Back in Mantis' room...

Sitting up in her bed, Tigress stared at the wall, eye narrowly blinking or twitching everytime she sense the pinch and tug of the needle stitching up her cut. After a while, when he started to wrap her paw up, she looked down at him. "You were just upset," Tigress stated thickly, catching his attention at the sound of her audible breath. "I understand-"

The bug just shook his head, ignoring her completely. "I can't believe I got so mad... I hurt you."

"No, you didn't... I can't feel, remember?"

Mantis raised a brow suspiciously. "Yet... you understand how I feel?"

Tigress raised one back. "Of course; what I meant was that I can't feel physical pain, but even if someone is like me they suffer pain and loss and anger like everyone else; through tears."

Mantis chuckled stiffly. "You... too?" He didn't sound comvincing.

"Well. I'm mostly known for letting it out... more physically."

"Say no more," he only had to say that, and soon he and Tigress started laughing; well, more of stiffened chuckles then that of full on tear-jerking laughter. "But seriously," he said after a minute. "Have you ever... cried? That's a mystery I'm trying to find out."

Tigress smirked evilly. "That's a secret that will never come to surface." She laughed a little louder when he pouted like a spoiled child. "At least... not until you solve the cold case yourself."

"Deal."

Silence. "Mantis..."

"Mmm?"

"I'm sorry for going a bit far... I shouldn't have asked you-"

Mantis started to shake his head firecely. "It's not your fault." He said. "I could see the curiousity... but I feel I should talk about my... mental state, with others, to make it better, you know? Besides..." He bowed his head a little as he tightened the knot. "You're the only one I've ever told about Kai Wen..."

"Am I?"

"Yeah... like you, I'm private about a lot of things... or at least... I can't find a way to talk to someone about it." Mantis folded his pincers in annoyance. "How can you bring it up in conversation? I mean, I know when people get very honest, they say it late a night, when a new day begins... before the sun arrives for what is considered as the start of a day. I could never find a way to talk to anyone without making it sound so random..."

Tigress thought for a moment as her paw moved upwards, letting her other one to carrass it with her other non injured one. "Maybe..." she said slowly. "There is..."

Two days later, as Tigress' paw was slowly moving along the mending road, Mantis was called out during training. Shifu had been watching him during the morning session, briefly talking to Tigress on the sidelines before she began her stretches on the roof beams. Mantis glanced at them, but didn't think much of it. Tigress told everyone that she dropped a jar, and the glass caught her paw while the sharpnel flew around the room. They seemed to believe it, seeing no one gav it a second gander, apart from the occasional 'hope it's a quick recovery' or 'let's hope Shifu let's you still traing in some shape or form with that'. However, speaking of Shifu, the bug was unsure whether he would buy Tigress' story. Would he know she wouldn't be clumsy enough? Would he go along with it, or could this be why he called Mantis out?

"Yes Master Shifu?" Mantis asked.

"I'd like to ask what happened yesterday."

The bug hung his head in shame. "Master, I perfusely apologize; I didn't mean to throw the jar at Tigress." He paused. "Well, I was meant to throw it, but not at her-"

"I got the same story from her too, and I know she has told the others something different... but easy to buy. But I just wanted to make sure she wasn't really covering up any... abuse."

Mantis laughed, before clearing his throat, and excusing himself for acting silly. "No offense Master, but if I had any intention to abuse Tigress... my ass would be kicked til I was inable to sit down for a week, if I merely thought of doing that... and I'm speaking on the others' behalf; they'd have Tigress' back if anything like that were to be inflicted by anyone... they're good people."

"That being the very reason they are still in the palace as warriors..." Shifu glanced at Po and the others, watching Tigress do her stretches, and cringe when she nearly loses her grip during a pull up, immediately blaming her damaged paw. Mantis watched as she struggled at first, beads of sweat beginning to dampen her forehead, and forcing herself to do a pull-up with a single paw, and resuming.

"You okay Tigress?" Po called up to her.

"Yeah, I'm fine..." she stopped after about four more pull ups, and landed almost gracefully on the ground. Noticing Mantis and Shifu were watching her, she inspected the fabric briefly with a twist of her paw. "I thought I ripped the stitches."

"Did you?" Viper asked.

"No."

"That's good." They all started at different stations, allowing Mantis and Shifu to keep talking.

"Anyways, I also wanted to let you know, that you and Tigress are expected to go on a mission. You leave at sundown." Shifu stated, letting his paws latch onto each other gently beneath his long draping sleeves.

"What's the issue?"

"Tigress should have the information for you," and with that, Shifu motioned towards the others. "She'll explain later. You may proceed your training, and meet with Master Tigress outside the Hall of Heroes at sundown."

"Yes Master Shifu," the bug bowed, and waited until the older master to exit.

Hey guys! Sorry for the wait, and for this being so short! Hope you like it!

Please review!