KFP owned by Dreamworks.
And now... a comedic chapter, a little bit of everyone. I enjoyed writing this so much :-)
Credit to ChocolateSyrup for agreeing to beta this chapter. Do check her trilogy... and prepare some tissues, her Solstice Sun is epic!
After a tiring yet interesting day at the training, the Five, Jade, Tai Lung and Po decided to call for some muscle unknotting, mind relaxing and body pampering time. All of them agreed to head down to the palace's public hot tub by the lower palace ground. The night was cold and crisp, as the autumn had given into a wintry blow and the full moon was brightly hanging against the dark sky. Nothing could be better than huddling together in the hot tub with a large pot of tea infused with something strictly prohibited, overindulging a large bowl of dumpling that smelled more delicious than should be legally possible...and the keyword—even Po could feel his muscles relax as the thought of the hot tub invaded his mind.
To his surprise, all eight of them seemed to be keen on the idea. They were all marching down the steps and everyone was taking their towel, brush, and soap. Po even brought his action figures—the entire set, including his Shifu and Tai Lung figures. Soon enough, there were eight heads poking under the moonlight over the steamy surface of the natural spring.
"Shifu will be back in a day or two...this will be the end of freedom...and back to ruthless training," Mantis moaned, but stopped at the pursed lips of the striped master. He knew how much Tigress loved training with every fiber of her body, and obviously, all this relaxing, goofing off, put an itch (maybe even torture?) to her hardworking soul.
"And tomorrow is the weekly Kung Fu introductory class...gah, just imagining those rambunctious bunnies, piglets and goslings make me weary," Crane added. Everyone else was wearing an exhausted mask, except for Po. Watching gleeful children and hearing infectious laughter was a balm to the bear's soul—a consolation to his mind—but seemed to be consuming the others.
"It would be interesting for Tai Lung to experience that!" Monkey paid the leopard a twisted smile—imagining an awkward moment, a muscular tiger that once stood victoriously against thousand rhino guards—would, in turn, succumb and become a climbing post, fully surrendered and defeated by little children's nagging questions and exuberant squeals.
"I think we need to play a little game," Jade suggested.
The panda's immediate reaction was nodding rapidly, Tigress grabbing his paw to prevent him from stuffing another dumpling into his already full mouth.
"What about Truth or Dare? It would be interesting...we need to get to know Jade and Tai," Viper smiled a little too sweetly, staring dazedly at the possibility of two handsome, rugged looking warriors with burly builds joining her in the hot tub and playing some stupid game—potentially losing their dignity in the process.
"That's such a childish game to play," Jade commented insolently with his usual calm and relaxed persona, while Tai looked more ambivalent about wanting to join the fun. But what could happen? Caught with women in compromising positions? The only two available were his adopted sister and the snake; surely it won't be that mortifying, would it?
"You are afraid, Spotty-butt? C'mon, admit it!" Mantis teased the snow leopard, but the call on his newfound nickname caused Tai Lung looking peeved in return. "And you, Panthie, I know you are keen to play, you've done more childish things before."
"C'mon...you rode that tea tray down the Thousand Steps with me, Buddy," Po's said pleadingly. The Panda recollected how the panther adored doing childish things as much as he did (especially because Po had lost when his tray snapped in half just right before the finish line).
Jade weighed his pros and cons, surely the only thing they could dare him to do was to join Po in his ludicrous infantile act. He knew the girls found him more amusing, with his masculine stature, no one would expect him to behave like Po, thus adding more comedic value to it. Imagine, a sensuous, athletic, six-pax, hunky black panther warrior in women's bathing suit versus a flabby, goofy-grinning Dragon Warrior in women's bathing suit. On the second thought he would like to call it a tie, he was sure people would pay to see them like that. Anyway, the point was, he had nothing else to hide, his life - pretty much like many other masters, was pretty dry and uninspiring, filled with training, spying and fighting. While Jade finally twined Mantis pincers in agreement, their gaze now glued to poor snow leopard to his left, mutely importuning him to join.
