Attachment

It had been three months since Lillia and Maz came to the Jade Palace. Lillia and Tigress still sparred with each other, but for some reason, Lillia spent most of her time with Maz, just talking with him. Po always had a big smile on his face when he saw them together. Just then, Monkey came into Po's room. "Hey, Po."

"Hey Monkey, what's up?"

"Nothing, I was just wondering if your dreams had anything for me," Monkey smirked. Po was confused.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it's obvious that your dreams can see into the past. So I'm waiting for when they can see into the future," Monkey said excitedly.

"Why?"

"Because I want to know how I'll get married and to who." Po rolled his eyes.

"Monkey, I'm not a soothsayer. I can't tell if the woman you're going to marry is a lion, monkey, or bug."

"Ew, not a bug," Monkey muttered walking away. Po chuckled as he continued to rest. Then Tigress came in.

"Hey Tigress," Po greeted, but Po instantly knew what she was doing here when he saw her face. "Tigress, I know that face. I don't trust that face." Tigress's mischievous smile was ever present.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." She said. "But we do have to talk about that 'purr-spot'."

"I said I was sorry. I forgot about that spot," Po apologized. Tigress closed the door behind them.

"It's fine. I just want to know where else the spots are," She said cheekily. Po just shook his head.

"Why have you been like this, lately? You're usually as far away from me as possible and all by yourself," he asked standing up.

"Does it bother you?"

"No, but it's just... very unusual," Po said. Tigress then pondered what Po said.

"What do you mean I'm usually as far away from you as possible," Tigress asked.

"I was just kidding, Tigress."

"No, you weren't. Why did you say that?" Po sighed.

"I mean, usually, you're by yourself. I didn't mean to single myself out. You're usually away from everyone," Po replied. "Look, I'm just very... confused at why you're acting like this." Tigress walked closer to him.

"You've studied tigers, you should know," She smirked. Po thought about what she said. Then he remembered his dream. He took a deep breath, gently grabbed Tigress's face and kissed her. Tigress was in shock. She didn't kiss back for a long time before her shock wore off. Her arms wrapped around Po's neck, bringing him closer to herself. Po's hands moved down her back, rubbing her 'purr-spot'. She purred uncontrollably into the kiss. Tigress knew Po was smiling inside. She began pushing him back and they fell to the floor. Tigress still kissed Po but she was on top of him now. Po gently grabbed Tigress's tail and stroked it, making her gasp. He knew all the buttons to press to catch her off guard, and Tigress loved it. She loved him challenging her to remain the dominant one. She loved how soft his fur was. She loved how he was always there for her. She loved him. They finally parted, panting heavily. "Po?" Was all that Tigress could ask. Po smiled widely.

"You're right," Po said, stroking her cheek. "It is fun to make someone blush." Tigress blushed brighter. Po chuckled.

"What was that all about, though? Why did you kiss me?" Tigress asked.

"Because you're right. I should have known. Female tigers have a tendency of being cheeky around the person they love intimately," Po plainly said. Tigress looked away embarrassed but Po smiled saying, "I love you, too." Tigress smiled brightly. "Then there's the fact that you closed the door and you've never done that. That tells me you planned on doing something that you didn't want the others to see or know about. What exactly were you planning to do?" Tigress wouldn't answer. "Well, I'm glad I kissed you."

"I'm glad as well," Tigress said. "It was kind of random to do it, though."

"Hey, I have to be the unpredictable panda," Po joked. Tigress smiled. "So, what exactly were you planning to do that made you shut the door?" Tigress smirked mischievously. "Tigress? Why are you smiling like that?" Tigress just silently came close to him, but then pulled back all of a sudden. She then walked out the door, leaving Po on the ground. "Sorry, I asked," Po muttered.

Meanwhile, Lillia and Viper were sparring together. Lillia decided she wanted a different sparring partner to keep her agile. That and she couldn't find Tigress at the moment. Viper launched at her, making Lillia dodge to the right. The lamb grabbed her tail. Viper quickly wrapped around Lillia's hand and then around her body. Lillia stumbled a bit, trying to keep her balance. Then she remembered Po telling her something about a spot on Viper. Lillia's constricted hand was able to move just to get to the spot. Viper's eyes widened as she relaxed her tightened body. Lillia quickly figured out how to tie Master Viper in a knot. Viper just sighed.

