This narrative was molded around the short story I recently posted in my other fanfic 'Elegant, Graceful, and Clumsy'. Because of a recent fic posting by fellow author Merk (you may know her as Mrs. Mercury Megatron, now calling herself PointyEdgesofaSign), I was compelled to draft a similar set of quickie-shorts based on ten randomly shuffled songs. More details on how it works can be found on her set of shorts in '10 Typos for Awerewolf'.

The inspiration for this one story in particular was a song performed by Chicago by the name 'Hard Habit To Break'

A note to my usual readers: Updates will be coming rather slowly in the coming weeks, especially now that I am literally neck-deep in work from architecture studio, so please don't loose faith readers, because I'm doing my very best at this point.. Expect new chapters/material once every fortnight (For lack of better explanation, that's at least once every two weeks). As for my other fic (the title's up there, just look for it), the same news applies.. Sorry you guys.

But at any rate, we now continue with another flash back in time...

Hard Habit To Break

Chapter Two – If She Would Have Been Faithful

--

It had been almost one week since Tigress had ended their relationship, and although a relative peace had come back to the Jade Palace, tensions remained heavy between Tigress and Po. They hadn’t said one word to one another, going as far as completely avoiding each other. As much as the others wanted answers, they couldn’t get either of them to speak. Master Shifu demanded both of them to forget their problems and shake it off, but he knew that all they needed was time to lick their wounds..

And that’s just what they did.

That is, until one day in particular..

Viper and Monkey were engaged in a one-on-one sparring match in the Training Hall, but were soon interrupted by a fuming panda stomping his way over to the Adversary. They watched with worrisome eyes as he pummeled the training dummy into the wall, beating on it with such ferocity that soon enough the crudely painted canvas training equipment was reduced to shreds in Po’s temperamental rage, even to the point at which once there was nothing left of the Adversary to destroy.

But he wasn’t finished, and leapt onto the Spinning Dragons, systematically reducing the Seven Swinging Clubs of Oblivion to splinters in a matter of moments.

Monkey took a deep breath and jumped to Po’s position, blocking a blind punch aimed at the golden languor’s chest. “Po! Snap out of it!”

The panda lowered his defenses and hopped to the ledge of the course, with Monkey in tow. Po remained silent, his actions clearly giving away his seething anger. He began walking towards the Hall doors, only to be pulled back by a hand on his shoulder. With a heavy sigh he turned around, now facing both Monkey and Viper.

Propping herself up to about Po’s shoulder height, she gave him a saddened look. “Po, what’s wrong? Please, say something…”

“It’s nothing.” He flatly returned, but they weren’t convinced, and he knew it.

Monkey shook his head in defiance of Po’s blunt answer. “If it were nothing, there is no way you could have taken down the Adversary.. Not to mention you haven’t even been on the course, yet you were still able to dismantle the Clubs of Oblivion.. Something’s obviously wrong.”

Po pushed past the two meddling Masters, motioning for them to follow him. They silently agreed, and with a short, agonizingly silent walk, they were back at the bunkhouse. His anger seemed to rise with each passing step, until the group stopped in front of Tigress’ door. With one swift movement, he violently shoved the door open, revealing the source of his fury. Monkey and Viper looked into the room with wide eyes; Tigress was there, but she wasn’t alone..

A white male Bengal tiger was also in their presence, and from the looks of the position they were caught in, they were more than just casual acquaintances.

Tigress and Po were focused solely on each other while the others, including Tigress’ new ‘friend’, looked on with curiosity. Po gave her a deeply hurt look, promptly turning away and back in the direction of the Training Hall. That left the four of them alone for formal introductions once they heard the door to the bunkhouse slam shut.

Viper remained propped in the doorframe with a dumbstruck expression plastered across her face, but nevertheless managed a few words. “Tigress, what’s going on here? And who’s your.. uh, friend?”