"No, I am not afraid... but it was indeed a childish game, really unsuited for my age..." Tai Lung stated his lame reasoning.
Tigress snickered at his mediocre excuse. "Maturity is not a number, it's a state of mind..." she chided dryly.
"Mind if I asked you how old you are? Just gave us range... not an exact number." Viper inserted herself and coiled on the Master of Thousand Scroll's arm. Tai Lung flinched on the invasion of his personal space. Monkey and Mantis stifled a laugh to see the feline discomfort among women.
"...close to 50..."
"You could be my father Tai...," the striped feline flatly commented. Tigress was the only twenty-something in the tub. The rest was in their thirty or early forty.
"Careful what you wish for...!" he grinned evilly, the ex-convict peered closer to his sister.
"And I couldn't believe you looked so nervous around women, even Viper. Don't you have any experience at all?" Tigress ribbed sarcastically.
"As if you know any better... Meimei!" he retaliated. "Tell me... had you even spend a night even just a date with a guy you fancy. Hmmm?"
The playfulness in her eyes faded. Mantis and Monkey spluttered in a series of high-pitched giggles, Viper and Crane directed their stare to the poor panda who tinted pink as peach blossom, Jade elbowed Tigress, earning him a murderous glare.
"Hey, aren't we going to play?" Monkey reminded before Tigress turned the two male felines into rugs to warm the Hall of Warrior cold marble floor.
"C'mon buddy, this is good for...uh...team building," Po turned to the leopard, earnestly pleading, his emerald eyes glimmering with hope. Deep inside, his usual Kung Fu fanatic self was giddy at the prospect of knowing a secret or two about the Master of Thousand Scrolls. Never mind he was a villain, he still awesome doing Kung Fu. Tai Lung reluctantly observed Monkey and Mantis whom obviously plotting to make a fool out of him. Jade was too cool, collected and relented too easily in doing pointless, idiotic stuff which made him less fun to be ridiculed.
After much rather a forceful persuasion, fearing him being stamped out as an outcast (and Monkey threatened that he would never have a bathroom time slot in the morning), Tai Lung finally agreed.
"Ok, let Tai had the honor to start the game," Mantis pointed, "I am sure you have a lot of question about all of us."
He fell silent as he was deep in thought.
"Ok, Mantis... True or Dare?"
"Truth..."
"Why you were always... naked?" The loud outburst of laughter drifted in the air, while the bug gave a vindictive stare, darted across the tub at the snow leopard who was grinning triumphantly while interlacing his finger and waiting for an answer.
"Well... I had nothing to hide, you see, I had none of that thing to hide," he pointed his pinchers to part of his chest and bottom. "Unlike... you guys... And I guess the same case for Viper." The snake was phlegmatic at his statement but smacked him nonchalantly with her tail.
"Ok, now my turn," Mantis glared at Tai Lung with a revengeful stare as he crossed his pinchers. "Continuing our conversation, tell me... your first love."
Everyone looked raptly at the spotty leopard, even Jade. Tai Lung gulped, reproachfully turned to Po as if blaming him for dragging him into such infantile game. While the panda grinning ridiculously in return and his countenance remain resplendent, disregarding his involvement.
"I-I do have.. someone that I like."
Everyone raised their brows. The boys snickered loudly, Tigress scrutinizing her claw for imaginary blemishes in an attempt not to laugh, Viper flicked her eyes unerringly at the leopard and prodded him further. "So, who is the lucky feline?" Her turquoise orbs scanned sultry up and down on his winsome bulk.
"What? Sorry... I couldn't possibly say that... Job-related secret," he stuttered, his muscled visibly flexed causing the pattern on his fur rippled in all direction. Viper swore she had never seen biceps as delicious as that; it's a crime to even cover it up with clothing or bubbles. She flicked her sight at Tigress, but she was looking distantly interested. She just vapidly glances at the two charming male felines just because they were within her vantage point. Dare she said, Tigress much more interested on Po's robust, succulent belly.
"Ok, just gave us hint... like, how does she looked like? And do you still in love with her?" Monkey egged the leopard's courage. Everyone was tensed in suspense.
