It's Good...Right?

Po was back to work, seeing the results of the 'stress test' the girls made. For the most part, Po didn't have to panic coming back. Everything seemed to flow effortlessly and easily.

The panda looked around his computer lab. He felt on edge. He thought it was because the tournament was coming in a few days, but other things ravaged his mind. Should he be resting?

He shook his head and grumbled as he walked to the bathroom. He used the toilet and washed his hands. His eyes met the mirror.

His line of sight went to his belly, carefully tucked under the large dress shirt that hid his form. He took a deep breath. He grabbed the helm for a moment. His hand trembled. He bit his lip and sighed, releasing his shirt. "This tournament is going to kill me," He muttered.

The panda placed a hand on his belly and shut his eyes. Even then he could feel the pain of the cut. Years had gone by. He was amazed how nerves could remember something so long so well.

Ring!

"WAHHHH!"

His heart went running as he jostled his phone out of his pocket. "Uhh hello? Hello! Umm... who's this?"

"Are you okay?"

"Tigress!" Po sighed a little out of relief. "I'm fine. I'm fine. Just... how are you?"

"I'm good. Listen, um... I have a very strange question."

"What is it?"

"Could we... um... come to your house to eat?"

Po narrowed his eyes. "Come again?" He said with a drop in his voice.

"Look, I know it's weird and I-"

"Did Song put you up to this?"

"What? No. It's just... umm..." She paused again. "I... need some help."

"With relaxing?"

"I'm back at work."

"So what are you worried about?"

"I'll tell you about it later tonight. Is that okay with you?"

"Okay. Wait, what do you mean 'we'?" Po asked.

"Song wanted to join," Tigress explained.

"Is her boyfriend okay with it?" Po smirked, leaving the bathroom.

Tigress chuckled, "Apparently. Besides, she's accusing me of hogging you."

"Oh!" Po chuckled nervously, "I didn't know I was something you guys were sharing."

"Po, I don't mean-"

"No, no, it's okay. It's... nice to be wanted."

"Well, I'm glad you see it like that," Tigress replied. Po heard her unsteady voice. That never came out of her. "I'll see you later tonight?"

"Sure, I'll get some stuff ready."

"Are you sure it's not too much?"

"I'm positive," Po smiled. He hung up the phone, but his mind felt stuffed. His normal mirror problem became secondary as he sat back down in his animation lab, rubbing his chin. Tigress didn't stutter like that. And she wasn't that jittery. What was happening?

The workday quickly flew by as Po gnawed on that question in his mind. Several times he thought about texting Song, but each time he backed out. Tigress said she would tell them, which probably meant she didn't tell Song. As Po took the jade train back to his apartment, he still thought about what could be wrong as he cleaned up his room and prepared the food.

A knock at the door withdrew him from his thoughts. He opened the door and a snow leopard's wide smile showed. "Song! It's good to see you."

"Without my 'boyfriend'?" Song smirked.

"Ah! Tigress told you," Po chuckled sheepishly. Song continued to smile as she placed her bag down by the entrance. "I'm almost done with the food. I'm waiting on Tigress. Do you know where she is?"

"She just texted me and said that she's coming soon." Song sniffed the air. The tangy savory smell of homemade dishes widened her grin. "Mmm, smells good."

"Glad I got some skills from my dad," Po smiled. "Sooooo did Tigress tell you why she wants to talk?"

Song sighed, shaking her head. "I was hoping she told you."

"It sounded serious. How was she at work?"

"In the morning, she was fine. Told me and Viper all about her vacation," Song smiled. Po stopped and stared. That smile had more mischief than innocence.

"What exactly did she tell you?"

"Oh, just some of the stuff you and her did."

"Like?"

"Racing? Meeting your dads?" Song seemed to 'wake up' all of a sudden. "She didn't tell us anything too private, you know. She does maintain your privacy."

"Uh huh," Po said with a deadpanned look. "Sure I believe that."

"Po, she's not a gossiper. Honest."

"And you aren't?"

"I never said that," Song smiled 'sweetly'. Po rolled his eyes and continued with the food. "How are you feeling about the tournament?"

