~~a/n; *slides in the chat for the first time in how many months* YA GIRL IS BACK! DID YALL MISS ME? probably not tbh LMFAO- but I totally missed you guys, and I definitely missed writing fanfiction! ya girl is making a comeback WHOO!

now, tbh, I did not expect to write a second chapter to this. I honestly thought I would just write a cute one-shot on Mei Mei and Tigress bonding for a bit hehe, but honestly I feel like this would make a great addition and honestly I'm just trying to cope with the uh... ahem... recent news of the kfp 4 state-

anyways~ enough rambling! time to get to the nitty and gritty! (btw, this chapter isn't a full sequel chapter, this is more of a flashback to when Tigress is asking out Po hehe, I'm going to save the final chapter/the official date for actual Valentine's day to mark it's 1 year anniversary of writing this one-shot!) have a great day/night, yall! remember to live, laugh, love and enjoy the holidays with whoever you care about! seeya next time! yarart out! ;D~~


The feline sat at the kitchen table, looking intently into the flower-clip hidden securely in her paws. It has been a few days since she last talked to Mei Mei and received this petite artifact, but the thoughts of that conversation haven't left her mind. She had to laugh at herself a bit. An unexpected interaction with Mei Mei, of all creatures, talking about longing and flower-embedded jewelry. No matter how much Tigress has opened up, she never thought that would be something she would ever experience, but here she was.

About to do another thing she never thought she would do.

She closed up her paws to secure the fur-clip, took a deep breath, and tucked it up beside her ear. It felt... odd... placing it there. Not a bad odd, she just... wasn't used to it.

"Whoa, Tigress?"

And clearly she wasn't the only one who thought this way.

Her heart jumped and her face started to heat up, knowing exactly who that voice belonged to. She turned to the entrance of the kitchen and stood up from her chair, giving the panda standing at the doorway a clear look at her new accessory.

Po's eyes were a little wide, not too shocked, but certainly surprised. He cracked into a bit of a smile. "Trying something new?"

Tigress gave a small smile back, bashfully looking off to the side. "I've been told to... try something new. Something risky."

Po playfully rolled his eyes and walked toward the kitchen cupboards. "Mei Mei?"

Tigress whipped her head up to the nonchalant panda. "How did you know?"

He turned back and smirked. "You think you're the only one who's been used as a doll by Mei Mei? I saw a few accessories similar to that while getting manicures from her."

The tiger must have given a strange look that she wasn't aware of, because after a moment Po shot back a look of his own, pulling out a jar of cookies. "What? Can't a guy take care of himself once in a while?" He dug into the jar and took a huge bite of an almond cookie.

Tigress simply grinned and walked to her friend's side against the counter. "Apologies. You just never pegged me as the... pampering type."

"Look who's talking?" Po smirked back, all in good nature of course. He silently offered a cookie to the feline, to which she politely denied before he shrugged and ate the whole thing himself.

"You're right, I'm not either. I have no idea how Mei Mei managed to convince me into getting one of these. Something about, and I quote, 'not knocking it until I try it'." She gave air quotes, making Po chuckle.

"Oh yeah, that definitely sounds like her! I swear, that girl's confidence is unwavering! She's definitely a risk taker... I'm glad you're getting along with her."

Tigress narrowed her eyebrows at her companion, "You are? How come?"

The bear shrugged, digging into the jar once again. "I don't know, it's just... other than her coming onto me strongly when we first met, she's more like a sister to me now! She helps a lot when it comes to self-confidence and taking risks, and well... I care about you too, ya know? I'm just glad you two are getting along and that you get to learn things from each other!"

A bit offended, but still playing it off as a joke, Tigress turned her whole body to Po and rested a hand on her hip while still leaning on the counter. "Are you saying I'm not confident, Dragon Warrior?"

The panda had to gulp down his nerves when she asked that. "No, no, I didn't mean that! Y-you have plenty of confidence, believe me! You're just more... sheltered than she is, w-WHICH ISN'T A BAD THING! B-but uh—oh geez, I'm not helping myself here, am I?"

Tigress smirked. "Do you want me to save you from mentally combusting now?"

"Yes please..."

Softly chuckling, she went back to her original position of resting her back against the wooden counter. She rubbed her knuckles and looked down into the ground. "I'm just teasing, of course... I know what you mean. I am quite sheltered. Sometimes to the point where I restrict myself from potentially enjoying things... or expressing myself from time to time. Mei Mei did actually give me advice on that..." She took off the clip and stared into it, "She even compared me to the camellia to help me connect the dots."

