Chapter 2 : Concerns
Four days. It's been four days since Shifu, Po, The Furious Five and Leo left the Valley Of Peace. They have traveled through the same terrains as before when they traveled to Gongmen City. Leo kept his distance as he walks behind the group for the past four days in case the clone, Saber, attacks them on the road. They have arrived at the dock near the river to rent a boat in the late afternoon.
It was nighttime now. The fourth day of the journey was tranquil, with the small boat gently cutting through the serene river that wound its way toward Gongmen City. The lush landscape on either side of the water provided a peaceful backdrop, the quiet only broken by the soft splash of oars and the occasional call of birds overhead. The group of travelers sat in comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts as they moved along the river, on their way to pay respects to the late Master El.
But Leo, who had sat quietly at the edge of the boat for most of the journey, felt anything but peaceful.
The rest of the group were in a good mood as everyone was content to the slow pace on the river. Shifu was meditating. Po dozed off, his head resting lazily on the pillow. Crane, Monkey and Mantis were engaged in a conversation. But for Leo, his mind wasn't at ease as he laid back against the wall of the boat.
Leo hasn't spoken at all since they left.
Tigress and Viper had noticed it almost immediately, though they hadn't pressed him for answers. They knew him well by now—ever since the day he arrived at the palace from the mysterious portal in the sky, Leo had become an integral part of their lives. Tigress and Viper had grown to understand him. They could both see something is troubling Leo, even when he doesn't show it.
Leo's jade eyes were closed. He was thinking about Fang. She was a good friend and ten years older than him.
As the boat continues to move gently on the river, Tigress and Viper approaches Leo. Her amber eyes studied him closely, searching for signs of the turmoil he had been keeping inside. "Leo." Tigress spoke, her voice calm but filled with concern. "You've been quiet since we left the palace. What's wrong?"
Leo didn't respond as he opens his jade eyes. His jaw was tense, his thoughts far away. He wanted to say he was fine, but he knew Tigress would see right through it. "I'm fine." Leo muttered, his voice barely audible.
Viper, ever perceptive, slithered closer, her green eyes narrowing as she studied him. "Don't lie to us, Leo." She spoke in a gentle voice.
Leo's shoulders stiffened. He opened his mouth to respond but closed it again, the words not coming out the way he intended. Tigress and Viper knew him well by now—they knew when he was trying to hide something, and this time, there was no escaping their concern. "I said I'm fine." Leo repeated, his voiced strained a little as if he was convincing himself than them.
The orange feline wasn't buying it. She folded her arms over her chest. Tigres takes a steps closer to sit down in front of him with a mixture of concern and resolve.
"Leo, I've known you long enough to know when something's bothering you." Tigress said.
Viper's voice was calmer. "We're your friends, Leo, and your girlfriend and I want to help you. You don't need to hide anything from us."
Leo didn't answer. He was good at keeping things buried—good at hiding his past and pushing down the things that haunted him. But Tigress and Viper were persistent, and over the past few months, they had learned to read him well. They knew when something was wrong, even if he didn't speak it aloud. "I'm not hiding anything." Leo muttered, lowering his head. The tone of his voice had frown sharp.
Tigress watches him carefully, her brow furrowing slightly. "Leo, I know you carry these burdens alone. But you don't have too anymore."
The green serpent nodded in agreement, her tone gentle but persistent. "You don't have to do this by yourself, Leo. Whatever it is, we want to help."
Leo's fists clenched at his sides, his body tightening with a mix of frustration and the heavy weight of memories he didn't want to confront it again.
"I don't need your help." Leo's voice was colder than he intended.
"Leo, whatever you're facing, whatever happened to you in the past, running from it won't make it go away."
"I'm not running from my past." Leo growls softly. "And I'm not going to attend to Master El's funeral."
The words seemed to freeze the air between them. Tigress and Viper both blinked in surprise, unable to mask their confusion. They had expected him to at least pay his respects to Master El, to honor the legacy of a great kung fu master.
"What do you mean you're not going?" Tigress asked, her voice low, but her disbelief clear. "Leo, Master El was one of the greatest. He deserves our respect."
Leo's expression became dark. "I don't know owe anyone anything, damn it."
The green snake slithers closer to him, her eyes reflecting with concern. "This isn't just about you, Leo." Viper said gently. "This is about honoring a great kung fu master. It's about being there for you friends. For your girlfriend, Tigress, and for me."
"You don't understand." Leo muttered more to himself than them as he shook his head, feeling the frustration in his chest.
Tigress's voice was steady but insistent. "You're not being fair to yourself. "We've all had our struggles, Leo. There are things we need to face that we left behind. Whatever it is you're avoiding won't go away."
"I'm not fucking avoiding anything, you two!" Leo snapped, his words biting. The walls around his heart were going to crack, but he stopped it.
Tigress and Viper looks at each other. They know something is bothering the human. Leo slowly stands up and turns his back on them. The journey to Gongmen City will be long on the river and it was going to be a long night.
The boat drifted along the river; its path uncertain but steady. Leo knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but the young man was not going to break his promise.
Author's Note: What do you guys think? I hope you all enjoy this chapter, everyone!Don't forget to Follow, Favorite, leave a review and PM!