Losing Control

"Tell me again why you set this up?" Tigress asked as they walked into the gym.

"Po's my friend too you know."

"Since when?" Tigress said. Her tone wasn't friendly.

"Ever since I've been a sorry excuse for one?" Song sighed.

Tigress shook her head. "Song, it's okay."

"It's not."

"What about-"

"I told Tai Lung I wasn't available." Her eyes quickly scanned the room. "And by the looks of it, he's not here. Which means he lied about always working out."

"You believed him?"

"No, I just wanted evidence to show how much of a scum bag he is," Song growled.

They didn't realize until then that Mei Ling was staring at the two. "Uhh may I help you two?"

Tigress and Song snapped out of their conversation. "Oh uh, we're just waiting for Po."

"Both of you?" Mei Ling asked slowly.

"What's wrong with that?" Tigress asked.

Mei Ling shrugged, "Po having one female friend was surprising enough."

Song placed her hands on her hips. "Are you saying that he can't have female friends?"

"In the time I've known him? I just figured he didn't want any."

Tigress tilted her head slightly. "Mei Ling, exactly how long have you known Po?"

The Golden Asian Cat stared at the ceiling filled with slow-moving fans. "Going on 10 years."

"And he's always been like this?"

"What do you mean?"

"Serious about exercise?"

"Yep," Mei Ling answered.

"Always secretive about where he goes, who he's with, or what he's doing?" Tigress asked.

Mei Ling raised a puzzled eyebrow. "I wouldn't say secretive. He just doesn't... he's not the kind of guy to open up about his personal life. I try my best to check up on him, but," She trailed off, sighing, "I'm just here to watch the gym. Nothing more."

"You don't get paid enough to care?" Song asked, though her voice sounded just a tad hostile.

Mei Ling stared at her with the same tone, "Last time I cared to ask what was going on, I lost my job."

Tiger and leopard widened their eyes. "Long story short," Mei Ling continued, "I thought this employee was flirting with my female co-worker who didn't seem interested. When I tried to get involved, I learned that not only she was interested but was having an affair with him."

"Whoa."

"But why would that affect you?" Tigress asked.

Mei Ling sighed, "Turned out those two were protected by the boss, who just so happened to be the woman's husband."

"Wait, is that legal?"

"She wasn't 'directly' under him so there wasn't a conflict of interest," Mei Ling answered Tigress. "The boss didn't believe me and fired me for spreading false accusations. I moved out of my apartment, stayed with a friend of mine until I got my stuff organized, found this job, and stayed out of people's business ever since."

"Do you know whatever happened to those people?" Song asked. Tigress glanced at the snow leopard. "What? I'm just curious."

"Nosy is more like it."

"What's new?" Song smirked. Tigress gave a small chuckle.

Mei Ling offered a small smile. "Last time I heard from my friends there, they all got fired when it turned out that my boss was also having an affair. The wife confronted him about it, the boss threatened to fire the guy she was cheating with, soon the directors found out and decided to fire all of them."

"And you don't want to go back to that job?" Tigress asked.

Mei Ling shrugged, "Would you believe me when I say this job is much less stressful and more fulfilling?"

"I understand the stress part, but not the fulfilling," Song replied.

"People like uh... your snow leopard friend-"

"He's not her/my friend," Tigress and Song answered sternly. Mei Ling raised her eyebrow.

"It's... complicated," Song sighed, "You were saying."

"Other than those people coming in, most people around here are very friendly, especially people like Po."

"And... how do you see Po?" Tigress asked slowly.

Mei Ling rolled her eyes. "Friend. Just friend. Geez, you're acting like Kai."

"Who?" Song asked.

"Po's former trainer," Tigress quickly answered. "And he has even less information about Po, I imagine."

Mei Ling sighed, "I think Po doesn't want to talk about whatever he went through because it's hard for him." The tannish cat glanced at Tigress, "You remember our little chat when you started sparring with Po, right?"

Tigress's face sat evenly. "I remember."

