Servant
"Of course, Mistress," said the young feline. Tigress winced a bit at the word. She never thought she'd be called it.
But this was a different situation. Tigress stood before the young snow leopard that hardly came to the striped feline's chest. With rich deep hazel eyes, she gazed at her new master with a smile that could never break. Better a happy servant than a depressed one the tiger guessed. Giving the snow leopard a short nod, the feline warrior dismissed her. Tigress walked over to the kitchen where a panda was waiting for her. Her eyes gazed at the floor as Po sat there with his arms behind his head, watching her waltz in like a confused dancer. "What's the matter?"
"Hm? Nothing, nothing. Just... getting used to this new life I have," Tigress sighed.
Po smiled, "You're talking about Li Min? Tigress you saved her from a dangerous fall. Why are you so surprised you have someone who adores you?"
"Because you're already here," Tigress smirked.
"Hey! That's... actually no wait, that's true," Po chuckled.
"It's one thing to have fans, but to have a personal servant waiting on me hand and foot is... uncomfortable," She murmured. She rubbed her arms and shook her head as she headed for the Training Hall.
"Hey, wait up!" Po quickly rushed over. "So what about Zeng?"
"Zeng is completely different and you know it," Tigress muttered. "Zeng has been the Jade Palace servant for a long time, and by now he's considered family. And besides, he isn't our personal servant. To have someone dedicated to you like this is... unnerving."
"Yeah, I already creep you out enough," Po muttered.
Tigress stopped in her tracks. "No, you don't creep me out... anymore."
"Ah! But I did at one point."
"You were just a lot to... take in," Tigress smirked. "But this is completely different. I just... don't feel like this is going to work."
"Because you don't like being pampered?"
"No... yes," Tigress sighed. "And because I don't really have a lot to give Li Min. I keep my space clean and tidy. While it's nice to have a seamstress as a servant, I don't have a need for many clothes."
"I'm sure you can give her to Viper. She'd love to have her."
Tigress glared, "Po. Don't talk about her like she's an object."
"Sorry, sorry. You're right. That was rude of me," Po sighed, kicking himself in the head. Servants in their culture were a complicated topic that both Tigress and Po didn't like. And yet, to upend societal order was risky work and slow. Zeng was different because he was paid and had vacation time. He was a worker, not a servant. But Li Min acted like Tigress's personal slave.
Tigress sighed as they walked into the Training Hall. "I don't need a servant."
"Yeah, of all the people in the Jade Palace, you definitely don't need one," Po murmured. "Would be nice to get someone to clean my room."
"That's the thing. I do a lot of work by myself. I only delegate when we're on missions."
"Well, try to think of this as a mission. By the way, what did you have Li Min do?"
"I told her to fix some of my clothes. Again," Tigress sighed. "I don't know what to do."
"All done!"
"AHH!" Tigress jumped into a fighting pose only to drop her guard. "Oh, Li Min. You scared me."
"A very impossible thing to do," Po commented. The tiger glared while Li Min quietly smiled. "So, Li Min, are you liking your stay in the Jade Palace?"
"Yes, Master Po. Mistress Tigress has been very kind to me. Much kinder than my previous masters."
"You've served other people?"
"Oh yes, my father who used to punish me when I made mistakes. Of course, that was after he... hurt me," The snow leopard rubbed her arm nervously. "After my father sold me off, I've had two masters, one better than the other, but still not as good as Mistress Tigress."
"And... if Mist... Er... Master Tigress didn't save you, what would've happened?"
Li Min thought for a moment. "If it was up to my last master, I probably would've been whipped again on my back for my mistake," She smiled, showing her shoulder where some of the lash marks reached.
Po and Tigress twisted their faces as if they had seen a ghost. "Please enjoy your permanent stay at the Jade Palace and being Tigress's personal servant," Po said quickly.
"Po?"
"Unless Tigress wants to go pummel certain previous masters in order to relieve you from ever being hurt again, you are staying here. Is that clear?" Po sternly said. Tigress sighed.
"Are... you asking me, Dragon Warrior?" Li Min asked.
"Never mind. You can attend to Mistress Tigress now," Po warmly smiled as he left. Too warmly.
Tigress shook her head. She couldn't be concerned with that now. She looked into the bright-eyed snow leopard with a sigh. "Okay, uh... listen Li Min. I'm... not really used to a personal servant, so I'm not going to need you all the time."
"Are my services not adequate, Mistress?"
"No. I mean, yes, they are," Tigress groaned. "I'm not used to being catered to."
"Is there another way I can serve you?" Li Min asked. Tigress's face fell into a small defeated smile. She couldn't get this girl to see what she meant. Nor should she want to. Not yet. Her whole life was being a servant. How could she see anything else? "Perhaps I could help you with your combat training?"