"She is... stripy. And... yes... uh...I do still love her," Tai Lung squeaked.
Viper spat her tea which sprayed Jade right on his face, Po's adopted a look like a month of severe constipation. Monkey's dumpling had gone to the wrong passageway. Mantis fell out of the tub. Crane beak fell opened scooping considerable amount of bubble in the process, and Tigress... her arm and neck fur were standing, her figure stoned - as if had been struck with nerve attack. Only Jade was attentively cleaning his claw with the tip of his dagger, entirely composed, bearing somewhat expectant look, as if he knew all along.
"Are you going to say... she is... orange... and... she is... a warrior?" Po asked gingerly, with tiny voice. To his horror Tai Lung nodded, sending everyone incredulous. Tai Lung visibly shrunk, pressing his lips and avoiding everyone's eyes apprehensively like a little cub Shifu had punished from missing the gong. For a moment he was flustered, probably regretting himself for being a little too honest.
"Was this... recently?" Viper was getting genuinely interested, bouncing her elated gaze between Tai Lung and Tigress.
"Mm... not really, probably eight years ago." The snow leopard felt he wanted to hide behind a ridiculous amount of bubble.
"Is that roughly the time when the second time he broke out of Chorh-Gom prison?" Monkey whispered to Crane behind the curve of his palm.
"Gosh, you bloomed late if your first love was 8 years ago, what did you do in your youth?" As usual, the small bug with his big mouth teased unmercifully. "Seriously Tai, and you never really slept with any girl before?"
"I bet'cha, he slept with nanny goat...every night," Po interjected, all the master widened their eyes at his statement. It soon became apparent, his attempt to side Tai Lung worked the other way around.
"WHAT...-?" Tai Lung immensely shuddered, his muscled tensed up to the point all this fur was standing up. He wished the moon fell on his head that instant. Tigress did not even attempt not to laugh; Jade patted the leopard's shoulder exaggeratedly with a smug grin on his face.
"You know, nanny goat, the lady Shifu hired to babysit Tigress... she said she babysat you as well... she lived a few street down from my Dad and often came to order smelly tofu," Po narrated obliviously. Their reaction was varied, from Tigress was apparently still laughing with no indication to stop, Monkey and Mantis unsurprised nod, to Tai Lung desperation to flee from the tub.
"Po... Mantis was asking for a different kind of sleeping together!" Tigress finally managed to compose herself, on one of her paws she was tending another shot of tea, appearing to put a serious tone to the subject. Finally, her idea got across the Panda's dimwitted skull as he groaned with "Ah... that kind!"
"I would try to bite Shifu's ear if Tai Lung really slept with nanny goat." Jade chuckled, Tai Lung felt his hand crept towards the panther's neck, and figuratively strangled him to death.
"Wait, let's get back to the question, Tai, seriously... you are a hunk, I bet a lot of girl in the Valley fancied you," Mantis directed his question back to the leopard, who still looking agitated.
"Aaaaand I heard the Wu Sister, were often... flirt with you," Monkey added fervently, Crane beak to fell again, Jade absently pushed it back.
"Shifu was going to have a heart attack if Tai hooked up with one of those girls," Tigress snarled. Finally, those mockeries worked out the snow leopard to the edge of his patience.
"LISTEN! I am studious, serious and dedicated Kung Fu warrior. I have no time for corny love affair, unlike some," Tai Lung defended ruefully. "And even when Shifu allowed me to have some freedom, I wouldn't allow myself. If I were to believe that I am destined for greatness, why would I ruin my reputation by succumbing to sporadic, instinctive manly urge? Can't a person who was worthy of Dragon Scroll restrained himself? I was expected to carve a legacy under my name, perform heroic deeds, and not goofing around, coquetting innocent girls."
There were biting contrition and remorse in his voice, because of all the sacrifice he had to make for the sake of something he was ultimately being denied, even caused him to waste 20 years of his youth in Chorh-Gom. But nonetheless, his honest answer earned him respect from most of the boys. Although those manly urges were his pride and strength, as a Kung Fu master he had risen above it and focusing on what important in the long term, not a mere momentary pleasure. Tai Lung contemplated. Here he was sitting with the panda who had never even set his eyes on the Dragon Scroll to earn it. Sometimes he felt Po was simply a buffoon who stumbled upon a privilege he couldn't appreciate and had no sense to respect it.
