I Don't own Kung fu Panda Enjoy !
Tigress and Po both stared at each other's hands in awe. Po was surprised how well Tigress hand fit into his, how warm and soft they felt in his big bulky hand. Tigress could not help but stare into his eyes. What is it about this boy that keeps Tigress focus?Their was something pulling her towards this boy but what? What was this feeling? She wondered.
A electric current came rushing through her when their hands met but why? What is this feeling she wondered. Po and Tigress were broken from their trance by the sound of Shifu tapping the ground with his staff as he cleared his throat.
"Looks like you are going to be with us for the day Panda now take a seat, we have a lot to cover". Shifu said coldly as he looked at Po with distrust and aggression. He may not have been the most loving father but, he was just trying to look out for Tigress. Trying to do his best to protect her especially when it comes to boys. Shifu did not know but, something about this boy did not suite right with Shifu.
Po gulped and nodded as he sat down in a empty desk between Tigress and Viper. He could feel Shifu's cold stare from across the room. He tried to ignore the stares he received from the other students but the wave of judgment kept looming over him. He started twiddling his thumbs with discomfort not wanting to glance up and see Shifu's stare.
"Panda lower your hood you are in class and its not raining inside". Shifu demanded as he looked at Po. Shifu tried to decide what to do with him. He could just sent him down the the library to help Miss Yun. But, perhaps if he shows promise he could stay. Surely he could not be totally helpless in Kung fu.
"You're the new student right the one that has only been here for a few weeks my name is Matt but people call me Mantis I'm sorry about how people are treating you I know what it feels like to be judged based on your size and it does not feel good".
Mantis whispered to Po as he smiled at him warmly and offered his hand. Mantis sat behind Po so all Po had to do was turn to the side and reach out to the smaller kid. Po felt better about being in here knowing that he was welcome by some of the students helped ease his fear of Shifu a little.
"Thanks Mantis my name is Po and Its nice to meet you too". Po whispered back as he shook Mantis's hand with a friendly smile.
"Panda did you hear what I said Lower your-
Po frowned he had enough of this guy. He did not care if he was a famous Kung fu master. He did not care that he wanted to meet him since he was three and had a collection of Shifu comics under his bed. It did not give him the right to treat him like trash. Po was not one of his students so he did not have to put up with this garage but, he decided to stay for Tigress's sake.
"Hey, my name is not Panda my name is Po. You can not talk to me like that, I'm not one of your students so you can't keep me here! The only reason why I have not left already is because of her". Po said as he pointed at Tigress causing the majority of the class to whisper to one another all except for five other students who looked at the scene with unreadable expressions.
"Fine, leave but know this Tigress had mentioned to me that you had helped her make it to Class before the second bell and you were half way across campus you must have some impressive speed would you be interested in learning Kung fu".
Po looked at Shifu with excitement, he could barely sit still in his seat as he jumped up and down in his chair and said, "Whoa that would be awesome! He was super excited to learn Kung fu from a real master! He could not wait to tell his dad. Suddenly, As if realizing his situation he frowned his face drowned with realization and disappointment.
, "But, I can't. I love Kung fu and I have dreamed of meeting you for a while but, my dad wants me to help at his shop and stuff I'm afraid I just don't have the time. But thank you". Po said as he stood up he walked over towards Monkey and gave him the tub of cookies and walked out of the class.
The whole Kung fu class fell silent. Tigress felt bad she wished she could have done something besides sending her overprotective father dirty looks. She was embarrassed to even know him how dare he treat Po like that just because he was different. It was unthinkable. Tigress had never felt so useless in her life. She should have said something. Why didn't she?
Tigress stood up and went after him, she managed to hug him from behind before he could get far. "Po wait, forget about what Shifu said, he doesn't know you he is just threatened by you because he saw us holding hands do not let him scare you off, stay please".
Po looked at her with shock. Surprised that Tigress hugged him, she could have just yelled for him to come back but, she had hugged him. Po has never been a hit with the ladies before, especially really pretty ones like Tigress, so to see her like this was quite a shock.