"Nerve-wrecked. I really really don't want to do this but... Tigress is kind of right. If I'm going to do this, I need to face my fear. Even if it scares the heck out of me." He placed the finishing garlic sauce on the food and turned off the pot. "And you and Mr. Pride. How is that going?"

Song grimaced a bit. "Well, I figured out a lot about him that's bad. I really wish I didn't meet this guy."

"And you haven't dumped him because?"

"After I have all the evidence, I'll get rid of him."

Po's eyes widened. "You're not... trying to kill him, right?"

"Po!?"

"Hey! I had to ask!"

Song groaned as another knock at the door came. Po opened it to see Tigress. "Good to have you come, Ms. Claw," Po bowed, sweeping the floor.

"Oh, a gentleman. How nice," Tigress smirked.

"Hey! I didn't get the formal treatment," Song pouted.

"Heh, heh, sorry," Po grinned in a goofy manner. Song rolled her eyes as Tigress sat next to her. "You're just in time for food. Now, tell us what's wrong?"

"Uhh can't I taste the food before I tell you?" Tigress asked.

"You can multitask," Song argued. "Now tell us. You've been worrying me and Po sick."

Tigress took a deep breath and ate some of her food. "Well, since we're here, there are two things. One, my mom's working with Po's dad."

"Ah! Yeah, my dad told me," Po grinned awkwardly. "But I promise that-"

"They're not dating," Tigress smiled. "I know."

"Okay, but that's not why you called this meeting," Song spoke up.

"You don't know that," Tigress rebuffed. "Maybe I just wanted alone time with two of my friends. Being social, right Song?" The smirk on the tiger's lips only made Song grumble.

"But seriously, Tigress. What's wrong?"

The striped feline placed the bowl down and sighed. "Mr. Shifu pulled me into his office and... gave me an offer for a promotion."

"That's good. What position?" Song asked as she and Po drank their water.

Tigress sighed again. "His... position."

PPPFFFFFTTT! Panda and snow leopard spat their water out. "WHAT!?"

"Wait, wait, so what is Shifu going to do?" Song asked.

"Retire."

"Are you kidding me?!" Song smiled wide. "This is amazing!"

"Yeah... it should be... right?" Tigress asked them. Po and Song glanced at each other. She seemed panicked, scared.

"You're not sure if you want this," Po guessed. She sighed. "Do you want to keep working there?"

"I... like working there. It's just... after spending time with you, I-"

"Tigress, if you enjoy doing what you're doing, it's okay. You don't have to overthink it," Po smiled. "I just meant don't work yourself into oblivion. There are more important things than work."

"Something that we've all been trying to tell you," Song added. The kittens glared at each other, both annoyed at each other. Tigress gave a small grunt before finishing her food.

"But I don't know."

"You do Shifu's work anyway. Why not do it? What's stopping you?" Song asked.

"Po."

"Huh?" Song and Po said.

Tigress sighed, "Ever since I met Po, I've been thinking about how much I've been missing out on life. And... whenever I think about the car accident... I don't want to have a life that wasn't... good."

"Okay, enough with the reflection and philosophy," Po blurted out, resting his arm on the dinner table. "Do you or do you not like your job?"

"Y-Yes."

"And what are some of the things you want to do in your life?"

"I don't know."

"Then organize your life so that you can still have a living but make most of your time trying to figure out where you want to go," Po said plainly. "Simple as that."

Tigress stared for a moment. She smiled. "I always wanted to go to the beach. Want to come with me?"

"Ahhh, uhhh beaches and me don't get along. Not because of the hoodie."

"Then what?"

"I... tend to always find couples that are... practicing 'nude beach' culture."

Tigress and Song glanced at each other before bursting into laughter. They kept on talking. The subject of Tai Lung came up in more detail, but as the time wound down, Tigress asked the more pressing question. "Po, are you sure you're going to be okay for the tournament?"

"You of all people are doubting me?" Po chuckled, though a bit nervous.

"I mean, are you mentally prepared? I know you CAN win. I'm just worried about your mind."

Po gave a big sigh as he turned his back, placing the pots and pans into the sink. "Will you and Song be there?"

"Yeah."

"And I have Yongqi's stupid annoying big brother competitiveness to keep me going," Po looked over his shoulder and smiled. "I think I'll be fine."

Tigress smiled back. "I don't doubt it."

Continued...