A Little Scare


Colored lights flooded the summer night. The party started at the backyard porch of a venue surrounded by a small French trench. The DJ mixed behind his tables while a panda and a snow leopard, fresh from their "separate" vacations, danced to a medium-paced samba. Viper and Crane talked nervously and cutely with each other at the drinks. Happy, laughing co-workers chatted to each other. On the far end of the exciting party stood a female tiger with crossed arms and a smile, enjoying the sight. She wore a different dress for this occasion. A vibrant silky red dress that stopped just above the calves. A sharp V rode down her chest while the low-colored lights made her dress sparkle.

She saw Shen talking with surprised co-workers. Their nervous grins and shocked face told her they weren't used to talking with the formerly reclusive money-pincher. Shen's black suit and bow tie were a welcome surprise. Tigress smirked. Ayi had a bigger effect on him than he'd like to admit.

Or maybe he would admit it after Po's crazy secret plan.

The tiger glanced around the party. Where was the panda?

She looked to her right and found him not far away, smiling and watching as he leaned against the wall of the venue building. Tigress walked over in her red high heels. She was still learning to walk in them; maybe listening to Song's suggestion wasn't the best idea. "I didn't take you for a wallflower?"

"Huh? Oh! Tigress," Po smiled, scratching the back of his neck. "Yeah, I'm usually more social but since I'm hosting the party... it sucks being CEO."

"Yeah, but someone has to do it."

"What about Monkey?" The tiger narrowed her eyes. "What? It's a legit question."

"That's why I'm confused by your question," Tigress muttered. Monkey was their PR director. How he was managing their company's recent set of fiascos was anyone's guess. But they didn't have to walk through a ton of reporters just to get to work so Monkey was doing something right. "Monkey is..."

"A prankster?"

"Yes."

Po chuckled, "But he does get the job done. Anyway, I'm just a little exhausted. It's nice to see everyone's enjoying the party, though."

"You know how to throw one."

"Yeah, I didn't know those high school parties were so hard to plan."

"This isn't high school though," Tigress smirked.

"And yet, I still feel like I'm at prom," Po chuckled. They silently watched the party go on for a moment with a glittering starry night canvas above. "You know, you never told me what it was," Po said.

"What what was?"

"When I first told you about the breakup, you mentioned that life was hard, but you said it like you... lived it personally."

Tigress gave a long sigh. "Long story short, I was always a hard worker. At least that's what everyone said. That was my identity. But then... Lei Lei came into my life."

"How so?" Po asked.

"I'm adopted and I didn't want a family at first. But... then I saw a newborn panda while visiting a friend in the hospital."

Po narrowed his eyes. "Wait, the sick ward and the baby room are on different sides of a hospital, how did you-"

"I was... lost. But... I saw she was alone. The doctors told me her mother died in childbirth and her father was killed in a car crash. I remember looking at Lei Lei," Tigress quietly beamed at the memory. "She opened her eyes and smiled. It was probably the first time a baby smiled at me. Kids normally think I look scary."

There was a silence. Tigress glanced at Po with a disappointed frown. "What?"

"Normally, people would reject that notion," she said.

"Tigress, you are scary. Especially when you're upset. But scary doesn't mean you're a bad person. You're kind, loving, and caring. I'm sure Lei Lei knows that more than anyone," Po smiled.

Tigress still glared before sighing, "I guess you're right. Anyway, I... talked with my father about it. He was excited about grandkids, of course. After a couple of months of paperwork, I got Lei Lei," The tiger paused. "I didn't know what I was doing and I thought I would accidentally kill her more times then I could count. I tried harder and harder, but I realized it wasn't helping. At first, I thought getting more money, better school, and a bigger house would make her into the best person she could be, but..."

"But?" Po asked as she trailed off.

"She... just needed me. Recently, I've realized I've been doing too much. All she really wants is for me to be there. To listen, to guide. Something I can easily do. The effort wasn't matching the result. Raising Lei Lei made me realize I can't always worry about a certain result. Just the process. Just being there for her and with her. Of course, I forgot about that when I was trying to get your job," Tigress simpered. "It's been hard but Lei Lei gives me the greatest joy I could possibly ask for."

Po smiled widely, "I know Lei Lei loves the fact that you chose her."

"She does," Tigress smiled.

"Where is she anyway?"

"She's with my father. But enough about me. How are you doing?"

"What do you mean?"

"You 'closed' a chapter of your life. How are you doing?"

