The painter part 4
Crane and Viper left the training hall and headed toward the kitchen. There was a brief but uncomfortable silence between as they walked to the door to the living quarters.
"Great job back there," Crane said awkwardly as they entered the kitchen.
"Thanks," said Viper shyly, her cheeks turning red.
"So…what do you want to eat?" He asked.
"Ummm…I think I'll just have some soup," She responded as she started clearing the table.
"Sounds good," he said, moving to the stove.
Vipers watched surreptitiously as Crane began grabbing ingredients from the overhead cabinets. She couldn't help but to admire his ability to multitask as he used one claw to manage the pan and his beak and wings to add the ingredients. Her eyes moved lower, following the sleek curve of his spine.
"Damn his butt looks good," she thought.
Her breath quickened slightly as she stared at him. Suddenly he turned around, each wing holding a bowl of soup. She looked away quickly, her cheeks turning bright red. He paused for a second before continuing like nothing happened, placing a bowl in front of Viper and sitting across from her. They ate silently, both focusing intently on their soup to avoid looking at each other. Crane's mind whirled in thought.
"Was she really checking me out just then?" he wondered. His imagination seized on the opportunity and filled his mind with fantasies. He shook his head in an attempt to banish the vision of viper coiled around him, her lips pressing against his.
"What's up?" Viper asked, surprised by his sudden movement.
"Nothing," Crane said a little too quickly, blushing slightly.
Viper looked at him for a moment, causing him to fidget uncomfortably. She looked like she was about to say something before being interrupted by the sound of the others sparring outside. They both jumped slightly and Crane seized on the opportunity.
"We better get back to training," he said, standing up and grabbing the bowls.
"Yeah," Viper said quickly, also rising. She waited for him to toss the bowls in the sink and they left the kitchen together. The trip back to the courtyard seemed to take forever, both trying hard not to think of the other and neither of them succeeding.
They were met by the sight of the others sparring as they exited the living quarters. Po was just barley holding off Monkey, Tigress was attempting to pry mantis off her arm, and Shifu was watching critically from the side. Crane and Viper quickly moved to Shifu's side and bowed slightly. Shifu looked at them for a moment before shouting to the others.
"Cease!" he commanded. Po, Mantis, Monkey, and Tigress immediately stopped and turned toward him.
"You are doing better, but still not good enough. You are to run the course again, only this time you will race each other. First one to the end gets to eat. I will remain out here, if you cannot decide who won, then you will do it again," Shifu said, ignoring their surprise.
"Yes master," they said before heading off to the course, watching each other carefully.
After watching them leave, Shifu turned to Crane and Viper. Without a word, he pointed to the sparring mat.
"Yes master," Crane and Viper said, moving to their marks. They positioned themselves carefully, Viper coiling herself in preparation to strike and Crane centering himself for a more defensive fight. Shifu examined them for a second before clapping his hands for them to begin.
Viper fake launched at Crane's chest before lunging toward his feet. Crane seemed to anticipate the movement and jumped over Viper, striking at her back. With a quick flex of her body, Viper avoided Crane's wing and drove her tail at his chest. Crane blocked her tail as if he had seen it a mile away. They continued sparring, their actions speeding up as their bodies warmed and their frustration grew, but neither could gain an advantage over the other. It was as if they read each other's mind, they just KNEW what the other would do. They dodged attacks they could never have seen coming, sometimes before the attack even started. Their bodies took over, striking and dodging before their minds even processed the threat. They were so entwined in combat that they only barely heard Shifu's third call to stop, and then only because he had shouted. Crane and Viper suddenly found themselves standing on their original marks, breathing heavily. It took a second for their minds to re-engage before their eyes snapped to Shifu, who was no longer standing alone. The rest of the furious six stood around him, each sporting a few bruises and scratches. Though Shifu's expression was unreadable, the rest looked like a herd of dear caught in headlights. Crane and Viper glanced at each other before Crane coughed lightly.
"Yes master?" Crane asked delicately.
Shifu was about to reply when one of the staff ran over from the front gate. The small Mallardbowed quickly to Shifu.
"Master, there is a mister Fang Xu at the gates. Should we let him in?" he asked.
Shifu looked back and forth between the mallard, Crane, and Viper for second. He addressed the servant first.
"Yes, he is expected. Tell him to meet us in the garden, then prepare a room for him," Shifu ordered. The servant nodded and left. Shifu then turned to Crane and Viper, who were still standing on their marks.
"We will discuss your actions later," he said. Crane and Viper looked at each other in mild alarm.
Shifu then led the furious six out of the courtyard. When they entered the garden, they were greeted by the sight of Fang Xu meditating on one of the stones by the pond.