"Yeah?" Po set down the jar and curiously looked at his feline friend. She looked back, directly finding herself melting under his vibrant gaze.

"Yeah..." She softly stated, not breaking eye contact between them. "She said that like a flower, with some nurturing, love and care, time by time, I could perhaps learn to open myself up to others as well."

Po smiled brightly at this. "Wow... that's absolutely beautiful."

The feline master tilted her head at him, taking specific note of her reflection in his eyes as it shimmered it's usual jade hue. "Mhm... Beautiful."

She felt like they have been drifting off into each other's gazes for eternity, and though she wouldn't mind if that was the case, she still felt required to break the contact and clear her throat to save her self from breaking her mask. "Ahem, she also advised to not open up all at once. To go at a pace I'm comfortable with. To take in the love and care from others to find the strength take a risk... sometimes."

Po innocently shrugged, not registering Tigress' anxiousness. "That sounds fair! I do hope you're able to do that, even in your own way."

"Right, I sure hope so too..." She murmured in reply.

"Well, anyway," Po took the jar in his grasp, "I do need to go talk to Master Shifu at the Dragon Grotto. I just came in here for a snack. Seeya around!" He waved and started to walk out.

Time seemed to slow down as he started to walk away. She glanced down at the flower clip, then back at the panda, and grasped it tight to her chest.

She was ready for this.

She could feel her heart thump loudly. Then she could feel her feet start to move forward. Then before she knew it, she could (quite barely) feel the touch of the Dragon Warrior's furry arm gently grabbed by her own paw.

Then, slowly, she could feel herself starting to speak. "Wait..."

Po turned back to the tiger master. Now he can sense her anxiousness. He curled his eyebrows up in concern. "What's up, Ti? Is everything alright?"

"I..." Tigress froze. She was not ready for this. Suddenly, she stood up straight, as stiff as a board. What was wrong with her!? She doesn't freeze! She doesn't lose her words! The very concept of growing flustered had been abandoned when she was a mere teenager! Why now has it decided to come back and make her look like a fool?

She forced herself to speak her mind despite the fur on her cheeks burning brightly. "I-I'm quite alright... Dragon Warrior."

Damn it, now she's stuttering and using his title. The feeling of wanting to retreat back into the cell room from where she came was quite grand for her at this moment. It's a good thing she has a good poker face. She swallowed down her embarrassment and bravely kept going.

"You... are aware of the... Qixi festival tonight, correct?"

The ursine sighed in relief and put on and beamed, "Of course! As if I wouldn't be up to date on THE festival of love! My dads are actually going to be one of the venders during the festival! Why do you ask? I thought you weren't into that kind of stuff?"

"Well... usually I'm not," Still keeping the flower close to her chest, her free paw found it's way behind her back awkwardly. "But I've been... wondering... perhaps... we could go to the festival... together?"

"Together?" Po obliviously tilted his head. "Like with the whole gang?"

"I mean... if you want that... but I was mostly hoping if.."

He walked closer to Tigress' stiff form, "Yes?"

Tigress took in a deep breath. Gosh, she felt so ashamed with herself. How could she have her whole hardcore reputation crumble in the face of the panda she used to despise. She briefly shook her head and shut her eyes tight. "I was hoping if we could... go together as one pair. Just you and I, and... exchange in the activities that also require a pair? Does that make sense?" She cringed to herself, then annoying hung her head and her claw.

'That did not make sense at all. Ugh, what am I doing...?'

Po was taken aback. Then slowly, he started to register what the poor tiger was trying to say. "Tigress... are you saying you want me to be your..." He stopped himself for a moment and took a good look at his friend. She looked like she was going to implode from embarrassment. He didn't want to make her more uncomfortable or step over a boundary when Tigress was already trying to take a step out of her comfort zone. He smiled sweetly at her. "... Are you asking me to be your partner for the festival?"

It was Tigress' turn to now sigh in relief. "If... that is how you want to put it... yes."

Po could feel himself smiling from ear to ear in happiness. "Then I would be more than honored."

Tigress started to smile widely in return, her stiffness had vanished and she suddenly felt so light she could possibly float up to the clouds. She bowed her head in gratitude, an odd gesture, but could understand the awkwardness. He walked backwards to leave, but found himself colliding to the wall behind him. He chuckled nervously, then waved at the feline to tell her goodbye.

And just like that, he was gone. Tigress released a breath she didn't know she was holding in, before jolting back a bit when she heard a distant "YES!" exclamation. She shook her head in amusement.

