Rating: K+

prompt:

When character A admits that they're in love with someone and the character B doesn't realize that they're talking about them/When character B doesn't realize they're talking about them because the person character A is describing sounds so wonderful and amazing that it just can't be them

summary:

Po is feeling stressed out because of girl problems, and goes to his best friend for advise. (Modern AU)


The panda stood at the door of his best friend's apartment. He was exceedingly nervous, but takes deep breaths to attempt to calm him down. There was no way he was backing down now... he couldn't. It was now or never.

He quickly rung the door bell before his mind forced him to turn around and leave. It was at that moment he started to really panic. With his fear taking over him, he thought to make a quick escape and run out of the apartment building, never to show his face again. Perhaps he could even move to another continent... Just as he thought that, however, the door already opened, making him hold his breath.

The person who opened the door was no one other than his best friend and crush since college, a female tiger named Tigress. She shows up at the door with a robe covering her red tank-top and black sweats. She rubs the tiredness from her eyes to see who was at the door this late at the hour, only for them to widen at the sight of her panda friend. "Po?" She uttered, even when exhausted her voice held confidence and smoothness. To Po she was the definition of beauty and strength. He shook his head quickly before he caught himself gawking, "Uh... hey, Ti..?" He waves unsurely.

"Po, what are you doing here? It's..." She checks her watch, "It's two in the morning..." She yawns.

Po instantly felt guilty, he knows Tigress well enough to know she gets cranky when she doesn't get enough sleep, but this was really important!... Though it's not as important as his friend's well being.

He twiddles with his thumbs, "I'm really sorry Tigress, I just really needed to talk with you a-and I couldn't wait 'til morning, I shouldn't have woken you up though, I-I'll just go..." He turns to walk away with embarrassment. 'Smart move, man! Great way to confess to your best friend! By waking her up in the middle of the night! Idiot!' He mentally slapped himself.

Tigress, noting the nervousness in the panda's tone, grabs his arm to hold him back, "Hey, are you okay? Is something bothering you?" She asks, genuinely concerned.

Po turns back and gives his best fake smile to easy her worries, "No no, it's fine, it's nothing, you can go back to sleep." He waves it off, but notices Tigress' stern glare. She crosses her arms over her chest and cocks up an unamused eyebrow. He knows that look fairly well. It was her way of saying 'I can read right through you, and you're lying to me.' She usually pulls that look around one of Po's other female friends, Song, whenever they meet, and usually pulls it on him whenever he tries to cover up what he's feeling.

He sighs. He knew whenever Tigress gives him THAT look, there was no room for arguments. "Okay... you caught me... I just need your help with something." Well, at least that was a start.

Tigress gives him a sincere look and nods, leading him inside her apartment. It didn't matter how late it was or how small his issues are, she hates seeing Po stressed out. No one else knew that he had severe anxiety and depression besides her, and watching him during his breakdowns and panic attacks made a painful strike at her heart. She never wants Po to experience things like that, ever! So she does her best to keep him happy and help him when he needs it. It was the least she could do, considering all the things he's done for her. Honestly, if it weren't for him, she would never be the person she was today. Po was the first guy best friend she's ever had, and it was because of him that she was opened up to so many experiences. Every moment with him was like an adventure she never wanted to end. Every moment with him made her... happy. Tigress cares a lot for Po... honestly she doesn't even know how her life would be without this one panda.

The feline leads Po into her living room and turns on a table lamp for more light, before sitting next to him on the couch. "So tell me what's wrong." She takes off her robe and tosses it behind her.

Po sighs again and falls back on the couch, letting Tigress crawl over him and lay against his warm belly. You would think this would make them uncomfortable, but the thing is they have created a safe, close bond between them, making cuddling and hugging a normal occurrence. Po never minded this, and neither did Tigress, in fact, they were completely fine with doing this in public, despite the weird glances they got. Tigress places her chin on his chest and looks up at him with curious eyes, making Po's cheeks heat up. She looked admittedly cute like this. He wraps his arms around her back and strokes her head, "It's um... complicated, you'll think it's stupid..." He looks down solemnly.

Tigress shook her head, "If it's got you this worried, I doubt it's stupid... tell me what's going on."

Po didn't know how to tell her this. What if she gets uncomfortable and makes him leave, and start avoiding him? What if he jeopardizes their friendship because he messed up? What if she doesn't feel the same way? What if he loses his best friend? What if... What if...
What if he's not good enough for her?

No, that's no question; Tigress deserves the world after everything she's been through. Of course he's not good enough for her. He's not good enough for anyone..

"Po? Are you alright?" He looks back up at Tigress, who's more worried than ever. Po decided to take a deep breath. Maybe he can't get what he wants from her, but he could get what he needs; a friend. Some advise. Someone to rise him up.

