Guys' Night Out

Po rose his eyebrow, acutely staring at each of the guys standing there. "Why?"

"Because we feel bad for what we did," Monkey said.

"Guys, that was months ago. I'm over it," Po replied.

"Still, we want to make it up to you. So, why don't we have a guys' sleepover this time," Crane smiled. Po smiled a bit smugly, leaning against the back of his bed.

"Well, I was thinking about that. A sleepover for guys sounds too... boring to be honest. I think we're more of an actions kind of guys," Po folded his arms behind his head and thought up at the ceiling of his room for a moment. "I think I know what we can do. Why don't we have a guys' night out instead?"

"Why not have something here?" Crane asked.

"Because I want to make sure that no one spies on us," Po smirked. The others groaned.

"You're not going to let us live that down, are you?" Mantis murmured. "Okay, where did you want to go? And it better not be somewhere only YOU would have fun."

Po shook his head. "Come on, guys. Can you honestly say that my ideas aren't fun?"

"Well-"

"Let me rephrase that. Can you say that my ideas are boring?"

"No, definitely not," Monkey said.

"Alright, then relax and trust me, okay?" Po smiled widely and almost deviously. The three boys looked at each other, but none of them said a word.

Unknown to them, a spotted eavesdropper slipped away from the barracks and made her way to the Training Hall where Master Tigress and Master Viper were fighting. "Girls! Stop what you're doing!"

"What's the matter, Song?" Viper asked as she and Tigress hopped out of the training pit.

"The guys are having a boys' night out," Song smiled mischievously. "And I think it's time we pay them back for the little stunt they pulled with us."

"Oh no," Viper murmured. "Song, there's no way that Tigress and I-"

"Okay."

"WHAT?!" Viper and Song exclaimed. Their big round eyes stared at Tigress.

"I... think it's a good idea. I mean, if something were to happen to them, they should have some backup, right?" Tigress suggested.

Song rested her fists on her hips, pouting slightly, "That's not why you're okay with this."

"It's the reason that I'll tell you. Nothing more," Tigress grunted out.

Song huffed, "Fine. I'll get Mei Mei and Mei Ling on board. Viper?"

The snake glanced between the two felines. She shrugged her body. "Well, Tigress does have a good point. It is important that we make sure that whatever they do they'll be okay."

"And the timing with Master Shifu being away again couldn't have been better," Song grinned. "I'll be back." She darted out of the hall, leaving snake and striped cat alone.

Viper sighed, "Alright. Why?"

"Why what?"

"Tigress," Viper hissed seriously. "There's no good reason as to why you're doing this. You're not one to be peer pressured, so what's wrong?"

"Nothing, that's all," Tigress repeated. Viper sighed and slithered away after Song.

Night slowly came over the village. Po watched the sun's horizon dip behind the mountains before bolting out of bed and furiously knocking on the guys' doors. "Come on, let's go."

"What? Where are we going?" Monkey asked.

"Shhh. Just follow me," Po excitedly said. Crane, Mantis, and Monkey all gave each other shrugs as they accompanied the excited panda out of the barracks, down the mountain, and east of the village. The three noticed that Po was fairly silent as they walked through the surrounding forests with a lantern at their side.

"Po, are you sure you know where you're going?"

"If I didn't, I would've used Crane. Don't worry, I know where I'm going," Po quickly answered. Soon the flat earth came to an incline where a cave sat in one of the mountains surrounding the valley. Po lifted his lantern and walked into the cave where a bolted door came into view. He knocked.

A viewing door slid open. "Password?"

"Hedon," Po replied. "And guests."

The bolted door opened up. "Come on," Po waved the gang through the door.

Crane, Mantis, and Monkey dropped their jaws and gasped as they entered an underground festival deep in the mountain. Lights, parties, and drinks coasted around in a huge circular arena-sized cave opening. Tents upon tents of vendors selling their most exotic items made the first section nearest to them. The next section was made of stone seats and dug out mini caves for restaurants and private shows. "Come on, guys, you're going to miss out on all the fun!"