Po shrugged, "Fine. I guess. Seeing people dance is really nice." He glanced in Tigress's direction. "And... I would be rude if I didn't say you looked stunning with that dress on."

Tigress's eyes widened, but she placed a small smirk on her lips. "Thank you. Lee likes it too."

"How is... Lee, by the way? I don't mean to be nosy but-"

"He's okay. Still a very good guy. I haven't shown him to Lei Lei yet. Hopefully, she likes him."

"I think she'll come to like him. He sounds like a great person," Po smiled.

Tigress paused and stared. She slowly lifted her eyebrow before crossing her arms, "Are you okay? You're doing that... sad smile face you have."

"What? What do you-"

"Lei Lei said that you seemed sad most of the time even when you're trying to be happy."

Po lightly scoffed, "I didn't know I was that bad at acting."

"Maybe it's just with kids," Tigress smiled. "So what's bothering you?

He smiled with a sigh, making a gesture with his hand as he said, "Why don't we focus on the party for right now? Want to join me in a dance?"

"I don't dance, Po."

"We don't have to be in front of everyone. Just here where no one's watching." There was a long awkward interlude. "That wasn't supposed to sound as creepy as it does." Tigress laughed as she took the panda's hand. The two danced slowly to the unhurried music. Patiently, Po's hand wrapped around Tigress's upper back. "Is this okay?"

"Just don't step on my toes and we should be fine," The tiger smirked. Po chuckled as they danced. The lights dimmed slightly as the night hugged the party into a soothing slow pace. Tigress found the panda smiling at her. "What?"

"Huh? Nothing. Just... Enjoying the moment. It's been a while since I just... relaxed."

"I'm glad that you're able to recuperate," She smiled.

"With your help, I think I can do a lot more than just recuperate," Po grinned shakily.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Just... being able to let go of my pain while still working? Not a lot of people could pull that off. But with your help, I'm doing that. I guess what I'm trying to say is... thank you, Tigress Claw."

The tiger's lips creased into a large smile. "You're welcome, Po Ping. By the way, the food school and your last name. Is there-"

"It's a complete coincidence. The guy running the culinary school is a goose. And he's a bit of a... weird guy," Po chuckled.

Then the air tensed as someone came to the party. Po looked over at the entrance and groaned. "Ugh, excuse me for a moment. I have to deal with this."

"Try not to make a scene," Tigress said.

"Are you telling me or him that?"

"Yes," Tigress smirked.

The panda glanced at Shen who politely excused himself from his group and walked with Po to the entrance. A big yak stood there with two bodyguards at his side. "Mr. Kai," Po smiled politely, as much as he could. "What are you doing here? I thought you weren't coming."

"My... experts told me that showing my face would be good for PR. And that you fumbled the lawsuit with Mr. Ping's school," Kai growled quietly.

"You did put the case in my hands."

"But I didn't mean give them a part of my shares!"

"You mean the company shares," Po grinned. Kai growled in his face. "I gave you what you wanted. You never told me what you were willing to lose. Skin in the game. Your experts should know that."

"Exactly who are your experts, Kai?" Shen butted in, "Because they make you do questionable things."

"Like your former head of finances?"

"Hey! She stays out of this."

"Calm down you two," Po eased, noticing the eyes on them. "Not here. People already think that Zainan Inc. is the most toxic place in the world. To change that, I suggest you put on your best manners, Kai, and act nice."

"You're telling a board member what to do?" Kai remarked.

"Just so he can stay the board member. We don't need more lawsuits or bad publicity. Or did your experts forget to tell you the basics of business," Po firmly said.

Kai growled softly, glaring close to Po's face and pointing at his suit. "You were plucked from that pathetic useless cultural job for no reason other than to become Oogway's pawn."

"And yet this pawn is making better changes than you are, Kai," Shen backed up.

"Shush," Po looked around. The side glances and whispers started to grow. "Look, Kai. Either you can put on a friendly face for the people here or you can get out. I won't let you scare the shareholders here just because you're in a bad mood," He quietly said.

Both Shen's and Kai's eyes widened.

The yak cleared his throat, straightening up. "I... believe I should go. I have some... business to do."

"Good choice," Po smiled. The yak quietly walked out of the venue and the atmosphere released its tension in a semi-collective sigh of everyone involved.

"That... shareholder stuff was a bluff, right?" Shen asked.

"No," Po smirked, leaving the peacock's dropped jaw as he went back to Tigress. The panda quickly told her what happened.

"What shareholders?" Tigress asked.