"Just keep that in mind while you ask questions. Curiosity doesn't always kill the cat, but it can hurt other animals."

Tigress stared at her, not saying much other than, "I'll keep that in mind." The two felines nodded, and Tigress and Song walked over to the private studio. Song glanced back at the front desk and then at Tigress.

"What was that about?"

"Don't worry about it," Tigress grumbled.

"Tigress, come on," Song stopped. "What's wrong?"

"It's... " The striped feline huffed. "She thinks that I'm going to hurt Po."

Song raised her eyebrow. "By being too curious?"

"Seems that way," Tigress huffed. "She's worried about nothing, Song."

"I'm more worried about what her words make you think."

"What do you mean?"

"Are you afraid of hurting Po? I mean besides wrestling him to the ground."

"Of course, I don't want to hurt him."

"Then why ask questions about his hoodie and jacket?" Song asked, crossing her arms. Tigress gave a sharp exhale, turning her head away from the snow leopard. Of all the people she knew, Tigress had to admit that Song had an unusual knack for sensing what was wrong with her.

But it was only when they met Po that the snow leopard became so dogmatic about figuring out what was going on. Part of the change, she guessed.

"I don't want to hurt him, but I don't want him to hurt," Tigress said quietly. Song kept staring, not changing her firm yet questioning gaze. She gave a small nod and the two entered the studio without any sign of their previous conversation.

Po was stretching his legs on the mat, making the tiger chuckle. "And you say I only stretch my legs?"

"Huh!? Oh! Hey, you're here," Po smiled, standing up. "I was wondering where you two were."

"We... got caught up," Song replied.

"Well, time for that tiebreaker," Po smirked.

"I can't wait," Tigress smirked back.

"Tell me again why you two are doing this?" Song asked. "I mean, I get martial arts, but why do you two want a tiebreaker?"

"She's stubborn and competitive, I like fighting her," Po answered. Song smiled humorously. It made sense.

Sorta.

The panda and tiger stood on opposite ends of the mat while Song sat, stretching her limbs a bit.

Tigress did a roundhouse kick. The panda blocked and grabbed her foot. Tigress quickly pulled her foot back and punched his shoulder. Po hopped back and blocked the tiger's next kick. He went for a high kick, making Tigress lean back while the panda's foot nearly grazed her face. She shuffled right and attacked his side.

"Oooh!" Po grunted, clutching his side. "Alright, I wasn't ready."

"I am," Tigress smirked.

She leaped forward. The panda blocked with his sturdy forearm. The two went back into their fighting stances, glaring at each other with a slight smirk. Tigress blocked his kick and ducked from another punch. Po stopped the tiger's strong blow to the gut but jumped out of the way of her stomping foot while she tried to grab his arms.

Song watched on quietly, forgetting her stretching. The smirk on Tigress's face was more interesting. Song tried to recall all the events of her life with Tigress. She couldn't remember a time when such a wild and excited grin was plastered onto the striped feline's face.

Tigress punched Po's chest. The panda gripped his torso and flung his head back from the tiger's kick. Suddenly, Po twirled forward and grabbed her waist, flinging her to the ground.

Her eyes shut for two seconds and shot open again. Tigress found herself under the massive panda. Po grinned with a pant, shakily keeping his nerves about him. "Got you."

"Um... yeah. You do," Tigress responded. For a moment, just for a moment, their breaths slow down. Long enough to register their whole situation. Shaking his head, Po immediately got to his feet, helping the tiger up as well. "I uh... I guess that means you win the tiebreaker."

"Yeah, yeah," Po chuckled nervously. Tigress glanced at the panda's hoodie and gasped. "What? What's wrong?"

"No, no, no, no! I'm so so sorry!"

"Huh?" Po looked down and saw the light claw tears in his black hoodie. "Oh."

"I'm so sorry! Are you hurt?! Are you okay?!" Tigress panicked.

"What's wrong?"

"I didn't mean to use my claws! I NEVER use my claws when I'm fighting!"

"Unless she needs to," Song mentioned. Tigress gave the snow leopard the blackest hateful look Song had ever seen. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry!" She quickly said.

