~~Author's note; soft one-shot for those who have to suffer the cold nights alone. the thing is you are never alone. :) things are tough right now, really tough, but hopefully this one-shot would make you smile~~

warning: do not own kfp (I wish I did tho ;-;)

"No!" Tigress gasped as she jumped in her bed. She clutched her bandaged-covered chest and looked around her, her breaths were heavy. She sighed when she was surrounded by nothing but the darkness of her room. She plopped back down and clutched her head as her breathing calmed.

"It was just a dream." She closed her eyes, "Just a stupid... dream.."

She noticed how her paws shook, despite it's non-feeling, it still felt the fear. She snapped her eyes open as one thought traced her mind that made all the horrible memories of the nightmare come back...

'Po.'

She shot out of her cot and raced to the panda's room right infront of her. She slammed the door opened, "Po!"

"AGH!" The dragon warrior exclaimed as he fell out of bed with a loud 'THUD'. He shot up in a kung fu position, his eyes filled with bags from still being exhausted while his mouth was drenched with drool he unconsciously shed while in his dreamstate, "What is it? Where is it!? No body hurts my best friend! Get ready to taste a mouth full of fury!" He mumbled quickly.

Tigress blushed in embarrassment, she was so caught up in the moment of paranoia she didn't even realise her outburst would awake the panda.

Po noticed Tigress' ashamed expression as she looked to the ground, he cocked up an eyebrow, "Tigress?"

The feline cleared her throat, "Apologies, dragon warrior, I didn't mean to wake you..." She hugged her arms and looked away, saddened.

"What's wrong?" He asked worried, trying to reach for her. She flinched at his touch and turned around, feeling a lump in her throat. She tried her best to swallow it down. "Nothing, I'm fine. You can go back to sleep.." She walked out of his room into the hall, only to be stopped by a familiar paw holding hers. She froze at the touch. Somehow, after 20 years of not feeling anything, only one could bring such warmth in her paws. She didn't look back, knowing full well who it was, holding her.

"Hey, Ti, you know I know you better than that. I can't go back to sleep when something is obviously bothering you." He says sweetly and now fully awake, his voice was a soothing melody she has come to yearn for.

Tigress turned to him and scrunched up her nose uncontrollably, "Po, there's nothing bothering me, really." She lied. Po knew she was. He noticed her nose and chuckled, "What's so funny?"

"You scrunch up your nose when you lie," He smirked. Tigress blushed again, "I do not!" She whispered-exclaimed. Po poked the centre of her nose to prove his point. Tigress grumbled in embarrassment.

"Okay fine," She sighed in defeat, "You caught me..." She looked down with her ears flattened. Po noticed Tigress' paw shake a little in his, it was barely noticeable, so anyone could have missed it, but Po knew that shake too well.

He looked at Tigress with a soft expression, "Shen or Kai?"

Tigress widened her eyes at the panda, her mouth agape in shock, "How did you—"

"Your paws," He took his held paw up to his eye view, "They shake when you're scared. And why else would you be up in the middle of the night?"

Tigress was honestly a bit impressed, she still wondered to this day how Po and only Po was able to read her like a book, when the Furious 5, her comrades who she's known for 15-16 years now, and Shifu himself, were still trying to figure her out!

"And I know how much Shen and Kai had affected your chi and inner peace," Po whispered softly, walking closer to her. They both knew this was true. With what happened in the panda village and Kai, Tigress wasn't able to even bloom a flower with her chi without straining herself. And honestly, this was not the first time Tigress came to Po for comfort from the dreams. Though she was still hesitant to let Po see her 'weak' side, no matter what path she took, she always came to the very same panda. The very reason why she has those dreams in the first place.

She closed her eyes tight from the memories while leaning forward and placing her forehead against Po's chest. He chuckled and patted her back, bringing her closer. "How about we go to the kitchen to get you something to drink, and you can tell me about your dream then, hmm? Would you like that?"

Tigress just nodded her head. Po smiled before descending to his room for a moment. The tiger wandered what he was doing in there, until she saw him come out with a blanket. She smiled softly as he placed the warm fabric on her shoulders, shielding her from the coolness of the night.

He gently took Tigress' hand and led her to the kitchen and sat her down in a chair before heading to the counter to make the both of them some tea. Tigress couldn't help but look back at him while he set the tea pot on the stove. How was she so lucky to have someone like Po in her life? She, at first, took him for granted, even treated him cruelly when he first arrived, but the panda has shown her nothing but kindness, respect, and care. They were so different, yet so similar, and she hurt him even still. If she just saw how much he was like her, she would've have never treated him the way she did. Of course everything changed after gongman, but even before, from the first moment the panda came crashing into her life (literally) he was the key to make her feel. Whether it was anger, worry, praise, annoyance, sadness, happiness, desire... love... He could make her feel.

Oh what she would give to keep that darn panda safe. She would be willing to lose everything for him, even her very life, because she knows Po would do the exact same for her. If anything were to happen to him... her paws gripped the blanket tightly, while she looked to her feet. The memories of him getting shot out of the factory and wuxiing himself away was still fresh in her mind. Funny how much a moment or 2 can change so many things, huh?

She fought back the tears that were trying oh so hard to escape her glowy ember eyes. The flashes kept coming, faster and longer and much more horrible than the last, until suddenly—

She felt a paw placed gently on her shoulder. She jumped on instinct until she saw a pair of calm, familiar jade eyes meeting her fiery ember. She instantly relaxed as Po handed her a cup. Jasmine tea. Her favorite.