The she started to feel her stomach churn. She must have just now fully processed what she just had Po agree to, because for some reason, she started to silently panic. She quickly walked down to the barracks and thankfully spotted Viper in her room reading some scrolls and told her all that just transpired, not knowing what reaction she was expecting.

"You did WHAAAAAT!?"

And she definitely did not expect that.


"And now here we are." Tigress tiredly explained as the pandess plucked her eyebrow furs. "Ow! Mei Mei, please! I don't need you to nitpick every hair on my body!"

"Sorry, sorry!" Mei Mei jerked back with the tweezers. "It's just... insanely annoying how you don't need or even want make-up! I have no idea what to do! You're being a very difficult client.."

The feline sighed. "Apologies... I know I've been rejecting everything you and Viper offered me... I just... I don't know what to do or how to act for these sorts of things."

The female bear smiled sympathetically, "Hey I get it. I did say to not go all at once... it would be nice if you did offer some clue as to what you want, though."

"What about this?" Viper piped up from the dressing room, pulling out a silky vibrant turquoise fabric.

Tigress cringed a bit and shook her head. "Maybe go with... a softer shade?" She suggested.

The snake rolled her eyes. "Tigress, you said a 'softer shade' like five times! I almost went through the entire catalogue!"

The feline looked down in shame and got up from the stylist chair Mei Mei had her sat at. "Apologies, you two, I know I've been causing you nothing but trouble. Let's just... forget this." She walked towards the store window and gazed out of it solemnly. Viper and Mei Mei glanced to each other, then the pandess silently gestured silently to Viper, giving her the cue to slither back into the dressing room.

Mei Mei took some black eye makeup and walked over to the quiet tiger, who was intently watching as the villagers hang up their romantic decorations with couples walking and dancing around the streets more prominently. She gently grasped Tigress' shoulder, "Hey, I know you're nervous, but try to relax! This is meant to be a happy day for you to experience! We'll come to a compromise somehow, okay?"

Slowly, Tigress nodded. "I'll... try. I'm sorry, I'm just—"

"Not used to this?" Mei Mei smiled. "I know, this is all new to you. Going out on a 'non-date-outing' with Po, pampering yourself, it's weird... but you eventually get the hang of it, if you let yourself just try it the first time around..." She held up the liquid brush.

The tiger master started to grin back. "Don't knock it until you try it, right?"

"Come on, hehe!" She took Tigress' paw and they both sat on the ground together. "How about I only put a bit of eye lining? Like I said, you definitely don't need as you're naturally gorgeous, but this will definitely define the outlines of your eyes!"

Tigress thankfully nodded, letting the pandess start to dip the brush in the black ink and softly stroke it over her eyelids.

"... I'm surprised you don't know how to do your make-up.. didn't you and your mom used to do this when you were a kid?"

The feline sagged her shoulders a bit solemnly. "No... I wasn't really.. lucky in the parental department..."

"Oh..." Mei Mei regretted her words immediately. "I am so sorry, I didn't mean to—"

"It's alright, I've accepted my reality a long, long time ago.."

A silent moment passed by between them, and as Mei Mei finished with the first eye, she took a deep breath. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, I wasn't that lucky in the parental department either."

"Oh?" Tigress tilted her head a bit, curiosity picking at her.

"Heh, that's a story for another time, sweetie... and done!" She pulled back the brush and awed at her minute work. "The change is subtle, but totally there!" She lifted the feline up and took her to the mirror. "What do you think?"

Tigress had to mesmerize over Mei Mei's work as well. "This... actually looks nice!"

"Wow, way to have some faith in me." The pandiva smirked, "But what matters more is if you feel nice!"

"Well, I definitely do.." Tigress smiled and then turned back to Mei Mei. "Thank you..."

"Don't fuss too much over it. I just made your eyes pop a little more, that's all~!"

"No I mean... thank you for everything. For the advice, the patience, for the flower you gave me... I don't know how I can repay you."

Mei Mei smiled softly at that. "Aww, it always feels nice whenever someone acknowledges my amazingness~," The tiger master rolled her eyes with an amused look on her face, "But if there is something you could do to 'repay' me... maybe help Viper out with what fabric colour to choose, heh?"

After receiving that cheesy smile and inquiry from the pandess, Tigress looked back in the mirror and stared into it intently. More specifically, staring up at the camellia still on her head.

At long last, Tigress nodded her head softly. "I think I have an idea in mind..."