But was Oogway wrong in his choice? Would he make a better Dragon Warrior than Po? Albeit his initial bigoted view, he knew now that Po was far more deserving of the title more than he was. The panda may had never worked for his privilege to be the Dragon Warrior, but it just showed how much the pretentious pride, overrated fame, and pompous glory that came with it, means nothing to him. Po would readily surrender the title to him if Shifu granted him permission to do so. For Po, the Dragon Warrior title was nothing but a duty... and probably helping his dad hiked up his restaurant profit, but he was certain the panda would act his kind deeds, his chauvinistic attitude, just the same, with or without a title. And for that prejudice of the panda and thinking so highly of himself, Tai Lung had underestimated Po who had made use of his leopard's strength to serve his benefit, and Po had come out victoriously against all his years of training.
Tigress wore an inscrutable stare, but deep in her, among all the student, she was the one who could relate and sympathize to Tai Lung's experience far too well. Kung fu was very much her life, as for Tai Lung. Tai Lung was Shifu's only student - he had more excuse for being reclusive, while she wasn't. Yet, she had no friends, no bonds, no empathy, not knowing how to sit back and relaxed, be amused or simply enjoy what life had to offer. The lesson of Tai Lung's mistake and wrongdoing were a powerful reminder for her not to walk on his path, not to forget there was other worlds, other life outside Kung Fu.
She stole a quick glance at the panda whose shoulder merely an inch away from her. If not because he dropped from the sky in front of her, she might well be in Chorh-Gom, not knowing how to stop herself until harsh reality hit hard. Pain and sorrow were probably the most equalizing and effective teacher, but certainly, the panda forgiveness and gentleness were far more effective and less punishing.
"So, who's turned next?" Monkey broke the silence.
"I'll do it," Jade volunteered and looked at Po.
"Po, Truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"Tell me, have you kissed anyone and who."
Po innocently looked at Tigress' direction, earning a gale of teasing from the boys. Viper batted her eyelashes exaggeratedly at the striped feline. Tigress was blushing furiously. "Oh... I think I knew the answer," Jade was grinning smugly, crossing his arm drumming his claw. "When was this Po?"
"It was on a mission to Zenchen, a poisoned arrow struck her. I-I did... but because Tigress was so stubborn I had to catch her off guard... by kissing... her," Po stuttered, twiddling his thumb in an attempt to repel his nervousness. "Hey... I thought you were following us? I am surprised you didn't know." Po reminisced the leopard and panther involvement in fending them against Khan's henchmen.
"We only knew you were impaled on the butt, and Tigress had to suck the poison out. She did a nerve attack on you since you were not compromising very well," Jade stated cooly, while Tai Lung placed his large spotty paw against his mouth to suppress eruption of laughter from happening. "So this is your experience with boys, Meimei?" Tai Lung wore his usual slyness and faint arrogance in manner.
"Does Shifu know about this?" Monkey retorted suggestively.
"Of course not...!" Tigress chided the simian, pushing her claw on his chest.
Jade put two empty dumpling bowl on his head, just like Po did his Shifu impersonation. "Panda... how dare you kissing my daughter?! You shall go up and down the Thousands Step ten times, and no lunch for a month as your punishment. And next time... keep that lips to yourself!" he boomed with fabricated heavy voice, mimicking melodramatic way Shifu spoke. Tigress gave up, realizing the more she appeared annoyed, the more the boys enjoyed such a venture of foolishness.
"So now... Jade, Truth or Dare?"
"Truth!"
"Tell me, two moments of your life: the happiest and the most embarrassing," the panda sank back into his seat, waiting for an answer.
