Soup
"Why soup?" She asked. Po shrugged and swirled around the spoon in his hand. They were having soup, but Po's question interrupted the flow of things in a weird way.
"I was just thinking: why is it that we eat soup? I mean, we drink most of it and there's very little that we actually eat. So why do we say, oh hey! I'm eating soup?"
Tigress stared at him, blinked a few times before shaking her head. "You come up with some very weird questions."
"What? They're perfectly normal questions," Po rebutted.
"I don't think of questioning soup when I eat. I think of eating it."
"You're just upset because you can't actually find an answer."
"I can," Tigress firmly said. "But I don't waste my time on silly questions."
"Oh I'm sorry," Po muttered, "I didn't know my questions were soooo childish." A soft growl exited the tiger's throat. She shook her head again and sighed. "I'm just saying, it's an interesting question that no one asks. I mean, don't you have questions that you want the answers to?"
"Yes, but they don't consist of whether or not an idiom is accurate or not."
"A what?"
"A... never mind," Tigress groaned. Po shrugged and continued eating... er... drinking... his soup as they sat in the kitchen. He gulped it down, smacked his lips with the back of his hand, and relaxed into his chair.
"Ahh, that was good."
"I'm glad you liked it," Tigress said with a small smirk.
"But I still want to know-"
"Po!" Tigress finally grunted, "There are a lot of things I wonder about in this world, but I don't wonder about soup!"
"Okay, okay, sheesh," Po mumbled as he put the dish into the sink. "Asking doesn't offend, you know."
"Ugh. I can't believe I'm doing this," Tigress grumbled. She stood up, pulled out a chair from the table, and sat right in front of Po who was at the sink. "Alright, I've got one question that's been bugging me."
"Really? Okay, shoot."
"Why aren't you in a relationship?"
Po nearly dropped the dish into the soapy water. He swung his head back, eyes bugging out like softballs, and stood with a hanging mouth. "Uh...uhhh... what?"
"Why aren't you in a relationship."
"Ww-why do you want to know that?"
"Po, you're past the age most males are married. I figured it was because there were no pandas. But the pandas moved in a year ago, and there are plenty of beautiful female pandas."
"Ye-Yeah so?" Po stuttered. He desperately tried to stay on the dishes. Anything to get away from the conversation. "I just... haven't found the right person. I mean, isn't there some Kung fu rule against love because it's an earthly distraction?"
Tigress narrowed her eyes. "Po, you know that's not a true rule. It's a guideline, not a mandatory requirement. And even if it was, you're not the kind of person to follow it."
"I don't know what you want from me, Tigress. I just... don't have anyone."
"Why not? Do you..." She stopped. She didn't want to assume, but she didn't know if he'd pick up on it. Po swung around, dropping the dish into the sink and glaring hard.
"No! I don't do stuff like that! Geez!"
"I wasn't going to judge you."
"Well, I don't."
"Why are you upset?"
"Tigress!" Po exclaimed, slapping his hands onto the kitchen counter. "I don't have a relationship with anyone because no one wants to be in a relationship with me!" A long silence echoed around the kitchen. Tigress immediately felt a sinking feeling in her chest. The panda's back was hunching, sinking and rising from the sharp pants he took from his little outburst. He straightened up, taking a deep breath, and spoke again. "I'm... not the kind of guy most women would go after, Tigress. And it's hard with the Dragon Warrior title to find the girl who's gonna love me for me and not for the fame or glory. Hehe, not that I have much of it, really."
"I'm... I'm sorry I didn't-"
"It's okay. I know," The panda said, sighing the words he must have said a thousand times. "You didn't mean it. I hope that answers your question."
"I... It does," Tigress said with shaky certainty. Po nodded and finished the dishes he had before heading out of the kitchen. Tigress sat there in complete silence. Thoughts ran through her head. She never thought she would hear the panda's heart aching so much from the truth. She had only heard it a few times in her life, and each time it was when they were facing a mighty villain that required him to be completely honest with himself.
And with her.
Tigress sighed. Why did I ask the question, she thought. She didn't mean to let her annoyed attitude get the better of her. Because of it, Po was reminded of a single fact that he had tried to stuff down in his heart.
He was alone.
Tigress tapped her claw on the wooden table, gritting her teeth. She had to face another truth, too. A truth she didn't like to admit but most of the others, especially Po, knew very well.
She was alone too.
Tigress stood up and chased after the panda out the barracks. "Po, Po!"
"Huh? Tigress? What is it?" Po asked.
"I... I wanted to ask another question," Tigress said. Po stared at her for a while before rolling his eyes and giving a great sigh.
"What is it?" He asked with a sag of his shoulders.
"Would you be in a relationship with someone who you didn't expect to be in a relationship."
"If they're the one, of course." He rose his eyebrow. "Why?"
"No reason," Tigress recovered quickly. "I just... wanted to know." Po shrugged and continued on his way. "And I'm... I'm sorry for bringing this up. I should have-"
"Like I said. It's okay," Po sighed.
"It's not."
"Why do you care so much about it? It's not like it's hurting you."
"But it's hurting you," Tigress said firmly, glaring deep into his jade eyes. "And I care because I care about you, Po. Don't ever forget that."
"Hehe, I never do," Po smiled. "Dah! I mean, I would never. Not to suggest anything about... um... you know what I'm just gonna stop talking."
"Good choice," Tigress smirked, hiding the slight blushing in her cheeks. "Is it okay if I go with you?"
"I'm just going to my dad's shop. I thought you wanted to train?"
"I think I can use a break."
Po's eyes nearly rolled out of their sockets. He immediately got into a fighting stance. "THE Master Tigress skipping a chance to train? Who are you and what have you done with her?"
Tigress rolled her eyes. "Po."
"I'm serious."
"I just want to... talk with you a little more," she said with a small warm smile. "If that's okay with you." Po's shocked face split into a wide loveably goofy grin.
"Of course." Tigress nodded and with that, the two walked down the Jade Palace steps, talking and asking a lot more questions.
Days seemed to transform right into years, and Po suddenly found himself laughing next to a beautifully dressed female tiger. "What's so funny?" Tigress asked.
"I was just thinking about our first date," Po smirked. The tiger rolled her eyes.
"Are you talking about the one that started with the soup or the one that started with the bandits."
"The soup one."
"I still don't think that was our first date," Tigress muttered as she watched their wedding party going on. "Remind me to keep your dads away from Shifu for a while."
"Why?"
"Because they're still fighting over their last Mahjong match," Tigress grumbled. The panda chuckled as a server brought them bowls.
"Would you two newlyweds like some soup?" The old duck asked.
"Hmm, do you eat or drink soup?" Po asked out loud. Tigress's hand slapped her forehead.
"Po, I swear to the honor I have as a Kung fu warrior, I will knock you out before our honeymoon if you ask that question again."
Po could only laugh.
The End
