Sharp Friends
The wind gently blew on the fall trees. The yellow, orange, and brown hues circled the valley. A different flavor to the normally green area. Po watched from his perch atop the Jade Palace steps. He side glanced at one particular tree. The Peach tree's pink petals had already started to fall. Its stickily figure showed against the partly cloudy background. Po stood up and gave a great sigh. "What are you doing?" said a male voice behind him.
"Oh! Tai Lung, Viper, Tigress, what are you doing here?" Po asked.
"Just making sure you don't slip and bounce down the ten thousand steps," The snow leopard smirked.
"Like I did with you?" The panda smirked back.
"Watch it panda."
"Boys, boys. No need to be children," Viper tittered. "We're just here to do patrol, remember?"
"Of course, we don't need four people for patrol," Tigress grumbled, impatiently. "Let's go."
"What's the rush?"
"Nothing."
The panda's eyes squinted hard on the tiger. Her eyes looked off to the fall-colored mountains toward the left. She was avoiding his eyes. Po glanced down her body. A small lump on the side of her hip caught his eye. "What are you hiding?"
"Nothing."
"Then what's in your pocket?" Po said.
Tigress snapped her hand to her pants. "Nothing!"
"Let me guess. Another experiment for Dad's food?"
"It's just a spice I found while we were defending the merchants. It's NOT spicy."
"I will never get used to the fact you two are cooks now," Tai Lung muttered.
"It wouldn't be a problem if she weren't so competitive with herself about being the best cook," Po argued.
Tigress smirked and walked up to the panda, poking her finger into his bare chest. "I try my best in anything I do. You should know that by now."
Po shook his head with a smile. "Come on, let's go." The four strolled into the village, waving and greeting the civilians left and right. A few children waved to Tai Lung without their mothers snatching them away. The snow leopard smiled at his progress. For a brief moment, he remembered the sharp words Shifu said when they fought.
This was his home now.
As they approached Mr. Ping's shop, Po's eyes lit up when he saw the white goose waiting for them with a smirk. "Uhh, Dad? What are you doing?"
"I figured you were on patrol. And I figured Tigress had another experiment in mind."
"How did you-"
"I can see you guys coming down the mountain, remember?" Mr. Ping chuckled. The tiger's head sank, a little embarrassed. The goose placed a wing on her pant leg. "Ah, don't worry. I'm getting used to your... spicy ideas."
"I'm not!" Po grumbled.
"Besides, one of my customers likes it," Mr. Ping led them into the shop where they immediately knew which customer he meant. It was morning, the sun was slowly rising on the east side, striking right onto the customer's back.* He had leather guard plates on his shoulders and knees while a black strap carried his dual swords. Padded gauntlets only covered his forearms, leaving his fingers free to move around. He had black pants, though his bare back and chest were probably covered by the jacket wrapped around his waist. Without that, the only thing on him was the black strap and a red bandana around his neck. It was a lot, but the male tiger seemed to carry it well.
Tigress and Tai Lung looked at each other. The bandana seemed like a weird addition. Normally used for handkerchiefs and napkins, they figured it would be a battle hazard around the neck like that.
"Wait a minute," Po muttered. Slipping through the small cramped tables and customers, Po quietly came to the counter where the feline sat on a stool. "Excuse me, but... you look familiar."
The tiger put down his bowl of noodle soup and faced the panda with greenish eyes. They widened greatly. "Po!"
The voice tipped the panda off. Po dropped his jaw and immediately wrapped his arms around the tiger. "Jin! Oh My gosh! It's so great to see you. OW! Sharp!" Po muttered, nursing his back.
"Sorry, haven't trimmed these in a while," Jin chuckled. "Got to keep the intruders at bay, you know."
Po's eyes lit up. He narrowed his sight on Jin as he crossed his arms. "No, I don't. Aren't you supposed to be protecting Maoqi and Rua?"
"I was... but... when they heard her father died, they figured they were safe. They decided to move closer to Mama Yun," Jin smiled.
"That's wonderful," Viper grinned, slithering up to them. The tiger, noticing three other warriors, stood up and bowed.
"Everyone, this is Jin. My friend who protected Maoqi and Rua," Po smiled.
"Hm, you didn't mention you knew a tiger," Tai Lung mused.
Po smirked, "How do you think I fought you? You think it was coincidence and luck I used your tail?"
"Don't bring that up," The snow leopard growled.
"I'm sorry, but... isn't that Tai Lung?" Jin whispered to Po.
"He is, but he's good... enough."
"Thank you for your... approval, panda," Tai Lung grumbled.
"Don't worry about these two. They have an interesting history," Viper smiled. "I'm Master Viper. One of the Furious Five."
"It's an honor to meet you, Master Viper," The tiger bowed low. "I didn't know masters were allowed to be so pretty."
"Ahh, Mama Yun and Po were right. You are a big flirt," Tai Lung smirked.
"They told you that?!" Jin groaned. "Ugghh."
