The Countdown

Tickle Fight

About an hour or so after practicing with the crossbows, Tigress decided to go into the kitchen for some tea. She cleaned up the training hall and headed out into the nighttime air, walking slowly towards the kitchen. She felt a lot better knowing that the strange feelings she had weren't deadly and she felt an overwhelming sense of joy knowing that Shifu did love her like his own. (The idea that he didn't bothered her a lot growing up as she was never quite sure how to act around him besides as a student). She admitted to herself that while she did view Shifu as a father, there was almost no bond between them growing up so sometimes she would forget. Most days she saw him as her master even though she did wish he would care for her a little more. Briefly, when she was fifteen, she felt a small attraction to him since she was going through a small rough patch, (what with trying to master difficult moves, deal with newcomers in the Jade Palace, and deal with new hormones she was trying to get control over), but once she was back into balance, her view of him went back to the normal master/father.

I am so glad I didn't do anything stupid! Tigress thought to herself. Otherwise who knows what would have happened! I'm just glad only Crane and Viper found out and helped me to get through that phase.

The master reached the kitchen and headed inside where she found Po busy fixing himself a snack. She walked over to the counter where Po spotted her and gave her a happy wave.

"Hey, Tigress!" he exclaimed. "How was your training?"

"Fine," Tigress told him. She eyed the small plate of cookies, adding, "Hungry?"

"You know me," Po said with a sheepish grin. "Always in the mood for some food. Want anything?"

"I just came in to get some tea," Tigress replied. She walked over to the teapot where she filled the kettle and put it on the stove so as to heat the water up.

"You seem a little distracted," Po noted as she got out a tea cup.

"I'm perfectly fine," Tigress assured him. "I'm just...a little worn out."

Po eyed her curiously as she waited a moment and then poured herself a cup. He then went to go sit down, Tigress soon following suit and sitting right beside him. They sat in silence for a moment, Tigress sipping her tea and Po stuffing the cookies in his mouth.

"How was the mahjong game?" Tigress asked him.

"It was fine," Po replied. "Viper beat me by one game and then we totally crushed Monkey and Mantis."

"I'm assuming Crane didn't pop in then."

"Nah, he didn't. Although considering the fact that Monkey and Mantis have been bothering him a lot lately, I'm not that surprised."

"I noticed," Tigress remarked. "I've heard them snickering around him and then he goes storming off."

"I'm surprised Shifu hasn't noticed," Po commented curiously.

"I'm sure he wants to stay out of it," Tigress answered. "As long as they're not causing trouble."

"I guess that's understandable."

Tigress eyed him. "What are they bugging him about?" she asked. "Or is this another embarrassing secret I'm not allowed to know?"

"Well, I don't know if it's a secret," Po told her. "But I don't know if Crane wants me to go around spreading fuel for the fire."

"Why, what's wrong?"

"Mantis and Monkey think that it would be cool if he started dating Viper, and lately they've just been driving him up the wall about it."