Do You Want to Know?
They had been a couple for a while, and all this time Po couldn't figure out one thing about her. "Why don't you want to know who your real parents are?" The question first came when they were in the kitchen. The others were gone on a mission, Shifu in his studies. They were alone. Tigress set down the tea, staring emotionlessly into the murky brown liquid. Her face reflected her expression. Difficulty. A soft sigh, a slow closing of the eyes, and lips that trembled. She knew how it looked. She could only imagine what was going through Po's head. "Tigress, I did-"
"Po," She finally said, lifting her head up with some emotional difficulty. "I just... don't want to know who they are."
"Oh... Okay," Po responded. Tigress stood up, gave the panda a nod, and started to leave the room. "I just... don't want you to have a missing piece of your life."
She stopped just at the entryway. Her hand rested on the post with her back towards the panda. "Po," She said slowly. "Sometimes, closure is impossible to get. No matter how much you want it."
"So you do want it," Po said, standing up.
"I-"
"Tigress, please." He came closer. Close enough for her to feel his warmth on her back. "I just... want to help as much as I can."
"And what about you?" She asked, turning around to face him. "What about your needs? Your help."
"Don't hide your problems, Tigress." Po narrowed his eyes, "You and I both know you're avoiding the question."
"Because I don't want to answer the question."
"Okay." Po rose his hands up in defeat. "I understand."
Tigress rose her eyebrow, crossing her arms. "I don't believe you."
"Why not?"
"You're more curious than I am."
"You're not curious at all."
"I'm curious about you."
"That doesn't count."
"How come?"
"I'm a walking curiosity."
Tigress shook her head but said nothing. She smiled, though. He had a point. "Why don't you believe me?" Po asked.
"Because you have a tendency of not letting these things go."
"I'm stubborn. So are you."
"I'm determined."
"Same thing."
"Not the same thing."
"How?"
Tigress's lips separated to speak, but nothing could come out. What is the difference between determination and stubbornness?
Tigress shook her head again. "That's not the point. I know you're going to keep trying to figure this out."
"I won't."
"Why not?"
"I wouldn't do something like that behind your back," Po said. The sincerity in his eyes calmed her nerves. Her shoulders slackened as she gave a small sigh. "I was just... wondering. But... I get it."
"You do?"
"I was afraid of what my parents could be like," Po explained. "I wondered if they were alive. If they were crooks now. If they were villains. Ooof, imagine if I had to fight my panda dad now."
They both shared a laugh, but it didn't last long.
Tigress took a breath, casting her frown. "But I understand the fear," Po said. "I know what it's like." He tried to look into her eyes, but her amber orbs were only looking away. He knew why. Any time she did look at him, she couldn't help but fall apart. Tigress made a quick glance. His dorky soft understanding smile only irritated her more. Irritating her to the point that she couldn't be defensive anymore.
"Yes," She sighed, sagging her shoulders. "I am... scared. I've been... I don't know who my parents are or who they might have been. And as of right now, I know a large part of my identity. Who I am and where I came from. To think that there's a whole prequel of my life somewhere and I'll probably never find it is... well... you know."
She braced herself for the pain welling up, but it ebbed away. Of course, Po put his arm around her so the pain would naturally go away.
"It's okay," Po smiled, wrapping his arm around her waist. "It's okay. I... I get it."
She wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his fluffy chest. He held her close, gently rubbing her back. The soft beating of his heart eased her mind and her mouth.
"I am scared," She whispered. "I am... but I know part of me wants to know. And I also worry that... it might hurt you."
"Like my past has hurt you?"
Tigress withdrew her head. "What do you mean?"
"A crazy white peacock threatened to destroy China and you nearly got killed by a cannon because I was a black and white warrior. You had to watch me nearly die because I was looking for my past."
"That's different, Po."
"No, it isn't," Po said sternly. His eyes narrowed back at her. "Your past is going to hurt no matter what, but I'm not leaving your side. Just like you didn't leave mine."
A smile slowly snuck its way onto Tigress's face. She buried her head back into her panda's fur. "Thank you, Po."
The End
A/N: Been a while since I've made a short but sweet one.
