Matriarch
By corset-rebellion-follower
Disclaimer: I don't own Kung Fu Panda
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Chapter 7- Baby
Tigress smirked. Oh yes, this was satisfying. She had managed to cut, sew, and hem a pair of pants of black wool without faltering once, and in record time. Viper just watched, her mouth hanging open.
"Well? Who can't sew now?" Tigress mocked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I… I don't believe this. Why didn't you ever tell me?" Viper asked in disbelief.
"I've never sewn before, I just sort of did it. But at least I didn't make a fool of myself, or rupture any major veins or arteries," Tigress said proudly.
"You did it. You actually did it. You managed to do something somewhat feminine and didn't destroy anything," Viper breathed.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Tigress asked. A loud pounding made them both jump. Po threw open the doors, Crane close behind. "What are you two doing here? I thought you were going to give Jiang a bath." she said.
"We were. There was just a little problem, so we thought you should deal with it so that we don't mess it up," Crane said
"You didn't leave him alone in the bathhouse, did you?" she asked frantically.
"Would that be a bad idea?" Po asked. Tigress groaned and ran out of the room. She threw open the doors to the bathhouse.
"Jiang? Jiang, where are you?"
There was no answer. Her heart started beating rapidly. "Jiang! Come out right now!" she ordered. Though she had meant to be forceful, her command was fearful and nervous.
Jiang looked out from behind the washtub. His fur and clothes were soaking wet and covered in bubbles, and he was still holding onto Dai. The poor duck was close to having its seams popped. Tigress let go of a waiting breath.
"There you are. Come here," she beckoned, holding her arms out to him. He shook his head. "Don't worry, sweetheart, it's just me. It's okay." He disappeared behind the wooden tub again, his soft sobs still audible. Tigress turned back to Crane and Po.
"WHAT did you two do to him?" she demanded.
"I didn't do anything. It was panda boy over here," Crane snapped, glaring at Po. Tigress turned fiery, angry eyes towards the Dragon Warrior.
"Since when is this all my fault?" Po asked.
"I warned you that you were being too harsh with him! But no, you didn't listen!" Crane yelled.
"It doesn't matter who's fault it is, what happened?" Tigress demanded.
"Well, we were trying to give him a bath, just like you told us. And he wouldn't let us help him wash, and Po got agitated and yelled at him, and then he screamed, 'Please don't hit me'," Crane explained.
Tigress looked back towards the washtub. Jiang had been watching them, but gasped and hid again when he was spotted. Tigress felt a spear go through her heart. She took a few steps towards the tub. "Jiang… will you come out from behind there? No one is going to hurt you, I promise."
"No."
She sighed and took a few more steps. "Please, I only want to help you."
"No!"
She came up to the tub and looked down at Jiang. He scrambled back away from her. She looked him over. His eyes were watery and partially bloodshot. He was shaking, and tears mingled with the bathwater that still clung to his ginger fur. Under his chin, leading all the way up to the still-growing ruff, was a thin white scar.
"Everyone out. Now." Po and Crane immediately took off, but Viper hesitated.
"Tigress, what's…" Tigress glared at her. Viper shrunk back. She hadn't seen Tigress look so angry. She started backing towards the door, knowing one concrete thing about life: NEVER stand between a mother and her baby. Once she was close enough to the doorframe, she bolted out of there as quick as lightning.
Tigress padded back to the door and shut it as quietly as possible. Then she went back, but stood a few feet away from Jiang. "Sweetheart? Everyone else is gone. I'm not going to hit you. I would never hurt you." He shook his head. "I have some new pants for you. They'll be a lot more comfortable than those. Do you want to see them?" she offered. He shook his head again.
She approached him, stopping right in front of the cub. "Go away!" he yelled, a river of tears coming out of his fiery eyes. She sat down right in front of him and just watched him. He's so fragile. I could probably break him with one paw.
She took his shaking form into her lap. He put his hands up in front of his face, protecting it from any blows. Tigress gently lowered his arms and stroked his cheek. "Jiang… you poor baby. What did they do to you?"
He wiped his nose on his wrist and the tears out of his eyes. "Please don't hit me. I'll be good, I promise," he pleaded, his voice hoarse. She felt her eyes fill with tears. Even though she had suffered through a lot of pain and isolation at Bao Gu Orphanage, she couldn't even imagine what had happened to the little boy in front of her. She would never let Shifu or anyone else take him from her. She would never let him out of her sight again.
"I would never hit you. You are perfectly sweet and good," she soothed.
He turned away from her and hugged his knees to his chest. "I'll be good, I'll be good…"
She looked away from him, the tears finally escaping. My gods... whoever did this to him should rot away in hell. She looked back down at the cub. He stared back with wide eyes for a moment before standing up in her lap and wiping the crystal tears away from her eyes. "Don't cry… please?" She nodded and tried to smile.
"Do you want to take your bath? I won't make you, but I think it will make you feel a lot better," she suggested. He nodded.
She put him down and turned around so that he could undress in privacy, and then picked up a bar of her special soap. It was one of the few luxuries that she allowed herself, and it smelled like fresh cream and strawberries. When she went back over to the tub, he was already in the water, holding Dai and poking at what was left of the bubbles.
She smiled and showed him the soap. "Do you want me to help you, or can you wash by yourself?" He pointed to her. "Alright. May I have your arm, please?" Slowly, he let her gently grasp his arm and lather some of the soap onto it. He sneezed when the fragrance hit his sensitive nose. She laughed.
"Aren't you starting to feel better?" she asked softly. He didn't answer, he just stared down at the cloth duck in his paws. By the end of the bath, there was the smallest bit of a smile beginning to form on Jiang's face.
He snuggled deeply into the warm, fluffy towel that she offered to him, wrapping up in the softness. Tigress carried him back into her room. After he had changed, he lay down on Tigress' bed.
"I'll go tell Po to get you something to eat. You can stay in here, you don't have to see anyone if you—" She looked down at Jiang. He was fast asleep, curled up into a tiny ball. Tigress just watched him carefully.
Looking at him now… you'd never know. He looks so peaceful, and sweet, like a normal child. She gently stroked the top of the cub's head. The poor baby. He's so young, and so gentle. How could anyone ever hurt him? Her fingers hit a soft bruise on the back of his head. She recoiled and made sure he didn't awake. She didn't want to lose his fragile trust by hurting him.
His chest was exposed, since she hadn't finished a new shirt for him and didn't want him wearing his old shirt again. There was a long scar on his belly, and his arms and chest were tender with bruises and cuts. It nearly killed her to see him in this state.
She nuzzled him and kissed the top of his head. She whispered into his ear, "Don't worry, Jiang. I'll protect you. I won't let whoever abused you to get anywhere near you. You're my baby now."
And she fell into a deep sleep, holding her baby in her arms.
