Chapter Text
There was nothing but silence followed by a loud crunch as Tai lung smashed yet another tree trunk in two. He relaxed his posture and stretched his neck and arms; muscles cramped due to all the training.
Master Shifu hadn’t ordered him to go outside and practice more, but Tai lung never felt like he was good enough just yet. So, when his master wasn’t present having to attend to other matters, he oftentimes walked off on his own to perfect his fighting style some more.
Time seemed to fly by as he continued to improve on his moves however, and he couldn’t ignore the loud roaring of his stomach any longer. It had been nearly four hours since the last time he ate anything, too caught up with what he was doing. Tai lung decided it wouldn’t hurt to get something to eat.
As he went deeper into the valley, he spotted a little noodle restaurant. “Mr. Ping's Noodle House” it was called. It was quite lively in the little shop. The food had to be of higher quality, with so many people visiting the tiny restaurant, Tai lung thought.
Quietly, without raising much attention he chose to sit on one of the benches near a poster on the wall. He waited a bit until he could hear a shrill voice calling out to someone.
“Po! There’s a new customer waiting outside. How about you ask him what he wants to order, Hm?” A chubby panda came stumbling down the stairs, he must have been who the goose referred to. Tai lung assumed that he was some sort of employee that belonged to the noodle shop.
He made his way over to him, accidentally knocking over a few chairs and tables. His size really wasn’t doing him any favors Tai lung noted. Finally, Po had managed to get to his table, a small piece of paper in paw alongside a pen.
“Hello! Welcome to Mr. Ping’s Noodle House! What would you like to order?” As Po stood before him Tai lung took a closer look at him. Something that particularly stood out were his round eyes, a pretty shade of green. Almost emerald like.
Po shifted from one foot to the other slightly, realizing that he was being stared at, pencil tapping on paper. Tai lung blinked, quickly ordering something. The awkward atmosphere making his tail twitch.
“I would like to have a simple noodle soup, nothing major.” Po nodded and hummed while he wrote the request down.
“Alright then. You’re sure you don’t want anything else?” Tai lung shook his head a little irritated. If he had wanted something else, he would have said so. Sensing the slight frustration, Po started to make his way to the shop owner again. “Oookayy, a simple noodle soup it is then! You’ll get it faster than you can say ´Skadoosh´! So, don’t you worry about waiting haha!” Po shouted over the talking of the other guests.
Tai lung huffed, that panda sure was something. Po also hadn’t overexaggerated, as it didn’t take more than five minutes until he was at Tai lung’s table again, serving him his food. Tai lung’s boredom morphed into surprise, picking up on that Po snickered.
“See? I told you; you wouldn’t have to worry about waiting for long, my dad’s the best when it comes to making noodles! Or cooking in general.” Tai lung looked up at the other with a raised brow.
“That goose is your father?” Now it was Po’s turn to be confused.
“Uhm, yeah? I thought it was kinda obvious?” He held back a snort. A goose and a panda being related, totally obvious.
“I mean, I guess I can see how it isn’t.” Po rubbed his neck, “Every time I mention that Mr. Ping is my dad, I always get weird looks- like I know that it might be kinda weird to some people, since I’m basically an employee too. But I don’t think a chef would treat his employees like dad treats me you know?”
Po kept rambling on and while Tai lung found it somewhat amusing, he was getting rather impatient, wanting to try out the food he had been served. The same shrill voice from earlier called out once more.
“Po! Would you let the customer eat? He’s going to stand up and leave if you keep blabbering on like that.” Mr. Ping now also appeared at the table. Even though he was rather small compared to Po, it was obvious that he held the authority in the room.
“There are a lot more guests waiting for their noodles as well! So come on now and get back to working again.” Po tensed up slightly and nodded, cheeks dusted pink.
“Ah- yeah! Sorry dad!” His eyes met Tai lung’s. “I won’t be distracting you any longer, enjoy your meal!” And with that he ran to another table, not without stumbling over a few unfortunate customers who hadn’t been able to find a seat. Mr. Ping watched after him shaking his head, he turned to Tai lung.
“I apologize, he always gets so excited when we have new people here.” Tai lung tilted his head.
“How would he know that I am a new visitor exactly?” A shrug was his only answer.
“Well, my noodle shop isn’t exactly the biggest there is- but that doesn’t mean that the noodles aren’t worth trying out though!” Tai lung leaned back perplexed at the sudden interjection, Mr. Ping carried on as though he hadn’t shamelessly advertised his own restaurant. “So, it’s easier to know who visits more frequently. Also, it’s not every day that we have a snow leopard visiting us.”
