Stability
The weekend. The ever-praised fountain of joy for so many workers. Tigress sat in her chair, sipping her tea while she looked over a book.
"Song was right. I need to relax with a good book every now and then," The feline sighed. She was just done with chapter 12 when her phone rang. She looked at the number.
The tiger groaned. It was Po. "Please tell me it's not work-related. Hello?"
"Hey, Tigress. I'm so so sorry to bother you on the weekend."
Tigress gritted a smile. She hated when people did that. If you hate to bother me, why are you doing it, she thought for a moment. "What's wrong?"
"Just wanted to say I'm not going to be at work on Monday. Something came up."
"Is everything alright?"
"Yeah, everything's fine. I'm just moving out of my dad's apartment and I need the extra day."
Tigress's eyes widened. "Moving can be a major hassle. Are you sure you don't need more time?"
"No, I'm sure. I just didn't think it would be this long."
"Do you need help?" Tigress took a moment to squint at herself in some non-existent mirror. Why was she offering her services OFF the workweek?
"Oh! No, no, no. It's fine. My dad and I are doing it. I'm sure everything is-"
CRASH!
"Sorry son!" Tigress heard over the phone.
Po groaned and sighed, "Actually, if you don't mind."
The tiger chuckled a bit. "I'll be right there." She grabbed her stuff and made her way to Po's address. She didn't really question why she was doing this. She had reasons. The panda's 'former' residence was his father's apartment building. As Tigress walked in, pale blue walls lined the entryway where a couch to the right faced a TV. A kitchen and its island sectioned off the living room and a hallway. Tigress assumed it led to Po's room.
"Oh! Hey, you're here. You really didn't have to."
"I know," Tigress smirked. "But someone has to make sure your things aren't damaged." Po laughed, a little embarrassed. She started helping out, packing things into boxes and crates that lay across the living room. "I'm surprised you didn't do this earlier. You're usually more organized than this."
"At work," Po chuckled, dropping a box on the nearly covered dark brown couch. "I'm a little all over the place."
"You've always been that way," Said his father as he placed down a box from the back. "Hello, I'm sorry we haven't met. I'm Li-Shan, Po's father."
The tiger shook the older panda's hand, "Tigress, his assistant."
Li Shan's eyebrow rose but he chuckled, "Sorry about my son dragging you into this."
"It's alright, I'll manage. Hopefully with a pay increase," Tigress smirked at the anxiously chuckling panda next to her.
Soon, they were ready for the move. His father rode with the moving company, but they didn't have room, so Po drove with Tigress.
"Thank you so much for helping. You didn't have to. And... I'm not sure if I can make this over time," he grinned nervously.
The tiger laughed, "Po, it's okay. I just wanted to help."
"Yeah, but... why?"
Tigress sighed, "One, you're going through a lot. And while that doesn't obligate me to help you, both me and you know you need a modicum of it."
"Alright, fair point," Po muttered.
"Two, curiosity. Why move now?"
Po looked back at his father's apartment building one last time before they drove. "I need to move on. Both physically and... everything else-ly. Besides, where I live now is a little bigger and more... practical."
"But why now?"
"Because I don't have a time slot for anything else... so," Po sighed, "Any other reason? I'm actually surprised you would give up a weekend for this."
"Quite frankly," Tigress grimaced a little with embarrassment. "I was... bored."
"Pardon?"
"Lei Lei's at her grandfather's house and I was having some me time."
Po tilted his head. "And you decided to help someone move because you didn't know how to sit still?"
Tigress grumbled under her breath. "That's... not the only reason."
"Uh huh," Po smirked. He showed her the apartment complex's address and the two drove. As she slowed to a stop, Tigress glared hard at Po, but it didn't seem like a bad stare. "Wh-what?"
"Why is this apartment so close to the Zainan building?" she asked. "I thought you wanted to get 'AWAY' from work."
"Like I said, more practical. This cuts down on unnecessary funding for the company. Like a lot of unnecessary funds. I never knew how much money simply goes into paying the CEO. Besides, I don't need a big house. I don't need to feel more alone than I already do." Po paused and grimaced. "That... wasn't supposed to sound as depressing as it was."
"I'll keep that in mind," Tigress smiled. They got out and helped Li Shan with the stuff. Tigress carried a box up the elevator to the top.
"Thankfully, I don't have much furniture," Po sighed as they pushed some of the bookshelves into the corners. The apartment was bigger for one person. Cream-colored walls with a light tan couch in the corner. Two beige drapes over the windows next to the couch made the living room.
"You do have a surprisingly small bed," Tigress mentioned, seeing Li Shan and the moving company haul it in.
"Why do you say that? It's a twin."
"It's just... I have a queen."
Po shrugged, "Like I said, I don't need super fancy stuff."
Tigress lifted an eyebrow. "A queen-size bed isn't fancy."
"It is when you're trying not to remember how big and empty the bed is," Po muttered. Tigress made a long face. "Sorry, I shouldn't have-"
"Why do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Apologize for talking about what you went through."
"Because I don't want pity. Besides, what matters is that I get through this junk. Both figuratively and literally," The panda sighed, looking at the mess of boxes all around.
Tigress rested her hand on his shoulder. "Take one day each day to unpack the boxes. My father and I moved around a lot."