"Kung Fu?" The snow leopard nodded. Tigress stared for a moment. "Do you know how to defend yourself?"
"Oh yes, the master that was the kindest to me taught me how to wield several weapons."
"Why?"
"He wanted to make sure that I came back safely while we lived in the Northwestern providence."
"You mean... right next to invading hordes?" Tigress asked. Li Min nodded. The tiger glanced at the training equipment slowly moving from the gust outside. "Do you think you can do this?"
"I'll try my best, Mistress."
"Just... don't hurt yourself. Please?" Tigress grimaced. Her nerves shook. Po flopping around in the Training Hall equipment was one thing; he had enough padding to survive. But she didn't know if the snow leopard would fair better than Po.
Li Min started. She jumped into the rolling tumbles, quickly dodging the swinging lumps above. One grazed her fur. Tigress's breath hitched, but Li Min managed to get out and jump onto the balancing jade bowl.
That's where she stumbled. "Whoaaao!"
"Li Min!" Tigress jumped into the training area and quickly snatched her up before she could hit the ground. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Li Min frowned and quickly stood up for a bow. "I'm so sorry for failing you, Mistress Tigress."
"No, no, it's fine. You did well. Much better than some people I know," She chuckled at the memory of Po's first time.
"I wish I had more training to complete your task," Li Min said, "I understand if you aren't please with me."
Tigress stared at the snow leopard's bowed head. She gently lifted it up by her chin and smiled, "I am pleased with you, but if you're going to complete this training course, you might need some more training."
"But where would I find it?" Li Min asked.
Tigress looked at her for a moment, thinking. Her brain chewed at several possibilities but finally stuck with the obvious one.
She would have to make sure that Master Shifu and Po were okay with it, but it would definitely make this whole situation less awkward.
"I will train you," Tigress said. The bright hazel eyes widened as did the smile.
"Really?" Li Min exclaimed excitedly.
Tigress couldn't help but smile at the snow leopard's excitement. But the tiger's smile faltered a bit. Was this how Master Shifu felt when he trained Tai Lung? Would she just carry on that mistake? "I'll have to make sure that the other masters are okay with it. You'll be learning from all of us," Tigress replied. That would prevent any biased training.
"I will make you proud, Mistress!" Li Min smiled widely. Tigress's heart pinched. It was all too familiar. "Mistress Tigress? Are you okay?" Li Min asked.
"I am, but..." Tigress sighed and gently rested her hands on Li Min's shoulders. "I am already proud of you, Li Min. I hope you know that. You've shown great resilience through your past masters and past troubles. I hope one day you'll see the freedom you have."
"It's... scary," Li Min admitted. Tigress tilted her head. "I've heard many stories about slaves running away and going into poverty or worse. Slaves don't know anything except how to be a slave. And even good masters that do show them end up losing their slaves. I... I don't want to forget my gratitude for you, Mistress Tigress. You saved me from that fall. Please, don't-"
"It's okay, Li Min," Tigress smiled, "You're not a slave. You're a servant. And if everything goes well with your training, you'll be more than that."
"Will I be able to handle more?" Li Min asked. "I know how to be a servant. I don't know how to be a warrior, or... even free." Tigress understood. Some people who were freed go straight back into their horrible situation. They mistake the familiar for home.
But if they weren't careful, Li Min might think that she managed to climb herself out of this, becoming something worse than Tai Lung. Pride was a big issue here, but also complacency. So what was the middle road here? The alternative?
"Well," Tigress smiled, "I'll try my best to help you along the journey."
Li Min beamed and bowed her head. "Thank you, Mistress."
Later on, Tigress talked with Shifu about the whole matter in the Hall of Heroes. Master Shifu stood still while Tigress paced around stroking her chin, glaring into the shiny jade floor. "What if she ends up like me? Or worse yet, Tai Lung?"
"Tigress."
"I know that Po would be the best teacher, but I don't want her to get his carelessness. And who is she going to be when she is free? Will she be someone worse or better than Tai Lung? Or me?"
"Tigress."
"I know that it's not normal for slaves to become Kung Fu warriors, but I don't need a servant waiting on me hand and foot. And I don't know if I'm ready to become a teacher. What do I do?"
"Master Tigress!"
She shuttered to a stop and looked at the red panda. Shifu sighed with a small smile. "You look exactly like me when I first adopted Tai Lung and you."
"I... I do?"
"After Tai Lung, I got a little better at knowing what to expect, but I also know that it's important to have other people around to raise someone." Shifu rested his hand on Tigress's pants leg. "Learn from my mistakes and focus on who she is, not what you want her to be. You'll be fine."