"I invited some shareholders to show that our company is on track. And if this issue with Kai keeps going on... ugh."

"Relax, Po," She said, resting her hand on his shoulder. "You're doing great."

"Thanks, Tigress." The music carried on as the two watched the people from their little corner of the party. Tigress could tell the panda wanted to say something. He kept stealing glances at her.

"You know, you don't have to keep looking at me if you want to ask something," She teased.

"Oh! Uh I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay, Po. What is it?"

"It's just... a hypothetical question. Would you ever...want my job?"

The tiger's friendly face disappeared. Her eyes narrowed with her furrowing eyebrows, and her face scrunched up. "What do you mean?" She asked.

"It's just a hypothetical question."

"No, I don't believe you."

"Why?"

"Because I find you asking that and Oogway's visit a little too coincidental."

Po's eyes widened. "I promise that he was there for a different reason."

"Then why ask?"

"I'm just asking," The panda said slowly. "If Kai and Shen weren't an issue, would you take the job?"

"No," Tigress stated firmly.

"Okay, okay," Po rose his hands in surrender. "I didn't mean to make you angry. I'm just... surprised."

"Why?"

"Because... I don't know. Yeah sure this job is stressful, but you know everything that goes on, so it wouldn't surprise you."

"Po, I don't care about that," Tigress said firmly. "What's important is that you are there to do the job. You've been the best CEO I have ever seen and worked with. I want nothing to do with that position anymore."

"Why?" Po asked.

"Why are you so persistent about this?"

"Because you're the most qualified for the job, Tigress. Especially now. And with my plan in action, you wouldn't have to worry about corrupt board members for a while, even if I left."

"I-I can't."

"Why not?"

"I just don't!"

"But why?"

"Because I don't want the job if you're not there!" Tigress yelled, surprisingly not alerting anyone. The panda was speechless. "Po, I... I didn't want you to be CEO at first, but...now I can't imagine you not being in the same building as me. I'm sorry, I-I... I need to go."

"Tigress, wait!" The tiger swiftly marched out of the venue and stumbled to her car. Somehow in the mess, she turned on the car and sped down the road to her house. Amid everything around her, she could only feel the fearful pang eating away at her stomach.

Something wet trailed down her face. She looked in the rearview mirror. Tears? She gently touched the teardrop and looked at her trembling hand. Her throat tried to swallow the sadness, but the spurts of suppressed emotions failed to keep quiet.

Clenching her hand, she drove on, feeling more wet rebel tears trail down her face. Her muscle memory got her back to the house where her sorrowful brain could not. She parked beside Shifu's car and stopped. She just sat there and squeezed her eyes shut. More tears strolled down. "Why?" She whispered to herself. "Why did I... do that?"

She sighed and weakly slammed her hand against the steering wheel.

Ping!

Tigress looked at her phone and saw the massive wall of apologies and worried texts coming from the panda. Are you okay? I'm sorry for asking such a stupid question. I didn't mean to make you upset like this. Are you there? Did you make it home okay?

The feline smiled and sniffled as she replied.

I'm home. I'm safe. I just need some time to think. I'm sorry for making a scene at the venue. I'm sure that didn't look good for the shareholders.

I don't care about scenes or shareholders. I care about you. Are you okay?

A hard thump in Tigress's chest made her jump. She cleared her throat, though she wasn't speaking. I'm fine. I justneed some time to think.

Are you sure?

I'm sure. Thank you for checking up on me.

Of course. Did you want me to put in PTO for you?

That would be nice. The tiger thought about it for a moment and sighed, For three days.

That's perfect!

Tigress narrowed her eyes at the phone. Did he want her to take a break or did he need her out of the office?

Sorry, The panda replied, I mean it's okay to take time for yourself. You deserve it. Again, I'm sorry.

Tigress smiled at her screen. It's okay Po.

The tiger stepped out of the car and trudged to the door. Her legs felt heavy even though she hadn't ran a marathon. She opened her door to see an excited little panda girl latching onto her leg. "Mommy! You're home!"

"Hey honey," Tigress smiled, picking the little panda up. "How are you doing? Did you have fun with Grandpa?"

"Yes, I made another picture and-" The panda's smile left, "Mommy, why are your eyes red?"

Of course, the tears. "It's nothing, Lei Lei. I just... had a bit of a scare."

"But... you never get scared," Lei Lei marveled.

The tiger smiled at the little panda. "I'm more scared than you think, Lei Lei."

Continued...