The four walked into what could only be described as a carnival of forbidden luxuries, foods, games, and private venues. "What the heck is all of this?" Monkey asked.

"This is the Underground Jade Palace. Almost every thing from foods outlawed by the royals to private shows for the men and women are here," Po smiled. "Whatever you do-"

"Don't tell Shifu about this place?"

"Actually, he came with me one time."

"What?!"

"What I meant to say is don't play the games more than one time, alright? They're very addictive and you will always lose your money, okay?" Po smirked. "Come on!"

The boys went from venue to venue, sight to sight, show to show. The foods, games, and luxurious parades were all stuffed into a cavern filled with the smell of spices, sweet honey, tangy fruits, and alluring perfume. Po finished down the last of the pastries he had bought and looked back at his friends. "So, how are you liking the place?"

"It's amazing!" Monkey laughed, "How did you find this place?"

"It's kind of a hidden secret from the Masters' council. I was surprised when Shifu knew about it."

"But how did you find it?" Monkey repeated.

Po shrugged, "I wasn't always this geeky nerd that you guys think I am."

Crane, Mantis, and Monkey glanced at each other. "What? No, we don't... I mean we didn't-"

"What Monkey is trying to say is that we didn't think your geeky side was bad," Crane clarified.

Po rose a disbelieving eyebrow with a smirk. "Even when I was chosen Dragon Warrior?"

"Okay, that's not fair. YOU didn't even believe you were Dragon Warrior," Mantis shot back.

Po rolled his eyes. "Come on, I want to see some ladies before we go back."

"I'm sorry what?" Crane squawked. Before they could lift their jaws from the floor, Po walked into this restaurant etched into the rock wall. Monkey's tongue lolled out at the sight. Different women with beautiful makeup and dresses served the people waiting on them. Some men were there, almost all of them bare chested with impressive muscles for chests, arms, and charming smiles. Po walked straight up to the garçom. A stout little fox lady with a stern look.

"Table for four please," Po smiled.

The fox's eyes lit up. "Po! It's good to see you. We haven't seen you in a while."

"Been busy with stuff," Po smiled. "Is it okay if my friends-"

"Of course, of course. Female or male servers?"

"Female!" Crane, Monkey, and Mantis all answered. Po shook his head with a smirk as they sat down and ate more amazing food. It tasted like it was served from the Emperor's kitchen.

"Oh my gosh, Po! This is amazing!" Monkey said, stuffing his mouth with more food.

"While I like the view," Crane gulped, watching another beautiful crane walk by and wink at him. "You still haven't told us how you found this place, Po."

"My dad. Sometimes, he would work at this place to make some more money. But since he couldn't do that all the time, he would only come every now and then." Po sighed, patting his full belly. His right side was facing the large open entryway of the restaurant. He suddenly tensed up.

"What's wrong?"

"Huh? Nothing, nothing, I just... I thought I saw someone."

"Who?" Monkey asked.

"One of the girls."

"Are you kidding," Monkey said. "There's no way they would've found us. Besides, they didn't get past the front door."

"Yeah, yeah you're right," Po sighed, smiling.

The four of them kept eating until they felt like it was time to leave. Crane burped as they exited the underground funway with a wide dazed smile on his lips. "You okay there buddy," Po smiled. "You haven't stopped smiling ever since that crane gave you her address and kissed you."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Crane said, flustered. The four of them laughed.

Monkey sighed, looking up at the moon high in the sky. They passed an area with a cold fire pit in a small nine-yard clearing. Someone must have set up camp here a while back. "Hey, why don't we stay here for a while and relax?"

"You sure?"

"I'll get the fire started," Mantis announced.

