Stress and Relaxation

A couple of weeks rolled by and Tigress focused on her work as much as she could. She glanced at Po's door with a small frown. The panda was on vacation. She sighed. The door that previously sent her into a jealous rage now stood as a sad reminder that Po wasn't there.

The tiger shook her head and focused on the screen. "Okay, that's done. Wow. Po really worked a lot on this stuff. I... don't have to do much," Tigress murmured. She leaned her head onto her right fist. It was almost a year, and Po was running the company much better than anyone thought, including her. Especially with Kai and Shen.

Could she have done it? Maybe, but her own life would've plunged into chaos. And unlike Po, she reacted out of anger when she was stressed out, something she didn't want Lei Lei to learn. She had too much on her plate. Learning when to transition between taking things slow and fast, she still needed to learn how to fully relax.

A stray thought entered the tiger's mind, making her chuckle. One day, Tigress mentioned to Lei Lei that she wanted to take some time for herself. The little panda got so excited that she immediately asked for Shifu to babysit her because 'Mommy wanted a nap'. When Tigress asked why the little girl was so excited, the young panda said, "Because Grandpa always said that you work too much and that you'll hurt yourself. I don't want you to hurt yourself."

Shifu and Lei Lei were right. She needed to rest a bit more.

Just then, another panda came down her hall. "Hey, Tigress. I know Po's out, but can you relay a message to him? I'm going to be out for a while."

"Why the emergency?"

"I just... have to get some personal stuff done. I just wanted to make sure that you and Po knew when I head out. I'll be missing the quarterly meeting."

"I'll remember. Which days?"

"3rd-9th."

Flag.

Tigress's eyes shrunk and she stared at the large panda's entire frame. Mei Mei's eyes darted left and right. "W-what?

"Nothing. I find it convenient that Tai Lung is also gone during that time, though."

"Ohh uhhh I wouldn't know."

"You're in HR, Mei Mei. Spill it."

"What?! I don't have to tell you anything."

"Mei."

"Ugh, fine. Please don't tell anyone. Like AN-y One. Not even Po."

Tigress squinted again. "Why would I tell Po?"

"Well, it's just... you two look very close and I thought-"

"Oh! Is that what's happening on the office grapevine," Tigress glared.

"That's not what I meant!"

"Po and I are co-workers. Nothing. More," The tiger grunted. "Please tell EVERY grape you find on the vine that."

"I will, I will. Sheesh," Mei Mei mumbled.

"So... what about you and Tai Lung?"

Mei Mei sighed and sat in the chair beside Tigress's desk. "He and I are... dating."

"I see."

"But Tai Lung really really wants to make sure that no one knows about it. We're not technically breaking any rules, but he doesn't want to risk anything."

Tigress nodded. She remembered Tai Lung being a bit paranoid about his job security.

But that left one question.

"Why did you agree to this?"

Mei Mei sighed, "Tai Lung's a great guy and... I get it. He's been through a lot of job insecurity so he wants something a little more stable."

"An administration job that's constantly trying to find more 'cooperative' workers and automatize everything isn't really the most secure," Tigress laid out.

The panda shrugged. "Better than being on food stamps. I've told him he has the skills to be anything he wants, but... he doesn't want to risk it."

Tigress tilted her head slightly. The panda's eyes stared at the carpet while her frown widened. "That's not the only reason why you're worried for him."

Mei Mei looked away from the tiger, silent and still. Her shoulders finally sagged as she said, "What if he's worried about taking a risk on me?"

"Why would you be a risk?"

"You know me, Tigress. I'm not your typical woman. I'm not all sunshine and roses like Viper and I'm nowhere near as a strong woman as you are."

"And yet Tai Lung clearly likes you. He didn't go after me or Viper. Just you."

Mei Mei stifled a chuckle. "Well, I know why he didn't approach you."

"Why?" Tigress asked flatly.

"Well, it's just... sometimes you're not the most... approachable at work. I get it. You're focused on work, but... when Po first became CEO-"

"Yes, yes, I understand," Tigress grumbled. "I'd like to move on from the past."