"Thanks, I appreciate it," Po sighed. The panda's father came out of the small bedroom, stretching his back.
"Ah! That's the bed. I think we'll be good for now," Li Shan said. "Thank you so much for helping."
Tigress smiled. "It was a pleasure." She wasn't prepared for Li Shan to give a big panda-sized bear hug, nearly making the tiger's eyes pop out. "OoF!"
"Dad, don't squish her!"
"Heh, sorry. We pandas are huggers," Li Shan chuckled and walked out for more boxes.
"I'm... so sorry about that."
The tiger gave a humorous smile. "Po, it's okay."
"I just... I know you're not the touchy type."
"What makes you say that?"
"Well... I just figured that-"
"You do realize that my daughter is a panda. I know that pandas love hugs. I've just never been bear-hugged like that before," Tigress smiled gently.
"Oh! I... I didn't know. Look, I'm sorry for taking time away from your kid."
"I told you, she's with her grandfather right now. And you don't have to apologize. I offered."
"Still. Thank you so much, Tigress. I really needed the extra help. I owe you big time. I promise to do your work after my-"
"No," Tigress said firmly. "Don't do that, Po. You've already worked yourself tirelessly. I'll be fine."
"Are you-"
"Positive." The feline smiled at the panda's quiet defeat.
"Okay, again, thank you for the help," he smiled.
"Goodbye, Tigress!" Li Shan shouted from outside. Po groaned in embarrassment while Tigress simply laughed and left.
While she drove home, she noticed her jaw hurting. But when she touched her face, she realized she had been smiling all the way home.
She did enjoy her time with Po.
Tigress shook her head. "Ugh, I must be working too hard," She finally admitted. Just as she got home, her phone rang. "Hello?"
"Tigress! I've been meaning to call you. What's up?"
"Nothing much. Just came from helping... a friend."
"Who?"
"No one special," Tigress said.
Song paused for a while. "Are... you okay? You're not usually this dodgey about your friends. Come to think about it, I'm not sure I know anyone else that you call a friend."
Tigress grumbled under her breath. "Alright, I was helping Po move out."
"Oh."
"Don't."
"I wasn't implying anything. I'm just... surprised. Just... why?"
Tigress bit her lip a bit. "He's... after your incident, I realized I was wrong for taking my frustrations out on him. And that I wasn't right for the job, especially after seeing him deal with Kai and Shen."
"Yeah, Viper told me how they acted in the board meeting."
"Ah, so you still have close ties to the office grapevine," Tigress noted.
"You know I always have to know what's happening. The best tea is the tea that doesn't affect you," Song giggled.
Tigress rolled her eyes. "But yeah, after I learned more than the bare essentials, I realized that he's just trying his best. And he's... really going through a lot."
"Tigress," Song said in a serious tone. "I know you're not... you know, but just... I know Po wouldn't do something like this but just keep in mind that-"
"I am always professional. You know that."
"I was going to say don't open your heart too quickly," Song finished. "Po wouldn't hurt you intentionally, but especially when work gets into the mix, things can be a problem."
"I'm not. He's very persistent in making sure that his... situation doesn't become a pity party. He even fell asleep at the office to do my work just so I could pick up Lei Lei."
"Hehe, yeah, he'd do that," Song chuckled.
Tigress's eyes lit up. She remembered Song was more social than she was. Which means... "Song, what is Po like?"
"A sweetheart and a goofy lovable nerd," the snow leopard giggled lightly, "I feel awful for saying those things about him. I was just... so worried about that job."
"Right... so... who was embezzling if it wasn't you."
Song went quiet for a moment. Then she sighed, "You don't beat around the bush, do you?"
"You've known me for how long?"
"Look I just... I don't want to talk about it."
"Hm. I only ask because Shen came to me about a hypothetical question: If Po wasn't in charge, would I step in?"
"Don't."
"Huh?"
"Listen, Tigress. Whatever you do, stay away from Shen. Please," Song warned.
The striped feline slightly lifted her head. "So it's him."
"Tigress."
"It makes sense why he was in your office all the time. Why keep it a secret?"
"Because making money is important. Unfortunately, truth can be bought if you're desperate enough. And when people can't eat or feed their families, they become desperate," Song sighed.
"I see. I'm sorry for making you go through that... situation again."
"It's over. I'm just glad I don't have to deal with his money-hungry grubbing face again," Song growled. Tigress's mind immediately saw that face and winced.
"Well, I'll keep that in mind. Anyway, I need to pick up Lei Lei from my father."
"Oh! She's not with you? That's weird. You almost never leave her."
Tigress sighed, "I've come to realize that I need to take a break every now and then. Even Lei Lei's been on my case about working too hard. Oh! Which reminds me. She said that you talk about me. Something about a 'work demon'?"
"Uh Oh look at the time! I have to get back to grading, bye!" Song immediately hung up.
Tigress rolled her eyes but frowned. What Song said struck a cord in her worried nerves. She was right about people becoming desperate. And if Song's actions at Zainan Inc. were a common example, she knew that it was a pitfall to watch out for.
Especially since she was a single mother.
Tigress looked at the clock ticking on the wall. She would have to get Lei Lei soon, but before that, the tiger opened her laptop and started looking online for something to help her be a little more stable.
Continued...