"Happiest would be when Lady Jia became my mother. I never had a mother all my life. And she was the best mother I could ever ask." His usual cool persona suddenly fell, switched into melancholic self as he exchanged look with Tigress. "She was brave, selfless warrior, yet gentle and caring to those around her. I am... I am truly privileged to be able to call her my mother." Tigress clearly hadn't got the time to ponder about this subject, given the problem with Khan and Tai Lung's return occupying her mind. She stared blankly at the Panther.
"The most embarrassing... I had to shave my butt bald because my father placed a hot bowl of hot congee atop my bed," Jade smiled broadly as everyone did. "Sound very plausible," Po commented.
"Ok, now shall I do next?" Viper was volunteering herself. Tigress instantly knew this is not going to end well.
"Tigress... Truth or Dare."
Fearing Viper was going to ask her about her love life, tactically Tigress opted for a dare instead.
"I dare you to kiss Po in 3 days."
Tigress was about to mouth a word of protest, but Viper beat her to it. "Po even gave you mouth to mouth, Tigress... I think you owe him twice, including that kiss he had to give you to catch you off guard. It's only fair if you at least returned him once."
Po started to hyperventilate, not liking where the dare went, while Crane was sympathetically fanning him with his straw hat.
"What kind of logic thinking was that?" the feline retorted defensively. "I was not even aware when he did what he did!" And clearly, that was a wrong move to make. The snake scooted over grinning fiendishly and hoisted herself next to infuriated feline. Po secretly praised Viper for such a daring move, or perhaps she drank too much of that weird tea that the effect possibly had clouded her into making a reckless judgment.
"Well, next time you do it...make sure you both sober and conscious and not in a battle or pressing moment so that you can indulge the moment...properly," she chuckled gleefully. Tigress was about to explode as she clenched her fist.
"Don't worry, You can do it in private," Viper added and coolly took a seat back next to Tai Lung, who letting his evil smug grin across his maw "Now... now... who was lacking experience here? Hmmm?" Both felines engaged in an intense staring combat. "Fine." Tigress capitulated, she knew she was cornered and just had to accept the challenge.
"It's only fair if you do a dare, Viper!" Tigress let a big predatory grin.
"I dare you to go on a date with Crane this weekend. And you have to stay in his room for the night!" Everyone barked a loud laughter, while Crane's beak yet fell opened again for the dozen time. Viper cheek bloomed red, but she wasn't keen to challenge the feline, fearing she'll even ask her to kiss Crane in exchange for the date. That would've been harder to do!
"Man... this tea like a drug, I felt like embarking on spiritual journey drinking this." Mantis moved around Tai Lung's shoulder in a little tipsy dance.
"May be Peyote Tea," Po peered into the jug and gave a sniff. "We need to ask Zheng; maybe he did add opium to make us all relaxed."
"Now my turn," Monkey announced, in a cheeky manner. All the creatures averted their gaze almost automatically, not wanting to land as the target of humiliation.
"Po... Truth of Dare!"
"Awwww... man... Truth."
"Why are you wearing...the same patched pants every day?" Another burst of laughter filled the air, everyone except Tigress and Viper. The serpent was way too sensitive acknowledging there might be a very personal reason why Po wore what he wore. No one would like to wear patchy stuff, wouldn't they? She concluded, whatever logic Po had, it would be too embarrassing and inappropriate to ask. As for Tigress, she knew exactly the reason, this was among one of the things Po dared only to tell her, she wanted to tell all of them to stop harassing and make a derogatory joke about Po's size. But if she did, they would tease her to no end for standing up for him, especially after that kiss remark.
"I actually wondering what those were made off...? Grain sack from your Dad's shop?" Mantis was inspecting the piece of rags hung next to the tub. Tigress cleared her throat loudly and exchanged a condemning glare at the bug's hurtful comment.
"In fact, it's tofu," Po muttered with a hushed voice. His honest answer earned another peal of laughter from the boys. Tigress mentally face-pawed herself. Po was an expert in humiliating himself, intentionally or not.
"No wonder it smells weird! I bet Tigress liked it, though," Monkey crackled. Tigress nearly stood up to grab the simian by the neck but quickly reminded they're all naked - she withheld her urge. It wouldn't be very appropriate things to do to entangle in a fight with a naked male in a hot tub full of unclad warriors.