Po was not not the only one shocked by her actions. Tigress took felt mixed emotions hugging Po? Why didn't she just say for him to come back. Why did she hug him? She could not help but think about how soft and warm Po was. Before, she let him go embarrassed that she once again, found herself wonder about things she shouldn't.
"I'm sorry but, I can't tell Shifu I'm sorry about leaving I may not be all that smart but I can tell when I'm not wanted" .
"Okay bye Po I hope we can hang out some time Shifu may not like you but I do".
Po look at her with shock a small smile forming on his face his cheeks turning pink and his heart racing. Po never had friends before, people were always too disgusted by his weight and by his love for kung fu.
Even his dad did not really understand him Mr. Ping meant well, but all he truly cared about was noodles he didn't even pretend to be interested in Po's interest in Kung fu. Mr. Ping made him to this school to get his cooking degree not to study Kung fu. Still, Po always lingered by the school gym and watch the students train.
He knew about most the students through the club they created for the top students in the class it was the only way he was able to watch the Kung Fu tournament matches. There were supposed to be five students in Shifu's class that were one of the best fighters in China. He had figured out shortly after spending time observing the classroom just before he stormed out was Tigress was one of the five students. Even if Shifu did not want to teach him maybe Tigress would.
No. She probably won't do that. She was just trying to be nice to him which he had heard was strangely out of character for her. Tigress had treated him differently than the others.
Po had people treat him differently all his life, he had grown accustomed to it. the one person he thought would avoid him or treat him harshly accepted the one he had heard sworn off emotions for kung fu and order had treated Po better than anyone else he knew.
If this was a dream do not wake him up ever.
Po smiled and said, "Thank you Tigress nobody has ever said anything like that to me before it feels good".
Tigress looked surprised even enraged by that comment. How could anyone be so cruel to such a innocent sweet soul? It reminded her of her long years of being in the orphanage how people always thought she was a monster because she had a difficult time with her temper. She still had to mediate to keep her chi steady her temper will always be the thing that stands in the way of truly fitting in.
Tigress returned the smile and then bowed in respect to Po and said, "Good luck to you Panda and I hope we cross paths again. I'm sure Shifu will come around".
Po hugged her making her freeze at first but then returned the hug and after what felt like forever he let her go with a shocked expression on her face. A smile slowly formed on her face as she watched her new friend grow smaller and smaller as he walked away until he became a speck in the distance.
Po sat in his bed staring up at the ceiling, when the school called his father, he got chewed out for skipping his classes. But, what else was he supposed to do cry in front of all his teachers? The hateful look on Shifu's face when he entered the room still fresh in his mind.
As punishment for cutting class Po can not go to the comic book shop for four weeks. Po loved to read comics and always made sure to get the latest and greatest items. Po had accumulated so much stuff over the years Mr. Ping had to give Po another room in the house to store all of his collection.
But, Po thought Tigress was worth all the four weeks torture of being behind in the fandom conversations online. Po smiled as he sat on his bed staring at the ceiling thinking of the orange haired beauty before he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Tigress could not focus on training she was too angry at her father for treating Po so harshly his overprotective behavior is the reason why the only friends she had was Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey! Not that they were bad company she just wished Shifu would back off a little.
Even Grandpa Oogway agreed with her and seemed more in touch with the internet then she was always reading zen books on his kindle and offering to take her to the movies after a long training session. She regretted saying no all those times he asked. Now, Oogway was sick and near death's door and Shifu has become more distant than before.
He has even started to hit her for even the most smallest mistakes during training. But, Tigress was a warrior and had a high threshold for pain, despite her tough attitude she could feel the bruise around her cheek sting. He had hit her especially hard today he was disgusted with her sympathetic nature towards the Panda.
Even Tigress wondered why she even bothered being nice to that pathetic boy. Still, there was something about him that she could not ignore she kept tossing and turning at night thinking about how lonely and sad those green orbs were. He might act happy on the outside but inside he was in pain. He was lonely just like her. Maybe that is why she could not stop thinking about him. Even when she closed her unusual orange eyes his face did not leave her mind.