Wait for Love

The old worn panda dropped his sword beside him as he plopped down to the ground. He panted heavily. Creases decorated his face, age was getting to him. He looked over himself. No wounds or gashes, just tired. Po rested his back against the boulder as he looked at the battlefield and warriors he fought with today to win the victory. They were all celebrating and cheering while he went off to get some rest from the whole situation. Po took a small scrap of paper out of his pocket. It was a small portrait of Lei-Lei the little panda girl from the village that was fond of Tigress, Tigress, and Po all huddled together as one happy family. Po smiled as he sighed a breath of relief. "I'm coming home, guys. I'm coming home."

Suddenly, Po's head shook awake. He looked around. He was in his room. He had dreamt the whole thing. But while it was just a dream, it did carry a message with it. Po groaned as he got up from his bed. He had taken a nap for the day and now he had to see a certain tiger. Po knocked on Tigress's door. "Come in," She replied. Po slid the door open. Tigress didn't seem surprised to see him, but she didn't seem happy to see him either. "Dragon Warrior."

"Tigress," Po answered back. The two had gotten into an argument concerning Lei-Lei. The panda had shown some promising signs of becoming a Kung Fu fighter and while Tigress wanted to train her right away, Po was hesitant. In the process of arguing his case, he had mentioned that he "Didn't want Lei-Lei to grow up the way you did." This, of course, caused the tiger to get upset and the two hadn't spoken for three hours. "Master Tigress," Po said humbly, "Can we talk?"

"About?"

"Tigress," Po said more directly, "You know what I mean. Look, I didn't mean what I said."

"Then how exactly do you mean it?" Tigress asked, getting up from her mat and standing directly in front of him. Po sighed, almost fearful of telling the truth. "Well?"

"Tigress, I don't want Lei-Lei to go through the same stuff you did. While that hurt and pain may have made you stronger, I don't know if it will for her," Po explained. He could see she was still unsatisfied. "When I heard about your life here in the Jade Palace, I couldn't imagine being in the same situation and keeping my sanity. Fighting all day and night, training without ceasing, and all to try and get some kind of approval from Master Shifu would be tough for me," He explained honestly.

"I'm not going to overtrain her Po," Tigress growled in a low threatening tone.

"That's not what I'm getting at," Po said. He paused as he tried to get words out. "I don't want her to go through the pain you went through to get where you are. And I'm not talking about physical. I know for a fact that Lei-Lei wants to be like you in every way and you are more than an awesome person role-model after. I'm not worried she's going to become you. I'm worried about her going through the same trials as you did." It suddenly made sense to her. Po wasn't worried that Lei-Lei would become like Tigress. He was afraid that Lei-Lei would be too overwhelmed to think if she went through half of what Tigress went through. Po sighed again, looking at the floor. "More than anything, I wish I could take that hurt away from your memories." He whispered.

Now Tigress felt horrible. "Po, I'm sorry for the way I acted. I honestly did think you meant... you know."

"I know, but I never meant it like that. You're more than an awesome example to people. But most people don't know the price of... being hardcore," Po smiled. Tigress smiled. back.

"I know you're worried about Lei-Lei. But trust me when I say there's no possible way she's going to go through what I went through. And if she does, she won't be alone." Po sighed happily.

"I don't doubt that," Po replied, but he weakly smiled.

"Po, are you okay? You seem... worn out."

"Hmm? Oh, I had a dream where I was on a battlefield and I won and... I remember seeing a portrait of me, you, and Lei-Lei. Like one big happy family." Tigress's eyes widened. "Yeah, it was... new."

"Does it bother you?" Tigress asked. Po noted her closer stance to him. He looked dead in her eyes, which unconsciously made her shift them away from him.

"Tigress, may I ask you something?"

"What?"

"Do you...And you can take this any way you like... but do you love me?" Tigress's eyes widened as she stepped away from Po. The panda was silent for a solid minute before he continued, "I know it's a bad way of asking and it's definitely not the place to talk about it, but...I don't feel like I have to hide it anymore." He confessed honestly, "I... I care about you in a way that I don't care about the others. And when I'm thinking of people I... want to be with, you're the first to come to my mind. It doesn't matter if you don't see me in that light, though. I will still love you and I'll try my best to be there for you." Tigress was silent for what seemed to be forever. She took a deep breath and sighed.

"Thank you, for understanding, Po. And I appreciate your honesty... and your affection towards me," Tigress replied. Po smiled. At least he got it off of his chest. As he turned to leave, however, he heard, "And I love you too." Before Po could turn around completely, Tigress ran up to him to hug him tightly. It would have been sweet... had Tigress eased her grip a bit.

"TIGRESS!" Po wheezed out. "AIR!"

"Oh! Sorry," Tigress apologized as Po chuckled nervously. Gently hugging him this time, Tigress smiled greatly as Po tenderly wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back. "Thank you, Po."

"You're welcome. But... for what exactly?" Po asked cluelessly.

"For... for growing up a bit. A lot of people do not want to grow, but you seemed to take it and run with it."

"See, I'm mature," Po said childishly. Tigress smiled as she hugged him tighter.

"Well, I'm glad we have this... mature love for each other," Tigress said. Po lightly laughed.

"Me too."

Love is patient, love is kind. Love is not rushed, for it is like fine wine. Wait, I say, for love.

The End