Things are Changing

Tigress looked at the desk harder than usual. Her leg was crossed over the other and she fidgeted her foot up and down. At some point, her light beige desk jerked from one of her many small kicks to it, but the tiger kept going on with her behavior.

Why she was doing this was anyone's guess. Song, Viper, and Mantis all looked from the corner of her work hall, watching the tiger stare into oblivion. "I've never seen her stare so hard into her desk like that. She must be stumped by something," Viper said.

"No, she's been like this for a while. At least since Sunday," Song sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. Had the whole issue with Tai Lung really rocked Tigress that much? The snow leopard sighed again, "I hope she's okay."

"Maybe you should go up to her and see if she's doing alright," Viper mentioned.

"Why me? You're her friend too."

"Yeah, but it seems like you know why she's upset in the first place," Viper said with a raised eyelid.

Busted.

Song grumbled a bit and checked her watch. "Alright, I'll see what I can do."

"Good, because I don't want to walk up to an angry tiger," Mantis said. The viper and bug raced back to their work while Song walked down the hall to Tigress. The hall was medium-sized in length with Mr. Shifu's door on the right of Tigress' desk. The tiger had a clear view of the elevator from her desk.

If she wasn't glaring into the wood.

"Hey, Tigress?"

"Oh!" Tigress jumped a bit, looking up from the methodically tense biting of her finger. "Song! What are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to make sure that you're doing okay. You haven't been the same since..." She trailed off and sighed. "Tigress, I'm really sorry about Tai Lung. I should've-"

"No, no, Song. I'm fine. I promise. I'm just... thinking."

"About what?" Tigress checked the clock on the wall of the hall. "I have a few moments before my sup' gets really upset."

"I'm just thinking of a plan for this new gym."

"The...gym?" Song's voice rose in pitch. "That's what's been on your mind for the past three days?"

"Uh yes?" Tigress's eyes darted left and right. "Why?"

Song stared a bit longer at the tiger. Even though the two had made a pact about being more honest, Song couldn't help but feel the tiger wasn't telling her something.

But her sincerity threw her off. Tigress looked genuinely worried about this gym. Song looked at her desk and found what the tiger was staring at.

"The... subway line?" Song asked.

"Yeah, the studio here is nice, but I was thinking of going over to the gym more often. And... you're... right. I need to be more social."

Song blinked hard. At this point, anyone could tell there was a huge part of Tigress's story that didn't make sense. But by the subway maps displayed on the desk and the lack of any other evidence, Song had to believe Tigress's story.

But why was she doing this?

Song rubbed her head as she finally found some words to speak. "Okay, so... how often do you want to go to the gym?"

"Just... Mondays and Wednesdays," Tigress said slowly.

"O...kay, so you're trying to get to the gym and get to work on time? Why don't you just get on the red line?"

"It goes away from Jade Inc."

"Yeah, but it loops back. You live on Lumby Lane, right?" Tigress nodded. "You usually take the Jade Line to get here near Bridger station. To get to the gym, you need to be on the Red Line. You get on, stop at Cafe Avenue, do your workout, and then get back on to get to Bridger station." Song pointed to the place.

Tigress picked up the map and examined it closer. "Huh, how could I miss that?"

"Maybe because something else is bothering you? Because you couldn't have done all of this just to go to a gym you didn't want to go to in the first place."

"Song, I was honestly looking for an easier way to get there. That's it. Might as well use my membership," Tigress replied. They locked eyes, staring suspiciously at each other. Song rested her hand on her left hip, leaning on the right.

"And there's nothing else?" She asked.

"Nothing else. I promise."

"You know why this is weirding me out, right?"

"No, I don't."

"Because you just went through something that I keep blaming myself for and-"

"Oh, Song," Tigress got up and rounded her desk. "I don't blame you for that. It wasn't your fault. You couldn't have known that Tai Lung would've done that."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it," Tigress smiled gently as she hugged her.

"Still, I find this funny. You're the one that called gyms like these a smelly testosterone-filled trap."

Tigress shrugged, "Things... changed my mind."

Song raised her eyebrow. "Anything you want to talk about."

"Not really."

"Why not?"

"Because... I... honestly don't know what's happening here," Tigress answered. Song grimaced worriedly. "I'll be fine. I'll be sure to tell you when I figure out what's going on."

"But what is going on?"

"I... don't know. It's nothing bad, I promise."

"Just... promise me that you'll be okay," Song sighed.

"Of course, you know me," Tigress smiled.

"Yeah," Song chuckled lightly as she left the tiger at her station. "Yeah, I hope I do." She walked to the corner where the snake and bug were waiting for her.

"So, what's the matter?" Viper asked.

"I honestly don't know. I don't think she's lying, but I know she's not telling me something important."

"You think she's in trouble?"

Song sighed, leaning on Viper's cubical wall. "I don't know. She doesn't seem worried, but... I don't know."

"Maybe you guys are overreacting. Maybe it's good news," Mantis said.

"Like what?" Song asked.

"Maybe she's got a man on her mind."

Viper and Song glanced at each other, wide-eyed. They burst into laughter, gripping their bellies.

"Oh wow! Mantis, that has got to be your best joke yet," Song chuckled.

"Why is it a joke?" Mantis asked with a deadpan gaze.

"Mantis, have you known Tigress to be interested in anyone? Or show interest in anyone?" Viper asked. "Besides, she's not the kind of person to hide something like that. And Song would've known way before Tigress probably knew."

"What do you mean?" Mantis asked.

"Tigress isn't really aware of... feelings," Song slowly said. "Nah, I don't think that's the issue. I think something else is up, but I don't know what." She looked at the clock and sighed again, "Well, either way, I'll make sure to keep an eye on her. You two do the same, okay?"

"Will do," Mantis saluted like a soldier before hopping away to his work.

Viper giggled to herself, "I'm sorry. Tigress being interested in someone and you not knowing it? That's just funny."

"If the day ever comes," Song said as she left the room. "I owe Mantis a hundred bucks."

"Heh, that will be the day," Viper smiled, waving Song goodbye with the tip of her tail.

Meanwhile, Tigress still pondered through her desk. It wasn't long before Mr. Shifu came to his office. "Oh, Mr. Shifu. Are you okay?"

"Yes, just a little tired. A long busy day," The red panda rubbed his head. "How are you doing?"

"Ummm I... don't know," Tigress said. Shifu raised his head. "I mean, I'm fine, but I... I guess I'm just dealing with a lot."

"Like what?"

"I... don't know."

"Well, please talk to me during lunch if you have any personal issues that you'd like to discuss."

Tigress smiled, much wider than Shifu had seen in a while. "Thank you, Mr. Shifu."

The red panda gave a small nod and walked back into his office.

Continued...