"Sorry."

The tiger sighed and wrote something down on a notepad. "I'll remember to tell Po."

"Thank you, Tigress. And... thanks for the talk. We should do it more."

Though an unwritten rule was to never discuss personal life with co-workers, Viper and Mei Mei had managed to get the cat's seal of approval.

Tigress smirked a bit. "We should. Outside of work, though."

"Right," Mei Mei smiled. With that, she left.

Meanwhile, Po grunted as he helped his dad wrench a new pipe in. "Hold it. Hold it. There we go!" Li Shan pulled his body out of the sink cabinet and stood back up. "Alright, that should be it. Thanks for the help, Po."

"Anytime Dad."

"You sure you don't want to do something else? You don't have to stay with me."

"It's okay, Dad. I don't mind," Po sighed, collapsing onto his dad's couch. Li Shan sat on a recliner slightly facing his son.

"So... how's the job?"

"Stressful as ever. And with stressful people," Po grumbled.

The older panda lifted an eyebrow. "Then why do you do it?"

"Money?"

"I don't think that's why you're doing this."

"Dad."

"Son, I know the break-up was bad, but you and I both know that she wasn't good for you."

"You never liked her," Po muttered, a little vengeful.

"No, but I want to make sure you're okay."

"I'll be fine."

Li Shan sighed but smiled, "Why don't you get some rest? I can finish up here." Po nodded as he watched his father go to his room. Po pulled out his phone and scrolled through a list of contacts. His eyes settled on one person's number. He hadn't expected to stop on her number.

He bit his lip. "No, I shouldn't. She's probably working hard to fix up any mistakes I made," Po muttered to himself. "Besides, she's dating someone. I'm sure the dude would feel weird seeing texts from her boss."

Po scrolled on. He often forgot that he was supposed to be this neutral figure when it came to work. Keeping work and life apart was an essential part of living healthily. Or as healthy as one could.

"Maybe I'm blurring the lines too much," Po muttered. He settled on another number and called it. "Hello?"

"Hiiii nephew!" Cried a cheery voice. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine. I'm on vacation and-"

"It's about time. You've been working non-stop."

Po narrowed his eyes with a small smirk. "How exactly do you know that?"

"Oh you know I have my spy on the inside now," Ayi said. Po could see her smirking. "So what are you doing now?"

"Just... trying my best to keep my mind busy."

"Well, I can tell you about the night I had last night with-"

"NAAAH nah no, no, no. I'm fine. I don't need to know what you two are doing." The loud panda laughed over the phone as Po sighed in embarrassment.

"But other than that? What else have you been doing?"

"I... Nothing, really. Just... trying to forget the past."

Ayi sighed, "Po, I have to ask. Why was this breakup so hard for you?"

"It's just... It was my first one! And I put everything into it! I tried to be the perfect person for her and she just... left. I don't want that to happen again!"

"So you want the person to be your slave?"

"Auntie."

"Po, people have to be free to choose. We can't force them. We can do our very best but... that can't stop people from not choosing us back. That doesn't mean people will quit on you, though. Some women will never leave you, no matter what. I'm really sorry you're going through this."

Po slumped back into the coach, staring at the popcorn ceiling. "What's worse is that I have the entire weight of a stupid company on my shoulders."

"And you don't quit because of what she told you, is that it?"

"I just... want her to shut up!" Po grumbled.

"Po," Ayi said gravely. "She's not here anymore. You're telling yourself things that she's not even there to tell you."

Po pursed his lips and sighed. His head found his hand. He covered his eyes as rebel tears streamed down his face. His breath hitched. All the pain boiling up from his heart cried out again. Incredible. He could feel old flesh wounds in his heart rupturing again. A familiar slashing and tearing. Just like how Po's ex tore his life apart.

Looking up at the popcorn ceiling, he could make out the faint traces of a happy panda looking back at him. "What's wrong with me, Aunt?" His voice trembled. "I used to be happy. I used to be carefree, and I used to be so... so much better than this."

