A/N: I, and many others it seems, have Crane x Mei Ling fever. This is a fluffy one-shot about the beginning of the two's relationship, set later in the day after Crane tried out for the school.

Enjoy!

The bird sat at the small desk in his dark and dingy quarters, the janitor not exactly being given many privileges. However, today was amazing, and he had a feeling changes were coming to his life. He never would have thought that he, a janitor who was convinced he was fragile as glass, would be able to do kung fu. The obstacle course wasn't a walk in the park but it was more fun than anything, and he never would have stepped foot in it if it weren't for Mei Ling.

She was so cool, one of the most awesome fighters at the school, and she told him that he had the potential to be great. He had always looked up to her as the kindhearted yet strong cat she was, but now he saw a truly wise animal. It takes a lot to be a master, but to see the potential in others? What a gift.

I should thank her.

His heart skipped a beat at the thought.

Well how in the world am I going to do that? I didn't have the courage to try out kung fu and now I'm trying to talk to a cute... to a kung fu prodigy! who is also pretty cute... oh god, I have a crush on her, I knew it.

Truth be told, he had known it for a while, he had just ignored in with a mixture of denial and self-doubt. There was no way she'd ever fall for a janitor, but a janitor he was no more.

What am I gonna say? What am I gonna do? Oh god, you're having a panic attack Crane, stop it... deep breaths. His heart was pounding, he breathed in deeply and slowly exhaled, quickly calming himself down. Ok, just, go to her quarters and say a simple "hey, I just wanted to say thanks for..." inspiring me? believing in me? Yeah... wait, showing me I had it in me? Something along those lines, I'll figure it out.

He stood up from his desk and walked to his door, opening it to see her quarters high on the hill, the window shades lit by candlelight. The sun was finishing its goodbye from the sky, and everything was a dim reddish hue. I can't do this, he thought, walking away from the door and pacing around the room for a moment. No, I have to... the world is for the bold! I'm gonna get over there and thank her for what she did! He said, trying so hard that he was practically feigning confidence. He started walking to the door and was about to cross the threshold when she stepped in front of it.

"Ahh!" He shouted, shielding himself with his wings, startled half to death. He quickly dropped his wings and let out a sigh.

"Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!" She said sweetly, putting a paw over her mouth.

"Oh, no it's ok, don't worry about it," he said, putting a wing over his chest and breathing again.

"Is this a bad time?" She asked meekly.

"Huh? Oh! No, actually I was... I was about to leave to go talk to you! That's why you startled me," he said with a nervous grin, putting his wings in front of him as if he were physically offering the explanation.

"Oh... really?" She asked, blushing slightly under her fur, her paw moving away from her mouth slightly.

"Yeah, I wanted to say thanks for... like... believing in me and, uh, showing me, you know, what I could do," he said, looking away and holding the back of his neck. She smiled, one of those smiles that made it hard to see, and she let out a small giggle.

"I... I wanted to say thanks for trusting me and... giving it a try," she said. They both looked to each other for a short moment before having to look away again.

"Heh, yeah, no... no problem," he said, almost staring at the floor.

"Thanks," she said.

"Your welcome, and... thanks."

"Your welcome... thanks," she said, immediately shaking her head at the verbal blunder. "I should probably go," she said, starting to turn.

"Oh, wait!" He said. Oh god, why did I say that, what the hell am I gonna say!

She stopped, turning back to him with her eyebrows raised, hopefull for what he had to say.

"Uhhh, goodnight?" he said, cringing slightly at his bad excuse to call her back.

"Oh, yeah, goodnight Crane," She said, her hopes just slightly crushed. She turned and walked away, but slowed as she heard a sigh and a mumble coming from the doorway. She stopped and debated for a second whether she should do it or not. This world is for the bold! She thought, turning back and walking into the doorway. Crane was looking at the floor, clearly not happy with his performance.

He looked up to see her, immediately smiling. She walked over, getting close to him and giving him a quick peck on the cheek. He was stunned, and she was too, for the most part. Then he smirked.

"This is how cranes do it," he said gently. He then leaned in and lowered his beak, putting his forehead against hers and closing his eyes. He wrapped his wings around her and she put her arms around him. They held each other, silent, for what seemed like too short a time before they released each other. Mei Ling looked Crane in the eye, the two smiling softly.

"Goodnight Crane."

"Goodnight Mei Ling."