"This is serious, Song! Po could've gotten hurt!"

"Tigress, it's okay," Po smiled, showing the fabric. "Nothing's bleeding or anything."

"That's not the point, Po!" She yelled. "I never get like that! NEVER! I never lose control like that! What am I doing? I should've-" Tigress shouted, grabbing her head with her shaking hands. Her vision grew hazy with shimmering spots forming around the corners of her eyes. She breathed harder and faster. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry, I don't know what's wrong with me! I should've-" She felt the panda's warm arms around her. "Wh-What?"

"Breathe slowly," Po said calmly, gently stroking the tiger's head. "Feel your body." Tigress felt the tightness in her chest, the beating of her drumming heart, and the scariest thing of all: the fast frantic breathing.

She was hyperventilating? Why?

The fear and terror nearly blinded her view. Almost everything turned black.

But the panda's soft arms and warm gentle petting were... calming. Soothing. Warm.

A long sigh excited the tiger's lungs as she rested into Po's soft fur.

The tension in her head, neck, and shoulders dropped, replacing them with a dull ache. Her breathing slowly calmed to a small tidal wave of steady air. She could even feel a little lingering tingle of the panic and anxiety trying to leave her fingers. "Tigress? Are you okay?" Song asked, standing close by the pair.

"I... I think I'm okay."

"Are you sure?" Po asked. Tigress gulped and nodded. Po gave her one more reassuring hug.

The tiger's eyes widened. "Oh!"

"Huh? What's the matter?" Po asked, releasing her. Tigress blinked several times, staring blankly at the panda. "Uhh, Tigress?"

"It... nothing. Sorry for scaring you."

"I'm more worried if you're okay," Po asked.

Song rested her hand on Tigress's shoulder. "Po's right. I've never seen you panic like that."

"I've... never lost control like that. Not in a fight," Tigress took one last sigh, feeling the bones in her legs give out. She collapsed to her knees, sitting up by some weary strength in her body. "I just... never thought I would lose control like that."

"But you didn't hurt me," Po pointed out, sitting down next to her.

"I could've," Tigress replied somberly. "My instructor told me that I had to maintain a high level of control over my actions when I fight. Because I'm a tiger, it's more likely that I can lose control of myself."

The studio was silent for a long while. Tigress stared at the padded blue floor, shutting her eyes. Her thoughts went back to the conversation with her mother. She was right. The panic of losing control was terrifying. Was she really that obsessed with it? She didn't want this to happen. Especially with Po. Would he be scared off? Why did she have to lose control of-

"You're lying, right?" Po asked.

Tigress snapped her head up. "What?"

"Tigress, my instructors were a tiger and a tortoise. The tiger just said that he had to make sure he didn't use his claws because it's a subconscious thing. That's part of the reason why he does martial arts because he trains himself to use the rest of his body and not his claws. But it's not something that you have to keep under lock and key," Po explained. "Besides, the way you hit me wouldn't have made a deep cut."

"How do you know?"

"Because I've been thrown around by Master Qiang long enough to be immune to feline cuts," Po joked. The two felines chuckled lightly. "When did your martial arts teachers tell you this?"

"Around the time my parents divorced."

"Ahhhhh," Po sighed, smiling a bit. "They told you that because they didn't want you taking your frustration out on others."

Song and Tigress looked at each other and then at the panda. "How do you know?" Tigress asked.

"Because I... had a similar incident and Master Qiang and Master Oogway told me that because it happened, there was a high chance I would start to take it out on others."

"So... my instructors said that because they knew my parents' divorce would make me angry?" Tigress asked. Po shrugged. She looked at her hands and grumbled to herself. "I knew I shouldn't have told them. I would've never-"

"They were only trying to help, Tigress," Po smiled warmly. "Don't give them too much grief. You don't have to be scared of who you are, Tigress. It's okay." He frowned just a bit. "And maybe it's other things that are getting to you."

"Huh?"