The panda paused, scrutinizing himself and patting his robust belly. He fixed his gaze on his own form and smiled broadly. "Honestly, it was because I don't want to burden my Dad. You guys knew right, I am the big fat panda, no one sell pants in my size. I had to have it made, but I knew...neither me... or my Dad could afford it. So I made some my own out of things I can salvage from the kitchen, and leave the special occasion one done professionally."
Po's wonderful, thoughtful rendition about his humble patched pants shut all the laughter from the boys. Suddenly, they all wearing guilty and remorseful face. Tigress sighed lightly, a little smile of pleasure and pride threatening to form on her maw. Po never ceased to surprise, to amaze her and not just during simple stupid games, but in front of the much bigger adversary. He was often cornered, close to being defeated but he never gave up. Instead, he courageously sought for a solution, considered every little action with his touch of gentleness and selflessness. She unknowingly rested her eyes upon the bear.
Po realized this, blushed red and quickly displayed his signature smile. "Hey, no biggie... now...Monkey, tell me... how far did you go with Constable Wu's daughter that night?"
"Ermmmm...let just say, I didn't make it back to the barrack," the simian retort shyly. "By the way, we've asked Po twice, but Crane hasn't got a turn." Monkey cunningly redirected the attention. Crane hid behind his straw hat, unwanted to be seen.
"Ok... Crane, Truth of Dare," Jade challenged the bird. "Truth."
"What is the biggest regret in your life?"
Crane was thoughtful for a moment, while Po cringed, second guessing what the answer would be. Po wasn't sure whether the shy avian was going to admit his feeling, especially Jade and Tai Lung were once exchange students in Lee Da for a fair amount of time. But to his surprise, Crane remained undeterred and narrated the same story he did to Po. With the corner of his eyes, Po watched Viper's eyes glistened. Whether was because of her heart had been broken, or admiring Crane's courage to admit it in front of everyone. Jade and Tai Lung irrefutably surprised but remained supportive.
"Good for you, Crane..." Those compliments surprisingly came from Tigress. "We all can learn from you," she smiled sincerely.
As the night grew nigh, the temperature began to bite, the eight warrior huddled even closer, shoulder to shoulder. Tigress was in between Po and Crane. Viper smiled sweetly between Jade and Tai Lung, and Mantis hide on Tai's crook for warmth, and Monkey was in between Po and Jade. All tension melted, the Warriors felt like a cooked through noodle, both mentally and physically.
"Hey how about we re-enact some of out epic battle we've been?" Mantis suggested. "Po had his action figure!"
Tai Lung distinctly shrunk, and Mantis quickly recovered the situation. "The battle with Kai... that would be fun because many of us were jombified.
"Who'll be the pandas from the panda village?"
Po grabbed a few leftover dumpling. Tai Lung was the first to notice. "Tell me you are joking Dragon Warrior, how on earth those carry any resemblance to pandas?"
"Use your imagination, Tai, besides... these are the only thing we ate in Panda Village," Po smiled.
The epic battle went on, each master in charge of themselves, except for Tai Lung and Jade, who felt severely ridiculous for holding four dumpling each on their paw. Tigress was amused when Tai Lung was mimicking grandma panda training with Po and accidentally kicked his tender. And Jade pretending his dumpling was Mei Mei, doing her ribbon dance and 'get ready to dance with danger' moves.
Suddenly, Tigress felt something poking her right thigh, on Po's direction.
"Po... something poking under there, it's better to be your action figure." Other masters were tracking each other eyes as they mentally counted and subconsciously took hold of each of their respective action figures in an attempt to see who was missing. Tigress moved her idle paw into the water, secretly praying it better be an actual action figure which remained a mysterious riddle, invisible underneath the sea of bubbles. Everyone intently looked at her; even Tai Lung unmistakably tensed with anticipation. And... she successfully recovered Master Bear foamy form. A coherent release of air gushed from each Master's mouth.