"Honey, maybe nothing is wrong with you. Maybe you just got in touch with the wrong person. Evil isn't just the opposite of good. It's usually good gone wrong."

"You've... been through this before?" Po sniffled.

"Yes, lots of times, Lil' Lotus. Lots of times."

Po wiped his eyes. "I'm sorry for being such a mess, I-"

"No, no. It's okay, honey. You don't have to be macho panda for me. Ooh what would that look like?"

"Probably a big strongman doing weight-lifting tournaments," Po chuckled a bit.

"Hmm, random thoughts. Anyway, how is your assistant... Tigress was it?"

Po narrowed his eyes, speaking slowly. "She's fine...with her boyfriend."

"Oh, she's already dating someone? Oh, I mean, she seems like a nice person."

"That's woman for 'I think you two would look cute as a couple'," Po muttered.

"I didn't say that."

"Was I wrong?"

"Not the point, dear."

"Like I said, she's doing fine."

"I'm glad that she's your assistant though. She seems like someone who can help you through this."

"I don't know if that's in her job description, but... she has been helping me a lot." Po felt his lips pulling into a smile. He shook his head. "Anyway, I should get back to... vacationing."

"Alright, dear. Have a nice day. I hope you'll get more rest."

"I'll try," Po hung up the phone. He scrolled through the contact list only to settle on the previous number he had dismissed.

He looked at it again, hovering his thumb over the number he found gravitated to. He took a deep breath and punched the number in.

"Hey, Tigress," Po awkwardly smiled. "Is everything okay with work?"

He'd call occasionally over the vacation. Tigress would readily say he wasn't relaxing when he called her during work. She didn't mind, but she'd gently remind Po that he should be relaxing. "Don't worry about us. You've done enough good to last us a while," Tigress would smile over the phone.

After the vacation, Po stepped off the elevator and onto his office floor, wearing a black suit and tie with a white shirt. "Good Morning, Mr. Ping. Nice to have you again." Said one of the cubicles. Po smiled and waved as he went to his office with a smiling tiger waiting for him at her desk.

"Hey, Tigress."

"Hello, Po. I would ask how your vacation was, but considering you called during work hours-"

"Yeah sorry about that."

"It's okay," Tigress smiled warmly, "I don't mind. You took care of a lot of work for me. I didn't know what to do with myself."

"YOU were BORED?" Po asked.

"It's not impossible."

"Uhhh yeah it is. You've been working harder than anyone I know."

"I'm... learning to relax," Tigress gently protested.

Po shrugged, "Actually, could you come into my office? I wanted to talk some more before anything else goes crazy."

"You mean before Kai storms in?"

"Yep," Po sighed. Smirking, the tiger walked into his office and shut the door behind her. Po faced her as he placed his briefcase down on the desk. "Soooo how has the dating been going? I only ask because my aunt is curious... and I'm curious too," He nervously laughed.

Tigress's eyes sharpened. "I didn't know my love life was your personal soap opera."

"What?! No, no, no, no I just... wanted to," Po sighed. "No, you're right. I shouldn't really be asking those questions. I'm sorry. I shouldn't step over boundaries like that."

They had been blurring those lines a bit. They were still professional co-workers after all.

"I'm sorry. I guess my aunt's curiosity has gotten to me," He smiled shyly.

"Hmm. We're good. And I'm sure that will be enough for your... aunt," Tigress crossed her arms and inspected the panda for any more information. Ultimately shrugging, she asked, "How was the vacation? Or is the air too sour for talking about that?"

"Huh? Oh no, no. I don't mind. I get it. I shouldn't have assumed I could ask such a personal question like that," Po clarified. "Let's see. I didn't know what to do so I scheduled a deep tissue massage, and relaxation classes with meditation and yoga. And I took a baking class from that company that Kai's been so stubborn about, Mr. Ping's culinary school."

"Ah. So... are you relaxed?"