Po lightly chuckled as the four sat down, starting the fire. The flame blazed, the stars shone with the moon above. Po rested his back against one of the large logs that the others used as seats or recliners. Po smiled, "So, not the boring sleepover host you thought I was?"

"I'm sorry we doubted you, Po," Monkey laughed. "I never thought you'd know about a place like that."

"Why not?"

"Well, it just seems like uh... a little like uh...

"City of Sin?" Crane finished Monkey's thought. The others laughed while Monkey nervously scratched the back of his head. "But while we're on the topic, why don't we do a sleepover thing?"

"Why?" Mantis asked.

Crane shrugged, "Why not?"

"You've gotten calmer over time, Crane," Po smirked.

"I have to with you guys," Crane chuckled. Po rolled up to an upright position.

"Alright, how about truth or-"

"No," Crane, Mantis, and Monkey all said.

Po rolled his eyes, "What happened at that sleepover that got you all scared? I can't get any of you guys to talk."

"Because if we do, each and every one of those women will try to kill us and or sit on us... again," Monkey murmured.

The panda sighed and thought for a moment, tapping his finger against his chin. "Alright, how about this? Why don't we just play truth?"

"Huh?"

"Why don't we just tell something that we may or may not know about each other, huh? It's not like anyone's around," Po suggested.

"That you can see," Crane muttered, glancing at the dark spots of the forest around them.

"What if we don't want to?"

"Aw come on, guys," Po whined. "Why are you scared all of a sudden?"

"Sometimes people have secrets for a reason, Po," Crane said, bowing his head a bit.

Po sighed, "Alright, how about this? We make a solemn pledge not to judge anyone about what gets said here, got it?"

Crane, Mantis, and Monkey all glanced at each other while the fire's glow rested on their forms. Sighing, each one nodded. "Alright, I'll go first. Crane!"

"What? Wait, how is this going to be played?" Crane spluttered.

"Kind of like Truth or Dare but you can't choose dare, okay?" Po smirked.

"I feel like we've been tricked without being tricked," Monkey muttered. "Fine, but you CAN'T ask anything about what happened with the girls' sleepover, got it?"

"Alright, alright," Po smiled, "So Crane. Do you have a crush on any of the girls we know, if so, who?"

Crane's eyes went wide. "That's two questions."

"Ugh, fine. Of the girls we know, who do you have a crush on?"

Crane rubbed the back of his long neck with his wing. "Uhhh... ugh, this is embarrassing."

"Don't look at it as embarrassing," Po smiled, "Think of it like a team work exercise."

Crane gave another sigh. "I... it's... It's a tie between Mei Ling and Viper."

"Huh?"

"I... really like both of them," Crane sighed, "I've known Mei Ling for a while and we're close. I can see a nice life with her. But Viper is just so kind to me and understanding. Not that you guys aren't, it's just..."

"It feels nice to have someone of the opposite sex understand what you're going through," Po finished. Crane nodded. "Yeah, I get it."

"Have you tried telling them?" Monkey asked.

"And say what? 'I might have a crush on both of you?' How well do you think that's going to go over?" Crane muttered.

"Better than having a crush on Tigress," Mantis pointed out.

"Why's that?" Po asked, shrinking his eyes.

Mantis shrugged. "Fear. I'm sure she wouldn't hurt someone or viciously turn them down, but it's the fact that you're telling Master Tigress that you love her. That fear is not easy to overcome."

"Yeah, not easy," Po sighed.

"My turn," Crane quickly said to get rid of the embarrassment. "Monkey, is it true that you steal some of Tigress's clothes?"

"Dude! You weren't supposed to know that!"

"Wait what?!" Mantis and Po exclaimed.

"Why would you do that?" Po slowly asked, shocked and majorly confused.

"Her clothes are the only one that fit!"

Po's eyes shot wide. He looked at Mantis. Even though the bug was small, his eyes were probably wider than his entire body. "To... fit you?"

"NO! Po!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Crane laughed.