"I hope so," Tigress sighed.
"Do not worry. The others and Po will be here to make sure that things go well." The small panda looked around. "By the way, I haven't seen Po since yesterday."
"I'm sure he's fine. He's probably down at Mr. Ping's place," Tigress answered. But Po didn't show up until well over a month. When he did come back, his answer to his absence was,
"I had to do an out of town errand for my dad." And that's what his father repeated when asked. Po was ecstatic about Li Min joining their training ranks and comforted Tigress in her worries. "You'll be fine. She'll be fine. Don't worry, I'll make sure to keep a close eye on both of you," Po guaranteed. And he was good on his word.
Li Min excelled on dodging and evasion, but balance was a struggle for her. Crane helped her with that. Viper became close to the young snow leopard for her seamstress work which confused the others. "Why?" Viper asked Po one time.
The panda shrugged. "It's just... well... other than the flower petal pins-"
"Just because I don't wear traditional clothing doesn't mean I can't enjoy it, Po," Viper chuckled.
Li Min still washed, cleaned, and assisted Tigress where she could. The two were quiet with each other, which the tiger appreciated. Li Min's quiet cheerful presence was helpful and her gentle encouraging words would balance Po's ecstatic cheering.
Three months passed by.
Tigress stood in an upright position on the floor while Li Min brushed her fur. It was nice to have another feline who knew how to get the spots that would knot up. "Hrm."
"Almost done, Mistress," Li Min smiled as she smoothed the tiger's sides. The feline warrior was down to her minimal garments, struggling to keep still. Tigress never admitted that she was ticklish. One, because Po would have a field day. Two, because she didn't want to seem weak. "And done."
"Thank you, Li Min. That should be everything," Tigress replied. Just then there was a knock on the door. Tigress quickly got her clothes on while Li Min answered it for her.
"Oh, Master Shifu. Mistress Tigress is about done. She's dressing. Is there anything I can do?"
"Actually, yes," the red panda said. "I received word about something. Two men were severely hurt in the village that you were raised in a while back. Do the names Lou Fang and Jin sound familiar?"
The snow leopard's eyes widened. "That's my father and my last master. What happened?"
"They don't know," Shifu sighed. "They came out of unconsciousness about a month or two ago. They couldn't remember who or what they were attacked by. They only remembered their names now, which is why the report came. Who ever hurt them made sure to inflict enough pain to induce amnesia."
Tigress slowly slipped out of her room behind Li Min. "Do they know when they were attacked?"
"About two days after... Po came... back."
Tiger, snow leopard, and red panda turned their scowling heads to the kitchen. They found the panda munching on some food. Po faced the doorway and saw Tigress, Li Min, and Shifu staring at him with exacting gazes. "Uhhh what's going on?" Po asked.
"Where did you go when you went on that month-long errand for your dad?" Tigress asked.
"Southwest. Why?"
"And you were there for the entire month?" Shifu asked.
"Yes, what's up with you guys?"
"My master and father were nearly beaten to death and they didn't know who did it," Li Min replied.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Po replied. No one could tell if he actually meant that. The normally easy to read panda suddenly had a sympathetic face that looked too practiced. "Are you okay, Li Min?"
"I'm fine. We were wondering if you knew anything about this," Li Min asked, crossing her arms much like Tigress did.
"I told you guys. I was doing a job for my dad. Besides, it doesn't take a month to go where Li Min's place is," Po replied.
The glaring trio nodded. They couldn't argue with that logic. Po wouldn't need that much time to beat up someone. He would need that much time to plan it out, and Po wasn't the kind of person to plan things out.
But the fact that Po knew that only threw more suspicion on him. Tigress's eyes narrowed. "I think it'll be okay, Li Min. I think we'll just attribute this to... the universe giving back what it received." Li Min looked up at her mistress and bowed. "You're dismissed with Master Shifu. It is time for your meditation session."
Snow leopard and red panda glanced at each other. They nodded and left.
They knew it wasn't time, but they weren't about to question Tigress.
The tiger sat down next to Po, watching the panda gingerly sip his tea. Tigress sniffed the air. Green tea, very calming. Something else he didn't do: drink tea. "What did it feel like?"
"What?"
"To beat them up."
"Tigress, I told you. I wasn't there," Po replied calmly.
"Well," Tigress smiled. "Next time you 'aren't' there, Don't leave me out of the fun." Her smile held some kind of dangerous malicious nature to it.
But the panda returned that smile in the same nature. "I wouldn't dream of it," He said as he sipped his tea.
The End
A/N: I don't think I've had a story before that had more words in It yet less going on in the story. I'm not upset. Just surprised XD
