Chapter 6: Playmate
A/N: Going to be away from computers, meaning no updates, until at least Wednesday, if not later. Cyber cookies if you figure out whose restaurant Tai Lung and Vachir were at!
"Hold up! You and Vachir?" Po shouted weakly, shoulder throbbing at the effort. He was angry that he wasn't Tai Lung's first. Somewhere in the back of his mind he was reminded that Tai Lung wasn't his first, either.
"Hush, Panda. Let him speak," Shifu reprimanded, very curious considering he had never known of this, even though Tai Lung had always told him everything as a boy.
"Thank you, father. As I was saying," Tai Lung continued, head turned down, eyes closed in his meditative stance. "Vachir was once a kind, gentle soul. He was always the one to get me out of trouble. We used to play down in the village, and whenever we got yelled at, Vachir would say he had challenged me. All the children in the village hated Vachir because they thought he was disrespecting the Dragon Warrior, but none of that mattered to him. So long as we had each other, the rest of the world could think what they wanted to.
"I remember once, when I was injured, Vachir visited me at the Sacred Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom. That was where we first kissed. Several years later, he was the one to gather up the courage to ask me out, and what a night we had! We went to a restaurant and shared the best noodle soup I'd ever had. The owner thought we looked cute together; he was a very kind goose. When I attacked the village, I made sure to avoid his shop. I had just turned eighteen, he was twenty-three. That night was the first time for both him and me but it did not matter. We were in love.
"The next day I knew I was late, so I figured I might as well stay a while longer at his house. His mother walked in on us and was furious. Both his father and mother were so angry with their son for liking males that they threw him out, and I was so scared I did nothing to protect him.
"He hated me for that, and I suppose it was partially my fault. After that day, I realized love would only hinder my status of Dragon Warrior, and so I trained harder than ever. I did not see or hear from him for a year until I was denied the Dragon Scroll and sent to prison. I suppose he had every right to hate me. He lost everything, his family, his parents, his home, because of me, and decided to punish me for it. It was nothing I did not deserve."
The room was quiet until Shifu spoke up.
"But you did not answer our question. What did he do to you?" Shifu pressed, placing his small hand upon his son's, voice even and trained, but Tai Lung could see the fear resonating like thunder within his eyes.
"I – that is not important. I'm over it, now. We need to get Po back to his room so he can rest," Tai Lung walked over to lift the panda with ease as he walked back toward the bunk house, Crane in tow, neither asking any more questions. A major part of Tai Lung's past had been revealed, a part that obviously pained him, and they felt that if he did not want to talk about it, he would when he was ready.
Wincing as Tai Lung laid him on his mat, Po simply hoped that time would come soon.
Tai Lung sat beside Po, watching as Crane did the same, a single, pearly wing draping over the panda's mid section, a blunt-nailed hand reassuring the owner of said wing. Tai Lung wished for that kind of reassurance, but after what he had done that night, he knew he did not deserve it, so it startled him that much more when both a soft hand and a gentle wing were placed upon his body, the ebony hand curling around his own, thumb softly stroking his knuckles as the wing came around his shoulders, a silent message being sent and received.
They forgave him.
Even after he had nearly killed Po, even after they discovered he had once loved another, they forgave him, and still wanted him.
And he knew he would always want them, too.
Comfortable quiet settled around them as understanding passed between their eyes, emotions too powerful for words enveloping them in the utmost love as they felt something within each of them reach out to the two others, leaving some of them, memories from their pasts, within each other's souls as it took a piece of each of them, their souls mingling with one another.
Emotions and pasts splayed out before each of them, certain events prominent in each as the memory sharing commenced. A process so ancient very few still knew how to do so. When dreams collided with reality, allowing memories from long ago, emotions entwined with them, to know every aspect of a person's life, that was memory sharing.
Crane had come from a high-end family, but had been sent to study with Master Shifu because the family thought he was too caring and seemed to give everything away for the good of others. He had not changed too much in that aspect. He had been willing to give up Po because he felt it was right, and it must have been, because there he was, memory sharing with the two people he loved more than anyone on Earth.
Po had always cared for his father, even if he just couldn't figure out that Po wanted to learn Kung Fu, not noodles. He had always been clumsy and teased for his size. When Crane and he had professed their love, Po was so insecure about his appearance, it wouldn't have taken much to send him over the deep end. When he looked at himself in the mirror, he still saw the disgusting, overweight panda, but if Crane and Tai Lung wanted him, he would do whatever it took to keep them. He would change however they wanted him. He loved them enough to live and breathe and even die for them and only them.
Tai Lung had been so proud as a child to have a playmate who cared for him enough to take the blame. It had broken his heart more than he wanted to admit to lose that. What was worse was that he was mocked for it upon reaching Chor Gom. The one he had loved had raped him as jokes were made about how much he had liked it before. He had been burned, left for dead only to be dragged back into the prison and left under his shell to heal when inspectors came who were too afraid of him to check if his living conditions were acceptable. He had been hurt in ways no living being should ever be put through, and yet still he held a love for the rhino in his heart, a twisted, sadistic fear of his face, love of his hands as they would tear and caress, punish and reward. But none of that mattered to him then, as he knew what love truly was. Love was being able to not only forgive someone, but also accept everything that made them who they were. Love was being willing to give your heart, soul, and body for a person who did the same, and sill wish you had more to give. Love was falling, the most frightening part being the first jump, knowing that your love was waiting at the bottom with open arms to catch you. Love was music, a symphony of short, memorable staccatos and long, delicate phrases, rising in an endless crescendo. Love simply was, and he, all of them, they were a part of it. Each of them was a note in the Concerto de Amore.
