Po didn't know why today but he woke early in the morning. It was Sunday and usually he would use it to sleep in but today it was as if the early sun woke up out of bed. He sighed as he tried to fall back to sleep but sleep would not overcome him. He sat up and stretched his muscles, popping some joints here and there.
He finally stood up, grabbed a fresh pair of pants and underwear and headed to the male shower barracks. He took a quick shower before heading to the kitchen to make some breakfast. He didn't expect the five to wake up soon. As their new Master he allowed them to sleep in on Sundays and boy did they take advantage of that. Even Tigress!
Po chuckled slightly at the thought of her. Man where had the time gone. Tigress had become her best friend and comrade. He couldn't imagine being without her at any point in time. She had his back just as much as he had hers. If you would have told him 2 years ago that Tigress would be his best friend, he would have laughed.
Not that it started out that way. When he first arrived she seemed to hate him. She probably wanted him 6ft under. He didn't hold it against her though. He stole a title that was rightfully hers. Now, that title didn't really mean anything to her.
Po sighed thinking back at the conversation they had shortly after Tai-Lung's defeat.
Flashback
"Dragon Warrior." Tigress spoke to him in a calm tone. Po turned around to meet her face to face. She looked almost sad. No. She did look sad. Tigress was frowning, her eyes had an expression of sadness and her ears where pressed against her skull.
"What's up Master Tigress?" Po knew it would be a while before he could gain her trust. Sure she called him Master just over an hour ago but he wasn't going to call her by just her first name just yet.
"I wanted to apologize for my actions towards you on your arrival to the Jade Palace." She spoke calmly. "As a Master of Kung Fu I should have accepted it rather than speaking ill of you."
Po smiled sympathetically to her. Gosh she was adorable. Tigress had always been his favorite and the fact that she was apologizing to him was honestly kind of cute.
"Nah. Don't worry about it." His smile never leaving. "If I were you I would have been pretty upset that a big flabby panda took a title I worked for." Tigress's sad expression turned into a confused one. She didn't understand how he let it slide so easily. "And you can call me Po. None of that Dragon Warrior and Master stuff. I still need to earn the right for those titles."
"But you already have." Tigress raised a brow. "You defeated Tai-Lung. Something I nor the rest of the five could do. I believe that's deserving of your title."
"I appreciate that Master Tigress." Po's smile grew.
End of Flashback
Po sighed at the memory. She had continued to call him Master and he was determined to gain her trust as a friend. He was so determined he ended up spending more time with her than he did with the others. He tried finding out more things about her by making small talk from time to time. Sure she got annoyed a lot at him and they argued more than he cared to admit but they managed to work things out in the end.
Honestly it was the strongest friendship he had with anyone. He wondered if she felt the same.
"Good morning." Ah, there she is. Po smiled hearing her voice.
"Good morning." Po greeted back without turning. "Sleep well?"
"Yeah. Thanks." Tigress walked up to him observing what he was making. "What's for breakfast?"
"I was thinking of bean buns with Secret Ingredient Noodle Soup." Po chopped some carrots expertly into the bowl.
"Sounds delicious." Tigress smiled at him. Po looked at her with his own smile. He wasn't sure why but looking at her that morning was different. Had her eyes always been so beautiful? Has her smile always been this bright? How had he not noticed the smallest details in her before? She was beautiful. Po looked away before he could get lost in her beautiful eyes. Tigress didn't seem to notice as they fell into a comfortable silence.
Soon enough the rest of the five woke and Po served up each of them a bowl of soup and some bean buns. They all ate their breakfast smiling and laughing. Po and Monkey cracking a few jokes here and there. Po at times couldn't help but get distracted by Tigress. She wasn't doing anything to distract him though. At least not on purpose. She was only laughing and smiling along with everyone else and Po, he couldn't help but get lost in her laugh and her smile.
"Po!" Monkey called his name for what seemed the millionth time. Po shook his head snapping out of his trance. What was wrong with him? He felt like he was losing his mind.
"Are you okay Po?" Viper asked in her motherly tone.
"Uh yeah." Po blushed in embarrassment. "Sorry I don't know what's wrong with me today." He chuckled nervously. He looked up and saw Tigress looking at him worriedly. Dang. Could she not look at him? It was her fault he was like this and he wasn't sure why.
"How about you guys take the day off today." Po stood. "I need to go for a walk." He was beginning to leave when he felt a paw on his shoulder. He looked over his shoulder to see it was Tigress.
"Po are you sure you're okay." She frowned. Po chuckled nervously, quickly shaking her paw off his shoulder.
"Yup! Totally fine!" Po's voice squeaked from his nerves. "I just- I...uh I have to go now." Po quickly ran off leaving the five very much confused.
"Well that was strange." Mantis spoke what everyone was thinking.
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Meanwhile Po was sprinting out of the Jade Palace, battling with his own head. He never had this problem before. Why today?! Of all days! He was so distracted he didn't see where he was going and tripped over his own feet and fell down the Thousands of steps all the way down. Today is going to be a long day.
