a moment too long.
Even Daniel has changed around them. He’s a little softer (more tame some would even dare say) has these little tells with each Cobra Kai member to get them to do whatever he wants. It’s kinda adorable to see the baddest kids in school wrapped around his little finger.
