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That night, Po lay awake. Why did he always crumble when others disapproved of who he was? He remembered the times he danced with Tigress. He enjoyed it, deep inside. Po rolled over on his back. Maybe he was too much into people pleasing. As the days passed, the Five, Shifu, and himself, continued to practice. All Po could think about as his body memorized how to dance, and his voice learned to sing during song lessons in the village, was this new realization of his. It was like waking up to the smell of good food; eye-opening, almost enriching. That would explain even how he hid his desire to practice Kung Fu until there was no other option. Po paused one night as he fell asleep. Perhaps that’s why he felt so hurt with Tigress.
As far as Po could tell, he did have feelings for Tigress. But at the time, the thought of actually bonding deeper with one of his favorite Kung Fu masters seemed out of the question. Po sat up upon realizing the truth of that moment. HE was afraid of being hurt. What if he climbed to the top of his favorite master’s pedestal only to be shoved off. The fall would hurt worse the deeper he went. Sure, Tigress did have feelings for him, but what if he screwed up or said something wrong? Wouldn’t that have deeper consequences than if they were just friends?
Po lay back down, sighing. So, he did like Tigress. But he tried to protect HIMSELF earlier by denying Tigress her request. Now, he was probably hurting Tigress. Po turned towards the door of his room upon seeing a body stride by. It looked like Tigress. Po slid his door open a crack and saw that it was indeed Tigress walking by; and she looked particularly sad with her head drooped, eyes sad looking.
“Psst, Tigress.” Po said, and Tigress turned sharply, eyes wide.
She paused, looking almost embarrassed as she stood there. “Po. What, what are you doing up?” Tigress composed herself as well as possible as Po replied.
“I, uh, actually wanted to talk to you for a minute,” he said, crawling out of his room and standing, “could we do that?”
Tigress nodded, still looking a little broken. “Sure Po.” She spoke with her natural steely voice, and without looking at Po, walked out of the dorms.
The two sat underneath the peach tree outside. “Are you angry at me Tigress?” Po asked.
“What?” Tigress asked.
“You know, angry.” Po said, glaring and raising his hands like claws to exemplify his point.
“I KNOW what it means, Po,” Tigress said, sounding sharp while keeping a melancholy expression, “I just didn’t know why you think I’m angry.”
“Well, I don’t know,” Po said, “that’s why I asked.”
Tigress paused, then looked at Po again. “No, Po, I’m not angry about anything you’ve said to me. You’re simply on a different path than I am.” Tigress sighed, putting her head between her paws. “I’ve begun to envy a normal life, one where you could become a farmer or set up a shop somewhere, raise a family with children.” Tigress leaned back, supporting herself with her hands behind her. “I’ve started to want that.” She looked at Po, “being in the village that one holiday proved that to me, as I played with the village youngsters.”
Po sat looking thoughtfully at her. “Wow.” Po said softly. “I wouldn’t have known. I thought you loved Kung Fu.”
Tigress nodded. “I do, it’s what brought me out of a very troubling life as an orphan, and I considered keeping it a hobby of mine if I were to farm or something. I guess that’s why I like you so much. I have you to thank for the transformation of mind.”
“That sounds like something Master Oogway would have said. All about mind stuff.” Po said, honestly looking confused.
Tigress chuckled, grinning.
Po grew more serious, looking down. “Most of the time when I was a kid, it was never about what I wanted. I love cooking, yeah, but my dream was always Kung Fu. Being the best. Saving the valley. I hid that for so many years, trying to always please my dad, and it was killing ME in the process.”
Po looked out into the starry night. “Now I’m here, I AM the best. I just have to be honest when I say that you were my favorite member of the Furious Five and I really wanted to please YOU as I rose up to where I am. It was really confusing when I found that what I wanted was what YOU’D wanted all along.”
“But, Po,” Tigress said, looking forlorn, “I gave that up, Po. I know the honor was for you and you alone-”
“Yeah, I know that, I’m not finished.” Po said politely, and Tigress stopped, looking down.
Po continued. “I do like you, Tigress. I’ve just been worried about being hurt, that if, if I was ever to mess up or something, depending on how far we went, it’d just be that much more hurt for the both of us…” Po let the sentence hang.
Tigress smirked, realizing something. “You know, Po, I’m a Kung Fu master. I take risks with every bandit raid, ever fight, sometimes with every spicy meal you bring us,” Po chuckled dryly, Tigress smirking, but then grew serious, “but I won’t be hurt.”
Po looked at Tigress, fear etched into his face. “If not you, I’m afraid I’LL be hurt.” Po let the words sink in. It hurt for him to say that. It felt selfish, but he really wasn’t sure about how he’d deal with any mistake he may make. Po stood. “I’m sorry.” Po said, and walked past Tigress, returning to the Jade Palace. Tigress stayed out very late, simply looking outside and pondering what had passed, shedding a few tears, then she too returned to her room, not sleeping that night.