"Po... for a moment we thought it was your..-"
"Shut it...!" Tigress covered Jade's mouth with her large, foamy paw. "Po is way too innocent," she rebuked the Panther dangerously.
"That's true... Po might even not aware where panda came from," Mantis crackled, making the panda in question blushed.
"But I thought it was on one of those 1000 scrolls?" Tai Lung rolled his eyes.
"You mean the junior karma sutra?" Mantis added, "Well yes, technically only Po and Tigress completed the 1000 scrolls. But not sure Po knew what it meant when he read it."
"Po knew the basic mechanic," Tigress added, seeing the panda take no effort in defending himself against the wave of pattering mockery.
"And how did you know this?" Tai Lung grinned diabolically, scooted a little too close to Tigress, squeezing Crane in the process. Tigress immediately knew she made a wrong move.
"I told her." Thankfully the panda came to her rescue. "See... I knew that scroll you guys were saying... at first I thought it was meant for a contortionist," Po admitted. A spill of laughter filled the air. Even Tigress was struggling to hold hers.
As Po making his retreat to his chamber with a bowl of dumpling on his hand, he heard desultory faint laughter from Mantis' chamber, occasionally retreated into a low clandestine whisper, followed by another splutter, stifled chuckle. He bet most of the boys were there, taking the discussion from what they had left from the hot tub. As he stood by Mantis' door, he overheard a hushed tone of Viper and Tigress floating in the distance, reverberating against muteness of empty corridor. Stirred by his own curiosity, Po stood closer, as stealthily as possible, eavesdropping their conversation.
"...he did make a confession, Tigress!" He heard Viper excited squeal.
"I refuse to accept that. He must mean other felines. I am not the only stripy feline in China, especially after I visited Xiongsen," the striped feline sounded emotionless and flat, like usual.
"But he said eight years ago, that's exactly the time we met him at the bridge. Remember he did flirt with you!" Viper excitement on the whole incident didn't live very long.
"You called that flirt? I thought that was more like a murder attempt... he could have killed us all!" Tigress scoffed knowingly, eradicating the serpents supposition flat to the ground.
"Why, don't you liked him? He a changed man now Tigress, he even saved you and not caring about himself. I mean... Master of Thousand Scrolls and leader of furious five sounded...-" The snake coaxed the striped master, but before she did...Tigress had annihilated her presumption.
"... a secondlymarriage made in heaven? I can't believe this. Just because it sounded like the impossible symmetry of two unprecedented warriors would make it suffice to make us a pair. Firstly, he is not my type. Secondly, he is my adopted brother for heaven sake!" She snarled in disgust.
"What? Seriously? You don't like someone as burly, muscular, square jawed like Tai Lung?" The snake master's voice had risen into a high pitched tone. "If I were a cat or any kind of mammal, I'll be after him." Viper muttered. "Besides two of you were not related blood wise, you can't even rule out Jade... he is another worthy candidate."
"For goodness sake Viper! Tai Lung is old enough to be my father!" Tigress refuted relentlessly. A mounting annoyance could be heard just by the tone.
"Age shouldn't be an issue...Tigress."
Po could feel his palm getting wet. He had heard the proceeding with more and more alarm.
"Appearance shouldn't be an issue as well!" The feline rebuttal silent the serpent. Po secretly admired Tigress' perseverance. However, he was risking knowing his feeling trodden by the woman he loved with his entire being. What if Tigress admitted she liked one of those two burly feline master, whom admittedly a better candidate than he was?
"Besides, I've forgiven him... but doesn't mean he was free to be anything else but a friend to me," Tigress tone audibly calmed down. A silent appeal inserted itself in between all running thoughts.
"Do you like someone else?" Po swore he could even hear Viper victorious grin. He could only hear Tigress tussling and approached the door. He knew he had to make his leave before the feline discovered him and kicked his butt in the Training Hall in return.
"You better think about your date with Crane!" Tigress stood and prepared to leave.
"But... Crane likes someone else..."
The realization struck Tigress like thunder. That's true, just because her dare was before Crane's confession, she shouldn't be that insensitive.
