Orange and Red
By corset-rebellion-follower
Disclaimer: I don't own Kung Fu Panda
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Chapter 2- They Don't Know You
Master Shifu walked past the Hall of Heroes. The workmen were still fixing the damage from his and Po's battle with Tai Lung. The inside had been completely repaired a few weeks ago, but the heavy doors were still being worked on.
The memory of Tai Lung punching him through into the hall flashed through his mind. He shook his head and approached the workers. "How's the work on the door coming along?" he asked the head worker, a pig named Lee.
"Great. In fact, we just finished," Lee said happily.
"I'm not going to lie to you, it took you longer than I expected," Shifu said.
"Well of course it did. We decided to add a little something, free of charge, to thank you and your students for protecting our families. Men, step aside and let Master Shifu see." The rest of the pigs parted so that the new door was in view.
Not only had it been completely repaired, but a magnificent scene had been inlaid in precious stones on the new wood. It depicted him, the Five, and Po all in different forms. Shifu was speechless. Lee chortled.
"It was no big deal. But we're going to pack up and get going. We have a lot of work to do in the village." The pigs started to pack up their tools and make their way down the stairs. Shifu was still staring in wonder at the inlay work. They were all illustrated perfectly down to the last detail. Even the patterns on all their clothes and the expressions on their faces.
His eyes ran over the inlay of Tigress. She was ready to strike, her face serious and unheeding. He frowned. They didn't know Tigress. Not like he did. Then again, no one does. He placed a hand carefully on the picture of her. It was cold.
He sighed and stepped away from the mural. Tigress was cold and withdrawing in public. She hardly ever showed emotion and seemed unapproachable. But in private… that was another story. She was warm and loving and caring. She always thought about the feelings of others first. But Tigress's definition of being in private was usually just him and herself.
No one ever saw the real her, the beautiful and graceful woman that she is. But I'm not much better. His inlay looked just as serious and glowering as Tigress's. He turned away from the inlay and went to the bunkhouse and to his room. He was a lot like Tigress. Even though he had found inner peace, something still tore at him.
Two arms enfolded him, and a pair of warm lips kissed his cheeks and neck. A small smile crossed his face. "Hm… Tigress." He got a kiss under the chin in reply. "You left training early today. That's not like you," he pointed out.
She nuzzled him. "Well I wanted to spend some time with you. You didn't come to direct us today," she whispered. Tigress always addressed Shifu's corrections on his students work "direction". Everyone else called it criticism. He smile broadened a bit.
"The doors were finished today." She kissed the back of his ears.
"That's good."
"And Po's training is…"
Tigress silenced him with a gentle kiss to the lips. "Shifu, you're babbling. Relax." She kissed his forehead. "It's just you and me." He sighed and stepped out of her grip.
"Yes I know. And that's what worries me."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"You barely ever show any emotion other than anger outside of this building. I'm getting worried about you. It's not good to keep your emotions bottled up inside," he explained.
"I don't!"
"You do! Do you remember last month? When you couldn't get that form down just perfectly? You acted like it was nothing in the training hall, but then you came to me at one in the morning sobbing about how it was eating you up inside. I don't want you to be a stranger to everyone who loves you. You're already becoming a stranger to me." Tigress glared at him.
"Really? How?" she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
He sighed. "You seem so cold. Like a picture on a wall."
"Well I'm sorry if I don't want to tell everyone in the Valley about our relationship! That's not what this is about, isn't it?" Tigress demanded.
"That's not what this is about! This is about you, and how you never express any emotion anymore! I remember when you were a little girl, you were always so carefree and happy. What happened?" Shifu yelled. There was a deafening silence.
"You happened, Shifu. You never were proud of me, I was never good enough!"
Shifu glared at her and took her face in his hands. "You were always good enough. You were my jewel." He pressed his lips to hers. "But you'll shine even brighter if you open yourself up to others. And not just to me. Your friends deserve to see the real you."
Tigress covered his hand with her paw. "You're right. They do." She kissed him. "I love you."
A/N: This second drabble was inspired by Laura Schiller's fic, All I Ever Wanted, chapter 4, the description of Shifu's new staff. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you should read it, it's an awesome Shifu/Tigress fic. Better than mine, I believe. But whatever.