"Hehe, it's for the best, buddy," Po said, slapping the tiger's back. "Oh! And... wait, where's Tigress?" Tai Lung, Viper, and Po couldn't find the feline anywhere. But they spun to the kitchen when they smelt an unfamiliar burning flour scent. A white goose came quaking into his shop.
"Tigress!"
"I got it!" Tigress shouted from the kitchen. How she got in without them knowing was anyone's gamble.
"Dad? What is that?" Po asked as an unfamiliar taste in the air rose up.
"Ugh, I'm trying to experiment with a recipe, but I completely forgot about it. Thank you, dear," Mr. Ping sighed. "I must be getting old."
Tigress smiled and knelt to Mr. Ping's height. "Don't worry about it, Mr. Ping. We live and learn."
Then the goose smelled something and stared hard at the tiger. "You put something on the bread, didn't you?"
"You already smell that?"
"I've been cooking for years. I know when something's off."
"But you couldn't remember something was burning?" Tai Lung muttered. Mr. Ping pulled out a wooden spoon and aimed it at the snow leopard's head. "I said nothing!"
The goose sighed, "Come on. Let's see what concoction you made."
"Mr. Ping, it's not that bad," Tigress protested. While the two sampled the experimental bread, Po felt another clawed hand tap his shoulder.
"W-W-Who is that?" Jin stuttered.
"Oh! That's my dad. You remember-"
"Not Mr. Ping. I meant... the tiger."
"Oh, that's Master Tigress. One of the Furious Five."
"Whoa," Jin's green eyes stared at the female tiger chuckling at Mr. Ping's surprise and delight at the additional spice. Her calming subtle smile showed through as she took a piece and gave it to Li Shan. Of course, Mr. Ping scowled at Li Shan for not attending to the bread. "She's... beautiful."
"Ooooooo-"
"Po, if you dare!"
"Someone's in love," Po teased.
"Grrr," Jin placed a bag of yuan on the table and stormed out. Po was right behind him. "Leave me alone."
"Look, I'm sorry," The panda lightly chuckled, "I'm not used to seeing you lovesick like that."
"I can't understand how you NEVER get lovesick," Jin sighed. "I've... heard about Master Tigress, but I didn't think she was that gorgeous. Ugh... I'm going to mess up."
"Calm down, Jin-Jin," Po smiled, placing his furry black hands on the tiger's shoulder pads. "You just met her. It's okay."
"You've been Dragon Warrior for a while. Which means you've been with her for a while."
"Oh so you know."
"Everyone knows, Po," the tiger grumbled with a roll in his eyes. "I'm not under a rock. Do you think she'd... be interested in someone like me?" The pleading in his green eyes broke Po's heart. The panda could only give a loud sigh. "Yeah. That's what I thought."
"I'm not saying no. Honestly, I don't know. And... recently, we've had bad experiences with... romance," Po replied.
"Welp! I'm doomed."
"Calm down, you don't even know what she's like. How about this? Why don't you stay awhile in the village and get to know her?"
"What if it doesn't work?" Jin sighed, sliding down the wall of the shop. Po sat down on the dirt ground, tilting his head to the side.
"You're not usually this down in the dumps about girls. What happened?"
"Rua and Maoqi pointed out that I'm terrible at flirting. Annnnd one time when someone was interested in me but I wasn't interested in them, I got a taste of my own medicine. After that, I swore not to flirt like that again. At least with people I actually like." Jin sighed again and looked up at the sky. As villagers passed them by with carts, the fall wind picked up and brushed against their furs, chilling them only slightly.
The wind must have picked up a question from somewhere, for Po asked, "Why are you here, anyway?"
"Since Maoqi and Rua don't need my help and my efforts for dating are in the outhouse, I decided to move here. I figured you were close by."
"And you're a warrior now?"
"The Sharp Jin. That's what they call me."
"I get the swords, but why-"
"I sometimes use my claws," Jin sighed, lightly banging his head against the wall.
Po sighed and got up, "Maybe you should just be yourself. Act like you're not trying to date Tigress and just be around. Who knows? Maybe it will work for you."
"You think so?" Jin asked getting off the ground.
"Just relax, Jin-Jin. I'm sure you'll find the one. And if it's Tigress," Po smiled, resting his hand on his old friend, "Then the best of luck to you."
"Thanks, Po." Just then, Tigress, Tai Lung, and Viper came out with pieces of bread in their mouths. The panda glared.
"You guys didn't save ANY for me?"
"You snooze you lose, panda," Tai Lung smirked. Po huffed and grumbled under his breath.
"I'm sorry we didn't get to officially meet," Tigress smiled as she finished her food. "I am Master Tigress."
Jin looked at her alluring amber eyes and took a deep breath, taking all the bravery he could muster. He bowed with a smile. "It's an honor to meet you, Master Tigress."
Continued...
*A/n: this is actually true. Mr. Ping's shop faces the east side and west behind him. Which means the Jade Palace is facing North.