"Sorry Viper..." Tigress turned back and sat next to her snake sister, her voice thick with sympathy. "You like him don't you?" Viper curled on her lap in somber silence.
"I don't think you should give up... his answer maybe different one of this day. Crane and Mei Ling are not courting each other; they even haven't met for a decade," Tigress reasoned, watchfully probing for her sister reaction.
"Y-you really think I shouldn't give up?"
Tigress shook her head firmly.
"If you believe you love him enough, and you haven't told him yet... confession can change a lot of presumption and point of view. He'll see things in different light."
"Thanks, Tigress."
The panda laid still in his bedroom, forsaking the rest of the boys in Mantis' chamber (save it from Tai Lung, who looking exhausted from his first training) who still indulged in exquisite gin and tonic, possibly nicked them from Shifu's chamber.
His mind got ahead of him, immediately thought deep and hard about the snow leopard's confession. Did he just confess his love to Tigress?
Po couldn't deny how fitting it would be for Tai Lung and Tigress to get hitched. Even when Tai Lung's age was almost twice as she was, he didn't bear any appearance like one, in fact, it made the prospect a little more appealing - a mature man, in all his physique and mentality. And just to add more points, he was a changed man, his recent heroic deeds in saving Tigress had earned the spotted feline Tigress' approval, even his pardon. Tigress had accepted him, even though cautiously, but this was a good start. More so, he was a feline; both of them were unparalleled warriors with very similar temper and traits, had been raised by the same Father and taught by the same Master. The only thing that comforted him was the fact Tigress was looking distantly interested.
Even as Jade made his appearance at the palace door, as much as Po tried to convince himself to do otherwise, his love for Tigress had gone from bad to worse. She was the only women that could strangle him in a narcotic state of perpetual admiration. Po was sure Tigress had given him brain damaged just by existing, how she did that - he had no idea. She certainly didn't to it intendedly; no makeup ever touched her face and dresses was hardly her thing. What makes her so deeply enticing to all his senses, would remain a mystery.
But what about Tai Lung? Was he in the same hole as he was? Fallen for the creature whose heart almost impossible to own? Whose will and wants almost impossible to please?
Po reminded himself, he was once had taken what Tai Lung had deemed as his rightful prize - Dragon Scroll, the very reason he trained until his bone breaks, his body bruised and battered. And he, inadvertently, without even trying, was honored with such a privilege. Tai Lung probably held no grudges against him now, as Po had taken part in his clemency. But if Po took the love of his life, possibly the next thing he treasured after the Dragon Scroll, what would that leave him? And wouldn't that be cruel?
Unknowingly to Po, the striped feline across his room meddling a similar situation.
Tigress laid still in her bed, looking blankly at the ceiling, replaying the dialogue between her and Viper. Even her own words surprised her.
...confession can change a lot of presumption and point of view.
After meeting the reformed master of Thousand Scrolls had made Tigress realized, in the aspect of her complicated emotion, what she needed wasn't a square-jawed, steel core, platinum soul Kung Fu Master with undeniable bravery, accolades of achievement or a long list of scrolls. Quite the contrary, she needed someone gentle, with sea of unlimited forgiveness, and boundless understanding to match her temper, with great faith and trust to encourage her in moment of lost, with purity and optimism to see a good side in everything, who would never give up on her despite who she was. Someone who could showed her what love capable of changing.
And in it's all unlikelihood with a complicated twist of fate, her destiny and Po's somewhat met and ordained under the universe.
But she was afflicted, what if what Viper said was true? And how Tai Lung would react to a rejection of something he treasured nearly a decade ago. Moreover, if he knew he lost it to the same guy who stole his thunder as a Dragon Warrior, would he... lashed out, livid and turn evil again?
She determined to figure out.
I'll ask him.
This chapter was heavily inspired by 'A different lesson' by nievelion ( website) - he had one incredibly funny truth or dare session.
Also a scene from one shot by wilowpwlm s/7728872/1/100-Drabbles-Challenge about the moment in the bathtub.
Next chapter would be more complicated as there'll be two/three concurrent plot, so start to pay attention now! R&R :-)