"None of this is making sense," Po muttered.

"Okay, okay," Monkey sighed. "On this mission, there was this bandit I met that didn't have much in the way of clothes. I asked her-"

"Ah, that's why," Po smirked.

"Let me finish!" Monkey shouted. "Anyway, after I fought her, I asked why she had so little clothing. And it didn't smell like she had taken a bath in a while." Monkey groaned, "Sooooo I gave her some money, food, and I regularly check up on her to make sure she's okay. She's doing yard work now."

"But," Crane asked.

"But since she's a rather tall wolf, it's hard to find clothes in her size. And more expensive to make them."

"Why not just tell Tigress?" Po asked.

Monkey's face fell. "Because once I say, 'there's this crook that needs clothing' she'll say no."

"She's not that cruel."

"Po, you know how she acts around anyone that's a criminal or used to be a criminal. Song, for example."

"What about her?"

"You two are just friends and Tigress can be seen a mile away stalking over you two. And Song isn't even flirting with you to be romantic," Monkey huffed. "I just... wanted to help her. That's all."

"You know, I do know some seamstresses that can help her for free," Po smiled, "You just had to ask." Monkey sighed, resting his palm on his head. "Buuuuuut something tells me there's another reason you're doing this."

"Okay, okay, yes I do like her a little bit," Monkey muttered. "Happy?"

"Very," Crane smiled deviously.

"Wait! How do you know about Song not flirting with me romantically?"

Monkey, Crane, and Mantis's eyes shot wide. "Uhhh, what I mean is-"

"So that's what they were talking about at the sleep over," Po exclaimed. "They were talking about me?!"

"No, no... a little... yes," Mantis sighed.

Po's ears drooped. "What... about me?"

"Nothing bad, really," Crane said. "They... ugh Tigress is going to kill us."

"They all will," Mantis muttered.

"But... Po deserves to hear the truth," Monkey sighed. "It's not right to talk about someone behind their back. Even if it isn't hurtful."

Crane gave a great exhale. "Well, Mei Mei talked about the fact she was supposed to be married to you in an arranged marriage."

"Really?" Po squinted his left eye. "She hates talking about that."

"They were playing Po truth or Po story."

"I'm sorry what?"

"Po truth or Po Story," Monkey repeated, "They would tell a truth they know about you or a story involving you."

"Ooooooohhhhhh, that explains a lot," Po groaned a bit. "Well, what did Viper say?"

"She said she did have some mean thoughts towards you when you were chosen to be Dragon Warrior."

"Oh, okay," Po shrugged. Crane raised an eyebrow. "What? Everyone had mean thoughts. She just didn't say them."

"Mei Ling told the story of you giving her a date with a that official guy," Monkey chuckled though he quieted when he heard something move in the trees.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah yeah, I think I'll be fine," Monkey gulped.

"And Song said she doesn't like you romantically. She just flirts with you because-"

"Of Tigress," Po finished, giving a huff of release, "So they finally buried that thing. Thank goodness."

"I'm surprised you knew about it."

"I'm oblivious but not that much."

"That's debatable," Mantis muttered, causing Po to glare at him while Monkey and Crane laughed.

"What about Tigress?" Po asked, "What story did she tell?"

"Well she... wait," Monkey paused, "Why do you think she told a story?"

"Because I know she wouldn't tell you guys any kind of truth. Truthfully anyway."

"Why not?" Monkey asked.

Po bounced his head around a bit. "There have been things that Tigress and I have gone through that if you knew about, you'd either worry a lot about me or think I was losing my mind."

Crane and Monkey widened their eyes.

"But... that's not what they asked her," Mantis spoke up. "They asked how she saw you."

"Me?"

"Yeah, you two have a very interesting relationship that's... hard to decipher. You're way too close to be friends and not close enough to be husband and wife," Monkey said. "And honestly, I'm curious."

"W-W-What did Tigress say?"