The male tiger promptly stood up before Tigress could answer, giving her a quick, awkward bow. “My name is Xiao; it’s wonderful to finally meet you Master Viper.” He quickly went on to explain to her how he had simply wandered from place to place, and by chance, found himself in the Valley. While he was taking a quick reprieve in a local village teashop, he met Tigress after bumping into her on his way out. After finding some common ground in their similar tastes for tea, it quickly expanded into a full-blown conversation that almost lasted an entire afternoon.

From Monkey and Viper’s point of view, it was as if they were meeting Po for the second time; the two drew parallels in almost every respect. He was kind and compassionate, slightly clumsy, had a love affair with Kung-Fu, and expressed interest in becoming a chef someday. Of course, Tigress didn’t realize these similarities as he spoke, not wanting to think about Po or their failed relationship. But the truth was, even though she didn’t want to admit it to herself, Tigress was hurting just as much as Po was. She knew he made a mistake, and that he had tried to apologize, but their pride got in the way of their emotions, leading to nothing but silence and doubts of whether or not they made the right choice becoming a couple in the first place. Even then, they both understood that there was little to no chance of picking up the pieces and starting from scratch…

There was only one thing she could do to let go and move forward with her life. But even then her conscience beckoned Tigress to reconsider her actions and go after him, but this realization came much too late to matter anymore.

“…And we’ve been together ever since.” Tigress added, keeping a cool and collected tone, even though she was far from either.

Viper warily gave her a supportive smile, but her eyes told Tigress that she was deeply disappointed in her. “Oh, well that’s very nice. It was a pleasure meeting you, Xiao.. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to find Po before he destroys the rest of the Training Hall.” With that, she slithered back out into the hallway.

Monkey sat in the corridor for a brief moment, and without a word to either of the two silent figures staring blankly back at him, he followed after Viper to console their friend, leaving behind a conflicted Xiao and an even more deeply conflicted Tigress.

This was the final straw for Po; he had contemplated leaving the Jade Palace because of what had transpired between them.. And now with this latest development, he thought it would have been more fitting if she just would have reached in and ripped his heart out;

Po felt used and betrayed.

Tigress was so quick to replace him with someone else, and if this is what she wanted, then so be it. How could she sink so low to call this wanderer her newfound love interest? Po knew that this was unlike anything he had expected from a level-headed and serious individual like Tigress was.

He couldn’t believe what she had done, all for the sake of getting even with him; if he had any remaining respect for her at this point, it would have shattered into a million pieces like a delicate sheet of glass.

“A cheap and desperate tease…” Po repeated her words from their last argument, knowing in his mind that in effect this is precisely what she had become. This was Master Tigress after all; the most skilled and gifted female warrior the world had ever known.. To allow herself to diminish her honor in this way was a disgrace, not only to the sanctity of their now-relinquished bond, but also tainting her image as a Kung-Fu Master. What difference did it make anyway? As far as Po was concerned, he could have her.

Against the calls of Monkey and Viper echoing through the Palace Arena, he sauntered through the gates with a heavy heart, and left.

He walked for what seemed like an eternity, passing through the village streets carrying nothing but a solemn expression on his face. Po ignored passersby as they cheerfully greeted him, asking him how his day was. Why should they care..? They didn’t understand; nobody understood what he was feeling, and they never would.

Carefully avoiding his father’s noodle shop, he hastily slipped out of town, and soon thereafter, the Valley, vowing never to return. But where on Earth would he go? There was nothing for him outside of the Valley of Peace, and there was no telling what was waiting for him past the safety and security of the Li Mountains that cradled his lifelong home like an infant..

There would be no Jade Palace to admire...

No protectors for the weak and feeble..

No security..

No love.

No Tigress—

--

Po broke out of his trance again, alerted by a sigh from the very same waitress who had catered to him before. She batted her eyelashes at the sight unfolding before them; apparently while he was preoccupied with his latest daydream, the two lovebirds decided to start feeding each other. “…Isn’t that the most adorable thing you have ever seen in your life?” She articulated her expressions in a soft tone, making the panda wince in disgust.

