Epilogue
I own nothing. May be explicit, may not be, depends on your definition. WARNING! If the idea of two people being in love, regardless of species, age, or gender bothers you, DO NOT READ!! You have a back button, STFU and use it. Also, if you're hungry, this will only make it worse. I'm a culinary artist! I go way far into detail when it comes to the cooking scenes! Pleez, dun haet meh. That being said, this is based off of 'He Will Be Loved' from Mixed Nuts, so I would suggest reading that before you read this, enjoy!
Also, if you like this story, it's all because of Awerewolf. He's the one who made me brave enough to write it, and was wonderful enough to beta it. If there was a way to thank him for all the encouraging things he wrote, it's not one I have the money for, so I hope dedicating this fiction to him and letting him know that his Tai/Po is on its way is enough. Thank you so much for all your kindness and for being you. Rock on!
I know I said the story was done, but it just seemed to be begging for an epilogue, so I wrote one. Bearing in mind that this is my first attempt at a song fic, please review kindly. Special gift for Awerewolf, so I hope you like this!
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"Po, what are you doing?" the aged voice of none other than Master Oogway greeted Po's ears as he fell from his position, hanging by his knees on a sturdy, old maple tree.
"Oh! Oogway, I didn't see you there! Heh, sorry, I mean, I just, um, never mind. Anyway, I was just, kinda, maybe, singing?" Po offered, twisting his foot in the dirt as he confessed to a very unmanly action.
Oogway smiled and Po noticed he was wearing the key around his neck, same as he had every day since he was given it, but what had caught Po's eye was that he was carrying the music box in his clawed hand. Po loved those hands, so gentle yet so strong, and could honestly say they were the most perfect hands in all the world with absolute certainty. Who else had hands that could bring him to climax without ever nearing his pleasure center? Who else in all the world could tear mountains to pieces, but chose, instead, to softly comb his fur, taking time to deal with every knot with the utmost care and loving concentration? No one, that was the only answer Po came up with.
"I see you have noticed your music box. I was wondering if the song it plays has a name? It is a very beautiful song, and I feel it deserves a name just as beautiful," Oogway explained, looking to Po for help.
That was another thing Po loved about him. Even though, to everyone else, he seemed the image of perfection, he wasn't, and he had no issues with asking help whenever he needed it. For instance, Po was probably one of the only people in the world who knew that Master Oogway could not cook. No matter how long Po tried to help him, it seemed each time it only got worse. Po had finally asked him to stop before the Palace burned down and Oogway, laughing, had replied that was probably for the best.
"Um, well, that kinda is the name. Beautiful, I mean. The song's name is Beautiful," Po replied, fidgeting slightly at the girlish title.
Oogway nodded in understanding, smile never faltering, never mocking, only encouraging. He never discouraged Po, he listened so well, no matter how trivial the topic, letting Po finish what he was saying before speaking. He never seemed to judge Po for anything, and Po was so beyond grateful, he doubted the master would ever understand.
"Are there words to it?" Oogway questioned, and Po knew he was going to end up singing for the master one way or another. Might as well get it over with.
Though he knew that, if he truly did not want to, Master Oogway would not make him, he always pushed him to try new things, such as singing for an audience, or learning Kung Fu. He had a way of knowing when Po wanted to do something, but was too shy to attempt it, and he would always manage to coax Po into doing it, and, in the end, Po always found he enjoyed it. Oogway always seemed to push - no, push wasn't the right word, more like nudge, sweet talk, encourage, but never push - him to be better. And he loved him all the more for it.
Nodding, Po asked, "Would you like to hear 'em?"
Oogway nodded, opening the music box as the final chords played, then the song began again.
Po allowed the intro to waft through the night air before he opened his mouth, a soft, hesitant, but clear voice whispered the lyrics.
"Every day is so wonderful
But suddenly, it's so hard to breathe.
Now and then, I get insecure
From all the pain, I'm so ashamed."
Seeing he had his lover's unfaltering attention, Po grew more courageous, singing louder, building a crescendo of the notes, hitting them dead on as one would expect to hear a professional.
"I am beautiful no matter what they say
Words can't bring me down.
I am beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring me down
So don't you bring me down today.
"To all your friends, you're delirious
So consumed in all your doom.
Trying hard to fill the emptiness
The piece is gone, you left the puzzle undone
Ain't that the way it is
"'Cause you are beautiful no matter what they say
Words can't bring you down.
You are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring you down,
So don't you bring me down today..."
Losing himself in te music, Po belted the words he had written, all hesitance and fear forgotten as his voice echoed in the night.
"No matter what we do!
(No matter what we do!)
No matter what they say!
(No matter what they say!)
We're the song inside the tune
Full of beautiful mistakes!
"And everywhere we go
(And everywhere we go)
The sun will always shine
And tomorrow we might awake
On the other side!
"'Cause we are beautiful no matter what they say
Yes, words won't bring us down! Oh no!
We are beautiful in every single way
Yes, words can't bring us down!
So don't you bring me down today!
"Don't you bring me down today, yeah, ooh, oh,
Don't you bring me down hmmmm, today."
Po finished singing in a soft tone almost equal to how he had started, but, unlike his shy, fidgety beginning, Po ended in a confident, soft tone laced with love and beauty.
Closing the music box, Oogway pulled Po into a loving, deep kiss, pulling back only long enough to comment, "That really was beautiful, Po. I couldn't have named it better if I'd tried."