"We don't know. That's when they jumped us," Crane nervously chuckled.

"But," Monkey spoke up slowly. "What do you see Tigress as?"

Po slowly stood up and walked around a bit, gazing at the midnight sky. He placed his hands on his hips before a big sigh exited his lungs. "I... don't know. I know I can't say I have the same relationship with you guys because that would be a lie. I don't know."

"What relationship do you want to have?" Monkey asked.

Po shrugged, "I don't know. I just go with the flow, I guess. That's all I can do." Po stared into the ground, though the team didn't get the impression that he was upset. Crane quietly came up to the panda and rested a wing on his shoulder, smiling compassionately. Po took another sigh. "Come on, let's get back to the Jade Palace."

"We didn't do Mantis?" Monkey pointed out.

"Yeah but Mantis doesn't really keep anything secret with us," Po pointed out.

"He's got a point," Mantis said. After putting out the fire, the four walked back, exhausted with the fun they had. Everyone went straight to sleep.

The next morning, Po surprisingly got up before the others, except for one person. He walked into the kitchen where Tigress was eating her normal meal. "Hey Tigress."

"Good morning Po," Tigress formally said. "How was your night?"

"Good. Could you actually help me with something in the courtyard?"

Tigress raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Just need some privacy and the Peach tree isn't in season," Po smiled. Tigress shook her head with a smile of her own. She followed the panda to the courtyard. She smiled a bit to herself. Here was the place where all the world would be shocked at the Dragon Warrior's first appearance. "So... how did you like the Underground Jade Palace?"

"I... what?"

"Tigress," Po said flatly, "I know that you and the girls were spying on us."

"I... I don't know what you're talking about," Tigress replied. Po held his stare, crossing his arms.

"You wouldn't lie to me unless it was necessary, would you?" Po asked.

Tigress bit her lip and sighed. "How did you know?"

"Your scent was close by and never left my nose," Po scratched the back of his head. "That and it's pretty easy to pick out Mei Mei in a crowd and in the forest."

"Did the others see us?"

"No, any time I sat down, I had to make sure they weren't facing you guys," Po said.

The corner of Tigress's lips curled up a bit. "You're very observant, Po."

"Sometimes," He smiled, but it quickly left. "By the way, I'm not angry at you guys for talking about me. Just didn't think you would talk about me like that."

"I... we're sorry if it offended you."

"It didn't. But what the guys said," Po started. "Especially Monkey?"

Tigress grumbled. "I... I won't chastise him for it. Viper mentioned that I'm not... good with communicating my compassion."

"The tough exterior is what we're familiar with for the most part. It's okay. You just have to show the other side more often," Po smiled. He raised an eyebrow as his smile turned into a smirk. "And how are Viper and Mei Ling?"

Tigress chuckled. "They don't know what to do. Quite honestly, they hadn't thought of Crane like that until he mentioned it."

"Hehe, yeah," Po smiled. Tigress's eyes zeroed on him, casting her smile away. "What?"

"Po, talking about what we heard can't be the reason why you wanted to talk to me," Tigress said.

Po sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "The question. The last one. I... I know I want something more than the relationship we have, but... I also don't know what that is."

"A... romantic one?" Tigress asked carefully.

Po shook his head. "I don't want to put you or anyone in that danger if people know. Dragon Warrior and all."

Tigress nodded. "But... people don't have to know."

Po's eyes widened as Tigress neared him. "N-No, they don't."

"If... that's the case," Tigress said, careful to show any emotion. "Then you could... be in a relationship with... anyone."

"That's true."

"Would... would you want that?" Tigress asked. Po blinked. A blank face sat there for a moment. He slowly grabbed Tigress's paw and smiled.

"I think I would like that."

Tigress's smile burst forth as the emotions slowly started to show their presence. "I'd... like that too."

Of course, after this, Po said that they would never host a sleepover again, and the others firmly agreed.

The End