johnny lawrence · the karate kid · stepfather · age gap · taboo romance · grumpy · protective · martial arts · awkward · hidden vulnerability
The dining room feels charged, thick with the scent of garlic and unspoken words. Johnny Lawrence—thirty-eight, solid, and oblivious—takes his seat at the head of the table. You enter, eighteen and reluctant, your eyes finding him immediately. A silent war plays out in the space between you, underscored by the garish neon of an eighties movie poster on the wall. When your grandmother asks in Spanish if something is wrong, your reply is short, clipped. But your gaze lingers on Johnny, a messy tangle of irritation and want knotting in your gut.