‘Oh for heaven’s sake.. I don’t believe this…’

But he bit back his tongue, and let out a heavy breath. “If that’s what you wanna call it.” The panda reverted his gaze to his teacup, watching his reflection in the warm caramel-colored liquid. The elder female rabbit noticed his sulking demeanor, and took a seat opposite him to see if she could perhaps do something to ease his outwardly tormented soul.

“I’ve noticed you’ve been deep in thought ever since you walked in…”

He grimaced; not exactly sure of what she was trying to get at. “Yes, as a matter of fact I have been.”

She looked over his shoulder at the two lovers behind him before she returned to their conversation. “Now I’m no expert at reading people’s emotions, but I think there’s much more to your story than you’re letting on, stranger..”

Taking another sip of tea, he gave her a slight nod. “That is true, I won’t lie to you.. But then again, why are you so interested in hearing my story when you don’t even know who I am.. Or more to the point, when I don’t even know your own name?”

“Ah, you’re a quick one! Su Lang, at your service..” Her voice was soft and inviting, making him smile inwardly.

He extended his arm to shake her paw. “Thank you for the compliment, and they call me Po.” The panda let a smirk unwillingly creep onto his face; he had almost forgotten the simpler pleasures of a friendly conversation.

“Po, huh..? What a wonderful name. Short, simple and to the point. I like that…”

“Ha, I bet you do. It certainly makes remembering faces much easier if everyone’s name only had two letters, right?” While they both shared a laugh, a wonderful feeling began to ignite from within the large panda; he couldn’t remember the last time he felt more at ease in someone else’s company.

He almost could admit that he felt.. happy.

“Now with the formalities taken care of, would you care to explain why you seem so downcast? No offense, but your heavy disposition is scaring away all of my customers…”

Po’s eyes quickly scanned around the screened-in room, realizing that she was absolutely right. Besides them and the couple seated several tables to their backs, not a soul was there. Throwing his arm around the back of his neck, he chuckled nervously.

“So I’ve noticed.”

Su smiled at his eased expression. “I see your cup is empty… Would you like a refill young man?”

His eyes darted down to the intricate porcelain teacup; it was indeed empty, and the rice cakes had all been feverishly consumed. Po must have been a tad bit hunger than his stomach was leading him to believe..

“That would be wonderful, thank you.”

Hopping from her position back onto the hard mahogany floor, she stole another glance at the bear. “And perhaps a nice hot bowl of noodle soup? It seems to me that you haven’t had a decent meal in some time.. Or maybe my eyes are starting to strain again in my old age.” She laughed lightly, getting a soft smile from the panda seated across from her.

“If it isn’t too much of a hassle.. Sure, why not?”

The elder female nodded slightly, and headed off again towards the kitchen. In a matter of three or four minutes, she was back again with a fresh steaming pot of tea and a bowl of soup balanced between her arms. Pouring the hot amber colored liquid into each of their cups, Su Lang eased into her seat and looked at her new company with an expectant look crossing her face.

“Now, how about sharing a thought or two with a meddling old woman?”

Taking a sip of soup from the bowl in front of him, his eyes widened with disbelief while he choked; he hadn’t heard anyone address him like that since his father, just another thing he missed dearly from his broad travels. “Usually most people don’t pry into a complete stranger’s personal affairs, you know..”

“Well, I’m not like most people.”

Po looked at her incredulously. “No you’re not. That’s pretty obvious.”

The female rabbit stifled a guffaw that was forming in her throat. “Then out with it, Mister Obvious.”

“Before I start, promise me one thing…”

“And what would that be?”

His eyes flickered as a small grin came to his face. “If I tell you my story, I don’t have to pay the bill.”

She sighed and pushed herself into a more comfortable position. With a delicate sip from her respective teacup, the elder figure nodded. “Very well, but in that case it had better be good.”

“I don’t disappoint.”

“Fair enough.”

Taking a deep breath and recollecting his thoughts, he slowly began to explain his complex situation to the curious female, choosing his words very carefully to make sure not to allude to his true occupation, or rather as he wanted to call it, his ‘prior profession’…

--

To be continued…