Mature Love Too

Po sighed as he relaxed his back muscles more against the tree. With a smile on his face, he looked at the clear blue sky, reflecting on the past few months. He had been taking in all the sights and experiences with his friends. Not compliant with just letting life pass him by with the worry of looking for love all the time, he decided to dedicate most of his time to others. It was nice hearing and seeing more of his friends in different elements, especially Tigress. Naturally, though he couldn't really understand why, Po found himself more around Tigress than the others. Suddenly, his ear perked up as he heard something coming up the stairs. "Tigress?" The halted stepping noise confirmed it, and the panda rested back.

"You haven't always been able to hear me so well. Your skill is improving, Dragon Warrior," Tigress formally said. Po shrugged, patting the ground next him for her to sit.

"Why did you come looking for me?" Po asked as she sat down.

"Is that a problem?" She replied dodgily.

"Tigress," Po said in a lower tone.

"I... want to know. Why have you been... different the past few months?" She asked frankly. Po sighed, sitting up straight.

"I knew this would be coming up eventually," Po mumbled. "Well, I had a talk with a wise old guy and he taught me not to be worried over every single thing. Especially when it came to romantic love or stuff like that. So, in the meantime, I'm focusing on other stuff. Fighting bad guys, being awesome, hanging with you guys. It's the dream."

"Oh," Tigress simply replied, allowing a moment of silence to pass between them before asking, "What... exactly were you guys talking about... in regards to love?"

"Tigress, in the past few months, I've learned more about you than I could have in a year if I was still freaking about relationships, food, and my identity as Dragon Warrior. So I know for a fact that's not the question you want to ask. Why don't you just be direct with me?" Po said very bravely and honestly. Tigress stared at the panda was a slightly amazed face. She breathed heavily as she spoke.

"Po, it sounds as if you've given up on... that kind of love. I don't want you to do that. For a time, I did that and became miserably cold and distant. And almost dangerously ambitious. Please don't give up on that." Po chuckled.

"I'm not. I'm just not waking up constantly and wetting the bed about it," Po explained.

"You wet your bed about your crushes?" Tigress asked with a sly smirk.

"What?! No! I... Grrr, I wish you would stop doing that," Po muttered, seeing her mischievous look. "I'm just... being more real. Not worrying about some fantasy woman that may or may not show up. Sure I have the woman in mind, but in real life, that person could be completely different and yet still be my greatest companion."

"Hm," Tigress agreed. "You think a wife should be a companion?"

"A life-long one. Not my dream girl or my fantasy come alive. That all is a rotten dumpling," Po grumbled, waving his hand in the air, "I just want... a helpmate for life."

"Hm," Tigress hummed again. She was silent for a while.

"What about you? Have you... still given up on romantic love?" Po asked, turning his body to the side and looking at Tigress directly to his left. Tigress stared out into the distance, towards the sharp V of the mountains. Before she could answer, Po said, "Well if you have, you definitely shouldn't."

"Why?" Tigress asked.

"Tigress, love isn't something that makes you look weak or something. It's what makes you strong. And I know it doesn't look like it, but there are a lot of guys that are looking for a woman like you," Po said very excitedly. Tigress stared at the panda's smile and returned it with her own.

"Your optimism always astonishes me," She simply mentioned. Po chuckled as he relaxed against the tree again.

"Someone has to have it," Po returned. Tigress smiled wider as the sunset came to the horizon and slowly descended past the edge of the scenery.

"To be honest, this mature side of you is... comforting, but... I miss the quirky outlandish panda that is excited by everything," Tigress spoke truthfully.

"I have to grow up, Tigress. I'm still me, though," Po assured.

"I hope. I don't want you changing too much on me," Tigress said, standing up and starting to go downstairs.

"Would it be bad if I was changing for the better?" Po asked curiously.

"...No." Tigress slowly answered. Po smiled again.

"You don't have to worry, Tigress. I may change my character, but my personality won't. I'm still... me." Tigress smiled.

"I don't doubt that," she replied as she went down the stairs.

The tiger grumbled annoyed at the sun as it shown brightly through her room. This was the first time in a while that Tigress didn't want to go to training, but her willpower was greater than her sluggishness. Preparing herself and exiting her room, she smelled the sweet aroma of Po's cooking. She entered the room, smiling at the sight of Po telling a story of how he mistook an old turtle lady to be a vicious villain with food illustrations.

Suddenly, the thoughts of yesterday flooded back in her head. Tigress went to Master Shifu in the Hall of Heroes. The smell and smoke of the incense rose as the tiger bowed to the back of her master and father. "Master Tigress, what seems to be the problem?" Shifu asked, still meditating.

"Master, I want to ask a question."

"What is that?"

"Does love blind a warrior?" Shifu's eyes shot open as he turned his head to her. He stood up, examining his student more carefully.

"Why do you ask this?" Tigress was silent for a while before coming up with something.

"Master Shifu, Po has... changed in the recent months. He's become more mature and... wiser to an extent. When I asked why, he explained that he was focusing on more important things other than romantic love, such as friendships and family. But-"

"You want to know if he's forsaken love without him knowing?" Shifu guessed. Tigress nodded.

"And... for other... persons as well," She slowly mentioned. Shifu's eyebrow rose, but he stroked his chin.

"I don't think that Po has forsaken love. If anything he has more love now than ever," Shifu replied, confusing Tigress, "Often a warrior can become blinded to the feelings love has, but Po has figured out how not to repress the feelings but control and recognize them. To answer your question plainly Tigress... no, mature love does not blind a warrior, but the feelings of young love will."

"Thank you, Grand Master Shifu," Tigress bowed, about to leave.

"Tigress, honestly speaking. Why are you concerned about this issue... especially since it deals with Po?" Shifu asked. Tigress as silent for a moment.

"I wanted to make sure that he wasn't... disguising some kind of pain. Po cares a lot about others, but sometimes forgets about himself."

"Hmm. It's a good thing, then, that you're there to care for him. He needs that," Shifu said. Tigress bowed again and left the red panda to himself.

The End