Po adjusted the chairs so he would lay on both of them, his back against 1 chair and his legs sprawled out on Tigress'. He opened his arms wide with a sad smile on his face. Tigress was very familiar with these actions, and so she put her tea on the table in front of them and immediately pounced on the panda, dropping the blanket from feeling the warmth of his arms instead, as she holds him tight. She tugged on his back fur gently and shut her eyes tight on his shoulder.

After a short while of them holding eachother, Tigress turned back around with her back against his belly. She leaned into him as he hugged her from behind. "So tell me what happened?"

The feline took a deep breath, "There was nothing but a black void," She started, "All of a sudden, there was nothing but fire and green smoke. You, the furious 5, even Shifu, and I were all there..." She unconsciously fidgeted with her palms, a nervous habit Po seemed to pick up on as of late, "I... I was chained... I couldn't move... and then..." She growled under her breath.

"Shen..." She snarled out his name, "May his twisted horrid soul burn in the very pits of hell—"

"Hey!" Po interrupted, "What did we talk about swearing?"

Tigress shook her head with a huff of a laugh and a ghost of a smile. She knew he was just joking around. Even in situations like this he would always poke fun to make her feel better. It was quite ridiculous really, but at least it helped. She would truly be lost without him. She frowned and grabbed her cup, and took a sip of the still warm tea before continuing, "He... he took his canon and started blasting Shifu and the 5... one by one..." Her voice started breaking as her paws started shaking again, making the tea ripple in her grasp, "A-and then he aimed it at you... h-he made me watch... k-Kai then came out of nowhere and he used his chained swords to... t-to stab you in place.." She swallowed down a sob, "And I didn't do anything to stop it... I couldn't do anything to stop it... and they were laughing...!" Tigress was about to break down until she felt Po's hand softly hold her paws in place, ceasing her trembling.

Po rested his chin on her shoulder, and closed his eyes. He didn't say anything. He knew he shouldn't. Tigress expected him to say what he always says when she's telling him a nightmare, 'It'll pass', 'They're gone now. They're not going to hurt you anymore', 'I'm always going to be here for you', but nothing left his maw.

The dragon warrior knew she knew all of those comforting words by heart, so he didn't need to baby her even further. He knew that the true comfort Tigress gains is when it's quiet and peaceful. No comments, no distractions, no noise, just the 2 of them alone... but not quite alone too, in the alluring silence.

Tigress sighed, feeling a warm relief in her as she leaned her head back, "I'm sorry..."

He didn't need to ask why she said that. She thinks she should apologize for being 'weak'. For not being 'strong enough' to protect him from Shen, or stop him from wuxiing himself to the spirit realm. For showing her vulnerability to him and sharing her 'burden'. The panda shook his head, "No, Tigress..."

He held her waist tighter, "Don't ever apologize for what you're feeling! Showing vulnerability is not a weakness. It's a strength. It shows that you are truly hurting, and that you need help. And that's okay! There's no wrong in showing how vulnerable you are. I know you're raised to believe it's better to not break in front of anyone to remain strong for them, but it's better to love and hurt, than to live your life numb. Trust me... I know." This sparked interest in the tiger. What did he mean by that?

He shook his solemn expression away and led the cup in Tigress' hands to her lips, "Now drink. We don't want your tea getting cold," He smiled. Tigress took another sip. It was then Tigress remembered something, "How did you know I liked jasmine?"

Po shrugged, "You told me once that you liked jasmine. Plus, I always see you put it in your tea." Tigress smiled softly, "You remembered?"

"Of course! How could I forget? Are you underestimating me, Master Tigress?" He smirked, causing Tigress to chuckle, "Of course not, dragon warrior." She joked back and playfully elbowed him in the chest. The 2 laughed together, enjoying eachother's company.

Tigress sighed in content and leaned back into him again, "You truly are too good to me, Po, you know that?"

Po blushed at the comment and laughed nervously, "N-no, pssh! Of course not! I-I think I'm the right amount of good to you, eh heh.."

"I honestly don't know what I did to deserve you..." Tigress frowned sadly, ignoring the panda's blubber. Po looked at Tigress, shocked. How could she say that? His expression softened, "Listen Tigress, you've been through so much pain in your life. You lived most of it believing no one cared for you, the least I could do was show that I care, myself." He reasoned.

She looked up at him, tears glazing her eyes again, she didn't bother holding them back though, she knew she could trust Po with this side of her.

"And I'm eternally grateful for that."

She wrapped her arms around the panda's neck and held him close again. Po quickly reciprocated the hug. Tigress let the tears stream down her face and on the panda's shoulder, making it soaked.

Po rubbed her back and let her sob quietly, "It's okay... let it all out.." He comforted.

Tigress sniffled, nuzzling into the crook of his neck, her favorite spot. She always loved his fur. His big, fluffy arms keeping her in place making her feel safe and protected, his soft, robust belly that could be easily used as a pillow, his warm embrace that proved his innocence and trust, she craved for all of it. She never wants to let go of him ever again. She has let that happen too many times.

"P-please, Po... don't ever leave me.." She barely whispered.

Po smiled sadly, knowing he couldn't for sure promise that, "I'll try..." He laid his chin on hers and held her tighter, "For you..."

Tigress took a shaky breath, "...You want to get something to eat?" she asked knowingly, with a hint of playfulness in her voice. Po chuckled, "Sure, I'll make us some dumplings."

The next morning, the furious 5 walked into the kitchen to see a peculiar sight of the panda and the tiger, sleeping against the chairs, Tigress still in her bandages as she lay her back against the monochromatic bear's chest, his hands around her waist as his head nuzzled hers, with a particular bowl of dumplings on the table beside them and a blanket laid on them to cover each other. It was quite a sight indeed.


~~been a while huh? lol, I hate writers block- TwT
Yarart OUT! XP~~