"Absolutely not! I'm back here!"

Tigress smiled. "Anything else?"

"Well... obviously I talked with my Aunt Ayi and... I guess I just realized why that break-up hurt me so much. It was my first one and... I just fell in love with the wrong person. And I've been trying hard to get back to the way I was before... everything," Po rubbed his eyes and sighed. "I really hate this whole situation."

"Why?"

"Because I... I don't want to be a pity party every time I talk about it."

"Why do you care so much about if people pity you?"

"Because I don't want people to be with me because they feel sorry for me! But I just... can't help it!" Po sighed again. His eyes fell upon his papers. "But life goes on, I guess. I should get back to work."

Tigress silently nodded. Po's honesty was always a marvel to her. Things she would never talk to anyone with, he would freely speak about. That was probably the reason why the boundaries were difficult. Po's vulnerability was contagious. The feline went to the door only to find Mr. Shen there. "Oh! Tigress. I... wasn't expecting you in here."

"I was giving Mr. Ping the rundown of what happened recently. Is something wrong?" she asked.

"I need to talk with Po. We have good news!"

"Come in," the panda called.

The bird strolled in with a pleasant smile. "We just got a new receptionist while you were gone."

"Now? Luthera has been gone for over a year and you're just now replacing her?"

"Oogway made a major... dent into our original plans."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I wanted you to see her. You might like her."

Po looked at him for a moment and shrugged, "I'll take the stairway to see her. I don't want to scare her."

"Scare her?" Tigress and Shen asked.

"Wouldn't you be a little nervous if the CEO came to visit you and you're a janitor? Anyway, who is she?"

"Oh I emailed her bio to you," Shen replied. The panda looked at his computer and opened the email.

The change happened drastically and suddenly. Po's peaceful jade eyes hardened into a flaming intense emotion that neither bird nor feline could understand. His jaw clenched. His hand gripped the mouse to the point Tigress was sure it would break. "No," He whispered. He rose from his seat and glared at the two.

"Is... something wrong?" Shen asked.

"Come with me," He ordered. Before the bird and tiger could ask, Po thundered past them and stormed down the stairway with Tigress and Shen close behind. The bottom stair came in view and they opened the door to look into the lobby.

The company's lobby was a cathedral-like height with a glittering chandelier and a small reception desk in the back. Big stone pillars bordered along the walls with feathery plant pots on either side. The stairway entrance to the lobby was hidden on the left side of the foyer.

Po, Shen, and Tigress peeked their heads out and saw the receptionist. The tiger narrowed her eyes.

It was a female panda with a distant bored face. She seemed shorter than Mei Mei by a couple of inches and had a touch more make-up, a bit of red lipstick with manicured painted nails. She wore a cream-colored blouse that actually matched the color of the wall behind her. Tigress shrugged, "She's just another panda. I don't see why-"

She stopped and gasped when she saw Po's face. It was twisted and arched at every corner. He gritted his teeth to the point that it pained Tigress and clenched his fists into black balls. His furrowed eyebrows held a storm while his jade eyes raged like a green flame. He stormed up the stairs with heavy stomps. For a moment, it sounded like Kai marching up the stairs. "I can't believe this."

Shen ran after him. "Po, what's-"

"Fire her."

"What? She's done nothing wrong."

"Fire. Her. I call a conflict of interest."

"Why? You know that doesn't work here," Shen argued firmly. "You have to have a legitimate reason to fire her or SHE has to leave. You can't just fire her because of non-compliance! That's what kept me and Kai from firing you! It's company policy!"

"Oh, and it's company policy to hire people who are my EX?!" Po shouted. Tigress and Shen widened their eyes and dropped their jaws.

"Po... I... I didn't know. I-"

"My blood pressure is going through the roof every day! All because of this stupid company!" Po groaned, marching away from the two of them. "I should've never taken this job." He pounded his feet on each stair all the way up, not caring that he was out of breath. Until the door to the 14th floor slammed shut, Shen and Tigress said not a word.

Continued...