He didn’t respond to that, as it was true that he was the only one of his species in the valley. Although it was still silly to him that one would be so nervous and excited because of new visitors. It would have been understandable if Po had been nervous because Tai lung trained at the Jade Palace, he was used to people fearing him, due to his strength. What he wasn’t used to was them being talkative.
“Alright, I won’t keep you from enjoying your meal any longer. If you like it, which I’m sure you will, don’t be afraid to visit us more often!” At last Mr. Ping also went off to work in the kitchen again. Finally Tai lung was undisturbed and with that he dug right in.
After finishing his food, Tai lung had to admit that it was certainly worth the visit. Those noodles had been some of the best he’d tasted in a while. He hadn’t expected this small noodle shop to serve food of this quality.
On his way out he could hear Mr. Ping reminding him to stop by more often. Po right by his side waving at him, a huge smile on his face. Tai lung flashed a hesitant grin of his own out of politeness, before turning around again. Such strange people.
Once he returned to the Jade Palace, he found Master Shifu waiting for him at the top of the stairs, a frown on his face.
“Where have you been Tai lung? I didn’t permit you to leave the Jade Palace.” Tai lung tried to calm his master by explaining himself.
“I apologize for not telling you about my whereabouts master. After you said that you had to discuss matters with Master Oogway I took it upon myself to go outside and continue training.” Shifu’s brow raised at that, letting Tai lung carry on.
“I got hungry after a while and came across a little noodle shop.” A picture of the owner and his son flashed through Tai lung’s head, making him falter.
“Uh, it took longer than expected.” Came his curt reply, “I ask you for your forgiveness master.” He bowed.
Shifu sighed but resorted to wave his hand instead. “You don’t have to apologize this formally Tai lung; I should have known that you would be unsatisfied with the amount of training I gave you for the day. I shouldn’t expect any less of you. You are forgiven.” A smile spread across Tai lung's face, letting himself be led inside.
“If you allow my curiosity, what was it that you talked to Master Oogway about, Master Shifu?” He could see Shifu sporting a promising grin even with his back turned.
“It was about a subject I hope to discuss with you alongside him someday. But said day hasn’t arrived yet.” He didn’t go into further detail and Tai lung knew not to pry so they left it at that. Tai lung could already guess what it was though, as it was rumored that the selection of the Dragon Warrior was nearing. Excitement filled him at the idea.
Meanwhile further down at the village, Mr. Ping had closed his noodle restaurant for the day. Just as he was about to check up on Po, he could hear something, or better said someone, fall down the stairs for the second time this day.
“Po are you alright, what’s with the rush?” Po scrambled to his feet, a poster picturing a certain snow leopard on it in his paws, shoving it into his father’s face.
“The leopard that came to visit your noodle shop today-!?” He heaved in air. “That was a student of Shifu’s! You know- the red panda who is like super good at kung fu and stuff and also really really cool?!”
Po paced around the kitchen, knocking things over in the process. “I served his best student, Tai lung, noodle soup and didn’t even realize it! -How did I not recognize him!?” Mr. Ping shook his head an endeared smile on his face as he helped pick up the fallen objects.
“Oh Po, it’s not that big of a deal. I’m sure he’ll stop by again.” Po faced his father, hair messy and falling into his eyes.
“And what if he doesn’t? What if I just messed up my one and only chance to talk to one of Shifu’s students? And not just any student! The best one Shifu’s ever had!” He groaned.
“Po. You’re not doubting my abilities in making customers return, are you?” Po shook his head.
“Noooo, but-" He was interrupted by Mr. Ping holding up a feathered hand.
“No buts Po. He will return, I assure you. Besides you know how much I could advertise my restaurant if we make him a returning customer? Oh, what an opportunity!” Po’s mouth corners quirked up at his father’s antics.
“Yeah, I know dad. Well, I guess I’ll just take your word for it then.”
“Mhmmm, you know your father is always right anyways. Now make yourself ready and go to sleep, you need to be full of energy for tomorrow’s visitors as well.” Po laughed and shook his head, wishing his father goodnight.
In his room, he took the Tai lung action figure he owned off his shelf and sat down on his bed. Trying not to squeal as he remembered his interactions with his idol. Goofy grin plastered on his face.