Elegant, Graceful, and Clumsy
Disclaimer: I do not retain omnipotent control of 'Kung Fu Panda'.
So yeah, this is my first attempt at a songfic, lemme know how it jives with you. If you are a new reader, please drop me a good word, it's much appreciated. This is told in Po's POV, just to clear any confusion... Based on the preceding story 'Hard to Say I'm Sorry'
As always: Read, Review and Enjoy!
Quickie Eleven
How Deep Is Your Love
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Before Master Oogway picked me as the Dragon Warrior, my life was pretty decent. Make sure to note the sarcasm in that last statement. Truth is my life sucked. My dad loved being in the noodle business; he made sure I understood that every single day before tying that ragged white apron around my waist. But the fact was that I was in denial, and trying to prove to myself there was more to this life than noodles.
And soon enough I found that I was right. Anyway, I've been trying to turn myself around ever since. It was ever since that one day almost three weeks ago.. At that time, my life was pretty useless, but now I was recognized as a hero by everyone in the Valley. Master Shifu and the Furious Five, once despising my presence, now openly embraced me in the Jade Palace. But through all of the celebrations of my victory over Tai Lung, I didn't care even the faintest bit about the fame and the glory that my new title gave me…
I know your eyes in the morning sun
I feel you touch me in the pouring rain
And the moment that you wander far from me
I wanna feel you in my arms again
I was in love, and although it was hard to understand at first, it's all become clear as day now. But to earn her love, I had to become better. And then by heaven's grace, we were able to share one moment alone that changed the course of our relationship, but I wasn't the one to change it.. She was.
At first glance, at least to those on the outside, it was nothing more than a strong friendship, an undividable bond that no one could break. But I knew better. Even if she didn't show those same feelings for me, there was still that look in her eyes that said something different. Maybe I was just being naïve again, like I had been in the past.
Tigress meant everything to me, and I had to make sure that she knew that. We trained together, ate together, shared our troubles and doubts, and before too long, we became inseparable. I was never a strong believer in the whole cliché that opposites attract; and at the surface that's exactly what we were.. She was a beautiful and graceful warrior, striking without hesitation or mercy. She was, at least in my eye, absolute perfection. Then there was me, a big lazy panda with an equally big appetite.. Given the chance I could easily trip on an air pocket.
Though that was only at appearances. Under that tough and hostile exterior was a heart of pure gold.. In reality Tigress was just as insecure about gaining someone's approval as I was. There we found our first deeply rooted connection; we both sought to make those around us proud of who we were as individuals. We understood that our emotions became the driving force that inevitably brought us together.
But even as our relationship grew, I needed to know if she shared my feelings...
And you come to me on a summer breeze
Keep me warm in your love and then softly leave
And it's me you need to show
How deep is your love
There were times that I thought that I might never have her. I wouldn't be able to share her love, touch her face, or get just one chance to kiss her and show her all of the passion I felt inside.
It deeply hurt me to think in this way; what if she just wanted my friendship, and nothing more? I was extremely conflicted as to how to approach the subject of our relationship. Tigress didn't seem like the type that was looking for someone to hold, someone to love.. But that didn't keep me from hoping that maybe, somewhere deep inside her soul, she did. That there was a shred of hope that I could be the one person to make her happy, both inside and out.
So I did what any respectable person would do to show their compassion towards their love interest; I worked my butt off. There were days I would skip meals to train, sometimes going an entire day without an ounce of food in my system. I'd watch the sun rise and then fall before even considering how much time I had spent in the Training Hall. The others thought that I had either lost my mind or was just becoming an overactive Kung-Fu fanatic, much like Tigress. It was surprising to find out that she also started training longer and harder like I did, to the point of pushing herself into the early morning hours when I would finally give it a rest and try to get some sleep.
Even Master Shifu was openly surprised by my sudden determination to prove myself. They concluded it was for the namesake of the 'Dragon Warrior'... And that was a good thing, because I didn't need them knowing that I was harboring romantic feelings for Tigress.
How deep is your love
I really need to learn
cause were living in a world of fools
Breaking us down
When they all should let us be
We belong to you and me
That was another potential problem. What if she did love me? How could we possibly break the news of an intimate relationship to everyone, especially to Master Shifu? The poor old man was hurting enough from his son's death, let alone the pain he suffered from years of suppressed guilt, which I assume stemmed from the fact that he believed that he himself was a major contributor to Tai Lung's defection to darkness, even though we repeatedly assured him that that simply was not the case..
The bond between myself and Shifu was fragile enough as it is; I didn't need to sever his trust by having his most serious and level-headed pupil distracted by feeble emotions like love. I wanted to tell her just how much I really cared, but not if it came at his expense..
And what of the other four? Sure, we had all become very close friends over the past few weeks, but there was no telling what they would say... No, I know them better than that. They wouldn't resent me, right?
Then I heard a knock at my door; I called out to whoever was in the hall that they could come in.. My heart almost skipped a beat when I saw those familiar crimson eyes, that soft smile and those beautiful ivory whiskers.. It was Tigress, and it looked like she had something on her mind. Maybe I should tell her now, just feel her out and gauge her reaction. I mean, if we came so far in only two weeks...
I motioned her to have a seat next to me. My eyes never left hers as she came closer and fell onto my bedroll, letting out a heavenly sigh... I was more nervous than I had ever been before in my entire life; what if she said no? It would more likely than not ruin our friendship, perhaps even to the point where she would never speak to me again. But what does it matter anyway, she deserved to know what I was feeling, no matter the consequence.
I believe in you
You know the door to my very soul
You're the light in my deepest darkest hour
You're my savior when I fall
And you may not think
I care for you
When you know down inside
That I really do
I wanted to be the first one to speak, but she beat me to the punch. "Po, do you mind if I ask you a personal question?" Her voice sounded like a thousand violins playing a grand symphony; I couldn't get over how unbelievably attractive she sounded.. And that was just her voice. What I failed to notice was that we barely had an inch of space between us, maybe her landing was a bit off.
"Sure, as long as it's not about my home life." We shared a laugh. Well, at least she always liked my sense of humor. Then out of nowhere, she slipped her paw into mine, something that I couldn't have possibly predicted. One part of me wanted to pull away, but the rest of me wanted nothing more than to simply stay that way. And I agreed with the rest of me.
"What do you look for in a woman?" She looked at me with a curious stare, and I probably was holding the same expression on my own face.
My brain shuffled to find the right words to answer her. "Uh, well..." It was a good enough start to get the sentences flowing. "She'd have to be skilled in the martial arts, smart, beautiful.. And be able to put up with my poor excuse for a body." I shook my stomach, and to my surprise, it actually didn't jiggle as much as it used to. Good thing I trained so hard the past few weeks. Tigress giggled, and that was the goal, to make her happy.
Not wanting to break off the subject too soon, I decided to return her question. "How about you? Do you have anything special you're looking for in a guy?"
I felt her tail rub up against my back before she spoke again. "I do, but I didn't have to look very hard to find him.." She pressed her mouth to my neck as blood began rushing to my face. "He's funny..."
Then placed a gentle kiss on my cheek. "Witty."
And my nose. "...and he's you."
Our eyes met as she dropped her face a couple of inches, and pushed her lips against mine; it was the most amazing feeling in the entire world, and I wouldn't dream of breaking away.. Not now, not ever.
And it's me you need to show...
How deep is your love?