"Po's right," Song chimed in. "You've been going through a lot of changes recently. That can be very stressful, and you've been talking about feeling more stressed out lately."

"And Master Qiang did say that martial arts is a way of expression. Maybe your body's trying to tell you something that your head is ignoring," Po pointed out.

"But... that shouldn't come at the cost of your safety, Po," Tigress slightly whimpered.

"I'll be fine. Besides, I'm actually more used to cat claws than you think." His smile widened. "And I'm not going to let a friend go through a panic like that alone."

The tiger stared at the panda and sighed, nodding in defeat.

"I didn't know you knew so many feline people in your life, Po," Song mentioned. Po frowned and gave a long sigh as he helped Tigress up from the ground again.

"I know a lot about felines. They've uh... kind of affected my life."

"What do you mean?" Song asked.

Po glanced around, trying to find something or some way to get away from the question, but ultimately just gave another sigh. "It's complicated."

Song and Tigress shared a side glance and silently agreed to drop it. The tiger stared at Po's black hoodie. "I'm really sorry about the hoodie, Po. I can get you another one if-"

"Tigress, it's fine. I have a ton of these hoodies," Po smiled as he grabbed another identical hoodie from his bag. Tigress's and Song's faces fell. "What?"

"Po. How many hoodies and jackets do you have that specifically hide all of your body?" Song asked blatantly.

"Hey! That's a very personal question." Song just raised her eyebrow. Po grumbled under his breath.

"What was that?"

"17," Po grumbled louder. Tigress widened her eyes while Song just shook her head. "Hey, they were on sale and in bulk. I had to get them."

"Why?"

"I told you already. I don't like how my body looks."

Tigress sighed sharply, "Alright. Sorry for mentioning it." She glanced at the clock. "Let's get going. We only have so much time in this studio." Po nodded.

The trio left the studio.

"So... when's the next time we're sparring?" the panda joked.

"Po."

"I'm serious."

"I... I don't know," Tigress grumbled but smirked. "I do want to do something we haven't done yet."

"What's that?"

"Running."

"Huh?" Po and Song muttered.

"I think you've shown that you can beat me at sparring... when I'm not putting my all into it."

"You are so competitive!" Po laughed in disbelief.

"But I've yet to see your speed. What do you say?"

Po looked at Song who only shrugged. He sighed with a small smile. "Alright. Same time, same place?"

"Of course," Tigress smiled. "And I'm sorry again about the hoodie."

"It's alright. It kind of looks cool, though. Looks like I fought a ferocious monster. DAAH! I mean... not to say that you are one I just-"

"It's okay, Po," Tigress chuckled as the two felines headed to the door. "We'll see you next Sunday."

"O-Oh! Okay," Po smiled in a goofy manner. The tiger and snow leopard walked out of the gym and glanced at each other. Tigress opened her mouth to speak, but Song beat her to it.

"Another time?" Song guessed.

"I-...yes."

"If you ever need help, Tigress," Song said, stopping for a moment, "I will try my best to help."

"What do you mean?"

The snow leopard sighed, "With Po around, I'm beginning to realize that I don't know you that much. Or maybe I've assumed too much."

"You're not the only one to blame, Song," Tigress smiled a hint. "I'm not very open. You know that."

"And yet Po can open you up?"

The two felines stared at each other and burst into laughter.

"Hahahahah! Oh, that was a horrible way to say that," Song chuckled.

"Yeah," Tigress smiled, though it flattened just a tiny bit. Enough not to convey concern. "Another time, though. We'll talk, I promise."

"Where are you going?"

"To get some sleep."

"It's 2 p.m.," Song said.

"A panic attack wipes you out," Tigress groaned. Song nodded and watched the tiger go down into the subway. Tigress felt the snow leopard's eyes on her and smiled. "We're still friends, Song. Don't forget that. And you are a good friend."

"When I'm not scheming?" Song vocalized.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a thrill from some of your schemes," Tigress smirked.

Song smiled, "Call me when you get home, alright?"

"I will," Tigress smiled back.

Continued...