Apologizing

"I told you I'm fine," Lillia muttered.

"That's not what your tail was saying yesterday," Po mentioned. Lillia looked away from the panda. "So, since you're not going to tell me-"

"And I won't," Lillia emphasized.

"What did you and Maz talk about? I saw you leaving his room pretty fast," Po said.

"I told him sorry for-"

"What! You told him sorry?!"

"Why is that so surprising?"

"Because you're not the person I would think to say sorry often," Po said honestly. Lillia rolled her eyes, then she became very silent.

"I... wanted to apologize for doing all the things to him... I didn't know that he was like me in a lot of ways."

"So what you're saying is-"

"Don't say it, Po!" Lillia ordered. Po raised his hands in defeat. They walked to the Training Hall when Po suddenly said.

"I was right," Po cheekily finished. Lillia huffed and sighed. When they entered the Training Hall, they saw Maz warming up for his training sessions.

"Okay, what are we going to learn now?" Maz asked. Po suddenly got a cheeky idea.

"Actually, I was thinking that Lillia could teach you for a moment. I have to find Tigress and tell her something Master Shifu instructed me to do. Why don't you practice with Lillia for a while." Maz and Lillia looked at each other.

"But-" both of them said.

"Great! I'll be right back," Po said rushing out the door. Lillia groaned. She looked at the lion. Maz still looked a little nervous. Lillia genuinely smiled at him.

"Don't worry, I won't give you the hard treatment. I'll...try to be easy on you," She smirked.

"That doesn't comfort me," Maz said. Lillia got into her stance.

"Just show me what Tigress and Po taught you," Lillia replied. With that, they started sparring. Actually, it was more like Maz flopping.

"OFH!"

"Better, you managed to make me actually break a sweat," Lillia smirked. Maz was getting tired of her smugness. Then he got an idea. He quickly swiped her feet. She hit the ground and Maz hovered over her.

"Who's breaking a sweat now," Maz smirked. But he saw Lillia's face wasn't the surprised embarrassed kind. It was the timid scared kind. "Lillia, I didn't mean to-"

"Get off!" She kicked him squared in the stomach. Maz lunged off and was forced to his back. He huddled his stomach in pain as he curled up into a ball and laid on his side. Lillia immediately came to his side. "Oh my gosh! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you that hard."

"It's okay," He grunted. "I deserve that. Wow, those legs can really kick." He started to get over the pain, sitting up using his arms as support. He still had one arm over his stomach

"Are you okay?" Lillia asked. Maz placed a hand on the side of her cheek. She blushed instantly.

"I should be asking you that," Maz replied.

"W-Why?" She asked. She didn't know why she was stuttering.

"Lillia, you looked absolutely terrified when I did that. What happened?" He asked.

"I don't know. I just... panicked," She said, snatching her face from Maz's warm hand.

"That's why I'm asking. Panic is not something I would associate with you." Maz said. Lillia looked away.

"It can happen," Lillia replied. She helped Maz up and quickly headed for the door when Po was just coming in.

"Hey, Lillia-"

"Hey Po," She quickly said. Then she left. Po sighed and looked at the lion.

"Oh come on, Maz, what did you do this time? Kiss her?"

"What?! No, no, what made you think that?" Maz denied darting his eyes around. Po was just kidding but Maz's reaction made him think otherwise.

"Wait did you actually kiss her?"

"No! I just had...an accident with Lillia," Maz shyly explained. "I kind of fell on top of her." Po was confused then realized it.

"Ah, she's probably had nightmares about a lion jumping on her and attacking her. It's understandable," Po replied. "Why don't you go to Master Shifu? I'm sure he has some work for you to do." Maz nodded and went away. Just then, Tigress came in with Po. "Looks like Lillia's gotten very comfortable with Maz unless you count her scars still being a little deep."

"It will come with time," Tigress replied. Then her face turned mischievous.

"Tigress, what are you thinking? I know that smile. I don't trust that smile," Po narrowed his eyes at her. Tigress walked up to him closer.

"So, about the studies-"

"Tigress," Po rolled his eyes.

"I'm very curious. This is a part of you that I had no idea existed," Tigress replied.

"What is it then?"

"How did you classify tigers?" She asked. Po thought about it.

"We...had a difficult time doing that," Po replied.

"How come?"

"Well, male tigers were easy enough to classify. They were coupled with lions, male leopards, and other big cats. Female tigers were tricky."

"Why?"

"Well, they have the strength of a full sized male tiger, but in a smaller frame. We really couldn't figure out how to classify them. So we just put them as 'unique'," Po sweetly said. Tigress's face seemed to turn a shade redder, but she shook it off and continued her naughty pursuit.

"So what things did you learn about female tigers," She asked.

"Um... just stuff that would benefit the female tigers," Po sheepishly said.

"Like?"

"Like... what places to make them...purr," Po shyly said.

"Is that so?" Tigress smiled.

"Hehe," Po nervously smiled. Meanwhile, Maz was going to the steps where he met Lillia. They looked at each other for a while.

"I wanted to-" they both said at the same time.

"You first," Lillia said.

"I...I wanted to say I'm sorry for what happened in the Training Hall. I just wanted to get the upper hand," Maz replied rubbing his head.

"It's fine, really. You didn't know," Lillia explained. "Let's just put the whole thing behind us. I hate it when people apologize too much."

"Why?"

"It just seems pathetic to apologize to me all the time. I'm not a precious little lamb."

"Hehe, I know," Maz chuckled. Lillia smirked at him.

"What is that suppose to mean?" Maz nervously gulped.

"Well, I mean... you're a very strong and independent person and you don't really follow anyone. You make your own way," Maz replied. "Was that answer good enough to keep me alive?" He asked sheepishly. Lillia's eyes rested at half-lidded and she smiled.

"Maybe," She said leaving him.

Continued...