"Tigress..." He started, still feeling hesitant, "I really need your help... see, there's this girl..." He looks down at the tiger finally, before noticing her dumbstruck expression as she slowly releases herself from the panda. She sits a bit away from him and looks down, trying to hide her hurt expression. "I... see... and you like her, I presume?" She glances at Po, who was slowly nodding.

His nerves were rising up again. There was no way she already figured it out! He just mentioned a girl! He thought that was completely vague! So why did Tigress suddenly get so distant? Soon Po's nervousness turned to self loathe; he shouldn't have put her on the spot like that. "I-I'm sorry... I told you it was stupid, I'll just—"

Tigress quickly places her hand over Po's to hold him down. She had no idea why it hurt her when Po mentioned this 'girl', she was supposed to be happy for him, wasn't she? She was supposed to tease him about his crush and set them together, right? She might still be new to this whole guy/girl friendship thing, but even this was inexcusable. "No, don't. I want to know about this girl..." She noticed the gentle contact between the two and quickly retrieves her hand.

She felt her heart break a little, and she just... didn't know why. If she held his paw in any other situation, it would feel... right. Perfect, even. But now, knowing he had eyes for someone else already, it just made even the simplest acts of affection seem... wrong.

Po clamped on all his nerves, and started giving Tigress 'clues'. "Well... I've liked this girl for a long time, she's one of my closest friends..." And that was another part of her heart broken. She thought she was his closest friend. Of course there's Song—

...Oh no...

He likes Song, doesn't he? She took a shaky breath. She should've known it was Song... the snow leopard was everything she was insecure about, and plus, with the way she shamelessly flirts with her—THE panda, it was no mystery that Po would soon catch feelings.

Feeling a deep lump in her throat telling her she needs to let out a sob, Tigress holds it in and listens more, "But she's a little hard to read. I want to tell her how I feel, but I don't know how to go about it because I'm just... scared..."

She looks at Po's solemn expression. 'He's really worked up about her, huh?' Another piece in her heart; broken. "I was just wondering if you could help me learn how to go about this..?" He asks, hopeful his friend would catch on.

Tigress rubs her arm and puts on a small, meek smile. She could never say no to Po, "Of course... why don't you tell me about her?"

Po looks down and ponders to himself. How could he describe his feelings with out exposing himself. He glances at his feline friend, at her beautiful ember eyes. He smiles back. Every time he looks at Tigress he falls for her over and over again. "Well, for starters she's beautiful; inside and out." Tigress' falters a bit. Another piece; broken.

"She's smart, and dedicated to her work, but doesn't let her goal isolate herself from caring about others. She's always helpful, not just to me but to everyone around her. She's always putting others before herself, which sometimes results in her harming herself. She's modest and humble, always gives credit to others, but not enough to herself. She's always criticising herself, and puts herself down, just to make sure others rise up. She's selfless like that. She's independent, even sometimes a bit stubborn when it comes to asking for help, she's kinda quiet, cool and composed, and some even say at first glance she's a bit scary—even me! But once you get to actually know her, she's sweet and has the purest heart. She has this kind motherly side to her, and even though she's constantly belittling herself, everything she does— everything she is, is just... perfect."

Tigress just sat there, awed and gape. 'Okay, so maybe it's not Song...' Her ears flattened against her head, "She seems... special..."

Po, failing to notice her crest fallen expression, nods, "Yeah, she really is. She's mature, fun, smart, kind hearted, and really..." He looks back at Tigress, losing himself in her gaze, "Really pretty... gorgeous even..." Tigress felt more pieces of her heart crumble. She hid it well though... she's always able to hide her emotions. She clears her throat, "So tell me more."

Po's smile widens... maybe he has a chance. "Well, when I say she's gorgeous, it's clearly just an understatement. She walks around with all this confidence, everything she does is filled with grace, strength and elegance, even when she isn't trying! Her smirks are so enticing and challenging, but her smiles... her gentle expressions... they make you see her in a whole different light. She rarely smiles, given the fact she tries to remain... hardcore..." He hints in, making Tigress' ears perk up again. Her tail swishes in anticipation, 'It couldn't be me... could it?'

"But when she does... she has this sudden glow around her, so bright and beautiful, making her seem more perfect." Po continues on in excitement, making Tigress silently chuckle. He looked admittedly cute when he's excited. "And her eyes..." The panda looks into her eyes again, forever feeling drawn to it, not realising he was leaning closer to her. "They hold so many stories. Stories of glory and pain, stories that wanted to finally be told. Her intense stares are able to pierce through anyone's soul, I could drown in those eyes for eternity if I could..."

Tigress could feel her tail swish faster as she looks into Po's jaded eyes as well. Such purity and kindness in them, as she leans closer too. Though she doesn't know why, a part of her was sort of hoping... that maybe... this 'girl' he was speaking of, was directed to her, "And..?"