"You win," Viper muttered.

"I usually do," Lillia said smugly. "That was a good spar, though." Viper untied herself out of the knot.

"So, where's Maz?" She asked.

"He's doing his political homework."

"You and Maz seem to be hitting it off better," Viper smiled. Lillia cautiously looked at the snake.

"He is who I have to protect, nothing more nothing less," Lillia firmly said.

"Of course, I was just saying that you two seem to be okay now, considering the rough start. Why do you seem hostile about it?" Viper asked. Lillia looked away.

"Nothing," Lillia replied.

"Lillia, there's something I've been meaning to ask you. You're not interested in dating men, right?" Viper openly asked. Lillia's head snapped at her.

"Of course, I'm interested in dating men," She replied.

"I'm just asking," Viper said, noticing her hostility, "I mean you tend to give men a hard time. I'm not asking if you're ever going to be interested in men. I'm asking are you considering dating men."

"I'm," Lillia paused. "I'm not really thinking about dating yet. There's a lot left I have to do, places I want to see."

"Okay, that's all I was asking," Viper said, slithering away.

"That's not to say I haven't... considered it," Lillia replied. Viper tilted her head in a shrugging manner and left the lamb alone. Lillia thought to herself.

"Come on, Lily," she talked to herself. "You shouldn't be hung up about this. It doesn't matter. You've done well on your own." She groaned holding her head. "I have to get away from these people soon. I'm getting too attached to them."

"Is that bad?" said a voice behind her. Lillia quickly turned around with her daggers ready. She relaxed when she saw it was Maz.

"Don't sneak up on me like that. I could have killed you," Lillia sighed. Maz still had a smile on his face. "What did you hear?"

"I came in when Viper left. Then you started talking to yourself, Lily," Maz smiled. Lillia growled. She pulled out her dagger and pointed near Maz's neck. Maz, being used to her threats, didn't flinch.

"Don't call me that," She ordered.

"Oh sure, but it's okay for you to call me Mazy," Maz replied.

"Yes," Lillia smirked. Maz rolled his eyes as Lillia pulled away her dagger.

"Why are you worried about getting attached?"

"Because I'm not going to be here for long. All the council has to do is say that your training is done and you go back to the palace. Then I have to leave," Lillia sighed.

"What if I arranged it so you don't have to leave?" Maz asked. Lillia shook her head.

"I wouldn't allow or agree to it. It's bad to get attached to anyone. Your enemies may take advantage of it. I don't want to put you guys at risk," Lillia said. Maz was silent for a while.

"Is it... one of the rules of assassins?" He asked curiously. Lillia chuckled.

"Well, generally. Unless the other person is a fellow assassin. Even then, it's very risky."

"What if you lived in-" Maz stopped when he thought about it. "Never mind.

"What were you going to say?" Lillia directly asked.

"I was going to suggest you live in Bei-Lang, but that's the worst idea."

"Yeah," Lillia agreed, "I may be okay with you and your brother, but other lions are still my enemy."

"Right," Maz sighed.

"Why are you so worried about where I'm going to live?" Lillia asked. Maz looked away nervously.

"Well, it's been great being with you. In the palace, I didn't have many friends. Here I have friends. I was actually considering living here." Lillia was confused.

"Why? Aren't you needed in the palace?" Lillia asked. Maz chuckled.

"You mean after my brother finally gets the guts to confess to Zora and make her queen? No, plus as it is right now, I don't have any responsibilities to my people. I'm a figurehead. Smile and wave smile and wave. Boring! That's all I have to look forward to at home. But-"

"But?"

"Since I'm royalty, I am allowed to explore and see other people and places. I don't want to be confined to the palace walls anymore. I want to be free," Maz said.

"Freedom comes at a price," Lillia muttered.

"It's a price I'm willing to pay," Maz replied. He took her hands into his gently. "Lillia, I understand why you don't want to get attached to people, but there are strength and support in numbers. Consider it." With that, he released her hands and left. Lillia gently rubbed her touched hands as she lightly blushed. Then she shook her head.

"I can't get attached. Especially not to him," Lillia muttered. She walked out of the Training Hall, but still gently rubbed her hands.

Continued...