Exhausted both physically and mentally, the three fell asleep, sharing a single dream as the rest of the Five slept on.
The night quietly wore on, occupants of the Jade Palace unaware of what had occurred that night.
--
The first rays of dawn flung themselves across the deep green palace, illuminating intricately designed hallways as the sun's warmth awakened three beings in particular.
Tai Lung looked up, eyes falling on a softly snoring panda and a reclining crane as a sigh escaped his lips, hearing them awaken with him.
"Good morning, loves," he whispered, letting a paw run along Crane's spine as he sat up.
"Good morning, indeed. Do you realize how long it's been since someone has memory shared?" Crane replied, nuzzling his beak against Po's good shoulder.
"Who cares? That was scary. Tai Lung, did all that really happen to you?" Po asked, eyes gleaming with unshed tears.
Looking away in shame, Tai Lung nodded, mumbling a soft 'yes' as he felt tears spill from his eyes, burning a pathway in his chiseled face.
A gentle hand was placed upon his back, rubbing soothing circles in the fur, as both murmured the words of comfort he had never been allowed before.
Several moments later, Po mentioned, "Master Shifu knows I won't be at training today, but I doubt he'll be very happy if you're gone, Crane."
"Yeah, I guess I should get ready. You'll be okay? Both of you?" he questioned, cocking his head to the side.
"Sure thing. I know I'm not going anywhere," Po responded jokingly, hissing as the laughter jarred his injury, Tai Lung instantly apologizing as he stroked Po's shoulder, watching the silvery tears stream down his face. Unconsciously, he bent down to lick them away, placing a small kiss upon his cheek.
"I'll watch over him, you go ahead. It's my fault he's hurt, so tell them the truth if they ask, the good and the bad, and let them judge me. Good luck, love," Tai Lung whispered as he planted a quick kiss on the bird's beak as the gong rang out, Crane darting from the room, a chorus of 'good morning, master' ringing out in the hall.
Tai Lung silently studied Po, eyes roaming over a six-pack stomach, strong chest, prominent jaw, and realizing none of it fit. There was no denying he looked gorgeous, anyone with eyes could see that, but it did not fit who he was.
Po's gentle demeanor seemed to demand an approachable physique, and that meant he was supposed to look tubby. It just seemed right, almost as if the Universe itself had envisioned him that way.
His mind drifted back to when he was memory sharing with Po, how he still wondered how Crane and himself could possibly love the panda, and he realized how honestly insecure and nervous Po was. He felt he did not deserve what he had been given.
Twirling a lock of Po's monochromatic fur, Tai Lung pressed his lips softly to the panda's, whispering in between kisses, "I love you so much, Po. You saved me from myself. You're beautiful. You are beautiful, and don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise."
"What brought this on?" Po questioned, head spinning from the random reassurance.
"I've simply noticed you don't seem to think this way. You don't know how much I love you. I'd endure another twenty years in Chor Gom for you, Po. I love you," Tai Lung replied, nuzzling his chest.
"I'm so sorry, Po. I never wanted to hurt you, and no matter what, I-"
Tai Lung was cut off mid-sentence as Po brought their faces together, ivory and gunmetal fur mingling, leaving traces of each other upon their partner, the silence that settled between them filled by unstated promises and unutterable love as their shadows danced in the morning light.
Finally, they broke the kiss, gasping for air as Po joked, "I guess no matter how good at Kung Fu you are, you still need to breathe."
Chuckling with him, Tai Lung's hand fluttered across Po's arm, his electric orbs meeting Po's gentle chartreuse.
"I am sorry. Please, please forgive me," he begged, praying it would be enough.
"Always, cuz you're my special kitty," Po teased, hissing slightly as his skin was pulled by the sudden motion, healing scars protesting loudly.
"And you're my tubby panda," Tai Lung retorted, regretting it instantly as Po's expression fell, guilt bubbling up like acid within his throat.
"Hey, Po, I was teasing. You're too thin to begin with. I keep thinking a breeze is going to come through and blow you away. I'm sorry," he whispered against the panda's chest, hearing footsteps approaching.
"I-it's okay. I know I'm not very aesthetically pleasing," Po replied as Zeng raced in, message in wing, panting as he handed it to Po.
"What is it?" he asked, turning to the palace goose.
"It's from your father. He told me to tell you it – whatever 'it' is – is on Thursday, it is from nine until five, and he's sorry," he huffed, dragging himself out of the room.
Po read the letter, gasping as his calm expression turned to one of rage. Throwing the letter through the open doorway, he gritted his teeth, clenching his fist in fury.
"What's wrong? What did it say?" Tai Lung asked, concerned. Po never got angry. He got upset, he refused food, he ran away, but he never got angry.
"It's from my family," Po spat the word like it left a bad taste in his mouth.
"What's wrong with that? I thought you would like your family," Tai Lung questioned, taken aback at the look of betrayal and madness that was thrown his way.
"Like them? Like them? How am I supposed to like the people who made me hate myself? How I look, how I sound, who I am, it was never enough for them! They could never just be happy for me! They always wanted more, just so they would have something to brag about at their weekly gathering with their high class 'friends'! I was a show toy! I hate them!" he screamed, Tai Lung sighing softly as he stroked Po's fur, resting his head on the panda's chest.
"They want a family reunion."