"Her story... she's only told it to me... making me learn to get to know her... to understand her... as she's learned to understand me too... despite our differences, I always feel myself drawn to her... like we complete eachother..." He leans closer, only making their muzzles inches apart. He froze however, finally comprehending what he was doing. Tigress obviously doesn't want him. She couldn't want him. Why would she? He backs away before they could move any further, and clears his throat, "But... even still, I don't think I have the guts to tell her.."

Tigress sighs, feeling a little agitated, before calming herself down. "Well then, why not? If she's 'so special', shouldn't you just suck it up and tell her?" She says, a bit more bitterly than she wanted to admit.

Po looks at her defeated, "It's more complicated than that, Ti! I want to tell her, I really do, but I feel like I can't for two reasons."

"Which are?" Tigress asks, raising up an unamused brow.

"One: I don't want to ruin what we have!" He shoots back, leaving Tigress to silently agree. Considering him and this 'friend's' close bond, taking a risk like that could make him lose this special friend. Even still, isn't taking a risk worth it in the end? "And two: ...I don't think she would want someone like me.."

Tigress looks at Po both shocked and saddened. More pieces of her heart broke at that moment. Even though it hurt her somehow that Po gave his heart to someone else, it hurt her more to know he didn't give enough to himself. She's very much aware of Po's insecurities, but he was an amazing guy! She still has no idea how someone as great as him would be so ashamed of himself. She punches Po in the arm, making him jolt up in pain and surprise, "YOW!" He quickly massages his arm before pouting at his tiger companion, "What the heck was that for?!"

"That was for saying something stupid!" She glares back, "Po, you're an amazing person. You're selfless, funny, sweet, innocent, and mature when you need to be. You take responsibility and give credit where credit is due. You always go out and express yourself, and always go out of your way to show you care. And though you can be absent minded and dorky sometimes, it just makes you look more... cute.." She can feel her cheeks heat up, and so could Po. He looks at her a bit hopeful, wondering if he actually has a chance. The feline quickly shakes her blush away and puts her hand on her friend's shoulder, "And if this girl you speak of cannot see how great you are, she clearly isn't worth it." She smiles, letting Po smile back.

"And another thing, I understand that you don't want to risk ruining your friendship with her, but isn't that what love is about? Taking the risk? How long have you had feelings for this girl?"

Po had to think for a moment, "Um... about 3 years..?" He says unsurely. Tigress' eyes widen, "Wow, that long?" Po nods. Another small piece of her heart crumpled. What she has failed to realise that was around the same time she met Po in the first place. That should've been another clear hint. She forces the pain down however and continues, "Anyway, the point is, if you loved her for that long without her knowing, surely you should have the courage to be public about it. Taking the risk will always be worth it." She finishes wisely.

The panda looks down for a moment, replaying Tigress' words over and over again. "So... what you're saying is, no matter what happens, I should just tell her?"

Tigress sighs and nods sadly, "It's better to love and loss, than to not love at all. Just go up to her and say, 'Hey, I like you. Would you like to go out with me?' and if she accepts you, great, if not, at least you have a way of knowing... and I won't mind having to add another person to my hit list, should she reject." She pounds her fists together with a smirk, making Po nervously chuckle.

"Yeah... I think adding yourself to your hit list will be a bit difficult.." Po's eyes widen at what he just blurted out and slaps both his paws over his muzzle, quickly silencing himself as his cheeks grow red.

Tigress feels herself freeze at that statement and looks at Po with a bemused expression, "W-what do you mean?"

Po removes his hands and takes a deep breath. 'I guess it's now or never', "Tigress... I-I like you! Would you like to go out with me?"


~~nyehehehe left y'all on a cliffhanger there, didn't I? UwU sorry for the abrupt ending, but I was having MAJOR writer's block with my other book chapters, it's honestly a miracle that I was able to put this down on paper smh.
I have a love-hate relationship with this trope, tbh. I mean, on one hand, it's a cute trope, where 2 oblivious partners are talking about each other amongst each other, giving off reasons as to why they like them so much, and it's a great step to a friends-to-lovers story, but on the other hand... IT. IS. SO. FRUSTRATING! LIKE HELLO! CHARACTER B!? CHARACTER A IS TALKING ABOUT YOU! STOP BEING OBLIVIOUS! AND PERSON A, WHY DON'T YOU JUST TELL B HOW YOU FEEL?! like sheesh, the slowburn is killing me! "They're obviously not talking about me" shut! up! with your dense adorable insecure A-... right, I forgot, I'm not supposed to swear... -with your dense adorable insecure BUTT! ÙmÚ

ahem... anywho, stay safe, have a great day/night, live, laugh, love, and until next time... Yarart out! XP~~